Update 1 - London

I was in London with my father from the 11th to the 13th. In the end, due to a lack of motivation and energy, poor time management and me being sick (I think it was the bi bim bap that I'd eaten earlier), we didn't actually get a lot done.

However, I saw the Skin exhibition at the Wellcome Museum, which was really enjoyable and quite fascinating; I discovered another great restaurant, Giraffe; we went on a speed boat along the River Thames, and of course that was a lot of fun; I finally saw Harrods, and absolutely hated it (never, ever again - I don't like pretension, as we all know).

Oh, and you can't visit London without seeing a show, so we watched Hair, and it was so good (maybe that's a wanton use of italics, but the 'so' needed to be emphasised). Definitely the best musical I've seen since Avenue Q, and I'm tempted to see it again (much like with Avenue Q). So, all in all, the three days in London weren't as packed as they could have been, and the trip was more eventful than I'd expected it would be, but seeing a great musical made it all worth it.

On a final note, I visited 6 coffee shops in three days (three of which were on the last day), and three M&Ss in that time, too. Quite impressive, I'd say.

Oh, how my taste buds yearn for...

trio of olives

petit lucques, kalamata and da vinci marinated olives with maitreya organic home-made bread

avocado ravioli
fresh avocado shell filled with marinated fennel served with toasted almonds and raspberry vinegar dressing

smoked applewood cheddar tart tatin
all butter puff pastry tatin with crown prince pumpkin, chestnut mushrooms, caramelised red onion and pistachio. served with caramelised apple pak choi and plum anis dressing

pineapple and saffron pancake
fine crepes filled with caramelised pineapple, gratinated with saffron cream sauce, served with orange sorbet

Cafe Maitreya is without doubt the most elegant yet fresh vegetarian restaurant I have yet experienced.

Oh, to have an alternative mother

The second round of the HPV injections are tomorrow and once again I'm not having them. My mother and I are both strongly opposed to these vaccinations specifically so I will be sitting and watching as everyone gets stabbed in the arm with a needle. I try to empathise but it's not an easy feat when I haven't had a vaccination since I was a few months old so do not remember the feeling.

It's weird - I felt strange, unsafe and awkward occasionally in Dublin (where I was from Tuesday to Friday), but now having reflected on my experience it was enjoyable. However, it's no London and can't even compare. I like capital cities that have tube trains and a great theatre culture. Dublin does have some great restaurants, though, such as Yamamori - noodles and sushi, Cornucopia - vegetarian and vegan and the restaurant at the Chester Beaty library - Mediterranean and Greek.

Could things be working out, maybe?

I didn't do much today. First I ate BBQ beans and fried mashed potato and then my mum went to town and I basically just watched TV from then on. First I watched 'You Have Been Watching' which takes a cynical look at some of the TV of the week. That was amusing and made me want to watch the programme in which an elephant, a crocodile, a giraffe and a whale are dissected. Next I watched 'The TNT Show' which is puerile according to my dad, and I kind of agree, however it's still mildly enjoyable though a bit too scripted to allow any of the presenters' potential and latent charisma shine through.

After that was a programme about the world's oldest mothers who were impregnated via IVF. It does seem very wrong for a 70-year-old women to carry a baby and I think the upper age limit for IVF should be about 50 or perhaps 55 at a push. The concept of this does seem a bit strange to me as these women's eggs have been used up so they have to use donor eggs and that, of course, makes them not the biological mother at all. However, I'm not against adoption and it's a similar idea in that respect.

Finally, I watched a programme called 'Boob Job - My Big Decision' which followed two girls, one 17, one 13(!), who wanted breast implants and embarked on a journey which tried to put them off it. In the end it worked and it was very intriguing however some of the links that were made between wanting larger breasts and other factors in their life were a bit sketchy.

I'm supposed to be going bike-riding with Sam this weekend but I don't know what day or anything like that. But it sounds nice. I'm going to London from Monday to Wednesday which will, of course, be good. London's never disappointed me, hence the reason that I'm determined to live there from the age of 18.

In London, I want to go to a proper sushi restaurant. Not just Yo! Sushi. I'd love to go to Nobu, but I doubt they'd have many vegetarian options. Might see some celebrities in there, though.

I post frequently about Drama

I know my love for it is inate, so that's most probably why.

I'm considering creating a Tumblr. For those who have not been swept by this new craze, it's kind of like a blog but a bit more random. Typical content includes short quotes and excerpts, beautiful pictures and cute little poems and songs. This wouldn't be instead of this, but as well as. Just a place where I can have a little less structure.

Three good things that happened today:

1) I ate a yummy wild mushroom and asparagus pie with cheesy mashed potatoes, followed by a Galaxy milkshake.

2) I decided on something to put in my 'About Me' section.

3) For dinner I had a lovely fried tofu bake from a local health food shop.

So, yes, two of those were about food. But I seriously love food. More than music, even. Now, I know this may sound strange as we all have to eat, but music isn't vital to survive. However, if I was given the choice of basic food with plenty of good music for life, or delicious, gormet food and no music, I would choose the latter option. My philosophy is that as we are obliged to eat, we may as well eat good-quality food and occasionally indulge.