Tuesday, 27 March 2007

Paaaaahk the caaaaah in Haaaahvaaad yaaaahd

Bostonians sound a lot like Australians. They don't sound their 'r's either. I have been mistaken as British about 5 times here. Sigh. Yesterday we went to Harvard Square and found this absolutely WICKED shop the name of which I can't remember but it is a mixture of CD/video/books/novelty items/ comics and anime/ figurines/trendy bags and stuff and buttons and stickers and everything oh my. I bought some particularly amusing fridge magnets and a button for Mark and a Nine Inch Nails CD to augment my collection. Amy and Merri the shop is a mix of JB HiFi, Black Plastic, and those trendy funky shops with tshirts of Astro Boy. I could have stayed there all day.

Bought a graduate school of education tshirt with Harvard printed on it. LOL Had lunch in a Mongolian BBQ restaurant called Fire and Ice. It was awesome. You just pick out your stuff and put it in a bowl and the guy cooks it for you on this huge round hotplate. It was another great day with Jen and family.

Need to go and get checked out and to the airport. Next stop: Joany!!! <3

Monday, 26 March 2007

Busman's holiday anyone?

Righto, that was a good sleep. The story continues...

The next day, Thursday, I went to Skaila's college and spoke English to her English class. The teacher wanted them to hear a native English speaker because as you know, in Belgium they speak just about everything else. I said that I am Australian and therefore don't really speak English. LOL. It was nice. They wanted to know about spiders (How big are they? Do they come in the house?)and snakes (Do you see them all the time?) and kangaroos (I said they feast on human flesh). Sigh. I showed them our currency (oooo shiiiny they said). There were lots of questions about the cost of living and spiders. Some people asked questions about spiders. Spiders were a popular topic. I took a photo of the class which I will post with a whole lot of other photos that are in my camera. So, there I am at the front of a class of students... on my holiday!!! They were sweet considering I am a nutcase.

I have been to a Belgian castle! We went to one called Horst which was built in the 14th Century in a moat and all. It was unfortunately not open so we could not go inside but could walk right around. It is surrounded by mud which we tromped through (yay hiking boots! I win!!!!)We had lunch in the restaurant and I had Kriek which is a beer with black cherries OMG it is yuummy but Kevin said he doesn't like it. I think it is not a blokes drink really - one for the ladies. I liked it so much that I ahem, 'borrowed' the drinking glass. Sheila drove back and I enjoyed the countryside - little villages, green fields, rabbits. We dropped Kevin at his place and returned the car to Glenda's mum who gave me Belgian beer drinking glasses OMG I only wanted one and she gave me like four. Skaila is posting them home C.O.D Jess. (I really don't drink much people. I just realised that I am always talking about drinking.) Anhyhoo, the beer in Belgium is very strong - some like 10% alcohol content and there are so many types it is impossible to get bored. I think Kevin wanted me to fall down drunk - It ain't gonna happen, mate.

On the way to the bus stop Skaila and I went to the store to get cheese and crackers. Mmmmmmmm cheese. Fringed One, eat your heart out. Cheese goooooooood. We ate it when we got back to the studio. Then I packed for Boston. Next morning Skaila and I went on a hunt for a strap for my luggage, went into a CD store (Free Records) and I bought the Kooks CD and a soft funky cover for my pod. The shopping in Leuven is good - some VERY classy stores with prices to match. It is non-touristy at this time of year which is a joy. Most shop people speak English really well so I had no problems there. The best purchase I made though was the purple and yellow squishy cow which I gave to Skaila. (Oh and the chocolate. Mmmmmmmmmmm chocolate.) She loved it LMAO. Did I mention that she forgot to pick me up at the airport?

Also went into the very large church that is in the centre of the town which was nice. No stained glass though like in English churches.

I enjoyed my time there very much. Thank you Skaila for your hospitality and for introducing me to Kevin and Glenda who are great fun. I am sure I have left things out in this post but will catch up when I post photos that will jog my memory.

I am currently day 2 in Boston and sitting up comfortably in my lovely room looking out at the gray day. I have internet access (thank you, thank you, thank you). For the first time on this trip I am on my own. It is nice in a way. I will wander down the street to Starbucks in a minute and get a bucket of coffee. My B&B is in the North End, the oldest part of Boston and the US too, I think. Loads of lovely old brownstone buildings. Very close to town and eminently walkable. But I will start at the beginning...

It was exactly 0 degrees when I landed at the airport. Snowing. Preeettty to look at. Tired due to no sleep. Managed to keep clothes on going through immigration and security which was a relief. Fingerprinted and photographed. Luggage pickup was painless and has been at all the airports actually. Went through customs and declared a suitcase full of Belgian chocolate but was waved straight through. Taxi ride that went in the wrong direction because the driver only had two neurons. Got to the B&B about midnight. Heaved my bags up 4 flights of stairs. SHOWER! OMG I loooooove you shower. Fell into bed wet hair and all. Woke up next morning. Hair vertical. Mirror at foot of bed not good idea. Explore fridge. Hmmmmm waffles, maple syrup, yogurt, English muffins, cold piiiiiizzzza (no that is someone else's)and TEA!!!! they have TEA!!!!!! JOY. (pokes tongue at Skaila - you and your tealess country). Fortified, I set out to use the laundry facilities and then walked to the New England Aquarium to meet Jen, Andrea and their Mum.

They were late because of terrorist training on their train line. I am confused, are they training people to BE terrorists? Anyhoo, we did the greeting thing and then off into the aquarium which was just great. They had little sharks (tee hee).

After that we went to the market place where the food OMG!!!!!! Bought a giant pizza for $11.95 and gobbled that down between us. Wandered off after that along the Freedom Trail. Saw the spot where the Boston Massacre was. Drifted into Borders and found out that the book I want to fix up the website was in the other store downtown. So headed off for there and walked and walked past Boston Common and the Theatre District. Found book yay. Chatted up book guy. Sigh. Walked back through Boston Common which was full of people, to Park St station then train and home.

Boston is clean and attractive. The harbour is a bonus and I stood for a while there in the morning just breathing in the cold air and listening to the different bird calls. I miss Australian magpies, sob. There was a big pile of old snow... I kicked it when no one was looking.

Jen and her family are great fun. Andrea gets lost and chases pigeons. Jen likes following red lines on the footpath. I had a great day but boy was I tired when I got in. Today we are off to Harvard. More later and hopefully, photos next time.

Love and miss you all. Is great to be on the same side of the world as Mark and Chance and Em and all you US folkeses though. See you next time...... weeeeeee!

It rained in Belgium - situation normal

Hi oh wonderous ones.
I have been consuming vast quantities of Belgian chocolate and beer and not necessarily together, either. But here is the story.
I arrived in Brussels after THE night whereupon i met Dan and saw Alan Rickman. Not sure if I have mentioned that before. I have? Oh well, I just mentioned it again. The fact that I met Dan and saw Alan that is. Anyhoo, what I didn't mention was that Nikki missed her last train from London to Watford and so came back to our B&B had a drink with us and dossed down on the floor for the night. We all got about 3 hours sleep. Sent Nikki off in the morning with a heavy heart. Bye mate. Will miss you a real lot. You are such a lot of fun but will think of you every time I look at the Watford Football Club bear. I had a blast with you even if you did swear at your car and got me drunk in Brixton.

The ride to the airport was uneventful. Expensive but uneventful. Em waited for me to check in and then we had breakfast and coffee and before I knew it, it was time to go through security. So I said bye to Em for the time being and look forward to seeing her later in the month.

At Heathrow, you almost have to take off all your gear to get through security: jackets, shoes, belts. Laptops out of bags, liquids in clear bags etc etc. By the time you get through, undress, put your stuff through get screened and then pick up your stuff and put it all back on and repack you are buggered. Bought a stripey scarf to compensate. MMMMM stripey warm scarf how I love you.

The flight to Brussels is comically short. Just enough time to gulp an orange juice and read a couple of pages of your book and presto you are there. I had packed messily the night before so my luggage was all over the place (I blame Nikki and Dan). Got it all collected and through security and sat to wait for Skaila to turn up. And waited. And waited.And waited.And waited.And waited.And waited.And waited. Had the bright idea to actually ring her and discovered that she thought I was arriving the next day. LOL. OMG. Anyway, she and Steve finally turned up in a taxi and we were soon off to Leuven with me covering my eyes because they drive on the wrong side of the road, the sillies. Don't worry Skaila, I have forgotten about it completely and will never mention it again... much.

The next few days were spent very pleasantly. I explored Leuven. It is a really beautiful place full of old architecture and little streets with shops and eatie places. Skaila lives in an awesome place. I had coffee in a little cafe next to the station overlooking the square where large pots of summer annuals are just starting to make a show. It snowed. I felt homesick for Australia and London. Skaila turned up after class with some friends and we all went for pizza where I had my first
BElgian beer. WOW. I could get to like this place. If only the sun came out.

The next day we all went to Brussels to have a look at the atomium,which is a building made of shiiiiiiiiiny large spheres joined by tunnels. It was built in the '50's for an expo I think and it is pretty cool. From afar it looks like it is hardly big enough for even one person to stand up in but in reality it is 9 huge spheres that contain various displays and a restaurant at the top. We had a lovely walk to it and a great lunch in the restaurant. The view from the top is terrific. Much like the London Eye, it is a good way to see almost all of Belgium without actually going there. It was sunny and a great day. IN the evening we went to a little bar called Amadee where you can have a drink, yes, but there are heaps of board games to play. The place filled up and it was a great night of, would you believe, Scrabble. Skaila, Kevin and I whiled away a few hours. I slept particularly well.

(To be continued. I am now going to sleep off the jet lag between Belgium and Boston.)

Wednesday, 21 March 2007

The last 2 days in London

I am in Belgium. But first, here is the story of my last day in England whereupon I traveled far and met a certain person and saw my hero and then went home in time for tea…

Em was really sick so stayed in bed at the B&B on Sunday but was OK with me going out. I was going to return to Camden Town, but on a whim decided to get off the tube at Oxford Circus and have an explore. It was sunny when I got on the train but when I got off there was rain and hailstones. I bought an umbrella and the rain promptly stopped for the rest of the afternoon. Discovered some scriptwriting publications in Borders, went into the Apple Store on Regent Street OH MY GOD!! Two levels packed with everything and a lecture theatre for geeks right at the back. I avoided that. I also avoided buying another iPod just because they are so shiiiiiiiiiny. Went into Hanleys (?) the craziest toy store with everything EXCEPT Harry Potter Lego (hmph). Could have come out of there with a truckload of stuff… Skulked around in Liberty because they had the heater on and that was the only thing I could afford. The shops around that area are marvelous. I seriously need to win the lottery. Seriously. All the label stores. Sigh. Found Carnaby Street. It is not the Carnaby Street I remember-now very trendy very expensive shops… meh. However, there were some very, very funny tshirts to be had if you took out a second mortgage on the house or sold the kids into slavery. I can’t print what was on the tshirts because you will think that I am a very naughty person, which of course, I am not.

I had to collect some stuff from the aunties place in Watford, so went back to see if Em was still alive at the B&B. She was in fact sitting right in the open window taking a picture of the view from our room that made it look like we had stayed in a posh place. However, if someone took a picture of our building from the other side of the street, it would have looked like they lived in, well, not Holland Park darling. Anyhoo, I yelled out ‘what the hell are you doing?’ or some such other warm greeting before considering the fact that startling Em on a window sill more than 10 metres above the ground was not the brightest thing I have ever done. As it happens, Em did not in fact plummet to her early death from a second rate guest house. But I digress… Swapping places, I decided to do likewise and take a pic from the window and opened it right up to stand on the ledge thereby attracting the attention of two gentlemen who were standing on the steps of the adjacent building. We waved but did not exchange phone numbers. Decorum people. Decorum.

Got organized and left for the great metropolis that is Watford. Two hours later I am stuck at some station, no trains running to or from London because of the failure of a set of points on the line ahead. Trudged off to the bus stop because the replacement buses were busy replacing another train somewhere else that had broken down. Waited 40 mins in the FREEZING cold while every number bus EXCEPT the number 8 went by. Joined at the bus stop by a young Indian man who asked me if I was waiting for a bus… Lost the will to live.

Trudged back to the station and found the trains running again but just missed one. ARGH!!! Went into waiting room mmmmmmm heaaater. Long story short, got into Watford 3hrs after leaving London, a journey that should have taken 20-25 mins, tops.

Nikki picked me up at the station and we drove off then her car broke down again. She got out and for a minute I thought she was going to do a Basil Fawlty on the car with a tree branch but sadly, no. We administered first aid to the car and managed to get home. Decided to go for a quick drink and a bite to eat and while sitting there in the pub it started to SNOW. First snow I have seen since 1982 folks. It hasn’t changed much. Still white, wet and cold. It was too warm for the snow to stick but it was cool watching it fall and even cooler being not in it when it was doing so.

Monday dawned with a hint of excitement. Nikki and I had decided to go up West and see if we could get Daniel’s autograph at the stage door. It was do or die, you understand. Anyhoo, I rustled up a couple of items from my stock of Australiana that I thought he might like and got a card for Em and Nikki and myself to sign and waited for the evening. After checking on Em, we set off for Shaftesbury Ave and when we got there almost ran into Alan Radcliffe and Marcia Gresham (Dan’s mum and dad to you.) I asked would they give our gifts to Dan to which Alan said ‘Sure’ and that was that. We went round the back by the stage door and set up position right behind the barricade. It was 9.45pm and almost time for Dan to come out. Weeeee!

But get this! At just after 10, a tall man in a black coat worked his way gently through the gaggle of fans waiting for Dan. IT WAS ALAN RICKMAN OMG. I saw him and my mouth dropped open and I lost the capacity for speech. Nikki later said it was a beautiful moment (hmph). For the seconds that it took for him to pass by all I could do was stare. That is sad, hey? OMG my hero. He looks GREAT!!!!! Sigh.

And then Dan came out. Nikki started hyperventilating and needed breathing instructions. He worked his way around the crowd of fans and got to me. His dad was there and said to him that I was the one who had given him the presents. (What were they? Tim Tams and Vegemite of course!) He loves Tim Tams and said ‘Oh fantastic!!!!!!!! Thank you. Then we had a conversation about Tim Tam milk shakes. He signed my program and Nikki’s and said he liked my nails (sparkly silver French manicure – shiiiiiiny) Can you believe it? The whole thing rocked so hard. Afterwards, Nikki and I wandered off, happy and slightly unbelieving, into Soho before deciding that was not a good idea and returning to the B&B. That was the best day of my holiday. Happy Birthday Nik. You are a mate!!

Some pics and even a vid to follow when I can get to it.

Take care. Much love.

Sunday, 18 March 2007

Platform 9 3/4

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THE platform.

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Em at the platform.

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Yours truly

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Nikki being a total Muggle

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And you thought I was obsessed????????

Didn't we have a loverly time...

... the day we went to Camden. A beautiful day, we had lunch on the way (well actually,when we got there) and all for under a pound (well actually a lot more than a pound) you know...

What a brilliant place. Camden is just shopping heaven. I couldn't help thinking of Amy , Merri and Jess and Tristan while I was there. I feel sure that I would never see any of them again if I took them there. The place is just wall to wall market and wicked shops and eating places and every second place is a piercing/tattoo parour (no, I didn't get another one) OMG. Here are some photos.


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Camden Lock

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Another view of the Lock

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Camden on Friday late afternoon. It was just starting to kick off.

I could live HERE. Oh yes. In fact, the cabbie who picked us up after the show on Saturday night actually does live in Camden. He was flirting outrageously with me too. He didn't get off work till 3am though... Yes yes, I know what SHOULD have said. Damn.

Deb bought a coat and a dress. I bought prezzies for Amy and Merri which I will not reveal here. Heeeee. I bought a Camden tshirt (essential) and other assorted stuff. Saw a shirt that said "Legalise Canada" which I am now sorry I didn't buy so I could wear it and piss Emm off LOL. Could in all reality sneak back up there today.... hmmmmmm (taps chin thoughtfully).

If you want Goth, punk, emo, hippy or any other subculture gear (and I mean ANY) Camden is THE place. I avoided the music shops. That could have meant a premature end to the holiday due to lack of funds.

Anyhoo, must off and embark on other adventures involving parting with cash. Take care and loads of love. Soon there will be news from Belgium (waves to Sheila).

Horsing around

I have posted in the main site about the play but here would like to rave a bit.

RAVE RAVE RAVE RAVE RAVE RAVE RAVE RAVE RAVE RAVE RAVE RAVE RAVE RAVE RAVE

There you go.

I mean, what can I say about the production? Thea Sharrock, take a bow. Dan, Richard and the cast were simply wonderful. I enjoyed two nights of sheer entertainment. Dan is so talented as a stage actor. His range of expression and mood is amazing. The way he commands the stage, impressive. He was 100% Alan Strang.

The stage design was so simple. If you are not familiar with Napier's approach, the 'horses' are actually dancers with sculpted wire heads and on their feet they wear 'shoes' which are steel platforms with horse shoes at the base. The way the dancers toss their heads and prance makes you believe they are horses even though if you shift your perception, you can clearly see the face of the man beneath the headdress. (OMG! Will Kemp *ded*)
The stage contains 4 benches, (the ones that Dan and Joanne posed on in the promo shots) and these are manipulated by the actors during the play so that they in turn become beds, seats, stable etc. There were no seats actually 'on' the stage - these seats were above and at the back of the stage sort of like a reverse dress circle. The lighting was well done and discreet but did not make any concessions during the last very dramatic scenes during which Joanne and Dan were both naked. The last scene will live on in my memory for a long time and not for the reason you are all thinking. Dan's performance of Alan Strang reliving how he blinded the horses was dazzling. Dan is lithe, totally fit and yes, he is beautiful. However, it was as Alan that he brought tears to my eyes.

Em and I both enjoyed the play very very much. I got to meet Dan's dad and shook his hand and had a little chat which was lovely. He had nice things to say about the website (squeeeee!!!) Dan did not come to the stage door on Saturday as far as I know so no autograph... Peter Shaffer went into the back so I suppose he was talking with him. Also, it was St Patrick's Day and the West End was totally mental. There were quite a few fans waiting there and quite a few drunk non-fans too. It seemed to be a situation that could easily have gotten out of control. There have been some fans taking certain liberties with Dan lately - apparantly (and NO I am not one of them...)so no surprise that Dan does not come out if there is any chance people may get hurt etc. We left after about half an hour of waiting. Em was dreadfully sick with the flu. However, I will be attempting to get an autograph on Monday night if I can. Stay tuned.

Thank you Dan for two of the most memorable (theatre) nights of my life. :) Hugs.
I will get some pics of the outside of the theatre. Photograph inside is forbidden although some prats did take photos of the stage before the performance.

The first time we had second row centre stall seats which were AWESOME. We were so close that we could have reached out and touched Dan. The second night we had a box above and to the side of the stage so we were looking down on the actors but were still mighty close. Both times we could see Dan's face very clearly. I waved regally from the box to some friends down below. LOL! :)

On Saturday we had dinner before the show and met other Dan fans from danradcliffe.com. They are as comfortably nutty as me.

You are wondering about the tatt? No I did not show it to Alan Radcliffe. I think he would have had a heart attack had I done that in the crowded lobby, poor man. Not what one needs - a mad middle aged Australian woman flashing skin in public. I did however, show it off during dinner. LOL.

BTW and random. Where we are staying is about 2 mins from where I was born in St Mary's Paddington. I have really come home. But you know what? I couldn't live here unless I married a millionaire. And you all know that is not going to happen. My god but it is expensive. I shudder to think how much money I have spent just getting around the bloody place. Fortunately, the weather has been so good I have been able to use Shank's Pony a lot and hoofed it from here to there. I walked to the London Eye and went for a ride yesterday but that is another post (with pics folks). Love ya. Take care.

Saturday, 17 March 2007

Another brewski?

11th March, Nine Inch Nails day. It started out innocently enough - a quietish day off to Watford Junction to meet Nikki at about 4.30 and then off into London on our way to the Carling Academy at Brixton.

Everything was great. We went to Kings Cross Station and visited Platform 9 3/4. Nikki tried to push the luggage cart all the way through the wall. Sadly, it didn't budge. There were lots of other HP Muggles there too having a go at trying to get through the wall to no avail. Locals streamed by wearing smug or dismissive expressions and tried to not make eye contact with the Potter fans.

We then retired to the pub at the station and this is where the story takes a predictable turn folks. At this point, we propped up the bar and watched Nikki's football team, Watford, score the goal that won them their match while we consumed a few 'brewskies'. Then we got on the train to Brixton. The venue is two minutes walk from the station and in that time we were accosted by 8-10 scalpers wanting to sell us tickets. We managed to jump the huge queue and get in ahead much to Nikki's amazement. I think the trick was sounding simultaneously Aussie and stupid and not making eye contact with anyone in the queue.

Anyhoo, once in I marched straight to the Merchandise (of course) and bought a tshirt. Then off to the bar for a brewski and another and another... We piled into the auditorium which was VERY HOT and airless and full of smoke and found our seats. Nikki went off for another brewski.

And then the roadies were tuning up and farting about on stage as usual and then TRENT WAS THERE all in black and leaping at the mike for "Terrible Lie" OMG. He seemed smaller than I remember ( we were pretty far back, folks) but he was so full of energy I could feel it from where I was sitting. Sorry Merri, I didn't get the set list. I was disappointed that they didnt do "With Teeth" but they did do "Hand that Feeds" as well as a few from the new album and loads from older albums. "Pigs" rocked out so hard. When they did "Hurt" people held their cigarette lighters up. The crowd sang every song. What a buzz. The only thing was that there was very little fresh air and well, frankly we were a little under the weather. Nikki got up to go to the loo and a bloke at the bar asked her if Watford won and when she said they did, he bought her a pint of cider. Oh dear. It all went downhill from there folks. Remember what Auntie Dee has told you: Never mix your drinks. Anyway, at the end of the show (no encore boooooo!!!) We walked out into the cold fresh air and both of us were immediately blotto. Sigh. We stumbled along into a side street (very silly in Brixton which once had riots that did thousands of pounds worth of improvements and which looks like a war zone at night - all the windows are boarded up and the streets are deserted). A young man cycled by advertising at the top of his voice that he was willing to offer certain services... we decided it was time to get back on the train and get back to Watford.

Nikki blames me but it was all her fault. "Another brewski?" Never say yes, folks.

Anyway I win because I actually got up the next morning, had a shower, moaned in my aunties direction before going back to bed. Nikki didn't even surface until 3pm.

So there.

Sunday, 11 March 2007

Four sunny days in a row... omg.

Last few days have been lovely if you dont count the temperature - 16C today a real heatwave - break out the summer dress!!! There has been sun. I have seen women hanging out of windows cleaning them (why? they will only get dirty again)and men mowing lawns and trimming hedges. There are lots of hedges here and all of them are trimmed in fact I have never seen so many trimmed hedges in my life. The other thing is that almost every window has net curtain. Miles of net curtain. Miles of it...

Have been enjoying walking into town through the park. Here are some photos of the journey.

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Daffodils in mud. I forgot how muddy England is. I now have muddy Sketchers. Aunt just tutted at me when I got home with brown feet and jeans. I felt like I was seven again. LOL

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Oxhey Park through which I walk. These are chestnut trees. There are chestnuts all over the ground and big fat squirrels run about the place.

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This is a side road off of Eastbury Rd near where I am staying. Cute huh?

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This is a view of Watford from the park. The big building on the right behind the pyramid shaped building is The Harlequin shopping centre which is all shiiiiny and modern etc.

Yesterday I went back to Berkhamstead with my cousin. We took the scenic bus and 2.5 hours later arrived in the town. OMG. It was good though as I got a look at some lov ely scenery through all the little villages between here and Manchester and back. Just kidding it only seemed like we went to Manchester and back. Anyhoo, it was a great day and we had fun. I felt like I was home. We went into the Rising Sun for a drink. It is the smallest pub I have ever been in.



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As you can see, the pub is right next to the loch that the narrow boats use to go uphill along the canal. It is great to sit with your warm beer (yes this one was room temp folks!!) and watch them work the loch.

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A narrow boat (not a barge)

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Whole families live on the narrow boats. Floating hippies.

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How much would you pay for a house on the bank? 1mill anyone? Pounds that is.

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George St - the street my grandparents used to live in. The playground I used to play on is still next door.


So, there you are - some shiiiny photos.
Am off to London tonight to see Nine Inch Nails. OMG. Trent. If you never hear from me again, know that I died happy (except for missing Dan of course.)
Em arrives on the 14th and I can hardly wait. So much to look forward to.

Love to you all.
Special love to Mark.

Tuesday, 6 March 2007

Beer guaranteed 1-3 degreesC!

Found my own way into Watford town on Sunday. Weather? Hibernation level. Skulked around in shops looking for bargains. Bargains very thin on the ground. Went into HMV – large music and DVD shop with kinda meh selection of stuff. If you thought that CD’s were expensive in Australia kids, don’t come over here. Be thankful for JB HIFI and keep your money where it’s warm. OMG the horror. The new Kaiser Chiefs CD is £10.99 work it out on the current exchange rate and you will see why I do not as yet own said CD. Hey Merri, how much is it in Target?

Out in the evening for drink with Nikki.

Monday, out with Nikki. Posted stuff to Marie and Sheila which better not be opened when I get there. Bought lotto ticket. If I win millions you will never see me again.
Drove to St Albans where things are vv old (Roman town – wonderful race the Romans) There is a large cathedral and twisty turney roads and quaint shops on cobblestone streets. Little houses, omg so cute. There are corners around which the wind will rip yer face off. Went looking for face several times. Nikki moaned about the cold. Staunchly Australian Dee uttered not a murmer. Bought a replica Art Nouveau twisty amazingly1 weird looking clock which I love with a love that is pure and true. Had pub lunch (beef burger with chips. Had to order salad as a side. Sigh) Two pints. Omg. The pub was freehold so not owned by any one particular brewery which meant that they served real local ale. Very cold beer. An illuminated sign on the bar and one on the door assured me that it was between 1 and 3 deg C. I think the English are a bit sensitive about being teased for years about their warm beer. I could be wrong.

Went to Hemel Hempstead. More memories. Looks a bit winter-worn but largely as I remember it save the huge Debenhams department store and modern complex. Bought a Lonsdale hoodie for 8 quid and Lonsdale socks for 1.50 a pair. Eat your heart out.

Managed to stay out of trouble today. Suspect real trouble will start when Em gets here. *nods*

They are digging up the roads in the West End. Guess where they have started? Yep, pretty well right outside the Gielgud Theatre from what I can see. They are replacing the v old v decrepit leaky water pipes and causing mass congestion and inconvenience to say nothing of ruining my photo of the street. Sigh.

I am typing this in bed. The rain is beating on the windows. Apparantly it has been 42C in Perth for the last few days. I can’t help but laugh. Sorry dude. Having a heat wave here today if we are lucky – 14C.

So looking forward to having regular internet access when we go up to London. I am having Skype withdrawal.

Today off out again. Not sure where but suspect ear piercing is on the agenda. Nikki seems to want to see how much it hurts – me that is. Am itching to go to London but will hold off till you get here, Em. Might see if we can get down to the coast. Stay tuned.

Sunday, 4 March 2007

Day after the day before

March 2
Went into Watford with Aunt. Bus drivers are actually friendly unlike the snarly bastards in Perth. The place has changed so much since I was last here – 25years ago OMG. Tristan was a baby in arms. I bought some new pj pants for ₤3 and a black wrap for Equus. It is going to be way too cold for just the green thingy I bought.

Watford is a bit grotty - lots of pigeon poo. Many of the old shops have been replaced by a large multi storey shopping centre, the Harlequin. Seems to have taken the heart out of the place really. Met cousin Claire and in the evening took both aunt and cousin to the local pub for dinner. Paid ₤2.65 for a stubbie of Becks beer. Confused the waiter by asking for salad with my steak – ‘you want salad instead of chips???’ Is it possible to have both I wondered. ‘Both,’ he said, unconvinced.

Slightly tipsy and giggly we walked back to the flat in the rain.

Day one

Feb 28 4.15 pm Perth Airport

Typical. It’s raining.

Suddenly I want nothing more than to just go home and sit on the sofa with a cup of tea. My new tax free watch feels funny on my wrist. It’s a Swatch dudes, yo.

I am amazingly calm as if this is all happening to someone else. Despite there being several million small children on the plane, thankfully none are next to me. In fact no one is next to me. I have an empty seat, yo!

Very uneventful flight from Perth to Singapore. Watched ‘The Queen’. Helen Mirren irritated me again. Ate something that had the taste and texture of a broiled rubber doorstop. Looked out window, saw clouds and sea and the loooooong WA coastline slowly disappear. No gremlins pulling engines to pieces a la Twilight Zone. Strangely relieved.

Indulged spur-of-moment shopping impulse with inflight duty free. Spurned Kath and Kel style jumpers for booze (Absolut vodka Merri and Amy) and perfume (Prada!!!!). I am such a label whore.

No likely talent on plane. Vv disappointed at missed opportunity to join mile-high club. Looked in vain for Ralph Feinnes. No luck there either.

Singapore Airport was there, which was handy as that is where we were landing. Piled off into shopping paradise – a dangerous window of 3hrs among Armani, Gucci, Burberry, etc etc. Could have blown all spending money but instead bought wheelie trolley for (illegally) heavy hand luggage. Pulled trolley which immediately flipped over on its head, endangering the life of bottle of Absolut which was stashed therein. The horror! Swore in Australian. Booze intact, I explored and marveled at beautiful orchids. I walked, walked, walked kept walking. Walked some more. Big place Singapore Airport. Got on moving escalator thingy to get back to original spot. Thought about getting a massage but then remembered wearing anti embolism leggings and thought again. Sat and talked to a man about the stupid Australian government about which I had very little to say (shifty eyes).

Lined up to board plane. Watched as the security dude made a woman drink out of her bottle of water to prove it was indeed water. Had visions of drinking whole bottle of Absolut vodka for similar reasons. Broke out in cold sweat.

Departure delayed due to there being a bag on board with no accompanying passenger. Don’t you hate it when your luggage goes on holiday without you? Anyhoo, they had to unload the hold find the bag and take it off. Then we had to wait for a new takeoff window but finally started taxiing and taxiing and taxiing and taxiing. Fell asleep. Woke up. Still taxiing and taxiing. Considered the possibility that we were going to drive to London. Still taxiing. Read Equus again. Still taxiing. Wrote the Lord’s Prayer on the head of a pin. Still… you get the picture.

Took off. Looooooooooooong flight. Knees under chin. Hissed at those flying first class. Marvelled at how many gay flight stewards can fit in one plane (eat your heart out Mark). Endured the serving of dinner (again) hot towels, cold towels, drinks, coffee, tea, more duty free... Prayed they would eventually leave me alone to sleep or upgrade me.

Fell on man’s lap on way to loo. Mmmmm shiiiiiny. Discovered one shoe missing. No idea how this happened as laced double knotted. Suspect Twilight Zone gremlins. Flew v v long way. Still not upgraded to first class.

(Insert long boring flying details here.)

Landed at Heathrow. Man at Immigration asked me where I had come from. “The plane,” I said to which he raised an eyebrow and patiently asked where the plane had come from. He said I was mad to come to London for a holiday from ‘sunny Orstralia’. I smiled. I am here to see Dan you silly man. Anyhoo, I smiled at him and was through in about 30 secs. Everyone else seemed to be taking ages. Decided I liked nice man at Immigration.

Walked straight through Customs. Got bag. Approached by gentleman with electronic gizmo. He was from the Airport Authority wanting to ask me questions about my experience at the airport – did I mind answering them. No mate, I have come from Perth for no reason but to do just that. Nothing would give me greater pleasure. Sigh.

Nikki arrived. BIG HUGS!!! YAY!!! Thanks for picking me up mate. <333. 6 degrees outside. Not shiiiiiny. Big hairy ride in Nik’s new car to Watford. Considered the possibility that after traveling 23 hours across the world I may just die on a London motorway. Amy you have lost your number one mad driving position.

OMG OMG OMG drove past Leavesden Studios. Put neck out craning for view. Saw the set for Privet Drive. Sigh.

The drive to Aunt’s house was very strange. Everything looked so familiar yet so strange. ALL the trees are bare. The grass is GREEN. There are daffodils and crocuses (crocii?) and primroses all over the place. Aunt pleased to see me – this could change. Had CUP OF TEA omg and bath and then set out to stay up all day. YAWN. Went to Aunt’s coffee morning. Won purple teddy bear in raffle. Where the @#$% am I going to put a large sparkly teddy bear in my luggage?

Managed to stay up till 8pm. Not bad. Can’t really think straight though. Went to bed and slept like the dead.

Day one

Feb 28 4.15 pm Perth Airport

Typical. It’s raining.

Suddenly I want nothing more than to just go home and sit on the sofa with a cup of tea. My new tax free watch feels funny on my wrist. It’s a Swatch dudes, yo.

I am amazingly calm as if this is all happening to someone else. Despite there being several million small children on the plane, thankfully none are next to me. In fact no one is next to me. I have an empty seat, yo!

Very uneventful flight from Perth to Singapore. Watched ‘The Queen’. Helen Mirren irritated me again. Ate something that had the taste and texture of a broiled rubber doorstop. Looked out window, saw clouds and sea and the loooooong WA coastline slowly disappear. No gremlins pulling engines to pieces a la Twilight Zone. Strangely relieved.

Indulged spur-of-moment shopping impulse with inflight duty free. Spurned Kath and Kel style jumpers for booze (Absolut vodka Merri and Amy) and perfume (Prada!!!!). I am such a label whore.

No likely talent on plane. Vv disappointed at missed opportunity to join mile-high club. Looked in vain for Ralph Feinnes. No luck there either.

Singapore Airport was there, which was handy as that is where we were landing. Piled off into shopping paradise – a dangerous window of 3hrs among Armani, Gucci, Burberry, etc etc. Could have blown all spending money but instead bought wheelie trolley for (illegally) heavy hand luggage. Pulled trolley which immediately flipped over on its head, endangering the life of bottle of Absolut which was stashed therein. The horror! Swore in Australian. Booze intact, I explored and marveled at beautiful orchids. I walked, walked, walked kept walking. Walked some more. Big place Singapore Airport. Got on moving escalator thingy to get back to original spot. Thought about getting a massage but then remembered wearing anti embolism leggings and thought again. Sat and talked to a man about the stupid Australian government about which I had very little to say (shifty eyes).

Lined up to board plane. Watched as the security dude made a woman drink out of her bottle of water to prove it was indeed water. Had visions of drinking whole bottle of Absolut vodka for similar reasons. Broke out in cold sweat.

Departure delayed due to there being a bag on board with no accompanying passenger. Don’t you hate it when your luggage goes on holiday without you? Anyhoo, they had to unload the hold find the bag and take it off. Then we had to wait for a new takeoff window but finally started taxiing and taxiing and taxiing and taxiing. Fell asleep. Woke up. Still taxiing and taxiing. Considered the possibility that we were going to drive to London. Still taxiing. Read Equus again. Still taxiing. Wrote the Lord’s Prayer on the head of a pin. Still… you get the picture.

Took off. Looooooooooooong flight. Knees under chin. Hissed at those flying first class. Marvelled at how many gay flight stewards can fit in one plane (eat your heart out Mark). Endured the serving of dinner (again) hot towels, cold towels, drinks, coffee, tea, more duty free... Prayed they would eventually leave me alone to sleep or upgrade me.

Fell on man’s lap on way to loo. Mmmmm shiiiiiny. Discovered one shoe missing. No idea how this happened as laced double knotted. Suspect Twilight Zone gremlins. Flew v v long way. Still not upgraded to first class.

(Insert long boring flying details here.)

Landed at Heathrow. Man at Immigration asked me where I had come from. “The plane,” I said to which he raised an eyebrow and patiently asked where the plane had come from. He said I was mad to come to London for a holiday from ‘sunny Orstralia’. I smiled. I am here to see Dan you silly man. Anyhoo, I smiled at him and was through in about 30 secs. Everyone else seemed to be taking ages. Decided I liked nice man at Immigration.

Walked straight through Customs. Got bag. Approached by gentleman with electronic gizmo. He was from the Airport Authority wanting to ask me questions about my experience at the airport – did I mind answering them. No mate, I have come from Perth for no reason but to do just that. Nothing would give me greater pleasure. Sigh.

Nikki arrived. BIG HUGS!!! YAY!!! Thanks for picking me up mate. <333. 6 degrees outside. Not shiiiiiny. Big hairy ride in Nik’s new car to Watford. Considered the possibility that after traveling 23 hours across the world I may just die on a London motorway. Amy you have lost your number one mad driving position.

OMG OMG OMG drove past Leavesden Studios. Put neck out craning for view. Saw the set for Privet Drive. Sigh.

The drive to Aunt’s house was very strange. Everything looked so familiar yet so strange. ALL the trees are bare. The grass is GREEN. There are daffodils and crocuses (crocii?) and primroses all over the place. Aunt pleased to see me – this could change. Had CUP OF TEA omg and bath and then set out to stay up all day. YAWN. Went to Aunt’s coffee morning. Won purple teddy bear in raffle. Where the @#$% am I going to put a large sparkly teddy bear in my luggage?

Managed to stay up till 8pm. Not bad. Can’t really think straight though. Went to bed and slept like the dead.

Saturday, 3 March 2007

Almost un jetlagged

I am here and safe. Am dying from lack of internet. Hope to go to internet cafe and make proper long post today. Miss all you lot online v v much. Is raining after two sunny days. Have been misbehaving as much as possible.

Messages: Em will you check my email I think there are things in there that might be posts? I have sporadic wireless connection here.
Nikki Please rescue me from the at home with rellies situation.
Marie is it ok for me to post a load of stuff to you instead of lugging it all in my hand luggage.
Sheila please prepare chocolate shops for invasion.
Mark BIG HUG
Pam *waves*
Jess and Amy has the house burnt down yet? Did you feed the dog?
P & T yahoooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!
Love to all. I miss you heaps.

Hope to fill in the details soon.