Friday 30 March 2007

It's pronounced 'Bruggh-uh'

Add another European city to my list! Went to Brugge (aka Bruges) yesterday for a meeting for work – luckily I got there while it was still light out Wednesday evening, so did a little wander and took a few photos. Unfortunately, the light may have been out, but the town itself was relatively shut. And until I got to the main market square, it seemed eerily quiet. In fact, I ended up carrying my wheelie bag from train station to the hotel, as the echoing over the cobblestones sounded disturbingly loud… I half expected someone to throw open a window and glare out at the noise! (but not say anything of course – that would shatter the silence!)

After a little walk around, I had *huge* meal of moules et frites at one of the many bistros lining the main market square. I’m sure it was a complete tourist trap, but I was hungry, and at least there were no photos on the menu… (ok – it did come in 5 languages, but that’s just being helpful!)

Then Thursday evening back to London via Eurostar… ah – the new great age of the train… what a lovely way to travel!

Saturday 24 March 2007

i am a crafty girl...

Ooh - very exciting - the Stitch & Craft show is today! (well, for the pedants among you, it's from Thursday through Sunday, but I'm *going* today, so for me, it's today!)

Though since my rate of purchase is between 1 - 2 kits/show, and there are 2 shows/year, but I only complete about 2 items / year... well - you do the math...

Wednesday 21 March 2007

Costco from birth to...

Bleugh. I was just looking around the Costco website for work (another story) -- when I saw a category label 'Funerals'. Y'know, right up there with 'Furniture', 'Food&Wine', 'Floral'... why not another F-category. 'folders'? nah, way too narrow. I know, how about 'Funerals'. Overnight shipping, too - nice to see they appeal to all religions. So, as you're meandering around Costco, after you take a nibble cut from the 10-pound block of the cheese of the month, and add a 5-gallon tub of mayo to your cart, don't forget to wander over & try out the casket. Eeew.

I know it may be more, umm, cost effective, and I know I won't be here to appreciate it -- but please please when I go can my funeral needs not come from Costco?

*disclaimer -- this entry is my opinion only, and certainly not intended to offend anyone who may have recently purchased a casket, urn, or other funereal-keep sake through costco...

Thursday 15 March 2007

How cool is this?!

So - I'm just reading through an old copy of the FT Weekend Magazine, (which has sadly gone downhill I think since they discontinued 'The Business' a few years ago, but at least they have Mrs Moneypenny back, but I digress...)

Anyway - casually reading an article entitled 'Rhyme and Reason', about hip hop culture and politics and blah blah... when who do I see quoted: JASON TANZ!! It must be the same Temple-Beth-El-knew-years-ago-Jason Tanz, mustn't it??

Very very cool - I went to temple (or at least think I did, because it must be him) with someone whose book is now appearing in the Financial Times.

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to Kris, my blogging (and crafting) idol, who now joins the ranks of the thirty-somethings... And who I've finally mentioned my blog to - so I may increase my audience by 20% or so... better widen my topics beyond family-related interest!

Monday 12 March 2007

Wednesday 7 March 2007

weekend update



Tuesday evening and only just now getting to our weekend update – a very good one I must say, with a mix of going out, friends, spontaneity, and some general slobbing around…

Friday night was dinner with our friend Cat – an unexpected treat, as it was initially supposed to be just a drink, but we extended to a lovely evening out (Thai Pot – yum).

Saturday we’d planned to relax in the morning & head out later that day, but with the sun shining, and our usual early rising (Ash being earlier than usual at about 5 a.m.!), we headed out around 10, first stop, the British Library. It was the last weekend of an exhibit called ‘London: A Life in Maps' or some such thing, and it was fascinating to see the different maps of the town-then-small-city-then-metropolis over time… looking at some maps that still had individual homes marked across the entire city, when that was still practical. We thought the exhibit was a bit crowded – but it was nothing like when we left around 12:15 and saw a queue stretching of probably 50 – 75 people! The early bird *does* get the worm. Or the map, in this case.

After the library we headed a bit further East to Spitalfields and Brick Lane, for “Taste of the East”, which was supposed to be local restaurants and music, etc… Must admit, we were a little disappointed, as – while there was a nice variety – it wasn’t really ‘Taste of’, just various market stalls similar to Borough Market, but on a smaller scale. And, while we did see the Bollywood Brass Band, which was fun, the main draw – for me – never showed. What was that? A group called Klezmania, which I was really looking forward to seeing. We waited around for about 10 minutes past when they were supposed to be on, but there was no announcement, no nada, and finally we just gave up… And then after a little more shopping, the rain appeared, and with it our signal to head home.

Where… we got sucked into another one of those countdown shows – 50 top tv dramas of all time. As it was a UK show, most of the entries were, not surprisingly, British – however I still recognised a few, and there were also some American ones in there… including the number 1… which I insisted on staying up until midnight to see, through drooping eyelids… Can you guess what it was? (Answer put at the end of this - to give you time to guess)

Sunday was quiet and relaxing and a little bit of work and a lot of rain… and then before y’know it, it’s the work week all over again…

Keep scrolling for the answer...






The number 1 rated TV Drama ever, as voted by I have no idea: The Sopranos! I guess I better get the DVDs...