The weekend that was...

So its 6am and I am wide awake. What the frick is going on? I don't have to think about getting up for another few hours! I have a lot going on in this head of mine, who would ever believe that I overthink anything. So I decided to do a few things that I have been putting off. Like checking out the official release of Eddie Vedder and Neil Finn covering Hunters and Collectors 'Throw your arms around me.' I love that song, and have long loved Eddie Vedder covering it, but the official version is a bit bland for me. You can check it out here – and when you are bored of that, check out my fav version here. I am really looking forward to the release of the Hunters and Collectors covers album though...

But none of that is what I wanted to talk about today. For the first time in about a month, I have spent a weekend in London. I have been lucky enough to travel a bit recently. I have indulged my travel bug, and instead of being satisfied, it just wants more. So here is what finally managed to keep me here for a weekend...

Friday night, my lovely friends, took me out for a belated birthday dinner. We have a tradition of taking each other out for swanky dinners, where we have to dress up and wear heels. This time they totally surprised me, I was not even allowed to know the place before we walked past it. So we started with cocktails at Cellar Door, near the Aldwych. I was coming down with a cold, that is still plaugeing me, so I was spraying my throat inbetween downing delicious cocktails. I had been wound up all week that I should wear my wenching top, a long standing joke, that we will one day end up at a medieval banquet, rather than a posh restaurant. And was then told that my dress was conservative! When we left there, the plan was to get in a cab and head into the city, we ended up walking down the road and stopping outside a posh hotel and it was decided that we were going to stop in there. The Waldolf. I was so excited!

We had a delicious dinner, yummy wine and great conversation. It was very posh and a beautiful setting. After dinner we headed out to Radio bar, a rooftop bar in the ME hotel. Where I was well out of my depth. I am much more comfortable in a pub where I can sing along, than a club where the waitresses were unaware of the booking system and you had to be exclusive to get in. We passed muster of three doors, before we were allowed into the bar. We ordered some very expensive cocktails, and checked out the view. And then headed back to Cellar door for a bit of a laugh. There was a cabaret on, which was cringy and hilarious all at once. But the cocktails were delicious and I was pretty happy.

The next day, my head cold hit its peak. I woke up with a really sore throat and a blocked nose, so ditched boot camp, as I had to be well enough for the nights festivities. I stayed in bed and watched tele before venturing up to get sorted for the party. Caz and Alex were having their leaving party at the Captain Cook and it was dress up. I had decided to go as Adele, and as such, I needed to have my hair put up into a beehive. My hair is really, really long at the moment, longer than I have had it for a while, mainly due to having no time to have it cut. Seeing it all backcombed and put up was a bit daunting but the result was fabulous. After it was done, I headed up to Caz & Alex's to get ready together. It was all tinged with sadness. I gave the girls my gift, which I had shed a few tears over putting together and writing the cards. But after that, we began drinking and getting ready. I helped Caz do her make up to look like Amy Winehouse. Alex looked fab as the Queen, although those masks still creep the fick out of me. Bryce as Ali G, Terry as Charlie Chaplin and Kat as Maid Marion, completed our party. As we walked down the road to catch the bus, we got some strange looks, but Ali G got lots of comments, so we were all in a good mood.

The night was a bit of a painkiller and alcohol blur. We danced, we stopped to watch the yacht racing, we danced some more and listened to our friend Will sing. I caught up with a number of friends I hadn't seen for ages and had a great time. Its always hard at a leaving party, you are all excited for your friends that they are off on their next adventure, but at the same time, I don't really know a London without Caz & Alex. After the pub, we headed to Brooke's rooftop oasis, but I was pretty done in by then. I said a short goodbye, as my good byes are to be said on Monday at the airport, and headed home at about 2am.

Sidenote – I was surprised and excited, to meet a chick called Clare – she was so sweet and straight away said – Oh My God, you are Cardigans & Cats, I love your blog and have wanted to meet you for ages. How exciting! Its kinda cool to know that people are actually reading what I have to rant and ramble about.

It took me an hour and half, some of that under the shower, to get my hair back to something resembling normal, in order for it to be cut on Sunday. And that was about all I was capable of on Sunday, I headed out for a bit and then was back on the couch, as lets face it, for the last month, I have been running here and there, and was in desperate need of a chill out day. I watched Friday Night Lights and loved it, and then a movie called Somewhere – I went through that pain so that you did not have to. Seriously, it was hands down the worst movie I have ever seen.

And here we are. Its Monday morning and my sole job today, it taking Caz and Alex to the airport. And trying not to crash the car on the way home, as I am well known for being a horrific airport crier and this one is going to be tough. I plan on getting my clean on when I get home, something that I have been putting off for ages, to distract myself.

So that was my weekend! Will tell you about the rest of my crazy life soon xx