Simon had his annual birthday do on Saturday - that always seems to signal to me the start of the xmas party season.
Last year it was the day we had finished the London Loop - although it was much colder on Saturday. Hard to believe that was a year ago though. Although re-reading my posts from last year Simon's birthday party didn't even rate a mention!
This was a good one though - very chilled out, lots of sparkles and lots of good chat :-).
Showing posts with label Friends. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Friends. Show all posts
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Saturday, November 06, 2010
Bit of rugby, bit of sparkles...
Good day on Saturday :-)
Started off by heading off to meet Owen and some of his friends to watch the AllBlacks play England - I showed my support by wearing mainly black, my 'Born Here' t-shirt, my icebreakers t-shirt - so very NZ! Game was good - I certainly got enough stick from the English - these people are so rude! They barely know me and were giving me stick about the ABs peaking too early... :-). I'm dreading the World Cup next year!
Then it was off to Blackheath to meet up with Nicola and her friends to wander up to Blackheath to see the fireworks display. Photos below and on Flickr - it was a good display, and it was free. Always a bonus!
Started off by heading off to meet Owen and some of his friends to watch the AllBlacks play England - I showed my support by wearing mainly black, my 'Born Here' t-shirt, my icebreakers t-shirt - so very NZ! Game was good - I certainly got enough stick from the English - these people are so rude! They barely know me and were giving me stick about the ABs peaking too early... :-). I'm dreading the World Cup next year!
Then it was off to Blackheath to meet up with Nicola and her friends to wander up to Blackheath to see the fireworks display. Photos below and on Flickr - it was a good display, and it was free. Always a bonus!
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Simon does a half!
That would be a half marathon, not a half pint :-).
Sunday I headed off into town to join Kevin and his family to cheer Simon on in his first half marathon. He only started training about six weeks ago, and he wasn't a regular runner beforehand. Initially I think its fair to say some of his friends were a tad sceptical, but he proved us all wrong, and was very happy with his time of 2:22:24.
We managed to see him just after mile 4, coming up to mile 9 and again at the finish. He missed us at the finish tho - he was completely in the zone and had that finishing line in his sights!
Well done Simon :-)
Sunday I headed off into town to join Kevin and his family to cheer Simon on in his first half marathon. He only started training about six weeks ago, and he wasn't a regular runner beforehand. Initially I think its fair to say some of his friends were a tad sceptical, but he proved us all wrong, and was very happy with his time of 2:22:24.
We managed to see him just after mile 4, coming up to mile 9 and again at the finish. He missed us at the finish tho - he was completely in the zone and had that finishing line in his sights!
Well done Simon :-)
Sunday, April 25, 2010
A 'Sarf East' Meantime weekend...
Saturday I headed out to Greenwich with Jackie, Nicola and Simon. It was another gorgeous April spring day so we had a wee stroll through Greenwich Market (which I love - as I'm sure I've mentioned before...) and then went up to the hill to the Royal Observatory to see the 'Secrets of the Sun' show at the Planetarium. It was a great show - although we managed to horrify Nicola by admitting that none of us knew the sun would burn out and die (although apparently humans will have left Earth by then in spaceships to find new worlds to live in, so there is no need to worry about it...).
Then it was off down to the Greenwich Union for an early meal and a couple of pints of their delish Helles Meantime beer.
Sunday was back out to Greenwich to go and visit Craig and Sarah and finally meet their youngest - Edith, aged 6 months. Absolutely gorgeous! Then while Sarah took Nola and Stanley off to a birthday party, Craig and I took Edith to The Old Brewery - this time I sampled the Pale Ale. And endured disapproving looks from many people there who assumed I was Edith's mother...
Then it was off down to the Greenwich Union for an early meal and a couple of pints of their delish Helles Meantime beer.
Sunday was back out to Greenwich to go and visit Craig and Sarah and finally meet their youngest - Edith, aged 6 months. Absolutely gorgeous! Then while Sarah took Nola and Stanley off to a birthday party, Craig and I took Edith to The Old Brewery - this time I sampled the Pale Ale. And endured disapproving looks from many people there who assumed I was Edith's mother...
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Lovely Sunday lunches
Been out for two lovely Sunday lunches recently - the first one to help Nicola celebrate her birthday ( a bit belatedly). We went to the Princess of Wales in Blackheath where I had a lovely roast beef and sticky toffee pudding. Could barely move at the end of it!
And then on Sunday it was off to The Modern Pantry with Chris and David etc. This one I found through the Time Out website, and convieniently it had a NZ connection so my pudding just had to be hokey pokey ice-cream. It was great!!
I could get used to this pattern of Sunday lunches :-).
And then on Sunday it was off to The Modern Pantry with Chris and David etc. This one I found through the Time Out website, and convieniently it had a NZ connection so my pudding just had to be hokey pokey ice-cream. It was great!!
I could get used to this pattern of Sunday lunches :-).
Sunday, January 31, 2010
A very cold Kew...
On Sunday we went to Kew before heading back to King's Cross so Dawn could get her train back home to East Yorkshire.
It was pretty cold, and a lot of the ponds were frozen - great fun watching the birds skidding and sliding around on the ice! And the tree-top walkway was fantastic as well - its always great, no matter what time of year. I'm not sure I'd been on it when the trees were quite so bare before.
Watch out for photos to be posted shortly!
It was pretty cold, and a lot of the ponds were frozen - great fun watching the birds skidding and sliding around on the ice! And the tree-top walkway was fantastic as well - its always great, no matter what time of year. I'm not sure I'd been on it when the trees were quite so bare before.
Watch out for photos to be posted shortly!
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Re-visiting Egypt
My friend Dawn (who I met on my trip to Egypt) came down to stay for the weekend - we decided that it made the most sense to re-visit our Christmas holiday with a stroll around the British Museum - home to many plundered relics from Egypt! It was quite strange to see pieces that were so similar to things we had seen in-situ such a short time ago - and also to look at these things with much more of an appreciation of the history of them.
There is a lot of controversy around the Rosetta Stone - but I must admit that after having been to the Egyptian Museum that I do think they need to do some work on their facilities before being able to display it - I can see why the British Museum is a bit loathe to return it...
It did occur to me while I was there as well that I don't think I've ever really spent much time at the British Museum so we had a lovely afternoon checking out the different galleries. I'm not sure its my favourite museum (that is probably sacrilege to say), but it was good to spend some time checking it out.
There is a lot of controversy around the Rosetta Stone - but I must admit that after having been to the Egyptian Museum that I do think they need to do some work on their facilities before being able to display it - I can see why the British Museum is a bit loathe to return it...
It did occur to me while I was there as well that I don't think I've ever really spent much time at the British Museum so we had a lovely afternoon checking out the different galleries. I'm not sure its my favourite museum (that is probably sacrilege to say), but it was good to spend some time checking it out.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Party-tastic!!
Been to two great parties this week. The first one was Mhairi's leaving EY party - organised by me and Alecia. Our theme for this was NZ - and we couldn't have done it without Tracey as she sent over a box of NZ themed bits and pieces which just made the evening - check out the photos on Flickr!
Second was Mhairi's leaving London party- the theme was to come as your favourite Londoner, London place, London thing... I went as Margo from The Good Life (fitting as I live in Surbiton). It was another great evening - two fab send offs for a fab friend. Life in EY/London is going to feel very strange without Mhairi around... :-(
Second was Mhairi's leaving London party- the theme was to come as your favourite Londoner, London place, London thing... I went as Margo from The Good Life (fitting as I live in Surbiton). It was another great evening - two fab send offs for a fab friend. Life in EY/London is going to feel very strange without Mhairi around... :-(
Mhairi and me
Mhairi and me
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.
Spot the t-shirt - tying in nicely with the theme!
Me & Mhairi dancing
Me & Mhairi dancing
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.
Later on in the evening... my hair band has been replaced by a santa hat...
Sunday, November 08, 2009
Chilling over a Sunday lunch...
Simon had us round for Sunday lunch while he was hosting the currently homeless Mhairi. Again, another fantastic meal. Brie (or camembert) for starters, with slow roasted pork for the main, followed by chocolate mousse (made by Mhairi) for pudding - with some lovely dessert wine as well.
A wonderful afternoon of eating, drinking and putting the world to rights - what its all about!
A wonderful afternoon of eating, drinking and putting the world to rights - what its all about!
Sunday lunch @ Simon's
Sunday lunch @ Simon's
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.
About to tuck in to the starter...
L to R: Sylvia, Jackie, Nicola, Mhairi, Owen and Simon
Monday, April 13, 2009
Easter events
So Easter is winding down for another year... still its only a few weeks until we get another long weekend here!
I had a fairly social weekend which was nice - weather wasn't great though. Didn't rain much, but was just very grey and dull for much of it. Until about 5pm today when the sun finally came out. Typical...
Anyhow, Thursday evening I met Jackie, Nicola and Mhairi for dinner at Wahaca - a new fave of mine. Its the 3rd time I've been there and its been great every time. After dinner we met Simon (who had only just finished work!) for a drink. Nice way to start the long weekend :-).
Friday it was off to a friend's 30th birthday at the Queen Bodicea pub in Angel. It was a good do, but was a bit of a pain to get to as my line had engineering works all weekend. Ended up on a replacement bus service home so it turned into a much later evening than I was expecting.
Sunday was round to Simon's for a lovely roast lamb lunch - very chilled way to spend Easter Sunday.
And today I spent a lovely afternoon at Kew with David, Dominic and Chris - photos posted on Flickr as well as the couple below. There was a very cool display of seed pod art, and the blossoms were just stunning. We were probably a week or so too early for the bluebells, and we'd missed the best of the daffodils, but the rest were just gorgeous. And we saw some very cute wee ducklins and cootlings (?). I love Kew and will definitely be renewing my membership when it expires.
I had a fairly social weekend which was nice - weather wasn't great though. Didn't rain much, but was just very grey and dull for much of it. Until about 5pm today when the sun finally came out. Typical...
Anyhow, Thursday evening I met Jackie, Nicola and Mhairi for dinner at Wahaca - a new fave of mine. Its the 3rd time I've been there and its been great every time. After dinner we met Simon (who had only just finished work!) for a drink. Nice way to start the long weekend :-).
Friday it was off to a friend's 30th birthday at the Queen Bodicea pub in Angel. It was a good do, but was a bit of a pain to get to as my line had engineering works all weekend. Ended up on a replacement bus service home so it turned into a much later evening than I was expecting.
Sunday was round to Simon's for a lovely roast lamb lunch - very chilled way to spend Easter Sunday.
And today I spent a lovely afternoon at Kew with David, Dominic and Chris - photos posted on Flickr as well as the couple below. There was a very cool display of seed pod art, and the blossoms were just stunning. We were probably a week or so too early for the bluebells, and we'd missed the best of the daffodils, but the rest were just gorgeous. And we saw some very cute wee ducklins and cootlings (?). I love Kew and will definitely be renewing my membership when it expires.
Saturday, April 04, 2009
Jackie's 40th
Jackie's 40th
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.
Jackie, me and Mhairi - rocking the purple/blue look!
Saturday, February 14, 2009
A lot of scary dogs, great views and Chris's pub
So on Saturday the intrepid Loop walkers (being me, Nicola, Mhairi and Jackie) headed off to do Section 4 - from West Wickham Common to Hamsey Green in Croydon.
We had been meant to do this section a week earlier, but after the 'Big Snow' we thought it might be prudent to wait a week... which was probably wise, but even so it was very muddy. Following on from the walk we'd been invited to a Valentine's dinner at Simon's place (for all of us singletons) - and as it was only a 9 mile walk I thought if we headed off at midday we wouldn't get to Simon's too early. Turns out I was basing my calculations on mine and Julia's walking pace, not that of the four of us so it took us a wee bit longer than I had thought it would! Hey - finishing walking almost in the dark is fun...
But it was a great walk. Lots of woods which were lovely to walk through. Most surreal moment was our lunch stop. We went into a pub called the Sandrock, which was fairly 'gastro'. We were impressed with the service, and enjoyed our meals (we just had light meals however as we were saving ourselves for Simon's), and chatted about how nice it was to get somewhere where the pubs were good (we've been in some pretty sub-standard ones up till now). It was at this point I looked up and through the door into the kitchen, and after peering intently I realised that it was Chris in the kitchen! So purely by coincidence we had ended up in the pub Chris cooks in!! Fortunately I could honestly tell him that we had all been very impressed :-). He came out briefly (they were busy) and was telling me about the fab roasts he does on a Sunday so when Maya has a Sunday off we're going to go out for Sunday lunch!
After lunch we took a slight detour to the Shirley Windmill which is just down the road from the Sandrock. Very cool to see - although Nicola was a bit horrified I hadn't seen the one in Wimbledon Common... After that it was up into Addington Hills for some great views out over London. Check out my pics on Flickr - although my camera really isn't good enough to do them justice. But we were all very impressed - we could see Canary Wharf, Wembley Stadium, the Gerkhin, great views of Crystal Palace etc.
Then it was on through many more woods - and an encounter with not just one, not just two, but FOUR German Shepherds. What was most disturbing was that they were being walked by a woman on a mobility scooter, 3 were not on any leash, and they were all VERY barky and growly at us. It was really unpleasant - and although Nicola spent a lot of the rest of the walk and dinner telling us that wasn't their fault, the opinion of the rest of us was that we would rather not have dogs that scared people. We were not convinced of the woman's ability to control them just with her voice, and it did feel like a pack...
Not long after that we encountered the two Staffordshire bull terriers - which were almost as scary, but at least they were being walked by a fairly scary looking man who did look like he could control them. And while they are meant to be nice temperaments you can't help but think of all the awful stories you hear about them...
And about 1 and 3/4 hours after we said we'd be there, we did get to Simon's for a lovely meal of French Onion soup, hearty beef stew and apple crumble made by Mhairi. Who needs a boyfriend on Valentines Day when you've got your friends :-)
We had been meant to do this section a week earlier, but after the 'Big Snow' we thought it might be prudent to wait a week... which was probably wise, but even so it was very muddy. Following on from the walk we'd been invited to a Valentine's dinner at Simon's place (for all of us singletons) - and as it was only a 9 mile walk I thought if we headed off at midday we wouldn't get to Simon's too early. Turns out I was basing my calculations on mine and Julia's walking pace, not that of the four of us so it took us a wee bit longer than I had thought it would! Hey - finishing walking almost in the dark is fun...
But it was a great walk. Lots of woods which were lovely to walk through. Most surreal moment was our lunch stop. We went into a pub called the Sandrock, which was fairly 'gastro'. We were impressed with the service, and enjoyed our meals (we just had light meals however as we were saving ourselves for Simon's), and chatted about how nice it was to get somewhere where the pubs were good (we've been in some pretty sub-standard ones up till now). It was at this point I looked up and through the door into the kitchen, and after peering intently I realised that it was Chris in the kitchen! So purely by coincidence we had ended up in the pub Chris cooks in!! Fortunately I could honestly tell him that we had all been very impressed :-). He came out briefly (they were busy) and was telling me about the fab roasts he does on a Sunday so when Maya has a Sunday off we're going to go out for Sunday lunch!
After lunch we took a slight detour to the Shirley Windmill which is just down the road from the Sandrock. Very cool to see - although Nicola was a bit horrified I hadn't seen the one in Wimbledon Common... After that it was up into Addington Hills for some great views out over London. Check out my pics on Flickr - although my camera really isn't good enough to do them justice. But we were all very impressed - we could see Canary Wharf, Wembley Stadium, the Gerkhin, great views of Crystal Palace etc.
Then it was on through many more woods - and an encounter with not just one, not just two, but FOUR German Shepherds. What was most disturbing was that they were being walked by a woman on a mobility scooter, 3 were not on any leash, and they were all VERY barky and growly at us. It was really unpleasant - and although Nicola spent a lot of the rest of the walk and dinner telling us that wasn't their fault, the opinion of the rest of us was that we would rather not have dogs that scared people. We were not convinced of the woman's ability to control them just with her voice, and it did feel like a pack...
Not long after that we encountered the two Staffordshire bull terriers - which were almost as scary, but at least they were being walked by a fairly scary looking man who did look like he could control them. And while they are meant to be nice temperaments you can't help but think of all the awful stories you hear about them...
And about 1 and 3/4 hours after we said we'd be there, we did get to Simon's for a lovely meal of French Onion soup, hearty beef stew and apple crumble made by Mhairi. Who needs a boyfriend on Valentines Day when you've got your friends :-)
Valentines Day dinner at Simon's
Valentines Day dinner at Simon's
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.
Just getting ready to tuck in!
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