Well,
Four weeks overseas has come to an end and I am now firmly ensconced back at home in Bendigo after getting back home at midnight on Friday.
My sleep patterns are totally out of whack, and after waking at 4.30 in the morning I stayed in bed until 6.00 and then I thought that might be deemed a reasonable time to get up and try not to wake the other half.
Today has been spent having a relaxing breakfast in town with Jen, popping in to visit my sister and her family, then getting some much needed exercise to feed my addiction!!
I also got to have a small spin on the new motorbike bought today by my niece's boyfriend. It was still only in 1st gear around their backyard, but it only renewed my desire to get another bike of my own.
I have really mixed emotions after this trip.
One part of me was really looking forward to getting back home to see my wife and two other sons, as I really like to be around my family.
Another part of me wanted to stay in England as I would still be able to catch up with our eldest boy, Sam, as I really miss him now that he lives and works in London.
And another part of me still wanted to travel around as I just love it so much.
I have been so lucky to have travelled a fair bit over the past five years, and the bug has not left me. If anything, it has only grown bigger!!
Spending a few weeks in London, the north of England, the south-east of England, and ten days in Helsinki, I have seen so much, met the most lovely people and learnt many things that hopefully will benefit my school in Strathfieldsaye, and hopefully, others.
Upon reflecting about my travels, many things really stick in my mind. Some are fairly significant that others might relate to, others are the minute details of my daily observations, as I am someone who likes to observe the daily goings on of the countries I visit.
Some of these include...
- In London, traffic lights mean nothing. If there are no cars coming, just cross the road.
- It pays to look in the opposite directions when crossing the roads in Finland!
- The absolute silence one experiences on the Tube in London, even when it is totally jampacked.
- The shock of seeing policemen and policewomen toting machine guns on the street in London.
- Walking the streets and hearing all sorts of languages being spoken.
- Despite the cold, the people in Helsinki are just out and about as if it is a warm day.
- Officials in Helsinki ( eg at the airport) are serious. VERY serious!
- You can be in a supermarket in both countries and amongst the usual items in the refrigerated section you will find every sort of beer!
- Walking along cobblestone streets is not good for someone with dodgy ankles.
- Hotel rooms in London are small and compact, and that's putting it mildly. Maybe it was just the ones that I chose.
- The noises that are distinctive of each city. London- the sounds of the buses and the taxis in the street. Helsinki - the ravens in the street, haunting.
- The crunch of snow under my feet while walking through Helsinki.
- Being cold all the time, despite my warm clothes.
- Feeling safe walking the streets at night wherever I went.
- The people in the streets of Sheffield generally looked sad and miserable.
I could go on and on, more keep coming to me at all times of the day, but they will be the things that combine to make this trip so memorable.
Some of my favourite photos taken while away...
A row of swans swimming up a canal in Lincoln, northern England.
On Westminster Bridge near Big Ben. By far my favourite spot in London. I could just stand here for hours and watch the world go by.
The sun setting on the Thames.
Big Ben at dusk.
The Houses of Parliament at dusk.
Outside the Novello Theatre where I saw Mamma Mia, my favourite show.
The Tower Bridge, it looks majestic from any angle.
The building where our son Sam works.
Meeting Sam at the Borough Market for lunch.
While walking around London one day, I lost my way. I looked up to find a street name and found this shop opposite me. Was it pure coincidence that it was this girl's birthday as well? She is the daughter of our very close friends, and sadly, we lost her 6 years ago.
Out with Sam to watch a soccer game at his local.
One of the meandering streets in Plymouth.
At the Plymouth lighthouse. Perhaps I should have stood more to the left or right?
The people actually swim down there. This is the sea baths at plymouth.
A hot chocolate I got in Torquay. Normally I wouldn't go for the trimmings, but as it was so cold and windy, I just went for them.
At a school in Exeter. I got excited to see the effects of sleet! Little would I know I would see much more than this in Helsinki.
My seats for Mamma Mia. I had this balcony entirely to myself.
My first glimpse of Finland.
Standing on the frozen inlet outside my hotel.
On the ice.
A 360 view from the ice.
At the market, cooking up a fish dish that I ate.
This is the end product, guts and heads included!!
Possibly the nicest hotdog I have eaten, a Moose hotdog.
I just stepped out the front door of my hotel one morning to be greeted by this beautiful view.
Snow falling, the view from my room.
I had just walked down this track to get to a school I was visiting in Espoo.
The escalators on the tube are steep to say the least.
Believe it or not, this is chocolate.
Not sure if the life ring would be needed when the water is frozen!
The view from the gym on a sunny day.
Senate Square in Helsinki.
Part of the Harbour that was not frozen.
These pastries were nearly the death of me, just beautiful!!
And what does one do when it is 2 degrees and the sun is shining? Have coffee with your friends.
These boys were doing the sauna/swim thing.
Another view from the gym.
The plane getting de-iced before flying out from Helsinki.
Another plane being de-iced.
Eating the mother of all burgers with Sam at the Lord Nelson.
Oxford Street at night, looking from Piccadilly Circus.
Leicester Square at night.
The theatre where Sam and I went and saw 'The Book of Mormon'.
At the theatre with sam.
Just before parting ways for the last time after seeing 'The Book of Mormon'.
Having tea with Sam and his housemate Jase.
The skies above London are constantly full of planes.
A boat has just been through to clear a path through the ice.
Maybe it's just the angle, but it looks like this bloke is picking a winner.
One of the many rows of houses in Exeter.
Walking into Paddington Station, I had to go through the gauntlet of smokers having a dart before they catch their respective trains.
It's so hard to choose which photos to put in, because every photo should be in here because I took them for the reason that I wanted a record of the things I was seeing, and photos are records of the things that we value and count.
My head is still spinning two days after getting home, and it will no doubt take a good deal of time to come down from the enormous high I have experienced as a result of this trip.
I'm still finding it hard to come to the realisation that it is over, as it was something that had been planned so long in advance, and something that I was really looking forward to.
It is not lost on me that I now have to consider how I am going to use what I have learnt for the benefit of my school. It won't work if I just say to people"Try this"or "Try that". There has to be an intent and purpose for introducing new ideas, and also in helping others to see how these ideas might be useful. To go on a trip like this and then not make every effort to implement these new learnings is just not an option.
Until my next post...
Cheers.
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