I initially started reading Scarlett Thomas because I needed a book for my 12-hour flight from Cape Town to London, and I wanted something that was easy to read yet (somewhat) not entirely 'trashy novel' too. I bought a silver, gold and black copy of Our Tragic Universe, and, in keeping with the tradition, on my flight from London to Cape Town, I...

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So, I've landed safely and soundly in not-so-sunny Cape Town, South Africa, and all is well! Some things I had forgotten about: Cape Town winter is very wet (I need wellies!) It takes approximately 35 minutes to add a 2MB email attachment, even with broadband internet There is no tube system in Cape Town. That's an odd one to add, seeing as there...

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Now the only thing better than a big British breakfast is a big British Castle. For the rest of my birthday weekend, I had politely requested that we do what I've always wanted to do since arriving here in the Land of the Long Cloud: go to Stratford Upon Avon. I love our little literary excursions: we've done Jane Austen's Bath and Lewis...

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In the spirit of all things British, we began my birthday weekend (yes, birthday weekend: don't you all have one?) with a full British Breakfast at a pub, no less. We went to the Punch & Judy Pub in the lovely Covent Garden. 40 The Market, Covent Garden, London, WC2E 8RF It's situated inside the market hall area ('The Piazza') over two floors with a large...

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Hello lovely people! I've just popped in quickly to (1) say sorry that I haven't updated bakercourt this week and (2) tell you that it's because I've been away in the beautiful Stratford Upon Avon for my 'birthday weekend'. That being said, today is The Big Day and I'm just about to get started on my choice of activities - museums, yarn shopping,...

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Candy Cakes is a London-based cake store serving up luminous candy-topped cakes and cupcakes out of a green-and-pink shop. There are a few of them out there, but we went to the Covent Garden branch which I spied on one of my first sightseeing outings of the local area and have been wanting to visit again ever since.  The shop itself is very...

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We had a leeeetle bit of a drama last week: our car was clamped and we had to pay a massive to release it - in front of our flat! The building management has decided to enforce parking restrictions and we were amongst 30 of our neighbours who were caught up in it because, although we had the correct permit, we were not...

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Bill's is a beautiful little shop tucked into a charming courtyard in Covent Garden, in London. The courtyard itself is positively wonderful - you want to sit in the centre and look at all of the beautiful store-fronts with their oh-so pretty names and their oh-so pretty displays. And look! A chic little bicycle with a pretty wicker basket filled with flowers. How...

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