I'm in Charge of the Stars and I'm Here to Say...

My little sister turns 22 today so if you see a cute little pixie on the streets of NYC make sure to say happy birthday and give her a punch on the arm.



Kristin and I



Kristin, having lost her shoe, comes up with a tennis ball.

Closer to God

Today Sea and I decided to do things around St. Andrews, like actually go into the places we had only seen from the outside.



Our first stop was the Castle. Inside the guest center they had all these awesome wax figures re-enacting (can I use that if they are inhuman?) episodes from the past, like this guy tearing down a statue of St. Andrew during the Reformation.



I love the look of sheer terror in St. Andrew's eyes.



Sea inside the entry gate to the castle.



While we were at the castle we could see people getting out of church and doing the pier walk.









The strangest attraction at the castle is the mine and counter-mine. During the siege of the castle by the Earl of Arran in 1546-7 the French attackers dug a mine underneath the castle in an attempt to collapse it's foundations. The idea being that they would hold the mine up with wooden planks then once the mine was complete, set fire to them and collapse the castle. The defenders of the castle were aware of the scheme and built a counter-mine. After some false starts, the defenders finally met the attackers and a battle was fought in the tunnels.



It is seriously spooky down there and extremely claustrophobic.



At the end of the counter-mine is the ladder leading down to the French's mine. I dared not proceed but Sea, being of more hardcoreness then I, risked it.



When we bought our combined tickets for the castle and St. Rule's tower the man ringing us up said that the bottom of the mine is the lowest point of St. Andrews while the top of St. Rule's tower is the highest. But we'll be closer to God at the top of the tower.



The cathedral has a history of bad luck, from conception to destruction. The ruins are beautiful though and are the reason why St. Andrews is still considered a city.





The climbing of St. Rule's tower was an arduous task. Somewhere in the middle I freaked and shouted up to Sea, 'I don't think I'm going to go up any more!' (imagine that look on St. Andrew's face transmuted into my voice, that is what I sounded like when I called up to her.) The way up was long and extremely claustrophobic, like the mine but in a large tower of terror spiraling to god knows where.



Eventually I gave myself a pep talk, told myself to suck it up, and made it to the top. It was well worth the climb.



The views were absolutely amazing and it was such a nice day for it as well.













Unwittingly Sea pulls a Robbie face.

Sea and I came back that night and played rummy 500 before watching the hilarious Team America with Crawford. The next morning at the butt crack of dawn I bid her a fond farewell and went back to my once more solitary flat. And that finally concludes this trip's entries folks. Hope you enjoyed it.

Bamboozled

After bidding the Schers a fond farewell at Leuchars railway station, Sea and I decided to take a walk into the town of Leuchars to see a 12th c. church.



This picture had to be taken, if you could only hear the way Sea shouts Leuchars man...



Our first stop was the very beautiful church. Unfortunately, unlike the Catholic churchs I am so used to visiting, it was closed.



But we did walk around the grave yard.



They had wonderful stone carvings all around the apse which is the earliest dating part of the church.



I'm the one on the right.



After leaving the church grounds we saw a sign for the Leuchars nature trail. If by nature they mean trash and trail they mean sketchy path to doom, then hey it was great! Five minutes in we veered off into what looked like a bunch of military buildings and small houses. We were met with this sign after we had walked all over the grounds. I told you we were hardcore man, don't mess with us.

With this disaster in our wake we decided to take on another one, finding the beach. Funny enough, the closer we seemed to get, the further away the signs said we were. We definitely got hoodwinked in Leuchars and got the next sidewalk (British translation: pavement) out of there.



We made it nearly half way home on foot when we decided to just hop a passing bus. But we did get to see this awesome cat on the way, honourary member of the hardcore elite.

Bus Bus

Today I suggested that we go on a little tour of the Fife fishing villages in order to give my guests a different view of Scotland then the Highlands and cities.



It was still bitterly cold out but we endured...



Our first stop was Anstruther home of Scotland's best fish and chips shop. We got there a bit before opening so we took a quick (lightening couldn't have gone faster) tour of the town.



Notice how I still made it into this picture?





According to a news clipping hanging in the restaurant, Tom Hanks and family came here (his daughter goes to St. Andrews). Like oh my god do you think we sat in the same booth, oh my god like I so bet we did...



While waiting for the bus to arrive to bring us to the next town we took a walk along the beach.







Debbie conquers Crail, our next stop.



The town is gripping really... well maybe not, but I bet during the summer months it gets to hoppin.



We sat here on these cliffs overlooking the ocean for a while, it was a really lovely day out.









After a while we made it over the the harbour for a little exploring.



Despite how beautiful the town is, there isn't much there so around 3 we were aiming to catch a bus home but missed it. We warmed ourselves up by having tea in a local hole in the wall that just happened to be testing its fire alarms. It was nearly an hour of waiting outside until a bus finally arrived. Jason attempted to amuse us with the ever engaging, 'guess what number I am thinking of' game while I did a bit of dancing in order to keep myself warm.

When we finally arrived home I went to dinner while everyone else ordered food in, too tired to leave Melville. That evening was Poker Night and in an upset Sea took the night with me coming in a not anywhere close second.

Together Again

Deb and Jason got to my dorm late Wednesday night and once more we were all reunited. Sea and I promptly bid then goodnight upon their arrival and headed upstairs to Steve's flat where he so graciously gave us his spare room to sleep in.



The next afternoon, after the Schers finally decided to get up, we headed out to grab some lunch and see the sites. First stop was the Old Course (actually the first stop was my building which is an architectural marvel designed by James Stirling) where Jason wandering all over taking pictures, us girls stayed to the sides fearing we might get in trouble.



There is goes off in the distance, a man on a mission.



After lunch at the Doll's House and a quick stroll up South Street us girls popped in the Bean Scene while I pointed Jason in the direction of the Golf Museum. We met up an hour later outside the Castle. The above is a picture of the bathing pool right below the Castle.



The Castle at twilight. We arrived too late to actually go in but it's still a beautiful site nonetheless.



The pier bathed in the early evening's moonlight.



The Cathedral and St. Rule's Tower from the Pier.



After a brief sojourn at my dorm, where I ate dinner cause I'm class like that, we went out to dinner at the Grill House. They give you free tastes of their frozen margaritas before the meal, how fantastic is that?





After dinner I took the gang to my favourite pub, The Cellar. It was too crowded downstairs so we were relegated to the upstairs bar where their selection of ales pales in comparison to downstairs.





We ended the night at The Central where were we tasted the guest ale.

Goats

Today we woke up early (I swear) for some breakfast in our quaint B&B and chatted with the proprietess about going to Culloden. She said that was a lovely idea and that they had a marvelous information center, we didn't have the heart to tell her that the center is closed only one month a year, January. So after some danish and a visit with the house dog we made our way over to Inverness's tourist center where we found out there were no tours but that the 7 bus would take us there. On our way to the bus stop we chatted with the driver of the 7 bus going the wrong way who warned us off going saying that the roads there were treacherous and covered with ice and snow. Us being hardcore and all ignored this advice and soldiered on.

The following is a discussion on the labeling of these pictures by Sea and I:

2/2/2005 2:43:24 PM, Sea: i wish there were a way to convey the way we say Goats...
2/2/2005 2:43:44 PM, Jen: yeah I know, I think I need to take off the s on the end
2/2/2005 2:43:49 PM Jen: it really is just GOAT
2/2/2005 2:43:51 PM Jen: isn't it?
2/2/2005 2:44:22 PM Sea: no it's plural alright
2/2/2005 2:45:06 PM Jen: well alright
2/2/2005 2:48:38 PM Jen: so that house...
2/2/2005 2:49:19 PM Jen: remember when I thought that something on the ground outside of it might be something cool and I was kicking it up but then it turned out to be a rock?
2/2/2005 2:49:49 PM Sea: no
2/2/2005 2:49:57 PM Sea: ok, maybe



2/2/2005 3:50:04 PM Sea: pst
2/2/2005 3:50:59 PM Jen: hey
2/2/2005 3:51:14 PM Sea: you haven't added anymore captions. i was expecting to see them all done by now
2/2/2005 3:51:42 PM Sea: wachu up to? singing at the top of your lungs imitating freddie mercury?
2/2/2005 3:51:50 PM Jen: but of course
2/2/2005 3:52:05 PM Jen: well I thought we were going to add captions together
2/2/2005 3:52:21 PM Sea: ok
2/2/2005 3:52:31 PM Sea: are you doing a caption for every picture?
2/2/2005 3:53:02 PM Jen: well it doesn't have to be an explanation of each pic
2/2/2005 3:53:13 PM Jen: but just a general commentary about the days events
2/2/2005 3:53:37 PM Sea: ok



2/2/2005 3:55:24 PM Sea: so which pic is next?
2/2/2005 3:55:38 PM Sea: me walking to the little hut?
2/2/2005 3:55:39 PM Jen: well we can start at the beginning
2/2/2005 3:55:44 PM Sea: oh
2/2/2005 3:55:45 PM Jen: yeah that one
2/2/2005 3:56:00 PM Sea: so... i recall it was v cold and snowy. the end! haha
2/2/2005 3:56:15 PM Jen: short and sweet
2/2/2005 3:56:29 PM Sea: that's me
2/2/2005 3:56:40 PM Sea: you can quote the cold and snowy part too.



2/2/2005 3:57:11 PM Sea: we should have carried a tape recorder
2/2/2005 4:15:13 PM Jen: yeah we should have
2/2/2005 4:16:34 PM Jen: How about it was a cold blustery day but with the warmth of our friendship in our hearts we felt no chill?
2/2/2005 4:21:54 PM Sea: LOLOLOL
2/2/2005 4:22:09 PM Sea: er, were you serious? that sounds lovely dear
2/2/2005 4:22:20 PM Jen: uh ::cough with a hint of a sniffle:: of course not.



2/2/2005 4:39:33 PM Jen: First stop was this old house
2/2/2005 4:39:43 PM Sea: that's a good one
2/2/2005 4:39:52 PM Jen: an actual house and not the tv show with Bob Villa
2/2/2005 4:40:00 PM Sea: i see you didn't get a shot of the sign for the field of the English
2/2/2005 4:40:12 PM Jen: damn them!

2/2/2005 4:42:05 PM Sea: how about this one, I got soul but I'm not a soldier
2/2/2005 4:42:15 PM Jen: nice
2/2/2005 4:42:17 PM Sea: last song i heard in the car this morning... streaming through me head
2/2/2005 4:42:26 PM Jen: oh that is Jamie's fave line
2/2/2005 4:42:28 PM Sea: footnote - the killers
2/2/2005 4:42:32 PM Jen: yeah cheers
2/2/2005 4:42:41 PM Sea: well, well! look who stole my LINE!
2/2/2005 4:43:15 PM Sea: which photo are you gonna put that w?
2/2/2005 4:43:17 PM Jen: now now keep to the task at hand
2/2/2005 4:43:20 PM Jen: dunno
2/2/2005 4:43:32 PM Jen: maybe the one with you walking holding your head
2/2/2005 4:44:45 PM Sea: which?
2/2/2005 4:44:53 PM Jen: are there many of that sort?
2/2/2005 4:44:54 PM Sea: the one of me walking away from the field of the English?
2/2/2005 4:45:10 PM Jen: yup
2/2/2005 4:45:52 PM Sea: the one of me walking towards the hut has me head down



2/2/2005 4:46:00 PM Sea: ok so we need more
2/2/2005 4:46:11 PM Jen: uh, yeah, just a bit
2/2/2005 4:46:17 PM Sea: what about the ones of you reading
2/2/2005 4:46:46 PM Jen: no no, thinking running dialogue
2/2/2005 4:48:22 PM Sea: oh
2/2/2005 4:48:24 PM Sea: ok
2/2/2005 4:48:29 PM Jen: all around us stood the markers of the clans mass graves, with sorrow we carefully read each and every one, pausing to reflect on the lives given to keep this beautiful land free.
2/2/2005 4:49:58 PM Jen: and it was cold as arse
2/2/2005 4:51:23 PM Sea: good
2/2/2005 4:51:25 PM Sea: lol
2/2/2005 4:53:30 PM Sea: i think the one stone you have is the mixed clan one
2/2/2005 4:53:34 PM Sea: i think i can make out an X
2/2/2005 4:53:53 PM Sea: oooh we need to write something about don't look into the water frodo!
2/2/2005 4:54:08 PM Jen: oh so true
2/2/2005 4:54:19 PM Jen: no, I believe it is the first stone we saw
2/2/2005 4:54:26 PM Jen: of the guy who died on that spot
2/2/2005 4:55:24 PM Sea: oh
2/2/2005 4:55:29 PM Sea: nemind



2/2/2005 5:03:33 PM Sea: the pictures look sadder than it was
2/2/2005 5:03:41 PM Sea: as far as the weather goes i mean
2/2/2005 5:04:01 PM Jen: yeah looks a bit bleak, but it sort of was
2/2/2005 5:04:53 PM Sea: i guess
2/2/2005 5:04:59 PM Sea: was it really that cold at that point?
2/2/2005 5:05:09 PM Sea: i can't remember if my fingers were froze
2/2/2005 5:05:25 PM Sea: you should def put in 'my nose is froze" and 'bus, bus" for later on
2/2/2005 5:05:47 PM Jen: so true
2/2/2005 5:06:00 PM Jen: I think it was cold but we were moving so it was alright



2/2/2005 5:07:33 PM Sea: i think for the shot w/ you and the little house, "Hey Sea, take a picture of me and the wee hut. Smile"
2/2/2005 5:07:52 PM Jen: lol
2/2/2005 5:09:18 PM Sea: grazie



2/2/2005 5:09:46 PM Jen: the battle was fought on a... what the hell was it?
2/2/2005 5:10:31 PM Jen: marsh? no...bog?
2/2/2005 5:12:56 PM Jen: moor!
2/2/2005 5:18:36 PM Jen: the battle was fought on a moor, so the paths were often frozen in the cold or had massive puddles. The fields resembled the scene in The Two Towers when Frodo and Sam are being led by Gollum through the marsh land. I kept saying, don't look Mr. Frodo, don't follow the lights...

2/2/2005 5:45:08 PM Jen: well kid, it is about that time...
2/2/2005 5:45:13 PM Jen: I am sure you are hard at work and that is why you haven't been answering me.
2/2/2005 5:45:39 PM Jen: but in case you come up with any other clever ideas to get us killed or worse expelled, I will keep this box open
2/2/2005 5:45:41 PM Jen: see ya!

End transmission...



This cairn was set up during the mid 19th century to commemorate the battlefield as were all the stones with the clan names on them.



On the field were set markers showing where each side stood.



To keep the grass and new tree growth under control the historical society has set these 'ancient line of Hebridian sheep' to graze the battlefield. Previously it was the job of volunteers to constantly weed but why do it yourself when you can get some awesome looking sheep to do it for you? This one is looking back over it's shoulder at Sea, I half expected it to come out with a "What the hell you lookin at?"



"uuuhhhh, nothing"



After thoroughly traipsing through Culloden we headed to the Clava Cairns standing stones which we were told weren't too far away. The way there was through small country roads punctuated by farms. One of the farms had these mad guard sheep who saw us coming a mile away and quickly ran from another field to the road side fence to yell at us. I have NEVER seen sheep act like this. I think they were some mad goat/sheep hybrid.



The road to the stones was long and hard, but not without it's perks.





When we finally got there I was convinced the place was locked and threw a mild hissy fit while Sea cheerily said "no it's not!" and walked right in through the gate. ummm, yeah.



Sea inside one of the stone circle burial mounds which are alined to the solstice.







Rockin it hardcore in the mound yo.



On the way back to the bus stop we saw these fantastic ducks. They are the only ducks around and are floating down this wee stream together when they both hop onto the bank and just start quaking it up to each other. They were the duck versions of us! If one of them had held up a wing and said, 'dude, I think we are going the wrong way, look we are the only ducks here!' I would not have been surprised.

We finally made it back to Culloden and the bus stop. Unfortunately we had just missed the bus so we had to wait another hour in the freezing drizzle and wind. That is when I started doing my bus dance, interrupted by me chanting 'bus bus' and 'my nose is froze', in an attempt not to have my toes break off from frost bite. All the while with Sea sitting calmly saying 'lets chat!' Towards the end we were beginning to lose our will to live...

Seeing the bus finally pull up was like witnessing the second coming, I couldn't have been more ecstatic. When we got to Inverness all we wanted to do was eat and get warm. We hit the nearness food serving pub and made ourselves comfortable while we waited for our train back to St. Andrews.

Hardcore Invernessie

Monday night we sat in my room thinking about what to do the next day...



And when it began to snow we could only think of one thing. Head North!



We left from St. Andrews early, 1pm, to catch the train to Inverness.



It was a beautiful day. Since it had snowed in the night, the further North we headed the more snow we saw. This is the view from the train as we head over the water into Dundee.



We switched trains in Dundee then once more in Perth where we froze our bullocks off trying to find the waiting room.



Inverness is only about a hundred miles away from St. Andrews but with all the train hopping it took us nearly five hours to get there. But it is ok, it is not the destination but the journey...



and the journey was beautiful.



In fact I hasten to say that it was practically the best part of the trip. It was gorgeous passing snow covered glens and hills, streams and pastures.



Anyone who knows me, knows that I love the snow, it seems to make everything so much more beautiful and pure.



There was a point on our journey where for about half an hour all we saw were monarch of the glen deer who had come down from the hills, because of the cold, to graze.



Along the way we called the Ardconnell Bed and Breakfast and booked ourselves a room. About 5pm we arrived in Inverness and after quickly stopping in our quite cute B&B, where we were the only guests, we headed out into the town.



Our first stop was a diner that our guide book had suggested. We were reminded that our guidebook was four years out of date after we walked into the place. It looked like the Scottish equivilent of a hole in the wall greasy spoon. But this journey, as the title says, was all about being hardcore and if that means eating sketchy macaroni and cheese then so be it.



After our meal we took a walk along the River Ness. This is the view across the river to St. Andrews Cathedral.





Inverness Castle, built on the site of an earlier fortress, dates to 1835 and is now the Sheriff's Court where most days unfortunate youths can be seen loitering outside waiting for their court time.



A close up of St. Andrews Cathedral which, despite its likeness to Notre Dam, actually dates to the Victorian Era.



To get back to our side of the river we took this wacky mini suspension bridge which bounced when you walked on it. So we bounced our way back over the swollen and freezing Ness to come across this wacky restaurant...



Where someone decided that it would be a good idea to carve a large fir tree into a palm tree to fit with the Caribean theme. Tree cruelty.



The dolphin topiaries on the shore here are a reminder that from April to October dolphins (and whales and seals) can be seen close by on the Moray Firth.



Check out how I get the big bed muahahah. By 9pm I was knackered and ready for some sleep, Sea is apparently too hardcore for sleep and attempted to keep me up by sitting on me.

We Stick Together Like Glue

Today was suppose to be the start of Sea's and my tour to the Isle of Skye while the Schers went in search of Guinness and Joyce in Dublin but the tour was cancelled last minute due to us being the only two to sign up. Who wouldn't want to go to an island in the North of Scotland in the winter I ask?

With no back up plan in place we decided to head back to St. Andrews where I gave Sea a personal tour of the town.



Here is Sea in front of Sallies Hall doing a spot on impression of a Japanese, male tourist. You can usually find these crazy cats standing stock still without a hint of a smile on their face in front of famous monuments all over Europe.



Here is the normal person one.



My favourite picture of Sea from this trip. We were trying to capture a rainbow that appeared out over the sea.



Sea reading the informative information card for St. Andrews Castle.



To the untrained eye I appear to be Sea's friend when in actuality I am her personal photographer and sometimes bodyguard.



The Pier.

Where is Nick?

Sunday we decided to take a Highland tour to Loch Ness. It left in the wee small hours so we called a taxi to take us to the meeting place where we waited for the bus in the dark.



This has got to be my favourite picture of Deb from the entire trip.



And this is my second favourite.



Perhaps a long mini bus ride was not the greatest idea for my jet lagged friends. I was the only who didn't fall asleep.



Hamish. I sort of felt bad for the poor guy sitting at this pathetic tourist stop while people took his picture, but something tells me that he's really diggin the attention.



Deb signed us up for this tour because when Sea and I were in Edinburgh about 3 years ago we went through the same company and loved it. When we did the tour back then it was a small company owned my this guy Nick who drove us all around in his 'wee red bus'. This time is was a larger, fancier, WHITE (!) mini bus with some ginger haired girl named Shawna driving. I was massively disappointed, especially since I had plans of macking on Nick this time.



The gang of four in front of the Three Sisters hills in Glencoe. Glencoe is the setting of the massacre of the Glencoe MacDonalds by William of Orange.



haha, check the look Sea is giving Deb.



Deb and I posing with another Sister.



Seriously, Scotland is amazing, if I could have taken a thousand pictures I would have. Unfortunately it is a bit difficult to get good shots in a speeding bus and we only ended up stopping a few times.



Deb at Ben Nevis, the tallest mountain in Scotland which is usually so cloudy that the top can only be seen like twice a year.



Still in the shadow of Ben Nevis. We stopped here early because the sun miraculously came out and our tour guide wanted to take advantage of it.



At the same time though, the sun was completely blocking our view of the mountain.





On the way back to our not so wee white bus.



Guess where we are? That's right kids, Loch Ness.



Us with the Loch.



We didn't have too much time here so after grabbing a not so quick bite to eat (in which Jason finally got to sample the local delicacy, Haggis), we ran down to the loch for a quick pic and scurried back onto the waiting bus.



The canal leading to Loch Ness and a converted monastery in the background on the opposite shore.



Our next stop was another tourist trap, a whisky shop. They did have a lovely river flowing next to it though.



On our tour were a group of crazed Brazilian guys who decided to try and pep up the group by purchasing some flasks of whisky to pass around on the bus. No matter how much I love whisky, drinking out of their nasty flask on a bus that is taking corners on tiny country roads like it is in the Indy 500 seemed like not such a good idea.



On the way to Pitlochry we passed by this dam which the guide said that never in her life she had seen so full, so of course the now slightly drunken Brazilians in the back shouted for her to pull over and once more we got to pose for some pictures. I have a video of it but don't know how to put it up, if anyone does please email me.



Take a look at my hair, shows you how flippin windy it was that day (or that entire week to be honest)

Do It

Today Deb and Jason left early in the morning, before I awoke, to hit Edinburgh Castle and the Whisky Heritage Center while I was to wait in the flat for Sea to arrive. At 9am I get out of the bathroom to find Sea sitting in the living room, scaring the crap out of me. Seems her plane got in early. So after a quick shower, food and chat we headed out to Prince's Street.



View of Edinburgh Castle from Prince's Street.



In our matching denim jackets, striking a pose with the Castle.



The Fountain in the Prince's Street Garden's under the shadow of the Castle walls.



We met up with Crawford, Deb and Jason for lunch at a little vegetarian place and then made our way to the top of Calton hill. Here is Crawf being Scottish with his can of Tenants.



Jason making his way up, but alas, Converse are not made for climbing... or walking really.



The Castle and the clock tower of Waverley Railway Station.



Deb and Jason. Calton Hill is a very important monument to the city, most buildings date to the Enlightenment and are a shining example of the city's erudition.



The famous view back over Edinburgh and to the Castle that the hill affords.



Sea, Deb and Jason making their way around the path up to the top of the hill.



Us girls in front of the Acropolis, which is sometimes referred to as "Edinburgh's shame" as it was left unfinished after the money to build ran dry. It is in commemoration to those who died in the Napoleonic Wars.



Crawford walking on the Acropolis.







Sneak attack.



Later on we made a pilgrimage to Dean's Village. The newbies had it in their mind to go here and it ended up to be a pretty good idea, it was very beautiful. The village has a history that can be documented from 1128 but things didn't really pick up here until the 17th century when it became the center for the city's water mills.



Sea on the bridge overlooking the Water of Leith.



Deb, Jason, me and Crawford on the same bridge with Holy Trinity Church in the background.



Poor Sea was jetlagged and fell asleep at the pub where we had dinner and a few pints.



Deb and Jay walking through the Grassmarket on the hunt for a proper pub.



Sea showing Crawford that indeed there stands a camera obscura at the top of the Royal Mile.

Ivanhoe

I know you've all been waiting with baited breath for my holiday updates, so folks, without further adieu, let the fun begin...

Today, in a fit of slight exhaustion and frustration, arrived the Schers to Edinburgh. Crawford and I met them at the flat they rented for the weekend and after feeding us some lines about delayed flights, lost luggage, yada yada, we went out for a short tour (courtesy of Edinburghian Crawford) down the Royal Mile and over to Princes Street where we stopped for some pints and food.



Edinburgh Castle home of the Stone of Scone.



View out over Edinburgh and towards a mysterious light (Mordor?)



The Schers and Crawford walking down the Mile on our way to Prince's Street.



The Scher's indulging in their first fish and chip supper of the trip at the first pub we stopped into on Rose Street.

Deep Breaths

January 8th- I arrived back in Britain. I landed in Heathrow at 7am and was scheduled to take a train from Kings Cross back up to St. Andrews at 10:30am. For a whole week prior to my flight I worried as to whether I would make my train or not. The day I left I even shed a tear about it. As so happens I am a genius/world class sprinter and made it to the railway station with an hour and half to spare, even with me carrying my combined baggage weight of 80 pounds.



Here I am safely on board the train looking out the window into King's Cross Railway Station. Can you see the sign pointing towards platforms 9 and 10? Oh I am such a sorry individual.



It's good to be back in St. Andrews. I feel as if I can take deep breaths once more. It is January 8th in this picture and the sky was so beautiful that day that the seaweed seemed to make a particular effort to match it.



January 11th. The day before my final paper of the semester is due and out of my window is a double rainbow which surely means that everything on my computer is not the utter rubbish I think it is.

Tiramisu Cheesecake, Not Tiramisu

Before I left for St. Andrews again Deb and Kim took me out to the Cheesecake Factory for some good food and of course two huge slabs of cheesecake.



I came home to the traditional Kellas pose of someone's butt sticking out from under the tree. This year my brother had the honour, though usually it is my dad's privilege.