2 days till the off . I seem to have been doing a tour round England saying good bye to various family members. Anthony (my driver) and I left sunny Yorkshire (Grandma W., Mum, Dave and Albi.) for Stratford-upon-Avon (Grandma and Luke) and now in London for a couple of days.
Some things I won't miss about the UK... On the journey from Stratford to London the train was delayed by half an hour, the tube was broken, the bus was late and somebody pickpocked my Oyster card! Leaving me to arrive 1 hour later than expected and £11.10 poorer (£10 Oyster credit and £1.10 extra buss fare over Oyster fare). Not a great finish!
Oh well on a lighter note everything is packed and ready to go :) (and the weather in Perth is hot and sunny with blue skies!)
Tuesday, 30 December 2008
Friday, 26 December 2008
Boxing Day
Merry Christmas (only a day late!)
Just about finished tidying up the Christmas mess! Christmas at home follows the same pattern every year, which is probably what makes it so enjoyable. We went to church in morning, which is always a nice service. Mum was playing the piano, the vicar walked in with a selection of hymns and the congregation (led by mum) just sang what they wanted to sing. So instead of singing In the bleak mid winter (new tune), we sang Good Christians awake (The Yorkshire Carol) and O Come all Ye Faithful instead of Angels from the Realms of Glory! I suppose the pianist has ultimate control over the hymns. We then visited a friend in the village, we've been round on Christmas morning every year for as long as I can remember. Every year we take a photo and promise to see each other more times a year than just on Christmas day! Next its off to home to prepare lunch and open presents, before eating dinner...
Pretty much finished packing for the travels now. Complete with all the things that I've been given as pressies (antiseptic wipes, torches (x2), travel towels (x2) and wallet). I just need to pack a small bag of things to take to London for a few days before I go- I can't be wandering round in shorts and T-shirts for New Years Eve!
It will be nice to go now, really looking forward to waking up and not seeing a grey sky or having to wear a coat. Although I am very sure that I will miss the greenery and the Dales stone buildings.
6 Days left...
Just about finished tidying up the Christmas mess! Christmas at home follows the same pattern every year, which is probably what makes it so enjoyable. We went to church in morning, which is always a nice service. Mum was playing the piano, the vicar walked in with a selection of hymns and the congregation (led by mum) just sang what they wanted to sing. So instead of singing In the bleak mid winter (new tune), we sang Good Christians awake (The Yorkshire Carol) and O Come all Ye Faithful instead of Angels from the Realms of Glory! I suppose the pianist has ultimate control over the hymns. We then visited a friend in the village, we've been round on Christmas morning every year for as long as I can remember. Every year we take a photo and promise to see each other more times a year than just on Christmas day! Next its off to home to prepare lunch and open presents, before eating dinner...
Pretty much finished packing for the travels now. Complete with all the things that I've been given as pressies (antiseptic wipes, torches (x2), travel towels (x2) and wallet). I just need to pack a small bag of things to take to London for a few days before I go- I can't be wandering round in shorts and T-shirts for New Years Eve!
It will be nice to go now, really looking forward to waking up and not seeing a grey sky or having to wear a coat. Although I am very sure that I will miss the greenery and the Dales stone buildings.
6 Days left...
Sunday, 21 December 2008
Back home
I left Oxford this morning for sunny Yorkshire... However the further north we travelled the more the sky turned grey and the wind started to howl! I'd forgotten just how wild it is at home, we've lost a tree in the garden over the last week and the chickens were blowing across the garden.
Upon arriving home I decided that it was time to sort out all the things that I've been storing in my bedroom and cut down on some stuff. 6 hours later and 4 boxes for the charity shop later and I've condensed my worldly belongings into 2 suitcases and a chest of draws! Tomorrow I start the job of sorting things into piles; things I definately need for travelling (passport, visas, medication etc), and things I'd like to take but might not have space for (everything else!)
So just over a week left in the country now... Watch this space :)
Oh well back to fill my hot water bottle and enjoy the evening in Yorkshire.
Upon arriving home I decided that it was time to sort out all the things that I've been storing in my bedroom and cut down on some stuff. 6 hours later and 4 boxes for the charity shop later and I've condensed my worldly belongings into 2 suitcases and a chest of draws! Tomorrow I start the job of sorting things into piles; things I definately need for travelling (passport, visas, medication etc), and things I'd like to take but might not have space for (everything else!)
So just over a week left in the country now... Watch this space :)
Oh well back to fill my hot water bottle and enjoy the evening in Yorkshire.
Sunday, 14 December 2008
Last week in Oxford
I leave Oxford for home on Sunday. Quite strange to be leaving as I've lived in Oxford for 4 years now ( I even stayed over the summer vac most years). Oxford is really the first place that I've felt an adult and a person in my own right (rather than Katies daughter or the twins sister...) However it probably is time to move on. Before I first 'came up' I wrote a list of all the things I should do while in Oxford, I found this on Thursday and thought I'd go through what I've done and not done.
Still have so many things to do before I leave the country. Pretty sure its going to get stressful very soon.
- Go Punting in the rain - Too many times for it to be fun any more
- Play Croquet on the college lawn - Somehow managed to completely miss this!
- Dine at High Table - I'll have to come back and visit friends when they become fellows for this one (or it was just pointed out to me that I can go back to Queens now I've graduated).
- Visit every college - No where near completing that one...
- Take up a new hobby - gliding pretty much fills that one
Still have so many things to do before I leave the country. Pretty sure its going to get stressful very soon.
Saturday, 6 December 2008
Traveling companion
I've been following the story of the Teddy bears that were sent into space by a group of school children and some Cambridge University students (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/scienceandtechnology/3548363/Teddy-bears-in-space-first-pictures.html). The pictures of the bears from space has reminded me of an idea I had some time ago. The plan was to take a small stuffed animal and photo it in various locations around the world, the photos could then be made into a picture book for my youngest brother. Today I think I've met my traveling companion! Brit duck - a small rubber bath duck with the Union Jack on his back and front. (In case anyone is wondering the orange and blue things next to Brit duck are clock work space hoopers- some other secret Santa gifts exchanged at a Christmas party in London today.) Expect to see more stories from Brit duck soon... He will also need a proper name if anyone has any ideas.
Tuesday, 2 December 2008
4 Weeks till the Off!
So having told everyone that I would keep a blog of my adventures for the next 6 months, I've decided that I should probably make a start (what with only 4 weeks before I go). The primary aim of the blog is to update my family and close friends with where I am and what I'm doing.
I'm getting very excited about my trip now, all the flights are booked (well nearly all ...), accommodation for the first month is almost sorted (thanks
Phil :) ) and I have a rough idea of what I'll be doing and where.
More to follow later! Enjoy...
I'm getting very excited about my trip now, all the flights are booked (well nearly all ...), accommodation for the first month is almost sorted (thanks
Phil :) ) and I have a rough idea of what I'll be doing and where.
More to follow later! Enjoy...
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)