Ahh, NZ wine

I'm drinking a really nice Mud House sauvignon blanc. it tastes like sunshine dust.

i miss the sleeping. I can't find it. I don't know where it went...

Nothing to see here

Yesterday was a pretty quiet day. Once again I didn't make it out of my PJs until the late afternoon when I dragged my sorry ass to the gym. I even missed out on Animal Park to get there, so I'm amazed that I made it. I mean, come on, who the hell would give up animal park to go to the gym! I LOVE animal park! LOOOVVVEEEEE. it's my graceland. One day I will go there!

i did a super heapin' helpin' of work yesterday though in my jammies. Like 9 hours or something! I was on fire.

Today, not so much.

DMC World Champs

Last night we went along to the DMC world champs in Hammersmith. We got VIP tickets thanks to a friend of ours and went along with them. It was a lot of fun. This Japanese guy (DJ Coma) won it. The final battle was against DJ Troubl' from France. I liked Troubl' the whole way through, but in the last battle Coma kicked his ass, which was a shame because I hadn't really liked Coma through the rest of the competition. Ah well.

I have found myself a job more's the pity. I was enjoying working from home, but I feel like I should get out and about in London a bit (and be paid for the time my brain is not working, which freelancing doesn't do for me). Still, hopefully I can continue with the freelancing in addition to the other job. I'd hate to lose it completely. I have two more weeks of freedom before I join the rat race. :(

Only two more days before our friends arrive and then we go to Dublin!

in the news...

New Zealanders are murdered
Australians die in tragic accidents doing what they love

Is it the Shad?

Is it the Shad?
Originally uploaded by grublet.

we live down there! it's not a great photo, but the other one i took was blurry.

another day

Yesterday was an odd day. I had to leave the house in the morning because the cleaners were coming in to sort the place out. They said it would take 2 hours, so I arranged to come back. Then I find out when I get back that the (de)fumigator was then coming in and I had to be out of the house for a few hours after he'd filled it with fog. If I'd known it was going to be longer than 2 hours I would have gone somewhere for the day and not wasted my time milling around, but anyway... The guy filled the flat with a lovely(?) cherry-smelling fog that is used to remove the smell of smoke. They use it in fire-damaged houses so I had high hopes for it actually working! I wasted a few more hours trying to do some work on paper and buying internet time at a local starbucks (what have I been reduced to!) although I didn't drink any of the swill they call coffee. Then came back a few hours later to find the entire building smelling faintly of fake cherries and the third floor a cherry-fest! sorry neighbours. I opened the balcony door and windows to try and ease the pain a little. Unfortunately the couches still smell of smoke, but the house is much better. hopefully the couches improve with time. It's definitely an improvement anyway. however, I nearly killed myself as the fog had settled on the wood floor and tiled kitchen and bathroom and it was quite slippery!

I have been offered a job, but for 2 hours travel per day for less money than I can earn at home it's not very tempting. mind you, I would meet some people, get out of the house and get some PR experience. decisions, decisions. i could still do some freelance work at the same time (part of it in my 2 hours on the tube).

today I am working.

Another nice weekend in the big smoke

Tower bridge at dusk
Originally uploaded by grublet.

We had a quiet night on Friday, and then got up in the morning and went to Burough market to buy our fresh veggies. I love walking around the markets in the morning - helps that you can buy decent coffee there! Mmm coffee. On Saturday afternoon we wandered along Portobello road taking a look at the market there - very antiquey and it would be cool to take L&R there sometime if they manage to come visit us! Saturday evening we went out for dinner in Angel. Well we were supposed to go out for dinner there, but it ended up being more that we went to a pub up there and dinner was an afterthought at 10pm. I'm not enjoying going to pubs here because they're still in the 'you're allowed to smoke in bars and restaurants' era. I miss coming home and not having to wash my hair before I can sleep coz it smells too bad. They're supposed to be bringing that law in soon (next year or something), but I tell ya, not soon enough for me!
Anyways, on Sunday we took a look around Spittalfields for various present ideas. I didn't find anything, but Simon got some prints for a friend from the smudge gallery. We went round to our friends' place for an awesome dinner of fresh ravioli and good times.
Ah weekends.

You can even get raclette at the markets!

You can even get raclette at the markets!
Originally uploaded by grublet.

New update, nothing happening for a while now. Been in London for a few weeks now. The boy is settling into work and i am settling into not working. We've been having issues with getting internet access sorted out so I haven't been able to do any work, and also haven't been able to do any emailing or anything and I've been feeling completely lost. Amazing how you start to rely on this technology stuff.

We have moved into our new flat - it was horrible at first. the previous tenant was a smoker and it was like she'd spent the two weeks after we last saw the property until she moved out chain smoking in the apartment so that when we first opened the door having signed a wonderful year-long lease (that thankfully we can get out of in 6 months, but unfortunately not before) we were blasted with the sweet aroma of stale cigarettes. Since then it has improved somewhat, but we spent a miserable few days after we'd first moved in with our hearts sinking every time we opened the front door and feeling generally crappy about our new home. The landlord didn't realise it was as bad as it was, and he's arranging to have everything cleaned professionally, which was supposed to have happened before we moved in but the tenant didn't bother. The worst thing I think is the leather couches which the smoke has permeated and they begin to make the place smell a bit when it's shut up, but they're going to be cleaned properly too. Hopefully it will be much better after that. I must admit that it has improved immesurably since we've been in here and I'm just moaning a bit still - we now only curst the previous tenant when we open the door after a day out instead of wanting to cry!

Anyways, I have taken some pics of the apartment (www.flickr.com/photos/kellymarrett) - you will notice the crap everywhere (I have not included a picture of my room as I don't want you all knowing what squalor we live in - actually it's not that bad, but still). We are not unpacking and putting everything away until it doesn't smell, because we decided that we don't want our stuff smelling like someone elses smoke. I can't wait until it's cleaned because I am sick of living out of boxes!

On the smoke topic - I miss smoking being banned in bars! It sucks going back to smelling of cigarettes when you leave a bar and having to wash every damn thing you took in there with you. I'm sorry smokers, but GO OUTSIDE! ugh.

I have also uploaded some photos I have taken with my new cellphone. it's not so flash, but it actually takes alright photos. There are a few of tower bridge (which is right next to where I live) and it is sometimes raised when we really want to get across it. So annoying! Anyway, the area we live is called Shad Thames, it's right next to the bridge on the south side. so it's kinda like the viaduct, but less viaducty and only a few restaurants on the banks of the Thames. It's an area of converted warehouses that used to house spices etc, so our building is called Vanilla & Sesame. The area is all cute and cobbled and it's actually really nice walking around here. I will take some more photos when I remember to take my camera out of the flat with me. On saturdays we often go to Borough markets, which is a huge food market where there are stalls with everything food you can think of. It is also the only place (other than Flat White in Soho which is run by a kiwi) that you can get decent coffee here it seems. The cafe, called Monmouth, also serves fresh bread and jam/cheese on market days and you can go and eat as much as you like for 2.50 with your coffee. We haven't done that yet as you have to get there early to beat the queues. We like wandering around the markets and we get all our veggies for the week from the organic farmers and fresh organic meat and some yummy cheeses which they make you try as you walk past. It's very cool. We also like Spittalfields market which is near where we used to live when we first arrived. That market is more clothes and homewares and stuff. Haven't been to the other markets yet, but I'm thinking of heading to portobello or camden this weekend. Markets are fun!

We had our first outing to Ikea the day we moved in here, it was like heaven! We got a really nice futon and some drawers and all the other stuff we needed for our house to be kitted out. I can't believe how cheap it is there! Maaaadness. We still need a few things, but they're not urgent, and I'm glad we didn't buy too much as the lift was broken on the day we moved in here and we had to carry all our boxes and purchases etc up three flights of stairs. and then it started to rain. I was not happy.

Last weekend we went for a bit of a walk around Richmond park with some friends and their baby, Toby. it's so nice wandering around with deer all around you and people riding past on their horses. It was great to be far enough away from people that there was no traffic noise! We had a picnic in the park while Toby kicked his legs on his changing mat and experienced the park surroundings and strong winds for the first time. He was definitely enjoying himself! It actually got a bit cold after a while - definitely Autumn here now and you can't leave the house without a jumper any more! even when it looks like a beautiful day from the inside of our remarkably warm apartment.