Dad visiting!

Dad came to visit on the weekend and we met up in London for lunch and sightseeing. We went to a wonderful restaurant on what was called the Roof Gardens and there we had a fantastic lunch with some wonderful white wine called the Black Lagoon. He also announced that this was my birthday lunch (two weeks early) and gave me my birthday present, a brand new digital camera!

So now I can post the photos from the unusually sunny weekend with dad.

Finally got a table at the Roof Gardens and I got my camera!
Wonderful white wine, Black Lagoon


Tate Modern, more impressed with the building than the art.

Metro!
Sunny breakfast at home in Portsmouth, in the garden.

Walk along the beach
At the carboot sale (I bought a book)
Lunch at gunwarf
The TOWER
Me at gunwarf
Hooooover craft! (We took the fast cat, a more ordinary ferry) to the Isle of Wight
Dad at the sunny island before we started our hunt for scones.
Taking a beer break at the student bar called the Registry.

Meanwhile in a small village called Emsworth...

Yesterday I moved to the UK, to Portsmouth. It was weird and a little scary. Got up frightfully early, Jonatan followed me to the airport and kissed and hugged me good-bye. Then there was an air-plane, heavy bags and a train and dragging the bag to Liss Rd.

I was scared of fitted carpets in every room and the strange smell that they create but I was pleasantly surprised to find the bottom floor completely carpet free and two super cute and cuddly cats in the hallway. The upper floor does have a fitted carpet but that’s ok. It really is a lovely hose and I’ve got a nice room and a really great bed.

My landlord, Paul, is a great guy and he took me around town, showing me the different parts of Portsmouth, taking me to a bank to get an account, even taking me to the supermarket. We visited my second roommate Nadine at work, she works at an Ecco store here and hates it. But she is really outgoing and friendly and terminated to get me drunk during the evening when we went to the local pub (very British of us) and later when we sat in the garden.

I can proudly and smugly report that I was the only one not hung over the following morning even though I gave in to the friendliness and free drinks. One litre of water before you go to bed, that’s the very simple trick.

And this morning I went to work and it was great. I mean really. I was nervous and a bit insecure of course but it really worked out, everyone I talked to was funny, friendly and helpful. I worked on a t-shirt print for Artful Dodger and by the end of the day I was on the right track and feeling a bit proud actually.

There is talk of me maybe accompanying some of the others to New York for a week at the end of August and help paint some walls for a exhibition. That would be so much fun, I hope I can go.

So far the UK is nice and the people are great. The only thing I can’t stand is the water which is frankly undrinkable. Tastes like it comes directly from a swimming pool. But otherwise I am happy and I can’t wait until work tomorrow.

Written during design-block

Things are good. We are working on a very fun project for Cooper Island Beach Club, making there new website and logo. They are a caribbean resort so we spend much time looking at pictures of nice, sunny beaches.

The project is part of a module were we have put together our own agency, called Sushi Bomb. Not a very nice name, but for some strange reasons that was the one that survived all the discussions and sorting of suggestions.

The SVT people decided to run with OUR project! So proud! Still can’t show you anything here, but I am still very proud. I have worked for SVT, that is a big thing.

I’m looking for an apartment in Portsmouth at the moment, mainly through a website called easyroommate, a very good site despite it’s rather unfortunate name. But if you have any tips on where I can find a place to live I am grateful for all help I can get.