Stuff I’ve been doing recently: Been to see 3 shows: The King and I, Fist of the Dragon (Chinese kung-fu) and Starlight Express. All of which were quite good but none of which really ranked with Phantom of the Opera (my favourite by a mile). (By the way, hereinafter the term “we” refers rather vaguely to two or more of the following people (in no particular order): me, Steve, Carolyn, Joachim. Steve, Faye, Lynette, Makarita, Mark, Jackie, Simon, Vanessa and/or anyone else I’ve failed to mention - in short, a bunch of kiwis - they’re hard to escape).
We went to see the Guy Fawkes fireworks at Leeds castle, followed closely by the fireworks for the London Lord Mayor’s Annual Show the following week. Both were very enjoyable, although I must say that if fireworks in November in NZ are typically wet - fireworks in November in England are typically dry, but SODDING cold!
Been to see three movies - Harry Potter, Legally Blonde and Bridget Jones’ Diaries. Enjoyed the first but not wowed. Enjoyed the second though suspect this is mainly to do with pert features of Reese Witherspoon rather than anything else. Really loved the last, funniest movie I’ve seen in quite a while. Definitely recommend it in case anyone is even further behind the times than me. It is a chick flick, but I did enjoy it - having said that, my flatmate Rosie reckons that I’m “a man in touch with my feminine side”…! Looking forward to Lord of the Rings now.
Went to watch the NZ/Scotland game of rugby at the Sports Cafe in London *all by myself* as every kiwi I know here that’s the least bit keen on rugby had gone to Edinburgh. Had a good time anyway just to spite them. 
Work is going well - nothing incredibly exciting, but good solid work and reasonable pay and nice people so I can’t ask more than that - particularly as the job market in the UK as terrible right now. I’ve joined a gym near work which is good ‘cos I was starting to get fearfully unfit. It’s very cheap by London standards at only £40 per month, which is a huge improvement on the one near my house which is terrifically posh, but wanted a £500 *joining fee* followed by £80 a month. I’m dead keen to get back into badminton and bridge, but so far I just don’t seem to have had the time. I’m also getting sailing withdrawal symptoms, but frankly the cold here is sufficient to damp my enthusiasm so I think that will wait till summer.
Steve, Joachim and I are learning Spanish at the Instituto Cervantes in London - (Mark is also learning there, but he is two courses ahead of us) in preparation for a trip to Spain sometime in summer. I’m also planning to take some courses in French at the Alliance Français when the next term starts early next year.
