Neal's Europe Adventure

Sorry

2005-05-08T22:07:00.000+01:00

So it is exam time and I was on holiday for a long time and before that I was lazy and just couldn;t be bothered to write. Now I am just procrasting which is never good - oh well. I will try to put some pics up soon and maybe a story or two. But in teh meantime check out http://veggiepower.blogspot.com. peace - neal

First Day in Cardiff Part I

2005-03-07T21:45:00.001Z

Cardiff Castle - Cardiff, Wales - View From Old Remains of Castle w/
Moat

First Day in Cardiff Part I

2005-03-07T21:45:00.000Z

Cardiff Castle - Cardiff, Wales - View From Old Remains of Castle w/
Moat

First Day in Cardiff Part I

2005-03-07T21:44:00.001Z

Cardiff Castle - Cardiff, Wales - View From Old Remains of Castle w/
Moat

First Day in Cardiff Part I

2005-03-07T21:44:00.000Z

Cardiff Castle - Cardiff, Wales - View From Old Remains of Castle w/
Moat

First Day in Cardiff Part I

2005-03-07T21:43:00.002Z

Cardiff Castle - Cardiff, Wales - View From Old Remains of Castle w/
Moat

First Day in Cardiff Part I

2005-03-07T21:43:00.001Z

Cardiff Castle - Cardiff, Wales - View From Old Remains of Castle w/
Moat

First Day in Cardiff Part I

2005-03-07T21:43:00.000Z

Cardiff Castle - Cardiff, Wales - View From Old Remains of Castle w/
Moat

First Day in Cardiff Part I

2005-03-07T21:42:00.001Z

Cardiff Castle - Cardiff, Wales - View From Old Remains of Castle w/
Moat

First Day in Cardiff Part I

2005-03-07T21:42:00.000Z

Cardiff Castle - Cardiff, Wales - View From Old Remains of Castle w/
Moat

First Day in Cardiff Part II

2005-03-07T18:48:00.001Z

Royal Navy Ship Docked in Cardiff Bay

First Day in Cardiff Part II

2005-03-07T18:48:00.000Z

Royal Navy Ship Docked in Cardiff Bay

First Day in Cardiff Part II

2005-03-07T18:47:00.003Z

Royal Navy Ship Docked in Cardiff Bay

First Day in Cardiff Part II

2005-03-07T18:47:00.002Z

Royal Navy Ship Docked in Cardiff Bay

First Day in Cardiff Part II

2005-03-07T18:47:00.001Z

Royal Navy Ship Docked in Cardiff Bay

First Day in Cardiff Part II

2005-03-07T18:47:00.000Z

Royal Navy Ship Docked in Cardiff Bay

First Day in Cardiff Part II

2005-03-07T18:46:00.005Z

Royal Navy Ship Docked in Cardiff Bay

First Day in Cardiff Part II

2005-03-07T18:46:00.004Z

Royal Navy Ship Docked in Cardiff Bay

First Day in Cardiff Part II

2005-03-07T18:46:00.003Z

Royal Navy Ship Docked in Cardiff Bay

First Day in Cardiff Part I

2005-03-07T18:46:00.002Z

Cardiff Castle - Cardiff, Wales - View From Old Remains of Castle w/
Moat

First Day in Cardiff Part I

2005-03-07T18:46:00.001Z

Cardiff Castle - Cardiff, Wales - View From Old Remains of Castle w/
Moat

First Day in Cardiff Part I

2005-03-07T18:46:00.000Z

Cardiff Castle - Cardiff, Wales - View From Old Remains of Castle w/
Moat

First Day in Cardiff Part I

2005-03-07T18:45:00.002Z

Cardiff Castle - Cardiff, Wales - View From Old Remains of Castle w/
Moat

First Day in Cardiff Part I

2005-03-07T18:45:00.001Z

Cardiff Castle - Cardiff, Wales - View From Old Remains of Castle w/
Moat

First Day in Cardiff Part I

2005-03-07T18:45:00.000Z

Cardiff Castle - Cardiff, Wales - View From Old Remains of Castle w/
Moat

First Day in Cardiff Part I

2005-03-07T18:44:00.001Z

Cardiff Castle - Cardiff, Wales - View From Old Remains of Castle w/
Moat

First Day in Cardiff Part I

2005-03-07T18:44:00.000Z

Cardiff Castle - Cardiff, Wales - View From Old Remains of Castle w/
Moat

First Day in Cardiff Part I

2005-03-07T18:43:00.000Z

Cardiff Castle - Cardiff, Wales - View From Old Remains of Castle w/
Moat

What Country Are You?

2005-03-03T22:17:00.000Z

I found this really funny website that will tell you what country you are. After some manipulation since some questions don't have an answer that really works for me here are the countries I'm like.

You're
the United Nations!

Most people think you're ineffective, but you are trying to
completely save the world from itself, so there's always going to be a long
way to go. You're always the one trying to get friends to talk to each
other, enemies to talk to each other, anyone who can to just talk instead of
beating each other about the head and torso. Sometimes it works and sometimes
it doesn't, and you get very schizophrenic as a result. But your heart
is in the right place, and sometimes also in New York.

You're Canada!

People make fun of you a lot, but they're stupid because you've
got a much better life than they do. In fact, they're probably just jealous.
You believe in crazy things like human rights and health care and not
dying in the streets, and you end up securing these rights for yourself and
others. If it weren't for your weird affection for ice hockey, you'd be
the perfect person.

You're Ireland!

Mystical and rain-soaked, you remain mysterious to many people, and this
makes you intriguing. You also like a good night at the pub, though many are just as
worried that you will blow up the pub as drink your beverage of choice. You're good
with words, remarkably lucky, and know and enjoy at least fifteen ways of eating a potato.
You really don't like snakes.

And the first time it thought I was Liechenstein but only the nature parts of it are correct and I do like my independence but some of the other stuff is completely wrong (at least I hope).

You're
Liechtenstein!

Most folks don't take you that seriously, but you really make
a big deal out of being independent. You don't do a whole lot for other
people, but you make the best of the resources available to you. You really
like snow. And mountains. And being independent. And you're
probably pretty small.
Take
the Country Quiz.

I also saw a realy cool ballett/play called Giselle which was really awesome. It involved death, telephone pole sitting, line dancing, country music, blues music, a bisexual teacher, messed up families, spririts from the grave, and dancing. In short it was really awesome.

I'll have much more to add to the blog soon.

Have a good weekend (don't think I'll be writing anymore tomorrow (Friday).

peace

- neal

Nothing Can Describe

2005-03-01T00:06:00.000Z

I saw in the newspaper today an advert for Channel 4's program on Torture and Guantanamo Bay. I told one of my mates and he watched it from the start. I started watching half way through it and was uphalled and shocked at the methods and means of torture that are used in Guantanamo. It was horrifying to watch. They had 7 volunteers who volunteered themselves to undergo the kinds of torture that are used at the Naval Base there. It was disgusting. Forced nudity. Planted objects. The level of stress was so high that in under 24 hours one person had to leave. Only 4 made it through and it was only a few days long (48 hours I think only). And the methods that were used were milder than those used in Guantanamo Bay. They also used sensory deprivation where they were blindfolded placed in a room with headphones playing whit noise for hours on end. In Guantanamo it can be done for up 18 hours. They only did 2 in the show. It has been proven that after about 40 minutes people start to hallucinate. The one time the man was placed in a forced very uncomfortable looking position naked in the cell with sensory deprivation and cold air blowing on him. They was also forced shaving, forced positions that I know from doing Yoga (keeping ones legs up off the ground by several centimetres while laying down is 1 incredibly hard and becomes painful after more than 15 seconds of holding it and one man had to hold it for several minutes. He couldn't do it and got yelled at because of it. The things that were done are horrifying. Even the men who went into the simulation thinking torture should be allowed couldn't possibly imagine it working or believing in it. They couldn't imagine it even for the worst of criminals and they thought that any evidence gained by them would certainly be wrong since people would want to say things about the other people just so that they might be rewarded. People would be desperate and make up lies. It is a terribly inhuman thing that violates all morals held to be true and good of a "Western" world and breaks many international treaties. We need to tell our Congress people to do something about it. To take a stance and officially outlaw it!

may we have peace in our world

- neal

The Rest of Weekend and I Promise

2005-02-28T23:20:00.000Z

I promise to include my thoughts from while I was hiking the trail in Wales on that Saturday. Basically I went for the walk walked a ways in the mud. Got to a cool spot with the bridge thats certainly in some pictures and then as I said before was going to try and eat at the Pub there but they were not serving food so I walked back as it got darker and darker (eventually very dark). And realised where the real trail was so I took it back to the M named town that I can no longer spell correctly. And I then took the train back into Cardiff went to the Hostel and talked with Gui for a little while then we went up to our room talked some more and went to bed.

So My thoughts while I was sitting on the fence post/gate thingy that somehow kept the animals in or out depending upon what side you are on and which side belongs to you and me :) (good old Woody Guthrie).

So what I wrote is:
I'm sitting by the book on a fence post thingie, thinking of writing about my time here. The gate has barbed wire by it making me think an animal might come to greet me from one side of the other son. [yes I know that makes no sense but I'm typing it word for word.] so I am on constant lookout for one. so far I'm still here and alive. Seen some ducks and birds (mallards and something on the order of a heron). I hear the birds and the water and I realize [how terrible of me to spell it American style] how beautiful life is when its cool and damp or raing [raining]. I am supposed to be on some trail but I'm not sure if I am still on it or not. I really haven't seen the structures it sounded like I might [the map showing them that is] but that is just as well because now I get to see the water. When was the last time you went outside Sat, and just wrote. This kind of reminds me of going to Springbrook a long time ago to sit by the stream. Well must get going the rain seems its starting again.

So that is my brief thoughts from sitting there.

The next day Sunday I had the same jam and toast breakfast, but I think I also had a fruit because the girl I had went up with on the train had forgotten her food. Sunday I went to Mass in the morning then met Gui at the National Museum. After looking at a lot of art and some celtic ruin things we walked to the Bay and Went in the old Norweigian Church and the Oddly Shaped Visitor Centre. When this was finished we headed back up towards the hostel. We took the river route on the way home and since the hostel was close to the river we went there talked for abit and then I got my luggage from behind the counter and headed to the bus stop to find a really crowded Double Decker Bus. I said my goodbyes to Gui and then I got on and the bus returned me to my home away from home (London). So there you go its finally finished. It is now 6 March and I went on a day trip to Cambridge which was really awesome!

Ill have to write more about it and Scotland soon.

- neal

Scattered Thoughts (But Not Wales Yet)

2005-02-27T10:21:00.000Z

I hope everyone is doing very well and that they enjoy my very long overdue finishing up of my time in Wales. (Part of this line was written 26 Feb. at 1 AM The rest is from the time the stamp shows) :)

Of course just as always I have to give you an update of the past few days to be sure that the past is put in the context of whats happening to me right now. Well yesterday I went to a conference about how to stop the BNP (British National Party). They are a very far right wing group that is fascist. They hate all immigrants and ethnic minorities. They are racist, xenophobic, homophobic, and have a dislike for Jewish People. It was very interesting to hear and read about them. I had never heard of such a party before. Well at least not in current times. The party is like an offspring of the National Front which gained popularity in some areas and there were race riots back in the past. So the conference was about how to stop them. One of the big things that was talked about was telling others and informing them that there is such things going on currently. The other big thing is to not allow them to get in power. Once they have power it is harder to remove fascist governments. One of the most important things is writing to the BBC and other newsources and expressing our outrage when they are presented on the radio or in papers as a normal and good party just as anyother. Public outcry can have a big effect in journalism. The BNP also should not be given government money for advertising. The network of people/group working on stopping the BNP is United Against Fascism http://www.uaf.org.uk/ . They were the main group at the conference yesterday. One of the seminars my friend Marie (who went with me) and I went to was a Holocaust Survivor. He was in Auschwitz and was transfered from many different camps. I will write more about him in the near future once I read the book that he wrote. Marie bought it (well I gave her one pound). Once she is done I will read it and it will get passed around I am certain. It really was amazing to hear him speak of the atrocities. The most interesting part was that he is English but in the process of everything his passport was lost and he was not allowed to contact anyone. He did have ancestors that lived in the Rotterdam where he was living at the time. For a more thorough explanation of his background and some of his life go to http://www.movinghere.org.uk/stories/story85/story85.htm or http://www.guardian.co.uk/secondworldwar/story/0,14058,1389433,00.html. His wife and 2 year old son were gassed not long after the family arrived at the first concentration camp. He ended up in a camp because he couldn't leave Rotterdam in time and because a friend who he had entrusted to keep his passport and some money in safe keeping panicked out of fear that they would discover that he was hiding it (which was helping a Jewish person I guess.) The friend burned it leaving him paperless to prove his nationality.

After he was liberated from Buchenwald on 11 April 1945. The next year he began to tell his story and has been doing so since then. What I found the most interesting was how alive nazism and fascism is still alive today. It is sickening. He has received death threats and called a liar in a fascist paper. He has had bricks thrown in through his windows by the National Front. Two years ago he received terrible "Christmas" cards (I don't know what kind of Christian sends the kinds of cards he received). There were nazi symbols drawn on them and one card said he would have made a good lampshade. He told us how he truly fears the occurrence of another Holocaust or at the least the strong rising in fascism. I was disgusted, saddened, frightened, moved, and everything else imaginable at the time.

So after the seminar in which he spoke. We went to a plenary (larger conference) and another one after that. They spoke of how to stop the BNP which I spoke of above. After the conference and after helping clean up some we went to Planet Organic which is both a vegetarian deli style café and an organic store. It was good food but the problem I have is that they give you the food (unless its soup) in plastic containers. I notice this with many "healthy" places to eat. They serve good food but the packaging is terrible for the environment. So after I had a lentil, onion, garlic soup (I think that's what it was) we looked around the store and I found chickpeas which were not canned. I was terribly excited because canned chickpeas always have added salt and such. I am now soaking them in water because they were incredibly hard and shriveled. I wonder though when chick peas/garbanzo beans and picked what are they like? Do they dehydrate them to pack them in a bag or do they cook them to put them in a can? If someone could leave a comment on what they think it is that would be excellent!

So after that we went to Teco's (Supermarket) for Marie to get her chocolate fix and then he headed to Goodge St. Tube Stop to meet up with some people to head to a Malaysian society thing.

That and I guess Wales will once again have to wait because its now 1230. I started a while ago but then went next door to talk to Carlos when I saw that the lights were on in his room. He has a friend from Spain in and I wanted to meet him. He was very cool. He only really spoke Spanish. He's a second year Physical Therapy Student. It was cool meeting more people from all over the place. Last weekend I think it was, I met Carlos's sister who was in town to visit. She was very shy but looks just like Carlos. He has taken them around the town and shown them the highlights. Just like some of you may get if you come to visit me. Right, about that sleep thing. It will happen now.

Peace all. - Neal

Fun Times at the Pub and Pizza Before It

2005-02-26T01:33:00.001Z

Fun Times at the Pub and Pizza Before It

2005-02-26T01:33:00.000Z

A Day of Ice Skating with some of my Mates (Near Liverpool St. Station)

2005-02-26T01:15:00.003Z

A Day of Ice Skating with some of my Mates (Near Liverpool St. Station)

2005-02-26T01:15:00.002Z

A Day of Ice Skating with some of my Mates (Near Liverpool St. Station)

2005-02-26T01:15:00.001Z

A Day of Ice Skating with some of my Mates (Near Liverpool St. Station)

2005-02-26T01:15:00.000Z

The Last Day in Cardiff, Wales (Sunday)

2005-02-26T01:14:00.005Z

The Last Day in Cardiff, Wales (Sunday)

2005-02-26T01:14:00.004Z

The Last Day in Cardiff, Wales (Sunday)

2005-02-26T01:14:00.003Z

The Last Day in Cardiff, Wales (Sunday)

2005-02-26T01:14:00.002Z

The Last Day in Cardiff, Wales (Sunday)

2005-02-26T01:14:00.001Z

The Last Day in Cardiff, Wales (Sunday)

2005-02-26T01:14:00.000Z

The Last Day in Cardiff, Wales (Sunday)

2005-02-26T01:13:00.000Z

The Bus Ride to Wales

2005-02-26T01:07:00.000Z

The Bus Ride to Wales

2005-02-26T01:06:00.004Z

The Bus Ride to Wales

2005-02-26T01:06:00.003Z

The Bus Ride to Wales

2005-02-26T01:06:00.002Z

The Bus Ride to Wales

2005-02-26T01:06:00.001Z

The Bus Ride to Wales

2005-02-26T01:06:00.000Z

A Bit of All Things

2005-02-22T21:23:00.000Z

Today 22 February is "Free Mojtaba and Arash Day" a part of a campaign by the Commitee to Protect Bloggers. They are locked up in Iran for what they wrote on their blog. The campaign wants to help establish protection of bloggers and help to promote free speech. Blogs are unregulated and no one really knows what exactly to do when people publish things. Go to http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4278241.stm to read all about it. I really think that such things are important. Also check out some of my mates blogs while your at it read http://afifter.blogspot.com/ - just a funny guys blog and http://www.heloetc.tk - a slightly more serious journalistic approach to blogging. He is after all a journalism student so yeah go read it.

In this blog and the short time that I have remaining before I head out to...you guessed it..the blues bar I will write a bit about the end of last week if I remember and try to maybe some something else about other useful fun things. I am also becoming more swamped with work something I couldn't have really predicted if I had tried but alas it has happened and so that means I have even less time than I normally do. I am also planning some trips and thinking about what I will do in summer so many things it crazy. I be going to the blues bar for another girl's birthday which should be fun. Its always fun there. It almost feels like what I can imagine some of the blues clubs in chicago being like. Small dingy and smokey. I don't exactly enjoy the smoke but I make do with it.

So last week I wrote about my Wednesday. So I will try to start with Thursday. Not much happened that I can recall. Lecture and thats about it I think. I also packed and got ready for hunting nessie. Friday I went to lectures and then met up with some mates and chatted for a while. This was fun. Oh Thursday also involved doing laundry. Friday was crazy getting ready and all and eating and I dont recall what all happened, but I remember it being crazy. Niels and I left after eating some food. After we had flyered the halls with leaflets about the upcoming student election and the big Anti-War Rally on 19 March. On my route over in Finsbury Halls I stopped and talked with Morgan who is a really awesome guy. He was the one I went to the protest with on Tuesday. He also loaned me his digital camera for the weekend which I should really be returning to him soon. I plan on calling Fuji tomorrow to try and get mine repaired.

So going back to Friday evening. Niels and I took the bus (38) after kind of walking out of the way to get to the stop. We then walked to the bus station only to realise that it wasn't actually the right bus station. The previous 2 times I had taken a bus, it was from the green line coach station -(MegaBus and GreenLine and Stagecoach (which I think owns MegaBus leave from there). With less than 10 minutes to our departure we realised this and headed in search of the Victoria Coach Station where the National Express (kind of like greyhound especially in the kind of terminal they have there). We got on the coach and headed out for our long journey. I fell asleep once we were outside of London. The crazy thing was that the coach stopped a lot of times which needless to say was annoying as it kept waking me up. I am not sure if Niels ever really slept. He did meditate and read the Da Vinci code. It was hard for us on the bus as we are both long legged and they have like no leg room at all. After a few times to stretch (ie we could get off the bus) and one long stop at a service centre (rest area like one on the tollway) we arrived in Inverness and wandered about until we found high street and our hostel. Amazingly Niels doesn't mind asking for directions. We checked into the hostel and had a good chat with the guy who worked there. I will write more about that later - time for the blues bar!!

peace - neal

Hmm Darn I Need to Catch Up and Stop Procrastinating

2005-02-17T00:39:00.000Z

This week of course I went to another protest, but by the time I got there with one of my mates it had basically finished. It was one of the shortest ones I have seen we got there barely an hour after it was supposed to start. Oh well there will be bigger and better ones and just more in general that I can make my presence at. That was yesterday which was Tuesday (well actually I guess two days ago now considering its past midnight). Okay Right then, I will continue with my week. Well Yesterday/Today (Wednesday) was rather uneventful. I stuffed some envelopes and put labels on about 700 envelopes this took 4.25 hours for which I was being paid £6 an hour so I made some more money and that is always an excellent thing. The thing that bugged me about this was the waste of paper on putting one silly newsletter into all those envelopes paying students, which all combined probably adds up to about 100 quid in just paying students and the cost of printing and then postage. While there was a bunch of internal ones there was also a large number of external. I dont see why the printing couldnt have been done in a slightly different way allowing for the label to be affixed to the newsletter itself thus saving ridiculous amounts of paper. And then cost of postage with me labeling about 700 and another girl working on nearly that many it would seem to make sense to have done something different. Oh well.

Today or rather the evening I did some Maths and I also did some research on a sit I discovered a few days ago all about abandonned and disused tube stops and stations. It came as a result of me being curious about this tunnel that I saw at ground level. It is in Kingsway Road at the intersection with Theobald's Road just North of Holborn Tube Stop. Well I had been to the site the other day and didn't see anything interesting, but upon looking at it more i found all about this. It was used for the old tram system. I figured it had to be related to the underground since it had tracks in the ramp. And upon reading the website it also has a third cable or something which provided power. It was an underpass that went from there all the way down to Waterloo Bridge via Aldwych. I just found the history of it amazing. But since you might not I won't bore you with all the details. go to http://www.starfury.demon.co.uk/uground/index.html and read the Kingsway Underpass section.

Other news is that this weekend i am going with a mate up to Inverness Scotland which is really close to Loch Ness. Maybe we will see Nessie!! I really hope we do. maybe we will have to have a few drinks before we go (more likely to see something then (so I was told)). :) The following weekend I am going to Copenhagen. This is also quite exciting. After that I will be staying in London for a bit. Time is rapidly flying by and I need to be sure to catch up in Structures, Maths, and work on my Engineering Management Project.

Maybe I will write a bit more about Wales. That Saturday way back a few weeks I planned to go up to Brecons Beacons National Park. There was a bus service that was supposed to go there and I was going to originally be going alone but I ended up meeting an Aussie Friday night at the lobby/bar area of the hostel and we got to talking and she was going there as well. So We were going to try and catch the first bus that went all the way up there. We got to the station only to find out that it didn't run at the early time on Saturday. So Beings that if I waited for the next one would have like no time up there since the return bus left not long afterward we took a train up to Methyr Tydfil (sp) which is a the Southern Tip of the national Park.

From there we figured I might be able to take another bus or wait for the bus that went all the way or just explore around there. After a visit to the tourist info place I decided to just go up in the area on my own and the girl was to wait for the bus and head up to the Northern Part of the park and then try and get a hostel up there. So I went into town had some real food at small little restaurant which was really nice considering my breakfast at the hostel was just toast. I then headed up the trail taking my time. I made some interesting turns and perhaps wrong ones as I got seperated from the trail but stumbled upon a cool Mansion Museum which had the whole history of the area. The whole area used to be a mining area and it was owned by one of the big mining families. It was very interesting reading and hearing people in the museum talk about the memories of the past. There really isn't any mining there anymore. Its so much like Michigan or Northern WI were that was their livelihood and when things closed up the local economy really suffered and to this day hasn't really picked up all that much. I asked there how to get back on the trail and had a whole map drawn for me. Good thing she did because it was very tricky and sneaky where the trail went. The lady there explained that the path would go between a churches wall and another fence and I wouldn't have known it to be something unless she did. I then followed a trail down a steep grassy hill and walked through many pastures along the creek. The whole trail was about following this river/creek. I later realised that the path I had taken was different than what I thought I was on but I had an excellent and relaxing time and am longing for green country which I should get this weekend. I will be sleeping for most of the ride since we leave at 11 PM and its a 12 hour bus ride. I will write more about my hike later. I even wrote a little thing while sitting down on a fence/gate post thingy.

Until next time peace

neal

Its Never Too Late (For A Beginning)

2005-02-13T00:38:00.000Z

Using the title above stolen from one of my sister's songs sums up my feelings on trying to write more about the past few weeks. As always I'll start with today. Well Maybe just the things that happened between my last writing and today. The only really interesting event was my return to the Blues Bar Wednesday night for a friend (Sophie's Birthday). The experience afterward was more interesting than the time there. I thought the blues band was decent but others seemed to think they were really really good. The interesting part was that most of these people are slightly hippyish kind of like me but different. Sophie probably is the most hippyish. Well the difference is that I don't smoke and I do mean in all senses of the word because we being almost entirely City University Students and 3 being Syracuse students. Well we went up one the small streets which is like an alley (well so many streets in London are almost the size of an alley) anyways they rolled their fun in with some tobacco and passed a few around. I left before they had finished all that. I left with the 2 people that I came with. We wanted to get back and get some sleep. They were also not nearly as keen as some of the others on the smoking. They did just a very very little and that was enough. Part of the fun during this time was that they had brought a guitar with and sophie being a music major played and sang some songs. Some of which we sang along.

The other interesting thing was today. I went with one of my mates (Niels) to a march against climate change and to put pressure on Australia and the US to sign the Kyoto protocol. We walked from Lincoln's Inn Field by Holbord Tube Station towards Trafalgar Square and then up towards Picadilly Circus and then to the US embassy. On the way we made a brief stop at the Australian Embassy. Near the US embassy I got drafted/volunteered to pedal the Rinky-Dink (Hope to have pictures up soon). I don't personally have any since my camera now won't turn on. But basically the rinky dink (oh just remembered they have some website (http://www.baka.co.uk/rinky/)) is a pedal powered sound system. The power is actually generated by two people who are keeping a flywheel spinning by pedaling a bike that is connected to a larger bike system. Right, I pedalled it from near the embassy and during all the speeches during the embassy. Only really stopping for a few very short times. Needless to say it really wore me out and I am quite knackered. After the speeches and the strange outbursts of rain (light teh first time and very heavy and short later). We walked up the road to Oxford Street and then down to Oxford Circus Bus Stop OJ to take the 55 bus home. Later this evening I cooked some food with Niels adding kidney beans to my curry and of course made my famous pita bread. I went to mass and after mass that was when the pita bread making took place.

After all that which was after 21 I came here to my room and what I have been doing I don't really remember. Oh I looked at a really interesting website about Burma and the problems they face (http://www.hillerphoto.com/burma/#). Did some talking with a friend and looked on ebay and the web for info about my camera. I wasnt terribly successful. Also was researching the iTunes 5 user a day limit for sharing and to see if there was ways to bypass this but so far havent read that it is possible. Now that it is 110 in the morning and I am going to the Chinese New Year's Parade tomorrow I think I will retire to bed.

So I guess although it wasn't actually too late to begin it still won't be happening for me to describe that saturday back a few weekends in Wales.

Hope all of you are having a happy Lent and a good time.

peace - neal

New Way To Get Here

2005-02-08T23:02:00.000Z

I really have no clue how many people there are that actually read this but you can now go to http://www.nealstyka.tk to get here. Go to http://www.dot.tk to find out more about .tk free domain name services.

Shrove Tuesday

2005-02-08T22:41:00.000Z

I might be just writing here the start of my saturday in Wales, because today is Shrove Tuesday/Paczki/Pancake Day/Mardi Gras or whatever else you might like to call it. So ironicaly not knowing it was Pancake Day as well I had a leftover pancake that I had made on Sunday. So the reason I'm going to keep this short is because I've been quite tired and unlike most Wednesday mornings, I do have something to do and will have to be up early for it. The way I figured out it was Pancake Day was quite interesting because I went up to the grocery store to buy 2 Jam Doughnuts which I had been wanting to do for a while and well it is Paczki Day (and I looked a little but couldn't find a Polish Bakery here in London although I'm sure someone somewhere sells the reall thing. Well last night after going to a Protest to Protest our rights to Protest in Parliament Square because there is a bill going through Parliament last night called the serious and organised crime bill. And they basically don't want Protesting in Parliament Square and Had all sorts of other more important security measures tacked onto it as well. I guess some things never change. They try and do that back home in the states all the time. So After that I went with some of my protest mates (different groups of mates you know) to a place called the Blues Bar and guess what they have blues music there 7 nights a week. Mondays are usually open mic/jam nights so they had all sorts of people coming up and playing and most of them had never played together before. So After I left there saturated in smoke and trying to figure out teh busses for a while I got home to find out that someone thought it was funny throw flow and eggs all over (now I learned this afternoon that it was guys birthday on our floor or something and that some of his girl mates wanted to flour him or something which evolved into egging as well). So they had even gone to teh extent to take my eggs from the refridgerator which made me angry. So to make an incredibly long story short I went to get eggs at the grocery store and there was a sticker where all the various egg cartons were that said Pancake Day! 8 Feb. or something to that extent so when I got back to teh halls here I researched it and figured out there is symbology behind pancakes. They are supposed to give life and at the moment all I can remember is that the flour stands for a staff or support or something like that and the eggs were life and milk sweetness and lard something else (I really don't know on most of that). So the only other exciting thing that happened today was that I got a Maths problem done. It has been hard to motivate myself so it was quite good to get one done. Well I guess since it is now 2300 and i want sleep I shall go to bed and leave other days such as Wales and such to another time. Peace All - neal

Wales (It really is like the first day of me being there)

2005-02-05T01:12:00.000Z

So going back to my trip to Wales. After the dinner on thursday evening with the Marquette People I managed to book a bus ticket and a spot at the hostel. I had to call them because it was so close to when I was going there. Ticket prices for busses and trains drive me nuts. Unlike most tickets in the states there is no set price and it all depends upon the availability and how booked they are and how far in advance you book it. So I ended up paying more because of not knowing what Dr. Hosseini had planned for us. If he had told us (well rather me) anything in an email it would have been very useful. Which reminds me I have to send in a form to them about what courses I am taking here. Uggh too much to do. The only good thing is that I am not going anywhere this weekend and most of my friends are at some conference thing which sounds really bizarre.

Oh right the goal here was to talk about Wales. So I guess I will go back to speaking of that. But I just realised that I am typing much more proper just because I am typing in TextEdit instead of in a web window. So After talking to Heather that evening I went to bed around 1 or 2 in the morning. I then took a rather early bus to Cardiff. I think it was something like 7 or 8 in the morning. It was a cool big double deck coach bus. I sat on the top did some listening to music, a little ready, sleeping and window looking. Eventually the picks of this window looking will get to be here on the blog. It was quite fun and nice to see the countryside since for so long all I get is the city.

Well I got into the city around 11 in the morning went to the hostel and then headed out for the day trying to figure out my plans for the weekend. These were quite confusing at the time. I figured out the times of mass and for some reason spent a long time thinking that Friday was actually Saturday. This was eventually resolved. I ended up going to Cardiff Castle and exploring the city and its visitor museum on that Friday. I had a pasty as well which was very good. After the tour of the castle which was really quite fun and interesting. I went for a walk to the water. But first I shall describe the castle a bit more. Well Actually that describing shall have to wait for when I return from classes in a bunch of hours. I also desperately need to go grocery shopping so I think I shall do that.

Well of course that was yesterday and today is today. After my lecture on engineering management. Its all about marketing and such. Its crazy what engineers have to take these days. The only practical realistic part is that we have a group project to do and have a presentation to give on our marketing strategy. It went rather well (the lecture that is). After that I had a Structural Mechanics (ie Statics) lab. The actually taking of measurements was quick but the write up and calculations are really long. I am quite glad it is the last one (we only had 3 total) the lady who was in charge of them wasnt a very fair grader in my opinion. Right, the lab was actually very practical and semi realistic with us having a couple metre steel I beam and we were calculating deflection as well as stress and strain. So I spent a long time there trying to do the calculations. Carlos (my mate who is a Civil Engineer studying at Villanova University in the States and who is from Madrid, Spain) invited me to go see a movie _A Very Long Engagement_. So I stuck around with him and worked on the calculations until it was getting pretty late and there was just a bit over an hour before the movie. I went back to the halls here, had some dinner and then headed up to the Vue Cinema in Angel. Which reminds (I bet you couldnt have guessed by now that there is always something that triggers something else.) Right then I shall continue on what the connection is. It seems to be UK speech to say something is in something instead of on. Like they would say go to the entrance in City Road. Or they might say oh the shop is in Goswell Road. Both of which I find to very funny ways to say that the thing is in a road. Getting back to the movie. The move was excellent!! Really moving and thought provoking. It was a French Movie with English Subtitles. After the movie finished Carlos and I went back to the halls and his friends took the bus home. We had some good discussions and such.

So after some time at the Castle and browsing through their museum on Welsh Military Battalions. The museum was interesting but I wasn't a really big fan of all the war stuff. There also was really weird security tightness there. They had a guy going with a mirror to look above and below all the exhibits. Well after that I wanted to get some food from somewhere other than a take a way or pub. I ended up not succeeding so I went for a nice stroll towards the water. This was quite nice I walked along the river towards what was the ocean bay. I got down there but only say a bay full of ships and such and never actually made it out far enough to see any open water. I the area used to be one of the biggest shipping ports in the world. Now it is becoming a rather posh place of revitalisation and such. They have a bunch of different museums and such. They also have the remnants of many locks and some dry docks where boats used to be made. It was a very important port for shipping all the coal and later iron that came from the hills in nearby Wales. I walked all long there and then walked back to the hostel. There I met a girl from Australia and a girl from New Zealand. They were talking with a guy name Gui who is originally from Brazil but has been living in the UK for about 2 years. He was in London but is now in Cardiff. I talked with them for a while and then we headed up to bed. (The End of that Friday)

Wales (well it was supposed to be)

2005-02-02T01:01:00.000Z

Alright so I so dreadfully behind and it is so hard to write and chat with people whatever shall I do. Right so now the next day and an hour later I type another sentence. I think I have to write in this a bit about my past 2 days before I jump back in time to Wales. And I will only be able to write a bit as I am very tired and can't concentrate as well as I would like. I can't recall that I did anything extra special besides for classes on monday so I think I will just go to yesterday. can one go to a day though if it already happened? I just thought about that and realised that was a bit confusing. So anyways after my lovely sociology lecture and class which was about 530 or 6 by the time I got back from the library visit afterwards as well. I met in the lobby of the halls an American friend. And in conversation it came out that she was going to head up to the pub to watch the football game. I thought that sounded fun. So after we ate our seperate dinners we went up there. This was quite fun. The pub was jam packed. I couldn't even get in the doors. I shall have to save more for tomorrow. You see my wrist and arm of my right hand hurts if I am at my computer for a while and it is right now hurting. more later.

New Marquette Study Abroad Students - Dinner and a Pub

2005-01-26T01:04:00.002Z

New Marquette People - William Wallace Pub - Colleen Slattery, Bob
Peterson, Katie Postal, Lisa

New Marquette Study Abroad Students - Dinner and a Pub

2005-01-26T01:04:00.001Z

New Marquette People - William Wallace Pub - Colleen Slattery, Bob
Peterson, Katie Postal, Lisa

New Marquette Study Abroad Students - Dinner and a Pub

2005-01-26T01:04:00.000Z

New Marquette People - William Wallace Pub - Colleen Slattery, Bob
Peterson, Katie Postal, Lisa

New Marquette Study Abroad Students - Dinner and a Pub

2005-01-26T01:03:00.002Z

New Marquette People - William Wallace Pub - Colleen Slattery, Bob
Peterson, Katie Postal, Lisa

New Marquette Study Abroad Students - Dinner and a Pub

2005-01-26T01:03:00.001Z

New Marquette People - William Wallace Pub - Colleen Slattery, Bob
Peterson, Katie Postal, Lisa

New Marquette Study Abroad Students - Dinner and a Pub

2005-01-26T01:03:00.000Z

New Marquette People - William Wallace Pub - Colleen Slattery, Bob
Peterson, Katie Postal, Lisa

Post Exams

2005-01-26T00:43:00.000Z

This week I have found out the grades on more of my exams. I passed my fluids exam with a 56% which is pretty decent considering a 40% was passing and 2/3 of first year civil and mechanical engineers did not pass all of their exams. The whole configuration and processing of this number into our final grade is a bit crazy with many many percentages involved so I will spare you the details and just let you know I have passed.

Going back I guess 2 weeks now almost afteer my exams finished on Tuesday I relaxed and probably baked some things. I have made pita bread twice now with the second time having it come out much better. Its really quite simple. Water, flour, yeast and a really really hot oven to almost sear it and create the posket in the middle. Wednesday, I gave a tour to some of the new exchange students. These were primarily from UW Madison well at least the ones I had in my small group. I walked around the school site at Northhampton square showing them most of the highlights such as they were. I actually had a tour sheet i was supposed to follow but I skipped some things that I didn't think were so important or those that were not necessary. That went well and only took an hour. Oh I just remembered the other thing I did. I finished the book Heather got for me for Christmas. It was very good. I spent much of Tuesday and Wednesday finishing it. The crazy thing was I had just barely started it over the weekend on the flight home and a bit when I couldn't study anymore. It was excellent. I would really like to read some of his others. Its too bad I bet the library wouldn't have them. Although I will have to try. I was at a Borders here the other day and in the travel section Bill Bryson the author had his books on an endcap. And they even had different covers and such. So I also looked into travelling and prepared to travel.

The thing was though that I couldn't just like travel on Thursday because I found out when I gave the tour that Dr. Hosseini was coming. He is our international advisor dude. So I stuck around for the wine and cheese party that was happening Thursday night then went to dinner paid for by Marquette and Dr. Hosseini. We had some excellent Thai food. I have some pics of that evening here on the blog. After the very nice dinner we went to a pub for a drink. (Even more drink having had some wine both with dinner and the wine and cheese party). I had a nice pint and then headed back with the other Marquette Students. I proceeded to book my hostel and bus reservations. Had I known what Dr. Hosseini's exact plans were or even of his coming I would have saved some money on the bus reservation. It still wasn't very bad whcih was a good thing. I could have almost got them for £2.50 return (round trip in case you are a US person). I paid much more than that. But that deal would have had to been booked at least a week in advance. I also talked to Heather a bit this night online. Packed and went to bed because my bus for Cardiff, Wales was leaving early in the morning.

The next update will be about Wales. I promise I am working on getting there. Take care.

- Neal

I'm getting There

2005-01-20T16:25:00.000Z

Today I was reading some stuff about google searches and blogs and links and I relaised I never really link anything from here although I could. I guess I just use it as a way to tell about my days.

So going back to where I left off. Well I packed after coming back from the pub and then went to bed. i also was getting ready for heading home to the States because when I returned I would be leaving in just a few hours. Well I was ready to leave and was waiting for Pedro in the lobby. He was running a bit late and we were uncertain if we would make the walk up to the bus stop and the ride to the coach station in time so he offered to pay for a taxi. This was a very nice gesture and we did take advantage of it and got there in plenty of time which was good because it took us a little while to try and figure out where ecxactly the coach stop was. Victoria is quite a large coach station. So we got on the bus and I eventually fell asleep and then we arrived at the airport. Checked in, got a bit of food (I had a muffin) and then boarded our plane. In which we both slept some more. We got to Budapest where it was cold and cloudy. Exchanged money and then figured out how to take a mini bus to our hostel. So we spent a few days there. Most of you have already seen the pictures and if I ever get them up somewhere they will most likely be self explaining and also since I can't really recall everything we did thats all your left with. I do remember it being cold, fun time with some good food. After being there for a few days we went to Berlin which is just as interesting and only slightly warmer. Seeing the remains of the wall and learning of the division and the museum on the last day we certainly some of the highlights. Now I can't wait to get back to the continent and see some more but I now have a Friday class which I really couldn't get out of and so I don't get to have the really long weekends. I am regretting a bit not having gotten out more, but I enjoyed my time here in the city on the weekends.

So going back to that place called Berlin, yeah I was there for a few days and then I left (reminds me of the mad Scientist Harry Carry Saturday Night Love Thing). I got back and then left rather shortly afterwards with just a few hours of sleep to fly home to the States. I did a bunch of things in the States but the first day was quite nice. Dinner and seeing the family. The lost luggage thing was also exciting and interesting which reminds me I still haven't figure out where those 2 missing books are. This is not a very good thing. I will have to continue looking this weekend. I think I will stay in town this weekend. I'm heaidng to the cinema tonite and then going out for a drink with my parade mates tomorrow afternoon/evening. The two guys, the Regas twins that is, are heading to France on Saturday for a very very nice banquet and festivities. They are part of this non millitary millitary thing. Like some kind of Cadet programme but they dont joing the millitary. I was very confused and still am. But for a really cheap price they get an 8 course meal and to go to France.

I get sidetracked so easily it seems and I'll I'm doing is sitting here in front of a computer, typing. I don't understand this at all, oh well. So after Christmas in the States which was excellent. Uncle Cliff did a really good job. The following week I saw all of the relatives on that side again. This was very exciting and fun. I saw Grammy and Grandpa with Heather at Aunt Susan and Uncle Derek's House. I later saw Uncle Derek and Aunt Susan that week. And Uncle Cliff was inbetween those days. We went for some outdoor walking which was very fun and interesting the "conservative and liberal parks" was what we did. It had been some time since I just spent sometime with them outside of a function, party, etc. Along with this I also worked at DC some which reminds me that I shall have to give you my hours. Darn I can't remember if it was 5 or 8 I shall have to let you know mum and maybe dad might remember how longg I was there considering we were both there on a few occassions.

And on the weekend I went with Uncle Derek, Aunt Susan, Grace, and Jack to the zoo. I definitely saw Grace more that week than any other family member. And she was just as much fun and cute as usual. Playing with play dough might have been one the highlights. I love the toys that I used to have and now the playdough has all sorts of cool things that u can do.

One of the best things of the time I was back was the snow a few days before I left. Somehow now I still almost expect it to get colder or snow even though at the same time I know that neither of those things is very likely. Lately I have been walking in my new silver jacket, fleece, long sleev t and short sleeve t. so its pretty nice. I also havent turned the heat on in my room more than just a few times. Sometimes I do it just for fun I guess. The day I was supposed to leave I went cross country skiing with Dad. It was an exciting adventure of not being terribly sure where exactly we were and we made it back with only a bit of time before I was to leave. In a way that was good, it kept my mind off of things, but at the same time I wouldn't have minded being able to get a few more things accomplished before I left. At the time I could remember what those things were, but now I can't.

So I waited in a long queue once I got to O'Hare. It took me a while just now to think of the name. I was like its ORD but what does that mean. I am so used to hearing of Heathrow, London City, Luton, Stansted, and Gatwick. I got on the plane after going through more security than I ever have in my life. Before I got to the counter I had to scan the luggage I was going to check. Then bring it to the TSA. After that I went through the usual crazy metal detector and had my bag scanned and every thing. Then right by the gate my carry on was kind of poked through and I was rewanded and might have even been patted down although I can't really recall. Lets all say that it was interesting being with the Indian people. They didn't always keep their seats in teh upright position during take off and it took forever for everyone to get seated and stay seated. I was trying to figure out originally why they began boarding like an hour and a quarter before, but it was because it was hard for everyon to get seated and stay there. I was next to a Brit and her husband who I think is an American. They were in town to visit relatives. The plane was very simple with no inseat back TV and what seemed to be like less leg room. The upper classes also didnt have as much space or fancy layout as they do on Virgin or British Airways but the price was much cheaper so overall it was a good thing. After the long flight I wandered through Heathrow to take the Tube, but the Tube is closed right now and will be until September or something ridiculous as they add new track for a new terminal at Heathrow. So I took the rail replacement bus service which was a Coach bus that took us to a tube station. This was quite nice and I ended up saving a bit of money in doing this. I did the whole transfer thing and finally arrived at Barbican and then walked to my room to find that the cleaning lady seems to like to leave a light on for some reason. I unpacked some and rather quickly began studying after I think I took a nap. I studied that weekend and then had exams Monday and Tuesday. Mondays were hard and I only got back one exam so far and I passed it and it was a hard one so I hope I did the same with the other.

So now you know that I took exams and am back and all. Later I might write about the rest of the week and my subsequent trip to Wales.

Wow A Bit Of it All

2005-01-18T22:18:00.000Z

I am not sure where exactly to begin but beings that I left off long before Christmas I think I should try to recap some of what I did in the past.

Well right before I left for Budapest and Berlin I went to a party at the pub for 2 friends of mine from Syracuse University which was fun. Didn't want to drink too much cause I was flying in liek 6 hours or less. I talked there with a City Uni alum who plays on the volleyball team with some of the Syracuse People. He is from France but works here in London. It was very interesting discussing US and French politics. I got a whole new perception on the situation regarding religious symbols in the school. He was explaining that the French have been trying to keep religion and the state very seperate. He also described what he saw as the problem with wearing the Hijjab(sp?) at times. He described the full gown for woman and how sometimes it covers everything and one can barely make eye contact. I dont think though that is a big enough reason to ban them. But it still was interesting hearing it from a French person instead of second hand. I also tried to set him straight on the US. And the election. I described what I thought was the reason for the failure of the election and I just general talkedwith him which was really good. Well more to come about the trip I guess later. I have spent the evening talking with friends and out at the cinema.

Shakespeare and Christmas

2004-12-03T18:07:00.003Z

St. James Clerkenwell - Student Carols by "Candlelight" - although
there were actually no candles anywhere

Shakespeare and Christmas

2004-12-03T18:07:00.002Z

International Student Christmas Extravaganza - Mince Pies and Mulled
Wine and a Jazz Band - New Social Science Building Attrium (5) - Jeremy
and Newly Put Up Christmas Tree in Back

Shakespeare and Christmas

2004-12-03T18:07:00.001Z

International Student Christmas Extravaganza - Mince Pies and Mulled
Wine and a Jazz Band - New Social Science Building Attrium (4) - Jeremy
(Syracuse) and Newly Put Up Christmas Tree in Back

Shakespeare and Christmas

2004-12-03T18:07:00.000Z

International Student Christmas Extravaganza - Mince Pies and Mulled
Wine and a Jazz Band - New Social Science Building Attrium (3) - Me
Mulled Wine and Pedro

Shakespeare and Christmas

2004-12-03T18:06:00.007Z

International Student Christmas Extravaganza - Mince Pies and Mulled
Wine and a Jazz Band - New Social Science Building Attrium

Shakespeare and Christmas

2004-12-03T18:06:00.006Z

Shakespeare's Globe Theatre Tour of Inside - Southbank (9)

Shakespeare and Christmas

2004-12-03T18:06:00.005Z

Shakespeare's Globe Theatre Tour of Inside - Southbank (8)

Shakespeare and Christmas

2004-12-03T18:06:00.004Z

Shakespeare's Globe Theatre Tour of Inside - Southbank (7)

Shakespeare and Christmas

2004-12-03T18:06:00.003Z

Shakespeare's Globe Theatre Tour of Inside - Southbank (6)

Shakespeare and Christmas

2004-12-03T18:06:00.002Z

Shakespeare's Globe Theatre Tour of Inside - Southbank (5)

Shakespeare and Christmas

2004-12-03T18:06:00.001Z

Shakespeare's Globe Theatre Tour of Inside - Southbank (4)

Shakespeare and Christmas

2004-12-03T18:06:00.000Z

Shakespeare's Globe Theatre Tour of Inside - Southbank (3)

Shakespeare and Christmas

2004-12-03T18:05:00.006Z

Shakespeare's Globe Theatre Tour of Inside - Southbank (2)

Shakespeare and Christmas

2004-12-03T18:05:00.005Z

Shakespeare's Globe Theatre Tour of Inside - Southbank (1)

Shakespeare and Christmas

2004-12-03T18:05:00.004Z

My Window Decorated With 100 Multi-Coloured Static Lights

Shakespeare and Christmas

2004-12-03T18:05:00.003Z

My Window Decorated With 100 Multi-Coloured Static Lights

Shakespeare and Christmas

2004-12-03T18:05:00.002Z

Souk (Arabian) Market - Shakespear's Globe Exhibition

Shakespeare and Christmas

2004-12-03T18:05:00.001Z

Souk Market - Shakespear's Globe Exhibition

Shakespeare and Christmas

2004-12-03T18:05:00.000Z

Globe Theatre, Mince Pies, Mulled Wine, Pub, Carols

2004-12-03T02:27:00.000Z

Yesterday well I guess 2 days ago now that its friday morning i went with my historic london class for a tour of the Globe theatre - the reconstructed one and it was awesome. Our tour guide was a director there and elsewhere young not much more than 30 and probably gave one of the best theatre talks I have ever had. It was just awesome to be there. We sat in the theatre for a while and then went to a lecture hall where i told us some more stuff and i got to play antonio from teh merchant of Venice (well read the lines that is for a short seen) showing how it would have been done back in the time of Shakespeare. Each person only got three words before their line and so for that reason (well save the script coppier time and prevent the actor from selling script) there was a lot of jumping in and trying to say things. Even though it might not actually be the right time but u heard ur 3 words so u would try to jump in but the person talking would have to stop u which explained much of the way its written. So yeah I'll put pictures up later. It was just an awesome experience.

so yeah yesterday night was fun went to an international student goodbye party for all of those that are leaving in a few days/weekish time. it was also for those who are sticking around and there were almost as many stayinga s leaving that showed. none of the other mu people were therem but my friends from syracuse were there in force. i decided there that i would go to both berlin and budapest and i now have a friend who is going to come with me which is even better because hopefully things (ie lodging) will be a bit cheaper because its a double rather than a single. so after having a few glasses of mulled wine (a sweet red wine with cloves and oranges in it served warm kind of like an alcoholic cider perhaps, well our idea of cider not the strongbow cider that we get here). So i went with Pedro (the guy whos travelling with me) and jeremy to the shakespeare a nice sit down restaurant which was a nice change. i ordered spinach and cheese canelloni (ive got them frozen before from the store but didnt realize i had) they were good although i think i would have enjoyed the pesto pasta more. I love pesto and have a jar of it and use it rather frequently. So after this we were sleepy so we went back to the hall here and i talked with a friend Niels (spelling) who hails from Denmark and has lived in Malaysia and may actually currently live there. Not sure on that one. (it actually turns out the friends i was with tonite (lord mayor's day people - well 2 of them (the twins that is) know him). So then around 1015 we headed out to the pub to perhaps meet up with some of the Spanish people (including Carlos - my civil engineering study abroad friend (hes from Madrid but studying in the US (in case u forgot). But the Ivy House (pub) looked closed when we went by and they were not in there so we instead headed up to the pub that Pedro and bunch of the Syracuse people work at (the Offside Bar). 2 of the syracuse people were there working and so it was cool. I got one drink a bit discounted (10p). And then they were going to clean the lines and the ownerdidnt want to waste the Beer so they took about 2 pints from each tap before it was water (the cleaning process). So yeah we were drinking these and it was like 11 something and he had to meet someone (the owner that is) at like 1130 so we had to guzzle our pints. I had a Snakebite (blackcurrant liquor, cider, and lager (i think) and a Guinness). And then had half of another Guinness when he said yeah we better get going and he didnt care if we went with a Pint in our hand so we did and once we were oustide we all had had enough to drink that we poured whatever was left on the ground. You know Guinness is supposed to be good for Babies or something at least in Ireland supposedly so I watered a tree with some. So now I have a Guinness Extra Cold Pint Glass which is quite cool cause i wanted a pint glass but wasnt about to steal one and since the owner said we could keep them I was all cool with it. So we walked back and then I eventually went to bed. Today I procrastinated all day and then went with those friends i met at the Lord Mayor Show to some carolling and reading service organised by the City Uni Christian Union Primarily - the carols and readings were nice the reflection wasnt the best and then afterwards we constantinos (one of the twins) talked with a guy and had mulled wine and mince pie Constantinos is greeek orthodox (as he is Cypriotan well actually English but his folks are from there). The guy was a little bit to perhaps conservative or i dont know how to describe but kind of really pushing his views and sayinghe was right. and both constantinos and i fealt a little uncomfortable an tried to challenge his views cause he was very much like yes I'm saved. So then after that we milled about outside for a while then i followed the Four up to the tube station and then went to sainsbury. came back talked to carlos for a few min in the lobby and then bought tickets for my berlin budapest trip. Yeah and thats my day.

The Realisation of a Crazy Two Weeks

2004-11-29T23:19:00.000Z

yesterday I tried to publish this but it wouldnt let me:

well i was out all day from like 12 to about 11. i met up with friends at a pub had lunch (friends and same pub from lord mayor show) and then went to a souk (arabian market) at the globe theatre and then tate modern saw a cool exhibit. lets see what else did i do. oh yeah then i went to the barbican and saw a cool one man play/multimedia/sing bit of dance show about gatwick airport it was just really cool and then an awesome band Ukelele Orchestra of Great Britain who take like famous songs like hey jude, nirvana, elvis, u name it and play it on the ukelele which is just awesome. ive now had a cucumber and butter sandwich in honour of Aunt Susan a few times :)

today
it really hit hard. the feeling of wow exam and paper due next monday. so i wont be writing much. sleep is becoming of increasing importance as well as getting things done. i met up with friends for lunch and had an extra hour of lecture today - just too much. well now as i said i will be sleeping. todays songs were nirvana - smells like teen spirit and thanks to a friend and heather semisonic - closing time

peace neal

National Theatre & Trip There and Back 24 Nov. 2004

2004-11-27T00:21:00.000Z

St. Paul's Cathedral and Milllenium Bridge - View From Southbank of
Thames near OXO Tower

National Theatre & Trip There and Back 24 Nov. 2004

2004-11-27T00:20:00.002Z

National Theatre - Act II The Mandate Set

National Theatre & Trip There and Back 24 Nov. 2004

2004-11-27T00:20:00.001Z

Michael Storey - National Theatre Free Foyer Music
Michael Storey - National Theatre Free Foyer Music - Country-blues
originals for piano and harmonica

National Theatre & Trip There and Back 24 Nov. 2004

2004-11-27T00:20:00.000Z

Michael Storey - National Theatre Free Foyer Music

National Theatre & Trip There and Back 24 Nov. 2004

2004-11-27T00:19:00.002Z

Michael Storey - National Theatre Free Foyer Music
Michael Storey - National Theatre Free Foyer Music
Michael Storey - National Theatre Free Foyer Music

Thanksgiving in London!! (Rather What is Left After We All Ate)

2004-11-27T00:19:00.001Z

Thanksgiving Dinner In My Kitchen (Leftovers) - The Apple Cake and
Reddish Pie on the Left I made

Thanksgiving in London!! (Rather What is Left After We All Ate)

2004-11-27T00:19:00.000Z

National Theatre & Trip There and Back 24 Nov. 2004

2004-11-27T00:18:00.003Z

Hungerford Bridge - Parralleled on Right By Train Line - Unusual Cable
Suspension Design

National Theatre & Trip There and Back 24 Nov. 2004

2004-11-27T00:18:00.002Z

Hungerford Bridge - Walking From Embankment Tube Stop to the National
Theatre

National Theatre & Trip There and Back 24 Nov. 2004

2004-11-27T00:18:00.001Z

South Bank of London

National Theatre & Trip There and Back 24 Nov. 2004

2004-11-27T00:18:00.000Z

South Bank of London

Apple Store & Camden Town

2004-11-26T20:49:00.005Z

Apple Store Regent 1