Wednesday, March 17, 2010

A weekend in the life of ......

A quiet weekend was what I invisioned for my first 'dry' (no alcohol) weekend....and whilst there was a testing time on Saturday night, I pushed through and made it to Monday with a very clean and satisfied liver!

So I took my camera along with me to take you on a trip in the life of me over a quiet London weekend...

So let me bring you to last Friday, last day of the working week...due to the Overground train closures my closest Station has been closed since Feb until May to do some gay trackwork, but this encouraged me to purchase a bike and ride into town and catch the tube from Bethnal Green...my first bike (which was kindly given to me by a lovely lady named Cyra) was only in my possession for a short 2 weeks until it was prematurely stolen from it's resting spot while I was slaving away at work (yes, it was locked up)...however not to fret; I made a journey to Brick Lane and picked up a lovely little Vintage White 2 wheeler (with 2 bells that I ring at pedestrians when ever I get the chance) and a beautiful wicker basket perfect for my grocery trips into Hackney Tesco and Ridley Road Market!
So I ride through the Park - Victoria Park (see aboove) my commute only takes about 15 mins to Bethnal Green Station where I now lock up my bike hard core and continue my journey by Tube to Knightsbridge - my final destination where I exit for Harrods (British for Department Store Hell) Quick side note - to Petra, Allie and Sanna - you know the LV shoe concession couch? on Saturday some child somehow got possession of a ball point pen andhighlighter and scribbled shit ALLLL over the couch, and the walls....and the shelves and when we discovered it the mother was like "well what do you expect with such slow service"....yes, that really happened...
Friday night was a nice quiet evening, after work I went out for a pint with a few of the LV team and picked up a copy of The Pianist for 3 Pounds, had a slice of Roast Veg lasagne I had made the previous evening and curled up with Kitty on the couch in the lounge....
For those who haven't had the pleasure of visiting me in my new East London digs, I did a little collage of my flat...my room, lounge, kitchen and roof terrace ---> where the Summer BBQs and pre-sunset drinks will be at! Can't wait til Summer!!
So I had to be up relatively early on Sat as I'd been cohersed into playing a charity Soccer match in West London by a friend of a friend....it was FREEEEZING that day...

Even the occasional fit football boys couldn't distract me from the outlandish temperature...
We played a few games - they were 5 a side, 15 min games, made it to the quarters and then got smashed pretty embarrassingly...but it was an experience that had to be done whilst in England...like being unapproachable and cold...or eating a Toad in a Hole..
awww Bear and Staff = delicious times...
More delicious times were had on Sunday morning when I met up with Bec (a fabulous fellow Australian I befriended whilst flat-hunting in East London last year) at a gorgous bakery/teahouse on the outskirts of Victoria Park which I actually pass every day on my ride to work....the window is packed full of delicious tea-time treats like Carrot Cake (which I had!) mmm, Victoria Spounge, Coffee and Walnut cake, french cheese cake, brownies, cookies, pain au chocolates and much much more....as you can see below...
The interior is also rather charming, along with the retro crockery and teapots = amazing discovery....Katrina - please view for inspiration!

Mouth watering cakes were followed by a brief walk through the park towards a Jumble Sale someone had told me about just around the corner being held at The Victoria - a charming old Pub down near Mile End.
Let me tell you, Jumble Sale - AMAZING....if I wasn't so skint I'm sure I would have purchased alot more...as it was I bought a floral blouse....for 1 POUND! , a long black dress and an adorable floral print, lace collar dress that makes me look like a 10 year old....LOVE....
They were also offering 10 pound haircuts and a variety of old-lady inspired kitchen pieces....I mean just look at the photo, I wanted EVERYTHING!
Upon exiting The Victoria we were met by brilliant rays of sunshine!
So Bec and I decided to soak up some rays on a park bench inside the park where I decided to go and celebrate the moment with a soft serve ice-cream mmmmm
Look at the shaddows! real sun!!
Am I really that pasty you ask...answer - Yes, but I'm kind of into the pale new me, it's very big in Britain ;)
A little celebratory moment of the removal of the jacket for the first time while outdoors in London....sweet...
The Pub were holding their weekly Movie night that Sunday and the evenings film was Napolian Dynamite, so sure enough we returned several hours later after night fall for a pint of guiness for me and a pint of cider for Lottie (new flat mate!) with Bec for good times as we remembered how golden Napolian Dynamite is...

That's Lottie on the left and Bec on the right winding up what was a pretty amazing day...
Caught a bus home, had a cup of tea, a chat and then went to bed to start the week fresh!
To all my favourite people scattered around the world - I think about you all every day and love you and miss you all xx *hugs* Thanks for listening.

























































1 comment:

  1. Mandies I miss you and want your quaint and fabulous london life! Please post more, I want to know everything. Love that you're using brit slang like "fit" and "skint". Love you xxx

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