with classmates outside uni
something suitably Hungarian
out walking in the Buda Hills
aussies up a tower (far right)
back outside uni, with Brissie girls! note St Stephens, home of the Holy Right Hand relic
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Magyarorsagan elek
For those still checking, I am still away and now in Hungary. I am learning Hungarian and getting well aquainted with szalami and langos, and have just had a visit from 7 Aussies and a Kiwi, so stories will come out soon, but for an entre here are some photos:
with classmates outside uni
something suitably Hungarian
out walking in the Buda Hills
aussies up a tower (far right)
back outside uni, with Brissie girls! note St Stephens, home of the Holy Right Hand relic
with classmates outside uni
something suitably Hungarian
out walking in the Buda Hills
aussies up a tower (far right)
back outside uni, with Brissie girls! note St Stephens, home of the Holy Right Hand relic
Sunday, June 15, 2008
English Summer
Well, it's two weeks until the end of the Summer Term, by which time I will need to produce at least a Chapter of my Dissertation. I have picked the hard one to start with, so nothing done as yet. I've also been working two days a week 'data cleansing' for the last three weeks, so time to strap on the nosebag and eat some serious political economy.
Inbetween all the earning and learning I have had the chance to enjoy the amazingly consistent warm weather. Last weekend I cycled 15 miled to Selby (I took the train back) along an old train line which as been converted to a bike path. Highlights include a scale model of the solar system:
http://lifeandhealth.guardian.co.uk/guides/cycling/story/0,,2022661,00.html
Didn't take any photos, unfortunately. But here are some photos from other sunny day outings this last month or two:
Boating on the Ouse in the slowest motor boat ever.
A Day At the Races. The building in the background was the original factory for Terry's Chocolate Oranges.
and in the evenings...
International Ball
Dinner in the old Assembly Rooms
Inbetween all the earning and learning I have had the chance to enjoy the amazingly consistent warm weather. Last weekend I cycled 15 miled to Selby (I took the train back) along an old train line which as been converted to a bike path. Highlights include a scale model of the solar system:
http://lifeandhealth.guardian.co.uk/guides/cycling/story/0,,2022661,00.html
Didn't take any photos, unfortunately. But here are some photos from other sunny day outings this last month or two:
Boating on the Ouse in the slowest motor boat ever.
A Day At the Races. The building in the background was the original factory for Terry's Chocolate Oranges.
and in the evenings...
International Ball
Dinner in the old Assembly Rooms
Monday, May 19, 2008
mass photo download!
In the midst of a parental visit, at the moment, so before I download all the photos from THIS visit, I should recap on all the weeks I've missed!
Firstly, Easter in Essex with the Aussie girls, with some unexpected Spring Snow!
hamming it up in the easter egg hunt
my BIRTHDAY, when I had a high tea in my college kitchen:
I took 50 international students to the Lake District:
Ambleside
Jessie came to visit!
We went to Castle Howard, aka Brideshead
The dome
May Day long weekend in London, with about half a million Aussies, a bbq, and lots of nerdy fun in Greenwich:
PRIME MERIDIAN!
And back at home, school photo day at the Politics Graduate School
MAs. I'm the one with the yellow cardi
classmates squinting in the sun
Firstly, Easter in Essex with the Aussie girls, with some unexpected Spring Snow!
hamming it up in the easter egg hunt
my BIRTHDAY, when I had a high tea in my college kitchen:
I took 50 international students to the Lake District:
Ambleside
Jessie came to visit!
We went to Castle Howard, aka Brideshead
The dome
May Day long weekend in London, with about half a million Aussies, a bbq, and lots of nerdy fun in Greenwich:
PRIME MERIDIAN!
And back at home, school photo day at the Politics Graduate School
MAs. I'm the one with the yellow cardi
classmates squinting in the sun
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
To be sure to be sure
Now, I know that St Pat's day is particularly OTT in Australia, as we all celebrate our distant (to the point of non-existant in many cases) Irish heritage in a highly dignified fashion.... However, I was quite disappointed by the poor showing in the village of Heslington, last night. Most appeared to be in the pub for the Brighton-Newcastle game, with the Guinness as an afterthough.
Still, for the first (and I suspect only) time I got some nice Guinness freebies, the competition not being as fierce as down the Pigger at home. A single pint (we did end up with another) decked as out as illustrated below:
Two of our party were even offered the free tshirt, but they *were* Irish...
Still, for the first (and I suspect only) time I got some nice Guinness freebies, the competition not being as fierce as down the Pigger at home. A single pint (we did end up with another) decked as out as illustrated below:
Two of our party were even offered the free tshirt, but they *were* Irish...
Monday, March 10, 2008
Slideshow evening
I am too caught up in the ever-unravelling narrative that is my dissertation to regale you any of the stories of the last six weeks. But I know that, really, you only read this blog (if indeed, any of you still do) for the pictures, so I will let them do the talking:
JANUARY 26: BURNS' NIGHT ON AUSTRALIA DAY PARTY
The Scotch (they love it when you call them that) and the Aussies (Leonie was visiting, so we were plural for once) put on some Fourex, some Fosters some haggis-tatties-n-neeps, some pavlova and some poetry recitation for an invasion day to remember.
clockwise from top left: neeps, haggis, tatties. mmm.
The Aussie way of life offers easy cultural translation for the Russians
LEONIE AND I TRAMPLE ON THE MOORS
... and make it to the seaside, all in the same day. And discover how tame the English countryside really is...
out on t'moors
Whitby
JESSIE AND RADDI EDUCATE CAMBRIDGE
The antipodean diaspora descends on Essex, where the micro-climate of Newport brings the Australians out of doors without their coats; Jessie and I go for a day-trip to Cambridge.
Essex's newest indie band poses for their record cover
somehow Perpendicular Gothic just doesnt work out in my photos...
YES I AM STILL HAVING A GOOD TIME IN YORK
as witnessed by cui cui, who visited this weekend!
getting in touch with Roman Heritage
college
JANUARY 26: BURNS' NIGHT ON AUSTRALIA DAY PARTY
The Scotch (they love it when you call them that) and the Aussies (Leonie was visiting, so we were plural for once) put on some Fourex, some Fosters some haggis-tatties-n-neeps, some pavlova and some poetry recitation for an invasion day to remember.
clockwise from top left: neeps, haggis, tatties. mmm.
The Aussie way of life offers easy cultural translation for the Russians
LEONIE AND I TRAMPLE ON THE MOORS
... and make it to the seaside, all in the same day. And discover how tame the English countryside really is...
out on t'moors
Whitby
JESSIE AND RADDI EDUCATE CAMBRIDGE
The antipodean diaspora descends on Essex, where the micro-climate of Newport brings the Australians out of doors without their coats; Jessie and I go for a day-trip to Cambridge.
Essex's newest indie band poses for their record cover
somehow Perpendicular Gothic just doesnt work out in my photos...
YES I AM STILL HAVING A GOOD TIME IN YORK
as witnessed by cui cui, who visited this weekend!
getting in touch with Roman Heritage
college
Monday, January 21, 2008
Hello Goodbye, Liverpool
Yesterday I had the pleasure of visiting the European Capital of Culture.
You guessed it: Liverpool.
.. and don't the pigeons look excited.
The amount of construction work around and scaffolding on the chief attractions did attest to something significant happening this year. I guess it IS only January, and everyone needs to have a tea-break occasionally, right?
Despite foul weather, it was a very enjoyable day. Spent most of it down at the Docks, which seem to be the hub of all the attractions:
Including that which got our tourist pounds, the Beatles Museum:
I wasn't sure what to expect of The Beatles Story, and determined only to go if there was a student price. There was, and it was actually terrific fun. Highlights were an old reel-to-reel from Abbey road, and John Lennons 'amber coloured' specs. I was extraordinarily self-controlled in the gift shop.
We did also pop into the Tate. Wandering past, I saw the side of what I could swear was a Rodin. Turns out it was: Liverpool has The Kiss for the year. Perks of holding The Title, I guess. We took a quick turn and enjoyed some Degas, Matisse, Moore, Andy, etc.
(And of course we had our obligatory curry and march upon Primark).
This Wednesday Leonie comes to visit!
You guessed it: Liverpool.
.. and don't the pigeons look excited.
The amount of construction work around and scaffolding on the chief attractions did attest to something significant happening this year. I guess it IS only January, and everyone needs to have a tea-break occasionally, right?
Despite foul weather, it was a very enjoyable day. Spent most of it down at the Docks, which seem to be the hub of all the attractions:
Including that which got our tourist pounds, the Beatles Museum:
I wasn't sure what to expect of The Beatles Story, and determined only to go if there was a student price. There was, and it was actually terrific fun. Highlights were an old reel-to-reel from Abbey road, and John Lennons 'amber coloured' specs. I was extraordinarily self-controlled in the gift shop.
We did also pop into the Tate. Wandering past, I saw the side of what I could swear was a Rodin. Turns out it was: Liverpool has The Kiss for the year. Perks of holding The Title, I guess. We took a quick turn and enjoyed some Degas, Matisse, Moore, Andy, etc.
(And of course we had our obligatory curry and march upon Primark).
This Wednesday Leonie comes to visit!
Monday, January 7, 2008
Not in London Still
Happy New Year possums!
Just got back last night from mooching off Sam and Leo for a week's break in London, and I feel that I finally have started to get a handle on that city. I still hate the tube, though. Speaking of the tube, Leo was telling me about all the outdated posters she's seen in tunnels. Apparently there is one which advertises a film starring John Candy... *coughs awkwardly*
As always, London was the place to be to see your friends from Oz, but this time it was doubly or perhaps quadrupedly exciting because as well as the usuals in residence, there was also Claire still in the country and Jessie just arrived in the country! Add to that a few more ex-Brisbanians and just-visiting Brisbanians, and our New Years House Party pretty much could have been anywhere in the inner western suburbs... except it was in Greenwich. Sometimes the cliches are so true, and often they make for great parties. My inner nerd (yeah I have one, in case you haven't noticed) was very excited about my first Greenwich Mean Time countdown. We went out on the heath to watch the fireworks- both the ones in town and the ones the locals were setting off willy-nilly (slightly alarming, even on a damp night). The Australians had to start our own chorus of Auld Lang Syne, though, which just didn't seem right.
New Years' Day Jessie had to rush off to her new position in Essex, so after seeing her off Leo and Claire and I hit Harrods. As you can see from the photo below, we opted for the traditional English experience in the food hall:
They have their own 'Harrods' Krispy Kreme filling, complete with a logo-d chocolate nameplate on top. For the record, it is less tasty than the custard filed, IMO.
After Claire was bundled off to her Cousin and Sam and Leo went back to work, I spent the week taking myself around to whichever tourist sights appealled to me that day. The first day I took in some of the British Museum, which was an overwhelming combination of the amazing (the Rosetta Stone, 'bog' people) and the slightly distressing (the 'anthropological' collection in the King's library, the information plaque explaining why Elgin is a bit of a hero), and the National Portrait Gallery. The Portrait Gallery was really a highlight of the trip, touristically speaking. It has all sorts of fun things like the only painting of Shakespeare with any claim to be at all authentic; quite a few of Warhol's celebrity portraits, including one of his Queen Elizabeth IIs; and my personal favourite, Opie's Alex, Bassist. Damon, Singer. Dave, Drummer. Graham, Guitarist.
Another day I popped off to Highgate in the morning to pay my respects to Marx and Spencer (boom! boom! see what I did just there?), during which trip it snowed! at little bit. I wandered over to Hamstead Heath to take in the view from Parliament Hill (unfortunately quite foggy) and then down to Keats' House, via Marks and Spencers (that one wasnt a joke) for a sandwich.
To warm up in the afternoon, I dropped in at the Victoria and Albert Museum, which has a great collection of *Stuff* (which is just what I love in a museum). I was in the mood for some frocks, so I started in the fashion gallery, then had a look at some lovely plunder from the Raj, and took a turn around the Raphael gallery (the cartoons for the Sistene Chapel). Barely scraped the surface, of course, but there is no way of seeing half the Stuff on display, which again is only a fraction of the whole collection.
Topping off the week, Sam (who works at the Old Vic Theatre, and, incidently, met Kevin Spacey this week! I'm still waiting for my phone to ring.... he swore he passed on my mobile number....) got us some free tickets for the Panto currently running there at the moment. Cinderella again, and pure panto, but as imagined by Stephen Fry (and you can tell!), and definitely one for the grown-ups more than the kiddies. Not that it was all sophistication, far from it: there was plenty of great Carry On style humour, with an Evil Stepmother who looked remarkably like Hattie Jacques. Lots of clever songs and sprinklings of topical gags in amongst the wonderful camp.
I was remarkably lazy with taking photos this trip, so I leave you with some by Jessie:
action shot of me at Kings Cross (look further to the left)
first time we'd all been together for 18 months... of course it called for Guinness
... but there was no way I was missing this photo
storm troopers on the South Bank
Just got back last night from mooching off Sam and Leo for a week's break in London, and I feel that I finally have started to get a handle on that city. I still hate the tube, though. Speaking of the tube, Leo was telling me about all the outdated posters she's seen in tunnels. Apparently there is one which advertises a film starring John Candy... *coughs awkwardly*
As always, London was the place to be to see your friends from Oz, but this time it was doubly or perhaps quadrupedly exciting because as well as the usuals in residence, there was also Claire still in the country and Jessie just arrived in the country! Add to that a few more ex-Brisbanians and just-visiting Brisbanians, and our New Years House Party pretty much could have been anywhere in the inner western suburbs... except it was in Greenwich. Sometimes the cliches are so true, and often they make for great parties. My inner nerd (yeah I have one, in case you haven't noticed) was very excited about my first Greenwich Mean Time countdown. We went out on the heath to watch the fireworks- both the ones in town and the ones the locals were setting off willy-nilly (slightly alarming, even on a damp night). The Australians had to start our own chorus of Auld Lang Syne, though, which just didn't seem right.
New Years' Day Jessie had to rush off to her new position in Essex, so after seeing her off Leo and Claire and I hit Harrods. As you can see from the photo below, we opted for the traditional English experience in the food hall:
They have their own 'Harrods' Krispy Kreme filling, complete with a logo-d chocolate nameplate on top. For the record, it is less tasty than the custard filed, IMO.
After Claire was bundled off to her Cousin and Sam and Leo went back to work, I spent the week taking myself around to whichever tourist sights appealled to me that day. The first day I took in some of the British Museum, which was an overwhelming combination of the amazing (the Rosetta Stone, 'bog' people) and the slightly distressing (the 'anthropological' collection in the King's library, the information plaque explaining why Elgin is a bit of a hero), and the National Portrait Gallery. The Portrait Gallery was really a highlight of the trip, touristically speaking. It has all sorts of fun things like the only painting of Shakespeare with any claim to be at all authentic; quite a few of Warhol's celebrity portraits, including one of his Queen Elizabeth IIs; and my personal favourite, Opie's Alex, Bassist. Damon, Singer. Dave, Drummer. Graham, Guitarist.
Another day I popped off to Highgate in the morning to pay my respects to Marx and Spencer (boom! boom! see what I did just there?), during which trip it snowed! at little bit. I wandered over to Hamstead Heath to take in the view from Parliament Hill (unfortunately quite foggy) and then down to Keats' House, via Marks and Spencers (that one wasnt a joke) for a sandwich.
To warm up in the afternoon, I dropped in at the Victoria and Albert Museum, which has a great collection of *Stuff* (which is just what I love in a museum). I was in the mood for some frocks, so I started in the fashion gallery, then had a look at some lovely plunder from the Raj, and took a turn around the Raphael gallery (the cartoons for the Sistene Chapel). Barely scraped the surface, of course, but there is no way of seeing half the Stuff on display, which again is only a fraction of the whole collection.
Topping off the week, Sam (who works at the Old Vic Theatre, and, incidently, met Kevin Spacey this week! I'm still waiting for my phone to ring.... he swore he passed on my mobile number....) got us some free tickets for the Panto currently running there at the moment. Cinderella again, and pure panto, but as imagined by Stephen Fry (and you can tell!), and definitely one for the grown-ups more than the kiddies. Not that it was all sophistication, far from it: there was plenty of great Carry On style humour, with an Evil Stepmother who looked remarkably like Hattie Jacques. Lots of clever songs and sprinklings of topical gags in amongst the wonderful camp.
I was remarkably lazy with taking photos this trip, so I leave you with some by Jessie:
action shot of me at Kings Cross (look further to the left)
first time we'd all been together for 18 months... of course it called for Guinness
... but there was no way I was missing this photo
storm troopers on the South Bank
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