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On Sunday I met up with the old 372 gang and headed down to 'The Thatched House' in Hammersmith for a sunday roast. The place itself was very well layed out and did actually feel more like a cosy home then an actual pub. I guess it was a pub with table service so more like a restaurant then a pub. I arrived early with Mitch and managed to get a table close to the fire so it was really warm. When the others arrived we soon ordered and before we knew it a shoulder of lamb was on my table. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm Yum the meat just fell straight off the bon and went down a treat. I finished it up with some delicious ice cream.

It was great to catch up with everyone, but I was unable to see brett as he was working, so I will prob find time during the week to say farewell.

After lunch we headed back to the old 372 gang's new place in Hammersmith. Had a quick coffee etc then headed back home.

]]> General http://david.catterall.com.au/blog/index.php?itemid=365 Mon, 1 Dec 2008 23:10:20 +0400 http://david.catterall.com.au/blog/index.php?itemid=363
On Wednesday, Tim from the South Coast office came up to London so I could do a hand over and fill him in on anything before I left. It was also a good opportunity to head out for a group lunch as I have worked faily closely with Tim covering the networks in London and the South Coast.

For lunch we grabbed most of the people within out London Team and headed to Leicester Square for some quick Chinese food. Our place of choice is Wong Kei's. Its not the flashest of restaurants but the food is cheap and above all always good. Located on the end of China Town , its one place we can usually get to and from within a lunch break. After eating my delicious mixed seafood with Uton noodles we were soon back in the office.

The rest of the week appeared to be mini lunches or at least that was a good excuse. Darren one of the work collegues was taking off for South Africa, so it was a last drink with him before he headed home for a few months. We happened to find another pub/restaurant that serves italian food. Its probably the closest pub to the office, but you don't realise it is there until you actually go inside. Its a shame we didn't know about it earlier as the pool table is decent and the place is never too busy so you don't have to worry about it being crowded. Maybe a little too empty for our liking but still they do good pizza's. (The Nelson)

Friday, we headed out to the Prince of Wales Feather for another lunch, this is the place that we rarely eat food at , as its usually cold or takes for ever to turn up. Once again the food was no exception, cold..

Friday night was my actual farewell drinks from work, so after saying a few good byes around the office to those who couldn't attend we headed off to 'The Green Man'. The pub itself was only a short walk from the office, which made it convenient. Usually when we have visited it during lunch it is empty, however on a Friday night it was packed full. Not a bad place for a drink of several. I put some money on the bar for a tab and continued to celebrate my finishing up of work with a a handful of people from the office. Several hours later we decided to head off to the Beeradrome in Holborn, which was a belgium beer cafe. I wasn't exactly a big fan of the belgium beers after drinking bourbon most of the night, but I still managed to have something called a dilerium.

Got home very early in the morning, which once I got home would be the last time I would have to walk have to walk home instead of standing at the bus stop freezing whilst waiting for a bus that would have for ever to turn up.

Felt strange saying bye to the guys from work, I'm sure some of them I will see again, who knows...

]]> General http://david.catterall.com.au/blog/index.php?itemid=363 Sat, 29 Nov 2008 22:33:00 +0400 http://david.catterall.com.au/blog/index.php?itemid=361
On Friday night I did a little shopping on the way home before getting back in time to chill out a bit. I was expecting to have some packing boxes delevered for me, but for some reasone they didn't arrive. Damn shipping company. On Saturday morning it was a cold but sunny day outside and I wanted to get out and see some of London before the weather turned. I had a nice little birthday chat with Cass in the morning before I decided to get out with my camera and head up to Hamstead Heath.

In Hamstead Heath I was hoping to see all the leaves on the trees in their Autumn splender, however I has been meaning to get up there multiple times before Cass left and never found a nice day where it was convenient to go. So by the time I did make it up there , most of the leaves had already fallen from the trees. I still enjoyed the walk around and it was great to be out and about. I walked past the old home stead which was used in the filming of Notting Hill and down towards the Hamstead Heath Ponds. At one point I was passing the swimming holes and there were about a dozen people kitted up in their swimmers diving into the water. Brrrrrrrrrrrr it would have been F'n freezing, as I was cold just walking let alone swimming.

Eventually exited the parl on the opposite side that I had entered and caught a bus to Kings Cross station. From there I decided to go past Notting Hill markets as it would be one of the last times for me to see it. As usuall it was over croweded and had the same old antiques and market goodies. Nothing really worth buying but still good to vist the market now and again. Decided to grab a nice tomato olive foccacia for lunch which I ate as I journey'd back home/

That evening I ventured out for some birthday drinks. I wasn't planning anything special as most of my friends had already gone back home. But it was still good to have a few cocktails in Hammersmith. Leigh , Mitch, Peta, Brett and one of Peta's friends joined me for several cocktails. I had a good night and by the time I ventured home I was lucky to remember to collect all my belonging as I'm sure I can't remember picking them all up when I left.

On Sunday morning I wanted to sleep in but in the end didn't really sleep in much at all and was up lazying about the house by mid morning. When I stuck my head out the window I could see that snow had fallen over night, most of it had all melted and only the rooftops were still white.
Having a quick breakfast I spent the rest of the day bumming around as it wasn't exactly the nicest of days outside.

Hopefully things will warm up a little more by the time I get home.
]]> General http://david.catterall.com.au/blog/index.php?itemid=361 Mon, 24 Nov 2008 15:08:00 +0400 http://david.catterall.com.au/blog/index.php?itemid=359
Work is really starting to slow down for me now, with most of the tasks I used to complete being handed over to other people after I have trained them. But in total including tomorrow, I will only have 9 days of work left. Then a week to chill before flying out of here.

I've put my room up for rent on Gumtree this evening, but just need to add a few pictures to make it better, but wanted to get something out there at least. The sooner I find someone the better as I can then use some of the weekends I have left to travel around, otherwise I will have to stay in and show people the room. I'm really wanting to go somewhere for my birthday but so far won't make any bookings until I know what I'm doing.

Still need to arrange for my shipping boxes to send my stuff home, but I purchased a new suitcase, to help get my clothes etc to Hong Kong and then onto home. I didn't really want to carry my backpack around on the way home, besides I can fit things in the suitbcase much easier.

The weekend just past saw my flatmates James, Ange, Brett and Peta move out into a new share house in Hammersmith. It was really sad to see them move, as I have been living with them for over a year now and they were practically like family to Cass and I. They all wanted to move closer to central London and live it up a little more before they finally come home in a year or so. The rent will be much tougher but they found a great place which I'm sure they will enjoy.

Gave them all a hand moving on Saturday before we all headed down toe Bulushi's at Hammersmith to watch Australia beat England in the Rugby Union. It was a great game, but I think we were lucky to win it in the end as it did appear close early on.

Later that evening when I was back at home, two of our new flat mates, Mariarge and Domonic moved in. They are a French couple who appear really nice, but I will only get to know them for a few weeks. We also had another couple from NZ, Bridie and Owen move in on Sunday, they two seem a real awesome couple.

Peta dropped in on the Sunday before the new people moved in just to give her room a good clean out. She as she always does, did a fantasic job, even made the bed for them with fresh sheets.

Had my Software Engineering exam today out at the University of East London which was near Startford Tube. Didn't take too long to get out there and it was really easy to find. Sat in the library for some last minute catch up before grabbing a bite of KFC. I didn't want to get hunger rumbles in the exam which started at 13:30.

Met up with the exam coordinator Jill, who happened to be an aussie who has been living in the UK for 16 years. The university appeared to be doing major renovations to some parts of the campus, as the exams where held in some very noisy demountable. Jill appologised as we walked in as the security alarm was going off and drilling etc could be heard from outside. It was a little distracting but you could block most of it out. She even offered ear plugs saying that some people prefer to use them if they have trouble concentrating.

Though the room was small, and as mush as Jill tried to shush passing people that ignored the 'Exam in progress sign' for some reason my stomach didn't want to silence itself. It must have been the KFC squirming around in my belly, as every so often it would let out a loud swirming noise, which I'm sure everyone heard. Embarrasing as it was, I would cncentrate better if it went away, so got permission to do a bathroom run, where I was able to let of wind like a freight train, and came back to the exam and settled back in again.

The exam itself had most of the questions that I had been studying, however it did have a few that were new to me. But overall I fell like I have done well, but won't know for sure until the results come out. Fingers crossed anyway.

4 days of work left this week, its going to fly...]]> General http://david.catterall.com.au/blog/index.php?itemid=359 Tue, 18 Nov 2008 03:33:20 +0400 http://david.catterall.com.au/blog/index.php?itemid=357
The weekend itself wasn't any better, with it raining for the majority. I attempted to go an play some tennis with my flat mate Mitch, but the main courts were very wet and the tennis center closed. As we made it into the door the rain came down again.

On Saturday morning I was working from home, which filled in the wet morning, but I went out for dinner with Leigh in Shepherds Bush on Saturday night. We just tried out the new Fire and Stone pizza place just outside the new Westfields. I'm sure I have had better pizza's elsewhere. Though they tasted great, they didn't have much presentation going for them. They were also a liltle poor with the service, this was probably because it had only been open for a few weeks.

After dinner we caught up with a few of Leighs friends for a couple of drinks, before heading home.
Just as I waslked in the front door Litsy had only just arrived home. We watched a episode of heroes before heading to bed.

Sunday was a little nicer then Saturday, but by the evening it was raining again. I managed to get up the road to ASDA for some food shopping. Nice to get out of the house, but not really much you can do outdoors when its cold and wet.

Hopefully it fines up, as I don't have many weekends left in London.

Fingers Crossed.........]]> General http://david.catterall.com.au/blog/index.php?itemid=357 Mon, 10 Nov 2008 19:55:50 +0400 http://david.catterall.com.au/blog/index.php?itemid=355
On the way home I visited the fireworks shop in Acton, it wasn't the same shop that I visited last year. This time, the entire rear of the shop was setup as a fireworks displat area. There was so many to choose from it was hard to decide.

I grabbed what i could cary, which included some of the biggest rockets I have ever seen, and preceeded home.

I had to get the bus which was a bit of a challenge as I don't know if your are supposed to take fireworks on the bus, however I managed it and made it home with sore arms from all the carrying.

Later that evening we let them all off, in what became a fantastic display of fireworks. Some of the cakes were the best including the cherry soemthing cake which was probably the best. The rocket called the Whoppa deluxe prooved extra special as they shot into the air so high it was like they were not going to stop. We dedicated one of these rockets to Cass.

Overall it was a great night, with rockets and fireworks shooting all over the yard. Plenty of mes to clean up the nexy day.

]]> General http://david.catterall.com.au/blog/index.php?itemid=355 Wed, 5 Nov 2008 13:35:00 +0400 http://david.catterall.com.au/blog/index.php?itemid=353
During the week the Largest shopping Mall in Europe opened in Lodon's Shepherds Bush. Westfield has been planning this shopping centre for the past 20 years and On Thursday it finally opened. With a mixed response from locals and retailers I think over all its a great centre for the whole of London.

With most Londeners used to the High Street, the new Westfield gives the shopper a comfortable environment in which to shop that includes everything you would find in the high street without the bad weather or winter chill. To be able to wander from shop to shop without having to cross a single street is amazing.

Entering the shopping centre you are over welmed by the sheer size and distance that the entire complez covers. Just like most shopping malls back in Oz except the shops just keep going and going. The range covers for all, from the 'House of Fraser' and 'Luie Vutton' to the 'Marks and Sparks' and Boots. There is something for everyone, including some great restaurants and eating areas.

However, it appears to be the number one attraction in London at the moment, and every man and his dog is visiting Shepherds Bush. It was packed out on Thursday night and again packed out on Saturday. I think it was the worst mistake ever going to the new Westfield on a wet rainy day, for its first Saturday of shopping. Today, you could sum up every shop as the famous London queue ride, somthing you have to get used to in London. If you wanted to eat or buy something, go to the cash machine etc, you would have to queue for sometime before you got served. But today was worst then ever. So bad in fact that they shut Shepherds bush central line station due to overcrowding. Just to many people coming out of the station all going into the new Westfield. If they were going to be setting retail shopping records then today would have been the day. Wet weather outside and people looking for something to by inside, so many people in fact you always felt you were walking through a crowd. Hopefully in a few weeks time after the novelty wares off, it may quiten down a little.

After finishing up working from home, my flat mate Mitch and I headed to Westfield to check it out, and t grab some lunch. By the time we got sick of the crowds t became veru difficult yo get home. She Bu tube was closed so we had to get the bus, Grabbed some pies from Jumbucks and decided to get the 95 bus home. Probably a bad mistake as we should have gotten off at white City as the traffic was so bad thet it took twice as long to get homr.

Eventually made it though, and was able to put the oven on for the extra pies I had bought frozen. mmmmm, I have eaten about 4 meat pies tonight in sloe successeion. Yum , they are really good Aussie Pies.

Still a wet miserable night, so staying in and having a few JD's.

Hopefully tomorrow will be a little better, but still have to see.]]> General http://david.catterall.com.au/blog/index.php?itemid=353 Sun, 2 Nov 2008 02:14:08 +0400 http://david.catterall.com.au/blog/index.php?itemid=351
Even now as I look outside about 11pm there is a thick layer of snow on my window ledge, don't think it will be around long, but its sure making it a little colder as a sprinkle of snow arrives. Nice to see some before I get hom to summer.]]> General http://david.catterall.com.au/blog/index.php?itemid=351 Wed, 29 Oct 2008 04:35:01 +0500 http://david.catterall.com.au/blog/index.php?itemid=349
Managed to have a great chat with Cass and she had been to my cousin Diane Wedding. It was great to chat and find out how things went. I wish I could have gone to the wedding as well, but everyone seems to be getting married at the times where its impossible for me to get too. Oh well, I'll be at the next one I'm sure.

]]> General http://david.catterall.com.au/blog/index.php?itemid=349 Wed, 29 Oct 2008 04:32:05 +0500 http://david.catterall.com.au/blog/index.php?itemid=347
The train ride to Geneva from Lausanne takes about 40 mins. This time I was lucky enough to get a nice train and even managed to have a 6 seater cabin to myself. Nice and relaxing to look out the window as we went along.

Once in Geneva, I walked straight down to the lake to check on the cruise times, With time up my sleave I elected to explore the lake side first. Starting along the Northern Side I explored the area that appeared to contain a swimming centre, where you could swim in the lake. As it was out of season it wasn't open for swimming, but it was open for a lunch time eating place, it was very popular too. Though the place was closed for swimming it didn't stop a few people who were brave enough to still take a dip. The wharf like swimming area extended from its baths and diving board area to a small point which contained a pebly beach and a lighthouse at then end. This was a great vantage point that over looked the lake towards the water fountain.

Next I ventured past the 4 seasons hotel and across the narrow end of the lake and into the old town of Geneva. Some of the streets were very medievil looking with their stone work.
Back down to th river again I explored along the southern side, and walked out to where the fountain was. You couldn't go to far unless you wanted to get really wet. As I had my camera with me I decided to stay dry.

Found a nice Lake criuise , that took me around the lake showing where the League of nations , botanical gardens and many famous villa's and palaces were along the lake. I had a great seat at the back of the boat which other people soon realised was better then their vantage point and had to come and join. Was getting some good photo's until they turned up.

After the cruise I still had plenty of time to spare so I decided to walk all the way to the botanical gardens. Didn't see much really apart from nice gardens but there was a really cool merry-go-round, I've put a picture of it in my gallery.

Returned back to the station and headed on the 5mins train ride to the airport.

Low and behold EasyJet was again delayed by an hour. so I didn't venture back into London untl after the last tube. Had to get the train which didn't leae until about 1am, then a bud from Hamstead to liverpool street. Got to liverpool street about 2:30 where I decided to get a taxi or risk not getting hom until about 4am, which is not good on school night.

Good trip,, damn easy juet delays.]]> General http://david.catterall.com.au/blog/index.php?itemid=347 Sun, 19 Oct 2008 04:10:00 +0500