Archive | June, 2016

#28 Photo with a Celebrity

23 Jun

Last year England hosted the Rugby World Cup, and I found myself wanting to get tickets,  because why not! But tickets were allocated by ballot and tickets on StubHub were extortionate. I couldn’t justify spending a week’s wages because I’m not enough of a fan.

So, when I saw a Facebook post from MasterCard with a chance to win tickets to Australia vs England I rushed home to enter straight away. I work in social media and run competitions regularly so I know what the judges are looking for in an entry. Long story short, I won and of course Nick was the recipient of the other ticket.

What is funny about this situation is that we thought it was two tickets to the match and it advertised that accommodation was included for three nights. We thought maybe the Holiday Inn Express in Twickenham? Maybe a small B&B walking distance to the ground. It would be cool to check out Twickenham’s local town and pubs or the weekend! When we were told it would be a five star hotel in central London, this prize suddenly got interesting. Ok, what cool things could we do in central London? Let’s be tourists in our own city for a weekend! A bus tour, sightseeing and nice restaurants! YAY! I was informed that I would shortly receive an email with more details. Refresh. Refresh. Refresh. Ping. “RSVP: Your Invitation to Join MasterCard at 2015 Rugby World Cup‏”

The prize absolutely blew us away. I remember logging into the microsite that they sent me a link to and needing to sit down. Royal Horseguards in Embankment for three nights! WOW! What country do you support? What is your shirt size or your country’s jersey which we’ll leave in your room?  What train station can the limousine pick you up from? Here is your itinerary for the next three days. Itinerary?! 

Day 1: Check in. Champagne on arrival. Dinner at the Royal Horseguards.

Day 2: Breakfast at hotel, bus tour of London, lunch at a 5 star restaurant, dinner at a 5 star restaurant.

Day 3 : Breakfast at hotel, London Eye – TWICE around with champagne and canapes, lunch at a 5 star hotel, private coach to Twickenham stadium, access to Mastercard hospitality suite, dinner served, free flowing champagne.

The below photo is us in the Mastercard hospitality suite, where we got to meet Martin Johnson and get a photo with the Rugby World Cup.

(For those of you who don’t know who the giant below is, he was the England captain when they won the RWC in 2003. His comment to me when we asked for a photo – “Only if you take off that Australia jersey” *feels two feet tall*)

#28 well and truly checked off in style!

MJ

#16 Cooking Class

23 Jun

I’ve wanted to do this one since 2013. We were in Positano enjoying five nights on the Amalfi Coast and the food was so incredible that I was absolutely desperate to learn how to cook some authentic and fresh Italian food. We signed up for a pasta making class the day that we were leaving and our plans changed last minute and we had to leave early in the morning. Still to this day I don’t remember having a bigger melt down/tantrum/whinge in my life! Ha ha!

Cut to September 2015 and we were in London at L’atelier des Chefs thanks to a birthday gift from Nick. We were treated to lessons on making:

– Garlic tiger prawns with rocket salad and a lemon mayonnaise
– Chargrilled Sirloin steak with bearnaise sauce and sauteed potatoes
– Chocolate Pot with Kirsch soaked cherries

Have you ever tried making bearnaise sauce or lemon mayonnaise from scratch? A great experience, but I think we’ll stick to supermarket bought… what a loooooooong process!

I have to mention that I’m very proud of Nick for being one of only two men in the room – I was the envy of all the ladies getting my partner there 😉

cooking

#27 Get Upgraded on a Flight… (again! YAY!)

23 Jun

After an extremely busy 10 days in the US (Atlanta for a friends wedding and Miami to visit friends) it was a lovely surprise to be upgraded to premium economy for our red-eye from Atlanta to London.

Premium economy was actually better than I thought it would be. With seats reclining much further than economy and extra leg room it was much easier to get some rest. Sometimes I think that Nick could sleep standing up, but I never do well on planes without about five of those mini bottles of white wine. Only one glass needed with premium economy! British Airways, our jet lag and my liver thank you!

EF119782-7338-4EA3-8610-CED0729CB8E2