Feelin' Ill

Imagine being repeatedly punched in the head with a sledgehammer while standing next to a set of speakers at Live8, and you get some idea of the type of headache I'm experiencing right now.

Vodka will do that to you!

Had a fabulous night last night to celebrate my 'graduation', Waxy's was a top venue, but I'll be the first to admit that I wasn't very pretty by the end of it all. Apparently I'm meant to go to party tonight - my head does not agree! Despite Darren's insistence, I believe Jody and I are just going to have a quiet one and see a movie while resting our sore heads...

But yes, a fun night had by all who came I believe!

As to the rest of the weekend, well, we'll see how I'm feeling tomorrow:D.

3 weeks, 5 days

TGIF! Tonight is my 'graduation' drinks. And by 'graduation' I mean in theory, as I'm still waiting to hear back from UNE on where, exactly, my official results transcript is. They're about as helpful as a wet sock, that lot.

But anywho, we're off to Waxy O'Connors in Leceister Square which should be loads of fun. And the weekend is shaping up quite nicely too, got a few things planned. All-in-all, I can't wait for the weekend to begin!

Next week we start back at netball. Luckily, because we're coming in at the beginning of the season this time, we got to choose our own name. So we're no longer 'Fruit Tingles' (yes, I know, how gay is that?) but the 'Red Dragons'. We were just the 'Dragons' but I think there was another team called that.

Also hoping to catch up with Anna and Alex next weekend, which would be fabulous. And I have to start organising myself for my move/trip etc. Lots to do, little time to do it! On the upside, I have booked/paid for my flights to NYC for Christmas/New Years - hooray! Can't wait to go, it's seriously going to rock!:D

Okay, got more itunes to burn.... Full update with pics and things coming shortly, I promise!

Upside-down and inside-out

Things just go from crazy to completely off their rocker around here. Poor Casey had a rough time with the bomb threats yesterday (see her blog). Today's shooting, in my humble and unimportant opinion, completely nuts. How do you justify holding a gun to a man's head and firing FIVE shots into it? Suicide bomber or not, how the hell is he going to detonate anything with one bullet in his head, let alone five?! And how can you prosecute someone for a crime they've yet to commit? Just a little bit excessive.

Yes, yes, a lot of people say we should shoot all terrorists and people who are going to do these horrible things should be dead. I see their point, especially after our recent atrocities. But really! You can't get information out of a dead man.

This is Mel's pro-democracy, anti-war, pacifist political mode.

Other subjects I'm passionate about include the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, women's rights, child abuse, I think all prisoners held in Guantanamo Bay prison should be given fair trials (and should have been given them FOUR YEARS AGO), our mandatory detention laws are crap due to a ridiculously under-staffed federal bureaucracy, and I really don't like John Howard or his eyebrows. Free Tibet, rid the world of poverty, work on cures for AIDS and cancer, burn all Maccas and KFC franchises, make children exercise every day at school, free-range eggs only, 'life' imprisonments should actually mean 'life', not 25 years, sexual predators (rapists, stalkers etc all included) should be jailed for life not given piddly little sentences because they're "remorseful" (as I read of one such case in the Courier-Mail online the other day) and abolish the death penalty.

Oh and there should be a lot more cartoons on TV.

Mmmm..that's about it. For now *shakes fist*. Not that what I think about any of these things means anything in the big scheme of things, but meh.

And now, it's time for chicken.

Stuff and Bother (read - Mel's Rant and Rave for the Day)

If you've heard about the latest problems on the tube lines in London, which undoubtably y'all have, don't worry, I'm fine and everyone's fine. Strange time of day to set off a bomb though... Anyway, it's a little bit worrying to think people are still targeting the tubes, but what can you do?

Meanwhile, I've had Christine Anu's 'Island Home' stuck in my head all day. One of the curious things about living away from home is you get a better understanding of your own identity, or at least I have. I've learned a lot about myself, and I continue to, and I like it! It can only help me to become a better person. But I've also learned about that part of my identity that I relate with my home - being Australian. I may not be an Indigenous Australian, and lets face it, most Aussies are a bunch of mongrels with God knows how many different nationalities in their family trees. But I'm at the very least fourth-generation Australian. In fact, I don't even think of myself as an X generation, I just am Australian, and proud of it. Though I'm not Indigenous, I still have a connection to my land.

I guess that's the thing that bothers me most about terrorist acts like the ones we've just experienced in London - innocent people are targeted. A country is more than its government. It is the people, the animals, the plants, the intrinsic values embedded in personalities, and that certain x-factor that makes us unique from other places. If a person has a problem with a government decision, target the government, not the people. Though due to what we term 'democracy' ultimately we are responsible for who is in power, at the end of the day we are usually completely ignored when politicians make decisions. We were ignored over the 'Sorry Day' protests and ignored over the anti-War protests, both massive movements. And how do they justify this? They don't, because they don't have to. Our political systems are fantastically flawed. And for that reason alone, the people of our countries shouldn't be held responsible, and made to pay the ultimate price, for decisions we didn't make.

It's for this reason, in an odd way, that I can understand how people in Iraq, Palestine and Israel feel. Though we haven't the history they have, or the religious connections, their land is important to them too, and it is their governments and leaders who are continually placing innocent life in danger. Where do principles and pride stop, and logic and a bit of humility begin? Is it so hard to admit they were wrong? Of course it is - especially in an election year!

GAH.




Sorry, I DO go on:).



In other news, had an embarrassing fall on the tube this morning which has resulted in a MASSIVE bruise on my thigh (courtesy of arm rest and muscle collision). Had a session with a trainer last night at the gym which has also resulted in sore muscles. Moan moan moan, I know!:) On happier, or at least less painful, notes I had a lovely dinner with Jaimee and pals the other night a cute little communal vegie cafe at Vauxhall - three courses for ten quid, can't go wrong there! Saturday I'm back to the dentist, Sunday shopping with Jody. Next week will see a fair bit of social action as well, including some celebrations in honour of my graduation (touch wood, the pieces of paper still haven't arrived yet!) at a cool pub in central London on Friday week. Huzzah!

Other than that, zip zilch nadda.

Oh, and it's 32 days til I'm back in the Land of Oz, or at least on the way there... I should check that or something.

FANTASMAJORICAL

In today's news: Melanie has passed her final two subjects, and therefore has GRADUATED!

Hooray!!!!


Touch wood that nothing goes wrong in the meantime, it should mean I should get my degree in the mail at some point. I'm so happy and relieved!

In other news, I've just been to the dentist and feeling slightly woozy after having stage one of my root canal done. Ugh, I hate anesthetics! They always make me feel awful:(.

All the leaves are brown...

The wonderful thing about living in London is that you can always tell a seasonal change. Winter is shown by the bare trees and, occasionally, snow, spring by flowers, summer by leafy streets and hot long days and now, it would appear, autumn is beginning to rear its ugly head.

Walking along the streets the past few days I've particularly noticed how the leaves are starting to drop from the trees. It's disappointing really, I'm not ready to go back to skeletal trees, freezing nights and short dark days. I'm enjoying being able to run around in just a skirt and top, or beign able to go out at night and not have to wear ten layers of clothing! Summer in London is fabulous but, evidently, short-lived. I guess that's one of the things I miss most about home, that I never thought I would - warm weather! Of course, warm weather in London, despite being in the low thirties during the day, is never quite as hideous as it is in BrisVegas, so I've been quite spoilt. Nevertheless, when I do eventually make my final trip home, I am going to be looking forward to an Australian sunshiney day...

Speaking of which, it's now only 5 and a half weeks until I'm back in Oz. I'm getting so excited! I wish it was here right now!:)

As to my activities of late, on Wednesday night we had our netball final. I filled in for a team before my game and it was hideously hot, I was almost completely exhausted by the end of that game. Then, of course, by the time our game starts it's a torrential downpour. Murphy's frickin' Law. It meant that we were absolutely drenched, the court was dangerously slippery and nobody could hold onto the ball - it just kept slipping otu of our hands! We lost, but it was a good game, and the GS on the opposition was a very accurate shot, so kudos to them.

Thursday night we celebrated Liam's birthday (from work) by going into Soho to a pub, and then to a place near Carnaby Lane called Social. It's a cute little place, hidden away in the backstreets, but with a reputation for amazing pies - and we weren't disappointed! I had a steak and guiness pie which I couldn't finish, but was fantastic. Really hit the spot. That and the vodka. Which lead to a late night and a very tired Mel come Friday morning at work. So Melanie had a quiet one Friday night, relaxing on the couch with my Sex and the City DVDs (I've recently purchased seasons five and six, I already had three and four courtesy of Leah and Nik).

Saturday morning I hit the gym, and did a spot of shopping, after a bit of sleep in, rudely interrupted by the Real Estate agent showing people our flat. They're looking at filling in already and we've still got seven weeks on the lease left! That was pretty irritating. I was so NOT in the mood for that, so I sat out on the balcony and was very anti-social.

Last night Casey and I went to a party at Laura's house in Shepherd's Bush. The theme was 'Tube Stops' (yes, this was decided PRIOR to the bombings) and ashamedly, Casey and I were the only ones not in costume:(. But it was a great night, and some people really came up with some fantastic costumes, they looked fabulous! Some favourites were 'Manor House', 'Barbiken', 'Waterloo', 'Knightsbridge', 'Paddington', 'Baker Street', 'Bank', and Greenwich', among many others. If I can get some photos off Laura I'll put them up here because people looked fabulous!

After a lazy morning today I headed over to Jody's where we enjoyed the afternoon warmth and sunshine with cheese, crackers, a BBQ and copious amounts of Pimms in her little backyard, followed by watching 'Bring It On', which is a fabulously tacky movie.:) I'm so down with Pimms, I'll have to bring a few bottles back with me duty-free. Mixed with lemonade and a whole heap of fruit, it's like a perfect summer punch, but alcoholic.:) More Pimms in Australia, I say!

This week there's a few things on the agenda. Stage One of my root canal at the Dentist's tomorrow afternoon (bluuuurgh), hopefully dinner/drinks with Jaimee, Ben and Michelle perhaps on Tuesday night, and maybe a little shopping at Selfridges on the weekend. Who knows? I really can't afford to buy anything, but we all know that where I'm involved, shopping will invariably follow!

The Weekend Starts Here

Busy McBusy-a-lot, that's what they'll call me.:) Yesterday Casey and I went on Mel's Illustrious Walking Tour de Londres. We met up at London Bridge (after some difficulty - another security scare on the tube meant I had to opt for a bus instead) and from there walked across to the Tower of London, the Tower Bridge, doubled-back to St Paul's Cathedral, through to Covent Garden and Trafalga Square, along to Buckingham Palace, up to Harvey Nichols and Harrods... a LOT of walking! And eating too...we headed back to Wimbledon and ended up at a little Italian restaurant. Great service, GREAT food ... we stuffed ourselves:D.

Here's Casey and I!:



WE'RE LOOKING A LITTLE CRAZY:D

Today it's a beautiful BEAUTIFUL day! Yesterday was quite overcast, today it's sunshiney and warm. I think I might go for a walk to the park or something...

Sumo Wrestlers

Just watching a classic James Bond - 'The Man with the Golden Gun' - there's something to make you smile!

Today was weird, very surreal. I took the tube from Waterloo, which is usually packed at that hour, as it was yesterday...and the carriages were only half full. Usually you fight for standing room, today there were seats spare. I have a feeling most of the network was like that today. Coming home it was a little more crowded, but again not nearly as packed as it usually is.

In other news - This weekend I'm giving Casey 'Mel's Illustrious Walking Tour de Londres'. Casey is a friend of Cinda, a friend of mine from uni. And in classic six-degrees of separation that accompanies Brisbanites, her brother played footy with my brother, and she worked at the Fish Cafe with my older sister, a couple of months after I left there. Casey arrived in the UK on the 24th, and I met up with her Wednesday night for a drink and a wander around the streets. Tomorrow we're hoping to see a bit of the city, but I guess we'll have to wait and see if it's all back up and running.

Hehehe...I love how in these old 007 movies all the Asian people automatically are karate experts. And the villains are all crazy deformed rich people. If there's no evil giant, there's an evil midget, or someone with glass eyes or diamond teeth or whatever. And the standard 2.3 Bond Girls (sometimes extended to 3.3 - the .3 is for MoneyPenny).

London Bomb Blast updates

The latest death toll is 37, and the latest injury toll 700. All the horror stories have filtered in by now, people on the tube carriages screaming for help, bodies on the tracks and the streets... It's still kind of surreal, it's all sinking in very, very slowly.

The thing is, there are often evacuations on the underground. People leave a bag or something behind, someone reports and all of a sudden an entire section of a tube line is shut down. So today, when I was sitting on the tube at London Bridge and they said there was a power surge, most of us just sat there and waited for them to say how long it would take to get moving again. So it really did come as a big surprise to have this person running along the platform yelling at us to get out of the train and the station...that's when I knew it was something more than a 'power surge'. Especially after they said the entire tube network was closed. For most people, an attack against Britain, particularly in London, was not a matter of 'if' but 'when', and today was that day.

This afternoon getting home was going to be an issue, but the South-West trains were still running from Waterloo. John, my boss, gave a few of us a ride there and when we got out it was the silence I noticed. Apart from a few police cars and an amulance, there weren't many other cars and everyone was just really quiet, very still. When I got to Wimbledon, many of the shops had closed early, particularly those around the train station. Again, everyone was just really really quiet, even the local teenagers that hang out around the shopping centre.

The next few days should be particularly interesting. They are expecting the majority of the tube system to be up and running again tomorrow, and hopefully the busses in central London will be back up as well.

So what does Melanie do when she's a little shell-shocked, and thinking that she could have been a victim today? She goes shopping and spends too much money, of course. Retail Therapy DOES work, don't let anyone tell you otherwise!

In the meantime, thanks again to everyone who tried to call me, or hopped online just to check I was okay. It's nice to feel loved, even if it is under such circumstances.:)

London Chaos

Thanks for all the texts and stuff guys - It's really sweet of you to think of me.

Don't worry, I'm okay. I was on the tube at the time and we stopped at London Bridge and were told there was a power surge, then we were told the entire underground system was shut down (6 million people a DAY use it!), then this guy comes running along going 'you have to leave the train and the station NOW!'.

So far reports are still filtering in about the bus explosions. And I took a bus to get to work from London Bridge.

FABULOUS.

It's kinda scary, but I'm okay.

I'm blame the French. We all know they're poor losers.:)



Coincidence this happened the day after the Olympic decision? METHINKS NOT.

J'taime Paris!

I heart Paris THIS much! It seriously rocked my world. Napolean may have been a slimy little man intent on world domination, and the Kings of France may have pillaged their own people, but they left some amazing architecture in their wake. That's the first thing that struck me about Paris - although it has its horrible parts like any city - is that it is so pretty. Big tree-lined boulevardes and amazing, decadent buildings... *sigh!*

Although I was there for four days, I still didn't see everything I wanted to see, but I gave it a really good shot! So here's la recap, avec photographique.

Day One - Thursday
After an early start, I was on my way to fair Paris on the Eurostar. We pulled into Gare du Nord and I found my way to my hotel...and got a tad confused and realised that yes, my hotel was right near a train station, but not a Metro station. The Metro is the Parisian version of the tube, fairly easy to negotiate and just as reliable in terms of the number of trains per five minutes. So I checked into my hotel, and then went in search of the Arc de Triomph, which I thought was much closer than it actually was. After a fairly length - but enjoyable - walk, I found myself looking at the grandeur that is Napoleon's Arc de Triomph. Walking up the street and seeing that in front of you is just amazing...


Arc de Triomph - note that it's now the middle of a massive roundabout, and a very busy one at that, as it's at the top end of the Champs Elysees.


Looking up at the Arc de Triomph from underneath.


The tomb of the unknown soldier and the eternal flame. On my second day as I was walking back to the hotel there was a ceremony going on to mark WW2, and Jacques Chirac was there, as well as a navy band and some other military contingent. The poor guys were standing there in the pouring rain for this ceremony, getting absolutely drenched!

I then climbed to the top of the Arc which afforded an amazing view of the Champs Elysees, the Sacre Couer and, everyone's favourite, L'Eiffel Tour!


The Sacre Couer from the Arc de Trimoph


Champs Elysees


Me, at the top of the Arc! I climbed so many freakin' stairs on my holiday, this was the first climb - 230 steps!

From the Arc de Trimoph I walked down the Champs Elysees, perhaps the most famous stretch of shopping in the world, and the most luxurious! Picture pairs of shoes on display for 1000 Euro, as standard!


Shopping, shopping, shopping...


The massive Louis Vuitton bag - I could so live in that! Paris, for those who haven't heard, is in the running for the Olympics for 2012...as is London, which only adds to the never-ending rivalries between England and France. Front page of all the papers today was something along the lines of 'Chirac's Tirade Against Blair' ... it's fairly standard.


The Cartier store...sigh! Diamonds are a girl's best friend!

I walked the length of the Champs Elysees and ended up at the Louvre. The Louvre was originally a Palace, built by one of the Louis' and the complex bankrupted the city. After the revolution, it was claimed by the people and became an art gallery, open to the people. It is just an amazing building - absolutely HUGE! I got there an hour before closing, so while there were no queues, I only got a running look at it. I'll have to go back and spend at least half a day there ... we all know what an art freak I am and I can happily spend hours in galleries, so I'm disappointed I didn't see it all. But there's always next time!


The Louvre


Maybe the highlight of my trip - THE Mona Lisa:). You don't get much better than that.


The Venus de Milo, aka. Aphrodite


Inside the Louvre


The Winged Victory


Another inside shot - this is such a tiny section of the building, but it gives a good idea of just how big it is


One of the ornate ceilings...

On the way to the Louvre, you walk through the Place de Concorde. These days its a massive roundabout, but back in the days of the Revolution it was where the guillotine was set up, and where Louis and Marie Antoinette lost their heads.



The Place de Concorde holds an Egyptian obelisk, and was in the throes of being set up for Bastille Day.

By this time it was getting a little late, but it was still light until about 10pm. I headed back to the hotel courtesy of a red tour bus. For 22 euro, you get a two-day pass on these busses and can hop on and off as you please at any of their designated stops. They're open top busses, like the ones you see in London. There's also a rival company of green busses. They seem to do bigger, different circuits - up to Montmatre. Anyway, I had bought a ticket and, on my way home, drove past Notre Dame. I had dinner at a lovely little restaurant, and then stayed up to call my lil sis - HAPPY 15th BIRTHDAY AMMIE!


Day Two - Friday

After breakfast at the hotel, consisting of croissants of course, I headed off to get to the Eiffel Tower as early as possible. I got there about 10 minutes after it opened and only had to line up with ten people in front of me. I then hopped on the lift and it was up to the top of the tower. Although it has to be the most stereotypical thing to do/see in Paris, it really is incredible to stand underneath it and be at the top. Coolest. Thing. Ever.


From the bottom...


...to the Top!


Trocadero, from the Tower


Champs de Mars from the Tower


Arc de Triomph and the Champs Elysees



After the Tower I popped across the road to Trocadero, and then back on a Red bus and down to Notre Dame.


The front of Notre Dame

As expected Notre Dame was incredible. It is absolutely massive! Not to mention incredibly ornate and spectacular in its detail. You can take photos inside, but it just didn't feel right, in a church. But being the good Catholic girl that I am *wink wink* I gave a small donation and lit a candle. As to Notre Dame, imagine if you can huge high domed ceilings, small chapels all around the permimetre, equisite statues, mosaics...it's amazing. I then lined up and climbed the towers...400 steps later! "Buns of steel" became my mantra in Paris.


One of the infamous gargoyles overlooking Paris.

After Notre Dame, I went to meet up with Jody under the Arc de Triomph. She had been in Paris for a conference, and Friday was our day to meet up. Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately, every trip I make I seem to learn something from my mistakes. This time, it was remember your phone charger and to organise to be able to top up your phone credit over the phone... So after finding a phone card (in Paris, you can only use a phone booth with a phone card which you buy at little stores), and then finding a phone booth, I contacted Jody and we met up. She was a little under the weather, so we had a great lunch on Champs Elysees. If there's one thing I love about Paris more than its art and culture, it's the food! I ate SO MUCH the four days I was there...mmm...croissants, pain au chocolats, crepes, fromage, French wine ... needless to say the gym is my friend every night this week, and I'm still feeling ill after eating all the things that I can't eat. But yes...foooooood....

We headed back to our hotel to get ready for our entertainment for the evening - The Moulin Rouge! Yes, it's expensive, but so worth it. We had great seats - right next to the stage. The food could have been better, given the price, but it's a once in a lifetime thing. Unfortunately you can't take photos inside - you have to hand your cameras in before entry - but you'll just have to believe me when I say the show was a mix of "spectacular spectacular no words in the vernacular", cheesy EuroVision dance and music, and comedy and acrobatic acts. Very cool. It's smack-bang in the middle of Montmatre, the red light district of Paris, but we still felt very safe despite all the sleazy men.


Me outside the Moulin Rouge

Day Three - Saturday

So we didn't get away as early as I would've liked on Sunday, because the Kiwis were playing the Lions and Jody was glued to the TV. But after her day was brightened by their win, we headed off to the Basilique du Sacre Couer (Basilica of the Sacred Heart). It's this amazing church on the top of the highest hill in Paris, in the Montmatre district. If you've seen Amelie, the scene where she returns the book of pictures to that guy - the stairs there are here at Sacre Couer. It's a lovely church, I actually liked it better than Notre Dame...just so peaceful and very beautiful. We climbed to the top (buns of steel!) and had a great view of Paris.


Jody on our way up the hill


On the steps


Jody and I


View from the top!

From there we wandered down through Montmatre and towards the George Pompidou centre, after a failed attempt to go on a boat tour up the River Siene. The Pompidou centre is full of modern art and design. But on the way we discovered a whole lot of awesome backstreets filled with cafes and shops. Again the 'Paris is Great for Food' mantra came into play. We indulged in ice-cream (I forgot to mention it was REALLY hot in Paris Saturday and Sunday) - the best I've ever had! I had dark chocolate and a scoop of blackberry *drools*. We ate our ice-cream while sitting next to the centre, watching a magic show and taking in the Paris afternoon. We didn't have time to do much in the centre, so that's also on my 'next time I'm in Paris' list.


The outside of the centre...

After dinner at a little restaurant near the hotel we ate a whole lot of cheese and drank red wine. Mmmm...cheese. French camembert is GOLD.

Day Four - Sunday

Sunday morning we headed off the the Paris Catacombs. At some point in the 18th century the French, in their infinite wisdom, said "Our cemeteries are over-crowded. Lets dig up six million skeletons and rebury them in tunnels underground. Only lets stack all the bones neatly and make crosses out of the skulls occasionally!". During WW2, the tunnels were used as the headquarters for the Resistance. Nowadays, it's a tourist attraction...a very macabre one. But we went! Let me just say, it is the creepiest thing I've ever seen. Walking down this long dark damp tunnel into all these 'hallways' lined with real skulls and bones... it's cool in a bizarre way. Jody and I were a little freaked out, and made sure there were other people around us because we were scared little school girls:D. We met up with another Aussie girl down there who was by herself and we invited her to come with us. She was very grateful.


A very tiny section. You can't use flashes down there, so I apologise for the poor quality of hte picture, but you get the general idea.

From there we headed somewhere more pleasant - the Jardin du Luxembourg. Napolean dedicated these gardens to the children of Paris, and rightly so - they're so cute! Lots of play areas and you can still float model sail boats on the pond. The palace there is also very lovely and, like most palaces, these days acts as a gallery.


The entry to the gardens, the palace in the far background


A cute little nook in the gardens

From there we all went in search of food and found the most incredible patisserie. It's impossible to describe it properly - but think of all the most amazing cakes and treats, baked with detail and love... We drooled for ages. From there we took our lunch and treats and sat by the banks of the Seine, where I had my treat - chocolat eclair, the best I've ever had. It was heaven!

From there we walked back up the Champs Elysees with the intention of going to the Chanel store..but I got side-tracked and missed our turn off and by the time I realised we were too far along and I was too bloody hot to care. So we went shopping instead and bought perfume and muppets dolls. I now have my own Waldorf and Statler! And Jody bought me Gonzo (courtesy of a running joke - one of the many sleazy men who stared/talked to us told me I had a 'beautiful nose', and we all know what Gonzo's nose is like...:D We laughed a fair bit over that comment, and others including 'you are so beautiful I'll draw you for free' and 'would you like to do romantic tango with me?').

After that, it was time to head back to London. Apologies for the long entry, but I love Paris so much! I can't wait to go back!