The August Bank holiday weekend was quite a busy one - off to Bruges on the Friday night and then back on the Sunday to go and meet Nadine (who came over for about 6 weeks for a Europe trip) at the airport!
After a BIIIIG jet-lagged sleep MC and Nad went off for a bit of sight-seeing in London while John moved house! The girls had a lovely day sipping Pimms in the park and doing a spot of shopping while John spent the day lugging all our gear to our new flat (unlucky for some!). We have now been in the new place for almost 3 months and are loving it - although it's only one tube stop closer to central London than our old place in Kilburn, the West Hampstead area is much nicer and the flat is heaps bigger and even has a patio where MC has already planted her tulips and daffodils for the spring! It is lovely to have some outdoor space after 2 years without it, and London put on a very mild September and October for us to enjoy a few more weeks of sunshine on the patio before the cold dark winter settles in.
Nadine and her travel buddy Anna had a few more days in London and then flew out to the Greek Islands (Mykonos and Santorini), where MC met up with them the next day.
With the Santorini hotel owner Babis - who was VERY insistent that he do EVERYTHING for us. We felt a bit naughty when we wanted to walk into town ("Where are you going? I drive you!!") or arrange anything ourselves! He was lovely though.
Kia Ora! Nad and the crazy guy from the souvlaki shop who gave us free shots of something gross - (grappa?). And also knew some Maori!
Out for dinner in Fira town (Santorini).
Perissa, the black beach in Santorini.
View over Oia in Santorini.
Oia again.
Nad and Anna enjoying a cocktail and the sunset in Fira.
Out for dinner in Fira.
Anna at the Red Beach in Santorini.
Nad in Fira town and the amazing caldera views.
Riding up from the old port to town on the donkeys!
More caldera views.
Mykonos.
Sunset in Mykonos.
Little Venice in Mykonos.
Sunning in up at the beach in Mykonos.
Windmills.
And pretty white-washed alleyways.
Windmills at sunset.
After a great week of sunshine in Greece with the girls and also Anna's lovely Mum and Dad in Santorini, MC flew back to London while Nad and Anna set off for Turkey and the rest of their Europe trip.
Pharmacy workmates - Hurchel, Sylvia, Rhys, Lisa and Koolsum.
MC also went to Syeda's Mehndi party a few nights before the wedding where the bride has her henna tattoos applied.
The bride looking gorgeous!
At the Mehndi party with Attia. The theme was yellow which meant another new Indian outfit and matching bangles of course!
Syeda arriving at the wedding.
Mehndi all done!
Lisa and I can't quite pull it off the mehndi posing.
Mehndi artist at work. Poor Syeda had to sit in this position for hours!
MC and Rhys.
MC and Rachel.
Some more posing in the garden.
The boys looking styley.
Syeda and her sisters arriving at the venue.
The bridal party area - Zahir and Syeda.
So pretty!
And the Hen's party - massive cream cake - yum.
Dodgy gifts.
More workmates - Rachel, Syeda and Koolsum.
Shulaka, Tebsy and MC.
