Ummm People

I've just been in the air and in and out airoports for the last 2 or so days. I've been flown St.Petersburg -> Munich (because there is snow in London and our original flight was cancelled) -> London -> Singapoure -> Melbourne. Plus they lost our baggage (so very little clothes, no scissors, and no present for anyone). So at the moment I am .... floppy (?).
I also found out (in Munich) that apparently school for yr10 started early, so people please: which class am I in, and what is the timetable for Thursday?
Will be very grateful for above information, however can't bribe because our suitcases were blooming lost!

(Yeah I'm calm)

(( Just reread what I written, my brain isn't with me at the moment ))

(((Re-read the 2nd time, added please. I need sleep. I can't sleep until it's evening. )))

On the subject of...Frog legs, Psychopath-looking Doctors and June air.

Some of the people I know are currently on a short visit to France, may you enjoy it there.
As for my Mud and Fallow. Well it's right up Fallows alley, she's been there many times; as for Mud. I hope that she'll enjoy her first time in a foreign land and be willing to travel alot in the future (with us two of course.)

As pretty much always I don't have time for a well written article of philosophical line of thought. However two notes:

1. The Eleventh Doctor is upon us!!!
2. And there are rumours that the Children of the Earth (short 3rd season story line) will be aired in June... (On BBC1, which is a big deal)
   

On the subject of... lyrics and dry tissues

Two artistic (meaning, not word for word) translations of Russian songs with lyrics I love:

Она идет по жизни смеясь

She goes through life laughing,

She's as light as wind

Nowhere in the world

Her face won't hit the dirt

A tried method of dealing with questions

Like they're not even there

In everything there's sunlight

She goes throught life laughing

Meeting and parting

No regrets in parting easy

and meeting each time

And all the new faces

Quickly mixing

Into a melting circle

Of friends

She goes throught life laughing

As a guest she's like at home

Where everything is known

Luck is with her

Life is Sucessful

With no exceptions

All with amazment

Watch her leaving

Not noting the night that are spent crying

By the one who goes throught life laughing.

The original, does sound much better however this is the best translation I can give. The tune is amazingly catchy (in style I personally call old-style rock) and it was sung by Машина Времени (Machine of Time).

Иностранец (part of lyrics)

Gift me with the first dance,

Take me away with you,

Far and wide I am a foreigner,

And everywhere I'm like their own,

Like a boat upon the ocean,

I have lost the shore my own,

Far and wide I am a foreigner,

Take me, mother, home.

The Original

Подари мне первый танец,

Забери меня с собой,

Я повсюду иностранец,

И повсюду я вроде бы свой.

Словно лодка в океане,

Затерялся берег мой,

Я повсюду иностранец,

Забери меня, мама, домой

Maybe this will tell you something about me. Maybe it wont. Don't over analyze it please. The original was sung by Валерий Меладзе (and the words and the music were by his brother).

I also suspect that at somepoint I shall take upon my self to translate Russian into English (I do take suggestions).

And finally...

Last weekend: Mother wonders if our visa will let us visit England.

Chance of going to England (for a quick holiday visit): 98%

This saturday: A week of finding absolutely no information and being always re-directed.

Chance of going to England: 60%

This sunday morning: Andrew saying that on the Internet there are tales of similar problems.

Chance of going to England: 10%

This sunday afternoon: Found confirming information in Wikipedia.

Chance of going to England: 0.1%

Chance of running out of dry tissues in the house: 90%

Holiday

My plane landed around 4 in the afternoon in St.Petersburg, Russia. While I have some photographs to show you, only my grandparents have internet and I doupt it's up for uploading photograhs. This also means I only have internet once a week or so.

I am taking a break and am glad to do so. While people can speak English they rarely do it unless they have to, so I am surrounded by Russians, it is 11 in the morning, and the outside tempreture is -12. The daylight hours last between 10 (in the morning) and 4 (in the afternoon). Well, when I say daylight, I mean it is somewhat lighter than at night, generally not enough light to read by the window. Accourding to my grandparents, today is the fourth day of when they could see the actual sun since the beginging of winter several months ago.

This is as far from Australia as one could get, cold, no-one speaks English and it is on the other side of the world. And I am relaxed.

A slight book review: Agatha Christie emains the Queen of Crime and 'The murder of Roger Ackroyd' proves it. I can't say a lot without giving away the plot. But if you are looking for a master peice: it is well worth reading.

*Point to the Link's section.*
Read the travel plans.
*Goes back to packing. *

Alassëa Hristomerendë! Alassëa Vinyarië!

Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukkah! Seasons Greeting! Brilliant Winter Solstice! Stunning Summer Solstice!




Alassëa Hristomerendë! Alassëa Vinyarië! С Рождеством Христовым и С Наступающим Новым Годом! Joyeux Noël! Glæd Geol and Gesælig Niw Gear! Nollaig shona duit! Beannachtaí na Nollag! Buon Natale! Fröhliche Weihnachten!





Feliz Navidad! 聖誕快樂 新年快樂! शुभ क्रिसमस! Natale Hilare! Meri Kirihimete! A Blythe Yule an a Guid Hogmanay! Nadolig llawen! สุขสันต์วันคริสต์มาส และสวัสดีปีใหม่! Gëzuar Krishtlindjet! Cestit Bozic! Честита Коледа!



聖誕節同新年快樂! Sretan Božić! Veselé Vánoce! Glædelig Jul! Prettige kerstdagen! Rõõmsaid Jõule! Καλά Χριστούγεννα! 메리 크리스마스 잘 지내고 새해 복 많이 받으세요! Среќен Божик! Христос се роди! Веселого Різдва!



Quenya, Russian, French, Old English, Irish (Gaelic), Italian, German. ***Spanish, Mandarin, Hindi, Latin, Māori, Scotish, Welsh, Thai, Albanian, Bosnian, Bulgarian.*** Cantonese, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Estonian, Greek, Korean, Macedonian, Serbian, Ukranian.

My First Australian Barbecue

One of my mums colleagues decided to hold a barbecue. We went. Not a lot of people mum knew were there. I assumed that barbecue are nicer when it is people who you know rather than mums colleagues and mums colleagues neighbours. So I kind-off sat a bit away and listened to my music, and regretted not bringing a book.

And then I met a fellow book-lover Rebecca.

And I shall write more later. It's too late now.

Appeal

An Appeal for people in the E-class.

1. As I will be a couple of days late in the beginning of year 10, I'll need someone to give me the timetable through email/blog. I'm willing to bribe in dried apricots/chocolate.
2. Emm, on average, I'd like to know the marks you got in the report, in general. Like the ratio of A/B/C. (A being end of year 10, B being middle of year 10, C being end of year 9) My one is :A=7/B=9/C=3 and I was wondering just how average that is?

Also, for those of you wanting an unconventional Christmas.

Update

Reviewed the following books: On What Ground by Cleo Coyle, Eragon by Christopher Paolini, Eldest by Christopher Paolini, Права и обязанности by Карина Пьянкова, Red Dragon by Thomas Harris, A Cage of Butterflies by Brian Caswell.

Am Planning to Review: Harry a History by Melissa Anelli, The Tales of Beedle the Bard by by J. K. Rowling, Vera by Oscar Wilde, The Importance of Being Ernest by Oscar Wilde.

Continued to update and upload the photographs.

Writting Part 2 of My Trip of a Lifetime.

Got my immunization that I missed. Ow.

Posted 25 cards.

Am taking recommendations for my holiday reading list.

So far my plans include (probably): Oscar Wilde, The reread of Harry Potter Series (maybe),The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Another Fine Myth (Myth Adventures, Book 1) by Robert Lynn Asprin, Titus Groan (Gormenghast Trilogy, 1) by Mervyn Peake, In the Lake of the Woods by Tim O'Brien, The Last Sherlock Holmes Story

by Michael Dibdin, Ratking by Michael Dibdin, Philip K Dick.

Joe, historical books wanted, needed and desired.

One Word: BLACKADDER

Photo Exchange From the Trip

Note: I can't reach the following people: Sarah C, the person with the email of: italian_ ??? _ racer, Emily M, Olivia. Please if anyone has a way of contacting them forward the email.

If you haven't received an email from me, here is how it goes. The easiest way to exchange the photograph is to put them up on the Internet and keep the links to them here. There are several sites that allow you to upload photographs:
picasaweb.google.com
flickr.com
www.deviantart.com
Are some of them (of can suggest more please do and I shall add them to this list). Unfortunately most sites require you to register, if you're dead set against it I don't mind putting up some of your photographs on my accounts.

Links:
Alex's Photographs: here, here and here (all still unfinished)
Jason's Photographs
Joe's Photographs
Eric's Photographs
Rita's Photographs
Lauren's Photographs