Dear all

Hope life is travelling well for you.

Thank you to everyone who has written to me, despite my lack of personal correspondence.

I’m typing this now as I am travelling by train to Hinckley (near Leister) where I am working this week. The view outside is white, very white. It’s been snowing the last 3 days and the northern regions are expecting 10 inches today. Apparently this is unusual for England to have constant snow. As it is only morning, the snow is still white and looks quite pretty.

Contrary to my previous accounts on the weather, it’s not that cold. As my body has adjusted to the cold, I find the weather reasonable where the locals are all wandering around saying ‘it’s so cold/freezing!’ :) This is slightly amusing.

Work is still reasonable. Have been learning about manufacturing companies, the personal income tax system, pensions/superannuation and now about motor dealers. I’ve only done a few hours overtime so I can’t complain. Everyone is quite friendly but the office itself is disorganised. I’m getting used to finding out last thing Friday where I’m going the next week and trying to work out how I’ll get there as they all seem to forgot that

• I don’t have a car and
  
  
• I really don’t know where everything is around here and how to get there by public transport.
  

It’s weird being the new kid on the block, but am picking it up alright.
On the fun side of things Rhys and I visited Dublin last weekend. It was awesome. Due to the timing of the cheapest tickets, I arrived Sat morning and left Sunday morning but flew into London instead.

However, in my less than 24 hour visit to Dublin I did fit in the following:

• Trinity college
  
  
• Grafton St Mall/(High Street)
  
  
• St Stephen’s Green (had a lake/pond, quite pretty too)
  
  
• National Library (huge dome and traditional reading room – very cool)
  
  
• One side of the Castle (every city’s got one), but was only open from 2-4 so we did not go in.
  
  
• City Hall
  
  
• Temple Bar – food markets (bought some homemade Jam and Pesto)
  
  
• National Photographic Gallery + a photographic gallery in the area (had a photo taken by a 5 year old on display – it was impressive!)
  
  
• Merrion Square (ok, not as pretty as St Stephen’s Green)
  
  
• A tourist shop that we got a good deal on Guinness Pint glass
  
  
• National Museum (more of a kiddies thing so we spent 30 seconds in there to escape from the rain before leaving again)
  
  
• Some other park trying to find the National Opera Hall.
  
  
• St Patrick’s Cathedral – very impressive, ie big and old but closed so we couldn’t enter.
  
  
• Christ Church Cathedral & Dublinia – closed but looked good from the outside
  
• Audden’s Gate – a viking built structure dating 1275.
• ST Augustine’s Cathedral – this was the most amazing cathedral I’ve seen. I was more in awe of it than St Peter’s Basilica in Rome. Might have something to do with the fact that there were not hundreds of tourists in there. It was really beautiful and awe inspiring. Not on tourist map, but managed to walk past the large structure and be intrigued by it. Luckily it was open. :)
  
• Guinness Storehouse. Learnt all about it. :) The gravity bar up top gave an awesome 360 view of the city. Still don’t like guinness but I tried.
  
• Dinner at Flanagan’s and had a Gaelic Combo. J Decided against the Irish Stew but had a Bailey’s parfait for dessert. :)

So had a great time in Dublin.

The next day we managed a short visit to the National Gallery in London (on Trafalgar Square) before dining at the excellent Wagamama’s near Covent Gardens with Tina, George and Harry. Had a great time ragging the English among other topics. :)

Also had a great breakfast at some small café in Canada Square/Canary Wharf that morning. Cheap and big serving.

So I had a wonderful weekend. Rhys leaves today, while I’m at work so I don’t get to see him off.

This weekend my wonderful cousin Marcus from London is visiting me! Of which I’m very excited about. At least someone loves me! J It’ll be my first time in Birmingham on the weekend so it’ll be good to be a tourist with my cousin and see the sights of Birmingham. I think it’ll take all of Sat afternoon. :) There’s actually quite a few historical buildings and things to do. Cirque du Soleil is currently in town etc.

Take care all and talk soon

Miranda

PS. Started the weekend off by seeing a cool jazz quartet at the Symphony Hall this evening, here in Birmingham, courtesy of the arts council here for free. :) Twas lovely.