.... I'd still only have 460,000 pounds. Darn exchange rate!
Seriously, though, after three-and-a-bit months here in Dundee, there's a few social conveniences in which I find the town lacking; and if I did have the aforementioned million bucks, here's what I'd invest in.
1) A Sushi place. Seriously. There's not a single shop that I've found in Dundee where you can get hand-rolled sushi - even the pseudo-Sushi handrolls you can get in any given place in Melbourne. Open one here, you've got no competition whatsoever.
2) A comic book store. Minotaur, your path is set. Aside from the Borders down the road (which only sells trades and graphic novels) there's no strong comic-book presence in central Dundee. I haven't read Ultimate X-Men in months!
3) a 7-11. Or some kind of open-all-hours convenience store. We've got a 24-hour Tesco (think Coles) down the road, but they don't have a Slurpeee machine. Or a place where you can buy questionable, fat-laden, microwave-in-the-store foodstuffs for immediate comsumption.
With these three things, I could turn Dundee into a geek's paradise. All I need is the money. Any takers?
Monday, December 29, 2008
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Monday, November 24, 2008
Well, finally!
We haven't had anything we could possibly tell you, because life here is rather dull. We get up, we clean the hostel for about three hours (if that), we hang about the hostel drinking tea and either knitting (me) or writing (Felix). Sometimes we'll head out for a walk, either up hill or down dale.
Early Sunday morning, life got exciting again. I had insomnia so I was wide awake at 2:30a, when it started snowing. Not a flake here, a flake there, but snowing. I ran outside in my pj's to get covered in snow, then ran up five flights of stairs to wake Felix up so he could wake up and see the snow. Sorry about that, babe...
Woke up around 7am to see this.
This is right outside our kitchen window, and as you can see, daylight still hadn't arrived. I ran back upstairs (yes, I am getting into better shape here), got dressed and grabbed my camera. Then I ran out and had some fun.
All the barricades were set up for the turning on of the Christmas lights here in Dundee. It was a HUGE evening! Take a look at half of the crowd.
They came to watch this:
...turn into this:
There was a countdown, then as soon at the lights were on, the fireworks went off.
Best view in the world - our bedroom window is about 20 metres from where the fireworks were being let off.
Yesterday was the first day I've ever felt like I belonged here, and it was amazing.
Even the fairies are bigger in Dundee.
Early Sunday morning, life got exciting again. I had insomnia so I was wide awake at 2:30a, when it started snowing. Not a flake here, a flake there, but snowing. I ran outside in my pj's to get covered in snow, then ran up five flights of stairs to wake Felix up so he could wake up and see the snow. Sorry about that, babe...
Woke up around 7am to see this.
This is right outside our kitchen window, and as you can see, daylight still hadn't arrived. I ran back upstairs (yes, I am getting into better shape here), got dressed and grabbed my camera. Then I ran out and had some fun.
All the barricades were set up for the turning on of the Christmas lights here in Dundee. It was a HUGE evening! Take a look at half of the crowd.
They came to watch this:
...turn into this:
There was a countdown, then as soon at the lights were on, the fireworks went off.
Best view in the world - our bedroom window is about 20 metres from where the fireworks were being let off.
Yesterday was the first day I've ever felt like I belonged here, and it was amazing.
Even the fairies are bigger in Dundee.
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Boo!
Despite the sole solitary American telling us that Halloween is an American holiday only, we persevered and had a party just the same (he's wrong, you know. Halloween has been celebrated in Scotland a lot longer than the US. The Irish and Scottish took the holiday with them when they emigrated. Moron). Waaaaaayyyy too much fun was had by all.
Aside from some sparkly bats and pumpkin tinsel (no, really) we also had some tasteful dribbly skull candles,
and a pumpkin, carved by yours truly. This was my very first pumpkin and I managed to impress myself. Next year, I'm doing Doctor Who.
Yes, for the observant, it is Frank from "Donnie Darko". I thought he looked evil enough.
Now for the costumes.
Felix, playing Shaggy, complete with Scooby Snacks.
Jade, as Mata Hari (just pretend you know who that is, okay? I felt like a nerd for knowing).
Andrew, as Father Dougal from "Father Ted". Being Irish, he had the accent down pat.
John, as a ghoul. I did his makeup, and he sat perfectly still, so kudos to him.
Fransisco, as a Celt. He's from Chile, which makes this so much funnier.
Scott, taking his shot, even though he can't see properly. His Lego head took him two days to make, and he was stoned out of his mind from the fumes. Won seven games on the trot. Still no idea how.
Felix agreed that the head makes you dizzy.
Peter was a WerePimp. His medallions read "Pimp My Wolf Winner 2007". Scary how sleazy he sounded with the silly voice.
Mitch was Angry Jesus. He's back and he's pissed. Complete with cross with a pointy end for stabbity.
As for me, I was an iPod ad.
Well worth it.
Aside from some sparkly bats and pumpkin tinsel (no, really) we also had some tasteful dribbly skull candles,
and a pumpkin, carved by yours truly. This was my very first pumpkin and I managed to impress myself. Next year, I'm doing Doctor Who.
Yes, for the observant, it is Frank from "Donnie Darko". I thought he looked evil enough.
Now for the costumes.
Felix, playing Shaggy, complete with Scooby Snacks.
Jade, as Mata Hari (just pretend you know who that is, okay? I felt like a nerd for knowing).
Andrew, as Father Dougal from "Father Ted". Being Irish, he had the accent down pat.
John, as a ghoul. I did his makeup, and he sat perfectly still, so kudos to him.
Fransisco, as a Celt. He's from Chile, which makes this so much funnier.
Scott, taking his shot, even though he can't see properly. His Lego head took him two days to make, and he was stoned out of his mind from the fumes. Won seven games on the trot. Still no idea how.
Felix agreed that the head makes you dizzy.
Peter was a WerePimp. His medallions read "Pimp My Wolf Winner 2007". Scary how sleazy he sounded with the silly voice.
Mitch was Angry Jesus. He's back and he's pissed. Complete with cross with a pointy end for stabbity.
As for me, I was an iPod ad.
Well worth it.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Can someone turn the heating up?
It's 5 degrees today. There was snow at 7am - we of course slept til 9am because it was so cold (0 degrees overnight). I love this weather. Apparently, it's going to snow again tomorrow.
We haven't really been doing much of late. Get up, clean stuff, swear our heads off because 44 people left in one morning. Yesterday was 23 people. They were a set of four bands on tour. Guess how much four bands can drink? We know because we cleared the empties - 7 garbage bags full. *sigh*
Anyway, for your entertainment today, we give you Angus MacLeod.
This was Angus' room - as you can read, he was a bagpipe maker. There was a fire, and he died, about a two centuries ago.
Unfortunately, he likes to turn up now and again. Like when you're asleep in Room 14. People get woken up by a Scot in a kilt telling them there's a fire. When they run out of their room, there's no fire. Then they go back to their room, and there's no one there.
I live in a building with a ghost. I'm pretty darn satisfied here.
We haven't really been doing much of late. Get up, clean stuff, swear our heads off because 44 people left in one morning. Yesterday was 23 people. They were a set of four bands on tour. Guess how much four bands can drink? We know because we cleared the empties - 7 garbage bags full. *sigh*
Anyway, for your entertainment today, we give you Angus MacLeod.
This was Angus' room - as you can read, he was a bagpipe maker. There was a fire, and he died, about a two centuries ago.
Unfortunately, he likes to turn up now and again. Like when you're asleep in Room 14. People get woken up by a Scot in a kilt telling them there's a fire. When they run out of their room, there's no fire. Then they go back to their room, and there's no one there.
I live in a building with a ghost. I'm pretty darn satisfied here.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Quite a journey
Six months ago, Felix and I sat down to buy ourselves an anniversary present. It was one year, so traditionally that means paper. We bought two plane tickets.
Move to now and we're here. It's a little surreal at times, but otherwise fun. Oh, and it's 10 degrees tomorrow. Hope you're all enjoying your suffocating heat...
Move to now and we're here. It's a little surreal at times, but otherwise fun. Oh, and it's 10 degrees tomorrow. Hope you're all enjoying your suffocating heat...
Thursday, October 16, 2008
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