Back in London

Well I have tried to update this before but it didn't work....

I came home from Aus in December for Christmas and also to attend my best mate Roisin's wedding.
It was a lovely day and even though it was biting cold, the sun was shining. Lots of Irish dancing, indie dancing and..other dancing. Plus good food and good company. I met up with all my old uni mates which was really nice.

So I've moved back into London now, sharing a flat with one of my bestest pals - Chloe - down in Tooting Broadway.
I like it. We're really close to the tube station and have a big Sainsburys nearby too. The flat's spacious enough but cosy.

Anyway from now on I'm going to use this blog for publishing my thoughts and links to things that I've found on the web that you might like. Might even put some of my work on here....

That's all for now. Stay tuned.

Songs

Nice new tunes by a band called Los Campesinos!!

Sweet Dreams Sweet

You & Me Dancing

Check out their mySpace!
Click here!

Trying something...

Back in Blighty!

So I'm back in the UK!
In Kent more specifically.

It's a bit of a shocker. It gets dark at 4pm. The rain is lashing against the windows and the wind waving the trees about the place.

I've also got a nasty cold from my flight. Being on a plane for 23 hours is not really all that much fun. I feel drained and can't summon the energy to do anything at all except remain semi-conscious and try and shut out the world around me (sleep mask, ear plugs, iPod combo). They will try and feed you frequently and at very random times. I started to feel a little ill and turned down one of the meals. I'm sure I was eating more than I usually would.

Went into London last night and hit Victoria station at rush hour. Was struck by the sheer number of people EVERYWHERE! Slotted back into the old duck 'n' weave routine and made my way down to the tube and to King's Cross. Everything feels very familiar but I still have a slight niggling feeling at the back of my mind that I'll forget how it is I get to where I'm going.

Meeting my old uni mate Laila, felt like I'd only seen her last week although it's strange as the last time I remember us going out seems like ages ago.

Looking forward to meeting up with everyone else and have that Christmassy feeling that you just don't get in Australia. It's sunny! At Chistmas! It's just a bit wrong really.... With the darkness here the lights really stand out and as I pull my scarf up over my ears I'm reminded of what Christmas time feels like.

Merry Christmas everyone.

Last week in Sydney

Ah....so I'm in Sydney. The sun is shining and it's hot hot hot!

I've just been up to the Blue Mountains for a last little bit of Aussie countryside before I fly home to the UK. Had a nice ramble of a 3 hours bush walk and spent some time chilling at the YHA.

Am back in the city re-visiting favourite haunts such as Glebe Markets, Circular Quay and Manly Beach. Tomorrow I'm heading to Bondi again as I've sworn I'll catch a damn wave before I leave the country! I've tried and failed on a boogie board once before but this time I'm determined to do it. I just hope the water's not too cold.

So will be back the week after next and hopefully back on my old UK phone number which is 07980606351 for those of you with short-term memories.

Hope to see you all over Christmas.

Lake St Clair...

Tasmania: Lake St Clair
Originally uploaded by clairemarshall1.

We went down to Lake St Clair, where it was considerably warmer!
Stayed overnight in a cabin in the forest and got up in the morning to go on a walk around the lake before heading back towards Hobart.

Cradle Mountain

Tasmania: Cradle Mtn
Originally uploaded by clairemarshall1.

Me at Marion's Lookout, a steep climb up a small peak for fantastic views over to Cradle Mtn.

Cradle Mountain

Tasmania: Cradle Mtn
Originally uploaded by clairemarshall1.

Return to Cradle Mountain

Tasmania: Cradle Mtn
Originally uploaded by clairemarshall1.

During our week driving around Tassie we decided we'd go back to Cradle Mountain as it's very beautiful and there are some excellent walks. When we got there we realised it had been snowing and was really pretty damn cold.

Next day we decided to do a walk up to Marion's Lookout for spectacular views over the mountain range. We put on all the clothes we could find and got out the wooley mittens. Everything was covered in snow but when we reached the top the sun came out and brightened everything up. It was lovely.

Marshall St

Tasmania: Marshall St
Originally uploaded by clairemarshall1.

Marshall St......follow this road and you reach The Nut. Hmm...

The Township of Penguin

Tasmania: Penguin
Originally uploaded by clairemarshall1.

A little town on the far north coast of Tassie called Penguin. Everything about it is penguin. There's the Penguin Cafe, Penguin Post, Penguin Petrol Station, Penguin Police etc etc.

It's actually a really pretty little place with lots of flowers. But it's very quiet and the population are all pensioners. Reminded me of East Anglia.

Me, Jo and Giant Penguin

Tasmania: Penguin
Originally uploaded by clairemarshall1.

As you do....

Paradise...just down the road from Sheffield

Tasmania: Paradise
Originally uploaded by clairemarshall1.

This one's for you Laila.

Take me to The Prom!

Wilson's Prom #1
Originally uploaded by clairemarshall1.

This shot is simple but I like it. It's a lovely calm, relaxing getaway down at the Prom.

Wilson's Prom Wombat

Wilson's Prom Wombat
Originally uploaded by clairemarshall1.

Wombats. I keep almost calling them Wombles. Maybe they inspired the wombles?

They're funny little fat bears with stubby legs and thick fur (in Australia!? Why? WHY!?).

They forage around looking for grub and aren't too bothered by a strange gangly human bent over next to them pointing a shiny camera at them. They are still kind of shy and hide their faces. I don't think they can see all that well as they don't look right at you, they seem to listen instead - to check you're not getting too close.

Funny as they are, they're still cute. And cuddly.

Wilson's Prom Greenery

Wilson's Prom Greenery
Originally uploaded by clairemarshall1.

Another (very green) piccy from the Prom. So nice there. I wanted to stay a week.

Wilson's Prom Reflections

Wilson's Prom Reflections
Originally uploaded by clairemarshall1.

I think this is actually one of my favourite photos I've taken this year.
And I've taken 100's. It actually reminds me a lot of New Zealand. They have lots of beautiful mountainscapes with lakes relflecting the tall peaks.

This is a scene from the sunny afternoon I went for a trip down to Wilson's Prom, off south coast Victoria, a few hours from Melbourne. This is the view out over Tidal River. I was on my way back from a walk and the early evening sun lit everything up and I was caught by the lovely view.

I Heart The Grampians

Here are just a couple of pics from the Grampians. Although I enjoyed the Great Ocean Rd lots, I can't tell you how beautiful the Grampians are. I could've stayed up there for a good couple of weeks just exploring the area, walking and chilling out. I wish I'd had more time there. It was just so quiet and peaceful. The views are wonderful.










PS. Hmm not I think about it, some of my Grampians high might be attributed to the fact that I was SO relieved to have gotten off that hellishly long road from Adelaide. But still, it was a nice surprise as didn't know what to expect and it was really nice up there. If you're ever in Australia and in the Victoria area you have to check them out!

Great Ocean Road photos

Photos from the Great Ocean Road. Top left is one of my favourite photos. It's a feature called The Grotto - a natural window looking out to the ocean. There's also some cute koalas - a mother and baby I saw up in a tree near Cape Otway and the view from Teddy's Lookout, in Lorne, of the winding road I drove along yesterday on my way through to Torquay, where I stayed last night.

I'm now back in Melbourne for a couple of nights visiting friends before heading on to Sydney.

Great Ocean Road photos

Here are some photos from my Great Ocean Road trip. These are from the stretch between Warrnambool and Apollo Bay, known and are features all made by limestone erosion. There are some beautiful views with the golden yellow gradients of the rock complimenting the ocean's blue shades.