Anyone for Cream Tea?

We celebrated the official beginning of spring this month with a day trip out to the Cotswolds, a very picturesque part of the English countryside, using the same tour company we went with to Stonehenge and Bath. Our bus stopped off at three Cotswold villages: Stow-on-the-Wold, Burton-on-the-Water (the so-called Venice of the Cotswolds) and Burford. A very pleasant and relaxing day, as there is not a whole heap to do in these little villages so we just wandered, looking at the scenery and visiting a few tea shops and country pubs.
Last Saturday we took ourselves down to She Bu Walkabout for two very important causes: a fundraiser for the victims of the Victorian bushfires and the birthday of one Rebecca Berrigan :). A very good night was had by all involved.
Not a lot more to report; we are both getting itchy feet waiting to finish up at work (4 weeks for me, 5 for Dave) and go off travelling. After our 5 week trip, we are planning a night or two in York up in the north of England, followed by a cheap flight to somewhere in Europe (possibly Italy) with friends for a final weekend before we are back to life down under.
Will update again before we go away.

Burford

Burton-on-the-Water

Burton-on-the-Water

Stow-on-the-Wold

Stow-on-the-Wold

Merry Christmas from London Town!

So as you can see from the title, Christmas this year was a relaxed affair at home in London. Christmas Eve, after treating ourselves to a sleep in, we took the tube to Leicester Square and walked down to Trafalgar Square to check out the Norwegian Christmas tree. After a few photos and a visit to Waterstones for some browsing, we made our way to Hyde Park, via a few cute little pubs. We then spent time browsing the Christmas markets, fuelled by hot mulled wine and a chocolate banana on a stick. Being 4pm, it was already dark (London in winter; the sun goes down at 3pm), so all the Christmas lights were on and it made a pretty sight.
Christmas Day we spoke to our families at home, had porridge for breakfast, and watched some films (Mary Poppins and A Muppets Christmas Carol - nostalgic choices.) Dave cooked a fantastic Christmas dinner of pork, crackling, roast potatoes and veggies and Yorkshire Pudding, with Christmas Pudding and custard for after.
Tonight we are off to the ballet - the English National Ballet production of The Nutcracker at the Royal Opera House (very excited). Tuesday we fly to Copenhagen!! We make it in time for the final day of the Tivoli Christmas markets, and stay for New Years celebrations, returning to London on the 2nd.
A happy new year to everyone.

Christmas dinner (tablecloth and placemats courtesy of my mum)

At the Christmas markets in Hyde Park (with mulled wine)

Hyde Park Winter Wonderland

Christmas Eve drinks

With the tree in Trafalgar Square

Shakespeare-Upon-Avon

Two households, both alike in dignity,
In fair Verona, where we lay our scene,
From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,
Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.
From forth the fatal loins of these two foes,
A pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life
Prologue, 'Romeo and Juliet'

Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight!
For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night.
Act 1, Scene V

Yea, noise,then I'll be brief;
O, happy dagger!
This is thy sheath; there rest, and let me die.
Act V, Scene III

Last weekend we made our way by coach to Stratford-Upon-Avon, town of all things Shakespeare. It was bright and sunny, but absolutely freezing. Upon arrival on Saturday at 11, we checked into our nice, cosy B&B (after getting into the English spirit and sharing a pot of tea), and went to see the sights. We saw the Holy Trinity Church where Shakespeare's grave is, Shakespeare's birthplace, the Great Garden of New Place, and numerous statues and sculptures depicting the scenes and characters from his works. The play was our main reason for being there however, and after dinner and a few drinks at the Dirty Duck, we took our seats at the Courtyard Theatre for the RSC production of 'Romeo and Juliet'. I can't use enough superlatives here, so just let me say that it was absolutely BRILLIANT. Worth every penny. The actors were amazing, favourites being the portrayals of Mercutio and Benvolio by, respectively, Gyuri Sarossy and Daniel Percival.
In other London news, we had a great day/night yesterday at our 'Orphans Christmas' (thanks guys). Today, while Dave has been at work, I have done a themed walking tour, Shakespeare's and Dickens' London - very interesting and worthwhile.
A few photos below. Hope all is well.

At The Dirty Duck before seeing 'Romeo and Juliet'

Christmas lights in Stratford-Upon-Avon

Stratford-Upon-Avon

Dave tries his best on the ice at Somerset House

Somerset House ice rink

I Still Call Australia Home!!

Hey people!
We are having an awesome time here in London, although we are still to find jobs which is providing the only downer on our spirits. The weather is even treating us well - we are seeing sunshine which neither of us expected in the middle of a London winter. Home life is going great - we just need to get jobs and we will be sweet.
So it was Australia Day on Saturday and we had a fantastic day. It started at the local Walkabout at midday, where the beer flowed and the free hats were a bonus! We then moved on to Imbibe Bar and the No Sleeves party, and spent the rest of the night singing and dancing to some classic Aussie music (including emotional renditions of Walzing Matilda, True Blue and I Still Call Australia Home.) Below are some happy snaps.
Hope everyone had a great day too. We are looking forward to our next trip, which will be Winchester in Hampshire the weekend before our birthdays. Will keep you posted!

Living In England

Hi Everyone,
Apologies that it has been so long since our last post. We had a nice time in Latvia and a great New Years in Helsinki. Snow proved to be scarce, even though it was bitterly cold most of the time. We managed to get tickets to see an ice hockey match in Helsinki, which was good. We are now back in London and settling in fast to the very nice place we are living in. We have both got the ball rolling in terms of job hunting - keep your fingers crossed for us! We are going to Ireland for St Patricks Day in March and Gallipoli for Anzac Day, and are planning to take a trip in Feb for our birthdays (have yet to decide where - it's a hard life!!) Hope everyone is doing well, best wishes for 08.

Tasty Bear meat from Finland

Sunset in Helsinki

NYE

Icehockey in Finland

Snow in Latvia

The Blue Eagle and Sparrow Have Landed

After arriving at Heathrow Airport at 6am Friday morning, we made our way to Angel, where we are staying with the lovely Bec and J. Have spent most of the weekend exploring the local pubs and tasting the local beer (local except for the cheap cans of Extra Dry at the Walkabout) with Jarratt, Bec and Garcy. Had a curry at Brick Lane yesterday and also caught up with Steve (freshly returned from Contiki), and today we are planning on going down to the Thames on a double decker bus and seeing some of the tourist sights. Tonight we are going to see the Vegemite Tales, a West End play about Aussies in London featuring Blair from Neighbours.

We leave for Barcelona Wednesday, will keep you all posted on the travels.