This morning has been so lovely so far. I took my time in bed and didn't hurry my mind to travel from sleep to conciousness. I let my eyes stay closed as long as they wished and let them to decided when they were ready to wake up. I basically, gave my body a chance to have a good weekend lie in too.

After feeling like having had enough sleep, I slowly opened my eyes and was even more delighted to see the sun shining through the curtain into my bedroom. Ah, this is just perfectness, I thought to myself. I have probably mentioned my love affair with weekends and sunny mornings many times before, and I'm sorry if I seem to be repeating it over and over again, but I just get so much enjoyment from sunny (weekend) mornings. I suppose appreciating them so much is my way of living my life here and now. Not longing for something from the past or waiting for something else to happen in the future either.

I also went for a run straight after I had got up from bed. I just pulled tracksuit bottoms up, layered a top and a hoodie on and slipped my running shoes on and powered off. It was quite cold outside which made me really speed up my pace at the beginning, but after 15 minutes I was so hot I had to lose the hoodie and slow down a little. Then I just kept on jogging for the rest of my route. The route I usually do goes around a big pond. It normally takes me 25minutes to run around, but then I usually do an extra lap walking. It is a great way to cool down and stay outdoors a little bit longer. So all together my morning run+walk is often an hour's long me-time enjoyment. I also hardly ever have any music on (even thought that might help me to run longer sometimes) as I prefer letting my mind go empty. Then at some point during my walking lap, I usually realise that thoughts have entered my mind again. That's alright. I don't mind them popping in and out. If the thoughts relate to something that has worried me during that week, I usually think about them for a while and if I, for some reason, I don't seem to be able to draw a conclusion or find a solution, I usually have a few deep breaths and stop thinking about them for the time being. I rather concentrate on being outside, breathing the fresh air and watching the ducks and swans swimming by. Yup, those simple little things. 

A stone hear on a wooden plank on a beach.
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Whilst walking back, I got quite cold so I had a warm bath once I got back home. Other much appreciated life loving me-time moments are naturally baths and showers. Very girly and not very surprising, I know. I quite blatantly even call them my 'spa' moments as I never tend to rush out as quickly as possible. Hells no. Also, as I normally don't have that much time to pamper myself during the week, I'll often try to make an effort and do a hair mask, face mask, proper moisturising, scrub or exfoliation session over the weekend. I know they say the more effort you put in to your skin care routines the more you get out of them. It is true, your skin does look better and healthier the more you look after it, but I don't want to make looking after myself a calendar appointment type of weekly chore either. I think it is, in fact, quite silly to get stressed over not having had a full pedi- and manicure sorted out every single week. I occasionally hear and read  about people who actually get angry or upset if something comes in the way of their weekly treatments and it never fails to make me laugh out loud and wonder if they are serious about it. I mean, if they are then please, get a grip, that is not normal :D

I need a new pair of boots. Preferably black ones as my old black pair has started to look really tired.

Bless them, they have been repaired, reheeled and zipper fixed so many times and after six years they are still wearable -but I don't know for how long. And I don't want the old ladies to give up on me at a wrong moment.

I took my other pair of black riding boots to a shoe repair shop a few weeks back because the zip was broken in the other one. Unfortunately, the cobbler told me repairing was not worth it this time as the sole of the shoes were in a bad condition too. He said that it is a shame as the leather of the boots was in a superb condition and on the outside he would have never guessed that the shoes needed repairing. So one new zipper, new sole (in the outside bottom of the shoe) and  new heels would have ended up costing me at least as much as a new pair boots. Annoying. So I just asked him to bin the pair.

A pair of black leather boots

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Burger and Lobster, Mayfair.

Waiting for food at Burger and Lobster in Mayfair London

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I had heard so many good reviews about this restaurant that I decided I would go there as soon as the opportunity to do it would come around. Last Friday, it finally did.

Only a short walking distance away from Green Park tube station, made it easier for me who has massive difficulties with directions and finding my way to places for the first time. We got to the restaurant 6.30pm and by the time we reached the receptionists the queue was three hours long. Great. Thankfully, the head receptionist suggested us to have a drink at the bar and wait until someone else leaves and then quickly grab ourselves empty chairs. We were slightly sceptic about ever succeeding in that, but we thought to at least go in a had a drink at the bar.

Ordering drinks was easy and we in fact got ourselves pretty good place right behind people eating at the bar. The atmosphere inside the restaurant was great. You felt relaxed, invited and for some strange way wanted even thought you had to stand in the middle of waiters' way all the time. Everyone has happy and people were laughing and enjoying their meals. After seeing the food, I decided there was nothing that could stop me from eating here tonight. I mean I was on a mission. I tell you, I was like a hawk watching those seats. I even got into a mini verbal bitch-slap flight with a woman who tried to steal our seats. The woman had it coming.

So after the misunderstanding, we were sitting on our arses at the bar! Wheheeyy! Our waiter was the loveliest girl on planet. She was so funny and easy-going. I loved her! So, basically, they didn't have menus, but you could have a burger (with or without bacon) or lobster (a whole one or one in a brioche). Apart from the whole lobster, the food was £20. One of us had a burger (with chips and salad) and the other one the brioche lobster (also with chips and salad).

Now then. How could I explain this? The food was absolutely beyond everything I've ever eaten in the UK. It was better than great. It made both of us smile throughout the whole meal. It was tasty, it looked fantastic and it was just absolutely superb. Yup.

Go there! You will like it - I promise.


Duck and Waffle, the City.

A night view over the city of London from the Duck and waffle restaurant

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The location itself was amazing. The restaurant was on the 40th floor of Heron Tower. They seated us away from the windows originally, but thankfully with a bit of luck, the waiter managed to relocate us next to the windows. This would be the best place on earth to drop the question :)

We had two waiters. One mixing us drinks and one taking our orders and looking after us throughout the whole meal. The drink mixer fixed us drinks according to our taste preferences, you just had to basically say what you liked. I ask a G&T -as long as it didn't have cucumber in it. After I while, the waiter came back with a Duck & Waffle speciality G&T which had blood orange, jasmine foam and something else in, and I do have to admit that it was the best G&T I've ever had. Good start I thought.

Food-wise, we decided to share their small dishes. Basically, they had five or six categories (such as raw, cold, snacks, sides, mains etc.) to choose from. Dishes were between £7 to £32, depending on what you ordered. We had bacon wrapped dates, house bread, jerusalem artichoke ravioli, beetroot and goat cheese (with real chucks of honey!), oysters and of course their signature duck and waffle.

The food was beautiful. It was in fact phenomenal. I didn't expect it to be that good, but it was just lovely. I would highly recommend this place, and will definitely go back there again myself at some point.

Also, what I found great was the fact that they are open 24-7! Oh yes I should probably mention this too; we had made our table reservation two months ago. Yeah, it is quite popular, so to be on a safe side. Make sure you book a table in advanced. I don't know if our reservation was a little over the top, but that got us a 7pm Friday night dinner sorted.

MEATliquor, Mayfair.

Waiting for food at Meatliquor 

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Bring a balloon and get -50% from your food bill. Five balloons and five of us squeezed ourselves in at lunch time today. After a slight hoo-haa the staff managed to seat us at the same long table.

Food-wise, we were divided into two teams. The cheese burger eaters and the burger-chili chips-onion rings-cheese chips-chocolate peanut ice-cream eaters. Elli and I belonged to the first group and even thought we had the lest food, I became so full I still haven't eaten anything.. You will not have to leave hungry.

The beef was good. It was slightly raw in the middle (I like it like that) and the whole burger was really juice. The burger had enough tabasco hotness to it and it had gherkins too! Yummy! Yes I do love gherkins and no I am not pregnant. Very good burgers and good thin chips. If you like good tasty burgers, MEATliquor is your place.

Also, the food is really cheap. Burgers £6-7, chips starting from £3 and soft drinks £2,5 per can. The place was quite manly, so no fancy pants at all. I was in fact quite surprised that so many families with young children were showing up too. Thumps up! I love it when people bring their children with them to restaurants, cafés, art galleries, etc. I think that is the right way, indeed.

I was hoping to attend a booiaka dance class today after work, but then a last minute report writing task flew on my way right an hour before I was due to finish work. Hence, had to skip the dance and come straight home and start producing content as soon as possible. Slightly gutted, I do have to admit. Now, as you could imagine, I'm so ready for bed. 11 hours of writing a day should be more than enough.

 Big sleepy yawn, good night!

Kitten sleeping on a keyboard

Happy Bonfire Night!

Fireworks (c)

Fireworks (c)

Fireworks (c)

Listening (read replaying) Maroon 5's One More Night and liking it!

Whilst I was in Finland a few week's back, we had coffee at Kappeli. I looove that place. The prices are obviously silly high, but that is given when you go to places like this.

I suppose for me, it is the aesthetic beauty in art, places, taste and music that often pleases my eye more than anything else. I don't know if I necessarily attach  values to them, but I definitely link emotions and a state of mind with beautiful objects, tastes, music and smells.

Ravintola Kappeli restaurant kappeli helsinki finland

Old building helsinki finland

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