Reasonable Sized London Update...

I am a bit swamped with articles of various sizes and trying to keep my life organized so updating this when you live in two countries is, well to be a honest, not a priority. Plus, no one reads it, so I am talking to myself here. Well myself, here we go. I have nothing important to report, nor do I really ever do. I worked a full week in London this past week, and it was nice. My job is OK; it's a challenge, especially dealing with school (which is becoming a MASSIVE priority in November)...

I saw Asobi Seksu this week, finished the Iceland Airwaves Review, went to a DiS relaunch party and am seeing Rufus Wainwright on MON. back to Amsterdam on TUE. Things are good. more soon.

x Shain

Back in London...

meh.

quick post...

I am late. Buck 65 is on soon. So are The Magic Numbers and Cut Off Your Hands. I missed Plants and Animals again.

Well, leaving Iceland tomorrow and it's been a whirlwind experience. I will hopefully upload more pics, or at least link to some. I went for a hike today in the mountains with a friend and her and I had an amazing time. She did make me walk at least ten miles, but it was amazing. Bubbling hot springs, mountains, waterfalls, sheep, trails, complete and utter isolation. Fantastic. That is why I am late. We got back to Reykjavik a bit later cause we were enjoying the hike and everyone is already at the venue. I just bought a pizza for 14 quid, munched it down while watching Daily Show, had a shower and am off. I did laundry too, but it didn't dry. It's on the Rad now and I'm wearing damp jeans. Fun.

Iceland is a special place. I'll come back soon.

x

Iceland Day Three...

I have been writing up a storm this morning, in addition to cleaning our flat. We had amassed stocks of garbage because we were unaware of where to put it. Little did we know, a dumpster is right outside the flat. We mopped too.

I am once again addicted to Icelandic Yogurt. It is divine and far and wide, the best yogurt in the world. It is called Skyr and comes in various flavours. It's thick, delicious, creamy and surprisingly fat free. I am eating some now.

So we've been here for five days now. It is going by way too quickly. I am also way behind on my school so I am sitting here for a few hours catching up on work. I am excited to get back to business next week, but I wish I could stay here. I love Iceland. Met more new people last night, and all are lovely. I didn't see much music though. I got caught up in a conversation with someone new and the night flew by. I saw a solo set from mum's new singer and Grizzly Bear. I plan on seeing a shitload of music today. I need to catch up.

Everyone has left now. it's quiet. They went to explore the town and get some coffee while Liz is in the shower. The calm before the storm, I guess. Makes things feel or seem quite introspective. I like this. I like this a lot.

I'm also addicted to my friend Dave's cardigans. I've worn a different one each day and apparently they make me look 'smart'. And on that note...

Iceland Post Two:

I hurt my leg. Yup. And in true Shain fashion, I have no idea how I did it. I even stretched yesterday. I had to walk to the Nordic House for a conference, quite a bit of a walk, and I turned on my ankle because I was busier watching the ducks than myself. Now I'm in a considerable amount of pain and have a nice limp. Fun. Last year in Iceland I had a cold. There's sod's law for you.

Our flat is turning into the 'meeting' or 'party' flat. Last night we had 15 people here from 1AM -> 3AM. We also had people who locked themselves out of their flat staying. It was a party, to say the least. We're actually polishing off a lot of the booze we brought, and we brought a lot of booze. It's also warmed up considerably. it's raining today. I just went to a thermal pool with Matt. It's just a community centre with a volcanic hot pool on the patio outside. You get all dolled up in a swimsuit and head out in -1 weather only to find yourself in an eggy smelling hot-tub. It's much better than it sounds. My leg does feel better.

I have a lot of work to do today, so thankfully it is raining. I have a conference later, plus articles to write and emails to send.. Lots to do. I could also use a shave. Lots of bands are playing tonite, which is muchly anticipated because all the bands were rubbish last night. I saw 'Solid Gold' and 'Lights on a Highway' and both were garbage. Absolute garbage. Just went to a pub with fellow DiS'ers instead and drank expensive beer whilst talking to a girl named Osk. Awesome indeed.

Off to update the DiS blog. Check it out Here

Iceland!!!

It is colder than a witches' teet. Really, it wasn't this cold last year in Iceland. It is easily -10 or -15 celcius when the wind comes off the glaciers and hits you. It is insanely cold this time. Still, it is absolutely gorgeous. I love this country. I'm so happy to be back, and this time I know when I'm going and I know my way around the city.

We arrived yesterday and spent much of the day mulling about, drinking coffee, the occasional beer and getting sorted. I rented a three bed flat for us (6 people) and we have a full kitchen, so we hit up the grocer and spent some cash stocking up. We had a fantastic meal last night surrounding by friends Icelandic and Expat (I made poached whitefish in rum with roastic garlic and lemony rice for them an a caramalized omelette for me) and then went to a famous pub, Sirkus, for drinks with the editor of Grapevine, a magazine I'm beginning to work with (Iceland's English mag) and a few others friends.

We have rented a car today and are headed off to see the golden circle. I'll be back tonite to do some work and then enjoy another meal. We're also heading off to our friend Anna's summer home for waffles, rhubarb jam and hot chocolate, as well as a traditional Icelandic swim in a frozen lake. Shall be lovely.

I need to be here.

Lovely Morning;

It's a beautiful morning in Amsterdam. It's bright, surprisingly sunny and fresh, almost as if you get up and the canals are whispering mist that makes all this worth it. I love this city. I know some people who don't, and to be honest, it is not the easiest to move to. Amsterdam has its reputation, of course, but when you live here and deal with it's odd day-to-day you realize that the reputation is false. Sure, the tourists are placated with pot and hookers, but living here is different. It's difficult, annoying, claustrophobic, rainy and filled with needless and sometimes never ending paperwork. Yet, it is quiet, clean, boring, friendly and gorgeous. It is the most inspiring city in Europe - in my opinion - and I am surely going to miss it when I head to London. A morning likes this engenders reflection. it's that nice. The window is open, the birds are hanging out, it's all just that relaxing. I love it here. I do. Too bad life, financial security and my future lies in London. I do like London. I like it a lot. But nothing is Amsterdam. It's just gezellig here (that means cozy).

The flatmates are in Bratislava and I'm heading back to London this afternoon. I'm off to High Wycombe tomorrow night to meet friends and then flying to Reykjavik on Monday morning. I can't believe this year has flown by so quickly. I remember arriving in Iceland last year - starry eyed, confused, exhilirated - and this year is the same. Except now I know people and my way around.

Other than that, all is, well much of the same really. I have a lot of work to do, but it's slowly working itself out day-by-day. I'm also back to dealing with immigration. I wonder how many 24 year olds deal with the amount of immigration I do. You learn a lot about the system and how to deal with it, but it never gets any less annoying. But, it's a part of life being an ex-pat. There are lots of things we take for granted at home that I can't here; just basic stuff like taxes, health insurance, finding doctors, immigration etc.. It took me two weeks to find insecticide in Amsterdam. It just doesn't exist. Well, it does but its hidden at Etos.

I'm rambling a bit here cause I rarely have time to update this and I thought it could use a good, strong update. I bet when I'm old and read all this I'll wonder why I wasted all this time complaining and stressing about useless things, because I'm realizing it all just doesn't matter. Life is one big shitstorm; It's the umbrella you carry that makes the difference, methinks. Was that even a cogent metaphor? Ah, well, who cares.

It's so gorgeous today. I'm listening to the Arcade Fire. I'm at home. For the time being, I am the happiest person in town. At 4PM I leave. It's 10:10AM. Till then.

Quick...


I am a bit too pooped to add a big update. I just spent the weekend in Paris with my family, which was the first vacation I have taken with them in, well, ever. It was Paris, so it was gorgeous and the weather held out, and I saw a lot of city I haven't. I usually do nothing in Paris.. see friends, drink, relax. My brother and sis-in-law added a lot more touristy things to the mix this time, which was refreshing for me. Seeing my mom marvel at the sheer beauty of the city was also something else. It made me feel that sometimes, once in a blue moon, things are great. That is a good feeling.

I have a busy week here. London -> Amsterdam -> London -> Iceland in a week. I started a new job. A real one. I'm keeping the details a secret though.

Post #195...


I don't give much in the way f details on this blog anymore. Publicizing one's life is good to a point, but really, I'd rather remain mostly anonymous. I know that when I read these posts in a few years and re-remember all the things I forgot, I'll be pleased I included details. Still, from now on, things will be more generalized. It's more fun to talk about other people than myself. I'm boring as fuck. I don't know how boring 'fuck' is, but I heard it can be a doozy. I like the word doozy. Good word. It shall be reclaimed.

Nothing much is happening in my fantastic international travel lifestyle. I partied with some Swedish movie stars yesterday. OK, that's a lie. I did watch Michael Moore's 'Sicko'. Not sure what to think about it yet. It's standard Michael Moore jam-my-opinion down-your-throat-by-making-other-people-seem-worse-than-you rhetoric, but he sure has a point. The US medical system is in desperate need of reform. One should contribute via their means and receive for their needs, as universalized healthcare dictates in principle. Saying that, I still am not his biggest fan. I do prefer him to, well, any American governmental official except for Dennis Kuscinch. That hasn't changed.

I also went to Den Haag twice. Once to submit a passport application and another time to pick up a temporary one. I ran out of pages on mine. Yup, that happens. It's a bitch too when it does. And it's expensive. La-dee-da-dee-da. I'm also addicted to the show 'Dead Like Me' on TV Links, and I'm catching up on a shitload of reading. I think I have a shitload. It's a lot to the exponent of several times a bunch plus two. Oh practical math. To those unaware of the joke, a long time ago friends of mine and I decided to pursue the art of quantifying practical math. Like, how much is a shitload? Is many + a few = a lot? and so on.

Amsterdam is cold, rainy, cold and windy. I know I used cold twice. I bought a frilly multi-coloured scarf. Now I look like a field hockey player. It's fantastic, I promise. I also did heaps of laundry, but our flat is too cold for my jeans to dry. Ever put on damp jeans? Hell on earth.

OK, I'll leave you with a link now. Not going to tell you what it is. Just search 'wanker' in Amazon and see what comes up. work can be so much fun.

Ta.

Title Maybe...


For some reason when these are uploaded into facebook, they lack a title. Well, I tried to title this one. I have a few minutes before class here; Dealing with governmental paperwork mostly right now, as not only do I need a new VISA, but also my passport is out of pages. Both are problems and are a pain to sort out. I am surely looking forward to this one. Ever try to get a Canadian passport picture in Amsterdam at a photo shop? God, at home people take so many things for granted it's insane.

I have to update my website too; I'm hoping to do that this weekend, amongst many, many other things. Living in two countries at once is an organizational struggle. Yet, it sounds cool when you tell people, 'ýup, I live in two countries.' Maybe others are enthralled in the sheer exoticism of the travelling, the adventure. Really, it's all a big pain in the ass for the most part. It does give me something to talk about, and most people are pretty easy to entertain, so there you go.

Seeing Stars on Saturday. They are a band if you don't know. a Good one.

Been a while...


I don't update this much anymore; I know. I wish I had time. Things are insane, and will continue to be until at least January. It looks like my time will be split between London and Amsterdam equally until then, as I have taken on a position that requires me to be in London two days per week. I need to solidify full-time work to afford the cost increase of moving to London, so in order to prove myself at this job, I am making an investment in myself and of my time to try and help out a company design and maintain a project. I pray it works out.

Life has, well, been a bit shit as of late. I'm not going to elaborate why. You're welcome to ask me directly. I guess I'll look back at this in a few months and laugh at my cliched hyperbolic ramblings. Things aren't that bad, just exhausting, tough and uncertain. I guess that's the way to be at 24. I'm a bit sick of traveling though. There, I said it.

An Update...


I have a moment to update, but really, it is becoming tough to find time to write on this thing. Plus, I know only three people read it, and I know who they are. I can just send them an email and cc it to all instead. Well, been in Toronto for ten days and I'm looking forward to going home at the end of this week. Been busy with Kae Sun mostly, whilst pre-planning a move to the UK, which will include real job finding, a new flat, a Visa and all the crap that moving to yet another country will yield. I hope to settle down a bit - not too much but a bit - in the UK, which shouldn't be too difficult. Finding a real job may be. Who knows. I have a few leads.

Speaking of, I have to go do some of it now. Fun.

love ya all.

Forgive me blog for I have sinned...

Well, I kinda forgot to update this thing in the last while. It's been over two weeks since I updated anything here that had nothing to do with Kae Sun, and I know I know, a few people do actually read this verbal garbage. I do have to admit though, that my life isn't all that interesting anymore, or, saying that, it is interesting in a different way, and I'm genuinely happier for the most part with the change. This summer was certainly amazing. I went to the Faroe Islands and had the time of my life. I went to Barcelona twice. Austria with my amazing friend Hanna and spent one of the best days of my life at her brother's house in Spitz, lived in London for a while, went to Germany and spent some wonderful time in Amsterdam. Now I have an amazing girlfriend, some semblance of domestication, a new album and I'm back in Canada, chilling with old friends.

But really, other than living in airports (research write-off), my life isn't all that interesting. I promise. I swear. That's why I don't update this all that much. To be honest, all I am thinking about now is breakfast, trying to email old friends I haven't said hello to in a while whilst making sure I make it outside and enjoy what looks to be a beautiful day. I'll write more later.

KAE SUN

Ghost Town Prophecy

CLICK ON THE COVER TO BUY

TRACKS

1. Where Did Everybody Go

2. Kidnapped

3. Stay Up

4. Metropolis

5. Living In The City

6. Angels By Day

Download Kae Sun HERE

All is fine here, really. I'm going to the UK on WED to see Alice, then back to Canada for 3 weeks for some band and family stuff... Oh, and I finished a chapter of my thesis, which makes me thrilled. Makes me thrilled? Is that ever proper grammer? meh, fuck it.

I've decided today that people are completely incompetent at the supermarket. For some reason, getting milk took about 40 minutes today despite living 4 minutes from the grocer. There was one aisle open, of course, and a massive queue for it. And people always wait till they see the price to open their wallet and fish through for cash; like the can't guesstimate in advance and prepare the money for the cashier? I love how people are always surprised at the cost. Like, how do they no know what they are buying at this exact moment? Drives me insane.

I will miss this city though; minus the supermarkets, it's ace.

Kae Sun is available to purchase ONLINE!!!!
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Purchase Digital Tracks Here

Purchase via CD Baby in North America HERE

Purchase via Amazon in the UK and Europe HERE


CD Release Parties:
Sep 6 - Casbah, Hamilton
Sep 21 - Clintons, Toronto
Sep 25 - Isaac's Pub, St. Catharines

full tourdates HERE

It's sorta nice today...

First chapter of thesis is coming along.. well, along coming. I'm up to about 7000 words thus far and I can see pushing the 10,000 word mark before I get my point across. Crazy. And it is only one chapter. I am in for the long haul.

Absolutely nothing to report, which is why I'm hesitant to even update this. I am alive, quite well thank you very much and in Amsterdam. I have no plans to leave until Aug 28, and Alice is coming to visit in five days. That is about it. It was gorgeous this morning but it has clouded over, which is a bit shit, and we're hoping the sun comes out again. I am listening to Swan Lake; the indie-rock band, not the ballet.

Boring can be nice. I don't see when I will have time to relax for a while after August.

All Systems Quiet,

August is such a quiet month. Ninety percent of people are on vacation - and I don't blame them - and the days just seem to drift by slowly, as if the clock is being held back just a little bit. It's great, but it's also weird, as it is the opposite of all things usual for me. I guess I can focus on my thesis, but it is a pain in the rear. Well, off to read.

Post 184,

I oten hark back to yesteryear and marvel at how idealistic I was as a youth; It's not that I'm not youthful now, but when you help run two companies, adulthood strikes. It seems like said youthful and seemingly ignorant idealism has been replaced by pragmatism, as I don't feel idealistic anymore. That does not mean I don't have any ideals, not at all, but I feel to attain them, dreaming just doesn't cut it.

I feel this way because lately I've started to apply for real jobs, the first time I have ever had to do this. I am moving to London for work to make money and pay off student loans, and I need a real, somewhat organized job to do so. Dreaming about finding a job doesn't find one. And the submission process begins.

On another note, summer has finally arrived in Amsterdam, finally. It was sunny and thirty today. I went with my buddy Sander to the Kwakoe Festival in the Bijmer, which is the 'ghetto' of Amsterdam. It was great; tons of Surinamese culture, various African trinkets and food, lots of Dutch hip-hop, good fun indeed. Great way to spend a summer day, but I am procrastinating with work, as I sit here and type this blog.

Lastly, we found out today that our new album debuted at #19 on the CFMU Hamilton Charts, which is fantastic. Everyone is digging the album, and things are positive. Onward and upward with the struggle we go. till next time. I will continue to keep my head on the ground.

Theorizing...

Now is the time to dream, methinks. I'm finally home in my little cheap box - I live in a storage room essentially in the attic of a building in the ghetto - but comfortable and happy and quiet. Yet, things are alive all over the place. School is starting up again, as my thesis has become paramount in the to-do pile; In addition, a prospective move to good ol' London town has been proposed and is being considered heavily. It'll be easier to find what normal people call 'real' work there, and other things are driving me there, mainly family, friends, Alice, easy transport links and the knowing that I can always come back to Amsterdam, which will be frequent.

Regardless, this is all THEORY, hypothesizing.. nothing else. I prefer Amsterdam to London, but I prefer what's IN London to Amsterdam, despite my adopted hometown being nothing short of amazing, despite the language and little pain in the necks that encompass life here sometimes. Plus, I'm way cooler to others when I say 'I live in Amsterdam.' London is so pedestrian :) just kidding. I guess we'll see; only time shall tell.