Banks...

I remember the antiquity of the banking system when I last lived here, but had high hopes of it changing and moving with the times.. I have sadly been in a dreamland of positivity. 

Despite having a previuos bank account with the same bank 17 years ago - only closed down two years ago.. And a british passport, a letter from an amployer, police checks, both international and Aust, a letter showing my uk address and money to deposit... Its taken nearly two hours to get a provisional account sorted out.

Its nearly at screaming hysterical laughter level.

The last obstical was te letter from my employer - Protocol Education - didnt have the county written in my address and failed to have 'Australia' in the last known address ( Queensland was not good enough) 

So its been a frustrating morning going from one department to another.

St Pauls YHA London

We've been to this YHA a few times, and even so; I love coming back. Its a bit old and run down, but location location.. We look out onto St Pauls Cathedral - well crane your neck and you could.. We are up in the attic- 3 flights of winding stairs and a few down and around.. 

Well you'd need to see the rabbit warren layout to believe it.

Its the old boys school chapterhouse for the cathedral. There are some carved graffitti dating back to mid 1800s. Looks pretty spooky huh?

The kids and I have a groovy room to outselves.. Love the layout of the bunkbeds.

Yep.. I'm on the bottom one all snug and safe..

This is what we see when we wind our way out of the courtyard. Its quite beautiful in the crispness of 1 degree wintertime.. I can imagine its gorgeous in summertime.