Hey, back from the Defra Sports Day now where my team won!!! (more below).
Gosh I've had a great couple of weeks!

Settled in at my new flat in Camberwell, on the southside. Very close to work. Living with one girl, Tash, who's brilliant. So then just work, work, work... And of course trying to make the most of what London has to offer.
Some pics from my new place... My room...

View from the kitchen - train line in foreground who's often-running trains surprisingly doesn't bother me, and Big Ben and the London Eye. (Big Ben is about 3 miles away as the crow flies.)

The London Eye lit up at night. Camberwell in the foreground.

Went to A Midsummer Night's Dream at the open air theatre in Regent's Park. Got £13 tickets on lastminute.com and it was brilliant. A great story that we all roughly know, but to see it live with great singers and actors was great. And there were some very funny moments including old mate who got turned part-donkey!!
Look at all those fairies...

Fairies lazing around...

On a weekend, I went to Brighton - on the southern coast of England and the very popular weekend destination. The beach is stony but there are beach chairs for hire. Along the boulevard are small food and market stalls and a couple of pubs with live music were going off. AND I found the beach volleyball court!! What a brilliant afternoon I had playing a bit of beach (with my ad hoc partner Luigi) and amazing myself that I still retain some beach fitness :)
The Pier with the famous rides at the end.

Ahhhh, idyllic!

And other during-the-week activities have included seeing live music and catching up with ex-flatmates. Below Chris, Chris and Steph - from the Chiswick House.

And now... Onto Defra Sports Day. It was on Friday, started at 12pm. It's basically an afternoon of government employees playing games, eating burgers, drinking LOTS of beer. And they get paid for their time (which Agency employees, such as me, don't :( unfortunately). But I truly believe in it being a great day for bonding. Sports included: running, shot put, rounders, soccer/football, netball, cricket, high jump, long jump, tug of war... Anyway, we had a volleyball team put together of men and women from 4 different offices in London. I think we looked pretty smart in our uniforms! £2.50 bargains :) Love it! (Yep, that's what you get when Claire buys the shirts :))
View from the club house towards the volleyball courts.

Woohoo get over that bar!!

The team!! (Minus Surjeet at this stage)

The team (minus Mischa) after collecting our medals and the trophy from Helen Ghosh (permanent secretary).

And another one! thumbs up :)