New York, DC, both helluva towns

So –we’ve been back from the States for 2 ½ weeks – about time for a holiday recap! It would take me nearly the length of the trip to cover *everything* we did in such a packed week (and you’d die from exhaustion / boredom reading it all!) So instead – some highlights:

• Walking over the Brooklyn Bridge – iconic views, and the friendly policeman out of central casting who pointed out the shortcut to getting onto the bridge. And when he heard Ashley’s accent, stopped & chatted a bit about the upcoming NFL match to be held in London – with ‘his boys – the Giants’

• Going for a run in both Riverside and Central Parks on a sunny Sunday morning, ending our run with H&H bagels, lox, Starbucks coffees and a fat Sunday New York Times. Could we be any more New York-y?

• Wandering through Washington Square Park, and stopping with the locals (or other tourists – who knows? That’s the great thing about New York, such a mix) to enjoy a jazz interlude, complete with spaced out drummer, and blissful keyboardist in his own world
  
  
  
• Checking out Rye’s classic Playland (since 1928!) – I never knew there were so many variations on kiddie rides. Next time though – it’s the big kids turn!

• First visit to Yankee Stadium – and trading good natured comments with the 99.9999% of fans there who were cheering on the Yankees. Of course, we were good natured because –amazingly – the Mariners were winning; they were good natured because they could see the Yankees were still going farther in the post season... best moment of the game: Ichiro hitting his 200th hit, Ashley standing up and shouting, everyone in our section looking at him, and Ashley responding, as if for explanation, ‘we’ve got the same birthday’

• US Open vs Wii Open in Rockefeller Square. Missed out on tickets to Flushing Meadows – take in Federer and Williams on the big screen set up in Rockefeller Square. OR cross the street and see 2 people you’ve never heard of battle it out on a different sort of big screen – playing Wii Tennis in the ‘virtual open’
  
• Taking in New York skyline at night – at Top of the Rock – definitely one tourist attraction worth a visit (though how come our photos don't look as good as those on the site?!)

• Travelling back to DC for the first time in 10 years – and finding it quite surreal. Almost everything seemed the same, and I had to keep reminding myself that it really was 10 years later, and I’m 10 years older. But then little changes would appear – like the fact my old shared house at 17th & P has been turned into individual apartments. Or I’d pass a corner and think ‘hmm... was that always here?’ I think Ashley got tired of me saying ‘Ooh – I ate here once’ or ‘this is where I got my drycleaning’. Yes, dear, very exciting.
  
• Getting coffee at ‘my Starbucks’ on Connecticut Avenue – I almost told the girl at the counter ‘I was a barista here 13 years ago’... but figured she wouldn’t be perhaps as accommodating with my recollection stories as Ashley

• Enjoying a day out at the Zoo – one of the best in the US, if not the world... I especially like the gibbons, though can’t give a specific reason why...

• And of course – the real highlights (saving the best for last!) – getting to see family & friends – from Chez Olson (yay – place in White Plains looks great, happy to see you looking settled in with so much space), to our Hotelier Friedman Towers (thanks Kim – not only for Upper West Side pied-a-terre, but the great Mexican recommendation for Rosa Mexicano), to Zoo buddies the Caltrider Clan, where I finally got to meet the lovely Lauren and beaming Ben...

Fantastic trip... when do we go back?

I did not know that...

What did you learn this weekend? Me? I learned -- courtesy of an 'invest in our great city' ad -- that Łódź in Poland is pronounced 'wodge'. And here I always thought it was 'shuh-shev-skee'. Ok, really, I just assumed it was pronounced 'lohdz', but maybe everyone knows it's 'wodge', and I'm just a little late to catch on.

I think Polish must be one of the most difficult languages to learn.

Magazine Week?

How did I not know it was Magazine Week? See, this is why magazines are losing readership... when someone as addicted as I didn't even know to celebrate this week? How are the little, non-caring, dilettante readers supposed to find out?

I want to go to *this* movie!

Smell-o-vision returns... and Willy Wonka is the perfect subject! (I always think of that movie with a weird mix of fondness and creep-me-outedness... but I guess that's its charm. And the original only, please. Call me a luddite if you will, but I never got that Johnny Depp high-pitched lisp thingy...)

Schoolhouse Rock for the 'aughties?

How come WordGirl wasn't around when I was a kid?!

Another day, another 5k

A little slower this time -- but with 20,000 other runners on a tight course in Hyde Park, I had a reason! So, relatively happy with my 31:31, though could've done better. But why-oh-why do people overestimate their abilities?? If the sign says 'Est time 25 - 30 min' DO NOT start in this wave unless you know you can finish in that time!

I'm all for inclusive races & getting as many people out as possible, especially for charity-driven outings such as today's run, and I'm certainly no speed demon, but there must be a better way to train newbies on basic race etiquette. I mean, I roughly know my pace, and know not to start in front of people faster than I am... More signs along the way saying 'walkers keep right'? More obvious information in the race pack?

Or am I being a race snob and I should just live with it, and do a better job of getting to the start line earlier so I have a better chance of being closer to the front?

29:17

Woo-hoo... think that's my fastest 5k ever, this morning in Battersea Park for the Trees for Cities 'Tree-athlon'. So thanks to running partner Verity for keeping me moving, and Ashley for cheering us on as our bag man...

I've got another one tomorrow, but no Verity or Ashley -- so a scientific test of how important support is! (of course, I think I know the answer to that already...)

10 year anniversary

August 31st, 1997. A sad anniversary for many (especially here in the UK) – but for one (yes, me, as it’s all about me, remember?) it was the start of a new adventure, as I headed to BWI airport, excess baggage in tow, bound for Heathrow, London, and the great wide world outside of the US of A.

And now it’s 10 years later – who woulda thunk it, but I’m still here, and looks like for the duration. So – as I make the reverse journey, off to New York & my old DC neighbourhoods for a vacation, I thought a look back at stats from my 10 years could be interesting...

7 – mailing addresses
12 –flatmates
174 – issues of Heat Magazine read until the content became Big Brother, all the time and I became big bored, all the time
40 – percent increase in grey hair
100 – percent increase in cost of covering said hair
10 – new countries visited
2 - siblings-in-law (hi Jess! hi Amy!)
2 - niblings (hi Toby! hi Beruria!)
87 – work related UK train journeys
3 – irate letters to Virgin Trains to complain about UK train journeys
5 – extra hours wasted on the worst of those journeys; a 2 hour trip to Manchester that crawled into 7 hours total...
16 – extra days I got to spend in Tacoma, waiting for my work permit to be renewed after an administrative error
4 – hours I spent waiting in line to get my indefinite leave to remain status
£635 - cost of getting a UK passport, if I so decide
1392 – days of since my 2nd date with my first Match.com correspondent
1275 - days after that 2nd date, I turned that first Match.com correspondent into my...
...1 – husband (all together now – awww)

(note – some figures are estimates, though I think the husband figure is pretty accurate)

How did it get to be Wednesday already?

Another long & busy weekend, this time 3 days to fill, as Monday was a bank holiday. (ok, and yes, I know, it’s already Wednesday so a bit late for weekend recap, but where did the time go??!)

Saturday started not only with sunshine, but also with a pleasant little fete right on our doorstep – well, on the Green to be specific. How could we give it a miss? After leisurely read of the papers, we wandered over for a lazy trawl through various charity stalls and game booths, munched on hot dogs & burgers, and generally enjoyed the atmosphere (though we did pass by the flower show, not really our thing!)

That evening it was into town for tapas treats followed by a little London culture – in the form of Miss Coco, Coco Peru... (sung to the tune of Roxie Hart). Drag queen, monologist (make that mono-luger), balladeer, and all around raconteur, she entertained us and the whole theatre with amusing stories and observations, interspersed with appropriate songs (aforementioned Chicago piece, a few Disney selections, and of course the fabulous Dolly Parton). Definitely a recommended evening, and Pete & Ashley got in the spirit beforehand with their special matching Miss Coco cocktails...

Sunday it was off to Stoke Row to visit the in-laws – starting with al fresco lunch & jazz at the Rising Sun – courtesy of the stylin’ (or is that smokin’) sounds of Queen Street Jazz...followed that with some cricket watching (the game, not the bug), and more al fresco dining, this time dinner chez Agar (Stoke Row branch). Can you sense an outdoor theme to the weekend? Who knows how long the sun will be here this time, we’ve got to take it while we can.

Monday we did duck inside for a little while at least – for an afternoon of Bourne, Jason Bourne. Enjoyed the Bourne Ultimatum, as all the reviews have said, fast paced, Matt Damon’s great in the role, and we also tried to track how many of the cities he visited we’d been to as well (ooh! There’s Madrid! Hey – look – Waterloo Station! New York! We’re going to New York on Friday! Moscow! Er... nyet on that one)

3 days o’ fun – not bad for the last bank holiday weekend...

Missed wedding list item...

So, I was in John Lewis the other day, when I saw the ultimate in sleeping luxury. And I say ultimate, because that's its name: the Ultimate Preference TV Bed. A massive bed, with a TV in the footboard! From the description: "integrated digital tuner & DVD player... individual handsets allow you to select your perfect sitting position for watching TV... for additional cost other options...include Massage... and HD cable for Sky"!

Well, I was about to whip out my credit card right there & then - I mean, hey, what's £11,800 anyway when it means you can have the ULTIMATE? But then I remembered oh yeah, Ashley's really too tall to have a bed with a footboard. And besides -- it may cater for individual seating heights, but how does it cater for individual viewing preferences? Show me the 6'6" model with 2 screens and headphones, and I'm yours!

Weekend report

Another busy weekend. Well, busy Sunday – Saturday of course was spent pining for Ashley, away in Ohio for the week. Yep, pretty much a whole day of sighing & moping around, oh woe is me.

Luckily, I got over *that* pretty quickly, and packed in enough on Sunday to make up for it.

Started off with a trip to the Design Museum, one of my favourite London museums – always interesting exhibits, and small enough that you can see the whole thing and not get overwhelmed. I went specifically for a small exhibit called ’50 years of Helvetica’, but that appeared to be over. Instead, the main attraction was architect Zaha Hadid – who’s designed some fantastic buildings, including, interestingly enough given Ashley’s present location, Cincinnati's Richard & Lois Rosenthal Center for Contemporary Art.

Here's a photo of the architect's model... Not sure how much it looks like the real thing -- but I guess it's there!

I was more interested in the work of graphic designer Jonathan Barnbrook, in particular the typefaces he’s designed. I find it fascinating the variety of type that can be/has been designed, and the detail that has to go into making them consistent, and the way designers can be so precise in the mood each can convey. He’s a very political designer, however, and I started to get tired of the anti-Americanism that ran throughout about every piece on display, aside from the typography. It just got a bit old, surely there must be a *few* other targets in the world. Perhaps disagree with some current policies, but the country and its people do have some good sides, and are not solely responsible for any negative thing going on in the world today. (and I’m not a particularly gun-ho rah-rah USA-USA person, but really, the work started to grate. Maybe because it’s so easy to pick on America, work that does gets a little boring and trite. It’s much more of a challenge to have your art be a bit more open and questioning.

After that, headed over to lovely pub lunch with friends and home again just in time for tennis with Emily. I won’t go so far as to call it a game, as neither one of us can serve, and we’re lucky to keep a rally going of more than 3 hits... but still, it makes for an amusing afternoon. Chatty dinner followed, rerun of top 50 funniest movies (Number 1 is still Life of Brian; I've seen 37 of them, not bad I think).

And here we are, Monday once again...

Happy birthday!

Happy birthday to the other Stepfh, my oldest (in duration of course) friend... there's still 90 minutes left in Saturday in Seattle, so I've got it in just under the wire!

So here's wishing you a fantastic day, weekend, year, and much more -- and thanks as always for a friendship that's lasted nearly 2/3 of our lives! (of course - that means the only way we can stay as young as we clearly are is to move that meeting date earlier and earlier... I think we must've met before turning 10, can you believe it? ;-)

(PS - that photo was taken December '90/Jan 1991... the Stepfhs learn to ski... looks like the scanner works!)

Yawwwnnn

Stayed out a bit past my bedtime last night -- yawwnn -- though for a good reason. Thanks to Margot for organising an outing to SummerScreen at Somerset House. Enjoyed watching Rear Window on the big screen in a fabulous setting... and the memory of enjoyment is greater, now that the memory of my aching back (from sitting on the hard ground with only a picnic blanket) and frozen toes (brr -- a bit colder than I expected) has decreased!

Definitely worth going, though perhaps the next time I'll opt for a non-school night... Didn't get home until a little after midnight... and couldn't fall asleep until after 1:30 (hmm -- wonder if the fact Misery was on tv had anything to do with that). In any case, I think tonight will be an early one.

Proud as a peacock... er, peahen

Look who's made the press! Ok, it's just a sentence. And it's local Cincinnati business news. But hey - today: a sentence in Cinci; tomorrow a paragraph in Pittsburgh. And who knows -- in time, a whole book in Boston or Budapest... the possibilities are endless.

But really, congratulations to my sweet husband on his success.

Gushing stuff over now -now returning you to your regularly scheduled gruff exterior.

Match report

First of all – a pinch and a punch for the first of the month! (er, at least that’s what Ashley says his gran used to say...)

In all of my ramblings about the busy weekend just past, I completely forgot to give the exciting match report from the weekend prior!

Yes – the time this season has rolled around again to Ashley’s stint as Stonor Cricket Club Match Manager. When we arrived at the lovely pitch Sunday afternoon, it was overcast and chilly (brr...) but we were in luck, the sun actually peeked out a bit, and I even took off my cardigan and stopped saying “I’m coooooolllllddd” for a change.

As for the match itself – well, first Stonor was up to bat, and they did that for a while, and some runs were scored, and some people got out, yada yada yada.

And then the other team was up, and Ashley bowled brilliantly, but unfortunately they batted even more brilliantly, and the end result was not in Stonor’s favour.

But enough about the match itself – if you want details about that you can check the website...
More important was what happened between the innings – my chance to shine at the Cricket Tea. Yes, because it’s all about me. I’m quite competitive when it comes to my yearly tea, doncha know.


Despite the pressure of expectation – given last year’s well received inaugural tea – I think I ably acquitted myself, with a spread including cheese biscuits, oatmeal-chocolate chip-dried cranberry cookies, and the crowning glory, mini-chocolate muffins, as you can see below. Combined with some hearty sandwiches and earthy tea, the treats made for a well enjoyed (if I say so myself!) break.

And once again I am amazed at a sport that has a snack break half-way through... but happy to supply said snack when called upon!

Now... what to do for next year???

Another busy weekend

Tons going on this weekend – starting with Friday. Ashley took the day off, so we enjoyed breakfast at one of our favourites, Giraffe, building up strength for more tennis lessons later that day (one of these days I may even learn how to serve!)

That evening, then, off to the V&A for a little dose of culture – specifically the ‘Alternative Village Fete’. A classic of the British summer, updated with an artistic bent. So – rather than shoot a water pistol through a clown’s mouth or some such game, one competition had players racing to be the first to sharpen a new pencil and pop a balloon. We enjoyed wandering the creative stalls (sculpt Queen Victoria out of grey play-doh! Burp your favourite tune for a prize! Take a lucky dip in the prize draw!) and even treated ourselves to a unique ‘portrait’ – made using a typewriter! Ashley’s is the better likeness I think...

Saturday’s sun inspired some belated spring cleaning, so it felt like a productive morning. (and an excuse for an afternoon nap!) Even more of an excuse for the nap was the need to be able to stay up past our bed times, as we were off last night to our first visit to The O2 – the all new & improved Millennium Dome – to see the Scissor Sisters. The venue itself is pretty impressive, with 2 arenas (one stadium style, one more ‘intimate’), a massive 11-screen cinema (which just hosted the UK Simpsons premiere), and several restaurants & bars. Oh, and an indoor beach. (which I didn’t quite get, as there was no indoor sea or indoor sun to accompany said beach. I don’t really see the attraction in sand in & of itself – I only tolerate it when it’s part of the whole sun & sea combo!)

As for the concert (my first since Elvis Costello in 1991!) – loved it. And I only know a few of the songs... I’d bought the tix as an early birthday gift for Ashley, who’s more of a fan. I thought the crowd was excited, and so was the band, and – aww – it was the lead singer’s parents’ 34th anniversary & they were there to celebrate & he dedicated a song to them. One more time – aww... We got home *way* past curfew, but it was worth it. I even managed to sleep in to 8:30 – so it must’ve been a late night!

Finally, Sunday, Ash headed off for another cricket match (post game report – he said he’d bowled the best game of his career so far, though sadly the game ended in a draw). And I – I headed for the zoo, thanks to a free ticket that was due to expire the end of this month. I enjoyed the new ‘Gorilla Kingdom’ exhibit, though the enclosure still seemed a bit small. The butterfly house was similar to that at the Pacific Science Centre, and just as fascinating to see the gorgeous lepidoptera up close. And I especially liked Meet the Monkeys – similar to the butterfly house, but with squirrel monkeys! So close you want to reach out your hand for them to hop on (except of course for all the signs saying ‘these monkeys bite!’) Taking pictures seemed a better route...

Once more with feeling...

How much do I wish this would come to London?! Buffy the Musical! Great episode, would be even better in person...

3rd? Only 3rd?

Wow - I went to the 3rd Most Annoying Liberal Arts College in America... Should I be dismayed to be on the list? Or disappointed we only got to 3rd. But hey - quite an achievement for the write-ins after not making it on the original short-list. [only Swarthmoreans would do *extra work* to get onto a ranking list!]

And besides, as we always say about polls like these -- really, once you're in the top 5 darling, it's all so subjective.

It's all over...

Right, well – it’s done. After a focused nearly 4 hour binge last night, I have finished Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows. I know what the Hallows are, who (if anyone) dies, who doesn’t, and even What Happened Next…

And now it’s all over. I certainly wouldn’t class myself a Potter fanatic, but I am sad there are no more, it’s been an enjoyable adventure of a read. I was almost willing myself to read slower, so I wouldn’t come to the end so quickly – and yet I had to find out what happened! And find out you do – pretty much every question is resolved (and if I have one criticism of the book, it was how neatly and quickly that happened, when it did. Kind of like one of those crime shows where in the last minute the novelist- or business man & his wife- or coroner- or pesky school kids- turned-accidental-detective(s) says ‘Of course. The note left in the dining room was a love letter from Jane to John; Jim saw that, and therefore *he* was the one to run John off the road in a fit of jealousy; he’d cleverly rigged a Ferris Bueller type device with pulleys and a mannequin to make it look like he was in his front room the whole time. When we saw he’d recently downloaded Ferris Bueller’s day off from iTunes, and then found his receipt from PulleysRUs, we realised the extent of his deception. Case solved.' But I digress…).

But all in all, a good read, fast paced, very dark in some places, but with some levity (and I kept wondering 'how will they film that?!'

And now at least I can read the reviews and comments I’ve been avoiding!

tick-tock, tick-tock

Yep, almost time for HP7 -- the last Harry Potter book hits the cash register in 7 1/2 hours uk time, 12 1/2 US... and I guess is already being eagerly devoured by some aussie fans 8, 9, 10 hours ahead...

I've ordered my copy, and assuming no new snap postal strike, should get it tomorrow midday... though a little part of me wants to go to one of the open stores tonight at 12:01 -- it *is* the last one after all.

But I'm sure at 12:01 I'll be fast asleep - so think I can make it until tomorrow...

Play Ball!

As an update from his birthday adventures... the cutest nephew ever has just joined the You Tube generation:

No, no, a thousand times no!

What's the date? Oh yeah, July 19th. Ok, I know the weather outside is frightful... but it is STILL not time for Christmas. And yet there was Selfridges in the news today unveiling its Christmas display -- 'Bejeweled' or some such thing. Why? Well, the spokewoman says it's because magazine deadlines are so far in advance. Uh huh. That's what photo shoots are for... the publicity of being in the news for the first Christmas announcement had nothing to do with it I'm sure...

Sunday Puzzle

How exciting: I've now solved TWO NPR Sunday Puzzles in a row... am I getting cleverer? Or are they just a little easier? (I think the latter...)

Still no call to London though -- I'll be by the phone today at 3pm EST just in case! (not sure why Thursday not Sunday however...)

A few hours left for this week's puzzle:
Take the two-word name of a well known city in Michigan, and its not Ann Arbor. Add the letter "E" to the first world and rearrange the letters, you'll name something people try to avoid. Add the letter "E" to the second world and rearrange the letters, you'll name something else people try to avoid. And here's a hint: Both words start with the same letter, and both words end with the same letter. What's the city and what are the words? [I just picture this like the anagrams on Jeopardy!, with the letters shifting around on the screen: POTS -- STOP... oooh! tough one!]


Can you solve last week's?:
Name two outdoor sports or games in seven letters. The first two letters of the first sports name are the same as the first two letters in the second sports name. And the last two letters of the first sports name are the same as the last two letters in the second sports name. Hint: The names do not end in "N-G." What sports or outdoor games are these? [hmm... they had over 2,000 entries, which is more than usual, so guess it *was* fairly easy...]

One more thing...

Here's one more scene from Skansen... the friendliest peacock in the world!

Swedish delight

So – weekend before last we were supposed to have a little UK roadtrip... see a few friends, enjoy a day in the Cotswolds, relax, soak in the English countryside. Except, after what seemed like 8 weeks of rain, Ashley said – forget this, let’s get out of here, let’s go to... sunny Stockholm!

Er... as the pictures show, Stockholm was anything but sunny (of course until we took off) – but that doesn’t matter, was great to get away and see somewhere new, and I’d definitely recommend it. Especially in the sun.

It’s an incredibly walkable city (though hillier than I expected, built as it is across several islands). I saw a sign calling it ‘The Venice of the North’, but that’s not really accurate I suppose because it’s not canals running between the islands. And no gondoliers in stripy shirts.

We were only there 2 ½ days, but packed a fair bit in, including not one but TWO meatball meals (yum!) and I also tried a reindeer steak (think I preferred the meatballs). And – double yum – pickled herring, though not nearly as prevalent as I thought it would be. Oh yeah - we did more than eat. Though Ashley did like the chocolate balls at Wayne's Coffee - the Starbucks of the North. (until Starbucks buys them and becomes the Starbucks of the North themselves...)

One great visit was to Skansen, in the Djurgarden (a greenery-filled, er, garden island that also boasts an amusement park). Skansen is sort of like the Williamsburg of the North, though no peanut soup. And not as commercial. They did have old buildings brought from various parts of Sweden, in an attempt to show a variety of old Swedish life across the country – including tradesmen (and women) in period clothing. Skansen also had representative flora & fauna – so we saw the home of the Moose. Ok, it was really an elk, but hey, pretty much the same thing, right? (I'm sure the nice lady at Mooseworld would disagree!)

On the opposite entertainment spectrum, we tried out the Absolut Ice Bar – a bit surreal, and very touristy... and I’m not even a big vodka fan. But glad we went – a bit strange to be in an ice room, drinking from cups made out of ice, sitting on ice benches (we were glad to see they were covered with reindeer pelt throws).

One thing I really liked about Stockholm? Outdoor (and even some indoor) restaurants / cafes have blankets for their customers! Nice little polar fleece lap blankets in many places, a little better than what you get on the airplane – and just perfect for an al fresco meal even when it’s al frio weather. And much more environmentally friendly than heat lamps! Hmm... once again, that implies all we did was eat. Well... it *was* raining after all!

Happy birthday Toby!

aka 'the cutest nephew ever'! And a very exciting birthday too, as Toby takes to the field for the Mariners game tonight with the Moose to start the game: Play Ball! That is one boy who will *never* become a Yankees fan, that's for sure. ;-)

Can't wait to see the pix...

Wow - the Mariners and Ken Levine read my blog!

Clearly as a result of my recent plea, the Mariners have invited Ken Levine to cover a few games next week --such power I never realised I had. He'll join the booth for a few games against Detroit. (Let's hear it for Detroit). Guess that will be a few early mornings then!

Best. Run. Ever

Last Sunday I took part in my, umm, I think 5th British 10k, along with 20,000 other runn-/walk-/jogg-ers. And for once, I was incredibly happy for the overcast, cloudy, unseasonably cool weather -- and even happy for the misty rain through the first 15 minutes or so.

The course is a fun one, mostly flat (bar the horrid k5 to k6 stretch, all uphill - blah), that takes in quite a few sites, including a long stretch along the river, and then crossing Westminster Bridge.

I say my best run ever, because - while about a minute slower than my best 10k time -- it was the best I have *ever* felt running. AND, I think I did my fastest 5k time at the halfway - at 29:52. AND, we kept running through the dreaded uphill stretch after that.

Other highlights included rounding Big Ben just as it chimed 11 - bong, bong, bong, bong, bong, bong, bong, bong, bong, bong, bong-g-g-g-g-g-g; hearing Chariots of Fire just as we turned the corner for the last 400m; still having enough energy to do a little sprint to the finish; and most of all, travelling the course with my British 10k partner-in-crime, Verity. This is our 2nd attempt together -- next year we'll break an hour, for sure!

For pictures of the happy rainy day -- click here. If it doesn't work, my race number was 14913.

Wimbledon update

So, yes, we went to Wimbledon last Friday - on what appears to have been the least rainy day so far, very lucky us, despite how the morning started. About a 1/2 hour downpour as you can see just as we arrived, but then pretty clear skies...

Of course, I'd been so concerned about packing for wind and rain, with multiple layers, waterproof bag, umbrella, etc. ... I completely forgot that it might actually be sunny! As I was rapidly turning pink in the unexpected but delightful sunshine, I was forced by my lack of foresight to buy some overpriced (is there any other kind) sun cream in the overpriced (is there any other kind) Wimbledon shop... Ah well - worth it for the sunny matches.

On to the match report:

First up, Jelena Jankovic vs. Lucy Safarova -- a tightly fought contest that went the full 3 sets; characterised in some part by the high number of challenges Jankovic made of the umpires' calls. What was most interesting to me was the fact that most of her challenges were upheld -- so challenging was definitely in her favour, though I think the crowd found it a bit unsportsmanlike or something. More power to her, I say, and she deserved to win.

Next we saw James Blake lose in 4 sets to Juan Carlos Ferrerro (whose official photo is really goofy I say - he looked a lot better on the court). The two seemed quite friendly, laughing at times at a few shots, and there the match was very fast paced. To my very untrained tennis eye, Blake seemed very eager and in control the first set, but then he seemed to slack off a bit, almost like he was out for a friendly backyard game or two. Obviously of higher caliber than your average home game, but still, not as agressive or consistent as the first set. And of course, that cost him the match.

Finally, we saw the first set of Andy (A-Rod 2) Roddick vs Fernando Verdasco (so US v Spain part deux). Although Verdasco challenged a bit, Roddick took care of him pretty quickly - at least in the set we saw, and certainly in the final game of it!

All in all, very enjoyable outing (despite having my souvenir 45p Daily Mail tennis ball binoculars confiscated by poo-head guards at the entrance, 'because they sell other commemorative items inside, these aren't allowed'. Humph - I didn't see any Wimbledon-branded tennis ball binoculars inside! And certainly nothing for 45p...)

Looking forward to the US Open already!

If it's raining, it must be Wimbledon

Yep - I finally get another opportunity to go to Wimbledon, and this is the view from our living room window...

Let's hope the forecast of sunny intervals in the afternoon is correct.

If not - Dad, this must be punishment for me trying to go again without you!

the Metro stole my headline

I was going to headline this 'All Change' - but the Metro used that already to mark Gordon Brown's first day as Prime Minister. I do still think it feels odd that without any sort of election or campaigns or lengthy battle for power (er, should I say, no lengthy official battle for power), this country has a new PM. Of course, big news here; only made it to item #3 on the New York Time's world pages -- better work harder Gord.

But rather than Gordon Brown, what the change really makes me think of is memories of 10 years ago, just after I decided to move to London. In preparation, I was obsessively consuming any item I could that had to do with the UK -- from CSPAN's coverage of Parliament, to old episodes of Monty Python. And as part of that, I followed closely the campaign and election of one Anthony Blair -- I can still see myself in my little kitchen in DC, reading a Newsweek article about how 'Clinton-esque' the campaign was...

Wow -- many changes in those 10 years - at least my hair hasn't gone as thin as Tony's! (though maybe as grey - I just cover it better...)

New favourite blog!

OMG - Ken Levine has a blog - fun read if you like TV (hmm - could that be me or anyone I know?) Come back to the Mariners, Ken!

Refugee Week

Thanks to TimeOut, I learned that this week is Refugee Week. And also thanks to TimeOut, I learned of a small friendly museum, tucked away in the East End -- dedicated to these refugees and immigrants to London. And so, thanks to TimeOut, I saw a little piece of London history I never even had an idea existed. (and no, I don't sell TimeOut, but at least glad I read it this week! ;-)

19 Princelet Street is a classic symbol of the various immigrant communities that have made London home at one time or another. Originally home to a Huguenot weaver, it then was converted into a synogogue in 1869. Sadly over time, as the Jewish community moved out of the East End, the house fell into disrepair. About 10 years ago (not that I can find the exact date), a trio of philanthropists / activists decided to attempt to preserve the house, as the Museum of Immigration.

It's still badly in need of funds -- and hugely deserving of them as well. The current exhibit -- Suitcases and Sanctuary -- is incredibly well done, having been created with local school children, as they learn about the immigrant history of the neighbourhood. Given the funding needs, the museum is only open a few days a year -- Refugee Week being the big push -- so we were lucky to get the opportunity to see it.

Unfortunately you're not allowed to take photographs inside, but I did buy some postcards! I was amazed by the memorial notices still visible inside of the synogogue -- complete with notations of how much of a donation their loved ones had given in their memory!

Mac or PC... PC or Mac

I've got, got, GOT to get a new laptop, and confess I'm being drawn to a MacBook. I played with one a few days ago, and love the 'Garage Band' application in iLife (among other. things) - and it does look so easy to use. But I wish Mac-olytes weren't so darn smug! I really hate those 'Mac vs PC' ads - more for their 'ooh, aren't we cool and PC users lame' attitude. Makes me want to buy a PC in spite of knowing that a Mac would likely be better for home use like photos, video, e-mail, media...

And the guy at the Apple store was so derogatory as well -- when I asked about my personal website, and mentioned I'd bought an out-of-the-box offering from Mr Site, he said 'see - with a PC you have to buy everything separately'. So I asked 'wow -does that mean that with the Mac I'd get my own URL and web hosting space for my site then?'

Mr Apple: 'no, you'd have to subscribe to .Mac, and if you wanted your own URL, say, www.planetwulfagar.com, you'd have to buy that too.'
Me: 'Um, so, you're not really convincing me of the positive differences here - it looks like I'd have to buy something in either case.'
Mr A: 'Well, .Mac is more than just web hosting'
Me: 'It's still an additional expense. So it's unfair to say only with a PC do you have to buy extras'
Mr A: (ignores me and moves on to demonstrate Garage Band, which did indeed distract me)

So -anyone out there want to advise? Watch this space!

brush with celebrity

OMG. So, I'm about to leave for work this morning, and as I casually glance out the front room windows, I see:

and of course, while there are no identifying marks on the vans (this was one of 2), it's clearly a film crew of some sort. So, in typical Lucy Ricardo, 'I wanna be in show business' manner, I start to head outside, real casual like, but with a big smile, ready to be talent spotted, which of course I will accept with nonchalant style and charm.

But THEN, just before I go leave... I see the star of the show, and realise that while, yes, an honest-to-goodness British celeb was right outside our building, there was no way they'd be choosing me for a part, extra or otherwise.

For it was none other than Mr Jeremy Clarkson, waiting to film the very popular, motoring petrol-head show Top Gear. So instead of asking to be in the show, I just asked to take his picture. Proof, y'know. And he somewhat graciously complied. Well, not too graciously -- but really, what was he going to do. Actually, it was neither gracious nor ungracious -- more neutral and a bit bemused more than anything. But that'll do. Should I send it to Heat? Hmm...

Once in a blue moon is when?

Huh. Turns out a 'blue moon' *isn't* the 2nd full moon in a month... Thanks, NPR!

How many...

... of the 'Top 50 Films to See Before You Die' have you seen? (I'm up to 16 -- looks like I've got quite a few DVDs to start renting!)

dangerous 'sporting' events

Spain may have the running of the bulls, but only England could have cheese-rolling!

just a few weeks too late

Gosh - what a shame this new attraction didn't open in time for all the wedding guests to attend... for that real Jolly Olde Englande feeling... (hmm... does it include genuine street urchins and throat clogging pollution? And Johnny Vegas collapsing drunkenly in the corner?)

The shoes in practice

When last I mentioned wedding shoes, my comment was 'possibly too high, and possibly over budget'...

As most of you know -- my fantabulous shoe fairies (M, K, & C, a million thanks again!) assisted with the latter concern, and trying on the dress proved the former concern to be irrelevant.

And now - a few months later - the shoes were finally pressed into service on the day, receiving photos galore... first of all - from Karen, so thanks very much Karen for sending this along:

last day...

Sigh - as they say, I guess all good things must come to an end, and so it is with the Planet Wulfagar honeymoon!

Tonight is our last night at the plush Maison Arabe, before heading home. It has been a brilliant trip so far (cannot find the apostrophe on this arabic keyboard, so no contractions today!), lots of sunshine, relaxation, sightseeing, and maybe a little shopping. We even haggled a bit at the market today - though with the speed the traders accepted we were still probably paying over the odds! I also (reluctantly) accepted a monkey sitting on my arm... not my ideal situation, especially when its owner then tried to get us to pay 100 dirham for the privilege (about 10 euros) Do not worry, photo will be posted tomorrow!

so au revoir marrakech, hope to see you later!

nearly a month

wow - nearly a month since my last post. I guess I have been busy, what with, y´know, the wedding thing.

Which, by the way, was fantastic, and more than I could possibly write about here in the 10 minutes I´ve got before more sightseeing. So, will have to try to capture that later - possibly in a revamp of Planet Wulfagar... (in the meantime, however, you can visit Ben´s site for some preview pix!)

But for now - am enjoying our honeymoon... I definitely recommend Valencia, so glad we finally got here. We´ve packed a fair bit in already - beach, old town, bus tour, and the most amazing of all I think has been the Oceanografic --- a stunning multi-region aquarium that is part of the ´City of Arts & Sciences´ that is relatively new (and in fact still under construction).

And now only a few hours left before we´re on to Honeymoon Part Dos -- Madrid. Before we go, we´re going to explore at least a little of one of Valencia´s more distinctive elements -- the River Turia. And I say interesting, as it´s completely dry -- in I think the 50s, the city diverted the river around the town, because it flooded too often. So now there´s the river bed, full of parks, running trails, playing fields, and complete with bridges crossing it... but no water.

Adios for now -- and if we have a computer in our Madrid hotel, will post more there...

Lazy Sunday...

So – here it is Friday, and I never got around to updating the rest of the Easter weekend… in a nutshell, my Easter surprise trip was a lovely boutique hotel in nearby Richmond – the ‘lazy Sunday’ package at the Bingham… starting with a fabulous long lunch overlooking the river, afternoon stroll, cinema in the evening, and fun Jacuzzi bath (are you supposed to use bubble bath in a Jacuzzi tub? Not sure… it certainly bubbled up to no end!)

As for the movie – we saw Sunshine, really very good, if a bit of a slow starter. The basic premise is that the sun is dying out prematurely (it’s set in 2057) and a team of astronauts has to detonate a nuclear bomb in the sun’s core to re-start it and save the planet from rapid descent into permanent winter… sounds just like those comet bashing movies like Armageddon, but no. There’s plenty of action (especially in the later half of the movie) but it’s much more psychological and metaphysical; what’s it like being cooped up in a spaceship (granted, a very very large spaceship) with 8 people for 3 years of travel, with the mental pressure of being the last hope for saving the all of people-kind, and the very likely possibility you won’t make it back home (a previous mission had already gone missing 7 years earlier). And then this is combined with the majesty of being so close to the sun, what is that like to observe, even through the strongest filtered lenses. So good – and given the special effects, probably much better in a big screen than on the TV. (unless of course it’s a home-cinema sized one, mom & dad!)

Then a fabulous day off still on Monday, with very quick journey time to home - my favourite way to travel! No jet lag, no stiff legs from a long car ride... wonderful!

how much do I *love* a 4-day weekend?

Sunday morning, still 2 more days off to come!

So far so good - Friday a wander around Primrose Hill to Regent's Park, posing prettily for pre-wedding pictures (aww - don't they look cute.) Was sunny and grand... except my shoes were perhaps a wee bit inappropriate... I didn't realise how much walking we were going to do! From the station to Primrose Hill to the park, through the park, onto Marylebone High Street, down to John Lewis... ouch. (OK - I realise that means pretty much nothing to the majority of readers, but if this link works, you can get an idea!)

Saturday a little quieter... Ashley went off for a canal-hike; I stayed a little closer to home & met up with friends Matt & Ailsa for lunch and also to see their new little girl Erika for the first time. Aww, how adorable, 11 weeks, slept the entire lunch... (of course, she can't be as cute as my niece, and no, I'm not biased in any way.)

And still 2 more days of the weekend to go.

The Kwik-e-Mart is coming!

Well, temporarily at least... seems a few 7-11s are being rebranded kwik-e-marts - complete with Squishees (and decrepit hotdogs? mmmm hotdogs). Unclear from what I can find as to which few 7-11s... but my guess is if your town is named Springfield, and you've got a 7-11, there's a good chance you'll get one of the few, going up to promote the Simpsons movie...

woo-hoo - Mariners top their division!

OK, so it's only 1 game - but I'll take that 1.000 record when I can get it, thank you very much.

Another weekend flown by too quickly… where do they go!!?? Started off Saturday with a final visit to our wedding venue – for a little reminder of how things might look in only FIVE WEEKS TIME! Ack!

Then into town for a quick visit to the Face of Fashion exhibit (and more) at the National Portrait Gallery (thanks again Brian and Amy!) We could’ve stayed there for days, but were off again to visit one of London’s great consumer monuments:

Selfridges. (Again – I could’ve stayed there for days!) Every spring, Selfridges decorates and has events in a particular theme; this year it’s Surrealism – in conjunction with the V&A, which is hosting a major exhibit of the same name. We met up with our friend Cat and enjoyed Dadadandy cocktails (gin, ginger ale, lemonade, ‘washed with absinthe’) in the Ultralounge, ooh la la, how decadent. The drinks were to celebrate the launch of the new ‘surrealist perfume’ – Choix “the scent of choice”… with ingredients that include, umm, nothing. How surreal. And yet I was *still* tempted to purchase!

Drinks & dinner rounded off the day – and there was Saturday gone!

Sunday was a little more relaxed, sticking close to home – but still, disappeared before I knew it. Made a yummy impromptu ‘what can I find in the cupboards’ soup – chopped tomato base, with corn, kidney beans, black eyed peas, and rice; and plenty of cumin and chipotle powder for spice. Yum. And just enough over for lunch too – lucky me!

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!

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...

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...

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!

Wedding shoes?

Maybe a little too high... and a little over the budget!

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...

You make me feel so young...

Belated happy birthday to my father-in-law-to-be, Mr. Eddie Agar... who celebrated his birthday in style with Big Band flair last Saturday night - performing as part of the Roy Bailey Band. We had a fantastic time and had a great view from the 5th row -- my only complaint was the lack of dance floor!

See some of the action here:

doin' our own thing...

Well, looks like Ashley & I continue to buck the trends... Marriage rates in the UK fall to the lowest levels since 1896 -- but who are we to follow the crowds?! Someone's got to keep those florists and venues in business...

Ooh – lookie – I’ve added a new Resolution Watch widget to the sidebar – a visual reminder of how well I’m doing against my 3 Rs -- reading, recipes, and running. Oh - and 1C - culture.

I’ve added another ‘been-meaning-to-read-for-ages’ book to the list – The Kite Runner – and yes, Dad, I agree it was magnificent. A distinctive voice painting such a clear picture – I couldn’t put it down.

I have fallen at one hurdle, however – the vow not to buy any more books until I read the ones I already own… because after The Kite Runner came What Came Before He Shot Her – the latest by Elizabeth George. Another unputdownable read – though of course in a different way. I’ve read all of her Inspector Lynley books, and this was a bit of a departure for her – rather than being a fairly classic modern English detective novel, this looked at the societal factors in play that lead to a 12 year-old boy being arrested for murder.

Now – onto the next – chosen from my shelves this time, no more return to Amazon! User vote:
--(fiction) The Time Travellers Wife
--(nonfiction) The Man Who Ate Everything (food writer essays from Vogue)

Vote early, and vote often!

global audience?

As some of you may have noticed, I've added this little map widget thing to the lower right of the site -- supposedly showing where my hordes of visitors are coming from. Not surprisingly, the mass is from the US Northwest (hi Mom & Dad, Sis...). London appears to be there too - again, no surprise.

But -- what's that? Lurkers in China and Russia (too small to see exactly where, but perhaps Moscow? Shanghai??) Huh? So - if you *are* visiting from a farflung land (well - farflung relative to London or my family) -- please, say hi! The more the merrier...

Another Schindler?

Read this really interesting article in Sunday's Financial Times Magazine - about Ernst Leitz, head of the Leica factory in Germany in the 30s, who may have helped dozens of Jews by giving them apprenticeships at the factory, and then jobs in New York -- sending them and their families to the US... official records put the number at 42, though anecdotally some speak of many many more. In any case, it shows that however many stories you read, there are always new ones worth discovering...

Horrible wedding day...

I am *so* not letting anyone give me curls for the wedding...

Happy Groundhog Day

And check back at 12:30 GMT to see if Phil says winter or spring... C'mon Spring!

Update: Spring it is! Thanks Phil... (wait a minute - does the early spring prediction only apply to those in Punxatawney? Hmm... maybe I need me my own groundhog...)

I want this blender!

I soooo want a Blendtec now! Will it blend???

Resolution Recipe Watch

Hmm... should've waited until Feb to try another new recipe - but a chilly Sunday was perfect for Moroccan Chickpea Soup... Super easy if you use canned chickpeas (2) and lentils (1) -- not sure why you would go for dried?? Makes a great lunch the next day too.

Not meant for westerns...

SO - we rented yet another highly regarded 'modern' western... and once again, were a little, well, bored. This time it was The Proposition (no need for me to recap, you can read about it here!) While I could appreciate its "hauntingly beautiful" look, I did find myself thinking "umm... so is something going to happen?" That's a bit unfair, however, at least it wasn't too long, and more happened in this movie than the even more critically acclaimed Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada... another DVD adventure we almost fell asleep through...

Maybe I need to stick to Clint if I want a Western I can stay awake for. Or maybe I'm just part of the low-attention-span Sesame Street/MTV generation...

low blogging frequency

Apologies - the loss of home laptop has definitely limited my blogging frequency... will have to either a) bring my work laptop home more often and/or b) get into work earlier and spend a few minutes on updates!

Biggest news today: SNOW BRINGS LONDON TO A HALT... Yes, a whopping 2cm fell last night, enough to cause major disruptions to most tube lines, and traffic jams / accidents on all the major thoroughfares... Ah - the joy of snow in a city that rarely sees it. I fully expect headlines all across the papers tomorrow lambasting the cities for not being prepared, despite snow being forecast for, oh, about 2 days.

I didn't mind it - bus worked fine, and this was the most snow I've seen here in 10 years -- certainly made a pretty picture or two - will upload soon...

UPDATE: photo added!

Look - we're stars

I am *loving* this Levi's ad... hee hee hee

Resolution watch

OK - enough of this holiday break, looking back at the year... time to get back to blogging, starting with making my new years resolutions public and then tracking against them... So - here goes:

1) Get married
On track so far... 15 weeks, 5 days to go... see PlanetWulfagar for more!

2) Read all of the books I've bought already, before buying any more
Two weeks in, have just finished A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian... very good, definitely recommend it, quick, amusing, and original read, and definitely made me want to learn more about the history of the Ukraine. And don't worry - it's not too tractor-heavy!

3) Run the Paris 1/2 marathon in under 2:30.
Umm... no. It's become clear in only about 2 weeks that I'd be fooling myself - so looking more realistically at time / willingness to train - I've already modified this to
NEW 3) Run the British 10k in under 60 mins...

4) Do a minimum of 1 London cultural activity per month.
So far, not so good - but a few weeks left in January still

5) Try one new recipe per month.
Mmm... tried a modified chorizo-prawn jambalaya... was yum! I just wish I'd written down the recipe!

Ok, think that's enough for now - let's see how it goes!