Its strange as usually someone 'famous' turns on the lights in each city in England, but I guess Liverpool is either trying to cut down on costs this year, OR they are going for a more theatrical theme this year, and from some of the pctures I have seen from Thursday on the internet it looks very made up and quite fancy with lots of costumes so maybe they are just trying to be more creative.
I finished work at 5:30pm on Thursday, and by the time I got out it was quite dark. But it was quite pretty to see some of the things they had going on already prior to the lights being turned on.
When I walked out of the back staff entrance at work, the 'light switch' was pretty much just outside the back of my work at Primark. It was like what you see in movies sometimes, like a dinamite pump or something.
As well as some pretty lights around my work, there were a few men dressed as elf's and an irish leprechaun who were riding bikes and covered head to do wrapped up in colorful fairy lights. I managed to take a couple photos on my camera phone but havn't been able to find the cord to transfer them to my computer yet.
They have also set up a big ferris wheel called 'The Big Wheel'. It looks really quite big and is 82m above sea level and weighs more than 450 tonnes.
I want to find out if it is bigger or smaller than the London Eye, its abit hard to tell seeing as though I havn't been right up to the wheel for a good look. I have just seen it in the distance on the way to work although its only about a 5 minute walk from my work if that.
In one of the squares they have also set up an Ice rink, and an Ice palace which is quite cool :)
I will probably take some more photos of the lights soon and also of the Big Wheel. But for now, here are a few :)
( More photos :) )
We went into town on Saturday and got a few grocerys then chilled out the rest of the day. I've been watching alot of Ugly Betty Season 1 on my laptop which is good.
Today we didn't really do anything either. I guess because it is my first pay in a while so it mostly went towards the council tax which was 144 pounds, and we have to pay for our tickets to London for Christmas, but luckily they are half price now! yay :) So instead of being 140 pounds return for both of us, Its going to be around 76 pounds return for two which is good.
I also found out the Monday after Christmas is a public holiday here so I will get to spend an extra day down in London with Mel :)
We did a few more grocerys today as well as I find it abit draining having to carry all the grocerys home mid week by myself when I finish work at 6.
I didn't do over time last week though as I wasn't feeling that well, but hopefully i'll get some over time next week so i'll have some more spending money for Christmas.
Im suprisingly over my cold! :\ I have no idea how, seeing as though when I get sick its usually like once a year, and when i get sick i get SICK. So I wont be suprised if i get a second round of this so called cold at Christmas time! Fingers crossed I dont, although i've never had a 'white Christmas' before!
I got some ingredients to make my mums famous curried sausages recipe... mmmmm! So I hope I'll be able to make them as yum as hers always are! I also made some chocolate and condensed milk truffles, just made from those 'marie' or tea biscuits, condensed milk & cocoa powder.
Jais been wanting a photo of this Toxteth sign for ages so we finally took one today!
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Havn't really done much at all lately as when its so cold its hard to get out and want to go do things! I have crossed off a few movies I wanted to see so I have crossed them off on my 101 things in 1001 days list.
I loved all of the movies I watched although The Proposal was really quite funny and I really loved Sunshine Cleaning. Its more of an alternative type of film. Its from the same directors as Little Miss Sunshine so it is almost along those lines of abit of laughs here and there, then some drama and emotions thrown in and such. Its about two sisters who go into a business of cleaning up peoples houses/ mess after they die which sounds quite morbid but I had a few good laughs every now and then.
We didn't do much for Halloween. Actually I dont think we really did anything at all! Then came Bonfire Night (Guy Falkes Night) which we watched the fireworks from our house as we didn't make it to the main ones in Sefton Park.
It almost takes away the magic from fireworks though as everyone can buy them here so on Bonfire night there were about 7 or 8 different spots surrounding our house who had big fire works going on. It was quite scary walking home actually as people had back yard fireworks and the fireworks would burst right above my head in the sky which I am not used to!
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I started working at Primark Monday through to Friday this week. The past couple days I was on the floor putting out stock but today I got till trained which was good.
We have finally got our modem but just as we got our modem, the cable for my laptop broke. Because the wires have snapped, it keeps turning off and on again, so we have had to order a new cable.
I have been really tired lately as I am not used to getting up when it is dark outside. It seriously is not fun! But I guess thats what the real world is all about.
I walk to and from work each day which is good, but my legs arnt used to walking 1 mile in, 1 mile out, and then up and down numerous flights of stairs. The Primark in Liverpool is the 2nd biggest in the world after Manchester so we have 5 floors. But the lucky employees have the joyous fun of being banned from the lifts and so we have to walk from the ground floor to the 5th floor through a spiral staircase. Atleast hopefully it will all make me fitter. And thats my 30 minutes of exercise well and truly done for the day!
Anyway it takes us about 20 minutes or so to walk in to town. Its just a walk down Park Road but its not too bad because we get to walk past the Anglican Cathedral, China Town and St. Lukes bombed out Church.
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I havn't updated this in ages.
A few weeks ago Jai & I moved into our new house in Toxteth. Its a 1 bedroom, two story flat which is about a 15- 20 minute walk from the city centre. We live right next to a big church, and can see the big anglican cathedral from our house as well.
I havn't got any photos or anything yet, but I will sooner or later. I'll probably upload some when we get the internet hooked up in a couple weeks.
Anyway! I got to see my lovely sister Melissa & Jason yesterday/ today which was soo exciting :D We lived with them for 5 months so I have missed her company so much. We also missed the nice couch, crushed ice, chilled water & going to Monsoon! But atleast I'll have something to look foward to soon enough when I get a job and can get a ticket to go down to London.
They arived around 10:30 in the morning, then after that Mel & I walked into town and walked down Bold Street which had a festival going, so there was lots of drums and music, and food tasting etc.
We had a look in quite a few shops, then we headed to Liverpool 1 which is just basically a big open space with hundreds of shops. Then Jai & Jason met us in there, we got a Cornish pasty, then had a look in John Lewis.
We went back home, then had a rest before we headed out later to go for a couple pre dinner drinks at Albert Dock. I tried a new cocktail so I can cross another one of my 101 list which is HERE if you would like to see it.
Then we got dinner at an American style restaurant called 'Whats Cooking'. They had such good food there! Mel & I shared some ribs and potato skins. Jason & Jai had chicken wings and big American burger, Mel got the chicken quesadilla & I got the chicken burrito.
Then we caught a cab home and had the funniest ride ever. The cab driver was talking to Mel & Jai about this Australian singer called Kevin Wilson who i've never heard of, but they had. He has just toured the UK and just been in Liverpool & the cab driver actually had his CD & put it on in the car. It was the funniest thing I have listened to in a long time, and actually made me feel pretty proud I am Australian in a way. If you havn't heard Kevin Wilson, you'll have to YouTube him, because I just found it so funny that the cab driver would have that type of music in his car, for a young guy too.
In the morning we went to Jamie Carraghers Restaurant called Cafe Sports Express & had breaky, then Mel & Jason left not too long afterwards.
I had such a great weekend! :) And if Mel is reading this, thankyou so much to you both for coming up! I really hope I can come down to London soon!!
Mel suggested that we go to Richmond as we had to be back by 2pm which was a really good idea because Renee had never been & I hadn't been there for a few years.
We walked down to the river and took lots of photos of all the pigeons and ducks there. But we decided to head back near the station to try this place called 'Pauls' which Mel reccomended as they sell macaroons there!!
We bought a big vanilla one and a big chocolate one, and headed back towards the river and walked to Richmond gardens to eat them. The chocolate one just tasted like a big chocolate fudge brownie, but the vanilla one was reallllly nice, just like how a macaroon should taste! But Ladurees macaroons at Harrods are still the best I've ever tasted.
We were amused by the many squirrels running around the park and gardens in Richmond & took a few photos. Then we headed up towards Richmond Park where the deers are in the early morning but we were a little bit too late and didn't see any!
After that we had a look at some of the shops on the street, then went back to the station & got a pasty.
( Photos :) )
It was really nice to have everyone around and get to socialise and everything. We had lots of fun! And it was really nice planning up a few ideas on what to do for lunch/ dinner.
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There was the food tent with chutneys, jams, bread, olive oil, olives & more antipastos.
Then another 'competition tent' with this giant pumpkin underneath. And best tasting & best looking vegies, victoria sponges, cupcakes and also best looking flowers.
Then there was the animal tent which ofcourse I would naturally love :)
Melissa picked up some strawberry jam & tomato chutney. Jason got a couple different types of cheeses & I got some mixed olives flavoured in garlic & sundried tomato and some local made honey.
( Photos.. )
We caught the train into Waterloo, then caught the tube to St. Johns Wood station & walked to Abbey Road. It was no where near as busy as when Jai & I went which was good. And I actually got to walk across it this time! Renee wasn't satisfied with the real Abbey Road, which is fair enough! as their were loads of people and trucks about, so we walked down the road to take a fake photo of 'Abbey Road'. It actually is on Abbey road, but it was like 3 zebra crossings down and looked much better :P
We also wrote our name on the wall at 3 Abbey Road which was the Beatles recording studio. For whatever reason it is covered in graffiti of peoples names and countries and lyrics etc.
After that we got back on the tube to Archway station, and got some lunch. I got a tuna sweetcorn roll & Renee got a roast chicken roll, we also got a couple packets of blueberries.
After lunch we walked to the Highgate cemetery which is a really old, unusual cemetery over packed with lots of headstones.
( More photos.. :) )
- Mood:
okay
My goal in life is to be strong, and live like this poem.
Life is too short to wake up with regrets.
Love the people who treat you well.
Move on from the ones who don't.
Believe that everything happens for a reason.
If you get a second chance, take it on with both hands.
If it changes your life, let it.
Nobody said life would be easy.
They just promised it would be worth it.
Friends are like balloons.
Once you let them go, you may not get them back.
Therefore, I'm going to tie your spirit and presence to mine, so I don't lose my connection with you.
It only took about 15 minutes to cruise up the river, but we spent a good hour or two looking around the Tate Modern.
After that we decided to get some lunch, so we had lunch in a little cafe at Westminster. Then headed to Downing street where the British prime minister, Gordon Brown lives.
These are some things we got to cross off my 1000 things to do in London book:
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I love getting to go see George and the chickens, animals just really take my mind off everything and remind me of my kitty back home, Felix!

( Collecting eggies & feeding George :) )
We finally reached Liverpool & checked in to our hotel near Albert Dock. The next day we had three flats to inspect, so it was a pretty busy day. In the afternoon we went & got a drink or two at the Sefton Arms hotel & watched some of the cricket. That night we just sat in the hotel bar & watched the football and had dinner. The dinner was so nice, Jai got a burger & I got peri peri chicken.
The next day we checked into our B & B in Crosby, then caught the train back into the city so we could catch the bus to Anfield to watch Liverpool vs. Atletico Madrid. It was a great game despite Liverpool losing.
The following day we walked down to Crosby Beach and walked among the statue men.
( Photos... )
All four of us have cooked some really nice dishes. Mel has cooked the best baked American cheesecake I have ever had! Infact its the only cheesecake i've ever tasted and actually liked. She also baked some banana bread which I was loving as I miss my mumsys cooking heaps!
I have asked for some of her recipes including banana bread, curried sausages, tuna mournay, scallop potatos & quiche, so hopefully if she reads this she may get into gear & give me her famous recipes!!
( Photos.. :) )
33. 'See Stars' at Liverpool's World Museum Planetarium.
83. Lose yourself in Britain's best mazes- Hampton Court Palace.
416. Walk Hadrian's Wall. <3
420. Walk among the men at Crosby Beach.
474. Ride the ferry 'cross the Mersey. <3
734. Cross Britain's best bridges - Tower Bridge. <3
73. Globe trot in London's Horniman Museum. <3
949. Peek inside Queen Mary's doll's house.
So im going to make two official lists of things i've done in the books :)
1000 things to do in London- TimeOut
4. Cruise from Tate to Tate
242. Visit the aquarium at the Horniman Museum. <3
281. Tour four new galleries at the Royal Observatory. <3
400. Visit the HMS Belfast. <3
603. Scare yourself stupid in the Tate Modern
621. Visit the wonderful Horniman Museum. <3
646. Drool over the food halls in Harrods. <3
739. Visit Londons last sewer lamp. <3
818. Step into Churchills War room.
961. Munch a macraoon at Laduree, Harrods. <3
We decided to go into London & go to Harrods, but Jai made us his famous ham, cheese & salad sandwhiches before we left. They were very yummy, like always :)
After lunch we headed off into London & caught the tube to Knightsbridge which is where Harrods is! :D
I wrote about how Mel & I went to the food halls in Harrods one time, but I couldn't find any photos. So this time I'll try find a few photos on the internet of Harrods.
( More photos from our day.. )
We took loads of photos of George, and played with Ruby & ate lots of yummy food. Ruby has two new chickens called which she named Diffy & Miffy so we had a look at all the chickens also :)
( More photos of the bbq :) )
- Mood:
cold
