Finally updated the blog....

Yes, I know....bad form. I've been too busy enjoying life to tell any of you what I've been doing!!!

I've been on holiday, nights away, started dating Nick (started dating....it's actually been 8 months!!), quit my job yadda, yadda, yadda. And....it's almost Christmas so hopefully I'll clean up my act and post soon after the new year.

My new years resolution - keep the blog updated!

Happy reading. x

My flashy dress....backless, most daring!

Martini in hand of course.....

Group shot at Erin's 30th

Erin's 30th

It was finally Erin's turn to join the rest of us in our 30's. Unfortunately her birthday celebrations were bitter-sweet as it was also her leaving drinks. Erin was on her way back to Perth (much to everybody's disappointment!) just a few days after her 30th birthday so we sent her out in style.

We started at the Park Lane Hotel for afternoon tea. I'm not sure why they called it tea when it consisted of champagne, sandwiches (sans crusts of course!), scones, pastries and tea. This was, by far, the most food we'd all eaten! There were 9 of us and I've never seen such a ridiculous display of food. Unfortunately the service was absolutely horrible!!!! I had assumed that seeing as we were all paying about 30-40 GBP each, we would be treated quite well....not the case. We sat waiting for somebody to come and serve us for 15 minutes or so and eventually called somebody over. Every time we needed something we had to flag somebody over. Our teapots were always empty, the HUGE tray of scones was served with the teeniest amount (think of a shot glass) of jam and clotted cream and it took us about 20 minutes to get the bill.

We weren't hugely bothered as it was Erin's day and nobody wanted to create a fuss at all. So when we were done that, it was off to the Alphabet bar for drinks even though we were all so full we just wanted to go to sleep!! But we piled in some cabs and went to the bar. Again we ran into some bad luck....the bar had somehow lost Erin's reservation and we were left without an area (for 15-20 people!). Soon enough people left and we took over most of the tables and got our drink on!! As it was more of a restaurant/bar as opposed to a club/bar there was nowhere for dancing so we just hung out, drank and chatted.

My last train leaves London at midnight (rubbish I know!) so I left when the bar closed up and we'd finished our last drinks but most of the other girls who live in London proper stayed out for even more drinking and dancing (they had to work off all that food somehow!). Brilliant night out but we miss Erin. Come back Erin!!!!

Brighton

I had to take my car in for a little fix as there was a little something wrong with it when I bought it which couldn't be fixed at the time. So instead of driving all the way down to Portslade (which is near Brighton) for an hour and waiting for the car to be fixed - Nick and I decided to leave it overnight and go to Brighton for the evening.

We got in quite early as the Mini dealer needed the car early so the guys could fix it. I think we checked into the hotel at about 11ish, dumped our things and wandered into town for some brunch. After that and some shopping....we headed back to the hotel for a nap (sad I know!). Later on we got showered and dressed and went back into town for some wandering around, drinking and dinner. We had a few drinks in a nice pub and then wandered around for ages trying to find somewhere to eat. We eventually decided on a little Italian place where we ate the biggest meal I'd had in ages!!!

We took our time but the three appies and two mains that we shared put us both over the edge. Couple that with all of the vodka and wine we had and we were done before midnight!! We needed to walk off the food so we went down to the water. Nick insisted that we walk on the beach (clearly - how could one go to Brighton and not walk on the beach?!) and then go onto the Pier. I was reminded of all the times we went to Brighton when we were younger to visit my sister who was in boarding school there.....brilliant fun!

We slept for England and got up at 10ish for breakfast. Then it was back to Portslade to pick up the car and journey home. Needless to say neither of us needed to eat much the next day!!

Mini!!

So I finally gave in and got a car. I'd been thinking about it for a while and after dating Nick for 7 months who lives in Biggin Hill - I caved. Biggin Hill is a 25 minute drive from me in Beckenham and doesn't have a train station. So every time Nick wanted to see me....he'd either come to my house or come and pick me up and take me back to his house and then drive me back the next day. It ended up being a nuissance. He said it wasn't but I knew it was and it was frustrating for me to not be able to get out and see him as and when I wanted.

I bought a 2003 silver Mini Cooper and I love it! Now I can drive out to see Nick in Biggin Hill or over to my sisters and there's no worry about trains and busses. Of course I still get the train into work every day - there's no way I'm paying the congestion charge and parking every day. That and the rubbish traffic which is 50 times worse than anything you'd see in Vancouver.

Pictures to follow.....

Movin' on up...

The Monday following Rachel's wedding, I gave my notice to my current employers, Omega Underwriting. It was difficult not to say anything before but for obvious reasons (half the Omega staff being at the wedding), I thought it best to leave it until the Monday.

I got headhunted by a company called Aegis which is another Lloyd's Syndicate. The job will essentially be the same but there is more room for growth and much more opportunity for me.

It went much better than I ever thought it would. My boss said he thought that might be the case and assumed I would move on sooner or later. Unfortunately I had 3 months notice to give (nothing like the 2 weeks we have back home!) which took me up to the beginning of January. But....luckily for me, I had a few holiday days banked up and I was allowed to take them off the end of my notice period. The result being that my last day at Omega is December 19th, I get just over 2 weeks off and start at Aegis on January 5th!! Brilliant! Especially as Mom and Dad are here in London for Christmas ;o)

So onwards and upwards as they say....

Rachel's wedding

October 4th was Rachel's wedding and Nick and I drove out to Essex to go to the reception. It took us over an hour to get there as we got a little lost trying to find our hotel as I so cleverly left the address at my house! Once we arrived, we checked in, met the others who were staying at the hotel for a drink and then got ready. Then of course it was back to the hotel bar for another drink before heading out to the reception.

It was held in a beautiful manor house and luckily the entire set-up was indoors as it had been raining on and off all day. We had a brilliant night, drinking and dancing (more drinking than dancing for my part!) before packing up and heading back to the hotel for even MORE drinks in the hotel bar!! Nick and I decided to carry on drinking in the hotel room and the decided it would be a good idea to order room service - prawn and salmon sandwiches - yuck!!

The room service didn't do us any good as we were feeling slightly fragile the next day. So Nick set up the sat nav and we were on our way. We found out that either the sat nav doesn't work or likes to play cruel jokes on people with hangovers! It took us down this tiny country/farm lane which went almost through a field before popping us out in some weird residential neighbourhood. We reset the sat nav, I pulled out the blackberry and tried to figure out how to use the GPS and eventually we got home! Safe and sound in Kent ;o)

My actual 30th

My actual birthday was on a Wednesday and instead of going out (I already had a huge night of drinking on the weekend), Nick and I had a quiet night in. I was treated like a princess....I had one of my favourite dinners (and desserts) cooked for me and wasn't allowed to lift a finger. First on the menu was fish pie - nummy, nummy!! I kept trying to help out so Nick decided to give me my present in the hopes it would shut me up and keep me busy...a gorgeous Tiffany necklace. Then (after being kept amused by jewellery), we had a blackberry and apple crumble with custard - ohhh myyyyy! It was so tasty! We had a brilliant night in and a delicious meal. I couldn't have asked for a better way to spend my 30th birthday!!

30th party

Apparently I needed water....and I needed help drinking it!!!

A shot of the girls at my 30th birthday.

My 30th birthday party

Ok, ok, I finally admit that I am 30! I was in denial for quite some time but at long last I have come to accept it. My dear sister organized the night for me which was great. A load of my friends came out, Nick was there along with my sister.

We started at Revolution Vodka Bar for appies and drinks and then moved on to a place called Red for more drinks and dancing. A great night was had by all and for some strange reason, Nick and I decided that it would be a really goood idea to go for a Chinese at 1:30am!! There were some interesting dishes and I think it added to the horrible feeling I had the next day.....

Summer trip to Vancouver

I flew back to Vancouver for a 10 day holiday. It was about time as I hadn't had a holiday since Portugal which was 3 months previous! It was the usual Vancouver holiday....spending time with the family, meeting up with old friends and generally relaxing. I didn't do much different this time other than play my first full round of golf! Dad, Darcy, Nic and I played 18 holes on a PGA course in Surrey and it was brilliant (even though I had to pick my ball up on most of the holes!). I was able to get to the gym most days, go for brunches, lunches and dinners....it was insanely sunny every day except one which was lucky. Mom, Dad, Nic, Darcy and I went up to a new restaurant in the BP's to have a nice dinner and watch the fireworks. I can't remeber what it was called as it was pretty forgetful. The Salmon House would beat it every day of the week but the meal was nice and it was a graet spot to watch the fireworks. I left just as sleepy as when I arrived as my boyfriend, Nick, must have forgotten about the 8 hour time difference (I got several 3am text messagse!). After 10 days I was ready to head home to London as I knew it'd take me 4 or 5 days to get over the inevitable jetlag!!

Portugal with the family

Nicole and Darcy had been living in London for two months when they finally went on their first holiday, to Portugal. And guess who they invited to look after Max.....that's right - yours truly! My trip was paid for by my sister as I was to look after Max for a few days and nights - easy! It was a holiday booked through a company called James Villa Holidays and seemed to be a brilliant deal - flight, villa and car rental all included for a crazy low price! The flight was fine, the car was fine and the villa was huge!!! Unfortunately the pool wasn't heated as they mention on the website...perhaps they meant "heated by the sun" but when you're there in April it's not warm enough to warm a pool. It wasn't horribly cold but it was....ummm....interesting getting in. Usually one of us was pushed or we went in on a dare.

The beach was a two minute drive away and wasn't bad but Max wasn't a fan of the water and it got too hot for him to be staying outside so we did spend most of our time at the villa.

Darcy and Nicole did manage to leave Max with me for a day (I think they were too scared to leave him with me for any more time than that!) to go golfing and out for dinner. It was a good holiday, nice and relaxing and quiet - just what we needed!!