epi conference 2009

I spent last weekend up in the Lake District with my former MSc classmates. We're such dorks* and refer to these yearly meetings as our annual 'epidemiology conference'.

I just love meeting up with these girls. We are quite spread out around the UK and see each other only once or twice a year, but we just fall right back into the swing of things so easily.

The weekend was very rainy and rather cold - certainly a lot different weather wise than the weekend with my parents in June. Even though it was just tipping down with rain on Saturday, we were determing to do some walking and conquer a few hills. We managed a short walk around Ambleside and ended up looking like drowned rats. Five hours of walking is a great way to catch up with friends you haven't seen in ages.

Checking the map before we set off






Oh look, something in the fog. Oh no, it's just another sheep.






We returned to the Ambleside youth hostel, where we were staying, completely soaked and replenished our calorie stores with lots of teas, cakes, and Eccles cakes.

On Sunday we hopped onto one of the many boat tours for a trip around Lake Windermere.







Next year we may choose somewhere with a greater probability of sun and warm weather. Berlin perhaps?

** We even used to call pur pub quiz team 'epidemiology is not the study of skin'

Edinburgh

Today is the first day of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. I can't believe this time five years ago I was trying to balance writing up my MSc dissertation with enjoying as much of the festival as I could afford.

I first fell in love with Edinburgh in 2001 when I was travelling alone through the UK. It is such a beautiful and friendly place and it was the first city where I felt completely comfortable on my own. The city is so compact and so full of history - and what other capital city has a castle smack dab in the middle?

A few years later I returned to do my MSc, where by luck (fate?) I met my now husband who just happened to be in the city on holiday with friends. I also met one of my dearest friends when the university's accomodation service decided to put two quiet Canadians together.

It was such a privilege to live on one of the city's most famous streets - the Royal Mile. Although it could be frustrating and even exhausting elbowing tourists out of the way, (and don't get me started on the constant bagpipe playing) views like this made it worthwhile.





I loved this sign outside of our building



There I am in the top left hand window :)



Some of the city's famous views:







Some views from Arthur's Seat