Dear John...The Gala Event

Yes, it's true! The day after last week's failed attempt to see Dear John, I received an e-mail from LoveFilm telling me that I had won their Dear John competition...a ticket to the Gala Screening...PLUS a Q&A with Channing Tatum and Amanda Seyfried after the movie! So not only do I get to see the movie (finally!), I get to meet the stars up close. I didn't mention it earlier, in case I couldn't get there for some reason and then that would have been a really boring post!

After I had arranged another early afternoon off work, I made the trip into the city for the second time today (I had taken the kids to The Transport Museum this morning), to the Prince Charles Cinema in Leicester Square and arrived a whole hour early, happy to stand in the cold and the rain, until they opened the doors at 6.00pm.

I managed to get a seat four rows from the front and without giving too much away, the movie was brilliant (better than the book, especially at the end...that's all I'll say!).

As the credits were rolling, out came Channing and Amanda for the Q&A session that lasted about half an hour. Can I just be all girly and teenager-y (?) for a minute? Yes? OK. Guess what?? Channing walked right past me and in one of my photos (above) he is looking right at me!! He is just yummy!

OK. Back to acting my age now! It was a great night out and you just have to see the movie.

Sunday Snapshot

I had to work this afternoon so, after church, I took the kids to Kew Bridge Steam Museum...which, to my surprise, actually turned out to be a fun day out for all!

Dear John...The Non-Event

I bet you thought my next post would be about how great it was to see Dear John in the city on Tuesday night, right?

Well, I didn't get to see it at all! My whole house (both bosses and me...strangely the kids are fine) have been struck down with gastro since Monday, a fact that not only ruined my whole night out on Tuesday, but is now in it's third day and I've had enough. And, now I'll have to wait until April to see Dear John at the movies...but not for free!

The only upside of having been confined to the house, has been some quality DVD-watching time (New Moon was out on Monday!), but even all the old movies are getting a bit boring now.

I'm looking forward to the weekend and being able to get out of the house...oh, and maybe eat a meal too!

Sunday Snapshot

Umm...I didn't actually go anywhere today (other than Sainsbury's), so here's an old pic from early days in London.


Spring flowers in Regents Park.

Dear John...The Movie

Turns out that I don't have to wait until April to see Dear John at the movies because....

I JUST WON FREE TICKETS TO AN EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW SCREENING NEXT TUESDAY!!

And on a facebook competition, can you believe it?

And who says I never win anything? Oh yeah...me! Because it's usually true.


Hang on. Will there be red carpet? Will I need to buy a new dress, shoes, handbag? Maybe not, but I think a box of tissues may be in order.

Sunday Snapshots

Today was the St Patrick's Day Parade in London...La Fheile Padraig!

Dear John

I have just finished reading the book "Dear John" by Nicholas Sparks.

I should have known what to expect since he also wrote "The Notebook" (I haven't read the book but the movie left me reeling for days after and I have only ever watched it once).

The first I heard of "Dear John", the movie, was that a few of my friends on facebook had seen it, loved it, and since I discovered that it stars Channing Tatum (if you don't know who he is, check him out. You won't be sorry!), I knew this would be one to see. But, after finding out that it's not on here until April, I did something I don't usually do...I deliberately read the book first.

I don't want to give away any spoilers on purpose but in case I do, I won't be upset if you stop reading this post right now!

After working my way through almost a whole box of tissues, I got to the end of the book. I learned that I am a lover of the fairytale. If it was up to me, every story would have a happy ending...or at least the ending that I want!

So, if you're looking for a good read and you don't mind a book that will make you cry so much that you'll never be able to read it on the bus, then I can recommend this one. I just hope the movie can live up to it.

But if not, I really don't mind. Two hours spend watching Channing Tatum on the big screen will be worth every penny of the 9 pound ticket price!

Not your average day at the office

OK. So I am determined to write more often, even if it's about nothing. Apologies in advance.

I have been thinking lately that all I seem to say about my new career makes it sound like a walk in the park (no pun intended!). But it's actually exhausting and sometimes draining work.

The average day might consist of a 7.30am start to help get the kids ready for school, making sure that smocks are on, sports bags contain sports gear and not a princess dress, teeth are cleaned, shoes are on (and on the right feet), kitchen is cleaned up after the breakfast chaos and coats put on and zipped up. Then it's out the door, remembering to lock up behind us and into the car, making sure that all items actually get from the front door to the car, both kids are strapped in and have sufficient reading material for the journey to school. Trust me, searching for just the right tractor book is not something I want to do at the last minute!

Next comes the actual journey to school which can take anywhere from 20 minutes to 1 hour, depending on London traffic, the whole time being filled with the eternal "why ?" questions and "What does that sign say? The one with the thing? We just drove past it! What did it SAY??", while trying to concentrate on the road.

Arriving at the first school, it's out of the car for both, trying to keep an eye on 4-year-old, while his sister runs screaming around the yard with all her fellow 6 year old classmates and me chatting politely to the other mums and nannies at the gate. Then it's 8.45am, the eldest is safely in her classroom, then it's back in the car for me and 4-year-old, in the mad dash to his school...in the total opposite direction!

Ding-ding: round two, with more screaming and chatting (by the kids and nannies, respectively...although sometimes this can be the other way around!) and then both kids are in class and I have some peace until lunch time.

The first school pick up I usually do on foot, which is a good 30 minutes from home, but it's a nice walk...if it's not raining! The walk home is usually through the woods, where we can collect anything from sticks to bunches of wild chives. Back home for a hot lunch, possibly a playdate, a walk/scooter ride to the park or to feed the ducks or just trains, trains and more trains! Not forgetting to clean up the kitchen, load the dishwasher or empty the rubbish, as required.

Before I know it, it's time for School Pick Up #2, in the car this time. 4-year-old usually falls asleep straight away and I use the time waiting for the school gate to open as my lunch break and the chance to read a few pages of a book. 6-year-old collected, it's time to head home, to the library or to ballet, depending on the day (and the mood!), afternoon snack is served and then it's play until dinner time (after I've cleaned up the kitchen, loaded yet more stuff into the dishwasher, tidied away the contents of the school bags and helped with any homework).

While I'm cooking dinner, the kids usually play or might watch a bit of TV. The eating of dinner can take anywhere from 20 minutes to 1 hour, depending on what it is and the mood...again! Then it's time for bath, pyjamas to be put on, teeth cleaned, clothes for tomorrow sorted out, water for the bedside table refreshed, stories chosen and read and finally cuddles and tucking the kids into bed.

While they slip off into dreamland, I'm back down in the kitchen, loading the rest of the dishes into the dishwasher, cleaning the kitchen and emptying the rubbish, as required.

It makes me tired just reading all of that. My full appreciation goes out to all the mums and nannies who have been doing this for a lot longer than I have.

But with all the running around and constant questions, you have the moments that make it all worth while. Yesterday, 4-year-old said to me, after finishing his dinner: "I really like you. I think I'm going to keep you forever".

No one ever said that to me at the office!

Sunday Snapshot (and a little bit more!)

Today was one of those gorgeous winter-sunshine days that London turns on every now and then purely, I believe, just to prove to the rest of the world that they can have blue skies here. Still bitterly cold, though!

After church this morning, I wandered down Piccadilly to Fortnum and Mason where, if I had a spare 15 pounds, I could have purchased an oven-baked tarantula direct from Cambodia (True! I wouldn't lie to you about something like that!). Choosing to pass on the cooked creepy-crawlies, the scorpion vodka (sadly, also true!) and chocolate-coated ants (true, again!) on offer in their foodhall (think I'll stick with Harrods from now on!), I headed back out to the street, made my way past The Ritz Hotel, through Green Park, past Buckingham Palace, down The Mall and back to the tube station at Embankment.

Londoners and tourists alike were out enjoying the sunshine that you could actually feel, at the same time as the Arctic winds all the way to your bones.

It was such a great day out that I am choosing to block out all memory of my journey home, consisting of two trains and one over-crowded, slow-as-a-week-of-wet-Sundays bus, filled with noisy teenagers...

Bliss.

A Piece of Home

Assuming that it was going to be a wet day (I really need to stop listening to weather forecasts here!), I headed out to Westfield London on this lovely sunny day.

Which was good thing because the place was very quiet. I have missed mall shopping since being in the UK and there is a lot to be said for being able to do all your shopping under one roof. High Street shopping was a novelty for me when I first arrived and after battling Oxford Street on one-too-many manic Sunday afternoons, being back in familiar surrounds was a treat.

Although the shops are different, I could have been at any Westfield back home, and that is something I need right now. Not that I have had too much homesickness, but just little things have set me off lately. It started about 2 weeks ago when my skype connection cut out in the middle of calling home for my niece's 11th birthday, then one night this week, while cooking sausages I discovered that simple tongs are just something that the greater British public does not seem to feel a need for. See? Little things.

But that seems to have passed now and I'm sure it will hit me again later on. Just one of the "joys" of being an expat, I guess.

It was nice to be out of suburbia too. I feel like I have been stuck here the last couple of weeks, up to my elbows in baked beans on toast, school runs, birthday parties and play-dates.

I feel much refreshed after my little piece of home today (I wish I had some Tim Tams, though!) and may just head back into the city tomorrow. Must remember to check TFL for travel updates and line closures after I foolishly jumped on my usual bus today, without checking online first, and found my line closed...on a Saturday! I made it eventually, after a very long bus trip, and if that's the worst that happens to me on public transport in London, I figure I'm doing OK.

Sunday Snapshot

This is where I spent my Sunday - at a disco party with 20 six-year-olds.

Sunday Snapshot

Tower Bridge on a cold, grey London afternoon

Cherry Cola Splits

I'm just enjoying the peace and quiet of 5.30pm...something that almost NEVER happens! And it's all thanks to a playdate. You've gotta love 'em!

I have the afternoon off and on a typical day, this is usually the noisiest time of day (a.k.a Supper Time), so I am enjoying it while it lasts.

This week did not have the best start, but that was all self-inflicted thanks to the Superbowl and my lack of sleep as a result, so I have no one to blame but myself. I can, however blame my youngest charge who this week decided to share his runny nose, cough and sore throat with me AGAIN. Such a generous little lad!

Today was probably the most eventful day. After arriving half an hour early for the school pick up, I decided to walk around to the shops down the road from the school and treat myself to a Diet Coke (woo-hoo...I am the last of the big-spenders!), something I haven't had for a while now. As I had the youngest with me, I must have been very distracted when I chose what I thought was a Diet Coke, paid for it, opened it up to take a swig...only to then discover that it was indeed Diet Coke, but with a truly horrible cherry flavour! Who makes this stuff? And more to the point, why?? Note to self: always read the labels!

Then, to cap off the day, I split my jeans getting out of the car! True, they are so old and I knew it was going to happen soon, but still, I could have done without it after the whole cherry coke fiasco.

But the good news is, it's pay day tomorrow and I can go and buy a brand new pair!

Superbowl XLIV

Superbowl XLIV. This was the first year I have watched the game live, even though kick-off was at 11.30pm in the UK. That's commitment for you.

And what a game it was!

Normally a strong supporter of the underdog, this year I decided the smart money was on the Colts.

And how wrong I was!

The Saints had it sewn up in the fourth quarter thanks to a touchdown from Jeremy Shockey (former NY Giants player) that put the Saints in front, a two-point conversion from QB Drew Brees to WR Lance Moore and finally, the nail in the Colts coffin - a Manning pass intercepted by Tracy Porter at the Saints 26 yard line was returned 74 yards for a Saints touchdown.

Well done New Orleans Saints. The first time they make a Superbowl appearance in franchise history and they come away with the win.

In hindsight, the smart money would have been on The Saints...they wanted it more.

Sunday Snapshot

This weeks Sunday Snapshot is from the Maslenitsa Russian Festival, that was on in Potter's Field Park today. These two girls were wearing the traditional dress of Tatarstan and kindly posed for me.

Maslenitsa is a Russian folk celebration that takes place just before Lent...sort of like a week-long version of Britain's Shrove Tuesday (or Pancake Day for the Aussies!).

I have a love for all things Russian and it's my dream to travel there one day. I even managed to say "Thank you" in Russian...very proud that I could remember it after 11 years! On a cold, foggy afternoon in London, surrounded by the Russian language, it was easy to imagine that I was in a city square, somewhere in St Petersburg or Moscow.

Sunday Snapshot

I took this in Kensington Palace. My first thought was who would want to lean over. The floor was slanted and creaky and the banister was wobbly. But then, there would always be the people who, after seeing the sign, just had to lean anyway! I am not one of those people.

Sorry there is no photo from today. The plan was to see the Watoto Children's Choir at Hillsong church, but thanks to burst water mains on Tottenham Court Road due to the cold weather, the theatre was closed.

I really need to have a back up plan for when things like this happen...especially so close to Oxford Street. It's just too easy to spend way too much money on that street!

Winter Sunshine in Hyde Park

Today, the sun was out, the skies were blue, the temperature was barely over zero, so I decided to make the most of it. I went into the city to walk through Hyde Park and visit Kensington Palace.


Getting off the tube at Hyde Park Corner, I discovered the toilets there, right near the gates, are very clean, with soap and working hand dryers...which in London deserves a mention on its own! My path through the park was alongside the Serpentine, which looked absolutely gorgeous in the winter sunshine. What I should have been doing though, was watching where I was walking. There had been a bit of snow early this morning and had quickly turned to ice on the path and yes, I slipped. Right in front of a whole crowd of people outside The Boathouse. I'd like to think it was one of my more graceful falls, feet slipping out in front and landing straight down on my bum, but embarrassing enough!


After I brushed the ice off my coat, and hurried away from the scene, I followed The Serpentine, which then became The Long Water, which I guess is called that because it is long! There were a lot of Londoners and tourists out in Hyde Park today, most of whom were immaculately dressed. However, the Best-Dressed-in-the-Park awards have to go to the Chihuahua's. I saw one in a full body, blue jumpsuit, a couple with fur-trimmed white coats and even one in a matching baby pink cardi and hat combo. Well, one does have to look one's best, even in the cold weather!


Following the path around, I ended up at Kensington Palace where, thanks to my lovely friend Hannah, I have membership to, and it didn't cost me a cent to enter. They currently have "The Last Debutantes" exhibition, featuring multi-media displays, gowns, music and even a etiquette room where you could practise your curtsy, balance a book on your head for deportment and even learn to set a table correctly. I hurried through this room so I didn't show myself up!


The tour then leads into a display of some of the gowns worn by Princess Diana, followed by The State Apartments. In this part of the Palace, you can see the Cupola Room where Queen Victoria was christened and the Queens Rooms where Queen Mary entertained her friends. I did see a King wandering around, but no one else seemed to take any notice of him. Oooh, maybe he was a ghost! King George I, perhaps??


As with most places, you leave the tour through the gift shop (no tacky Vincent Van Gogh toys here!), stocking lots of things your nana would love...lace doilies, handkerchiefs, lavender pomanders, that kind of thing. All very nice, though!


On with the coat and back out into the gorgeous London winter sunshine. A great day out, even with a two hour bus trip home. This is London, after all!

Designs of the Heart

Check out this blog: www.designsoftheheart.blogspot.com

My sister, who is always a big fan of my blog, is the author and since she has given my blog some good press lately, it's high time I repaid the favour.

When the talents were given out in our family, my sister got all the artistic ones. Have a look at her page, especially her Etsy shop. She makes all sorts of things that are awesome, unique presents for those people hard to shop for or just to keep all to yourself.

Mention you heard it from me and she may even give you a discount!

Not For Tourists

If you're new to London, you must grab yourself a copy of NFT (Not For Tourists).

It's a comprehensive guide, all in a very handy pocket size, to what to see (and what to avoid) in London. It's written by people who actually live here and some of the stuff in there is hilarious.

You can pick up a copy for under a tenner at most bookshops (I got mine in Foyles on Charing Cross Road - love that store!). Well worth the price!

(Obviously, you'll want one for London if that's where you're living...unlike the one for New York City in the picture, but I guess you worked that out already!)

Happy Australia Day 2010

So last year, I spent Australia Day watching the NFL and thinking that it would be my last Australia Day in Australia for a while. Here I am in London, with my tiny Aussie flag on my wall, set to celebrate the day...very quietly, I guess.

It got me thinking how I have spent Australia Days Past, and the ones that stick in my mind are always the ones spent with family and friends, usually surrounding a BBQ, a swimming pool and then a trip into the city or to the beach to watch the fireworks. With a top temperature estimated to be 3 degrees here in London tomorrow, I can't see me doing the first two things. But fireworks? Surely, with the amount of Aussies that call this city home, there will be some fireworks. You can buy them in the supermarket here so what better excuse than Australia Day.

I made a pit stop at The Australia Shop in Covent Garden last weekend for supplies for the day, but since I have already eaten and drunk them (!), I will need to make do with a packet of Tim Tams...if Tesco still sell them. Please tell me they do!

But what matters most of all is not my location or my lack of all things Aussie, but the fact that I am Australian. Where I live will not change that.

Happy Australia Day, everyone!

(and if you are a fellow Aussie out there, away from home and a whole lot more organised than I am, then have a Vegemite sandwich, a lamington, a lamb chop, a cherry ripe, Anzac biscuit or whatever takes your fancy, for me!)

The National Gallery

As part of my kid-free Sunday (which turned out not to be totally kid-free after all!), I decided to spend the afternoon in quiet contemplation (?) at The National Gallery.

The National Gallery is located in Trafalgar Square and got it's start when the House of Commons paid for 38 paintings belonging to a banker back in 1824, and used his Pall Mall home as the exhibition space. Embarrassed by having their national Gallery based in someones home, the Great British public demanded the Government build a building worthy of a national art collection. The current building was designed by architect William Wilkins and completed in 1838.

I started my self-guided tour in The Sainsbury Wing, the newest addition to The Gallery, opening in 1991. The Gallery is well laid out, with most of the displays on the same floor and you can see most of the paintings in one afternoon.

It didn't hold the same magic for me as The Louvre, but then, I imagine, few places would. It was great to discover some of my old favourites and ones I studied at school - Monet, Rembrandt, Constable, Turner and Van Gogh.

All around the Gallery are seats and benches where you can rest your weary feet and also take in some of the larger portraits from a distance. And in each of the rooms is the ever-present guard / attendant (not sure what to call them!) standing or sitting and looking entirely bored. I'm sure a day in my old office job would seem like too much excitement for them! How they manage not to fall asleep, I'll never know. I did overhear a couple of them talking about whether they preferred gas or electric cookers (I think gas was the winner!), so I guess they have ways of keeping entertained.

The National Gallery is open daily from 10am to 6pm and is free. The usual audio tours, cloakrooms and Gallery Shop are all available. There is a restaurant, but I didn't go in as it looked really expensive.

But my favourite of the whole gallery was discovered in the Gallery Shop on my way out. Among all the prints of the famous portraits, classy stationery and art books was a stuffed Vincent Van Gogh toy, complete with detachable ear and a little tag saying, "I'm Vincent Van Gogh and my ear comes off". Nice.

Sunday Snapshot

Fountain in Trafalgar Square

It's just another Manic Monday...I wish it were Sunday

This has been a very long week. The only thing that has kept me going is Sunday. My one day off each week and the only kid-free day. Aahh, Sunday!

The week started off pretty ordinary, then got progressively worse. One day on the way to school pick up in the afternoon, I stopped off at the supermarket with 4-year-old in tow, and I thought I would be nice and buy him a magazine of his favourite character, Thomas the Tank Engine. He was so excited and even helped me pick one out for his sister. I had a moment of thinking I must be the nicest, most generous nanny in the world...how wrong I was.

The very next day, 4-year-old could not stop asking for another magazine and, after trying to explain that the magazine only comes out once a month and that he couldn't have a magazine every day as it was a special treat, this turned into a full-volume screaming tantrum, complete with tears (mostly of the crocodile kind!).

Meanwhile, 5-year-old girl has been demonstrating an attitude worthy of a Hollywood diva, answering back, hands on hips, "I'm right, you're wrong!" - the whole bit. I have been at the limit of my patience all week, which as you may remember is not that patient at all!

Add to that, there were copious amounts of snot, endless "Why?" questions, playdates, and trains, trains, trains!

So you can see why I may be looking forward to Sunday. It will most likely rain, so I think I'll find some nice, quiet gallery to spend the afternoon in. Sounds like heaven!

On a better note, on Thursday, I was walking back from the library, feeling sad and missing my friends and family, when I bumped into a fellow nanny I know and we had a really nice chat and then, just around the corner, I ran into a lady from the WI (Women's Institute) and she remembered me from the whole two times I had been to the meetings. It honestly made my day. It just felt so nice to see people I knew and have a conversation with someone over the age of 5!

And finally on Friday, I was without a car and had to do the school run on foot, an hour round trip, morning and afternoon, which was fine as I really enjoyed walking along in the rain. I arrived at the school, thinking how nice the rain was and how great it was to be able to be outside for work and not stuck in the office all day, when the first mum to arrive says, "Isn't this weather grim?".

I smiled to myself and thought it's all just how you look at it, I guess.

Sunday Snapshot

Believe it or not, this photo was taken to today. That strange glow on people's coats is the sun. It's true! The sun came out in force today and I spent the afternoon wandering down Charing Cross Road, browsing in the bookshops and in Covent Garden.

Love this city!

And, in case you haven't had enough...

...here are some more snow pictures.

I guess I will get tired of all the white stuff eventually, but not today!

My blog has been chosen as Expat-blog.com's Blog of the Month for January 2010! I am truly honoured. Thank you so much, Expat-blog.com!

And here was I thinking only three people read it!

Sunday Snapshot

I've been a bit slack with the Sunday Snapshots the past few weeks, but this one should make up for it. This shot was taken in the grounds of Pembroke Lodge in Richmond Park.

A beautiful snow day!

...and later, the same day...

First Snow of the New Year

Happy New Year!

I know plenty of places have had loads more snow than here, but here is a picture of my first snow of 2010.

The Year That Was...A Year Later

I first posted this list on New Years Eve last year, so here it is again for this year:

1. What did you do in 2009 that you'd never done before?
Where do I start? Went to my best friends wedding in Sydney, worked in a call centre, moved to live in London, saw Abu Dhabi and Dubai, worked for a whole week without having to answer the phone once, went to Paris...the list is almost endless!

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don't do New Years Resolutions as they are always doomed to failure! I did keep my resolution to save money and finally move to London. I won't be making any this year, but I do have 'plans"...they're different, aren't they?

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes, my friend Chris had a little girl this year

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No

5. What countries did you visit?
Australia, United Arab Emirates, England, France

6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
Will-power!

7. What date from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
That would be May 10 - Mothers Day, my friends wedding day and my last day in Australia

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Moving to London and starting my new career

9. What was your biggest failure?
I don't think I have failed. Sometimes, things haven't worked out as planned or have been harder than expected, but that's not failure, that's all part of life and living your dream

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
No

11. What was the best thing you bought?
My Crocs!

12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
Hannah, who was my first guest from home. We had a blast!

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Can't think of anyone...

14. Where did most of your money go?
Paris...and clothes!

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Hannah coming to stay, Paris, the release of New Moon and Christmas

16. What song will always remind you of 2009?
"Number One" by Tinchy Strider and N-Dubz (just because it was on the radio ALL THE TIME!!)

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:

i. happier or sadder?
Happier, mostly, but sad when I think of home

ii. thinner or fatter?
Hmm...next question!

iii. richer or poorer?
Poorer :-(

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
More trips out of London to see the countryside

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Staying up too late, reading!

20. How did you spend Christmas?
I opened presents and had breakfast with the family I work for, then spent the day with my cousins and auntie and uncle from Australia. Oh, and thanks to Skype, I opened presents with my family in Brisbane too! Great day

22. Did you fall in love in 2009?
No

23. How many one-night stands?
None

24. What was your favorite TV program?
One Tree Hill - all the season one oldies!

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No. Hating people is never good

26. What was the best book you read this year?
Hunting and Gathering by Anna Gavalda. An old favourite, but it's set in Paris and I read it on the Eurostar on my way there

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Olly from X-Factor!

28. What did you want and get?
A new start as a nanny in London

29. What did you want and not get?
Knee high flat black boots...can't find any I like!

30. What was your favorite film of this year?
That would have to be New Moon (and no, I don't care what you think!), followed closely by Nativity!. So funny

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Spent the day at work in the boring call centre, counting down the days until my escape! And I was 36

32. What's one thing that made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Massive unexpected payout from the Australian Taxation Office!

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
Layers...

34. What kept you sane?
Having my room on a seperate level to the kids I look after!

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the moment?
I still love Ewan, but would love to run into Jude Law, strolling down Kings Road in Chelsea

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Huh? I don't get to see much news

37. Who did you miss?
I really miss my family and friends in Australia

38. Who was the best new person you met?
My little cousins, Arwen and Zion!

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009.
Life is too short - follow your dreams

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
"Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb"

So that's all from me. Have a great New Year and all the best for 2010!

Christmas Day

I know it's already past, but I need to tell you about my Christmas Day.

After Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve, braving the freezing temperature both outside and inside the church and the dark, muddy lane leading to the church, I got to call my family on Christmas morning (12.30am, my time, 10.30am, their time) and open our presents together, thanks to the wonder that is Skype. It was absolutely amazing! So good to see everyone and even my 84 year old nana could almost hear me!

Made it to bed by about 2.00am, only to wake up at 6.30am to call them again before breakfast and present opening with the family I work for. After wading through mountains of trains and princess costumes, I headed back up to my room to get ready for Christmas with my family. They came to pick me up at lunch time and we drove through Richmond Park, which was now completely devoid of snow and ice, just in time for Christmas, to their house.

Christmas lunch was the whole deal - turkey, roast potatoes, Brussels sprouts with bacon, pigs in blankets, pudding, brandy cream, custard, mince pies...and the list goes on. My cousin put on an excellent spread. Then it was time for more presents, Christmas movies and a few "nana naps".

I got home late after a great day spent with family. Good times.

Boxing Day was a day to be spent in my pyjamas (none of this rushing out to Christmas sales for me! Do I look insane? OK, don't answer that!) with a good book, which is exactly what I did. The house was nice and quiet as the family I work for left for Devon for four glorious days.

The day after Boxing Day was very similar, although I did change out of my pyjamas and today, I even got out of the house and went to do some shopping.

So that's how I spent my Christmas, and the days that followed. Only three more days left in the year...in the decade! Wow! But I'll save all that for another post..

Christmas Eve

Last Christmas, I was avoiding snakes and trying to get rid of a bad case of sunburn. This year, things look a little different.

It seems that we will not have a white Christmas here in London since the rain and milder weather has washed away even the ice that, while not being snow, was at least white. This Christmas finds me thousands of miles from home, but thankfully only a few miles from family. I'll be spending Christmas Day with my cousins and auntie and uncle and calling my family in Australia on Skype at midnight tonight (Christmas Eve) so we can all open presents together.

I've found it hard to get into the spirit of Christmas this year and as weird as it sounds to those who have always had a winter Christmas, I think it's because it's just too cold! Christmas to me is a stinking hot day, usually raining, a lunch of cold cuts, salad and copious amounts of seafood. I have tried my best and I've had moments where it feels perfectly normal to be all rugged up singing about a Winter Wonderland. I'm sure I'll get used to it.

But, at the moment, I miss home. I'm sure I'm not alone.

So wherever you find yourself this Christmas, at home with your family or on the other side of the world from the ones you love, I want to wish you all a very, very Happy Christmas!

'Twas the Week Before Christmas

This week there has been a lot of excitement about snow...and mostly just from me! The Brits don't seem to feel the same as I do about snow, they see it as an inconvenience, instead of looking at its beauty. Yes, I understand the travel chaos it can cause, but after all, it's snow, people! There are so many people in the world who've never even seen the stuff. Maybe after I've been here for a few years, my views on snow will change, but for now, I love it and hope there is more to come.

On Wednesday, the first snow began to fall, which coincided with the kids last day at school, so we drove to Richmond Park and had a snowball fight and a bit of a play in the snow. By Thursday, it had all washed away. Oh, well. I have not given up hope of snow for Christmas Day.

Last Sunday I went to a Carols service at church, which was fantastic. It was a very cold night and obviously, we were inside, but it did remind me of the many carols services I have been to back home, outdoors, in your shorts on a hot night, the poor bloke dressed as Santa melting in his suit! It sometimes feels like Christmas, even though it's cold and I've been playing all my corny Christmas albums at every opportunity to get into the spirit.

I am so glad that I finished all my Christmas shopping last week. I really don't want to go near any stores if I can help it! I did have to make another trip to the Post Office though, and was not surprised by the "service"...I have come to expect it. The guy behind the glass (I can't call him "the guy who served me", because there was no service involved!) spent the whole transaction on facebook on his iPhone! There are no more words...

My auntie and uncle arrive from Melbourne tomorrow and I'll be spending Christmas with them at my cousin's house. Not sure how I'll get there yet since there are NO buses or tube trains that run on Christmas Day, and just to make it fun, the taxi's are impossible to find and charge you extra...just another joy of Christmas!

On a festive note, the kids and I made a very cool snowman for the playroom, along with some pretty impressive snowflakes. I love my job!

Well, so far, that is my lead up to Christmas. Tomorrow, I am off to church again for a Christmas family service...with my family (the ones that are here at least!), then it will be a few days of "work" as normal, then Christmas 2009 will be here.

Oh, and it will be white...it will be white...please??

Sunday Snapshot

Today was a perfect wintry day in London and I stumbled across this Christmas Fair in Leicester Square on my way out of the cinema after seeing "Nativity!", one of the funniest movies I've seen in a long time!

Christmas is in the air!

Skype and the 'office' Christmas Party

I seem to always be behind the times when it comes to technology.

I bought my first mobile phone in 2002, my first digital camera in 2004, only joined facebook 12 months ago and have finally downloaded Skype...yesterday! Why I waited so long, I'll never know.

So that means this Christmas, I'll be able to open my presents 'with' my family in Brisbane. The wonders of technology.

But that will also mean no more phone calls when I've just gotten out of bed, hair sticking out in all directions!

Today, I am starting my second round of Christmas shopping for the people I know here, since my first lot are winging their way to Australia as we speak...I hope. This round of present shopping is late, I know, with just over two weeks until Christmas, but I am armed with my list and hope to get in, buy everything on my list, within my budget, and get out before the crowds get worse. Yes, I am delusional!

On the work front, the past couple of weeks have been pretty standard, and the kids both finish school for the Christmas holidays next Wednesday at 12noon. Which should be very interesting since their schools are about a half hour drive between them. Then they have just over three weeks of holidays, and it's down to me to entertain them rain, hail, (snow??) and shine.

I was thinking about my past life as a receptionist the other day and this would have been the time of the Christmas Party that was usually down to me to help organise. Oh, how I do not miss the office Christmas Party! No matter what you planned, someone wouldn't be happy, people would never confirm or decide to bring guests at the last minute. There would be the one obnoxious drunk (or seven!) and the person who falls down and seriously injures themselves. The only thing I am organising this year is the making of a snowman out of cardboard and cotton wool. Hmm, let's see...what do I prefer?

The Joy of (sending presents home for) Christmas

Ah, Royal Mail, how I love thee.

Hmmm!

This last week, it seemed I spent most of my life at the Post Office in an attempt to get my Christmas presents sent home to Australia before the cut off date this Friday.

On my first attempt, I purchased a box that was far too large and had to return to buy a smaller one the following day. Having done this, I packed all the presents into the box, a perfect fit and trekked back to the Post Office to send it. After waiting in the queue for just under half an hour, having the box weighed, I was told it would cost over 60 pounds to send home. What? Sixty pounds?? Unfortunately, it was true. I hate to say it, but the gifts did not even cost that much!

Apparently, it was just 300 grams over the 2 kilos that would have made it much less. The guy behind the counter told me that I could split the parcel, that was a perfect fit, into two smaller parcels, it would cost me about half that. Great. Another trip to the Post Office is just what I need at this time of year. So I dragged the parcel home to re-pack it into two smaller ones, which turned out not to be such a perfect fit, and so some presents needed to be "adjusted" (sorry, Caitlin, but you'll get the rest for your birthday!).

Back at the Post Office today, I joined the queue, which was even longer than yesterday, and managed to send the two parcels on their way to Brisbane.

Online shopping next Christmas? What a great idea!

Sunday Snapshot

Anyone who was in London this weekend will know that there is no way this photo was taken this Sunday! I just needed to remind myself what a blue sky looks like...

New Moon

At last, November 20th is here and my tickets are booked for New Moon tonight!

The only downside about seeing the movie tonight is going to be the 100's of screaming, teenage girls. Well, if you can't beat 'em...

Anyway, I am very excited and last night my boss called me "such a teenager", which I choose to take as a compliment!

Now I just have to wait until 8.30pm!

An Australian in Paris

I'm back in London after my weekend in Paris, with some awesome memories...and very sore feet.

Well, after my brief post of our first day in Paris, Hannah and I headed back out to take some pictures of the Arch de Triomphe, Champs Elysees and Eiffel Tower all lit up at night. Just amazing. We eventually found a Franprix supermarket to stock up on some supplies for the following day, as it was going to be a big one.


Saturday morning started with a trip to a local market just around the corner from our hotel, where, after chickening out of buying some "fromage" and a baguette (I was afraid I would say the wrong thing!), we purchased a croissant and then went into Starbucks, where Hannah ordered her coffee in French and I asked for the loo, in French. It has to be said that I was very proud of myself!

The first stop of the day was to the Metro station, where we managed to buy a day ticket for the train with the help of the customer service lady who did not speak a word of English, but we managed to understand each other OK, and we were soon on our way to Montmartre.



Seeing the Sacre Coeur was just like being on the set of Amelie, one of my all-time favourite movies. We climbed up all the steps and had a good look around. The weather was absolutely perfect, but very windy, and the views of Paris were breathtaking. Hannah suggested we take a tour of the crypt, and I agreed. It would be good to see underneath the church. How stupid I was. After attempting to read the sign, written in French, that mentioned something that looked to me like "300 steps" we purchased our tickets and went through the turnstile, of which there was no return. I remember thinking it was strange for there to be 300 steps down under the church. That seemed like a very long way to me.


Once through the turnstile, I was faced with a spiral staircase...leading UP! Oh, yes! We were taking the stairs all the way to the top of the dome and yes indeed, there were 300 steps, if not more! The stairs didn't really bother me, but it was very narrow and winding, smelling very strongly of a toilet, and I began to feel really dizzy. Although the views that I saw when I made it to the top made the whole thing seem worth it. See for yourself:






After Montmartre, we headed out to the cemetery at Pere Lachaise, which is where Edith Piaf, Oscar Wilde, Jim Morrison from The Doors and Marcel Marceau are buried. It was the most beautiful cemetery I have ever been to...and I have been to lots. I love to wander through cemeteries, even though most people I know think that is strange. Hannah, luckily, was not one of those.










After spending the morning in the cemetery, we grabbed some lunch at The Cat Cafe across the road, where the staff did not speak a word of English, but again, with the help of my trusty phrase book, we managed OK.

Back on the Metro, which is a very efficient, if somewhat smelly and hot experience, and off to Notre Dame. This cathedral was incredible.





After Notre Dame, it started to rain, the first and only time over the whole weekend, and we walked along the Seine to Pont Neuf and then back on the Metro to Champs Elysees, to buy our tickets for the Lourve on Sunday. My feet had just about fallen off by this point!







Back at the hotel to put up my feet for a while and then we headed out to a French restaurant for dinner...at 8pm! That may not sound strange to you but as a nanny who eats with the kids at 5.30pm each night, eating at 8pm was a luxury!

Our waiter, thank God, spoke very good English and offered to translate the whole menu for us! At one point, he was explaining a dish and could not think of the word in English, so he pointed to where his kidneys would be on his body, which, if I had liked kidneys, would have made me change my mind about ordering it. There's something just a little disconcerting about being shown a potential menu item on the human body! But the food was delicious and, in case you're wondering, it was Cote Vignes in the 16th Arrondissment. There's a free plug!

The only downside of the evening was we had decided to dress up and I had my high heeled boots on and could barely walk, and we went the wrong way down the street and turned a three minute walk into a 10 minute hike!

Sunday was another beautiful day and we went to the Lourve. I have no words to describe that place. I could have spent days in there and never been bored. We got there early which was great because we got to see the Venus de Milo and Mona Lisa without the crowds. After the Lourve, we walked to the Metro through Jardins des Tulieries and sat by the pond in the sunshine. I didn't want to leave.

















But the Eurostar waits for no man (or woman) and I had to say farewell to Paris.



Before I came, I never had any great desire to go there, but now, I know it is a place to which I will definitely return.