Climbing the Highlands

Me, Dave & 'Maude' enjoying a clear patch looking over the elevated Loch Fearna,
above Loch Quioch, ascending the munro Spidean Mialach

Hi all,

Well im still here, for another 3 weeks as well. We've been quite busy lately, the last busy month of the season apparently. We've been hosting parties of people associated with shooting (deer) up here, which finishes about this time of year. So there's been a few late nights.

I still managed yesturday to get out on my one day off to go mountain/munro (a mountain over 3000ft high) trekking with the chef from here who's had alot of experience trekking Scottish hills. You might not initially think that there's alot involved, but for a start, when its hot/sunny/cold/wind/rainy/snowy,foggy etc etc you need all the gear to cope with that when you're approx 1km above sea level.

You also need to know where you're going, always important, or at least be with someone who does. Our trek yesturday consisted of two munros on the northern side of Loch Quioch, about 7 miles west of Tomdoun. Its a massive Loch, and if it hadn't have been quite as rainy/foggy we would have had tremendous views over the Loch and to mountains/munros off in the distance.

Here is the link to a website describing the walk we did...

http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/fortwilliam/spideanmialach.shtml

It is a well trodden path, though thats not to say it was easy! hehe It was pretty tough in parts, slippery, wet slopes and other with jagged rocks. Having borrowed some great boots and other gear i was pretty set. I have to say though, coming down was alot harder, you are having to constantly bace yourself, not slip, concentrating on ever step. And the impact on your feet and legs etc is quite severe. Safe enough to say im pretty sore today!

Well im off to take a couple pain killers and start work! ;-)

Probably be a while until my next adventure here, haven't got a day off for 2 weeks for various reasons.

Take care all oxox

Mountain Biking & Hairy Coows!

Hiya all,

Just a short update. Am really really enjoying myself here now. Ive realised how much there is to do around here, its SUCH an AMAZING part of the world.

Yesterday i went out for 6 hours, mountain biked 1.5 hours/ 14miles down the road of Loch Garry on an old road and came to some forest with waterfalls and walked for 2hours, then biked back again! It was fantastic to get out and see all of it. I even came across some hairy coows (yes, cooooows....thats how they say it here!)

There have been some people staying here the last week, really lovely. They invited my out for dinner last night, but we ended up staying in and having dinner in the hotel which was awesome hanging out, relaxing and chatting to some cool people.

Its just dawned on me how much there is to do around here, especially when you make connections and talk to as many people as you can and make an effort to organise things, its so worth it. There are a few great mountains around here that people hike up, so very soon ill be making my way up them with some local people here, i know thats going to be awesome.

Anyway, must be off, still a bit knacked after yesterday, going to rest before long shift tonight!

Ciao for now ox

Back in the Scottish Highlands!

Heya all =D

Well ive been working now at Tomdoun Hotel for one month exactly. Its certainly been interesting. There seems like alot to say, and not alot to say at the same time.

Its all pretty much as i expected, though it is alot more remote then i hoped...i mean i hoped for remote, but maybe not 40mins-drive-from-the-nearest-largish-town remote hehe. It is amazing stunning here though, i mean really stunning, the mountains and lochs are simply breath taking. And, evidently very quiet as well, which is honestly blistful. This is Loch Quoich, just up the road a bit.





So yeah, its a very small team working here (Mike the owner, Allan the bar manager, Dave the chef, 2 other girls doing the same as me - Anne from poland and Klara from czech - and then myself!), and its fairly quiet at the moment, we're closed tonight because we have no one staying and theres no point being open, so im amusing myself looking at university courses for next year on MY NEW LAPTOP =D Here is the link to the model i bought.





https://www.sonystyle.co.uk/SonyStyle/catalog/updateItems/(xcm=PCM_b2ccrmstandard&layout=15_116_61_50_117_121_2&uiarea=2&ctype=areaDetails&carea=46EA6DF121FD0129E10080002BC29B86)/.do?tabKey=tabKey2&next=products









Im so over the moon with it, its perfect for what i need, including for university next year. Its so easy to use, and everything is just working so well with it. And pretty cheap too, £450/$900 i paid. Its so nice to be able to back up and sort out all my photos, and go on the net whenever i like (they have wifi in the hotel). Ive been putting it off for so long, mainly because i didn't want the stress or inconvenience of travelling with one up until now...travelling through Europe, staying at random hostels, constantly moving around. I mean, it would have been useful, but not worth it. Internet cafes are so easy to find everywhere, it was never an issue.


So, work here is easy and laid back mostly, except the bar manager is being a bit difficult and is upsetting a couple of us...we don't get on too well, but it seems to be alright at the moment. Im doing lots of different types of work, waitressing, bar work, housekeeping, answering phones and other officy stuff, working in the kitchen preparing food and washing up etc, cooking hot breakfasts for up to like 18 people, everything really! I guess thats a plus for working in a small place.


So all is well, hope everyone else is also well =D oxox

Sangria, Beaches & Spanish Fiestas!

Well its been an interesting week here in Spain. Alot seems to have happened in a rather short period.

I arrived in Barcelona a week ago and met up with Stacey. It was fantastic meeting up with her, chatting about the good old days growing up and hanging out together. We spent the first couple of days in Barcelona itself, doing all the site seeing touristy things that you have to do.

I pretty much liked Barcelona straight away. It has alot going for it, amazing old buildings and some crazy architecture (namely by Gaudi), bustling shopping streets, incredible nightlife, and long sandy beaches, all in rather short walk or metro ride apart. We found alot of places on Sunday to get some awesome views of the city which was great, then did the cathedrals and other famous landmarks.

On Monday we had a hectic few hours trying to get some transport to Valencia. I knew it was 5hrs away, though i didn´t count on the vast number of people also wanting public transport that day. I should have done some research into it, though (1) it had been a while since id done this type of travellng and (2) i haven´t travelled much in peak season before....its madness. So we spent a few hours running around the metro and trains station and then the bus station before finally just making an afternoon bus to Valencia.

So after all that we arrive to a pretty crappy hostel in Valencia and spent the next 2 days site seeing, spending most of one day in the newly constructed row of space-age type buildings (below) consisting of a science museum (Museo de las Ciencias Principe Felipe), IMAX theatre and aquarium (L' Oceanografic). It was all quite fasinating, and i felt like a big kid again visiting the aquarium

Leaving Valencia on the Thursday morning, we caught the bus back up the coast to Tarragona, one hour South of Barcelona. Tarragona is an old Roman city that used to be very strategic and important for trade hundreds of years ago because of its ideal harbour. At one point it was completely surrounded by a city wall, part of which still exists. So we arrived and went to the hotel to check in and leave our bags (yes....HOTEL!!! LOL we went all out and i got us a cheap hotel for just one night). It was fantastic value, lovely hotel, right in the middle of town...it was definitely a treat.

We ventured the Roman wall and Museum and i then spent the rest of the night in front of the TV! I couldn´t understand one word but it was nice just to relax in the room, which over looked the main beach....very nice. The next day we had our buffet breakfast in the hotel, then made our way back to Barcelona. We did a bit more site seeing, then decided to have dinner again at a restaurant just off the main drag that we discovered (thanks to Lonely Planet!) the weekend prior. It has lovely lovely local food (including amazing Paella) at very reasonable prices.

So after 2L of Sangria between us (refreshing drink made with red wine, juice and fruit), we drunkingly made our way to Plaza Espanya for the famous ´Magic Fountain´. The fountain is pretty amazing, its massive and they put on an awesome display of lights and music with dancing jets of water coming from every direction. Even more amazing when your a bit drunk....!

Barcelona is always alive in Summer with fiestas and festivals etc etc, and this week they have the ´Gracia Fiesta´with street bands with different themes and parades and stalls and all of that. So last night (Friday) we ventured to that part of town, soaked up some atmosphere and crashed not long after in a deep Sangria induced sleep.

Today (Saturday) almost exactly one week after meeting up with Stace, she had to get her flight to Paris to fly back to OZ tomorrow. It was quite sad to see her off, and i used today to catch up on some sleep and souvenir shopping. Tonight was good, i returned to the Fiesta and meet up with a chica and i met in Madrid doing Vaughan Town like 15 months ago.

So tomorrow i fly back to London and stay in Brighton for a couple of nights with Jacqui before flying to Scotland (Inverness) to work for a couple of months. I found a hotel job (bless Gumtree) in the middle of the highlands, precisely in the middle of no where....a world away from manic Barcelona and Eastern Spain. I am actually looking forward to it though, the people i have been in contact with sound really friendly, and it sounds like they are a close knit team. The addy for the hotel is www.tomdoun.com

So there are a few photos up on Flickr, though there will probably be more on Facebook instead. Id say ill have internet at the hotel and ill do my best to keep this updated these last few months (gasp)...almost time to head home! I have to admit though, im starting to look forward to the thought of returning to OZ, and certainly by December ill be more than ready.

Well i hope everyone is well...i shall write later from not so sunny Scotland! =D

Take care all oxox

Its been a while!!

Oh my gosh, it really has been a longgg while! =D

Sooo much has happened. Basically, after leaving the Museum, i went off on a road trip for one week to Cornwall with Bryony which was AWESOME, then was very very lucky enough to meet through a friend of a friend a couple (Paul and Violet) who compete event horses internationally living in Dorset.

There is alot to explain, though it all happened rather quickly, 7 weeks altogether. Id come to their farm to meet them breifly before going to Cornwall, and when Bryony and me got back on the Tuesday, i was leaving with them on the Friday 13th June. They own a large horse truck with a living area, so we went in that with a float/trailor on the back as well, as we were taking 4 horses.

Three of the horses we had were for the competitions, and one was a new horses of thiers just going for the experience. So off we left in the wee hours of saturday morning to get an early ferry from Dover to Calais in France, four horses, three labs and three people on board. We thought of ourselves and indeed recieved many looks from locals as though we were a travelling circus!

The reason for them to go was for Paul to compete in European event competitions in order to gain world ranking points so that in his sport so that he can put a good case forward to the Army, for which they both work, that he is worthy of sponsorship, with the ultimate goal of competing in the London 2012 Olympic games. The reason for doing this in Europe and not England is because the competition in England is so feirce and very very competitive, that it is well worth travelling away from here were in Eastern Europe competition is not so strong and therefore he was more like to get better results and more points.

They required someone to travel with them to help out with the horses, particularly on the competition weekends because it got quite hectic competing 3 horses with 1 rider. Also, Violet was only able to be there for 1 of the 3 events we attended, so it was just me and Paul for most of the trip. After the long 4-5day drive across Western Europe, stopping in Belgium, Germany and Czech, our first competition was in Slovakia, near the large town of Trencin in the north west. Im not going to go into too much detail, but we had a great time there and the horses performed really well, Paul was very happy with them.

We were there for a couple of weeks, the event runs for three days, though Paul and Violet are looking for a property in Slovakia, so we spent ALOT of time travelling around a large part of the country looking at various old farms, which was really interesting. They had hired a car to do this with, which i drove most of the time. This was also very interesting, considering it was left hand drive of course, and on the right side of the road. There were only a few occasions Paul in the passenger seat had to point out i was on the wrong side of the road! lol We all survived luckily =D

So after Viloet left to go back to work, me and Paul headed of for Humplec near Prague in the Czech Republic for the second event. It was a great competition there, the Paul did really well with the horses again, the weather was lovely and the set up we had was great. I felt relaxed and in control of looking after the horses, particularly because ive never been involved with event horses before, although ive had a far bit of experience travelling and competing horses. So from that point of view Paul and Violet took a great chance having me there, but i worked quite hard, long hours, but really really enjoyed it and learned a great deal.

It wasn't Paul's original intention, but he decided that it would be worth going to a third event in Estonia, 2 weeks after Humplec. The only thing was it was hundreds and hundreds of kilometres away, or 4 days drive! He admitted later that he didn't realise how far it was, AND we had to cross some Poland and its crappy crappy crappy roads. It was a very interesting journey to Estonia. Latvia and Lithuania were quite flat with very tall pine trees for foresting covering alot of the land. Both me and Paul thought it looked somehow very American. Estonia was lovely, very green, with much more traditional and well kept buildings then the other countries.

Leaving out alot of detail, Paul also did quite well with the horses there, though after all the travelling etc, one in particular didn't do maybe as well as we'd hoped. Not to mention the flies and the horses flies....you simply can't imagine them, they drove the horses insane and indeed the humans as well. I came away with red welts all over me! Didn't help that the event grounds were pretty much surrounded by swampy kind of lakes hehe. My birthday was on the Saturday of the competition, so i didn't get to celebrate really until that night when me and Paul and a whole heap of others at the event, including some lovely lovely Finish people, walked not far up the road to an amusement park with pools and water slides. We all had a great time, particularly watching Paul getting frustrated that he couldn't slide down the water slide because he'd worn pants that were too grippy. I haven't laughed so long in a long time.

The last Sunday was hard, because by that point so was sooooo tired, exhausted even, more than i have ever been. Plus the water there from the taps was shite, brown and stunk alot, and of course we hadn't bought enough bottled water, so i was dehydrated as well...not a good thing. I was drinking alot of coffee as well, which really really didn't help the situation. Indeed, by the time we left on Monday to drive back to England, i was so exhausted, i was looking forward to sleeping for what was the five days to get home.

We got back on Friday, very sticky, very tired, as were the horses, but very satisfied with what we had achieved and glad to be back in the West with fresh running water and regular showers! I hate to admit it, but as there was no shower in thier truck, sometimes we went without a shower if they weren't available because we were too exhausted by the end of the day, or we had a bath in a bucket. I had it worked out quite well, so that you use minimal water most effeciently, and it was certainly better than no shower/bath at all!! And indeed i was properly minging most of the day every day...its rather messy work to say the least hehe.

Basically, say on a competition day, i would wake up around 5:30am, feed and muck out stables, make breakfast for us, prepare the three horses for competition, sometimes including platting manes which takes ages, then Paul would ride one while i took photos, then come back and get one another horse while i washed and took care of the previous horse, then take more photos and do that again with the third horse. This would take up most of the day, and somewhere in there id make us both lunch and we'd have a small break. Then in the afternoon we would have to clean tack, feed the horses, re-organise things for the next day, i make dinner and do general cleaning up of our camp, feed the dogs, etc etc by which time it would be around 10pm or so, then in bed by 11pm and try and get as much sleep before doing the same the next day!

It was as much work as it sounds, but very satisfying and rewarding. Plus, this was just on the event weekends and i had some more time to myself during the week, particularly when we were travelling because i couldn't drive and Paul had to do all of it...during which time i would catch up on some rest! So it was a FANTASTIC, amazing, life changing trip and im so lucky to have been on. I was even more lucky that Paul and Violet are SUCH lovely couple and really really enjoyed spending time with them. I think they were very happy with me as well. Even though i had no experience with event horses, i worked my bum off, and enjoyed other things i had to do as well, such as the cooking.

So im at thier place now in Dorset, not far from the Museum. They have gone back to work and its a shitty rainy day (of course....being back in England), and decided i should probably update this! This week for me is pretty chilled, just bumming around visiting people etc. We had dinner at the Muesum on Sunday night, which was really really lovely, saw loads of people again and had a great night, and the food was amazing as usual.

Tonight i hope to go to Annette and Willy's place for a few days, hopefully ill be able to help them out on the estate where i can and ride with Annette. Then on Saturday 9th August im off to Barcelona to meet up with Stacey, a very old family friend that i haven't seen since i was like 10yrs old, so that should be awesome. She has a week to hang out, so we are going to site see Barcelona then maybe travel to the Andalucia region in the South West, which is a popular and famous region for it culture and amazing towns. Ive been planning to go there for months, so it will be great to have someone to go with as well.

After that, i have no idea! Ill probably head back to England and find another job, something that pays well i hope, with horses again. There alot of horsey jobs here, as there are alot of horses, and no doubt i will very much need the money.

So yeah, there has been ALOT going and ive been the happiest ive been in a very long time. It has been so fantastic to work with horses again, and this was the most perfect opportunity and the most perfect situation that i was hoping for. And i got to see alot more of Europe, as well as countries that i never thought id see, and seeing it from the horsey point of view and meet those kinds of local was pretty special...even though i was too busy and tired to be social alot of the time.

Well i best be off...i have lots and lots of photos that i hope to get up one day, not sure when ill get the chance. AND Ty sent me a new camera for my birthday so im busting to use that in Spain and it will be alot easier for me to upload the photos onto flickr for you all to see.

I hope everyone is well and i very very much apologise for not being in contact with people properly, as it was quite difficult when i was away. And as usual i need to try harder to keep this up to date! =D

Take care all xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

End of an Era

Hiya all,

Well biggest current news....ive FINALLY decided the leave the Museum (permenantly this time though!)

I gave a months notice at the beginning of May, so ill probably head off the start of June. Im absorlutely LOVING it here at the moment, i really am, but i know that there are so many other opportunities to explore out there.

Im actually looking for something with horses anywhere in Europe and no doubt there's plenty around. Also in June im looking to spend a few weeks travelling around Spain, concentrating on Andalucia, which is the South Western corner, famous for mediterranean beaches and flamenco dancing. Id also love to go to Valencia and Balcelona on the East coast, then end up in the Rioja Region for "batalla del vino" on the 29th, which is a celebration where a whole bunch of people throw wine at each other, sounds great!!

It says a little about it when you click on this link
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rioja_%28wine%29

And thats just the start really! Im not really sure how the next couple of months will unfold, all i know is that i won't be working at the Museum Inn anymore, and that makes me scared, sad and excited all at the same time. Im really really going to miss it, particularly the social aspect and all the gorgeous people, as well as the STUNNING countryside. I guess i just have to remember that ive spend a whole year working here, and it has to end some day, and now feels like the right time.

Ive gotten so comfortable here, almost too comfortable. Its time to get back out there and see what else i can do. I guess my main concern is that im going to spend the money ive worked so hard to save too quickly and ill end up going home with no money, which would really suck. But at the same time, its not the end of the world.

The last couple of months have been great. Ive been out riding so much on the horses with Annette, which has been so incredible. Last week we took them down the road an hour to 'New Forest', which is huge piece of land in the middle of Dorset. Ive uploaded a couple of photos, which also show the wild ponies that are roaming about, it was a fantastic day. We also went out today just around the local area here for 3 and a half hours in the stunning stunning warm sunshine...the weather has been AMAZING (got my first sunburn today)!! We even stopped by the Museum for a cider with the horses as well, which was pretty cool.

The back garden has been going really well. Siany has been working really hard, potting and repotting plants like tomatoes and capsicums, as well as working the soil and planting radishes, lettuces, herbs, sunflowers and other flowers along the borders. Ive been out there with her when i can, and its been so nice having the project going out there. Its something practical and fun to do in the backyard instead of just laying down sunbaking. I must say, ive also been making some pretty nice cocktails for us all, with malibu, berries, mango, mint and ice...mmmmm.

So yeah, i just can't express how much im going to miss the lifestyle here, i don't take it for granted for a minute. Im also going to miss the girls and thier companionship, we've become quite close living and working together everyday. Im so lucky to have found this place and to be able to come and go like i have done, its just worked out so perfectly. Its going to be very hard packing up my stuff and living out of my backpack again! Definitely going to be a shock to the system.

So yeah, at this stage, i actually don't know where im going at the start of June, im just hoping something will turn up. Im looking for anything really, voluntary as well, and there's always the WWOOFing that ive done before, so ill never be stuck for too long.

Great news is Bryony (used to work at the Museum) is coming back next weeks for a few days to visit us all, and i have a couple of days off with her so we might go out riding or down to the coast, should be great. Kirsty is also leaving the Museum and throwing a BBQ Bash at the end of the month on Friday 23rd, and im (hopefully) going to arrange my own little going away thing....Go-Karting!!! Yey!! That should be a couple of days before hand on the 21st, so pumped for that cos everyone from here should be going.

Speaking of that, im going to head off because i might actually drive up to the Go-Karting place now and talk to them about it all before it gets too late!

Well i hope everyones doing well, and you should all check out my new photos cos ive got some nice horsey ones up there now! =)

Ill keep everyone posted on my moves as i know them, take care! oxox

Sring has Sprung!

Heya all,

I just realised its been 5 weeks since ive made an update, tut tut. I guess a quite significant thing that happened was that the 21st March came around again, the date which i left Australia in 2007. Its gone so quickly, but at the same time, so much has happened it feels like its been alot longer.

Easter also slipped by. It was rather busy here at the pub from the Thursday until the Monday, so it didn't really feel like a holiday for me. One of the girls decided it would be a good idea to have a cocktail James Bond themed party though on the Sunday night. It ended up just being another staff party booze up, but alot of fun all the same. Ive been really really healthy lately but decided to let my hair down for the night and got pretty trolleyed, felt a bit sick at work the next day but soldiered through it.

In other reletive exciting news, me and Kirsty decided to take off to London on Friday 28th for the day. There was a Vitality Expo at Olympia which was pretty interesting. It wasn't as big as i thought it was going to be, and certainly not as much free stuff as i hoped there might be, but it was fun to strolled around all the different health, food, beauty, and fitness stalls.

I ended up spending £50 on a test this guy was doing for food sensitivity, and that also measured if you were deficient in and vitamins and minerals etc. It was really interesting because ive thought for the last like 4 years that i am lactose intolerant, but he was certain that i wasn't. I am however sensitive to eggs, potatos, almonds and peaches....strange but apparently true.

After the expo we did some exploring of London and went to visit the 'Australia Shop' in Shepards Bush. It was sooooo exciting...they had so many things that you can only get in Australia, things that had forgotten existed. It was brilliant. I bought Tim Tams, a big Aussie flag, Aussie wrist bands, Australia shaped egg rings...i could have spent so much money there, it was making me feel a little home sick as well!

After that we popped into a 'Walkabout' (cheesy Australian styled bar that crop up all over England that i have completely avoided going into up until now) which was about as phoney as i expected but kind of nice at the same time. We drunk bundy and coke and watch clips of different imagines of Australia on the tele screens while reading TNT Magazine (a mag produced over here for Aussies, New Zealanders and South Africians living in England)....I felt like such a phoney Aussie!! lol

We then strolled down to Trafalger Square, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben and the London Eye. just to really feel like we were in London. Kirsty had an old school friend she wanted to meet up with, so was spent a few hours drinking and eating in a buzzing bar in Clapham Junction then jumped on a train and arrived back home at 11:30pm very much ready for bed. It was good to get out, but even better to get back home again away from all the hussel and bussel!

My foot has been healing very well, ive been running on it again which has been really good, getting back out in all that fresh air and working up a sweat. Apart from that, I guess theres not much else going on. Theres a few random things coming up, like a horse trials up the road (what Aussie would call cross country) on Wednesday. Me and Kirsty will be going with the lady that we ride the horses with who has very good connections, so it should be a good day. Ive got a friend birthday in London in a couple of weeks which should also be great. No other big plans though at the moment.

Well i must be off, not working this afternoon so im going to walk a friends dog for them and then just relax, looking forward to it! I hope everyone is well, i want to give a shout out to Ty who arrived in NZ yesturday and i hope he's having a blast, i know he will be!

Until next time, ciao all :D oxox

Here for the Year

Hi all, this is just a quick update i guess.

All i have to report is that ive decided not to visit OZ in March. There are various reasons for this, mainly the money and that it could be otherwise spent on visiting new places and doing things over here, which is why im here.

I have to say though that it was a very hard decision to make. I had been planning for about a month to go home, then slowly realised that even though i have my return ticket to use up until 21st March 2008, its still going to cost me a far bit. Also, i know im going to be home for Christmas this year, im planning to come home in early December i think. By that stage i know i will have used up my years worth of legal work that im allowed to do on my visa and ill be low on cash.

One plus is that my travel agent has mentioned that i may be able to claim a refund or some credit for Thai Airways when i cancel my return flight, which is awesome news. Im chasing that one up at the moment as i might be able to use the credit to pay for my flight back to OZ later in the year.

I have really mixed feelings at the moment about not coming home, there are certain people that i really would have love to have seen, but i know that this year will fly like the rest of them and ill be home in no time. Im just going to live with my decision to stay another year and make the most out of it!

Im really enjoying being back at the Museum as well. A couple of other gals and me are planning to start a vegie garden out in the back yard. The other day we went to buy seeds and all of that, so at the moment we are waiting for the frosts to stop and we can start working on the soil. In the mean time we have to sow the seeds and get them germinated and ready to go outside. Its really exciting, i can't wait to get in there and learn about how to do it. Plus by Spring some of the vegies should be ready to eat, like the tomatos and lettuces etc.

Im still keeping focused on next year. Im getting really anxious to start studying and learning about Health and Nutrition. Im always getting out library books and reading all the time, trying to get some basic knowledge about what ill be studying next year. I know that i want to apply for Uni again, so im trying not to let my brain go to moosh in the mean time! hehe

Anyways, must be off. I guess i should apologise to those people who i told that i was going to come home in March and see them, but i will definitely be seeing you all at the end of the year anyway. I hope all is well with everyone.

Bye for now! oxoxox

Back at the Cottage

Well, its great to be back in the Cottage at the Museum, feels like ive come home.

Life feels so breezy and detached here. Its easy to let days, weeks and indeed months slip by working away, socialising, drinking, sleeping the days away. Last Sunday night the pub closed and the new owner took all the staff down to Poole (on the coast) to his other pub/business called 'The Cow' and we got to meet all the other staff which was interesting. We all had drink at thier pub, then went bowling (by which time i was trolleyed), then went out for Italian (by which time i was well trolleyed), then we went next door to a club and danced the night away (until 12:30am hehe).

It was a really good night, especially considering that us gals don't get out too often, so we really enjoyed it. Im trying to get hold of some photos from that night and ill get them up asap.

Apart from that, things around here have been same old same old. Im still looking into having a flying visit of OZ in March over Easter, which would be awesome. Got some more organising to do around that so ill keep you all posted.

Ive also been doing some major decorating in my room. Ive bought a great big year planner and a great big map of Europe and stuck up post cards, maps and other material all over my walls to remind me of the world outside Farnham, what i have seen and done and what there is left to see and do. Ive been talking to people and keeping my eyes and ears out for things to do this year. Id love to do some of the things i missed out on last year, like Octoberfest, seeing the South of Spain, seeing more of Scotland in Summer time, seeing Greece and seeing more of Austria. There quite a few idea floating aruond at the moment that im brewing up, so all these ideas are going to go up on my wall on brightly coloured pieces of paper.

Anyways, im enjoying being back here. At least i know that theres some money coming in instead of going out. Things were looking a bit bleak there for a little while! My foot is healing slowly, ive done alot of work this week so i haven't had much chance to rest it. I know though that i have deformed the bone somehow, because it does stick out more than the other side. So i guess this is going to be more of a permanent thing.

Well i best be off, its been a long week and weekend and im heading out for a drink or too before hitting the hay. I hope everyone is well back home! Haven't had any emails from people lately, love to hear from anyone! oxoxox :)

Its all happening back in the UK

Well, ALOT has happened in the last week or so.

Ive had some major decisions to make and alot of thinking to do. Many of my decisions were left up to my foot, and last week i decided to have the cast removed because i felt like it was improving. It was a good decision because i have been walking on it since then (well hobbling actually), but its still causing me some pain and i know its not completely healed.

Other than this ive had other things to think about, like University and whether or not im going to return home this month...and its shaping up to not be the case. Right at this moment ive got such mixed feeling about the whole thing. I could go, or i could stay. I feel like right now i could go either way and there are definitely pluses to each side.

I recieved the two offers i applied for with the Uni's, the one in Perth and Sydney Uni. I expected to get them because the courses i applied for were not difficult to get into, i mainly did that to keep my options open. So today i still haven't changed my flight that leaves next week to come back to OZ (i can do it up to two days before hand). Im just doing some major thinking and weighing up of my options.

The main option i am looking at is staying another year and changing my current flight until the latest possible, which is about 20th March (because it was valid for one year). Then, because i will need to purchase another flight later in the year to get home anyway, what im looking at doing is taking my current flight home on 20th March, staying for two weeks to see everyone, then have another return flight bought so that i can fly back here in early April and back home again at the end of the year!! I hope that makes sense!!!

It sounds complicated, but its not. And in other ways it is going to be complicated to organise because its cheaper to buy a return flight from OZ to the UK and back from Australia, so currently im contacting my travel agent back in OZ to check out prices for return flights and seeing if its going to be a serious option.

If it is and i think i can afford to do it, ill be able to come home for two weeks and see everyone!! YEY!!! Im terribly excited about that prospect, and im going to do what i can to arrange it. Also, i might try to cash in on Birthdays and Christmas etc etc presents that i didn't really get and hit up good ol' Mum and maybe my Dad to help me out, which would be amazing. Otherwise ill just stay on until the end of the year again i think!!

Its actually a scary thought, because up until now ive always had that return flight there, its been good to know that if i get home sick or whatever i can just head home whenever. But if i stay on, im committing myself until probably this December. Its not as though i couldn't come back, but if i decide to stay another year, then i might as well use it all!!

Also, i wonder what life would be like for me in OZ if i had have decided to come back now and move to Perth and study again. Im comfortable with that thought, really comfortable. I can almost see myself settling down into a proper life and having a space of my own and studying a subject that really excites me and focusing on the future and job prospects in the industry that are out there. *SIGH* But i know staying here that it will be good, i will have a good time. I feel like im very comfortable with Europe now and i can go anywhere on my own and know that i know how to look after myself and get around properly.

I am pretty worried about my foot, as it is still quite sore. I need to look after it properly and doing some exercises with it and rest it when i can. Because if i don't have my health here i have nothing really! Its definitley worrying me at the moment, but i can only do what i can do.

I flew back the UK on Monday and met with Jacqui (old TAFE friend) in Brighton and ive been staying with her. It was hard leaving Italy, i felt like i became really close to the family and was just starting to get into a routine there. They are such an amazing family and i felt like it was somewhere i could have easily and happily spent more time, particularly if i was well enough to help out more. But anyway, i guess that one of the harder things you have to do while travelling, only getting a certain amount of time to spend with people. You just have to recognise and appeciate the time that you do have with people if you are getting on really well.

So, its so good to see Jacqui again and catch up. We'll hang here until Thursday when she'll come to Dorset with me and stay for a couple days. And Jamie Oliver is coming to the pub on Thursday night!!! YEY!!! LOL Im sooooo looking forward to that! And it will be cool to have Jacqui there too cos she is a fan as well. Then it will be back to work for me on Friday!! Busy weekend apparently, i can only hope my foot is OK.

Anyway! So thats news! Ill keep this up to date on whats happening. Alot to arrange...ie, insurance for another year, organising my drivers licence etc etc etc Theres alot to do! For now im with Jacqui in Brighton enjoying AMAZING weather, its SUCH a gorgeous day and its soooo weird being here without Ty, i miss you!!! :(

Must go, internet is up. Love you all, hope i can come and see everyone back home in March, yey! oxoxoxoxoxoxox

SUCH an IDIOT!

Well, ive done it, ive finanlly hurt myself. I supposed chances are that its likely to happen...but i managed to hurt myself in such a stupid and simple way that im pretty much stranded to a constant sitting or laying position until further notice.

Last Wednesday night i was all relaxed after a fantastic hot shower, listening to some tunes, then processed down one of the many stair cases in the house to the floor below. I was fiddling with my mobile and not paying attention right at the last step and didn't notice that last little bugger as i came tumbling down in a bundle in pain on the floor. Also, of course it was night time and of course i hadn't bothered to turn on the light (i must stay though the light switches here are wierd and ive found it easier not to bother before).

Anyway, long story short...I spent 7 hours in Emergency on Thursday waiting to see doctors and having an x-ray to check for broken bones. Fortunately i got the all clear for that, and then another doctor suggested that i have an ultrasound to check if the tendon in my arch (where all the freakin pain is) may be completely detached because i twisted it so severely.

So today ill go to get the scan, then tomorrow i have another appointment with another specialist to have a look at the result and my foot again. In the mean time im supposed to be volunteering on the farm, helping out and basically working for my board and food. Of course now im a complete invalid and am supposed to always have my foot up, which is driving me nuts and im continuing to help out here and there in the kitchen etc.

I can't tell you how bad i feel, especially now i have all these appointments in the hospital which is half and hour away. Though today its snowing again like a bitch and theres nothing to really do outside (or inside in fact) anyway. Also, ive had a look at the website for WWOOFing Italy and it says that if im temporarily disabled for more than 3 days i can claim some insurance money, as well as any hospital cost, which is great news. At least that way i can be giving the family some money to cover the costs of having me here.

Apart from my foot i feel fantastic. Im just incredibly frustrated that i can't do anything...and yes, i know (mum) that i should be resting it as muc as possible, which is happening most of the time. Its actually feeling a bit better today and im just praying that its just a torn tendon and not broken.

Its the 12th today, and in 4 days i will know my destiny for the year to come...the University offers for next year are released on 16th and i will decide whether or not to take that flight home at the end of the month. So i guess theres alot on my plate at the moment, even though im pretty much stuck inside and restricted to sitting at all times...grrrr

I shall try to keep this up to date, but i don't like to use the internet here too much because they seem to use it alot etc etc. If nothing else, i have learned that i really need to take care of myself and that im so grateful to at least be here because if i had been in just about any other situation i would be stuffed.

Well, must be off, hope everyone else is doing good. No temporary disabilities or otherwise to speak of i hope! =D Take care all, cheerish your healthy bodies! LOL oxox

Mama Mia!

Well after 20 hours on 5 different trains from Austria into Switzeland then into Italian, i find myself in the middle of just about nowhere with an amazing real-life Italian family and all that that includes.

Im going to keep this very brief as it is late and im pretty tired! Basically ive been asimilated into part of the family and we (meaning another lady who is also WWOOFing and her young daughter) just help out where we can everyday. The family has a B&B type thing and a restaurant and grow thier own fruit and veg and making thier own wine etc etc, as well as having two small children, so they are very busy people who need all the help they can get.

So ive been helping out in the restaurant and kitchen, outside in the woods etc etc. Its not too strenuous at the moment because its winter, so there no harvesting to do or anything like that, but there always seem to be something. Im staying in one of the guest rooms which is awesome. The building they live in is so old, so typically Italian, particularly the architecture, its so beautiful.

Its been snowing a far bit today, which limits work mainly to the house. Its so awesome to just sit and watch the snow falling, i haven't really seen it falling like that before, i felt like an excited little kid.

Anyway, theres so much to tell, its such a cool place to be. But im going to go to bed because im pretty tired right now! Hope everyone is well. Ill have some photos up asap. Take care oxox