Drummer Live 2007

I took the opportunity to go to an expo on drums and drumming, sponsored by a local drum magazine I haven't heard of before, simply called "Drummer".

I got to check out and play all the new gear I could find. And once I had bumped the kids (and somewhat older kids) off I got to play both the Roland and Yamaha electronic drum kits in succession. I found the Yamaha IV kits almost instantly preferable with the Oat custom kit being a favorite. Also it was £300 cheaper than the Roland compitition. Which proved to be more of a toy with various key functions missing.

I also saw one of the top female drummers Cindy Blackman (Lenny Kravitz, various Jazz acts)

Who was good to see although the question time was, as always just a bit to naff for me.

I didn't unfortunatly get good pictures of this event but here is one I found interesting.

Needless to say that it was promptly ignored.

Sorry to bore you with all this but it had to be done.

New Home

I did promise to add some pictures of our new flat here, so true to my word here we go.

I have other pictures and stories to come but here is our place anyway. Fellows road. I wonder what the original occupiers of the house would think of us doing our ablutions and things in the corner of their original drawing room.

The back doors (opening out to our balcony, yes, we have a balcony!) looking south.

Our new-ish kitchen. Note the weird British thing of having the washing maching in the kitchen. Odd.

The bathroom - we can only assume this is in the corner of what used to be the drawing room.

Thats all for now.

LX. (and P.)

News from Paula

Hello!

Well, since Alex has been busy and has not had enough internet time to write an entry, I will bore you all with some school stories.
(Note... there are some cool photos from the changing of the guard and Alex's cool story about hanging out with the British Grenadier Guards band, but that is his story... not mine :( )

Anyways, yah! It is Friday, and even better is that it is Friday of half term. :) yah! So that means that I get a week off. Very nice!
However, I have decided that I do quite like being here at this school. The teachers are all very nice and the students are mainly fantastic. I have decided that I have the best form class!
A few things massively different from NZ would be that I have (so far) only heard 1 (yes, you can count that, 1) swear word from a student at this school! VERY NICE CHANGE!!!!!!
Also, the lack of grafetti on my desks in my room. Also, very nice change! The only grafetti I have removed so far said "science is fun!" - hehehe!

Alex was in at school last week doing 2 days of data entry. So he now has a better appreciation of school dinners. I believe he really enjoyed them!!! :)

I have been thinking alot about Tatia since the fire at school last week. I hope everyone there is doing okay!!! Thanks to Parr and Judy for keeping me informed. I appreciate it. (I also hope the catch the little so-and-so that set the fire!!! Thank goodness for the security cameras!!!)

Anyhoo, we should be a lot better at keeping our blog more up to date soon. As we are awaiting the delivery of our internet package to connect to our laptop. It will be a lot easier at home :)
Also, with our package we get free international phone calls. So, some of you might get a call at some stage :)

Right.
Now I really better get some work done, or I will be in here at school in my holidays :(
Love to all!!!!
P.

Some more piccys (FINALLY!)

Hello all!

Well, we have finally managed to organise ourselves so that we have camera, AND USB cable, AND time to put some more photos on the blog.

Sorry for the delay!

First photo is my fav. We found the NZ memorial in Hyde Park corner. It kinda looks very average from a distance, but then you go up close to it and it is really pretty cool. All these stories and images on them. I quite liked it!

The next ones are from the same day when we found the Royal Albert Hall and the Royal Albert Memorial. OMG. The Memorial is pretty UGLY! sooooo over the top!

Oh, and can you spot Alex standing in front of the hall?

On other news, school is going okay. Finally got my own classroom as of Wednesday just been. It has not been much fun trying to teach in ten billion other classrooms. Never mind. Had a meet the parents evening for my form class which was nerve wracking, but ended up being quite good. I even had parents tell me they enjoyed it, and that their boys were lucky to have me as their teacher. Certainly made me feel good!!!

Alex is still job hunting. The head of Computing at school gave him an IT job website to look at, and in a few days he has had phone calls and emails about jobs. So that is promising!!!

We are about to go and explore Hampstead. Last weekend we got lost on the Heath. I am sure that someone switched North and South around!!!! :)

This weekend we are going to explore the shops.

Love to all.

P(mainly) and LX(who is looking at jobs...)

Some good ol' piccys

Some old photos and some new ones.
First is both of us on the bus tour. Just started the tour and looking all excited. (on Alex's Birthday!)







Next one is Alex with a statue of Robbie Burns that we found along the Thames in a nice little park like bit.


Oh dear out of time...
more next time...
:)
P.

The one thing I forgot...

...in the last entry... the strangest thing of all about finding a flat in London is...
3. Negotiating your rent. BIZARRE! The ad says "studio flat in Swiss Cottage, £200 per week" and what they really mean is, actually, we will accept offers from about £175 per week and depending on the type of tenants you seem to be, will accept your offer.

WEIRD.

Anyways, again on holiday mode today. We have been fortunate to completely avoid the tube strike thing. The line we travel on (Jubilee line) is run by a different company. All good.
So today we went to explore Regent's Park.
It's big.
And green.
And nice.
And there are birds.
Big birds.
And a wedding.
On a Wednesday.
Odd.

All well here. I am feeling better and Alex seemed fine all along (grr...)
Photos will be up soon.
I promise.

Home Sweet Home

Kia Ora!
Well, almost home sweet home. We have found somewhere to live... but I do have a few comments to make about the process of flat hunting in London...
1. Real Estate agents (mostly) suck. Really. You go into their offices and ask about finding a flat, they say "well, we don't have anything like what you are looking for, but register with us and we will get back to you." So, you do. And do any of them call back???? hmm, no... (except for the one we went with who was pretty damn good!)
2. Being "referenced". A process that involves a 3rd party company to look into your backround and make sure you are okay. Good idea, you say. Yes. Until the real estate agent tells you that it is going to cost you £95 EACH!!! (then you go to another one and they say it will only cost £20 each) still...

But, never mind... we have one! yah! Sorry about the rant.

On a brighter note, we have been having fun :)
Caught up with Aimee while she was here, had a good curry and a coffee and a good goss session about band. Hehehe... :)
And yesterday we went to the Tate Modern with Hannah to go and see the Dali and Film exhibit. VERY COOL!!!!!! First time I have ever seen real Dali's and it was gooood!
Then wandered through the Regent street carnival, or I should say, tried to wander through the Regent street carnival... sooooooo many people! Great Indian festival though, esp. the Indian Pipe band in kilts.
After that, we had our first experience of bangers and mash. Quite tasty. I enjoyed.

Anyways, yeah, should try and put some more photos up soon, this internet place doesn't seem to have safe USB ports.

oh, and thanks for all the messages, we are feeling special :)
Love heaps.
P and LX