Artistic Monification Moments 
After the sale the lovely Suzanne and I went for a glass of well deserved wine at a spot on the busy Shaftesbury Avenue which is just around the corner.

It's the weirdest feeling...

To have this:

at 4:30 in the afternoon. I mean, it's still the day!

Also, take a look at how many people are in this shot, Oxford Street was closed to traffic today so that people could rule the roads. Rule they did.

Jumble Jumble Everywhere. 
Well today was Jumble day here at St Patrick's and did we have mountians of it. Clothes, books, shoes, bags, a golf buggy, glasses .... I could go on.

Della the Amazing  - yes, she is called that, well, I call her that - was here at St Patrick's at 6am organising things for both the jumble sale AND the huge Christmas dinner that's happening for the homeless on the 14th of December.

The dedicated team of volunteers set up at 10am in the square, dragging everything down from the lofty heights of the Parish Room.

Then the sale began

Then... at around 3pm the weather threw a London on us and started to rain so we packed everything up in a hurry and went back inside. Something in the vicinity of £850 was made so a good effort by all!

Thats Good that's Bad game...
So today I have spent most of the day in bed with a cold. I was bored and decided to look up my birthday in Wikipedia just for kicks.

The people who stood out of the list with the same birthday as me:

Elizabeth Gaskell and Greer Garson - That's good!

Silvio Berlusconi - That's not so good.


Julia Gillard - BAD!


Other things...


1650 – Henry Robinson opens his Office of Addresses and Encounters – the first historically documented dating service – in Threadneedle Street, London.


1850 – The Roman Catholic hierarchy is re-established in England and Wales by Pope Pius IX.


2008 – Following the bankruptcies of Lehman Brothers and Washington Mutual, The Dow Jones Industrial Average falls 777.68 points, the largest single-day point loss in its history.


Ohhhh the things you do when you can't do anything else.

Question to the void #1
How many times can you sneeze before you might do yourself some kind of brain injury? 

Oh the Life of the Cultured.

I have just come home from a staging (yes staging) of Messiah at the ENO with the most wonderful Hannah. It was a very contemporary production, and I am not used to watching AND listening to Messiah but it was really very good and the bass was aMAzing. 

There was a most annoying man sitting next to me who thought that chewing on his gum with his mouth open would edify those around him. It did not. I wanted to punch him. However by the second act he lost the gum and then felt that he had the upper hand and turned around and asked the girl behind him whether or not she had cough drops because she needed them.

Seriously. PEOPLE!

Hannah was sitting next to the most delightful old couple who came for the wife's birthday treat. They treated us to macaroons. 

Then I walked (ran) with Hannah to Charing Cross and wandered back through the streets of London home. I suddenly realised I was STARVING and had the total of £1 pound with me... Ahhhhhh Cheese Burger. Thank you. (Sorry Aaron)

Note to self  #1
Know which way is high and low on the heater in your room. If you turn it the wrong way your room will be like a sauna. Nice for 5 minutes Horrific for 30.

C-c-c-c FREEZING

So right this very second it is 6 degrees outside. I forgot that 6 degrees is cold. Am heading on out into that coldness for dinner with the lovely Jane and Donna to go to our favourite Indonessian place. Yes... we have a favourite Indonesian place. Here is us when we were last there.

New Personal Motto....

Winter Wonderland

There are many facets to the world of St Patrick's Soho. One of the more pleasant ones for myself is the presence of the St Patrick's School of Evangelisation (Look them up, think about doing it yourself! I highly recommend it.). The best bit about the school for me, is that I get to meet a group of fantastic young people from across the world who are here to learn what God wants of them in their lives and make a difference to the lives of others, including my own. It's purely selfish on my part really!

Today was community day and the students got to be taken out for the day by their kind benevolent Aunties and Uncles, also known as Tess, Anthony, Marcus and me! (Yes, we are particularly proud of this most fantastic picture of us in all our benevolence)

The day started, as most days start here at St Patrick's, in the front hall waiting for someone. Often when everyone has turned up one finds that someone else has left in the meantime and so the waiting begins again.                      Tis something of a process.

THEN we were finally on our way, winding our way through the streets of London.

Stopping every now and again to do things like:

Smell trees

Check out the best toy store in the world

Take pictures of ourselves in a statue of mirrored balls (just trust me... we are in there!)

Then we got to the markets and had a lovely time drinking mulled wine, eating our packed lunch (ahhhhh Arnold sandwiches) wondering around and going on a ride or two. My camera died just at the rides part of our day but as you can see we had a pretty good day.

So endith the day.

Week One Down
PHEW!
What a week.
Hit the desk Monday morning and just read and read and read. So much goes on when you are away for a month. So much paper is generated! It's taken me a week to feel like I have even remotely caught up.

I was trying to leverage my jet lag so that I got into a habit of getting up at 6am and I am happy to say that I managed this every single day. So proud. I did struggle at the other end of the day however when falling asleep sounded like a better option than my filing but I struggled through and I think I can safely say that jet lag has been defeated. Whether or not I am in the habit of working 9-5 I cannot say.

Day 1

I arrived at 4:30 in the morning after that hell that is the 13 hours long Singapore flight. All went smoothly at immigration as was to be expected and then my bag was one of the first out. That never happens to me. I think God decided to help my poor migraine inflicted self. Loaded up with a million bags which weighed a ton I made my way via train and taxi back home. There is nothing, I repeat, there is not one single thing better than a well placed shower and, my friends, that is what I had when I managed to climb the million stairs to my dwelling.

After a nap I decided to go for a wander to find that most essential ingredient to my life, coffee. A huge bowl of it.

                                            

Then I had a look around the place at what London had done this year for Christmas. The only thing that makes the London public on mass smile - apart from the sun - is Christmas and the lead up to it.

                    

This year the Oxford Street lights theme is "A Christmas Carol"

                                                    

A shot of Oxford street which shows why I avoid it like the plague - or, to be more contemporary, swine flu.

Carnaby Street is looking like its outrageous self!

After the wondering bug left me I went home and started the world of unpacking. This is a scary process which I just know is going to take me days. Suddenly it was time to go out for dinner with the ever charming Suzanne and Julia. This time on the Adventures of the International Trio, we were checking out an Ethiopian place called The Nile in Vauxhall and Suzanne's mother was with us. It was really great food and it only cost us £17 for the four of us. Yes. We were very happy with it and the fact that it was very colourful!

On my way home I took a shot of Oxford street a night for the whole lights effect since it's not so impressive during the day. 

So that was my first day back. Who knows what the following days - however many there end up being - hold for this Miss.

Moving to London... Part the second.

Right. So. Today I moved to London for the second time. Strange I know. It's a long story, not very exciting story and a story I can't be bothered to tell. However,to alleviate any curiosity that my reader may have I shall give you the basic facts:

1. New visa system in the UK.

2. Need to stay longer in UK.

3. Had to go home to Australia to get new visa.

4. Therefore, have moved to London again.

There you have it. My long boring story set out in four sentences of no more than ten words. Amazing that something which dragged on for so long can be summed up in such a short space, but apparently this can be done often, I am just not very good at it - just ask my long suffering father.

Because I feel like I have had a somewhat new beginning - new visa = new person kind of deal - I am going to see if I can keep this up a little better for my own good, as well as yours. So with a new profile picture of me on my 2nd first day in London and a sudden surge of after midnight enthusiasm I take up my laptop and enthrall you with London and the life of one in the midst of the chaos on which this city thrives.

I am still here!

I am trying to be good at posting even when I don't have time to post properly! I would like to post all about Rome, and I will... and I would also like to post about my weekend with the beautiful Maria Macgregor and the visit of the Hills, and I will... and I would like to post about my work and how I would love it if you could help me, and I will... and I would like to post about the fact that I am going to have about a million visitors over the next few months, and I will and I would like to post about EVERYTHING, and I will.... BUT I AM SWAMPED for the time being and this post will have to serve as a teaser for you and a list for me! 

Meanwhile it is 8:30pm and I still have a mountain of work to complete before I take off my shoes (a sign that I am no longer at work) and head on up home. Oh... you know... sometimes that's just the way it is. 

THANK HEAVENS Hannah had the brilliant foresight to give me the soundtrack to "Miss Potter" for my birthday. It is beautiful. It, along with Jeanine, Hannah, Teresa, Edna, Anna, Maria, Dan and Jane have kept me sane this past week! 

Well there you go I have just written a longer post than I mean to. All about nothing! Trust me, it takes skill.  

I. Love. Rome. 

Ok so I have just spent 4 glorious days in Rome. I had never been before... yes, I am awear that this is almost a crime, but I have now remedied the situation! It was jammed packed with everything including a facinating look at the temperament of the Italians when one's taxi is sideswiped by a bus (yes I was in it at the time) Interestingly enough... the way to deal with this is to scream at the bus driver and then put your taxi IN FRONT OF IT with your customer inside. Loved it! Ok so I don't have time for more and i want to put up pics which I cannot do from this computer. Shall update with more soon!

26 London Style

Well I was 26 yesterday and I made it through the day... nice!

It was a tad weird. I may be somewhat sheltered ... but I have never been away from home on my birthday before. It was different. There was no Tim to jump on me in the morning. There was no family do... it's a little bit of a shock to ones system I think.

HOWEVER... the most lovely people who I live and work with (some of whom I am lucky enough to do both!) were just so lovely and did everything they could to make it a really really lovely day. It started the night before (yes I held a vigil of my birth) with the beautiful Jovina who was visiting me (ok she wasn't visiting ME she was visiting her sister... but you know... I am here too!) and who took me out to a most lovely Mexican restaurant and the we went to the Haugen Dass (I don't think that's how you spell it... but you know... the super fantabulous ice-cream?) cafe and had a most lovely night! (Jov... I cannot BELIEVE we have NO pictures of us in London AT.ALL!)

Then I got home and the lovely Jeanine was there and she gave me a most lovely present of slippers (she doesn't really approve of my bare-feetedness) and a CD of the brilliant and Ella Fitzgerald.

Jeanine also welcomed me into my birthday by giving me a beautiful rendition of Happy Birthday through the door at 6:30 in the morning... gotta love her!

Then I got to Mass (whooohooo for having a birthday this is also got such a cool title like Michaelmas!) and had my obligatory coffee. At work we had a most lovely cake in the form of a GIANT french fancy... Hannah... you are amazing! Work was of course busy... we've got a marrrrrhusive week this week and there is NO time for slacking off even on one's birthday.

Then after work Hannah, Edna, two of my Anna's, Barbara, Vincent and Marcus came out for dinner on Charlotte Street (love that street... and that name!) where a most exuberant and hilarious time was had by all. The most lovely people at the restaurant gave me a birthday cake with super cool candles on it. It was a really nice night.

So. All in all ... I had a really really lovely birthday. Thanks to all those who sent me messages via phone, email, facebook, post, ect. I really really really REALLY appreciated it! Thanks also to everyone here for making my birthday here so really very special. xxxx

Hmmm I'll just wack up some photos from the night at the bottom here! (Yes Hannah... I stole them off you. x)

Hannah and me!
Edna and Anna (one of them!) Cute (and tasty) cake with very cool candles M&S how awesome are YOU!

Lovely friends!
Me the poser.

Quiet Weekend

Well I am in the middle of a nice a quiet weekend. I've had a stack of filing to do at work so I've kind of hung around the office today trying to catch up on all things work.

I chatted to the family this morning. My youngest brother Tim is really happy about the Hawks finally being a team of which he can be proud! I am very proud that he stuck with his team through all the rubbish years (which have lasted pretty much his entire life) and didn't fall to the usual temptation of childhood swapping to a team who is actully doing well! Well done!!!

Here's a pic of him... just becuase i miss him! xxxxx

We had a little bit of a scare this morning because the Centre of the World, who I mentioned in my last post, went missing for a little while... Fr was doing a baptism and Ambrose escaped while Fr wasn't looking and ran out into the street. Now... Soho... isn't a place for a little dog... so we were SCOURING the place for the little red dog! Somehow he managed to get himself down to Tottenham Court Road Tube Station and found a rubbish bin... one of his favouite things. Well he was found and was VERY sorry. So... we all forgave him. Here's some picture of the cute little thing to perhaps try and convey his cuteness and help you to understand why we all bow down and do what he wills!

See... how much is he so cute!?

Busy Week
Well... I've had a busy week and I wish I had more time to write but I really just don't... I am up to my eyeballs with work and am in the processes of restructuring the whole thing so that I can work properly... am going to go for a walk now and come back later tonight to finish some stuff up. Hmmmm I might take Ambrose out with me... Ambrose is the Parish dog and also know as "the centre of the world" ...because... well.... he is!

Miss M goes to Newcastle part II

Whoo hooo! There is growth! I said I would tell you about Newcastle AND I AM!!! David will be so happy with me.

SO I had a BALL in Newcastle. Seriously loved it. I got up some ungodly hour and got ready and made my way down to my nearest Tube station which is Tottenham Court Road. Scary at 5:30am let me tell you! ANYWAY it wasn't open as yet (1st train is 5:45) and so we had to wait outside for a little while. Seriously. There are CREEPY people in this world. Shiver.

Got To Liverpool Street Station and hoped on a Stanstead Express.... to Stanstead which was quite a nice ride. About 45mins with two stops... which kind of deafeats the purpose of an EXPRESS if you ask me... but it's not a bad trip.

THEN I got to the airport which is actully a nice little one... SOOOOO much better than Heathrow. I HATE Heathrow. A lot.

We had a slight delay, but all things were good (Easy Jet you are great even though you have that horrible orange which makes me gag) and I got into Newcastle at about oooooo 9:45ish and was met by the lovely Maria.

Had a really lovely time with her and her beautiful family who just made me feel right at home! Was really just nice to feel at home when you live so far from it! Maria then spend the day showing me and another friend Liz around the town which I loved. Seriously can you believe this. The council (or what ever they call the council of the town .... not up with local politics here!) have decided that most of the buildings which were built in the 60s and 70s were ugly and so are now systematically going through a knocking them all down! Man... I have never HEARD of such sense coming out of a bureaucracy!

Across the river is a bizarrely familiar sight... I looked at one of the bridges and thought... hmmmm... familiar... where have I seen that....

Yep... from what I can gather... this was kind of the proto type for Sydney Harbour Bridge... it's pretty much exactly the same... but... titchy! Even the lamps are the same. Apparently you can climb this bridge too and it doesn't cost a mint.

We had a great time wondering the streets checking out the Art Gallery which had some interesting stuff... as well as this installation which was... in effect a massive dark room with mirrors. We had NO idea what we were meant to do once we got inside. So after clinging to each other.... we edged our way to the light of the door and came out rather confused. Weeeeeeird.

We had a great lunch which between the three of us came to £11... £11 FOR THREE of us.... I'm not sure you understand how amazed I was .... but I'll leave it at that.

We then had to rush home and get dressed for Mass and a poshy dinner which was marking the 40th Anniversary of Humane Vitae and we had a really nice night. Great people, great food a BEAUTIFUL surroundings. It was a the Assembly Rooms which kind of made me think of Pride and Prejudice. I can't find a pic of the inside so this one will have to do!

The next morning we got up and Pat, Maria's lovely mother made us all breakfast. We hoped over to the Cathedral for Mass which was really lovely (Mass and the Cathedral!) It's a Pugin church and it's BEAUTIFUL! Here's the link to some photos of it. I don't have any :( my camera had run out of battery and I forgot to take my charger up. Seriously beautiful... scroll through til you get one from the nave of the altar. The ceiling is just brilliant.

Anyway we had a nice time just hanging around. Then it was time to go again and I flew back into Standstead at about 10ish and got into bed around 1pm... sooooo tired the next day but it was worth it of course!

WHAT!!!


Ok... I just realised that I am going to have to get up at 4:30 in the morning tomorrow... man... why I do these things to myself I have NO idea!