December -- Aston Martins, London Snow, Christmas Cabaret and a very Merry German Xmas

A rainy and frosty December had more whirlwind adventures---we're taking advantage of our last bits of time in London before we leave for Australia mid-February.

Aston Martin

JT got to drive an Aston Martin around a race track a few times (a birthday present he cashed in on from last June) at Silverstone Race Track. I desperately tried to catch a few good photos, but they stuck the partners in a glassed room with limited view due to the rain.

London Snow

The first snow of the season blanketed London and for the first time in a few years it felt like Xmas for us. I was lucky enough to be working at Artyard those couple of snowy days, doing papier mache gingerbread houses with 18 - 5-10 year olds as the flurries floated in huge lumps from the sky. Xmas seems to be ever more magical and exciting with snow!

Christmas Cabaret

I choreographed a short piss-take on Christmas with a trio of dancers clad in Santa outfits. Unfortunately it turned out to be a burlesque piece instead of a satire due to the ever increasing rifts in communication from mac to pc. Needless to say it didn't go off as originally planned, but the process was a thrill. I had missed having regular rehearsals for a project I believed in, and I think it is only the start of something.

A Very Merry German Xmas

Xmas was a week in Kiel, Northern Germany with gusts of wind blowing down from Scandinavia and an hour or so drive from Denmark. Julz and I met while I was teaching yoga for Stoke Travel (formerly Smashed Travel) in Biarritz, France summer of 2008. Kindred spirits we keep in touch regularly, and JT and I family-crashed her mom's place for Xmas and spent the week eating, sleeping, playing games, learning German, exploring Kiel and some nearby Xmas markets, as well as getting to know her sister, mom and mom's partner better. We also became acquainted with a 12 year old ginger cat that swaggers by the name of Herr Schmidt (or if you are friendly terms with him, Schmitty). Julz is a radiant light of a friend that you can't help but smile when you're around her. So lucky to have her as a friend and this Xmas will always be among our favourites! (Not to mention our first white Xmas!!)

November -- cold weather, Roald Dahl and a new tattoo

November brought the winter weather (apparently the rainiest London November on record), and scarves, gloves and hats are now regular attire. With our recent announcement that my Australian Visa is in, we are busy planning the transition adventures before the Australian adventures come into full swing at the end of February 2010.

Here are some highlights from November 2009:

Roald Dahl Museum

We spent one rainy Saturday in Great Missenden, a town most known as the home and resting place of beloved author Roald Dahl. There is a museum dedicated to Roald and all of the fabulous characters he created. The building is filled with quotes, interactive writing projects and media, and Quentin Blake illustrations. JT even sat in Roald Dahl's writing chair, where he used to sit with his legs in a sleeping bag, a roll of corrugated cardboard underneath his writing board, and a space heater way too close to many flammable objects.

Tattoo#2

I hopped down to Portobella Road in Notting Hill Gate and got my second tattoo. It should directly translate as "No Fear Warrior", but for all I know it could mean horse's puckered ass, but either way it looks good and is healing nicely. The picture is of the tattoo a week old, smeared in lotion to keep it from drying out.

Hanger Hill Park

The park behind our home has had some incredible mushrooms, must be all the rain. I missed getting a picture of the smurf-home that I saw, but I did get picks of these ones when I revisited.

Birthday Weekend

Thursday-- 15 October
After a great 'do-over' lesson (the first observation lesson was my worst ever) attended by my headteacher, he brought me into his office to say, "This isn't working. I'm sorry. I think today needs to be your last day." He had already called in a sub and I was told he'd pay me for the rest of the day and for the Friday. After 7 weeks of spending restless, nightmare filled nights, stressing over lessons, attempting to adjust to English National Curriculum, etc., this was my thanks. So just when I thought things were on the upswing, I was wrong. They say when one door shuts, another one opens...hopefully soon I can see those open doors and walk away from the one that's just been slammed.

Friday-- 16 October
Birthday Dinner

Thai Food in Ealing with friends, followed by chocolate cake at our place afterwards.

Saturday 17th October
Disneyland Paris (A Eurostar Journey away)

My ticket didn't work after Nghi and JT had already made it in. I was very upset at the prospect of missing out while they went in and had fun without me!


Once I'd made it in though, there was no time to waste! It was 6pm and the park closed at 10pm, I didn't want to spend time stalling for photo opps on Main Street!

We made it through Big Thunder Mountain, Indiana Jones, Pirates of the Carribean, Teacups, Small World and Space Mountain 2. All were different than the Anaheim Park and Indiana Jones and Space Mountain 2 were true rollercoasters looping and corkscrewing us to nausea heaven.
I was even able to find my own personal Stitch!
A great end to a rough start this birthday. Thanks to all who helped make it special.

Brighton Day Trip -- September 2009

JT's Magic Rock Castle

Pickle and Nat

Apparently my brother has his own American Diner in Brighton.

Plitvice National Park -- The Most Beautiful Park Ever

The title says it all. Croatia holds one of the world's most beautiful spots and we got to spend half of a day here in August.

Creepy Foot Fetish Men Do Exist

I always thought the 'Foot Fetish Guy' was a big joke, something only out of a Sex and the City episode, but I was so wrong! Minding my own business heading home on a District Line train bound for Edgeware Road, I found myself with a vacant seat on my right. The doors opened at the next stop and enter creepy, shuffling 60-something guy with the cliche creepy beard that has been trimmed just a bit too close to look normal. He pauses and gazes at the seat across from me, and then looks at me and the woman on the other side of the vacant seat next to me and then shuffles over sitting between us. So far just another weirdo on the tube, but maybe I was judging a book by its cover, until he looked down at my feet then turned his head to me.

"Wow, those are really nice shoes you're wearing! Are they comfortable?"

My first instinct of repulsion was now credited based on the fact that I had 3-year-old rainbow flip-flops that have been through hell and back across Europe on my feet. They're chipped in at the front, and look rather exhausted, not to mention the stress-induced eczema peeling around my right foot forcing me to stifle surprise and reply, "Yep, they are." My face still forward, trying to be polite, yet short enough in response to hopefully hint that I wasn't interested in starting a conversation.

He doesn't take the hint. "So to get into them, you just slip your foot in?" he exhales.

WTF? Who is this guy? Yes, it is a bleeping flip-flop! What are you supposed to do?
"Yep," my eyes still forward avoiding eye contact.

"Could you show me?" he slithers.

"I'd rather not, [you big creepy weirdo]" I stammer.

By this point he supposes to me that I must work very hard to keep them on when I walk and I must practice a lot. Who is this guy?!?! Now all I'm thinking is how to get away as I still had multiple stops left before mine.

The next stop pulls in and I jam out of the doors, race up to the next carriage and hop on to continue my journey. Safe at last!

I don't know how many people this guy has harrassed subtly on the tube, but he looked the cliche, which made it worse. Which only brings me to the question: Am I the only victim of the District Line Foot-Fetish Guy, or are there others?

My First (...and Possibly Last) Triathlon

I raised almost £200 for WaterAid, which brings fresh, clean drinking water to third-world countries in need while completing my first triathlon in the Mazda London Triathlon 2009. JT was there to support me the whole way. I signed up in January, but didn't really start training until April. As I have a mountain bike that is not made for speed, I'm sure with a better bike my time would've been better, but unfortunately I don't have my bike details. As I finished the swim I was transitioning out of my wetsuit to get to the bike and lost my tracking chip...it just slipped off! (Possibly due to the cooking oil on my ankles in order to aid wet-wetsuit stripping.) I finished, and I guess that was the biggest accomplishment of all.

JT's Dad and Carol's Visit

JT's Dad and his dad's wife Carol came to stay with us for two weeks before leaving for Carol's son's home in Ireland for a few more weeks. This was Gordon's second time out of Australia...his first was when he fought in Vietnam after being drafted in the 60s. It was my second chance to meet and spend time with with both of them, and I was whole-heartedly amused at the older, taller, larger, red-bearded version of my husband in our home. JT took them on part of his London tour, and we all did a day in Bath with pit-stops at Stonehenge and Windsor Castle. They'll pop by for a few more days at the end of August before they head home to Australia.