johnny depp appreciation society

2 johnny depp films in as many nights - and both of them picked by my lovely boyfriend.
mmmm, is he trying to sweet talk me?
last night we watched blow. very good but very disturbing seeing mr depp with a paunch and in a shell suit (only at the end)
and tonight it's donnie brasco. also very good, of course we've seen it before on more than one occasion. this was the film that inspired our visit to mulberry street in nyc last year. a very good day spent in old skool pizzerias with photos of the old days on the walls. old faces, friends and villains.
a very good day indeed.
tomorrow night - pirates of the caribbean!!! join me won't you?

yee ha bayyybee - i'm outta here

and although i am using more conventional means of travel to venture across the globe - i'm definatly this excited. and excitable! i do believe i am starting to drive people a little mad!
OH WELL
let the last minute lists begin....
to do
1. get travellers cheques
2. get cash changed to local currency
3. buy travel insurance
4. pack suitcase
5. re-pack suitcase innumerable times
6. but ross some trousers and a new tie
7. toast the success of our narrow (waaaay t0o narrow) escape.

so cheers!
here's to the next 4 weeks!

hallelujah

we are still waiting for our visas

another appointment at the chinese embassy tomorrow.
we won't know anything until tomorrow.
fingers crossed for tomorrow.
hope they aren't so bloody vague tomorrow.

a blip on the holiday horizon

a travel visa.
seemingly obvious.
our imminent trip to the far east hangs in the balance of this piece of documentation.
next monday at 6pm we are due to fly out of heathrow, hong kong bound. however, as having had no part in the booking of this trip (ross's mam is kindly taken care of the booking therefore the financing - many many thanks necessary) i've been oblivious the the fundamentals. on receiving confirmation of the trip, she was told, in writing that we didn't require travel visas.
fast forward 6 months to 1 week before travel. a letter arrives in the post. a very scary letter. a letter that states if we do not have visas we will not be allowed into the countries we are desperately looking forward to entering. this letter is dated jan 24th. had this letter arrived on time there would be no problem. the letter did not arrive on time. the letter has had everyone on the hop for the past 36 hours.
cue a rush to the post office clutching passport photos and passports, throwing them at the post office assistant and demanding they arrive at the other end of the country within 24hours. no room for lost post on this occasion thank you. ross's step father has an emergency appointment at the chinese embassy in london first thing tomorrow morning. and until then, everything hangs in the balance.
we might not be able to go.
our suitcases stare at us menacingly from the corner of the bedroom. i can't bear to look at them. all my lists, written, re-written and then written and edited again are laughing at me for imagining that things might run smoothly for once.
a small blip.
my manager at work is on standby to factor me back into the rota at a moments notice because i might not need 3 weeks off anymore!
how depressing will work be if i'm there,at work, and not in hong kong? it'll be hellish. thinking what i should/could/would be doing instead. instead of smiling at people and telling them why they should part with their cash for beautiful shoes. if we don't go i can't imagine i'll be very good at my job in those 3 long weeks.
we have our fingers crossed.
ross's mam is understandably beside herself. i'd hate to be the person from the travel company who picks up the phone when she calls to complain about this monstrous fuck up.
we have our fingers crossed and tomorrow will mostly be spent waiting for the phone call that will inevitably come.
i'm not sure i'll be able to pick up the phone......
we have our fingers crossed.

the beauty of this man astounds me....

gratuitous letchery
happy weekend! and sweet sweet dreams (wink wink)

no pictures, no comments

now as all bloggers know. we love a comment. you write something with heart and soul. you jot down something witty. maybe you post a photo that means something. anyway, we take the time to do it. and most of the time - for me anyway - i don't need comments to keep posting but my god do they make me feel good when i get them. just a little note of gratification so i know i'm not talking to myself absolutely makes my day.
now, i have a list of blogs that i read pretty much every day (drunkenness permitting) and i don't always feel that i need to say anything but i think i should. we should take the time because it might make someone feel better.
even if it is just to say 'hi' or 'i'm here and i've read your words'
it might make someones day
and thats always nice.

happy commenting!

summer lovin'

for those of you who love a summery, fresh, crisp fruity drink that doesn't smack of alcohol, try Jacques. i was introduced to it last week in a bar and have since tracked it down to a supermarket. is this only available in the uk? served chilled, over ice it is gonna be an absolute stormer this summer. it's a sharing drink too, one bottle will fill 4 decent sized glasses.

brilliant. try it. (strongbow brewery)

really really good news

a boy and girl wander down the street to work, he is chaperoning me and we are chatting about nothing inparticular. then the bombsell gets dropped. our lives will never be the same again (no i'm not pregnant) he is ready to seriously think about moving back to london.
thank the lord.
as you all know, if you have read my previous posts, i have been ready to move back to london since i left over a year and a half ago. but the boy was getting settled. in the pit of my tummy was the nagging dread that he wouldn't want to leave.ever. and yet i also didn't want him to leave a town up north that he loves just for me. he would need to really want the move too.
and now he does.
music to my ears.
"pet, we need to start thinking about going home"
home.
london.
all smiles.

new girls

back to basics, simple cartoony girls. i'm guessing that these ladies will be the last bits and bobs that i get done before my h-h-holiday. and then looking into the future again i'm thinking that some geisha inspired ladies will be popping up in a couple of weeks time.




11 days to go! hong kong - here i come

i packed my bag and in it i put...

...enough stuff to last me for 3 nights at mr & mrs b's house (thats mum and dad to you!)
before i ever go away on my travels, no matter how long for, i always see my mum and dad. i've never questioned why. it's just something that has always happened. because they live at the other end of the country i only see them 4 times a year maybe and one of those times is always before i leave the country.
and then today, on the phone to one of my bestest friends polly and she said "why? in case you never see them again?"
i was shocked, it never occurred to me that this could even be a possibility? how very morbid! making sure they see me in case i die! does anyone else have thoughts like this before a journey? or is it just my family??? (i wouldn't be surprised if it was)
but no matter! i'm over it (yeah righto) and very much looking forward to seeing the pair of them before i go to asia in 3 WEEKS!
woo hoo

the constant gardener

i can't believe i've only just seen this film. where have i been? what on earth was i thinking? or more to the point....what have i been watching? now, even though it took me 2 nights to watch it (i fell asleep the first night but it was out of supreme knackeredness, not boredom) i absolutely love it love it love it. it's sad, violent, beautiful, sinister, haunting and mr ralph is looking gooood!
is it any wonder that this got ms weisz an oscar? i totally believe that this is her cause, and that she does live in africa. amazing. and more amazing... i want to watch it again, the very next day. i don't think i'll ever get bored of it.
see it
now

summer dreaming......

jacket - me likey. from topshop so totally affordable and i love the colour, can you think of a colour that you couldn't match with this jacket? great as a match for a gorgeous floral frock with pretty sandals or a smart pencil skirt with killer heels or.....

.....casual jeans. these pippa jeans also from topshop (yes, predictable but can you blame me?) are super skinny ans are cut just on the ankle so are a little shorter than normal, bang on trend and great for showing off......

.....new shoes! by kg for kurt geiger.