this week.

1. The three day week - I don't know if I could do it all the time as I actually quite like working and having a routine, but it was very good having a three day week due to the mega bank holiday weekends.
2. Having a tidy flat - we've had a bit of a spring clean and the flat is looking really great. I love it when everything looks fresh and tidy and there isn't any clutter.
3. Kick Ass - we finally got this on DVD (and I got IDed in the process - rather embarrassing!) and we were not disappointed. Hit Girl is my new hero. Cardy bought me the graphic novel for Christmas so it's my current bedtime reading.
4. My friend's roller derby blog - she's working on a book and has started a blog telling the story of her trials and tribulations as a trainee roller girl. Well worth a read!
5. Fire and Stone in Covent Garden - Peking duck pizza, need I say more?

this week.

1. Spring flowers - colour seems have to exploded all over London over the last week. I'm lucky to work over the road from a gated garden and the daffodils are amazing. The flower beds on the way to the supermarket are awash with colour too. Glorious!
2. New arrivals - one of my friends has just had her first baby girl. I'm so happy for her, it feels like she's been pregnant forever! She's gone for a Space Invaders themed nursery - that's all kinds of awesome.
3. My spring coat - I've put my winter coat away for the time being and have broken out my spring coat, complete with gingham and embroidered flowers.
4. Waking up to sunshine - it definitely makes the mornings easier!
5. Cardy, for buying the Nintendo 3DS - perhaps the best moment this week. When I got home on Friday Cardy came into the living room with a HMV bag and I couldn't help but do a happy dance. Not only did he get it in Aqua Blue (which is gorgeous!) but he also bought the version of Nintendogs that I'd been eyeing up.

japan day.

When Cardy suggested that we have our own little 'Japan Day' I thought it was a fantastic idea. The theory was that as well as donating some money to the relief fund at the Japan Centre on Regent Street we would, in our own small way, be contributing to the Japanese economy.

We started the day with lunch at Wagamama. I realise that Wagamama isn't actually a Japanese-owned company but we do love the food. I think we need to try to find an authentic Japanese restaurant in London, I'm sure there are plenty about. I've even heard we have one in Brixton! Anyway, I had the duck gyoza and ginger chicken udon with plum wine and Cardy had the mushroom and asparagus gyoza and chicken katsu curry with green tea. Delicious!

About a minute's walk from Wagamama is Japan Centre, perhaps one of my favourite food related stores in the city. We now have a stock pike of Pocky and other sweet goodies as well as rice seasoning for onigiri. I also bought a bento box with chopsticks and some cute little animal bento picks. I'm going to have to find some recipes for bento and give it a go!

Our day also included trying out the new Nintendo 3DS (I think we're going to put in a preorder tomorrow - eek!), buying a new anime DVD, Paprika (brilliant but somewhat confusing, just like all good anime should be) and searching gaming shops for the newly released Okamiden. Unfortunately it only looks like it's available online, so I'll have to have a nosey.

All in all a very good day. I think we should do it more often.

this week.

1. Looklet.com - I've never quite grown out of that girlish love of paper dolls so when I heard about Looklet.com I was THERE. Created in association with Vogue and featuring fashion from real designers it is every little girl's dream wardrobe simulator.
2. Skating at Earl's Court - as there was a bout on Saturday we had our training session at Earl's Court. The floor is concrete and a bit lumpy but it was so much fun! I couldn't really walk for three days, but there you go, that's derby love for you.
3. Valentine's Day - Cardy and I aren't hugely into Valentine's but we do exchange cards. I was also treated to a post-training back rub. He's a good'un.
4. Cardy's ever increasing Japanese game collection - Cardy has recently got a Sega Saturn and Dreamcast and he's been buying Japanese video games from eBay. I'm eyeing up ChuChu Rocket! - oh the excitement!
5. Late night noodles - I don't usually like to eat too late but on Saturday I really needed some food before going to bed so it was noodles in teriyaki sauce the rescue. Delicious!

this week.

1. Meeting up with old friends - I met up with a friend from uni on Sunday and a day of window shopping, Wagamama and gossip over Starbucks was had. It's always great when you meet up with someone you haven't seen for a while and you pick up the conversation like you'd only seen each other the day before.
2. Japanese pickles - Cardy is torturing me by keeping a jar of red pickled veg in the fridge. I fear I may wake up on the kitchen floor one morning with the stuff smeared all over my face.
3. South Park - thank you Viva for your week night showings of this fantastic cartoon. Cartman truly is a legend.
4. Wearing PJs during the day - I was meant to have a girly day with a friend on Monday but she was 'more snot than human' (her words, not mine) so we had to cancel. I therefore spend the day in the flat, wearing pyjamas and eating pasta. Happy times.
5. Creating palettes on Colour Lovers - so far I've been a watcher more than a do-er, but I've tried my hand at making some palettes and I've really enjoying it. Sometimes it's very frustrating, other times it just clicks.

1. Firefly - Cardy fancied watching some Indiana Jones last week but we don't have any of the films on DVD. I suggested that Captain Mal might be a good substitute and so began a week of watching Firefly over dinner. Although I won't deny that it would be nicer to have more episodes of this amazing show I'm sort of glad that they cut it in its prime. Now it will have the tragic luxury afforded to those beautiful people who die young - it will be forever brilliant.
2. Training so hard I have to sleep afterwards - exercise induced slumber is pretty wonderful.
3. Super Mario Bros. - I don't want to sound like I'm full of myself, but myself and Cardy do rather rock when it comes to playing video games together. We manage to reach a level of Ultimate Zen Coupleness which allows us to become this perfectly in tune gaming machine. And when we don't do too well we find it absolutely hilarious. We're therefore greatly appreciating the experience that Super Mario Bros. offers.
4. My new bag - I'm a bit gutted in that the custom bag that I'd ordered hasn't ever materialised, but I decided that rather than sit around a mope I should do something more productive about it. So I went out and bought a new one. From Desigual. Any excuse really. Needless to say it's a dream and I'm still not over the novelty of actually being able to fit my stuff in my handbag.
5. I Love Katamari on iPhone - absolute glee! Portable Katamari = ultimate love.

bamboo fun.

I've been having a lot of fun playing with Cardy's Christmas present this week. I don't claim to be an artist, but after a bit of experimentation I feel that my pen control is getting better.

I'm lucky that the Mac App Store opened this week - I downloaded Sketchbook Pro and have been merrily messing about with the different brushes. I'm in love - I'm especially taken with how realistic the pencil looks.

Cardy has treated himself to a programme called Manga Studio 4 - I'm excited to see what he's going to come up with!

this week.

1. Living with Cardy - yesterday marked a year since myself and Cardy loved in together. I remember people telling me how hard it was adjusting to living with someone and how I should prepare myself for endless arguments, but I'm delighted to be able to say that their warnings weren't necessary.
2. Feeling productive - I know it may sound a little masochistic, but I've actually really enjoyed going back to work after having time off over Christmas and New Year. I wouldn't go as far as to say that I'm a morning person but I do really like getting up, going to work and coming home in the evening feeling like I've achieved something. I find it quite hard to get motivated when I'm at home on a dull and dim day, I think I'm solar powered.
3. Our John Lewis bed linen - shortly before I moved out my mum bought me a set of bed linen from John Lewis that she knew I was rather fond of. We put them on the bed for the first time the other day and oh my WORD I'm in heaven!
4. The Mac App Store - downloadable applications for Mac? Yes please! Very exciting.
5. Cardy's Wacom tablet - I bought Cardy a Wacom Bamboo Fun tablet for Christmas and seeing as he's such a lovely boyfriend he's been letting me have a go. I downloaded Sketchbook Pro from the new Mac App Store and although I'n not the greatest artist I can't deny that I've had an awful lot of fun!

this week.

1. Hairy Growler Jewellery - Cardy bought me some gorgeous jewellery from the Hairy Growler for Christmas. I love it so so much, especially the lock and key necklace. Cardy is most definitely in my good books.
2. Follow the White Rabbit on Etsy - I've been admiring Follow the White Rabbit's plush deer on Etsy for some time so I was overjoyed when Cardy bought me one for Christmas. I'm now the proud owner of Blueberry Ice. So cute!
3. Mario Kart on Nintendo Wii - the parents bought this for myself and Cardy for Christmas. Not only do I love it because it's Mario, I also love it because I won a race!
4. Christmas in general - I had a really good one this year. I got to spend it with my family plus Cardy, his dad and his sister. We ate good food, exchanged lots of lovely gifts and watched Doctor Who. Bliss.
5. Staying in for New Year's Eve - myself and Cardy don't really go out so we didn't see the point in going out on the one night of the year when everything costs more and you can't actually move. So we've had a Chinese takeaway, watched plenty of Futurama and will spend the evening on the sofa.

date night.

I was sent on a course this afternoon and was told to make the most of it and enjoy having an early finish. Once the course was over I rang Cardy who had just left his office. While he Tubed it over to London Bridge I went to my favourite German deli to stock up on condiments.

When Cardy arrived we headed over to Wagamama at Clink Street. I love that place, in the summer it feels open and airy, yet in the winter the yellow brick exudes warmth and comfort. Having indulged ourselves on katsu curry (me) and chu chee curry (him), we trundled home, smug with the knowledge that we didn't have to cook anything when we got there. I love spontaneous dinners.

this week.

1. My new job - I'm enjoying having more of a career focus and the people in my department are really warm and welcoming.
2. Wagamama's Ginger Chicken Udon - I'm sure they've changed the recipe. I had it for lunch on Tuesday and although it's always been lovely it tasted particularly divine.
3. Grey suit trousers - I've only ever had black trousers before for work but I'm really taken with my new grey and purple trousers from Next. It's nice to have something a bit different.
4. Dune by Christian Dior - my Dad picked me up a bottle of Dune years ago on a trip to the States. I don't know he did it, but he managed to select a scent that works really well with my skin. Cardy commented on me smelling good which is always a positive!
5. Sleep - after a full week's work after an extended holiday I'm in love with my bed.

conversion.

I remember an afternoon in 2008 when Cardy suggested we go to the Apple Store on Regent Street. I was not best pleased. I don't know why, but I'd got it into my head that Apple was the source of all evil (I don't know where I got that notion from).

Over the last two years he has obviously converted me. For Christmas 2008 my parents bought me an iPod Nano. And on Saturday I finally bit the Mac bullet and bought myself a MacBook Pro.

I am absolutely in love. I can't work out why I haven't stopped using Windows sooner. This really is a dream machine.

spring.

The clocks went forward today signalling the beginning of a long awaited spring. There is a tree across the road from our flat that is sporting a fresh new blanket of soft pink blossom. When I turn the lights off as I leave the office at the end of the day I'm not longer plunged into darkness.

Life is most certainly sweet.

I'm loving living in London. I'm loving living with Cardy. I'm loving our flat and my job and lounging around at the weekends.

The light in our living room is astonishing - I'm looking forward to getting snap happy over the impending Easter holiday. I love the creamy tones in this photo of Svetlana. I never thought I would be able to take such good photos of my beauty white girls.

winter.

Winter is in full swing. I don't think I've ever seen this much snow in one season. I feel quite torn with regards to the white stuff; the child in me is in heaven, but the adult in me sees it as a great inconvenience.

I'm moving out tomorrow. I've moved out before when I was a student, but this feels different. Myself and Cardy are finally going to be living together in London and I couldn't be happier.

birthday.

It was my birthday on Sunday. I meant to write a blog to mark the occasion, but I was so caught up in enjoying myself that the thought fluttered out of my mind like a slightly dizzy butterfly with mild amnesia. Not that I've ever had the pleasure of meeting such a creature.

To anyone else it probably looked like a pretty unimpressive day. We had a deliciously lazy morning which included opening cards and presents in bed. Cardy bought me a Moon Jar and the most exciting necklace that managed to combine two of my favourite things; graphic novels and Lego. My parents had given me my gifts before I left; an amazing pair of metallic blue DMs and an oddly cute Ice Bat plush.

After watching some Derren Brown on 4oD (my current poison) we got reasonably glammed up and headed out for my birthday treat - dinner at Wagamamas. In order to make sure we had worked up a sufficient appetite we went for a leisurely stroll along the south bank, stopping on occasion to bask in the period charm of the Globe or stare in awe at the industrial presence that is the Tate Modern (and so I could hoist up the damned tights that I had to wear in order to give my glorious purple skirt a public airing - I do try to be lady-like).

I ordered a glass of ginger beer, a chicken katsu curry and an extra portion of red pickles. Bloody brilliant. Cardy finds it amusing that I always go for the same thing, but I love it so very much! We returned home full of sticky rice and noodles and continued the Japanese theme by watching Spirited Away, then went to bed and played 'I Spy' in the dark until we fell asleep.

All in all, a brilliant birthday and a fantastic start to my 23rd year!

summer.

Well summer is here in full force and I feel as though I'm gradually melting. The air is hot and humid and there isn't enough rain.

On a positive note, the heat is bringing out some rather interesting finds in the garden. I've been informed by the lovely regulars at the gardening corner that this is a Crocosmia 'Lucifer'. All I know is that it looks pretty.


The summer also means it's tennis season and I have found myself addicted to Wimbledon. A few evenings ago when watching the Murray-Wawrinka five set epic, Cardy taught me how tennis actually works, and now my enjoyment of the sport has increased. Brilliant stuff, and a very patient boyfriend!

I've also enjoyed some lovely lighting, so I have been busy with the camera. Tigerlily and Ophelia are home and they are making the most perfect models.


I am so utterly in love with them. There shall be plenty of more photos to come! I've also decided that when she arrives, my Miyu shall be called Étoile. It was Cardy's idea.