Sil-Mon Li

After seeing some of Hayley’s photos she had taken on her travels, it inspired me to snap more shots too. But the camera I currently have is a point and shoot digital compact (Panasonic DMC-FX1) and it doesn’t provide the wide range of features and manual settings that I wanted. Don’t get me wrong, I’m still going to use my compact when I go on night’s out and when I don’t want to lug around a cumbersome piece of kit. So I ask Alex to get me a Digital SLR for my birthday. So which one to choose? I decided to go mainstream and let the two dominant manufacturers (Canon and Nikon) battle it out.

I had a budget and with added bonus of being able to get it tax free from the airport, I was able to decide between the Canon 400D and Nikon D80. After many hours of research on the internet (manly on DPPreview.com), I decided to go for Nikon D80 (with the 135mm lens kit) for the following reasons:

1. I had an old Nikon Film SLR (F-601) and have a couple of lenses which wouldn’t be compatible with the Canon
2. The D40 or D40x doesn’t support the auto focus functionality on the Nikon AF lenses
3. The D80 is a semi-professional camera which will allow me to progress to a sufficient standard without have to compromise in getting a higher spec camera in the near future. Hopefully the D80 will last at least 5 years (The F-601 lasted 12 years and still works!)
4. The support (from the company and the user community) seemed to be vast and friendly!

So I’ve had it now for just over 3 weeks and what do I think? Well I’m really surprised with the results. The quality of output is very impressive. I admit that I am no camera buff having has no photography lessons (I’ve just been reading books and getting tips from the internet) but I have been able to produce some stunning photos if I don’t say so myself. I’ve been round a few areas of London after work and taken a variety of moods and settings. Please click below to see some of examples.

I would love to get some of comments on the photos I’ve taken so far and any future photo’s will show up on my Flickr Sidebar Widget (see top right). If I take any special one’s that I particularly like, I’ll make sure you’ll see them in a dedicated post. I’m hoping to take a Photography course later this year to fine tune my skills and also to build up more confidence in taking photos consisting people too. I’m loving it at the moment! Not only because I want to take photos but it have given me the opportunity to discover parts of London that I would never have come across. It’s given me a new perspective on this diverse city. Let’s hope I can represent it in my shots!

About 9 months ago, I wrote a blog item regarding Abercrombie and Fitch’s store opening.

After months of speculation, Abercrombie and Fitch will be opening their first store outside the US this year! The International Flag Ship Store will be located in London, UK and will open on 22nd March 2007. The store will live on Savile Row which runs parallel to Regent Street.

Confirmed sources include details on their own website and advertisement (started on the weekend of 10 March 2007) on London’s Red Buses.

The only question now is how much they will be charging for their items/goods. I wouldn’t be suprise if their clothes were to retail at £ = $. i.e. a $70 shirt in a US store will be £70 in the UK store. Though, it will probably more likely to be 150% increase on US prices. i.e. $70 shirt in a US store will be appro £50 or £60. The annoying thing is that people are prepared to buy their clothes at these stupid prices because Londoners are used to paying a high rate for premium products!

I probably won’t buy too many items from the UK A&F store as they now have an online ordering service which ships to many international locations. Therefore you’ll pay the US prices and only £20 - £40 for the shipping. Obviously you’re liable for import duties and taxes but all this taken into account it should be at least 20% cheaper than if you bought in the UK! But at least you can now try on the items before buying them online.
The other alternative is to ask someone very nicely to buy some A&F stuff when they head over to the States!

So I’ve been bad again and not reall posting. My life has been particually boring of late… playing poker, losing and winning (and losing again!). Losing my camera so not being able to show the delightful views from Tower 42 and when I went Go-Karting at King’s Cross. Chris and Becs splitting up. Will with his bad back. House playing Mario Dance Party (will definately get some picture and if you’re lucky some video!). Taylor finally crossing the Alantic Ocean and settling down in London. Me heading back to my local club back in King’s Lynn for the first time 5 years and Chris T getting jiggy with Rich’s friend that he had fancied for years (Sophie - If you’re reading this then shame on you!).

Don’t worry though because I’m in for a rollercoaster of a ride in the next few months and it will defintely have it’s ups and downs but I’ll try to post as much as possible! Here is a sneak preview: Ski and Snowboard Show, Champions League (Arsenal v CSKA Moscow) at the Emirates Stadium, buying Snowboard gear, going on the B-Unit Trip! Woop Woop! See you at the next post!

So it was my birthday over the weekend and decided to have a big party. Chums came from far a field to attend this exclusive party and they weren’t dissapointed. It started off on Friday night in the Drunken Monkey where friends from work and home congregated. Many Mojitos were consumed and not enough dim sum was chucked into our stomach so we all headed to good old Brick Lane for the Curry at the Shampan. Eat lots of food, get drunk on Kingfisher and get burnt by flaming sambuca’s. Classic night out!

Photos of Friday Night can be seen here

The next day was spent with Chris T and Matt B in London doing the touristy thing visiting a museum but not any old boring museum… oh no… it was the Science Museum! Did you know that a they used to used Ether as an anaesthetic but nobody knew of it’s highly explosive nature when mixed with alot of oxygen and couldn’t understand why people stomach’s were self combusting!

Pictures of the day can be seen here

Meanwhile the lovely housemate’s of 5 Speed House were preparing the special venue with fairy lights, music and all. Thanks Becs, Will and Chris E for putting the effort in! We got back at about 7 and was ready to party!

Highlights of the party were:

• On the hour Tequila Shot Station (with alarm)
• Eurovision Sweepstake with rules that weren’t robust and ended up with Sil drinking all the time
• Sil being given a wedgie, pistacio nuts and ice down his trousers
• Sil almost being chucked over the balcony
• Getting abirthday cake made by Alex

Lowlights of the party were:

• Sil locking himself in the toilet
• Sil being sick in the locked toilet
• Sil being sick in his bed while every one was watching
• Sil missing the kebab run after being sick
• Sil falling asleep while everyone else was still party till the early morning

Sunday was a total right off… Everyone looked like zombies and we eventually made it to Smiths of Smithfield for “dunch”. I was so dead that I couldn’t appreciate the ride back home in Medium Rich’s Porsche Boxter!

Anyway, I hope everyone who made it to the party enjoyed themselves. As you can see by this short passage I have many holes of what went on during the party so I was hoping that all of you can fill in the gaps. Please go here to add a comment about the party and help me bring back some wonderful memories!

Pictures of the party are here!

So there I was trying to look for the Ice Bar (Heddon Street) just off Regents Street and missed the turning and ended up on Saville Row and there it was… An Abercrombie & Fitch coming soon board outside the building. There were no dates on when it would be opening but looks like it’s soon. I had a quick scan on their website and on Google and it looks like they’re keeping this hush hush! So be the first to hear it from me! I’ll try to update you when it opens. Keep your eyes peeled!

Some of you maybe wondering what’s happening on Saturday 20th May. Some of you maybe wondering what the hell is this guy on about??? Well we have unconfirmed reports that there is a special guestline hovering about and if you’re on, then make sure you’re ready with your party outfit! More details to follow! I promise…

P.S. If you look hard enough around the weblog, you might find something which relates to this date…

Roller Disco @ Canvus

Originally uploaded by silmonli.
For Alex’s birthday we went to Roller Disco! What a wicked night out. Alex brought down her two housemates (Emma and Chandy) from Leeds and Chris and I made the numbers @ Canvas on a friday night. I was slightly hesitate about the whole wheels on your shoes business… escpecially with Alex being such a pro! I put them and instantly fell on my arse! Soo wished I had my impact shorts on. Anyway, after about 30mins (and a few drinks) I was flying passed Chris! I would recommend anyone doing this if you want to try something different. It get’s a bit busy by about 9.30pm so I would get there about 9 otherwise book online and you’re guaranteed in. Other points… there are 3 rooms with different styles of music and the ramps between each room are slightly tricky (just remember to put one foot in front of the other when going down the ramp!). The night was full of fun and everyone in the club had a massive grin all night long! The place is so cool, we even saw a celebrity there! Click here to see if you recognise her! I’m glad Alex had a good birthday night out!

Simon and Sil

Originally uploaded by silmonli.

I’m still getting mixed up when I’m talking to people about my trip to La Plagne with Chris, Jim and Simon… I’m still saying that I went skiing but NOOooo, I actually went Snowboarding! All of you are thinking… “WHAT!”. I’m really sorry to all you posh gits who are people that have two planks of wood on your feet. I have turned to the dark side. So I’ll give you a brief account of what happend over there. First day on the board, Jim and Chris took Simon and me to the flat slopes and taught us how to skate and then falling leave. We then headed to the slalom course and proceeded down a blue slope after 1 hour which was very scary! But managed to falling leave down it and get some speed up. Funny thing is I found out that I was goofy after riding the whole morning so got my bindings changes in Plagne Bellecote. So ploughed on with it over the day and got a bit better. By the end of the second day I was pulling off turns and confidently heading down the blue and was really “stoked”. Day 3 was Snow Park Day and managed to complete a 50/50 on a thinnish box. Day 4-7 improve my turns and gain lots of speed. So in conclusion I love snowboarding and will be doing it from now on (Sorry baby!)! Cheers to Jim and Chris for the free lessons and Simon for the moral support… At the end of the 1st day I was on the verge of changing back to skis but I’m glad I stuck it out. The only down side is that I got a really sore arse from it all by the end of the week but thanks to Will’s impact shorts at least I still have an arse. Night life there was ok… We were regulars at the “Saloon” and “Showtime” where Karaoke is a must. Megatron (Jim’s girlfirend) was in La Plagne working for Ski World and we manage to get discounted drinks at the the locals.

Sorry for the lack of banter in this blog. For some reason 2006 has not kicked off as well as I had hoped. I think i’m still hungover with all the food and drink I had over Xmas!

Anyway guys, look out for the “Shread Hard, Die tryin’” DVD in your local stores!

The top pod

Originally uploaded by silmonli.

Duncan and Danielle came down to London the day before Richard’s and Daisy’s Wedding so Alex and I took them to the London Eye to take in some of the sites around the captial before heading to Bognor. Cick here to see some more photos

London in the Autumn

Originally uploaded by silmonli.

Hey, not much to talk about on this one but thought it’s a nice pic to put on the blog. It was taken from my window at work but my rubbish camera on my phone doesn’t do it justice!