With the temperature dropping, our once "tropic" blood is now feeling the chill of the cold. The days are sunny with blue sky's and a cool chill, that after winter would be an inviting spring day but is now a reminder that winter is just around the corner. Though some days are warmer than others, some are filled with black clouds and never ending rain (as that what it does in England) teases us by conintually stopping and starting. Rain or shine, no matter what the days are like the nights are cold. By 5:30pm, when all the shops are closing their doors at the end of yet another business day, the temperature drops about 10 degrees. You can smell the crispy, fresh, briskness of a new winter.
It is such a familiar smell; it makes me all warm and fuzzy inside and I almost feel like I am back home for the seconds that the crispy air first hits my nostril's. I think of the thigh-high snow in the driveway after a big snowfall and how stunningly beautiful everything looks with a fresh blanket of prestine snow covering it. I stand there sniffing the air like a dog sniffing the air for food. This revery only last for about 3 seconds and then I realize how much I miss the heat and I am no longer a fan of the colder temperatures.
We have had to go shoppping as board shorts, sun dresses, flip flops, tank tops and summer pants wont suffice in this weather. We reallly tried to pull it off as long as possible but wearing a scarf and flip flops really just doesn't make any sense. My feet are not a big fan of being covered; they have had the freedom of heat, sunshine and flip flops that they have blistered and swelled from being confined to shoes and boots.
When we were in Darwin, I actually missed this time of year. Curling up on the couch with a good movie, drinking tea/hot chocolate/coffee, under a blanket and being all cozy; where it's cool enough outside to wear a nice light jacket or your favourite hoodie. It's the time of year where it's not too hot but not too cold. Well...being in the tropics for as long as I have has completely thinned my blood and my tolerance for cold and my new hoodie and jacket have lost the novelty, I WANT THE HEAT!!!
Dan's farts while he sleeps don't even give off enough heat lol.
TRAVEL TIP - A Change in Climate is a Great Excuse to Go Shopping (Even When On A Budget)
There is a silver lining to all of this though. I have had an excuse to go shopping!!! "You went shopping again." "Yes baby but I got 7 pairs of socks for 2 pound." "What else is in the bag?" "A new hoodie, I only had one and I want to be able to switch it up." "And that?" "That would be a winter vest. I only have your sisters denim jacket and it really doesn't do much in this weather." ..... "Didn't you just go shopping yesterday?" "Yes, but I really needed a scarf and matching hat." "Really? Was it that necessary?" " Of course baby. I am Canadian and scarves and hats are a must have in the winter season." I never get an argument; he knows he won't win. Though don't think it only works one way, he goes shopping too. "High-tops baby? Really? You already have to pairs of trainers." "Yes but I really want a pair of high-tops" "Is there any particular reason?" "Yes. Because I want a pair." At least I have better reasoning. He won't let me buy a new purse but he has more shoes and clothes than I do!!!
Of course we are on a budget and watching what we spend as we are leaving again very soon. There is always stuff we want - like high-tops and a new purse - but there is also stuff that I want and actually need.
We all know that when traveling out of a backpack that our wardrobe is very limited and outfits are repeated quite frequently. Sometimes a few new things to replace some other things you might not wear anymore is always a nice feeling. Especially in a case like ours. We came from the tropics, we had aboslutely no winter clothes, we really didn't have a choice. We do however, shop at the cheaper places to help keep money in our wallets.
What do you do when you head back to the tropics and you have winter clothes?
Well you can:
1. You can leave behind what you don't want
2. Give what you don't want to friends
3. If you can afford to, send a package home. This way you are not getting rid of precious purchases and, it's a great way to have some "new clothes" when you get home.
Shopping while on a budget can be easy and not debtremental to your budget, just remember to buy more of what you need rather than what you like. New clothes are a great way to feel fresh and revived, especially when wearing the same things out of a backpack for many conesecutive months. However, keep in mind that just because you feel good in new clothes it doesn't mean a change in the climate doesn't does the same.
Saturday, September 29, 2012
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
My Fairy Tale...
Many of you have been following/reading my blogs since my very first Vegas post; the begining of this crazy journey I like to call My Beautiful. You were then with me through my amazing and emotional 5 months in California where I grew, learned how to stand on my own two feet, made some incredible friends, fell in love and of course had to say goodbye to the one I fell in love with. After a 7 month hiatus to go home and work, my journey continued to the Paradise of Fiji for a 7 day vacation, continuing on to New Zealand where I road tripped in a camper for 12 days with 2 english guys, hiked volcanoes and glaciers, went caving, white water rafting and ate the most incredible hamburger in Queenstown known as the Ferg Burger! After an amazing 28 days in the beautiful land of the Kiwi`s you then got whisked away to The Land of Oz Aka Down Under or just plain old Australia. In my one year, I snorkeled and lived in the Whitsundays, worked in the middle of nowhere, had long over night bus rides, jumped out of a plane, rekindled friendships, had my heartbroken, learned how to speak Australian, hiked through Kings Canyon, enjoyed sunset and sunsrise at Ayers Rock, went sandboarding, pet a wild kangaroo, ate kangaroo, went croc hunting, made some incredible friendships and, I fell in-love.
At first, I didn't even know that love was going to be the path I chose. In fact I was completely against a relationship; but sometimes, things just happen...
It was the begining of my second week on the Island when I laid eyes on you for the first time (well second actually, but I had only seen you once before that and then not again till a week later). We were both sitting outside of the staff bar having a beer and a smoke. We were sitting at the same table, though you were talking with Matty and I was sitting and talking with Jarrett.
I kept glancing at you out of the corner of my eye and waiting for a moment where I could welcome myself into your conversation. You didn't even seem to know I existed or really even cared for that matter, yet I couldn't stop staring at you. Your short blonde hair with a fo-hawk down the middle, blue eyes, crooked teeth and a tribal tattoo on your right shoulder just held my stare. You had this sexy British accent but everything that came out of your mouth seemed arrogant, pompous and completely self-centered; I had to know who you were!!! I don't know what it was but there was something that kept telling me I had to know you, even the first time I glanced you from afar, I really wanted to know who you were.
I finally found an opening in your conversation with Matty - well I more so butted my way in - and welcomed myself. You did not look impressed! You actually looked completely digusted, your face said "who the fuck is this girl and why does she think she can speak to me." I didn't care, I had to know who you were.
From that moment on we literally became inseperable, pretty much moving in with eachother two days later. When my contract for work was up you resigned and came with me because you didn't want it to end yet. I was overwhelmed and scared. I was still dealing with my "Ryan heartache" but you said you would give me time and take things slow just as long as you could be with me.
We took a job, in hell, with the devil himself and managed to stay strong and fight through the hard times. The horrible days and sad nights were the times I began to realize I was falling for you. My heart ached to tell you but I was so scared to go down that road again. I asked you questions like "have you ever been in love before?" "Have you ever told a girl you have been in love with them?" hoping you would clue in to what I was trying to get across but there was no such luck. I didn't want to be the first one to bring it up so I kind of pushed it aside, hoping, that one day the right moment would come along; and it did...
A month after we left the devil, we had set up a life in a great small city. We had awesome jobs, amazing friends and eachother. It was New Years Eve- well actually it was New Years Day about 9am-we were having drinks at the club after work and I just looked at you and said "you know I love you right?" and you said "yah. I love you too."
Four months later we were married!!!
Today is our 1 year anniversary! We met a year ago today and have been insperable ever since. I can't believe one year has gone by so quickly. I also can't believe you are still around :) You are the first guy I have ever gotten to celebrate one year with and I am so excited!
You are my bestfriend, my life, my everything, my love, my heart, my past and my future. There is no one else in the world I would want to spend and share every moment of the rest of my life with. Being your wife is one of the greatest things I have ever felt and there are no words to describe how much I love you as I fall more and more in love with you everyday.
Thank you for putting up with my crap and standing by myside, for never walking away when I wanted to give up and loving me with everything that you have. This past year has been amazing and I can't wait to see what our future years are holding for us.
One year down and many more to go.
Your loving wife forever and always
M.J
I'm glad I dont have to sleep alone anymore x
(thanks for marrying me lol)
At first, I didn't even know that love was going to be the path I chose. In fact I was completely against a relationship; but sometimes, things just happen...
It was the begining of my second week on the Island when I laid eyes on you for the first time (well second actually, but I had only seen you once before that and then not again till a week later). We were both sitting outside of the staff bar having a beer and a smoke. We were sitting at the same table, though you were talking with Matty and I was sitting and talking with Jarrett.
I kept glancing at you out of the corner of my eye and waiting for a moment where I could welcome myself into your conversation. You didn't even seem to know I existed or really even cared for that matter, yet I couldn't stop staring at you. Your short blonde hair with a fo-hawk down the middle, blue eyes, crooked teeth and a tribal tattoo on your right shoulder just held my stare. You had this sexy British accent but everything that came out of your mouth seemed arrogant, pompous and completely self-centered; I had to know who you were!!! I don't know what it was but there was something that kept telling me I had to know you, even the first time I glanced you from afar, I really wanted to know who you were.
I finally found an opening in your conversation with Matty - well I more so butted my way in - and welcomed myself. You did not look impressed! You actually looked completely digusted, your face said "who the fuck is this girl and why does she think she can speak to me." I didn't care, I had to know who you were.
From that moment on we literally became inseperable, pretty much moving in with eachother two days later. When my contract for work was up you resigned and came with me because you didn't want it to end yet. I was overwhelmed and scared. I was still dealing with my "Ryan heartache" but you said you would give me time and take things slow just as long as you could be with me.
We took a job, in hell, with the devil himself and managed to stay strong and fight through the hard times. The horrible days and sad nights were the times I began to realize I was falling for you. My heart ached to tell you but I was so scared to go down that road again. I asked you questions like "have you ever been in love before?" "Have you ever told a girl you have been in love with them?" hoping you would clue in to what I was trying to get across but there was no such luck. I didn't want to be the first one to bring it up so I kind of pushed it aside, hoping, that one day the right moment would come along; and it did...
A month after we left the devil, we had set up a life in a great small city. We had awesome jobs, amazing friends and eachother. It was New Years Eve- well actually it was New Years Day about 9am-we were having drinks at the club after work and I just looked at you and said "you know I love you right?" and you said "yah. I love you too."
Four months later we were married!!!
Today is our 1 year anniversary! We met a year ago today and have been insperable ever since. I can't believe one year has gone by so quickly. I also can't believe you are still around :) You are the first guy I have ever gotten to celebrate one year with and I am so excited!
You are my bestfriend, my life, my everything, my love, my heart, my past and my future. There is no one else in the world I would want to spend and share every moment of the rest of my life with. Being your wife is one of the greatest things I have ever felt and there are no words to describe how much I love you as I fall more and more in love with you everyday.
Thank you for putting up with my crap and standing by myside, for never walking away when I wanted to give up and loving me with everything that you have. This past year has been amazing and I can't wait to see what our future years are holding for us.
One year down and many more to go.
Your loving wife forever and always
M.J
I'm glad I dont have to sleep alone anymore x
(thanks for marrying me lol)
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
A Historic Sight and Falling into Place
I was so excited on Sunday, not just because Jess and I were meeting up, I was super stoked about that but also because she was taking me to the famous ruins of Stonehenge- which at the time I thought were just some rocks.
She was suppossed to have picked me up earlier but due to traffic because of the airshow - planes and jets flew over our house for 4 days it was so cool - it took her a bit longer to get in from London so we started our adventure a little later than planned but we didn't mind.
Talk, talk, talk, talk; we never stopped talking, it's like we never run out of things to say. I don't know what we talked about but we never stopped! It only took us about an hour to get to Stonehenge, you can see it off to the right just sitting there, in an open space looking so grand and holy. Of course by the time we parked and got out of the car - as it does often here in sunny <--- pure sarcasm England - it started to rain. The sky was grey and dull and a drizzle began to fall, so just like London I have grey pictures. Jess wearing a short sleeve shirt, shorts and sandals -it doesn't get overly hot in England so as soon as there is a bit of sunshine the Brits swarm to the beach even if it's 20 degrees out they are in shorts and tank tops as if they are on a tropical island - puts on her ski jacket, it was quite the fashion statement.
Stonehenge
Before we even stepped foot on the path surrounding the monument I was snapping pictures I was so excited to be on a little history field trip for the afternoon I had seen a picture of it and said to Dan "wow baby that looks cool, can we go" his response "it's just some rocks." Was he ever wrong.
Stonehenge is located in the English county of Wiltshire (about an hour North from where we are). The history of it is quite interesting. The first phase began in 3100 BC with the last known construction being around 1600 BC, the first phase was the circular bank and ditch that surrounds the monument. The sturcture that is standing is what is left of the original structure, you can no longer walk into at as parts of it were stolen by collectors. The stones with the blank like stone going across the top is the outer part of the structure, they (at one point) formed a a connecting circle. The inner part of the circle consisted of two half horseshoes of (smaller) bluestone sturctures and the central stone structure (please don't quote me I know I am a little confused on the structure).
The actual purpose behind it is unknown, to think that the outer ditch and the structure itself could be linked it is incredible considering the amount of years in between. The structure was built around the same time as the Egyptian Pyramids and like the Pyramids (and of course the Sphynx) it is not quite known how they built the structure as they did not have building apparatuses they way we do today. It is said the Sumarians were the ones that built the Sphynx so I am wondering if they had anything to do with the construction of this?
A Calendar
Like I stated above the actual purpose behind it is not actually known though one belief is that it was used a calendar. At certain times of the year when the sun shines through the central stone structure it will shine through one of the outer circle openings and that represents June, the next month it will do the same thing except it will be through the next stone on the left, further left in August and so on.
Heelstone
The Heelstone is outside of the entrance to Stonehenge and it leans inwards towards the circle. If you stand northeast at the entrance of the sturcture, the sun will rise over the heelstone during summer solstice.
More Stories
It has also been said that the rocks are healing rocks called the Giants dance, which giants had brought from Africa to Ireland for their healing purposes.
It has also been said that they are related to the druids.
It is also said that the surrounding land was used for burials and when you leave the monument and head back to the parking lot you can see burial mounds surrounding the area; it's a little weird.
The history and stories behind it is really interesting there is soo much to write about but if you would like some more information on it please Click Here .
I love looking at places like Stonehenge, trying to picture what it was like thousands of years ago, how they built it, what really went on there, what it was used for. I found it so mysterious and as much it wasn't an old ruin of the colesium or a natural wonder like Ayers Rock and the Olga's I couldn't take my eyes off of it. I always feel so trans -like around structures and world wonders, I really just want to know as much as I can about them and be a sponge their history and culture. I really thought it was incrdible how it can be used as a calendar, a lot more interesting then our electronic ones these days lol sometimes I feel like we have lost the true essence of life with all our electronics and factory made things. Stonehenge mmight have taken thousands of years but it definatly lasts longer and doesn't go out of date as fast as my computer does.
After Stonehenge, Jess took me to Winchester to the house where she grew up to have dinner with her parents. The drive, although rainy was nice. We of course talked but I really enjoyed the scenery. Winchester is more country living with english type cottages that remind me of something out of a fairy tale very rounded and cozy looking, lots of trees and...I dont know I said to Jess that it almost looked like something out of a book, like it didn't look real, it looked like a fairy tale place that you would only find in the pages of a book, that really is the only way I can describe it.
After a lovely dinner with her parents - her mum didn't understand why I wouldn't drink any wine - it was time to go home but Jess wanted to drive me through the New Forest where we could see wild horses. "That's really great Jess but umm, it's dark outside now, how am I suppossed to take pictures or see anything." "Oh, I never thought about that." "When you said you wanted to take me after dinner I knew it was going to be dark but I figured you knew what you were doing" Yes, two blondes, it makes sense.
We did drive through the New Forest, I would love to talk about the flowers and the big trees over hanging on the road that made it like a tunnel, but it was pitch black our only light was from the headlights of Jess's car. We did see some wild horses, I pulled out my camera to take some video but it's really not that exciting as when they leave the glare from the headlights you can't see anything and it's quite pointless. I can say that in the New Forest they have towns. It really looked incrdible so I would definately like to go back again, plus there are heaps of hiking trails so it's definatly a day adventure.
Things are going really great here...Dan is doing so well at work and they really like him. I have been helping out at the neighbours. I have been cleaning and trust me it really needs to be cleaned. It took me 3 and a half hours to scrub their kitchen and 2 hours to scrub and clean out the fridge, I still have to scrub the walls and vacum up the spiders in the corners lol. "How lucky are we, we have a made." said his 7 year old daughter he tried explaining to her I wasnt a maid but I guess in her eyes I am. There is a lot to be done, the up keep of little things like sweeping is neglected as well as the major things so its taking some time but they are giving me some money so it is really helping Dan and I at the moment - with the getting paid monthly he still hasn't seen his first cheque yet. I also have a job interview at a cafe on Thursday so I am really excited. Finally everything is falling into place for us.
I have been keeping really busy. My book was published last week, I have begun writing another one and TOMORROW (Wednesday) I am appearing as a guest travel blogger on www.iwalk4love.com every month, twice a month! I am really excited! I'm really starting to get my writting out there and I am super excited to see where it takes me. Please follow the webpage for my updates, it will be blogs, travel tips and postcards - some of my photography! It's going to be great! So please don't forget to check the webpage tomorrow - to be honest, seeing my name and picture up there was almost as good as seeing my name in lights :)
*all notes and info about Stonehenge was taken (and possibly quoted) from Wikipedia. Please go to www.wikipedia.com for more information on Stonehenge*
She was suppossed to have picked me up earlier but due to traffic because of the airshow - planes and jets flew over our house for 4 days it was so cool - it took her a bit longer to get in from London so we started our adventure a little later than planned but we didn't mind.
Talk, talk, talk, talk; we never stopped talking, it's like we never run out of things to say. I don't know what we talked about but we never stopped! It only took us about an hour to get to Stonehenge, you can see it off to the right just sitting there, in an open space looking so grand and holy. Of course by the time we parked and got out of the car - as it does often here in sunny <--- pure sarcasm England - it started to rain. The sky was grey and dull and a drizzle began to fall, so just like London I have grey pictures. Jess wearing a short sleeve shirt, shorts and sandals -it doesn't get overly hot in England so as soon as there is a bit of sunshine the Brits swarm to the beach even if it's 20 degrees out they are in shorts and tank tops as if they are on a tropical island - puts on her ski jacket, it was quite the fashion statement.
Stonehenge
Before we even stepped foot on the path surrounding the monument I was snapping pictures I was so excited to be on a little history field trip for the afternoon I had seen a picture of it and said to Dan "wow baby that looks cool, can we go" his response "it's just some rocks." Was he ever wrong.
Stonehenge is located in the English county of Wiltshire (about an hour North from where we are). The history of it is quite interesting. The first phase began in 3100 BC with the last known construction being around 1600 BC, the first phase was the circular bank and ditch that surrounds the monument. The sturcture that is standing is what is left of the original structure, you can no longer walk into at as parts of it were stolen by collectors. The stones with the blank like stone going across the top is the outer part of the structure, they (at one point) formed a a connecting circle. The inner part of the circle consisted of two half horseshoes of (smaller) bluestone sturctures and the central stone structure (please don't quote me I know I am a little confused on the structure).
The actual purpose behind it is unknown, to think that the outer ditch and the structure itself could be linked it is incredible considering the amount of years in between. The structure was built around the same time as the Egyptian Pyramids and like the Pyramids (and of course the Sphynx) it is not quite known how they built the structure as they did not have building apparatuses they way we do today. It is said the Sumarians were the ones that built the Sphynx so I am wondering if they had anything to do with the construction of this?
A Calendar
Like I stated above the actual purpose behind it is not actually known though one belief is that it was used a calendar. At certain times of the year when the sun shines through the central stone structure it will shine through one of the outer circle openings and that represents June, the next month it will do the same thing except it will be through the next stone on the left, further left in August and so on.
Heelstone
The Heelstone is outside of the entrance to Stonehenge and it leans inwards towards the circle. If you stand northeast at the entrance of the sturcture, the sun will rise over the heelstone during summer solstice.
More Stories
It has also been said that the rocks are healing rocks called the Giants dance, which giants had brought from Africa to Ireland for their healing purposes.
It has also been said that they are related to the druids.
It is also said that the surrounding land was used for burials and when you leave the monument and head back to the parking lot you can see burial mounds surrounding the area; it's a little weird.
The history and stories behind it is really interesting there is soo much to write about but if you would like some more information on it please Click Here .
I love looking at places like Stonehenge, trying to picture what it was like thousands of years ago, how they built it, what really went on there, what it was used for. I found it so mysterious and as much it wasn't an old ruin of the colesium or a natural wonder like Ayers Rock and the Olga's I couldn't take my eyes off of it. I always feel so trans -like around structures and world wonders, I really just want to know as much as I can about them and be a sponge their history and culture. I really thought it was incrdible how it can be used as a calendar, a lot more interesting then our electronic ones these days lol sometimes I feel like we have lost the true essence of life with all our electronics and factory made things. Stonehenge mmight have taken thousands of years but it definatly lasts longer and doesn't go out of date as fast as my computer does.
After Stonehenge, Jess took me to Winchester to the house where she grew up to have dinner with her parents. The drive, although rainy was nice. We of course talked but I really enjoyed the scenery. Winchester is more country living with english type cottages that remind me of something out of a fairy tale very rounded and cozy looking, lots of trees and...I dont know I said to Jess that it almost looked like something out of a book, like it didn't look real, it looked like a fairy tale place that you would only find in the pages of a book, that really is the only way I can describe it.
After a lovely dinner with her parents - her mum didn't understand why I wouldn't drink any wine - it was time to go home but Jess wanted to drive me through the New Forest where we could see wild horses. "That's really great Jess but umm, it's dark outside now, how am I suppossed to take pictures or see anything." "Oh, I never thought about that." "When you said you wanted to take me after dinner I knew it was going to be dark but I figured you knew what you were doing" Yes, two blondes, it makes sense.
We did drive through the New Forest, I would love to talk about the flowers and the big trees over hanging on the road that made it like a tunnel, but it was pitch black our only light was from the headlights of Jess's car. We did see some wild horses, I pulled out my camera to take some video but it's really not that exciting as when they leave the glare from the headlights you can't see anything and it's quite pointless. I can say that in the New Forest they have towns. It really looked incrdible so I would definately like to go back again, plus there are heaps of hiking trails so it's definatly a day adventure.
Things are going really great here...Dan is doing so well at work and they really like him. I have been helping out at the neighbours. I have been cleaning and trust me it really needs to be cleaned. It took me 3 and a half hours to scrub their kitchen and 2 hours to scrub and clean out the fridge, I still have to scrub the walls and vacum up the spiders in the corners lol. "How lucky are we, we have a made." said his 7 year old daughter he tried explaining to her I wasnt a maid but I guess in her eyes I am. There is a lot to be done, the up keep of little things like sweeping is neglected as well as the major things so its taking some time but they are giving me some money so it is really helping Dan and I at the moment - with the getting paid monthly he still hasn't seen his first cheque yet. I also have a job interview at a cafe on Thursday so I am really excited. Finally everything is falling into place for us.
I have been keeping really busy. My book was published last week, I have begun writing another one and TOMORROW (Wednesday) I am appearing as a guest travel blogger on www.iwalk4love.com every month, twice a month! I am really excited! I'm really starting to get my writting out there and I am super excited to see where it takes me. Please follow the webpage for my updates, it will be blogs, travel tips and postcards - some of my photography! It's going to be great! So please don't forget to check the webpage tomorrow - to be honest, seeing my name and picture up there was almost as good as seeing my name in lights :)
*all notes and info about Stonehenge was taken (and possibly quoted) from Wikipedia. Please go to www.wikipedia.com for more information on Stonehenge*
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