Further to my post below check out some of the photos and a clip from youTube here. I've also read that 7m litres of water gushed out...
No wonder my office was shut!
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Monday, April 28, 2008
Bonus!
So apparently they were doing some work on the water mains around my place of work over the weekend, and managed to burst a big one. Leading to flooding of my office. Leading to us not being allowed in today.
And sadly as my laptop was at work I (along with several hundred other people no doubt) got to have a bonus day off work! Can't argue with that :-). Especially as I'd had Friday off as well so got a 4 day weekend - bril!
Sadly they think we'll be able to go back in tomorrow...
And sadly as my laptop was at work I (along with several hundred other people no doubt) got to have a bonus day off work! Can't argue with that :-). Especially as I'd had Friday off as well so got a 4 day weekend - bril!
Sadly they think we'll be able to go back in tomorrow...
More film recommendations...
So on Friday after the ceremony I ended up going to see Son of Rambow - which was just fantastic. Tells the story of two boys who try to recreate Rambo - very well done, and very funny. Some of the stunt scenes had me laughing out loud - a tad embarrassing when there were only 6 of us in the cinema! So I would definitely recommend that if you need to come out of the cinema with a smile on your face and feeling that life is pretty good.
Tonight I've just been to see Shine A Light - I'm not a huge Rolling Stones fan so I wasn't sure why I said I'd go, but it was fantastic. We saw it at the IMAX, which was a bit like being at the gig - a full on aural experience! And boy - can Mick Jagger move those hips!! Definitely one for some of my older siblings/extended family...
Tonight I've just been to see Shine A Light - I'm not a huge Rolling Stones fan so I wasn't sure why I said I'd go, but it was fantastic. We saw it at the IMAX, which was a bit like being at the gig - a full on aural experience! And boy - can Mick Jagger move those hips!! Definitely one for some of my older siblings/extended family...
Friday, April 25, 2008
ANZAC Day
I took today off work for a couple of reasons - it had been a while since I'd been to the wreath laying ceremony at the Cenotaph, I haven't had a holiday since I did the West Highland Way last year, and I thought it would be nice to go again for Mum & Dad.
We've been having real April weather here - some sun and lots of showers, but today was lovely in the morning. I got to Whitehall quite early so was in time to get a poppy (from the NZ RSA which I thought was a nice touch), as well as an order of service - I often seem to have missed those in the past. It was a lovely ceremony - very simple. The troops march in, wreaths are layed, the Last Post is played, a few prayers, the National Anthems and that is it. I really noticed this year that the number of men and women who would have been in WW2 is greatly reduced from when I first went years ago. There were not many people who looked like ex-service people this year. But the crowd wasn't a bad size - and the NZ anthem had a few people singing it so it wasn't just me there...
Afterwards I went and laid my flowers for Dad and Mum - they look a bit pathetic next to the wreaths, but I'm really pleased I did it. Some photos below, but more on my Flickr site as well.
"They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old; age shall not weary them nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them".
We've been having real April weather here - some sun and lots of showers, but today was lovely in the morning. I got to Whitehall quite early so was in time to get a poppy (from the NZ RSA which I thought was a nice touch), as well as an order of service - I often seem to have missed those in the past. It was a lovely ceremony - very simple. The troops march in, wreaths are layed, the Last Post is played, a few prayers, the National Anthems and that is it. I really noticed this year that the number of men and women who would have been in WW2 is greatly reduced from when I first went years ago. There were not many people who looked like ex-service people this year. But the crowd wasn't a bad size - and the NZ anthem had a few people singing it so it wasn't just me there...
Afterwards I went and laid my flowers for Dad and Mum - they look a bit pathetic next to the wreaths, but I'm really pleased I did it. Some photos below, but more on my Flickr site as well.
"They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old; age shall not weary them nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them".
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
A hint of summer
Bit of a red letter day today - was wearing a short sleeved top around the office, and even sat outside after work for a glass of wine.
Summer may be coming after all!
Summer may be coming after all!
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Fantastic Peter Doig
So on Sunday I toddled off to see the Peter Doig exhibition with Mhairi and Nicola - as usual just squeaking in before it closes...
Absolutely loved it! Very supernatural quality to a lot of his paintings - I found them really eerie and quite scary some of them. Was sorely tempted to buy the catalogue (which is unusual for me), but I'll wait until I've been paid and go back and get it when I can afford it!
But just stunning paintings - and obviously appealed to the horror fan in me :-).
Absolutely loved it! Very supernatural quality to a lot of his paintings - I found them really eerie and quite scary some of them. Was sorely tempted to buy the catalogue (which is unusual for me), but I'll wait until I've been paid and go back and get it when I can afford it!
But just stunning paintings - and obviously appealed to the horror fan in me :-).
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Portishead - so NOT a disappointment!
On Thursday it was off to Brixton Academy to see Portishead - who have finally released their third album, 12 years after their last one!
We were upstairs (which meant we got to sit down) which was great (especially for my pregnant friend!). And they were really really good. The lead singer is apparently really shy - I had thought she was being a cool rock chick by standing with her back to the crowd for a long time when they first came on, but that wasn't the reason. She also has an amazing voice, but unlike Hollie Smith, the band didn't drown it out and it was just fantastic. Their new stuff worked well too I thought. This review is from their Manchester gig, but it could equally have been the one we saw.
It made sitting through the torturous support band worthwhile - some truly awful band playing what sounded like Eastern European gypsy music. And we were there for almost all of it - it was enough to drive a severely hung over person to drink!!
We were upstairs (which meant we got to sit down) which was great (especially for my pregnant friend!). And they were really really good. The lead singer is apparently really shy - I had thought she was being a cool rock chick by standing with her back to the crowd for a long time when they first came on, but that wasn't the reason. She also has an amazing voice, but unlike Hollie Smith, the band didn't drown it out and it was just fantastic. Their new stuff worked well too I thought. This review is from their Manchester gig, but it could equally have been the one we saw.
It made sitting through the torturous support band worthwhile - some truly awful band playing what sounded like Eastern European gypsy music. And we were there for almost all of it - it was enough to drive a severely hung over person to drink!!
Monday, April 14, 2008
Hollie Smith and camels...
Mhairi, me and her friend KT went off to see Hollie Smith at a club in West London. We met at the Grand Union pub for dinner beforehand. As we approached it, Mhairi told me they were famous for their pies... given that I have a bit of a pie fetish at the moment that was very exciting!
So I had to have the mini-pie platter - a mini-fish pie, a mini-vege pie, a mini chicken pie (very nice - I don't normally like chicken pies) and a MINI-CAMEL pie!! Oh - and chips. Just to top off the healthy meal... And in case you're wondering the camel pie was rather nice. Although very rich - I'm not sure I could have done a whole one...
Hollie Smith herself was somewhat disappointing - she has such an amazing voice, but her band was too loud. The drummer especially was very annoying and overpowering. So it wasn't as good as we had been hoping.
Although I did notice that Kiwi boys seem to have finally updated their style - there was a real dearth of rugby shirts with turned up collars which was good to see!
So I had to have the mini-pie platter - a mini-fish pie, a mini-vege pie, a mini chicken pie (very nice - I don't normally like chicken pies) and a MINI-CAMEL pie!! Oh - and chips. Just to top off the healthy meal... And in case you're wondering the camel pie was rather nice. Although very rich - I'm not sure I could have done a whole one...
Hollie Smith herself was somewhat disappointing - she has such an amazing voice, but her band was too loud. The drummer especially was very annoying and overpowering. So it wasn't as good as we had been hoping.
Although I did notice that Kiwi boys seem to have finally updated their style - there was a real dearth of rugby shirts with turned up collars which was good to see!
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Marathon running in the cold...
So on Sunday 13th Julia and I headed into town to watch the London Marathon again. Bit different from last year - where we'd been sweltering in temps of 24 deg, this time it was about 9 or 10. Freezing!
We found a spot by mile 18, but rather annoyingly missed our fastest friend Sam (who finished just under 3.5 hours), and I saw the back of another friend, Julia spotted a friend she hadn't realised was doing it, and the other two people I wanted to see I missed completely!
But it was still good fun, although we didn't stay out too long - too cold for us! We retired to a pub to have lunch and proceeded to sit through more heavy showers and hailstorms! Rather the runners than me...
We found a spot by mile 18, but rather annoyingly missed our fastest friend Sam (who finished just under 3.5 hours), and I saw the back of another friend, Julia spotted a friend she hadn't realised was doing it, and the other two people I wanted to see I missed completely!
But it was still good fun, although we didn't stay out too long - too cold for us! We retired to a pub to have lunch and proceeded to sit through more heavy showers and hailstorms! Rather the runners than me...
Sunday, April 06, 2008
And its snowing!!
Woke up this morning to the following views from my flat window... Crazy climate - no snow all winter, then a few flakes a couple of weeks ago and now this. And given that we had temps in London of around 14-16 deg during the week...
But I love it! It is sooooo pretty :-)
But I love it! It is sooooo pretty :-)
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