Dear London,
I loved you from the day I first set foot in you. I knew I’d love you before I even arrived. But the time has come to move my life back south of the equator to Sydney, Australia.Read More
A love letter to London
Tag: the boyfriend
Date night with Kodaline
On Tuesday (a school night, no less!!), [before I got struck down with the insane stomach bug of 2017] Phil and I had a date night in south London. Read More
It’s all about size
The size of my 2017 Christmas tree. Now that we’re in our own plush pad – it’s not really plush, visually, it’s plush because we don’t have to share it with assholes – we’re investing in our own long-lasting (fake) festive tree. Back and forward was our discussion on Wednesday night on size. Phil, aka Mr Sensible, is adamant that we would be fine with a 6ft tree. I, on the other hand, want the 7ft tree – it’s only an extra £4!! We will (well, should) have this tree for years. Hello, investment!
Working for yourself. What is required?
More and more Phil and I have spoken about starting our own business when we move back to New Zealand. We’ve thrown about a few ideas, but there is one that has really stuck (sorry I can’t reveal it yet). We are seeing a lot of our friends in NZ and Australia setting up their own business ventures and getting out of the rat race, doing things their way. We’ve got a name, the start up capital and the idea. I’m already so excited about this that I search for locations and places we could rent to kick start this adventure.Read More
Working out = better sex
Sex post coming up, look away now if it’s not your cup of tea. Mum, if you read my blog, don’t click below.
You’ve been warned.Read More
North America – we’re coming at ya!
Having now seen most of Europe, Phil and I have decided it’s time to branch out to a brand new continent. One that neither of us have set foot on. NORTH AMERICA. Fuck yeah!
On September 26th we start our three week jaunt down the east coast of North America, with our first stop in Toronto, Canada. I’ve been planning for MONTHS on what we will do and see and eat and experience and of course, have time for any unplanned excursions or sights that we want to do once we’ve arrived. We’ve finally secured all our hotels, B&Bs, flights and even a train from New York to Washington. We figured we could see the sights and EVERYONE recommended it. You know when you start planning a trip and you actually don’t know where to start and you ask a few people and then they all give you opposing suggestions? Yeah. That happened and it confused the hell out of me.
I mean, it’s slightly my fault as we’d thought we would be heading to NZ by this point but then quickly changed our minds and decided we weren’t ready when we moved into our own place. Now this trip has changed several times as we were originally going to do the west coast and fly to NZ direct from LA or Hawaii. Now, because we’re coming back to London, we’re only doing the east coast and will go back to do the west coast at a later date.
Our rough list of to-do’s in each spot are below; these are things Phil and I have had the desire to do and see, and also suggestions from friends who have been and lived in these locations. I wanted to tap on a bit of Mexico at the end too, but Phil nearly had a hernia (I have already squeezed New Orleans in) so I thought I’d let him win this round. So while we only have four cities to see – these are big cities, with SO MUCH to see. We didn’t want the trip to end up being a drive-by situation when we drop in for only a night or two. We want to immerse ourselves in the day to day and the culture. Sleep in, get up and stroll down Bourbon Street, picking up fresh coffee and beignets before dancing and drinking the night away in a jazz café or an impromptu party in the streets of New Orleans. Just typing that makes me weep and sizzle with excitement.
Toronto
- See: CN Tower, St Lawrence Market, Toronto’s Harbourfront, Entertainment District, Dundas Square
- Do: Ice Hockey game, Casa Loma, Niagara Falls day trip
- Eats & drinks: Bang Bang Ice Cream & Bakery, Woodlot, The One Eighty (for the view), Carisma, Rooster Coffee, Wish Restaurant, The Captain’s Boil
New York City
- See: Fifth Avenue, West Village, Times Square, Little Italy, Chinatown, Battery Park, Wall Street, Greenwich Village, Grand Central Station, Walk The High Line, Central Park, Brooklyn Bridge, The National 9/11 Memorial
- Do: Chrysler Building, New York Public Library, Rockerfeller Center, The MET, Madison Square Garden (basketball), Staten Island Ferry, Broadway show
- Eats & drinks: The Rooftop, The Egg Shop, Murrays Bagels, Cheeky Sandwiches, Katz Deli, Tacombi
Washington
- See: Lincoln Memorial, U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial, US Capitol, Supreme Court, The White House, Arlington National Cemetery
- Do: Nationals Park (baseball), Capital Hill tour
- Eats & drinks: Whaley’s, Hazel, La Puerta Verde, The Bird, Colada Shop
New Orleans
- See: Bourbon Street, St Roch Market, French Quarter, Jackson Square
- Do: Plantation tour, jazz cafes
- Eats & drinks: Morning Call Coffee Stand, Domilise’s Po-Boys, Carousel Piano Bar & Lounge, Café Du Monde
Tell me your suggestions, please! Are you a local to one of these cities? Any tips or recommendations?
I’m getting engaged!!!!!*
*maybe, or potentially in the next eight to 10 years, when Phil *ahem* asks me. Let me explain…Read More
The flat pack furniture relationship test
Flat pack furniture has long been considered DIY hell. It’s a seriously good relationship test. Phil and I decided it was a splendid idea to test ourselves with such a feat…
We popped by Argos and picked ourselves up two white bookshelves and a white coat/hat stand for our hallway. One (and possibly the only) downside of moving into our own place was the reduction in wardrobe space. As in, we now have to SHARE. Tantrums were had, clothes were thrown, Read More
Five nights in our new pad…
…and there’s been far more nudity than predicted. I think it’s purely that we can walk around naked, that WE DO. Phil will walk out of the shower each morning and give his bits a shake in my direction. It’s become a morning greeting. I enjoy it.
Travel planning
I’m a planner. I fucking love it. I blame my job. I draw up spreadsheets of costs, days, nights being stayed, and what we will see and do. The lot. I love being organised. I love lists. Scraping your pen across something you’ve just completed is a huge accomplishment in my world. Even if the item stated “drink water”. Small wins.
Competent to my Helpless. Yin to my Yang.
While reading a book of Maria Semple’s (who is fast becoming my favourite author. Ever.) she brought up the phenomenon of the Helpless Traveller. I love this. Because it’s me all over. The concept of the Helpless Traveller is when you are travelling with someone who is confident, organised and decisive, they are competent, while you, flounder at every turn. Helpless and complaining of sore feet, having no input to decision making and being as melodramatic as possible. “Just feed me, I’m starving and my stomach is starting to absorb my other organs from hunger.”
Space
This Sunday, for the first time since the man and I got together properly (after the first two times) in January, was the first day I felt like I needed space. When I say “space” I don’t mean anything drastic. I mean a day to myself for some R&R. Not to have to answer questions or direct him in his daily events or attend to his puppy nature. Just to sit on the sofa and watch some trashy telly or soak in a tub overfilling with bubbles. We’d just come back from Prague so I was tired and just not in the mood. I know most people have moments like this in their relationships but it was significant for me as it was the first time with him. Ever.
We’ve lived together for three years prior to us dating this last year. It is one of those 21st century relationships that started with a bit of flirting and an alcohol infused one night stand. Don’t judge, he was only up the stairs! Anyway, we absolutely ballsed up the first two times, but this time is different. It’s real and we’re both 120% committed. I never question that.
He knew I wasn’t in to it on Sunday, he can read my mood a mile off. He knows that if he gives me a cookie to shove in my face I’ll be a happy girl once again. This was proven once again by my sudden mood improvement while scoffing down a Christmas mince pie. Sometimes a gal just needs some sugar and carbs. Don’t question it, just provide, guys.
Bottomline, I adore him. But sometimes I need to pull myself out of the “us” and be the “me”.