June 2006 a

Mon 5 June 2006
Moved back to the Leeds apartment. Have been informed Monopoly invented in USA not England. Oh well - I tried to change it to say "land of monopoly pub crawls" but can't figure out how to get in and edit it. Sorry, it'll just have to stay like that.

Tues 6 June 2006
Hooray, Leeds has fabric shops - Jen buys a metre of wool. Steve studies CCNP/CCSP and looks up testing centres in Leeds. Decides to sit exam by end of June. Made an appointment to get 'NI' numbers - like a tax file number in Oz. Appointment set for 30th June - crazy!

Wed 7 June 2006
Steve orders a CCSP book online to help him study. Steve gets a few calls regarding job applications. Steve checks out spice stores looking for "Grains of Paradise" but no luck just yet.

Thurs 8 June 2006
We both got several phone calls and/or emails regarding our job app's. Still no interviews yet. In the evening Steve discovers that one of his all-time favourite bands (Sis of Mercy) performed in Leeds (10 min walk away) while we were here, and we've missed seeing them.... Steve not happy.

Sat 10 June 2006
Spent the weekend at home trying not to spend money. Went to the Leeds Armoury again, Steve bought "The Goodman of Paris" off the shelf - sorry Manfred he won't be buying this from you now. At the Armoury, this time "Max" was on display, Henry VIII's parade helm, see below (the spectacles were a later addition).


Wed 14 June 2006
We both had loads (!) of calls and emails, and getting our CVs forwarded on. Jen went to a specialist recruitment agency to show her portfolio. Celebrated by enjoying some Phish food (american choc icecream with choc fish plus marshmallow and caramel).


Fri 16 June 2006
Hired a car for a day, and drove to the Peaks District National Park. On the way we stopped for lunch. Check out what Steve ordered, yes that's right, beef wellington to go! Steve says it was good, but Morde won't drop Giles for it.


Drove to ilam where we saw this excellent YHA!

Above: YHA in Ilam. Below: the village of Ilam.


A few twists and turns up the road we came to the Nine Sisters (stone circle) where several campsites were being set up in preparation for the summer solstice. Drove past "The Druid's Inn".


Hey Sophie this one's for you (below)... welcome to the land of condiments!.... the pub we had dinner in offered: english mustard, french mustard, tartare sauce, mint sauce, brown sauce, malt vinegar, mayonnaise, tomato ketchup (sauce), salt, pepper. Then they asked if we wanted any other sauces!


Lastly, walked 2 minutes to the Palace Gardens - very lovely. Stayed overnight at a B&B, drove home to Leeds, Saturday morning.

We will try to publish a new blog every two weeks, or monthly at the least.