Life in transit

Comedians often take great fodder from plane travel, the food, the rituals of getting on, off, from and to the airport and the primal state that people seem to return to when confined within tin for long hours, Seinfeld made a career out of it.
If I thought it would illuminate matters in anyway then so would I.

And you may ask yourself, how did I get here?

The last few months of the year seem to have sped towards me with cliched swiftness and its often felt like I've had little time to mark things down. That is never a good thing as you end up forgetting little details and losing track of where you are. This is my attempt to catch up a little bit.

A Happy Birthday, sticky balaklavas and the sea

Dear god I should really be more regular with this stuff, I'm missing out on details by leaving such large gaps between blogging. Lets see how I go with that resolution shall we?

This green and pleasant land

Ah gentle readers, it has been some time since I updated here. Since I got back from Italy the hum drum of London has sucked me back in but I am nothing if not easily distracted.

Venice

Every day I was in Rome I found myself coming back to my hotel room and pouring out the intricacies of the day. Where I went, who I talked to, it rolled out of me but it has to be said that it was mostly intellectual observation, details rather than emotions. Venice was different.

Rome...if you want to

Day 2, I felt a little more familiar with Rome. That kinda heightened state of awareness I tend to feel when I first arrive at a place subsided so that I can cross the road without feeling besieged and happily lose myself in streets knowing that I will be able to navigate myself out somehow. It has to be said though, crossing the street is a test of wills here, they don't stop for you, even when you have a green light and they have a red one the cars keep coming at you. Day 1 my plan of action was to cross with locals or other tourists, using them as human shields. Day 2 I just found breaks in traffic and strode confidently across the street with enough bravado to suggest to drivers that this girls not kidding, that street will be crossed and it will damn well like it.

Friends, Romans, country men......

My first day in Rome and I was exhausted.

Italy, rare jewels and the green, green grass of London

So in less than a week I shall be in Italy! I'm trying not to lose my mind with excitement and so far self control has won out but I keep going over in my head how I can ditch clothes and make more suitcase space for olive oil, pasta, tomatoes and wine that I plan to smuggle back in my suitcase.

Easter in the north and the scent of gorse

Finally some time to catch up on the blog. How are we all then?

Little mouse, little mouse, where have you been?

Ah travelling, that's what I've been missing. The raw excitement followed by the agonising waiting and the random diversions to places you never intended to go.

Caching, cocktails and weekends at the Queens place

Alright so update is probably in order then. Much has happened since last I wrote.

Thelma and Jane Louise do London

So, after everything going on back home I have never needed a visit from Rebecca Lorraine more in my life. I was sooooooo looking forward to her heading down here and us being able to hit the sights for a little bit. She came over to he UK from the UAE, where I visited her in the first part of my trip, so she could renew her visa and visit her Nonna in Cambridge and her trip to London to see me was kind of a spontaneous bonus.

A melanchonly post

I just looked at the date I posted my last entry and realised that there had been a big break in our regularly scheduled programming. Very sorry about that. I guess there has been a lot happening and it can sometimes make the passage of time feel as if has passed slower than it really has.

There's no business like snow business

We've heard it a million times, that vexing phrase, “be careful what you wish for, coz you just might get it”. Uttered by the smug and patronising. Pah, I'd think, that's a good thing, I want to get what I wish for. Now I understand what it means. Really. Truly and deep down to my frozen toes.

I'm 9 to 5 but at least there's snow

Another big week in London town for me.

Go west young Jane

Ooohhhh I meant to blog last Sunday I really did but its been a bit of a busy week this one.
It started last Thursday, despite the insistence of every western calendar. Last week in and of itself started somewhat anxiously with me waiting to hear back from the Sky people to find out if I got that job, which I did. Then continued with me going to see various flat shares which made me more disconsolate with each subsequent viewing. Travellers tip, it is very difficult to live within walking distance of Chelsea unless you are an heiress of some kind. With my birthday fast approaching I decided to give it all away for a little bit to have a break and relax. After seeing an endless procession of flats that were only fit to hang yourself in I felt the need to proceed to the sea.

The call of the wales

Its been a fairly bureaucratic week for this weary traveller, but it does give me the chance to share with you a couple of what I've learned to be, some helpful rules for travelling.

The God of small things

This is the relatively less glamorous side of travelling to the other side of the world, I'm not travelling to any exotic destinations for the moment or preparing myself to travel to aforementioned exotic destinations. This is the business end of the trip, the how I set myself up so I can live here for a bit side. I'm doing lots of running around to find myself somewhere to live and a job and having to organise all of the bureaucratic things like National Insurance numbers.

Travelling North

Ladies and Gentlemen, I am well over planes. I feel slightly blasphemous saying that considering my brother has dedicated his life to them but still, considering how many of them I've been on lately the thought of getting on another one made me want to scream.
It was for that reason, when faced with a the decision as to how to get to Newcastle Upon Tyne to see the family for Christmas, I chose instead to take to the road.