Blogs from Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, England, United Kingdom, Europe

So and thе еvеnin' bеforе I dеpart and I am sittin' hеrе. I quickly rеalizеd that I didn't havе еnough undеrpants an' quickly tossеd somе on top of my backpack. Thе problеm liеs in transfеrrin' thе backpack from thе floor to my back; it is complеtеly doablе whеn it is on my back. I supposе I could probably squat down an' gеt it on and but if I fеll flat on my facе whilе only tryin' to pick up my pursе and I think my lеgs would havе major problеms. I would also probably losе somе dignity.... On thе bright sidе and I can officially consign my Blackbеrry to thе box of shamе (situatеd on my dеsk insidе a box along with my papеrwork an' a pair of 3D glassеs) an' givе it a full six ... read more

The pilot spoke over the intercom and said that we are on our decent in to Perth and would be touching down and on the stand by 10.40, I am generally not a clock watcher, but after being away for nearly four weeks I couldn’t wait to see my girl again. As advised, the 330 Airbus touched down and soon I was in the baggage hall waiting for my bag to appear on the carousel. I had been excited about using my new Australian Passport, this would be its maiden voyage, as a bona fide Australian, I thought that I would hand my passport over to an Immigration Customs officer, who, if I would be lucky enough, would stamp the official document, but sadly not ! As I get into the customs area the signage directs ... read more

If there's one thing which would convince visitors to our fair shores that the English are barmy it would have to be: grown men and women wearing quaint costumes, bells on their legs and weird hats planted with flowers and feathers, dancing in a pub car park to the sounds of squeezeboxes and diddly-di-do songs while waving handkerchiefs in the air and menacingly clacking together wooden sticks. These strange affairs are called 'Morris dancing'. They're ancient folk dances, once thought to be pagan rituals, with carefully-choreographed steps, accompanied by music played on one or more melodeons or accordions and sometimes with a rhythmic, booming drum and a wind-instrument or two for good measure. Personally, I suspect it's all an excuse for a good booze-up; after all, you'll seldom see these dances performed anywhere except in pub ... read more

So I'm sat here the night before I leave... I have already realised I packed a serious lack of underwear so hastily threw some in on the top of my rucksack. The rucksack that is of course totally manageable when its on my back, it's just getting it from the floor to my back thats the issue. Could probably crouch down and get it on but I think my legs would have serious issues and I would lose some dignity if I fell flat on my face whilst just trying to pick up my bag... On the plus side I can legitimately banish my blackberry to the box of shame (left on my desk in a box with my paper work and pairs of 3D glasses) to think about its current behaviour and give it 6 ... read more