Tag Archives: life

sweet

So last night I was out and about. No where grand but on a Ghost Walk in the City. It was excellent. I learnt (and have already forgotten) quite a few nifty facts about death (some corners have pretty grisly tails of hanging and murder) and also of life in London many century’s ago.

As much fun as the time spent trooping about was the most memorable part occurred well after the walk. Just as were leaving the place where we had grabbed a bite to eat and to defrost fingers and toes. A lovely young man went down on his right knee and asked his girlfriend to marry him right in front of St Paul’s Cathedral. It appeared she said yes and it also appeared that she was delighted! I base this on the hand across her mouth, a nod and then a fairly impressive kiss! awwww sweet.

It was quite amazing to see this from a far, and I guess also to see such a momentous question being asked. Certainly it will be the closest I will probably get to that particular question!

It was so incredibly sweet.

film: you win some, you lose some

Going to see a film can be such a delightful pass time or it can be honestly the most excruciating 90minutes. In the last week I have had both experiences.

Shall we start with the win?

The Kings Speech actually managed to live up to the vast amount of hype, yards of press and bulging awards haul. What a funny and lovely film about a mans determination to be better – certainly the future King George was portrayed as rather quick witted and a doting Dad of two very well behaved little girls. Who knows how accurate it is. However definitely an enchanting film for a Saturday night!

Sadly though less luck was had with “Never Let me Go” and now that I have seen it and googled it, done appropriate due diligence I should have known better. It is based on a book by Kazuo Ishiguro who I have previously tried to read. His novels always have great reviews, much like this film – but generally they are completely indecipherable. Boring and detailed and most of the time just plain weird!  There was another sign – Keira Knightly was in it. She has the inability to enthrall me. She always jolts about and looks like a wooden doll – a beautiful one but really there is no fluidity in that woman.

So two films – one great, one….. well really really bad….

53 days ….

February – god its grim.

If I was ever asked to do a word association for London at the start of the calender year – the words would be grey, drizzle, cloudy, drab….. tripping off my tongue in a moment, without the need for a thesaurus or in fact too much thought. Grim, grim, grimmity grim!

And just as the daylight starts to hang on too the edges of 4pm…..Valentines Day arrives.

It is honestly enough to put you over the edge. The windows of every shop are adorned in red hearts, bows, cupids and there are 2 for 1 offers for those with a special someone in every restaurant. I must say even when completely loved up I would prefer a bunch of flowers on any day with the exception of the 14th of February. I must be in the minority judging by the love propaganda down Oxford Street today.

The good news is that there are only 53 days until April!!

The things you see on sundays

So these guys are hanging about near the Houses of Parliament in Victoria Gardens for the next month. They are called Nuestros Silencios by Rivelino a Mexican artist. They are in good company with the Burghers of Calais at the other end of the Gardens by Rodin. You have love these surprises on grey London days.

 

the holiday equation

Possibly not as well known to all as the E=MC2 but for those who respond to a alarm each morning like a Pavlovian creature, dash about with blackberry’s and iphone’s, and spend their days compelled to be connected this less famous relationship will be known.

For every week you have away from work you achieve a single day of zen like calm. So in my case – 3 weeks away = 3 days of a devil-may-care, calm, controlled smiley existence.

But on day 4 when the cheery alarm bleeped me awake – the realisation that while I was away my inbox absorbed more than 1000 emails, the deadline that was weeks away is looming next week (gulp!) hit me right between the eyes. That lovely bubble of calm was popped and I was back on the get-up-get-out meeting roundabout of no time and lots of demands.

 

hopeful in heathrow

So it may well be that the travel gods are smiling. I am currently sitting in Terminal 3 waiting for my flight to go from the “gate open 19.25″ to the lovely “go to gate” which hopefully will be followed by the “Plane Departed” status on time and without mishap.

The good old BBC has been full of stories – missed planes, missed weddings, missed Christmas’. And to be fair it is actually pretty grim until you get into the terminal building. 100s of people looking wistfully at signs that will seal their christmasy fate.

For those that don’t know Terminal 3 – I believe it was built by the worlds most misguided architect. What sort of crazy person builds an “open air” waiting area in this country?

While I acknowledge that snow and frost are not the standard fare even in the depths of winter – it is not exactly tropical in temperature at the height of summer either! And all of these people are being asked to mill about under an enormous glass awning waiting for the opportunity to join an outside queue, which will hopefully lead to a nice person and a boarding pass!

Anyway, I have been boarding pass and it is the standard situation in Heathrow – over tired children, people of phones and everyone looking like they have already been traveling for hours.

So with any luck I will see you on the other side of the world!

fraudsters

I have had a positive experience with a bank today. I know… who would have thought such craziness would happen in 2010!

Someone out there in internet land, or possibly at my corner restaurant actually, managed to steal my bank details and had tried to spend up big over the weekend. However, they were foiled! Foiled by some snazzy software housed in my bank. HA! HA-HA fraudster!

And boy did they try – whiskey, bills in Romania, computer gear, software, Facebook credits!

So tonight – I have no access  to cash…. that is not good… and err I can’t actually get a new card until I am back from Australia…. also not good…but I am super pleased that nobody managed to make off with my hard earned cash.

Ha-ha ha Fraudster

…but wait there is more…


Frosty berry

Originally uploaded by mscambridge

…..more snow that is!

I had the most lovely frosty, snowy walk through St James’ Park this afternoon. In that magic moment before the snow turns to slush or ice, and before the sun disappears completely so that the dark can return.

Every thing was dusted and yep – it does look absolutely, like icing sugar.

One of the magical things about snow is that you can close the blinds in the evening, and get up the morning and there it is. Rain you can here, sunshine doesn’t make a noise but the birds always let you know when it is there. Snow however just creeps in. And it makes everything different.

Life is quieter, slower for people like me who can’t seem to walk on the slushy footpaths and most importantly the light is better and brighter!

Nice.

yes prime minster

….. hysterical! Is the best way to put it.

I had the absolutely pleasure and delight of getting along to see the witty play based on the TV series. And while I knew it was funny with my new job it has taken on new meaning.

Just have to love the ability of the British to laugh at themselves!

this year I …..

started it in Tullamarine in Melbourne

finished a job with thoughts of heading home….

found another job which I still like

moved into my own little flat which I love

went to Barcelona (twice), Turkey, Finland, DC, Ireland

tried on a date or two with no luck :(

took up pilates and yoga to give my running legs a break

committed to the idea that champagne will always be the drink of choice

discovered that I do need to spend time looking after myself

next year I…………..