This gallery contains 8 photos.
I always want to see ballet performance in London, so it did have an amazing Swan Lake of English National Ballet at London Coliseum. I asked my girl friend Nicole to join me and we were right on time to … Continue reading
This gallery contains 3 photos.
It was John’s birthday today, however John and I don’t really fussy about our birthday at all, and it’s just another day to let ourselves to have excuses to eat out somewhere. John saw a Persian restaurant next to us … Continue reading
It’s good to be back in London, and call this marvellous city once again our home. I enjoyed our Leeds life, and also made a lot of incredible friends. Norther people dislike London for reasons, just like Souther people tease Northerner about their accents. I take it as different culture and I really appreciate the various culture backgrounds among this country.
After all the hard working moving and driving from North, we finally settle down and had time to relax in our new home and new area.
North London is always the first choice for John if we want to live in London, so at the end, we are living in North West London next to Primrose Hill. While we enjoy the area in Spring and Summer, we will fully make use of the area to offer. John and I said that so far, we don’t need to central London at all, because all the restaurants and shops in Camden have already kept us occupied.
Mel, Paul and us decided to go to hiking on Grassington of north yorkshire at last weekend we were in Leeds. It’s my first properly hiking since we went to Haworth last time. It was really peaceful and enjoyable to explore in nature with wild animals and beautiful scenery.
I know living in such a country is John and a lot of people’s dream. I do like it in the future, but not now. I guess I am still a city girl.
Melanie (sister-in-law) was hosted Christmas in 2008, and it’s nice to host this year in our new flat in Leeds. It’s like our Chinese New Year and everyone was so busy to prepare food, gifts and the Christmas mood.
I was in charge of all the food except the Christmas Turkey and dessert. Paul (future Brother-in-law) brought a really nice organic turkey and it tasted so good. John was in charge of pudding, and he decided he made the rich chocolate truffle tote. After a big meal, we had a walk, then played a game. We had a fabulous Christmas in our house.
Christmas is always about family, food and laugh. Hope you had a good Christmas as well.
Snow is always special for me, and it always makes me dream that I am living in a fair tale world. Like the snow princess is waiting for her prince to rescue her. I like the white and pureness of snow, and you know it’s so cold outside, and luckily you just sit at your cozy home with fireplace and a cup of tea or hot chocolate. Mmm…it’s the perfect winter for me.
John woke me up this morning and whispered to me: I think we got some snow, Carmen! I immediately woke up and could see the snow flakes from my bedroom window gently falling down from the sky, and I sunk into my Carmen imagination world and dreamed again. What’s your dream world like?
We stayed in a Vintage Design Hotel called Hotel Sax, and it was a fantastic hotel. We booked a super deluxe room with two bathrooms and a little balcony and a long corridor. It had including breakfast and five o’clock afternoon tea as well. It was a really funky hotel, modern, clean and so stylish; beside, the location was next to all the embassies, so it was very quite and near to town. In order to spoil ourselves as well, we booked a private spa including Jacuzzi and sona with really reasonable price, it made our trip more romantic and enjoyable.
John took me to eat a lot of homely Czech food (including some Radost FX vegetarian, and the Pivovarský dům microbrewery, they were fantastic and high recommended if anyone travels to Prague). Prague is famous for their own beer, and it was cheaper to drink a beer in the cafe than ordering a soft drink.
Prague centre was quite small and normal took 20-30 minutes to walk and you properly could see everything. Before I went there, I thought Prague properly would be more outdated because its past history. However, some areas and some people were, but overall, Prague’s cafe or restaurants were quite stylish and modern. Prague was really pretty and sometimes I did imagine what life will be if I were living there. I really want to return when it’s winter snow time, and I can be a snow princess in the fairy tale story.
As my fascination of the Favourite Work of Art in Victoria period, I am also fascinated about 1920’s fashion and music. I always imagine what was the life style, fashion and music to be like when I am listening songs from Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra or Peggy Lee?
Fashion in 1920
Fashion is 1920 was a new revolution for women. Women had their right to vote, and before the first World War people lived in middle class with leisure, luxury, and happy life. The images in my head, women had bobbed hair, fine make-up, red lips with knee length and thin sparkle jewellery on their dresses. The silk delicate fabric, feather fascinator clip, or long pearl necklaces and cloche hats. It was so classic and elegant. It was a romantic era for fashion, which is why people look back at it with great fondness and still emulate it’s style.. That some of the people called 1920 was a golden age.
Music in 1920
Music is 1920 Because of the middle class life style in 1920, that is why some of the songs had written in those days had portrayed in a romantic happy life. Jazz was very popular in middle of 1920. Blues, Ragtime and Broadway musicals were in that era. In my head, it always appears cocktails, knee length dress, people dancing (like the song ‘Check to Check’) Jazz live in the background, champaign, smoke in the pub. I will never feel tired of the classic jazz songs!
I love to go back to live for a while in that era and experience the life and music in 1920. Let’s sway with music and dance together. It will be the end of the post of my 2009. I wish we will have more great music and fashion that it will last as long as the 1920 did.
(Miwa and us will be seeing fireworks and count down 2009 in London Eye tomorrow night, I am very looking to forwards to seeing fireworks and enjoy the crowed.)