Friday, February 07, 2003

Islington textures

Day 4 rain, walking art and stupidity
For some reason I wake up every morning at 6am and yesterday was no different. so I set to uploading all my new shots. I was meeting the Profero boys for lunch so at 10 i popped around to apostrophe, the cute cafe around the corner, had breakfast and set off towards Islington.
I had decided to walk and it only took me 40 minutes, combined with some shop browsing and phototaking all the way.

The office wasn't that hard to find even though it is off the beaten track a bit, but its very groovy.
Daryl rounded up the troops and we went to lucnch in a lovely old pub in the back streets. It literally was me and the boys. 5 of them.
We had a good chat about work, some yummy sandwiches and then I was back out in the cold again. This time I walked in the opposite direction - to Highbury. There I jumped on the Tube and made for the Tate Modern. A few tube changes and a brisk and nippy walk across the Southwark bridge and I was at the Globe. It was ever so disappointing to realise thats its only a summer season. that was one of the things I really wanted to do :( Instead I visited the exhibition and took the tour. Actually I probably learned more through the tour than if I had just seen a play. Its quite an amazing building and all the symbolisom connected with the actual theatre and staging of the plays and how it linked into the words used in the plays was a revelation.

The Tate Modern is right next door and although I have been before I couldn't miss the opportunity to see some new exhibits.
The amazing sculpture in the foyer was enough in itself.

I rushed back to Soho. Supposed to meet Simon, Richo and Pip at 6.... but at 6.30 they called to say it would be 7.30... then at 7.30 more like 8. I eventaully holed up in "alphbet" bar to keep out of the rain and eventually Pip arrived at 8.30.

Prior to that I had accosted a group of people to talk to (lovely!) and had a great conversation with Heather who has just returned from 3 months in Australia (without her boyfriend) so we got along well.

The lads arrived at 9, just after I had realised that the bar tender was an old friend from Sydney, so after discussing our lives (how long we've both been married what we are up to etc) he gave me a drink on the house :)( great with these UK prices)

We went next door to Apperitivo for tapas and Shane joined us. This is where the Stupidity starts. I had my phone on the table so I could hear it when Shane rang.

I woke up in a sweat at 3am realizing that I think I left it there.

So far the restaurant isn't open. If its not there its either
a) in the cab b) stolen and lost forever.I have been swearing at myself all morning. I am so angry I could scream. What a complete idiot I am. Right now I'm in the final wait... anther hour before the restaurant opens.

Tonight I am off to Wales with Mim. Hope I find it before then.
and if not????? AARRGGHH its doesn't even bear thinking about. What a damned fool.
Theres no way I can replace it. Its a Singapore SIM. How will I survive without it?

......and how do I file a police report in London?

damn damn and double damn

by jen at 5:21 PM

Wednesday, February 05, 2003

shane and matt in the soho "snow"

Day 2 "snow"
Got up late, mainly due to the lacks of sleep for the last few days. So far IU have slept fairly well but seem to wake at 3am and 5am regularly.

Had a bath, checked my emails and headed to Old Street Tube station.
The day appeared sunny and blue skied from inside, but once I got into the cold the wind was blowing hard and soon my ears were almost frozen. Got to the tube station, and soon those cold ears were boiling hot.

Met Matt and Shane for lunch at their office and we headed to their fave private club on Shaftesbury avenue "Century" and because I am in the UK I ordered "Toad in the hole" mmmmmm. By now the snow was falling with huge flakes. It was so pretty. A sight I have never seen in London before.

Shopped a bit in the afternoon and bought a new hat to fix my poor tropical ears and at 6pm I rejoined the boys for a short film premiere.

After a few drinks and no dinner I stumbled home in a taxi and once agin fell into a deep sleep.
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

by jen at 10:02 PM

Tuesday, February 04, 2003

afghanistan from the air

I did it. I actually left on my trip. It still feels a little unreal and weird.
Here's what has happened so far.

Sunday night after spending what seemed like aeons packing and repacking everything whilst sitting in the lounge with Simon and watching cable movies, I finally realised it was all done! Time for bed.

With all the emotions welling up in my mind I just couldn't sleep, and neither could Sime. I had been planning this for so long and getting excited and ready but now the thought of being without my best friend and soul mate for 3 months was so hard. Lots of tears later we finally fell asleep. I had to get up 4 hours later to go to the airport. EEK! 5am.

I got about 3 hours and then just had to get up. One last wander through the house, one last cuddle with Relli (who gave me scratch so I can't forget him, and one last time watching Simon asleep ( well for 5 weeks anyhow).

At 4.30 Simon got up and made me breakfast, both all bleary eyed from lack of sleep and red from the tears, we finally went down to put me into the cab.

As I pulled out from the apartment the radio was playing "how will I live without you" and I broke down again.
I really almost turned around and went back.

I made it all the qay to Changi and like I was in a dream no sooner was I though customs and onto the plane.

Upstairs downstairs
Siting upstairs in business class for the first time I settled into my window seat and un wrapped the photoalbum simon had made me. The lump in my throat grew bigger when I saw all the images of our life, and our families and friends. I will treasure that collection my whole trip.

The upper deck was a real mish mash of people. Important looking business blokes. Expensive looking manicured ladies, some youngsters and a very elkderly couple, the Jones's, to my right.

Poor Mrs Jones was suffering from dementia and was off wandering aorund the plane at even given opportunity, often trying to converse inexplicably and even trying clamber over people the poor attendants wer in demand following her around.

I watched a number of films ( Unlike SIA Qantas hasn't even gotten on demand movies into Business class yet!) and then began to keep my eyes peeled on the windows. Having never as yet travelled to the UK in the daytime I hadn't had the cahance to see the sights. Once I saw that we were following the Himalayas I took up a vigil in a spare window seat on the right side of the plane and took hundreds of shots ( see the travel gallery for yesterday's date). I told the youngsters about it and for the rset of the trip we kept in touch looking out the window at the beauty of the terrain of Afghanistan and the bleak black and whiteness of Russia.

I didn't sleep much. with the sun shining through the window and the sights below and some OK films ( The Ring (again), Sweet Home Alabama, The Man from Elysium Fields etc). Soon we were arriving in Heathrow.

Beneath me the sun was shining... not a cloud in the sky and the little cottages that surround Heathrow were all laid out ready.

A speedy run through immigration with my hardly used UK passport, bags out first (love that about business class) and I was on the Heathrow Express.
A cab from Paddington to Golden Square and the gorgeous offices of M and C Saatchi London to collect Matt's keys.

Driving through the centre of London, and the mad traffic I watched all the rugged up Londoners going about their business. It was lovely to see the diversity of people, a huge change from life in Asia.

Soon we arrived at Matts pad. 3 flights of stairs later ( with my quite heavy bags) I quite proudly congratulated myself on managing that first hurdle alone and let myself in.

The rest of the afternoon was spent wearing half my suitcase of clothes for warmth and curling up on the couch battling the ensuing jet lag.
A few hous of mild sleep later I was up and after a rejuvenating shower I joined Paul for a glass of wine in the lounge until Matt and Shane came home and we headed out for a local dinner at a gorgeous restaurant that I would highly recomment called "home".

Roast Pumpkin soup and Lamb Gnocchi and a few glass of wine later we all hedaed home and I fell into the most comfy feather bed for my first sleep in london. Day one of the holiday done.

by jen at 5:29 PM