ashthomas.net

Hello Readers!
I’m trying to be good and update this as often as possible but the last two weeks have been manic. We have had three events in less than a week so you can imagine it’s been a rather busy time.

Amy has arrived in the UK and I went and met her and Pat and Keira for lunch the weekend before last which was really good. Can’t believe there is now THREE of the Caringbah Girls crew here! mwwwwwwwwwahahahahaahahaha!!! I will have them all here in no time.. well maybe not all.

Oh and I went to Venice! Flew out on the Thursday afternoon and got in about 11ish and was met by Mum and Mike at the bus station and then we went back to the house they were staying at. It’s a different experience when you aren’t staying in a hotel or hostel because you literally have a home right off one of the canals. It;’s such a great city. I love the labrynth of cobble stone streets, coloured buildings all on a slight tilt and water lapping up at the edges and just the fact that there are NO roads. It’s all water ways and it is seriously like no other place on earth.

Friday we spend doing a bit of touristico things, went up the top of the tower in St Marco Plaza and then off to a sweet little restaurant for lunch. We were lucky enough to have amazing sunny weather and while it was cold, things always seem better when its sunny.

We had a small siesta and then out again for dinner. I know, it sounds like all we did was eat.. and well, we did!! We were in Italy, what do you expect!?!?!

Saturdaying morning Mum and Mike got on their train to Rome and i checked my bags in at the luggage hold and went on my merry way to exploring more of the wonderful city. I caught the water bus to the plaza and then made me way through tiny courtyards, dark alley ways and plenty of dead ends and finally got back to the station to get my bus to the airport.

The flight was dleayed but I was lucky enough to have a lovely boyfriend to pick me up at Stansted airport and take me to his friends place for a dinner party! All in all a pretty good weekend!!

Last weekend we had Zu’s farewell. It was dress up in 90’s gear and Russ and I went as the original chav ( please google “chav” if you don’t know what it means but it is pretty much the equivalent to the aussie westie only it has become a bit celebrity!). The pics of the night are frightfully scary and i will put them on the site, but please, view them at your own risk.

Last Thursday we had an event for London Schools, where we alterned the london underground map for the third time in history to change the station names for schools, children and famous people who had done well in their GCSE’s (School Certificates). We had the map then printed up on cotton and it was 6metres x 4 metres… pretty damn huge! The event was excellent and went off with out a hitch. It was the first event i had seen from start to finish so i was anxious and nervous but it was all good.

MOnday we had a launch for a new lobbying group for the FE ( further education) colleges and again was very successful. We got the Secretary of State and the Minister of State there which was a really good turn out and a full house of invitees. Last night we had another launch for a programme for Lifelong learning which is funded by the EU. Again, two ministers and a celeb to boot and we had ourselves a hat trick! Three highly successful events in less than a week!

 Back at work today and I finally have the chance to update this, and clear up my desk!!

This weekend i plan on chilling out with my box set of SATC and thats about it!

Hope all is good on the flip, will be putting up pics very shortly!

xxxxx

2007….

2007!!!!

Where the hell did the time go?

It’s been almost 2 years since I first left the sunny shores of Sydney for the bitterly cold winter of England. And so much has happened….

I’m not going to rattle off the things that have happened because no doubt if you are reading this, you will have read whats happened already.

I will however, fill you in on the last couple of weeks.

Russ and I are back together and are ridiculously happy. He’s been on holiday which has been crap for me but over the Chrissy break we spent some lovely times together and for the first time ever I had a boyfriend over a festive period and got properly spoilt!! I’ll put pictures up soon and you will see!

Christmas was excellent. On the eve of, Russ and I went to Emma and Dewey’s to stay the night and have some drinks. And start preparing the Christmas dinner! And unbeknowst to everyone, we woke in the morning to see that Santa had arrived and left stockings full of treats and special christmas socks!

We all got up at the crack of dawn. Brad and Michelle were over too so the 6 of us munched away on a fry up for breakky and then Em and I got cracking on our speciality dishes… Me – potatoe bake ( not spilt in the car) and Em making a zucchini slice to make Jen proud.

And then it was onto the Turkey. We stuffed and basted and cooked and basted and she came out perfect!

Allira, Sam, Ash Carool and Cam came over and we kicked off on the Bucks Fizz and nibblies ( cheese, cheese and more cheese). The day was ok and because of the giant backyard Em and Dew have it served as a fabulous walk in fridge!

We ate about 3pm and were utterly full to the brim that we made the ever so wise choice of going for a walk.

When we got back Kelly and Andrew came over with the entire Cull clan! Row, Tor, Pip and Bub were all over and it was so lovely to see them all. We did our secret santa – everyone getting pretty good pressies. I got a fondu set!!! So i whipped up some cadbury milk chocolate fondu for our strawberries to be dipped in, very nice indeed.

Russ had gone home to his parents place but came back to get me just as the drinking games came out… which was probably a good thing. Everyone was very merry and all in all my second orphan christmas was a success.

Boxing Day Russ and i went to his parents and ate enough food to put me in a food coma infront of the tellie. It was no cricket in the street but it wasn’t half bad.

I worked the three days last week but it was VERY quiet. I managed to hit the sales a bit and bought a great london coat. I’m in love with it!

The weekend seem to just be a continuation of food and drink. Friday night we had a dinner party and then saturday was relatively quiet. I went to keira’s for a girls catch up – chocolate, pizza and OC. Need i say more!!

Sunday I went into town in search of a dress for that night, alas none to be found and just decided my Karen Millen number would have to do.

Lindsay came over for gourmet home made canapes ( i even impressed myself – mini chicken ceaser salads, baby baked potatos with creme fraiche and chives, baby tomatoes with pesto, mini sausages in pancetta and smoked salmon swirls!!) and some chamapgne, then uss came round and we all go t ready and hit the town. They close the roads off at 8pm so we got in pretty early and went to a very swanky bar called Aldwych One and then after a very very gourmet cocktail we headed off to the Waldof Hotel for Mark’s wedding reception.

It was a very funny night, lots of booze and dancing. Pics to come.

We decided to hit the road about 2am, Dane will vouch for a very drunken pair yelling things down the phone!

It took forever to get home, the trains were packed as were the buses. We woke up with headaches all round but i had done a big shop the day before and bought all that was needed for a big breakfast.

So Monday was spent doing a whole lot of nothing.

Tuesday back to work for the quietes day ever. No one was in and if they were they were very quiet indeed. Today has been a little chirpier and it helps that the sun has been out! Tops of 12 degrees today!!

I’m off to venice to see Mum tomorrow which will be nice and then I think a Thomas girls christmas dinner on the Sunday.

Caryn, my cousin, got engaged on Sunday to Max! All very exciting and we need to celebrate!

Anyways, think thats about it for now!

Hope all is good on the flip side.

Looking forward to having Ames on this side of the world!!

oxxoxoxoxoxooxxo