Racing, Arty-Farty and work!

A big hello from the wee Irish folk! What's the craic? (this term replaces the old NZ terminology such as "Hows it going?" and "Whats up?").

Well time seems to be moving very fast, and I can't think where the last month has gone... I'm still in Galway - the West of Ireland, where a lot of the national language "Irish" or "Irish Gaelic" is spoken. It's kinda like NZ where we have Maori and English on most signs etc, the same for the west of Ireland. Although sometimes I could get confused by thinking that the National language was Polish, as there are so many of them over here!

Galway has been an exciting place over the last month. We had the Galway Arts Festival which went on for two weeks. Irish and tourists alike flock to the city and bear witness to an intense concentration of jugglers, street performers, comedy shows, music concerts, plays, parades etc. It was mad, but everyone was in high spirits for the duration... weather was good, many fun nights in town, plenty to see and do. I saw a young lady doing the hula-hoop which was on fire, don't ask me how she didn't burn her brunette locks off when she was spinning it round her neck! So after many a sleep deprived night, you think Galway would have a chance to take a breath, but no... the very next day saw the start of a week long horse-racing meet in Galway - aptly named (for those who may be a little slow) The Galway Races. Each day of the races was different, but there were even more people in Galway than at the Arts Festival beforehand. Getting a taxi was a no-no, You would be backed up in a line not moving for 30 mins. I went to 'Ladies Day'... where everyone gets more dolled up than ever before. Here's a good one of the horsies when I managed to get really close - the security guards gave me a nice escort back! Hats, feathers, suits, dresses... it was amazing. A record 48,000 attended that day (the biggest attendence of any race ever in Ireland). It was mayhem. Trying to move down the streets afterwards was an impossibility. Great craic though!

So during all this commotion I managed to find a job working in a small shop called Sports Nutrition Ireland. A new store that has seen me twiddling my thumbs more than anything I can remember - oh hang on... I did work in CCC in the Plaza. But new news is that I am working out my two weeks notice there, and have a job at a brand new Gym near the beach - working as a fitness/personal trainer. A free gym membership with access to pool, sauna, steam room, and best of all - discounted burgers. Amazing! Pity I've got to buy a bike to get out there each day...

Soon Rick and I will meet again as we head to Belgium for Gege's wedding. Gege is Tanguys cousin for those who know him. I can't wait to see the poor mis-guided guy again... I mean seriously - who would be living in Kenya, getting chased by elephants and hyenas???

"Jolly Good" London

Well many apologises to all for the delayed blogging.
I would like to dedicate this blog to the inspired comments from Bec and Terri and Jack leading to the over burding feeling of guilt leading to this blog..

Well!! LONDON
Yip a slight change of plan to what I may have mentioned in the last blog. I think I recall saying construction was my next calling in life and I couldn't wait to start..Well shortly after that, I ended up flying to England, finding a job in a call centre and living happily ever after...

Yes I am one of those annoying people that ring you up and try to sell you broadband. Well actually for the last couple of weeks I've been stuck on the phone listening to you stupid people ringing me and trying to get to grips witht he new technological age of Broadband. But now,!! oh yes, I am pround to announce I now get to ring all of you and try and sell you my "amazing", "fantastic" "exciting" new offer!!!

As many of you may now, Melissa is the real reason I came to London. I can happily say that things are going well between us.

Since getting here, Melissa has been a fantastic tour guide, showing me around the various sights of this rather huge city. London is huge, its always busy, its incredibley happening and alive, plus FULL of every different ethnic group there is on earth. This makes it a little strange in a way. It has many English touches to it (as you'ld expect) yet does to me lack a real exotic foriegn feel to it. Perhaps it just me, but I feel it doesn't seem that different. In my limited expereince of internation cities so far, they always feel very very different to what I'm used to, mysterious, quirky and inherrently cultural. London, to me doesn't feel like this. It feels as if its the most Westernised city I've been to. It feels common, and lacks something. Like I said, thats just me speaking. It has got some great characteristics, very diverse, and the opportunities in a city housing 12 million or more poeple is just amazing. It has monuments and entertainment, it has pubs and clubs, it has just about everything.

Here are some photos that may interest you. Sorry that some have come out sideways...Havn't had a chance to edit and stuff. Love you all -RICK


Parlimentry building..can't remember offical name

Trafalga Square! just like in the monopoly game!


BIG BEN

Gaurd guy



Me and Melissa outside Buckingham palance (I think it was that palace..)



St Pauls Chapal!! Wow Paul I didn't realise the English think so highly of you. VEry nice inside the dome.