Four Countries in a Weekend
Like the great Crowded House hit, I have experienced a variety of climates over the past 48 hours. Spain on Friday was the same as it was all week fine and a pleasant mid twenties temperature, which is typical October, making it perfect for an autumnal escapade. I unfortunately took this temperature for granted and have since suffered. England was mild, but arriving in Copenhagen and then Sweden sent more than just a shiver down my spine. It was bitterly cold and I brought the same clothes I took to Spain and thrived in.
I caught two buses and a train to get to my plane which took off at 7.40am before catching a train from Copenhagen to Malmo. Now I know how the late great John Candy felt in the movie Planes Trains and Automobiles. I must admit it was bizzare waiting for a bus in Central London at 5 oclock in the morning. There are some real scum around. London was as busy as Dunedin at this time of morning, making bus journeys far less frustrating than their usual stop start affairs.
Once in Sweden I am now staying with my brother and his family in an apartment. Oh the joys of being an uncle to some troublesome toddlers. It is only until Wednesday, and although they are mischievous, it is great to see them.
Today I went and had a drink at an old nude bathing house. Apparently it has single sex saunas and pools, where the traditional form of bathing takes place. The thought of getting your kit off in nearly freezing temperatures is a stronger repellant than usual. My fading Spanish tan is a testament to change from summer to winter temperatures. It is getting dark at 5pm already in Sweden. My advice if you are heading to Scandinavia, wrap up warm.
One final observation. In my desperation I have resorted to wearing a high neck woollen jumper. I have previously seterotyped these as only being worn by gay males or europeans. I can see why they are warn and I am not gay. You can pull them up over the ears and nose in the cold. Swedish sophistication!
Sunday, October 29, 2006
Saturday, October 28, 2006
Back in London
I have returned to London after a taxing 24 hour coach journey from Calella, Spain. It seemed shorter than getting there, but now I am tired from the shear length of passage. This compounds with an early start tomorrow as I need to be at Stanstead Airport to catch a flight to Copenhagen at 7:40 am. The tube opens late on a Sunday, so I may have to do the slower bus thing. Whatever the outcome is, it is bound to require me getting up at 4am. Although it is daylight savings.
Later on my Oakhall Tour, I met some more cutting edge people who were not your typical spectacled, politics loving, pasty English tourists who detest sport. These people were more down to earth and had some flair about them. These two twins (females) from East London with their cockney accents, and these nearing middle aged guys Terry and Steve. The twins write screenplays while Terry was at one stage an air steward so they had some great stories of intrigue to what we developed as a "Circle of Trust". It was a strange camp because I was expecting an 18-30 year old youth camp but instead, because it was midterm break, we got families, and plenty of thirty somethings. Not many people in my ideal 18-30 age group.
A strange social setting early this morning was in a petrol station in France where we went to clean our teeth. There was a line up of twenty guys with their toothbrushes, classy. Also two lots of french toilets had no toilet seats in any of them and people would walk their dogs around the eating areas. Is this the way of the modern world?
I have returned to London after a taxing 24 hour coach journey from Calella, Spain. It seemed shorter than getting there, but now I am tired from the shear length of passage. This compounds with an early start tomorrow as I need to be at Stanstead Airport to catch a flight to Copenhagen at 7:40 am. The tube opens late on a Sunday, so I may have to do the slower bus thing. Whatever the outcome is, it is bound to require me getting up at 4am. Although it is daylight savings.
Later on my Oakhall Tour, I met some more cutting edge people who were not your typical spectacled, politics loving, pasty English tourists who detest sport. These people were more down to earth and had some flair about them. These two twins (females) from East London with their cockney accents, and these nearing middle aged guys Terry and Steve. The twins write screenplays while Terry was at one stage an air steward so they had some great stories of intrigue to what we developed as a "Circle of Trust". It was a strange camp because I was expecting an 18-30 year old youth camp but instead, because it was midterm break, we got families, and plenty of thirty somethings. Not many people in my ideal 18-30 age group.
A strange social setting early this morning was in a petrol station in France where we went to clean our teeth. There was a line up of twenty guys with their toothbrushes, classy. Also two lots of french toilets had no toilet seats in any of them and people would walk their dogs around the eating areas. Is this the way of the modern world?
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
I finally arrived in Calella which is an hour by train from Barcelona. It was a marathon 24 hours in a crammed coach. Sleep deprived and bored silly after sitting beside a Year 7 girl the entire way, I have finally adjusted myself to the tour. Thinking this would be a Camp America type tour with Oakhall catering itself towards the 20-30s market I quickly was disappointed to find a glut of families and over 35 peoples. The UK Christians have a tendency to be of the scrawny spectacled and pasty skin nature both guys and girls. These people are friendly enough but lack any kind of interest or ability at sport as was shown in a game of volleyball which defied expectation to even take place. It did give me a chance to dominate. I am the only kiwi here and there are not many non poms at all. I assume people come on these camps for security reasons as it is a haven for some socially awkward types.
Realising that the pennies are disappearing I am delighted that prices here a cheaper than Switzerland and London. It costs 6 euros return to Barcelona where I have been twice. They are football mad here, but it seems more impoverished than nearby France. The beaches seem brilliant but the sandy is of a gravel type and sore on the feet. The train goes along the sea front past a nudist beach on the way to town. So I have seen some naked old guys with very big .........bellies.
In Barcelona I want to go to the football stadium but decided it was better investing money in securing future food and transport sources for me. Ronaldinho is God over here. It also was hard to find a bus to take me to the stadium for a tour which is overpriced. I did go to the Olympic Stadium and area from the 1992 Olympics where my mate Bruce claimed gold in the windsurfing. It is huge, but under construction at the moment. It has over a million people but is small after London. English is spoken everywhere which is great because unlike French I don´t know any words much.
I went bowling last night the lanes were small and the pins held on by nylon wires. I ended up winnning but I wore my sandals to play in. They don´t give you shoes! Very budget but my 125 was the toast of the alleys. I actually was getting wasted but I put on my lucky touch socks and proceeded to play in socks and sandals. Comfortable, underated and game changing!
Anyway better go and have some dinner. The meals are free well dinner and breakfast anyway.
Realising that the pennies are disappearing I am delighted that prices here a cheaper than Switzerland and London. It costs 6 euros return to Barcelona where I have been twice. They are football mad here, but it seems more impoverished than nearby France. The beaches seem brilliant but the sandy is of a gravel type and sore on the feet. The train goes along the sea front past a nudist beach on the way to town. So I have seen some naked old guys with very big .........bellies.
In Barcelona I want to go to the football stadium but decided it was better investing money in securing future food and transport sources for me. Ronaldinho is God over here. It also was hard to find a bus to take me to the stadium for a tour which is overpriced. I did go to the Olympic Stadium and area from the 1992 Olympics where my mate Bruce claimed gold in the windsurfing. It is huge, but under construction at the moment. It has over a million people but is small after London. English is spoken everywhere which is great because unlike French I don´t know any words much.
I went bowling last night the lanes were small and the pins held on by nylon wires. I ended up winnning but I wore my sandals to play in. They don´t give you shoes! Very budget but my 125 was the toast of the alleys. I actually was getting wasted but I put on my lucky touch socks and proceeded to play in socks and sandals. Comfortable, underated and game changing!
Anyway better go and have some dinner. The meals are free well dinner and breakfast anyway.
Thursday, October 19, 2006
The Spanish sun is about to start beating down on me as I head to an area near Barcelona on an Oakhall Christian Tour. It should be good times and I am just squeezing it in under my budget. I catch a coach on Saturday and arrive on Sunday. It will be a long team trip and hopefully a great chance for the good times that road trips can bring.
It is for a week in the sun before I return to London for a night and then head to the cold north of Scandinavia flying into Denmark and staying with my bro in Sweden. Malmo is a nice size and is close to Denmark and is at the warmer end of the country.
Then on the 3rd November I leave for Australia and meet up with one of my more colourful ex flatmates who has spread her wings to Brisbane and that is the Peacock (Christie). I stay for a week and then head to Invers probably in a tale of two cities London and Invers who are at opposite ends of the spectrum.
I would love to return to Europe in the not to distant future as I reckon that if you can avoid London's excessive accommodation then it is a great place to stay and can be affordable. It is easier to fly between countries than ever before.
I am staying in Putney and today I walked past the hallowed turf of Fulham, Craven Cottage. It is right on the banks of the Thames. I wonder how many balls they lose after a skied clearance? I am also close to the Sainsbury and Tescos stores (supermarkets) and it is in Zone 2. Close in. Lots of Kiwis around and a Walkabout or as I call it a Walkout bar for the sports from back home.
It is for a week in the sun before I return to London for a night and then head to the cold north of Scandinavia flying into Denmark and staying with my bro in Sweden. Malmo is a nice size and is close to Denmark and is at the warmer end of the country.
Then on the 3rd November I leave for Australia and meet up with one of my more colourful ex flatmates who has spread her wings to Brisbane and that is the Peacock (Christie). I stay for a week and then head to Invers probably in a tale of two cities London and Invers who are at opposite ends of the spectrum.
I would love to return to Europe in the not to distant future as I reckon that if you can avoid London's excessive accommodation then it is a great place to stay and can be affordable. It is easier to fly between countries than ever before.
I am staying in Putney and today I walked past the hallowed turf of Fulham, Craven Cottage. It is right on the banks of the Thames. I wonder how many balls they lose after a skied clearance? I am also close to the Sainsbury and Tescos stores (supermarkets) and it is in Zone 2. Close in. Lots of Kiwis around and a Walkabout or as I call it a Walkout bar for the sports from back home.
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
The sun has set on my time in Dagseyland. The Community which resembles something from the 1980s TV Show The Goodlife still grinds on. Lizzi still seems ill, so poor old Dagsey is trying to tend to his wife while trying to learn German whilst staying in the good books with the inlaws by helping out on the farm. The eternal potterer this seems to suit the man from Ashvegas!
I since learned that Bern FC gave Thun a thrashing 5-0 and the youth match was between the same two teams (thanks to my information analysts working overtime to make sure I get things accurate) All I can say is that football comes so naturally to these people, it really is a beautiful game.
Today I travelled into Thun then caught a train to Basel (home of Roger Federrer) and caught my flight back to London. Switzerland a distant memory. I must say that certain cities like Bern do seem pretty cool and they are not too big that you get lost in them. The people are friendly, the trains are so smooth and the dairy is mouth watering.
We ate fondue last night. Apart from seventies theme parties and high school French class I had not had cheese fondue before. When eating it with proper Swiss people you learn to not leave your bread in the cheese or you have to do something which varies from buying wine, to laps around the table (unsure if pants are firmly fastened), kissing the person to your left. Unsure which is true. Also you make figure eights with your fork. You never drink water with it, you drink tea otherwise it hardens.
So it is late and I am staying in Putney with Mark and Carrie. It is late and my commitment to the Internet is unquestionable. I needed to because in Switzerland it was so expensive. 5 Swiss Francs for 17 minutes in one place. That is about $6. Today at the airport I saw a 500ml bottle of Coke for the equivalent of about $7 NZ. There was a vending machine nearby.
Two other things I have learnt is that refrigerated drinks are twice the price so buy them off the shelf and that supermarkets are so much more cheaper than other places. It is like the other stores buy their stock from supermarkets not suppliers. It's all about Distribution Channels. Marketing 203
Finally I arrived back in London and caught a shuttle to Victoria Station ready to catch a tube to Putney which is in Fulham/ Chelsea. (Fulham gear incidentially is appropriately available from the prestigious Harrods store). Anyway it took me about 2 hours to get 5 stops because it was peak 5:30 traffic and everyone was going to the biggest game of the year. Chelsea vs Barcelona. I felt like a right mug with my suitcase. Anyway patience is a virtue!
I since learned that Bern FC gave Thun a thrashing 5-0 and the youth match was between the same two teams (thanks to my information analysts working overtime to make sure I get things accurate) All I can say is that football comes so naturally to these people, it really is a beautiful game.
Today I travelled into Thun then caught a train to Basel (home of Roger Federrer) and caught my flight back to London. Switzerland a distant memory. I must say that certain cities like Bern do seem pretty cool and they are not too big that you get lost in them. The people are friendly, the trains are so smooth and the dairy is mouth watering.
We ate fondue last night. Apart from seventies theme parties and high school French class I had not had cheese fondue before. When eating it with proper Swiss people you learn to not leave your bread in the cheese or you have to do something which varies from buying wine, to laps around the table (unsure if pants are firmly fastened), kissing the person to your left. Unsure which is true. Also you make figure eights with your fork. You never drink water with it, you drink tea otherwise it hardens.
So it is late and I am staying in Putney with Mark and Carrie. It is late and my commitment to the Internet is unquestionable. I needed to because in Switzerland it was so expensive. 5 Swiss Francs for 17 minutes in one place. That is about $6. Today at the airport I saw a 500ml bottle of Coke for the equivalent of about $7 NZ. There was a vending machine nearby.
Two other things I have learnt is that refrigerated drinks are twice the price so buy them off the shelf and that supermarkets are so much more cheaper than other places. It is like the other stores buy their stock from supermarkets not suppliers. It's all about Distribution Channels. Marketing 203
Finally I arrived back in London and caught a shuttle to Victoria Station ready to catch a tube to Putney which is in Fulham/ Chelsea. (Fulham gear incidentially is appropriately available from the prestigious Harrods store). Anyway it took me about 2 hours to get 5 stops because it was peak 5:30 traffic and everyone was going to the biggest game of the year. Chelsea vs Barcelona. I felt like a right mug with my suitcase. Anyway patience is a virtue!
Monday, October 16, 2006
I am in Thun, Switzerland writing this on a Swiss keyboard who have their z and y around the other way among other things. I arrived here on Saturday dinner time. It is strange staying in the Community again. Darren is well and truly settled into married life, so much so that I dont really see him much as he is constantly tending to his sick wife. It also is a little disappointing for me, especially on Saturday at dinner time when I arrived and saw him for ten minutes and then didnt see him again until the same time on Sunday. Anyway it means I have time to hop on the bus and come into Thun town, which has 15000 people. At this inbetween season stage heaps of shops are shut and the only internet place opened at 2pm this afternoon (Monday). I fly out of Basel on Wednesday for London, it has 90 percent of people using public transport. I catch up with Boss and I stay at Mark Van Rijs house. Boss was in Switzerland, but only stayed at Darrens for a night because he didnt want to pay money which is fair enough. He also knows people he can stay for free with in Switzerland. He went back on Saturday to play rugby of all things.
So I have been scratching to fill in my days here. It is autumn at the moment and getting a tad cold. I watched some football yesterday. I think it was the Youth teams of FC Thun and whoever they were playing gave them a hiding. FC Thun top team lost at a different venue 5 nil (from what I could gauge from a Swiss German Newspaper). These young guys were really good players and it was an enjoyable watch. I forgot how expensive things are here unless you go to the supermarkets, shoes and sporting clothing a cheap (if only I had money and room in my suitcase). It is funny because there is Swiss German, Normal German, French, Italian and English around. I better go back to the tranquility of the place I am staying.
So I have been scratching to fill in my days here. It is autumn at the moment and getting a tad cold. I watched some football yesterday. I think it was the Youth teams of FC Thun and whoever they were playing gave them a hiding. FC Thun top team lost at a different venue 5 nil (from what I could gauge from a Swiss German Newspaper). These young guys were really good players and it was an enjoyable watch. I forgot how expensive things are here unless you go to the supermarkets, shoes and sporting clothing a cheap (if only I had money and room in my suitcase). It is funny because there is Swiss German, Normal German, French, Italian and English around. I better go back to the tranquility of the place I am staying.
Friday, October 13, 2006
Making Plans
As the world's worst decision maker I have finally decided that I will visit Dagsey (that guy that used to blog) and his new family in Switzerland. They are great people and it will be my chance to say hi and bye again. Since coming to Nice I have realised how much I rely on other people for company. Travelling alone is fine is certain aspects, but you really need the comradery. I will then fly to London on Wednesday 18th. I have decided that it is stupid how you can fly for two hours for cheaper than catching an 11 hour train. Also I have decided that accomodation in Paris is through the roof, so if I want to go, I may just take a day trip and still catch a few sights without paying exhorbitant prices. My other plans are to go to Sweden and see my brother and family on a cheap flight, and then leave, although I have seen a few jobs advertised back in the UK but I really need some free internet for applying.
I would also love to go on an Oakhall Tour to Spain before flying out to Australia, but it may be beyond my means, but I maybe able to squeeze it in. It is $600 NZ which includes dinner and breakfast and maybe I can stratch breakfast out for a week including coach there and back, it is cheap! It still has room available. Still I don't want to stretch myself too thin, but at least I have my flights home paid for!
It is great the way the Internet reaches so many people I received a comment from a guy who read my write up on Real Tennis. Here is some of the comment. He is writing a book.
www.romankrznaric.com
He has played Real Tennis at the highest level.
Today I also went to the Marc Chignal Museum of Biblical Art. It was actually really good. YOu could see the Bible Stories from the art. Thanks Latif for that tip!
As the world's worst decision maker I have finally decided that I will visit Dagsey (that guy that used to blog) and his new family in Switzerland. They are great people and it will be my chance to say hi and bye again. Since coming to Nice I have realised how much I rely on other people for company. Travelling alone is fine is certain aspects, but you really need the comradery. I will then fly to London on Wednesday 18th. I have decided that it is stupid how you can fly for two hours for cheaper than catching an 11 hour train. Also I have decided that accomodation in Paris is through the roof, so if I want to go, I may just take a day trip and still catch a few sights without paying exhorbitant prices. My other plans are to go to Sweden and see my brother and family on a cheap flight, and then leave, although I have seen a few jobs advertised back in the UK but I really need some free internet for applying.
I would also love to go on an Oakhall Tour to Spain before flying out to Australia, but it may be beyond my means, but I maybe able to squeeze it in. It is $600 NZ which includes dinner and breakfast and maybe I can stratch breakfast out for a week including coach there and back, it is cheap! It still has room available. Still I don't want to stretch myself too thin, but at least I have my flights home paid for!
It is great the way the Internet reaches so many people I received a comment from a guy who read my write up on Real Tennis. Here is some of the comment. He is writing a book.
www.romankrznaric.com
He has played Real Tennis at the highest level.
Today I also went to the Marc Chignal Museum of Biblical Art. It was actually really good. YOu could see the Bible Stories from the art. Thanks Latif for that tip!
Thursday, October 12, 2006
Cultural Differences
France is totally different to other countries. People are more outspoken than antipodians and they seem to love smoking. It is the in thing to do over here! Other things to do are spit, and own a dog or two which you walk around the city. I am staying in Nice which is nice in parts, but also has heaps of vandalism. Everything is old and heaps of it is run down, yet that is the way it is over here. I went to Cannes today and there were actual sandy beaches, not the pebbles like in Nice. In both of these places the beaches are so close to the road and you can just walk past willy nilly. There are so many commercial beaches but in amongst these restaurants and beach chairs are these courdoned off pieces of land with bodies scatter sporadically.
Sure everyone knows many chicks don't wear tops here, but it is just what is done, and because they have such an even tan, you just carry on. Most people are skinny over here too. It is probably a combination of the diet, and smoking levels. In Cannes especially there are so many shrivelled peroxide blondes who remind me of the lady from the movie "There's Something About Mary". The food is great for us foreigners, crepes, ice cream and other pastries yet these French people don't put on weight. I guess they are used to it so they don't over indulge!
Cannes and Monaco are far more commercial with sailing ships, tourist stalls and some massive area with press and foreigners from Freemantle Media Australia. They are launching programmes and competitions. Their are so many nationalities over here too. North Africans, Americans etc. Today I saw the darkest girl I have ever seen. She was wearing a beige bikini, but because she almost was black it looked bizarre. Kind of photo negative effect without sounding racist. The weather is mid twenties still and the skies are blue. I was going to go to the movies and see Little Miss Sunshine but they only have their films dubbed here. Gutted! They are painful to watch.
France is totally different to other countries. People are more outspoken than antipodians and they seem to love smoking. It is the in thing to do over here! Other things to do are spit, and own a dog or two which you walk around the city. I am staying in Nice which is nice in parts, but also has heaps of vandalism. Everything is old and heaps of it is run down, yet that is the way it is over here. I went to Cannes today and there were actual sandy beaches, not the pebbles like in Nice. In both of these places the beaches are so close to the road and you can just walk past willy nilly. There are so many commercial beaches but in amongst these restaurants and beach chairs are these courdoned off pieces of land with bodies scatter sporadically.
Sure everyone knows many chicks don't wear tops here, but it is just what is done, and because they have such an even tan, you just carry on. Most people are skinny over here too. It is probably a combination of the diet, and smoking levels. In Cannes especially there are so many shrivelled peroxide blondes who remind me of the lady from the movie "There's Something About Mary". The food is great for us foreigners, crepes, ice cream and other pastries yet these French people don't put on weight. I guess they are used to it so they don't over indulge!
Cannes and Monaco are far more commercial with sailing ships, tourist stalls and some massive area with press and foreigners from Freemantle Media Australia. They are launching programmes and competitions. Their are so many nationalities over here too. North Africans, Americans etc. Today I saw the darkest girl I have ever seen. She was wearing a beige bikini, but because she almost was black it looked bizarre. Kind of photo negative effect without sounding racist. The weather is mid twenties still and the skies are blue. I was going to go to the movies and see Little Miss Sunshine but they only have their films dubbed here. Gutted! They are painful to watch.
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
My laptop has broken down and so I can't download my photos. Another problem is the large volume of photos of have stored only on it. The old lappy is still under warranty in NZ. I thought I got sucked into paying $300 extra unnecessarily. It means I lose about 1200 pictures if it can't be fixed.
Security is pretty tight at Gatwick I had to take off my shoes, I got my lip ointment confiscated (for dry lips), and you can't take food on board. It is all a cunning ploy to make us spend more money on the flight with easyjet. It is becoming increasingly commercial.
I finally found the hotel. It is simple but cool to have my own room. The beach still has people on it. You can swim, but it is all full of pebbles. Not much sand to speak of. It is funny because you get people sunbathing in all forms of undress about a few metres from the main road.
Nice is not the place to come to lose weight with the crepes, ice cream and pastries. It is great because I get free breakfast and stock up on ham and cheese croissants and chocolate croissants and baguettes for the day. Prices aren't expensive compared with London or Monaco where I went today. The NZ dollar is great. Times prices by 2 here and 3 in the UK.
I went to Monaco today. Amazing! It is only 20 mins by train. I saw the palace and it is crazy how it is a Principality. Plenty of formula one souvenirs and ocassional football. For a place of 30000 it has heaps of tourists. It is such a crazy layout. Really hilly and like a maze.
Security is pretty tight at Gatwick I had to take off my shoes, I got my lip ointment confiscated (for dry lips), and you can't take food on board. It is all a cunning ploy to make us spend more money on the flight with easyjet. It is becoming increasingly commercial.
I finally found the hotel. It is simple but cool to have my own room. The beach still has people on it. You can swim, but it is all full of pebbles. Not much sand to speak of. It is funny because you get people sunbathing in all forms of undress about a few metres from the main road.
Nice is not the place to come to lose weight with the crepes, ice cream and pastries. It is great because I get free breakfast and stock up on ham and cheese croissants and chocolate croissants and baguettes for the day. Prices aren't expensive compared with London or Monaco where I went today. The NZ dollar is great. Times prices by 2 here and 3 in the UK.
I went to Monaco today. Amazing! It is only 20 mins by train. I saw the palace and it is crazy how it is a Principality. Plenty of formula one souvenirs and ocassional football. For a place of 30000 it has heaps of tourists. It is such a crazy layout. Really hilly and like a maze.
Monday, October 09, 2006
Nice
Tomorrow I am catching a flight to Nice in the south of France. It is a bit of a swansong for my trip. I have booked flights home for early November as I have become so discouraged with my time finding work and I really miss the social interaction with mates, which doesn't happen over here because people live too far from each other and I don't have many mates. I have also realised that if I am to stay longer I will have to pay for a new flat, as I am getting sick of dossing (sleeping on couches etc).
The unfortunate part of going to Nice and staying in a cheap hotel is that Boss only wants to go to Switzerland due to lack of finances. The only problem is it is one of the only countries I have seen. I spent five years studying French so really want to go there and due to lack of finances, I need to prioritise.
My plan is to go to Nice and then Paris before heading maybe to Switzerland or back to London before visiting my brother in Sweden and flying to Brisbane on the 4th November. This means I miss the All Blacks England match, but I don't have a ticket and can't afford one anyway. I will stay in Brisbane for a week before flying freedomair home.
This has been a tough decision to make as I have to weigh up employment and my general wellbeing. It is tough to find work in London and I am sick of the large amounts of people etc. My main thing is I miss my mates and family. I have mainly been flying solo and it is kind of tough after a while, yet you get to see what you want to!
If I hear back from any agencies (this is a long shot) I can always return to London as it is quite close anyway.
Tomorrow I am catching a flight to Nice in the south of France. It is a bit of a swansong for my trip. I have booked flights home for early November as I have become so discouraged with my time finding work and I really miss the social interaction with mates, which doesn't happen over here because people live too far from each other and I don't have many mates. I have also realised that if I am to stay longer I will have to pay for a new flat, as I am getting sick of dossing (sleeping on couches etc).
The unfortunate part of going to Nice and staying in a cheap hotel is that Boss only wants to go to Switzerland due to lack of finances. The only problem is it is one of the only countries I have seen. I spent five years studying French so really want to go there and due to lack of finances, I need to prioritise.
My plan is to go to Nice and then Paris before heading maybe to Switzerland or back to London before visiting my brother in Sweden and flying to Brisbane on the 4th November. This means I miss the All Blacks England match, but I don't have a ticket and can't afford one anyway. I will stay in Brisbane for a week before flying freedomair home.
This has been a tough decision to make as I have to weigh up employment and my general wellbeing. It is tough to find work in London and I am sick of the large amounts of people etc. My main thing is I miss my mates and family. I have mainly been flying solo and it is kind of tough after a while, yet you get to see what you want to!
If I hear back from any agencies (this is a long shot) I can always return to London as it is quite close anyway.
Thursday, October 05, 2006
Hanging With the Stars
We went and saw the stars yesterday. Boss found himself hugging Johnny Wilkinson, while I was more of a J Lo fan. They had heaps of stars and it was fun taking photos with heaps of the stars and they also had a Big Brother Room, movie screening and Horror Type Room. It was well worth the expense. My favourites were the Queen, Hitler, Saddam Hussain, J Lo, David Beckham and Freddy Mercury. I could only post a few pictures. Hopefully they appear above.
Today Mark and Carrie, Boss and Myself went to the British Museum. I saw it two months ago, but it is amazing how you can visit heaps of these attractions a couple of times before you see them properly. These attractions are so big and they keep changing that it is tough keeping track. Heaps of mummies and historical artefacts. It is free, but not in the ball park with Madam Tussauds.
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
Today myself and Boss went to the London Eye. It took us a while to find each other, but with me constantly keeping Boss in check (despite having to contact his NZ cellphone) we got there. I must admit Boss's timing has improved since his better half arrived on the scene! We got a ticket for the London Eye and for the Madame Tussaud's combined. So that is an activity for tomorrow. It was actually pretty cool and obviously plenty of photo opportunities were on offer. It reminded me of Darren's Stag do views from the top of Stockhorn in Switzerland, with the stunning views.
I am moving out of my current abode tomorrow. Someone else has to stay in the flat, so I am moving to Sarah Hunter's I think. This is two tube stops from where Boss is staying. Mark Van Rij has landed himself a job which is cool because him and Carrie were struggling after snow boarding the past year away in Canada.
Finally I am looking at what to do now, and it looks like I will attempt to go to France on my own since Boss doesn't want to go there. He only wants to go to Switzerland, but I learned French for five years at High School so must go as my Duty to Mr Campbell and the Hargest French Department. I did win a French Speaking Award in 4th Form and get first in my class in 4th Form. It was downhill after that. We are both keen to go to Edinburgh first although accommodation remains the archilles. I am also looking at doing an Oakhall Tour to Spain. My brother said it would be fine to go back to Sweden to the land of Inga. It all depends on a potential short term job.
I applied for a position working part time for an exciting sports website. It would mainly be sorting data and entering details of different sports. It is like a huge sports database type website where people and teams can organise matches, set up homepages for clubs, players and communities. It caters to heaps of different sports. You can also write match reports, blogs, fixtures and tables for your team. I received an email response from a Gumtree ad asking for my opinion on it. He said they have plenty of applicants, but it is good that they actually replied to mine. It could be a work from home position. I think it is only for a month initially. This would be amazing to be a part of! The website is www.tiredandtested.com
Monday, October 02, 2006
All Souls Sports Quiz
This quiz was lavish and unlike most events in New Zealand it was very snappy in presentation. The Christians in Sports Organisation actually set it up and it was more fun than a normal question type quiz, it included multimedia, what happened next and distorted vision type questions. They only rewarded the top three teams, so we must've been well down. That's what happens when your best two team members me and Boss are Kiwis and there were several English questions. The others in our team were a tad average, but it was all good fun. I notice that over here they don't award last place like back home. The amount of free grog (food and drink including plenty of alcohol) and service was amazing. They also fitted the Christian talk in and unlike home it finished within two hours. An enjoyable evening.
The job situation has run me ragged. There are some jobs I go to apply for now with pay rates of the minimum wage. What a disgrace! Now that Boss is over, I am looking at touring with him and then returning home via my brother in Sweden and Brisbane where I may find a job, although it always is harder than you think to find work. The only short term work I am seeing advertised is shambolic. People to work long hours for peanuts. It just adds to the frustration I have found.
This quiz was lavish and unlike most events in New Zealand it was very snappy in presentation. The Christians in Sports Organisation actually set it up and it was more fun than a normal question type quiz, it included multimedia, what happened next and distorted vision type questions. They only rewarded the top three teams, so we must've been well down. That's what happens when your best two team members me and Boss are Kiwis and there were several English questions. The others in our team were a tad average, but it was all good fun. I notice that over here they don't award last place like back home. The amount of free grog (food and drink including plenty of alcohol) and service was amazing. They also fitted the Christian talk in and unlike home it finished within two hours. An enjoyable evening.
The job situation has run me ragged. There are some jobs I go to apply for now with pay rates of the minimum wage. What a disgrace! Now that Boss is over, I am looking at touring with him and then returning home via my brother in Sweden and Brisbane where I may find a job, although it always is harder than you think to find work. The only short term work I am seeing advertised is shambolic. People to work long hours for peanuts. It just adds to the frustration I have found.
Boss is Back in Town!
We went to the Imperial War Museum with Boss and our homegroup buddy Sonya Velenski. Boss is staying with her, and she knows more about London since she has been here longer. We also went to All Souls in the morning. Boss and me will head to the All Souls sports quiz tonight which hopefully isn't all English in origin. It is free and a chance to take along non Christian mates, so Boss takes on that role tonight. They give you a free meal and some free drinks beer, wine or soft drink (this is the big drinking English culture remember).
To hear me talk about the Stags go to this link which is this week's Total Rugby Radio show. It is quite a drole show although there is an interesting interview with Paddy O'Brien. The following story about the fat guys tournament is quite interesting. Anyway feel free to listen if you have missed my velvet voice.
Listen to Total Rugby Radio at
www.irb.com
Hint: Fast Forward to 17 minutes 30 seconds into the show!
We went to the Imperial War Museum with Boss and our homegroup buddy Sonya Velenski. Boss is staying with her, and she knows more about London since she has been here longer. We also went to All Souls in the morning. Boss and me will head to the All Souls sports quiz tonight which hopefully isn't all English in origin. It is free and a chance to take along non Christian mates, so Boss takes on that role tonight. They give you a free meal and some free drinks beer, wine or soft drink (this is the big drinking English culture remember).
To hear me talk about the Stags go to this link which is this week's Total Rugby Radio show. It is quite a drole show although there is an interesting interview with Paddy O'Brien. The following story about the fat guys tournament is quite interesting. Anyway feel free to listen if you have missed my velvet voice.
Listen to Total Rugby Radio at
www.irb.com
Hint: Fast Forward to 17 minutes 30 seconds into the show!
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