Back in London town

Fri 22nd-Sat 27th Oct

Friday night was low key with salad and fruit and tv. After a big night out and a bit of a hang over from Paris, it was definatly needed. We had a big sleep then went into Camden on Saturday to have a look around. It's big and dirty and full of characters and some great shops that are a art in themselves. Sheree and I took Pete to see Cyber dog, a shop that sells all stuff for ravers. The shop is full of lights and loud music and ridiculious outfits and the staff members are a piece of art in themselves with multicoloured hair, piercings, big shoes and tight tops, and thats just the guys!! We went for a boat ride down the canal to look at the houses and trees, and the houses and... well, trees. I remember the ride being a little more interesting but oh well, thats life!! We did see a Banksy tho, a graffitti artist who is famous throughout the world for doing sometimes political but very well designed art on and in public space, walls and what not, and no one really knows who he is, Pete thinks he does tho. It was only a small stencil, but the most exciting bit of the ride I reckon.

A Banksey in Camden

Ricky, Anna, Gemma & Rob

That night we went out for Ana's pre-birthday drinks at Fluid Bar in Farringdon. We caught up with our mates again and saw Liam, a previous Hervey Bay High school teacher whos living here at the moment as well. We had sushi and beer and stayed out real late and got yelled at by Sheree's neighbour at 3 in the morning. Rock and Roll!!!!

Brick lane markets

Sunday we weren't going to do anything, but Bec rung to say she was going to Brick lane markets if we wanted to join in. So I don't know how, but we managed to get ourselves showered and ready and took ourselves out. I love the markets, there were heaps of new stuff and old collectables and bits of junk and hand made jewellery. We had a great burger at a pub that was full of real pickle and Pete drank beer to make himself better and I drank coke cause I couldn't look at beer. We had a look around the markets and the shops and ended up in another bar before going our seperate ways, which, we realised once we sat down was a gay bar and Bec and I were the only females! On the way home we stopped into the local pub by Sheree's place and ate too much dinner and passed out.

smoke in the sky

Monday we didn't want to face the day so we hung around home for some rest. Late that afternoon we were meeting up with Bec and Laim to do the Jack the Ripper tour. Now the reason I was up for doing the tour is because I knew it wasn't going to be scary (I don't like scary), and this definatly wasn't. It was informational and the tour giude was great and explained how and where and really knew his stuff. He really took you back in time to talk about detail and how the streets wouldv'e been back then and how he couldv'e gotten away with them all, and he even has is theories on the killer. Me, I kinda lost him in the end and came away knowing more about the murders, but hasn't changed my life at all, a little more suspence was needed I think.

A beef eater!!

Tower castle

Tuesday we went to do the Tower of London. I didn't visit when I lived here years ago, and was really looking forward to seeing it. So of course, it was the wettest day that we have had so far!! It was miserable, and most of the castle was open grounds and queues to see the things that were in the towers. The rain really affected our outing. Pete didn't bring his raincoat so he was in no mood to be outside (He has learnt his lesson now tho). Not being able to cope with any more, Pete parted form me to meet me at a neighbouring pub when I was done, as I was determined to see the castle!! It's all I wanted to see!!

I loved it, even with the rain. The Tower's history aroused my interest, every room has some story that has altered history in one way or another.
After a beer at the pub and a chance to dry of a little, Pete and I went our separate ways. Pete was off to meet up with Francesca, an old friend from Australia to go and see a play. The play was a ye oldie farce called Absent Friends- ironic for you people back home? It was played at the Union, a small and intimate theatre in Southwark. It was good catchin' up with Chesca, she has been over in England for several weeks and was lookin' as awestruck as I (Peter) was.

I (Rochelle) went out for dinner with Claire where we had Tapas and 2 bottles of wine and talked all evening. We were surprised by an early trick or treater who’s mask gave us a fright, so we got a photo in exchange for treats!
Wednesday morning was full of doing washing and odd jobs. In the afternoon we meet up with Brendan, the brother of a friend from Hervey Bay, who is also in a band (Twister Bait). He took us to a Belgium beer pub in Piccadilly, so Pete got to see a little of the city and where all the theatres are. After a couple of beers and a lot of music talk we went our separate ways.

Blue steel poses!!

Pete and I were off to cook Ricky and Ana dinner at his small flat. Its so little that I kept on banging my head on the ceiling slope in the kitchen as its right next to the stove!! A great night but not too adventurous apart from a little bit of head trauma- we had to be up early in the morning as we were going to Strafford-upon-Avon.

Pete tree loving

Sheree had organised a couple of days off work to hang out, so we were up early (7am early!! It was a killer) and on a train. Well, a train and a bus as Strafford’s train station is getting works done and closed for the week, go figure. We arrived with having no breakfast, so it was off to a café to fuel us up, Pete realised that he hadn’t had a full English breakfast since being in England so decided it was on the cards. Me, I was loving up baked potatoes with coleslaw and cheese! So good. We were then off to the thing Strafford-upon-Avon is famous for- Shakespeare’s birthplace and home.

Shakespears birthplace

Romep & Juliet

We got a little history on Shakespeare’s childhood and the his work, or rather the impact of his work on literature, and then were able to look around the gardens and in the house freely. Some of the rooms had a person talking about the aspects, from the bedroom where he was born to the workshop where his dad made gloves. The guy in that room was weird. He talked really slow and did fumy things with his hands and as soon as he was done we were out of there! In the courtyard there were two actors acting out bits from Shakespeare’s plays, they new a lot of different bits and you could give them a play and they would act parts from them. The guy wasn’t too impressed when someone wanted to see the classic Romeo and Juliet balcony scene, but it was great- she went into the house and upstairs to the window and it was impressive until a man was trying to come out of the house right where they were and at the most inappropriate moment. It was a bit of a chuckle tho. Pete bought a book called Filthy Shakespeare, an informative little number that highlights the overtly sexual puns that can be found within Shakespeare's famous plays. I guess it was his birth right to do so. Did you know that William Shakespeare's own name was a sexual pun? That is, in his day he would have been ribbed with "wanker", or "fucking wanker", as his name literally means just that. Will was a pun for fuck, and to 'shake' one's 'spear' was to masterbate. This begs the question- would a wanker by another name have wrote such smut?

Fishing on the Avon river

Shakespears grave

After a good look around we went for a walk along the river Avon to get to the church where not only Shakespeare was baptised, but also where his grave is- inside the church. It was a beautiful church and a gorgeous river with all the autumn trees (I know I keep on going on about them) and big willows. It’s a small place, but very pretty, and so quiet after London. On the way back to the bus we stopped off for afternoon tea. Pete keeping in Tradition of the day had tea with Scones, jam and clotted cream. Very English.

the sunset on the bus

Little restaurant

After our almost three hour journey to get back home, we finished off the day with a late dinner at a Lebanese restaurant around the corner from Sheree’s place. When I say restaurant I actually mean his house that he has converted into a restaurant. Apparently he lives upstairs and has the business downstairs. Its tiny, Sheree says its busy all the time and there is stuff everywhere!! Its hard to even sit down! He collects salt and pepper shakers and they were all over the place, there was all sorts of lights and fans hanging from the ceiling and ornaments everywhere- I guess a bit like being at Uncle Eric’s!! The menu was small, but the food superb, all fresh and basic but so much flavour, and we watched him cook it in the little kitchen that was right next to our table. We ate so well and passed out.

Ree's puppy shakers

Princess & the frog s&p shakers

Road kill cake

Friday we meet my old school mate Melissa for lunch in Soho and had some Italian, followed by meeting up with Bec at a pub to go to a cake shop. She had heard bout this shop that makes cakes that look like body parts and they had a big Halloween special going on, so we went to check it out. Unfortunately we got there quite late in the day and most of the cupcakes and things had been sold, which was a shame- I wanted a cupcake that looked like it had pusy zits all over it. We got a couple of little things tho and some photos, so it was something different to do.

Claire, Sheree & Roch

Pete stayed out with Bec and met his friend Patricia for drinks, I went with Sheree for drinks to celebrate Beth, her flatmates, birthday. Claire joined us for a bit and after a couple of beers we decided to opt for home as it was an early start for the airport in the morning.

And that was London.

A bit to read all at once, but I have some trouble with the internet and the photos at times. But those of you who know me also know my experience with computers, so I think I'm doing pretty well. Also, check out the extra photos- Sheree has taken a few good ones of Pete and I so I have included some poser shots.
In New York now, that entry will be full to the brim of pic's- there is so much to see!! But you'll have to wait for that one folks!! Love to you all!! Rochelle and Peter.

Back in London town

London, United Kingdom