My Tama...

Mum phoned late last night... she spoke to Russ first and I could tell something was up... He handed me the phone and the first thing I said was "Is it Tama?"... I burst into tears. She went on to tell me that he'd been in an accident and he'd lost his right eye. My first thought was 'thank god he's alive!!' But I was absolutely devastated!! A car had hit him and knocked his collar off and what Mum said looked like his eyeball, turned out to be the lens of his eye, popped out. They operated yesterday to remove his eye and stitch up the socket. Other than that apparently he's ok. Eating, sleeping, going to the toilet, purring... Mum called again this morning to let me know how his operation went and she'd let him outside to go to the toilet and she said he was jumping on things and even chased after something... He's such a good boy!! I can't remember the last time I cried so much though!! And I barely slept last night, wondering if the operation would go ok... He's being well looked after though, with lots of people who love him and giving him plenty of cuddles!! It's also the first time since I've been here that I've been really homesick!! Just knowing that I can't go home when I want to like that is quite hard!

I know it sounds a bit sad, but he feels like my child or something... I've had him since he was about five weeks old, and he's just got the most amazing personality!! He really does act like a person... He's all tough and doesn't want to be bothered by anyone one minute and the next he's a complete mummy's boy and wont leave you alone. Those of you who know Tama will know exactly what I mean!! He's one of a kind!! And my heart just broke when I heard that he'd been in an accident!! But I know it could have happened anytime, and I'm so thankful he's ok, and that he'll adapt to his restricted sight. He's a tough cookie!!

St. Patrick's Day

Happy St. Patrick's Day!! - Or should I say 'week'... Over here the celebrations started in London at the beginning of the week, and peaked/finished on Sunday with the end of the festivities, including a parade, which flew straight from the Dublin parade, to perform in central London, this year.

The weather was a bit iffy - sun and rain, sun and rain... I made Russ get up early so we wouldn't miss any of the festivities. We started our browsing in Covent Garden with the Irish food markets. When I think of Irish food, I'm afraid all that comes to mind is Irish stew...and unfortunately that was almost as original as it got. Though in fairness there was actually plenty of food from Ireland. I especially liked the fruity soda bread!! And cheeses... mmm cheeses... We ended up buying an ordinary, non-Irish dark rye soy loaf - not really keeping up with the spirit of things I'm afraid...

Next stop was Leicester Square, we found ourselves more interested in the hundreds of people lining up to get into one of the theatres there, for what I thought was the new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film, but was in all likeliness something far more exciting!! We had arrived a bit early, and were only just setting up the stage in the Square for all the 'jiggers' to come. I couldn't seem to talk Russ around to trying his hand at some Irish jigging!

Our final stop, the third and main site of the St. Patrick's Day festivities, was Trafalgar Square. They had bars and a stage set up in the Square, which was fast filling up with fellow eager St. Pat's celebrators. The fountains were even coloured green. Here was where I tried my first Guinness. And I'm very sorry to say I really didn't like it!! I tried!! I really did, but it was so bitter - an acquired taste, I know, but not for me. We stood watching the stage filled with Irish bands, and two excited Irish Elvis', and then were treated to some river-dancers. Haha, I have to say it's one thing I just can't take seriously!! All I can think of when I see them is Sharon from Kath & Kim - you'll know exactly what I mean if you've seen it (which is a MUST!!). The best part, which actually took me by surprise, was Directors. The best band to come out of Ireland recently - a pop-rock quartet. They looked all of about 12 (years old). But I found myself getting right into them!! Definitely one to watch out for.

My main goal for the day was to watch the parade. I LOVE parades!! Seems to be something I'll never grow out of!! We waited and waited, and finally it arrived. Haha it was one of the shittest parades I've ever seen!! The most impressive part by far was the very first display - which wasn't even a display. Just a guy walking an Irish wolfhound. It was an amazing, menacing looking dog. But apparently just a big souk! The deal breaker for leaving was when it finally got really dark then all of a sudden belted down with with hail and snow!! Crazy after this last week of nothing but sunshine and warmth!!

So that's what St. Pat's Day in London has to offer... Perhaps next time we'd be better off going to the real thing... Though was still a fun, geeky tourist adventure!! :o)

Julia's Day Out

Saturday was my first day exploring London by myself. I had been researching Russ' London Time Out guide and decided to focus on London Bridge area this time. There's quite a bit to see there, right on the Thames. First stop, Clink Prison Museum. This museum was in operation from 1180 to 1780 and was the home of many followers of religion and debtors of the area. They certainly had some bizarre and scary methods of torture, or as they would call it, methods of extracting the truth... The problem was, there really wasn't anything to see there. There was a lot of artwork, or prints of original artwork from those times, but everything else on show was manequins in stocks to show what it was like, and a bunch of old keys and locks that they used to use. However, the items on show weren't originals, they were items produced in other places and we were told that these were ''just like the ones they used to use there''... A tad disappointing... But I suppose you can't expect too much from an exhibit in central London that only costs £5 to get into... Though price doesn't always reflect quality, which was shown by my second stop, Tate Modern.

I've never really been into art, especially modern art, but I decided to go there for two reasons. One, and the main one, was because I think being in a city like London, I really should take advantage and become more "cultured", and second, because it's FREE!! I really enjoyed it! I found myself concentrating intently on the artwork, trying to put myself into the minds of the artists to understand where their ideas came from. Some of it was just bizarre, such as a phallic-shaped mold of skin-coloured plaster, with what was either breasts or testacles at the bottom, representing a mother's need to protect her sons' masculinity. Another was a 10 or so year old American girl reading a physics book on a movie screen... But there were also classics such as Picasso's Three Dancers, and Dali's Autumnal Cannibalism - awesome!! The building of Tate Modern is a piece of artwork itself, being an old power station designed by the same person as the famed Battersea Power Station which you will recognise from CD covers to films, such as Children of Men. Definitely worth the trip!!

My third stop was the Borough Market. I love markets anyway, and this certainly lived up to my standards!! It's a food market, full of amazing different meats, fish, spreads, fruit, veg, etc from exotic places. My favourite was some chilli paste I had on some paneer-filled filo that nearly burnt my face off!! And some delicious flavoured tofu - five spice and a sesame/soy marinated tofu. I'll be dragging Russ along next time, he'll love it!!

Last but not least I thought I should check out the New Zealand shop on Pall Mall, Kiwifruits. Everything you miss from home, including the good old Edmonds cook book, and dvds, you can get in Kiwifruits. Except, of all things, Marmite. I'm not quite sure why. Perhaps a business venture?