Ok don't know if it is just cos I have found yet another area in which an Apple just doesn't integrate (sorry Paul but while it is lovely, doesn't seem actually compatible with the rest of the interactive, microsoft dominated world) but my photos aren't going up. Maybe on my travels, I'll be in a nice internet cafe with microsoft computers and I'll be able to put up a few piccies from my birthday celebrations.
I get the feeling that there are a few people out there relieved by the reprieve (they're not that bad honest, although there are few that definitely make me smile/giggle).
Bye again
Monday, January 30, 2006
Birthday celebrations - belated post
Well having been a tad busy in my final work week, I never did get round to updating re my birthday celebrations on 21st Jan at the Windmill Pub on the Cut in Waterloo. Even now I don't have all the pictures, as I used my mum's camera and I really need to get her some rechargeable batteries as I know that I have enough "amusing" pictures in there to populate an entire website that many of you would boycott.
It was a great night and we all drank more than was good for us (well except for Eva, who as a tea totaller impressed a lot of my friends by being part of the late night crowd that came back to my house to drink/talk/dance/sing/generally act stupid through the night.
Well my edited highlights from the evening are... seeing everyone, really pleased that so many of you made it, especially Rob, Griff, Lucia and Nuttah who all came in from our of town. For those of you that didn't say until chucking out time, you missed out on the barman's school boy error, when he told everyone to start making a move. Unfortunately everyone except Nuttah stood up, and they had all been sat on the same bench. Suffice it to say, he ended up on the floor, the bench did a semi flip and it took a lot longer to get us out of the pub as I was doubled over laughing so hard I thought I was going to be sick (what can I say, I'm a bitch).
We tried to find somewhere else to go on to for more drinks, but they were closing up (disappointing lack of middle of the night carnage due to change to licencing rules, most disappointing none-event since the milennium bug) so next challenge was to find taxis to get us back to mine, while also locating booze en route. Determined not to be tucked up in bed with some cocoa for an early night, Hopkins tracked down some brews and the party was able to continue (although I never could persuade him to indulge in the lovely batch of apple brandy I have at home... he wasn't that drunk or stupid).
So here are a couple of piccies of those drinking back at Chateau Ressort. We all look far more sober than we were (and Rob, out of consideration for Rachel & Megan, I haven't posted the piccie of you showing off your man boobs, fabulous as they are, you were working it baby..).
I had a great time that weekend, well except for Sunday when I felt pretty rotten, even after a mega burger and gallons of orange juice & lemonade. We did manage to read almost every Sunday paper, while sitting in the pub vaguely watching the football (I was still a bit raw from the embarassment that was the Arsenal game on Saturday), making a very half hearted attempt at the various crosswords (until we found one that was easy enough for us to do without having to engage brain - brought to us by the News of the World).
To be honest I didn't feel entirely normal for the first couple of days last week. I wasn't sure if that was because it is still a bit surreal that I am going off travelling and am now unemployed... or if it was the lingering side effects of Saturday night. Oh well, I may never know.. doesn't really matter much now anyway.
Oh well I have am off in 4 days. Hope that they should some decent films on the plane. In terms of my leaving drinks, here is a quick summary of events from when I reached Polka (since I intelligently forgot to put the batteries back in my camera before going to the bar, I don't have any piccies) we arrived at Polka at 6.05pm, we drank, we drank some more, we talked a lot, we thought karaoke would be a great idea, we sang, we drank, I ran off pleading 10am meeting at 1.30am rather than go on clubbing, I got home, ate cheese and went to sleep... there job done. I had a great time! It was really lovely that SO MANY people came, of course doing a joint leaving do with Sophie was always going to guarantee that I would feel popular!
Next update should be from exotic climes rather than cold South London.
It was a great night and we all drank more than was good for us (well except for Eva, who as a tea totaller impressed a lot of my friends by being part of the late night crowd that came back to my house to drink/talk/dance/sing/generally act stupid through the night.
Well my edited highlights from the evening are... seeing everyone, really pleased that so many of you made it, especially Rob, Griff, Lucia and Nuttah who all came in from our of town. For those of you that didn't say until chucking out time, you missed out on the barman's school boy error, when he told everyone to start making a move. Unfortunately everyone except Nuttah stood up, and they had all been sat on the same bench. Suffice it to say, he ended up on the floor, the bench did a semi flip and it took a lot longer to get us out of the pub as I was doubled over laughing so hard I thought I was going to be sick (what can I say, I'm a bitch).
We tried to find somewhere else to go on to for more drinks, but they were closing up (disappointing lack of middle of the night carnage due to change to licencing rules, most disappointing none-event since the milennium bug) so next challenge was to find taxis to get us back to mine, while also locating booze en route. Determined not to be tucked up in bed with some cocoa for an early night, Hopkins tracked down some brews and the party was able to continue (although I never could persuade him to indulge in the lovely batch of apple brandy I have at home... he wasn't that drunk or stupid).
So here are a couple of piccies of those drinking back at Chateau Ressort. We all look far more sober than we were (and Rob, out of consideration for Rachel & Megan, I haven't posted the piccie of you showing off your man boobs, fabulous as they are, you were working it baby..).
I had a great time that weekend, well except for Sunday when I felt pretty rotten, even after a mega burger and gallons of orange juice & lemonade. We did manage to read almost every Sunday paper, while sitting in the pub vaguely watching the football (I was still a bit raw from the embarassment that was the Arsenal game on Saturday), making a very half hearted attempt at the various crosswords (until we found one that was easy enough for us to do without having to engage brain - brought to us by the News of the World).
To be honest I didn't feel entirely normal for the first couple of days last week. I wasn't sure if that was because it is still a bit surreal that I am going off travelling and am now unemployed... or if it was the lingering side effects of Saturday night. Oh well, I may never know.. doesn't really matter much now anyway.
Oh well I have am off in 4 days. Hope that they should some decent films on the plane. In terms of my leaving drinks, here is a quick summary of events from when I reached Polka (since I intelligently forgot to put the batteries back in my camera before going to the bar, I don't have any piccies) we arrived at Polka at 6.05pm, we drank, we drank some more, we talked a lot, we thought karaoke would be a great idea, we sang, we drank, I ran off pleading 10am meeting at 1.30am rather than go on clubbing, I got home, ate cheese and went to sleep... there job done. I had a great time! It was really lovely that SO MANY people came, of course doing a joint leaving do with Sophie was always going to guarantee that I would feel popular!
Next update should be from exotic climes rather than cold South London.
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
Birthday girl
I am now officially 30+1 but I don't feel any different. Is it just me or do you never really feel different after a birthday? It is like you are waiting for some momentous life changing event but it invariably doesn't happen.
Didn't stop me having a lovely day though. I was woken by my mum bringing me lovely wrapped presents (there is something about wrapped packages that is just wonderful). The presents were spot on too when un-wrapped. I had great fun hoping up and down in front of my mirror in my lovely new (green, my favourite colour hence the background of this blog) sleeping bag to make sure that it looked good on (don't ask, it was early, pre coffee and made sense at the time, general consensus was that didn't make my bum look any bigger than it already is). Plus lots of nice brightly coloured vests and some hiking socks which will ensure that I have nice summery look, blister free feet and something warm to sleep in for those cooler nights on my travels! It was great!
This was followed by me making it in to work ON TIME! See it can happen! I found out that Walk the Line had won all 3 Golden Globes that it was nominated for (Best film, Best Actor and Best Actress all in Comedy/Musical category) which made me completely hyper as I just LOVE THAT FILM. I settled down to work and that later in the morning at Ingram I was asked to go to reception. I looked up from my computer screen and realised that no one else was in the office area so my "something is up" radar went on high alert. Sure enough I walked in to find everyone waiting for me with brownies, flapjacks, muffins (one with the a candle in it) and teas & coffees all laid out. It was really lovely, I wasn't expecting it at all.
Decided to do the virtuous thing and went to the gym at lunchtime (well after a flapjack and a brownie, I needed it!) where I worked out before treating myself to a good old steam
Ended the work day with a meeting with the guys from Metro Intl plus Kate from Ingram before a few of us headed to the pub at 6pm for my first birthday drink.
The day was made complete by a meal with my mum, Maggie and Eva at a new restaurant in Earlsfield (new places are sprouting like mushrooms at the moment, which is a nice change from the previous trend of all the places that I love closing down ie. Leons, the Pepper Tree and Bistro Rigolo). It was a lovely night. Maggie had got me some NZ currency for my trip as a present which was perfect as I now feel that bit more prepared for my upcoming adventures.
Well I only have 1 1/2 weeks of work left and I fly out destination Hong Kong in just over 2 weeks. I get the feeling that the time is going to fly by but I am now more or less prepared for it. Just need to work out how I am going to shoe horn everything I want to take in to one backpack and some hand luggage.
Oh and in terms of the 30+1 celebrations... I am really looking forward to Saturday night. If the memory card has arrived for my lovely new digital camera (Xmas pressie from my ever generous mum) I will hopefully have some pictures of the night to post here.
To those abroad, I look forward to seeing you on my round the world tour. To those of you in the UK, I look forward to seeing you Saturday if you can make it. Or Thursday 26th for my leaving drinks. Obviously you all need to make sure that I have a hangover for my last day at work, it is tradition.
Didn't stop me having a lovely day though. I was woken by my mum bringing me lovely wrapped presents (there is something about wrapped packages that is just wonderful). The presents were spot on too when un-wrapped. I had great fun hoping up and down in front of my mirror in my lovely new (green, my favourite colour hence the background of this blog) sleeping bag to make sure that it looked good on (don't ask, it was early, pre coffee and made sense at the time, general consensus was that didn't make my bum look any bigger than it already is). Plus lots of nice brightly coloured vests and some hiking socks which will ensure that I have nice summery look, blister free feet and something warm to sleep in for those cooler nights on my travels! It was great!
This was followed by me making it in to work ON TIME! See it can happen! I found out that Walk the Line had won all 3 Golden Globes that it was nominated for (Best film, Best Actor and Best Actress all in Comedy/Musical category) which made me completely hyper as I just LOVE THAT FILM. I settled down to work and that later in the morning at Ingram I was asked to go to reception. I looked up from my computer screen and realised that no one else was in the office area so my "something is up" radar went on high alert. Sure enough I walked in to find everyone waiting for me with brownies, flapjacks, muffins (one with the a candle in it) and teas & coffees all laid out. It was really lovely, I wasn't expecting it at all.
Decided to do the virtuous thing and went to the gym at lunchtime (well after a flapjack and a brownie, I needed it!) where I worked out before treating myself to a good old steam
Ended the work day with a meeting with the guys from Metro Intl plus Kate from Ingram before a few of us headed to the pub at 6pm for my first birthday drink.
The day was made complete by a meal with my mum, Maggie and Eva at a new restaurant in Earlsfield (new places are sprouting like mushrooms at the moment, which is a nice change from the previous trend of all the places that I love closing down ie. Leons, the Pepper Tree and Bistro Rigolo). It was a lovely night. Maggie had got me some NZ currency for my trip as a present which was perfect as I now feel that bit more prepared for my upcoming adventures.
Well I only have 1 1/2 weeks of work left and I fly out destination Hong Kong in just over 2 weeks. I get the feeling that the time is going to fly by but I am now more or less prepared for it. Just need to work out how I am going to shoe horn everything I want to take in to one backpack and some hand luggage.
Oh and in terms of the 30+1 celebrations... I am really looking forward to Saturday night. If the memory card has arrived for my lovely new digital camera (Xmas pressie from my ever generous mum) I will hopefully have some pictures of the night to post here.
To those abroad, I look forward to seeing you on my round the world tour. To those of you in the UK, I look forward to seeing you Saturday if you can make it. Or Thursday 26th for my leaving drinks. Obviously you all need to make sure that I have a hangover for my last day at work, it is tradition.
Friday, January 13, 2006
If the wedding is anything like the hen do
Since I am going all the way to New Zealand for a wedding (and of course now to also do some serious travelling), thought that some piccies from Sam's Hen Do in France wouldn't be out of place. Plus just looking at them brings back such hilarious memories, that having them on here means I can look at them whenever I need to bring a smile to my face.
Sam, Max, Jo and Bronnie - no bitching re picture selection, you all look fab. I deliberately steered clear of all photos from too late in the evening (no air guitar, singing in to hair brushes, "cool" dance moves or complete facial disintegrating due to excessive alcohol intake pictured here... ummm... less said the better!)
Jo B and I met up last night to talk about our plans in Hong Kong and NZ, and I am just so excited about heading off! Can't wait to see Sam & Tom (hope that the Barbie is being warmed up) and I haven't seem Max & Pierre in ages so getting to travel around with them for a bit in NZ is going to be brilliant. I sense that we are going to be doing a lot of laughing. Bring on the silliness please!
Thursday, January 12, 2006
Intinerary overview
OK for those of you that want to keep track of where I am and when, here is my current intinerary. This is subject to change:
2nd Feb - fly to Hong Kong and arrive 3rd Feb
7th Feb - fly to Auckland and arrive 8th Feb
22nd March - fly to Melbourne
5th May - leave Sydney and go to Cook Islands arrive day before
26th May - head over to California
Mum and Maggie meeting me in California during half term week. Going to be visiting Gaby & family before heading up to see Sandy & family.
Once Mum heads back to UK - going to Ecuador for a couple of weeks with Gaby. Possibly going to go on to Peru
At some point late June head back to LA. Catch up with my Orange County family before flight back to London
Late June/early July - HOLIDAY OVER. Time to get serious and find a job!
2nd Feb - fly to Hong Kong and arrive 3rd Feb
7th Feb - fly to Auckland and arrive 8th Feb
22nd March - fly to Melbourne
5th May - leave Sydney and go to Cook Islands arrive day before
26th May - head over to California
Mum and Maggie meeting me in California during half term week. Going to be visiting Gaby & family before heading up to see Sandy & family.
Once Mum heads back to UK - going to Ecuador for a couple of weeks with Gaby. Possibly going to go on to Peru
At some point late June head back to LA. Catch up with my Orange County family before flight back to London
Late June/early July - HOLIDAY OVER. Time to get serious and find a job!
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
10th January 2006 - new toy
OK well blogging is new to me and this is my first attempt, so bear with me. I feel the need to set one up before I jet off on my travels on 2nd Feb, so that friends & family can keep track of what I am up to. Plus I should have a go now before I find myself in an expensive internet cafe trying to work out the basics.My last trip abroad was to Morocco and I went alone then too, so I do like to remind myself what a great time I had. Here is a picture of the lovely group of people that I met on my InSpa trip. I came back feeling fab too, this reminds me how much I can't wait to go hiking. This picture is all of us having survived a hike in the Atlas mountains. My feet were very sore, but it felt so good to have completed it given how unfit I was. In a way this has inspired my 5 month travel spree so it makes an appropriate first post.
Promise that future posts won't be as stilted, once I have a) got the hang of it and b) relaxed in to traveller mode
Steph
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