London Calling....

Hyperactive blog post here we come!

Last weekend I went to London to visit my cousin and see the sights. It was amazing. I have never really put England high on my list of countries I want to visit. I'm not sure why really, maybe because I knew it is full of tourists.

Anyway putting all that behind me I visited last weekend. I arrived late Friday night and flew out early Monday morning.

I hadn't planned to visit a lot of places when I was in London primarily because I know that I like to spend a lot of time in museums. As a result of that the places I ended up going to were Westminster Abbey, and the Tower of London on Saturday.

Westminster Abbey is stunning. While I couldn't take photos inside I did do the self guided audio tour which takes about an hour or so. It has about 20 stops and you listen to a bit of information about each part of the Abbey. I think one of the highlights for me here was seeing the tombs of Elizabeth I and Mary I. All in all it's definitely somewhere I would recommend anyone who loves history, old buildings/Gothic architecture and has any interest in the history of England and the various rulers to visit.

The Tower of London was fantastic. I don't exactly know how old I was when I decided that when I went to London I would NOT be missing out on visiting this place, but I am pretty sure I was still primary school aged. I loved it! It is not anything as I think I had imagined but it was so much better. It fits those kind of fairytale imaginings of what a castle should look like with crenellations and towers. There is such a dark history I guess to the place with the many, many people who were imprisoned here, not to mention the three queens who were beheaded here. One of the most well known prisoners to have been beheaded here was Anne Boleyn who was charged with adultery and being a traitor to the crown. I guess the most controversial story of prisoners here is that of the princes in the tower. The two sons of Kind Edward IV were kept prisoner there and declared illegitimate by their uncle who went on to become King Richard III. The fate of the children however is unknown as they disappeared sometime after arriving and nothing was seen or heard from them again. The most popular belief is that Richard III ordered them killed. The major attraction within the Tower itself is the Crown Jewels which are on display. They are amazing. I guess it's hard to describe anything like that unless you see it up close. They also have other things on display along with the crowns including some of the tableware used at the coronation feast. I honestly have no idea how anyone would be able to lift up the tankards they have, let alone drink from them. They also have a enormous punch bowl which can hold 144 bottles of wine... I want that bowl for my parties!

I also went to something called the London Bridge Experience which is some kind of 'scare' attraction. It was a bit historical and the scare bit was a bit like a haunted house attraction at a carnival. Saturday evening my cousin and I went to watch Phantom of the Opera. It was awesome and I loved it. I had previously seen a recording of the 25th Anniversary Royal Albert Hall stage performance and that was amazing but still nothing can beat seeing a performance live. Definitely something I would be willing to repeat!

On Sunday I went to the British Museum. I think this is one of the few things that could equal the experience of finally seeing the Tower of London for me, if not surpass it. Love is not a strong enough word to describe how much I enjoyed the museum. The two most famous displays within the museum would without a doubt have to be The Rosetta Stone and the Elgin Marbles. As a history geek I have been dying to see these for as long as I have known about them. The first thing I did when I got inside after getting myself a guide was to go visit the Rosetta Stone. As with any display that is as well known as the Rosetta Stone there are always crowds of people around it. Luckily I was able to get through them pretty quickly to see the stone. Thus started the high that lasted until after I had left the museum. One other thing I saw that I hadn't realised was on display was the Lindow Man. If you don't know who or what the Lindow Man is, it is a bog body that was discovered I think about 50 years ago or something. At first the man who discovered it thought it was a recent body but it was quickly realised that it was a lot older than that. I managed to see most of the displays I think but there were still some areas I missed out and I didn't read every little info thing for every display because I wanted to see as much as possible.  As it was I think I spent at least 5 hours there and I am pretty sure I could spend at least that many more.

My advice for people going to the museum:

- If you don't have time to see everything decide what has priority.
- Don't plan to be in and out in an hour or two. You don't do the museum justice by doing that.
- WEAR COMFORTABLE WALKING SHOES. Whilst there are plenty of spots where you can sit down around the different halls you are still going to be spending most of the day on your feet.

Sunday afternoon we ended up doing a bit of a walk around london. We walked to Trafalgar Square where I got a few photos of things then ended up walking past the Tower of London and over the Tower Bridge. I think next time I am in London I will have to plan to do the Tower Bridge experience as part of my trip.

All in all it was an amazing trip. I loved every bit of it and it definitely left me wanting to go back and see more.

Two of the entrances to Westminster Abbey.

Tower of London... Can you tell I'm excited?

The Rosetta Stone!!!

The Tower Bridge.

The Tower of London from the opposite bank of the River Thames.

~~ Random Logic ~~

Babbling About Books

So I've just been sitting here this evening thinking about books.

About 6 months ago on Facebook I started following a page called Books Are Magic. I came across it via a friend sharing one of their pictures and just kept following. Almost everytime I see one of the pictures/memes they post I have to agree with them. Sometimes I read whatever it is and just want to yell and scream out "THAT'S MEEEEEEEEE!". I also through these pictures come across a Tumblr page called Confessions of a Compulsive Reader. There goes the rest of my evening!

Anyway I think I will share here a few of the things that Books Are Magic have shared on their page with you. My favourites as you will. And then maybe if I can motivate myself I will do this more again.

Here we go in no particular order:

1.

This one is one that is very, very true for me. My friends in high school would literally drag me out of bookstores or even just grab my arm before I could walk in. If I forced myself to walk past without going in they congratulated me.

2.

This one is so true that I did actually laugh when I read it. I have quite often said that when I get my own house I will have a room in that house that would be a dedicated library. A room where I can have my books and sit and read and just relax and escape from the world all around. It will have an epic cushioned window seat and bookshelves that line the walls to the ceiling. It will have at least one beanbag and it will be mine.

3.

This one was only posted today but I would definitely agree with it. Sometimes something happens in a book and I just have to shut the book, squeeze my eyes shut and breathe. Either that or I yell at the character something along the line of "Nooo! You stupid! Don't do that! Grrrr!"

4.

Oh books, how I wish I could dedicate my time to you. And my entire paycheck. Alas! 'Tis not to be!

I used to work right near a bookstore in Sydney called Basement Books. It was heaven and hell all in one. I spent most lunchtimes in there and I am pretty sure I bought at least one book a week there... at least. I love that shop. If I was going to the city of a weekend too, then I would also visit. A year or so after that I was working somewhere else and found a St Vincent De Paul shop with a fantastic and extremely cheap selection of second hand books. I got most of the Kathy Reichs and Patrica Cornwell books I own from there. I miss working near that shop.

5.

This is probably the most accurate description I have ever seen and read for a bookworm and the need to finish a book or read before bed. It is entirely true for me and I am sure many other people. I frequently fool myself into thinking I am going to go to bed early or that I can survive of 5 hours sleep. It never works out as planned.

6.

My friends have often joked about the size of my handbags or the amount of stuff I take with me. The truth? I refuse to buy a handbag unless it is big enough for my wallet, glasses case, keys, drink bottle and... a book. Bonus points to a bag that is big enough to hold a hardcover novel. Triple bonus points if it is big enough for that second book to take with me for when I finish the first one. In fact if I go somewhere without a book... I kind of feel naked.

7.

This one ties in with the previous one. I always want to take more books with me than there is room for. Recently I went to Estonia for just over a week. I had several books I wanted to finish but couldn't take them all. In the end I compromised and took a couple of books and my Kobo ereader. It is for reasons like this I bought the Kobo in the first place. It will never replace the need for real books though. I went to Spain in September and took one book with me only. I read it one and a half times on that trip between all the touristy stuff.

8.

This is pretty much accurate. I read books in bed every day. I would rather be lying on my bed and reading most of the time than sitting on the couch in the loungeroom. I think this all comes from the fact that reading in my room as a kid was a lot quieter than reading in the loungeroom. Also that's where my books are all kept.

9.

This one just made me laugh when I saw it. Pretty much describes my feelings when I really get into a book. I imagine exactly how the characters are and then nothing can really change that even if the book gets made into a movie.

10.

This is a true problem for me at times. I get really into my books and don't notice what is happening around me sometimes. And it's not just something that has started happening now I am a bit older. When I was in primary school we had something called Silent Reading Time for about 15 minutes after recess. One day I got so sucked into the book I was reading that it wasn't until about 15 minutes after everyone had got up to go sit on the floor and listen to the teacher that I noticed I was the only person still sitting at the desks. I was about 8 at the time too. Woops!


~~ Random Logic ~~

Ensimmäinen Suomenkielinen Blogikirjoitukseni

Kauan sitten kaukaisessa galaksissa...


... Actually it was just the other day.... and only in the kitchen that I wrote this. It was written for my Finnish class as a short speech to practice my Finnish. I did have some help with it so I can't take all the credit but I'm just glad I finished it. Excuse any punctuation errors. I try to avoid them but may have made some.

 ~~~

Australia on iso ja kaunis maa. Sydney on isoin kaupunki, mutta se ei ole pääkaupunki. Pääkaupunki on Canberra.

Sydney on noin kaksitoistatuhatta neliökilometriä (12,000 km²) ja koko Australia on noin seitsemänmiljoonaaseitsemänsataatuhatta neliökilometriä (7,700,000 km²). Vertailuna Suomi on noin kolmesataaneljäkymmentätuhatta neliökilometriä (340,000 km²).

Minulle tärkeät asiat Australiassa on kesä, ranta ja metsä. Me kutsutaan sanalla "bush".

Pidän kesästä koska se on kuuma. Aurinko paistaa ja käymme paljon ranalla. Kiekka on pehmeää ja valkoista. Merivesi on niin ihanan virkistävä. Me pelaamme krikettiä ja uimme paljon. Kirjoitin runon Australian kesästä:

They dance across the burning sand,
and cool their feet in the wide ocean.
Sandcastles, cricket and volleyball;
These are the children of summer.

Meidän metsöt on lehtimetsiä. Siella on paljon eucalyptus puita ja ne ovat aina vihreitä. Meillä elää paljon eläimiä metsissä kuten koalia, kangarooita, wombateja, possumeja, ja joitain lintuja, jotka elävät vain Australiassa. Meillä on myös krokotiileja, haita, käärmeitä ja hämähäkkejä. Sydneyssä meidän täytyy olla varoa käärmeitä ja hämähäkkejä, koska osa niistä on myrkyllisiä. Lisäksi meidän täytyy varoa että metäpaloja ei sytyyisi, koska ne on niin vaikea saada sammumaan. Elaimet, ihmiset ja luonto ovat metsäpalon syttyessä suuressa vaarassa.



~~~ Random Logic ~~~

Star Wars Episode VII: The Little Mermaid.....

So the last thing I ever thought I would be blogging about is the fact that the almighty George Lucas, creator and Supreme Overlord of Star Wars has SOLD his company, Lucasfilm Ltd.... to DISNEY!

You can read more here or just do a quick google search, but the basics of the deal are for a total of $4.05 Billion in cash and stocks George Lucas has sold his 100% share of Lucasfilm Ltd to Disney who are planning a new movie- reportedly Episode VII- for release in 2015.

Now this to me is something I never, EVER contemplated happening. It just seemed obvious that Lucas wouldn't reliquish the control he has over Star Wars, especially not to a major studio, but thinking about it in hindsight of this news... it was kind of inevitable to happen. He won't live forever and I think he is one of those people who would hate to think that what he created would just die out with him. He wants it to continue(whether for altruistic reasons or otherwise).

So my question now is what sort of new stuff apart from this film can we expect as a result of this? Also I really want to know what the new film will be about. I'm nervous and excited for the future of Star Wars all at once!

Also... what silly names can you think of for Star Wars Episode VII?


~~ Random Logic ~~

Books... You Are What You [Read]

So I was looking at the Book List Challenges app on Facebook tonight and I was looking through some of the lists and one thought kept repeating. Seriously? Those book are really favourites or a must reads for that many people?

It's not the first time I have had thoughts like this either. I love to read, but whenever I look at these lists of top 100 books I have to wonder how many people actually have read the books they say they have read and how many just say they have read the books because they are ashamed that they haven't read said book. Or maybe a better question is how many people say they have read a book when they read three chapters and put it down never to even dream of touching the book again?

Last year I did a list in two parts of books I think people should read. I will probably post it here at some stage, but I just had a look at it now and I think I may even revise, the list and expand it to add more books onto it.

But I guess a big part of this post is the fact that I absolutely love to read. If I get free time then a good portion of that free time is spent reading. I am a member of about 6 different libraries across two countries and I don't think I am a snobby reader either as I will read most genres. What I resent though is people who sneer or stare at me in disbelief when I say I haven't some novel that some people say is one of the greatest novels of all time. It annoys me. Do I look at you and sneer when you tell me you haven't read any Star Wars novels or John Marsden? What gives them the right to think they are better than me because of their apparent reading choices.

Another part is that I really wish I could find a list on one of these book list challenges or some such that is full of books that people like me read and not just books that fall onto some top 100 list, because I'm pretty sure that even if I had read all of the books on the BBC top 100 list that I probably wouldn't list even half of them in my favourites and as books that I think others should read.

Does anyone else feel this way? Or am I just some strange anomaly in the realm of book lovers and readers?

~~ Random Logic ~~

Out and About in Finland.

This weekend, as I mentioned in my last post, my cousin came to visit Finland from London where she has been living. It was fantastic!

She arrived Saturday and after a picnic lunch next to the river we started the touristy stuff with the Aboa Vetus and Ars Nova Museum which is a museum of history and contemporary art. The history side is the main part that I love and I visited several times when I was last in Finland. It has changed a little since then though. You are able to walk through the streets and remains of buildings of medieval Turku which is all enclosed within the building itself and maintained in the condition in which it was found. In addition they do continuing archaeological excavations on the buildings and area and are actually currently in the process or removing all the built up dirt and soil from within one of the 6 buildings within the museum.

After that we wandered down along the river to Turun Linna (Turku Castle) which is another of my favourite place to visit. It dates back to 1280 when construction started on the castle. It was in use for a long time before it fell into ruins. Since World War Two, it has been fully restored and is now used as a museum.

Dinner yesterday was reindeer steak with a lingonberry-red wine sauce and we followed it with some sampling of cider including a blueberry cider... Om nom nom nom!

Today we went for a drive with one of my friends to the archipelago near Turku. We briefly visited the ruins of a castle on one of the islands first off then we went to a town called Nauvo which is not very big. There are lots of summer cottages in that area and it's pretty tourist oriented feeling but they whole area is gorgeous. It was nice and even the wait for the ferry to get back from the island wasn't any issue.

I think the highlight of today was probably our very Finnish dinner. We had smoked salmon we bought on one of the islands on the way back, as well as makkara(Finnish sausage), potato(can't go without potoato!), and karjalanpiirakka. It was delicious.

So all in all an awesome weekend. I loved seeing my cousin. I loved showing off the country I love and I just had an all around good time.


~~Random Logic~~

Excitement!!!!

My cousin is coming to visit me from where she has been living in the UK this weekend. I am excited. It is her first trip to Finland and I get to show her around some of the stuff I love here. Also I haven't seen her in over a year. YAY! I hope to take a decent amount of photos this weekend, hopefully I will get a chance to upload them as well.