Ok so I wrote this bit below when I was still in London but the stupid computer that I was on in the Net Cafe was playing silly buggers and froze on me so I just saved it as a draft and haven’t gotten round to finishing it til now haha… 4 days later! (I’m back in Newcastle now!)

Well I’ve been in London for two days and have had a blast! Ever since I left Newcastle it’s been non-stop…

I took the train down to Kings Cross station and the trip took about 3 hours and was full of brilliant scenery to the point that I only got to do one of my puzzles and didn’t eat ANY of my maltesers! (As I write this I realised that I hadn’t eaten them and now I’m wanting them so bad haha!) yeah so I met Sarah at Kings Cross and we went and had a sandwich for lunch and then figured out our next move.

As I had my backpack full of clothes and other such crap with me I was keen to dump it at the hostel if possible but as we planned this it soon came to light that that would mean we’d be backtracking a lot so I kept it with me for most of the day. Lucky it was mostly just clothes and not as full as it was on my flight over or I’d be the Hunchback of Hammersmith (place where my hostel was) when I went to bed haha.

Yeah so the first place we decided to check out was Camden Market… now we had to go on the Tube to get there which was a brilliant experience for me and I was glad I had a seasoned Tube traveller in Sarah with me as she was great and knew everything! Yeah so we rode the tube to Camden and then it seemed like I walked right into Freak-ville haha but it was amazing! Everyone expressing themselves with blue mohawks, piercings all over their face, florescent clothes etc etc. Awesome! So much I could’ve bought from the markets themselves but I was conscious of the fact that I had to lug it all back with me to Newcastle so noted a few things I wanted in the back of my mind (which tends to get easily erased with a few Wild Turkeys so I shall write it down ) and I shall return there one day.

Then we got the Tube to Hammersmith where I had booked a hostel and found it no trouble. It was right outside the tube station! After checking in I struggled up the kazillion flights of stairs to my room and swiped myself in and dumped my bag and then headed back down to Mooreski where we continued on our merry way to the new Westfield for a wee looksee at the new big big big big big mall!

We then had tea at Wagamama – type of asian place – which was delicious! I entertained Sarah by ordering two drinks… a massive glass of wine and this apple and lime smoothie-type drink that just sounded so yum that I had to get both… it turned out to be average but ah well. Then we walked back to the tube and went to Piccadilly Circus to see the big lights which totally blew me away! It was one of those places you see on the telly all the time but to actually be there is totally surreal. So we took a heap of photos then got back on the tube and went our separate ways cos we were both completely zonkered from the day (plus Glitter Girl was full of the cooties flu so wasn’t feeling the best…)

Sunday was London Sightseeing Tour Bus day yay but while I was waiting for Sarah I had an encounter with this delightful old foreign guy… I think he was Polish but I really have no clue. I was sitting outside Starbucks having a coffee and he came and sat down and said “It ok if I sit with you? you look like nice girl” haha and I was like “Um sure!” and then he said it was ok he just wanted to sit there so he could see the entrance to the train station cos he was meeting a lady friend. He then proceeded to open seriously about 7 packets of sweetner to put in his coffee! and scoffed his face with a crepe filled with choc to the point where he looked like a wee 2year old with choc all over his face haha (with three of his front teeth missing it was quite a funny sight!). Then about 10mins later this old lady showed up and he pointed to me and said “Look, my new girlfriend!” to which she started throwing her arms up and talking in Polish and they had a wee argument! Then she took off and he stayed where he was – so I asked if he was gonna go after her and he was like “Nah she will wait for me” so I said that she was already halfway down the street looking back every now and then looking pissed off haha so he jumped up and left! RANDOM… Yeah so then Mooreski showed up and I told her all about it before we headed off to the tour bus! It was so much fun – if a tad freezing cos we were up on the top deck in the open to take some photos etc. Well worth it tho!

ummmmm what next…. its now Friday the next week so I’m stuggling to get the old memory glands to kick into action (plus haven’t had my coffee yet even tho it’s almost lunchtime!) Oh that’s right we went back to Hammersmith with the idea of having a meal at this pub we saw earlier in the day… no joy tho cos for some retarded reason the kitchen was closed – at 6pm! So Mooreski ordered a bourbon right… and the bartender was like “Sorry what?” so she repeated herself and he turned around to look at the array of bottles (Jack Daniels included) and then turned back and said “I’m sorry I don’t think we have that!” haha so funny! So apparently we have to refer to BOURBON as either WHISKY or JACK DANIELS… DUMB! Anyways so the only other option was to a) brave the cold to go find a nice place to eat or b) stay in the warmth and just get McD’s!… Ronald won out in the end haha then I said ta ta to Mooreski and trudged up the million flights of stairs back to my room to plan my Monday….

Ok so I slept in for a bit on Monday morning but it was only cos once the curtains are closed in the hostel room and I have my ear plugs in it’s very hard to tell what the time is and by the time I checked my phone it was 10am! I had an appointment at a recruitment agency at 1pm so thought there was no point in rushing round to do stuff and head into the city so I showered and dressed and got some breakie and killed an hour at the Net Cafe across the road (where I started this post originally…. finishing it the next Fri!)  Agency went all good and they were super impressed with my test scores (I mean pffft obviously they would be!) and said they could get me work no problemo once I’m living in London so that’s all good.

I then high-tailed it into the City – being very proud of myself for being able to negotiate the Tube to arrive at Westminster pier to get the free boat ride up the Thames that came with the sightseeing tour! Got heaps of pics and then had Subway for tea and headed back to the Hostel to get my stuff all packed up for my departure on the Tue back up to Newcastle….

Next stop… Newcastle! After being damn near strip-searched at Gatwick airport I was glad to meet my Auntie Marcia an hour or so later at Newcastle Airport where I crashed on the couch to catch up with her and my cousin Suzy over a well-needed cup of tea.  This peacefulness lasted about 3 hours as my other cousin Neil, his wife Jen and their three adorable, yet excitable, kids Ellen-7, Matthew-5 & Finlay-2 soon swept in in the only way younguns know how…. loudly! It was really good to see them all again as the last time was 5 years ago and the kids have grown sooooo much!

They stayed til around 9 then I jumped online to check my email before my eyes totally shut down and went to bed for the most peaceful sleep I’ve had since leaving home! Which isn’t hard as it only had airplane seats and a couch at Amelias to compete with haha.

Anyways… tonight is dinner at Shiremoor House Farm or something and then movie with my other cousin Lynn and her friends so I’m hoping I’ll last the night as I have found by like 3pm onwards I’m fading fast but as always I will push through!

Here’s some pics of the kids at Adventureland yesterday arvo after we picked them up from their holiday programme, and the doggies Nina and Jesse!

I was sooooo glad to arrive in Oxford finally on Friday morning and Amelia picked me up from Heathrow and we took a bus back to her place.

On Saturday morning I met up with Mooreski for a sightseeing tour round Oxford but didn’t take many pics cos I’m dumb like that! I did take some on the walk home to Amelia’s and then the next day when Amelia and Mike took me to Tootsies for brunch and Christ Church College for a look-see cos Amelia could get us in for free! Yussss! Then we headed back to theirs in the arvo for their nana nap while I checked my email then we went to Nandos for a late tea.

Here’s some pics of Paddington roaming around the plane and of the transit lounge in Brunei which was my home for 10 hours or so… it was hot and muggy… the place where time stopped for me and the worst part of my long flight. On the plus side the toilets weren’t anywhere near as bad as I’d been told but I definitely had to watch my bags so when I did try to have a snooze I lay with my head on one bag and my feet on the other! Oh and there was no big screen telling you eta’s on anything etc so you always had to listen to every single voice call over the loudspeaker which was sooooo annoying cos there were a tonne of them!

Well it’s almost been a week since I left but it doesn’t feel like it at all!

I got into London, Heathrow at round 6am after a non-eventful flight (albeit LOOOOOOONG haha) I managed to escape my seat next to a huge dude to grab a 3-seater row allll to myself cos the flight wasn’t full and I managed to knock off a few of the 18 hours off by sleeping which I reckon helped me hugely once I arrived. Amelia met me at Heathrow and we took the 1 hour or so bus ride to Oxford where she lived… then the final leg was a 10 min walk to her flat which took me about 20 mins cos I was shattered (and lugging 1 x 20kg suitcase, 1 x 7kg backpack and a laptop bag!) so we finally arrived at her wee place and I crashed on the couch in a heap.  5 mins later Mum was ringing! I was not in the best way emotionally so I couldn’t really talk for fear of turning into a blubbering mess so I just limited my answers to yips and laughs. I think mum was fooled but maybe not haha. Amelia wasn’t but then again she was sitting next to me and could see the tears rolling down my face!

So then we had a wee break and went for a walk into the centre of Oxford which was nice! Then we headed back to hers and she started making tea while I lazed again.  Her new hubby Mike came home and we just had a night in and I managed to stay awake til 10pm! Amelia was super impressed haha.

Sat morning I was awake bright and early which was weird for me!  Then I ventured out for the first time by myself to the train station up the road to meet Glitter Girl! Was awesome to see the wee minx again after  so long!  We did a sight-seeing bus tour with this lovely tour guide telling us all about Oxfords history, with his own hint of humor which was brilliant! Then we meandered round the city and got myself sorted with a UK sim card (which still isn’t working and I will have to sort at some stage soonish!) and had some KFC for lunch haha yes yes yes all the new places we could’ve tried and we pick pokey old KFC! ah well… had to see what it was like here! Not impressed to be honest but ya don’t know til ya try and it filled a gap…

Well this post is getting kinda long… so i’ll sign off here and add a second installment later on… plus I’m going out with my Auntie Marcia to pick up the 3 kiddywinks to take them to Adventureland for lots of jumping round I imagine!!

Later gators…. xxx Manda

Just got back from my last drive out of the tunnel in my Rav and thought I’d best post something on my last day in NZ for a wee while!

Had to go to Eastgate to get a few minor things and then when I came back I took a run round Lyttelton… I found myself getting a bit sad so turned to Stevie Wonder and he got me bopping with his classic “Signed, Sealed, Delivered” masterpiece that never fails to lift my mood haha.  Old skool aye!? Hey it works for me so I use him quite often to lift my spirits

Had my last wee snuggle with Bails this morning and then got up and started working through my list of things to do and YAY it’s 2.41pm and I have completed them all!  I now have 3 packed bags sitting in my kitchen waiting for the big adventure haha.  Oh minus my laptop until I’ve finished this post

Went and had lunch with my dad at his work yesterday which was nice! Even though he did think it was meant to be today hahaha that’s what old age does to ya I spose!  While I was out I got a couple of books for the flight – the latest one by Patricia Cornwell (which I can’t remember the name of and can’t be arsed getting up to rummage through my bag to find out!) as well as a book of ‘gripes and groans’ penned by Joe Bennett who lives in Lyttelton and should be good for a laugh on the way! Also got a puzzle book so all that, combined with my deck of cards, entertainment on the plane & people-watching, should keep me occupied along my journey!

Our neighbours Vicky and Dianne just dropped by before for a cuppa and to say goodbye which was nice. Vicky’s so excited that it made me all excited too haha plus her and Steve got me this gorgeous matching jade bracelet and ring which I absolutely love! and it matches with my necklace from Dan so I’m all ‘Kiwi’d out’ haha.

Hmmmmm…. what else to say?… well Mum’s just come in wanting info on what to feed our Doves so I’ll leave it there methinks!  (The doves are yet to be named but I’m rooting for George and Mildred hahaha )

Well holy maloly…. the day is upon me! My last day at Haydn’s is tomorrow and then it’s all over rover… 1 week until I board the plane on my big adventure into the unknown!

Now I’ve got a plan to ease the pain tomorrow…. and it involves chocolate cake. Not just a wee little chocolate cake. Oh no. I’m talking a MASSIVE chocolate cake that is a dead ringer for the chocolate cake that bowled all the Haydon girls over at my farewell party a couple weeks ago. So you see I may be leaving the Haydon’s but at least I’m leaving them on a cake high! and I’ll forever be known as “That Random Chick Who Brought Fricken Awesome Chocolate Cake On Her Last Day – what was her name again?”