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

IM IN LOVE!!

........With Austria that is! LOL Ive always had a very romantasised view of Austria...rolling green hills, snow capped mountains, tiny villiages nestled in deep, lush valleys. And truth is...its all that and much more!

I mean, ive only been here for a couple of days, but having seen so many other places in Europe, i simply love Austria, i don't want to leave. I may be slightly drunk and so full i can barely move at the moment from having the best meal ive ever eaten, but i really do get a great feeling about this country.

I don't know where to start explaining how much has happened in the last couple of days. I left Trier on 27th, very very sorry to leave. I had the the most amazing time in Germany over Christmas with Ben, and his family just made me feel right at home. So after tearing myself away from there, i headed off for my 9 hour train journey to Salzburg, just over the border into Austria from Germany. I mainly planned to stop here just to break up my trip to Vienna, but ended up falling in love with this town which helped me remember how ive always known that Austria is somewhere i want to be.

I stayed up too late in the hostel drinking with some other Aussies, then got up early and spent the best part of the morning fitting in as much as possible exploring the place. The highlight was of course the castle perched on top of a hill in the middle of the town, much like Edinburgh. Every way i turned my breathe was taken, and i was very sorry to have to leave and make my way the rest of the way to Vienna.

Vienna is a whole nother story in itself. Everywhere you look, incredible buildings linger over the skyline decorated with a myriad of lights and colours, a feast for the senses. I picked up a hot tip about cheap tickets to the famous Opera performances here for last minute standing places, but ended up paying 40 Euros from a scalper for a well positioned seat to watch a ballet performance of the Nutcracker. I have to say, im not a big fan of ballet or Opera, but as id never been, i felt i should give it a go, especially being in Vienna. All i can say is it was money very well spent, an amazing display of dancing and famous classical music...i loved every minute. After walking the streets for a couple of hours after this in minus temperatures with a gaping mouth, over whelmed with the city's beauty, i retired to the hostel exhausted.

Today was equally extraordinary. Another early start, i arrived at the Spanish Riding School at 8:30am and got tickets for the morning practice sessions, which was amazing and delightful and such a fantastic display of horsemanship, everything i expected. At 2pm i had a ticket to a performance (or so i thought i did), turns out it was a commentated demonstration performance thing, which only went for 45 mins, but was equally incredible to watch. The building in which they perform is magnificant, with great views from just about every angel. It was an unbelieveable experience.

After that i headed back out in the bitter cold, probably the coldest ive experienced here yet, and decided id be mad to walk around too much more. So i headed to the Museum of Natural History, which was an amazing display of every type of living creature known to man, as well as lots of rocks and information about the planet and environment. It was pretty cool, but i know i was far too tired to properly appreciate and absorb it.

A couple of days ago i spotted a great sounding restaurant in my Lonely Planet, Western Europe travel guide. 'Vegetasia' is a vegetarian place (obviously) that specialises in producing Asian style dishes but completely vegetarian. The menu boasts beef, pork, fish etc etc but all made from alternative ingredients...genius i say. I was a little to wierded out to try the not quite 'beef' and instead had soup, a vegie stir fry, then deep fried banana with honey, while enjoying some white wine then a delicious plum wine and finishing with an unexpected homemade pastry from the waitress.

You may wonder why im explaining what i ate in such great detail, and i think it may have something to do with the fact i can't remember the last time i enjoyed eating a meal quite so much, it was perfect in every way (despite me knocking over and promply smashing my wine glass....oops!)...just what the doctor ordered.

So now im about to move my arse and jump on yet another train (over night this time...13hours) and head for Zurich in Switzeland. Its a little off track since im heading for Milano in Italy, but i timed it so that i get to Zurich about sunrise and ill be travelling over the Swiss and Italian Alps tomorrow morning (YEY!!) before landing in Milano mid-morning, then making my way to the WWOOFing farm tomorrow afternoon, a couple hours train ride again from Milano.

Needless to say, im so tired right now its crazy and i can barely comprehend how cool everything it that im doing and about to do. I wish so much that i had more time (and indeed money) right now to explore Austria, but i wanted to make it to the farm before new years to get acquinted and help out with thier celebrations. Despite this, i know in my heart, that some how i will be back here one day. Ill make sure of it.

For now, im looking forward to what the next few weeks hold for me. Im not sure how my internet access with go there, but im sure you'll all here from me again soon enough. Happy New Years to everyone, i hope you all enjoy the celebrations that you have and i hope that 2008 brings love, happiness and new adventures!

oxoxox

Im dreaming of a white Christmas...

Hi all

I hope everyone is enjoying thier Christmas where ever they are and who ever they are with. I hope that Santa is kind and keeps the alcohol flowing! =D

Im preparing myself for the excitement of waking up on Christmas morning to a phone call from my family from home with snow falling outside, how cool! Ive never seen snow much before, and it has certainly been awesome to be in Germany over the Christmas period with a high chance of snow. There has been some laying around here and there, but hopefully we get some more over night. It has certainly been cold enough...the temp has been hovering between -6 and around 2 degrees celius throughout the day and night...although im completely used to it now strangly enough!

Ive had the best time in Treir and Germany so far. Ben has kindly shaufered me half way around the country, including to Munich, the famous Mosselle Valley wine region (i have now developed a keen liking of Mosselle Valley Reisling....mmmmmm) and Colonge, which have all been incredible. The Christmas markets, which are in basically every town, are extraordinary. The lights, colours, sounds, smells and people are overwhelming and delightful. Ive never experineced anything like it before. Nor have i grown to love and appreciate a certain alcoholic beverage so quickly. In Germany they serve a very popular spiced hot red wine drink at the Christmas markets called Glühwein (or 'glow wine' in English)...and it certainly does make you glow and warm up at the same time!

So here i am on Christmas Eve night, the presents already opened this evening (as is the tradition here) and im full of Champaigne, home made onion soup, sourkroute, chocolates, lollies, and wine amongst other things. Im feeling extemely thankful for such a fantastic experience and thankful that Ben's family have allowed me into their home at this time of year which i really appreciate, they have made me feel completely at home.

It hard to believe its Christmas time, ive never had one away from home, but im so glad i made the sacrifice, if only for one year. Its always interesting to see how another culture celebrates an occasion, and i guess Christmas is all about the same things no matter where you are...to be around the ones you love, showing gratitude for all we have and sharing foods and other tokens to demonstrate how much we care for each other. What a beautiful time of year.

I look forward to the next few days i have here, after which ill start making my way to Vienna then on to Italy. I wonder what other adventures lay ahead for me.

Sitting here my thoughts are with everyone dear to me at home, particularly Mum and Ty, Judith, Glen and Vivien, Tony and Colin, Tom, Evelyn, Jaimie and Kieran, Cheryl and Lawrie, MacBird and Sasha, who i would usually spend this time of year with. Im thinking of you all and wishing i could pop home just for a few days to be with you all. But until they invent transporters i guess i must rely on the wonders of the internet and other technologies =D

Take care all, seasons greetings, Merry Christmas and Frohe Weihnachgen!! oxoxox

Christmas is in the air =D

Hey everyone!

Its almost Christmas and im getting excited!! Sorry i haven't written for a while, but ive been busy baking fruit cakes and decorating and cleaning the house in preperation of the afternoon Christmas/goodbye party i am throwing myself tomorrow afternoon. Theres about 10 people going to be there and we are having cocktail, homemade gourmet pizzas and finishing with my mums own fruit cake (that i hope i can do justice to!) with custard....mmmmmmmmmm

Ive finished my last shift today and ill be leaving the comfort of the Museum Inn (once again) to venture out into Europe on Friday. First stop is Brussels in Belgium to visit a Spanish guy i met in Spain from Vaughan Town. He is going to show me around a bit over the weekend. After the weekend, on Monday, im going to head for a little place in the West of Germany called Trier where i am going to meet a German friend i worked with at the Summit Restaurant when i was living in Sydney.

Im going to stay with Ben over Christmas, as he has kindly oftered to take me in and be part of his German celebrations with his family, which sounds pretty cool. We are also going to travel to Munich and some other places around Germany as well. After that, around 27th December, im going to head to Vienna in Austria and spend a couple days looking around. Then on the 29th December i have a ticket to see the Spanish Riding School that i have already explained about, i can't wait to do that! Its one of the top things i had on my list to see while in Europe.

Then on 30th im making my way back to Italy! Im going to be doing some WWOOFing, which ive already explained as well. Ive found a farm that sounds pretty cool and friendly. I really don't know much about it, but i guess im just going to cross my fingers and hope it all works out! The following is a link to thier website if anyone wants to check out where im going....


http://www.tenuta-antica.com/italiano/mainct.html


So ill be there for a couple of weeks, then im going to head back here to the Museum! Part of the reason that ill be coming back at this time is to pick up some stuff im leaving behind, and another part is to see everyone here again, but the main reason is that Jamie Oliver is coming to stay at the end of Jan!!! Im terribly excited about this!! LOL It was also at the top of my list to meet him when i came over, and i never thought i would be able to, its so cool!

So, after i come back to work again (hopefully im needed and they have me back!), my plans get a bit scetchy actually. Ive got some decisions to make, but at the moment im just going to enjoy Christmas in Europe and spending time with the awesome girls here at the Museum and enjoy catching up with some people i haven't seen in ages, and enjoy the bitter cold of central Europe in the middle of Winter! LOL

I feel really comfortable here right now, so so comfortable. So much so i need to leave! hehe I figure im here to travel and thats what ive got to do, regardless of whether or not its Christmas. So thats what im doing. And its going to be amazing to see how another culture celebrates Christmas and to see the snow and then be involved with an Italian family celebrating the New Year, i think its all going to be incredible.

By the way, ive FINALLY got around the starting to upload my photos of Ireland and Scotland. Ty helped me burn them onto some DVDs and im so glad they are all backed up now. Ty is actually back at home in Australia now! I find it a bit strange, because he was only here a couple of weeks ago visiting me and hanging out, which was sooo awesome. Now im talking to him back in Newcastle and he's looking for a job and starting a NORMAL life....weird LOL

Well, i best be off, at work, on the office computer once again, tut tut. I put up some photos of my party as well, i can't wait for tomorrow! =D

Love you all, hope you're all enjoying the warm weather, its anything but here!!!

oxoxox

A change of season

Hi people,

I realise its been a couple of weeks, but these last couple weeks have been pretty hectic i have to say! I know it might seem like getting chauffered around the Highlands of Scotland in a bus for a week might seem like a holiday, but i can tell you its not quite like that.

Don't get me wrong, i had an amazing time, met some awesome people and saw some wicked places once again (even went swimming in Loch Ness!!!), but the weather was unfortuneately pretty shite. We couldn't see most of the stunning mountains and views there were right in front of us, so i had to resort to looking at postcards! LOL Apart from the fog and clouds and sideways rain we experienced, Scotland was definitely one of my favourite places ive ever visited. It has a majestic feel about it, and the people are unbelieveably different from the English considering how close thier ties are.

Once again i was blessed with incredible tour guides who were exceptionally enthusiastic and knowledgeable about Scotland and its turbilent past. As with Ireland, i felt so ignorant about the goings on there, it was almost like the 'ethnic cleansing' that occured with the Jews. The highlanders were outcast and slaughtered like animals and one of our guides was saying that the population there is only a fraction of what it would have been if all upset there had not occured. It was an amazing thing to think while travelling around the barren and uninhabited landscapes.

I absorlutely love to go back to Scotland and spend some more time there, though i doubt that its going to happen. I should probably let you all know that im actually planning to come home soon! I actually have a flight booked to Thailand on 1st December and then from there home on 14th December! I didn't say anything to anyone mainly because i though id change it, and it turns out that i am. Ive decided that i haven't had enough of Europe and im going to hang around for another 6 weeks.

I arrived back at the Museum on 4th November, and ill probably stay here until mid December, replenishing some funds, then take off on my WWOOFing adventures for a few weeks in Italy. Then i want to head to Austria because its one place i really want to go, particularly to see the Spanish Riding School in Vienna! I think it would be AMAZING. Ill probably do a few bits and bobs in Europe, then fly to Thailand in mid-Jan, then home about a week later!

Ive applied at a few Uni's for next year, so ill arrive back home just after the main round offers have been made (hopefully i will have made it in!) and ill have to make some final decisions about 2008. Ive applied for two different courses, both Bachelors of Science, one 'Health Science', which is a more broad degree but i can tailor it how i like, as well as 'Nutrition and Dietitics', which is a much more specific degree mainly for those looking to become dietitions. The latter is also alot more Sciency based, harder to get into and will probably take more study.

Im very interested in Nutrition, but im not sure if i want to be a dietition, so i might just be happy with the Health Science degree. Im also more interested in population and community health rather than individual health, if that makes sense, so ill have to figure out which is going to be the best for me. Anyway, i won't have to decide that until late Janruary after i get home.

I also realise im going to miss Christmas at home!!! Ive never missed a Christmas with the family so its going to be different. I looks like i might be out in the middle of Italy with some strange Italian family, sounds like a blast to me to see how they celebrate Christmas and New Year. It will be definitely be an experience if it all works out like i think its going to in my head! Ill have to see what happens when i apply to a few farms. Ill just give you all an example of the 'ad' for one of the farms i think ill apply to, it looks pretty cool....

4. Il Borgo della Colomba, via Colomba 16, Giucano, Fosdinovo, MS. Tel & Fax: 0187 628152 E-mail: cricri9@virgilio.it www.ilborgodellacolomba.comFarm (old mill) and agritourism (with 20 beds and restaurant) and 25 hectares of land. Olives, vegetable garden, herbs, chickens, donkeys, bees. Help needed in vegetable garden, cleaning around the house (garden, swimming pool, etc), with preparation of meals when there are guests, maintenance jobs, in olive grove & woodland, making fences etc. Accommodation in room, children welcome, contact: Gianni & Cristina Caraffa

Hows about that ey? =D I realise there might be a bit of work involved but it should be incredible to see the real Italian way of like instead of doing a flying visit of the tourist attractions, which ive now done. Also i doubt that Ty is going to come with me, simply because he won't have the time now as he is flying home on 30th November. Hopefully we might get to catch up for a couple of days before he leaves.

Ive just realised how much im blabbering on, i guess theres alot to go on about! Im going to try and upload some pics from Ireland and Scotland today, and i should get them all up by tomorrow or something i hope...this computer is just ridiculously slow! Ive been thinking about you all back home alot, id love to hear from anyone who is actually reading this gibberish...so whoever is id love you to write me an email letting me know whats going on, i promise to reply...i miss everyone!!

Hope you're all safe and well and enjoying the warm weather...ill be getting home right in the stink of it!! LOL that will be a shock to the system!

oxoxox

Quick update from yet ANOTHER destination... LOL

Heya all,

Just going to update quickly. IM IN SCOTLAND!! LOL :-D

Terribly excited...yet very tired at the same time. My Ireland tour was AWESOME...had a wicked time, gorgeous people, stunning places, interesting sites and fun times all round basically! Money and time well spent.

I won't go through everything we did...the itinerary is on thier website (i gave the link in a previous update) and that pretty much outlines it all. The tour leader, Kevin, and driver, David, where pretty cool and laid back Irish dudes who were definitely experienced. Kevin knew alot about all the places and told us stories along the way and gave us all the info we could possibly need.

So today i said my goodbyes to the tour that was continuing back to Dublin while i stayed in Belfast and caught my flight over to Edinburgh this afternoon...almost 3 hours of waiting around at the airport etc etc, just for a 20 minute flight! lol Pretty nacked now though...going to catch an early night because i have be up to leave on my Scotland tour in the morning. Yey!

After i get back on 3rd November, i think ill actually be heading back to the Museum in Dorset for a couple of weeks! Basically i have nothing else to do and im short on cash, so it works out well. Ty should be finished his trekking etc in Spain about mid November and im going to arrange us some WWOOFing in Italy!!! How awesome is that. If you don't know about WWOOFing, this is the link for the Italian website (though you can do it pretty much anywhere in the world)....

http://wwoof.it/

So yeah, that seems like the general plan for November. At the moment though im just going to try and enjoy my Scotland tour and hope that its as cool a group as the one i did Ireland with. Ill have some pics up ASAP (this computer won't recognise my phone grrr), ive got HEAPS of awesome photos, alot of cliffs.... hehe

Hope everyone is well anyway. I hear the weather is starting to really heat up back home...Hope everyone is coping OK....Its getting pretty bloody cold here now!

Take care all oxox

On to Irrrreland!!

Well here i am... in Dublin!

I arrived in the wee early hours this morning after a long nights bus and ferry journey (which im very much accustomed to these days anyway). The last days of my Europe tour were pretty cool, even though im still a bit run down with the ol' Coach Plague (a general chest infection peppered with random bouts of severe couching, very runny noses, drowsiness, as well as the odd temperature and all over muscle aching...not much fun).

We did an awesome bike riding tour of Berlin, which was heaps of fun and really informative as well. The last couple of days in Amsterdam were fairly chilled out, though on the last night we did some partying in the infamous 'red light district' which was a bit of an eye opener you could say hehe.

So after a llllong journey back to London on Monday, and an evening of long goodbyes and best wishes, we all went our seperate ways in the world for the first time in almost a month. It was a strange feeling sitting there in the bar of the hostel as people randomly decided it was time to depart. Over the month we all formed what you might call a 'group consciousness' where we were always looking out for each other and protecting each other, feeling that there was something amiss when someone wasn't there.

I'll definitely miss that part of the tour, yet i also will appreciate more the time that i have to myself to do what i want, when i want, without a deadline. So as ive said, i now find myself in Dublin for two whole days of freedom before i embark on another two tours...one of Ireland and one of Scotland. The following is to the 'Shamrocker Tour' of Ireland which leaves on 20th October, this coming Saturday morning...

http://www.shamrockeradventures.com/Tours/AllIrelandRocker.html

I don't even actually finish that tour which is supposed to arrive back in Dublin the following Saturday night, as im catching a flight out of Belfast Saturday afternoon to get into Edinburgh Saturday night so that i can start the tour of Scotland the very next Sunday morning! LOL I know its going to be tight, but the tour of Scotland im doing is the last one of the year with that company so i made it fit in. That tour goes from 28th October to 3rd Novmeber (Sunday to Sunday) and the link if anyones interested is...

http://www.macbackpackers.com/7daygrandscotland.html

It hasn't really sunk in yet that im in Ireland or that im taking off once again for new adventures very soon...and with a new bunch of people. I have to keep telling myself that, yet again, im in a new country and i have to appreciate the time that im here, because its unlikely that ill ever be back. So today or tomorrow ill do a walking tour of Dublin, and apart from that i have nothing else exciting planned...except for sleeping and maybe a spot of shopping for more winter woolies...its pretty fricken cold here as i expected!

After some dramas connecting my phone to a computer, ive finally managed to upload some new photos of Berlin and Amsterdam, just a few. Soon enough id like to upload more photos from the entire trip, mainly just to get them on the internet where theres no danger of losing them. I have about 1200 photos stored on my phone at the moment...all the way from back in Spain after a lost my other phone....eeeek.

Anyway, not sure when ill get to update next, probably leave it until after this tour or after the second one. No doubt there'll be more stories and more photos, yey!! hehe

Hope everyone's well, ciao for now! oxox

5 Days to go

Hi all,

Well, im almost there, just counting down the final days. Im in Prague at the moment, and tomorrow we are heading to Berlin for a couple of days, then on to Holland for the last two days to visit The 'Dam (otherwise known as Amsterdam...which should be interesting hehe).

Ive uploaded a few new photos, mainly of me doing stupid poses just to prove i was there hehe But ill have more up later obviously. We have visited alot more places since my last update in Florence, such as Venice, Croatia, Slovenia, Hungary and now Czech Republic. I really liked Venice, that was gorgeous, but very touristy. Debrovnik in Croatia was also amazing, i did a 7 hour island hopping boat cruise to the islands in the area and the water was sooo clear it was unbelieveable.

Ive also recently been struck down by the 'Coach Plague' which is tearing through the ranks at a swift pace. Walking tours are easy...just having to following the coughing, gagging, nosing blowing, sneezing, sick people LOL I was feeling it pretty bad in Budapest, spent the best part of the morning in bed which a temperature and aches and pains, then got out of bed and spend the afternoon in the incredible Turkish Baths they have in the centre of the city.

Im feeling ok now, my temperature has gone down and im just fighting a cough etc....yey for me hehe Anyway, i gotta go, going to run out of money on this internet and ive got no more coins!

Will probably update next in London when i get back. Hope everyone is well and enjoying (what i hear...thanks to Shan) is warming of weather in OZ.

Ciao for now! oxox

Having the time of my life!

Hiya all!

Well, what can i say, the last week has been crazy and amazing and unforgetable, i don't know where to start describing it. My reservations of coming in the first place have quickly faded away.

Im going to give a brief outline now, though, at the end of my trip im going to sit down and blog my more detailed adventures from the whole trip that im just writing down on paper at the moment.

Its been a whirlwind of countries, people, sites and sounds over the last week, and im only a quarter the way through the trip (day 8 of 28)! Ty and me made it safely to London on a dodgy Megabus and eventually founded the even more dodgy hostel that we were staying at and that the tour was meeting at the next morning for the trip. Everyone was shy and nervous outside the hostel at 6:30am on a freezing cold London morning, not knowing what to expect and if it was going to be an awesome adventure or something they would regret.

All i can say so far is that im 99.99% sure that everyone is having a wicked time. The group is fairly young, all generally around my age, but are all really cool and really friendly (about 25 of us all up). Most people are Aussies, then there are about 6 Kiwis, one South African and one Brazilian (sooo glad there are no Americans!). There is also a younger lady tour leader, a younger guy cook and a guy bus driver, who are all really awesome and relaxed and want everyone to have a good time and make the most of it all.

We've been staying in some pretty cool campsite and some dodgy ones, but mostly its been pretty good. Like at the moment we are in Florence and the campsite it wicked, over looking the whole city. I must say though, the best place yet has been Switzeland and staying in a town called Laueterbrunnen, nestled in the Swiss Alps. Ill give more detail later, but all i can say is that it was the most incredible place ive ever seen and there were a few times during the couple of days there that the views over the mountains and the surrounding countryside literally took my breath away.

Another simply incredible place was Cinque Terra, the five famous little coastal towns in Italy. They were just so typical Italian, beautiful stone buildings, winding staircases, and an amazing trail which lead between them all. The water was sooo blue it didn't look real, something straight off a postcard. We then went on to Pisa, which is pretty much a scanky town in Tuscany holding some incredible historic treasures from past greatness. After doing the mantatory pose, we came to Florence yesturday and hit the town for a pub crawl last night, which was sooo much fun and obviously helped strengthen group relations significantly hehe.

Im really really looking forward to the rest of the trip. It feel like we've already seen and done so much, yet theres still so much left, like Hungary, Croatia, Germany and Holland. Im soooo glad i did it like this as well. It has been stress free, relaxing and exciting and a really good introduction to the highlights of Europe. Im definitely getting a good taste of different countries and sussing out where i would like to come back to and spend more time. It is a fairly jam packed schedule, but we do also get some free time, and theres alot of hours on the coach for catching up on sleep, so it kind of balances out. Like today im just chillin' out by myself for just about the first time, wandering around Florence, checking out the markets and contemplating lining up for the 2-3 hr long wait to see Michelangelo's David nearby.

So im just uploading some photos at the moment, ive taken sooooooo many, i doubt im going to have enough storage! hehe Anyway, you've all got to check them out, ive got some really amzing ones. I know my phone camera is not brilliant, but it does the trick and you mostly get the point. The day time ones turn out alot better than the night time ones of course.

Well, after getting up at 9am (definitely considered a massive lie-in at the moment) and spending so much time on the net, i best be off and see some more of Florence before we head to Venice and Rome over the next few days....can't wait!! Don't know when ill get on next, i might leave it for a while because it is quite expensive to spend a couple hours on the net like i just have done now.

So i hope all is well back home and things are warming up in OZ, no doubt it is =D

Missing you all! oxox

Last post for a while!

Hi all,

Just thought id just write a tiny bit and say goodbye to everyone for one month!

I seriously can't believe im leaving the Museum, it feels like im leaving home again. Im honestly feeling more sad that im leaving then excited about seeing Europe, but i know that once i get going again that everything will be ok.

Im really feeling out of wack right at the moment, worried that i might not have made the right decision to leave. But i do know that thats just how im feeling right now and i think i have made the right decision.

Anyway, i don't know how much opportunity ill get to update my blog, but i promise i will try for sure. Im definitely excited to see Ty again before we go our seperate ways. Its certainly going to be a very interesting couple of months ahead for us both.

Well, i best be off, just having a last drink at the bar before i head to bed and leave early in the morning for Brighton. I hope everyones well and ill talk to you all again soon enough.

Take care! ox

Planning the next two months of my life....

Well...everything is finally booked. After some minor hassels with my Barclays Debit card, ive managed to plan out the next two months of my life. Now that may sound boring, but its actually quite a relief for me, and i can't wait to just go out there now and experience Europe and the UK! (Scotland in picture)

As ive already written in my last post, im going to do a months tour of Europe with Budget Expeditions, but it doesn't end there! LOL On Monday 17th September ill be leaving the safety and comfort of Museum Inn and training it to Brighton where i have to sort out some of my stuff and leave some things behind with one of Ty's mates there. Then Ty and me are catching a bus to London that afternoon and staying in a hostel (Ty's going to London also to see a band or something at the same time). Then at 6am opn Tuesday 18th September the bus leaves for my European Adventure from outside the hostel we are going to be staying at.

THEN.....5 days after i get back into London (15th October), ive got a 16hr bus trip to Dublin, where on the 20th October im leaving on an 8 day bus trip of Ireland with 'Shamrocker Adventurers', then catching a plane from Belfast to Edinburgh on 27th October, then on 28th October im doing a 7 day tour of Scotland with 'Macbackpackers'!! Its going to be full on madness...im sure my head will be spinning trying to keep up with all the new places/countries ill be in almost everyday!

The following links will take you to the two companies websites that explain everything that ill be getting up to on the tours of Ireland and Scotland.

http://www.shamrockeradventures.com/Tours/AllIrelandRocker.html

http://www.macbackpackers.com/7daygrandscotland.html

As ive said before, i certainly have my reservations about doing tours, but honestly, it just seems like the easiest way. I love to to spontenious things, don't get me wrong, but at leats this way i can track my finances and im guarenteed to see the places i want to. Also, one of the gals here, Bryony, only recently did the tour of Scotland and she said it was great, the tour guide was excellent and she met some cool people and had a great time, what more can you ask.

So theres just about only one more week to go here at the ol' Inn. I really think im going to miss this place...its definitely been my home for the last couple of months and ive grown to really like it and most of the people. Its been so lovely to even have somewhere to put my clothes apart from my backpack, i felt spoilt just having my own room when i first got here! Its certainly going to be a shock to the system getting back out there to those hostels...and particularly the camping arrangements that Budget Expeditions has (i.e. they supply two person tents and unless you are with a friend or something, you are sleeping with a stranger!).

Anyway, its all part of the adventure, i know, and its great. So at this stage im not too sure of my movements after Scotland, but i have a fairly good idea hehe Not going to give too much away, but it looks like Ty and me have similar ideas about places in Europe we want to spend some time, so we might hook up and do some stuff together in November. But thats so far away right now!

A couple of the girls who ive become close to and happen to be the two Aussies in the house are leaving this Monday for a week to go on a little trip to Amsterdam and i won't get to see them before i leave, so that sucks a bit. I hate goodbyes. You always say 'yeah yeah ill see you again, ill come visit' even though you know its highly unlikely. Anyway, we all have had a great time together while ive been here, at some great memories, but its definitely time to more on now, it feels right.

Well, not much else to report, jsut tying up some loose ends here during my last week. So many things to sort out before i leave, you wouldn't believe it, everything down to just returning books to the library....all a pain in the arse. Well, i better get going, its 12pm now...after a busy and looooonnnggg Saturday night shift and ive got alot more of it tomorrow. Hope everyone is well and the weather is starting to improve back home! Before you all know it, it will be blistering hot again in Oz hehe

Take care then, love you all! oxox

OMG!! IT'S BOOKED!! YEY! =D

Ok, im terribly excited because after about 2-3 weeks of indecision and termoil regarding my moves after Dorset and Museum, ive finally booked a tour of Europe!!! Its not a fullest tour of Europe available with the company (but its the second biggest/longest - 28 days), but because its so late in the year, there was a limited selection to choose from. This is the link that describes the tour...

http://www.budgetexpeditions.com/tour/Europe/Totally+Europe/18

How good does it look?! I settled on a tour for a few reasons;

• it will probably end up cheaper anyway because the company knows what they're doing (cross fingers) and the best places to go
• my accommodation (cabins and tents) and food all are sorted
• ill get to meet other like minded people instead of being alone (the ages for the tour company is between 18 and 35 i think, so no kids or old people! lol)
• there are optional extra excursions if i think i have enough money (up to me)
• i know that ill be seeing most of the highlights of Europe even though they have all been done before, its still a new experince for me (such as Paris, Venice, Rome, Prague!!!)
• its a good way to get an idea about countries i like and would maybe like to visit again
• it keeps me on a schedule instead of just wandering around not knowing where to go next (and therefore spending too much money in one place) because im so indecisive sometimes

I think all those reasons count for something! It goes to alot of countries, but misses out a couple that i really wanted to see, such as Barcelona in Spain, as well as Austria. But, money permitting, id like to head to Austria for a little while later in the year anyway.

So what am i doing after the tour? Well i have a few ideas actually, including a couple of other shorter tours that ill let you all in on later when i have it all figured out! Its so good to have a focus now outside of work here. Work is still going well and im definitely going to miss everyone, but im really getting the feeling that its time to move on, definitely getting itchy travellers feet again! LOL This tour should surely cure that =D

Anyway, not much else to report, but ill have more updates later about what else ill have planned for after the tour because ill need to get all that sorted before i leave here.

Hope everyone is well! Also, ill be calling people in the next couple of weeks as well before i go, as i don't think ill get much of a chance to call people after that!

Ciao oxox

Sweet summer has finally arrived

Heya all!

Well, summer has finally arrived in Dorset! LOL The weather has been stunning and im feeling FANTASTIC! Spending long afternoon lounging out in the back yard working on my tan, reading, listening to music etc etc. Im really really enjoying my time here at the moment. I can't believe the time has gone so fast, ive been working here like 6 weeks now!

Oh and i must mention, that yes i had the time of my life riding the other day, its definiately an experience ill never forget, hopefully ill get to do it again as well.

In this post i must say hi to a couple of people who are my biggest fans and are dedicated to reading my blog regularly....Mum and Judith!! Hope you are both well...and the bird and dog and any other beings in the house while you are reading this :-D Always thinking of you guys and you don't have to worry about me, im doin really really well and it won't be too long before im sure ill see you again OXOXOX

Oh and by the way Judith, i sent you a postcard with Stonehenge on it not long after your birthday, not sure you got it, Mum said you hadn't mentioned it. But anyway, if you haven't got it it doesn't matter, i don' t think the postage system it being too relyable at the moment.

Well not much else to report on really, just enjoying my time here, enjoying the sunshine, enjoying hanging with the cool ppls here, enjoying working and earning my poundage for traveling, life is sweet.

Love you all! ox

Well, needless to say i had a GREAT birthday. Thank you soooo much to all those people who emailed, phoned, and left messages on this page, Facebook and my phone, its really means so much to hear from you all. *KISS AND HUGS* Does make me miss everyone though! :-(

Despite one little hiccup early in the morning (reversing one of the staff cars into a hedge which got caught under the back bumper and cracked it when i drove away...could NOT believe my bad luck), Ty and me spent the day together. I picked him up from the station in the morning, then we hung out in Salisbury, then he came back home to the cottage, then Kirsty and us two went to see the new Simpsons movie, then we came back and had a fantastic dinner at the Pub, it was really special.

He stayed another day and we just hung out around Farnham. He jumped on the bike and i ran and we took off up the road so i could show him some of the countryside...though we didn't make it back for an hour and a half...we were both nacked by the end too! Presents were slim this year for obvious reasons, but Ty did manage to make up for it by getting my a heaps of random presents, including a new mini IPod Shuffle to put music onto for my running, sooo cool of him.

Not much else going down. I guess you may of all heard about the flooding here in England, its pretty bad but luckily for me theres no flooding in this area at all, its all around the middle of England i believe.

Can't wait until tomorrow morning. As ive previously said, the lady who looks after Madonna's horses works at the pub sometimes and we often get to go riding. Well its finally my turn, and me and Bryony are going there in the morning to go riding for a couple hours!! OH MY GOD LOL 8-D Unfortunatley though, we aren't allowed to ride them for one reason or another when Madonna is at home, and apparently she is due to come next week for the whole of August.....BOOOOO. Anyway, im sure the experience of doing it just once will be memorible enough.

Ill let you all know how its goes! Take care all oxoxox

(1,132-acre Ashcombe Estate)