Champion Crouch, England 2005

England 2005
Sal and I tried to see as much of Europe as possible while we lived in London. This involved plenty of short trips and weekend get-aways. This page is devoted to the trips around England we managed to make in 2005. North England & Edinburgh (Scotland), December 31st - 3rd January [Nottingham News Years Eve, Gouls at Goole and Edinburgh] I can't believe we drove all the way to Edinburgh and back to London in a few days. It was a vast distance and there were many sites to take in. New year's eve was surprisingly good. With little buildup, I guess it was not difficult to exceed expectations. Cam, Ol, Sal & I decided on Nottingham for the night. We drove up after Sal finished work (3pm) on Friday and arrived around 7pm. Grabbed our room at The Gramby, which we fondly nicknamed "The Gumby", fully expecting to see the little green man on the sign. Funnily enough, people still recognised the misrepresented location in the night's conversations (could that have been attempting to translate our drunken, slurred Aussie speech?). The night's highlights were: (1) We met a pair of sisters that stuck with us for a while, perhaps against some wishes. They lead us to Slab Square clock for the countdown. Unfortunately, the wrong way. Therefore, our exact countdown memory is passing a club where Cam overheard the numbers and injected midnight hugs. (2) Sal threw-up next to newly met African friend, Dave, who was in our room chatting on return from clubbing. We had lost Ol to later find him lying outside our room (how he got in without a key, I don't want to know - memories of broken windows in NSW ski fields too fresh). Cam's introductions of black Sambuca was probably a bad idea. Sal's stomach and the pain of my cleaning time, the losers. We slept in the next day, then headed north. At Sherwood Forest, we put on tights and searched for Robin, Mary, merry men or a huge man with a huge paradox for a name. We found none, so continued to Goole. Two amazing things occurred that night. Firstly, we had a UNO (card game) championship which should be mainly luck. I somehow managed to not win a game from the first 15 played. That is just ridiculous! I was especially worried as rules clearly state that a player not victorious at least once in a championship must do a nudie run around the pub (which contained quite a few locals, including birds). Secondly, and perhaps provides some explanations for the first phenomenon, is the coincidence that both Ol, Cam and I had eerie premonitions of the supernatural. I'll set the scene: This is an old, multi-storied (top floor for us), dim, low-roofed pub with cracked windows from the blazing offshore winds. Sal fell asleep pretty much as soon as her head hit the pillow. Not I. I felt there was something in the room with me. Not letting my imagination get the better of me and remembering my family's obsession with sort of stuff (IE would be hypercritical of me to start believing now after I've expressed so much ridicule in the past), I ignored it and concentrated on sleeping. Ol got a similar feeling when returning to his room earlier that night. Cam also mentioned something the next day and we learnt that we had all experienced something that night. Dar Dar Da Da dumm da ... Call Warrick Moss! The next day we stumbled accross many Roman ruins when nearing Hadrian's Wall, which is an amazing formation most recently made famous by the movie Arthur. While so far north, we thought bugger it, lets kick on to Edinburgh and drop Ol off. His Scott's (and Steve's) Land tour started there and this meant Ol wasted his previously bought flight from London. Funny that I mention Scott and Steve, because when you have a friend or two that spent so much time in a place, you find yourself wondering if they've been in this pub, or stayed in this room (high street hostel?). Even thinking that, it did not take my mind off enjoying what this magical city has to offer. Wow! It's like walking into an iced version of a medieval movie. The view from Arthur's seat is spectacular. I'll have to pop out the photos from this trip when I get some more time. Sadly, I got quite sick on the way home. It could have been the beer, not sleeping much or perhaps a dodgy pasta in Edinburgh. The long drive back was a nightmare as I could have disposed of my breakfast quite happily out of either end. This made it particularly hard to enjoy the Lakes District as went spent an extra couple of hours driving through. Check out the Nrth England/Edinburgh Photo Album. Brighton, 7th and 8th March 2005 [Fame, Winter Beaches and Chinese Dinners] Geoff once hid a tape recorder under Ollie’s desk to capture GB Wee’s well known (and joked about) catch-phrase: “What’s the mission?” My mission was to give Sal a nice surprise (for no particular reason - the best kind of surprises!). You must see a West End production while you are in London. I searched the internet for a show that (i) Sal must enjoy, (ii) that we can see soon. Nothing jumped out through the screen … [Aside: 3D may be pushing it, however, I expect within a decade most users will have a paper-thin, foldable and flexible touch-screen one metre in diameter (size restricted only by reach). Therefore, I expect Pocket PCs with these miracle screens and a keyboard made on the same technology to supersede Laptops]. I believe in fate. If I could not find an available West End production then it was not meant to be. What other options were there? Perhaps a weekend away would have been nice. We really should get cracking on our European Experience. We left Sydney 4 months ago and even if the first was spent in India/Thailand, I would like to have traveled more than our three December trips around England and Scotland so far. It is natural to find reasons to NOT do something. I can NOT contribute to my savings this week as this bill is due. I can NOT go to the gym as I am too tired from work. I can NOT start the diet yet as I know there will be great food this weekend. The first to fail are long term goals. The time difference between achievement and tackling the obstacle are too far apart to compare unless we remain focused. For example, Sal & I moved to London for many reasons, two of the more fundamental being putting coins in the little piggy and filling passports with European stamps. Albeit, for two months we have neglected the latter and pressure to continue doing so does not lift. Simply Not Good Enough! If you want something and are lucky enough to know what that is, then you do not let anything stop you from getting it. I am not suggesting I will stop paying the bills, denounce democracy and dispense with underwear for robes made from animal-friendly natural fibers. What I am describing is my approach. I have a vision. I know the steps required to reaching it. Those steps are my priority and it is sacrilegious to skip any. All else will be taken care of and not by some magical, mystical, mauve Minotaur. There secret to my success will be remembering what is sacred. I digress and have come perilously close to preaching, even if it be to myself in my own journal … I believe in fate. I came across Brighton and Saturday’s showing Fame at The Royal Theatre, the final night there. Since her first dancing lesson to It’s Raining Men while wearing leg-warmers, pink leotard, a tutu and ballet shoes, Sal has dreamed of seeing this musical. What of a few hours of Fame pain in order to see Sal’s face light up when we arrived at the doors? I type this entry in the dim light of our room’s lamp while Sal lies next to me in deep slumber. Reflecting on last night, I honestly believe it was close to one of our happiest days together. Check out the Brighton Photo Album . I believe in fate. A fate we create. [Terminator 2 soundtrack anyone?] 28th Mar 2005, Monday – Battle! Cool fun down the coast in Battle, the town named after the famous Battle of Hastings, when William “I bless you in the name of Willy” The Conqueror defeated poor old Harold, who really should have listened to his mates when they yelled “heads!”. That is the beauty (or Booty!) of living in London, you can wake up on Sunday, open a travel book and go visit some historic site within a short cheap train ride. Check out the Battle Abbey Photo Album. 3rd April 2005, Sunday - Oxford We went to the university town of oxford and met up with Sal’s former Clinque buddy, Candice, and her friend, Nat[alie], who both live out this way. We walked about, checked out the old architecture and amazing buildings that make up some of Oxford Universities. This included a visit with Harry Pothead and his Dinning Hall in the Christ Church complex (where they filmed the movies with Hogwarts and Haghead etc.). The rest of the afternoon we spent on the river, in another beer garden (habit?). We got the Oxford Tube - this one is actually a bus, which makes my previous comment about them not calling trains “trains” even more odd. One day I may be told the reason for the term "tube", then again there is just as good a chance I won't be listening. Check out the Oxford Photo Album. 17th July 2005 – Cornwell, Beaches and Sun I had a meeting with two clients down south in the Cornwell and Devon area. Fittingly, I was at the top of the country during the week, in Scarborough, and down the bottom a couple of days later. In what is becoming a habit, Sal & I stayed for the weekend. I understand now why Fiona's mum ranks Cornwell her favourite place on the planet. [She is nuts! ;-) nah, it's enchanting] We drove down to Plymouth after work on Thursday night. On a weekend that birthed home sickness, Plymouth was the pinnacle. Modern, sunny, wide streets, malls, summer fashion and beer gardens. Following the coast south from there, we stayed in a tiny fishing village on Friday night. Kenton recommended this breathtaking spot and I'm glad I remembered the name Mevagissy. Navigating tiny streets surrounded by sheer cliffs was sheer delight. The long missed scent of ocean floating the sea breeze the perfect sauce for fresh fish and chips. A brilliant night spent sipping beer and wine an the pub overlooking the harbour. From Mevagissy, we continued south to Lands End via St Michaels Mount (we're looking forward to seeing her bigger sister in France). Lands End is where we put an end to our beach draught. It was nice to see shirtless lads, bikini clad chicks and to feel the sun on my skin, sand between my toes and salt water evaporating under beaming sun rays. The final night we spent in Newquay. This is a picturesque place and again we enjoyed afternoon beers upon the cliffs while the day's last sun light evacuated the beaches. click here for the South West England Trip 2 photo album 8th August 2005 – Stratford Upon Avon After pretending to visit Martin 2 months ago to maintain the Scottish surprise for Sal and then substituting a long weekend with a getaway to Cornwell last month, we finally visited Stratford Upon Avon. A short Saturday morning bus trip and we were there. Martin was proactive and luckily met us at the station as I had somehow printed out his email, with contact details, yet forgotten to collect it on the way out of the office. Martin took it upon himself to show us a bit of the country in the area. We stated with a leisurely stroll around one of the "prettiest" parts of England, the town centre. This town attracts astronomic numbers of tourists each year. There are numerous theatres, most honoured by famous acting names, and the cottage that was Shakespeare’s birthplace. I will remember Stratford Upon Avon for the quant cottages and cinematic canals. Many families spend their holidays chugging along the canal system, which is so vast that you can travel further than London. Check out the Stratford Upon Avon Photo Album. On the way to Martin's Hentley home, he took us for a scenic drive into neighbouring counties. Waiting for us was the lovely Anna, Martin's wife, and the first of many feasts enjoyed in their amazing house. Mum need not have shared her love for their cottage, as from the moment I set foot in (ducking the low entrance), the character screams at you. The house is a national heritage as are the many old thatch-roofed cottages in the area. Because of this classification, Martin is limited in the modifications he can make. As he says, who would want to? The place retains an atmosphere of the ancient. Sinking roofs and bend supporting low beams (even through the shower!). The four of us spent the weekend drinking fine wine (thank you, Martin), stuffing our faces with feasts, watching the fat fish in the ponds, exploring photos/tales from the family tree and some good old chat. Things you miss when you are 11,000 kilometres from family. We are thankful of the time we spent with Martin and Anna and are very appreciative that they took us in and treated us so well. I hope there is an opportunity to return the favour when they or their family visit Sydney.

Home	You can email me at tjcrouch@hotmail.com