sun Keyword
Busy
Some people have complained about my lack of updates of late, and they are perfectly right to do so. I have neglected the Odyssey. Normally brimming with new and exciting adventures, the site has become a stale backwater festering with a quagmire of posts about drinking and lame stories of dead dogs and rocky outcrops.
Writing on the road can be hard. It is often difficult to be creative and most importantly: interesting after a day of adventuring. Most often I pick up the laptop with good intentions but all I want to do is sleep. One thing to note is that, while my lack of updates may have fallen over the last week, my days have been plenty busy.
I am in Holland now, having arrived at Schipol on Monday last week. The weather that day was beautifully warm and sunny, especially compared to the misery that was London weather. The good weather hasn’t let up since I have been here, which I am told is quite strange. My first week in Holland saw my Dad’s friend Paul taking me all over the country to see various sights. Storm doors, places in my family history, beaches, famous cities and towns. We even rode a good 50km’s on a pushy. We caught up with Henk, Jenny and their daughter Jessica in Olddorp where I dunked my toes into the freezing north sea. I caught up with my Dad’s Nephew and his Aunty and saw the tulips.
On the weekend I attended a party for one of Paul’s friends birthdays and had a great time playing Wii with kids and old’s alike. I helped Paul look after a garden of one his friends and on Sunday had a drink at a restaurant with Marion and Martine near where I am staying at which Paul lost his camera. I met Paul’s son and his wife and I cooked schnitzel for the lot of ‘em.
This Monday Paul had to go back to work, so Marion and Martine became my guides. On Monday they took me to the wonderful Madurodam where I saw all of Holland in just a few short hours. Tuesday was Martine’s Birthday so the day was spent celebrating that in the sun. Wednesday we adventured to Amsterdam where I walked the red light district, attempted to apply for my Italian passport and did a little shopping. Thursday I relaxed, gave Marion a hand with getting some plants for the garden and had an icecream at Boskoop.
So as you can see I’ve been pretty busy. I’ll try to write up some articles about some of the more interesting things I’ve just mentioned so expect to see them in the next few hours. For now: enjoy some of the photos I’ve taken from around Holland!
Here Comes the Sun
Just a little update on where I am at the moment. Having spent nearly a week at Simon’s place in Newington Green I have moved on to stay with Melissa Sorgiovani and her boyfriend Dave in St John’s Wood. A rather cool little place, the flat is located pretty much next door to Abbey Road Studios, meaning I cross the street at the famous cross walk nearly every single day. I arrived here on Monday, after a closed trainline meant I couldn’t head over on Sunday evening. Standing out front I was asked by a tourist if I was recording at the Studios as he spotted my guitar. I just had to laugh. After getting harrassed by the porter of Melissa’s building I got in, dropped my gear and headed out with Mel to do some shopping at Sainsbury’s. Stupidly at the end of the shop I left my Ray Ban’s hanging off the trolley and lost them. The first loss of my adventure.
On Tuesday, mourning the disappearance of my sunnies I stayed in and did my washing. I headed to the highstreet with a bag of damp clothes and read my book in a basement laundrette. Picking up an O2 phone card on the way home I headed into the nearest pub and downed a couple of Guinesses for St Patties Day. That evening I met up with Michael Fuller and Irene Rankin for a pub quiz in East Finchley but, with the early close of pubs in London, I was home by 11.
Wednesday I went on a mission to find a replacement pair of glasses. I hit Oxford Street in the morning, under some glorious sunshine, blew my budget at Selfrigdge’s and then headed to Hyde Park to soak up some rays. At 14 degrees I still had the chills but the Londoners were relishing the sunshine, walking around in tshirts and shorts. I relaxed for a few hours in the sun, then wandered past Buckingham Palace down towards the Embankment where I grabbed myself a late pub lunch. I caught the tube home, had a beer at the Duke and crashed out again on the couch.
Today the sun is out again, something I am told doesn’t happen much in these parts so I am off to go soak it up in Regents Park. Well I think I am pretty much up to date! Keep on checking in for updates and keep in touch. For those who want to call or message my new number is: +447518 906 273 (or 07518 906 273 in the UK)