New Years Eve + Day

Happy 2016!!

I cannot believe its a new year already, and that I've been halfway across the world for over half a year now. And that means I've used up 1/4 of my visa already! Gawsh. Anyway, I was lucky to get NYE and New Years Day off work which meant I could make the most of my first New Year's celebrations over here. Nicole and I booked tickets a while ago to this awesome sounding ball in Battersea Park (right next to the Thames) so I got the train in to London on NYE and ventured out to Wimbledon to meet up with Nicole to spend the day getting ready, catching up and then eventually heading out to this ball.

Getting ready in Nicole's room was fun - it's nice to get all made up sometimes!

Getting ready was heaps of fun and we got an Uber (my first uber experience) to Battersea at 7.30pm. When we got inside we were amazed by the decorations. The Ball had a 'New York New York' theme and was decorated accordingly, with yellow cabs, brick paving and graffiti (sounds kinda trashy, but it definitely wasn't). There was an acrobat performing when we got there, which was cool and then at 6pm the doors to the main room opened and the dining room (157 tables!!) was revealed. It was all done very well with table centerpieces and all that jazz and the room itself was stunning, with fairylights running the length of the ceiling and a huge stage at the front decorated with a NYC skyline backdrop. Nicole and I were seated at a table with two Russian girls, an English couple, an American couple and an Australian couple (ew, couples) who were all friendy enough (though the American and Australian guys were kinda annoying). 

This was one of the bars inside the venue (there were about 4 dotted around the place)

Pretty fairylights all over the ceiling :)

This pic gives you an idea of the dining room. There were 2000 people so it was pretty packed!

Before our meals were served there was entertainment on stage which was really good. It was just dancing and singing but it was all very well choreographed. The best part was when the song 'New York New York' played and women in showgirl outfits with big headpieces came out and did the exact dancing you imagine goes along with that song. Dinner was then served and it was exceptional! Our entree was a salmon and vege dish with beautiful presentation. Our main meal was a hunk of beef with a potato cake thing, baby carrots and very flavourful gravy and for dessert we got cheesecake with poached pear. After that we had a massive cheese platter delivered to the table. Oh and each table had a selection of wine, beer and waters. And a bread basket!

Entree

Main

Dessert

Once the formal part of the evening was over the band came on stage and started playing songs that we could dance to. Nicole and I went and danced for ages and stayed up front for the countdown. They had a big screen with a live-stream of the epic London fireworks which started at 12, so that was cool to see. It was such a cool event because everyone was in such high spirits and everyone was dancing. Such a cool buzz! Nicole and I stayed till 2am and then got a taxi home, so it wasn't a super late night for us. Once our heads hit the pillow we were out.

The next day we went to the Nutcracker on Ice at the Royal Albert Hall. This was simply spectacular. The actors/athletes were phenomenal, I was marvelling at their athleticism the whole time (and wondering if any of them were Olympic athletes cause their jumps, lifts and turns were amazing). It was a silent show, but easy enough to follow. It was more of a showcase of the skating than a performance of the Nutcracker, but it was very well done. I had this cute old Russian (I think?) lady sitting next to me who was chatting to me during the intermission telling me how she was having a nice day out with her daughter. What an old darl. After that Nicole and I got lunch in Kensington and then parted ways at the underground station as we went in different directions to get home. It was a busy 24 hours in London, full to the brim with spectacle. Every time I go in to London I love it even more - I can't wait to move in! So it was a great start to 2016 for me, I hope the rest of the year follows suit.

The Royal Albert Hall,

The ceiling in the Royal Albert Hall - what a venue! It's a circular shaped concert hall and it's sooooo pretty inside with all the arches and elegant decor.

The rink - we had a great view from our seats.

Tired girls watching the show.

xx