Entries from December 2004 ↓

We took the train to Reading last Friday where Fiona spent some time when she was 18 working at the Cavisham Girls School. It’s basically like Geelong, i.e. a hole, but we had a pretty cool day walking around the place. We met up with some of her old drinking mates from the pub, these people are serious drinkers, i kept up but just didn’t remember anything after the 3rd pint. Thankfully the pub was conveniently mere steps away from the train station and we successfuly stumbled home.

Sunday Week ago I went to Spitalfields Market which is in East London near Liverpool St. This is a renowned Sunday market in London that is similar to the Victoria Market, expect much smaller and with a better range. There were independent fashion stalls, second hand clothing, amazing food stalls (cheese, wine, pastries, fruits and vegies) which gave away free samples and a lot of people! Not everything is that cheap but it is a fun English Sunday tradition.
We have been fairly slack this past week. I’ve been in bed with the flu and Fiona has been nursing me to good health. One of those bitchy nurses that shoves pills down your throat and looks like she is going to beat you up if you don’t act right, but a lovely gesture nonetheless. We both went shopping in Oxford St which was madly populated by hordes of last minute shoppers and certainly not as fun as shopping at Chaddy on Christmas eve. The general christmas ambience is pretty special though, everywhere you look people are walking around with shopping bags and there are bells and carols all over the place. I love bells. We have a church right behind our apartment that has been doing 5 minute bell sessions that interrupt any activity that you are engaged in, including sleep. I love bells.

Christmas Eve we headed for Trafalgar Square for what we thought would surely be a major carols gathering. Wrong. We walked through SOHO and Covent Garden through streets alive with Christmas celebrants, arrive at Trafalgar Square and its empty. Well there were people there but it would’ve been a better carol service if it was empty. Maybe we were too early, but Trafalgar Square is not a carols destination. Suprising, yes. We decided to drown our sorrows at the local pub. Alas, food was no longer being served. The supermarket was also closed so we couldn’t buy food to take back to the apartment. All that was open was McDonalds and Burger King and I couldn’t find Turkey, Mash and Peas on their menus whatsoever.

Comments: 

Campbell (January 28th, 2005 at 7:09 pm)
Poor story, so lonely without any comments.

I still can’t believe the Tsunami that has caused so much damage throughout Asia. The footage we have seen is fairly basic over here but its scary to see some of the Thailand beaches that we were at not long ago be destroyed in such a manner. One of Fiona’s friends we thought was on Ko Phi Phi but Fiona called and found she was luckily on Ko Phangnang, away from danger. Unluckily however her plans included NYE at Phi Phi which has now been cancelled, at least she’s safe. No wonder Phi Phi has been closed, I saw a brief shot of it on Sky News UK and it was absolutely trashed. Everything on this island is built right on the beach and there are boats all over the place, there would have been no avoiding the waves. I guess its lucky that it hit when it did (10AM or so), because by about midday the oceans are full of charter boats of snorkelling tourists (such as what we were on). Anyway, surreal stuff and hope everyone we know travelling at the moment is safe.

Hope everyone had a great Christmas! We had a massive day, didn’t get into bed until 1AM or so. The day was great fun and helped us forget our homesickness, well the excessive drugs did anyway. Tam cooked up a storm including Turkey, Vegies and Gravy. We even had antipasto starters to prove we could bring Brighton to London. We drank a case of wine (Fiona mostly) and several batches of punch and played music to the wee hours. At about 5PM I decided to whip up a Plum Pudding, 3 hours of steaming later the masterpiece was complete! Noone else actually wanted any plum pudding, so i proceeded to down half a plum pudding myself (it was small, honest), not as good as grandmas original though. There was not so much boxing as there was recovering, eating and watching TV yesterday. While I’m sure you all dashed through the corridors of Myer in the city or sat down to watch Pakistan take the initiative, we watched 50 First Dates and lots of shit UK television.

We’re hoping to get off our asses this week and actually see the sights of London. Will be starting the job hunt soon which i’m not looking forward to but i’m sure it will all work out. We have bought tickets for Fabric NYE which is a huge club near our apartment. I don’t dance but it will be fun i’m sure. Great getting emails from people back home, hope you are enjoying the pictures and send lots more! You stay classy Australia.

Comments: 

Ross (December 29th, 2004 at 12:58 am)
Great Pics,you still need a new hat,recently married Melbourne footballer Troy Broadbridge missing off Phi Phi and estimated death toll now 60,000. Did you get the apartment? E–mail you soon with requested recipes. Aussies now in charge–Pakistan crumbled. Take care. Dad

Trafalgar Square Christmas Eve. More words soon.

Comments:

Jess (December 27th, 2004 at 8:37 am)
Hello my friends! Photos are awesome… making me a bit teary. Lots damn cold though. So good to “see” everyone. Stay warm. Happy New Year! xox

Jess (December 27th, 2004 at 8:38 am)
“Looks” damn cold. Not lots.

Campbell (December 27th, 2004 at 11:55 am)
Hope you had a fun birthday on Sunday J!

It’s fairly shoddy but the photos have finally been published. Enough threatening emails Sass! Just click the thumbnail image under each story. Update on our last couple of days later today. Bye Bye.

Comments:

Ross (December 21st, 2004 at 6:27 am)
Cam. What the, are you doing up at 5.11 am? Just home or still on Thai time? I’ll go searching for thumbnail images, Take care Mate. Love to you both. Dad.

Jenny (December 21st, 2004 at 6:33 am)
Thanks for the photo’s we had a good laugh!!!!

Ross (December 21st, 2004 at 7:09 am)
Great shots, great captions - its like we were there! Assume you want a new hat for Christmas??!! Big night tonite–top of the table Championship clash, Ipswich vs Wigan

Campbell (December 21st, 2004 at 10:44 am)
My sleeping habits are still pretty bad, combined with a massive night out with Fiona’s ex-drinking mates in Reading and a developing flu. I think i’ve decided to temporarily barrack for Chelsea, the English press in conspiracy with Man Utd and Arsenal are giving it to them, saying they can’t win. If Ipswich make it back i’ll change.
Jenny, we got a call from the flower drum at 5AM asking for Cam. Fiona was asleep so i didn’t know it might’ve been your Dad after us. How’s his head this morning? Couple of Beroccas will fix it.

Sarah (December 21st, 2004 at 10:46 pm)
I will STILL send threatening emails! Great pics. But you obviously had the same experence with ‘Wat’ overload in Thailand….if I EVER see another temple in my life it will bee too soon. Tell Fi she looks so hot in the pics!

Sue (December 22nd, 2004 at 7:18 am)
Just what you need…your mum telling you to rest and drink loads of water. Love to you both. Great photos - you both looked so relaxed!

Zoe (December 23rd, 2004 at 4:58 am)
Great photos guys…look like you are having a ball, give Pimoni a gigantic hug for me xxx

I forget to mention something funny from Thailand. Fiona ended up dragging me into a show on Patpong Road. We were lead up this winding staircase into the dodgiest dance bar in the world. Forced to buy a drink we watched in both awe and disgust as the show took place. Shortly after we got there a ladyboy took a fancy for Fiona, shuffling her way along the bench to sit close and personal. I have never seen Fiona drink her beer so quick. In a rush to do more shopping perhaps?
We’ve just moved into our caretaker role at Fiona’s cousins house in Chancery Lane, right in the middle of London. It’s a really cool place, broadband internet, sky tv…[content missing]

Comments:

Jenny (December 19th, 2004 at 10:33 pm)
Cam you make me laugh!!!!

Sarah (December 19th, 2004 at 11:05 pm)
Photos?

Sarah J (December 21st, 2004 at 3:28 am)
Yes damn it, we want photos….and Fi keep up the shopping…thats why your there right?? ha…xx