31 May 2006

Say What?

Something you just don't think you are going to see in the London Underground...

a buddhist monk in his red gown & shaved head.

Thought it might be rude to take his picture. But really, he was there yesterday as I was heading home. Then again, you do see all sorts at the St Johns Wood tube station!

30 May 2006

I have to admit that I'm kinda sad that I didn't fully take advantage of living in Kilburn while I was there. I didn't check out all the restaurants or pubs. And now that I've moved, it's more likely that I won't. Perhaps this summer.

What prompted this 'sadness' is the fact that I met up with some people last night at an Indian restaurant just one block from my old house. And it was inexpensive and darn good! What they day about Geeta is true - it's quite plain in decor, but the food is like that which you'd get in a home. It's not as English as most Indian restaurants...catering to the tastes of the local neighborhood. Instead of being very hot, it is spicy. Instead of being very heavy, it's just flavorful. And it was really very inexpensive! R. & I spent around £30 TOTAL and shared a starter (masala dosai), had two mains & two beers each.

After the dinner, the group headed to the North London Tavern (just a few blocks away). We had a beer here & just enjoyed the company. While it's not the best pub ever, it'd be nice to have it in Cricklewood as our local. Sigh.

So, if you ever get to London and want a decent meal on the cheap & good beer, check out Geeta & the North London Tavern. I'd say it's worth the detour!

29 May 2006

The First Game

Yesterday we had our first cricket game. It was a decent day...it wasn't raining (which it has been for a while), there were bursts of sun and it wasn't uncomfortably cold. We seemed 'on' and excited about playing. I certainly was.

We started off fielding. I play in what is the equivalent to the outfield (if you only know baseball) in a position known as deep square leg. The reason I play here is that I have a good arm. I can usually make it to the wicket from the boundry in only a bounce or two. And on this game day I got a LOT of work. Our bowlers (pitchers) were giving them some lovely shots to hit in my direction. On the positive side, I was told that the other team didn't try to get an extra run cause they figured I'd run (throw) them out! After 25 overs (each over is 6 bowls), we took a break and it was then going to be our turn. They scored 149.

Next came our turn at batting. I was the second batter. While I did fine in the beginning, I made one big ol' mistake and got out. It was a great throw by the bowler. Still...ya never like getting out. We had a few good runs but didn't get to 150...we made it to our 25 overs and scored 107. Happy we got over 100 runs for our first game (the other team was more experienced)...but hope we can get even better!

26 May 2006

The Rock

What is it about engagement rings that make people so crazy? If you do a search on google, you'll see that there are thousands of sites dedicated to selling this one piece of jewelry. Amazing.

The wonderful thing about the UK is that people don't have the expectation that you are going to have a HUGE ROCK on your hand. The majority of people have a nice diamond and many people actually choose to have a different kind of stone as their engagement rings. And I think that is cool.

When you check out American sites though...bigger is better! Even the pics they put on the sites are shown as larger than they truly are...cause you wouldn't want to be seen as having one that is tiny, would you? And two months salary as a guide? Crazy!

I do have friends who seriously wanted more than a one carat diamond ring...irregardless of the cost or the fact that it might make more sense to save some of this cash for other things. Yes, I do realize that it's an important piece of jewelry for some...that you are going to be wearing it for the rest of your life...but have you ever tried to actually DO SOMETHING when you're wearing a big ol' honking ring? It's kinda tough.

What goes through my mind is the fact that I'm going to be sharing money with my new hubby...his money & my money will be melding in a lot of ways. So if he spends £5000+ on a ring, it takes away from money we could spend as a couple...say helping pay for a car or putting it toward our house downpayment. I just want something simple. Something that is an engagement ring...but a ring that I can wear for life, that won't get in the way & one that doesn't detract from our ability to pay for a really cool honeymoon (travel is more important to me than jewels).

So I'm hoping that when I go to the States and meet up with friends and family, that they don't grab my hand, take one look at my modest ring (that we'll be buying over there) and give me that look...you know the one...the one that say, oh, so he just didn't have the money to pay for a ring...or the, oh, your fiance is just too cheap to spend that much money. I HATE THAT! Cause marrying R isn't about getting a diamond...it's about our lives together. He's neither cheap nor poor - we just figure that there are more important things in life than carats!

25 May 2006

'Dem Blogs

I started writing a blog after reading a few that made me laugh. I've been reading a few for quite a while and decided that it was my turn to write about my life. I didn't really care if anyone else read or made any comments (which is good as no one has left a comment yet for me!), but I thought it'd be great to share my thoughts to anyone who might care and especially to leave my thoughts as I go through this great journey of love and life. I want to be able to look back and see what I was thinking just months or (hopefully) years ago.

When you read a blog that has been going on for years, it's cool to see how people grow and change. I have two favorite blogs which I've read for a while that follow the lives of two women. One is recently married, one is still single...and both of their journeys are interesting to read. You should check them out: http://thesmitten.ivillage.com/love/ and http://thisfish.ivillage.com/love/.

They then led to me a few new blogs which I am beginning to read religiously (darn them!). The first is a food blog. As a complete foody, I LOVE going on there to read a new idea or recipe. Such yummy stuff is on offer. If you love food, you have to check out: http://www.nosheteria.com/.

And then finally, while spending time on ivillage, I found my latest blog...one that supports 'women power'. Her latest blogging was very similar to the one I just posted yesterday...about women and viewpoints. Grrl Genius is very fun to read.

I hope to find more and more blogs that strike a cord. While it does take away from some of my day to read them...it's like a little present each day. Sometimes there's a new post, and I'm thrilled, sometimes there's not and it heightens the anticipation!

24 May 2006

Smashed

I recently read a book that was very poignant. It's call Smashed: Growing up a drunk girl by Koren Zailckas. While I was one of those girls who didn't drink in high school (aka 'the geek'), I remember how my friends reacted to drinking and that 'freedom'.

So many of us start out our lives feeling quite good about who we are and how we look...children typically don't feel fat. But then, at least in my generation, the focus on looks and popularity and doing the 'right thing' started...probably around age 13 or 14. So many girls went on diets. So many slept with guys to feel attractive and okay. So many pulled away so hard from their parents that their heads were spinning.

What is it about our society that allows young women to feel so lost. And so much so that they need to turn to alcohol and other drugs to hide from these feelings of hurt & anger. Why are we told to be nice and good, and that looking perfect is part of that? What is it that makes us want to get 'smashed'?

I know women who just haven't grown from this yet. They still see themselves as awkward teens. I know women who still, in their 30s, drink to feel okay at a party or to be able to flirt better. And I know that I was that way for so very long. The things we learn in adolescence has such a strong hold. And the scary thing is that the message is being sent earlier and earlier...we have 12 year olds getting pregnant, 11 year olds in rehab, and 9 year olds dealing with eating disorders. How do we stop this? Or is this the route that eventually will cause us to implode? I don't have the answers...but I know that if I have a little girl, I'll work my darndest to make her feel okay for as long as I can. I'll never, ever, talk about diets or being 'fat' or anything like that. And hopefully, she'll grow up thinking that everything is not about looks...that she's more than that. And that she can BE.

23 May 2006

I coach a youth field hockey team (or just hockey as they call it over here). The girls are aged around 11-13. It's such an interesting age for girls...for the most part, they are completely self-absorbed at times, have a tough time focusing (even during a game), are more interested in how they look and scattered. But not always and not all of them.

Yesterday we had our one and only day of games. We were playing a group of young ladies from a local British school. Let me tell you, it was not pretty! The girls on the other team have seen the game and played in PE since they were able to run around. My girls on the other hand just began to learn the game this spring. We only had about 10 practices in total...have you ever tried to learn a sport? It takes a while. But on the good side, they had a lot of fun learning something new & we may be able to get them to play in the senior teams (high school age). So we'll build up this sport to make it better.

A cool thing that happened is that a large number of parents showed up. And they brought treats. Cup cakes, oranges and fruit bars were exploding all over the place...juice dribbling down their faces which were caked with chocolate icing. It was good to see the kids NOT dieting at their age but enjoying treats while they still can!

So we lost and tomorrow is our last training session. I'll miss them...while they can be almost like typical teens, they also can be utterly sweet & look up to a grown adult woman who pays attention them. It's nice to be a mentor of sorts...even if it's just about athletics.

22 May 2006

Hi, Ho, De, Merry-O, A walkin' we shall go...

It was Saturday night. A time when most people are planning to go out to dinner, drink at the pub, watch a movie, read a good book or curl up at home with a loved one. That is exactly what I would have wanted to do...but I had to go on a walk.

Saturday night, five of us from work met up in Hyde Park to take part in the Playtex Moonwalk. We met around 8pm and found a space in this huge tent.



We were excited about doing the walk. We felt we were contributing to something worthwhile...something worth giving up a Saturday night of fun and sleep...and potential pain!

The fun thing about the walk is that you are supposed to decorate a bra. We did not like the ones that they sent (you really need a sports bra for this sort of thing), so we decorated our sports bras. We had a USA sort of team - all red, white & blue with flashy bits and feathers...quite special I tell you. But there were all sorts of funny & funky people with some great designs. From a bra that looked like boobs (nipples & piercings included), to eyes and more, there were some fun themes. Here's one person who was sitting next to us...and yes, even men did it!



We began around 11:40-something in the evening. And we vowed to stick together through blisters, bathroom breaks, water stops and stretching. And we did. We started the walk in Hyde Park and began the walk toward the river. We went along the river on both the south and north banks and headed toward Fulham & Kensington at different times. We laughed at jokes, sang all sorts of songs, talked to people we didn't know and made fun of the drunks who came out to cheer us on (and we thanked them too, but boy were they out of it!). I took a bunch of pics, most of which are blurry due to walking & pic taking...but you'll get a sense of how the light changed in our 8+ hours. I'm sore today. But boy, it was something to do. And we'll never forget the strange man in the spotted shirt and his clingy girlfriend...there are just some things you ought not to do in public! (ask me about it if you want!)

To see the flicker show, just check this out: Flicker Show

19 May 2006

Break in

It's 9:30pm. Roy & I are just about ready to go to bed (it was a late night due to Arsenal game the night before). And then he gets a phone call. It's A. My old flatmate.

A. I can't get into the house. The chain is locked.

L. What? How did that happen?

A. I think someone is in there.

L. Shit. Call the police.

A. No. I want you and R. to check it out first to make certain I'm not being idiotic.

L. We're coming, but you really ought to call the police.

Now I'm quite peeved that this is happening. I'm exhausted from this week...I just wanted an early night with lots of sleep. I was feeling ill from being so tired. And R wasn't so pleased either. But she's our friend, so we're heading over.

We get there and, yes, the chain is locked. So we call the police and talk to our nice neighbors who let us wait inside their house. The police come within 10 minutes (which is very reassuring)...in fact another set come 10 minutes after that. They cut through the chain to get in and do a search. The place has been turned upside down.

We have to wait for another 1-1/2 hours until the crime division come to try to get finger prints. And then after that we can check on stolen stuff...cause we're not allowed to touch anything.

Luckily none of the big stuff was taken - A's computer, our big screen tv, etc. But we both lost a couple of gold jewelry items. My high school class ring, my gold watch that was given to me on my 16th birthday, a gold bangle from Italy and a few other cheap gold things. Nothing that mean much to me (or else they would be with me at R's place)...but still, my stuff that I left there was all mussed up.

So, we finally left the house and took A. to Roy's. We emailed our bosses and told them we'd be in late. And we slept in a bit, had coffee and cereal & took the bus in. And now sitting at work, a bit more tired (but happy it's Friday), I'm glad that I've moved out and that A. will be moving to another place in one month. Sigh. Living in the city can be hard...but they haven't broken me yet.

18 May 2006

Ewwww!

As you may recall, I typically love riding on buses and trains and the like. Typically. But today, my people watching came to an ugly conclusion. I got on the tube in West Hampstead as per usual, rushing to get a seat in the car up front...usually there aren't seats so if you see them, you rush to them! Ahhhh...comfort. It was especially lovely as I was wearing a pair of high heeled boots (it's cold here today...rainy and in the 50s/60s). And then I began my people watch. I've gotten quite good at being subtle about it. But today, there was no need for caution...the person I looked at first didn't seem to know that he was in a public space. Why do I think that? Well...he was picking his nose. At first, he started by rubbing the side of his nose, as if it was itchy. Not a problem, we all do that. And then the finger went in...not too far, but definitely in. And then he went to town. And played with the results. It was like a train wreck...I just couldn't look away. And just as we were reaching my stop, the finger went into the mouth.

As I gagged and left the carriage of the train, I wondered what it is about being on public transport that makes someone like that feel like he's in his own private world. Didn't he notice that there were people around. I mean, come on, I know a lot of people do pick their noses, but they do it in the privacy of their own homes...with no one else around. Ick. What are we teaching people these days?

17 May 2006

SWEET!

Last week, my boss came to my office to ask me if I would take on some extra work in the fall. It related to what I was already doing, but would still mean I would have more to do each day. I thought about it and decided to take on this new task. I expected that I'd make an extra thousand pounds or so in my salary, but she let me know just yesterday afternoon that I would be getting an extra 1/5th of my salary for taking that on. Yes, a 20% RAISE! Woohoo! What this means is that I will have the money to pay for my honeymoon - any honeymoon I want...so R. can't use expense as a deterent to any of my potential plans. Woohoo!!! This rocks!
(But ask me again in the winter after I have to bring work home yet again!)

15 May 2006

I went to see the movie 'Confetti' yesterday with my old flatmate, A. We were kinda excited about it. In case you haven't heard about it (not sure if it's being advertised in the US or basically anywhere other than the UK), here is a synopsis of it:

Three couples compete for the mantle of Britain’s most unique wedding, with a £500,000 house and a massive photo spread in top wedding magazine Confetti at stake. Fitness enthusiasts Josef and Isabelle want a tennis-themed wedding while Matt and Sam go for a dramatic Hollywood musicals theme. And Michael and Joanna, a pair of naturalists, want their nuptials to be a celebration of the environment. Interfering wedding planners make sure that each ceremony has its fair share of hiccups in this hilarious comedy.

It's meant to be a 'mockumentory'...it was filmed freefall style, with no script. The idea is based on the company, Confetti, which focuses on wedding information. There are even stores around the UK.

And to be honest...it wasn't good. It wasn't bad, but it certainly was not worth the £8.80 that I paid to go see it. The idea was fun, some of the scenes were cute (loved the wedding planners...they ruled), but overall it was just way to amateur feeling. Which is a shame cause they got some great actors...ah, well. The one thing it did do is remind me that it's not the wedding that matters, it's the marriage...the couples were most happy once the whole thing was finished.

So...if the movie makes it's way to your city or town...I wouldn't go. But rent it. It's cute enough for that.

12 May 2006

FLR

It's official. I'm allowed to stay here and work for the next five years...unless, of course, I get fired or something like that. In which case I guess I'd have to get a spouse visa after marrying R. It's an interesting world, the one of the expat...we have to get visas to live elsewhere. Some people don't understand this. They think that if you live in the USA that you ought to be able to move whereever you want. Nope...you have to have something to offer to the country that they think is important enough to let you in and stay. A pain for all those Anglophiles!

So I went to the Home Office in Croydon yesterday (had a lovely 9am appointment)...it took two trains, a tube ride and some walking to get there...yup, left about 7:15 and got there around 8:30. But found the place.without too much difficulty. I was let in immediately (there was a line of people waiting for appointments after mine) and started the whole process. First you get in a line to check in. You need to have your application and all other paperwork with you or that's it...you are sent home. But I had everything. So then you are sent to pay for the visa. You get to pay the grand sum of £500. Glad that work is paying for this one (which reminds me I have to turn in the receipt!). Then off to meet with someone who will decide your fate. I had to wait about 1/2 hour until my number was called and then met with him for 1/2 hour. And I was approved! Then sent away for one hour or so while they do what they have to do to your passport. I returned and waited one more hour until I got my passport back. And then I was free.

So now I have my further leave to remain for 5 years. Woo hoo! I'm a Londoner!

09 May 2006

Fat Days and Holidays

I am having one of those days that EVERY woman knows about (even the stick figure ones)...yes, a fat day. Normally, even if I want to lose some weight due to not fitting into a skirt I love or having eaten everything in sight, I quite like my body in an overall sense. It's been good to me. It helped me play some fun sports, helped me play a sport that got me into an Ivy League university, has gotten me some good ol' lovin' and has allowed me to continue doing the stuff that I enjoy. But today...I'm not loving my body. And I know it's my own darn fault. I have given in to the diet monsters. I have eaten crap, drank like a fish and not done an ounce of exercise in the past few days. And on top of that...I'm frickin' premenstral. (Sorry guys)

So...what's a girl to do when she's having a fat day and she has to go to work? (Cause otherwise she'd just sit at home in sweats) Well...first of all you put on cami clothing. Yup, a good dose of black and a skirt that hugs in the right places and not in the others. You work hard to have a GREAT hair day and your makeup must be perfect. You laugh a little louder. Drink tons of water. You don't go for the chocolate and stay away from that worker who ALWAYS has brownies on her desk. And you find some way, any way, to get a little exercise in, even if it kills ya! And so that's the plan folks. I will do what I was meant to do all last week but didn't...eat in a healthy manner and go to cricket training for my exercise. And I'll focus on things other than my body. It'll be tough. And I won't like it all that much (other than cricket). But I'll do it.

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On a side note - got some information from a few places in India about weddings in Kerala. I kinda like one of the companies as they are suggesting some interesting things - like a Mehendi ceremony for me or a night and ride in a houseboat along the backwaters of Kerala. I always wanted to do something different. Now if I can only convince him that spending some money on this will be worthwhile...he's such a boy!!!

08 May 2006

Good for the soul, bad for the body

I had a great weekend. Absolutely fantabulous.

Friday afternoon: it all started out with a 'friend' from work inviting me to hang with her gang to celebrate her birthday. Now this group of people have not really done much to make me feel welcome. They haven't done anything recently to make me feel unwelcome, but a few had in the past. And yet, because I'm friendly with the birthday girl, I decided I wanted to go and hang. And I had fun. The group was lovely to me and made me feel part of it all. I had to leave earlier than any of them, but that was okay. I'm happy that I went.

Friday evening: I met R. in Golders Green. We were going to friends for dinner. The guy has played cricket with R. and the girl is his fiance. We all get on quite well. We arrived, carrying some wine & cheese & crackers (always a welcome combo). And the binge commenced...lots of jambalaya, salad, cheese, crackers, pudding (desert) and wine up the wazzoo! It was a glorious gourmet feast. We left by taxi at around 1am. And happily passed out soon thereafter!

Saturday day: we did next to nothing. We made food (again) and just relaxed. We went food shopping to get even more food. And cleaned a bit. We ended up watching X-Men (1st one) as I want to go see the 3rd in the series and R. had never seen it. We weren't hungover either, which was amazing considering the bottles of wine that were consumed.

Saturday evening: It was Quiz Night at the club. R. was part of a team & I was one of the scorers. I helped along with two hockey/cricket players (female) and the daughter of the quiz master, Jim Carter (hubby to actress Imelda Stauton who stopped on by to say 'hi'). Another night of food and drink plus lots of social stuff. When Jim introduced the scoring table, he had to announce my engagement...which started all sorts of hoots. We left at a more normal time this evening and had a booze fueled sleep.

Sunday morning: I decided to make homemade pancakes...no mix or nuttin'! And they turned out okay. I was quite pleased and will do it again some time in the future. R. went off to his folks house and I was left to watch "Girl with a Pearl Earring". What a great afternoon...though it was marred with the fact that I had to do some work. Then R. returned to watch Arsenal kick some tush & make it to 4th place, thus guaranteeing a return to the Champions league. Woohoo. We also did a touch of cleaning (well, I did a lot) and R. cooked dinner for me. We finished the night watching Invasion & Lost. Once again, a lovely evening.

So - too much food and drink...but lots of relaxation & fun. And now...it's back to Monday.

05 May 2006

Checking

R. & moi are lying in bed, as per usual, and just snuggling. L. notices that R. is rather pensive. And so she says...

L. So, what's up?
R. I'm just thinking about things.
L. Like?
R. My new job, our relationship, fears.
L. What are you scared of?
R. Well, it's not really scared, maybe concerned, maybe just checking.
L. Checking?
R. Well, I always do checks about our relationship to make sure I'm doing the right thing. You know that I love you and that I am totally committed to marrying you, but I have to do these checks. I ask myself am I doing the right thing. Yes. Do I love her. Yes. Do I want to marry her. Yes. Will we most likely have a great future. Yes. And then I'm fine.
L. Hmm. I think I "checked" about 5 times in our relationship...early on, that first January after our first argument, February of this year when I was worried that you were going to break things off and your parents were being crazy mean about things...and of course when you asked me I did it instantly. Do I think about our future? Yes. But do I question our happiness or potential? No.
R. I know it's strange, but it's something I do. But know that I do love you. I just worry about my parents and what affects they can have on our relationship.
L. Honey - we get to choose what effects they have on us...if you & I decide that your parents WON'T have an effect on us, then it won't. We hold the key here.
R. I'm still worried.
L. I know.

Until I get married to R. his parents will have a hold on him and our relationship. It's so frickin' frustrating that this won't go away. I know it will have effects for life and that's one of the things I'll have to deal with, but I feel for R. He so doesn't want to make them unhappy...but he's going to have to. Or else make both of us unhappy. Ugh!

04 May 2006

I received my first brochure for weddings/honeymoons at a "destination"...we are looking at Maritius, Indian (Goa & Kerala), Kenya and South Africa. We have thought about actually getting married at these locations but not sure as of yet. My parents may want to see me get married and offer to host a wedding and reception. I know that R. isn't interested in a church type wedding so I'm not sure how it would work out. This is one of those areas that we have to deal with as he's non-religious and I grew up in quite a religious family (even though I'm not into going to church either).

I'm trying to look at the pros & cons of each place we're thinking about...and doing as much research as I can online. Gotta love TripAdvisor. I can check out the comments of people. And of course I've gotten clicked in to a bunch of 'wedding' websites that cater to UK folk...so they write about these destinations. I checked out one American one and most people there stick to the Carribean, Hawaii and US locales (or Europe). So, hopefully we'll get enough information to make some decisions after our trip to the States in June/July. We'll need to book so that we can get the resort & time that we want (I think April of 2007). For a research geek like me, it's all sorts of fun! Can't wait to get more brochures that I can mark up for R. to look at after he's dealt with the fact that we're actually doing this marriage thing! ;-) Maybe it's time to go online and register at other sites...

03 May 2006

I hate diets. I hate the idea of dieting. I had some food issues back in college so that I never want to go back there. Basically, my field hockey coach told me I was too fat. Yes, she told this to a 19 year old who had just lost a bunch of weight. I was probably 5' 5" at that point (I grew in college) and probably weighed about 130 lb with 22% body fat. Does this sound fat to you? So I decided to lose even more weight. I don't know what I actually weighed, but it's only due to beer that I kept a reasonable weight on...I ate next to nothing each day - a few bagels or some veggies. And then the woman had the nerve to have the captain come up and talk to me about losing too much weight when I hit 21. Are you kidding me? How much can you mess up a female's mind?!!!

So after that I decided that I would no longer go on diets. Of course, I have, but nothing as insane. And I still hate them. But the problem is...I've gained weight. I moved over here weighing in the 130s and am solidly in the mid-140s. I don't care about weight but I'm also not able to fit into clothing that I love and want to keep...plus shopping for bigger sizes really sucks! Especially in England as you are already 1-2 sizes larger to begin with (a size 10 in US is a size 12 or 14 in UK). And I know the reason I gained weight due to boy. Yup, spending so much time cooking with him and being served insane portions that he's encouraged me to eat has done me in. Yup - it's HIS fault. Okay...I recognize it's my fault but it's easier to take it out on him!

So...I decided to join Weight Watchers. And modify it. There is no way that I can exist on the amount of food that they want me to eat. It's insane. But it's making me look at my food differently - I am eating WAY more veggies...and cutting back on sugar...and eating smaller portions. And I am actually recording my food on the website. Whew. Hopefully I can keep this up and six months later I'll weigh my 'old' way. But in the meanwhile...I'm not on a diet. I'm just watching out for my health. (gulp)

I have started a specialized blog to write about my progress. I want to keep it separate from here, which is more about life & living. But if you want to check it out, please do: http://ukyankee.extrapounds.com/.

02 May 2006

The Long Weekend

There have been a lot of good things about coming to work in the UK. For example, meeting the man of my dreams who I'll be marrying in the next year or so. Another example is the fact that the attitude toward socializing is much more relaxed...we even have small gatherings with alcohol AT work quite regularly. And if you wanted, you could hang with the 'gang' every Friday night (not that I want to or do...but I could). And finally, one of the best things (outside of meeting R.) is the fact that we have amazing vacations over here. Just yesterday we had a day off. Yup, another long weekend. And there will be another one at the end of the month. It's great! In my field, we typically get decent vacations anyway, but here it's even better (in my view!). So...what did I do with my time?

Friday: left work at around 4:30pm. R. was having his 'leaving do' to celebrate his last day at his job. I met him at the Princess Royal near Old Street station. I was the first there, at a pub with a bunch of servers and only 2 other customers. But I had smartly bought a paper & so got my vodka and tonic for the wait. R. showed up about 15 minutes later. Along with him, and soon after him, came his workmates. Now...imagine...a large number of IT guys (plus one woman) all together. Quite a sight, eh? I had fun chatting with them about R. and getting all sorts of dirt. R. decided that it was a night for him to get completely smashed as I was there to take care of him. Woohoo. I finally got him to leave 5 hours later so that we could get some food...he was blotto and couldn't really tell me where to go so we ended up at the first curry house along the way. It was fine, but I had a challenge of keeping R. on task and relatively quiet. Finally, we finished our food (it wasn't all that great) and got on the tube. Here I had to support R. (no seats) and keep him awake. I certainly got to laugh a bunch of times, though I have to admit I got a bit frustrated at points. But he's taken care of me plenty of times, so he rightly deserved the chance to go all out. I finally poured him into bed where he proceeded to snore his night away.

Saturday: Time for a walk. I left Cricklewood at around 11:30am for a picnic in Hampstead Heath. I brought my map as I was going to walk over to Hampstead and then down toward the southeast end where a bunch of friends were gathering. Hampstead is a rather interesting place...not at all on a grid system. So I winded in and out of roads, getting a touch turned around at times and ended up much higher up than I expected. But it was lovely. The houses there can be so quaint and pretty. And while it was up hill, I knew that I'd hit the 'down' soon! I went to the outdoor market & purchases some lovely looking raspberries for my meal (I decided to go on a diet after the night before...Weight Watchers, here I come!). In and out of roads, finding paths to where I was going. Finally, I found the path I was looking for and 1 hour and 30 minutes later, I was at the picnic site. There I was joined by the hosts and eventually by 7 others, plus 2 babies/kids. We ate some food (I ate more than my berries I'm afraid...bad dieter, bad!), laughed and wine was poured (I was good and had a very small glass).

R. did not join me as he had a cricket match...and I had promised to come and see some of it. So a few hours later, I went on my merry way, walking toward the cricket pitch. I missed seeing him bat (46 pts) but was able to get there before the end. His team won. Which was good as he wasn't feeling particularly well at that moment! Hee hee. We hung out with the team for a bit and then headed home to cook. I was going to make a lovely Mediterranean dish but we didn't have any tomatoes, fresh or otherwise and I wasn't in the mood to run out. So instead I decided to use the salsa and make a Mexican meal with roasted peppers & onion to boot. And it turned out quite nice too!

R. decided that he would join me in watching "The Chorus". He's not really into independent films, but this one he truly loved. It's the story of a boy's school for 'bad boys', a few years after WWII. A teacher arrives who treats them compassionately and who begins a choir. He saves a few boys along the way. It was wonderful. A good ending to a great day.

Sunday: The boys went out to play cricket, so my friend, G., invited me to go shopping. We met at noon at TK Maxx (like TJ Maxx in the States). We tried on all sorts of things, from dresses to shoes to tops to skirts. And we each found a few things. G. found a lovely blue polka dot dress that fit her to a tee, as well as a cute stripy top that would be great with jeans or a black skirt. I found a pair of shoes with a wedge heal that ties up around your ankle...it's tan with little flowers on it...different than anything else I own. I also purchased a black & white skirt with a bold print, a 1/2 sleeve sweater with embroidered flowers and a black tank sweater with white trim that will go well with the skirt or almost anything else. And it was all for £75! The price of a decent pair of shoes. I was chuffed. We then walked over to the mall. There we didn't find any clothing, but were able to get some jewelry. In a fit of accessorizing, I bought two pairs of earrings and 2 necklaces that were on sale at Mikey. As I don't own too much jewelry but wanted to branch out, I was pleased with my purchases.

I ended my Sunday with R. We didn't do too much as we were both tired.

Monday: R. & I went to the Science Museum. I think we're a bit too old for the place in a lot of ways, even though we did find a few things to be interesting. I was disappointed that they had removed the psychology section, but did enjoy other parts. We left after about 2 hrs, which was just in time as it was getting packed! We had been thinking about heading to the Museum of Natural History but the queue was huge. Nah...not worth it, plus R. was dead tired. So off to home it was. We rested a bit, ate some leftovers for lunch, then went food shopping. Finished the day watching Arsenal win though one of their young new players got nailed and may be badly hurt. I cut R's hair to be ready for his new job today. And then off to bed. It was my favorite part of the day...we chose to go to bed 1 hour early so that we could lie there and chat. We end up talking about so much more when we're in the dark and lying there. It was a good cuddle and then off to sleep.

Yup, a good long weekend. Hopefully the week will continue with this trend!