My brother randomly came through town today to drop his dog Loki off here so we can dogsit for a few days. So I was woken up with "COME HUG YOUR BROTHER" and then my mother took me shopping for hours
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He was asking for it, wasn't he? Loki is happy and ridiculous when I am playing catch with him but then in the house he's like "YOU ARE WEIRD! I WILL GROWL!" Border collies, pssht.
I didn't! I've been too busy with aftershocks and sleeping this year to see much of anything, which is sad. I will eventually though! Since I want to see it before I see Avengers. WHICH I AM SO EXCITED ABOUT.
How are youuuu? My mother asked how you were doing!
Reminds me of Kat naming her cats Isis and Osiris. What a way to make them wilful...
I think Thor is one of the best they've done; almost as good as Iron Man. From the teaser they had at the end of Captain America, it's probably also the most vital to see before Avengers. I absolutely love the look of the Rainbow Bridge, and both Loki and Thor were perfect. A really stellar effort with something that could have been sooooo hokey.
I'm doing pretty well. Working on the LAST CHAPTER of my thesis, woot! Still had to get a six month extension, but the end is in sight, so that's a huge relief. Just finished up supervising exams at ACU as well, since I didn't get any teaching work this semester. Pretty hard up for money cos of all that, especially since Erin and I are talking about a holiday to London which will absolutely eradicate my funds if I go. But we will see...
OH YAY! End in sight is good. And GO TO LONDON and if you do, GO TO CAMDEN MARKETS. Of course, being able to afford it is important. Booking.com has a lot of specials on hotels and hostels if you want to book through there. That's what I did and some of the rooms were 50% off! And it tells you what things each hotel is closest too as well so you know if it's in the area you want to be. I stayed at a hotel that was like 5 feet from Euston Square underground station and it was brilliant because I could walk to Camden or Regents Park or the British Museum.
Looks like we're almost certainly going; Erin found some pretty damn good deals. Flights and two weeks' accommodation for $2020 each, which I can just afford, along with a couple of other necessary expenditures I have to make before then. I'll have basically no money to spend over there though, so Camden Markets would probably be a bit of an unfortunate tease for me. I'm sure Erin would find a lot of pretties for herself though, especially since she's becoming quite enamoured of corseting.
So, you know London pretty damn well; what other things do you recommend? The Tower and the Museum, obviously... what else is good?
THAT IS AMAZING! If Erin likes corsetting, she should go to Fairy Goth Mother. Which used to be in the Camden Market but it moved. I don't know where, but I am sure the internet could tell you! Even if you can't spend money there (I didn't! except at the record store) I think the market would be awesome for you to see. It's just a lovely place! I enjoyed just looking at all the things from so many different styles. Goth, punk, metal, indie, hipster...it's awesome. I would spend all day just wandering, not spending a thing if I could. And Camden Town is where Noel Fielding is from. You could spot Vince Noir just hanging out having a coffee! :D
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ALSO, after you go to the Tower, walk along the embankment. It's beautiful and near the end is Cleopatra's Needle.
Basically I am so excited for you. I have always believed you would love it there. And I am SO JEALOUS you might get two weeks when I got one ;) But basically I think you will just have the best time. Eeeeiiii! Even if it turns out you can't go, definitely go some day! The entire time I was there I just kept thinking, "Lewi has to see this. HE HAS TO SEE THIS!"
There are also places like Trafalgar Square and then the West End which are just nice to walk around in. And Forbidden Planet is near Trafalgar Square I think. Or it's near Leicester Square. ...it's near a square, okay! And you should definitely stop by there as well! Just trust me on that ;)
Awesome, that all sounds very good! I know you would basically be the authority on all things London, apart from people who live there of course ;) It would be pretty damn awesome to catch a glimpse of Vince... I'll keep an eye out...
I think the Globe will definitely have to be on our list. I couldn't really consider myself a self-respecting Shakespearean scholar or acting without at least poking my nose in. The Ghost Bus sounds more like our thing than the Dungeon, though it really depends on how full our schedule gets. Erin and I are walking our left-hand spiritual path together at the moment, so I'm sure we'd have some interesting experiences. (Remember the phantom light bulb in Sydney?)
I think I'd really enjoy Sherlock Holmes, but unfortunately I've never had a chance to read any of the stories, so Baker Street would probably be wasted on me. Though I wonder if there's any sort of Jack the Ripper tour around Whitechapel? There must be, surely
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I DO remember that lightbulb. So creepy. And yeah, just walking around London is fricking awesome. All the arcitechture and history is just *squeals
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Bridge and Tower on the same day sounds good. Even though we'll be there for two weeks, I'm sure it'll end up a bit of a struggle trying to squeeze in everything we want to do. It's a big city, after all, and I just remembered I also would like to go to Whitby because there's apparently some Dracula related stuff there, and I'd like to see the spot where Dracula is supposed to have fed on Lucy Westenra.
I was reading about the Sherlock Holmes tales while researching detective fiction, and I do want to read them someday. Just another thing to add to the list... I'm reading some H. P. Lovecraft at the moment, and then I finally want to read The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings.
Speaking of Amanda, apparently she and Neil Gaiman are doing their New Year's thing in Melbourne this year! So can't wait...
Tis a big city! And yes, finding the places where awesome things happened is always fun! That was why I was so gleeful walking down Baker Street. THIS IS SHERLOCK-LAND, CLARE!
OOoh yes, all good things to read! Is it nice to read for leisure again?
That should be amazing! She is trying hard to get to CHCH too, but since we lost most concert venues, that'll make it hard!
I just remembered Jess interned at The Globe, I think! So if you couldn't afford a tour, you could probably get ahold of her and see if she would be up for a meet up and an informal tour! And I am sure she would love to see you and meet Erin. She's so lovely! Do you have her as a friend on Facebook? She doesn't check LJ often, but I think she is on FB more.
Yeeeees, very good to read for leisure again. I've been reading a few autobiographies actually, like Dave Mustaine's and Ozzy Osbourne's, both of which were highly entertaining. I read The Day Watch and The Twilight Watch too, and I have to say the book series is even better than the movies. You should check them out sometime, I think you'd really enjoy them.
Yeah, I read that Amanda is trying to get to Christchurch. She seems pretty determined, I think she'll figure something out.
Anyway, we just booked! We're going from the 2nd to the 15th of February, and staying in an awesome Victorian Gothic mansion! It's called Oakfield Estates. I don't suppose you know of any supernatural craziness attached to it? A bit of amateur Most Haunted wouldn't go astray... (Who am I kidding? Compared to us, they're the amateurs.)
And yes, I do have Jess on Facebook, so I might have a word. Good plan :)
I hope so for the sake of the people who would love to go! But it might be difficult!
AWESOOMMMEEEE YAYYYY! You will have the best time. I will look up Oakfield Estates. In the meantime, off the top of my head I think the most famous paranormal spots are Highgate Cemetary (The Highgate Vampire and Spring-heeled Jack) and of course, the Tower. And a lot of the underground tunnels, actually. And there's the theatre on Drury Lane, but I don't know if you can go in without like...going to a show.
If you want, when I get home in January, I can go through my ghosty reference books for you! I even have more now MUAHHAHAHHA! And most of them are about the UK. Even if you don't go to the places, it might be interesting to know where in London is reportedly haunted even if you just hear about those places in passing! And the idea of ghostly research makes me incredibly giddy :D I can send you an email list!
And Most Haunted are amateurs compared to everyone. But they are fun to watch scream like
Highgate Cemetery... Perhaps we'll look into it. The theatre sounds awesome too. We might actually see Scary Dave performing while we're over there! Anyway, it'd be awesome to know what to look out for, so thank you :)
Oooh, Scary Dave! That'd be awesome! If you do see him, send him my huggylove! I'll send the list to you in January! I get home on the 19th so that's plenty of time to get it to you before you leave!
Also, it'll still be chilly there! Be sure to bring warm clothes so your back doesn't hurt!
Yes, we've been looking into the weather statistics. Thankfully, at that time of year, it's only a little bit colder than the dead of Melbourne winter, so I should be able to survive, at least.
(Speaking of which, did you see Thor? Really liked what they did with it all.)
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I didn't! I've been too busy with aftershocks and sleeping this year to see much of anything, which is sad. I will eventually though! Since I want to see it before I see Avengers. WHICH I AM SO EXCITED ABOUT.
How are youuuu? My mother asked how you were doing!
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I think Thor is one of the best they've done; almost as good as Iron Man. From the teaser they had at the end of Captain America, it's probably also the most vital to see before Avengers. I absolutely love the look of the Rainbow Bridge, and both Loki and Thor were perfect. A really stellar effort with something that could have been sooooo hokey.
I'm doing pretty well. Working on the LAST CHAPTER of my thesis, woot! Still had to get a six month extension, but the end is in sight, so that's a huge relief. Just finished up supervising exams at ACU as well, since I didn't get any teaching work this semester. Pretty hard up for money cos of all that, especially since Erin and I are talking about a holiday to London which will absolutely eradicate my funds if I go. But we will see...
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Ooh, I will absolutely do that then!
OH YAY! End in sight is good. And GO TO LONDON and if you do, GO TO CAMDEN MARKETS. Of course, being able to afford it is important. Booking.com has a lot of specials on hotels and hostels if you want to book through there. That's what I did and some of the rooms were 50% off! And it tells you what things each hotel is closest too as well so you know if it's in the area you want to be. I stayed at a hotel that was like 5 feet from Euston Square underground station and it was brilliant because I could walk to Camden or Regents Park or the British Museum.
Blahblahblah London is bliss :D
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So, you know London pretty damn well; what other things do you recommend? The Tower and the Museum, obviously... what else is good?
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Basically I am so excited for you. I have always believed you would love it there. And I am SO JEALOUS you might get two weeks when I got one ;) But basically I think you will just have the best time. Eeeeiiii! Even if it turns out you can't go, definitely go some day! The entire time I was there I just kept thinking, "Lewi has to see this. HE HAS TO SEE THIS!"
There are also places like Trafalgar Square and then the West End which are just nice to walk around in. And Forbidden Planet is near Trafalgar Square I think. Or it's near Leicester Square. ...it's near a square, okay! And you should definitely stop by there as well! Just trust me on that ;)
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I think the Globe will definitely have to be on our list. I couldn't really consider myself a self-respecting Shakespearean scholar or acting without at least poking my nose in. The Ghost Bus sounds more like our thing than the Dungeon, though it really depends on how full our schedule gets. Erin and I are walking our left-hand spiritual path together at the moment, so I'm sure we'd have some interesting experiences. (Remember the phantom light bulb in Sydney?)
I think I'd really enjoy Sherlock Holmes, but unfortunately I've never had a chance to read any of the stories, so Baker Street would probably be wasted on me. Though I wonder if there's any sort of Jack the Ripper tour around Whitechapel? There must be, surely ( ... )
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I was reading about the Sherlock Holmes tales while researching detective fiction, and I do want to read them someday. Just another thing to add to the list... I'm reading some H. P. Lovecraft at the moment, and then I finally want to read The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings.
Speaking of Amanda, apparently she and Neil Gaiman are doing their New Year's thing in Melbourne this year! So can't wait...
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OOoh yes, all good things to read! Is it nice to read for leisure again?
That should be amazing! She is trying hard to get to CHCH too, but since we lost most concert venues, that'll make it hard!
I just remembered Jess interned at The Globe, I think! So if you couldn't afford a tour, you could probably get ahold of her and see if she would be up for a meet up and an informal tour! And I am sure she would love to see you and meet Erin. She's so lovely! Do you have her as a friend on Facebook? She doesn't check LJ often, but I think she is on FB more.
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Yeah, I read that Amanda is trying to get to Christchurch. She seems pretty determined, I think she'll figure something out.
Anyway, we just booked! We're going from the 2nd to the 15th of February, and staying in an awesome Victorian Gothic mansion! It's called Oakfield Estates. I don't suppose you know of any supernatural craziness attached to it? A bit of amateur Most Haunted wouldn't go astray... (Who am I kidding? Compared to us, they're the amateurs.)
And yes, I do have Jess on Facebook, so I might have a word. Good plan :)
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I hope so for the sake of the people who would love to go! But it might be difficult!
AWESOOMMMEEEE YAYYYY! You will have the best time. I will look up Oakfield Estates. In the meantime, off the top of my head I think the most famous paranormal spots are Highgate Cemetary (The Highgate Vampire and Spring-heeled Jack) and of course, the Tower. And a lot of the underground tunnels, actually. And there's the theatre on Drury Lane, but I don't know if you can go in without like...going to a show.
If you want, when I get home in January, I can go through my ghosty reference books for you! I even have more now MUAHHAHAHHA! And most of them are about the UK. Even if you don't go to the places, it might be interesting to know where in London is reportedly haunted even if you just hear about those places in passing! And the idea of ghostly research makes me incredibly giddy :D I can send you an email list!
And Most Haunted are amateurs compared to everyone. But they are fun to watch scream like
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Also, it'll still be chilly there! Be sure to bring warm clothes so your back doesn't hurt!
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Yes, we've been looking into the weather statistics. Thankfully, at that time of year, it's only a little bit colder than the dead of Melbourne winter, so I should be able to survive, at least.
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