Aug 2007

London is both beautiful and madding. On one side you have old city with history and style. On the other side you have an old city which was built for horse's and monarchs.
I had a room mate last night a guy from Perth, Tim. We had some beer's, eats some food, watched some live soccer at a pub near here. He left for his tour this morning.
Today I when and had a look around London, on a tour bus system thing. I went around the city and visited the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, London Bridge, Trafalgar Square. Here are a section of the pictures I took.

London Pictures.

Tonight is my brief meeting for the tour to Athens tomorrow should be good.

Well I am in the United Kingdom and it was a long and fatiguing. After a delay with taking off from Singapore, I was on my way. The flight itself was good and I had a much better seat this time, window and all (there will be pictures when I get a chance). I didn't get much sleep as the seat when I tried to sleep gave my neck all manner of pain. But I did watch 3 movies and read the book work gave me (an interesting read).
After landing it was check in and customs. I must say one thing here in the negative, Heathrow sucks. A rat warren of corridors and poor signage. Anyway once I got onto the Underground 'tube' and to Russell Court or something like that. Got lost getting to the hotel. Up to my room and slept a good 12 hours and still got up at 8 o'clock the next morning.
Had a wander around the area (and got lost agian). Its a beautiful city, in its old buildings with amazing archecture that you just don't see anymore. A note that need to be made; streets only seem to go one way.

I am now in Singapore. The plane took off on time and landed on time. While the food is not great, the rest of the flight was good. On Demand Movies and TV and a little pillow and light blanket. It took me a while to work out how best to sleep, it was not the most comfortable of seats. But I got some sleep and saw the lights of Singapore at early morning. It is humid here and the airport is huge.
Anyway I am going to find some breakfast now, just let you know I am okay.

The day has arrived, in less that 24 hours I will be on a plane heading toward Europe. As I look back on the events that have lead me to this point. I would take this opportunity to thank those that have helped me along the way, both small and large, material and immaterial. Thank you again, you know who you are.

Now on a more grounded note;
Packing is half done. Paper work and bureaucracy from the Australian end has been tied in a not so neat bow (I just have to post of my Tax Return). Passport and travel Visa done. Spending money has been transfered to a Euro Visa card. iPod charged. Work desk mostly clean.

Having dinner with the family tonight then off to the airport for my plane which is due to leave at ten to one in the morning.

It is 14 hours until departure.

Almost at single figure days until exodus and the final preparations are coming to there conclusion… almost. The minor tasks of getting a UK bank account and National Insurance number (the equivalent of our Tax File Number), only I have the same issues that I had with getting my Working Visa. Catch 22’s all over the place, but I am getting somewhere with it all.
Good things that have happened of late in regard to holiday preparations, I now have travel insurance until the 15th of March 2008. Travel insurance is an awesome thing, covering things that domestic insurance policies (note the plural) never cover or you pay so much that it feels like you are covering your past lives as well. So with me covered for terrorist hijackings and iPod theft along with European Union now allowing me emergency medical care when needed.
Yes now allow me, if you don't have travel insurance in the UK and rock up to an Emergency Room with say having a heart attack or suffering stab wounds they will not admit you, and you will die on the street... nice. This may be over dramatized, but still am glad I have insurance.

It is 10 days until departure.