Beautiful Friends

So it was my birthday on Saturday… the big 2-4 I turned! It was probably one of the most beautiful birthdays that I have had. It all came down to the beautiful and amazing girlfriends that I have in London, and in Australia.

I woke up to see a message from Lina – wishing me a happy birthday – made me smile! :) then Sarah called and had a great chat with her – she blessed me with beautiful presents! Thanks chicky-dee!

Then, my London girls out-shone anything I thought a friend could be.
Heather, my beautiful flatmate gave me a birthday hug and made me coffee – I love people making me coffee!! – got showered and dressed.. Kate from home called to wish me a happy birthday too!
Then chatted to Mum and Dad on the way to the bus stop… so blessed to have amazing parents!
Got to a cute little café, where the girls were sitting and waiting… so great to see them all! Got loads of hugs and kisses, and sat down to a delicious coffee and breakfast.

After what seemed to be a thousand photos, they produced a gift. The cards are what I will treasure forever. They wrote the most beautiful words. Made me realise that these girls are some of the most amazing people I have ever met, and that they are truly a gift from God to have them in my life – their hearts so extravagant with love and generosity. The present topped it off – being an Ipod Nano!! Wahoo!!! So exciting!!
Together with God, they are my life at the moment – and I’m ecstatic about this!

After the brunch, a few of us did some window shopping, and then Janelle and I headed down to the river, to have yet another coffee – and a good long chat!

Next it was time for the party! The other BIG part of my life (if you hadn’t already guessed!) is our Watoto House! Saturday night we had a wine and cheese night to raise money, and it was a huge success of a night! I got to see all my Watoto pals! And they also blessed me with their love with a card, a cake and a HUGE bunch of flowers! To top it all off - we raised over £600!

So, a big thank you to all of you.. you know who you are!
You are all Warrior Princess Daughters… God Chicks Forever!

Sloppy kisses to all of you!
xox

Oh, photos will come soon.. sorry - on other peoples camera's! :)

My Love of Cover Bands

On Saturday night, I renewed my love for live cover bands at pubs. Its been so long since I've experienced one... to my shame, it was actually the night of Lina's wedding in FEBRUARY! that I took to the dance floor with friends that I love, screaming the words to Bon Jovi, Barry Manillo, The Beatles and all other classic cover songs!

On Saturday we went to the Puzzle in Earlsfield.. popular with the antipodeans in London. It took me back to the good old days at the Hard Rock Cafe in Surfers Paradise with Birdie.. oh.. those were the days! I wonder if he's still there... ?
All my old habits came to the surface, and I found myself dialing my best friends number in Australia, with the phone in the air so she could listen to the music! She ofcourse was shaking her head, envisioning a slightly(!) tipsie Rinnie belting out the tunes. oops.. sorry Sarah!

Hey Jude then came on, and Jen had to take the phone off me, so that I wouldnt call my mum! hehe!

Great night... apparently we're off to the Redback next for another quality night!






Ps.. my self/group portraits are getting better hey?! :)

Pssst

Its my birthday in 9 days!

xox

Tuesdays

Tuesdays.. I've decided have become my favourite day of the week... let me share.

Yesterday, in particular, we had a 'bake off' afternoon at work to raise money for our Watoto House. It was so great to see all my colleagues be so supportive in my fundraising that they got behind this day - brought in a feast of munchies for all to share AND we managed to raise over £150 for the house!

After work however, is what I look forward to most. Work finishes at 5 and I wander down to what I have discovered to be one of the best Starbucks in London. (my opinion ofcourse!)... its in Angel. Its spacious, not busy and looks out onto a little park. What else you see out the windows, is a red double decker bus, a typial London phone box ANDS mailbox!
After an hour or so of uninterrupted reading, a venti coffee and a muffin, I then catch a bus to my leadership course. The bus stops about a 10min walk away, where I walk past some amazing old buildings, and lots of people merrily on their way from A to B.

I get to Leadership... changes my life... yet again stretching my thoughts, potential and capacity to lengths I never thought possible before coming to this magical city.

9.45pm - college ends, and I come out to the cool crisp night air. Jump on another bus to Waterloo... the bus takes me over Waterloo Bridge.. look out to the left and you see St Pauls Cathedral in the distance, out to the right you have Big Ben and the London Eye.. truly magical. Then off the bus and up the big prestigious steps into the station - who knew Waterloo had such a magnificent entrance? (well not me when I'm always entering and exiting it underground!)

Then onwards home on the train.
Evenings like this makes me fall in love with London. Something I will treasure always.
I'm really going to miss this city!
xox

Proud to be Australian! :)

Being in London, I am surrounded by so many people from so many cultures, I love it so much, and I know that when I come home, I will miss getting on a packed bus, and listen to everyone talking - no one speaking english!

So anyway, most of my friends here in london are not Aussies - many Kiwi, South African and English. There are a few aussies, but most have been here too long, that you may as well call them English! :) I am proud to say that I still love Aussie soaps on TV! I get excited when I get to the gym just in time to see Neighbours! And when I'm home on a Saturday morning, and Home and Away is on for 2hours (all episodes from the week before!) Now I know most of my friends in Australia dont even watch these anymore, but I love it! I love the random Aussie joke emails that I get through, and love to hear a strong and proud Australian accent (mine has softened a tad in the 2 and a half years of being here).
So... when the opportunity arose to see the play - 'The Vegemite Tales' last Friday night, starring Connor from Neighbours, I jumped at the chance! Going with friends from work who had seen it before, mentioned that if we stay behind at the bar and the end of the show, the cast come out and have a drink with you! So.. after laughing for a full couple of hours at the play (if you dont know, its about 6 true-blue aussies living in a houseshare in London - the jokes, the slang, the VB tinnies - just hilarious!), we went to the bar and within 10mins they all came out!! I was so excited! Couldnt stop grinning when Connor came up, and said, 'Hey.. did you like the show?'

Hence the photos.... The group one is of our group and the WHOLE (!!) cast, and ofcourse the other is Me with the man himself.

So since then, I got onto the 'Australia Shop' website, and now contemplating visiting the shop in Covent Garden and purchasing some twisties, cherry ripes and buttermenthols! :)

Fair Dinkum Mate!
xox