the hostel life

City of cafes

2008-09-16T18:05:00.011+10:00

Firstly, I'm getting married!!! Woohoo! So so happy, it's hard to take the smile off my face. I keep looking down at my left hand and think 'wow'! For those of you who don't know my lovely Tim, I'll give you the background. I moved into a house in Chelmer two and a half years ago and Tim was my housemate, and about 4 months later we were dating. He was my best mate in the house and my favourite person in the whole world, so it was very easy to fall in love with him.

We've just moved down to Melbourne and Tim's started a post-doc job at a university near by. I've been on holidays for ages and today I finally felt that it had been too long! So, onto seek.com.au and bigger and better things.

Absolutely loving it down here. So different to every other city I've visited in Oz. Loving the little lanes filled with cafes you find as you amble around in the city. We went to the Queen Victoria Markets on Saturday and bought lots of veges and mince for a big spag bol, and afterwards found ourselves in Hardware Lane and sitting down at a little French cafe eating crepes in the warm sun. Perfect day!

I've read about 30 books since we've moved down here. Very easy to do when you're unemployed and not unpacking. I'm near the end of 'Crime & Punishment' and it's a very interesting book. I think I would have enjoyed it more had I read it when it was first published in 1866 though. Some of the conversations and rants are hard to follow and a lot of the characters seem to be a little mad. Mum gave me a few books to read and I've devoured them this week. 'March' by Geraldine Brooks (very good), 'Mercy Among the Children' by David Adams Richards (excellent but extremely depressing) and 'The Good Parents' by Joan London (I liked it).

I promised my beloved that I would clean my half of the office today (as I have sincerely promised everyday this week), and instead have been reading C&P, playing on the computer and generally procrastinating. But no more! I must be off!

Green Things

2006-07-26T15:51:00.000+10:00

Friday night, just as I was leaving work, the hot water pipe decided to spring a leak. A serious enough leak to involve the talents of a plumber. I was asked by a higher being to stay back and wait for the plumber. Lord knows what I role I was to play apart from showing him where the leak was, letting him fix it, and then saying goodbye. However, until I am also considered a higher being, I am merely a pawn. The problem fixed, I left work feeling a little concerned. That was the 3rd time in 6 months that it's happened, albeit in different areas of the pipe. I was told by the plumber that it was extremely necessary to get an overhaul - replace the whole pipe instead of patching it up. It's kinda tricky though. We're undergoing renovations at the moment, and in a few months the hot water cylinders will be in a different area, and new. What to do!

K was working last night and she calls me up in a panic. A guy who she'd just checked in and who had already gone down to his room was really angry because he thought when his wife phoned, she'd paid using her credit card. He said, 'The receptionist told her she was going to charge her card'. For all you backpackers out there, we NEVER do that! Only if they don't show up and haven't cancelled, or have called within the non-refundable cancellation period do we charge the card. So, after she asks him for $55, he yells that she's stealing his last $55, his only cash as he's just come out of prison after doing 18 years for murder.....

This weekend has been the best since I moved out. Last night we had a lovely dinner and only one of the housemates, M, was missing. We drank 3 bottles of wine. L and I (it's great having her back!) danced to anything and everything outside on the verandah. And when you thought it couldn't get any better, we all walked up the road and got ice-cream and coffee! It was just perfect! T, an absolute champion, woke up early this morning and bought bacon, eggs, tomatoes and stuff, and proceeded to cook this massive breakfast for us all! T, L and I then washed T's car which turned into a huge water fight! Just brilliant! I love it there!

An obsession of mine has come to light. Green. I've discovered that everytime I buy something new (apart from my sexy red coat), it's green. Do we all go through these stages of colour?

The silly season

2006-07-16T21:37:00.000+10:00

Is winter the silly season in Brisbane? 'Cause at the dear old hostel, it certainly seems to be. There are absolute nutters everywhere! There's not been as many problems in the last 6 months as there have been in the last week. A guy caught perving on the girls in the women's showers after he locked himself in an 'out of order' cubicle....he didn't even leave after the girls started screaming! He was still in there when I went in and had a conversation with him that went a bit like....
Me: What the fuck are you doing in here?
Him: Nothing
Me: Do you know what fucking bathroom you're in?
Him: Uh...no?
Me: Stay there. (And subsequently running upstairs to call the police, asking the women that were still in the bathroom to keep him in the cubicle if possible...he escaped!)

Two older guests demaning to be reimbursed for a night they hadn't paid for because there was no reservation for them. When we were very firm with them about not giving them any money back, they tried to ask for petrol money that they wasted by driving up to us instead of to the hostel where they finally did find a bed. The hostel that they did stay at was less than 50 metres down the road.

The whole hostel was evacuated because of a fire alarm (we DID NOT tell guests it was a drill). All staff were practising the evacuation procedure (knocking on doors, asking people to leave as it was an emergency etc...). Two guests, after having walked past the front entrance where roughly 60 guests were standing, walked through the carpark and into the second building where the 'fire' was supposed to have been. Freaks! It was so loud too. I just don't understand some people!

For all you text lovers, I've a question. Ever sent a text that you were debating about, 'cause you knew the answer you got could either be really good or really bad, then as soon as you sent it, knew you shouldn't have? And then the feeling just gets worse and worse 'cause you were doing that instantaneous texting and then suddenly you're waiting like 20 minutes for the reply? And in that 20 minutes you keep hitting yourself? Or is that just me?

Home sweet home

2005-09-25T09:10:00.000+10:00

It was lovely coming back to Tokyo. H picked me up from the airport in a hire car, and we didn't get to bed 'till 5am. Spent all night talking, showing him stuff I bought along the way, and watching 'Roman Holiday' saying 'I've been there, I've been there'. A lot of fun!! We went up to Hokkaido for three days, and it was so beautiful. Would love to live up there. Farms everywhere and the most stunning scenery - just amazing. Tonight, am meeting friends in Shimokitazawa to catch up and show photos...picking them up very soon, can't wait! Have booked my ticket home, leaving Tokyo on the 15th and arriving in Brisbane early on the 16th. Not sure how I feel about coming home. My best girlfriends are all somewhere other than Brisbane and I think it's going to be hard to go back. It's definitely going to be hard to leave here.

Packing

2005-09-16T18:15:00.000+10:00

It's late and the only reason I'm writing this now is because I don't want to pack. I always do this, no matter where I am. Pack at the last minute, and always at night. I remember in Brisbane, family and friends would come over and help me and we'd spend all night drinking coffee and talking and I'd finish really late! I loved that! It's almost like a tradition now.

So, back in London and staying with S & A. My last day in Italy I went to Pisa 'cause I was flying out from there. Saw the Leaning Tower and it was just beautiful. It was about 9 or 10pm, and just looked gorgeous at night. So white! They are restoring it at the moment, so it's all lovely and clean.

Came back to London Tuesday afternoon and completely relaxed! Spent the day yesterday walking around all my old haunts: Trafalgar Square, Leicester Square, Piccadilly Circus, Big Ben, Victoria. Went back to the Vic where I used to work and it was so different! They've completely redone it and it looks amazing. 200 people can stay there now, so it has a different atmosphere, but I think it works well. It's a bit more of a 'Big Hostel' now, but still nice. The Museum is always going to have my heart though. Tonight, I saw an old friend of mine P. He was working with me at the Museum 3 years ago, and after I left, he met the love of his life, and got married, so I finally got to meet her properly and she's just fantastic! It's so nice to see people who are so happy together. Really warms the heart. Sad saying goodbye to K and S &A, hopefully will be back next year with another working holiday visa for Italy so will be able to see everyone again then. Okay, quarter past 1 now, really must pack...

Ciao Bella

2005-09-11T16:11:00.000+10:00

I think I have watched 'Roman Holiday' too many times, and Rome is just not the same as 50 years ago. I've always imagined it to be exactly like it was in the film, and for some reason it's gone all modern! It has been amazing - the history is just mind-boggling. Can't really believe I'm seeing things that were built before Christ. Have done a few tours, two fantastic ones and I'd urge everyone to find an Irish guy called Michael doing tours of St. Peter's Basilica, the Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel. It was four and a half hours of history, quirky information and fun. Absolutely fantastic guide. The first tour of St. Peter's was free, as it was a publicity tour for the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel tour which you had to pay for (dearly, but worth every Euro). When I've been walking around, everything seems a little smaller than I imagined. I think seeing every member of my family has been to Rome and told me stories, I've built up a dream Rome in my mind. It's kinda strange. I like the people here a lot. Very friendly bunch really. Have been buying fresh fruit from the markets, and drinking devine cappucinos, eating mouthwatering lasagne, pizza and pasta....it's been really nice. S left last night to go back to London. We had a fantastic time together. The three days she was here were jam packed.

Later....have spent 3 days on the east coast near a town called Civitanova Marche and it was lovely getting out in the countryside/seaside. The beach was just beautiful. A took me out for dinner, and gellati, and to a great pub where the bartender first teased me about my Italian pronunciation of Limoncello, then proceeded to apologize by serenading me with English songs while playing the guitar. He made up for it! It was just lovely! The whole pub was singing the songs. Now I'm in Florence and today was beautiful. Sat on a bridge talking with two lovely English girls from the hostel for about 2 hours watching the sun set over the river. Couldn't have imagined Florence more beautiful. More stories when I have a little bit more time! Ciao!

I love Italian!

Don't want it to end

2005-09-07T03:38:00.000+10:00

Ten wonderful days in Paris are over and now am in Rome. Ended up having numerous cups of free Turkish tea at that Kebab shop, visiting the Picasso and Dali museums, the Pompideu Centre, wandering the streets of Paris and visiting the Eiffel Tower one last time. Am in love with that beautiful structure - couldn't get enough of it while I was there, every time I saw it I got goose bumbs, seriously.

Went down to the southwest of France to a tiny village called St. Palais to visit my friend F. Had a brilliant time there. He was the best host! Took me to see his friends, cooked for me, gave me his bed, drove me around everywhere, he was a champion!

Took a train to Rome, was supposed to get there in 20 hours, but instead, I missed that train and travelled on 3 different trains for a total of 26 hours. The last train I had to pay an extra 8 euros for catching it a couple of hours earlier than my ticket said, and I didn't even get a seat for the favour. Sat in the section between the carriages on the floor. Was so fucking tired by the end. So happy to finally get to Rome and to the hostel.

Actually, the trip reminded me a little of my epic journey to Paris from Vilnius.....My plane left Vilnius at 06.45, and I woke up at 03.45 after having gone to bed at 02.30. Wasn't worried about lack of sleep as I was thinking I'd sleep on the plane and I was so excited about getting to Paris, I knew I wouldn't be tired when I arrived. Anyway, got to the airport well ahead of time, and checked in. All was going well. Get on the plane and everyone boards, then an announcement comes over the speaker from the captain saying that all planes had been grounded due to 'safety reasons'. No problem we all thought! An hour later, still sitting on the tarmac, other planes begin taking off but ours doesn't move. Another announcement comes over asking all passengers to get off our plane. So, we all got off and had to go through a security check, where they literally patted down our entire bodies and went through our hand luggage, unzipping and opening everything. Found out later that there had been a bomb threat made to our plane. Anyway, a couple of hours later, got back on and headed towards Copenhagen where most of us were catching connecting flights (but by this stage we had all missed them). Got to Copenhagen and waited in line for 3 hours to change flights - then got another flight which was once more delayed for an hour on the tarmac. Couldn't believe my bad luck. Finally got to Paris at about 18.30 and by that stage decided to wait for A who was coming on a flight at 20.00. Waited at the arrivals gate for hours for her to get off the plane, and when she didn't show, decided that I would have to find the hostel by myself and navigate my way through Paris. Went to the bus stop outside the airport, was feeling really sad 'cause my perfect day in Paris had been completely screwed over, and A didn't get off the plane, and luckily found a German couple who were going in the same direction as me. So, I asked them if I could follow them (they kindly listened to my story and said yes). Got to the hostel at 23.35, walked up to the receptionist and told him I had a booking, and he said that he didn't have my reservation...I nearly cried. He sent me to another hostel where the receptionist looked like Robert DeNiro from Taxi Driver, kinda freaky actually. Found A, as I'd left her a note at the previous hostel saying that I had headed over to this new one and she arrived just 45 minutes later, her plane had been delayed so she missed the connection too. Anyway, that was my first day in Paris.

Friendly Parisians

2005-08-26T04:45:00.000+10:00

Well, I`ve finally found the one benefit of not having a credit card - it means you can get into the Louvre for free. Yes boys and girls, absolutely free if you don`t have a card. I rocked up there yesterday just after 5 `cause I knew it was open `till 9.45pm, and I went to a side gate. Went through security and then noticed that the ticket booth was closed. But, my eagle eyes spotted a ticket machine. Wandered over and saw that it only accepted cards (which I didn`t have). So being the honest girl I am, I went over to a woman who was working and told her I only had cash. She looked at her watch and said, `It`s okay, just go on through`. I was so excited! Anyway, stayed until it closed and only saw a miniature portion of the bloody thing. It`s unbelievably huge. Will have to go back anyway!

After the Louvre, walked back to the hostel and along the way stopped at a Turkish kebab shop for dinner (very cheap). The Turkish owner started chatting to me a little and gave me two cups of really yummy black tea for free! Then, went back to the hostel, and the receptionist asked me if I wanted a cup of coffee. I had a really good day yesterday. My Euros have been stretching further and further since the weekend with the girls.

Right, the weekend with the girls. Had a ball!!! We were all there in our fabulous apartment by about 1pm on Friday, and from that moment on, there was no break in our conversation. It was the first time in 4 and a half years that we`d all been together. We`ve all seen each other separately, and sometimes 3 of us have been in the one place, but never the 4 of us. Had a couple of bottles of wine underneath the Eiffel Tower on Friday night, it was so, so beautiful. Saturday played tourists, then bought some champagne and wine in the evening and drank that before getting all dolled up and going out at midnight! We didn`t get home `till 5am. It was a fantastic night. So sad to see them all leave me on Sunday! I`m in Paris alone now, but it`s been great. Have met heaps of people at the hostels and have loved walking along the streets of Paris by myself. It`s a wonderful city to do just that.

Who knows?

2005-08-15T16:32:00.000+10:00

Well, didn't get that 24 hour Tallinn card, but did a walking tour by myself using my trusty Lonely Planet. I absolutely loved the old town in Tallinn. Really, it's an amazingly beautiful town. I saw all of it and loved every minute!

While in Tallinn, I found out that I'm not really good at going out by myself! I thought I'd be okay, but I'm actually not good at going up and talking to people when I'm alone. I tried one night in Tallinn. I'd gotten back to the hostel at about 10ish, and when I went up to the room, nobody was there. I really wanted to go out to a pub or something, so I asked the guy down at reception where a good place was. He recommended the Beer House right near the main square, said it was always packed and fun. So, I headed there by myself, and ordered a beer....looked around for a nice group of people, sat nearby, but I couldn't start a bloody conversation! So, I finished my beer pretty bloody quickly, and went back to the hostel! I was so disappointed in myself.

I met lovely people in the hostel though. I went to a seaside town called Haapsalu on the west coast for the day with a French guy, P, from the hostel. We walked to the castle, had lunch in the grounds, walked along the promenade and around the lake, then had a beer to finish it all off. It was nice getting out of the city.

Anyway, met A finally in Riga last Sunday night. I caught a bus down and couldn't find her at the station, so I walked around with an American Peace Corps guy, H, who I met in the hostel back in Tallinn. He had lived in Estonia years ago, so had travelled all around the Baltics. He gave me a great tour of the Old Town here, which was nice 'cause since that Sunday it's been raining every day. I think Tallinn has made it's mark on me, 'cause Riga just doesn't compare at all. It's still nice, but hasn't got the same feel.

It's been wonderful to catch up with A. We've been having an absolute ball together. We've been drinking copious amounts of Latvian beer every night and it's just been fantastic! We've been on a few trips out from Riga. Went to a place just east of Riga called Sigulda where we stayed with a Latvian woman who spoke Latvian and German, neither of which helped us, but it made for funny gestures and the like. Walked around in the rain looking at castles and caves, tasted Riga champagne, ate ice-cream....Sigulda was lovely! The train ride there and back was fantastic. It was like we were on an old Soviet train and when the train stopped we couldn't see anything around us AT ALL, so we were sticking our heads out the window just to make sure there was actually a platform (which there always was). Seriously, the stops out here are in the middle of nowhere.

The other place we just got back from is Leipaja on the west coast. Stayed in a funky hotel called the Fontain Hotel and it was great! Leipaja wasn't all that good though. Came back to Riga late last night and A then went on to Lithuania this morning and I'm following tomorrow morning.

A and I went to the Occupation Museum which was great. It explained ėverything about the Occupation of Lativa, from about 90 years ago. So much that I didn't know! It was just horrible reading some of the stuff. Today, I went to the State Art Gallery with a lovely Italian guy from our hostel, AC, but it didn't impress me as much as the one in Tallinn, then we went up to the top floor of Hotel Latvia where we had pretty foul cappucinos, but the view was to die for.

Have stayed in heaps of different hostels, all which are giving me ideas for my own. The only one we could find beds at last night was called 'Profit Camp'! It's so fricking funny. It's literally directly above a strip club and you have to walk through this seedy looking entrance where the sign for the club is flashing and special lights with naked women are flashing all around, then you see the hostel. Anyway, we were really dubious about it, but when we walked up the stairs it looked like a hotel! It is really posh. The reception staff are all really neatly dressed and everything is new. The sheets are flowery and it's just funny. I've got photos!

Not sure what I'm doing tonight. Wish A was here to drink beer with me! There's always tomorrow night...

Churches

2005-08-05T09:15:00.000+10:00

I must say, every church tour I've ever been on has been fantastic. The Cathedral in Lund was no different. Seriously, if you want to know about the history of the place you're visiting, have a bit of a laugh, hear interesting stories, churches and cathedrals are the places to go. You learn just as much there as you do in a museum I think. After Gothenburg, I spent a few days with J's mum in Horby. Went to Lund with T (it's a beautiful little town), and from there caught the night bus up to Stockholm. Stockholm is just beautiful. The National Museum was fantastic, so many works by famous artists, it's a must see. Also went to the Vasa Museum which is a museum of the war ship Vasa, which sank in the Stockholm harbour on its maiden voyage. Saw the actual ship, as it was pulled up out of the harbour in the 1950's. Really interesting museum.

Caught a ferry from Stockholm to Tallinn last night and I was so excited 'cause my image of the ferry was completely off base. Just imagine a ferry.......and then change that picture in your head into a cruise ship! Yes! A bloody cruise ship! It was fantastic!!! Arrived this morning and have been walking around the old town all day. Tomorrow I'm going to get a 24 hour Tallinn card which gives you entry into millions of museums and art galleries and free bicycle tours and free sightseeing tours, it's really cheap so I'm very happy. Actually, maybe on relfection I'll get the 48hr pass. Meeing A in Riga on Sunday night. Looking forward to it!

The Wedding Party

2005-07-29T15:17:00.000+10:00

I have had the most amazing week. I've been in Sweden and everything has been just perfect. T & J had their wedding party last Friday and Saturday, and it was just fantastic. It couldn't have been any better. There were 22 of us on the first night, and we all got along really well. It was such a great bonding experience. We drank, ate, played games and talked together. All of J's friends are awesome. The second night there were 44 people, and they too were fantastic. T & J had a song book, and they hired a band, and we just sang and danced all night. I learnt some Swedish songs too and the lyrics are bloody hillarious. The whole weekend was brilliant.

On Tuesday, T, J and I went to an island off the west coast of Sweden called Marstrand. We met J's best friend and his girlfriend. It was like being on a set of a movie. All the houses on the island were in a really old style. We stayed literally in a church. There was a tiny little room above the main room of the church, that may have been used by the pastor or someone like that at one stage. So, you had to enter the church and just at the back there was a small staircase that led up to the room. It was just gorgeous! I was playing the piano on the stage when the pastor walked in. I was so worried that I was going to get into trouble, but she said it was no problem, and then just started chatting about how long I was going to stay in Marstrands and stuff like that. She was lovely. We went for a walk around the island, it was just rocks but absolutely stunning. Had a BBQ on the rocks on the first night...the Swedish have an ingenious creation - the one time use BBQ. It's really cheap and light, and you can bring it anywhere and have a barbie! It was pretty cold and windy (even though it's supposed to be summer), but just lovely.

Now I'm in Gothenburg, and the five of us are staying at one of their friend's apartments. I seemed to have caught a bad cold, so didn't do so much today, but tomorrow, who knows what awaits...?

Really travelling now!

2005-07-23T13:20:00.000+10:00

Just got back from an absolutely perfect day, wandering around Copenhagen with L and her boyfriend S. This is such a beautiful city. Have fallen in love with it! Spent a couple of days in London with S & A, and caught up with K & S. My last night there, I went back to the Museum hostel, 2 of my old friend were still working there and another 2 friends were still in London and got to catch up with them too! Had a fantastic night, got home at nearly 4am, didn't sleep as I had to get up at about 5am anyway, to get to the airport to fly to Denmark. Still, wouldn't have changed it for the world!!

L is fucking brilliant at Danish! She's only been living here for 8 months and she's just bloody fantastic. Still kicking myself that I didn't study harder while I was in Japan. I saw the Little Mermaid today, and it really is little!! But I wasn't disappointed as L had told me to prepare for that! Lots of little interesting rules and things in Denmark. Everything is extremely expensive, tax is really high, but you get free medical and dental care, and education. Students actually get free tuition and textbooks, and they get paid for studying. So, they don't need part-time jobs. Homeless people are almost non-existent as everyone can qualify for an allowance from the government (about the same as what students get). It seems like a great system.

Well, the sun is still high and it's just past 8pm. Lot's more to do!

Home

2005-04-19T10:45:00.000+10:00

The wedding was fantastic! S looked like a princess and A was her prince. It was just beautiful. Had a wonderful time with S the week before the big day - caught up on heaps of stuff, did weddingy things (shopping, eye-lashes tinted etc.). It was great fun. The wedding was on a Sunday, so we had a Hen's night on the Friday night. There was 16 of us who went out for dinner, at the 'Tibetan Kitchen' in the Valley. Devine food, BYO (there's a bottle shop right nearby), and 16 excited, talkative, lovely women. S was looking radiant in her red veil and red feather bower. I was really looking forward to seeing S all dressed up as the Hen, but didn't realise how serious she was when she told me she wanted none of that shit! After dinner a group of us went out to dance and drink in the Valley. S wasn't looking to happy (especially after we gave her a t-shirt to wear with Jelly Babies sewn on in strategic places so guys could eat them off her!), but she went along with it. Got to the first place, and after one drink she excused herself and came back as the normal S. Nothing Henny (I'm making up words here) about her. I was a little pissed/disappointed, as the girls and I had made this stuff for her and really wanted everyone to congratulate her and notice her, but then woke up and realised that this night was all about her and if she wasn't happy, then it wouldn't be her night. She was much more energetic and relaxed after the attention was taken away from her. Sorry S (I did mean well)!!!

It was the first wedding of one of my best friends! I had tears in my eyes at the bloody rehearsal! So, you can just imagine me on the day. S also. During the rehearsal when she was saying the vows she was fidgeting like mad - wiggling her legs, going up and down on tip toes, but she pulled it together on the day! Her dress was incredible - I'd post a picture but I don't know how. I was honoured to be the Chief Bridesmaid but had to learn how to do a few things along the way. Just as the photos started at S's house, the photographer asked who the CB was. I piped up, and he told me to 'bustle her dress'. Bustle? What the hell is bustle??? I didn't say that of course (I was trying to be the best CB in the history of CBs). I replied that if I knew what bustle was, I would do it immediately. So I learned. And anyone out there who is planning to be a CB, learn all the talk before the big day!

Anyway, the whole day went off without a hitch - no, I lie! They did get hitched. I think this is the only time when you can't use that saying...
Congratulations you two and all my love.

much ado about nothing

2005-03-17T19:30:00.000+10:00

Had a fantastic birthday! M and J arranged to meet me for breakfast on my birthday, and I walked into the cafe and M asked me if I wanted my birthday present now. Of course I bloody wanted it!! So, walked over to the table and tucked behind a wall was mum! She'd arrived a day early and it was a fantastic surprise! It's funny because I wouldn't have cried if I'd seen her later that night 'cause I was expecting her - but it was such a shock to see her sitting there. Next day M booked me a one hour massage and we had a lavish brunch! And H gave me a coffee table book on Italy...it's looking like Italy is the go. It's so great being 25!

T arrived last week too, on her way to Kosovo. Went to Harajuku to see Meiji Jingu (a beautiful shrine right in the middle of Tokyo), and it started snowing - it was the first time T had seen snow actually falling, and it was just beautiful watching her reaction. Got a free guided tour by some random university students around the shrine and one of them turned out to be studying at another branch of my school, and her teacher was a friend of mine...very small world.

Went to Tokyo Disneyland for the 3rd time (I do love that place) with T, H and S. Got discount tickets from a student of mine who works there - gotta use those contacts people. Arrived full of beans at 8:30am and left exhausted, at near 10pm. Brilliant day! Along with my Modigliani, Gaughin, Chagall, my world map and various postcards; I also have a huge Winnie the Pooh puzzle (that I completed and framed for God's sake!) on my wall! Is anyone else out there like me? I can't help it - he's so fricking cute! Pooh and Tigger mugs too! Do I need help?

it's almost snow

2005-03-04T19:27:00.000+10:00

Right now, the rain is beautiful and icy, so very soon will turn into snow. Wish it wasn't after midnight or I'd stay up and watch. Going to be snowing all weekend they say, so a lovely present for my b'day. Went up the Tokyo Metropolitan Building the other night with H, and the view was absolutely amazing! All for free too! Much better than Tokyo Tower. So when you all come to Japan you'll have to go up. Had a great pre birthday celebration last weekend. Went out for dinner and drinks at a cool cafe in Shimokitazawa. Drank heaps of wine and had a fantastic night. Invited some people from the cafe I go to every day and ended up embarrassing myself by asking them why they didn't fill my coffee all the way up! Also let them know that I really wanted to work at their cafe. I made a complete ass of myself!! But all turned out well, as this week they've filled my coffee right up with big smiles!! Did a demo lesson with a 2 and a half year old kid. It was so much fun! Can't believe parents start teaching them so young though....they can't even count in their own language, let alone English! My company actually offers pre-natal classes which is just fricking sick!!!! Just a clever way to make money I suppose. That's it!

one of my favourite numbers is long

2005-02-24T19:49:00.000+10:00

Lo and behold I spilt coffee on my cordless mouse last night and the clicker button stopped working. So, I've become very adapt over the last hour (not really) at using the keyboard to do my stuff (which was a bit tricky getting to news articles I wanted to read and checking e-mail). I just gave it a good shake and it's come unstuck from the dried coffee it must have been glued on. Thank god!! Just another example of how my computer hates me. At least today the pop up adds from my virus weren't porn.

My work yesterday asked me if I could possibly change the days off which I've asked for to go to S's wedding. Unfortunately for them they are all in one of the busiest weeks of the year (supposedly). I had to call the travel agency from the office (I'm assuming so they could make sure I tried) and ask them if there were any earlier flights back. To no avail....so I still get to have the huge 7 work days off (only 2 of which are paid). I thought for a few minutes that they were going to fire me if I didn't change it, but they said that they would sort it all out. There would have been hell to pay if they tried because I'd already given my notice earlier in the year...I was going to just quit and stay in Oz after the wedding but they begged me to stay and told me I could take that time off!

Anyway, that's my bitch of the day. Can't wait to finish though. Poor J's still got another 5 months! And she's got plenty to bitch about!

I don't like titles

2005-02-22T16:08:00.000+10:00

G'day and welcome all! I thought, seeing as I'm a horrible communicator, this would be a great way for all of you to start hearing from me! I've had the internet hooked up here for nearly 6 months, yet this is the first time in 4 months that it's been working. Computers don't like me very much. It's lovely and chilly here in Tokyo. We had snow the other night and it was just beautiful...it had all pretty much melted by morning but I was awake in the early hours of the morning so had a lovely time of it. I'm finishing work in 2 months and then I'm not sure what's happening. Have been thinking about:

staying on and finding another job
travelling through Europe then heading home, or
getting a working visa for either France or Italy

Can't wait 'till S's wedding in April. I'm going home for that. Just for 10 days though, not long enough!