I have began to wonder who's stupid idea it was for me to leave a balmy average of 30 odd degrees celsius in Mildura, Victoria to come to a freezing cold - well below freezing really - climate. You go from walking outside where the wind is so cold it's like a slap in the face from a frozen fish, to the stiffling heated buildings everywhere. It's this constant stripping off and layering back up. And to make it worse, I've discovered that glasses don't like going from subzero temperatures to heated rooms - they fog up! I can see my contacts getting more and more use in this weather.
The Jolly Fenman was a great way to herald in the New Year. Just as I'd imagined an English pub to be, this didn't dissappoint. The silly decision to drink Stella Artois because they just don't sell a good draught over here, resulted in us waking up with splitting headaches the next day. I'm starting to believe Alana's motto that Stella does bad things to good people!
Walking around London was just like being in the middle of a game of Monopoly - it wasn't that we intended it that way, but everywhere you go there's some street or place that is straight from the game. It kept us highly amused for a good half a day. Did the obligatory viewing of Buckingham Palace - was going to send my Mum a pic saying "found a new place to live" but as usual, thought I'd find that a hell of a lot funnier than anyone else. I do have to applaud the guards for playing Michael Jackson's Thriller and the theme to Star Wars during the changing of the guards. I bet it's the guards little joke to hear the murmers from the crowds as they realise what the song is - I mean hey, standing there not moving for hours on end can't be too thrilling. Either that, or they're songs from the Queen's private collection.
Another thing I've decided is that Stonehenge is the weirdest thing i've ever seen. You drive for hours through hills (flat land according to the tour guide, I think she needs to visit Mildura and then work out her definition to flat) and then all of a sudden here's these rocks, in the middle of nowhere! The audio guide was well worth getting, it was great to hear all your questions about this place answered with "We just don't know" (in my best posh British accent). Also discovered here the best way to get someone to take a picture of you and your travelling buddy is to try and do the long arm shot of yourselves and you'll have people offering to take it for you. Could be a handy piece of knowledge.
With both of us (Carley and myself) a little fluey, we thought we'd take the waters at Bath to cure our ailments. Only to find out that you can't anymore, and it looks pretty gross anyway. So we had a wonder around the Roman Baths for a bit instead. It's a pretty awesome feat really - strange that they have been there for so long and underneath the city. The city itself was really pretty - These lovely Georgian terraces (with the six panel windows - our tour guide was slightly obsessed) were just out of a historical romance novels. I'll never be able to read one again without picturing it all.
Overall my 6 days in London really weren't enough and I can't wait to get back there and explore some more. But from here, it's Dublin, Ireland where the hunt for work (and a life too) begins. Hope it's not snowing there like it was in London.
