Clara

I had a lovely day today although it was the first day of school. Period 4 and 5 were frees so I sat outside and sunbathed. Cindy and I stayed behind at school after period 5 talking. It was lovely to talk properly, alone for a few hours even though we really should have gone home. When I arrived back home a letter from darling Clara had arrive! I was so thrilled! There is something so precious and personal about a letter, especially when most communicate long distance through email and Facebook. I wrote back immediately, although I wrote so much it took an hour and a half. I miss her and Daniela desperately and cannot wait to see them in Frankfurt this summer. Today I wore my favourite new 50s skirt that I bought for £8 at a carboot sale, although I had to restitch the side seam and take down the dodgy hem. I have decided it is lucky as when I wore it to Salisbury I bagged 4 60s Crimplene dresses at a charity shop and a 50s wastepaper bin, and today has been such a lovely day.

East End and Tower Bridge with Clara and Daniela

Last Sunday Daniela, Clara, Chloe and me went to London on the coach for the final time. :( (This school year :)) We visited Brick Lane, as Daniela had never been before, and Chloe set out on an adventure of her own, to see the sights in central London. I had never seen it so busy! I thought it might be a bit busier as the markets are on on a Sunday, but it was choc-a-bloc! We ventured into the 'Sunday Up Market', which was crammed full of people and stalls, selling exotic foods from across the globe. Turkish, Japanese, Ethiopian, Greek, Indian, French, British and Chinese! We decided we must eat here at lunch. So we explored further into the market and found rails and rails of vintage clothes at good prices (compared to the shops down Brick Lane), handmade clothing, craft and jewellery stalls. There was also an incredible cupcake stall. There were some iced and topped with strawberries, blueberries and blackberries, others were cookies and cream flavoured. But I opted for the blueberry flavoured one, decorated with a beautiful iced rose. It was delicious. Clara and Daniela bought some scarves at just a few pounds, and Daniela purchased a cute little pocket mirror for her sister. I bought some brown 70s sandals for £15, which I had been looking for a year! We then looked around the shops. I passed a stall that i think was trying to convert people to Islam. The man gave me a free 'The Meaning of the Qu'ran' book which is interesting and I think a translation of it. Daniela bought a rose jumper from the East End Thrift Store Clara bought a blazer and top from there and something from a shop where a Marilyn Monroe CD was playing. I bought a yellow play suit, a marching band jacket and a turban hat. We looked round Beyond Retro but reached saturation and starvation point so left after I got the turban. We then sat on a bench is a church yard and ate an early lunch. On the way back we passed a crazy guy dressed as a CCTV camera and searched desperately for a place to sit and get a drink and entered a cool 50s diner which had a bowling alley at the back. However after reading the menu we were put off by the extortionate prices. we looked around. What are we gonna do now?! the Waiter kept asking to take our order. We decided it was fine to forget our pride and embarrassment and make a run for it out the door. We're not from round here so it's fine, I thought :) We looked around a second market where I bought some cool skull earrings that reminded me of Frida Kahlo. Then it was back to the tube station. Whilst walking back a homeless guy approached us asking for money for food. I wasn't sure if that's what it was for, but why shouldn't he spend it on what he likes? He has nothing else. We got off near Tower Bridge and walked along the Thames, where Clara and Daniela took many photos. The Norman Foster City Hall building was much smaller than I had anticipated and i don't think I have seen it before, as we don't usually go to that part of London. We walked further along until we reached the Underground. As we were rushed out of the station we looked up. Big Ben towered over us and tourists cooed as camera flashes sparked. We then got the train back to Victoria and walked down to Buckingham Place. Then it was a walk back to the train station and a drink in a cafe. we nipped to the toilet and ran back to the coach station, which we couldn't find anywhere! We ran through the streets of London shouting. I was really panicking. Then we found it. We found Arrivals. The coach was due to leave and we had no clue where departures was. I flagged down what turned out to be our coach. The driver pointed over to our station which we ran to, by this time I was in tears. We stumbled into the bus parking and asked the coach director what to do. Luckily for us it turned out to be late, although we seemed much happier than the other passengers, who had been giving him an earful when we joined the queue. After embarrassed looks and chuckles from the driver, we finally stepped foot on the coach.

Devastating news. The Germans are leaving. It seems like they have always been here, and I cannot bear them leaving. Who will I argue with? Who can I discuss politics, fashion and art with now?! And who will put a smile on my face and listen when I'm feeling sad? Oh dear. However we are going to visit Clara and Daniela in Frankfurt this summer It is very exciting. Only three full days left until we leave for New York Excited but sad If only it could be further away, so that Daniela, Clara, Natalie and Chloe would stay and exams would be far away.

Oxford Street and China Town

China town Wrong station waterloo Clara chatted up in the queue Primark hunting Rude waitresses Japanese sweets Topshop Queues Red Bean Buns

London with Clara

On Halloween Clara and I went to Brick Lane and Oxford Street. I love London. There's always something happening After about 10 minutes in Shoreditch a guy from Channel 4 asked us some questions about sportswear in research for a new show Sounds interesting! There was also a new shop since I last went called The East End Thrift Store which had loads of cheap vintage Clara bought a fab 80s wool jumper and a red lumberjack men's shirt from there and I bought a white casual dress and a 50s silk embroidered dress which I had to go back and buy after regretting leaving it! At Beyond Retro there were spooky kids films on the TV and people were dressed up which was fun! There was lots of graffiti as always and there was a really sweet poem written on someones door frame. At first I thought it was a romantic poem but i think it must have been a friendship. They were apologising. It seemed so poetic. Something that would happen in a silly rom-com or something. We eventually got on the tube to Tottenham Court Road and hit Oxford Streets Shops. Clara was searching for Urban Outfitters and Abercrombie and Fitch. She bought some lovely glasses in Urban Outfitters that she'd seen on the internet. We also ventured into the huge Topshop which was horrible as always. It's so crowded and we'd seen so many clothes we no longer knew what was nice! I think there was a good sale on though. Last on the list was Abercrombie. I knew it was at the end of Savile Row. But didn't know where Savile Row was! No one seemed to know where A&F was so we had to ask at least five people! After much wandering and backtracking we found it, the scent of aftershave polluting the street. Handsome men chatted at the door of the grand town house and as we went up the steps the smell got stronger and we could hear music thumping through the shop. Clara said it was like going to a house party but shopping. Clara looked some of the hoodies but decided they were too expensive which was a pity. The sizes available on the bottom were S and XS so you had ask for any other size! On the tube back I'm sure we were sat opposite Sid from Skins' dad which was funny! We went back to my Auntie's house for some pasta and apple pie. Mmmmmm Then we hit the road, listening to Lykke Li, stopping for hot chocolate at the service station. :)

River Walk again

Clara and me went for a walk by the river for a long chat about Germany, friends, fashion, cultures and all that jazz. Doesn't she have brilliant style? Clara has come over from Germany by the way to improve her english though it's amazing anyway! We're going to London in half term to Oxford Street and Brick Lane. Hopefully we'll make it to the end of the road this time. I've learnt some useful german phrases too! Wo es der piratenschatz? Liebe frau milch Applesaft Es ist nicht sonnig Figured out what they mean?