Morocco

Am looking forward to visiting Morocco very much. These pictures were taken by Larry Broder (via Maryam in Marrakech). I hope the photos that I take live up to the ones that I have seen by other photographers.

marmaSOIREE

Finished work at 6pm and duly trotted off to Jermyn Street to attend the very first marmaSOIREE. Despite leaving the office slightly later than I intended, I somehow managed to arrive at 6.20pm. I'm not sure that this has ever happened to me before and it caught me so much off guard that I stood under the clock on Jermyn Street trying to remember what I was doing. Oh yes. M1nt. Number 57. Only it appeared to be an office. Cue trying to balance hideously overstuffed handbag on one knee whilst digging through make-up bag, novel, spare ballet pumps (in case 4" heels got a bit waring), purse, crumpled receipts, tampons, packs of paracetemol and the other assorted paraphernalia that I persistently carry around on a daily basis to find my diary. Squinting to try and read my scrawl I see that it does indeed say 57. I peer through the door. It's definitely an office. "Are you looking for M1nt?" I turn around and another marmaREADER is standing on the street behind me, indicating the (now very obvious) stairwell to my left. "I think it's down here."

I follow her down the stairs and we are asked to put our coats in the cloakroom. I have only got my one handbag, which I am clearly not going to be leaving in a cloakroom, no matter how nice the venue. Which means that I spend the rest of the night hauling it around and having to negotiate all manner of rubbish every time I need to hand out my card. Note to self. Next time attending any kind of event, bring two bags. Lucy and Julia are on hand, both looking gorgeous and I start to regret having not changed out of my work suit into something, I don't know, more inspiring. Or less suit like? Never mind, something to remember next time.

Lucy hands me a complimentary cocktail voucher and asks me to put on my name badge. It is only later in the evening that I realise that everyone else has put their first and surname and their occupation/job. I have written, in slightly crooked writing, 'Rachel'. Thankfully I remembered to bring some cards with my details on though, so all is not lost. I collect my pink diamond cocktail and start chatting to a girl who looks vaguely familiar. We introduce ourselves and I realise that she is Danielle Proud. We chat for a while and she tells me about her book, House Proud, her Topshop line, her forthcoming BBC 2 show and her husband's new bar and I realise two things. That these networking events could actually be really useful as well as fun, and that if I ever want to get out of the job rut I have landed in, I really need to get my act together.

I spend the rest of the evening talking to a variety of interesting women and learning about their choices and businesses. I make arrangements with Janey from Fit for a Princess to sort out my vitality and Georgia from My Fashionista to do a wardrobe analysis. I catch up with some of the girls from the Fulham WI and have my photo taken by the marmaphotographer. I speak to a few girls who went to the same university as I did, one who photographs dogs (pawtraits) and many who are in fashion pr and personal shopping. Evreryone is friendly, enthusiastic about their business or job and willing to give and take advice. It is not how I thought networking events would be. There is real passion, real desire, a real drive for women specifically to succeed. Everyone is nicely dressed, groomed and no-one gets drunk. And then the place starts to empty. Girls leave for supper reservations or to meet up with friends. No-one outstays their welcome or hangs around looking for free drinks. Goody bags are civilly collected at the door. There is no grabbing; everyone there has manners and isn’t afraid to use them. It was enlightening. And the cupcakes were fabulous.

Wedding Bells

Rather a heavy weekend, this one. Friends over on Friday night. Frisbee on Primrose Hill on Saturday afternoon. It was so warm I ended up stripping down to my t-shirt. In February. Bought salami and bread and lemonade and ate them sat on a bench watching people walking up and down the paths, some with dogs, some with babies in prams, others with small children in tow, couples laughing, in love, couples arguing. Some singles and many families. All enjoying the rather unseasonal warm sunshine. And then we meandered back to the house, walking down Regent's Park Road. All the tables outside the cafes full, people talking and laughing, drinking coffee and reading the Saturday papers. So very London.

And then to Angel on Saturday night, to an engagement party for some dear friends. Who asked me if I would be a bridesmaid. Which I am honoured to do. And so we partied until 4am, first in the pub and then in a friend's flat, celebrating the bond which links two people, which draws them together and convinces them that they should spend the rest of their lives together.

Valentine's Day

Hope everyone had a calm and peaceful day yesterday, with or without valentine. Back just as soon as the computer is.

For M

The highway is full of big cars going nowhere fast

And folks is smoking anything that’ll burn

Some people wrap their lives around a cocktail glass

And you sit wondering where you’re going to turn

I got it.

Come. And be my baby.

Some prophets say the world is gonna end tomorrow

But others say we've got a week or two

The paper is full of every kind of blooming horror

And you sit wondering what you’re gonna do.

I got it.

Come. And be my baby.

Maya Angelou

Pause for thought

You may have noticed that I haven't been able to make many posts over the last few days. Sadly the computer has had to leave us for a while to be mended, so have had to resort to using a friend's computer to check my e mails. So the post about women and children will follow when the computer has returned. For those that are interested, I apologise for the delay.

And in other news, friends of mine got engaged last weekend. So very exciting. Am looking forward to the enormous party we are going to hold in their honour. The ring is beautiful and I am so pleased for them. On the same day though, I found out that a friend from a long time ago had given up on her desperate battle with a mental illness. Days like that rather put all other more mundane problems into perspective.

Have to hand back the computer now, will be back as soon as possible.

The Year of Living Gorgeously

Via Maryam in Marrakech I discovered The Year of Living Gorgeously. It is full of tips and recipes and ideas as to how to make your life and your house gorgeous. They also run monthly photography competitions, in which I have entered my photographs of Regent's Park. Ihope they will not mind me using their photograph above but I just love the way that the books are colour-coded. I might have to try that myself...

Regent's Park (2)

What a difference a day makes! These photos were also taken in Regent's Park on my way to work this morning. Back soon with the woman and child post.

Regent's Park

Just another quick post tonight as I have some other writing to complete (my next marmaladya article and the post about women and children). Have been trying to walk to work every day at the moment; I took these photographs in Regent's Park yesterday morning and was very nearly late as the sight of the sun on the trees and buildings in comparison to the frost on the ground and the low lying mist was rather beautiful and distracting. If the weather forcast is anything to go by tonight, I will be able to take some rather different photographs tomorrow...

Monday

I was hoping to post something about my views on whether or not a woman has a right to have a child, but it will have to wait for a couple of days as I am rather busy and I haven't had the time to research it properly. Was going to begin writing it yesterday but ended up participating in a marathon pool playing afternoon. Sunday started well. After my walk up to Parliament Hill on Hampstead Heath M cooked supper and we watched Pirates of the Carribean - Dead Man's Chest which was very enjoyable. We managed to get another reasonably early night and as we had friends over for lunch we got up early and finished off some clearing up. 8 of us crowded into the kitchen and had a beautiful meal of sausages, yorkshire pudding, bubble and squeak patties and salsa followed by cheese, biscuits and apple pie. Despite being rather full we headed to the pub to watch the football (or in my case, read the Sunday papers). Once the football ended we started playing pool and only stopped when we asked to leave. A lovely afternoon but what a mess at the flat!

So this evening after work I elected to come straight home work rather than attend the WI meeting (as I hadn't been feeling too well all afternoon) and make a start on the clearing up, so that we can relax properly. We are also about to eat - a far more reasonable time than usual - so I had better be off.

Hampstead Heath

Hampstead Heath at sunset. Post regarding a womans right to children to follow.

Erg Chebbi

The planning for the Marrakech trip continues, sporadically, when I get a chance. So many things to sort out. It's no wonder that people simply book all inclusive holidays with flights and hotel and insurance. It's been fun doing all the research ourselves though. what I can't find though is the information that I am looking for regarding hammams. Some things I've read suggest that one needs to take ones own bucket, soap, scrubby things etc. Other accounts I've read would indicate that you just turn up and pay and it's done for you.

The other thing which I am really looking forward to is the camel trekking. I've been in touch with 2 other people who are joining the same trek and it is making it all seem a little more real. I've also been trying to research the area and what we can expect to see. I believe that we will be driving over the Atlas Mountains which may well still have snow at the highest points. We will continue our drive until we reach a village called Merzouga and from there we will pick up camels, trekking out into the Saharan desert and the sand sea of Erg Chebbi. We will sleep in a nomadic style Berber tent and then trek back to Merzouga the following day. The picture above is of a camel train near Merzouga. I hope to be able to post some photographs of my own on our return.

But for the moment, back to reality and back to London. I am writing this whilst watching In Her Shoes but as TJ is also cooking, I can't hear it too well. I will have to wait for an evening on my own and I will watch it again. Have been trying out a DVD service from Blockbuster, which is free for two weeks. It is one of the offers which can be sampled here at the free gifts website which I mentioned the other day. I signed up for the offer on Monday and had three DVDs in the post yesterday which I then post back, in pre-paid envelopes, and I then receive the next three DVDs on my list. An excellent service and well worth at least a trial.

Just one more thing to mention: won an Ecover tea-towel which arrived out of the blue yesterday morning with a note attached stating that I was a winner in their December newsletter competition. A lovely surprise and a much better way to start the morning than today (when I was woken up by a phone call at 9.30am and was late). I left early enough yesterday morning to walk to work through Regents Park in the sunshine. Although it was cold it was not unpleasant. There was some residual ground fog over the field which was being slowly burnt off by the sun, backed by the grand buildings in the middle distance and the more blurred office blocks in the far distance. A much better morning 'commute' than getting the tube!

Elle Magazine

Yes, I know that I said that I'd kicked my magazine habit, but I actually had reason to buy elle magazine today. Following a link on the Marmaladya blog, I discovered that there was an article about Marmaladya.com and womens networks. I realise that this sounds somewhat narcissistic but it was very pleasing to see even the name of the magazine in print. And an interesting article as well.

Hilton Showers

Of course, one of the downsides to living in a rather small one-bedroomed flat in Primrose Hill is that we don't have a shower. Yes, we do wash, but in a less than full size cast-iron bath. In fact the entire bathroom is so small that one could, if one so desired, sit on the loo with ones feet in the bath and still be able to reach the 'sink'. And I say 'sink' because it is so small that it is actually impossible to fit a bottle of soap on it, let alone do anything so much as wash oneself. So, we make do with the bath. Out of which comes less than hot water and cools rather quickly in winter as the bath is so cold. Oh, the joys of being able to moan about it. I therefore get in and wash my hair before washing myself as quickly as possible. And then use an empty water bottle in an attempt to rinse my hair.

So this evening, after we had been out for an early supper at Carluccios, we accompanied M's father back to his hotel room at the Hilton where he 'lives' a couple of nights a week when he is working in London. Whilst he and M chatted and drank port, I availed myself of the bathroom and had an absolutely glorious shower. The water was hot and I managed to get my hair properly clean for the first time since I left my parents house a few weekends ago. And I feel so great. So clean and so warm. He also very kindly donated the toiletries to me, so that I have some travel sized portions to take with us to Marrakech. An excellent night all round.

We returned to our flat, which is not that much bigger than the suite we had just left. To TJ and M practising guitar and me to bed. Night night.

Free things

Have a look at this link. The way it works is thus:

Click on the link
Choose a gift
Participate in an offer (e.g. free trial of a product)
Pass on the link to others
Receive gift when you've received enough referrals.

What is there to lose? No credit or debit card details are needed, just an address to post the gift to. Have a look.

Weekend (2)

Not much to say at the moment really, other than I have a computer (briefly) at my disposal so feel compelled to write a quick post. Have one eye on Dawn of the Dead but given my usual disgust at any film with that much blood, I am disinclined to give it my full attention. At least a quick imdb search has satisfied my need to know from where we recognised Sarah Polley. I liked the last film I saw her in much better.

One rather better film I watched this week was Little Miss Sunshine which follows a family effort to allow their daughter, Olive, to participate in the Little Miss Sunshine Beauty Pageant. It manages to be both sweet and funny without being cliched or saccharine and features some superb acting especially from Abigail Breslin who plays Olive. She this week became the fourth youngest actress to be nominated for an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress.

Today has been a day of cleaning (mostly M) and tidying and (watching M) cooking and generally spending some time together as TJ was away for the weekend. It was thoroughly enjoyable and I am a little sad that it is now almost Monday already. At least the summer holiday plans are progressing nicely and we have also arranged a weeks yacht sailing with my parents. It will be excellent to be on the water again, as it is a long time since I have done anymore sailing than an afternoons meander on the Rock estuary.

TJ is watching me blog over my shoulder and has rather a lot to say regarding this evenings television schedule. I maintain that we ended up watching the Celebrity Big Brother Final having been reminded by the kind lady at Channel 4 that it was on. TJ maintains that I am hopelessly addicted to CBB and would have watched it regardless. The truth of which we'll never know, but someone was making noises over a desire to audition for the non-celebrity version and it wasn't me. Anyway, I digress. We had turned on the television to watch Shipwrecked in the hope that there might be someone so fit as Charlie Murray from last years Tiger Island. There are a couple of possibilities but I think it needs a few weeks to get going - if it manages to get beyond the racism debacle of last week.

And regarding CBB, it does make me wonder whether or not Shilpa would have won if it hadn't have been for the public outcry to Jade, Jo and Danielle's earlier behaviour towards her. Perhaps a more favouritable outcome for Channel 4 than necessarily for the people involved. In fact, it does make one wonder if the whole outcome wasn't contrived by Endemol... Was it not rather convenient that Jack and Danielle were evicted first, together, so that Davina could get her headteacher-ish 'interview' with them out of the way, once, before starting on the more convivial interviewing of the other celebrities. I guess that too is something we will never know either.

Right. Am off to bed. Once I can persuade M & TJ to stop taking photographs of wine bottles. Have a good week.

Weekend (1)

I know it's a little odd to be posting at 12.40am on a Sunday but I unexpectedly have the use of a computer, M & B are watching Fatal Attraction and E is sleeping on the chair beside me, so I thought I'd write a quick post.

One of the temps left work yesterday so went to an awful pub near work which seems to be a temp team favourite for some leaving drinks. Only to discover that said pub actually has an upstairs bar which is much nicer than downstairs and has an (almost full size) pool table. Played endless games of pool, the likes of which hasn't been seen since university, when we used to play almost every day. Had forgotten how much I love playing pool and was pleased that I could still play pretty well - or even 'quite well for girl'. What I wasn't so good at was the golf game where we played the front nine of Balmoral and I ended up nine over. And lost. Still, it was pleasant to spend an evening getting to know work colleagues a little better. Headed back to the house for supper with B, C, TJ and M. We had deep fried prawns with stir fry. Delicious. The mess still sat on the kitchen counter, not so much.

Spent this afternoon doing some more work for marmaladya.com and then met E for afternoon tea at the flat. Watched Dancing on Ice whilst E searched for holidays on the internet and had a lovely gossip drinking tea and eating choc. B joined us a bit later on and then M when he finished work. Headed to the Lansdowne for a pint and then back to the flat so that the boys could watch the football. And here we still are and I think it must be time for bed. A lovely weekend so far and there is still Sunday to come.

Thursday

Just another quick post as only have brief use of a computer. Been out in Angel with C, J and A and enjoyed a lovely girly chat over some wine. Was refreshing to discuss issues from a female perspective without trying to make ourselves heard over loud men. So it came as a bit of a shock to return to the flat to find it full of drunk boys all having shouted conversations with each other. I have retreated to the bedroom to check e mails and ponder why so many anonymous people think I'm (or want to be) some kind of Primrose Hill Princess.

I'm really looking forward to Marrakech and it will be an experience of a different culture. The very fact that their values and customs are so different to the liberal nature of life in England means that it will be an interesting experience. I'm particularly looking forward to the camel trekking as I have always wanted to see camels and visit the Sahara. I always find myself captivated by deserts and the people that live in them, when portrayed in books and film, and I am looking forward to meeting them and seeing how they live. I think it is a much simpler way of life, which will be a change from the business of London. I am aware that Marrakech will be busy and I expect to be hassled and for it to be hectic, but I think it will be different to that which defines London.

But for now, I must get some food and a cup of tea and head for bed, in order that I stand some chance of making it to my non-law, poorly paid job on time in the morning.

A few thoughts

Someone left an interesting comment on my blog this morning. They asked me why I can’t find anything else to write about except for myself. To which I responded that it was my blog, about my life, my thoughts and that this was quite clearly set out in the title box of the blog. And that if they didn’t like it, no-one was forcing them to read it.

I’ve been thinking about this throughout the day though and have come to a number of conclusions. On the one hand, it is my blog and one of my purposes for starting said blog was to record my life in journal form, for me, so that I can look back over my life, rather like one might with a diary, but in a more easily accessible way. And in its purest form a blog is a web-log of something. In this case, my life. But that isn’t the only reason that I started this blog. I wanted to have somewhere to ‘voice’ my thoughts and opinions; in a form which was in the public eye and could be the basis of interaction with other people and their opinions. I also wanted to get into the practice of writing on a daily basis and I’m not really sure if listing pubs that I drink in and places that I’ve been wholly satisfies this.

So, what things interest me at the moment? The racial arguments which Celebrity Big Brother dragged into the public eye and then Shipwrecked has cemented, both courtesy of Channel 4, interested me in a number of ways, but I refrained from writing about it because I thought so many other people had addressed the issue, many in a much better fashion that I might manage. For what it is worth, I think that ignorance and lack of cultural awareness are significant issues which the people of the UK need to address. Regardless of political stance, it is our duty to make people of all races and cultures feel welcome and at ease in the UK, whether visiting or living. Ignorance of the way that remarks are interpreted may be an excuse, but I don’t think it is valid one. And this worries me, because I think teens and twenty something girls (and boys) up and down the country will have made remarks similar to Jade, Danielle and Jo to people (of all cultures, races and backgrounds) they, for whatever reason, wish to belittle - without a second thought. Yet if anyone suggested that they were being racist, they would be mortified. In this fast moving fast paced commercially greedy society that we live, people are selfish and speak in the heat of the moment, without a second thought to how a remark may be interpreted. Though factual statements and thoughtless remarks are very different, I think it is important that people are allowed to have opinions and be allowed to voice them without being accused or vilified. And it is also important to remember the context in which something is said. (You see, someone else could definitely have written this better).

Another thing I have been thinking about recently is tied to the personal but applies widely and in many ways relates to the above comments. Last year, my youngest sister went travelling for 9 months. Before she went, I had given the idea of travelling passing thought at best. As a graduate with substantial law school loans to repay, it is something that I did not allow myself to dream of, more that I considered it in the abstract. I had been on holiday, toured around New Zealand after my degree and lived in California for 2 years as a child, so I thought I didn’t have an immediate desire to see the world. And what is wrong with England anyway? But as soon as my little sister was away and sending home e-mails, though, those thoughts began to change. When she began to describe situations that I couldn’t even picture and currencies I’d never heard of, I began to want to travel too. To see the world, experience different cultures and to meet people who had different priorities to me. The realisation dawned that I had never left the Western World. New Zealand, America, France, Spain, Denmark, Australia. All countries that were not my own, but all countries where I recognised the familiar. Alexandra returned safely and I continued giving travelling some thought. Then in January, my other sister Annie left on her own trip. She has chosen to travel the other way around the world and can be currently found in California (if one so wished). And so, when the offer of some flights emerged as a Christmas present idea I realised that I had been given a chance to do something different. I can’t afford to leave the country for a substantial period of time, just at the moment. Law school saw to that. But I can afford to use my leave to experience something new. So we decided to go to Morocco. It also helps that it can be relatively cheap to live there on a day-to-day basis, something which a holiday to Europe would not offer. So it hasn’t been chosen as a glamorous holiday destination, although the idea of shopping is rather pleasing, but as somewhere that we can experience a different culture. We will spend some time in Marrakech and then we are heading out into the Saharan desert near the Algerian border. Where I hope we will find some peace, maybe some inner peace and an experience which does not involve fast paced corporate life where people are too busy or too ignorant to be inclusive.

Marrakech

Busy busy trying to organise things for our impending trip to Marrakech to celebrate our 5th anniversary. At the moment I am waiting to hear back from a guide regarding trekking into the Sahara (the Erg Chebbi dunes near Merzouga) on camels. It's all very exciting and I can't wait to go. A trip like this, even for a relatively short period, takes more organisation that I had anticipated. Still, we're getting there slowly and having fun in the planning. Roll on the departure date...

The weekend

I'm tired, hung over, watching crap telly and very pleased that it's Saturday not Sunday. Spent last night in Camden participating in a pub crawl in honour of a friend's 25th birthday. It was fun, rather militant in places and lovely to catch up with some friends that I haven't seen for ages. Ended up walking home in the rain at 5.30 this morning and sleeping until 3pm.

Will write some more when I get a chance; still using other computers whenever I can, rather than just having one to use whenever I please, so postings will be short and sweet for the time being. Am using all my free internet time to search for accommodation in Marrakech. If anyone has any suggestions, please let me know.

Marmaladya

This week saw my second article published on Marmaladya. It is the first in the weekly series that I am writing about Primrose Hill and it was very pleasing to see it 'in print'.

Blakes

Spent Saturday evening at my sister's leaving party in Berkshire before heading into town to have a few drinks with my other sister. Ran into a couple of people that I knew from school but hadn't seen for years. Is always nice to catch up with old acquaintances. Have also got back in touch with a number of old friends from university, which is also pleasing.

Back to London on Sunday afternoon and then off to Blakes for M's work party last night. Was a lovely evening and I thoroughly enjoyed the food. I started with scallops, had black cod with ginger and miso sauce with truffle mash and then something approaching tarte tartin for pudding. All washed down with a glorious selection of wines. Well, you wouldn't expect anything less for the party of a wine merchants. Finally left the hotel at about 2.30am and rolled into bed sometime around 3am. And then dragged myself back out in an effort to be at work on time.

So I am sat here, writing this whilst M and TJ are cooking chili. It already smells wonderful and I am so hungry. I thought after last night's food I wouldn't need to eat for ages, but no, I'm starving! I think I might have a bath while I wait....

Travelling and Fortune Telling

And so the time has come for another member of my family to depart on a round the world trip. Annie and her boyfriend Alex leave next week for San Francisco. Lucky things. Still, I am consoled by two things; Alexandra made it round the world in one piece, so A&A should be ok and secondly, M and I have booked ourselves a trip to Morocco.

Speaking of sisters, this could only happen to Alexandra. She was invited to a work do on New Years Day at a local pub, an invitation which she accepted but promptly forgot about. She then managed to turn up at the correct pub at the correct time for entirely different reasons, yet managed to convince everyone concerned that she was there for the party. Only Al!

Spent last night in the Lansdowne with B, C, M and TJ. Was really nice to go to the pub for a few drinks instead of spending the evening in the house. Managed about 6 hours sleep and then went to a meeting where I ended up having my fortune read. I'm not entirely convinced about the whole thing, but it predicted I would earn more money and find more work, both of which are positive.I also have to look out for my blonde friend....??

Left of Centre

Took a policitical compass quiz today (via Rachel, as usual. I must start linking to some other people) and was very surprised to find myself on the left middle of the chart. I always thought I was more to the right. Perhaps my views on sex and marriage were the ones which tipped me in a liberal lefty angle. Who knows?

Once again, it's been busy. It was my first week back at work after a two week respite, so I was expecting the usual catching up but was unprepared for the chaos of things to be sorted out. I am just about back to an even keel but I am still far from bored. Or should that be far from idle?

Am missing watching 18 Doughty Street. Must get onto the insurers.

25

You may have noticed that I've had to update my profile slightly. That's right. The new year is a new year in many ways than one for me. On Friday, I turned 25. To most of you, that probably seems rather young. But not to me. 25 seems old. Somehow being in the 25 to 34 age bracket on the Vogue competition page is rather different to the 16-24. In the 16-24 bracket I could stay up all night, all weekend, spend money, travel and take up random new hobbies when ever I pleased. It somehow doesn't seem quite so appropriate. For this, I suppose, is the age bracket when I will, if I am going to at all, buy a house, get married, have babies and stick at a career path. I don't feel as if I have reached that age yet, which is perhaps why I am feeling the difference between 24 and 25 so much. I remember M's brother turning 25, when I was 21 and still at university. When I was worrying about dissertations and applications to law school, he had set up his own business, was about to buy a house, has been living and working in London for several years and had the (apparent) image and lifestyle to match. He seemed grown up and sorted out and knew what he wanted. He seemed old (not in a bad way either). And now here I am too. 25.

So I spent the actual day at my parents house in Berkshire, helping my sister run errands and sort out things before she goes off travelling in a weeks time. Because that's what you can do when you're 22. But I digress. We had coffee and bought beer for her leaving party and she dropped me at the station. Where I caught a train back to London and ran into an old friend who I had been trying to contact but had somehow lost his number. And then back to our lovely flat and to M. Who cooked me a wonderful supper of steak and mashed potato and red cabbage. And champagne and a present of a manuscript of a book pre-publication. It was a wonderful evening and so peaceful. We watched awful television (CBB and The Devil Wears Betty) and enjoyed being in each others company after a few days apart.

And then Saturday. A friend of ours has come to stay. He started his new job today and has the spare room until he has settled into his new life here in London. It is lovely to see him and an enjoyable change to our household. So we all dressed up and went out with some other friends, and B, because B was also 25 last week, and we have joint parties now that people really only will go out once the week after new year.

Cocktails in Trailer Happiness and then dancing in the Blag Club in Notting Hill. It was a great evening. And then home, with a few little incidents on the way, but nothing too serious. And then a lazy, hungover, sleepy Sunday before starting work again this morning.


Ps. Watch Rachel on 18 Doughty Street tonight at 9pm on a new programme about UK bloggers.

PPS. I have just noticed that it is another anniversary. Or rather, yesterday was. This blog is 6 months old!

2006

I like to make lists. Sometimes I even make them on this blog. Mostly, I make them in my diary, on the back of old bills that I really need to get round to paying, on white boards and in notebooks. Occasionally, I will work through one of the lists. Mostly, I write them and worry about the contents. Today though, I thought I'd write some lists of reflection.

The best things of 2006:

• M asking me to move in with him and then finding our darling (and grotty - or as Mum put it, 'genteelly shabby') flat in Primrose Hill;
• Starting my first proper non-temping job after university. And sticking at it for an entire year;
  
• Spending my first ever Christmas with M;
• Joining the Fulham Women's Institute;
• Starting my blog;
  
• Writing again and having an article published, thus leading to a 'job' as a MarmaReporter;
• Curing myself of my weekly magazine fix and reducing my monthly magazine intake to my Vogue subscription (and the occasional issue of Tatler);
• Being told by a designer friend that she liked my style and asking me to be her fitting model for part of her collection;
  
• Realising that, financial issues aside, I'm actually happy.

The worst things of 2006:

• Discovering that our flat was not as secure as I thought it might be;
• Receiving at least 20 rejection letters/e mails and the subsequent thought that I probably had enough of them in total to publish a book, at least in volume;
• Not doing enough to remedy my financial situation to a satisfactory level;
• Not acquiring a Training Contract.

Still, at least the positive definitely outweighs the negative. And all of the worst things are things that are, to some extent at least, within my control. I may not be able to create myself a job, but I can make a better attempt in my search. Likewise, if I can be determined and strong willed in some areas, there is no real reason why I can't stop shopping and start saving.

And for 2007?

• Find a Training Contract;
• Write a weekly article for Marmaladya;
• Sort out finances, filing, tidying and generally get life in order;
• Blog daily (subject to computer) and increase readership (perhaps by writing something more exciting than lists);
  
• Visit Marrakesh;
• Pursue my hobbies to a greater extent and spend more time surfing & sailing;
• Finish A's Christmas scarf;
• Get up earlier;
• Take more photographs and read more books;
• Stop worrying so much;
• Laugh more.
  

New Year

Arrived back in London on Saturday evening to be met by a very tired M. He had been partying for pretty much 72 hours straight (give or take the hours spent at work). We hurried round Waitrose and retreated to our house and our new set of (recycled) arm chairs. Either side of a small table we sat, watching television and eating spaghetti bolognese.

New Year started with an enormous roast dinner with B and C at lunchtime. M cooked beef, roasted vegetables and potatoes roasted in goose fat. It was so rich that there was no need for any pudding, which was just as well, since I hadn't made any. We drank champagne and saved the cheese course for much later. Another friend arrived later but unfortunately our other two guests called in sick with food poisoning. And so we spent the evening talking and drinking, and then at just before midnight, we climbed Primrose Hill to watch the beginning of 2007 marked with fireworks all across the London skyline. It was cold and rather muddy, and we could barely reach three quarters of the way up the hill because of all the people, murky silhouettes and excited chatter. And at the stike of midnight, no-one knew exactly when where we were, but they knew, down by the London Eye, fireworks began to explode and it looked rather like the blitz must have done, but with rather less noise, destruction and loss of life. And we retreated, back to the house, when our fellow viewers started to let off fireworks of their own.

New Years Day was a much quieter affair (I wonder how many people have written that?). Thankfully, the BBC had saved some much better television for this glorious of hungover days and we watched films and a surprisingly good version of the Wind in the Willows, drinking leftover ginger beer and the remains of the cheese from the day before.

Long Time No Post

Am still no nearer to being back on line, so I will be sporadic at best. I think most of London has returned to work but I have been enjoying my week of shopping, washing, tidying and sorting.

So, first post of 2007. What do I hope that this year will bring? A better paid job, perhaps even if the industry I am supposedly qualified? A new house, perhaps even our own? Better weather, more money, a more stable and equal world? I wonder.

And hopefully a new computer so that I can actually write something useful instead of bashing out a few sentences whilst frantically checking two e-mail accounts.

Back to London

Again, blogging when I get the chance. Back to London in a moment or two, just as soon as I get M's Christmas present finished. It's been a busy week, visiting two sets of families and assorted cousins and friends. Have braved the sale shops in Southampton (and actually found a nice coat) and have ordered my birthday boots. I am looking forward to them arriving.

And best of all? I'm not due back at work for another week!

Crime In Primrose Hill

Thank you to those of you who have been supportive over the last week. I always thought that Primrose Hill was a pretty safe area to live. I've only seen one mugging incident in the park and one smashed car window (for a phone, as the charger lead was trailing out of the window). But I have been doing some reading since last week, and I have discovered some disturbing facts. Crime is in fact much higher in Primrose Hill than almost everywhere else in Camden (especially where burglaries are concerned) and is the 5th highest in London.

Wat Tyler at Burning Our Money writes of his friend who lives in Primrose Hill and the repeated crime that he has encountered and the measures that some people have gone to cope with the apparent disinterest on the part of the Police. I can only comment on how we were treated but in response to M's call they appeared within 20 minutes and the forensics came first thing the next morning. Not that they found anything of any use on the door, just an ear and shoulder print. I've left them there as a warning to anyone else who might think of trying. There's nothing left of any value to steal.

Will try and blog as and when I get access to a computer but if it's not for a few days, Happy Christmas.

Stuck in the office

No time to blog at all as am too busy this week trying to sort everything out before Christmas. The lack of computer doesn't help matters either.

Scrolled down the page and saw that on Weds I had commented that burgulars were unlikely to be able to get into the house if even I couldn't get in. Well, they proved me wrong. I stand corrected. I just wish it didn't have to be pointed out to me in such an obvious fashion 2 days later. I think I will have to stop going on about it now. But still, it really makes me angry.

And another thing, there are lots of annoyed travellers stranded in various airports because the airlines have deigned to suggest that passenger safety is important and due to there being no visibility, the planes have to leave much bigger gaps and so less of them can take off and land. What do people expect? That just because it's Christmas and they want to go on holiday, that the weather will be great and there will be no chaos. Would have made a rather different film, wouldn't it, if in The Holiday Kate Winslet had become stranded at Heathrow and Cameron Diaz had been left circling before being diverted to Manchester...

Motorbike Man

It wasn't the lack of time which prevented me from blogging this weekend rather that a criminal broke into the flat on Friday evening and stole the computer. He kicked the locks off the main front door and then took a running leap into our flat door, shouldering it so hard that the locks both smashed off. The forensics came and dusted for prints. No such luck. They know that he pressed his ear to the door to listen and then shouldered the door rather than kicking it, as they found an ear-print and a shoulder mark. He took a paperbag with baubles and tinsel from the kitchen and the laptop from the desk in the other room. The police say that he would have been in there less than a minute and then he was off, discarding an item of my clothing that was in the bag with the baubles, past the damage he had caused to the doors, possibly picking up one of the locks, tipping a few baubles over a wall, dropping a few more in the gutter, loading our possessions into his motorbike storage hatch, meeting M's eye and then speeding off on his bike.

It makes me angry and it makes me sad. All that effort and damage for a computer. An average PC Notebook, fairly slow, no real software. A computer, a phone charger and some tinsel. What kind of a person do you have to be to spend Friday evenings smashing through doors that you have no right to open, so that you can look through stuff which never has and never will belong to you, even if you do take it. But there's no point wasting time on him. The thing to do is learn from it and be glad that it wasn't so much worse.

18 Doughty Street

Am watching Rachel on 18 Doughty Street and drinking champagne whilst I wait for supper to cook. Have spent the early part of this evening watching Cameron Diaz bounce around a rather orange and part labotomised Jude Law in The Holiday with T. Had a lovely evening and did enjoy going to the cinema, but did wish that the film had been a bit better written.

Am looking forward to my time off over Christmas, as I plan to do some more writing. This blog has no obvious political angle and I rarely write about current affairs, but there are some issues that I do have opinions on and would like to have some time to write (and research) them properly. I also need to start visiting and writing about the boutiques in Primrose Hill.

Again, a busy week. We are celebrating J's graduation tomorrow evening, another Christmas Party on Friday, a birthday party on Saturday and then a carol service on Sunday. I hope to find some time to myself (which increasingly means time to blog) at some point over the weekend.

This and that

Just a quick post as am in urgent need of some sleep. Went out for a quick post work drink with C and ended up at B's house having supper until 11pm. Taxi home and then spent ten minutes trying to unlock my front door. Still, I suppose if I can't get in with a key, it's unlikely that the burglars will fare any better.

Spent the weekend not quite managing to see my Annie. Work party Friday, work itself on Saturday, so finally managed to spend some time together on Sunday. Tried to have a coffee at Cachao on Regent's Park Road but left when they tried to make us eat some food in order to sit a table (after we had sat down). So we had a pot of tea at Le Tea Cosy instead. Bought a few presents and some tree decorations and then headed to Camdem to try and find some fairy lights. A successful trip to Argos - a rather unsuccessul attempt to make them work. Will have to take them back next weekend, so for the next week the tiny tree in his little red pot is looking rather bare and sorry for himself. But we couldn't resist him, especially as he is pot-grown, so we should be able to keep him all year, all being well.

Rachel has posted details of the last mass lone demonstration this year. Follow the link here to view what she has to say. I will try and write some more on this when I am not having to prise my eyes open to see the screen...

Georgina Coleman Fine Art

The above photograph is by Boyarde Messenger and further details can be obtained via Georgina Coleman Fine Art.

More on this later (as am very busy) but attended Georgina Coleman Fine Art's first exhibition last night. Featuring three very different artists (Boyarde Messenger, Sophie Morgan & David Hawson) the work was exciting and individual, filling the gallery space with the beautifully displayed photographs, line drawings and watercolours. I was particularly taken with Boyarde's work - and will write more on this at a later date.

Update: As promised, a quick update and I will republish this so that it is at the top of the page. To set the exhibition in context, Georgina Coleman Fine Art was set up by Georgina Coleman within 6 weeks. An article charting her story can be found here and I was sent some tickets to the preview evening. The gallery in which she chose to exhibit the work was in Fulham and although rather tiny upstairs was much more spacious down the extremely steep staircase. Georgina had chosen to display Boyarde Messenger's photographs upstairs, with watercolours on one side downstairs and ink drawings on the other. Although I enjoyed the other work, it was particularly Boyarde's work which I found most interesting.

The theme was clearly a celebration of women: most of the photographs featured a woman, usually naked. The picture here was one of three - each featuring different coloured knickers - and some of the most vivid. Most were black and white, or at least more tonal. My favourite however was of a girl (my age I suppose) facing away from the camera, in a wood, naked save for her wellies. Just the sort of thing that I think would look good in the bathroom. I think I might have a bash at something similiar myself...

Lennox Gallery (77 Moore Park Road, SW6 2HH)

Thurs 7 - Sun 10 Dec (10am - 9pm)

10 simple things you can do to help stop global warming

Via Mimi in New York. I hope that you can read it.

Christmas Parties

And so it was the dreaded 'office party' last night, at the hotel pictured above. A far nicer venue than we have ever been to before. The food was actually rather tasty and I had a much better night than I expected. After suffering terribly with IBS all day, I had feared that I would have to go straight home to bed and miss out on the one free evening that work provides. But I managed to get there nonetheless, with some of my colleagues and sampled the free champagne (ok) the free wine (terrible) and the one beer that our free drinks tokens covered.

The evening highlighted several things to me:

(1) Dress Codes - the theme for this party was 'smart/casual'. As my work is based in London and the majority of my immediate colleagues fall into the 25-35 age group, I decided that smart jeans, 'cocktail' shoes and a dressy black and gold top was appropriate. (And the latest Debrett's publication is in agreement). A number of my colleagues evidently agreed, as they too were wearing similar outfits. Other attendees attire ranged from jeans and trainers to pretty much full black tie via cocktail dresses, kilts and suits. On the whole, we appeared a rather motley lot, as no-one ended up looking appropriately dressed. Even the host's dress to my mind did not fit into a smart/casual code; I long for the day when this awful dress code is obsolete.

(2) Behaviour - I was surprised at how many of my colleagues did not feel that they should be taking to our overall manager. To my mind this is foolhardy on many levels. First, it is rude. To deliberately exclude someone from the conversation or by refusing to meet his or her eye so as to avoid conversation of any kind is unnecessary and hurtful. Secondly, in a work related context it sends a message to the boss that they are unable/unwilling to maintain any conversation outside their immediate social or work-level context. Translated into the office environment, a person who does not even talk to their manager at a party is unlikely to be remembered or considered for promotion or leadership roles.

I think I will leave the list there for now as I have tired of whinging and reflecting on negative things. Instead, I am thinking of sunshine and of the impending festivities. I have still to finish purchasing my Christmas Presents or write any cards. The first of ours have begun to arrive and we shall go and buy a small tree on Sunday, which I hope to decorate with lights and candy canes. Goodness knows where it is going to go - I think that we better have a table top one.

The sound of silence

Have just made it. This morning, when I finally managed to prise myself from underneath the sheets and into the bath, I promised myself that I would be home and in bed the same day. Much like cinderella, but with marginally less stress. So I am in bed and drinking tea, reflecting on the day and listening to the sound of London. I would expect to hear people, cars, sirens, buses. What I can actually hear is the sound of an occasional black cab driving down Gloucester Avenue whilst the church bell chimes midnight. The people upstairs move around softly and the water tank refills. Some nights, I hear footsteps along the pavement outside and muffled, comforting conversation as neighbours return from an evening out. Now, an engine idles outside and then turns off. Doors open, close and high heels tap up the steps. A key turns and a door slams and then it is peaceful once again. A few minutes later the sleeper train from Euston to somewhere northern passes along the railway track and another taxi can be heard softly, a door bangs and someone else is returning home; there are more footsteps, laughter and then silence falls once again. This is one of the things I love so much about Primrose Hill - it is quiet and dark and I can sleep easily. Sirens do not blare past the door every few moments, as they did in my previous flat near London Bridge, where the orange street light glow penetrated even the darkest curtains and fighting, shouting people crowded past my window. It's London, but not as you know it.

Spent the evening in a little Italian restuarant in Angel with C, A and J. Cheap but good pasta, wine and a free lemoncello with the bill, as the other girls know the manager. A lovely girly evening and not too drunk. Not like yesterday's antics. Met TJ after work for a couple of pints to celebrate his new job before heading to the art exhibition. And then out for a meal afterwards, just like old times. TJ, M and I, eating curry and getting drunk, spending hours discussing religion whilst the poor waiter just wanted us to finish eating so he could go home. And then to work, and then work again, and then, finally, Friday evening and the work Christmas Party. At which we are reminded that the usual standards of dignity and behaviour apply. I can hardly contain my excitement. Especialy since the dress code is 'smart/casual - the sparklier the better'... But one never knows, and the drinks are free. Perhaps it will be great.

Georgina Coleman Fine Art

The above photograph is by Boyarde Messenger and further details can be obtained via Georgina Coleman Fine Art.

More on this later (as am very busy) but attended Georgina Coleman Fine Art's first exhibition last night. Featuring three very different artists (Boyarde Messenger, Sophie Morgan & David Hawson) the work was exciting and individual, filling the gallery space with the beautifully displayed photographs, line drawings and watercolours. I was particularly taken with Boyarde's work - and will write more on this at a later date.

Update: As promised, a quick update and I will republish this so that it is at the top of the page. To set the exhibition in context, Georgina Coleman Fine Art was set up by Georgina Coleman within 6 weeks. An article charting her story can be found here and I was sent some tickets to the preview evening. The gallery in which she chose to exhibit the work was in Fulham and although rather tiny upstairs was much more spacious down the extremely steep staircase. Georgina had chosen to display Boyarde Messenger's photographs upstairs, with watercolours on one side downstairs and ink drawings on the other. Although I enjoyed the other work, it was particularly Boyarde's work which I found most interesting.

The theme was clearly a celebration of women: most of the photographs featured a woman, usually naked. The picture here was one of three - each featuring different coloured knickers - and some of the most vivid. Most were black and white, or at least more tonal. My favourite however was of a girl (my age I suppose) facing away from the camera, in a wood, naked save for her wellies. Just the sort of thing that I think would look good in the bathroom. I htink I might have a bash at something similiar myself...


Lennox Gallery (77 Moore Park Road, SW6 2HH)
Thurs 7 - Sun 10 Dec (10am - 9pm)

City Slicker

Just a quick lunchtime post - I saw this mocked up photo by Peter Kennard on City Slicker's blog. And thought I would share it here on my blog. Hope City Slicker doesn't object...

And her blog is worth a read, especially if you're stuck for things to do in London. It's part review, part gossip and is full of interesting things to see and do in London.

sketch

It has been a day of three parts, three roles, three 'me's. First thing in the morning until about 6pm, I was 'working Rachel' - corporate in a casual way, efficient, busy, healthy and hard working. Slightly stand-offish perhaps, but then at the moment in the office, one has to be or risk achieving nothing. Rushing from meeting to a desk lunch to frantically ensuring letters would make the last post.

Then, at about half past 6, I re-touched my make up and put on some perfume and headed to Sketch, to a MarmaMeeting. We met in the Parlour, a room which is the embodiment of a MarmaLady - elegant, contemporary, fashionable, stylish and comfortable. And then I was 'MarmaRachel' and drinking mojitos and discussing my new role.

Finally, it was 'LibertyRachel' and I was choosing Christmas presents at the Liberty Cardholders Christmas evening, pretending that money was no object and I was simply being discerning. I saw many beautiful things, including a washing-up brush which I bought for our kitchen and a gorgeous diary, which I did not buy, because it was £50. I think I will have to wait for the sale. And I finally managed to buy M the jeans which I have been promising him for several years. So he is pleased, am so am I, as the cardholder discount made them just about affordable.

And then, just to round off the day perfectly, M and I went back to Sketch for a drink on the way home. A totally different experience, even though it was the same bar, the same waitress and even another mojito. And possibly, a slightly incredulous Rachel after a visit to the loo. There is an upper level which is all white with two sets of stairs, one lit in pink, the other blue. And at the top, the best kind of festival loos possible - egg shaped individual pods, each one containing it's own loo. The basins are sort of drifting against the back wall and the mirrors are distorted, in one I appeared large and round with froggy eyes, the next, elongated and far away. Not the kind of place to get high in; I think it would be extremely disconcerting.

Bentwood chairs and Mince Pies

A moment to reflect before the start of a busy week. Yesterday's concert went well and my guests all at least appeared to enjoy themselves. As soon as the concert ended it was straight off to H's 'The Beautiful and the Damned' party at Nordic Bar. Everyone there had made a real effort so I felt a little out of place in concert dress. Was great to see H but as I was so tired we decided to leave relatively early. B & C drove us back to Primrose Hill where they gave us an early Christmas present: 2 dark and 1 white bentwood chairs. They are beautiful and a welcome addition to our flat (as 3 of our present dining room chairs are held together with tape; victims of one party or another). We have put the white one in our bedroom. The room is white with light curtains and bedding and dark wood dressing table and shelves, so the white chair looks striking. I am half considering finding some beautiful silk underwear to hang over it.

It was a pleasant surprise to wake up this morning at 10am, refreshed with no hang over in sight. As we do not usually go to be until well into Sunday morning, our recent waking times have been rather later, so it was a real pleasure to have a whole day. M brought me tea in bed and then cooked a beautiful breakfast. We undertook several household maintenance tasks including re-hanging the curtains before venturing outside for a walk and then to an advent service at the local church. We have then spent the evening cooking. I made a Christmas style ham and 2 dozen mince pies. Boiling the ham in cider and with a clove studded onion before baking it makes all the difference and I look forward to my sandwiches tomorrow.

So Monday will bring the December meeting of the WI and the annual mince pie competition. I have selected 6 from my 2 dozen to take along as my entry. I am also looking forward to the port tasting, as I am a big fan of port. Tuesday will see tea at Parlour at Sketch (possibly more on this opportunity at a later date) followed by the Liberty Card Holder Christmas shopping evening. Wednesday is the preview of an exhibition and then Friday is my company's Christmas Party at a hotel on Park Lane.

Therefore I am enjoying the peace and quiet of this Sunday evening; I am sat here with a pot of tea with the gentle sound of the cricket in the background. M is sat in the kitchen with a glass of wine watching the action and periodically the commentators are punctuated by his exclamations. The air smells of roasted ham, mince pies and mulled wine mingled with the scent of clean washing, which is hanging on the radiator. And for once, it is beautiful and warm. This flat benefits from high ceilings and large windows, both of which conspire to inflated heating bills. But in the summer, the light is wonderful and pours in. The bathroom, a tiny but exposed room is a particular victim. In summer, I can lie in the bath in the sunlight looking out of the window; in the winter, I spend as little time in there as possible (even with the radiator, candles and M popping in with a boiled kettle, it is hard to spend any time relaxing in the bath). But it is our flat and I love it. And this will be our first Christmas together, both in terms of living together and actually together, as previously we have each gone to our respective parents. So I am very excited and enjoying every minute of the planning of trees, cards, cake making and present buying.

But for now, I think that it is time to stop writing and instead time to get ready for bed.

Beethoven's 9th Symphony and other interesting things...

So I have unexpectedly found myself alone in front of a computer for a few minutes and what better use of this time than to update my blog. I am 'in limbo' at present; we have spent this afternoon rehearsing Beethoven's 9th Symphony and we are to perform it this evening along with two of Bruckner's Motets Os Justi and Virga Jesse. Little parts of all three are swarming round my head like gangs of bees and I hope that my brain is able to sort them out and remember which instruction belongs to which piece before the concert starts.

This week has been indicative of the Christmas season to come. I have already written of Monday's 'work' drinks; Tuesday evening found some welcome downtime and we cooked two lasagnes and a cranberry and apple pie to see us through the rest of the week. I fell asleep watching Sabrina (the Audrey Hepburn film rather than the TV show about a witch) so please don't tell me how it ends. Wednesday saw the arrival of a friend from university, up for a job interview on Thursday. We duly rounded up university friends and went out for a few drinks, a night which ended up with whisky drinking and guitar playing/singing until 2.30am. How I expect our neighbours love us.

I had somehow had the foresight to take Thursday morning off work and had a lovely relaxing morning: a bath whilst listening to TJ play the guitar, lunch at Melrose & Morgan followed by cupcakes from Primrose Bakery. And then to work, where I managed to cram a whole days work into 4 hours. And then it was off for the first rehearsal with the orchestra (a very tiring experience) and suddenly, it was Friday. TJ left at 5.30am to return to work in Gloucestershire. M left for work and I dragged myself into my office and sat at my desk wondering how on earth I was going to make it through until lunchtime. Coffee and paracetemol. A long meeting. A walk at lunch and then finally I was able to escape. Straight to the pub for a colleagues leaving drinks.

And then to Angel, to the Island Queen and M's brother's 28th birthday party. By the time C and I arrived at nearly 9pm everyone else seemed to be already wasted. Goodness knows what time they got there, but when we were kicked out at 12.30am, one or two were unable to find their way home. And as for M and I, my navigation ability clearly wasn't what it usually is. In an effort to save money, we decided to get the bus. Only instead of just walking to the bus stop we managed to walk what felt like half way to Highbury before I realised my error. In the peeing rain. I was not impressed with myself, but we duly retraced our steps and caught the bus. I think we only wasted an hour. So we finally fell into bed, drunk, wet, cold, tired and me with all my make-up still intact at 2.30am. And there ended the week.

Rehearsals

Have spent tonight rehearsing for Saturday's concert, so no time to blog properly. In fact, haven't really been in at all this week. A friend from university has been staying, so spent last night in a pub in South Kensington with some other university friends and then rehearsal, pub and takeaway with friends tonight. Tomorrow evening is J's 28th birthday party and Saturday is the concert and H's 'The Beautiful and the Damned' Party, so it will probably be the weekend before I manage to have time to post anything.

Sunshine

It is a beautiful day here in London. This morning it was cool but very refreshing and I sat watching the sky at the bus stop on the way to work- it looked like someone had dipped a dirty paintbrush into water and was then swishing and circling across the clouds. And now the sun has come out and the light is just brilliant, reflecting off every metal and glass part of the buildings surrounding the office in a way which seems almost summerish. In about an hour the light will have faded and retreated to reddish gold and the sky will have turned darker and softer, but for now, for a few minutes, the light is intense and yellow.

10 Things I Would Never Do (cont.)

Just in case you're interested, Prague Tory has undertaken a little research into just how far Iain Dale's meme spread. I think he got bored after a while (unsurprisingly). Reminds me of the beacons that were used to pass messages. Anyway, here's the link...

Monday

So have just returned from what started as 'post work' drinks and ended as 'still being in the pub at closing time' drinks. Not perhaps the best start to the week, but still, it was an interesting night. Met C's colleagues (it was really her 'post work' drinks that I crashed) and realised that it is always interesting to be able to picture the people that someone works with.

Had a great weekend. Parents and sister came up on Saturday for lunch, followed by a view of 'Manet to Picasso' at the National Gallery and tea and pastries at Harrods102 before they returned to Berkshire. We then went to Hampstead on Sunday to watch Manchester Utd almost beat Chelsea at football before supper at an oriental restaurant. A lovely, busy but ultimately relaxing weekend as we managed to return home in time to catch Planet Earth and then watch a lovely film together (Audrey Hepburn and Fred Astair in Funny Face.

I know this is brief and hastily typed, but M is cooking supper and I really want to join him. Today would have been great if not for people not being able to hold a 'discussion' without the need to involve personal insults...

10 Things I will Never Do

So from Iain Dale, via Rachel, 10 Things That I Will Never Do:

10 - Become a scientologist;
09 - Mug someone;
08 - Vote/agree/sign anything that promotes joining the euro;
07 - Read Cosmopolitan, Company or Marie-Claire magazine;
06 - Become a politician;
05 - Live in a student style shared house again;
04 - Give up on my dreams to be a debt-free lawyer;
03 - Skydive/bungee jump or similiar unless death was the alternative;
02 - Buy non-charity Christmas Cards; or
01 - Stop drinking tea.

And now I tag: AdminGirl; Susie LawStudent; Lucy MarmaLADYa; Rachel Emma; Bunsen Burner; City Slicker; and MarmaLADYAwrites. I know it's not 10, but I don't have any others...

Happy Thanksgiving

Hope everyone in America is having a nice day off. Popped into Primrose Bakery this morning for a cheer me up pink cupcake (I've got a cold, which is why I think I couldn't get warm last night) and noticed that they had made a beautiful range of thanksgiving themed cupcakes with American Flags on and so forth. We are going to have a Thanksgiving themed dinner party on Saturday night, where I plan to make cornbread and pumpkin pie, just like we used to eat when I lived in California.

And thanks to Rachel for her tag - I will post my list and tags after work. Contain your excitement.

Technology

The internet is a marvellous invention but it can also be extremely frustrating. I don't own a digital camera, so to get some holiday photos from a friend, I was introduced to yahoo messenger. The files were transferred in a matter of minutes and I was able to upload them to facebook with no problem. The issue now though is twofold: First all of all, everytime I turn on the computer yahoo messenger loads. And I can't work out how to stop it. And secondly, I wanted to print out some of the photos. So, I joined jessops and got 20 free prints. I worked out how to upload the pictures, but it won't let me print them because they don't have a high enough resolution. But two do. And I can't work out why some do and why I can't change the others. And now I am bored and frustrated. Ggrrr. So I have stopped and I might have some supper.

I am also going to watch Rachel on 18 Doughty Street again tonight. I really enjoyed watching her last week, so am looking forward to see what she has to say about the 7/7 Report published by the London Assembley today.

So I might post something else in a bit but I have to go and warm up as my hands are so numb I can't type. The heating seems to be on, but is really not making it much warmer in here. Moan moan...

Mince Pies

Spent the evening experimenting with mince pie fillings. Am hoping they will taste nice enough to enter in the annual WI mince pie competition, so made a test batch to take into work for the boys in my office to sample tomorrow.

M is in bed watching Jerry Maguire so I think I will make this my shortest ever post, make myself a cup of tea and join him. Night night.

London Calling

So we arrived back in London late this afternoon, having enjoyed a pleasant train journey catching up with one of M's friends from school. Our flat was cold and smelt of vegetables, but it was lovely to be home.

Not that we has a bad weekend; in fact, the very opposite. It was wonderful, peaceful and relaxing. M played golf with his father while I curled up on one end of the sofa and M's mother the other and spent the afternoon knitting. We watched my Songs of Praise (and I noted how odd it is to see ones self on television) and went to a black tie dinner dance at the Golf Club. We also went charity shop shopping and acquired some bargains and wondered around some beautiful Shropshire country towns. We also caught up with M's grandmother and took her shopping. All in all, a hugely enjoyable weekend.

And now, back in London, looking forward to the rest of the week. My parents are visiting next weekend, as well as possibly Alexandra. It is the final rehearsals of the choir before our concert on the 2 December, and there are mince pies to make for the annual WI mince pie competition. Must get practicing!

Postcard from Shropshire

Am posting this from Shropshire - M and I have taken a few days off work and have gone on a mini holiday. We left London directly after work on Thursday - the fast train only took 1 hour and 20 minutes, which is unbelievably fast. So fast in fact, that I began to feel 'sea sick'. Anyway, we are currently with his parents at their house and his mother is cooking supper.

But back to the week in London. On Wednesday after work I met a friend who is a lawyer in a hotel bar she suggested so we could chat in peace. The staff were wonderful, we only had to finish a drink and they were on hand to offer another. Bar snacks (really nice ones) appeared from nowhere the minute we sat down and there was a lady playing a piano around the corner, so it was peaceful but not silent. An inspired choice of venue for post-work drinks (and so different from the O'Neills where my colleagues usually insist on dragging me. I then went from Holborn to Holland Park to meet M and a friend of his, L, after they had finished supper. We ended up chatting until past closing time, so once we had got a bus home and frantically packed for the weekend, it was 1.30am.

Thursday morning and I had to walk to work in the pouring rain, carrying overnight bag, handbag and a putter (to join the rest of the golf clubs which currently reside in Shropshire so that we can play a round on Sunday). I was juggling said items and trying to swap shoulders with the bags when I realised that I was stood outside the Engineer, and who should be sat inside at the window but Russell Brand. We made eye contact and he was wearing the smirk of a man trying not to laugh...

Today has been spent pottering and shopping. Managed to get some shoes to wear with the dress that I had bought in London to attend a dinner dance on Saturday night, as well as a jumper dress for the pricey sum of £8 from Primark. It really is a ghastly shop - it looks far more like a jumble sale than anything else - but occasionally it does produce some bargains. I also bought some pick'n'mix for the first time in years! A wonderful and relaxing start to the weekend; so enjoyable to not have to get up and go to work.

Rachel

After reading Rachel-Emma's blog and seeing her questionnaire I thought I'd have a go too. So unless you want to know what colour crayon I would be and my shoe size, you'd probably be better off reading something else. Here, here and here are a few suggestions of alternative reading material.

I'm now assuming that everyone is busy swotting up on what the Queen had to say earlier on, but just in case, here are my answers:

1. First Name – Rachel

2. Do you wish on stars – no, but I enjoy looking at them, particularly from the beach.

3. When did you last cry – last night (after opening another rejection letter)

4. Do you like your handwriting – Yes, I think I do.

5. What is your Favourite lunch – Sandwiches containing Mum’s Christmas ham, Daddy’s apple & chestnut stuffing, bread sauce and wensleydale cheese

6. What is your date of birth – 5 January

7. If you were another person would you be friends with you – I hope so! I try and treat others as they would like to be treated, so I hope that I would like me.

8. Do you have a Diary – no, I have a blog. Some would say they are the same thing.

9. Do you use sarcasm a lot – yes.

10. What are you nicknames – Rachie, Rach, Rapel, Garden Rake, Rah-Rah (I know, charming sisters…)

11. Would you bungee jump – I think it would depend on what the alternative was

12. Do you un-tie your shoes when you take them off – I don’t wear many shoes with laces. In fact, other than running shoes, walking boots etc I think that leaves a pair of Converse (which I do untie).

13. Do you think you are strong – In some situations, yes. In others, I’m getting better.

14. What is your favourite ice cream flavour – I’m not a huge ice cream fan, although I do make exceptions. I think I prefer frozen yoghurt, but if pushed to eat ice cream I’ll choose mint choc-chip.

15. What is your Shoe size – 5.

16. Red or Pink – I think it depends on what the object is and the situation. Each have their place.

17. Who do you miss the most – M when we are not together, my family, Annie and Alexandra when they are/have been travelling

18. What are you wearing at the moment – Black suit, long sleeved cream top, stripy v-necked jumper, black pointy shoes, black tights, underwear, black coat, red and gold Chinese pashmina.

19. What are you listening to at the moment – The sound of people typing.

20. What was the last thing you ate – A chocolate cornflake cake which I made on Monday evening and a cup of coffee.

21. If you were a crayon which colour would you be – blue (turquoise)

22. What is the weather like where you are today – Dark now but was relatively warm, slightly windy and occasionally sunny earlier.

23. Who was the last person you talked to on the phone – One of our panellists.

24. The first thing you notice about the opposite sex – Shoes, smile, hair, clothes, smell, subject of conversation

25. Favourite Drink - Tea

26. Favourite sport – Surfing, sailing, gymnastics, ballet (although I really only do the first two these days and not even much of them now that it’s Winter and I am in London). I like going snowboarding and I enjoy watching 3-day eventing, gymnastics, ice-skating, ballet and tennis.

27. Hair colour - Blonde

28. Eye Colour - Blue

30. Favourite food – Christmas ham, satsumas, Daddy’s apple & chestnut stuffing, Wensleydale cheese.

31. Last Film i watched – Breaking and Entering

32. Scary films or Happy endings - Happy Endings

33. Do you like Summer or Winter – Both. During the summer I am convinced it is my favourite season, but when the leaves start to turn and there is a nip in the air and it is cosy in front of the fire, I am convinced that winter is best. Then the days start to draw out, the blossom starts to form and I am back with my summer conviction. At least I am always pleased…

34. Do you like Hugs or Kisses – Both but it really depends on who they are with.

35. Roses or Daises – Neither really. Some forms of roses, especially the very dark ones that are almost black and the daisies which made the GA go mad (!) but in general I prefer tulips.

Now don't you feel you know me a little better? This is an idea I was considering earlier and wondering whether or not one could truly 'know' someone if you didn't know what they looked or sounded like. I reached the conclusion, that to me at any rate, physical sound and sight are important. I like to be able to visualise what someone looks and sounds like. Lain argues that she is often disappointed when she meets or hears someone whom she feels that she 'knows' through a written medium and that to her, looks and sound are less important. This disappointment is a familiar one. But I have not been on television recently, so if you, like me, find you need this visual confirmation, you will be unfulfilled by this questionnaire.

Rachel-Emma

I fear that this blog is getting boring. I find that since I decided to stop blogging at lunchtime, I have not managed to find the time to write something every day. And when I do, each entry seems to start "it's been a busy week..." etc. But this is true. I have been busy. I have been for a job interview and spent many hours in fruitless preparation. I have been to visit Alexandra at university and friends in London. I have walked many times round Hampstead Heath and drunk many glasses of wine in cosy pubs and busy bars. I have also cooked many cakes, many puddings, read several books and entertained many friends. But this was all shunted into perspective when I received a message on my blog from Rachel Emma. Who found my blog by searching for other bloggers called Rachel and who is suffering from a rare form of stomach cancer. And is only 20. Rachel also writes a blog and takes photographs, beautiful photographs. And (this may be presumptuous of me) who longs to be busy and leading a 'normal' teenage life of shopping and bars and parties and friends. So I am thankful for my life and those whom I love who fill my life and hope that Rachel finds something through the marvels of the internet which make her feel more 'normal'. And my heart goes out to her and her family and I pray that she is healed soon.

18 Doughty Street

Am sat here watching 18 Doughty Street TV and reflecting how interesting it is finally seeing someone 'in the flesh' when you feel rather as if you already know them. I am of course refering to Rachel North, a blogger who I frequently refer and link to in my own blog. Her blog was one of the first that I read and which I have followed (to the extent that I wonder if she is ok of she doesn't post something new after a few days) and which inspired me to set up my own blog. But I have said this already, elsewhere, in other posts, and do not need to gush again here.

I read and tried not to cry when I read of Rachel's experiences, of being attacked, beaten, raped and left for dead. Of 'recovering', facing her attacker in court and providing evidence to see him jailed, to find love and happiness, only to be blown up by the thoughtless and cruel selfishness of another teenager leading an empty and unfulfilled life last July. I have also read of her holidays, her home, her dancing and, on occasion, what she eats. I also know her political opinion on a number of issues; in short, I feel I 'know' her. But I don't. Not really. And although I'd seen her profile picture, until this evening I didn't even know what she looked like. She looks slightly older and fuller than I expected (although they do say that the camera adds pounds), less clothes conscious (although I shouldn't be surprised given this post) but infinitely more human than ever before. And that's really saying something, given how the level of human detail that seeps out of blogs.

But what really got me thinking was this: I feel that I 'know' Rachel better because I know what she looks (and sounds) like, rather than simply what she thinks about things. It is as if my mental picture of her is complete. So, if I couldn't see (or hear) someone, would I really 'know' them? Or is it because I, also Rachel, realise the concept of 'knowing' people through a combination of visual, audio and intellectual stimulation? So does this mean that blind and deaf people relate to people in other ways - perhaps smell and touch are much more important - or do they simply not 'know' people in the same way that a person with all senses. Or, is it personal to me that I need to know what someone looks and sounds like before I feel I 'know' them... I rather think not - it is much easier to create an illusion if something is kept back. Take Kate Moss for example. We all know what she looks like; a very few people know what she sounds like (although the Virgin and Agent Provocateur adverts have dispelled this somewhat) and even fewer people know what she actually thinks about (most) things. And, I would imagine, therefore, very few people would claim to 'know' her. Do we need to experience ‘everything’ before we can ‘know’?

Vinoteca

Spent last night at Vinoteca drinking wine and sampling their bar food. The wine was lovely and, so I am led to believe, well priced. I was also pleasantly surprised at how nice the food was. I had read some pretty shocking reviews earlier in the day, so ordered a cheese souffle with some trepidation. And it was actually very nice.

This evening went to the pub at the end of our road with C to have a couple of drinks after work. Managed to time my arrival home nicely - just as I walked through the door, M took a beautiful joint of roast beef from the oven. It was excellent and I look forward to eating the leftovers for lunch tomorrow.

Have spent rather too much time this week on a website called Facebook. It is fascinating looking up old friends and boyfriends and seeing what everyone is up to. This months Vogue, however, exclaims that if I am a social butterfly who still uses Facebook to communicate, I am not only last season but also very american. Well, it may be last season and american, but where else can you join a group where everyone in that group has the same surname as you do, American and English people and you can debate the origins of your family. Which is apparently related to pirates...

Fireworks

The theme of the weekend has been fireworks. Metaphorical ones between two friends on Friday evening and actual ones both Saturday and Sunday. Battersea Park's organised display was spectacular; set to music and well executed, it was exciting and beautiful to watch. We took a thermos of mulled wine, a hip flask of whisky and a packet of sparklers - all the ingredients for a perfect bonfire night. We then headed to the Kings Road for a few drinks before returning to Camden and Marathon bar for beer, chips and a spot of late night jazz. It's what living in London is about.

Sunday and after a lie in we headed to Hampstead Heath for a walk. Watched the sun set from Parliament Hill before wandering back to the Well House for a cup of tea. As we walked back along Well Walk we managed to pass a garden just as some fireworks exploded over the top of the wall into the road. I thought I was going to have a heart attack... We decided to walk back to Primrose Hill - it was a beautiful walk on a wonderfully crisp and clear evening. Fireworks were going off around us all the way back to the house (it sounded rather like a warzone, although rather prettier). M cooked a wonderful supper and I made cornflake cakes whilst we watched Planet Earth (and I cried over the dying polar bear) before I chatted to my sister on-line. Oh the beauty of technology! And now, tea and to bed. Work and WI await.

Bonfire Night

It's been such a busy week. I realised this morning that I had not posted anything for most of the week. I also realised when Vogue arrived this morning that I had not bought any other magazines since the last issue of Vogue was delivered. This is perhaps the first month since I started purchasing magazines that I did not buy one. And the weirdest thing? I haven't really missed them. I can get celebrity gossip and fashion (free) from the internet and I am so much better informed. Where I would once have read InStyle in my lunch break, I am now reading political blogs, newspaper websites (both UK and US) as well as other publications.

Spent Thursday night rehearsing Beethoven's 9th Symphony for performance on 2 Dec. I then rushed to a cafe in Camden called the Green Note to watch a friend play an acoustic set. I was really pleased that we managed to get there in time. The last time I had seen Tim play was at the Purple Turtle in Camden, which was a bigger but grottier venue. Somehow he seemed more suited to an intimate acoustic setting. Check out his website here or his myspace page.

Friday night and B & C came over for supper. M had brought home some wine samples which we proceeded to taste. He also cooked a beautiful supper based on a Heston Blumenthal recipe, which was delicious, followed by apple crumble which I made from a combination of Berkshire and Shropshire apples, grown in our respective parents' gardens.

And now I am waiting for M to get out of the bath so I can have one myself before we head out for a spot of shopping on the Kings Road, followed by a drink and then Battersea Park Fireworks with L & B. Must go now as M has emerged from the bathroom, branding me a "lazy monkey" as I am still in bed at 3 in the afternoon...