The Book of Mormon London

                                                                After three weeks spent in France I was so excited about coming to London again.
I was only here for a day and the schedule was tight: my priority was to go see       the Book of Mormon.

I had heard all about it, watched the youtube videos over and over again, but man, I was NOT prepared for this.

I laughed my *** off from beginning to end! I cried, I fell off my chair, I cried again.

To be completely honest, I am not a fan of South Park (whose creators wrote the musical) but that humour was totally my kind.

You've got to be a genius to be able to mock the religion and make it ok.

Trey Parker and Matt Stone adress topics that can be rather shocking for some, hilarious for others.
Aids, supressed homosexuality, and even female circumcision, there is no taboo for those two.

Amongst the best quotes, this one is from the main character, Elder Price,  after he saw someone get shot in the head in Uganda:
"Africa is nothing like the Lion King!"

The song that I enjoyed the most was "Turn it off", which is a mormon tip to stop feeling things that aren't allowed, with that hilarious part:
"Imagine that your brain is made of tiny boxes. And find the box that's gay and CRUSH IT!"

The songs are actually so catchy than I have been listening to them non stop since the show.

I might never join the latter day faith, but at least I can say that I'm part of the Book of Mormon fans, and that's good enough.

Christmas in London

Oh the joy of Christmas! London can be frowned at for many things; the weather, the real estate prices, the crowd, but oh my god does it make it up  for Christmas.

At wintertime, the city basically turns itself into a giant Christmas tree, full of lights, chanting sounds, and the smell of cinnamon and mulled wine.

From a comforting hot chocolate in covent garden to carol singing in St Martin in the fields and a pre-festivities multicultural night in with the girls, here is how this wee French girl that I am managed to spend a lovely time far away from home.

St Martin in the fields

Each year, the Transport for London hosts a Christmas Carols event in the beautiful church of St Martin in the Fields near Trafalgar Square.

This is the second time  I am taking part in the Festival of Carols, and since my voice has not improved that much in the last five years, I have been once again listening in silence to the lovely choir and audience (I did lose it a bit on silent night, but only because my boyfriend's "crooner wanna be voice" was covering mine).

Jessica was there too, and looked confused at the repertire; clearly, carols must be quite different in Sweden. But I'm sure I am speaking for both of us when I'm saying that, even from an expat point of view, the night is really worth the tiny £3 we had to pay for the souvenir programme. Admission is free.

Before heading to dinner, I was lucky enough to have a quick chat with one of the organizer (lucky as this chap seems to be a pure rock star in the community, people interrupting us every couple of minute to remind him to meet them at the pub after, and there you still wonder what I love about this country!)

Fusion munchies night/ French aperitif

Enjoying the luxury of having a kitchen at the moment (in London you start being grateful when you have one square meter of dry floor to sleep on really), I decided to invite my two lovely new pals Jessica and Susie for a French aperitif.

"A-pee-ree quoi?" I hear you ask.

APERITIF.  It's the official term for that pre-meal we have in France which consists in munching and drinking. I'm sure that's the type of tradition Brits can relate to.
We have aperitif when friends come over, on a Sunday lunch and for any special occasion.

To make this one a little more fun, I asked my international party to make a small dish from their country.

Swedish Jessica made a  potato salad, Susie the Aussie baked a bread, and I for myself made an "aubergine caviar" to celebrate my mediterranean side, and a Frenchier goat cheese and honey tartine.
No "grande cuisine" here, both my dishes require 5 minutes preparation.

Caviar d'aubergines:

I always make this dish from scratch, so the proportions are really approximative.

What you will need:
An aubergine (d'uh!)
A can of chopped tomatoes
Half an onion (thin slices)
Some garlic or garlic powder
One tablespoon of olive oil

1: So the first part of this recipe is cooking the aubergine.
Pre heat the oven at 170 degrees.
Cut both extremities and then you can either slice it or do it my way and fork the aubergine all the way round. Do not skip this step, the aubergine WILL explode in your hands (the biggest fright of me life, true story).
I then brush some olive oil all over it and wrap it in foil.
The cooking should be about an hour.
2:About 10 minutes before the aubergine is ready, gently cook the onions in olive oil, then add the tomatoes and the garlic. Simmer for a bit.
3:When the aubergine is done, take out the flesh with a spoon and mix it to the onions.
4: Done.

I prefer this dish cold, so I always make it the night before and let it chill in the fridge. It's lovely on foccacia bread.
Tonight I decided to dress it on spinach leaves, as I am also serving tartines.


Goat cheese and honey tartines:

A classic! French people love that combo: we have it on pizza, in salads, tonight we will have it on bread.

What you will need:
Some soft goat cheese, or "buchette" as we call it. Nothing too hard or dry.
Some honey, tonight I am using a Provence honey from the Fauchon brand. Fancy.
Some bread, I am having baguette, but any type will do really.

1: Cut thin slices of bread
2: Put a spinach leave on each slice and top with a 0,50 cm thick slice of goat cheese.
3: Grill the tartines in the oven.
4: Finally, drizzle some honey on your tartine.
5: Et voila!


Simple, quick and tasty. Serve them hot. They also make a lovely main course when served with a mixed salad.


Swedish potato salad:


I watched her do it and it was really simple.
Just boil some new potatoes until they are tender.
Then simply mix the "senapssill" (no bloody idea how to pronunce that).
It's herring mixed with a cold sweet mustard sauce.
I hate herring but I really really loved that salad.

Good one Jess!


Jessica's note:

I made the salad because it is one of my favorite traditional Swedish dishes for big holidays like Christmas and easter.
You can find the herring in mustard sauce at Totally Swedish.

Note from me: I found some in Ikea too.


Australian homemade bread:


(more on this later)




To accompany those small dishes, French people would throw in some olives (here I have been using Sainsburry's ones but if I were in France, I would have picked some fresh ones from a nearby market) and some crips (I have been advised to give those crisps a go).

Pret, feu, munch away!

Best hot chocolate in London: Covent Garden

This place has become my favorite spot over the festive season.

Approaching Christmas can be quite lonely for travelers, but entering Covent Garden felt like a giant hug to me.

This year the decoration style was "it's never too big": giant Rudolph and baubles were in order.

The west end location also offered various entertainments, from street performers to free Covent Garden Soup giveaway (my mum says thanks by the way), and a visit from the Coca-Cola Christmas truck.

Even though most shops are quite expensive, the cute shop of  Eric Snooks inspired most my Christmas presents, I simply wanted to buy everything (I almost bought the boyfriend a pull back and go salt shaker, not too sure about this now...)

Now, with all that feel good "Christmas is in the air" mood, what you need is a hot drink.
After my decision to reduce my intake of mulled wine (I could lie and say I am  cutting out alcohol, but I am afraid my friends that my recent commitment is due to the financial crisis happening in my cute floral wallet), I embarked on a noble quest: the conforting hot Chocolate cup.

Here is my selection:

Le Pain Quotidien

I know what you're gonna say, oh dear, a chain, boring.  I personally would not have walked in there for that particular reason.

But like for most of my little flings, I entered this place by accident; we needed a loo, there is none in the market, you know the drill...
 
I had a look around on my way out, and was curious to know why there were no mugs in this place- only bowls. I picked out a leaflet from a nearby table, and read it with a smile: it was a  cute little cartoon telling the story of the owner, who used to visit his gran as a child.
His gran used to pour him a hot chocolate in a red bowl.
The leaflet also said that special red bowls can be found in all the branches around the world.

Clever marketing  or adorable concept, you take your pick, I for myself, loved the idea and wanted to return.

Which I did the following week, with my new friend Susie the Aussie.
The first time I went I had spotted that gorgeous basket full of fresh breads, but it was too big for just one person, and Lady Brisbane was in the mood for some lemon cake, so I only got a few pieces of the walnut bread. It was slightly toasted, served with french organic butter and four chocolate spread:
hazelnut, milk, dark and white chocolate.
The hot chocolate was nice but small. The waiter also kindly threw in some marshmallows when I asked.


The decor was really warm, with a good homy cosy vibe.

+ The atmosphere: takes you back to your childhood, particularly upstairs on the big kitchen table.
- The prices of the hot drinks: I believe £3,80 for a tea is a bit presumptuous, unless it is infused with gold flakes.


Candy Cakes

Candy cakes was a slap of color. You can't miss it, it's the shop that looks like the inside of a chewing gum.

This cafe, which recently opened in the building, offers many treats from preservative free cupcakes to milkshakes and lollipops.
But I needed to stay focused, I had a mission: finding an amazing hot chocolate.
As I entered the colourful room, I found an exhaustive list of cold and hot beverages on the wall.


I decided to have a go at the bounty hot chocolate. This indulgent caloric bomb must have fallen right from heaven (no actually if it had, it would be the same calories as an apple): smooth, rich, coconuty, topped with whipped cream and mini marshmallows, here George, this deserves a "what else?".


The first time I went I was greeted by a lovely girl who even gave me some ribbon as I was packing a last minute present.
I returned a few days ago and was quite disappointed to see that the lovely girl had been replaced by a barking, almost agressive one.
Doesn't quite fit with the venue, chill out Gal!



+ Great choice of drinks and cakes
- I wasn't too impressed by the room itself, it was really small, and lacked of atmosphere. This place is fun and young, it needs to pop more, how about some retro tunes?


In conclusion, if you are looking for a great place to get a hot drink, Le Pain quotidien is the place to go, but expect the prices to be high. Candy cake is better value, but you may have to fight for a seat during shopping hours.

Megabus sleeper service

I met Raquel in Missoula for our last £1.99 cocktail before heading to Buchanan bus station, which will mark the start of my crazy 6 weeks down London.

I had a cosmopolitan and she had a modern sex on the beach. Their cocktails are not the best in town but they are the cheapest for sure, so that would do us for the night. Which reminds me I need to write a feature on cocktails (TBC).

But anyway, after a good catch up and two cocktails each, she returned to her flat while I walked my way up to the station.

Tonight I will be travelling on the Megabus sleeper service to London. I was quite excited as I usually take either the sitting night bus (pure hell) or the train- this should be entertaining.
Plus being a big Harry Potter fan, I had this image of the "Knight bus" in my head.

So I arrived in the station, showed up my tickets and was given a number for my bunk bed.
I made my way to the bed and "oh the horror": a tuna can, a human sized tuna can, a mermaid can (and can I remind you I am the tiny sort of human).


My bed was practically on the floor, and I would have to crawl to get under there.
Here is the deal, I suffer from a light claustrophobia, not the horrible type where I can't get into a lift, it's not that bad, but usually if I can't stretch my arm, I start panicking.
I am not very proud of what came next: I had to use the "puss in boots face".
I use it rarely as it can be quite powerful, but it worked and I got a middle bunk, which wasn't much bigger but at least I wouldn't choke.

I can't complain much about the bed itself , it was quite comfortable: nice bouncy pillow, thick duvet, mini light so I could read, and a pair of curtains for some intimacy (mine were broken, though).

I lost my phone somewhere in the bed and had to move like spider man for a good 10 minutes to find it.
I also banged my head on the ceiling 3 times and I am the size of a hobbit, I bet a normal sized man would barely fit in there.

Anyway, I fell asleep rather quickly (thanks Missoula), it was 23.30 and since the bus was due to arrive at 7 am I thought "yay, almost 8 hours sleep ahead of me!".

So I was quite surprised when I got woken up at 5.55 am. But I got up, went to sit on my allocated seat where a scone was waiting for me: "well how nice" I thought. I made myself a cup of tea and to my surprise, nowhere to put it.
I don't really see the point of giving out breakfast and not providing us with a tray or a cup holder...

So here I am, teacup stuck between my knees, trying to spread jam on the scone inside my bare hand, destroying it at every shake of the bus. Woops a sharp bent: "Yaaaouch! bloody tea!". I gave up.

I heard this Chinese couple moaning two seats away from me and I couldn't help but asking them what they thought of the journey. The man told me he wasn't happy because his girlfriend wasn't feeling well.
I turned to the girlfriend "this is too shaky, my head is spinning".
Believe me, I have been in a Chinese sleeper service when I lived in Shanghai: five people sharing one bed, men smoking inside, spitting on the ground. If this is bad to Chinese standards, this is really wrong.

I went around the bus and here is what other passengers told me "the toilets are a disgrace, there is no holder for the toilet rolls, so they kept falling on the floor, it's unhygienic!".
When asked about the beds, this Aussie lady told me "I was fine because I was on the top bed, but my boyfriend had to sleep on one of the low ones and he could barely fit. I didn't sleep at all myself, too shaky".

As for my experience, I did sleep but woke up every couple of hours, stressing that we would already be in London. But that's just me.
I wish I had known about their wake up call so I would have relaxed a bit more.
I was not happy with us arriving 40 minutes early- this is a sleeper service, you are paying for a night sleep after all.
When I asked the driver why, he said the roads were quiet at this time, well here is a thought pal, I mean , I only started driving myself last week but how about "slowing down"- the Chinese girl would certainly agree.

I arrived in London at 6.30 in the morning, it was dark and cold, and I could have done with an extra half hour sleep, even if it was not in a Hilton suite.

So this is me, in London now, exhausted, covered in scone crumbs, raspberry jam and tea, ready to take on London.

Happier than ever, though.


Megabus sleeper service

+ Way more comfortable than their normal night service.
+ Good abs workout.

- Sized for 12 years old.
- The price: for 35 pound one way, next time I will fly with easy-jet.

Wee Frenchy is relocating to London

Sorry folks, I haven't been writing in a while.
Between my placement in STV (subtle drop, I got published for the first time), preparing for London and my driving test , it's been a pretty crazy month.

So yes, London: I have found my dream work placement, 6 weeks in a London-based French radio station.
My first chance to actually read the news which is an amazing opportunity, but weirdly enough , I have never read in French, so this will be a bit of a challenge.

On Sunday night, I met Paul and Derek in the Butterburn pub in Hamilton for a last drink, and a surprisingly huge amount of tears from my side- I am blaming their French kiss shooter which is just heaven in a glass, two layers of Baileys and Chambord.

Then old work colleague Brian, who was rehearsing with some guitarist friends, started singing a song I had never heard before named "the green fields of France". Here went the tears again, I am going to miss Scotland so much.

There is a reason why Scots have such a good reputation worldwide. I have lived in France, in China, in Australia, and in London for a bit, I have never ever made so many friends at once, never felt so loved and welcome anywhere else in the world, and for that Scotland, I give you a "cheers, pal!".

But back to London (too much cheesiness for my blog), I will be down there for a minimum of six weeks, enjoying every minute of it, and I will of course share my experience online, so keep posted.