I wanted to blog about the really marvellous and quite unusual weekend I just had. Friday was payday, which is always a glorious occasion, so I leapt out of bed early and hotfooted it to Wimbledon, which shall hereby be known as a place of Christmas shopping wonderment (Very few people, lovely government reducing VAT, hot fudge on sale making the whole place smell amazing etc).
Of course I can’t say what I bought, because that may give vital clues to certain readers who will be among the lucky recipients, but suffice to say most of the components were gathered, and some extra inspirations were found that I had not previously planned for. I also had the joy of meeting my lovely friend Racquel for lunch. Raq and I worked in a marvellous company that I shall refrain from naming, but who are perhaps not the most affirming to their departing staff members, (and I should probably leave it there). I worked there two and a half years ago now (time flies when you’re having fun and you now have one of the best jobs in the world), so we had plenty to catch up on. After these joys I trundled back to Wandsworth and wiled away some time with another friend in Starbucks, which was also a splendid affair.
Saturday dawned crisp and bright and thankfully unrainy. The early morning was worth it because I was going to Euston to meet one of my favourite people, Gail. The weekend clearly had an ‘old work colleague’ theme, as Gail and I used to work together in Boots, on the aforementioned cookshop dept, and then we both got transferred to the photographic department (which was much more fun!).
This is a shocking and awful picture, but here we are on some heady day in September 2002, whilst on holiday in Gran Canaria:
(I know… 2002 was clearly a Vicki-bad-hair year!)
Anyway, so now Gail lives in Northampton and is a very clever and talented graphic designer. And I live in London and am a prayer network administrator, but we still keep in touch, and we still get on really well. So it was great to see her on Saturday.
After some amazing and wonderful spicy apple tea, courtesy of Ritazza on Euston station, we tubed it round to Hyde Park Corner, to check out the Winter Wonderland attraction there. Hmm, now what to say about the Winter Wonderland? Well, If you like ice skating and German Sausage and have kids you want to dispatch in the direction of rickety fairground rides while you imbide copious quantities of mulled wine, I’m sure it’s the place to be. Not so good for teetotal vegetarians with no children though. And there was no snow. (Although I am prepared to place the blame for that soley with God as opposed to the event organisers).
We decided to retreat to warmer climes, and so headed to the Science Museum (which looked a whole lot different than it did when I was 14). We played on machines that were meant to show us what we would look like as 60 year olds, and then ones which showed us how we would appear if we had a sex change op. Either the machines were malfunctioning or everyone will end up looking horrifically disfigured eventually it seems. So that was a good laugh. And all in all it was another lovely day.
On Sunday, at the Boiler Room, we celebrated four years since the sunday we stated our intentions and nailed our colours to the mast and Wandsworth Boiler Room was born. We all said how we couldn’t believe it had been four years – in some senses it feels like four weeks, and in other senses four lifetimes. We had a natty and ingenious four year birthday cake that also served as an advent wreath (Although this will cause problems next Sunday probably because we chopped it up and ate it at the end of the service… mwa ha ha!). we refreshed the six elements with everyone and talked about some new ways we’re going to be expressing them in the new year. Exciting times.
The weekend was rounded off by a cherry-chocolate cake baking experiment at my house. Assisted by my housemate (well, she licked the bowl), I made what had to be the scrummiest cake I’ve ever created. We also made some dinosaur cookies (because I had no round cookie cutters 
). So the house was full of that glorious home-baking aroma, and though we used every utensil in the house and got icing sugar everywhere, it was a definite success.
I went to bed that evening feeling like it had been a marvellous weekend in general, and that I was very pleased with all its eclectic people, events, journeys and creations. Weekends like this really energise me.
this post smells of cookies and other yums and scrums!!! enjoyed reading this!
PS: your hair not that bad!