this week in Amanda (aka peanut sunshine) land.....

Saturday i went to London to do my Christmas shopping , made a start at Shepperd's bush where i was disappointed to find a severe lack of squirrels. next we went in search of the Kenzo store which has eluded us thrice before - this time- great success! kenzo was found however it was completely useless because we needed to take photos and because life just hatttttesss me - there was scaffolding and i couldn't see anything. next we went to Camden - i officially love Camden there is no crazier place in the world we were starving so i has a spring roll and the sugariest fattest and best ever doughnut - Bavarian cream with chocolate topping with nuts and white chocolate. crazy! there was no seating so we perched on pot plants with what must have been every other tourist in London. we scoured the markets and shops for a blissful few hours before there was a huge down pour - oh dear and so thousands of tourists tried to leave Camden at the same time - tube mayhem. eventually we made it to oxford street the high street mecca of London where we happened apon the oxford street festival - i love London you just stumble across things happening! so there where sales! and there was street performers and the whole street was closed and there was beautiful fake snow which quickly became annoying and lili and i were soon shouting "lili help! its in my eye" "Amanda !some went in my mouth ew ew". lili went to meet a friend so i went shopping on my own buying gifts and things for people and having a grand old time despite the pouring rain and violent mob that is the Christmas shopping crowd. i almost caught the wrong train home and panicked because i had run to catch a train that was leaving, luckily i had panicked for nothing and rather embarrassed myself.

Sunday there was a Charles dickens Christmas festival in our town (Rochester) home of Charles dickens!. there was a parade where all the local dressed up in what was supposed to be Victorian time dress but which got a bit historically confused as im sure there was some elizabethan in there but fabulous all the same , next to the fair where there were Ferris wheels and carasols all with the castle in the back ground - gorgeous! bagpipers and carolers , candy floss and crepes and hot chocolate - all my favorite fair time fun! we explored Charles dickens house with has a a cats of characters pretending to be Victorian , very funny the maid got fired in our viewing slot. hilarious