I somehow ended up at The Shed nightclub on Friday night. One minute I was drinking with friends in the west end at The Three Judges and the next minute, we're all piled into two cabs heading over to The Shed. Please don't let me go there again.

I've been to The Shed once before and you'd have thought that I would have learned my lesson then. Since my last escapade to the Shed, the clientele have become younger and dare I say it, perhaps even hipper? The male haircuts were more angular and artistically dishevelled; the girls wore beehives and looked like a mix between Duffy, Amy Winehouse and Peaches Geldof (an oxygen thief if there ever was one).

However, I was just too sober, too old and too hot (temperature wise) to stick around. I made it until about 1.30am and then left with my pal, Erica, leaving Tim, Lauren, Laurie, and Nir to kick it 1999/ 2000 old school style.

On Saturday, I was still struggling with the after effects of The Shed but nevertheless managed to meet up with my friend, Claire, and her sister, Lisa, for the Body and Soul Fair. Not one who believes in "souls", I was a skeptic heading into the event and my suspicions were confirmed with stalls advertising "past life regression therapy", "reiki", and "clairvoyants". I could only manage one eye roll for fear of amplifying my hangover. In the end, however, it was all worth it because I managed to get a back massage for £10.

Afterwards, we headed to Wagamama for some lunch, before stumbling upon the newly-opened Tea Rooms - which is run by the folks who own The Butterfly and the Pig (one of the best places in city centre for some cheap pub food/ lunch). I am absolutely in love with the Tea Rooms and cannot wait to go back for some "proper" afternoon tea.

Following the previous nights theme, after tea and a (couple) glass(es) of wine, we somehow managed to end up at the State Bar for comedy night, wherein I was mocked for my outfit and insecurities in front of the audience. That's what you get for showing up at a comedy club slightly tipsy and sitting in the front row. Good times!

Also funny (and sad)? Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith's recent comments regarding immigrants in the Uk:

On Sunday Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said she was "raising the bar" for non-EU workers seeking skilled jobs.

Immigrants should not be able to take them unless they had been advertised to British workers first, she told the BBC.

Non-EU workers have to go through a points-based system to seek work but most EU citizens face no restrictions.

Ms Smith told BBC One's Andrew Marr Show that it was right the government made sure that the points-based system was "responding to the current economic circumstances".

From April, non-EU workers wanting to come to Britain without securing a job beforehand must have a master's degree - rather than a bachelor's degree, as currently - and a previous salary equivalent to at least £20,000.

The Conservatives say the government is only tinkering at the edges of the problem and say a cap on immigrants from outside the EU is needed.

Another day, another UN report claiming Glasgow to be a degenerate shithole full of junkie murderers.

Yes, apparently Scotland's murder rate is the fatest-rising in Western Europe and the sixth-fastest in the world, accoring to a new report by the United Nations.

Says the report:

The murder rate in Scotland stands at 2.1 deaths per 100,000 people, the joint highest in Western Europe with Finland and Portugal.

Between 2005 and 2006, the period covered by the report, the homicide rate increased from 1.59, a rise of 34 per cent.

The figures outstrip the murder rate in the Czech Republic and Portugal, both of which are plagued by knife crime and recorded a 30 per cent rise over the same period.

I'm not claiming that there isn't a problem - obviously there is but rather than violence itself being the problem, I think it's an effect of the real problem: poverty, lack of education, social injustice, and vunerable individuals existing on the periphery of society.

What I am claiming, however, is that these reports do little good and indeed, perpetuate the stereotype that Glasgow is a violent cesspool of civilization. And yet, wasn't Glasgow just named one of the best cities in the world? So when we're not stabbing one another, we're busy being one of the most cultural, vibrant and exciting cities in the world?

I'd also point out that Glasgow is up there with Finland - a notoriously liberal country that ranks third in the World Democracy Audit. Meanwhile in Toronto, there were 69 murders in 2008 and 336 shootings - just sayin'.

Weekend in Pictures

Paul and I shortley after we met two years ago. Ah, young love...

And today - cycnical and old in the age of modern love.

Happy Anniversary!

Hmm, such a thing of wonder in this crowd
Im a stranger in this town
Youre free with me
And our eyes locked in downcast love
I sit here proud
Even now youre undressed in your dreams with me

Living Multiculturally: A Torontonian in Glasgow

I love this city; this country; the people that populate this furrowed land. And when I first came here in 1999, I knew my love affair with Glasgow was just beginning. I knew that after my year abroad here, I would come back. I HAD to come back. Glasgow was a city in which I felt home.

But by fate, I was born in Canada and when you want a "City Life", there are not many places to go in Canada for one. Montreal, perhaps, if you're bilingual; Vancouver, maybe, if you're already somewhere out west (and a pot head); but if you're where I'm from (Napanee), there's really only one place: Toronto.

As much as I love Toronto, and enjoyed living there, I was always dreaming of what City Life was like back in Glasgow. Were my university friends still drinking in Uisge Breatha and dancing at the god awful Garage? Had the enormous Cineworld on Renfrew Street been completed? Was Insomnia still serving up greasy Scottish breakfasts to students and sketched out pillheads alike at 4.00am? (Sadly, no, because Insomnia Cafe is now closed).

Now that I live in Glasgow, I can appreciate Toronto from afar. I love the plethora of cheap (and excellent) food; the diversity of cultures and people; the cleanliness of the city; the distinct neighbourhoods (Little India, Little Portugal, Little Italy, Parkdale, Rosedale, The (Gay) Village). And perhaps, most noticeably, I love (and miss) the harmony that exists between so many cultures and nations in Toronto.

And perhaps it's naive of me to think that such a harmony exists in Toronto but nevertheless, I believe that multiculturalism is now fundamentally what it means to be a Canadian. As an immigrant myself, I know how foolish it is to think that life as an immigrant is easy in Canada:

Clearly, all of Canada continues to struggle through multiculturalism issues and to define what it means to be a Canadian. Few countries have opened their doors to such a wide cross-section of immigrants as Canada and no city has embraced it more than Toronto.

We can be proud of our diversity, of our willingness to embrace a wide range of cultural and religious differences. Yet many of our recent newcomers still face bigotry, racism and job discrimination.

Canada is not at a point that has been reached in European countries like Britain, France and Germany where tolerance for minorities has eroded and riots have broken out......

Instead of questioning multiculturalism, we should reaffirm the inclusiveness and tolerance that has made modern Canada a success.

Our diversity is a source of strength, not weakness. Millions of new Canadians have settled successfully in Canada over the last 100 years. They and their children are proof that multiculturalism works.

I know that I've been lucky in life and realise that having lived in Toronto, one of the safest cities in North America, I've been sheltered somewhat.

I love this city that I chose to make my home in but sometimes, it breaks my heart. Like any riveting love affair, Glasgow and I have our episodic highs and lows. The last time she broke my heart, I started sobbing in front of my boyfriend and his friends. And maybe it wasn't the actual violence itself that upset me, as pointed out by DaviMack (who does a really awesome blog with his partner/girlfriend) but rather, the casual attitude towards such violence. Perhaps it's both elements. Most likely it's because I've never encountered racially or religiously motivated crime in my life before living here.

Glasgow's done it again and this time, I only live about ten minutes away.

I know there will (most likely) always be crime and sadly, violence but come on, aren't we beyond tribalism and Us vs. Them attitudes? Aren't we beyond killing each other because of colours and football? Aren't we beyond attacking asylum seekers and blaming perceived social and economic problems on immigrants? Surely we know better in 2009? Surely Glasgow can only get better?

So, I love this city; this country; the people that populate this furrowed land. But I wish weegies could love each other as much as I love them. I know that's cheesy but hey, it's true.

Anyway, I'll leave it to the talented Chris Rock to break it all down:

CANADA EXPLAINED

Ever wanted to know why I was ranting about Stephen Harper and why a coalition was better than him but were afraid to ask because you didn't understand how Canada works? Check out Rick Mercer's break down of it all!

WEEKEND IN PICTURES

It snowed! And it even managed to stay on the ground!

Me? I'm happy about the snow and as a Canadian, feel right at home. Paul? Not so much.

Watching Scotland getting pummeled by Wales (Rugby)

Jamie's birthday!

You know you're in an awesome bar when they have Buckfast on TAP!

On Saturday night, Paul and I went to dinner at Grand Fish and Chips in the Merchant City with friends, before heading off to Mono for some drinks with even more friends. As a Canadian the name, "Mono", for a bar/ restaurant always seemed slightly curious to me - that word being a shortened term for Infectious Mononucleosis in North America and to me, conjures up memories of high school and many afflicted friends suffering from the dreaded "mono".

During our drinks at Infectious Mononucleosis or rather, Mono, one of Paul's friends pointed out David Shrigley, who was having a drink behind us. More than likely you may not recognise the name but you would his drawings (see above). Especially if you read the Guardian on a Saturday. He's a great artist and perhaps Glasgow's most famous contemporary one at that.

Yet another reason why Glasgow is one of the coolest cities in the world.



If you've seen the Scottish film, Hallam Foe, you'll recognise that he did the opening title sequence as well: