gin.soho.presents.

Sometimes all you need is a really long catch up about anything and everything, with a really good friend. And I was in luck and had exactly these two things happen last weekend. The fact that it happened over a couple gin and lemonades and I got belated homemade birthday presents made it better again. We took a longer walked than planned to find a bar and raced for the nearest available table and didn't stop talking until it was time to head home. I need to stop taking London, and how close I live to central, for granted and head it for drinks and the sights more often, because a night like the one I had was very much needed and so much fun.

no mid week slump for me.

I love having friends over; no special occassions, no big news- just for a catch up and some good food.

Last week, Alex went ot and so it was the perfect opportunity to have a girlie catch up with a vry good friend of mine. I even made food! Although, while making it, I did have a mini stress: I was cooking lasagne for an Italian! But I got the seal of approval from her and so I'm pretty pleased with myself. We ate, talked about everything and watched The Hills (god, I love that show!)- it was the best Wednesday I've had in a while.

birthday snaps.

I'm not very good at taking pictures on my birthday and this year, happened to be no different.

We all turned up to eat food, drink wine and so photos seemed to take a back seat. I had a fabulous time, got some lovely gifts and spent the evening with great friends; it really was a lovely birthday.

Here are a few snaps from my very small collection of my birthday:

monday afternoon.

 

 

 

 

What better way to spend an afternoon than with a friend, drinking tea, planning to watch films but instead talking for hours.

catching up.

I love catching up with friends, most particular the friend I went out with on Saturday night. I used to work with her and since I left (a month ago already) we have barely gone a day without being in contact with each other on the phone, and pretty much meet once a fortnight, if not more. To me she is a true friend that I have made and we can talk about anything and we pretty much don't stop talking. We were so prepared to meet this Saturday that we knew where we were going and what we were going to eat about a week and a half before the actual day itself! These burgers were heaven; when the menu said mini burgers I was expecting something more cute than tasty- I was wrong. I think it's safe to say I was in food heaven! And an evening topped off with cocktails, is a good night had. To the next evening...

halloween in july.

As you've seen from recent posts (here and here), my friend's 21st was a Halloween theme. Alex and I went as Sweeney Todd and Mrs Lovett; it was fun but as we had an hour and half train ride and then a bus, the journey gave for some interesting looks from passers by. The party was good and I consumed far too many cocktails; it resulted in me coming home the next day, falling asleep in seconds and not waking up for hours. Signs of a good birthday party I think you'll agree.

cats, bats and other such things.

A while ago you might remember me making one of my mum's birthday gifts (here); well I took on the same principle for my good friend Chantelle and catered it around her favourite time of year; Halloween. I'm really pleased with how the bag turned out. There were long hours painting this one but I think it turned out really well.

bloody valentine.

My friend recently had her birthday and I offered to make the cake; I know, huge pressure on myself to produce. Her birthday theme was Halloween and so I went along those lines for the cake. Spiderwebs; blood and then to make it more dramatic, some hand made roses. I'm pretty pleased with how it turned out. It also turned out to be the heaviest cake I have ever made; it weighed in at around 5kg. I do not envy Alex for carrying all through our journey to get to her party on Saturday.

indoor bbq.

It's hard to think that a little over a week ago we were all complaining about the heat and sunning ourselves as much as possible. As you may know we do not have a garden with our flat and so every summer comes Alex and I enviously look at our neighbours' gardens wishing for one of our own. We do still try and do the typical summer things, i.e. a bbq; it just has to be indoors; so when our friend came to visit we did just that.

park life.

With the recent sun we've had and no garden to enjoy it in, we've been making recent trips to the park. We did this last Sunday and it was lovely, especially since we had our friend, who we haven't seen since last easter, come up and visit us for a couple of days.

sushi dinner.

Alex and I had another busy Saturday but this time we got to visit instead of being the hosts which was so nice. My friend from work invited us around hers for some sushi, wine and a night of good company. We went on until quite late in the night and it pretty much ended with us singing along to Blondie as loud as we possibly could! I love going out and visiting new places, bars, etc but sometimes there is nothing better (especially if you're all strapped for cash) than buying a couple bottles of wine and staying in.

lets face the music.

Saturday night saw me and Alex head out for an unexpected trip to see our friends dance at a function. We bundled up in their car surrounded by speakers, feathers and glitter and headed off to a really enjoyable evening; not only are they great dancers but they performed at the most extraordinary function: it was for a 70th anniversary for a deaf club/association. To begin with I was very unsure of how it was all going to work (they were teaching the cha-cha as well) but as the time went on I was amazed at these people. It was so interesting for watch them interact with each other and our friends and learn the steps so quickly and successfully. It really was amazing and really bought some grounding to me in particular; we really can take things for granted. Alex and I were able to sit and have a conversation with each other, all the while not taking our eyes off the dancing whereas, these people had to stop entirely what they were doing in order to focus on what was being communicated. I was sceptical at first but it turned out to be a lovely, albeit very late, evening; here are just a few snaps I managed to take.

predictions and plans

(image via etsystatic.)

This weekend, our friend Ashley is coming to stay (he's on his way as we speak). I've also got a huge list of things to do, including starting my first uni assignment of the new year.

We've been predicted snow this weekend, I have everything crossed that it's true and that it'll be heavy. I'm such a big kid about Christmas and snow, and since Christmas is over...

I'll try and put up a couple posts over the weekend, right now I have to get back to dinner. Homemade pizzas and heart-shaped lemon meringue pie.

Have a good weekend.

happy birthday

I had a fantastic birthday; I am not a huge birthday fan, but this one turn out better than I thought. As, you may have already read, my mum came up and treated me all weekend. On the evening of my birthday I headed out with a group of friends and my boyfriend and we went food and drinks in Richmond. There was a lot of food and even more drink. I think my friend and I finally fell asleep on the sofa around 4am. Not bad going, now that I've hit 2-1!! It was a fabulous evening. I have some amazing friends, fantastic mum and a brilliant boyfriend, and they have helped make my birthday extra special.