Its Friday and a 3 day weekend.

I've been a bit slack this week (insert embarrassed smiley)... I've been sick with a bit of a sniffle and had Tuesday off, the rest of the week Ive been flat out like a lizard drinking trying to get a design finished. I did manage to fit in some time to go to Nichola's birthday/leaving do on Wednesday at Cantaloupe in Shoreditch/Old Street area. A little hard to find but it was a lot nicer than I expected. I always expect bars around that area to be largely full of pretentious wankers and overpriced but this one had such a laid back feel. It wasn't completely crammed either which is always a bonus. I always try to avoid bars that are crammed in, Id rather go somewhere I can have a seat, the music isn't so loud you can actually talk and not wait 4 hours to be served at the bar. I think this is a sign Im getting old!!! What do you think?

Im excited because Im getting a package tonight (provided it got there) from *ahem Argos.. I do live in a pretty chav bit of London and as they say "When in Rome"... Don't worry Im not wearing Burberry, white trainers and saying innit yet.

Its only 3 hours to go until the weekend.. I have to go to Ikea again to buy the sofa bed for my Mum but Im also buying a brand new bike. I feel like Im 5 again. Unfortunately I don't think I will be able to get that lovely metallic green number with trainer wheels and tassels like I had when I was 5... *does google search for spokey dokeys....

Have a good bank holiday weekend if you are in Engerland, if not hahaahha suckers!

Sunrise - Anzac Cove

Sunrise
Originally uploaded by yahnyinlondon.

I was in Gallipoli last year, at the Dawn Service. This year I didn't attend a service... I didn't really want to go through London at 4am in the morning on my own. They hold the service here in Hyde Park, London.

For the non-Aussies here is some history about Anzac Day

Cutty Sark and entrance to under river tunnel.

Cutty Sark and entrance to under river tunnel.
Originally uploaded by yahnyinlondon.

These are our photos from last Sunday (April 17th 2005) It was such a beautiful day. There are some from the London Marathon, Greenwich and Cutty Sark. Few good ones of Phil in there.

I have also put some photos of my apartment up but you need to be registered with Flickr (and have me add you as a friend or family contact.) If you need help with this, just drop me an email.

Photos from Chrissy & NYE 04-05 Belgium

Church in Ypres
Originally uploaded by yahnyinlondon.

I had a whole pile of photos sitting on my desktop that I didnt get to upload for some reason. Finally uploaded them now. This is from Ypres, Belgium but there are also more from Brussels, Antwerp, Brugge and Ypres.

Had a really quiet weekend because I got a bit pissy on Friday night. Havent been motivated to go anywhere at all, just pottering round the apartment.

Friday night we went to the Vibe Bar for Sarah & Nichola's leaving do. Its a pretty cool bar with an excellent outdoor space thats going to rock come summer (if it comes.) Its always cranking on a Friday night so we stayed until 1am when it closed.

I also learnt another thing on Friday night/Early Saturday morning - pizza shops are closed. Does anyone know a pizza shop that stays open til like 4 or 5am in East London. Leave a comment!

Hells Kitchen

Like I said earlier nothing much has been going on because of work. Its all I can think about. I did manage to squeeze in netball and we drew 21 all. We had already one because half the other team forfeited but some other people filled in. Its so much of a mission to get back to this side of London. Although it did manage to give me time to finish my book - Volume 1 of HItchhikers Guide to the Galaxy (see linky).

I have to go because Hell's Kitchen is on now.. Phil and I have become quite addicted to it.

Grumpybumitis

What can I say? Today wasn't the best of days.. its been so busy at work, trying to get a major project finished by the deadline and its looming towards me..

I havent got much to write about because I havent really done much aside from work and my brain cant think of much else. I know the weekend is going to come soon enough.. I wanted to check out the British Museum or the Royal Academy of Art but we shall see when the weekend comes.

Im going to help Phil with dinner so hopefully I can fit in a swim & gym tonight :) Although I managed to drop my bikini top on Sunday (I wasnt wearing it though, I was wearing clothes for those of you with dirty minds) between the leisure centre and our apartment. That bikini had lasted me all of 18 months which is something of a personal best. Gutted.

London Marathon & Greenwich

Being a few minutes walk from Bow Church DLR and within sight of Canary Wharf we thought we should go down and check out the Marathon. Running 40km is my idea of CRAZY. Running 40km in a stupid costume should have u committed but a lot of people did it. It was interesting to watch for about an hour but then I got kinda bored. No disrespect to the people running just have a short attention span... Its more Phil's thing.

We continued onto Greenwich, had a look around the gardens and the Old Royal Naval College. We spent ages in the Maritime Museum too. Ive become quite discerning in that I look at what interests me rather than force myself to read everything (see above about the short attention span.) We didnt quite get up to the Royal Observatory but maybe next time. We saw the Cutty Sark too but didn't really want to pay £4.50 to go see it.

Going to try to see the Royal Academy of Arts soon too. Havent got there just yet.

Something Deep & Meaningful

The Robert Crumb exhibition was well cool... he can draw! Very witty and insightful.

Anyways its not often that I write something deep & meaningful here but this has been on my mind the past few days. I was listening to "London Still" by The Waifs (a Perth band.) Its not that Im homesick, I miss Perth but Im so happy here and I do my best to keep close to my friends and family there. There are so many issues that never crossed my mind when I decided I wanted to come here. I thought even if I did meet someone they would come back to Australia. I would be here for a couple of years then go back to Perth, maybe Melbourne. I didn't really imagine that I could leave my beloved Perth for that long.

Now Im here, its almost been two years and I find myself living with someone who loves their home as much as I do. Should we stay together (and I really hope we do) one of us is going to have to give up the idea of going back home. I never thought I would have to make that decision. There are other factors - that I couldn't live in Perth without yearning for the big city life of London but I couldn't (eventually) have kids live in a big city without yearning they could experience my small isolated city lifestyle. I know thats awhile away yet but to quote something I read, "time has a habit of catching up to you like a windscreen at a bug."

Its not just giving up my home in a way, I feel like I am missing out on the really important things that are happening to my family, to my friends. Ive barely seen my two closest friends children (and soon to be a third) in anything but photos. I knew that in advance of course but I never thought it would have a profound an effect on me as it has.

Busy Busy Busy

I have to make this a quick one because Im super busy at work.

I meant to post on Sunday about my travels to the Tate Galleries but I didn't quite get around to it... until now. We checked out both exhibitions at Tate Modern - Joseph Beuys and August Strindberg. Beuys is from Germany and does strange installation type things. Although the art wasn't my thing, I didnt find it visually aesthetic, it did have a symbolical purpose and that I really appreciated. Especially his connection with the materials he used and his rescue after crashing his plane in the war. Strindberg was from Sweden, a playwright who had a lot of wives. I must say his style was random, quite child-like. Interesting but not quite as talented as Turner. The Turner Whistler Monet exhibition at Tate Britain was amazing, quite worth the wait and having to deal with the crowds. The exhibition structure was really well connected. Definitely recommend checking it out before it closes in May.

Tuesday night and we had our first dinner guests! Just some friends from work who live close by and a visit to the pub in the complex (Newark!) Not bad prices - 4 pints for under a tenner! Bargain!

Last night we visited Sound in Leicester Square to see a guy we used to work with's band. Does that make sense? There were 4 other bands on before them but they were a little bit disappointed. Our friends band was excellent - Kind of a mix between R&B and Rock. They are called Skye and I hope we will be hearing more from them in the future.

Tonight its the Whitechapel Gallery to see Robert Crumb but its going to be an early one.. Im shattered.

Then tomorrow, Thank God its Friday! Heading to the Design Museum to hear a talk by Stefan Sagmeister

Phew.. and Saturday, if I dont have to come into work I will be sleeping.

C'arn the Dockers

Mmm just finished an official Saturday Fry-up. Excellent.

Its the Dockers v Eagles derby today.. Im listening to the radio over the internet. Phil finds the West Aussie rather amusing. My parents are at the game now - Im wondering if my Mum is going sparno like she normally does. Dockers are winning in the third quarter but the Eagles are coming back now. Im trying to get Phil to support the Dockers (I dont want him to commit himself to a lifetime of misery by supporting Tigers) plus my parents have a soft spot for anyone who supports the Dockers. He keeps saying that he is going to support the Eagles like my brothers.

We now have internet at home :) We are sitting in our spare room at our desks on our puters. Just have to get Phil to clean whilst he is in here!

I dont want to be a pie...

I wanted to go here for lunch on Friday Sausage & Mash Cafe but it was chockers... I have had a real caving for sausages lately. Just cant seem to get enough of them. Especially Walls sausages too...mmm...

Anyways we went into Spitalfields Market again and went to Square Pie. I love a good pie, and I was particularly partial to Jesters Pies back home (especially after a heavy night on the lash.). It came with mash, peas and gravy and it was quality. The pastry was really nice. My filling was a little disappointing but thats because I took a gamble on jerk chicken not really knowing what it was. I think Lamb & Rosemary or perhaps Chicken with a creamy filling would have been excellent.

Overall Thumbs up :)

Past my bedtime.

A good friend that Phil and I work with had his last day and compulsory last day drinks. It had been a tough few days for everyone in the office, and as it was, I didnt get to the pub until after 8pm. We went to the Big Chill Bar which was actually really nice. You could hear yourself over the music, it wasn't overcrowded and they did some quality sweet potato chips. After there we kicked on into Shoreditch and went to 333. I guess Im getting old because I found being in a room jampacked with people, getting my drink spilt or arse groped every few minutes a bit well shite. Not to mention the numerous drugged out clubbers dancing like they were having some sort of epileptic fit or people offering to sell drugs to me. Give me a cool museum or an art gallery, a walk along South Bank, a cool film but writing myself off? Im just over it. It was a funky bar, it did have style and if you wanted to dance all night long you were in the right place so if thats youre bag you should definitely visit.

Won two tix to who???

Einsturzende Neubauten apparently linky but I thought they were something other than what they turned out to be (some German gothic art rock type band.) Anyways I dont want to go, neither does Phil. Im not sure if you need to use ID but there are 2 tickets on the guest list under my name. If its your bag. Youre more than welcome to give it a shot.

I have so many links on my Link Post-It that I really need to post some.

Busted Tees
For all your dodgy t-shirt needs.

Big Catfish
Looks like the catfish out of Big Fish...

Pavement Art
Totally ring ring but still cool no matter how many times you see it.

Minestrone Soup
Yummy soup recipe. Does anyone know of a good pumpkin recipe? mmm pumpkin soup.

Good Fonts

Goodies Blog
Seems like a good way of getting stuff, provided you have the hits. Feel free to send me free stuff :)

Drunken Blog
Great Mac Techy type blog if thats your bag. The guy who writes it is a real champ.

Rion.nu
A real simple NYC photo blog. Its beautifully designed, so simple, such a good idea and the photography is amazing.

Icon mag
Another interesting design mag - London based.

The World
As islands off the coast of Dubai? Interesting. Supposedly Rod Stewart has bought the UK island. Or someone like that. They probably cost an arm & a leg to buy, even just houses on them so who cares... but its cool, in some kind of destroy the environment type of way.

Once again, thanks to Boing Boing for the never ending wierd links!!!

Yay! A couch!

Another weekend, another visit to Ikea and another Saturday evening spent putting the stuff together. Im so over Ikea. Especially because instead of putting the £300 on my card, the cashier charged the whole lot so I ended up paying an extra £100. Knowing most customer service departments I expect to be without that money for the next 2 weeks at least. Doh!

Didn't really do much else of note on the weekend, finished some letters, did some tidying and made an apple crumble. Wanted to go out Sunday but we had to wait for our couch to get delivered.

Im excited because tomorrow is TimeOut delivery day. I stumbled across the '9 issues for £2.50" offer, which is pretty good but I recommend changing onto the yearly rate of £49.99 after that. Here are some of the things happening in London according to Timeout.

Jack the Ripper Tour & more Ikea

We went on a Jack the Ripper tour last night near our office. It was pretty interesting as we walked from place to place, stopping to hear the gory details. I thought I would be bored after 10 minutes but the guide was great and I think I learned the most ever from a walking tour. It ends right near the Ten Bells pub so we all went in for a drink afterwards. I think this was the company that ran our tour but not 100% sure....London Walks. Would definitely recommend doing it. I've included a Jack the Ripper book from Amazon there too, apparently one of the better books about the subject. Its gone on my wishlist!

Aside from more Ikea shopping (& Ikea putting together.. doh!) we are thinking about heading to one of the Tates or Whitechapel. Even the Design Museum may get a look-in.
Currently at the Tate Modern Joseph Beuys.
Currently at the Tate Britain Turner Whistler Monet.
Currently at the Whitechapel Gallery Robert Crumb.
Currently at the Design Museum Designer of the Year.