Seasonal Sushi

Last night amongst these x-mas parties me and my sushi buddy SuMay went for a sushi dinner in Kulu Kulu in Brewer Street in Soho. Nice it was too, but as always in these restaurants where there is a conveyor belt with gorgeous dishes, gluttony becomes an issue. So food was good and there most definitely was enough of it. Thing called Ikura that is salmon roe on on rice bed rolled in a crispy seaweed turned out to be a new favorite.

I Got to give a mention to the Asashi beer that I washed my fish down with as it was very good and it has been a long time since I had some. Good food and good times!

Winter solstice blues

Winter solstice passed quietly yesterday with all the unnecessary panic about about the ice and the snow and the incompetence to deal with it. Who wanted white x-mas? Well here it is and it does not seem to go so well. Be careful what you wish for...

Apart from Merton Council's sad inability to keep the pavements clean, this weather has not really bothered me too much, but my bad leg takes a bit of a battering what with trying to balance on the icy pavements and desperately trying to cross the road and stay upright, but I'll live (I hope!).

After today there is only one more full day to work and on x-mas eve we do a shorter day after which it is straight to the pub. Plus the days are technically getting longer now which has to be a good thing :)

F**k you, I won't do what you tell me!

The race for the x-mas no 1 single has triumphed with Killing In The Name by RATM winning as
confirmed by the BBC. POWER TO THE PEOPLE!

No hangover!

Wintry -3 degrees here in London town this morning but I am happy to report that there is no hangover. Last night was good and we didn't stay out too late and definitely no mixing of the drinks. It was nice seeing Caroline and her enormous bump which should be popping sometime in the beginning of January. Good times!

My ex boss lady and I having a quiet civilized drink

Friday afternoon

Businesses are wrapping up their business and most people in my building are breaking off for their holidays. Well, this is all good and I can chill out after a year of tons of work, deadlines and conferencing. One of the customers took this picture of me the other day and it quite well shows off the beginnings of seasonal relaxation.



Tonight I am off to The Slug and Lettuce in the City where I will meet some old colleagues and we will drink for the health and prosperity of my French friend/ex colleague Caroline who is leaving for a maternity leave. I hope the hangover won't be as bad as couple of weeks ago ;) Good times!

Rage against...what have you got?

I have happily jumped into this Rage Against x-factor x-mas no 1 bandwagon. So I went ahead and joined the Facebook group and then proceeded to download Killing In the Name by Rage Against The Machine. I have been popping my head in the tube along with the song now for a couple of days and it is a nice way to have a little "middle aged arm chair anarchy" against the rather dated "talent" competitions and reality shows that dominate the TV.

The song also reminds me of many a happy occasion in the past years with friends in various parties, pubs and festivals when this song with a serious political message has been belted out in various stages of alcohol fuelled merriment. Good times!

Celebrity crushes

I am notorious for falling in lurve with emotionally unavailable men. This week alone I have had a crush on three different, unavailable and unobtainable men. And who is more unavailable than a actor/movie star type, who can only be lurved from a far...?

Richard Shelton comes to my building every now and then and always chats with me in the reception. He will be starring in a panto this x-mas in Northampton in Snow White playing a no doubt delish villain. What a lovely guy *deep sigh*











Robert Downey Jr is in town and premiered his new film Sherlock Holmes last night which Min and I will most definitely be drooling over in the cinema when it comes out after Boxing Day. Troubled handsome and totally unavailable *deep sigh*









Jude Law also appears in the Sherlock Holmes film as Dr Watson. This guy has always been on my fancy list as he loves THFC and is not so shabby to look at. Allegedly he is back with Sienna Miller so that is my competition *deep sigh*

Yet another lazy weekend

Nothing worth of reporting has happened in the past few days and this weekend has been blissfully quiet. Weather is getting colder and my bad knee has started to ache a little bit with it. But other than that life is good.

However...the disappointment was palpable last night when my favorite couple were voted of Strictly Come Dancing semifinal by the "great British public " after scoring yet another perfect score with their gorgeous American Smooth. So once again the result won't matter at all and the final will be a non event.Thank you for all the beautiful dances Ali and Brian!

The x-mas kerfuffle is gathering pace and at work the x-mas tree is up and in my eye line all day. There is also one more drinks event next Friday as my French friend/ex colleague Caroline is leaving for a maternity leave. She won't be drinking but I am sure the rest of us will do her proud. Should be good ;)

In the news

Crisp Tuesday morning in London town and the sun is trying to make an appearance, which is nice. Talking about weather, in the news yesterday was that we have had the wettest November since 1914 and that the past decade has been the warmest ever.
Surprised…? Unfortunately not.

Tiger Woods has been very busy with the ladies and suddenly he has realised like so many men before him; you always get caught. Like Bill Clinton and many many many others before him could have told him that you can’t have your cake and eat it too, at least not in private. Surprised…? Unfortunately not.

British forces in Afganistan are fighting a war that was made up by Tony Bliar and his cronies here and abroad. Somehow I have never been convinced about the necessity of this war and the powers that be just waste time trying to convince me otherwise. Now the death toll stands at 100 men this year at this precise moment but it might and WILL change any moment. Surprised…? Unfortunately not.

Somebody somewhere sometime was convinced that Pete Docherty is worth the infamy he seems to generate. Seriously? This bloke has done all the drugs in the world, alledgedly made something resembling music, painted “art” with his blood, dated Kate Moss and has offended Germans twice just to mention some facts. I happily admit to being middle aged and boring if he represents the anarchy today. Surprised...? Really not.

And so the life plods on in little Britain...

YLE Areena Live - equals no broadcast

The patriot that I am every year I prepare a couple of hours of my time to spend watching the goings on in the motherland. This year once again I was getting ready to watch the Finland's Independence Day celebrations from YLE Areena Live, as they promised (like previous years) it will be an international broadcast over the internet tonight from 16.48 GMT onwards. Well, in real life nothing actually happens like in the movies....

Well, bollocks to YLE Areena Live as precisely nothing has happened for just over 40 minutes that I have actually bothered to wait around for the Independence Day party broadcast to kick off in the President's Castle in Helsinki.

Seriously sloppy work YLE and I can promise to you that there was nothing wrong with my internet connection tonight as I am perfectly able to post this as we speak *blowing a raspberry*

My Independence Day greetings to the YLE

X-Mas party time

Sunday morning and I can finally say I am alive and coherent. On Friday we had our work x-mas do and everything was done to excess as usual. Our company has down sized our lavish partying from the previous years and all the Business Center's got to choose what to do amongst themselves instead a huge corporate do we have had in the years gone by.

Well, we had a civilized (?) dinner in the Le Garrick and then headed to The Long Acre for a few more drinks. Crackers were cracked, paper hats worn, bad jokes polite laughed at and few noisy poppers popped. So fun was had and I got home ok, but boy did I suffer all day yesterday. That must of been hands down the worst hangover of 2009. So don't mix your drinks boys and girls as that is the killer the next day. Trust me, I am a profesnial *hic*

Prague November 2009

Top 10%

Remember how I went for my cholesterol test just over a week ago? Well, yesterday after work I had an appointment with Dr W for the results. I was feeling somewhat apprehensive as I didn't know what to expect but I really shouldn't have.

She started by saying that I deserve a gold start as my cholesterol levels are in the top 10% of the whole population and that the good cholesterol rules. She then continued giving me the good news as they had also tested my liver functions. She advised that my liver is functioning perfectly and I can carry on with my alcohol consumption without a worry. I now have officially the license to drink!!!

She finished off by saying that it is most unlikely that I will ever die of heart disease or a liver failure. Good stuff!

Pissup in a brewery and other Prague adventures

What can I say? Prague was truly fun and then some and we behaved like true Bohemians that we are at heart. Czech Airlines flew us there and I experienced the smoothest landing ever to the Prague airport. Quickly to our hotel and then we hit the town.

Rammstein were also in town and we shared few drinks with a bunch of Norwegian fans who were dressed in lederhosen in the Hardrock Cafe before making their way to the O2 arena. Then we met some Danish guys couple of days after who were also in town to see the German metal masters. Alas, we did not have tickets. Round the corner from our lovely Hotel Tchaikovsky we did stumble on the Banditos Bar and that became our local for the duration of the trip.

Food was good and there was plenty of it and the beers did not disappoint. I did take a lot of film during the trip so there will be a video. But before that here a some of Min's pictures to give you and idea what we saw, ate and drank. Good times!

Žižkov Television Tower

From there we had uninterrupted views all over Prague

Gothic charm

Apple Strudel extraordinaire

Beer beer beer beer beer

New friends from left to right: Miro, Drasco and Jan (Ronni is behind the camera)

With old friend Heidi K from Kent in the divine Restaurant Emy Destinnove

Prague calling

Last day at work and I have a big grin on my face. Tomorrow morning Min and I will fly to the beautiful city of Prague and I am seriously looking forward to it. Not only is there a lot to see but then there are all the different beers to sample.

Czech Republic is renown for it's brewing tradition and all the different varieties available. I have heard the importance of not mixing light beer and dark beer to avoid massive and unnecessary hangovers. Czechs like their beer cellar temperature with a creamy, tall head and one has remember that when ordering draught beer ask for "male pivo" (0.3l) or "pivo" (0.5l). The Czech Republic is the No. 1 beer drinking nation on the planet, with an annual per capita consummation of some 156 litres. Beer is served almost everywhere in Prague, even in breakfast cafés so I am sure I will enjoy the experience.



I will not take my little blonde laptop with me so there won't be any updates unless we stumble into a internet cafe that serves cold beverages ;)

Saturday night in Camden town

Yesterday afternoon I met up with the Ladyeez in Camden town for our "Little Yule" gathering and we finished the evening in the Intrepid Fox. I am sure I drank my own body weight in beer once again and today I am predictably feeling rather fragile but we did have a very funny evening. Good times!

Movember

A chap called Ross in my building started to turn up work with somewhat uncouth appearance but I was too polite to ask as he might have been going through some major drama in his life. But then I heard from my colleague that he is doing a sponsored moustache growing for the month of November in support of the prostate cancer charity Movember. This is annual month-long celebration of the moustache, highlighting men’s health issues, specifically prostate cancer. You can find some seriously hairy profiles on this site but it is all for a good cause. Also my native Finlandia Vodka proudly sponsors the Movember so go on and donate, I just did :)

Ross proudly modelling his achievment

Need to be inspired to read?

Waiting for the weekend to start

What a week! Too busy at work, the tube has been even more over crowded if possible and the weather has been changeable and miserable and very typical for November

I am shortly going to my Dr's to get a blood test to find out how little or a lot of cholesterol I have coursing through and/or blocking my veins. Being nice to myself is going well in general and my hair is looking and feeling healthier, I have given the sweets and the chocolate the boot for now and I am watching what I eat to some extend.

Tomorrow I will meet the Laydeez in Camden for our own "Little Yule" party and I am sure the will be few beverages consumed in a fairly civilized manner. Good times!

Discover Dogs 2009

Yesterday Min and I braved the 80 miles per hours winds and torrential rain and spend the day in canine company. The annual Discover Dogs is being held in Earl's Court this weekend and as per usual our lovely Bergamasco friend Siggi along with Cindy and Stuart invited us to come along. This was my 3rd year and once again lots of different dogs were stroked and scratched and a civilized glass or two of white wino was consumed. Absolutely a brilliant day!

This year my report will be a video as I have gone potty with my camera (just in case you had not noticed) and here is the end result.

Changing things

Busy week almost at the end. Busy at work, a dentist appointment, a Dr appointment and the rest. This is all because I have started "be nice to yourself" campaign. It started by going to the dentist Dr B for a check up and then to see Dr W for a chat and to arrange a cholesterol level test for next week as I have never had it measured and I don't know if I am killing myself slowly or faster. I also have decided to be nicer to my hair which has been neglected far too long with punishment from heat and products.

That is enough to start with and I am also starting to get excited about forth coming Prague trip. Life is good and getting better!

Strictly perfect score

Yesterday my favorite couple Brian Fortuna and his celebrity partner Ali Bastian scored the perfect 40 with their Viennese Waltz. What can I say, favorite couple from the beginning is staying my favorite couple as the competition heats up.



Other than the excitement of Strictly it has been a quiet weekend, but most therapeutic. Life is good!

Compulsory Sex & Drugs Education

'Attention children. To set the mood Miss Spilsbury will strip off to demonstrate upside-down pole dancing whilst snorting a line of coke...

Another old friend in town

Yesterday I met another long time no see friend Fatina from Denmark. We hadn't seen each other for over 10 years so it was nice to catch up over sushi lunch. Her eldest daughter Miss E is already 13 and last time I saw her she was tottering about in nappies. Doesn't time just fly by the older you get?! We promised to try not to leave it too long before we meet again and for the rest there is always the Facebook. Good times!

Fatina and I about 14 years ago

Little Miss E and I rocking sometime around 1998

Happy B-Day Young Vic!

Today is the second birthday of my gorgeous nephew Young Vic. His day started with a most pleasant present that was a toy fire truck. He wanted to take it with him to the crèche and spoke about it all the way there reports my Big Brother.

I sent him my present to him together with his x-mas pressie and left it to my Big Brother to decide which present is for which celebration. Have fun nephew of mine and enjoy all your pressies :)

Or would you rather be a fish?

When the film Hudson Hawk came out back in 1991 it was a major flop. But to me it was a screaming success with totally avant garde comic book feel to it. My colleague has been humming the song "Would You Like To Swing On Star" at work and it immediately reminded me of this brilliant film. Good stuff!

Hotel charges

Next time you think your hotel bill is too high you might want to consider this...

Husband and wife are traveling by car from Key West to Boston. After almost twenty-four hours on the road, they're too tired to continue, and they decide to stop for a rest. They stop at a nice hotel and take a room, but they only plan to sleep for four hours and then get back on the road.

When they check out four hours later, the desk clerk hands them a bill for $350.00. The man explodes and demands to know why the charge is so high. He tells the clerk although it's a nice hotel, the rooms certainly aren't worth $350.00!

When the clerk tells him $350.00 is the standard rate, the man insists on speaking to the Manager.

The Manager appears, listens to the man, and then explains that the hotel has an Olympic-sized pool and a huge conference center that were available for the husband and wife to use.

"But we didn't use them," the man complains.

"Well, they are here, and you could have," explains the Manager. He goes on to explain they could have taken in one of the shows for which the hotel is famous. "The best entertainers from New York , Hollywood and Las Vegas perform here," the Manager says.

"But we didn't go to any of those shows," complains the man again.

"Well, we have them, and you could have," the Manager replies.
No matter what amenity the Manager mentions, the man replies, "But we didn't use it!"

The Manager is unmoved, and eventually the man gives up and agrees to pay. He writes a check and gives it to the Manager. The Manager is surprised when he looks at the check.

"But sir," he says, "this check is only made out for $50.00."

"That's correct," says the man. "I charged you $300.00 for sleeping with my wife."

"But I didn't!" exclaims the Manager.

"Well, too bad," the man replies. "She was here and you could have."

Old friends and future plans

This weekend gone just flew past. Ms JJ and I met up Friday and then had so much fun that we met up again Sunday after the brief storm flew over London town. Sadly I forgot my camera and there is no visual aids to our day in Camden. But it was really nice to see her and bon voyage home today!

Min had her B-Day yesterday and we had some cake with dreamy Chantilly Cream which was nice indeed. Let the record show that she is 21 again.

As for me...everyday continues today with colder weather than of late but it should stay dry. Well, I must keep my eye on the price as the Prague trip is fast approaching.

This week has gone quite quick. The postal strike is still irking me but I have decided to lean back and watch the CWU self destruct. There are more news about other strikes up and down the country and they reckon it will be a long winter of discontent ahead of us. Hmmmm....

In the news also Tony Blaiar (read liar) is trying to elbow his way to a EU presidency, but not surprisingly the union powers that be are turning against him one by one. In fact I plead the EU not to let him break the union like he broke this country and just walked away leaving the ruddy mess behind. What can I say, same shit different day in politics.

The Baseballs in turn have provided me with tons of pleasure this week. I downloaded their album from Play.com and I have been bobbing my way to work and home with honey like harmonies in stereo in my MP3 player. It's official, I'm in Love ;)

This weekend my mate Executive Producer Ms Jennifer Jones is in town and tonight after work we will find ourselves a pub and settle down for a few beers and get on with about 4 years worth of catching up. Good times!

Happy Friday everyone :)

Hello Phil!

The new sponsored dog that was kindly allocated to me by Dogs Drust is called Phil and what a handsome chap he is.

Goodbye Monica!

This most annoying postal striking that started in August has delayed a letter to me posted in September advising that my lovely sponsor dog Monica had moved on to the big beach in the sky after short illness. *deep sigh*

The Baseballs: Eye and ear candy

This Rockabilly band called The Baseballs hails form Germany and jawohl mein gott what eye candy they are indeed with almost perfect harmonies. Bitte ja!

Below the best version I have ever heard of Katy Perry's Hot'n'cold and these lovely chaps also cover some other hits from Roxette to Lady Gaga to Green Day. Good stuff!

Blondie saves lives

Dear Diary

DAY 1

All packed for the cruise ship -- all my sexiest dresses and make-up. Really excited.

DAY 2

Entire day at sea, beautiful and saw whales and dolphins. Met the Captain today -- seems like a very nice man.

DAY 3

At the pool today. Also some shuffle boarding and hit golf balls off the deck. Captain invited me to join him at his table for dinner. Felt honored and had a wonderful time. He is very attractive and attentive.

DAY 4

Won $800 in the ship's casino. Captain asked me to have dinner with him in his own cabin. Had a luxurious meal complete with caviar and champagne. He asked me to stay the night but I declined. Told him I could not be unfaithful to my husband.

DAY 5

Pool again today, got sun burnt, and went inside to drink at piano bar for rest of day. Captain saw me, bought me several large drinks. Really is charming. Again asked me to visit his cabin for the night. Again I declined. He told me if I did not let him have his way with me he would sink the ship. I was shocked!

DAY 6

Today I saved 1600 lives.Twice.

Strictly smooth

This week my favorite couple Brian Fortuna and his celebrity partner Ali Bastian scored the highest score of this series of Strictly Come Dancing so far with their American Smooth and what an enjoyable beautiful dance it was.



Otherwise quiet weekend continues and I am off to get the Sunday papers shortly.

Deimos baby

Long time and no news from the silk haired sofa eater Deimos, but last night I received few new pictures which elevated my missing him to a tearful stage. So I chose a picture where he has a slight melancholy look in his eyes. *deep sigh*