Yesterday I picked up my new suit, shirt and tie from H&M Kensington.
At some point in the future I am sure there will be a photo up here of my prize. But I now have a nice new navy blue suit, with hints of pin stripes. I have a blue shirt and a tie which has crimson and navy stripes of sorts. Hard to explain but I think it goes well.
I didn't exactly get the help I thought I was going to receive at the store, but I am confident enough in picking out my gear.
In all, I probably spent an hour and a bit trying on suits, etc. The problem was the suit. With no one to assist me I had trouble determining what was fitting correctly at the back so there were several trips to the change rooms where there were strategically placed mirrors to help with such things.
Does Natalie like it? I guess we will find out when she returns from Ireland.
Thursday, June 30, 2005
Wednesday, June 29, 2005
Big Brother UK
I have never had much time for the Big Brother TV show. I know what it is to live with obnoxious housemates. I did that in first year university. I don't need it.
But flicking through the channels the other night I came across the show just as they were introducing some intruders into the UK house. The contestants already inside didn't know they were coming as they were locked in another room.
The big questions though is, as an intruder (dressed in swimwear with plastic leaves attached), what would be the first thing you would do when entering the house? Have a look around? Find something warmer to put on? Discuss the reasons you're in the show with a fellow intruder? No, not if you're a pommie contestant. The correct answer is you make yourself a cuppa.
'nough said.
But flicking through the channels the other night I came across the show just as they were introducing some intruders into the UK house. The contestants already inside didn't know they were coming as they were locked in another room.
The big questions though is, as an intruder (dressed in swimwear with plastic leaves attached), what would be the first thing you would do when entering the house? Have a look around? Find something warmer to put on? Discuss the reasons you're in the show with a fellow intruder? No, not if you're a pommie contestant. The correct answer is you make yourself a cuppa.
'nough said.
Thursday, June 23, 2005
London has some summer
Yes folks, it has finally arrived: Summer in London. And it really is summer.
The weather of the last few days invokes memories of Sydney summers, with temperatures hitting 30 degrees celcius or more. This is perfect weather for going to the cricket, which Natalie and I did on Monday evening, or sitting in Regent's Park, as we did on Saturday afternoon, or just chilling out with friends.
Natalie's father arrived on Tuesday and had trouble believing all our complaints about the poor weather we had made.
And while the weather itself is great, the buildings here aren't designed to rid themselves of the heat at night, like Australian buildings and so sleeping has been a bit tough the last few nights. However, this will only last another night or two as Saturday will see a return to cooler temperatures of about 22 degrees.
The weather of the last few days invokes memories of Sydney summers, with temperatures hitting 30 degrees celcius or more. This is perfect weather for going to the cricket, which Natalie and I did on Monday evening, or sitting in Regent's Park, as we did on Saturday afternoon, or just chilling out with friends.
Natalie's father arrived on Tuesday and had trouble believing all our complaints about the poor weather we had made.
And while the weather itself is great, the buildings here aren't designed to rid themselves of the heat at night, like Australian buildings and so sleeping has been a bit tough the last few nights. However, this will only last another night or two as Saturday will see a return to cooler temperatures of about 22 degrees.
Friday, June 17, 2005
Web Design
While I am waiting for things to fall into place on the job front, I have been working on my father's business website.
I am pleased to say that the APV Sydney Finance website is now pretty much done and that we are marketing it online. So if you need to find a home loan in Sydney, this is where to look! :)
I am pleased to say that the APV Sydney Finance website is now pretty much done and that we are marketing it online. So if you need to find a home loan in Sydney, this is where to look! :)
Wednesday, June 15, 2005
Star Wars
Natalie and I finally saw Star Wars Episode III yesterday.
It was a good film, though its dark storyline, like that of Empire Strikes Back, means that you can't really say with overwhelming joy that you enjoyed it.
Unfortunately the cinema seemed to have some minor sound issues (a few cracks in the audio) and they forgot to turn down the lights.
Without giving anything away, the film very nicely lines things up for Episode IV, the original Star Wars movie.
It was a good film, though its dark storyline, like that of Empire Strikes Back, means that you can't really say with overwhelming joy that you enjoyed it.
Unfortunately the cinema seemed to have some minor sound issues (a few cracks in the audio) and they forgot to turn down the lights.
Without giving anything away, the film very nicely lines things up for Episode IV, the original Star Wars movie.
Sunday, June 12, 2005
Party Time!
Well, it's all over. Exams are now done, my dissertation is done, and I am free from the LSE :) It is a great relief to have all my exams over. They could have gone better, but I did the best I could in the given time frame and I am hoping that I will be awarded the MSc in a months' time.
To celebrate our finished year at the LSE, the Economics Department hosted a drinks and canapes party for us at the London Aquarium last night (see picture below). It was great fun to relax with some of the people who I have been studying with over the past year, and it was nice to introduce Peter around (though I'm not too sure he was extremely thrilled to be in a room full of economists! :)) It was all okay though: after leaving the MSc party Nick and Peter gave us a rendition of Bohemian Rhapsody at the Crown and Cushion pub in Lambeth North (Peter will provide more details soon, I'm sure:)).
Over the next couple of weeks, I will be enjoying having my life back, and hope to enjoy London a bit more than I have been able to whilst studying. It will be fun. Tuesday week my Dad is coming to London for a couple of weeks, and we are looking forward to having him. Kate, Dad and I will be heading to Paris for a few days while he's here, and will also be doing a short trip in Ireland, near Cork. It should be great fun. Hopefully the weather will be kind to us.
Just before Dad heads back to Australia, a bunch of our friends are coming to London, notably Rachael, Stu and Stu (that's not a typo). We are set to paint the town red! We are both looking forward to seeing them all here and to showing them some of our favourite bits of London.
Shortly after these guys head home, we will be on our way back to Australia. We've got a week-and-a-half trip to the Gold Coast planned (my family) and will also be spending a bit of time in Sydney before coming back to London.
Till next time,
from a very relieved and no longer stressed out Natalie
To celebrate our finished year at the LSE, the Economics Department hosted a drinks and canapes party for us at the London Aquarium last night (see picture below). It was great fun to relax with some of the people who I have been studying with over the past year, and it was nice to introduce Peter around (though I'm not too sure he was extremely thrilled to be in a room full of economists! :)) It was all okay though: after leaving the MSc party Nick and Peter gave us a rendition of Bohemian Rhapsody at the Crown and Cushion pub in Lambeth North (Peter will provide more details soon, I'm sure:)).
Over the next couple of weeks, I will be enjoying having my life back, and hope to enjoy London a bit more than I have been able to whilst studying. It will be fun. Tuesday week my Dad is coming to London for a couple of weeks, and we are looking forward to having him. Kate, Dad and I will be heading to Paris for a few days while he's here, and will also be doing a short trip in Ireland, near Cork. It should be great fun. Hopefully the weather will be kind to us.
Just before Dad heads back to Australia, a bunch of our friends are coming to London, notably Rachael, Stu and Stu (that's not a typo). We are set to paint the town red! We are both looking forward to seeing them all here and to showing them some of our favourite bits of London.
Shortly after these guys head home, we will be on our way back to Australia. We've got a week-and-a-half trip to the Gold Coast planned (my family) and will also be spending a bit of time in Sydney before coming back to London.
Till next time,
from a very relieved and no longer stressed out Natalie
Friday, June 10, 2005
Little Big Men
From: Wired News
02:00 AM Jun. 08, 2005 PT
Gimli, the dwarf from "Lord of the Rings", isn't the only short dude who's primed for a fight: Mexican "dwarf bullfighters" regularly face off with bullocks in the ring. Though the young bulls weigh half what a normal fighting bull does, they're aggressive. "It's scary when you are face to face with a bull," said dwarf bullfighter Antonio Garcia, 40. "It hurts when you get hit. And it's dangerous if the bull falls on you." The tiny toreros don matador suits, but don't battle the bullocks to the death. Instead, dwarf picadors join the bullfighters in the ring, clowning around and whacking the bulls with plastic hammers. "It's just like being a normal-sized comic," said Jorge Reyes, 48, a weekend bullfighter. "For me there is no complex."
-- Lewis Wallace
02:00 AM Jun. 08, 2005 PT
Gimli, the dwarf from "Lord of the Rings", isn't the only short dude who's primed for a fight: Mexican "dwarf bullfighters" regularly face off with bullocks in the ring. Though the young bulls weigh half what a normal fighting bull does, they're aggressive. "It's scary when you are face to face with a bull," said dwarf bullfighter Antonio Garcia, 40. "It hurts when you get hit. And it's dangerous if the bull falls on you." The tiny toreros don matador suits, but don't battle the bullocks to the death. Instead, dwarf picadors join the bullfighters in the ring, clowning around and whacking the bulls with plastic hammers. "It's just like being a normal-sized comic," said Jorge Reyes, 48, a weekend bullfighter. "For me there is no complex."
-- Lewis Wallace
Thursday, June 09, 2005
Exam Time
Well, my exams have begun. I had my first exam last Wednesday, 1st of June. So far I have had three exams, for my three 'core' subjects Macroeconomics, Microeconomics and Econometrics. The exams count for 100 per cent of my grade in these subjects, and are three hours long. It's been challenging, to say the least. Nerves nearly got the better of me on the night of my first exam, but things have been improving since then.
I have one exam to go, for my option subject Industry Economics (think competition, mergers etc.). I will be immensely happy when it is all over (as long as I pass, of course!).
Well, I better get back to the books - not long to go now.
Natalie
I have one exam to go, for my option subject Industry Economics (think competition, mergers etc.). I will be immensely happy when it is all over (as long as I pass, of course!).
Well, I better get back to the books - not long to go now.
Natalie
Sunday, June 05, 2005
The Unmagic of MSN Radio
So, while I continue to look for work I am using my spare time for many things.
Partly, I listen to internet radio. I like to try a few different players and stations.
Windows Media Player offers several genres, with their own selection. It used to be that they offered individual radio stations from around the globe. Now, it is just MSN. But there's a catch... it doesn't work.
I have the player open and I click on a link. Nothing, zero, zilch, zip. Just a 'click' sound to let me know that I have clicked on the link. There's no addition to the playlist as it said there would be. What am I doing wrong? Or is it yet another instance of Microsoft getting it wrong?
Partly, I listen to internet radio. I like to try a few different players and stations.
Windows Media Player offers several genres, with their own selection. It used to be that they offered individual radio stations from around the globe. Now, it is just MSN. But there's a catch... it doesn't work.
I have the player open and I click on a link. Nothing, zero, zilch, zip. Just a 'click' sound to let me know that I have clicked on the link. There's no addition to the playlist as it said there would be. What am I doing wrong? Or is it yet another instance of Microsoft getting it wrong?
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