Hi all, yep that's right I'm back home. Arrived back yesterday afternoon but I've been busy either sleeping or trying not to fall asleep - I couldn't sleep at all on the plane which means that when I arrived home I'd been 42 hours without sleep.
Sorry for abandoning the blog while I've been with my aunt in Wellingborough. I was just chillaxing while there so there really wasn't anything to report. I went to a shoe museum. And of course visited my grandparents.
Thanks to all who have followed my blog while I was away. It was really cool to know that people cared about what I was up to! I look forward to seeing all my NZ friends and finding out what you've been up to.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Monday, October 5, 2009
Hello from sunny Wales...
Sunday 4 October 1.48pm
Yes I am in Wales but no it is not sunny...
Now I have to try and think about what I have done since my last post. Ah that's right, I bought a little baby suitcase from Marks and Spencers and I went to Avenue Q, which was very very funny. It's sort of based on Sesame Street, but it is a very adult version... with songs like 'Everyone's a Little Bit Racist', 'If You Were Gay', and 'The Internet is for Porn.'
On Wednesday I went out for a day with Uncle Donald, with a ride on the London Eye (INCLUDING BRAND NEW 4D EXPERIENCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It wasn't really that exciting actually), a visit to the National Gallery, and the Tate Britian and Tate Modern where I saw a REAL LIFE JACKSON POLLOCK which was very exciting. Thursday was a day trip to 'The University Town of Cambridge'. Uncle Donald took us for a punt on the river and here is a picture of him doing it:
We walked all around the town and looked at all the colleges and nearly got run over about twenty-eight times by bicycles. So that was an exciting day. And in the evening I met up with Mauve, a friend from work in NZ who is French. She happened to be on holiday at the same time as me, and jsut arrived in London on Thursday morning. I found my way to her friend's house where she was staying and we all went out to the local pub, because there was meant to be a band playing. But instead, Thursday night is comedy night, so we watched some improv. It was really bad. No more needs to be said.
Friday I spent the day on trains and arrived in windy, cold Aberystwyth. I really like it here and am thinking about staying forever and ever. No I am not being sarcastic. I'm staying with Jackie and Ian, who Dad used to work with when he lived in London. Thy have been to NZ a few times so as I was all the way over the other side of the world I really wanted to see them. Jack reckons I should go to the university here instead of going home, but unfortunately the university year has just started, plus there's the problem of having to pay exorbitant international student prices.
Yesterday I did some shopping in the morning with Jack and then in the afternoon, went mountain biking with Ian and their son Chris, who's about my age. For those who, like me, have never been mountain biking before, it involves cycling over deadly terrain on a track that's about an inch wide. Just my cup of tea, I'm sure you'll agree. (Tui). I didn't die. Just.
Today me and Jack took their three dogs out for a walk on the beach. Mum, they all put Van to shame, they are so well-behaved! We are having Sunday lunch (dinner) in a pub a bit later, and then flying kites. It's really windy here so it should actually be really good.
Yes I am actually mountain biking, walking dogs and flying kites. It's hard to believe I know, but I've been too long looking at museums and things like that... I need to get active!
Tomorrow I'm off on a train to Wellingborough, which is here (where the A is).
I'm currently where the pink dot is. Thanks Google Maps. I am visiting my aunt and my grandparents so probably not a whole lot to blog about, but you may just hear from me again.
Yes I am in Wales but no it is not sunny...
Now I have to try and think about what I have done since my last post. Ah that's right, I bought a little baby suitcase from Marks and Spencers and I went to Avenue Q, which was very very funny. It's sort of based on Sesame Street, but it is a very adult version... with songs like 'Everyone's a Little Bit Racist', 'If You Were Gay', and 'The Internet is for Porn.'
On Wednesday I went out for a day with Uncle Donald, with a ride on the London Eye (INCLUDING BRAND NEW 4D EXPERIENCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It wasn't really that exciting actually), a visit to the National Gallery, and the Tate Britian and Tate Modern where I saw a REAL LIFE JACKSON POLLOCK which was very exciting. Thursday was a day trip to 'The University Town of Cambridge'. Uncle Donald took us for a punt on the river and here is a picture of him doing it:
We walked all around the town and looked at all the colleges and nearly got run over about twenty-eight times by bicycles. So that was an exciting day. And in the evening I met up with Mauve, a friend from work in NZ who is French. She happened to be on holiday at the same time as me, and jsut arrived in London on Thursday morning. I found my way to her friend's house where she was staying and we all went out to the local pub, because there was meant to be a band playing. But instead, Thursday night is comedy night, so we watched some improv. It was really bad. No more needs to be said.
Friday I spent the day on trains and arrived in windy, cold Aberystwyth. I really like it here and am thinking about staying forever and ever. No I am not being sarcastic. I'm staying with Jackie and Ian, who Dad used to work with when he lived in London. Thy have been to NZ a few times so as I was all the way over the other side of the world I really wanted to see them. Jack reckons I should go to the university here instead of going home, but unfortunately the university year has just started, plus there's the problem of having to pay exorbitant international student prices.
Yesterday I did some shopping in the morning with Jack and then in the afternoon, went mountain biking with Ian and their son Chris, who's about my age. For those who, like me, have never been mountain biking before, it involves cycling over deadly terrain on a track that's about an inch wide. Just my cup of tea, I'm sure you'll agree. (Tui). I didn't die. Just.
Today me and Jack took their three dogs out for a walk on the beach. Mum, they all put Van to shame, they are so well-behaved! We are having Sunday lunch (dinner) in a pub a bit later, and then flying kites. It's really windy here so it should actually be really good.
Yes I am actually mountain biking, walking dogs and flying kites. It's hard to believe I know, but I've been too long looking at museums and things like that... I need to get active!
Tomorrow I'm off on a train to Wellingborough, which is here (where the A is).
I'm currently where the pink dot is. Thanks Google Maps. I am visiting my aunt and my grandparents so probably not a whole lot to blog about, but you may just hear from me again.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
London Calling
Local time: Tuesday 29 September 11:56am
I apologise that I have been so neglectful of my blog since arriving in London, especially since I have done so much... including catch a cold! I believe the stress of travel must have run me down because on Sunday evening I found myself sniffing and I had to go out yesterday and buy a box of tissues. But nevertheless I have been getting out and doing things...
On Saturday morning I met Kinloch (a friend from work who moved here in April) for breakfast at a place called, aptly, The Breakfast Club. And though there was lots of memoribilia from various movies on the walls, I couldn't find anything to do with its namesake. Which I found strange. We then went walking and found Borough Markets, a huge food market which is thought to have been on the site since the Middle Ages, and has definitely been there shince the 18th Century. I bought shortbread decorated to look like owls. Kinloch dropped me off at Shakespeare's Globe, where Uncle Donald, Liz and I watched Love's Labours Lost with some friends of Uncle Donald and Liz's, and we went to a Turkish restaurant for dinner.
I met Kinloch again on Sunday and we did some window shopping (and real shopping on my part) on Regent Street. Kinloch took me to a Kiwi-themed cafe where I had an L&P and a slice of lolly cake. I don't normally eat lolly cake at home, it was jsut the novelty of being able to eat it in London. But I think normal lolly cake must be made with Eskimos and this was made just with normal marshmallows (maybe you can't get Eskimos here) so it didn't taste quite the same. We walked to Leicester Square and I bought a ticket for Avenue Q which I'm going to tonight (Ivana: that's the musical that the I'm Not Wearing Underwear Today song comes from).
Yesterday I bought tissues then went out to the Tower of London, where I had a guided tour by a Beefeater, yes that is what they are called, they are the men (and one, recently-appointed, controversial, woman) who look after the Tower of London. They date back to who-knows-when and traditionally looked after the crown jewels and other stuff kept at the TOwer. Now they do tours for visitors. Of course.
Today I am paying a visit to Marble Arch... to the UK's largest Marks and Spencers store. I have bought so much stuff I need to get an extra piece of luggage. Then the show tonight, which I am looking forward to. I'll let you know how it goes.
Pip-pip
I apologise that I have been so neglectful of my blog since arriving in London, especially since I have done so much... including catch a cold! I believe the stress of travel must have run me down because on Sunday evening I found myself sniffing and I had to go out yesterday and buy a box of tissues. But nevertheless I have been getting out and doing things...
On Saturday morning I met Kinloch (a friend from work who moved here in April) for breakfast at a place called, aptly, The Breakfast Club. And though there was lots of memoribilia from various movies on the walls, I couldn't find anything to do with its namesake. Which I found strange. We then went walking and found Borough Markets, a huge food market which is thought to have been on the site since the Middle Ages, and has definitely been there shince the 18th Century. I bought shortbread decorated to look like owls. Kinloch dropped me off at Shakespeare's Globe, where Uncle Donald, Liz and I watched Love's Labours Lost with some friends of Uncle Donald and Liz's, and we went to a Turkish restaurant for dinner.
I met Kinloch again on Sunday and we did some window shopping (and real shopping on my part) on Regent Street. Kinloch took me to a Kiwi-themed cafe where I had an L&P and a slice of lolly cake. I don't normally eat lolly cake at home, it was jsut the novelty of being able to eat it in London. But I think normal lolly cake must be made with Eskimos and this was made just with normal marshmallows (maybe you can't get Eskimos here) so it didn't taste quite the same. We walked to Leicester Square and I bought a ticket for Avenue Q which I'm going to tonight (Ivana: that's the musical that the I'm Not Wearing Underwear Today song comes from).
Yesterday I bought tissues then went out to the Tower of London, where I had a guided tour by a Beefeater, yes that is what they are called, they are the men (and one, recently-appointed, controversial, woman) who look after the Tower of London. They date back to who-knows-when and traditionally looked after the crown jewels and other stuff kept at the TOwer. Now they do tours for visitors. Of course.
Today I am paying a visit to Marble Arch... to the UK's largest Marks and Spencers store. I have bought so much stuff I need to get an extra piece of luggage. Then the show tonight, which I am looking forward to. I'll let you know how it goes.
Pip-pip
Friday, September 25, 2009
Pyramids and Towers and Theatres and Amelie
Local time (London): Friday 25 September 10:20pm
Hi all, I've done a few things since my last post so let's see... on Wednesday I went to the Louvre, I saw many paintings but probably none that any of you are interested in so here are some you might recognise:
And this is the famous inverted pyramid at the entranceway
That was my whole day on Wednesday. Yesterday I went up the Eiffel Tower in the morning. I got the lift - after all the things I've climbed I'm a bit sick of stairs. Around the viewing platform at the top, they have the flags of most countries facing in the direction of the country, with a distance from the Eiffel Tower to that country. Turns out nothing in the world worth knowing about is further from France than New Zealand. 
I then went to the Palais Garnier, the theatre I had no luck with last time, and was able to go in. It was amazing and I took more photos there than I did up the tower but here's just one so you don't get bored. 
For lunch (a late one at about 4pm) I went back to Amelie's cafe and had a French toasted sandwich thing called a croque-monsieur. If you are ever in France please try one. It was yum.
Hi all, I've done a few things since my last post so let's see... on Wednesday I went to the Louvre, I saw many paintings but probably none that any of you are interested in so here are some you might recognise:
And this is the famous inverted pyramid at the entranceway
That was my whole day on Wednesday. Yesterday I went up the Eiffel Tower in the morning. I got the lift - after all the things I've climbed I'm a bit sick of stairs. Around the viewing platform at the top, they have the flags of most countries facing in the direction of the country, with a distance from the Eiffel Tower to that country. Turns out nothing in the world worth knowing about is further from France than New Zealand. I then went to the Palais Garnier, the theatre I had no luck with last time, and was able to go in. It was amazing and I took more photos there than I did up the tower but here's just one so you don't get bored. For lunch (a late one at about 4pm) I went back to Amelie's cafe and had a French toasted sandwich thing called a croque-monsieur. If you are ever in France please try one. It was yum.Made it to London safe and sound today, where I am staying with great-uncle Donald and great-aunt Liz, and their step-grandson (my step-second-cousin??) Charlie. Nothing to report yet as all I've done is drink cups of tea and catch up with the family... the intelligent part of the family it seems (sorry M + D...) as there have already been about five etymology-related conversations, in which I was not a participant. Made me feel very uneducated. I'll have to come home quick and get some proper education into me.
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