Friends and Things

Considering some of my oldest, bestest friends now live in London, we still don't see each other enough for my liking. My wonderful friend Sarah came and hung out for the evening tonight though. She's a bit beautiful. I rustled up some fajitas, she brought pudding and we scoffed food and watched Love Never Dies. There was a lot of banter. 

I'm a bit of a people person, and the friends I have from school, are some of my favourite people in the world. We've survived most of them doing degrees, moving towns and houses, and more recently getting pregnant and things, but it still saddens me that we don't all live in the same place and spend every day together. Don't get me wrong, we're all stubborn enough that I think we'd kill each other surprisingly quickly if we lived together, but I miss seeing their faces and laughing hysterically at absolutely nothing. 

 Some of them are meeting up this weekend but I'm in Kent so can't go so I am excited about Christmas and seeing them all together, in the same place at the same time. It has been TOO LONG. This C.S. Lewis quote always makes me think of them. Our friendship is based on mutual geekiness, a love of all things strange, and a willingness to let-the-crazy-out. I love them a lot.

Rain, Rain Go Away

This past week my wonderful american friend has been visiting London, so lots of time this weekend was spent grabbing a couple of hours with her, whilst balancing work and other things. 

Saturday was a great day. I spent a really chilled morning hanging out at home, organising (one of my favourite things) and sorting things out. Then headed over to The National Gallery to do some work. Now, possibly not the best place to visit on a rainy Saturday afternoon when you can't move for tourists, and the floor is so wet from the torrential rain that you fear falling over and breaking your head on marble, but definitely worth a trip. 

The National Gallery is a bit of a favourite place, possibly because it's based in Trafalgar Square, possibly because there is the most amazing view across the square, Nelson's column, and Parliament, all in perfect line of sight. Oh, and because the art is amazing. Saturday I spent time focussing on the Impressionist rooms, as I've got to write an essay relating them to DH Lawrence...as you do. Still, I was rather impressed, some of the paintings were astoundingly beautiful, and not what I was expecting at all. My housemates and I bought some postcards then retired to a coffee shop to do some reading, some writing, and thoroughly bask in the feeling of being cultured Londoners. Sort of. 

Trafalgar Square in the rain.

This weekend also saw the opening of Winter Wonderland, the epic, glittery fair and market that sprawls over Hyde Park for about six weeks around Christmas. It may have been November, it may have been a stormy night, and we may have somehow managed to get lost, and forget to take cash with us, but we had a great time. It was SO festive. I mean, I love Christmas, so I'm a little biased, but the lights, and the smells of mulled wine and roasted chestnuts was all a little wonderful. I shall be going again, mainly because I'm desperate to check out the Feris wheel. Yes, I am a big child. 

Winter Wonderland Festivities

Feris Wheel!

Sunday I was back at Christchurch, after being in Bournemouth last weekend. It's crazy how much I miss church when I'm not there, and so it was great to catch up with people and get to spend time with Jesus. That's really been the highlight of this weekend. 

Today it is once again...raining. I feel like we should all evolve to have flippers and fins at this rate, but still, a Lindt advent calendar arrived in the post(!!!!!!!!) and I don't have lectures today, so my main jobs involves reading Virginia Woolf for tomorrow. Oh the delights of an English student. So instead of procrastination, I should probably return to her. Not a particularly exciting prospect, I must confess. I shall keep you posted. 

Much love amigos. x

London and Bournemouth Combined

Rather shamefully it's been a few long weeks since I last blogged, and even longer since I blogged anything of significance. University essays, a trip home, and generally being inundated with things to do has kept me away from the laptop for a little. But no longer, I'm back to fill you in on a few things. 

Firstly, this is my new favourite retreat...The Gallery Cafe

http://www.stmargaretshouse.org.uk/gallery-cafe/gallery-cafe

They're based in Bethnal Green, so just up the road from me, and they've got the most chilled, casual atmosphere. Good coffee, good looking cake (alas I cannot say I've tried it) and all their food is vegetarian and vegan.With a conservatory type area at the back, overlooking a garden, and free wifi, it's the best place to go and do work. I was there late afternoon, and with fairy lights, and darkness settling in outside, it was more than a little bit atmospheric. Nicely inspiring. 

I'd heard a few people from Uni go on about these guys, but they really are great. And what's even better, is that they're involved in helping the local community! Super ethical; means eating cake is totally excusable...in fact, it's encouraged! 

Secondly, I'd like to reiterate my absolute love for the Purbecks. Coming from the south coast, I've often forgotten just how lucky I am. The beach is ten minutes down the road, the New Forest is one side of my town, the Purbecks the other. 

This weekend I went home to see the family, whom I've missed A LOT. It'd been about two months, and I was in need of my cats and a roast dinner. Also some friends from home, were rather wonderfully also back i this weekend. I spent a lot of time trying to relax, and eating good food, and chatting. It was just what I needed. On Saturday the family and I went out to Durdle Door, and though it'd been grey and rainy the entire day, the sky cleared and we saw the most incredible sunset. 

The Purbecks and I are good friends. It always just seems to work out. It's like they know I'm not there too often. 

So anyway, I'm now back in London, had a packed day of Uni, meeting up with an old American friend from last year, and then we headed to the recording of Never Mind the Buzzcocks. Free entertainment is the best. 

I'm finally beginning to feel like I'm winding down, perhaps it's the alleviated guilt now I've finally written about some of the things I've been meaning to! 

Lots of love xxx

Movember

This is hugely entertaining, even if, as a woman I won't be taking part and growing a 'tache. x

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. 

The Brilliance of Sundays

With a cup of Earl Grey in hand, I'm looking at my day and am just blown away by mercy. My afternoon at church and evening at Vine Sessions was absolutely what I needed after a fairly rubbish morning. 

Today was ChristChurch London's eighth birthday and it was incredible looking at what has gone before, and what the next year will look like. I cannot wait. There were also Krispy Kreme doughnuts as birthday cake. Best. Church. Ever. 

Tonight was also Vine Sessions, a music night that my friend Raz runs. We have similar music taste so I seriously love the people that he has play. Hilary Repko was one of them (she lives near me and is super cool, with a voice like gold.)

The bar was absoluuuutely packed with people, so it was kind of like playing a giant game of sardines. I somehow acquired a tiara amongst the thoughtful thinking and dancing things. Coming home I was warned that I needed to avoid social media or watch Downton Abbey immediately. Little bit heart broken that I did the latter rather than remaining in ignorant bliss. Still, it's reduced my desire to live in the twenties (I would rather have proper medical care thank you very much!)

So on that note, this tired lady is heading to bed. I have a ridiculous amount of reading to do, as well as phone calls to make. Socialising postponed for now.

Laters alligators xxxxx

Fun Facts

1. My day began with Bon Iver, blueberry & banana pancakes, and a group of friends.
   
2. The District Line has utterly failed me this weekend. It meant I was 35 minutes late today.
   
3. St Paul's Cathedral used to be known as Eastminster (because it's the other side of the city to Westminster!)
   
4. There's a statue of Charles I in Trafalgar Square. Every sign in England uses this as it's central point when directing people to London.
   
5. I have become officially ginger.
   
6. My house is freezing cold unless you're wearing fifteen pairs of socks. No, that is not an exaggeration.
   
7. When it's sunny and raining, there's not always a rainbow. Today proved that.
   
8. The Secret Agent by Joseph Conrad holds no appeal at half nine on a Saturday night.