Recovery

Yesterday was such a write off, but my flatties surprised me with a caterpillar birthday cake and the festivities are being spread around as the balloons and confetti slowly make their way around the flat. We had our first flat meeting to discuss our flat warming, including a conference call with Fran; it will most probably be the same day that the landlord collects the rent! The flip side is that we then have two weeks to clean up. We are a little dubious about how we will manage to fit everyone in, so we are hoping for fine weather and perhaps become best friends with our downstairs neighbours so that we can use their backyard. People may have to settle for hanging out on the stairs, in the bathroom, in any available space. I think it'll be a Guinness Book of Records effort at the most people fitting in a caravan.

Inventory

A mandarin tree has sprouted in the kitchen; it's so cute but apparently only good for gin and tonics : )

Hushing the H

Helkeft, what a weekend!! I certainly felt another year older as it was clearly evident that I am far less resilient than I used to be. Whilst there is nothing too titillating that will send chills down your spine or strange enough to demand you charge your camera batteries for the next day, (the tourist map has as six H&M stores as one of its highlights) I had a fantastic time in Aarhus, despite the dire tiredness that constantly plagued us. There is a fantastic initiative called couchsurfing.com, where you can connect with people in your chosen destination either by occupying a couch, or meeting up for a chat, and alternatively, welcome people to your own country by offering the same back. It is an excellent way to meet local people and forge new friendships across cultures. This cultural exchange is a small way in which we can help make the world a more understanding, tolerant, and knowledgeable place. Having set up such an exchange, after a delicious brunch near the canal and a meander through the city, Nadya and I met Anne-Louise armed with flowers wrapped up in floral paper (and I don't mean paper from the florist, it actually had a floral print) and a bottle of rum. Her apartment was gorgeous, about a 10 minute walk from the city, and the couch very comfortable. Her friends Signe and Marlena came round, made us a gorgeous dinner, and we had cocktails whilst listening to Danish reggae. I'd read a bit about the Danish term hygge which is roughly translated as cosiness, but is also uncomplicated, unexaggerated, and informal. It is about feeling comfortable in a friendly atmosphere; this was certainly a hyggelig night. We learnt a couple Danish phrases in preparation to head out for the night, and then took a bus and Signe biked, the little elfin, to Arthur (pronounced Ar-tua) where the girls had all worked at one stage or another with random stories as to why they no longer did. We played pool for free and had several more bagfuls of laughs. Second stop, Waxies, a meat market with no fine meat. Lastly, Chokoladefabrikken (Translation The Chocolate Factory, as it was originally a chocolate factory) which was an awesome club with an underground feel, and laid back unpretentiousness. A good night was had, but due to the lack of taxis in Aarhus, it is impossible to get a one after a night out, so one shawarma later, we walked home with the rest of the town. Needless to say, the next day we were still pretty darn weary, so we headed out sometime in the avo for some brunch at Rar Bar , and said goodbye to Anne-Louise as she strangely managed to sum up the energy to play Danish baseball whilst we trooped off to Den Gamle (the Old Town where they moved all these old houses) Now, of all the languages, Danish seems to be the hardest one to pick up, with things on the menu totally unrecognisable, so it is fair to say we definitely didn't have enough basics down to speak transportation. With this in mind, we were trying to find out if the bus went to The Old Town, but the bus driver didn't speak English. He was really nice about it, and to our embarrassment made a call on the loud speaker to see if anyone spoke English!! Luckily, it wasn't the correct bus so we escaped the shame of sitting on a bus with everyone laughing at us, the silly tourists : ) Den Gamle turned out to be a little lame so we didn't end up going in, but we sat in the Botanical garden amongst the love in the air (we had been forewarned that due to everything being closed on Sunday the only people out and about are canoodling couples eating ice creams) and enjoyed the sun and the peaceful nature. The nice thing about Aarhus is that while the streets may be really busy, everyone is really laid back and relaxed; cafes and bars lack the pretentious and sniffy air that is often present in London. The rest of the day went by in a bit of a haze, and we made it home a little ahead of schedule at around 0145. With my eyes barely opening, and having lost the capacity to hold a conversation, I went to fling myself onto my bed; to my delight, my gorgeous flatmates had filled my room with balloons and confetti!! I literally woke up with a bang this morning!!

1983

Cabbage Patch Dolls become a black market item as parents empty the stores for their little girls; except for mine. I had a My Child called Sophie as my Mum thought cabbage patch dolls were ugly. I did dance as a Cabbage Patch Doll in one of my ballet productions.

The lowest temperature ever recorded anywhere on Earth was taken in Antarctica : -89.2° C.

The inventor of Tupperware, Earl S. Tupper, dies of a heart attack!! Perhaps he got a bit too stressed when someone put self raising flour in the container allocated to sugar!

U.S. soft drink makers begin using aspartame to sweeten diet beverages; perhaps this is why I am addicted to Diet Coke.

And now for some wise words from people who departed this world as I came into it:

An adventure may be worn as a muddy spot or it may be worn as a proud insignia. It is the woman wearing it who makes I the one thing or the other.

Norma Shearer

Life is partly what we make it, and partly what is made by the friends we choose.

Tennessee Williams

Rudeness is the weak man's imitation of strength.

Eric Hoffer

What a great year!!

Cutting It Fine

As I headed out into the falling snowflakes to catch the bus to the tube station yesterday morning, I prepared myself for the trauma of catching the tube at 0845. After failing to get on three trains, and watching people squish in against all the odds, despite half their asses actually outside of the door, I was eternally grateful that I work in the nothingness that is Hammersmith. After finally making it to the Toni & Guy Academy, getting into the Advance section again, oh yea, (as testament to the quality of haircut received here I overheard a girl saying that she wanted her hair like mine, two months post cut!!) I relaxed under my botched cape (the printers has put the Toni & Guy logo backwards) trying not to fall asleep as I waited under those harsh, salon light. As I chatted to my stylist (who I'm sure was being hit on by the tutor!!) I discovered that she was from a salon in Denmark!!! Alarmingly, her reaction when I told her I was going there on Saturday was "oh, why?" But when I told her I was going to Aarhus, she assured me that it was a happening city where people really know how to party, and not to bother booking a hotel. She fixed me up with a short do, and after getting a few shots taken, I headed out the door feeling a little bit more optimistic about my appearance; given the calibre of this Dane, it would have been pretty darn sad wandering around Aarhus looking like a ragamuffin.

With hair trimmings poking me like a hedgehog crawling around under my jumper, I attempted to do some browsing on Oxford Street, but only lasted half an hour as I still cannot handle the madness that they call shopping here!! So I headed home bagless, to find a mega sized box that I could barely carry up the stairs let alone fit through the hallway waiting for me! Keat, Belinda and Sienna had sent me a gourmet hamper, filled with the most luxurious items. Fran and I chowed through a box of Belgian truffles that night : ) I was so overcome by the excitement of receiving such an impressive parcel that when the woman from the market research company called regarding a paid mobile phone focus group, I forgot to lie about my age and the fact that I purchase mobiles on the basis that they have basic text abilities and on the cheaper end of the scale as opposed to their latest gadgets and aesthetic. Possibly a good thing as it would have been on Monday night, and I most probably will only make it to 8pm before my eyes shut for a long slumber. Despite the 50 quid loss, all is well, as in approximately 14 hours I will be getting up for the most stylish birthday I've ever had, starting with an arduous journey to Stansted Airport; one year older, my hair one inch shorter, and one box of chocolates heavier. I can't wait!!

Sunny Side Up

I feel like I am turning into a proper English bird, talking about the weather all the time, but you wouldn't believe how much of an impact it has on my life!! Last night, after missioning to the supermarket and returning home with the stabbing pains of hot meets cold as I entered the warmth of the caravan light, I was all set to double, triple, quadruple layer up to face the chill, and put on my grim face today. But alas, I was woken up before my alarm by the sun streaming through my threadbare curtains. I didn't mind so much, in fact it really put me in high spirits! I ate my breakfast with gusto, even made my lunch, (in an attempt to avoid a repeat of yesterdays atrocities) and managed to get a seat on the train despite getting there a little late!! If all goes well, I will be able to resist the vending machine, the sun will still be out when I leave work, and I will miraculously win the Lotto!!

Blunderbussing, Lubbering, Stumblebum!!

As testament to my need to sleep-in, I have started up a tally of ridiculousness for the day. I began the day by almost brushing my teeth with face cleanser, despite the fact that the bottle is big, purple and in a completely different place from my toothpaste. More recently, just 30 minutes ago in fact, I tripped up the stairs with my berry smoothie (which is now sprayed up the wall in a purple speech mark of colour) and half the contents of my lunch tumbling down the stairs. I didn't even stop to see if anyone witnessed this heroic act of elegance, I was so embarressed. Miraculously I remained clean, but slightly hungry after eating only half a lunch. Everyday as I walk up those stairs with my lunch I always think, take care, definite opportunity for kamikaze, but today I obviously had a lapse in concentration. I can't wait to see what is next on the surprise party of faux pars!!

You Drive Me Craaaaaazy

Well, the sun came and went, and winter has come back to bite me in the bum. As I write, snow is falling outside and the smokers are forced to go without. After several weeks scarfless, I will be forced to start wrapping up again. It was a cruel glimpse of what could be; people with smiles on their faces, relaxing in the park; oh the dream, the reverie!! Thankfully, to ease the pain of the horrid weather that is to come, this is a short working week as I have taken Thursday off to get a haircut, do a bit of window shopping, and generally spend a day relaxing; sort of a birthday present to myself. I feel like I am never able to catch up on sleep, which unfortunately will be unaided by Thursday. I will probably have to get up earlier than on a normal working day as the appointment is blimen early meaning a city peak hour battle. But as long as my hair gets some sprucing it will be worth the mission : )

Twiglets

I have recently discovered a new snack; Twiglets!! Twig-like in appearance, they could be likened to pretzels. A wholemeal crackery type stick coated in Marmite-like powdery stuff. They taste better than they sound!!

This one's for you Nadya

Last night, I paid a visit to my favourite surrogate family, who, by the way, are the best and I love em all to bits. On the way I wasted 5 quid on a pack of CDs that turned out to be DVDs, found out that I have been spending double the amount on my commutes than I need to, and my earphones that I purchased only last week have buggered out on me!!! So, as it is so hard to survive on the pound, especially when I have leaks in my money bags like that, I am always looking for ways to literally save my pennies. I can't walk away from the 2 for 1 deals at ASDA, which explains my shelf full of cans of chickpeas (5 for 1 pound!!), and I truly realised my addiction when I was tempted to buy a large bag of compost mixture for 90p. I don't even have a garden!! I can say one thing though; I will never be applying my face in the make up section of Debenhams as I saw one girl blatantly do, in the middle of the store!!

Approaching My Address Backwards

As my birthday is swiftly approaching, I have been searching for a place to vamoose, just because I can. Initially I was going to go to Aarhus, Denmark, as it was the cheapest flight out, but it wasn't so cheap that it would be worth spending only one day, so Nadya suggested Bath. I was a bit skeptical as I thought that there would only be old people and tourists which wouldn't make for a particularly exciting birthday celebration, (not that I have anything against the timeworn, tourists maybe but not old people), but I was to find that there was in fact a university with loads of people under 70. Not completely excited by the idea (it would mean that I was still in the same country) but prepared to settle on it just because there was nowhere cheaper to fly to, I went on to skyscanner for one last stab in the low cost world. Low and behold, the flights to Aarhus had gone down to 1p!!! Who knows what's there, but who cares, it'll be newfangled, random, and if it is a complete hole, I'll be leaving the next day!!

With 10 days left of this unusual age, I reflect on what has been a most breathtaking year, where I have definitely realised my peripatetic nature. 92 cities have been amused by my sometimes bizarre but mostly self humouring antics, with at least 40 of them befuddling me into a confused stupor; 2 pairs of shoes worn out, 5 more pairs added, 1 pair still unworn; 3 scarves and several earring backings lost, as well as the temporal misplacement of all my belongings; plane, train, underground, tram, bus, water-taxi, ferry, boat, bicycle, raft, funicular, 4WD, tuk-tuk, elephant, oxen, and camel used as a means to get from here to there; 2 electrical hair appliances acquired to upkeep 1 haircut; 6 pairs of stockings bought in an effort to avoid buying winter clothes; 0 broken bones or deadly viruses caught, several cases of overindulgence self diagnosed. I seemed to have escaped the plethora of travel hazards illustrated by thousands of backpackers, bar one attempt of bag pick-pocketing which I interrupted with a glare at the million of suspects surrounding me, with any misadventures turning into epic adventures. There are no mistakes, only opportunities to make scenic detours; sometimes you have to grin and bare it but at least you will come out the other side with a completely insane story to tell your grand kids!!

Pimped Out Sweep

I have to say this; I have the worlds best flatmates!! Every time I go away and come back, there is something new adorning the old Lavender. The camp feel in the kitchen with it's eclectic mix of plates and cups, has been replaced by classy mugs, woks, and a mortar & pestle. A DVD player now graces our entertainment system, and there is a nice selection of DVDs building up. Whilst I was in Italy, losing sleep as the crazy lady ranted, I was actually looking forward to going home, as it really is starting to feel like my cosy little abode (perhaps not my room but the rest of the flat is pretty darn smashing).

Spring in my Step

Today, I walked to work without a scarf, and almost without a jacket!! The sun is shining, I didn't hear birds but I'm sure if there were some they would be chirping! Spring has sprung and there is hope in the bleakness. On reflection, winter really wasn't the dark depression that I was expecting; sure it was grey, cold, and often seemingly endless, but it didn't have any worse effects on me than the constant rain that hinders Auckland in the winter. Not once did I have to wear the entire contents of my limited wardrobe, I made it through without earmuffs, and only got struck by one bout of flu which lasted a mere 5 days. It was perhaps a little costly as I had to buy shoes that didn't leak and many pairs of stocking because they just don't seem to have any over 40 denier, but overall, not too much was lost. I made it!!

Six Course Day Dreams

Oh how sad we were to say arrivederci to Italia. Back in the grim and grey of London, and the feel of the sun on my face seems like a dream. I loved Italy, even though it was just a quick dip in the water, it was enough to showcase the good coffee, excellent pastries, (although they never put enough custard in those croissants) and delectable gelato (nutella and yoghurt, peanut butter and chocolate, mmm). In Venice, we found a pizza hole where I had the best slice of pizza in my life; a scrumptious salty base with piquant toppings of artichokes and those purple slightly bitter leafy things. After much anticipation we forked out for some rather expensive tiramasu at this cute romantic little restaurant in Florence, and boy was it worth it. We went to Bologna literally just to eat bolognaise (one of several occasions where we ate pasta before midday!) which had a distinctly different taste to the American version that we have come to know. What I don't understand, is how everyone keeps so slim!! The breakfast pastries are so delicious, but definitely not wholesome; I guess they do use a few more calories drinking their espressos standing..

Barmy Boudoir's

Our first sights of Alba D'Oro Camping in Venice were a little theme park/American summer campesque, and upon further investigation, it seemed that we were indeed there during off-peak season as we wandered amongst the eerie skeletal trees and mushroom huts and didn't see a soul aside from the maintenance men who peered amusingly at us as we got lost trying to find our cabin. When we finally came across it, a miracle given that the campsite was in fact a city made up of every type of cabin, pim, and doge that one could think off, we were happily surprised to find that it was fully kitted out with a brand spanking new bathroom, air conditioner/heater, blankets, and enough shelving to spread the entire contents of our day packs (I have definitely mastered the one-pack-wonder). Our convent conversion hostel in Florence on the other hand would have been more pleasant had it been deserted. We were to discover that staying in our dorm was a crazy Italian woman that would rant loudly in Italian all night long, rustle plastic bags, and pace up and down, the scuffle of her slippers like the sound of a body dag being dragged along the floor; we thought that perhaps she had OCD as she was constantly preparing to go out but never made it through the front door.

Whistle Stops
Venice was charming with its canals and narrow streets with midget sized doors, and thankfully not smelly as it was in fact quite cold. Having had only a couple hours sleep the night before, we spent the first day dreamily meandering, drinking coffee, and later finding a watering hole, ending the night on prosecco limoncello with some local Italians. After a full day of Venetian pleasures, it is suffice to say that we were feeling pretty lethargic the next day. We basked in the sun eating strawberries on the canal, and stumbled upon the main plaza (our Venetian experience was one of mapless chance, merely following our noses or the direction of the sun) where the pigeons blanket the square, and people pay to be attacked by them. Via a water taxi which smelled alarmingly like feet, we visited Murano, a nearby island, home of Murano glass, and mecca of tacky tourist crap. From the 25% of genuinely quality articles, I bought a pendent, as I had recently noted that my quest to find interesting pieces to add to my jewellery collection was failing miserably. (If you knew what pains I went through trying to decide what to take with me when I left NZ you would understand the importance of this mission and the gravity of the situation.) We intended to visit the island of Borano also, but it was too cold and even Claire's three layers of thermals and a hot chocolate didn't ease the situation.

We left Venice with thoughts of an adventurous day ahead of us, but after several hours of fruitless wanderings in Bologna, (this would have been an opportune time for a bit of Lonely Planet intervention) we hopped on the next train to Florence. Due to half of Bologna trying to also leave on this train, we found ourselves sitting on the steps, in front of the toilet and the exit, much to the amusement of ourselves and that of the friendly Venezuelan couple behind us, straining our necks trying to peer out the window. At one point we were surrounded by a wall of suitcases and jabbering Italian confusion.

Florence was lively and although full of tourists, we were able to find areas where the pasticerias were abound and bustling and the fruiteria owners friendly. We discovered a fantastically kitsch bar that would have looked hideous by day, but under the glow of the insulation tube decorated lights, the plastic flowers and the disco globe really worked; plus they had apertivos which meant a free dinner!!

The day which we reserved for sights started off with a mission to find that perfect man; we ended up seeing the fake David, (although the view was worth the climb) and had to look on the back of all the postcards to find the destination of the real David, (a completely unassuming, faceless building, the only tell-tale sign being the people selling David aprons and those mini tripods outside.) We attempted to find the Medici tombs but were unsuccessful, and to be honest, there were so many extravagant churches and art museums to see, but I think we've reached the point of being churched/castl-ed/ancient building-ed out and are much happier people watching on the dirty steps eating 40c olives.

On our third day in Florence, we took a trip down south to a medieval town called Sienna. There was a wedding coming out of the church in the square where we were sunbathing, which added to the fanciful quality of the town. I cursed my thermals as I ate sugar coated doughnut balls that were all squidgy inside, and tried to cool down with the regulation gelato. It seemed like the place to come for a tourist day trip, as it was all postcards and gift stores, but in a very lovely setting.

Our last stop, and the home of my favourite touristy site thus far, was Pisa. The Eiffel Tower is beautiful, the Alhambra amazing, but the Leaning Tower of Pisa is just hilarious; you can't help but crack a smile and have a bit of a giggle when you see it!!! I have also never seen so many stalls selling the same things; I wonder if there is a factory dedicated entirely to producing those mini Leaning Tower of Pisas? There is not much else in Pisa, so there is ample time to perfect the "holding up the tower" photo, and in our case, waiting at the vending machine deprived airport, which is only a 20 minute walk from the city centre, which was good as I was literally down to my last 5c (although I didn't find some euros hidden in amongst my pounds, just in time for some boredom snacks!).

So there it is; we said buongiorno, got addicted to coffee, and were constantly di ritardo as we were too lazy to change our clocks. My next foray into Italy will be high times in Rome, perhaps a bit of volcanic action in Sicily, and if money allows, a truly Tuscan experience in the vineyards. Until then, it's back to this stressed out city!

Ciao ciao!!