Friday Feeling

It's been a rather quiet week, which was exactly what I needed after the madness of the last weekend. I started working full-time this week, which has been super fun, possibly because my time is really flexible and I so I've still managed to do some fun things. 

Also probably because my new office is next to Bond Street Station, five floors up with a stunning view over Oxford St. I'll try and sneak a picture next week, I was behaving myself as the new girl...! Still, it's scary, and I'm doing things I have no idea how to begin, but I am loving it. 

Highlights of the week include a spontaneous coffee with my bestie, who I bumped into whilst doing a few chores in Westfield. There's an incredible little coffee shop on the ground floor at the back, that does incredible drinks. It's a shame about the location, but makes a change to the ugly Starbucks when you walk through the front doors. 

Love a Latte

Later that evening a friend of mine cooked dinner for me and the rest of the leadership team that head up a Student Connect group at church. We're about 20-30 students that are seeking to know God better and reflect His love in our city. The team I lead with our stunners, inside and out, and with everyone so busy it's been hard to get together. Still, we had some green thai curry, a terrible banoffee pie made by moi (condensed milk DISASTER) and lots of wine. This was our view. 

Regents Canal and Canary Wharf

And now it's Friday. I'm heading to Eastbourne with one of my housemates tonight to meet her family and have a day or so in the countryside. I'm rather excited, and even though it means I'm leaving my beloved London, I have a feeling she'll cope without me (especially with the descending tourists for the bank holiday).

So, I'll update you on my adventures upon my return. Have a wonderful weekend and enjoy the extra day off!

Much love

Vicki

End of Term

This week has been for all intents and purposes, the final week of my second year of Uni. There's been the usual rush of deadlines, but in some strange freak occurrence, I was finished a week in advance, and aside from proof reading, I am ready and waiting to submit my 7,000 words...Hurrah!

So instead of attempting to scribble words all week, I've been trying to catch up with people and get planning for the month of deadlines that follow the Easter holidays. Oh the joys. I've made the walk to and from campus  on average twice a day, and then tried to fit in coffee dates with people. I make it sound strenuous, but really it's been a week of talking.

Today I had a day of enjoying the delights of East London. I was in Uni early, and then made my way down the road and round the corner to a new cafe. It's called Paper and Cup, and is the second branch of a great social enterprise. They dropped a flyer in our door a couple of months ago, and as it offered free coffee I've been meaning to go for weeks. Today, I finally got around to it.

There's a few social enterprise coffee shops around, and as they combine some of the things I love the most: coffee and social action, I am a big fan. Yet often there is a slightly sad compromise you have to make; not great quality coffee, or slightly tired looking décor. Obviously not huge things in the grand scheme of life. By any stretch. But...it's nice to see Paper and Cup doing well. Both with coffee, with space, and with their general vision and ethos. 

Guilt free caffeine fix, HELLO.

I sat down for a bit of chill time with a favourite book (I've read it at least four times before) and my free coffee. And then I decided not to leave. So I spent the afternoon there, setting up camp with one of their sandwiches and a flapjack. Very good decision, and their prices were good too! Always a bonus!

So I can completely recommend that you take a visit. I can see I will be setting up camp there in a few weeks when I have essays to write. And I'm kind of okay with that. 

One of the other delights about being in East London is the fact that my house/life is based on a road that at one end points East, with the sunrise, and the other heads West, across the City, with the sunset. Tonight the sky was looking particularly impressive, and right as I was walking home via some old east end buildings. I love this part of London. 

Tonight I've got my bake on and am making a three tiered cake for my housemate who just got offered lots of exciting positions. 

Time to celebrate!!

Just Life

The past week has been one of my most hectic. The uni deadlines are piling up as we're getting towards the end of term, and I've had events or things to do every single evening this week. 

Monday was the perfect way to start the chaos with dinner with one of my best friends. There's something so  beautifully relaxing about spending time with people that have known you for near enough forever. I cooked some chicken, made some bread and we drank some wine. Rather rustic but absolutely perfect after a day of writing essays. 

This week I also had the opportunity to go to one of the coolest events, courtesy of the ParliaMentors programme I'm on. I trekked up to North London (surprisingly far when you live out East) and went to a discussion evening with the future Chief Rabbi. The whole night was an attempt to create dialogue between London's Muslim and Jewish communities, and we were invited along to catch a glimpse, get a tour and share some hospitality. Incredible opportunity. 

After all the running around London, an interview, another dinner and some training with Church, I felt it was a good time to visit one of my favourite places in London, the Fleet River Bakery. I've written about them before, and cannot rave enough the quality of their coffee. I popped in on Wednesday afternoon as I was in the area, and though it was late afternoon, the place was heaving and I had to weave through chairs to find a spot in a corner. Definitely worth it. With some coffee and some cake I settled down to do some reading, and in the end made a long phone call to catch up with another far away friend. 

Coffee Cake, Fleet River Bakery

Other highlights of the week included a spontaneous run around Kings Cross Station to see Platform 9 and 3/4. Being a huge Harry Potter geek I don't really know how I've survived without taking a visit, so I could barely contain my excitement when we walked in. In all honesty I might have skipped. 

Overly Excited Geekiness

After such a mental week of reading, writing, thinking and such I was very much ready for chilling at home tonight, with pyjamas, wine, the housemates and An Education (which is an incredible film!)

The weekend is set to be busy, but tomorrow will be a week until I'm back home to the seaside! And as much as I love London and it has captured my heart with it's bursting streets and swirling river, I will be pleased to paddle my toes in the sea, and breathe air that tastes of salt and childhood. Bring it on.

And apologies for not writing, I've been doing some other things and blogging has taken a backseat. Soon to be rectified! 

Love and peace xxx

January. Ew.

It's getting towards the end of January, and though I've been doing rather a lot of writing, it has unfortunately not been for my blog. Woops. So I'm back. Feeling a little guilty. Please forgive me. 

Christmas and holidays feel like an ancient memory, what with being in the depths of the new year, full of ice and snow and slush, however, they were quite exciting - one of my oldest friends got engaged (yes, I have apparently become that old!!) and I got to spend lots of time running around the countryside with the family. 

My return to London was somewhat hindered by being unbearably ill, and suffering from the flu, which was an unwelcome start to term, but did allow me to watch an unnecessary number of Harry Potter films. I also had a number of evil deadlines that crept out of the woodwork and were a bit of a shock to the system. 

Still, it's been a good couple of weeks, with a couple of nights of dancing, baking, and a visit from friends to see the new Les Mis film, which, might I add, is wonderful. Take tissues. 

Highlights include a night of cocktails and boogying at The Foundation Bar in Covent Garden (a friend has just started organising events, and this was the first, which was huge amounts of fun!) and then an electro-swing night at The Book Club in Shoreditch, which is the home of hipsters and all things fun. I had a cocktail that involved lots of elderflower syrup. Om nom nom. 

Anyhow, here are some photos from the start of the year, and I promise to endeavour to write more often. 

(Last night I went to a writing workshop, and despite my busy schedule, I would love writing to be a bigger part of 2013 than 2012, and blogging seems to be a good way to do that.)

New Years Eve

Bournemouth on New Years Day

Sunset

House friends

Kahaila, a favourite coffee shop on Brick Lane.
Time with two of my best friends.

Electro-swing night at The Book Club

Snowy Street

Brunch at The Breakfast Club

Writing Workshop and Walk Along the Southbank.

Keep warm amigos, love xx

Visits and Things

London has apparently jumped with both feet into the season that is a hybrid of autumn and winter. Something like autunter. There are piles of leaves outside my door, perfect for running through, and yet it's freezing cold, and I'm still wearing winter gloves whilst on the tube. Funnily enough, I'm actually kind of loving it.

This weekend saw friends visiting from all over the place. The beauties I went to school with were about, and considering I've not seen one of them since June, it was a mighty good chance to catch up. This essentially meant doing what we do best; eating and chatting. Friday night we made a Moroccan concoction, and spent the night discussing the past few months. We might also have watched a lot of David Attenborough on youtube. I feel his voice helped us sleep, despite our excitement at being reunited.

Saturday we visited the coolest exhibition, by someone called Mr Brainwash. Kinda bold, slightly garish, and very, very uplifting. Oh, and it's free. Yes, that's why I love the city. We got to go and have our photos taken with a gorilla made of tyres, and then got free posters. It was a pretty sweet afternoon, made even more so by the wonders of the Fleet River Bakery. This cafe has to be one of my favourite spots in the city. It serves Monmouth coffee and is hidden down an alley not far from Covent Garden. I might have been there twice in the last three days.

And then this morning, some of my closest friends from Citygate in Bournemouth, who've been in London for some things, had a spare couple of hours to catch up. Again, friends I love seeing nearly every day when at home, I've not seen in months, so there was lots to talk about.

My day was completed with Church activities. It was a little bit of a special afternoon, with some training time and another epic Sunday at Christchurch. It seems to be a real time for challenge and change and growth and I'm really loving being surprised by what God does each time.

For the sake of the world burn like a fire in me. Light a flame in my soul for every eye to see. 

Meltdown

With the sun shining, and my to-do list growing longer than my legs, I think I am feeling a tad overwhelmed by all the things I need to get done.

Oh dear.

I return to London on Sunday, and as the past week has been full of sadness, and organising, the uni situation has somewhat taken a back seat. However, Sunday is arriving rather soon and my lack of sorting is making me panic a tad.

However, after lunch today with a friend that's been living in Kenya for the past year and a bit, and a speedy coffee with one of the besties, I feel a tad more normal. Sort of.

PS - A friend made me LYCHEE RUM.

So, with the rum, a few clothes, the arrival of another close friend in London, and the promise of a busy few weeks, I should probably get off the computer.


AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Jitterbug

I have had so much caffeine that, despite lunch and a non-caffeinated drink, I am still shaking. I think dancing might aid the crazy right now. Buzzzzzziing! 

Back at Home

So this weekend I moved out of London to spend my summer back at home in Bournemouth. It hasn't stopped raining since I left. Or arrived, whichever way you want to look at it.

I've got lots of photos to post after having my sister visit, as well as a friend, but for now I shall just say that old friends are sometimes the best, and a coffee with one of those is definitely enough to set your heart at ease.

I'm currently enjoying my favourite song in the world and attempting to write a personal statement. It's not going well, but I'm going to persevere because the programme I'm applying for sounds so amazing. Anyway, tea and late night creativity shall keep me company.

Much love amigos xxx

Foodie Friday

Over the past few months of living in London I've been searching for good coffee shops and cute cafes...the kind of thing you can only really hope to find in the city. If you've not gathered already, I love London, I mean really love it. The buildings, and the busyness, the people with their stern expressions, the tourists with their bandanas (a story for another time) and the amazing events and things that I just get to stumble upon. It's quite exciting, and all in all makes a nice change from my beautiful sleepy seaside home.

A couple of months ago I got taken to a great cafe, not too far from where I live. It's built upon three levels and serves coffee in glasses. It's an absolute winner. I've been back a couple of times since, and as a friend was passing through London on the way to the south, we stopped in this afternoon for a spot of lunch. I always think it's a good sign when the queue spirals out of the shop and half way down the street. No joke, by 1pm today we joined a trail of workers, about 20 people long. 

Fortunately for us most of them were using the Fleet River Bakery as a pit stop, and not as somewhere to sit and munch and chat, which left me and Sam (said friend) a handy table at the back of the cafe for a good catch up. Simple pesto pasta, and a chocolate brownie to die for, as well as some yummy coffee, and it was a fantastic afternoon. I'm a big fan of this place and only wish it wasn't so well-known! I need a similar hideaway for reading and studying that the crowds of commuters are yet to discover!

Anyhow, in my excitement over cafes and lunches, I forgot to mention that I went to be part of the audience for 8 out of 10 cats yesterday! A friend was allocated a bunch of tickets so four of us went and had an epic evening of comedy and general hilarity. Fortunate enough to see Stephen Mangan, who plays Guy Secretan in Green Wing, as well as the usuals - Jimmy Carr, Sean Lock and Jon Richardson and a few others. We were sat second row from the front, a few seats in, and literally had the best view you could've imagined. I've not yet watched the episode that was aired so I'm unsure if you can see the back of my head (right hand side, blue dress if so!) We had a great night and I realised how much I need to make use of free BBC things - it's genuinely the best night of free entertainment!

AND then this evening, as it was a friends' birthday, we went out for cocktails. Now, this seems to be becoming a bit of a regular habit of mine, this cocktail malarky, but what can you do when they're 2for1 because it's happy hour and the bartender is called Toby. In fact, tonight we met a number of bartenders; Sammy, Eric and Joe (although Toby was my favourite) and all of them shook our hands, asked us who we were and proceeded to allow us to help them make our delicious alcoholic beverages. Quite, quite delightful. There was also a lot of dancing and photos involved. Ohhh the joys of Shoreditch! Although, this place was a chain that I've definitely heard good things about so perhaps it's time to check out the other bars dotted over London. Now that doesn't sound like too much of a chore to me...

So, with so much excitement it's time for bed. Sadly for me Saturday isn't set to be too thrilling, I need to plow on with the uni deadlines and get some things sorted. Perhaps if I'm super productive I'll take the evening off.

Until my life gets a bit more exciting, I encourage you to find some quirky coffee spots, comedy and cocktail bars to keep you entertained. I can assure you that's it's the best way to spend a Friday!!!!

Love and hugs xoxoxo


PS - May the Fourth be with you. xxx

A Sunday of Delights

I returned to London yesterday afternoon, and with quite a flourish managed to come last in the Pub Quiz I was at in the evening. The shame, the shame. Anyway...

Sundays are normally one of my favourite days of the week. They tend to involved going to church which I love, and that in turn also involves seeing friends which I love too. Mix in some coffee before, or dinner after and that's a good day right there. Today was a delight though.

This morning I met a friend for breakfast in Bethnal Green, and we went to Columbia Road flower market. I've been meaning to visit for ages, but until now have yet to find the motivation to get up early on a Sunday morning. I'm sure you understand. Anyway, after getting trapped behind a locked gate (oh the joys of uni security) and then getting a tad lost, I was finally able to meet Lizzie. We sat in a very cute cafe, eating croissants and drinking the best coffee I've had since leaving London three weeks ago. Then we poked about in the most exciting shops, full of books, vintage jewellery and designer clothes, before fighting our way through the stalls of flowers. I was so incredibly restrained to not buy anything, but they would've been ruined by the time I got home tonight.

As we both had other plans for the day it was a bit of a short trip, and though we could've happily listened to the busking cellist for a long while, we unfortunately had to leave. However, I think I might've found a new favourite place to hang out. 

The rest of the day I spent drinking tea and reading whilst waiting for friends, and then a huge starbucks social with friends from church before heading to church itself.

I've got plenty that's filling my brain so I'm going to read and journal and head to bed for an early night. I'm looking forward to the arrival of friends tomorrow as they return to uni. Hurrah for good things, and hurrah for sunday.

Delightful.