And some more.....

My lovely Valentine's Day surprise, complete with eucalyptus leaves because I was feeling homesick...awwwww :) Thanks baby. This was followed by a lovely brunch at the Ruby and Sequoia in Notting Hill. Eggs benedict, my favourite!

These ones are for you Mum. The All Saints store in Notting Hill is filled with singer sewing machines, this was just a fraction of them.

Lovely chicken and briyani at Fakhreldine in Mayfair. Followed by a few cocktails at the bar ;)

A few weeks ago we took a Sunday drive to the coast at Whitstable. Lovely little seaside town but very very cold day!!

The beach.....

Warming up in the car after the obligatory lunch of fish and chips in Margate!

Our new best friend Tom. He has saved many an argument over which lane to be in, which direction we should be going, and even what the speed limit is. What would we do without him?

Photo Updates...

Ok I know I have been more than a little lazy blogging lately, so here are some photos of our adventures over the past couple of months to make up for it!

Paddington tube station, completely empty on a very very cold January Sunday afternoon.

The same day, frozen canal in Little Venice. The day after we saw on the news that a couple of young hooligans had tried to drive their car on one of the canals....someone didn't get in the right line when they were handing out brains.

One of the boat owner invited us in for a look at his home on the canal. Not sure if he just felt sorry for us because it was so cold....but was interesting all the same!

The National Theatre all lit up in green and gold for Australia Day. Go Aussie!

James with his mate Hamlet in Stratford-Upon-Avon, the home of Shakespeare. We headed there for a weekend in January, about a 2 hour drive out of London and a beautiful quaint little town.

Stained glass at the church where Shakespeare's grave is located.

The house where Shakespeare is claimed to have been born.

Anne Hathaway's cottage.

Gorgeous peacocks at Warwick Castle on the drive home.

The British Way

Since arriving in London there are certain things that I have come to know and expect and in some cases love. These are, in no particular order:

• Sandwiches will ALWAYS contain copious amounts of mayo and/or cheese and bacon, despite the package saying it's a 'healthy option'.


• A get-together almost always involves some form of alcohol.


• The coldest Australian winter day = quite pleasant almost heatwave proportions UK winter day.


• The TFL website is never to be trusted - either it says the tube is down when it isn't, or it isn't when it is (the latter being far more annoying).


• There is always something to do...and I do mean always, it is London after all.


• The bus past my house will not come every 7-8 mins despite advertising the fact quite blatantly.


• The weights and nutritional values on most food packaging are either hidden or non-existent.


• It will always be socially acceptable to make jokes about the Aussie in the room, even in professional situations (twice and counting...).


• There is always a fab deal on offer for good restaurant food, every cuisine imaginable.


• The Brits love weekends. If they aren't telling you about the weekend just gone or what they are doing for the next two, they are asking you the same. And I feel guilty if I have nothing planned, the looks that accuse me of wasting my weekend are too much to bear!


• People on the tube insist on reading the newspaper despite being squished in like sardines, which often means I can also read the newspaper. At very close proximity, no glasses required.


• It will almost always take you a third longer to get somewhere than you expected (see point about TFL).


• Eggs Benedict, sadly, is often left off the standard breakfast menu *sigh*.


• People look at you strangely when you say thank you to the bus driver (common occurence back home, not so much here).


• Chocolate Horlicks, although an ok substitute, will never replace my Milo!

Homesick

This past week I have been very homesick, especially with Australia Day looming tomorrow (or today back home). Australia Day's past have seen me spend time with my best friend and her family, generally having a good old Aussie bbq, a few vinos, followed by a walk to nearest high point to watch the fab fireworks in Perth. Bonfire night eat your heart out, Skyshow beats you every time.

But this year it is cold, grey all day and dark at 4pm. I am craving the beach, some sunshine, some warm weather, a good Aussie cafe breakfast and flat white, some humour I understand without having to ask what it means, some chocolate that isn't so full of sugar it feels like my teeth might fall out, but most of all, I miss my friends and family.

Adding to all of this was the horrendous time I had trying to get to work last Friday. I left the house at 8am and didn't arrive at work until 10:15am (normally a 40 minute trip). I got to the tube station in the morning only to discover the line was going down and the train on the platform would be the last for the morning. Running down the stairs I was grateful I hadn't yet heard the beeping indicating the doors would be closing imminently, and jumped on the train, barely managing to make room for myself. I breathed a sigh of relief that I wouldn't have to find an alternative route to work.....and then was rudely yanked out of my little smug glow. Literally yanked out. A guy behind me on the platform pulled me off the train by my jacket and stepped on in front of me. I was a little in shock and stood there staring as the train doors closed and it pulled away from the station....leaving me behind. I decided to let it go and not let it ruin my day, as angry as I was. I then waited while 4 buses went past and didn't stop because they were so full (everyone had by then figured out the tube wasn't working). Deciding the bus I was waiting for was a lost cause I crossed the road to wait for one going back the other way, got on one and I was away. 30 minutes later I got to the closest tube station that was open....only to find they weren't letting people into the station due to overcrowding. Which meant another bus ride and then a tube before I was finally at work. By this stage it had definitely ruined by day!

London....this week you have beaten me! Next week, hopefully I will get my own back.

Snowy Wimbledon

Wimbledon Park....not a womble in sight :(

Some of the local kids have made these giant snowballs which are littering the park.

We also discovered this dodgy snowman, it's the one on the right!

Swans waiting for some bread in the icy water.

Frozen lake in Wimbledon Park

Wimbledon Village

Wimbledon Park Golf Course

Another 10cm is forecast for today so though we would de-snow

the car so it's not completely iced over!

Night snow

More snow!!!

Tuesday morning we woke up to a blanket of white fluffy snow! And by last night more had fallen and we had a good 4 or 5 inches. The car is snowed in (covered in snow plus the road snow bound), the footpaths are icy and the buses are struggling to get up the hill. But amazingly the tube is still running.....trust me it's a miracle! So unfortunately we still have to go to work, no snow days for us. But more heavy snow is expected tonight so fingers crossed for tomorrow....here are a few pics from the last couple of days.

Morning walk to the tube in our street.

Frozen lake in St James's Park.

In the park near work at lunchtime.

St James's Park, with the building where I work in the background.

Our car, second from the left.

Sun coming up this morning over Wimbledon.

This morning's walk to the tube.

NYE 2010 - Kensington Rooftop Gardens

We had a FABULOUS New Year's Eve :) :) We had friends Matt and Louise come to stay with us from back home so wanted to do something special. We booked tickets to attend the NYE party at the club at the Rooftop Gardens in Kensington. It was a very slick, well organised affair which we would definitely attend again! We were met on arrival with a lovely raspberry shooter, before heading upstairs to receive a mini bottle of Moet as we exited the lift. After a short wait to check our coats we were ready to party! Which we definitely did with champagne and mojitos all night, some dancing, and a little trying to keep warm outside in the gardens!

The gardens.

The gardens.

Deluxe mojitos, yum!

Fireworks at midnight.

And to top the night off, it was snowing as we came out of the club at 3am! Oh and the club had kindly organised mini cabs for its customers so a few steps into the cab and we were delivered straight to our front door! This is the way to celebrate NYE :)