After work fun

Couple of weeks ago my bf finished an incredibly busy period at work. He remembers the exact time he handed in the project papers: 11.27am. It was on a Friday and he basically ran from the office that second to go drinking. I met up with him later in the day and we had some celebratory drinks. His workmates came out as well and we had a lovely evening.

I actually managed to take some pictures while out with my camera phone. Not the best pictures in the world. 

I like these newly developed areas. Especially when they randomly plant a few trees in them. You have these modern straight line buildings broken up by lovely trees.

London night sky anyone? 

 

 

 

We headed out for one more drink after I took the pics. Or let's say, the boys had one more drink while I had juice. My old bones can't handle the alcohol that well anymore. Have to stop drinking early if I want to feel like a human being the next day.

But otherwise it was a lovely evening. Hope you enjoyed the (blurry) photos!

Brighton Japan Festival

I meant to post these much earlier. This are some photos from the Brighton Japan Festival. I went there almost a month ago. I didn't spend a lot of time there. Just enough to buy some mochi and enjoy the atmosphere.

Brighton Pier  that burnt down a couple of years ago.

 

The mochi were delicious! Especially the one with the strawberry in it. Should have bought more. Maybe next time.

Sorry for not writing a lot about this. I really didn't spend a lot of time at the festival. I spent more time exploring Brighton as I'd never been, but forgot to take pictures of that. It was a great city so much to see and take in. Next time I will be better at taking pics!

I am a winner!

I won something! First time in forever! Ok, it was also the first time in forever that I tried to win something. But that's not the point.


Haikugirl's Japan had her first give-away last week and I ended up winning. So a big thanks to her. She posted the ticket to me and I am eagerly awaiting it. Makes it even more fun to come home from work every night ;-)

I am super excited that I won a ticket to Hyperjapan. It's on in two weeks here in London and I wanted to go anyway. But now I don't have to buy a ticket and instead can spend more money at the actual event. Pretty sweet. Can't wait to go!

Houses of Parliament

Finally managed to pull the photos of my camera from my visit to the Houses of Parliament. I met up with a good friend a couple of weeks ago. Through her I got 'access' to the Houses and her husband was so nice to give me a tour. It's a really amazing place.

Once I got the pictures on my computer I noticed that most of them are a bit shaky. I'm just rubbish at taking photos with my phone. Just can't hold that damn thing still enough. Need to buy a new camera.

This is the oldest part of the parliament. The monarchs are usually put up here when they die and the public can go past them to pay their respects. Or you know, make fun of them...

The middle plaque commemorates the place where William Wallace was sentenced to death. Pretty cool, heh.

I'll leave you with the rest of the pics. Enjoy!

Ping Pong

Couple of weeks ago bf and I ended up at Ping Pong. It's a chain of Chinese Dim Sum restaurants. I really like them. I think their decor is really tasteful and I love their dishes. Besides the dishes, they have a really nice selection of drinks.

Flowering tea: I can't get over this one. It's just too beautiful. Almost a shame to drink it. I think you get free top-ups, but then the taste fades.

Another nice drink. Cranberry juice with an infusion of spices and goji berries. They literally hang a teabag into the glass with the spices. The goji berries are inside the glass. It tasted soooo good. Now, if the weather would be nicer and would taste even better. But we were there on a rainy day...

Museum of London

I'm very proud of myself as I managed to leave the house this weekend and do something useful. Well, maybe not useful but I went to a museum and enjoyed it!

I went to the Museum of London with a friend. Both of us had been complaining how we live in a great city but never actually go see any of its attractions or make use of any of the cultural activities happening every day. So this weekend we went ot the Museum of London.

It was very cool. Lots of old maps showing how the city developed. Plenty of artifacts and things to touch and see. To be honest I didn't pay that much attention to the historical facts, I just enjoyed being out and 'learning' new things. The museum is in a pretty interesting part of town. It's built where the former wall was in the actual City of London. There are lots of walkways, old and new buildings. The levels of the streets are changing and sometimes and feels a bit like a maze. I really love it though.

Modern glass buildings all over the place.

 Some seem to be build upon old foundations and stone.

 A room that was comletely covered in a map of London including the ceiling and floor. Some parts were framed and sticking out.

Replica of the London Eye. Really cool. That reminds me that I should still go on the real one. Nah, one of these days...

The End

This year's E3 just ended and I spend some time catching up on the most important (to me) games and hardware that was announced. 

It totally put me in the mood to replay one of my favourite games. Secret of Mana. I do not have an iphone/pad, so I could not play the newer, prettier version. But the old one was just as I remembered. Very nostalgic, loved it!

It's too bad that once you play through something you can never have that first play-through again. Of course the same goes for films and books. I wish I could watch the Lord of the Rings again for the first time or read all the Harry Potter books again for the first time. 

Anyway, have to hop into the shower now and get ready to go out and brave the rain. Going out shopping. Yay! The bf leaves on a business trip on Tuesday. He needs to pick up some stuff and maybe I'll find something nice for myself ;-)

The big fox

Randomly saw this in the street.

 

Overall last week was quiet at work. My boss is on holiday so I did not have that much to do. She'll be back in two weeks and I'm hoping that I will be given more responsibilities then. But till then I take it easy.

Met up with a friend from Germany on Monday. Was really nice to catch up. I graduated from High School with her but hadn't seen her in years. Had some nice Thai food and then some coffee. Good stuff.

Friday I went out with a couple of friends from Uni. We ended up crashing my bf and his workmates drinks out. Was good fun. Ended the night at a Japanese restaurant and had some ramen. Yummy. Forgot to take pictures though. Sorry.

Today I was supposed to work on my dissertation. Maybe later. Just had a message from another friend from Germany, again someone I graduated with from High School, who will be in London from tomorrow. Might meet up with him then. That will be three in about as many weeks. Did I miss something or is London becoming the new weekend trip town? Weird.

Anyway, off to fix more tea and hydrate my body...

Spring awakening

Technically spring is almost over. My favourite blooming time has passed as well. But I managed to take a couple of shots of the blue trees/bushes again. I love them. There should be more flowers blooming blue. In the area I live in there are tons of those plants.

Mixed in with some dark red flowers. Pretty!!!

London is going through some weird weather at the moment. One day it's sunny and nice, the next it will be windy, rainy and cold. Goes back and forth all the time. I wish we would have proper summer soon.

Coffee and Cheeeeesecake...

So I decided that the working life is pretty good. Have been spending the weekend hanging out with a friend, drinking lots of coffee and eating cake. Technically I haven't been paid yet, but I already like spending the money. Figured I treat myself this month and from the next one I will see how to wisely spend my money.

Put till then there will be lots of coffee and cake!

 I found this really nice cafe that is pretty close to my uni. Cannot believe I did not notice it until I left! Will have to go back there often. The tables are really rustique and then they have this regal theme going on with lots of red and purple, candles, chandeliers, golden chairs, and they play very dramatic classical music in the background. Amazing!

(Ok, so this coffee I actually had in April on the London Book Fair, but it represents all the other coffees I bought this weekend.)