It's getting hectic....and Christmas is coming...

Christmas lights near Bond Street station

Well the silly season is upon us, and it truly is very silly. The last couple of months have been quite a whirlwind, very much that I am really enjoying "me" time at home to sit, contemplate and ponder the greater things in life. No seriously I just need time to do my washing, read books, pay bills, wrap presents and write Xmas cards, things which I normally would have done ages ago, complete with computer printed labels! No such luck this year.

Just to give you a run down over the last couple of weeks;

Friday, 7th December - had tickets to Powderfinger, but a cancellation saw me not being able to go, then I had a friend at works 30th, old school style near London Bridge to go to instead, followed by another party near Piccadilly Circus which saw me out till about 3am.

Saturday, 8th December - was meant to be a quiet one, with Pilate's in the morning and then relaxing day shopping. It ended up with me sleeping in (see previous evening), an afternoon pedicure, followed by shopping on Old Bond Street at Tiffany's (someone is getting the good stuff for Xmas - no not me!), then out with my friend Sue for a family party.

Sunday, 9th December - got a sleep in for a bit, but after lunch had a coffee with a friend, followed by a quick bit of Xmas shopping in Canary Wharf before an amazing Croatian feast with Mari and Barns...it was just meant to be a light, late lunch - not so with Mari, who is a cooking genius. I finally made it home by 11pm on a school night - tut tut!

Monday, 10th December - movies after work to see The Golden Compass. I can recommend, as I have read the books by Phillip Pullman, which are a trilogy entitled - His Dark Materials. Quite an intriguing read.


Tuesday, 11th December - mad dash to an appointment after work, then back into town (thank goodness Oxford St is ongoing till 10pm even mid week during the silly season for last minute Xmas shopping and shoes for the WorkDirections Xmas party!!! ahahahha

Wednesday, 12th December - was a group ice skating session with a bunch of people from work at Tower Hill, very near where I actually work, so I had a chance to work on my backwards ice skating technique. It is quite amazing how many people cannot skate, and they think its weird that I can ice skate, but cannot surf....ah the joys of being classified a typical Australian.

Thursday, 13th December - was a silly night indeed, it was our work Xmas party dinner and well we had a great time, what with the event straight after work, there was chaos as all the girls tried to get ready in the bathrooms, a mad dash across London (in our outfits) to Kensington High street (my finance group took the tube and arrived about 1/2 hour earlier than people who took cabs!!), party favours, silly antics, food, dancing - it was a very fun night out!!



Friday, 14th December - was a day of sore heads. I made it in for 10am, and was not too bad actually considering. Though I did post phone a meeting till 11am that normally was on at 9am, as there was just no way I was going to make that!! But I also had to be at work to ensure that I got to meet the Managing Director of my company WorkDirections.

This lady, Therese Rein, also just happens to be the now first lady of Australia. Yes you got that right, I met the Australian Prime Ministers wife. I had been looking forward to meeting "the Queen of Australia" as I kept calling her, all week, and was so excited all I could do was compose myself enough to say my name and position (she came into my meeting), then nod politely in the general discussion that another manager was having with her.

I never even thought to say congratulations on Kevin Rudd becoming Prime Minister or anything of the sort. I just didn't even think to!! Ah bless, my dorky ways continue and I become tongue tied upon meeting important people or celebrity types - can you imagine if it was the real Queen, she'd think I was a mute!!

That night (per previous blog) I headed to the Victoria and Albert museum with a friend to see a photographic exhibition for Lee Miller and for dinner.

Saturday, 15th December - I spent ages packing up Xmas gifts to send home (still wasn't finished but after 2 hours I had had enough), after a decent sleep in, this was followed by afternoon drinks out in Fulham for my Kiwi friend Katy, which was a birthday slash sort of engagement party as her boyfriend Ben had proposed to her on Thursday night.

That was good fun, but I had to leave just after 7pm as I had tickets to Kaiser Chiefs. Mark, myself, Laura, Ahmed, Anais, and Kerry all had a quick drink at the pub first before heading off to worship the god that is Ricki Wilson. We got there just as it started and I could not stay back, I left the group and dived into the crowd to be at the front - and it was brilliant!!! After that I was mean to continue on to my friends Chinese Xmas ball, but covered in sweat and beer, I was not exactly cut out for it, so to home I headed.

Sunday, 16th December - Lunch and football at the Walkabout with my friend Sophie and a couple of her mates. I know, I know, I promised never to go there again - but it was very civilised, we had a table and seats and good views of the TV's, so I stayed for the Manchester game, and the the Arsenal game!! Both teams won so there were happy campers around our table for sure.

Monday, 17th December - Hummmm Date night...

Tuesday, 18th December - Drinks, then dinner, then fun at Mari and Barns, I love those guys they spoil me rotten.

Wednesday, 19th December - Work drinks for my old work, that will be a West India Quay, so our old haunting grounds for drinks, will be a fun night

Thursday, 20th December - about time, but this is a me night....

Friday, 21st December - well its Xmas and so it will be a short day followed by farewell work drinks then i will be off to my friend Sues' in Hartfordshire for the evening.

Saturday and Sunday will be chill out days, followed by a Monday train ride down to Worthing on Sea to visit Anne for Xmas. Will be lovely and relaxing before I head back into London for New Years!! Woo Hoo - Bring on the New Year....

Sophie & Lisa at the Pub

Snow Globe

Friday night on 14th December, my friend Linda and I went to the Victoria and Albert museum to see a photographic exhibition on Lee Miller who was a famous model, come photographer from the US in the '30s. She did some great photos the most memorable would be ones she did of a severed breast from a masectomy served up on a plate, to represent the treatment of women. It was quite interesting.

After that since we were right next to the Natural History Museum and the ice rink, we went to have a peek. No skating as it was really cold and wearing a skirt I was not even going to consider risking it!! So no skating, well what to do?

They had a Snow Globe run by BA with fake snow to have your picture taken in, completely free too, so shoving some children aside (kidding...) we lined up and had a turn. We let the child in us take over for a bit.

We followed that with some lovely hot chocolate, fudge tasting, a turn in a massage chair in one of the stalls at the Xmas market there (complete with horror stories of ambulance visits - twice a day at least - to the rink from a stall holder) and a yummy Italian meal over at South Kensington.

Lisa is.....

On Facebook you have status updates where you are able to put in a comment about how you "is" right now...just a brief one and sometimes I think of so many but I never get a chance to put them in....so here is how I am right now;

Lisa is thinking that salami at midnight might cause bad dreams

Lisa is wishing the week away

Lisa is wanting it be Friday, Saturday and Sunday always

Lisa is going to Pilates on Saturday, then because its just a quiet one she is going to Xmas shopping, then getting a pedicure and going out on the town with Sue!!

Lisa is wishing she had time to wrap the presents

Lisa is hoping that work will go away if she doesn't think about it



Lisa is glad her lilies are so beautiful.. big love and thanks to Jenni and Avril for those.

Lisa is sad her roses are dying

Lisa is not sure about Xmas this year

Lisa is going to have an amazing new years at a Burlesque themed high falutin' do in central London!

Lisa is trying to be chilled but is anxious about so many things

Lisa is losing her curves...she'd better eat up

Lisa is going to be very tired tomorrow, but her brain doesn't seem to care about that

Lisa is liking a bit o space



Lisa is eating too much chocolate

Lisa is loving the chai tea she is sipping right now

Lisa is wondering what time she will get to sleep tonight

Lisa will try and take the good with the bad, the ugly with the beautiful, the ups and the downs, and the hard knocks with the soft landings.

Lisa is interested to know what the council tax bill will predict, so she knows how many fewer pairs of shoes she can buy

Lisa is praying that my VISA is all - A OK!



Lisa is hopeful there will be no rain tomorrow

Lisa is not sure about wearing tights all the time....

Lisa is thinking the flat could do with a tidy, so much paper!

Lisa is being philosophical again, because she is good at that

Lisa is being told not to be philosophical, I think that is because boys don't get that.

Lisa is glad she has had a pretty amazing life so far...and again over with the philosophical
Lisa is wanting world peace

Lisa is wanting a greener planet and wonders whether she should go to the protest march on Saturday



Lisa is a green person and would love to ride a bike to work, but has no room to store a bike

Lisa is sure she'd get hit by a bus if she rode anyway!!

Lisa is glad that Mark is being a nice person

Lisa is knowing that Mark will always be a nice person

Lisa is happy that she is finally reading books again

Lisa is schooled up about Henry III and his five lovely brides

Lisa is wanting to see the movie The Golden Compass, because the books it is based on "His Dark Materials" are just brilliant


Lisa is desperate to go iceskating, won't someone come with??

Lisa is going to do all of the rinks around London this year, Tower Hill, Sommerset House, Hyde Park, Natural History Museum, O2 centre Disco skate and Hampstead Heath of course!

Lisa is loving her hairdresser he is a GOD!

Lisa is knowing that London needs to get colder so the Winter is a proper one, maybe snow for Xmas

Lisa really wants reason to wear gloves, scarf and beanie!



Lisa is missing her family and friends

Lisa is just wanting to cuddle her little nephew because he is just sooooo cute!

Lisa is 31 and thinking life is just beginning ... again!

Lisa is loving work, but needs a kick up the pants to be just a tad more motivated

Lisa is wanting a teddy bear to call GOD



Lisa is wondering if she should go canoeing for a couple of years

Lisa is going to meet the Queen of Australia next week - Therese Rein!!

Lisa is hoping people know the Prime Ministers wife is Lisa's current employer

Lisa is wondering why Therese is visiting the day after the work Xmas party.

Lisa is not going to sleep the night of the Xmas party

Lisa is wondering if she should have voted in the election



Lisa is looking forward to Bo's birthday bash, she is going as a school girl - Best Girl at that!

Lisa is going to do some work now as it won't get done in the morning

Lisa is promising not to eat more chocolate tomorrow

Lisa is not trying to impress anyone, that never worked before and its not going to work now

Lisa is who she is...and you love me for that.

Lisa is breaking out and its due to lack of vegetables and Lisa loves vegetables

Lisa is into historical fiction again, The Other Boeyln Girl is a good read guaranteed

Lisa is glad for the calendar on facebook, all will get birthday card from her

Lisa is going to stop now because this is getting just a tad silly

Lisa is really thinking that this is quite a fun way to get thoughts on paper

Lisa is hoping that her readers think so too

Lisa is wishing you all a good night

Lisa is tired, but won't sleep for hours yet!

Life in the UK..

Well I cannot tell you about the test exactly as I did sign a disclaimer to say that I would not discuss the question there within. After having done the actual test though I am thinking they want people to read the book and learn about life in the Uk before they actually do the test. Sort of scare them into thinking the test is quite something that it is not. Funny now, but while I was up late three night last week cramming to ready chapters 2-6 ready for the test, whilst writing copious notes, no not so funny right about then!!

However it is over with now, and having done the 45 minute, 45 question test in just 4 minutes, I feel my studying was worth the while and I am now a person endowed with the wealth of knowledge about what it is for one to be British. Quite hilarious really.

So just as a humorous example I will impart some of my found knowledge with you all.

1) The Prime Minister lives at 10 Downing Street (seems its imperative that you know this!!)

2) 51% of the population is women and 45% of them work (no I am not reading the book I did read it all and scarily enough my brain has actually retained these pointless statistics)

3) There are about 60 million people in the UK, 50.1 in England, 5.1 in Scotland, 2.9 in Wales and the rest in Northern Ireland

4) Ethnic minority is 9% of the population, made up of peoples mainly from the Caribbean and Asia (being mostly India) and of the 9%, 45% of them live in London and make up 1/3rd of the London population.

5) Schools are free in the UK and the council tax pays for schools, police, and rubbish removal

6) National Insurance pays for your pension when you are old (60 for women and 65 for men) and it also pays for the free healthcare by way of the NHS

7) The Queen is the Head of State and the Head of the Commonwealth (there are 53 members of the Commonwealth too), but she does not elect the Prime Minister, he is elected via his own party and they by general election.

8) The Uk will only adopted the Euro, by public referendum - yah like that is gonna happen.

9) Scotland and Wales have their own Parliaments, and Northern Ireland occasionally do, but its suspended as they are still fighting over who is allowed to sit in the speakers chair....well not really but its for some disagreement of sorts.

10) Georgies are from Newcastle, Scousers from Liverpool, and Cockney is from London

11) 71% of the poplulation are of some sort of Christian denomination, and this is followed by 2.7% Muslim and 1% Hindu.

12) St Davids day (Wales) is 1st March, St Patricks Day is 17th March, St Georges Day is 23rd April and St Andrews day is 30th November (yes ... this is in the book) .... so the Scotts celebrate my birthday....

13) The Uk does not have a constitution

14) The Uk joined the EU in 1973, even though it was orginally formed with the Treaty of Rome in 1957

15) Popular sports in the UK are football, tennis, cricket and rugby...hmmmm... they are not any good at them though

16) In the 1980's most of the migrants came from the US, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand - well really!!!

So now you are decently educated and you too might be able to apply to be British!! Though seriously Australia Rocks....

Another year has just whizzed by .... alas I turned 31

Yes it was my birthday on Friday and thankfully I was spoilt as I don't think my 1st Birthday in London (does that make me only 1 in London years....) would not have been such fun. I got lots of lovely texts, emails and cards from home, thanks Laura, Amy, Av, Jenni, Mel, Michelle, Tasha, Rosanna, Renee, Mum and Mum, Scott, Michael, Chris and Saroeun.

Av and Jenni sent me some gorgeous lillies, which arrived on my birthday and are just starting to open up today. They look lovely with my roses, that I brought myself to celebrate my passing the "Life in the UK" test, more on that later, so step one to my next Visa is done.

I have a nice selection of cards too, most of which arrived in time for my birthday too. Royal mail was on form for a change, so feeling more hopeful they have cleaned up their act I actually went down to the post office the other day and got a few things posted off (fingers crossed). Hopefully they get there prior to Xmas along with a few Xmas cards that got sent out too.

At work, I did try to hide when my birthday was and I nearly got away with it. However, I must have let it slip a couple of weeks ago to one of the girls who actually made a note on her calendar! Damn it. So I got the standard work place humiliation which consisted of the entire office of around 40 people turning up at my desk (well my bosses, whilst I was in the middle of a heated discussion with him) with cake, donuts and lolllies, all belting out Happy Birthday to me. Well you can imagine that despite my knowing it was going to happen I was still stunned, and blushed a fabulous shade of red, that a lobster would be proud to show. I also got a box of chocolates and a card signed by everyone in the office.

It's an amazing cultural change from where I used to work, that is for sure - but you gotta love it, as it is moral boosting. There was talk of taking it away as it costs about 20 quid for each persons birthday, but seriously, I think the birthday extravagance of this company is imbedded in the company charter, much like the constitution, so would cause mass outrage, uproar, and possibly a full office revolt if it was taken away.

At lunchtime we had a casual lunch out at a local restaurant, very last minute and only just a few of us, but when time came to pay the bill, they would not let me pay. Lovely, very spoilt.

Friday night saw me meander out the door at a little before 6pm, which seriously in that office is an early minute on a Friday!! A few of us headed to Roundhouse, a pub in Covent Garden - in the pouring rain I might add (and its never ever rained on my birthday) - for a couple before heading to Doon Bar in the Albanach Pub on Trafagar Square for the proper celebrations. Lots of my lovely English friends were there so I was a very happy camper for the night and managed to get in lots of chats, drinks, presents, dancing and even a Tequila.

Alas it had to end and after much dancing and chatting the night was over and a cab was hailed. There was no hangover fortunately, lots of water and stuffing my face at 3am with cream cheese with ham and sundried tomatoes on crackers, saw to that.
The next morning I was a bit slow, a bit tired, but happier that I had moved to being 31 years old with a good time had!! Plus I was off to Worthing to see Anne so more fun was going to ensue.... the bonus was that it was brilliantly sunny too.

Relax, don't do it....

Just an update for you, I am the usual social butterfly, but making sure I have plenty of time to myself too.

This photo I took on the day of the once off Roberto Cavalli launch at the H&M on Oxford Street. It just so happened that I was doing a site audit at 9:30am that morning at one of my company's offices nearby, on Great Portland Street. I didn't queue up from 5am or anything like that, not a chance! But i walked straight in at 9:05pm (after the rush about 5 minutes before) and had my pick of whatever I wanted, as they were bringing out stuff left right and centre. No dramas, I just wanted one top! I got it and left them to the chaos!

The last couple of weeks have been crazy, I don't think I have ever had such a busy time in my life before. If its not work, CPD hours, its work drinks (though just a couple...last time I snuck in some waters that looked to the untrained eye like vodka and sodas, so I got away with that!! ahaha), or out with friends, or hair appointments. I swear I see my hair dresser more often than some of my friends. However, the great thing in London, is that we can catch up any night of the week and we do.

Tomorrow night is my big 31st Birthday bash and it should be a good night out. I have organised to go to a bar called Doon in Leiscester Square, and have reserved a spot there, it will be busy as the upstairs pub is Scottish and the 30th is St Andrews Day, so Scots will be out in full force upstairs.

Today also calls for a celebration as I did my "Life in the UK test" so I now can officially apply for my next Visa (whopping cost of 750 pounds - ouch on my pocket too), which allows me to live and work here for longer. Woo hoo.

I am missing all back home, but my travelling days are far from over just yet, there has been a minor (major...well yes ok major) set back during the second half of this year in relation to travel, but I am moving on and will do lots next year. Plus there is so much to look forward to with so many visitors. Chris, Michael, Scott, and Saroeun in April and, fingers crossed, Mum and Dad in June - hopefully I can get them up to Scotland, Ireland and over to New York too.

I also have a ski trip lined up - come hell or high water (though preferably high snow) I will be going - and also there is a Wedding for Mari and Barns in Korcula (Croatia) in early June. Oh and the treasure hunt, this one is a driving one in Holland in April. Then there is a Champagne weekend away in May that I am considering......ok I will stop now, don't want you all getting jealous and not reading anymore. Though seriously I will have to stop shopping, and think about saving better too (though again I mention stupid visa costs....urghghh).

Ok well just to say hello and I do think of writing on here, but I then just do not get a chance and end up on here writing random stuff when I do. Its my birthday today, tomorrow and I am really going to have a great day! So there! :-)

Who goes here?

Autumn View....

My trees are losing their leaves and soon you will be able to see the houses and the road where I live....watch this space, because when it snows...and it will, there will be a beautiful snowy photo of this same tree lined street and it will be beautiful!

Taken 7th November 2007
Taken 21st October 2007
And remember....this is what it looked like in the Summer (well the warmer part of the year!)

OXO Tower

Meredith was lovely enough to take Kurt and myself out to dinner for our final leaving do after finishing up with GrantRail. We went to one of the top restaurants in London, well its a very well known one at that. The food was lovely, so was the company and check out the view!!! Ps the one where you can see the tower was taken from near Blackfriars on the bridge...where I made Kurt stand in the cold while I took pictures!!

The view towards St Pauls Cathedral
View towards Somerset House
Oxo and the blue wheel is the London Eye at Waterloo

Photo Frenzy!

Ok I went a bit mad tonight and have uploaded a whole wad of photos from the very random things that we have done around London recently...

Click here to go to the link... and enjoy!!!

http://picasaweb.google.com/WeekendTourists/