The Talking Traveller

I have reached the 2000 mark in my contacts. He was quite a nice fellow  called Philip Black, he works at "The Travel Bookshop" located in Notting Hill. It was also this bookstore that inspired the bookshop that featured in the movie, "Notting Hill". Unfortunately Julia Roborts didn't stumble in :(. Check it out at www.thetravelbookshop.co.uk. In these type of bookstores you are likely find somebeody strolling around, who calls himself the talking traveller :). At the stage I am going to be honest in saying that doing contacs in street by asking questions is becomming pretty boring. I have little or no fear to approach anybody and tell them my story or ask a question. No, my speech is not perfect , I do stumble, fumble, jumble and even crumble over some words in certain scenarios, but I do give it my all to cancel out those words by repeating them with good techniques I have been taught. At this stage my speech feels pretty damn strong, the danger now is to go into complacency state. I still need to practice everything, from the basic breathing to the NLP of the unconcious mind. And I know I have the support of everyone to remind me of this, this is as a fact, one of the main reasons for this trip, practise. It is very easy to lose focus while the world is zooming by (litteraly "the world") while sitting on a train or aeroplane. That is why I read my mission statement as often as I can, and maybe you should to, and remind me. Furhter along the line...I am in london at this stage, dossing at my friends place. I am searching far and wide for a job for a few weeks, and also a place to stay. It is not as easy as everybody says, I have been trying all week but I'm sure I will find something next week, or the one after, etc. I'm expecially trying to get into charity fundraising. Face-to-face contact with strangers would fit me idealy. I would be able to talk alot, earn some money, and do something worthwile. It would also challenge me alot in my speaking and people skills, it will be a great oppertunity to grow under some stress, fatique and survival as motivation. But that is not all I've kept myself busy with, I have also explored london. From the mechanical differation machines and first computers at the science museums, to the queen's swan's at Kensignton gardens and the funny red men at Buckingham Palace. I have also been in the house of Sherlock Holmes, and shook the hand of Mel Gibson at Madam Tussauds Wax Museum and watched time ticking by on Big Ben. I've visited toy mecca at Hamley's and Princess Diana's Memorial fountain at Hyde park. There is still alot to see, but watch out for photo's shortly. And thanks to superman(my brother) I recovered my photo's lost from New Zealand and Australia. Tip for travelling: Photo's will be your most valuable asset, make sure you make backups on cd's or other mediums. Make back-ups of the back-ups and send them home, I learned that in the last week.  My initail plans were to visit Ireland for the course 9-12 August and then Holland 16 - 20 August and then a course in Swindon 30 August. This might change as time progresses, I want to spend enought time in each country too see enough, and  don't wan't to rush as I did in New Zealand, anyway, one of those lessons you learn, Tip no 2 : A little planning goes a long way, and can save you money, time and frustration. 

In this following week I plan to get other accomodation, see legoland, apply for some jobs, visit London support group, visit london toastmasters and get into shakepears house. All and all, I am having a great time! I enjoy london and the huge amounts of sunlight, I enjoy all the sights and attractions, I enjoy the feeling off arriving at a tube station after being lost for a hour, and I enjoy the smile of the beautifull people  that I approach. And I enjoy "enjoying life" between those grey areas of confusion, hunger pains, sore knees and counting pounds.