Lazy Sunday...

So – here it is Friday, and I never got around to updating the rest of the Easter weekend… in a nutshell, my Easter surprise trip was a lovely boutique hotel in nearby Richmond – the ‘lazy Sunday’ package at the Bingham… starting with a fabulous long lunch overlooking the river, afternoon stroll, cinema in the evening, and fun Jacuzzi bath (are you supposed to use bubble bath in a Jacuzzi tub? Not sure… it certainly bubbled up to no end!)

As for the movie – we saw Sunshine, really very good, if a bit of a slow starter. The basic premise is that the sun is dying out prematurely (it’s set in 2057) and a team of astronauts has to detonate a nuclear bomb in the sun’s core to re-start it and save the planet from rapid descent into permanent winter… sounds just like those comet bashing movies like Armageddon, but no. There’s plenty of action (especially in the later half of the movie) but it’s much more psychological and metaphysical; what’s it like being cooped up in a spaceship (granted, a very very large spaceship) with 8 people for 3 years of travel, with the mental pressure of being the last hope for saving the all of people-kind, and the very likely possibility you won’t make it back home (a previous mission had already gone missing 7 years earlier). And then this is combined with the majesty of being so close to the sun, what is that like to observe, even through the strongest filtered lenses. So good – and given the special effects, probably much better in a big screen than on the TV. (unless of course it’s a home-cinema sized one, mom & dad!)

Then a fabulous day off still on Monday, with very quick journey time to home - my favourite way to travel! No jet lag, no stiff legs from a long car ride... wonderful!

how much do I *love* a 4-day weekend?

Sunday morning, still 2 more days off to come!

So far so good - Friday a wander around Primrose Hill to Regent's Park, posing prettily for pre-wedding pictures (aww - don't they look cute.) Was sunny and grand... except my shoes were perhaps a wee bit inappropriate... I didn't realise how much walking we were going to do! From the station to Primrose Hill to the park, through the park, onto Marylebone High Street, down to John Lewis... ouch. (OK - I realise that means pretty much nothing to the majority of readers, but if this link works, you can get an idea!)

Saturday a little quieter... Ashley went off for a canal-hike; I stayed a little closer to home & met up with friends Matt & Ailsa for lunch and also to see their new little girl Erika for the first time. Aww, how adorable, 11 weeks, slept the entire lunch... (of course, she can't be as cute as my niece, and no, I'm not biased in any way.)

And still 2 more days of the weekend to go.

The Kwik-e-Mart is coming!

Well, temporarily at least... seems a few 7-11s are being rebranded kwik-e-marts - complete with Squishees (and decrepit hotdogs? mmmm hotdogs). Unclear from what I can find as to which few 7-11s... but my guess is if your town is named Springfield, and you've got a 7-11, there's a good chance you'll get one of the few, going up to promote the Simpsons movie...

woo-hoo - Mariners top their division!

OK, so it's only 1 game - but I'll take that 1.000 record when I can get it, thank you very much.

Another weekend flown by too quickly… where do they go!!?? Started off Saturday with a final visit to our wedding venue – for a little reminder of how things might look in only FIVE WEEKS TIME! Ack!

Then into town for a quick visit to the Face of Fashion exhibit (and more) at the National Portrait Gallery (thanks again Brian and Amy!) We could’ve stayed there for days, but were off again to visit one of London’s great consumer monuments:

Selfridges. (Again – I could’ve stayed there for days!) Every spring, Selfridges decorates and has events in a particular theme; this year it’s Surrealism – in conjunction with the V&A, which is hosting a major exhibit of the same name. We met up with our friend Cat and enjoyed Dadadandy cocktails (gin, ginger ale, lemonade, ‘washed with absinthe’) in the Ultralounge, ooh la la, how decadent. The drinks were to celebrate the launch of the new ‘surrealist perfume’ – Choix “the scent of choice”… with ingredients that include, umm, nothing. How surreal. And yet I was *still* tempted to purchase!

Drinks & dinner rounded off the day – and there was Saturday gone!

Sunday was a little more relaxed, sticking close to home – but still, disappeared before I knew it. Made a yummy impromptu ‘what can I find in the cupboards’ soup – chopped tomato base, with corn, kidney beans, black eyed peas, and rice; and plenty of cumin and chipotle powder for spice. Yum. And just enough over for lunch too – lucky me!