brayza in the UK

Reading vs Chelsuck

// June 17th, 2009 // No Comments » // Trip information

Welcome to Reading

Day 2 of our Pangbourne trip started early Saturday morning. We lounged around outside for a bit in the sun whilst consuming breakfast. After breakkie we jumped on the train in Pangbourne and headed for Reading. We walked around the shops for most of the morning before trying to find out how we could get to Stonehenge the next day. For a place that is not more than an hour away it was proving to be very difficult, and expensive. One of the bus companies we found told us that we needed to catch at least three trains to get to Salisbury, before hopping onto a bus to get to Stonehenge. Undeterred, we continued on our way to find the Reading tourist information centre.

Wild Goose chase

Just outside of the Reading Mall there was a map which had the Reading tourist centre on it. We all took a look to see which way it was, but no one really had a good enough look and we ended up lost. I knew it was behind the post office, but unsure of which building. In needing to ask someone for directions I decided to ask a scruffy looking gentleman as he was most probably a resident, not a tourist. Well I had no luck there so I went into the post office and asked the lady at the door for directions. She put us on our merry way to the town hall, as it was located inside that building.

We walked in the direction that the lady sent us and found the town hall about 10 minutes later, only to realise that the town hall is pretty much the building across the road from the post office, and she sent us all around the block! Well we were finally at the town hall hot and flustered (it was another scorcher of a day) ready to go to Stonehenge. We asked the lady at Town Hall reception for the tourist centre and she promptly informed us that the tourist centre has been closed some time ago. Awesome. A wild goose chase for a centre that doesn’t even exist. Nice work post office lady!

Fastest goal EVAR

After our trek around the world for the tourist centre we decided to retire to a pub to watch the F.A Cup final between Everton (should have been Man U) and Chelsea. We went into the first pub we saw, which was O’Neills, and I asked the bartender if they were broadcasting the Cup Final. His response was “Oh, we have two big screens down there so I would assume we would put it on one”. His response was vague so we went to the next pub. The entrance on the next pub had chalk boards stating that the Cup Final would be played, so we entered. Upon entering I noticed all the TV’s were in the worst possible positions for viewing pleasure so we decided to give it a miss.

As we were exiting the pub, some 12 year old mother who looked like she had been drop kicked through the front door ask if we were looking to see if the footy was on. Astounded that she was literate, I replied “Yes, is it on here?”. She replied “No, but, yeah, but, no, but, yeah, but, no, but, yeah but I know because I’m not watching football cause you know Micha? Well, she saw the whole thing, right, because she was bunking off school because she was gonna go down the wimbley and get off with Luke Griffiths, only she never because he’s been trying to grow a moustache but it just looks like pubes, so she got off with Luke Torbet instead, only don’t tell Bethany that because she’s fancied Luke Torbet ever since she flashed her fanny at him during Home Ec”.

No Varsity Blues

After our run in with Vicky Pollard Jnr we settled in at Varsity. It was a really nice pub and had really cheap drinks if you had ‘Crazy, Sexy, Cool card’, in which we did. We got a good seat for watching the football, and we were all stoked when Saha put the Toffees ahead in world record time. JP and I knew it wouldn’t last, and we weren’t surprised when Fat Frank put the winner away in the 80th minute. So close for Timmy Cahill, but Chelsuck were the better side. After the game we hung around for a while. We were there for a good couple of hours, I think 6 in all. Teneale and I had hammered down the ciders all afternoon and we were quite tipsy. JP on the other hand was playing catch-up all afternoon (his excuse was jetlag pffft).

At around 6ish we headed for Sainsburys to pick up something for dinner. We picked up 4 pizzas and a case of Strongbow. The price of the Cider was a steal, I don’t know how they did it.

We then headed back to the Pang to inhale the pizza before heading off to bed.

Out with a Pang!

// June 17th, 2009 // No Comments » // Trip information

Posing in Pangbourne

On the 29th May; Mel, Teneale and I went to visit my mate JP who was fresh out of Australia. Mel and I caught the train early that Friday but we were stuck at the train station for half an hour as the train didn’t have a driver. This was supposed to be the fast train to Reading! As we were sitting in the unairconditioned cabin sweating, a man comes over the radio stating the train has no driver and that it might be quicker catching the quarter-to train, as this train will be departing 30 minutes late. At that point everyone looked at their watches is dismay thinking ‘if this train leaves in 30 minutes, it will still leave 15 minutes earlier than the quarter-to train, how can the other train be quicker?’

On ya bike Son

After the people on the train who couldn’t do basic maths left, the train was off and running; a good 15 minutes earlier than the other train. The first stop was Reading, our stop. The train ride was very quick and in about 25 minutes we had arrived. We hopped off that train and jumped on the local train and headed to Pangbourne. 10 minutes later we were in the heart of the English countryside. It was the first time I had seen JP since I left Oz three months ago. He met us at the train station and we walked to his Uncle’s house which was just down the road. It was a lovely area, and it got even better as we passed Broughtons, a Bentley garage on the main drag.

A streetcar named Spyker

Among the Bentleys and Aston Martins were two Koeniseggs. They were unreal. I have never seen one up close before, so we stopped past to take some photos. Whilst we were in heaven, and Mel looked on unamused, we spotted the Spyker. Broughtons are apparently the exclusive distributors of Spyker in the UK. The Spyker C8 Spyder looks mean, and at £209,950 JP and I kept dreaming. After our little pit stop we continued on our way.

It’s Tens with an ‘M’

We dropped our gear off at the house and JP took Mel and I to the park which runs along the River Thames. I never liked the river as I could never pronounce it correctly. The English just make up sounds for words. So it’s pronounced Tems, and now I like it.

After a little stroll around the park we headed for the Swan. Every where I go there is a town with a pub called the Swan. I ordered the Ryan special, a Bulmers and a Mel’s special, coke, whilst JP ordered a bogan special, the British equivalent to VB, no not Fosters. We downed the drinks just before the sun racked off behind the clouds and we were left shivering.

Is that a pie in your pocket…

JP, being the culinary master that he is *cough*, went to the local butcher and picked out a couple of hand made pies. We put the pie in the oven just as Teneale rang to say she had arrived in the Pang. JP and I went and collected Teneale whilst Mel guarded the pie. When we got back, JP whipped up a salad to go with the pie, and the girls went crazy. We haven’t had a salad since we have been in the UK, and JP was rather proud of himself, quoting “..and they say you don’t make friends with salad…*cough*.

Well it was the best pie I have ever eaten, and at £6+ per pie it would want to be. Curry chicken yummo. We consumed the pie then hit the sack

Bienvenue arrière

// June 8th, 2009 // No Comments » // Trip information

Well it has been a hectic weekend and week!! On Friday, Mel, Teneale and myself went and visited my mate JP who was fresh of the plane from Australia. He has just moved to Reading and we decided to pay him a visit. We were there until Monday, then on Wednesday the three of us (T, Mel and I) went to Paris!!

I’ll be adding the details a little bit later. Watch this space..

Changing the Guard

// May 29th, 2009 // No Comments » // Trip information

Changing the Guard

On Friday (22/5/09) Mel and I finally got out of the house after all the bad weather and went to Hyde Park corner. We visited the Wellington Arch as I had seen it as I left to Manchester the previous week. We were snapping up pictures when a procession of the Queen’s horsemen went straight through the area heading towards Buckingham Palace. Mel remembered that the Changing the Guard happened daily at 11:30am so we followed the horsemen to Buckingham Palace to see what all the fuss was about.

Standing room only

Well Buckingham Palace was absolutely packed. They had sectioned of the road area so everyone was squished up against the fence, sniffing everyone’s bad B.O. It was a very hot day and the crowd was getting restless, as nothing was happening. Just after 11:30am the horsemen from earlier did a circle around the Queen Victoria Memorial in the middle and went inside the Palace grounds. They dismounted and stood still for around half an hour. Mel and I were getting quite hot and restless so we decided to leave. We begun moving towards the exit when I heard some music playing. We decided to stick it out to see what happened. A few moments later a huge procession of the Queen’s band came in through the side and into the Palace grounds. Everyone was jostling for a view, and somehow Mel was able to sneak right up to the fence.

Check in/Check out

Well, if only every time I finished or started work I got a band and a thousand onlookers. I couldn’t really see much from where I was, but the music the band was playing reminded me of Austin Powers. I guess that’s where they get it from. The Changing the Guards obviously takes a while to do, about 45 minutes, and here is a quick run through of what happens.

The New Guard, led by the Band, marches across into the forecourt of Buckingham Palace. Once there, the New Guard advances towards the Old Guard in slow time and halts. The Old Guard presents arms, followed by the New Guard presenting arms. The Captains of the Guards march towards each other for the handing over of the Palace keys. The new reliefs are marched to the guardrooms of Buckingham Palace and St James’ Palace where new sentries are posted. During this time the Band has taken its place by the centre gate, formed up in a half-circle, where it plays music (the Austin Powers theme tune) to entertain the New and Old Guard as well as the watching crowds. With the Old and New Guards formed up once again, the Old Guard and the Band marches out through the centre gates in slow time to their Regimental Slow march played by the Band (more Austin Powers music). At the end of the slow march the Captain of the Old Guard gives the word of command to ‘Break into Quick Time’ and with a brisk five pace roll from the drums, the Band leads the way back to Wellington Barracks (source).

After that happens everyone tries to vacate the area. The thousands pour into St James’ Park, and what great weather it was to lie on the grass, and purchase a hot dog.

Some pointers

As Mel and I just rocked up on a whim, we were lucky to get a relatively good viewing spot. If you go I would suggest:

• For the best view arrive early and stand as near as you can to the railings at the Victoria Monument - stay there. At first we thought nothing was going to happen inside the grounds as everyone looks the other way, but stay there. It all happens inside the grounds. The fence has a little lip on it so you can sit down whilst you wait.
• If you want a picture of a guard I would suggest walking through St James’ Park until you reach the Horse Guard Palace. There are all sorts of Guards there from the Marines to the Queens Guards to Horse Guards. They also love tourists and would love to have a photo with you. Just watch out for the Horses, they aren’t too friendly.
• Also, when the Queen is there then she has four sentries at the front - when she is away there are only two.

Downing Street

On the way back to the tube we also passed by Downing street. I was hoping to get a photo of number 10, however the whole street was locked up like Fort Knox.

The Mancunian

// May 17th, 2009 // No Comments » // Trip information

Hanging with my Pals

On Wednesday (13/5/09) I went and visited my mate Jules (AKA Jude Neville) in Manchester. Jules had bought tickets to the Leeds League 1 play-of against Millwall, so I went up to join him.

That night we watched Man Utd perform the great escape against Wigan, watched Barcelona destroy Alhletic Bilbao and had a pint at local Manchester Jazz bar. It was a great night. I learned a bit of Spanish as well.

The Theatre of Dreams

The next day I had booked Jules and I into a tour of Old Trafford and the Manchester United Museum. The tour lasted about an hour and was Manchester United captain for 10 minutes as I led out my team out of the tunnel. It was a great experience, they played the entrance music and even put on a fake crowd noise. We were also able to sit in the dugout seats which was awesome. I was even joined by Ronaldo and Rooney!! They just appeared out of nowhere

After the tour we went to the Museum and Megastore. I could have bought so much but I held off. I’ll wait for the new jerseys next season, another one with a massive PREMIERS badge!!

The Play-off

After Old Trafford, Jules and I went and grabbed a massive burger at a local pub. It was so big I couldn’t even finish it. After the bite to eat we met two of Jules’ friends at his house, then we all proceeded to the train station to catch a train to Leeds. We were all off to Elland Road to watch Leeds vs Millwall in the League 1 championship play-off. The atmosphere at the game was unbelievable. I don’t know how the players could hear the ref as it was so loud. No one in the stadium sat down for the entire game. Everyone was singing, dancing, jumping around it was so loud.

Unfortunately for Jules, Leeds drew which meant they missed out becuase they lost the previous game. As we were leaving I have never seen so many police officers gaurding the away supporters entrance. We didn’t hang around to see what happened

On Friday afternoon I headed back to London after a great midweek in Manchester. Thanks Jules!