Thursday 30 August 2012

Madison Square Park

So now that I'm back online I can let you know what I've been up to. I'm going to start with something that makes up most of my days and that's obviously walking Paco. Our closest park is Madison Square Park, which is nestled between the Empire State building and the Flatiron building. It's weird having these two icons making up my everyday images especially as it's not like every time I leave my house in London I see the Houses of Parliament or the London Eye! It's a beautiful park although our main trouble has been the attitude to dogs. They are not allowed to run free like they do in London and have designated dog areas. These are not grass like back home so they stink! Even Paco hates them (although I think for a dog that's rather rich). Anyway this is only important as it's meant that he's been behaving very funnily. He hasn't settled in at all. Which considering we're trying to settle in too makes it just another thing to worry about. 

The best part of this park is that it's home to The Shake Shack. These famous burgers have queues stretching out of the park everyday. And we've even tried going at 10:00pm thinking we were being clever and there was a queue! I'm guessing we'll just have to man up and wait in the queue like everybody else. These burgers better live up to the hype.

Sunday 26 August 2012

The waiting game

Most of you know that recently Hipster Dufus purchased me this beautiful MacBook Air. I've already detailed my issues with lot being able to use it and the same still stands now. We've been busy finding out more about where we live and getting to know the surrounding areas. I still can't post though... Major bummer...

Tuesday 21 August 2012

How to keep in contact

The last time I posted I was boarding a plane and almost a week later and I still hadn't posted anything. So what happened? Some of you might be aware that my wonderful husband, Hipster Dufus, purchased me an all powerfull MacBook Air. Just in time for me not to be able to do much as squeak about not being able to contact people. I did however encounter two problems.

The first being the internet, we still have not had it installed in our new home which means i have no way of posting items. What about cafes with wifi? This brings me on to my second problem, Microsoft Office. As you know Mac's do not come with office and while we do have it already, the CD license is currently somewhere in the Atlantic as part of our sea freight.

Thankfully the iPhone can be a powerful little tool, and while I wouldn't want to use it all the time I found a few apps that will still let me post almost in the same style I currently use, from taking the photos, editing to composing a post and sharing it. So can I get away with it? Here are just a few shots from my first week as a New Yorker.

Tuesday 14 August 2012

Bon Voyage

This is it, literally sitting on the plane right now. I've had a very emotional goodbye with family and I don't think I'm done yet. Going to sit back, watch a film, cry, sleep. Then I'll see you on the other side. Let's do this!


Monday 13 August 2012

Keep on moving

After years of hoping, months of planning, weeks of waiting, days of organising and hours of cleaning finally the night has come. This is the night before the flight. Hipster Dufus and I have literally just finished the last few things we needed to complete now. I'm tired, exhausted, and mentally drained. I'm not sure what to feel now, all I know is that it doesn't feel quite real just yet. Every stage has simply been met with a new wave of emotions.

There was the anxiety of having the flat in piles in a corner waiting for the arrival of the removal men (who never actually showed up, they forgot they were supposed to come...) Then there was the numbness from watching strangers pack up your life, and before you know it all your possessions are simply sitting in pile of cardboard boxes. Finally the most daunting one has got to be the feeling of an empty flat. Imagine what you felt when you first moved into your home unfurnished. It's the same feeling but in reverse. Bewilderment. What do I do now? Everything echoes, time drags (this is probably the lack of T.V. or CD player) and your home doesn't feel like yours any more.

Well that was a bit of a rant really! It wouldn't be real if I made it out to be amazing. The prospect of a new city is incredible but what comes before is not so fun. The process hasn't been easy and we haven't received much help from relevant organisations. I was expecting it to be better planned, to go a lot more smoothly especially since this is a regular occurrence. What we found is that no one really cares. Everyone has a job to do and they don't care about what that means for you as the person that has to live this life, everyone is simply out to tick boxes. I have to say that at this point I'm really looking forward to the other side.

Sunday 12 August 2012

Museum Cafe

With some friends all you need to do is keep it simple. Meeting up with friends as often as I have been has really begun to put a strain on the bank balance, however there aren't many cafes that stay open past 6:00pm when most of us are finishing work! The wonderfully laid back Hurwundeki was in this case the answer to our problems. A cafe by day, at night it serves up Korean food until 10pm as well as its normal coffee shop goods. The perfect setting to meet up with my MA girls. The best thing about friends who work in the same industry is the way we can talk about personal and professional topics moving seamlessly between the two without lowering the tone. It was such a warm night, with good vibes and silky conversations. Bliss x

Saturday 11 August 2012

Do put baby in the corner

While the removal people busy themselves with packing away my life, I have continued to busy myself with my tour of London. Hipster Dufus and I have been thinking about what the last few tastes of London we should be. I thought that I would be desperate to try out something new, that I'd never done but this just left me with the sense that London is just too big. It made me wonder what else I would be missing out on. Instead what I have loved is going to all our regular hideaways in London.

The Corner Room is definitely one of my parting tips. The affordable option for those interested in the michelin starred Viajante (also in the same building) Corner Room is high end dining with a laid back flair. If you're a foodie the name Nuno Mendes will mean something to you, and if you're not then introduce your palette to the always surprisingly weird but deliciously inventive food that they consistently produce.


Thursday 9 August 2012

Tuesday 7 August 2012

Bye!

Friday was my last day working at the wonderful British Music Experience. I spent most of the day photographing work mates and getting on their nerves! I managed to get Nat-Nat eating chicken and looking very 'yard' as he put it. Ro-Ro managed to not run from the camera when I came near her. And some of you were working so hard I had to get pictures of you just doing that! (Ahem, Becca and Paul). It has been an amazing three years guys, I will miss you all dearly. Please, please, please keep in touch and continue to work hard to make our little museum successful x

Monday 6 August 2012

To D.I.Y for

So I'm unlikely to give you great tips on a D.I.Y project based on the latest fashion inspiration, but then that was never my goal. I am however very crafty in my own way and my anniversary yesterday got me thinking about the whole of my wedding experiences including the preparation. I'm not going to romanticise it at all. Weddings are a pain in the 'behind' (for lack of a ruder word). I still don't understand how one is expected to plan and organise the most important day of their life without the qualifications of those who have actually trained for it. I'm not speaking of the wedding planner, just an event manager! It's a job people! 

Being crafty what I did enjoy thoroughly was the creative side of it. Dreaming up the theme, searching for inspiration and looking on the internet, vintage stores and second hand shops for the items that would build my wedding. The extra added value was being able to involve friends and family in the process. From helping to set up the venue to creating all of my beautiful flower arrangements. From block printing and hand making my invitations to managing to translate my bridezilla ramblings into beautiful centre pieces, decorations and generally an amazing venue. 


Here are a few pictures that I along with maid of honour Pamela Lathbridge took documenting the hard work needed before the finished product. To see the wedding photos click on the image below. It will take you to RockN'Roll Bride where the wedding was featured. Enjoy!


 Our Wedding

Friday 3 August 2012

Partying away my sorrow

It's very hard having the time to say goodbye to everyone in your life. One great way to fit everyone in is to throw a massive house party. Aptly named 'America Fuck Yeah!' this was the party to end all parties. Lot's of people pulled out, but in the end, those who were there really made the night. Lot's of drink (thanks Nat), 'Hoochie' dancing (according to Liz) and a mammoth hangover later (with only myself to blame) it started to dawn on me how sad it all really is. I'm going to miss my friends so much. I could continue to write this post but in fact I think these pictures speak for themselves. I love you guys!

Thursday 2 August 2012

Concrete Jungle

So the big reveal, (unless you've been spending a lot of time with me, then it's not really a reveal) we're going to New York! Hispter Dufus has secured himself a job working for the UN, and this is really the success story. How many people get their dream job, no matter what city it's based in. New York just also happens to be a dream location especially for me and my line of work.

And so three years ago, almost to the day I traveled there for the first time. We went as a present to me celebrating my current job at the BME. How amazing to be going back and this time getting to stay. I had so much fun and remember not wanting to leave. I got my wish finally.