Nic Dempsey

Weekend Tasklist

Posted on March 15, 2014 by nicdempsey

So last weekend, I was all jet lagged and fresh from DC. This weekend is back to reality with a bump because I cannot live through another week of not being organised. I could blame jet lag but mostly it was disorganisation. I’ve been more disorganised and last week wasn’t a total disaster, I had clean clothes and packed lunches but I’ve come to accept that I need organisation to be the best version of myself. Which means that this weekend, I have to really sort out the flat and tackle stuff that’s been building up, mostly ironing!

Kitchen

General clean (sort out the recycling and rubbish, mopping the floor and general cleaning)

Cooking

Food prep for next week.

Bathroom

General clean (mop floor, change towels, empty bin, clean bath, sink and toilet)

Bedroom

General clean (sweep floor, change bed, dust, general tidy)
Put rugs back down

Living Room

General clean (sweep floor, dust, tidy sofa, put things away etc)

Hall

Hoover

General things

Shopping
Washing (clothes wash, white wash, towel wash)
Ironing (lots of ironing, why didn’t I take up Ma’s offer to do it last weekend? God I’m stupid!)
Wash make up brushes
Wash hair brushes
Water plants
Back up laptop
Charge kindle, ipad and camera batteries
Handwashing
Take clothes to dry cleaners

What are you crossing of the list this weekend?

Posted in Home, How I Live | Tagged cleaning, housework, how I live, keeping on top of the housework, making sure that I do the housework, organisation, stuff to do, Weekend Task List, weekend tasks | Leave a comment

Friday Links

Posted on March 14, 2014 by nicdempsey

It’s not a terribly happy Friday. We woke up to the news that Tony Benn has died. It’s been a bad week for the left in this country. Much will be written about him today and I’m sure that I’ll link to it next week but meanwhile here’s some other stuff

1) Well this is scary. Survey shows deep class divide of reading habits.

2) Bob Crow died.

3) Giles Fraser on gay clergy getting married and it’s effect on the Anglican communion.

4) Pope Francis’ first year. An assessment.

5) And another.

6) Language mistakes and how they happen.

7) If WWI was a pub fight.

Posted in Links | Tagged Bob Crow, class divide, gay clergy, gay marriage, Giles Fraser, language, Pope Francis, reading, Slate, The Anglican Communion, The Guardian, why we speak like we do | Leave a comment

Washington DC Food and Drink

Posted on March 13, 2014 by nicdempsey

DC is full of good food and bars. Like anywhere else, it’s also full of bad food and bars. These were some of my highlights but it’s not an exhaustive list, I was there a week and we didn’t eat out loads, but we did do delivery pizza from the punningly named We, the Pizza and I liked the sausages and peppers topping best!

Wisdom

This is one of Matt and John’s local bars. There is a huge range of gin and they make their own tonic. They also have just started a gin club. Well worth a visit.

Green Hat

I really wanted to go and visit this distillery and I’m so glad I did. They’re open to visitors on Saturdays from 1pm to 5pm and they are really friendly and into what they do. Green Hat is unusual for a gin maker in that it makes it’s neutral grain spirit from Virginia wheat. As a gin it’s a lighter and not so juniper lead. They also make a winter and summer version but the regular Green Hat is a perfect summer gin and good with soda water as well as tonic.

Union Market

We were so near here, when we went to Green Hat that Matt and his cousin, Elizabeth decided that we should visit here. Union Market used to be a wholesale market and fell into disuse in the 1980’s. It’s now a place to buy food and eat and shop. The closest description I can come up with is Borough Market except you know, indoors and more fancy! I really liked Union Market and wish that I’d had a bit more time to explore it and maybe buy stuff. As it was, we ate a knish at Buffalo and Bergen and drank a gin rickey (made with Green Hat!). I also bought some lovely slate coasters at Salt and Sundry. Next time, I’ll need a bigger suitcase!

Sona Cremery and Wine Bar

This was somewhere I really wanted to visit and as luck would have it is just around the corner from Matt and John’s house in Capitol Hill. Matt and I had a very civilised plate of cheese and a couple of glasses of wine.

I really wanted to go back for the mac and cheese, although that didn’t happen, I do want to go back when they start making their own cheese!

The Gibson

Matt’s favourite place for cocktails. Lovely. I had a Sazerac, a perfect Manhattan and a Remember the Maine and then I fell over! Well worth a visit.

Den of Thieves

This place gets a mention as it where we waited before our spot at Gibson was ready. I loved Gibson but would have been happy to spend more time here. It was very quiet but when we passed it after 11pm, it was heaving as the DJ had arrived.

Posted in Food, Travel | Tagged bars, Buffalo and Bergen, cocktails, Den of Thieves, food and drink, Green Hat, Sona Cremery and Wine Bar, The Gibson, Union Market, washington DC, we the pizza, Wisdom Bar | 1 Comment

Midweek

Posted on March 12, 2014 by nicdempsey

I was really upset this morning to wake up and discover that it was only Wednesday. I’ve been a day ahead of myself all week.

I’m feeling a bit discombobulated at the moment, I’m blaming lingering jet lag and post holiday blues because much as I am glad to be home and in my cozy flat, I’m missing the joy of waking up late and having the whole day to do what I like. What I mostly liked was wondering around DC doing what I wanted to do, with no responsibility.

Although I can’t see how any city is better than London, I liked DC (and spending time with Matt) and here I have responsibilities and a job and things that need to done and there I didn’t! Which is why they call it a holiday!

When I stop moaning about my bump back into real life, I am hugely grateful for it and for my friends and the world I live in. I really can’t express properly the joy having friends that say “oh come and stay at ours, we’d love to have you”. I’ve known Matt and John for 5 years but only actually been in the same room as them a handful of times. Seriously, how amazing are friends like that?

Also amazing, the ability to get on a plane and be thousands of miles away in 8 and a half hours, all the way to a completely different country and culture where people have no idea what you mean when you say ‘plaster’ (US translation – band aid) or can’t understand you when you say ‘Fenwick’ (UK pronounciation is ‘fennick’, US ‘fen-wick‘).

Actually, I really enjoyed the little differences, $1 notes instead of £1 coins. Pedestrian crossings that don’t beep when it’s time to cross, not having to remember the PIN no of my credit card because you sign for everything, tipping, the difference between the DC Metro and the Underground, the vast array of stuff in supermarkets, the availability of root beer (I think I drank my weight in diet root beer much to Matt’s amusement!)

Also the relief of getting off the plane and having my brother pick me up in the cab (best brother award goes to Ben – and that he’s my only brother is completely besides the point!).

If I have a point (and it’s highly possible that I don’t!), I think it’s that I live in an amazing world and have lovely people in my life and I’m very glad for that, even though this week, I’m a little bit grumpy!

Posted in How I Live, Random, Thankful, Travel | Tagged a tiny bit grumpy, cultural differences, Life happening, post holiday blues, Thankful, washington DC | Leave a comment

Some pictures

Posted on March 11, 2014 by nicdempsey

There will be more but for today this will do.

Posted in Photos, Travel | Tagged America, holiday, Mount Vernon, photos, snow, The Jefferson Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, the National Mall, Tidal Basin, washington DC | Leave a comment

Good to be back..

Posted on March 10, 2014 by nicdempsey

So I’m home and I’m completely not ready for the week. I had a great week in DC and I was sad to leave but I’m happy to be home.

This week is about back to normal life, work and being home! Later this week there will be photos and stuff but today I ‘m just glad to be home and not in the polar vortex..

Posted in How I Live, Thankful, Things I Like, Travel | Tagged holiday, washington DC | Leave a comment

Friday Night Cocktail

Posted on March 7, 2014 by nicdempsey

I’m still on holiday but saw this last week and it seemed like an appropriate cocktail for today. Also it’s very tasty, easy to make and perfect for cold weather!

The Nor’easter

What

2 ounces bourbon
1/2 ounce lime juice
1/2 ounce maple syrup
Ginger Beer

How

Put the bourbon, lime juice and maple syrup in an ice filled shaker. Shake. Pour into a rocks glass and top up with ginger beer.

Posted in Booze | Tagged bourbon, cocktails, drinking, Friday Night Cocktail, ginger beer, lime juice, maple syrup, The Nor'easter | 2 Comments

A walk in the snow

Posted on March 5, 2014 by nicdempsey

Yesterday, it was sunny and not snowing, so despite the cold (it was below freezing) I had a wander around the National Mall. These are the iPhone photos…

Posted in Photos, Travel | Tagged holiday, photos, snow, the Lincoln Memorial, the National Mall, washington DC | Leave a comment

Sunday Music

Posted on March 2, 2014 by nicdempsey

I’ve heard this on the radio twice in two weeks, it’s fate.

Bill Withers – Harlem

Posted in Music | Tagged Bill Withers, Harlem, sunday music | Leave a comment

Time Out

Posted on March 1, 2014 by nicdempsey

Hello!

If you came here looking for a weekend tasklist, sorry, I’m having this weekend off! All being well, I’ll be on holiday for the next week and enjoying the delights of Washington DC whether it’s snowing or not!

If you want to keep up with me in real time, you can follow me on Twitter or Instagram.

Posted in Random, Travel | Leave a comment