First Few Days

Dear Everyone.

It is 8:21 pm on Saturday night. I am sitting here typing this in the lovely YHA lobby with a helpful brother and a helpful Nick McKellow. However I am very tired from and epic day, so bear with me if some of this makes no sense at all. Somehow I feel like this is going to be a running theme of these blogs...

Anyway; the last post was sent halfway through the LONGEST DAY OF OUR LIVES EVER! about to embark on a sensible 13 hour flight to London for some serious fun times. However, we would have to sit patiently through a torment of gargantuan proportions to get there. Movies and games could only help so much, some of the braver ones attempting to sleep. Others, like Elliot Harris managed not to sleep at all throughout the entire (30 HOUR!) voyage.

Many moments later we arrived at Heathrow (just like from Love Actually) with tired "Hurray" but our imediate first impression was a little bit disapointing. The Land of The Queen and Big Ben looked remarkably like Christchurch, but as we coached nearer inland the country revealed its charms; rows upon rows of identicle brick houses, complete with chimeny pots (!!!).

We found our way to our lovely hostel, and checked in. Parents please note; somehow the adults were checked in to the lovely brick chateau in the adverts, while the boys were left to enjoy the confourts of our tiny modern addition. 12 to a room.

We then strolled off to check out the ridiculous Albert Memorial and his hall, and then got some tea (COUGH mcdonalds COUGH... woops) and then stumbled back the hostel to fall asleep.

This morning we awoke to hot showers and an English Breakfast (bacon, eggs, beans and cereal sans milk...??) before hopping on the Undergound (THE UNDERGROUND!!!) to go completelty tourist nuts. With matching bags and cameras galore we braved the sunny streets of London in Spring and came to the IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM. Yes, the capitol letters were needed.

The Museum is a grand building filled to the top with war artefacts and exhibits, including the rather sombre Holocaust exhibit, the Trench and Blitz experience and enormous cannons (see photo soon).

Next was more Undergrounding and then lunch (subway, Wok n a Box and CORNISH PASTIES).

On the list for the afternoon was the BRITISH MUSEUM, a spectacular Greek like building with colomns and friezes and everything. Doms favourite part of the Museum was the pillaged sculpture from the Parthenon and all of the "Greek Stuff." It was really really awesome. Go there.

Meanwhile, Oli and Callum ventured off to Denmark St and bought Oli a guitar. Here is a photo with Kien, the nicest guitar shop guy in the world. Here is a photo: