"My dear fellow, who will let you?"

This is it. 4 years + 2 days since I landed on Ol' Blightey's shores. This post would've come earlier if I hadn't fcked up my router at home and lost my internets *oops*

4 years + 2 days, 1 passport, 28 countries, 75 different cities, 85 gigs (before I stopped counting). Can't complain :)

There is nothing else much for me to say :) You've read it all. Thank you everyone! Especially you, Sparkles Magoo for always providing a challenge *lol*

One last thing about being back. Yes, I've started seeing someone. He's a nicely buff young geek by the name of Daniel *grin* I pwn'd his ass on Xbox (3-0 Soul Calibur! W00t!), so there's hope for this relationship yet ;)

I'm leaving you with my fave quote from my fave book. I've always had a copy of The Fountainhead wherever I end up. I've read and re-read this book countless times. I open it when I need a reminder of myself. For those who always wondered what motivated me to do the things that I did on this blog -

"That's not the point. The point is, who will stop me?"

Indefinitely (part i)

It's been a strange end to an amazing, rollercoaster journey.

Some of you know - I've left Rondon. Returned to Sydnery. Indefinitely.

The others - I can hear you *gasping* now :)

It was never planned, I just had a ticket. My life felt like it had been on hold for the past twelve months. Push eventually came to shove and I'd lost this round against destiny and my gods. When the decision was made to leave Rondon, I had one week to pack up four years of my life. 28kgs of singlet tops (some things about me never change), another 7kg of extra-gawd-knows-what later, I was on a plane home. So, here I am. After eight months of dredging through the Rondon job market, I found myself a job in Sydnery within two weeks.

In my last week in Rondon, I got immensely queasy and ill with Babsy :) Bad oysters, bad clams or just too much alcohol? We'll never know *grin* I had one last dinner date with Mrs P, who has been my constant cake and chocolate buddy since... 2003! I made a batch of laksa from the last of my stash for Sus, Wazzz and Frisbee (surprised that we're still friends? So am I!). Niffies and M-San fine dined me at Marcus Wareing at The Berkeley (where I was politely told to put my camera away or the chef would get upset). I had my last Benito's Hat burrito with Hottie and Mr D. Then I felt queasy and had to go home *grin*

My last day in Rondon? I woke up early, met my aunt for brekky at The Wolseley. Walked out to a crisp sunny Rondon day. As I walked from Piccadilly to Oxford Street to pick up my Uniqlo jeans, I was quiet and happy. The streets of Rondon were more familiar to me now than Sydnery. 4 years in Rondon had gifted me with a LOT of love and adventure. Ups and downs.

Tell you a not-so-well-kept secret - I hated living in Rondon when I first arrived. It was complicated, filled with paperwork, and I had *nothing*. I was in tears a lot, and at one point, ready to pack it all in and go home. Now I love it because it has never ending possibilities. It's about having choice and empowerment. Hottie and Mr D made the biggest impact on me before I left. They showed me that what I want is possible, especially in Rondon... If only I could focus long enough to figure out what I wanted!

My last day in Rondon I donated a crapload of clothes and books to Oxfam. I met up with Mrs P for an almond croissant at South Bank. I packed, and unpacked, and packed. For a "minimalist", I had a surprising amount of crap.

If you ask me what I miss most about Rondon - it's B. I can't tell you how much I miss B. The constant in my life for over a decade. The first person to greet me when I was fresh off the boat. Seriously, B was on the doorstep with a Timeout Cheap Eats guide waiting for me :) The only one who made me teary when saying "see you soon" before I left. The persona who is always there for me. Strangely, this is the first time we've lived separate lives. My final night dinner was with B at Barrafina, my fave tapas bar. The only thing missing was the hawt Spaniard waiter! Haha :)

I'll avoid the cliches. This is all I'm going to say about leaving Rondon - Thanks to all who have made Rondon a bloody good time for me. You know who you are. It's not goodbye, it's see you later ;)

The journey...

I have an awful awful sense of direction. My saving grace is that I live in Zone 1, and I'll eventually get home regardless of where I start out from.

So it started out here, at the Tower of Rondon (home of the Crown Jewels and a 105-carat diamante. I've seen it, and yes, I will "settle" if you offer it to me *grin*).

That's an ice-rink on a moat infront of a castle, cool eh?
Literally cool. It's freaking freezing in Rondon atm.
Coldest winter *EVA*:

I'm sick as, and it's freezing. So I say my goodbyes and start trying to find my way home. Which would be a lot easier if I hadn't had 2 pints, Sudafed, paracetamol and no dinner. The cool thing is, landmarks are HUUUUGE in Rondon.

My first stop, Christopher Wren's Monument. For the history buffs, the Monument marks the spot where the Great Fire of Rondon started in 1666.

It's the brightly lit tower thingy standing in at 61m tall, just left of center:

I might not know where I'm going, but I kinda know where I live.
There's a hovering clock tower which looks familiar at the end of the street:

At this point, I'm contemplating catching a black cab:

Or a double-decker bus:

But hang on! Aah hah!!
As the bus moves away, the giant dome
of St Paul's Cathedral (another Christopher Wren creation)
blinks out at me:

So I keep walking towards the giant dome,
stumbling down streets I've never stumbled down before:


Now I know where I am :)

Rondon wouldn't be Rondon without the cranes in the sky:

I walk through another piece of history.
Centuries-old meat market...

... or Middle-Age execution ground for heretics?
For those Braveheart fans, William Wallace was executed
just round the corner from here:

Kurz & Lang, where me and B go for half price wieners *grin*

And I'm finally home:

Give me lost in Rondon anytime over owning a GPS...

The Apocalypse

(Otherwise known as "Winter in England")

Ruuuun for your liiiiives! Timestamp: 16:43

Every year, the Aussie-ex-pats bitch and moan about what is to come. The bitter cold. The grey. The rain. The instant dark by 4pm. The puffy jacket weather. The absolute *bone-chilling* bitter cold!

Everyone's talking about whether we're going to have a white Christmas this year. According to WikiAnswers:

"For a white Christmas to be official, a flake of snow must be observed to fall at the four specific sites between midnight on 24 December and midnight on 25 December, even if it is mixed with rain and is not necessarily snow lying on the ground.

Given this definition, England last enjoyed a white Christmas in 1999."

The first snowflakes fell in Rondon today. Messages flew across the network about it. The odds are currently at 3.25. Secretly inside, when it snows, we love it :)

Looking out a train window. Timestamp: 17:35

Head in the clouds

Otherwise known as "hangover". I hit the booze hard last night to make the music bearable *grin* Unfortunately, it means I wake up today with my brain refusing to communicate with the rest of me.

In my foggy headspace, I wander over to La Fromagerie to pick up some truffle brie for tonight's wine tasting. Still unable to shake the fog off, I head over to Flatwhite and bunk myself on the bench outside for some people watching. I'm sitting at a dingy sidestreet, surrounded by horrendous Engrish architecture.

This is great! :) The sun's out, the backstreet's buzzy with the masses. I unplug myself and listen for once. I listen to the eastern European couple argue. I listen to those beside me marvel over how good a flatwhite is. I giggle at the camp guy who squeals exactly like I would, when a young girl collides into him. I sit and watch the free fashion show provided by chic Engrish trendoid youths walking past. I could never pull off what they wear. I wish I could :)

With the headfog finally lifting, I heave myself off the bench and head for the tube before the truffle brie goes rank in the sun. Rondon has one more surprise for me today. Don't look too closely *grin*

B.I.N.G.O!

It's not just for old people. Well, it's for old people who want to feel hip and cool for attending something called "Underground Rebel Bingo" *grin*

Elvis?

And then there was the sausage chopping incident:


Think I'll leave out the messy end-of-night pix ;)

It's been awhile

The weather in Rondon has picked up brilliantly :) Couple of weekends ago, I took out my Salomon blades and went round Hyde Park. I've had these blades for about... 10 years!!! I love em. I remember the days of roller hockey (where I used Missy W as my stop mechanism ;) ), and blading around Centennial Park before/after uni lectures with the gang. I remember all the guys wanting a chance to teach WL how to blade *lol*

I still haven't figured out how to stop *grin*
(Meanwhile, if you look closely at the blader behind me, she's going sideways!)

I really hope this weather sticks around...

The fun doesn't stop there!

Did you hear the one about the panda, rabbit and kitty with pink ears? :)

They had a pub lunch and then went wild in a park:

(How to make a snow angel - Bunny B style!)

Happee Snow Day!!

Some of my fave shots from Regents Park yesterday:

Diskies and I made a snow-err-hermaphrodite :P

Thursdee nite in Rondon

"W"hateva "M"inga!

Mmm... With legs and an ass to kill for:

People watching in Soho

From one of my favourite restaurants :) Love it. If you're nice to me, I'll take you there...

(PS: SM&JH - I'm wearing your scarfie :D )

Ding-a-ling!!

This is one of the best ideas the City of Rondon ever came up with. Shutting streets off and letting cyclists loose through Rondon to promote cycling!! OMG, it was such an awesome day! Singlet top weather and a rented bicycle :) My fave bits were zooming through Trafalgar Square, and going through the tunnels at the London Bridge end. My bell didn't work, so I had no choice but to scream, "Ding-a-ling!" lots *grin* I'd sooo love to get a bicycle now, I'm just worried about facing traffic! I've even picked out the bike I want ;) I probably won't fit on it, but gawd it looks cool!!!

Thanks Mayor Boris!

Ponteng sekolah

Today, I ditched work. Took a "Personal Day". Sometimes, everyone just needs a day off. In Oz, it's called a sickie :P

So I got to meet up and have brunch with CH at Sloane Square :) I love unemployed people *grin* And I've definitely missed CH for the past 6 weeks! Then I went on a mission. The Chap Olympiad is on this weekend. What is it? It's a bunch of Engrish dandies all dressed up doing silly things like racing with martinis. The trick is, finding out the location of the Olympiad. So I had to traipsed along to seven freaking different locations in Rondon, asking the silliest questions ever.

* JJ FOX & ROBERT LEWIS 19 St James's Street, London, SW1A 1ES
I walk through the doors, and enter the glassed off section. It's a cigar shop, the glass section has to be humidified.
Me: "I'm looking for a pipe tobacco...." *pause*
Elderly English Chap: "... That will last a hundred yard sprint! YES, we have plenty of those! I thought you were coming in to chat me up!!!"
Me: "Well, I can do that at the same time" *grin*
Elderly English Chap hands me a token. Clue #1!
Elderly English Chap: "I think it's in Hampstead" *winks*

* LOCK & CO. 6 St. James's Street, London, SW1A 1EF
Proper English Attendant: "Can I help you?"
Me: *cringe* "I'm looking for a bowler hat that will offer protection from flying saucers..."
Proper English Attendant: "YES, we have those!"
Proper English Attendant hands me a sealed envelope. Clue #2!

* R.E. TRICKER 67 Jermyn Street, London SW1Y 6NY
Me: "Which of your brogues would allow for the swiftest getaway...
Another Elderly English Chap: "...from a furious lady? Here you are!"
Clue #3 :)

You'd think it'd get easier asking these questions each time, but it doesn't. The next one was my most embarrassing. I met the cutest guy ever with the most English bouffant I'd ever seen. Ladies, you need to go here.

* GEO F. TRUMPER 20 Jermyn Street London SW1Y 6HP
Cute English guy: "Can I help you?"
Me: "Yes... You know what I'm going to ask?"
Cute English guy: "Yes"
Me: "You're going to make me say it?!?"
Cute English guy: "Yes"
Me: *double cringe* "Could I have my moustache trimmed in the Leslie Phillips style, please?"

Cute English guy walks off to get my token :) Clue #4! As I walk out, I turn and smile at the Cute English guy. Couldn't help it *grin* Totally dreamy.

* MACKINTOSH 54-55 Burlington Arcade, London, WIJ 0LB
I walk into the poshest shopping arcade ever in Rondon. Mackintosh is _the_ original raincoat brand from 1823. I'm greeted by a sophisticated oriental assistant.
Sophisticated Assistant: "Can I help you?"
Me: "I'm looking for a raincoat..."
Sophisticated Assistant gives me a blank look. Ruh roh.
Me: *wince* "... that will withstand several hundred spilt martinis?"
Sophisticated Assistant breaks out into a laugh and hands me the token. Clue #5 *grin*

* THE CRITERION THEATRE Piccadilly Circus, London W1
Btw, if you're in Rondon, 39 Steps is definitely a play you should check out at the Criterion :) One of the most fun ones I've been too.
Me: "Hi... Is the memory man available?"
Counter Guy: "Keep going"
Me: "I've forgotten where I left my umbrella."
Counter Guy hands me a token. Clue #6!!
Counter Guy: "I don't give it unless they say it right, no matter how embarrassed they are!"

* OLD HAT 66 Fulham High Street, London SW6 3LQ
Last stop, and easiest :) I walked straight in and delivered my line:
" My aunt has suggested I invest in a pair of velvet jodhpurs. Can you help her?"
The lady hands me token Clue #7!! Hurrah!!! :D

I had a really fun day today :) Everyone should have a Friday off once in awhile. If it doesn't rain tomorrow, I'll be at the Olympiad if you wish to join me.

Speakers' corner

Dad: "I was going to speak at Speakers' Corner, but there was a looong queue. Didn't have time to wait because I had to meet you."
Me: "That's ok Dad, I'll book you a slot for next weekend."

It was quite a surprise when we got out of high tea around 6pm, and Speakers' Corner at Hyde Park was still going strong. I've always wanted to hear the ranters :) Public speaking is not my best ability. In fact, I had to do a presentation last week to a whole bunch of HR people. I swear, I could hear crickets scratching at the end of it :P So I was impressed to see such a large crowd gather to hear what a total random stranger had to say.

That is... until I realised, I couldn't understand a word of what was being said :P Strangely, the ones drawing a crowd were speaking in Arabic. I asked someone for a translation, and was told, "This man is from Egypt. He is saying, Egypt is the best country. Better than all the other Arabic countries". Hrm. Fairly mundane topic, but I guess that would explain why there were a lot of Arabic men arguing with him. I was hoping for something a little more controversial, like about the conflicts in Iran or Iraq.

The only English speaker I could hear, was ranting about Jesus. What's new eh?

So, kinda disappointed by Speakers' Corner, but at least now I can mark it as "done" on my Rondon to-do list.

This little piggy...

... went all the way to fcking town :D

Our pre-dinner "snacks" and aperitif:

Waterside Inn - IMHO, makes a statement: "Fck off Gordon Ramsay @ Claridges" *grin* Okay, to be fair, Claridges is only a one star Michelin. Waterside Inn is a three star Michelin. However, it's all I've got to compare in Rondon :P Value for money, from what I remember, I paid 80 squids for a very _very_ average meal at Claridges. Degustation at Waterside Inn sets you back 91 squids. That's not much more for a full force, you're-ready-to-explode-from-happiness experience :D You'll get the full service. This includes umbrella coverage ten steps from the cab to the restaurant door, to me getting to personally meet the chef, Alain Roux :) I have never felt so looked after at a restaurant in my life.

Our mackeral amuse bouche:

Where to start? Admittedly, C picked better entrees than me. His foie gras terrine was sooo deliciously smooth. You know what put me off foie gras terrines? Gordon Ramsay's at Claridges. After GR's terrine, I've avoided it at all costs. My mistake tonight, because OMG, Waterside Inn's was kickass and I could've eaten it all. Unfortunately, I don't have a picture of it. I do have a picture of my yummy flaked Cornish crab though:

Next up, my scallop vs C's lobster medallion! Scallop delish, but lobster divine:

Rose petal sorbet to cleanse our palate:

Then comes the main course of Roasted Challandais duck with a lemon and thyme jus potato and garlic mousseline! Here's a vid of the duck carving. With the background dinner conversation between me and C edited out *grin*

The end result:

And bl00dy hell, that garlic mousseline, T, you'd step on D's back to eat it ;) Almost there, only the dessert of raspberry souffle and bottle of gerwerztraminer, followed by tea with petit fours to go! :) I wish I wrote down the gerwerztraminer maker and vintage. It was seriously beautiful to drink. Really fragrant, and not too sweet.

You can't tell, but the waiter poked a hole in the middle and filled the souffle with raspberry sauce. It made the souffle rise :)

When you take crap photos, just make em black & white :P

The finale, here is my personalised menu from Alain Roux :) Okay, so I was really tipsy and sent back the message, "I had a really awesome (double underlined) meal!" to the kitchen *lol* I wasn't in top form ;) I really hope Chef Roux and his team understood the compliment: