Hayley and Niki's Flat

On Saturday night we all went around to Hayley and Niki's new place to take a look and have some drinks. It was a pretty low key night just hanging out and playing some drinking games.

Greenwich

On Saturday Pam and I decided to head out to Greenwich so I could have my photo "on the line". Pam had been before and had her photo but she also wanted to look at some markets. So we headed out there unfortunately the weather was not ideal but after a trek up a Giant hill we finally made it to the line. For those of you who don't know what line I am talking about, read below.

Greenwich is best known for its maritime history and as giving its name to the Greenwich Meridian (0° longitude) and Greenwich Mean Time.

The town became the site of a Royal palace, the Palace of Placentia from the 15th century, and was the birthplace of many in the House of Tudor, including Henry VIII and Elizabeth I. The palace fell into disrepair during the English Civil War and was rebuilt as the Royal Naval Hospital for Sailors by Sir Christopher Wren and his assistant Nicholas Hawksmoor. These buildings became the Royal Naval College in 1873, and they remained an establishment for military education until 1998 when they passed into the hands of the Greenwich Foundation. The historic rooms within these buildings remain open to the public, other buildings are used by University of Greenwich and the Trinity College of Music.

To help others synchronize their clocks to GMT, a time ball was installed by Astronomer Royal John Pond in 1833. It still drops daily to mark the exact moment of 1 p.m. (13:00) year round (GMT during winter and BST during summer).

Bank of England Museum

Well since I haven't been working the last three days (a job got cancelled) and I have a few big expensive holiday's coming up I have needed to limit my site seeing to cheap or free options. So on Friday I headed to the Bank of England museum because its free!!

It wasn't the most interesting museum and I was a little bummed the gold display wasn't there for some reason but I did get to see some other real gold bars and got to hold one which was pretty cool (in a heavily-secured box, of course!)

ps - As I am trying to keep my posts in order, some of them have gone down to the end of the page :)

Sunday

On Sunday Pam had organised for us all to have lunch in Putney. As I live a million miles away (refer to tube map - Bow Road to Putney) it took me one bus and a tube to get there and 1.5 hours (am looking at getting something closer!!).

Had a good lunch though and was great to catch up with everyone. After lunch a few of us headed to a park nearby via a dairy (to pick up some booze, yes you can by booze from dairies here) to sit in the sun and hang out. On hot days in London a park is the place to go for sunbathing. Everyone is there lying on the grass having bbq's in their bikinis. Its just like a beach without the sand and obviously the sea, although the Thames was right behind us.

I have also just put a deposit down for a big tour in September. Can't wait. Here is a link about it - Summer Fun and Sailing. Now I don't want to here any negative comments or alternatives or "you should have done this" as I have paid for it already!!!

And looking at doing Italy in August - so just need to save heaps of money or else apply for a credit card and pay it off in the winter!! :)

See also my photo gallery for more pictures of my adventures so far.

Toni

Tower of London

This was actually really cool. Its located near the city by the Thames River. Is so full of history like you wouldn't believe. I totally recommend going to see it and if you can, buy tickets in advance as I waited about 1/2 and hour in a VERY slow moving line in the sun.

I recommend doing the Beefeaters tour, as they are funny and more interesting than maybe a tape recorded tour thingee (can't remember what they are called). I would allow a couple of hours, as I sorta went at the end of the day and missed a room, but saw most everything else.

My highlight would have been the crown jewels (a scepter in there has one of the biggest diamonds in the world). The Beefeaters were quite cool as well, they actually live in the tower compound.

Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London (and historically as The Tower), is a historic monument in central London, on the north bank of the River Thames. It is located within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets and is separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space known as Tower Hill.

The Tower of London is often identified with the White Tower, the original stark square fortress built by William the Conqueror in 1078. However, the tower as a whole is a complex of several buildings set within two concentric rings of defensive walls and a moat.

The tower's primary function was a fortress, a royal palace, and a prison (particularly for high status and royal prisoners, such as the Princes in the Tower and the future Queen Elizabeth I). This last use has led to the phrase "sent to the Tower" (meaning "imprisoned"). It has also served as a place of execution and torture, an armoury, a treasury, a zoo, the Royal Mint, a public records office, an observatory, and since 1303, the home of the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom.

The Tower of London was founded in 1078 when William the Conqueror ordered the White Tower to be built inside the southeast angle of the city walls, adjacent to the Thames.[1] This was as much to protect the Normans from the people of the City of London as to protect London from outside invaders. William ordered the tower to be built of Caen stone, which he had specially imported from France. He appointed Gundulf, Bishop of Rochester, as the architect.

In the 12th century, King Richard the Lionheart enclosed the White Tower with a curtain wall and had a moat dug around it filled with water from the Thames. The moat was not successful until Henry III, in the 13th century, employed a Dutch moat-building technique. This king greatly strengthened the curtain wall, breaking down the city wall to the east, to extend the circuit, despite the protests of the citizens of London and even supernatural warnings, according to chronicler Matthew Paris. Henry III transformed the tower into a major royal residence and had palatial buildings constructed within the Inner Bailey.

It had been thought that there have been at least six ravens in residence at the tower for centuries. It was said that Charles II ordered their removal following complaints from John Flamsteed, the Royal Astronomer.[5] However, they were not removed because Charles was then told of the legend that if the ravens ever leave the Tower of London, the White Tower, the monarchy, and the entire kingdom would fall (the London Stone has a similar legend). Charles, following the time of the English Civil War, superstition or not, was not prepared to take the chance, and instead had the observatory moved to Greenwich.

Inside the torture chambers of the tower various implements of torture were used such as the Scavenger’s daughter, a kind of compression device, and the Rack, also known as the Duke of Exeter's Daughter.

Anne Askew is the only woman on record to have been tortured in the tower, after being taken there in 1546 on a charge of heresy. Sir Anthony Kingston, the Constable of the Tower of London, was ordered to torture Anne in an attempt to force her to name other Protestants. Anne was put on the Rack. Kingston was so impressed with the way Anne behaved that he refused to carry on torturing her, and Henry VIII's Lord Chancellor had to take over.

Lower-class criminals were usually executed by hanging at one of the public execution sites outside the Tower. High-profile convicts, such as Thomas More, were publicly beheaded on Tower Hill. Seven nobles (five of them ladies) were beheaded privately on Tower Green, inside the complex, and then buried in the "Chapel Royal of St. Peter ad Vincula" (Latin for "in chains," making him an appropriate patron saint for prisoners) next to the Green. Some of the nobles who were executed outside the Tower are also buried in that chapel.

The Crown Jewels have been kept at the Tower of London since 1303, after they were stolen from Westminster Abbey. It is thought that most, if not all, were recovered shortly afterwards. After the coronation of Charles II, they were locked away and shown for a viewing fee paid to a custodian. However, this arrangement ended when Colonel Thomas Blood stole the Crown Jewels after having bound and gagged the custodian. Thereafter, the Crown Jewels were kept in a part of the Tower known as Jewel House, where armed guards defended them. They were temporarily taken out of the Tower during World War II and reportedly were secretly kept in the basement vaults of the Sun Life Insurance company in Montreal, Canada, along with the gold bullion of the Bank of England.

The Yeomen Warders of Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress the Tower of London, popularly known as the Beefeaters, are ceremonial guardians of the Tower of London. In principle they are responsible for looking after any prisoners at the Tower and safeguarding the British crown jewels, but in practice they act as tour guides and are a tourist attraction in their own right, a point the Yeoman Warders acknowledge.

Changing of the Guard - Buckingham Palace

BUCKINGHAM PALACE

Now, in all the touristee books this is a must see. So I went and saw it and to be quite honest:

- I had no idea what was going on

- I couldn't really see anything

- I could harldy hear anything

- There were people, everywhere!

- You had to stand behind the gates (or anywhere you could find) to watch not much

- Its was extremely hot

So, I have added the following to tell me (and you) what was going on!!

Personally, I don't really recommend going, I would say you would have to be there fairly early to get a good spot and to be honest you can't really see a whole lot.

The Changing of the Guard takes place in the forecourt of Buckingham Palace. The St. James' Palace detachment of the Queen's Guard, led usually by the Corps of Drums, and bearing the Colour (if the Queen is in residence, then this will be the Queen's Colour; if she is not, then it is the Regimental Colour), marches along the Mall to Buckingham Palace, where the Buckingham Palace detachment has formed up to await their arrival. These two detachments are the Old Guard. Meanwhile the New Guard is forming up and are awaiting inspection by the Adjutant on the parade square at Wellington Barracks. The Band, having been inspected by the Adjutant, forms a circle to play music whilst the New Guard is inspected. The Guard provides a full Military Band consisting of no fewer than 35 musicians (usually, though not always, from one of the Guards regiments) accompanied by their Director of Music. When the New Guard is formed up, led by the Band, it marches across into the forecourt of Buckingham Palace. Once there, the New Guard advances towards the Old Guard in slow time and halts. The Old Guard presents arms, followed by the New Guard presenting arms. The Captains of the Guards march towards each other for the handing over of the Palace keys. The new reliefs are marched to the guardrooms of Buckingham Palace and St James' Palace where new sentries are posted.

The sentries being posted. The Old Guard is from the Coldstream Guards; the New Guard is from the Australian Federation Guard.

During this time the Band has taken its place by the centre gate, formed up in a half-circle, where it plays music to entertain the New and Old Guard as well as the watching crowds. During this period, the two regimental colours are paraded up and down by the Ensigns (usually junior officers of 2nd Lieutenant rank or equivalent). With the Old and New Guards formed up once again, the Old Guard and the Band marches out through the centre gates in slow time to their Regimental Slow march played by the Band. At the end of the slow march the Captain of the Old Guard gives the word of command to 'Break into Quick Time' and with a brisk five pace roll from the drums, the Band leads the way back to Wellington Barracks.

Update

Hi Everyone

Here is an update from London just to let you know how I have been going and what I have been up to. As previously blogged I have so far done a bus tour about the city in the freezing cold. I am glad to say that the weather has been really nice this week and hopefully the big warm coat I brought last week won't need to be used in the next while. The weather is planning to get up to 26 degrees this week, yah, can crank out some of the summer clothes I brought over.

I have moved into my house and its alright except for a few minor things (I only have a mattress that is extremely shit, I have no windows in my room, there is no hot water in the kitchen and who needs pressure in the shower right) other than those extremely annoying gripes, its working well for me at the moment, well at least until I can decide exactly what my plans are over the summer. I could do with suggestions do I just do mini-breaks every second week or so or do I do the full 1 month bus tour? Not sure I could handle it though?? Recommendations please.

Work - well fortunately this has not really been an issue. I have had six days work so far and have work for the next two weeks which is really good and I got paid today from last week. Hello pounds!!!

Holidays and sightseeing - This weekend I plan to take in some local scenes. I am looking at heading to see the changing of the guard, Westminster Abbey and Tower of London if I can squeeze it in. I am also looking at planning a holiday to Spain for the running of the bulls and thinking about doing this tour or one similar. Am also catching up with everyone for lunch on Sunday which will be good, might even be able to squeeze in Hyde Park whilst I am over that way.

Just for the sake of a picture, here is me in front of Budda statue thing in a park Alesha, Ben and myself went for a walk through.

Well, until something interesting happens, catch ya.

Toni

"Things I have learnt/oberserved about London"

These are a few things that I have learnt in my 2.5 weeks in London

- You live according to your tube zone. You don't ask people what area they live in you ask them what tube station they are closest too.

- Even when sardenised in a tube, even if three people hop off, 20 more people will always be able to squeeze in (especially in the mornings and after work)

- They are pounds and pence and not dollars and cents!!!

- They still have one and two pence coins here which serve no other purpose but to make your wallet heavy!!

- The " and @ are in different places on the keyboard which is extremely annoying!!

- London is not just full of Londoners

- London is very old and they have lots of old things here, way too many for me to remember

- When using an escalator you must always stand on the right (very important, so as not to get abused, there are even signs!)

- Orange lights are shown both before a red light and before a green light. So don't think just because its orange you are ok to cross because you are not.

That is all for now, will hopefully do some more sightseeing this weekend so more pictures to come.

Chow for now :)

Update from London

Hello Everyone

I finally have time to write a blog on my goings on in London so far. I have been so busy looking for a flat and have finally found one. Living with three aussie chicks. Move in on Sunday can't wait to unpack everything.

So far in London I have:

- Tubed almost everywhere looking for a flat (I bet I have lost a few kilos as well!)

- Started work. I worked three days this week, was supposed to work next but they don't need me to, so hopefully will find something else or will go back the week after

- Meet up with Hayley for a catch up

- Randomly ran into Pam on Oxford Street, there are hundreds of people pushing past the street and I noticed her because of how warm her coat was (all the shops have summer clothes can't find a coat anywhere)

- Spent too many pounds!

- Did a bus tour of London, here are some pictures

These pictures are being spaz but they are

- Big Ben

- Trafalgar Square

- Big Ben and House of Parliament

- Tower of London

- London Eye

- National Gallery

- Me in Trafalgar Square in front of National Gallery

Toni

Places I have seen (part 1) with a little history as well

Hi everyone

Just thought I would post some posts about my sightseeings so far and because there is a lot of history behind these places, thought I would include that as well. Sorry if its gets too boring, hopefully the pictures will make it interesting.

TRAFALGAR SQUARE

Trafalgar Square is a square in London, England that commemorates the Battle of Trafalgar (The Battle of Trafalgar (1805) (was a naval battle west of Cape Trafalgar in the province of Cádiz in south-west Spain. In the Battle of Trafalgar, a British fleet of 27 ships of the line defeated an allied French and Spanish fleet of 33 ships of the line on 21 October 1805 in the most decisive naval engagement of the Napoleonic Wars. The French and Spanish lost 22 ships, while the British lost none. The British commander Admiral Lord Nelson died late in the battle. Since then he has been considered one of Britain's greatest naval heroes) a British naval victory of the Napoleonic Wars. The original name was to have been "King William the Fourth's Square", but George Ledwell Taylor suggested the name "Trafalgar Square".

The northern area of the square had been the site of the King's Mews since the time of Edward I, while the southern end was the original Charing Cross, where the Strand from the City met Whitehall, coming north from Westminster. As the midpoint between these twin cities, Charing Cross is to this day considered the heart of London, from which all distances today are measured.

In the 1820s the Prince Regent engaged the landscape architect John Nash to redevelop the area. Nash cleared the square as part of his Charing Cross Improvement Scheme. The present architecture of the square is due to Sir Charles Barry and was completed in 1845.

The square, a popular site for political demonstrations, is the site of Nelson's Column as well as other statues and sculptures of note.

Nelson's column

National Gallery

London's National Gallery, founded in 1824, houses a rich collection of over 2,300 paintings dating from the mid-13th century to 1900[a] in its home on Trafalgar Square. The collection belongs to the British public and entry to the main collection is free, although there are charges for entry to special exhibitions.

The National Gallery's beginnings were modest; unlike comparable galleries such as the

Louvre in Paris or the Museo del Prado in Madrid, it was not formed by nationalising an existing royal or princely art collection. It came into being when the British government bought 36 paintings from the banker John Julius Angerstein in 1824. After that initial purchase the Gallery has been shaped mainly by its early directors, notably Sir Charles Lock Eastlake, and by private donations, which comprise two thirds of the collection.[1] The resulting collection is small compared with the national galleries of continental Europe, but has a high concentration of important works across a broad art-historical scope, from the Early Renaissance to Post-impressionism, with relatively few weak areas.

The present building, on the northern side of Trafalgar Square, is the third to house the Gallery, and like its predecessors it has often been deemed inadequate. The façade by William Wilkins is the only part of his original building of 1832–8 that remains essentially unchanged, as the structure as a whole has been altered and expanded in a piecemeal manner throughout its history. Notable additions have been made by E. M. Barry and Robert Venturi. The current Director of the National Gallery is Nicholas Penny.

My thoughts on the National Gallery

- The National Gallery is somewhere good to hide out when its really cold because its free to see and warm and they have nice clean toilets.

- It smells funny in there.

- It has lots of paintings.

- Since I am not really into paintings, I had a quick look around and specifically went and saw these paintings by Vincent van Gogh which are very famous (I listened in on a school group)

Im in London

Hey everyone

This is just a post to say that I have arrived safe and sound in London.

My flight was 21 hours in total with two changes in Singapore and Abu Dhubi. Once I arrived in London after over 30 hours with no sleep I was under strict instructions not to go to bed so Alesha took me out and about to see some shops and then I went and set up my bank account.

So far at the moment I am looking for work and someone to live. I have had a call from both the recruitment agencies I signed up for so things look good there now just gotta find somewhere to live that bigger than a box and looks clean and friendly.

Fingers crossed.

Here are some pictures from the plane (since I haven't really done anything else).

Me on the Plane -------- Plane food (that was the best meal!)


Entertainment system on the plan


View from the front end of the plane. It was real cool it has this feature where you could see the front end of the plane (during take off/landing, etc) and see how long was left on the flight, etc.

Toni