Cooking Disasters

Well tried to impress the Thoms with my culinary skills. I went for my triple berry crisp but only had strawberries & blueberries. It went into the bin last night. It burnt and the ingredients were weird not how I'm used to it being. But I did redeem myself by making strawberry muffins! Everybody loved them. 2 thumbs up!!

33 Degrees

Well it's been about 5 days now that I've been here in Wilmington. And the heat hasn't let up at all. It's actually rained a few times but afterwards it's still extremely muggy, there doesn't seem any let up from the heat.

I decided to hire a car on Monday as there is no public transport in this town! Can you believe it. It was a bit odd at first driving on the other side of the road but I'm now used to it and it's okay. They have some weird road rules but its all good. I've driven around Wilmington and done some shopping. Fiona, Lucy & I are off to the beach today as it's only 30 degrees outside and it will be nice I'm told. This afternoon I might head downtown to the Riverfront where they filmed bits of Dawson's Creek. Tonight we are going to a fav restaurant of Fiona & Andrews.

I'm actually going to go to Charleston in South Carolina for 3 days next week as there isn't too much else to see here in Wilmington. I'm really looking forward to it. I will get the greyhound bus down and back, it's only a 4hr trip and I'm staying in a local hostel.

Only 3 days till my birthday!

Touch Down!

Dinner Friday night at Browns was great. Me, Verena, Naomi, Arran, Steve, Mila & Zoey showed up for the final housemate dinner. Sad but will be seeing Verena in February when we go visit her in Austria. The girls kicked on but Mila & I headed back to the house for tea & cake.

Saturday morning, an early start of 4am and with a final farewell to Verena (who woke up and saw me off) I headed to the bus station for the 2 & 1/2 hr trip to Heathrow. No probs booking in, then it was onto the first leg of the trip. Only 6hrs to Boston and I slept thru 2 movies which was good. Arriving in Boston was a shock as it was a billion degrees! And I had my scarf with me, whoops. Waiting in Boston for my flight to Charlotte I encountered a huge military presence. They were on our flight and I ended up sitting next to a Snr Corporal Liuetenant I think he said. The unit was off to Kuwait so that was pretty cool. Everyone is extremely patriotic here. One guy shook everyone's hand and considering half the plane was military that was alot of shaking. Got to Charlotte in one piece but very tired. Finally boarded my final flight to Wilmington and it ended up only taking 30mins as it was an express. Arrived, Andrew was there to take me home. Saw Fifi and then it was off to bed, exhausted.

Sunday (today) I've spent hanging out with Lucy, Fifi & Andrew. We've been to Walmart for a bit of cheap shopping and I went to church with them also. Now we have the week ahead and it's about 50 degrees here too! soooooooooooo hot. Their house is awesome with beautiful high ceilings and wood floors. My room is cool, it's the only one of the second floor above the garage, nice and cool.

24 hrs to go!

I'm so excited, I can't be bothered doing any work. Dinner tonight with Verena for the last time as she is off back to Austria on the 10th of September but I'm not back till the 11th. All of us are off to Browns which will be lovely then it's an early bed as I have to be up at 4.40am to get the bus to Heathrow for my flight at 11am. Then I'll be with Fifi, Andy & Lucy at about 9.10pm, which is 11pm Sunday Australian, 2.10am Cambridge.

So not sure how many updates there will be, but once I'm back there will pictures & video's galore so get ready.

And my birthday is only 10 days away, 2nd September, incase you have forgotten!

Middlesex Sevens - Twickenham

Saturday, Krista, Jamie, Mila & I headed off to Twickenham to see the Middlesex Sevens. A tournament of 12 teams playing 14 min games. Thanks to one of my contractors the tickets were free! So a fantastic day of big men tackling each other. We were sitting in the London Irish area, but when Jamie's favourite team, Sale Sharks, came on, we performed the theme to Jaws! A bit of heckling with the opposition but all in good fun. Then it was a mad scramble to get home. AWESOME!

Sunday Arran, Zach & I were supposed to go to the V Festival in Staffordshire, but as it was pelting down with rain, I couldn't be bothered. It was going to take 2 & 1/2 hrs to get there and standing in the rain was not something I wanted to do, even if Pink, Foo Fighters & Snow Patrol were playing. So a restful Sunday, cleaning up as I have moved out of my country residence and back into my city abode! Our house is overrun with people, as Verena's sister & friend from Austria are with us until Wednesday.

Only 5 days to go........ and 14 days till my birthday!!

3 Inches Shorter

After a disastrious haircut when I was in Buenos Aires, I decided to take the plunge again and get the locks chopped. Friday afternoon I rocked up at Stilo Nuovo ready for it. And it turned out fantastic. The lady was great, very funny and a fabulous hairdresser! Extremely pleased with the results!

Macbeth

A total reversal from Twelfth Night, a very dark play was Macbeth. The weather helped by providing occasional downpours at the appropriate moments. The actors were great and the guy playing Macbeth looked quite mad at the end. And of course McDuff.....very heroic. So another Shakespeare Festival is over, hopefully see many more next year. I think I may need to read the plays first as some of the words went over my head. And Girton College was a fantastic setting.

10 days till Wilmington

19 days till my birthday

Black Toes & Bowling

As you can see my second toe is soooo bruised from my fall down the stairs, luckily the nail hasn't fallen off. That would be gross. All my other bruises & scratches have healed up.

Last night Naomi, Steve, Bianca, Jamie & I went ten pin bowling. Yes I was the worst! I think Jamie (Thor) won one game & Bianca won the other. A fun & cheap night thanks to Steveo with his discount card!

Concrete Shovelling to Shakespeare

Well I've moved into my country residence again until the 19th and it's lovely as ever. Saturday morning, well late morning about 11.30 saw Mila & I get stuck into her backyard ripping up the crazy paving. We were told it was a huge job for just the two of us but we weren't to be put down. A 20 min break for lunch and we managed to remove all the concrete, brick and rubble by 4.30pm. A huge effort and we managed to fill a 4 yard skip. A quick cycle home in my work boots and a double wash to remove all the dirt and I was ready to go see "The Twelfth Night" in Robinson College. Mila brought a picnic, and we managed front seats! A fantastically funny play and the actors were wonderful. A definete thumbs up, and the setting was beautiful. A quick ride home thru town and off to bed.

Oh.......my........god!!! Waking up on Sunday morning was horrendous! Every part of my body ached (and still does). The groans coming out of me sounded like something out of horror movie. I was going to go to the gym but as I couldn't raise my leg over the bar to get on my bike I figured I might as well stay home. I layed in the overcast sun until it got chilly then slouched around the house watching McLeods Daughters Season 2. In the evening I met up with Verena, Zoey & Mike and we watched "Hairspray". What a laugh! I had no idea it was going to be a musical. I couldn't stop laughing, I reccommend this movie! Now back a work with a big week coming up:

Monday - Ten pin bowling

Tuesday - Macbeth
Wednesday - NOTHING!!!
Thursday - BBQ
Friday - Barbara (Verena's sister) arrives - dinner
Saturday - Rugby
Sunday - REST!!!

Count Down

Well it's 14 days till I see the Thoms in Wilmington and it's 23 days till my birthday! Can't wait, I'm getting very excited now. Had a meeting in London yesterday with work so that was ok. The weather has been great so I think I can safely say that summer is finally here. Relaxing tonight, big brother eviction! Saturday helping Mila rip up her paving followed by a performance of The Twelfth Night. Sunday will be gym and then relaxing. I'm house sitting this week so it's going to be lovely in the garden.

Curry Night at Robinson College

An interesting night lay ahead, all I knew was that we were going to Robinson College for an Indian Curry Formal. Images came to mind of a black tie affair with hundreds of brillant colours draped everywhere. So you can imagine the suprise when we arrived at Robinson and it was a fairly relaxed atmosphere with gin & tonic in the gardens followed by a curry dinner in the halls. A great mix of foods, although as you know I'm not one for spice but luckily there was plenty of orange juice & nann bread to wash it down. A strange looking & tasting dessert followed, a similar consistancy to cheese cake with out the base. After that it was time to head home. A great evening even though I've started peeling on my face and chest! nice one.

Top photo: Arran, Laura, Joe, Charlie, Zach & Me

Right Photo: Zach, Arran, Joe, Charlie & Laura

Billy Elliott

What a fantastic show! I met up with Krista last night for dinner at Garfunkels and a catch up on what's been going on, then we were off to the theatre for the show. Amazing, the cast were brilliant and the dancing from the kids was great. You definetly have to see it if you can. And our seats were fantastic, as we were able to see all the expressions on the faces of the actors. 5 stars!

Sunburn & Slips

Well the weekend was stunning, Cambridge was the hottest place in England on Sunday reaching a top of 30 degrees!!! Saturday was spent lying in the garden with Verena & Arran soaking up the sun. Why is it only certain bits go red? My legs take forever to tan. So got a bit burnt on my chest so it's still a bit sore today. Sunday was spent having lunch with Zach in town then on to Carrie's to let the girls (Noushi & Lucy) out for a walk. A lovely afternoon spent lying in the backyard reading, in the shade!

The only bad thing to happen was I slip down the stairs on Sunday morning. Fell down onto my left hip and carpet burned my elbow and knocked my toe on the right foot. Pretty painful. No bruise at the moment but extremely tender to touch.

Oh well I'll survive, Billy Elliott with Krista in London tonight. Very excited!!

Also managed to finish all the McLeod's Daughters sent to me, I even found the wedding episode!! Whoo hooo love it!

Get out the SPF 50+

Well the sun has held out all week and apparently it's going to be 27 degrees on Saturday! Fingers crossed, I will be lying in the garden reading my book in the sun. Not much going on this week, still going to the gym which is really hard. A few things coming up in August:

1. Billy Elliott the musical with Krista in London
2. Indian Curry Formal at a Cambridge Uni
3. Information Manager meeting in London so dinner with mates after
4. Shakespere - The Twelfth Night performed at Robinson College
5. House sitting at Carries from the 9th to 19th (BBQ's galore)
6. Rugby - Middelsex Sevens tournament at Tickenham (With work so it's freeeee!)
7. Farewell dinner with Verena
8. Amanda, Bianca, Rob, Linda, Danny, Felicity & Carleen's birthdays
9. Trip to USA to see Fifi, Lucy & Andrew

So a few things to look forward to!