Yesterday was Friday we got a late breakfast at 9am, as we went to water country the day before, it rained in the afternoon so campfire was cancelled. It was meant to be international campfire so instead we did it inside and each of the girls talked a little about their country, Nicky and I did ours and we just gave out little koala and kangaroo key rings and they all tried vegemite which of course they didn’t like.
We were off at 8 and we had already book Borat we raced back to swamp view got dressed and headed for Plymouth. We decided to try out a new place so we went to ‘T-bones’ a bar in the main street, it was decorated like a western style bar with a bull head on the wall and number plates on the wall. They had good cocktails but no decent talent in sight just old guys with long beards and beer bellies, not exactly what we were looking for.
Walked a little further down the street popped our head into the Irish bar…..dead. Onto the cabby shack it is! They had a live band playing but still no talent mostly an older crowd 35 plus, stayed until 12 then went home.
Got up early, got ready and headed back into Plymouth with Nicky, Leigh and Verena as it was our day off today. Bought a ticket on the ‘P-Town’ ferry at 10am and boarded to ‘Province Town’ this was about 2 hours on the boat from Plymouth and is situated on the tip of ‘Cape Cod’. It is a really nice seaside town with a great main street full of shops, pubs, restaurants and cafes. It reminded me of a bigger version of Berry but has a huge gay community. I had a really nice time just relaxing and strolling down the street, all walks of life in ‘P Town’ that’s for sure! And so many dogs, dogs in shops, dogs in cafes, dogs in prams, dogs in clothes, dogs in sunnies there were dogs everywhere it was so cool (reminded me of Lexi)
We had lunch at a pub, I had ordered the salmon and ended up with a tuna steak instead??? Wasn’t bad but I think I would have like the salmon better. Then we wondered around, looked in the shops – I bought a really cute black beanie/beret with 3 little brown buttons on the side, and yes I know its summer but I’m assuming that it may be a wee bit cooler when I get to England.
Back on the last ferry at 4.30pm and back to Plymouth, for dinner we went to ‘mama mia’s’ a really nice Italian restaurant overlooking the water, I had chicken cooked in lemon, white wine, capers and pasta – it was beaut but huge I was so full and it looked like I hadn’t even touched my meal, same with the girls so we got it in a doggie bag and we’re looking forward to having it for lunch tomorrow. As its Sunday they don’t give us lunch just a snack at 2pm, and as I have previously mentioned the food is recycled and its all freshly unfrozen so having real food for a change is so nice and we have to savour it for as long as possible!
After dinner we headed for ‘Charlie’s Cupcakes’ and got a little something for when we got home. Trusty Borat comes and gets us and heads back to camp, on the way he reveals he loves marijuana and smokes pot but has given up and hasn’t used in 2 weeks haha so funny! Back to swamp view, showered and now watching Charlie’s angel’s, just ate my cupcake (chocolate cupcake with mint icing) it was absolutely delectable they best cup cake I have ever had!!
It was nice and warm today but overcast, Verena, Nicky and I got really burnt – I look like I have a white t-shirt on! The other girls who had the kids today went into Plymouth and went to the beach and they are all really burnt too! That’s all for now, hope everyone is well.
Cheerio xx
Monday, July 26, 2010
Friday, July 23, 2010
Red Sox
Good evening ya’ll
Its Thursday night here and I have so much to write!
Ha I have written Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and now its Thursday and I’m finally trying to finish writing this for the week.
Firstly THANKYOU so much to my FOUB and FAM the Sussex Crew and Gabbi & Charlotte for my surprise package it was so nice to receive mail from home and exciting to see what it was ….. Tim Tams yess they will be so good chilled in the fridge, only problem is there is in no way, shape or form anything remotely like a good cuppa or a nice coffee that we could use to bite the ends of the Tim Tam’s and dunk it in! But none the less we will still enjoy them.
So back to Halloween night…. Getting ready was lots of fun putting on our face paint and then it was time to scary the little terrors!! Hollie and I (the witch and her black cat ) were the tour guides, telling them stories and jumping out of the bushes and grabbing them and dragging them back into the woods haha they all said they weren’t scared but they where white as ghosts in some parts of the tour, a couple of them didn’t even go into the cabins that we had set up. The only thing was that it was extremely hot so running around trying to be spooky was so sweaty, Hollie the witch had painted her face green and I had made her a sticky felt nose and I lovely big brown mole but half way through the tour they had slipped off with sweat.
At the end of the tour we had a big camp fire and toasted s’mores and all the kids a really good time. Suzanne the camp director was extremely impressed saying how much of a good job we had done and ‘Sister Lydia’ one of the nuns said to Suzanne that she should buy as all a ‘Colada’ ‘Yes were in for a free drink here girls!’
Back to the doll house and thank god it is my last night in here, its so hot that for the entire week the minimum temp was 27.5 degrees and that was in the middle of the night when I would wake up and check the time (my clock has a little temperature gauge)
Friday morning whoo hoo only 12 more hours till we get our freedom!! The day couldn’t have gone any slower, I mean it dragged like there was no tomorrow, but that was because we were so excited and eager to get away especially coz I had spent a week in the dorm which was quite enough for me thankyou very much. So during rest hour I moved all my stuff from the dolls house back to the counsellor cabin and set up bed on the lounge again.
So we asked Suzanne if we could leave camp early as the last train from Kingston is at 7.30pm and we normally don’t finish till 8pm. She said yes which was really nice so we got dolled up and off we went got dropped at the train station and while waiting we decided that seeing as though there were 6 of us we should just pay for a taxi to take us directly to the hostels (2 of the girls tried booking at the YMCA but had no luck it was booked out, so they booked another one not far from the Y) So we phoned our friend – Borat. “First stop the liquor store for some roadies, then onto Boston please”
Right on the road to Boston whoo hoo! Ash the radio was playing Milli Vanilli “Don’t forget my number” Turned it up an sang it loud and proud ha-ha thinking of you. So just as we got into Boston it started to pour rain, great just what we need on our night out when we were planning on walking to the clubs. So Borat has out his little GPS trying to find 316 Huntington Ave, I think he was a little nervous seeing as though it was raining, he didn’t know where he was going and I think the fact that we had our drinks open in the car (which is apparently illegal in the states). So we pull up out the front of the YMCA, there is one entrance with no number but has a bunch of middle aged men loitering around mmmhhh “drive a little further Borat – please” ok next entrance looked promising so out I jumped in the pouring rain and up the stairs – “Bugger 312” Back to the taxi and called the hostel describing where we were and if we were close “yes sweetie your right out the front” God help us back to the last entrance with the loitering old men.
Checked in…didn’t look to bad very old skool looking but cool old skool. Up the lift to level 6 room 649. Stopped of to check the shared bathroom nice blue tiles with 2 showers with bright yellow shower curtains and no dividing wall just another shower curtain that was about 5cm to short on either side. Into the room and what a surprise it’s the smallest room ever with a door leading into another small room looks like a converted wardrobe of a prison cell. Fantastic we leave our camp cabin “Swamp View’ and pay money to stay at the YMC-Death. Quick dump our stuff and head out ASAP.
Borat and the other girls are out the front waiting, jumped in and headed to the Fenway Way park area which we heard was good for bars. Borat asked us if we were going to the ball game the next night but we told him we where unable to get tickets, he then pipes up that he has a customer called Timmy that he drives to and from the games who is from Plymouth and that he usually has spare tickets to sell, we got his number, gave him a ring and low and behold he had 6 tickets for 50 bucks each – yes were going to the baseball. The total taxi fare was $170 but good ol’ Borat charged us $120. We got out and we where in heaven ahhhhhhhh one whole street dedicated to clubs, bars & neon lights. There was a game of baseball still on so we walked down the street asked a few people who all recommended the “Lansdown” which was an Irish bar. It was really good not so busy at first but when the game ended it got packed it had dancing and live band. We all had a good time and much needed drinks! Meet some guy from the ‘Rif’ (Penrith) and a guy from Bondi, lots of Aussies about.
Club closed at 2 so we hung around out thw front for a while then Hol, Kel, Sar and I plus 2 random blokes started walking back (mind you we had no idea where we were going, but these 2 guys seemed too) So we followed them to this late night pizza shop and got a slice and then stood outside chatting for ages, watched 2 guys have a fight for 45 mins without throwing a punch, the most physical it got was the black guy knocking off the hat of the guy who looked like he was Borat’s cousin. Then got chatting to some homeless guy on a bike from NYC he was about 60 with no teeth – attractive! More walking and we finally guessed our way home, arrived at 5/5.30am got into our prison cell room and tried sleeping, we had no air con only an open window with no breeze. Imagine all that combined with the start of a seedy hang over, lying on a mattress that was covered entirely in plastic and sweating just because you are breathing. Ohhh we felt like death so we rolled out of bed 9ish, showered, checked out and went on the search for some tucker. Went across the street to a café and had the best panini (its like a sandwich but comes with 2 pieces of flat bread which is a bit thicker than leb bread) all washed down with the ‘black doctor’.
Boston has a great rail system called the T and its well sign posted, runs regularly, is air conditioned, cheap and is nice and clean (FOUB you would be impressed) So we hoped on and headed for central Boston. Meet up with Leigh and Nicky who stayed in the other hostel, which by the way was so much closer to the bars and was so much nicer and it had air con. They stayed up drinking till 5am in their dorm and when we meet them in the park Leigh was still happy as Larry! It was extremely hot and Leigh parked herself under a tree and had already started chatting to some young guy called Ash that was selling sunglasses at a little stall in the park. She decided it was too hot and she wasn’t feeling up to walking the freedom trail, so instead the rest of us grabbed a guide book and started walking along the famous red line that is painted all over the city and is known as the freedom trail. You could join a guided tour group but Kelly was our tour guide reading to us from the book about the different stops along the way. I’m not to sure why they call it the freedom trail she probably did say but ill get back to you about way its called that.
We got about ¼ to ½ of the way through and decided we had had enough, it was too hot and we needed another drink so off too look through the famous ‘Quincy market’ which is a really big area with shops and a huge food hall with all different types of cuisine. Into a little air conditioned pub for another round and some chips. Meanwhile we get a text from Timmy, who it turns out his real name is Jimmy, telling us that the demand for tickets are high and the price has gone up to $75 each. It was more than we were planning to pay but we really wanted to go so we said we’d get back to him.
Left the bar and headed back to find Leigh, who was still in the park. We got back and she had perked up quite a bit, she was busy selling glasses for the young guy Ash who owed the sun glasses cart. What a hoot, she was also bust selling Boston hats and t-shirts on another cart that was owed by Ash’s brother; she reckons she made them over $100 – good on her. She had also befriended Ralph a hobo who was friends with the 2 cart owners. Leigh was saying that a van pulled up near the park and Ralph being the gentleman that he was took Leigh over and got her a free sandwich lunch whilst some American woman touched her arm and sad “God Bless You” turns out she’d just scored lunch from the homeless shelter bus – Sweet, what an experience.
So all together we jumped back on the T and headed to “Riverside” (You can guess what Hollie and I where singing to one another each time they announced “This train stops at ‘Riverside’”. Got out at the station and we were hit up straight away by the scalpers trying to sell us tix for the game, they only seemed to have 2 or 3 seats together not six but we asked and they all jumped on their mobiles calling their ‘contacts’ checking for 6 tickets together. In the meantime Nicky was busy on the phone to Timmy AKA Jimmy telling that we might not need his tickets any more as we had just been offered 6 at a lower price. He came back with an offer of $65 – Deal, so like some kind of secret drug deal we arranged a meeting place for the drop off to happen “My usual spot, out the front on Uno’s” which is a restaurant right near the stadium. I was expecting some shady looking 30 year old with shades and a trench coat type jacket, very cliché I know but this is America after all. Timmy AKA Jimmy was actually a really nice, tall, 50 something man with a beer belly. Gave us our printed tickets off the internet, paid our money and off we went to celebrate with another drink and dinner at Uno’s.
After dinner we headed for the game but not before stopping and picking up some Red Sox T-shirts, touristy-yes but everyone wears them, its like the dress code to get in. We all picked different numbers not knowing who each of them were. Got into the game “phew the tickets did work” I was a little worried to be honest but once we were in it was all good. Got to our seats, we were sitting in the grandstand on right field, not bad seats had a pretty good view however a couple of the girls who were on the end had to lean to see the game due to a big pillar that was in the way! To be honest the game was actually pretty boring, they were playing the Texas Rangers and they would keep getting the other team out before any one could score a run it was 1 all by the end of the 9th inning and that’s when it started to get a bit more exciting as everyone was cheering the Sox on and they were pumping the music. We were belting out “sweet Caroline” and clapping “Lets go Red Sox, Lets go”!! Each time the player with the number on the back of our shirts got up to bat we would all cheer, I had number 34 David Ortiz – Some big black guy with a beard who makes millions. Eventually the game went into golden point and Boston Won!!!! Whoo Hoo all worth it in the end.
Back to the street right out side the stadium where we had been the previous night. Lining up in the girls que we where right behind some girls that where dressed for a hens party, they were taking photos at the door and we were right behind them and it must have looked like we were part of their group as the bouncer ushered us in and told the girl on the front desk that we were on the guest list and therefore didn’t have to pay the cover charge. How dumb was he, they were all dressed so nicely and in comes us scruffs with jeans and baseball T-shirts!! Had a few more drinks there and a little dancing but by this stage we were all so knackered we decided to call trusty Borat for a lift home, in he comes at 2am and picks us up for for $100 bucks and drives us back the hour to camp.
Sunday morning we still have to get up and go to breakfast at 9 and because most of the kids go home for the weekend we only have the international campers – a grand total of 4 kids 2 Canadians and 2 Mexicans, this week there were no new kids coming to stay in the dorms so we didn’t even have meet and greet for new campers so after breakfast we basically could do whatever we wanted. Down to the swap we went, it was so hot 90 degrees plus so I took the plunge, quite literally, and went in the swamp, didn’t go under but it was so nice and much appreciated then went back to our swamp view cabin had a rest and then did nothing until 2pm when we had a snack and then at 5.30pm we had dinner, what relaxing day.
Sunday was also Ola’s birthday and seeing as though she had to work over the weekend she wasn’t able to come to Boston so we went into Plymouth and had drinks at the ‘Cabby shack’, it was good but no music, then we discovered ‘Eastern bay Grille’ which is a nice posh type restaurant with a big out door area with tables and chairs, a classy looking bar and a view looking over the harbour (It reminded me of something out of ‘White Chicks’ we they go to the Hamptons) They had great music pumping so we all got stuck into it dancing on the dance floor having a great time. At one stage there was no one dancing and we were tearing it up and then all of a sudden all these people started joining in and coming to dance in the circle we had made, taking it in turns to jump in the middle and show of their dance moves It was such a good time, quite funny though because we were the youngest people there by about 30 or 40years but they all had a good time. It was a bit like cougar town all the younger guys, and when I say younger I mean 35plus had snagged all the older 50plus women and all the old men were coming and dancing with us!
Monday was an ordinary day except for the fact that it rained from lunch till dark so the kids were quite feed up with being inside for the afternoon.
Tuesday was crazy hair day after lunch so most of the kids did their hair all funny and we had a fashion hair parade and gave out prizes, us counsellors also did our hair crazy – I teased the crap out of mine made 3 spikes on my head put green and gold clothes pegs in it, hung 2 kangaroos from either side of my head and had little Australian flags in my hair. We had a fashion parade and I came 2nd!! Hollie beat me with her creation of 2 pigtails sticking straight up in the air with pom pom things coming out each end – Well deserved; Verena came 3rd with a Lady Gaga inspired do, she had a loo roll stuck in her hair along with a bunch of leaves sticking out and lots of teasing.
Wednesday was meant to be trip day but the weather was not too good for ‘Water Country’ so it was moved to Thursday. Kelly and Sarah are in the dorms this week and because their day off is Wednesday night and Thursday Verena and I had to cover so we moved into the dorms last night and this morning along with Nicky & Leigh we headed off to ‘Water Country’. The other girls decided that they would tag along and spend their day off there too. We kept hearing about how good it was from the kids and that it was the biggest water park in New England region, which consists of 6 states. It took us 3 hours to get their and was in a different state, New England, lets just say when we arrived our hopes of something similar to ‘Wet & Wild’ were severely dashed – big time. It was about ¼ of the size of ‘Wet & wild’ and about ¼ as good. Never the less we split into groups and took the kids around went on a few slides and had a dip in the pool.
Headed to the wave pool (reminiscing of Darwin, girls) when just as I bent down one of the little girls who was crouching jumped straight up and hit me in the face – square smack bang in the middle of my nose. $#%* @#!$ &*#^ Bloody hell it stung like crazy and I couldn’t see for a second and then came the blood, right as the waves start crashing around me I’m trying to get back to the shore and asked the life guard for a tissue, she then radios for an EMT (emergency medical team) who comes running over and asks if I need to go to first aid! All this for a bleeding nose, and she didn’t have a tissue with her so I just pinch it and head to the toilet to wash the blood of my face – attractive! Blood all gone and sight restored it was time to leave.
Headed back the 3 hours stopped at Macca’s for dinner which took forever for the kids to decide what they wanted and then order and eat. Got home at 9.30pm, I’m still in the dorm tonight, its now 11pm its 27.5 degrees, I’m dosed up on pain pills have a cracker of a head ache and I’m about to go to bed hoping that I don’t get 2 black eyes when I wake up in the morning!
I have tomorrow night and Saturday off, so tomorrow we are planning on heading into Plymouth and going to a bar then on Saturday we were going to catch a ferry across to ‘Providence Town’ and ride bikes around but its thunderstorm warnings for that area so we might just head back into Boston for the day.
I still haven’t got the darn fone card yet as the shop where I previously bought one in Minneapolis tells me that they don’t sell international phone cards, so I will have to head to wall mart and see if I can get one.
Cheerio and good night xox.
Its Thursday night here and I have so much to write!
Ha I have written Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and now its Thursday and I’m finally trying to finish writing this for the week.
Firstly THANKYOU so much to my FOUB and FAM the Sussex Crew and Gabbi & Charlotte for my surprise package it was so nice to receive mail from home and exciting to see what it was ….. Tim Tams yess they will be so good chilled in the fridge, only problem is there is in no way, shape or form anything remotely like a good cuppa or a nice coffee that we could use to bite the ends of the Tim Tam’s and dunk it in! But none the less we will still enjoy them.
So back to Halloween night…. Getting ready was lots of fun putting on our face paint and then it was time to scary the little terrors!! Hollie and I (the witch and her black cat ) were the tour guides, telling them stories and jumping out of the bushes and grabbing them and dragging them back into the woods haha they all said they weren’t scared but they where white as ghosts in some parts of the tour, a couple of them didn’t even go into the cabins that we had set up. The only thing was that it was extremely hot so running around trying to be spooky was so sweaty, Hollie the witch had painted her face green and I had made her a sticky felt nose and I lovely big brown mole but half way through the tour they had slipped off with sweat.
At the end of the tour we had a big camp fire and toasted s’mores and all the kids a really good time. Suzanne the camp director was extremely impressed saying how much of a good job we had done and ‘Sister Lydia’ one of the nuns said to Suzanne that she should buy as all a ‘Colada’ ‘Yes were in for a free drink here girls!’
Back to the doll house and thank god it is my last night in here, its so hot that for the entire week the minimum temp was 27.5 degrees and that was in the middle of the night when I would wake up and check the time (my clock has a little temperature gauge)
Friday morning whoo hoo only 12 more hours till we get our freedom!! The day couldn’t have gone any slower, I mean it dragged like there was no tomorrow, but that was because we were so excited and eager to get away especially coz I had spent a week in the dorm which was quite enough for me thankyou very much. So during rest hour I moved all my stuff from the dolls house back to the counsellor cabin and set up bed on the lounge again.
So we asked Suzanne if we could leave camp early as the last train from Kingston is at 7.30pm and we normally don’t finish till 8pm. She said yes which was really nice so we got dolled up and off we went got dropped at the train station and while waiting we decided that seeing as though there were 6 of us we should just pay for a taxi to take us directly to the hostels (2 of the girls tried booking at the YMCA but had no luck it was booked out, so they booked another one not far from the Y) So we phoned our friend – Borat. “First stop the liquor store for some roadies, then onto Boston please”
Right on the road to Boston whoo hoo! Ash the radio was playing Milli Vanilli “Don’t forget my number” Turned it up an sang it loud and proud ha-ha thinking of you. So just as we got into Boston it started to pour rain, great just what we need on our night out when we were planning on walking to the clubs. So Borat has out his little GPS trying to find 316 Huntington Ave, I think he was a little nervous seeing as though it was raining, he didn’t know where he was going and I think the fact that we had our drinks open in the car (which is apparently illegal in the states). So we pull up out the front of the YMCA, there is one entrance with no number but has a bunch of middle aged men loitering around mmmhhh “drive a little further Borat – please” ok next entrance looked promising so out I jumped in the pouring rain and up the stairs – “Bugger 312” Back to the taxi and called the hostel describing where we were and if we were close “yes sweetie your right out the front” God help us back to the last entrance with the loitering old men.
Checked in…didn’t look to bad very old skool looking but cool old skool. Up the lift to level 6 room 649. Stopped of to check the shared bathroom nice blue tiles with 2 showers with bright yellow shower curtains and no dividing wall just another shower curtain that was about 5cm to short on either side. Into the room and what a surprise it’s the smallest room ever with a door leading into another small room looks like a converted wardrobe of a prison cell. Fantastic we leave our camp cabin “Swamp View’ and pay money to stay at the YMC-Death. Quick dump our stuff and head out ASAP.
Borat and the other girls are out the front waiting, jumped in and headed to the Fenway Way park area which we heard was good for bars. Borat asked us if we were going to the ball game the next night but we told him we where unable to get tickets, he then pipes up that he has a customer called Timmy that he drives to and from the games who is from Plymouth and that he usually has spare tickets to sell, we got his number, gave him a ring and low and behold he had 6 tickets for 50 bucks each – yes were going to the baseball. The total taxi fare was $170 but good ol’ Borat charged us $120. We got out and we where in heaven ahhhhhhhh one whole street dedicated to clubs, bars & neon lights. There was a game of baseball still on so we walked down the street asked a few people who all recommended the “Lansdown” which was an Irish bar. It was really good not so busy at first but when the game ended it got packed it had dancing and live band. We all had a good time and much needed drinks! Meet some guy from the ‘Rif’ (Penrith) and a guy from Bondi, lots of Aussies about.
Club closed at 2 so we hung around out thw front for a while then Hol, Kel, Sar and I plus 2 random blokes started walking back (mind you we had no idea where we were going, but these 2 guys seemed too) So we followed them to this late night pizza shop and got a slice and then stood outside chatting for ages, watched 2 guys have a fight for 45 mins without throwing a punch, the most physical it got was the black guy knocking off the hat of the guy who looked like he was Borat’s cousin. Then got chatting to some homeless guy on a bike from NYC he was about 60 with no teeth – attractive! More walking and we finally guessed our way home, arrived at 5/5.30am got into our prison cell room and tried sleeping, we had no air con only an open window with no breeze. Imagine all that combined with the start of a seedy hang over, lying on a mattress that was covered entirely in plastic and sweating just because you are breathing. Ohhh we felt like death so we rolled out of bed 9ish, showered, checked out and went on the search for some tucker. Went across the street to a café and had the best panini (its like a sandwich but comes with 2 pieces of flat bread which is a bit thicker than leb bread) all washed down with the ‘black doctor’.
Boston has a great rail system called the T and its well sign posted, runs regularly, is air conditioned, cheap and is nice and clean (FOUB you would be impressed) So we hoped on and headed for central Boston. Meet up with Leigh and Nicky who stayed in the other hostel, which by the way was so much closer to the bars and was so much nicer and it had air con. They stayed up drinking till 5am in their dorm and when we meet them in the park Leigh was still happy as Larry! It was extremely hot and Leigh parked herself under a tree and had already started chatting to some young guy called Ash that was selling sunglasses at a little stall in the park. She decided it was too hot and she wasn’t feeling up to walking the freedom trail, so instead the rest of us grabbed a guide book and started walking along the famous red line that is painted all over the city and is known as the freedom trail. You could join a guided tour group but Kelly was our tour guide reading to us from the book about the different stops along the way. I’m not to sure why they call it the freedom trail she probably did say but ill get back to you about way its called that.
We got about ¼ to ½ of the way through and decided we had had enough, it was too hot and we needed another drink so off too look through the famous ‘Quincy market’ which is a really big area with shops and a huge food hall with all different types of cuisine. Into a little air conditioned pub for another round and some chips. Meanwhile we get a text from Timmy, who it turns out his real name is Jimmy, telling us that the demand for tickets are high and the price has gone up to $75 each. It was more than we were planning to pay but we really wanted to go so we said we’d get back to him.
Left the bar and headed back to find Leigh, who was still in the park. We got back and she had perked up quite a bit, she was busy selling glasses for the young guy Ash who owed the sun glasses cart. What a hoot, she was also bust selling Boston hats and t-shirts on another cart that was owed by Ash’s brother; she reckons she made them over $100 – good on her. She had also befriended Ralph a hobo who was friends with the 2 cart owners. Leigh was saying that a van pulled up near the park and Ralph being the gentleman that he was took Leigh over and got her a free sandwich lunch whilst some American woman touched her arm and sad “God Bless You” turns out she’d just scored lunch from the homeless shelter bus – Sweet, what an experience.
So all together we jumped back on the T and headed to “Riverside” (You can guess what Hollie and I where singing to one another each time they announced “This train stops at ‘Riverside’”. Got out at the station and we were hit up straight away by the scalpers trying to sell us tix for the game, they only seemed to have 2 or 3 seats together not six but we asked and they all jumped on their mobiles calling their ‘contacts’ checking for 6 tickets together. In the meantime Nicky was busy on the phone to Timmy AKA Jimmy telling that we might not need his tickets any more as we had just been offered 6 at a lower price. He came back with an offer of $65 – Deal, so like some kind of secret drug deal we arranged a meeting place for the drop off to happen “My usual spot, out the front on Uno’s” which is a restaurant right near the stadium. I was expecting some shady looking 30 year old with shades and a trench coat type jacket, very cliché I know but this is America after all. Timmy AKA Jimmy was actually a really nice, tall, 50 something man with a beer belly. Gave us our printed tickets off the internet, paid our money and off we went to celebrate with another drink and dinner at Uno’s.
After dinner we headed for the game but not before stopping and picking up some Red Sox T-shirts, touristy-yes but everyone wears them, its like the dress code to get in. We all picked different numbers not knowing who each of them were. Got into the game “phew the tickets did work” I was a little worried to be honest but once we were in it was all good. Got to our seats, we were sitting in the grandstand on right field, not bad seats had a pretty good view however a couple of the girls who were on the end had to lean to see the game due to a big pillar that was in the way! To be honest the game was actually pretty boring, they were playing the Texas Rangers and they would keep getting the other team out before any one could score a run it was 1 all by the end of the 9th inning and that’s when it started to get a bit more exciting as everyone was cheering the Sox on and they were pumping the music. We were belting out “sweet Caroline” and clapping “Lets go Red Sox, Lets go”!! Each time the player with the number on the back of our shirts got up to bat we would all cheer, I had number 34 David Ortiz – Some big black guy with a beard who makes millions. Eventually the game went into golden point and Boston Won!!!! Whoo Hoo all worth it in the end.
Back to the street right out side the stadium where we had been the previous night. Lining up in the girls que we where right behind some girls that where dressed for a hens party, they were taking photos at the door and we were right behind them and it must have looked like we were part of their group as the bouncer ushered us in and told the girl on the front desk that we were on the guest list and therefore didn’t have to pay the cover charge. How dumb was he, they were all dressed so nicely and in comes us scruffs with jeans and baseball T-shirts!! Had a few more drinks there and a little dancing but by this stage we were all so knackered we decided to call trusty Borat for a lift home, in he comes at 2am and picks us up for for $100 bucks and drives us back the hour to camp.
Sunday morning we still have to get up and go to breakfast at 9 and because most of the kids go home for the weekend we only have the international campers – a grand total of 4 kids 2 Canadians and 2 Mexicans, this week there were no new kids coming to stay in the dorms so we didn’t even have meet and greet for new campers so after breakfast we basically could do whatever we wanted. Down to the swap we went, it was so hot 90 degrees plus so I took the plunge, quite literally, and went in the swamp, didn’t go under but it was so nice and much appreciated then went back to our swamp view cabin had a rest and then did nothing until 2pm when we had a snack and then at 5.30pm we had dinner, what relaxing day.
Sunday was also Ola’s birthday and seeing as though she had to work over the weekend she wasn’t able to come to Boston so we went into Plymouth and had drinks at the ‘Cabby shack’, it was good but no music, then we discovered ‘Eastern bay Grille’ which is a nice posh type restaurant with a big out door area with tables and chairs, a classy looking bar and a view looking over the harbour (It reminded me of something out of ‘White Chicks’ we they go to the Hamptons) They had great music pumping so we all got stuck into it dancing on the dance floor having a great time. At one stage there was no one dancing and we were tearing it up and then all of a sudden all these people started joining in and coming to dance in the circle we had made, taking it in turns to jump in the middle and show of their dance moves It was such a good time, quite funny though because we were the youngest people there by about 30 or 40years but they all had a good time. It was a bit like cougar town all the younger guys, and when I say younger I mean 35plus had snagged all the older 50plus women and all the old men were coming and dancing with us!
Monday was an ordinary day except for the fact that it rained from lunch till dark so the kids were quite feed up with being inside for the afternoon.
Tuesday was crazy hair day after lunch so most of the kids did their hair all funny and we had a fashion hair parade and gave out prizes, us counsellors also did our hair crazy – I teased the crap out of mine made 3 spikes on my head put green and gold clothes pegs in it, hung 2 kangaroos from either side of my head and had little Australian flags in my hair. We had a fashion parade and I came 2nd!! Hollie beat me with her creation of 2 pigtails sticking straight up in the air with pom pom things coming out each end – Well deserved; Verena came 3rd with a Lady Gaga inspired do, she had a loo roll stuck in her hair along with a bunch of leaves sticking out and lots of teasing.
Wednesday was meant to be trip day but the weather was not too good for ‘Water Country’ so it was moved to Thursday. Kelly and Sarah are in the dorms this week and because their day off is Wednesday night and Thursday Verena and I had to cover so we moved into the dorms last night and this morning along with Nicky & Leigh we headed off to ‘Water Country’. The other girls decided that they would tag along and spend their day off there too. We kept hearing about how good it was from the kids and that it was the biggest water park in New England region, which consists of 6 states. It took us 3 hours to get their and was in a different state, New England, lets just say when we arrived our hopes of something similar to ‘Wet & Wild’ were severely dashed – big time. It was about ¼ of the size of ‘Wet & wild’ and about ¼ as good. Never the less we split into groups and took the kids around went on a few slides and had a dip in the pool.
Headed to the wave pool (reminiscing of Darwin, girls) when just as I bent down one of the little girls who was crouching jumped straight up and hit me in the face – square smack bang in the middle of my nose. $#%* @#!$ &*#^ Bloody hell it stung like crazy and I couldn’t see for a second and then came the blood, right as the waves start crashing around me I’m trying to get back to the shore and asked the life guard for a tissue, she then radios for an EMT (emergency medical team) who comes running over and asks if I need to go to first aid! All this for a bleeding nose, and she didn’t have a tissue with her so I just pinch it and head to the toilet to wash the blood of my face – attractive! Blood all gone and sight restored it was time to leave.
Headed back the 3 hours stopped at Macca’s for dinner which took forever for the kids to decide what they wanted and then order and eat. Got home at 9.30pm, I’m still in the dorm tonight, its now 11pm its 27.5 degrees, I’m dosed up on pain pills have a cracker of a head ache and I’m about to go to bed hoping that I don’t get 2 black eyes when I wake up in the morning!
I have tomorrow night and Saturday off, so tomorrow we are planning on heading into Plymouth and going to a bar then on Saturday we were going to catch a ferry across to ‘Providence Town’ and ride bikes around but its thunderstorm warnings for that area so we might just head back into Boston for the day.
I still haven’t got the darn fone card yet as the shop where I previously bought one in Minneapolis tells me that they don’t sell international phone cards, so I will have to head to wall mart and see if I can get one.
Cheerio and good night xox.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
All Hallow's Eve
Hiya
Its now Thursday and I’m buggered! Its exhausting having to watch 6 teenage girls constantly for 24hrs a day, making sure they aren’t getting up to mischief and the likes, thank god there are no boys here that would be a nightmare.
On Monday we just had an ordinary day nothing much to tell really except that Hollie
& I were just feeling sad and sorry for ourselves having to stay home and watch the little tykes while the girls went out to AP’s the bar where Weston works and low and behold this time they got a lift back with the manager, haha go girls!
Tuesday ordinary camp day except it was make your Sundays after lunch which the kids loved.
Wednesday was trip day so we had 2 activities in the morning and then off the roller-rena for roller skating. Took about 45mins to get there and we had hired the whole place out which was cool. I wasn’t going to have a go after mum reminded me that it might not be such a great idea with my bung knee, but then the excitement and adrenaline kicked in and I just had to give it a go. After an extremely wobbly start – swoosh swoosh swoosh there I was roller bladding round in circles the wind in my hair, I felt like a kid again! (The other reason I also wanted to have a go was the fact that if you were skating you were allowed to wear jeans and I will jump at the chance to get out of the god awful beige shorts we have to wear on trip days)
So back to camp and it was pouring rain the whole way so we had to have all the kids inside and they had been eating lollies all day and were on a huge sugar high jumping screaming shouting its insane the amount of junk these kids eat, every day at 2pm after rest hour they have canteen where they get to choose either 2 candies and 2 chocolate bars and then get a 700ml soda and these kids are as young as 6 & 7 and then they wonder why they are up so late and not sleeping.
Some of the girls went to watch a movie in the office while Hollie plaited my hair in tiny tiny plaits so that tonight when I take it out and brush it, it will be an afro because tonight its Halloween and us counsellors get to run the night. So we set the scene last night by telling some of the girls that back in 1950’s on the 15th July all the campers mysteriously disappeared and their bodies where never found and then every year on the anniversary of their disappearance their souls come back and haut the new campers. It was so funny they were so scared and one of the girls was nearly crying. Tonight we have all different outfits Hollie is a witch, Marie is a clown, Ola is a skeleton, Verena is little red riding vampire, Nicky is Jane the Vampire from twilighit (Ash I’m assuming you’ll know who that is?) Leigh is a devil, kel is a prisoner, Kasia is a mummy, Sarah will be a dead angel and I’m a black cat. I think we are more excited than the kids.
We have planned a walking ghost tour of the camp and are going to have counsellors at each place to scare them – we told them they will need to be wearing nappies coz they’ll be so scared they’ll wet their pants – which they found quite amusing but we may have made a rod for our own backs because if its too scary they wont sleep which means ill be up all night trying to get them to bed.
We didn’t end up being able to get the Red Sox tickets they were just 1 random seat here and there not all together so that idea has been scrapped but we have booked the YMCA a hostel in the ‘Back Bay’ area for Friday night. The hostel is only 5 minutes from ‘Fenway Park’ which is where the baseball is on at so we will go out Friday night, sightsee around Boston on Saturday then find a bar that’s near the game.
Cant wait till of out of the dorm as I have every intention of getting up early and trying to skype you guys. Fells like I’ve been here for ages but not homesick, just missing talking and seeing everyone which is the hardest thing. I’m actually having a really good time and all the girls were only just talking and saying how crazy it is that we only met 3 weeks ago but already we fell like we have known each other for ages which is great.
Kate Ali & Jess have a fab time on holidays hope its awesome take pics of everything and enjoy every minute of it! Love you guys.
Mum & Dad plus the Cape York crew hope your travels are going well and your having fun 4WD everywhere, if the bugs are anything like they are here then I feel your pain! Not too happy about the fishing situation though – pull up your socks you bunch of princesses!!! More fish More fish!
Portia & Cheryl ill be representing on Friday night, cant wait till Europe haha
Vicki H. still haven’t found that special something to buy with my dollar yet, but I am looking.
Last but def not least Ash I’m hanging for a cuppa (geez never thought I’d say that) and a catch up, keeping everything crossed that ill see you soon.
I don’t get the net for very long and im slowly putting up pics but they are coming and yes mum I got the disk on Tuesday thanks so much ill be eagerly awaiting my next package haha.
Shout out to G’Dad hope Jennie was hooked you up!
And as someone very special always tells me……
Cheerio for now xox
Its now Thursday and I’m buggered! Its exhausting having to watch 6 teenage girls constantly for 24hrs a day, making sure they aren’t getting up to mischief and the likes, thank god there are no boys here that would be a nightmare.
On Monday we just had an ordinary day nothing much to tell really except that Hollie
& I were just feeling sad and sorry for ourselves having to stay home and watch the little tykes while the girls went out to AP’s the bar where Weston works and low and behold this time they got a lift back with the manager, haha go girls!
Tuesday ordinary camp day except it was make your Sundays after lunch which the kids loved.
Wednesday was trip day so we had 2 activities in the morning and then off the roller-rena for roller skating. Took about 45mins to get there and we had hired the whole place out which was cool. I wasn’t going to have a go after mum reminded me that it might not be such a great idea with my bung knee, but then the excitement and adrenaline kicked in and I just had to give it a go. After an extremely wobbly start – swoosh swoosh swoosh there I was roller bladding round in circles the wind in my hair, I felt like a kid again! (The other reason I also wanted to have a go was the fact that if you were skating you were allowed to wear jeans and I will jump at the chance to get out of the god awful beige shorts we have to wear on trip days)
So back to camp and it was pouring rain the whole way so we had to have all the kids inside and they had been eating lollies all day and were on a huge sugar high jumping screaming shouting its insane the amount of junk these kids eat, every day at 2pm after rest hour they have canteen where they get to choose either 2 candies and 2 chocolate bars and then get a 700ml soda and these kids are as young as 6 & 7 and then they wonder why they are up so late and not sleeping.
Some of the girls went to watch a movie in the office while Hollie plaited my hair in tiny tiny plaits so that tonight when I take it out and brush it, it will be an afro because tonight its Halloween and us counsellors get to run the night. So we set the scene last night by telling some of the girls that back in 1950’s on the 15th July all the campers mysteriously disappeared and their bodies where never found and then every year on the anniversary of their disappearance their souls come back and haut the new campers. It was so funny they were so scared and one of the girls was nearly crying. Tonight we have all different outfits Hollie is a witch, Marie is a clown, Ola is a skeleton, Verena is little red riding vampire, Nicky is Jane the Vampire from twilighit (Ash I’m assuming you’ll know who that is?) Leigh is a devil, kel is a prisoner, Kasia is a mummy, Sarah will be a dead angel and I’m a black cat. I think we are more excited than the kids.
We have planned a walking ghost tour of the camp and are going to have counsellors at each place to scare them – we told them they will need to be wearing nappies coz they’ll be so scared they’ll wet their pants – which they found quite amusing but we may have made a rod for our own backs because if its too scary they wont sleep which means ill be up all night trying to get them to bed.
We didn’t end up being able to get the Red Sox tickets they were just 1 random seat here and there not all together so that idea has been scrapped but we have booked the YMCA a hostel in the ‘Back Bay’ area for Friday night. The hostel is only 5 minutes from ‘Fenway Park’ which is where the baseball is on at so we will go out Friday night, sightsee around Boston on Saturday then find a bar that’s near the game.
Cant wait till of out of the dorm as I have every intention of getting up early and trying to skype you guys. Fells like I’ve been here for ages but not homesick, just missing talking and seeing everyone which is the hardest thing. I’m actually having a really good time and all the girls were only just talking and saying how crazy it is that we only met 3 weeks ago but already we fell like we have known each other for ages which is great.
Kate Ali & Jess have a fab time on holidays hope its awesome take pics of everything and enjoy every minute of it! Love you guys.
Mum & Dad plus the Cape York crew hope your travels are going well and your having fun 4WD everywhere, if the bugs are anything like they are here then I feel your pain! Not too happy about the fishing situation though – pull up your socks you bunch of princesses!!! More fish More fish!
Portia & Cheryl ill be representing on Friday night, cant wait till Europe haha
Vicki H. still haven’t found that special something to buy with my dollar yet, but I am looking.
Last but def not least Ash I’m hanging for a cuppa (geez never thought I’d say that) and a catch up, keeping everything crossed that ill see you soon.
I don’t get the net for very long and im slowly putting up pics but they are coming and yes mum I got the disk on Tuesday thanks so much ill be eagerly awaiting my next package haha.
Shout out to G’Dad hope Jennie was hooked you up!
And as someone very special always tells me……
Cheerio for now xox
Monday, July 12, 2010
Dorm Mommy
So its now Sunday arvo and we are all relaxing waiting for the next round of campers to come at 1pm.
On Friday we did tie dying with the girls and they looked really cool. That night all the girls except Hollie and I went out to the bar for a drink. We ha to stay and baby sit until they got home. They had a good time at the bar and had called Borat at 11pm to pick them up and when he still hadn’t arrived by 11.45pm they were getting worried and the waitress at the bar offered to drive them home which was great so all 8 of them plus the crammed into a Honda sedan and drove home, this place is crazy!
Next day was Saturday and most of the overnight campers go home for the weekend as they live close by and then return on Sunday arvo. The kids from Mexico and Canada don’t leave so we just have a fun day, we were going to go to the beach in Plymouth but it rained and there was a thunderstorm so we headed for the mall. The kids were very excited about that. Shopped for a bit and then went to the movies and saw Toy Story 3 it was so good I really enjoyed it and it was pretty funny, most of the counsellors were crying by the end which the lill girls thought was quite amusing.
Pick up from the mall was at 2.45pm getting home to get ready for ‘mass’. Hollie and I got out of it as we had to move all our stuff from the counsellor cabin over to the girls dorm because we are now…… “Dorm Mommy’s”!!!!!
So all moved into the little cubby room which isn’t that bad but I have the upper dorm with the girls aged 12-18 and it gets so humid up here. After dinner we went into Suzanne’s office got comfy on the lounge, watched ‘Confessions of a teenage drama queen’. Back to the dorm and the girls just read their books and played card games and then into bed.
Sleep in this morning breakfast at 9.30. Staff meeting and we got our schedule for this week. Our trip this Wednesday is roller skating – Fun! Which means our day off will be Saturday yesssssss!!! So were already planning for that now, Heading to the Boston on Friday night and then Baseball on Saturday to see the Red Sox. Borat said we will drive us their for $100 between 6, so we’ll see if that comes off.
Did I mention that we might be flying to Vegas for a few days after camp? We thought it might make an exciting trip at the end of camp so we will have to keep an eye on cheap flights.
Well I better go play mummy now
Cheerio
On Friday we did tie dying with the girls and they looked really cool. That night all the girls except Hollie and I went out to the bar for a drink. We ha to stay and baby sit until they got home. They had a good time at the bar and had called Borat at 11pm to pick them up and when he still hadn’t arrived by 11.45pm they were getting worried and the waitress at the bar offered to drive them home which was great so all 8 of them plus the crammed into a Honda sedan and drove home, this place is crazy!
Next day was Saturday and most of the overnight campers go home for the weekend as they live close by and then return on Sunday arvo. The kids from Mexico and Canada don’t leave so we just have a fun day, we were going to go to the beach in Plymouth but it rained and there was a thunderstorm so we headed for the mall. The kids were very excited about that. Shopped for a bit and then went to the movies and saw Toy Story 3 it was so good I really enjoyed it and it was pretty funny, most of the counsellors were crying by the end which the lill girls thought was quite amusing.
Pick up from the mall was at 2.45pm getting home to get ready for ‘mass’. Hollie and I got out of it as we had to move all our stuff from the counsellor cabin over to the girls dorm because we are now…… “Dorm Mommy’s”!!!!!
So all moved into the little cubby room which isn’t that bad but I have the upper dorm with the girls aged 12-18 and it gets so humid up here. After dinner we went into Suzanne’s office got comfy on the lounge, watched ‘Confessions of a teenage drama queen’. Back to the dorm and the girls just read their books and played card games and then into bed.
Sleep in this morning breakfast at 9.30. Staff meeting and we got our schedule for this week. Our trip this Wednesday is roller skating – Fun! Which means our day off will be Saturday yesssssss!!! So were already planning for that now, Heading to the Boston on Friday night and then Baseball on Saturday to see the Red Sox. Borat said we will drive us their for $100 between 6, so we’ll see if that comes off.
Did I mention that we might be flying to Vegas for a few days after camp? We thought it might make an exciting trip at the end of camp so we will have to keep an eye on cheap flights.
Well I better go play mummy now
Cheerio
Weston
Hey everyone
So ill back track a bit and go back to Monday after our first day with the kids we decided we needed some time out ~ ha ha we have 6 more weeks to go and that was just the first day! So quickly getting ready and called our taxi man friend – Borat, to come and pick us up off to the independence mall to have a look around got about halfway and then the shops closed at 9.30pm. So out we trot and decide what to do next, “mmhh the Walmart and Colony place (which is like Kellicar lane with shops and restaurants) is not that far down the road we could probably walk?”
Walking for bit, and when I mean a bit maybe 400m, were on the left hand side of the main road, walking on the other side of the metal road barrier in the pitch black with spiky grass sticking in out thongs and sandals and a legion of bugs following us when some lill punk American brat winds down her window and shouts out “GET A CAR!” We’re all in stiches and face our defeat and trek back the 400m to the shopping car park and ring taxi man Borat.
“Right could you please take us to a bar?” “Not to sure if any will be open but we can have a drive around ill take you back to ‘colony place to have a look’. Not much appeared to be opened except a classy looking restaurant so Hol jumped out asked if the bar was still open – yes we’re in luck, out we pile and order a round.
The young bar tender guy ‘Weston’ was really nice and it just so happened that it was opening night of the restaurant. Chatting away to Weston we got talking about where we were all from (Aust, NZ, UK, Poland, Germany and Sweden) and what we were all doing. There are 6 of us off from 8pm Tuesday till 8am Thursday so we mentioned that and asked what he would recommend to do on our day off? So after talking it was decided we would venture to Boston and meet up with Weston and his friends, yes we can almost smell the freedom at this stage!
Off to Walmart for another look around and back to camp just before midnight curfew.
Tuesday not much happened today except it was extremely hot about 37 degrees and very humid so we had a ‘double bubble’ which is where all afternoon activities are cancelled and its just general swim from 2 till 5pm, us girls we’re all just hanging out for 8pm. While life guarding we found a yabby (named “Sebastian”) swimming on the shore….. ‘No definitely not going swamp swimming now’
So 8pm rolls around were getting ready and have booked Borat for 8.45pm to drop us at the bus station to catch the 9.20pm last bus to Boston. So at 8.50 no Borat, 8.55 still no Borat ‘where the bloody hell is Borat, we’re going to miss this bus’ after several phone calls finally ‘Bruno’ (one of Borat’s minions) rocks up and says ‘wish you guys had of found me, instead of me having to find you’ what the hell, is this guy for real. Right hurry up Bruno to the bus station!
All 6 of us jumped out at the bus station just in time, however no bus in sight. There were 2 bus shelters and we weren’t sure which one so we just stood in between, while there were about 10 other people waiting at the end of the furthest shelter. Standing in the middle turned out to be an excellent idea as the bus pulled up right near us and us chickies in line first got the last seats on the bus hahaha thank god for that, it was our only option to get there.
By the way we had our bags packed for overnight, so clothes, 6 towels, 1 sleeping bag and no accommodation in a city he hadn’t been to before meeting up with some guy we meet in a bar the night before – only in America and only on holidays! Mum don’t have kittens its all good I’m writing this, so we’re all ok. And we had looked up hostels and had their numbers.
So arrived at South Station at 10.30pm and Weston and his friend Clark (Kent) are there to pick us up, driving to ‘Brighton’ a town about 20 mins outside Boston, it has a big Irish community there. Into one bar which was extremely hot with no air con and crappy service, were we meet another one of Weston’s friends Dana. Onto the next bar ‘The last drop’ or as the locals like to call it ‘The last resort’ it’s the only bar in the area that stays open till 2am.
We almost didn’t get in as apparently they don’t accept anything but US driving license or a passport – great! Weston went in first talked to the manager and we got in and we also got free shots whoo hoo ‘Washington Apples’ all round, and even their shots are massive in this place its like half a glass. Then had a little dance with the 15 other people in the bar and every one had a good chat to everyone else that was there which as cool. So quicker than we thought the bar closed and it was time to leave. Down the street to Dana’s apartment we headed, it was nice, very American. So us 6 crashed there for the night which was great such a change from our little cabin aptly named ‘swamp view’ and really nice of him to let us stay.
Up the next morning early and off to the beach. Driving to a little town 45mins from Brighton called Glouster it was really nice (like something from a movie) but nothing like our beaches!!! It was so hot and after baking for a bit headed for a swim – freezing but really nice. Stayed for a few hours and then drove to the next little town called ‘Rockport’ which was a really cute little seaside town with touristy shops all along the road leading up to the ocean with a great view.
Time for lunch, back to Glouster and a tiny pub to watch the Germany vs Spain game. Drove back into Boston and the guys dropped us off at the station. It was great to have locals taking us around and they are so nice which made it fun – we all had a great day off that’s for sure. Sat in Starbucks then had a quick look around a few of the Boston shops and then (FOU you will be pleased to know that) we caught the train to Kingston and our good friend Borat was ready and waiting for us. Onto TGI Fridays restaurant for lunch and afterwards back to camp.
Today was Hawaiian day and we had ham steaks and pineapple for lunch wore leis and had ‘Hawaiian’ pizza for dinner which was a cheese pizza???? Then for evening activity we played parachute games and some of the girls did a talent/singing contest for us which was real sweet. Into the cabin and just chatting with all the girls, tomorrow its campfire and we’re having a “cook out” which I have a feeling is their word for a barbie. Hollie and I are in the dorms for the next week so we start on Friday and on Saturday were going to the beach with the girls while the other counsellors have their day off.
Cheerio.
So ill back track a bit and go back to Monday after our first day with the kids we decided we needed some time out ~ ha ha we have 6 more weeks to go and that was just the first day! So quickly getting ready and called our taxi man friend – Borat, to come and pick us up off to the independence mall to have a look around got about halfway and then the shops closed at 9.30pm. So out we trot and decide what to do next, “mmhh the Walmart and Colony place (which is like Kellicar lane with shops and restaurants) is not that far down the road we could probably walk?”
Walking for bit, and when I mean a bit maybe 400m, were on the left hand side of the main road, walking on the other side of the metal road barrier in the pitch black with spiky grass sticking in out thongs and sandals and a legion of bugs following us when some lill punk American brat winds down her window and shouts out “GET A CAR!” We’re all in stiches and face our defeat and trek back the 400m to the shopping car park and ring taxi man Borat.
“Right could you please take us to a bar?” “Not to sure if any will be open but we can have a drive around ill take you back to ‘colony place to have a look’. Not much appeared to be opened except a classy looking restaurant so Hol jumped out asked if the bar was still open – yes we’re in luck, out we pile and order a round.
The young bar tender guy ‘Weston’ was really nice and it just so happened that it was opening night of the restaurant. Chatting away to Weston we got talking about where we were all from (Aust, NZ, UK, Poland, Germany and Sweden) and what we were all doing. There are 6 of us off from 8pm Tuesday till 8am Thursday so we mentioned that and asked what he would recommend to do on our day off? So after talking it was decided we would venture to Boston and meet up with Weston and his friends, yes we can almost smell the freedom at this stage!
Off to Walmart for another look around and back to camp just before midnight curfew.
Tuesday not much happened today except it was extremely hot about 37 degrees and very humid so we had a ‘double bubble’ which is where all afternoon activities are cancelled and its just general swim from 2 till 5pm, us girls we’re all just hanging out for 8pm. While life guarding we found a yabby (named “Sebastian”) swimming on the shore….. ‘No definitely not going swamp swimming now’
So 8pm rolls around were getting ready and have booked Borat for 8.45pm to drop us at the bus station to catch the 9.20pm last bus to Boston. So at 8.50 no Borat, 8.55 still no Borat ‘where the bloody hell is Borat, we’re going to miss this bus’ after several phone calls finally ‘Bruno’ (one of Borat’s minions) rocks up and says ‘wish you guys had of found me, instead of me having to find you’ what the hell, is this guy for real. Right hurry up Bruno to the bus station!
All 6 of us jumped out at the bus station just in time, however no bus in sight. There were 2 bus shelters and we weren’t sure which one so we just stood in between, while there were about 10 other people waiting at the end of the furthest shelter. Standing in the middle turned out to be an excellent idea as the bus pulled up right near us and us chickies in line first got the last seats on the bus hahaha thank god for that, it was our only option to get there.
By the way we had our bags packed for overnight, so clothes, 6 towels, 1 sleeping bag and no accommodation in a city he hadn’t been to before meeting up with some guy we meet in a bar the night before – only in America and only on holidays! Mum don’t have kittens its all good I’m writing this, so we’re all ok. And we had looked up hostels and had their numbers.
So arrived at South Station at 10.30pm and Weston and his friend Clark (Kent) are there to pick us up, driving to ‘Brighton’ a town about 20 mins outside Boston, it has a big Irish community there. Into one bar which was extremely hot with no air con and crappy service, were we meet another one of Weston’s friends Dana. Onto the next bar ‘The last drop’ or as the locals like to call it ‘The last resort’ it’s the only bar in the area that stays open till 2am.
We almost didn’t get in as apparently they don’t accept anything but US driving license or a passport – great! Weston went in first talked to the manager and we got in and we also got free shots whoo hoo ‘Washington Apples’ all round, and even their shots are massive in this place its like half a glass. Then had a little dance with the 15 other people in the bar and every one had a good chat to everyone else that was there which as cool. So quicker than we thought the bar closed and it was time to leave. Down the street to Dana’s apartment we headed, it was nice, very American. So us 6 crashed there for the night which was great such a change from our little cabin aptly named ‘swamp view’ and really nice of him to let us stay.
Up the next morning early and off to the beach. Driving to a little town 45mins from Brighton called Glouster it was really nice (like something from a movie) but nothing like our beaches!!! It was so hot and after baking for a bit headed for a swim – freezing but really nice. Stayed for a few hours and then drove to the next little town called ‘Rockport’ which was a really cute little seaside town with touristy shops all along the road leading up to the ocean with a great view.
Time for lunch, back to Glouster and a tiny pub to watch the Germany vs Spain game. Drove back into Boston and the guys dropped us off at the station. It was great to have locals taking us around and they are so nice which made it fun – we all had a great day off that’s for sure. Sat in Starbucks then had a quick look around a few of the Boston shops and then (FOU you will be pleased to know that) we caught the train to Kingston and our good friend Borat was ready and waiting for us. Onto TGI Fridays restaurant for lunch and afterwards back to camp.
Today was Hawaiian day and we had ham steaks and pineapple for lunch wore leis and had ‘Hawaiian’ pizza for dinner which was a cheese pizza???? Then for evening activity we played parachute games and some of the girls did a talent/singing contest for us which was real sweet. Into the cabin and just chatting with all the girls, tomorrow its campfire and we’re having a “cook out” which I have a feeling is their word for a barbie. Hollie and I are in the dorms for the next week so we start on Friday and on Saturday were going to the beach with the girls while the other counsellors have their day off.
Cheerio.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Campers arrived
So the kids came yesterday we have 3 lill mexican girls that have quite good english but sometimes needs translating and then there were 2 Canadian girls form quebec that speak even less english so that is a challenge as they dont understand everything. But we got them aquainted and set up their dorms. They then do a swim test and free swim i had to chase a run away beach ball - couragously ventured into the swap and prayed i would make it back out again! It was gross i screamed the whole way out and in the lilly pads are on the top but there is lake grass growing on the bottom and it gets tangled all over you feels like your getting sucked under haha Ali - like Harry Potter in the Goblet on Fire when he saves Fluer! The beach ball can blow away next time, as far as im concerned im not going in again ill just buy them a new one at wal-mart.
So dinner & then onto evening activity 'hide and seek' and 'wink murder' felt like a kid again it was good fun . Then it was time for them to got to bed and back to the counsellor cabin, we attempted to watch 'the hangover ' on my lill lap top got about half way through and gave up and went to bed it was so hot last night really stiffling. i didnt sleep well not sure if it was A. the gigantic bug i killed right near my bed that could fly and had pincers the size of my fingers, B. that it was so bloody hot or C. that my bed is still on the ground and not very comfy??
Up this morning to a cold shower as there is something wrong in our cabin and its kaput - great this keeps getting better and better. Day campers arrived and then flag raising and hail marys...
So off to the first activity, at camp there are 5 activities swimming, boating, outdoor adventure, land sports and arts and craft so because there are so little campers there are only 3 groups of kids so each day we have 2 periods off and mine are together after lunch and rest time which is good thats for this week anyway. So off to arts and craft i took my 3 kids and we got in trouble of the nuns as "this activity doesnt start till 9.30" what was the time 9.25!! right out we go girls, sitting out side the door for all of 5 mins then back in to start. in arts and craft they have the choice of either yarn dolls, sewing, plaster, painting or beads/jewellery so having 3 girls in a group I only had one girl (5) for an hour helping her make herself a necklace and a bracelet for her mum. 10.30 next group - one girl again, next group 11.30 3 girls. lunch and then rest period where we played board games and did colouring and drawing. So now im off till 4.30 when we have general swim when everyone has to lifeguard - not swim just life guard! So im off to have a little snooze.
Cheerio x
So dinner & then onto evening activity 'hide and seek' and 'wink murder' felt like a kid again it was good fun . Then it was time for them to got to bed and back to the counsellor cabin, we attempted to watch 'the hangover ' on my lill lap top got about half way through and gave up and went to bed it was so hot last night really stiffling. i didnt sleep well not sure if it was A. the gigantic bug i killed right near my bed that could fly and had pincers the size of my fingers, B. that it was so bloody hot or C. that my bed is still on the ground and not very comfy??
Up this morning to a cold shower as there is something wrong in our cabin and its kaput - great this keeps getting better and better. Day campers arrived and then flag raising and hail marys...
So off to the first activity, at camp there are 5 activities swimming, boating, outdoor adventure, land sports and arts and craft so because there are so little campers there are only 3 groups of kids so each day we have 2 periods off and mine are together after lunch and rest time which is good thats for this week anyway. So off to arts and craft i took my 3 kids and we got in trouble of the nuns as "this activity doesnt start till 9.30" what was the time 9.25!! right out we go girls, sitting out side the door for all of 5 mins then back in to start. in arts and craft they have the choice of either yarn dolls, sewing, plaster, painting or beads/jewellery so having 3 girls in a group I only had one girl (5) for an hour helping her make herself a necklace and a bracelet for her mum. 10.30 next group - one girl again, next group 11.30 3 girls. lunch and then rest period where we played board games and did colouring and drawing. So now im off till 4.30 when we have general swim when everyone has to lifeguard - not swim just life guard! So im off to have a little snooze.
Cheerio x
Ye Old Tyme Photo
Up Early for a walk then breaky "lots of things to do today girls" .......I had to take 2 bottles to the craft room! Then that was it, admittably the water front girls had to put up the lane ropes and mark of the dock as the water level still hasnt gone down and its underwater. Getting ready for our trip to plymouth took most of the day really, off to lunch and then into Plymouth at about 2pm whoo hoo!! Walked around the town which has about 3 main streets and a waterfront but its really nice feels like your back in the American 1700's all the buildings are old and historical looking. So first stop the "cabby Shack" its a 2 story restaurant and pub right on the marina thingy very nice and the drinks were even bette,r lush cocktails all round! Then a bit more wandering around town and we saw the Mayflower the one that the pilgrams came over on (well a replica one anyways) just looks like an old boat.
Then one of the girls found this shop "old tyme photo" shop so being on holidays we thought it would be a good idea to get one so, all dressed up in out corsets,fishnets and feathers we had olden day pics taken they are really funny but look good and were lots of fun! Then onto Sam Deiago's the mexican restaurant for dinner mmhhh more delicous cocktails and the food wasnt to bad either quite tasty i had scallop and bacon quasadeas. Then by this stage we were all quite tired, shows what going to bed at 8.30 9pm every night will do to you! so called the cab and back too camp, i deceided i wasnt going to sleep on the bunk anymore so i hauled off the materess and i set up shop in the corner of the lounge room and i had quite a nice sleep actually.
Today the campers are coming so after breakfast we had a little talk and are now off till 12.45 they come between 1-3. There are lots of mexicans coming and canadians and we arent sure if they can speak english so that will be interesting!
Well im off now, going to the swamp to read and sunbake bbyyyeeee.
Then one of the girls found this shop "old tyme photo" shop so being on holidays we thought it would be a good idea to get one so, all dressed up in out corsets,fishnets and feathers we had olden day pics taken they are really funny but look good and were lots of fun! Then onto Sam Deiago's the mexican restaurant for dinner mmhhh more delicous cocktails and the food wasnt to bad either quite tasty i had scallop and bacon quasadeas. Then by this stage we were all quite tired, shows what going to bed at 8.30 9pm every night will do to you! so called the cab and back too camp, i deceided i wasnt going to sleep on the bunk anymore so i hauled off the materess and i set up shop in the corner of the lounge room and i had quite a nice sleep actually.
Today the campers are coming so after breakfast we had a little talk and are now off till 12.45 they come between 1-3. There are lots of mexicans coming and canadians and we arent sure if they can speak english so that will be interesting!
Well im off now, going to the swamp to read and sunbake bbyyyeeee.
Moving Hose
No walk today for me and kel just a sleep in. Up for breakfast (no carton eggs for me, but the others said they were ok?) then moving house. Everyone apart from 2 counsellors, Nicky & Leigh moved into the counsellor cabin. We've got water front views now but on the down side we have bunk beds, im up top this week on a crummy matress that you can feel every sprin under but not to worry only for 1 week. Some of the girls put up a washing line and i made some more jewellery and sorted out beads - I taught myself how to make makrame bracelets which are pretty cool. Then the 3 R's, geez i could get use to this!
This afternoon we had a blessing from the nuns where they did some prayers and songs and we each had to go up and put a rock in a bowl (not really sure why, maybe something to do with nature) and introduce ourselves. Yesterday we got our staff shirts that we have to wear on sundays and trip days.
Then after dinner we got Suzanne to drop us into the mall and the Twihard fans went to whatch twilight and then rest of us went and saw 'grown ups' it was hilarious, def recomened it! Some of the new flicks that are coming out looked good too like 'little fockers' and 'the green hornet' with Seth Rogan and I think the chicks will like Katherine Heigal & Josh Duvals new one 'Life as we know it'.
Then off to wal*mart again, did some more shopping and everyone bought fresh fruit which was funny. Then back to camp and up on the bunk!!
Just a quick update on the Cape Yorkers - the dads have reached QLD and the mum's where just about to leave for Cairns. But by the time i post this they will have proably been long gone from Cairns and somewhere in the bush!!
Night Cheerio
This afternoon we had a blessing from the nuns where they did some prayers and songs and we each had to go up and put a rock in a bowl (not really sure why, maybe something to do with nature) and introduce ourselves. Yesterday we got our staff shirts that we have to wear on sundays and trip days.
Then after dinner we got Suzanne to drop us into the mall and the Twihard fans went to whatch twilight and then rest of us went and saw 'grown ups' it was hilarious, def recomened it! Some of the new flicks that are coming out looked good too like 'little fockers' and 'the green hornet' with Seth Rogan and I think the chicks will like Katherine Heigal & Josh Duvals new one 'Life as we know it'.
Then off to wal*mart again, did some more shopping and everyone bought fresh fruit which was funny. Then back to camp and up on the bunk!!
Just a quick update on the Cape Yorkers - the dads have reached QLD and the mum's where just about to leave for Cairns. But by the time i post this they will have proably been long gone from Cairns and somewhere in the bush!!
Night Cheerio
Fake Eggs
Up at 7am for a walk, i've resigned myself to the fact that im a walker not a runner lol. So round the camp then ready for breakfast bacon and egg mcmuffins, eggs looked unusually round but never the less it tasted ok.
Then onto planning our evening activities, which we have each night after dinner for an hour. Quite easy really things like friendship braclets, parachute games,stuck in the mud, basketball or a softball game etc. Then we had a 'physical' job to do as Suzanne put it lots of hard work today..... raking the water front, which took us all of an hour - looks much better now! So now 11am and were done...mmhh we all did so much needed washing so that was nice to have clean clothes. Then rest time and then lunch chicken and veggie soup.
So then more rest time......
relaxing...........
resting.......
Then off to the shops with Suzanne to get some new beads and jewllery stuff, craft store was massive,could have spent all day browsing. Then to the 'Dollar Store' where literally everything in the store is $1 super cool not enough time there either.
Back to camp more resting, reading. Called home and the bestie great to hear everyones voices! Dinner time. Back to the dorm now all just relaxing (surprise surprise) on the lounges all chatting and laughing about stuff. Then we got onto the subject of breakfast Ola who is the sue chef pipes up and mentions the 'fresh' eggs came frozen and then just warmed in the oven, not so fresh now!!! There were also like 30 muffins which we thought were strange "Ola, what happened to those muffins?" "um back in the fridge" haha they are going to try and serve them up again tomorrow or so we thought! Nope it was mentioned that they are boomeranging back to us on Saturday - Fab.
Something else we worked out was only 46 days till the end of camp haha. On another note we got a reservation for the nice looking mexican restaurant in Plymouth for saturday yesss! Not sure what the plans are for tomorrow I think that we are decorating the 'pavillion' which is a big outdoor screened room, where we eat our meals. We are decorating it in American stuff for the 4th of july.
Thats it not much at all but the three R's rest relax and read hahah love it best summer job ever!
Cheerio xox
Then onto planning our evening activities, which we have each night after dinner for an hour. Quite easy really things like friendship braclets, parachute games,stuck in the mud, basketball or a softball game etc. Then we had a 'physical' job to do as Suzanne put it lots of hard work today..... raking the water front, which took us all of an hour - looks much better now! So now 11am and were done...mmhh we all did so much needed washing so that was nice to have clean clothes. Then rest time and then lunch chicken and veggie soup.
So then more rest time......
relaxing...........
resting.......
Then off to the shops with Suzanne to get some new beads and jewllery stuff, craft store was massive,could have spent all day browsing. Then to the 'Dollar Store' where literally everything in the store is $1 super cool not enough time there either.
Back to camp more resting, reading. Called home and the bestie great to hear everyones voices! Dinner time. Back to the dorm now all just relaxing (surprise surprise) on the lounges all chatting and laughing about stuff. Then we got onto the subject of breakfast Ola who is the sue chef pipes up and mentions the 'fresh' eggs came frozen and then just warmed in the oven, not so fresh now!!! There were also like 30 muffins which we thought were strange "Ola, what happened to those muffins?" "um back in the fridge" haha they are going to try and serve them up again tomorrow or so we thought! Nope it was mentioned that they are boomeranging back to us on Saturday - Fab.
Something else we worked out was only 46 days till the end of camp haha. On another note we got a reservation for the nice looking mexican restaurant in Plymouth for saturday yesss! Not sure what the plans are for tomorrow I think that we are decorating the 'pavillion' which is a big outdoor screened room, where we eat our meals. We are decorating it in American stuff for the 4th of july.
Thats it not much at all but the three R's rest relax and read hahah love it best summer job ever!
Cheerio xox
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)