The List...

It was 2006, I had been out of Uni for a couple of years, in a job I enjoyed, surrounded by great friends and family... why wouldn't you get up and move to the other side of the planet!?

And so thats what I did, I chucked in my nice secure job with the local council, packed (and repacked) my belongings into a single bag, and got on a plane. Alone.

I was lucky, my brother lived in London, so I had a base for the first few days - this was lucky as the only thing that was going through my head, with tube delays, bus diversions, flat/dive hunting and dealing with the bureaucracy of utility companies was - 'what the hell have I done?!'

Now after more than 5 years abroad, things have settled down, I have a decent job (although working at about 60%, means you're destined for greatness in this country), okay money (its London - its expensive) great friends (those that are still here...) and a life in one of the largest cities in the world - a far cry from wee Christchurch...

All of this, in aid of the list. The list is a never ending, bucket list type, collaboration of all the places I want to visit in the world. Yes I did the contiki touring, but thats just the start, it has only whet my appetite to experience more places and cultures, to speak to the locals, to drink the local brew, to taste the regions food, to get those photos of holding up the Leaning Tower of Pisa, or under the Eiffel Tower or with a beer wench at Oktoberfest. I have never written this list down, although in the last 5 years I have had good intentions to do so. But by writing it down seems quite final, it means this is what I have left to do... then I'm coming home.

This May I have been lucky enough to receive my Indefinite Leave to Remain visa... this means I get to stay, I have more time to add to and complete my list. At the very bottom - New Zealand

Concrete Jungle where Dreams are made of...

Central Park
Little Italy
Rockefeller Centre
Columbus Day Parade
Engagement

Surprise trip to Singers

20 april
boat trip
bus
sembawang school ottawa auckland road fernleaf
dawn service

Twenty Eleven

waitangi day 5th feb
6.3 earth quake 22 feb
cape fear acton 25 feb
earthquake appeal 6 march
memorial westminster and crusaders vz sharks 27 march
go see abby 1 april
kylie at o2 7 april
naked boys singing 15 april
royal wedding 29 april
trip to oxford, blenhem palace 13 april
isas 20 april
high tea 21 april
7's 22 april

Homeward Bound

5th dec
danis grad
methven
timaru
ashberton
abbys new years
fly back to the uk 4th jan

Summer Travels with the Old Man

kneller hall
touring london
edinburgh
turkey, grand bizarre, blue mosk, io sofia cistern
wicked 22 sept
oktoberfest 2010
bbc tour 23 sept

Sail Croatia

1 may- 8th

twenty 10

vue
heidi and ben get married 6 feb
avenue q 15 april
anzac day hyde park cnr 25 april
isa's 21 may
sevens 22 may
iow festival 11 - 14 june
green day 19 june
hard rock calling, pearl jam 25 june
kings of leon 30 june
bon jovi 23 june
tap dogs 24 june
hampton court palace 9 july
andersons (wales, iow, windsor and oxford, diksmuide beerfest 2/10)
carnival 2010 30 august
earthquake 4 sept 2010
abs vs england 6 nov
barbars vs sth africa 4 dec
abs vs wales 27 nov

Way too much sun and skin in Teneriffe

21-28 Nov

AB's kick some Italian Ass!

13-15 november

Back End of 2009

Girls night at Cozzies 23 oct
Beks Birthday 24 oct
Nuns (and one in training) go to Church 25 october
(Sober) trip to Oxford 31 oct
Jades Birthday 6 november
abs vs babars 5 december
xmas party 11 dec
snow 2009!!

Beer Wenches 09, Your Tent or Mine

17 september

Summer 2009

strange lying places 9 may soho theatre
ISA's 15 may
eurovision 16 may
sevens 24 may
globe theatre 31 may
kristys return 5 june
twenty 20 6 june
church again fluro 14 june
wimbledon 24 june
toast 2009 27 june clapham common
moved into 18 canada road 28 june
abbys marathon 12 july
greenwich 25 july
the soloist at somerset house 9 august
edinburgh 17 august
- walking tour
- tattoo
ice bar 22 august
nottinghill carnival 30 august
double header twickenham 5 september
abby and alenas leaving drinks 12 and 13 september

May Bank Holiday to Portugal

ANZAC Day in Turkey 2009

In attendance - Jade Palmer, Alena Keating, Andre Lemmens, Rachel Cosgrove, Samantha Polatsek, and Danny Smith.

Day 1 - Sat 18th April 2009 – Istanbul

Make your own flight arrangements to Istanbul's Ataturk Airport where you will be met by our crew and transferred to your hotel to meet the guide and the rest of your group. For those brave sods coming into Istanbul by bus, overland, or from Sabiha airport you can make your own way to your hotel. Check-in is from 12 noon.

Tonight is our opening to the tour with a night planned in Istanbul’s Sulthanamet area - the place should be crawling with all sorts including a significant amount of fellow antipodeans. Tonight is an ideal way to break the ice with your fellow tourists & year after year ends up being a great night out.

Day 2 – Sun 19th April 2009 – Istanbul

After breakfast, enjoy a guided tour of Istanbul’s fascinating old city. Istanbul is the only city to span two continents, Europe and Asia. Sites include the Blue Mosques, Aya Sofya, Topkapi Palace, the Underground Cistern and the Hippodrome. Tonight for those keen we will head into the lively nightspot that is TAKSIM – that is rammed with local nightclubs and young Turkish folk. Overnight Istanbul. (B)

Day 3 - Mon 20th April 2009 – Bursa & Pamukkale

This morning we drag ourselves out of bed, down a few V's/Red Bulls/Turkish coffees, pack and jump on the coach and visit the sights of the Ottoman capital of Bursa including the Grand Mosque (Ulu Mosque) & the Silk Bazaar. After lunch make yourself comfortable on the coach as we continue our journey south to the town of Pamukkale. Overnight in Pumukkale.

Day 4 – Tue 21st April 2009 – Pamukkale

Today we check out the famous calcium terraces of Pamukkale (cotton castles), photos of which adorn every promotional feature on Turkey...next to the frolicking kid on all the Underground Posters. If we have time we can also do some bombs or staples into ‘Cleopatra’s Pool’ in the ruins of Hierapolis, an ancient health spa, just above the calcium terraces. We then set off further south for the port city of Kusadasi. Overnight Kusadasi.

Day 5 – Wed 22nd April 2009 – Ephesus & Kusadasi

Today we have a fully guided tour of the ancient Roman city of Ephesus – one of the best preserved ancient cities in Turkey...and indeed the world. During the cruise season it can be

rammed with annoying American Tourists – but we’ll get in early and shout them down…it’s well worth it! We also visit the local leather factory & a carpet village to learn how carpets are made by hand, what determines their value and the historical and cultural context in which this folk art has blossomed...and you'll no doubt buy a rug and get it sent back to London...and wonder what to do with it when it arrives!! After a day's shopping in the markets it’s time for a night on the town. And what better way to do that than a Turkish bath - guaranteed to loosen every dead follicle & skin cell imaginable...maybe a few brain cells also. Warning: it can be quite brutal. We head out tonight in Kusadasi to experience the local bar & club scene.

Day 6 – Thu 23rd April 2009 – Pergamum & Ayvalik

This morning we start making our way towards the WWI battlefields of Gallipoli, first stopping off for a tour of the magnificent acropolis of ancient Pergamum. Tonight we stay in the town of Ayvalik near the famous ancient site of Troy. By staying here we are a stones throw from the Gallipoli Battlefields and it gives us a perfect platform to leave early the next day and get a full day on the peninsula...and most importantly before all the other groups arrive!

Day 7 - Fri 24th April 2009 – Gallipoli Tours

We depart early this morning for a tour of Troy, the site of the famed Trojan Wars. (The visit to Troy is time dependant – we may have to head straight to Gallipoli to avoid the crowds!).

Then we head towards the World War I battlefields of Gallipoli for a fully guided tour of this now serene site. We visit all the famous NZ battle sites including the legendary Chunuk Bair New Zealand Memorial, ANZAC Cove, Johnston's Jolly and the Turkish 57th Regiment memorial. We will also have time to stroll through what was once ‘no-mans land’ between the ANZAC’s and Turkish. Tonight, we sample some of the local kebabs on offer before heading back to the site of the ANZAC Dawn Service. We watch the sun set over Anzac Cove, watch a few documentaries on the big screens and get in the mood for the moving experience to follow in the small hours of the morning. Keep warm in your sleeping bag and Beige Brigade hoodie under the stars with the thousands of others while waiting for sunrise. It DOES get cold, particularly if there is a wind! And with number swelling over 15,000 in 2008 it will also get very crowded. But we’ll make sure we secure a good place!

Day 8 - Sat 25th April 2009

Awake before sunrise to the ANZAC Dawn Service and commemorate our fallen forefathers on this special day. After the Dawn Service we walk together with the many thousands up to Chunuk Bair for the NZ Memorial service. You can attend both the Australian & NZ Memorial Services, but to ensure you get a good possie for the NZ service you will have to skip the Aussie one. After the services we walk through the national park to the coaches for the ride to Istanbul and a chance to reflect on the whole Gallipoli experience. You’ll be leaving a different person, no two ways about it. Back in Istanbul we check into our hotel before heading out for more of the city's famous night life.

Today is a chance to catch up on any shopping at the Grand Bazaar in central Istanbul....and have a mighty farewell party!

Day 9 -Sunday 26th April 2009 - Check out

Check out and return home or carry on adventures in Europe.

Note: Tour does not include entrance fees to museums and mosques as required at some venues. No entry fee is required at the Gallipoli battlefields or Anzac services.

Tonight is our opening to the tour with a night planned in Istanbul’s Sulthanamet area - the

place should be crawling with all sorts including a significant amount of fellow antipodeans.

Tonight is an ideal way to break the ice with your fellow tourists & year after year ends up

being a great night out.

Day 2 – Sun 24th April 2011 – Gallipoli Tour

We depart very early this morning (6 a crack!) and head straight to Gallipoli to avoid the

crowds!!   At approx midday we will arrive at the World War I battlefields of Gallipoli for a fully

guided tour of this now serene site. We visit all the famous NZ battle sites including the

legendary Chunuk Bair New Zealand Memorial, ANZAC Cove, Johnston's Jolly and the Turkish

57th Regiment memorial. We will also have time to stroll through what was once ‘no-mans

land’ between the ANZAC’s and Turkish.  Tonight, we sample some of the local kebabs on offer

before heading back to the site of the ANZAC Dawn Service. We watch the sun set over

Anzac Cove, watch a few documentaries on the big screens and get in the mood for the

moving experience to follow in the small hours of the morning. Keep warm in your sleeping bag

and Beige Brigade hoodie under the stars with the thousands of others while waiting for sunrise.

It DOES get cold, particularly if there is a wind! And with number swelling over 15,000 in 2008 it

will also get very crowded. But we’ll make sure we secure a good place!

Day 3 - Mon 25th April 2011 – ANZAC Day

Awake before sunrise to the ANZAC Dawn Service and commemorate our fallen forefathers on

this special day. After the Dawn Service we walk together with the many thousands up

to Chunuk Bair for the NZ Memorial service. You can attend both the Australian & NZ Memorial

Services, but to ensure you get a good possie for the NZ service you will have to skip the Aussie

one.  After the services we walk through the national park to the coaches for the ride to

Istanbul and a chance to reflect on the whole Gallipoli experience. You’ll be leaving a

different person, no two ways about it. Late afternoon we pile onto the coach to reflect on the

last 24hrs and head to the seaside resort town of Ayvalik. Overnight Ayvalik.  Day 4 – Tues 26th April 2011 – Pergamum Tour

Today we head for the party port town of Kusadasi first stopping off for a tour of the

magnificent acropolis of ancient Pergamum.  En route we’ll swing into one of the famous

Turkish leather factories and witness possibly the most unique fashion show this side of the

1980’s. This is a fantastic chance to purchase items that would go down a storm in Soho

(leather hats, hot pants etc). We overnight in Kusadasi this evening – relax by the pool and

check out the lively nightlife. 

Day 5 – Wed 27th April 2011 – Ephesus

Today we have a fully guided tour of the ancient Roman city of Ephesus – one of the best

preserved ancient cities in Turkey...and indeed the world. During the cruise season it can be

rammed with annoying American Tourists – but we’ll get in early and shout them down…its well

worth it! We also visit the local carpet village to learn how carpets are made by hand, what

determines their value and the historical and cultural context in which this folk art has

blossomed...and you'll no doubt buy a rug and get it sent back to London...and wonder what

to do with it when it arrives!! After a day's shopping in the markets it’s time for a night on the

town. And what better way to do that than a Turkish bath - guaranteed to loosen every dead

follicle & skin cell imaginable...maybe a few brain cells also. Warning: it can be quite

brutal. We head out tonight in Kusadasi to experience the local bar & club scene. 

Day 6 – Thur 28th April 2011 – Pamukkale

Shake off the potential hangover from the night before as today we’ll check out the famous

calcium terraces of Pamukkale (cotton castles), photos of which adorn every promotional

feature on Turkey...next to the frolicking kid on all the Underground Posters. If we have time we

can also do some bombs, manu’s or staples into ‘Cleopatra’s Pool’ in the ruins of Hierapolis, an

ancient health spa, just above the calcium terraces. Overnight in Pumukale.

Day 7 - Fri 29th April 2011 – Bursa Tour 

Today we start our journey back north to Istanbul. Our first stop is passing through the former

Ottoman Empire capital of Bursa. Opportunities to check out the mighty Grand Mosque and

famous Silk Markets for some additional items for the growing souvenir pile. We overnight in

Istanbul tonight. 

Day 8 - Sat 30th April 2011 - Istanbul City Tour/Farewell party

Today is a chance to check out one of the biggest and oldest cities in Europe. Our city tour

includes the Blue Mosque, Museum of Turkish & Islamic Art, Topkapi Palace, The underground

cistern and the Hippdrome. Tonight is also the mighty farewell party – a chance to reflect on a

pretty memorable 8 days! Overnight in Istanbul. 

Nov 08 to Now-ish

Jack the Ripper Tour: Started at Tower Hill and went for a couple of hours, walking around the east of the central city where he killed and massacred the women, where they lived or lodged... we even walked in his foot steps, walking through a courtyard where the only way out was through a narrow archway. we saw a pub where he probably used to drink, was quite an interesting tour, although now know far too much about what the first ever serial killer did to his victims.


Ba-bars Vs Aus: on the 3 December 2008 the Barbarians played Australia at Wembly (which was amazing). It was a pretty scrappy game, ba-bars couldn't really get their shit sorted (obviously due to not playing together long) at one stage there was a it of a punch up which went trough one of the advertising boards and involved half the team!! George Gregan played for the Ba-Bars which was an interesting turn of events.



Work Christmas Party: On the 5th December the BSC took to the Thames and had their Christmas Party on a boat which left from Putney to well past the O2 then back again. it was a great night, too much drink and lots of dancing!



Ice Skating is a great winter past time in the capital city, Bek, Mez and I went to the Natural History Museum where a rink was set up outside under floodlights and fairy light covered trees. although only skating for and hour or so (and paying £14 to do so!!) it was quiet enough, especially dodging the the people trying to fly/not fall over and those that were confident but lacking the skill not to take anyone else out!!!


Christmas eve was spent at the walkie drinking lots of Redbull and Vodkas and dancing the night away. Christmas Day we had an Orphans Christmas at Hotel Bracewell Road while trying to recover from the night before I cooked Christmas Dinner with the help from Abby and Andre... turned out not too bad ... apart from Crispy potatoes it wasn't too bad!!!



The morning after the night before...


New Years 2008/2009 was spent at a pub on Embankment, and even though we were so close we ended up watching the fireworks on the telly in the pub!! it was a great night spent with Erica and Beks, they even got me in a dress for the James Bond Themed Ball. Lots of drink was had and a free trip home thanks to TfL!!


The Tower of London is a must see/do of London. Its great to see where Ann Boelyn was beheaded, and buried, to see ancient graffiti of people who are about to be put to death or imprisoned in the Tower of London and to hear of all the blood gory stories that are associated with this historic building. it is also where the Crown Jewels are kept, although we didn't get a chance to see them, no doubt I will be back to see it again!


On the 2nd February we had a snow day which literally shut down the entire city of London. all tubes and buses were stopped making getting anywhere virtually impossible. After it was clear we had a day off work we all headed down to the park at the end of our street and built mammoth snowmen and had snow ball fights.


Waitangi day in London is a big deal... it starts at 11 am at Paddington Station where usually traveling on the Circle line to Westminster we walked most of the way due to it being down for 'works'. From Paddington, we walked to Bayswater.. Nottinghill Gate (where some cricket took place) onto Kensington High Street, where it was time to get a feed to soak up some of the Alcohol...from there we walked onto Gloucester Road... caught the District line to St James Park and walked to Parliament Square. The Square looked green before and a mud pit after!! there were several Hakas and then the mud bath began with everyone being tackled to the ground. Aftwards we made our way to Hammersmith for a feed then to the She Bu walkie to finish off the night. I managed to get my drink spiked... which took a couple of days to recover from. But apart from that it was an awesome day out and surprisingly with the number of people, there were no reported incidents, all the cops that we met along the way were in pretty good spirits and would stop and have a chat every now and again.


Lindsay, my brother, left at the end of February to move back to Melbourne with his girlfriend Dani. We spent an awesome day together doing stuff he had yet to cover in London, we saw the Rosetta stone, went via Big Ben and found the Speights Pub called the Southerner.


Alena, Abby, Jade, Kristy and I all piled into a hire car, then exited the car and piled into a less funny smelling car, and headed off on our road trip to Stone Henge, Salisbury and (literally) a flying visit to Windsor. After a few wrong turns, and riding a few curbs (thanks Alena) we found Stone Henge, walked around a while taking in the rocks and the possibility of their meaning... piling back into the car and headed to Salisbury a town which has a Cathedral which holds an excellent copy of the Magna Carta. the Magna Carta is a document written by nobles o force the King at the time (I forget which one) to obey some form of rules so he couldn't treat his subjects like crap. we thought we would visit Windsor on the way home, but unfortunately couldn't find the turn off, so only got as far as the motorway!!


St Paddy's Day in London, is a pretty low key affair, there is a parade on the weekend prior, and it consisted of a few vintage vehicles, some flatbed trucks with Irish Dancers on them, Pipe and Brass bands. Most exciting part was Borris Johnson at the front!!


St Paddy's Day in Dublin was much more exciting... although, there was more alcohol involved!! we started at about 11am and placed ourselves in prime parade viewing spot in a pub called The Citi. after having breakfast we got stuck into the doubles which were over 6 Euro!!! Guinness wasn't that much better at 4.90 a Euro. but it was a great day out and the parade was amazing, with massive float and performers and bands from all over the world. after a feed of pizza we jumped on the train and headed back to Sams wee town to the bar called the Roost. after a long day we were all in bed relatively early... not as young as I used to be!!! went into town the next day and met up with Erica and spent the afternoon sitting next to the river Liffy in the sun.


Every year a boat race is held on the Thames between Putney Bridge and Cheswick Bridge, between the rowing teams of Oxford and Cambridge Universities. Lot of people head to the river with blankets, champagne, wine, cheese, crackers etc!!! these people sure know how to watch a boat race... then you could pick the kiwis and aussies with their jandles, cider and funnels!!! the race was pretty intense with is being quiet close most of the way, until Oxford pulled away and Cambridge crashed into them on purpose, hoping to throw out the rowers, it didn't work and Oxford won by quiet a large lead in the end. a good day out and even the sun made a short appearance!

October 2008 to November 2008

James Blunt: on the 14 October 2008, Brook (flatmate) and I did the mission from work (in the West) to the O2 (in the East) to check out James Blunt. The concert went off, although the effects were minimal, he was a great singer and at one stage jumped off the stage running down isles of screaming women to a platform in the middle of the the audience where he played the piano. Was excellent live although may have been better in a more intimate setting than the massive O2, which incidentally is the the largest single-roofed structure in the world, now arnt you glad you read this. :)



All Blacks: On the 22 November 2008 all the flatmates and I jumped in a bus and headed to Cardiff, Wales for the All Blacks vs Wales game. We got to our hotel and headed straight to a pub, where I dared Andre to shout 'Go the All Blacks!!' in a typical welsh pub... needless to say you could have heard a pin drop afterwards. We went back to our dive of a Hotel (after they had cleaned up the glass and put the door back on the cupboard!) and got geared up for the night ahead. We headed to the main street and had a few drinks prior to the game. During the haka it was hard to hear due to the deaffening chant of Wales Wales Wales Wales... then there was the stand off between the 2 teams... which felt like went on for ever. The game was awesome my first All Blacks game ever. Afterwards, we all went into town and drank the night away... also attending the Welsh Walkie!! :)



Dave Dobbyn: On the 28 November 2008 a group of us headed to Portobello road in Nottinghill to see Dave Dobbyn. He played all his new stuff in the first set. In the second set he rocked out all the old stuff. Half way through the entire audience started singing Slice of Heaven... da da da dodo da da da and he asked 'do you not know the rest of the words,' so everyone rocked out 'Hey, I got a lot of faith in you I'll stick with you kid, that's the bottom line' and he just said 'all in good time'... o for oarsome!

Contiki Photos Part 4

Anne Franks House



Amsterdam



Clogs!!



Netherlands - Edam

Toast Festival

I went to a festival called Toast on Saturday. It was a kiwi festival, celebrating everything kiwi!! I paid £5 for a NZ lamb and mint-sauce burger, that’s almost $15 for a burger, but I would do it again, I didn’t realize how much I missed NZ meat... by the way, all donations of meat from NZ greatly appreciated!! Just throw it in an envelope and send it this way!! :) For sale were t-shirts for Africa with Kiwi designs, Tim Tams, Minties, Grainwaves, not to mention the Monteiths and Speights, and kiwi wine. Appearances by Dan Carter and Zin Zan Brooke and Opshop and Supergroove played!! Scorpi-oprpi-orpio Girl!!! It was a fantastic day out, I say day as we started drinking around midday... :) Good times!

But the biggest thing I realised was how amazing it was to see the turnout and the pride and enthusiasm everyone had for everything from home. Practically everyone had a piece of ‘kiwiana’ on be it a ‘next Palmy mayor’ t-shirt to greenstone and bone carvings as far as the eye could see. Its an amazing culture here, there is no Pakeha, Maori or Polynesian, everyone is just ... Kiwi, and we proudly display New Zealand like walking billboards with our clothing, jewelry, bags, blow up kiwis, hats and yes even the tricky art of wearing flags. It is not so much where you come from as it is an identity that we all relate to, we are kiwis and we are proud of it. It makes you realise if all the expats went home the culture of New Zealand would be for the better.

We are all so far from home, its nice to be in a room with people whom you can relate... and mourn the loss of Snifters, Tangy Fruits and Sparkles together.