North Bridge

The North Bridge situated in the Minuteman National Park just north of Concord is an absolutely beautiful, scenic place. There's a true sense of history in the surroundings. The park being one of the sites from the beginning of the American revolution and “the shot heard ‘round the world.” A standoff between advancing British troops and American militia, with the militia standing firm and pushing the British back to Boston. It was a little strange being there, felt a little like the enemy.

After our walk round the Park we took in the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery which lies just to the east of the centre of Concord. Not to be confused with the old Dutch burial ground, famous for The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and the headless horseman of upstate New York. Within this Sleepy Hollow Cemetery lies Louisa May Alcott, the author of Little Women, We dropped a couple of pennies on her gravestone which seemed to be the thing to do. Em believes it's because she died very poor, so people drop money on her grave for her to take into the afterlife.

We're heading to Montreal this weekend, our first trip there and into Canada, which is a little exciting. Will post some pictures and stuff when we return.

Cheers.

Fourteen boxes should be enough

This packing lark has been pretty tough this week, we're up to fourteen boxes. We only came over with seven. Granted those boxes were bigger than the ones we have bought this time for the return journey back to England. It's quite funny if a little frustrating to be packing up the odd thing that has not been moved or touched since we unpacked it 22 months ago. Back then of course we didn't know if we would be coming back, staying a little longer or for good. The apartments been in a mess all week which has been a constant irritation. We had a good tidy up yesterday, my art desk is no more and has been replaced by a nice tidy pile of boxes. The trusty desk which has served me well over the past year and a half was placed next to the recycling bins waiting for a new owner to take it home. It wasn't there this morning.

After the disappointment of last Saturdays FA Cup final we had high hopes that the Champions League Final would deliver some quality sports entertainment. To get a better atmosphere we planned to watch the game in a local Irish bar, but to our disappointment they had a $20 door charge, each. With food and a drink or two we would easily have spent $80 or more. So it was back to the apartment with a slice of pizza and a coke to watch the game for free. Thought Liverpool should have won but I guess it was sweet revenge for Milan and another final that failed to live up to expectations. I guess a repeat of the 2005 final was never on the cards, and will probably never be repeated. Maybe next year.

Friday night we went to the Pavilion to watch Keane, the last band we would be seeing out here. Well actually that's a lie because it was Earthfest on Saturday with KT Tunstall performing among others, but that doesn't really count because we were stood to the side and couldn't really see. Plus the sound was pretty terrible. Earthfest's an annual free concert and gathering taking place on the esplanade. Lots of eco conscious promotions and things for you to take in, however it was just too busy to actually get close and take anything in. So back to Keane on a lovely Friday night, the temperature had been in the 90's all day and steadied around the 70's for the evenings entertainment. They we're pretty good, the crowd loved them and sang along, but did they make our top 5. Last week it was films, this week bands.

Emma's

Much like the film she stared in Emma has put Madonna in 'a league of her own' and beyond comparison with any other artist she's witnessed. Em waited 20 years to see her, and to then get seats 10 feet from the stage puts her beyond the following list.

1. Coldplay (Verizon Arena, Manchester NH)
2. Snow Patrol (Bank of America Pavilion, Boston)
3. Gomez (Avalon, Boston)
4. Keane (Bank of America Pavilion, Boston)
5. Illinois (supporting The Kooks. Paradise Rock Club, Boston)

Mark's
1. Coldplay (Verizon Arena, Manchester NH)
2. Madonna (TD Banknorth Garden, Boston)
3. Pearl Jam (TD Banknorth Garden, Boston)
4. The Black Keys (Avalon, Boston)
5. Supergrass (Paradise Rock Club)

Cheers.

3,124 hours later.

Em's completed her hours and is unemployed. Yah.

We're currently surrounded by boxes, boxes everywhere. Sorting through all our things, deciding which things we want to send home and which things we can live without and take to the charity shop. The apartments a bit of a mess, piles of things cluttering the floor. It's a bit of a nightmare for somebody who like to keep things a little tidy. Soon have everything packed up and sent home. We leave for Seattle four weeks today and will be back in England in Six.

I was gutted at missing last years FA Cup final because I was too tight to pay the $25 pay per view fee. Of course it turned out be one of the best finals in years and made $25 seem cheap for 2 hours plus of quality entertainment. Wasn't going to miss this years. But wouldn't you know it, this year it was pretty much a waste of money and time, wouldn't have been as bad if United had won I guess. You win some and lose some, I feel like we lost twice. Gutted again.

A poll released last week put Boston at number 3, behind New York and Miami for road rage. We haven't driven while we have been here so they can't blame us. We've witnessed some shocking driving in our time here, I'm still confused by the turn on red sign, allowing drivers to turn right even if the lights red. That's got nothing to do with road rage though but you need to keep your wits about you as a pedestrian. Especially if your still not used to them driving on the other side of the road.

With us entering our final weeks we thought it would be good to do a few lists of our favourite things experiences while we have lived in Boston and the big U.S. of A. First up, fav five films.

Emma's
1, The Departed.
2, Blood Diamond.
3, United 93.
4, Blades of Glory,
5, Devil Wears Prada.

Mark's
1, The Departed.
2, Munich,
3, United 93
4, Wallace & Gromit Curse of the Were Rabbit
5, Stranger Than Fiction

Cheers.

Bumper stickers

They do of course like to share their opinions over here and bumper stickers is one way of doing just that. Saw this car when we went to Harvard the other week which took it to the extreme.

Well it's nearly the end, Emma has one week left at work. 5 weeks later we'll set off on our west coast trip, 2 weeks after that we'll be returning from New England to the old England, with a new Prime Minister to greet us. The closer we get to coming home the more sad we are to be leaving. We've filled out and sent off our re-entry permits, so if Gordon Brown doesn't look after us we'll hopefully be allowed back into the U.S. of A.

Colour has made a welcome return, spring has definitely sprung. In fact it's been more like summer this week and allowed us to get out for a few walks and enjoy the sun. Although I've come down with some kind of hay-fever/cold thing which has knocked me off my stride for the past couple of weeks. Never suffered from hay-fever back in England and didn't get as many colds because I rode my bike once or twice a week, kept me a bit fitter. Looking forward to getting back on the bike when I return. Will need to buy one first though.

We're not the only ones planning to leave over the next month or so. All the local universities and colleges are rapping up for the summer and graduating students returning home. Should be allot quieter round here when they've moved on, until the next lot arrive in August. We of course wont be here by then, if we were staying. I doubt we would be staying in the apartment building. It's become more like a halls of residence while we've been here, watching the families move out and the students move in, musical instruments and small dogs in tow. There's still 'Smoky Joe' that's not his real name but one Em gave him. He's still around, resuscitating himself each morning after his walk. He's just one of the many characters we've come across out here. Going to miss them all. Going to miss Boston.

Cheerio.