Sunday, June 23, 2013

Post-papers, pre-dissertation= relaxation!

The last few months have been an absolute blast. While April was an absolute nightmare, having about 14,000 words worth of end-of-term papers to write (my dissertation will be 15,000!) I was super stressed, couldn't sleep, nearly had a breakdown... Yet somehow my papers all got turned in, I survived, was happy with the results, and have been relaxing (probably a bit too much) since then!

When my last of the final papers was finally turned in I went to Holland again to visit my dear friend, Dide. She lives in Utrecht, but also took me to her parent's house in Raalte so I could see the countryside, meet her family, and basically just experience a real Dutch home! We had a blast, ate so much bread, made a Dutch apple pie, cycled to a pub, visited the royal palace, and just had a wonderful time together.
Walking through the centre of Utrecht

Utrecht
Crossing the canal from where Dide lives to the centre of Utrecht.
We waited for over an hour in cold pouring rain to get into the palace. When we came out there was nothing but sunshine!

Dide's adoooorrrable farm house in Raalte! 
Success! Our apple pie was soooo yummy! 
The breakfast and lunch spread included tonnnns of bread, cheeses, spreads, meats, etc. to put atop incredible fresh bread!... not before loading with butter though, of course ;-)

I was back in London for about two weeks after Holland, and then left for San Francisco. I absolutely fell in love and want to move there as soon as I possibly can! It's so fun to still have some connections, and people to reconnect with from when my parents lived there, and even from my pre-school days. I had the most wonderful time. 

What a beautiful city! I'm in love!

Sausalito- where my parents met working on a yacht :)

Fresh food markets= to die for!
Mt. Tam :)

After about 5 days in SF, my parents and I headed north to Napa for one night. We drove through Silverado, a beautiful place in Napa where my grandparents used to live. It was so fun to see again.






We only caught one winery before it closed, and had an incredible mediterranean dinner, before heading south the following day to Carmel/Monterrey for my cousin's wedding. I got to see family I hadn't seen in about 7 years! The wedding was beautiful, and was so much fun to see that long lost side of my family :) 

 At Markham Vineyards
Napa Valley
Monterrey Bay

Cousins!

From SF I flew home for two weeks and was able to visit friends, soak up some (very) warm weather that I wont see again for a while(!), and be home for Father's Day. I took advantage of our well equipped, large kitchen, and a bigger amount of people to cook for, and made a new, interesting dinner for my parents almost every night. 
Father's Day!

It always does feel wonderful to be back in London. I'm feeling pretty accomplished too, having only been back a week (only wish some of that accomplishment was towards my dissertation!). But since I've been back I've had a job interview, attended Ascot, and met Matthew Morrison at West End Live. Yeah...it was a pretty fantastic week! 

Rachel & me on the train to Ascot!

The Queen in the Royal Procession at Ascot

All dressed up in my Ascot atire!



     Last, but DEFINITELY not least, went to West End Live today-- where a bunch of West End shows perform bits of their shows. REALLY fun. Was so impressed with Let It Be and Thriller. But best part of the day hands down was meeting this beautiful man! Mr Matthew Morrison, ladies and gentlemen!

Cheers for now :)