(Consisting of Friday 7th & Saturday 8th Oct...)
On Friday morning we went into London again, this time going straight to Leicester Square to try and get cheap tickets to Legally Blonde the musical that night. Janet & Caitlin were happy to come see it again, & Rose was going to come in just to see it - for the 3rd time; unfortunately we had to get 2 groups of 2 tickets in the upper circle, but it turned out fine.
I was possibly going to be meeting Gen from VET last year that day as she was travelling with 2 friends and was heading home on Tues, but that didn't end up working out :( We headed to Portobello Rd though and spend a good 2 hours making our way up the market. G & J bought me a pair of earrings I was going to get as a present, and I finally made it up to Janet for her birthday by getting her a couple of pairs of cute studs, and a single tiny feather stud for myself. I also ended up with a huge floral dress - yep, the kind I got lots of a couple of years back and altered - plus a bright pink blazer type thing I'm not sure I'll ever wear but I couldn't not get it for £3, a lambswool light blue jumper which was very welcome later on in the day when the sun faded, and a flowery sheer shirt thing from an actual shop. Janet also found a really nice white cardigan with pearls on the front on a £2 rack, which I was a bit jealous of.
We got lunch on the way up the road, I had a fairly average olive/rocket/sundried tomato/mozzarella roll & the others got felafel wraps. After all our shopping we headed back, stopping in a frozen yoghurt place Alex & I went to in summer, and sat in there for a good while, just needing to relax for a bit. We're still getting back into working mode even though it's been a few weeks since holidays, and we could barely contemplate doing anything else.
We ended up going to Green Park where we knew there was a Starbuck's we could sit in, although the first one was too crowded so we had to find another. We literally sat in there for 2 hours, the others bought drinks and we just sat and/or read.
Eventually we headed towards Chinatown & got dinner at the Vietnamese restaurant we went to on our first Friday this term, and again it didn't disappoint. Still not sure quite what the 'soya bean drink' I got was, most likely just soy milk.
We met Rose at Leicester Square, got her some food then made our way to the Savoy Theatre. It's actually a huge hotel, and there were loads of groups of women all dressed up for their night at the theatre. We went up to the grand circle, as they call it, we had to work out who would sit with me in the middle, while the other 2 were a row back right on the left. Fairly, Rose sat with me and even though we were high up, they were still good seats (for £23.50). Anyway, I LOVED it! I'd been listening to the soundtrack for a good 2 weeks straight (and still am) and it was really good to know the songs. I eventually got a program, as they ran out quickly, as a memento.
After the show, we took the train back and went to the flat via Highlands to get dressed and went out! It was a lot later than we've ever gone, since we got back about midnight and didn't leave till 1am or so, but it was still fun. The girls got me a birthday shout-out from the DJ which was nice :)
I was working in the morning of my actual birthday, the Saturday. The boarders sang happy birthday to me in the house, then at breakfast, then again back at the house - Amanda sent me off to do some photocopying at school and when I came back they were all in the common room and started singing and there was a cake and cards. It was so cute! We spent the rest of the morning making clay pots, Georgie was over helping as it was Open Day, and colouring in patterns for our Diwali Festival-themed service this sunday.
I went to lunch, and then I was off work so I skyped Mum & Dad, and had a nap for a bit as I wasn't feeling very well. I went back over to the flat and Georgie, Aisling, Rose, Em and I went down to town to have an early-ish dinner and see a movie. I was hoping we could go Zizzi's, an Italian place Sam & Amanda had recommended, but they were booked out so we ended up at the 'New York Italian' place called Frankie & Benny's up near the cinema. It was so. good! I got cannelloni and the others all enjoyed their pizza/pasta/steak/bruschetta. We also got 'the godfather' dessert to share which consisted of ice-cream, cream, brownie bits, malt balls, chocolate & toffee sauces. YUM!
We went and saw Midnight in Paris, which was good since I've now been there and recognised a lot of the shots, especially from the first 2-minute montage. We all mostly liked it, in a Woody-Allen kind of way. Then we headed back up the hill, and guess what was waiting at the flat for me? Well, apart from Louisa?! A whole lot of chocolate, a cake and more pressies, organised by the boarding gaps who'd all been working! I can't say it was exactly a surprise, as we've done it for everyone on their birthday, but it was so nice! Except, as usual, I ate too much chocolate in many different varieties. But it was my birthday, so it was okay.
So basically, I had a great birthday - thanks girlies!
Monday, October 10, 2011
Thursday 7th
Had a great day last Thursday in London meeting up with Sue & Charlotte (& Paul eventually), neighbours from home. I'm really glad I've been going more to London since summer, but wish I'd done it from the start of the year!
I met Sue and then Charlotte outside Topshop at Oxford Circus, which I realised I'd never actually been to! Sue went to a shop I can't remember the name of and Charlotte & I spent half an hour wandering through the 3 floors of Topshop. It is seriously huge and amazing; if only I had lots of money to spare (I have decided I'll get myself something there for my birthday though). Charlotte ended up getting a really nice skirt after we met Sue again, and even got a student discount with my international student card. I may have encouraged the purchase and mentioned that I would be borrowing it when I get home. Also, I'm glad I wore my heeled boots today, since Charlotte would definitely now be taller than me without them. Unfair.
We wandered a bit along Oxford St/Circus until we got to Rathbone St and a little cafe/lunch place that had been recommended to them for coffee. I had butternut & coconut soup and a delicious rich, deep (I can't think of the right word but it was damn good!) hot chocolate, then we shared a piece of what we thought was sponge cake but was actually kinda boring non-sponge.
We found a nearby tube station and went to Liverpool St for Spitalfields Market. I'd gone there (well, the 'old' market) back in June or so and hadn't found it particularly interesting - basically just stalls of unknown designers, most of which didn't interest me. But I discovered today there was a whole part I hadn't been to, and even the part I had been to was totally different today! Within a couple of stalls I got orange shaggy denim high-waisted shorts - £7 as the zip is totally busted, but they're still fantastic - and these 70s-inspired sunglass frames with 6 different-coloured lenses for £20. So good! Charlotte found a dress for her friend, Sue got a scarf & they also found a bamboo t-shirt of the 'up-and-coming band' Sex Pandas Against The Masheen (their producer/stall keeper told us to look them up on facebook) for Tim. Overall, we all loved it, even though a lot of the stalls were just full of junk. There was an old camera stall as well that Charlotte & I hung around for a while, wishing film & development weren't so expensive.
We took the train to meet Paul & Charlotte's friend Claire at Marble Arch, then got back on the train and had a very brief goodbye as they went on to Abbey Rd and I headed back to Marylebone to catch the train back to High Wycombe to work.
I met Sue and then Charlotte outside Topshop at Oxford Circus, which I realised I'd never actually been to! Sue went to a shop I can't remember the name of and Charlotte & I spent half an hour wandering through the 3 floors of Topshop. It is seriously huge and amazing; if only I had lots of money to spare (I have decided I'll get myself something there for my birthday though). Charlotte ended up getting a really nice skirt after we met Sue again, and even got a student discount with my international student card. I may have encouraged the purchase and mentioned that I would be borrowing it when I get home. Also, I'm glad I wore my heeled boots today, since Charlotte would definitely now be taller than me without them. Unfair.
We wandered a bit along Oxford St/Circus until we got to Rathbone St and a little cafe/lunch place that had been recommended to them for coffee. I had butternut & coconut soup and a delicious rich, deep (I can't think of the right word but it was damn good!) hot chocolate, then we shared a piece of what we thought was sponge cake but was actually kinda boring non-sponge.
We found a nearby tube station and went to Liverpool St for Spitalfields Market. I'd gone there (well, the 'old' market) back in June or so and hadn't found it particularly interesting - basically just stalls of unknown designers, most of which didn't interest me. But I discovered today there was a whole part I hadn't been to, and even the part I had been to was totally different today! Within a couple of stalls I got orange shaggy denim high-waisted shorts - £7 as the zip is totally busted, but they're still fantastic - and these 70s-inspired sunglass frames with 6 different-coloured lenses for £20. So good! Charlotte found a dress for her friend, Sue got a scarf & they also found a bamboo t-shirt of the 'up-and-coming band' Sex Pandas Against The Masheen (their producer/stall keeper told us to look them up on facebook) for Tim. Overall, we all loved it, even though a lot of the stalls were just full of junk. There was an old camera stall as well that Charlotte & I hung around for a while, wishing film & development weren't so expensive.
We took the train to meet Paul & Charlotte's friend Claire at Marble Arch, then got back on the train and had a very brief goodbye as they went on to Abbey Rd and I headed back to Marylebone to catch the train back to High Wycombe to work.
Monday, October 3, 2011
Cambridge
Last weekend was our second last EXEAT (weekend off) and we headed off to Brighton, but more on that later...
On Friday Janet, Caitlin & I went to Cambridge for the day! We caught a train into London at 8.30am, then got ourselves to King's Cross to get a 45 min train out there. We found a bus to the city centre from the station then wandered towards the tourist info centre via Market Square, where the daily Cambridge Market was being held. On the way we stopped in an amazing shop called Ark. I literally loved everything in there, even though the few jumpsuits I tried on looked better on the hanger. I even went back at the end of the day for a cute cropped t-shirt I'd tried on.
At the market we had a look around & got a few things - juice, dried banana, cake (banana, honey, date & walnut) and studs/ear cuffs. We found the tourist info centre and decided to book a punting tour, which are flat-bottomed boats that take up all the little rivers in Cambridge. Then we went to find a veg restaurant for lunch which had been in a couple of guides. Caitlin enjoyed her enchilada but unfortunately the spinach, tomato & cottage cheese lasagne Janet & I both got was a little boring. I'd also already filled up on cake so that probably didn't help.
The restaurant was right across from King's College so we decided to go there next. We had to walk around to another entrance for tickets/admittance and it was pretty warm by this stage; it was meant to be 28! And it's been around 26 every day since then! It feels like the start of Summer not the end!
We headed inside the chapel, which was of course beautiful but I think these things are wearing off on me a bit. Then we had a little walk around the grounds, got mistaken for 'freshers' which was pretty exciting, and got told off for standing 'on the grass or where the grass would be if people like us didn't stand there'. Geez, I was just taking a photo of the other 2.
So we got out of the grounds and found the punting place. The ride was nice and relaxing, and not too hot as it was on-and-off under the shade of trees. We saw a bunch of the colleges along the river, Kings again, Queens, Trinity, St John's (whose clocktower is missing its clock as they ran out of money) and probably some others. We also went under the mathematical bridge, which is made up of no curved pieces of wood, & the Bridge of Sighs, which is named after the Bridge of Sighs in the Doge's Palace in Venice, but is a little less serious than prisoners taking their last breath. Our tour guide/punting guy had such a posh accent, we loved it. Can't believe this is pretty much the pastime of the students there - there were people in their punts just drinking and bumping into the sides, and others sitting on the grass on the riverbank, just relaxing. There was also a bride and groom taking a ride. Basically, living in a uni town would be amazing, especially one with rivers.
We headed back to the centre of town, on the way passing St Catharine's College (I took a photo for you mum), a musical bin (a busker who had somehow got himself inside it and just had his arm/guitar neck sticking out) and Jesus Lane. I got a fairly crappy hot chocolate from a 'Chocolate House' then we saw the Round Church and walked past St John's again. We got Camille a birthday present, I got my t-shirt then we caught the bus back to the station and caught the train back; this time it took an hour 20 min with lots of people and stopping - gotta love peak hour. We all eventually got seats though, plus Hamish & Andy and Legally Blonde music (which I am hopefully seeing next week for my birthday!) kept me entertained.
We ended up getting back about 8.10pm and went up to the flat, then went to bed about 11pm.
On Saturday some of the gals got up at 5am to watch the AFL grand final but I had to work 8am-2.30pm so I wasn't so keen. Had a pretty chilled out time, just getting the girls outside to enjoy the sun while it lasts. In the night, Aisling, Janet & I were thinking of going out as it's been a few weeks, but in the end decided against it and instead got takeaway (I got a vegie burger wrap) and watched The Breakfast Club, so it was a nice night.
Had yesterday morning off and then in the afternoon I supervised all the girls decorating masks they made Saturday afternoon for a competition, unfortunately not out in the sun, but in the art room :(
Currently planning our trip to Stockholm & Copenhagen in 3 weeks, possibly staying in a hostel which is a boat in Stockholm! And I cannot believe it is already October, home in 2 and a half months!
On Friday Janet, Caitlin & I went to Cambridge for the day! We caught a train into London at 8.30am, then got ourselves to King's Cross to get a 45 min train out there. We found a bus to the city centre from the station then wandered towards the tourist info centre via Market Square, where the daily Cambridge Market was being held. On the way we stopped in an amazing shop called Ark. I literally loved everything in there, even though the few jumpsuits I tried on looked better on the hanger. I even went back at the end of the day for a cute cropped t-shirt I'd tried on.
At the market we had a look around & got a few things - juice, dried banana, cake (banana, honey, date & walnut) and studs/ear cuffs. We found the tourist info centre and decided to book a punting tour, which are flat-bottomed boats that take up all the little rivers in Cambridge. Then we went to find a veg restaurant for lunch which had been in a couple of guides. Caitlin enjoyed her enchilada but unfortunately the spinach, tomato & cottage cheese lasagne Janet & I both got was a little boring. I'd also already filled up on cake so that probably didn't help.
The restaurant was right across from King's College so we decided to go there next. We had to walk around to another entrance for tickets/admittance and it was pretty warm by this stage; it was meant to be 28! And it's been around 26 every day since then! It feels like the start of Summer not the end!
We headed inside the chapel, which was of course beautiful but I think these things are wearing off on me a bit. Then we had a little walk around the grounds, got mistaken for 'freshers' which was pretty exciting, and got told off for standing 'on the grass or where the grass would be if people like us didn't stand there'. Geez, I was just taking a photo of the other 2.
So we got out of the grounds and found the punting place. The ride was nice and relaxing, and not too hot as it was on-and-off under the shade of trees. We saw a bunch of the colleges along the river, Kings again, Queens, Trinity, St John's (whose clocktower is missing its clock as they ran out of money) and probably some others. We also went under the mathematical bridge, which is made up of no curved pieces of wood, & the Bridge of Sighs, which is named after the Bridge of Sighs in the Doge's Palace in Venice, but is a little less serious than prisoners taking their last breath. Our tour guide/punting guy had such a posh accent, we loved it. Can't believe this is pretty much the pastime of the students there - there were people in their punts just drinking and bumping into the sides, and others sitting on the grass on the riverbank, just relaxing. There was also a bride and groom taking a ride. Basically, living in a uni town would be amazing, especially one with rivers.
We headed back to the centre of town, on the way passing St Catharine's College (I took a photo for you mum), a musical bin (a busker who had somehow got himself inside it and just had his arm/guitar neck sticking out) and Jesus Lane. I got a fairly crappy hot chocolate from a 'Chocolate House' then we saw the Round Church and walked past St John's again. We got Camille a birthday present, I got my t-shirt then we caught the bus back to the station and caught the train back; this time it took an hour 20 min with lots of people and stopping - gotta love peak hour. We all eventually got seats though, plus Hamish & Andy and Legally Blonde music (which I am hopefully seeing next week for my birthday!) kept me entertained.
We ended up getting back about 8.10pm and went up to the flat, then went to bed about 11pm.
On Saturday some of the gals got up at 5am to watch the AFL grand final but I had to work 8am-2.30pm so I wasn't so keen. Had a pretty chilled out time, just getting the girls outside to enjoy the sun while it lasts. In the night, Aisling, Janet & I were thinking of going out as it's been a few weeks, but in the end decided against it and instead got takeaway (I got a vegie burger wrap) and watched The Breakfast Club, so it was a nice night.
Had yesterday morning off and then in the afternoon I supervised all the girls decorating masks they made Saturday afternoon for a competition, unfortunately not out in the sun, but in the art room :(
Currently planning our trip to Stockholm & Copenhagen in 3 weeks, possibly staying in a hostel which is a boat in Stockholm! And I cannot believe it is already October, home in 2 and a half months!
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