Aberdeen Douglas

... for a week or two would be fun, but who would really benefit from it? So I decided to use the time I have to better the world community and do some volunteer work. That sounds exceptionally cheesy, but I would much rather be helping out the long-term development in a country I have significant interest in than just frolick on a beach drinking way too much alcohol.<br><br>I had researched some volunteer gigs previously, just for loose ideas for ...

A month in and no activity? What's going on, Sarah?<br><br>WELL.<br><br>Moved in OK, Freshers week was a blast, but I just haven't quite gotten to the exploring part yet. Made a trip down to the beach, a few around town.. And it's actually quite nice here. It's cold yes, but it's a fairly quiet city. Not too big but not too isolated.<br><br>However uni [the evil *******s] have decided to give ...

Well I have finally begun my journey!!! It seemed like it would never actually happen, but as I boarded that plane reality began to sink in....As we all know, i have no idea when Ill be home, where ill go next, what Ill see or who Ill be spending time with....which makes it so much more exciting for me. Now i have only been here for half a day and have yet to settle, but once that ...

... most things are labelled in arabic there. I'll let you know if it really helps or just extra deadweight when I get there. I shaved my hair off last night too(with the dodgy aid of the reflective side of a cd-rom) so I could do without hair gel or shampoo. <br> <br>To be honest I haven't really been excited about the trip till last night when I did a little more research on where I'm going. Now its all come in a rush and I wish I was leaving today instead!<br>

I rose around 9:00 and went for a run down Union Street (the main drag). People looked at me like I was nuts. Apparently exercise isn't an Aberdonian specialty, particularly at 9 a.m. Afterward, I found a small out-of-the-way sandwich shop where I bought a roast beef and bacon sandwich with spicy English mustard. I enjoyed the sandwich on a bench facing Soul Casino&#8212 ...

... li>I've noticed that many people, when walking side-by-side down the street, actually walk shoulder-touching-shoulder&#8212;someti mes almost as if leaning on one another. <br></li><li>At intersections where drivers are waiting at a red light, the stoplight notifies the drivers that it is about to turn green by flashing both the red and yellow lights at the same time.<br></li><li>It's funny to see people driving in the right front seat. For instance, to me ...

Day 1 of bus trip...a success?<br><br>Started the morning off right by finding my missing earring (graduation present...didn't want to tell you Mom &amp; Gary in case I had a cubic zirconia replacement situation on my hands..). Apparently I was irritated enough in my sleep to take the earring (just the one) out! Fortunately my tricky little subconscious was considerate enough to have me clip it to my pajama shirt. Crisis Averted! <br>Bus ride went smooth-ish... except for 2 ...

... the nights out I was able to organise with Mikie, Clare, Duncan, Kath, Fox, Susan and Andy... Nothing too drunken honestly! Thursday evening was our family Christmas meal which was just fantastic. Mum and Dad made the most delicious meal with Prawn Cocktail to start, the best turkey and trimmings for main course and a decadent trifle for desert... If I'd had any energy left at the end of the meal I really should have taken ...

... We arrive just in time to miss the train to Rainhill ( and Liverpool ) that silently glides out. Across is a glimpse of railwayside Earlstown. Directly opposite is a Snooker Hall, in a state of disrepair, broken windowpanes, dusty, seeminglky abandoned. A narrow lane goes off on either side with the typical 2 or 3 story houses with steep roofs and chimneys. On the platform is a heavily tattooed youth, stripped to the waist, teaching a younger 6 yr old how to set off ...

... four weeks walking the glorious cliff paths and tiny lanes in and around Salcombe Regis and Sidmouth. Got reasonably fit and did meet a few nice people. And had a go at karaoke in the best pub I could find (the locals talked to me) - the Radway. "These boots are made for walking"... always a hit. I caught up with Phil for an hour or so at one of the service station junctions en route to Stratford. Watch out for his album, he gave me a recording ...