I'm in Brrringland!

I arrived safely in London after a five-hour delay on Oz Airways as there was a mechanical problem on the original plane and they had to find a replacement. I am jetlagged but at the same time, excited and happy to be here. P and I have had a long distance relationship for a year and thankfully, our time to be together has come.


The house that P found us is just perfect and I love it! We took a short walk along the river yesterday, which is literally just around the corner. Even with the gloomy skies and slight drizzle, the scenery was still stunning. I can only imagine how beautiful it will look in the summer when the trees are in full bloom. But don't take my word for it. See for yourself and drool!










The last couple of weeks on the Small Island were bittersweet. It was hard saying good bye to all my good friends. But I know that I'm lucky that I have so many great people in my life! I will miss you all a lot.


However, I also can't wait to start my new life here! I already have a lunch appointment this week and will meet more friends coming into town next week.


Anyway, my stuff should arrive next month so once the house is fully decorated, I will post photos. You can be sure that it will all look amazing! P really outdid himself with finding us this place. I am writing this in the living room right now, which has a lovely period detail like the carved ceiling light. This house was built in the 1883 and is much bigger than my apartment on our Small Island (though that really wouldn't be difficult). I would estimate it at at least 1,400 square feet excluding the garden courtyard.


As it's St Patrick's Day, P and I are going to our local pub for a nice drink. Be seeing you!

There is a Season for All Things

And thank goodness winter is just about over!

I resigned from my job last week (yahooooooooooooo!) and will shortly be off to sunnier (figuratively, not literally) shores. Most of you know that I’ve been extremely unhappy with my work situation for the past year. But I stayed on because of my new apartment and the wedding. I was also waiting for the bonus, which is enough to pay for my move plus also furnish our new house in London!

Going to work everyday was really a drag, but now I just want to focus on the positive things that are coming up.

I will definitely miss our small island, but I am also very excited about my new life with P. He has found us a fabulous three-bedroom detached house in a suburb only 30 minutes by train to the city centre. It even has a little courtyard garden at the back and I’m already planning to have bbq parties this summer! We are turning the third and smallest bedroom into a walk-in closet, so will have good-sized master and guest bedrooms. There is plenty of space for any of you who want to come and stay, but make sure you bring me lost of food supplies from our small island!

The icing on the cake is that the house is only a five-minute walk to the picturesque river. The path along the water is dotted with cosy pubs, five-star restaurants and coffee shops serving delicious cakes. And I for one can’t wait to enjoy them with my fantastic husband!

I will spend the upcoming days running around to the banks and so on doing what I need to do. Most of my lunch and dinner dates are already filled, but I am sure I can squeeze you in if you want to bid me farewell with a glass of champagne or two. ;-)

I have also decided that to retire this blog. It was fun while it lasted, but I am starting a new chapter in my life now and will no longer be on this small island. So much has changed since my first entry about keys on d*cks in August 2006. In the year and a half since, I moved into my own home, got married (who would’ve thought?!!) and now, am going to live in another country. Exciting times indeed!

For all your support and friendship, thank you guys so much. I will definitely be in touch again soon!

Our Bedroom Piece

I have been hunting high and low for a suitable artwork to hang in our bedroom and I finally found it this weekend.

In Brrringland, P and I had looked at several galleries and I did see a subtle watercolour-on-paper nude that I liked. However, at over GPB500, we decided to give it a miss because it wasn't anything special. It shows the back view of a woman laying on her side and P said that we could find that sort of art in most galleries in the western world.

After enjoying my other three new pieces for a few days, I decided to head down to the gallery again to see if I could find anything else to collect. He had some charcoal-coloured nudes but they were very 'in your face'. I'm all for p*rn but I sure as heck ain't gonna' pay $1,500 for it!

Suddenly, the gallery owner pulled out this piece from his hidden stash at the back of the shop and I gasped with pleasure. I love that although it is a nude, it is also tribal and manages to combine humour in it. This was hung up in the artist's own home (the same guy who did "Ooh...I like my place!") and depicts himself and his wife. Although her chest is a restricted zone as symbolized by the red box, he stretches out his hand as far as he can and just keeps on trying to grab her b**bs! The painting is aptly titled "Kiss My...!"

It made me laugh because P is soooo like that as well. He can never keep his hands off me and I'm often batting them away. This clever piece of work will definitely have pride of place in our bedroom.

I've taken photos of it both in day light and at night with soft yellow lighting. Either way you look at it, it's gorgeous and perfect for us!

Ooh...I Like My Art!

I finally got my other three new pieces of art home last night and I just had to share.

The two semi-abstract landscapes are from one artist and the red abstract is from another.

Title: "Resort City II"

Title: "Sunset City"

Title: "Ooh...I like my place!"

The gallery owner actually recommended that I buy the abstract to round off my collection. When I first saw it, I wasn't that keen. However, I decided to trust his advice and I'm so glad that I did. The more I look at it, the more I love it! In person, the colours are so rich and the texture of the painting is simply beautiful.

The artist has become hugely collectable in the last few years and this piece depicts how his house that has grown along with his success.

I can relate to it because only a couple of years ago, I finally had enough for the deposit to pay for my own apartment after working for over 10 years. It is a very satifying feeling.

The problem with collecting art is that there is just so much beautiful work out there. Now I'm thinking of getting a couple of smaller pieces as well. Ooh...no!

Small Island Girl

Recently, I cut my hair into a bob: parted in the middle, shorter at the back and tapering to a longer length at the front. My hair falls perfectly straight even without blow drying.

In the last two weeks, two people that have asked me straight after I've been introduced to them if I'm a flight stewardess!

My first reaction was to feel insulted. Although I think it's a great lifestyle and a fantastic job option for a young woman just having left school, there are just so many negative connotations with regards to trolly dollies. However, after talking to P, I've had a change of heart.

He says that I should be flattered that at almost 38, I'm still mistaken for someone in her 20s. He also thinks that I look like the Small Island Girls in the advertising campaign as I am tall, slim and beautiful.

Is it any wonder that a) I have such a huge ego and b) I love this man to bits?!!

Brrrrrighton, Here We Come!

We took a day trip down to Brighton, the place where P grew up. The fast train is less than an hour from central London.

Walking alone the little lanes in the town centre was fascinating as there are a lot of boutique shops selling unique handicrafts and expensive clothes and jewellery. My favourite part was the Pier, where P and I relived our youth and wasted money on video games and junk food!

I'll let the photos speak for Brighton's very appealing charms:

Even with the wintry weather, it's a gorgeous beachside town. Will definitely be visiting again once it warms up in the next few months!

The Best and the Worst

After being here for a couple of weeks, I've come up with my own list of the best and worst that Brringland has to offer the intrepid SG Babe. As I'm an eternal optimist, I'll start of on a positive note.

Best of Brit, the:

• Post-Christmas sales and a lovely new hubby who will buy you whatever you want ;-)
• Weather, which is suitable for wearing knee-high leather boots (I have two pairs)
• Chance to expand my wardrobe ha ha
• SG/MY monthly dim sum meet up group of very nice people
• Jewellery Channel
• Opportunities to try new things

And last but certainly not least, drinking mulled wine/Pimms with ginger ale in a cosy pub with a roaring fire down by the Thames River. Pure bliss!

Worst of Brit, the:

• Wind when it's bitterly cold
• Expensive food that doesn't taste all that great
• High cost of sub-standard housing