March is the 'in-deep' time for teachers in London. It's all heads down, bums up, mark-mark-mark so there isn't much happening in terms of social life. I did, however, save up to go and see a performance in the famous Shakespeare's Globe. It's an open top theatre where performers are basically doing their thing out in the elements. Although I wasn't complaining, almost typically, on the night of the performance, and for the two days before in fact, it snowed in London for the second time in six months. It was wet and cold and I loved it a little bit (or a lot depending on who you speak to). See our video (above) about how to appropriately move about in the London snow to save energy and make up time. Sadly, my working visa is coming to an end and I am joining the many hopeful Aussies returning home in the hopes of securing a sponsorship from my school. The application has not been passed so far and so my return ticket may have to become an open ticket with eyes on the future months.
Regardless, I wanted to say that my friends, travel buddies, co-workers and housemates have made my time in London memorable and I can never thank them enough! I have had so many adventures and experiences in London town that I never would have considered back home, some of which I never knew existed. My fingers are crossed that this is only see-you-soon and not goodbye for good. Love you all loads xxxx
0 Comments
This is it, all the evidence we have of such a fabulous night! There was a huge bottle of champagne, sparkly dresses and much dancing had by all.
Thank you for breaking in the new year with me ladies, I thoroughly enjoyed myself and hope you did too. Cheers to a good twelve months to come, many more drinks, lots of laughter and love to my London family and my family around the world. xxxx
Just a quick note to say- to all those naysayers and doubters out there- it has SNOWED in London.
That is all! Love from the Aussies (and a Cornwall-ian) Happy birthday young lady!
Thank you for always being there and just being yourself. Your humour and patience has gotten us through some long work days and you're definitely my kind of crazy. I hope you had a wonderful night out. xxxx I find it hard to believe that it is already November. I remember trekking around for fireworks in 2016 for Guy Fawkes night, and that the streets of London were exploding with noise and colour for weeks before and after- fireworks laws are much more lax in the UK than in Aus and it seems everyone wants to be part of the action, no matter how close to other houses! The time has come again for London's streets to light up and the noise isn't any less deafening than last year.
This month I spent a little less time travelling around and stayed close to home. Winter Wonderland has started up again- experienced via a tragic date involving bumper cars and a drunken teddy bear with more personality than my plus one :/ I experienced my first 4D screening- yes, I did get sprayed in the face with water and it is exceptionally hard to exit a moving cinema seat when you are about to pee yourself mid-movie. Even still, it was really good fun, would definitely recommend it and will hopefully get the chance to go again. I also got to go and see Le Miserables at the theatre. It made me cry as much this time as it did in year 11 when we went with school, I don't know why I thought it would be any different, tbh. In a bittersweet moment, we got to go eat upstairs at The Sherlock Holmes to say farewell to Miss Ruth, who, after two years is leaving us and heading home to Aus. Stupid visas! The theatre companies will miss you, but not as much as we will. Travel safe! xx Christmas is almost upon us and this year, there are big plans. HUGE! ;) Halloween is not a big deal in Aus, at least, I don't remember it being as a kid. It is beginning to develop momentum now but I can't say I've ever had or been to a Halloween part before.
Guess what?! Now I have! It was filled with food, sad dance moves and too much alcohol but it was sooo much fun! Although, technically, it was the weekend after Halloween, we had a houseful of fully committed Brits, Halloween veterans from Canada and a couple of nervously excited Australians. I had the best mac and cheese of my life and I believe there was some throwing of food throughout the night, though no one will admit to anything, least of all me. Happy Halloween to all and to all, a frightful night. ....that's right, isn't it?! October has been a month of settling back into London life, battling a little homesickness and welcoming the odd bout of sunshine to break the Autumn weather. School takes a short break- the teachers say thank god for that and usually evacuate the city en masse to somewhere less work-ish! To take my mind off of home, a beautiful gaggle of gal pals has been at my side, going on adventures and causing trouble. I would be lost without them! You know who you are :) xxxx Hever Castle, KentRoad trip! We managed to find a car and trek our way to Hever Castle, nearby Canterbury (kind of). The grounds are huge, well groomed and very romantic, even if they were Halloween themed with plastic skeletons coming out of the ground and pumpkin heads rolling everywhere. There was an old school (and my first) genuine garden maze which was a lot of fun. The buildings are all old, stone and impressive. Of course they would take me to a castle to cheer me up! It worked. There were plenty of displays inside regarding Anne Boleyn and so much history beyond that. It is currently used as a museum and a wedding venue. It's a fantastic family fun day out or, like us, a girls day out if you're into history, gardening or ye olde worlde in general. On our way back to London, we made a pit-stop at Pooh Corner in Pooh Country, Hartfield. It was a tiny little store in the original village of the creator of Winnie the Pooh and Christopher Robin, A. A. Milne. According to a brochure, the area was Milne's inspiration for the Pooh stories, along with the tales of his son and his faithful nanny as 'Christopher Robin' was growing up. Considering its out-of-the-way position, it was super busy and there were all kinds of Pooh-themed merchandise inside, from new graphic story books to postcards with copies of the original Milne sketches on them. Childish but a definite stop if you're in the area. Edinburgh, ScotlandI have returned and this time I brought friends! As it was school holidays, though short and rainy, I decided it would be good to drag some beauties up north and educate those up there about the true fabulousness of teachers on break. Scotland is one of my favourite slices of old world country I've discovered so far and though it was the first place I travelled to on my own so many years ago, I still find myself coming back again and again and, more often than not, dragging others with me. I found it surprising that the two UK residents had never made it so far north before and it was so much fun playing tour guide! We sampled a few drinking houses, one particularly funny ghost tour, the top graveyard in Edinburgh and an alley where an undead woman was said to have lived. We did a historical walking tour, bothered the students and staff at the university and got lost on cobblestone streets. Did you know the Scots built themselves a coliseum? Or tried to as they were once considered 'the Rome of Europe'. Unfortunately, shipping enormous slabs of sandstone from warmer climates takes a toll on the pocket and whoever it was, ran out of money. The half built grand coliseum stands on the hill by the observatory and looks charmingly out of place up there. My only wish would have been to have stayed longer, but that is nothing new there. A good time was had by all, one pound bills were collected, alcohol was consumed and laughs were had. Until next time Scotland! You know I'll be back. I am one lucky girl.
Before she headed off on the long flight home, I got to go out with this lovely to one of the best, most fan-girly places in the world! WARNER BROS. HARRY POTTER WORLD According to a highly expensive brochure I didn't end up buying, most of the filming was done in the studios and we got to walk past, through and around particular HP scenes, including the brand new Forbidden Forest exhibition where they display some of the fake trees they actually used in filming- they are enormous We had ourselves a grand, geeky old time with selfies, butterbeer in two chilly forms and brilliant company. Have a safe flight girl! I am going to miss you more than you know- Melbourne is lucky to have you back! Much love xxxx I am often accused of being a Tourist with a capital T. It is truth and I am unashamed. Visiting the city never grows old, particularly on a beautiful sunny day!
It is only the 2nd time in my life I have spent my birthday month in the sun and though the rays aren't super strong, I am loving it! Thank you all who helped me celebrate. Much love. #touristlife #london #cityscapes #itsmybirthday #picturetime #becausewhynot |
AuthorMy 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. |