March 22 & 23: Acting like locals and meeting the Lego Queen

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I've already told you lot that Lena is an incredibly sweetness in addition to lovely person.  She's letting us slumber (rent-free) inwards her even out , despite the fact that she commutes 1 hr each morning time in addition to eve betwixt hither in addition to her boyfriend's apartment.  She had gone out of her agency to organise in addition to include us inwards her East London Lord's Day ritual , thus nosotros happily obliged.

Just our luck , at that topographic point was scheduled maintenance on the District Line where our subway scheme halt was thus nosotros needed to receive got the motorcoach to Algate East.  This wasn't also bad though , because I really similar the bus.  They don't receive got three hours to larn anywhere (like inwards Melbourne) in addition to they receive got a thought , which the subway scheme doesn't.  Also at that topographic point are to a greater extent than seats.  On this detail motorcoach , at that topographic point was a immature man child sitting behind us with his mother.  "That's where nosotros larn when nosotros kicking the bucket ," he told her , really matter-of-factly , equally nosotros drove yesteryear a cemetery.  Morbid kid.

At Algate East , which isn't different to Fitzroy inwards price of its grunge:hipster ratio , nosotros had The First Good Coffee (at a cafe run yesteryear an Aussie).  We met upward with Lena in addition to headed to a marketplace held inwards a huge corrugated atomic release 26 warehouse.  There were close a 1000000 different smells going on , all mingly together in addition to making a spicy in addition to warm form of smell.  It was packed to bursting with twenty-somethings , all carrying large plates of nutrient in addition to clad inwards varying degrees of tartan.  Lena stood out with all the dark in addition to reddish , with her fairy floss pilus in addition to winged spectacles in addition to pastel checkered coat.  She explained that she'd tried everything on offering in addition to nosotros had no other pick than to pay half-dozen quid for a plate loaded upward with Ethiopian lentils in addition to pancakes in addition to olives.  She had a call for , though.  It was delicious.

When Nicholas in addition to I lived inwards Melbourne , nosotros frequented a cafe called Mr Tulk , named afterwards Australia's offset librarian.  We got the same thing every fourth dimension nosotros went there: avocado in addition to lime on toast , a pot of soy chai with love , followed yesteryear a chocolate cheesecake brownie.  The brownie was basically a operate of art.  It was rich in addition to dense in addition to had a swirly layer of baked cheesecake on move yesteryear , which was chewy in addition to savoury.  One 24-hour interval they discontinued it in addition to replaced it with a hazelnut brownie. "The New Shit Brownie" Nicholas calls it.

The brownie story has a point.  Nicholas doesn't consider a repast a proper repast without dessert , thus I sent him to a piddling stall I'd seen that sold mint brownies (his other favourite brownie).  They sold a brownie thus similar to the famous Mr Tulk Chocolate Cheesecake Brownie chapeau Nicholas ended upward spending far also much coin on brownies in addition to made himself a piddling flake sick.  He claims it was worth it.

Outside the nutrient marketplace , at that topographic point was a regular marketplace with jewellery in addition to a milliner (I didn't care to larn a motion painting of myself inwards a bowler chapeau , merely I really did trace it off.  I really considered it.  a) it looked really amazing in addition to didn't brand my caput hold off fifty-fifty bigger in addition to rounder than it already is , b) I could've been the Monopoly Man at every fancy wearing clothing political party for the balance of my life.  Or Charlie Chaplin) in addition to coat shops in addition to vintage spectacles shops.  We spent a long fourth dimension looking around in addition to trying on airheaded spectacles in addition to debating how proficient I looked inwards diverse hats , earlier nosotros stopped yesteryear a boutique tea store (where you lot could purchase one pot of tea for thirty pounds) in addition to thus headed to Lena's fellow , Oliver's , place.  We played a game called Resistance in addition to I illustrated what a pathetic liar I am in addition to how speedily I cleft nether clit per unit of measurement area (I could never operate inwards whatever form of regime or armed forces service , or equally a undercover agent or invention a surprise political party or create anything that involves secrecy).  We had to larn an extremely belatedly subway scheme domicile in addition to I constitute out the difficult agency that tubes start to brand me queasy afterwards a while.

Prior to arriving inwards London , Nicholas in addition to I had purchased a non bad piddling bill of fare called the London Pass.  On Mon , nosotros picked it upward in addition to headed to Westminster Abbey.  While Nick in addition to I wouldn't really telephone retrieve ourselves Anglophiles or are especially into the majestic household unit of measurement , nosotros figured Westminster Abbey would receive got some sweetness crypts.  It did.  The best business office was that it was that the good conduct was narrated yesteryear Jeremy Irons , thus it felt similar Scar from The Lion King was introducing you lot to the dead monarchs you'd read close inwards Patricia Gregory novels.  Isaac Newton was buried at that topographic point also in addition to that was really cool.  

You can't receive got pictures within Westminster Abbey , merely I snapped this i because it looked similar a scene from Harry Potter.  I really intend it is from Harry Potter.  

At the Westminster Abbey gift store you lot tin purchase a photograph album of the majestic wedding.  I don't know how I experience close that.

After the Abbey , nosotros hopped onto a motorcoach in addition to caput downwards to the Beefeater Gin distillery.  We could brand it for gratis in addition to I really similar gin , thus why not?  There was a museum of gin's illicit history in addition to its moonshine-y origins.  Nick enjoyed looking at the distilling machinery.  I enjoyed the business office where nosotros drank the gin.

Gin!

After some liquor , nosotros caput dorsum to Bond St thus that I could pick upward some things from Lush for Lena equally a thank-you for letting us remain with her.  This was especially exciting because Lush United Kingdom of Great Britain in addition to Northern Ireland of Britain in addition to Northern Republic of Ireland has close a 1000000 things nosotros don't receive got inwards Commonwealth of Australia , similar powdered sunscreen in addition to a perfume called Death in addition to Decay , which is supposed to olfactory belongings similar decaying lillies.  In theory , that has a really Alexander McQueen vibe in addition to sounds really appealing.  It's amend inwards theory than exercise , thus I exclusively bought a tiny venture perfume.  I love Lush.

We also constitute ourselves inwards a Disney store where everything was also expensive in addition to the soundtrack was generic magical transformation sequence sounds.  We also went to Hamley's , which is a v storey high toy store with gender-specific storeys.  Mum volition know how much this bothered me , because she's heard to a greater extent than than i rant close how much I dislike gendered toys.  The 4th flooring featured licensed Harry Potter memorabilia , including everybody's wands.  Actually everybody , though.  I really liked all the Death Eater wands (typical).

The move yesteryear flooring was strictly for Lego , a milk shiver bar (?) in addition to a confectionary store (??).  It was extremely British inwards all aspects , merely the lifesize Lego sculptures of waving Kate in addition to Wills in addition to the Lego Queen (complete with corgi) , equally good equally reddish telephone boxes made of Lego really highlighted the British-ness of the whole experience.  I should add together that this was at close 9pm on a Mon night.  London is a really weird city.

I went to London to watch the (lego) queen

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March 24: The most touristy day (and we forgot our camera of course)

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The Tower of London too London Bridge

As the championship suggests , this was our epic tourist day.   We started off amongst the Tower of London when they opened at 10am too straightaway joined inwards on a tour led yesteryear an ex-military human inwards sum Yeoman Warder garb.  He was extremely animated , playfully racist , too told enough of interesting stories.  We were led into St Paul's chapel , where Anne Boleyn too Catherine Howard are commemorated.  He joked that nosotros were suckers for paying for tickets into the Tower when you lot tin arrive for gratis if you lot come upwards to majority on Sundays too they naively human face you lot to leave of absence too non wander the Tower afterwards visiting the church.  He said there's a possibility to arrive for gratis on Saturdays also , afterwards visiting the chapel , simply that's commonly afterwards a wedding.  Apparently , almost every Sabbatum without neglect , people bring together to proclaim their dearest on run yesteryear of "two of the most famous adulterers inwards history" (his words).  Idiots.

I didn't desire to hold upwards someone to accept pictures of him , simply he advised that nosotros could human face at him on Twitter.  His twitter is @billybeefeater.  His shout out was William.  I experience similar every 2nd somebody hither is called William.

Before nosotros entered the chapel , he warned us twice inwards a row of tripping over the stride every bit you lot enter.  Before nosotros left the chapel , he warned us 1 time to a greater extent than of tripping over the step.  As nosotros exited , he stood at the door maxim goodbye.  Guess who tripped over the step?  Pro-tip: it was me.

We continued to walk some too human face at an prove that didn't genuinely advertise whatever of its merits , other than it was the longest running historical exhibit.  I intend it was of horses or something.  

I'm the Ravenmaster.  Look at my gloves.  And my raven.

When nosotros looked at the crowned jewels , my favourite was this staff that I champaign couldn't photograph.  It's an extremely fancy Sailor Luna sceptre. 

This lady looks incredibly unimpressed yesteryear the country of affairs.

We wandered along the Thames until nosotros came to the Monument , which Nicholas too Craig climbed piece I had a java downstairs because my arthritis was feeling genuinely bad (pesky Ross River , coming along too punching me inwards the confront correct earlier my trip!!)

Afterwards nosotros went downwards to the Globe , simply my telephone was out of battery yesteryear this indicate then nosotros haven't got whatever pictures.  It didn't stick inwards my caput every bit much every bit another parts of the twenty-four lx minutes menses , except I was shocked that they even then purpose men sometimes for woman somebody parts , truthful Elizabethan style.  A few years agone they had a 37 languages inwards 37 plays , too fifty-fifty represented Maori too Bangladeshi.  It was pretty cool.  Also , you tin even then larn standing tickets every bit a "groundling" for super cheap.  In Shakespeare's twenty-four lx minutes menses it was 1p , simply at nowadays it's v pounds , which is even then pretty practiced I reckon.  The Globe flavor starts inwards near ii weeks then nosotros lucked out.

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March 25 & 26: Back to the British Museum and a Day of Monsters

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Nicholas as well as the Rosetta Stone

After our root view to the British Museum , nosotros realised we'd require to shuffle our schedule as well as brand approximately other trip there.  We planned to brand it brilliant as well as early on thence nosotros could ability through Hellenic Republic & Rome , Assyria as well as Mesopotamia , as well as encounter a lilliputian to a greater extent than of the Age of Enlightenment room.  We did a tour in that location alongside a friendly former lady who told stories of King Henry III's collection of objects as well as antiquities which were donated to the museum past times his boy (who replaced his library of curiosities alongside a novel kitchen).  We too had a experience as well as play alongside a few objects , including a calcite makeup pot from 3000BC inwards Egypt.  The fifty-fifty friendlier , fifty-fifty older volunteer who was showing them to us explained that it would possess got been role of a travelling gear upward of makeup pots.

"For a rattling long journeying ," she insisted.  "The longest journey.  They wouldn't dare become to the afterlife without approximately makeup to doll upward for the gods."

Craig joined us at the British Museum for a hateful solar daytime of exploring as well as gallivanting!

Nicholas exploring objects from the Parthenon 

Making friends alongside 'unnamed Homeric figures'

Looking at all the representation of gods as well as monsters , especially inwards the Greek as well as Assyrian fine art , made me experience truly connected to these ancient civilisations.  It was similar I was role of this long business of artists trying to describe as well as sympathise monsters , as well as the role of animals as well as people together. 

A hybrid deity/monster/protector from Assyrian art

That nighttime nosotros went to Forbidden Planet , a huge comic mass as well as pop civilization store , earlier heading to a vegan cafe inwards Covent Garden.  We chatted for a truly long fourth dimension alongside Lena as well as Oliver , who are a truly , truly sugariness couple.

The next hateful solar daytime nosotros had intended to become dorsum to the British  Museum , exactly nosotros didn't truly brand it.  While nosotros were demolishing raw vegan cheesecakes the nighttime earlier , Oliver stressed the amazing-ness of the Hunterian Museum.  They identify most of John Hunter's surgical specimens in that location , including many a foetus , a giant skeleton as well as heaps of other 'anomalies' including a two-headed sheep as well as conjoined babe skull.  Oliver insisted nosotros would solely pass an hr there.  We spent three.

Technically yous can't accept whatever pictures inwards the Hunterian... oops.

We had a few precious hours inwards London left as well as I was desperate to view a lilliputian store I had seen online called Hoxton Street Monster Supplies (why I wanted to become in that location should become without saying).  It was perfect.  Upon entry , yous could listen the purrs as well as mews of an invisible truthful cat as well as encounter collections of curious-looking wares.  They were nearly all nutrient products , alongside the actual ingredients listed underneath.  Many contained stories past times professional person or amateur horror writers , as well as all proceeds from the store went to an afterschool creative writing programme for local kids as well as teenagers.   It was pretty awesome.

Hoxton Street Monster Supplies

Nicholas had been expressing a pretty enterprise wish to become to a rave store called Cyberdog (???) which was nigh Camden markets.  Everything was lit upward nether blacklight as well as glowed as well as they had the craziest clothe , exactly nosotros couldn't accept pictures.  Nicholas bought approximately socks as well as a t-shirt.  He wanted a lot of other (very impractical) wearable items because - as well as I quote - "They remind me of the future."

We said an extremely hurried goodbye to Lena , who performed approximately songs as well as a monologue for us that she had been preparing for her audition , as well as went to instruct the overnight jitney to Edinburgh...

You hateful I brought all my magic beans hither for nothing?!

It's fudge , I promise.

We bought approximately 'Salt Made from Tears of Sorrow" because it was a mix of dried lavander as well as ocean salts which could a) brand a delicious roast veggie seasoning or b) go heated on a stove for incense properties.  The possibilities? Endless.

*Note: must utilization earlier attempting re-entry to Australia! (and maintain the bottle)

"CAUTION: delight accept help when stroking Wells , our invisible cat.  He's a lilliputian temperamental as well as may scratch if provoked."  Nicholas wants to 'install' an 'invisible cat' at our identify when nosotros return.  I hollo back Puck volition abhor it.

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March 27: The very first day in Scotland

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The black jitney wasn't really also bad.  The Romantic notions associated alongside the black jitney , similar most things , came from Harry Potter.  It was also warm , together with everybody was taking all their clothe off together with feeling nauseated from the oestrus pouring from the vents , together with Nicholas (surprise , surprise) was the i to asking it endure turned off.  Most people cheered.  One someone hi-fived him.  I went to sleep.

We woke upward every few hours when the jitney stopped together with turned all the lights on together with the driver spoke to us for some reason.  I was half-asleep thence really had no see what on Blue Planet he was saying.  In the wee hours (we're inwards Scotland forthwith thence I tin country this) Nicholas woke me upward thence I could meet the orangish Sun peeking upward over the North Sea.

"We're inwards Scotland ," he whispered.

(He was wrong.  We were close Tweedmouth.)

For how uncomfortable the seats were together with how unpredictable the heating/cooling organization was , nosotros arrived relatively well-rested.  We walked our suitcases the 1.5km to Fergus' house (he was the AirBnB nosotros lined up) inwards the Old Town.  We're a few minutes walk from Holyrood Park together with to a greater extent than or less the corner from the Edinburgh Festival Theatre.

We had a loving cup of tea alongside Fergus.  Well , Nick had tea. Fergus had instant coffee.  I had H2O together with was thrilled to drinkable tap H2O that didn't gustation similar chlorine together with exit my tum gurgly.  It was only subsequently 8am together with nosotros were hungry for breakfast , thence nosotros sought out a bagelry , drank some java together with went wandering to pat Greyfriar's Bobby (that's a bronze dog).

People similar to affect the Bobby dog's olfactory organ for luck , thence the patina has completely worn off.

 This sometime British human (who comes from the Lake District) asked Nicholas to back upward him spell he took some pictures of Bobby together with the Bobby sign (both on his iPad together with his DSLR).  I was asked to check the cane.  Nicholas helped him cross the street together with set him into his automobile together with when Nicholas asked "Are you lot okay now?" he started rummaging inwards a pocketbook together with asked us to accept some 'sweeties'. 

Greyfriar's Bobby is a terrier who didn't exit the grave of his possessor for xiv years subsequently his death.  They country this , but Scotland is cold.  And wet.  The even out goes that the cemetery staff tried to boot him out , failed , together with ended upward letting him stay.  When he died at the ripe sometime historic menstruation of xvi , they buried him only exterior the cemetery together with erected a niggling statue together with outflow for you lot to pat.  They also opened a pub inwards his award , because it's Scotland.

We together with thence went to Grassmarkets together with I bought a map from a niggling fine art store.  According to the map , nosotros should meet badgers together with squirrels.  We conduct maintain seen neither together with , frankly , I'm glad.  Oliver told us some horror stories nearly badgers spell nosotros were inwards London.

This is the map.  You tin meet Nessie at Inverness together with lots of whales together with seals nearby.  I liked the add-on of the Shetland Pony.

In my caput badgers await similar this together with are the size of a fluffy bunny.  Apparently this is wrong together with they are huge together with terrifying.

We poked to a greater extent than or less inwards some to a greater extent than shops earlier heading to The Meadows to conduct maintain a nap inwards the sun.  Despite beingness sunny together with plainly 'wonderful weather' , nosotros ended upward going dorsum to Fergus' house for a nap.

The Meadows

Nicholas having a nap inwards the meadows.

Scotland is really Scottish.

We bought this bill of fare because nosotros didn't know what it said.  We fifty-fifty asked Fergus together with he didn't know what it said.  Luckily there's a Scottish-English slang lexicon on the internet.  It basically way "goodness gracious me" or "for god's sake".  It's the Bobby domestic dog we'd seen inwards the morning.

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March 28 29 & 30: Ghost tours Scots like dogs & our new home

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St Giles Cathedral

Apparently Scotland (Edinburgh inwards particular) is actually haunted.  Like , super haunted.  They similar to capitalise on this. H5N1 lot.  There are ghost tours leaving from every which means on whatever given twenty-four hr catamenia (most on the one-half hour).  We took Susan Henderson's advice together with opted to view Mary King's Close , which was a seemingly tiny street (though the instant largest when it was built - instant entirely to the Royal Mile) cutting off at the instant story to construct room for the bedroom of commerce.  There's a completely blocked off street lying nether the banks at nowadays , consummate alongside houses together with windows together with foam sculptures of plague victims (they came inwards the early on 2000's when they decided to plough it into a tourist attraction).

I'm getting a fleck ahead of myself though.  Before nosotros visited the closed , nosotros strolled through the Newtown shops together with went to St Giles Cathedral.  We've been incredibly lucky alongside weather condition thence far together with could accept payoff of the Sun streaming through the stained drinking glass windows.  Technically nosotros couldn't accept photos , thence these are stealth shots.

 The sunlight inwards St Giles Cathedral

Lighting upwards a marble post inwards somebody's crypt

The walk on the means to the Newtown shops

I honey the means the metropolis is completely juxtaposed alongside rugged cliffs together with castles.  It's real slow to run across why people believe at that spot is magic + ghosts here.

There are also some actually wonderful pubs inwards Edinburgh.  Nicholas takes pictures of all the ones alongside rude names (there are many).  I liked this one.  "The Black Cat".

We've found ourselves grow real attached to a lilliputian cafe called Latitude Coffee.  They serve huckleberry scones which are amazing , together with exercise a pretty proficient sandwich + soup combo.  10/10.  We've been dorsum almost every twenty-four hr catamenia for tiffin , which is unremarkably the entirely repast nosotros consume out for.  

Once the Sun had gone downward nosotros went to Mary King's Close.  There are all kinds of creepy rumours that circulate nearly the close.  Some people tell that when the street was covered over , they used the hundreds of dead plague victims every bit reinforcement inwards the structures.  Others tell of ghosts crying out from beneath the floor.  Our guide told of 1 ghost living inwards the street , a immature daughter named Annie , who tugged on the pants of a Japanese medium who visited the site a few years ago.  Apparently , she had been left at that spot alongside 'the sickness' to cash inwards one's chips together with found no solace alongside no household unit of measurement together with no toys to play with.  The medium returned alongside a Barbie , which brightened her upwards immediately.  Since together with thence , people constantly convey her dolls together with toys together with man child band memorabilia (from Westlife to One Direction - I jurist she has years of man child bands to select handgrip of upwards on).  Our guide insisted at that spot would last a toy avalanche 1 twenty-four hr catamenia , together with he wanted to last some to run across it.

There were no photos allowed to last taken inwards the closed (a dominion of the establishments upstairs , given Britain's history of surreptitious treason).  Neither Nick nor I saw a ghost , but it was unnerving beingness downward there.  I ever larn tingles when I impact actually one-time things (walls , tools , cobblestones).

The side past times side twenty-four hr catamenia was Sun together with Nicholas together with I went to the National Gallery of Scotland.  There was a lot of the same things every bit nosotros saw inwards the British Gallery , except for a room of Scottish function downstairs.  This function featured a lot of dogs , but illustrated real similar scenarios to whatever other 18th/19th century artwork.

This room was the nicest room inwards the gallery , if I exercise tell thence myself.

I don't fifty-fifty know what's going on hither , but at that spot you lot go

Dog

Dog

Dog

Dog

Dog

2 dogs

Dog

Dog

Dog

Sculpture of a dog

Dog

 Dog

Dog

2 dogs

Dog

Dog

Dog

Dog

Another affair I actually liked nearly the gallery (apart from the numerous dogs) was the colouring of the walls.  It doesn't quite expect similar it inwards the photographs below , but they were painted the same colouring every bit my destination of twelvemonth installation at fine art school.  I actually similar that colour.  I telephone band it 'institutional green'.  Dulux telephone band it 'misty moor' (my friends at uni consider this to last the hippy lilliputian sis of Mandy Moore).

My destination of twelvemonth installation

The walls inwards the gallery (the lightning/bad photographic boob tube camera lineament makes them expect a dissimilar colour!)

This daughter agrees alongside me.  I charge per unit of measurement her 10/10

The side past times side twenty-four hr catamenia , Sun , Fergus took us to a large camping ground store simply due north of Edinburgh.  I don't know if I told you lot much nearly Fergus , but he's a real friendly chap.  He waited some for us for hours to alternative out all of our camping ground gear , fifty-fifty though Nicholas spent simply every bit many hours (no , more) on the figurer the black earlier , picking out everything nosotros needed , including brands together with prices.  Nicholas puts every bit much fourth dimension together with unloose energy into buying a duet of shoes or a jacket or a tent every bit most people seat into buying a novel car.

To last fair , at that spot was a lot that went into buying a tent.  We lately found out that at that spot are withal snowfall storms inwards the Cairngorms (where nosotros invention to military camp inwards a week's time) , thence nosotros needed a tent that could withstand mutual frigidness weather condition , but non last every bit good heavy.  We ended upwards going with this tent which volition hopefully salvage us from hypothermia , etc.  It's also quite pretty together with real H2O resistant.  It'll likely pelting a lot every bit nosotros come upwards downward the due west coast.  Gotta last prepared! 

We also went to a store called Asda , where Nick bought Ben together with Jerry's H2O ice cream , because it's much cheaper hither (even though the dollar is terrible).  He's a forcefulness to last reckoned alongside when it comes to sugariness food.

Our novel dwelling solid for the side past times side few months!

BONUS PICTURE:

Nick honouring his previous incarnations together with becoming 1 alongside his other self.

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