If On A Winter's Night a Traveler

David left out a fairly awesome aspect of our Christmas break. So here's a brief, but hopefully valuable, interjection.

In the gap between Christmas and New Year we spent a bit of time with Sarah and Tomek - two friends from Hamilton. They had spent Christmas Day volunteering with the homeless and on the 29th they were rostered on for another shift. They couldn't stop going on about how amazing it all was, so off we went with them in the hope we could volunteer too. And now I can't stop going on about how amazing it was.

It was with an organisation called Crisis at Christmas.  They essentially take over an abandoned office block for a week, turning it into a home for the homeless.  Not only do they offer shelter, food and warmth for the thousands of people living on London's streets over what can be a very lonely (and cold) time of the year, but they offer every other service under the sun.  Doctors, massages, showers, clothes, computers, bingo, councillors, etc.  And that's where the volunteers come in (don't worry, I didn't masquerade as a doctor for a day).  I was just a 'general volunteer' who helped make the whole thing tick along.  The organisation encourages talking and mingling between the volunteers and guests which makes for a very interesting and social experience.  Both David and I met some lovely volunteers, and some very interesting guests.  I feel somewhat guilty; I think I got just as much out of the experience as the guests did.

Eight hours has never flown by so quickly.  And you couldn't wipe the grin off my face.  Especially at the end of the night when all the guests and volunteers collected in the main room, linked arms and sang 'Hey Jude' until the roof came off.

If I'm here next Christmas there is no doubt in my mind as to where I'll be.  I think I can forfeit the roast turkey.

Here's a link to a video about it all. I spent some time with some of the people who feature in it.

- Hana

Season of Migration to the North

Where does the time go?

It's been a month since Christmas, which means a month since our last holiday.
It's coming up a year since I had my last day at APNZ (Feb 1 to be precise).
And its' been 238 days since we left New Zealand.

Somewhere along the way we've landed in London; calling one of the largest cities in this world our home.
It still doesn't quite feel real.

When I left New Zealand for India all those years ago (again; where does the time go?) I expected culture shock, and I got it.  But I never expected it of London.  New Zealand is just another leg of England, isn't it.
Half my blood comes from there.  I am as much British as I am Kiwi, technically.  I even have a piece of paper to prove it.

But it's in the subtleties.  A space I cannot put my finger on; a gap in cultures which meant landing in England, and more specifically London, also delivered culture shock.  Maybe it's the rows on rows of three-storey brick terraced houses, caving in around you.  Or the dirt you are constantly peeling off your face.  Maybe it's the red double-decker buses which zoom past at a scarily close distance as you walk to the supermarket.  Or the people.  Everywhere.  Always.

London bustles, which gives time a whole new meaning.  And I guess it's in there somewhere, that the last part of my life has gone.  I see now; that's where the time has gone.

- Hana

Chocolat

Well the holiday season has come to an end here in London. It's a fairly short and sweet affair compared to the long and languorous summers of home.
We managed to do a lot in the two weeks we had off work. It kicked off with a 6 am  train to Belgium (I got home from work at 4am and elected not to sleep). We did two day trips, to Brugge in the West and Narum in the South, as well as exploring the many chocolate shops, flea markets and beer havens of Brussels with Acacia (who we are very grateful to for hosting us for the three nights).

Brugge's beautiful buildings draw a crowd even on the dreariest of winter days.

Brussels Town Square - more beautiful buildings and a giant Christmas tree.

The French town of Narum as seen from up on the castle walls. The castle is built on top of a steep hill.

We returned to London late on Christmas Eve, immediately got the underground to another station, and headed straight out to Courtney's place for Christmas (there are no trains on Christmas day in the UK so it was the only way). We had a lovely family Christmas with Courtney and her parents with roast turkey and chocolate oranges (who knew?) and then stayed on for a Boxing day pub lunch.

We spent the next few days digesting all the excess food and drink and before we knew it New Years was upon us. We had a few friends around for dinner and drinks before heading to the park to watch fireworks (we had decide against going in to town and waiting from 10pm, in the rain, to see them up close). It was quite a shock seeing how far we actually live from the centre of London. The massive fireworks display looked tiny and incredibly far away but we had fun nonetheless.

Following a day of recovery (we're not used to staying up till midnight) we jumped on a bus to Bristol in the West. We both really enjoyed wandering Bristols slightly grungy streets and wondering where everyone was. It seems so quiet and relaxed compared to London. It reminded us of Wellington in a lot of ways and we made sure to make the most of the coffee while we were there. The only downside to Bristol was our hostel - the cheapest is not always the best.

Drinking good coffee and enjoying our first morning in Bristol.

St Paul's church, Bristol. Now a rather haunting shell after being bombed during the war.

After two nights in Bristol we headed to Bath (spa) for some proper touristing. We failed at being tourists though; opting out of seeing the Roman Baths in favour of two coffees at the UK's most awarded coffee house (it was pretty good coffee).
Bath is a very quaint town, clean, ordered and perfect but there isn't much do to there (apart from really good coffee).

Outside the Abby or Cathedral (I can never remember which). Very beautiful. The building was quite nice too.

Hanging around the Circus; a round a bout in Bath that has apartments like this all the way around it with huge trees in the middle. The apartments all go two floors below ground as well.

We arrived back in London at 11 pm and headed straight to bed because one of us had work the next day (it wasn't me). The job hunt has been back in top gear and is as frustrating as always with a few unfortunate setbacks but I am sincerely hoping the work will start flowing soon. Until then I plan to enjoy the what little wintry light there is before I'm working the entire day (yes, 8 till 3:30 is the entire day).

-Dave