BAAAH Humbug!

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!

Well, as Christmas winds down here in Tallinn, Estonia, we must admit it has been a very enjoyable, yet slightly disappointing Christmas. Slightly disappointing for the sole reason that it DID NOT SNOW! Baaaah, humbug!! However, finally being reunited with Blue and Bec has been a truly magical experience, and surprisingly short on head pats.

On the first day we wandered through Raekoja Plats (Town Hall square) that was filled with yet another Christmas market; we saw funny hats, mulled wine, a large Christmas tree and Father Christmas. In the market Dave and Jarratt did a fantastic job at looking like big tourists consulting every map and book to decide on our next location. We ended up deciding on heading onwards and upwards to Toompea Hill where we visited the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Toompea Castel, Pikk Hermann and a number of the viewing platforms that look over the lower town of Tallinn. We then headed back to the market where we all got a warm wiener into us and spent the rest of the afternoon exploring the city museum. We ended the night in a traditional Austrian beer hall trying a variety of the local ales and being ignored by the wenches.

The following day we explored the remaining sites in the lower town of Tallinn. Jarratt and his fantastic navigational skills managed to walk us straight past the Puhavaimu kirik clock.... twice. We also visited Fat Margaret’s, the Maritime Museum, and the broken line memorial which Blue originally mistook for a skate jump. We then had lunch at Honky Tonk Texas pub as Bec was desperately craving a burger. Afterwards we wandered past the former KGB Headquarters and headed home for a fantastic dinner a-la Jarratt.

The next day had a lazy start, but soon we were skating on thin ice. Well, three of us were... Blue was there to document the occasion. With two out of three skating with no previous experience and the third not being in skates for over 5 years, falls were running at high odds. But we are chuffed to report not one person fell.... although there were a few close calls that caused great amusement for all. Afterwards we all felt very 'Christmas-y' and rewarded ourselves with dinner at Estonia's first pub. Which turned a little messy... but what happens on tour stays on tour ;) Because of our drinking efforts Christmas eve was spent catching up and when we eventually headed out, we didnt venture too far. We wandered the Town Hall Square and had our first cup of mulled wine and.... YUK! Dont EVER do it! YUK! Later in the night, Jarratt and I headed out to midnight mass that was entirely in latin! Bec was very impressed to here all the ladies behind her in the pews singing the hymns and reciting the lamb of god in LATIN, joke was on her when she saw they were all nuns!

Today was Christmas (!), we woke late, opened our presents, spoke to you all at home and headed out to the pepper sack for a medieval dinner. Tomorrow we are off to Riga by bus and are looking forward to more cheap eats, drinking and relaxing with friends. Hope you all had a fantastic Christmas! Lots of love, Bec

Seriously... who would buy it? One of the funny hats in the Town Hall Square.

Us at the viewing platform on Toompea Hill.

Alexander Nevsky Cathedral

Jarratt at the Ice Rink.

Us at the Pepper Sack for Christmas Dinner.

What a Shakespearenice!

As the famous William Shakespeare once wrote in his play Julius Caesar.... Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears! (Act 3, scene 2, 74). After our trip to Stratford-upon-avon it is fair to say we were injected with the Shakespeare bug. It's everywhere up there!!! With 3 theatres dedicated to putting on Shakespeare performances and every shop, cafe and even stationary (!) having some reference to him, or his plays it felt like the whole world had gone Shakespeare mad.

After checking into our delightful B&B we were greeted by our warm, however overwhelming hostess, who henceforth referred to us as Jarratt and Beckie, and we all know how much I love that!! After we dumped our bags we headed into the market square where we saw ANOTHER Christmas market and bought the best lunch ever! A pork roll, complete with stuffing, apple sauce and crackling! Afterwards we headed to 3 of the 5 Shakespeare houses that are located in and around Stratford. The first we visited was Shakespeares birthplace, then Nash House and the site of New Place, finishing in Halls Croft. Each house visited had a guide member done up in traditional victorian dress who gave information about the room they were assigned to. At Halls Croft the gentleman assigned to give a brief overview of the house was a particular highlight. He was full of idioms, irony and sarcastic quips that managed to really amuse him, but not many others.

We then headed to Shakespeares burial site, Holy Trinity Church, where we entered through the wrong entrance and managed to avoid paying the viewing fee. Whoops! Anne Hathaway, Thomas Nash, Suzannah Shakespeare and John Hall are also buried there. There is also a copy of the register showing the baptism and burial dates of Shakespeare himself. After leaving the church we wander down the Avon, past the Courtyard and Swan Theatres. We then spent time strolling the Christmas-lit streets, before having dinner and heading to the Civic Hall. At the Civic Hall we had front row, centre seats to a performance entitled "Noughts and Crosses", a modern adaptation of Romeo and Juliet.

Our final day in Stratford was spent trying to hurdle our MASSIVE B&B breakfast, seeing Anne Hathaways Cottage and maze garden, as well as having a private viewing of "Shakespearenice". We then headed to the train station and onwards to Peter Garcia and Suzies for an orphan's Christmas dinner we will never forget!!!

Bec and the best lunch ever!

Us at Shakespeare's birthplace.

Shakespeare's burial site.

Us-upon-avon.

Our Canterbury Tale

Since our last blog we have been busy little bees... We've attended the Australia vs Nigeria (friendly) soccer match... yes! Soccer, NOT football, despite everyone trying to correct us. It was an awesome day, Australia won 1-0. On our way to the game we were swamped with leftlets advertising the (then) upcoming election. I think our favourite would have to be the gentleman dressed in a white t-shirt outside Putney Tube chanting "Kevin, for 0-7!" We also met up with Benny Dirks for drinks after the game, who was sporting a beautiful merv-style mo in the spirit of mo-vember! All in all it was an awesome experience.

Between drinks we have been working hard for the money, and have managed to dip down to Kent for a weekend away. We visited Canterbury and Whitstable. In Canterbury we saw the AMAZING Canterbury Cathedral, home to the famed Thomas Beckett's martyrdom. Its such a beautiful place and Jarratt considered it the highlight of the weekend. Whereas Bec, whilst impressed with the Canterbury Cathedral, was just as moved by the animated showing of Geoffery Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. She even went as far to buy (in addition to the magnet) an abridged version of the famous Tales. We even did a quick spin around the St Augustines Abbey before the cold weather got the better of us. We headed in for an early drink and dinner via Kings College and the Norman Staircase. After a refreshing local ale we went on a ghost tour of Canterbury. Amusing at first, however after an hour and a half the penguin of a guide was getting on both our nerves.

The next morning we raced around for MORE photos (in better weather) and headed out to Whitstable for their world renowned oysters, which we enjoyed. Jarratt was even brave enough to trial a local stout known as Oyster Beer, which arrived at the table looking like tar. Tasted quite refreshing, but took a fair bit of conviencing to first swallow it. Then it was home again, home again, jiggity-jig!

Canterbury Cathedral

Us at the Cathedral.

Bec on The Norman Staircase in Kings College.

Bec at the Canterbury Tales (Pa, would be so proud!)

Jarratt being the cultured scholar outside the hotel where Charles Dickens stayed during a tour of Kent.... just so happens that Jarratt is reading Oliver Twist at the moment. Coincidence?

Bec and the succulent oysters at Whitstable.

Our lunch... and Jarratts dirty looking Oyster Beer.

Our House.... in the middle of our street!

Hi there strangers, sorry it has been so long between entries. London life is just so hectic!!! Since returning from Poland we have: moved house, Jarratts changed jobs...twice, adopted a room mate, and drank ALOT!!!! All and all its been quite a busy time.

Our new house is FANTASTIC! Basically its 100 metres down the road from our old place, so we are still in Angel and moving wasnt THAT big of a deal. Its a two storey, victoria period terrace and it is Beau-ti-ful! We're so excited! We were worried about covering the whole place's rent on our own til the arrival of Blue and Bec, but have luckily found a friend of Bec's to move in for a month.

Jarratts also found a new job since returning from Poland. The past week he has been refitting HSBC branches and starting Monday he is back on a construction site. Bec is still teaching her little angels in Hackney. She had the brave job today, of nursing them while they had a injection against measles, which there is an outbreak of at the moment. She is still loving the whole teaching thing and is wondering why she never wanted the young ones to begin with. Its just like hanging out with Leilani and Tayla ALL DAY!

Tomorrow we're heading down to Fulham to watch Australia vs Nigeria in a soccer match (NOT football!!!); should be an awesome game, all the big names are in. Next weekend we are taking our first weekender trip, thinking of heading to Canterbury or Devon. Nothings booked yet though.

And now, finally for a tour of our new home...

Welcome... this is our entrance. That window is our bedroom window. The window below is the Kitchen/Dining room window.

Dining Room... Just out of shot to the right of this picture is our front window and entrance. The left side would lead into the Kitchen, ahead (as you can see) is the Living room.

Living Room... The doors in the middle lead out to our own garden and just out of shot to the left is the staircase to go upstairs. There is storage under the stairs that is used for a laundry area.

Kitchen.... pretty obvious, the front entrance is just left of this picture.

Bathroom...this is on like, the half floor, the stair case up to the bedrooms doubles back on itself and at the first landing is the bathroom.... does that make sense?

Our bedroom... One of two bedrooms on the upper floor. Across the road is a beautiful park... we're very lucky with the view.