I’ve been meaning to catch up with everything that has been going on- but it has been nigh-on-impossible to get just a few hours to the laptop to do this. I’m going to keep it as brief as I can as there has been so much going on & I just really want to get this up to speed… My last note was from the end of June & a quarter of the year has gone by now…
JULY: Bodra & I did a little mini-course on ‘The Art of Dreaming’ at the College of Psychic Studies. We wanted to learn techniques for Lucid Dreaming, which this course went into but we are yet to achieve a Lucid Dream.
Alanna & Russell arrived in Reading on July 1st, especially for the Anitiworld Festival the following weekend. They dossed with us for the first couple months & now they are living in Aldgate with a couple friends- Matt & Claire.
The Antiworld Festival was my first UK Festival. I was a bit hesitant about going as I didn’t really know most of the music that would be there- but when I realised that we had quite a decent sized tribe going (friends from Oz & USA turning up for it too) I decided it’d be silly to miss out on a weekend of hanging out with friends. We made the mission to Rushmoor Arena, Aldershot via walking, trains & a taxi, carrying our gigantic packs, tents & food supplies. No hassles getting into the festival- really nice grounds to camp in (disregarding the stones that kept blocking our tent pegs). Sufficient portaloos that appeared to be being cleaned quite regularly… loads of stalls set up with food for all tastes & selling festival trinkets too… the music wasn’t too far away & the quality of sound although a little on the quiet side wasn’t too bad…
Alas- due to lack of numbers & a Health & Safety issue, the Festival ended almost as soon as it started. The people dealing to the portaloos were emptying the waste on site & apparently it got into the water supply. Security also left the site early on Saturday night as they realised they weren’t going to be paid… the music was shut down at a couple stages as DJ’s didn’t show… we enjoyed Simon Posford, had a good laugh at Infected Mushroom, danced with our friends & got some sunshine on us… can’t complain TOO much really. Kimmy got up on stage & had a dance with some fairy-fied ladies & a snake…
We moved to our new apartment the following weekend, with the help of Alanna, Russell, Ezra, Dewi & her friend. Our new place is really cool- it is in an apartment block called The Observatory which is built in a cylindrical shape so the external walls are curved. There is more room here & a decent sized bath too. We’re now in Western Reading & we have an off-licence just across the road & two pubs within walking decent- one aptly named West Side & the other more traditional pub named The Rose & Thistle.
The following weekend we went to the Toast Festival with Chantal & Paul. It’s basically a weekend celebrating NZ & Oz culture, foods & beverages at the Fulham Palace. I expected it to be inside but it was outdoors instead & of course it rained. We were all merry with our Mac’s Ales & Monteiths Summer Ale dancing & singing to The BlackSeeds. The skies opened up a few times & plastic ponchos were handed out. We got quite drenched.
Next Wednesday evening, Wendy arrived at Heathrow & was kept in the holding room & questioned for five hours as she had a one-way ticket… I think she has used up all her holiday working visa type stuff so the immigration people were a bit sketched about what she was doing back in the UK.
SEPTEMBER: (We saw Wendy yesterday whilst Bodra & I were in Edinburgh for the Scotland vs All Blacks game- we caught a coach at 1:45am on Saturday night & got to Murrayfields stadium at 10:30am Sunday morning, then straight after the game we got back on the bus back to Reading. In bed before 4am this morning- MISSION!! We met up with Wendy for a mighty-fine Sunday breakfast of Vegetarian Haggis, vege-sausies, fried eggs, hash brown, soda bread, mushrooms & tomatoes. Oh, & Guinness (yuk!). Then Wendy found me my Caramoo-Coo & a yummy hot chocolate which Bodra & I both spilt all over ourselves. We met up with Paul & Rachael then wandered over to Murrayfields. I fell asleep a few times during the game, there was nothing fantastic about my first experience of an All Blacks game- I still have the French supporters stupid White-Stripes-bass-line-chant stuck in my head. But still, it is fun doing the mission.
AB vs Scotland Edinburgh September 23rd
Sounds like it was a weekend for missions, going by Alanna & Russells perspective. They went to a Squatters Party to see Hydraglyph at an Underground rave, but got there 10 minutes after the police had broken it up. They weren’t so disappointed as they got talking to a guy who was a DJ & one of the organisers for the party, & got in a cab with him to the new venue which was under a motor-way bridge. Their driver missed the turn-off so ended up letting them out on the motorway. They had to climb over the railing & walk down to the fence, then clamber over big piles of rubbish to get to the spot. The party wasn’t even set up as the organisers were awaiting bolt cutters & a generator… so Alanna & Russell ended up leaving the party & waiting at a BP cafe until the buses started running again. A nice night out communing with the cold & patience!)
Anyway- bit of a diversion- back to July! Actually, maybe August, nothing much else happened that month…
AUGUST: 1st of August we had a ladies day playing poker which was heaps of fun- Alanna, Kim, Lisa, Jo, Dawn & I. Dawn made these yummy chocolate & pecan crispy treats for us & JO & Lisa kept plying us with G&T & Spritzers! I don’t think my level of understanding poker has increased but I definitely appreciate it’s entertainment now!
On the following Saturday Bodra & I did an epic 10 mile walk from Bourne End to Windsor. The landscape was really varied & we had a perfect day for it. We mostly walked alongside the River Thames & the Jubilee River; covering- Bourne End, Cock Marsh, Cookham Reach, the churchyard of Holy Trinity Church where Stanley Spencer is buried, Churchgate & it’s pretty 17th & 18th century cottages, the 14th century Bel & The Dragon pub with wattle & daub walls, Cliveden Estate, Boulter’s Lock, Maidenhead, Bray, wetlands, stopping for a yummy sandwich at the Pineapple Pub, Eton Wick & finally Windsor… we picked up some fudge in Windsor then headed home for much needed leg rest.
The next day I went for a horse ride with Petra & her friend Misha at Windsor Park. I rode a horse named Courage who was pretty well-behaved. As I am not very experienced I had a guide all to myself whilst Petra went with more expert riders. I didn’t mind so much as I was mostly there for the horse. It was a lovely experience but my posterior was quite numb at the end of the day. My guide was kicked off her horse which was a bit scary- her horse just started acting strangely doing all this funny foot movement until he started rearing & bucking. She landed on her feet but decided not to hop on again & just walked her horse.
The second weekend of August, Chantal, Kim, Bodra & I drove out to the Lake District for a spontaneous weekend of hiking. We left Reading around 6am on Saturday morning & covered the 250miles plus by around 10am. Our first walk was Ashness Bridge which had some amazing views of Borrowdale, Derwentwater Lake & Keswick. It was quite drizzly so our rainjackets came in handy. We had a good wander, spotting sheep & dodging poo, mostly following the road to the tiny hamlet of Watendlath where we stopped at a tea-room on the farm for some yummy scones & jam, hot chocolate & some duck feed.
A View of Derwent Water
Another view of Derwent Water
Watendlath
As we were driving to our accommodation for the next two nights, we stopped by the side of the road where there was this massive pile of slate, more like a mountain range of slate…
Slate Land
We camped at Syke Farm in Buttermere Village. The camping ground was more like a hilly paddock for Goats & Sheep but it had good facilities. After putting our tent up we walked over to Buttermere Lake & skimmed some stones. We had dinner at the Bridge Inn or Fish Hotel… the one closer to the camping ground. On Sunday we did our big fell-walk: the Haystacks. Haystacks is just under 2000 feet high & one of Alfred Wainwright’s favourite fell-walks, apparently his ashes were released there. We started off walking across flat fields to Peggy’s Bridge, then began our ascent up a fell. The rain came then & didn’t really stop until we were nearly at the end of the walk. Up through Scarth Gap then continuing upwards & onwards, using Cairns (a heap of stones) & Tarns (a small mountain lake) as our landmarks; like Innominate Tarn, drolly named by Alfred Wainwright. The view from the top was largely obscured with rain clouds, but we were very proud of our achievement & relieved to head down.
Conquering the Haystacks Part 1
Conquering the Haystacks Part 2
On Monday (after a night of trying a few too many liquers like yummy Glayva- ending with disgusting Laphroaig Whisky) we decided to try the Cat Bells. Bodra drove us through the windy narrow one lane roads & found our parking spot. Then we found the path & began walking. We already could appreciate the view & my tired legs started telling me to stop so we didn’t get the summit of Cats Bells. Our walk back to the car was through a forest & then along a lake edge which was really quite pretty.
View from Cats Bells track
We missioned to Wasdale Head for lunch at the Inn- Kim had some Weasel Piss Cider & I don’t remember thinking much about my ale. Then the drive home.
The next weekend we walked from Bourne End to Marlow, a minimal 5 miles. A few old friends from high school joined Bodra, Kim & I which was cool- Ela Antoszewska & Katie Philpott with their partners Gary & Gareth. The walk wasn’t particulary stunning at all, the woodlands in Bisham Woods felt dank & scummy as they’re quite close to the highway. We crossed a suspension bridge into the historic town of Marlow, viewing the church, river & weir. I’d like to visit Marlow again- it seems like a posh sort-of area.
On Tuesday we went to another Tool concert at the Brixton Academy. I guess I have seen this concert too many times now as I quickly began to feel quite cynical about their intentions as their performance was the same as previous concerts, moment-for-moment. There were heaps of people there too & I didn’t have a good position for viewing & the sound was awful. I ended up leaving after the third song. Until they put out a new album I won’t be seeing them again.
(Alanna & Russell moved out to Matt’s place in London, as Russell started working for Inspired Gaming Group in Tottenham Court. Alanna is now working for Penguin Publishing so they’re both well & truly settled into London life! It’s nice having our lounge back too- although now mum & dad are here…)
We saw ‘Eagle VS Shark’ on Friday 24th at the Covent Garden Odeon. We had a substantial group of friends with us- Cam, Nik, Rebecca, Kim, Ez, Marek & his friend. The movie was a good laugh but not brilliant. It was lovely as always seeing home on the big screen.
Over the Reading Festival weekend, Ez, Kim, Bodra & I decided to go for a drive out to the White Cliffs of Dover. We first stopped in Canterbury to check out the Cathedral which is absolutely magnificent. The cathedral gate is amazing- it has this creepy copper statue of a worried looking Jesus, & there are pigeon spikes all over him so he looks like he is into acupuncture perhaps. Inside the Cathedral there are loads of beautiful stained glass windows (some look like they are straight out of Disney animation) & serene chapels like Gabriels Chapel where I stopped for a wee thought & prayer… we had a yummy lunch at a Morrocan cafe… then onto the White Cliffs of Dover (Langdon Cliffs). We had a good walk along there in the wind, watching the big ferries come & go from the port.
Canterbury Cathedral
We stayed at a crappy Hostel ‘Hotel 92′ at New Romney- the base of Bodra’s bed was broken & the management weren’t particularly caring. But we had a yummy Indian dinner there at The Gandhi. We spent the night playing celebrity head.
On Sunday we missioned out to the historic town of Rye for a wee wander along the cobble-stone roads. I fell in love with Strawberry Ice Cream & Wheaten terriers.
Cobblestone paths of Rye
Then we went on to Leeds Castle which was quite expensive for a castle but it was so much more than that. On entry you walk through the Duckery where there are all different species of ducks, geese, swans, peacocks & other fowl. They are all quite tame & you could get quite close to them. We had a brisk walk through the castle but it wasn’t too interesting- we’ve seen plenty now.
Soon we found ourselves at the maze- Ezra was soon off on his own journey & then Bodra got too far ahead of us to find him. Kim & I relied on Bodra & Ezra to show us the way as they stood on-top of the rocky outcrop in the middle of the maze & could guide us from there. Below the rock outcrop sits an enchanting Grotto- we walked through a dimly-lit cavern whose walls had rock carvings & little fountains & mossy ferns.
Walking through the Grotto
Once out of the maze we had a look at the exotic birds in the aviaries- pretty sad looking enclosures, not much room to fly & just some rather dull looking perches to look at people through the wire mesh. The Falconry exhibit was next; we saw an African White-Backed Vulture named Lurch & an Augur Buzzard named Jack, as well as a Peregrine Falcon & an Owl.
Falconry show- Lurch the Buzzard
For dinner we missioned to Fulham for Hell Pizza & a taste of home, which for me wasn’t really worth the mission…
I had my last day working at Mirabeau Financial on the 31st August. I had a good time working for David Croft & was a little sad that I couldn’t contribute to building his business further. But hopefully there will be a more Jasmin-like job out there…
SEPTEMBER: Bodra did the Reading 020 10K run on September 2nd. There were over 1000 entrants & Bodra came 502nd place, in under an hour- 58:10. He was really pleased with himself & wasn’t in too much pain afterwards… Mum & Dad got on a plane to Dubai…
Starting the Race
Bodra passing the Finish line
I went out to Covent Garden on the 4th to go shoe-shopping with Alanna (YAY!). This is a really lovely place with quite a few unique shops. We had a nice lunch together in Neal’s Yard, an enclosure down one of the streets, where all the buildings are brightly painted & there is an abundance of vegetarian choices.
Mum & Dad turned up the next day & were really pleased to see me. They had an excellent time in Dubai & have inspired us to visit there one day. We had dinner of home made pie (store bought pastry though) & Bodra’s birthday cake & ice cream. Then the following day we began our Italian adventure! I will write about that upon my return from Ireland- or maybe Bodra will find some time to write instead…
I’ve just spent a good part of the morning inserting pics on this blog… but then the inevitable happens where mysteriously the page disappears & all that hard work vanishes with it… so pics will be put in once I get back from Ireland…
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