Tuesday, 30 October 2007

I heart Sweden 26th - 28th October

Last weekend was spent in Sweden to see C&H and to celebrate C's Birthday. It's one of the best weekends I've had since moving to London and a big thank you to C&H for having me stay.
Arrived late on Friday night and went for a quick drink but was too tired to enjoy it and we ended up heading home. Up at a reasonable hour on Saturday and off to the markets in Lund as I mentioned to C once or twice (or twenty times) that I was very keen for one of her world famous breakfasts - it was every bit as good as I remember!
C, H and H's brother T and I then went off to visit the citadel at Landskroner, the link is to the google earth map of it which looks pretty cool.
C&I at the Citadel


Then into Landskroner for a an excellent lunch at one of the local cafe's - cesar salad swedish style (no cesar dressing but delicious all the same) and a very wicked piece of chocolate mouse cake which is worth going back to Landskroner for!
Back to C&H's for some champagne and then more brilliant cooking by C of Moose with red wine, mushrooms and bacon. Absolutely supurb and the moose was so tasty everyone's plates were scraped absolutely clean! Some red wine to follow up and an excellent night had by all.
On Sunday it was off to the park for a BBQ, the day was absolutely freezing but it was still great fun. I can't remember the last time I've been near an open, outdoor fire (proved by the burn I have on my thumb, lesson: don't touch hot things).



It was all over far too briefly and then back on the plane to London.

Monday, 8 October 2007

Month Seven in London

September has been about getting back into a routine after possibly the most indulgent few months of my life.
Although I must admit after a few months of indulgence a little structure in the day can go along way.
It's the most amazing feeling being able to take every travel opportunity when they arise but it's certainly a hard bump coming back to the reality of working, especially in the fast approaching Winter in London. I am loving all the visitors so please keep finding excuses to come to Europe. If anyone decides to live in Europe that would be even better.
There were a few highlights this month with C and H coming over for a visit. We went to Providors as usual and it's always so good - just like a cafe at home. I'm looking forward to taking J&K there when they're over in December.
I keep going to write that the next few months should be quiet but it's just not the case! I'm off to Sweden to see C&H for C's birthday at the end of the month and then a horse riding weekend in Wales with A and D. There will be fireworks at that one as well as it's Guy Fawkes weekend.
A few weeks after that J&K arrive in town and I can't wait to see them. My itinerary for them so far is mainly based around eating and drinking but they should be used to that! Then off to Scotland for Christmas which I'm really looking forward to but a bit nostalgic at the same time as it's been a very long time since I missed a Christmas at home.
My daily life is just sort of bumbling along 9 to 5 and still doesn't feel like I'm that far away - it's mainly starting to feel like I've been very slack and haven't seen anyone in ages. I'm even coping well with sharehouse living (although if you told me I had to do it forever you might get a different response). There are quite a few things that have stopped mattering to me quite a bit as well - I never thought I wouldn't be cooking but I hardly do it know - it really just falls into the too hard basket.
I keep having great aspirations about making sure I actually see London and England while I'm here but I am doing a fairly ordinary job of it so far. I haven't actually been outside London in England yet which is a bit shameful. I've been meaning to go to the Portrait Gallery and St Pauls for about a month now but other fun things on the weekends just keep getting in the way!
I've even started to get caught up in the World Cup and clapped and groaned through the match on Saturday in a pub dominated by England supporters - although I have to say they were quite good sports afterwards and only went on about it a bit. I can't believe that New Zealand is out - the Kiwi's at work are devastated.
There was a spare ticket last night to see Pete Murray and it's the first time I've really been surrounded by a large group of Aussie's and it was actually quite nice. I come into contact with very few Australian's here and going to She Bu to see Pete Murray felt about as Australian as it comes. Still not a huge fan of his music but it was a good show all the same and I can now say I've been the Shepherd's Bush Empire along with most of Australia.