Snowing

Well, I was told that it wouldn't snow in London, but you know what ... it did. Photo - Sign on front school door, School tennis court.

I walked out of my house this morning and was very amazed to see that snow had fallen over night. There was about an inch on the ground so it certainly snowed all night by the looks of it.

Included here are the photos which I have been able to take. They are all around school.

The kids are loving it, so many snow ball fights have been had, some students even threw a couple at me. Photo - Snowball fight.

So, best go, got school work to do, but had to share that its snowed in london. Photo -Front of School, Two Students and a Huge Snowbal and Looking back at the school.

Oxford

Went to Oxford this weekend and what a lovely place it is.

I met Tracey and Megan at the train station at 9:20am to catch our train. I went to get subway for breakfast, but that was a mistake and a half. Its not the menu we are blessed with in Australia and the person serving me couldn't understand me, so double trouble. But I got a sub, not eating subway again here. And went to the train station to buy my ticket. Bought the ticket walked down to the station and no Tracey and Megan. Train arrives, still no Tracey and Megan, then they come bolting down the stairs, thinking they see me I too hopped on the train. Photo - Vic outside Ahsmolean Museum.

So I walked forward to their seats and they look at me in astonishment, as they were waiting for me beside the ticket machines and we all missed eachother, they had thought I missed the train. But ... alas we alll got on the train. The trip to Oxford is lovely in itself, lovely rolling hills and quaint little houses and BIG HUGE almost castles of houses.

Got to Oxford at 11:30am, longer trip than usual because of rail works, went into the town centre and got a map. It was time for morning tea, so we found this lovely bar, which had jazz music and very cushy seats. Nice after a long train ride. Photo - Christ Church College.

Then off to the streets of Oxford, saw a beautiful church of Mary Magadeline, then found a museum called the Ahsmolean Museum - which had marble statues of greek gods, eygiptian artifacts including tombs with the muffied corpses, they even had the canopic jars (which were the jars which contained their oragans - like the ones the guys in the movie the Mummy steal and get killed for) But these ones were better. Also in this museum there was a Stradivarius violin, a collection of famous rings and gravy boats (that I thought was funny). But time was of the essence and after an hour of just being in the Egyptian Artifacts, I quickly ran around and saw the rest and then it was time to continue on. Photo - Top of a Church.

During the day we saw several outstanding buildings, which I cannot remember all of the names for, but the photos I have are of the Christ Church College, where ... I went to walk in and got challenged by a small gentleman in a bowlers hat asking me for my university badge, I didn't get in. And then we were walking towards a buidling which I saw its top from afar and we happened upon a church which had an orchestra rehearsing, we sat and listened to this for about 20mins, then walked out the back found my building which is called Radcliffe Square, and inside it was a study hall, but this building is also used as a ceremonial area for the council etc. Then up the path we found the Bridge of Sighs (actually called Hertford Bridge) - which the original is in Italy, but is called the Bridge of Sighs as it looks like the one in Venice. Photo - Bridge of Sighs.

Then off to the bookstore, called Blackwells, which ... as they have a photo on the wall about it, I found out President Clinton visted whilst he was in Oxford. Here we originally went to use the loo, but then being distracted by books we had a look. And whilst up in the second hand section, looking for books in general, I had an excellent thought of a souvenir for myself, something that I have wanted for myself for a while. So what did I buy you might ask ... I bought an Oxford Dictionary! Which I proudly now can boast that it was bought in Oxford, when anyone asks to use it, so scrabble here I come. Photo - Radcliffe Square.

Then after that, off to the pub we went where we had a nice drink to cap off the day. Then back on the train to Ealing Broadway where I stayed for the night. And that was Oxford. Photo - Streets of Oxford.

London the past month ...

Well I said that I would set myself up on a blog so here I am.

I landed in London on Dec 27, at 3:30pm to a gloomy sun setting and the dreads of Heathrow Airport. BUT!! Heathrow was fine, walked a mile I am sure to get to immigration, zipped through, got my bag after about 30 mins of waiting and flew through customs, which was so small, nothing like Australia. Photo - Vic and Police Officer Chris.

Then off I went to find Tracey and Megan ... to Paddington Station I travelled. My first tube ride was very packed, but I met some lovely people who told me the right tube to change over to and what line I should be on. Great, then I walked out of Paddington turned to the left looking for my hotel. Pack on my back walking along, asking people ... am I going the right way to West Kensington Rd ... sorry love, dunno, was most of the answers I got. Got the the Hilton Hotel and thought I better ask, lucky I did, I had just walked 10 mins in the wrong direction. BUGGER. But, I walked back up and found our hotel. Met up with Tracey and Megan and went to dinner, Italian - very nice after a long flight. Then bed by 9pm. Photo - Big Ben and Red Phone Box.

The next couple of days were spent sightseeing around London, went to Harrods and had tea and scones, saw Big Ben, Natural History Museum, National Protrait Gallery, Buckingham Palace, St James Park, Constitution Hill, Trafalgar Square, London Eye (yet to go on), Visited the River Thames (such a strong current), 10 Downing Street - PM's House, Tower of London (so a must, but give yourself a day - I was there for 4 hours), Tower of London Bridge, seen Parliament House and the outside of West Minster Abbey. Now the thing that I didn't realise and what people who have never been here as well, is that, all of these places are within 10 minutes walk of eachother and it really quite convenient to look around.

Somewhere on one of these days I went to Camden and went to the markets there. Which are really quite interesting, sardines in a tin have more room. At this place you see the type of people that the movies show of londoners, the people in full black clothing with piercings everywhere, spiked hair which is half their height agian. But still an interesting place, here I picked up my Paddington Bear Coat and my train driver hat, which is what you will see me dressed in, in most of my photos.

Also inbetween this time I was out looking at flats to stay, some were so small that if you tried to park a Mini Minor in them you would scratch the paint. Others were just dank and depressing. So I didn't have a place to live when we were to leave the hotel, so Tracey and Megan let me doss (Brittish term for sleeping on the couch) at their place until I found a place.

January 3 I started work at Overton Grange at school in Sutton.

Which meant that from Tracey and Megan's house it was a 2hour commute from the time I walked out the door. Really need to find a place and fast! 2 days later I went to a house in Clapham Junction where 2 Kiwis Girls and 1 Greek Guy live and they had a small room for rent. It was what I wanted and in an area that was a good easy commute to work - 20 mins in fact! Wahhoooo! Though had to wait a week for it, so I had one more week of 5 am mornings and then I moved. Photo - Entrance to St James's Park.

During this week I went and caught up with Simon from Rovers in Townsville on the monday, where he introduced me to his sister and a few of their friends. Where once again I was confused of for being a man, so Townsville Rovers your memory lives on. Then went to dinner with these guys on Thursday night - Indian at Victoria Station, very nice.

Which brings us to last weekend, where I had taught for a full week, and it was time to move Saturday we spent doing our washing again, as Tracey and Megans machine was still not repaired. And then went to go to the Russian New Years Festival in Trafalgar Square, but it was super busy and wasn't what we expected. So instead we caught the bus to Regent Street and went shopping, I picked up some more trousers etc for work, but I don't fit them any more. So will have to go back there this weekend. Then on the Sunday I moved into Clapham Junction.

Have spent a week there so far, have had some lovely chats with the people I am living with and its nice to have a bed. Picked up a bargin for my sheets, duvet cover (doona) and towels £28. Cool. Haven't done much during the nights this week, been busy at school with reports and such. Tonight I am going for drinks tonight and then off to Oxford for the tourist thing again. Should be great, well I have written a novel, but its a couple of weeks worth, so it is worth it for memories for me at least. Sunday well sunday I will go with the flow. Photo - White Tower in London Tower.