Shopping spree

It was time for some retail therapy and here's what I got (photos crappy as per usual...):

H&M, £24.99

H&M, £19.99

H&M, £14.99 - denim shirts are back! I wish I had kept mine from the 90s...

H&M, £24.99 - with sparkly Peter Pan collar

Oasis - thanks to a £10 gift card from Look magazine: £8;
looks much nicer worn than on the hanger, too

Cute socks (3 for £8) and Moomin panties (£4)  from Topshop

Read some good reviews on Soap & Glory's Thick & Fast mascara, £10.00

my first essies

I had planned on buying loads of OPI nail polishes in America. And then couldn't find them anywhere. So, I decided to try my first essie nail polishes instead.

skirting the issue; plumberry; fiesta; check-up

skirting the issue: 
a vampy dark red; I needed three coats to get good coverage though

plumberry: 
is a rasberry colour - red with a bit of pink in it.

fiesta: 
very pink; darker than in the picture and very similar to my OPI That's berry daring

check-up: 
part of the Cancer Awareness special edition

Overall, I think I still prefer the OPI polishes, with the bigger brush. I find the essie polishes rather thick and with the smaller brush, it take more strokes to cover the whole nail. I also don't seem to be able to control it as well, and managed to paint part of my cuticles, too, which doesn't usually happen with OPI. While the OPI polishes usually last several days without chipping at all, I had the first few small chips on the essie ones on the second day already. But I loved all the colours and they did have a nice finish.

Weekday banquet

After the culinary delights on Monday, it was time to step up the game. I had arranged a tasting at Church House Conference House yesterday to help with picking the menu for our upcoming dinner. I got to taste three starters, three mains and three desserts in the lovely company of Emily - the events coordinator - and Richard from the catering team as well as a guest appearance of Norman, the wonderful chef.

The food was delicious! And beautifully presented (I had already eaten half of the turkey dish, when I took the photo - in case you are wondering about the half empty plate). I would definitely recommend the venue - the food is great, the service lovely and situated right next to Westminster Abbey, it's also very central.

And this feast was just what I needed after a busy morning and a generally crazy week...

Main entry to Church House Conference Centre

View from Dean's Yard on Westminster Abbey

Monday lunch at the Plaisterers' Hall

I wish every week would start like this!
On Monday I was invited to an autumn lunch at the Plaisterers' Hall, just a 15 minute walk (in the freezing cold) from the office. The Hall "is the largest and one of the finest Livery Halls in London. Opened in 1972 and situated in the heart of the City of London, it reflects the grandeur of a bygone era but in an ultra modern setting.
The Company's first Hall was bequeathed to the Company by William Elder, Citizen and Plaisterer in 1556. It was situated at the corner of Addle Street and Philip Lane and destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666. The second Hall was built in 1669 from the design of Sir Christopher Wren, but this was also destroyed by fire in 1882.

The present Hall, opened in November 1972 has décor throughout of the neo-classical style created by Robert Adam in the 18th century. His various designs have been faithfully reproduced in great detail both on plaster and wood, some being taken from his original moulds" (http://www.plaisterershall.com/history.php)

The lunch started off with canapes and drinks in the rooms just outside the hall. The theme to the catering seemed to be mixing sweet and savoury in all the dishes. Canapes included smoked salmon with wasabi panna cotta!

Main: Sirloin of British Beef with chard and cashel blue bread and butter pudding, spinach, glazed beetroot and roasted garlic cream

Dessert: Bonfire Sundae with baked apple ice cream, beetroot chocolate brownie (which fortunately did not taste of beetroot - I don't like beetroot!), pumpkin marshmallow, caramelized nuts, cinder toffee sauce and fondant flames

And after lunch, we were treated to a pick 'n mix station with petit four, macaroons, Turkish delight, brownies and other sweet things. Too bad that the bags were tiny! To round it all off, we got a goody bag with sparklers and sweets.

Unfortunately, the photos didn't come out that well. The venue is really beautiful - amazing that this was only built in the 70s! The hall also has a balcony area, which I guess could be used for entertainment purposes. It's a really stunning venue and I am not surprised it's very popular for weddings.

Part of the reception area

Decor in the foyer outside the hall

Natural daylight thanks to floor to ceiling windows

Fabulous candleholders and flowers as centre pieces and stunning chandeliers

T-Shirt delivery

My order from Threadless arrived!

Grown-up version of Bambi!

I quite like the idea of a cherry blossom tattoo...

Only three years

It has only taken me three years to discover that my washing machine has an in-built dryer.
Just think of all the electricity I saved by not using it!

Duckies!!!!!!!!!!

The other day we went to feed the ducks at the local pond in Faversham. And what can I say: the ducks seem to lead a very comfortable life. So much so that they weren't interested in our bread!
Crestfallen we left with our dry bread.

Which came into good use when on our way down from Blackpool, when searching for pub for lunch, we came past a lake with loads of ducks and geese. And they were all very hungry! And greedy. It got a little bit frightening, when one of the geese started pecking at us... When we run out of bread, we made a swift exit!

They are all coming for our delicious bread

Such pristine white-ness ... and great determination in their eyes!

And there they go again