[monday memorandum...]

Just a few thoughts to make your week interesting for a Monday.  Ha.
(Wait, it's Wednesday now.  Oh well.)


: :  I turn 30 in two days...  Cripes alive.  My present phobic husband has brought me a special treat and I can't wait to see what it is (read:  I already know because I chose it.  I'm no fool).  Also I'm going to Gordon Ramsay's restaurant for an early dinner, and to a west end show.  Ah am sow London, innit?

: :  Birthday trip...  Also we are going to Croatia for a few days at the weekend.  We had to plan to be back in time in case I got these QI tickets I applied for and was certain I would get (since it's my birthday and our anniversary, although it never asked for that info on the questionnaire - I just assumed they'd know?) But I never heard from them (yet) so I assume we'll have to do something romantic on our anniversary instead.  Sigh.

: :  Three weeks of work left...  I work in a really lovely unit, but I am super glad to be done with work in a few weeks.  Most of our pals here work to travel - as in, they work enough to get money (like three months or so) and then travel for a month or so.  We never did that though, I've worked right through since we arrived - only taking a two week break when Mum visited.  Any ideas for a job I can do when I arrive home that doesn't involve working?

Pretty rad view from my work.

: :  No work...  I have emailed two places at home about work, and applied for two jobs and have had NO REPLY from any of them.  I'm so surprised because I'm a really good nurse (mostly) and when I was writing my C.V I said to the husby that I look so good on paper, I'd give myself a job without reading the rest of the pile.  Nothing like a good old dose of ignoring to pop my over inflated ego.

: :  It was actually sunny...  We came to England from New Zealand's winter, into England winter.  Then we hit the worst summer England has seen for 100 years (fact according to myself), then the coldest winter for 100 years (fact according to myself but I feel like I've heard it before.)  I have never been so pale in all my life (and I am usually like glow in the dark PALE).  Lets just say that the bits that see the light of day are the same colour as the bits that don't.  BUT this week I have seen shadows for the first time in two years, and I even wore my sunglasses today.  Bliss!

By my pad.

: :  Dandruff city...  Since coming to England I have been plagued with dandruff problems.  (I exaggerate).  Don't judge me, I'm a clean girl with usually nice hair which I wash regularly, but the water here is so hard and limescale-y.  I digress.  This week was particularly diabolical.  I switched shampoo from one which shall remain nameless (Tresemee) that was making me get split ends and fly aways.  I switched to another one that shall remain nameless (Pantene) that gave me a filmy, greasy feeling.  Not to mention I was now looking like I had dropped a packet of dessicated coconut on my head.  So I had to go to the hairdresser and ask for some help - she suggested that I wash my hair with dishwashing liquid (no lies - she told me not to tell anyone she said it) and then with some proper hairdresser type shampoo that shall not remain nameless.  Kerastase.  Kerastase and my hair are now having a love affair made of soft, sweet smelling locks and not a coconut flake in sight.  Win.

: :  De-furring...  Speaking of hair, today I went to have multiple small hairs ripped from various places on my body.  I felt a bit concerned when half way through, beauty lady goes 'so, are we doing your upper lip today?'  I say 'ah... nope, wasn't planning on it'.  She goes 'oh.  long pause.  okay'.  I'm all like 'lady, I'm almost thirty - a few lip hairs never hurt anyone.  I'm embracing my age with grace.'  Then I go home and pluck the crap out of that top lip.

So there you go.  I hope your day is more interesting now, and that it wasn't so boring before that a post which is mostly about hairs and weather made it exponentially more interesting.  Cos if that's the case, you gotta get a hobby.  For reals.

Love.

[snapshot...]

Dear future me,

I have been a long time between posts and it's a bit of a shame actually because a lot has been happening and I fear I'll forget it all.  I have been on trips and had situations and learned lessons and I have forgotten (or not bothered) to tell you all about it.  To be honest, sometimes I think things are just best soaked into our hearts, and kept to ourselves, yet the point of this blog is preservation.  So here I am, and here is a snapshot of life lately.

: :  We had snow.  I was like a kid in a sweet shop, I walked the slowest I've ever walked and had a giddy smile on my face the whole way to the supermarket.  Snow geek.

Let it snow!

: :  Yesterday on my way to work in the morning, an alarm bell was going off.  I couldn't really tell where it was coming from because it was echoing around the river, but I soon found out it was coming from the hostel across the road from the bus stop.  I saw people evacuating and heard (NZ and Aussie accented) voices yelling about how cold it was out here.  Three fire engines showed up.  Hehe.  I guess someone burned their toast.

: :  One of the London family, our friend E, went home to Australia on Thursday.  She surprised her family (love it), but saddened us.  It won't be the same without her.  She, like all good friends, adds something to a moment.  Least she'll be just across the ditch when we get home.

E and I...  Bye special friend!

: :  Speaking of home, there are apparently rumours we are coming home soon!  Please note in this formal environment - there are no definite plans to come home soon, and we are not surprising anyone with our arrival.  There, now that's thrown you off track.  Ha.

: :  I had brought a super awesome scarf, which I dropped at the shop when I was trying something on.  I went online to find a new one (they weren't in the shop anymore) and it was £7.85, with £3.50 postage.  So naturally I spent a further £40 so that I could get free postage.  Awkward.  Even more awkward when half of it didn't fit me.  Hehe.

: :  Tomorrow night we are having a friend over for tea and she is doing a vegan month for February.  What the bazooka's do vegans even eat?!  Well we'll soon find out - we're cooking for her.  Watch this space.

: :  Lastly but not leastly, it's this fabulous lady's birthday today, can you believe she's fifty?!

Mum and I in Santorini - Happy birthday Mum!

More posts coming up, dear future me.  I will not forget you.  (Or maybe I will, I guess we'll see.)

Love, daughter of a half century beauty.  xx

[actually monday memorandum...]

YUSSSSS!  It's actually Monday and I'm posting my Monday Memorandum. 

: :  currently watching...  As I type, I'm just finished watching Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and now I'm watching X factor.  How great is it when they are awful?  I know it's horrid to say, but I just think it is so fun to watch.  I went and saw the taping of a session, and now I'm watching for myself in the audience.  Ha.

: :  niceness...  He has been working from home this week.  I like it too - having him around, just being there.  Also if I need something technical fixed, he can help me.  Ha.  Don't ask me what is going on here - some soldering business, and I helped hold a wire onto a metal thing.

: :  assignment...  I was feeling a bit worried about not being offered another contract with my work - I had asked and they hadn't got back to me...  Nervous waiting...  eeek!  Anyhow, this week they got back to me.  Lady: "Oh, Stacey.  Did we get back to you about your assignment?  Because we do want you back."  Me:  "Cripes, lady - way to leave me hanging."  So that's whew!

: :  oh, hello...   Oh, hello sunset.  

: :  falling asleep...  Anyone else always fall asleep in movies?  Watching them at home, at a friends house or even at the movies - I would say that 90% of the time I fall asleep.  If I ever suffer from insomnia (I doubt I will), I'll just watch a movie and I'll be sure to fall asleep.

: :  patent...  This is a patented idea.  I have had some trouble with extracting marshmallows from the hot chocolate without being piggy and using my fingers, or getting them stuck in the lid hole.  BUT wait...  I figured out while waiting for the bus after a night duty that I could use the lid as a scooping spoon.  Gen-i-us.

: :  mum comes back...  Mum comes back next week, and we do a bit more looking around England and then go on a coach tour of Vienna, Budapest and Prague.  Then we head to Santorini and Athens.  Can't wait!

: :  fouling can cause blindness...  Really?  How?  If you rub it in your eye?  Or as a comementer said on my instagram - if someone punches you in the eye?  Also, how's the little poo on the side?  And what is up with the eyes.  Weird sign.

: :  date night...  My Guy suggested a date night last night and I was pleased to accept.  We walked to a restaurant about ten minutes away and had some yummy tea.  It's a pizza lounge and we shared an entree and a pizza, and had some lovely conversation about our current plans and work, and our future.  It was very nice.  And I even did curls.

: :  downton abbey...  The new Downton starts tonight!  Season three...  Eeeeeeee!

: :  sunday funday...  The London family had a picnic in the park today - we had a barbeque (we made it at the house) and walked up to the park for a nice meal and a few games of boules.  I got a sweet picnic blanket, picnic set and boules set for my birthday and I love to use them!

So that was my week briefly.  What have you been up to this week?

[memorandum...]

Monday memorandum has evolved in to just plain old 'memorandum' on account of the fact that it is almost never Monday when I post it.

My brain has been feeling oh so cluttery lately.  It's as if the mind can only hold a certain number of things, and when it gets overloaded it gets foggy and slow.  I don't know about you, but it makes me feel a wee bit sad, and the best cure is to get organised.  So earlier in the week I went online to me ole friend amazon and purchased a few things to help me along the way - probably the parcel of my dreams.

: :  the best delivery ever...  I got some click clack containers for our food cupboard, and some labels to label which food is ours (we live in a house with a bunch of other people).  I got a wardrobe organiser - it's kind of a canvas shelving unit that hangs from the bar in the wardrobe to put things on, right from the bar to the floor.  I got a shoe rack for all the shoes that pile up around the door.

: :  the little things that help...  I've been working too much (any much feels like too much lately!).  I had a nice shift with a lovely new friend I've made and I popped downstairs at midnight and fetched us a hot chocolate and a muffin.  It's the little things, right?!

In the elevator heading down to the cafe.

: :  the great bike fiasco...  My friend taught me to ride a bike, and we've been riding home.  Well, I already knew how to ride but I've not done it for about twenty years.  So we ride home from work (in London alongside the big red buses).  I am slow and awful, but I'm exercising and it's a little bit fun.  Ha.

: :  sidenote...  How can I possible be old enough to refer to something as being 'twenty years ago'.  Yikes.

: :  craftastic...  I spent ages researching the stitches, techniques, yarn and hooks for crochet.  It was ridiculous how long I spent, and so I just decided to get started on a special project.  I'm amazing at starting things but poosy at finishing them so hopefully I'll have something to share with you later.

Crochet hooks (also in the amazon parcel of my dreams).

: :  public crafting...  I crafted in public on the train, too (with permission from my train buddies - wouldn't like to embarrass anyone with my geekery!).

Craftastic train ride

: :  oxford for a day...  Our special pal, E has been working in Oxford for a few weeks.  What better reason to pop up to Oxford for a day spent by the river in a garden bar?  We popped by Christ Church school too, where the Harry Potter dining room scene was filmed.

Christ Church

: :  tuberculosis shot...  Got myself a tb shot the other day (compulsory for my work).  It's a bit fun having a festering sore on the arm, really.  I do love me a good hunk of pus (puss?)!

: :  listy list...  Purchased myself a 'list book' today.  Who doesn't love a list or two?  I saw it a while ago at the shop, and I kept thinking about it so here it is in all its deliciousness...

...  look at this picture below and you'll see the amazingness of it.  On the right is a note pad.  Then on the left side a shopping list, some post-it notes and some little marker post-its.  Are you totes jell? 

: :  call the midwife...  Such a great series, my friend E and I are watching.  Can you tell I'm watching it as I write this?  Also do you know the most incredible news - that season three of Downton Abbey is coming out soon.

Shut... Up...

: :  stratford...  Popping up to Stratford (where the olympic park is) for a spot of lunch (and to buy list books to feed my organisation fetish) is something I like to do, and we went today.  There is a burger restaurant called 'Gourmet Burger Kitchen' which sells New Zealand products, including 'Kaitaia fire' and...  L&P!  I took the liberty of introducing my pals to it, and they were suitably impressed, I believe.

Enough rambling for one day.  I need to go and watch some more Call the Midwife, and do some crochet.  Haha.  So very 'elderly' of me.

[monday memorandum...]

Encouragement is so uplifting. So appreciative of all the encouragement here on the blog, and also on facebook after my last post.  Like I said, I wasn't feeling sad for myself, just a little confused and it's nice to know I'm not the only one getting dumber as I get older.  Maybe I should just embrace the thickness.

With that, here is Monday Memorandum...  a little late this week but I'm sure you'll survive.

: :  mum...  As I told you, Mum visited this week.  It was so nice to have her here!  Also, a little odd having someone here from home - I think I've mentioned before, it feels like two different worlds colliding.  Not bad at all of course, just strange.  It was super fun showing her around London - we did some fun touristy things (more on that later), and I realised how I need to get more touristy in my day to day life!

Mum the day she arrived.

: :  purse...  I brought the coolest coin purse on Granville Island in Vancouver.  One of those purchases you make when you aren't sure you should, and then you never regret it.  This week, I lost it!  I think it fell out of my bag when I pulled my cardi out...  boooo.

: :  kindle...  In other boooooo news, my kindle screen is broken.  Stinker.  I have to go back to reading the old fashioned way - with an actual book.  How odd.

: :  man drought...  It's not that I'm looking, but I have a few single lady friends and I have noticed on their behalf that there seems to be a decent man shortage.  Where have they all gone?  If you know a decent man that is looking for a decent lady, I'm thinking of starting up my own dating business but it's a bit one sided at present.  Ha.

The London Eye.

: :  crochet...  I just keep thinking about this picture I saw on instagram of someone crocheting the softest looking baby blanket and I want to make one too.  I started watching a few youtube vids of crochet basics and I'm after some needles (needles?  or hooks?) and some yarn (yarn?  what am I, American?!) to make the softest baby blanket ever.  Also, is this even possible?

 ::  work...   I'm at work at the moment.  It's 2.37 am and I'm on an extra shift.  Somehow picking up an extra makes working a little less palatable, especially at this hour.  Also, don't tell my boss I'm blogging while the babies sleep.

Midnight, on the way to get a hot choc and muffin for my workmate and I.

: :  lists...  Anyone else a major list fan?  I have five lists on the go at the moment, and it helps my brain feel less cluttery.  Lists for presents, things to do, things to buy, and even a miscellaneous list.  I think that's the beaver in me coming out.  I'm certainly more 'beaverish' as I age.

: :  games...  I miss board gaming.  I know, super nerdy, right?  My friend posted a pic on FB of all their games - a whole bookshelf full and I just remembered how much good fun it was.

That'll be enough for now.  I've got a few ideas for posts coming up so stay tuned!

[monday memorandum...]

Blogging is a funny thing - it's like a private journal that you write knowing others will read.  You know that they read it, but they often don't sign the visitors book or give you any feedback so it's hard to know if you're doing a good job...  at writing a journal for yourself... that you aren't supposed to care about others reading anyway...  Odd.

: :  the encouragement...  Just talked to an old friend who without knowing that I was thinking of pulling the plug on this blog as a public forum, gave me some encouragement and let me know she'd been reading and anticipating every post.  So I'm still here (for now).

: :  the maternity shows...  Love them.  How miraculous is birth?!  Those perfect wee kids who start off as a sperm and an egg - a key and a keyhole which fit perfectly together to make a person.  Even when things go wrong (I see that a lot in my job), there is still a miracle that occurs.  Love it.  Cry every time (during the shows of course - not at work.  That would just be unprofessional).

: :  the italian delivery...  Italian delivered right to the house - how freakin' awesome is that?  I don't think there was the option in New Zealand, or if there was I never knew about it.  Well, pizza hut I guess but that is so not the same thing.

My Guy and a calzone.

: :  the mom...  My housemate is American.  So American.  My Mama is coming in three sleeps (!) and there has been a lot of talk about 'the mom'.  Funny as.  Can't wait!

: :  the paralympics...  I am really looking forward to the paralympics.  There is something awesome about people who (in some cases) have a good reason to give up on life but choose instead to make it extraordinary.  This weekend we went to Stratford Westfield (which is next to the Olympic park) and we saw heaps of Paralympians.  I felt so honoured!

: :  the local...  I'm not much of a drinker but I love heading to the local.  We're lucky enough to live just on the edge of the Thames, which (although quite revolting really) looks gorgeous in the sunset.  It gets busy out there and there is a super cool atmosphere.  Only thing, if I may be permitted to say something negatory.  Three times that we went there, they ran out of food.  I repeat, they ran out of food.

From my seat at the local.

: :  the library etiquette...  As I write this, I am at the local library.  It is a really nice, brand new library overlooking a lake with some really awesome spaces and services available.  Then a girl ate two bananas.  You read right - she sat behind me and ate two bananas in a row.  Is that etiquettely acceptable (firstly two bananas in a row - too much potassium, and secondly can you actually eat in a library?)  Also there was a water leak so they have an area blocked off, with big signs saying that you can't go in there.  So people climb over the couches and signs and go in there anyway.  Huh?!

: :  the care package...  A dear friend (who is going through her own troubles at the moment) sent us some special New Zealand lollies this week.  What a sweet thought!  My Guy opened the jaffas before I even got home, and we ate the pineapple lumps (frozen, of course) during a movie we watched.  What a treat!

Jaffas being consumed.

: :  the haircut...  My friend K and I had haircuts this week.  Thankfully she came with me, because it is at a friend of a friend of a friends house, and the last two times I've been I got hopelessly lost.  One time I expect I was going to be murdered by gang members but I managed to escape.  Anyway, the haircuts are nice and the hairdresser is nice so it's a win all round.

: :  the tax department...  I suppose I had better not say what is in my mind to say about this department for fear I will be banned from re-entering my home country.  Suffice to say that I expect to get a large sum of money in my bank in return for my time and effort, and the copious amounts of incorrect information leading me up many dead end garden paths.  Too much?

: :  the rain...  I love a good thunderstorm, and we sure got one this weekend!  Not long after we arrived home from Stratford, the rain came down (hence the leaky library, I guess) and there was even thunder and lightening.  Awesome!

Out my lounge room window - the ominous clouds!

Sheesh, that all feels a bit negative - I have had a great week really.  I'm enjoying chilling out at the library on a sunny Sunday afternoon.  I'm going to pop downstairs to the cafe and get a pain au chocolat and an elderflower cordial now.  Cheerio!

[monday memorandum...]

Funny week...  Well, weeks.  I've got two Monday memo's to update cos I missed out last week.  I feel like I've been working my hoo hoos off.  I haven't really - I just don't know how people work five days a week.  I worked four for the last two weeks (12 hour days) and I am exhaustified.  Ha, what a pansy, right?!

: :  shoes...  I got some new running (well, slowly walking) shoes this week, ones that are good for my foot, and they are the best.  Funny thing about them - you can't wear them with jeans or tights (my most common lower body attire).  So I have two options - wear them anyway and don't bother about fashion rules, or don't wear them.  I chose to wear them - today I wore them with jeans.  Fashion disaster.

: :  fruit salad magic...  There is something magic about fruit salad that you purchase.  Not fruit that you purchase and make it yourself.  No siree.  The fruit that the man purchases and cuts up, puts in a fancy container and charges you a 300% mark up.  That's the magic.  It is delicious and refreshing, and I love it.  I only wish there were a request system, because the man puts too much gross melon in my fruit salad.  If I'm going to pay exorbitantly for a fancy cut and cup, surely I can ask for melons-out?  Wait, I know - I can resell it as a melon salad?!

Half full melon cup, anyone?

 : :  heatwave...  It has been really hot here lately.  Britain doesn't know what to do with 30 degrees - it is so unusual.  I'm a cold lover - me and heat were not made to be together too so I feel their pain.  In fact, at work they put out a 'heat wave warning' and it said that we had to prepare ourselves and our patients because London is expected to reach 31 degrees, and maintain 20 degrees overnight.  Ha!

: :  olympic fever...  The closing ceremony was pretty cool, huh?  I'm looking forward to the paralympics too.  A couple friends and I watched the closing ceremony at work - they have set up a room with a bar and a view of Big Ben.  Also, some olympic rings.  Rad.

Olympic rings

: :  the mother...  Eight sleeps until the mother arrives, and the plans are coming together nicely!

: :  tea with the Queen...  Did you know you can go inside Buckingham Palace?  Me neither.  But I did it.  And then had a hot chocolate in the garden cafe afterwards before walking through the garden.  And the Queen was home.  True story.

Hot choc and scones

: :  bright...  It was a bright day (so hot) in Brighton.  The London family headed down there (once we managed to get on the train) and stayed one night.  We had some fun, watched some karaoke, ate a tonne of great food.  Oh, and My Guy purchased a few gobstoppers from a retro lolly shop.  And I mean gigantic gobstoppers.  It was the best kind of night away.

: :  london appointment situation...  I have been having some health troubles lately, and have had to go to a few appointments.  Sweet crumbs alive, it takes hours.  One appointment I had meant I left home at 10am and arrived back again at 5pm.  Seven.  Hours.  Ridiculous.  This morning I had an appointment too, only I was gone for a total of three hours - home by 10.30am.  Amazing.  I'm figuring out to streamline the process.  Ha.

: :  six a.m...  Unless you have somewhere awesome to go, it's never fun getting up at 6am.  This weekend it just meant I had to get up and go to work, and it's been freakin hot in the nursery lately.  I eat breakfast in the lounge, and it's nice to appreciate things even when you'd rather be sleeping.  Six a.m - if you and I have to meet, thanks for an awesome sunrise.

Great week.  How was yours?!

[monday memorandum...]

This week hasn't been a particularly eventful one - Monday Memorandum wise anyway...  The first three days, I worked.  And the next four days I was in Berlin, and that's another post.  So just a short one today.

: :  olympics...  I still haven't been able to get any tickets for the Olympics yet, but I have been watching lots on tele - have you?  I especially like the synchronised diving and the rhythmic gymnastics.  There are some tickets left for the paralympics which I think would be awesome to see too.  Side note - how cool is the 'blade runner'?!

: :  giant ship...  We had to go down to Canary Wharf to get my phone looked at (something about the battery draining too fast), and saw this big ole ship.  I don't think this picture quite does it justice - this bad boy is very large.  These ships look like they should definitely not be floating.

: :  special visitor... My Mum arrives in just a little over three weeks.  Can't wait!

: :  shorts...  Today I am wearing shorts, for one of the first times this summer.  Now as I look outside it is very overcast, and I have a jumper on too.  Hehe.  Ironic.

: :  pattern...  On a walking tour in Berlin, the rain came pelting down.  We had wet feet and heads, and so stopping off for a hot drink was a welcome treat.  This hot chocolate was so yummy and appreciated - and I liked the patterns on the cup too.

: :  got milk?...  Love this new campaign - well I think it was more like just an accidental happening.  Georgia, who is the author of Gregarious Peach posted a photo of herself breastfeeding in the milk section of the supermarket with the title 'got milk?'  Then a bunch of other women got on board and posted pics too.  I think it is so sad one of the ladies had a comment about how 'revolting' breastfeeding in public is.  What a shame that that is the attitude that is out there!

: :  cartoony...  This is quite a cool effect that My Guy found out our phones can do!  And this is the effect of going to the toilet and leaving my phone with that same Guy.

 : :  plant situation...  For those of you that have been keenly following the growth of our herbs - here is the latest update on the fast growing, and sunlight addicted herbs.  Coriander (the yuckest one) is still winning, with parsley coming in a close second.  I'm rooting for basil.  Go, basil - go!  (See the previous pic here).

I'll be back with more on the trip to Berlin later in the week.  Until then, what have you been doing this week?

[monday memorandum...]

Monday Memorandum again - sheesh, are Mondays getting closer together or what?!  Here are a few things to give a snapshot of my life lately.

: :  skype...  I skyped my bestie on the weekend.  She is a super cool cat, and I'm so pleased for skype so that I can see her and talk trash (good trash) together.

: :  olympics...  You may have heard about a wee festival called the 'olympic games'.  Cripes, London has been taken over by Olympic fever.  I think people are divided into two camps - those who are excited about a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and those who are annoyed they have to leave half an hour earlier for work so they just decide to work from home for two weeks instead.  Me, I think it's fun to be part of and I'll be keeping my eye out for tickets and checking out the sights around town.  Fo sho.

(side note:  have you seen the guys play table tennis?  I thought they were showing it in fast-mo - they are so quick!)

: :  rich choc-caramel self saucing pud...  Yes, it is as good as it sounds, and looks.  Maybe I'll post the recipe soon.  Drool.

: :  british barbeque...  Not quite the same as a bbq down under, but it was so nice to have some sausages in bread in the backyard - what a treat!  They use coal here too, and it gives the sausies a real smokey flavour (also I burned them so that may have contributed to the smokiness, but who really knows?).

: :  movies...  Went to the movies to see the Batman one this week.  Weirdly (and perhaps another entire post), I fall asleep everywhere.  I'm concerned about narcolepsy.  I had done a night duty the night before and not slept much but really - who falls asleep in the movies?

: :  tunnel...  I like this tunnel I walk through on my way home from work.  It's a nice stroll home in the morning after a night duty - if you squint hard enough you may see the canal that we live on.  It means I'm almost home.

: :  pancake stack...  When I get home after walking through the tunnel, I'm met with this mini pancake stack My Guy made me - drenched in maple syrup.  I'm a lucky gal.

: :  changing...  The canal and the river are changing so much.  The ducklings are growing, and there are new plants floating around.  We are so blessed to live in this part of London.

: :  berlin...  Off to Berlin this week - woot woot.  We didn't do a lot of travelling for the first six months we were here and it was a bit poo but also a bit necessary.  So we better get our travel on now and we've got a few plans in the pipelines.

Life is good, and it's good to appreciate it in the moment instead of just looking back and remembering its goodness.  I like where I am right now.  How about you?

[monday memorandum]

With My Guy away, I've felt a little lonely this week.  (Just a little.)  It's silly because he goes away for work a lot lately but this time seemed different - I guess because he was reeeeeeally far away in Australia.  I used to hate being alone, but now I quite like it actually.  I'm a lucky girl in that I have some super great pals who look after me.

: :  One super great pal made me tea for each of the three days I worked this week.  I had beef stew, then meat pie, then lemon chicken.  Also dessert each night.  Am I the most blessed or what?!

Some prettiness I saw on my way home the other day.

: :  I'm watching season one of 'Heroes'.  Ever seen it?  It's pretty sweet so far.  I'd be the girl who can't get injured I think.  Nah, maybe the guy who can fly.

: :  Yesterday was actually sunny - for the first time in what seems like the whole of the British 'summer'.  The winter was pretty mild, but oh to get some vitamin d!  The ducks in our lake were loving it (oh by the way, the ducklings are super huge now...)

Sun, actual, real life sun.  (And ducklings if you look hard enough!)

 : :  This week we are off to see Rhys Darby in concert.  Haha, I'm already laughing, and looking forward to some New Zealand humour!

: :  The olympics starts in five days.  It's going to be a bit wild I suspect - London is already a bit excitable about it all.  Rings everywhere and on Saturday I saw that an olympic god has thrown a javelin into the concrete outside the library.  I'm looking to get some tickets - gotta try and be part of it somehow, right?!

He came back.  Sigh.  (And evidence of toothpaste requirement - mentioned below)

: :  I have a big zit on my chin, and I put some toothpaste on it overnight - that works, right?  Anyway My Guy was very surprised to see me with white all over my chin when we woke up this morning and also the doorbell rang so I hurried to answer it with toothpaste face.  Luckily there was no one there. (Something weird is happening with our doorbell).  Ha.

: :  Yesterday I went to collect My Guy from the airport.  I left at 4.30am to catch two buses and a train.  Also it turns out (I've discovered lately) that I am a total douche when it comes to directions.  Me and google maps are arch enemies.  Anyway I made it to the meeting point (only went the wrong way twice) and discovered that London is a hive of activity at 6am on a Sunday!  Who knew?!

Early morning London - crisp and still, yet so busy in some parts!

: :  Tonight we are having a barbeque.  We are even having sausages and cider on the lawn, and I predict sun.  It feels like a real summer...  Can't wait.

That's enough of that.  Don't forget I'm hosting the book club next week so stay tuned for that.
Happy Monday everyone!

[monday memorandum...]

It's that time again - Monday time.  My Monday Memorandum - a few random trinkets from my week.


: :  toilet paper junkie...  It's official - I use too much toilet paper.  I think it's the fear that I'll get 'stuff' on my hands perhaps - although it's a little odd because I'm a nurse so that happens often anyway.  I just noticed that I tend to pull at the roll a few times before I rip it off.

: :  twilight series...  This week I watched the Twilight series.  I've read it before and never really understood what all the fuss was about.  Now I've seen the movies and I still don't get it.  I mean, it's okay but I wouldn't say it's anything to rave about.  (PS.  Team Jacob...)

: :  missing out...  Being so far away from home has the potential to be sad and lonely.  I've not found it too bad so far, for the most part.  On Saturday, the family gathered together to celebrate what would have been my grandparents 50th wedding anniversary.  My Pop died too soon almost six years ago, and I'd have liked to be there for the family gathering...  It's those times I feel I'm missing out!

: :  hibernation...  This weekend I've been hibernating.  My body feels worn out and run down, and in need of a long rest.  So I went to the library and got out some tv series' and I've been watching season six of House and the Downton Abbey Christmas special in my yoga pants.

: :  yoga pants...  As an aside, my yoga pants have never been used for yoga - or any other type of exercise.  They should be called 'lounging pants'.  I even went to the movies in them the other week.  When I go out in them I wear running shoes and a zip up jumper so I look like I've just come from a run.  Makes them acceptable.

: :  adoption hatch...  Interesting new trend - 'adoption hatches'.  It's like a post box for babies - usually attached to a hospital, for women who feel unable to keep their babies.  What do you think?  Read more here.

: :  my guy...  My Guy is in Tasmania for work at the moment.  It's a little lonely without him, and his bags got lost for a few days (and then found) but it's a good job.  And he got to pat a Tasmanian devil. Lucky duck.

: :  berry smoothie...  At work there is a 24 hour cafe which sells the best blueberry and banana smoothie.  They are so delectable, I keep buying them and it has the potential to get a bit expensive!

Anyhoo, that'll do for now.  What have you all been up to this week?

[monday memorandum...]

Bit of a busy week I've had.  Some of my best days are those when I'm alone in the house with chocolate and Downton Abbey.  You know, the ones where you get stuff done - the stuff that sits and waits for you until you have some spare time for you to get around to it.

: :  alone...  I live with four other people, and I have realised that although I like them (one of them is my husband!) very much, I need need need time alone to recharge or I get very antsy and grumbly.

: :  soleil...  Today I waited all day for it to get sunny so I could go to the supermarket.  You know, because I have to walk there and I have uber short legs so my pant bottoms get wet.  Then when I got home and sat down, look what I saw - me ole pal!

: :  juicy...  I found some new juice I like.  It's a local supermarket brand, and the flavour is cranberry and raspberry.  Delectable.

: :  amazon woman...  Confession time - sometimes I buy things off amazon because I can't be bothered going to the shop.  It's the epitome of lazy, but I just can't seem to stop.  Birthday presents, shelves, electronics, cake accessories - I buy them all.

: :  downton...  Any of my three readers watched Downton Abbey?  I'm watching it right now - season two and Patrick has just come back.  What a spanner in the works, what with Matthew in the state he's in.  Love it.

: :  birds...  I've come to enjoy watching the ducks, swans and geese.  We often feed the birds and I like seeing their funny waddles and fights.  We've had lots of babies too which is cute.

: :  fart...  Sometimes I wish it were appropriate to make funny status updates on facebook about farts and poos.  It's my favourite type of humour, and consequently I frequently don't have any status updates to make.  Ha.

: :  zoo lates...  My two pals and I went to the zoo to an event called 'zoo lates' which is like a big party at the zoo.  What a funny idea huh?  It was fun, but for us (we didn't do much partying!) it was more of just a look around at the zoo!  (post to come on that!)

: :  special cake...  Tomorrow I'm making a special cake for my friend whose birthday it was on Sunday.  I'll keep it a secret for now but post on it later!

: :  eyelash...  Do you think eyelashes get stuck behind eyeballs?  How many eyelashes must one person have behind the eyes?

Once again, too many boring old points but there you have it.  A productive day for me - I did washing, cooking, tv watching, movie watching, present wrapping, walking, and shopping.

And blogging!

I'm linking this post up to Simoney's linky this week...

[monday memorandum...]

I've never really needed a diary.  I mean, I've always had one - you know, to look like a lady.  Now I have a diary and it actually has things written in it.  I'm also using google calendar (amazing) to keep a track of my oh-so-demanding schedule.  I feel like a movie star.

To that end, ten tidbits to make a snapshot of life lately.

: :  My new contract for work is so good.  I'm back with the babies, and although some things are done quite differently and I'm not convinced it's me plus babies forever, it suits me just nicely for now.

: :  I love instagram.  My only gripe is that I wish more people everyone used it.  That is the only gripe.  And I am a griper, so that's saying something.

(Note:  All photos in this post taken and edited on instagram and completely unrelated to the content of the post).

Big as lion.

: :  We moved house to a bigger place (same amount of people but the house is about three times bigger.)  It's nice, and feels a little more permanent perhaps.  I still miss lots of things about the old place, and turns out I'm not a person who copes with change well.  Fact.

: :  My Mum is coming to England to visit (and trip around Europe like jet-setter) in under two months. I can't wait to show her around.  It will be so weird seeing someone from home here.  It's like two worlds which can't collide, colliding.

Patriotism at the local pub

: :  I read a newspaper article about a new plane being patented which can do London to Sydney in four hours.  Does that change the world or what?!

: :  My Guy has this great job which means he travels a bit.  It's funny because we came to London from New Zealand to travel together and now he goes away for work.  Guess where his next contract is?  Australia.  No lies.  Ironic huh?

: :  Yesterday we got home from what I think is the craziest four days of my life.  We went to Marrakech, Morocco.  A man tried to buy me from Morgan for 5000 camels.  Pretty good deal I reckon.  Wonder what a camel goes for these days?

: :  I decided to see my new blog situation as a blessing in disguise, and I like my new blog design and idea but somehow I can't find my voice for it.  I'm trying to write for me, but I don't know what I want to hear.

First summer picnic

: :  Is there anyone who doesn't like carrots?  I think there are few people who love them (like would choose them over a cupcake or a sausage roll...  What?  Sausage rolls are delicious) but I don't know anyone who can't eat them, or bear them being on their plate.

: :  I am about to start season two of Downton Abbey, and I'm watching Call the Midwife on demand on BBC.  I think I was meant to be born in the 1950s.

So that's that.  Ten less things for me to write in my diary.  Whew.