temptation in my inbox

The summer sales have kicked off. And as I'm signed up to a good few newsletters, I get reminders from a number of online shops several times a day. I admit that I've taken a sneaky look. But so far, I've resisted temptation. Instead, I've started my next sewing project: my first dress! Fabric is all cut - let the sewing begin!

Update:
Dress is done and given it's my first attempt, I'm relatively pleased with it.
But I've also given in to temptation after all and bought a denim dress at Oliver Bonas. It was reduced to £25!!! Photos to follow...

Good news re my laptop: I got all my files back! But I will be buying a new laptop. Just need to decide which one.

bloody technology...

My laptop died last weekend. At least so I think. A's brother is very kindly having a look at it and the great news is that all my files and photos (which OF COURSE I hadn't backed up anywhere...) have been recovered. The jury is still out on whether or not I will have to buy a new laptop. Which I am not too bothered about - not least as the broken one was a present and I like getting new and shiny things :-)

But for a little while it will probably be more quiet on my blog.

Until then - enjoy the summer!

a new home for my shoes

Not sure whether getting an ebay account was a smart idea... Well, with my growing shoe collection, I really did need a bigger shoe rack though as I had started keeping some shoes in a big pile as I had run out of space.

It's just as flimsy as the previous one, so I am a little worried that it will collapse shortly. But it does hold more shoes and the black looks nicer, too:

As you can see, it's full already, so my self-imposed shoe-shopping ban continues.

And let's not talk about yesterday's footy match: Germany vs Ghana (2:2; well, I suppose we were kind of lucky to manage a draw!),

The Mentalist at the Gherkin

I'd been to a meeting at the Gherkin last year, but last week, I got to enjoy a lovely dinner organized by Visit Belfast. My phone unfortunately doesn't take great photos (as you know) so I can't really share the amazing views over the city nor the absolutely beautiful sunset.

After dinner, we were entertained by David Meade. I have to admit - I had never heard of him. But apparently he's had a show on BBC for five years. And while I was relieved not to be picked as a volunteer, his show (imagine Derren Brown) was really fascinating. And randomly ended with a dance group dancing energetically to Pharrel's 'Happy'.

Yummy duck starter; better than average chicken; and donut for dessert? lovely!

I lost it

My voice, that is. And it's quite weird. I've of course had a hoarse voice before, but not to this extreme: by the end of today, I was really struggling to get a sentence out. I can usually speak to my boss across the office without getting up from my desk - but couldn't raise my voice sufficiently.

Interestingly, I am feeling better than I did at the beginning of the week. My husky voice is a result of my cold, exacerbated by the dinner I attended last night, where I had to shout at the lady sitting right next to me, because of all the noise in the room...

Bring on the weekend! Time to relax and re-energize.

Sailor dress

I searched for 'sailor dress pattern' on ebay, and got myself this:

3-2-1: Mine for £7.49 :-)

Pearls of wisdom

who is Tom????

Listen up!

You know this situation, when you are having a conversation, and you get the distinct feeling that the other person isn't listening (properly)? I encountered this recently. What I couldn't figure out though was, that the person generally seems to remember what I've said and refers back to it in other conversations. Nevertheless, he just seems to uninterested while I am talking.

I was talking to a friend about this. She had been on a training session with work, and as part of that, everyone was filmed and they watched everyone's video back together. One of her colleagues was shocked at how dis-connected he came across! He kept saying: but I WAS listening. And still it looks as if I wasn't paying attention at all.

We are of course all aware of what an important part body language and facial expression play but this goes to show, that we can just as easily misinterpret the other person's body language.

Italian - food and fashion

Why am I so tired all the time? Surely I can't still be jetlagged?! And with long weekends two weeks in a row, I really have no excuse not to be energized and refreshed. Instead, I feel like crawling into bed the minute I get home...

Anyhow, on Sunday, I went for lunch at Scalini - an Italian restaurant in South Kensington. To be honest, I don't very often eat out at Italian restaurants. I think it's primarily, as I (wrongly?) feel that I can cook pasta myself, and can get a takeaway pizza. But this place had been on S's list of places to try for a while and I am always happy to discover new places. And can I just say that there are lots of nice cafes and restaurants in that area? Probably all with a Chelsea price tag... but nice in any case!

I had the spaghetti gratin with asparagus, mushrooms and shrimps. Delicious! And what looked like a rather small portion was certainly very filling. S's king prawns were very 'meaty' and equally tasty.

After lunch, we went to the V&A for the wedding dress exhibition and the exhibition on Italian fashion - where I absolutely fell in love with a dress designed by Emilio Schuberth! With S's membership card, we didn't have to pay for these exhibitions. And I think I would have been a bit disappointed if I had had to pay for them. Especially the one on Italian fashion isn't very big. Generally, the V&A (and entry to the museum itself is of course free) is always worth a visit. And do check out their cafe:

Scones with clotted cream, raspberry jam and a coke to wake me up....

4:0!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And I missed the whole game due to a work meeting. What a lovely start to the World Cup for Germany! :-) (for posterity: they were playing Portugal and Thomas Mueller got a hat-trick!)

Who needs (inter)facing?

I tried a different version of the top, after my first attempt didn't quite work out. I slightly deviated from the instructions: the collar should have been strengthened with interfacing. But as a) I didn't have enough in stock and b) on the first top, the collar ended up really bulky, I just ignored that bit. I did cut the back and front collar facings from the fabric - but couldn't work out what advantage it would have to sew it on. So, I didn't (again it had contributed to the bulkiness of the first top). Lastly, I was meant to use bias tape on the armholes. After my first (and only) attempt at using bias binding, I decided not to bother either.

Loosely handsewing the bit for the zipper, made opening it up so much easier, too! And I'm rather pleased with my second zipper. While I tried it on numerous time during the sewing process, I am still not entirely sure about the fit. I probably need to iron it properly first, too.

All in all, I am delighted though to have finished it in one weekend!
Photos to follow. Not even 21:00, and I am feel absolutely knackered and I think I have a cold coming in. Which is rather unfortunate... especially as a busy work week awaits me :-(

What's with the referees?

The World Cup started with some controversial (or plain wrong) decisions by the referees. And with that wonderful magic spray to make players stand in line.

I watched the Spain vs The Netherlands game at Tompkins, right outside South Quay DLR station and thus just a 20 minute ride from home (that is, if you change at the right stop...). Service - while friendly - was VERY slow.... And it wasn't even super busy. Anyhow, the game was great to watch! I of course love it when many goals are scored and even more so when that includes amazing goals such as the one scored by van Persie. Spain - as the defending World Cup champions - of course didn't quite get the start they had hoped for.

June Birchbox

• Beautyblender and Blendercleaner solid: as I don't use foundation or make up, not particularly useful
• Yves Rocher Sheer botanical lipstick
• OPI nail lacquer from the Brazil collection: turquoise is also not my colour
• Korres Citrus Body Milk - always good even though I have a massive collection of body lotions at the moment
• Caudalie Vinoperfect SPF15 day perfecting fluid - that on the other hand comes in handy, as my moisturizer is running out
• Brazil inspired keyring

At Core

"If we love it, we do it, it's what's at our core." So the the Core bar's website states. And they certainly love cocktails! And with a special 2 for 1 deal, I got to enjoy two chocolate orange martinis.

The bar is located between Bank and St. Paul's station. The outside area was pretty busy as the weather was great! Their downstairs bar is equally cool and quirky. Best of all, of course was Apphia singing. :-)

Portugal and Russia

World Cup sweepstakes in our office: And I got Portugal and Russia. Despite my attempts to be given Germany, all insisted on drawing out of a hat. I'm not complaining though. A few of my colleagues got rather terrible combinations.

The winning jackpot is tiny, so it's not really about the money...

She's here!

My new flatmate moved in today (thanks to the idiot courier as well, who decided to leave the package outside my flat - rather than with the concierge. Great thinking! But fortunately, I live with honest neighbours).

She is currently still nameless and I haven't yet managed to adjust her height to mine. But I do love her already.

The man who pays his way

Cathay Pacific hosted a networking event at the Weston Roof Pavilion at the Southbank Centre. On the second level they have an exhibition about China going on. Nice photos, some of them great - but really just a very small selection on display.

In addition to really great canapes, Simon Calder gave a short talk about his recent trip to China. I have to admit that I had never heard of him (not surprising given that I don't read any newspapers, nor listen to the radio) and had to google him... I enjoyed his talk and he was really funny. And what a great job he has! I find it quite amazing that he insists on paying for his own travel and not upgrading but flying economy.

On his website he says:
"At The Independent (where I have now been on the travel desk for so long they call me "senior travel editor”), I have the strap-line “The man who pays his way” because I don't accept free transport or accommodation from the travel trade. As a result of this somewhat curious and eccentric policy, I tend to meet a lot of very interesting folk. The people with the best stories to tell live life in the cheap seats."

I'm not sure whether the amount of money you have stands in relation to how interesting your life is or what kind of stories you tell. And I wonder whether he's ever flown business... also during a long-haul flight, you wouldn't want to talk to your seat neighbours - you would piss off everyone who wants to sleep!

Afternoon tea - European style

Where is all the time going? Met up with a friend from uni on Sunday who was over from France for the weekend. I hadn't seen her in a few years and it was great to catch up. At one point, she said something about: '15 years ago' and I just thought: bloody hell: I've known you for this long already? Especially as she still looks exactly the same as back then, it feels really strange to think that all those years have gone by.

Anyhow, we had afternoon tea at The Delaunay - a Grand European cafe restaurant (that's how they describe themselves) near Covent Garden or Temple station. Lovely place, great service and superb cakes. I thought they were a bit stingy on the savoury side though. All in all, good afternoon tea and - for London standards - still reasonably priced at <£25 each.

this was shared by us, by the way; rose flavoured battenberg: a delight! and my rose tea on the right; and the guggelhupfs hidden under the cloche served with cream and jam

Exceptions to the rule

On my way back to Tamworth station, the taxi driver started chatting to me about London and how he hates the tube. Interestingly though not for the reasons us Londoners tend to hate the tube: over-crowded, too hot in the summer, getting pushed around etc. No, he didn't like the fact that we (generally) sit in silence. Which is probably the only redeeming factor from my point of view.

He said that up north everyone just chats to everyone. While people in London would probably regard you as a nutter or worse a terrorist or otherwise criminal if you started talking to strangers. I do get his point though and it's one of the things I love about America/Americans - I've written this on my blog before: isn't it much nicer to go through your day with little friendly interactions?

Having said this, some of the women invited to the networking event weren't behaving very 'Northern' at all. Indeed, the host sat next to me completely blanked me throughout dinner. Until she overheard me talk about my Hong Kong trip, which she took as the opportunity to talk about her own trip to HK. To be honest, I didn't have much interest in having a conversation with this overweight barbie lookalike (sorry, those are facts! I'm not bitter at all ;-) To be honest, had I been her, I would have probably taken the opportunity to speak to the handsome bloke to her other side, too - even though as a host, that's not really how it should work, is it?) and was having a nice time chatting to the person opposite me - who had lived in London for more than a decade.

Exceptions that prove the rule?! I wonder...

Going along for the ride(s)

I was invited to a mini fam trip by the Staffordshire Marketing Bureau: dinner at Drayton Manor hotel and a day at the Drayton Manor theme park. Before dinner, we went to the (then empty cause closed to the public) theme park and got the opportunity to try their yet to open new attraction air race. I gave that a miss though: I like rollercoasters, but not so keen on being upside down...


Dinner was then followed by some team building games. I have to admit that's not really my kind of thing either. But as everyone else was getting rather excited, I was able to let my teammates get on with it.


On Saturday it then pissed down with rain. Perfect weather of course for a day in the theme park. On the upside, it meant that the park was relatively empty and queuing times were really short. I did enjoy some of the rides but I also think I'm over the whole theme park/rollercoaster thing. 

my executive room; candied cucumber on panna cotta and a welcome bear on arrival

Tamworth (nearest town to Drayton Manor Park)

Working in style

The other day, I had a business meeting at one of our tech supplier's offices just outside Euston station. I clearly hadn't been to Euston for a while: the station, or rather the bit outside the station has changed quite a bit with new restaurants and shops around.

I absolutely fell in love with their office from which you have amazing views over the city. And with floor to ceiling windows (7th floor), it really is quite spectacular (I know, it's not that obvious from the photos...). Lovely to finally meet our account manager, too. For a couple of years, I thought Chris was a woman - until he called me for the first time (I admit, I'm an email person all the way)... So in addition to great views, we also had a very useful session. It certainly pays off to leave the office once in a while!

Sensational

The annual renewal of my tastecard always prompts me to use it. Luckily, even just a few uses make its worth the money spent on the card. But I really should use it more often: starter + main + delicious rose water tea for just £12.50 including a tip - thanks to a 50% discount on the food. All that at Kaslik, a Lebanese restaurant on Greek Street in Soho.

Not all mine: chicken shawarma and a spinach puff pastry parcel for me

Strawberry Sensation at Zebrano on Greek Street
not very busy on a Wednesday night
but you can't argue with a half price cocktail!

Dear Mark

If you are Scottish, live in Putney, work in Westminster as a civil servant and play football somewhere near Canary Wharf - then this message is for you:
If you don't really know an area and are not good at reading maps, please don't try to give directions. You happened to sent me the wrong way...

I did however greatly appreciate your willingness to help! In fact, it was a great reminder of one of many reasons why I love living in London and how the Brits (if I can generalize) are such a nice and helpful bunch of people.

Many thanks also to the friendly cyclist who did know the area and who helped me get to my friend's place.

Note to myself: I need to keep a chocolate bar in my handbag. I was absolutely starving and that must have affected my brain. How else could it be explained that I got lost?! ;-)

Applying myself

After T admired my strawberry cushion again on her recent visit (to be honest, I don't quite get it...), I decided to make one for her from the remaining fabric and to also try sewing on some appliques. Needless to say that I did a terrible job.... I'm not used to using the zigzag stitch on my machine and especially each of the corners, when I had to turn the fabric completely confused me: was the needle in the left or the right position???

 But it's the thought that counts, right?!

Read me a story?

Inspired by my visit to Copenhagen, I ordered Hans Christian Andersen's complete fairy tales.
Did you know that he wrote 168 tales?

Go West

I bought enough fabric in Hong Kong which will last me for a while but I've been meaning to check out the fabric shops in Shepherd's Bush for a while, so I joined T and her meet up sewing group on Saturday. And OMG: it's nearly as heavenly as the market was in HK. Nearly only because it's a tiny bit more expensive than HK. I saw so many cool patterns and will definitely be back! For now, I restrained myself and just bought this stretchy, relatively thick, dark blue fabric which I'm hoping to make into a dress. Eventually...

Get off at Goldhawk Road tube station and voila - lots of shops on Goldhawk Road, and also a few stalls down the market, towards Shepherd's Bush station. It's just such a pity that I live right across town and it took me nearly an hour to get there. Still - all worth it!

Great pic, hm?! £4.50 per metre :-)

After hours of shopping, it was nice to sit down and relax in the lovely Bush Theatre cafe,
right next to Shepherd's Bush station

Bored yet?

And here's the last of my HK posts - just some photos:

Arty

Especially as it was pissing down with rain during the first couple of days in Hong Kong, and with the Sheraton just a stone throw away, we visited the HK Museum of art and saw the 'Les Sylphides and more' at the Grand Theatre at the HK Cultural Centre.

We also visited a number of galleries. Check out Jia Juan Li, Ye Hongxing, Shi Zhong Gui and Katrin Fridriks.

I love going to art museums and galleries. I wonder why I don't do it more often...

Blueberry butter

I love the idea of breakfast. But in practice, I just don't have much of an appetite in the morning. Such a pity especially when presented with awesome breakfast buffets...

cucumber-mint water tastes surprisingly nice!

Fabric heaven

I did my homework. And a number of blogs (idoublera and sewpetitegal for example) pointed to Sham Shui Po as a great place to buy fabrics in Hong Kong. And they were right! Market stalls and shops and lots of lace and haberdashery and all at incredibly low prices.

As described in the blogs, a lot of places have samples available and you order the fabric in. As we left it to the end of our trip, ordering was not an option. Probably better that way, as I would have been overwhelmed by the choice and/or would have needed a second suitcase just for the fabrics!

Here's what I got - now I just need to start sewing! Oh, and the below was priced between 15-30HK$ a yard (=~£1.15-£2.30).

the top two pieces (both stretch) were 5HK$ a yard!!!

Back and forth

Public transport in HK is so cheap! Compared to London anyway. We hardly spent any money on our Octopus card with most journeys less than £1! Not least as eating and drinking is now allowed, everything is really clean. And the carriages are of course air-conditioned (essential in that climate!). But I have to say, people are even less patient than over here: let people get off first before barging on!!!!!!!!!!!!! Getting a seat seems of paramount importance... And is it just me, or is it a bit weird to have a station called Hong Kong? I also noticed that I was doing the touristy thing of remembering metro lines by their colour rather than their name. Admittedly, the Chinese names are a b*tch to remember. For non-Chinese speakers anyway.

We of course also took the star ferry that connects  Kowloon with Hong Kong Island (Central or Wan Chai):