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Published: September 20th 2007
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It all started with my parent's silver wedding anniversary. Congrats Geoff and Leigh Fisher!
By some quirk of fate, this year we have been able to have two weddings, four birthdays and a wedding anniversary together as a family for the first time in four years. The party held at Crown Cottage was great fun, with many family friends attending giving us all an opportunity to catch up. Even my dad was there (in the UK pretending to be working on his 8 year doctorate)!
Anyway, much drinking and eating and talking. But that night was only the start of an amazing week. Luke and Molly (if you do not remember them, go to the Brittany to Alps blog) had sent us an email saying that they were bored of lounging around on beautiful Mediterranean beaches (
oh the agony) and had come to England and would we like to catch up in London?
So, the day after the party, I worked 11 1/2 hours till 3:30am Monday morning, only to get up at 10 to pack and get on a train to London!
Day One: the Notting Hill Carnival
We arrived at Waterloo station to meet Luke
and Molly who gleefully took us to the biggest street party in the world.
1.5 million people. While we were on the look out for blue doors and Julia Roberts, we could not see for all the people.
The Carnival is a celebration of the islander immigrant communities and has been going on for years. The rest of London attends, naturally, because of the amazing music and parades. The parade went on for hours, float after float of DJs, dancers, people dressed in amazing outfits, etc all to a soca soundtrack. Some of the better floats had a following of dancers. There were so many people in the parades and watching them that it moved very slowly but it meant we got to spend more time dancing.
Oh, and Steve and Alison (Ana's cousin and girlfriend who came to our blessing in France) met up with us as well. There we all are, drinking cider, watching some beautiful dressed up people dance to soca or kettle drum orchestras. Amazing. One of my favourite scenes was an incredibly obese black woman, dressed in an outfit so skimpy that it would embarrass Paris Hilton, walking along with a kebab and
Chas Luke and Molly at the carnival
Drinking cider of course. Love english ciders. Not strongbow though. Damn fag in hand, suddenly drop it all to participate in the most pornographic, hip grinding dance with a dred-locked, pot smoking techy. Tell me where you can see better than that!
We fought through the crowds to find stage after stage of live music (the best being a political ska band) and endless stalls selling jerked chicken. We sat on a wall to eat for a while where we were asked constantly to buy or sell weed. Apparently dope dealers must be too sendentry to move. Had any of us been there by ourselves we would have stayed to enjoy the atmosphere but we really wanted to see each other. So, having soaked up the atmosphere, we departed to the most expensive pub in London, courtesy of Steve Flew's directions.
Sadly the carnival ended violently with two shootings and a couple of knife stabbings but thankfully none of them were fatal.
Our night ended back at the hostel we were staying in, in Elephant & Castle, getting absolutely plastered and playing pool. Too much pool. Too much alcohol. Too much revealing conversation. You know what I am talking about Luke.
Day Two: London on foot... Many
A member of a steel orchestra
Doesn't she look entertained? many feet
Woke up early in agony to get a free breakfast. Never sneer at a free meal as a traveller even if it means braving the worst of a hangover. As Ana and I had done London as tourists 5 years earlier and Luke and Molly had already been there a few days, there was little pressing to do. So, after a sojourn in an internet cafe, all we had on our mind was walking.
We walked from Elephant & Castle to Buckingham Palace via a couple of street markets and Victoria Station. Big Ben was telling the wrong time but apparently he is getting done up so all is forgiven. We feasted on baguettes, strawberries and chocolate short bread in the Green Park (imaginative name there) before wondering down Park Lane to Hyde Park (forgive the poor Monopoly geography here). More meandering, watched ducks, talked about films, sat in deck chairs, commented on the closing times of the public toilets... A lovely relaxing time.
We even, after looking at Speaker's Corner without speakers, decided to take in a film. Duly bought a newspaper and decided to watch a film that was just down the road. What
we did not realise is that 10 minutes is not enough time to walk
the entire length of Oxford St to Tottenham Court tube station. As I said above, much much walking!
We also got to catch up with a lovely friend of Luke and Molly's who has been on a working holiday visa over here (damn the ugly green monster) and all headed back to the hostel to make dinner. Smoked salmon and cream pasta. Oh yeah.
Then, simply more drinking and more revealing conversation. This trip has certainly brought us closer to Luke and Molly, for which I think I will be eternally grateful.
Day Three: Tearful goodbyes and, yes, more drinking
Our walking continued through another hangover through more street markets (Ana picked up the coolest hat) to the Tower Bridge along the Thames path. Luke and Molly were catching a flight back to Italy on their way home via China that afternoon so we just took it easy, soaked up the sights. Over these few days London grew on me and by walking it aimlessly I feel we connected far better than our crazy tourist-athon several years earlier.
After hugs and goodbyes,
One of the less fat more pretty women
Could not capture the porno-dancing, kebab and fag consuming women on film for posterity. Sorry. Just use your imagination Ana and I faced the sad walk to Waterloo. We will be missing Luke and Molly's engagement party in Adelaide but we wish you all the best. Do not drink too much (hee hee)! Our London adventure was not quite over; Ana and I were heading back to catch up with friends who we had last seen living in Argentina, the Smiths.
Mark and Lizzie were very close friends with my parents and their family and ours spent many a weekend together over the five years we were living there. It was so wonderful to catch them in their home. They were hit also by the Argentine economic crisis but, instead of bailing, decided to weather it. They would have if Mark had not been sacked by his crooked boss. I say sacked, the office door locks just got changed one day. It was a Wednesday. This meant they had to return to England after much stress and have started their own Argentine leather goods import company. They are very happy and it great to see them all. Of course, all of this catching up happened at a pub. The Swan, on the Thames in Surbiton. More drinking.
The whole group of aussies
(minus the photographer of course) The next day, we were off, back to Sherborne to sleep. I had work that night, Friday night, Saturday night and Sunday afternoon. All up that week I worked 40 hours despite spending four days in London. Crazy but so much fun.
I promise that next blog I will turn it over to Ana (except for the odd quip). Whenever she has internet access she does important things like book trains and Inca trails while I mess about with this. I hope you appreciate it!
Love Ana and Chas
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Molly
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Hey guys! Love the blog....so many fun memories! I returned home 2 days ago, and boy it feels a little strange, but slowly getting organised with stuff like........ work! Blaaaaaaaaa!!! ove you guys xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx