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Amsterdammmmmmmmm

2007-07-18T19:23:00.000+12:00

Last post July the 4th and now its July the 18th??? How is this possible?? Where the hell does the time fly to in London??
OK well the week before last I managed to do something London-ish and actually go and watch the Tour De France cyclists at Hyde Park!! It was quite mega exciting, compounded by the squillions of people there which definetly made me feel like it was the place to be. There wasnt much in the way of room to see though but managed to nab a spot on the grass in the sun (!) watching the big screen while the bikes whizzed past. After about an hour or so, the concensus was made to retire to the pub. And thus was done. After drinking (lots), sun (not enough) celebrity spotting (negligible) and food (delicious) it was on to some house party or another....the hostess of which I did not know. I didnt stay too long as obv the cycling had been too much fun for me. Managed to just get the last tube home and collapse into bed and that was my weekend in one hit!

Last week I tried to really not do anything as on the weekend was going to Amsterdam!!! Was sooooooo excited as going to Dance Valley...a HUGE dance festival which I saw described as the Woodstock of dance festivals. Anyway, rushed to Heathrow after work on Friday where I met my partner in dance (Tim) and KLM'd it to Amsterdam whereby he revealed he had not brought the name of the hotel (all we had done was look at it on a map!). Normally this kind of loss of control would totally freak me out but I always feel more relaxed in Amsterdam just by being there so we walked into Dam Square from the train station and there was out hotel....the biggest, fanciest looking one in the square. Nice. Upon check in this was confirmed (altho have to admit I think we were both worried that they might say this wasnt the right hotel and we would be wondering around all night asking random hotels had reservations...)

Anyway after checking in we went straight back out again to an Absinthe bar (eeewww but mmmm) which was a bit run down and seemed to be more a place where groups of drunk people came in, did a shot and left. We had a few drinks there before moving onto the club next door (no idea of the name) where we stayed alllllllll night and most of the morning, finally walking the 2 minutes back to the hotel at 5am. "Glad eye" of the night went to Tim who was checked out so throughly by a random girl as we entered that I almost blushed on his behalf. I wasnt as lucky and only managed to get the "rape eye" which was so through and freaky that we moved seats to get away from the would be attacker. Urgh.

Saturday dawned without us seeing, only getting up later to make our way to Dance Valley!! Yay!! It was incredible!! They closed some of the roads and so we bussed there and then there was a half km walk to the actual valley (we met a Dutch guy who told us that and I thought he was joking....). Luckily some entreprenurial people were selling alcohol on the walk there, which I duly imbibed.
It was MASSIVE!! Apart from the actual valley (which I never saw, we got so caught up in the other acts we ran out of time....oh well) there were 8 different music venues catering to every dance music taste there is. I wanted to try them all but it was hard to make yourself leave when you had found one you liked! Highlight of the night had to be Carl Cox. He peformed outside on this HUGE platform like stage thing with his name flying accross in giant 6ft letters. Amazing. I was totally star struck.
After it all finished we got back to the city just at midnight and raided McDonalds (thank god it was open) before actually collapsing in the hotel.
Sunday was a truly lazy day, only leaving the room after 2 thanks to much sleep. This sadly did not work in our favour later that night when we wanted to sleep but found ourselves much to rested). We wondered about the shops and cafes, looking about at stuff and generally soaking up the atmosphere. I was so happy we werent getting a plane that day! Monday was back to reality day and we visited Maccas again before heading to the airport and back to London! The tube back to my house took longer than that flight from AMsterdam....insane.

Anyway that trip has wiped me out this week....I am almost asleep as I type this. Had dinner last night as a fab Thai restaurant and later this week drinks somewhere south and also a bday to go to.....when will I get time to sleep??? Maybe now..

Slacker!!

2007-07-04T09:32:00.000+12:00

I am becoming so lazy over this blog! The bigoe.net people are going to be sorry they asked me to participate!! But I will try and remedy that now.

Well first was my birthday!! Was totally spoiled by all and had a really really nice day. I got lots of presents including 2 jewlery boxes, lots of clothes from mum, jewlery from a few people, a gorgeous dress, bottle of wine etc etc. Was so nice!! My friend Alicia took me to dinner also and it was really nice!! 3 courses and a glass of champange and hot staff, very nice!

Lazy and broke remainder of week....only went out to Pilates (argh!!) oh and I forgot, to a bar on Thursday night where there was 1.50 spirits (Belushis in Camden!) and I got much too drunk but somehow found some pool skills. Urgh.

Friday I felt a bit rough in the morning but had to perk up for Friday night! I had birthday drinks at Tiger Tiger in the city, which considering recent events is quite strange! It was great and lots of my lovely friends made it! My camera broke almost as soon as we arived (and for Megan, who had travelled up from Bratnell, and me that was happy hour!) but Alana had hers thank goodness and so took a few pics to commemorate the coming of age! I finally had to concede defeat at nearly 3am...not bad considering I arrived at 6.15pm!

Saturday I was a bit of a goner.....sooooooooooo hungover. I finally scraped myself out of bed around 12 as had to go to another party for another birthday that night! I managed to rough it to Mango first though and spend 80 quid in the sales!! OK so doing better by not shopping at cheap shops but budget and savings not a goer! Bah. I didnt last very long at the party, partly due to the hangover, despite the fruit filled pims I was being fed, and partly due to the fact the rain was washing off the bronzer on my legs!! Embarrassing!! I went home and fell into bed!

Sunday was a lazy afternoon at Brent Cross looking about the shops before also coming home and falling straight to sleep!

Week just passed was not too eventful as I was recovering from weekend previous and also saving energy for weekend ahead.

I had to get some baby presents for my cousins baby I was off to visit (awwww). To be honest the fiasco took me awhile and makes me wonder if I ever want children!! That was Tuesday night. Wednesday night was Pilates, god am so dedicated. Am sadly not svelt in manner of Giselle just yet. Thursday night I caught the train to Glasgow! I got the 11.30pm overnight train which luckily had some space on it so I wasnt too squashed in. It was like being in some kind of open air pig farm with all the snoring! Luckily Coldplay drowned that out. I am not usually a fan but it seemed to suit the weather.

Friday when I arrived in Glasgow I got the bus to Cairndow and was then collected by Linda and Lucie and baby Anna!! She is gorgeous!! The whole rest of the weekend was all spent relaxing at my auntys house and awwing over Anna. Sunday I caught the 6pm train back to London....its the first time I have ever taken the train and what a lucky time to pick! I got back to loads of police at Kings Cross at midnight so decided to cab it home!

So this week: last night I almost fell asleep on the way home on the tube so did some food shopping then came in and went right to sleep! Tonight was dinner with Tanya, Ashley and Megan at Wagamamas in Covent Garden which was yummy as usual....even managed desert! Tomorrow I am planning pilates AND a run! I dont have much else planned for week, Tour De France is on Saturday and Sunday so want to see some of that. Otherwise I really do need to save something for all the travelling I want to do...at the moment I seem to think the money is just going to materialise from somewhere! Bah!

Happy Birthday to me....

2007-06-17T19:02:00.000+12:00

Well tomorrow I turn 27. I havent quite decided how I feel about this yet other than 'older'. Its not like turning 25 though or 21, its fairly inconsequential in terms of ages but all the same, I feel like something is changing!
Anyway seeing as my b-day is mid year, I have decided to make up some (more) resolutions as a birthday is kinda like your personal new year anyway.

1) I will spend less, make a budget and STICK to it!
This is the most important and I am really stuck between wanting to work as a permanant staff member to advance my career or working as a locum which although boring as hell, pays almost double so hopefully I can make a budget I can stick to and stay as a permanant and I wont feel quite so poor.

2) I will try and go to the gym at least once a week, if for nothing else than a pilates class.
My flatmate is a pilates instructor and she took me last Wednesday. I thought it was going to be all heavy breathing and stretching but I came out feeling like I had been through a workout! And my abs were killing me for about 2 days afterwards!

3) I will try and say 'yes' to every invitation that comes my way.
I am half poaching from 'The year of Yes' here but while she was after a date, I am just after a good time (in the least slutty way possible!! I dont mean it like that!!)

4) I will continue to go away as often as I can, to new and exciting places where possible.
Hello lastminute.com. You will be my best friend.

5) I will only shop at Zara and Mango and not New Look anymore
This obv excludes sale items! But I am 27, I should be at Zara and not NewLook. I have started by buying something to wear on Friday night from Zara, and not New Look. NL is cheap yes, fashionable not really.

6) I will try and SAVE some money
See how far down the list this is?? Obviously not shopping at teenybopper stores is more important to me than fiscal responsibility.

OK thats all I can think of for now.
This partly stems from being about to turn 27 and feeling like I dont have much to show for it, which is of course rubbish. Its just that everything is only worth something to me!

Anyway, what else has been happening....
Well the week before last I did quite a lot for someone with no money....on Tuesday I went to see FAME with a couple of lovely mates. I say lovely as it was another 20 quid for meal and tickets deal and we came out the restaurant and I directed us to Charing cross instead of Shaftsbury ave and we missed the first few minutes and they didnt mind. Lovely lovely people. The meal was at a tapas restaurant so we ordered up and ate heaps! As for Fame, I really enjoyed it but seriously, some of them needed to get their faux american accents sorted, they were terrible.

On Thursday I went to see Equus! I was soooooooooooo excited as I am a MAJOR Harry Potter fan and when Daniel Radcliffe came out on the stage I nearly stood up in excitement! I maanaged to restrain myself though as otherwise I knew they would eject me and I wouldnt get to see him naked later. On a serious note, the play was brilliant...I was totally drawn in and they only had 4 black boxes as props for everything. Fantastic acting. And the star naked? Priceless. Its finished now though, we paid top price for seats but it was well worth it.

On the Friday night I went to Alicias house for a BBQ. By the time the food was served there was no saving me...I had got though a bottle and a half of wine. In a panic I realised it was an hour back to my house and so rushed for the last tube and fell asleep on it. I only woke as when we were pulling into my stop I banged my head on one of the poles. Classy.
Unfortunately, 2 days of drunken-ness meant I was totally hungover on the Saturday so I promised myself I would stay in and tidy up my room a bit. I did stay in but did no tidying at all, rather ate my body weight in corn chips and guacamole and watched DVDs. Why am I single?? Am obviously such a catch.

Sunday I found myself back at The Church! Argh! Was limitedly better or worse this time, not sure which. I was with 5 other people this time, all male. I was hoping there would be a few girls but no such luck. You might be forgiven for thinking that if you are there with 5 blokes and you are hit on by an exceedingly horny drunk Irish guy that maybe they might chivalrously step in and assist you when its clear you dont want a shag in the bathrooms but no such luck. During time of said event, one was off pashing someone, one was taking pics of the stripper, one was at the bar and the other 2 were laughing at my extrication attempts. Nice work.

So this last week has been a LOT quieter. Mostly as I have been a LOT poorer!
I went to pilates on Wednesday night with my flatmate. I would feel all saintly at excercising but we actually went to the pub first and then to the class. No wonder I struggled.
On Thursday there was a NIGHTMARE drive to Cambridge for work. I was in a panic as I havent driven for 14 months. What a nice introduction...in the rain on the M25. Anyway I managed it OK, even though it took me double the amount of time it takes anyone else. Thursday night there was an expedition to Brent Cross with a workmate to get (him) some stuff. I found lots of stuff I liked and mentally spent my next paycheck.

Friday night was a dinner at said workmates flat with a bunch of other people. I took Sangria and managed to get quite mashed off it. We also watched Black Books which I had not seen for ages and found it very hysterical. Am amazed I got home ok, and worse, when I got home thought it would be a nice time to call home and chat to mum and dad drunkenly. Awesome. Sure they liked it too.

Saturday I was half thinking of going to the O2 but it was pouuuuuuuuuuring with rain so went with the original plan and stayed at home. Actually, I went to Asda and got a fab dress for 6 pounds! Brilliant saving I love a bargain. I have not yet decided if this is breaching the rules under my new resolutions. I did nothing else apart from a halfhearted clear out of clothes I dont wear which involved pulling them all out of my wardrobe, chucking 2 things away and then putting them all on the floor as I wanted to go to sleep.

Sunday, today, I had about a million unanswered texts so decided to top up my phone and finally answer people. That done I read all the trashy newspapers and fell asleep, only to awaken to phone ringing and imagining I was in a nightclub. Sadly though (maybe thankfully) I was not and so now have the unenviable task of re-folding and putting everything back that I dragged out and dumped on the floor yesterday. Bah.

Oh well birthday tomorrow.....that always means good things.

Q: WHats worse than the 'Walk of Shame' on a Sunday morning??

2007-06-04T21:29:00.000+12:00

A: doing the walk of shame when there was no action the night before and you were just too lazy to get the tube home.

Ah London, last week I was feeling a bit broke after coming back from Egypt so I didnt really do much. Monday, Bank holiday, I struggled to Tescos to finally get some food in, urgh I hate Tescos sometimes! After that I went out to dinner with my flatmate and her friends for her birthday. We went to Souk, a Morroccan restaurant in Covent Garden. She did apologise at the choice of food seeing as I had just got back from Egypt but it was really really nice. One of her friends read palms and told me I would be getting married in my late twenties!! I am 27 in a few weeks, thats late, hooray!! I wouldnt have taken it seriously if it had been bad news but am choosing to take it seriously. I also managed to get straight back on the alchohol bandwagon with 5 champange cocktails, nice work. You can get all kinds of small dishes there so we had a nice selection of bits and pieces and then stumbled home. Urgh.

Wednesday I went to one of my favourite bars in London, Queen Mary in the Thames!! I met up with a couple of people I met in Egypt to swop photos. It is such a nice bar as for starters, its actually a boat and it also has a fantastic view over London! I really like it and the weather was so nice I felt all happy about living here, how cheesy am I??!

Saturday I went to Zoo bar in Lecister Square. You have to get a party list on the door to get in, which I think over-rates it more than a little bit! I went with one of my past flatmates and 2 of her friends and it was great fun!! We managed to get in for free when they mistook us for being with a group from a party bus, score!! We were upstairs for a bit (laaaaaaaaaame, Shania Twain erm, I dont think so) before moving downstairs where the music was a bit better but the men were no hotter. It seemed to be the kind of theme of the night with lame lines ahoy! Was good fun though and I was having too good a time to leave! Luckily Amy was nice enough to let me stay on the couch at my old flat. It seemed like a good idea at the time but at 8am with the sun streaming in it seemed very very mistaken. I dived up and thank god managed to find a hair tie. I washed my fase as best I could but there was still the tell tale red-eyes that I could not hide. Sunday was a really really nice morning also but I was stuck walking in last nights clothes including a winter coat. I thought I was looking OK but the giant bottle of water I took with me might have given me away slightly on the tube, that and my shoes. Also, my tube station was closed so I had to hoof it from the closest station......by the time I got home I had sweated my hangover out!! Straight to bed and was goodbye to Sunday! Ah well, was good fun.

This week I am going to see 2 plays so am excited about that! But nothing much else on which is just as well as I dont have any money! Argh why why!! Always with no cash!! Oh well, at least it goes to good causes, like plays, rent and food.

2007-05-29T04:19:00.000+12:00

Before I even begin to 'blog' as it was, please let me apologise for the length of this blog which may be considerable!

I finally got back last night from Egypt!!! And it was amazing!!

I arrived at about 3pm on Sunday last week, fell immediately asleep from the flight (and WOW Swiss Air, def my new fav airline....and that has nothing to do with the swicc choc I promise). I was joining a tour group and met some of them and the guide later that night before more sleep! Next day was when the fun began!

Up early for breakfast....a bit of a mixed bag there of nice and inedible. Then it was off to the Egyptian Museum. Some of the stuff there is just amazing! Almost everything from King Tutenkahmens tomb is there and most of it gold encrusted. I swear they threw nothing away ever, way back when he was king...there were old socks and slippers and even (strangely was he only came into power at 10 years old) a linen condom. I saw his famous death mask and also paid extra to go into the mummy room. It was very very very creepy. It was Royal mummies and they were all lying in kind of glass coffins....most of them didnt look like they had been dead all those thousands of years! Creepy creepy.

After that we drove out to the Giza plateau to see the Pyramids!! Words cant describe these, they are just amazing! Our group, only 8 people by the way, took millions of pics.

From there it was back to el-crappola hotel for a swim and rest before our train journey that night, we were all getting to know each other at this stage and luckily everyone was really really nice! We all met up on the hotels rooftop restaurant to have something to eat and managed a shisha as well....so nice and chiled for the train then!

I dont have much to say about the train other than we got on at 9pm on Monday and arrived at 12pm Tuesday.......15 hours overnight, 1000kms, toilets that drop everything directly onto the tracks......and its best left at that.

Once we got off in Aswan it was clear that it was hotter than Cairo! About 38 degrees apparently! We all had a rush lunch and then headed out on the Nile for a little sail about to our Camel riding destination! That was freaky freaky, much bumpier than I thought! We also then visited a Nubian village and had a look in one of their houses....very primative but very welcoming and nice! Our guide then took us to a local school and taught us a bit about the arabic alpahbet and how to write out names etc.....was very plesant to get out of the heat! Our guide then took us to a local market where we could buy all kinds of stuff, at the expense of getting hassled like mad...I had 3 marriage offers in an hour and kept getting "nice eyes" comments....so sems like Egyptian men arent any more original than any others!!

Nexy day was a trip to Abu Simbel....I would love to tell you how great it was but my room-mate Megan and I got sick with "Egypt Belly" and spent the day popping Immodium, only getting up for some Uno playing on the top deck at about 7pm!

So, a day lost, next day was very full. We went to Kom-Ombo temple at 7am which was nice but not as nice as others we would see later. Back to the boat for breakfast it was BOILING hot so naturally decided an entire day of sunbathing on the top deck was required. The breeze created by the sailing gave me a false sense of the temperature, which was about 42 later in the day! After lunch there was a stop in Edfu and we had a horse and cart ride to Edfu temple. The boy driving our cart was only 10 years old! After the temple, Megan and I bargained hard for a pair of Galibeas (those kinda long arab looking thingies that look so cool in the heat..) to wear that night on the boat where there was a disco...fairly dominated by a middle aged group from Paris, but man they liked to party! They got Megan, Bronwyn and me up doing the macarena!

Next day, Friday, another full full day! We first went to the Valley of the Kings, what a desolate location! Amazing to think they actually dug those tombs out of the rock! I went into 2 of them but they were stifling and I started to feel like I was actually being mummified. We were all like zombies walking around in the heat, it was relentless. From there we went on to Al-Deir Al-Bahari temple, the temple of Queen Hatshepsuit. It was fantastic but the hear made it quite unbearable. We did another quick stop and the Clossi of Memon, which is still being excavated, before back to the boat. It was very pleasing to be in such a small group today as we were in a minivan where as most other tourists were in big busses and looked a bit miserable.

From there we moved to a hotel in Luxor and went to Karnack temple, by far my favourite. At one part of it there was 122 columns, 23 meters high each. Some of them still had colours on them, really breathtaking. There was one more stop at Luxor temple, also nice but not as nice, before back to the hotel.

At the hotel there was almost 3 hours before out group was splitting up! Megan and I went for a bit of a walk along the street before the harassment got to much and we went back to the hotel to eat! It was really nice as the entire group came down in parts and we all had quite a good laugh at the very very flirty waiter who gave Megan the eye and all the help she wanted, and then gave me the bill....thanks.

After dinner, Bronwyn, Steven and I were off back to Cairo on the train with our guide. I didnt sleep nearly as well this time and managed to avoid the toilets fully. We left at 9pm and arrived at 6.30am, small relief then that it was less distance.

Last day in Cairo...I was not upset about that!! By far the crappiest place of all the places we visited. First stop at 9am was the Step Pyramid at Saqqara.....5000 years old! We then made a quick visit to the 'Hanging Church' which is weirdly build oversome other ruins. Also slightly notable, the roof is made to look like Noahs Arc, was quite beautiful. Our final final last stop was at the Kahn el Khallili market, I would have been freaked here if it hadnt been for Seven and Bronywn, altho we still got lost all the same! Finally finding our way out, we were back to the hotel in Cairo for a bit of a sleep! Later we met up on the hotels rooftop restaurant for a few drinks and some dinner, was really a very nice ending!

Last part of the trip was getting a crazy taxi to the airport with a random Kiwi chick I met (thankfully, as the taxi was a bit third world..) and then getting a flight back to London and then shivvering in the 11 degree heat and the rain of London...ah well!!

So, with my tan already fading I am really wishing I was back on holiday again and am really wanting to go somewhere soon! Sadly, I have no more leave owing to me so have to make do with, well, NOT going anywhere! Bah!!

People do this every week...??

2007-05-15T19:30:00.000+12:00

6 sleeps and I am off to Egypt!! I cant really believe it! I have packed nothing!! I have done nothing!! Well thats kinda a lie...I raided primark for anything made of linen to take with me so it will be nice and light and can throw them away when I am back! Also I finally got my visa sorted...that was pretty funny...went to the Egyptian embassy and a visa is 15 quid.....the lady didnt have change of a 20 so told me to go get some.....I went out and looked at where I might get change....Louis Vuittion, Gucci, Chanel.....um change for a 20 anyone?? Had to walk for miles and finally found a chemist!

Well, what a weekend. Friday ended up falling flat but that was OK as called family for chatting and was nice to catch up a bit. Saturday I had the laziest day of my life. I told my brother I thought I was sick as I was so tired but he pointed out I was just laaaaaaaaaaazy. Thanks Neil. The weekend really came into its own on Sunday when I finally did the TNT suggestion and went to The Church.

If you dont know what I am talking about, the web is www.thechurch.co.uk and its not at all spiritual. Its kinda a bar, kinda a sleazy greasy joint!!
I didn't know what to expect so let me paint you a picture.....from the outside it looks like a dis-used hall, there are no signs or anything so you might not know otherwise. Inside its dark dark (esp as it opens at 12 so its like the middle of the day!) We got there at 1.3pm and it was already underway. There was a comedian on the stage whos repoitre seemed to be mostly getting Kiwis to slag Aussies and Aussies to slag South Africans and South Africans to slag Kiwis etc etc. Not that funny in other words. There was a heaving crowd down the front but we had quite a good possie at the bar and stayed there.
After him there was a stripper....I had heard there was so wasnt suprised. She was quite lame tho, one song of dancing and another song where she took her top off but that was it. Then was some dancing I think. I had consumed 3 vodkas by this stage, mostly as there wasnt much else to do!!
After the music and dancing the stripper came back on, and it was obviously the hardcore section of the show. She got totally naked (wasnt expecting that!!!!) rubbed herself in baby oil, sat on a chair and fondled herself on the stage, all highly visible!! I should day, I was there was 2 guys and while I couldn't watch her (blergh no thanks), they had given up all pretension of not watching and were openly panting hahaha!!
Anyway after that was drinking games, then a kind of amature stripping contest for the guys. There was maybe 6 of them and they all got as naked as they day they were born....was amusing but also slightly disturbing!! By this stage I was totally smashed....you buy your drinks in lots of 3 so had just had 6 vodkas before 3pm. Crikey.
From there was onto a pub, then another pub, then a pub lunch (yum!!) then more drinking....I went out at 1pm and got home at 10.30pm, still drunk, I got lost on the tube.
I cant believe people do that every weekend! Is it the same stripper every week?? Who knows. Do they ever have a male stripper?? Judging by the dudes there it would start some anxiety attacks among them.
You know I never thought I would go but I had a really good time!! I will be going again I think, just not every weekend!!

Baaaaaaaaaank holidays....

2007-05-09T06:48:00.000+12:00

Well it was a bank holiday last weekend just gone and I started the partying around....Tuesday night, ending last night.

Tuesday was dinner at YO! Sushi with Alicia....kinda an anniversary dinner almost as I had arrived a year ago (cake went down fab at work by the way!). Was very niiiiiiice as always....even when I got a bit drunk and tried to cause a suishi dish pile up and send my empty beer bottle away on the conveyor belt (was not successful)

Wednesday night I went to see 'The Letter' at the Wyndhams Theatre. I got a FANTASTIC deal on www.lastminute.com which was dinner (at Planet Hollywood - mmmmm ribs) and then theatre for 20 quid!! 3 of us went and all thought that 'Planet Hollywood' teamed with a psychological crime thriller was a strange mix. I have to admit I was a bit dubious about the deal but the seats were just brilliant.....and only the second night the play was open as well (I felt very grown up going to see that rather than a musical!)

Thursday night was dinner again with 2 old mated from Contiki....one of whom has just come back from Australia. Was totally brilliant to see them and I could have chatted all night but my wallet would not allow it.

Friday I caught a plane to Edinburgh to see my cousin and stay for the rest of the bank weekend!!! I was soooooooo excited to arrive and see her as I hadn't see Nicola properly since Christmas! We drank and caught up on Friday night before I almost fell asleep on the spot and collapsed into bed. When we finally got up and got ready on Saturday there was only one place to go......the Edinburgh Dungeons!!! I loved loved the London one and the Edinburgh one was kinda as good, but really not. It was about half the price and prob half the fun as well. Best bit was one of the characters taking a kind of a 'shine' to me and pretending to dry hump me (Nicola nearly cried laughing), threw a blanket at me and told me to "Smell it Skank". Little did I know it would be one of the best offers I had all weekend......

Saturday night I had especially purchased a very expensive top from Oasis for maximum fun times and I feel it was slightly wasted in Edinburgh.....let me explain...Nicola and I went to 3 very very different clubs. We started at the Walkabout (I am collecting the set...) which was OK to rubbish. From there we moved to Espionage, 3 floors of clubbing which was also OK to average. I forget the name of the last club but it was one of the last open and cost 6 quid to get in.....was bah bah. In every club we went to, they played Dolly Parton "Nine to Five". I kid you not. They like their Dolly in Edinburgh. There was also about a million hen and stag nights there.....you could tell them from their various states of dress up. I have to be honest here and say most of them were English, could be told apart from the dressed up Scottish guys as there were in kilts (clubbing!!!!)

Anyway after a hellish recovery on Sunday morning, we went to see 'Blades of Glory' in the afternoon. Was hysterical (and incidentally, discovered one of the lines used on me the night before was from the movie...). After the movie we decided to tear up the dancefloor, virtually by ourselves, at the Walkabout. Was very very funny, especially when the mlleted DJ played 'Nine to Five' again, closely followed by 'Jolene'.....I suspect by request.....like I say, they like their Dolly up there.

Monday we went to the castle....Nicola and I have a cousin in the Army who does a lot of work there and tried to blag free entry but he wasnt about so had to pay, but was very reasonable, especially compared to London prices! I have been there before and was amazed at how much I remembered of it, but was still brilliant to see again.

Was back to the airport after that and it was very sad!! Am definetly planning another weekend soon.....maybe work some other clubs and see Nicola again!

This week I am most definetly out of cash so am going to try and keep it on the down low....especially as I am already in plans for the weeked....going for drinks on Friday, flat-warming on Saturday and am finally biting the bullet and am going to visit "The Church" on Sunday, unless I can get out of it! Then one more week before the Klaxons and Egypt!!

12 Happy Months!

2007-05-01T10:08:00.001+12:00

Well I thought it only prudent to post when my ticker bar has finally reached 12 months here in the UK!! How exciting!! Cake for everyone tomorrow at work (sorry if your reading this remotely)

So, a 12 month round-up then: (in the fashion of Bridget Jones)

Countries Visited - 15

France
Spain
Italy
Germany
Switzerland
Austria
Croatia
Czech Republic
Hungary
Holland
Vatican City (OK stretching here....might as well count...)
Monaco (OK a princapality but I count it!)
Belgium
Slovenia
Liechtenstein
And in transit......Bonsnia
Which also does not include Scotland and Ireland and the Chanel Islands-yay Guernsey!(and obviously England)

Stamps in Passport - (2)

Bosnia x 2 (have to drive through it to get to the bottom of Croatia)

Money Earnt

Say 11000 pounds (on off working, and hard to say without my P60)

Money Saved

0 pounds

Money Spent

10998 pounds

Approximate percentage of money earnt spent on rent in London

Random Pashes

approximately 25-35

Approximate percentage of Random Pashes that were casualties of the walkabout

Random snogs who became freakish stalkers

Visitors to England who slept on my floor or in my bed (with ME on the floor) (4)

Neil
Andrea
Nicola
Laura

Favourite place in England visited so far

Newquay or maybe Guernsey

Favourite place overall

Glasgow

Celebrities Spotted (2)

Louis from 'X Factor' coming out of Harrods
that skinny girl from Hollyoaks shopping on Oxford Street

'Best Buy' in London

Harrods Earl Grey Tea....about 1 pound a bag but comes individually wrapped and says London on it....

Most amount of money spent in PRIMARK in one session (73 pounds)

Work skirt
Denim skirt
t shirts x 3
jumpers x 3
cardigan
neclaces x 4
belt x 2
shoes x 2
bag
tights x 2
jacket
gloves
hat

Favourite new shop (thus abandoning Glassons)

H&M...could it be any cheaper!! (well yes sometimes)

Most number of Snakebites consumed in one sitting

8 (and thus I dont drink them anymore)

Biggest mis-conceptions about London now abolished (3)

The weather is crappy all the time - its not bad at all!! Barely ever rains which is a mojor improvement on Auckland anyway
That I will be earning loads and loads or money - yeah if you convert it!! and not forgetting it costs more to live here than just about anywhere else!
People are rude and unfriendly - no more than anywhere else and every time I have needed help people have fallen over themselved to give me a hand (lugging my suitcases up the stairs at tube stations for instance)

Thing I miss most about home

Not being able to go to the beach on the weekend....but thats more as I dont have a car here......I also miss Pineapple Lumps

Replacement soaps for Shortland Street

Hollyoaks.....soooooooooo trashy

Strangest tourist moments

Trying to say "thank you for the lovely meal" in German in a pub full of old men and getting a round of applause and a free postcard.
Realising with horror that the smutty, filthy conversation I was having in English was being perfectly understood (and avidly listened to) in Munich
Seeing King Stephens mummified holy right hand at St Stephens Basilica in Budapest from 1038. Just. plain. strange.
Amsterdam

Best Tourist Attractions

Eiffel Tower - at dusk was super beautiful. Would have been super romantic also had I not been with my brother
The London Dungeon - it is FANTASTIC!!!! SO much so I permanantly advertise for them with the mug on my desk
Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia - I know I am from NZ and should have some loyalty but this was really the most beautiful place I have ever been to in my life

I dont know what else to say other than this past year has been one of the most exciting and fulfilling of my life.....roll on the next 12 months with hopefully as much travel and fun as the last 12!

London Time

2007-04-23T08:49:00.001+12:00

Wow what a day. The weather just keeps getting better and better at the moment and its so nice to be out in the sunshine......my mood improves immeasurably.

My week has been kinda quite, mostly as I had no money! I did have a small boost in cash though when my horse came second in the Grand National so I won 20 quid in the weekend sweepstakes at work! Was very welcome!! Thats all gone now though, thank god for payday tomorrow! I really had a very quiet week, going out on Wednesday only to catch up with a friend which was nice. Friday I went for Dinner at Alicias house. Was very very nice! We were going to walk down to the pikey pound fair but after finishing a bottle of wine and wondering down very very slowly we missed it so went to funny funny local pub instead. I felt like I was in 'Only Fools and Horses' as the landlord was a bit oldre behind the bar and was wearing a shirt and tie. His wife (I think) was also there serving drinks and it was all very middle England and fantastic!! There was also karaoke on and most of the people were obviously regulars as most of the people in the pub seemed to know them. Alicia was planning on singing but by the time we thought about that it was almost closing time. We went home and I just fell straight to sleep.

Next day I had a very very lazy Saturday, just finishing up some washing and the like before going to a BBQ at another friends house. It was all very very low key and I was home by 1am.

Today though I got up and was out for the London Marathon!! Last year at this time I watched all of it on TV as I was only 2 weeks away from leaving and I was so so so excited! I just had to see it in the 'flesh' and really it was fantastic! I was at the 25 mile mark from about 3 hours running time to 4 1/2 hours running time so it was mostly still really good runners coming through and not many of those people you see all dressed up in costume yet. It really is a stunning setting and I had a great time.....kinda makes me feel like wanting to do it myself but you cant run unless you run for a charity and I am really not a runner, even if I started training now! Anyway was just unreal to see it.

Next weekend I have a fair bit of shopping etc to do as I have to start getting organised for Egypt which I am off too in 4 weeks! How exciting!! I have to get some floaty cover up things so as not to be over-exposed! Before that though I am off to Edinburgh to visit my cousin, looking forward to that! I am also hopefully going to go to a Butlins party weekend! Last check though there was only one cabin left though so not sure if I will....will find something else if not! There are millions of cheap air fares around at the moment so will try for somewhere else if it doesnt work out! I must save some money soon though, all my cash goes on going away!

Surf City and Summertime

2007-04-16T09:46:00.000+12:00

Well the weather has been FANTASTIC lately!! Last weekend I went to Newquay and it couldnt have been nicer! Arrived on the Friday and went right to bed I was so tired. Come the Saturday, Alicia and I were raring to go! Had a look around the shops (all a bit lame) and then went to the beach! At first I was excited to see all the waves and white sands and so decided to go for a paddle. I swear to god that if that water hadnt been salty it would have been frozen. Soooooooooo cold. People were in swimming though as the sunshine was warm and lovely! Had a great afternoon on the beach and then in the bar, got slightly drunk and sunburnt but its just not a holiday without sunburn!

That night was a big BBQ at the hostel which was really nice, apart from the meat!! We then went to a big beachside pub next door and had loooooooots of drinks and dancing! Was so so much fun. I finally staggered home at 4.30am!! What an insane time! It felt like even more of an insane time the next say when we had to leave at 9am for a full day of activity. We started off going to St Ives, was so so lovely and I was absolutely charmed!! After a half day there we went to St Michaels Mount which is opposite Penzance. Was also lovely but I declined to climb the hill and instead lay on the beach.

After that we went to Lands End. We were dropped off about a mile before it and walked around the coastline to it. The views were stunning and it was easily worth the walk.

After that we went to this amazing outdoor theater kinda cut into the hillside to see a performance of Les Miserables by Kidz R Us. I had a hard time remembering that it was children I was watching they were soooooooo good.

I was knackered after all that activity!!

Next day we were on our way back and we went to Tintagel and to Tintagel Castle, the birthplace of King Arthur!! To be honest I wasnt wowed by it and so had another spell in a charming pub before making our way back to London. I was pleased as I managed to get another charm for my charm bracelet......a mini cornish pastie!!

This week has not been quite so busy....mostly as I am beyond broke!! I struggled through worl on Tuesday....was a bit of an effort to say the least! Wednesday I had a loooooooooooooong sleep, so needed. Thursday I went out with my cousin who is down in London at the moment....ended up dashing the diet with dinner plus desert. Did the same on Friday with dinner with some people from work (and drinks and desert....disaster!!). Saturday was a bit better, went out for a few drinks on Saturday night for a random persons birthday which turned out to be quite fun and managed not to break the diet too much!! Today, Sunday, was a diet write off! Went to meet an old flatmate of mine for drinks and a big gossipy catch up and general man bitch fest (not in my good books right now!) and ended up staying for the roast with all the trimmings and dessert. Again. Oh am not too good at the diet thing but I am loosing weight slooooooooooooooooooowly! Like gram by gram. No one wants to sacrafice having a life though! Me especially.

Completely have to reign it in this week though...makes it easier with the nice weather though.....today was one of those days where even though the sun has gone down you can feel the heat coming off the pavement! I think mext week my expenses are going to be hanging out in the park and not the pub!

Eassssssssssster

2007-04-03T08:50:00.001+12:00

I cant believe its Easter this weekend!! Time seems to be going so fast at the moment but sadly not fast enough towards another pay day.
I am going to Cornwall, in specifically Newquay....surf city!! I am going with Alicia on Friday so should be heaaaaaaps of fun....coming back on Monday afternoon then my cousin is coming down from Glasgow to spend a week with me! Phew.
Lucky I have a lot to do as it has taken my mind off food! I started a diet last week and god last week was hard!! This week I am looking forward ot it though but my friend at work has just come back from a big holiday and I find it hard not to join in with his snacking Argh! It is slightly disheartening when you only lose a kilo in a week but I guess you have to look at the long term and whether you really want to be thinner or not! I am not having size zero fantasies or anything, I just want to make-sure I maintain the size I am at. Or rather was....I laughed off the "Heathrow Injection" when I came here but I have put on 6kgs since then! Altho suppose thats not too bad in 11 months. In the TNT every week they have things that you have to do while you are in London...this week was loose the 10kgs that you put on when you arrived....its all a sign!!
Anyway other than that I havent been up to an awful lot lately...I FINALLY registered with a doctor, what a freaken mission! Just in time for that I had 2 days of work sick. Have been on the phone to mum and dad a lot as now I have a phoneline its just too easy! I meant to go to the Victoria and Albert Museum on the weekend but too much of a good night on Saturday made me waaaaaaaaaaaaay too tired!
Anyway have to go......need to think about getting some nice easter eggs for the weekend but at the moment tho I am watching the Brady Bunch movie and I had forgotten how funny it is......thank god its daylight savings....I am getting weird cabin fever with this mental winter weather....

Another Busy Weekend

2007-03-11T22:55:00.000+13:00

Well the last couple of weeks have been busy as usual....
Last week I was out Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday nights and then felt so tired I didnt have much of a weekend! Monday I caught up with some friends from my last work. It was someones birthday and so I had to cradle a plant on the very very crowded tube!! It survived OK and then started to wilt in the very smoky pub! I have seen a pic though and it survived!
Tuesday night I had a kind of date which was lots of fun!! Went to dinner and a kind of bar which was good fun....something I love about London, every time you meet someone new you find new places to go!
Wednesday was dinner with some friends who wanted the goss on the night before! There wasnt much goss to give though but the conversation was excellent anyway!! I think we were louder than the whole restaurant!
Friday a friend came over and stayed the night and we had a few drinks (New Zealand wine!!) and some food and lots of laughs. Next day we went shopping and then stupidly lugged all our bags to the movies! We saw music and lyrics which had a lot of potential that it failed to meet. Bummer. Was fun anyway. Sunday I finally had a relax!
This week I was determined to have a quiet week as its getting far away from my last payday and I am starting to feel it! However, on Tuesday I went out with another friend I hardly ever see.....we had a nice Chinese meal and then kinda went clubbing! On a Tuesday! Was good fun though even though there was no talent at all!
Friday night I went for dinner with some friends and one of their mothers who is over from Australia. Was a hysterical night!! Its nice to have someones mother here sometimes! We finished up early though and I made a long overdue call home as I finally got my landline connected.
Saturday I had another date which was hysterically fun as involved bumper cars! Was very good. I wasn meant to be meeting up with some other friends later but they were a bit too drunk so never happened.
On Sunday (today) I had lunch with some friends at a creperie (didnt know they could be so niiiiiiiice....salmon and potato...yum!!) and then went to the Kylie Exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum. It was fantastic!!!! Loads and loads of her costumes all in one area. Most of them were fantastic but may were a bit naff. Was excellent considering it was freeeeeeeeeeeee
As for next week, I have 3 things lined up but like to keep it all open as who knows what goes on with St Patricks day next weekend! Yay!!

Almost Spring!

2007-03-05T10:03:00.000+13:00

I would like to say that the weather is getting nicer and nicer but all last night and all today it has been raining raining raining!! The only good thing about that is that it would have been a good opportunity to clear up my room and do some boring stuff like washing.

I say would have been as obviously, that is not what I did. I bought a donut and a magazine and lazed all day! Its much easier to be lazy now I have the internet at home as there is always something to look at!

At the moment I am trying to decied what to do for the next couple of weekends.....am thinking of maybe going to Bath if I get the chance and nothing else comes up. Other than that I am planning on coming back to NZ for a visit in Feb next year but will have some holidays left over so plan to use them maybe going to Egypt. I dont want to go much longer than 8 or so days so that should be OK.

Anyway hopefully now I am out of the dark ages and onto broadband I am hoping I can load some pics up......

Yay yay!!! Working as you can see.....

This is me at the Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia last September...sooooooooooo nice!!!

More of the lakes on the left.....the pictures do it no justice.....it is 16 lakes all joined together with waterfalls....very very breathtaking!

Of course, no pictures I post would be complete without some alcohol related ones.....

First, one of Anna, Nicole, Andrea and I at the Guiness Brewery in Dublin.....

Was a fantastic time, owed in large to Andrea ferrying us all around in the Lambulance.

Finally, quite a drunk one from Australia day....from a part of the night I remember thankfully!

Happy, snowy, rainy times

2007-02-13T08:10:00.000+13:00

Well I realise I havent posted for ages ans ages and really, I have been having too good a time to have the time!
I now have a permanant job so I am almost solvent at the moment!! By the time I get paid I will have been waiting 6 weeks for a pay....only 2 weeks to go and its getting grim! Someone sugested today that they might like to put a hat around the office for me if it gets any worse!
Other than that I have been up to a LOT! My brother was here with me for all of January which was goooood and we did tons of stuff. Day one was a tourist bus ride all over London in the only wet day we had. When we got off we were frozen into position. This may have had something to do with the fact that we sat on the top deck of the open air bus the whole way through the tour! We later went Shopping in Oxford street and then to harrods and then home. Phew. Day two was Madame Tussades and then some shopping (again, and it wasnt my idea this time) and then something else I dont remember. Day 3 was a tour of the Chealsea grounds (Stamford Bridge......was actually excellent!) and then onto the Tower of London and then meeting up with my friends and drinking and dancing the night away!! Was a great night! Next day was Saturday and we went to Portobello Road markets and looking all about before going to the Russian festival in the city which was fun. Were quite tired though so more pub food (mmmmmmm toad in the hole!!) and then home!
Next day was a Sunday but no rest for us, oh no. We flew to Scotland and saw some of our relatives and had a tiny little relax!! Wasnt as relaxing coming back though as had to heave my suitcases back from Glasgow that I had left there. Oh joy was fun. Got back from Scotland on the Wednesday (1p flights....seemed like a bargain!) and then on the Thursday we attempted to go to Paris!! I say 'attempted' as the weather was so bad that day the eurostar couldnt travel so we went the nexy day instead and had 2 great nights there where we saw the mona lisa and the venus de milo and went up the tower and cruised down the seine......would have all been rather romantic if it hadnt been my brother!!
Next day was Monday and I started my new job which I LOVE!!!! Makes me even gladder that I left the last one!!! It is still in London at the moment but I have to get a car soon as sometimes it takes us all over the place. So far I have managed to get around that by getting a lift with someone else but the time is coming when I am going to have to get a car of my own. Oh god am dreading it!! I need to have a few driving lessons in a manual first I think!!

Now onto the weather.....
Well it has snowed TWICE while I have been here...the other day I walked to work in the falling snow which was fantastic (How lame am I!) I forgot that snow is actually WET though, not just pretty and I was damp and frizzy by the time I got to work. Nice. Today though it has been nothing but RAIN!! I am in an internet cafe at the moment and I can actually see the drops from here. I am so dreading walking home!! Would like a car in this instance!
Other than that my weekend was not too eventful for me. Saturday consisted of catching up for lunch with a couple of newly-wed friends of mine....were both so smitten was lovely!!! Sunday was lunch again but again turned into an impromtue pub crawl!! Not good when it is 2 for one cocktails and there is work the next day, no not good at all. Its actually the first time I have had a drink since Australia day where I lost half my night and all of the next day thanks to the demon booze!! OOh, did go the the London Dungeons though.....was very very scary!!! Higly recommended for dates (again, was with the brother so no action there)
Otherwise no other news to speak of!!! I think I am getting my own internet sorted this weekend so that should be niiiiiiiiiiiiice and I wont have so sit in these pits any longer! Might have to wait till I have had a payday though.

Hope everyone is good and happy and life is treating them well.......I am in such a buzzy place at the moment I am starting to feel guilty as a few of my friends are having really hard times right now! I am sure it will clear up with the rain though.

Not sure all fo this makes sense.........sorry if it does not.

New Year!!

2007-01-09T06:27:00.000+13:00

Well I had no sooner promised to put up some pics and then they blocked the blogger website at work!! This is the first time I have had a chance to email since then!
Well Christmas was brilliant and New Year was even better. I was in the lovely Dublin and had ba fantastic time.
Nicole, Anna and I flew over to Dublin on Friday the 29th after work after a big rush and duty free shop. Our plane had to attempt to land a couple of times before we made it down but finally were there and piled into the "Lambulance" and heading to Andreas house.
Saturday was spent going around Malahide Castle which was pretty nice and then onto the Guiness Brewery which was much more my style!
Sunday, New Years Eve, we went to Newgrange and then back home to start drinking before heading out. It was a fantastic night and we got home about 4.30!! Nice work girls!!
Monday I had to catch a flight back to London and I thought I was going to die right on that plane from the hangover from hell. Ah well made it back OK though and even dragged myself back into work the next day. Oh yucko.
Anyway had my last week of work last week and it was fantastic to finish! I went out with the girls from work on the Friday night and got quite hammered on Strawberry beer. OOh its so nice you would barely know it was beer!
Saturday was crappy weather here so I didnt do much but ended up having a DVD night with Tanya and getting to bed quite early. Sunday I watched so much TV! I bought a freeview box last week and now I get millions of channels!! Its fantastic!! When the BBC is only showing house style shows I get to watch Friends or Joey or something like that! I also walked into Acton High Street and had a little look but there is NOTHING there!
Anyway....no other news from me....my brother arrives tomorrow night so I will be up to lots of touristy pursuits so looking forward to that!

Boring boooooring Blogs

2006-12-21T16:02:00.000+13:00

Well I have just been looking back at my blog and have realised it has been some mighty time since I posted any pics. I plan to remedy that immediately....starting tomorrow. If I can manage to bring some to work, the miracle that is high speed internet will help me.

In other news, planning a Christmas dinner now for me and Nicola and Tanya. I am so excited....am going to Homebase tonight to get some decorations!! Nicola is coming down on the 22nd so it will be a weekend of drinking from then on. Tanya is coming over on the 24th till Boxing day so hurrah for the more the merrier.
Otherwise, we had a secret santa here at work which only minorly relieved the boredom for a tiny while. Lots of people seemed to get shower gel and the like. I was no exception except mine was from the Body Shop where as lots of people got ones from Tesco. hahahaha.
Last night I went to Harrods with Alicia to get me in the festive kind of mood. It would have worked except it was depressing not being able to afford anything!! I was determined to buy something though so I got my Christmas pudding from there! Its 6 months old or something and apparently that makes it better but it was still the most expensive pudding I will ever buy. I also saw Louie Walsh, the X Factor judge, coming out with a big bag. My first celebrity spotted in London!! Alica also gave me the nicest neclace that she had made!!! What a champ!

The next few days is all getting final persents and Christmas card competions with my flatmates. I am in a healthy streak ahead but fingers crossed for more today. I actually cannot wiat to gt home. It has been FREEZING here the last few days. So cold that you can see your breath all day!! Apparently todays "high" is just 5!!. How insane. I swear that this hospital doubles as an industrial fridge. The lab is OK but as soon as you want to go for a walk somewhere else you have to bundle up in a coat and scarf or you will lose extremities.

Anyway this was only going to be short. I am in a chipper mood though so the festive smas spirit is making me chatty.
Will post Christmasy pics tomorrow!!

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas tree...

2006-12-19T01:22:00.000+13:00

Well I cannot believe it was nearly a year ago when I first sat down and started this little blog. Back in December last year I was sitting at work bored and here I am doing the same thing a year later....sitting at work bored. Everyone is at lunch I think so I am taking advantage. I dont think much has changed, except for the climate and the country obviously. Certainly my typing is still heinously bad.

Well last week was a good one. I went out on Wednesday night with Anna and Nicole. We went for dinner which was nice, and planned and entire years worth of mini-weekend-breaks as we all hate our jobs at the moment and need some encouragement to get us to the New Year. We then ended up trying our hand at some of the attractions in Lecister square, without any success. I blame the wine we had consumed. It got to the stage of almost being charitable, the amount of money we were wasting! None of us won anything but to be fair, most of the toys look a little worse for wear as though they had been sitting there for awhile.
Friday night came and I was way way too exhausted to do anything. I have been running to Hammersmith or Shepherds bush almost every night to pick up one or two final things and I was exhausted! Didnt help that I got on the wrong bus leaving Hammersmith and so ended up on a bridge going I dont know where. Managed to get off without looking like I was lost and getting a bus back in the other direction. I came home Friday, call and then just collapsed into bed, oh with 2 Simpsons boxed sets to keep me company! I love them Simpsons!!

Saturday afternoon Anna and I braved the Oxford St crowds and managed to stay in the festive spirit which was amazing. I shamelessly kept pulling my camera out and taking photos of all the Christmas lights which I will attempt to load on here later. Some of them are sooooooo nice. I still havent seen the giant Norwegian tree, mostly because I have forgotten where in London it is. After gawping like a couple of wide eyed toursists, we went to a Chinese restaurant where the staff took in turns to be entirely over enthauastic or totally indifferent. Bit strange but nice. We went to an Irish pub after that where we met 3 nice Irish guys but sadly (or not, I am still not sure) we had tickets to go and see the beautiful Daniel Craig in the new James Bond movie. I give the movie 2 out of 5 but Daniel get about a 7 out of 5. Was worth it just for his icy stare.

Sunday was the laziest of lazy days yet. I fought the fear and went to the Asda and not the much closer but much less selection Iceland. I really really hate Asda and have found the only way I can brave it is if I go with my ipod plugged in and at full volume and then I dont have to hear children screaming or Christmas Carols or any other profanities. It wasnt even that busy so that made my day even better. For once I came out without feeling murderous. After that I had a lot of phone calls before getting to bed! In hindsight, I wish I had thought about what I was going to wear for New Year as I am definetly going to Dublin and now I dont know what to wear and am sure i have to buy something as all my new year dresses from previous years are designed for a much warmer climate. Hmmm. Will have to brave Christmas shops once AGAIN!
Like I mind!!

Working nine to five...

2006-12-13T03:08:00.000+13:00

OK well I have not updated for a bit so now I have some downtime here goes!
I managed to get some more work in Guernsey and went back there for 3 weeks. Was good again but not as good as last time as it was dark so early there that I couldnt really do anything as I didnt want to get mowed down by a car when there is no pavement and barely any street lighting! Was nice nice to be earning though!
After 3 weeks there I was wierdly asked back to the job I originally had in London so that was convenient to get to, but also strange coming back. Most people just acted like I had been on holiday for the past 3 months and they just hadn't seen me! Although I have only been here for a week it feels like lifetime...roll on my brother visiting!!

Other than work I have been keeping a full schedule. Before leaving Guernsey I went for dinner with 2 ladies from work there which was nice. I had the most delicious steak ever and really did stuff myself. I also had entirely too much red wine so by the time I had to go home I was a bit fuzzy and also had to get straight to bed as I had to catch a plane back to London the next day. I managed to get to the airport OK, (unlike getting to Guernsey where I was the LAST person on the plane...they were about to do the "will the remaining passenger..." call. Had to walk past everyone to get to my seat, was mortifying).

After I got back and finally got to my room I had to do about 100 loads of laundry as I had left tons there, seeing as I left in a hurry, and had brought all mine back with me so that was a glam Saturday afternoon. Housework and non-drinking never lasts long though so after Anna came over to collect her mail I went with her to Primark and spent about £50 on what I do not know. That was enough to make anyone thirsty so it was off to the pub after that for dinner and yes more drinking! Sunday was uneventful as I wasnt feeling too well and so just hibernated in bed. I didnt really even bother tidying up all that much so it was a bit of a disaster on Monday morning trying to find clean clothes and make it to work on time. Luckily, or not, I remembered all the passwords and log-ons I had so I managed to slip right back in with no problems. Last week felt like I had never been away!

This past weekend was a good one. On Friday Tanya came over and we had a few drinks and watched a DVD as we had to get up at the crack of dawn the next day to go to Belgium for the Christmas markets for the day! It was truly awful getting up at 4am but I fell asleep on the bus down to Dover so that was not too bad. I still have a sore neck though! After the bus then the ferry then the bus again we finally got to Brugge and went to the Christmas markets there! It was so so so pretty, they had a big ice skating rink in the middle of it all and I partook in rather a lot of very festive mulled wine. I also bought some Christmasy stuff and obviously lots of chocolate. It was good fun as 6 of us were all there toghther so we wondered about and just had a nice festive day. At about 5 we caught the bus back to the ferry then back to Dover then back to London. It was awesome coming back into London with all the lights on, the London eye especially was looking very very nice in a kind of purple. Incidentally, Blue and Purple and their derivatives seem to be the colours of choice here at the moment, all the really fancy trees have been blue and I even bought al tiny Christmas tree for the lounge at home and its black with Purple and Pink glass baubles on them. Very cute.

Anyway, on Sunday I had a burger King craving so Tanya and I fed that obsession and did some shopping (I cannot resist Primark £4 pijamas)and then met up with another friend and we went into Lecister square and yes, yet again went to a pub and had some drinking. I forget where we went but it was not the pub I wanted which was called something like 'The Surgeons Scalpel'. After rather a lot of drinking and catching up, we went to dinner and then to see 'The Holiday' which made me want my own Jude Law, or at least my own festive boyfriend. And then the movie finished and I thought that maybe I didn't. There is a big fun fair kind of thing in Lecister Square at the moment and I really really wanted to go on some of the rides but it was late and really I thought I would be back there soon.

Phew and that brings me up to date! This weekend I almost want to go to the Christmas markets in York but I dont have anything else to buy so think I wont. There is some talk to going ice skating at the Tower of London on Saturday so will have to try and manage that. Also on the agenda is trying some of those rides and also booking my Christmas and New Year events. Its looking greatly like I will be going to Dublin for New Year which will be awesome but more on that late. As for jobs, I may also have more on that later but will have to seeeeeeeeeeeeeee....

OooooooooohhhhhhhhhWeeeeeeeee

2006-11-08T15:26:00.000+13:00

OK well it is offical that I am as bored as hell. There is just no work in London at the moment for a highly trained professional such as myself and so far the job agencies I am with (last count 5) have been offering me things like 10pm to 10am in Manchester somewhere which I understandably havent been keen on. I am not destitute yet but will be from Friday when my rent is due. On the upside, since being unemployed I have never been out and drunk so often, although that will have to end ASAP.
Actually I should have ended that sooner. First weekend I was back from holiday we took a new girl to the Walkabout in Shepherds Bush for a taste of what they are like. I personally use it as a kind of tool to remind me why I left the country, but it can be fun. It was a messy messy night. Lucky I live so close by. On he Sunday I caught up with a friend I hdan't seen for aaaaaaaages and we went for lunch. After that an inpromptue pub crawl began all over Covent Garden and Soho (yes just the 2 of us) which ended in some much too classy for us bar and a 16 quid plate of chicken strips on little sticks. Harder to eat than you might think after a pub crawl.
After that the next weekend was farewell drinks for another friend somewhere in Oxford Street. I was trying to be sensible and just drink half pints but they were only a pound and so that sensible attitude was not going to happen. Oh well I had good intentions.
This past weekend my cousin came down from Edinburgh to go and watch the All Blacks play at Twickenham and so we went out on the Saturday night. We started at a boat bar in the Thames (really is a boat, the swaying bothers you less after a few drinks) and then moved onto another Walkabout, this time the Temple one. Someone was there taking a lot of pics for I dont know what so I am in a lot of them. Not sure why. Also managed to slit my finger open on a large piece of glass (was trying to get it off the bottom of my boot!) but luckily some kindly gent rushed to get me a plaster and then gave me money to get a cab! I refused but he hailed one down also so was rude to refuse. If not a bit strange. Sunday saw the All Blacks game which I trecked to with another friend (I hate my tube line its always closed!) Was good fun, especially as I seemed to insult everyone else by supporting England but it amused me to do that. Sadly, the All Blacks won and I had it rubbed in my face. The only way I could shut everyone up was by pointing out that England has the world cup.
Anyway its almost time for 'Deal or no Deal'. I have seen ot so often that I am starting to know the participants by name. Its frightening.

Anyway I was going to include a pic of Croatia to show I did have a good holiday even if it is shite at the moment but I cant get it to load up. And even though I have unlimited time available to me I am sick of waiting!

Everyone cross your fingers and toes that anoter job comes to me soooooooooooooooooooooon....I need the cash for my holiday in January!

Freaky internet thingy

2006-10-26T00:15:00.000+13:00

There are always so many weird things on the internet....this is definetly one of them, click on the link and decide whether the picture is of a computer geek or a serial killer.
I only got 4 out of 10.....
http://www.malevole.com/mv/misc/killerquiz/

2006-10-24T18:30:00.000+13:00

Well what to do….what to do. At the moment I am not working and it is SOOOOOOOOOO BORING!! OK, so I have only not been working for a few days (well 5 days, not including the weekend). I am signed with 3 agencies and they are looking for work for me (well I think 2 might be, if one is it is very lazy)
Other than that though, I am actually really really excited to be back in London! I have been out Friday and Sunday night and there is just always so much happening! Friday was just some drinks at the local Walkabout but Sunday started as a lunch date that turned into a liquid dinner. A friend and I had an impromptu pub crawl and we were well into it by about 7! Lucky I was sober enough to get home correctly which is always a good thing. This unemployed drinking-on-a-Sunday behaviour must end though! It cannot continue, mostly because it is very expensive. I need a job so I can save to have a whole month off in January. Need need need. Problem is…there is always something to spend your money on here.

Want to check out something cool though?? Here is the link to my group shot that did the free Berlin tour together!
http://www.newberlintours.com/gallery/images/tours/
2006_10_13_fri/dsc_0001re.JPG

Holiday....celebrate!!

2006-10-15T06:56:00.000+13:00

Well I am in Amsterdam!!! I cant believe I am here again so fast considering I was here in June. Its just as fun this tims also!
So where I have been lately.....well I started by flying to Venice....managed to leave the airport without my bags...nice one Carol. Finally got them and spent 2 really nice days seeing the sights of Venice (again) and relaxing. From there it was off to Croatia. I felt cheated when I got there as no one had eve told me how incredibly beautiful it was! I went to Plitvice national park which has 16 aquamarine lakes all joined together via stunning waterfalls. Amazing and truly stunning. From there it was Dubrovnick....spent a fantastic day walking around the city walls. After that it was Split and then Zagreb. Both places it would have been nicer to spend a bit mroe time there. After that it was on to Budapest for me. Did a bus tour around the city and feel a bit of an expert now!! Unfortunately I was there on a Monday and all the museums are closed. Shame as there was an inner city building that had all its windows boarded that was used as a prison during the holocust. Freaky. From there it was onto to Prague which if possible is even more beautiful than what you can imagine. There is the largest Synagog in Europe there but I spent more time looking at local artwork and bought 4 paintings. Hmmm. Will be nice when I am homeless!! After that was Berlin!! Now I already love Germany and have a desire to learn German and Berlin has increased that desire a LOT! It was a fantastic city! I did a free tour (if anyone is going to Berlin I cannot recommend them highly enough..they work for tips only and are fantistic...type Berlin free tour into Google) I felt like I got so much information from her i didnt do much else as was all a bit of a rush and now am in Amsterdam today! Brilliant!
Anyway this is a lightening explanation as to why I have dropped off the planet lately! Also I forgot my address book so the only people who got postcards are the ones whos addreses I could remember. Sorry!
OK off to a coffee house now!

Movin' on

2006-09-28T18:10:00.000+12:00

Mothers ass I caont believe how long it takes me to update this thing!! Maybe cos I dont have a computer of my own! Well soon I will.
I finish here in Guernsey tomorrow!! I cant believe that I have been here for 2 months already! Time is really flying this year.
Tomorrow I finish here at 4pm and then quickly fly to London and then have to get the train home and pack then back out to the airport to catch a flight to Venice! I am really excited!! From there I go to Croatia, Slovenia then Hungary then to Prague, Berlin and Amsterdam before ending back in London! Hopefully then I will have another job!! Its a bit freaky going on holiday when you dont have a job but its also kind of exciting (hopefully not in a stupid way!)
Hopefully i can get another locum job for awhile while I decide what to do about a proper job. I like locum work but I have serious issues about finding another job all the time! It does not relax me at all.
Anyway, having been to every museum on the Island I can say that I think the Lonely planet should dedicate more than half a page to Guernsey and the other islands. On Saturday night the department went out for dinner in Herm. We got a boat over and then had a fantastic roast dinner...yourshire pudding included. I still dont know what that is for. If anyone knows please let me know! Anyway we got the boat back at about 11pm and it was just fantastic! There was a major lightening storm in Jersey and we could see they lights in the distance and every so often the whole sea was lit up with the lightening. I felt like I was in the middle of nowhere! That had a scary element to it also, but most thrilling. By the time I got back to St Martins the storm was coming to Guernsey and had just started to rain. It was wild all night after that, thank god we missed it on the boat.
Other that that, i went to the underground hospital here. It was REALLy really scary. Much of it was in pitch black and I was there alone so kept trying to slow down or hurry up so that I wasnt alone. Some of the beds were still there and it was very very freaky, you could imagine it being used as a hospital. I took lots of pictures into the pitch black incase I caught a picture of a ghost or something that I could sell to one of those trashy womens mag, but on review of the pics it seems like they are just back and nothing else! Oh well. I also made it to the little chapel, sp called as its like a minature Disneyland-ish chapel. The entire thing is decorated in chips of plates etc in a mosaic style. Now recently, this year infact, I have seen a lot of chapels, churches and the like and this one was one of the best!! Ok so I did smack my head going down the stairs but it was just so quaint it was unbelieveable! I do have pics of this also, as soon as I get my computer up and running they are all going on here i promise!
Anyway, leaving here tomorrow and I havent packed a thing! Nothing like organisation! Should be fine I am sure! Will no doubt be overweight at the airport but nothing I can do about that till tomorrow. Then I am off!

Sexual Feelings..

2006-08-22T23:42:00.000+12:00

Does it make me sexist against myself to have felt afraid when I realised my pilot coming back from London was a woman??
I dont know but to me a pilot is one of those jobs that is done by a man. I feel the same about doctors and lawyers, fireman and police. I think I am sexist....certainly not a feminist. I am not saying woman CAN'T do those jobs, I just feel better if they dont. Well, thats not really true, I dont mind woman doctors, police and lawyers. Not fireman, leave me one fantasy intact please.

In saying this, I wasnt at all keen on the pilot that took me to London in the first place.
I was flying Aurigny, which is the channel islands airline. After hearing the obligitory welcome onboard that the captain gives (usually useless information about cruising speed and altitude etc), which was a plesantly soothing english accent, this staticy announcement came over the sound system in what could only have been described as a thick russian accent saying 'Fliught crue seats for takeovf' I was not comforted. Particularly when I got back to London and discovered I had inadvertently managed to smuggle some liquid on board. I nearly died when I found the lipstick in my bag but then security obviously never cared so why should I??! Actually, my discomfort began long before that. Like when we landed at Gatwick. The pilot never really slowed down so at the end of the runway we turned and pulled up to the gate with a screech not unlike a formula one car. I thought I was going to die.

Otherwise I have had a most pleasant weekend. I spent it in London with my couins so was good to talk to someone who has known me for longer than 5 minutes, as seems to be with all my transient travelling friends. Also, I had been feeling a bit down lately, but getting back to London puts it all in perspective...there are tons of people there more loser-y than me so it was a small boost. Also, you only have to read the 'desparately seeking' page of the TNT to know you are not the biggest looser on the planet...those people are.

At the moment I am trying to decide where to go on holiday next. I had more or less decided to go on a tour through Croatia and Hungary and ending in London. I had all but booked and then I read the small print. You had to do a lot of helping out on the tour and it was also in tents. Now I have a fantasy that I am a bit of an earth mother type but I am not. I get angry if it rains and my shoes get wet so the small home comforts that are absent in a tent, such as being able to stand when dressing, are paramount to the level of enjoyment I will get on a holiday. needless to say that tour is no longer the top contender. I dont want to dismiss it totally though as it would be an experience, in patience if nothing else. Otherwise I pretty much dont know where to go. Its a combination of lack of money and time that make the choice so difficult. I seriously fancy a skiing or snowboarding one but I cant do either of those things so unfortunately thats a no go. I thought maybe an England and Ireland one but its not totally the best weather to be doing that....I would prefer to wait till summer. Of course, if I get a job I wont be going anywhere.

As for the capsule lifestyle I mentioned in the last entry, I still can only dream about it. To me a capsule lifestyle is one where you merrily skip though life with just the barest of essentials. You have maybe a small purse or a wallet and thats it. Nothing it too hard for you as you dont have a sack of 'essentials' to carry with you. I am not this person. I will never be this person. Apart from a small bag fetish, I seem to always be carrying stuff wherever I go. It seriously pisses me off. I dont know wha I need all this stuff, only that I do. This isnt one of those tales of woe where the woman carries around her life in her handbag, oh no. I dont even have a brush in mine, its just all brochures, phamplets, umbrella, sunglasses, glasses, wallet, phone, ID, keys etc etc. HOWEVER, I have almost mastered the capsule lifestyle ideal that I strive for. Its because I live 22 steps from work (I counted them) so if I need something I just go home and get it. Its only a small start but I am happy with it. My hands are free to browse (if there was anything in Guernsey worth browsing) and if I fall over nothing scatters (this is by far the best reward). I hope this doesnt mean I always have to live this close to work. It only works here as I cant actually see my department from my room. I like to imagine I could be anywhere.

Channeling good times...

2006-08-09T07:40:00.000+12:00

Well things are looking up! I managed to score a job in the Channel Islands and I have almost mastered the capsule lifestyle I strive for! Bless!

Firstly, my job agency called me at the eleventh hour to offer me 2 different jobs. The first he said "...is in London but I dont want to lie to you, you are looking at an hour and a half travel each way every day." OK I thought, better than no job. "..And the other is in Guernsey!!!". Now I wont lie, I didnt have the first clue where Guernsey was. He was already continuing "they fly you out there, pay for almost all of your rent, its an all new nurses hostel....." blah blah blah. All I really heard was that they flew me out there so it mush be somewhere exotic, as obviously there are no airports in dull places (that is not true for Palmerston North, I think they have an airport, and so does Hamilton.) I jumped at the Guernsey one and then looked it up on the net. Well I first discovered that is was one of the Channel Islands (had only heard of Jersey before) and that is was mega close to France. Infact, asking some people at work, they had me convinced that it would be just like being IN France, while obviously being in the UK. Kinda. I was sooooooo pleased I got the job, even though its for 8 weeks only.

Things have been drama from the word go. I flinished work on Friday and flew out on the Sunday and started here on the Monday! But the drama began on Sunday.

After I finished packing, I decided to curse my way to the airport via the tube (even thought the bus would have been waaaaaaaay easier I realised at the tube stop). I got to Victoria and got a ticket to Gatwick heaps cheaper than I thought as I have a young persons card! Oh hooray for clinging to youth! The train was in 10 minutes so caught that no bother. Now, I wish I could be like Posh, Colleen, Cameron and the like, but I am not. I am not glamarous enough for airline travel. I first went to the wrong terminal (mistaking BE for BA). Wouldn't be so bad if you were in Auckland and you just walk the 10 steps back the way but you have to catch a train between tham at Gatwick. Embarrassing.
I then checked in and they guy said to me (probably as I was about 4 hours early) "just keep your eyes on the departure screens". No problemo. I then messed about the shops...bought a few mags and a book (un-necessary, the flight is only 40 minutes) and then had dinner etc etc till I decided to go through customs and to the gate. It was 7pm. My flight was at 7.45. The gate closed at 7.35. I got to customs and the line was out the door!! I was in a bit of a panic so tried to pick the fastest moving line, only to find that once you are behind the screens the 4 lines mrege into one. I got through the bag x-ray at 7.37 and looked at the board to see my flight flashing GATE CLOSING. I nearly died!! Apart from the fact I never paid for the flight, it was the last one of the day. I ran all the way to the gate, which was naturally, as you would expect, miles away. I arrived a sweaty, panting mess. Only to find, the bastards hadnt even started boarding yet!!! I managed to catch my breath before they did.
On the plane things were not getting better. I was seated at the window near the wings. For some reason, the overhead lockers here are smaller than all the others on the plane. I choose to ignore that though and held up everyone trying to get on as I vainly tried to force my bag into the overhead. It hadnt clicked that the bag was much bigger than that space, which which could have fitted a paperback at most. I threw my bag down in dispair (did I mention I am seated near the front so the whole plane can see me??) Someone kindly suggested putting it at my feet but as I had exceeded the 1 piece of handluggage rule that was not possible.
I made my way up to the front of the plane to tell the air hostess. Yes, I forced my way against the tide of people trying to be seated, bag in my hand. She told me to take it down the back and they would sort it out later. So I did just that, only to be told to put it anywhere I liked. So it was 9 rows back from me.
Anywho, we stopped in Jersey first as we had som Jersey passengers on board. Was good as we were flying so low I could see everything, not that I knew what antything was. After they Jersey people got off, they had to check all the handluggage to amke sure no one had left anything on (like a bomb presumably). They went though and called out the coulour of the bags that were in the overhead lockers. You guessed it, seeing as mine was 9 rows back from me, I missed them calling it out and as a result they were about to eject it from the plane and quite possible detonate it. Luckily I managed to jump up in my seat and yell that it was mine.

Honestly, Guernsey is not a big place and I am sure my reputation is 'nutter' already.

Anyway, after all that I am too exhausted to relive my capsule lifestyle capturing so will leave that for next time.

Au revoir!

Drama drama

2006-07-25T22:20:00.000+12:00

Well crikey I havent posted in a while as the goings havent been too good lately. I had some cool comments about the blog being like a window into my mind (thanks by the way!). Well if you could look in at the moment it would be raining. Possibly thunderstorms. Bah. The stupid NHS cut my job so I am unemployed at the end of the week! Its a disaster as there is a lot I want to see and do here in London but now I cant as none of it is free. Bummer. I can't decide what to do next either. I dont think I want to stay in my current line of work but I dont know what else I want to do. I did have it pointed out to me by a flatmate though that lapdancing is still an option. Oh hurrah. There is a job opening in Birmingham but I am not ready to move there just at the moment...too much is happening here and all the friends I have made live here! Oh see, raining in my head again. I don't know what to do. Luckily I was getting paid quite well while it lasted so I have some time to find something else and use my savings for rent. But I would prefer to use my savings on shoes. Thems the breaks I guess. I still love it here...the other day I found out I can see the London Eye from my bedroom. I am unreasonably excited about that. Its made me really cheesy in a 'I am so lucky to live in London' kind of a way. Oh I make myself sick!

Otherwise, before potential destitution threatened (isn't it funny how destitution and prostitution have a similar ring to them?) I managed a trip to Stonehenge and Bath. Stonehenge was a giant yawn. You cant get anywhere near the stones and most of the other tourists there looked like about the same vintage of some of the rocks. It was something that I thought must be done though (at least lonely planet seemed to think so). Bath was next and I really really liked it a lot. Went into the Roman baths (bit boring after Rome itself) and managed to push my way around. I had a little listening commentary thingy like a mobile phone that you put to your ear and get a commentary after putting in certain numbers depending where you are standing. My first handset alarmed when I first put a number in. I had to traipse all the way through the baths with it screaming, getting very dirty looks. My second one didnt want to work at all which although irritating, let me get out of there faster. I am sure some of the commentaries were "now are you looking at the relics? Now stop where you are and stand still. Yes thats right, block the path for everyone and irritate the people behind you. Ignore them bumping into you". It was mad full of people.

My cousins are coming soon so am looking forward to that...hopefully I will have a job so we can do some wild and crazy things. Like go shopping. And also to the ministry of sound. That one I cannot wait for. Ah I need a job!!

Dooo deee doooo

2006-06-27T05:41:00.000+12:00

Well I am pretty settled in London now....working and finding a flat with a decent room made all the difference!! I am near enough to my work to walk, so I do, but after a week I am really over walking everywhere and I want a car now. Its not so much the walking as the carrying the things I have bought that annoys me. I am thinking of getting one of those cart things you see old ladies with as I think it would be great!
Well I am still supporting England in the world cup....especially now that Australia are out! My new workmates and I watched the England game (I forget against who) and it was thrilling. Otherwise I have been keeping in with Kiwi tradition and went to the Red Back on Saturday night with my flatmates. One of them warned me to wear dark colours and just as well she did as I had snakebite all over me by the end of the night. I was a big sticky mess but so was everyone. I guess you have to visit one antipodean pub while you are here so now I have done my dash thats it....even though its just up the road I wont be back! I had a surreal moment in there where I thought I had become a bogan since I got to London as I was in the Red Back, drinking snakebite and listening to a cover band play Metallica wiuth a bunch of Australians. I think I need to do something classy this weekend to get over that!!
Actually this weekend I am off to Glasgow so that should be good.....I never managed to get cheap flights on lastminute.com so I am taking the bus!! I don't care I am an expert on long bus journeys now! Thanks Contiki you are good for something.
Anyway still dont have a chance to put pics on but will be getting my laptop over soon now I have an address so will connect it to the internet and do it all then! Hurrah!

Con con contiki

2006-05-23T03:20:00.000+12:00

OK how GAY is the foreign internet!! I swear that I have written about 14 blogs (well 3) and the stupid computers cant connect to blogger or some crap and I have lost them all!! Grrrr
Anyway Contiki was ultra fabbo. I had the greatest time ever and I wish I was still on it!! I have seen so many things and been so many places now its amazing. The night I got back there was a thing about Italy on the TV and they had a bit on Verona and the balcony of Juliet and I was all amazed as I had been there, was a bit surreal.
Otherwise I will try and update what I did and the like when I am able to with pics and everything else. I am currently in a hostel and while the internet is free, I am not sure how to add pics on without saving them to this very dodgy computer. Hmm.
Anyway, I am all settled in London now....I got a job before I left on the Contiki (thankfully or that would have been another worry) and just a couple of days ago I got a flat sorted out too. Its close enough to my work that I can walk to work (obviously not when it is raining though!) and is in a kind of residential area so I wont be tempted to go out drinking every night. Phew. After contiki I was thinking that I may have become an alcoholic....thats thanks to all the Sangria in Spain....that stuff was like sweet sweet alcholic juice, mmmmmmm.
Anyway nothing much else to report here.....I love getting e-mails telling me whats been happening so keep me updated! I start work on Monday so I will have to have something to keep me entertained at work and replying to e-mails is perfect. I have only had one bout of home-sickness and that was more just missing familiar faces rather than New Zealand itself!! Sorry!!
Oh well, England is in the grip of world cup fever and thankfully they won tonight so I expect everyone to be in a good mood tomorrow....fingers crossed. Oh and I am supporting England too by the way!

London Town!!

2006-05-14T22:31:00.000+12:00

Well it has been a while since I have been here and this is my first update...how slack am I?? I arrived in London yesterday and so far its very big and a bit scary but otherwise OK. I have been up in Scoatland until yesterday...kinda all over the place but it has been cool. Very relaxing. Who would have thought that today I am sitting in an uber modern internet cafe and just a few days ago I was feeding lambs with a bottle!!
I have been spending a lot of time with one of my cousins and she has managed to get me into a fair bit of drunken trouble so that has been fun. We went out on Thursday night in Glasgow and went to about 8 different bars. The funniest part of the night was that I could understand what everyone was saying very well (thanks mum) but no one could understand me. I think sometimes however that may have been a ruse to just get closer to my face. At one point this dude I was talking to had so much trouble understanding me that he asked the barmaid for a bit of paper so I could write it down!! I am sure I am not that foreighn but apparently so. Went out last night here in London and no one had any problems understanding me but that might be because I didnt speak to any actual English people.
I dont have much planned for the few days I am here...have to get my bearings today and figure out where I have to go on Monday and Tuesday to meet the job recruiters I have been in contact with. Will need to buy an A-Z for that.
I have just noticed that this internet cafe is full of really old couples. Mental I am like the youngest person here.
Nothing much else to report....I have a ton of really nice pictures but since I can't figure out how to get them onto this computer I will have to leave them for the moment...shame as they are all really nice sunny ones!
I am actually feeling quite crap today but that has just been since I arrived in London so I think it might be something about getting used to the atmosphere here. I think I am off aout again tonight but will see as I am not overkeen about figuring out the underground by myself in the dark...especially as I have no idea which areas are the dodgy ones.
Oh well on Wed morning I am off on my trip....I am excited but also a bit nervous....I doubt I will be able to update much from there as I wont know the languages but I can try!

Last Minute..

2006-05-01T08:56:00.000+12:00

I cannot believe that I leave today....I am just so excited! Packing has been a total living nightmare...just shows that I am not that hot at Tetris. In the end I had to go and buy another suitacase so I have 2 giant suitcases, both fully expanded, both around 30kgs. I did have a idea of having a backpack for hand luggage to leave my hands free but that hasnt worked out either and I have a holdall. This only means that I am going to have to buy not only a sleeping bag when I get there (for the Contiki) but a bag and a backpack as well! Thats so annoying as I have so many here!
Otherwise my last day at work was good....barely got much work done but did feel very celebrity like as everyone wanted to talk to me and wish me well which was really nice. They gave me a greenstone pendant which I LOVE (but sadly I am not able to fit the lovely box into my bag!!) and some vouchers....if anyone from work reads this I bought a merino wool jumper from Esprit which I love.
Seeing everyone and seaying goodbye has been a bit strange as I dont feel like there is no one I am not going to see again! Especially as so manypeople seem to have travel plans at the moment...if you all follow through 6 of you will be with me before the end of the year and 4 of you will be here in NZ! So mentalist.
I promised you all fame so here are farewell party pics so now you know you are on the internet (in a good way)

Saying Goodbyes....

2006-04-16T22:39:00.000+12:00

Well time to leave is getting closer and closer and already I have had to say some goodbyes! I bid adieu to Clare the other week which was sad but also my first proper goodbye so it felt a bit weird. We went for lunch at The Penny Black where Clare very kindly treated me! Thanks chick! (and now you get to see your name in internet glory)
Otherwise I have finally begun packing. For awhile now I have been buying bits and pieces to take with me and have been just putting them in my wardrobe. To say I have totally underestimated how much I have bought would be an understatement. I have SOOOOOOO much stuff, I have no idea how I am going to fit it all into 2 suitcases (thank god I am going the US route). I seem to have gone a bit mad at Kathmandu also, buying many more packing cells than one person would ever need. Hmmm oh well.
Well its still Easter so I am off to have more yummy eggs after a relaxing day (doing nothing!) at Waiheke....felt quite touristy with all my pics but was a great day all the same (and now Craig and Amy your names get internet glory also...thanks again for inviting me). Oh and the Easter egg hunt was great!

Happy Easter!

Cheap Thrills

2006-04-02T00:52:00.000+12:00

I finally have my tickets!!!! SO exciting. I collected them and then went home and looked at them and immediately felt like a bit of a dick as there isnt any actually tickets (so was in a panic) until was pointed out to me that they are e-tickets. hmmm.
I am flying from Auckland to Los Angeles with Qantas, then on to London with British Airways, then another flight to Glasgow from London. I just found out that you can find out what movies will be on before you go..however, they change at the start of the month and as I am leaving on the 1st, I wont find out till the day I am flying anyway.
It's a bit weird as all my plans just end on June 10th....nothing booked or anything after then. Is slightly freaky but sure it will be more freaky when I am actually there.
Also I have finally resigned from work. It wasnt much of a shock to anyone as its kind of a hard thing to hide when half the people you work with are references for you. Is a bit final though, and not so good when I realise that I only have 2 pay-days left. Thats more than a bit freaky. I worry constantly that I wont have enough money! Hopefully selling my car will help me along a bit there.
Until it gets closer and I have to tidy up my act a bit and get packing, I am just reading up on everywhere I will be staying in Europe. Its so exciting! Still a few little things to pick up...and countdown into the twenties now......

Special Congratulations to Alex and Kelvin on their nuptuals last
weekend! It was awesome guys!!
Also Congratulations to Marie and Shane on their engagement...will see you
guys soon!

2006-03-05T22:59:00.000+13:00

I havent been up to much lately, am on call ALL THE FREAKIN TIME! I would never have accepted this much call but its all more $$ for the UK. I have been list making. Obsessively. I think I may have an obsessive-compulsive thing with lists. Lately, (especially as I have so much on my mind) I will forget something unless its on my list. What a mentalist.
Otherwise, time is ticking down slowly still. I think I will feel better when I resign as that will seem more final. It will also be the most terror-filled part as I dont cope well with no job and no money coming in regularly. I do worry about things like getting a flat as how can I know what I can afford if I am earning nothing and have no idea what my earning potential is??

Weatherwise, NZ has entered autumn well and truly as of March 1st. I have been freezing....real 'I-am-not-getting-up-bed-is-so-warm-in-my-flannel-pijamas' kind of weather. I have been trying hard to be brave about it though as I realise I am going to colder than the pitiful 13 degrees I am complaining about (well 9 one morning).

As you can tell I really have no news, just felt I was due to update.
Oh, I have been in contact with 2 of the other people booked on the same contiki trip as me. One is a 19 year old Canadian girl and the other is a 26 year old Aussie/ Indonesian. I havent heard much from Lauren (the Canadian) but Melissa (the Aussie/ Indonesian) seems really nice. She is going to be in London before the tour starts so might try and meet up with her then. In between activating my bank account, meeting recruitment consultants, getting and NI number, doing one of the podcast walking tours and buying a sleeping bag! (Yes, I have a list to remind me of all of that)

56 days to go!

....ho hum....

2006-02-19T22:32:00.001+13:00

Time seems to be dragging sooooooooo slowly at the moment. I suppose thats the same for all travellers....takes ages till its holiday time then the holiday flies by.
At the moment tho the last thing I feel like thinking about is leaving. I stil have heaps to do but I just can be arsed at the moment so am just leaving it all......the job agencies will be thrilled with me. Its just too much to think about this week, and last week.
In the meanwhile, I have been playing a lot with my iPod and found out you can download all kinds of podcasts on all different things....I geekily have downloaded a couple of walking tour ones for London and some other travel and UK related ones but more interestingly there are audio blogs, like this only people rambling about whatever they like. Weird!! I am yet to listen to any of these but will try to as might be amusing in some sense.....one is called '101 uses for babywipes' hmmm, but there is over 2500 other ones.
Otherwise YAY I won tickets to go see Girls Aloud tomorrow so could NOT be more excited. I love the Girls Aloud!! (more the clothes and style than the music it must be said)

Lantern Festival

2006-02-12T22:29:00.000+13:00

Tonight I went to the Chinese Lantern Festival in Albert Park in Auckland. It was wicked! All the beautiful lanterns and soooooooo many people! Heaps and heaps of stuff for sale, like little lanterns etc etc but I was very restrained seeing as I cant take any of it with me! Or I could but it leaves less space for shoes!
Otherwise I just have some pics of the festival, not sure if they reflect the atmosphere but it was great.

It has not escaped my attention that altho this was designed to be a blog detailing my exploits overseas, it has become a blog about what I am doing in NZ. Hmm Altho, in preparation for going I have bought an iPod which I LOVE! I have spent so long putting songs and album art on, to the point that if I loose it I dont think I would get another, would be too much work to recreate all that! Oh well, on to lantern pics.....pics of an ipod prob arent exciting.

Music and Fun-times

2006-02-06T23:13:00.000+13:00

Oh so much music and sunshine lately! I have only got 11 weekends left in the country so it has been all out and about in the sunshine while it lasts.
January 20th was the Big Day Out.....oh Franz Ferdinand I love you!! Was a very good day, the silent disco being another standout.....so funny, all wearing headphones tuned into the one DJ, all dancing and in many cases also singing and clapping. For the ultimate in amusement take the headphones off and hear how out of tune and time people are. Hysterical.
Today was the George FM Groove in the Park, at the Domain in Auckland. Was a stunning day.....spent under the trees in the sunshine. Was quite far from the stage but could hear Salmonella Dub and they were wicked. I just felt like falling asleep, was very relaxing. Instead I just sat and ate and read.
I am going to try and make a plan for something to do every weekend before I go...hopefully involving seeing a lot of friends. I have so much yet to do that I am becoming very forgetful! Is a souce of anusement for people who realise I am usually terribly organised.
11 weekends to go! I cant believe it!

Holiday holiday

2006-01-04T22:41:00.000+13:00

Woohoo the weather has just been fabbo lately, so fabbo infact that I am all burnt.
In light of being back at work today (and on call! boohoo!) I am posting some nice hot looking holiday pics, ironic considering it rained today, all day.

This is Andrea and I posing outside our handiwork, yes we erected the tent all by our clever selves.......Andrea while wearing heels! Aah camping is not really for us!

This is at Waipu for the Highland games but the above one is Rangitoto Island in the Waitemata harbour, Auckland. How tropical looking!

Spookily Accurate Analysis

2005-12-28T16:40:00.000+13:00

I just found this, you must try it if your bored....analysis of handwriting. Yeah is all a bit non-scientific, which I hate, but read what it said about me.....creepy accurate I think!

You plan ahead, and are interested in beauty, design, outward
appearance, and symmetry. You are a person who thinks before acting, intelligent
and thorough. You are diplomatic, objective, and live in the present. You are a
talkative person, maybe even a busybody! You enjoy life in your own way and do
not depend on the opinions of others.

Probably the only thing it missed is 'Totally Anal". See http://handwriting.feedbucket.com//
I am really getting into this blogging now!

Countdown!

2005-12-26T21:45:00.001+13:00

How cute it this little countdown timer?? I just had to add it on so right now. Its from www.tickerfactory.com. I have added it to my title so you can see the time and dates right at the top without having to scroll down to this post (because I know you will be wanting to hmm)

Ooh I am Bloggin' it

2005-12-26T14:32:00.000+13:00

Well how exciting is this, my very own blog. After my very hesitant first attempt at a posting (well I was at work!) I have gained some confidence and here I am now, havent I come so far!

Well as of today, I have exactly 126 days till I am up up and away. Freaky pete much. Altho I have all my tickets and stuff organised (praise be) and most of my travel-esq type things that I will need (thanks santa), I still feel like I need something else. Any of you will know however that I usually have that soft spot towards shopping. Well Boxing day today, all the sales have started so I should be able to get more stuff I need in the sales. Of course 'need' is a very broad definition!
One of my fav things I got for Christmas was a St Christopher medallion. Not being at all religious it is a strange thing for me to want but him being the patron saint of travellers I wanted one. I like to know all about things so here is some guff about him from the Patron Saints index:

St Christopher: Third Century Martyr. His fame derives from the pious legend of
him being a "Christ-bearer" (= Christopher). He was a powerfully built man who
wandered the world in search of novelty and adventure. He came upon a hermit who
lived beside a dangerous stream and served others by guiding them to safe places
to cross. He gave Offero (Christopher) instruction in the truth of God. Offero
took the hermit's place, but instead of guiding travellers, he carried them
safely across the stream. One day he carried a small child across the stream;
the child's weight nearly crushed him. When they arrived on the other side, the
child revealed himself as Christ, and he was so heavy because he bore the weight
of the world on himself. He then baptised Offero with water from the stream.
Christopher's service at the stream led to his patronage of things related to
travel and travellers, people who carry things, etc.

As you can see Christmas was excellent otherwise! These are some pics of me and some family members in various ststes of inebriation. Yay for Christmas!

I cant believe my next Christmas will be in the cold (snow?? Fingers crossed!) and may well resemble a Christmas card!

First Post!

2005-12-23T12:23:00.000+13:00

How exciting! My first post!

Well, truly its not that exciting, but it is all new
and strange for me and I am bored at work so it kinda is.