Admiring my handicraft

As a teenager, I dabbled in sewing on my Mum's sewing machine. Results were a wrap-around skirt in tartan fabric and a bag. After a few more failed attempts, I gave up. Which really is a pity. For years now, I've been meaning to do some sewing classes. Cause it would be so cool, if I was able to design and sew my own clothes!

Finally, I made the first step and attended a cushion-making class as the Sew over it cafe in Clapham (a 5 minute walk from Clapham North station). Lisa, the owner of this great place, was giving the three hour class. We were a group of eight women and first up, we all got to choose from a vast variety of fabrics the one for our cushion cover. Lisa talked us through every step and was on hand to give valuable advice (I nearly made half the cushion cover inside out...). Threading the machine and ironing the seams in a straight line proved to be quite challenging... I do wonder though whether I would need to be more of a perfectionist to really take up this hobby.

It was good fun and it was great to have a finished product to take home! And isn't the fabric pretty?

Last but not least, we finished the class with producing some fabric covered buttons. So easy, too! I just need to work out what to use them for/on.

Taking them out for the first time

I just LOVE the colour:

(I'm talking about my shoes)

Afternoon tea at Fortnum & Masons

Founded as a grocery store more than 300(!) years ago - in 1707 - Fortnum & Mason is a British institution. And after having spent more than nine years in the UK, I finally went inside last week!

The Arena and Convention Centre Liverpool was hosting a delightful Associations afternoon tea in the Drawing Room. I love the idea of afternoon tea - in theory. In practice, it doesn't really go with my eating habits of eating (relatively) little at once but often and with (relatively) short intervals. So, the sheer offer of sandwiches, scones and cakes is just too much. Which is such a pity, as it all looked very delicious!

Scones came - of course - with clotted cream and a variety of jams

close up of the cakes (all mine, by the way!)

A light and airy room on the 6th floor

all in Fortnum & Mason's colours

And we all got to take home some F&M goodies:
A selection of teas - rather wasted on me, as I don't drink tea (other than green tea and herbal teas), but I am sure I'll find somebody who will:

Royal Blend, Earl Grey Classic, Afternoon Blend

Strawberry & champagne jam, dark choc and macadamia nut biscuits, teapot+cup

Urban relaxation - don't get fooled by the exterior

Thanks to another Time Out voucher, I got to enjoy another discounted massage last week. When I arrived at Urban Relaxation, I was a little apprehensive: you enter through the barber that is occupying the ground floor. But I needn't have worried. There is a small waiting area with a comfy sofa and magazines to read. The treatment room is quite simple but clean and the massage table is comfortable enough. Most importantly, the massage was amazing! And when I left after 60 blissful minutes, I had forgotten all about the crappy day I had had at work and felt fully relaxed. I would highly recommend the place! The only slight minus point was that I had to wait for 15 minutes - but that was ok.

musical memories

Music evokes emotions. And memories. I have the tendency to listen to same songs over and over for a certain period of time. And then to move on to something else. Which inevitably means, that songs usually remind me of that particular time when I listened to nothing but.

It creates quite intense feelings when you are thrown back into the past. When suddenly all sorts of emotions come flashing back. It's like being back in that time and living through it all again. Like being wrapped in a blanket of past memories, it's all around you.

Mint-ed!

After a long and extensive search in Boots and superdrug stores across London, I eventually managed to find the hyped L'Oreal confetti top coat.

The effect works on most colours, I think, and it looks really nice. Unfortunately though it's a pain to get off again... And not least as I have so many polishes to choose from, I haven't used it very often just yet. Incidentally, I also hadn't used the mint colour for ages (probably years!) as I find my red and pink tones easier to match with my clothes. Looking at it now though, I should be wearing it more often! :-)


 So here are my current nails: confetti on a Barry M mint base:

Summer in the city - 2013

Grey sky, ready to burst with rain, temperatures in the low 20s and humid as f*ck. But Londoners flock to the parks to enjoy the 'sun'.

Green Park last Thursday

My first Michelin star

I like food and I love eating out but I am certainly no 'foodie'. Nevertheless, I was very excited when I got an invite to join Destination Asia for dinner at Hakkasan Mayfair last week. This is Hakkasan's second restaurant in London - opened in 2010 and was awarded a Michelin star in 2011. Their flagship restaurant (in London) can be found in Hanway Place. They serve 'modern Cantonese' food.

The place is very cool, trendy and dark. I couldn't see the name anywhere outside - just their symbol, so I double checked the housenumber to make sure I am at the right place... Lots of hostesses wearing the same red dress, are around to accompany you to your table. At the bar it was very busy and quite hot. They have a wide selection of cocktails on their menu - their website only shows a small selection. I tried one of their non-alcoholic ones (can't remember the name, of course), which was delicious!

The food was really good, too (except for the chicken in satay sauce, which I found a bit overcooked). Not sure whether I would have recognized it as a Michelin star food but then again I've never eaten in a Michelin starred restaurant before. Some of the food I had in Hong Kong was definitely of the same standard.

Service could have been a bit quicker and more attentive. The head waitress came round to ask about dietary requirements and one of the diners said she couldn't eat crab. The waitress assured her that no crab would be served. Only to inform us 10 minutes later (and a while after the food had been served) to announce that one of the dumplings was filled with crab.... Fortunately, the lady hadn't yet eaten that particular dumpling, but not a great start!

Our hosts had selected a range of dishes for us:

dumplings with scallops, prawns, duck and crab - all very yummy!

crispy lamb salad - not sure where the salad was hiding, but also delicious!

the aforementioned chicken in satay sauce

amazingly tender beef - highly recommended!

prawns with very hot chillis

fish - again with very hot chillis....

chocolate mousse with refreshing fruit

slightly bland pear tarte

mr sexy blue eyes

The Hangover Part III

As I couldn't find anyone who wanted to watch the film with me, I finally went by myself. And that probably was a good idea. I can kind of see why the film got some bad reviews BUT for anyone who likes Bradley Cooper, I would totally recommend the film anyway - his blue eyes, his sexy curly hair - it's all worth it! :-) And besides admiring him, the film did make me laugh out loud, too.

La petite auberge - more tastecard treasures

Upper Street in Islington is full of restaurants - most of which look lovely! I can't believe I've worked in this area for more than five years now and hardly know any of these places.

The other night, I tried La Petite Auberge - a traditional French restaurant complete with red checked tablecloths and a rustic feel. Service was very friendly and quick and the food was nice. And with a 2 for 1 deal on all courses, it was also a steal.

Friture de blenche ailles

Tourette de legumes grilles

Duck leg with a mountain of french fries on the side

Grilled sea bass

Flip flop weather

Temperatures have been rising but it's also humid as hell. A headache-inducing combination unfortunately.

Thanks to another Time Out voucher, I treated myself to a pedicure with gel nail polish yesterday. The polish is meant to stay on for up to 4 weeks. By which time, I am assuming it will have grown out... And what you can see in the photo are not tan lines: London is dirty!!!

Top of my current playlist

a piece of me

I like blogs that give you an intimate insight into the blogger's life. Without actually knowing someone, you get to take part in their life. Of course limited to what they want you to know about them, but still. When I first started my blog more than a year ago, I had intended it to be a bit like a diary. I used to keep a diary for many years when I was a teenager (and they all make for very cringe-worthy reading... I've tried to make my sister promise me that they'll be burnt without being read first when I die. But I somehow don't trust her... Should probably destroy them next time, I'm at my parents'...) and was hoping to get back into the habit again. And I suppose it is a diary of things I get up to. But I am aware that I don't give away too much about myself.

Even though only very few people who know me in real life have the link to my blog, I am aware that people might be able to find it somehow and especially with view to my job, I feel that I should be cautious about the content. And of course, I am conscious of the people who I know, who have the link, too.

I do wonder whether these are excuses though and whether I am just too scared to share a piece of myself with others. To put myself out there out of fear of rejection, being ridiculed, feeling embarrassed, not being 'accepted' and/or liked. All of which - in theory - I don't care about...

Busaba Eathai

Westfield Stratford Shopping Centre comes with a range of eateries. Last week, I tried Busaba Eathai - a Thai place that has several restaurants across London and accepts the tastecard. Food and service were nice - and with a 50% discount very reasonably priced :-)

Mango Lassi and Koh samui (coconut, carrot and orange)

Goong tohd prawn and vegetable spring rolls

Prawn Curry

Pad Thai

Let's read

In another attempt to motivate myself to read more and also to meet new people, I have joined another book club. And the first book we read, was The Catcher in the Rye. While I had heard of the book and was aware that it is considered a classic, I didn't actually know what it is about.

It's JD Salinger's first and only novel and was published in 1951.
Wikipedia says:
"Between 1961 and 1982, The Catcher in the Rye was the most censored book in high schools and libraries in the United States.^[27] In 1981 it was both the most censored book and the second most taught book in public schools in the United States.^[28]"

The book is written from the main character's - Holden Caulfield - point of view. He's in that in-between place between being a teenager and growing into an adult. With the typical hallmark of feeling like an adult - but still not really being one.

I really enjoyed reading the book. It being a classic, I had worried that it would be difficult to read. But not least as it's written from Holden's perspective, that's not the case. I felt that Salinger captured the mood and thoughts very poignantly and I could identify very much with Holden. The tough and superior exterior, and all the insecurity underneath. Not fitting in and turning that into a virtue. Feeling lost and lonely in the world that you despise to a certain extent while hankering for it all the same.

On this occasion, we were only a group of five discussing the book. Two of us loved the book, two thought it was OK, even if not brilliant and one didn't like it at all.

Next we are reading We need to talk about Kevin. Have started it, and I'm finding that one really hard to read. A little bit ironic - as I am finding her nested sentences rather difficult (plus the vocabulary - I don't know what half the words mean...). When I should really be used to those kind of sentences from the German language... where very often a whole paragraph - or even a page - consists of just one sentence!

Fool me three times,...?

Fool me once, shame on you;

fool me twice, shame on me.

Animalistic adult entertainment

Every Friday in June and July, the Zoo opens late for 'London's wildest night'. Food stalls, comedy, a silent disco, face painting and of course the animals will keep you entertained. Tickets cost £25 but Time out offers vouchers for just £12.50. The event which ran for the first time last year, is again proving very popular and tickets sell out fast.

It was my first time at the Zoo. And while I love animals (and meerkats in particular), I also found it a bit depressing. Most of the enclosures are not very big and the animals looked rather sad...
I much prefer Port Lympne - unfortunately you need a car to get there.

16 May 2013

I won again! In the UK Glamour magazine May Beauty Giveaway - on 16 May, to be precise:

Travel sized Hydro-Dynamic eye cream (3.5ml/£15).
Murad says:

What does it do for you?

This über-hydrating cream instantly firms and awakens the delicate eye area while maintaining optimal moisture levels for up to 8 hours.

The Science behind the Results

Collagen Support Complex and Hyaluronic Acid – Boosts skins resilience while smoothing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Peptide Blend – Increases elastin production to firm and awaken the delicate skin around the eyes.

My verdict after a few days:

The skin around my eyes is very sensitive and especially when stressed, I tend to get really dry skin. So, I was a bit apprehensive to even try this, as I have a rich cream that does the trick. But it works ok. I can't say it is better than my very cheap drugstore cream, but it does the work. To start with, I thought such a tiny pot was rather ridiculous, but as it turns out you really don't need a lot of it, so I think it will last me quite a while.
Most importantly though: I won! :-)

katte kabuto no o shimeyo Or: Can you trust the fortune cookie?

This is what it said in the Wellcome Collection fortune cookie:

Keep your guard up until the very end.

Sounds like an awfully long time... And I also don't like the sound of this. Surely you can't go through life being on guard at all times and never trusting anyone? Well, you can, but I think you will miss out. It might protect you from certain disappointments, but won't it also make you very lonely?

Welcome to the Wellcome

The Wellcome Collection is a "free visitor destination for the incurably curious". Located in central London opposite Euston Station "it explores the connections between medicine, life and art in the past, present and future. The venue offers visitors contemporary and historic exhibitions and collections, lively public events, the world-renowned Wellcome Library, a café, a bookshop and conference facilities."

They are about to undergo a refurbishment of their event space which will include a new restaurant and a bigger auditorium. Building work is due to start soon and is expected to be completed in about 8 months. Before the work begins, they hosted a Summer Party in their 'Medicine Now' gallery last week. Drinks, canapes and access to the current (free) exhibition Souzou: Outsider Art from Japan.

I look forward to seeing the new space in due course.

Goody bag: notepad, greeting cards, Japanese paper seal balloon, and a fortune cookie

Cook-a-long

The Open Kitchen is the training restaurant for the London City Hospitality Centre (LCHC). The London City Hospitality Centre (LCHC) is a partnership initiative of Hackney Community College, the London Development Agency, the Worshipful Company of Cooks and employers. In addition to operating a restaurant where their students cook the food, they also offer evening cooking classes.

Thanks to another Time Out voucher, I only paid £29 instead of £59 for a French cooking class (part of the Mediterranean Feast). To be honest I was a little disappointed when I was sent the menu:

Mussels

Chicken

Strawberries Escoffiers

I don't like mussels and I'm not overly keen on chicken... But anyway, the whole point was to learn something new and meet people.

The evening started with the Spanish trainee chef cooking all dishes and explaining as he went along. The tricky bit was that he didn't really stick to the recipes that had been handed to us. But we had support at hand, which really helped, as I couldn't remember what he had just shown us. Fortunately, we were cooking in pairs and together I think we did all right. The sauce that accompanied the chicken (and included cream, wine and foie gras) was especially nice - if I may say so myself. 

The gas stove was super hot and that made me a little nervous. I'm still scared of my oven to be honest! Anyway, I had the task of placing the chicken in the frying pan which was filled with a mixture of oil and butter. Scared of getting burned, I proceeded to kind of chuck the chicken in from a distance. As you can probably imagine, not a clever idea. My cooking partner must have thought I am right pillock...

And here's the result (and it confirmed that I really do not like mussels... I did try them though!):

Plating up decoratively was clearly not part of the course...

Thanks for pet watching

I've been looking for a card for the upcoming first communion of my cousin's daughter. But while Paperchase had a sign 'communion/confirmation' - they didn't have any cards and the shop assistant couldn't remember ever having seen any. Given that there appear to be over 4 million Catholics in the UK, it's a little strange.

I went to the card factory next and they didn't have any cards either. They did have a card saying 'Thanks for pet watching' though. Does that mean that the target market for people having pets and having them watched by friends (or strangers) is bigger than those who know Catholics whose kids go to their first holy communion? Or are pet owners just more likely to buy cards?

In any case, I don't have a card but I got her a silver guardian angel necklace from H. Samuel, complete with a cute little angel necklace holder (?).

Apologies for the terrible photo quality

Cute, no?

Aussie miracles

On offer at superdrug for £6 for 2 (for the Aussie products)

I love the Aussie adverts AND they were on offer AND I've tried them before and they smell nice. Not sure they really perform miracles on my hair, but I haven't yet found a shampoo/conditioner that does.

And remember this blog post? Well, loyalty goes out of the window quickly, when there is a good offer... So I am giving the extra gentle eye make up remover from Nivea a chance this month. :-)

There should be lockers in shopping centres

At Westfield Stratford Shopping Centre they have a baggage service at the Concierge desk - but it costs £5! for them to store your bags. It's cheaper for me to go back home and drop my bags and return (and it's not that far). In any case, having to schlepp my bags around prevented me from buying more stuff. So, I guess there's an upside.

I would usually not go to Westfield on a weekend - but as I woke up unusually early, I made it before the crowds descended. Win!

Even though summer seems to have finally arrived in the UK, I prefer to cover up my white legs in tights. And after another tights-ripping incident the other day, I decided to stock up.

Primark; the sneakers are proper neon pink and I think I'll remove the shoulder strap from the bag

Bershka: shirt (£15.99), belts (£4.99 and £7.99)

loop scarf (£7.40; I do realize it's summer, but I love the neon), ring (£1.65), tights (from £2.99-£7.40)

close up of Mr Panda

The Break-Up

I love Jennifer Aniston. And I like Vince Vaughn. And I kind of like the film 'The Break-Up' (which was on TV last night). I say kind of because I find it rather sad to watch.

I have to confess that I generally like films with a non-happy ending which possibly is evidence for me being a miserable person... I don't like to admit it, but sad endings do make me feel better about my own life. Not exactly an endearing trait, but no harm done, right?

Interestingly though, for once, I actually wish for a happy ending to this story (this might well be related to my love of Jennifer A...). It's so sad to watch how stupid squabbling leads to a break-up. How both partners wait too long to overcome their silly pride to save their relationship. How this can lead to losing the person you still love. And I just want to shake them both and tell them to just tell each other how they feel. And tell them that it can't be that hard to keep making an effort to try to make the other person happy.

And while it's so easy to see from the outside, it feels so painfully familiar: the frustration, the lack of empathy, the misunderstandings and being overly self-involved at times. And how can this happen? When it all starts out filled with happiness and love? I haven't figured it out.

I might be naive but I am still hopeful that things can be different.

Purple panic

China Glaze Purple Panic - and yes, this is REALLY neon-y!

I LOVE the colour (no surprise there: pink? AND neon? What's not to love?). Unfortunately, it chipped on several fingers after just one day...

Regrets

I should have worn hot pants in my teens. It's a fact.
Too late for that. Tights are a great invention though and instead of hot pants, shorts will do.

I've been searching for these in a number of Zara stores across London and last weekend I finally found them in my size. For just £25.99 a right bargain, too! Now I just have to work out what to wear them with.

it was rather difficult to take a photo of myself...

Who would have thought

There's more to life than constantly being glued to the TV and the internet.
Took me a while to implement those particular 2013 New Year resolutions. But I guess, in many respects, I am quite slow...

The one about going to the gym is still not working very well (or rather not at all...). But who knows - miracles might happen!

Sisterly visit and Dim Sum delights

My sister is planning her return to the UK, and was over for another flying visit last weekend. Overall the area around Royal Victoria doesn't have all that much to offer - aside from being the perfect (!) place for plane-spotting - there is a good Chinese restaurant just a few DLR stops away (or a ~15 minute walk): Yi-Ban. Decor is relatively minimalistic, and the tables are covered with plain paper tablecloths, but the place seems to always be heaving and - reassuringly - is frequented by a lot of Chinese. You get a quick and no-frills service and great Dim Sum:

anything fried is bad for my increased cholesterol levels - but also makes me very happy

steamed prawn dumplings

Barbecued roast pork buns

they try to slip of my chopsticks - but I always get them in the end! (and can never remember the name...)

And looking at the photos makes me really hungry. Too bad, I don't have much food in the fridge... Is it time for fish fingers? I wonder...