I sense a macabre theme.
This morning's commute into the office was confounded by...
Another fatality at a rail station on my travelled route.
I'm starting to get a complex.
26 September 2008
24 September 2008
Wednesday 24 September 2008
Just another daily commute.
I never realized just how much I’ve adapted to not having my own vehicle. Until yesterday.
Not feeling well, I decided to go home early yesterday.
So after the 15 minute walk to the station from our office complex, I hopped on the train towards home. About 2/3 of the way there, the train is held at one of the intermediate stops with the announcement that there was a fatality at a station ahead. Not knowing how long we would be delayed, I followed the throngs of other mid-day travelers to the bus depot outside and jumped on the next bus towards Wimbledon where I could then catch the tube back towards Victoria Station, my original destination.
Without realizing, or for that matter planning it, I seamlessly completed the trifecta of mass public transportation: Train, Bus, Underground.
Who needs a car anyway?
I never realized just how much I’ve adapted to not having my own vehicle. Until yesterday.
Not feeling well, I decided to go home early yesterday.
So after the 15 minute walk to the station from our office complex, I hopped on the train towards home. About 2/3 of the way there, the train is held at one of the intermediate stops with the announcement that there was a fatality at a station ahead. Not knowing how long we would be delayed, I followed the throngs of other mid-day travelers to the bus depot outside and jumped on the next bus towards Wimbledon where I could then catch the tube back towards Victoria Station, my original destination.
Without realizing, or for that matter planning it, I seamlessly completed the trifecta of mass public transportation: Train, Bus, Underground.
Who needs a car anyway?
19 September 2008
Friday 19 September 2008
Time for a pub update. 200 total just might be within my reach.
153. Buckingham Arms: Lovely frontage from the early 1800’s, but interior has been completely “modernized”. However, sitting in the front bay window does have a nice feel to it. Probably the safest place to have a pint as it is near New Scotland Yard.
154. Swan Tavern: HOW have I missed this one till now. I must have walked past it several times on my walks. Tucked away in an alleyway near Monument tube stop it has the tiniest of bar spaces downstairs with another equally interesting upstairs bar. VERY cool little spot if you’re about during the week.
155. Cock & Woolpack: Best thing about this very sterile pub in the Square Mile was the adventure it took to find it. Not worth the effort re-visiting, despite the name.
156. Hoop & Grapes: The exterior frontage is the highlight here as it has the original timber front that survived the Great Fire of 1666. Grab a pint and sit in front as the interior has been gastro-pubbed.
157. The Ship: Round the corner from Tower Hill. While it is in an interesting enough building, again the rest has been lost as the inside has been completely modernized.
158. The Wykeham Arms: (Winchester) VERY unique former 18th century coach’s in with an odd collection of knick-knacks hanging from the walls. I liked it. Not everyday one can sit in an old school desk complete with inkwell and enjoy a nice pint.
159. The Black Boy: (Winchester) Multi-levels, multi-roomed, creaky floors almost “musty” atmosphere with stacks of books, stuffed animals, movie posters… Yeah. I could drink in this place everyday. Gives “character” a whole new meaning.
160. The Crown & Anchor: (Winchester) On the High Street and nothing special. Very sterile refurbished interior.
161. Hyde Tavern: (Winchester) A very small “local” place in an old building (crooked walls & uneven floors) and a little out of the way, but not bad even considering the modern furnishings that took away a bit of its authenticity.
162. Town of Ramsgate: (Wapping) Small, narrow place dating back to the 17th century. Small terrace in back overlooking the Thames adds a bit to this very authentic pub with a great local feel to it.
163. Captain Kidd: (Wapping) Only about 10 years old, but made to feel older. Timbered ceilings and stone floor aren’t bad on the inside, but has a very expansive outside area w/ views of the Thames. Not bad.
164. Prospect of Whitby: (Wapping) Considered the oldest riverside pub in London. Stone floors and a really cool pewter trimmed bar. Hangman’s noose swings near the riverside balcony as it is located next to Execution Dock. Really liked this place and its small nooks to sit and drink.
165. The Chamberlain Hotel: A Fuller’s remake, but instead of a bank building this is in the hotel lobby. Very nicely done as is most Fuller’s creations. Very clean and decorated like a proper study hall.
153. Buckingham Arms: Lovely frontage from the early 1800’s, but interior has been completely “modernized”. However, sitting in the front bay window does have a nice feel to it. Probably the safest place to have a pint as it is near New Scotland Yard.154. Swan Tavern: HOW have I missed this one till now. I must have walked past it several times on my walks. Tucked away in an alleyway near Monument tube stop it has the tiniest of bar spaces downstairs with another equally interesting upstairs bar. VERY cool little spot if you’re about during the week.
155. Cock & Woolpack: Best thing about this very sterile pub in the Square Mile was the adventure it took to find it. Not worth the effort re-visiting, despite the name.
156. Hoop & Grapes: The exterior frontage is the highlight here as it has the original timber front that survived the Great Fire of 1666. Grab a pint and sit in front as the interior has been gastro-pubbed.
157. The Ship: Round the corner from Tower Hill. While it is in an interesting enough building, again the rest has been lost as the inside has been completely modernized.
158. The Wykeham Arms: (Winchester) VERY unique former 18th century coach’s in with an odd collection of knick-knacks hanging from the walls. I liked it. Not everyday one can sit in an old school desk complete with inkwell and enjoy a nice pint.
159. The Black Boy: (Winchester) Multi-levels, multi-roomed, creaky floors almost “musty” atmosphere with stacks of books, stuffed animals, movie posters… Yeah. I could drink in this place everyday. Gives “character” a whole new meaning.
160. The Crown & Anchor: (Winchester) On the High Street and nothing special. Very sterile refurbished interior.
161. Hyde Tavern: (Winchester) A very small “local” place in an old building (crooked walls & uneven floors) and a little out of the way, but not bad even considering the modern furnishings that took away a bit of its authenticity.
162. Town of Ramsgate: (Wapping) Small, narrow place dating back to the 17th century. Small terrace in back overlooking the Thames adds a bit to this very authentic pub with a great local feel to it.
163. Captain Kidd: (Wapping) Only about 10 years old, but made to feel older. Timbered ceilings and stone floor aren’t bad on the inside, but has a very expansive outside area w/ views of the Thames. Not bad.
164. Prospect of Whitby: (Wapping) Considered the oldest riverside pub in London. Stone floors and a really cool pewter trimmed bar. Hangman’s noose swings near the riverside balcony as it is located next to Execution Dock. Really liked this place and its small nooks to sit and drink.
165. The Chamberlain Hotel: A Fuller’s remake, but instead of a bank building this is in the hotel lobby. Very nicely done as is most Fuller’s creations. Very clean and decorated like a proper study hall.
17 September 2008
Wednesday 17 September 2008
Obviously, this past weekend was spent following the path and aftermath of Hurricane Ike as it ploughed through Texas affecting so many of our friends and family. The BBC and international media really latched onto Galveston official’s plea to the island’s unprotected west side to evacuate or “Face almost certain death”, becoming the event’s buzzwords here. Except they did embellish a bit… twisting the context to include Houston and then all of Texas.
I have a certain disdain towards the over-accentuated headlines that some media establishments will use to grab attention. But that’s another blog entry for another time.
I might even discuss Jim Cantori.
While displaced for a bit, all of our family members made it through the ordeal.
To all our friends and readers, please comment to this post (IF you have power) to let us know you are ok.
On a more upbeat note, we did enjoy a nice evening (in between songs at the piano bar) this past Saturday visiting with my cousin Cindy and her partner Adrian as they were travelling through London on a European adventure of their own. Amy is also practicing her pirouettes in anticipation of spinning on a mountain top somewhere in Austria as in a few short weeks we finally get to take that Sound of Music tour.
I have a certain disdain towards the over-accentuated headlines that some media establishments will use to grab attention. But that’s another blog entry for another time.
I might even discuss Jim Cantori.
While displaced for a bit, all of our family members made it through the ordeal.
To all our friends and readers, please comment to this post (IF you have power) to let us know you are ok.
On a more upbeat note, we did enjoy a nice evening (in between songs at the piano bar) this past Saturday visiting with my cousin Cindy and her partner Adrian as they were travelling through London on a European adventure of their own. Amy is also practicing her pirouettes in anticipation of spinning on a mountain top somewhere in Austria as in a few short weeks we finally get to take that Sound of Music tour.
09 September 2008
Tuesday 9 September 2008
Tuesday Morning Football
So what if it was already in the fourth quarter.
So what if Denver was already ahead 27-0.
So what if the announcers were the 3 Mikes (Greenberg, Golic and Ditka WHAT were they thinking?).
Channel 5 here shows MNF live, and due to this west coast version of it in Week 1 of the NFL season I was able to sit in the comfortable confines of my lounger in my flat and watch LIVE "American" football.
So what if it was 5:30 AM.
07 September 2008
Saturday 6 September 2008
Today’s adventure took me down rive a bit to the area of Wapping. Now a rejuvenated area of residential flats, it still holds some of the history of the old warehouses, dockyards and other associated maritime industries. The draw for me (other than the pubs, of course) was the site just below The Old Wapping Steps, Execution Dock.
Here pirates and other water-borne criminals were hung and allowed to be submerged in the rising river tides. The nefarious Captain Kidd was one of those to meet his demise here.
Here pirates and other water-borne criminals were hung and allowed to be submerged in the rising river tides. The nefarious Captain Kidd was one of those to meet his demise here.
The gibbet has been reconstructed for us tourists, but it doesn’t remove the fact that in this place that actually did occur over the course of 400 years.
04 September 2008
Thursday 4 September 2008
Today's Random Thought:
Amy has been in Houston for the last couple weeks.
The Astros become the hottest team in baseball.
Coincidence?
I told you that they were just waiting for me. I'm pretty sure that Lance dedicated that walk off homerun in the 9th inning last Friday night to me :)
Amy has been in Houston for the last couple weeks.
The Astros become the hottest team in baseball.
Coincidence?
I told you that they were just waiting for me. I'm pretty sure that Lance dedicated that walk off homerun in the 9th inning last Friday night to me :)
01 September 2008
Monday 1 September 2008
If one takes enough photographs, occasionally, one or two of them come out worthwhile.
How can you NOT love this view? Just a 20 minute walk down the street... this is one of the things I will miss.
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