Saturday 11-10 - The Surprise and Girls Night

Dani headed of to work and I slow got out of bed. I showered and dressed. Then I got a call from Josh. The uni had organised a day trip down by bus to London. They had about 4 hours to see all of the city. Even a weekend isn´t enough time. There were a few guys and a girl. I think most were French.

I met them at St Paul´s cathedral. We had lunch at subway (the only shop that was open) then we planned a walking tour of London. We walked up to the British Museum to see the contemporary statues and the Egyptian exhibit. Josh popped out to see Karen and Aiden. So I was baby sitting again, only this time it was international students.

The Museum was having its ¨The Big Draw¨day, encouraged young and old alike to draw. My Perth friends Mara and Gemma were at the gallery, helping out with the Big Draw activities. It was nice running into them. I tried to persuade Josh´s classmates to have a draw while we waited for him. Except for the girl, none seemed interested, but even she took time to convince. I sat down and started to draw, but Josh got back before I could finish. So off we went again.

The next leg of the journey went through Covent Garden up to seven dials, the sun dial. We took one of the seven roads that meet there, though I can never remember which is which. Then all the way down to Piccadilly Circus. They had really wanted to go there to see the big bill boards. I realised that I hadn´t been down there for years. I couldn´t think of a reason I would want to be there. The area was full of tourists and Ripley's believe it or not. Souvenir shops and the like. But they enjoyed it. I had more enjoyed the museum, with its spontaneous events and happenings.

By then it as getting late, I had told Dani I would visit her at work. I got lost finding the right street and had to ask for directions at a police station. Then a long walk to her book shop. She closed, then we were joined by her housemates Felicity and Maria. Back at the house we made up dinner of stuffed capsicum with rice and zucchini.



Then we all sat around drinking wine and reading the timeout. We went through a number of plans for the night, but just couldn´t decide what to do. Maria, Dani and I set ourselves on an indie band night in Shoreditch.



At the club we caught the start of the support act, Tin Can Telephone. They were really sweet indie pop and nice to listen to.



In between we danced a little. Felicity arrived with some other friends. We danced a lot more.





The main act Fryers came on, surrounded in blue fairy lights. They were more upbeat than the previous act, which suited us perfectly. We took up half the floor jumping about. Most of the crowd just stood still.



The boys that arrived with Felicity were not happy. They wanted to go elsewhere. So on a bus we all hopped, singing loudly as we went. We got to The Russian Club, at which the boys knew the bouncer and helped us skip the line. Drum and bass blared over the packed dance floor. Everyone in the club was wearing tracksuits and hoodies. We thought they usually dressed like that and wear kind of nervous. It was intimidating. Until we found out it was only a ´tracksuit party´.



None of us girls were enjoying the club, so we hopped a bus back to our first club. We stopped on the way for a small bottle of vodka to hide in a bag.



By the time we got back the place had emptied out. Plus they took our vodka away. So we left, picked up our booze at the door and walked in the direction of home. Still we were singing every song we could think of that was loud and fun. We bought Kebabs and sat next to some guys outside a club to eat. The bouncers tried to move us on but we stayed and chatted. The group worked at a bar down the road and had just gotten off duty.



We found an empty laundromat.





Back in the house kitchen we chatted away and ended up in fits of laughter until early in the morning.

Friday 10-10 - Babysitting

Karen had meetings to go to. My job was to come with and babysit. My got to the first meeting early. We got into the lobby of the huge building and signed in for guest passes. Up to the top floor where Aiden and I waited on the luxury couch. I played with Aiden and read him a book while waiting for his mum to finish with her meeting. I tried to make sure he tried drool too much on their couch.

Next stop is running across town to the next meeting. We carried the stroller up and down and up the tube stairs. This smaller building had a garden in front, so I stayed outside with Aiden to let him sleep for a while. We watched people rushing in and out of the building.



The meetings were finished so I bid farewell to mother and baby. I strolled down to Portabello road. I had lunch at a trendy corner pub. There was a Moroccan chicken on crisp bread with home made crisps.



Then I walked down the Portabello road markets. I like walking through each section of the market. First the antiques and then the food and the second hand clothes. I looked around but didn´t find anything I felt like buying. Sometimes it´s just nice to wander. I did stop into the Hummingbird bakery to pick up vanilla cupcakes.

I tubed to Dani. As I got near the door I got message asking me bring something good to eat or drink. Good thing I had those cupcakes. We hung out with cupcakes and cartoons. Dani had to get up early for work, so it wasn´t a big night.

Thursday 9-10

The day of the fast. Usually I try sleep in as much as possible if I´m fasting. Except this year I was up at 7-30. Way too early. I went with Karen to run some errands. They helped to take my mind off the not eating or drinking.

Then to the British Museum. There was an exhibition called Statuephilia. 5 pieces of contemporary art were placed in amongst the exhibitions of ancient civilizations. We picked up a map, leading us on a kind of treasure hunt to find them.

The first piece was in the foyer. It was a scaled down version of the Guardian of the North:



Next was a Damien Hurst piece in the enlightenment room. It was cases and cases full of skulls with messy pain all over them. Dozens and dozens of colourful plastic skulls. Not too impressive.

Next was an enormous and life like head. It sat in front of a large stone Statue which also had a large head. It was like a huge death mask. In the Egyptian section was me favourite. It called Dark Stuff. The profiles of the two artists heads on spikes were created on the walls by shadow puppets. Shadow puppets made from mummified animal corpses. Everything was there, from the bones of a bird to the half rotted body of a dog. I just can´t work out about they did it.

The gold statue of Kate Moss doing yoga was also interesting. I wondered where the artist got so much gold.



In the afternoon we went to the park. Dani joined us for the rest of the day.



Evening: at last time to break the fast. Karen made us dinner. There was a roll, spinach and ricotta ravioli and then awesome awesome summer fruits trifle. We were full and content. No more fasting for another year.

wednesday 8-10 - Park life

I met up with Karen at Patisserie Valerie for lunch. We both wanted Caesar salad. I wanted mine without bacon and Karen anted hers without dressing. Instead they brought a salad with neither and a salad with both bacon and dressing. Aiden hadn´t been sleeping well for days. So after lunch I took him out to the park for a while.

I realised I had never had time alone with him before. Sure I had entertained him while people were in the other room. But I had never been in a place with just me and him. I wanted to spend as much time with him as possible. I just thought about all the time I wouldn´t have with him when I would go back to Perth. All the things I would miss, like his first words or seeing him crawl or walk. He´s only my cousin. But I want to hug him. I want to spoil him with toys and treats. I want to be a part of his life. I hate the thought that I come back to London in a few years and he doesn´t remember me. I hope that of all the time I spend with him, at least some of it will stick.

We sat in the park blowing bubbles and then read a book. It was great.

I walked down to H & M to get get new socks. I managed to finish great socks. When I got a call from the family back in Perth I remembered. It was the start of Yom Kippur that night. The 25 hour fast for purity of the soul and all that stuff. On the way home I picked up Itsu salad and their amazing frozen yogurt. I ate and officially started my fast, then fed Aiden.

Tuesday 7-10 - Snowmen in London

I hung around for a time before meeting Dani for lunch. She was having lunch with uni friends. I met up to grab food and to grab keys to get into her place. Then moved my bag of clothes back to Karens, now that the rest of family were gone.

This was the night that Snowman, a Perth band, were playing. They were all in London and were finally having a gig. I was very excited to see them play after so many months.

Our first stop was a party held by Dani's uni course. It was full of design students, free food and an open bar. I got through a whole bunch of free cider and then the food was looking more and more tasty. Olives, chips, samosas, spring rolls, falafel, corn chips and calamari. So much tasty food. We chatted to all the students before heading out.

I was still buzzed and hungry. I found myself at a Japanese fast food place buying chicken onigiri. At the 100 club we waited for the doors to open and met up with our Perth Friends Mara and Gemma, then Simon who I hadn't seen since Perth. We had all pre-booked tickets, just to make sure that we all got in. The place was packed.

The first band reminded me a heavier version of Explosions in the Sky. The sound system was overbearing, leaving a ringing in my ears. I chatted to the Perth crew. I also drank a lot more beer.

Next up were Snowman. They played new songs, I didn't recognise any of them. it didn't matter though, they were style very good fun. Those guys really know how to rock out. They were followed by the headliners, Pivot. They were also from Australia but I hadn't heard their stuff before. They were good, but I was exhausted from the beer and cider. I was glad when they finished playing. I bid farewell to everyone as Dani walked we back to the flat.

Monday 6-10 - park, haircut

I met up with Karen and Aiden at baby orchestra at St Lukes church. All the mothers were singing and the kids were running, smashing into walls. The teacher had an a very animated voice. We walked down to meet Karen´s friend and her bub. Then went to a parl that had its own deer farm.





Lunch was with the 2 mums and 2 bubs at some trendy cafe. Salmon in pastry with a huge salad filled plate.



Later on I decided it was time for a haircut. I had been needing a trim for at least a month and my hair was in a horrible state. Half the length was split, breaking. We passed the hairdresser on Lamb conduit, but it was empty. I called on the mobile and got a 5 oclock spot.

In the meantime we took the babe up to Brunswick centre. I wondered around the shops and came apon a pair of Amazing boots. Neon pink wellington style boots at a kids shoe shop. It was fine though, half of my shoes come from kids stores. They fit perfectly and were half price. Yay!!



At the hairdresser I sat down in front of woman with a most spectacular red afro. I told her I wanted a fringe and a lot taken off. Terrified, I watched 30cm pieces of hair falling to the floor. The end of cut came as I looked in the mirror. She had done it so well, I couldn't stop smiling.



I wanted to go out with my brand new hair cut, but no one was around who wanted to do anything. So I stayed to give Aiden his night feed.

Sunday 5-10 - the stall

This was the day of the very first More tea, vicar? A monthly afternoon event organised by our cousin Sarah. Free admission to a gig with vintage clothes stalls, board games and most importantly, a cupcake stall. Sarah had invited Dani to sell her baked goods and Dani had happily accepted.

The night before we had done the baking. The count was 56 cupcakes.

• A quarter in vanilla with amazing red icing and heart candy
• A quarter in chocolate with white milk bottle lollies
• Half in peanut butter with choc coated peanuts on top

Everything looked amazing, ready in white boxes. The only problem was the rain. Of all the days for a downpour, this was the worst. We covered the boxes in garbage bags, making then almost impossible to carry with umbrellas. We tried bag combinations for a while before finding a large bag to put them all in. Iced baked goods must be one of the most awkward items to carry. The boxes can't tounch the top or side of each cupcake and must be kept carefully upright to stop sliding. Also, 56 cupcakes start to get heavy after a while.

We got to the tube station to find, once again in our hour of need, that the station was out of order for the day. Grrr. So in the rain we dragged our bags over to the bus stop and rode it to our intended tube change over. Then we caught the tube up to Balham. Outside we found even more rain. Against the wind we walked until we found the hotel.

The event was in a room at the back of a busy pub. But what a room! A huge round space that went up 2 stories and had a roof like a circus tent. The first floor had arches. The second floor had railings interspaced with some kind of family crests. On one side was the stage. Every surface was speckled by blue light from an enormous disco ball.





The stall was set up with purple paper and lollies.



Dani's cupcakes sold really well. The vanilla were the first to go.



The peanut butter were the last to go, mostly because there were so many of them.



The bands were all amazing. First was the Fancy Toys. A British guy and a French guy.





Then a 13 girl played 2 songs. She had more talent and charisma than most women. The room was silent while she played, attention only on her. Next was the Jackboots, who I thing will be huge.



The host Anthony Moore started and finished the music. He started with guitar and moved to keyboard. He said that he played guitar in the band (Cutting Crew) that played Died in Your Arms Tonight. Then he played the song on keyboard. Except that apparently he plays it and tells his story every single time he plays a gig. He just has to keep reminding everyone.



After the gig had finished we chatted to some of the musicians for a while before heading back. The rain had cleared. Dinner was instant noodles, to which we added oven veggies. We ended the night watching Secretary and drinking wine with the girls in the flat.