Steamed buns and the city

Whoop! This weekend is the first in a long, long time that we can have a lie in. BOTH DAYS! Of course we woke up at 6am this morning to the sound of the planes approaching Heathrow. But that's fine. There's nothing like that luxury of knowing you don't have to get out of the toasty cocoon.

Last night we went for an impromptu date in Chinatown as we had a little bit of celebrating to do. At Leong's Legends to be precise. Mmm mmm. That sticky rice and pork. And that Taiwanese kebab. That's one thing I need more of - steamed buns. Hence the next stop on our date night hit-list is going to be Flesh and Buns, a new Izakaya by Bone Daddies on Earlham Street... Delicious. That first friday of September really can't come quick enough.

So. It was far from East Asia in W1 but the buns and the windows wallpapered in cute packaging made us feel a teeny bit like we'd dipped back into our travels again (which are mostly documented here). It was nice, strolling hand in hand right across the Thames and back to Waterloo. Our bellies full and happy as can be, it was a pretty fine friday night.

I love London.

Happy weekend!

Yep...

The wedding was A-MAZING.

There was the warmest glow of love and rosiness the whole day (and not just because of the 30 degree heat and generously flowing champagne). The atmosphere was perfect, the details were exquisite and the venue was super cool. Chins quivered, speeches were aced and old friends reunited.

And the bride and groom; they looked absolutely stunning. It made us want to do it all again. Almost (I'm still not quite ready to go back to a life of spreadsheets yet).

Those flowers!

30

I made it!

Does being 30 make me a lady now? That's debatable ;-)

I felt like one at the weekend when my Jonny gave me the best birthday suprise ever (tricky to top getting engaged in The Conrad Tokyo on number 28, but it was pretty damn good). 

My dear, dear husband bundled me in a taxi and surprised me to: a stay in Shoreditch House, a Cowshed Spa pedicure, Californian sunshine (nice one JJ), copious presents that would appear from nowhere over 24 hours, drinks at The Boundary, an acoustic set on the roof with Bombay Bicycle Club (ok so he hadn't planned that one but nevertheless), epic bits you can eat*, old fashioneds and billinis, drunken pizza and rollies, a poolside breakfast and Monday morning swim, Yum Buns.... it was overwhelmingly amazing. I was on cloud nine. 

I wore scarlet lips, high(ish) old heals and everything - somewhat of a rarity for me. Incidentally in this new age of ladyness that I am trying to fulfill, I have made a pact as of my thirtieth year to wear lipstick as much as I can. The first week of that hasn't gone so well (my shyness prevails all too often) but I'm on the right path. Does anyone else not feel mature enough to be their age yet? Or is it a false impression I had of what being three decades means.

This birthday season has been a good one after a tricky old year anyway. Thank you Jonny.

Here's to being thirty.

* a cold salad buffet to anyone else