Travelog for: Edelweiss

Helloo mum!

Every saturday now, a private tutor comes to teach my host statistics (because she really fails at understanding anything to do with numbers!). Anyway, that is rather dull, but the room where she is tutored is really pretty, so last Saturday we took some photos. It is in the building where my host lives, but all sorts of people book it. Today we couldn't go in as there was a wedding!

We had a bit of a chuckle about the bum on the wall My host said it was artistic but we just thought it was funny!

I'm not sure if TVs are allowed to take photos of the room... but we didn't touch anything! I liked the plates and glasses all neatly arranged, and the sunlight was beaming in through the windows.

Just a heads up: After these pictures were taken my host was very stupid and broke her camera! However we are hoping to get a replacement by the end of the week.

PARTY TIME!!!

*Disclaimer: All amazing decorations were designed and created by the corridor below, not my host!*

We got an exclusive preview before the guests started arriving, to avoid getting crushed or damaged by alcohol

We first entered Willy Wonka's corridor of sweets, and I tried to grab a lolly pop. There was also a Pinata who we wanted to make friends with, but we decided not to talk it because otherwise we would be too sad that it got smashed later. My host felt quite traumatized to watch this happen

The games room was next, with the notorious Jenga blocks which had dares on

JUNGLE! This room was awesome, although not so fun to clean up the next morning (my host went to help with the clean-up as the party creators had put so much effort in).

There was also a Halloween room but sadly the owner of the room hadn't opened it to tourists yet and may not have been too pleased with TVs banging on the door My host said it was pretty cool with lots of cobwebs, spiders, a pumpkin and apple bobbing as punishment for those who had not arrived in fancy dress! (The dress code was tribal)

P.s. Sorry that I am a bit white on some of these pictures, my host isn't great at using her camera so it's a bit hit and miss as to whether the flash makes me pale or not!

Last weekend we were left alone for a few days as my host went back to visit home. She returned with an exciting surprise... Owly! He is a present/prize from klubwerks, but he doesn't have his own travelog yet so he wanted to get his face in mine He arrived bearing gifts of two postcards from some important people... one was from LittleCableCars, and the other was from you! To see all the signatures from the postcrossing meetup was amazing mum. Thankyou

Tonight we are going to a light festival called 'Lumiere'!

We have noticed in the forums that many hosts are making TVs winter clothes. Well, my host really needs to learn how to knit over Christmas! For now though she cheated I don't know if this happens in other countries, but when it gets cold in England, Innocent Smoothie drinks start wearing woolly hats! They are knitted by generous volunteers in order to raise money for Age UK. My host has just looked up the website and people from all over the world can send them in before the 14th of October every year >

www.innocentdrinks.co.uk

Aanyway, back to us! What normal people do with these hats they receive on their smoothies, we don't know. Because obviously the only real use for them afterwards, is for TVs! My host bought it in mind for me, as it is purple and pretty like myself But when Sienna tried it on my head it was too big! I was kind and thought Pinky Bear might like to wear it instead It was perfect for our night out in the cold... or it would have been if we hadn't forgotten it! Maybe it was because Sienna was messing around with the hat before we left 

We set out to this festival of light! (Photos to follow shortly)

As we neared the town centre we noticed that the roads had been closed in preparation for the crowds, and we got our first glimpse of the giant snow globe. It is a bit hard to see in that light, but the statue of a man on a horse is in the centre of the globe!

We then moved on towards the Cathedral, and it was a one-way system with masses of people moving in what felt like a procession. The Cathedral was lit up for 12 minutes with a projections of illustrated pages from the Lindisfarne Gospels. The pictures don't show it too well, but it was the best we could do. Behind me on the other side was the castle but it was basically pitch black with the flash, so all you can see are the light sabers some kids are holding! 

After the cathedral we went down the cobbled streets along The Bailey and looked up at the bright figures floating above us. We went across Prebends Bridge, which was lit up with rainbow colours, which I have shown in a picture without me on to try to show it clearer.

From Elvet Bridge we could view the 'Splash' illuminated waterfall on Kingsgate bridge. It very nearly looked like a real waterfall, except it was slightly wonky kindov giving away the illusion a bit  Our picture does't reflect what we could see, but again, we attempted

Next we came across what was called the 'Wish Comet'. We're not sure if this was meant to be positive or not, because we could hear what sounded like positive words projected in a very creepy, depressing way.

Finally, we saw a rather unimaginative piece of light work saying 'Everything will be alright'. The message sounded reassuring though, so we took a pic

The last photo again is a bit blurry, but I am standing on another bridge which shows the view across the city (It hardly feels like a city as it is really the size of a small town!)

Apologies for not updating in over a month! :O Here is the update my host forgot to let me post!

On Sunday we went for a walk to see what the Snow Globe looked like in the daytime. I also visited the hatted smoothies, although there weren't many left! Pinky Bear's is so the best Ooh, and I saw the Streets beginning to be prepared for Christmas, although the big Christmas tree hadn't gone up yet.

It was extremely foggy, but the atmosphere felt mysterious and fun

You may be wondering why there are more light pictures! The first time my host didn't realise there were amazing lights actually inside the cathedral, so we went again

We saw bright colours on the side of a restaurant saying 'Fusion is Rubbish', whatever that means, all this 'modern art'... As we passed the globe the snow stopped!  We peered in at the man shovelling away inside, which was quite funny to watch. Then we saw what we thought was just some lights shoved into a bin. We felt a bit bad taking a picture of that rather than the proper displays... then we looked in the programme and realised that the bin lights WERE a proper display! Oops 

We had to watch the Cathedral lights again while queuing up to go inside. There were loads of lanterns hanging up, and candles to make it atmospheric  Then we went into the cloisters area where *cough cough* some parts of Harry Potter were filmed There was so much fire all was needed was some hooded people with wands running around, to make it look like a HP battle scene! And there were even more fire displays in the gardens.

My host took 235 photos altogether on these nights, she gets a bit obsessive

Back to the present: Merry Christmas eve eve eve Mum! We found the card from you in the post today which was so nice

The attempt at snow here is lame... but I thought I'd show you it anyway We got all excited about the snowflakes, but by the time we had got the camera out they had stopped and this is all that remained It looks like a bit of white sherbet has been sprinkled across. Maybe this area could get a prize for having the most appalling amount of snow We did however find amusement in the fact that there were ghost versions of ourselves in the glass! Can you see me? I'm not as clear as the other two, but I am there!

A few days later, there was a joint arrival! Chrissy the rat and Tapsi the lion. They brought sweets! We are happy to have some new company for Christmas. Tapsi and I are the same size, so I think we will be good friends He has amazing hair.

I went to The Trafford Centre again mum! Do you recognise it? It is all pretty and Christmassy now I have tried not to repeat many pictures from last time, but there was still lots to see. I am going to have to split this into a few updates in order to have a rest between uploading the photos, so more will come another day.

Guess who was flying across the sky in The Orient?! Santa himself!  And his reindeer of course.

We wanted to look at the building from the outside in the dark, but only Chrissy had time to peek before the rain came down heavy. I have included her pictures so you can see.

We found the birth of Jesus! The stable looked a bit hidden and out of place against all of the extravagant decorations, but I guess a stable isn't very classy is it? Maybe they could have made it bigger though... it looked like it had been thrown in as an after-thought! Where has the true meaning of Christmas gone, we ask?

These are the rest of the photos from our trip to the shopping centre.

I found a small waterfall We thought there must be a big Christmas tree somewhere, and sure enough, we found it! Only it wasn't any old tree, it was a singing tree! The branches at the bottom moved, as a mouth, but you can't really see that on the photo.

We then discovered China Town, then went back to another area where something funny happened. Chrissy rat was posing for a picture on the statue of a music band, when this little boy pointed to her and said 'can I have that mouse mum?!' Well, she looked really scared of being taken away but it was all okay. We thought it was hilarious, especially her indignity at being mistaken for a mouse!  She saw the funny side afterwards.

Next we went to look at where the cinema is. We went back through the Orient then up some steps to get there.

Thanks for the Christmas card mum! (Not sure if I or my host has already said this... we're both going a bit insane with all the christmas chaos )

Tree decorating! (The camera battery went flat so we used a different camera in the middle until the battery charged and now the pictures are in different folders... bear with us while we get the order right )

I have included the pictures of us admiring your card mum, it was very pretty with all the animals on. And also a red card from RikeHH

CHRISTMAS DAY!

We got a few more pictures of our host's tree now it was day time, then went to see the real tree downstairs. My hosts family bought it for 50p a few days before Christmas Can you spot me? The picture is a bit blurry for some reason.

For Christmas my host got a brain! It is meant to help her learn the different parts for her studies, but we just found it fun to play with

Then we all got a surprise... A new TV! And he looked liked the brother of Pengy, aww

There was another present for my host, which seemed strange; Dawn of the Bunny Suicides! She said it is meant to be humorous to humans, but we didn't look inside as judging by the cover we felt it might be a bit disturbing!

After the present-opening we took a few pictures of the decorations, then went to watch 'The Muppets Christmas Carol'. Kermit the frog was starring in it, so we heard it was very good.

A few days after Christmas we went to the 'Lowry Outlet Mall' in Manchester, which we were glad still had Christmas decorations up This is next to the Lowry Theatre and arts gallery (the last picture) and Salford Quays (on the banks of Manchester Ship Canal).  The Lowry is named after the artist Laurence Lowry, known for his drawings of Manchester and 'match-stick' people.

This area has been labelled 'Media City UK' as some of the BBC television studios are here (we think the rest are in London), and in another part of the city there are ITV Granada television studios where my host's favourite Soap 'Coronation Street' is filmed. However it isn't too interesting to see as you aren't allowed to visit the actual television set where the street is any more

The strange looking building in the background of the photo with the seagulls is The Imperial War Museum.

Hi mum, I have not forgotten you! And I am still well looked after There was a slight scare just before my host came back to uni as I'd escaped from the bag to hide behind the cupboard; the fright on my host's face when she did a head count and realised I was missing was so funny We thought that was an amusing trick. I am sorry there are so many photos now that they are going to be uploaded without proper stories, but my host want's to get them all on here finally so that we are up to date (and my birthday ones are coming soon!)

So... starting with just after Christmas!

Percy Pig came to stay We had lots of fun with the crackers and talking to santa clause Do you like our hats?!

Many months ago we went for this walk. On the 9th picture I am standing next to some buildings; the building at the back of the picture next to the cars is the halls where my host lives. I think I have taken pictures of some of these grounds before, but it was such a pretty frosty day that I wanted to take some more. We went up the steep hill round the back and found a church. Then we walked back through the college grounds down to the river, in the direction of my host's lectures.

On this day of course, it was my birthday! My host apologises sincerely for not having the time to let me use the computer to update these pictures until now, but rest assured I had a very good time

In the morning we went for a walk around my host's home village. We wanted to go on the swings but it was such good weather there was too many children in the park This is abnormal; the village is usually very quiet, and there are many old people who live here. We visited the bowling green instead, then looked across some fields.

In the evening all the other TVs were acting very secretive. They then disappeared After a while I was allowed into the dining room, and there... was a perfect Edelweiss birthday cake! It had my trademark flower on They all erupted into song, and my host's family wondered what all the noise was about I was so happy to be able to blow out my very own candle, how exciting  I felt very important. I cut it up carefully so that everyone could have some, so then we had a tea and cake party, just without the tea