Sun Surf and Sand

Over a weekend in May the Rugby 7's played in London at Twickenham and as it is usually a big day out in New Zealand my kiwi friends decided that it would be fun for a group of us to go. My friend Shea organised the tickets and in the end there was a group of 20 of us comprising of mostly Kiwis but five of us Aussie and a few token English boys thrown in for good measure.

The theme for the weekend was Sun Surf and Sand and the competition encouraged their spectators to dress up in any way that they saw fit. We (an many many other spectators) decided to go as lifeguards. Shea also organised for some shirts to get printed with Pihau Rescue for the Kiwis and Bondi Rescue for the Aussie. The English boys were given Kiwi shirts since we didn't really know if there was a 'Cornwall' or 'Brighton' rescue! It was up to us to buy the accessories but we all got involved and bought visors, whistles, floaties etc so we all looked the part.







The best thing about the stadium is that you can take in your own picnics which means it was a perfect excuse to be able to smuggle in some booze. There were many elaborate plans to get the booze in. Including putting it in a water bottle and hiding the water bottle inside a can of Pringles or mixing it with juice then re-sealing the juice containers. I think I actually heard of someone putting a fake bottom in their esky but I can confirm that story. Megan and I had done our planning fairly last minute and didn't really know what we could do. We decided to see if we could someone get away with having a half bottle of vodka each stashed in our bags of groceries or handbags. We then found out that our handbags got searched so we ended up doing a bit of an undie stash. Yeah I know it isn't classy or hygienic at all but it was pretty funny that we managed to get a litre of vodka in by hiding it down our pants. After buying two bottles of coke as a mixer and casually making them behind the seats we managed to have a few drinks to get us in the cheering mood without spending heaps of money.






Due to the several (and by that I actually mean many) drinks consumed on the Saturday I can't tell you how much rugby I watched but I can tell you it wasn't much. I was having too much fun chatting away and dancing in the crowd and making friends with my neighbouring spectators. I also spent a lot of the day checking out other costumes in the crowd -many of which were hilarious! There were boys dressed in female Baywatch gear and many many atrocious Hawaiian shirts. We also spent the whole time trying to work out which cheerleader was wearing the most make up (it was hard as they all had it caked on to the extreme). At the end of the day we headed back to Clapham Junction which is close to most of our houses and sat down for a big meal of pizza and more chatting away before off to bed before our next big day at the rugby.







The next day we were all a little more subdued due to our hangovers so we actually got the chance to watch a bit of rugby. Let me tell you the games are pretty interesting to watch as they only go for 7 minute halves and have 7 players so it is much more fast paced and interesting.




Unfortunately Australia were out quite early but we still had the Kiwis and the English to cheer for at least! It was good to get involved with the crowd when they were all cheering and doing the Mexican wave and it reminded me a little of nights out watching the football at home which I love because stadium atmosphere is always better then watching it on tv. It has actually become the first of many sporting events that I have watched over the summer - you will soon see more!

Holes and Poles

Ew yes I know it is gross but it is the offical name of my Tag Rugby team and unfortunately we are stuck with it for the rest of the season. Anyways! So my friend Arron (a.k.a Azza) has been playing Try Tag Rugby (or Oztag for those at home) in London since he arrived here last July and since then he has met lots of cool people and had a great time. He has slowly been recruiting his mates to join and have a bit of a run around and after much convincing from him, Vanessa and Shea - I decided to join the team.

I am fairly uncoordinated person in general and I haven't played a team sport in awhile but I was really looking forward to trying something new and meeting new people. It also gave me another reason to try and get a bit fitter. Before the season we had a bit of a 'pre match team meeting' which consisted of watching a game of tag, having a BBQ and ciders before a bit of a kick around. Apart from the basics I learnt that time I had no idea of how to play when I arrived on our first game. There were also four other newbies in our team and considering I barely even know the rules to rugby it was safe to say our first game was a bit of a mess. Somehow we still managed to win 10-3 and I even got a try! I was so surprised that I even managed to catch the ball let alone run across the line. My team even had to tell me to put the ball down because I didn't realise I had done it!

Since then we have had a pretty rocky season with several big defeats in a row. We had orginally submitted our team to the social grade but since Azza had played in the A grade for many seasons and we had four others who had played before they didn't think it was fair to put us in the social grade so we were bumped up to the A-grade. While we were gradually improving there were many of us that were still beginners which made it hard to match other A grade sides. I know it is not all about winning but when you are continually losing by big numbers you become frustrated and angry so there were a few weeks where the after game drinks were more consolatory then celebratory.

And there are ALWAYS drinks after the game. Across the road from the park we play in there is a cute little pub that gives us a plate of food when we arrive and are very patient when we rock up and order rounds and rounds of jugs and get a bit rowdy. There have actually been several nights that have gotten a little out of hand and the one pint turns into several jugs and rounds of shots. One night we even ended up having to get the night bus home - getting in the door at three A.M where as others all we can manage is a diet coke. This part of the night is half the reason it is so much fun to get out out there and be social. I have made some really good friends from this little group of people and I look forward to playing every week.

Since our first little rocky patch we have improved over the season and we slowly got our rhythm and it become a lot more fun with even a few wins towards the end of the season! We have entered into a new season which starts this week so hopefully we can continue on our winning streak!

Lovin' London

With our fun filled weekend in Barcelona followed by our girlie getaway in Bath we realised that Lisa and Josh really only had two and a half days in London which isn’t much when you consider that one day is taken up with Royal Wedding festivities. I decided that on the Thursday before hand I would take them on my own special walking tour which meant they got to see most of the sights.

We started over at the London Eye which Lisa and Josh went on while I sat and waiting since I had done it before. Luckily for them it was a sunny(ish) day and they got to see quite good views across the city. Following that we walked along the water, over the Westminster Bridge were we took the classic photos of Big Ben with the houses of Parliament in the background. We then charged on to check out Westminster Abbey before the big day.





The crowds around the Abbey weren’t as busy as I thought there would be but since it was closed off for preparations we couldn’t go in. We still got to check out the outside and wonder over all the people who had been camping out there for days.
The next stop on the tour was Pall Mall and the Horse Guards (which to be honest I walked past by complete fluke!) and we wandered up to Trafalgar Square. The square was full of media and screens and posters for the royal wedding so Lisa didn’t really get to see much of what it is like usually but it definitely had to be ticked off the list. From there we wandered down to 10 Downing Street (where the Prime Minister lives) via the Northumberland Arms (where Sherlock Homes and Watson first met) and up to Covent Garden.



On Thursday Covent Garden has a fresh food market similar to the Borough Markets so we stopped there and picked up a yummy lunch and a quick sit down. Lisa grabbed a polish lunch box that included a sausage, potatoes and coleslaw and I had the most massive food envy even though I had just completely demolished a fresh beef burger. After that pit stop we wandered through the Piazza up to Leicester Square and the theatre district and along to Piccadilly Circus where we saw the statue and got the must have photo.




From there we walked along Regent Street which couldn’t have been more perfect as it was full of British flags for the royal wedding and the streets were buzzing. We wandered down until we reached Oxford Circus where Josh left us to the shopping while he bummed around and read his book. We hit the shops along Oxford Circus picking up a few bargains while I showed Lisa the craziness that is Primark before meeting Josh at the Marble Arch side of Hyde Park.




From there we hired Boris Bikes (the ones you rent for a little while and dock at points around the city) and rode from one side of Hyde Park to the other, via the Serpentine Lake all the way down to Buckingham Palace. We docked our bikes and wandered through the crowds to the palace. As it was the day before the Royal Wedding the place was packed with both tourists, people camping out and the media. They had set up a two story mini TV station filled with cameras and lights and reporters. It was something to see especially since the atmosphere around the Palace is usually subdued. By this stage we were exhausted from walking around so much over the past few days and lots of late nights drinking and eating and catching up so we headed home to chill out on the couch in front of the TV.





The next morning was Royal Wedding Day so we were up bright and early and out of the house at 8am so we could make our way to Hyde Park to meet my friends Laura and Doug and get a spot in front of the big screens. We hadn't wanted to waste time in London lining the streets so we thought the best way to see the whole thing but still be out in the atmosphere was to watch it from the park. We got a place in a decent spot in front of the screen and set up our picnic rugs and food and drink. We had all bought some nibbles and alcoholic drinks (after all it was a wedding). I had picked up a few British flags and had dressed in red, white and navy to get into the spirit of the day.

Photo by Laura Havill

The atmosphere in the park was great as we watched the lead up to the wedding and there were so many gasps and squeals when we first saw the Princes in their uniforms and especially when we saw Kate in her dress. I even admit to having a few tears and sniffles when they said I do. Followed by the popping of the Champers. We all waves our flags and cheered when they walked out and the whole atmosphere was electric. While we waited for the procession and for 'the kiss' on the balcony we were entertained by an MC on stage in the park. They had a band that played and we all sung along and danced. After the big kiss where more champers was popped and even more cheering we danced around in the park to the band. It was a bit like a festival atmosphere and so much fun.






It was such a great event to be in London for and something that I will always remember. I am hoping that I will be here for the christening of the first little prince or princess or Harry's wedding (who knows he could fall in love with me?). I was never a Royalist but I have a new found love of the Royal Family. After the wedding I went to a bbq at Laura and Dougs before Josh, Lisa and I went to dinner and out to my favourite bar in London. It was a long day of drinking and eating and hanging out but it was definately one of my favourite things that I have experienced while I am here.

The next day was Lisa and Josh's final day before they took the Eurostar to Paris so we had the morning to hang out. We went up to Camden Markets which is great for shopping, eating and people watching (all our favourite things). We were lucky that it was a sunny day so we had fun wandering the markets, grabbing food at the street vendors and sitting in the sun by the canal. It was a great end to a fun trip and I was happy that I got a chance to show these guys around the city that I love so much because Spring in London is fantastic.

Adventures in the Hundred Acre Wood

I was really bummed to say goodbye to Lisa and Josh while they went off on their trip through Europe but luckily for me I didn't have time to dwell as I was off to Brighton and Forest Row for the weekend.

As you can tell from previous posts, I love spending time in Brighton but this was the first time I was lucky enough to get a sunny AND hot day while I was down there. I got the train down with Laura and Doug and we met up with Claire, Ted and Kate who had all stayed at Claires house (a half an hour drive away) the night before. Once we all met up we headed to Claire's favourite cafe in Brighton called Bills. She had constantly raved about this place as there is one in Brighton and London so I was pretty keen to check it out. I was also famished as I hadn't eaten so when I ordered my BLT and Latte I was pleased to find they were fresh, well made and extremely yummy. Bills offers quite a lot of organic fresh food and also sells some sauces, pestos and jams as well and I can totally recommend it to anyone down in Brighton who wants to branch out from the diet of fish and chips.



After breakfast the girls split up from the boys and we headed off to the vintage and second hand shops to browse for ideas for our upcoming 1940's Blitz Night and have a girlie catch up. If I was rich I swear I could have bought a thousand things in those stores. They were huge and so well organised and everything was good quality and they actually had things left in my size (usually the stores in London are out of my size). Sadly I was on the wrong end of the pay month and had had a massive blow out during the last week so I wasn't able to go crazy. One day I am sure I will head back and be able to get some good clothes!

We wandered through the north lanes, hit the lolly shop, print shop and bric-a-brac shops before meeting up with the boys and heading down to the waterfront via some gardens and down town Brighton. Where randomly - I saw a rabbit on a leash. Weird.






Once we got to the water we sat down there for a little while just chatting and bumming around. The girls even attempted to test the water since it was so warm but after hurting our feet walking along the pebbles and finding the water ice cold it was a short dip in the ocean.





Photo by Laura Havill

Soon enough it was time to head back to Claires house so we said goodbye to Laura and Doug who went on to check out the pier and more shopping. En route to Claire's house we stopped by a pub in the middle of no where that had a massive beer garden next to a river where you can row your boats. Of course a sunny afternoon, good mates and sunshine equals Pimms O'clock so we grabbed a jug and had a couple of drinks. Once the clouds came out we headed back to the car and over to Caz-a-lan (the name of Claires house in Forest Row).




I love Claire's little village and always love visiting her house as it is so homey and welcoming. No matter what we are doing there we always have fun whether is drinking or just watching a movie. Its almost like a little getaway from the city sometimes! We freshened up and had a bit of a pit stop before heading back out to their local pub The Swan where we had a few more drinks and some yummy pizza for dinner. We spent the rest of the night yarning away and catching up as it had been week since we had quality time together as we no longer saw each other every day at work.

The next morning we got up and were treated to a lovely cooked breakfast (yet another reason I love Claire's house - I am always treated to lovely food) before heading out to have a walk through the forest. We were lucky again that the weather was so nice so we wandered down the back of Claires house and through the Hundred Acre Wood. Sadly I didn't see Pooh Beer or Tigger but we did get to see the gorgeous Blue Bells and other spring flowers as we wandered through as well as a cute little pond.






After our walk we were a bit tired so we went back to Caz-a-lan for a cup of tea and a spot of watching Pride and Prejudice - watching Colin Firth as Mr Darcy is one of our favourite past times! Sadly though the weekend had to end and me and Kate headed back to London. It was the end of my longest holiday since starting work in London in July last year and I must say that I squeezed as much out of every day as I could! I got to see and do a lot of the things I love with some of my favourite people.