Irish Twins Big Fat Greek Birthday

Since you last stopped by my blog dear readers I am now a full year older - However, it would appear I am none the wiser, smarter or richer.

This was my first birthday spent overseas, away from the people who actually gave me my birthday and all the comforts and routine that provides.

Luckily, I have a very special Irish Twin to share the occasion with. Having best buddy Anja born on the same day certainly helps with the celebratory atmosphere!

The day started well with a phone call from the parentals followed by live commentary of me opening the presents they had sent.

Next, was a visit to one of my favourite Chiswick food-spots Crepe Parisienne for delish French delights & one of the few decent cups of coffee I have found in the city.

The only interruption to this blissfully perfect day was a trip to the bank to set up an account and the purchasing of a vacuum cleaner (a hoover - how very British of us!)! Even the bank-lady felt sorry for me!

But a new pair of shoes and a CK dress later (Thank you TKMaxx - you are a life saver for a cheap-ass girl like me!) and I was feeling all fancy-like.

Finally come evening, the boyfriend and I were trekking our way across town to the Real Greek for dinner with 16 friends.

The food was - ahhh - so good, Greek & tasty!

The only downside, was this place stuck to a sort of Tapas menu - there was no moussaka or spanakopita in sight.

It was pretty quiet when we arrived - we quickly put a stop to that - even stuff our faces with food didn't dull our noisy bunch.

I think we all left at least 5 kgs heavier than we arrived. Which in my mind, equals the perfect birthday.

Laser beam eyes are the best kind of eyes

Laser beam eyes, death stare, evil eye. Whatever you call them I'm sure you've all applied it in your day-to-day lives.

And never have I had more urges to use my laser beams than in London.

The tube, walking down the street or waiting in a line are all prime opportunities for me to will people to burst into flame.

"This train is full why can't you wait for the next one instead of stabbing me in the back with your stupid book?" LASER!

"That's okay, why should you and your six friends even think of moving out of the way I love walking into oncoming traffic!" LASER!

If things get really serious you can always employ the turn and stare laser beam for a truly frightening effect.

I had cause to break out the beams on Tuesday night during after work drinks and burgers with a group of friends at Big Chill House, Kings Cross. 

There were eight of us at the busy, but not packed, bar/restaurant and while there was room at the bar we were struggling to get a table. 

So a couple decide they deserved to have a whole eight-seater table to themselves. To make things worse they spent half the night leaving their drinks on the table and wondering out for cigarettes.


They must have had incredibly thick skin, because no amount of laser eyes could make them move or even get the hint.


Rant over.


At least the burgers were great.
 

Good time sir

Well, that was interesting! I was just about to start typing when an email flashed up on my screen titled "Good time sir".

I may not be a Sir, but I'd sure like to be. What a weird way to greet someone.

ANYWAY!

This is rather a nothing about nothing blog, because I haven't been inspired by anything loosely resembling a theme.

The most common occurrence these past few weeks has been birthdays, birthdays and more birthdays.

Four last week to be precise and my very own date of birth is this Saturday.

I share my special day with one of my very best friends, Anja. I'm hoping that makes being so far away from home a little easier.

The boyfriend's birthday was last week and he was a little down because his favourite restaurant, Lara, was closed for refubishment. We did find a suitable alternative in the Oriental Brasserie where we tucked into a selection of tasty Asian treats.

I can't rave-on enough about their coconuty-chocolatey dessert! It's a ball of ice cream with meragin through the middle and rolled in chocolate, coconut and chopped peanuts - heaven!

***

A week on and Christchurch is never far from my mind. As more and more stories come out, them number of deaths climb and the level of destruction becomes more apparent it's hard to grasp just how big this whole disaster is.

My thoughts are with all the peeps in the Garden City & anyone with friends or family there.

My heart is breaking for Christchurch

I woke up this morning like any other day... walked to the bathroom, poured myself a bowl of cereal and put on my radio to BBC London.

Nothing out of the usual at first, but then the news update said earthquake in Christchurch - oh no, not another one - 65 dead.

I still, 5 hours later, can't believe 65 (possibly more) of my fellow NZ have lost their lives. 

The spire on the Christchurch City Cathedral that I climbed only 3 years ago is gone, highrises collapsed and the CBD is almost unrecognisable.

Like everyone, my first thoughts were for my two friends who I know live in the city.

It turns out I received a txt during the night from a friend in NZ who let me know one of them was okay. 

Thanks to Facebook I quickly learned the other was safe too. 

Whatever you think of social media it is at it's best in times like these. Friends and family are quickly reassured and can pass on news in a split second.

Benefits can be set up, fundraising campaigns publicised and blood-drives can receive much needed support.

Twitter too is spreading news and helping those far away reach out to loved ones.

The media is doing a stunning job of covering the unfolding events - it's comforting to know what is going on while I'm so far away.

If you are able to donate please go to redcross.org.nz

The garden city has a long road ahead - Kia Kaha xxx

The sleeping giant awakes....

Well, well, well. What have we got here? The first post in God knows how long.

So much to share - things have certainly changed from when we last spoke, so where to start?

First - I have a job! A full-time, proper job! Since the start of the year I have been gainfully employed as an editorial assistant/writer for a London B2B publisher. This is part of the reason my blog posts have been so sporadic - it keeps me pretty darn busy.

Second - The Boyfriend has a job! He is now an account manager for a fancy London design firm. Hopefully this means I will have my laptop back (his take over of my machine should be over now he has a job).

Thirdly - We have a flat! After a month in the soul-destroying waste land of Canada Water we are back in the W4. Okay, so that was a little harsh, but if you had to put up with the Jubilee Line day after day you'd feel that way too!

I have also ventured outside of the great UK to Christmas Markets in Belgium, taken part in more London-based site seeing and joined a knitting class.

So stay tuned for more details and more (regular) blogs.

Until next time....

The best (and easiest) banana cake ever!

Thanks to Tescos selling me a bunch of the most squishiest bananas I've ever seen I had the need to make banana cake (or rather a banana loaf).

I found this recipe online and the results were excellent - a golden loaf, moist inside and crisp on top.

I added chocolate chips and I'm sure raisins and nuts would work well too.

Happy baking

Easy As Banana Loaf

1/2 a cup butter or margarine
3/4 cup sugar (whatever kind you like)
1 cup self-raising flour
2 eggs
2 large or 3 medium, very ripe bananas

Heat the oven to 180C
Grease a loaf tin.

Mash the bananas with a sturdy fork.
Cream the butter and sugar together and mix in the eggs
Mix together the bananas into the buttery-sugary-eggy mixture.
Add the flour.

Scrape into the loaf tin and bake for 40 minutes then lower the temperature to 150C and cook for a further 30 minutes.

Blogging shall resume shortly

What a long time between posts.

Thanks for being paitent, but with what feels like a lifetime without internet access there is a lot to catch up on! I hope to have a series of exciting new posts this coming week.