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Time I think for another quick update. I've been awfully neglectful of my blog since arriving ... so much to do and so little time. Same old story. This time compounded though by limited internet access. I'm having a fantastic time though ... seeing and doing heaps, and enjoying every minute of it.
I walked practically all over London with Tori ... my legs weren't too impressed with me, but we saw heaps! Lots of highlights, and all very impressive. I won't go into too much detail ... but it was fantastic. Friday night we decided to find our way to a cinema, and saw The Pirates of the Caribbean ... which I loved! Completely! It was sooo funny ... Johnny Depp was absolutely brilliant! I could easily see it many times over. If you haven't seen it yet ... do! It's thoroughly worth it.
On Sunday I took Suz's suggestion and joined one of the hop-on hop-off sightseeing tours of London ... fantastic way to see the city in a very short space of time. Plus they provided commentary, which means I even learnt a bit about the city as well. And the price included a boat cruise on the River Thames as well, which was kind of fun.
Monday was a Bank Holiday ... so I took the opportunity to relax basically. Found a local shopping centre, but that's about all. And yesterday I started meeting with the nanny agencies. I'm meeting with another agency today, and my first interview with a family is this afternoon. A little nervous, but should all be good.
So that's about it. That's what I've been up to. Loving it here where I'm staying ... everyone is so friendly, I'm going to be sad to leave. Looking forward to settling in with a family though, so I have a more permanent base and can start travelling a little more easily.
A few random observations and comments. Not only is there a Starbucks within walking distance (two in fact, one in either direction), but there's a Haagen Dazs cafe up the road as well!! Petrol is ridiculously expensive ... 77.9p, and it hasn't changed since I arrive. Everything is so expensive though! Or at least, it is when you take the exchange rate into consideration.
I haven't watched any tv since I arrived ... this must be close to a record for me! Some of the movies we got in Australia ages ago are only just coming out here! I thought we were behind the UK with everything, but it seems not. What A Girl Wants for example ... only just coming out here!
Hmm, I'm sure there was more I was going to comment on, but now that I'm sitting at the computer I can't think what. Oh well, it shall have to wait. I'm heading out of the city today for my interview, so I should probably figure out exactly where I need to go. I'll try to post a little more frequently from now on. Take care everyone! Bye for now.
Well, I'm in London!! I have been for over a day in fact. I arrived just before 7am yesterday ... then spent the better part of the morning collecting baggage, going through passport control, customs, etc, and finding my way to where I'm staying. All went smoothly though, so I can't complain.
The flights were fantastic!! 23 hours in the air all up, plus a couple of hours on the ground. I managed to get a window seat in an exit row ... so impressed!! I had all the leg room I could want, and I could get up and move around so easily. That was all the way from Sydney to London ... fantastic!
I spent yesterday afternoon up the road checking the shops and so forth ... there's a Starbucks within walking distance - very cool! I also organised a new sim card, so I have a UK mobile phone number now. And I sorted out my bank accounts too. I've spoken to all the agencies and arranged times to meet them all. I think I'm pretty much organised.
I'm about to head out to Heathrow to pick up my other suitcase (the one I sent separately a couple of weeks ago). I was supposed to pick it up yesterday, but with all my other luggage as well I didn't bother. Don't think my arms would have been too impressed with me.
Tori's coming down today, and staying the night ... so I'll spend the next couple of days doing some touristy type things with her. No plans yet ... but I'm sure we'll have fun. So much to do, so little time. Always the way.
Anyway, I better get moving ... I'm supposed to be down at the tube station at about 9.30. And it looks like it might rain, so I should probably go grab my umbrella. Hmm, and a jacket. Bye!
I think I might be packed! I'm rather impressed. Or at least, I would be ... if I wasn't so tired. My bags are sooo heavy though! I really hope they don't charge me extra! Hopefully I'll get away with a few extra kilos.
Oh, and I'm pleased to announce that my excitement returned to me! Tiredness seems to have dulled it a little at the moment, but I'm sure it will return once again after I get some sleep. Luckily I don't have to be at the airport until after midday.
Anyway, I better keep moving. I'm not done yet. Still a few things left on my to do list which I really should do before going to bed, otherwise I doubt they'll get done at all. At least this way I'll be sure to sleep on the flight!
Have I mentioned that I'm over good byes? They're just too sad. I don't do sad. I'm not saying good bye anymore. I'm not saying see you, or bye, or talk to you soon, or anything that relates to good bye either. I'll wave. That's all. And it's still too sad.
Some random comments.
I shouldn't see scary movies. I don't get any value for money. I spend most of the movie with my hands in front of my face. I'm too easily frightened. It's silly. But John Cusack was great!
It was my last day at Starlight today ... they had a surprise party for me! I so wasn't expecting it! I felt so special. =) Yay!
I visited my prac family on Friday - the family I did my prac placement with when I was studying last year. The boys (twins, just turned a year old) are walking now!! They're so adorable!
I'm tired. I'm sure I had more random comments, but I can't think of any. Just over 60 hours until I leave ... I don't want to waste any time sleeping! I have so much to do still! But I probably won't survive without sleep, so I guess I better crawl into bed.
I seem to be going through one of those blogging phases where I have so much happening I just don't have time to post! Almost an entire week without an entry ... it's quite sad really, but understandable I guess.
My flight to London is quickly approaching ... I leave on Wednesday! I should be so excited, and until a couple of days ago I was!! But suddenly I've had to start saying good bye to everyone ... and it's so sad! I'm getting awfully depressed by the whole experience.
It's quite unusual for me actually. I wasn't ready for it. I don't usually get this sad saying good bye. And it's not that I'm not used to it, although I guess flying to the other side of the world is a little different from flying two hours to Melbourne.
It's just so awful to think I won't see all these people for 18 months! I'm going to miss everyone so much! Even all my friends in Melbourne are going to seem so much further away.
That said, I'm sure the excitement will return soon enough!! So much to look forward to, and such a huge adventure ahead of me ... it will be hard not to get excited again. I've started hearing about potential jobs already, and a family phoned me from England the other night.
Ooh, plus this time next week I'll be having a fantastic time in London with my friend Tori, who I haven't seen in years! Definitely room for excitement. If only it wasn't for all the good byes. They're awful!
Anyway, I should get some sleep. A few minor things to mention first ... I've got a new layout at my Anne fanlisting! A new name too ... I finally thought of one. I've given my All Saints fanlisting to Steph (thanks Steph!!), because I won't have time to keep it updated. I'm also looking for a new owner for my Elmo fanlisting (any suggestions?). Hmm, I think that's all!
I can hear the rain on the roof at the moment, and my bed is calling me ... so I think it's time for sleep. 'Night!!
I need to slow down time! Or perhaps a pause button would come in handy. I'm exhausted. Less than nine days now until I leave! I sent a suitcase off to London today ... 40kg! It's huge, and I can barely lift it. Should arrive in London just before me.
I've still got to get my check-in and cabin baggage sorted, but that should be easier now that I've sent the majority of my stuff. Basically I just need to pack whatever is left, and hope that it all fits. Have I mentioned before that I hate packing? I think perhaps I have.
So, meanwhile, what else has been happening? I can't seem to think what. Things are slowly starting to come together though ... I think I'm almost getting near to being organised. Strange, I felt like I had so much to say ... and now I can't think of anything.
The tv situation at the moment is rather convenient. Considering how much I typically love watching on tv, it's quite impressive how little I'm going to miss it. JAG has just returned, so I'll miss it ... but at least I got to see Bud survive! (Harm even cried! Awww!) Secret Life season finale was on this evening, and the Buffy finale is on at the moment, so they're out of the way. I've avoided MDA this season, so I don't remember what I'll be missing. Gilmore Girls isn't on at the moment anyway. I'll probably miss All Saints a little, but it hasn't been exciting me much lately. Otherwise it's just Rove and The Glass House. Oh, and Australian Idol ... but I'll survive. ;)
Anyway, I should stop discussing tv, and get some sleep. Early start tomorrow, and a full day too. Ekka holiday on Wednesday though, yay! Oh, exciting news I nearly forgot to share ... two of my favourite people in the world got engaged on the weekend! Yay! I'm so excited and happy for them!! Now I just have to hope I don't miss the wedding.
Hmm, I need sleep! Oh, but before I go, what's with the weather in England at the moment? I don't want to deal with 38 degree temperatures ... I could stay home for that!
I just phoned England for the first time. I've received quite a few calls from England, but this was the first time I've actually dialled all the international prefixes and stuff. Kind of exciting in a way, but ultimately a rather dull call ... I had to phone the bank. Despite only just opening my UK bank account, they seem to want to close it because I haven't used it in two years. I haven't even arrived yet, of course I haven't used it! Oh well, seems it was just a silly mix up ... hopefully should all be sorted fairly soon.
I'm excited by such silly things though ... all the recorded messages had English accents! I mean, of course they did ... it's England ... but so cute! I wonder how long before an English accent no longer sounds like an accent. I guess the novelty will eventually wear off. Ohh, and how long do you have to live in a country before you start speaking with the accent? After 18 months it should be noticable right? I hope so! An English accent would be so cool!
What's happened to all my time?? Only two weeks to go, and I'm so not organised yet! I have plenty of lists though. ;) Things to do, things to organise, things to buy, people to contact, questions to ask ... I practically need a list to keep my lists organised. ;) How tragic.
My sister is now in Darwin. She left on Saturday night ... gone to work at a crocodile park until the end of the year! So I won't see her again until I'm back from the UK. Long time! She's splitting her time between working at the park, and going out bush to catch and study the wild crocs ... scary stuff! Have I mentioned that we're as different as two sisters could be? Crazy.
I'm going camping this weekend. Just in case I didn't have enough to do already. I'm kind of excited though. We're taking our Girl Guides camping, just for one night, to our local camping ground ... I've been there a million times before and I know the place backwards, so I really shouldn't be that thrilled. But the girls are all so incredibly excited, I guess it's rubbed off. Should be fun! And probably a little cold.
Meanwhile, I need to send a suitcase off to London early next week ... so I have to start packing really soon! I usually pack last minute, so trying to do it so far ahead of time is just bizarre. I have to consider what's going in all my bags too, so I know I have enough space (and more importantly, weight) left in my check-in baggage. Too hard. Weight restrictions suck.
Anyway, I better go get some sleep I think. I'm sure I had more to say, but I can't think what, so it will have to wait for another time. 'Night!
I've been missing too many of these, and despite not having any particular interest in the questions this week, I've decided to make an effort and actually participate! So here it is ... the Friday Five!
1. What time do you wake up on weekday mornings?
That totally depends on what I have on that day. Yesterday for example, I got up at about 5am! This morning, a little after 7am. My work schedule is rather chaotic at the moment, as is the rest of my life.
2. Do you sleep in on the weekends? How late?
If I don't have anything on, sure! Usually my weekend is equally if not more hectic than weekdays. Tomorrow I'm sleeping in though!
I can sleep terribly late if I let myself, but I try not to ... if I sleep past about 8.30 - 9ish I usually feel awful for the rest of the day, so it's not worth it.
3. Aside from waking up, what is the first thing you do in the morning?
Make my bed, then shower. How unexciting. I guess sometimes I turn my radio on first.
4. How long does it take to get ready for your day?
Forever!! I take such a long time to do stuff in the mornings! I'm usually half asleep and everything takes twice as long as usual. I can do all the same stuff in the afternoon in about half an hour, but in the morning it takes me closer to an hour. Longer if I wash my hair.
5. When possible, what is your favourite place to go for breakfast?
Hmm, I'm not sure I have a favourite place. Breakfast is something that usually happens in a rush when there's time. I guess the Pancake Parlour was good. Anywhere that serves pancakes suits me in fact.