Easter Holidays March 2008

Easter holidays - bliss! Two whole weeks off and nothing to do, just hang out and chill in Chicago! Which I haven't really done since arriving here in August, what with jetting off to Canada, Jamaica and Utah! I had grand plans of doing lots of interesting museums/gallaries/cultural things, but really it was just a two-week long binge fest of brunch, lunch and dinner, shopping, coffee, drinking wine, eating pizza, sleeping in ............ you get the picture!

However we did manage a little mini-break in a log cabin; about 3 hours north into Wisconsin. The scenery on the drive up was a bit disappointing, the Midwest is just flat and not very pretty, certainly nothing compared with Utah. But it was nice to get away and out little log cabin was tucked away in the woods and provided a lot of relaxation, fun and interesting woodland walks! We drove up early on morning and stocked up on food and wine (ridiculous Wisconsin law - EVERYONE at the checkout must carry a valid ID if you're buying alcohol - what happens if you're with your 5 year old, we asked? Or your teenage daughter? Or if your friend isn't 21 but wasn't planning on drinking anyway?! I did start thumping the counter and shouting about democracy and having the freedom to make up my own mind who was going to drink alcohol ..........!) Anyway, moving on!

Click on the photos on the right to get a better view and more of a commentary. We did fun things like standing on a frozen lake (something only insane people do, surely?!) - we made the dog do it first to check it was ok! We stopped off in Madison (capital of Wisconsin) on the way home and had Cornish pasties for lunch! Almost as good as the real thing! We also saw old men out on the lake, ice fishing. Will give that a miss, I think.

2 whole months til my next holiday! How will I survive?!

28th Feb - the celebrations

And So Emma's birthday (only turning 28!). Wow, I'm surrounded by sweet young things! Ali and I spent an amazing night on the Wednesday at a gorgeous cheese deli just a few blocks away, 'Pastoral', tasting different cheeses and choosing prosciutto, sun-dried tomatoes, olives, fresh breads etc. ready for the next night's feast!

The party was held at Ali's pad, which was a given really as you could really only squeeze about 2 1/2 people in mine. What an incredible apartment she has - has completely turned about my decision to stay where I am next year (moving though - what a pain!). It all looked fabulous, the table was groaning with delicacies and the chat was flowing (present: the birthday girl herself, Lauren, Sharon, Gillian and Tom). Many bottles of wine later, I got a second wind and demanded that another bottle be opened! Fun Sharon made a guest appearance but I think we were all very much 'not fun' the next day!

Friday night Head Mike treated us to drinks at our school local; I opted for oj/cranberry! A quick power nap later and then headed to Lauren's, who was hosting drinks for Em. Fun John was definitely out and nothing was going to keep him from having his say! We headed over to 'The Holiday Club' bar, which, if I had been on better form, seemed like a great place, full of atmosphere and characters! Alas, I retreated home at midnight, defeated.

The celebrations continued! The girls enjoyed a late lunch on Saturday at John's Place (no relation to previously mentioned Fun John!) and ate the enormous portions with great satisfaction (well, I did!). The food here (Chicago) is amazing, the service is (generally) amazing, the prices aren't bad - what's not to love?! We had chosen this place because it was really near the gorgeous street of Armitage, full of little shops and boutiques for us to explore. I look forward to returning when I have made my fortune!