We had drinks in the physics department at work to celebrate the end of term. In addition to making me adore my job even more, the circumstances led to us only having to work half a day so I was allowed to leave early to partake in Canada Day festivities in Trafalgar Square.
The traditional ball hockey tournament. The only element missing were someone yelling 'CAR!' and Wayne Gretzky, who was in attendance presenting the winning teams with their hard earned awards. Full goalie equipment in that summer heat? That takes devotion.
I partook in a massive impromptu Flip Cup game in one of the sponsor tents with some fellow softballers. An event which contributed to us, as a crowd, finishing all the Canadian beer on premises, prompting the organizers to panic buy massive amounts of Red Stripe (evidently because of the colouring of the can).
Someone bought me a poutine. The cheese and gravy weren't quite right but it was a poutine nonetheless.
Blue Rodeo headlining the concert lineup was absolutely perfect. I've said it before, I will never tire of seeing them live. They played nearly half of the 5 Days in July album among other classics and closed off with Lost Together, which was so fitting. And for all the years I've been listening to their music, Canada Day abroad coupled with events of the night resulted in the first time I could really find myself relating to just about every song. Side note: I've wanted my own photograph of Jim Cuddy since I was about 7 years old. I now have one. I will never grow up. Not for as long as the middle-age guitarists I adore keep rocking my world. And while Cuddy did not have his own mic while all the performers sang the Canadian national anthem to close off the night, I could read his lips, he was singing in French. Be still my French Canadian heart.
Chance encounters and a sleepless night later, and I was at Heathrow Terminal 5, which was evidently conceptualized by someone who played with a lot of Lego and Technic sets in their childhood.
