LAST WEEK

I've never got the time to write things as they happen and then I forget half of them. Work isn't busy at the moment so we are trying to tidy up and make space in view of the new season. There is so much clutter in the office. It is unbelievable. I've managed to sort out all the stationary and I've reduced to a minimum my files and documents. So much dust!
I've been to the gym or exercising almost every day and I feel much better. I can't stand being inactive and waste time. I just get frustrated and depressed. I hope I can keep this up!

Last Sunday I went to the Tate Britain to see the Millais exhibition. I knew it was ending soon and I really didn't want to miss it. It was £11 to get in, but it was well worth it. They had so many paintings. It was massive. It was my chance to see some of my all time favourites. What I like when I go to exhibitions is to find out the story behind the paintings. It really adds up to the experience. Since I've always been interested in the Pre-Raphaelit Brotherhood, I already knew many stories about the artists and the models belonging to this movement. One of the figures that has always fascinated me is Lizzie Siddal (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Siddal) She is the face of Millais' Ophelia and to me she is a true romantic heroine, tragic ending included.
It is crazy that she had to pose in a bath full of water for hours no end while Millais was painting. She got so ill that her dad asked for compensation!

The story of Effie, Millais' muse and wife, is also interesting. She looks amazing in "The Eve of Saint Agnes", inspired by Keats' poem. The basis of the poem is the superstition that a woman would see her future husband if she performed a certain ritual on the eve of Saint Agnes. If she were to go to bed without looking behind her back, her future partner would appear in a dream, eat with her and kiss her. In his original version, Keats emphasised the sensuality but his publishers persuaded him to change the wording so as to avoid a controversy.

On Thursday I went to Saki, a Japanese restaurant in Smithfields. Hiroko is leaving for 6 months and it was very nice to see her. The food was excellent. It was a bit expensive, but perfect for a special occasion. I had been to Saki once before on a Sake Tasting Event, but it was my first time eating at the restaurant. Highly recommended! http://www.saki-food.com/

Tommy is back from San Francisco and she brought me a lovely panda puppet. As you can see they are both very jet-lagged! Ah, ah!

This week one of the most inspiring figures of the past century has died. Sir Edmund Hillary was 88. He was the first to summit Everest, together with Sherpa Tenzing Norgay in 1953. A true explorer and philantropist. Sadly we will not see his kind again.

PANDA :)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

The Xmas holidays have just finished and I'm already fed up with work. Today was the first day back and guess what? I was the only fool to turn up for work... I felt really sad because I came back slightly optimistic and hopeful for the future and everything was exactly the same old crap, maybe worse. Freezing, messy, dirty and nobody gives a damn. Well, why should anyone? I left early because I really couldn't be asked.

In spite of that, I really had two nice weeks off and a good time back at my mum's in Italy. I cooked and played a lot with my sisters. My DS pet hamster Uik gave birth to a baby boy with stars as his coat. I called him Stellino. I wanted to call him Super Stellino, but it was too long and didn't fit the screen.

Today I've also collected Tora from the cattery and she is very happy to be home.

I've finished reading "Mayme Angel" by Yumiko Igarashi. It is a manga from 1979 and I used to read it, as it appeared monthly on the "Candy" magazine. I was really young back then and I must have missed a few issues because I had never managed to read the very beginning and the end. Now it has been reprinted and I got it as a Xmas present! I'm so happy. Hi, hi!

MY GOOSE / L'OCONE

This year I've decided to get a goose for Xmas. We had goose for our office Xmas party, but it wasn't that nice... if you want something good, better do it yourself! It came out extremely well. I'm very happy. Here are a couple of pictures of my massive free range goose before and after my intervention ;)

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

We wish you a Merry Xmas, we wish you a Merry Xmas, we wish you a Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year!

XMAS MADNESS...

Today I went to see Billy at his new office on Great Eastern Street. We had a nice chat and he also gave some presents, chocolates and a hand-made Christmas card. So nice!

Although I work in Old Street all year round, I've never seen this painting... I must have stepped out of my robotic work-mode because I am seeing things that I've never noticed before.

Billy gave me some presents for Cat, too so I decided to bring them over to her in Selfridges. First I had to go to Rigby & Peller on Conduit Street to buy a present for my mum. It was an absolute nightmare. People everywhere, screaming kids... Hell! I was thinking of having a look around, but no way. I took the bus home straightaway. Scary people everywhere. In a buying frenzy and pushing me around. Everyone unhappy, but still doing it... makes you wonder.
On the way back I was thinking about Iceland and how I could drive for hours without meeting a soul. The wind, the birds, the sea and nothing else. Talking about Iceland, I found this picture on the net and I think it is the sweetest picture of the year. Those are Jonsi's (Sigur-Ros) hands, his guitar (I love the birds on the fretboard), a very cute baby with stripey tights, both wearing lovely rubber shoes. They are kind of "welly shoes", if such thing could exist.

Giulia sent me this funny thing. Click the link below if you want to have a laugh.
http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1424091252
Yes, it is the four sisters doing a silly dance... I've been receiving elves from everyone this year, but this one is the best.

AT HOME :)

I like being at home. I can sleep in, have a coffee in peace while I do my Brain Training (still failing miserably, by the way) and keep the house tidy. I've been going to the gym and I feel a great deal better and energised. I can also use messenger (still not working in the office) and I managed to talk to some friends for a change.
The gym is quiet during the day and the sauna is always empty, so I can make it as hot as I want. I think I went overboard today, as my legs were very red when I came out...
Even the shops aren't so crowded and shopping isn't that stressful.
Budgens in Crouch End has improved a lot since I've moved here. I usually shop at the Waitrose on Holloway Road, but lately I've been popping into Budgens when I don't feel like getting the bus down to Holloway.
I was really surprised as the cashier didn't know what mangoes or kiwis were. The guy in front of me bought both fruits and she was looking at him as if he were an alien. I don't like mango therefore I don't buy it, but at least I know what it looks like... It is not the first time that supermarket staff don't know what apparently obvious things are. Once I've asked for chives and the guy didn't have a clue. Oh, well!
While I was in Budgens I saw this really nice canvas shopping bag. It is a "Crouch End Shopping Bag", a project of the independent shops of Crouch End for the community and for the environment. I think it is a really good idea and I supported the project by buying one. http://www.thecrouchendproject.co.uk/