I thought its about time that I updated my blog so everyone knows what I have been up to. Besides that I got my butt kicked by Miss Merril in an email that it needed updating and since she scares the crap out of me I think that is enough incentive to get a move on.

OK starting on the work front I still haven't found anything permanently so am doing temp work doing office admin. I finished up at Westfield awhile ago now and then went to work at a building site in the office. The office was at the top of three storeys so managed to get in a bit of exercise getting up and down the stairs on a regular basis.

Next I have worked at a building surveyors - they are in the West end which is part of the ritzy side of town eg Notting Hill, Mayfair etc and some of the places are not small so you can imagine the cost of them - boggles the mind!! I am still working there and will be there until 2 October.

Things I have done since I have been in London:

• Went and saw Prince in concert - was fantastic! He is a great performer and engages with the crowd quite a lot.
• Had a long weekend up in the Lakes District and Liverpool. Was very lovely and relaxing and met a lot of nice people on the tour. Went bicycling around Lake Wyndamere, visited the exhibit for Beatrix Potter, drank some bloody awful beer and soaked up the sights. The traveled down to Liverpool and saw some Beatles stuff.
  
• I went to a couple of west end plays - one was the Vegemite Tales (obviously Australian and it was not acted very well if you ask me but a good night out anyway) and also saw The complete works of Shakespeare (a comedy that tries to encompass all Shakespeare's works in 90 minutes). It was very funny and it was good to view.
• I went to the Tate Gallery which is the holy grail for all modern art in London and had a great time. It was a very nice change to all the religious art I had previously been subjected to.
• Have wandered around extensively in central London including Covent Garden and Carnaby Street and those sort of places that you hear about.
• Had a weekend away at some of the friends I made on the middle east tour. A great time
  was had by all.

Now for the living arrangements. I found a room to rent in a three bedroom place with two Chinese Australian girls in South East London in the Docklands area. They had rules etc but nothing I couldn't live with then the other day I happened to ask could some friends who may be visiting London for about a week at the end of November and could they use the blow up mattress one of them owns when they arrive. I didn't think anything about them staying but I wanted to check that it was OK about the mattress more than anything since both of them had a friend each stay since I moved in and it hadn't worried me. The answer I got back was no worries about the mattress but only one person could stay and they had to stay in my room - my friends are a married couple so its a bit redundant really. I objected to this and said my piece but the next night they sat me down and gave me two weeks notice to vacate the flat. The whole 'what the....' experience kicked in and knocked me for six since I couldn't understand what the big deal was anyway. Apparently they don't like anyone disagreeing with them so consequently I am out on my ass and was in a pickle deciding what I was going to do. Soooooo the new plan is this.....

I haven't found any permanent work and the temp work I have on the boil finishes 2 October. From there I had already planned to go to Dublin for a long weekend but now I am just not going to be coming back and am going to join a ten day tour going around Ireland. From there I will make my way back to the UK and I plan to see at least Scotland, Wales and around Cornwall area (for some reason I want to see Lands End - don't ask me why because I can't explain it). From there I will be buying a ticket to somewhere in Spain and going to backpack around Spain and Portugal. I have to be back in London around 15 December because I fly back to Oz on 17 December for good.

Yep I thought hard and figured I am not going to send myself broke and not be happy with my situation over here just to travel so I am going to ditch working over here altogether and travel then head back to Oz to be there by Christmas then veg out all January and be back at work at the end of January (I think my leave runs out 30 January).

For the record I figure once I am back at work I am going to purchase four weeks leave a year and with that and annual leave and long service leave I am going to try to travel at least six weeks a year. I realise that this a complete 180 on what I was previously thinking but in this instance I am figure its stupid to send myself broke just to live in London and only occasionally travel. Since I haven't ever thought I would be here for years now seems to be the time to make a move rather than later - especially since I have a mortgage back home.

So this will see who still checks my blog or not because I imagine that this may generate a few emails of 'what the...'.

Bye for now.
Toni
xxoo