Dec 2006

hey everyone - please excuse my typing errors im on a weid computer. just wanted to lmet u all know im hacving and amzing time!! in switzerland in a hotel at the top of the alps - snow everywhere!!!!!!! its awesome.
will write more when i find a better computer, otherwise when i get home.
Merry Christmas!!! and haoppy new year!! hope evertyone is well!!!
all mt love
Jessie

In London at the moment, before leaving on my Contiki tour. Have to be up bright and early tomorrow morning to meet for the tour at 6.45am!!

Last night I went out to do a bit of looking around at London in Christmas lights. Went to Trafalgar square where the fountains were on this time, and it is decorated with a big Christmas tree. Very pretty.

Today I went around to some of the museums I didn't get to go to last time I was here - the British Museum, the Victoria & Albert Museum and the Natural History Museum. (Though I spent progressively shorter times at each one as the day went on as I was running out of time!) But what I saw at each one was good. At the British Museum I happened to come across the clock room at precisely 12 noon, so was able to get the most out of a room full of chiming clocks! Saw some great sculptures, history of fashion, and an interactive light/sound display at the V&A. And dinosaurs at the Natural History Museum.

Then I ran out of time and had to go to my pre-departure meeting for Contiki. Which only took about 5 minutes and all they told us was they are strict on the 20kg luggage limit - I don't know how much mine weighs but its nowhere near what my suitcase weighed coming over here so I'm sure it's fine. And also to meet at 6.45am. Yuk.

Anyway, I have taken a few pretty pictures of London but you'll have to wait a couple of weeks for them, along with all the other pictures I take in Europe.

I'm so tired right now that I don't really have the energy to be excited about leaving for my trip tomorrow! But I know I'm actually dying with excitement on the inside, and I'm sure I'll feel it tomorrow!

Went to Manchester by train on Monday. I don't know what I expected of the trains here, but it certainly wasn't what I found. There are seats, and if you pay extra (a lot) I think you can reserve them. Otherwise its first come, first served, and everyone else has to stand. And stand we did, like sardines most of the way. (By the way, 'we' refers to one of my French friends, Lydia, and me.)

I was thinking of catching a train to Manchester Airport when I leave since its quicker and not that much more expensive than the coach. But if it was packed like it was on Monday I'd never get my luggage on.

I have a friend who caught a train to London on Friday to catch a plane home, and he said he didn't get a seat the whole way!

Fortunately, the trip to Manchester took under an hour so standing wasn't too bad.

Manchester is a pretty cool city. It has quite a bit of old architecture, but also a lot of new so the overall impression you get of the city centre is modern, metal and glass. (But in a good way.) Even Manchester's oldest building, pictured below, has a modern clock built into it. They obviously can't resist.

One of the first things we saw was the Royal Exchange Theatre. This is another example of ultra modern juxtaposed with old.

This picture makes it look a bit like a space shuttle about to launch through the dome above, but it actually looks better than this. (Though still a little bizarre.) Its a circular theatre with 3 levels of seats around a central circular stage so wherver you sat you would never be more than 35 feet from the stage I think. (Correct me if I'm wrong, since I have no idea what feet is in metres.) It's constructed on the inside of the building with all the pipes and beams you can see in the picture, and looks like you could just about take it down and never know it was ever there.

Then we went on the big wheel they had set up to get a good view over the city. (Just a note, don't be fooled by the blue sky in the picture. It was sunny and fortunately didn't rain at all that day, but it was by no means warm!)

The capsules were all enclosed and the whole thing looked very safe and well maintained, but I couldn't help feeling a bit of a rising panic simultaneously with the rising capsule as we first started to move. But it was ok. After the first rotation I was fine as the capsule didn't swing or move too much.

Then we did a bit of general sightseeing, as you do, looking at the buildings and churches. (Manchester Cathedral in the picture below.)

Manchester also has a lot of Christmas Markets. In Leeds there is a German Christmas market, but Manchester has German, European and world markets. So we spent a good part of the day perusing these. They are a mixture of arts and crafts and food stalls. There were so many things I could have bought but most would have been too expensive, delicate, perishable or heavy to take home which is a shame. I will by some souvenirs and gifts like this at some point I think, but I'll wait til I'm actually in Europe. One of the food stalls had a whole pig on the spit, with the head and everything. Needless to say I didn't try that one, but I did buy a bit of chocolate and gingerbread, and some yummy dutch cheese (after going around and trying every one of the tasters). We also stopped to try some Irish Coffee and hot donuts. (I've also tried gluhwein which is yummy and nice and warming, but that was a different day). And my slightly dopey look in the picture below is a result of me beginning to blink as the photo was taken, not the whisky in the coffee, honestly!

Then we spent the rest of the day just wandering the shops, the town hall, a small ruin of whats left of an old Roman Fort, and watched some people slipping and wobbling around an outdoor ice rink until about 6pm. Then we caught the train home again. This time it wasn't crowded and we got a seat which was a relief as we were exhausted!

Most people have gone home now. Oliver left Friday, Blandine and Quentin left Saturday, Maisie left Saturday or Sunday, others left Sunday and Monday, Bjorn left this morning...so I feel a bit alone now. Even the people from my flat seem to have dissappeared or died (more likely went home while I was out) as the flat has been weirdly silent all day. I haven't heard so much as a door open, which feels strange coz the doors are noisy here.

But its ok. Everyone will be back in January and until then I will have my trip to Europe to keep me occuppied!!

I haven't writtena anything for quite a while, so thought you might like to know I'm still alive over here.

Just a quick update, since I don't have anything particular to tell you about. Its just been getting in assignments and finishing off the semester for the last few weeks.

I had my last ever history and english seminars last week. Thats the last EVER...for the rest of my life!!! Once exams are done in January, that will be the end of my Arts degree, with just teaching left next year. Scary, but exciting!! And honestly a relief.

Apart from that there have been quite a few christmas parties and a couple of birthdays being celebrated before everyone goes home. (Or went home, since most people have gone now or will be going in the next few days.)

Lupton/Henry Price Residences Christmas party (Both residences had their Christmas parties on the same night at the same club so I went with the people from Henry Price, since somehow I know more people in that residence than I do in my own!)(L to R: Emily, Me and Bella):

I also went to the MedSoc (Medical students society) Christmas party, even though I'm not a medical student. Of the 5 of us who went together, only 2 (Faye and Oliver) were actually medical students:

(Faye, Me and Sarah)

(Oliver, Me and Joe)

And then there was two girls birthdays being celebrated on Friday, since they won't be here for their actual birthdays. And then for the same reason we decided to also celebrate Christmas and have a count down to New Years on the same night, so it turned into a big multi-purpose celebration! And have a look at this amazing birtthday cake one girl made:

Then there is the present we (Me, Bjorn, and two of his housemates went in together) bought for one of the girls, Faye. The only thing she had said she wanted for her birthday when asked was a horse. Obviously we could get her that but then as we were walking around the city trying to think of presents, we came across a horse that we could get her - it was a toy rockinghorse that makes sounds and comes with accessories and everything! :p It was so funny, and she loved it! His name is Herbert:

Fortunately there are still a few people staying for most of this week, so I won't be totally alone.

Then on the 17th I go to London for a couple of days (to see a few of the things I didn't have time for the first time) and then my tour of Europe starts on the 19th!!

And tomorrow I'm going with a few people who haven't gone home yet on a day trip to visit Manchester. (Technically I've been in Manchester before, but only the airport.)

Funnily in the last couple of weeks I've become closer friends with some people I met in the beginning through Bjorn as they live in his residence, but didn't really get to know until now. And it makes me sad; they are all such great people and now I've just got to know them and everyone is going home for the break, then I'll be going home not long after they all get back in January. It really breaks my heart to be leaving all the people I've met here actually. I'm trying not to think about it too much because I feel so sad

But anyway, thats all I've got to report for now - more soon from Manchester tomorrow, and then I'm sure I'll have a lot once I've been to Europe!!

Hope everyone is well!
xx