Big long update

Ok, so I guess I got kind of lazy with my updating, but I see that as a good thing - I have been having such a great time that I don't want to waste time fiddling around with computers.

I think what I must start with is the soccer which is nearly 3 weeks ago. Dad had mentioned to George I wanted to see a soccer match while I was in Dundee and it just so happened Dundee United (George's team) were playing a home game that saturday and his neighbour/fellow-season-ticket-holder was away. Dundee United had gained the nickname of The Arabs due to some incident many years ago to do with a planeload of sand and their football/soccer field. We went to this match and the battle ensued through the first half with neither side managing to convert their hardy efforts into points. Half time was over and the drunkard who usually sits next to George (he kindly offered me his seat and took his neighbour's) had decided to turn up. Some friendly banter between him and I followed until I noticed Dundee United had a corner kick. The kick was beautiful, flew through the air like a leaf on the wind and collided with an Arab's head to soar past the goalie into the net. 1-0 Dundee Utd. and as you with see in the video the crowd were ecstatic. The rest of the match followed scoreless to seal the victory, unfortunatly for me the vicotry was overshadowed by England beating Australia in the rugby so it wasn't all daisies and sunshine.

I met up with Darryl the following day and did some shopping/catching up. I bought myself a DVD, which dad will have to get for me when he goes over cause I left it in her handbag. The next day followed uneventful, bar an incident where neither George of Margaret could figure out how to either turn on their laptop or use a mouse. After a good nights sleep I departed for Leominster on train meanwhile discovering the beauty of a railcard- I saved myself £20 ($48) even considering the card cost me £20.

On the wednesday I took a trip up to Ludlow to see the castle and wander it's quaint little streets. Allegedly the lovliest town in England, it lived up to its reputation, but that isn't saying much considering I haven't travelled to many English towns.

Salisbury was the next destination and my first close call on the British rail system as I only realised it was my stop 20 seconds before the train departed. While visiting this nice town I visited their large cathedral and visited the very famour stone henge. I managed to interest myself for 1h30 at stone henge as they had a fancinating audio commentry facility. The previous night I had hit a few pubs with a Melbournian salesman and this night I stayed in an chatted with a 68 Londoner who was cycling down to somewhere in Europe who had a billion different stories to tell us.

London. I spent two nights here and amazingly managed to see none of the sites for the following reasons. I arrived around lunchtime and spent that afternoon doing general tasks that I needed to do. That night I went out with a Melbournian, Canadian, Perthian and an Englishman who turned out to be gay, hmm how did I guess this - he took us to two gay bars, the second of which had a cover charge which I payed before I knew it was a gay bar, but hey you can't win them all. The next day I moved over to a different hostel which I thought my 12 day tour took off from, but I will elaborate on that later. I immediatly hit the underground to go meet Marisca and amazing we got off the same train. We then proceeded to "The Chruch", which is a club filled with Aussies, New Zealanders and South Africans. It opens sometime in the morning and closes at 4pm so it is original in every sense of the word. You get three bottles at a time and they give it to you in plastic bags which most people tie to their pants for obvious reasons. I remember paying the cover charge then having Marisca say to me "Arvid did I tell you there is a stripper here". It was quite an experience and I would recommend it to any young people looking for a good time in London. We got some dinner then tried to find somewhere to see South Africa VS Argentina. Finally something went my way in the world cup and for those few who don't know South Africa won. I won't go into the ordeal I had checking into Earls court that night because what followed the next morning was much worse.

The next morning I got up early after a late night and was ready to go at 6:30am for what I thought was a 7:00am start. I thought to myself "Hmmm...isn't this odd that no one else for the tour is here and it's - what!? 7:10am". I was feeling rather distressed and decided to ring dad and see if he could shed any light on my conundrum. I eventually got onto the internet and relised that the site I booked on wasn't up to date and they had given me a different place to meet in the email they sent. I rang them up and was told to head for Oxford and they would meet me there. I got to Oxford, rang them up and turns out they had left an hour before I arrived - Hooray! I was then instucted that if I got myself up to York, that's where we were staying and all would be fine and dandy. I did so and met up with the tour group there. That night we had a "traditional" viking feast and then went on a ghost tour of York led by a hilarious and ominous guide.

The next day we visited places such as the angel of the north, a giant metal angelic statue, Hadrians wall, another cathedral (about the thousandth I have been since coming to Britain) and Newcastle. We arrived in Edinburgh where 4 of us were to break apart from the English roadtrip tour and be "whisked away" by Wild in Scotland tours. Apparently being whisked away involves walking to the train station heading to Sterling and waiting half an hour to be picked up, but this didn't really phase me. There were four fellow tourers already on the 16 seater bus along with our tour guide, James, and another person from the office coming along on her day off. That night we stayed in a real castle (not sterling castle) which was really great. Usually the castle costs £1700 pounds to hire out, but the owners and the Wild in Scotland owners know each other and get an amazing deal, considering is and is priced as a backpacker tour. The way dinner works is we have a kitty, which we pay at the start of the tour and our guide uses that for a lot of the expenses including dinner. We cook it ourselves and eat together (and drink together) which gives a great sense of community. That night was spaghetti bolognese, which goes very well with a hungry stomach

The next day we visited The Wallace Monument (again for me) and many other different sites in the vicinity. Everywhere we went James would tell us about historically and even some stories or myths. He was a master storyteller and had everyone captivated while telling them, but more importantly he was part of the group, he was extremely approachable, wouldn't lie about something he didn't know and stay up late with us all. That night we spent our last night in the castle and ate bangers and mash for dinner which I made a diane sauce for.

Ok so 1 day ending up being more like 10 and I don't even intend to properly update as I am too lazy. Anyway on the tour we went up into the highlands and Wild in Scotland was totally amazing. We then had a couple of days in Edinburgh, then we headed down to wales then London. I spent a few days in London then went to Bath. I just arrived in Stratford-Upon-Avon today and am going to Liverpool on friday to see Tom (my cousin) and a couple of blokes from Adelaide I befriended on the tour. I then intend on going back to Jims (if he will have me) as my last port of call before heading back home. I will probably write this entry properly when I am back in Australia aswell as post a load more photos. Anyway all is well here, hope the same for all back in Australia.

Lake District and visiting family

Photographs:
1 Aileen, Lucy, Tom, Sally (the photo I couldn't upload last post).
2 View towards the city from Manchester YHA
3 View from Windermere YHA of lake Windermere
4 Stone fences in the lake district
5 View from Alcock tarn of Grasmere lake
6 From left to right:
Back: Anne, Colin
Middle: Sue, Emily, Darryl, Steve, Francis
Front: Camron, Andrew
7 Margaret and George
8 Lee

I stayed four nights in Manchester, the last of which I spent in Glossop with Colin (my oldest brother-technically half brother), Sue (his wife), Andrew, Cameron, Emily (their children-15,13,13 [twins]), Jim, David (Jim's son), his new fiance Jo and Leah (his daughter from his first marriage-19). We went out for dinner at an italian restaurant then headed back to their place for a short visit.

I left Manchester the following day headed for the lake district. The Lake district is in the north west of England and houses some of the most beautiful contryside on the continent. I spent the next 3 days hiking around the small area of the lake district I was visit and I have included some photos I took. The 1st of these was taken abou 10 paces from the doorstep of Windermere youth hostel where I stayed.

When my stay in the lake district was over I hopped on a train to Dundee. Colin picked me up from the station and took me back to their visitors; here we go again...Anne (my dad's sister-in-law [thanks Cameron] from his 1st marriage), Francis (her daughter), Steve (her husband), Kat, Darryl (her daughters), Mike-i think (Kat's boyfriend) and finally Margaret and George (Margaret is my dad's sister).

The next three nights I stayed with Colin and family at Hoolmyre cottage, which is Inbetween Dundee and Perth. With Francis, Steve, Darryl and Anne we visited sterling castle, bagged a Munroe (climbed a mountain over 3000 feet in Scotland) and went fly fishing or as I like to call it untieing knots in fishing line.

I got to George and Margaret's on wednesday and have been having a relaxing time with them since. Yesterday we visited Lee (George's cousin) and after lunch George and I headed to St. Andrews at which the Dunhill tournament was being played. The Dunhill tournament is where pros and celebrities play as a team. We saw Faldo and Lewis (the pros-Faldo is Europe's captain for the Rider cup [America VS Europe]) playing with Ray Ramano and some unknown on the 18th hole. We visited the castle and cathedral ruins then headed back home. Today I am going to see Dundee United (the scottish premiere league soccer team that Geroge avidly supports) play.

I am having a fantastic time either visiting relatives or staying in hostels and meeting people from all over the world (I won't talk about these people as I don't want to write a thesis study on my travels). Anyway hope all is well in Australia, give me updates in your comments as I read them all.

Manchester

On thursday, Jim took me to see Aileen (his daughter/my cousin) and her two kids Lucy and Tom who are respectively 18 and 20 plus Tom's girlfriend Sally was also there. It was awesome to meet more family that are actually in my agegroup, plus they were really nice. I'd upload a photo I took, but I forgot my camera connection cable.

So they invited me to go to Sandbach fare the following day (like a show in Australia, but without the boring stuff like cow shows). We ended up going on a ride each then heading to the pub though and it turned out to be a good night.

Yesterday I jumped on the train headed for Manchester where I am to spend 4 nights. I went out clubbing last night with a couple of Australians I met, Aaron and Jared, and my ears are still not functioning properly. We hit 3 clubs, all of which were far better than anything you'd find in Toowoomba so it was a great night out.

Anyway, just to finish I bought a phone for 10 pounds ($24) today, which is prepaid; what an amazing deal! So mainly for dad, but also for anyone else who wants to call me while over here my number is 07964942940. I think you put 0061 instead of the 1st 0 for overseas calls, correct me if I am mistaken. My 1/2 hour is nearly up so i'd better finish off at that.

Jim's Place

I left Brisbane headed for Manchester on sunday with a stop over at Singapore. For those reading this that are ignorant to the ways of the singapore airport it has free internet, games, a relaxing treed area with Koi fish in a pond and loads of shops. Many of these shops are duty free alcohol shops with spirits less than half the price you would pay in Australia. Hmmm...how much alcohol can I bring back again?

Jim picked me up from the airport around 8am and we went back to his pad after seeing off his partner Nell who happened to be headed for America for 3 weeks a few hours after I arrived (Jim swears it was a coincidence). Somehow jet lag seemed not to affect me, probably due to getting sleep on the plane during the English night.

Anyway, because I know you're all so very enthused by the trivial things I did today I will tell you. Unfortunatly I couldn't get a simcard because my phone only accepts bloody telstra simcards. So I guess dad will have to put up with me using the $3/min phone calls and 75c texts when a payphone isn't handy.

Finally as I promised in this post I will include my itinery, which is certainly not set in concrete as I have only booked my London and Manchester lodgings. I intend to take a 19 day bus tour, which I can't book until they upload their tour times for october, but I have set aside 14 days that I can hopefully spend on this tour. I will miss out on visiting some places on my itinery due to the other 5 days, so when it is booked I will update my itinery. Anyway here it is so far:

Semptember
16 Leave Brisbane
17 Stay with Jim in Alsager, England (my dad's brother)
18 Stay with Jim in Alsager, England (my dad's brother)
19 Stay with Jim in Alsager, England (my dad's brother)
20 Stay with Jim in Alsager, England (my dad's brother)
21 Stay with Jim in Alsager, England (my dad's brother)
22 Manchester
23 Manchester
24 Manchester
25 Lake district
26 Lake district
27 Lake district
28 Lake district
29 Lake district
30 Stay with Colin (my brother) and co. in Hoolmyre Cottage, Scotland
October
1 Stay with Colin (my brother) and co. in Hoolmyre Cottage, Scotland
2 Stay with Colin (my brother) and co. in Hoolmyre Cottage, Scotland
3 Stay with Margaret (my dad's sister) in Dundee, Scotland
4 Stay with Margaret (my dad's sister) in Dundee, Scotland
5 Stay with Margaret (my dad's sister) in Dundee, Scotland
6 Stay with Margaret (my dad's sister) in Dundee, Scotland
7 Stay with Margaret (my dad's sister) in Dundee, Scotland
8 Stay with Margaret (my dad's sister) in Dundee, Scotland
9 Salisbury (town near stonehenge)
10 Salisbury (town near stonehenge)
11 Colchester
12 Colchester
13 London
14 London
15 London
16 London
17 Bus Tour
18 Bus Tour
19 Bus Tour
20 Bus Tour
21 Bus Tour
22 Bus Tour
23 Bus Tour
24 Bus Tour
25 Bus Tour
26 Bus Tour
27 Bus Tour
28 Bus Tour
29 Bus Tour
30 Bus Tour
31 Durham
November
1 Durham
2 Stay with Jim in Alsager, England (my dad's brother)
3 Stay with Jim in Alsager, England (my dad's brother)
4 Stay with Jim in Alsager, England (my dad's brother)
5 Stratford-upon-avon (Shakespeare's birthplace)
6 Stratford-upon-avon (Shakespeare's birthplace)
7 Ludlow
8 Ludlow
9 Manchester
10 Leave from Manchester
11 Arrive in Brisbane

Trip to Britain

Hey folks, for any of those reading this who don't already know, I am leaving from Brisbane this sunday on an eight week trip to Britain. I will mainly be visiting England and Scotland, but intend on short trips to Wales and Ireland aswell. I intend on travelling around and staying at youth hostels and with family and I even intend on taking a bus tour around Britain which should be wicked.

I'm totally pumped about the trip and have created this blog in order to keep in contact with my legions of fans who would like to follow my progress through Britain as it happens. I hope to update once a week or so which may or may not happen depending on circumstance. I will post my itinery in my next blog, so tell your friends and family, Arvid is going to the motherland (or already there depending when you read this).