London baby!

So we finally managed to get to London! We've only been in the country for how long now? Anyway, the two of us left very early Tuesday morning and came back late Thursday night so we had a full three days to explore.

On the first day we saw Westminster Abbey, Big Ben and the parliament buildings (as in picture), the London Eye (we didn't go up in it, though), Trafalgar Square, the National Gallery - London collection of famous artworks-, Harrods, and Buckingham Palace. Westminster Abbey was so huge, but Big Ben was actually not as big as we thought it would be. Harrods was pretty cool, they had all these different themed rooms - like an Egyptian room. We wandered around for quite some time and got some cheese cake from their bakery - delicious!

Day two we went to the Globe Theatre, the Tate Modern, St. Paul's Cathedral, The British Museum, three comic book stores, and Whitehall Street. The Globe was cool, but shows don't start until - get this - May 4th! (Yes, the day after we leave.) The Tate was better than the National Gallery in our opinion - more art that was our taste probably - but we spent quite a whiel looking at many famous pieces. There were even a few Dali's there! (Troë's favorite) We thought Westminster Abbey was big, but it turns out that St. Paul's is much bigger. Some of the bottom was under construction though, so we couldn't see it in all it's splendor. We managed to find three comic book stores in close proximity, so we checked them out. All were quite different, and one was huge: It was a book store on the basement floor (including comic books, obviously) and the street level floor top was full of swag. Another store had a bunch of back issues and rare comics. It even had an issues of Amazing Spiderman #1 and Justice League of America #1.

Day three we walked to Notting Hill through Hyde Park and had lunch there, then back along Oxford street. We spent loads of time strolling along and went in and out of many stores (including the four different H&M stores on Oxford). That pretty much took all day, kind of a bit more relaxing for our last day, which was nice.

We still haven't seen Tower Bridge (up close anyway), nor did we see the London Tower. We are going back with a certain cousin who's coming to visit in a month though, so we didn't want to do everything.

A few new happenings

Happy Valentine's Day everyone! Adam and I didn't really do anything that special. Just a nice dinner at home and relaxing together in front of the television. So pretty much a normal evening. Except, we did get each other gifts. I got Adam a new pair of jeans cause he's always complaining that his don't fit him properly. He got me a game which I have been looking for since we came over here! It's called 'Atlantis'. He found it on ebay. It's really cool! Heinrich introduced me to the game ages ago, and I knew he got it in England, so I was looking for it in all the second hand stores we went in (since we found out they don't make it anymore). We'll have to all play when we get back. I just have to remember/figure out how to play now because all the instructions it came with are in German!

So last week I was placed into an all girls school (which just happens to be right next to the boys school I was at a little while ago). Anyway, they need a new PE teacher because one of theirs just up and left last week for no reason. So, I went in to cover until they found someone to replace (or at least until the half term break, which started today for that school). But, they liked me, I guess, even though PE isn't really my main subject area. So, they asked me to stay as long as I could - which is until the end of the term (end of March). It's not a terrible school, so I agreed cause now I don't have to worry about being on call and everything. Kind of funny though cause the school's called Glenmoor.

Recently, Adam and I have been turned on to a new site called Facebook. We both created accounts there. It's actually a pretty cool site, and Chris is right, kind of addictive. I am currently in the process of adding all of our photos from our trip so far to the site. It allows us to do that way more easily that this site does. Only problem with that site is that you have to have an account and be one of my 'friends' to view the pictures. But if any of you are dying to see more pictures from our trip, then you can feel free to make an account and add me as a friend. (I think you can just search for my name to do so)

What's Up?

It seems that taking this promotion at work was the best idea I've had in a long time. I have to work fewer days, but I get paid more. The work is so much easier and much more enjoyable. I have internet access to exploit so I've finally caught up with my online e-mail/blog readings. So far I've had nothing but 3-day long weekends, and now they're going to pay me to take a week off and so Troë and I can go to London. It's almost a shame that I'm going to be quitting next month. (Almost.)



We went and saw another movie this week. (Thanks again T.A.) This time we watched "Babel". It's the new Brad Pitt and Cate Blancet movie, but it really shouldn't be refered to as that. The movie follows the lives on four different families living in four completely different regions of the world (California, Mexico, Morocco, and Japan). The movie was completely character driven. There is amlost no action at all in the movie, but you don't really notice because the characters draw you in. We enjoyed the movie, but we've also seen much better lately. Personally I enjoyed both "the Departed" and "Little Miss Sunshine" much better.


Other than the movie, we spent a lot of our free time this week trying to catch up with our North American television favorites. (We are so lame sometimes it's almost embarrasing.) This week watched what Britain claims is "all new episodes" of "Numb3rs", "The O.C.", "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation", and "E.R.". (Click on the show titles to see just how behind we really are.)


Also, I got a call from my Aunt and cousin Beth last night. It was great to hear from them, even if it does make me that extra little bit homesick.

Another Week Over...

It is now offically February, and the dreary month of January is finally behind us.

I just finished my first week at my new position in the Beales Cash Office. The job is so incredibly better than what I was doing before. My work days are longer - I'm now working ten hour days - but the day seems to pass much faster. The job is a combination of tender collation and data entry. I'm enjoying the actual work itself and that seems to be making quite a difference. Also, my new co-workers are fun and easy to get along with, which is somewhat surprising as I am mainly working with a lady in her sixties (who has worked for Beales since the 60s).

My position switch occured over last weekend, and somehow I lucked into getting Saturday, Sunday and Monday off without having to request that. I was shocked. More surprising, though, was that miraculously I was giving the same three days off again this weekend. So, now we get to spend whole days together again which is nice.

Troë is still hanging in there with her teaching, but I think it really starting to wear on her. This week seemed to be especially hard. She has four days already booked at a new school next week, though, and after that she'll only need to teach for eleven more days to get her bonus.

We went and saw the new Will Smith movie - "The Pursuit of Happyness" - on Wednesday night. It's been a while since we've seen a movie in the theatre (mainly because there hasn't been anything really amazing to go see over here) and I think that it was a pleasant break in the middle of the work week. The movie itself was quite enjoyable. It was hardly the least predictable movie I've ever seen, but I was expecting that. The characters are written really well and acted beautifully. The movie impacted me more than I was expecting it too - but in a good way. Definitely a movie worth watching for anyone who has even been down on their luck.