I Spy Friday and some news!

It's been awhile since I've posted I Spy Friday and I've missed these regular posts.  

It's a chance to check in and share what's been going on this week, no matter how random. 

A reader suggested that I turn it into a regular linky.

What do you think?  Would you participate?

These posts seemed to stop once I went back to work full-time. Suddenly there wasn't much to my week except commute, work and evenings in front of the TV. 

Speaking of which... I have some news. 

Remember when I landed that amazing job after my first London interview?  I couldn't believe how quickly it happened.

I even made you all do the Happy Dance with me.

Alas, it didn't turn out to be exactly what I expected.  

Good organization, nice people but the position was absolutely not for me.  I tried to convince myself to just stick it out, but quickly realized that would never work.  After much fretting and discussion, I decided that it was best to just bow out gracefully while still in my probation period. 

I still have a few more weeks to go.

But in the mean time, I have Fridays off!

Which means that I had some time last week to spend with a new friend.  Gina moved here about six months ago from Canada and I feel like we've been friends for years.

We met up at Covent Gardens and look! 

The eggs are back!!  Remember last year?

I can't believe I'm on my second year here!

(Okay, I'll stop with the exclamation points now.)

We met up at Covent Gardens for lunch at 

Jamie Oliver's Union Jacks.

I didn't take any pictures of the restaurant

but took about six in the bathroom toilet. Go figure.

I loved the 70's pattern murals on the doors.

And check out Thomas Crapper's Victorian throne, The Venerable.

Definition:  Venerable - Commanding respect by virtue of age, dignity, character, or position.

There you go.

 And I've decided that every toilet should have a wine rack, don't you?

 It will go with my new chandelier.  (I spotted this at All Bar One.)

  

 After a two hour lunch with much more talking than eating,

we headed over to the Primrose Bakery for a Bloom Gin & Tonic Strawberry Cupcake.

Light and a bit tangy, not too sweet!  Perfectly lovely.

And then, because we weren't quite done with our day,

I took my Canadian friend to the Maple Leaf Canadian Pub for her very first Gin & Tonic.

You can't be an expat in London if you haven't had a G&T. 

The next day, Matt and I went to Leicester Square for dinner and a movie.  Leicester Square is also called Theatreland.  (Whenever you see a big London red carpet movie premiere, it's probably happening at Leicester Square.)

We ate at Chiquito, a Mexican Bar & Grill.

Can you believe this menu? 

Please tell me what is Tex Mex

about this selection?

I think they are confusing Southern with Tex Mex and I have no idea how Peri-Peri sauce fits in.  

I'd never heard of it before moving here.  I thought it was Indian, but apparently it's Portuguese.  Now you know.

Even though it wasn't real Tex Mex, it didn't suck (how's that for a rating system?) and the cocktails were nice.  

After a quick stroll through China Town, we went to see Les Miserable and I got a headache from trying not to ugly cry.  What a fantastic movie!  You have to go see it!  

Again with the exclamation points.  I'll be throwing in smiley faces soon. :)

So, those were the highlights of the last week.

Today, I'm at home again planning how I will be spending my days

now that I'm a lady of leisure full-time underpaid blogger.

And, yes, that is iced tea.  Don't tell Matt as he's banned it from the apartment. 

 

 We have a trip in April, so I don't plan to start looking for work right away.

 I'm going to take some time off to consider my next move.

I'm also planning to devote some serious time to the blog, writing and photography.

I've discovered something that I really love to do,

so why not see where I can take it.

I realize a few How To for Dummies books aren't going to turn me into a professional blogger or photographer,

but time spent learning new things is never wasted. Right?
Fair warning.  You'll be seeing a lot more of me now.

One last thing, before I sign off...

I'm thinking about planning a Bloggers Lunch in London this Spring.

I was lucky enough to attend two of them last year and they were 

such a great way to make new friends and meet some terrific women.

Would you be interested in joining me?

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As usual, this is not a sponsored post.