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5 April 2010
After travelling through South East Asia for two months (see my other blog www.offexploring.com/brittnorth) I arrived in London at 10:45pm into Stanstead airport and lined up at boarder patrol for over an hour. Was planning on crashing at the airport until the time was more appropriate to arrive at my Ma's cousies doorstep but what do you know I was greeted by 2 smiling faces and hugs from Annie and Jenny after I breezed through customs, what champions, but what would you expect we are rellies after all so of course they are!
Foxes - I can't believe no one has ever mentioned these creatures before, what I mean is, everywhere in London, Foxes roam the streets at night, and I mean Foxes, heaps of them, and apparently you can even hear the getting it on at night time, animals!
Anyhow, I was thankful to be able to snuggie under a big thick duvet after spending weeks sweating me backside off in Asia and sleeping under only a sheet!
6 April 2010
I managed to independently and successfully catch trains and tubes without taking a wrong turn to meet me long lost neighbourino Amberley Greeno at Oxford Circus!! Jo Jo Greeny showed me around London, where she works and lives and had a few drinks with her work mates.
7 April 2010
I now have a phone 0044 7593956022 or if you are in the UK 07593956022!
11 April 2010
Took a day trip to Brighton with Amberley Mark and Anna. The sun was shinning and we enjoyed fish n chips seaside!! Beautiful Brighton.
19 April 2010
Work search begins!!! Why don't they tell you to bring a life full of documents with you, nothing is smple here!!! Agencies for OT need it all, crim record checks, manaual handling plus more training, blood tests, educational certs, proff of address, photos (not the dodgy kind) and more!!
23 April 2010
Interview for a job in Blackpool, seemed to go alright was pretty casual. Blackpool is a seaside town on the North East coast 2 hours north of London just above Liverpool.
27 April 2010
Cruised around London town with AMberley and another special friend - to be revealed in good time.
28 April 2010
Second job interview went well so as soon as I have dotted the i's and crossed the t's I will we heading to Blackpool for a 3month locum role split accross Community mental health and inpatient acute mental health, come on crim record arrive arrive!!!!
29 April 2010
Have arranged a flat in Blackpool all I need now is proof I am not a criminal!
7 May 2010
Orientated self to Chisock area in London, went to George IV bar forcomedy evening with Ambs, Kelly and Donk. Very funny! A fw drinks and many yarn were spun back a Kel's flat whilst Ambs vommited and comered early(11:30, not that e noticed nattering away until 3:30 in the morning!
8 May 2010
Very hung indeed! Visited Amberley's cousins, Greens and Webbs and locked in some babysitting for next week.
11 May 2010
My day consisted of hanging at home checking my work status - still not sure. Then headed into the Smalls/Webbs to look after baby Henry! What a delight, no danger her after living with 2 rough and tumbling twins this was a breeze and I didn't even have to comfort him with blaringly beautiful Wiggles!! Plus Debs spoiled me roten with treats, this felt more like a retreat than babysitting, who was looking after who I say!
12 May 2010
More babysitting, apart from accidentally collapsing the pram and not kowing how to get it back up again (dam technology frack what the heck is going to be around when I am a mother??) so the only SOS I made to baby mama Debs was about putting the pram back together, turns out you just need to put some muscle into it and yank the heck out of the pram handle! I had so much fun I stayed another night watched awesome movie - Law abiding citizen. Had us on the edge!!
13 May 2010
Finally totally padlocked in and confirmed I start work on Monday 16 May woop woop!
16 May 2010
Farewell London!! Thanks to Annie and Jenny bloody awesome to have me stay with you for over a month, unfortunately for you, it was soooo good I'll be back again!! Jen saw m of at the bus stop at 8am and I headed off with one rucksack (UK for backpack) big pink suitcase a carry on bag and a big handbag for a 6 hour journey to sunny Blackpool.
31 July 2010
A brief visit on our way to France then on to Italy for Bazza's 60th and family holiday
A swift ride down to London Euston on the tube then up to the Vic over ground and out to Shortlands to my cousins carrying my big pack, small back pack, hand bag, large pink suitcase on wheels and a medium size luggage bag. I was sweating quite a lot, holding up people on the escalators in the tube as I was blocking the whole thing and then to top it off my suitcase broke when I got to Shortlands station, the handle that you pull to roll the bag snapped. Luckily it was a short but slow stroll to Annie and Jennies and Annie had a chilled Becks beer awaiting my arrival!!!
Next part of the mission was to get Debbie Telfer and a very drunk Simon Patton back to Annie's so that we were ready to go at 7am for pick up for our Roady through France to Italy. Si had been watching the dirty dingo Aussies get creamed by the Awesome AB's at the dirty walkie from 11am so he was pretty leathered by 6pm. A UK lass that met him on one of his tours in Aussie stupidly put her hand up to take him to get his bags and then bring him out to Annie's so Debs arrived without the big drongo to report that last she heard he was joed out, definitely a sprinter not a marathon runner that boy. Well eventually they arrived and we directed them home. We and a few beers and a bit of banter, then Katie headed off to the train station. We were all going to walk her to the station but we could see that Si wanted a bit of sexy time so he ended taking Katie, although he did say to her when we were on the driveway that he thought he could get away with "shovelling her off there" but ended up taking her to the station down the road. SO twenty minutes passed and we began to wonder where he was, checked the ol phone - missed call Katie. Uh Oh. Well the go was, that Si had seen her off at the station, doors close, and next thing she knows Simon is sitting beside her heading back to London. Holey chermoula Batman well we had to get onto the timetable and check that the fool could get back again, luckily for him there was one train left to come back and Katie was able to shake him off. We had to keep texting him to make sure that he didn't joe out so we text him "nudge" a few times and went once again to the train station to make sure he got of n the right station. One carriage, two carriage, no sign of him, three carriage, four still no sign argh!!! Well luckily he go of the last one, performed half the all black haka to the delight of the departing passengers and we swindled him home. We asked what he had been thinking his response "cheeseburgers" that was the ol motivator but, some sensibility kicked in when he got to Victoria as he realised he only had 6 minutes until the train left so he missed out - sucker! Thanks to Annie and her top hospitality we were put up in style and had a beaut sleep, ready to be up early at 6:20am for pick up.
WELL ITS BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE I HAVE UPDATED HAVE BEEN RATHER SLACK SINCE THE HOLIDAY TO ITALY FINISHED SO HERE GOES A QUICK UPDATE ON THE RECENT HIGHLIGHTS!!
31 August 2010
Jen Toms and I arrived safely back to the big smoke after an amazing 5 days in Amsterdam in which we were also joined by Toods and Manny. I can definately say I will be back Amsterdam! Mum and Dad were still in town, due to head back to Aotearoa in a few days so I headed to Fulham to catch up with them, the cousies, Bjy, Nev and some of their pals. Deb-o-rah and Nath also popped in for a beer before they headed off on a month long holiday together! We got home just before midnight and slipped into bed to get rested up before a day of shopping!!
1 September 2010
Jenny who works for Jamie Olivers Recipease franchise took us to the Clapham outfit for breakfast. I had delicious melt in your mouth pancakes with banana and bacon, numa na and I also sampled some of Mum and Jen's baked beans, now I dont even like baked beans, never eaten them before but these puppies were magic!! They were extra tomato, spicy goodness, hardley tasted like baked beans at all, and washed it down with a delicious flat white!!
After stuffing ourselves Mum, Dad and I headed to Sheppards Bush for some shopping mania, thought I could make good use of Mum and Dad's 'left over, you dont want to take those pounds away' money, and was delighted when Big Bazza offered me up a £50, he did say he was meant to give me it for Amsterdam, haha I know exactly what that would have been spent on! However it was put to good use, and Hannah would be pleased to know that I spent it, plus more on new underware, finally can get rid of those ones that should have been binned after South East Asia!!! Along with this I bought a new handbag, some dresses and other bits and pieces then Ma Pats shouted me to a manicure and pedicure, didn't leave the mall til 5!! We were meant to be meeting Dad back at the house at 6:30 so we knew we would be pushing it, so we texted to say we would be late! I managed to loose mum on the tube, I don't think it was on purpose, but managed to direct her to meet me and Bradley at Waitrose to get the shopping for the banquet I was about to cook! As it was Mum and Dad's last night I offered to cook tea for everyone, everyone went from 7 to 13, probably as word got out that I was cooking, yeah right. We had Bradley and Nev, Myles and Amberley, Jen and Annie of course and then Mum's 2nd cousin Richard who lives here that she has never met and his wife and her parents, plus wee new baby Marco. Antipasto platters, home made dixie chicken and warm brownies with cream, ice cream and berries was on the menu, yummo! It was a good night and final catch up!
2 September 2010
I packed my bags and instead Mum and Dad said goodbye to me as I headed up to Blackpool for a weekend camping with Hannah, Andy and Jon, before Jon heads to Florida for a month long holiday!
10 September 2010
Rachel Fahey and Sian Rangi know how to find a cheap drink - tonight we headed to Joe Cools in Fulham near Putney Bridge for all you can drink for £5 between 7 - 9. And this is what we did along with Jen Tomo, Lucy Haughey and we also bumped into Georgia and Noel (aka reckelss youth Willy Norman). We drunk an assortment of vodka soda's and gin and tonics, and barely left the barside throughout the process, drink in hand, cup to lips, pour, demolish, wait to be served as you have demo's your drink, this is how we spent 2 very quick hours! I think we managed to get between 10 - 15 drinks each which wasn't a bad effort. We purchased a few drinks and took to the dance floor as Jen requested one of her old fav's - BAYWATCH!!! We ended u stumbling down the road to a few more pubs, in the end it was just Faz, Willy and I, calling in at Subway at some ungodly hour before taxiing back to Bradley's new flat in West Kensington and parking up!
11 September 2010
Waking up to a half eaten six inch sub is not my idea of breakfast in bed - oh dear! Bjy entered the room and proposed a trip to the pub . . my head was really not happy with this but the All Blacks were playing so into the shower and out the door to Kieth and Connies for Bagels and coffee - THANK YOU!!!! Then off the the pub to meet Hutchy wehere we watch the game whilst I sipped raspberry and coke (my first one since my arrival in the UK - yet another thing the Britts do not have raspberry cordial) and the boys had guiness! The All Blacks won, in a very exciting finish so I was pleased I had got up! Although once returning to the flat, it was flat out time - yep kip city in preperation for Ministry of Sounds - DJ Fedde le Grand - BOOM!
I peeled myself off the couch and spruced myself up to head over to Acton to Lucy and Jenny's pad for pre drinks before Ministry of SOunds. Flipping awesome night thank you gals, ministry and fedde!! Non stop dancing until 7am I love coming out of a club when it is light. On departing the club I was prompted by the bouncer to move on, but instead I asked if he was taking us to breakfast, the bouncer liked this s we walked and talked but he was just conveniently moving me on fro the premises haha. McGee the taxi wrangling queen negotiated us a cab home where still full of energy had a silent disco party in the lounge and then hit the sack - well some did others couldn't sleep!
15 September
Liz and Lee arrived in London town today and Jen and I were a tad late but collected them from the airport. We planned a quite day starting off with lunch at the yummy new restaurant near home, I left them to consume more beverages and went to another job interview at Bethlam Royal Hospital for a locum 3 day a week position on the national psychosis unit. Seems really good so if offered I may have to take it! The crew picked me up and was home for more catching up and scrummy tea and into bed before the travellers fell asleep on the couch.
16 September 2010
As I am not working I have offered my services up to be the tour guide while the whanau are in town. Today we did the hop on hop off bus tour. Quite good if you have never been here before and not familiar with the area makes it quite easy and you are not on the tube so can see it all! We went inside St Pauls Cathedral which I loved especially all of the tombs of famous people!! After our strenuous day out we headed to the local Shortlands pub back home. Wow now this is something . . awful, but hey it served cold pints and that is what we were after!! So we swung in there and then after about 3 Jenny joined us and boy did she have a thirst on herm before we knew it Annie had arrived and we were all feeling a bit tiddly and hungry so it was off to the chinese takeaway and home!
17 September 2010
Today the queen was kind enough to invite us over to her digs, so that is just what we did, went on tour at Buckingham palace. Old Lizzy (the queen not the aunty) opens her pad to the public for about 2 months every August to October and you can check out the state rooms and garden. It cost about £17 which I think was well worth it (even though Lee and Liz shouted me - thanks guys). My favourites were the music room and the white room. She has masses of art, statues, lots of gold plates pieces too, shame I hadn't brushed up on my theft skills before the visit! We were also provided with an audio kit so found out lots of things about previous designers and architects who worked on Buckingham palace, and how much some of the building and decorating costed!
We after we were awed by this we took a london cab (ooh ah, so funny when you come over and think they are a novelty then you live here and need to catch them quite frequently!!) to Harrods for some jaw dropping look but dont touch or buy shopping. I sear this place is like a museum for the poor so beautiful so large and have the most amazing sundae icecreams, although i didn't indulge this time around!
Time to whip home for tea and a shower before hitting the bright lights of the west end . . . Jersey boys!! This show was pretty darn cool they had awesome music from Frankie Valley and the 4 Seasons who the show is based around and include such hits as : BEGGIN', CAN'T TAKE MY EYES OFF YOU, OH WHAT A NIGHT, WALK LIKE A MAN, BYE BYE BABY (BABY GOODBYE), SHERRY, BIG GIRLS DON'T CRY, MY EYES ADORED YOU, WORKING MY WAY BACK TO YOU GIRL! Awesome lead vocals not so sure about the production as it was less of a show as to tell the story the characters acted scenes and then would snip out of it to tell you a bit about what was going on and move you into the next scene, still cool, just wasn't what I had expected. So if you are into this music head along!!!
18 September 2010
Anotehr royal day this time to see the changing of the guard at Buckingham palace a process which probably takes over 30 minutes, happens every other day and is attende by a lot of tourists so very busy around the palace at this time. Bradley decided to join is for the day. We strolled down to hyde Park corner where they have ANZC monuments from both Aussie and NZ so we checked out or one, much cooler close up does look different close up! We whipped into Pret (a yummy sandwich salad lunch shop) for - lunch of course and then onto the Tower of London to see the crown jewels. On arrival at the tower we were able to join a free tour taken by a Yeoman (a serviceman who works and sleeps in the Tower of London, a cool we history about them was interesting in itself, their uniforms and them are featured on the bottles of beefeater gin!) we learnt about ex prisoners, executins - the place where Anne Boelyn was beheaded, saw a whole lot of cool weaponry and armour used in wars and of course we got to see they crown jewels up close and personal as well as other treasures of the crown!! The biggest diamond ever discovered is part of the crown jewels, found in africa and given as a gift, bet they want it back now though hey!!! My other favourite was a huge gold punch bowl that was made up of over 20 pieces and held a shizza load of wine or punch!!! Honestly you could spend over half a day here! Next stop was Sloan Square for the biggest gal in the group to go shopping - Lee. turns out not ot be too much of a bad thing when you shop in Ted Baker who offers comfy leather couches to those observing the purchasing and cool bottle of becks beer or a glass of rose while to shop!! Could be my first point of call every Saturday!! Purchases made, still thirsty it was off to the Pheonix, Annie who had met us in Sloan Square led the stroll to the pub and it was pints away. The thing is with these darn pints is that they are still quite often getting the better of me as you think you are just having a 12oz, what were are used to drinking back home and then all of a sudden ans you are swigging them back after 3 or 4 you get the seed wobbles and are like woah thats right I am on pints and now I am on my way to fairy land! So thats how it went. We were joined by Lorn Sutherland, her boyfriend Matt and pal Graeham for a catch up and they were all but discouraging on the drinking front so when it came time to eat I can see why Narelle ended up swiping over a beer and water at the table, totally soaking herself and ended up in the toilets skirt above waist drying it with anybody who walked in to see! After tea we sent the oldies off home, farewelled Liz and Lee who would be up at sparrows fart tomorrow heading to Paris as their next port of call and we headed off to another pub in a neighbouring hood. Well one bottle of wine was ordered followed by another, and there was no water in sight, hence this quickly led to me trying to pick up a bunch of rugby players, which sounds pretty good alright, actually managed to pick one up, the thing is I am speaking about physically lifting them off the ground which perhaps is not so charming, next thing I know I am being picked up, legs are in the air, luckily I was placed back on sturdy ground and after all of that we headed on for more antics at inferno's in Clapham. Loren and I danced up a bit of a storm, Loren nearly getting in a fight for accidentally bumping into a girl with a bandaged arm, which I found highly entertaining!! Great night, far too much to drink which Jon knows all about! Loren and Matt put me up for the night, my own double bed, fresh sheets ah bliss and even got to watch x factor the next day over a cup of hot tea, thanks team!!!
19 September 2010
I felt like I was doing the walk of shame home hahaha still in myclothes from the day/night before luckily I hadn't planned on going out so my clothes were a lot less skankier than usual which is good for sunday. A couple of trains home, visit to BK and onto the couch to recover!!
22 September 2010
Well at some point last week I was told I had the job at the Bethlam Royal Hospital National Psychosis unit if I wanted it, I said yeah lets do it, as it was close to Annie and Jenny's who said that I could rent the room there and get our s***e together if it was more permenant, would mean I wouldn't have to llok for accom elsewhere, cheap and easy to travel to and hey who wouldn't like a bit of part time work hahaha! So today was orientation and handover in the morning with Danielle an Aussie chick who I am replacing until the get a full time permenant member of staff to take over! The place looks good, great OT department with a whole lot of Techinical Instructors that run all the groups e.g. artisits, potters, horticulturalists, woodwork, instructors, textile and sewing staff so it means that us OT's dont need to fudge and we get people who really specialise in these areas to run them, brilliant and the OT's can get on with the real task of their roles, BOOM! I will be working on a unti, 23 beds, mixed male and females. We have 2 OT's so I will be working with Andy and band 5 OT, and we will also have an activity co-ord who works on the ward. Looking forward to it! Ill be working Tue, Wed and Fri, 7.5 hours per day.
24 September 2010
Bradley and Nev are off to Beerfest so I took the opportunity to house sit and stay in town in their lush new flat! A quiet night of takeaways, book reading bubble bath by candle light with some £2.50 bottle of red wine gotta love it!
25 September 2010
Deb-or-ah Telfer made it back to london after her whirl wind romantic trip with Nath and it was time for byo Thai to say cheerio before she wends her way back to NZ. After having an absolute mere on directions (sorry Lou and Jen) due to my usuall good but not on this occasion map reading we made it to dinner! A highlight was Lewis being absolutely dumfounded at how loud I was - good ol debs backed me up and reminded him of my impaired hearing, thanks DT always got my back!! From here we went for a drink at a pub but couldnt dance up a storm as some old tart was having her 30th so we ended up moving on to dancing central, also known as scum central aka THE REDBACK!! You certainly neda skinful o enjoy this and this is what we did, Jenny was drinking from a tea pot it was great, especially when they whipped on the lights at closing time and we were still there. Jenny the great found me a bargain taxi - non registered - offered the guy £15 to take me home, he said 20, she said 15 he said 19 she said 15 he said 18 she said 15 he said 17 she said 15 he said 16 she said 15, he said . . . ok 15, haha McGee love your batering style. So home I went to the flat.
26 September 2010
Reasonably hung over thanks to Bradleys freezer I recouperated over a frozen pizza and managed to get to the Chatsworth for more drinking with DT and the clan. Best thing about this place was happy hour 2 for 1 cocktails and FREE BBQ DINNER wa wa wee wa!! Many drinks were had I saved my tears for privacy and wished Debs a farewell over many drinks!!
28 September 2010
Started work today, got there, correct way and on time BOOM!
29 September 2010
I started playing netball tonight. Rach Fahy put together a social team, called the Southern Stags!!! Most of us Kiwi's some from Aussie, mixed team, included Rach, Ricky, Sean Fahy, Lucy Haughey, her sister Emma and her boyf Mike, well these are the one's I know anyway. Well we do have a bit of competition on our hands and we did not start out well tonight dang it!! A loss, we really need some tall, good shooters but ah it was fun and we can only improve, right????
15 October 2010
A big Happy Birthday goes out to Louisa today, 26 (old bag), celebrations will be on for tomorrow night!!
Another end to the working week, wlthough not sure I can really call it a week when it really only consists of 3 days at work haha oh boy I could get used to this! Jonboy arrived down tonight, met him at the train station in Euston a) just to be nice but b) because he would get totally lost and probably end up back where he started - Blackpool! He arrived in safe and sound, late, but on this occasion I couldn't really blame him as the whole train was late! A bit of a refresher on tube ettiquite was given on the journey and we headed back to Shortlands for some beers, and kiwi onion dip - although not much was said about this or eaten so I think in future I will save this special stuff for kiwi's only!!!
16 October 2010
Well Jonboy wasn't too slow at getting out of bed today in fact we may have even been on a train before midday!! Today was jurrasic park day and we went to the natural history museum to see dinosaur bones amongst other things! This place is in a very beautiful and large building, FREE ENTRY, and so much to see. We looked at the birds and insects and then quickly made our way into the cue for the dinosaurs. It was oh so very cool, many a picture were taken I can tell you and then we also saw some huge whale bones, we had a whale of a time, so much so it was thirsty work and we headed to the pub to cool off! Due to Jons slow drinking pace (haha kidding) we only had enough time to quickly whip home shower up and whip back to Clapham for Louisa's birthday dinner. Now we had heard this place was BYO, but Louisa sheepishly explained that she had been misinformed by the internet! I tried to wheel a deal, to start with they offered cokage of £20 per bottle!! No way so I called the waitress over and tried to negotiate a cheaper price, this turned into a nightmare of BYO being taken totally off the table!! Poo, lucky the food made up for it and I got to demolish the yummiest laksa I tasted in 6 months!!! So one might ask what do 12 people with 1 - 2 bottlesof wine each do? They head to the pub accross the road, carry their bottles in in handbags and in their plastic bags, sit in a corner and drink their wine for free, I mean wine-ot? (Why not). It was good times, too good for some people who decided to head home after the pub closed. Jon and I headed up to Clapham high street where it was bustling, ended up paying £10 to basically enter a pub for a pee (thanks Jon) and then head home because apparently I had a sway not a spring in my step, should of pulled the bad hips call!!
17 October 2010
A minor sleep i was had followed by toast and tea and a chin wag with Jen and Annie. Jon and I made a mad rush for the train and headed to town to do a touristy walk. We walked up the embankment, past Westminster Abbey and called into 'my shop' then we whipped up to see the queen at her palace down to trafelger square and then tried to find covent garden but instead ended up at St Pauls. We strolled accross Millenium Bridge which has great night time views especially of St Pauls. Before we knew it it was time to headback to Blackpool for JC. I dropped him at the station, in case he got lost in the big smoke, indulged in minimal PDA and waved him off.
22 October 2010
TOOT TOOT TAUNTON!!! Here we come Too-delicious and Manny fanny! Lou and I met at Hammertown and purchased some light refreshments (an assortment of PIMS, vodka and gins) boarded a bus to Taunton (Summerset). A slow but enjoyable trip to Taunton took about 3 hours and we arrived to a chilly night and awaited Toods and Manny to pick us up on their bus - walking bus. Whilst we waited Lou contemplated peeing in the park whilst we waited but was put off when looking despite this she still got accused of squating haha!! Toods and Manny weren't far away and we whipped home to their city apartment that overlooks the river to drop off our bags - in our own room thanks to Toods' flattie who gave us his giant bed for the weekend I didnt even have to find Lou off from spooning me cos the be was so large her little mits couldnt find me!! It was a swift turn around and we soon found ourselves in a cosy lil nook at the local, beers in hand playing GUESS WHO - Naked style!! Not us the board game! Very funny I dont think we ever got to the point where we had to ask if the person had a big nose or was wearing glasses in this style of guess who! After many a laugh and we were booted out as the pub closed we went home to our snuggly beds ready for cider day tomorrow!
23 October 2010
Cider day cider day cider day!!! Toods nearly bought us breakfast in bed but we didnt want crumbs in our luxury suite so we shimmied into the lounge to enjoy our NZ marmite on toast overlooking the river! Next stop was a coffee at a great italian restaurant where Manny informed me I had OAF hands - what this means and he later continued to inform me is that I have huge hands, so big I wasn't allowed to wear his gloves for fear of stretching them, they are so big i can stop cars whwose breaks have failed by hanging them out the window to stop the car!!! Oh Manny you really are full of compliments!! We waltzed through town, a very cute town at that to a spot for lunch and then it was cider o'clock! We climbed into the car and Manny drove at the most economical speed and way whilst Toods was responsible for directions. It wasn't long before we hit cider town and pulled the car into Perry's cider farm. We were treated to a free look around the cider museum which resembled a shed, with a thatched roof filled with some traditional very old cider making tools as well as the cutest most depressed looking twine penguin and an owl. They also had a DVD that showed the cider making process, pretty sure this was put together many a year ago but it was informative all the same! It was rather thirsty work and only one way to cure that in ciderville, drink cider. Im not a huge fan of cider, even after a free tasting of all you can rink, a shame it wasnt nice enough to drink my weight in cider of it but we gave it a good nudge. There were about 6 barrels of still cider varying between dry sweet and vintage. Then we moved onto bottled cider, some still and some sparkling, well there was about another 15 of these, the best of which turned out to be an apple juice - non alcoholic haha so I can safely say that I am not a cider convert. Toods and I treated ourselves to some scones with jam and cream before we loaded into the car and off to CHARD, for a sweet photo at the city sign for Jon, Its fair to say Jon has a lot more going for him than the town haha. Then it was back to town for cheese and crackers and a few drinks before the pub. Manny and Toods highly recommended Pies for tea, now these were not the ol Jimmies mince and cheese but pretty blooming yum I had steak and cheese numa na with mash gravy and minted mushy peas. At the next pub we enjoyed looking at the locals, mainly females, which prob sounds weird, who were dressed in absoultely next to nothing, dresses that may as ell have been called belts and bra's and no jackets, jerseys cardies in sight how these gals were not cold when we were drinking in the outdoor bar in like 8 degrees I don't kow but all the same it was highly entertaining. Some time after midnight we headed home, via the chicken shop and enjoyed watching some of the inbetweeners, great show, before hitting the sack.
24 October 2010
The plan we negotiated last night was to be up and ready to go at 10am in order to fit in some more touring in Sommerset. And this time it was off for BLT breakfast then to Forde Abbey and gardens. It is an elegant former Cistercian monastery and it has 30 acres of award winning gardens. We were short of time and only went around the gardens not into the hous which is still a working estate, it really was eautiful I would love o go and spend a weekend in one of these estates with a group of pals really is beautiful!!! They also are home to the highest powered fountain, which to be honest I was a little underwhelmed by but was cool to see anyway. Before we knew it. was time to head home. Back to town and Toods walked us to the bus stop. We were first on so we headed straight to the front of the double decker until we reached the next town and swiftly moved back to our designated seats as people piled on and the bus filled up. We were treated to a view of STonehenge too on the way back, I dont know if it was because we were in the double decker but those stones did not look as big as I had imagined, might have to cruise out there for a propper geez to be sure. Great weekend, thanks Toods Manny Lou and Toods' flat mate!!
29 October 2010
Well tonight was time to cut some shapes at shapeshifter . . . problem is I HAVE NO TICKET!! Nevertheless I tottled on over to She Bu to McSherry's pad for drinks and to look ot for ticket sellers as she only lived 90 seconds from the 02, I did have a bit of trouble getting there as the ol train said I was at some wierd station when I was actually at clapham junction and needed to change trains so after a slight debarcle and delayed travel I made it to the flat! Rach also had not ticket so once she arrived we took a couple of trips with McSherry's flattie scott to try and get some whilst popping back to the falt for drinks and banter. Well we appraoched all of the scalpers, tickets when you could get themwere only £20 so I was only willing to pa £30, haha yeah so what I am slightly cheap but thats what happens when you are a Londoner, gone are the days when I had money to burn (yeah right like that actually ever happend). To be honest we did have a lot of fun winding up the scalpers. I even approached people who were crying, no not for comfort but to nab tickets, found some bird who was a bit hysterical, her boyfriend was too drunk to get into shape and by the time he wasnt too drunk he had lost his ticket so the girlfriend was willing to sell hers for 20, we took it and said to Scott to go and we would head back to McSherry's to drink and listen to shape on the laptop haha. Unfortunately I said to these two idiots we got the ticket from to come drink with us, but later we decided this was silly and did a runner, unfortunately we showed them the house we were drinking at and . . . 20 minutes later when we were drinking upstairs and the drunk crazy couple walk in OH DEAR!!!! Eeek I think we managed to fool the flatties that we had nothing to do with them which was good because the drunken boyfriend, who was still drunk begain falling all over the show including onto tables and banisters not what I had in mind. To distract ourselves from these fools one of the flatties told us of his flats competition to get up two flights of stairs and a landing in five steps not pulling yourself up on the banister and walls. Well I was right into this and so was Rach. It was harder than we thought and the boys soon had to give us tips on how to get the distance. This involved a run up and jump as far up the stairs as poss and landing balanced so you didnt need to stabilise, sounded easy enough. UH OH not the case I think it was the first attempt and crackle and pop went me foot, I sprained me ankle. oh heck just when I need to be dancing up a storm!! Well I was out of the competition but Rach was right in it, she showed the boys how she could do i, and when one didnt believe her she showed them again woop woop! Well the show was finished and half the gang had headed to the chatty in Acton so Rach who was heading home after still recovering from the effects of last night put me on a bus with no cash and an empty oyster in the direction of the pub. Luckily I befriended a dude who was in the same situation so when in doubt best to travel in pairs! He was probably lucky I talk so loudly that other passengers heard where we needed to go so told us where to get off. I hobbled onto the pub with me new pal Sam. I headed though the dancefloor into the arms of none other than . . . JT (no not justin timberlake -JENNA TOMS) and Lucy, Jenny Sian etc! The booze began to affect and I soon had my booze ankle bandage on cos I could not feel a thing haha. The chatty put on a good show expecially when the DJ begrudgingly agreed to play BAYWATCH woop woop!! We decided it would be rude not to go to the reddy - so we trotted on over until close. Jen and I decided we would night bus mission it back to her pad and we timed it so well we arrived and there were lights on - this was peculiar as it was 430am, but Jen quickly informed me it was prob Chris heading to work. Sure enough the shower was going and a very drunk Abbey went ratatattat on the door, trying not to wake the other flatties, but honestly me, whisper. It was quite funny cos Chris was like yeah, what, even had to turn the shower off to hear who it was and I promptly informed him 'its your best friend, Abbey' Chris was delighted so I went upstairs to his bed to wait for him to get out of the shower . . haha with Louisa, my pal is gfy!! Even better yet I had upgraded my stay from the fouton to Lou's bed, gotta love those hospo hours thaks Chris!
30 October 2010
We woke up early - 9:30 to watch the All Blacks take on the Wallabies, or vice versa as it turned out darn it, but alas we still have the Beldisloe cup and to be fair it was the first time they had beaten us in 2 years.
I spent the day with me poor foot up on the couch, the booze had worn off and the fattness had set in!! We watched the best movie ever HER sister's keeper, we soon realised it wasnt my sister's keeper but decided to watch it anyway. It was one of those cheap American made movies that prob only made it to TV and was made in the 80's with the worst sound track ever, it was fair to say we both watched more of our eyelids than the movie which I think we were well pleased about. Later we followed this up with a viewing of couples retreat, Pizza and x factor!!! Following ths i decided I had rested myself enough and was time to scrape myself off the couch and head home. It was the night before Halloween and boy were there some sights out!!! Londoners know how to dress up!
1 November 2010
Went to the movies with Amberley and her wee girl she Nanny's Lauren. We went to see Despicable Me in 3D it was amazing!!! SO so so so very funny I loved it, right up there with IceAge!!
5 November 2010
Off to Blackpool this weekend to see Mr Chard, wonder what delights he has instore - see Blackpool blog
7 November 2010
Arrived back in London after a fantastic weekend in Blackpool and stayed at the Small/Webbs ready to Babysit Henry James tomorrow
8 November 2010
I didn't have to climb out of bed until 9am and by then Henry was up and fed and ready for a nap at 9:30, wow this rocks! After I sang him to sleep with some sweet tunes of twinkle twinkle and when that got boring happy birthday (same melody and dif words but yeah I do need to sharpen my kids songs) I then got to have a shower and start watching X factor which I had missed over the weekend. Henry was ready to rise after an hour or so and keen to watch X factor too, so I got to have snuggles while we watched and Henry (1) clapped. It was quite entertaining, Henry and X factor haha. Debs came home after Henry was lunched and ready for nap two (how greats this a kid that sleeps most the day I could handle one of these, or a tribe of em) so Debs and I watched the final of Downton Abbey, a very good Brit programme! I enjoy myself so much here its hard to pry myself away but eventually I had to go home with work the next day but my next babysitting stint was only 2 days away.
10 November 2010
Unfortunately we got a thrashing in netball tonight which wasnt cool as the team we played was average but we were missing the haughey team and Mike! Afterwards I stayed in town at the Small/Webbs for babysittin.
11 November 2010 (Happy Birthday Sampsonite)
Up early and welcomed with one of Simon's special smoothies the colour of grass thanks to the spinach in it that was only just coming through in the flavour amoungst the mango pear and banana, was pretty good and certainly a good way to kick start the day!
- comments
Helen You can't write 'and another special friend - to be revealed in good time'. What in the hell would constitute a 'good time'? I'd say that is fairly fast work Pattonski! Watch out for the donkeys, like foxes they roam the streets at night in Blackpool looking for candy floss and cheap rides ... xx
Abbey's replies The special friend was Trotters, but couldn't reveal that until him and his scrapbook arried safely home to Michal as it was a suprise, but I wanted to update blog before that happened. Sorry it wasn't anymore exciting!! xxoo