The better week

M's birthday braai was awesome. Garden neatened and decorated with fairy lights and balloons, fantastic food - burgers on homemade buns, potato salad, jerk chicken, lamb chops, veggie skewers , copious amounts of rum punch,  and JENGA! Sunday Count Ory and a little stroll by the river in London Bridge. Writing out my life story. W with coffee cupcakes. Video editing on Tuesday off after 8:30am yoga class at Southbank overlooking the City. Drilled holes in my planters, started the painting. Ordered canvas for R's mom's painting, making drawings and planning layout. The Harringtons after work on Wednesday for a sleepover, lots of talking. Learning things about SP. Sore neck. Thursday drink with L and then home to cook with the housemates - such a happy house! Friday.

Making decisions and sticking to them. At the end of the day, I know I'm getting there, albeit slowly. Even if no-one else agrees, at least I'm not trying to kid myself anymore.

Resolutions

Shakshuka for breakfast at Harry Morgan in St Johns Wood High street. Travel with S to Hampton Court to meet an old friend. Great afternoon sitting in the garden. England Italy match with D and M back at the ranch. Waltzing with Bashir at Southbank, accompanied by the Philharmonia orchestra. Reading about Valentina Tereshkova. Two necessary evenings just being at home. My friend RH's sad news again. Banners for the YCN. Wednesday Violent Femmes with S after dinner at the Pitcher and Piano- AND OH MY GOD THAT WAS BRIAN VIGLIONE!!! I SAW BRIAN VIGLIONE LIVE!!! \0/

Latitude ticket listed.

England vs Uruguay game in The Vault in Waterloo - absolutely epic. Massive screen, cheering fans, so much noise when we scored. Street food and ping pong. Walking through the graffiti tunnel - now I know where it is again!

Friday off work is very welcome, despite banner work before 8am. May have lost weight, but not trusting the scale just yet...

Rock me, Joe, on this Blessed night

Wonderfully humid Saturday morning. Chatting to Oumies on her new tablet. RSL balcony being sorted at last. Count Ory. Watching Pixies under a Durban weather sky - killed by ten million pounds of sludge from New York and New Jersey. Tapestry for non-alcoholic drinks. First strawberry from my birthday plant tasted alright! Howling Bells euphoric blues. Actually divulging details of my love life to my mom for the first time. Wednesday off. Productive, restorative. Video editing, banners and Premiere Pro FTW! Drums! Saving my strawberries...



Raiders game on Primrose Hill, shout out to spectator Sue :) 3 home runs from the team! Running for Mel. Dinner at S's, watching some of the first football match of the world cup. Mussel pot with S at Belgo in Camden.

Punch in the face

Trying to read Game of Thrones faster than the tv episodes. Sidcup Symphony Orchestra performance in St John's church. Sidcup is a dive, but the evening was worthwhile. Walking through the graveyard reading gravestones and listening to birds adding bits to a random Scottish dance hall happening in the church hall opposite the church. Missing you. Trying not to. Trying to be with myself. Gardening. Planted the daisies amidst the foul smell of fox. Edward the hamster.

Sunday batting clinic awesome. Softball to the face. Blackheath rehearsal went very well! :) Dull ache all the same, all the way. Evening braai while mowing the lawn; yummiest burger.

Monday considering ending my contract. Finally understand the full appeal of Imgur as a drug to cure depression. Quiz win revoked due to an administrative error. D's welcome veggie chilli supper. Finished GOT book 3. Still nowhere near the tv series. Starting to plan M's braai.

Drinks with Ams. My gran is on Facebook! Badminton with Dan and Jack on Wednesday,  Sue coming to watch my Softball match and then dinner afterwards! Drinks with I and SJ at the spotted horse in Putney.

My attempt at making the prawn noodle salad from Cafe VN - not too bad.

Rough starts, broken parts

Dinner with Sue on Friday night at PQ. Saturday rainy and grey, housework and chores. Little walk to the office furniture place - closed. Bought little flowers instead (daisies and impatiens). Slugs in the garden. Blackheath Halls on Sunday morning to listen to the director of Rossini's Count Ory explain his vision! Exciting :) Finally found a direct bus route. Mowed the lawn, oiled the deck. Late lunch with Mel at Jam Circus. My head is clearing. I thank the universe for a bit of stability amidst the mess. Found the most beautiful gardens (Brenchley Gardens)! Phoned mom while walking through.

Knowhow cloud backup 100%.

My new favourite place to sit: on my windowsil, facing the other way, watching the rain through the trees.

Finally watched East Palace West Palace. Courtrai crew dinner at Sodo with Jack. Smoking outside with M. Sidcup Symphony Orchestra and the 1.5 hour trek back home.

OMG I ACTUALLY WON THE QUIZ FOR MAY!!! \0/

Friday night. Tapestry with Ben. Good morning Vietnam. I start understanding - really understanding. Project Orange and proper goodbyes. Nothing is certain, but the choice has been made. It's me now - and I have to make it work. Alone - really alone for the first time ever.

Tickets booked to Rome with Sue.

Biiiiiirthdaaaayyyyy

Early Saturday morning start with Ocado and squash with D. Walking almost all the way back home! Gardening with D, chilling out on the couch watching the FA cup final Hull City vs Arsenal. Meeting up with J and Esh at the Clock House in Dulwich. Hunting for food an eventually finding a GBK at 23:00! Saturday BRAAI!! Epic sunshine, awesome friends and great fire, pool for the kids, Sangria, coleslaw, chops, chicken, boerie, potato salad :) Music! Expert mojito cocktails, happy happy drunkenness :) Surprise outing at lunch for coffee and cheesecake, people watching in the sun in Richmond. Long walk through Richmond park, drinks and Kerplunk! at The Forester in Hampton Wick, Dinner at the Albert near the park :) Passing out tired and happy. Sent Celeste flowers :) Softball match against the Bulldogs - 24-21 loss, but I caught someone out! The flying pig, The actress, The bishop.

Talk geek to me

Saturday morning in bed with Esh, suddenly burning to understand binary, hexadecimal and base notation... making sums and getting it right! \0/ Drums, video editing. Eurovision and the bearded Conchita. Z's birthday and the whole hog. Zizi's and the difficulties of relationships. Up and down up and down. Christopher the Saint. More video editing. Birthday party organisation!! Softball practice in the rain and TWO RUNS HOME!! (Not home runs... yet) IC's first leaving do at The Loft in CLJ. 2-4-1 cocktails and American diner food. On an absolute roll with the quiz. LONDON RAIDERS BLACK TEAM WIIIIIN! 26-8 :) Organising the braaaaaiiiii. London Bridge with L and bags of toys and biltong. IC's flashcards, leaving do at the ship till midnight. Kissing goodbye at the station