weekend wrapup

so much fun... 

to think that i thought the highlight of the week would be being able to do 3 consecutive loads of laundry (take THAT, mister washer-dryer combo)...

my first visitor arrived from the states and we had a blast!  papa doe arrived on friday night and after giving him a brief tour of the flat, we hit the town.  as you know from previous posts, i live in a very lively quartier.. the gym, the sauna, etc... well, i didn't mention that there are about 2 or 3 bars/clubs as well, just across the street.  we decided to hit one, barcode, which was quite a laugh.  you brits sure know how to drink!  it's definitely going to take some getting used to (all right, no comments from the peanut gallery!)... we had a few and then called it a night.  

saturday was literally spent all over london... a late start, but then on to some major shopping.  we could not BELIEVE the crowds and think that the memo about that recession thingy has not yet reached londoners.  massive, massive, massive.  it was good fun though.  the crowds at least were somewhat orderly, and despite the fact that VISA (ugh!) sponsored this huge shopping promotion that was everywhere, they did know how to play some good music to shop to.  

a quick stop for a pint at a soho standby, then home for a quick costume change.  our plan was to hit 2 parties of friends of papa doe's - in complete opposite ends of the city.   first one was in east london (think williamsburg, but a little bit grittier), which was great.  american couple that had just settled here and landed a HUGE flat with amazing windows and open spaces.  then we headed west to check out another party at a former colleague's house.  neither of us was too keen about the trek over, but it was well worth it in the end.  think bridget jones christmas sweaters, rosy cheeks from too much wine, inappropriate jokes involving the words "sausage" and "underbelly" and you've got your first true english christmas party. it was hysterical.  

but of course, boys will be boys (lads will be lads?) and we needed to have another go at the code.  a few of the same faces from the night before, a few different ones.  met a lovely british - moldovan (moldovian? moldovak?) couple, chatted for a bit, and then returned home.

today was full-on recovery mode, but we did manage to get out and do a bit more shopping.  i am still on the flat hunt, so we checked out a possible contender before heading over to knightsbridge for some retail action.  

and some hot italian rugby action - have you guys seen this ad?  it's everywhere in london

... sorry, i digress.  anyway, it was loads of fun.  as i write all this on sunday night i'm a bit, 'knackered', as they say, but thankful and blessed to have such great friends that made a foreign city seem a little less foreign this weekend.

:)