May 2014 Instagramy Post Part 1

Is it me or has it been crazy for everyone recently?

I blame it on the Grand Cardinal Cross malarky.

I am cheating a little but I am starting in late April just before 

I went to Korea.

A friend visited from Hong Kong and we decided to go to the Wolseley for breakfast.

She is French but she agrees that the Wolseley does 

THE best croque madame around.

Better than any cafe in Paris.
All 4 of us ordered it.

We had some good weather in April so 
I opened up my windows on my new terrace.
House still not done yet making do.

Millie likes it and doesn't seem too fussed that furniture placement is still very wonky.

I have sudden yet very few urges of craft and the like.
But I had so many tins of tester paint that I decided to make use of it on an old chest.

It was oval room blue.

I then painted an Ikea self assemble thingamajiggy green blue.

So important to try paint colors because en masse they look so different than the one stripe on the wall.

I then went to Korea at the tail end of all the spring flowers in bloom.
Seoul isn't known for its flora but it has patches of greenery and makes up for the lack of private gardens.

Azaleas seem to be a popular flower or perhaps native to the region.

I am not too sure but I remember it in so many different colors every since I can remember.

I don't normally get dazzled by azaleas but these rough patches of color were just like those of my childhood memories.

Like most cities, the capital has a river that divides Seoul into north and south.

It is called the Han River.

The river is much wider than the Thames and the river banks have now been developed into amusement parks and people even water ski in the river.

The first week I was in Seoul was a bit gloomy.

It reflected the national mood after the ferry boat disaster that killed a few hundred people.  

I went to City Hall where there was a special area where one could pay their respects.

People queued up to sign the condolence books, and offer a carnation to the deceased, and also tie a yellow ribbon.

On a lighter note, don't you think that the delight in traveling is in the details?

It isn't all about the historical monuments and museums.

My favorite high street coffee franchise is Coffee Bean of which there is plenty in Seoul but none in London.

Instead of waiting around and causing a bottleneck at the waiting area, in Seoul you get a buzzer.

That way you can go and get a magazine from their own library and patiently wait for your buzzer to go off.

As is custom worldwide, you go to the coffee paraphernalia counter and get your sugar, napkins, and ashtray if needed.

Sorry the ashtray would have thrown you especially where there was a no smoking sign.

The sign was to make sure that you don't smoke in the general area but to make sure you go to their special enclosed smoking area...

I felt like I was on the set of Mad Men or something!

Hope you are all safe and well x