Sorry it's been so long since my last post - almost a year!! Mind you, if I start trying to write everything that has happened it'll turn into a bloody book! So instead, here's some pictures - worth a thousand words each, so I hear...



Christmas (obviously)
Wasn't a bad one actually. Mark's family went to Italy and unfortunately we weren't able to join them but had a pretty good day at home together. A mate of ours who couldn't make it back home to Spain came over for Christmas lunch and the rest of the day/night. Got a little wrecked to be honest, in true Christmassy style of course...

After that we headed to Rome for New Year...





We captured this crazy spirit orb thing in Marks photo... tried to get one with me but I wasn't so lucky. Rome was beautiful, but very cold.





Beautiful Spain...

Toledo


Granada





And finally Morocco!

So it looks like I said nothing of the dress up party we went to, OR my trip to Brighton (love Brighton, but it seems so long ago now!) plus there's all the news of the past few weeks - tagging wilde geese in Tring, a pay rise, possible trip to Morocco for a dig - neanderthal site - and all the bits inbetween which join up the days...
To make it a little easier for me, I'm going to do it with some pictures. Here we GO!

First of all though, there's no pics of the dress up party, which is a shame as it was a lot of fun and there were some good costumes. It was a few weeks ago now, and the theme was movies. Me being a fan of horror movies and Mark being a Geiger fan went as a cvictim cheerleader and Alien herself (respectively) Just before heading off for it I ducked over to our local store to graba afew beers for the night. Whilst sstood at the fridge pondering the nights beer selection Eddie (the shop man) walked in, grabbed his chest and shouted at me (in his American accent)OH MY GOD! Are you alright? What's happened to you?! Obviously my fake blood had done the trick. I had (pretend, obviously) slashes accross my chest and a cut throat, as well as blood running down my arms as slasher movie victims always get blood on their hands, always.
It was a great night, for a lot of Marks mate's the last time to catch up with everyone before they headed home for the summer break after finishing their various degrees.

The following Sunday we woke early and hauled arse to Brighton. Unfortunately though the trains were again delayed and I didn't make it in time for the play that Kathrin was in. I missed making it at intermission even by a skerrick! But we did make it to the windmill - a pub that holds a few memories for me - and managed a pint and a bite to eat before catching Kathrin after the show.

This is actually from the last time we headed down to Brighton to see one of Kathrin's plays but you get the gist of the pub...
After a few more beers and catching p - it's been months since I've made it down that way we headed back to Kathrin's for some silliness and sleep.

So after an eventful weekend Monday rocked around, unwelcome but unstoppable too and I headed to London for a two day course on Humanitarian Responses in times of disaster. It was really interesting, moving an emotionally draining. But well worth it and has given me a load of ideas and things to do for our own Care Team at work, which I am responsible for administering and coordinating.
That week seemed to fly by. As well as the course I had the chance to catch up with a good friend of mine while in London before she heads off to Thailand for the school holidays - oh to be a teacher and have that freedom! Still I doubt I could do it or have the patience it takes to be a good teacher. My talents may be many, but patience isn't one of my virtues.
The following weekend we took it quietly, much needed since the weeks prior had been pretty mad with Mark finishing his PG Dip. me returning from a trip home and settling into my new(ish) job.
So after another week of work where a payrise was confirmed (YAY!), tripping around the countryside to Exeter to chat with various people about my current work project, Mark off to London to see his Mum and me getting right into some exercise on my new rowing machine at last the weekend arrived again like a savious of sanity!
Rather than keeping it quiet again we took the oportunity to visit a friend of ours in Buckinghamshire/Bedfordshire and tag some wild geese in Tring. I met Jo through Mark as she studied on the same course. She's already a bird specialist and expert on neanderthal man, a really smart person and exceptionally nice. Her interest in birds has led her to have a pet parottlet called Widget. She's the sweetest li'l thing with such a personality and a liking for the rustling of plastic or jingling of keys.
Anyway on Sunday as planned we all travelled out to Roxton to tag/ring the wild barnicle geese. They're quite small and sweet looking things and reasonably easy to handle, although tagging Ostrich is a little easier - stick a sock on their heads and the stand still.

Herding the geese and getting them into the holding pen was surprisingly easy. I suppose being wild they weren't too keen on humans getting to close so we simply walked to the end of the lake while others in canoes paddled in a line in the same direction until the geese got to the other end, waddled out of the lake and into the pen. Apparently Barnicle geese shed all their feathers at the same time and around the same time of year, so they hadn't grown in their flight feathers leaving them near flightless and therfore trapped in the craftily assembled holding area. We also inadvertantly tapped a Canadian goose so not to waste an oportunity she got tagged too.

After that it was just a matter of reaching in, grabbing one by the neck(!) pulling it out whilst hastily trying to get a hold under its belly, or by the legs and taking it over to where they were putting rings on their legs.



As you can see from our expressions, it was a lot easier to write about than to actually do!

After they'd had a coloured ring and a metal ring put on each foot (which I am reliably told is no more inhibiting than wearing a watch or bangle) it was one more trip in the arms of the enemy and back to the lake.





Releasing th geese back to the lake and the rest of the flock would've had to have been the best thing about the whole process. Life should be free and unfettered!

While we were there for the weekend, Jo tentatively invited us both on a dig next Easter - in MOROCCO! They need people to drive two landrovers there and as both of us have expereince on road trips (me across Aus, and Mark all over the place) they've asked us if we'd consider. I'm trying not to get too excited as I have to clear 5 weeks leave with work, and we still have to meet the guy who's running it for an informal interview. But it's hard not to - I'd love to go to Morocco, and to work on a neanderthal dig would be amazing.

So now that's pretty much all my news. Life slips along easily for the both of us and although there's precious little sunshine at the moment and awhole lot of rain we're enjoying the summer.

Dyed my hair red today. I quite like it... might have to keep this colour for a while. Will blog more later.

Well it's the end of another busy, but rewarding week. Not sure that I blogged this in my last entry, but Mark got his results for his P.G Dip and received a distinction for his efforts - WELL DONE I say!

Work has been really good. I was supposed to head to Plymouth for a Customer Panel meeting on Thursday and Friday, but ended up not going which turned out to be much better. It gave me some time to put my week in order and start some serious work on the various projects I have been given.

My boss has decided to give me some tuition in Civil Litigation and I'll be going on a course sometime in the next couple of months to supplement the stuff I have already begun to learn about personal injury claims etc. I know it probably sounds pretty boring to most, but I find it really interesting and am enjoying putting my brain to work on something new.

I have also been getting involved in the administration of our website and intranet and have a load of stuff planned to do it respect of that over the next months.

Aside from the above I haven't been up to much. Think I blogged already about the fancy dress party, my trip to Brighton and training in London. If not I will next time....maybe.

Summer Solstice at Avebury Stone Circle - oh what a night! Fantastic. I managed to get today off work as time in lieu - I've been pretty busy of late and working extended hours so it's been a godsend to have a random day off.

We headed out to Avebury last night with our friends, camping gear and a sense of reverence and fun - ready to celebrate the summer solstice with the rest of the hippies, crusties and druids. Once alighting from the bus we were enveloped by a crowd of bikers, hippies and the od speckling of druids, 'fairies'and green men.

First stop, as per usual, was the pub. Quite conveniently right where the bus stopped. The Red Lion is the main (if not only) pub in Avebury (a small village surrounded by standing stones, not that dis-similar from Stonehenge)and is 'one of the most haunted pubs in Wiltshire'. There's a well in the front room where it's said at least one of the villagers from times long gone has met their demise. Apparently a woman by the name of Florie found herself in the arms of another while her husband was away for some months. On his return he found her in bed with this other man and in a fit of rage he killed her and dumped her body in the well which is now inside the pub and serves as a table with a glass top. The well is 83ft deep and even if she wasn't dead but just unconscious when thrown to her resting place she would've been no more when she got to the bottom. So now the ghost of Florie inhabits the Red Lion where she tampers with the beards of men who dare enter for a pint. It's said that her righteous husband had a beard (although the artists interpretation of the story by the well shows a man with a tach.) and this is why she particularly picks on the bearded among us.
From there we went and found a camp site - conveniently a short walk from the main stone circle - and pitched tents, or rather, watched the boys pitch the tents while we stood back with beers and words of encouragement!
It was still light until about 10pm and the sky stayed lovely and clear. I'm always enchanted by the sky, both here and at home in Aus, but here it seems much more crowded with stars. The cloudiness of the milky way was right above us scattered like fairy dust across the deep midnight blue of the heavenly vault. I can pick out Orion's Belt (which is the saucepan at home, but upside down/right way up) aside from that though I view with ignorance and wonder like someone from ancient times who saw the gods play and the turning of time acted out for them on a nightly basis. It's lovely when you get into the countryside, away from the large towns to be able to see the stars so clearly.
The camp site was full, but not too crowded. People from all parts of the country and walks of life wandered around wishing all a happy summer solstice, small groups of people sat around fires drumming, singing and drinking/smoking and a druid sat not far purveying the festivities with watchful eyes.
After relaxing, talking, drinking and passing around the od smoke Mark and I decided to head off for a walk around the area and to check out what was going on in the circles. There were cops everywhere but everyone was friendly and smiling, the cops were helpful rather than prescriptive and it was quite a peaceful and safe atmosphere. We made our way towards the avenue, which in turn takes you to the other end of site - the sanctuary - but as we neared our turning we were drawn the other way towards the sound of drumming. We climbed the bank which surrounds the main circle and sat watching the celebrations taking place inside the stones. A group of drummers kept the fire twirlers, glowing poi and jugglers in time and the spectacle was much like watching a firework in slow motion. When the drummers finished their set in the circle another group would take up where they left off, replying to the central group and encouraging them to continue.
After sitting for a while and quietly bopping to the drums Mark headed off to the 'inner circle' (a smaller circle of stone placed inside the larger stoned outside ring). Meaning to catch up with him there after a few more minutes of watching I remained there, mesmerised by the light show and the drums. How wonderful is it to have so many from differing backgrounds and areas come together to celebrate being alive, the gift of sunlight and the growth of crops planted in the spring - to give thanks for what is on a daily basis quite often taken for granted, and to revel in the wonderful freedom and energy of all this with your fellow beings.
After contemplating this for a while, I too made my way down the embankment towards the stones and into the clusters of revelers to be surrounded by the swirls of fire, undulating dancers, the rhythmic beating from the drummers and the haunting sounds of pipes. There were people everywhere either dancing to the music or lying quietly (I almost stood on one or two) contemplating the longest day, the festivities or maybe just taking store of the year past and making prayers for time ahead.
I wandered about taking it all in and then back up to the top of the embankment to see it from that perspective again. Whilst sat there I had the urge to write again - something I haven't done for a few months now aside from this blog. My short stories seem to have dried up and my inspiration quashed by other commitments. But I wrote without thinking and it seemed I was talking to a higher me. One that wasn't chastising me for not doing this or that, rather encouraging and inspiring me to take up my pen (or keyboard) again and continue on to follow my dreams... Not only in that area of my life, but others too. Being able to create is one of our greatest gifts and it's a shame not to use it.
After sitting there for however long I made my way to the inner circle and after a while realised there was no more chance of finding Mark there than there is of a needle in a haystack, so I headed back to base camp, pretty sure that the others would have stopped their dithering and made the way towards the drumming too. I was looking forward to a recoup and rest before the sunrise when everything would kick off again, with more rituals, drumming and celebration.
When I got there I found Mark at our tent and the others still sorting themselves out to go! It is lovely going somewhere like this with a group of mates, but so frustrating trying to decide things as a group - I'm so glad I hadn't waited for them to get themselves sorted! After deciding a meeting place for all they headed off the way we had come. Mark and I sat and chatted, played light sabers with the torches and hung out. Realising that we had no papers though Mark valiantly got up and wandered about the camp site to find some. He returned not only with papers but with some fantastic chocolate/guarana balls which were delicious and perked us both up a bit.
His feet getting itchy again Mark headed back to the circle for a while and I fell asleep watching the stars. Just before dawn the temperature really dropped and then my alarm went off and a little boys voice rang through the camp site telling us to wake up and see the beautiful rainbow formed over the fields. I simply snuggled deeper into my sleeping bag, dreaming of the beautiful rainbow we'd been told about.

It was great to get back home and spend some time with friends and family, but it went so damn quick - plus I forgot to take a camera so my blog will have to wait a while before I get the disposable developed along with my films from the last few months actually... Should get that done.
My stop over in Bangkok was good - definitely gonna do that again. Bought some things for friends and something to wear for the wedding. I got told off by this Thai woman at a stall for not buying a necklace after I said I would, I looked in my purse and decided I should buy dinner instead. She shook her finger at me and said 'You bad woman, I already have in bag, you say you buy, you bad woman...Where you from?!' To which I said 'I'm really sorry, can't get it' and walked off.
I landed on Tuesday night last week - the 23rd I think it was. I always seem to travel around the twentieth of the month, strange that. Julianne picked me up from the airport with her new bloke. Nice guy and really big-like a giant with a beard. Stayed there on Tuesday night and caught up with the summah dog too. She slept on my bed which was lovely - kept me warm it was cold back in Melbourne - brrr.
On Wednesday I caught up with Toby at his new place. It was kind of disconcerting being back for the first few days. Everything feels more different each time I go back, and I guess I've changed a little too. Anyway was good to see Tobe, play some pool which both of us are pretty crap at, unless Toby was playing at my skill level...hmmm Stayed up all night drinking rum (yum) and caught a tram home in the morning. That's definitely one thing I love about Melbourne - trams. Better than the ones in Amsterdam too.
On Thursday Julianne had the day off so we headed out to the huge Savers in Sydney Road (think it's Sydney Road) and played dress ups with the clothes. They had this wicked long white space vest/martian outfit there with loads of sparkly bits on it which was way fun and some cool sixties kinda sandly shoes which I got to strut around in for the whole of our 'browse'. Bought a hat and had the yummiest souvalaki, if only they really knew how to make them here. They are so damn good!
On Thursday night I headed out to catch up with Jen. As I left the train station I was walking down the road texting for directions and walked straight into a bike rack, bent right over it, 'cause the top part of me with my back pack kept going and the bounced upright again. Didn't hurt anything but my pride when some guy came up really concerned to ask if I was OK. I walked off muttering to myself so I possibly looked a bit od.
We got hennaed and hammered for Jen's hen's night. Was a good laugh and at her friends place who is also really nice. Jen attracts the loveliest of people, she's got such light about her. It was great to catch up and have a laugh before the 'seriousness' of the last days before The Wedding - Which was absolutely gorgeous and a lot of fun.
Jen arrived first and then the guests came. The hall was bedecked with gold and red, coloured flags and a small stage was adorned with a gold mendap in which sat two gold chairs, one which held a very regal and serene looking Jen. Personally I would've been packing it. As things started to settle a bit Craig arrived and after a little prompt from the celebrant all the kids and women rushed to the door where he paid us all in the finest currency know to man - chocolate coins. Craig was escorted to where Jen sat and a hush came over the room as the celebrant did her thang. Seven of Jen and Craig's friends got up and formed a horse shoe kind of shape and the be gilded and jeweled couple in their gorgeous clothes walked the seven steps of marriage, Jen receiving a flower for her bouquet each time and finally at the last step a garland to place around their necks. As they sat down they were exchanged as a sign of something. After the vows an all 5 or so Indian dancers turned up on the dance floor and started getting on down Indian style, and then a few of the guests learnt a few dance moves to ad to their repartee.
After that, or even while that was going on people got up and were mingling and topping up drinks. Em and Aaron were there along with a friend of mine from Primary and Secondary school that I haven't seen for something mad like 11 years. I also met some other great people and drank possibly too much. Still I managed to keep my kit on and not feed the plants and whatever wildlife is around.
Speeches made me cry, but then I cry at lots now days, blood diamond made me weep like a baby as did that track Starry Night a few days ago. I'm getting soft!
I hitched a lift to Warragul with Em and Aaron the next day after a pit stop brunch at Craig's family's. It's always great to see Aaron and Marie, all be it a little strange to be going back to the same place I did the most of my growing up. Every nook and cranny have a number of memories attached to them - like walking into the front room and seeing myself in my minds eye singing to Def Leopard into a hairbrush, or making up 'water dances' to Kylie Minogue in the swimming pool. Mind you Melbourne is a bit like that too, although I didn't often walk down the streets singing cock rock into a hairbrush, drive definitely, but not walking. It's very much Aaron's and Marie's now though with all the work they've done! Every time I turn up something new is going on, just finished and about to take place. It looks fantastic. They're kicking goals as Aaron would say and both seem happy with the way things are going which is brilliant. Kerry came around for dinner on Sunday night and she's doing well for herself now too, happiness all round for everyone!

The Gul


Aaron took they day off on Monday so we hung out a bit and I had the chance to go through my stuff, pack what I could and drop a few boxes at Jen's. I did get to take my CD collection with me this time although it made up the majority of my weight allocation on the plane. Cook books come next time!
On Tuesday morning I headed back to Preston and caught up with Toby and Briony that evening. We went to the Tote where we met up with Briony, what a trip seeing Bri again! But a good one, some mates don't change and you don't change with them either, Toby and Briony are like that, or maybe we change in the same direction? Who knows. When the Tote close we headed into town to Showgirls Bar 20. I dunno how many Tequila shots we did, and I don't even like Tequila. Those dancing girls are damn toned, but I suppose spending 8 hours a day would make you pretty fit. We chatted to a few and one was going to accept a fiver as part payment to a dance for me, but I didn't like her underwear and had a different girl dance for me - nice black lingerie - not that they keep in on long. I asked her if she'd 'dance' for me - sounds so porn - but no crotch gyrating, touching my boobs, in fact I just don't like being touched. She was cool with that and asked if I wanted a private room or just there in the main room. I said I didn't care so she took us all to a private room so people didn't ogle. Makes no sense to me, it's a tittie bar, that's what you're supposed to do isn't it - Ogle? Anyway, $50 for three songs for all three of us. She whipped her gear off pretty quick and I learnt some interesting things, like I can't focus on a tit about 3mm from my face, but 5cm away and sight is fine, they don't dance to the music, also no arse slapping, I did ask first, and they can touch you but not vice verse. Toby reckons she put her nipple in his mouth, I dunno, jury's still out for me on that one.
When she'd done and we sat out in the big room again the stripper from the beginning of our 'stay' came over and said she'd bee really nice, talking too me and whatever so why hadn't I chosen her for a dance, blah blah, blah. So I said, 'Ahh, I've had enough of this you're like that woman in Thailand "You bad lady, you don't buy" I can't be bothered, I just didn't want to alright?' so she turned around and started crying. Very strange, but anyway, we moved seats and watched the girls from a different angle.

I feel like dancin'


When the cash ran dry we headed off into the night. Next day I caught up with a friend of mine who's recently been inducted into Police-dom. He seems pretty happy with the change but in true Leo style is looking for his next challenge. I think I was still pissed from the night before so had a beer with my breakfast - postpone the hangover an' all. I got some souvenirs and walked about with Tony for most of the day then jumped on a tram again back to Julianne's.
Thursday rocked around and all too soon it was time to jump on a plane again. It's always good to get home again though and seeing the lovely Mark when I knocked on the door was worth however many hours it took to get there... ahh, in 'at sweet?

Well, so far so good - I caught my plane without hassle and am now sitting in the warm humid climate that is Thailand! I so love this place, I have only been here for about 3 hours and it's still early morning and things are just beginning to wake up.Memories of my last time here keep popping up randomly in my minds eye and I have half a mind to jump on a train or buss to the countryside and disappear for a while. Reason must reign tho and I'll have to make sure I catch that plane on Tuesday morning.
Life has been really good and busy of late which is why it's been a while since my last blog. I've changed jobs (again) to that of Customer Services Executive with First Great Western - the train company for the area of England where I live. I've been in my new role for a total of 2 weeks so far and am really enjoying it and all that I am learning. My boss is a friendly Welsh man and I also work closely with a Welsh woman - Lesley, who is also lovely! I can tell that it's going to be a lot of hard work but also immensely rewarding, and I am more than up for the challenge. I have finally made a step forward career wise and plan to make the most of it!

As it's still so early I am starting to feel a little delirious from lack of sleep so I'll sign off... just one last thing though - I'm soo looking forward to catching up with everyone back in Melbournous! Hope everyone is alive and kicking along spectacularly.

As promised, some pictures...


My darling Dad, Ann and me!


Davey and Kathleen, this is the couple responsible for the flat where Dad and Ann stayed whilst in Ireland, lovely, lovely people with big hearts!


The guy who showed us how to make Brandy Balls. A fun morning with a funny & sweet Irish guy! If ever in Belfast, check out Aunty Sandra's Candy Store.
An example of some of the art work/murals around Belfast, a prod one (I think)



Another example - from the Catholic part I think.

And me at an IRA shrine to those who died for 'The Cause.'