Some girls

Hiya

Went to see 'Some Girls' starring David Schwimmer last night! Was so excited to see one of the friends characters in the flesh('pivetttt' hey Lousi!) l I would say that old Dave doesn't have the greatest range tho...he played a very similar character to that of Ross Gellar. It was a great show, very amusing and he was really tall and quite attractive in the flesh. He got his kit off which was a nice surprise.

There's been a bit of heartbreak around the camps, Rachel and Ben are no longer together. He was a two timing jerk so she's better off without him. He actually looks a lot like Owen Wilson and the terrible thing is, Owen is currenty starring in that new movie The Wedding Crashers so there are billboards on every street corner with Owen's/Ben's face...Rachel is threatening to grafitti one of the billboards near Ben's house with some reference to his manhood...I say go Rach!

Had a massive weekend, met some cool people including a music buff who loves Incubus and Johnny Depp, my kinda guy...very cool. Am way excited about this Thursday, my cousin Becca is coming down and a big group of us are going out for a night of dancing and general craziness. (don't worry Uncle Cedric, I WILL lead her astray)....hehe

Had my first pay cheque on Monday! My god, it was so good. I made my first big purchase which ended up not being that big cos of the sales. A cute little pink VK Mobile for £60.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is out Friday...everyone go see it! It will be fantastic I'm sure. My little Johnny won't disappoint. Will be seeing it with aforementioned music buff...

Love ya long time. Rachixxx

Film Premiere

Hiya

Was walking through Leicester Square yesterday on my way with Alice to the 'Speed dating session' when we noticed a massive crowd ahead, outside a cinema. We walked up and somehow managed to get to the front of the crowd and guess who it was...KATE HUDSON! Well firstly I saw Goldie Hawn walking the red carpet, then realised it was Kate Hudson's film premiere for her latest movie. Goldie Hawn looked very mumsie, didn't like her dress and her skin was quite wrinkly but I guess she looked good for her age.

Kate on the other hand was gorgeous. We were only metres away and got a great 'paparazzi' type shot of her. She is ultra skinny, a little too flat chested and she had the worst orange fake tan. But other than that she has the most amazing smile and her face is flawless.

The speed dating was TERRIBLE! I had this image in my mind of a really hip and trendy place where 20 somethings went to sip cocktails and mingle but NO. The reality was a bunch of balding 30 somethings in really bad suits strolling around with star trek cards trying to get a 'match' for a free drink. I walked in, stood for 15 minutes too long then left! It was the most uncomfortable situation I've ever been in cos the lady hosting the event would bring over these nerdy buggers who wanted to meet me. I felt like meat! EwEwEwEwEw...had a long shower this morning. It was funny because as we were leaving the cute bouncer said he wondered why I went in there because I wouldn't need to go to a singles night to get a date...hehe. I just thought it would be an experience...I guess it was. An experience of what never to do AGAINNNNN...you've been warned ladies...

We ended up at my fave local drinking wine and laughing over it and I ended up being hit on by a couple of normal 20 somethings who weren't armed with trekkie cards...

Lots of love rachix

Australian Times

Hiya beautiful creatures

Well I have now made my second newspaper appearance in two weeks! HAHA. This is the ultimate for any Australian expat living in London..AUSTRALIAN TIMES! Its a free newspaper which comes out every Wednesday and updates us Aussies on the goings on in Australia as well as the local music and pub scene in London. Page 7, there I was having drinkies at the Pitcher and Piano, my favourite pub for a Sunday night. I am totally going to have to get a scrap book. Way exciting.

Everyone is going to laugh but tonight I am off to....speed dating! A girl I work with Alice asked me if I wanted to go with her and since its in Leicester Square and its £10 a head unlimited drinkies I thought why not? I think it will be hilarious. I've always wondered what they're like. I don't particularly want to meet a love match tho, I am more in love with being single.

Bad news to all my faux designer handbag loving friends. I have just found out that rip off designer bags such as Louis Vuitton are said to be used to fund terrorist groups like Al Qaeda!! So ladies its time to ditch those imposters! (And sorry Deelee it looks like I won't be sending you that fake Louis as promised....!)

Lots of love rachixxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Weekend

Hiya peeps

My god I'm buggered today, what a big weekend I had! The weather was heaven, so so good. It was warm but breezy and I even got the bikini out and had a sunbake on our patio! Fun fun.

Went out from Thursday through to Sunday, bleeding my poor bank account dry, can't wait for my first pay packet on the 25th...

Had a real 'Secret life of us' moment on Saturday, this guy Fraser has this rooftop terrace which overlooks the street and it is basically identical to the one on the television show. It was such a beautiful day so about 15 of us sat out in the sunshine drinking and bbqing. We played a ratings game where the men and women in the street walking past the flat got scores out of ten...I rated everyone over 7 cos I didn't want to hurt anyones feelings!

Had a wonderful meal on Friday at a place called Tootsies on the waterfront. It was packed out full of people, all soaking up the rays.

Totally excited that my friend Claire is coming over in September! You can doss with me any day Clairebear. That reminds me, all my hobbie crew have to come over too! Let me know if anyone has any plans to visit in the pipeline...also Cas and Cam are visiting in August which will be loads of fun, will show you guys round Fulham!

Take care luviesxxxxxx

2 minutes of complete silence

Hiya

Observed a 2 minute silence today in Victoria Street. It was a beautiful experience, all the cars and buses came to a halt and the streets were full of people. No one made a sound...not a peep. It really made me stop and think about how lucky I was to avoid the terrible events of July 7th. There was another scare this morning at the tubes, nothing came of it but they are extra paranoid right now. It always makes me feel a little uneasy to see so many policeman at every tube station but I guess they are being extra vigilant at the present time. I can't exactly see the point, the terrorists are only going to wait until London has its guard down.

It is extra hot which is wonderful. I am maintaining a tan which I never thought would happen in little old London town. Am hitting the pub scene this evening with mates. I am hanging out for it today, cannot wait!

I had my third celeb encounter yesterday! Again, B grade celeb that no one would know in Aus. She is the host of a very popular music and gossip program on Chan 4 called T4. She was so tiny, like a little doll, and very pretty. The male host is drop dead gorgeous, Steve Jones...all the receptionists have met him so they are going to buzz me when he's at reception and I'll race down! And of course, Johnny Depp will have a personal tour of my office if he drops over to Channel 4.....

I would like to send out a big apology regarding my slackness in sending postcards! I was so touched to receive so many birthday cards, my housemates couldn't quite believe how many, so there is no excuse now. They will be in the mail tomorrow...promise xxxx

Phrase of the week. Instead of saying "Hi, How are you?" at the beginning of a sentence when you meet someone every English person says "You alright...?" Its like "Hi, You alright?" I'm thinking, course I'm bloody alright, why wouldn't I be? Its weird. Very english.

On another note, my god Tasmanian's get SO MUCH crap. I am actually starting to really stick up for little Tassie because I'm so over the jibes. NO I don't have two heads NO I'm not inbred (I have a Welsh mother for F-sake!) and NO Tasmania is not part of SOUTH AFRICA! Dumbass...!

Okay, I'm off, lots of love hugs and several ass slaps.

Rachixxxxx

Bad luck comes in threes...

What a weekend.

Enjoyed a big one Friday night, 4:30am beddi-bies. The night started at TGI Fridays, a new bar/restaurant which is part of a converted tube station. It's so gorgeous, with all these mock 'mind the gap' signs and a big round central bar in the middle. I had a heavenly Strawberry Daiquiri which kicked off the night perfectly. Met up with the others at Prospect and stayed there till close, then headed to a house party at Greggo's. Jackie took some pics so I'll have to get copies.

Spent Saturday chilled out in the sun; it was a fantastically hot day. Went swimming, 60 laps...go you good thing. Then decided to be a sensible girl and have a night in cos of my naughty Friday. BIG MISTAKE. I'd just drifted off to sleep when there was this massive BANG. Rachel and I jumped out of bed, thinking it was some bus blown up outside our flat. We looked out the window only to see that a car had gone through our front fence! And I'm talking a big mother of a thick stone fence. Panicked we raced downstairs to find our roommate Mick helping some guy out of a car. Some drunken tosser had rammed our house, hitting the window of our lounge and f-ing up the front of his car.
He was so out of it that he was actually trying to start the car because he didn't want to get arrested! I grabbed a towel for the guys bleeding head then, worried that the car might blow up, grabbed Rach and got out of the flat. The ambulance came and took the guy away, and then the police came and waited with Mick for a tow truck. By then Rach and I were tired so we decided to wait back upstairs. BIG MISTAKE. 5 minutes later 2 fire engines arrived with dozens of hotty-totty firemen! We were going to get dressed and go downstairs but instead watched and giggled from the window like stupid schoolgirls.

So anyways, bad things come in threes so.... what’s next? Hmm, naaa.... not going to live like that. Went out last night with Rachel and met up with her hotty-totty Ben and co.

Caught the tube today into Victoria Station and I'm not going to lie, I was very nervous. The tube was nowhere near as busy as it usually is at 8:30am so the only upside was I managed to get a seat! I couldn't help looking around suspiciously at everyone. And everyone was doing the same. It's sad to hear about the hate crimes starting up against Muslim communities. Come on people don't be so narrow-minded. Everyone is still so shaken, but coping. It's pretty surreal to think about what happened on July 7th. I know I'll never forget.

Love rachix

Rush hour....?

It was as if half the population of London didn't get up today. The streets are near empty, the buses only half full and the tubes that are running have one or two people to a carriage. Do they know something I dont know? Terrorist attack or something?...I feel brave just for getting out of bed.

I woke up early, had a chat to my family on the phone then stood at my window and watched the tubes go past. Near empty tubes. The lines are slowly being restored but I didn't risk it today. I took the Putney to Waterloo overground train. Walked across The Thames and past Westminster to get to work. 15 police vans roared past as I made my way along the path. They pulled up at a road near Westminster and sectioned off the road. I don't know what was happening but I didn't stay around to find out...

It amazes me to see tourists still snapping away at all the landmarks, Big Ben...The Eye. Perhaps waiting to catch some breaking news which they can then sell to the television stations. I really hope there isn't anymore 'breaking news..'

Walking home last night it amused me to see the pubs so full. Everyone having a quiet pint down the local. I love the way Londoners have reacted. There is no real panic. Just a quiet acceptance of what's happened. I bought a bottle of wine and watched the news all night, listening to the number of casualities rise. It started at 2, I knew it wouldn't stay at 2. My heart goes out to all the people affected.

Lots of love rachix

Updates

I just went for a walk around the city near my work. It was like that scene in Vanilla Sky where all the streets are empty. All the shops have closed, excluding one lingerie store which was full of women buying underwear! Nothing will stop a woman from shopping it seems!

I have never seen the streets so empty, its usually buzzing at this time with people buying their afternoon cappuccino's. Handwritten signs were stuck on the doors saying they had to shut early due to 'staff shortages'. Two police cars roared past as I was making my way across the road. The only sounds outside are sirens. The only sounds inside are police reports on Sky News. No one is really talking now.

I've worked out a way home and just spoke to the girl I met off the plane, Jackie, who is going to meet me at Waterloo. From there we are taking the overground to Putney, which is then a 15 minute walk home from the station.

Will update again soon.

Lots of love Rachixx

Terrorist Attack

Firstly, obviously, I'm fine. But it means so much to know that people have been phoning and texting my home in Hobart and finding out if I'm okay. Really appreciated.

The atmosphere is one of pure shock and anger. Initially it was thought to be a power surge but now its confirmed as a terrorist attack. It's something that you don't expect and really can't prepare for. Its always in the back of your mind, being a major city and everything but I honestly didn't expect it. I had been running late this morning and got off my tube at 8:40am and the attacks began at 8:50am. That really is the most surreal feeling. You can't prevent fate, if something was supposed to happen to me on that tube it would have.

The update so far is that 2 have been killed at the Aldgate Station, with many, many more injured. The locations are so varied and very much aimed at the centre of London in the financial district. There was a suicide bomber on one bus and the images coming through on the television are simply frightening. I cannot imagine being stuck on the underground. It is the most confined space at the best of times, getting stuck down there would be horrific. It's strange recognising all the areas I've recently visited. I've been texting all my friends over here and everyone seems to be fine.

My first thought was 'how is mum feeling?' Knowing my family is so far away is hard because all they have to rely on are updates from the television. So immediately I emailed and spoke to my grandma who phoned mum for me. I've since spoken to Mum on the phone and reassured her that I'm fine.

I feel comforted at work, everyone is teaming together and just hanging around the televisions, catching all the updates. Being Channel Four we are surrounded by televisions and no one can draw themselves away from them. All public transport has been put on hold so I don't know how I'll get home tonight. I think I'll either stay at work or leave with a workmate. They are closing off all the major streets and all cabs are banked up with hundreds lined up waiting for any available ones.

Will update when I get a free moment.

Take care everyone, lots of love rachixx

Well behaved women rarely make history - Laurel Thatcher Ulrich

Hiya Gorgeous peoples

ITS MAH BIRFDAY!

23, I sound so fricken old! I bought a sexy top and some body products as a gift to mah-self.

Tonight I am off to ASK, an Italian Restaurant to celebrate with Rach, Tash, Jax and Greggo. I am going to PIG OUT like a mad thing. Haven't had a naughty meal since I got here so tonights the night! Will try and take some piccies, a little harder since I had my digital camera nicked but will see..!

What a weekend, Thurs, Fri, Sat and Sun out and about. My god, its like you have this endless supply of energy over here, its weird...I'm sure I'll hit a wall and just sleep for 7 days but at the moment I'm loving keeping busy.

I have met so many wonderful people, you are never short of someone to hang out with, everyone is so ready to socialise and meet/greet. Watched Live 8 on the big screen at The Walkie in Shepherds Bush and I must say Robbie Williams on the big screen is a beautiful thing. Live 8 was a huge event over here in Hyde Park.

Went to my favourite restaurant Wagamamas for dinner Sun then to the PMP for drinkies. Wagamamas is a trendy noodle bar with the yummest, freshest food.. I'm addicted. Was seated next to a London celebrity. If you want to do a bit of celeb spotting, Wagamamas is the place to be. She works on some music channel over here and is absolutely gorgeous and petite.

A big congratulations to Simon and Andrea, its great to hear you two are engaged. Well done guys!

Lots of love and kissies. Rachixxx

ps-thank you for all the cards, emails and txts, means a lot to me.