Sunday 30 December 2007

Last night we took in a West End show, Buddy... which was one of those music revue type shows that depicted the life/music of Buddy Holly.

That led to today which started with a proper full English breakfast which might have intimidated Steph...

just...

a...

little...


A quick tube ride (which proved more fun for some of us)...

...and we started our visit to the British Museum.

Which included antiquities from the ancient Egyptian, Greek and Roman eras.

We finished the day with visits to a pub or four...

Friday 28 December 2007

Doug and Steph arrived this morning for a year end visit, and since it's officially winter here in London we thought the best place to go on their first evening here was...

Yes... an Ice Bar where the constant temperature is -5 degrees Centigrade. The bar was ice, the walls were ice and even the glasses were ice.

At least the drinks were cold.

Tuesday 25 December 2007

Ours was a quiet and simple Christmas this year. We attended Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey on Christmas Eve. The Westminster Choir was absolutely amazing and well worth standing in the queue for an hour or so. We were able to get a seat and the service was quite nice.

We then ventured over to Gerrard Street for a Chinese dinner. Our own little tribute to the television marathon of “The Christmas Story” going on back in the States!

On Christmas Day, I actually prepared (yes cooked – not just assembled!) a meal in my tiny little kitchen. Ray and I enjoyed turkey and dressing and a day full of DVDs, reading and jigsaw puzzles. We spoke to the family several times and missed the annual traditions, but it was fine. This is likely our last Christmas in London and it was good to see the culture and traditions from a different perspective.

Doug and Steph arrive later this week for a short visit during semester break. As always, we are looking forward to family time and a few laughs!

Monday 24 December 2007

O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree!
How are thy leaves so verdant!

O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
Much pleasure doth thou bring me!

For every year the Christmas tree,
Brings to us all both joy and glee.

O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
How much smaller can you truly beeeee?

Yes... this is actually our humble bit of Christmas in our tiny London flat. With no mantle, Amy had to hang her Wizard of Oz stocking on the light switch.

From both of us, we wish all of you a very heartfelt "Merry Christmas"!!

Sunday 23 December 2007

Top Five Things We Haven't Seen in London:

5. Chelsea Physic Garden

4. Camden Town Market

3. Victoria and Albert Museum

2. British Museum (I know... I can't believe it either)

1. Fog... Well until today that is.

One of the stereotypes of London I had expected when we moved here was that of a constant fog. Honestly, we haven't seen much of it since we've been here. Until today.

Parliament and Big Ben

Wellington Arch and Buckingham Palace

Friday 21 December 2007

This time of year is a time for lists. Christmas Lists, Shopping Lists and Lists of the Year’s Best. Semi-inspired by recently watching John Cusak in High Fidelity, and the posting of my 100th pub visited I proudly give you the first in a series of my “Top Five” lists.

First off… My Top Five Favourite Pubs.

Not the best… not the ones I visit most often… just the ones I really enjoy visiting. (click on the linked name for a detailed description)

Number One: Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese

Number Two: The Nag’s Head

Number Three: Dog and Duck

Number Four: The Red Lion

Number Five: The Cardinal

Friday 21 December 2007

Seeing that today is Friday it's seems the appropriate time to make a very special announcement.

Last night Amy and I visited what turned out to be my ONE HUNDREDTH pub. Yes... one hundred different pubs throughout the UK. Some of them more than once. I think it's safe to say I've completely embraced the British Pub Culture.

Below is the most recent additions and, as always, you can visit the comprehensive list by clicking on the link located on the right of the blog page.

Cheers!!

89. Plumbers Arms: Decent traditional on the other side of Victoria Station from the flat. Always very crowded, and honestly nothing spectacular about it.
90. Spotted Horse: Just a bar and quite honestly a very disappointing start to a Putney Pub Night.
91. The Duke’s Head:Another Putney pub that retains most of its Victorian furnishings, most noticeably the dividers to the Private Club. Might be fun to visit during the day as it has a large riverside deck.
92. Bricklayers Arms:The last of our Putney Pub night and was the absolute best of the night. A true local boozer with a great old school feel to it. Nothing fancy, but a great, great atmosphere.
93. The Crown Bar (Belfast):Simply an OUTSTANDING place to have a drink. Built in 1849, it contains privacy booths complete with their own doors, very detailed ceiling tiles and wall mouldings, stained glass windows, and a magnificent marble bar. A must see if you are in Belfast.
94. The Morning Star (Belfast): Cool pub/eatery with dark wood booths for lunch/dinner and a round island bar in the middle.
95. Nancy’s (Audara, County Donegal): Excellent local pub. Tiny connecting rooms with the smallest of bars. Just a hodge, podge of local memorabilia all about with low door jambs, creaky floors and loads of character. MY sort of pub.
96. Fox and Hounds: Great little neighborhood pub tucked away in Belgravia. Almost like having a drink in an old library. I like it… a lot.
97. Coach and Horses: This had such potential. Neighborhood pub off of Vauxhaul Road with no ales (although they had pumps), and loud, pulsing music. Won’t be back.
98. The Coastguard (Dover): While not in the “traditional” sense, this was a great visit as it was located on the beach beneath the White Cliffs. Nice choice of local ales plus Leffe. Very nice.
99. Marlborough Head: Campy “goth” type pub with a weird Halloween theme. The cool part was the gents/ladies toilets were located behind hidden doors in a fake bookcase.
100. The Constitution: Cozy local pub in Pimlico with an obvious nautical theme. Real homey feel that should see more visits as it is within five minutes walk of the flat.

Thursday 20 December 2007

Today’s lesson is about the British holiday tradition of Mince Pies.

I’ve had several the past few days as they appear everywhere during this festive season. Amy doesn’t care for them (because they usually contain raisins), but I’ve found that I quite enjoy them. Think of them as a larger, albeit with more spices, version of a Fig Newton.

Next up… figgy pudding!!

Friday through Sunday 14-16 December 2007

News Flash - Dateline London, United Kingdom

Amy is terrified of ferries. No… not the wee winged, enchanted forest dwellers, but those large transportation devices used to SOMEtimes cross large bodies of water commonly utilized here to get over to “The Continent”.

Seeee… She hasn’t had much luck in crossings, as a matter of fact each of the times she’s attempted a ferry crossing she’s endured weather delays of up to ten hours. So in order to avoid her consecutive streak of ferry debacles this weekend’s visit to Brussels went via the Eurotunnel, where our coach was loaded into an enclosed rail car which then traveled through a tunnel that makes its way under the English Channel.

Did I mention she tends to get a tad claustrophobic?

Travel issues aside, we spent a rather frigid weekend in Brussels , the capital of Belgium , the seat of the European Union and home to NATO. None of this really mattered to us, because we were there to seek out Belgium’s three basic culinary groups. No… not sprouts, mussels and frites, but rather waffles, chocolate and beer.

Yessss... that's a beer (Leffe Brune if you must know) with my breakfast waffle. Not really breakfast, but more like brunch.

Some of you will be shocked to know that I did no planning or research whatsoever for this trip. That’s not to say we didn’t see the sights… it was just a rather loose itinerary based a lot on luck.
I found it quite fitting in a city of a country that boasts on brewing over 700 different types of beer that its “mascot” is a fountain of a small boy peeing. While Copenhagen has its “Little Mermaid”, Brussels has “Manneken-Pis”.

Organizations from around the globe send costumes to dress up the little guy, and it’s reported he has well over 600 outfits.

One of the biggest surprises of the trip was a visit to see the Atomium, a 103 metre (that’s 355 feet, in case you were wondering) tall remnant from the 1958 Brussels’ World Fair.

Honestly, until arriving in town I had no idea this replica of an iron molecule existed, and was rather disappointed that the restaurant at the top was completely booked.

Brussel's marquee attraction is the Grand Place , which is heralded as one of the most beautiful town squares in all of Europe, if not the world. Completely rebuilt in the 17th century, the centerpiece is the Town Hall, but my favourites were the surrounding guild houses constructed in both Gothic and Baroque styles.


What mesmerized me most was the intricate detailing of the buildings... something that gets lost in the panoramic photos.

As with all European capitol cities, there are several squares and monuments depicting historic moments and achievements.

Of course, there was time just for lion around...

The Christmas Markets and Winter Festival were in full swing which made for some really cool night time luminaries.

Included in the festive atmosphere was perhaps...

simply...

The creepiest carousel EVER!!

Sunday 9 December 2007

It was supposed to be a Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park, or that's what the adverts said...


Yeah... they had an ice rink and yeah... Father Christmas was taking photo ops with the kiddies, but other than the cold weather it was just like walking through the midway at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Except there weren't any fried Oreos.

Saturday 08 December 2007

There's no place like home... there's no place like home... there's no place...

Yes... London IS home, and we're back.

Back to much colder temperatures and cloudy, drizzly "typical" London weather. Since we won't be in Houston for Christmas this year, we took the opportunity tonight to try and get into the Christmas spirit by walking through the decorated streets of London.

We started in Trafalgar Square where for the last 60 years the Norwegian government has donated a 25 metre tall Christmas tree whose lighting typically denotes the start of the festive season.

We then walked down Regent St., Carnaby St. and Oxford St. taking in the lights and decorations, even sampling some roasted chestnuts from a street vendor.