Kew Gardens should be charging me rent...

There has been lots of stuff happening here over the last few weeks. I've spent a lot of time at Kew Gardens. Last weekend I went by myself while G was studying. I really needed to get some space to myself and time to work through some of the things happening in my life right now. I discovered the rhododendron dell in full bloom and loads of beautiful bluebells. This weekend, I insisted on taking G and we discovered the lilac garden. The smell was truly divine!

We've also been to the cinema a few times. We went to see Coraline 3D last weekend. 3D has come such a long way from the silly paper red/green specs. It looked amazing and was suitably creepy. On Sunday, we went to see Star Trek on the IMAX screen. It was my first time seeing anything in IMAX - all I can say is WOW! I actually really enjoyed the film. I thought it was nice that they threw the timeline out of the window and did something a bit fresh.

On a boring work related note, I have managed to get a new job. It's still at my current place of work but it's more responsibility and more pennies. I think it's going to be a lot more challenging and a lot less boring than my current job. It's working on a hugely high-profile project too. As per usual, it's not perfect but it's closer to perfect than the current job.

I'm also having a huge dilemma about starting an MSc course in the Autumn. After months of soul-searching (and I mean months), I came to the conclusion that I want to be working in Public Health. It has the research angle and the human angle - perfect. I was looking at doing the distance learning MSc at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine but it is TWICE as expensive as doing it part-time over two years. The downside of part-time is I can't afford to take a cut in salary and if I do compressed hours I'll be working 8am-6pm with no lunchbreaks. I really need to win the lottery! Hmmmm, best start buying a ticket then...

Christmas is so close I can taste it!

Or at least I will be able to once I finish work this evening! Then it's off home to do a whole load of cooking to take with me when we go to Graeme's parents tomorrow. Graeme's Mum has learned how to delegate this year, so Graeme and I are doing starters for both Christmas Day and Boxing Day. We are planning on making little potato pancakes with smoked salmon and creme fraiche for Christmas Day, and Chantenay carrot and honey soup for Boxing Day. So tonight I am making the soup and the potato pancakes as they can easily be reheated on the day. I'm also hoping to make some gingerbread cookies to take with me as well.

On a different note entirely, Graeme and I went to see "Twilight" at the weekend. I read the book while I was recovering from my operation and thoroughly enjoyed it (it and season one of "Dexter" helped distract me from the pain). The film is good if you keep in mind it's aimed at teenage girls. Admittedly, some of the special effects are really lame and Robert Pattinson takes a bit of time to settle in to the role of Edward Cullen. I'm not entirely sure it was the kind of book that would ever make a good film but it was a decent effort.