life lately... places I have been in London

Kipferl (Austrian and Viennese Cafe and Kitchen) Camden Passage, Islington - After a week of my own tonsillitis and then the baby developing her own illness, I was in desperate need of a couple of hours to myself this afternoon. Leaving the baby with her Dad, I popped down to Islington and met my sister and her boyfriend. We were after somewhere to sit down and have a quick chat and we ended up eating wieners with rye and mustard whilst we caught up on the week behind and ahead. They also had a variety of delicious looking cakes, but having made a chocolate and Guinness cake on Friday, I passed.



Raystitch (99 Essex Road) - Raystitch is a haberdashers and cafe set up by Rachel Hart and is just across the road from where I used to go to WI when I used to live in Islington, although it didn't open until 2011. I've been meaning to go there for ages and I finally managed to go today when I realised I had to give back the cot sheets we borrowed when Pip was born and that given I can't find any I like, that I should just make my own. Sadly, or luckily for my bank account, I didn't have much time this afternoon to browse, it was more a case of rush in, find some fabric, have a quick coffee and leave again. They sell all sorts of fabric, haberdashery, my favourite Merchant & Mills supplies and they run all sort of classes. And did I mention they serve coffee. And cake? I will be back.

---
Photo credits:

Kipferl | Raystitch

The weekly

We had our first day out. And not only did we survive, we had a fantastic time. We went to Whitstable, driven by our friends. A long leisurely lunch at the Whitsable Oyster Company with Pip sleeping in her pram and then stirring to be fed just as we were ordering our coffees. I fed her at the table which allowed me to have the first caffeinated coffee since I found out I was pregnant. And then a walk, pottering in the shops whilst the boys swam, a drink outside the Old Neptune pub and then a walk along the beach in the evening sun, a trawl round the chip shops for supper (have you ever heard of a chip shop running out of fish?) eating them snugged out of the wind in the lee of a groyne, watching the sun dip below the horizon.

And then back, to London.

Where we drove past our collective previous selves Saturday night out. I could see us, standing outside Indo in Whitechapel, trying to get a taxi; sitting outside 333 in Old Street wearing the teeniest American Apparel black dress, smoking. Of nights in Brick Lane, Spitalfields, Shoreditch, Hoxton, Old Street, Upper Street. Past offices worked, pubs we spent hours in. Of meals eaten and drinks drunk and cigarettes smoked. Of dancing, of talking, of the drunken search for late night food. Of bus stops waited in, high heels in hand. The whole of my 20s viewed from the back seat of a car, across a car seat where my sleeping daughter and my new life lay.

.

As my twenties draw to a close, I feel surprisingly much better about it than I ever thought I might. I have gradually realised that anticipation is far worse than the actual event and, given that there is fuck all I can do about it, accept that it is inevitable and actually enjoy it.

As the clock turned midnight and 2012 arrived, I stood there with my husband, completely sober, for what must have been the first time since I turned 16, and realised that the year had come that I had dreamed about for years previous. You don't dream about turning 28, but, as a little girl, I often wondered what 30 might be like. And, I always thought and hoped I might have a baby at 30. And now here I am, on the eve of turning 30, 25 weeks pregnant. 

Later on that evening, husband and I stood together in the quiet peace and quiet of north London, in the middle of the road, watching the fireworks go off across the whole of the city. They were at once right in front of us and yet, tiny in the distance. Which is exactly what life feels like at the moment.

To celebrate 30, we are heading to Bath next weekend with our family and some of our closest friends, for a joint celebration with husband's best man, who was 30 yesterday. We have, for the past 8 years, had joint parties. In expensive cocktail bars in west London, overpriced nightclubs in Notting Hill (25), dinners, house parties and with various themes, mostly fuelled by large amounts of alcohol. Of all the photos, these were the only ones I could find of me on my own, safe for sharing.

Turning 28 in Stockholm/ 26 in London

Just a minute in December

Trying to get back into blogging. I can't believe the last time I posted a 'just a minute' post was August. Then again, August was when life turned a bit crazy. Those of you who have been following me on twitter will already know this, but things have been quiet around here for good reason. Alright, not quiet, nigh on silent. In August I found out I was pregnant and we are expecting a baby in April.

Weeks 8-16 were pretty awful from a feeling disgusting and being sick point of view. It was all I could do to get through a working week, let alone do things like blog and see friends. We went on holiday and pretty much all I wanted to do was sleep, or lie down. That said, it was a great trip, and good timing in that it was weeks 8-10 so I could sleep as much as I needed.

I'm now almost at the end of week 21. We've had two successful scans and I'm starting to feel the baby move. For those that are interested in that kind of thing, I've been writing more candidly about the baby and impending motherhood at a new space called Pip. Come over and say hello!

And for those that aren't - don't worry, I will be posting only limited baby things here and aim to be returning to my usual mix of vintage, shopping, weddings and general musings.

And now back to the post...

Reading...  A great stack of pregnancy books, mostly loaned, gifted and bought on Amazon. Including The Happiest Baby on the Block, What to Expect When You're Expecting and Baby Names. However, now that we are safely past 20 weeks, I really should start reading something about birth. Unless my A Practical Wedding book arrives first, in which case, everything else can wait.
.
Watching... Pan Am. I've thoroughly enjoyed this light hearted period drama from the American 60s following the stories of 4 Pan American flight attendances. I was so shocked at the racism though; I cannot believe that the world was actually like that. And, of course, I have been following Strictly Come Dancing. What is there not to like - dancing and sparkles.
.
Listening... To soothing choral music. Mixed with a good dose of Alice in Chains.
.
Buying... New clothes to suit my new shape, where possible non-maternity as I am really struggling to find stylish and interesting maternity clothes on a reasonable budget. A few bits and pieces for the baby, mostly from ebay.
.
Loving... Winter. The fact that Delilah has started sitting on the sofa next to me.
.
Wanting... To see my friends. More culture. Snow.
---
Just a minute - an occasional series of posts inspired by Talking to Unicorns (who was inspired by Daydream Lily). Just a Minute was started by August Street back in 2007.

Just a minute in August

Reading... Surprisingly little. It seems to have been a busy month. Actually, I did read The Egg Race by Polly Williams last week. What can I say? It was £1.50 in a charity shop. And as far as chick lit goes, Polly Williams is better than most. Still. Must try harder.

Watching... Sex and the City season 1. I'd forgotten how good early SATC was. And how 90s. Also, The Hour, which I have thoroughly enjoyed (just don't tell me the ending as I've yet to watch the final episode). A proper film noir style crime thriller with the added bonus of a historical setting. (although, they could have done that better. too many modern references and words).

Listening... To dance music in a field at a rave in Devon. Sorry, a shoestring boutique festival.

Buying... Very little. On a buying hiatus. :(

Loving... Visits from friends. Delilah and her strange little habits (see above).

Wanting... To go on holiday

---

iphone snap by me 

---

Just a minute - an occasional series of posts inspired by Talking to Unicorns (who was inspired by Daydream Lily). Just a Minute was started by August Street back in 2007.

Peonies has it about right I think. So does Nathanial.

here from via here