Week 28 (27/8 - 30/8)

Rightio all you keen and eager readers (yeah, hi Mum ;) ), another entry. This one is a slightly shorter one due to my upcoming holiday. A holiday? Hmm, I wonder what they're like. I almost feel I've forgotten. Anyhow, From tomorrow (31/8) I'll be popping up daily entries (no doubt they'll be short ones, but they'll still be something).

This week started off with a Bank Holiday. A public holiday, how thrilling you may think. Not so for me. A bit of guilt set in (again) and I went into the office and spent the better part of the day working on my PhD. Not sure much was achieved, short of me feeling a bit better (i.e. less guilty - haha).

The rest of the week (Tues - Thurs) was spent trying to preempt things happening at work while I was away. Mucho fun - NOT.

Tuesday - happy birthday Chris! Funny, I only realised today that when she turned 30 (15 years ago) I laughed at how old she was. Now I'm 30...and no longer laughing (nor thinking that it's such an old age ;) ). Maturity? Nah - just not wanting to be old myself - haha.

On Wednesday night Sammy, Fariha and I went out for dinner (meeting Sammy at Charing Cross Road) and then went to see Blood Brothers. Interestingly, I thought I knew the basic storyline of this show...but I knew jack all about it. This was a brilliant show and I'd recommend anyone going to see it if they get a chance. After this, I strolled home. It's quicker to get home by foot from 'Theatreland' (West End) than by tube. Okay, that may not be exactly true, but it's less frustrating for me ;)

I had a shite load of stuff to get through on Thursday at work, but in the end I gave up on some of it and left it for when I get back (not good practice, but there are only so many hours in a day!). The problem was that the morning was filled up with damned meetings, and the afternoon chasing my tail (figuratively speaking - I don't actually have a tail).

Thursday night I went up to Victoria station and met Nicky (she stayed the night at mine before leaving on Friday morning - more convenient). It was good catching up with her again. I couldn't get over the size of the pack she was taking away with her (I'm sure you'd be able to easily get a body or two in it!). Mind you, in her defense, she had just arrived in from a week travelling around the Lakes District and Scotland and was straight into another 10-days of travel. I, on the other hand, was only taking a small backpack with me (that I had to go out and buy especially).

So, yeah, a non-exciting lead-up to a muchly anticipated holiday!

Seeyabye

Week 27 (20/8 - 26/8)

Work-wise, this was just a normal, run-of-the-mill week. Nothing exciting sprung up and surprised me. In saying that, it was Sammy's last week. That was a bit of a bummer. Sammy makes the office a fun place - give her sugar or coffee and she's like a madman - in a good way. Ahh well, the nature of working in an office where they hire millions of temps!

Actually, I lie! Something did jump up and surprise me at work! Things seemed to be going OK - with the exception of forgetting to upload a file onto the Intranet and some shit going down around that (neither here nor there, really). Apparently some students booked a rugby tour around dates on the Intranet - dates that collided with some big exams! I tried to take the blame for this (only natural seeing as how I never uploaded the file), but turns out that there are several variations of the same document (looked after by several different people) and even if I had uploaded it, the other ones would've been wrong. Bloody hell - what a kerfuffle!

Wednesday night we went out for drinks for Sammy's leaving do. Drinks at the Holland Club (the staff pub at work where drinks are mightily cheap) and then off for a meal down by the South Kensington tube station. Only about 6 of us went for the meal, so it was quite good - pretty much "Sammy's Crew", as she likes to refer to us (rude much ;) ). Aidan managed to pop his head in, so it was good to catch up with him again (it'd only been a couple of weeks, but still).

Thursday and Friday were kind of social days around the office - Sammy's last couple of days. Thursday we went out for lunch with her replacement - just to get to know her and show her that there are some fun people in the office ;) Friday we went out again for lunch (hmm, detecting any patterns here?). At lunch on Friday Sammy and I were asked if we missed anything from home. We both agreed that we missed people, but nothing really specific (though Sammy said she missed the beaches). About ten minutes later, I announced that I also missed good service in places - coming moments just after I called a waitress a 'stupid tart' for screwing up our orders (this was on top of them taking nearly an hour to get our meals - most of which were only bowls of wedges!). Not a happy camper then ;)

The weekend saw me veg out in the sun. Read a couple of books and relaxed ('cos my life is just so stressful). So much for spending the long weekend working on my thesis. To be honest, I really couldn't be arsed (or, on the off-chance that Jeff happens to be reading this, then I was extremely busy working hard and missing out on all the brilliant sunshine ;) ).

Seeyabye

Week 26 (13/8 - 19/8)

What a boring start to the week. Monday and Tuesday ended up being the usual, mundane days. I'm being good again and taking in my packed lunches and we're just heading over to the student union (which they call the common room) and vegging on the couches. Have definitely settled into the new role. Seems to be quite easy (Aidan did say it was). Am still fairly bored, but oh well.

Fariha and I went off to see Les Miserables on Wednesday night. Had dinner at an Italian restaurant before going to the show. We thought we had good seats - but they weren't as good as initially thought. They were in the stalls, but along the side, so we had to lean forward and sit on angles to see. It was still good though (I was pleased that I've seen the show before, albeit in Invercargill). I have to say, the Invercargill versions (including the one Nick was in - that I saw on video) were very comparable to the West End version! Kudos to Invers! After the show, I heard this dumbass American woman going on about how the British should stop trying to copy American shows; that the "originals" are always better. She missed the point that this (and The Phantom) are British taken to America (and both are originally based on French novels!). DUMBASS.

Speaking of dumbasses. I jumped on the Picadilly line at Picadilly Circus - went one stop to Green Park and was going to change to the Victoria line to go home, when I realised the Victoria line is closing at 10pm these days. Damn it! I ended up walking home (which wasn't an issue, but I was just annoyed that I used the tube for a distance that I could've just as easily walked!).

On Thursday afternoon we had our "team building" day. The weather wasn't so good, so instead of the picnic in Hyde Park, we had lunch in the office, then had activities (DVDs, salsa dancing, cards, board games etc). The only good thing about the day was that we got to leave early...which I was going to do anyway. After work, I went up to Covent Garden for a drink and to meet my cousin, Julie, and her hubby (first time meeting him; first time seeing Julie in years, too). Had a couple of drinks with them - was good to do the catch up thing again (and keeps our mothers happy ;) haha).

Went to the pub for "a" drink after work on Friday. This ended up being several, before going to an Italian place nearby for dinner (which, unlike normal dinners after the pub, included more alcohol). We decided we wanted a McFlurry, so we walked from South Kensington up to Embankment and then milled around along the Thames.

Pottered around on Saturday - killing time really. In the evening I met up with Eva (old colleague from home) who was in town for the night on her way to Hungary. We went and had a drink and then she went to a salsa party (I went to the venue and waited in the queue with her, but there wasn't any chance of catching me at such a party! ;) ). Was good catching up with her - a reminder that anyone from home is welcome to give me a call if you're in these here parts ;)

Tamara arrived home from a few weeks in Mexico, Belize etc (you know, all those places that only a week or so later were hit by hurricanes!) on Saturday night, so we caught up and spent the day together on Sunday. Nothing exciting. Wandered around Southbank; went into the Tate Modern and had a nose around; went out for dinner. Was good seeing her again (and a great way to spend a Sunday).

Seeyabye

Week 25 (6/8 - 12/8)

Okay - confession time. This week is a blur to me. I can't, for the life of me, recall anything that happened. Something must've, but what??? - nice to know that my memory is in good working order (bah!).

I do, however, recall the weekend (but only because it's just over and I jotted some notes down).

Another weekend with good weather. Not great, but compared to some of the weather we've had, it's been good. I still feel shortchanged. My plan of summer in NZ, summer in the UK, then back to NZ for summer have gone out the window. Not much of a summer in NZ, similar (maybe a bit better) here, and now I'm staying on through winter here! Oh well. I think I'd rather be here than at home - in the sense that at least I have a job here (I guess this is a weak argument seeing how I can't have a job here AND at home too ;) ).

After saying I'm going to buy some new clothes for the last couple of weeks (more like months!), I finally got off my arse and did it. Spent nearly a couple of hundred quid on clothes - but they were muchly needed. It's good to now have jeans that I can wear without the assistance of a belt (my old jeans, whenever I take the belt off, fall down). Even better to know that I've definitely gone down in size! Long may that continue. Along with jeans, I also picked up some shirts, t-shirts, socks, work trousers, and a hoodie. I feel almost human again!

Seeyabye

Week 24 (30/7 - 5/8)

Hmm, if you hadn't noticed, I'm starting to get behind with all these entries. Luckily I am jotting down notes - I've just got to get back to them at some stage and expand on the notes a wee bit, then upload them. Oh well.

Quiet week to start with - not much happening.

Mon night went to see The Rose Tattoo (a play by Tennessee Williams), starring Zoe Wannamaker. Very good - though part of the storyline seemed a wee bit redundant to me (2.5hrs!!!). Only 10 quid and had excellent seats (not just for the price as was the case last week - but excellent seats in general!).

Felt the need for a drink after work on Tuesday, so we went to the Holland Club and had a couple. This, of course, lead to heading out for dinner afterwards. I'm seriously contemplating giving up buying groceries for the flat. I would be lucky if I cook one night a week at home these days! All I need to get is my fruit, lunch and breakfast stuff and I'll be right - should almost halve my weekly grocery spending ;)

Wednesday came and I started the new part of my job (management, apparently). I'm now doing the work of two full-time positions (and am still totally bored, but let's not mention this to the boss!) - kind of sounds like my old job back home ;) I think they're easing me into it slowly. Nobody asked me to do anything :( Somehow I can't see this lasting...

...nope. Didn't last. First thing on Thursday morning I was faced with about three queries about things I had no idea about. I managed to BS my way through them though, keeping everyone happy :) I spent most of Thursday arvo in the "secret room" going through archives that are being sent away. They keep exam scripts for 7 years here! What a waste of time/space. Nearly 200 archive boxes are being sent off to another campus for storage. Nobody thinks that any scripts etc have been requested in the last few years, so really, what's the point?

Friday saw us head off for drinks yet again - at lunch and after work. Lunchtime drinks were with the exams team (a kind of way to thank me for my help with things). After work was a "just 'cos" reason. We felt like a couple, so we buggered of for a couple. Fast becoming a habit. I feel all my weight is piling back on because of the alcohol consumption. One thing to do. Stop eating ;) haha

The weekend was beautiful & sunny. Spent it relaxing & reading. Well good. Sunday got poxy with the computer and also spent nearly 5 hours trying to sort it out (which I did successfully, I might add). I think that at some point I may have switched off the firewall and because I leave the thing on 24/7, somehow someone may have got into my machine. It's all working good again now, so I can breathe a sigh of relief (and remind myself not to turn off the firewall for any reason!).

Seeyabye

Week 23 (23/7 - 29/7)

This was kind of a busy week for me - busy in the sense that for the next couple of weeks I'm looking after the Intranet (not hard work, but tedious), as well as bugging Aidan as much as possible to ensure I know what I'm doing when I take over his job later in the week (Weds). I doubt I will know what I'm doing, but hey! C'est la vie! ;)

On Wednesday evening we went and saw the play The 39 Steps at the Criterion. It was really funny, and one I could see again :) Essentially there are only four actors playing a variety of roles in a whodunnit-type story. It only cost a tenner and we got fairly good seats (for the price, obviously).

Spent a couple of nights out for dinner (plus lunches). I'm finding life over here very social - especially during the weekdays. Fortunately most of the people I'm heading out with are in similar financial positions to me - they can't afford to be doing it every lunchtime/evening, so we do cheap things (sometimes). A vast difference to the life I lead in Dunedin where I hardly did a thing (sadly, I had more disposable money then, too - maybe I wouldn't be in as much debt in NZ had I lead a more social life - haha).

Friday night we had Aidan's leaving do. The boss put money behind the bar for it (something that he's never done for anyone else!) - and sadly (well, not really) most of the people who said they'd come, couldn't make it. Made for a good night for the 6 of us who did make it! Got a wee bit happy...until someone threw up over my jacket & shoes. Would've punched the bugger, but would've looked silly hitting myself ;)

Saturday morning I awoke feeling very sorry for myself...moreso because I woke up at 5am and couldn't get back to sleep. Ended up going out to Richmond for the arvo (after a nice, greasy lunch in Covent Garden). Wonderful weather (until just as I was getting home when it started to rain). Fariha wanted to see deer at Richmond park - but we had no idea as to how to find it, so we wandered around the streets until we came across it. We would've found it much sooner had we not went with my intuition ("let's go that way - it looks like it could be a 'parky' area" - yeah, right!).

Builder looked at flat - bit of work needs done. Despite landlord telling me roof was OK, the builder told me it was "fucked" (his word!). Bathroom floor needs re-tiled, so too, apparently, does the shower (tiles are coming off the walls - hadn't noticed this myself...oops).

On Sunday I spent the day relaxing (recovering from Friday night and all the walking on Saturday).

Seeyabye

Roma! Day 3 (22/7)

Ahh, Roma! Such a fantastic city.

Got up and checked out of the hotel. Seeing as I only had the morning (before I had to be making my way out to the airport), I met up with Peter & Mandy at the Termini around 9.30. We went around the corner to an amazing museum. There were lots of fascinating artifacts - statues and busts; mosaics; friezes etc. I wish I had had more time to explore everything they had to offer, but sadly, the two hours flew by!

I had to leave the Termini at 11.30. Bade farewell to Peter & Mandy and boarded the express back out to the airport. Did the whole check-in/security thing. Check-in was interesting. The desk for our flight was hidden away and not actually sign-posted (and kind of hidden by the long queues of people going through security). I eventually found it, checked in and went through security and into the transit area. Had a nose around the shops, but saw nothing that jumped out at me (and completely forgot to get some postcards - luckily it's a city I want to go back to, so there should be plenty of time to get them next visit).

Boarded the plane and took off for home (okay, I'm leaving out the boring waiting about bits here - I just filled these in doing Sudokus).

Arrived home to a nice day - not a warm day, but not a cold one - I didn't look too out of place in my shorts & t-shirt. Tubed it back to Victoria and wandered home. I pretty much hit the ceiling (excuse the pun) when I got in. There had been torrential rain in London on Friday (yay me for missing this) and my ceiling had leaked something wicked. There had been so much water, it had filled the bottom of the oven, spilled over the bench, and ran across the floor. All I can say is that I'm pleased I had the nouse to leave the place tidy when I left - otherwise there could've been a lot of damage to my stuff (like the laptop that usually gets left on the floor!). Called the landlord and went bananas - don't expect him to do anything, he didn't sound too interested. Oh well, it's damaging his property, not mine (yet!).

Overall, I had the bestest time in Roma. Peter & Mandy are great tour guides and such a fun couple to spend time with! It was sad to leave there - but so long as I'm living in these here parts, it's easy and cheap enough to go back to!

Seeyabye

Roma! Day 2 (21/7)

Day two in Roma! Today was to be the "busy" day - especially as I had to leave for the airport around noon the next day. In the photos below, please also take note of the brilliant blue sky! Not a cloud to be seen all day!!!

Up at 6am and out waiting for the bus (#508) at 7am. It finally arrived around 7.20am (don't expect buses to run to a schedule here!). It terminated at Ponte Mammolo Stazione (the Metro line) where I caught the tube into the Termini to meet Peter & Mandy at 9am. I ended up getting there around 8.30am so just pottered around and did some people-watching. Now, I realise that this is very stereotypical, but it's also very bloody true: Americans are loud, rude and abrupt! They complained about everything (heat, cost of things, people, language...). The teenagers were just dumb f**ks (i.e. I overheard one saying to another, 'I don't know why they can't just speak English here - everywhere else does'. That's news to me. I'm sure if you dumped the dickhead in, say, Beijing he'd have trouble too!).

I happened to catch Mandy out the corner of my eye - just as she was about to snap a photo of me. Sneaky woman! ;-) It was great to see them again - I don't think I've seen them since the afternoon of Howard's farewell at my place before Christmas! After a wee chat about things (what we'd do etc) we headed off for breakfast/coffee at a lovely wee cafe near where they usually stay when in Roma.

We decided to do the 'hop-on-hop-off' bus trip. These are the best things around. 24-hour ticket and you can get on and off where and when you like (well, by where I mean at designated stops!). There are a few different types - the one we ended up was a "Christian" one. Fortunately, there are churches near everything we (I) wanted to see (much of which Peter & Mandy had seen previously).

Stop #1 was at the Colusseum. This is absolutely amazing. It's not as large as I imagined it to be; but it's a wonderful piece of architecture (I love architecture I've now decided...maybe I'll do an architecture degree too? ;-) ). There are many parts that look as if they've been heavily restored over the years - and others that look fairly original. Never went in (due to the lengths of the queues) - could be something to do in the future. From here we strolled over to the Fori Imperiali/Romano (the seat of commerce & politics in ancient Rome). Here you could feel the history ooze out of the ruins. I doubt that in two centuries as much of what we know today will be in such conditions - we tend to bulldoze and rebuild. We did, however, wonder where all the dirt came from that buried much of the ruins? They're quite low compared to the rest of the city. Interesting.

^ One side of the Colesseum

^ Peter & Mandy - reading up on something :-)

^ One of the arches that led into ancient Roma

^ Can't quite recall what this is, but the history oozed out of it!

^ Remains of the home of the Vestal Virgins (what can be seen in the middle is the remains of the pond;
statues around the back are of the vestal virgin gods - or something like that)

^ Will get back to you on this (I should know)...but isn't it truly amazing?

We jumped back on the bus and travelled around, past the Circo Massimo (Circus Maximus). This was a hell of a lot bigger than I thought it was. It's hard to picture the chariots taking the sharp turns... Never got off the bus here; rather we went around to Santa Maria in Cosmedin (a church that houses Bocca Della Verita - a hole in the wall that, legend has it, will bite the hand of anyone who has lied). This was a great stop. We had a look around the church. Churches, it turns out, are great stops on hot days as they're so nice and cool - and have somewhere to sit if needed ;-)

^ A temple (can't remember which) over the road from Santa Maria in Cosmedin

After a look around here, we walked up the side of the Tiber, crossing over Ponte Fabrico onto Isola Tiberina (a tiny island, with a hospital, in the middle of the Tiber) then over Ponte Crestio to Trastevere - an old part of Roma, housing the oldest church (St Maria). Here we stopped off at a lovely cafe for lunch. It was so nice to sit down in the shade - with a lovely cool breeze at times. St Maria's is a beautiful church. Like so many churches in Roma, many things were stolen/salvaged from other sites (such as the columns in the middle of the church - all different sizes & tops/bottoms). There are also some amazing mosiacs that have withsottod the years. Trastevere is a part of town that I feel requires more exploration in the future!

^ Ponte Fabrico, over the Tiber

After Trastevere, we crossed back over the Tiber to the historical city and went to have a look at the Pantheon (Santa Maria ad Martyres). I'd almost go as far as to say that this has to be one of, if not the, highlight of the city! Again, architecturally amazing! The ceiling (big dome) is made of concrete - but in order for it to withhold the weight of the concrete, a higher proportion of pumice was used the higher up it went. Considering this was done nearly two centuries ago - I'm speechless! In here is also where Raphael's tomb is.

^ The ceiling in the Pantheon - breathtaking!

^ One of the side streets by the Pantheon

[more photos will be added - this is a slow & painful process, bugger it all!]

We backtracked a wee bit and caught the bus to St Peter's. When we arrived (around 5pm-ish), I happened to notice that the temperature was 34deg. Not too bad. While there were times when I was sweltering in the heat, it's a much different heat to what I've ever experienced before and was fairly bearable.

Essentially, despite St Peter's being a beautiful building, I thought it was more a blatant glorification of the wealth of the Catholic Church. But that's just my take (being a complete heathen!). I had to pull my shorts down a wee bit before going into the church. Apparently, and I'd never heard this before, but Mandy filled me in on it, you're not supposed to show your bare shoulders or too much bare leg. I only pulled my shorts down a couple of inches so they were below my knees and that satisfied them :-) Again, in the church were items stolen from other churches (including the Pantheon). It was breathtaking standing outside the main door looking down through Piazza S. Pietro.

After St Peter's we made our way (via the bus) to the Spanish Steps. Instead of walking up them - we made our way from the top down. Not really sure what the big deal with these are - but I can say I've been there (which is close by the big name shopping area, apparently - meh). We then wandered around to the Trevi Fountain. I loved this. Even though I've seen pictures of it - it wasn't anything like I imagined. For starters, I'd never realised that it's built off a building (not a big stand alone fountain!). The sculptures are huge and very impressive. Never got photos from directly in front of it (too many people), but we did make our way down and threw the coins in. The thing I noticed about this area was that everyone was just so happy. It was truly a special part of the day in that respect.

We then wandered to the bus stop to get the last bus back to the Termini (by this stage it was around 7.30-8pm). Once back at the Termini, we strolled around to find where the hotel shuttle departed from (that I was picking up at 10.30pm) and then around some of the streets to find a nice restaurant (with outside dining) to have dinner. We found one just off the Termini (on the other side; but near Peter & Mandy's hotel) and had a thoroughly enjoyable meal there.

All of a sudden it was time for the shuttle back to the hotel, so off I went (getting back there just after 11pm). Had a quick shower and then fell into bed (after sorting out my stuff, seeing as I had to take it all with me 'cos I was checking out).

This rates up there as one of the absolute best days I've had and one of the best cities I've been to (not that I've been to many, mind).

Seeyabye

Roma! Day 1 (20/7)

'Tis funny. I was about to say that I was up at sparrow's fart this morning. In reality, I had an extra 10 minutes in bed. Weird. It felt earlier than usual. I guess it was 'cos I wasn't going to work? Who knows? I don't know how my brain works...it's a weird thing.

So, up and off to the tube station. Instead of jumping on at Pimlico (just around the corner) I wandered up to Victoria (only a few minutes from home). I felt a wee bit stupid walking the streets in shorts & tee-shirt when it was about to piss down at some point...but hey, I was off to Roma! Why did I walk to Victoria then? A) I had to drop my rubbish in the skip, B) because it saved changing at Victoria anyway, and C) I never actually thought about it at the time! Jumped on the Circle line for two stops, then on Jubilee at Westminster, then changed to the DLR (don't ask what this stands for - it was the first time I'd been on it...it could be Docklands Light Rail (or could not be!)) to London City Airport. The only thing I didn't like about this trip is that I was in the airport when I realised I hadn't swiped my Oyster Card - this means it's gonna cost me a lot more (don't know how much a lot more is; don't even know what the 'cheaper' rate is!).

Ended up being at the airport with time to spare before check-in, so bought a phrase book & some sunscreen (I'd forgotten to take mine). What a f**king waste of money that was! I forgot about them taking things over 100mls off you. No sooner had I bought it, then I'd had it confiscated. Bah humbug! Checked in and went and sat in the departure lounge. Had a look at the cost of a new iPod (yikes! more expensive than buying it in town! Duty Free my arse!). Started reading a book that I carried along with me.

The arrival of the plane we were to leave on was delayed - but they never actually announced this. The boarding time of 09.40 was still on the screens at 10.15...when we could board. Grr. 35 minutes of my time in Roma gone. But wait, it gets worse than that! The buggers waited until the doors had been closed before they announced that we'd lost our window not only out of London, but into Europe and we would have to wait until a new flight plan had been applied for and approved. Nearly 2 hours later, we were off (grr - more of my time eaten up!). Short of flying over England, it was a beautiful, clear flight. There wasn't a cloud to be seen over France or Italy (though I had no idea it was France or Italy below us!). Turns out that I was bloody lucky! This was the day of a massive downpour in London (so when I said earlier it looked like it would piss down, I was right!). Torrential rain in London. Found out on Monday that the boss told everyone to leave for home at 3.30pm because of the rain and the delays on the tube etc. I missed it - gosh, darn it all ;)

Anyhow, finally arrived in Roma around 4.30pm (not 1.40pm as originally scheduled - just to reiterate: grr). This wasn't too bad, as I had to get cash out and find my way to the Leonardo da Vinci Express (the train into town). Okay, so it's not difficult to find - follow the signs (or the people). I didn't get a stamp when I went through customs - I did ask :-( Got the Express to the Termini (main station). This was interesting as I got to see a different side to Rome - the poverty. There were a few 'tent cities' around, which was kinda sad to see. Also, there were lots of allotments, with run down sheds - but fantastic looking gardens. After arriving at the Termini about 30 minutes later, I then spent nearly an hour trying to find my way to the hotel. People were very friendly, but not very knowledgeable (this coming from he who forgot to try and figure out the way to the hotel in advance...). Had three different directions (one of which was totally wrong, apparently). In the end, this lady told me the quickest way was the tram. Jumped on it and asked the driver if it went past the hotel. He said it did, so I jumped on. We were going along Via Prenestina (the street the hotel was on) and then he turned off. I jumped off at this point and walked the 1.5km along Via Prenestina to the hotel. Finally got checked in around 6.30pm - all I'd seen by this point was the Termini and my way to the hotel. Pissed off.

Was meant to meet up with Peter & Mandy at 7pm - but I ended up cancelling as I wouldn't have made it back into town in time (this was before I worked out it's about an hour to get to the Termini from the hotel - hence me having such a cheap deal, huh). We agreed to meet up the next morning.

The hotel was well nice! It had only opened about a year ago, so was still in A-1 condition. I was in heaven there (especially after the wee walk in the heat) - God bless the man who invented air conditioning!!! One thing that made me chuckle a wee bit was the wall paper. It wasn't wall paper, but some kind of fabric - with a cushioning/padding behind it. It it wasn't for the fact that they gave me a key, I would've almost thought I was in a well-to-do loony bin ;-)

^ The room with the padded walls...

Had a lovely long shower (water pressure in the Cumberland Street flat had nothing on that in this place. Bliss. Oh, and the shower cubicle was almost bigger than my bathroom in London. I am not exaggerating! HUGE! Well, I do have a small bathroom ;-)

^ The huge bathroom

Anyway, ended up crashing early, figuring I was going to have a big day out tomorrow :-)

Seeyabye

Week 22 (16/7 - 19/7)

Rightio - nice short entry this week as I'll put the rest of the week (trip to Roma) in a separate entry.

This week was another *yawn* one. Very quiet at work. Very quiet. I might've, if I was lucky, managed to do about three hours worth of work for the whole week. Maybe that's stretching it - more like two hours.

I did, however, do something I've not never done in NZ before - donated blood. It was an interesting experience. They tested my iron levels (watching blood sink in a green solution - fun!). The only complaint I have, and others shared my sentiments, is that they were so short staffed that it took a long time. I'd set aside an hour (as I had an examiners meeting to attend at 1pm). My appointment was at 11.45am. The vampires called me up to take the blood at 1.45pm! Then it only took a few minutes to drain me and they made me hang around for a bit in case I fainted. I didn't. I did want a nice cup of tea, but they wouldn't let me have one - something to do with my first time giving blood. What the???

I missed the meeting I was meant to be at. This annoyed me. Actually, what annoyed me was that I missed the lunch prior to the meeting starting! Grr.

Had I attended the meeting, I would've had more work to do... Given my boredom, this was a bad thing to miss out on. Such, as they say, is life.

Thursday I tried to clear all the work I had accumulated (haha). Nah. Thursday I pottered around annoying people (which is normal in the office). I knew I didn't have to go in the next day, so it was all good (for me, anyway). When I got home I figured it was time to throw some things into a bag for the weekend. That took me all of five minutes. It's amazing how little you really need to take with you when the temperature's supposed to be around the mid-30s! ;-)

So. A boring week summed up. There might've been something else in there, but this is written in retrospect and I honestly can't remember. If there was, it couldn't have been that exciting...I've forgotten it ;-)

Seeyabye

Week 21 (9/7 - 15/7)

Okay, it's official. I need to start back in my ways of long ago...before I had enough money to pay rent! I'm spending so much bloody money on dining out and drinking and...well, actually that's it. Monday night after work we went for a couple of drinkies. Of course, the more people there are, the more you drink (bloody rounds! What happened to just paying for your own drinks - lol). After drinks a couple of us headed out to find food (y'know, that necessary evil). Found a dirt cheap Chinese place just by work (kinda). The food was great for the price and we were very happy...until I had to spoil the mood. I happened to see the staff washing the dishes - in a bucket! Not only this, they were drying the cutlery with a tea-towel and bare hands. At the very least, wear gloves people. I refused, after that, to go back there (though if we're desperate for a cheap meal...).

Tuesday night I went out for dinner at a nice little place with Tamara...again, money I don't have - but it's fun! It really is! I think we got home around 11.30pm (on a school night, too!). I must try and find out the name of this place - it's well worth going back to!

On Wednesday we had a staff party. The entire college got the whole afternoon off to celebrate the centenary of the place. It kicked of at 2pm, but we had an office lunch first (where we were 'presented' with centenary mugs *oooh, ahhh*). It was rather funny - we were told we could stay for as long as we wanted. My plan (as was the case with most in the office) was to stay for about 5 minutes (to be seen), then piss off home (via a damned shoe shop). Best laid plans and all... It turned out to be a lovely day (weather-wise) and quite fun over all. They had set up three different areas with different activities. Outside our office was the 'fun fair' - complete with carousel and side-show activities and street performers. There was also a big marquee set up for 'high tea' - lots of alcohol & food stalls. Next area had more alcohol & food stalls (not many) and croquet, mini golf & lawn bowls. The third area was by far the bestest! They had live music. Not sure what kicked the day off, but there was an Elvis impersonator (who, despite the Brit accent when he talked, was brilliant), 'Rubber Soul' (playing R&B/Motown stuff), a Beatles cover band (also very good), an 80's revival set (also good), and 'Fake That' (cover of Take That; I didn't stay for these guys). Events ran from 2pm - 8pm, and a few of us called it quits around 7pm and went to the pub for a couple of drinks (leaving around 11pm-ish; I know, another late night on a school night! ;) ). There will be some piccys coming - but not for another couple of days, as I can't be arsed downloading them from the camera ;)

I don't quite remember Thursday - except that we went up to High St Kensington (finally getting some new work shoes - not looking forward to the pain and agony of breaking them in!) and had Japanese for lunch with Aidan & Paula (talk about a comedy and a half!). No alcohol that day. Actually, none on Friday either (despite a pub lunch). Went out for drinks after work on Thursday (hmm, so there was alcohol on Thursday - sue me for everything I'm not worth...). After work on Friday, I was a wee bit knackered. I didn't realise this until yesterday morning. I fell asleep not long after getting home on Friday...waking up on Saturday morning. About 13 hours sleep - not bad... I guess that's what happens after so many late nights on school nights ;)

Yesterday (Saturday), I wandered into Blackfriars & met up with Fariha (from work) and we went to have a laugh at the "art" in the Tate Modern. I'm surprised I didn't make it on the national news. A headline like "New Zealander murders tourists: "They just pissed me off"" would not have been far from the truth! Why? Why must they take up the whole pavement and then all stop in unison to take photos of insignificant things (like the parliament buildings; Big Ben; Westminster Cathedral, etc?). Fariha said it was my fault for walking the tourist route...but it was meant to have been the quickest way (short of taking the tube; but a 40 minute walk I thought would do me more good - just not around tourists). Luckily, it was so much fun taking the piss out of what is called "art" these days that I forgot about my frustration with tourist - kind of. Totally didn't get most of the art; but I guess it's not everyone's cup of tea (it's not even my glass of water!). From here it was to a cafe on the Southbank for lunch (okay, so it was about 3.30pm by the time we had lunch). Then to Leicester Square, where we got tickets to Little Shop of Horrors. Off to a pub for dinner (well, a bowl of chips and a few pints). Little Shop was good...but I have to say, I liked the Audrey II plant they use in NZ much more than what they used here. Over all, it was a brilliant show!

Today was a more subdued day. Up, laundry, 2hr walk, home, shower, groceries and then general house-bitching things (like the damned ironing! ARRGH!). Luckily, I managed to get the ironing that I would've left for next weekend done (seeing as I'm off to Roma on Friday, this is a good thing). Had a wee move around of furniture (I can only really move 2 things, so it was a wee move around!).

Now, I shall off and do my dishes before getting ready for school in the morning. Oh, that reminds me! I'm not liking working in a university. I now have three lecturers/Professors asking me on a semi-regular basis how my PhD is coming along! Arrgh. It's a conspiracy against me! ;)

Seeyabye

Oops

So, it turns out that someone has been saving entries as drafts instead of clicking on the "publish post" button. Thank God for that! I was worried that I'd have to make up silly(er) little stories for the last three weeks (remembering yesterday is bad enough!).

Thanks Dot for pointing this out.

Now, if only I could stop saving drafts with my emails as well...

Seeyabye

Week 20 (2/7 - 8/7)

Had a chat to the boss (at his request) on Monday. Turns out he's happy with me and is dead keen for me to stay on until at least the end of April next year (which, incidentally, is when I'd have to stop working on my current visa anyway). One of the big bonuses is that I'd no longer be a mere temp - I'd get a contract! Why is this a big bonus? Well, let me tell you. Students and staff get a 10% discount on things at the cafe downstairs (and over in the other building) when they swipe their cards. Temps, however, don't :( Temps have to also pay more for the use of the gym (which, until I started with the badminton, didn't bother me). The big thing is that it means I get put on a proper salary structure! This could mean, if I can get what Aidan is on (preferably more around a 30-34k pay (well over 100 quid a week more in hand than what I get now!). Not sure if this is actually accurate or not, but it'll be a chance to negotiate, anyway! Plus, the new role I take over is a leadership one - whoo!

Oh, also, since I have to use the return part of my ticket home by mid-February, the boss is talking about paying for a new ticket if I don't go home (therefore losing the return ticket I paid for). Such a bonus, n'est pas!

This week has been an ultra social week! Lunched out every day except Monday; and dined out every night except Friday! Wednesday was the best day though. Shirley was over from home, so we had a three-hour lunch (it was really good to catch up with her); then went out to my favourite curry house with about 7 others from work in the evening. All up I reckon I've spent nearly 120 quid on food/alcohol - all worth it though (esp. if I get a decent salary on contract!).

There've been many quiet days at work. This has been most excellent for surfing youtube.com and generally taking the piss out of people in the office. Apparently, the "interactive art" (me) is getting a bit lippy, which isn't part of the display (so I was told) ;) (Oh, I'm the interactive art because of where my desk is currently located - people walk past and poke me, push me, prod me, ruffle my hair, talk to me, pull my chair out, push my chair in...). It's all good though! I must keep reminding them that this interactive piece is moving at the end of the month ;)

Anyhow, bored now (and there's that sun stuff outside that is more interesting than the computer).

Seeyabye

Week 19 (25/6 - 1/7)

WOW! It's the start of July already! Who'd've thunked that time would fly so quickly?

Following all of last week's excitement, what with exam invigilation (I really do hate that word), this week was bound to be quieter. It was fairly much back to normal, in fact. Going into work and wondering what the bloody hell they pay me for (short of surfing the web and going for pub lunches).

It wasn't really that bad. I did spend a lot of time helping the exams team out. Preparing for the big Year 5 medical exams. Was quite fun for a change. Lots of paper shuffling and sorting things out. It kept me on my toes, as there is no room for error in working with exams (for obvious reasons - though someone might just need to tell the registry here that ;) ).

One of the perks of working for the exams team ended up being invited out for a free dinner on Thursday night :D Okay, it was only to the Rector's Residence (about three steps up from our office!), but it was rather posh (and then some). Before dinner, instead of going home, a couple of us went to the staff pub for a couple of drinks. Dinner, like I said, was quite posh. Scottish salmon & quail eggs for starters (I didn't touch the salmon, but I did try the quail eggs (just like normal eggs, only smaller). The main was a beautiful piece of peppered lamb (the peppered part I thought sounded a bit odd - but it was delicious!). Dessert was a fresh fruit salad, with Greek yoghurt. With the exception of the melon, it was divine! Throughout the evening the waiters kept coming around and topping up the wine glasses (when you got to around half a glass) - end result, we really had no idea how much we were drinking. The red wine wasn't really anything to write home about, but the white was rather nice.

Over the weekend my plan was to go into town and pick up some new shoes & jeans. Didn't happen. I hate going to buy clothes, and the thought of buying shoes makes me want to string myself up. So I didn't. I'm going to have to go next weekend though, as I desperately need new trainers and work shoes (and socks and jeans). I have no idea where I'll go, but I'm sure somewhere in London sells clothes & shoes ;)

On the plus side of the weekend, I did book a weekend to Roma (just have to hope & pray that the boss lets me have the Friday off - haha). Two nights in Roma - very much looking forward to seeing some of the exciting sights they have. Not sure if I'll go to the Vatican yet. Me and religion don't see eye-to-eye, so might be safer if I don't go ;)

Seeyabye

Week 18 (18/6 - 24/6)

Hi-de-hi there campers!

How're we all doing? Keeping well (and warm), I hope!

This has been a slightly busier week than previous weeks. I had the tables turned on me on Monday. Twelve years of studying at Otago, with exams every year (except one?) - I always had the luxury of leaving when I'd finished the paper. What happened on Monday? I was an invigilator for a three-hour exam! I detested sitting in the silent exam hall when I was writing the paper, but to sit there when you're just watching the students? ARRRGH! I have never found three hours drag on for as long as it did then! Luckily it all went well (except for the girl that I gave a stern telling off to after the exam, nearly reducing her to tears - her fault. Silly tart had her mobile ON her - switched ON - during the exam...and it went off. That was Monday's excitement!

Tuesday was a dead day (comparatively). I had nothing at all in my calendar! Boredom ensued. So bored that I went around asking people if they wanted me help them with things... On a slightly different note (a bum one at that!), I couldn't get into the building this morning! When a cleaner swiped me in, I then couldn't get into the office (another cleaner swiped me in. This, my friend, is why it pays to always speak to the cleaning staff!). Sam and I were joking that they'd fired me a couple of weeks ago and just didn't have the heart to tell me and this was their was of dropping a hint. Turns out it wasn't far from the truth. As I'm only a temp, I have a guest card. These automatically expire after three months. Tuesday was the 19th of June...I started on the 19th of March... Go figure.

Checked out the Highly Skilled Migrant Permit (this could be a good thing as it gives me two years...with option of more!) and also asked about how long I could work for (more specific). Just have to call Air NZ to find out how much it'll sting me to change my return ticket... Very much looking forward to this now :) Will most likely move flats at the end of October - maybe go somewhere cheaper than what I'm paying now (hopefully a bit bigger, too) - this will give me a chance to save some money for home & for travels :) (mind you, I should be getting a £2-3/hr pay rise next month - whoo!

Wednesday saw me invigilating another exam. Joy of joys. Luckily, this was only a two-hour one! They're not the most funnest ways of spending a day (or half, as the case may be). After work, I ended up going to play badminton at the work gym. Bloody hell! An hour of badminton nearly killed me! How does the saying go? What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Bollocks! It didn't quite kill me, but I sure as hell wasn't feeling any stronger for it (the pint & chips after helped though ;) ).

On Thursday we had OSKAs for the first years. I don't have the foggiest as to what OSKA stands for (though the A is assessment). There are like six stations and the kids have X minutes at each, the whistle is blown and they move to the next. I had to marshall them, then ended up invigilating one lot. Pfft. Ugh! Another tedious time ;)

The rest of the week was fairly quiet. Over the weekend I pottered around a wee bit - but not a lot. It was a shite weekend! Nothing productive, but it was enjoyable. (I say this because I have actually forgotten!).

Until next time,

Seeyabye

Week 17 (11/6 - 17/6)

Oops - nearly forgot to put this up. I knew it! Give me a couple of weeks here and I'd lose all interest in this blog thing (hey, I haven't resorted to monthly summaries..........yet!).

So, the week gone. Started on Monday. Ended on Sunday. Things happened. I have this mental block going on now... OH! I know! We had the Graduate Entry launch and open day on Wednesday (open days are really big over here - mind you, it's not like home where you go to the uni you want to...). What was supposed to be this big drama (the Rector of the College was coming to speak and everything has to be perfect!) turned out to go very smoothly. Really, though. With Aidan, Michael & I at the helm - could we expect anything less? ;) It was a good, and very successful day. My banners looked quite good, I'm pleased to say. I was worried that they'd look naff or something, but they looked in character, so one happy camper here.

^ My banner - not flash, but not shabby either

Given I was born without artistic bones (I have to remind people of this), and the powers-that-be wanted something "professional looking" and conservative, I thought I did an OK job (thousands could do much better, but remember: I'm autistically, not artistically minded).

Thursday and Friday were just so mind-numbingly boring. Now that I'm rid of the Graduate Entry course (to Michael), I'm left holding the Biomedical Science baby (until Aidan leaves at the end of July, then I take over the Learning Resources team leader job until the end of September). Killing time, what fun.

Wee Sammy and Sydney-Sophie are looking at applying for ancestry visas (bitches). All this talking of staying has made me realise that I, too, want to stay (I've got to jump on the bandwagon). Not sure for how long though...I reckon it would be so cool, very cool, to have a white Christmas ("just like the ones I used to know")...so might look at going to Scandinavia for Christmas! Awesome, huh! Will get off my arse at some point and have a look into how long I can work for (yes, Mr Embassy person, I know..."up to twelve months", but I need more info, thankyouverymuch) ;)

The weekend was a bit grotty. Was meant to go visit Kenley (that just sounds odd...when I go, I might ask them to change the name of the town), but I actually wanted to go on a nice day - not a poxy one. Still got plenty of time for this.

Pete & Mandy sent me their itinerary for their holiday to Italy (makes me envious!) and I'm in the process of looking for a flight to Roma for a weekend at the end of July to catch up with them and see some of the amazing sights over there! Fares are much more pricey than they were a few years back (but still quite cheap). I'm looking at about £95, so that's not too bad :) (especially as I saw one that was £175 one way!).

I think that's about all for this week. I'm sure there was more (but really, I think it was just that I was still getting over that stupid cold I had; and I managed to get a few extra hours at work, so me happy).

I'm loving it over here - granted, could be making more of being here, but I'm happy. There hasn't been a single day where I've had regrets about coming over! After 17 weeks, this is amazing (for me).

Until next weekend (or after, as the case will most probably be!) - 'keep cool 'til After School'.

Seeyabye

Week 16 (4/6 - 10/6)

Right, to explain the lateness of last week's entry. I woke up last Sunday with a sore throat, which quickly turned into a headache, runny nose and cough. I don't think going for my 2hr walk while the laundry was on did me any good (though I did work up a great sweat!). By the time I got home I was dead knackered. Ended up hanging up my laundry and then going to bed...for the rest of the day (and it was only just after 9am!).

Got up on Monday feeling a wee bit better...but really wasn't. Went to work and made it through the morning fine. By lunchtime, however, I think a fever had broken...and I had to go back to the office for a 1pm meeting (a meeting I remember nothing of, but I did take notes that seemed to make sense to me when I read them the next day). At 2pm, after the meeting, I said to the boss that I was going home...and home I went. Even though I walked home, I was frozen right through. Threw on my woolly jumper, trackies, and wrapped myself up in the duvet and slept. A couple of hours later I woke up (most likely dehydration!) to find I was soaked. Still freezing cold, but sweating like a pig. YUCK!

Tuesday, however, I went back to work, and short of a funny voice and runny nose and slight cough (more an irritating one than anything), I was fine. Worked late on Wednesday night helping the exams team. Supposed to be extra pay, but seeing as I left early on Monday, it really wasn't. Then on Friday, the exams team leader (who sits opposite me in the office) asked how things were going, and I told her I was "so bored f**king s**tless"...and had nothing to do. This pleased her as she gave me a bit of work to do (also pleasing me). Ended up doing a couple of hours extra - this time it will be extra in my pay! Whoo! AND, she said there might be more over the next couple of weeks.

I applied for a job in Sydney the other day. Just in the nick of time (damned time zones; damned people who see jobs advertised right at the last minute ;) ). It's at the University of Sydney. In the Faculty of Medicine. Doing pretty much exactly what I'm doing here. Salary looks appealing (AUD$57-62k; overall package of AUD$67-72k once the 17% contribution to superannuation is included). I'd like to think I have a chance. We shall but only see.

This weekend, since I'm getting over this bloody cold (which is still driving me insane because I can't seem to stop my nose running), I thought I'd sit at home and read a couple of books. Well, it's been a grand weekend, so I sat at the park on Saturday reading, and milled around home reading and doing some of the housebitch chores today.

When I went for my walk this morning, I did my usual three times around St James Park and even added a loop around Green Park. Talk about being fair knackered when I got home! I will be going for at least a one hour walk 5 nights/week from tomorrow night. I need to lose more weight as I feel I've been piling it all back on (not that I'd lost that much in the grand scheme of things). Though, in saying that, I put on shorts that I had to 'suck the gut in and hold my breath' to do up when I left NZ, and a few weeks ago only had to mildly 'suck the gut in'. I realised I didn't even need to 'suck the gut in' today. Cass gave me a link to an interesting site that has advice on weight loss, exercise, dieting and all that associated s**t that I need. Not too worried about dieting, as compared to a lot of people, I don't actually eat that much! And I'm getting much better about what I eat. I'm more interested in the exercise plan the site's given me. I'm going to follow it for a couple of weeks and see if I can notice any difference in how I feel (haven't got scales, so have to base things on how much of a blob I feel like ;) ).

This coming weekend I think I might go to Kenley, Surrey. My nephew wants me to go and see if they'll worship him like a God there. I doubt they would. I'm the God in the family - he's just delusional ;) I really want to see if I can get some pics of people there holding up signs telling him to 'naff off' and the likes ;) I'm also planning on a weekend in Rome in July; when Peter & Mandy Rich are over there. I think it'll be cool to meet up with them in Italy! Pop over for a coffee and catch up.

Oh, the advertising banners that I designed for work arrived on Wednesday. I was terrified that they wouldn't look very good - but everyone seems well impressed with them. They're very plain, but I'm happy with them. We're using them this week for our big open day, so I'll see if I can get a pic of them :) Speaking of pics, I came across an aerial shot of the South Kensington campus of Imperial College (I don't think I was meant to pinch a copy, but I did - it belongs to Imperial College London, in case asked):

^Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus

Sadly, short of a couple of buildings up towards the Royal Albert Hall (the dome, top left-ish), there's not much character to the campus buildings. The tower thing in the middle is the Queen's Tower (there's some story to it, but I don't know it). It's right opposite the building I work in (Sir Alexander Fleming Building). I think that the architects that designed the new Otago library must've visited this building as there are a couple of elements of similarity (and this building was opened in 1996 or 1997) - e.g. the funny ceiling. In the very top left corner is a wee bit of Kensington Gardens (or Park, not sure which now), which turns into Hyde Park at some point. Don't ask me which direction North is - I have no idea. Might actually be top centre, but don't quote me!

Anyhow, thought you might like that (actually, I just really like that photo!).

Just popped back in to add a wee comment that I've just clicked that week 16 = nearly 4 months here! Bloody hell! You all must be missing me like crazy! How are you coping without me? Never fear - it's not long until I come home...unless I stay on until April/May next year. That's another story! ;)

Seeyabye.

Week 15 (29/5 - 3/6)

So, this week's entry is a week late. Really not sure what happened to it. Oh, I know. The next entry (week 16) shall explain it (even though, technically, it should get a mention this week - I'm over it ;) ).

This week was a fairly quiet week. Being a 4-day week helped that. Everyone at work seemed to be in quite an odd mood. Perhaps the weather had something to do with it? Who knows. It was my last week sitting at the desk I'd been at for a few weeks. Goodbye to old friends and all ;) I had to vacate it for the new permanent guy who starts on Monday. Lucky bugger gets my phone extenstion - the only one in the office that can't pick up anyone else's. The most annoying thing is that I'd just learned the blasted number! haha My new desk, for another few weeks, is in the team leaders' office. I don't like the idea much, but we shall see...

A quiet week for drinking this week. T'was good to detox the ol' system a wee bit ;)

The problem with writing these well after the event is that my memory fails me as to anything interesting that may've happened. Oh, that's right. One of the doctors was laughing when I said I had 'Old-timers'. He said that at my age, it's most unlikely I'd be suffering the effects of 'Old-timers', it's more likely to be 'Part-timers' ;) That was most amusing; and very apt. Finally, a name for my suffering ;) haha

Okay, due to said Part-timers, I really can't remember much of this week. Consider it to have been much the same as the previous weeks, but with a bit less drinking...and possibly worse weather.

Seeyabye

Week 14 (21/5 - 28/5)

This week's entry is extended to include the 28th as it was yet another Bank Holiday weekend! They love their holidays in May here... Mind you, the next one isn't until August, and then there's nothing until Christmas (kinda like home - wonder why the latter part of the year is sparse of public holidays...hmm).

This week I only took a packed lunch to work once... Was at the pub for the rest of the week. The sad thing is, I don't actually have a local as we go to different ones (depending on who I go out with!). Four pub lunches this week and three nights out after work. I have come to the conclusion that I now have a drinking problem. Actually, no. I have a problem drinking. Yeah, that sounds better - and is more factually correct. My problem is I can't afford to keep it up - haha! :) Thursday night was different - Sam, the Aussie bloke, finished that day (off to bigger & better things), so we had leaving drinks for him. T'was a good night. Nice day and we went, of all places, to the student bar and sat out in the sun. Talk about cheap drinks! I bought a pint, and RTD, a soft drink and a couple of packets of crisps for just over a fiver! Not too shabby. Funniest thing was watching them poor a glass of red wine...then pouring the wine from the wine glass into a plastic cup. Class all the way! ;)

It's been really good, though. Almost every day has been with a different group. One of the girls in the office said that I was whoring myself around the different cliques in the office - LOL.

This weekend has been fairly relaxed. Finished the three books I had on the go. Was telling the Sisters that I was reading one, kind of must of dozed a bit and dropped it, picked it up again and was a few pages in when I realised I was all confused about the appearance of Arab terrorists, Israeli athletes/hostages, German snipers, and Munich airport when last I remembered I was in an American courtroom... Turns out I'd picked up the wrong book (maybe dozing is too generous - sleeping is more apt). Anyhow, enjoyed all three - but only remember one (as is normal).

Found my pamphlet about London Walks that I'd lost. For about 5 pounds, you can go on all sorts of interesting walks around London (plus additional extras such as ferry rides etc, depending on the walk you choose). Might start looking at doing them during weekends. There are some really, really cool sounding ones - like the Jack the Ripper one (in the evening) or the Harry Potter one, or more historical based ones - even really appealing pub walks. I'm really enjoying my walking around, so something like this will mean I get some history AND a walk (with a purpose). All good!

David & Alison arrived back from their Europe tour and they popped around to use the Internet and then we went off for dinner. Was an enjoyable night, but they were very naughty and paid for my meal. Grr (in the nicest possible way, of course). Arrived back home to find that I had a wicked-good leak above the stove - right through the rangehood. This is being looked at in the morrow. Told the agent that it wasn't safe/healthy to live somewhere where water leaked through/onto electrical appliances. Apart a couple of leaks in the ceiling, I really do like my wee box.

What else? Oh, yes. I'm now making the most of the dry cleaners cleaning and pressing my shirts. I am more than happy to pay them to do a proper job - so long as I don't have to iron ;) How could I forget? I made a big fuck up at work on Friday. Emailing a couple of hundred important people around the university and had a silly typo in the message. Must remember that in the UK, university email addresses end .ac.uk - not .ac.nz - oops! Sadly, a temp was sacked earlier in the week for not having an eye for detail...wonder if I go the same way (hopefully not, but I do have a funny feeling in the pit of my stomach about it...) - we shall see...

On a more positive note, I think I've come to the conclusion that, seeing as I've got sort of semi-secured work until I leave, I'm really here to focus on my career and not so much on travel. I do want to do travelling - but it's not a big deal. I'm most likely going to work until the end of September (when the last rent payment is due) and spend about 20-odd days travelling before I come back home. 10 days around Europe and the 10-day tour of Egypt. It would be good to do more, but places will still be here in years to come. Who knows - I might end up living over here on a more permanent basis one day? Who knows what I'll be doing come November!? (If YOU know, could you let ME know? Please?) ;)

That is all.

Seeyabye

Week 13 (14/5-20/5)

Seriously, I think it's about time someone volunteered to be my personal secretary/PA. I am not doing very well at keeping track of things. As a result, I'm late posting this entry. I'm guessing that no one's surprised about this, are they?

So, what happened this week? A very uneventful week. Oh, that's right. After going out for drinks last week I made a deal with one of the girls in the office that I'd 'brown bag' it from now on... ARRGH. Talk about being a stupid idiot. Making lunches every day! What was I thinking?

Actually, turns out it only takes a couple of minutes in the morning...and is actually much less hassle than trying to decide what I want to buy, then standing in a long queue etc. I'm yet to concede this though ;) So, for ALL of this week, I've been very good (and healthy, I might add) and taken my lunch to work. Same thing every day, but I'm enjoying it and that's all that matters (that, and the fact that I have successfully fulfilled a challenge - well, started to).

Evenings, however, have not been so good. Went to the pub with people after work on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights. Two nights ended up going out for dinner after the pub. This is a very costly process (even though it seems cheap at the time ;) ). Must remember not to make a habit of this - haha.

Friday was spent in another office at a different campus. I had agreed to sit in an office at Hammersmith Hospital (which, as it turns out, is not in Hammersmith but in Acton...weird). The 4th Year BSc students were submitting their theses (theses - HA! Max 5,000 words ;) ). I was all looking forward to 3pm as this was the submission time and had been told that students get really stressed and become very abusive. I'd psyched myself up for a good argument with some of them...but it didn't happen. Only one girl was late :( And she was very lovely about it all :( So disappointed. I was planning on getting out of there at 4.30pm, but the last academic to come and pick up his pile of theses, despite coming in about three times to tell me he would come at 4.30pm, forgot. I waited and waited. At 5pm I called his office, only to be told he was in a meeting and couldn't be interrupted. I said who I was and why I was calling - his meeting was interrupted and he came down and collected them. Didn't leave until about 5.20pm...then had to walk to the tube and get home. Luckily it was a nice day (not that I was aware how nice it really was because the office I was in felt like it was a basement, not 1st floor, office!).

Over the weekend I just chilled out. Had a bit of a fight with the flat, coming off second-best (bit of a lump to the noggin' and a wicked-big bruise on my back). Moral: don't fight with inanimate objects...they will win ;)

Still loving my time over here and have no regrets about coming over. Best thing I could've done. For many reasons...

Seeyabye

Week 12 (8/5 - 13/5)

Bloody hell! Another week's just flown by. I'm gonna have to start trying to pay more attention to what's happening to them. Mind you, when you're just getting up and going into work day in, day out, there's not really a lot to be paying attention to.

I think, for the most part, it was a fairly non-eventful week (especially after getting out of town for a couple of days). Haven't yet decided what I'll do this next Bank Holiday weekend (end of the month). Contemplating either another couple of day trips - or just one, since David & Alison will be back in town - or maybe heading down to see Kirsty for the weekend (though, it's exam season coming up, so she might be a bit busy). Really have no idea at this point. Maybe Cardiff could be on the cards? Your guess is as good as mine!

The weather's kind of packed in a wee bit. Not in a major way - temps are still supposedly (though I don't believe it) still in the mid- to high teens. There's most likely been more rain in the last week that what I've seen the whole time I've been here. Okay - not quite true. I forgot about the day I got soaked through walking around Hyde Park. Curse you weather!

Work's been ho-hum again. I opened my big mouth the other day and think that I'm walking into a massive task come next month! I happened to pass comment about the Faculty website being absolute shite - impossible to find anything; no real structure; too many clicks; too many out of date pages. I'm going (providing it's remembered) to be asked to overhaul the damned thing. Okay, it'll be a bit of fun...but really, do I want to do it? No! Things have quietened down on the marketing side - everything's going smoothly. Just about ready for the formal launch of the new programme etc. Looking forward to that.

Oh, the boss called me into his office again the other day. "I've got a big favour to ask you", he says. Now, first thing that crossed my mind was: "to ask me" - that means I can say no - sweet. Second thing was: "a big favour" - that means he'll be in my debt - sweeter! It was only asking if I wouldn't mind sitting in an office on a different campus for a day, collecting student projects. I liked the idea...until he mentioned that there would be a computer there so I could still continue working. I was planning on taking a book and reading... Bugger, huh.

My hair has been royally pissing me off of late. Haven't had a haircut since before I left Dunedin in January (so it was longer than I've had it for a hell of a long time!). Booked in at a hairdressers that I walk past on my way to/from work each day. Never thought to ask about the cost. In the end it cost 135 quid. I guess it could've been worse. Besides. I feel so much better for having a tidy mop of hair again.

Had another leaving do for someone at work on Friday night. That's two in the last month. Another one to come this week (though, from all accounts it's more a 'by invitation' one than a 'whole office' - lol).

Started off with drinks over in the...well, I guess it's the equivalent of the Staff Club at home...the staff bar? We'd booked a couple of tables, but there weren't any free when we got there. Apparently, we're supposed to book through one bloke in particular, not whoever's in charge at the time. We weren't to know. No complaints though. We found a possie and made ourselves at home (right in front of the pokies - bet that didn't go down well!). Also got a free bottle of bubbly out of it so again, no complaints. We ended up getting a table and able to be a bit more comfy. So much laughs were had - mainly gutter-level ones (so I was right at home - lol). By about 6.30pm a few of us were hanging out for dinner... The booking was for later... Just had another drink - all was good. Come 7.30pm we buggered off for dinner. Laughs galore on the tube there. Even more on the walk...it was pissing down and no one really knew where we were going. We finally got there. Most of us feeling the twangs of hunger...especially when we smelt the aromas...

Went to a curry place that was rated highly on some site...and one of the girls had heard good things about it. Despite a booking, we stood in this mother f**king queue (seriously, it snaked around the restaurant, and at one stage was out the door!) for an eternity - okay, about 20mins - before we were seated.

By the time we pissed around trying to decipher the types of curries, and the sizes we'd need, and what starters we wanted, etc, we were all in hysterics about almost anything! Food arrived (quickly, I might add) and we chowed down. Seriously, it's gotta be about the best Indian meal I've ever had! The whole time we were there, the queue didn't get shorter; if anything, it got longer and longer!

It must be an OK-ish place. We even recognised one of the other diners as Noel Gallagher...there was someone else that was known by some of the group - most likely some footballer or the like. I didn't know who they were on about.

After we'd finished, the waiter came up to see if we wanted anything else. One of the girls started to ask for the bill and, quick as a flash, it was on the table! Again, more laughter. It was so cheap! 15 quid each for starters, mains, dessert and the tip. Well, more like 15 quid each because no one had change, but we could all put in 15 ;)

By the time we got out, it was something like 11ish (give or take) and we were all so absolutely knackered... Walked back to the tube and all got off at our various stops. The group getting smaller and smaller as the tube progressed.

The second part of the evening has been postponed until sometime this week (hopefully before the next leaving do!).

One of the girls has encouraged me to 'brown bag' it at work. Making a lunch...seems like such an effort, but I'll do it (just to prove to her that I can...not that I really want to...). This means getting stuff for lunches in the grocery shop. I did learn that going to get groceries at 4pm on a Sunday's not a flash idea. The dumbass supermarket closes at 5pm and, as a result, there was next to nothing available in terms of fruit & veges. Dumb store. Actually, getting the groceries was about the highlight of my weekend. Short of curling up on the couch and reading a few books, I didn't do anything. Too cold to (by this I'm meaning more that I was too lazy).

Haven't heard from a number of people for a while. Makes me wonder whether they're still on the face of the planet...or just snobbing me ;) How rude :P

Seeyabye

Brighton (7/5)

Monday was a Bank Holiday here (the first of two this month). I went down, up, or across (I still have no idea - I had faith in the bus driver... I almost started singing "the wheels on the bus...", but managed to stop myself in time) to Brighton (I think it's down...). The weather was poxy. Well, it wasn't that bad. There was no sun, but there was a bitterly cold and strong wind (think: Wellington strong; or even after 10 cans of beans (but without the smell) strong). Kind of made it annoying to do anything, but I can say I've been and wandered around for the day (any longer and I'd consider suicide. Don't get me wrong, it's an OK place...just not really my cup of tea. I think 'cos the buildings are quite drab). Actually, just as Cambridge was "quaint", I think "drab" is the best word for Brighton. I don't have anything against the place, but it wasn't really that exciting. There's not that much to do - or it could be just 'cos I went on my own; but I was in Cambridge on my own. Maybe it was the weather then?

^ Brighton, from the pier. Getting a feel for the weather then?

^ Brighton beach...well, I guess a beach doesn't *have* to have sand...

I went and had a look around the art gallery/museum they have there. Nothing spectacular, though I was very interested in footage they had from WWII, and people recalling their experiences as kids during the blitz - that was well worth going in for alone. Art wasn't really that appealing. The museum part was of more interest to me.

After that I went into the Royal Pavilion. This was the home of George IV. It's kind of Indian/Asian style. Very...erm, disgusting. Like, it was just too overdone for me. Bits and pieces impressed me, but generally speaking, it was just tacky. I guess in it's day it would've been luxurious. Some of the rooms were amazing (even if I did think tacky). There was quite a lot of illusion in the place. For example, when you walked into the 'long room' (a hallway with two fireplaces!), it looked like there was a lot of bamboo used...but it wasn't really bamboo. It was just the way the wood was coloured/painted. Very effective. The kitchen, too, was quite amazing. Granted, it's a wee bit dated now, but for the times... I never realised that the building actually belongs to the Brighton & Hove Council - not to Lizzie. Queen Vic sold it off in 1850 or so (after taking something like 150 carts of furniture etc). Much of the furnishings in the place are on loan from Lizzie. She's a good sport is our Lizzie.

^ Royal Pavilion - you can see the Indian/Asian influence already!

The Brighton Pier was rather OTT in terms of the arcades...and the number of food stalls. But all were very busy! I bought some chips from one place and they were disgusting! Okay, could be because my body's not used to such food these days, but they just tasted yuk! Could also be because they were more like wedges than chips. Dunno. But you could get all sorts of junk food there - chips, donuts, candy, ice cream (and the number of people eating ice cream on a cold day!!!).

^ Brighton Pier - the flags were really cracking in the wind

I was leaning over the pier watching the waves crash up against this other pier-type thing. Was quite fun. Enjoyed being out in the sea-air again :-) There were these kids (teens, actually) at the far end running to avoid the spray from the crashing waves. It was fun; they were having fun. Then attention wandered, as it always does, to some chicks that were on the beach (if you can call stones - not pebbles; stones - a beach). They too were avoiding the water, but as it came up the beach. I play this game sometimes - y'know, just avoiding getting your feet wet by running back as the water approaches (please don't look at me in that tone of voice...you used to/still do it, too!). Now, these chicks would've been about 15-16, in stylish clothes and carrying their silly little handbag things that no doubt had money, make-up, mobile etc in them. All of a sudden, this wave came up from out of nowhere (okay, I admit, I know where it came from, and yes, like many others on the pier and the boys on the other pier, saw it coming). The girls were too dumb to realise until it hit them. And it hit hard; knocked two of them down. You should've heard the laughter around (and the shrieking from the girls)!

^ Kids avoiding the waves (not always successfully)

Then another wave came - bigger than that the previous one and from a different angle. Mother-f**king thing went up through the boards on the pier right by where I was. Needles to say, there were (including me!) a lot of soaked bodies on the pier.

Not. Impressed. At. All.

Maybe this was Karma's way of letting me know that I got let off lightly in Cambridge! Haha

All I can say is how much I love Kathmandu clothes! My jacket kept my top fairly dry; and the quick-dry material of my pan...erm, trousers (pants over here refer to undies - or something being bad/crap), coupled with the wind (no, not from me!) meant I was dry in about 10-15 minutes.

It was all good though - I say this because at the time I was not holding my camera! ;-)

While I was walking around, drying off, I wandered along the beach and nosed into a lot of little shops that line the beach front - quite well done, actually. There were some good wee art galleries. I was tempted to buy a couple of pieces - but quickly realised that I had to pay on my NZ Amex, therefore they would be too pricey at this point in time! No there was some will power!

Also went and had a nose in their Aquarium. Even though it's really old, it was quite good. The last Aquarium I went to was in Sydney, so making comparisons to the old and the new was interesting. Brighton's one had lots of little tanks, including ones in the middle of the room (rather than just along the walls). They also had lots of steps in front of them so that wee kids could get up close & personal too. I think, for wee kids, anyway, the setup here was much better than Sydney. But Sydney's main attractions were better. But that's just my opinion. The entrance fee I thought was a bit steep - 12.50 for an adult! Mind you, I paid it as I figured it was a once-r going to it...and it was warmer in there than in the wind - lol

That was Brighton. Definitely a tourist town - but I doubt it would survive in NZ. Seemed to be a place for old people and young families. I can say I have been. I am contented (now I am home and have the salt water washed off my face).

At work, I was told that apparently Brighton's quite popular with young people, and is the poof capital of Britain. Maybe it was too cold for both groups yesterday? Who knows?

Overall, another 8 quid well spent (oops - my bad - 9 quid) on a return ticket. May never return there, but at least I've been to be able to say I don't fancy the odds of returning :)

Seeyabye

Cambridge (6/5)

Another early start. I'm really not sure why I'm complaining about today's early start - it's not like I'm not up at this time on a normal Sunday (having to be up to get the damned laundry done)...I guess it's because, while I'm up, I don't normally have a shower until around 10ish - not 7am! Arrgh. Can anything please me? (Rhetorical question, thank you!)

So, wandered down to the coach station (yay for it being a few minutes down the road) only to find out there was some delay and it wouldn't be leaving until 8.45 (instead of 8.30). What was the delay? I really don't know, but I do think it had something to do with our bus driver sitting in the bus chatting to another bus driver...then them going out for a smoke (but that's just my take on things).

I took a pile of articles to read with me (and a couple of books for when I got bored with thinking) - only to find that my brain was telling my stomach that it wanted to give back the breakfast I'd not long eaten. I managed to trick my brain by stopping reading (it's not that clever, really). So, a boring coach ride. I'd tell you about all the amazing scenery, but I kept nodding off. I did see several paddocks of yellow...I think they were turnips gone to seed - that's what they looked like, anyway.

We got to Cambridge and I realised that I hadn't picked up my Lonely Planet guide (thanks Karen & Nick!) before I left so had no idea where I was headed. So I walked around town for a bit - eventually stumbling across this looooong queue of people. Instead of jumping on the queue, I walked alongside it to see where they were all headed (obviously for a long queue of people, there would have to be something good at the end). No such luck. They wanted tickets to a folk festival or something equally unexciting (to me). As luck would have it, right next door was the info centre...which was what I kinda wanted anyway. Went in, signed up for a walking tour and then waited for it to start (only about 5 or 10 minutes - do you know how lost I could get in that time!? Much safer to stay put and look at the junk on sale). It was well worth the £9 to take the tour. There wasn't as much walking as I would've thought, and the woman wasn't the best guide on the planet (but I also bet she wasn't anywhere near the worst either!), but it was really enjoyable (and she was quite pleasant and even linked, where possible, Cambridge with where we were from). I swear that there must be a lot of energy being saved in Melbourne at the moment! Almost every Aussie I've met over here has been from Melbourne. Of the 16 in our group, 11 were from Melbourne and two were from Brisbane (and there were Melbournites in the other group too). I do hope the last one out switched off the lights!

We had a good look around the wee back streets of the town (the 'old town') and around Kings College Chapel (and poked our noses in Trinity College). It was a shame it was only a two-hour tour...and more a shame that Jane has moved back to NZ - I could've popped in for a cuppa ;-) King's College Chapel was amazing! The craftmanship that went into it! You'd never see anything like it these days (mind you, you wouldn't expect a building to take 90 years to go up, either!). The ceiling is truly a sight to see! I think I have a pic of that to pop up... I knew that stained glass windows in a church usually told a story, but here they told both the old and new testaments (I think the top windows told the old, and the bottom told the new). The guide was telling us that in many churches around the time of Cromwell, stained glass windows got smashed in as they were too 'showy'. These ones weren't. The guide wondered if it had something to do with Cromwell using the chapel as his stables. Then she was telling us that during the blitz, every single pane was carefully removed and photographed, then all the panes were buried in several locations. Given there must be a billion panes, that's quite a hefty feat! They weren't replaced until the 1960s! Wicked stuff! I love stories like that.

^ Trinity College grounds (L-R: dining hall (ending at the big bay window); Master's residence (the ivy-clad bit); student rooms (from the corner around, I believe))

^ Front entrance to Kings College

^ The amazing ceiling (the dark wooden thing in the middle houses the Church's organ; it's 1/2 way along the hall - it's f'king huge!)

^ The some of the stained glass windows - there were quite a few like this - they go right around the entire building!

^ This is quite a good shot of the ceiling and the stained glass windows...

The highlight of the tour, though, was when we were standing behind Trinity College and the guide was explaining about how easy it was to punt down the river when there was this almighty splash - one of the punters ended up in the drink! I think I found it funnier than most, as my sides were aching...more from laughing internally, as people started to give me funny looks. I can't help laughing at other people's misfortunes. It's hard-wired into me. I swear ;-) Naturally, later on when I was approached by one of 10,000 people trying to pull tourists into the punts, I declined the offer - not wanting to end up as the other bloke!

^ People punting along the River Cam

After the tour I went into a small pub and had some lunch, then proceeded to walk around the town. By around 3.30pm I had done enough walking for the day, so decided it was time to go and sit in the park to wait for the bus. On the way, I ended up doing a spot of umpiring in a cricket match. But that was only 'cos the ball just about hit me and I was by the boundary line (it was a four, not a six - half the blokes were happy with my call; the other half happier ;-) ). It felt quite civilised sitting out in the sun (and damned wind) on a Sunday afternoon watching a cricket match. In between overs I did pick up my book and perused it for a bit.

I was chatting to Kirsty about Cambridge before I went and she described it as "quaint". She couldn't elaborate on it any more than that. As much as I do like that word, it doesn't really tell you much, does it? Anyhow, when we were talking on Sunday night, she asked me to describe Cambridge. The only thing I could come up with was, you guessed it, "quaint". Seriously! It is! Especially the 'old town'. So...quaint. It's what I expected old England to be like. I would've loved to have popped my nose into some of the private residences to see what they're like on the inside...but I think people frown at strangers doing that...

^ A 'quaint' little street

Not sure if I could've seen myself studying there though, like straight from high school. But I guess that's hard to say retrospectively. Also, it would depend on how one was brought up, too. Bluff to Cambridge, yeah right!

Anyhoo, the bus arrived and oddly, there were too many people for it. No one was checking the tickets and a few of us who did have tickets found there wasn't room for us...so they had to chuck people off. So very funny (in my head, as I wasn't being chucked off!). When we finally left, I did my snoozy thing again. I reckon that makes me even more sleepy when I get off the silly bus. Got off and thought I'd pick up some groceries on the way home. Nope. Not a happening thing. Bloody Sainsburys close at 5pm on a Sunday. I ask you! Do they not realise how inconvenienced I was? It meant I had to cook dinner (could've just gone to a restaurant, but that thought didn't occur until I was sulking about having to clean up my mess after cooking!). Then I did the dreaded ironing. Arrrgh. My thoughts, however, were that if I did it then, I wouldn't have to do it when I got home from Brighton! Clever, huh?

Overall, a good 8 quid spent on the return ticket to Cambridge.

Seeyabye