Hyde Park Xmas and Harrod's Department Store

Hello all and happy First Sunday of Advent (yes, I'm counting the days til Xmas!)

Just a quick post today, since I have a mountain of readings to do (this week's theme is: State fragility - tons of material to cover) plus I plan to go to church for once, and make a pasta salad for a potluck with friends tonight.

I had a good week, not too stressful since I didn't have any presentations or essays due. On Friday we heard a really interesting speaker, Gabriel Palma, who teaches in the Cambridge Economics Department but who has a two phDs (one in economics, one in politics). He's from Chile which somehow made him seem even more "sympa", and used his country to illustrate why there are stark inequalities across countries (in other words, income distribution in Chile is quite unequal compared to Korea, for instance).

And yesterday I went to the Hyde Park Christmas Market, which should really be called the Hyde Park Christmas Amusement Park. There were tons of rides, including a Haunted House (with a Thriller soundtrack) and a ferris wheel. We walked around wishing we were little again, then went to Harrods' where we decided that it's quite nice to be in our twenties with some spending money of our own.

Inside Harrods'

Well I've got to go. Only two weeks of left in Michaelmas Term at LSE!
XOXO  Miss Engagée

Hampstead Wannabe

Hi everyone,
I hope you are well. I had a great day today - ditching the library in favour of Hampstead Heath, one of London's oldest parks situated north of Central London. It was a beautiful sunny day so I just had to be outside!! I love London, but sometimes you just have to leave the concrete jungle and go commune with nature.

There were swans in the pond! although I didn't take a picture of them. I really enjoyed wandering around Hampstead itself, too, it's a very upscale and pretty neighbourhood. Since I worked up an appetite walking through the Heath, I stopped for tea in a charming shop called Melrose and Morgan. Would definitely go again.

xoxo Miss Engagée

London Sky

Greetings everyone, I hope you are well.

Been a while since my last update so I just wanted to indicate that I'm still alive (and still procrastinating from homework). I had a wonderful weekend with the friends who hosted me in Aix en Provence! We did a bit of London sightseeing - wish I had remembered my camera. We went to the Old Spitalfields Market in the East End on Sunday; saw Trafalgar Square and ate in the Crypt Café at St-Martin-in-the-Fields (a great place to grab a bite); took pictures with a group of Marines who participated in the Remembrance Sunday parade; gaped at Big Ben and the London Eye (which my friend called the "London Sky"); watched the Sunday buskers entertain the crowd; had a much-needed nap; ate fish-and-chips at a local pub; took a long walk along the Thames and had a thought-provoking conversation with Occupy London Stock Exchange participants. Just listing everything we did in one day makes my feet ache!! ;)

I am keeping busy with essays, presentations, readings and planning (American) Thanksgiving dinners. Hard to believe there is barely a month left in the Michaelmas Term! I am looking forward to the Christmas holidays, that is definite. Hugs to all,

xoxo Miss Engagée