News, news, news…

It has been far too long in between updates (almost a month to be exact..) so I will do my best to back track.

Since I last wrote I moved out of Wilton Square in Islington which made me really sad, and temporarily around the corner to Pointi’s place. However a rather strange and abrupt ‘gentleman’ arrived who apparently arranged to sub-let the room I was in at Pointi’s so I moved back to Wilton to stay in the lounge for a next few nights. During this time I developed a rather nasty bug and my temperature fluctuated extremely for days, it was only a cold with some flu symptoms but as I didn’t have my own room or space to be in I just felt awful.

Chris and I moved into our new flat in Highbury after this ordeal! Highbury is right next to Islington so I’m glad I’ll still be near all the Essex Rd/ Upper St goodness. The flat itself is quite old but as I keep telling everyone with incredibly rock and roll black and white checkered floors and the like. It’s coming together very nicely with Chris’ frequent visits to Ikea!!!

Went through what I believe to be my first true bout of homesickness during the whole moving flat phase. It really hit home when I missed my niece Holly’s 1st birthday the other week, and her naming day. Also probably didn’t help that I was living out of bags again and had a rotten cold. I just couldn’t wait to set up the new flat and find a new ‘normal’. Very glad to say I’ve come through the other side and feel about as wonderful and happy as I have ever been.

The weekends of the past few weeks have been fairly quiet. Pointi and I had a hilarious day one Saturday, managed to wander/ window shop/ drink around Angel for about 9 hours!!!!! We were absolutely exhausted by 9pm so we got some Indian takeaway and went home to bed!

James and I finally went to Legoland! It was everything we dreamed it would be. Miniland was amazing – there are all these Lego replicas of various places/ things, my favourites were Stonehenge with the Lego police chasing the Lego hippies and Buckingham Palace with little marching Lego soldiers!!! Check my photobucket for pictures (use the link from this site) the album name is funnily enough ‘Legoland’.

Tanya O’Leary of former Roadshow fame came to London the weekend just past and we had a great day showing her around Soho, or mainly the pubs in Soho! Finished off that night heading to The Queen’s Head in Angel and catching the Scratch Perverts for £3! They were rubbish though – get some real hip hop! Then on to The Winchester where they were playing much better tunes and one of the freakish things that regularly occur to James and I happened. I had just mentioned to him that I would love to hear Beats International ‘Dub Be Good To Me’ – two seconds later it came on. Brilliant!

Heading to Scotland with James on 13 October for four days, we are staying in Glasgow and will also check out the delights of Edinburgh – can’t wait!! From everything my dear older brother has told me plus extra reports from James – I do believe it is going to be a magical time. It is James’ birthday the day after we get back but we will be celebrating for the whole weekend I would imagine! Wish I could tell you what I am going to give to him but the precious one pops his head in here from time to time so I don’t to spoil the surprise!

Received some heart wrenching news this week. Our beloved Marinos, handyman extraordinaire and everyone’s friend at Village, was involved in a motorcycle accident on Friday heading to the Grand Prix in Phillip Island and he didn’t make it through. For those that didn’t know him – Marinos was incredible. Anything we needed doing in the offices – he would do, he was as strong as an ox and prepared to do the things most other wouldn’t. He was absolutely hilarious, and we worked together as a team for many years and had a close friendship.

As an example of the generous man Marinos was - every Christmas he would give Jo and myself gifts – one year he shouted us an amazing lunch which we took at the fancy Stokehouse in St Kilda, and more recently he gave me a cordless drill – knowing how much I love tools! Out of the blue, in the height of my jewellery making days, he gave me a tool box that had lots of compartments for me to keep all of my beads in – I still have all of the gifts he ever gave me and will treasure them. I have such vivid images in my head of Marinos and I sitting down and drinking coffee at Sweet Mama’s in the city and Bogarts at the Jam Factory – he would never let me pay and would always give me his cigarettes to smoke and told me to save mine.

I’m sending a card to Marinos’ family to let them know that he was adored by everyone at Village, and in the much wider community. Though reports of his funeral held yesterday was that the church was packed so I’m sure they are well aware of this.

Thanks to everyone at Village who emailed this week – it means a lot that you took the time to check on me. And Jo, I can’t thank you enough for calling – it was great to hear your voice and can’t wait to talk to you in much happier circumstances.

Well that’s about all I have to report for now. Might write some more later this afternoon.

Hope all is well with everyone xxx