Thursday, April 12, 2007

Penny's Wedding

Firstly, might I mention that this post would be much better if i actually posted on time. I held off posting this at the time because i have the fear that it would be too much for people all to read at once, along with the 283 other posts i have recently done.

ANYWAY... everyone else is blogging about Penny's wedding and I was disapointed enough that i missed out so, as a tribute to the moments I missed, I am going to show you what we were doing at a similar time on the other side of the world and attempt to make very loose parallels between our weekend and the wedding of the century.

While you guys watched this:



We watched this:
Cambridge vs Oxford on the Thames...





While you posed for a group shot:




We posed for a group shot:
That is me, lisa (new flatmate from tasmania), Chris and our other new flatmate Jerry, he is a bit older than us, but young at heart.


While you prepared for a big night ahead:




We made the journey north of the river to camden, to a club called Koko:


While you guys began the trashbagery by stashing drinks:



We began the solid consumption of alcohol at this mega-venue:


While you guys danced to 'Your the Voice':

We heard the joys of Armand Van Helden's only UK performance (he's of My, My, My and 'hear my name' fame):

While Penny may have felt like a sneaky spew:

Just prior to this photo, I may have as well...

We were the last three standing (Chris Miller, Jess and Me). But perhaps not in as good form as Sarah...

And then there is the next day recovery on the common...

And I just love this photo of erica.

Yeah, congrats penny... it looks like it was an amazing day/night, everyone looked fantastic and I wish I had been there - nothing we would have done would have compared.

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

Summer Sunshine


In their smash hit "Summer Sunshine" the corrs sang about the joy of a nice day. I could never understand where they would get their inspiration from, considering they are from round these parts and there is hardly ever any sun. BUT ALAS!! There is!! And we are getting more of it by the day... it is weather that would make Mike Bailey proud.

It means more drinking outside:

(Notice the lenses have transitioned).

It even makes the goon factory across the road look like a nice place to be:

These are the canals around north london where i work. Although it could never get hot enough to make you want to swim in the water, its nice for a stroll down at lunch time:

Yeah, even dead people enjoy the sun.

And lots of lying about on the common as a substitute to the beach:

With drinks:

And jam rolls:

Maxi, 'Manda, Mathison

So a few people have come to say hello over the past six months, here are the latest three over the past few weeks of my non-blogging...




Amanda (lived with in towers) was here over the long weekend. We went for a coffee and she presented me with her typed itinerary for the sights of london. An up-to-the-hour log of london landmarks, complete with tube stops and entry fees detailed on the side. Such organisation not seen since my mother's vietnam scrapbook.



Possibly the one meeting that spun me out the most was with Maxi. For all those who don't know, Maxi was my Aunt's Armour in Hong Kong that used to look after us three kids when we would go and stay. Maxi has since moved to London with another family, but stays in touch with my Aunt and is always prompt with the christmas card to Bondi.

So one day I got a phone call from Pammie asking me if I would go to lunch with Maxi, only Maxi was too nervous to ring me for the fear she might interupt my busy work schedule of sitting at my desk on MSN. I made the call and was confronted with no less than a very loud fillipino woman shouting down the phone at me. I managed to get "Ohh Mr Angus... Late Lunch, Early Dinnerh... Shepards Bush... Late Lunch, Early Dinnerh." This provided much amusement when asked what my plans for the weekend were, to which i responded... "going on a date with a mid-40s fillipino woman". I was in a rather precious state from the evening before when the saturday lunch came around, but met Maxi (who I swear was much taller when I was younger) and her friend for a buffet lunch. Surrounded by lots of other hungover australians and the dirtiest of british chavs, i answered questions on my life, london and the family. Highlights mainly came from the friend with quotes like....

"I'm not racist, but the black kids are the ones that cause crime" and...
"Your brother not have one girlfriend, but i bet he lots of casual girlfriend, many at once".

But Maxi was very sweet and invited me to stay with her in the family's mansion when they are away??? "Dim Sum in Soho (Chinatown) next time". There is a next time?



Oh and James Mathison came to work with us for a week. Provided much amusement for the few people in the office that had any idea who James Mathison was.

SAL T-S

Sal is a girl i grew up with and has been living in Paris and London for the past 3 years. She headed home last friday so I got to hang out with her and her partner greg for a bit. She even cooked me a Salmon Steak, which was absolutely to die for.


I went to her farewell party in Putney the other weekend and I had an awesome time. That is me, Karlie (Sal's friend, and now mine, who is living in london) and a south african girl whose name I forget, but has taken a liking to the colour red. The night was most definetly highlighted by the worlds most amazing Kebab in Fulham and the way Sal seemed to just walk into the bar and the free drinks just flowed (when i say free I mean, i didnt pay). Particularly my new favorite... the Ginger Mohito.


Except if you drink too many this happens...


I'm still curious as to how this turned up on my camera too... its sal, greg and I know I got a bit crazy that night but I'm pretty sure that is not me in the middle.

FOXY LONDON

"10,000 Foxes Roam London... The red fox has become a familiar sight in the city... Urban living clearly suits the animal... Foxes first sought refuge here after World War II... Experts estimate there are now 16 foxes for every square mile of London... Foxes have even sneaked into the Houses of Parliament, where one was found asleep on a filing cabinet... "
- National Geographic


I had seen a few around already, usually early in the morning or late at night, running away from our rubbish bins. Anyway, having discussed this with Chris Miller (and the possibility of going spotlighting to sort the issue out), I decided to prove it to him and attempt to take some photos... I had been at a work function, but the photos turned out pretty well.






FOOD! GLORIOUS FOOD!

I'll preface this post with 3 things:

1. Whenever I talk to my grandmother, she is deeply concerned that I am not eating enough.

2. My mother and sister sent me a handmade recipe book full of old favorites that I can cook from, except can often be hard when the british call things different names. Do you know what "mange trut" is? Its a bean people... A GREEN BEAN! And apart from the fact it is more expensive, what is the difference between 'Sour Cream' and 'Creme Friache'?

3. I have come a long way from just doing the tomatos, I've become a bit of a master chef and wanted to prove it to you all. Here are some recent dishes....

COTTAGE PIE
I was so proud of this one.



THAI BEEF SALAD
Fresh ingredients from Borough Markets, whipped up in a jiffy for Em and Hilary. The beef was at a bargin british price of £20 ($50) to feed the 4 of us.


LAMB CURRY
London is a land of currys galore, so i decided to embrace the idea one sunday. Agreed with us on the night, was delicious! Did not agree with Chris the next day.



SOMETHING WITH PORK
Can't really remember what this was, but it would be a fair bet it was pork, considering it is the only meat you do not have to take a mortgage out on to buy it.



BANGERS & MASH
Love it. I want to marry it and make it an honest woman. Bangers George.




WASHED DOWN WITH
They usually tell you to have a nice red or white wine with dinner, but why? When you can have a litre and a half of Sainsbury's Gin? (lasted 2 weeks, we'll miss you old girl).


MISSING, BUT WORTH A MENTION
Like those kids that were under 'absent' on the school photos, i feel i should also mention these worthy, yet un-photographed meals....

Lamb, Rack of
Tomatos, Slow-roast Balsamic
Potatos, Smashed
Potato-Salad, Morrocan
Chicken, Petso Stuffed
Noodle, Two Minute