A brief overview of life in Manchester

Manchester

We know that this is a little out of date and a bit backward but thought we should do a blog on Manchester before we leave to come home for Christmas in 3 days.

We arrived in Manchester on the 31st August with a distinct welcoming by the kind of weather you would expect to have in England, cold, rainy and wet. We stayed at a hostel called Hatters where straight away we started looking and applying for jobs due to the fact that our funds had completely run out giving us an option of finding a job in 2 or 3 weeks or ending back up in New Zealand. We honestly had never been so poor then in this stage of our life, counting every "P" and not being able to splurge out on take aways at all (and for those of you that know us, you know how much of a nightmare having no takeaways would have been for us.)
There is no shortage of jobs in Manchester the only problem is that no one wants to employ and train someone if they can only stick around for a year so after applying for a huge amount of jobs between us and having no Joy we decided to just get any job for the mean time cause we needed money asap. So we got a job At Odeon one of England's biggest movie theaters. At the time we did intend to just stay till we found better jobs but by the time we got trained and started work it was the end of September and by this time we had decided we would go home for Christmas and would leave finding good jobs till the new year (Now we have decided not to come back to Europe until Summer June/July 08'.)
Odeon has been a great place to work, everyone has been so welcoming and friendly we have made some great friends and its not a place you dread to go to work.. It has perks that have kept us entertained and helped us in our savings like free movies and half price food. Plus endless hours really I think on average we must work 50 - 60 hours a week. We had our Christmas party the other week feel free to check out the photos. It was a great night filled with alot of dancing and not so much drinking.

Odeon Christmas Party

After about 3 or 4 days of staying at Hatters we found cheap temporary accommodation in Old Trafford that we thought we would just stay at for a week or two... we are still here. Things have improved since we arrived in "Number 23" we now have hot running water in the kitchen sink, carpet, locks on the windows, a wall in the living room and best of all heating. I guess it is something we all live through at one stage in our life.. mind you most people do it while at uni, A crappy, smelly, dirty house, with dirty flat mates. But we love it all the same... well kind off... maybe its a love hate relationship. Loving the price and the location 2 blocks from Manchester United stadium, 1 block to the Met, a small walk to the bus stop and close to work . Hating the condition of the house. We are a multi cultural house here at "Number 23" Czech Republic, Ireland, Dubi and New Zealand it works well.
As for Manchester in general it is a nice city it has a nice mix of historic and modern buildings I think it might be due to the bombings in 1992 and 1996 but I'm not to sure, the city is defiantly not as historical as London anyway. There is concrete every where and all the houses look the same. It seems like almost everybody smokes even in real public areas and even around there tiny little babies...grrr pisses me off. Christmas shopping makes it imposable to walk anywhere fast in the city or at The Trafford Center where we work it is crazy! like time square in New York but in cramped conditions. It honestly starts to get dark at 3:30pm and is dark no later then 4:30pm this feels so unnatural and sometimes just makes me feel completely disorientated. At the moment we live in a steady temperature of 2 - 5 degrees f a r e z i n g! But some how I think we are climatising or we have just learnt how to dress, that being 4 or 5 layers a hood a scarf, gloves and in some cases a woolen hat. It is a strange experience living such a cold winter when your body is wondering why the hang it is so cold leading up to Christmas its meant to be summer baby.
So I think that is about it even though we are not living here as long as planed we are still happy and have the whole "I wonder what it is like to live in England" and "How much money could we make?" questions out of our minds and we are sooo ready to go home for summer.

London's Calling

London

December 10th - 13th
We set of on our trip to London on the 10th of December we needed to make sure that the weather was just as freezing in other parts of England as it is here in Manchester...
We took the 4 hour Mega Bus ride for a giant cost of 1 pound and arrived in London at 1:30pm. Some how along the way in our travels we have become the masters at reading and navigating our way around on metro's, subway's, tram's and in this case "the tub" and got to our backpacker's with strangely no problems at all, dropped of our stuff and headed straight back into the city to the Natural History Museum. The building of the Museum was the first of the many amazing ancient beautiful buildings we were about to see in London with huge amounts of detail in the architecture and massive stained glass windows once again Pictures just don't do size and detail justice. We headed back down to the tube once again with no idea where we were in the world and asked the nearest stranger where the most "touristy" part of London is and we headed that way. As we breached the street we couldn't help but notice the huge clock in front of us "Is that Big Ben?" I asked Matt
"...Is that Big Ben?" Matt said.
"I'm pretty sure that's Big Ben" I said "Go ask someone"
So of Matt went like a small town Maori to confirm that we had finally made it to London like we always said we would since before we got married the look of achievement on our faces priceless when we found out it was.
After this we just kept on banging into historical buildings attractions etc. In the three days we spent in London I think we must have crammed in as much as physically possible. Buckingham Palace (where the Queen was home.) St James's Palace, Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Trafalgar Square, Mayfair (We now understand why these houses cost so much in Monopoly.) National Art Gallery, The London Eye, Tower of London, a river cruise and a big bus tour that included sights like 10 Downing street, St Paul's Cathedral and where the Queen buys her undies.
But by far I think our highlight was while taking a free tour with the big bus company called The Royal London Walk. You Pretty much walk around with a guide giving you all these royal facts and then you see the whole process of the changing of the Gard's right from St James's to Buckingham Palace. Anyway we were standing outside the gates of St James's Castle and Clarance house where Prince Charles and co live listening to the whole brake down on who lived where and for how long when Prince William with three of his security guards just walk on by like I am talking 1m max away from where Matt and I were standing. Woooh Baby you should have seen our faces Matt and I both turned to look at each other to make sure we were not seeing things and then just stared the whole time I was holding the camera in my hands and it was like I was frozen in a time warp or something then all of a sudden I was like camera, camera but I had gloves on and was freezing and was so confused I didn't know if you were allowed to take photos cause it was like no one else had seen him I finally turned it on but by this time he had walked by so I ran to the side of the road but only got his back grrr! The lady behind me hadn't even seen him she was asking "was that a Prince?" I think the tour guide was just as shocked as us cause he didn't see Prince William till after he had passed right behind him. Some guys chased after him for photo's after they realised who it was which I thought was shocking cause I am a firm believer in that being how princess Di Died.
Anyway unbelievable! What are the odds of seeing Royalty while your in London wow, I still can't believe it. So when you look at our Photo's and see the four guys in suites Prince William is the 2nd from the left.
So that was what our trip consisted of. It was freezing, way worse then Manchester but at least it wasn't raining for the whole time we were there praise God. The trip was really good we loved it and Matt didn't get sick on the bus... bonus.

Pics for London Trip
http://picasaweb.google.com/mattblairmail/London?authkey=ntDKUmPP7sw

La Tomatina

La Tomatina 29 Aug 07

Okay just to state now there are no words that we can even use to nearly describe how much of an amazing and scary experience this was... but we will give it a go.

After arriving to Valencia and successfully figuring out the Spanish Metro system that took us to the "general area" of our hotel we found ourselves stranded at a phone booth, with the realisation that not everyone in Spain speaks English as we were told by so many that went before us. Somehow we needed to get ourselves a taxi. After numerous attempts which included Renee being told by the hotel admin what she needed to say in Spanish to the taxi company...clearly one of the biggest failed attempts, we managed to find a picture of a taxi that we pointed out to a young local boy and held the phone out to him at the same time... ahh success after an hour in the hot sun (39ish) our taxi arrived in minutes taking us to the hotel for a much needed sleep.

The next day our hotel began to fill up with young adventures tomato throwers. We meet up with a few of them and arranged a plan on how we would accompany each other to La Tomatina 07. We spent the day before the fight exploring Valencia, not much to report there, nice beach, plenty of Pharmacias and shops that seemed to never open due to siesta time.

The big day. We caught the earliest bus we could from the hotel into the metro station then the metro to the train station hoping to get there in time for the 8:38am train to Bunol but due to large crowds of mainly Australians and Kiwis we ended up on the 9:08 train for a cozy 40 minute ride.

The atmosphere of Bunol was amazing as soon as we Sept of the train. The locals had all their little stores set up with t-shirts, food, goggles, water proof cameras,water but mainly alcohol. People from all over the world dressed up crazy, Japanese in Kimono's, Kiwis with homemade watermelon helmets and Spanish music blaring from somewhere in the crowed. It was peaceful in a way you could tell everyone was just there for a good time. After grabbing a bite to eat and buying our camera we followed the masses down the hill to the middle of the village.. well actually we never made it anywhere near the center looking back at the news we must have been at least 2 or 3 blocks from it. After standing in the hot, drunken crowed for an hour trying to sneak ourselves closer and closer to the action while at the same time trying to get the attention of the locals who were delousing the crowed with water from there balconies, we herd the first cannon fire signaling that the ham had been reached at the top of the pole. A big raw of excitement went up from the crowed with everyone singing oh lay, oh lay ohlayohlay o-h lay o-h lay (the theme that continued throughout the rest of the day.) 20 minutes later... still no tomato's and the crowed was becoming a bit intense. Somewhere in the distance water cannons were being fired but we were all still stuck in a hot muggy crowed with wet t-shirts, plastic cups, the odd glass bottle and one tomato that someone mush have brought from home being thrown round, people climbing up buildings all over the place. I think it was at this point one of my jandles broke and feel off about 15 minutes later I saw it getting hearled ahead of me I think it even hit Matt quite ironic really whats the odds?

The crowed was so compact like wall to wall of the street. I can't even begin to describe the feeling, it got to the point that if the crowed surged I would just pick my feet up and be dragged with it to stop risking my toe nail's being riped to bits. Then the tomato trucks started to come meaning that everyone in the crowed had to somehow move out of the way so they could pass leaving like a 50cm max gap on each side... Freak us out if I thought the crowed was compact before... GOOD GOD! Lucky for us there was a side street that we managed to slip into but it wasn't any less crowded it just meant a giant truck wasn't going to run us over. Unfortunately the truck had already dropped all the tomato's in the center of town... not to worry 7 more truck loads to come. I couldn't bear the thought of going through that 8 more times, it was scary, all for themselves really. We gave it a go one more time for the second time but still no tomato's. I was so disappointed but I had to get out so Matt and I kept on heading down the side street till be had an area of 30cm to breath. It was hear that we banged in to a girl from camp she had been right in the middle when the first truck load got dropped she was saying how horrible it was, all her clothes had been ripped at by a whole lot of guys that had just surrounded her and started attacking. She randomly got saved by some Canadian she thought she was going to be left in the crowed naked.

What a downer for us, so was this La Tomatina? We had lost everyone we had come with and still hadn't got near any tomato's.... But alas just as we started walking down another side street all the tomato's and water had begun to gush down from the main street and we found ourselves walking into a glorious tomato fight. Yeah baby it was on, just as we had thought it would be, plenty of room to move around, splash around and plenty of tomato's to go around I was shin deep in them. So much fun and so worth it! We played and splashed and I watched Matt gag every time he got the tiniest bit of tomato in his mouth... hysterical to see I'm telling you! Then the last canon went off signaling the end of the fight. Good times.

Tried to find some water and hoses to wash of in you can see a photo of the sleazy local trying to catch a view of Tallulah's bobby as he rinses her off. But pretty much we caught the train back to Valencia for a feed at Mc D's jumping from shadow to shadow trying to stop our feet from burning cause Matt and I had both lost our jandels completely now... and ended up eventually back at the hotel smelling like sun dried tomato's.

We don't know if we would recommend La Tomotina. We are so glade we have done it now and think it was worth it, met lots of amazing people and would have to say that it seems like a whole lot of ozzies and kiwis just come half way around the world to have it out in one massive tomato fight. If you do go just a couple of basic pointers... 1. wear closed in shoes, 2. just hang out in the side streets till the tomato's start flowing baby.

New York City

New York City

NYC

21st – 26th August 2007
Well I am sitting in JFK airport now waiting to fly to Spain, trying to think of what to write about NY City. We did so much more then what I would have planed and looking at the photos it’s like we almost never took the camera out... bummer!
The great thing about NY was that a few of our mates from camp are locals and I think that there must have been a solid 15 of us that all met up in NY from Camp, so they took care of the night life (I don’t think there was a single night that we got to bed before 1am.
In the day time we broke of into smaller groups to explore the city. Top highlights being things like the Statue of Liberty at night via the Staten Island Ferry... free woot-woot. Time square and the size of the shops (see the lego photos.) The Empire State Building. Oh we went to a stand up comadey show at the New York Comedy Club, tickets only $5 but the small writing was a 2 drink minimum @ $10 each for a beer (grrr it still burns.) But right at the top of the list was being in the live audience for Fox Networks Good Morning Show. So much fun! We just got randomly selected while walking around Rockefeller Centre. I won a bag of girly goodies nail polish etc and Matt got dragged into a dance competition in the commercial brake, but after seeing the first funky old black guy dance he decided to cut his loses and busted out this corny song and dance from camp called “Big fish little fish”... so funny, he got the whole audience and stage crew doing it... including the front row that was full of beauty queens, I almost pissed myself laughing.
Time started to drag a bit towards the last few days in NY. I got a bit sick from just all the pollution I think, can’t wait to get to somewhere that I can take a deep breath of fresh air.
We left booking our accommodation till the last minute and ended up at a YMCA hostel in Harlem, but by the sounds of it the facilities and price were way better then what everyone else had. We became regular subway goers that wasn’t any were near as scary as I thought it would be.
Well that’s about it for NYC, it was a blast hanging out with everyone from camp. Once again sorry the photos suck.
Pics

Washington DC

Washington DC

Washington DC

17th – 21st August 2007
DC is such a beautiful, clean and welcoming city!
The buildings are honestly breathtaking. The size and detail of the buildings are beyond description and the photos we took really do nothing for them... I was in heaven. Washington DC is such a good holiday destination too because just about everything is free.
We booked the cheapest possible hotel (Hotel Washington) that ended up to be this huge Victorian gem right across the road from the white house. It was a prime location and walking distance to all the attractions.
We had four very relaxing days in DC along with catching up on a lot of sleep we visited sights such as...
• The Smithsonian Museums (Air & Space, Natural History and Natural Archives.) We saw the real declaration of independence/ Think National treasure.
• Washington Monument (Free to go up... however it meant lining up at 7am to get tickets when the window opened at 8:30)
• Lincoln memorial
• Capital Building
• WW2 Memorial
• White House
We even squeezed in a Baseball game (NY Mets Vs Washington Nationals)
I guess as the old saying goes “A picture says 1000 words” Check out our DC experience on this link.

post camp

Last days of Camp

well all the kids left on the 14th of August along with the Colombian counselors. It was an emotional day for everyone but fortunately for us we spent it doing an airport run to Boston. On the 13th was the Nottingham fair show. All the parents camp to camp to spend the day with the kids. we spent it doing ridiculously old traditions of Robin Hood Camp, like green scarlet singing comps (with songs that are rip offs of Christmas carol melody's.) the kids preformed a play they worked on for weeks called "the wizard of Sherwood" the story line was a big mash up of the wizard of oz, robin hood characters and camp life.
Then at dusk we did a march from the top of camp down to the lake with little boats that had candles on them singing "hale Sherwood forest," " hale the brave and free, verdant harts of true comradeship our harts we raise to thee, bla bla bla." and then we let them off in the lake to float away, beautiful. unfortunately one boy lit his on fire and it sailed into his friends then there was no wind so all the boats drifted to the docks where a mini bon fire started between the boats.

Post camp was a lot of fun!! big parties etc the last night we had a counselor banquet where we were told we could have a party in the dining hall. unfortunately drunk people and food is not a good mix. A huge food fight emerged and by the time it was over the you could not see the floor of the kitchen and we had no food left to actually eat on the last day of camp.

the last day of camp was a wired feeling its like we have been struck in a huge time warp that would never end and all of a sudden we were free again. we still can't believe it is over.

It wasn't to bad saying good bye to everyone because so many of them we will meet up with in New York in a few days and the will be our mini family in England.

Here are some pics of the last part of camp
http://picasaweb.google.com/mattblairmail/LastDaysOfCamp?authkey=zvj3mdS50ko

Time to catch up

Robin Hood Camp Overview.

Its the 20th of July now so we have decided to cut our losses and just do one big catch up/over view of what we have been up to since we arrived at camp.
PICS...
Well we had 2 pre-pre camp weeks which took a bit of adjusting to. Well for one we got separated into boys and girls cabins and of course had to share a bunk with a complete stranger.
The other thing took a lot to adjust to was the huge language barrier. all the Colombians speak Spanish and although they can speak English at the start it must have been easier to speak Spanish. That being said the Colombian counselors are one of our many closest friends at camp, they have an amazing culture, so fun, colorful and welcoming. not sure when but one day Renee was talking to one of the girls and had a full on conversation and then realized she was speaking Spanish's and Renee was replying in English... cool huh.

On the 14th of June all the other consulars arrived from all over the world. The Camp started really coming together, it was so run down when we first arrived. But after braking every OSH regulation in the book the boys rebuilt and the girls painted and cleaned that place into order.

We had a tiny bit of training, a ridicules talent show that kept you laughing out loud all night. Renee and I did a fear factor challenge that we used to to at youth. then a few nights off - CRAZY - and then the kids arrived on the 24th of June.

Things have just been so full on since. We often get sent to pick up kids from different cites. eg Bangor- 1 1/2 hours, Portland 3hours, Boston 5 hours and we even got to goto New York, New York 9hours- 11 back.
PICS...
More pics
Camp is fun but they are completely unorganized - it is extreamly frustrating for us.
We have some photos of Renee's cabin over nights, she still refuses to kill the lobster and the photo is honestly the first time she has ever held one - they freak her out!!!


Renee not only dose the Cabin overnights but she also goes on 3 day cruses on a 37ft sail boat. Pretty much the boat docks at little boutique towns around the coast and she takes them shopping, to the movies and out to dinner. The only downer the captain is so slezy (but funny too, he ,likes to call himself "salty") He tricked her into kissing him... it was meant to be on the cheek, so she says.
Pics
More pics

I am now a developing guitar teacher/wondering minstril. when i'm not driving I am basically jamming with my friends Austin who is a JC (junior Counselor) and the Andrews, both are tall and have glasses but one is from England and the other is from Australia, they teach drums. we are very lucky the room/cabin they have provided us with has 3 semi-sound proof rooms in it and an open teaching area. Work is fun.

Another little highlight was that we with 3 other counselors went on a 3 day 2 night trip to Boston but unforuntaly...joining... we had to take 27 campers with us, we did a lot of shopping and sight seeing including half a fennway park tour, botston duck tour, went to Harvard square/university and a harry potter movie. all expenses paid, it was great.

Thats our catch up for now and we will try and keep ontop of the blog site from now on.

Sorry

Love Matt and Renee