Just some Pics

Ok, so this afternoon I'm feeling a little lazy, and so I'm just going to post some recent photo's I've taken, and in some cases then had fun with them using the Hipstamatic or Photoshop applications on my iPhone. Actually one picture is quite a famous one, and I'm actually not sure who to credit it to, however I have found a website with the information on the background behind the phrase and picture. Tonight I am going to see the gorgeous English singer Adele who is playing here in Milano at Alcatraz which is a good venue, not too large and will be a good place to see a performer such as Adele. Last night I saw the film "The Fighter" which I have to say I enjoyed. It's based on a true story and it's quite gritty, tough and sad in parts. Excellent performances from Christian Bale, Mark Wahlberg and Melissa Leo. It's worth seeing; but perhaps not on a night when you just feel like watching a chilled relaxing film!

OK...here you go with some pics!

Above is: Tower Bridge in London on a sunny March day.

So the above is a very famous picture and phrase especially seen in the UK, and I found this website with information on how it came to be: http://www.keepcalmandcarryon.com/pages/history. So this image is not a photo by me, but I think it is great, and one phrase worth remembering!

This is a photo of a bunch of flowers that I took at the Baby Shower I went to in London recently, and I had fun photoshopping it!

Above is a photo I took actually last Spring and it is of Lake Como. I've always liked the picture and I recently decided to play with it also on Photoshop and I really like the sharpened effect especially of the tree and blossoms.

Lucky last! This is a photo I took at the "I Blame Coco" concert I went to a couple of weeks ago.

That's all for now! Back soon!

Busy in London!

Today I am back in Milano after almost a week in London. I was there for a mix of both personal and work reasons. After a day off here in Italy on Thursday 17th March for the 150th Celebrations of Italy unifying into one country, I flew across to London on Friday morning. I went for the weekend to join in the celebrations for a good friend of mine who was having her Baby Shower on the Saturday. It was a great afternoon, that we celebrated in a pub just off Tower Bridge road, with about 30 of us attending. The weather on Saturday was also lovely, really sunny and warm; a real treat for London! On the Sunday those of us who had flown over from Milan went for lunch in Fulham, and then I had dinner with long-time friends of mine at their place, and the food was delish!

I then was working from our London office until Thursday, and also running around London and also Leeds to visit clients. All the client meetings went really well, always a good feeling and positive overall. On Monday night I went and finally saw the film "The Black Swan", and I was really impressed with the film overall especially with Natalie Portman who I thought was brilliant. I completely understood why she received so many awards this year especially the Oscar. I saw the film in one of the cinema's in Leicester Square and had dinner at one of the restaurants in Chinatown just next door.

On Tuesday night after being in Leeds most of the day I went with colleagues to the "St Pancras Grand" restaurant which is on the upper level of St Pancras station. We started with a champagne cocktail at the Champagne bar just next to the restaurant; a great start to our meal! One of my colleagues had booked the restaurant through the website Top Table, so we had a fixed menu of two courses and a glass of champagne for £17 per person. The restaurant has been fitted out really nicely, and the food too is good, I wouldn't say the best food I've ever had in my life, but I had a salmon main and it was very nice. On Wednesday between a day full of meetings my colleague and I tried a restaurant that we had tried to go to another time but it had been full and this time we managed to get a table. The restaurant is called "Yalla Yalla" and they say that the food they serve is Beirut street food. The restaurant is found on Greens Court, and is the corner of Eastcastle street, basically one street back from Oxford street. I really want to recommend this restaurant as the food is just lovely, really flavoursome, and well priced. We ordered a few of their mezze plates and finished with a fresh mint tea. I left thinking that I really wanted to go back again. Their website is: http://www.yalla-yalla.co.uk/. As if I hadn't eaten enough I then met some friends for dinner at a restaurant called "Maximini" which is found on Sussex Place, W2 and it's closest tube stations are either Lancaster Gate or Paddington. This restaurant serves Asian cuisine, and it's always good quality and fresh. In fact the restaurant is part owned by Jimmy Choo. It's become a bit of a local for me in London because I meet a group of friends there almost every time I'm in London, as its easy to access for some that need to catch trains into Paddington. We always have a good night there.

So you may be wondering if I actually did any work whilst in London...but I promise you I did, in between eating great food! Living in Milan means that at a certain point I really miss eating various international cuisine, especially good Asian food like Thai or Vietnamese. There is a Chinatown in Milan, so its possible to eat Chinese, and also there is Asian supermarkets where you can buy Asian food as well. I haven't seen any Vietnamese restaurants here in Milan, although they may exist and there are a couple of Thai restaurants however they tend to be quite expensive. Hence why when I am visiting London I tend to eat food that I can't get in Italy.

The trip was good, and as I mentioned all went well on the work side of things, however I was really looking forward to sleeping in my own bed again when I got back to Milano!

Hope that you are having a great weekend. Tonight I am going to a friends house as he is having a party to celebrate his birthday, with a theme of Cowboys & Indians! So this morning I went to buy a few of us cowboy hats, as we have been told that if we are not dressed as per the theme that we can't enter! It should be a fun night!

I Blame Coco!

Last Wednesday 16th March myself and some colleagues discovered that Sony (plus a few other associated sponsors), was holding a party at the Superstudio on Via Tortona in Milano, and that the super cool band "I Blame Coco" plus DJ's "Cassius" were playing. The entrance to the venue was free, although this was only after 11pm. Prior to that people with VIP passes could enter, but anybody else had to wait till after 11. So even though we were not entirely sure about the whole entry process and if it was going to be a mad crazy scene we decided to go.

We arrived a bit before 11pm, and on the street there was a few hundred people waiting to go in. After waiting for about 15 minutes or so the security guards decided to open the entrance which was the size of a standard door, instead of the big double gates about five metres further on. What ensued was a mass of people pushing, moving, squashed, and ultimately desperately surging forward to enter inside. When I finally got inside I actually was shaking, and thinking I hope that this is all worth it!

Superstudio is a venue most well known for being used in the Milan Salone del Mobile (Furniture Fair) for the Fuori Salone displays and events. It's actually quite a big space, with various different areas are available to use. Sony had hired the biggest areas, and as a result the space was probably about 2/3 full. There was also an open bar, however to be honest there was a massive number of people all trying to order drinks so at the end I think I had just one.

For me though it was all about the music, and "I Blame Coco" were worth the effort. I think that they pretty much played all of the music from their first album and really sounded great. I like Coco Sumner's voice, style and she seems to be a very independent soul. The band's music is a combination of electro pop and new wave. Because there wasn't such a big crowd there it meant that everyone could get quite close to the stage, and I think that everyone there really enjoyed their performance. The band is not that hugely known in Italy, but I think that they are slowly becoming more popular and growing their fan base.

We also stayed for the DJ's "Cassius" and they too were very cool. The crowd very quickly started dancing to their music, and they are great to see perform. They played for at least 1.5-2 hours, so we also got into the swing of things with some dancing before heading out.

A great night of fun!

Culture!

In the last couple of days I've been out and about enjoying Milan, despite the rainy weather. Every now and then in the past couple of weeks we are having great weather and glimpses of spring, however since Sunday we've had rainy days.

On Sunday I met a group of friends for brunch at a place called "Indiana Post Bar & Restaurant". I've not been there before, and they have a great brunch menu for €18 per person, which and I know this sounds really strange is actually a "proper" brunch. In Milan there are a few places which offer weekend brunch menu's however, they don't include a lot of the standard brunch fare such as pancakes, eggs benedict etc, so it was refreshing to go somewhere where it was possible to order these plus scrambled eggs, salads, and burgers plus then also have a selection of food from a buffet available, and non-stop coffee. Also the price was better than a lot of other restaurants, which quite often charge upwards of €25 per person for an average brunch.

If you would like to go, the restaurant is on Naviglio Grande, and their details are:
"Indiana Post Bar & Restaurant"
Via Casale, 7
Alzaia Naviglio Grande
Milano
T: 02 58112220

In the afternoon I had booked tickets to see the "Impressionisti" exhibition at "Palazzo Reale" (http://www.impressionistimilano.it/). This exhibition started on 2nd March and its running until 19th June. Tickets cost €9 per person (plus any booking fees). This lovely exhibition is made up of artworks from the Sterling & Francine Clark Art Institute from the USA. It comprises paintings by majority French artists and there is a lot of Renoir and Monet paintings in particular which are really beautiful. There are paintings which are both portraits and landscape paintings from their lives in France plus international trips to Italy and the UK for example. It is proving to be a popular exhibition, and there was quite a large number of people enjoying the exhibition whilst I was there plus a queue of people outside when I left waiting to go in. However, I think that when it comes to Impressionist exhibitions, wherever I am they are always popular with lots of people going to see these beautiful artworks. I think that Impressionism is definitely my favourite period with regards to art, and has been for a long time. It's worth a visit!

Then lucky last for my couple of days of culture, last night I went with a few friends to a bar called "Magnolia" to see the Scottish band Glasvegas. The bar is actually just out of Milan, near Idroscala and Linate airport. It's not a massive venue, and I guess that there was a couple of hundred people there last night. I actually didn't know too much about Glasvegas beforehand, but I did enjoy the concert. They have a new album that they are busy promoting at the moment. Their music is rock / indie and they've got some good songs. Their drummer is amazing! She is Swedish and a real rock chick!!

Actions Speak Louder than Words

In the last two days I have been completely shocked and have watched inredulously at the TV and online at the devastation that has occurred in Japan following the earthquake and tsunami. I couldn't believe the force and power of the sea and how easily houses just crumbled away and the debris that ended up in the mud including cars, ships and very sadly also people. The human cost will be discovered in the coming days however the effects will be felt and continue on for months and years. It is really very sad and I'm happy that my Japanese friends are all safe. So this morning I decided to donate some money and I gave to the Red Cross. I hope my little "bit" makes a difference in some way. It was really amazing though yesterday as I discovered so much of what was going on in Japan via Twitter. Whilst thousands of tweets were written by people expressing their own shock and grief, it was also incredible to learn what was happening first and quickly via Twitter from the likes of the BBC, AP, Reuters, The New York Times and WSJ. The information coming through from these news agencies, and publishers was up to the minute, and gave me a concise and complete view of the latest stories happening.

In the last couple of days I have really understood how amazing my friends are. Don't get me wrong, to me my family and friends are my number one priority, but I think that sometimes I truly realise how valuable each and every one is to me. If I want to rant, laugh, talk, dance, cry, or even just sit and say nothing they are there for me, and make me feel loved and offer me the support that to me is just invaluable. I am grateful to know so many lovely and caring people and these people and their actions are unforgettable.

On the other hand in the past couple of days I've realised that Mr L is just "not that into me" and I've accepted that is just the way it is. That's life! I have to be honest and say that I am disappointed though because I thought that he was genuinely interested in me however in the last week even though he suggested us going out for a drink and I told him yes, great idea, he actually didn't suggest a date for us to meet. So I have to think ok, well he was interested, and now for his own reasons has realised he isn't. His lack of action portrayed to me a lack of desire to get to know me better soooo next!!!

Time to go, I have to get ready for dinner with my lovely friends!



     

Little Update...

So yesterday 8th March, was International Women's Day, and although we all celebrated, enjoyed the day, and happily received the mimosa flowers (in Australia I'd call wattle!), which we are given in Italy, it still has to be said that women's equality in general with regards to our work life still has a way to go. I was reading an article in the Sydney Morning Herald talking about how in Australia the idea of quota's, ie for the numbers of women in Executive roles is being discussed more seriously because although there is actually overall more women working in these roles, the numbers should be rising, and they are not as much as they should be. I wonder how long it will take before women are recognised as truly being equal with our male counter-parts, in terms of salary and role. Will it take another century to get there?

I am also thinking maybe I should re-read the book "He's just not that into you" again. I mean if a guy says he wants to see you but doesn't actually suggest a date to meet, then I  have to wonder if he really does want to see me. I'm going to go back online tonight with OK Cupid. Enough wondering about one guy, and I mean as one friend pointed out to me over the weekend, I've decided to move back to Australia, why am I now deciding to do internet dating, and what am I really trying to achieve? I had to think about this, and in essence she is right, I've been in Italy for nearly five years, I've had ample time to do this, and haven't. But maybe I can do some practising and have some fun in the meantime? Hmm...maybe, maybe not!?!?!!

Carnevale in Venezia

On Saturday I went to Venice for Carnevale. I went with three friends, and after numerous emails and debating we discovered that we couldn't stay overnight as there was just no accommodation to be found, so we travelled from Milan to Venice and back in one day by train and although it was a long day, it was really fun!

It was the final weekend of Carnevale in Venice, and the city was packed with people; both Italian and international visitors. Even so the atmosphere was great and very lively with a lot of people deciding to dress up in traditional Carnevale outfits, or just to wear wigs or masks as we did. The busiest part of the city was definitely surrounding Piazza San Marco where people were congregating to watch all those who had dressed up plus there seemed to be a competition being held for the couple or person who was "Best Dressed". Also busy with people was the main "street" that connects the station to Piazza San Marco. We actually started by deciding to veer off the main drag and as soon as you left this area there was almost no-one around. It was really such a difference. We meandered along many of the canals before arriving back to the busier path and then found our way to the Piazza. We had to go there, just to see it and experience the atmosphere of the Carnevale, people and excitement in the air. I imagine that the Piazza on Saturday night also would of been fantastic, with a real party atmosphere, and people enjoying the festivities all night.

We did however decide to catch the ferry back to the station, as we realised this was going to be much quicker than heading back the way we had come. The ferry is also I think such a pretty way to see the city, and the major monuments, gondoliers, Rialto Bridge and palazzi all overlooking the main canal. It's also a lot less stressful to catch the ferry, as you go straight from point "a" to "b", and of course in Venice that is important, for this is a city where it is extremely easy to get super lost! It's like catching a ferry in Sydney my hometown. I used to love to catch the ferry after work from Circular Quay to Milson's Point and in that 10 minute journey I always felt myself relaxing and unwinding.

Here are some of the photo's I took on the day: