Kew Gardens

Hey everyone!

So today we had a bit of a lie in. Kahn still pretty jet lagged and I'm always tired so it was nice!

Had some brekky and then set off about 11am for Kew Gardens. Got the tube for approx an hour and walked from the station. Got a bit lost along the way so saw some of the Kew area by mistake - was good!!

Got to the gardens and has to queue for about half an hour. Hate to think what summer is gonna be like here. It's already nuts!! It was pretty good weather today so people were keen to get out and about. 

Kew gardens is a botanic garden in southwest London. It has the world's largest collection of living plants and was enlarged in 1759 by princess Augusta once her husband died. 

We started off on a one hour walking tour that basically - wasn't very good! The lady was hopeless at talking to the big group and she wasn't full of very interesting information. But it helped us get our bearings so that was ok!! 

Afterwards Kahn had a bit of a nap as he's still so jet lagged. I sat and enjoyed some chill time in the sun. We spent the remainder of the afternoon walking around looking inside Kew Palace, a lot of which had its interior walls exposed to show historical markings and things which was pretty interesting. Saw lots of cool plants including palms and desert plants housed inside greenhouses. My favourite was the treetop walk! It swayed a lot in the wind though. Finished up at the pagoda and then headed out. All up we spent about 4-5 hours and the weather held up fantastically! The temperate house is closed until 2018 though unfortunately. 

It was really nice so easily being able to do something in London and look just like a local. I had a great day!

Got the train back to Angel and then took advantage of having Kahn here to help with the grocery shopping. The nearest massive supermarket is in Angel which is a 20 minute walk from mine. So he helped me carry stuff! Should be set for a while now. 

We made peri peri chicken wraps with veggies, cheese and salad and they were yummmmmm!!!

Now we are heading out for a drink in Shoreditch with ace cilia (my housemate) and her friend who is also visiting. Kahn is currently asleep so hopefully he wakes up from his jet lag and feels ok to come haha. 

GO PIES! I am getting up at 6am tmro to watch and cheer us on. I have a good feeling about tmro!

Love to all

Claire

Xoxox

Back in London Town

Hello everyone!

Decided I would post a blog after all. 

Last night I chilled out and then went for a walk along the water. I only had the clothes I was wearing today set out so wore them (not as many layers!) so it was a bit chilly! Sat down near the sculpture Marleen and I went to on our first day here and just took it all in one last time. 

Had an ok night of sleep. Nowhere near as many people coming and going so that was better. This morning it was my turn to wake everyone up (muahaha). Got up at 6.20am and got dressed and left. Walked to the bus station and caught the 45 minute bus to the airport. 

The weather today in Iceland was stunning! Sunny and lovely - shame it was only 4 degrees though. I got to the airport and checked in no worries. Watched a bit of Sydney vs Carlton on the iPad whilst I waited and then boarded. 

After taking off we were treated with some gorgeous views from the plane window, that's the main reason I decided to post today as I wanted to show you the photos. Could see the city and then lots of glaciers, snow and coastline. Lovely!!

It was great to finally have a permanent address to fill in on the UK immigration form and write "teacher" knowing I now have a place to live and some work. I'm a real temporary resident!!!

I was sitting next to a guy from New Jersey who's based in England in the U.S. Airforce. We chatted for a while and then I watched the first and fourth quarters of Hawthorn vs Essendon from round 2. The iPad would only let me download two quarters of a game, and I picked that game as it was such a close one. What a game!!!!! I already knew who won and I still found myself wondering how Essendon would come back in the last 2 minutes. Still got goosebumps when Hooker kicked that goal (what was he doing in the forward line?!) and still felt nervous at the end. So funny that Breust had the ball running into an open goal right at the end!!

Once I landed I got the bus to Golders Green tube station and then the tube to Old Street. It's so strange to be back in the same place again!! I did some washing and got ready and then went to the station to meet my friend Kahn who's staying here the next few days. Tonight we went out to a really cool restaurant near Bond Street tube station called 'Meat Liquor'. Having a bit of an early night tonight as we are both wrecked. He only left NZ six days ago so still a bit jet lagged. Tmro we are going to Kew Gardens so stay tuned. 

Love to all

Claire

Xoxox

Walkabout in Reykjavik

Hello everyone!

Had the worst night of sleep (or lack thereof!) last night. New dorm people are so rude and inconsiderate. Two girls came in at 2am with all their things and instead of being quiet talked at the tops of their voices and turned the lights on. Took forever to get into bed and then woke me again talking at 4! At 5 another lady's alarm went off (she had pre warned me she had to get up early for the airport) and then at 7 one of the new girls left and slammed the door so hard it woke us up, as well as leaving the curtains open! Can't wait until it's my turn to leave early tmro to make as much noise as humanly possible....

Today I just took my time getting ready this morning and then set off walking aimlessly. I walked through a couple of parks and then reached Perlan or 'The Pearl'. It's basically a spherical building atop four large water tanks that help store and disperse the geologically heated hot water throughout Reykjavik. But for me today, it was a free attraction with a nice view. I went up the lift to the viewing platform and enjoyed a view of the city with snowy mountains in the background. It was really nice but boy was it windy!!! I could see all the main buildings as well as those with coloured roofs. 

Then I walked through the forest down from the pearl towards the bus station and town. Passed the local football stadium!! Walked through the "suburbs" I guess you could say and saw lots of houses. 

Then I got to the main part of town and walked exactly where I ran the other day. Got one last hotdog on the way! Ended up on another viewing platform that had fish drying in a cupboard up the top. I had seen that on 'The Amazing Race' when they came to Norway so wasn't freaked out because I knew what it was there for!!!!

Now I've just had a nice long shower and am considering going for another walk as it's sunny at the moment. I've cooked myself some pasta and sauce which was on the "free food" shelf in the kitchen (yay saving money!!) and have eaten some but am going to have some more for dinner later. 

Tmro morning I get the bus at 7.30am to the airport and head home to London - that feels weird to say! I've had such a fantastic week here. Hope you've all enjoyed my posts and photos, can't believe how quickly this week (like the whole year really!) has gone. I also hope I've inspired some of you to add Iceland to your bucket list. It truly has been a great time here with so much unique nature and things to do!

I'll still be posting about life in London and my other trips so stay tuned. Might not be a blog tmro as I won't be up to much anyway but if not tmro then definitely one on Saturday. 

Love to all

Claire

Xoxox