It's too soon for scary chocolate St Nic's

September 29th, really, Christmas stuff already? Can't we at least get through Halloween first?

Migration patterns

This came home on someones head on Saturday night, so before it returned to it's natural habitat, it's been converted to kiwi a 'lil.

Oh, my brother says the T isn't silent

In July, Tim and Louisa converted us to Rosé with the intention of introducing us to Red, by the end of summer. At Jamie's Italian they got us trying our first glass of Merlot, it was much nicer than the Campari we tried while waiting for a table - a call back to the Venice drinks we had the week previous.

A pub hidden from those banker types

At The Grapes, our new (16th century) local, having some traditional pub fare. It would be surprising that I've never tried mushy peas before, considering my mum use to make them from dried blue slip peas, unless you already know I'm a fussy brat. Our new local is a genuine English pub, with all the locals bringing their dogs and friendly banter.

The Age of Ignorance, the Age of Stupid

As part of 'Green Week' at work, I watched a global warning film called the Age of Stupid, and now I feel like an arsehole.
We try to be as green as we can be (to the point just before dreadlocks are required), we reduce, reuse and recycle whenever possible, and today I was particularly inspired to climb the stairs for all my meetings - despite the rest of the team offsetting my efforts by taking the lift. All of this greenie karma, including looking down my nose at others for not making any effort (or scoffing at mine), well it's cancelled out exponentially by the very reason we live in London. This year I have taken 5 return flights, apparently 1 is enough to use up three years of personal carbon foot print. So I feel like an arsehole.

Summer waits for the walk home

I love it when good design turns up in places you don't expect

When the world seems to shine like you've had too much wine

The Rialto Bridge and our grumpy gondolier. (And yes, I spent almost the entire week with That's Amore stuck in my head.)

You guys, Venice is sinking!?!

It looks just like it does in that book too (you know, that one you read in the eighties about kinds of houses from around the world).

Romeo, Romeo where for art thou rolo?

Juliet's balcony - Casa di Giulietta, Verona

Look up, you're in Florence!

Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore, Duomo ceiling in Florence

Inside the walls of the Vatican City

Better than any pizza you've ever had

So good, it's in place of a photo of the Pantheon or the Colosseum.

Roman ruins, fill ya boots

Herculaneum wall art

Pompeii forum

Naples for our first slice of pizza

My sister’s advice on Naples was "you probably will want to leave asap", which was a pretty accurate. It was our city of arrival for 7 nights of travelling up Italy, and by far the dirtiest. It reminded us of Palermo, mob connections aside, and not a city I would suggest anyone solely visit. Tomorrow we are off to Herculaneum and Pompeii, so today we visited the Naples National Archaeological Museum to see all the frescoes that have been removed during the excavation, for preservation. The colours of the art wall paintings were amazing, especially considering their age. And another common theme for the week is amazing mosaics, such as this one.

Also in this museum was erotic art, that hasn't always been on display. It was pretty interesting but the room that held it was full of middle age people pointing, photographing and tittering like tweens.

The last day of summer

Appreciating a day in the city, before flying out to Italy tomorrow. It's such a nice day; it's with melancholy that I suspect this might be the last day of summer.
(In the shot is an old school route master bus, one of the few left run by Transport for London. St Paul's in the background)

Equality in Moderation

Recently ordered backpacks, ready for next week’s Italian adventure. Can you guess which one I'll be carrying?
Four years ago, during Kev's first visit to Sydney and very early on in our relationship, he did something totally offensive and upsetting to a blindly independent 22 year old version of me. He carried all the shopping home. How rude indeed.
Obviously things have changed since then, I've managed to find a better balance of 'I can do everything' and 'I can ask for help'. Getting him to carry all '90 litres' of luggage may be swinging in the other direction a bit I admit.

Call center pinball

I'm being messed about and being told the wrong thing by all the call centres of my bank. Consequently I now have a large chunk of money put on hold for 3 days, no wait 4-6 weeks? Considering getting one of those security mirrors for my current account, to keep an eye on it at all times. Oh yeah, and then there's getting my 3 month bond back from our last place...

Chasing pavements

I'm doing something I abhor. Wearing sneakers where heels should be, in business clothes.
I'm not much for function over form and my daily commute may be a short walk, but those little plastic caps on stiletto heels can cost up to ten quid to get fixed. So I'm going cheap (and short arse) on it.
My alternatives to kappa kicks from the boys section of Sports Direct? Maybe wear crocs instead (though I have picked my side on the love/hate split on that one already) or go hipster with purple high tops?

Selfridges exposed

Out clothes shopping for Kev's first day at a new job tomorrow. Finally we get to see the Selfridges building sans scafolding.

Party Favour

This is what wedding cake looks like these days.

Warming up the new house

Looks like we only invited legs though.

More Bristol Museum vs Banksy

Another highlight from Monday - Angel of the North

More Bristol Museum vs Banksy

Another highlight from Monday

Exercising in heels

Walking home from work on the first official day of autumn. We don't have home internets for 'up to eleven working days'. Get your photo fix the old school way at nothamilton.bravehost.com