It's been a great couple of days! I've been chilling out today with old and new friends in London. I'm staying with Lara, a friend who I went through vet school with in Australia, who lives in Goodmayes (almost into Essex), with her brother. It's been a relaxing day spent shopping for last minute things for our trip to Spain, and having a BBQ in the intermittent sunshine on what has been quite a nice warm day!
We went to the Hillsong church ball last night - which totally ble us away! The most entertaining ball I've ever been to! there must have been at lest a thousand people there, maybe two, everyone looking fantastic in black tie gear. there were heaps of different rooms at the venue, one a real disco feel, with a free Ben a Jerrys ice cream stall, pop corn and fairy floss, a DJ and huge dance floor. There were regular dance acts which would perform on the dance floor, with routines from Austin Powers, to street dancing and an African dancing group (10% of proceeds from the night went to the Wototo Children's orphanage in Uganda). Another room had couches with tables and cheese and grape platters, with a wine bar, then another had a more classical feel, with a string an flute ensemble playing at one stage, and some other acoustic performers. Next to that was a room with paintings on the walls, and a huge frame suspended from the ceiling with a lady painted like a statue standing in it. People could go up and pose with her for photos, and if you were lucky she would move to pose with you! Another room was a french style cafe, with tables and chairs, another like an arabian lounge, with low tables and cushions to sit on the floor, another was a dance/club feel with a live DJ and dance music, and yet another had a Jazz band with sax, double bass and blues set up! Needless to say, it was an awesome night, far exceeding anything I have ever experienced in a night out! I will put some photos on here when I get back from Spain. I ran into a friend from uni, who I had stayed with in May with my bro, and met some of Lara's friends from Hillsong. The funny thing was, I only spoke to one english person all night, all the rest of the people I met were Aussies, South African, and a couple of Kiwis and Americans! It was great to meet some fellow travellers, though, and chat about all sorts of things, and of course, work out connections or people we know in common from back home!
I'm hoping to have a couple of visitors to experience the other side of England (ie the not london part!), I really think there is so much people miss out on just living in London the whole time they's in the UK.
So after our relaxing day today, Lara and her brother Dan are busy packing for our trip to Spain. We leave here at 4:30 tomorrow morning, and head to Stanstead airport to fly to Valencia. With all the heightened security after the terrorist scare, we're allowing 3 hours to check in.
The good news is that the check in and luggage handlers strike that was going to happen this weekend has been averted!
Thanks to the people who have been leaving comments on here for me - it is so good to hear your news! Marilyn, it's great to hear that things have come together well with the farm, and Christine, I'll have to give you a call when I get back from Spain - I'm already getting excited about Paris in December!
Laurie - if you're reading this, could you let me know your email address? I'd love to hear what you and the cell group are up to.
And everyone else, I'm thinking of you all often, (more often that I am emailing you, no doubt!)
watch this space for photos of classy dresses, Spanish sunshine, and tomato-covered people!
Adios!
