Cocktail class

On Tuesday evening I went to a cocktail making class with Betty in central London. Lots on fun.

Passion fruit Margarita

We made 2 different cocktails, a passion fruit margarita which was extremely tasty, and a mojito. I think we were supposed to have one of each; we had at least 3 of each in the end. 

I got there early,

For the most part they had made everything up for you and you put it together. But you could go up to the bar and make your own from scratch. Betty and I were there! The measures were more pour and see than measurements. So a few (most?) of ours made a fair bit more alcohol than your regular version. Especially when Betty was pouring.

Learning the shake.

Playing!

Both cocktails were very nice though I preferred the margarita. Thankfully the weather held out as we were outside.

Betty even got some guy out of his shirt by the end. (We didn't have a lot of food compared to the number and strength of drinks.) She did give it back though.

Very Jimmy Buffet.

Dad's birthday and retirement party

Dad turns 65 this week and officially retired on Friday. And he was so happy! 

I went home for a long weekend, travelling home Thursday. I had hoped the traffic would be better than on a Friday. But no. The M40 was a nightmare. 

On Friday we started the prep for the party and I got a hair cut as my hairdresser is awesome and it is crazy expensive in London. On the evening when Dad got home, we had a take away and a few bottles of wine to celebrate.

The party was Saturday afternoon and carried on into the night. And we had so much food. I forgot to take a photo (I was too busy getting drinks and refilling the food) but I did get some of the cake.

We did a little decorating, mainly putting up photos of dad around the house. He was such  cute kid.

My dad as a kid.

The weather held out for the most part (it started spitting a little at about 7pm) so most people were sitting outside for most of the afternoon. Everyone showed up so we had to dig out some extra chairs.

Birthday boy blowing out the candles. 

It was a great night. Everyone left with food parcels and we had to pour one person into a car at the end. (Thankfully as it was mom's car, she did not need the supplied puke bucket.) Dad had a great time and is already planning things for his spare time. 

I also got my latest project framed and picked it up this weekend. Due to the weight and size, it's going to have to stay at mom and dads until I have a house where I can put some holes in the walls. They are quite happy with this and I'll be lucky to get it back! It turned out better than I expected. 

Farnham Carnival

It was the Farnham Carnival on Saturday so I meet a friend there for lunch and an afternoon at the fair. 

The fair part was your typical fair ground. But I did win a toy from the grab a duck!

The rest of the stalls were in the meadow. And the most popular tents were the food and beer tents. There was also a stage with live music, so we chilled on the grass with a drink listening to the music for a while. (This was thankfully the part of the day not throwing it down.)

There was also a parade around the town. It definitely beat the one in Preston. No funeral cars to start. The theme was by the sea side. 

The prince and princess of the parade.

Brass band,

Not sure.

They got every one out.

Minions!

They danced the whole way! 

I am not sure.

After the carnival, there was some more music and drinks before I had to drive home (so soft drinks for me). It started to rain on the way back to the car. Which is the point at which I realised I had lost my car keys. :( Thankfully someone back at the fair had handed my keys into the lost and found. (And frankly my car is about 15 years older than all the other cars in the town!) Though I was thoroughly soaked by the time I got back to my car. Need a new water proof!

The rest of the last few weeks have been just general everyday stuff. I went for a few walks and runs in the sun and realised my walking sandals are also dead. 

I went to my first Krav Magra class which was fun. And then just work and planning holidays! :)

Guildford to Godalming

On Saturday I took my first trip to Guildford to meet up with a friend. It's not as bad as I have been told! Though the fact it was beautifully sunny helped matters. After lunch we had a quick walk up to the castle (what's left of it).

Guilford castle 

Castle grounds

View from the mound.

There was also the Guildford Fringe festival on with a party in the park on the castle grounds. If we had known it would have ben nice to sit.

After wondering through the festival we walked down to the river/canal and walked along all the way to Godalming, about 5 miles. It's a very nice walk, all flat and right along the river. 

The river Wey canal

Nearly there

However I was very glad when we reached Godalming and a pub for a nice pint of cold cider. Not only as it was lovely but quite hot, but I managed to get large 50p size blisters on each foot. Either I need to toughen my feet up for my hiking sandals or my sandals need a good burial and buy new pair. :( 

Around Teddington

This week I had a few days off between jobs. I will admit I spent most of the days doing very little. Lots of naps and chilling out. The weather wasn't as great as it could have been but Wednesday was nice and I figured I should get out of the house for something other than food shopping. A friend had mentioned a nice Japanese restaurant in Teddington, about 15 mins away on the bus. And it was very nice! Best sushi and sashimi I have had in a few years. For desert I got sorbet and a plum wine which was much more elaborate than I expected.

Plum wine

The thing on top is not a giant olive or weird looking gerkin as I originally thought but a plum which has been marinating in the booze. It was very tasty but not the easy to drink.
After a few hours sitting the restaurant (interrupted by a very weird guy coming in asking odd questions and having to be shown the door), I walk over to the lock and along the river to Kingston, the same walk in the opposite direction along the river I have walk previously.

Teddington Lock

The canal

Baby geese!

Today was my first day at the new job. There is a lot to take in and is going to take quite a while to get through it all. But so far, so good. And I get home early! :)