Week 1 Day 1: Japan then - eventually - UK.
I said my goodbyes to Rach and Joe - the host supremos - and headed out to the airport, thereby experiencing one last ride on a Japanese sardine can train - for the good times. On reaching the airport I was informed that the plane was delayed by 4 hours, which meant I was able to read up on Laws 16-32 in the MCC Laws of Cricket, and desperately avoid eyecontact with the loud Americans who were sitting near me in the departure lounge complaining that no one here spoke English. I didn't have the heart to tell them that what they were uttering could only be called English using the most liberal of definitions.
The plane ride was fine... I destructed some whiskies (as indeed I had on the flight from Brisbane to Tokyo - on the JAL plane they were serving 12 year old single malt whisky, and doling it out by the glass... I mean a glass... just like if you had a glass of water. That flight was a humdinger.)
I got into Heathrow and caught the bus to Oxford. This in itself proved a challenge: here is a transcript of the conversation between the busdriver and me:
"Where abouts in Oxford are you headed?" He asks.
"The University."
"Yes, but where specifically?"
"Balliol College."
"Where?"
"Ah... Manor Road - the Holywell Complex."
"Where?"
"Ah... I think it is off Broad Street."
He thinks long and hard, still with a blank look of confusion on his face.
"Oh, I don't know Oxford very well. This bus just stops to the terminus."
Certainly one of the best conversations one wants to have after a lengthy flight.
I got into Oxford and managed to find my way, by both hook and by crook, into the Holywell Manor Complex - my home for the next 3 years. The night porter, Rob, shows me to my room and as we head off he says that I should get a key so that I can come into any part of the complex, not just my particular wing. I am about to ask him why when he sees some women coming down the street, which brings us to the:
QUOD: There's your reason for getting a key, eh? Eh? Am I right mate? You know what I'm on about...
And he just kept going. I thought he would make a wolfwhistle or a couple of hand gestures, but eventually he calmed down. I took 0 photos here as I was dog tired and just wanted to get to bed. More backdating later today.
TST 2/10/06
I said my goodbyes to Rach and Joe - the host supremos - and headed out to the airport, thereby experiencing one last ride on a Japanese sardine can train - for the good times. On reaching the airport I was informed that the plane was delayed by 4 hours, which meant I was able to read up on Laws 16-32 in the MCC Laws of Cricket, and desperately avoid eyecontact with the loud Americans who were sitting near me in the departure lounge complaining that no one here spoke English. I didn't have the heart to tell them that what they were uttering could only be called English using the most liberal of definitions.
The plane ride was fine... I destructed some whiskies (as indeed I had on the flight from Brisbane to Tokyo - on the JAL plane they were serving 12 year old single malt whisky, and doling it out by the glass... I mean a glass... just like if you had a glass of water. That flight was a humdinger.)
I got into Heathrow and caught the bus to Oxford. This in itself proved a challenge: here is a transcript of the conversation between the busdriver and me:
"Where abouts in Oxford are you headed?" He asks.
"The University."
"Yes, but where specifically?"
"Balliol College."
"Where?"
"Ah... Manor Road - the Holywell Complex."
"Where?"
"Ah... I think it is off Broad Street."
He thinks long and hard, still with a blank look of confusion on his face.
"Oh, I don't know Oxford very well. This bus just stops to the terminus."
Certainly one of the best conversations one wants to have after a lengthy flight.
I got into Oxford and managed to find my way, by both hook and by crook, into the Holywell Manor Complex - my home for the next 3 years. The night porter, Rob, shows me to my room and as we head off he says that I should get a key so that I can come into any part of the complex, not just my particular wing. I am about to ask him why when he sees some women coming down the street, which brings us to the:
QUOD: There's your reason for getting a key, eh? Eh? Am I right mate? You know what I'm on about...
And he just kept going. I thought he would make a wolfwhistle or a couple of hand gestures, but eventually he calmed down. I took 0 photos here as I was dog tired and just wanted to get to bed. More backdating later today.
TST 2/10/06
posted by Tim Trudgian | 9:30 am
1 Comments:
Tim, We are all enjoying your daily missives...keep them coming!! You are so whitty!! Signed, your un-biased Mum.xx
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