a long weekend in London?!

After three weeks of travelling on the weekends, L2 and I decided that we wanted to stay in London for this May long weekend. I've never stayed in the city for a bank holiday and was in desperate need of a 'break'.

It was amazing. I'm sure the weekend was really helped because it was about 23 degrees and sunny all three days... It was a weekend of picnics, friends, the Camden market (where I picked up my fascinator for ascot!), parks and a little bit of organisation to keep me going for the next few weeks. Oh and Tate modern to visit the slightly disappointing playground. But it did something that museums have a hard time doing.... it was filled to the rafters when L2 and I first went in!

We also looked at scooters again (finally!) and came up with the one we want and found about L2's much needed lessons.

I know that we are probably not going to do this again (as long weekends are perfect for travel) but I'll hold this weekend dear to my heart.

a bit of culture and dining overload

so the weekend was one of excess. My last sha-bang with creams, cheese and most pasta, chocolate, pizza - most italian food actually.

I was in charge of Valentine's this year. L2 said he had something planned the following week and it was up to me. I thought we should celebrate in true london fashion - (so loads of culture.) Breakfast was cherries and french toast (delicious and mandatory as I can't cook pancakes to save my life) - then off to the Saatchi Gallery to view the new contemporary Middle East exhibit. It was just as amazing as 'China now' - and artists from Iraq, Iran and Syria were very prominent but I loved Kader Attia's Ghost exhibit. The empty void within these shells evoked a powerful emotion in the room. It's always hard to explain structural art but if you're in London head down there!

Then headed to Taschen (an amazing book store that will be blogged about later) and then then finally made it down the South London Gallery to view this avant garde piece that has Ronald McDonald statue drown. (again this will have to have a seperate post!)
Dinner was at the local 'pizza metro' where they serve you on a giant board with all your pizza intermingled with your date (or group!). The food was spectacular but I do hate Valentine's service. It took eons for our wine, our pizza and our bill! Let me go home!

Sunday L2 and I were unbelievable lazy but made some macroni and cheese (homemade mom recipe) for my last night with cheese and I bought this amazing owl necklace at local shop. I also saw By Malene Birger shoes but at £250 - I could only drool. (I can't access the site right now but I'll try to get them up!)

the weekend instead

well I'll admit I was a bit disappointed not to surf this weekend, but my weekend did not disappoint. Determined to make the most of it, I met for drinks and snacks with fellow cdn Lily in London Bridge at local hotspot Roxy. Greek tapas were an interesting choice and probably best if not repeated.

Saturday I did all the annoying errands, picked up a few trinkets, and L2 and I walked all through the West End just because we had the time. I wanted to head back to the Saatchi Gallery but was getting exhausted so we skipped it and watched In Bruges at home instead. L2, his sister Kaili, her husband LB made it down to the gallery in November but I want to see some of the new additions to this amazing venue. If you ever drop into London, please go. It's moved from Waterloo to Sloane square and it has just the right amount of art to space ratio. Let alone the art is amazing!

Sunday started as relaxing and moved to frantic. It was the start of Chinese New Year so we made it up north for some dim sum with a friend and then booked it to Waterloo to catch a train to Farnham (where L2 works) for dinner with colleagues. Farnham is very quaint (castles, brick and apparently loads of horses) but I was not keen on the hour train ride home at 10.30 on a Sunday night.