Cricket World Cup Session

The big day was finally here, after waiting for hours due to the rain delays the match finally got under way. Gilchrist didn't disappoint and put on a fantastic display and I knew we had the game won. It was the first time I had been to the Covert Garden Walkabout, it wasn't too bad. Its a lot smaller then the Temple or the Shebu but at least the aircon was working.

Shaftsbury Walkabout Session

We all knew this was going to be a big one, Symo was in town for only a couple of nights and needed to be shown how things were done in London. Highlights included messages sent via SMS onto the big screen, both Melissa and Max were the guilty parties here. Melissa, I dont think a friday session at a walkabout is a good time to propose :-)

The Grates - Kings College

About 9 of us from the Mansions headed to Kings College to see the Grates, yes we came all the way to London to see a Brisvegas band. We have been trying to get tickets to bands like the Zutons and Raconteurs but we are always too slow and they sell out fast. We had a few snakies at the Temple Walkabout and then headed over.

The Grates put on a fantastic energenic show, the venue was pretty small as well so you could right up close.

Night at the Shaftesbury Walkabout

On Friday night I met up with a few of the boys who had just come back from a Contiki tour through Europe. Shooter, Adam and Michelle, Marion, Sally and Wilson also made an appearance.We kept up the solid drinking form and had a massive night on the snakebites (Beer and Cider).

We stayed there until near closing time so it was the first time I missed the last tube which stops running at 12am. It wont be happening again soon thats for sure. After spending an hour or so trying to find a bus I decided to go back to Adams place which was a lot closer (near Canary Wharf). I met Adams flatmate when I woke up on the couch at 7am, after a brief introduction I thought I had better get home. I found an overland train with a connection to the tube system, got on that but didnt validate my Osytercard (swipe ticket). Unfortunality for me there was a ticket inspector on board, after a long spiel about how I couldnt find a validation machine and how it was my first time on a DLR I managed to get away with a caution which he added to my oystercard history. The pommy sitting next to me wasnt so lucky!

The party continued when I got home (9am), the NRL finals were on as well as the Wallabies VS South Africa. Both of my teams played horrible games and lost. After the games Melissa and me went into Piccadilly to catch up with my parents who had just got in from Amsterdam, they were only staying a couple of days then heading to Ireland. We went to the local pub and had a few drinks and a nice meal. After that headed out to the Kings Arms for a flatmates going away but thats another story.

Notting Hill Carnival

We went on an outing to the Notting Hill Carnival yesterday, it was a perfect sunny day. The parades were great, it was like being in Rio. The beers were also pretty cheap which was great considering we havent started work yet. It was absouletly packed and there were people dancing on balconies and rooftops. We met up with Paul Wintor, Adam and Michelle and took in the sights. We left the carnival in the afternoon and headed to the Shepards Bush Walkabout for some snakebites and Aussie atmosphere. We then headed back to the Mansions and kept the party going till late.

Its a long weekend and I dont start work till thursday so am planning on making use of the last few days of not working :-)

About the Carnival

The Notting Hill Carnival has been taking place in London, on the last weekend in August, since 1966. The arrival of Trinidadians in Great Britain, remembering their great Carnivals back home, provided the spark which ignited Notting Hill Carnival. From a small procession through the streets with just a few people in costume and carrying steel drums in the 1960s, has evolved a huge multi-cultural arts festival, attended by up to two million people. It is a great tourist attraction that brings life to London during the month of August.