G' Day UK

Despite the constant stream of pale, consumptive, alcoholic backpackers from the UK washing up on Australia's shores, Australia's tourism machinery has launched a campaign to recruit even more:

"The banks of London's "dirty old river" Thames are being transformed into the golden sands of Bondi beach, to promote NSW."

Around Nofolk

After mother was safely shepherded out to Norwich, we did spend at least one day out and about in the countryside. We rented a smart looking Peugeot, which was marginally drivable due to the rather small space available for a driver's feet (apparently Frenchmen have wee feet). We took the Peugeot out to Blickling Hall, a Jacobean estate first constructed in 1620 and subsequently occupied and renovated up until 1940 when it was turned over the National Trust. This was followed by a jaunt over to the newer, but still impressive Sandringham Estate of the Windsor Family ("the Norfolk retreat of the Queen"). While the several houses of the room were viewable by the public were chockers with twee stuff, I found the collection of family photographs in the museum out back the most interesting.

Norwich

Norwich, UK - the town where medieval cathedrals are as thick as coffee shops in Seattle. If one's looking for untouched country, this is the wrong place. It's pretty hard to step anywhere without stumbling upon something from at least the 11th century. Claims to fame include the Norwich Market, the Norwich Castle, and of course Norwich Cathedral (that's the big one).

Despite being a relatively small nations, the UK can be a bit of a challenges to get around in. It took me the same amount of time to get from Heathrow to Norwich as it did to get from Washington, DC to Heathrow. Apparently, the folks at Paddington Station sent me to Kings Cross rather than Liverpool Street. Hence, I had to change trains in the less than quaint village of Peterborough and was forced to spend quite a bit of time hanging out there.

So, I'm here in Norwich for at total of four weeks, hanging out at the University of East Anglia as a "Visiting Fellow". In addition, I'm working out a couple of times a week with the Eastern Shotokan Association, and keeping up with the European Cup 2008. I've already traveled up to Newcastle to visit the University there and will be celebrating the Fourth of July in London next week.

I've enjoyed uncharacteristically pleasant weather - not like that Washington, DC place which was stinking hot. Sure, the rains roll in now and then, but I've managed to dodge the worst of it. The harder thing to dodge is the exceedingly large number of pensioners cruising around town in their little electric scooters. They're everywhere - the health service must subsidise them. Also, it's interesting to be in a town where the bicycle really is a core method of transport for everyone.