Adventures of Gamblegirl: A Happy New Year to you all!! Welcome to 2004!! A brand new year - one to make bucket loads of resolutions and we keep... well b***** all!!!! I like ot see it as being a new year, clean slate and enough time to get back into bad habits alllllll over again. As with Christmas, I spent the experience of New Year's in another country - in bloody cold England. Was a toasty 2 degrees on New Years Eve - so I'm guessing the skimpy top's out. Mind you, it doesn't really stop the pommy chicks though. It freezing out there and they will still wear next to nothing. I've never seen a weather forecast as being "bitterly cold" or "severely cold". I heard that Melbourne was around 41 degrees - wow the heats starting early. Normally it really starts about Australia Day. Anyway... I digress (as per usual). At home New Year's is a big deal. Maybe because of the weather, it's more of a party atmosphere. Either's it a bbq with friends and family or out somewhere for a bit of fun, but somethings always on. Different story over here. Nobody really seems to do anything, even the Mayor of London is encouraging people to not go out!! What's with that? The fireworks (rather tragic as compared to the ones at home!) were for TV only!! WHAT?!?! Then again, I've noticed that a lot of things are for tv only. It's a bit weird and a bit sad. Don't get me wrong. I love watching telly, but surely some point of your life, you have to live things and not watch it on an electronic box!!! Well we had something planned. A yummy meal, the company of my family - it's all good. Mind you having a little trouble staying awake!! Must be the cold weather. Or gasp!!! am getting old. Even my own mum added an extra year to my actual age. I'm having enough problems with being 27, don't age me already!!! So after New Year it's been my turn to play tour guide. While sadly Steph and Simon couldn't join us, the lovely Andi joined the G's in the tour of London on the Saturday. On Friday, it was off to visit Tower Bridge and Westminster, which I was excited about. I have tried to visit Westminster 8 bloody times!! And most of the time, it's been that old bird THE QUEEN!!! that's stopped me but hooray I've finally got in. It's pretty amazing, the architecture is superb (see a new word!!!), and it's incredible to think that someone had the foresight to build it the way it is. I have also worked out where I get my love of taking a photo or two. Jonno, you have sooo much to answer for :) Then it was off to my favourite place in London - Kharma. The bestest, yummiest food I've had in London. Peter spoilt us and treated up like royalty (must have known it was the G's coming). We left with a full tummy and very content. The next morning, it was an early start. We all met in front of the Sherlock Holmes statue on Baker Street (or Barker Street as my dad kept calling it) and off to Madame Tussards it was. Had a great time, snapping photo's and being plain old silly. As we had some time to kill between Madame T's and the London Eye, we made a quick trip to the famous Abbey Road studio's and the immortalised crossing that appeared on the Beatles album. Then it was off to the London Eye. Good thing we did because I heard the next day that it's closed for a month for repairs. Timing or what?! I have to say, it was a great day for it. Clear sky, good weather - thanx karma for doing the right thing. Even though it was my second time up it, I still enjoyed it. I think the view is amazing and just being so high yet not feeling as though we are moving. A quick hit of St Paul's then off to another one of my favourite places - HAMLEY'S the big toy store. It's soo cool, I never had toys like this when I was growing up. By this time my parents are masters of the tube, but it was funny to see their reactions when it came to making our way down to the stations we need. "All the way to China" was one that was mentioned. Then on the sunday it was off to Harrod's in the arvo, where we got this great deal on a sweater for my dad. It's was like selling for £50 but on sale for £10 and it was a gorgeous sweater. Bargin. Then we did a bit of wondering around, seeing the sights. As it was getting dark (so must be about 4:00pm), we kinda limited about what we could see. Not that it deterred the G's. It was off to Buckingham Palace for some snaps, Admiral Arch and then it was time to part. Sigh - had fun playing tour guide for my parents. I really enjoyed seeing them again. It was nice to fussed over and looked after. It's really cute how my mum was concerned about me walking around London in the dark. Could be a bit of problem for this girl as it gets dark here quite quickly and well don't have any other means of transport. Gotta go Gamblegirl