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<title>51mon Travel Blog</title>
<link>http://www.51mon.co.uk/</link>
<description>Simon Donn has left the UK.  Keep up todate with what he has been doing.</description>
<language>en-gb</language>
<lastBuildDate>Sun, 06 May 2012 19:30:51 GMT</lastBuildDate>
<copyright>Copyright: (C) Simon Donn</copyright>

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<title>51mon News</title>
<url>http://www.51mon.co.uk/img/logo_white.gif</url>
<link>http://www.51mon.co.uk</link>
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        <title>Day 2951: Newcastle 0 2 Manchester City</title>
        <description><![CDATA[<img src='http://www.51mon.co.uk/photo/IMG_4411_NewcastleMay2012.jpg' align='left' hspace='10' vspace='0'> I have just got back from Newcastle where I saw Manchester City beat Newcastle by two goals to nil. This means we are now within touching distance of winning the Premier League title for the first time.<p>As you can see my seat was very high up, 12 floors to be exact it did however give us a very good view of the game. It was tense as usual with such a big prize at stake but the City defenders were a rock at the back and when we needed him Yaya Toure stepped up and scored two goals. The fans were amazing, singing throughout the game and giving the team plenty of vocal support.</p><p>If we can beat QPR on Sunday then we have definitely won the League Title but tonight is a night to start the celebrations #mcfc</p> Newcastle - United Kingdom]]></description>
		
        <link>http://www.51mon.co.uk/comment.cfm/blogid/474/Newcastle-0-2-Manchester-City</link>
		<image>IMG_4411_NewcastleMay2012.jpg</image>
		<pubDate>06 May 2012 00:00:00 BST</pubDate>
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        <title>Day 2949: Manchester City 1 - Manchester United 0</title>
        <description><![CDATA[<img src='http://www.51mon.co.uk/photo/IMG_4356_MCFCDERBY_MAY2012.jpg' align='left' hspace='10' vspace='0'> I came back from Leeds on Monday night to see Manchester City play Manchester United in what was a must win game for us to have any hope of winning our first top division league title in 44 years.<p>I say top division as we did win the league title in the 2001-02 First Division scoring a whopping 108 goals but this admittedly is the prize everyone wants to win.</p><p>The game on Monday was very tense and we scored at just the right time, on the whistle for half time and managed to restrict Manchester United to zero shots on target which says something about our defence. I have just got my voice back after the game but it was well worth seeing us do the double over them.</p><p>I am off to Newcastle on Sunday and last time we were going head to head with Manchester United for the title was in 1968 and we won at Newcastle 4-3 and Manchester United had to play Sunderland and lost 2-1.</p><p>It is going to be a very open game as Newcastle are chasing fourth place so I am expecting lots of goals, hopefully for us.</p> Manchester - United Kingdom]]></description>
		
        <link>http://www.51mon.co.uk/comment.cfm/blogid/473/Manchester-City-1---Manchester-United-0</link>
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		<pubDate>04 May 2012 00:00:00 BST</pubDate>
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        <title>Day 2945: Noisy Neighbours</title>
        <description><![CDATA[<img src='http://www.51mon.co.uk/photo/MrNoisyNeighboursMCFC.jpg' align='left' hspace='10' vspace='0'> Tonight is the big game when the noisy neighbours, Manchester City play host to Manchester United in the biggest derby match since the FA Cup semi final last year.<p>Anything less than a win for Manchester City will end all hopes of a Premier League title and it should be a cracking game. I am coming back from Leeds for the night as there is no chance I will be missing this one.</p> Manchester - United Kingdom]]></description>
		
        <link>http://www.51mon.co.uk/comment.cfm/blogid/472/Noisy-Neighbours</link>
		<image>MrNoisyNeighboursMCFC.jpg</image>
		<pubDate>30 Apr 2012 00:00:00 BST</pubDate>
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        <title>Day 2943: New Ellington Hotel</title>
        <description><![CDATA[<img src='http://www.51mon.co.uk/photo/IMG_4295_newEllington.jpg' align='left' hspace='10' vspace='0'> I spent this week in Leeds at the New Ellington Hotel and it was a good stay apart from the rain in Leeds. This week it rained and rained and rained some more. Thankfully the hotel lent me an umbrella as it just did not stop all week.<p>I went to the cinema to see The Cabin in the Woods and it is worth seeing. I had not seen any trailers for the film which made it a lot better as I believe the trailers give so much away and spoil the fun.</p><p>This week we have a massive game against Manchester United so I will be coming home from Leeds on Monday for the match at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester where hopefully we can breathe some life in the title race but unfortunately it is all over for us.</p> Leeds - United Kingdom]]></description>
		
        <link>http://www.51mon.co.uk/comment.cfm/blogid/471/New-Ellington-Hotel</link>
		<image>IMG_4295_newEllington.jpg</image>
		<pubDate>28 Apr 2012 00:00:00 BST</pubDate>
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        <title>Day 2936: Commuting to Leeds</title>
        <description><![CDATA[<img src='http://www.51mon.co.uk/photo/IMG_4220_M62_Traffic.jpg' align='left' hspace='10' vspace='0'> I have had a nightmare the past two weeks as VISA cancelled my cards due to a security breach and as there were two public holidays it took two weeks for replacements to arrive.<p>Thankfully I had already booked and paid for my hotel for that period but unfortunately by the time the replacements arrived I could not get a room for the next week.</p><p>It worked out my parents were away so I borrowed the car and commuted last week which involved a lot of 5.45AM starts but sleeping in my own bed every night was worth it. I also managed to get more work done having an hour and a half in the office when nobody is there and it is nice and quiet.</p><p>It would have been nice to know that the yellow cameras sticking over the motorway were not cameras to monitor traffic but instead average speed cameras so fingers crossed for the next month that no fines arrive.</p> Manchester - United Kingdom]]></description>
		
        <link>http://www.51mon.co.uk/comment.cfm/blogid/469/Commuting-to-Leeds</link>
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		<pubDate>21 Apr 2012 00:00:00 BST</pubDate>
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        <title>Day 2916: Anniversary</title>
        <description><![CDATA[<img src='http://www.51mon.co.uk/photo/1YearEnglandAnniversary2012.jpg' align='left' hspace='10' vspace='0'> Today is my one year anniversary from coming back from Australia and the sun has come out in Manchester to help me celebrate.  If you wrap up warm and shelter from the cold wind then you can kid yourself that it is actually warm here.<p>The first three months when I came back from Australia were very relaxing as the weather was warm in England and when it was not I went to Spain to stay at my parents place. I found time to see my friends and family and with no work I could sit back and relax and contemplate my next path in life. I knew that life could not last forever and I was getting bored so I applied for a job.</p><p>I then started consulting to GE in Leeds and joined an amazing team of talented people and for the next nine months I stayed in Leeds during the week in various hotels and my parents house in Manchester at the weekend. It has been a great opportunity to be able to work and not have to worry about running a house and the expenses involved in that. I have had all my dinners cooked for me and my clothes all washed and I can honestly say I am not missing those chores.</p><p>In those nine months I have stayed at the Park Plaza, Radisson Blue, Marriott, KSpace, Mint, Roomzzz, Hilton, Malmaisson, DoubleTree and this week I added another to the list, The New Ellington.</p><p>I now start another three month contract for GE as I enter my second year back in Manchester.</p> Manchester - United Kingdom]]></description>
		
        <link>http://www.51mon.co.uk/comment.cfm/blogid/468/Anniversary</link>
		<image>1YearEnglandAnniversary2012.jpg</image>
		<pubDate>01 Apr 2012 00:00:00 BST</pubDate>
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        <title>Day 2904: Back from Jamaica</title>
        <description><![CDATA[<img src='http://www.51mon.co.uk/photo/IMG_4081_chelsea.jpg' align='left' hspace='10' vspace='0'> I came back from Jamaica today and the flight was very good. I managed to get some extra leg room and spent eight hours next to a lovely girl from London who kept me entertained.<p>I was lucky that the game against Chelsea had been moved to that night as I would have missed it whilst I was away. I had also already arranged for someone to drive me back up from Gatwick to Manchester rather than wait for my flight that evening so it was all falling into place.</p><p>I arrived back in Manchester in good time to unpack one suitcase and pack another to take back to Leeds.</p><p>The match against Chelsea was a cracker, Manchester City managed to come back from one nil down to win the game 2-1.</p><p>It was then back to my routine, up at 5.45AM to head back down to Leeds for work to start paying off my holiday.</p> Manchester - United Kingdom]]></description>
		
        <link>http://www.51mon.co.uk/comment.cfm/blogid/467/Back-from-Jamaica</link>
		<image>IMG_4081_chelsea.jpg</image>
		<pubDate>21 Mar 2012 00:00:00 BST</pubDate>
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        <title>Day 2903: Coconut Water</title>
        <description><![CDATA[<img src='http://www.51mon.co.uk/photo/IMG_4053_coconut_water.jpg' align='left' hspace='10' vspace='0'> Tonight is my last night in Jamaica before I have to return back to England and back to work. I have had a great time here but I have eaten everything there is here so now it is time for me to move on.<p>I however have the full day here tomorrow as I do not fly till 7PM so I have paid extra to have my room until 4PM. I have also paid extra for speedy immigration which I have been told can save you an hour at the airport and on the way into Jamaica it took over an hour to get through immigration so it should be money well spent.</p><p>A man came along the beach today with coconuts and was chopping the tops off and putting straws in so we could drink the coconut water from them, rum was optional. They were so refreshing and held a lot of water which was surprising, I was waiting for the man to come to smash them open but he never arrived :)</p> Montego Bay - Jamaica]]></description>
		
        <link>http://www.51mon.co.uk/comment.cfm/blogid/466/Coconut-Water</link>
		<image>IMG_4053_coconut_water.jpg</image>
		<pubDate>20 Mar 2012 00:00:00 BST</pubDate>
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        <title>Day 2901: Nine Mile</title>
        <description><![CDATA[<img src='http://www.51mon.co.uk/photo/DSC09223_BobMarley_2012.jpg' align='left' hspace='10' vspace='0'> I went to Nine Mile which is a village situated high in the mountains on the beautiful island of Jamaica. Nine Mile is located in Saint Ann Parish, a few miles south of Brown's Town. It is here, on February 6, 1945 the legendary king of reggae, Bob Marley, was born and it is in this very same place that he was laid to rest.<p>To get to Nine Mile takes about 90 minutes but you get to see lots of villages and the real Jamaica along the way so it is worth keeping your eyes open.</p><p>The tour starts at the family's house where the family's history began. Many of Bob's close family still live there, including his mother, affectionately known as Mother B and Uncle Lloyd her brother, who tells tales of Bob's childhood.</p><p>The Bob Marley Mausoleum tour takes you through the house Bob lived in as a young boy, and your Rastafarian guide shares with you little known insights into Bob Marley's childhood and musical career.</p><p>You get to stand on 'Mount Zion Rock' where Bob used to meditate and rest his head on "the pillow" made famous in the song "Talking Blues". Finally, you get to walk through the mausoleum, which is the final resting place of the Reggae King. You also see the Fireside where Young Bob Marley cooked his meals as depicted in the song No Woman no cry quote "we would cook cornmeal porridge of which I share with you".</p><p>When the guides stopped to explain how places were mentioned in his songs they sang a bit of them and the kids who had climbed the trees to see inside the compound burst into a chorus of Bob Marley songs.</p><p>His body lies buried in an oblong marble mausoleum inside a tiny church of traditional Ethiopian design, he is buried above the ground. There are two mausoleums on the property. The first entered is Mama Marley's. The second entombs Marley as well as his half-brother. Bob's crypt is on the top, and his brother lies in a tomb stacked below him. It was Mama Marley's wish that the brothers be buried together.</p><p>The tour is a must see when you come visit Jamaica and I highly recommend taking a private driver rather than a tour bus. This is a picture of me stood next to Bob Marley's single bed in his house.</p> Montego Bay - Jamaica]]></description>
		
        <link>http://www.51mon.co.uk/comment.cfm/blogid/465/Nine-Mile</link>
		<image>DSC09223_BobMarley_2012.jpg</image>
		<pubDate>17 Mar 2012 00:00:00 BST</pubDate>
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        <title>Day 2899: Montego Bay</title>
        <description><![CDATA[<img src='http://www.51mon.co.uk/photo/IMG_3911_beachSecrets.jpg' align='left' hspace='10' vspace='0'> I am still here in stunning Montego Bay in Jamaica where the water is so clear I had fish swimming around me today and the sand seems to get whiter ever day. I have found my groove and I have nice pitch on the beach.<p>I have managed to reduce the amount I am eating but I can not resist those crepes in the morning but at least now my breakfast is down from three plates to just two but one is fruit and that does not count.</p><p>Tomorrow I have a driver who is taking me to Nine Mile which is a small village in St. Ann Parish, Jamaica. It is both the birthplace and final resting place of Reggae legend Bob Marley so I am looking forward to that and I also have a dreadlock from my friend in Manchester to deposit.</p> Montego Bay - Jamaica]]></description>
		
        <link>http://www.51mon.co.uk/comment.cfm/blogid/464/Montego-Bay</link>
		<image>IMG_3911_beachSecrets.jpg</image>
		<pubDate>16 Mar 2012 00:44:00 BST</pubDate>
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