Experiencing the UK - Wales, Soccer, Christmas & New Years

The next instalment, weekend trips, Christmas & the New Year celebrations...

Our next adventure within the UK was a weekend trip to Wales where we stayed in Cardiff (capital of Wales) & Swansea (beachside coastal town). We arrived in Cardiff at 9.30pm following a 3hour bus ride to one happening city! Walking to our hotel we passed the main street which was alive, Christmas lights lit up the street, every second store was a pub with music being pumped out into the street. The main street was also closed off to cars and people filled the street despite the near freezing temperatures, including a few chavs (skanky girls) in summer dresses, madness! We stopped by a few pubs for some ciders and the Walkabout for some £2 Jaeger bombs! Day 2 was filled with a walk through the heart of town, souvenir shops and lunch down by the waterfront. This weekend happened to coincide with a massive rugby match Wales vs Australia so the streets were filled with supporters filtering into Millennium stadium. Whilst heading to the Castle away from the stadium we hit the jackpot! A Welsh gentleman heading towards the stadium offered us 2 free tickets (worth £55 each) to the sold out game! We could not believe our luck (although Dee was a little disappointed missing out on the castle, compared to James who couldn’t believe his luck) and so followed the gentleman to the stadium just arriving in time for the Welsh national anthem which was amazing! Unfortunately Australia was defeated 21 – 20 however we didn’t mind as we were surrounded by Wales supporters and the crowd atmosphere was incredible when they scored! Oh yeah and I think we stole the phrase ‘Aussie Aussie Aussie, oi oi oi’ from the Welsh who cheer “Oggie Oggie Oggie, oi oi oi’!

Our second night was spent in a cosy bed and breakfast across the road from the beach in Swansea. That night we fulfilled James’ cravings for some Chinese cuisine which was a bit of a laugh as whilst the restaurant was empty the staff appeared very stressed, the heating wasn’t working so we sat by a fan heater whilst other diners watched with contempt as had no heating! The food was great, though unfortunately for James still no dim sims! The next day was spent visiting local markets, strolled along the beach and took a short bus ride to an area with coastal cliff walks for some stunning views and scenery. Unfortunately Dee neglected to bring her gloves so it was a little chilly with each of us wearing one glove and hiding one hand in our jacket pockets, but we survived!

Making the most of our time in London we thought it was fitting to see a few live English bands. In November we went to the Forum to see The Wombats play which was awesome, followed by The Kooks in December at Brixton Academy. The atmosphere in both venues was fantastic, getting some close up views to the stage, great acoustics and of course a cider or two!

Living in Fulham we made the decision to support our local premier league team and got some awesome tickets through the Fanatics to see Fulham Vs Manchester City. The score was tied at one all however a great day was had. Sitting directly behind the goals in the second row we were very close to the action behind our fellow Aussie Mark Swartzer who is the goalie for Fulham!

Christmas time in the UK/Europe is second to none! It seemed fitting to experience a winter Christmas. Suppose that’s the way it’s meant to be according to the movies and a white Christmas was to be had for us in the French Alps!! But to begin with a Christmas fiesta was held at our place a week prior to Christmas with our housemates, Michelle and one of Dee’s friends from home Sue-ean. We cooked up a massive English roast (from Iceland-discount supermarket!) and popped Christmas bon bons over a few drinks. We could also not by pass one of the many winter wonderlands scattered around the UK, with our choice being Hyde Park where we consumed some mulled wine (hot red wine) to get into the festive spirit then donned some ice skates for a spin around the rink. By far the most entertaining part of the evening was laughing at the expense of some; let’s say inexperienced skaters, watching them stumble to the ice quite spectacularly!

Living so close to Europe Dee made the most of things and went on a weekend bus trip to Belgium with Michelle to explore the Christmas markets, and of course to indulge in their famous waffles and chocolate, and also taste some local beer. The trip included a stop via Brussels (Belgium’s capital) on the first day and a night in Brugge. Both of which were beautifully decorated and filled with little wooden huts selling Christmas gifts, Belgium food and sourverniers which we made the most of! Having visited Brugge already in the summer time it was interesting to return in the winter giving quite a different experience.

After finishing up at work for the year (Dee finishing at Epsom Hospital & James granted 2 weeks leave from Her Majesty’s Court Services) we were off to Chamonix in the French Alps for a week of skiing and Christmas celebrations with 7 of us Londoners heading away. Following a 23 hour bus trip we arrived at our destination UCPA resort/hostel! The accommodation was very good, all meals inclusive and a week’s worth of ski lessons with our French instructor ‘Julien’ whose English was not great but kept us entertained all the same. It was quite a French experience as out of our group there was only one other English speaking person, so all instructions were given in French first and then translated in English, not always perfectly e.g. ‘follow my tracks was translated ‘follow my trust’! Christmas Eve was the main event of the week as the Europeans celebrate Christmas at this time. We had a cultural feast including pizza, cheeses, duck, salads, soup, prawns and stir fry’s, not your traditional English roast but brilliant all the same. Even so some of the guys in our trip ate so much they had to throw up later in the night (not alcohol inflicted)! Chamonix was the perfect place to be on Christmas Eve as they were just like in the movies. The town was lit up with Christmas lights and decorations, and carollers in the streets, crowds gathered around a bon fire with a visit from Santa, French street performers and of course mulled wine stands. As Christmas day was not particularly celebrated in Chamonix the 7 of us went out to a French restaurant for dinner followed by cocktails at a nearby bar.

Following two brief nights back at home we headed (by plane this time!) to Scotland for the New Years Edinburgh Hogmanay street party. We booked the trip through First Festival where we stayed at the Ibis hotel. On the first night we met another couple from Canberra also living in London and two girls on holiday from Sydney with whom we spent the 3 night festival with enjoying plenty of snake bites, wines, beers and vodkas. The main evening being New years Eve commenced at 11am at the Three sisters pub where we welcomed in the New Zealand new year, followed by Australia at 1pm. Footage of the fireworks displays was beamed from big screens around the pub so we really felt at home....well in Sydney anyway! After a brief nana nap our newly formed group headed out to dinner at a little restaurant in the Royal Mile before bravely hitting the street party with countless layers as the temperature outside dropped to a blustery minus 2 degrees! Approximately 150,000 people filled the main drag of Edinburgh with several stages and music being pumped out into the crowd. A spectacular fireworks display up at the castle signalled in the New Year. A few vodkas was however not enough to keep us warm after 4 hours out in the cold so headed back to our hotel bar. New Years day commenced in a small town 20mins out of Edinburgh for the annual Looney Dook swim. We were not brave enough to take a dive but had fun all the same watching the crew marching to the Loch to the beat of a Scottish bag piper and plundering into the freezing water all in costume dress. One of our house mates may have even made it onto the BBC news!

Following the end of the New Year festivities we left Edinburgh on a 16 seater minivan for a 3 day trip to the Scottish Highlands with the ‘Wild in Scotland’ tour company. The name of the tour company should have given away a few hints when we booked as the entire tour was spent either on the bus or outdoors!! Whilst the cold was a little draw back our crazy & passionate Scotsman guide/driver took us to some amazing scenery and told us countless stories of the history of the sites we visited which helped to distract from the cold and made it all worthwhile! As a ‘Ross’ Dee has ties to Scotland being part of one of the clans and thus took pleasure in hearing about their history and collected souverniers along the way. James’ highlight would have to be sliding with wellies (gumboots) in toe along frozen creeks and even tempted his fate walking across a frozen Loch or two. Our accommodation for the trip was quite cosy (yet rumoured to be haunted!), being a large house located in the middle of nowhere next to a loch. A trip to Scotland would also not be complete without a taste of Haggis, which our guide purchased at a local butcher in Skye. Despite knowing what is actually contained in the mix, haggis was actually quite nice, a little like a sausage although I don’t think we will be tracking it down for future purchases in a hurry!

We have updated the pictures quite considerably, so have a look if you get time and you will see the journeys that we have experienced since our last update.

Well that it for 2008, onward to 2009 bringing a new job for Dee at Ealing hospital, a trip to Ireland and some unique Australia Day celebrations install!