It amazes me how quickly time seems to fly these days or have we become too busy to notice it? Either way, it is that time of the year again where we all pretend to be Irish and drink until the sun comes up, well, some of us. St Patrick’s Day is not just celebrated in the United Kingdom; countries around the world have now made it their own and drink to the occasion even though they have no idea why it is being celebrated in the first instance. St Patrick’s Day is celebrated on Sunday the 16^th of March 2008.

As always, the St Patrick’s Day festivities are going to be big in London this Sunday with a planned parade and festival. People from all cultures in London will eat, drink and be merry all day long. Some brave enough to dress up for the occasion. The St Patrick’s Day parade will start at noon (12) at Hyde Park Corner all the way to Whitehall Place, quite a walk but would be entertaining and fun. If you are not planning on drinking with the crowds then join in the parade as we’ve only ever heard good things about it.

Not up for the parade? Why not go to the St Patrick’s Day Festivals instead? The festival is being celebrated in Leicester Square, Covent Garden and Trafalgar Square. You can enjoy a great day out listening to music, meeting new people, fun, food an crafts. This is an event not to be missed in London!

One of the few things that make London the great city it is is the growing hunger for arts and culture. I am no culture vulture but I am a strong believe that you should experience some things at least once. Theatre is a big thing in London and thousands of tourists flock to London to see one of the productions on stage. I am actually ashamed to say that we have been living here for the last three years and we have not been to the theatre once but we’re finally putting that behind us.

London does not just have one production house, there are a few of them, each doing their own thing. Theatre tickets can cost anything from £5 to £100, depending on the popularity of the production. We will hopefully be going to the latest and most talked about theatre production in London at the Old Vic called Speed The Plow.

A bit more about the show from The Old Vic themselves. Do yourself a favour and head down to your nearest production theatre and experience theatre.

“Hollywood producers Bobby Gould (Jeff Goldblum) and Charlie Fox (Kevin Spacey) engage in a verbal boxing match centered around the eternal debate of art versus money.

‘Of all American playwrights, Mamet remains the shrewdest observer of the evil that men do unto each other in the name of buddyhood’ Time. David Mamet’s other plays include Glengarry Glen Ross, Oleanna and American Buffalo. Kevin Spacey appeared in Glengarry Glen Ross on film and recently at The Old Vic in A Moon for the Misbegotten and Richard II.”

London has been preparing for the Chinese New Year now for weeks and I must admit that they did put in a lot of effort in advertising the event across London. There are so many different cultures living in London and we are truly lucky to be able to celebrate all these different holidays and events in one city.

We are definitely going to the main parade on Sunday the 10^th of February but the official Chinese New Years date is actually tomorrow on the 7^th of February. The Chinese are celebrating the year of the rat and it should be good fun. Trafalgar Square will be packed with people attending to see the parades, all the way to Leicester Square and China Town where there will be stalls all over the place as well as good food to go around.

Do something different while living in London, no need not to have fun in the city, oh by the way; it won’t cost you a penny unless you actually buy lunch somewhere or something from a stall.