UK days } april 28 to may 8, 2016 } part II

Happy Birthday, Anna Dora! A great way to kick off this trip is cocktails at Cahoots with Anna and her friends. Of course Anna can’t help being Anna here and I love her for it.

This trip has been packed. For someone who has made it her mission this time to ‘chill’, I’ve done a lot, met new friends and caught up with old ones. This sojourn has, however, been a bit of a challenge, at moments even regretful…I don’t know why…well, I do but I won’t tell, for various reasons. Funny enough, though, it has also been strewn with pleasurable moments, in all senses of the word, and this is what I like to celebrate.

{ April 29, 2016, Anna’s Birthday }

Anna likes Moomin and Moomin likes Anna.

James.

Radhika.

Andreas.

Me.

Zeynap.

Crazy Cocktail.

Anna.

Gareth in the raspberry berry and me wrapped as a gift because Anna doesn’t want gifts and our presence is ‘presents enough’.

{ April 30, 2016, Breakfast in Bed, Lunch with Chris and Reem }

A note: my first few days here I was taking it easy, following my ‘chill’ mantra, even allowing myself to PMS without panic. It was in May that I finally got my London spirit back .

My first and only breakfast in bed.

The omelet is too big and the croissant too small. But I need my sustenance for today’s vegan lunch.

Lunch at Down to Earth with Reemy and Chris. It’s good to see Reem outside Kuwait, albeit for one short meal.

The food looks great but my zucchini pesto pasta lacks flavor and is better suited as a side dish.

This on the other hand!

Later on I confine myself to my room again. PMS reaches it’s peak.

I play with Eves.

{ May 1, 2016, Sunday Brunch and Bocce with Reham, Eilidh and Later on Haya }

I get to Eilidh’s place early (and find out I’m not at the right place). Reham shows up with this afternoon’s victuals.

Inside Eilidh’s superior apartment. I want it.

More good things on the opposite wall.

We head to the garden for our Sunday picnic.

Grandfather clock.

Hummus and salmon dip.

Eilidh and a deer.

The beautiful Kensington Gardens. I am so lucky with the weather. I have to say I usually am. Maybe I’m just bringing it with me ;).

Trying to read the very simple bocce rules proves problematic a few glasses of wine into the afternoon.

I have four balls.

Haya joins us for the rest of the afternoon.

Four girls.

{ Captain America with Anna Dora and the Girls }

In the taxi with our glasses on. We’re ready for a 3D Robert Downey Jr.

She’s her own superhero.

{ May 2, 2016, Lunch with Naz }

London’s Qout. Only Kuwaiti residents will get this. I have lunch with my dear friend Naz by the canal. It’s so good to finally see her. Usually I see her the day I arrive or next day at the latest.

Later on we spot this funky wall. We are near Edgware road, or as I call it ‘Little Kuwait’.

I love these photos Naz took. And I love that she directs me. Look left, look right.

I’m back in my room creating wrapping paper and enshrouding gifts with it.

I take a photo of my journal. I include it here.

I call one of my best friends Laura and this is my phone doodle.

I make this room my home.

{ May 3, 2016, Hackney Wick with Georgie }

George gives me street credibility. I love this shot. In it he says that he’s my guilty conscience. In that case, I’m guilty through and through.

I whisper something in his ear. What did I say?

By the canal, George waits for our pizza.

And it arrives. We are not disappointed.

Uttu, Brutus?

An Egyptian and a Pole walk into a bar.

Layered graffiti.

About to spring this man out of jail.

{ May 4, 2016, New Sketchbook, Ayesha and Dinner with T and the Girls }

I have my usual Greek yogurt, fruit and chamomile tea for breakfast at Apero downstairs.

Later on I do some shopping on Kings Road. This window captures my attention.

I buy a new sketchbook from Green & Stone’s and these Russian watercolors. They don’t look appealing but they get the job done.

I always start with blue.

This watercolor sketchbook is like my others but four times larger. It’s a little disconcerting at first but I get used to it.

Iconic London: A while back my friend Ayesha and I started our tradition of doing a selfie in front of anything that was quintessentially London. So far we’ve done the Underground sign, a newspaper kiosk and a double-decker bus. This day we were confined to the Green Park bus stop so had to stretch it a little…

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At night I join Eilidh for a life painting session at the Primrose Hill Community Centre. I am so rusty.

My first two sketches.

I should’ve started with pencil.

Two minute sketch.

This is my last and favorite sketch of the night. I did it in a minute.

Soon I’ll go out to the park and paint, even though painting for me is a solitary, private, indoor activity. But it’s London outside and the weather is gorgeous. I promised myself a relaxing trip and I’m going to fulfil that vow.