Excuse me, are you a tourist...?

Day: 4

Let there be light!!! Today it was actually sunny!! (Mostly) Of course it didn't stay around al day but after yesterday being freezing and rainy any sort of sun was most welcome.

Today I did an open bus tour of London. This is why I was lucky it was sunny because then I got to sit in the open part and appreciate London from higher up.

The bus tour was excellent and very informative. It is incredible the amount of history that lies within the city boundaries. From Roman walls from 600AD to buildings that still bear significant shrapnel scars from the WWII Blitz.

The bus traversed all over London and I saw such sights as...

Parliament House (with Big Ben)

Parliament House and Big Ben

London Eye

St Paul's Cathedral

Big Ben

Westminster Abbey

Westminster Abbey

I also did a short boat trip on the Thames. It was a lovely way to see the city from a different angle. Plus inside the ferry was warm!!!!

Due to the threat of terrorism no double decker buses are allowed to drive past Buckingham Palace so I had to visit that separately.Even though the sun was out it was still cold sitting outside while driving around. Also sitting still doesn't help so off I hopped and headed off to see Buckingham Palace, hoping the walk would warm me up.

On my way I passed a gentleman sitting by a park, painting. I stopped to have a look at the paintings and got to talking. He was Ian, a former architect and we ended up talking for a good long while. We talked about politics and politicians, Australia, art and history. He was a really amazing guy and so nice.

He pointed me in the right direction to Buckingham Palace and recommended I walk a little bit further and walk around the lake of St James' park. The lake is well known for its many different species of birdlife.

St James' Park was lovely and there was a little pub there where I had lunch. I also saw my first squirrel!! It was so cute.

View from where I had lunch

Squirrel!!

After wandering through the rest of St James' Park I set off to see the Queen!!! Well, at least her house and offices. I walked up a few stairs, looked across a roundabout and there...was Buckingham Palace....

Which, quite honestly, was a bit boring. It's a large grey building, surrounded by a fence with loads of tourists pressed up against it.

Buckingham Palace

Coat of Arms on the gates of Buckingham Palace

After that exciting jaunt I climbing back on the bus for one last spin around London before calling it a day. 

Today was now the second day I had spent several hours (average around 9!) hiking it around London and I am so incredibly exhausted.

 Perhaps I should have done some preparation for this trip, exercise of some sort....

London calling...

Day: 3

I LOVE LONDON!!!

The vibe, the bustle. Of course it is freezing cold (especially for my poor little Queensland body) but it is still wonderful.

Today I ventured out into the big bad city of  London for the first time! I managed to navigate the trains and the Underground and made it into the city.  I saw red double-deckers, black cabs and very excitingly, the Tower Bridge (often mistakenly called London Bridge). When I took this photo I was standing on the real London Bridge looking onto the Tower Bridge. There have been many many London Bridges in that exact spot dating all the way back to the Romans.

After some walking (mostly in the right direction) I found my first port of call (by accident), the Monument to the Great Fire of London. The fire that started in 1666 and burned for 5 days, destroying most of what was the Plague infested cesspit that was London at the time. The destruction of the city allowed Christopher Wren to build 51 churches around London of which 23 still stand today, including the famous St Paul's Catherdral. Wren also designed the monument to the Great Fire. It stands 202 feet tall which is the exact distance from where the monument stands to the bakery in Pudding Lane where the fire originated.

After accidentally finding the Monument (it was not my intended destination) and finding out all the wonderful history I continued on and found my intended destination, the Tower of London.


The Tower is actually a Castle built by William of Normandy (William the Conqueror) in 1066. Subsequent fortifications where added by kings and queens after him. The White Tower and surroundings have been many things including a fortress, the Royal Mint, a menagerie,   and most famously a prison and site of execution of three queens, including Anne Boleyn. It is now a museum and homes of the Yeoman Warders (the Beefeaters) who guard the Crown Jewels.

The Tower of London looking back from Tower Bridge

The famed Tower of London. The original tower (the White Tower) are the 4 turrets in the middle.
The rest is surrounding fortifications and additional buildings.

The Tower and its surrounds are just beautiful and the exhibits they have on show are incredibly interesting. The Crown Jewels are on display and are pretty impressive. Both the largest and second largest diamond are a part of the crown jewels. The largest diamond (The Star of Africa 1) is set atop the royal sceptre and the second largest (Star of Africa 2) is in the crown, still worn today by Queen Elizabeth II. In another section they have displays of past rulers crowns although without the jewels (they have been removed and reused) but even without the gems they are pretty impressive.

I spent most of my first day walking around the Tower of London (aka the White Tower) and surrounds. There was so much to see and I didn't want to miss anything.

Finally I left and headed back out onto the streets on London which took me across Tower Bridge.

Next stop was Covent Garden which has some funky markets and then onto Trafalgar Square.

View from Trafalgar Square, down Whitehall, to Big Ben

I walked all the way from Trafalgar Square down Whitehall, which is quite a long street dotted with statues and memorials. Unfortunately most of them are in the middle of a busy street which makes it difficult to view and photograph.

As I was walking down Whitehall I passed a tall fence and gate that had several (about 6) police officers milling about in front of it. I wondered what the hell was going on. Then I realised, the was Downing Street, home of the Prime Minister. A quick peek through the fence to see the fairly recognisable door and stoop and I hurried on.

At this stage I had been traipsing around London for many hours and was still battling jetlag so had to call it a day.

I successfully navigated the trains and made it back to Lauren's where I simply crashed!!

Ready

Day: 1

Ready for takeoff!!

I'm on my way...

Day: 1

Finally! I am on my way. I have hefted my backpack and left the house, heading towards great adventure!

Actually, I just headed towards a huge puddle. Less than 4 minutes out of my house heading to the train station in the rain I slipped over in a huge puddle, backpack and all. I have a completely soaking wet and muddy butt and left leg. My knees are also drenched because I had to crawl out of said puddle because my bag kept overbalancing me. Luckily I am not wearing the things I will be wearing on the plane so no real damage done, just a slightly uncomfortable train ride with muddy, damp pants.

On the bright side, no one saw me (I don't think!) and I have a good story to start my trip.

More Presents

Day: minus 3

I love this week. I am going on holidays and all week I have been getting going away presents!!

Aside from my presents yesterday I also got a mini guide book of Paris from Su and this morning I got chocolates from Richa. The lovely people I work with sure do know me. Much love and appreciation!!

Photo-A-Day Challenge

Day: minus 3

Just in case I won't be busy enough trekking around Europe I have been inspired by the lovely AshleighB to do a photo a day challenge in March.

This will keep my photo taking focussed and get the creativity pumping to get some interesting and fun photos.

I am already a day behind and I may not do the photos in the right order but it will be fun to see what I can come up with!

The first farewells

Day: minus 4

Today was the first of the farewells. The lovely people I work with (mainly PJ) organised a morning tea and even got me a gift, some lovely crystal bracelets (I LOVE the clear quartz one) and a gorgeous carved soap stone dish plus a card. It was so lovely.

The second of the farewells was with my gorgeous ladies I meditate with. While there is always lots of hugs and love at meditation tonight's were extra special as they have to last several weeks. The lovely Seraya gave me some awesome music to get through the flight and the loveliest card. So lovely that I am going to take it with me to read in case I get a bit sad or lonely and need to be reminded how much I am loved.

I am going to miss my Thursday nights while I am away. I guess I will just have to do my own meditations and meet up with them in a different realm.

Closer to packing

Day: minus 4

Feeling much better today! Work all but sorted (and tomorrow's my last day) and I am much much closer to being packed! Hooray!!!

There is still several things to sort and a trip to the coast to go yet but each step is a step closer. The excitement has started to build properly...!

Hope this packing pic is more suitable AJ!

Packing so far...

Day: minus 8


As per AJs request (and also to see if I can post photos from my phone) this is what my current packing looks like...

Not so much packing as things I might need thrown in a pile on the floor. Luckily I've got a week to sort it out!!

Single digits

Day: minus 8

The countdown has reached single digits. Today there is only 8 more days until I set off onto the big bad world. I am so excited!!!

Things are coming together slowly. Everyday I check another thing ( or couple of things ) off my list yet the list never seems to get any shorter.

Even though there is only a week to go it still seems...not quite real. The same thing happened with Egypt though. You count down and plan and count and pack and you are counting down for such a long time it always just seems so far away and its not until you are on that plane that it really seems real.

I have a feeling that this last week is going to be a doozy!

iPhone Blogging

Day: minus 13

After resisting for a long time I have finally given in and joined the iPhone family.

Ok, I will just admit it...it is great! I love it! It is a useful tool and a wonderful time waster!

Even more fun is that I have discovered the Blogger app! This means I can blog whenever, where ever! Hopefully this means I will be blogging much more often. This is especially handy with my big overseas trip coming up!

Speaking of which....

1 WEEK and 5 DAYS to go!!!!!

So excited!

I promise more to come soooooonnn!!!! :)

Weekend Sewing

Finally I have finished a sewing project!

I had the pattern for months and the fabric for even longer before I even cut into it. It was slow progress but this weekend I finally finished my wrap dress.

I still have a long way to go in terms of technique but it turned out pretty good! Wearable at least! :)

Goodbye work boots and jeans....hello skirts and heels!!!

That's right....just call me Corporate Barbie!!

After many exhausting interviews, on the phone and in person, I have mercifully landed a job! Hooray for me. And it is on the city no less so it is goodbye work boots and hello heels.

That's right, out comes the corporate wardrobe which means skirts, heels, suits and proper makeup. No longer will I be able to get away with a dash of concealer under the eyes and a lick of mascara. Gone are the days when hair that is simply clean and dry is considered 'done'. And no more will I be able to roll out of bed, grab my jeans from yesterday off the floor, dig a clean (but wrinkled) workshirt out of the laundry basket and jump in the car.

Poor work boots....they look sad already....

Hmmmm....that all actually makes me sound like a slob. Perhaps this corporate stuff won't be so bad after all....

Dream Mixer

For months (years!) now I have had my eye on a KitchenAid stand mixer. They are apparently fantastic and they would want to be for the price they are asking for one ($600-700!!!!)

I am determined that one day I will own one.

How far in the future that day is I don’t know but one day.....

Ahhhh...

Swoon...

Sigh.....

Waterskiing over Easter

While camping over Easter I also got the chance to learn to water ski. Shaarndra, Dave and the girls had their fancy new boat out on the dam and we all got the chance to ski.

Ready...

Set...

Up...

Uhhhh..uuppp?

Down.

Let's try that again...

Ready...

Set....

Up...

Up...

Up...

Ohhh...down...

Really down.

One more go...

Ready...

Set...

Up..

Up...

Up....

And staying up!!!

Woohoo!!!

It was incredibly fun and can't wait to go again!!! :D