Lost for words

Hey all!

I have begun to get rather keen (again) on the idea of setting up a website. I'd like to have one easyplace where I could locate my reviews, travel stories, blog, and resume-type stuff.

Any of you internet-savvy people out there know of a good free (or at least very cheap because I'm poor) website building/hosting programe? I'm investigating freewebs.com and bravenet.com, but I can never find a template I like, and I don't really have the html skills to build one myself.

This returning preoccupation with a new website has kept me from writing much here - that and the fact I've been working fairly constantly for two weeks. I did a stint at (ta-dah) the ABC last week, which was fantastic experience. I'm back at 4BC for five weeks doing nights and weekends, which suits me well at the moment as I'm still trying to set up the apartment. I'm also back doing my movie reviews - tune in on Wednesdays at around 2:30pm on 1116AM to hear me. I'm not sure what will happen next month after my casual stint here finishes, but I remain very optimistic about my employment prospects!

In other news, Greg has successfully applied to uni, and will be starting his Bachelor of Education in about a month's time. I'm so proud of him. ;) And next week I get a brief chance to re-experience the joys of travel, when I jet up to Daydream Island for my friend Jax's wedding. After getting burned attending an Invasion Day march last week, I'll be avoiding the sun!

Cheers, Natalie.

Back in Briz Vegas

Just a quick update to say yes! Hello! I am back, baby!

A full round-up will follow as soon as I've successfully moved into my flat (the process having started within two hours of actually landing), and gotten over a terrible flu-bug-lurgy-thingy I picked up during our last days in Glasgow.

But everything is good, glad to be back, happy to be moving, and can't wait to see y'all soon. My mobile is on and working if you need to contact me.

New Years and Fond Farewells

New Year's Eve went off without a hitch - well, for us anyway. Hundreds of thousands of other U.K. residents had the kybosh put on their plans with massive storms and pounding winds cancelling public celebrations in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Liverpool, Newcastle and Belfast.


But we were instead happily ensconced in St Andrews In the Square, an old Glasgow church done up for a festive ceilidh. We did have a time getting there - the rain and wind were so strong it took all my strength (and balance, in 3-inch stilettos) to propel myself forward. Once there, though, we had a lovely time - chatting with Debbie and Eoghann's friends (including the ever-so-fabulous Julie who you can see there in the photo with Deb and I), dancing away to the 'Gay Gordon' and 'Strip the Willow', and munching down on haggis and clapshot.



I must however briefly mention the disturbing effect the haggis had on me. Not twenty minutes after I'd finished eating I began feeling terribly ill. The nausea became so strong I was in the end compelled to rush downstairs to the ladies' room and - as Debbie so delicately puts it - 'upchuck my guts'. I certainly hadn't expected to see the haggis again so quickly. Within a few minutes however, I felt much much better. The ironic thing is that it was poor Greg who was initially feeling under-the-weather on New Year's Eve, having contracted some sort of 'Say Goodbye to the Mother Country' bug in the preceding few days. And despite the fact I drank nothing stronger than a Coca-Cola all night, I was the one who threw up. Further proof life has a sense of humour.



We all hugged and kissed and sang Auld Lang Syne at midnight; and after a final round of drinks headed back to Wes' fabulous tenement flat for more drinks, nibblies, music and chat. Greg, Debbie, Eoghann and myself eventually stumbled home and into bed sometime before 4am I think. But it was nae bother; we spent the Monday doing absolutely sweet bugger-all.



Today we've been packing and preparing for our sad farewell to Scotland, and Europe in general really. That's right; we're off home - via Dubai for a couple of days to break up the journey. Hopefully I'll be able to post from there - I'd love to give my impressions of the place. I have had such a wonderful time with Debbie and Eoghann though - it's really quite horrible to leave. Once I get my thoughts together, I will write a proper post to thank everybody along the way who's made this adventure so fun and fulfilling. But for now it's cheers to the Scottish crew and remember: If it's not Scottish, it's crap!



I hope everyone who reads this here blog (and I guess everyone who doesn't as well) had a very happy New Year celebration. I really do hope 2007 brings good health, good vibes and good friends to all. My New Year's resolution at this stage is pretty much just 'Get a haircut and get a real job', so we'll see how that pans out!

Ready to put the 007 in 2007

That's right people. 2007 is going to be my year, and you know why? Because it's got 007 in it, that's why. Expect every party or gathering I hold this coming year to include something James Bond-ian about it.


Anyway, Happy New Year to all, especially the Australians, who - being so far ahead of the rest of the world - have already celebrated the turning of midnight. It's about 4:30pm Scotland time as I write this, and we're at Debbie and Eoghann's place, snacking, watching TV, and starting to think about maybe getting ready for tonight's 'cailedh', a traditional Highland Fling we're all off to.


This afternoon we all trekked off to 'Xscape', a big adventure park at Braehead on the outskirts of Glasgow. For £30 each, Eoghann and I went skiing (well, he actually went snowboarding 'cause he's cool) on their indoor ski slope. It was much fun, but I do admit to being a tad bored after a while. The slope was nice, but only took my about 30 seconds to speed down (24 was my P.B.). Next they need to build an indoor black run, yeah!


The past few days all up have been very relaxing. I've been wandering the streets of Glasgow's main shopping district looking for post-Christmas sale bargains, but I haven't actually bought as much as I planned/wanted to. I guess my subconscious is nagging at me - 'You've got to pay bills once you get home!'. Still, it's been nice to just be 'at home', so nice in fact that yesterday on the bus I actually had a moment of 'But I don't wanna go back to Australia!'. The reality of the end of our big adventure being almost here just hit me. I really don't know what I'll do once I get back - it's lucky then that I have the twin concerns of finding a job and kitting out my flat to occupy me! Once that's sorted, it'll be time to start planning the next trip, which may just happen around the same time as when NASA sends people to Mars. ;)

Ah, well. Time to go off and start the grooming process. For anyone who's interested, here's a shot of Greg and I getting ready:





Amazing how much we resemble a pair of Barbary Macaque apes from Gibraltar, isn't it?!?!