so long and thanks for all the fish

If you know me, then you probably know that I have an attention span comparable to that of a cocker spaniel. (It's not very good) and so I blame this attention span for why I haven't written anything on this for a while.

I'm actually on the road as I write (metaphorically; as in I'm travelling but literally I'm sitting having coffee, which is pretty much what I'm always doing when I write this, it's lucky I like coffee.) I'm in Paris. And it's really cold. Really, really cold. Even the lady in the metro who sold me gloves agreed.

My parents are over here with me at the moment. It was quite fun showing them around London. I took them to my favourite singing lift, and even though they were still tackling jetlag they appreciated it. We did a bunch of the normal Londony type stuff and branched out a little seeing a last minute decision circus show, where one of the acts ended with a naked woman pulling a red handkerchief out of her nether regions. We also saw Matilda the musical, which was (I can't stress this enough) Amazing! The Trunchbull changed my life. Bruce Bogtrotter!!! Is anyone else re-living their childhood by just reading that name!? Well done, Tim Minchin, well done!

We then went to Cornwall, hung out with the relatives, drove around a lot and ate pasties.

We spent five days in Venice which is incredibly, incredibly beautiful. A real highlight was going up the bell tower on the church on San Giorgio and seeing the most amazing view.

Check it out..

Cool huh?

A lot of Venice revolved around eating. I wanted to try risotto, gelato, pizza, seafood, tirimisu; and managed to squeeze it all in. Literally. I drank a lot of coffee. Once to the point of feeling quite ill, that was the day I decided to just copy what an Italian ordered and wow 'doppia' is more than I can handle. Those people can drink me under the caffeine table. Venice really is quite unique though, I am a bit disappointed that I won't be able to see more of Italy, but it's definitely a must return to destination. Venice was just a little taste of it and I want more.. 

I also lived up to my blog name, and totally stacked it on a bridge in Venice. It was horribly embarrassing, I was on my own and was instantly surrounded by Italians who looked very concerned so I had to wave them all away, collect my dignity. Now I have a big ugly green bruise. If anyone asks I had to rescue a baby from a runaway horse, or something. 

(Just to do this all out of order) Just after new years before the arrival of the folks I was lucky enough to spend a week with Mr and Mrs Butchens in Vlissingen, Holland. (So that's Hutchy and Anneke to anyone who knows them.) It was the nicest week, (even though I had a cold) I did some good imposing on hospitality. When you're on the other side of the world meeting up with friends who you haven't seen is just the best thing. I had a really nice week exploring their local towns and did a couple of day trips to Delft and Amsterdam, saving tonnes of dosh (which has become very important..) getting lifts, using their wily local knowledge and free entry museum card. The Dutch are a funny and very pleasant bunch. They're very straight forward and once I got particularly confused when two ladies told me that the tower I wanted to go up was closed. They said it so dead pan I actually thought they were joking, but they were not. Also when they say they speak 'a little English' it means they speak perfect English. I'm not sure if they're falsely modest or they genuinely don't realise they've got it all right. 

pictures, for those struggling with all these words.. (they're from Holland!) 

I'll write in another one about Paris because this is getting long. But...

(Again, if we're really friends in real life you'll know this but I'll write it here just for the record) I've decided to end my clumsy London ways and return to my homeland. While I had planned and dreamed (!) of living in London for a year or more, truth is that I don't really ... like it that much. Well that's not entirely true, it's more that I've felt London doesn't like me that much. The truth is that London is not a fun place if you're broke. And I'm broke, having had little luck in finding a job. The job that I was doing casually, if I managed to get full time (which was unlikely) would leave me with enough money to pay rent, and buy a train ticket and then not eat any food. Because I like eating food I'd have to get some kind of second job, (which again, may be impossible) and still wouldn't leave me with enough moolah to enjoy London, or get out of it to see other places. So I decided to dust myself off, go home and re-skill. So I'm moving back to Oz to do a Masters. Very exciting! Might be a challenge with my attention span, but it should be good! I won't be back in Sydney though I'm switching sides (though my allegiance will remain true I'm sure..) and moving to Melbourne. 

Wow, this is long. Anyway, I'll write about Paris tomorrow, but for now, The End.