sam.gardiner.id.au » travel

In Edinburgh love

sam — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 23:47:54 +0000

I’ve just spent the last five weeks with the girl I love, in my favourite city in the world. Bliss.

We did lots of the usual couple things we’ve been unable to do for the ten months since I moved to Brisbane: dates, movies, falling over in the snow. We’ve built snowmen, cooked meals together and gone hiking. We even made it to London for a long weekend in the big city:

Britain isn’t getting any warmer. I left Edinburgh at five in the morning, trudging through half a foot of snow and -10Â°C temperatures. Thirty-eight hours later (via Dublin, Abu Dhabi and Singapore) I emerged into a balmy 30Â°C Brisbane morning, still wearing thermals and a coat. Oops.

I’ll miss the snowmen:

(and the snow in general, I guess),

I’ll miss my beautiful city:

But most of all, I’ll miss my Hannah:

Five weeks and counting ’til she’s home.

Two days in Dublin

sam — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 09:36:33 +0000

I’ve learned my lesson about leaving cover without an umbrella. The Irish rain takes no prisoners.

Dublin’s a friendly city. Strangers have been wishing me a good morning – although I’m not sure whether this is due to the innate hospitality of Dubliners or simply because I smile them down until they say something.

Apart from some strike action that rendered most of the city closed yesterday, I’ve been having a great time. I follow my usual tourist tactic: rambling through inner-city streets until something catches my eye or I get hungry. Despite my best efforts, I’ve yet to get completely lost. Highlights so far are the Caravaggio room in the national gallery, swans at Stephen’s Green, and a pint of Guinness at the top of the Guinness brewery.

Catching the train to Galway in about an hour.

A beginning

sam — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:06:59 +0000

First, a quick catch-up from where I left off: I’ve been home, in Brisbane, for nigh on ten months. I’ve completed a year of a nursing degree without killing anyone â€“ and promisingly, I’m convinced that I’m doing the right thing, and that I’ll actually stick around long enough to graduate, this time.

Along with study, I’ve spent the year making new friends, taking photographs and mastering the art of wok-cooking.

My aims for this blog are several-fold:

I want to journal the experience of being a student nurse in Queensland’s healthcare system, although as my name is featured in large type rather prominently on every page of the blog, I’ll be trying to avoid making comments that’ll get me sued/fired/stalked.
A showcase for my photography. I occasionally produce work I’m happy with. You’ll see it here.
Recipes. I’m working on a book, and many of my recipes and associated photographs will be proofed here.
Writing. I remember a time when I actually enjoyed producing prose and poetry. This was probably before I was required to APA reference every statement I make.

I leave for Dublin in two days time.Â The night before I fly, I’m hosting a steamboat dinner-party for friends I haven’t seen in weeks, thanks to my exams and hospital practicum. I’ll reach Dublin on Monday morning, and after a little under a week exploring Ireland I’ll cross the sea to Edinburgh, for a long-awaited reunion with my beautiful girlfriend, Hannah.

Can’t wait. I’ll keep you posted.