London 2012 - Olympics fever! Team GB!

Olympics fever in London for the London 2012 Olympics! The games are finally in London! Can't believe it! I remember when the bid was won in 2005, it feels like yesterday. Anyway, unfortunately I didn't get tickets for any of the events but the atmosphere in the UK was electric, even through the television which is where I saw most of the events :-)

Team GB was fantastic! Coming third on the medals table after USA and China (who are always at the top of the table). Mo Farah (MOBOT - gold winner of 5000m and 10000m), Jessica Ennis (Heptathlon gold winner), Andy Murray (finally beating Roger Federer in the final to win gold which was played at Wimbledon), Sir Chris Hoy etc.

The unforgettable moments at the Olympics were Usain Bolt - the Legend - who won gold at the 100m and 200m sprints and the 4x100m relay, and also Michael Phelps who is the most decorated Olympian of all-time with 22 medals and 18 gold medals in swimming (now retired).

The Paralympics are underway and Team GB is doing well once again! Woohoo!

Wimbledon

Murray fever!! At the All England Lawn Tennis Club a.k.a Wimbledon SW19 this year! Murray finally got to the final of SW19!! The only British person in almost 100 years, well since Fred Perry anyway.

Unfortunately, Andy Murray lost to the great Roger Federer :-(

He made a very moving speech afterwards, and started crying which made me and I'm sure thousands of people very emotional and teary

Better luck next time Andy!

Jubilee Celebration

Back in London!  Just in time for the Queen's Jubilee celebration.  A long weekend of celebration! Celebrating the Queen's 60th year reign.  Worst weather ever but great atmosphere in the UK.

Also had another baby shower part deux which took place in Home House W1 (organised by my friend, mwah!), lovely afternoon tea, games and gisting!

Barbados

Ah the beautiful island of Barbados!  It is situated near the North Atlantic and the Carribean sea. Its one of the most Carribean's leading tourist destinations and one of the most developed islands in the region.

Barbados

This trip was my second trip to Barbados.  My first visit was about 17 years ago (i feel old)!  Barbados has definitely changed within that time, its more developed.  I was visiting a friend then and experienced a different side to Barbados, visited parts of the Island and Harrison's cave.  This trip was for a wedding, Nic Spooner & Kevin Campbell, and also my birthday :-)

The Crane Hotel

The regional areas in Barbados are named after Parishes.  We stayed at The Crane hotel in the Parish of St Philip.  It's the oldest resort in Barbados built in 1884.  It was beautiful but very old, it needs a lot of refurbishment!  It has its own private beach called the Crane beach, with blue water and white sand, which is on the Atlantic ocean so with very high currents. We were told that the Carribean side of the Island is much calmer.  It also has a nice shopping section called The Village.  The L'Azure restaurant overlooks the beautiful Crane beach and The Carriage house restaurant overlooks the swimming section, which was extensive.

Nic & Kev

We had the bridal party dinner at the Waterside restaurant in St Lawrence's The Gap (party area) in the Parish of Christ Church - very lovely restaurant by the water, with good food and service.  The pre-wedding cocktail was held at the Old Ruins at The Crane.  We also went to Oistins Fish Fry in Christ Church, which is a street with different fish restaurant joints selling different types of barbequed fish, plenty of tourists and a staged area with music and dancing - very lively.  The wedding was held at Corrington college.  It was an ideal location for a beautiful wedding - it had a backdrop view of greenery and the sea.  The wedding was held outside on the grass and a marquee for dinner - a romantic setting and beautiful ceremony.  We partied into the wee hours of the morning......into my birthday.

 

On my birthday, it started off with presents and then we went on the Jammin Catamaran cruise which set off from Bridgetown in St Michael, the capital of Barbados.  The cruise was wonderful, very relaxing on the Carribean sea which was very calm.  We stopped on the way for a swim, snorkelling and a nice Bajan lunch!  We also saw the Jolly Roger party boat on our way.  We had dinner at Cin Cin by the sea restaurant in the exclusive area of the Parish of St James (most expensive part of Barbados).  We sat on the terrace with a view of the sea and had exquisite food - yum!  I can still taste it!  The meal ended with a dessert with sparklers and a happy birthday song.  We also stopped at the Sandy Lane hotel - nicest hotel in Barbados.

A truly splendid birthday!! and a relaxing and chilled holiday :-)

Lagos Again!

Yes! Lagos again! Another quick stop over!  I actually tried somewhere new this time, it was called the 7th Heaven cafe - very nice!!  Good food, nice fresh/clean decor and ambience.

I also had a wonderful time at my baby shower, organised by my sister and friend.  So much fun! thanks guys! mwah! :-)

Jozi or Egoli or Joburg

Sandton City

Johannesburg also known as Jozi or Egoli which means Gold - because it was discovered there. Jozi is the largest city in South Africa and the provincial capital of Gauteng.  I've been living in Johannesburg for a period of 5 months over the last year in Hydro Executive Apartments in Sandton.  A high crime rate in downtown Joburg caused many corporate offices to move from Johannesburg Central Business District (CBD) to Sandton in the 1990s.  Sandton is a wealthy area and has become the new financial centre of South Africa and Johannesburg's premier business centre.  The name Sandton comes from a combination of its two suburbs, Sandown and Bryanston.  One of the main attractions in Sandton is "Sandton City", which ranks amongst the largest shopping centres in Africa, with Nelson Mandela Square in the centre.


Must see places and things to do in Jozi:


Shopping Malls: Sandton City, Melrose Arch, Hyde Park, Morningside Mall, Benmore Gardens, Killarney Mall, Village Walk, Rosebank Mall, 44 Stanley Street


Restaurants: Signature Restaurant, DW Eleven-13, Tashas, Pigalle, George's on 4th, Nice on 4th, Central One Bar and restaurant, Piccolo Mondo, The Grillhouse, Wang Thai, Burnside cafe, Cape Town Fish Market, The Green Peppercoen, Pomodoro Ristorante, Saxon, Wall Street Restaurant, The Palazzo Montecasino, Butcher Shop and Grill, Homebase

Afternoon tea: The Patisserie (Illovo), Michaelangelo Hotel, Westcliff Hotel, Fournos Bakery

Museums: The Apartheid Museum, Mandela House, Hector Pietersen Musuem, National Museum of Military History 

Apartheid Museum

Nelson Mandela's House

Bars: The Polo Lounge (Westcliff), The Whiskey Bar (Southern Sun Hyde Park), The Conservatory (Hyatt Regency)

Clubs:  Taboo (Sandton), Hush (Rosebank)

Other places of interest: Lion Safari park, Johannesburg Zoo, Gold Reef City, African Craft Market, Central Business District (CBD), Sandton Convention Centre

African Craft Market

Lion Safari Park

Churches: Rosebank Union Church, Rivers Church, His People Church, City Life Church, Redeem Christian Church of God (RCCG)

Favourite Suburbs: Sandton, Sandown, Sandhurst, Parkhurst, Bryanston, Hyde Park

Worst Suburbs: CBD, Hillbrow, Yeoville

Me and CBD in the background

Johannesburg International Motor Show @ Expo Centre

Lagos - Easter Egg Hunt!

Another quick stop over in Lagos! It was nice to spend Easter in Lagos with family.  Also had a fun time at the Woobee's Easter Egg Hunt!

Woobee's Easter Egg Hunt