Hello everyone! Sorry about the lack of blog entries - it's been annoying without internet at home. So to get things started, here are all the photos I've been taking:
www.amanda.com.au/uk/weekends/Sat – Sun 14-15 July 2007
Friday night I met up with my old work mate Nicole (from QFRS at Whyte Island) who’s out here for a short holiday. Was good to catch up with someone from home! We met at Covent Garden and headed off, ending up in Soho at a pub, then made our way to the Masala Zone Indian restaurant – very yummy. Nicole was staying at her sister’s out in Slough (middle of nowhere) so had to get the last train. Was a great night none the less. I think we're going to try and go see a musical next week.
Saturday morning I had to wait for the Virgin Media technician to come back and “fix” my internet. Not that it’s ever worked since the previous Saturday when it was installed. Turns out my area isn’t ready for cable (even though they installed it). Grrr. Have cancelled my account and am signing up for ADSL with another provider. Such a muck around. The unsecured wireless started working again, so am taking this opportunity to update my blog. Anyway, after that, I had to wait for some concert tickets to arrive – KT Tunstall. And then tried to go to the post office, but alas it was shut by the time I got there. Can’t remember what else I did – oh had a giant Mexican cook off – loads of left overs. Watched a DVD, painted toenails, did a French polish – relaxing girly stuff.
Anyway, Sunday time for more site seeing. First stop: Harrods. Was very busy. Had to restrain myself. Bought a couple of presents. Everything there is just so nice.. and expensive. I went into the food hall at Harrods and salivated. My mouth, stomach and eyes were excited. The food there looked.. amazing. So I bought up on some Middle Eastern food – vine leaves, falafel, hummus, tabouli, pita bread, lamb kebab thing etc – all in takeaway containers and headed off to Hyde Park. Plonked myself on a deck chair in front of the pond/lake, munched away, read the newspaper, relaxed, got my a-z (refidex) out and figured out where I was going next. I make a point of trying to walk as much around central London itself, so set off along Park Lane (which seems to go on forever), by which point it was raining. I then hit Marble Arch – which I was expecting to be this impressive monument, but it was quite boring. Then headed down Oxford Street, and escaped into the famous Selfridges Department Store - again in awe, but was starting to get cranky, tired, sore feet and a headache. Made my way to the nearest tube and headed home and fell down tired when I got home into a deep powernap.
Sat – Sun 7-8 July 2007OMG – the sun came out. After an atrociously dreadfully depressing long week that left me wondering what the hell am I doing here, my friend the sun finally reappeared. I read the book that everyone wrote in before I left and I started a list of places I wanted to visit in London, the UK and the.. world. It’s a big list, but I think it’s doable. Anyway, there was loads going on in London this weekend – Wimbledon, Tour de France and Live Earth. On the Friday night, I saw some bands in Spittlefield. My favourite was this crazy Japanese techno band
Lucha Libre - with live brass, drums etc. Had a well deserved sleep in on Saturday. Hung around for Virgin to come install my internet and watched Live Earth on tv that afternoon and evening. Incidentally, the internet didn’t work at all and a technician is coming back the following Saturday – grrr.
Sunday, I did loads of housework, mowed the lawn and headed out on a big weekend walk. The sun was still out – hoorah! First stop – Westminster Abbey. It was closed on Sundays but I took some photos of the outside - will have to go back. Then headed off in the direction of Trafalgar Square. Le Tour de France had passed through there the day before but there were still grand stands and huge screens still broadcasting it from there. Then headed down Regent Street and hit Piccadilly Circus. Then headed off to Chinatown, and had Chinese for the first time since I’ve been here – my serving was way too much for one person. Yum. Later on I headed over to Battersea Park. Feet were ready to fall off yet again.
Sat – Sun 30 June - 1 July 2007There were tube works on the Victoria line which meant my tube station (and many others) were shut the entire weekend. And it was bucketing rain. Parts of England have actually been flooding. Eventually ventured outside to pick up a package from the post centre which just turned out to be tickets that required signing for. Bought a few more concert tickets: Keane, The Bravery, Michael Buble and the Lovebox weekender festival (Groove Armada, the B52s and the Presets are the ones I want to see). KT Tunstall tickets are onsale too – dying to see her. Tickets are fairly cheap/reasonable too. There is certainly loads to do and see here.. Just a pity the weather is so CRAP.
Bought a couple of pairs of shoes for work of which one of gave me blisters – ow, and a rubber bath mat so I don’t fall over in the shower again (very slippery), and bought a pair of scales which was scary – haven’t put on any weight – hoorah! People keep asking me about the “Heathrow Injection”. Apparently the traditional thing for us Aussies to do, is to come over here, drink like fish (ie pints), eat a lot of hot and wintery comfort and junk food and gain 10+ kilos. I’m sure for a lot of Aussies this is true, but for me it’s not. Me - I’m flat out drinking a pint. In fact, if I do drink a pint, I can’t even fit dinner in coz I’m so full. Haven’t eaten any comfort food – I get free fruit and lunches at work – so loads of salads and veg. And usually a very light dinner coz of the giant lunch. And not having a car means I am walking everywhere - so getting LOADS of exercise.
On the Sunday, they broadcast the Princess Diana concert live on TV. She would have been 46 on that day. Have to say, Prince William and Harry are quite down to earth considering.. everything. And what a great lady she was – so tragic. Anyway, was a fun concert to watch. Had a few drinks in the garden with Steph and sung along to all the Andrew Lloyd Webber songs in the kitchen they were playing / singing at the concert. Never realized how many of his songs I knew and used to sing in my high school choir / in concert band as well. Loads of memories came flooding back. Was also probably a good weekend to stay in coz they found all those bombs around London..
Anyway, I need to have a small whinge. I’ve been wanting to go to Wimbledon (didn’t end up going, and tickets were limited / expensive or had huge queues) – but it’s been raining heaps. Today, as I stood waiting for my BP minibus in the shelter, it of course started to rain and then started to hail. I stood there shivering thinking – is this what they call summer? I miss Australian weather. I then prepared myself for the joyous walk in pouring rain from the tube and home in my painful new shoes. I had a long hot shower when I got home and squeaked with pain when the hot water hit my blisters. I also stood on a piece of glass in the kitchen the night before (it was tiny).
And a number of times on the way to work or on the way home, my tube has been cancelled due to “a person on the tracks” – which they announce loudly over all the speakers. I couldn’t quite believe my ears the first time I heard that, but I’ve head it so many times now that it’s normal. In fact it’s so normal that it annoys me that this selfish person has decided to commit suicide and inconvenience thousands of people who are trying to live (and get to work / get home etc). Of course, then you have to get a bus instead, which of course are so packed or crammed with people from the tube. I remember one time I had to get the bus home because of a “person on the tracks” – you never get a seat, a young toddler had crapped its pants, there was some crazy dude swearing randomly (as there are everywhere), and you’re crammed in like sardines. Ah London life.. it has its ups and downs.
Sat & Sun 23-24 June 2007
Ventured to Leicester Square for the first time. Free musical show case going on. Loads of people. Walked round in circles / blocks before I actually found it. Got a free show bag of stuff. Wandered off to Covent Garden. I love Covent Garden – so many nice shops, places to eat, drink, the markets were amazing. I found this handmade purple bathrobe – it was beautiful. And only 165 pounds. I didn’t buy it. Did however buy a really nice pair of red earrings for 3 pounds (pictured). Watched some street performers and statue men.
Saturday night, went out to Clapham Junction to see Australian comedian Adam Hill. Very funny. Loads of Aussies and strangely groups of guys on bucks nights (who heckled him). The dancefloor had squares that lit up. Caught the nightbus home and had a giant sleep in. Watched the Glastonbury festival on TV the next day which looked like mud city. Was glad to be indoors.
Sat & Sun 16-17 June 2007
Queens Birthday weekend here. Saturday there was “Trooping of the Colour” which is basically a big horsey parade for the Queen. She certainly knows how to have a birthday. Loads of horses, troops, marching bands, cannons going off and planes flying over. The photos of the planes are awesome - from WW2 planes to current planes. In particular this one is just amazing (can’t believe how well it turned out!). The following day a lot of this official / ceremonial stuff was repeated for the 25th anniversary of the Falklands Island thing.
Saturday night, went to my first festival over here – the O2 wireless festival in Hyde Park. It went for 4 days – I just bought a ticket for the Saturday. I was too late to buy tickets for the Thursday night – I really wanted to see Queens of the Stoneage (DOH). Anyway, the main acts I saw were LCD Soundsystem and Daft Punk. LCD Soundsystem really funked out (in a good way – music was faster than their LP and bass guitar was really loud and funky just how I like it).
The stage / lighting show for Daft Punk was amazing. When they came on, the crowd suddenly went crazy and it turned into a mosh pit. Was quite close to the front. Daft Punk came out wearing space men outfits and matching helmets. After being elbowed in the head about 10 times (from people who were moshing to dance music) I felt as though I should be the one wearing a helmet and not these 2 DJs on stage in safe confines of their pyramid on stage. So I made my way to the side where the crowd thinned slightly so I didn’t feel like a sardine and actually move and dance like a normal person and enjoy it. Still had a fantastic view of the stage as well.
Sunday, slept in and went for a bike ride in Brockwell Park in the arvo. Rediscovered hills and calf muscles. Suddenly heard music playing somewhere. A band was playing in one of the basketball courts there under a camouflage tent. They sounded very funky/jazzy and most their songs somehow sounded like slowed down versions of Blue Suede Shoes – so quite catchy. Set off peddling again, stopped at a pond and rode home, didn’t fall off or get squished by a car (amazingly). And why are bike seats so uncomfortable? Owie. I also discovered there is a pub literally 10-20 metres from my house that I had no idea that it even existed on the way home.
ANYWAY, if you've managed to get this far through my blog, congratulations. And I endeavour to keep it more up to date when my REAL internet gets installed. To see the rest of the photos go here: www.amanda.com.au/uk/weekends/ - Speak to you all soon - Manda.
Today I had all sorts of plans of doing things around London. Eg the red bull air race was on which looked pretty fun. But then I thought, I really really need to get out of London. So I looked up trains to Brighton late lastnight and saw it only took an hour to get out there. Having lived by the water most of my life, I do need to reconnect with it everynow and then. And the Thames is about appealing as and brown as our Brisbane river. Hence, Brighton was close and off I went. I got there at about lunch time - the weather forecast was average. It was a bit cloudy, but it certainly wasn't raining (compared to the rest of the country which is flooding - apparently this is the wettest summer on record - grr).
Now, I know beaches over here aren't like beaches at home. Brighton's beaches have giant soft round pebbles (no sand). They're actually really nice to walk on, and are quite comfortable to lie on as well. It was strangely refreshing to not have to brush sand off or have sand in every nook and cranny. I walked along the boardwalks and as the afternoon progressed, there were less clouds and more sun. I caught a mini electric train that runs along the beach up towards a marina. The beach was much quieter up this way. I also passed a place called CRAZY golf - a mini putt putt place on the beach. I found a nice spot on the beach and took in the blue sea and soaked up some rays. I even took a photo of the sun. I have missed the sea and the sun.
Later on, I got some fresh prawns and lobster and hot chips and ate them by the beach. There's loads of cafes, pubs, shops, rides, amusement type things - it's got a great atmosphere. It was starting to get late and I really didn't want to leave. It'd be nice to go there for a weekend. I returned to London feeling refreshed, warm and happy - that smiling on the inside stuff - it was just what I needed. Anyway, I've posted all my Brighton photos here: www.amanda.com.au/uk/brighton/
