Favourite things: Media star friends

Instead of "Favourite things", perhaps this series should be called "Super cool things my friends do".

My gusband (gay husband) Nathan is an international media star.

When he lived in Brisbane he worked in corporate communications for a rather large powerful company and was always on the radio giving talk back callers the information they wanted. Or giving Madonna King on 612 ABC a curt response to her rudeness.

Now, he lives in London and is starting to crack the media market over there.

The "Lloyds group spokesperson" referred to in this article on The Guardian news website is none other than my Nathan!

And I've just noticed that the journalist's name is Martin King. Coincidence?

And now, the end is near

I can't believe that my time in London comes to an end today. Even as I'm writing this I am tearing up.

The past year has been the best year of my life. I have had some fantastic adventures, seen some great places, and made and strengthened some wonderful friendships.

Last night I had a farewell dinner in Covent Garden and was truly touched by the turnout, that so many people would come along to see me off.

Whilst saying goodbye to Matt, Mark, Emma and Laura wasn't too bad, knowing that I would see them again soon, saying goodbye to others was a little heartbreaking.

Bondy and Alli were the first friends that *I* made in London, and through them I became good friends with Kasia, Matt, Beavis, Matt (yeah, there were a lot of Matt's there last night), Sarah and Adam. I have had some hilariously fun times with these guys, from long orphan Christmas lunches to weekends away at the most unlikely of places. My time in London wouldn't have been the same without these guys.

The other people I shall dearly miss are my friends from The Government Agency, Georgina, Colm and Keef. After seeing you every day it was extremely difficult to say goodbye, and there was a stiffled sob at Waterloo train station last night. Colm, I know you are reading this, so please pass it on to Georgina as well. I shall miss you two dearly and promise to stay in touch. And my parents' beach house is available any time you decide to come to Australia! (That's okay isn't it mum?)

Now Amber, either you are going to have to move back to Australia or I am going to have to move back to London, okay? Amber was the one that convinced me to move overseas and I would not have had the brilliant time here without her. Amber is one of the most intelligent and funniest people I know, and quite often I am her little prophet, quoting her words of wisdom to others (Olly looks like he smells like dairy, jewellry is for Greeks and mistresses). I warn you Amby, that our goodbyes in Brisbane aren't going to be a dry affair.

And Angela, my little Model Mondays and Wild European Vacation partner in crime, what am I going to do without you? Part of me wants to stay here just so that I can share all of your London adventures with you. I hope your time in London is as happy as mine. Make the most of the opportunities you have here and just live it up.

After nearly two years in London I am going home with £500 in my pocket. I know, it's not much is it. But I have had so many holidays and nights out and trips to the theatre and a Chelsea football game and a glorious Marc Jacobs handbag and hundreds upon hundreds of photos of all the fun and mementos of my time here and a blog detailing my time here and a suitcase of cute dresses and some lifelong friends. So I would say that I have done pretty well.

Adieu London, see you soon.

PS. This blog is not going to end just because I am going home, not now that I have four readers (hi!)

My "to do" list

For Nathan, who requested a list of the things I wanted to do before I move back to Australia, so that he could hold me to it.

Dali museum
Hoponhopoff bus tour (again) and River Thames cruise
Jack the Ripper walking tour
Tate Modern
Another visit to Great Aunt Christiana
Chelsea football match
London Eye at dusk
Ice-skating in the park
Hyde Park Winter Wonderland festival

Oh, and of course Oktoberfest (in September for some reason) in Munich and my two week jaunt around Europe with Angela before I come home.

Might as well go out with a bang!

It's over

Summer is gone people, it's left the building, snuck out quietly while I wasn't really paying attention.

On the way home from a decadent afternoon tea at Claridges I noticed piles of orange and brown leaves blowing down the road.

Goodbye summer, hello autumn.

Goodbye stinky hot days on the train, hello cool mornings and the return of transitional seasonal jackets.

Goodbye 9.30pm sunsets, hello increasingly shortening days.

Goodbye Pimms fruit cups, hello wine.

Goodbye big statement rings, hello gloves.

Only four and a half months until my next summer though!

Return of the prodigal daughter

I have decided to move home. I booked my ticket (on mum's credit card, thanks mum!) a month ago, but I think I decided probably about two months ago.

There are a lot of things that I miss about Australia, namely my family and my friends.

However, I predict that I am going to be bored shirtless within a month of returning, so you people had better be ready to entertain me.

There is also the issue of the current job market (or lack thereof) in Australia, so I may be forced back to London or perhaps to Japan where I can teach English and indulge my love of tacky stuff.

Moving back will be difficult though. Before I left Australia I had a great job, a lovely apartment, and a varied portfolio of other investments. I will be coming back to no job, an apartment ravaged by floods, and a varied portfolio of other investments minus a chunk of shares.

Yup, I'll be 27, living with my parents and probably working in a bakery.

PS. Sue, can I please get some shifts at the Jolly Swagman around January? Just ask dad for my reference. On second though, ask mum...


"You let me run, You let me hide, I'm coming home"
My Way Home, Alex Lloyd

It's my party

Thank you to everyone for making the second anniversary of my 25th birthday so fabulous!

I had a fantastic party in the beer garden at Elk Bar on Saturday attended by my eclectic mix of friends. It was a gathering of about five different groups of my friends and I was really chuffed that everyone came along.

Despite being away from my family and not being a fan of birthdays, my actual birthday was wonderful. The phone calls, presents, text messages, photos, emails, more presents, flowers and helium balloons were amazing, and I was truly spoiled.

My birthday was topped off by a fantastic dinner with my closest friends in London, where there was even chocolate cake with a candle and that unavoidable happy birthday song.

A massive thank you to everyone for making it was one of the best birthdays ever. In the words of Jeff Fenech, I love youse all!

London is all a Twitter

I promise this is not going to turn into a political blog, because that would just start a whole new debate at family gatherings.

However, the G20 summit is providing me with more laughs - The Guardian have reporters on the scene writing Twitter alerts about what is going on.

FYI, "Twitter is a social networking and micro-blogging service that enables its users to send and read other users' updates known as tweets. Tweets are text-based posts of up to 140 characters in length."

Some of my favourite G20 Tweets...

We have a cunning plan we shall approach the city not together but in dribs and drabs i am a drab

(Russell) Brand puts his scarf around his face to stop the media focusing on him, which only encourages them more. Is he an anarchist? Who knows

Is this the mildest placard? 'Bring on decent decision making.'

Man dresssed as Death (real name Harry) giving interview about need to regulate financial institutions

Two eggs, an apple and tangerine lobbed at police. Someone on the royal exhange clock...

Guitars are out

Whole street now occupied lots of kissing dancing wayhay

And some pink milk shake thrown, and landed in my hair - tnks. Mood unruly but not violent.

Billy bragg sings the internationale from the steps of the bank of england. "Come brothers and sisters for the struggle carries on..."

First tents up here comes the samba band party starts

The trio of french bankers in levis on the next table are sticking into oysters. Waiter says it is busier than usual, they have all come for the riots. It is like apocalypse now, but with decent food.

I'm at the front, tho at a safe-ish distance. People are packed in, getting hurt. someone just said it feels like glasto without the drugs.

"This is the worst festival i've ever been to" quips one man as we are squeezed round a corner by a police line

Cancel all of my meetings this afternoon, because I am going to be stuck like glue to this Twitter!

Spring has spring people!

It’s not obvious yet, but there has been a hint here and a sign there.

Exhibit A.
The tree at the back of my house has been bare-branched since I moved in, allowing us a clear view of our terrifying council-housed neighbours.* The other morning I awoke to find out little back yard covered in white spots and thought it was snow. Closer inspection revealed it to be little white flowers, and I looked up to see the entire tree covered in them. Gorgeous!

Exhibit B.
The birds have been holding rehearsals for the Fulham Philharmonic Orchestra outside my window most mornings.

Exhibit C.
I left work at 5:30pm the other day and there was still light in the sky.

Exhibit D.
I walked to work without my coat the other day.

Exhibit E.
My consumption of fruit, especially watermelon, has increased exponentially in recent weeks.

Exhibit F.
The sleep mask has made a comeback lately, as the sun wakes me up before my alarm does.

Exhibit G.
Clumps of daffodils are springing (he he, springing!) up everywhere.

Exhibit H.
The weather is reaching 17 degrees people, 17 degrees!

Not long now until I can cast aside the gloves and scarves, and scare London with how white an Aussie girl can get!

* Why are they terrifying? The eight year old boy took a lighter to his little sisters hair while she had a lice treatment in it, and left her with severe burns all over her body. That scares me.

Good excuse

I'm sorry mum, but I don't think that I am going to get my present to you in time for your birthday next week. It's not my fault though, I have the present, it's just that the post office is closed today. Because it's SNOW DAY!

London is currently hidden under more than a foot of snow, and it is a completely different city - the dirt and grime is covered in pure white fairy floss-like snow flakes which crunch underfoot, people are having snow ball fights with strangers, there are icicles hanging from the eaves, most people have the day off work, half the shops are closed, and everyone is excited.

Photographic evidence...

Sunday night. "Gosh, look at the snow!"

Monday morning. "C-rap, look at the snow!"


"Oh the weather outside is frightful, But the fire is so delightful, And since we've no place to go, Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!"
Let It Snow, Christmas carol

Leaving home and arriving home

I fell off the blog train while I was home over Christmas and in the personal company of my readers, so now that I am back in the United States of England I promise that there will be more regular updates.

It was extremely difficult leaving this time, even more so than when I first left in April. I cried countless times in my last five days at home, and was even crying more than my mum when I said goodbye at the airport. However that came in handy when I was not just overweight but morbidly obese with regards to hand luggage. The lady felt sorry for me and my red face and puffy eyes and let me go. He he he! Just a warning - if I end a phone call with a squeaky “good bye” it’s because I am being a sooky la la and am crying again, so just ignore it.

London did it’s best to ease my transition back. Thursday wasn’t too cold and I didn’t have to wait too long for the bus ride, which took me on the scenic route from Chelsea to Waterloo via Sloane Square with the pretty fairy lights in the bare-branch trees and the towering Westminster Abbey. Then, after being at my desk for 10 minutes my manager offered to extend my contract – an extremely fantastic thing given the doom and gloom of the credit crunch. The upside of the CC is that everywhere is having sales at the moment, with lots of restaurants offering 2-for-1 meals and Ryan Air massively discounting flights. Colleagues stopped by my desk throughout the day to say hello, and my personal email inbox was full with silly banter from my London friends. All of this reminded me why I moved to London, so I’ve decided to harden the fuck up and enjoy it! (Apologies for the swearing mum)

Though I am totally ignoring my father's parting advice that the girl with the most handbags doesn't always win, because she does dad, she does!

I promise more adventures and blog posts soon…


"Wish I was taking you with me, no more goodbyes, no more goodbyes, tell me to stay home"
Leaving the City, Roisin Murphy

Cold is…

Being in London in October and November, I now know what “cold” really is.

Cold is when the morning breeze makes your eyes water.

Cold is when you wear three pairs of socks to bed.

Cold is when you spend 13 hours in a pub because you can’t face the below-zero temperature outside.

Cold is when it is pitch black at 4pm in the afternoon.

Cold is when, even though you are wearing a woollen coat, your nipples hurt.

Cold is when you leave the butter out overnight and it still rips up your toasted bagel when you try to spread it.

Cold is when you have to turn your scarf into a burka to keep your head warm.

Cold is when you go outside at midday and breathe fog.

Cold is when you get out of the bath and there is steam coming off your body.

Cold is when it snows in London in October for the first time in 70 years.

I don’t want to even think about what January and February are going to be like…

Ch-ch-ch-changes

I need to warn family and friends before I come home for Christmas – I have changed. Yes, I am not the same girl that left Brisbane back in April.

I have really long hair. Mum, you won’t believe it, but I wear my hair loose now – you would love it. My hair is the longest it has ever been, and I really need a haircut but am hanging out until I get home. I’m not a huge fan of "pretty" long hair on me, but it keeps my head warm!

I catch public transport now. Back in Brisbane, I drove my lazy-ass everywhere. I mean, I could have walked to work, but instead drove the five minutes there every day. In London, I spend up to an hour walking and catching the train to work.

I am fat. Despite prior warnings of the Heathrow Injection, and a personal commitment to not letting it happen to me, I got fat. Dad confirmed this with his taunts when he and mum came to visit. I’m just giving my friends a heads up, so it’s not such a shock when I get there.

I’m joining the gym. Refer to the above paragraph about me being a Fatty McLardbum. I’m going to the gym near work tonight and I am joining. Even though I’ve been saying this for five months now, this time I really mean it.

I am career focused. Back in Brisbane, I cruised through my job and made good money. My first job in London paid alright – £175 a day as an Events Manager. And it was boring. Then an Events & Marketing Manager role came up at The Government Agency which I accepted, even though it was only £160 a day, as I knew it would be a good move for my career. And it turns out it was! There is no way I would have gotten the job as Internal & Stakeholder Communications Manager (and the delightful pay rise) if I hadn’t already had my foot in the door.

I wear flat shoes all the time. I used to love wearing my cute little heels to work or going out. I think I’ve worn heels twice since I’ve been in London . High heels just aren’t appropriate given the cobblestone streets and the amount of walking I do each day.

I tell my mother and father so much more. With semi-regular blog entries and even more regular emails, my parents know so much more about what I get up to. I don't think this is a good thing. Hi mum, love you!