Well it snowed. I'm pretty excited. Or would be if it was still around. There just seems to be something special about snow. It covers all the dirt and make everywhere look clean and new somehow. I made a snowman which took ages seeing how as there was fcuk all snow. Just so much fun. And threw snowballs.
Also yesterday someone told me I looked like Mariah Carey *sobs and places bag over head*.
ros from URL @ 3:52 pm
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Well it was Australia Day yesterday. I had the day off work as I was struggling a little from the night before. Nothing too exciting really just the usual hanging at the pub sort of deal.
Plus I have a new flatmate. Kevin is moving to Highgate - I am so jealous it is just near Hampstead Heath. Our new guy is called Ben (I think) and is a Ukrainian doctor/bouncer. I am a little suspicious of this combination but will just have to see how it goes.
ros from URL @ 11:45 am
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In the last few days I have been doing a little research into my holiday in March. Mainly in order to scare myself into saving some money as I have nothing in the bank. Sadly this has never stopped me before and even reading the Lonely Planet has not deterred me - "trying to get around Mali in the hot season from March to May is strictly for masochists". But don't worry Caitriona I won't be flying Ghana airlines. Well mainly cause I've changed my mind about going to Ghana now (too broke) and may not even make it to Senegal.
I so want to go to Senegal though. There is a train that goes straight from Dakar to Bamako that I would really really want to catch. But the Senegal thing is also cause I've heard that the border is really hard work and plus I can cut into Mauritania through Noma which will be a lot easier. But I've gotten a bit of a train bug going and I've also heard nice things about the city.
But another reason not to go is that I've found a charter company that will fly me to Mali really cheaply. Admittedly flights only depart from France and are fairly vague about departure and arrival times (can vary by as much as 24 hours) and hey I can go without food on the flight I'll just pack my lunch. Oh did I mention it was really cheap.
But then I found a return to Dakar for £277. What to do. If only I had any money at all.
ros from URL @ 3:04 pm
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Another reason to dislike John Howard. Not content to destroy Australian values now he's after the jackpot.
And another example of bigotry disguised as "faith". Tell me again where in the bible it says that being a lesbian is "seriously depraved" and devoid of "obscure basic values which belong to the common inheritance of humanity".
Oh and whats happening on my side of the world - well it not going to be
sunny thats for sure. And is it just me that gets a funny feeling about the Queen Mary 2 going out in "severe gales".
ros from URL @ 11:42 am
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Obligatory "Best Of 2003" List (stolen shamelessly from Michael Jennings blog)
Countries I visited in 2003
Australia, South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Kenya and England.
Countries I visited in 2003 that I had not visited before
South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Tanzania and Kenya.
Greatest product I discovered while travelling to one of these countries
Bow, a fiendishly addictive game involving holes and stones/shells.
Greatest product I discovered in a country I had visited before
Tim Tams being stocked at Tesco's.
Total number of countries visisted in my life
33 (Australia, Indonesia, Japan, England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Greece, Spain, Italy, France, Belgium, Luxemboug, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Turkey, Syria, Jordan, Egypt, Sweden, Norway, Finland, USA, South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Tanzania).
Number of these countries that no longer exist
None.
Best theatrical production I saw this year
Well I haven't been to the Theatre for ages (since April) and it must of been pretty crap cause I can't remember what it was - *sob* I'm so uncultured.
Movies I most enjoyed in 2003
The return of the King - mainly cause I've seemingly been waiting to see it for like ages.
Most over the top (and very Japanese) movie I saw this year
Just old king ku movies really, didn't see any *new* ones.
Books that I most enjoyed reading in 2003
Maybe The Dig Tree, stuff on Captain Cook (was it just me or did loads of books on him come out last year) and at the moment anything about Wilfred Thesiger.
Musical acts that I would have liked to have seen, and that I could have seen in London in 2003 if I had bought tickets in time, but didn't
Glastonbury - I AM going to be organised this year I swear.
Favourite television program of 2003
Still The Simpsons.
Most stunning place I visited in 2003
Home.
Place I visited where I felt most like stout Cortez, when with eagle eyes, he spied the Pacific, and all his men looked at each other, wild with surmise, silent upon a peak in Darien
The Serengetti.
Great bridges I walked over in 2003
Story Bridge - Brisbane, William Jolly Bridge - Brisbane, Chevron bridge - Gold Coast, Tower bridge - London, Zambezi Bridge - Zambia/Zimbabwe.
Great Bridges I travelled over in vehicles in 2003
Victoria Bridge - Brisbane, Gateway Bridge - Brisbane.
Great Bridges I saw, but did not travel over in 2003
Can't remember any.
Great tunnels I travelled through in 2003
The Rotherhithe tunnel, Blackwall tunnel, the maze of tunnels under Marble Arch that I always take the wrong exits on.
Other places I visited in 2003 that are of interest to the hacker tourist
Okavango Delta, Ngorongoro crater and Zanzibar.
Places that are of interest to Jane Austen fans that I visited in 2003
Well she did hang out a bit in London so who knows.
Most upsetting event of the year.
Leaving Australia again and saying goodbye to my family.
Rawest emotional reaction of the year
Upon finding myself in the middle of Africa with no visa, hardly any money, no transport and a corrupt customs offical and thinking "Oh fuck".
Moments in 2003 that most reminded me how Australian I still am
Watching the rugby world cup final in London.
Most time consuming but rewarding activity I took up in 2003.
Being a sloth - it's coming along nicely thanks very much.
ros from URL @ 2:17 pm
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I don't care if Mr Irwin's kid gets eaten by a crocodile but I reckon that anyone the thinks that John Howard is "the best Prime Minister ever" deserves everything he gets
Stuart in Sydney
From The Sydney Morning Herald
ros from URL @ 2:44 pm
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