Now then now then... good e'en all. How are all my cold British compadres? Well, I trust. Sorry about the random posts on here last night. I was coming back from the pub and had a feeling there'd be a message for me from martha. Indeed there was.. all resub nonsense (they even got the name of my degree wrong!) but to be fair I was a touch inebriated (hence why I'm having a second look today).

Anyhow, THE 21st has been and gone. A very nice evening. The speeches were lovely and I think everyone had a top time. So now I'm planning to leave Cape Town and leg it up the gardenroute. The bus'll cost 100 odd quid... but it's hop on hop off and yyu can take as long as you like to get where ever you're going. Not bad really. It's door to door aswell which is nice. Just need to decide where I'll go really.

England will win the world cup. I have no dount in my mind. HERO!

Yesterday was a definite beach day. Lah nyah nyaaaaaaah! Convinced three english lads that the beach must be visited and found our own rock pool to swim about in. Rocks by the side to dive in off etc. Haha... Tom was a bit over enthusiastic and jumped in with his aviators (shades... Magnum PI esque) on. Needless to say they were promptly lost. Found them again before we left though. Brad and I were also reprimanded for venturing too far out on the rocks trying to get to a seagull (or Chesney... ). Then we had drinks at Camps Bay and then home. Haha, those three are off up the mountain today... rather them than me.

So up the garden route tomoz and I'll let you know what occurs. Ciao for now.
posted by Olly at 10:41 AM

Incidentally, I've been a bit cheeky signing folk up for the subscription without them knowing it. If you get a mail from Bloglet it means you have been cheekied. I do apologise... haha, no I don't but if you want to unsubscribe then I'm sure you can. I'm ranked 238th now though out of about 1000.... haha!
posted by Olly at 9:03 AM

Alright guys, blogger (the parent site) has been down for a bit so I couldn't update. Not much to update really. My friends Mark and Chicho have legged it now up the Garden Route now so the hostel's pretty quiet. I'll be following them on Sunday though (woo hoo! away from the city and onto the beach... el permanento... well for a week or two at least) and should catch up with them in Knysna I hope. If not it doesn't really matter though. It'll just be nice to get a change of scenery. I'm fairly bored with staying at the same place for so long. I could move out but there's not really much point now as I'm off in couple of days.

Apparently the Barmy Army will be arriving in Cape Town today for the cricket on Saturday. Estimates of troops range from 10 to 20 thousand!!!!! Haha, think I'll have to go out tonight just to laugh at them. Shame, the robbing street kids around here won't know what's hit them.

As for what I've been doing, I went surfing again two days ago at Muizenburg again (oh my oh my, I do love being in the sea) and managed to strain my groin... possibly from straddling the board but I don't know. Anyway, with an injury like that one needs total rest, so yesterday I walked up Table Mountain. I went up with a guy I met the night before called Rob from Scotland. At least I thought he was called Rob but found out after the climb that he's actually called Dave (I'm such a fool... should have stuck with the rule... if you don't know there name just call 'em Dave). Well, the climb itself was quite a challenge, Table Mountain is 1000m high, and I was in me sandles (trusty buggers that they are) . We went up a pretty steep bit (climbing up 2ft high steps all the way) on a route called Platteklip Gorge. We were both knackered by the top. It was quite similar to the Mount Snowdon experience (for those who were there) but about 20 degrees hotter and no rain. At the top the views were unbelievable (click here ). Also some weird wildlife, odd creatures called Dassy's . Apparently Das is Dutch for Badger. These little buggers were far two interested in Rob/Dave's hot dog. Quite amazing though. Sticky sweat foroms on the pads of their paws so they can cling to sheer rock faces and they have a collapsable rib cage to squeeze through tiny gaps in the rocks. Also they're a keystone species for the mountain so I had to tell Rob/Dave that launching the little bastard off edge wasn't an ecologically sound idea.

We cheated on the way down and got the cable car but again a good way to see the views.

LAst night I went to dinner at Theresa's mates house. Some god quality Indian food cooked by Paul and his girlfriend Shen. I was bloody knackered though so when I got back I was straight to sleep. Well, that's it for now guys. I shall write again soon. See ya.
posted by Olly at 8:47 AM

haha twenty four hour pub which is actually an internet cafe!
posted by Olly at 2:29 AM

What a night. There was meant to be a full moon party down at camps bay last night. So me, Chicho (Mexican) and Mark (Oz) decided to go down. Haha, it rained so it was cancelled. So we decided to walk from fourth beach to the bay. After a bit of rock climbing shenanigans we made it. Had a few in camps bay then walked back to fourth beach. The tide had come in a bit and it was pitch black so the climbing was decidedly more taxing. After that it was back to Long Street but not much was happening so Mark had the brainwave of going to the casino . Luckily I was happy just watching and had a little flutter on the blackjack (only lost R100). After plenty of drinks and Mark clearing up on roulette we realised it was about 5 in the morning. So we went to get breakfast in the casino. Haha, there we met three Indian lasses who were most amusing. Particularly as cheech was pretty pissed and all over one of them in seconds. They gave us a lift back to the hostel and we got to bed at about half seven this morning. All in all a top night! Oh yeah, sorry for not ringing today Martha and mi Padre but I will ring soon. ciao for now guys.
posted by Olly at 1:23 PM

Oh yeah, and it's Valentine's Day today right. Haha, no date for me but never mind. Guess what the South Africans do on Valentine's Day? Go on a bloody march for HIV/AIDS.... ve'er romantic hey? Trinks tried to get me to go on it.... erm, so I told her that my travel insurance doesn't cover political etc marches (which is actualy true) so on those grounds I'm afraid I'll have to watch the cricket... what a shame. Oh and Ma and Pa, I'm going to ring you both at about eight am your time. Don't worry if you're doing something else but if you're around then just make sure you're within earshot of the phone.
posted by Olly at 9:32 AM

Ooooh, lots and lots to talk about. Been having a whale of a time. No, really! I have. So I haven't blogged for a while. I do apologise but I'll ty and recall what I've been doing. I guess I'd better start with... erm.... Oh yeah, I went surfing! I went down to this place called Muizenburg... wow! what a place to learn to surf! incidentally, that link was down when I last checked but it should be up again soon. It's a webcam so you might even catch me on the beach tomoz!

So the guy that took me out was called John, a local surfer. Haha! the lesson was meant to last 2 hours but seeing as how I was stood up on my first go it only lasted 15 mins, then John went and got his board. The price was only for half a day too but John was just like "screw it man, stay out all day if you like". So I tried but ouch! my arms were like jelly after four hours so I had to cut it short. Oh yeah, I've got the most ridiculous tan lines aswell. The wet suit comes down to your wrists and me, the pillock that I am, forgot to put sunblock on my hands! So I've been walking around witha pair of permanent red gloves for the last few days. Haha!

The after the surfing (apart for not being able to move my arms) was designated a cricket day. So I went to watch Holland v India in Paarl (what a shit hole!) The bus came and picked me up at 9 am. Three beers sunk before half 10 and I knew I was onto a good un! Quite a mixed crowd on the bus too, three Austrian ladies (ooh lala!) four guys from Oz, a few septic tanks (yanks) and a french couple. Everyone had a right laugh. Francoise the tour guy had two bin liners full of dead animals to braai at lunch and afterwards we went to some shady bar for more beers.

Needless to say, yesterday I got up at three in the aft. But that was cool because Theresa was just about to go to the beach so I hooked up with her and two of her mates (Alistar and Leeza). We went to Clifton beach which was beautiful. Had a swim in the sea (aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh! it was freezing! the Atlantic's a whole lot nicerwhen you've got a wetsuit and a surfboard with you!) After that it was a quick drive to Camps Bay to watch the sunset whilst having a few cocktails. Now that sunset is impossible to explain with my meager grasp of our wonderful language so look at this instead... a thousand words hey?

Well, today is a little overcast so I reckon me and chicho (the Mexican dude) are just going to watch cricket.... haha! just as I was typing that the sun came out. Might have to go for surf afterall! Oh and on that note... STARKLE! Get you board and come see me when I get to NZ for a holiday I'm sure you deserve!
posted by Olly at 9:18 AM

Evenin' all. I'm now at the backpacking place. It's pretty class with a balcony looking down onto Long Street, a buzzy street with loads of bars on it. I went out with this guy from Holland last night for a bit and he got fairly pissed. As we got back into the hostel he tried with all his might to close the blind and succeeded... in pulling it off the wall. Haha! Nice one. I found it pretty funny but I think the Germans in our dorm were less than impressed. Off to watch cricket today down at the waterfront and then Clea and that lot should be coming down Long Street tonight. Oh yeah Trinks gets here today too.

Tomorrow I'm orf to organise some stuff to do. I think surfing lessons will be first on the agenda in preparation for the surf up the garden route. Hope I can manage it and don't turn out to be a complete mong. It's gonna be frickin' freezing though in the Atlantic. It'll get warmer when I get onto the East Coast though as that's the Indian... Raah!

ciao
posted by Olly at 11:00 AM

Incidentally, for those lucky people who are now subscribing to my blog, I've changed it so you don't have to bother going to the site. It now just e-mail's you what I've written. I know it's a bit impersonal and sorry about that but it saves me having to write the same stuff out however many times.
posted by Olly at 10:23 AM

A hey hey hey! MAn it's hot here. Didn't really come in for internet usage, just saw the shade and the big fan and needed it. Haha! just jesting. Thought I'd let you lot in "good old blighty" know what I'm up to. I got into Kaapstad (Cape Town) yesterday. Half seven in the morning and I was melting as soon as I got off the plane. Clinks (my cuz) was there to meet me so that all worked out. I've not really been up to much thus far. Went for a couple of ales last night and a bit of shopping in the day. Today I'm in Cape Town (Clea lives a bit outside of it in a place called Observatory) checking out some hostels as I'm moving out of Clea's on the weekend. The Cat and Moose looks like the best so far. It's R60 a night which is about 5 quid, not exactly a bank breaker.

You should see this place though. Not a cloud in the sky today and it must be 30 degrees. The whole city sits in the shadow of table mountain, which just juts up out of nowhere. That's on the agenda for a hike up it... in this heat I must be mad.... but we're going to wait for Theresa (my other cousin) to get here on Sunday before we do that I think. I've yet to get to the beach but there's no hurry, I've got loadsa time.

Anyways, I'm off to get some snap now. Cheers for the farewell mails and I'll blog again soon.
posted by Olly at 10:45 AM

I've made it to Lodon. Woo hoo for me. Not after some considerable trials though. Decided the coach was the best, sorry! cheapest, way to get down here. I really do despise the national express. Never again I tell you! The Skol drinking man who stank of piss, had a pet bag of rubbish and burped after every sip of that foul lager was the only on bus entertainment. Lets hope Virgin Air have invested a little more time and money in customer satisfaction hey? The bastards wouldn't let us off the coach once either. I think I've got deep vein thrombosis already and I haven't even flown yet.

Staying with Phil is proving to be a good laugh though. His new pad is amazing. A really nice open plan lounge / kitchen with a skylight and patio doors onto... well... his patio; what else? But it is a true lodoner's pad. Price tag to match mind but hey. And it's only 6 mins* walk from his work so no more kipping in the shop for Phil! We went and watched the Liverpool match (second half) when I got here and then had a bite to eat. All very relaxed (well not really, everything moves at double speed here).

So now I'm prepared for the off! Can't wait now. I can feel the stress leaking from my pores. Absolutely fantastic. I'm flying at 5 o'clock tomorrow evening so spare me a thought. Hahahahahahaha! and we'll have no jealousy please!

Just a couple of things left to say. Firstly, Kev I do believe congratulations are in order for you and Lisa. I hear you're gonna be a Dad! Well done old boy.
Everyone who's just finished the first round of finals, hope all was well; same for those who've just finished some second year ones, but don't worry you can always resit; and those who've just finished first year ones, did you even go to them? Haha! only kidding, hope they all went okay.

Right ciao for now!

* I don't know if it's a London thing or just a Phil thing but nowadays it seems that Phil works with everything to the nearest minute. A bus will arrive in 7 mins. It's only 6 mins walk to his work. Very amusing really and he's actually often very acurate. Personally I prefer the, "erm.... might be here in a bit." approach.


posted by Olly at 11:01 AM

Right! That's it. As of tomorrow I'll be homeless for a year and two days! Woo hoo. But seriously the trek begins tomorrow. It's now ten past eleven and I think I've had about six hours kip out of the last thirty six. My eyes are closing. Everything's taking on that dreammmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm....... SHIT! sorry. Just nodded off on the 'm' key there for a while.

Tomorrow starts at five thirty am. Can't bloody wait. Although I'll be bloody excited I'll still want to stay in bed. Travelling just doesn't guarantee warmth the way bed does. Haha, 'specially when you've got a four hour coach journey to London to ook forward to. In true loser style I still haven't packed so the morning's gonna have to start with a bang (or at least end with a packed rucksack). But it will be a relief to get on the coach. From that point on whatever I've got with me is all I'm taking and there's nothing more I can do about it. That'll be a massive weight off my mind and perhaps I'll stop grinding my teeth when I'm asleep.

Speaking of stress the old masters has come up trumps. I went to see Steve and Colin on Friday. Apparently I won't be allowed to hand in until four weeks time when I get the examiner's letter. When that comes I'll find out exactly what I need to do to get it up to scratch (although now I more than a good idea!) and the dead line will be a year from the reception of the letter. Haha! Chances of me coming back and wanting to work on that are slim to sweet F.A. I think the stuff left is only mininal though so if I have any spare time away I'll keep chugging bits out. Can't believe it's still having to be done but at least I know what's going on now with it and the end may be far off but I catch glimpses of it every now again on the horizon.

Shit I'm boring myself now. Bon soir mes amis. I'm off to wallow in unconsciousness.



....
...

Bliss
posted by Olly at 11:29 PM