It’s just gone one in the morning, I’m sitting on a balcony six storeys high in Vancouver; stealing wifi from somebody to get online and below is a medley of noise. People are screaming and shouting, car alarms are going off and everyone seems to be doing something. This town never sleeps. I was up at five in the morning yesterday and there were still lots of people about.

Honestly, Vancouver is nothing like I expected it to be and I mean that in the nicest way. Yes, the town has its flaws; just go downtown to Hastings and everywhere you look you'll see a crack head jacking up in the alleyways or some woman selling her body. The street stinks of piss and you really can’t believe just a few feet away is a beautiful backdrop of mountains and sea.

But the city also has another other side. Amazing high-rise buildings, beautiful views of mountains, forests, lakes and wildlife. The two sides coexist and it’s an incredible sight. I can understand why people don’t want to leave once they arrive. It’s a world away from London yet utterly similar at the same time.

I’ve learnt something profound since I’ve been here. I’ve been put in situations I haven’t been a hundred percent comfortable in but enjoyed once I put my fears aside; I’ve met family I’d never known before, I’ve learnt so much more about my own family which has been very emotional for me for a number of reasons; and I’ve discovered the joy of living for the moment. Which is a foreign concept to me as I’ve always thought about the future and an awful lot about the past.

I’m here, right now, sitting outdoors in a country I’m not familiar with, all by myself and loving every second. Nothing is impossible for me at this moment and all I have to do is believe. The air is filled with possibility and all I have to do is breathe it in and live.

British Columbia really is a beautiful country.

I'm off again soon, this time to Canada. My little countdown timer at the top is lying. When it says 1 day left, it really means 1 day 10 hours, it just doesn't show the hour bit ,

Edit: Updated the countdown timer to display hours as I was sick of seeing 0 days until Canada; it looked wrong.

I actually fly out Wednesday morning.

I've changed my sterling into Canadian dollars (there's French AND English writing on them, that's just wrong) and although I haven't packed yet, everything is under control. I'm not ill, I'm not throwing up like I was last time and my neck hasn't expanded five times it's normal size like a snake's does when it wants to devour a cow...

We bought a new digicam for some quick shots when we're not using our Sony SLR. I've heard (thousands of times) that Canada is a beautiful country, so expect tons of photos.

It's been a while since I've been on a long haul flight, I'm a pretty good flyer but I just hope everything runs smoothly (I'm flying from Heathrow after all). The only good thing about going from Heathrow is that it's litreally down the road and only takes fifteen minutes to get there by tube.

Anyhoo, have a wonderful Summer, I know I will.

First week:
Me: Do you want to meet up?
Her: Sure, ok, when?
Me: Whenever you’re free, I’m ok any time.
Her: Hmm, ok I’ll let you know, I’m busy this week.

Next week:
Me: So, do you want to meet up?
Her: Sure, ok. We’ll meet up soon.

Week after next:
Me: So, are you busy? Do you want to meet up?
Her: Sure, ok, I’ll let you know when I’m available.
Me: What about this weekend?
Her: Working.
Me: What about Wednesday?
Her: Working still.
Me: What about any other day?
Her: I’ll let you know.

Three years and one week later:
Me: So, we really do need to meet up.
Her: I know it seems like ages.
Me: Yeah, it’s been about three years.
Her: Shit really? We have to meet up soon!
Me: I know…

And so it continues. This conversation has been going on between me and a friend for a while (three years!). Do you think it’s time I take the hint and let the friendship slide into obscurity? When is it acceptable to stop trying?

What’s even worse is that this isn’t unique to that one person, it’s happened with quite a few of my other “friends”. Maybe they really are busy; I’m sure as heck not. Who can you blame in situations like these? Yourself for not trying hard enough? For trying too hard? Do you perhaps blame them for having a life and being busy? For not making enough effort to see you? Or do we just carry on with this little dance until we either find new friends, stop trying, or die?

One of the most overused phrase I've heard recently is, "I don't watch Big Brother but..."

The person then goes on to explain about the people in the show and some stupid thing they said or did (which is quite often by the sounds of it).

Why do people complain about Big Brother, swear they are never going to watch it, but then continue to talk about it? If you don't like it, don't watch it. If no one watched it then there wouldn't be a need to broadcast it and we'd get our summer tv viewing time back.

So please, stop talking about it, because I just don't care.

Girl 1: I'm so pissed off with my friend, she has shrunk my tops and clothes.

If you say so...

Girl 2: Don't worry, you'll be able to fit into them in no time now you've joined the gym.

Girl 1: Yeah true, but it's making my boobs burst out of my top. Look when I raise my arms.

Girl 1 proceeds to lift her arms up and stick her boobs out. I don't look because quite frankly, I'd rather keep my lunch down. But the new guy manages to see what she's talking about and I'm pretty sure that was the whole idea.

Girl 1 They're huge.

Yes love, they are. Shame your IQ isn't.