It's a barmy 23*c today in Effingham. I may have said it before, but Spring here is amazing. After a busy lunch at the Pub I am chillaxing in my room with another hour before I have to go back and do it again. They are forecasting a 'heat wave' getting up to 31*c. If thats is the case I will be spending the next few days relaxing in the beer garden between shifts I think, making the most of the sun & warmth. England's weather can be quiet misleading as it is likely to be back to freezing by next week (highs of 14-17 degrees). Time is passing a such a rapid rate lately. It's been 6 months since I left Australia and the last 2 months have gone so quick & finding the time to blog is not very high on my to do list. Instead I have been on mini trips whenever I get a day off. Which seems few and far between when you only get about 6 across a month. Pub work is fun, but the hours are long. It's roughly 1.5 days off a week. But generally you work 10-3pm & 6-12pm most days. Its very social though and has been a great way to see & experience the culture. Especially since i get to enjoy restaurant food for dinner every night made by a chef. What could be better. When I get the chance I go adventuring. The other week I walked to Poleden Lacey, a massive estate not far from effingham with pristine gardens & grounds. After being told it was just up the road in walking distance I should have probably checked how far that actually meant. Over an hour later, after a run in with a cow resulting in a stampead and finally arriving at Polesden Lacey, I found out later it was actually 3.1 miles down the road. Needless to say I pleaded with a another staff member and managed to get a lift home as I was b*****ed. Somehow I was still able to walk around the estate and take lots of photos too. I have also been back to London not for the wedding but to see the Parks (St James, Green & Hyde) in bloom. Not being a fan of the Royal family I have very little to update on the wedding. I was working at the time and didn't watch it, or any of the hundreds if reruns. You can purchase the DVD and/or Cd from Sainburys, but I'd rather save my money for something useful like alcohol. There is merchandise of every kind in every store and it certainly has brought out the best out in the British. They sure do love their Royals here. Speaking of Royals this week I went to Hampton Court Palace. Famous for Henry VIII, William III & Mary II. Learning about the corrupt past of this Royalty I find it hard to understand how they see Australia as the land of the convicts who stole loafs of bread. When the whole Royal history is a soap opera in itself. Hello pot, kettle calling. It's quiet humorous what they think of Australians here. Yet when they go on holiday, guess where they head. Yes this is a sore point, the British pride is one of mud slinging. Where I like to think my Australian pride has more humility, as we do not need to boast. Why are so many Brits trying to get citizenship into Oz if England is the best? Don't even get them started on football, or soccer as we call it. Words can not describe the insanity in the game here. It's a world of its own full of fanatic craziness and a part of the UK culture I wish to stay away from. Unless I lose a few too many million brain cells, then I might be able to find more sense in mindless hype & politics of it all. To me it's just soccer, to them it's a lifestyle of which you choose you team at birth. I like the English, don't get me wrong. But some days They just get to me. They are funny, a lot have a sick sense of humour and make me laugh a lot. Others are ignorant and grumpy. Which I guess is what you would find in any culture around the world. Well that's my rant for the day, hopefully I won't leave it as long before my next entry. I had planned on keeping a daily travel diary, but since leaving Manchester in March I have not set pen to paper. Where does the time go?