An AlExhibit at the OckleShow

In my humble opinion, the only thing better than having a week of festivities devoted to you is having them devoted to your significant other. It’s like being one of Britney’s backup dancers (a.k.a. “my ideal profession,” once upon a conservatorship-less time)—all the fun (seeing friends, going out to dinner and drinks) without any of the liabilities of fame (being the center of attention, having to make the rounds, writing thank yous).

More importantly, because it has pretty much been The OckleShow 24/7 since I got here, it was nice to be able to interrupt our regularly scheduled programming to spend some time toasting my exceedingly patient, unendingly accommodating boyf (even if only until my next episode of neuroses).

First of all, last Wednesday, Alex turned the big 3-2, taking a bold step into the sphere of the “thirtysomething” like Elliott and Hope before him. After boot camp, natch, I took him to a trendy-ish new restaurant in Clerkenwell called The Modern Pantry.

/an aside:

Someone asked me what kind of food they have there, and I almost said, “New American,” forgetting, probably for the 10 millionth time that day, what country I was in. Turns out what they actually serve there is “Modern European.” I have news for you culinary sophisticates of the world: New American, Modern European...it’s all pretty much the same, save for the courgette/zucchini, coriander/cilantro linguistic disparities. But I digress…

/aside

The restaurant was delicious, the service was good, and they even put a candle on his lemon meringue (Why does that sound so much like a euphemism? They really DID put a candle on his lemon meringue…………nope, still sounds dirty even with the added emphasis).

Then, on Thursday night, Alex had a “leaving do” (translation: going away party) at a place called Babble (does Parker Posey know they are using her pic to promote their bar?) in Berkeley Square (for you anglophiles, it's pronounced not like the town in California, but rather, like the sesame street dog). This get-together was in honour of his departure from his old company and his impending arrival at an exciting new job that starts next week. It sounds like it will be hard work, but he is no doubt up for the challenge and the many new opportunities it will afford him. (Fortunately, this week he is taking holiday time and “hanging out” to um, offset any future stress…).

On Sunday, he hosted a birthday picnic for his friends, which unfortunately, due to the torrential downpour, turned into a birthday pub-nic. Still, there was a good turn-out (despite the inclement weather), Alex had a great time, and I ate my first hamburger in over a decade (I genuinely don’t know what came over me, but omg, I have been missing out!).

To view the event, check out my exceptional photography and photo editing skills below. Before you ask, yes, everyone there was a demon who destroys pure souls with his/her crimson eyes. What of it??




Anyway, it was great past few days dedicated to a worthy recipient. Happy birthday/new job, Alex! (and also, because I forgot it in the midst of all of the activity last week, a very happy birthday to Mr. Timberly Drummond as well).