The Singer had this on her blog and I thought it looked fun so I stole it as well! The idea is to bold type things you have done....
1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band high school band - anyone know of a community band I could join?
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower Every August from the PetParents front yard!
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain Kilimanjaro is next on my list...
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped I'm not crazy...
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train Nope, just ferries
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill Does mentally ill count?
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola But only of the mountainous type, not the Venice type...
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors Some of 'em!
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Gotten flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving Again, not crazy...
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in Arlington Cemetery
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life Do the furry lives count?
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
Hmmm, there seem to be quite a few things on the list that I still need to do! Better get cracking!
Friday, November 28, 2008
Sunday, November 23, 2008
A semi-royal sighting
Last week I was walking down the road from work to Wimbledon Station to catch my ride home when I saw an interesting sight. A motorcade drove by me, accompanied by several motorcycle cops. The cops went on ahead and blocked off the intersection so that the cars didn't need to stop and they swept around the corner and went on. The car being protected was a fancy Rolls Royce, and was followed by two other cars. I wondered at the time who it was, as it certainly looked like someone important - but what would they be doing in Wimbledon? A few days later we were at our friends P & K's house and I got my answer. P had been on her way home from work and found a crowd gathered outside the New Wimbledon Theatre. So of course she stopped and waited too, and found out that the show going on at the theatre was a comedy special in celebration of Prince Charles' 60th, with guests including Robin Williams, John Cleese and Rowan Atkinson. While she waited the same motorcade that had passed me pulled up and discharged none other than Prince Charles, Camilla, and Prince Harry. So now I like to say that I saw them even though all I really saw was the tinted windows of their car. ;)
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Tuesday random-ness
It's my day off today, and short of spending it curled up on the couch I have no plans. So I thought it might be a good time to update the blog with recent goings-on. Nothing major, and in no particular order...
The vespa has been freed again! For a couple of days it was immobilized after the key broke off in the lock that goes around the back wheel while Noise was trying to get it open. The lock has been stiff really since we got it, but getting worse, and this was the end of its days. Unfortunately what ended up being simplest and most expedient (and most expensive) was to have a locksmith come and cut it off. I'm sure we could have cut it off ourselves but we would have had to go and rent some sort of tool and it ended up easier just to pay someone to do it.
I have finally located and purchased some snow boots! As you can imagine, winter and snow gear are not in huge demand in London, but I was looking for boots for walking in the snow when we go on our ski trip. Also I wanted something different from the boots I left at home in Canada, so I wouldn't feel like I was wasting money on something I already own. Finally my search took me to the Snow and Rock store in Covent Garden, a store devoted to winter sports and climbing. There I bought some snow boots made by the North Face, which are down-filled and have a "winter grip" and should keep my feet cozy. The best part is, although they have limited use here, they will be of great value when we return to Canada! I do have my Uggs, which are the warmest boots you could ask for, but they're not good in slippery conditions and I don't like to get them wet, so I also needed boots for hiking. I have been pleased to find that Uggs are popular over here as well - perhaps even more so than at home - so I am fitting in well with mine. They recently opened the big new mall in Shepherd's Bush with the first ever standalone Ugg store in Europe, and you still have to queue up outside the store on weekends.
For the ski trip, we have decided to go for a week after all. Our original plan was to do 3 or 4 nights, but after discovering that in fact that is MORE expensive than a 7-day package we are going to go for the week. We have narrowed it down to the Three Valleys region in the French Alps, likely either Courchevel or Meribel. We had wanted to go to Switzerland, but it looked like there weren't a lot of options for beginner/intermediates and we didn't want to be limited to one run the whole time.
We're also talking about taking some time off in March as well. My vacation time runs April to April, so I have until the end of March to use the remaining days. I'm already plotting out the next trip...
We're starting to think about Christmas around here! I can't believe it's only 5 weeks away! It's not cold enough to be Christmas... We are both big fans of decorating for Christmas and have always gone crazy decorating our house. This year we have to take it easy because all our decorations are in storage in Canada and we can't be buying a lot. But at Homebase they have small potted trees and we are thinking about getting one of them to decorate and then after Christmas it can go out in the garden, and hopefully be used again next year! We're off to the Christmas markets in Berlin next month so we may also pick up some decorations there. We also can't store a lot of decorations in our flat the rest of the year, so we will definitely have to tone down a bit. Apparently the Christmas tradition here is to go on a pub crawl on Christmas Eve, and since we have nothing else to do we may give that a go!
And on that note I think I'm off to the grocery store to get the fixings for dinner. I had PetMom send me a recipe for beef stroganoff, and am going to attempt that tonight! Wish me luck!
The vespa has been freed again! For a couple of days it was immobilized after the key broke off in the lock that goes around the back wheel while Noise was trying to get it open. The lock has been stiff really since we got it, but getting worse, and this was the end of its days. Unfortunately what ended up being simplest and most expedient (and most expensive) was to have a locksmith come and cut it off. I'm sure we could have cut it off ourselves but we would have had to go and rent some sort of tool and it ended up easier just to pay someone to do it.
I have finally located and purchased some snow boots! As you can imagine, winter and snow gear are not in huge demand in London, but I was looking for boots for walking in the snow when we go on our ski trip. Also I wanted something different from the boots I left at home in Canada, so I wouldn't feel like I was wasting money on something I already own. Finally my search took me to the Snow and Rock store in Covent Garden, a store devoted to winter sports and climbing. There I bought some snow boots made by the North Face, which are down-filled and have a "winter grip" and should keep my feet cozy. The best part is, although they have limited use here, they will be of great value when we return to Canada! I do have my Uggs, which are the warmest boots you could ask for, but they're not good in slippery conditions and I don't like to get them wet, so I also needed boots for hiking. I have been pleased to find that Uggs are popular over here as well - perhaps even more so than at home - so I am fitting in well with mine. They recently opened the big new mall in Shepherd's Bush with the first ever standalone Ugg store in Europe, and you still have to queue up outside the store on weekends.
For the ski trip, we have decided to go for a week after all. Our original plan was to do 3 or 4 nights, but after discovering that in fact that is MORE expensive than a 7-day package we are going to go for the week. We have narrowed it down to the Three Valleys region in the French Alps, likely either Courchevel or Meribel. We had wanted to go to Switzerland, but it looked like there weren't a lot of options for beginner/intermediates and we didn't want to be limited to one run the whole time.
We're also talking about taking some time off in March as well. My vacation time runs April to April, so I have until the end of March to use the remaining days. I'm already plotting out the next trip...
We're starting to think about Christmas around here! I can't believe it's only 5 weeks away! It's not cold enough to be Christmas... We are both big fans of decorating for Christmas and have always gone crazy decorating our house. This year we have to take it easy because all our decorations are in storage in Canada and we can't be buying a lot. But at Homebase they have small potted trees and we are thinking about getting one of them to decorate and then after Christmas it can go out in the garden, and hopefully be used again next year! We're off to the Christmas markets in Berlin next month so we may also pick up some decorations there. We also can't store a lot of decorations in our flat the rest of the year, so we will definitely have to tone down a bit. Apparently the Christmas tradition here is to go on a pub crawl on Christmas Eve, and since we have nothing else to do we may give that a go!
And on that note I think I'm off to the grocery store to get the fixings for dinner. I had PetMom send me a recipe for beef stroganoff, and am going to attempt that tonight! Wish me luck!
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Guy Who?
Today is Guy Fawkes Day, the day on which Brits celebrate the failed plot (of Guy Fawkes) to blow up Parliament in 1605. Oddly, the way they celebrate is by creating as many explosions as possible, mainly with fireworks and bonfires. Even more odd is the fact that it is apparently legal here for anyone to set off fireworks wherever they wish, and whenever, which means that for 3 or 4 weeks people set off fireworks randomly. Several times I have heard and seen fireworks in the street just outside our flat. At work it means we have to stock higher than normal quantities of anti-anxiety drugs and sedatives, as anyone who has ever had a dog with a firework phobia can appreciate that this is a trying time for them. Even Buggy, who is not normally bothered by fireworks, gets a bit tense when they are right outside the window. It's another interesting experience for me - instead of heartworm season and allergy season like at home, here we have firework season.
On the weekend we took advantage of the great entertainment and cultural opportunities in London and took ourselves off to another show - a play this time, not a musical. We saw Rain Man, a stage adaptation of the famous movie, starring Josh Hartnett and Adam Godley. It was excellent. We went to a matinee this time, mainly because Saturday night tickets are hard to get for this newly opened show, which then gave us time for a leisurely supper in Leicester Square after. It was what I think of as a typical London evening, a bit cold and raining, with everyone huddled together under their umbrellas but not letting it faze them.
My coworkers are my go-to people when I need information on "things London". They tell me that the weather we're currently experiencing is fairly typical winter weather - it has been fluctuating between about 2C to 10C with some wet days and some not. If this is as bad as it gets I can handle this! However, it also gets dark at 4:30 and when it's raining the cold soaks right into your bones, so we'll see how I feel by the end of the winter. The girls at work have been complaining about how cold it is, but I've been keeping my mouth shut. Conversely, it snowed last week - the first time it has snowed in London in October since 1934. It seems to follow me wherever I go. Of course it didn't stay, and I know that at home it snowed 20cm the same night, so still no complaints here.
We've just passed the 5 month mark since we arrived here, and feel like we've done lots but still have so much to do. Next up, as you know, is the trip to Berlin and the Christmas markets. After that we have the PetParents coming for New Years, and then hopefully a ski trip in January. Now we need to plan something for the spring! (Can we say Italy?)
On the weekend we took advantage of the great entertainment and cultural opportunities in London and took ourselves off to another show - a play this time, not a musical. We saw Rain Man, a stage adaptation of the famous movie, starring Josh Hartnett and Adam Godley. It was excellent. We went to a matinee this time, mainly because Saturday night tickets are hard to get for this newly opened show, which then gave us time for a leisurely supper in Leicester Square after. It was what I think of as a typical London evening, a bit cold and raining, with everyone huddled together under their umbrellas but not letting it faze them.
My coworkers are my go-to people when I need information on "things London". They tell me that the weather we're currently experiencing is fairly typical winter weather - it has been fluctuating between about 2C to 10C with some wet days and some not. If this is as bad as it gets I can handle this! However, it also gets dark at 4:30 and when it's raining the cold soaks right into your bones, so we'll see how I feel by the end of the winter. The girls at work have been complaining about how cold it is, but I've been keeping my mouth shut. Conversely, it snowed last week - the first time it has snowed in London in October since 1934. It seems to follow me wherever I go. Of course it didn't stay, and I know that at home it snowed 20cm the same night, so still no complaints here.
We've just passed the 5 month mark since we arrived here, and feel like we've done lots but still have so much to do. Next up, as you know, is the trip to Berlin and the Christmas markets. After that we have the PetParents coming for New Years, and then hopefully a ski trip in January. Now we need to plan something for the spring! (Can we say Italy?)
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
A few photos...
I was looking at some photos on the computer the other day and came across a few taken while we were out and about with the Singer and Serdic, and a few from the day that Noise and I went to Richmond Park. I've posted them here for your enjoyment!
We so totally have Sky now (as of 15 minutes ago) but I am still watching Friends. For those of you who aren't in on the joke, since we got here we've found the only thing to watch on tv was reruns of Friends - two episodes on each night, played at 6, 7, 8, and 9. But over the last few weeks they've been leading up to the series finale, which is on tonight, so I couldn't abandon Friends even though now I have hundreds of channels to choose from. Tomorrow night I'll start looking for something else to watch, but tonight I'm sticking with Friends!
We so totally have Sky now (as of 15 minutes ago) but I am still watching Friends. For those of you who aren't in on the joke, since we got here we've found the only thing to watch on tv was reruns of Friends - two episodes on each night, played at 6, 7, 8, and 9. But over the last few weeks they've been leading up to the series finale, which is on tonight, so I couldn't abandon Friends even though now I have hundreds of channels to choose from. Tomorrow night I'll start looking for something else to watch, but tonight I'm sticking with Friends!
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Dance on the Grave of Capitalism
So I got to experience my first London protest on Friday night.
Being Halloween night, a bunch of socialist morons thought it would be relevant to hold a protest outside the building that I am working in. Why my building? Well because its the 31 story office building mainly consisting of the Lehman Brothers headoffice for Europe. Added to that is the fact that the entire area, Canary Wharf, is home to various banking and financial institutions. So the scene is apparently a useful place to dress up as ghosts and goblins and mock the recent troubles had by these companies. Hence - Dance on the Grave of Capitalism.
Now, I am not really against the ability of the common people to voice their thoughts and concerns through peaceful protests and demonstations. In fact, I reckon I am the beneficiary of several of those such freedom-of-speech actions - slavery, poor working conditions, anti-war protests... But mostly, I only like it when people are standing up for things I believe in. Don't bother me otherwise, go somewhere else.
However, it was pretty entertaining watching them from the safety of my 17th floor location - looking down on the mob scene banging drums and chanting some sort of plea against capitalism, all the while knowing that I was secure and not in harm's way. There was probably about 150-200 people total, of which I'd say about 75 got excited and tried to make a wave through the police control. Several of these demonstrators quickly learned the value of the gyms at the police stations - let's just say the socialists were out-muscled by the police. One guy got a serious (assuming necessary and deserved) shake down by one (assuming angry) police officer. Looked a bit like a good hockey fight when one guy loses his footing and the bigger guy comes crashing down on him. They then turned around and walked up and down the pedestrian areas outside several pubs in the area. I thought there was going to be some crazy fights, but they just marched around for a bit and headed back to the pumpkin circle for a bit of rest/regrouping/sing-along/what ever you do in a demonstration.
After about 10 minutes of watching with some colleagues, I finished up the work for the day and headed out to face the crowd myself. I had been looking forward to this all day - considering whether I should pretend to talk on my blackberry and read a Financial Times paper just for fun. (Alright, I am not that much of an ass, or that macho, but there was no way I was taking the secret exit out, anyhow. Okay - unless it was complete anarchy out there. I am not that macho). When I headed out the front doors, there were plenty of officers protecting the front of my building, but nothing was really happening with the mob. I walked across the street to where the demonstration was - and the entrance to the tube, mostly - and stood around with several other on-lookers to watch the more peaceful part of the protest. Without any incedent, I left...
My only questions about this whole thing:
1. What were they trying to do? Raise awareness? Perhaps they could have handed out candy (it was Halloween) and communicated their issues with everyone. (maybe this would be too business-like).
2. Where were these people during the last 5 years of so called "good times"?
3. How would you feel if you were one of the employees that had lost your job and you had to endure this leaving work? I appreciate that it has been almost 2 months since LB went bankrupt and most redundancies have already left - but it's still a delicate situation for several thousands of workers throughout the entire industry.
Oh well, it was kind of fun.
We can save the capitalism debate for another time...(but I think you know where I stand).
Being Halloween night, a bunch of socialist morons thought it would be relevant to hold a protest outside the building that I am working in. Why my building? Well because its the 31 story office building mainly consisting of the Lehman Brothers headoffice for Europe. Added to that is the fact that the entire area, Canary Wharf, is home to various banking and financial institutions. So the scene is apparently a useful place to dress up as ghosts and goblins and mock the recent troubles had by these companies. Hence - Dance on the Grave of Capitalism.
Now, I am not really against the ability of the common people to voice their thoughts and concerns through peaceful protests and demonstations. In fact, I reckon I am the beneficiary of several of those such freedom-of-speech actions - slavery, poor working conditions, anti-war protests... But mostly, I only like it when people are standing up for things I believe in. Don't bother me otherwise, go somewhere else.
However, it was pretty entertaining watching them from the safety of my 17th floor location - looking down on the mob scene banging drums and chanting some sort of plea against capitalism, all the while knowing that I was secure and not in harm's way. There was probably about 150-200 people total, of which I'd say about 75 got excited and tried to make a wave through the police control. Several of these demonstrators quickly learned the value of the gyms at the police stations - let's just say the socialists were out-muscled by the police. One guy got a serious (assuming necessary and deserved) shake down by one (assuming angry) police officer. Looked a bit like a good hockey fight when one guy loses his footing and the bigger guy comes crashing down on him. They then turned around and walked up and down the pedestrian areas outside several pubs in the area. I thought there was going to be some crazy fights, but they just marched around for a bit and headed back to the pumpkin circle for a bit of rest/regrouping/sing-along/what ever you do in a demonstration.
After about 10 minutes of watching with some colleagues, I finished up the work for the day and headed out to face the crowd myself. I had been looking forward to this all day - considering whether I should pretend to talk on my blackberry and read a Financial Times paper just for fun. (Alright, I am not that much of an ass, or that macho, but there was no way I was taking the secret exit out, anyhow. Okay - unless it was complete anarchy out there. I am not that macho). When I headed out the front doors, there were plenty of officers protecting the front of my building, but nothing was really happening with the mob. I walked across the street to where the demonstration was - and the entrance to the tube, mostly - and stood around with several other on-lookers to watch the more peaceful part of the protest. Without any incedent, I left...
My only questions about this whole thing:
1. What were they trying to do? Raise awareness? Perhaps they could have handed out candy (it was Halloween) and communicated their issues with everyone. (maybe this would be too business-like).
2. Where were these people during the last 5 years of so called "good times"?
3. How would you feel if you were one of the employees that had lost your job and you had to endure this leaving work? I appreciate that it has been almost 2 months since LB went bankrupt and most redundancies have already left - but it's still a delicate situation for several thousands of workers throughout the entire industry.
Oh well, it was kind of fun.
We can save the capitalism debate for another time...(but I think you know where I stand).
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