Christmas is a time of joy

The Christmas excitement has started, presents are being purchased, Christmas tunes are in my head and I can't help but sing along.

I love Christmas and everything about it and I am really looking forward to celebrating it London.

This will be my first Christmas away from home and although it will be sad it will also be very exciting. I will most definitely miss my nephews running around in the heat, swimming in the pool and eating salad alongside with cold meat - yes this is what we have in Australia because it is very HOT! I will miss going to church with my family and feeling so stuffed with everyone and having a nap on the couch.

So alright, I guess I will be able to do half those things here in London, especially since we are having an orphan Christmas.

An orphan Christmas is where people who are not able to go home with their family gather together and celebrate.

Two of my friends from my work are not able to get home and I am very excited that they will be joining us. It is going to be a mix of nations and each person will make a few specialities to share on the day.

London also has a lot to offer this time of year with lots of Christmas markets, ice rinks, tree lighting's and a whole channel dedicated on sky for Christmas movies!

This Friday in fact is the lighting of the massive Christmas tree in front of St Pauls. The lighting ceremony takes place between 4pm and 4:30pm (yes it is dark at that time!).

I think I know when my break will be at work!

http://www.visitthecity.co.uk/index.php/events/view/415/

Also this Friday are the Christmas market in Dalston and the next few weeks there a millions of Santa grotto's, fairs and jolly good excitement for everyone totally obsessed with Christmas!

Time out always has the bets ideas. http://www.timeout.com/london/christmas/

Oh Christmas, I am so looking forward to you and please Santa the one thing I wish for this Christmas is snow!

Here are some pictures I have been taking around the city of the wonderful Christmas lights.

Christmas disco balls at One New Change (where I work)

Cannon street

It begins

The past few weeks have been dominated by the organisation of our trip back to Sydney and the long awaited engagement party. We are very close to sealing the deal and preparations are well on the way.

There is a lot to think about when having an engagement party -

The type of engagement party. A cocktail event? a sit down dinner? a picnic? I have opted for a cocktail party. This is a fun and relaxed way to celebrate and the formality of a sit down dinner doesn't really intrigue us - will keep that for the wedding.

The venue, which I have to say is hard to pick when your not in the country and email is the main communication. Many places did not even bothered to write back even after we were emailing a few times...I just find that plain rude!

The food, how much do you actually need? What is suitable? How much do we think people we actually eat? The worse thing would be if food ran out!

Music. I love having live music. I think it creates a great ambiance and gets people in the mood for dancing. I think however mixing an ipod in with customised play lists for later in the evening works perfectly.

Decorations, invitations and cake. I feel that these three work together as they should all carry the theme. The theme I am thinking is polka dots! I love polka dots, very classic, symetrical and they have a vintage feel to them. I am going to add these to the invitation and the cake. For the decoration I want the place to be filled with flowers (which I will pick up from the flower market - with Miss Jenni!) and lit up with candles and glass lanterns.

I have to say that although it is hard work preparing for the party, it is lots of fun. Its fun to be able to think and create and imagine how everything will look on the special day. I also have to thank my wonderful friends back home looking at venues and giving me advice...so Thanks!

Definitely more engagement stories to come....

In the meantime I have been getting lots of inspirations from the following sites...they are my saviour in getting my creative juices flowing.

Polka dot bride - An Aussie site dedicated to inspirational weddings

http://www.polkadotbride.com/

Once wed - My go to site

http://www.oncewed.com/

Love my dress - A UK site I found recently that I can't stop looking at

http://www.lovemydress.net/blog/

I thought to also add some photos from the evening Mario proposed

Bluey's Beach

He looks pretty chilled for almost proposing...

Hugo - the Bluey's Beach dog was there to share the occasion

The love log

Friendly

I was exhausted on Saturday after work and the last thing I wanted to do was head out late to a concert. We brought these tickets months ago when we first arrived in London after hearing from one of my customers that her favourite band from Glastonbury was Friendly Fires. I have always liked Friendly Fires using their song 'Paris' as inspiration to move around and travel.

So on Saturday after I got my butt into gear and dressed (trying to stay warm and concert chic is very hard to do!) we headed to Brixton for the most amazing concert. My love has doubled for these guys!

The moves were out, by Ed (lead singer) and myself and a huge night came about after not really wanting to do anything at all.

I'm glad I didn't miss this concert, as my next few months of obsession has been filled by theses guys.

Click here for you tube music love...

Brixton Academy - very trippy venue. It's like your outside but inside...

Duvet or Doona?

The weather has crisped and the duvet (doona if your Australian) coat has made it's first outing. I always said that I would never ever wear one of these puffy, parachute material belted coats. But when the cold came its feather down goodness enticed me.
One thing I have overcome since moving here is the fact that I don't care what I look like as long as I'm warm!

Hmmm maybe I can sleep in this duvet, sorry doona coat also??

The duvet coat!

Trying to style it up...

Michelin man chic

So cultured

Last night Emily, Angela and I hit Elephant & Castle to view our friend Giuseppe's final work at London College of Communication. We had a taste of cultural delights that intrigued, enticed and maybe confused - all but Giuseppe's work.

When Giuseppe first told me about his work I was happy to hear a fellow blogger was in the midst. His blog Collective Identities (here) "explores to define the term emerging artist". This is done through interviews with the artists discovering who they are, their personal lives and their thoughts. The blog showcases the artists work and allows you to discover their identity.

"The project evolved from an attempt to contextualise my own identity as that of an emerging artist, to explore how an emerging artist's identity can be defined..." Giuseppe Scalese

Giuseppe's work was displayed at the gallery like it was his room - and yes that is his actual desk

Giuseppe himself

Emily hearing the recordings

We hang out too much - same hair!

Walking in a winter wonderland

At the end of November each year the city lights up and ice rinks are constructed all over. The magical world of winter wonderland and all things festive arrives!

So on a cold London night after a home cooked meal (thanks Mazen) we set out to see the wonders on offer.
First stop - Natural History Museum. The museum makes for such a beautiful backdrop against the ice rink and was the place for my next 20 minutes of laughter.
The cause of my laughter was a young boy who was racing, almost walking with legs flipping everywhere instead of skating. He must have crashed into the wall more times then being on the ice and caused many dangerous situations the entire time. But no matter how many close encounters he kept going and continued to entertain me.
After wiping away my tears of laughter we decided to head into Hyde Park.

Second stop - Hyde Park. Now this place is the Winter Wonderland of all winter wonderlands. Food stores, mulled wine, Christmas markets and rides fill the entire park. Flashing, sparkling lights hold your gaze and suck you in to feel the Christmas vibe. We didn't get to sample all the rides, food or mulled wine but we have vowed to go back closer to Christmas and enjoy.

Next stop on the Christmas circuit - Sommerset house which is soon to open!

Natural History Museum

The Ice Rink

Winter Wonderland Hyde Park

The carousel - love them, they are so pretty and yes I will ride on one this Christmas!

Strong competition for The London Eye?

The ice rink - with an amazing band in the centre.

In hiatus

I have been in hiatus. And yes it was too long. I just don't think I was in the right place and didn't have any interesting stories to share. After a big week stressing myself out and ultimately making myself ill - I am back. I am back with a new found vengeance. I am ready for plan B. Plan b is in planning that's for sure.

So my birthday came and went and my mix of quarter life crisis (see last post), my homesickness and life questions filled my head. I know it sounds very dramatic but I think we are all aloud these types of insecurities and I think that around your birthday is the prefect time for them to come up.

I had a great birthday. I celebrated with wonderful friends and received amazing surprises from home. I had some time off work and just had a great laugh. Reaching 27yo was a struggle. I have been thinking a lot about what I want to do with my life and hopefully in the next few months I will be able to share with you all that I have been thinking, planning and doing.

So watch this space, get involved, share me around (well my work) and let me know your thoughts!



Here are some birthday snaps for you - more on facebook...

You like my red hair?

One of 'The Italians' as I call them - Beautiful Angela, who took amazing photos all night!

The ONC crew - minus Emily. Emily, why were you not in this photo?!

Us!

You know us....

Have people started to steal my hand shot?

I ask again...??

Jon and I - angry!

A beauty of a birthday

The beauty of a birthday is all the love you receive! And boy, did I receive lots of love! From cakes to flowers to massive birthday wishes, all in all I had an amazing day.

So ok, it did start off quite emotional. This is my first birthday away from home and I did feel a little bit homesick.
I think it had to do with a phone call to my sister where my little nephew Samuel started asking when I was coming home and was telling me that he missed me - my heart was breaking as he asked me and tears almost started falling while waiting for the tube. Then at work I received flowers from my girlfriends back home saying they were waiting for me with champagne. What made me sad is that I really wanted that champagne! Oh and to see the girls!

However after receiving wonderful gifts from my sister and Mario and devouring cake all day, I have to say I had a fantastic birthday and feel so special to have such amazing people in my life.

The surprise homemade cupcakes made by Mel. Sung Happy Birthday from the NW6 crew, guitar and all!

My amazing new jacket!

Lovely flowers from the girls!

Cake and candles from Darren

An extra surprise! Mia and Peppy love!

Nobu - Birthday dinner