Week 63 in London - ft Lauren and Mark

Week 63: 13 - 19 June 2016

On our return to St Pancras International Station in London, we were surprised to see swarms of police asking for information on violence at the Euros. Having been out and about in Belgium, we didn't learn of the riots until during the week.

Back at the flat, we unloaded our bags and with good weather still outside, took Lauren and Mark over to Waterloo. There, we pointed out the London Eye, Big Ben, Westminster Bridge and Houses of Parliament and strolled up along South Bank. Back at the flat, Lauren and Mark presented us with bird mugs, Brenguin and Roslynella, to match their Markpie and Laurenkeet. Now from opposite sides of the world, we could be tea drinking bird buddies.

On Monday evening, we trekked over to North London for an intimate show with Australian musician, Harts. Lauren and Mark had discovered the small gig months ago, meanwhile we had never heard of him… Nevertheless, it was a good show and when he becomes a household name we will remember the time we saw him in a little London pub.

From Tuesday to Thursday, Roslyn was busy at work with The Meetings Show, a large event for the UK meetings industry. An interesting project Roslyn got to work on was a Twitter vending machine. The Twitter vending machine works similar to a traditional vending machine, except its currency is #hashtags. When a visitor to the London & Partners stand used one of the unique hashtags, the machine's software would translate that into a vend. Tweeters then happily drew their prizes from the machine ranging from sweets, to indulgent afternoon tea vouchers, and accommodation at bed & breakfasts.

In conjunction with The Meetings Show, on Tuesday night Roslyn also had the Meeting Professionals International (MPI) Foundation Rendezvous. This late-running event meant she spent the night away from home in a hotel at the Chelsea Football Club.

Lauren and Mark spent Wednesday exploring museums including the Natural History Museum at South Kensington, and then Brendan walked home from work with them.

As the referendum for Britain to leave the EU was fast approaching, termed Brexit, the thoughts on whether to vote to "leave" or to "stay" seemed to be taking over nearly everything. On Thursday, the shocking news emerged that Member of Parliament Jo Cox was murdered on the street in her constituency.

We decided to take them up The Shard for a sky high beverage at Hutong on Friday night. Prior to heading over there, Brendan witnessed the bizarre sight of a street performer setting up at South Kensington and then proceeding to play a flaming tuba.

We headed home and called in at Haché for dinner, a gourmet burger restaurant whose tube advertising at Clapham Common station has for over a year tantalised us.

On Saturday we were off to the races at Royal Ascot. Unfortunately the complimentary Cava got the better of Roslyn, and we actually missed seeing any horses. The cheap bubbles later also claimed Mark. Not our finest weekend.

We woke on Sunday morning feeling markedly better than the day before, and set off to brunch at Australian-inspired café Dickie Fitz with the Griffith students former teacher, Penny.

Highlights for the week:

- Return from Brussels, police asking for info on Euro violence

- Walk along South Bank

- Haché for dinner

- Brenguin and Roslynella mugs to match Markpie and Laurenkeet 

- Harts gig at The Islington

- Roslyn working on The Meetings Show from Tuesday-Thursday

- Twitter vending machine

- Roslyn's MPI Rendezvous event on Tuesday night

- Flaming tuba player at South Kensington
- Awards ceremony on Friday for Roslyn

- Friday night up The Shard

- Saturday at Royal Ascot

- Sunday brunch with Penny at Dickie Fitz