Friday, June 28, 2013

"Out of the Frying Pan...

"... and into the fire." - The Hobbit, J.R.R. Tolkien

Hey again! :) It's been a while since my last post - or has it? Eh, can't even remember, everything's been going so fast and furious in the coolest city on Earth, I feel like I've been here for months, when it's only been two and a half weeks! That's literally insane! I can't even imagine leaving at this point, this city is my second home, haha!

Fun fact about how I write my this blog - I literally open it up at random moment and jot things down, and then when the time comes to post, I just... try to compile it all together into something that's partially coherent. It's pretty much just a wild stream of consciousness. So, if you read the following post and are completely confounded, I apologise for my ramblings in advance. :)

BUT, before I word vomiting commences, my Spotify playlist, "London Calling, Summer 2013" is finally up! Check it out on Spotify (it's an easy way for me to just grab music from the internet without having to do some crazy stuff to get the music onto my iTunes - plus, this way I can share it with all of you!), or just listen to it below...


Again, the music might not necessarily be about London, per se, but there are going to be plenty of London-centric songs on there, and then some random (and seemingly irrelevant) songs that are probably going to remind me of this trip down the line. This is what I've got so far! Some of the songs that I have on the playlist aren't showing up, but that's because they're from my own iTunes library, and aren't actually on Spotify, but most are on there, if you're interested (and a music junkie, like myself).

Working in the United Kingdom


This is painted on a pub near where I work. What a good way to
greet an early morning at Irresistible!
Work is extremely fun (I work in the film industry, c'mon, how can it NOT be fun?!), but can sometimes be a bit boring... because I'm actually doing intern-like things in an office, rather than on a set (for now...), I just kind of sit and wait for someone to tell me what to do - whether it's call sheets, or locations, or directions. Of course, I ask around and see if anyone needs any help, but right now things are a bit crazy and the producers are in the middle of things that are strictly producer-related. So, lately, I've been making a lot of tea and a lot of coffee, which is a little tedious - but hopefully, enough I'll be able to get my hands dirty and get busy! At least I hope so. I'm evaluated every week, so soon I'll be able to adjust to the office environment soon enough and really learn how to function within the Irresistible dynamic.

The other day, however, Harry (the guy who interviewed and "hired" me as an intern here) brought me to the set for a "test shoot" of a Cadbury digital project (it's going to be on the internet, and it's gonna be awesome - also, their chocolate is delicious), and right when I came to the office the next day I had piles of things to do. So, really, it depends on the day when it comes down to how much I'm doing and how much free time I have to twiddle my thumbs and awkwardly ask, "Does anyone have anything that they need help with?"

But more importantly, I'm learning something...

...working in the U.K. is waaaaaaaay different than working in the United States.

Okay, so: on the set for Dear Eleanor back home, I would literally run from job to job, always trying to keep preoccupied. If I wasn't working my fingers to the bone, then it was presumed that I wasn't working at all, and no one would give me a second glance. That's the mentality in America - work, work, work - and it's a mentality that I grew steadily more comfortable with throughout the entire internship experience on set. And I loved every single second of it.

In the United Kingdom, however, everything is a bit... different.

The other day, us DreamCareers peeps went to a seminar with professionals in the working world. There were three - one was from the United Kingdom, one was raised in Canada and educated in the United States, and one was from Australia. There was a definite difference between their advice when it came to getting the most out of this London experience. While the American and Australian both said to focus completely on work and do nothing else (I was immediately kosher with this idea), the fellow from the United Kingdom made sure to say, "Work hard while you're there, but at the end of the day, get a pint, go out and have fun with your friends. Just come to work the next day and get it done, everyone really just wants to go home at the end of the day anyway." Likewise, in the office, my coworkers are more... relaxed than a United States production company would be.

For example... okay, it's my job as an intern to do the grunt work, right? Well, the other day, I was taking a quick lunch break and I saw one of my coworkers - Katy - breaking down a box for recycling, a job that should probably have been left to an intern - me. So, I immediately stopped eating lunch and told her, "I'm sorry, I'll get that for you." But she was adamant that I finish my lunch and take some time to relax from the working day - and it wasn't in a sarcastic, "You should have been doing this before" kind of way. She was generally concerned about me getting my free time. In tandem with this, a producer - Georgina - was making coffee and tea the other morning, a job that I immediately associate with "intern." But when I went down to try and take over, she immediately asked, "How much sugar do you take in your tea? I know you have a cup or two every morning." I was astounded.

Also, I recently asked if I could leave work early for a world premiere of a feature film that's happening in London while I'm here. And it was okay. They were okay with me leaving work early. Like... they actually encouraged it.

Plus, my boss said, "You know, when you're bored... there's this thing called Youtube. And Facebook. Ever heard of them?"

... I don't know what to do with myself.

I'm very American in my work mentality, and I'm still trying to fit what I'm doing here in London into this American working "box" that I've been born and raised into - but the United Kingdom work mentality is so far removed from what we consider "normal" in America that I'm actually struggling a little bit. I get way too antsy and feel like I'm doing a horrible job when, really, I don't think that they think that I am. :( It's all so confusing!

I just... don't know how I feel about this whole "relax while working" thing. Not while working, obviously, but... you know what I mean? It's weird. I'm too American for this.

But, I mean, they buy me alcohol. So, it's really not all that bad. :3

My First Evaluation and Some Soul-Searching


I casually take pictures of pubs so that I can check them out
later with my friends... yeah. I'm that girl.
Speaking of my bosses buying me booze (socially acceptable with Brits - loving these people more and more), after going on the Cadbury set the other day, I decided that I had to buy Harry a drink, seeing as he bought me a cider the other week. I have this "debt" complex, where I hate being indebted to people (so, shout out to the parents, you've got a butt load of Katie-guilt coming your way when I land back in Denver in August - it won't be pretty. Or maybe you'll enjoy it. Sadists...), so I thought that it was only fair and decent of me to buy him a beer, especially seeing as he hired me, and is one of the reasons that I'm here in London (I would have been asked to leave the program if I didn't get any internships). So, after we called a "wrap," I bought him a drink, and got myself a nice cider as well, and we sat down to talk about my evaluation, and how I'd been doing so far. To be completely honest... I was incredibly apprehensive to hear how I'd been doing, seeing as - again - there are some points at work where I'm literally sitting around and doing nothing for a good portion of nine hours, and I have an America complex that screws up my ability to relax and take a breath.

Well, seeing as he's British and I'm Irish, one pint turned into two, and then two turned into four... so, five pints later (all bought by Harry other than the first one - FREE ALCOHOL FTW), we haven't even talked about my evaluation, and I'm about to take a sixth one for the road, when I realise that I should probably go and have dinner with my DreamCareers friends, and that I'm getting drunk with my boss. It was probably the most hilarious thing that's ever happened to me.

But besides the obvious "what the hell" factor that was going on, I learned a lot talking to Harry - about film, about the business side of things (he's a producer - spreadsheets FTW), and about pursuing a career in the most competitive industry on the face of the planet. His stories were really inspiring, too - like how he hated L.A. when he originally went there, but grew to love it, and how he worked for an incredible film company there for a while and met some incredible actors and producers and directors and cinematographers. How, even with that experience under his belt, finding work was hell on earth. How his "useless" film degree wouldn't even get him a job at a supermarket.

Some of the best advice that he gave me, however, was on opportunity and life in general. "It's funny, but you're often greeted with more luck and opportunity when you leave your house," he joked. "Couch potatoes don't make the front pages or go to the Academy Awards."

I was terrified with what he was telling me, but I took the advice to heart and felt more determined and reassured that this is what I want to do for the rest of my life. And I also began to formulate a sort of "game plan" for what to do later in life, to get to where I want to go. What was so strange, though, was that when I told him that the ultimate, unobtainable goal for myself was to become an actress, he kind of gave me this look and said, "...well, why aren't you doing it?"

"What?" I asked, tipsy and perplexed.

"To be an actress, you kind of have to act," he said in that quintessentially, almost-sarcastic British way that everyone here talks with. "And you're not exactly doing that."

So, that gave me some room for thought... really, there are two paths that I'm beginning to have to face, and it's a decision that I really don't want to have to make - to act, or to produce? And I guess I'm just going to have to make that decision one day - sooner than later, unfortunately.

Or maybe I'll just be Mark Gatiss. Yeah, I'll do that.

I feel like this trip is becoming more of a search for my own identity along with learning more about the film industry. More so than college, even, I'm figuring out who I am and what I want, and what I need to do to get it. I've never been so inspired and determined, and yet terrified - and, now, unsure - in my entire life. And I'm loving every minute of it.

... oh, yeah, the evaluation! Apparently, I'm doing very well. I've got "nothing to worry about, mate," and everyone thinks that I'm an incredibly hard worker. That's reassuring, and also motivating - I'm ready to keep working to improve myself and my knowledge and work experience in the London film industry. Harry may like L.A., but "The Big Smoke" is suiting me just fine, even with the boring days at this little wooden desk in Shoreditch. :)

At least I learned some valuable life skills (kind of, at least I hope I am) while trying to while away the time spent waiting for something to do (I'm finally busy again!). After watching Aunt Sylvia make so many cups of tea for me while I was in Northern Ireland, I thought that I'd be a pro when I came to England - after all, making good tea is a bonus for your employer, right? But thank God Stefan taught us all how to make a cup of tea before we went to our first day in the office, otherwise, I'd be completely lost. And after two weeks at Irresistible, I've got this tea-making thing down to a fine art. In case any of you were wondering how I make my ever-so-fabulous cup of tea every morning for myself and for my co-workers and employers...


Katie's How-To Guide of Making a Good "Cuppa"

  1. Get the following ingredients and materials.
    1. A mug (or a glass - whatever you prefer).
    2. A bag of English Breakfast tea (Tetley or Twinnings = the best).
    3. Milk of your choice (I am partial to skim milk).
    4. Sugar of your choice (I prefer Sugar in the Raw) - can be cubed.
    5. A kettle (or other device).
    6. A stove (or other water heating device).
    7. A spoon.
  2. Put water into the kettle and set it on the stove to boil.
  3. While the water is boiling, put your teabag of English Breakfast tea into your mug, along with a spoonful / however many cubes of sugar that you want.
  4. Once the water is boiled, pour said hot water into the mug - over the sugar and the teabag.
  5. Stir the tea to allow the teabag to steep for a few moments.
  6. Pour your preferred amount of milk into the tea.
  7. Stir the tea to allow the milk to blend into the tea.
  8. After you allow the tea to steep for a few moments more, use your spoon to fish out the teabag, which you will then throw into the bin.
  9. Drink your tea, and enjoy it. You're in England, dammit.
SO, as you can see, making a good cuppa is a fine and delicate art.

...okay, not really, I'm pretty sure that no one really cares just as long as there's milk and sugar. But I'm sure becoming a pro at doing it! :D Not only that, but I think that I'm beginning to like tea more than coffee... that's right... Katie McManus likes tea more than she likes coffee. ALERT THE MEDIA. But seriously - if I drank this much coffee during the day, I'd probably be dead of a caffeine induced heart attack. I can down four cups of Twinnings before I head back to Islington and be just fine! No wonder these Brits drink so much of the stuff...

Ghost Bus Tour


Nicole, Julie Morgan and I headed to this club near Piccadilly Circus one night, which is kind of an unofficial landmark and tourist attraction in London - it's kind of like a mini, less angry and less crowded and pushy New York City Times Square. Along with the fact that there are no skyscrapers. But it's been a location in several of my favourite British TV shows and movies, so I obviously started to geek out a little bit! :) Even though the club was an... interesting experience, to say the least, I'm glad that I finally got to go and see Piccadilly Circus - it was simply incredible, I felt like I should have had a "Rhapsody in Blue" moment... only British.

So, after about two weeks of absolute madness - involving a lot of cider and beer - my friends and I finally decided that it was high time that we started doing some tourist-ey things here in London, especially after being given that incredibly long list of things to do from our bus tour guide. My good friend, Alison, and I are both very much theatre people, and we thought that it would be a great idea to go and check out the infamous Fleet Street, from Stephen Sondheim's masterpiece, Sweeney Todd: the Demon Barber of Fleet Street. So, I got prepared to go and eat some meat pies (but really we went to the Sweeney Todd Restaurant and Pub, which was... horrible, unfortunately), maybe do some sight seeing...

Spooky sauce.
... and that idea was completely thrown out of the window when we decided to go on the London Ghost Bus Tour, which was probably the most hilarious thing that has literally ever happened to me in a foreign country. I thought, obviously, that it was going to be horrifying and scary and that I was going to leave the bus with jelly legs and have to sleep with the lights on for the next week. But, I don't think that I've ever laughed harder. It was probably the insane, infectious sense of British humour that these two actors had, or the fact that literally everything that this guy pointed out to us on the tour was not only disgusting and horrifying, but funny (I'll never forget Scratching Fanny of Cock Lane... yes, that is a thing. Go on, Google it - I dare you!). I was laughing so hard that I was crying. It was the best tour that I've ever been on, and even when all the sites that we went to were familiar (I'm getting to know this city pretty well - better, even, than Boulder, which is both awkward and awesome), I saw everything in a new light. We did pass Fleet Street, but only dropped by to wave a "hello" to the old, dilapidated building that he would have worked at (if he was real) before heading off onto another epic adventure, going past the Tower of London and stepping off the bus to find a spot where hundreds of women who had been shunned by society are buried.

Long story short... we saw a lot of dead people. Or at least where they died.

By far the creepiest part of the tour - and the most disturbing tidbit of information that I got - was about the Bubonic Plague - the Black Death. Pretty much, there is a part of the tube, at the Piccadilly Line... if you take the Tube from Knights Bridge to South Kensington on the Picadilly Line, the Tube randomly curves for no reason. Want to know why?

Bodies. Thousands... and thousands... of bodies... left there in a massive pit from the Bubonic Plague. So, next time you go to work on the Piccadilly Line... look out your window, and you are three feet away from plague bodies.

And I definitely took that route coming back from a work errand one day.

Yeah, welcome to London - by the way, the dead people next door say "hey."

I won't spoil the ending for you, though - it was definitely the scariest part! Needless to say, if you ever go to London, definitely check out the Ghost Bus Tours - it's probably the most fun that I've ever had being a tourist, and that's saying a lot, seeing as I've been a tourist many times before. Seriously. Check it out - great fun!

Check out the pictures from the Ghost Bus Tour, and then some other pictures from before and after, including the cool bridge that we found after the tour was over (and the horrible Sherlock Holmes Restaurant and Pub) - along with some pictures of Piccadilly Circus!

Stonehenge and Bath


Once again, DreamCareers continues to astound and awe and inspire with their epic, weekend adventures. This weekend, we "Dreamers" got to get on a bus at the crack of dawn and drive down to a pile of rocks in the middle of the English countryside before traveling for a bit longer and visiting a bunch of moldy old ruins from some old empire.

... just kidding. Kind of... okay, pretty much, that's what happened, but it was a lot more exciting.

Awesome sauce.
First off, we all woke up after a night of drinking and "happy days," met in the Nido lobby at 8:00am, and all got into these smelly buses to drive down to where Stonehenge is situated in the English countryside. It was a long drive, but very relaxing (I love driving or getting on trains - I could stare out of the window of any land vehicle literally all day long). While it was an extremely strange looking archaeological artefact - and a lot of my fellow Dreamers were unimpressed or bored - I literally couldn't get enough of the place. The fact that these "rocks" are here in the middle of nowhere absolutely blows my mind. There are a lot of strange rumours revolving around these mysterious stones... Archaeologists believe that Stonehenge was built anywhere from 3000 B.C. to 2000 B.C., which pretty much means that I was standing only a couple of yards away from stones that were erected before Jesus was born.

... I think it was aliens. Just saying.

You probably think I'm trying to be funny... but I'm not. I'm serious.

... I'm very... very serious...

ANYWAY, I got my ultimate dream fulfilled - to take a jumping photo in front of the famous Stonehenge (photos pending, but courtesy of Stefan de Rougemont), and also got to take a bunch of other crazy pictures with some friends. I would have stayed there literally all day taking pictures and staring at the stones and thinking about all of the history and mystery revolving around it, if not for the fact that everyone else was waiting for me in the bus, and they all wanted to go and see the "cool Roman baths" or something (whatever). So, unfortunately, I bid those big, awkward stones farewell and headed out with my fellow Dreamers to Bath.

Still, seeing Stonehenge was a simply astounding experience, and I would absolutely love to go back there again to take more photos and learn more!

Check out these photos from Stonehenge - so awesome, so old, so mysterious... More pictures are on their way, too, hopefully! :)

After that, we drove to Bath, England. To be completely and utterly honest, I wasn't expecting much (I just saw the ancient pile of rocks, and I was very much satisfied). But the second that Bath came into view, I happily ate my words.

One of our first views heading into Bath.
First off - heading into Bath, we passed this random castle that used to belong to Nicholas Cage - that's right, the Ghost Rider. It's not his anymore, but that's besides the point - it was a CASTLE, and it was right near Bath, which was an automatic signal for me to be prepared for epic. And thank goodness that I did brace myself for impact, because I saw Bath might just be one of the most beautiful places that I've ever seen! Seriously - absolutely breathtaking. The second that I caught my first glimpse of bath through the trees, I was utterly astounded. The architecture is incredibly Romanesque - rounded arches, old stone, built over rolling hills of green. It was literally like someone took Rome... made it fun-sized... and then put it smack dab in the middle of a beautiful, stormy English countryside - complete with horse drawn carriages, a beautiful river boat ride, people dressed up as Romans, narrow cobbled roads, incredible architecture, an abbey the size of St. Peter's (Vatican), Italian food and hot English Breakfast tea. Seriously. England + Rome = AWESOME.

I really shouldn't have been surprised, though, seeing as the Romans invaded England in the year 43 AD, under the direct rule of Emperor Claudius of the Roman Empire. But what I had seen of England up to that point - and what I had experienced of Great Britain in general over my last three trips here - could have never prepared me for this much raw history and culture slamming into my face. And this is an American talking - any building that is over 250 years old for me is ancient as hell, so staring at something that was erected thousands of years ago is enough to make my inner historian go absolutely ape shit.

I think he literally stayed like that for...
... six hours. Straight.
We were let off at the Bath Abbey, and Stefan pretty much told us that we had free reign to explore the city until around 4:30pm (16:30), at which time we had to be back at the ancient Roman Baths to take the tour with the rest of the Dreamers. My pals and I headed over to a little pub up the road to get ourselves some real nice pub food. Fish and chips was the dish of the day, along with two pints of some  nice, quintessentially British lager (I eat healthy during the week, but when in Rome... ahem, England...). Some of the other Dreamers that we were with were still finishing up their drinks, so my friends Simone and Stephanie decided to go an explore Bath on our own! We found at least four old churches - all of which we went inside of, and all of which I took the time to pray at - before heading down to the River Avon to look at the beautiful water and possibly look at taking one of the boat tours. Though we didn't actually get to test out our "river legs" (it was a bloody £30), we did get to walk along the river for a while and experience more of this pseudo Anglo-Roman architecture / food / culture mixture going on. We found a park, at which there was a live big band playing (They played "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" by Frankie Valli and then Disney show tunes. Someone pinch me), before heading up to the Royal Crescent, one of the greatest example of Gregorian architecture in the United Kingdom. As we walked along, we encountered dozens of people who were busking in the city - remember what busking is? Well, there was a woman who sang opera, and then this guy who played the ukelele and sounded like he should've been in The Kinks, along with a lot of other talented singers, performers and artists. It was all good fun!

After about three hours of exploration, we tore ourselves away from wandering through this incredible city to go and look at the famous Roman Baths of Bath (awkward naming, there, England). Again, as a self-proclaimed history nutter, I about lost my head a little bit walking into the Roman baths, which were right under the shadow of the incredible Bath Abbey. I seriously felt like I should be wearing robes and sandals or something - the second I walked through those doors, I was stepping back into the past. The water was green and murky, but thousands of years ago, Roman emperors, nobles, and common Roman citizens used to step into that very bath for recreation and healing. It was absolutely beautiful, I can't even describe it in words!

After going to Bath, we had a little bit longer to explore - so, I grabbed a bite to eat with Stephanie before heading over to Bath Abbey to pray really quickly, and I ran into Lizzie! We sat down and said a few quick prayers, before heading back to the bus for the long journey back to London. I pretty much passed out for most of the ride back, but it was still some good craic with my fellow Dreamers. :)

Check out these photos from Bath, and the Roman Baths - some photos are pending, as my phone died halfway through and I had to use Simone's camera (bless her), but they'll be up soon!

Westminster, Hogwarts, Churchill, Millenium and Randomness

The next day, we all woke up (exhausted), and decided to go to Westminster Abbey for church. Of course, it's Anglican and I'm Catholic, but when have I ever been that person who actually cared? Besides, going to church at Westminster is a lot cheaper than paying to get in an sight see. It's around £25! Rather go and worship and see everything for free than have to pay and deal with tourists (weird, now, I'm separating myself and tourists... is this a sign...?).

Benny. We're good friends.
Well, the second that we stepped out of Westminster Abbey, we got to see Big Ben all over again, which was a nice, pleasant surprise. Parliament was there to say "hello," again, too. And then we saw a floating man.

Yes, a floating man.

No, you heard me right. No, I'm not imagining things.

Wingardium Leviosa!
Okay, so, I don't know if people have heard about this stunt back in the States, but a magician recently performed an incredible, magical act by putting one hand on the side of a double decker bus and floating across the London Bridge in front of Big Ben and Parliament. And as we literally stepped off of the Westminster station line from the Underground, we look up... and see the world famous magician, Dynamo, floating off the side of this double decker bus. Yes, this actually happened. And I'm pretty sure that he's a wizard. I'm serious, Hogwarts is supposed to be only a five or six hour train ride away! Maybe J.K. Rowling knows something that we don't...

Watch this video, and pause at 1:30 - that girl? In the bright mint green rain jacket? Yeah, that's definitely me, with my friend Austin. That's right - I'm in a Pepsi ad.

So, that was pretty rad. Going to Mass (or... just church...?) at Westminster was pretty awesome too. That choir was so beautiful I actually teared up ("Miserere" was probably one of the most powerful things that I've ever heard sung or composed ever)! What was so interesting, though, was to finally go to a service at the Church of England. And, surprisingly? It's the Catholic Mass. It is the Catholic Mass to a tee - not even joking. Everything was just like what I've experienced my entire life as a semi-not really-practicing Catholic. They even said the Nicene Creed (with the whole "we believe in the Holy Catholic Church" deal) and sang in Latin. They sang in Latin! I thought that the Anglican service would be a least a little different from a Catholic Mass, but it wasn't... it was pretty much the same thing, and that's just weird for me.

What was even weirder, though, was the fact that we were in Westminster Abbey... standing on the bodies of famous people. We're literally singing in Latin and reading the Gospel and standing and kneeling and praying and watching these little boys get confirmed into the Church... while in a graveyard. And the fact that this door kept opening and shutting randomly behind me didn't help my nerves at all - especially since...

"No one's moving that door," I hissed.
"It's probably just the wind," Nicole replied in a whisper.
"... Nicole. We're in a Church full of dead people. We're standing on dead people."

So, that happened. Also, I ate Jesus while standing on top of Isaac Newton. I'd call that an epic win.

Check out these photos of Dynamo floating around and of Westminster Abbey - not pictures of the inside (that was the deal for getting to go inside for free), but take my word for it - it was beautiful!

Lizzie, Alison, Nicole and Morgan all wanted to go and shop at Liberty, but I decided that I'd rather much like walking around London some more. So, after we got some lunch at a pub nearby, I went on an epic adventure, and randomly ended up going to the Winston Churchill War Rooms. And, again... I'm a history freak... especially about WWII. Thank goodness Austin and Scott came with me and forced me to keep a mental check on my geek-meter, or I would have absolutely lost it. I got to go inside of the Winston Churchill War Rooms - where Winston Churchill ran the United Kingdom during WWII. I even saw where he slept, where he ate - where they would hide during the blitz, where they would make important calls to FDR and Harry Truman and even Stalin! Along the way, I learned a lot about Winston Churchill himself, too, and my respect for that man has only grown. Even though he was a grouchy, disrespectful and sometimes extreme bastard, he has my undying respect and gratitude for his fortitude and perseverance during the world's darkest hour. There's no doubt in my mind that if England had fallen to Nazi Germany, we would be living in a far different world, and the war would have been lost for the Allies - and there's also no doubt that Winston had something to do with that.

Check out these pictures from Churchill's War Rooms - seriously. I almost cried I was so excited. I'm that person.


So, Austin and I left the Churchill War Rooms... and Scott had vanished off the face of the planet, so we kind of just... wandered around for a little bit. And then we found West End Live, which was going on at Trafalgar Square! And we arrived at just the right time, too, because that's when Jersey Boys was performing! It was incredible, those guys are so obscenely talented that it hurts my soul a little bit - or a lot o' bit, but seriously - that was awesome. Everyone was just dancing and singing along, it was a great time, even if it only lasted for about ten or so minutes.

"Sherry! Sherry baby! Sherry! Sherry baby!"
After West End Live, Austin decided that he was going to go back to the Student Accommodations, so I decided that I was going to do some exploring of my own, even with my phone about to die (no worries - I can navigate my way around London without a phone now! :D). I wandered through Trafalgar Square for a while, before meandering over to Buckingham Palace (at which point my phone died - so, no pictures. Sad day). At that point of the day, I realized that I should probably go back to my flat to figure out where everyone else was, so I wandered over to the nearest Tube station, and found my way back to King's Cross. Back at Nido, I found Julie, my flatmate - and we both got super bored super fast, so we decided to go and find the Millennium Bridge!

It was good craic trying to find it without a phone or mp or anything (even though, my this point, my phone had been charged again). I was reminded about how directionally challenged I am without mountains (Colorado disillusions you to the real world), but we somehow found the bridge right when the sky decided to release all of its heavenly glory upon us in cold, windy rain. So, we saw the bridge - which really wasn't too exciting other than the fact that it was in Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince), and then we actually randomly found the Globe Theater, too - they were performing Macbeth when we arrived, but it was still cool to randomly find the most famous theater in the history of... theater... That was pretty hilarious and random and epic. :)
Check out the pictures from Austin and I's random adventure to West End Live, my wanderings throughout London, Julie and I's random adventure over to St. Paul's, by which is the Millennium Bridge - and then our fantastically random find of the infamous Globe Theater!

At the end of this jam packed weekend, I was literally ready to crash - and that's exactly what I did, haha! I watched half of Hot Fuzz before passing out on top of my laptop at around... 9:30 at night. That's a record! To be honest, this week has been a lot of recovering from my insane weekend of adventuring and getting drunk with my boss (again - what the hell?! Is this normal?!), but also getting prepared for this upcoming weekend, when I finally get to be reunited with my lovely Kibbles and Bits (Saraaaaaaaaaah), and get to go on a day trip to Oxford and do other awesome things!

So, yeah... again, I should just blog more often, so that they don't end up this long and insane. Eh, that's boring anyway. :) But, really... I should. Sorry for the long post... What can I say - I'm a rambler!

Someone actually told me earlier today that they thought that it was weird that I was keeping a blog of everything that was going on in London. But you you know what? You know WHAT?!

Dr. John Watson has a blog.

Your argument is invalid, sir.

... I think I have a serious problem. I blame Sarah and Morgan. And Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. And Martin Freeman... damn you, Martin Freeman...

SO, until the next adventure ...!

Cheers!
Mac

1 comment:

  1. totally saw you in the commercial! you're famous! haha. i can never get enough of reading your posts- they're hilarious!! i'm glad someone finally knocked some sense into you too about acting and pursuing your dreams ;)
    <3

    ReplyDelete