brayza in the UK

Saturday Night Flavour

// May 13th, 2009 // No Comments » // Trip information

Cooking with Jamie Oliver

On Saturday (2/5/09), Teneale, Mel and myself met up with my best mate’s sister, Sinead, at Old Street. She was there with her boyfriend (whose name escapes me at the moment, I think it started with S. It might be Stephen or something, they haven’t been dating long). Anyway, we met them in Old Street and we walked down to Hoxton Square. Apparently Hoxton Square is “in” at the moment. We decided we would have drinks before we ate so we made our way into one of the pubs there. Since the pub didn’t have any Bulmers or Magners I was forced to drink tap cider, which wasn’t too bad I have to admit. For some reason no one serves cider with ice, so I was forced to order a pint of ice.

That will be a 30 minute wait

After we finished our drinks and Sinead left half of hers, we moved on to find a place to eat. Sinead and Steve were thinking we should eat a this Thai place around the corner so we went there. The menu sounded awesome so we asked for a table. The place was very busy so we had to wait 30 minutes. Luckily there was a pub across the road so we went in for another drink. Halfway through the cider Sineads boyfriend Stefan went to check to see if our table was ready. He came back and said it was, so we downed the remaining half pint and we back over the road.

Sineads boyfriend Sasha and I ordered meat spring rolls which you cook yourself for entree, and the girls order standard spring rolls.

A bit of a spectacle

The waiter came to our table with a little gas cooker, and all the meat and condiments to assemble the suckers. The waiter showed us how to do it first and offered to make mine. He placed the lettuce on the rice paper, piled on the spicy ginger and finally added the lovely cooked meat. The first bite was amazing, the flavours were awesome, then I hit the ginger and my mouth exploded. Oh so hot, but oh so good.

Steward then begun cooking one of his whilst my mouth was recovering. Cooking your own meat is such a novelty at a restaurant, yet so mundane when you have to do it at home. We both enjoyed the spectacle, as did the rest of patrons who were eager to find out which dish we ordered.

Caution: Contents hot

Whilst Stanton and I were cooking our own meals, the girls received their vegetarian spring rolls. Sinead dug straight in and bore the wrath of extremely hot food by burning her tongue on pretty much the first bite! It was game over for Sinead as she struggled to recover from such an early blow.

After we devoured our entree, the mains arrived. The consensus was to share the meals, so we did just that. All I can say is the flavours we unreal and I can’t wait to go back.

Smoke and a pancake

After the amazing dinner we kicked on over the road at some Moroccan bar and we ordered an apple shisha. Very interesting! The first block was quite nice and appley, however the second was pretty disgusting. We were there for a while, and Sinead and I both messaged Nick (her brother) wondering when he is going to come to England. We were hoping for a response, but somehow we both missed calls from him..

The time has come young grasshoppper

The time flew by and before we knew it, it was nearly 1am. We all parted ways at the tube station as Sinead and Stu (which is his real name, haha) walked home, and we needed to catch a bus. After much deliberation, we got on the correct bus and headed home.

Juvenile Delinquents

The bus we jumped onto to get home takes the long way around, however the girls were convinced that we were on the wrong bus so we got off just near the park at Bermondsey. I suggested we take a shortcut through the park. As we walked to the park we heard a horn go off continuously for about a minute. We all cursed Londoners for being so inconsiderate so late at night. As we rounded the corner of the park we were met with a car bellowing in flames. We were all very stunned and awestruck. I suggested to Teneale that we call the Fire Brigade. We were going to hang around to see what happened until we heard a few kids laughing, so we left for personal safety. We had to take the long way home and after about a minute we heard the Fire Brigade scream around the corner, and moments later the Police were on their way. It was a dramatic end to a great night out

9 out of 10 scientists agree

// May 3rd, 2009 // No Comments » // Trip information

In full flight

We continued on our Friday Museum Day after our visit to the Natural Museum. We finished up at the Natural History Museum at 3pm, so we went around the corner and visited the Science Museum. We were both expecting it to be similar to Questacon in Canberra, but it was very different. The museum was not as big as the Natural History Museum and not as well laid out either. We spent about 3 hours in the Science Museum and we were both absolutely wrecked. I think we will have to go again as the trip was brief and our brains had shut down from information overload.

Hands on!

There were two really cool hands on sections that appealed to both Mel and I. One was “who am I?” which is about your appearance and family origins, and the other was “Launchpad City” which is hands on science. In the “Who am I?” section, there were multiple interactive computers each with different aims, from basic text entry to finding out your family origin to more interactive ones which determine how you get your genes. On the other side of the section, there were more interactive computers about using the left and right sides of your brain.

In Launchpad City it was all hands-on science. I think we were there for at least 45 minutes mucking around with science. There were building blocks for science and gravity, sail boats for science and wind, magnetic blocks, ball games, and so much more. It was good fun. After that section we were wrecked so we moseyed on out of the museum. There was still a lot to see but we had enough and we went home. It was a really good day out.

Paying the price

Well Mel and I paid the price on having such a full day out. Swine flu in full swing! Friday night we crashed out at 8pm and didn’t awake until midday. We both had really bad sleeps, so we chilled on Saturday in preparation for Saturday night.

Life as we know it

// May 3rd, 2009 // No Comments » // Trip information

Natural History Museum

On Wednesday (29/4/09) Mel and I finally made it to the Natural History Museum after about 2 weeks of trying to get an entire day free. We caught the tube to Westminster station, which, in my opinion, is the coolest tube station I have seen. We then jumped onto the District and tubed it to South Kensington. A brief walk in the subway and we arrived at the Museum. It was quite a contrast from the last time we there; there was no line at all to get in. We took some photos in the lobby area before moving on to see my favourite dead creatures, the Dinosaurs!

We spent about 30 minutes in the Dinosaur area where we saw a lot of fossils and a T-Rex head and Stegosaurus head. There was also a robotic T-Rex which was pretty cool.

I’m feeling a little woozy here

Well we left the Dinosaur area and moved onto the mammals. It was about that time when my back was absolutely killing me. I sat down for a bit, had some water and we continued. I got about 6 steps further when my chest felt like it was crushing my lungs and my heart so I sat down again. It was the strangest pain. I didn’t know what it was, but I know I didn’t want to be walking around a museum while I had it. In the end I gave up, and Mel and I headed home. The walk to the tube and to our house was excruciating, but we made it, and the trip to the museum was over…until another day

Be afraid, be very afraid

I had diagnosed my sickness as swine flu. Since it is “pandemic”, every cold or symptoms of colds are now labeled as swine flu. Normal colds don’t exist in the media’s spotlight once a new cold comes to the forefront. So I figured my generic cold is now swine flu.

But that is not why you should be afraid. The next day I went on a pilgrimage to the “Temple of the Unemployed”. I had to go to this ghastly area of London to apply for my NI number. After waiting for over 2 hours in the capital of unemployed land, I was able to vacate, hopefully never to return again.

Museum, take 2, action!

Friday I was feeling a little better (however Mel was now feeling a little piggy) so we had another go at the museum. We skipped the Dino’s and picked up where we left off at the mammals. I dd have a little scare whilst there as my back was started to hurt, but the pain vanished and we were able to enjoy ourselves. The museum had an unreal array of everything “Natural”. I wonder whether the museum would “acquire” animals just to put them on display? “Oh wow, a dodo!”…*bang*…*whistles*…*ruffle of a bag*…

We left the Museum after 5 hours, as we had managed to see all the exhibitions. It was only 3pm so we decided to visit the Science Museum whilst we were here, as it was just around the corner.

Charlie and the baguette factory

// April 28th, 2009 // No Comments » // Trip information

Fast and Furious

After a relaxing and uneventful couple of days I went and met Fruity on Thursday (24/4/09) in Notting Hill for breakfast. He had a business proposition for developing a corporate ID and Flash website. After an in-depth discussion over a couple of latte’s and a baguette, we had come to agreement of the next steps of the project. That afternoon/night I developed some prototypes and work begun.

That afternoon Mel went to an interview near Liverpool St and Teneale headed off to Gallipoli for Anzac Day.

Now you owe me a 10 second car

Friday was another relaxing day. I was head down bum up in design work so Mel and I just chilled at home.

That night Mel and I went to our first movie in London. If you can tell by the heading, we saw Fast and Furious. It was good to see all the regulars back in the franchise. The movie was good and it was good to see references to the first, however I feel that it could have written better. The death of spoiler removed was all too brief and there was no real emotion. It didn’t really pull on the heart strings.Anyway we left the movie wanting to drive fast, however we left that to the bus driver.

Do you want to see me get hurt?!?!

On Saturday we journeyed down to Covent Gardens. When we first got there, there was a massive crowd around a performer. The guy was really good. He balanced on an 8ft ladder whilst juggling knives. I’ve seen better acts, but the guy did really well in involving the crowd and that’s what it is all about really. Afterwards I gave him £2, and I’m sure he cleaned up as nearly everyone who watched him was giving him money.

After the performance we walked around the markets. I found this little muffin shop and I splashed out on a blueberry muffin that looked unreal. We took photos of it before we devoured it.

Quella è una polpetta piccante!

After we had finished at the markets we went to Soho for a bite to eat. When it was Teneale’s birthday we walked past this Italian restaurant and the smell was phenomenal. Mel and I vowed to return and we did. We had to wait 10 minutes for a table, but the food was really good, worth the wait. I ordered the broccoli penne and Mel got a Hawaiian pizza. The service was a little slow, but it was expected with such a large amount of people dining there. After dinner we went home as Mel and I were both getting headaches.

My grain is hurting

Well Sunday I awoke with a really bad headache. Whether or not it was from the Italian food I will never know. So the day was off to a slow start, however after a few Nurofens and a few hours extra sleep I was as good as gold.

Mel and I were feeling a little energetic, and due to the London marathon being on, we decided to go for a run to Surrey Quays.

There’s an Elephant in the Castle

// April 28th, 2009 // No Comments » // Trip information

Hyde Park

Saturday (18/4/09) we made it a trifecta of markets. Teneale was getting jealous of Mel and I visiting all these markets while she was working, so we took her down to the Elephant and Castle markets which are close by. Mel bought some tights for £1 and I picked up a watch for the bargain price of £4. At first he wanted 15 pounds for it, then he said I could have it for 10 because I had brought a pretty lady (Mel). I ended up talking myself out of wanting the watch, when he came back and said £s;8. I really didn’t want it anymore so I begun walking away when he said 4. I thought ‘I have £4 in my pocket’, so I bought it. I’m glad I did. It’s actually quite a nice watch

Jekyll and Hyde

Sunday I decided to take my new watch for a walk. Teneale was meeting Gemma at Tottenham Court so Mel and I decided to join her in her travels. We had to take the bus as the Jubilee line was down for maintenance. It’s the newest line and it’s always down on the weekend. Mel and I left Teneale there and we jumped on the Central line to Lancaster Gate.

We begun at the Italian Gardens and walked to the Princess Diana memorial fountain, via the Peter Pan statue. The fountain was really nice and not what I had expected. The water was absolutely freezing but it did not hamper the children from running around in there. After a few photos and a quick splash, we then walked around to the other side and grabbed a hot dog and an ice cream from where you hire the paddle boats. The line to hire a boat was massive. At first I thought it might have been the food line., but lucky it wasn’t. Whilst stopping to eat I noticed the large amount of people rollerblading in the park. I remember rollerblading back in the day, however the rollerbladers on display in the park did nothing for the sports reputation. The rollerbladers made synchronised swimming look like bull fighting. I will never look at rollerblading in the same light anymore. After our little bite to eat we walked to Hyde Park Corner to see the speakers in action. Very, very animated. I caught bits and pieces of what people were talking about and it seemed to revolve around one central theme, religion. I heard one man say “If Catholics were offended by women’s breast then it would be a different story”. We hung around for a bit, I was more interested in watching the speakers and the listener’s reactions. We stopped into our favourite restaurant next to the park then headed home.

A night at the museum

Monday morning I had an interview with a recruitment agency near Holburn. After the interview Mel met me outside the tube station and we walked to the British Museum.

We arrived at the museum in awe of its size and architecture. It took us 6 hours to view all the rooms in the museum. The place is massive and in looking for the exit we stumbled upon the Asia section and the Americas section. Unfortunately by then we were worn out.

The best section at the British Museum would have to be the Greek history section. They had sections of the Acropolis on display including a large section that they have preserved.

We left the museum and made our way to the bus stop for home.