Monday, August 31, 2009

Field Trip to Warwick and Stratford


Ate pizza with Anup and Alex while watching jousting at the castle. Later climbed the hill with the guys and tried to do the whole sword-stone thing. I couldn't get a pic for today so thought this would be cute - it's from Tomomi's birthday surprise.

Sunday, August 30, 2009

The day mum and dad came to visit


Mum and Dad came to visit in the evening for dinner..Chesca was at Reading Festival - tres jealous. This is a photo of a beautiful origami flower Takana made me.

Saturday, August 29, 2009

The day I went to see the Premier League for free


28 of the students wanted to watch a Premier League game so it was VERY lucky that Alex managed to get enough tickets in time for the Tottenham vs. Birmingham match. As we had to go along with them, Alex and I got free seats :) The game was pretty slow st start off with but not too bad as we were sat next to the Birmingham fans who were VERY lively (we had to stop some of the students singing and clapping along with them as we were in the Tottenham seats!). There were a few close misses but the second half of the match was by far the best, especialy as Peter Crouch came on. One of the players broke his leg (something which may affect the next few Premiership matches..) but Tottenham still managed to score the first goal. The crowd beneath the B'mingham fans went crazy and started heckling them even more which was really entertaining. However, as soon as B'mingham scored, this was reciprocated. It was great fun just to watch how each side of fans would jeer at each other throughout the match while a random guy with a drum would beat away in the background as people spurred Tottenham on (sorry for the awful pun..). The match ended with a rapid last-minute goal from Tottenham which left it at 2:1 and everyone went wild, shouting and hugging each other. It was definitly a brilliant game for the students to see and everyone was exhausted by the end - I think we all slept on the coach back to Oxford.

Friday, August 28, 2009

J-pop party


In the late evening we organised a Karaoke party for the Japanese students complete with Hertford-style cocktails - yum! I *attempted* to sing some Beatles songs with oen of the KGH students that was a big Beatles fan. Afterwards, Dean and I went to get some chips with ketchup and hummous from Medi's (a strange but ok combination of flavours..)

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Summertown


Cycled up to Summertown in the morning, through all the back streets with rows of expensive-looking Oxford houses. Maybe we'll be lucky enough to live in one of those next year? Very unlikely as my group is in the reserve ballot and the college would never be able to afford one of those houses. In the evening Alex, Anup and I took the students to play some games in the Uni parks. We had races, played It, melting candles and British Bulldog - it was a brilliant way to end the day

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

NMH Oxford


Alex booked premiership game tickets for this saturday so we'll be both taking 30 Japanese students! In the afternoon we all had a quick look round the NHM Oxford and Pitt River's museum. I walked around with Ayumi who is lovely and really pretty. I noticed that she has a cartilage piercing in her left ear and this has really tempted me to get one. I've been thinking about getting one for ages....
In the evening Alex, Anup and I took the students to play some games in the Uni parks. We had races, played It, melting candles and British Bulldog - it was a brilliant way to end the day as the weather was nice and hot too.

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

The day I got soaked


Today Anup joined our RA group so now there should be 4 once Rosanna returns from her week away. We had lunch in the grad centre together with Alice and Jenny before cycling to Sainsbury's to buy cake as it's one of the girl's birthdays today. On the way back the heavens opened and it POURED so hard that it felt as if we were cycling through a waterfall!
At 4 I ahd a tute with Gabriel (Alice's History tutor) as he'd offered to give me some help with me essay writing in preparation for next term. I loved talking to him about Oxbridge (he went to Cambridge), tutorial, essays and reasons why he should become an eccentric tutor with a dog we later decided should be called "Eustace". I felt so much better after the tute (which lasted until dinner!) as he's very easy to talk to - almost enough to make me consider switching to history...

Monday, August 24, 2009

London through the eyes of a tourist


Everything seems so much different when you look at the city as if it were your first time there. We took KG on a coach around London and then to Westminster where we got the tube to Leicester Square. Most of the group wanted to buy Musical tickets so we sorted that out before letting them have some free time. Alex and I got lunch and then met back up later before 4 to take the remaining three students to Oxford. I chatted away to Yuga and Saki about their Nikon and Japan in Autumn while Yukari and Alex slept in their seats.
After a very quiet dinner Yukari and I spent an hour trying to get the DVD player in the JCR to work. However, we finally managed to get "Dirty Dancing" to work!

Sunday, August 23, 2009

Treading Dangerous Water


Took a small group punting with Dean up to the Victoria Arms along the Cherwell. It was really hot and sunny but perfect weather for punting!

Friday, August 21, 2009

Japanese party!


The students organised a small party for the RAs to present us with the gifts they had brought for us from Japan. I have never received so many presents in all my life! They were all so kind and generous that I was completely speechless. I would love to go to Japan more than ever....We then all went to the KA and some of the girls taught me how to make some origami cranes and roses.

Thursday, August 20, 2009

The day we had cocktails



Took KGU to cocktails at The House and this was a great success! They loved to watch how the bartender made all the drinks and shook them with ice infront of them at the bar. While some of the guys played pool, I sat with the girls and we chatted about boyfriends, romantic evenings etc - it was great fun! So far I have really enjoyed looked after them as they are all really lovely people. It makes me want to go to Japan more than anything in the world. I believe that I may have finally found what I want to do at the end of my degree or even next summer and that thought will definitly help me get through this year!

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Amelia and Alice!


Took the students to lunch at The Mission which they seemed to really enjoy. Its been boiling today so we all ate in OB quad . Later, Amelia arrived from London (she'll stay the night in my room) and I sat with her and Alice for a while chatting and catching up. At the moment the students are in their English lessons and I hope to take some shopping once they finish. Its slightly odd, by I seem to be losing me ability to speak English...they've been picking up my mannerisms and I theirs!
* * *
In the evening I took 15 of the students to watch "The Ugly Truth" (funny rom-com which they seemed to all enjoy). I then went with Alice and Amelia to The Bear for some well earnt drinks. It was here that I drew a WANTED poster for Amelia's perfect husband using her very long list...

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Japan --->Oxford


Woke up early to have breakfast with the students and then took them to lessons. Today we had a traditional Englsih tea with them before taking pictures under the Birdge of Sighs. In the evening we took them to The Turf for their first drink in an English pub.

Monday, August 17, 2009

I miss my camera


I left it at home so mum can take it to Nikon to get fixed. The world is not the same. I listen to Bright Eyes, look through Metrobloggen and think of it. Today the Japanese students arrive and I get to meet them at the airport. I wonder what it must be like to come to England for the first time...
Here is the handy canon I'll be using until my Nikon is fixed.

Sunday, August 16, 2009

Oxford in the Summer


Drove back to Oxford with mum and Cheffi. They helped me bring my stuff to me NB6 room where I'll be staying for the next month -eep! We met up with dad and ate at Wagamama's before they went back home. I then met up with Alice at the Grad Centre, where she is staying, and was introduced to her group of Chinese students. We then all went to the pub and I had to cycle back to Herford precariously without any lights!

Saturday, August 15, 2009

Cupcakes


Today I was supposed to leave for Oxford but I got a call from Alice saying that they didn't need me until this monday. So, I was very happy to hear that I had an extra day at home. Chesca and I made cupacakes with the Hummingbird Bakery cookbook and then watched "The Wave" with mum.

Friday, August 14, 2009

High street Kensington


Went with Talida, mum and Chesca shopping in High street Ken. Ate lunch in Strada and then wandered up the residential streets to Notting hill tube station. I would ADORE to have a house in that area (if I was very very very rich) as those town houses are just so lovely! Talida and I joked about it as we walked past the estate agents and then a huge lighting shop selling chandeliers ("for my bathroom" she said with a smile). This is our HSK empire. Please note the conservatory on the roof. That would be my house :)

Thursday, August 13, 2009

the day we slept


Didn't do much apart from unpack and get ready for Oxford.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

York


Today we were tourists in York. Chesca and I had a look round the various vintage shops (and bought some really nice had-made-to-measure skirts from Purple Vintage). We mostly wandered around the place and enjoyed the good weather which seems to have followed us this whole holiday. In the afternoon we had a late lunch at a Christian Cafe set in the city walls. I would have loved to have come to York for Uni if I hadn't gone to Oxford - the city is really inspiring and welcoming.

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

leaving Yetholm


Today we left Yetholm and drove to York (I finished HP 3 on the way!). I didn't feel as ill but wasn't too good on the journey there. We stopped off at the Victorian outdoor museum of..... and looked around. The people were really rude and chavy but it wasn't too bad. I guess we all felt very southern.
We ate dinner in York at this restaurant which used to be a butchers and then wandered around the city in the dusk. I didn't really have enough time to look around when I came to see the Uni but it really is beautiful. As it doesn't have much of an industrial history like Carlisle and many other Northern cities York was really different. Some of the streets reminded me of Oxford while others were almost like ones which you'd find in Soho or other parts of London.

Monday, August 10, 2009

The day I was ill


Stayes in bed most of the day with only the Yetholm cats for company!

Sunday, August 9, 2009

Harry and Chesca sitting in a tree..


Chescas been reading Harry Potter 6 the past few days as if it were her personal Bible. She goes to sleep really late reading it and even stayed in the bathroom until 2am to do so beacause I told her to stop and turn off the light in our room. So, Steffi decided to hide it up the tree in the front garden. We spent ages watching as Chesca tried to climb up to get it in desperation. Finally, she managed it and then started to pose and kiss the book befor coming down. I love that little ditsy sister of mine!
We had tea and Liddy and Chris' which was fun although slightly crowded. They then showed us their pet donkey, horse, sheep and small piece of woodland at the top of the hill outside their house. We later had champagne to celebrate mum and dad's anniversary.

Saturday, August 8, 2009

Alnwick, Roses and Harry Potter


By far one of the best days this holiday was today. We visited Alnwick castle and gardens where they filmed the first couple of Harry Potter films. Cathy, Chesca, Steffi adn I went ahead to just see the gardens while the others looked around the castle. The gardens were breathtaking! They'd been designed by some Europeans who had the perfect balance of water features with colours and plants. Cheffi and I walked up the winding path past the main waterfall to the top rose garden where Chesca over-posed for pictures for me and Steffi. We walked along the pools of water fed by small steams from the top of the hill and then crossed the tiny bridges to the the rose garden at the top. This was almost like something out of a fairytale as there were different colourful and fragrant plants everywhere. In the corners were dovecotes and and the centre was a huge pond which fed all the streams flowing downhill. I tried to capture the delicate textures of the roses as they were in full bloom and really stunning. We then walked back down and wandered along the rest of the garden to the huge treehouse, bamboo maze and poison garden. Alnwick gardens are beautiful.

Friday, August 7, 2009

The Fringe Festival '09


We set off early in the morning to Edinburgh in time for the Fring festival. As soon as we arrived in the station we spotted an exhibition which I had really wanted to see - funny signs from around the world. Ok, so slightly immature but it still made us giggle. Loads. We then walked up the mall which was crowded with people dressed up and trying to advertise their shows in as best way as possible. There were performers, dancers, singers, actors acting out scenes (mum thought a girl had actually fainted as she was lyign on the floor holding tickets to her show, pretending to have been shot by the Nazi Officers standing over her...mum then shouted "Nazis! Anna! Chesca! LOOK!!!". Another guy came up to us dressed as a penguin while someone else said to me "My name is Byron but if you come to my play this evening you can call me by my Christian name, George". There was also people from Oxford including the Imps (Improv. comedy) who gave us free tickets when I told them I was from Hertford and Out of the Blue A Capella. In the end, we got tickets to the A Capella while mum and Cathy used the free tickets. We all are lunch at Pizza Express and then went on to see our respective shows. OOTB were brilliant and had so much electricity on stage that the whole audience was left captivated. I was later able to talk to Lawrence who is a member and also goes to Hertford. We also saw "The School for Scandal" (not as good) and in the evening mum, Chesca, Steffi and I were approached by a boy with a mancunian accent who turned out to be an actor from Chiswick. So, we went to see his play, "Territory" which was very well done although slightly violent (and the main guy was fiiiit!). I would have loved to have stayed longer but we had to get the train back. So, we watched this guy swallow swords and then went home. I'd love to return and stay for a week or two just to get round HALF of what was going on at the Fringe!

Thursday, August 6, 2009

totally relaxed..



We loved Holy Island so much that we had to return. The schofields were tired to stayed at the house buy mum, dad, Chesca and I drove back earlier so we could make the first crossing and stay the whole day. While mum and dad went to have a proper look round the castle Chesca and I sat on the little cove nearby and sketched. She is far better than me but was so relaxing that I didn't care! We took off our shoes, dug our toes in the warm sand and just drew shells and the huge daisies growing in the grass nearby. We were there for hours and got really hungry so were very releived once mum and dad turned up and we got lunch in a little tea room nearby. However, the tide was now high so we were stuck on the island...
It seems that everything closes after 2 and we couldn't cross until 7. So, we went into the Church and just wandered around for ages in the (almost) ghost village. Mum, Checa and I then went to the pub for a while and I had another go at driving.

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

The day I learnt to drive!


In the morning we set off to Holy Island on the East coast. The Schofields had brought Harry Potter 3 on CD so Chesca, Steffi, Marianne, mum and I listened to it on the way there - we were officialy the HP car of the holidays. However, as the tide was high, the crossing to Holy Island was sumberged so we had to waste some time and return around 6pm. So, we ate lunch at a nearby town and then wandered around the harbour taking pictures of the boats, families fishing and two seals which occasionaly poked their heads out of the water. As we did this we ate Italian ice creams from the restaurant (I decided to be adventurous and tried dark chocolate and chilli!). We then walked back along the beach to the car and drove along the long strip of land to Holy Island.
It was the late evening so the streets were deserted! We walked around the town,up to the castle, in the walled garden (which had some beautiful bright blue conrflowers) and back to the village to look at the Church. While mum, dad and Michael S looked inside the Chuch Cathy, Chesca, Marianne, Steffi and I went back to the car park as we wanted to catch the sunset across the flat crossing to the island. We stood and watched from the top of the field opposite as the sun sank in an array of bright gold and orange colours. Cathy then taught Marianne and me to drive their car. We took turns and by the time mum and dad were back I could circle to car park and change from 1st to 2nd gear - score! It felt BRILLIANT to drive, slightly addictive in fact but it was the best feeling in the world.
Later, we drove down to the mud flats and took more pictures as the last rays of sunlight spread across the crossing. If theres one thing I've learn this holiday it is that the border country has stunning sunsets!

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

25 years



Today was mum and dad's 25th wedding anniversary. Chesca and I gave them a card, cookie cutters in the shape of teddy bears and spinkled "happy anniversary" glitter on the table before we had the family breakfast together (we had planned to bake some cupcakes but couldn't use the oven >_<). Lunch was at the hotel in Kelso where Chesca and I laughed as a Westie bounded among the flowerbeds outside (it looked so ditzy!).Afterwards, we drove to the house of..... (we seem to be doing a lot of National Trust properties this holiday - I love it!). Unlike various other places we'd been to, this house was very beautiful and carefuly thought out. It was almost like a miniature castle with small turets and a small library worthy of Beauty and the Beast. The sky started to darken as I had a look round the garden and chapel. As I walked among the flowerbeds it started to rain so I had to take this picture before running back to the house!
In the evening, Chesca and I played badmington at the house in Yetholm as we waited for the Schofields to arrive.

Monday, August 3, 2009

Liddy & Chris


Today we went to the town of Kelso to have a look around (Chesca and I bought some delicious tablet/fudge in the lcoal sweet shop for mum and dad). We then ate tea with homemade scones in the ... hotel which overlooked the gardens and river. It must've been an old fashioned hunting hotel where guests stayed around Aumtumn before going on shooting parties. We ate supper at Liddy and Chris' (Liddy is dad's old friend from Oxford). Chris is a sculptor and Liddy is Sir Thomas Beecham's granddaughter so their house was pretty interesting to say the least!
After supper, Chris gave us a guided tour around their garden which has a numerous assortment of different rare plants and trees inclding a Walami pine from Kew 0_o

Sunday, August 2, 2009

Beach!


We started off by having an early lunch at the pub in Kirk Yetholm nearby (the food was brilliant although slightly undercooked) and then drove to ...
Here we had a look round the castly which was built at the top of the cliffs overlooking the sea. The day was beautiful, windy and clear with a bright blue sky and whispy white clouds. We drove further along the coast to lower..... and walked along the sandy beach which was dotted with shells. Chesca and I began to collect some for her art work (and I'm also planning on doing a shell necklace sometime in the future...). While walking along I made friends with an old lady from Newcastle and her dog (Tara). We chatted for ages about everything from the amazing weather to drug problems in inner city areas (?!). Tara was so sweet and made me really crave having a German Shepherd as a pet (not too sure Toffee and Fudge would mind).
In the evening we went to Seahouses and queued for ages to get some authentic seaside fish & chips. We then walked along the rocky shore and watched the sunset. This is where I took my picture - The camera doesn't even do justice to the bright reds,yellows, pinks and orange colours which were displayed across the sky for about 1/2 hour. I especialy loved how the castle and cliffs were slihouetted in the distance and the light was reflected in the various rock pools dotted along the shore. I also tried to catch some shots of people flying their kites in the sunset, but these were too blurred.

Saturday, August 1, 2009

Yetholm


Today we arrived at Yetholm. We had to drive for AGES to get here but it was definatly worth it! We had lunch in the dismal place that is Carlisle and quickly looked around the shops. However, we were very happy to leave once we had eaten a quick M&S lunch in the car park *sigh*. On the drive up here I managed to finish Harry Potter 2 (only 5 more to go!) and spent the rest of the time looking out of thw window at the scenery.
Yetholm is beautiful. The house looks like it is out of a Jane Austin novel with a large bright dinning room and colourful bedrooms and kitchen. The garden has a badmington set which I'm sure Chesca and I will use later on in the week. After unpacking we had a drink in the local pub which was very friendly although slightly scary as you feel VERY southern and VERY out of place!