the holiday doesn't exist here but i managed to stuff my face with a whole proper thanksgiving meal on saturday night. greg's friend, another american x-pat, wanted to cook a big meal for friends so a bunch of us gathered together and ate and ate and ate. it was a mixture of 3 americans, 2 brits, a canadian, a brazilian, a dutch guy, and a pakastani. quite the cultural gathering. the night even ended with the 2 brits (martin and greg's girlfriend, tessa) in a heated debate. all in all, it was a lovely dinner party.
after gorging ourselves, we headed off to lucy's birthday party. how fun to check out a real londoners house party. there was a lovely mix of people there as well. from lucy's old childhood buddies, to cousins, to clubbing and work friends there were plenty of interesting folks to chat with. there were even rotating dj's and bartenders. they do it right here. martin and i didn't stay that long as we were full of food babies and needed to crash sooner than later. but it was good to be there.
i was also spoiled last week as i spent one day shopping at my new favorite store here, top shop. mmmm, so good. bought a few lovely little items for cheap. and then went with lucy on her actual birthday to a turkish bath houses where we lounged around all day being served tea and cakes and got cheap massages. such a treat! and yesterday, martin and i did a tad bit of shopping around spitalfields market. tons of fun stuff to look at and drool over and cool inspirational ideas. made me want to get my craft on. still haven't figured out what i'll make for xmas prezzies this year but got a couple ideas rattling around in my head.
Monday, November 27, 2006
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
pampered
not sure what i've done to deserve such kindness from the boyfriend but he's been so damn nice to me! i totally feel like i'm being spoiled. and i'm loving it.
had a really lovely weekend. we got out and about around town which was great. it's kinda funny that the amount of times i've been to this city, i still don't really know it very well. i mean, i know certain pockets but it really is vast and kinda complicated to navigate. but i'm getting better this time.
saturday martin and i went to the v & a museum to see this exhibition which was great. some really cool photos in there. then we took a long walk through hyde park, up to oxford street and over to covent garden. oxford was a nightmare as it was as nice sunny day and it seemed like everyone and their mother was xmas shopping. the holiday season seemed almost worse here than at home. don't know how that could be with the friggin glittery balls and shiny lights going up BEFORE halloween in ny this year, but every store was already playing damn holiday tunes here too. and the streets were bustling. to the super annoying degree. i couldn't really take it. i actually loathe the xmas hustle. and being in london isn't making me want to buy a bunch of crap any more than normal.
in covent garden, we bought me some new hi-tech german engineered hiking boots. they really have nice outdoor gear here, i gotta say. not cheap, but those boots are gonna last!
also got some new hiking socks and mittens. apparently it's going to be freezing. i'm not actually looking that forward to hiking in sub-zero temperatures but i'll give it my best... until i turn into a scottish popcicle.
from shopping, we rushed over to kentish town to meet with lucy, indrani and their old friend sass as well as indrani's boyfriend clay (not pictured). indrani and clay were stopping through london on their way to india for a month. we had an awesome meal at a local gastropub (the latest and greatest new cuisine fad in london... they've finally caught up and are making tasty food. ha! then it was an impromptu club night at jazz cafe. it was waaaay too packed, we had one drink, met the spice girls' drummer (random) and called it a night.
sunday was when the serious good treatment started. martin got up and cooked me a huge english fry up with fried eggs, toast, mushrooms, tomatoes, sausages, bacon and baked beans... served in bed! delish and such a treat! we then went to the barbican to this photo exhibition with his mom. it was my first time meeting her. a lovely, smart and kind woman. we seemed to get along just fine, making commentary together through the gallery. i was a bit intimidated as she is a history professor and had some pretty smart things to say. but i think i did alright.
it was then off to martin's old friend carla's house for an italian dinner that she cooked. yummers. and THEN i met up with ayian at cargo for the 2000black record release party. phew! i was pooped. but the show was fun and we managed to get slightly tipsy and get our boogie on. mart had gone to see his friend but when i came back to the house there was a hot bath waiting! bliss.
needless to say, i'm doing very well, am feeling very happy and enjoying my time in london very very much.
xx
had a really lovely weekend. we got out and about around town which was great. it's kinda funny that the amount of times i've been to this city, i still don't really know it very well. i mean, i know certain pockets but it really is vast and kinda complicated to navigate. but i'm getting better this time.
saturday martin and i went to the v & a museum to see this exhibition which was great. some really cool photos in there. then we took a long walk through hyde park, up to oxford street and over to covent garden. oxford was a nightmare as it was as nice sunny day and it seemed like everyone and their mother was xmas shopping. the holiday season seemed almost worse here than at home. don't know how that could be with the friggin glittery balls and shiny lights going up BEFORE halloween in ny this year, but every store was already playing damn holiday tunes here too. and the streets were bustling. to the super annoying degree. i couldn't really take it. i actually loathe the xmas hustle. and being in london isn't making me want to buy a bunch of crap any more than normal.
in covent garden, we bought me some new hi-tech german engineered hiking boots. they really have nice outdoor gear here, i gotta say. not cheap, but those boots are gonna last!
also got some new hiking socks and mittens. apparently it's going to be freezing. i'm not actually looking that forward to hiking in sub-zero temperatures but i'll give it my best... until i turn into a scottish popcicle.
from shopping, we rushed over to kentish town to meet with lucy, indrani and their old friend sass as well as indrani's boyfriend clay (not pictured). indrani and clay were stopping through london on their way to india for a month. we had an awesome meal at a local gastropub (the latest and greatest new cuisine fad in london... they've finally caught up and are making tasty food. ha! then it was an impromptu club night at jazz cafe. it was waaaay too packed, we had one drink, met the spice girls' drummer (random) and called it a night.
sunday was when the serious good treatment started. martin got up and cooked me a huge english fry up with fried eggs, toast, mushrooms, tomatoes, sausages, bacon and baked beans... served in bed! delish and such a treat! we then went to the barbican to this photo exhibition with his mom. it was my first time meeting her. a lovely, smart and kind woman. we seemed to get along just fine, making commentary together through the gallery. i was a bit intimidated as she is a history professor and had some pretty smart things to say. but i think i did alright.
it was then off to martin's old friend carla's house for an italian dinner that she cooked. yummers. and THEN i met up with ayian at cargo for the 2000black record release party. phew! i was pooped. but the show was fun and we managed to get slightly tipsy and get our boogie on. mart had gone to see his friend but when i came back to the house there was a hot bath waiting! bliss.
needless to say, i'm doing very well, am feeling very happy and enjoying my time in london very very much.
xx
Friday, November 17, 2006
a day in the life
fitting title, as i'm sitting here listening to the beatles. just took a walk to my work space at greg's and back to martin's. mart is out on photo shoots today so i have the place to myself. nice to work on the big screen (that damn laptop isn't the best to work on).
anyway, i took a few shots of some scenes of shoreditch... my walk from greg's and back to martin's. pretty cool hood i gotta say. lovely old buildings with trendy shops. me likey.
i got to hang out with ayian (wanna's sister) last night. hadn't seen her in ages. we couldn't even remember the last time. was it in brazil or new years in london 4 or 5 years ago? was great to see her though. ayian was my original intro to the london music scene when i stayed with her in 1999 (i think). she took me around to all the best clubs and record stores and shops and restaurants in town. made me fall in love with this city. it was just so different from LA and i loved the energy of the music lovers here. i was obsessed. she and i have both pretty much grown out of the club thing. i mean we still love good music but our obsessiveness about what label was releasing the latest greatest track has since diminished. sure is fun to reminisce though, laughing at our old gilles days.
we had a yummy vietnamese dinner down the street then did some bar hopping around here. this sure is the spot. kinda reminds me of williamsburg with some groovy bar/club on every corner. fun times. like i said, i am excited to start exploring this weekend though. martin and i are planning to go hiking boot shopping tomorrow, as he's taking me to scotland to go trekking. good times ahead...
anyway, i took a few shots of some scenes of shoreditch... my walk from greg's and back to martin's. pretty cool hood i gotta say. lovely old buildings with trendy shops. me likey.
i got to hang out with ayian (wanna's sister) last night. hadn't seen her in ages. we couldn't even remember the last time. was it in brazil or new years in london 4 or 5 years ago? was great to see her though. ayian was my original intro to the london music scene when i stayed with her in 1999 (i think). she took me around to all the best clubs and record stores and shops and restaurants in town. made me fall in love with this city. it was just so different from LA and i loved the energy of the music lovers here. i was obsessed. she and i have both pretty much grown out of the club thing. i mean we still love good music but our obsessiveness about what label was releasing the latest greatest track has since diminished. sure is fun to reminisce though, laughing at our old gilles days.
we had a yummy vietnamese dinner down the street then did some bar hopping around here. this sure is the spot. kinda reminds me of williamsburg with some groovy bar/club on every corner. fun times. like i said, i am excited to start exploring this weekend though. martin and i are planning to go hiking boot shopping tomorrow, as he's taking me to scotland to go trekking. good times ahead...
Thursday, November 16, 2006
getting better all the time
day 6. i can tell this month is going to fly by. it's already been almost a week and it seems like i just got here. i am started to feel more settled now. i finally made it over to boots to get some much needed bathroom supplies. i was tired of smelling like a sporty active boy (only soap martin had) and my hair was craving conditioner. and my skin. my poor dry skin really needed some moistening. bachelor boys just don't think about that stuff. unless they are metrosexuals i suppose. mart has touches of metro but not in the hair/skin care products department.
we've worked out a nice little domestic arrangement as well. he cooks and i wash up. i've never been a very good cook. only when i really put my mind to it. but i usually can't be bothered. he seems to like it which is just fine by me. and i don't really mind washing the dishes. although he does seem to use an ungodly amount of them when cooking. no matter. the food is good and he appreciates not having to clean up. i think we've got a good rhythm going.
honestly it's a little funny to me to be in this position. domestic world. just haven't done it in ages. or this closely for that matter. living together. ultimately, i like it. but like i said before, it's just taking some getting used to. we're good together though. i can actually talk to him about how i'm feeling and he's really good about listening and taking action to change whatever is wrong. i think we both are. we're both pretty stubborn individuals but i think we're working on being more open together. YAY progress!
already have a busy weekend planned... friday night is james bond opening (have to see it, being in london and all), saturday mart might take me to a football (soccer) match, meeting with friends saturday night, sunday is a gallery and lunch with mart's mom (my first meeting of the parentals!), and might go out clubbing sunday night. i'm happy to be getting out and about. like i said, i haven't even really ventured out yet. good to have stuff to look forward to. and i have to say, it is nice not to have to get it all in. you know, must see bla museum, must buy fancy trainers, must go to bla bla club all before leaving in a week. nice to really feel like living here. i think i'm getting too attached to a certain someone though... it's gonna be difficult to leave this time.
we've worked out a nice little domestic arrangement as well. he cooks and i wash up. i've never been a very good cook. only when i really put my mind to it. but i usually can't be bothered. he seems to like it which is just fine by me. and i don't really mind washing the dishes. although he does seem to use an ungodly amount of them when cooking. no matter. the food is good and he appreciates not having to clean up. i think we've got a good rhythm going.
honestly it's a little funny to me to be in this position. domestic world. just haven't done it in ages. or this closely for that matter. living together. ultimately, i like it. but like i said before, it's just taking some getting used to. we're good together though. i can actually talk to him about how i'm feeling and he's really good about listening and taking action to change whatever is wrong. i think we both are. we're both pretty stubborn individuals but i think we're working on being more open together. YAY progress!
already have a busy weekend planned... friday night is james bond opening (have to see it, being in london and all), saturday mart might take me to a football (soccer) match, meeting with friends saturday night, sunday is a gallery and lunch with mart's mom (my first meeting of the parentals!), and might go out clubbing sunday night. i'm happy to be getting out and about. like i said, i haven't even really ventured out yet. good to have stuff to look forward to. and i have to say, it is nice not to have to get it all in. you know, must see bla museum, must buy fancy trainers, must go to bla bla club all before leaving in a week. nice to really feel like living here. i think i'm getting too attached to a certain someone though... it's gonna be difficult to leave this time.
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
adjusting
i'm here in london. day 5 of a month long stay. i'm sitting at the nice desk that greg has so graciously set up for me in his flat in shoreditch. just a couple minute walk from martin's, where i'm staying. i've got it pretty cush here. keeping my time between really nice flats. i wonder how i got so lucky sometimes.
i arrived on friday night. took the flight out with martin which went by just fine. getting pretty used to these 5-6 hour flights. i managed to get an awful headache on the flight though and was not happy to arrive and enter a mile long line to check my passport. martin just went right on through in the citizens line but i had to wait a painfully long time. i've never been really fond of the passport guys. they always seem to question you like you're a criminal. i figured i'd say i was just staying with friends because i knew they didn't like it when you said "visiting my boyfriend." god knows why.
my turn was finally up. right before i was called, i noticed a white american college kid ahead of me. the asshole passport official was giving him a really hard time, asking how long he planned on being here, how could he afford to be here, where was he staying, etc. when the kid said he didn't know where he was staying that night, the official was outraged and told him to go find out where he was staying that night and come back to him. "no one comes to london without an address." shit, i was next and i had to go to this disgruntled holier than thou official.
my heart started to beat thinking he'd see right through my little white lie. but i couldn't think of anything better on the spot. he noticed that i'd been here just a couple months before and got all huffy with me. how long was i here before? what was i doing here? who did i see? bla bla bla. then he questioned about my visit this time. who? what? where? when? why? he got all in my business about how could a freelancer afford to come here for a month? and take off 6 weeks of the year for that matter? he was really going for it and made me feel like a complete shit. i hated being questioned like that. what did he really think i was going to do? oy!
finally he asked to see my return ticket because he obviously didn't believe that i was going to leave. of course i didn't have it, as i'd just printed out my e-ticket to come, not to return. "well miss, you'll just have to go back to the front of the airport, print that out for me and come back through here." WHAT AN ASS!! after that hour long wait, i had to wind my way back through the maze of corridors of heathrow airport and print out a fucking return ticket? so i did it, with the worst headache of all time. back to the front, print out the fucker, then back through security, shoes off, computer out, the whole bit, then BACK THROUGH THE PASSPORT LINE AGAIN! i couldn't believe it.
next time i got a different official who didn't seem as bothered about my stay and let me through. what were they really going to do, put me back on the plane for christ sake? jeez! poor martin had been waiting there the whole time with the bags and the driver he'd ordered was waiting too. what a ridiculous ordeal. not the sort of welcome i was hoping for.
mart was very good about comforting me that night and making it all ok. made me tea, got me medicine for my headache, drew me a bath, wrapped me up in a blanket and hugged me. good boyfriend.
i was thrown for a loop again over the weekend which i can't really get into on the old blog. let's just say i wasn't feeling too welcome in another situation. just the cold british thing that i guess i just don't understand or get. it was probably me projecting, but that's how i felt.
been really busy with work too so haven't managed to have time to go out and see the city at all. i went out to co-op on sunday night which was good, but i just wasn't in top form. and i've seen a couple of my friends here but i've actually been feeling slightly depressed and out of my element. i guess i just didn't know what to expect and i'm probably more of a control freak than i think. i'm on martin's turf now. his house, his neighborhood, his people. before it was him in my environment. and now i can understand how he felt unwelcome or out of his element at times too. seeing both sides of the coin. which is good. healthy. just long distance relationship stuff that i don't get. or just don't know how to handle quite yet.
it's all good learning stuff though. just an adjustment period. doesn't it seem ridiculous to be complaining when i've got an amazing boyfriend, fantastic accommodations, lovely friends, and a cool city? it's just learning to give up some of the social and physical comforts i'm used to, which is perfectly fine.
i arrived on friday night. took the flight out with martin which went by just fine. getting pretty used to these 5-6 hour flights. i managed to get an awful headache on the flight though and was not happy to arrive and enter a mile long line to check my passport. martin just went right on through in the citizens line but i had to wait a painfully long time. i've never been really fond of the passport guys. they always seem to question you like you're a criminal. i figured i'd say i was just staying with friends because i knew they didn't like it when you said "visiting my boyfriend." god knows why.
my turn was finally up. right before i was called, i noticed a white american college kid ahead of me. the asshole passport official was giving him a really hard time, asking how long he planned on being here, how could he afford to be here, where was he staying, etc. when the kid said he didn't know where he was staying that night, the official was outraged and told him to go find out where he was staying that night and come back to him. "no one comes to london without an address." shit, i was next and i had to go to this disgruntled holier than thou official.
my heart started to beat thinking he'd see right through my little white lie. but i couldn't think of anything better on the spot. he noticed that i'd been here just a couple months before and got all huffy with me. how long was i here before? what was i doing here? who did i see? bla bla bla. then he questioned about my visit this time. who? what? where? when? why? he got all in my business about how could a freelancer afford to come here for a month? and take off 6 weeks of the year for that matter? he was really going for it and made me feel like a complete shit. i hated being questioned like that. what did he really think i was going to do? oy!
finally he asked to see my return ticket because he obviously didn't believe that i was going to leave. of course i didn't have it, as i'd just printed out my e-ticket to come, not to return. "well miss, you'll just have to go back to the front of the airport, print that out for me and come back through here." WHAT AN ASS!! after that hour long wait, i had to wind my way back through the maze of corridors of heathrow airport and print out a fucking return ticket? so i did it, with the worst headache of all time. back to the front, print out the fucker, then back through security, shoes off, computer out, the whole bit, then BACK THROUGH THE PASSPORT LINE AGAIN! i couldn't believe it.
next time i got a different official who didn't seem as bothered about my stay and let me through. what were they really going to do, put me back on the plane for christ sake? jeez! poor martin had been waiting there the whole time with the bags and the driver he'd ordered was waiting too. what a ridiculous ordeal. not the sort of welcome i was hoping for.
mart was very good about comforting me that night and making it all ok. made me tea, got me medicine for my headache, drew me a bath, wrapped me up in a blanket and hugged me. good boyfriend.
i was thrown for a loop again over the weekend which i can't really get into on the old blog. let's just say i wasn't feeling too welcome in another situation. just the cold british thing that i guess i just don't understand or get. it was probably me projecting, but that's how i felt.
been really busy with work too so haven't managed to have time to go out and see the city at all. i went out to co-op on sunday night which was good, but i just wasn't in top form. and i've seen a couple of my friends here but i've actually been feeling slightly depressed and out of my element. i guess i just didn't know what to expect and i'm probably more of a control freak than i think. i'm on martin's turf now. his house, his neighborhood, his people. before it was him in my environment. and now i can understand how he felt unwelcome or out of his element at times too. seeing both sides of the coin. which is good. healthy. just long distance relationship stuff that i don't get. or just don't know how to handle quite yet.
it's all good learning stuff though. just an adjustment period. doesn't it seem ridiculous to be complaining when i've got an amazing boyfriend, fantastic accommodations, lovely friends, and a cool city? it's just learning to give up some of the social and physical comforts i'm used to, which is perfectly fine.
Friday, November 03, 2006
halloween starring: the robert palmer girls
robert palmer girls
Originally uploaded by megasoul.
this was one of many photos to be uploaded soon.
we rocked it this year. I LOVE HALLOWEEN!!!
and now for something completely different
it’s been way too long. a jumble of a crazy work schedule, halloween insanity, making travel plans, adjusting to a new live-in relationship that happens to be a long distance situation, etc, etc has kept me too busy/tired to write. basically, it's been a couple nutty months.
so for work... i’ve been doing my thing freelance style and it’s been fine. nothing spectacular. just fine. kinda going with the flow whilst paying the bills but am definitely losing some steam, if truth be told. i’ve been looking to do a little something different. still in graphics world, but with an influence in film/tv/commericals. been talking about trying to do that full-time for some time now but haven’t had the time/desire to start a whole new something. well, the time has come. i’m taking a risk: i'll be taking a month off to put off the projects that give me an income and am going to focus on starting the new business. gonna brand my company, give myself a shiny new website and start getting on the horn to acquire the contacts i'll need in order to succeed at this new venture. it’s a big undertaking, but i’m up for the challenge.
that brings me to the long distance relationship. i met martin in july while he was working here. he happens to be my good friend lucy’s cousin and lives in london (that's a whole other story). we’ve been hanging both there and here (mostly here) and i’m about to hop on a plane and fly back with him to london to live/work there for a month. pretty exciting stuff! thus, i will be dedicating my days to working on the new business... away from my usual every day distractions. i’m psyched to actually get this all going. love and career and travel. all the good and important things in life coming together.
i hope to continue the blogging from there to keep y’all posted on my adventures. i hope to do a fair amount of clubbing cuz that’s what i do best in london. so funny, i kinda fell out of that world in NY, but when i was back there in august, i got a taste of what i was so obsessed with music-wise, back in the day and i was happy all over again. kinda stoked to have the option of going to hear my favorite dj’s/musicians whenever i want. should be good. and martin is also planning to take me to the wild parts of scotland (the place where he feels most free). how cool is that? all in all, i’m one lucky lady.
ps--dont’ make fun of me if i start writing like how madonna sounds now, ok? pip pip
so for work... i’ve been doing my thing freelance style and it’s been fine. nothing spectacular. just fine. kinda going with the flow whilst paying the bills but am definitely losing some steam, if truth be told. i’ve been looking to do a little something different. still in graphics world, but with an influence in film/tv/commericals. been talking about trying to do that full-time for some time now but haven’t had the time/desire to start a whole new something. well, the time has come. i’m taking a risk: i'll be taking a month off to put off the projects that give me an income and am going to focus on starting the new business. gonna brand my company, give myself a shiny new website and start getting on the horn to acquire the contacts i'll need in order to succeed at this new venture. it’s a big undertaking, but i’m up for the challenge.
that brings me to the long distance relationship. i met martin in july while he was working here. he happens to be my good friend lucy’s cousin and lives in london (that's a whole other story). we’ve been hanging both there and here (mostly here) and i’m about to hop on a plane and fly back with him to london to live/work there for a month. pretty exciting stuff! thus, i will be dedicating my days to working on the new business... away from my usual every day distractions. i’m psyched to actually get this all going. love and career and travel. all the good and important things in life coming together.
i hope to continue the blogging from there to keep y’all posted on my adventures. i hope to do a fair amount of clubbing cuz that’s what i do best in london. so funny, i kinda fell out of that world in NY, but when i was back there in august, i got a taste of what i was so obsessed with music-wise, back in the day and i was happy all over again. kinda stoked to have the option of going to hear my favorite dj’s/musicians whenever i want. should be good. and martin is also planning to take me to the wild parts of scotland (the place where he feels most free). how cool is that? all in all, i’m one lucky lady.
ps--dont’ make fun of me if i start writing like how madonna sounds now, ok? pip pip
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