Sat, 28 Dec 2002

author Tim	location Golders Green, Greater London, England
posted 14:34 GMT 30/12/2002	section Europe2002/Europe/UK/England/Carlisle/Carlisle for Christmas ( all photos )

Driving "Home" ( No photos )

Some time while in Carlisle, we also went ten-pin bowling to kill an evening, where Liz will proudly tell you that she beat me. Actually, I'm surprised it slipped her mind in the her updates!
The driving day from Carlisle went fairly as un-eventfully as the one there, but as always it seemed to drag on.
We arrived back at our new house, ready to Work in London.

author Liz	location Golders Green, Greater London, England
posted 14:34 GMT 30/12/2002	section Europe2002/Europe/UK/England/Carlisle/Carlisle for Christmas ( all photos )

Dalston ( 1 photo )
On Friday, Tim and I went up to the local computer mega-store to look at getting a set of speakers for our room. They don't seem to be nearly as crazy about the sales over here as people are in Oz. A lot of the stores don't open until after Boxing Day.
Not finding quite what we wanted, we went back to Peter's and then decided to go to the pub. We have been to a nice little pub in Thursby a few times (just outside Carlisle), but when we got there it was closed. Tim jumped in the drivers seat and took us for a high-speed spin around the country back lanes (don't read that bit if you are a mum/dad/protective relative!), before we came across another pub on the outskirts of Dalston. We had a great afternoon enjoying a few drinks, some games of 8-ball and me learning all about how a gear box and clutch work (at my insistence).

author Liz	location Golders Green, Greater London, England
posted 14:34 GMT 30/12/2002	section Europe2002/Europe/UK/England/Carlisle/Carlisle for Christmas ( all photos )

Boxing Day with Graham and Rosie ( 22 photos )

Boxing day was wet, cold and foggy, but still no snow :( We jumped in the car and went and visited my Mum's 2nd cousin Graham, his wife Rosie and son Ivan at their beautiful big house in the middle of nowhere (otherwise known as just North of Newcastle). They even have their own woods! After the obligatory cup of tea, we all went out for a walk in the woods and down to the river. I can't describe how difficult it is to walk around when you are wearing nine layers of clothing that make you look like the Michelin Man. Try it sometime.
After our walk, we had a huge big lunch, and sat by the log fire for the afternoon. Tim and I rugged up again and went outside with Graham to show him how to use his new chainsaw to chop up the trees in the woods. We haven't touched a chainsaw in months, so it was great to start one up, and I was surprised to discover I still remembered how to use the thing after so long.
After more cups of tea, we left and drove back to Peter's.

(A bit more by Tim)
While at Graham and Rosie's place, I managed to catch a native red squirrel with my camera. These are quite rare now, all but displaced by the evil and much more common grey variety. There were plenty of birds there, right outside their window. Very close to nature indeed.

author Liz	location Golders Green, Greater London, England
posted 14:34 GMT 30/12/2002	section Europe2002/Europe/UK/England/Carlisle/Carlisle for Christmas ( all photos )

Christmas Continues ( 21 photos )
The rest of Christmas day was spent eating chrissie dinner, chrissie nibbles, drinking chrissie drinks and looking at chrissie presents. We all stuffed ourselves too much, and we were still left with loads of food at the end of the day.

author Tim	location Carlisle, Cumbria, England
posted 13:56 GMT	section Europe2002/Europe/UK/England/Carlisle/Carlisle for Christmas ( all photos )

Merry Christmas! ( 21 photos )
I know it's now a little late, but then most people aren't going to be reading this over Christmas anyway!
We have had a nice slow morning, doing not much until present-opening-time somehow arrived. Thanks to friends and family who have sent us wishes, cards and presents. We got a few text messages from people we haven't seen in a long time, which was great.
Liz was kind enough to give me a webcam (the one I am using at the moment is on loan), so we can engage in more of the video chatting we did with family back home. It was great seeing them all together, people we haven't seen for over four months now. From what I've heard, they liked seeing us too, even commenting on my haircut which Liz gave me yesterday. No, it's not too bad.
I gave her the book of "Jamie's Kitchen", which is a cooking show on TV here staring Jamie Oliver, aka. The Naked Chef, who is extremely popular over here. I'm not sure if she has managed to integrate any of the recipies into the Christmas dinner, which I can smell roasting away in the oven. It's nice to actually walk into the kitchen and enjoy the heat of Christmas dinner cooking - something which was always a pain back home. That's Australia home, if you are getting confused. Not London.
Other presents included a few books, more warm clothes, and some coasters from Mum and Dad saying "Tim's Bar". Not sure if they are trying to tell me something... Also a boomerang from Celia and Peter in Oz ("make sure you come back", says the card), and Liz of course accrued enough girly things to open her own shop.
We aren't even close to a White Christmas here. We awoke to sun streaming in our window, and the ever-present wet everything (although curiously it doesn't rain much). The temerature is even bearable. It was a cold snap a few weeks ago which has now gone, leaving us with 12 degree days. Not what were expecting (or hoping for, even) at all.

author Tim	location Carlisle, Cumbria, England
posted 13:56 GMT 25/12/2002	section Europe2002/Europe/UK/England/Carlisle/Carlisle for Christmas ( all photos )

Not Much ( 2 photos )
Lazing around the house today, waiting for Christmas to arrive.

author Tim	location Carlisle, Cumbria, England
posted 13:56 GMT 25/12/2002	section Europe2002/Europe/UK/England/Carlisle/Carlisle for Christmas ( all photos )

Across to Newcastle ( 4 photos )
We took a drive across to Newcastle-Upon-Tyne to watch (and join in with) Peter sing Christmas carols with the Newcastle Symphonia Choris in the Newcastle Catholic Cathedral. Stirring stuff, and just topped-off our carols for the year nicely.

author Tim	location Carlisle, Cumbria, England
posted 11:01 GMT	section Europe2002/Europe/UK/England/Carlisle/Carlisle for Christmas ( all photos )

Relaxing around Peter's Again ( No photos )
There are some very rough plans taking shape for us to go across to Newcastle tomorrow to watch Peter sing carols at lunchtime, then have a look around what he describes as "England's answer to Sydney Harbour".
We shall wait and see...
I have borrowed a webcam to attempt some Christmas video-chatting, so if you have one too, or even if you just want to watch us be silly in front of a camera, get in touch and we can sort something out.

author Tim	location Carlisle, Cumbria, England
posted 11:01 GMT 22/12/2002	section Europe2002/Europe/UK/England/Carlisle/Carlisle for Christmas ( all photos )

A Great Suprise ( 5 photos )
(Continued from London 3).
As we walked in to Peter's place (he was out and had left a spare key hidden), we saw that he had put up a fairly comprehensive array of Christmas decorations! Everything from a real tree right through to the little Frosty and Santa heads sticking out of our beds! Perhaps this was to make up for the news that there is little chance of a White Christmas, although almost 100% certainty of a wet drizzly one.
The night was spent relaxing and cooking nachos for dinner after a walk to the local supermarket (Liz on leaving the house: "It's not that cold"; Liz on arriving back at the house: "It's bloody freezing out there!!!").

author Tim	location Carlisle, Cumbria, England
posted 16:04 GMT	section Europe2002/Europe/UK/England/Carlisle/Carlisle 3 ( all photos )

A Few Days In and Around Carlisle ( 15 photos )
Peter's party went off without a hitch, although I was not well enough to pop out more than a few times. Everyone else seemed to enjoy themselves, and Peter now has a great collection of strange alcoholic beverages people have given him. Liz and I provided a crockery set, which came in handy with all the people, and Margaret a book of David Attenborough's new series The Life of Mammals, which has just started.
I'm now feeling much better - it was an annoying little bug that stuck around for a few more days than it was welcome, but good to have it gone.
Other things we have done included Liz and I going out last night to see Die Another Day (the new James Bond flick). They are plugging it so hard here - there's two or three things about it on TV/radio/magazines every day. All in all, it was quite good, although our particular screening of it was a little spoiled by the fire alarm going off right at a crucial moment, taking the movie with it.
Since we are in the middle of an eight-day fire-fighter's strike at the moment, this was a cause for a little concern. Proved to be a false alarm however, and a few moments later we were back into the crazy action.

Today we all went for a drive to a truly country village called Mungrisdale, where we took part in the now traditional Sunday lunch. My appetite is still not fully returned (probably a good thing), so I had a jacket potato instead.
A quick walk around the area before we headed back to Peter's place, stopping off at an over-grown tourist information place along the way.

Where we will be in the next week or so is completely up in the air at this stage. Liz is trying a new tact with her nursing, meeting with a different agent and her friend on Thursday to discuss some plans. I've applied for more jobs, and need to make some gentle prodding enquiries tomorrow as to exactly what they are doing about them all.
Tomorrow we drive to Lincolnshire.

author Tim	location Carlisle, Cumbria, England
posted 10:03 GMT	section Europe2002/Europe/UK/England/Carlisle/Carlisle 3 ( all photos )

Happy Birthday Peter! ( 10 photos )
Despite earlier theories that he was going to cancel it, today is Peter's birthday. There's a party of sorts tonight where several friends are coming over here to celebrate the occasion.
On a different note, I have unfortunately been quite sick these last few days. I'm not sure whether it is food poisoning or a virus, but I haven't kept any food down for a day and a half. The only good side is that I feel much better today, out of bed and wandering around. Still quite a way from 100% unfortunately.
No major plans for anything in the next few days, except are planning to spend a couple of nights with another friend of Margaret's Jill on the way down to London.
A few leads, but nothing concrete on the job front. Everyone says that the market is down, so I may end up pulling beers in a bar after all.

author Tim	location Carlisle, Cumbria, England
posted 22:26 GMT	section Europe2002/Europe/UK/England/Carlisle/Carlisle 3 ( all photos )

Barrow, Carlisle ( 6 photos )
(Continued from South England 1)
A reasonably un-eventful day saw us visit Barrow-in-Furness on the way to Carlisle.
Reason for this visit was to say hi to Margaret's friends from days gone by Rem and Fred. Proving quite an interesting couple to converse with, our day was a good way to relax with some home-cooked soup and news of old friends.
Back on the motorway, we are now at Peter's, relaxing before the big party day on Thursday.
I have just applied for some more jobs, and plan to follow Jade's suggestion of ringing to hassle them shortly after, so here's hoping I at least have some leads to chase when we head South again next week.
Still no more news on Liz's nursing registration, so it's pretty hard to say what will happen there.

author Tim	location Denbigh, Denbighshire, Wales
posted 08:13 GMT 29/10/2002	section Europe2002/Europe/UK/England/Carlisle/Carlisle 2 ( all photos )

Who needs plans? ( 11 photos )
The morning was spent organising all of our things, vacuuming Percy and attempting to plan where we were going.
We have until Saturday to kill, and a convenient way to do that is to drive South through Wales. Which is where we ended up.

author Tim	location Carlisle, Cumbria, England
posted 23:19 GMT	section Europe2002/Europe/UK/England/Carlisle/Carlisle 2 ( all photos )

Back into England ( 7 photos )
(Continued from Isle of Skye)
Arriving back in England and then Carlisle, I have to admit that I've spent most of the afternoon playing with my new old toy - the camera. You're all bored of hearing about it by now, but suffice to say that it is great to have it back and the added features of this model are very nifty.
We will spend tomorrow cleaning Percy out, finalising(!) the insurance, and then starting our drive London-ward.

(customised)