Here are some piccies of my brother and I at a temporary exhibition at the Tate. Yep - it’s a slippery dip. Adam and I went on the longest one - it was free, but you had to line up for tickets (about 20 mins) and then you were given a ½ hour window in which you could go on the slippery dip. In our case (maybe because it was the first weekend, or maybe it will be like this until the exhibition closes in Feb) we got a ticket at 2.30 which enabled us to use the slippery dip between [View Full Entry]

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Have successfully infiltrated the Baker & McKenzie netball team - am now nearly a regular - as well as another team that I subbed for once and have now played for for the last three weeks. At the moment it is an outdoor comp (moving to an indoor venue at the end of October). The last two weeks have played in the rain - apparently they only stop for lightning and ice - possibly the reason for my cough and sore throat that won’t go away. It’s a good comp, with beers in the pub after the game, generally friendly competition [View Full Entry]

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OK - so there are a few strange/annoying things about London. Have decided to keep a list (to remind me when I start thinking these things are normal!!). List is in no particular order re level of annoyingness. * People do not indicate when driving . * Smoking - still allowed in restaurants (but that will be ending soon). * Supermarkets sell most fruit and veg items pre packed - this means you have to buy way more beans or snow peas or whatever than you would ever need. * Bike riders without helmets!!! Even worse taking into account lack of [View Full Entry]

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In Dublin’s fair city Dave and Gav were so witty Filling all that they said with innuendo Toured castle to river But the nightlife delivered Drinking: Guiness and larger In style, style-o Had an excellent time in Dublin. Flew there by my first (of many) RyanAir flights - my flights cost ₤0.01 each!! (yes - I am pretty excited about that!). Of course, there were taxes as well, and a fee for putting my bag in the hold, as you still can’t carry any toiletries on flights, but still awesome. No 1 cent flights in Sydney yet!!! The main reason for [View Full Entry]

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So - my brother has arrived!!! Decided to do something terribly, terribly English on his first day, so we headed to the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace (did not see Christopher Robin or Alice). I was amazed by how many people were there to watch it, and how many guards and other support people are involved in the 'changing', given that there are only two actual guards at the palace. [View Full Entry]

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As a continuation of my efforts to see more of the UK as well as European nations, I headed to the Cotswolds this weekend with a group of friends. Although we were all Aussies - it seemed like a much more international affair. Three of us are now living in London, two were here on holidays from Australia (but had just flown to London from a 'great Alaskan adventure'), one is living in Geneva and the other in Zurich. We stayed in a cute little bed and breakfast in Winchcombe, a cute English country town among the rolling green hills (and [View Full Entry]

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So I have commenced my campaign to infiltrate the Bakers netball team. Had my first game on Thursday night. Was great to get back on the court again - have really missed it. Even better, the netball courts are only two tube stops from where I am living. How convenient is that?? (Yes - I know I am obsessed). [View Full Entry]

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You will be happy to hear that I have begun to put my proximity to Europe to good use and have been for my first weekend away in Paris. Caught the plane from Heathrow, where it was a nightmare getting through security, particularly given recent events there. Next time I will definitely get the Eurostar - much easier!! I still love Paris - and it was a great time to go. Weather was lovely (OK, it did sprinkle a bit, but it was mainly warm). Managed to fit a lot in in my four day long weekend in Paris. Traveled with [View Full Entry]

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Part of my plan while living in London is to not only travel to exotic European cities, but to see more to the UK itself. In a first step in that regard, I headed to Brighton with Trav on a sunny Sunday in August. While it had not been that long since I had set foot by the ocean, Trav had been oceanless for 6 months, hence the choice of destination. Now Brighton is on its way to being a real beach - no sand, only pebbles, but people lying on said pebbles (on towels!! - not the most comfortable proposition [View Full Entry]

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Arrived in London on 3 August and nearly immediately headed to a three day music festival called 'The Big Chill' in the grounds of Eastnor Castle. Went with a group of Adam’s friends - mostly New Zealanders - see photo of the crew below. As it turned out, other friends of mine from Sydney were also there - and although mobile reception was patchy at best, I managed to find them by running into one of them walking along a path around the campsites!!! While there is a range of music - from the Ukulele Band of Great Britain (popular songs [View Full Entry]

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