last days in London

I'm so sad to be leaving!!! I've had such a good summer this year, I've done so much, met so many great people, and I've really gotten into the swing of living in this city. I'll be glad to see home, but I'm not ready to leave here yet. Fingers crossed I can find my way back across sometime soon.

These past few days have been rather busy - it's good!! Since my Maple Leaf Pub celebrations I've stayed on my high of passing my LLB (dang it my paper results better mimic what the online results said!!). I did take it easy on Wednesday night, chilling at my flat - hadn't done that in quite a while so it felt great!! On Thursday I treated myself to an exciting event - seeing a Shakespeare production at the The Globe! I've always wanted to see something and I just went for it! I saw The Merry Wives of Windsor, a comedy which I rather enjoyed. Something about the open air theatre, pooring rain, and Elizabethan speach...oh it was cool!

Friday was my last day working for WilmerHale this summer. It actually was a bit of a non-event at work, but I suppose it was the last friday before a Bank Holiday weekend, so people weren't too focused on the random intern LOL!! I did go out for dinner and drinks with Simran, one of my friends at WH from last summer... bit of a bender night, but did manage to catch the last tube home LOL!!

Saturday was a proper tourist day. I went to Westminster Cathedral (not Abbey, Cathedral) which is about 100 years old, but actually really cool. Great views of the city from the top of the tower (if you build it, I will climb it... except when you install an elevator, then I will ride it....). I also went to see the Secret War Rooms of WWII, where Churchill ran the war effort from 1940 - 1945... pretty cool stuff in there!!

Later I met up with Marta and her Texan friend for a bit of tour-guiding - took them around Buckingham Palace, St. James Park, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, Westminster Bridge, SouthBank etc (just walking). We grabbed some snacks by the Royal Festival Hall... lots of walking, lots of fun!

Sunday I went up to Kathryn's place for Brunch.. it was more a brunch party, as it was the pre-party for going to Notting Hill Festival, the largest street festival in Europe. So we ate croissants and fruit salad and drank bubbly, and then eventually made our way into the festival. WOW crazy madness. Cool to see, but not really my scene. Parades, sound systems, booze, and about a million people.  we hung out there a couple hours, then slowly made our escape.  Then last night, sadly, I began packing.

Today I've mostly completed my packing - just a few last minute things to go in for the morning. This afternoon I'm meeting up with a friend to go on a walk in the Putney area, along the Thames. Tonight I'm having my final London dinner with Kathryn in the heart of the city to say farewell. 

I fly tomorrow to New York for 4 nights sight seeing with my friend Colleen. Then I fly home and go directly to a family reunion... so after tomorrow morning, no more internet or contact from me until after Sept 6...

Oh London, you have been sooo good to me. I will miss you.

The Fate of the University of Orkney.....

Well, I am pleased to announce that after months of waiting, hoping, crossing fingers and sacrificing mars bars to the examiner gods, I have my results.

I'VE PASSED!!!!!!

I have my LLB! I have my law degree!!  HORRAH!!!!!!!

There is still a long road ahead before I'll be a fully fledged/robed & wigged lawyer, but this is one pretty monumental step to have behind me!!

If anyone has been following this blog the past 3 years, you will know the trials, tribulation and extreme self doubt that has been my life.... it is such a relief to have it over!

As I take my next steps, I'll be sure to post about it! :)

last couple'a weeks

I've been rather naughty with my blogging... I realise I haven't posted anything in weeks!! My sincere appologies!

What have I been up too... hrm....

Well two weekends ago I was a 'market' tourist - I visited Borough Market, Portobello Market and Greenwich Market!! each were so very different from each other, I couldn't get over it! I think my favourite was Greenwich, as it had the most crafty stuff, whereas Borough was just food (yummy yummy food) and Portobello (Notting Hill) is just packed with people, antiques and food.

I actually went out clubbing on that Saturday night with some work friends, and while I did have fun, I know I'm not a die-hard clubber. Not much to report from it.  The Sunday I spent with another work friend out in Greenwich, strolling around, having a drink at a pub - all good stuff!!

Last week was a pretty typical work week (you know, working, hanging out with friends, seeing a movie etc), with the exception that I took thursday afternoon off as Mum was in town!! We went to see Billy Elliot (the Musical) - it was really good! I struggled with the Northerner's accents, but the dancing was fantastic!  Also got to show mum my flat, and feed her one of my Gor Met microwave dinners... LOL!

This past weekend was a very family oriented weekend. I met my Dad at Heathrow and hopped into our rental car (a golf!) and met up with mum... on Sunday we drove up to Leeds/Bradford, on the way stopping off at Kenilworth, an old but very important castle site (aka a Katherine Swynford/ John of Gaunt location). So cool to see it!!!

We were up in Leeds for my cousin Charlene's wedding! It was a lovely day.. or rather, the event was nice, Charls and Paul were both so happy.. too bad it was drenching rain, so the lovely out-door wedding had to be changed at the very very last minute to an indoor wedding. Still, Charls looked lovely, Paul was glowing with happiness, and everyone seemed to have a good time. It was a lot of fun to be submerged into the 'Brown' side of my heritage...!!!

This is my last week in England. I can't quite get over how fast this summer has gone. I mean, I left home in MAY!! I've got a pretty busy week going on - last night I was out at the Maple Leaf pub celebrating.. see my next blog post for why... tomorrow I'm giong to see a play at the Globe, this weekend is fulled up with 'good bye' events....

I honestly am struggling with the concept of leaving. I've really gotten used to living over here, it's really become a second home. I've made some fantastic friends who I am loath to leave and now there are even more temptations to come back!  Who know's what the future holds for me!!!!

(photos to come).

A weekend in Paris

Oh it is such a fun thing to be living in London and jet over to Paris for the weekend.... (owch! stop hitting me everyone!!).

Had a fantastic weekend in Paris. It really is a lovely city - the architecture is so different to the UK, it is rather refreshing. Although it was August, and therefore the 'quiet' time for Europe, there were still gazillions of tourists all around.  But Kathryn and I still managed to find lots of places to sit and relax, which was part of the point of the weekend.

We took the Eurostar over which was nice and efficient . Our hotel was right next to the Arch de Triomphe, and I have to say, it was pretty rough getting up every morning and seeing it. The hotel was remarkably really nice - quiet, roomy, comfortable, clean and, all things considered, cheap! I'd recomend it - Les Trois Courennes (3 crowns).

On Saturday we went straight to La Isle de la Cite in search of breakfast (pain au chocolat) and to get in the line to see St. Chappelle - you need to get there early or else you are waiting forever. I am pleased I'd seen this before, as the marvelous cathedral had a lot of scafolding inside, ruining it's kalidescope effect. Can't always win. We also visited la Concierege, which was both a royal palace, and the main prison during the Revolution.

We said 'hi' to Notre Dame and strolled through the gardens, and ate a baguette sitting on one of the bridges crossing the Seine, people watching. There was some sort of summer festival going on, and I swear Ashley McIssac was playing...

After lunch we strolled down the Seine a bit looking at street art, before heading over to the base of the Eiffel Tower to catch a river cruise. Again I'd done this before, but it was a lot nicer in the sunshine!! (plus I got a bonus sun-burn!!).

That evening we went to see the Moulin Rouge!! It was really expensive, but I am pleased I've seen it. I was a little disapointed at it's lack of historical references - it was bascially a vegas/cruise ship style show - but being in the building, drinking champagne (the real stuff) and watching the spectacle will stay with me always.

On Sunday we ate breakfast at the foot of the Arch before climbing to the top of the for some wonderful views of Paris (despite the clouds - sigh). We then walked down the Champs Elysses, admired la Place de la Concorde, and into the Tuilleries, where we found some chairs and hung out people watching for a chunk of time. Nice and peaceful, despite the throngs of tourists. 

We then crossed the Pont Royal by the Louvre and found another Boulangerie and bought some Brie Baguettes. We found a low road right next to the seine (pedestrian only) and took of our shoes and relaxed, watching boats and time go by. It was perfect.

Then we walked down to les Invalides, but elected not to go in as time was getting tight. Instead we went into the Rodin museum, which I loved back when I was 16. It is still lovely and the house and garden is amazing!!  Then we rushed back to our hotel and started our epic journey home.

 

Epic? you ask... well, it was supposed to be a quick flight home but unfortunately due to a number of delays (human and train), we got to the airport check-in counter 1 minute after they closed check in, and they had already reallocated out seats to standby passengers. So instead we had to scramble around (making some international phone calls) and booked some more tickets with a different airline to get us back to the UK. It sent us to Luton, which is north of London, so once we actually got to England we had to travel back into the city. I was supposed to be home around 8:30, instead I got home at 1, and significantly 'broker' than before.

Despite the bad end, I had a really lovely weekend! Thanks Kathryn!!

Black Pool

DUBLIN!!!! oh Dublin!!!

I had a great great fantastic fun time in Dublin!!!

Quick summary - went on a walking tour which took us ALL OVER the city - in to the Castle, by the Church, down some important lanes, by another church, through Temple Bar, over the Liffy River, into Trinity College, up Grafton Street (shopping galore) and through St. Stephens Park.. really lovely! Only bad thing = extremely temptermental weather.. grrr!!!.

Post tour we went to see the Book of Kells (wikipedia is your friend, this is a very important manuscript), and then went back through the heart of the town and into Christ Church Cathedral (where Strongbow is burried and where most church scenes of the Tudors were filmed)..

Then we hiked and hiked and got to the Guiness Storehouse, THE place that Guiness was invented and is brewed to this day. We did the full tour there, seeing all the old factory sections along with the new, and Kathryn learned how to 'pull' the perfect pint... and I sampled my first Guiness...ewwww!!!!

That night we went out for dinner in an area which a bar-tender (from earlier in the day... we were in Ireland..).. told us that the real locals went to - and got to listen to a local guy sing at the piano - really nice. Then we went up to Temple Bar for a glass of overpriced Champagne... and then retreated to some other areas for dancing and a generally fun evening!

On Sunday Kathryn wanted to attend Mass at the main Catholic Cathedral in Dublin, so we hiked to the northern side of the city for that. Then we caught a train out of Dublin! Yup, I left the city to see the country, to feel like I'd actually done a bit more of Ireland. We went to the seaside resort of Bray - lovely little town, so nice to be by the sea again. We went for a sunday roast and then a coastal hike.

Then we made our way back into the city and did some shopping on Grafton Street before slowly making our way back to London....

oh it was fun!!!

This week I've started at my new/old office... I'm back with the Corporate Department of WilmerHale (I spent the last two months with their International Arbitration department across town). Now I'm back where I was last summer, working right next to St. Pauls Cathedral. It's amazing how familiar everything is - felt like coming home a bit.  Different work over here for sure, but nice.

No huge plans this week - will probably go to a movie with some 'Park Lane' friends (other office), maybe out for a drink another night.  I'm saving money, and energy for this weekend....

I'm off to PARIS!!!!

Look at me go!