Old London Town

A seven hour flight from Bridgetown to London Gatwick had me back in my old home of a couple of years back now, albeit in a jetlagged state. The train from Gatwick into Victoria included a little shudder as it passed East Croydon, I arrived into Victoria with ease. Everything about arriving back to the UK was easy on Wednesday, with my old Oyster card for the tube working, limited crowds at that hour on transport, and my pre-existing knowledge of where to go, led me to meet Charlotte and rest out the morning at her flat in Notting Hill.

I headed across town to Camden to meet up with Charles for lunch at The Prince Albert, for a three course treat, before meeting Miss Charlotte and Alison at the flat once they had finished work, for dinner at Nyonya for old times sake. Laksa....mmmmmm!

Yesterday I met up with Renee in Fulham for lunch at The Chancery and a catch up with her and her Pommy accent in the sunny beer garden, before spending some quality shopping time in old favorites like Primark and then Oxford Street.

Last night I caught up with Chantal, Nat, Jess and Andrew, Dave, Charles, Charlotte and Alison for many many Pimms and Lemonade at The Champion, across the road from Hyde Park.

Today I have finally completed some classic London tourist sights which I did not visit when I lived here! I made my way into town and walked through Westminister Abbey, with the audio of Jeremy Irons taking me past the corination chair, the varios resting points of royals and literary names, and pointing out the grand and breathtaking ceilings in this majestic church.

I then met Jess for lunch at Pret, before we made our way to join a Yeoman Warder tour of the Tower of London. Having had my interest in Henry VIII spiked following the reading of The Other Bolyen Girl, I was keen to see the executioner's block and be taken through the times of treason, torture and scandal. Walking, and then travelling on the slow moving people mover, past the crown jewels, being each set of sparkly bits per monarch, Jess and I also took in the Torture Tower and Beauchamp Tower, with it's graffiti.

An attempt at visiting St Paul's Cathedral upper elements was thwarted by time, and thus, I may never see the much talking about whispering chamber! A Pimm's on the Queen Mary as another token of old times, my big trip is coming to an end - with just the task of packing and getting to the airport in the morning the last bits left!

A Host Of Farewells

This week I have had a whole load of farewell catch ups with mates here in London, to say goodbye in UK drinking style.

Wednesday night I met Jess at the Institute of Contemporary Arts, along The Mall near Buckingham Palace, to see Candy. An Aussie film with Heath Ledger and Abbie Cornish, it was an Aussie take on the spiral of herion addition. Hrad going, but very good. Tiny intimate cinema in a grand building. We then tubed across town to meet Andrew and John for a pint at the Marlborough Head. A pub decked out in Addam's Family decor, with the loos through a door cut into bookshelves. It was goodbye to the Wilson's, for now. It's been fun living in the same city as them, even if for just a short time.

Thursday night I met Niny, Hilary, Chantal, and Scott for tapas and sangria in Clapham, where many HCML stories were told. I was reminded of all the crappy desks I have been sat at during my time at work, my black eye, and our many laughs during our pod silliness. The social side of work has been awesome, with a bnch of people in similar life situations as me, and thus, ready and willing for trips and nights out at the drop of a hat! Further drinks at The Fine Line made sure I was feeling a little seedy for my last day of work!

Friday I finalised all the dramas on my cases, and handed them all over - such a relief!

Drinks after work were at All Bar One in Clapham, with a large group from work. Many pints later, and I said goodbyes to Beate and Heather here. Train back to Wimbledon, and the remaining crew of Nathan, Fletcher, Scott, Kylie and Caitlin, headed to Bar Sia. This turned into a rather large evening, in the club downstairs which is a former swimming pool! Very strange!

After a decent hangover yesterday, and a struggle to meet the trying-to-get-up-while-it's-still-light with the darkness coming so early now here in London! I eventually made it over to Putney to meet Laura, Blake and Scott for some medicinal pints, dinner, and more goodbyes.

Now, I am all packed, and my taxi to Heathrow is just 45 minutes away from collecting me...and it's goodbye old London town.

Monopoly Finale

On Saturday, I attempted to meet Jess at St Paul's to see one of the many touristy things here in London that I still haven't seen. Not really paying enough attention to the Rememberance Day and the Lord Mayor's Show Day information, I arrived at Bank tube station to chaos, delays on the tube, and the two minutes silence - was a little weird! Then a pararde kicked off with all the Queen's men... The St Paul's plan was abandoned after realising I was on the wrong side of the parade, and Jess reporting minimal entry to the cathedral.

Instead, Jess and I headed to the first stop of the second half of the Monopoly Pub Crawl, which was the plan for the day! A farewell London adventure for me, and the last chance to finish the crawl that I had been part of back in March.

The first stop for the recommencement of this crawl was Whitehall on the board, and thus The Lord Moon Of The Mall, where our first half pint was drunk, and a hearty pub meal of bangers and mash was consumed.

Charles joined us at the Northumberland Avenue stop, at the Sherlock Holmes, for a half pint of the Sherlock Holmes brew. A walk in the cold London air, and a short tube ride later, another pint was had at Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese for the Fleet Street stop.

Andrew, Kristy and Scott joined us at this stop, for the walk over to The Strand and The Wellington pub. Here we were joined by Nat, who wins the award for the most travelled to join the crawl, after flying in from Copenhagen (she's mad! we love it!).

Finding the Marquess of Anglesey was easier this time than the very first time I completed this leg, before we got to The Chandos near Trafalgar Square, and The Moon Under Water for the Leicester Square stop, where we were joined by Laura.

The Comedy for Coventy Street, with the half pints still coming, and a food and half pint stop at The Captain's Cabin for Regent Street on the board. A glimpse of the Xmas lights here showed that they were the same as last year - lame! No pub found at the location outlined in the instructions for Vine Street, and the posh looking establishments and their burly bouncers were none too keen on letting us half pint in there!

A wander along Carnaby Street before O'Neills for Marlborough Street, and a half pint upstairs in The Duke of York as the closest pub to Bond Street.

Our finale was the Oxford Street pub, which was quintessential English pub, The Woodstock, after another peek at last year's Xmas lights repeat! A Winter Pimm's, and then another full pint for good measure, the crawl was done!

Feeling suprisingly well on Sunday morning, I met with Jess and Nat for brunch of the much anticipated eggs benedict at the Glow Lounge. A chance to say goodbye for now to Nat, who has been a great provider of floor space, crazy travel ideas, a great travel companion, and someone who is up for anything, during my time in the UK. Love your work, Miss Nat!

Farewell to Miss Charlotte

Miss Charlotte leaves London today, to go home to New Zealand for the Summer, after a stop for run in NYC. Charlotte and I, along with Laura, Beate, Heather, Emy and Debbie, started in the same group at HCML, and she and I have worked and played and travelled (and lived for a bit!) together for the last year and a month.

On Monday night, a group of us met for dim sum at New World in Chinatown, in honour of Miss Charlotte. Last night I met up with her, and her sister Sophie and Mike, for an English pub meal around Covent Garden. We finished off Charlotte's last night in London with one of her favourite things to do - crossing the Waterloo Bridge at night. (Bloody freezing, but the veiw of the city is awesome!)

The hardest thing about travelling around and meeting new people, is that we all go home, or move on, eventually. Whilst staying in touch in the age of email is all good, still... I am going to miss Miss Charlotte! But it does mean I have people to visit all over the world, anytime!

Good luck in the marathon, Miss Charlotte, and I hope to see you soon!

Hanging out in old London town

I have had quite a lovely week, catching up with people, despite the winter weather and darkness creeping in.

Tuesday night, Charlotte and Laura and I met Hilary in the city, at Momo for dinner and drinks. Apparently a place for cool people and stars - we just hung out for a good gossip session and a general catch up! Food was Morrocan, and very yummy! Red wine was very good too! I had forgotten the ordeal of travelling into the city though, on the train and then the tube - how quickly the memory blocks! Such a mission.

Wednesday night Charlotte and I went off to see The Departed, after hearing rave reveiws. Brilliant movie, loved it. Haven't seen a movie that envokes a real stress response for a long time! And Leo was very good...

Last night, Charles took me to the theatre for my impending birthday, to see the long-running musical Blood Brothers. A story about twins seperated after birth, and their experiences growing up in two very different family, and socio-economic environments.

Quite a depressing look at the hard working class English experience. For quite sometime during the show, adults played the role of seven year old, which was a little odd. The actor portraying the mother of the two boys was fully into her role, and played the full emotions...and poor Marylin Monroe got a workout in the song sung throughout the show. Was quite good, and amazing to think that this production has been going for so long.

The narrator in this production was quite creepy, and funny, popping up throughout the show, speaking rather than singing, and just geerally being a presence.

Thanks heaps, Charlie!

Happy Birthday Charlotte

Yesterday was Miss Charlotte's birthday, and after some silliness in the office all day, a batch of us headed into town for a night in celebration. Happy hour cocktails at Ruby Blue in Leicester Square was our first stop, which ensued jugs of pink cocktails galore! The group grew, and I think we got louder, and more volumes were consumed.

The plan for the evening was for a regressive, or backwards, dinner, with drinks, then dessert, and then dinner. However, time, cocktails, and liquid full stomachs won over the ice cream idea after drinks, and we made our way for dinner.

Hi Sushi is a cute and colourful Japanese restaurant, with all you can eat sushi! We piled into the downstairs section, and were placed in a sunken red table. We ticked all the boxes for the menu choices, and then the food started coming. And coming, and coming! Great sushi! Starting with miso soup, complemented with Asahi.

A dare at the end of the feast saw our birthday girl eat a big green pile of wasabi, which was scared and then cracked us all up. She's a crazy, and easily led, kid!

Spilling out onto the street, some of the gang surprisingly had room for Ben and Jerry's before we tubed our way home.

Weekend out of hand

Plans for a quite, money saving weekend backfired, and as I am sitting at my desk this morning, a little seedy, things had just gotten away from me! But that's London - there is always someone doing something....awesome!

Saturday just after lunch I went into Wimbledon for a pint with a few of the members of my new house. Holly, Belinda and Mark and I were in search of the Aussie verses South Africa rugby (I think!!) match - but no luck. Given the nationality divide in the house now, it could have been interesting...but none of the pubs had it one.

Facing a quite Saturday evening at home, I got a text from Toni, who is back after her travels, and so I headed into Clapham Junction to meet up with her, Ben and Clare for dinner. Three bottles of wine later, a mini pub crawl had commenced! Was lovely to see Toni, and catch up on the last few weeks, and all the changes. Was quite nice wine, too! Hee hee.

Waking to a headache and a text message, I pulled myself together and made my way into town to meet Jess and Andrew, and Nat, at the Queen Mary for lunch. Fresh off the boat, Jess and Andrew have just arrived in big, bad London for a year of adventure! Soaking in the sun, the skyline and the Pimm's, the four of us we caught up, before walking through London streets to Covent Garden.

One the way home, I called into the Walkabout in Wimbledon, to have a drink with Renee. Haven't seen her for a bit, and it was lucky I was keen to catch up with her, cos the Walkie is gross!! Hee hee!! Lucky for her, there was an AFL replay on, and then I watched the first set of the US Open!

Back at work for a bit of detox now, after a weekend of catching up with friends over drinks, all over London! It's all good!

Lloydy in London

Last night I dragged Charlotte along to see Alex Lloyd at the Carling Islington. We stopped at Wagamama's for dinner and drinks first, before ordering our drinks ready for the gig.

Starting with some big numbers from Watching Angels Mend, including Bus Ride (my favourite), Lloydy was playing acoustic, with just him, a guitar and the mike, a lamp for mood, and a beer. Moving into some classics from Black The Sun, he then seemed to derive his playlist from the requests shouted from the audience.

Lloyd's son peeked out of the side stage for a couple of his new songs - so cute! - of which Alex told the audience that little Jake's favourite songs were the most depressing, like Brand New Day and Never Meant To Fail.

A cover of the Beatles' Blackbird, Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah, and then an almost unrecognisable Chisel You Got Nothing I Want were included in the playlist.

Love Lloydy live, and after seeing him quite a few times over the years, I recognise his live style and intonation. Was also great to hear the crowd know the words to his songs, even this far away from home.

Kilburn locals

For Toni's last proper night in the MaxiPad, before more travels and then her relocation to the valley, I decided we should do a tour of the local pubs that we have always heard so much about. For dinner we ate at Speedy Noodle, which is one of those places near home that people have mentioned to me...fast service, huge dishes, and cheap, cheap!

First pub stop was the North London Tavern, a busy and chilled vibe pub. Pretty people locals (I think this is where that hot guy that applied for one our rooms recommended!!), we polished off our first Magners.

Next up was the Brondes Age, which we had spotted one night when we had had dinner up this way, where we sat outside and soaked up the Kilburn High Road atmosphere(this end is a little like Lygon Street!), and another Magners.




Aware poor Toni had to get up very early in the morning to get her taxi to the airport, we walked down to The Kilburn next, which was my favourite of the crawl last night. This pub is very cool.

The Good Ship was our last stop, and despite hearing good things, probably my least favourite of the crawl. A bit try hard pretentious, and well...empty! Set up for a dark and dingy nightclub style evening....a little sleazy and gross for us! More Magners and a short, and then home.

Have fun on your travels, young Tones-sta, and good luck in your new whizz bang job!

The Vegemite Tales and Sundae

Last night Nat and I met for mexican and sangria at Chiquito, before heading over to The Venue off Leicester Square for The Vegemite Tales.

A play about the Aussie experience in London, the sharehouse life, the complaints we all have about everyday things over here, and the ultimate procrastination we are all living, away from home and those big life decisions.

Starring Blair from Neighbours and the first Aussie Big Brother, he was larger than life on stage! The Aussie rugby shirts! The play was full of very, very Aussie phrases and mannerisms, very funny. Aussie music before and during interval, when we were walking out for an air break at interval it seemed that the theatre was packed with people just like the actors on stage! Not sure that there were many non-Aussies there!

This morning, Charlotte and I met Laura for brunch at Cafe Laville, in Little Venice, and then went for a walk along the canals, Venice style.

I then popped down to Clapham Common to catch up with Dom, to met her fiance Jason, and go to the Ben & Jerry's Sundae festival. Just in time for a jug of Pimm's and to catch Nerina Pallot on stage, we soaked up some sun and music.

Wandering around after her set, we sampled many different scoops of ice cream - and I must admit I have never eaten so much ice cream before Charlotte came to live with me!! The apple pie flavour, very good, all those chocolate and cookie dough, yum, although, as predicted that Cherry Garcia really did remind me of cough medicine! Hee hee. (More photos)

Primrose Hill

Charlotte has moved into our house for the next 5 weeks, subletting one of our rooms. After showing her the dreadful commute for the morning routine, and our days at work, she thought it would be fun to get off the tube and walk home.

After a pub meal at The Salt House on Abbey Road, a place that we have always walked past and wanted to sit out and enjoy a pint, we spotted the sign to Primrose Hill.

The highest point in London, it has been talked up as having the best overview of the city. And despite all the inclines, it did not disappoint. From the Battersea Power Station, to St Paul's, the orange lighting of Westminister, and the Gerkin...we could see it all from way up there.

A weekend Roast

In about a week's time, it has been a year since I was last home...a whole year! Wow!

On Wednesday the usual WBBS happened at Little Bay in Fulham, which was supposedly French cuisine. Laura, Heather, Chantal, Vicky and I all met up after work for dinner and our usual catch up session. Was very nice, sitting outside, with lovely weather, good food, and good conversation.

Yesterday I spent most of the day on our balcony with a book, soaking in the sun. We are supposedly having another 'heatwave', which is the second of the summer!! Look out! Hee hee! All of 28C, people!

Today, after getting the idea at dinner on Wednesday night, Nata, Jemma, Andy and I headed over to the Kilburn Little Bay for a Sunday Roast. I haven't had a roast since Xmas, and before that would have been when I was home last! Ahhh, roast lamb, roast potatoes...and dessert! All good! Should tide me over for....ohhhh, 5 months!!

Football, Books and Food

Monday was filled with anticipation all day for the big match, and my workplace, who are somewhat anti-flexitime, made special allowances for people to watch the World Cup. Australia's first match in the tourament, the first match for many years, was against Japan, and fell at 2pm on Monday. The big screen set up in one of the meeting rooms (as it is right now for the England match), and we were allowed to take time out to watch. How funny.

Given the offer, there was only about 6 people who took them up on the offer. But we certainly made enough noise for the whole building when the Aussie goals were scored! After a tense first half, how good was the last 10 minutes! Hee hee.

Tuesday I managed to attend only my second BookCrossing Meet-Up in London, after being a good attendee back in Melbourne. A chance to chat and swap books, and meet new people.

Last night was another installment of the WBBS nights, which took up to Goldhawk tube station, and to an Ethiopian restaurant in that area. Ordering a selection of dishes for the group, the food comes out in little dishes and is then distributed on a huge pancake for the whole group. Then it's dig in with fingers, tearing bits of the pancake and scooping up the assortment of curries. Was very yum! And cheap!

Small & Beautiful

Today is Toni's birthday, and to celebrate we all headed out for dinner at a local find of her's.

I overheard her asking directory assistance for the number for Small & Beautiful to make our booking, and she had had to explain further to get the right place, and so she had ended up saying 'Small and Beautiful, you know, like me!' Hee hee! She's gold!

Walking up from our flat, up the other end of Kilburn High Road, we discovered many new places along the way. Small & Beautiful is a cute little restaurant, which had gotten great reviews on the net, and was within budget for all!

Nicole, Nata and I were joined by some of Toni's mates who live across the road, for dinner and drinks. Cake to top off the evening. Happy Birthday, Tones!!!

Kiwi Kitchen and Ashes tickets

Last night after drinks at Clapham for another leaver at work, Laura, Chantal and I headed across town to meet Charlotte, Niny and Leilah for our WSSB at Kiwi Kitchen, in Earling Broadway.

With two Kiwi's in the group, the girls had talked several of the dishes up all week...and the food was very good. Very yummy. I also learnt a whole set of new words, like hangi, perky nana, kumara...a whole new world belonging to our antipodean brohers just across the Tasman!

Thankfully for Charlotte, who found and suggested the restaurant, the food was great, cos the service and the dictates from the kitchen were not! Our waitress was rude and unhelpful, and the menu is possibly the most inflexible menu ever - a request for a different scoop of icecream was way too hard. Come on!

The kitchen, run by a couple who look like they come from a series of My Restaurant Rules from their publicity shot, had some peculiar statements, like a laminated page on the table saying that as a gesture to protect the environment there would charge 50p for tap water, and donate it to charity. And another laminated page that came with the bill spelling out that they have not added service charge, and then suggested the percentage we should add....perhaps if they trained their staff in customer service, and could mix up the icecream scoops alittle, and stop with their un-environmentally friendly laminating, we would have considered it!! Hee hee.

Coming home quite late, I set up for the great grab for Ashes tickets, which went on sale overnight, for the summer (the real summer, in the Southern Hemisphere). Some success, loads of frustration, and little sleep....

Lemongrass

On a semi-regular basis for the last couple of weeks, a group of us have been congregating for something I have labeled our WBBSs on a Wednesday night. Dinner and drinks of a different cultural cuisine each week, our Wednesday Boozy Briefing Sessions have been heaps of fun...and more Bitching sessions, really! Better out than in!

Last night Charlotte, Leilah and I headed to Camden for Cambodian... Lemongrass is the only Khmer restaurant in London, according to a quick search. A nothing-special restaurant, the layout did actually feel very Phnom Penh - the fluro lights, uncomfy and cheap chairs, sticky table!! Hee hee.

They didn't have my much craved Fish Amok, however they did have Lok Luk! Hee hee. The dishes we ordered had that familiar taste for me, and very very yummy. The South African white wine was also good, and hit the mark!! Nice.

The dodgy train ride home, on a crusty Silverlink train, was a whole other cultural experience! And then the walk home from the station in what is being labeled the "May Monsoons" - ahhhh, London!

The Festival of George

George Clooney is EVERYWHERE at the moment!! He's been on the red carpet at every awards ceremony this year, he's been interviewed in newspapers and on tv bits every couple of days (it seems), he's face is on ads in the Underground. 'Course, all this coverage is because he is in two new movies, one of which he directors, and has been nominated for both for a bunch of awards.

Last Thursday night a group of us headed across town from work, and settled in for a yummy dinner, red wine, and good hearty gossip. Niny, Hilary, Emy and I dwindled down to three, and then two when one unnamed member of the party fell asleep (tsk tsk!!), for Good Night, and Good Luck. Caitlin joined us at the cinema, the Everyman in Hampstead, as the film started.

In black and white, and highly political, I must admit it wasn't the most excing movie to watch after a few glasses of red. Hat's off to George for putting the story out there, and revealing all the aspects of putting that story out...but hmmm, I think I was after something lighter!!

Nevertheless, the group reconvened last night for our second night of George, following the news of his big Oscar win on the weekend.

Stopping at (London) Victoria Station so that Leilah could introduce me to my first Krispy Kreme experience (how have I not gone original glaze, or any glaze, before!!??). Then Niny, Hilary, Emy, Leilah and I headed to Notting Hill for dinner at the yummy Nyonya, before heading to see George's Oscar winning performance.

Back to the Electric for Syriana, we settled in for brownies, comfy seats, and a good movie. Intense, and one I definately think I am still processing. Very good.

Little Bay, Capote and Fame!

On Saturday night Nata and I headed south of the river to see Nat off in style. She's off to Copenhagen for work, and whilst she be back and forth fairly regularly, the big move still needed a night of recognition! If only to signify her return to the world of work, and leaving her bum existance behind!!! We meet up with Kimberley and Cam, and then headed to a restaurant nearby, where Caitlin and Jack met up with us.

We went to Little Bay, where whilst you sit and eat and drink, the room is serenaded by a wandering oprea singer!! Hee hee. Very funny! As you can see, Nat and Nata got the full, special treatment!! (More photos from that evening)

Sunday afternoon, I met up with Heather and some of her mates, and Charlotte and Matt, and Di, for Capote at the Electric Cinema. Wow. I can see why Heath is not winning any of the best actor statues this year - from the man once mainly known for his "sharted" comment in that horrendous Along Came Polly, Phillip Seymour Hoffman was brilliant as Truman Capote!

Last night the girls and I headed out for a girlie night of dinner and the theatre. Laura, Charlotte, Niny, Heather, Bea and I went along to Maxwell's for dinner, and then to see Fame. Full dancing and singing show, this production has been running for 10 years here in London.

With the song in our head, we left to walk across Waterloo Bridge, and see the London city at night along the Thames.

Pubs, Celebs and Brunch

One of the last things I still had yet to show Katie was the dingy London pub world - so on Friday night after work Charles, Nat, Kimberley and I took her out for a few too many pints in the city. One of the crusty pubs from the Monopoly pub crawl, and then another we just happened upon...and then into a club in the city. Mission accomplished!!

The next morning, feeling very seedy, Katie dragged me off to the last remaining things she wanted to see. The must take photo crossing the pedestrian crossing in Abbey Road, then into Hamleys Toy Store for Katie to make a bear from the Bear Factory. A couple of photos in the tube, we then went along to Madame Tussaud's. Feeling quite dodgy, I certainly hadn't dressed for a dinner date with George Clooney!! Hee hee!

I have had no real desire to go along to this before, but it was actually heaps of fun! Where else do you get an opportunity to hang out with Madge, squeeze Robbie's bum, realise that Prince William is way too tall for you, and punch Little Johnny in the nose without getting arrested!!?? Gold!

Half the time we didn't know who was real in the room, and who was made of wax. We actually stood and waited for a wax figure to take a photo for a little longer than was right! How embarrassing! Hee hee.

After the high of mucking about and getting our funny photos, we then went into The Chamber - LIVE! not really having a clue what it was.... And being scared to death!!! I have never been so frightened in all my life!! Katie and I were actually clinging to each other with terror!! We cowered behind a couple, of which the guy was also hanging back from entering each room...so it must have been scary!!

Needless to say, the figures in this room were real, and jumped out at you, grabbed you, and ran at you in the dark. One of them hovered behind me for ages. I have never been so scared!!

Ahhhhh - Tom and Katie!! Hee hee. (More photos)

Yesterday Katie and I had brunch in Little Venice, which is two stops away from home, at Cafe LaVille, and then headed to Notting Hill for the Portobello Market.
After cupcakes and hot chocolate to die for at the Hummingbird Bakery (thanks for the tip, Melpo!!), we headed home to get ready for the tube ordeal to Heathrow - some of the lines were down for "engineering work". Always the way when you want to go anywhere. A true London experience to end Katie's trip.

Thanks so much for coming over to the other side of the world to visit me, Katie! I had so much fun. Very proud of you for making the trip on your own, and so didn't want you to go! (And I hope you are joking about the plane being bogged!! You should be in Hong Kong for your last change by now....)

Fifteen

Last night I had managed to book 6 of us in for dinner at Fifteen, Jamie Oliver's restaurant from his TV show, Jamie's Kitchen. You know the one, where he trained up unemployed kids to be chefs just like him?

They have a bit of a booking system, but I had secured us a table for 9pm in the Trattoria, and so after trying not to eat before that time, Jenny, Nata, Charlotte, Nat, Katie and I were seated to taste the infamous dishes from the kitchen.

Served by an Aussie waiter (what the...??!!), we ordered and settled in for the cullinary delights - and were not disappointed. The food was good!

Of course, the night was topped off once we found out that Jamie himself was actually in the building for the evening, and a few trips downstairs to the second restaurant area to sneak a peek at the man kitted out in his apron and chef whites made the evening complete!