This weekend I surfaced from my boring git rut and actually did something note worthy. Mind you that is only note worthy, not epic story... Then again you can expect things to change too dramatically over night.

On the train home on Friday I met a guy called Martin and yapped the whole way home with him - yay - I now have a train buddy for my hour and a bit ride home. We shared a few beers on the journey and by the time I arrived in Hastings I was a little tiddly... Just a little though.

Mark and I were invited to an 18th birthday party for that Friday night - not by the birthday girl but by her Mum... GAWD I FEEL OLD! So after getting back home we had a quick dinner and a few more beers to prime us for the night ahead. So I was a little more tiddly by the time we left for the 'Hero's bar' in town. We got there, were stamped with a Fosters stamp on admittance (HA HA HA) and it was upstairs to the bar and see what the deal was. It was 10pm when we got there, and needless to say, most of the guests had had a few and were all up and dancing, or trying to, even the boys.

We settled into our seats, said hi to Alison (the Mum) and got ourselves a few beers. The night passed in an enjoyable way. Lots of dancing, some wicked music, half heard conversations, and more beer. Then at the end of the night a 'cowboy' shot, and out to find a cab home. After spending about 10 minutes on the footpath trying to hail a cab we finally struck gold and got a lift home. I remember walking in the door but after that ye ol' memory starts to dim to nothingness...
I sat down on the couch and apparently 'fell asleep' passed out is probably more like it, but Mark has given me the benefit of the doubt. A little while after Mark had gone to bed, he heard me crashing about in the lounge room, things falling from the mantelpiece and me stumbling about. I finally made a naked appearance in the bedroom, opened the cupboard door, knelt down and went back to sleep with my arse in the air and my head resting on the clothes I had pulled out in my desperation to find somewhere to sleep, even though bed was less than a metre away... Mark tried to get me to go to bed by calling my name, but I'd passed out again.

The next morning I woke to find myself in bed. Don't ask me how I got there coz I don't know. I stank of alcohol, had a raging headache, and couldn't find my balance as I was still drunk... After a few neurofen, another 1/2 hour sleeping and a quick call to say I was going to be a little late for work I was feeling a bit better. We stumbled down the hill to our local Cafe for a fry up, much needed, and then back home to grab the car and make my way to work...

Thankfully work was with a friend, so the fact that I looked like shit, and smelled very similar to a brewery wasn't too much of a problem. When I mentioned that I'd spent the night in the cupboard he was momentarily worried, but thankfully he had a red bull on hand. He gave that to me saying 'get that into you, I find it always works for me when I feel like you look' and then we got down to work. Luckily admin and computer work is almost second nature and easy enough to get to grips with, hungover or not.
After putting in a good 4 hours work we popped down to the Cenlac in Battle for a few pints (when will I learn?) and then home for a quick dinner and an early night as we were both completely knackered - proves that I am old really doesn't it?

The rest of the weekend was spent in my usual sad git way. Watching telly, sleeping in, and cleaning the house... Ahh, what a way to spend your Sunday. Still it was a good weekend, Friday night was well worth it and a good laugh, Saturday wasn't bad either even though I was at work, and Sunday was a much needed rest!

I'm off to France in a few weeks for 5 days with Mark, and then I'll either be back working here or maybe temping somewhere else. I have thrown my hat in for a few positions closer to home in Eastbourne, and Bexhill, so fingers crossed one of them comes up! If not though, things are still going well, work is pleasant, and life in general ain't too bad at all.

Brrr! The sun is shining, but it's crispy cold, and I finally got my wish for SNOW! This morning as I stepped out onto the street everything was covered with a fine cover of white, sparkling, clean snow. All the paths gleamed, and only the roads that had been salted were black, snaking their way through the pristine landscape.

The trees and shrubs all hold their little deposits of white so delicately, it really is like a new world, I love it! Even so close to the sea... The houses seem like German cakes with icing on top, and the roads are like licorice.

This afternoon I have an interview for the 'sleep duty' position at the nut home in Bexhill. Fingers crossed that it goes well, and that it's something I can see myself doing. I have some work this weekend doing admin kinda stuff for a friend, so that was good news from yesterday. AND the barmaid at the pub that Mark and I like to frequent is leaving, so I'll have to drop in and see if they'd like a Victoria to take on her shifts... Things may be looking up!

Mark is off to France sometime in the next month or so, and I'm thinking I may tag along with him to get a peek at another place. It would make a nice change from the work, sleep, work routine that I seem to have so easily fallen back into. It'll be the countryside of France as well, maybe Paris if I can scrape enough cash together, but if not, I still think it's a good place to start. Cities aren't really my favorite places anyway. But you can't go to France and not see Paris now can you?

It's a cold blue sky today, with temperatures dropping below 0, my ears stung this morning on my walk to the train station. Apparently it's been snowing around the place, but not where I am as it's right by the sea.

It was a quiet weekend, but enjoyable. Mark went off to Brighton and I eventually decided to stay in. Did some doodling and general hanging about, but enjoyed just chillin' by myself. On Saturday evening I got really stoned and fell asleep in front of the telly (what an exciting chick I am!!) only to be woken at about 7am by the beginnings of CBBC - childrens telly with screaming hosts... A quick flick of the controller though and it was back to sleep.

When I did eventually wake up it was to realise that I had used my weekly train ticket for this week as a roche in a spliff the night before... At about 45 pounds per week in travel it made it a pretty expensive roche. After a bit of a panic and a few cups of tea I walked to the train station with the hope that they'd be able to replace my ticket, without charge, or too many questions... Fortunately the guy I'd bought it off on the Friday before was working, and remembered me. I explained that my ticket had gotten ripped (heh heh) and could I have it replaced please? He took a look at it and asked where the other piece was. Not wanting to say it was in the ash tray, I just said I didn't know. Thankfully that was the end of the questions and 5 minutes later I had a nice new ticket at no cost. Ahhhh....
A quick walk about town later in search of some weekend work took me to various chippies, bookshops and a cafe or two. At this stage I don't have anything, but I was able to leave my details at a few places which seemed promising. One of them is a bookshop in the old town that I can really see myself working in, but it remains to be seen. It's either that or a fish 'n' chip store... Mmmm chip fat.
On top of that though I have an interview on Wednesday for a 'sleep duty person' in a home. Basically it's staying the night with some disabled people once a week. Considering that more than half the job is sleeping, I figure I could be the person they're looking for... We shall see, I need to find out more about the job first and just how disabled these people are, and what exactly I would be required to do...

Aside from that I have done none other than stay home, eat chocolate, draw a bit, do some writing and generally doss about. I did clean the house, and then Mark came home.... Needless to say it doesn't look clean any more.

The sun is shining, the grass is lush and green, and it's generally a lovely day. Not warm, but not freezing either. It's much like winter in Melbourne, and a mild one for here I am told.

The weekend was a pretty quiet one, the weather was kind to me and I was able to go for my big walk on Saturday. The country park never bores me although I have walked its paths so many times since being here. It was a great chance to clear my head and sort myself out. Something I definitely needed to do! I took a few pics as well, but with a disposable camera, so I have no idea how they will turn out. My camera is still sick and I need to take it in for a service or to be completely fixed... Something else on the to do list!

Work is going well and I think I may be here with the Alliance for a while, which is good! I am looking for extra work though, just something part time, weekends or evenings... Maybe I'll become a bar maid, or a shop assistant for a while. Not for too long though - I like having my spare time and aren't wanting to give it up entirely! Still something for about 3 or so months should give me some extra cash, which will be handy to pay off my credit cards back home and put some money into savings for my planned road trip this spring. Fingers crossed I find something that's not too bad shortly!

This weekend I may be off to Brighton for a gathering with Mark and his mates. I'm not too sure if I want to go yet, but figure today is only Tuesday, and it's not until Saturday, so there is plenty of time to decide what I want to be getting up to on the weekend. One day at a time - just like my New Years resolution! It would be nice to go out somewhere different, but I'm not too sure if I am up for meeting a whole lotta new people again yet... We shall see I guess.

Mark is in London again this week - leaving today and gone for a few nights. So the flat is all mine for a few days! Don't know what I'll get up to as I am used to having him about most of the time now that he is working from home... Sure I'll find something to do though rather than simply sitting and contemplating my navel for two days.
He bought me the Celestine Prophecy on the weekend - which has been great to read on the train. I may finish that and contemplate the theories and issues it discusses rather than my navel.. Then again I may just leave it for a train read and get to those curtains and finally finish them. Like I said, I'm sure I will find something to do!!

It's a lovely day today! And whatever you've got to do, it would be lovely to be doing it with you... You know not until I wrote that bit of song out did I think it was rude. Please, to whoever is reading this, I'm not saying that I want to 'do it' wiv ya, ok?

But it is gorgeous outside. I'll quite happily admit that it's not warm, but the sun is shining, the sky is blue and there is a cool crispness in the air that is delicious! Feels like winter in Melbourne! Mmm It'll be nice sitting outside this arvo with the sun on my back.

The days have started to get noticeably longer again, it's light again as I make my trek down the hill to the train station each morning. The enormous seagulls are all making their morning squawking tribute to the sun and swooping about joyously in the air and the delicate pinkness of the sun rise beckons you to be in good spirits! By 4.30 now it's only starting to get dark (mind you it doesn't take long, it's pitch by 5). I think that's the worse thing about winter here, that lack of natural light. I could never be an inuit, or live somewhere like Lapland where it stays dark all day long for however many months... Would completely do my head in!

This weekend I plan a long walk to the second patch of woods, it's about 2 hours away, but well worth it. There is such a sense of peace and tranquility there, somewhere you can settle your mind and heart's woes. So fingers crossed that the rain stays away on Saturday!
Still if not, there is plenty to keep me busy inside. I have yet to finish the last curtain for our bay windows. I have done three, and hung them up, and seeing that the majority of the windows were then peek-proof I have put the last curtain aside, promising myself each day that I will get to it and finish it - there isn't a lot to be done even. I am also finishing sorting out all my photos from my trip. So putting them into their little albums and chucking out the crappy ones - which I can assure you there are plenty of. Then I can start bothering people and making them look at my pics! Ha ha! No one will want to come and visit ever again!!

We are working on a new website at work, which is pretty interesting. I'm learning some new things and am pretty busy with a few bits and pieces to do with it. It looks pretty special, and will be a lot better site once all the work is completed, should make contacting the Alliance and finding out about them a lot easier too.

Our part time pet - Luna the Cat - has settled in well to ours, and spends about half her time with us, the other half I assume is at her home. Since we got a desk and a few plants about the place, she sits up in the window, poking her head through the curtains and keeping an eye on the street. It's so cute! But I wonder what her owners would think if they happened to walk past our place while she was doing that. Maybe I should tell them that she's having an affair with us, then again that could be taken completely the wrong way to... Ha ha, it's a lovely day today.....

Well it's another grey and drizzly day, but so far the winter has been pretty much like winters in Melbourne, but with much less daylight. So it's not really that bad, or cold. I wish it would snow, but no one else agrees with me on that one. I want to make an English man snowman, and some snow angels...

I'm a bit better today - sorry for the grumpy and down blog from yesterday. A crap weekend and not getting along so well with your housemate can do that to you sometimes I guess. Still things are better and so much of it I think has to do with attitude. No more letting myself get depressed!! It's only winter, and like I said before, depression is such a useless waste of energy that I can't really justify to myself being like that for too long!

Work is pretty interesting at the moment. We're putting together a new website which hopefully will be ready to be launched at the beginning of Feb. But it's all hands on deck so that it can be. Which means not only does my time get extended again (YAY!), but also I am learning some new and interesting things! Makes the day go a little quicker if you're busy doing something that keeps your brain ticking over!

My sister gave birth yesterday to a bouncing baby boy - Connor. A bloody big baby too - makes me scared to think about having kids knowing that both of my sisters kids weighed in at over 9 pounds when they were born. And Connor (the new one) is 51 cms long. That's a lot of effort pushing him out, and even carrying him around while he was 'bakin'. So congratulations to Yvette, and her partner! I hope it all works out and Brodie (the 1st) settles in ok to not being an only child anymore. I'm sure he will though - he is a little darlin'!

Well that's all the news for me. Back to the grind!

Well I don't say this to often, but thank god the weekend is over and some sort of normalcy can reign again. The weekend wasn't one of the best yet, and I'm happy to be cocooned here in the office and some sanity, even if it is a little boring, rather than at home with the madness.

Last week was full of various little upsets and arguments; so this new week after much fighting, tears, gnashing of teeth and painful realizations for the both of us it is a relief to have something else to focus on. Not everything is dandy in the house of Mark and Vic.

And yet today is still conspiring against me in it's little ways - the noisy smoker has been downstairs everytime I go out for a ciggie. Why is it that some people have to smoke so loudly??
The day is cold, grey and drizzly - it seems like a reflection of how I am feeling. Maybe I'm letting the weather and everything else get to me, I should just pull myself out of it - being depressed is such a waste of energy.

Ahh, if only fairytales were true and you could go to sleep for a hundred or so years and wake to find the world a more favorable place.

Well it's my first day back at work after over a week off, and I tell you, I'm feeling a little more than just dazed and confused... More like stunned and dumbfounded! Don't really know how I got here this morning, and was wondering on the train if I even had the day right and was supposed to be in at work, but all that tells of a good Christmas/New Year break, innit?

Christmas was a good'un! We had a family Christmas dinner with Marks folks, and it was rather nice! I was expecting it to be a little weird considering I'd only met them a few times, but I was made so welcome, was stuffed full of every sort of Christmassy food you could imagine and plied with alcohol. What more could a girl want really? After making merry with the family, playing "ker-plunk" with Amber (Mark's niece) and "who wants to be a millionaire?" with the rest of the family, Mark and I left for London to a friends place for a Christmas night party. It may not have snowed in London, but we still managed to have a white Christmas, much to my delight! It was great to catch up with Sue and meet some other Aussies in England. It was a little like a piece of Melbourne in the centre of Wimbledon.

I was supposed to meet up with Em, but again had phone troubles and ended up missing out on that, much to my disappointment as it sounded like she'd arranged a heap of fun for us - ach well maybe next time, if she's still talking to me that is!! We did go to the common in search of wombles, but had no luck.

So because of my screw up we stayed on at Sue's a little longer. On Boxing day it was down to the pub to drown our come down in drunkenness - and it worked! Ha ha, we met some old geezer there who was telling us he was Graham Taylor, a famous song writer. Could've been a famous tight rope walker for all I knew. But he went on and on about all these people that I'd never heard of, and then about London gangsters like the Cray?s... Apparently he was in with them - but not a violent chap at all he said. Not into violence despite the fact that his knuckles were all swollen on his left hand from being in a fight... of course that wasn't his fault though.... After there it was home again and into some wine... Mmmm a hazy Boxing day, just what we needed!

On the Monday we trotted off to the Natural History Museum in London - you know the one from movies that has the huge diplodocus skeleton in the entrance foyer. Walked around there for hours and still didn't see everything. Was brilliant though, the building itself is a work of absolute beauty, and oh, the detail and effort that must've gone into it is breathtaking. The displays and what not were awesome too. Something I am very glad to have seen. Now I can be one of those panorkles at the movies that says in a loud whisper 'I've been there!' On the way back from there to the car we got lost and wandered around a bit in the cold. After finding the car we headed to a pub to warm up with a beer and then onto the movies! We went to see House of the Flying Dagger and I fell asleep for the main part of it, along with Mark. Apparently it's a really good movie, although a little slow in parts. I'll have to get it out on DVD some time. Christmas day, Boxing day and the day after were the coldest days I've ever experienced here so far. It wasn't snowing, but there was permanent frost over everything the whole of the day. Gorgeous blue sky, but colder than a nun's nasty.

After Monday and 3 days in London we were both a bit over it, so it was a trip around to Marks mum's place to say hello & goodbye, and then back to our cozy, but incredibly messy little flat in Hastings. We'd left it in a state. I'd opened my presents from Mark and a few others from home and just left things lying about, the furniture was all astray as Mark got a new desk, it was general upheaval. Just what you want to come home to after a big weekend like we'd had. Still home is home, and it was good to get back to our own space again.

The rest of the week was spent slobbing about, watching telly and going to the pub for the od and even pints. Before we knew it New Years Eve had arrived and we hadn't really made any firm plans. We had been invited to a party in Brighton but decided another trek away from home and spending the night sleeping on someone's floor after a big night out wasn't on the cards. So we piked from that one and went to a couple of pubs around home. It was time to meet the locals!

We had a pill left over from Christmas, so that and a bottle of red before we went out primed us for the night ahead. When we got there it was reasonably quiet, but not for long. The Queen Adelaide soon filled up with a variety of pirate-ish looking people, and the place was rocking before we knew it. I met this guy called Pete who had a face like one of those rubber puppets from Fast Forward, due to my pill all I wanted to do was squish his nose and pull his cheeks! Lucky for me though I showed restraint and didn't get thumped for my efforts! The evening passed in a bit of a haze, the usual rubbish conversations where you have no idea what you said the next day, and a lot of 'aw' right geezer!' All a bit whey, a bit wooh!

New Years day was spent cuddling in bed and watching telly (again) and pretending that I was feeling ok... Although honestly I wasn't feeling THAT bad! And then before I knew it, it was Tuesday and time to get back to the grind!

intéresser......


Leo July 24 - Aug 23
Tue December 21, 2004
Although the emphasis on laughter and leisure will continue during the rest of the month, from today you'll also have to pay attention to your working life. You might have to put in some extra hours in order to meet a deadline or you could soon be given new responsibilities. If you're fed up with your current job, start considering your options.

Hmm, other job options. Am pretty happy here actually, and have work after the new year too, so no need to worry yet. As for extra hours, I have time to spare, I am up to date on everything. Except that Oscar Wilde novel I have been reading - I want to get that finished before the office closes here!

I changed my mind on the present I got for Mark, but I'm sure he'll like it. He got me something, and was that worried I was going to peek and ruin his surprise that he took it to London with him! Ha ha, I guess I shouldn't joke about sneeking around and looking beffore I am supposed to.

So it's a week until Christmas, and all through the house not a present was bought, not even for... Mark... Sorry, couldn't think of something relevant to rhyme.

But I have finally decided what to get Mark - can't write it here though, as he may be secretly reading - I'll tell you after he's got it. I'll be off tomorrow morning though to get it, while he's still in bed, and to post my Chrsitmas cards. I know that it's probably a little late, but better late than never huh?

I've been checking our mail every day now, and still nothing has come for me - Boo Hoo! Not to worry though, I haven't been that good and bought presents for everyone that I normally would. Being away means I don't have to, and I guess the same goes for those at home.

I'm actually really looking forward to having some time off! The week between Christmas and New Year is all mine! I think I may spend part of it in London, check out the Natural History museum and the other things I've been planning to see for a while now. Seeing that I won't be going to Amsterdam, I may as well see a little of England that I want to.

Anyway, not too much else to say. Merry Christmas to all at home, have a brilliant New Year, and have a drink for me! Kisses!

img src="http://stellargraffiti.com/My%20Pictures/T.%20Merry%20Christmas.jpg">

So close to Christmas now - everyone here at work is starting to stress about gifts and what to get. Thank the Fates I got mine all done in SE Asia, I doubt I'd have been organized enough when arriving here to get it sorted in time to be sent home.

Still I do have to get something for Mark still, and his family. Hopefully - fingers crossed and touching wood, it won't take me too long. Although I don't have many ideas of what I want to get Mark.

Sue came down from Wimbeldon in London to visit this weekend. She hasn't found any wombles - yet - but we're going to visit after Christmas dinner with Marks family and see if we have any luck. Was good to hear about her travels and all and spend a little bit of time being her Hastings tour guide. Was a lot of fun!
We went fossil hunting on Sunday along the cliffs. Found a few but not any really really good ones. Still we all enjoyed fossiking around there. Both Friday night, and Saturday was spent downing a few or more beers.

Looks like we're not off to Amsterdam over new year after all - but instead some time around February. We haven't been able to get any accommodation, so it's been put on hold. Seems like everyone wants to go there for Christmas and we just weren't quick enough! Instead we'll hang in Hastings. There's going to be a party on the beach (brrrr) and a bit happening around town, so it's the perfect opportunity to get to know some locals!

Life has been pretty cruisey of late, maybe it's just the way I'm looking at it, and maybe it really has been. Who can say?

Wow! The sun is actually shining today! Must've heard me bagging it this morning - it was a heavy grey sky as I was on my way to work. But it's turned out to be a reasonable day, even if it is short!

Last night I had a visit again from the little cat - Luna - who lives a few doors down from us. She's a lovely little thing with a thick black coat and white chest. She comes meowing at the front window when it's particularly cold at night so that we let her in. Maybe she's been banished from her house for naughtiness, or maybe she just wants some milk, as I always get her a small saucer when she comes around.

She cuddled with me for a bit on the couch, and then settled down by herself on the other couch as I got into sewing the rest of the curtains - hopefully they'll be done by the weekend.

My friend Sue is coming to visit this weekend, it's been about 2 years since we've caught up in person, and I am much looking forward to seeing her and hearing about her travels through Turkey and Canada. So is Mark, he's planning on heading to Canada next year some time for about 4 weeks - maybe more. So he'll be questioning her about all that, best places to go etc. Maybe I'll head to somewhere in Europe for a while when he's away. Haven't decided where yet, but I'm sure I won't have too much trouble figuring that one out.

But this weekend I'll be acting as tour guide for my newly adopted town. We'll probably head to the castle, and of course check out some of our true English pubs in the old town. It's sure to be a laugh!

Leo July 24 - Aug 23
Wed December 8, 2004
Be choosy about who you spend time with today. If you're with someone who's habitually miserable or sorry for themselves, you'll soon be dragged down to their level and will struggle to recover again. However, you may feel such sympathy for their plight that you don't see you have any choice but to be with them. If so, do your best to remain positive.

Ha ha.... That's kinda funny - I won't be hanging out with anyone today. Mark has gone to London, and I still don't know many people down this way - or anyone in Hastings! Maybe I should keep away from myself so that I don't drag me down? Heh heh.

Well, another week..... Not too much to say really. A quiet weekend was had.

Apparently my lil' brother's wedding went quite well and everyone enjoyed themselves. I can't wait to get some photos or something to see how it all was... Bet it was a goodun though anyway. My nephew did the page boy thing and apparently looked gorgeous in his tiny tux. He sounded quite proud of himself as well when I spoke to him about it on the phone, just as any 4 year old should be!

As for me, this weekend Mark and I got some material to make curtains for our living room. Soon people won't be able to peer in at night, and we'll have a bit of privacy in the evenings. They're going to be purple and blood orange... It's for bay windows, so purple on the sides and the centre blood orange. Sounds pretty gross actually when I write it down, but looks quite good in reality. Also got a few photo frames and we put up some pictures of our travels and a few other things. Makes it seem much more like our place than an anonymous house.

Went to one of the many pubs in town on Sunday and ended up pretty pissed. Stumbled home and fell asleep on the couch. Not a hugely active weekend this one, but nice and relaxing. Enjoyable all the same.

We'll be booking our trip to Amsterdam this weekend. 4 days of the Netherlands... Looking forward to that immensely.

A friend may be coming down to visit some time soon. She's over here teaching in London. Seems to be enjoying it too. Asked her if she wanted to come to Amsterdam with us for New Year but she already has plans to be in Paris. I guess we'll be able to swap stories of the different cities when we get back and recommend where, and where not to go.

So there you go! That's it from me for now...

Well it's Thursday, and there isn't too much to report as I've just been doing the work, home, eat and sleep routine since I last wrote on Monday.

I am feeling a little homesick - for the first time - today. Nothing inparticular has happened to make me miss home though. Everything here is pretty good. I guess though that Linc's wedding is only 2 days away though and I am missing out on that - I do hope that everything goes as planned with just the one 'hitch'. It's strange to think my little brother who used to be conned into biting into raw onions, sniffing pepper and eating whole chillies, is now doing the whole grown up routine and starting his life with a partner in just a few days. Congratulations and good luck to him!

I was going to go to London this weekend, but work being temporary still has made me reconsider, so I am staying home and conserving cash. The London Dungeons, Tate and Natural history museum can wait a little longer I think. I've been applying for permanent positions left right and centre this week, and it looks like there may be some return on my efforts soon... Just a matter of keeping at it I guess, and I am working at the moment so things are ok.

Mark and I are planning on going to Amsterdam for New Years, only for about 4 days, and it'll only cost about £200 for the whole trip. Not bad really! Am looking forward to getting to the Van Gough museum and a few of the other arty things they have there. And of course, you can't go all the way there and not check out the cafe's! Amsterdam is supposed to be reasonably small and flat, so it looks like we'll be getting around on bikes, saving a bit of cash on transport that way, and getting a good look at the city while exercising. So that's something to look forward to. Here's hoping I don't fall off and bash myself about like the last time I was on a bike!! Maybe take it easy in the cafe's... then again, maybe not I'll be far less nervous and tense if I partake in a spliff or two before cycling around the city.

Being back in the work routine is a little boring after the amazing time I had traveling around Asia... Although work is fun and I do like the people I am with, and the company. Still the call to earn a dollar - or I should say pound - has come around and needs to be addressed before any further long trips can be taken. Still if it's only gonna be £200 to go to Amsterdam for 4 days, I am sure I can have a few other weekend trips to France and other parts of Europe for about the same. So I won't be bored for too long - I hope!

The past week found me with an extension to my temping contract with AIDS Alliance, and finally opening my own bank account here! This weekend was pretty good too. I worked on Saturday with Mark (cleaning up after a renovation for a friends house), and Sunday being the only day we had off together, we decided to see our first 'local attraction' The Smugglers Caves. A bit of fun!

We paid our entrance and then wandered down a dark tunnel with columns carved out of the walls, much like a temple, or church. It was pretty spooky, and I had this feeling every moment that we were in there that someone or thing was going to jump out at us.
Anyway, we walked along the corridor that had been carved out by monks however many centuries ago, quite thoughtfully with little aclove type shelving for candles. So it wasn't completely dark, but reasonably close to - enough to make you wonder what was beyond in the gloom!
Half way down we stopped and turned about - I near jumped out of my skin when I caught sight of the man to my right digging out a cave in the corridor - well I thought he was, but on closer inspection, and after my heart stopped racing, I realized it was a mannequin.... So on we went.
After a few more minutes we arrived in a big cavern, with a sign saying 'Wait here for Hairy Jack'. There were carved stairs leading up to our right and gloom stretching off into small corridors on our left. I didn't really want to wait for something by the name of 'Hairy Jack' so stood really close to Mark and waited with my heart in my mouth... Who's afraid of and olden ghost then???
"Arrr Harrr Harr! So you've coom to see the Smooglures Cave's have ye?" said the recorded message while the head of a pirate/smuggler type character was projected on the wall in front of us. Again, already having wound myself up, I jumped (to Marks amusement). Hairy Jack (thank the Fates that he wasn't someone running out of the dark as I had expected, I would've crapped myself!) then went on to tell us that we were 70 Ft underground, and what the caves had been used for at various times, from smuggling and religious rites, to bomb shelters in the war, and dance halls after the war. Interesting, and then ended by telling us that we should watch out for ghosts, and that he'd be waiting up ahead....
I was getting over my nerves, but not completely, and we ventured on into the darkness.... After going through an old 50's style amusement arcade, we got to a place where there was a show! Wow, all this 70 Ft underground! So we sat down and learnt more about the smuggling history of Hastings. All through this, again, I waited tensely for someone to jump out at us while we sat there in the dark... But they didn't!
Through even more tunnels we went and then the space opened out into a huge cavern with a carving at one end of an urn, and at the other of what seemed to me like a man, an old wizardy type of man... No one knows who carved him (or the urn) or exactly how old he is, only that he predates the religious overtones that have tried to claim him as theirs - the St Clements people. Sooo an unexplained carving, in the coldest part of the cave system, which drops further in temperature for no reason, at strange times - It's HAUNTED!!! Arrrhhh Harrr Harrr, I can hear Hairy Jack laughing now.... Was interesting around there, and the carving is detailed enough to draw your eye to it and keep you looking at it for a while. I wonder what it's significance is, but have no idea, and neither did the information, or the ghostly telephone where whispered information was given from a recording in 3 different languages - smart ghosts huh?
After that it was a few more displays of mechanically moved papier mache people doing smuggling things and then around the corner you go, to stumble upon the customs guy at the end of the cave system and the beginning of the souvenir shop.. 'What country do you come from?' 'Where are you going?' 'Do you know you are in the Green Channel?' he said over and over again... Enough to make anyone rush through there!
The rest of the day and weekend was spent lazing about at home, it was a wet and windy Sunday, so snuggling up on the couch was the perfect end to the weekend and the smugglers adventure.

I read my blog back yesterday, and find I have to apologies for being such a boring old woman! Walks in the park indeed! Who wants to be reading about that?? Unless of course you're trying to get to sleep....

But honestly I haven't been doing much other than work and spend my weekends either tromping around Hastings, exploring the country park, or in a new pub having a pint with Mark. Doesn't really make for interesting reading....

There are a load of pubs in Hastings, and all in the old town have that oldie worldy pirate feel to them. Most times when we walk in things stop for a second or two as people turn to see who it is, and what 'these outsiders' are doing in their local - which is now also one of our many locals. AR HAR har!

It snowed a bit last weekend, or at least tried to. There were big soggy globular flakes of snow coming down with the rain, but they melted as soon as they hit the ground. I'm waiting for the time when it's cold enough that they don't melt straight away and I can run outside to the green and make snow angels and snowmen. Possibly a few more weeks away, but everyone seems to think that we'll be having a white Christmas - YAY.

Anyway, aside from that, it's been the boring work, eat, sleep routine. So not too much to comment on. I rang home for the first time since leaving on the weekend, and it was great to chat with family and my best mate. Also I have to say thinks to my old work mates at Oxfam for sending me that Christmas card - it was the first mail addressed solely to me, that was fun, not a bill and came from Aus. So cheers a heap, you all definitely brightened my week up!

But even that's not the most interesting of stories.... I'm off out tonight after work to meet with my new friend Dina and have a pint or two before training home. Mark is away in London again - perfect timing really for me to spend some extra hours here in Brighton checking out their pubs. Dear me, I sound like a wino now, old woman wino...

It's dark outside, and it's only quarter to 5. It's dark outside, and I'm still at work... I can look across the street and see right into other peoples offices as though it were the middle of the night, and everyone is still hard at work. I can't believe it... bloody weird, and it's only going to get darker earlier and earlier until there's bugger all daylight left to go around. I can see it now - fights in the street about some people not getting their fair share of the sun while others hog the light.

Bloody madness. Would be nice to be home in front of a fire...

Oooh it's all a bit nail biting in the work arena at the moment. Hastings Council rang yesterday to advise I didn't get the position with them, but was a close 2nd. They asked if they could keep my details in case a further position came up, or if the woman that they went with didn't work out. So that was a positive no.... But still a no.

I have put in for a few full time positions here with AIDS Alliance, but interviews wouldn't be until next week at the earliest, and then possibly a few weeks after that until the position actually started. My temp contract with them finishes on Friday next week, so it looks as though I will be doing the rounds of the agencies and newspapers again looking for something a little more stable... Frustrating, but at least I'll still have work of one sort or another. It may work out to be a good thing as I still have to finish registering with the health system here and a few other bits and bobs - maybe try and work out my own bank account now that I have been here for a little while.

I still have the elusive Admin position being held in front of me as a tempter, but still no word on when it might eventuate, or how long for... Again, a little frustrating, but still a ray of hope.

Otherwise life here is pretty good. Mark has again been away for most of this week, and I've had the flat to myself. But he's back today, and I think for the weekend, so we may get out and about and have a look around, although I am looking forward to a long morning in bed - this week has just taken it out of me, and I am feeling pretty flat.

Will let you know what happens with the work irons in the fire. Fingers crossed and touch wood that something turns up soon!

I just noticed that it was the 9th last time I got around to blogging, sorry about that, didn't think it'd been so long... Much to catch you up on then I guess!

So the ninth was laaaaast..... Tuesday... OK.

Hmm, most of last week I was home alone (oooh no! Monsters and other bad things could'a gotten me!! - Ha ha just kiddin') Mark was up in London, and I was being a reliable Aids Alliance temp worker. The beginning of the week went pretty well, I had confirmation of my interview with Hastings council, so that to look forward to on Friday afternoon. On top of that I was to meet up with Nelly on Thursday night and both Nell and Em on Friday night. Wednesday was a bit of a non event, as with Tuesday and Monday.

On Thursday Nelly came to meet me for lunch in Brighton - was a delicious Caesar salad and glass of red down near the beach for a fiver - not bad at all really for Brighton prices. And then for me back to work again.... Somehow wine at lunch saps that motivation to get back in front of a computer under fluorescent lighting. Anyway, I did well and made it through the rest of the day without a hitch. Nell came and met me after work and we traveled back to Hastings on the train. Not much chop for her as by 5.30pm it's dark here now, so nothing to see out the window - she was doomed to be entertained by conversation with me. Still after not having seen each other for about 9 years there was plenty to catch up on and keep the conversation going.

On the way home we stopped off at the bottle-o for an extra red or two, and to check out the man with the massive boil on his forehead. Good for a laugh, and then up the hill and home. That night we stayed up til about 2am drinking and laughing, generally catching up on the 'lost years' for each of us. Nell has done really well for herself and should be damn proud of what she's achieved. Well done, you go girl! Was brilliant to have that time together uninterrupted.

The next morning the alarm went off all too soon, and I was up with a banging head and a mouth that felt like a kitty litter tray, getting ready for my last day of the working week, and an interview with Hastings council that afternoon. The morning went by in a daze, and helpfully it seemed as though someone was operating my body for me. I certainly wasn't in much of a state to be doing it all on my own. By the time it got around to me having to leave I still wasn't feeling much better, but managed to catch the train and make my way to my interview. I was doing that whole alcohol sweat, and absolutely stank, but no time to do anything about it, it was straight on to the council offices and in for the 'test' and question time. It went really well to my surprise (especially with the hangover and smell) and I think I am in with a reasonable chance, I should know by the end of tomorrow at the latest. At the end of the interview they got up to shake hands and do the whole good-bye rubbish. I was stood there trying to shake hands without lifting my armpit, so a hand shake from the elbow down only. I must've looked like a complete moron... But hey it was either that or knock them out.

By the time I got back from my interview and the other bits and pieces I had to do, Nell was also back from her trip to Marden, where her family name harkens back to. Apparently a 1/2 a horse town, oops no village, where there is no ATM or much else. Anyway, that's Nell's story and I shall leave it to her. We already had a spare bottle of red left from the previous night, so whilst awaiting Em's imminent arrival from London, we got stuck into that and more nattering about our day, and memories of people from our past. For me it was my interview and good news from my credit card peoples, and her about her all day journey to Marden in Kent.

Before too long Em's train got in and I ran down the hill to meet her and grab some more liquid sustenance on the way back to the flat. Having both Em and Nell around was like relaxing into a favorite old comfortable club chair. I flet so secure and happy with them, we talked about everything under the sun, hopes dreams, the meaning of life and op shopping. Obviously Op Shopping being a very important world issue.......

On Saturday Nell had to get back to London early to meet up with some other buddies of hers there, that apparently she'd put off for the last 2 days to have more time with me and Em - so sweet - love that girl. Em and I finally got our arses into gear around 11ish to stumble down the hill to the local greasy spoon for a hangover breakfast. No mean feat considering we'd again been up all night, gone through 6 bottles of red, and been ill that morning for our efforts. Still some fresh Hastings sea air, and a fry up was definitely the right cure, and put us in the best of moods for the op shopping we had planned for the morning.

We tromped further down the hill to one of the main streets of Hastings where all the op shops are, and began to explore. We came across the best little shop full of crazy bright pink clothes, and awesome records from our teenage years. We spent maybe a full hour flicking through their collection and singing parts of the tracks we remembered as we found them. After clearing them out of all the good stuff and Em promising herself to buy a record player, we made our way back up the road, with the good intention of going home for a cuppa and exploring the old town on the other side of the hill. Yet the lure of the shops had not loosened their grasp on us, and were in no way prepared to do so. So we found ourselves in a number of other stores, laughing and giggling like we were 15 again. Both of us I think ended up buying more than we'd planned, but neither were upset that we'd done so. I definitely needed some retail therapy, and Em is the best comrade for such endeavors!

After realizing the time we'd spent about town, and how tired we were it was quick smart back to mine to unpack our goodies, give Em a haircut, and for Em to get ready for going back to London and doing her weekend work - reviewing bands. It seemed to be all over too soon. Shortly after our tea and Em getting ready it was back down the hill to the train station and time to say goodbye and make those promises to not let another 9 or so years pass until we did it again.

That night I simply crashed, two days on the piss and such an exciting and emotional time took it out of me. I was in bed by about 10 and fast asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow. Just as well really, coz I still had all the other things I'd planned for myself that weekend in front of me.

I woke at the fine hour of 8.30am - a sleep in for me these days. Again it was brilliant sunshine and crisp air breezing in from the sea. Soon after breakfast I was out and making my way to the country park. Such magical light and a beautiful day is definitely not to be wasted inside! The views around Hastings are gorgeous, and I find they really inspire and motivate me to get some creative work going. As I haven't been able to get going with my clay work I have instead been doing a lot of writing, and a little photography here and there. I used up the rest of my film, and if the Fates are willing, I should have a few good shots. If not, there's always next time.

I walked through Ecklesbourne glen. Up hill and down dale, past old oak trees with their twisted and ancient limbs, around thickets where rabbits and birds could be heard scratching about, through meadows of soft green grasses and along the breathtaking coast line of sheer chalk cliffs. I spotted many an English bird, saw a few rabbits with their white tails disappearing bounce by bounce into the distance, and absolutely enjoyed my self as I walked about the eerie woods in the fresh morning breeze. Although, because it was such a lovely day with bright blue skies and gorgeous bright sunshine, it wasn't really that eerie... I'm sure there will be many more days that are though as winter gets colder and darker.

I wandered through the old town on the way home, and nosied through a few 'junk' shops. Found some bargains that with any luck will be there next weekend after I have been paid again. The winding streets and bulging walls of the old houses and buildings there are almost as beautiful as the woods of Ecklesbourne glen.

After spending a few hours walking about there I headed home and napped on the couch for a few hours.... Lovely way to spend a Sunday doncha think?

Then I had to get down to some 'work'. I typed up my applications for a few positions with the AIDS Alliance, got together an updated copy of my CV, and sorted out the house so I was ready for the week ahead.

By the time I got through that Mark arrived home from his time away with Ian. It was so nice to see him again, it'd been the whole week that he was away, and I had a pleasant surprise with him getting home earlier than I expected. I gave him the gift I'd found whilst shopping with Em, which he liked (always good) and we settled in for a quiet evening on the couch in front of the drone of TV. A prefect ending to a perfect week!

I guess I need my hand slapped again for being a bad blogger, but hey I'm too far away for that, so you'll just have to deal wiv it! Init??

The wedding I went to with Aaron and Marie, weekend before last, was pretty damn fine, a bit of fun. I was good and stayed clothed, although I did have a good go at the red and a few ales.. I also stayed off the floor, so I did well on both counts. It was a bit strange not knowing anyone there, and I felt a little like the obligatory old man that no-one knows but everyone seems to have at a wedding, only thing being that I'm the wrong sex and not quite old enough... Still it was an evening well spent!

The day after Aaron and I took a long walk in the country side, wandering down small lanes and past signs for 'public walking paths' that pointed off into nowhere, and where there wasn't a path to be seen, not even a little old goat track... After our walk Aaron and Marie both came down to Hastings to drop me home, and see mine and Marks new flat. We managed to polish off a whole slab that evening, which considering the effort we all made at the wedding the night before, was not a bad at all.

It was also Halloween, and every now and then we'd get a knock at the door from a ghost or witch asking for a treat. That was quite novel, and one mass murderer - Michael I think from Friday the 13th... or Halloween, asked me to say 'G'day' after noting I was Aussie - still had to pass out lollies to them though. But we did have quite a few left over and I've slowly been making my way through them since then.

On the Monday after I started a new contract - temp still - for the AIDS Alliance, in Brighton. It's a little closer to the station, and a hell of a lot more interesting than the Future media position I started with. Am enjoying it a lot, and hopefully it will continue onto bigger and brighter things - like more work. But in any case I have a few different irons in the fire, so to speak, and I shall wait and see which of them heat up first before going on too much about any of them.

I've also been in touch with a few more of my old high school mates, which is very weird. We're supposedly catching up this weekend/Friday night, if we can coordinate it. It'll be a strange thing indeed. My mate Ben (hugely tall guy who could make you laugh all day without trying) is now married and dropping by with his wife. I've also been told that he's a born again Christian... I want to know when the first time he was christian was... Janelle Marden, ahh the memories of her and that group, coming by to my house warming party and setting fire to the rug in the lounge room.... What fun days! Tim Bradshaw - my high school crush for about 2 years running - and of course Em... And anyone else that Nell or Em have dug out of the woodwork. I can't believe so many of my old mates from a little country town in Aus are now here at the same time. Will be good to catch up over a few bottles of red! There's about 7 or 8 years that need to be filled in there.

This weekend though was my first weekend at home with Mark. Was good to have some chilled time without having to go anywhere. On Saturday Mark decided to take me for a drive around the country side and show me what was around where we live. We drove across to a place near Lydd, that had a whole lot of tiny midget houses along the coast line, really flat land and weird looking people there who were all out running, maybe from the ugly stick. Neither of us wanted to stay so we turned around and headed back toward Camden Sands. Along the way there were miles of fields lined with hedges and filled with the fattest sheep you've ever seen.

That's another thing about here, there are a lot of strange, even ugly, looking people with bad teeth, and also a load of fat sheep. I can't get over it, even when they're newly shorn they're so FAT!! Makes me hungry - no not the ugly people, the sheep.

Camden Sands reminds me a lot of the coast around Warrnambool, sand dunes streatching back forever, and dotted with tuffts of grasses. Was quite peaceful there, so we climbed to the top of one dunes away from the fat sheep and ugly people to smoke a spliff and contemplate the world, and whatever else was on our minds. Ahh lovely init?

I have to explain that 'init'. Seems to be something that nearly everyone here says at the end of almost anything. For instance, 'I walked down the street - init?!' or, 'I'm going shopping, init?' 'My accents funnier than yours, init??' So I've been adding it to the end of my sentences every now and then, for a laugh, although I'm the only one who thinks it's funny. It's quite weird some of the things people say, that I thought were only said in cartoons with English people in them, or old movies. I was sat on the train the other day and this girl beside me answered her phone and was chatting away. Next things you know, she shouts out 'Corr! Blimey!!' I almost burst out laughing, but everyone else seemed to think it was reasonably normal so I managed to control myself... Shouldn't have been eves dropping.

Guy Fawlkes weekend just passed. Mark and I went over to Battle - the town along from Hastings, where, you guessed it - the actual battle of Hastings took place. They had a huge procession up and down the street, people dressed up as vikings, knights, smugglers, witches and all sortst of things. All of them were carrying burning torches, and a few of the societies were drumming as they marched along. The whole town was closed off so that the procession could go through the streets and it was absolutely packed with people there to watch and take part in the bonfire celebration, which for the main part seemed to involve sinking a heap of beer.

After the different societies had paraded up and down about 4 times they made their way to the Abbey, which is part of the castle where Willem decided to live after winning the battle. Can you imagine, finishing the battle, looking about you at all the severed heads, limbs and spilled gutts and thinking 'This'd be a lovely site to build my castle and bring my family over to live. I bet they'd love it here...' Anyway that's what he did, and the field behind the abbey and the castle, is the same place that they fought in 1066. As the societies (and there was a Neville Society, which for some reason I think is quite amusing... the Neville no friends society... heh heh heh) walked into the field where the bonni was to be lit, Baldrick from Black Adder introduced them all, and the battle raisers - these exploding bomb things made from gun powder - kept going off right in the middle of the procession. After they arrived and were given the word they threw their burning torches onto the enormous pile of wood and set it all alight. The fire had also been packed full of battle raisers and made huge booming noises as the fire burnt.

After watching that for a while and getting to the point where people were looking about thinking 'so is that it? What's next, init??' Baldrick announced the firework display. Ahhhhh it was brilliant. I do love a good firework, and this was one of the best I have ever seen. Maybe the ones at Hastings were a bit better as they weren't at all obscured by the smoke, but Oh! There were so many, and all different kinds and colours!
After that they set alight the effigy. Every year they have a different effigy, and this year it was a huge tomb stone - 'RIP Free Speech' was written on it - quite apt really with the recent political climate... The effigy didn't just burn like the bonni, no, it exploded in a series of bigger and bigger bangs, until the final one blew everyone back a step or two. And then that was it. We walked back through the field and up the hill to our car, ears ringing from the bangs and explosions, and smiles on our faces from the spectacle we'd witnessed that is somehow part of our own history.

Woo Hoo!! I got a new job, I got a new job.... I start on Monday with the Aids Alliance in Brighton. Better position, better organisation,and better pay!! The interview I was supposed to have on Tuesday didn't happen til Thursday and I was starting to wonder if the agency who'd called me about it was pulling my leg. But as it turns out, no legs were pulled, and I have something to go to on Monday that it a lot more 'me'!
It's closer to the train station which means no more getting up around 6am, and I get home earlier too! The organisation seems a lot nicer than here, and the position sounds pretty interesting, well the one I should be moving into. To begin with I'll be doing data entry backlogged work and that lasts for about 3 -4 weeks, then another position comes available - at least they think so - in Admin for their policies department, and also helping out with their marketing and communications division. So it sounds like it will be reasonably varied, and interesting. They want me for that role as well which will go for about 6 months or more, so hey presto, I've got something that I like and pays reasonably well!

I'm still off to London this evening to see Aaron and Marie, but have forgotten my mobile phone battery and may not be able to catch up with the others which is a bit of a bummer, but maybe I can sort something out - dunno. Either way it should be a good evening still.

I did make one friend here at future media though - Dina, who is a lovely American girl. She's just moved over here as well and is going through the whole getting used to England thing too. It's nice to know someone in a similar position to myself, plus she's really nice, so I've made my first friend! She's living about another 10 minutes east of Brighton, so a little far from Hastings, but not too far. I'm sure they'll be up to visit at some stage. It's good to have some friends close by rather than having to go up to London to connect with mates. Still a trip to London every now and then is a bit of fun!

We had a huge storm last night. Lots of lashing rain, thunder and an awesome lightning show. Was brilliant, although walking home through it wasn't the best of fun. Being home and cozy though and watching it from inside was a lot better. It lasted for ages, and makes the flat feel really warm and nestish while it's pissing it down outside. I just want to get that fire going though, to add to the whole snuggly feeling. Soon it will be working though, I'm sure.

The train trip in is getting better each time too. I am remembering to take the necessary book for entertainment, and the scenery is pretty good. In the mornings it starts with a beautiful sunrise, views of the beach and sea, and then undulating hills and small cottages. There is a ruined castle somewhere along the way as well, just stuck out in the middle of some guys paddock - or maybe I should say 'some geezer's field'?

Almost the end of the week, and some exciting things are in store for this weekend. Yep, we've got a special on visits from older brothers, and their wives. Normally it'd be a quick trip back to Aus, but as a special offer, for this weekend only, I get to see my older brother in London - YAY!! So I'm off back to London again this Friday after work. I'll be heading up to Kings Cross, apparently much like the Kings Cross in Sydney (but I shall let you know about that one...Can't be as good as ours now can it??) meeting with Aaron & Marie and then the next day traveling with them to Essex (apparently a little like Moe, but again I shall let you know, I doubt they have a delicious Belinda, or Jayden Lesky there...)
Once in Essex I shall be dressing in my finest Vietnamese clothes and attending a wedding where I plan to drink copious amounts and have a laugh... Seeing that I won't know a soul other than Aaron and Marie, I figure what the hell? I promise not to end up on the floor though. The wedding is out in the country side, and Marie's parents (whom I will be staying with for the night after the wedding) live in a converted what-cha-ma-call-it - one of those houses that they build next to churches for priests and such... Can't think of the name of it, but I guess the description is good enough. (If not don't go playing charades any time soon...) Sounds really pretty and from the photos I have seen it looks really nice as well. If I get the chance I'm going to head off into the country side for a nice long walk in the brisk weather. Maybe to clear a hangover on the Sunday... Mmm shall have to remember to take coffee with me if I do.
On the Sunday, when we are all feeling human again, Aaron and Marie are going to come and visit my new flat!! I'm a bit excited about that actually, it's all looking pretty nice now and there are only a few bits and pieces that we want to get to finish it all off. They're going to stay the night, and possibly Monday night. So Sunday will be more beer and bourbon... And a look about town, I think we should visit a pub in the old town... Maybe the pump house... Shall decide when they get here. Ooh it's all a bit exciting really, it's like having my whole family to visit in one person.... And that sounds really strange and I encourage all that are reading this not to think about that last comment too much.
I am off for an interview today at lunch time, the Aids Alliance in Brighton are looking for someone for data entry. Not the most exciting of jobs, but at least it's back with a charity, and apparently there is another position coming up shortly with them that may be my kind of thing... We shall see. Either way I need to leave here. Getting up at 6.15am to start work at 9 is a bit much and not getting home til 8pm is horrendous. Plus the work here is mind numbing, and they would rather I sat at my desk between calls tapping my fingers than actually doing something. I'd do anything at all really rather than sit and imagine my brain melting out my ears from lack of use. So we shall see what comes of this new one. I'm going to have to quit this future media malarky anyway, there's no way I am getting up at 5 to be at work by 8, that is just the height of ridiculous-ness!
The data entry one is only supposed to be for 3 to 4 weeks anyway, and if I can ingratiate myself with these people in that time well and good. But if not there is an agency in Hastings that can get me a job within a few days which would be local, so no more travel to Brighton, and I am sorted either way that the coin lands. Well and good really.

Brrr! Today's walk to the train station was a little windy to say the least, and splattered with rain that seemed to be blown from the clouds, rather than voluntarily falling. Sometimes all things need a bit of a push I guess.... Still I got there reasonably dry (thanks to my Kathmandu coat!) and on time. Only a quarter past 7, and I didn't start til 9. Took a little less than an hour and a half, and then I was in Brighton. The world had woken up by the time that I arrived here, and the sun had decided to shine! It actually looks like it might be a nice day!

Mark and I moved into our new place over the weekend. Already it feels like home. Most things have found a place, and there's a few bits and bobs that we still need, but overall it's bloody fantastic. I wish I could download a picture of it, but as yet I am not that technologically advanced, I am working on it though.

We took nearly all that we had and needed with us down on Friday night. I'd trekked up from Brighton on the train to meet Mark at Sam's place (in London). He'd already been down to Hastings once that day to sort out keys and drop off the first load. So after a few beers with Sam it was back in the van and down to the coast - Hastings here we come!! We didn't get there until about 1am - mainly due to hanging about at Sam's and drinking beers and smoking the od spliff... But it was good to walk in our very own door, and know that it wasn't the couch or someone else's bed that we were sleeping in.... and to wake up the next day with a huge headache because we'd left the heating on... and maybe because of those beers?

The central heating here is phenomenal, so warm, if you're not careful you end up living in an oven it gets so damn hot. But here I am sounding like I am complaining (maybe I'm turning English??), when really it'd be much worse if there was no central at all.... Still I want to test out our fireplace, but we need to check with the landlady first, just to make sure it works and we're allowed to use it. Don't really want to severely burn myself.

We checked out our local on Saturday - 'The Angel'... and decided not to go there again. But lucky for us there are another two pubs close buy, both just a very short walk around the corner. One looks really cozy and I am hoping that they do pub meals - perfect for a Friday night. So that's the mission for us, to check out all the pubs in town (and there are quite a few) and decided which will be our favorites. Not a bad little project if I do say so myself, and I did.

It's Halloween soon - bit exciting really as I have never celebrated it before in any way, shape, or form. Apparently we have to get some lollies in and hand them out to people that come knocking, whilst wearing a pumpkin on your head - sounds suspiciously American to me - but I think I may go buy the lollies, then lock the door, turn the lights off and scoff them myself!

After Halloween we have Guy Fawkes night (I have no idea if I spelt this mans name right, apologies if not) which I think will be my favorite festivity as it's all about burnin' it, and fireworks, and quite frankly I LOVE fireworks, and burnin' it ain't so bad either... unless of course it's treated pine.... Seems that people get in a bit of practice before the actual night as there have been a few bangs followed by sparkles over the past week or so, which I'm glad to have witnessed. Mark and I are going to buy a bundle or 'selection box' (sounds like chocolates, but it's even better!!) and have a go. I'm so damn excited about it, I'll probably end up blowing myself up, but what a way to go - as a huge sparkle it the sky!!

So it's all happening as winter sets in here, and we get ready to be snuggly in front of the fire and have some fun with fireworks! YAY!

Well it is almost the end of my first working week, and boy am I glad to see it!! The initial joy of finally finding a job and getting some cash in, has now been over ridden by the fact that I have to get up every morning, don the work clothes and trudge into the office for a flourecent lit desk and glare of my computer. Still it's not so bad, at least it's warmer in the office than outside...
I'm sure there are other good points, but they're not springing to mind at the moment. Although I have a job, I am still on the hunt for another that will be closer to home, and hopefully better pay! Still I can't complain, some work is better than none and getting paid a low wage is better than not getting paid at all! So there it is - the other part of the bright side!! So proud of myself for finding it!!
Tomorrow after work I train it back to London and get my things together to move down to Hastings. Not being hasty at all, but I am soo looking forward to having my own place again (well I will be sharing with Mark, but I can still call it mine can't I?) And then the whole weekend free to do NUTTIN!! Laze about in bed I think and maybe see if the fireplace works... Put up some of the things I collected in my travels and make it feel like my home! Yay!!
Hastings is only about 1 hour south of London, and a really pretty drive there as well. Undulating country side, green hills and lots of hedges, in fact you can't really get away from the hedges anywhere, not that you'd really want to, they aren't dangerous, and instead are quite pretty and soft looking. You go through Kent, and other interesting places like Pratts bottom, and Lower tit... No I made that last one up, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was a town up north.
This week I have been dossing in Brighton (where I am working) at a hostel on the beach front. It's reasonably nice - clean, comfortable and warm. You couldn't really ask for more. Breakfast is included in the price so I've been eatting up large in the mornings before work, at £15 per night I figure they owe me a good big breakfast. And who cares if I look a little piggy of a morning munching my way through 4 slices of toast, a bowl of cereal and slurping my coffee?? I'm sure that no one's watching... well no I'm not sure, but I don't care anyway.
The weather has been pretty good actually. Hail last night and gale force winds gave way this morning to brilliant sun and a crisp and nippley breeze. It's still pretty as the trees haven't lost ALL of their leaves yet, and are holding onto a few yellows, reds and golds to keep a little cheer around. Apparently this winter is going to be the worst on record. Kinda funny that the people here get such a kick out of having 'the worst ever', but I suppose you've gotta be proud of something.... Not that there isn't anything to be happy about here, there is.
The place where I am working, as I said is in Brighton, in the part they call 'the lanes' which is basically the bit with lots of little winding paved streets and alleyways that aren't wide enough to let fat people through. Very quaint and sweet, also very easy to get lost. It seems that no-one had heard of the 'grid system' when they were building around here - or anywhere in England for that matter. If you take a wrong turn anywhere, you can't just take the next street to get back to the road you were on, no that would probably take you to the other side of town, or to the next town even. I am getting rather good at retracing my steps and memorising the streets so as not to become as hopelessly lost as I have been in the past here.
Anyways, I will try to be a better blogger in future, I have been a bit crap since arriving here and having to knuckle down to get a job, but now that's done I should have a bit of spare time to keep you all up to date on what's going on around here. Anyway, promises, promises, I shall see how I go, and leave you with a picture.....

Hope this works, It doesn't look as though it has.... Jess if you are reading this can you send me the details of how to ad a picture again, it seems that I am skipping something I need.

Yesterday and today turned out to be bloody brilliant! I got an email from an old highschool friend of mine - Em. I haven't seen her for at least 6 or 7 years and I'd been trying to get in touch with her and was having minimal luck, so to get something from her was at once strange and delightful! She also passed on details of anothe highschool buddy who is over this way and living in Edinburgh. I sent her off a happy birthday email, and spun her out. We'll catch up at some stage, either when I head north or when she come south to the seaside.

Em and I met up last night at a pub in Soho, and wow, it was wicked. Em looks and is just the same as I remember her. Still setting up different friends of hers with each other, still a good laugh, and loads of fun. I ended up getting reasonably pissed and missing the last train home, so stayed with her and her man - Aaron - in London town. I had my first ride in a black cab, and am proud to say that I acted the complete tourist, gawking at the sights and clicking away with my phone/camera. Made the cabby laugh, and he was a good sport having his photo taken with me when we arrived home.

This morning I woke with a banging head, but after going back to sleep till 11, I was as right as rain - the rain that was beating on the window. That slow gin, although bloody tasty creeps up on you, but then the numerous beers probably had a hand in it, and possibly the shots as well.

But the rain cleared up and after a cup o' tea we (George - Aaron's dad, Aaron's brother (no, not Lincoln) and Dave) all trotted off down the street to the Tate Modern. Wow!! It was wicked! Loved it, so awe inspiring.. All those sculptures and paintings that I have only ever drooled over in art books at home, to see 'in the flesh' was brilliant. The pictures don't do them justice, Rodin Giacometti, brilliant, loved it. Makes me want to get my hands into some clay again, and the good thing about that is that I will be able to soon, I'll have my own little place down by the sea in Hastings! But aaah, the things in there. I will definietly be going back soon, when I haven't had such a big night the evening before.

Right accross from the Tate is St Pauls Cathedral. Whenever I looked at it the first thing that would pop into my head was that episode from the goodies where the giant kitten wreaks havoc in London with its playful ways. It really is great though to see these things 'for real' when I've read so much about them, or seen the so often at home on telly. All I need now is to get one of those tandem bikes, or bikes for three to cycle around on and complete my England/London fantasy.

Tomorrow I am off to Hastings with Mark for a few days work. Nothing terribly exciting but it will put some much appreciated and needed cash in my pocket. And then soon enough we will be down there for good, or good-ish.

So the work situation here in the UK is proving to be a little more complicated than I first thought.... Still it's early days and things are on the way to getting sorted. Last week I went down to visit Ash in Worthing, and Steve, as he was down to visit Ash as well.

Was good as I got to end things properly with Steve and the whole divorce thing. And although it was a little strange at first, and throughout my stay there I'm glad that I went down there. Seems like won't be seeing too much more of Ash or Steve though.... I guess that's the way of these things and there's no regrets on my part, other than a little sadness at the ending of that era or part of my life. But everything keeps changing and it would be bloody boring if they stayed the same.

Going to Worthing proved to be reasonably successful as far as the job search went, and I have a few positions that I am waiting to hear back about. So fingers crossed that something comes up soon and I have some cash coming in shortly.

Mark and I went to look for a flat or house in Hastings (on the south coast) late last week as well and we've found a great little place which over looks the sea and a park. It's really pretty in Hastings - rolling hills, woods, cliffs and the sea!! Everything I could want. There's heaps of castles and ancient buildings around as well. Small winding streets and little lanes. It's beautiful and aside from wanting my own place, I'm looking forward to moving somewhere as picturesque and peaceful as there. Walks in the wood and snuggling up in front of the fire are definitely on the agenda when we get there.

So in a few weeks time we'll be down there and sorting out things for our new place! Furniture wise and such we don't have a lot but that too doesn't seem to be too much of a problem, things are being donated from friends who've just moved out of their place, and I have plenty of bits and pieces that I collected on my travels to make the place homely.

Getting a bank account and National Insurance number here is seemingly near impossible!! The bank wants me to have been in the country for 6 months before they will even give me an account, and national insurance say that I need to be working before I can have a number, and of course all of these things I need in order to get a job, work and get paid!! Arrrrgh, it's all going around in circles, but I'm sure I can work it out, one way or another. At least I'll have a home soon, which is a good start.

The people I have been staying with have been fantastic, and really done me a huge favour by giving me somewhere to stay while I sort all this out. Hopefully I will be able to return the favour one day, in some way.

Anyway, that's about it. I've been looking for work, and trying to sort mundane things like that out, so there isn't too much to write about. Once that's sorted though I'll be able to take a look around England and hopefully my blogs will become a little more interesting.

Ah ha! I'm in England and looking for work. A bit of a shock to the system, and not such a nice way to burst the old travel bubble, but as 'they' say, better sooner than later, although in this case I don't quite agree....Have only been here for about a week, and am staying with some friends of Marks. It's cold and damp, but seeing that it is the start of Autumn (my favorite season) I can't really expect temperatures similar to where I have been, plus I have a riot of colour awaiting me which more than makes up for the cold!

I've been a bad blogger as I have been using all my computer time on the job hunt, and getting about looking for work. It'll be pretty much the same until I do catch one - hopefully a nice juicey one too! Still it's paying off, I have 3 interviews this Monday, down in Brighton and that way, so hopefully something will come of it!

On Sunday I am off to the south to visit my friend -Ash - near Brighton. It's also where I am looking for work & wanting to live, I don't think I wanna get stuck in London, and being by the beach (even if it is full of pebbles) sounds better than the city. I can always come north for a visit to London when I want, and it's closer to France.... Everything is so damn close here it's BRILLIANT!

Looks like I will be bumping into Steve shortly too. He's down at Ash's place at the moment and is supposed to be leaving early next week. It'll be good to catch up and put a cap on everything from the past 2 years or so... Almost exactly 2 years since I have seen him, 1 week shy. Anyway if worse comes to worse, I can always leave!

Had no luck with a job with Oxam here, the contact I had leaves at the end of this week - today - and she suggested I do volunteer work to begin with, which although may be good, it won't feed me.... The only other job I found in charity work is in Northern Ireland, and I dunno if I wanna go there either... Still there is plenty to apply for and chase after here.

Anyway, that's about it. Enough of talking about work etc. I went into Earls Court the other day, just for a look about and my first experience on the train here. I got lost on the way back, but thankfully people here speak the same language, so I was able to get some good directions and find my way back. Haven't been all the way into the city yet, may leave that for a couple of weeks depending on what happens next week with these interviews..... Ahh here I go talking about working again. And all the travel stuff seems aeons away now.... Routine and normalicy....

Delhi! Don't think I will be here long enough to aquire the belly famous from these parts, but the town is crazy, but not as mad as Kathmandu I don't think. I arrived a few hours ago and am on the way to London - run outta cash and is best to go earn some more and then I can come back.

Nepal is amazing, loved it, loved the people and plan to go trekking as soon as I can. Nepal they say is 'Never Ending Love And Peace' And it's damn well true. Really enjoyed worshiping Shiva too - that dude's got some good shit goin' on!
India however I have been told is a matter of "I'll Never Do It Again" Still I'm not going to be here long enough to decide such things...

Everything has happened a bit quick and I'm still a little flustered from the flight from Kathmandu and running about trying to get the dates of my ticket to London changed for less than $200... What a fuckin sham huh?

My rafting was wicked, but I think I blogged that already... Met a girl from Holland on the bus back from Pokhara who'd spent 6 days trekking around near the Annapurna ranges (what I'm gonna do when I return, but for about 8 to 10 days, I reckon I can hack it, and I have found someone to guide me that I trust) Anyway, she ran into Maoists when she was on her 3rd day and they 'asked' her to make a donation to their cause at gun point. Being a crazy holland-ish chick she said no, she didn't want to get involved in their political situation and that they should leave the tourists alone. Her guide was sat there shitting himself. Anyway, they gestured at her again with the gun, so she gave in. But you're not going to believe this, after giving them the amount they demanded, they gave her a receipt!!! Said something on it like 'voluntary donation of x amount made to the Maoist cause' I said she should try to make a tax claim on in when she gets home... Bit bloody bizzare though dontcha think??

Aside from that little story there isn't so much else to say. Pokhara is a beautiful town. I walked up to the peace pagoda on the Sunday and checked out the Shiva cave and Devi falls on the way back down. The view from the Pagoda is gorgeous though (it's an hour walk up the 'mountain from Pokhara city) and the falls are amazing. The shive cave is basically a wet cave where someone has built a Shiva shrine. The depiction of the deity looks rather like a huge cock with a hand over it.... Hmmm. Still makes sense in a weird sorta way, as well as being the god for destruction Shiva is also the god of fertility. The best way to pay homage to this god is to smoke some good hash with mates, better than dressing in your Sunday best to go listen to some boring sermons I think. Hindi is a pretty interesting religion, and I learnt a whole heap about the different deities, although not all of them as there are about 40,000 and i won't bore you with the details of the ones I did get to know.

On the Monday before I caught my bus I went to the top of Sanrangkot Mountain (on a motorbike, walking before 6am isn't my idea of fun) for a view of fishtale mountain. Unfortunately there was too much cloud to see the mountain, but the views of the valley were priceless, and I'm still glad I braved the early hours. By the time I got to the buss stop the cloud had cleared a little and I got a glimps of the peak.... beautiful. Enough to make me wanna go there, or close by anyway.

Well my pretties, I am off to grab some food and try to sleep as I have to be up early to sort out this flight bullshit... Ahh it goes on but I expect it's character building.

Ahh Pokhara! Only arrived about an hour ago but have had a peek about town and it looks pretty peaceful and nice. The lake is huge and really pretty surrounded by huge mountains and forest... mmmm nice!

On the way here from Kathmandu I stopped for two days of rafting on the Trisuli river. What an adrenalin pumping ride!! Sooo much fun. The first day I was with a group made up of 3 Israiles and 3 Japanese. We all got along reasonably well, and the rapids were excellent!! Lots of high tides and water splashing into our raft. Great fun, and I have a few calouses now to prove how hard I am - Ha hahaha. The photos should be good too. When we stopped for lunch we were surrounded by about 4 little Nepali boys all playing in the river in various stages of undress. I got the camera out and what posers they all turned out to be!! Should be some good shots though - if my camera decided to work (it's been acting a bit strange..) They were happy with a 'Dunyabad' (Thank you) and no hands were put out expecting to be filled with rupees....
The second day was the same part of the river but a different group. I spent last night camping by the road out the front of the rafting place. Initially I was told we would be rafting in two places along the same river, but due to landslides we weren't able to. Ahh well today was also good. This time it was with 2 older Indian men - one who kept saying that he was very exciting for the rafting (but I managed not to laugh about that), a Spanish guy and his Irish girlfriend. Again all really nice people. The Indian guy who was very exciting was soo funny to watch. He absolutely loved the time and every swell that came over the raft he would squeal with pleasure. He had found his adventure.
We all shared the bus together to Pokhara, and I got talking to the exciting Indian (sorry I can't remember his name!) Somehow we ended up talking about books, and he was soo suprised that I didn't know his favorite author, James Vos Fapy (or something like that) I apologized and asked what books he had written, he said that he didn't as he was now dead... OK? So I asked what books he had written before he died, I don't think he understood the question second time around either, because he answered that this author wrote in Hindi! No bloody wonder I hadn't heard of him!

I went to the Pashupati temple a few days ago in Kathmandu. Everyone here wants to be paid for everything. I wandered around, saw a body burning by the river and a few others being preparded for cremation. A whole lotta hermits and holy men live there. Apparently they spend their days smoking grass and meditating which means that when they pass from this life they automatically reach Nirvana... Maybe I'm half way there with all the grass I've smoked??! Ha ha There was this one holy man - or Sadu - with dreds that more than reached the ground, they dragged along behind him when he walked. He asked if I wanted to take his photograph, which seemed like a good idea, but luckily I negotiated the price first - 2 photos for 20 rupees. This place is bloody insane, but I like it!

The bus trip today to Pokhara was on a local bus - my first in this country. The scenery was beautiful, and the bus an experience all it's own. The isle was stacked with our packs, tomatoes, other vegies and some chicks in a cardboard box - so sweet with their cheep cheep cheeping for half of the journey. Every 15 kms or so the bus would stop, and half the passengers would get off and walk about 10 metres up the road. While they were doing this a soldier would get on and check bags and things. Then the bus would start up again, drive 10 metres and pick up the people who'd gotten off and we'd continue on our way.

Oh I should fill you in on the dinner with the Nepali people. It turned out pretty well and I have made a friend! Dinner was delicious and going to a Nepali/Indian home was a whole new experience too. They had a 'boy' who does all the cooking and cleaning. They would yell from the living room what they wanted and he would appear a few moments later with whatever it was. I couldn't help saying dunyabad everytime he appeared, I hate being waited upon, and felt a bit like they were taking the piss. But they soon told me to stop thanking him, it was his job and I was embarassing him.... When dinner came around I asked if he was going to join us, but they said no he slept and ate in the kitchen. Apparently his family has worked for theirs for generations now, so I guess it must work. A whole new different world it truly is! I went around there again for dinner the next night as well as it was my last night in Kathmandu and they invited me again, saying I had to come or they would be offended. Again dinner was delicious and the company of Ronnie and his brother Dave is a good laugh. I go back to Kathmandu on Monday and they have promised to watch their favorite Bollywood movie with me on their wide screen tv... It's all a bit strange seeing people live like this when outside the fence the streets are so dirty and dusty, and the beggars and street sellers look so poor.

Nepal - Kathmandu, dusty, dirty, crazy and somehow at the same time reasonably calm... A strange concoction really and a heaving mass of people everywhere. I have no idea how they get trucks down the streets here, you can't really call them streets, little - tiny even - alley ways, that are sometimes too narrow for two lines of people. Still things seem to get done, and people get around, somehow!!

I went to the 'Monkey temple' the other day which was pretty cool, offering great views of the Kathmandu valley. I went with two of the Nepali guys from the guesthouse where I am staying. Pretty nice people, but the language barrier is sometimes a bit of a problem. One of them was coming onto me so hard and only in the first few hours that I had met him. Try explaining to someone in sign language and pidgin English that you like them as a friend but aren't going to be having sex with 'em. Not the easiest of tasks, but I though I had managed to make sense, until later that evening....

I went out with another guy from the guesthouse - a Hungarian/English guy who has spent the last 11 years traveling. He was a tour guide with intrepid for a few of those years and then decided he was over it and wanted to just be a traveler on his own - if only hey?? We got talking about the trek I had booked and where it was etc etc. As it turned out he reckoned I was getting ripped by at least $200 (USD) and advised that I cancel the expedition. Also apparently Chitwin National park is known as 'Shitwin' by the people who've been there. (Sounds a bit like the whole Kakadu thing - Kaka-don't) So I decided to go with his advice and talk with the travel agency in the morning.

After numerous beers we went back to the guest house, rang the door bell - which makes a sound somewhere between a scream and a whistle, quite strange really - and headed off to our separate rooms. Was pretty early really, just around midnight, but things in Kathmandu seem to shut up early, something to do with the self imposed curfew because of the maoist problems. There is a slightly fearful undercurrent here. Anyway, I got back to my room snibbed the door and fell into bed and asleep almost immediately. Next thing I know I am sat bolt upright in bed and screaming, my door was open and silhouetted there was one of the Nepali guys I had been to the monkey temple with that day. He said that he was 'only checking I was home safe, and would I like to smoke some hash with him'. Ahh yeah, right, at 2am when I have been woken up, scared shitless by someone coming into my room unannounced and half dressed.... What else would I be wanting to do then smoke hash with that very same person????

After explaining that he had scared me and I was trying to sleep and could he place go away several times, he did finally leave and I went back to sleep to nightmare about little Nepali men breaking into my room and other strange things... Not the best of experiences, but then it could've been worse huh?

Anyway next morning I cancelled my trekking and Chitwin, but am still doing the white water rafting. Then I'm heading onto Pokhara for some sightseeing and a few walks around the area on my own. Am kinda looking forward to getting away from the guesthouse I am in and Kathmandu in general, although it was only one bad experience, and there are many other beautiful things about this place.
I have done a bit of shopping and tomorrow intend to go and see the temple where they burn bodies, a little morbid but apparently a 'must see' if you are in Kathmandu.

Today I met a nice Indian/Nepali man in the street and sat and drank tea (seems to be a national pastime here) with him for a few hours while exchanging stories. I'm having dinner with him this evening at his place and trusting my instincts everything should be ok. I guess that sounds a bit bloody strange of me especially after reading the above story, but I think it will be ok. In any case he wasn't giving me any weird feelings, looks or comments.

The mountains still have their charm, even though I see them everyday I wake, they're massive and wild, a certain strength and peace about them as well which reminds me of the Nepali people themselves. The streets although dusty and dirty are filled with colour and action. Not really that smelly (generally) and you could spend hours (and I have) just sitting and watching the world pass by you in all its colour, bustling sounds and splendor. It really is a lovely place, and I wish I could spend more time here. Still all things come to an end and Nepal ain't going anywhere so I will be back again one day to try that elusive trek that I have decided not to do this time around.

Well that's about it for now, next time I blog I'll be in Pokhara! Supposed to be a beautiful place and quite different from here. The town sits beside a lake and is surrounded by the Annapurna mountain ranges, and some others that I don't know the names of. Sounds really peaceful and some have even described it as magical. I shall let you know!!

Well here I am in the lofty peaks of Nepal, well actually in the Kathmandu Valley, but still it's about 2500 feet or metres (dunno which) above sea level, so still pretty damn high...

I arrived only yesterday and here is a complete change from SE Asia.. From the people to the streets, the food and just the general feel of the place.

Kathmandu is a knot of narrow streets and alley ways, all looking pretty much the same and without street names. Makes it hard to navigate your way around, and you almost need a guide just to get to the internet store! I have been lost twice already, but have managed to make it back to my guesthouse unscathed!!

Today I went to check out the Buddhist temple - or what is locally known as the 'monkey temple'. Not because they worship monkeys there (although they are protected when on temples grounds) but because there are loads of monkey families hanging out there. Ready to steal food straight from your hand or entertain you with their crazy antics. The place really smelt, but aside from that was pretty cool. I got my first 'tikka' which is a red, gold, silver, and yellow dot at the top and centre of my forehead. The red is made up of dye and rice so it stands out like a big zit, and is then decorated with dots of the other colours.

I have also booked a trek and a few other things that will keep me occupied for the 2 & 1/2 weeks that I am here. White water rafting, trekking, and elephant safari and a few other things shall keep me busy and away from the souvenir shops - hopefully!!

Speaking of shopping though, I did have to (and still do) get a few things for my trek. A coat and boots. Got the coat today which is an amazingly beautiful Nepali number, the embroidery details is wicked, but is reasonably plain in the colours so that I can still feel comfortable wearing it at home. Long warm and made of pure wool!

Boots are tomorrows purchase, and probably one of those wall hangings I keep seeing everywhere. Then it's enough spending until after my trek at least!!

It's almost the end of my travels, which although is kinda sad, I am also looking forward to getting back to life kinda as I know it. Will be good to catch up with friends in the UK that I haven't seen in years, and to be speaking the native language again!!

All good things must come to an end, but I wanna know why that has to be!!

I am back in Bangkok after 9 days of BLISS on Ko Lanta. The beach there is amazing (think I said that though) the National Park was excellent, saw heaps of Monkeys (in Thai - LING! I learnt something new!) and a huge lizard or two. Butterflies were flitting all around the jungle where we walked. It was a really good day that one, walking around there. And we were lucky enough to get in for free... Had I mentioned that already too?

Marks brother Lee turned up with his girlfriend Jemma a few days before we had to leave, which was really nice. I got to meet some of Marks family and it was good to have some others around. A deserted beach is all well and good until you want to talk to someone...! Ha ha. We went snorkeling with them on our last day there. Took a long tail boat out to a few of the islands around there (well we didn't, but the boat person did) they stopped at some good spots and we just jumped over the side into underwater wonderland. Amazing deep water snorkel action! Saw a huge jelly fish, lotsa colorful fish - some angel fish and heaps of others that I don't know the names of. But again the fish, and the colors were endless. I had a bong with the guys on the boat after our first stop. Good Thai weed! But then when we got to the next stop for some more coral and fish action I had the munchies.... Coral and live raw fish have never looked so tasty! There was this yellow soft coral that looked just like buttered popcorn, and made my stomach grumble, right after which a fish with all the gelati colors swam right by me.... Mmmmm gelati and popcorn. I was starting to think like Homer. The way back in the boat was pretty flat and calm. The driver(?) started talking about when it was wavy though and how some of the tourists start to cry when it gets a little rough. He was laughing so much about it, and mimicking '....They say mama, papa, and cry, cry, but no mama or papa for them - ha hahahahaha....'

Had a massage while I was there too. Out on the decking looking at the waves roll in while I was greased up with coconut oil and rubbed all over until all my muscles felt like jelly. Soo good, and then a few beers, plates of mussels, prawns and fish for dinner. The food there was tooo good - even I enjoyed seafood which normally I wouldn't touch with a barge pole. But I'm a convert now, which is probably worse than a non-believer.

We came back to Bangkok on the Thursday. I so didn't want to leave. The place was pure magic. Still Mark had to catch his plane (this morning) and I have to catch mine tomorrow morning. The bus back was the usual hell ride, uncomfortable seats (especially after 20 hours), a crap movie, and a driver that can't drive.... All the usual fare really and nothing to complain about. Pretty good in fact compared to Cambodia or even Vietnam.

Anyway, Marks gone, I'm on my own again, will shortly be on the road again too. Looking forward to a change of scenery - mountains and more mountains. Don't have much idea at this stage where I will go or what I will do. Shall figure that one out on the plane and today after reading up on the place. Plenty of time for all that! But for now it's goodbye to Thailand - parting is such sweet sorrow, and I will definitely return again one day. The love affair has only just begun!