Andrews European Adventure - Part the twelthehffhethtehfh (12th) & thirteenth...

12. "Return to Sender..."

Well then, leaving Prague. Going to Berlin. Thats another Epic train journey for you. The girls are sleeping (pansies) and I am just watching the world go by...

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Yesterday, a scary thing happened. I wore make up. Yeah. Honest. Really. I looked like Alice Cooper. Not even joking. I'm glad everyone else found it funny. I was too busy being terrified of looking permanently like Alice Cooper to care.

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So anyway, I'm reaching the end of this trip soon. My European Adventure is ending soon. And I'm gutted. It has been brilliant. I've met people I will never forget. I've seen things that will stay with me til I die (Jenny without make-up on for example) I've been married, cheated on, divorced and flirting. I've discovered that £200 will just last you two weeks. Just. No spare at all. I've learned to appreciate the countryside with all my hiking/train journeys/camps. I've realised I'm ok at French, no German and no Czech. And I am still understood in every country by speaking English... I've realised that I can survive away from my phone for two weeks but most of all, I have learned that I can leave home. As I'm about to move out, this is extremely important to me.

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For anybody of my age group wanting to go away, I highly and with all of my self recommend it. Take good friends. Brace yourself for a fall out, but all will be fine in the end. Just go for it. We're on;y young once you know...

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Now at the Youth Hostel and everything seems to be going to hell in a paper boat. Some people have just been informed they still have £300 to pay for the trip. Well, I have a more immediate problem. After deducting travel costs and storage costs from my meagre ammount of money I have -€4. If you know the basics of Integers in maths, you will probably have realised the - sign is a very bad thing. Not good. And unlike other members of the group who have been compaining about running out of money, I don't have a debit card with me. So I have no emergency fund, no back up. Put bluntly, I'm fcuked. Three days left and I won't be eating. Fan-bloody-tastic. Also, no juice. So it'll just be tap water. Should be fun, huh?

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Well, bed now, sleeping and breathings still free isn't it?

13. "Unlucky for some"

Well, I am in Berlin now. Woo. Have passed Russian, Brittish, Spanish, Greek, Canadian and American embassies. Have seen the Brandenburg gate. Have bought lunch (& tea) for about €2.80. Have waited 10 minutes and 34 seconds for girls to come out of H&Ms

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Now, our train tonight is a late train. At about half past midnight. The time is ten to four. I am sitting in the train station waiting for the train. I could be waiting a while...

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7 o clock. Still waiting. Had tea (Choco biscuits) Have €10 left. Woooo....

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1.30 - train arrived 40 minutes late. Got on train to find that the cabins we booked do not exist. Actually, the whole carriage they would have been on do not exist. Have found seat in main section though. Strange woman staring at me. I think I'll wait a while before sleeping...

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6.30 - Got of at Koln. Had apple turnover for brekkies. Waiting on next train at 8.45. And is probably late. And boiling. And smelly. And full. Or maybe it just doesn't exist. You can never tell with these Belgian trains.

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Peace out bubs.

Andrew out.

Andrews European Adventure - Part the eleventh (and guest blogs)

"Czech me out..."

Well, Prague. Hmm, I don't seem to have done much here. At all. I got up. I had breakfast. I went to a laundrette. I put the first of this series up on this site. I slept. I had tea. It's been very interesting. *YAWN!!!*
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Anyway, one note of interest. It's hot... again. Way too hot. I don't like heat. I'm scottish. It's not nat-choo-ral for me to be in heat. (Though I am hot... *Rolls eyes*
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Due to my lack of information in this entry, I asked my fellow adventurees if they wanted to write something. Here is what was said...

Catriona...

Lets just straighten a few things up first. Me and Andrew were never married, there is a difference between fruit cake and cake with fruit in it and my pea on a fork impression is hilarious. I also hate ninjas, especially Dene - taking photos of me is not funny!
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I miss Bavaria =(, seriously some of the greatest folks I've ever met!
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And Andrew has just learnt the very important lesson of believing Catriona when she says not to do something...

(Andrews Take on things...
Well, me and Cat got divorced, so I can understand why she doesn't want to see me as her ex-husband [it was a bit messy] To me, a fruit cake is a cake with fruit in it. And a cake with fruit in it is a fruit cake. As for the pea on a fork impression... Yeah. Whatever floats your boat Cat.
Dene is a ninja... don't hate him for his skills, he's just very, very quiet.
I think everyone misses Bavaria.
And yeah, I will do what Catriona tells me. But she did hang her underwear up in the shower...)

Jenny-

Well, this trip has been very challenging for me, not trying to eat chocolate for a day kinda challenge but hiking for 13 hours challenge and trying to squeeze into a metro with a rucksack challenge.
The highlights if this trip have been entertaining, funny and unbelievable.
Meeting the German scout group was ACE and trying the smoking machine thingy and the wicked beers. That was the best highlight.
Others, meeting Irish and Americans and the fantastic dog named Dooshner, he made me happy on that day.
All I can say is that this trip has been tearful, joyful, annoying and unforgetable.
However I will be glad when we are back in Scotland, I will kiss the ground... (Thank God)

(Andrews take on things...
Yes, this trip has been very challenging for all of us. We all got bit by mosquitoes (or their larger cousins) Most of us had blisters and none of us particularly enjoyed the hike at the time.
The highlights are all of those things... Honest.
Yup, told you so. She misses Bavaria too...
And I'm glad that a dog made you happy... How is not for me to know. *Rolls eyes*
And yes, she did kiss the ground...)

Daniel-

YOU ARE ALL ON MY LIST!!

(Andrews take on things...

Indeedy)

Dene-



(Andrews take on things...

Told you he was a ninja...)

Nik refrained from writing something and Jack hasn't got back to me. If either of them ever want their guest spot just let me know and I'll slip it into a future post.

Peace out bubs.
Andrew out.

Andrews European Adventure - Part the tenth...

Well, I'm leaving Bavaria behind and heading for the Czech Republic. Praha, here I come. After 5 hours on this train... Hmm, fun times ahead. So what have I resorted to to keep my sanity? My MP4. (Thanks to Jack for providing the means to charge the bad boy up) So far I've listened to the JCB song, Bittersweet Symphony, Wonderboy, Slipknot, and a four person version of "Everywhere I go" by Hollywood Undead. (Dene beasted that can I tell you) Anyway, yeah. Much fun.
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However, I have reached a conclusion about other matters. I have a problem. Euros. They're almost all gone. I think I have €20 left to last me three days. I have about 800 Korona for Prague, so hopefully anything left can become euroish shaped. I like that plan. Fingers crossed.
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Well, I'm in Prague now. And it's quite, umm, old. Lots of gargoyles and gothic architecture. Yeah. My kind of place... *Rolls eyes* However a massive meal for three cost €25. Which is awesome. Finally, cheap food. Hooray!
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For some reason, some memebers of the group think that it is funny that I liked a girl. When they read this, I hope they can let me know whats so funny about it. Thanks. I knew and accepted that nothing would happen. I don't like distance remember... Big deal. Andrew's moved on (again). So anyway, please let me know what was funny. Cause you were all really annoying.
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Peace out bubs.
Andrew out.

Andrews European Adventure - Part the eighth (and ninth)...

8. "An Inidentical twin."

Well, Spain won. Germany lost. Therefore this morning I am wearing a temporary tattoo of a German flag on my left cheek. It's kinda my punishment for cheering when Spain scored. Woops...

Our local guide, hero, translator and general fantastic person, Feli, has helped us ever since we got here. Teaching me (very) basic German, teaching us a violent card game which will forever be known as "Asshole - an Andrew hitting game." Yeah, my reactions were bad. So now my left hand hurts. A lot. Not so fun.

While walking round Ingolstadt, I noticed how boring Kirkcaldy is. Very boring. I actually have fallen in love with this place, and in a wider sense, Bavaria. I want to move here now. Or at least take a fair sized chunk of Ingolstadt back with me. Oh well, I doubt I'll get that through customs. Makes me sad.

Went to a church, which was awesome. Had a moving "frescoe" (?) on the ceiling. And it was 3D. Whoa... Toured the Audi factory, which was also awesome, though it did take a while. Went shopping... Not so awesome but all is well.

Was thinking about swimming, but I think that the sight of my "sexy body" may kill untold numbers of Bavarians. So I'll leave the showing off to the girls. They can show off if they want.

Well, the evening. It was unlike any scout meeting I've ever been to. We had "bier... zer fille bier." We had "Coco Loco" and her general, umm, antics. We had bugs. And we had good times. Which I'm not likely to forget. Ever.

9. "Near Germany"

Today, Munchën. Went on a tour of Munich. Was very interesting... apparently. I was too busy looking at other things nearby. And we'll leave it at that thank you very much.

Nik seems to have an admirer. She a teensy bit, umm, crazy. It's funny to watch because Nik is very scared. Watch your back Nik...

Anyway, we had to say bye to Feli, which was sad. She can't come to the festival tonight with us. *sad face* Silly work...

Well, in the evening, we (minus Feli) went to the festival. I drank one bier with my friends, but I can't remember what I was doing when I was alone. Cause one beer shouldn't have affected me the way it did. Probably the fact that all I've eaten in the last 24 hours is two rolls... Either that or I'm a much bigger lightweight than I thought. And I know thats not it.

I'm beginning to like beer. This Bavarian stuff is good. :)

Peace out bubs.

Andrew out.

This ones for an ex.

Right then, one last post before going back to the mind numbing task of typing up my diary. Now, what can I write about. Well, due to a suggestion, I have to make this a happy blog. About bunny rabbits and rainbows and stuff like that.

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oh-kay... then. *rolls eyes*

Well, here goes. Bunny rabbits. They are cute.

Yes, I know how much I detest that word, but they are. Like it or not. Also, like it or not. They are vermin. Bet you didn't know that. So, yeah, anyway, you're nice friendly bunny wunny is just about the same as a rat. If you look at it from a certain angle. Anywa....

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No Andrew, Positive. Be happy. And Positive. Lets try again shall we...

Heres a nice picture...

Oh, ok. Be positive Andrew. It's easy.

Right, lets move on. The whole pancake thing has just made me really hungry for rabbit. And there isn't any in the house. Apparently, if you ate only rabbit, you would die. God bless Steven Fry and QI. *sniff*

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Rainbows. They can be quite pretty can't they. Theres nothing I can say about rainbows that is in any way bad, sad or miserablising (yes, that is a word...) In fact, it's time for Andrew to try and be inspirational. *Groan from everyone* Yeah, lets do this 'thang'...

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Right, rainbows. Well, they are pretty. And I would possibly put them up there with lightning as most beautiful weather stuff. Now, Like lightning, rainbows can only come out when it is raining. Now, rain isn't pretty. Don't get me wrong, it is useful, but not pretty or good at stirring the feelings. In fact I'd go so far as saying it's depressing. Especially in Scotland. So, in the depths of our depression, there can be a thing of beauty. So, basically, put into a nutshell and explained in one sentence. "You don't get a rainbow without the rain."

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What? Someone's already made that into a saying... Oh for Fu...

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No, be positive Andrew. She asked you very nicely. So you'll be positive today. You'll make people smile. Right.

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Unfortunately for me, my main way of making people smile is ranting. Oh well, here goes...

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Right, you'll all be happy. Right now. Really. Do it. You know you want to. Whats that? You don't want to be happy? Well, thats complete and utter nonsense. Being happy is about being alive. Later in life, I want to remember the positives, like good times with girlfriends, happy times with friends and family. I do not want to remember all the rejections and put-downs. I do not want to remember all the arguments and fights. I do not want to remember myself as a sarcastic, dirty minded, rude, arrogant git, however much that does describe me. I want to remember myself as dashing and happy, kind and generous, umm, innocent and not-sarcastic and gorgeous... Ok, I'm not going to remeber myself as being that but I want to remember the good me. I'm definately not going to be remembered as being that by all you lot out there who read this. I'm going to be remembered as "the quiet one, who let life pass him by...", "the geek who liked his things more than his friends", "the sad, sad person who could only communicate through a blog because he struggles to look people in the eyes?"

Hmm, I don't like that. I don't want to let life just pass me. I don't want things. I don't want this blog to be my only method of communication.

I want to take life for a ride, get involved in a head on collision with a lorry and then end up in hospital in the next bed to life saying, "well, it was fun while it lasted, wasn't it?" I want to be less of a geek that has friends who don't need to be encouraged to talk to me. I want to be able to talk to people and look them in the eyes when I do so. Does that seem like a better way to you? Cause it does to me.

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What makes you happy?

Is it reading this? No, it's not. It's seeing how what I think compares to what you think.

Is it being inside looking at a screen? No, it's not. It's communicating with people through whatever means you can.

Is it seeing a person you like? No, it's not. It's being with people that mean the world to you.

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Believe it or not, but I just wrote that entire post for someone, who a few months ago, I would quite happily never hear from or see again. Well, it just goes to show. Either I'm a forgiving fool, which I don't think I am. Or I just can't be angry at people. I hope it's the latter. I don't like being angry. It makes me more enemies than friends.

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Anyway people. Remember if theres someone you said "I never want to see or hear from them again..."

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Never is a long time.

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Don't be angry. It's a useless emotion which only triggers the same response in others.

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"Don't worry. Be Happy"

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What, someone got that first too? Oh, I really hat...

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Well, I've tried to be positive. I really have. I hope either, A) You are happy, B) You will make someone happy in the near future, C) You're not angry at someone anymore or D) You'll tell me you liked this. (Remember there are tick boxes at the bottom to tell me what you think...)

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Peace out bubs.

Andrew out.

Ok, a break from Europe.

Well, I'm getting a bit fed up of just typing up my "Diary of events" from my European Expedition. So, I'm just going to have a break. Where I blog about whatever interesting topics pop into my head. So here goes.

Firstly, hello all. It's been a while since I have blogged about the now, rather than two/three weeks ago, so this makes a nice change. I hope that everyone is enjoying their holidays. However, I know many people aren't. Whether it's they can't get a job, they're bored or personal reasons, these holidays seem to have grabbed life by the ball sack and given it a good squeeze. Well, cheer up. It could be worse. You could be dead. Whats that? It can't get worse, well, look on the bright side. Things can only get better. See, be cautiously optimistic. It's fun.

Well, I'm not cautiously optimistic. I'm optimistically pesimistic. Why? Because I'm never let down and I'm always pleasantly surprised. It makes life happy this way. If you always prepare for the worst but hope for the best then you'll feel let down when everything goes in the crapper. I prepare for the worst, expect the worst and I am perfectly ready for life to kick me when I'm down. So when that doesn't happen, I am pleasantly surprised. If it does happen, I am prepared for it. See, makes sense.

Secondly, I passed my driving test. This is just to let anyone that reads this but not my facebook know. I do believe that my fan base has decreased, but due to the fact I have absolutely no bloody idea who reads this, that could be anywhere between one reader and fifty. So I'll keep my fingers crossed. Anyway, yeah. I can drive. By myself. Yay! Now this is where things go downhill. In a zafira. Oh. And it's my Dads. Oh. And I doubt he'll let me drive it alone. Oh. So now that I have entered that stage in life where I need as much money as a job at a pie stand can bring me, and I need/want a car. Oh dear. So if anybody wishes to donate any money to this, ummm, "Save the dying children in Africa of 'Stickittothemanitis'" Please donate what you can to me. I shall be sure to pass it on. Honest.

Thirdly, Party. Well, if you've been invited to it by my friend Scott, you know what I'm talking about. This is a message from me and him, as we planned the damn thing. If you aren't dying, come. Simple. If you are dying, a simple note from your GP will excuse you. Please present the note to either me or Scott and we shall excuse you but suggest you go to one last party...

Fourthly, Girls. Stop calling me cute. Really. I'm a terrifying ogre. Rawr. I'm not cute. Me liking someone isn't cute. My coughing is not cute. My room is not cute. What I blog about is not cute. I am not cute. Capiche?

Fifthly, Girls. Well, you can't live with them, and you can't live without them. So why do I always end up liking the ones that will either A) hurt me the most. B) annoy me the most. C) Won't like me back. Why? Is it my subconscious telling me "Andrew, you actually like rejection..." or is it just simply my wonderful luck again. Well, I'll prepare for the worst and then some. Cause life's like that to me sometimes.

Sixthly, Facebook. Shut the hell up. Stop suggesting friends to me. Has it ever occured to you that I don't want to be friends with that person/people? Well, I don't. I don't want to use friend finder and I don't want you to suggest friends from my MSN. At all. So drop it.
Also, People of Faceboogle. Lend me your ears... STOP WHINING! I'm getting fed up of all the miserable stuff some people are saying. Cheer up. Life isn't that bad. Can you walk? Can you talk? Then go outside and make some real friends and not just people you meet online. Ok? You want a boyfriend? Then I suggest looking. Thats a much better idea than sitting on your arse waiting for Prince Charming. Hate to break it to you, but lifes not like that. You come into the world kicking and screaming and from then on it's a struggle to get anything. So make the most of it. Struggle. Struggle to be liked. And then eventually, it won't be a struggle. And you can focus on struggling for other "important" things. Like making a living or something like that.

Well, that should do for now. I have ranted and got things off my chest. Hopefully, I can fit two "European Adventure" things in one post. We shall see next time.

Peace out bubs.
Andrew out.

Andrews European Adventure - Part the seventh...

"On the road again..."

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Well, I'm back on an epic train journey. From Kandersteg to Ingolstadt. This will be fun *rolls eyes* Very fun. We're going through three countries today. Wooo!

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Last hours of Kandersteg were frantic. Getting facebooks and said goodbye to people we'll never see again. Aww. Sad face. At the tran station we found "Iced tea - With cannabis." Hmm, interesting. God bless Switzerland. At least the trains so far have been air conditioned.

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Obviously, I spoke too soon, this train ( Munich - Ingolstadt) is boiling. Honest. I can see heat haze inside the train. Windows are open, so hopefully it'll cool down quick.

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Another annoying thing. Overhead luggage racks. Whats the bloody point if the only thing that can fit in them is a briefcase? None. At all.

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Me and Jack lost our "German virginity" together. It was beautiful. We didn't melt or burst into flames upon contact, so fingers crossed on that continuing.

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There is however on major, and i mean MAJOR, problem. I don't speak German. At all. I think "Guten tag" means hello. So hopefully thats right and I can learn quickly. Hopefully. This could get interesting...

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The second problem is football. Tonight is Germany against Spain. Guess who most of my friends want to win... Spain. Yeah, Oh good. Me and Dene are going for Germany though. So we'll be safe. Hopefully.

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Peace out bubs.

Andrew out.

Andrews European Adventure - Part the sixth...

"Scout town"

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Well, "sleeping" on the floor has taken its toll. My posture is terrible. My back is sore. I didn't sleep. Not good. Might be on the floor again tonight. Oh dear. Not good also. Andy (other Andy) also slept on the floor and he said he was quite comfy. Well, he crazy. Thats all there is to it.

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Had to walk to the co-op for breakfast (yes, they do have co-ops in Switzerland, along with cannabis iced tea...) It was a fair walk but it was a good breakfast. Mmmm, pastry. Nice pastry.

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Then up the hill time. It. Was. Stunning! I actually love Switzerland now. Went tobogganing. Was very fun. Especially when you "can't understand" the slow down signs... Brilliant.

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Dene hugged a cow. Honest. He also tried to feed it Jenny's shoes and socks. Alisdair the cow was having none of it though.

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Now, it has been brought to my attention that I am "spending too much time with the girls." Yeah, ok. Your point? I get on with them as much as I get on with you guys. And at least they don't expect me to instantly judge a girl as soon as I see her. I don't like doing that. It's a bit shallow.

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Anyway, met other Scottish scouts today. From Livingston. They were actually quite cool. They did mock me when I was supporting Uraguay in the pub, but everyone else did that anyway. Oh well, onwards and upwards I guess...

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Peace out bubs.

Andrew out.

Andrews European Adventure - Part the fifth...

"Still waiting"

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I got up at 6.30 this morning. You should all be proud of me. Why? Cause I got up at 5.30 UK time, thats why. Anyway, we had brekkers, then left the hostel to get our 9.10 train. Well, it's 10.50 and I'm still in Paris. And I'm not on a train... Do the math people. Anyway, I'm sitting on a floor at "la gare de lyon" waiting for the "responsible" adults to return. We are soooo organised. Now, 1pm in another station in Paris. And I'm still waiting...

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5.05pm- Just left Dijon. So second train now. Interesting. Well, it's hot again. Not good. Catriona, my lovely wife, has drawn a picture of me, and I look like a gorilla. Fantastic. Jenny is sleeping... Awww, where's the permanent marker when you need it?

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Andy is giving me and Cat marriage counselling. It's working well... *Rolls eyes* Anyway, she's the "perfect wife" and she wants some fruit cake. So that means I have to find some. And I will. Eventually. I'm a good husband. Honest. Oh wait, she wants some "cake with fruit in it." Theres a big difference there. *rolls eyes*

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7.35pm- Got on Geneva train. (2nd time lucky) Panicked as original train was late, then rushed on to what we thought was the right train. Well, it wasn't. All is good now. Heart rate almost normal now... Dene is taking photos of everything. And I mean, everything. People, animals, chairs, light bulbs, signs, flowers, cliffs, buildings, water and sweet wrappers.

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9.55pm- In switzerland now, the most neutral country in the world. Seems ok so far. Bit dark though.

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11.45pm- Changed train. Very dark outside, too light inside. Catriona's getting tired. So's everyone apart from me really. Well, Dene isn't. But he never sleeps anyway.

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0.10am- Another day, another train. This time to Kandersteg (where the camp site is.) Well, I say camp site. I mean chalet. Wooo. Unfortunately, I have no bed, but thats a very minor detail. I'll deal with that later. Anyway, spirits are high, eyes are drooping and we still have a 20 minute walk after this...

Only the strongest will survive I guess.

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1.30am- Arrived at Kandersteg camp site. I am sleeping on the floor. We'll see how this goes in the morning...

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Peace out bubs.

Andrew out.

Andrews European Adventure - Part the fourth...

"A blog from midway..."

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Well then, I never thought I'd do this. I'm writing this blog from half way up the Eiffel Tower. Wooo. So, why am I not writing it from the top then? Well, Andrew has a teensy irrational fear. Not of heights. Not of falling. But of hitting the ground after falling from a great height. When it's put that way, it's perfectly rational. Well, it is to me anyway. And thats what matters. Isn't it?

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So anyway, Paris. The city of romance. So thats why I'm sitting here with my best friend Daniel (a dude). Yay! Well, we've been abandoned until the rest of the group come back down. So we have about an hour stuck here. Alone. Just me and him... Oh dear. Well, abandoned is such a strong word. If I'm totally honest, circumstances involving a Godzilla attack and a distinct lack of superheroes kept us from the top... Well, Ok then, I woussed out and he couldn't be bothered. Ok?

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Other things in Paris....

Well, Sacre Couer was an amazing sight. I've never seen so much gold leaf. Not even at that strip club. You know the one I'm talking about...

Now, I hate "lookie-lookie" people. They try and sell you cheap crap you don't want and they don't need. So when one followed me and wouldn't leave me alone, Nik came to my rescue. Jumping on it's back and slaying the vile creature.

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The Arc de Triomphe. Well, it was quiet. Nowhere near as busy as I thought it'd be. Not enough Jeremy Clarksons me thinks.

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Notre Dame. Well, it was big. Very, very big. Unfortunately so were the queues. So we didn't go in. My dreams of running in shouting "SANCTUARY" are scuppered once again. =(

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The Louvre was busy. Paris seems to be very busy for some reason. I don't see why really. Well, it was impressive enough. Didn't go in though. Too long a queue and not enough shade.

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Americans. Even when they aren't at war with a country, they're invading in force. We saw loads of them today. Quote of typical American after seeing a Chinese man...

"OH MY GOD! I JUST SAW JACKIE CHAN!!!"

Yeah... *rolls eyes* Casual racism for the win then... *face palm*

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Now, four hours after entering the Eiffel tower I have left. This was due to a major, and I mean major, communications break down. This I accept. I think the others think I'm angry at them/annoyed/pissed off. Well, as a matter of fact, I'm not. I'm relieved. As I said, I do not like heights. I've put a brave face on it for four hours but all that time with a niggling fear has taken it's toll. I was shaking on the train back to the hostel. I've been bursting out laughing for no reason. I've cried for a bit before composing myself. However, I am fine now. Just a little shaky. Hopefully tomorrow is just as eventful.

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Peace out bubs.

Andrew out.

Andrews European Adventure - Part the third...

"A good knowledge of French."

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Today, I woke up, sun glaring at me, and one thing just popped into my mind...

"WHERE THE HELL IS THE TENT?!?"

Then I remembered. We didn't put it up last night. Woooo. So, after explaining to the nice French lady why we had crashed on her driveway and why we hadn't registered, all is well. Then. The toilets. Yeah, they were, umm, "hygenic." Well, me and Jack refrained from showering till we got to the Youth Hostel. So we still have our "Shower Tokens." Woops. Well, we have a souveneir now.

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Anyway, I came back from the showers and all my stuff is outside. And it's raining. Oh dear. So, anyway, all my stuff is soaking. Including the paper I wrote this blog on. So it was rather hard to do.

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Well, I don't boast about my French (and for good reason) but somehow, I manage to blag a lift to the nearest train station. Everyone now suddenly loves me for some reason...

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Catriona is celebrating by being a "pea on a fork." Yeah... *rolls eyes* On the subject of Catriona, our marriage has now picked up from outright hostility to civility. We're calling each other honey and she'll actually hug me. So as I said earlier, all is well.

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Once again though...

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DOUBLE DECKER TRAIN!

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So, I'm in a Youth Hostel now. Or as some people call it, a "homeless shelter." It has internet. It has showers. It has a pool table. It has a bar. Therefore, it is awesome. Most comfy place I've slept since Monday. Yay. Anyway, I'm gonna go eat soon. So bye.

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Peace out bubs.

Princess out.

Andrews European Adventure - Part the second...

"Bring me the Horizon."

Today was much tougher, much, much, much longer hike. In fact, as I write this, I'm still doing it. The morning was hot, real hot, and the afternoon was wet, real wet. Temperatures easily 30 degrees + and a thunderstorm at about 5 o clock. Makes things interesting shall we say. Yes, I am still dripping with sweat but as everyone else is too, it's acceptable.

Onto important news. I'm married. To Catriona. Yeah, the plot thickens people... Anyway, the bill for the camp says "M et Mme McArdle" so obviously, I'm married to someone. Unfortunately, things aren't looking good so we might need to end our marriage... I'm getting the house though.

My lunch today consisted of ice cream. Lots of ice cream. N...ice. Oh, and orange juice. Mustn't forget that.

While on this hike, I've learnt things. I can keep walking in blistering heat humming "Just keep swimming..." In thunderstorms, I forget that trees are bad. And that you should avoid them. Woops. That I don't like hikes. That old French men are very rude. And that French shops are incredibly hard to find...

The first person to collapse on the trip was....

...

...

...

me. Woops. I'm all embarassed now.

Right then, at the campsite now. At 11.30. 13 hours after we set off this morning. Feet are killing me. Shoulders are aching. I need sleep. Now. So I'm sleeping under the stars tonight.

Peace out bubs.

Andrew out.

Andrews European Adventure - Part the first...

(Please note that this blog was wrote at the time...)

Star date - 0111011011101010 (1st of July 2010)

1005 hours.

Arrived in France. Reicieved silly Scouts Scotland flag thing. Photos to follow on facebook...

Today, the explorers invaded France. The French quickly retreated, leaving vast ammounts of land to us...
Right, now I am on a bus. Jenny is refusing to sit at the back (I wonder why) Daniel is grinning idiotically and Dene is, well, Dene. Ross is on the pull, "it was rather exhausting..." *playah*

I have discovered that France is quite hot. Not good for "white boys" like me and Dan. Chuck is wondering why everything is in French - hmm, silly Nik.

Despite the fact that most of us are out of school, conversation turns to school stuff. How good is our French? How do we say our names in Binary? Hmm, fun times... Catriona has already added to our "interesting" relationship. Which will remain a constant source of laughter and joy for me.

At Beauvais, we wondered about for a while, missed two trains, one bus and almost a third train. Wasn't so funny at the time...

Visited the coolest WC in the world. It was like the Darth Vader chamber thingy. =D Had the greatest McFlurry ever. Good times. :) Discovered a distinct lack of vegetarian food in France though... Everyone go Aww for Cat.

We are in a DOUBLE DECKER TRAIN atm. It's awesome. However, as I have my boots off, it doesn't smell to nice right now.

Hiking was fun *rolls eyes* I swiftly discovered that I had the heaviest bag and that I would lag behind. By about 5 minutes. And I'm sweating like a fat kid in a cake shop. Lovely.

After three wrong turns, two fall outs and a minor incident involving French junkies and a "dead end", we reached our camp site. Drenched in sweat. After a "quick" welcome, tents were pitched, showers had and the pool invaded. The hotter the sun, the cooler the water. So, it felt sooooo good. :) After hiding nipples from Jenny, Jack having an orgasm from the bubble machine and Cat being scared of teh cold, relaxing time happened.Finally, I'm beginning to resemble a human being again.

Peace out bubs.
Andrew out.

Andrews European Adventure - Part zero. Prologue.

Nottingham. You know how Muslims face Mecca when praying, well for geeks like me, it's Nottingham we face. My last school trip. My last chance to be a true geek and to kick some ass in the process. I say ass... I mean make another geek cry as I methodically destroy his army. Yeah... *Rolls eyes*

To those of you that are lost/confused/in the wrong place, I'm talking about toy soldiers. Just think about it like that and you're about right.

Anyway, the bro was at his geeky best, not losing at all. I was a little worse, winning two and drawing one. The other two team members... Well, lets just say 'nil pois' and leave it at that.

We had our chance, now it's someone elses.

On the bright side, I got a new random determination cube, or a d6, or a die. Whatever you want to call it really.

Right, my European adventure will be spread out over these next many posts. Whenever I get a chance, I'll put them up. So, keep looking here regularaly.

Peace out bubs.
Andrew out.