Super Snow Me

The snow kept coming last night and again today - it's just magical! I was walking home last night from the gym and the snow was falling and the footpaths were covered in snow, as was all the trees and houses, and just with the street lights it was so beautiful and peaceful.

And I was kind of covered in ice by the time I got home, but that's really beside the point. I took some photos this morning on my way to work so I'll try and post them later.

As to the news about work, one of the editors has resigned and will be leaving in a couple of weeks, at which point I will be taking over editing the Tracy Beaker website! Tracy Beaker is this show that is incredibly popular about some kid who is an orphan and lives in a kiddies home somewhere...and by the sounds of things she should probably stay locked up there. But that's really beside the point. The point is the website is very popular. So I'll be working with a designer and editing what the Tracy Beaker people send to us and making sure it's all up and online. And I'll keep writing for Stargate and CSI as well, which will keep me very very busy no doubt, but at least it's variety. As Gran used to say, "It's there for variety!" (*insert everyone else* "who is Variety? Where is Variety? If Variety isn't here then I can eat it!").


So fun and games and all that jazz.

Tracy Beaker - or TB as I've affectionately called her:) - will keep me going through til January. Stargate looks like it'll be finishing in August at this point, and CSI a bit after that.

And I had my first Yoga class last night and my back muscles are VERY VERY SORE today. Ouch ouch ouch. It's been a long time since I've used those. In fact, it's been a long time since I've used any muscles:). Some of the class was reminiscent of some gym training, but I can also see how a lot of it would be very beneficial to gymnasts if incorporated into training. *insert Gym Coach Mel here*

And now, back to all these things ... like writing a feature article about Angels. Riveting stuff, really.

Snowy McSnowSnow

It started snowing today!!! Terribly exciting for one who has never seen snow fall before. Most of it has now melted, but they've forecast more for tomorrow! Here are some piccies my boss took for me at work:





Also, exciting newsish work - but I'll leave that for when things are bit more set in concrete. Suffice it to say things are going to get busier, but more varied.:)

Celebrity Watch

I got a little distracted tonight on my way home - ie. I was daydreaming, big surprise - and missed my stop (Waterloo) so I got off at Westminster with the intention of catching a tube back one stop but the platform itself was PACKED. I had time to kill and decided to walk across the bridge to Waterloo instead. I'm glad I did - Houses of Parliament lit up at night in the drizzling rain is kinda cool - eerie, and more foreboding, if that's possible.

Then I was walking along the South Bank near the London Eye, mind my own business tonight, when who should walk by but JERRY HALL!

So that was bizzarro world.

More bizzarro world was she had someone holding her umbrella for her. And what was SHE doing that made her apparently so uncapable of holding her own umbrella? Smoking a cigarette.

TSK. Celebrities!

So that all happened on my way to dinner at Vauxhall with Jaimee where I met a bunch of Aussies, one kiwi and one Brit and had a really yummy dinner at this crazy little Ethiopian restaurant. Tres delicious. And cheap too! Only £9 each, the service was fantastic, the food delicious and filling, and a lovely atmosphere. It was good to meet more Aussies and talk to more people outside of my little sphere.

I also had my first appointment at the gym yesterday - it was great! I'd forgotten how good it feels to work out and have a good stretching session. I also had a lovely swim and a spa and nice hot shower...I like this gym! I have another appointment on Saturday and I'm hoping to book in for the dance class on Saturday as well.

Meanwhile, there may be hiccup in the Gallipoli plan.... more news on that as it develops.

Back to Kerrin in the studio!

Wimbledon

Today I decided,on a bit of a whim, to go to the Wimbledon Law Tennis Centre and Museum and I'm really glad I went. All my childhood dreams of being an international tennis star, although dashed not long after the dreams arose, helped to keep my excitement humming.

After a little bit of geographical displacement, I eventually got there - and just in time for a tour! It was really awesome - I got to sit in Centre Court and Court One and see the press centre (another dream, mostly dashed seeing as Sports journalism isn't exactly my forte....yet) and a whole heap of other cool stuff. The tour went for about and hour-and-a-half, and the price of £13.45 included museum entry as well, so it was well worth it.

The museum was REALLY impressive - they've got an amazing collection of things from a whole heap of awesome players, right back from Rod Laver through to Pete Sampras and Steffi Graf and the Williams sisters etc etc. Anywho, the photos turned out okay, and a picture says a thousand words apparently, so here they are:


Court One. Interestingly, or perhaps ridiculously, Court One and Centre Court are not played on at any other time of the year other than Wimbledon. As soon as the championship is over, they take down the nets and start on grass preparations for the following year.


Junior Championships Board - including such names as R Federer and Miss M Hingis


Henman Hill, where they set up a huge tellie so that people with Ground Passes, as oppose to court tickets, can watch the action at Centre Court and Court 1.


One of the Centre Court entrances


Centre Court


Centre Court ... and ME!


Press Seats at Court 1 ... Bide your time, Mellie, bide your time...


Entrance to the Millennium Building, where the players hang out - includes a MASSIVE gym, physios, private gardens, restaurants...it's kinda cool.


Player's reception...obviously:D


Press Centre in the Millennium building...I should be so lucky.


The Desk in the press centre where the players sit.


Memorabilia, including Steffi Graf's outfit from the last time she won Wimbledon, Boris Becker's shoes and raquet, Monica Seles' dress, Pat Cash's sweat band and wrist band...


Venus Williams' personalised shoes.


The coveted trophies...

A Loverly Bunch of Coconuts.

Last night was lots of drunken frivolity...again. I went out with the people from work for goodbye drinks for one of the guys. We went to this pub at London Bridge, just across from the Borough Markets. When I was leaving about 11pm they were already unloading all the produce for the next day. The place is huge! I'm defintely going back next weekend to get lots of fresh fruit and veg and flowers and things.

So anyway, back to the drinking, while we were there I met up with my friend Jaimee who I used to work with at Justice. She's been here for about six months now and it was really awesome to catch up with her. Hopefully next week I'll be going out to dinner with her and some of her Aussie friends - expand my circle a bit.:)

I was one of the last to leave and, being a bit intoxicated, upon finding the entrance to the London Bridge tube closed it didn't occur to me that there may be other entrances. So I went wandering off in search of another tube station. By myself, in the rain, late at night, and no idea where I was - probably not the best idea I've ever had but at least the intoxication meant I wasn't scared:D. So eventually I came across a tube station, caught it back to London Bridge, changed trains, changed again at Waterloo. By this time, I really needed a bathroom, so I went to the one at Waterloo and they charge 20p to use the toilets!!!! And they only take 20p coins or two 10p coins. Just as well I had a 20p coin on me...

So anyway, back on the train, I had sobered up sufficiently by the time I got to Wimbledon to consider that taking a taxi home would be wise.

I walked into our building and the resident cat was there curled up on one of the doormats. He's so cute! Big and fluffy and white with orange spots! We've built up quite a repore. He followed me all the way upstairs and came into the flat and explored for a little bit while I defrosted a bit of mince for him.


And really, considering my late night and far too many glasses of wine, today I'm feeling quite chirpy. It's all about Vitamin B, people.

And the Brits have done it again!

http://media.guardian.co.uk/site/story/0,14173,1407814,00.html


I'm not quite sure what to think of this...

It had to happen sooner or later...

I think it's about time I put something stupid on this blog, and not leave all the stupid and raving and rambling to my other webblog which, for reasons pertaining to my reputation, only certain people are allowed to see:D.

So here we go!


I'm Super - Performed by Big Gay Al

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bombs are Flying,
People are Dying,
Children are Crying,
Politicians are Lying too..

Cancer is Killing,
Texaco spilling,
The whole world's gone to hell..
But how are you?

I'm super, thanks for asking!
All things considered, I couldn't be better I must say!
I'm feeling super, no nothing bugs me!
Everything is super when you're..
Don't you think I look cute in this hat!?

I'm so sorry, Mr Cripple..
But I just can't feel too bad for you right now
Because I'm feeling, so insanely super!
That even the fact that you can't walk
Can't bring me down!

He's super, thanks for asking!
All things considered, he couldn't be better he must say!
Yes, i'm super! No, nothing bugs me!
Everything is super when you're..
Don't you think I look cute in this hat,
These little pants, This matching tie,
That I got at Merv's?!

I'm super, in the barracks and the trenches as well
Big Gay Al says, 'Do ask, Do tell'
Yes he's super, and he's proud to relay
Every-thing-is-super-when-you're-gay..
When you're gay!

A busy weekend.

This weekend I kept myself very busy during the day. It was good to go out into town today and refire the brain cell that says 'be exicited - you're in London!'. Yesterday was confined to Wimbledon, however, where I bought a few things for my room - sheets, pillowcases, doona - and did a few errands, like sending mail and dropping off my coat for dry-cleaning, FINALLY. Hehe, it was funny, I handed the coat to the woman behind the counter and she looked at it and then said 'well, we'll do our best'. It was kinda dirty. She said they'll have a couple of goes at it.

Today I got up late and headed to Knightsbridge with the intention of going to Harrods, only to realise while I was reading my guide book on the tube that Harrods is closed on Sundays. So I went to Harvey Nichols instead, and I can now say with confidence I HEART HARVEY NICHOLS. It's totally awesome! They have the most amazing food hall on the top level - absolutely incredible range of food, and three different cafes. I had lunch at the biggest sushi train I've ever seen - it was enourmous! And the food was fantastic.

After that, I wandered down stairs through the levels and fell in love with clothes. They have everthing there - Marc Jacobs, Dolce and Gabbana, DKNY, Stella McCartney etc etc etc. And then I gave in and bought some Lacome juicy tubes and got a gift pack with it, and got sucked in to Dior makeup. Dammit, it's just so good!

I eventually left and hopped back on the tube to Covent Garden. Sundays there are great - they've got a whole heap of street performers and the markets and just a fantastic atmosphere. Then I went to the Australia Shop to top up on Vegemite, and wandered off again and somehow found myself in China Town. I have no idea how I got there,but I'm glad I did. Preparations for Chinese New Year are in full swing, and the place was packed. I got me an egg tart, and it was real tasty:D. I also visited a couple of Chinese supermarkets and got some pork buns and bok choy and tea and things. I love Chinese supermarkets! Then wandered to Piccadilly Circus and back home.

It's so tough shopping sometimes.:D


Chinatown today

Last night I booked a Gallipoli tour for Anzac Day. This year being the 90th anniversary, it's probably going to be pretty busy, so I booked well ahead. The tour itself is pretty awesome - four days in total, we start in Istanbul and stay in a hotel there overnight, after a welcome dinner with bellydancers and then a trip to a local nightclub. The next day we head to Gallipoli for a look at the War Museum and the trenches etc with a tour guide. The idea is we'll be there two days before the Dawn Service so we'll have lots of time to see the place. We'll then go to a 'luxury' hotel and relax there and have a big buffet dinner.

The next day we're going to visit a couple of rural Turkish villages. One of them is apparently the last example of really old-skool Turkey. We have an early dinner at the hotel that night, then head off to get a prime position at Lone Pine.

The next day is obviously the Dawn Service, and later in the afternoon we head back to Istanbul where we stay overnight and leave the next day.

It's going to be really awesome and it's CHEAP and a lot of meals are included, so i'm really looking forward to it.

HOORAY!


Oh, and I had a conversation with an Indian in a London souvenir store about the Australian cricket team today.

Although I couldn't understand half of what he said.

But he had been to Brisvegas twice, Sydney and Cairns, and the only reason he went to Australia was to see cricket matches.

Gallipoli

I'm giving very good thought to going to Instanbul/Gallipoli for Anzac Day. Flight Centre have a four day package which includes hotels in Instanbul, coach transfers, and some meals, and a cruise on the Bosphorus, and flights for only £99 starting price. I'd love to do it, and the trip allows time for exploring Istanbul.

Hmm...the possibilities are ENDLESS!

Beauty/Fashion Advice from a London-based Lass

Here's a few things you desperately need if you're planning on staying in London at any length of time:

1. Baby oil - it's super cheap, so put heaps in a really hot bath and soak for ages. Your skin will get really dry here, despite all the damp in the air, especially seeing as you're going to be covering it all up. Make sure the bath is really hot to get the circulation pumping - another consequence of being cold is the lack of circulation, especially to legs, hands and feet.

2. Lip balm, and LOADS of it! For those of you who, like me, enjoy the fruitilicious smells of Body Shop lip balm, there's heaps of Body Shop shops here. But their lip balm isn't necessarily the best to combat the cold here. Instead, try lip glosses that leave a really thick coat on your lips, like juicey tubes which I think are made by Lacome.

3. Drink plenty of bottled water - while the tap water is drinkable, it tastes disgusting. Bottled water is super cheap anyway. I buy the six-packs of 1.5L vittel waters and keep them at work. Apart from the obvious dryness cold windy weather is going to give you, you'll be loaded with tea which dehydrates!

4. Face wipes - I've found these awesome tea-tree oil face wipes over here. They're great to get rid of make-up and because they've got the tea-tree oil in them they heal skin as well. But it's not just for getting rid of make-up - after a day in the city, you're going to end up with a thin layer of grime on your face from smog and cigarette smoke and god knows what else. It's amazing how much dirt you wipe off your face at the end of a day.

5. While heeled boots are really awesome, a large percentage of the streets in London are still old cobblestones, a lot of which the grouting in-between the stones and bricks has worn away. I learned the hard way that heeled boots were not made for walkin', after tripping over numerous times and ending up with really sore ankles and knees. Unless it's a special occassion, it's all about flat comfortable shoes.

6. Hair irons are a must if you like straight hair - The wind and rain here will destroy blow-dried hair unless you have ironed it straight. Get a decent quality one.

7. Still on hair, get yourself a REALLY good conditioner. Let's face it, when you've got long or thick hair and you don't dry it before you go out in maximum 6 degree weather, your head is going to freeze off and roll away down the street. So it's really important to dry it every day, but for that reason it's also really important to use a really good thick conditioner and probably a leave-in conditioner as well. I use a spray in leave-in conditioner, but hair masques are REALLY big over here.

8. Hand cream - even when wearing gloves your hands are going to get really dry. I carry around hand cream with me wherever I go because applying more than once a day is often necessary.

9. Get a decent moisturiser for your face and one for the rest of you - a decent face moisturiser needs UV protection, even in the dreary weather here. And get a really thick, oil-based moisturiser especially for your legs, even if you don't usually use oil-based moisturisers.



Having said all of that, here's the dish on fashion for the winter season coming up - eventually - in oz:

1. Cowboy boots are going to be HUGE - not necessarily leather, although they're quite popular, but suede as well. About calf-high, often with a bit of detail, and scrunched at the top. Most people are wearing them over jeans.

2. Sheepskin wool vests - again, really huge, although I'm not a fan of the ones that use real sheep skin, because it's usually from one-year-old lambs that have only been shorn once. The wool itself though is pretty important over here. Worn over long-sleeved sweaters with jeans and usually a pair of Ugg boots or cowboy boots.

3. Speaking of the Ugg, the designer ones were still in this season. Find Uggs with belts around them that tighten them to your calves. They're uber comfortable and warm. Ah, the humble Ugg....

4. Wellington boots were in for a while, although I'm not a huge fan, but they were generally knee-high and all sorts of crazy patterns, which I'm sure the more eclectic people will appreciate.

5. Forget black and brown coats, get yourself a pink or a white/cream one, and one that emphasises the waste - ie. tapered in or with a belt. It's all about figure accentuating coats, not figure-hiding coats.

6. The classic pin-striped suit was huge for women this year - long pants and a fitted jacket.

7. As always, designer handbags were huge, especially from D&G, Fiorelli (which have the most beautiful bags ever seen over here!) and, of course, Louis Vuitton. If you haven't, like most normal people. got the budget for these and can't get a knock-off, Accessorize stores hold a whole heap of gorgeous bags. Accessorize are EVERYWHERE over here, even in Waterloo train station, and I know they're springing up more and more in Oz, so get yourselves there and check out their handbags.

8. While on the subject of Accessorize, they also have a whole heap of really gorgeous jewellery. The Boho look, courtesy of Sienna Miller, was also huge. We're not talking smelly hippy Boho, but classy boho. Heaps of intricate jewellery, detailed belts, bright colours, scarves. If you've got any of this stuff left over from 'back in the day', drag it out and freshen it up.

9. Jeans - the humble denim will never go away, and this season was no exception. Get yourself a decent pair of fitted jeans and some awesome detailed belts to kit it out with. It's all about accessorising this season, so belts, bags and jewellery are all there to dress up jeans.




And now, that I've wasted a good hour, I'm going to actually do some work:D.

A few things...

It doesn't matter where you go in the world:

1. Real Estate agents will treat you like garbage and try and screw you over if you're renting;
2. I will always lose socks;
3. I will always be confronted with screaming children in supermarkets;
4. There will always be bad TV shows;
5. People will be obsessed with their weight; and
6. Gwen Stefani will always rock.