January 8, 2007
Happy New Year!
(TrackBack)Ooph, welcome to 2007!
Here's the fancy monthly update. Actually, I have a valid excuse because of course, I have been in England yay!
My immigration medical seemed to go without any hitches. Except perhaps the fact that I spent $250 on a guy prodding my stomach, an x-ray and a urine test. In all honesty I can think of better ways.
The flight to England was as horrendous as ever, actually, since I've never flown back from Canada I am simply comparing it to any flight ever. I hate flying, not for the traditional "oh god the wings are going to fall off" reasons either. Here's why:
1. It costs a fortune, there is no way of saving money.
2. You are invariably stuck for any number of hours in an uncomfortable cramped position next to a fat stinky dude.
3. THEY BLOODY CHARGE FOR EXTRA LEG ROOM! Bear with me and try to consider any other situation where that sort of charge is accepted. Answer: NEVER. "Hi welcome to The Bear Pub, would you like to sit by the window?", "Yes please!", "Okay that will be an extra $50", "...".
4. The food is generally appalling.
5. The entertainment is appalling.
6. They fully expect you to check in approximately a month before you flight. "Oh great! I can spend some quality time in the fascinating departure lounge and go into WHSmiths!"
7. I really could go on but I'll not.
So anyway, the lesson learnt here is don't fly budget. Ever.
After getting over the jetlag we made a trip to Oxford to see Joel, a few drinks and a bout of unpleasant toilet trips later and we went home ready for Christmas via Woodstock and Blenheim Palace, which is as beautiful as ever.
Christmas Day and its following activities blew by as quick as one might expect, over-consumption of chocolate, mince pies, jigsaw puzzles and all the usual festivities. Most notable moment was Dad consuming an entire block of butter that he believed to be a piece of soft cheese.
After all the fun and eating was over we went to London to stay in my sisters new apartment in Richmond which an only be described using obscenities so I'll refrain and tell you that it's beautiful and I am jealous. Usual quick-fire tourist stuff, Tate Modern (we didn't get to do the slides, boo), walk along the South Bank, Covent Garden, a brief and upsetting visit to Oxford St and then the much more pleasant Carnaby Street then back home for New Years.
New Years was spent at home, I cooked a rather rushed and odd Moroccan meal and we lazed about.
The last few days of the trip were spent at home being lazy and it was thoroughly enjoyable after what felt like an entire trip of rushing about. The flight home was memorable as a kick in the teeth, 25 hours door to door, bliss.
That's about it. Whistler is blanketed under feet of snow, Sarah arrives on Wednesday and I guess I have to go back to work at some point because they will be undoubtedly missing me.
Buy my stuff: Ebay
Oh I added a bunch of photos to Flickr in the link above.
Posted by Mark at January 8, 2007 2:17 PM