Some people want to be rocket scientists, Police men, Doctors or Lawyers. My dream job would be to work for a charity preferably in international development or health but I prety much would like to work in the voluntary sector.

Why? you get less pay but you are more valued by staff, the organisation and especially by the people who support it. There are loadsa benefits but mostly its because you know at the end of the day your helping an organisation achieve something good in the world. If I work in international development or health or volunteering projects I will definately use my degree to its potential which I really want to do.

I just gotta keep applying something will come up

9am I get a phone call 3hrs before my very first shift.

'Sorry Rachel we are going to have to cancel your shift, due to financial constraints I won't be able to employ you at all.... I feel really bad'

Really bad .... REALLY BAD I'm a 23 year old excited about a poxy part time job in a coffee shop and before i've even started I have been unhired. WHY BOTHER TAKING THE TIME TO INTERVIEW TAKING EVEN MORE OF YOUR PRECIOUS TIME AND MONEY. The real stabber in the story is I had another interview set up for yesturday, but I didn' go because I thought I knew I had this job. I couldn't ring the other establishment as there was no phone number anywhere for it...so there is no way I would be considered for that job either.

This optimisim hasn't lasted for long.

Well literally 24 hours after the CV drop I got 2 phone calls from prospective employers who wanted to interview me. YAY!!

So.... I went to the first one that afternoon and she pretty much gave me the job straight away, which is awesome. Its only part-time but its the coffee shop in the bookstore so I think it will be alrite. Just give it a bit of time because in the past i've started jobs that I thought would be fab and they've turned out to be a pile of crap... not mentioning any names F&B.

Now I can concentrate on applying for my dream job. At least I'm finding some charity fundraising jobs especially in the London area. I just gotta keep aplying and selling myself, which I have been finding pretty difficult. But at least it seems a bit better than in Febuary when I first started applying.

I was quite surprised at how positive i'm being over this whole situation. Been to the main part of Sheffield and spent a good 2 hours dropping CVs and generally selling myself to mostly retail stores. I really want to get the job of my dreams in a charity but I need a job now. Desperate times = desperate measures. I will not go back to waitressing but retail is alright.

I was mostly met with nnoooooo when asked if they had any vacancies, but that was in the more obvious places like on the high street. In the more random places like a coffeee shop in a book store or train station I got more luck. I've applied for a couple of jobs and there are a few people said there may be something coming up. I think the best approach is to go everywhere and don't give up and there are some retail jobs out there! I have a lot more hope now to finding some sort of job.

I noticed a report on the news today about a group of 18 year olds and there struggle to find work. Many criticised the jobcentre plus and their complete inability to help people with at least 2 brain cells. It reminde me of my partner and I struggle with them at the begginning of this year.

Before we could even go through the hurdles of 'signing on' we had to firstly prove that we were UK citizens because we left the country for more than three months. One of the questions was 'why did you return to the UK' ----- > maybe because I lived here for 22 years ... duh.

SO that obviously took at least another 2 weeks to decide. Then the dreaded sign on and the feeling of being the biggest loser that walked the planet. A woman in her 50's sat us down. I began to tell her my educational qualifications and when I said I had gained a 2.1 BA degree she didn't understand what I meant. She put I had a PHD which is sooo not what I have. Then in the most patronising way possible she told us to look for jobs. Well NO SHIT SHERLOCK. I asked her if the jobcentre could help me with finding a good recruiting agent suited to my skills which she replied.....'oh we don't do that'.

jobcentre plus staff don't treat people like individuals, they are not trained to cope with people already with skills and mostly talk to everyone like dirt. How is the UK supposed to lift itself out of this recession with the jobcentre plus as our first point of call as an unemployed person. It needs to be able to cope with the individual cases and move quickly about it. But where will the money come from to do that?? I vote MPS (and footballers!) give a 1/5 of there rather large salary to training and re-doing the current jobcentre plus then we may improve the unemployment rate in this country.

ok rant over :)

I was in LA on mine and Sarah's round the world trip. How quick does time fly. I remember being in a motel room in the most dodgy area of LA. Most of the people couldn't understand us, even though we both spoke english. The first couple of days were quite scary even though i'd been to LA before. The idea of several months away was so exciting but the unknown is alwys scary.

Its the best thing I have ever done traveling the world. I think you learn so much more about yourself and the world around you from it than any qualification. It was a real sense of achievement. I don't think many people feel that its a valid way to spend a bulk of your time, especially some employers. However, in my experience on the job hunt most have either commented on my traveling in a positive light or they have wanted to know more.

I do sometimes wonder whether things would be different for me if i'd started a serious job sooner. But you can never change the past. Why change something that has been such a positive thing in my life.

Completed my first ever cover letter today. Its taken me the best part of a week to write something thats about 3/4 page, bad aint it. I started out with a two page extravaganza with practically my life history all the way down to my blood type and I thought 'what a loads BS'... cut it down and put the main points from job discription. Its so much beter and the CV and cover lette combined I feel really complement each other now (FINALLY).

But I have a good feeling about this new job I'm applying for. I feel like i'm finally selling myself to my full potential. I just really hope somethiong comes of my hard work.

i've been writing my CV over the last few days and I can't believe how hard it is to sell yourself. Biggin up what you did is such a fine art. Being dyslexic also doesn't help as concise and dyslexic really don't go!

I've had so much advice from friends that basically have said to me to lie. I can't do that I wouldn't be able to pull it off. Do most people lie?? is that how most people get jobs in the UK. If they do I've got no chance.

I do have a really good set of skills and some I should really brag about. I can do it on interviews but writting na. Don't you wish sometimes you could put 'well I'm the best person for this role, giumme the job. Oh go on please. I've already applied for 120 other positions and just out of law of averages one of you have gotta gimme an interview'

I must sound like such a loser. The truth is I have had nearly 6 interviews in the last 4 months and with mostly good feedback. The only thing that seems to be drawing me back is you don't have enough experience....... WELL IF YOU GAVE ME THE JOB AND TRAINED ME THEN I WOULD HAVE THE EXPERIENCE. Its the catch twenty two.

Anyway I have re done the CV and tailored it to each job I am applying for. Lets see how that goes!

well i'm a young female and uemployed... how did I get to this point I here you cry. well... I graduated at Sheffield University in 2007 with a respectable degree ---> I decided to stay as a waitress full time at a Pizza Express restaraunt (which I hated) ---> I left 1 year later to go on the best trip of my life around the world ---> I land Febuary 2009, full of beans and ready for work............. BUT DUN DUN DEERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR.............THE RECESSION.......... So I have been through all the motions with Job seekers. They are so useless for helping people who actually have some skills. I am not claiming at the moment. I got a crappy part time job which I quit soon afte because of the bullying and manipulation. Soon after, I secured a 2 month volunteering internship with a charity SPW. I've loved the last 2 months and gutted I have to leave ---> Now I am trying to find the job of my dreams. I think it might be a rough ride...... fancy joining me?

i should really rap up whats happened in oz first before going on about the new year. Well since port maquarie we have making our way up the east coast and our travells got better and better every step of the way. We stayed in surf dude capital byron bay, where we spent far too much time on the beach and sarah got chatted up by a 44yr old man (ha ha aha ah ahah). moved onto surfers paradise (more like benidorm and vegas together) where we gayed it up. Brisie was a well deserved rest from scummy hostels as we rented our own studio (wahoo luxury). We got caught in a category 2 cyclone and a bolt of lightning struck only metres away from us. Noosa national park where we finally got away form the busy urban life and chilled out with the animals at Australia Zoo. Next was a brief stop in colourful rainbow beach. We met a couple of english lads and reminised about amazing times in New Zealand and the kindness of strangers. Town of 1770 is the most underated place in OZ with cheap tours, accomodation and beautiful scenery. We rode our own mini harleys with 40 others in this great town, what a thrill. Next was Airlie a boring town but the gateway to the whitesunday islands. On a pirate ship we sailed round too whitehaven and snorkled in some of the best coral in the world as well as drinkin a bit too much goon (boxed wine to you and me). In magnetic island we shared an A framed hut with many creepy crawlies as well as a few rainbow lorakeets. hiring a moke go cart was a real highlight. quite mission beach with a weird, ginger, bearded and homeless man in the hostel nicked our bottle of water.... how dare he! lol. Cairns our final destination where i achieved a lifelong dream of snorkling on the great barrier reef. Sarah participated for the first time and she loved every minute... apart from seeing the shark swim by.

Now we are back in Sydney with my aunty sue. we have spent approximartely 10days with her over the xams period. We have climbed the sydney harbour beach, watched the start of the sydney to hobart boat race from beautiful manly, visted bondi beach (which is a bit of a shit hole) and today we are going to the harbour to watch the fireworks tonight to bring in which will be another great year with my AMAZING girlfriend. Its sad to say goodbye to what has been a lifechanging year but it will not be difficult as years gone by as i know the next year and the ones to come can only get better for me and everyone in my life. I'm full of so much optimism and positivity something i will and must carry with me always.

Its 31c today and its so weird it being warm the last few months but it's fab. We are both ready for the summer but we are coming back jan 28th smack bang in the middle of the winter and i know we are going to go from beautiful summer to a crap english winter. ozzies are such nice people constantly smiling and asking how you are. I also thought i could never find a niation that drinks as much as we do or as early as we do. Today i've seen so many ppl in the pubs prior 10am abd they aren't all hobos or alcholics either its just very accepted here. So i have been welcome with open arms lol

Anyway I hope you all are having fun and a great NEW YEAR. I would love to here from you all facebook me ppl or mail. I knida miss you goffy lot!!

r xxxxxxxxxx

so this is a quick 20 minute update of whats being goin on

New Zealand was just amazing we both loved every minute of it. I have never felt so calm, peaceful in my whole life. We did so many great things and seen some of the most spectacular scenery, every nuk and crany is crammed with beauty. The van was amaxing our own freedom to go anywhere. Top place was Queenstown where we both will defo visit again.

But unfortunately all good things must come to an end, we finished in Christchurch being spoiled to death by Fiona a friend of my Aunts who gave us great food, wine and comforts in her lovely home. We were both sad about leaving New Zealand but anxious to meet and great OZ

As we flew into melbourne we were surprised at how big this city is. it is MASSIVE. cross between beauty of San Fran, busy New York and had its own style with Cafe on evey corner. I think we thought it was gunna be all like neighbours a small suburban paradise where everyone knows everyone ... not really. We really liked the week we spent here. We stayed above an irish pub between the city and the beach suburb St Kilda its a big gay/lesbian area which we didn't know till we got there. The hostel was old and crowded but our room was just a room and that will do. Sarah disliked it but for our bedget to strtch we have to stay in hostels now till mostly the end. We staying in double rooms which are hard to come by so we pre booking four yrs in advance.

Anyway, highlight of melbourne has gotta be neighbours night and tour! we went to some of the outdoor sets and ramsey street itself (which is soooooo small!). We met the actor who plays Max Hoyland who is so arogant and up his own arse you cannot believe. We watched the old scott and charlene wedding on the way too! at the neighbours night we met a couple of irish girls who i wish i got their e-mail addy cause so funny. one was scarred of cows and her dad was a farmer and the other of butterflies. Anyway we drank met 4 neighbours stars (connor, dr karl, max, stingray) and watched dr k band play some great brit songs which we missed so much. its been ages since we heard some of the great indie songs. one of the best nights EVA got in 1am

next day 5 am me and sarah started 12hr journey to sydney to see my aunty sue. started to go up the east coast now. Hated newcastle its coalville by the sea!!! we hated three days there not to mention the cockroach infested hostel we stayed in. now we in pretty town port maquarie koala capital. beautifil beaches which we explored on some very girlie bikes \(which were brights orange!)

gunna go 1 minute left .... at least the net is free now !!!

r xxxxxxxx

i have been here around 3 weeks now and i love this country! me and sarah have rented a campervan and we have been travelling around this beautiful country for the last two weeks. It has something to offer everyone. from adrenaline junkies I want to do a skydive but because i've had a really bad ear infection (did you know green stuff can come out of your ears too?) i havent been able too. I shall be doing one in Queenstown a little later on tho. you can fling yourself off everytging anyway possible. Only kiwis would come up with the idea of puttiong someone in a great big plastic ball fill it with water and shove you down a slope! i didn't partake in this fateful activity but i did witness quite a few people do this.

next you have your culture and the maiori past of this country. Very intresting. We have been to a few museams (most of which sarah has hated) which have contained alot about the history. Here in Wellington they have an amazing museam Te Papa massive and very interactive. We stopped on the way in the middle of the kauri forest to see this really old tree. I bet your thinking whats the big deal, but its so big you can't comprahend and its about 2000 years old.

We have been so lucky with the weather here. Its been beautiful for early spring. In Napier, a very odd place or as sarah would say 'up its own arse' on the east cost, it was 25c blazing sunshine. There we went wine tasting at five different places. I have never tasted that many wines we rolled into our campsite so pissed we got a take away and because we were in the middle of nowhere the only thing we could do was fall asleep! we went on a trip and these two americans so fucking up there own arse they didn't even want to speak to us but thats a whole other story.

Then there is the most spectactular scenery. from the bay of island and ninety mile beach in the north to the Rotoura thermal mud pools and lake taupo in the middles and wine country in the east. Me and sarah have camoped right on the beach in one place in the most gorgeous bright blue sea. We have both said that this country is so beautiful its how we have imagined fiji not new zealand.

There is so much more to say about a kiwi encounter, huka prawn park where we went prawn fishing, bathing in a mud pools and mineral pools, eating cheese until i felt sick, playing with a frisby at sunset on bailyes beach, spectaclar camping spots, russell, but i will leave you with a couple of great quotes

rachel ' how much petrol do we have left'
sarah ' emmmm..... around 2 1/2 / 5 of a tank'
rachel ' so half a tank then???????'

sarah ' why are you standing right outside the door (of our campervan)'
rachel 'well i'm not gunna stand the other side of the cliff am i'

well i've done some stupid stuff too i nearly got run over today after falling over a hump in the road. camping is so much fun and the freedom is amazing. We both are losing weight too from doing so much stuff. sarah has never looked as happy and i have never felt so happy or relaxed its great. Anyway i have to go i'm on a timed computer. someone needs to ban these things!

get in touch with me peeps i'd like to know what the summer had brought for you
R xxx

So we flew to fiji on the 25th August and we both were so excited. After a long and exhausting flight (we couldn't sleep) we caught a taxi at 6:30am to dee's homestay. This was exactly what it says on the tin someones house, but dee and her family were so amazingly friendly and welcoming. Everything was pretty basic but we had a clean comfortable bed to nap after the shit flight and when we woke up they made us breakfast and tea. Dee had just got a TV and DVD brand new and it seemed like the whole community was coming round to watch it with me and sarah! We watched around 4 films but it was really cool to get to know the family. Guess what the idea to stay here was sarah's because it was cheap and the rave reviews about dee (she had some crazy hair spiky afro!). Sarah is really getting into the swing of things and i'm so proud of her as she continually steps out of her comfort zone that she is so used too!

The next day we said goodbye to the family and went off to the airport where the mango bay resort was supposed to pick us up. we got there early but After 1 1/2 hrs of waiting for someone to turn up which way beyond the flexible 'fiji time' we called the resort that basically said 'we didn't see the point of picking just two of you up'. even tho i booked this 1 1/2 weeks prior. We decided to try and catch the local bus but when that didn't show up either we thought sod this we will get a taxi. We managed to haggle a good rate 33 GBP for 1hr 45min ride (i wish the taxi drivers at home were that generous). on the way there me and sarah just thoguth how beautiful the island looked so green with loadsa bays and beaches. makeshift rugby pitches everywhere.

We arrive at the mango bay 3miles from the main road. It is raining hard at this point. We get there and we get our room. We booked a twin shared bathroom because it was cheaper and people were raving about this place so we thought it would be of a good standard. The room was filthy dirty sheets, curtains and floors and it was so small. When we complained the owner said this wwas perfectly adequate for backpackers... erm if your a backpacker thats a pig yeah maybe. Even the dorm rooms looked cleaner nicer and had more room. we got another room for a little more a beach side bure. It was beautiful with outdoor shower and comfy double bed great for the next 9days.

Anyway after all the problems we had a great nine days there. You could so as little or as much as you wanted. I did snorkling, scuba diving, sea kayaking, a day visit to a remote island, midnight bonfires and drinking games. I got so drunk one night stayed up till 3am round the fire and stars it was so amazing. The place was gorgeous especially in the sunshine which we sae most of the time.

On the last day we hitched a lift to the next hotel to get money. The owner told us it was perfectly safe to hitch rides in fiji... erm alright. So we got in this tourist coach full of chinese tourists. They were so nice, they gave us water and asked loadsa questions. When we got out they took a picture of us it was very strange. One very random moment of the trip that has to be remembered.

I have so much more to say about fiji and the many people i met but i think it gunna be for another time. I hate these timed computers. In Aukland getting a camper tommorow to explore this beaustiful country. It so much like england its weird. We watched cora veira isn't even dead yet. anyway i will update soon !

rxxxxxx

its three days until we leave the land of the free and can say that me and sarah cannot wait. I wanted to make one last entry in this blog about general observations of american culture and its people considering we've been here a long time i think we've gotten to know it quite well

Firstly nearly every American we have met has thought we are loaded cause we are british. dude we are travelling around the world you don't have to spend a fortune to do it and we don't want to. Also cause of this whenever they mention a price for something the words after are always ' well you guys can aford that.' A classic example was this guy in Santa Monica and this guy was homeless and he asked as we went passed 'do you have a spare $100' like being dead serious not joking. i don't think anyone has got that kinda money

next a lot of them are geographically challenged which is so funny. Some didn't even know where england was let alone where sheffield is. Someone thought from our accents we were from Austrailia. next question after where we are from 'is that where/near where the beetles are from?' i think they associate england with the beetles which is strangely stereotypical. but then i spose some english wouldn't know where some major cities are in the states you know. A lot also have been to london like its the only place. Also don't even go there with explaining the difference between England, Great Britain and UK. Actually i had to explain that to Sarah so I can't say thats an American thing

I sound like i'm slagging em off they do have some great characteristics. They will talk to ANYONE. get on the bust they will strike a conversation with the bus driver and the person next to em. Had some really nice people talk to us in palm springs one gay man has offered to show us around Joshua tree national park which was great. In all places we have gone they want to talk to us which is so refreshing nice and welcoming to what i feel people in england ignore each other and go on with there lives. The British have landed in our motel here and we went to the pool where this massive family took over. Not one word toward us in 5 hours. There kids nicked our ball and siad nothing.

We have met a wide range of people from small towns to big cities. The lady in Bishop in the motel was funny. Have you ever had a coversation with someone where you know they taking the literal meaning of what your saying and you are of them and its that awkward silence. well she was talking about room rates and high taxes and she said of its really high in ... its ... and i said 'oh really your joking right' smiling and laughing and she looked straight at me no emotion and she said 'why would i be joking' and then i asked about the 4th of July which seemed a little sore spot as she got un over the year before, which wasn't what i expected. It was just plane awkward

here in palm springs we met a couple who were very into the church in fact one of the first things they asked was ' After 7/7 did everyone flock to church to pray for the souls of those who died' erm... none of the people i know immediatly did. Another comment they made is that she got the imporession that people were not as spiritual as people in the states. fair enough but i come from a different background and far as i'm aware only maybe a 3-4people i know go to church regularly as in more than easter and xmas. there must be people who do but it was so awkward i don't think they quite got the message that me and sarah are not church goers and how can they speak for a nation and how can i.

Big phrases here at the moment 'good job'. Every frickin thing is a good job. If i here the word good job again its to late. plus i am saying like all the damn time. food is obviously massive. me and sarah eat 2 meals a day brekkie and dinner/lunch and we have gained so much weight. I drink so many soft drinks i think i've permantly damaged my teeth. the food can be so good tho. We finally had a chinnese out of the box today it was sooo good.

This sounds like one big moan but we are so ready for Fiji now. We have met so many intresting people from cowboys to surfers from motel mexican workers to many gay men lol. We have seen so many sights from the grand canyon to the salt lake from disneyland to gay pride in San fran from Santa Monica beaches to Yosimitee national park. We have been so lucky and i am so greatful but i am ready to move onto the beautiful island of fiji!

rxxx

p.s. I HAVE LOST MY MOBILE PHONE, I AM REPLACING IT IN TWO MONTHS IN NEWZEALAND WITH THE SAME PHONE NUMBER. i looked at the phone at the bus stop after 5 minutes ride on the bus it was gone. some bastard nicked it even though it is completely useless

ok for all you kids at the pizza express i decided i best decode that postcard i sent just so that you can all read it. I don't have it on me so i'm gunna try n remember what i put. it aint gunna be perfect but it close.

to everyone at pizza express

its been three months since we've left and we have travelled 5,000 miles around USA. Currently around a palm springs pool in 40c heat for well deservered chill out time. We spent your gift going to disneyland where we both acted like children in a playground it was so much fun. In three days we heading to fiji to drink cocktails and party. hope that your all ok

love rachel and sarah

so i havent been able to blog as much the last three weeks been kinda busy since the last two days in Tahoe. We hired bikes on our last day and biked to the harbour through the woods. It was so relaxing and peaceful i don't know why Sarah and I didn't do it sooner! at the end though my whole body ached I AM SO UNFIT! definately in some need of exercise.

We then left to go on our mamouth road trip to the grand canyon 700-800 miles away an approximate 3 day trip as Sarah finde it hard to drive for more than 6 hours and who can blame her. We stop in another of our random towns Ridgecrest where every motel, hotel and grot hole is full becaus there is some navel army training happenning. In the morning we head out and approximately 17 miles south me and sarah crashed the car! well it happened on a 65 mile an hour road. In front was a tanker. we were approaching a rail road crossing but no lights or barriers were coming down. As we approached the tanker mover to the far right of the lane like a hard sholder and started to slow down. As sarah approaches she thinks this is weird and slows down. On the opposit side of the road a bus is slowing but this vehical had not moved over toward the right like the tanker had. At the same time the tanker and bus stopped at the crossing. Sarah thought there was a train crossing and she had nmissed something so she performs an emergency stop. The person behind our vehical then goes into the back of us. Everyone was fine I had a little whip lash and the airbags hadn't even deployed indicating the crash had happened at a low speed. It completely took our bumper off though and the other car had to be towed.

There was no train! the police officer informed us that in the USA all commercial vehicals must by law stop and look both ways at a railway crossing REGARDLESS if a train is coming. One weird law so the crash was esentially our fault but it doesn't matter within 2 hours we exchanged the car and was on our way to the grand canyon.

When we reached Flagstaff in Arizona we were both shattered but Sarah felt the tirdness more and she became ill. For 2 solid days she did not get out of bed complaining of fever and of a cough and tiredness. I on the other habd were fine apart from a stiff neck and back so muggins here had to look after her. We had to leave after those two nights because we had already booked somewhere in LA to stay so we could go to disneyland. We headed up toward the grand canyon which wasn't as close as i had thought from the motel in flagstaff and we spent all of 40 minutes in the park as we had no time. I love the grand canyon i think its spectacular, unique and something you can't imagine until you see it. I had already spent 2 days there 3 yrs ago so i wansn't to miffed and Sarahs qote was 'its just a big hole!' so it wasn't all that bad

After another long car journey we ended up in Anaheim orange county in LA. the hotel was mega near Disneyland and i have to say i was a complete synic before stating its just one great big money making merchandise machiene. OMG is disneyland so much fun. We spent 12 hours just wondering round the park like kids. Sarah loved the baby rides like dumbo and the carosel. I loved rides like the new finding nemo ride where you go in a submarine under water and they make it look like the character from finding nemo are under the sea. The fireworks in the evening were phenominal with heart and smile shape fireworks. Most of you guys no that i'm not the biggest fan of kids but seeing so many children having so much fun was great. One of the best days out we've had!

after that we drove down to San Diego with the intention of stayng there for a few days BUT because there is a opticians convention (yes i did just say opticians convention) everywhere was full or ridiculously expensive. As a comprimise we decide to go and stay in Oceanside which is smack bang in the middle of both LA and San Diego. It had a great beaches and surfing comunity like san diego but it wasn't as big. It was actually really nice there with a massive harbour and the longest pier on the west coast. We just chilled here for five days walks on the beach drinking beer in our oversized room in this motel we bartered for. We had a coupon for a cheaper room which he had none of the smaller rooms left so we kinda begged to have one of these bigger rooms for like a fraction of the price and surprisingly he said yes! Result two king beds and double fridge for us! We went to San Diego Zoo which has one of the best varieties of animals and one of the best breeding programs. but it was so hot that day with little air conditioning we both felt the heat and had to go to the motel again.

On the last day in oceanside me and sarah hired boogie boards to attempt to surf. We had them for four hours and we had so much fun falling off these boards and trying to catch waves. you know they kinda go fast especially when you accidently catch a 7ft wave like i did. After the four hours we went for something to eat and i said to sarah my legs hurt and i just thought it was because we got mega battered by the waved which were so strong. When we get back to the motel I take my three quater length trousers off and the pain i felt was awful. I look down and the top of my legs are red raw. I'm not kiding it was probably the same colour as blood! luckily i had worn a t-shirt so my torso was fine. Sarah on the other hand was red all over it was so funny. We were having so much fun boogie boarding we forgot to top up the sun screen!

1 week later from that we are both still in pain. We are now based in palm springs without a car now to save money. We chillin in the 40c heat in the heart of gay california. So nice to eat out and hang round the swimming pool its a hard not life. I am currently so annoyed with the name Micheal Phelps i think i'm gunna puch someone next time i hear his name. We met a nice ritired gay man bob (he looks like he's mid 30s but he is actually 60 something... maybe there is something in the water) who has offered to take us to Joshua Tree national park which i hope we go and do maybe he can help us find the lesbians here because it seems to be swinging one way at the minute and thats toward the gay men. We miss the english accent a bit i just heard one a minute ago and my ears priked up i just wanted to go 'yeah another brit here in the village'. i have gained quiter a lot of weight and so has sarah. Sarah is now the same size i am which is scary considering she musta bin 1 stone lighter minimum.

Anyway will defo blog again before going to fiji in one week.pictures of last few weeks may have to wait a bit til i get to a computer i can plug my camera into and upload to facebook. hope you all doing ok. give us an e-mail on what you bin up to and the summer you've been having (only seen three days of rain in 2 1/2months ... not bad!)

r xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
pigetails567@hotmail.com

p.s i finally ate a jacket potatoe on tuesday. it was so damn good mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

i just relised i'm missing some of the most vital bits of our trip for example in Vegas me and Sarah went to see a cirque de solei show ka at the MGM Grand. IT WAS AMAZINHG!!!!!!!!!!!! they had a stage that moved from horonzontal to vertical and spun around with the cast doing all sorts of tricks on it. The 'bady' of the story looked a little like an even evilar version of the child catcher from chitty chitty bang bang that freaked me out a bit. you are entertained from the moment you step into the auditorium with flames and guys on bungees doing little stunts. If anyone gets a chance to see one of these shows dont hesitate about the price or whatever go you will be entertained!

Another top moment going through Yosimitee national park . What a beautiful place. Waterfalls and some spectacular scenery like half dome and el capitan. its a shame it was on independence day weekend so it was like pizza express/tescos on a saturday so its hard to enjoy the beauty with that many people in your face.

Salt lake city me and sarah went to days 47 rodeo YYEEEHHAAAA!! no one believed it was our first rodeo! it was so much fun. they was barrell racing, barback bronco riding (the men just l;ooked like puppets ontop of this horse going mental), wrestling and tying up a calf and my favourite bull riding! got a couple of great video which i must upload onto facebook. so upbeat quick and different night. best part was that me and sarah bought the cheap tickets for the show but because it was quite that night we got front row seats and hospitality that cost 6x as much as our ticket sweet!

One of sarahs highlights was going to the candy store shop in salt lake. all the people on the tour were children so she felt right at home. lol na i didn't mean that. We were showed how thry made salt water taffy, jelly beans and chocolate covered raisains. We tasted chocolate straight off the production line yumyumyum!

Antelope island in the middle of salt lake was another beautiful place we have seen. Because it has heavy salt content some amazing wildlife live there. Wild bison, elk and coyotes live there unfortunately missed them all. i mangaed to drive on the island as it was so quite and obviously no police as it has such a small population we felt safe to do so. we went onto a beach that was like 3/4 mile to the lake. it was white as snow because of the salt in the water. As we got closer to the lake we both thought 'whats that smell...' closer and closer to the lake it got stronger of this rotting fish type smell. Suddenly we looked on the floor millions and millions flies and like two school girls we screemed and ran with arms flapping and legs kicking. turns out the only two living things that can survive in the lake brine flys and shrimp. the flys only live for 3 days and we'd come at the prime time for them hatching and flying ewwwwww. it was funny tho.

from salt lake we went to Reno. we would have liked to go to yellowstone national park but to stay within a 20-30 mile radious of the park the words FULL or $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ far too mmuch so we re-directed our route. Reno very similar to las vegas but a lot more cultural and a little prettier. its got a massive homeless problem at the minute perpetuated by the fact there is no shelter to help these people so they are living in these tents that is acting like a shelter. a country and a city as wealthy as this can't even get a building to aid these people when they need it. anyway.. Sarah and i chilled there for five days we really did not do much just going to buffets and stuffing our faces and sitting next to the pool and drinking a little to much. I think we both needed it tho. Its also another place where we could have a little luxury for not that much. i spent and lost $5 on the slots sarah spent nowt on it so it was quite a cheap few days.

We are currently in Lake Tahoe bordering Nevader and California. it is so quite and beautiful here. the lake is emerald blue and crystal clear. onto another highlight we both just watched the sun go down on the lake it was so beautiful and stunning. calm and still. we here for sarahs birthday on sunday as she had the choice of here or sacremento and this is definately the better option.

OMG this is a long blog. just thought i missed out on all the amazing stuff here!

rxxxxxx

right i know its been ages since i blogged properly but the library internet access time is limited in most libraries and most of that time is dedicated to finding accomodation and information on our next destination. Now we in Salt lake city and we finally got a hotel room that managed to give free internet access which is again limited but the guy before me spent 2 hours on this thing so i feel i should over do it a bit and do a really big blog!

San Francisco was so much fun. Went primarily for gay pride which was bigger than my wildest dreams. it was a lot of fun. masses of people and it wass very impowering. pink party at night was 4 blocks long just full of people but was a bit poorly planned had to wait in line for 30 minutes for 1 beer. the actual parade 200+ floats which i will put a selct few on facebook then another big party (didn't have to wait as long for beer this time). We danced with all the gays at a couple of the 18 stages. The atmosphere was electric. The state of California has literally just got gay marriage so it was a real celebration.

The rest of the time we acted like proper tourists walking golden gate, visiting pier 39 and alctraz. There is so much culture in San Fran with china town, north beach (similar to little italy) and Castro gay area. On our last night we saw Matt Lucas in Castro Sarah finally seen a famous person. We said hi but didn't get an autograph as we were in a rush. 'he aint the only gay in the village' ha ha ha.

next stop VEGAS. what can i say about this town tatatatatataatatatatatatatatatatatatatatatatata tat and 40c + nearly every day. its like being blown with hot hair dryer all the time. but it was still alot of fun anyways. we didn't win the jackpot we went on the 1c machines (worth less than 1p) we got nothing back. we saw all the free shows we could muster treasure island pirate stunts, lions in the MGM, Bellagio fountains and circus acts at circus circus. last top nights we decided to have a bit of luxury at the sahara hotel. Motel rooms and grotty guest hhouses getting on our tits a little bit. need of bit of comfort. vegas is very in your face and all about spend spend spend. Great if you have money not if you don't. but we had fun as tax is small so beer was cheap 99c in some places for a pint (50p). food was cheap too mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

Next to salt lake city. Mega freindly town anyopne will talk to you which is fab. not an awful lot here in summer as this is pretty much a sking place in winter. Mormans are everywhere we do feel like we are going to burn in hell in some places of the city. However the 47 day rodeo is here so we going to that tommorrow and a tour round a traditional candy shop.

gotta go in five so updates on me and sarah. We getting on each others tits a little. close proximity and little breaks are not great but we trying to get a bit space every now and again. All americans love our accents and think just because we are English we are stupidly rich NA HA. I have cravings every once in a while for english things like curry and jacket potatoe. We found a place here called curry in a hurry which is great. i've craved curry soooo much. It werent all that but you know curry is curry. me and sarah have stopped in about 4 small towns on the way and they are intimidating but very quaint. By the way everyone must stay in the farewell motel in Bristol, California. She gave me discoiunt if i gave a shout out (thats a whole other story one i must tell another time)

anyway gotta go hope your all ok and will send personal mail soon its just i have such little time on this as it is.

Rxx

p.s. send me a Jacket Potatoe!!!!

so we are in San Francisco... finally. Gay pride this weekend was so ace. millions of gays to watch the parade and its safe to say that in San Fran anything and i mean anything goes. I think we've seen at least 6 fully naked people we have been here! There were so many colours and a great atmosphere it was great.

anyway there is so much more to say but i only got 10 minutes! we are on a\our way to vegas on thursday and what happens in vegas stays there ;) will post soon more detail of our random trip to San Fran

Rxx