UK trip, first week and return
Aug. 11th, 2012 08:14 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ayngelcatRecently, I went on a trip to the UK. I got back this week, had one day to recover before work, decided at the last moment I'd write a fic for ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
robotbigbang and spent the last few days either working, writing, or tired as all hell! But the first draft of the fic got posted. It was a nice distraction which eliminated (mostly) the depression of being back. I made it to the weekend!
I try and go to the UK about once a year. I love it there. It is still my home. This trip was timed to culminate in AA - but I went other places first. I'll post photos etc in stages. Including AA ones of course!
The first week was spent in the south of England, where I grew up. I was in Devon for a few days, at a family party. There were over 30 family members there - none of whom I ever see normally, all of whom I get on with really well. My uncles had all his muso friends there too and had rigged up a stage in a field where everyone camped as well as partying. It was awesome - even if I was a bit hazy from the jetlag.
Then next I stayed with my two youngest brothers near Reading. I was poorly by then as had picked up an infection somewhere down the line but they looked after me well and took me to wait for ages at the local hospital (NHS not changed, slow but still FREE!) Antibiotics fixed things almost straight away.
The next night I stayed in this hotel I used to go to parties at when I was about 8 years old (a classmate lived there). By now I was sooo - appreciating the English countryside. There has been much rain this year - a pain for some, I know, but the country looks magnificent. It always is, after the parchedness of Australia, but this time it seemed super-lush. I had dinner with an old school friend that night who I usually see if I can and do reminiscing type stuff, find out what everyone's up to etc. Again, something I never get to do in Australia.
After that I had a night in London - one of only two nights in London this time. London was very busy because of the Olympics. Attendance at that did not include me - I had tried to get tickets but got ripped off my a fake website, for which I cursed myself for being so gullible (I really should have known.) The trip was so good though, that I did not devote time to being pissed off about this. And I was pleased for the cousins I stayed with in London, who DID go to the athletics, and said this was awesome.
By the end of the first week I was in Dover, this time with a friend from days when I was a nurse (yes, I've had a few career changes over the years). We drove around, chatted in cafes and over dinner, watched the Olympics opening ceremony (awesome!) and went to a wildlife park which has been created in the grounds of a former 'stately home' and where they now breed endangered species etc. It was cool. We were taken around Jurassic Park style in trucks, and animals in large and open enclosures were 'pointed out.' I wondered: 'when do we get to the T.Rex compound?' We never did, but there were some great exotic big wild felines, cool gorillas and rhinos.
Anyway, that was stage 1, and below are my favourite photos from that first week. None of them are doing anything to deter me from wanting to go and live back in the UK - at least part the time :-)
robotbigbang and spent the last few days either working, writing, or tired as all hell! But the first draft of the fic got posted. It was a nice distraction which eliminated (mostly) the depression of being back. I made it to the weekend!I try and go to the UK about once a year. I love it there. It is still my home. This trip was timed to culminate in AA - but I went other places first. I'll post photos etc in stages. Including AA ones of course!
The first week was spent in the south of England, where I grew up. I was in Devon for a few days, at a family party. There were over 30 family members there - none of whom I ever see normally, all of whom I get on with really well. My uncles had all his muso friends there too and had rigged up a stage in a field where everyone camped as well as partying. It was awesome - even if I was a bit hazy from the jetlag.
Then next I stayed with my two youngest brothers near Reading. I was poorly by then as had picked up an infection somewhere down the line but they looked after me well and took me to wait for ages at the local hospital (NHS not changed, slow but still FREE!) Antibiotics fixed things almost straight away.
The next night I stayed in this hotel I used to go to parties at when I was about 8 years old (a classmate lived there). By now I was sooo - appreciating the English countryside. There has been much rain this year - a pain for some, I know, but the country looks magnificent. It always is, after the parchedness of Australia, but this time it seemed super-lush. I had dinner with an old school friend that night who I usually see if I can and do reminiscing type stuff, find out what everyone's up to etc. Again, something I never get to do in Australia.
After that I had a night in London - one of only two nights in London this time. London was very busy because of the Olympics. Attendance at that did not include me - I had tried to get tickets but got ripped off my a fake website, for which I cursed myself for being so gullible (I really should have known.) The trip was so good though, that I did not devote time to being pissed off about this. And I was pleased for the cousins I stayed with in London, who DID go to the athletics, and said this was awesome.
By the end of the first week I was in Dover, this time with a friend from days when I was a nurse (yes, I've had a few career changes over the years). We drove around, chatted in cafes and over dinner, watched the Olympics opening ceremony (awesome!) and went to a wildlife park which has been created in the grounds of a former 'stately home' and where they now breed endangered species etc. It was cool. We were taken around Jurassic Park style in trucks, and animals in large and open enclosures were 'pointed out.' I wondered: 'when do we get to the T.Rex compound?' We never did, but there were some great exotic big wild felines, cool gorillas and rhinos.
Anyway, that was stage 1, and below are my favourite photos from that first week. None of them are doing anything to deter me from wanting to go and live back in the UK - at least part the time :-)
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no subject
Date: 2012-08-11 03:54 pm (UTC);A;
Aaaah, I love English flora, and these places look magnificent! *in awe*
*hugs tight*
I'm very happy for you feeling at home, for meeting family and having such a good time.
<3
no subject
Date: 2012-08-11 04:12 pm (UTC)I am looking forward to seeing it all in winter - as I have not seen a UK winter for about 12 years! It is a different sort of beauty.
And hopefully I will see you again in January too? That would be so awesome, if something can be arranged. It looks as if I will be in UK from between Xmas and new Year to mid Jan - tho the plan is to take off to Germany toward the end.
Hope all goes well for you :-)
no subject
Date: 2012-08-11 04:39 pm (UTC)Heh, I understand that sensation.
Oooh... really? I need to see it too. I've only been to bb during early December, though. Hmmm. Gotta do that again. 8D
Ah, I'd love to, believe me. I need to plan a bit, so I get tickets. And, I gotta talk to Dancer about it, see if she's up to either come visiting me in December or if I make two trips, one for Dec. and one during January. *nodnod*
If the logistics work out, I'd love to meet. <3
Oh, Germany! Gonna say hi to Naboru? <3
no subject
Date: 2012-08-12 03:20 am (UTC)I can tell you it looks like I will be in England from about 1-10 Jan, and in the south. I need to fit in rellies etc, but this can be a rough guide!Oh I do hope we can organize something!
The plan is certainly to visit Naboru for a few days, yes.
no subject
Date: 2012-08-12 08:38 am (UTC)Damn right. *snickers* Me, I only have one person to please, so it never becomes difficult, but several... o.o; Kudos, gal.
All right, that's a rough, but good pin-point. I'll sit down in a bit and talk to Hannah. I'd love to meet <3 !! And, see if we can drag Kitty along. Of course, anyone else who'd like to is so very welcome. First things first, though.
Logistics. Your planning. My planning. More logistics. XDDD
no subject
Date: 2012-08-12 06:14 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-08-13 03:51 am (UTC)