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Made it to Sorrento and finally, finally found these two trouble makers! By the time I got to them Dad had gout happening, Mum had a severe chest infection (and no medication) and I earned myself my first set of bed-bugs from a Sorrento hostel I probably won't be revisiting. Before boating off to the family island of Panaraea (slideshow), I managed to sweet talk a pharmacist into selling me the necessary antibiotics and we stumbled onto a ferry towards paradise. Panaraea is half party island (complete with regular celebrity showings including the Kardashians and Will Smith and Co.) half old school locals who have lived there since before the beginning of time. Of course, some of these oldies have made a pretty penny and constructed huge McMansions. Their families trip back to the island every few months to lounge about in the sun and enjoy their parents and grandparents hard toils. We were lucky enough to be invited to dinner by the islands head matriarch and her family, one of whom had originally traveled to Australia with Grandad (Dad's father). It was a lovely dinner and surprisingly easy conversation considering half was pigeon-English and the other half was Italian- which I do not speak at all- much to many a locals' horror. We stayed with the most beautiful family who fed us just about every night and put up with our horrible attempts at their language. Oh, and their kids were gorgeous which helped! After a few beautiful days lounging about in the sun (and shade) it was time to head home and I had to leave the parentals at the airport to flap away to Singapore on yet another adventure. As for me, Summer is winding down. A few more days until we are back at school and a few more days to get back to the hustle and bustle of London. It was a busy trip but so much worth it! Maybe more sunshine next year :) #becausewhynot
On a happier note, the sun has started to shine, though it is still a bit chilly. I have been doing my part for the economy and blowing off steam with girls night out and cocktails. There have been healthy, regular walks and Amanda and I met her future husband/puppy in a local cafe.
Mum and Dad are counting down to their holiday and, a few weeks after they start that, I get to meet up with them in Italy. I am just a little bit excited for that! I haven't been home or seen them since my visit in September. Homesick doesn't even start to describe it but I'm keeping busy and staying positive. I dragged my butt all across the globe to help celebrate the wedding of Leanne and Chris. It was so beautiful and went 95% smoothly which is pretty good considering the usual event. I feel so privileged to have been invited and to be involved. Leanne was a beautiful bride and Chris looked one of a kind in his ancestral kilt!
On top of all that, I got to spend time with the fam-bam that was severely needed. Thankyou for all the laughs, love and the recharge! It was a short stay but I've already booked my flight back again soon! TOUR COMPANY: Italy on a Budget- Italy |
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Day 13- Bastille Day, France's INdependence Day
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- We took a Louvre tour- 3 hours long and boy was it looooooong. I can see how people can visit numerous times and never see the entire thing. Still, we managed to catch the highlights and we learnt things we definitely wouldn't have known if we had gone on our own.
- People were going crazy by the Mona Lisa and I may have gotten into a small argument with a rather large man when he tried to crush me whilst taking a selfie with his whole obnoxious family. It was a nice picture, though, I guess...
- We had a long wine soaked lunch to recover from the Louvre then headed towards the airport.
- It was a good thing Nessa's check in took a while because we both managed not to cry when I had to leave her at the check in desk to get ready for my train trip. A quick, short exit and we were done.
I miss her more than anything now that she isn't with me over here any more and it makes me miss everyone else at home as well. I know I only enjoyed my holidays so much because she was there to share the ups and downs of it with me. Having had her over here makes me look forward to coming home to visit in OCTOBER that much more! I am counting down the days.
I miss you all, love you lots and will see you soon! xxx
Archives
August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015
ROME//POMPEII//SORRENTO//CAPRI//NAPLES//BOLOGNA//FLORENCE//TUSCANY//SAN GIMIGNANO//MONTERIGGIONI//SIENA...so far...
Some you may have seen on Facebook and Instagram. Others, not so much :)
It has been a busy past couple of weeks with birthdays, outings and shenanigans aplenty.
Just a couple, for example, my recent Instagram feed, for those who don't follow or don't check Facebook very often. (Hover for captions!)
Catch-ups
Summer Jobs
I've got a phone interview booked for a job during the summer, working at a Summer Camp as a coordinator- basically a teacher role so I supervise and entertain the children each day. Definitely something in my ballpark! Wish me luck!
First Night Out in London
We were actually there to celebrate Zahra's birthday and we did so fantastically, might I say. I don't remember mixing so many alcoholic drinks in years but it was totally worth it! Everything was delicious and the place was really cool, filled with lounges, Mario Kart on the old Nintendo system, Foosball(?) and 90's music. It was a great place to start the night and so many people came out to see Zahra. I got to make a heap of new friends, thankyou Zahra... and alcohol.
From there, we went to an Australian bar called 'Walkabout' where we basically overtook the dancefloor- Sam started it, really, please acknowledge that :) and the DJ took requests all night. Unfortunately, Weebly won't let me post videos which is a shame because I took some winners that I would absolutely NEVER post on Facebook! Haha.
I really think a good night was had by all. I certainly enjoyed myself!
mid-term break!
Anyway, this means that I get a whole week off, to myself, to explore London. I'll get right on that.
Happy birthday Renee & Ricky!
Good news is, I have my Surface back so posts will become more regular again, including a brief post re Turkey, which was a great experience but certainly a different adventure to what I am used to.
Also, check Facebook and Instagram for trip pictures, park pictures and random posts from throughout the week.
1 Month Down
I have been doing mainly day to day work with one full week of booked work. It isn't all that different from home, to be honest, there are good and bad days, easy and tough classes and different types of staff. The system is largely the same except for this frightening entity called Ofsted. Apparently, Ofsted come into a school at least once a year to monitor how teachers and students are going. They look at work samples from every class, observe lessons, take note of display boards and even comment on the neatness of the teachers marking and comments in the student books. Every teacher I have spoken to is terrified of this unknown, all powerful organisation. Apparently they can remove a teacher from their role if their work and the class levels are not up to scratch.
How crazy is that?
I have a feeling the Australian system is headed that way with potential watchdog organisations already hovering. It's a terrible idea considering the stress on the staff, however, I will say that the students work is incredibly tidy and organised as a result. I would definitely tweak the system but luckily for me, I am in neither education admin nor politics and have no say! Haha.
Summer Jobs
Italy & Paris with Nessa
Saturday Fitness
I am thinking of going back again, though. Haha.
Last Sunday
They use their parks here like beaches at home. Bikini's and swim shorts were out- no speed-o's thankfully but it wasn't far off. We saw people roller blading and hula hooping in the park. Puppies were out aplenty.
There are so many burnt English people right now, all red backed with strap tans. It's funny to see them all on the subway during the week.
National History Museum
HAPPY BIRTHDAY VANESSA LEIGH!
It's the first big thing that I've missed since leaving and it makes me a little sad but time difference means I was able to Facetime her as she opened her presents and I got to see everyone at once.
Add to that, she got to spend her day with people she loves and who love her right back so thankyou to all of you who were able to spend their day with her and made it great!
This week...
I did go to visit the London Nature Museum this week and found an enormous line worth an hour and a half, nearly two hours of waiting with screaming children and old people who complained a lot. Instead, I went around the corner to the Victoria & Albert Museum.
The V&A Museum is kind of what I imagine Arthur’s (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082031/) house to look like. I may be kind of a philistine because my appreciation of fine art after this visit is very low however, there was one section of jewellery that I adored. I made an extensive shopping list to send home but I think there’s a wait on the tiaras. There were different sections (so many!) and I wound up staying for just under three hours wandering around to see all the statues and carvings, paintings, cupboards of silverware and gold amongst other things. I would recommend going just for the jewellery display. There was also an excellent theatre section with costumes from the stage production of The Lion King and Kylie Minogue’s dressing room from her last concert performance in the area, plus plenty more. I found that to be the most interesting but it probably isn’t somewhere I would go back to again.
Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice **SPOILERS**
Keeping in mind that I have seen none of the previous Batman or Superman movies (though I’m told the previous Batman movies don’t really impact this one…) I guess it was ok. I think I was expecting the banter and conversation from The Avengers movies but this one didn’t have that so I found the storyline a little more difficult to follow. It was mostly two brooding, monosyllabic super heroes thinking they were doing the right thing by taking the other one down as violently and explosively as possible. I had to ask for clarification after the movie about why batman started attacking Superman and all, which kind of makes sense now- SPOILER: because Batman decided/thought Superman was getting too powerful without any sort of accountability. Obviously Batman was the original Gotham hero and had to take matters into his own hands because of the lingering guilt he carries about the deaths of his parents and his side-kick, who is given a nod very briefly by the glass encased suit he pauses at. Then there was also some sort of time-traveller who jumped into Bruce Wayne's dream to warn him about Lois Lane being 'the key'. I'm assuming its Rex Hunter and he'll be linked into future movies, but again, not very well explained.
I think if I was really into the Batman/Superman series (either one) it would have made more sense and I probably would have picked up on the easter egg references that drag in bits of the comic book back story. Seeing as I wasn’t, I got lost and then a little bored by the continuous blowing up of things- I like a good explosion as much as anyone but even I found it a little excessive at times. I liked the Albert character, he and Lex Luthor (who was pretty cool for an insane guy) provided the most comic relief in the movie and I enjoyed the conversations between Lex and the Junior Senator.
Overall, I think I’m going to stick to The Avengers, Arrow and The Suicide Squad- which looks like it is going to be awesome and cannot be released soon enough! Plus, there’s a new X-Men coming out, which I’m excited about.
Superman and Batman justa ren't the guys for me. Sorry.
Author
My home is Australia, with my family and their many, many animals. I have travelled all around the world with my family and by myself where I have made too many friends to count.
I have decided it is time to make the move and in March, 2016 I fly/have flown to London to take up teaching the British.
I plan on having a ridiculous number of adventures while I am over there and while I know my family and friends will miss me (and I, them) I also know I have a million people supporting me back home in whatever I do.
This little blog is a way to share my adventures with everyone at home, log my wonderful memories and share my stories.
#bookworm #adventurer #teacher #bigsister #daughter #doglover #catslave #friend #writer #onedayanauthor