A quick update from us

So the Brits gave us a Bank holiday weekend which was very kind of them. Luckily we only had one day of rain on Saturday before we headed out of London for Sunday night. We decided late last week to book something as the weather was looking promising and work has been so busy we needed a break. A few people at work at recommended Great Malvern which is in the Cotswolds. It gorgeous out there. We had yet another disagreement with Enterprise in trying to hire a car to get out of London. Luckily the kind people at Europcar gave us a really nice Polo. After two years living in our flat, five copies of address proof and a UK driver's licence we didn't have enough proof for Enterprise and we failed in their checks. I think we will be staying away from them going forward. I enjoyed driving down the tiniest of country lanes, it felt like driving up people's driveways in Australia. Benny did a brilliant job of navigating and detouring round the many country festivals to celebrate the end of summer. We had a little wander round Malvern, went to a very good local pub that was recommended to us. We wouldn't have been able to find it if we did get the suggestion. The food was served between strict times in a room just off from the pub. It was so tasty and it seemed there wasn't a tourist in site except for us. We left Malvern mid morning, before leisurely driving back to London through some nice towns. I only made Benny stop off a couple of times to have peaks in the antique stores.

The weekend before last started with Benny watching the first game of Liverpool for this year's season plus a load of sport from Australia. We then had the pleasure of going to our friend's surprise 30th. It is scary how time has flown by. It felt like yesterday when we were invited to 21st birthday parties. Instead now we are invited to weddings and 30th celebrations. The 30th was for our friend Josie and it was themed 1920s. I borrowed a dress from my boss and Benny was kitted out by our friend who had way too much fun at the dress-up store. Benny looked very handsome in his bow tie and I had made a nice head piece. We celebrated in a fancy bar in Mayfair to begin before heading out on a night bus to Putney. We ended the night with our friends in a new bar until the lights were turned on and it closed. Sunday, Benny and I shared sore heads and achieved not a lot before heading back to work on Monday. It was a very fun weekend.

This weekend flew by too fast sadly. Benny and I went out for a few drinks after work at a wine bar we discovered a few weeks ago. It is a great concept for a wine bar only stocking British produce and drinks. They have a wide selection of gins, ales and wines. My favourite on the menu is a sparkling chilled red. It is really yummy and a little bit different from what I usually would go for. After drinks we crossed the road for a cheap and cheerful dinner of Thai. It was so yummy and spicy.

On Saturday morning we were up reasonably early and headed out to Em & Sam's place for the night. We were meeting a few friends to spend the day out there. We visited the castle again and had a nice picnic in the Great Park. The night concluded with Indian at one of the best places we have found to date over here.

On Sunday, we headed back to Putney for the afternoon. I baked my first loaf of gluten free bread since my lesson. I still need more practise as I added way too much yeast. It is though very tasty and very filling compared to the disgusting white stuff they sell over here.

A busy three weeks

It's been a while since an update from us here in London. Work has been so busy, I don't remember ever working this hard and such long hours in Brisbane.  Sadly, last Sunday I spend a few too many hours at work. Sigh.

We have tried to relax over the weekends and enjoy this amazing weather. It has been a much better summer than last year. I have successfully worn summer dresses most of the time. Much better than last years attempts of I think five times only. We have been cycling a bit more, playing the odd game of tennis and spending quite a lot of time in Richmond. It took  three attempts to pick up our wedding bands. The jewellery store decided to close due to the fantastic weather.  We have also got to enjoy the British spirit with the birth of Duchess Kate & Prince William's first baby. The news coverage was hilarious as they waited for the birth. The press spent weeks camped outside the hospital.

Last weekend our dear friends in London hosted ladies day/night (a tiny Hen's party) and a boy's night for Benny. We had one early as it had always been assumed we were moving back home in a week or two. My three close girl friends and Emily had a lovely day. My friend Claire hosted a lovely lunch and we had a gluten free baking lesson in her garden. We learnt to make bread, brownies and cookies. It was supposedly Em's first time in an apron. I would like to add, it was mine that Benny had snuck into my bag.  After a few hours at Claire's we headed to the theatre to watch the recently awarded best new production called The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. It was based on a book I had read last year, one of my favourites. The play was incredible. Hopefully one day it might cross the seas and head downunder. The night ended with cocktails at a great bar and rushing for the last tube which we missed. Thank you London for night buses.

Ben's friends also gave him a good day. Benny started at a local pub renowned for it's ales. They had a really busy day with a lunch in Chelsea, watching rugby at the Walkabout, playing simulated golf, a bit of pool and then finally dinner of ribs at Big Easy. Much to Benny's surprise us girls were out longer than the boys.

On Friday night our friend's Loic and Kristin hosted a dinner party. We had loads of yummy food and fun and we arrived home too late and had slightly sore heads the next day. After sleeping in we went to Richmond to pick up our wedding bands and go for a walk through the park to Petersham Nursery. I have been wanting to go to the nursery for a really long time. It has a Michelin Star restaurant and a tea house all set in the grounds of a nursery. You can sit in the green houses and outside amongst the plants. It is so relaxing and the food was so fresh. We opted for the tea house and enjoyed fresh salads. After lunch we wandered around and I took too many pictures of flowers.

This week Emily is visiting us for a few nights while Sam is working in Greece. I'm starting back at tennis lessons and Benny is busy studying for IT exams. Next weekend we are off to have a weekend in Windsor.