Dom and Jason, and Sneeze!

I traveled down to Melbourne, and down to Melissa and Clinton's in the heat on Saturday, to attend the engagement party of Dominica and Jason. Dom accepted Jason's proposal in the UK quite a while ago, but during their stopover here at Dom's hometown, they have had a chance to celebrate with her family and friends. Held at Dom's parents home in Kew, the scene was decked out in Chinese lanterns, for the Chinese New Year, and the fact that the happy couple are about to live in China.

Meeting long time friends and family of Dom's, and catching up with both Dom and Jason, as the sun baked on. Speeches were made, and the couple was toasted numerous times. Congrats to them both!

On Sunday, plans to head to the MCG for the Shane Warne tribute Twenty/20 were ditched in light of the 38C temperatures...and a backyard BBQ was enjoyed instead at Melissa and Clinton's, with Jess and Noodles.

We then packed a picnic of goodies and went down to the Sidney Myer Music Bowl, for this years Tropfest. Having never been to either, we set up ready for a night of film, wine and food.

Joined by Danielle and Kumi, Watty, Diana and Wendy, our little picnic got started, just before the rain got started! A shower here and there, umbrellas were up and then down again. The ominous clouds up above pelted down cooling rain, and then would stop just as abruptly.

Just before the films got started, we sought shelter under the big sail of the bowl...and the short films began. This year's signature item was Sneeze, meaning each film entered needed to have a senze in their film somewhere. It was interesting to see how creative and funny the placements were.

The two standouts for me in the 16 screened finalists were Road Rage, and the eventual winner of the night, An Imaginary Life. Road Rage showed a minor bingle on the road between two male drivers, and the altercation after, which turned into one man comforting the other as he told of his lifes woes. Eventually a long line of cars backed up, and soon their male drivers too were all sharing the sympathy - great promo for men's mental health!

An Imaginary Life was the story of what happens to children's imaginary friends when they get forgotten about. A mixture of animation and real life stills, this one was funny and cute.

A testiment to this film festival, in that despite the pelting rain, and the baking heat to start with, the crowd stayed throughout. Laughter, a collective ewwwwwww for Bad Yoghurt, and clapping ensured for each short film.

Rubiks Cubed

On Saturday night many of us made our way to Nathan and Fletcher's house party in Raynes Park, under the Rubiks Cube theme. The notion of wearing every colour from the rubiks cube was quite hard, and needless to say, looked very silly on the train. Red jacket, blue jeans, white shoes, orange hoody, green top, and yellow scarf. Looking good!

Jelly shots in the eight colours, and many drinks later, the idea was to swap around till you made yourself one side of the cube. (More photos)

I think I did quite well, while continually watching the location of my beloved red leather jacket, I managed to deck out in a green jacket, green hat, and eventually swapped white shoes for green! A little tricky to get the jeans swapped, and perhaps not quite enough alcohol consumed for that level of participation!

Rainbow House Party

Yesterday our house hosted a house party, to welcome in the summer weather. Spot on with timing, it seems that summer arrived in London last weekend, and is not here to stay. A BBQ up on the terrace, with many drinks seemed to be the way to go!

Brainstorming for a theme for the party, we eventually decided that each of the four housemates would specify a different colour to be worn by their guests. Nicole was blue, Toni was yellow, my friends were to wear green, and Nata's red.

Thinking it would be interesting to watch the colours mingle, and cluster. The BBQ was fired up (thanks, Charles!), and the drinks were flowing. The sun was hot on the balcony, at last!

Sunset was gorgeous, and very late, so it was a long and silly night.

Piecing the evening together with the house the next morning has been quite funny. (More photos)

Warming the House

Even though we have now lived in our house for about six months, we never got around to having a house warming. But now that the weather has turned, the house was in much need! So, last night we had a Warming the House party.

People called upon to assist us put a bit of heat into our little home starting arriving...well at four, actually. And things got silly quite early. Hee hee.

There was mulled wine, and mistletoe (which was successful, from what I hear!), a bit of dancing, and general messing about.

The top floor managed to get quite warm, despite our perspecs roof and distinct lack of insulation!! Misson accomplished. Now we will just have to try and trap that heat in for the reminder of winter - what's that, like the next 5 months??!! Brrrrr!

I think we had quite a good turn out, considering how close to Xmas we are now. The girls from work trekked across the city to be here, and the top floor was packed!!

I had a ball...and maybe too much to drink. (More photos)

The lack of daylight hours over here in London is making the old hangover rule about trying to get up while it's still light very difficult indeed!! I fail in this one today!! Opps!

Work Xmas Party

Yesterday everyone in the office was counting down the hours till we could rush out of there. When our designated "get ready" time finally arrived, I dashed out and schlepped (Jenny uses that Swedish word so often, I no longer know the proper English equivalent - what would it be, dragged my arse?!?) across town to change. The dress I had worn to Katie's 21st had arrived in the mail just in time (Thanks a million, Mum!!), and so I was ready for the big HCML Xmas party.

A tube ride back across to the Hilton London Kensington in time for drinks, the evening began. The tables were decked out with bonbons, and the wine was flowing! Dinner was very nice, all three courses, and then the dancing began.

(More photos)

Awards went around for Best Dressed, Sexist Male, Sexist Female, and Best Bum after considerable and careful voting by all, and thus the silliness kicked off. It was such a fun night, all dressed up and a chance to have fun with the full gang from work.


Heather, myself, Anna, Chantal and Charlotte
Posted by Picasa
For the first time since...well, when would it be...back in 2002....around March, I actually liked the job I am in. I have survived my second performance review, and am starting to get to a point where I can get things moving on cases. Life is good!

When Irish Pints Are Smiling

Charles and I meet out at Gatwick Airport for a cheeky couple of pints before boarding our delayed flight across to Dublin on Friday, for a boozy weekend with the lads. Hungover and struggling after the night before, the only thing to do was to get back on it, and another on the short plane ride over was in order.

Consulting Cathal about how long it will take to get to their part of the world told us that in half an hour he would meet our bus from Dublin airport. This turned out to be in Irish time! An hour and a half later, and a tour through Dublin, we got out to the other side of the city, and finally caught up with Cathal in Greystones.

Another beer or two and Liz was home from work and ready to go out! We headed out in Bray Friday night, and braved the cold - although it actually wasn't as freezing as London had been for the last two days.

Saturday we headed into town (that's Dublin for the non-locals!) for a bit of an Irish pub crawl, and a quick check on the match scores (Australia happened to be playing Ireland in the rugby - what do ya know!). The Porter House, The Globe, and then Hogans (scene of St Paddy's day for us back in March).

As it started getting dark, we decided to head out to Enniskerry to meet up with the rest of Liz's mates, out at a pub in the little village. When Liz first said we could go to "Anna-Scary" for Anna's birthday, I did think it was a bit mean to be calling her "scary" on her birthday - but it was just the pronounciation of the village's name! Opps!

Catching up with the lads once we had servived the cab trip of through little village roads, things eventually go a bit out of hand and crazy. Anna was delighted that we had come out, and it was cool catching up with Claire and Paddy, Ruth and Eugene, Niamh, Alva and the rest of the lads.

The rowdy group ended up back at Anna's for a way out of control house party, before we all eventually crashed there. The ride back in the taxi to Greystones the next morning was very dodgy indeed!

After some much needed sleep we headed out to The Beach House in Greystones for recovery pints and dinner, before Charles and I needed to head back out to the airport for our late flight back to London. It was so good catching up with Liz and Cathal again, and the rest of the lads. Ireland and the Irish are just gorgeous, if a little nuts!!

Looking forward to a week in detox, with a focus on catching up on sleep!

Katie's 21st

Last night was Katrina's 21st, the reason for my dash across the globe. A gathering of Katie's family and friends to celebrate the youngest Reid girl's big birthday.

All guests were instructed to dress in black and white semi-formal, and arrive at the Regent Function room for the big night. The birthday girl looked stunning in emerald green, and thus, stood out on her special night.

Speeches and funny stories, Katie's life so far recalled. A toast or two, and many beers and champers...and shots - where did they come from!!??

I got to catch up with more people during the night, with lots of family and family friends in attendance.

Mum, as usual, did so well getting all the details of the evening organised. The food, the decorations, the cake. Everything went smoothly, which is such a tribute to her. That's her final 21st to organise - what will be the next big family function??

The night was so much fun, with our usual silliness and carry on! I was so glad to be there, and be part of it, and to drink with the birthday girl. (More photos.)

Congratulations Katie! And don't worry - it doesn't really mean you have to be all grown up now!!


The birthday girl and me
Posted by Picasa

Black Easter

I am waiting at Dublin airport now for my flight back to London, after a very fun, week and a half in Ireland. Thanks a million to Paddy for getting up this morning and dropping me at the bus - after a heavy night out and all! The Irish are lovely!!

Liz's mum took us down to see Glendaloch after my last post, which is the sight of one of the first churches in Ireland. Really pretty area, with the upper and lower lakes, and St Kevin's ruins.

Nothing to do in Ireland on Good Friday except a house party apparently, so that's what we did for the evening. Most things were closed, although it wasn't a public (ie paid) day off - which is strange.

The next day we were off down to Wexford for Easter, to meet up with Cathal and his family. He is one of 6 children, of which 5 were in Wexford for Easter, and their families. Made for a huge couple of days drinking Guinness at the local, all in the name of Easter!!

We did managed to wander around the grounds of Johnstown Castle, which was really beautiful, between drinking sessions, and also had a look at the Quays area too. Oh! And saw some thatched houses too!

I have loved my time here in Ireland with Liz and Cathal, and the gang. All such lovely people! The Lonely Planet Ireland had actually said about Ireland that...

its people seem put on earth expressly to restore faith in humanity

and they are spot on! I could certainly do with a regular boost of that!!

Thanks Liz and Cathal, again, for a great 2 weeks!!

The Craic for Paddy's Day

Another plane ride, another stamp in my passport, and different money again to figure out - but here I am in Ireland. I am catching up with Liz and Cathal, which is so great.

Came over on Wednesday, just in time for a massive weekend. Liz come in to meet me at the airport, and then to take me out to Greystones, where they live (and where Liz grew up).

The group donned the green attire (as Cathal and Ruth point out here), and headed into Dublin town for St Patrick's Day. We wandered in to see the parade, although it was very busy and festive, and I am afraid the crowd around the parade was about 5 deep. Nevertheless, we saw all the tall floats and costumes, and it looked like there was some major effort put in. Footage on the TV later let us know that we did see all the main floats - as well at the top of the brass for the bands marching past!

Our view hampered, and all feeling thirsty, we headed for the pub. And had a great day/night! Was a massive day - everyone all decked out in green, and having a great time. Met Liz's group of friends, who are all lovely, and had a ball.

St Paddy's Day
Posted by Hello
The next day, after significant recovery, and a walk along the beach in Greystones (and a recovery pint), we got ready for another big night for Claire's birthday. Cocktail preparations, and house decorations, the house was full before we knew it. And we all had another massive night. Was so much fun - headed out for a dance as well.


Claire's birthday
Posted by Hello
Saturday saw more recovery drinks to overcome the hangover (I am sold on this philosophy of Claire's - it's brilliant!!), at the pub for the lads to watch the rugby. We then wandered down to The Beach House (another pub) for some Irish music, and more merriment.

The weather has been brilliant - very unusual they say - and sunny! Yesterday a group of us headed to Lough Dan for a walk amoung the greenery and the mountains. A bit of exercise and a beer-free day!

Everything is grand! and gorgeous! and I am loving it! So great to see Liz and Cathal, and hang out. Copious drinking in Ireland - exactly what I was expecting!!

Happy Birthday to Evie for Friday gone, and I hope Jess and Andrew had a great time for their big day - was thinking of you.

Off now to see the sights in Dublin...in the rain today...