Christmas is all around... London

Even though I still have many trips to cover, I'm going to jump out of order here and talk about our recent trip to London. We visited for the first time -- well, my first time (B has been there a few times for work) -- a month prior, but I'll lead off with this trip because a lot of our time was spent at Christmas markets (my new obsession!). As Christmas is a week from today, these holiday posts have a diminishing shelf life!

If you're wondering, the reason we took 2 trips to London 4 weeks apart was to see friends. My old boss from the States was traveling there for a wedding and we planned to meet up. Also, London is just a fabulous city and it's a quick flight for us, so it's easy to do a weekend trip! 

We left on a Saturday and returned on Monday morning and had plenty of time. Sightseeing was out of the way from the previous visit, so we could slow down and enjoy the city, holiday festivities, and company of good friends.

Hyde Park

On Saturday afternoon, we missed a matinee showing of Wicked that we had planned on attending, but that simply meant we had more time to enjoy the afternoon before an early sunset. These hours were devoted to strolling through Hyde Park and sipping on Glühwein (German mulled wine) at the Winter Wonderland Festival.

Let me say, London knows how to do holiday decorations! The "Winter Wonderland" was like a typical carnival, times 10! There were lights everywhere, endless coasters/rides/funhouses, diverse food huts, drink stands and full fledged bars/clubs, live bands, etc. A favorite discovery of ours was a "Merry-go-Round for adults": an open-air bar, with a rotating carousel in the middle (with a bar in the middle of it too!). Brilliant. 

After our wondrous winter adventure, we met up with my friend and his wife for some drinks and quality catch-up time. I was so happy to see a friendly face from Chicago, in London of all places! The next morning, we reconvened and, with coffee and croissant in hand, walked around the beautifully decorated neighborhood of Covent Garden.

When our friends departed for the rest of their European excursion, we Tubed it over to Xmas market #2, the Cologne Market at the Southbank Centre. It's situated along the Thames, so market-goers can simultaneously devour their bratwurst and spiked hot chocolate, browse artisan "whosits and whatsits galore," and enjoy views of the London Eye and Big Ben across the river. So pretty at night!

Between friends and festivities, the weekend definitely put me in a great mood. Being in London, I kept singing the lyrics from the Love Actually song: "I feel it in my fingers, I feel it in my toes... Christmas is all around me, and so the feeling grows!" As I close this post, I'm listening to it yet again...

"So if you really love Christ-mas... C'mon and let it snow!"

All I Want for Xmas is... a Work Permit!

I can't believe the holiday season is upon us... Cue the cheery music, shopping madness, ugly jumpers (for my U.S. readers, jumper = sweater), and booze filled holiday parties. I've started getting in the mood myself, lighting my "White Christmas" Yankee candle and watching Love Actually, Elf, and even New Year's Eve. 

I also went on a holiday mission with my friend, Michelle, to the Euro Store (equivalent of the Dollar Store) for Xmas decorations. Ours are boxed up in storage, but we both still wanted a little festive touch for our Dublin homes. I got 2 stockings, garland and gold pinecone ornaments for a DIY garland for the mantle, and red tea light holders for €7 - now I call that a successful trip!

While I was putting up my new decorations, dancing around and belting out Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas" alone in our apartment, I started thinking about what I wanted for Xmas. My Mom asked me a few days prior, and I told her I didn't want anything, just wanted to be home with everyone (don't you just love when people give that answer? Makes it soo easy on you, right? Ha). I then jokingly said, "If you can get me a work permit, that would be great." 

For anyone who knows me well and knows about my nightmare of a permit application process, you know this is no joke. You probably want this for Christmas too, just so you don't have to hear me complain anymore! It's unreal to me that this year is winding down and I'm still sitting here, waiting for the Irish government to pick up the application (MY THIRD ONE) from the stack it's been sitting in for a month and give me the "OK" to start working.

I had NO idea when we moved that it would be this complicated and torturous an ordeal. Finding a job was not the hard part; the permit process, however, has been the most ridiculous thing ever. I'll tell you what though... What I've missed in professional growth this year, I've gained 10x in personal growth.

This year, I'm more grateful than I've ever been for everyone in my life. As I told Mom, I could care less about presents and I'm looking so forward to spending time with my family and friends, even for the short week that we're home.

Since the Employment Permits Office informed me that they "don't accept bribes," after I asked if there was any way to expedite the process for the umpteenth time, maybe I'll just show up at the office with a bottle of whiskey (that is, if there was a physical location), pull a Marilyn Monroe and sing Santa Baby...

"Santa baby, slip a [permit] under the tree, for me
I've been an awful good girl
Santa baby, and hurry down the chimney tonight"

Thoughts?