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London, February 2007 update (Waitangi Day pub crawl)

London, February 2007 update (Waitangi Day pub crawl) |

Mid December 2006 – mid February 2007

Highlights of the last couple of months are dominated by my trips to Belgium, Ireland, and Normandy – each detailed under separate cover. There was a little excitement, however, waking up to snow twice recently – a whole 2.5cm in the first instalment and a huge 5cm in the most recent. Having said that, the winter has been very very mild – the warmest January since 1916, and some December night temperatures warmer than those in summer!

The highlight of London life over this period was undoubtedly the Waitangi Day pub crawl. After a champagne breakfast at Piers’ we met the pub crawl at Gloucester Road to drink our way towards Westminster. Although the Circle Line was periodically closed throughout the day, this year we were fortunate to tube to the respective stops – the crowding (no different to a morning commute), singing, crowd-surfing and all. Last year it was estimated 8,000 Kiwi’s took part. This year was much bigger with some reports suggesting 10,000 participants. This did, however, affect the Westminster haka which unfortunately seemed to merge indistinguishably into the crowd. It was a long but fulfilling day catching up with old friends, for once, unashamedly ending at the Covent Garden Walkabout.

Extending my English life outside of London, a few of us managed to spend a beautiful day at Leeds Castle (in Kent) exploring the castle, getting lost in a maze, and checking out the birds. Purely by coincidence, the following week I managed to see some of Leeds itself on brief overnight business trip.

Locations Visited: London, Maidstone, London, Leeds, London


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