Photo of the Day No.30 - Happy Engagement

Congratulations to our friends Alex and Dan on their engagement!!

(The end of the friendship....the beginning of something so much better)

Photo of the Day No 28 & 29 - Moving ... yes again!

What can I say for 2 days I lived with STUFF, lots of STUFF. We've already shipped 25 boxes home, so said STUFF, where it came from I don't know. Thank heavens most of this was given away as its not coming with us, to our new place, or home to Australia. Whew.

Photo of the Day No.27 - Julie

Mark and I had dinner with Julie and her new husband James at Le Bouchon Breton in Spitalfields Markets London. We have been friends for nearly 4 years and this was our last dinner together before we go home. Boo hoo.

Photo of the Day No.26 - A Little Piece of Australia

Attached to me for today... Happy Australia Day everyone !!

Happy Australia Day....from London for the last time!

Today is one of the most favoured days of the year, especially if you're actually in Australia. We get the day off there, but not here. However to make it more special as we have to work by doing Australian things.

Getting it ready...note the fairy dust (key ingredient)

Last night I made ANZAC cookies (last year I at about 11pm endeavoured to make Lamingtons, a great feat I tell you) which are nice and easy to make, well sort of. In my case difficult purely because I thought I got a few of the measurements wrong especially as I have an Australian recipe with metric measurements, imperial kitchen jugs (no spoons or scoops) and the scales are my luggage scales!!!

And the photos tell the tale!

Me doing cooking....yes really..I can follow a recipe!!!

Ready to go in the oven...

Today at work a few of the team made the epic, but required, annual trek to the Covent Garden Australia Shop for supplies. We had pizza shapes, BBQ shapes, Cheese & Bacon shapes, cheese Twisties, Violet crumble, Picnics, Tim Tams, and some Cherry Ripes, so quite a feast really.

The very busy Walkabout and the queue round the block

Tonight we headed to the Walkabout, a much packed Walkabout, the queue was rediculous, but at least we went for a little whiel. The entertainment that was the drunken Aussies (and generally Kiwi's too) who had been in there since lunchtime, dressed as yobbos, and you have to be one to dress as one and they were!!

My team at work; Brien, Amy, Matt, Jessie who is new (she has a cool French accent as she is from Maruitus) and me.

If we'd been a little later we'd have seen them try to belt out Aussie tunes on the Karaoke stage, it was extremely funny last year. Oh and I have a little Australian Flag on my arm for good measure, as you can see;
Me with my tattoo...

Next year, I get the day off, so BBQ, lammies, snacks, and drinks at my place.... yippee!

Photo of the Day No.25 - Anzac Buscuits

These are the easiest buscuits ever to make, even without the correct measuring tools I still managed to make them tasty. They are called ANZAC buscuits because they Australian wives, mothers and sister used to make them and ship them over to the ANZAC soldiers in Gallipoli and on the Western front during the WWI. Of course you knew that ... !

Photo of the Day No.24 - Marvellous Maristela

Mari was my model for the day, I am brushing up on my portrait photography and we headed over to Leadenhall Markets to take some photos. Mari brought out the portrait photographer in me, and I the supermodel in her. This is just one of my favs.

Photo of the Day No.23 - The Randomness of London

Excuse the bluriness, was not prepared and didn't have time to get my proper camera out. This was taken near Cornhill and Leadenhall streets, no spectators, no cameras, no signs, just a marching band passing through the streets with these little old men at the back, one with an Aussie flag and one with a Kiwi flag. Why? Well me thinks for Australia day, but we may never know.

The windy theatre production....Chicago

Tonight I took myself off to see Chicago, as I was only requiring a ticket for one. Not a nerd, just decided I want to see it and if I had to wait for someone else who wanted to go, hadn't already seen it and was available with cash to go when I wanted to as well I may never have seen it. Certainly not with the limited time I have left!

I think I did quite well securing myself a centre seat in the top balcony for £18, no complaints for me when full priced I'd be looking at £50 plus, and I got upgraded to the next level down when I got there too.

It was a bit of a night in for me really, I had a glass of wine, got comfy and waited for the scantily clad (read why I cannot understand why Mark didn't want to see it) show to begin. The Cambridge theatre itself, is the youngest theatre in London, only opening in the 1930's and having fully been restored in the 1990's. Apparently its one of the prettiest...least to say it is not. It got an Art Deco feel but its almost non-existent.

Anyway the show was great, lots of singing, a bit of dancing, and it was quite cool what they were able to do with minimum props and no set or outfit changes...bar a few shoes and choice jackets. The hot guys doing the dancing was particularly good, definitely getting my fair share of hot men viewing at the moment.

I have to say my favourite was the husband Amos Hart, who did a great rendition of Mr Cellophane, but the gorgeous burlesque feathered fans for the entrance and exit of Mr Billy Flynn, who only cares about money was a lot of fun to watch too. The Roxie was actually the original Roxie from the original show when it started at the Aldwych Theatre near the Strand.

And that was that...I was home tucked up on the couch by 8pm that evening, so it really was like a trip to the movies...oh without the popcorn.

Photo of the Day No.22 - Chicago

"I know a Girl", who is "A Little Bit of Good" and a little bit of "Class" and she has a "Funny Honey" who she said is "All I care about". She could do a "Tap Dance" and the "Cell Block Tango", but she cried ok "I'll be good to Mama", but "I can't do it alone", it will be better if its"Me and My Baby"! It was so "Razzle Dazzle" and "All that Jazz"!

GLEE!!!!

You'll love it or you'll hate it...but frankly anyone doing this little ditty, has gotta make a TV show just a bit sexy!!! Oh except for the fatty bloke who does it and they make fun of him on You Tube...(sorry dude, so not sexy)...

PS though am also hanging out for new series of Mad Men!!

Photo of the Day No.21 - Alas this is beyond exciting....

But, we move out next week and our cupboard is a little full...sort of. However, despite that this photo will remind me of the yummy food...hummm the Dorset porridge...Bistro gravey...um no it will just remind me that I should have eaten this long ago!

Photo of the Day No.20 - To the Right..

Is the sign for the exhibition at the British Museum for Moctezuma, which Mark and I visited tonight after work. This was to explore the history and highlights of the great Mexican ruler, his life and times in the 15th century and how it all came to crumble with the Spanish arriving in search of the New World.

Personal Space people....get your own!

Riding the tube around London can be traumatic at the best of times, for multiple reasons, such as over crowding, its usually too hot, tourists, people who insist on getting on before others get off, rucksack wielding people, loud headphone music, weird people, people who smell (various combinations of people who are weird, smell, are loud and look funny), and of course summer under-arm nose-stuck-in syndrome. However, most...most... of the above doesn't bother me, but people in MY SPACE does.

I don't require much space and am not greedy about the space, in fact am usually the one willing to dive head first, screaming "pretend your a sardine" onto a rush hour am train. Seated though, now seated is a different story. When you have one of those coveted plushy velvety seats, that is your own 40 square centimetres of commuting heaven - foot area and head space included. Once I get this space and I find I become more territorial than a swan with cygnets!

I am not greedy about it either, as a reader I like to tuck my arms back but inside of the armrests. I willingly give my fellow commuters full armrest usage, are they grateful, mostly yes I would say. I keep my bags under my feet or on my lap.

So when you get the wide legged womb envy men or the squash bits with leg up men, you suddenly lose leg room. Me Peeved - indeed.

Then there are the, just how much more than over the arm rest can I go, you can almost read the thought bubble above their head as their elbows dig deeper into your arm. These people - oh yes women and men, young and old - get my bag pushed ever so politely up to the armrest to redefine the boundary of the armrest. The newspaper encroaching sorts; "ooops", up goes my book right into their paper, no "oh sorry" needed on my behalf, clearly their paper shouldn't have been there. The loud music players, staring them out works a treat, doesn't usually take them too long to work out why I am staring.

Am I insane, nope, just a normal commuter attempting to do so in peace in guidance with polite tube etiquette, that fortunately around 90% of people abide by. I just wish that such un-written etiquette, such common sense, would prevail for that 10% of people who lack, common sense.

Photo of the Day No.19 - Reduction in Chaos

Certainly a slightly different picture from Photo of the Day No. 1 when chaos ensued and we had Lisa's Living room nightmares. Now its just a little sad and rather empty.

Photo of the Day No.18 - Scary Movie Fog

Spooky!! St James's Park this morning amongst the first serious winter fog that we've had this year.

Gone for a Walk - Hyde Park

A couple taking a lazy sunday stroll on the Serpentine

Building reflection in the ICE...on the Serpentine

Me in the Italianate Gardens

Mark, the ever reluctant photo subject in the Italianate Gardens

Swans, and lots of them

A cute... if that is possible Canada Goose

They're prepared this year!

This was simply the most massive Swan I have seen, its a bit hard to tell here though

Kensington Road, with the classic British phone boxes

Gloucester Road Tube station with the old Metropolitan Railway signage.

Wanted gorgeous gals to drool over SEXY Male Swans

That was me, Jade and Shauna, and drool we did, the principal dancer was a hottie, especially in shiny black leather when he is the stranger in Act 3. There are no words to describe, just subtle groans and lip licking all round...mmm mmm.

We sat 3 rows from the front and were delighted in the fact that we could hear every step, see every wobble, every muscle ripple, every rivulet of sweat, oh and the smell. Yes, but it wasn't bad, it was all baby powder to make them white for swans.

Photo from the Internet....Swans...

Aside from the hot muscly guys in the Swan scenes, the show it self was extremely modern and actually terrifically funny in some places, particularly the dancer who was the girlfriend. We got the giggles, she was so funny. I won't give anymore away, you'll just have to go and see for yourself.

The Matthew Bourne, Swan Lake at Sadler's Wells of course!
Jade and I with birthday cocktails for Jade
Me, with Jade and Shauna
My Russian doll, Olga...I named her just then... who contains 5 other ladies, Aleksandra, Helga, Irina, Mischa and Nadja from Jade's Russian Xmas and New Year

Photo of the Day No.17 - Hyde Park Italianate Gardens

The sun was shining, what better excuse to get outside for a wander around London. With both exhibitions I wanted to see unavailable we made do with a walk through a family fest that was walking through Hyde Park.

Ducks, geese, pigeons, swans, skaters, boarders, bikes, buggies, joggers, walkers, footballs, couples, families - it was all there. This photo here is of the Italianate Gardens towards the Notting Hill end of the park.

Followed up with a lovely Sunday Roast at The Prince Albert on Gloucester Road before some shopping in Harvey Nichols whilst Mark went home to watch the football.

Photo of the Day No.16 - RED!

Afternoon tea at the Lanesborough; champagne - check, tea - check, crust free sandwiches - check, min tea cakes and scones - check, .... co-ordinated red nail polish - check!!!!

Photo of the Day No.15 - 6 weeks on...

And Amelie is more adorable every day! We are going to be roomies soon so there will be more photos of this little munchkin soon too.

Photo of the Day No.14 - From Russia with Love

A gift from my friend Jade who went to Russia for Christmas and New Years. We had them out before we went to Sadler's Wells to watch the Matthew Bourne "Swan Lake" as a treat evening for her birthday, and watching the hot dancers was so "present" enough!!

Photo of the Day No.13 - Angel

It snowed amazingly today, what a nice suprise, but rather than another snow shot, this little angel Darcey gets my vote as my photo of the day. Ain't she precious?

Szu-Yuens.. Wedding Birthday Bash ..Tule overload!

Szu-Yuen didn't want to do just an ordinary birthday, she was pretty keen for an excuse to watch her wedding video a few more times.

So no your not seeing a crazy wedding without the grooms your seeing a bunch of girlys with a damn good excuse to dress up in wedding and bridesmaids dress's. AND eat cake and listen to LOTS of ABBA. We certainly did watch the wedding too - which was lovely, but also Muriel's Wedding too.

It was a hilarious afternoon.

Cakes, home and handmade by Szu's herself
The Birthday Girl!!
Crazy brides and belles...
The full monty!
Mari with cakes

Katy and Natasha, 2/5ths of the the Ladies who Lunch

Photo of the Day No.12 - Lost on the tube

It appears I am losing my way, as my time here dimishes so does my ability to tell which tube can I take to get home. The Northern Line was unaccessible the way I normally go home, so I went to take the Victoria line one stop and swap - to save time.

Turns out I went the wrong way, added 15 mintues to my journey. I blame the lavendar oil fumes, I had just had a massage. Sigh.

Photo of the Day No.11 - Ahhhhhhhhh BOXES

I dream of this logo....its not a good thing.

Photo of the Day No.10 - Muriel's Wedding

Am not sure much can be said for this, as you can see two brides, two brides maids...hmmm and what they are wearing, wedding from hell maybe? Nope "Muriel's Wedding" themed birthday party......enough said!

Photo of the Day No.9 - Tourist Day

Mark and I went to Covent Garden to the Transport for London Museum and ALL I got was this lousy photo of an old bus blind.... Nope there is more.

But, check that box, it was on our to do list and I was fascinated and managed to spend 3 hours there, how I don't know quite how, maybe its because I read EVERYTHING, am becoming a nerd, I will be trainspotting next.

Photo of the Day No.8 - Girls Night

There is nothing to say here....we had a great girly night at Jewel Bar Covent Garden then after Cinderella hour, Shilo and I ended up at Buddha bar, which I must say aside from impressively massive Buddha statue was actually terribly boring!!

Burr, its damn BEYOND freezing out there

Well its not getting warmer, parts of the UK are colder than Moscow. Jadey if your reading this you really needn't have bothered going to Russia for Christmas, but I am grateful as it appears you've brought the weather back with you. I certainly don't mind walking around in the "minuses" when it is snowing, and we are expecting more snow over this weekend....YIPPEE!!