Rock N Roll in London!!!

I love rock and roll, 

So put another dime in the jukebox baby, 

I love rock and roll, 

So, come on take the time and dance with me. 

                                    - I Love Rock and Roll, Joan Jett. 

London, the place where Rock N Roll was born. 

On Saturday, another Australian teacher, Megan, and I did a walking tour of London. 

It was mainly focussed around the Beatles, but really included most rock and roll history! 

It was super cool to be walking the streets where rock royalty had walked, lived, played and struggled.

Ronnie Scott's famous Jazz club. 

Trident Sound Studios, where many classic anthems were recorded including:

* Hey Jude by the Beatles 

* Get Yer Ya Ya's Out by the Rolling Stones

* Space Oddity by David Bowe

* Rocket Man by Elton John 

* Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen 

The window with the blinds drawn is where Paul Mccartney's current office is. 

Where Motzart lived in London!

The Bag O'Nail Club where... 

This Beautiful Mosaic in Soho is inspired by the Beatle's Sergeant Pepper album cover! 

We ended our wonderful tour in Carnaby where Rock and Roll of course strived. After all, this is where the mini skirt originated! 

As we made our way over to Piccadilly for drinks with friends we stumbled across some more AMAZING London street performers!

They even did a very entertaining Gangnam Style! 

London never ceases to surprise and distract me! 

A relaxing end to a Saturday night with friends. 

I am sending my love to you all this week wrapped up with a green bow!




P.S. In my quest for trashy I found this Red Wine below (an equivalent to no frills or home brand). However, as I am no longer 16 nothing within me wanted to try it!

Foodie Festival and Jack The Ripper Walking Tour

I'm known for running my mouth
I will not be accountable for what comes out, uh
I dunno, I might have said it. 

                     - N.A.S.A. Feat. Kanye West, Gifted! 

This week has been a little bit nuts with work. I am still unsure about what the new school year in September, will bring. There are two main offers I have at the moment. The one I am leaning most closely to is my own reception (kindergarten) class. This however, would mean more work and that I would stay in London till at least July next year. 

So, I will pray and think about it. Hopefully, I will have made a choice by Tuesday next week! Because, that's when HOLIDAYS start! Have I told you about the AMAZING summer I planned? 

Next week, Wednesday the 26th, my friend Tamara from Sydney arrives, we have a week and a half in London before heading to Greece to visit Athens and some Greek Islands. On the 19th we leave Greece. I head back to London to meet my friend Kimjeng! A few days later my parents arrive and we road trip around the UK for two weeks before heading to Austria for three days and then back to London for their last week. On the 16th of August my parents head back to Sydney and I, along with another Australian teacher living in London, head to Ireland for a nine day paddy-wagon tour of Ireland. It will be an EPIC two months! I am beyond excited. 

Anyway, keen never to miss a single minute of the London life here are some highlights from my week. 

I went to a yummy Foodies Festival in Clapham Junction...

Where I did some Wine Tasting of South African Wines. 

And went to some cooking demonstrations of top London Chefs. 

Inspired I had some friends over for dinner on Friday night. 

Making a delicious Greek salad and my trade mark lasagne 

               

Don't you miss dinner parties at mine?  

After our dinner we went for a Jack the Ripper walking tour...

While most of the sites have changed significantly with new buildings, car parks and modern decor. There were still many small alley ways and old buildings that really helped you imagine the time and places of these gruesome murders. 

As the tour continued, the stories got more and more disturbing. Our guide even had some original photographs and illustrations of the victims. We all began to squirm and realise the reality of where we were standing and what had happened. 

This is an original signs of The Ten Bells pub as it would have stood at the time of the murders, in the late 1880's. 

Throughout the tour our tour guide gave us a lot of informations and notes on the case. As well as a few conspiracy theories and possible suspects. 

But we all survived it!!!

Kensington Palace and Gardens!

You are the refuge where I hide 
You are the strength when I can’t fight 
You are the only one I rest my life in 
You are the only hope I find 
You are my only peace of mind 
You are the only one I rest my life in

                                      - My Fortress, Jeremy Camp

(Kensington Palace)

In my quiet times the past few weeks I have been rereading the gospel of Luke. I know for many Christians the Gospels are the books of the Bible they read often and really enjoy...Personally, I struggle to read Gospels as growing up in a Christian family these are stories, parables and accounts I can recite by heart. I often struggle to get beyond the basic foundations I learnt as a child and sink into the 'meat' of these verses. And so, I opt for a letter or Old Testament Tales of people with human flaws and easy to pull out 'practical' advice I can apply to my life. 

However, I felt as though I needed to read a Gospel and felt as though it should be Luke. And through God's grace I am seeing it in new light and really being challenged and excited by it! 

I have really been confronted with a simple truth (as always), that I need to live each day for Christ. Meaning even while in London and on holiday, I need to not only live a 'Christian life' but, also look for ways to SERVE God. 

Luke 9:26 says, "If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in glory". I got to say this verse really hit me hard. I instantly saw images of me when I agreed with non-christians rather than standing on what I know to be true and what God says. 

Now, I am not saying we need to wage war or condemn others (for that is NOT our place). But I do believe we are called to be Christ's representatives and speak Biblical truths. Not peace makers afraid to offend others! 

I am reading about the way Jesus lived, the way He rebelled against society, the way He honoured God and the way He called us to live! And I am excited and worried and scared all at the same time! But that's wonderful! I think that is the Christian walk -  scratch that it is not a walk it is a race - and we have to strive to finish! And when we get to heaven, through Jesus' defeating death for us, we here our Father say, "Well done good and faithful servant" (Luke 19:17).  

Well, that's my thoughts this week, so much for a light travel blog! Sorry guys with me you get the whole journey, including the ramblings of a child! 

Anyways, I know you want to see some photos, so...

This week I had a casual lunch on South bank under the sun, staring across at London and beautiful St. Paul's Cathedral. 

I got a little star struck when I saw the original Ben Sherman London store. 

As well as living  life full of routine during the week, I did get to check out the Beautiful Kensington Palace and Gardens where, among others, Queen Victoria lived.

 Here are some pictures of my wonderful day there! 

 Statue of Queen Victoria and Kensington Palace behind

In this meeting room Queen Victoria held her first meeting as Queen at the age of 18 after her uncle's death.

The dress Queen Victoria wore that first day, it was originally black!

Queen Victoria's wedding dress. 

Playing 'dress up' in the Palace.

 I have the royal 'I'm better than you' look down right? 

A mock up of Crystal Palace during Prince Albert's  'Great Exhibition', which won him favour in Britain.  

The stairway in The King's Apartment. 

The palace also had some dazling displays: 

Kensington Palace, is of course, surrounded by the perfect and huge Kensington Gardens

The Peter Pan Statue!

And my amazing and talented cousin Cat made a mouth watering slow cooked lamb roast and scrumptious Raspberry cheese cake. 

As always, love and miss you! 

There were times this week I was homesick and missing you all terribly,

 BUT, 

there were also times I was too excited and couldn't believe I AM LIVING IN LONDON!!! 

xx A kiss for each cheek (as I am European now), 

Joey!!!