Geneva

Clean, developed and organised, Geneva initially impresses me. But going down hill from there, my highlight, the Palace of Nations(European UN headoffice) is closed for two weeks. The price of food is shocking, never mind the hotels. One big bonus is free transport all around Geneva with the tourist card from the hotel, and free travel from the airport (from the ticket machine in baggage collection).

Chocolate - wow, the Swiss know how to make this stuff, I had no self control and continued to eat until the packet was finished, after only sharing a little. Jet d eau is pretty impressive, pumping water 130m into the sky, I had to check the scale twice. The arty Christmas lights are fun too.

Budapest

Three days were not enough to explore the wonder that is Budapest. Staying on the Buda side of the Danube, meant that the hotel had the best views of Buda hill.

A quaint Christmas Market in Vörösmarty tér, the main square, was filled with handmade goodies and offered food and drink to warm me. The architecture is amazing and building after building wowed.

When the cold had chilled me to the bone I went off Széchenyi Gyógyfürdő spa. The outdoor pool allowed the enjoyment of the falling snow and natural thermal spa simultaneously. An absolutely amazing experience.

My favourite market was in the Millenium building behind Mammut Shopping Centre. It showcased local designers': clothing, furniture, food and accessories.

Munich Christmas Markets

Munich was dripping with Christmas cheer last week. Marienplatz, Krippelmarkt and 48 other Christmas sites dotted all over the old town. Sauerkraut met(with)flesch was delish! Snacks also included lebkuchen and those tasty red sausages.

Masses of wooden toys and decorations on sale, bee products and sculptured nativity scenes.

Venturing a bit further, to Tollwood Christmas Market/fair, was fantastic. It's hippy style, being carbon neutral and lots of organic, green choices drew a funky crowd.

Dub linh

Visiting this Irish city proved easy with super cheap Ryanair flights from Standstead. In the 4 days there I soaked up enough sunlight hours reserved for the whole of December (according to Lonely Planet).

This well funky little city drew me in... Cornucopia on Wicklow St fed me wholefoods deluxe. Soups and pasta bakes, magnificent(I use that word without exaggeration) varieties of the freshest salads. The locals swarm the place and it lived up to its name.

Hoards of gold had my crow eyes glistening during my visit to the National Museum. Bog bodies laid to rest in rooms resembling Celtic tombs, showed a reverent preservation of history and culture. The vicious Vikings had their own display - I would love to take my year 7 class here on excursion. There's nothing like stories of blood and guts to hold my attention.

Walking amongst the Irish, I feel some sense of belonging with my pallor, freckles and hair.

Best things about snow

The snow has disrupted travel all around England, but I can't help but love it. The soft icy flakes, turn to crunch and crisp underfoot. Snowball fights, building little snowmen on the lawn and tasting snowfall on my tongue are some of the things that I love to do...

With no pitter patter to warn me, I awake to find an alien landscape of white velvet. I can't stop grinning as I walk to work, my black coat coating in a fine icy dust. Numbing cold seems worth it now. I am dying to catch up on all the snow play I have missed in my childhood but dreaded OH&S stops the children from outside play today.

Then rain melts the wonderful winter wonderland, and I must chase the cold elsewhere... Germany perhaps?

Italian/Greek Odyssey

London

Murder in your street: if you have any details contact the police immediately. That was the first of 2 shocks since I’ve been back in London in an as many days. Then a stranger hands me a day paid transport ticket at 11am yesterday. I am reminded that London has a history of murderers and politeness. Working backwards my holiday ended in...

Venice

Sing, dance or swim my way through Venezia? Crossing the Grand Canal on a taxi, crammed into the space so that we are standing awkwardly, I decide definitely NOT to swim, partly from the funky smells. This is a city of masks and canals, romantic couples, wedding parties, and exorbitant food prices, a coffee on Piazza San Marco for €10. Vivaldi was born here and ode to his composing expertise, a performance of the Four Seasons is in order. What a good way to end my Italian/Greek Odyssey.

Bologna

The most amazing food ever, raw, processed or cooked. Photographing fruit and vegetables at the market was so fun, the brightest colours, juicy, plump, vibrant and fresh as ever. Who could have guessed Bolognese from Bologna? The cured meats were deluxe but my husband wasn’t too keen on Mortadella. Enjoyed an outdoor table where the vibrant waiter explained the difference between Tortellini and Tortelloni.

Florence

Firenze has shown me the famous perfect bodies of Michelangelo’s David and Botticelli’s Birth of Venus. Thank you Firenze! A walk up the hills reveals the romantic skyline and I am inspired by the artsy folk sketching at bridges, sculptures and inside galleries.

Pisa

Standing with my back to Pisa I gaze at the crowd, masses of people looking overbalanced with their compulsory leaning pose. Should I follow the trend and bow to peer pressure? Later on the other side of town a distressed, lost, French tourist stops me and exasperated at my inability to speak French gesticulates wildly asking “le torre, le torre”. The art here was the best: Joan Miro exhibition, wacky street murals and the giant Keith Haring public mural.

Sienna & Volterra

Transport me into a medieval world. Gazing up at the buildings on the Piazza fills me with wonder, dated from 1100 AD, I am awed by the history before me. In comparison, Volterra interests me for modern reasons. Scenes from New Moon, a love tale where Bella strives to save her soul mate Edward from exposing his true identity and sure death, excite my romantic side. In the freezing wind I walk in the footsteps of these novel characters.

Naples

Rubbish, stink and dog poo. And all I really wanted to meet was the godfather “leave the gun, take the cannelloni.” (Clemenza to Rocco in The Godfather) Highlights were... a trip to Pompeii & Vesuvius and another day away in Sorrento. Historic remains of a violent volcano and the latter a holiday town of cobbled streets and pretty boutiques.

Salerno

Bunny hopped my way to the Amalfi Coast after a delicious and cheap self service lunch of, as always, fresh, crunchy mozzarella and bruschetta. Lonely planet guides suggested a bus ride to/from Amalfi, part death defying- part hilarious with the constant honking.

Rome

History deluxe deluxe, even I needed a nap on the grass on the Palatine Hill, the archaeologist guide around the Coliseum adding a rich background and detail. Staying at Stella’s B&B supplied my Italian mamma. And the Italian(or German if you’re pedantic) papa, the Pope coincidentally was addressing the crowd as I neared the Vatican.

­Athens

This city contains the most amazing embassy ever, excellent service, where they replaced my stolen passport in 3 hours! The rocky outcrop beside the Acropolis where Paul preached to the Romans is free to visit and provided a peaceful moment after the turmoil of the last week.

Santorini

The sheer size of the Volcano is impossible to imagine until the enormous ferry sails through the caldera and I am totally stunned, and happy that there was no reawakening during my visit. No hope of survival against one of the world’s largest explosive volcanoes.

Ithaca

Due to a genealogical research project, a visit to the small island of just 3000 inhabitants is in order. Vathy, the capital, has a picturesque bay with a hotel on the water. I have this fantastic idea howsabout we hire a car and drive to the other villages, and then stop at the Odyssey Archaeological site and lock my bag in the car? Dumb dumb dumb, when returning to the car to notice the smashed glass, bag stolen with not only my purse and phone but my PASSPORT inside. Frantic I start yelling police (forgotten the Greek version already). I am impressed with the locals; they are helpful and caring even to a hysterical tourist. I now know the Ithacan police well and would visit this sleepy Island again...

­The beginning of my holiday as it starts in Athens recorded below.

­

Let the Parthenon Sculptures go!

First hours in Athens, and with excitement we explored along the city streets. A man shooting up in an alley and another exposing himself quickly brought my romantic view of things back to earth and revealed the darker side of city life.

Museums can be a chore if they involve work, but viewing the "mask of Argamemnon" and Linear B tablets were sheer delight as I retold the importance and meaning they had to me. Similarly watching the Parthenon lit up at night, from my dinner table inspired my love for History. Lord Elgin must have felt the same as he first gazed up at the friezes, sculptures and metopes that he then decided to "take" for safe keeping. With angry tones a tour guide mentioned the missing pieces now present in the British Museum.

Fresh figs and sweet yellow grapes were my choice of fast food. Greek sweet: Baklava was served in a door stopping wedge that I couldn't possibly finish, even when I did. Moussaka, Koupepia, Houlomi, Greek Salad, Kepab and Souvlaki were my ambitious olympic relay race.

Friendly and vivacious Athenians have welcomed me here.

Next to experience life outside of the city...

bleached and beached

Brilliant white clouds stare at me from outside my second storey window. It's squint-tastic out. A truely faded and washed-out day.

Is winter really back with a vengeance? I am sitting in my lounge room, with my overcoat on wondering what to do next. No agencies have called, so no work today. Shopping is an option, but do I really want to hit the town, without having earned anything for six weeks?

Greece and Italy are looking rosier and greener every moment. Lonely Planet guides call me from their pile beside the sofa. How about climbing to the awe aspiring acropolis or a vaporetto ride down the grand canal. I can't wait :)

These holidays have not been unfruitful, I have learned that:

Exploring London at dusk is amazing, especially from Tower Hill underground station, grab some grub and walk down to the water beside the Tower of London, on a beautiful clear day the sunset is amazing.

Dover is a delightful little place, and the chalky cliffs are quite impressive.

When booking tickets for the Globe Theatre, one can register as a Lord, Lady, Duchess, Princess etc., wonder if I will have to prove it when I collect those tickets!

In my home town

There's no place like home, no matter where I go, there's just something about Cape Town that draws me in and I struggle to escape it's clutches.

From visiting Lion's Head, Signal Hill and Table Mountain, to walking on the beach in Camps Bay and cafeing in Glen Cairn. My family try and entice me to remain. I cannot deny that the people here are absolutely amazing. Strangers help you and the camaraderie is unique, everyone is happy and greets you with a smile. The weather is absolutely fabulous, high twenties and it's WINTER!! Londoners eat your heart out.

But family and friends are my greatest magnet and when I'm here I am not sure how I coped without them at all.

ooooooo Jamie Oliver

White knuckled fists gripped my stomach. I awoke with groans and rumblings. But my memories of Jamie's Italian are completely pleasurable. Breakfast was almost forgotten because of the sheer quantity eaten last night.

Antipasto starter balanced on tomato tins filled the table's centre. Crusty breads dripping with sweet olive oil and balsamic along with large-creamy-fresh-green olives. Order something simple I repeat to myself and order a burger. Amazing tower of freshness and delicious flavours, I almost couldn't finish it, but determined to enjoy the last morsel I forced those last few bites. Dessert was more confusing, each option screamed to be chosen. But when the chocolate brownie arrived it was the envy of the table. Warm and moist, a crunchy amaretto dusted crust accompanied by bourbon vanilla ice cream.

Excellent.

So how are you really doing?

Since living in London, I have answered that question in a variety of ways: just fine, very well, enjoying it. So here's the whole truth.

Tonight I had a long bath. I read a book. I watched TV. In my home with frames and doors that hang at a slant, an inconsequential fireplace, windows that don't open and somewhat imperfectly finished.

Living in East London is mostly delightful, with cosmopolitan inhabitants, I'm always inhaling the sweet, spicy and fragrant, bubbling cooking. Although parks are few, they are well tended, especially suited to young children (of which I have none). There is a wealth of transport, buses on my doorstep (next street) and tube lines are in abundance (our favourite District Line is continually down).

Gazing at the sculptures and paintings at Tate Modern, exploring shopping wonders in Oxford Street, being part of the vibe in Hyde Park or visiting Greenwich and ferrying to London Eye never tires me. Central London has so much to offer that I soak in as much as possible as often as possible.

My pick of international airports Gatwick, Heathrow, Stansted, London City and Luton are at the ready to flutter me off to my next destination. I am looking forward to Greece and Italy...

Fault finding reminds me that going home to Australia is imminent but enjoying all the wonders is absolutely essential.

Growers Market in London

Fresh, raw milk, in its creamy, silky natural state. Thick globs of pure cream floats on my coffee and my five year-old self calling it icecream - so terribly naughty and wonderful. Freshly baked carrot cake and crispy crunchy organic apples.

Friendly faces and lovely, clean, pure air swirls around me as I walk through Marylebone Grower's Market. "I can choose my own eggs?" I ask the vendor, dumbfounded, and smile as I reach to choose gorgeous farm fresh chicken eggs and load my egg boxes. I go back for a second helping to the stall of baked items, then green salad items, watercress and spinach, aubergine, rosemary, leek, cucumber: grocery items deluxe.

I convince my husband to return with me every Sunday after that... I cannot imagine buying these items from a supermarket with its bright florescent lighting and isles of processed, packaged, chemically enhanced goods with it's magnitude of plastic, tin, cardboard and paper that will empty into my trash...

"the twisted heart"

Peeling myself off the lounge, the book drops to the carpet. Finished. Ah the feeling of walking in another's shoes is freeing and it's therapy is deep and long lasting. Rebecca Gowers extends herself in this fictional piece exemplifying life's cruelty amid the beauty of a growing confusing relationship.

I am reading my way through the Europe...

IKEA is a country

Without the privilege of travelling outside your home country, one can have a distorted view of the world. Comparing your quality of lifestyle or the differences in culture through exploration and adventure can give an enhanced awareness of humanity.

I am not speaking from experience however, I have only explored but a tip of the iceberg, if that. True explorers vary the cultures and continents they visit, from South America to Central Africa, Europe and Asia.

I do however, especially pity all those who have not visited the country of IKEA. It owns soil all over the world and offers relief from stress and boredom of normality. No matter where you are from, your currency will have a strong buying power.

The styles in homes of this nation follow rigid patterns, but the inhabitants are arty and creative. They love candles, with sweet scents, like apple & cinnamon pie, or vanilla ice-cream. The food is delicious and very affordable, my favourite delicacy being the Daim Cake.

Leaving IKEA today I carried the customary blue bag filled with a host of curios ready to take me back to my experiences there, like any good tourist.

Monet and Abstraction

What better way to spend a rainy, windy day in Madrid than to visit the art exhibitions featuring Monet and Abstraction? Especially a sleepy Sunday afternoon.

Walking from Anton-Martin Metro, the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum is worth the effort and €8. It was a 40min wait to enter the exhibition which I spent rummaging through their Art Store, which could be the most well stocked art curio store ever. I ran from curio to book to artwork, while my thoughts screamed, "I want this, I want this!" A is for Rhinoceros by Harriet Russell; the Anti Colouring Book by Susan Striker & Edward Kimmel and a book on how to make books were just some of my favourites. There were material dolls of Picasso and Monet. And some gorgeous jewellery pieces inspired by major artworks. A M A Z I N G

My favourite Monet water-lily artwork? : The water-lily pond 1917-1919, why? The shades, hues, rough application and crudeness of the brush strokes, the variegation, texture and weighting, the vertical and horizontal pull, the way it is both dark and dull but also bright and vibrant. It begins to demonstrate his divergence from his movement into abstraction and the difference from his other water-lily paintings is obvious.

Walking from Sol metro North East along a cobbled road, turning right at the church and then left I reached Fundacion Caja Madrid. Gratis(free). It is the second part of the exhibition and completes the examination of Monet and his links to Abstraction. I particularly enjoyed watching Monet paint in the video by Sacha Guitry, Monet pitando en su jardin de Giverney. Monet's study of his subject was so intense, he stared as his subject and only glanced at his artwork to daub his paintbrush. His was wholly focussed on what he saw.

Gerhard Richter's Abtract artworks were particularly interesting and I would like to have exposed my art class to many of his pieces, the dragging, scraping techniques, always revealing former brighter hues. His paintings have their own glow and emit a light of their own, they show careful composition.

I could sit and enjoy Monet's: Iris amarillos(yellow) for hours.

In the development of the Japanese bridge, it is evident that for Monet the subject doesn't change - he does, perspective, time of day, mood, choice of representation, it's all about choice.

Students ask: So was he just going blind?

I know what I need to attempt

Salad Recipes

Courtesy of Sandwich and friends:
#1
wild rice & white rice
sliced roast chicken
fresh sliced mushrooms
pistachios
spices & vinaigrette dressing
#2
sliced roast chicken
pomegrate seeds
sliced roast pear
watercress
nuts
spices & vinaigrette dressing

Travel Tips

less than an expert on anything travel but this is what I found:

Montpellier, France
Splendiferous French city, a hotel on the tram line connects you with the entire area. Older part of the city is filled with stone streets, quaint squares, and street side cafes. Get a 7 day TaM pass for €13.20, which allows you unlimited travel. At night there are some dodgy areas and be more cautious especially any unlit streets. For shopping fancies the old part of the city contains a myriad of boutiques which are sustained by the wealthier occupants of the city. For average stores take the blue tram line to Odysseum, there you will find a wide range including an IKEA, and a Casino MEGA supermarket. Had to phone my husband three times as we kept losing each other just in the grocery store. Well manicured gardens lined with their kaleidoscopic flowers so intrigued me.

Perpignan, France
A week is sufficient time to explore this little city. The 20min bus trip to the beach is definitely worth the effort, markets on Saturdays with fresh fruit and the usual wares. Really enjoyed having a salade at a beach front restaurant. Buses are cheap and for €1 you can visit villages surrounding the area. The Majorque Castle on the hill was free the Sunday we visited, they had an open archaeological dig and a fantastic view of the city from the tower.

My favourite dish is now the salad everything is fresh made to order (surprise surprise). I will have to put those recipes up soon, I can't wait to make them for all my friends.

delectable dishes & flavoursome foods

Biting into a crispy, crunchy baguette whilst strolling down a cobbled path is the picture of a day in Montpellier. Macaroons, a biscuit sandwich of mouthwatering flavour, crunchy outer with a soft, smooth and creamy interior are enjoyed with a cafe(coffee). Other sweets include chocolat au pain(a chocolate croissant) amongst many pastries that titillate my tastebuds. Fresh fruit and chocolate are plentiful and are difficult to resist(if I must).

I have to agree that Cuisse de grenouilles(frogs legs) taste somewhere between fish and chicken and are rather tasty at that. It is my experience that the French care deeply about their food. Each meal has been well-seasoned and gratifying whether fast food from a kiosk or a more extravagant meal.

Crispy waffles were a highlight in Belgium, the syrupy sticky sweetness was absolutely delicious if not toothaching. Amsterdam had scrumptious waffles of its own. Thin wafer-like waffle biscuit sandwiches, filled with a buttery syrup that melts when left resting on your cafe for a few minutes.

I am feeling so hungry now...

Me the Spoilt Brat

Dutch waffles in Amsterdam, a visit to Hema and a walk through the infamous glowing district. Waffles, chocolate and pancakes in Brussels and an exploration of its funky vibe and many churches. Eiffel Tower by night, Notre Dame, viewing the Mona Lisa at the Louvre and eating in the Latin Quarter in Paris so far, aren't I the lucky bugger. I am enjoying myself so much that I feel I must be a brat of sorts to be so spoilt! Yet I push on to enjoy some more...

Saint Pierre de Montmartre church, surrounded by a warm spring day attracted the likes of us (and hundreds of others) to its beautiful gardens and we enjoyed the variety of live entertainment from its steps, street dancers, magicians and bands. Inside the basilica the mosaics were particularly magnificent, especially Christ in Majesty and The Sacred Heart worshipped by the Virgin Mary, Joan of Arc and St. Michael the Archangel which is the largest in the world.

Irises and Daffodils

Contemplating His creation of the English countryside, God in his mercy and wisdom created Daffodils and Irises to spring forth from grassy knolls to cut through the grey rainy and forever dull induced days. I am constantly more convinced that the African and Australian landscape has so much beauty to offer, the explosion at sunset, deep blue-green ocean and orange sands. I promise to no longer experience jealousy when I inspect the famous English artists with the gorgeous foliage at their fingertips. I will strive to enjoy the beauty and appreciate the diversity.

WOW

Ever get tired of hearing "Miss Miss" all day?

Using teacher's first names worked fantastically at a school this week. The students in year 6 were so eager to learn, they listened attentively, wrote wonderfully. The atmosphere in the school was amazingly positive, no shouting by the teacher or anyone else. The Deputy Head popped in a few times and was very present in the school. The other teachers were very accepting, the school just worked like a well-oiled machine.

Detailed feedback was given for each piece of work, no stamps or stickers. The students were eager to read the feedback and improve. Classes were extremely small, made up of only 17 or 18 children.

Now that I have experienced this, I know it exists and is possible.

it will take up time

should i be doing activities with the students at school because they "take up time"? should my motivation be trying to keep them busy? should i be focussed on just getting through the day? imagine a herd of sheep, all bleeting at once. but we can train the sheep, can't we? what about getting a shepherd.

my answer to the first questions is yes until i find a way to make it no.

Curiosity's crooked finger beckoned me further

I am allowing myself to think that being in a cosmopolitan, densely populated city that is teeming with the rich and famous, should result in me meeting any of them. You may be asking what is the purpose of such a meeting, well I couldn't tell you. The question I guess then is: am I unique in feeling this way, do other average, un-famous people like me desire to befriend the mysteriously popular.

Not meeting Julia Roberts for example or Brad Pitt would be of no loss. I do not feel any mysterious desires to understand them, but if the occasion arose would I want to discuss Twilight with Robert Paternson, Harry Potter with Joanne Rowling or football with David Beckham. I would take it and hopefully my knowledge would rise to the occasion.

But my lessons on probability this week point to the unlikeliness of the situation, even my students will agree. How disappointing.

Hurry up and wait

Wake up 6am
Dress and Ready by 7am
Walk to station, train to bus to the airport.
Arrive at 8am for 10am flight. To be on the safe side of course.

What time does the EasyJet plane lift off? 10:30 you say? perhaps 11:00? Nope, wrong again.
Travel is a sloth.

cringe

This is the first time I will see this class and I pump myself up to be strict and look mean. I don't want to be a push over from the first day. I walk the corridor to the classroom and try to avoid smiling at the kids as I unlock and enter. The students walk in and after greeting them I allow them to sit. It's then that I notice their teacher standing at the door and in confusion I try to argue that this is my class. This is however not my class, I am in the wrong classroom, I have misread the timetable and have to gather all my pride that is seeping into the carpet to walk out of the classroom and find my own class. By this time I have lost all confidence and the first day of term has begun.