Perhaps the last Chapter in the Adventures of Rachael for 2005

Hello All,

Just me again :-)

Come on did you seriously think I'd not send another e-mail between the last one and Christmas? Admittedly my presence has been a little absent of late, but I am trying to make an effort here! So I fully moved into my room. Have been there about a week now I think, I'm not sure. If time is usually a little blurred, it's very much so at the moment. Pax Lodge can be eerily quiet at times. My room. Well it had a room warming party last Wednesday (7th) which by most standards was quite different to what we are used to here! My lovely HA compadre's while noticing my struggle to adapt to change, nicely went and brought two bottles of wine (Aussie at that!) and joined me for Lost, accompanied by crackers and cheese! Check that! Usually its shot glasses and mixed spirits...opps...This is a Girl Guide Centre...regardless, I'd moved up in the world I think, I don't know! I'd just like to note that Wednesday just gone (14th) I had them all back again for Lost, more Aussie wine and Pringles and chips and Candy Corn. Plus some German liquor which was rather interesting...just note though guys, most of the drinking was done by the others, not me!!

Saturday the 10th marked the welcome ceremonies for our newest additions where we learn about them, they learn about us and we generally make them feel, well, welcomed. Not that we hadn't all ready. I think the most interesting piece of information to surface that night wasn't about either of our two new HAs, rather the trivial piece of information about our World Centre Manager, Doreen, who told us she once had a Poodle called Flipper because her parents wouldn't buy her a dolphin...and to be honest, it doesn't at all surprise me!!

Christmas has been very well on the agenda too. A Guitar recital followed by Christmas cakes and tea on the 7th, our Volunteers Christmas Party on the 14th (which yours truly had a hand in organising) plus a Christmas Carol do on the 15th at Guide HQ here in London. Well we got a view of the Queen's back garden!! It was so big!! We explored what's known as the ICANDO Centre which is activity based and we had a ball!! While everyone is downstairs eating mulled wine and mine pies, we're up there re-living our childhood, not that we left it all that long ago...

I also spent two and a half days down at Goring-By-Sea again which was really nice and relaxing. Janet has been off on sick leave since November due to having surgery. Because of this she wasn't able to fly home to Canada and spend Christmas with her family. Back in September when she found out, I made a random joke about us coming down and singing Christmas Carols at her window. Well silly Janet didn't think too much more of it. Monique was supposed to come down with me, but in the end it turned out just to be me. Janet's flat mate Liz knew I was coming and knew what was planned. So picture me in the cold, finally getting to their block of flats, standing at their front door singing the Aussie version of Jingle Bells through their letter flap in the door. God forbid any of the neighbours came out to find out what the horrible noise was!! Well Janet was over the moon, had no idea and didn't realise I'd actually go through with such a random joke!! She'll know better for next time!! I also got to play post person with a huge stack of cards and gifts from current and past staff. So my couple of days down there were really nice.

A Pax Lodge tradition is that the ground floor has all it's doors decorated. We get to pull the name of a door out of a hat and we (with limits) get to do what we like with it. I somehow scored the Men's Toilets!! Typical!! Anyhows, Rebecca from new Zealand won the decorating competition with her sheep and Santa standing on the fence. Only issue was most people thought he was peeing on the fence...I'll send a photo of my door at some stage, nothing overly arty or spectacular, but I liked it!!

Other than that, life still goes on at Pax Lodge. We shut down on December 23rd and re-open on the 4th of January. In that time I think there are about four staff members here and that's it! Everyone else seems to be going away!! Including myself, although my plans have now changed and are really part of the reason why I am e-mailing you all. As things stood, I was supposed to spend Christmas on the Canal in Gnosall with The Witts Family who hosted me a couple of years back. I was very much looking forward to a) a white Christmas or just b) a Christmas very different to what I am used to!! Now by some crazy twist of fate and a quite amazing Christmas Miracle, Christmas won't see me in the UK, indeed not even in Europe. And no, before you all get excited, I'm not coming home to Oz!! The postman delivered some airline tickets with my name on them this morning, Christmas and New Years will be quite different to what I had planned! Saturday December 24th at 6:40am (Argh!) sees me depart London and fly to France where I wait for two hours before flying on to Cincinnati. Yep you read right, this little Girl Guide will be spending close to two weeks in the United States of America!! Goodness me!! Indeed all very last minute (obviously) and all very exciting. I'm spending Christmas with Erin and her family in their hometown of Richmond, Kentucky. I'll return to the UK on Friday January 6th 2006 to start work the following day. I am really, really, really excited!! So I know a few of you wanted to call...save you're money because I won't be here!

So that said, I don't believe I'll have another chance between now and then to e-mail you all as a group. So this time for sure, I do wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. If you want to send Christmas Greetings or still want to get a hold of me by phone, my mobile will be on and I'll be contactable that way. Just keep in mind that if you call me, I have to pay for it too!! Enjoy a safe festive season and if not before hand, I will speak to you all in the New Year!

Stay safe and be happy, signing out for one last group time in 2005, (raising a glass) here's to a fab New Year for all!!

Rachael :-)

Your Favourite Wandering Aussie...

Rachael's Own E-card . . . DIY Style!

Hi Guys!!

Just a really quite note. Christmas has come to Pax Lodge, we've now got Christmas Lights and freaky snowmen, plus the offical REAL Christmas Tree was picked out this afternoon, hence everyone kinda stopped work and decorated it. The Christmas Carols are wearing thin already!!

I've been posting cards each day, some may not arrive until after Christmas, especailly the bunch that will get posted tomorrow. Thus, I've got a photo taken about two hours ago and put a nice Christmas Message on there and is a form of my own E-Greeting card! Didn't cost me a cent! Hope you guys can open it.

Hope you are all well and enjoy a safe and happy Festive Season.

Take Care and until next time,

Rachael :-)

Hiya

Hi,

How am I doing? Well it depends on the time of the day!! Evenings are the worst, as are mornings when I wake up. Other than that it's all under control. I think. I dont know. I still have moments where I well up. I don't say this to sound horrible and in no way is this meant in a horrible way towards you. But life without Erin is a lot harder than life without Ruth. I guess we had that extra two months at the end and I dunno, it's just really hard to adjust.

The new room is okay but will always be Ruth's room. I hate the bed, I want my big HA bed back and it was lower to the floor. I had my room warming party last night, I had Erin M, Priyanka and Eri come, then Erin S came when she got back from the Theatre. Kristina was no where to be seen and Rebecca was out on Program with the Short Break ladies. We watched Lost, drank wine and ate cheese...it was nice I guess. Still, this place isn't home any more, all the people that made it home have now gone. I am seriously questioning if I want to stay another 10 months.

It was great talking to you the other night. Why? Because for the first time in two months you sounded like things were starting to settle and turn out sorta kinda how you wanted them too. You sound a lot more positive. You are starting to sound like you again and it's fantastic. I felt really good after getting off the phone, I was happy things were starting to work out for you again. And I seriously would have loved to come to Pack Holiday. If you have another in the New Year and want an extra body, please let me know. Enjoy every moment, I know you will.

Sunday afternoon is the Brownie Christmas Carols we got invited to. Monique is coming with me but we were going down to see Janet afterwards, she's now not coming. I guess that's okay. I probably need three days to myself away from Pax to try sort myself out. Other than that I am looking forward to Christmas in Stafford with my host family from a few years back. Again Monique was going to come, but isn't now.

Remember, if you win the lotto, come visit or something!! I mean you can come visit even if you don't win the lotto...any visitors would be nice. And an International Day next year, look out Ruth will be back in the building!! Just out of curiousity, when did you start as Program Assistant and how long did it go for??

While it is nice to know that two people care, the fact that one is in Ireland and one is in America doesn't much help the fact I'd like them to be here with me! And I promise, I will get to Ireland to see you!!

For now I have to get back to work.
Take care and we shall talk soon.

Rachael :-)

Just Quickly

Heya,

So I am entering Day 3 without Erin Gow at Pax Lodge. All things considered I am going well. Okay, maybe not that great, but I am getting there. I feel more than anything now, my time as a HA has long been forgotten as Monique and Erin were the last of 'my group' and yeah, the gap has become very prominent. But hey, I expected that would happen. As I said to Erin last night on the phone, I never thought I would feel lonely at Pax Lodge and yet that's exactly what has happened.

They had an International Day yesterday, had a visit by the police during lunch who decided to raid someone's car and do a search for drugs or something. Apparently they'd been following the guy and he stupidly pulled up out the front of Pax right at lunchtime as all the little brownies were in the dining room eating lunch. Apparently Heather and Sally got up quite discreetly and closed the blinds.

The two new HAs have settled in well, their training is in full swing, indeed I am training both House and K2 today thus I am e-mailing you at an hour I am usually still in bed. I haven't had a 7am start in quite some time! But yeah, welcome ceremonies on the 10th. There is a little life back in the HA corridoor again which is nice, but already new traditions have started, the quote board is no longer that, it's used for short stories. There is talk this group want to go to the Walk About most Saturday nights. It's very strange. I almost find I don't want to be here. But then I know I am just really out of sorts at the moment.

Was off yesterday and off again tomorrow, started to move rooms yesterday and will finish tomorrow. Yep, I'm taking over your old room and it is really really weird. I mean on one hand I have to get out of the HA corridoor and my room, there are far too memories there, but on the same token, I don't want to leave and as far as I am concerned, my new room will always be Ruth's room. Yep, I'm not taking things all that well.

I am going to Stafford for Christmas which will be nice. Because of lack of chance to get tickets for Hogmanay I'm now staying in London for New Years Eve. It's gonna suck really. I need to go and find something to do. And soon if I want to go somewhere descent.

Hope things are still getting better for you, and yes, I do know you are there when ever I need you.

Take care and I beeter go check on new Erin, goodness me she's such a goofy person. Sweet Jesus.

Rachael :-)

Words from the Aussie in UK

Hi Everyone!

The sad part is that I can't remember the last time I e-mailed everyone...I would like to say start of November but I can't be too sure of that. Oh gosh that's dreadful. I'm sorry guys. As crazy as it's going to sound, there are times where the Pax Lodge bubble consumes you and you're left with no concept of place or time. Wait, if I recall correctly I don't think I'd started in the office when I last wrote, so that rules out start of November...I think.

Okay, so the catch up. I remember telling you all about the Queen right?? I saw her in the flesh..yeah I do because I can remember thinking everyone is going to think I am crazy. Not that most of you didn't think that already. Right, November. Or end of October. We celebrated Halloween over the space of about four days which was pretty cool considering I've not really celebrated it before. It's that North American influence coming through...You know I love you guys!!! But yes, Halloween. Ruth from Ireland came back for that weekend which was really good and it was nice to see her again. Consequently we ended up with a corridor full of candy and I mean full, we still have some sitting there now...but did the whole bobbing for apples thing, what can only be described as pin the face on the Jack-o-lantern and lots of eating. The last night of Halloween found us all in the Guest kitchen carving "Bob" who in the end sat on the steps of Pax Lodge for many days and by the time he went to Pumpkin Heaven, had pretty much disintegrated into himself. Wasn't a pretty sight.

Start of November hmmm...Erin's family came which was kinda cool, in fact I recall taking a photo of her mum posting a letter in a red post box and getting somewhat excited. I smile fondly at this because I think I did something very similar three years ago with a post box in Buckingham Palace Road...so I could relate. The 4th found me start day 1 in the office and remember why cleaning rooms was so much more appealing than sitting in four walls. I mean at least back home on the 14th floor I had a brilliant view. Here its a small office with a white wall. I want my finance desk back!!! But in all seriousness, I made it through. It has more slow days than busy ones and considering the time of year it is I'm not at all surprised. It'll take a while to get into the swing of things. Still, I cannot help but question why I decided to stay an extra 11 months...and the adjustment from being a house assistant to not being one has been a lot more difficult than I'd anticipated. Right this very day I feel like I've fallen into the gap more than ever, but more about that later.

The 5th was Guy Faulks night. It was lame. Full stop, end of story. So much for seeing fireworks and so much for seeing bonfires. Dumbass. Okay, just a little bitter over that one. Remind me that from now on I make my own directions and make my own way somewhere. Put it this way, I was on a bus for far longer than I should have been and not my fault. Moving on. We assume that one of our cooks Jennifer has resigned. In true Pax Lodge form, lack of communication finds us assuming things because we don't get told. What else is new?

A little worry crept across my mind when Australia was put on terrorist alert. That's a bit scary really. And then when they listed the people they'd arrested and I saw the suburbs they came from, well most of them are near me! That's scary! But then come to think of it, its not at all surprising. It was around then that e-mails and letters in the post arrived about enquiries I'd made to study abroad. A few of you had quite a mixed response to that! But hey relax, it's a long way off. Even now I don't know if I want to study per say. Actually today I don't know about anything I want or feel or do...it's just not a great day in general.

The 10th & 11th saw my return to the Isle of Wight, this time with Erin Gow in tow. It was very lovely indeed! Actually saw a few things this time, Osbourne House (holiday home of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert) was very nice indeed and quite different to other Royal homes I've seen. By comparison it was rather homely and lived in as opposed to being like a museum. Day two saw us attempt to take a stroll to Bembridge to see the windmill but after walking for an hour and a half along the coast, we were only as far as St. Helen's and decided if we were going to make our coach home, we had to turn back. Actually at one point one of the coves reminded me of a scene in a Minette Walters Book I read a few years ago. Half expected to find a body washed up on the shore -very atmospheric!!

Some smaller sessions came in this month, namely Trefoil Special Ladies which means most of them are 50, 60, 70 + in age. Okay one was like close to 90...but a lovely bunch of ladies and made a nice change from rowdy teens. We at one point had a nice family dinner. One night it was no guests in house at all and it was very weird!! So Janet had us order in Pizza and it was just the family of staff!! It was great. Later that night about five of us did a lap of the house (all three floors) in our PJs!! Under normal circumstances, PJs are not to be worn outside of staff quarters. It was actually quite liberating!! It was also a movie night...so a big night for staff!! Seriously, such a small luxury most people take for granted. It was the first time in say four and a half months I felt like I didn't have to worry about what a guest might see or hear. It was brilliant!!

TV wise I started to watch Bleak House, yep, the Charles Dickens mini series. Its stars Gillian Anderson which in essense was why I started to watch it. Still have lingering effects from huge X-files obsession...but it's a great show and I'm enjoying it. Should be finishing in the next couple of weeks. I also got back into Lost. The UK have finally reached the point where I left in Oz!! It took long enough!!

I also found out that in February next year there will be THREE aussies here! Yay! Two House Assistants plus me! I can't believe it! Go the Southern Hemisphere!!

Days out included many little adventures: strolling in Hyde Park to see the Albert Memorial, visits to the Science Museum, Natural History Museum and a trip to Covent Garden which resulted in me now owning a puppet. He's very cute. He is a Fox called Cadbury who is from Durham who lived with his mother and four sisters in the same den and consequently became vegetarian and friends with squirrels. Was picked on at Fox High School because of his name and changed it to Hugo...yeah, I know, I get carried away. Still, I quite like him.

I had to go buy a pair of gloves! Gosh, to be wearing a jacket in November is so wrong not to mention gloves and a scarf! I don't even do that in July at home, not really! Not to this degree! The doctor down the road got to meet most of the staff of Pax Lodge in the space of a week, it seemed like everyone was dropping like flies. Not me, but pretty much everyone else! Janet went into hospital for her Op thus now I'm finding myself doing a somewhat HAC job. The house assistants are now referred to as being mine and I've had to train the new ones and all sorts. It's nice to be out of the office even if I was only doing my new job about two weeks!!

The 21st was an...interesting night. Yep, everyone just roll over in shock horror, I went and saw the latest Harry Potter movie in Leicester Square. I crumbled. No in all seriousness, it wasn't that bad. I keep to my strict claims to not be a Harry Potter fan on principal -but I am more open to giving the books a go. It was very weird. When you convert what I paid for the ticket I seriously questioned my state of mind...no, it was okay.

We had a woman come and stay who had applied for the Centre Manager Position as Doreen's term is up in December. Put it this way, we all hope someone else gets the posting...nothing personal against her, but yeah, most of us went 'Oh no...'. We've probably just too used to Doreen...that's going to be another weird experience, the staff change over in the next couple of months. Good grief.

Two new HAs arrived around the 25th, Erin from Canada (yes we had 3 Erin's) and Kristina from Germany. Both are really nice people and seem to have settled in okay. We needed a fresh set of blood in this place, the energy levels kind of become stagnant after a while.

Several days off at the end of the month found me visiting Camden on several occasions, Charles Dickens House in a seriously freaky weather storm, crepes on several occasions and Ice Skating at the Tower Of London which was really really cool! They've never done it there before, so it was in the moat and yeah, I ended up falling twice. The first time on my butt, the second forwards on my knees but slid and spun and ended up facing everyone as I spun, flung my arms in the air and went 'Ta-da!' to which I received laughter and applause! Wasn't great for the knees and I had two layers of clothing on plus jacket gloves and scarf. So totally wrong!!! We also celebrated Thanksgiving, ate pumpkin pie and made hand turkeys. I also went and saw the most incredible puppet show! Aww man it was brilliant! The way they made those puppets move was purely incredible!! Like I was so amazed it wasn't funny, I loved it so much, we even scored a tour back stage and the workshop where the puppets were made because I wanted to play paparazzi and take photos and yeah, the guy offered us a tour!

The end of November was kinda bad emotionally and has flowed over into December. The last of the summer HAs have left. Monique and Erin both left this place on the 1st of December. It was weird for me because had things stayed as planned, I would have left here on the 2nd, being somewhere between London and Edinbough. All ready I feel really lost and not sure of my place in the scheme of things. And as much as I never thought it could happen, I actually feel kinda lonely now. I know it's going to take time to adjust. And add to that I am half way out of moving out of my room...well you can understand the emotional turmoil I'm going through. My room holds a lot of memories for me...oh crap, the radio has just started playing a really sad song...Daniel Bellingfield or whatever his name is...I hate the radio. But yeah, lots is changing and Christmas is just around the corner and yeah...

Christmas came to London in mid November. Streets started to have official light turning on ceremonies. I would walk down Regent Street or Trafalgar Square, or along the Thames and feel almost like a magic was in the air. Like sitting there and watching Bridget Jones and seeing how Christmas is in that. Crazy as it sounds, I feel like a kid reliving Christmas all over again, there really is a magic. People rugged up against the cold. All I need is the snow to fall...

Okay now I'm just getting nostalgic if that is at all possible. I know this one got long, but as usual I can't help myself. This is only base detail too! Can you imagine what the length would be like if I went into great detail?!! Gosh! Hope you are all doing okay and survive the summer heatwave. As much as I'm not a summer person now, even just a little sunshine would be nice. Oh god, now Michael Buble has just come on with his 'Home' song...that's it I am turning the radio off!!!

For now I must be off. Take care everyone and if I don't get a chance to say so between now and then, please have a Very Merry Christmas, A Happy New Years (don't drink too much) and most of all stay safe.

Miss you guys in vastly varied ways and degrees!!

Rachael :-)

Can Help Myself

Heya,

So like it's nearly 3pm and I feel very restless. I just instinctively went up to my room at 11am this morning, walked in and went 'oh' and dejectedly came back down to Janet's desk. Old habits die hard right? Hope this find you okay, I actually wrote you a letter last night so no point telling you anything that's in there. It went in the post this morning.

It's funny you know, we go through the motions of people doing their 'lasts' of everything. Went to bed last night in a cold room. Woke with no one to go and say good morning to. Watched the flag go up the pole and sat at breakfast in silence. We don't usually comprehend doing the 'firsts' of everything without someone around. Yet that's exactly what has ended up happening. 'My first flag without Erin' etc. Made me pretty sad. Actually still does.

Janet called earlier and spent close to 40 minutes on the phone to her. Yep, she got me bawling my eyes out too. Doreen nearly did this arvo too, was in her office for a 'meeting' which was a little scary. Thought you'd be interested to know she's giving thought to intergrating K3 into the normal HA rota. The girls have evening program tonight.

Yep the 3rd of December will find me begin to move. Alex moved out today and I'm free to move upstairs. It's probably a good thing. Already I feel the absence of both you and Monqiue. After flag I stood waiting as we mostly do, but the HA's sorta bunched together and walked past me. I feel that now, I am most definately sitting in the gap. But hey, I knew it was coming so I shouldn't be all that surprised right?

Bleak House last night just wasn't the same. Eton didn't say a word and I ate all the Minter Wonderland. Then Priyanka came in during the Queens Cavalry show and made me burst into tears. After tonights show I'll let you know what's been happening. Tis exciting with just last night's episode! So when I got the wanders around 9:30 at some point I crossed Rebecca's path and yep, we opened the hair dye! Erin S did the dying, Rebecca took the photos. It's okay, relax. It didn't quite work. Other than making my hair a little lighter and with a less red tinge on certain angles, I still look relatively the same.

Have been very productive today, can't get over how much work I've gotten done. Remembered to do things I should have done yesterday or what not. Mind you it took most of the morning to get some sort of focus happening. Ruth e-mailed and said she wouldn't call until I was ready. But she's there if I need her. The others were talking at the lunch table today and something came up and your name was mentioned in passing. "...Erin Gow..." and no one really flinched. Like you've been gone for years now. Ouch. Then after the HAs left, Maria brought up a TV show she was watching on channel 4 last night about Autoerotic Asphixiation. Yep, suffocating while having sex and how it heightens the 'bodies reaction' so to speak. Well as you can guess it was weird enough with just Maria Plaza, Breanne and I. But then next thing I know, Doreen comes in, joins us at the table and jumps right in on the conversation. She then told us all to promise we wouldn't try it. I just sat there and shook my head.

Anyways, getting a little misty again so I might just leave you to it. It's okay, I know the first few days will be the hardest I know. I should imagine you've far more of an adjustment to make at your end. Hope you are okay all things considered. Know I am thinking of you and honestly do wish you were here. But I also know that you needed to go home as well.

10 months and 28 days to go!!!
Rachael :-)

Hello

Heya!

First of all I apologise for my discustingly late reply! Sometimes I wonder where time goes, although that's not a great excuse really.

So camp, what is an outdoor camp without rain?!!! Come on, where's your sense of fun?! Okay well maybe at that point it was in the bottom of a bag full of wet clothes...I guess it's easy for me to laugh from this end as I sit here relatively dry. As long as a good time was had by all then I guess that's the main thing.

Sounds like Hume Dalburn is building up in numbers. Not having a unit is one of the things I miss most about being here. I miss the interaction with the kids and I guess I just miss the simplicity of 'their world' if that at all makes sense. Just so you guys know, I am there in spirit. Actually, I thought about calling again one night but this time maybe I could call the Hall Phone number instead of your mobile. It'd be a hell of a lot cheaper, like I could talk for an hour and only get charged £0.50 (Aus $1.50) or there abouts, not that I plan to talk for an hour...but land lines are better for me to call with my international phone cards. And yeah, if I send stuff should I aim for like 20 of everything, just to be on the safe side? I've got some stuff that has been sitting here but I figure I'll just send it with Christmas stuff. What date does Guides end for 2005??? I'll try get it posted to you before they end for the year.

As for me well I am now in the office and miss my role as a house assistant like you wouldn't believe! Not only that, I'm back to being in an office but unlike my one at home, I share it with two others and it's rather small. Basically I get in the office at 8:45am and generally don't leave it until 6pm at night. I go to the dining room at lunch but that's about it. Huge difference really, I usually had a couple hours late afternoon to myself. It's so strange, it's like dark at 4pm!!! I can't believe it, all our outside lights come on at 3:30!! This is just so wrong!

Currently, the weather isn't getting above 12 degrees, and it's not even december yet! Okay, so I still dont' feel the cold that much, but I am actually having to put long sleeve shirts on, it's crazy!!

So I've rambled enough now. Tonight there are no guests in house, it is VERY strange. So we are going to run around the building in our PJs (we are not allowed to wear PJs out of our corridor) and then take over the TV room and watch a movie. Just staff here and that's it. Weird!

Take care and pass on my hello's to everyone.

Much love,
Rachael :-)

Hiya

Heya Dude!

The Isle of Wight was far better the second time around! The weather was a little doddgy, well I thought it was cold so as you can well imagine Erin must have been freezing. Saw Osbourne house which was really really really cool!! Plus attamepted to walk to Bembridge along the coast to check out the big windmill that is there, although we never made it, only as far as St Helens as we didn't think we'd get back in time to get our bus and ferry.

Its very normal to be unsure of what you want to do with your life. As I've told you before, I know people in their 40s who are dealing with the very same thing. Most people do it three or four times in their lifetime -so don't feel bad.

You know I am always here to listen no matter what you have to say. But you have to at least say it. Right now it doesn't seem likely, but you'll eventually wake up one morning and go 'to hell with all of them, this is my life' and you'll get out there and claim your life back.

We just had pizza for tea. All the staff. It was kinda odd. No guests for dinner. Tomorrow night there is no one in house!! The 13 guests we have all check out tomorrow. The nights after that, maybe two people then it's back to having no one. Cripes that's scary.

I am off to my room, haven't been up there since I left at like 8:30 this morning. Sighs, I feel like I'm miles from home, even though I live in the same god damn building!!

Take care mate and rest assured, other than all the HAs collapsing of exhaustion, things are fine here. In all seriousness, we are okay and you will be too.

Rachael :-)

Big Things

Heya everyone!

I sware to you it seems like the gaps between e-mails are getting longer and longer. This isn't good!! Because my e-mails are long enough as it is and the longer it takes me to write, the more things that go on! This e-mail finds me at the start of November knowing that Macibediva (spelt right?) won the Melbourne Cup third year running. Yep, I walked into the bookies and asked the guy and he told me right away. Apparently a fair few people were placing bets on the cup! I can imagine the amount of alcohol consumed at a few of the gatherings they'd advertised!!

Pax Lodge in general has been a bit crazy. Okay a lot crazy but I guess that doesn't much change. I suppose the most prominent thing is my now official appointment to 'Booking Assistant' on the 1st of November. Yep, today. I don't start until Friday the 4th, so my working contract will start then, but I am no longer a House Assistant which is a very, very weird feeling. In addition to that, I was only able to start this soon because they got someone to cover my last House Assistant month. And it's none other than my Erin, yep, Kenny herself! This was very, very exciting news! She's staying another month! We'd actually planned on going to Paris as one huge 'Kenny and Eskimo' Adventure but our budgets weren't going to stretch so far! I mean initially we'd found a great ticket deal with Eurostar, but a week later the prices jumped way above what we could pay. So now we're finding somewhere else to go for a couple of days. Hmmm....a whole paragraph and I really haven't said all that much.

Between massive conferences for 70 people and a million evening programs, it comes as no surprise that we House Assistants have found a new place to relax other than going up the hill to get crepes! That's right, our new winter hang out (it's indoors!) is TinselTown, a wonderful Milkshake place which does every imaginable flavour, plus the most delicious food! It's incredible. Six of us (minus Erin as she was in Ireland visiting Ruth) went up to talk about our HA meeting and put together a list of things for the agenda. Close to an hour and a half later, we'd got our list, had full bellies and spent £35 between us!! Gosh! Monique and I made beds on our day off at one point there, it's so obvious that some of the HAs can't handle a full change over. I mean that's not entirely their fault. For Monique and I, we've been here through the summer and dealt with all the sessions so we know the speed at which you have to work. Our latests ones don't. Like I said, that's not their fault.

Around the 18th I managed to catch the 20th Anniversary episode of Neighbours! Yep, lame I know! But it was really really good! I'm like, gosh that's almost like home! He he he, I can't believe how many oldies they brought back and how many of them live in London (after the episode there was a docco and they spoke to some actors too). We had some pretty bad storms in there too. The lightening was simply amazing. It lit the whole sky up and the dining room while having dinner. I have never been in a storm like that before. Spilt a can of fanta all over me one night at dinner with guests, rather embarrasing really...mind you that same night, Rebecca and I pinned Erin down and squirted her with Oscar, she was soaked!! Ahh, evenings cleaning the kitchen...

Monique and I did make it to the Isle of Wight. Um, in most regards it was nice, but it wasn't what I'd expected. Put it this way, got to know the house we stayed in quite well and saw a fair bit of TV. The highlight and about the only outing we had was walking from Seaview to Ryde along the beach on Sunday morning. I guess Monique and I differ on what is fun when going away on holiday. There is so much there that I wanted to see, but I didn't. That said, I was very relaxed when I came back, I think just getting away for a couple of days was all I needed. And it was very beautiful. He he he on the Sunday night I wandered down to the local pub in Nettlestone (like tiny town!) and there were four people in there, two of which were minors! It was crazy! Overall I've decided I'll go back next summer and do the stuff I wanted to do, even if it means going alone!

The 24th was a huge day! We rushed back early (and I mean rushed, we ran everywhere!) to get back to Pax Lodge in time to go to the UN 60th Anniversary Ceremony at St.Paul's Cathedral (yeah I know I said Westminster Abbey, but I was wrong!). We were up at like 7am to pack and clean and be ready for our bus/train/ferry/coach back to London. We got back to Victoria coach station at 1pm and ran all the way to the Tube station, got back to Pax at 1:30, got changed into our official uniforms, grabbed our tickets and left at 1:40. We got to St.Paul's at 2:25 with five minutes to spare. The ceremony was incredible and I was four foot away from the Queen! OH MY GOD!!! I tell you I was sooooo excited like, that was the Queen, like in the flesh!! And she looked so lovely! The ceremony went for just over an hour and a half. Came back to Pax Lodge and left again at 5:15 to go to a family function. Hmm...it's kinda weird saying that. I mean they are family and all, but I'd only met Olive at that stage and that was it! So I met some more rellies and I doubt it'll be the last lot I'll see. But I went to an Ordination which was kinda cool, although I've yet to work out how Simon and Garfunkel manage to be played, how the chancellor worked the Chronicals of Narnia into her Sermon and how exactly the Bible is like a love letter. Maybe its a religion thing, who knows. I like that fact I don't follow any specific one. Mind you, it's moments like that night I get a little confused!!!

The 25th marked our first attempt to get on the Today Show. We didn't finish work till 8:15pm, so five of us quickly changed and headed into central London armed with banners and signs to hold up. Mind you I was the only Aussie which was quite amusing. The broadcast started at 9pm and we were down in the area at ten to. Come 10:30 we were still trying to figure out where the hell they were! And I tell you, I've now walked in some very seedy parts of London! So with a heavy heart I gave up and headed back home with four tired HAs in tow. I vowed to try again. And I did, the next night! This time only Erin and Monique joined me, but we found them! Indeed we'd walked right past them the night before, kinda. They were in a building a block back from the River and we didn't realise! Anyhows, we got there and there's a small pub which they were doing the broadcast from. The line was massive!! We got there at 8:45 and stood for half hour, took a few photos out the front and I decided I should ask the bouncer what my chances were of getting in. He said I might not even get the chance. Heavy hearted but glad I'd actually found the place, the three of us walked away. As we did this my phone rang and it was my Nan (who was up at 6am watching!!) who declares 'are you there? They're taking the camera's outside!'. Well I promise you I'd turned and started to run back before I even hung up the phone. Twenty minutes later the camera man came out and well, I don't know if I got on there, but I gave it a damn good try! I know of three people who madly stuck a tape in so maybe if one is sent over I can have a squiz...but it was great, there were so many aussies!

Erin was like 'you haven't stopped smiling!'. It was great, people were talking my 'lingo' and sounded like me! You don't realise how much there is to miss! I was smiling coz it was just sooo cool to be around sooo many aussies!The 28th marked Ruth's return to Pax Lodge for a couple of days for the halloween party we'd been talking about for ages but in actual sense never really happened! Okay it was a little off, but it'd been a huge day! Ruth, Monique, Erin and I headed out to Stratford-Upon-Avon on the 29th and I really enjoyed myself! Saw the Teddy Museum and Shakespears Birthplace (which I saw in 2002) but it was good to get a refresh, plus we did a two hour walk which was so fantastic! Plus, the Royal Shakespear Theatre Company is putting on the ENTIRE works of Shakespeare over 12 months starting from April! I am sooo excited! I am definately going to try get up there for Macbeth and any others on top of that. How cool is that?!!!

Sunday the 30th was the day from hell. I worked a 13 and a half hour day, starting at 6:45am and finishing at around 8:20pm that night. I was in House and had a full house change over. 50 Bed plus 19 rooms to clean plus two huge overflowing washing baskets of washing and towels, which had to be ironed and put back into rooms. Okay so not so bad, just like summer sessions. But no. In addition to that, we had an International Adventure day thus 57 brownies and leaders descended on Pax Lodge for the day and because all the HAs run activities, it severily cuts into work time! It was madness!! We were all dead by the end of the day. Thankfully they were an hour or so late for arrival so we (me and 2 others) amazingly had the house ready for the 50 check ins (beds, room and linnen made and ready) by noon. A HUGE feat and a great sense of achievement as well! We did it! But from 12:15 onwards it was all about the brownies. They left finally at 5:35pm, at which point I stuck in more washing (we still had over flowing baskets) then at 6pm had dinner for 49 people (Germans with little english) and clean up took us through until 8:20pm. Then at 9pm we had the somewhat lame halloween party. I mean it was a good laugh but no where near as grand as we'd hoped it would be. And you should see all the candy we have. Literally, truck loads of the stuff!!!

Yesterday (the 31st) marked my last day as a house assistant and guess what? Yours truly slept in!! Was woken up by Doreen (centre manager) at 7:10am! I should have started 10 minutes earlier! Mind you, after the efforts of the previous day, I think I was allowed that extra 10 minutes! It was horrible!! That's now 5 of the 7 HAs she's had to wake up in two weeks!! So I have to go into her office later in the morning to get my new name badge and scarf and talked to about starting in the office and she opens with 'I would have expected the others to sleep in, I wouldn't have expected it from you'. Well that was it. I cowered. I felt bad enough as it was, I didn't want to talk about it!! But it was okay, we joked about it in the end.

Today marks day one of three off. Tomorrow I have to go shoe shopping and I want to try catch a theatre show called 'Mary Stewart' (yes Mary Queen of Scots) which is only running until the 14th. Beyond that no plans and that's fine by me because I am really tired at the moment!!

Okay and again this got incredibly long, I am so sorry guys!!! You know me, once I start I don't shut up....sorry for taking lunch time or work time or just time in general...hope everyone is doing well and please drop me a line every now and again, I know that physically I am half way around the world, I don't need silence to emphsaise that for me!!

Catch you when I do,
Rachael :-)

Very Quickly

Heya!

I have been meaning to sit down and write you an e-mail but it has been pretty crazy here.

The saga that has been the Today Show! My goodness! We spent close to two hours walking the length of the Thames River from Big Ben to Tower Bridge and didn't find where they were!! BUT we are going again tonight because now I know exactly where they are! Four of us are going and we've signs to put up...he he he, we'll see how it goes.

I have been reading your e-mails with great interest, I love them so much! They make me laugh. Yeah and coming home on the coach hearing 'In the Ghetto' did bring back memories looking out over the lake after dark...Erin tells me I am insane for being at work after dark. I keep reminding her I wasn't the only one that was there...

So I officially start in the office here on the 4th of November. Which means I reach the shores of Oz again sometime in the second week of November next year. Gosh that seems such a long time away. Actually I had a family thing to go to (not that I know many here, only had met the one person!) on Monday night and I was walking back in the rain with my brolly and my nice pants and my boots and this lady asked me for directions and I knew exactly where to tell her to go. I sort of walked on a bit further and went, wholly shit, I am like living in London. Like I know where things are, I'm walking the streets at night and I kinda sorta have a life out of Pax Lodge. I tell you it was the freakiest thing. And try as I might, I couldn't remember what it FELT like living in Melbourne. I mean I know what I did every day...but I can't remember how it felt, if you can kinda get what I mean. It's a little weird you know..

So can't believe you only have 8 weeks left...gosh that's gone so quickly. Keep your chin up as your in the home stretch, you go girl!! Hope your dinner didn't burn and I'll be sending through an 'update' e-mail in the next couple of days.
Take care chica and talk soon,

Rachael :-)

Catch Up Time

Greetings all,

Seems like forever since I last wrote, but then I look at how much time has passed and it's only been a couple of weeks yet it feels like an eternity of events have happened.

So the day after I last e-mail was day one of three off. I did completely nothing. Made a few phone calls and cooked myself dinner. Man it was good! All I had been craving for such a long time was a nice piece of steak and some veggies. Just like what I'd do for myself at home. The steak wasn't all that great and veggies here are weird, but that said it was still fantastic!

The 19th found myself and Erin (or Kenny and Eskimo as we're collectively known as) head out to Cambridge for the day. It's a very pretty place but if I had to go to school in either of them, Oxford would win. Cambridge just didn't have the same feel to it. For the most part the day was great until about an hour before we left Cambridge and I discovered my bank card wasn't working. One of those you go cold all over moments. Then I came back to Pax to several e-mails which caused a little alarm. They were to be the benchmark of my mood for the next few days. What I had established as I sat there at 1am staring at the wall was that I needed to get completely outside of the Pax Lodge bubble.

And I did. Day three marked the meeting of the first of several relatives I am to meet during my stay here. So down to Catford I trotted and met 'Aunty Olive' (Nan's sister) and found myself needing to remember that it was Olive and not Nan! It was pretty freaky! They are so alike! It was kind of a comfort too I guess. And I completely forgot about Pax Lodge for a while there, it was fantastic. The added bonus now is that when I eventually find myself venturing to Greenwich, I'll have my own tour guide! Olive said she loves to go there and when I go, I should give her a call and see if she's free.

The World Board and the World Centres Committee dominated most of the past few weeks, it was like permanently being on show and it was very draining. Very busy too. All our meal times were changed which threw us all into havoc! But I also got to meet each of the world centre manages and learn about HAs at other world centres (I feel like I've already told you guys this...) and we had a huge BBQ for like 70 people and the table out the back of Pax Lodge was HUGE! Mind you they were breaking glasses on us which wasn't all that nice...too much wine I think...

My attempts to go watch the Grand Final were dampened when I got there and saw the line. Yep 4am in the damn morning freezing my ass off and I don't get in. No tickets left by that time I got there! You should have seen the line, it was crazy!

Small mundane and funny things happened too. Ruth spitting chewy out on the photocopier, Erin and I doing the puppet show for the World Centres Committee complete with jokes not found in the Brownies International Adventure Day version, Monique spat custard at Doreen who was sitting opposite her (Doreen is the world centre manager here!) because I cracked a joke, I found myself leading the World Song several times at flag (yeah me leading singing, that's a laugh in itself!). Not so mundane is the kitchen staff issues we're having, at times its like world war 3 in there! Head chef and next down chef aren't getting along. We've all decided to just nod our heads and keep well out of it. Mind you it's still amusing.

Erin and I were supposed to go to Stratford-Upon-Avon but never made it because there were no tickets left. Instead we went to Bath which has to be one of the most beautiful cities I've seen thus far! I purely loved it, the country side was amazing and the weather was sunny and the Roman Baths were weird! But it was a great day. We both enjoyed ourselves.

The Tube station down the road was shut down too and evacuated. It was a little scary but to date we still don't know why. I mean can't have been anything too serious, otherwise something would have been said.

So I worked four days, one day off (went to Bath) worked four more with one day off (went to London zoo) then worked four more days. Needless to say that yesterday and today were days off and I have done pretty much nothing other than small walks in the heath, reading and writing letters and postcards. It's been nice. The toughest thing in there to deal with was Ruth leaving Pax Lodge. She, Erin and I kind of became like the three stooges. While trying to deal with my own emotions I was having to deal with Ruth's too. We are far too much alike!! Anyway, she left without too many hitches. Yep it was hard. There are only two people I've gotten attached to here and Ruth and Erin are it. So I'm freaking out coz Ruth is going, but then start thinking 'Oh god Erin leaves end of October' which was really the wrong thing to do. So the last few days of September there were a few tears and crazy moments. But in true Pax Lodge tradition, life goes on. You miss that person for a while, but you become so consumed by work that the world fades away.

Hmmm this is a little bit odd for an e-mail. It's really all over the place. My next big adventure is the 22-24th when Monique and I head down to the Isle of Wight for a few days. Three, but we're now coming back early on the 24th because Janet has got tickets to get into a ticket only event at Westminster Abbey. See its the 60th Anniversary ceremony/celebrations of the UN and we've got tickets to go! So we're all getting dolled up in National Uniform and making the trip down there. Everyone gets out of work. Monique and I decided it was one of those once in a lifetime things and thus are coming back early. Should be kinda cool.

Okay, I'm going to head off before I get even more all over the place. Bottom line is I am still here and still enjoying myself!! Hope everyone is well, take care

Rachael :-)

Hello Again!

Hello my dear!

For starters -don't keep saying thank you!! I know I don't have to do any of the things I do, but I do it because I want to and no thanks is needed. You're my pal and don't ever forget that. We find lots of ways to be strong. Believe it or not there will come a day where you won't sms me, and a week will go by and you still won't. That's okay because believe it or not you'll get back into normal life and won't need the security of Pax Lodge so much. That's not saying I'll stop bugging you, because you know I always will!! But yeah, you will eventually be okay.

Erin hasn't cried yet from what I know, but she's quite close to crashing. We've both been very clingy lately which is a little odd, we seem to be really dwelling on the Erin leaving part. Slowly slowly she's talking to me about things. I know Erin will do what she feels she needs to in her own time. Unlike you I can't bully her into talking to me. It was a case of needing to with you!! But yeah, Erin, I think for the most part is doing okay. I told her I can be there to catch her when she falls.

My "family" were here for two days, both of which I was working so only ever really got to spend time with them in the evening, both of which Erin S seemed to hustle in on. Either way. Then they left quite abruptly yesterday morning thus I am standing out the from of Pax Lodge before flag almost in tears, right as Heather Doreen and Dixon come back from their walk...good lord.

Monique ended up coming with us to take Dixon and Doreen taught us Scottish football songs the whole way back to Pax. Consequently it was a car sing a long. Quite amusing, especially when we then continued it through lunch...

Yesterday arvo I pulled my room to pieces and pulled everything off the walls. Gave Erin a heart failure -six times!! But it's slowly getting back to homely, not so many home photos up anymore. I figure the 14 months seems long enough as it is, too many reminders up only makes it harder. Went for a walk in the Heath yesterday arvo, was gone for nearly two and a half hours and missed dinner. Believe it or not, both erin and I were in there at the same time but didn't cross paths once.

Today I went out for breakfast at lunchtime with Sally and Janet, the three of us then trotted off to Oxford street to do some shopping. It's been an odd two days I tell you. Erin and I did the clingy thing again this arvo and dinner was darn bangers and mash plus the weird conversations with Kat. Trust me, you're in the better place....

I'm glad to hear you're getting back into the swing of things with Guides, having a focus on something like that will help you re-adjust. Yes, Pax Lodge did you wonders my dear and I am so happy you can realise that!! This is such wonderful news!

Janet is slowly back on the mend although it was scary last night because Rebecca did her night shift for her, we nearly dropped dead when we found out.

Okay I have to go, Priyanka wants the computer. Will talk soon and trust me, good things are on their way to you, I promise :-)
Rachael :-)

Howaye from Ireland!

Hello!!!

Aww my darling, I am so proud of you! Seriously, you have lots to be proud of because yes you did achieve a hell of a lot this summer. Apparently I've said Sweet Jesus far too many times to day which is weird because it's not like I picked it up from you because I didn't really say it a lot before you left. So that has kinda freaked a few people out.

Truth be told, you leaving didn't hit Erin until later this afternoon, I don't think she's had a lot of time to think about it. I told her she had to sit down and have a cry because it'll make her feel better. I know this from experience. It was so weird, I went up to my room after working an hour over and sat in my room and just bawled my eyes out. It was crazy. Its crazy to think how much of a difference not having someone here makes. Erin and I were sitting there this arvo in break and talked about you leaving. Not that I want to depress you more or anything...And I am sorry I couldn't stick around for your phone call. Erin came in and I was like 'she's gone?' and she said yeah and I kinda was a bit disapointed.

Janet is pretty sick at the moment, she didn't come down for flag this morning and has been laid up in bed for half of the day. So Monique and I did a run down the road at lunch and brought her flowers. She didn't find them till this evening and I sware to god it sounded like she was on the verge of tears. I am worried about her, but you know me I worry about everyone. I know I know I need to look after me!! I know!

The first week or so back home will be the hardest because you'll need to adjust back to normal life.

I'll keep this short because I am sitting here on Erin S's laptop and I am having a few issues typing, it's just not the same as a normal keyboard.

Take care my dear and I am off to pester our Erin, I tell you that girl worries me sometimes. I think it'll be another late one.

Take super super care and you 'll hear from me soon.

Luv Rachael

Time Flies, right?

Hey Hey!

No wait, that should be 'Hola' or 'Namaste' Everyone!!!

There you go, that's my cultural input for today. Hey I figure it's my day off, I don't need to be cultural or worldly. I don't need to be anywhere or do anything. Well nothing over important anyway. So I realised its been almost two weeks since I sent everyone 'back home' mail and despite actually planning to make contact on my last set of days off, I got a little side tracked by puppets...but I'll get to that later on.

There are actually a few new people added to my mailing list here, the HA's farewells continued for a day or so after I last e-mailed, so a few of them now get my 'Adventures of Rachael' (Yes Allie I too rely on bulk e-mailing where possible). The day after my last installment I went on a big shopping spree in Oxford Circus and spent a fairly damaging amount of money. By most accounts it's probably not that bad but when you consider I'm now staying a little longer it probably wasn't the wisest thing. Regardless, I now have a functioning English mobile phone number. Got to get the important things sorted, right? It was a good day though, me, the footpath and I think about seven different bags by day's end.

I did the sort of homesickness but not kind of gig for a while there. It wasn't sad or emotional or anything, it was more a sense of missing the small things, like routine and things I would see each day. Like driving to work as the city woke up. Seeing the sunset over Albert Park Lake. Being able to just get in my car and drive. The vibe of Friday night football. Curling up in bed on a Wednesday night for Blue Healers. Thursday night Netball. Monday night 'free food'. Just routine. But then I realised I've sort of picked up a new routine here and I now enjoy watching the squirrel each day at around 4:30 go and bury food for winter in the front garden. Walking after dinner duties even if it is pitch black. Going to flag on my days off. Little things which for routine. And keep my kinda busy I guess.

Had a spur of the moment 'lets go to the WalkAbout' moment the other Saturday night and got there to discover a poster for live coverage of the AFL Grand Final. Amazingly I've got the gift of the gab to switch my rota for the right day so I'm getting up at 4am to go to a pub to watch a football game and then come back here to start work at 8:45 the first day of the World Board! I must be on my best behaviour! So anyhows, the WalkAbout was kinda lame and pretty freaky by the time we left because this guy tried to take Eri (Japanese HA)! We sort of turned around and she was gone. So Monique, Erin S and I go like Body guard Style and find her and this guy (she's not got great English) and like fly out of the building, but he started to follow us!! Anyhows, Monique told him to um...go away, so to speak, and eventually he did.

We had another small session in, this one called Castles and Palaces and it was only a small number, but a great one because we got to do more! So some late night evening programs and card games (oh my gosh we played Spoons!!!) and late night talking...not much sleep was achieved in there! Plus I got to see We Will Rock You for a second time which I loved just as much as the first!! Yay!

Ventured down to Hampton Court Palace with Ruth, Eri, Erin G and had a long day down there! But I loved it, some of the gardens were simply stunning. The building itself was quite delightful as well. It took a while to get there, I think we may have gone the long way round, but I actually worked out that I can get a National Rail train direct from Hampstead to West Ham so I've managed to talk Erin S into going to a soccer game with me. He he he, I have this image of us sitting in the stadium in mittens while its snowing...

On a mundane level we had the meat freezer die on us -twice. Sarcasm has become the choice tone of everyone and Erin and I often find ourselves still up at 1am and seemingly ending up on the subject of food we miss at home. We both had this great desire for Nachos so on our last day off we went up the hill for dinner and got them -NEVER AGAIN! I sware to you, our mouths were still burning the next day. They were horrible. What I wouldn't give for a good meal at Taco Bills in South Melborune...mmm...Mexican....

One of our Long Term Residents (LTR) Kat (not sure if I have mentioned her before) had her mother send her violin. Not a great idea. She's on the floor above and over a bit and I can still hear her playing and she's not that crash hot!!! Plus she sings Opera! My ears are damaged for life!!

Now the puppets. Yesterday (and there is one today but I am off) we had what's called an International Adventure Day. Basically a group of Brownies and Guides come and we 'take them round the world' for the day. Well we had 33 brownies running around and I tell you I was in my element!!! I miss my girls soooooo much! BUT Erin and I were given the task of doing the puppet show which sort of tells them about the the four world centres (for non guide people, I work at Pax Lodge which is a world centre. There are four around the world). We pulled out the materials used last year and nearly died. So we binned it all and started form scratch. Made new puppets, clothes, rewrote the script made a new puppet stage thing. The works. We spent both of our last days off plus all our non working hours since pulling the show together. We even walked all the way back from Finchly carrying a piece or ply board because it wouldn't fit into Doreen's car. Now that's dedication. Regardless, the show was a huge success and the girls loved it, the staff loved it and the leaders loved it. The best bit was seeing the girls sneak back into the room and do the show themselves!!! It was soooo cute!!! I loved yesterday. I've gotten contact details and am hopefully going to visit the unit on a regular basis, plus we've all been invited (if not working) to their Carols Round the Campfire on the 11th of December. Yay! Janet said she hadn't seen me smile so much in a long time. I was just so excited to have little ones running around!

Oh and I set a new record. I made 24 beds and had the rooms ready for check in between end of breakfast (9:30) and Break (11am). I am a legend!! Oh my gosh it was soooo funny! I kept going 'I'm going to do this' and I did. Stupid little challenges like that make the day go quicker. Or something. Mind you I then ended up deep cleaning a room in the afternoon because I had not a lot to do!! And all those beds were for Australians! Yep, we've just about had a house full of Aussies!! Further to that, the 24 beds we all for students and teachers from Ivanhoe Grammar! Not overly impressed with their attitude, they were quite rude at times and I mean come on, this is a hostel not the god damn Hilton! Anyhows, they left this morning. The remaining Aussies are hear for the World Centres committee. Yep, we're going to end up with all the world centre managers here. And you know what? HA's at Sangam (in India) don't do house chores! They are there purely for program! Dang I'm at the wrong world centre!!

Hmm...this got long again, I was trying to keep it relatively short for a change, didn't happen. It has been freezing here. It's not even winter yet, it's still summer. Let me rephrase that. The wind has been really cold and for me to be saying it's cold, then you know for most of you it would be freezing. Mind you, if I actually wore something with long sleeves....and if I close my window at night...okay I am off! Phone calls to make, arrangement to make. Seven of us are heading down to the Thames this evening, this weekend is the Thames River Festival and there's a huge fireworks display on.

Hope everyone is doing well and I shall write again soon (maybe!!).

Take care,

Rachael :-)

Hello

Hey!!

You know there haven't been many e-mails from you, but they tend to rock up at the right time when they do get here! It's now after midnight and I've been talking to Erin for the past two hours.

It's likely that in the next couple of days you'll get a letter arrive in your post box. I can't help myself sometimes. Indeed how I'm feeling now is vastly different to how I was feeling when I wrote the letter, that said I'm yet to question if I made the right choice or not. I know at some stage I will, but now is not the time.

This afternoon at around 4:40 I was in the dining room having just started my afternoon K2 shift. I had one of those moments that comes right out of the blue and so unexpected it left me speechless and kinda feeling like I'm not sure where to look. I was opening the window or something and turn around to find 50 odd year old Chef Maria standing there with half her jacket off, bra and boob and all complaining about the pain in her shoulder and showing me the needle marks they'd put in!! I tell you I could have fallen over. This isn't aimed at you but if people are going to start making a habit of doing this, I want a bit of notice!!

My biggest issue right now is that I've had very little contact with anyone from home in the past three weeks. Aside from you and my mother, I've received one e-mail and a text message. I feel so disconnected. This was one of my fears coming here, reaching a point where it's like I have dropped off the face of the planet and don't exist. In my letter (the long one) I say something about this being the biggest form of self isolation I've put myself through. To be honest, it feels like I hit the nail dead on the head.

I'm not expecting weekly e-mails from people, I know they all have a life. But I'd say that about 90% of people that told me I had to stay in contact with I haven't heard from since I left. It really sucks.

That aside I am having a good time. Our current session is a whole of three people. We've other guests in too, but it means I may end up going to see We Will Rock You again tomorrow night...well I guess technically it's tonight...but tomorrow I am off and I'm going on a London walk (like what we did but during the day) and on Wednesday Ruth, Erin and I are going out to Hampton Court Palace for the day.

Oh and guess what? The WalkAbout is screening the AFL Grand Final, live so it's on at like 5am in the morning!!! I'm working that day, but I'm trying to see if I can switch shifts with Monique so I can get an 8:45am shift start. Which means if the stream starts at 5am I have until 8am to see it all, should be over in three hours right? Mind you I could be pushing my luck, it's the first day of the World Board and apparently this place runs like the army while it's on. We'll see. I might go talk to Janet.

I have three days off again this month by default. I'm thinking of going up to Birmingham to stay with Ruth (who came to the TRS function in feb?) as she's now back in the UK and called me the other night. She's bringing her brownies to Pax Lodge in Feb to stay!! But yeah, other than that, no major plans.

And as for my bonsai plant, I think it's dead. Well maybe not dead. Maybe it's supposed to look like it does. I water it and feed it that stuff Sally got so maybe I'm just not talking nice enough to it. Perhaps it keeps hearing me swear under my breath. That's another thing I've been doing more of lately.

Oh I brought a CD the other day and the song from kill Bill is on there!!

I was talking to a lady on the Tube the other day who had a Siamese cat with her!! A little bit darker than Candy, but sounded exactly the same!! She's actually moving back to Sydney so had to send the cat first as it had to go through quarantine and all. I looked in the box and smiled. I miss cat's in general here. No one to sit on my lap and pur or chase my finger or cover my clothes in hair...

Right I should be off because I need sleep and I've probably just stolen your lunch break again. Sorry. Just remember, we used to spend hours yakking all the time. I can't do that now. So I have to somehow compensate this way. It's not the same, but you know...

Okay I'm going! Take care and hope the broken nose gets fixed!
Rachael :-)

Home in Canada

Heya!!

Glad to hear you got home safely, Janet had mentioned you'd had a brief delay at the airport in her homeland!! But to be home is good. I'd imagine at this point in time you'd have started back at school again? A strike of luck with both the bags and the booze -indeed it was you're lucky day.

Nothing much changes at Pax, same ol same ol really. Evening Program tonight and a planning meeting today that went for over half an hour! Keren and Marie both had their send off last night, followed by a drink at The George. Being in 'House' today I actually watched Keren walk down the drive and out onto the road when she was leaving. It was an odd feeling. Suddenly people who have been here with me this whole time are leaving! This shouldn't be happening!

All the senior staff are strangely happy at the moment. Like more than usual. Doreen was even poking Monique in the dining room when she was sitting at the table...it's freaky mate. Erin G had her first day as K3 and somehow managed to get away with not wearing the 'funny trousers'.

Monique's addy is (deleted) but if you are having issues trying to e-mail her it may be because she's over her storage limit. She was complaining about that yesterday.

Well my dear I must be off, thank god the day is partly over. Still a long evening a head (we've more brownies here!) but I guess it could be worse...somehow. Oh hell it's payday. That's it I am off to see Janet! Oh my gosh I went on a shopping spree yesterday in Regent Street and Oxford Circus and Covent Garden...the ol credit card got a good work out...it'll take a while before I can do that again!

Take care and talk soon,
Rachael :-)

Re: Some may need to take a seat

Heya,

I think by that time I'll be long overdue to come home!! I know I am crazy but then aside form deciding to come here, this has been the biggest decision I've made thinking only of me.

I'm well aware that the oppertunities I had waiting for me when I got home -yes International was one of those things. But this will be a great resource for me. And Erin pointed out that there are Brownie groups in the area here which would likely be more than happy to have an internaional guest come and run part if not all of a program. Not sure how I'd do that, but I do miss my girls. We had a group of brownies here today and sitting with them at lunch made me realise how much I miss my girls at Dalburn. Little people make life so much more simpler....sighs, I'll live I guess.

Keep on dancing and come January/February, you may need to remind me that staying was a great idea....

Take care, it's late here and we've had two farewells today so it's been kind of emotional. We've another tomorrow and two more in the days that follow. I'll have at least another 12 months of this ahead of me....

Rachael :-)

Some may need to take a seat

Hi There Everyone!!

So what's been happening with you all? My inbox has been eerily silent this past week or so, have you all vanished off the face of the planet??

Well the world of Pax Lodge. What can I say? Hetic as usual! Actually its nice to be winding down for the summer, it's a little odd at the moment because we're all so used to being flat out that right now we have only 20 guests in house, most of which don't eat with us, so we're kind of scrapping for things to do! One extreme to the other! But it also means that all the quarterly jobs get done, one of which is deep cleaning and pretty much you clean one room at a time from top to bottom! Like Monday for example. I went into room 1 (Australia!!) and it's a three bed bedroom. I got in there at 10 am and come 3pm I only just finished. Man that room shines!!

As Monday was a bank holiday, we all sat down for the last half hour of work and had an ice-cream party which was kinda nice as it has been rather warm here today! Lovely sunny weather which I'm trying to make the most of while it lasts, I know come end of November daylight will be gone at 4:30 in the afternoon. That is going to be so weird...

We've had two new HA's arrive! Eri from Japan and Rebecca from New Zealand. Eri's arrival was a huge mix up and a disaster on my part, well not that it was my fault, but I'll get into that later on when I let you guys know what I've been up to. So yes, we gain two HA's but lose four plus the HAC (House Assistant Co-ordinator) within the next three days. So that's a fair chunk of people to be leaving!

And it's odd too. I mean I only just arrived as Caro and Claudia were leaving so it wasn't too much of a big deal. But this time round it's kind of like, wait a moment, these guys have been here with me the whole time...they can't leave!! It's the strangest thing. We spend literally 24 hours a day together and can't wait to get away, but on the same token, you can't help but feel sad because people are actually leaving the world of Pax Lodge.

But since I last e-mailed we've all decided to re-live our childhood. Yeah okay, so we're not that old...but we went down to the local video store and hired a stack of Disney movies and spent like three nights running watching them. The classics mind you. Snow White. Sleeping Beauty. Lady and the Tramp. Aladdin. Even Janet came to join us which was great fun! Somewhere in there we also started a quotes board in our corridoor, it's been filled twice already! It's kind of a hoot! We had the WCM (World Centre Manager) walk past and question a few ofthem!

Both cooks haven't been in for over a week now so it's been left up to us to cook. Thankfully because it's so quiet, there has only been the staff plus one of our long term residents who has just moved in. Her name is Kat and she's from the States and she's here going to school. Today is her first day. She's an odd one. For those of you who went toPaco, she reminds me very much of Kim. Like, mirror image, vampires and all. So anyways, one of the nights Jung-Hwa cooked Korean food for us and it was simply delicious! The North American's got together and made breakfast for dinner which was pancakes and all sorts of delightful things. Needless to say the Aussie has yet to cook anything, purely because I don't really think there are meals we have that are distinctly Australian. If you get what I mean. Not only that, I'm not exactly the worlds best cook. So the last two days I had off we ate out two nights running at two of the local eateries. The first was called the Giraffe which was nice but a little pricy. Mind you, wouldn't expect much else in Hampstead, right? The second night we ate in a run down little place next to the ice-cream shop we go to. I tell you that was the best meal I have had in a very long time and it was very cheap! So we came back and raved and we're going to go back again!

We also had some Japanese guests stay who treated us to a traditional Japanese Tea ceremony which was simply delightful. They had these sweets in these beautiful little boxes and I managed to get one! It's so pretty.

Last Wednesday we had the closing of our last large session for the summer, London Experience V. And I did my closing thought as usual, only this time Ruth was my back up music as she wanted to play the keyboard. She sort of crept up to me and said 'I know the thought is your turf, but I've always wanted to play as a part of one of the ceremonies and haven't yet, do you mind if I play for you?'. Well that was it, we did it! And she did so well! I think I was nervous for her too!! But it went very smoothly.

Last Friday Eri was supposed to arrive from Japan. Because it was my day off it fell onto me to be the one to pick her up from Heathrow. No biggie really. Until you understand that I had to be at the airport at 7am! Which meant me leaving Pax Lodge at 5:25am and walking to the Tube station, getting the first tube through Belsize Park which got meto Heathrow at 6:55am! Which is fine really. Until I stood there for three hours in the arrivals hall watching all the tearful reunions, calling Pax twice to see if she'd called. So upon checking at theflight desk, I discover the flight got in at 5:30 instead of 6am and the plane was empty by 6:05 and almost everyone should have passed through customs by now (9:15am). But the man said because she had come from Japan, maybe they were giving her a medical blah blah blah. Which is fine. Then at 9:55am I get a phone call from Pax. There was an e-mail saying she wasn't getting in until Saturday evening. Well I hung up the phone on the person who called. There are issues with her at the moment. The e-mail had come through Thursday night. She failed to check until she rang me Friday morning. Logically speaking, you have a HA arriving the crack of dawn and you're sending a staff member out to pick her up. Would you not check for last minute changes before going to bed? I'm not at all bitter or anything...So I left Pax at5:25am and returned at 11:55am. I got every delay running coming home. I think I had every right to be pissed. But moving on...

We've also endured the Notting Hill Festival (which I didn't go to as I was working) plus a small fair in the Heath which we went to Monday night and we all suffered from injuries from the dodgem cars. It wasn't nice...

But my big news. Despite what some of you may believe at this stage, I am NOT getting married! He he he, sorry to disapoint you! But just over a week ago I was officially offered a longer job working here atPax Lodge. So I spent a week giving it all some hard thought and went and saw the WCM on Monday to give her my answer. So I was initially coming home in January 06, it now seems the earliest I will be back is October 06. It's all going to depend on when the position starts and if they need to find a replacement HA for me. So I'm here for at least another 12 months. Yep, pure madness I know!! But on the same token, I think I'm a bit excited. Who knows. It is an office job, indeed I shall become the voice of Pax Lodge and handle bookings and phone calls that come through. And e-mail and all sorts of things. But until I get a better break down of what exactly it is I'll be doing, I can't tell you much more. I'll work five days on with three off and my wage goes up a little bit plus I move upstairs to a bigger room. It's all happening, right?!

So yeah, that's about it for the moment really. Hopefully not too many of you are on the floor. Some of you I had wanted to call but I just ran out of time and phone cards and some of you are uncontactable at this point in time. Pax Lodge will be home for a bit longer now andI'll end up seeing another summer of sessions...at least I won't be cleaning up after them though...

Until next time,
Rachael :-)

Is August really almost over?!

Hey Everyone!!

Yeah I know it has been a while since I sat down and wrote you all a ne-mail. Sorry to say it has been a complete mad house here going from session to session and I've been trying to take care of me too!!

So I believe I last left off at Oxford. That was the day I decided I needed to just get away from everyone and everything. The days that followed were long work days and long hours into the night talking until the wee hours of the morning. Seems like 'Dr Rachael's' Office hours are extending, people don't even make an appointment anymore, they just darn well drop in! Regardless of the hour!

The 10th found me receiving a late birthday present, standing in reception bursting into tears and found a number of staff walking around singing the Essendon Theme song in the days to follow. T'was quite amusing really. That same day I had the first of two girls from my District rock up at Pax Lodge, Jillian who came on the 10th was somewhat out of the blue. The following day Rosemary arrived and was lucky enough to have me as a tour guide round the house!! Go the Aussie Guides from Hume District!

Thursday found the opening of London Experience IV, the on set of myErin's terrible bout of illness and me sitting and watching The Bill only to discover I barely knew any of the actors!! It was crazy.

Friday the 12th was my refuge day and crazy because of the big BA strike. We had guests not have flights home, it was a nightmare. For a while there I wasn't sure if I'd get out of Pax Lodge in time to get my train, I was working and we had after dinner duties as always. Amazingly everyone pulled together on my behalf (some did my work for me) and they got me out of there by 7:10pm. I could have cried, although that would have been twice in the one day and that's not great. Yep, Friday it just all got the better of me and I stood in the laundry bawling my eyes out because Ruth yelled at me. If Pax Lodge was going to implode on itself, I swear to you that was the day it would happen. The tension in the place was through the roof.

Thus my last set of days off (13th & 14th) I went far from everyone here at Pax Lodge and was pretty much left to my own devices for two days in a quaint little town called Goring-By-Sea. I can assure you now it was delightful! Instead of sirens and cars zooming by, it was almost silence and seagulls. I just loved it. Thank goodness for Janet and her lovely flat! Otherwise I would have been no use to anyone. It was the first time in nearly two months that I spent time with just me and no one from Pax Lodge about. Spending 24 hours a day with people takes it's toll and I came back looking 100% better and feeling it too. It sounds the most simplest thing, but for two mornings running I sat in my PJs and had breakfast. I didn't have to worry about guests, or keeping up appearances for guests. I didn't have to worry about knocks on my door nor lines for the shower. It was just me and it was delightful. Actually Sally was with me on the Saturday, we spent the morning at Janet's flat then went into a seaside town called Worthing and shopped and ate and stood in the rain! It was fantastic!! Sunday I did nothing. And I mean nothing. I had aimed to get the 4:22pm train back to London but come 4pm I was still sitting there in my PJs...so I decided to wait till 5:22!! But it was such a wonderful day and it was just me, the book and some lovely sunshine coming through the windows. Delightful.

I came back to Pax Lodge that night with a smile on my face and a spring in my step. What followed was an hour long conversation with Janet, among other things, working at Pax Lodge came up. Since then my mind has been a spin, but what else is new, right?

Then straight back into work, working five days straight with one day off (yesterday) then working three more and finally three days off. Then the rota gets back to normal.

Somewhere in there we had the closing of LE IV and my sudden new found fame because suddenly everyone thinks I'm amazing. My closing thoughts seem to be hitting the right notes, we've had people fax and request signed copies of them!! It is complete and utter madness!! I so can't believe it!

Last Monday found all the HA's in a meeting which started at 11am and finished around 2;30 that afternoon! It was a long one! We talked about all sorts of things. But it was good because it gave us a chance to get things out in the air and we've all decided we have three main issues we need to work on. Communication, motivation and understanding. You can interpret those any way you wish!

Tuesday was a great day. Worked our buts off during the day for a huge lunch, like having a dinner at lunchtime and the clean up was astronomical. Since we didn't have any guests for dinner that night (full house but none were relying on us for a meal) all the HA's as a joke decided we were having a pizza night and we were eating off napkins and drinking from cans. NO Dishes were allowed! Blow and behold, later that arvo Janet comes around and asked who was organising the pizza. And then what followed was a discussion about ice-cream and cans from the cold store here at Pax. And the best part-we didn't pay for a cent of it!! So we're not entirely sure who did pay, but we were all treated to pizza, ice-cream and drinks! It was great! Our dinner went for an hour and no dishes! Yay!! Later that night Priyanka put a somewhat large henna design on my arm and I still have it. It took her close to half hour to do, and I took a photo so I'll stick it in one of the albums at some point.

Wednesday brought the onset of the current session, the last London Experience (v) for the Summer. They're half Canadian and half American. Overall they're a great group too. I was out with them on Thursday, we did The Globe and St.Paul's (yes I went up the 530 steps again!) and came back to Pax for High Tea! Yay! Friday night everyone left me alone which was good as I'd just done five days and was tired. So I read and then about 10ish we headed down to the George for a drink only to discover it was cocktail night! So that was nice I guess.

Saturday part of the group went to Brighton and the rest went to Paris. Now there was an extra ticket floating around which was offered to me. I declined it. Yes, madness I know!! But the Paris day starts at 4:30am and sees them back about 11pm that night. It was my only day off and there was no way in the world I could do it and then work three more days. So I went to Brighton instead.

I loved Brighton. The pier is just amazing, amusement arcades and all rides down the far end! Even roller coasters! And the weather was simply fantastic! So did a tour around the Royal Pavilion, then did lunch at a cute little cafe, followed by more shopping, exploring the pier and then onto the beach! Okay, so it's all pebbles, but it's 'the beach'! I got sun burnt again! I'm kind of counting my lucky stars I didn't go to Paris. We got back from Brighton around 7:30 so I ducked down the road and got some dinner, came back and told the others I was going to pass on the clubbing idea. I was tired and wasn't really in the mood. Anyhows, Erin, Ruth and I were sitting in the HAs corridor and Doreen comes out at about 10:30 and says the session is stuck at some place I didn't recognise. Turns out the Eurostar had some brake problems and thus at 10:30pm at night they were still in France! The replacement train didn't arrive till 12:30am and so they didn't get back to London until about 3am. Then they couldn't get into Waterloo and ended up getting to Victoria, then Eurostar gave them a luxury coach to get home!! So they didn't get back here till around 4am!! Can you imagine if I went? I'd be passed out by now! Needless to say, breakfast wasn't till 10am for them!! They're in Greenwich this arvo and the day is kinda cut shorter for them, they're gonna be so tired!

As for me I start back at work at 4:30pm, which is an hour and a half away. Two more days to go and I'm off! For three days! I am soooo looking forward to it! Erin and I are thinking of going camping inWales. Why Wales? Well, it sounded good I guess!! We'll see what happens.

After all that, I'm about to sign out and go and do something. Not too sure what....

Hope you are all well and enjoying the lovely Melbourne weather. Today is nice and humid here. Sunny too. I'm telling you, bring on winter!!

Take care and until next time,
Rachael :-)

Hey There!

Heya,

Well I said I was gonna e-mail you, I didn't think it would be so soon, but no time like the present, ay?!

So it's just before midnight, will likely be after by the time I'm through with this, but I'm not much up to sleeping which is bad, because I'll end up where I was some three/four days ago. Pretty much everything kinda caught up on me. I was so tired, I've been crook with the flu, we're working at full pace because it's almost end of summer and the sessions have been huge. Only one more to go and the entire body of staff is tired too. So the tension is pretty high here. Bottom line is I was in the running for a complete break down.

The novelty has worn off and its now down to hard work to the bone. Which is fine, it's not like hard work scares me, but the toll of being away from the familiarity zone has taken it's toll and I wasn't in a good way. So Janet (kinda like our mother hen) sent me down to her flat for the weekend, not even her housemate was there. Either way I was in a quaint little British Sea Side town and enjoyed every moment of it. I relaxed and chilled and walked along the beach and the pier and thought about everything that's been playing on my mind. Work, Guides, family, Guys, you name it, I was thinking it.

I came back Sunday night ready to take on the world, I looked a lot better, I got some descent sleep and I was feeling far better. I went up to Janet to return the keys, an hour later I emerged with an opportunity which would require a hell of a lot of thinking, only I'm not sure what kind of thinking time frames I'm allowed.

There is a 12 month volunteer position about to open up. It may start as early as the 1st of September, so if I decide to take it, I won't be home before September next year. It's been offered on a plate to me. And okay admittedly I was thinking that staying in the UK wasn't a bad idea. But that was thinking, that wasn't actually doing. Probably a whole lot of hot air. But now that there is an option -I'm terrified. I mean there is so much that I'll need to take into account if I do decided, yeah I want to give it a go. And yeah, top of the list is my job at the crime department. I don't even know how to approach Toni about this. I mean, the job prospect I have sitting there waiting for me is unbelievable. Getting a VPS 3 wage is quite beyond anything I'd expected as a young one straight out of high school with no quals. And I know I am onto a good thing. I'm not stupid. But I just don't know what to do or what options I have. I'm going crazy.

But yeah, in a nut shell that's pretty much what's going on. Other than you, I've told one other person and that's it. I need to try find out more about this job here before I go start making ripples which might land me in strife with people. I don't' know. Its crazy. I have at least till Wednesday which is when Doreen is back who is the person I have to speak to this about. But by the sounds of it they're going to want an answer asap if they want to maybe start it on the 1st of September. It doesn't really give me a lot of time. I can see me having a phone call in the middle of the night just to catch Toni at a good time, if I can catch her at all. I don't think e-mail is going to work well with the kind of time frame I'm facing. On top of that I've got so much more to consider. Argh, there's too much swimming around in my head.

Anyhows, I dribble too much. How is it all going in there? I want to know all about it!! I think of you often, wondering when you'll do the guns and what not. It's all kind of exciting I guess. But how are you handling it? Is it what you expected? Better? Worse? Harder? You can be honest, I mean it's me you're talking to here!

Anyhows, I should probably try get some sleep, I've a 7am start tomorrow with 58 people for breakfast, oh joy. Half hour to prepare too...he he he despite the complaining, I do enjoy what I am doing -most of the time.

Take care mate and look forward to hearing from you!!
Rachael :-)

Erm Well . . .

Hi,

Well I have a feeling you may have expected an e-mail of similar content to what will follow, but I think maybe you wouldn't have expected it so soon. I can tell you, I didn't see it coming!!!

So I've been away for the weekend, finally got some well needed 'me' time. When I came back tonight, I went to take in Janet's keys (as I stayed at her flat) and an hour later I walked out with some choices to make.

Thus when I come and open your e-mail, I find your last line somewhat ironic really. Now this isn't confirmed yet and other than Janet and the World Centre Manager, this isn't public knowledge. But there is a twelve month volunteer position being re-created and apparently my name was mentioned when the discussion took place over the weekend. It may start as early as the 1st of September or as late as December, which means if I take it, then I could be here for at least another year.

Please get up off the floor! I can tell you if I do decide to take it on, J is going to need someone to give her CPR, she's going to flip. But yeah, I'll need to give them an answer I'd imagine within the next couple of weeks so I've a lot of thinking to do. Doreen (World Centre Manager) is off at the moment so I have to wait for her to come back so I can get all the details...*sighs* dear me this is a big call. I can only begin to imagine the amount of people who are going to flip about this.

Oi, what a Sunday! But yeah, for the moment this has to stay between you, me and the computer screen. Not even little hints to anyone. There's a lot to take into account on my part, so guess who is gonna have her thinking cap on...

Catch you when I do, and as usual, any input is very welcome!!!
Rachael :-)

Greetings my Friends!

Heya Dudes!!

What's been happening in the world of TRS?? It seems like forever since I had a chat with you guys! Its just not the same with the people here, they take everything just a tad too seriously. And they don't drink.

Yep I've gained a huge taste for Snake bites and endulged in a shotglass card game the other night. It's official, I believe I have now been 'hammered' as such. Or pissed. Or quite simply, drunk. Surprisingly though I felt fine the next morning when you consider it was vodka, rum, tequila (yay) and some other quite potant drink from Trinidad & Tobago which was so stong it'd burn the hair in your nose. Okay, not a good image.

Well it's about to hit 1am and I'm not working tomorrow, yay! I sware to you, four days here feels like four weeks. It's physically draining, like all the time. But I'm having fun. Erin and I are heading down to Regent Park tomorrow for the open air theatre to see 12th night which will be okay. Tuesday I'm going to St.Pauls, The Globe and Tate Modern Museum, plus we want to head back to The Globe in the evening to catch a show.

So a question. A few of the girls here want to go out clubbing and don't really know where is a good place to go, both atmosphere wise and cost wise. They went somewhere in Leicester Square the other night and paid a 12 pound door charge. Ouch! So yeah, you lived here, any suggestions??

I'm going to start checking out good places to go to and on the cheap. I want to go visit a few places now that I feel okay with London.

But there's really nothing amazing going on. Still single but what else is new right? Oh and I've now officially been a non-smoker for a whole month!! Yay me! Nearly had a moment of weakness but I thought about the things I wanted to achieve when I got back and I broke the ciggie in half and threw it on the ground. I'm so proud of me. Slight issue is the drinking, but we can work on that too!

Anyhows, just thought I'd throw a bit of chatter your way. Stay safe and enjoy,

Rachael :-)
P.S Crasher, are you guys married yet or what?!!

Where did the days go??

Howdy!

Sorry, I'm in a real corny mood at the moment, I missed the second half of my lunch because I had a house tour arrive, so I am taking my last 20 minutes now in which I shall start this and finish it later on this evening after all my dinner duties. Speaking of which, I impressed everyone with my washing up skills last night! As I am rostered on with Program and because of various things, last night was the first time I was washing up after dinner. My gosh you should have seen me, half hour flat, if that! I am dish washing QUEEN!! Go me! Hehe he.

Righty-o, all the happenings since I last wrote. Where do I begin?? Okay well I left off with the visit from Sheree Blair. We were talking about that for DAYS afterwards and how the woman in charge of The World Bureau thinks Ghana is a part of the Arab Region...hmmm and how Sheree had lipstick on her teeth, and me sounding like I know Mrs Howard personally. I dread to think how the photos turned out. And since I'm the one that apparently looks 'like a dork' in the Pax Lodge staff photos because my uniform is so formal, I actually turned out to be the really well dressed one. Minus my hat. I really didn't think it was necissary.

The weekend bought the arrival of the most adorable little Brownies. They arrived Friday night (22nd) and walked into reception where I was sitting waiting for the others to head down to the George. Regardless, they came in all giggles and laughter and cuteness which has almost reduced me to tears because I am sitting there going 'Oh my gosh they're like my girls! I miss my girls!!' he he he, so Julie you better go hug them all for me!! Needless to say my weekend was delightful and better still when we had to run an evening program for them, it was just like Monday nights at Guides! Minus the dinner stop on the way home of course..mmmm mushroom risotto...yummmmm.....

At some stage during the day on Sunday I realised I'd officially been living at Pax Lodge for a whole month and do you know what? It was such a scary thought! I can't believe I made it through the first month. It was a bit hairy for a while there, but you know ('you know'....argh Erin says that all the time and now I am saying it!!) it's all good now. Late Sunday night, around 10ish I guess, Monique and I decided at the last minute it was an occasion worth celebrating so we did a mad rush down to The George (no I am not becoming an alcoholic...mind you after last nights effort....) because it closes at 10:30 on a Sunday night. Several drinks later we were walking back with Marie, her mum and aunt plus a bag of ice (don't ask). They were singing and yeah it was hilarious because they'd had one too many. 'Grown Ups' are hilarious sometimes!!

Monday saw the departure of the Brownies (no I didn't cry but we did the whole sad wave off thing) and the arrival of a new HA. Yes, another Erin and yes she's from America too!! So I'm in an Erin sandwich (I have one either side of my room). My issue with her at this stage is that she's the kind of person you can only take in small doses. I mean even old Erin was saying 'bloody American' and that's got to be saying something!! Also that day Monique came down quite ill with symptoms similar to what I had a week or more back. Which was worrying. But she was fine the next day and wasn't half as bad as I was and for her sake I'm glad!! We had a group of New Zealanders check in as well who actually turned out to be the New Zealand contingent attending SWING!! For those non Guiding people, SWING is an International camp being held here in the UK which one of the girls in my region is attending. The group may call into Pax Lodge after camp. And then came Rebecca, a HA to be who starts at the end of August. She's about to bus through Europe before coming to work here. She seems nice, sweet and quiet. We'll fix that :-) Actually you want to know something. No one, and I mean no one, believes me when I tell them I'm kinda quiet and reserved back home. They think I'm joking around with them!! They don't believe I'm a nice level headed, responsible, introverted stress head...

At some stage in the evening I had four people crammed into my room which is pretty amazing when you consider how big it is!! But it was kinda nice. One thing I have noticed here is that no one really mixes unless we go out for a drink. Even then you only go because you happen to be walking past when the initial idea was talked about. No one mixes. There's like a gap between the HAs and the other staff. Even between some of the HAs. Erin and I are now on a mission to get people to socialise a bit more. So yes, the four of us were in my room talking for like two hours! It really was nice. But wait for it, even later in the night Erin came in and some three hours later, close to 1am, she left! I've found someone to have interesting, deep, serious conversations with!! Yay!! We are actually very similar people. We plan too much. We dwell too much on things we can't change (I can hear at least two of you passing comment). We're both workaholics, though she's not as bad as me (and again I'm hearing comments, if not lectures!!).

As you can see, Monday was a big day.

Tuesday was my day off. So Erin, Erin and I headed into London and went to one of the greatest places on earth. HAMLEY'S!!!! Oh my gosh, this is heaven for the big kid in all of us. It's on Regent Street and is a massive toy store, seven floors of toys!! It's incredible! We spent three hours in there!!! We only went in to get Marie's birthday present! So the two highlights of Hamley's. First is the trivial fact that it's the 25th anniversary of the Rubicks cube. So there was a big party happening in there and they had the Champions of the UK and Australia in there showing how quickly they can solve a Rubicks cube. Now I've tried those things in the past and anything other than peeling the stickers off or using a screw driver takes far too long. These people, they were solving them in about 20-30 seconds flat. I have it on video! It was just mind blowing. I mean the cubes were coming from members of the public so they weren't fixed or anything. It truly was amazing. The aussie Janelle stood there and explained the method of how she solves them (apparently its in the the number of twists and clicks or whatever) but we just couldn't comprehend it! We literally stood there with our mouths open!

Second highlight was just so cute!! I had no intentions of buying one, but I had to in the end...we went into the Hamley's Teddy Bear Factory. You can make a bear pretty much from scratch. You pick out the bear, you then stuff it and you even get to choose how much stuffing you want in there. Like floppy, or cuddley or pudgey. Then it gets stiched up and you put a red heart in there with a wish, you're given an ID card to fill in to create the identity and then you're sent off to what can only be described as the most oddest form of clothes shopping. Bear Style! I am serious, there is just rack after rack of suits and shoes and hats and shirts and shorts and bags and glasses. I took me twenty minutes to settle on the outfit my lovely fellow (George...) was to wear!! But oh my gosh! Teddy lovers heaven!! I made my own Teddy!! And its so much more special because you really are almost creating a life! Identity and all!!

Following on from my momentary lapse into Childhood, we decided it was time for food. I'm telling you, they have a warped idea of what a baked potato is over here. All I'm going to say is that at least the cutlery was cool enough for me bring back here!! Don't freak out, it'splastic I didn't steal it, but bright green and hard and yeah, just really snazzy stuff. Good enough for a dilly bag. From there we had the wanders and found ourselves in a place called Carnaby Street. Wellme being the bright spark I was couldn't figure out why 'Carnaby' was ringing bells in my head. D'uh hellO!! When I actually figured out what the significance was, I felt so dumb. But I've been to Carnaby Street!! Yay!

We then let the new girl go explore the Maritime Museum (I don't care if it is free, it doesn't interest me...) so Erin and I decided quite spur of the moment style (and so unlike us!!!) to get tickets for our big adventure which took place on Wednesday. Thus I found myself back at Waterloo train station (memories......) and a little freaked out when I hear a woman telling a police office she'd seen one of the men on the wanted posters for the bombings. So quite quickly we moved away and darted into the ticket office, I guess if we couldn't hear it, we didn't think about it. Much. After getting our tickets we headed back to Pax Lodge and not long after we were back the session group came back from Brownsea Island. I promise you not one of those girls smiled as they got off the bus. They all looked so tired! From what I hear they were all so glad to have showers and be in a dry place!

That night Erin and I started off sitting in the HA corridoor by ourselves. Monique came out shortly after, followed by new Erin at which point Monique offered to go make us hot chocolate. She returned, old Erin chucked some microwave popcorn in and I broke out my last pack of Guide buscuits (which Monique ate most of!) and within the next 20 minutes we aquired some seven more people! We got eleven of us sitting in the corridoor on the carpet talking like you wouldn't believe!! Success!! Erin tells me it took my initiative to start it, but I say we both played an equal role. It was just nice to all sit and talk socially and not have to worry about the guests or dishes or any number of other things.

Wednesday morning was quite hilarious really. Whenever Erin and I bumped into each other, we'd do an excitable clapping of the hands and say really excitably 'We're going to Stonehenge' ...and thus you have it, the big day out to Salisbury and Stonehenge. Of course in great British style it rained. But that's okay because it only rained lightly and didn't get heavy until later in the afternoon. Amused ourselves on the train by talking for the first hour, and then pulled out a deck of cards for the next half hour. A fellow commutor at one point jumped in on our conversation and corrected us on things we were talking about back home. How dare she...but that's okay, because 'We were going to Stonehenge!!'. This continued on through the day, even after we'd been there, only it changed slightly.

The train edges closer to Salisbury. The fields are misty, there is still some light drizzle happening. The air has become some what cooler. Into the platform we pull, and quickly get off the carriage and feel the sudden drop in temperature. Yeah, we're in England all right. Out we trot, through the puddles, hunched under hoods and jackets and scarves. We're going to Stonehenge!! Onto the bus we get, a tour bus at that and a double decker. Through the winding roads of Salisbury, past the medievil houses and shops, gazing wonderously at the Salisbury Cathedral and it's slightly leaning (29 degrees west) 404 foot high spire. And still it drizzles. The winds blow. And stop. Soon buildings fall away and we head out to the highway. Our tour guide fills us in on all the local information. Out past more fields, wet sheep, burial mounds. The mist lingers. The drizzle returns. Finally the heater kicks in. Up one hill, and down another. Then the last and highest hill, over the next crest we shall see the wonderous Stonehenge, the pilgrimage at equinox. Up we go. The drizzle stops. The clouds have lifted a little. Erin and I give each other one last excited look. We're going to Stonehenge. The road levels out. Around the next bend. I hold my breath. We descend into the vally, the moment has arrived. The bus is silent. We're at Stonehenge!! We're at...isTHAT it???

Yep you guessed it, and I'll admit it, I was slightly disapointed. Erin frowned at me, 'you're not that disapointed are you?'. I'd been told you couldn't get too close, so I was okay with that, I was prepared for that. But I was somewhat dishearted by three things. 1). The fact that it's so close to the highway 2) The number of people and buses that were there and 3) The actual size of it. I was kinda expecting the rocks to be bigger. Okay logically I know the poor souls who built it were having enough trouble as it was, but seriously, you'd think with all the effort they'd put in, they'd at least use bigger stones!!! But it was okay. It didn't rain and we took some good photos. Got to stay about an hour before it was time to leave and when you think about it, it was kinda cold and other than look at the stones themselves, there's not a heck of a lot to do out there. Apart from wonder what would happen if we decided to make our own crop circle. We then thought the better of it and realised that getting a criminal record wasn't on our list of things to do. So back on the bus we got and headed back to Salisbury. Don't get me wrong, it's fantastic to say I've been to Stonehenge and yeah, you do kind of get all tingly. I just thought it would be bigger that's all. It gets a big work up and all the pictures make it look so grand...I've been to Stonehenge!! Yay!

After sitting and eating lunch in the drizzle (which had follwed us back through the valley past Sting's house) we went into the cathedral. Some two and a half hours later we emerged!! Oh my gosh it was incredible!! I saw some of the most amazing stained glass windows. And the lady who took us on a tour, she was so quaint and cute and British!!! I know, I sound so silly saying that, but even now little things still make me stop and go 'dude you're living in England!!' I get excited easy...She told us about a poisoning story and an 800 year old rat who became the proof that the knight in question was actually poisoned. That was kind of cool.

From the Cathedral we wandered back up through the medievil part of Salisbury and into the haunted gift shop (I know I'm asking for trouble) but no ghosties to tell off. Next stop was a small church off the main street which has the Judgement Day mural painted across the ceiling. I know, morbid, but I sware it was the rain. At that point it had started to rain very heavily. Have I ever told you I don't own an umberella? Well I do now!! Since the weather had taken a turn for the worst, we decided it was good enough reason to go back to the pancake cafe and have a little early evening delight. And man was it delightful! Erin and I ordered a hot chocolate and I personally got a banana and butterscotch pancake. Ohh just the thing on a wet day. We sat upstairs by the window and the fireplace, looking out at the cold day, sipping on our hot chocolates that were in cups bigger than my hands!! But itwas so good! And as I sat there, that crazy little thought came back to my head. I'm in England. Here I was, sitting inside away from the cold and wet in a quiant little cafe in a quaint little medievil town with a great new friend and a lovely warm belly full of pancakes. The day couldn't get any better.

And it was a good day all things considered. I truly had a wonderful time! Tooks loads of photos, and we talked the whole way back home on the train. Saw a fox and everything. Wrote our postcards (for peopleback at Pax Lodge, it's a tradition) and didn't end up with time to pull out the deck of cards. By the time we stopped and got pizza for dinner, yeah healthy I know, but better than McDonalds, it was gone 9:30pm before we got back. I am really enjoying my day trips. Okay I know I've really only done two, but we've plans for many more, indeed we plan to do one each set of days we have off all August!! Aside from one as Erin and Jewel are going up to Edinburgh (as they've three days off) so I've decided I might make the journey back to Tutbury.

Yesterday was back to work but it was my first day out with a session. It rained in the morning as well. So after stopping at the UK GirlGuide HQ for about an hour, and walking past the bell hop at the Rubens Hotel twice (three if you count the one on the way home!!), we went to Changing of the Guards at Buckingham Palace. Yes, again I got inside the gates!! No camera's at all this time though...and by this stage the sun had come out and we stood there roasting. Kind of like Melbourne really. And the band played music from Phamtom of the Opera which puts a whole new spin on things!! From there it was lunch in St.James park with the pigeons and squirrals (man they were sooo funny!!) then back on the train to the Tower of London. I actually went in this time. But I've decided I want to go back on my day off and do an actualy tour and hear all the stories. That was supposed to happen but we had an issue with a very rude Beefeater and I was tempted to go back and kick him in the shin, just to be mean. He really was horribly rude when there was no need to be. So the group sort of split and we went our own ways. Managed to catch the tail end of a reinactment of the beheading of Mary Queen of Scotts (minus the axe) and went in to see the Crown Jewels...Wow. That's some pretty shiny bling bling!!! Then went into the gift shop to stare at all the lovely things I can't afford!! I mean come on, £30 for a letter opener, that's like $90!!! Indeed it was nice, but still...

Sometime later a very tired session and Pax Lodge Staff (two of us) trotted back to have dinner. But no it didn't end there. Its at this point I became dishwashing Queen!! I tell you I wasn't going to dawdle and let dishes last an hour, no way. I was tired I wanted my room and I had a splitting headache. Half hour later we were already on mopping the floors! Go me!! Marie was very impressed. I think part of it was I wasn't going to let Keren push in like last time and take over. Grrr she really gets under my skin sometimes and drives me mad...Marie said I had my elbows poked out from my sides like I was protecting my turf. I was!! I am not a push over, I refuse to let that girl think she can play head honcho. I wouldn't mind if she did her own job properly, but she doesn't!! Okay, my gripes over.

After dishes was the closing ceremony of the session. I tell you it has been the best one yet. The groups mixed really really well and we were all given gifts and everything. It's the first group that has, I guess, made it more personal. Actaully, the reading I did at the last closing made an appearance again. Jewel asked if she could do the reading, but failed to do anything about it until yesterday afternoon at which point she's wanting to know where mine is so she can read it. I can't really say no. So I heard someone else read it (to different music) and while I know I would have paced it, lowered or spoke louder to emphasise, it wasn't all that bad. Didn't hold as much meaning, but it was okay. Then came evaluation and the prospect of dessert, which I passed on.

Bed, as I was soon to discover, was no where near being close. Admittedly I could have said no, but I was the one who was all for us socialising. Lets just say that Allison moved into her new room so she was having a 'Room Warming Party' which involved a deck of cards and some....um...beverages, sounds so much nicer. Mind you the glasses could have been a bit bigger...I soon realised I wasn't good at the card game. Five little glasses is not a good way to head, especially when they're different types of beverages...so the game changed to 'I have never'...and yeah, I don't really rememer things clearly after that. I mean I can remember things, but it's all a bit hazy. I think there was about six of us with the same issue, only Monique suffered badly!!

The HA's corridoor reaked this morning. The silly girl had so much to drink that she'd thrown up during the night but failed to clean it up....wasn't a great thing. Considering what I consumed, the worst I had was feeling a bit tired when I woke up. That's it. No sign of what I believe is known as a hangover. This is all such new language to me! So yes, Monique was on the recieving end of a lot of jokes today. I guess the bonus is that whatever they did learn about me that they didn't know before, they're not likely to remember!!

I'm hoping to have a few more photos up within the next couple of days, so when that's done I'll stick the link in an e-mail again and you can go have a look see. At this stage my next adventure is out to Oxford. Beyond that I've quit planning, I tend to do too much of that and it's nice not to know what's going on more than a few days in advance. Although I am hoping to miraculously have my days off in October occur at the begining of the month, or at least a day, so I can have a right old chin wag and catch up with my lovely daughter and the rest of the Hoath tribe!! And for those who have no idea, no I've never given birth and no I don't mean tribe as in wild people...well....nah! One of the Guiding families in the district is heading this way and staying here, I better make sure I do my job well!!

Other than that, there's not much more to tell!!! I know these get very long, but I don't know I get talking and I don't shut up. I guess I'm not used to not being able to talk to you all yet. It's funny how having a simple conversation with someone can be taken for granted too easily. *Sighs* that's okay, I think I'll go find Erin.

Hope you are all well and are staying safe and having fun.

For now I'm signing off and I'll catch you all next time I drop in for a chat.
Big hugs and smiles,
Rachael :-)