Had a stupendous birthday celebration! On Monday night Stu took me as a surprise to see Les Miserables, and it was just like unexpectedly seeing an old but much loved friend who you haven't seen in the longest time. It transported me back to the young impressionable girl I was who was first enchanted by the production all those years ago in Perth. I still knew all the songs and surrended myself to the spectacle and delight of the show. I've been humming and outright singing snippets ever since! Although, I have to say, the Marius I saw all those years ago was waaaaay better ;)

Stu then surprised me the next day with lunch at Jamie Oliver's Fifteen, which was just a fabulous experience. Although, it is the first time I have ever sent a meal back to the kitchen! I (bravely I might add) ordered chargrilled rabbit as my main. After two incredible starters of onion soup (delicate, hint of sweetness, incredibly moreish) and a type of mozarella where they stop the cheese-making process halfway, add cream, then continue to set it (just, well, orgasmic. Beyond any accuarate description. I could tell you it was gooshy and white with a thin soft crust encasing a sumptuous, oozy splendour of milkily creamy softness that melts in your mouth in absolute deliciousness but you still couldn't imagine what it was like!), well, after starters like this we were expecting equally stunning mains!

Stu's main hit the spot, the most tender, beautifully presented, delicious Welsh lamb with peppers, whilst my rabbit was, well...I couldn't cut it it was that tough. I did try hard. I even asked for a steak knife with which I managed to shear off a few thin slivers so I could at least taste the damn thing. And it was good. Until I finally manged to hack deep into the flesh and found it completely raw. Not rare, but literally uncooked, raw flesh. I suspect the trainee chef forgot which bunny he put on the chargrill when, and I simply got the wrong one. Some poor other unsuspecting luncher must have received a seriously charred little hopper!

The waitress was lovely and could see that I wasn't making it up, and asked if I wanted another. I politely declined, and ordered what turned out to be a showstopper - the Sicilian fish stew. Now this was the quality I was expecting. Clams, mussels, cockels, salmon, red mullet and a langoustine (an eensy weensy crayfish-type creature) placed on a tomato/chilli thick stew, served with toasted sourdough lavishly dripping in freshly made aoli. I had to stop myself from licking the plate. I wouldn't have changed a thing about it. Oh, and our sommelier was Matt Skinner, a semi-famous Aussie (over here anyways) who knows his wines. We had a chat about Pinot Noir and I recommended a certain Frogmore Creek which he hadn't heard of - he has now! Dessert was delicious too, and was washed it all down with two espressos. All in all, a fabulous birthday lunch!

The staircase down to the restaurant, from the trattoria above....

My scrumptious dessert - orange pannacotta with a cherry compote and biscotti. Yum.

Right near Jamie Oliver's restaurant we spied this Banksy graffiti. Banksy is an 'urban artist' (he'd probably hate that description!). He does stencil graffiti around London (and the world for that matter), tongue in cheek, humour at the ready, ascerbic witty observations and comments on whatever he wants. I always feel good after I've seen a Banksy. Never bothered to think about why!

60,000 people enjoying Arsenal winning against Dyamo 'we don't let our women watch football' Zagreb (there was not one female in the away fans section, which is probably a good thing because it was like a living documentary on football hooliganism, group violence, and minimal respect for authority!

One of the new bridges crossing the railway line leading to the ground...

For a terrible few days we thought kitty had moved house. Then she/he just showed up again one morning! This is her looking for some more trout skin (having just found out she likes goat's milk!)! Am glad she is still in town, I'd have missed her.

Finally tracked down some pics from Ameila's christening a few weeks ago. Hmmm, Steph I wonder where she gets her huge gorgeous eyes from..?!?

Stu teaching the boys a few naughty tricks at Amelia's christening...

Moi with my darling little cheeky monkeys Arthur and Thomas at the christening...

A bit of 'photo art' and gorgeous Amelia is the centre of attention! Which is probably a good thing because she is tiny and beautiful and captivating whilst I am large, in need of sleep and not particularly easy on the eye! She is just so delicate and dainty and beautiful, a real little princess...

A little kindness goes a long way in a big city...

Baby Ethan (aka Mr Sleep? What's that? My parents don't need sleep do they??) Even so, this little blondie is still gorgeous!

We went to Tarsh and Rob's wedding on Saturday, and it ws such a beautiful, traditional lovely affair. The church was in Chelsea and the reception near Holland Park - both very nice parts of town!! Tarsh looked stunning, and the gents scrubbed up nicely too! I love weddings, they are such happy affairs and always wonderful to be a part of.

At the reception venue - the home of the painter Lord Frederic Leighton. It was a stunning venue - vast lawn at the back (that's, from left, Stu, Tony, Bill and Tarsh) for pre dinner drinks, then a look at the gallery and mosaic floors, incredible hand painted tiled domed room in blues and whites and golds with a fountain set into the floor, a stuffed peacock sitting atop the staircase, then an incredible three course gourmet dinner accompanied by a live three piece band surrounded by paintings by Leighton, Waterhouse, Burne Jones - just wonderful!

Tarsh and Rob made this amazing cake themselves!!!

The lovely Cath outside the church.

Around the side of the church was this beautiful wisteria covered doorway...

Outside the church in my new dress...

It was our fourth wedding anniversary on Thursday (where the heck did 4 years go??) and while we had planned on a romantic meal out we were both too tired!! So, we stayed in, ordered our favourite chinese takeaway, and watched a fascinating documentary called Murderball about paraplegic wheelchair rugby - well worth watching by the way! These are the roses which Stu bought for me :)

Cat is back every now and then - her owners went away on Wednesday and left her out with no shelter or food so we've taken pity on her and let her stay for a few hours at a time, during which she can mostly be found in a pose not dissimilar to this one on our bed!!

My tomato plants are doing well. In between squirrels and windy days not all of them made it, but there's still 9 plants so I should get a good crop! That's basil, chillis, rosemary, parsely and mint in the background...

Got my exam results - 2 A's (firsts) and 2 B's (upper seconds). Relatively pleased with them, all things considered!

No photos today, just random thoughts spilling forth from my tired little mind.

Work Shmirk
Just finished the migration of our online learning software to a hosted solution in Amsterdam (which my boss got to visit - I missed out!), as well as the simultaneous upgrade to the most recent version of the (very bug-riddled and possibly should not have been released yet) software. Thier helpdesk knows who I am now. It's been making my working life very challenging. But at least the migration and upgrade are out the way and I can return to my two fulltime jobs (a colleague is on maternity leave and I've landed her work).

Christening
We celebrated little Amelia's christening on Sunday, which was really really lovely. She wore a silk hand made gown that is over 100 years old and has been passed down the Bell family. She is such a good little baby, so easy going and very very smiley! I also got to cuddle and play with Freddie too, who just loves to be whizzed through the air and hung upside down! He's a little love, just gorgeous. Thomas and Arthur were my usual favourite little cherubs too - I sat next to Arthur in church while he drew 'Prince Rabbits' (stick figure rabbits holding a sword!) before he got bored and tried to crawl under Stu's legs to get to Thomas! Hilariously, right at the end, when Steph, Hamish, Amelia and the priest were standing on the steps at the front of the church for final prayers, Thomas legged it in front of the entire congregation to the other side of the church, then back again!! Arthur was a little more canny - he ran all the way down the side aisle to the back then up to the front on the other side aisle! No photos from the day, as I forgot the camera.

Cat & Bird
There is a lovely green finch currently helping himself to the black sunflower seeds I have in my feeders. I know our visiting kitty would love to eat him! It's been warm so we left the balcony door open one night, and woke up to find Cat fast asleep at the foot of the bed! It's just like owning your own cat, but without the responsibility!

We stink!
We've not had any cold water in our shower (the tap is broken) since Monday, and the landlord hasn't sent anyone to repair it yet. NOT impressed. I've turned the hot water system all the way down but it's still too hot to have a proper shower. I don't have any tools to fix the tap myself or I would. Besides, we're paying substantial rent and that's what landlords are supposed to fix! (NB - we have been having baths!)

Young American in London
We had a lovely dinner in China Town last night with Josh from Miami who Stu and I met at a club a few weeks ago. The very very young Josh (I'm getting old)! Studying politics at Florida State University, living life to the absolute full, and likes single malt whisky! A very independent traveller (which surprised me, I have certain biases about Americans and he shattered all of them!), interested in the world and in seeing and experiencing it. Very inspiring.

Polka Purgatory
If I hear any more sodding polka music I think I'm going to commit death by piano accordion. I am sure they play polka in purgatory. Polish people have moved in next door and even though they have a perfectly gorgeous little garden at ground level, they sit on the balcony right next to ours and play sodding, cursed, damned polka! It's now right up there with the bagpipes in my 'music I detest' basket. And please, no defences of the bagpipes. They are not emotive or stirring. They are noisy screeching windbags!

Books I have read and recommend
Reading Lolita in Tehran
The Tipping Point
Three Brunetti novels by Donna Leon (all set in Venice)
Andy McNab's latest (I don't do Mills & Boon, I do SAS fiction!)
Air Babylon (don't p*ss the people off at checkin)
A Tom Clancy
Merde Actually
And some others, which I forget right now...!