Last Post from the Castle

So alot has gone on since the last time we posted.

After going clubbing like mad on Monday night, we decided cause it was Tom McCarthy's birthday, we should do it all over again. So like 35 kids from the castle got dressed up, fucked up, and we all went to the club in Eastbourne. Ridiculous night. Tom almost died (not me. the birthday one). But yea, that's fun when you're in college right?

Most people made it to the bus for our field trip in the morning, which was to Stonehenge and Salisbury. Stonehenge was actually pretty neat. I'm sure it would have been WAY cooler if i wasn't starting to sober up while looking at the rocks. Again, we got a ridiculous tour guide. I'm pretty sure that its a prerequisite for working as a tour guide in this country.

Then we went to Salisbury, which is a REALLY nice looking place. Very old and Very european. tiny little stream running through the town with swans, lots of (nerd moment) old gentrified mixed use units.

Saturday saw us head to a Fulham Cottagers vs. Glasgow Celtic friendly football match, which was alot of fun. Unfortunately we didnt' get to sit with the raucous Celtic side and instead got sat with Fulham fans, which despite playing at home, were really quiet. Game ended Nil Nil, which wasn't too great, but Fulham has a guy who plays for Team Canada so that was neat.

After the game me and Jim had to get from Punty Bridge to Paddington station to meet Nathalie. That was a fucking chore. Some of the tube system was down ,so we had to take a bus. NEVER TAKE A BUS IN LONDON. they pack them so full that you physically can't put more people in them, then you can't get out either. and the bus drivers won't wait. if you get stuck inside the bus, they'll just go on to the next stop. and they're hot. and don't come very often. its terrible. Anyways, we eventually got to Paddington and went and stayed at Annie and Simon's place (who i love more then words can explain). We went and had a drink at the West India Quay then went to a little dive bar near Annie's and had some drinks.

The next morning (sunday) we decided to see the last of our london sites and head to liverpool. Off to the British Museum we went, which was neat, but nathalie couldn't get in cause her bag was too big. So she went and hung out in a park (which was good, she wasn't feeling too hot anyways). We saw some dead egyptian guys and the rosetta stone and a whole lot of pillaged greek stuff. I guess when you have an empire that spans a quarter of the world, you're allowed to steal a quarter of everyone's stuff. ahh well, makes for a massive museum.

Then we went and ran down the Thames a ways too take some pictures of Tower Bridge (the only site that I didn't see last time i was in london).

Then it was to liverpool. which was fun. we stayed at a decent hostel which was a nice plus. We went out sunday night for food, and the entire city of liverpool was no where to be seen. then we found them. Every last liverpuddlian was drunk and in a bar at 9.30 on a sunday. we went into the weirdest kar-e-o-kay bar. then to a bar that was once owned by the former beatles manager. then to a patio bar which was really neat. english people try SOO hard to pick up. everyone is dressed nicely all the time, even the ugly people. but oddly enough you very rarely see mixed gender groups of people out. its always all girls together, or all guys together. rather intimidating if you ask me.

anyways, then we saw some of liverpools docks (really nice) and the rest of liverpool (which is a hole, its all torn up cause they're renovating the entire city at once). they have a really nice main commerical walk which is fun.

then back to london and we picked up cortney. there was alot of waiting in Victoria station cause first cort's bus in was delayed. then jim wandered off. then nathalie wandered off. then we missed the bus we needed. so instead we found one of hte multiple pubs in the train station (there are honestly like 6) and had a beer. then to the castle again!

we had just enough time to get dropped off at the castle bar and grab two pints. then more drinking ensued.

tonight is going to be nuts. its our last night here. some people are leaving at 3AM to catch planes, me and jim are leaving at 7AM to get to london so we can get to paris. this is going to be weird cause

a) everyone is leaving / emotional
b) final banquet = everyone is going to be looking fine
c) final banquet/final night = 2x as drunk as anything else
d) people will be trying to get rid of all the remaining booze.

so needless to say this is going to be something for the record books.

you might not here from us for a while, cause we leave for paris and then lyon, then nice, then i'm back in canada. so as of july 29th you should be back connected with tom.

peace out ya'll see yea in a bit.

bye castle, its been a slice.

"I can't believe Paramount paid to fly us all the way out here..."

"I know, I don't know why they just didn't use body doubles."

So me, Jim and the other castle kids are all well and good. Just so everyone knows there were some bomb attacks on the underground this morning and on an above ground bus. There were some fatalities, but none of them were Castle kids.

It's been a little quiet around here lately, because people have papers and midterms and things (that's right. Midterms in July.). This weekend we were set to go to London, with our field trip being on Sunday (and then going to the Globe to check out the Tempest) but alas they have cancelled them all. It really sucks, as I was looking to heading back to the Big City.

Our plans to hike into town earlier in the week for curry were thwarted by some fabulous english weather. Although we're planning on going tomorrow to make up for it. And apparently there is a toga party in the works. Here it might work, cause they're are more girls then guys (by about 2 to 1). Lord knows it wouldn't work in the sausage party of friends that I have in Kingston. (no offence, but we all know that provan would be sheetless before the punch was even served).

so for some mild entertainment here are pictures from London.






"Pretty shitty circus huh?"
That's right. I made Jim (and Jay who took the picture) go all the way to Picadilly Circus just so I could take that picture.



That's me posing with former Chief of Staff Vicount Montgomery. Did you know that's how tall he was in real life? They had to make custom sized tanks to move him around!