Celeste's Holiday

Friday, 12 October 2007

Location: CANBERRA, Australia

back in canberra! Feels so nice =p

Sorry I didn't write for awhile...jetlag was really bad...still is =(

I'll quickly write about the last few days...

On Tuesday we all took a "mini cab" to the airport. We left at 8:30am and didnt get to the airport until 10:00am...an hour and a half driving, the traffic was so bad.

We checked in and said goodbye to my Grandma before we walked through security to the boarding lounge. She started to cry, which was sad:(

We had about an hour and a half until we needed to board, so we got a drink and sat around. We boarded the plane at around 11:30, and were meant to take off at 12:15.

However, there were delay...some people hadn't boarded, so we had to wait for another 15 minutes or so. Finally we took off, the flight was about 12 hours, and I got around an hours sleep. The Video on Demand Option didn't work at first, so they had to reboot the whole system which took around 40 minutes.

When it was fixed I watched a few movies and listened to music.

When we booked our flights, our travel agent was meant to book a vegetarian meal, but it hadn't seemed to go through for this flight. Luckily they had spare vegan one...but it was disgusting, as there was no butter for the bread, and the milk was all weird and I got this weird fruit bar instead of a chocolate bar which wasn't nice...but oh well at least I was fed baha

We stopped of at Singapore, and by that time I was so tired I felt drugged lol. In my last entry I said I hoped I hadn't jinxed myself. I jinxed myself. When they called out the announcement for boarding, mum was looking for the bags for the passports and boarding tickets. She looked up and said,

"I only have two passports."

I actually said, "I bet the missing ones mine."

They are so strict about that stuff in Singapore and mum kept repeating that it was the worst country for this to happen, which really didn't make me feel better. But at least she kept calm =p

Luckily she had a photo copy of all of them, just in case. A woman looked at the copy and checked I was Celeste, then she told me to come with her. We all stepped forward, but then she said,

"Just Celeste - you two stay here."

I was feeling so tense by then. She took me back onto the plane, to where our seats were, and we looked for it there - but it was no where. She gave me back the copy and pointed me in the direction to go back to the lounge.

When I found where we had all been standing before, Mum and Claudia were gone! I wandered around for a bit and then saw mum at a security desk. I walked over and told her the passport wasn't there.

She looked at me really excited and pretty much screeched that someone had handed in it. I was so relieved =)

So we boarded the plane and had an 8 hour flight. I slept a bit more, and when the meal came I pretended to be asleep so I didnt have to eat it haha. I wasn't hungry anyway, and I felt a bit sick.

All we could see out of the window was ocean for a few hours, and I was so happy when I saw the beach at the edge of Australia. It took another three hours to get to Sydney and Mum started cheering and clapping when we landed, so I looked away and pretended I didn't know her =p

We went to go through Quarantine, and the guy told us we had to bring our luggage through to be checked - which was not what the woman in London had told us. So we had to go back through the que to find our luggage, where mum got sniffed by a sniffer dog.

After we got through Quarantine we headed to the "Domestic Transfer" Area, where a bus took us to the Domestic terminal. We had and hour and a quarter until our next flight, and I wanted to brush my teeth, so I went to the bathroom. Mum had lost the toothpaste as well, so I went back to Claudia and borrowed some of hers. My teeth and mouth felt so good afterwards =)

When we had boarded the plane to Sydney, we were all ready to take off, but there were 15 unaclaimed baggage underneath, which they needed to sort out. That delayed us by 45 minutes!

There were hardly any people on board, so when the seatbelt sign was turned off, I moved to the seat in front of me. I had three seats to myself, a window, and because it was next to the emergency exit door, I had a lot of legroom.

As we were descending, and I could actually see the lights of Canberra, a song came on and the chorus was "I'm going home, to the place where I belong." which I thought was a bit of a coincidence =p

We arrived and departed the plane, it was so good to see my dad, and Ashleigh had also turned up =D

We then drove to my nan's house to see her, which was great, and then got home at 12:00 midnight. I went to bed at 4:00am and didnt wake up until.....

5:30pm the next day!! It was weird Cause then I went back to sleep about five hours later =p.

This morning I woke up at 5:00am, and couldn't get back to sleep. So I got up at 6 and had breakfast. It is now 6:57am and I am wide awake.

It felt a bit like a dream at first, it was weird to think that a few hours before I had been on the opposite side of the world, and now I am in a place I am so familiar with. All the other countries seem so long away, and almost like a dream themselves.

It is so good to be back, I felt so happy =)

Well thats it from me...hope you enjoyed reading this site, I enjoyed keeping it =)

Looking forward to seeing you all =D

Lots of Love, Celeste xoXox

Monday, 08 October 2007

Location: London, England

hey hey

Last full day in London!! Quite sad...but I'm looking forward to coming home :P

We started off the day by going to hospital! Claudia's toe hadnt stoped bleeding, and it was oozing out this black/red puss haha thats as much as I will say.

The nurse cleaned it and bandaged it and gave my mum special bandages for her. Apparently the cleaning was the most painful thing :S

Then we went for lunch at an Indian restaurant which was very nice. We couldnt get parking outside, so we had to park the car down the road. Claudia couldn't walk so I had to carry her on my back! My shoulders hurt now haha.

We then drove to my mum's primary school, and then her high school, to watch all the students come out. Apparently the uniform is pretty much the same except for the skirt.

Then we drove back =D

Oh and by the way...I kept meaning to mention, that the bathroom has one of those lights where you pull the cord and it turns on :P Found that pretty exiting at first =p

It's been a fantastic holiday and I've really enjoyed it =) I will definately miss all the countries I've seen, and all the people I've met, but I am looking forward to coming home. I will probaby write one more entry when I get back to Australia, just to finish it of =p. We arrive back Wednesday night (Australian time), and leave Tuesday morning (British time), so there won't be anything here for awhile.

I will write on Thursday then. =D

I'm a little bit nervous about the flight back...again I hate the thourght of being stuck on a stuffy plane for 23 hours. I'm not nearly as nervous as I was coming out here though - I hope I didnt just jinx myself :S haha I probably did =(

Ok...well I'll write later then...

See you all really soon!!

Lots of Love,

Celeste xoXox

Sunday, 07 October 2007

Location: London, England

hey =D

Today we went to a cafe for lunch with a group of my family. My aunt and uncle couldn't make it, as they had to leave earlier this morning. However, two other uncles and aunts were there...plus my two gorgous cousins.

Lunch was very nice, and afterwards mum had planned to introduce me to her best friend Virginia. Claudia could have come, but decided to stay with the rest of the family.

So I had to say good bye to more family, and it will most likely be for a few years =(

Mum and I got the tube, but some of the rail services weren't working, so we had to get a luxurious taxi to the exact spot...what a pity =p. ahh i love the taxi's here =p.

We met Virginia and her six year old son at a cafe in St. Jame's Park and had a drink and a bite to eat. Jim (Virginia's son) has the most lovely english accent ;p he sounds so proper....I loved it! He was also very smart and spoke to me about how electricity passes through metal, and recited from the nuber 20 to the number 0. When I asked what he wanted to do when he grows up, he told me he wanted to be a scientists who 'makes potions.'
He probably meant did experiments, because then he started to tell me about 'potions' he made at home - where he would put a tablet into a glass of water and watch it all fizz over the edge. He was adorable =p.

He was pretty keen to feed the squirrels, so we went outside and he got out a bag of nuts he'd brought - and the squirrels loved them.

Then we walked to Leister square, and I took some photos of him, mum and Virginia. He then looked at my mum and said,

'I know what would make a lovely photo.' (In his gorgeous accent)

my mum asked him, 'What?'

And he looked at me and said,

'Me and Celeste.'

ahhh how cute! haha so we had a photo and then went in search of China Town so we could go out to dinner.

We found it and a nice restaurant and ordered dinner. Virginia took Jim to the bathroom at one stage and apparently he told her he thought he was in love with me =p

Afterward we had to say another good bye, and Jim asked when we would be back =(

Even more goodbye's. Ergh. I hate goodbyes.

So we caught the tube back to my Grandma's place and here I am now =) The day after tomorrow I am heading home =) It feels like I've been here ages!!!

Missing you all!! See you soon!!!

Love Celeste xoxox

Sunday, 07 October 2007

Location: London, England

ahh finally I've updated my diary....there was internet access at the hotel, but only one computer, so it was often taken. I thought it might be easier to update when we got back.

SO there are a few enteries before this one that you probably havent read =p

I will write about today tonight =D

Leaving the day after tomorrow!! Get back Wednesday night...gonna be so tired =p

haha ok well 'enjoy' ttys

Love Celeste xoxox

Saturday, 06 October 2007

Location: London, England

Today was our last day in Ireland. We had breakfast in the hotel as usual, and then had to leave our luggage there, as it was check out ime. We didnt need to leave for the airport until 3:00 so we had plenty of time.

We got a taxi to the house my dad used to live in - which is really pretty!!!! and big!!!

After we got back we walked to Trinity College again, to take some photos.

Normally there are bus and taxi lanes - but we saw a horse and cart lane! And people would use them a bit like taxi's!! We were going to go on one after we got back from my dad's old house, but we didnt have time =(

We decided for lunch we would treat ourselves - and went to the same restaurant once again =p but seriously...it was so nice. There was stained glass windows, velvet thrones, and it was about 2 stories =D

We got a taxi to the airport and had about 2 hours to spare, so we checked i early and all got seats together =D We took of at 5:45 and the journey was a lot more comfortable than the one going to Ireland.

We landed at around 7:15 and caught the tube to my grandma's place - which took over an hour. We didnt arrive home untill 9:30. My Aunt and Uncle was there - who I've never met before, so it was nice to meet them. But they had both had a bit too much to drink by then...and then to celebrate us arriving, they had even more!

They went to bed early, and Claudia and I headed upstairs. Whilst I was in the shower, Claudia dropped the Iron on her foot and it was bleeding so much! I wont go into details though =p

We got to sleep at around 12:30, and I didnt sleep too well =(

Love Celeste xoxox

Friday, 05 October 2007

Location: Dublin, Ireland

hey =)

We had breakfast in the hotel today and then got a taxi to a bus stop. The bus left at 11:30, and it was 11:15, so we had to hurry. (normally we would have walked.)

The bus took us on an hours drive to a place called Glendelough, which was so pretty! We bought a map and planned on going for a walk around.

We plassed through a graveyard which was so old that we could't read the wrting on some of the Stones - it had faded out. One was for a woman who had died in 1882, but there were fresh flowers laid there. Some were really sad. There was one grave, which was long and wide, where a whole family had been buried, and another which had been dedicated to a couples children - and there were about seven children that were metioned, the youngest being only thirteen years old =( Then there was one dedicated to a six year old boy, and another dedicated to two twin baby girls.

We went into the run down chapel, where some more stones had been laid, and I tried to read them - the earliest I could read dated back to 1654 I think.

We passed through and walked for over an hour, it was so pretty, a bit like a rain forest. But different...there were waterfalls everynow and again, moss on rocks, and the sun would shine through all the trees - I half exprected fairys to pop out haha.

We got the bus back and went to the same restaurant for dinner.

Love Celeste xoxox

Thursday, 04 October 2007

Location: Dublin, Ireland

First Day in Ireland =)

We woke up at around 7:30ish, had breakfast and got ready. We left the house at 9:10, and the traffic was quite bad - we didnt get to the airport until 10:15, half an hour before we were meant to board. Because of this we checked in later than we would have prefered, and were all seperated.

We flew on an Ireland air service, and before we took of it played Irish music. There was a fair bit of turbulance, the person in front of me kept putting their seat back, and the person behind me kept kicking my chair!

We arrived in Ireland at 12:30 and got onto a bus that would take us to the centre of Dublin. It dropped us of right opposite our hotel, which was conveniant =)

There were flies everywhere, as one of the windows were open, but we chased after them with our towels until they were gone, and shut the window =p

Then we walked down the road and saw Trinity College. It is beatiful and very big. They had a museum there called 'The Book of Kells' which we all went and had a look at.

We also saw their library - which seriously looked likt the one in Harry Potter. It was two stories, with and arhed roof and ladders leading up to the higher shelves.

We saw the statue of Molly Malone as well...it was about a ten minute walk away.

We wandered for a while longer and came to this really nice cafe/restaurant and had dinner there.

We got lost trying to find the hotel again, but whilst we were looking we passed a nice looking pub and went in for abit of underage drinking =p

Joking, I had a coke and Claudia had a lemoade. =p

We finally found our way back, by following the dodgy map we had bought. We had to cross many zebra crossings, and they are awesome :P They have a green man, to cross, a yellow man to show that the red man was about to appear...I hope that made sense =D

We slept really well that night =D

love Celeste xoxox

Wednesday, 03 October 2007

Location: London, England

hey hey,

Today we went shopping at Kingston =D I went with my aunt and sister, as my mum was seeing another friend.

It is pretty big, part of it is outdoors and the other half is indoors. There was a disney shop, and a make a bear factory. You choose a soft toy and then stuff it, print of a birth certificate and buy it clothes. Claudia had a go at it...and she made a dog. She called it Fluffy - very original haha =p

There were lots of clothes and jewellery shops - I bought a top and a necklace =) in one particular shop, a woman came up to me and asked which pair of gloves I prefered. I chose, she smiled and walked of. Pretty funny =p

In another shop, I saw a lady walk past with fairy floss on a stick! I'd never actually seen that before...except in movies so I was a bit surprised =p. They were doing some sort of promotion and giving away free fairy floss, so Claudia and I had some =)

We ate lunch and walked around pretty much the whole day. My aunt organised for my uncle to pick up Imogen from school so we didnt have 'any time restrictions.'

We got back to their place at about 4:30 and had tea and biscuits again for afternoon tea =D I rekon I'll be really english when I get back =p

They are such a sweet family, when we were all sitting around they took it in turns to talk about their day, and everyone seemed really interested in what someone else had to say =)

Claudia and I stayed for dinner - we had pasta...yum...

Then Claudia and Oliver showed each other some magic tricks. One that Claudia showed was with a dice with a different coloured circle on each side. She would get a member of the audience to put the dice in a square container, with their picked colour facing upwards. She then shook it by her ears and cast her magic spell and was able to say what colour the person had picked.

They were all so confused, so I told them that when she rattled it by her ear, a voice shouted out what colour it was (which i promise is not how she did it), my cousins and uncle spent the rest of the evening rattling it near their ear and trying to 'listen for the voice.'

We played with the hamster a bit as well...so cute!

My uncle drove us back to my Grandma's place at about 8:15, and by that time she was 'worried sick' about us. hahaha.

My mum came back at around 9 and introduced Claudia and I to her friend.

Tomorrow we are off to Ireland, so again I dont know if I will have internet access...but keep your fingers crossed ;) If I dont I'll just have to write everything down, and then type it up ;p

Hope your all having a great time!! See you soon,

Love Celeste xoXox