Meeting Up with An Old Boyfriend

After being celibate for close to one and a half year, I thought that catching with my old flame would be hot, sweaty and lusty. We would rekindle that passion that we had for each other in the dawn of our romance. There were good moments and some of the truly bad, but in the end, we had ended on a bittersweet note and I have nothing but affection for him.

I guess the ending of the story is predictable, about false expectations and why things come to an end as they do. What I discovered was that nothing has changed, the reasons why I left was evident and glaring in my face the moment I saw him. Nothing has changed, or in fact, might have changed for the worse. We said our polite hellos, caught up, and waved goodbye. He was still that rich, smart, overweight bloke with the mood swings once every couple of months. I wasn't that wide-eye idealistic girl anymore.

Before you get me wrong here, "he" was my former company that I worked for before I left for my MBA studies. I like to tell my friends that a former company that one used to work for is very much like a ex-boyfriend or husband. It can be a life long romance or a very short fling. It could end in a bitter divorce or a sad, sweet parting.

Coming here to London, the hub and base of the old company that I used to work for. Walking through the familiar trading floors, pantries and talking to the same people, I cannot help but feel a tinge of nostalgia, knowing how much this place and culture had changed me for the better or for the worse as time will tell. As I took my last glances to the place, and the weary eye colleague who led me around. She was in her last week after being made redundant. I guess i was not the only one saying goodbye today.

Best Bang for your Buck

Okay, I just had to say that. While shopping along Portobello market today at Notting Hill, a very cold and hungry me found .. Banger Bros !

I knew that I hit upon something good when its bangers are voted best in UK for 3 years running, when they paste Japanese food reviews and newspaper articles decorating its doors.

I order the Londoner - a pork sausage with herbs and topped by a heavy layer of fried shallots. There was a selection of 4 sauces for me to pick from Belgian Mayo, Ketchup, Dijon Mustard and German Mustard. The best relief from the cold as my friend picks up his S$30 Onisuka Tigers from Size, a shoe shop, having a mega sale next door.

Crippled by Crappy Shoes

Notting Hill - Portobello Market





The market was mainly selling antiques(junk !) and cheap miscellaneous stuff (from China). It only got interesting towards the end where there was a market around the Ladgrove Station where they were selling clothes. Handcrafted jewelery and self-designed clothes, but the sun has set and the temperature was freezing, almost hovering around 2 degs. We retreated to Harrods !


Spotted massive long queue for Gucci - who says that there is recession ? Not if you see the incredible amount of people in Harrods and Harvey Nichols carrying huge bags but then again, stores are offering up to 70% off.

Boxing Day Sales Damage -
2 pairs of earrings from a craft stall in Camden - gave me a good deal off like 15%
1 pair of earring + 1 necklace from Accessorize - 50% off
1 Business Jacket from FCUK - 70% off
1 Dress + 1 Top from Zara - 50% - 70% off
1 pair of jeans from GAP - 50% off

Onwards to Harrods tomorrow for a 2nd day of shopping !

Updated: -
2 rings from Dorothy Perkins @ 50% off
1 DKNY clutch @ 50% off

Going to ask my friend to help me get a Dior bracelet @ 50% off ... Done !

Xmas Lights & Musicals

Xmas Lights on Regent Street

Giant Inflatable White Snowmen along Carnaby Street

Cute Apple Display for the Man who Has Everything

More Lights along Oxford Street


I was shopping for my friend's xmas present frantically, A helped me out alot in Europe, guiding me along the way. However, due to budgetary concerns on top of our differing fashion senses (fashion forward meets fashion backward). It wasn't easy to find something that she would squeal with happiness about. I gave up and settled for snort of mild amusement, rung her up and gave her four choices for her Xmas present.

In the midst of all the Xmas present searching, I chanced upon really cheap tickets to Wicked, at the Apollo Theatre. My first West End Show! I'm not a big fan of musicals, in fact, I often wear a grimace when someone tells me how much they are a great fan of some melodramatic, over the top, retarded sounding tunes of some musical. The snob has succumbed to the tourist.




I enjoyed the musical. It does not pretend to be anything else but to be entertaining for the 2 and a 1/2 hours that I paid for. The costumes were over the top and fun, the characters were stereotypical, the songs were so-so. I like the set design and the costumes, the plot was fun ! One more thing on my list done, next stop is Harrods, London and the Boxing Day Sale

Preparing for Xmas

Four Bottles of Wine + 1 Misc Can of Cider

Fantastic Argentina Steak Lunch - 4 different cuts of steak, roasted veggies, chips, and sweet potato chips for sides.

Double Chocolate Stout at Young's along the Thames

Strolling around London at Night


Westminster Abbey for Xmas Mass at Midnight


Merry Xmas !

Feeling like an 8 year old all over again

Went to the Victoria & Albert Museum today, the world's biggest museum for applied arts..

Liked the Casting Room, where they made casts of famous statues or landmarks ..

Liked the art-deco section, where they displayed Mackintosh's famous fireplace

Liked the Glass Gallery, where artists made gorgeous works of art using glass. There was a spectacular staircase made of glass.

ADORED the jewellery section, where the evolution of jewellery design was shown


The Natural History Museum was just opposite the VA museum. There was a skating rink and some stalls in preparation for Xmas.

I walked in .. and scenes of Jurassic Park danced in my head

Then Night in the Museum


Then the Thomas Crowne Affair, as I went to the Earth Section and there was the Vault. Where they displayed some of the biggest and best cut gems in the world.
Gold Nugget

Meteorite

Star of Africa

High Tea At Dorchester Hotel

Went for Afternoon tea in one of London's oldest hotels and key icons, the Dorchester Hotel. Voted the best afternoon tea in 2007 by the British Tea Inspectors, I had the Dorchester Blend for tea.A tray of finger sandwiches - Turkey with Sausage Meat & Cranberry Sauce, Cucumber with cream cheese, Smoked Salmon, Honey Roast Ham, Egg Mayo, Chicken with wholegrain mustard mayo and a selection of french pastries which had eclairs, chocolate mousse, chocolate cake, mince pie.




There was a man performing jazzy Xmas favourites on the piano in the background. Service was nice and not intrusive. The matching tea set and plates were a delight on the eyes. Life is good, at least for today ~

Winter Wonderland at Hyde Park

There is a Xmas fair going on right now in Hyde Park, with a one day travelcard, I decided to check it out at night.




There were loads of rides. Unlike our pasar malam rides, these were very detailed, very beautiful with a specific Xmas theme. There were no muddy grounds and wooden panels.



With rides, come hungry people and tons of food stalls catering to them. There were plenty of mulled wine, hot chocolate, hotdogs. The Xmas market was steered very much towards German food and drinks. Food, drinks, a band playing, people were dancing. It felt very nice. One day, I am going to ask my German classmates about the giant cookies with messages on them. I see them for Oktoberfest, I see them for Xmas, I see them whenever the theme "German" is applied.


Big Skating Rink in the Middle of the Park ..

Hyde Park all lit up at night..

Shopping at Camden Lock Market

Decided to do some shopping today, we headed to the Camden Lock Market. Shopping in London is fantastic ! The selection is so wide and varying, even for the fashion backwards me, it feels so exciting. Of course, when I first started shopping, I had to rid myself of my China mindset, there was a lot of items that I could have swore that I have seen in Qipu road in Shanghai, selling at 100 times cheaper. But there were also lots of lovely handmade goodies such as necklaces, rings, bags. I was trying and trying them on like crazy.

Along the road to Camden Lock Market, the uber displays above all the stores. Talk about product differentiation !

There is something for everyone ...
For the Goth Chick

Steel Plated and Spiked Boots for the Biker

For the Druggie

For the Foodie

For all your BDSM needs


There was a shop that I really liked, unfortunately I couldn't take photos inside, so I cannot show you the items on sale. Let's just say that there was crucified teddy bear caps on sale, robots screwing robots t-shirts. Stuff that was pushing the envelope slightly, but very funky, very cool. If i was attached now, I would have emptied my wallet for stuff for my boyfriend here
Cyberdog The website does not do it justice. The retail experience was fantastic, with its dynamic mix of the bizarre to the cutting edge to the wearable. I would love to see 77th Street try something like this ..