BIRDIE'S TALK - It's Official: I'm in Love with London!

I always loved London. But now... I'm officially in love with this City!

I'm marveled with this big city and it's conquering my heart day after day. I feel as if I were at home. It's a kind of... osmosis. I know most of the main streets and many places, I can walk everywhere and I'm never lost. I live in an amazing area, and... I kind feel like one of them. A local. Especially when people come to me to look for directions.

I feel that I belong here... All this makes sense to me. I'm much happier, I feel alive and all my senses are awaken! It's wonderful!! I had this special feeling when I found myself holding the union jack flag and started to sing the national hymn and my eyes became full of tears of emotion during the Queen Jubilee weekend. I was feeling a strong sense of belonging.

Then... I like the English people. With all the virtues and worst flaws. I find them funny! I like them more that I could ever imagine. They're nice, kind, funny, cute (some of them) but specially I find them very relaxed, professional, easy-going, straightforward, focused and dedicated. They just drink too much beer... :)

I'm in love and that's it!! There's nothing I can do about this.
Of course I miss my family, my friends, the Portuguese fish, the wine (oh my god the wine), the beaches and special places, but... everyday when I wake here I feel I'm at home and that this is my neighborhood, my city, and I start to know some people and having familiar faces, from the Cafes, stores, neighbors, even some people that go to the same tube station everyday at the same time. :) And it's wonderful when you get into the coffee shop where you're a regular and the guy asks you how you are and it's already preparing my single espresso. It's just... beautiful and incredibly good.

London... I Love You.

 

BIRDIE'S TALK - Camden Town and Mornington Crescent

Camden is the life and sole of any party; a massive alternative music, cultural and theatre scene runs alongside the mainstream. This area is stereotyped as the hippy, grungy, left-leaning area, but with a trendy edge - just take a look around Camden Market!

Alongside this there is a greater respectability around Regent's Park and London Zoo as well as the mainstream attractions in the City centre around The British Museum and the new St. Pancras Station.

The London Borough of Camden stretches a total of just 22 square kilometers within inner London, to the north of the city centre

It is an area of strong contrasts, ranging from open spaces like Hampstead Heath, to the busy Central London areas of Covent Garden and Holborn and the lively, lefty Camden Market and Camden Lock.

I leave you now with Will! :)

Love, 

Birdie  

BIRDIE'S TALK - Coffee, my daily Ally!

When Coffee becomes so important as brushing teeth... it means: addiction!

I need a coffee right now otherwise I might go back to bed to dream about Coffee... 

And that's what happened. Well, actually I went out for a coffee with my heavy and kind a "range rover" laptop. 
Lot's of stuff to read and catch up with and a few emails I really wanted to send. 

A few articles and emails after I was feeling almost in coma and just wanted to go home. I had a strong headache since morning and it was almost 3pm and it was only getting worst.


As I was putting my things back in my old yellow Kipling's backpack three people sat at the table next to mine. An older guy and the other two ginger haired were having lunch when the oldest guy make a joke and looked at me because I was laughing to myself about he's joke. So he started talking to me saying they had just been in a Comedy course right in front of the coffee shop where we were. 
So we spoke for a while about the course until the time the older guy asked me if my hair was real Ginger. I smiled and replied to him: "my hair is not so ginger as you see it. It's like a Fendi purse made in Thailand: it's a bit faked!" So the three all laughed and told me that I should go on the course. I laughed more than them because I can't "do" nothing about my life so a Comedy course it's definitely not my priority! Of course I did not share this with them. After a few more gag's and and example of a silent gag they asked to do, they wrote the school's website on a piece of paper and advise me to go there because I was really good at it.

After my mini-comedy show, I finnaly said goodbye and left. On my way home I got to thinking... I'm funny, I'm good as a professional, I'm a nice person, I'm living in the City that I love (after Lisbon), I'm in contact with some of mine very few good friends but... my life is a Greek Tragedy instead of a Comedy. And it has been like this for quite a long time. I was feeling like the classic example of the Clown in the Circus: he's funny, he makes everyone laugh but when he goes to his trailer and looks at the mirror... the funny make-up comes all out with the tears that fall apart.

My head was still aching but I was no longer feeling it so much as the ache in my heart. I arrived home and made another coffee to myself. I sat at my window watching the rain falling.


Love.
Take care,
Birdie

BIRDIE'S TALK - Westminster Abbey Organ

I now share with you some parts of the Organ's musics from Westminster Abbey. Just beautiful...
Enjoy!

Click Here to Play the Westminster Abbey Organ

Take care.
Love,
Birdie

BIRDIE'S TALK - Dia da Mãe, Dia de Sol

Nada convencida que eram horas de saltar da cama, lá me decidi a destapar o nariz e a olhar para a janela mesmo em frente para ver como estava o dia. Vento, encoberto... e eu sentia-me atordoada.
Depois do meu sagrado pequeno-almoço que se mantém muito Português - torradas e chá, com pingos de leite - usei o Skype para dar os bons dias à minha mãe, à melhor mãe do mundo, com quem falo todos os dias desde que me mudei para Londres. Sendo ela uma das minhas melhores amigas, não quis perder esse hábito, e há dias em que sinto falta de tomar um café com ela e falar sobre os dias que correm. E hoje, mais do que nunca, esse foi um daqueles dias, em que quando entrei no Costa Caffé aqui perto de casa, que desejei ter a companhia dela, para além da do café. Iríamos certamente dividir um pastel de nata, comido à colher, em prol da linha e do colestrol. LOL


Sim, senti e sinto falta dela, do meu pai, da minha cadela a quem me apetece fazer muitas, muitas festas, saudades dos primos, dos avós, tios, amigos mais próximos... Deve ser a famosa Saudade.
Adoro estar onde estou, adoro esta cidade, o espaço onde vivo, a localização da casa, a vida que vou tendo aqui - embora o objectivo esteja por concretizar - mas a falta de laços mais fortes que os do dia a dia criados pelas presenças habituais dos flatmates ou de quem passa no mesmo café todos os dias, no supermercado local, do Paquistanês do quiosque à saída da estação, reduz o brilho do olhar e o contraste dos sentimentos, originando uma busca por novos laços, locais, que não são fáceis de criar, nesta fase.

Bebia o café, enquanto esta nuvem mais espessa que as nuvens cinzentas do céu, perdominava - e minava - os meus pensamentos. Pensei em pedir um CupCake para animar. Mas forcei-me a não o fazer. Seria apenas "one taste standing" que para além de pouco saudável, me iria arrepender logo a seguir.
Percorria a Time Out em busca de outros escapes. Canalway Cavalcade 2012 em Little Venice ou a Saatchi Gallery, para uma exposição de fotografia... Pois... Nem uma coisa nem outra. Ainda no confortável sofá do Costa, fechei-me nas páginas do meu livro e decidi que iria para casa cozinhar para mim. Seria uma boa forma de cuidar de mim, preparar comida para a semana que aí vem, e ao mesmo tempo usar esse tempo como terapia. E sem grandes esforços, resultou.

Bifinhos de frango cortados em pedaços com cogumelos, alho francês, cebola e muito alho murchos num fio de azeite, e o teste ao novo Magnum Infinity, comprado em promoção. ;)
O resultado foi... maravilhoso. Para a mente e para o corpo. A receita? Muito simples:


 - 200 gr de bifinhos de frango previamente temperados com sumo de limão, folha de louro e alho a gosto (eu gosto de temperar com muito alho);

 - 4 a 5 cogumelos frescos médios, cortados em fatias;
 - sal a gosto;
 - um pouco de vinho branco.
Basicamente, colocam os pedaços de carne temperados numa frigideira anti-aderente em lume brando. Vão virando, colocam os cogumelos cortados, e voltam a mexer, até ficar no ponto que pretendem. Durante este tempo, vão colocando um pouquinho de vinho branco para temperar, também a gosto. Ready to eat.


 - 2 alhos franceses cortados às rodelinhas;
 - 3 a 4 cabeças de alho (a gosto, claro, pode ser menos);
 - 1 cebola grande
 - azeite

Muito fácil. Colocam a cebola cortada grosseiramente em pedaços, as rodelas de alho francês (não muito grossas), e os alhos cortados. Regar com um fio de azeite, suficiente para cozinhar e fazer apenas murchar os legumes, sem queimar/fritar. Sal a gosto, quando os legumes estiverem murchos e "cozidos". Ready to eat.


Quanto ao novo Magnum Infinity... uma decepção. Já todos tiveram aquela sensação de conhecer alguém bastante atraente e assim que a pessoa se faz ouvir, apetece desaparecer imediatamente?! Pois foi mais ou menos o que senti quando experimentei o novo Magnum. Supostamente, "vendido" no anúncio como... de sabor ainda mais prolongado, duradouro, com chocolate negro crocante a envolver uma mousse de chocolate com caramelo... Caramelo??????? ONDE?????? É TUDO CHO-CO-LA-TE!!! Valha-me Deus!... Comprei muito mais pelo mix com o caramelo e nada de caramelo. Uns belos caramelos é que me saíram os senhores da Olá. Provem, e partilhem a vossa opinião.


Bom, e com tudo isto, a minha cabeça centrou-se na mentira da Olá, nos temperos do frango e dos vegetais e em arrumar a cozinha que ia começar com o segundo turno, com o meu colega de casa, Mike.
Voltei ao Skype, e fiquei à conversa com a minha mãe durante quase uma hora.

Os dias podem amanhecer nublados, mas somos nós que decidimos se o Sol vai ou não brilhar.


Take care.
Love,
Birdie

STREET MARKETS - Berwick Street Market - Soho

Cada vez menos gosto de "planear" com muita antecedência o que vou fazer no dia a seguir. Claro que me refiro aos finais de semana, porque durante a semana, convém saber o que se vai fazer - minimamente - , pelo menos no local de trabalho. No entanto, também a esses "working days" podemos imprimir uma certa... incerteza nos acontecimentos "after-work".

Na noite de 6ª feira pensei qual dos (muitos!) mercados iria explorar pela cidade, este fim-de-semana. Queria ir a pé. Andar a pé em Londres é obrigatório. É a única forma de conhecer a cidade por "dentro", isto é, tonar-se familiar com as ruas, os pequenos cafés de esquina, o comércio de rua, as grandes cadeias de lojas, o trânsito frenético e os pequenos oásis que de repente surgem no meio da multidão tão multi-cultural. Também os sons são importantes para se deixar absorver por esta gigantesca cidade. O Mundo inteiro cabe aqui e para além do Inglês com variadíssimos sotaques, misturam-se todas as línguas que possamos imaginar. Uma Babel cosmopolita, electrizante e cativante ao ponto de nos deixarmos apaixonar por esta.

Voltando ao meu fim-de-semana, em particular o meu Sábado... decidi que iria conhecer o mercado de Berwick Street. Conhecido não só pelo facto de ter sido capa de um dos mais conhecidos álbuns dos Oasis - What's the Story Morning Glory - , é um reconhecido mercado de legumes e frutas frescos e também frutos secos. Para além das tendinhas coloridas que se estendem pela pequena rua que dá nome a este mercado no coração do Soho, este é também famoso pelas suas lojas de música alternativa em Vinil (includindo Vinyl Junkies, CD City, Sister Ray, and Mr Bongo's).São já poucas, uma vez que a digitalização da música veio acabar um pouco com o negócio e apenas algumas se mantém graças à fidelidade de clientes que veneram o Vinil. Esta rua também alberga uma série de Estúdios e Agências de Publicidade, Lojas para Adultos e pequenos restaurantes e bares.

Para os interessados em conhecer este pequeno "Oásis" de frutas e legumes frescos, o mercado está aberto de Segunda a Sábado, das 9:00 às 18:00.

Já agora... sabiam que a Berwick Street foi construída entre 1687 e 1703, sendo que o mercado surgiu no século XVIII? No entanto, este mercado só foi reconhecido em finais do século XIX?? Hummm.... será que na altura já existia a ASAE cá do brugo?! Fica a dica, e não, não é uma mentirinha para se contar a Turistas. ;)

BIRDIE'S TALK - Long Live to Arinca!

Comer algo que se desconhece leva-nos sempre a querer saber mais sobre "a coisa". Com o estranho nome de Haddock fish por todo o lado, decidi que era altura de saber o que afinal tinha comprado para comer. E graças à maravilha da Web, do Google e da Wikipédia, descobri muita coisa. Como por exemplo, o facto de ser um peixe que me faz muito bem porque é rico em vitaminas B12 e B6 (as que mais necessito) e também em Selénio, Sódio e Potássio. Tudo o que mais me faz falta. Viva a Arinca!

"A arinca é muito popular no norte de Europa, como por exemplo na Noruega e no Reino Unido, onde é comercializado de diversas formas, tais como fresco, fumado, congelado, seco ou em conserva.

A arinca fresca possui uma carne branca de boa qualidade, que pode ser cozinhada das mesmas formas que o bacalhau fresco. A frescura de um filete de arinca pode ser determinada pela sua firmeza. A carne fresca deve também ser translúcida. 

Ao contrário do bacalhau, salgar a arinca não funciona bem, sendo, em alternativa, seca ou fumada. Na Escócia, existe uma variedade de arinca fumada denominada Finnan haddie, frequentemente servida cozida em leite ao pequeno-almoço. Nesse país, existe outra variedade denominada Arbroath Smokie, também fumada, que pode ser consumida sem cozedura adicional.

Na Noruega, a arinca é o ingrediente principal das almôndegas de peixe locais, denominadas fiskeboller.
No Reino Unido, é um peixe muito utilizado na preparação do prato Fish and chips.
A arinca é uma excelente fonte de proteínas, contendo também uma porção considerável de vitamina B12, vitamina B6 e selénio. Contém ainda uma dose equilibrada de sódio e de potássio. No cômputo geral, a carne é extremamente magra." - Wikipedia

BIRDIE'S TALK - Learning How to Share a Flat - All Together Now!

Dear all,

I'm sorry for being absent for such a long time. Last days have been really busy which is good.

After Easter the City got back to it's usual "fast pace" and it has been difficult to seat for a while and share more things with you. But the next days will be better.

It's funny because this week my flatmates and I became closer for a cause: We need a Plumber! :) apparently our shower is not working well. Our baths are bipolar and we are getting crazy! We start the bath with warm water and in a sudden it becomes cold as ice! Then, we stop the shower and start again. And we get burned!! We stop the shower again and scream! But we keep trying until we get the bath done!

So, instead of geeting nuts and call a shrink to all of us, we've decided that we needed a Plumber... two weeks ago. The agency that rents the house is the one that is in charge of these kind of dilligences. So, the Plumber was supposed to come so many time and never did. We got mad but then again we didn't call the shrink. We bombed the agency with loads of emails. Hot emails, mild emails... then freezing emails... just like the shower. They felt our aggressiveness that had its exctasis yesterday when we threaten to call a Lawer! (Not a shrink!).

Tomorrow we expect Mr. Plumber to come... let's see if it really happens this time. At least, now the Agency is also freaking out with our emails. :)

The "We Need a Plumber" Cause definitley brought a really mild temperature to the relationship among flatmates. So, I realise that sometimes, something like a Bipolar Shower can approach people and turn the environment around more casual, friendly and relaxed... and very funny as well.

Sarah, one of the girls that lives here - apart from me (lol) - made a dessert this evening and share it with the "Flatties". Hummm.... No comments. I just leave you with an image of the last piece.

Take care.
Love,

Birdie

TRADITIONS - The Easter Bunny

Rabbits, due to their fecund nature, have always been a symbol of fertility.The Easter bunny (rabbit) however may actually be an Easter hare. The hare was allegedly a companion of the ancient Moon goddess and of Eostre.

Strangely the bunny as an Easter symbol seems to have it's origins in Germany, where it was first mentioned in German writings in the 16th Century. The first edible Easter bunnies appeared in Germany during the early 1800s, they were made of pastry and sugar.

In the UK children believe that if they are good the "Easter Bunny " will leave (chocolate) eggs for them.

Sadly hare hunting (hare coursing) used to be a common pastime at Easter. But this might please some of the more fundamentalist Christians, who consider the fluffy fellow to be unchristian.

Take care.
Love,
Birdie

TRADITIONS - Easter Eggs

Easter eggs are a very old tradition going to a time before Christianity. Eggs after all are a symbol of spring and new life.

Exchanging and eating Easter eggs is a popular custom in many countries. In the UK before they were replaced by chocolate Easter eggs real eggs were used, in most cases, chicken eggs. The eggs were hard-boiled and dyed in various colors and patterns. The traditionally bright colours represented spring and light. Sadly, nowadays if you gave a child in Britain a hard-boiled egg on Easter Sunday, you would probably end up wearing it!

An older more traditional game is one in which real eggs are rolled against one another or down a hill. The owner of the egg that stayed uncracked the longest won. Even today in the north of England, for example as at Preston in Lancashire, they still carry out the custom of egg rolling. Hard boiled eggs are rolled down slopes to see whose egg goes furthest. In other places another game is played. You hold an egg in the palm of the hand and bang against your opponent's egg. The loser is the one whose egg breaks first.

Nowadays people give each other Easter eggs made of chocolate, usually hollow and filled with sweets. On TV you will see adverts for Cadbury's Creme Eggs, a very sweet confectionery. The catchphrase for the adverts is "How do you eat yours?" And Britain children hunt for (chocolate) Easter eggs hidden about the home or garden by the Easter bunny.

I hope you enjoy your chocolate eggs, now with some insights about it! ;)

Take care,
Love

Birdie

BIRDIE'S TALK - Lisboa Pastry

Hoje descobri um cantinho de Portugal, um pouco mais à frente da esquina da Camden High Street e a Plender Street: a Pastelaria Lisboa.

Depois de um cafézinho matinal no Costa Cafe - um ritual de luxo só em dias especiais como o de hoje - passeei pela Camden High Street que vai dar ao famoso mercado de Camden Town (na realidade são seis mercados num). Apesar de ser feriado, apercebi-me que parecia um dia quase como os outros. Grande parte do comércio tinha as portas abertas, havia gente na rua e dentro das lojas.

Fui até à loja do Paquistanês - como lhe chamo, porque na realidade nunca percebi qual o nome da loja. Precisava de uma panela para fazer sopa. Os British é mais frigideiras e caçarolas... E neste passeio com um mix de compras pelo meio, regressava a casa quando pouco depois de ter virado a esquina com a Plender Street olhei para uma montra repleta de bolos... Portugueses! Sim, era mesmo verdade! Parei, dei dois ou três passos para trás para ver o nome da loja e... voilá: Lisboa. Inevitável. Tive de entrar. Meti conversa, olhei os bolos, conheci o Augusto e o Roberto, ambos de Guimarães mas em Londres há cerca de 30 anos.

Fiquei a saber que existem quatro "Lisboa's Pastry" em Londres: aqui, em Chelsea, em Portobello e também em Stockwell. Também vendem produtos portugueses, numa pequena mercearia na parede colada à pastelaria. Saí com belo pastel de nata... Estava muuuuuito bom!

E neste cruzamento de linhas da vida em que nunca se saber o que se pode encontrar ao virar da esquina, descubro uma pastelaria portuguesa onde agora me posso mimar e matar saudades de Portugal, just around the corner. :)

Take care,
Love,

Birdie

TRADITIONS - Good Friday

On the Friday before Easter, Christians commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. It is a day of mourning in church and special Good Friday services are held where Christians meditate on Jesus's suffering and death on the cross, and what this means for their faith.

Calling it 'Good Friday' may seem a bit bizarre, but some people think that it was once called God's Friday or Holy Friday.

Enjoy your Good Friday. No meat today. :)

Take care.
Love,

Birdie

TRADITIONS - Maundy Thursday

Maundy Thursday is the Thursday before Easter. Christians remember it as the day of the Last Supper, when Jesus washed the feet of his disciples and established the ceremony known as the Eucharist. The word Maundy" comes from the French word, "Mande," meaning "command" or "mandate” and is taken from the command given by Christ at the Last Supper, "love one another as I have loved you.”

In Britain, the Queen takes part in the Ceremony of the Royal Maundy, which dates back to Edward 1. This involves the distribution of Maundy Money to deserving senior citizens (one man and one woman for each year of the sovereign's age), usually chosen for having done service to their community. They receive ceremonial red and white purses which contain coins made especially for the occasion. The white purse contains one coin for each year of the monarch's reign. The red purse contains money in place of other gifts that used to be given to the poor.

In the 17th century, and earlier, the King or Queen would wash the feet of the selected poor people as a gesture of humility, and in remembrance of Jesus's washing the feet of the disciples. Suffice to say that doesn't happen any more, in fact the last monarch to do this was James 2.

This is how the Royal Mint explains Maundy history:

"...The Royal Maundy is an ancient ceremony which has its origin in the commandment Christ gave after washing the feet of his disciples on the day before Good Friday. The commandment, or mandatum, 'that ye love one another' (John XIII 34) is still recalled regularly by Christian churches throughout the world and the ceremony of washing the feet of the poor which was accompanied by gifts of food and clothing, can be traced back to the fourth century. It seems to have been the custom as early as the thirteenth century for members of the royal family to take part in Maundy ceremonies, to distribute money and gifts, and to recall Christ's simple act of humility by washing the feet of the poor.

Henry IV began the practice of relating the number of recipients of gifts to the sovereign's age, and as it became the custom of the sovereign to perform the ceremony, the event became known as the Royal Maundy. In the eighteenth century the act of washing the feet of the poor was discontinued and in the nineteenth century money allowances were substituted for the various gifts of food and clothing.

Maundy money as such started in the reign of Charles II with an undated issue of hammered coins in 1662. The coins were a fourpenny [groat], threepenny, twopenny and one penny piece but it was not until 1670 that a dated set of all four coins appeared. Prior to this, ordinary coinage was used for Maundy gifts, silver pennies alone being used by the Tudors and Stuarts for the ceremony.

Today's recipients of Royal Maundy, as many elderly men and women as there are years in the sovereign's age, are chosen because of the Christian service they have given to the Church and community. At the ceremony which takes place annually on Maundy Thursday, the sovereign hands to each recipient two small leather string purses. One, a red purse, contains - in ordinary coinage - money in lieu of food and clothing; the other, a white purse, contains silver Maundy coins consisting of the same number of pence as the years of the sovereign's age. Maundy money has remained in much the same form since 1670, and the coins used for the Maundy ceremony have traditionally been struck in sterling silver save for the brief interruptions of Henry's Vlll's debasement of the coinage and the general change to 50% silver coins in 1920. The sterling silver standard (92.5%) was resumed following the Coinage Act of 1946 and in 1971, when decimalisation took place, the face values of the coins were increased from old to new pence. The effigy of The Queen on ordinary circulating coinage has undergone three changes, but Maundy coins still bear the same portrait of Her Majesty prepared by Mary Gillick for the first coins issued in the year of her coronation in 1953..."

Quite Interesting!

Take care.

Love

Birdie

BIRDIE'S TALK - A Room with a View... and a LARGE Window! :)

Dear all,

hoje até me sinto a Carrie do Sexo e a Cidade! Tenho a minha secretária virada para a janela gigante, o que eu sempre quis. Digam lá se não está a ficar like "home sweet home"? ;)


Agora que tudo começa a ficar organizado... falta mesmo o mais importante, o motivo que me trouxe aqui.
Mas já consigo trabalhar sem ter de estar em cima da cama... As minhas costas queixam-se disso. :( Alguém se oferece para uma massagem????.... :))

Take Care.
Love,
Birdie

TRADITIONS - Easter in the UK

In the UK Easter is one of the major Christian festivals of the year. It is full of customs, folklore and traditional food. However, Easter in Britain has its beginnings long before the arrival of Christianity. Many theologians believe Easter itself is named after the Anglo-Saxon goddess of the dawn and spring - Eostre.

In Britain Easter occurs at a different time each year. It is observed on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. This means that the festival can occur on any Sunday between March 22 and April 25. Not only is Easter the end of the winter it is also the end of Lent, traditionally a time of fasting in the Christian calendar. It is therefore often a time of fun and celebration.

The Friday before Easter Sunday and the Monday after are a bank holiday in the UK. Over Easter schools in the UK close for two weeks, just enough time to digest all the chocolate. :)

Take cre.
Love,
Birdie

BIRDIE'S TALK - Two Weeks after Moving the new Room

These two weeks went by so quickly that I feel I had done nothing but taking care of the house - my room, specially. Cleaning, buying stuff that I needed, unpacking clothes, shoes, everything you can imagine when you move with all your life into bags...


However, I managed to have my own space. A place where I feel well, happy and full of hope in the near future.

In this second floor of a typical plain english brown stone building I have a wide view from my large window. I can hear the birds, there are many trees around and it seems I'm not in the centre of one of the largest and most populated cities in the world. In the morning I always see the Squirels jumping among the tree's branches while looking for food.


It's really amazing how time flies... I arrived a month ago, already
I hope I can be happy here for many more weeks, months... :)

Take care.
Love,
Birdie

BIRDIE'S TALK - My first Room in London

Mes amies et mon amours... I'm now a tenant at a small but cosy room in Camden Town borough. Nearest tube station: Mornington Crescent. Many local stores around, supermarkets, coffee shops and of course... Camden Markets... what else? A Job! :)

BIRDIE'S TALK - My New Best friend... Argos!

Suddenly, Argos became my best friend! Well almost... because I still have to pay. :)



Tomorrow the furniture for the bedroom will arrive, hopefuly. The wardrobe will take a little longer but... at least I'll be able to unpack a few things tomorrow.

I'll leave you with my desk (a child's desk by the time I'm about to be 40! :)) )

Take Care.

Love,

Birdie

BIRDIE'S TALK - Keep Calm and Carry On!

Definitely, today was a mad day!

After moving to my new room in London (Camden) carrying 4 large (and heavy!!!) bags as well as a big backpack, I still had to clean up the mess that the Agency left for me. My room was filthy, the floor covered with plastics, papers, and too much dust to see it's real color! Definitely a bad service that was already reported to the Agency!

As I put the luggage down I sweept the floor and run out to Argos to buy sheets, pillows, the duvet and the covers, and also to Lidl (the closest to Argos) to buy a cleaning product to the floor, as well as some basic food. In about an hour after this, my room was smelling nice and ready to put the luggage there.

The hot shower saved my day and in a sudden I was meeting my flatmates: a couple that live in the largest room in the house, next to mine. They are teachers. She's from Australia and he's English. Nice people, we spoke for a while and then I was so tired that Came to my room and call home, while some friends also "Skiped me!

It took me some time to get asleep. I was too tired. But very happy and excited with this new opportunity that Life is giving me. But my feet were smashed... :))


Take Care.

Love,

Birdie

TRADITIONS - Saint Patrick's Day

É o dia do Patrícico, tadito. Olha prá ele tão lindinho?? :)

Saint Patrick's Day (Irish: Lá Fhéile Pádraig, "the Day of the Festival of Patrick") is a cultural and religious holiday celebrated on 17 March. It commemorates Saint Patrick (c. AD 387–461), the most commonly recognised of the patron saints of Ireland, and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland.It is observed by the Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion (especially the Church of Ireland),the Eastern Orthodox Church and Lutheran Church. Saint Patrick's Day was made an official feast day in the early seventeenth century, and has gradually become a celebration of Irish culture in general.

The day is generally characterised by the attendance of church services, wearing of green attire and the lifting of Lenten restrictions on eating, and drinking alcohol, which is often proscribed during the rest of the season.

But this is not all... St Patrick's Day falls on Thu 17th March, but events are running all week.

The parade starts in Green Park at 12 noon (18th March) and continues through Central London and Trafalgar Square, dispersing at Whitehall Palace. Events across London take place throughout the preceding week.

The Mayor’s St Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival will take place on Sunday 18 March 2012.
Set to be one of London's liveliest celebrations of the year, over 100,000 people attended last year's event.

The parade, featuring a colourful array of floats, marching bands and groups representing the Irish Counties, will proceed through central London from Green Park to Trafalgar Square starting at 12 noon.

Trafalgar Square will host the festival programme of live Irish music and dance on the main performance stage, showcasing the best of Irish music and dance from traditional to contemporary.

This fantastic, free family day out is a great way to experience all things Irish from food and dance to crafts, culture, music and much more.
This is always a great, good-humoured and fun day out for all the family.

St Patrick's Day is celebrated across the capital, with parties in many London pubs and bars. And again, brands don't miss this opportunity to comunicate! Guiness couldn't find a better time to do it! So, it has an special icon for this "season".

Saint Patrick's Day is a public holiday in the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, Newfoundland and Labrador and in Montserrat. It is also widely celebrated by the Irish diaspora, especially in places such as Great Britain, Canada, the United States, Argentina, Australia, and New Zealand, among others. Today, St. Patrick's Day is probably the most widely celebrated saint's day in the world.

Take Care.
Love,
Birdie

BIRDIE'S TALK - Dias de Nostalgia

Hoje vi esta foto de um amigo meu no Facebook e "roubei". O largo do Carmo em dia de chuva. Que lindo. Parece uma pintura de Rembrant... Que saudades do Carlos, do Largo do Carmo e das ruelas do Bairro Alto.

BIRDIE'S TALK - Change for a Change

After a decade of ups and downs with too many downs on the balance plate I realised that at this stage of my life I have nothing to lose. Looking for a new professional opportunity in a strong Crisis period in most european countries is not an easy task. People use to say that there are other things that matter, more than money. But at the end the bills must be paid on time otherwhise you lose the least you could have achieved.

I felt this was the perfect moment to jump! Jump into a new real challenge. Not only a professional one but a Life challenge. When you start to see the 40th birthday coming and feel you did nothing with your life, there's only half of the way to go and if you don't do it now, you'll never do it.

Writing, always made me feel better. It works out as if I was having a chat with my alter Ego - and sometimes with my sub-consccious - I can understand better my attitudes, my actions and my feelings when I write about it. So I've decided to create this Blog with no pretensions of fame or aplauses from the audience. This is a place where I can see myself through the words during this second big stage of my life.

My life challenge has now begun and I know that it won't be easy. I'm moving to another country, searching for a new professional opportunity but above all looking for happiness in each day of my life. Why do I have to go away to find happiness? I don't know. But it didn't work until now. What do I've got to lose? I have the perfect alibi: no job. This is the trigger of all the plot that is taking me to a "everything is new"! And I'm feeling... good!

Love,

Birdie
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8tuTSi6Sck&w=420&h=315]

BIRDIE'S TALK - Butterfly Lessons

Lunch at Leicester Square

This was my first meal when I arrived from the airport: vegetable and tomato soup. Very good, actually! Leicester Square, at Patisserie Valerie.

Here I am. Starting a new stage of my life.

London, is now my new Country. The place where I'm living, working, sleeping, shopping and having as much experiences that Life can give me in HRM land.