Another letter done in my musical odyssey through my ipod. Some goodies from this letter I found...
I and Love and You - The Avett Brothers
I See a Darkness - Bonnie 'Prince' Billy
I'll Be Lightning - Liam Finn
I'm Not There - Various artists (soundtrack to the film)
I'm Wide Awake, Its Morning - Bright Eyes
Icky Thump - The White Stripes
If I Had Known - Greg Brown
If You've Never Been - Embrace
Illinoise - Sufjan Stevens
Imidiwan: Companions - Tinariwen
In Between Dreams - Jack Johnson
In Our Bedroom After The War - Stars
In The Reins - Calexico / Iron and Wine
In Your Bright Ray - Grant McLennan
In Your Honour 1 & 2 - Foo Fighters
Infinite Arms - Band of Horses
Inside In / Inside Out - The Kooks
International Velvet - Catatonia
Into the Wild - Eddie Vedder
Intriguer - Crowded House
Invitation Songs - The Cave Singers
Is This It - The Strokes
It's A Shame About Ray - The Lemonheads
IV - Chatham County Line
Great to hear The Lemonheads again - an oldie but a goodie! The Avett Brothers are a newbie to me (thanks to Kevin), and I love them. Really really good. Eddie Vedder - love his voice. Need to find some Pearl Jam again - there isn't any on my ipod! And Chatham County Line - fab. I get a bit scared by my ongoing enjoyment of country/alt country. But I love it :-). Jack Johnson - definitely music for a time and a place. I can't get into him over here, but loved it when I heard it during a NZ summer holiday. The Kooks are a bit of cheesy band, but I still enjoy the light pop of it...
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Cycling the New Forest
Sunday was another leisurely brekkie, then time to pack up our homes and head off to get our cycles. Luckily we had booked, as when we turned up to collect them they were turning people away again...
We did a circuit of about 16 miles over a mixture of roads and forest roads. It was great fun - couldn't remember the last time I'd been on a bike! One pretty horrible long slow hill tho which we didn't enjoy much, but aside from that it was pretty flat and easy. Had a lovely late lunch at The Oak Inn - really good food, great service and lovely setting. Would definitely go back to it I think.
Then after the cycling it was time to head back to the metropolis - hoping to get at least one more camping trip in though before the summer ends!
We did a circuit of about 16 miles over a mixture of roads and forest roads. It was great fun - couldn't remember the last time I'd been on a bike! One pretty horrible long slow hill tho which we didn't enjoy much, but aside from that it was pretty flat and easy. Had a lovely late lunch at The Oak Inn - really good food, great service and lovely setting. Would definitely go back to it I think.
Then after the cycling it was time to head back to the metropolis - hoping to get at least one more camping trip in though before the summer ends!
Saturday, July 24, 2010
How hard can it be to do a walk backwards...
Saturday morning I was up bright and early. Much earlier than my campmates! So by the time they'd emerged I was up, showered and dressed! We enjoyed our very civilised brekkie of croissants and coffee and took it very leisurely.
We wandered off into the village of Brockenhurst to have lunch and check out the cycle hire. Interestingly Brockenhurst has a NZ connection as wounded soldiers from WWI were hospitalised there. We couldn't get cycles as they were all booked out, so after booking some for Sunday we decided to go for a walk.
The route we had made more sense for us to do it backwards - how hard could it be we thought? As it turned out - quite hard! We got lost, I got stressed (I HATE getting lost when walking...), but Simon and Jackie fortunately remained very sanguine about it all, and Simon navigated us back to the path again! But it did turn a 7.5 mile walk into about 8 - so we had a wee collapse back at the tents.
After reviving cups of tea and some cake we wandered into Brockenhurst for a pub dinner at the Rose & Crown - which had a crazy food ordering system. I didn't love having to stand for about 1/4 of an hour while waiting to order my food... Two pints later and we were done - all feeling very weary after our walking and not much sleeping!
We wandered off into the village of Brockenhurst to have lunch and check out the cycle hire. Interestingly Brockenhurst has a NZ connection as wounded soldiers from WWI were hospitalised there. We couldn't get cycles as they were all booked out, so after booking some for Sunday we decided to go for a walk.
The route we had made more sense for us to do it backwards - how hard could it be we thought? As it turned out - quite hard! We got lost, I got stressed (I HATE getting lost when walking...), but Simon and Jackie fortunately remained very sanguine about it all, and Simon navigated us back to the path again! But it did turn a 7.5 mile walk into about 8 - so we had a wee collapse back at the tents.
After reviving cups of tea and some cake we wandered into Brockenhurst for a pub dinner at the Rose & Crown - which had a crazy food ordering system. I didn't love having to stand for about 1/4 of an hour while waiting to order my food... Two pints later and we were done - all feeling very weary after our walking and not much sleeping!
Friday, July 23, 2010
Hi ho, hi ho, a camping we will go...
Friday after work, Simon, me and Jackie headed off down to the New Forest to go camping for the weekend.
Very exciting! I'd bought a new tent specially- Ness , and as Jackie had never been camping before it was a weekend of firsts :-).
We were camping at Hollands Wood which was really good. We were a bit late arriving and as it was very busy (first day of the school holidays) we didn't have a great choice of sites. We ended up being quite close to the road which made it a bit noisy, but aside from that it was fine. Simon had friends staying there on Friday night, so after we had put our tents up we took our dinner over to their motor home and enjoyed a very nice bottle of wine :-).
As the site is literally set amongst the trees, the ponies just wander through it as they want. Instructions tell you to not leave any food in your tents as they will either walk into them to get it, or trample the tents to get to it!
Very exciting! I'd bought a new tent specially- Ness , and as Jackie had never been camping before it was a weekend of firsts :-).
We were camping at Hollands Wood which was really good. We were a bit late arriving and as it was very busy (first day of the school holidays) we didn't have a great choice of sites. We ended up being quite close to the road which made it a bit noisy, but aside from that it was fine. Simon had friends staying there on Friday night, so after we had put our tents up we took our dinner over to their motor home and enjoyed a very nice bottle of wine :-).
As the site is literally set amongst the trees, the ponies just wander through it as they want. Instructions tell you to not leave any food in your tents as they will either walk into them to get it, or trample the tents to get to it!
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
The H's are done...
Another letter bit the dust this week as my journey through my ipod continued...
H.M.S. Fable - Shack
Hal - Hal
Happy Ending - The Phoenix Foundation
Hats Off to the Buskers - The View
Have You Fed the Fish? - Badly Drawn Boy
Hazards of Love - The Decemberists
Heaven is Whenever - The Hold Steady
Heaven Up Here - Echo & The Bunnymen
Heligoland - Massive Attack feat. various artists
Hello Love - The Broken Family Band
Hercules and Love Affair - Hercules and Love Affair
Here, It Never Snowed. Afterwards it Did - Twilight Sad
Here's to Taking it Easy - Phosphorescent
Here's Tom with the Weather - Shack
Heroes Original Soundtrack - Various
Hey Ma - James
High Violet - The National
Highway to Hell - ACDC
Hits - Pulp
Holding Hands, Feeding Ducks - The Brunettes
Hollie Smith E.P. - Hollie Smith
Home Before Dark - Neil Diamond
Home, Land and Sea - Trinity Roots
Honey in the Lion's Head - Greg Brown
Hope is Important - Idlewild
Horsebreaker Star - Grant McLennan
Hospice - The Antlers
Hot Fuss - The Killers
The Hour of Bewilderbeast - Badly Drawn Boy
How I Quit Smoking - Lambchop
How to Dismantle an Atom Bomb - U2
Human Conditions - Richard Ashcroft
A Hundred Million Suns - Snow Patrol
Hurricane Glass - Catherine Feeny
Hvarf-Heim (Disks 1 & 2) - Sigur Ros
Hypocrisy is the Greatest Luxury - Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy
I enjoyed the 'H's. Lots of my faves in there - The National (love the singers voice), Hot Fuss is still a great album, and you can never beat a bit of Neil Diamond. Struggling to find ones I didn't enjoy in this letter...
H.M.S. Fable - Shack
Hal - Hal
Happy Ending - The Phoenix Foundation
Hats Off to the Buskers - The View
Have You Fed the Fish? - Badly Drawn Boy
Hazards of Love - The Decemberists
Heaven is Whenever - The Hold Steady
Heaven Up Here - Echo & The Bunnymen
Heligoland - Massive Attack feat. various artists
Hello Love - The Broken Family Band
Hercules and Love Affair - Hercules and Love Affair
Here, It Never Snowed. Afterwards it Did - Twilight Sad
Here's to Taking it Easy - Phosphorescent
Here's Tom with the Weather - Shack
Heroes Original Soundtrack - Various
Hey Ma - James
High Violet - The National
Highway to Hell - ACDC
Hits - Pulp
Holding Hands, Feeding Ducks - The Brunettes
Hollie Smith E.P. - Hollie Smith
Home Before Dark - Neil Diamond
Home, Land and Sea - Trinity Roots
Honey in the Lion's Head - Greg Brown
Hope is Important - Idlewild
Horsebreaker Star - Grant McLennan
Hospice - The Antlers
Hot Fuss - The Killers
The Hour of Bewilderbeast - Badly Drawn Boy
How I Quit Smoking - Lambchop
How to Dismantle an Atom Bomb - U2
Human Conditions - Richard Ashcroft
A Hundred Million Suns - Snow Patrol
Hurricane Glass - Catherine Feeny
Hvarf-Heim (Disks 1 & 2) - Sigur Ros
Hypocrisy is the Greatest Luxury - Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy
I enjoyed the 'H's. Lots of my faves in there - The National (love the singers voice), Hot Fuss is still a great album, and you can never beat a bit of Neil Diamond. Struggling to find ones I didn't enjoy in this letter...
Where does the time go...
So since I last blogged:
- the world cup has been and gone. I watched NZ play out of their skins, I watched England crash out (yet again...) and after all that I watched my 3rd fave country win the World Cup for the first time - viva Espana!!
- I have been to The Ritz for tea. Divya and I went a few weeks ago - very cool. Great fun to get togged up on a Sunday afternoon and go and scoff delish cakes and drink (herbal) tea from a solid silver teapot... Something also very enjoyable about only being served by men! Although they were in white coats - maybe I wasn't at The Ritz at all!
- I've been doing a 'boot camp'. Essentially exercising twice a week. So I've been keeping up with the boxing and have also been getting into Kettleball. And one circuit class. All three still knacker me out, but I think I'm starting to enjoy it... this is scary!
- I've bought a tent in preparation for a camping weekend in the New Forest next weekend. Hopefully the weather will be good!
- Kevin has torn his achilles tendon - so I've been helping out as he really is quite incapacitated. Making me relish the ability I have to run around and exercise even more!
- We appear to have had summer - three weeks of temps over 25 most days. That seems to be over now though...
- My phone died and I am now toying with the idea of getting a smart phone (but not an iPhone as I can't afford one that flash!)
The Ritz - Me with the cake menu
The Ritz - Me with the cake menu
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.
Me with the cake menu - getting ready to scoff!
Tuesday, June 08, 2010
And so to Cornwall for a spot of Cornish coastal walking...
Julia organised a weekend of walking for my birthday - although I was not interested in doing anything for my birthday it was lovely to have an excuse to go away walking!
The plan was to walk from Newquay to Padstow (25 miles), have dinner at Rick Stein's cafe on the Sunday evening and then cycle on Monday. And we pretty much did everything!
Friday night we flew down to Newquay - she had investigated doing the night train, but there seemed to be a random stop at about 4am so we didn't fancy that so much. Went for a stroll around Newquay once we'd arrived. It seems to be the stag do capital of the UK - and having seen it once, I don't think I'll need to go back again! Not the most charming town I've been to... Julia spotted a guy in a mankini about 10am on Saturday morning - I think that 'stag' would have had a very long day...
The plan was to walk from Newquay to Padstow (25 miles), have dinner at Rick Stein's cafe on the Sunday evening and then cycle on Monday. And we pretty much did everything!
Friday night we flew down to Newquay - she had investigated doing the night train, but there seemed to be a random stop at about 4am so we didn't fancy that so much. Went for a stroll around Newquay once we'd arrived. It seems to be the stag do capital of the UK - and having seen it once, I don't think I'll need to go back again! Not the most charming town I've been to... Julia spotted a guy in a mankini about 10am on Saturday morning - I think that 'stag' would have had a very long day...
Monday, June 07, 2010
Wet birthday day...
Monday dawned somewhat damp...
We had the most amazing brekkie at the B&B (which I couldn't finish), then walked the remaining two miles to Padstow to complete the walk. Our original plan had been to do some cycling before getting our train back, but the weather was pretty unappealing so we headed back on an earlier train.
But not before we went to Rick Stein's bakery and bought some fruit scones, clotted cream and jam so we could have our own cream tea on the train on the way back :-). And very nice it was too!
A fab weekend!
We had the most amazing brekkie at the B&B (which I couldn't finish), then walked the remaining two miles to Padstow to complete the walk. Our original plan had been to do some cycling before getting our train back, but the weather was pretty unappealing so we headed back on an earlier train.
But not before we went to Rick Stein's bakery and bought some fruit scones, clotted cream and jam so we could have our own cream tea on the train on the way back :-). And very nice it was too!
A fab weekend!
Sunday, June 06, 2010
Julia paddling on Harlyn Bay
Julia paddling on Harlyn Bay
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.
This was actually quite a busy beach - just a well constructed photo to make it look deserted!!
Padstow town
After the most amazingly refreshing shower and rejuvenating cup of tea in the B&B we headed into Padstow for a drink and dinner at Rick Stein's Cafe.
Rick Stein is all over Padstow - cafe, restaurant, deli, fish & chip shop... the list goes on! But we really enjoyed the cafe - the food was lovely, the service was good, and it was nice and relaxed. The restaurant is the uber-posh one - we were a bit more downmarket!
I had crab with chilli and garlic with pasta for a starter, then plaice for the main, then sunken chocolate cake for dessert. Very nice too! Julia went for salt & pepper prawns, sea bream in a thai jungle curry and a cheese board. Lovely birthday meal!
Rick Stein is all over Padstow - cafe, restaurant, deli, fish & chip shop... the list goes on! But we really enjoyed the cafe - the food was lovely, the service was good, and it was nice and relaxed. The restaurant is the uber-posh one - we were a bit more downmarket!
I had crab with chilli and garlic with pasta for a starter, then plaice for the main, then sunken chocolate cake for dessert. Very nice too! Julia went for salt & pepper prawns, sea bream in a thai jungle curry and a cheese board. Lovely birthday meal!
Treyarnon Bay to Lellizzick
Sunday was another 10 miles to Lellizzick farm (a couple of miles outside of Padstow, but where we were staying so we stopped there). We were in room two.
Another great day of walking - fantastic beaches (especially Constantine Bay and Harlyn Bay), walking around the headland past the Trevose Head Lighthouse, and then walking past the observation point at Stepper Point. I was also intrigued by Mother Ivey's Bay which has cursed land apparently...
We walked past a couple of round holes - collapsed sea caves apparently. That was quite odd to think that the ground we were walking over could quite easily be hollow underneath! We saw lots of parts of the cliffs where the sea had worn a hole through it from one side to the other.
We ended up on the estuary so had a wee rest at Hawker's Cove before heading to the B&B. Our feet were feeling two days of walking by then so it was good to take the shoes off and go for a refreshing paddle!!
Another great day of walking - fantastic beaches (especially Constantine Bay and Harlyn Bay), walking around the headland past the Trevose Head Lighthouse, and then walking past the observation point at Stepper Point. I was also intrigued by Mother Ivey's Bay which has cursed land apparently...
We walked past a couple of round holes - collapsed sea caves apparently. That was quite odd to think that the ground we were walking over could quite easily be hollow underneath! We saw lots of parts of the cliffs where the sea had worn a hole through it from one side to the other.
We ended up on the estuary so had a wee rest at Hawker's Cove before heading to the B&B. Our feet were feeling two days of walking by then so it was good to take the shoes off and go for a refreshing paddle!!
Saturday, June 05, 2010
Newquay to Treyarnon Bay
Saturday dawned slightly grey, but that is good weather for walking, so once we'd sorted out all the things we'd forgotten to pack we headed off.
We were doing two sections of the South West Coast path - which pretty much just follows the coast so not much danger of getting lost! The scenery all the way around was just amazing - you'll see on Flickr that I've taken a lot of photos of stunning coastal scenery!
Our first stop was The Beach Hut at Watergate Bay - where we were a bit early for lunch so we had an 'extreme' hot chocolate. And it was pretty extreme! We bought sandwiches to eat later for lunch but it took a long time to work that chocolate off! Got a spot on the balcony and watched the families try to keep warm, and also the various surf schools doing their lessons.
Second highlight was the Bedruthan Steps - legend has it the giant Bedruthan used these stones as steps across the bay. Very cool and really quite impressive.
Saturday night we spent at Treyarnon YHA - the only accomodation Julia could find. It was fine - although somewhat dull as the books available weren't that gripping and we never managed to find the TV room! Great spot tho - and right on the path so no danger of not being able to find it!
We were doing two sections of the South West Coast path - which pretty much just follows the coast so not much danger of getting lost! The scenery all the way around was just amazing - you'll see on Flickr that I've taken a lot of photos of stunning coastal scenery!
Our first stop was The Beach Hut at Watergate Bay - where we were a bit early for lunch so we had an 'extreme' hot chocolate. And it was pretty extreme! We bought sandwiches to eat later for lunch but it took a long time to work that chocolate off! Got a spot on the balcony and watched the families try to keep warm, and also the various surf schools doing their lessons.
Second highlight was the Bedruthan Steps - legend has it the giant Bedruthan used these stones as steps across the bay. Very cool and really quite impressive.
Saturday night we spent at Treyarnon YHA - the only accomodation Julia could find. It was fine - although somewhat dull as the books available weren't that gripping and we never managed to find the TV room! Great spot tho - and right on the path so no danger of not being able to find it!
Sunday, May 30, 2010
That Sunday walking thing again...
Sunday walking for me just never works out... It just doesn't. Something always goes a bit wrong - I should know by now!
On Sunday I went out walking with Nicola and Sarah - Gomshall to Guildford. Just over 9 miles, and the weather was nicer than it had been the day before (ie it wasn't raining!). The walk itself was lovely - very picturesque - very Surrey.
Lunch however was another story... We were all looking forward to it as Sarah had been to the pub on a walk about 18 months ago and had had a lovely meal. Obviously the chef has left... or something... It started with my lime and soda actually turning out to be lime and lemonade... After waiting about 40 minutes for our food, Nicola asked where it was, to be told that the sea bass takes a long time to cook. My roast beef was obviously pre-sliced (so pleased I hadn't gone for the lamb), Sarah's vege lasagne was dry, and the fish was overdone! Sarah sent hers back and got a ploughman's as a replacement. Then we noticed the salads came with the free addition of soil... It was truly one of the worst lunch experiences I've ever had while walking. NEVER going back to that pub again.
I really should stick to Saturday walking...
On Sunday I went out walking with Nicola and Sarah - Gomshall to Guildford. Just over 9 miles, and the weather was nicer than it had been the day before (ie it wasn't raining!). The walk itself was lovely - very picturesque - very Surrey.
Lunch however was another story... We were all looking forward to it as Sarah had been to the pub on a walk about 18 months ago and had had a lovely meal. Obviously the chef has left... or something... It started with my lime and soda actually turning out to be lime and lemonade... After waiting about 40 minutes for our food, Nicola asked where it was, to be told that the sea bass takes a long time to cook. My roast beef was obviously pre-sliced (so pleased I hadn't gone for the lamb), Sarah's vege lasagne was dry, and the fish was overdone! Sarah sent hers back and got a ploughman's as a replacement. Then we noticed the salads came with the free addition of soil... It was truly one of the worst lunch experiences I've ever had while walking. NEVER going back to that pub again.
I really should stick to Saturday walking...
Friday, May 28, 2010
Kew in the spring
Friday I met Divya and Tarun and we went for a stroll around Kew. We'd missed a lot of the lovely spring flowers, including the bluebells, but as always, the treetop walkway didn't disappoint :-). No matter how many times I go to Kew I still always enjoy it, and see and learn more.
Tarun was particularly interested in the ducks - fortunately a couple feeding the ducks gave Divya some bread to give him - I think we may have had a problem on our hands otherwise!!
Lovely day in the sun :-).
Tarun was particularly interested in the ducks - fortunately a couple feeding the ducks gave Divya some bread to give him - I think we may have had a problem on our hands otherwise!!
Lovely day in the sun :-).
You looking at me??
You looking at me??
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.
I think this is the first time I've seen a peacock do this 'live'!
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Bit of history (and Winnie)
Took myself off to the Cabinet War Rooms on Wednesday afternoon - somewhere I'd always wanted to go.
Really good - I didn't realise there was a whole part of the museum devoted to Winston Churchill and that was great. Been open for five years, but all the interactive stuff still worked and it was put together really well. I ended up running out of time as I had to be somewhere by just after 5. Could have spent ages more in there - suspect I'll probably end up going again at some time.
Still - at £15 its not cheap - although it was worth it.
Really good - I didn't realise there was a whole part of the museum devoted to Winston Churchill and that was great. Been open for five years, but all the interactive stuff still worked and it was put together really well. I ended up running out of time as I had to be somewhere by just after 5. Could have spent ages more in there - suspect I'll probably end up going again at some time.
Still - at £15 its not cheap - although it was worth it.
Some more elephants...
I'm currently on 'staycation' - ie. having a week off work, but not going away. I've timed it perfectly as the weather is really nice - bit cooler today, but we've had some gorgeous days recently.
On Monday I met David and we went for a stroll around St James Park and into Green Park - lots of elephants there! More piccies on my Flickr page, but a couple of my faves here as well.
I'm loving this not having to work lark!
On Monday I met David and we went for a stroll around St James Park and into Green Park - lots of elephants there! More piccies on my Flickr page, but a couple of my faves here as well.
I'm loving this not having to work lark!
Friday, May 07, 2010
Elephants on parade...
The latest 'parade' to hit London is the Elephant Parade - which I'm really enjoying. There are loads around my office so I took a few snaps the other day. And for those on facebook you'll see a new profile pic as well :-).
I'll add more as I spot them - but these were some of my faves.
There was a great one called 'City in an Elephant' which had little windows, and inside was a mock up of a city space, with models of iconic London buildings and tiny wee elephants around them. Seriously cool! Didn't translate to a photo unfortunately.
I'll add more as I spot them - but these were some of my faves.
There was a great one called 'City in an Elephant' which had little windows, and inside was a mock up of a city space, with models of iconic London buildings and tiny wee elephants around them. Seriously cool! Didn't translate to a photo unfortunately.
Roses elephant
Roses elephant
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.
Not really roses, but makes me think of them for some reason.
Three in a row!
Three in a row!
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.
With the Scoop to the right, and Boris's office in the background...
Wednesday, May 05, 2010
Galloping through the Gs
Yep - another letter done... Some highlights, some real lowlights as well...
Gershwin's World - Herbie Hancock
A Ghost is Born - Wilco
Ghost Notes - Everest
Giant Steps - The Boo Radleys
Gilles Petersen in the House Disc 1 & 2 - Various
A Girl Called Dusty - Dusty Springfield
Glassworks - Philip Glass
Glasvegas - Glasvegas
Glitter in the Gutter - Jesse Malin
Global A Go-Go - Joe Strummer & the Mescaleros
Global Underground Reykjavik Disc 1 & 2 - Various
The Golden Archipelago - Shearwater
The Golden Mile - My Life Story
Good - Goodshirt
The Good Life - Justin Townes Earle
The Good Will Out - Embrace
Goodbye - The Czars
Gossip - Paul Kelly & the Coloured Girls
Grace - Jeff Buckley
Graceland - Paul Simon
Grand Prix - Teenage Fanclub
The Greatest - Cat Power
Greatest Hits - Simon & Garfunkel
Greatest Hits - Bruce Springsteen
Greatest Palace Music - Bonnie 'Prince' Billy
Green - R.E.M
The Green Hour - The Autumn Defense
Greetings from Michigan: The Great Lake State - Sufjan Stevens
Growing Pains - Mary J. Blige
Guerrilla - Super Furry Animals
Gulag Orkestar - Beirut
A few old faves on this one - Gossip is still an outstanding album for me, as is Green. Can't go past a bit of 'The Boss' or Dusty for when you want a good old sing-a-long. Mary J. Blige falls into the 'where on earth did I get that from' category. Not my type of music at all... Embrace will always hold a place in my heart, and I enjoyed the dancey stuff as well...
My odyssey continues :-)
Gershwin's World - Herbie Hancock
A Ghost is Born - Wilco
Ghost Notes - Everest
Giant Steps - The Boo Radleys
Gilles Petersen in the House Disc 1 & 2 - Various
A Girl Called Dusty - Dusty Springfield
Glassworks - Philip Glass
Glasvegas - Glasvegas
Glitter in the Gutter - Jesse Malin
Global A Go-Go - Joe Strummer & the Mescaleros
Global Underground Reykjavik Disc 1 & 2 - Various
The Golden Archipelago - Shearwater
The Golden Mile - My Life Story
Good - Goodshirt
The Good Life - Justin Townes Earle
The Good Will Out - Embrace
Goodbye - The Czars
Gossip - Paul Kelly & the Coloured Girls
Grace - Jeff Buckley
Graceland - Paul Simon
Grand Prix - Teenage Fanclub
The Greatest - Cat Power
Greatest Hits - Simon & Garfunkel
Greatest Hits - Bruce Springsteen
Greatest Palace Music - Bonnie 'Prince' Billy
Green - R.E.M
The Green Hour - The Autumn Defense
Greetings from Michigan: The Great Lake State - Sufjan Stevens
Growing Pains - Mary J. Blige
Guerrilla - Super Furry Animals
Gulag Orkestar - Beirut
A few old faves on this one - Gossip is still an outstanding album for me, as is Green. Can't go past a bit of 'The Boss' or Dusty for when you want a good old sing-a-long. Mary J. Blige falls into the 'where on earth did I get that from' category. Not my type of music at all... Embrace will always hold a place in my heart, and I enjoyed the dancey stuff as well...
My odyssey continues :-)
Sunday, April 25, 2010
A 'Sarf East' Meantime weekend...
Saturday I headed out to Greenwich with Jackie, Nicola and Simon. It was another gorgeous April spring day so we had a wee stroll through Greenwich Market (which I love - as I'm sure I've mentioned before...) and then went up to the hill to the Royal Observatory to see the 'Secrets of the Sun' show at the Planetarium. It was a great show - although we managed to horrify Nicola by admitting that none of us knew the sun would burn out and die (although apparently humans will have left Earth by then in spaceships to find new worlds to live in, so there is no need to worry about it...).
Then it was off down to the Greenwich Union for an early meal and a couple of pints of their delish Helles Meantime beer.
Sunday was back out to Greenwich to go and visit Craig and Sarah and finally meet their youngest - Edith, aged 6 months. Absolutely gorgeous! Then while Sarah took Nola and Stanley off to a birthday party, Craig and I took Edith to The Old Brewery - this time I sampled the Pale Ale. And endured disapproving looks from many people there who assumed I was Edith's mother...
Then it was off down to the Greenwich Union for an early meal and a couple of pints of their delish Helles Meantime beer.
Sunday was back out to Greenwich to go and visit Craig and Sarah and finally meet their youngest - Edith, aged 6 months. Absolutely gorgeous! Then while Sarah took Nola and Stanley off to a birthday party, Craig and I took Edith to The Old Brewery - this time I sampled the Pale Ale. And endured disapproving looks from many people there who assumed I was Edith's mother...
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Sunny walking
Headed out for a walk with the old 'London Loop' crew - minus Mhairi of course!
This time we were down in Kent - walking from Cowden to Hever. Nicola had an earlier start than all of us as she misread the times and went for the train an hour earlier than us. So I was getting panicked text messages telling me the train was cancelled while I was still at home getting ready, while she was already at London Bridge train station...
The walk was lovely and the weather was gorgeous. Lovely and sunny - very spring like. Lots and lots of stiles however (not so much fun), and Jackie and I managed to step into a bog formed of cow crap - up to our ankles both of us! Thank heavens for good goretex walking shoes is what I say!! Part of the walk went through Chiddingstone so we diverted to take a look at the 'Chiding Stone' - cue much chiding of course.
Interesting as well to see that a lot of the trees were still not very green - sign of the long, cold winter we've only just started emerging from.
We got back to the train station at the end to find there were signal problems and we were delayed for almost an hour. But it wasn't too bad sat in the sun - I was remarkably zen about it all. Had it been wet and cold it probably would have been a different matter!
This time we were down in Kent - walking from Cowden to Hever. Nicola had an earlier start than all of us as she misread the times and went for the train an hour earlier than us. So I was getting panicked text messages telling me the train was cancelled while I was still at home getting ready, while she was already at London Bridge train station...
The walk was lovely and the weather was gorgeous. Lovely and sunny - very spring like. Lots and lots of stiles however (not so much fun), and Jackie and I managed to step into a bog formed of cow crap - up to our ankles both of us! Thank heavens for good goretex walking shoes is what I say!! Part of the walk went through Chiddingstone so we diverted to take a look at the 'Chiding Stone' - cue much chiding of course.
Interesting as well to see that a lot of the trees were still not very green - sign of the long, cold winter we've only just started emerging from.
We got back to the train station at the end to find there were signal problems and we were delayed for almost an hour. But it wasn't too bad sat in the sun - I was remarkably zen about it all. Had it been wet and cold it probably would have been a different matter!
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Getting the heart rate up...
I've just started exercising - don't everyone fall off their seat in shock! I've started doing a 'Boxing for Fitness' class at a park around the corner from where I live.
Its REALLY hard, cos I don't normally do any aerobic exercise at all, but once the class is over I realise I've quite enjoyed it. Can't say I enjoy it at the time tho - I am not one of those people who love exercising - I fall definitely into the lazy camp I've decided! But I know I've got to do something so I finally plucked up the courage to start! Now I just need to keep going :-).
Its REALLY hard, cos I don't normally do any aerobic exercise at all, but once the class is over I realise I've quite enjoyed it. Can't say I enjoy it at the time tho - I am not one of those people who love exercising - I fall definitely into the lazy camp I've decided! But I know I've got to do something so I finally plucked up the courage to start! Now I just need to keep going :-).
Monday, March 29, 2010
Finished with the 'F's
And my musical odyssey through my ipod continues...
Fables of the Reconstruction - REM
Falling off the Lavender Bridge - Lightspeed Champion
Fate - Dr Dog
Favourite Worst Nightmare - Arctic Monkeys
Feeling Strangely Fine - Semisonic
The Felice Brothers - The Felice Brothers
Figure 8 - Elliott Smith
Fiji Baby - Goodshirt
Final Straw - Snow Patrol
The Fine Art of Self Destruction - Jesse Malin
Fireboy - Grant McLennan
The First Days of Spring - Noah and the Whale
Five Leaves Left - Nick Drake
Five Roses - Miracle Fortress
Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes
Float Away with the Friday Night Gods - Marah
Flowers - Echo & the Bunnymen
The Flying Club Cup - Beirut
Foo Fighters - Foo Fighters
The Football Factory Soundtrack
For Emma, Forever Ago - Bon Iver
For the Dead - Gene
For Today - Netherworld Dancing Toys
Forever Delayed - Manic Street Preachers
Forty Licks - The Rolling Stones
Forward March! - The Strange Death of Liberal England
Frank - Amy Winehouse
Franz Ferdinand - Franz Ferdinand
The Friends of Rachel Worth - The Go-Betweens
From a Basement on the Hill - Elliott Smith
Funeral - The Arcade Fire
Future Clouds & Radar - Future Clouds & Radar
Future Reference - Rhombus
The 'F's were a bit forgettable really - some old fave artists in there - Gene, Snow Patrol and The Go-Betweens. Stand out new listen for me was Future Clouds & Radar though - really enjoyed them. Bon Iver and Fleet Foxes are always good, and the Netherworlds were a bit of a blast from the past :-).
Fables of the Reconstruction - REM
Falling off the Lavender Bridge - Lightspeed Champion
Fate - Dr Dog
Favourite Worst Nightmare - Arctic Monkeys
Feeling Strangely Fine - Semisonic
The Felice Brothers - The Felice Brothers
Figure 8 - Elliott Smith
Fiji Baby - Goodshirt
Final Straw - Snow Patrol
The Fine Art of Self Destruction - Jesse Malin
Fireboy - Grant McLennan
The First Days of Spring - Noah and the Whale
Five Leaves Left - Nick Drake
Five Roses - Miracle Fortress
Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes
Float Away with the Friday Night Gods - Marah
Flowers - Echo & the Bunnymen
The Flying Club Cup - Beirut
Foo Fighters - Foo Fighters
The Football Factory Soundtrack
For Emma, Forever Ago - Bon Iver
For the Dead - Gene
For Today - Netherworld Dancing Toys
Forever Delayed - Manic Street Preachers
Forty Licks - The Rolling Stones
Forward March! - The Strange Death of Liberal England
Frank - Amy Winehouse
Franz Ferdinand - Franz Ferdinand
The Friends of Rachel Worth - The Go-Betweens
From a Basement on the Hill - Elliott Smith
Funeral - The Arcade Fire
Future Clouds & Radar - Future Clouds & Radar
Future Reference - Rhombus
The 'F's were a bit forgettable really - some old fave artists in there - Gene, Snow Patrol and The Go-Betweens. Stand out new listen for me was Future Clouds & Radar though - really enjoyed them. Bon Iver and Fleet Foxes are always good, and the Netherworlds were a bit of a blast from the past :-).
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Crazy Heart
Went to see this - was very keen as it had both Jeff Bridges and country music. What a great combo!
And it was good - the music was great. Am def going to get the soundtrack. It was a film Mum would have liked - you knew exactly where it was going, but it was still enjoyable watching it unfold. Country singer, alcoholic, meets girl... and thats all I'll say.
The relationship between Jeff and Maggie G wasn't that convincing to me, but that would be my one minor quibble. Still a very good film, and one worth catching. Although probably equally good on DVD...
And it was good - the music was great. Am def going to get the soundtrack. It was a film Mum would have liked - you knew exactly where it was going, but it was still enjoyable watching it unfold. Country singer, alcoholic, meets girl... and thats all I'll say.
The relationship between Jeff and Maggie G wasn't that convincing to me, but that would be my one minor quibble. Still a very good film, and one worth catching. Although probably equally good on DVD...
Saturday, March 20, 2010
And a few films...
I've been making more of an effort to get out and see films actually at the cinema - instead of doing my usual waiting until they are out on DVD... So lately I've seen:
- Avatar: I went to see this as I was expecting it to mop up at the Oscars, and I thought I really should go and see it. I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would and liked the 3D - although then it didn't win everything at the Oscars!
- Invictus: Very good - although Morgan Freeman still sounded like Morgan Freeman... But it did almost make me glad that South Africa won the world cup - almost!
- Girl with the Dragon Tattoo: Having just finished the second book in this series I was curious to see how they would adapt the first book. But being a Swedish film as opposed to a Hollywood one, it was pretty close to the book, so some of the scenes were pretty disturbing. Which has meant it has been accused of focusing too much on the violence against women - not sure I agree with that. It was difficult to watch at times, but I've seen as bad in CSI and other horror movies.
- Alice in Wonderland 3D: I enjoyed this. Lots of the reviews have been quite critical, but I just thought it was a good visual adaptation of the story. Didn't really need to see it 3D I don't think, but it was still fun.
Saturday, March 06, 2010
Henry Moore and a glass of wine
Met Nicola quite late on Saturday and we headed off to Tate Britain to go to the new Henry Moore show that has just opened. Quite unusual for me to get to an exhibition so early on - I'm usually seeing it right at the end!
It was very good - although I think I preferred seeing his sculptures at Kew Gardens. But still definitely worth seeing - and he really did seem to have a thing with a certain part of the female anatomy...
Afterwards we went for a drink at the Arch Duke - nice wee winebar very close to Waterloo. Turned into more than one, but it was a lovely way to end the outing!
It was very good - although I think I preferred seeing his sculptures at Kew Gardens. But still definitely worth seeing - and he really did seem to have a thing with a certain part of the female anatomy...
Afterwards we went for a drink at the Arch Duke - nice wee winebar very close to Waterloo. Turned into more than one, but it was a lovely way to end the outing!
Friday, March 05, 2010
Watching someone else's favourite band...
I went to see Power of Dreams with Kevin - I'd not heard of them, but had listened to them a bit on MySpace and thought they sounded quite good, plus it was at the Luminaire, which is a great venue.
It was a reunion for their 20th anniversary so there were some real die-hard fans there. VERY funny watching people go crazy as they recognised the next song - especially when you have no real idea of any of them!
Strange support band from Reading who had brought their own posse along - also diehard fans. Highlight of that bit was the 'topless dancing' - two quite tattooed young men taking their tops off and getting up on the stage to dance...
It was a reunion for their 20th anniversary so there were some real die-hard fans there. VERY funny watching people go crazy as they recognised the next song - especially when you have no real idea of any of them!
Strange support band from Reading who had brought their own posse along - also diehard fans. Highlight of that bit was the 'topless dancing' - two quite tattooed young men taking their tops off and getting up on the stage to dance...
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Lovely Sunday lunches
Been out for two lovely Sunday lunches recently - the first one to help Nicola celebrate her birthday ( a bit belatedly). We went to the Princess of Wales in Blackheath where I had a lovely roast beef and sticky toffee pudding. Could barely move at the end of it!
And then on Sunday it was off to The Modern Pantry with Chris and David etc. This one I found through the Time Out website, and convieniently it had a NZ connection so my pudding just had to be hokey pokey ice-cream. It was great!!
I could get used to this pattern of Sunday lunches :-).
And then on Sunday it was off to The Modern Pantry with Chris and David etc. This one I found through the Time Out website, and convieniently it had a NZ connection so my pudding just had to be hokey pokey ice-cream. It was great!!
I could get used to this pattern of Sunday lunches :-).
Friday, February 26, 2010
First gig of 2010
Friday night it was off to see the fantastic Hot Chip at Brixton. Second time Divya and I have seen them and once again they were great. Their new album is really good - I particularly like the song 'Brothers' - about four brothers, and yes it does make me think of (and miss) mine every time I listen to it - my bro's rock :-).
Funny gig tho - they are a geeky, older band - but the crowd was full of uber cool young things - of course Divya and I felt right at home!
Starting to feel like I'm getting my gig mojo back - its been a while since I've really enjoyed a gig...
Funny gig tho - they are a geeky, older band - but the crowd was full of uber cool young things - of course Divya and I felt right at home!
Starting to feel like I'm getting my gig mojo back - its been a while since I've really enjoyed a gig...
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Eeeeeasy does it...
Another letter down - here are the 'E's...
E-Bow the Letter - REM
Ease Down the Road - Bonnie 'Prince' Billy
Ecce Home - Grant Hart
Echo & the Bunnymen - Echo & the Bunnymen
Echoes - The Rapture
Either/Or - Elliott Smith
Elephant - The White Stripes
Elephunk - Black Eyed Peas
Empire - Kasabian
Employment - Kaiser Chiefs
An End Has a Start - Editors
Envy of Angels - Muttonbirds
Eveningland - Hem
Evergreen - Echo & the Bunnymen
Every Breath You Take: The Classics - The Police
Everyone - Grand Drive
Everyone is Here - Finn Brothers
Everything All The Time - Band of Horses
Everything Must Go - Manic Street Preachers
Evil Urges - My Morning Jacket
Extraordinary Machine - Fiona Apple
Eye to the Telescope - KT Tunstall
Eyes Open - Snow Patrol
Few old faves here I hadn't listened to for a while - White Stripes, My Morning Jacket, Manic Street Preachers... Blast from the past with Grant Hart. And The Rapture! Horrendous - they are definitely coming off!
E-Bow the Letter - REM
Ease Down the Road - Bonnie 'Prince' Billy
Ecce Home - Grant Hart
Echo & the Bunnymen - Echo & the Bunnymen
Echoes - The Rapture
Either/Or - Elliott Smith
Elephant - The White Stripes
Elephunk - Black Eyed Peas
Empire - Kasabian
Employment - Kaiser Chiefs
An End Has a Start - Editors
Envy of Angels - Muttonbirds
Eveningland - Hem
Evergreen - Echo & the Bunnymen
Every Breath You Take: The Classics - The Police
Everyone - Grand Drive
Everyone is Here - Finn Brothers
Everything All The Time - Band of Horses
Everything Must Go - Manic Street Preachers
Evil Urges - My Morning Jacket
Extraordinary Machine - Fiona Apple
Eye to the Telescope - KT Tunstall
Eyes Open - Snow Patrol
Few old faves here I hadn't listened to for a while - White Stripes, My Morning Jacket, Manic Street Preachers... Blast from the past with Grant Hart. And The Rapture! Horrendous - they are definitely coming off!
Monday, February 08, 2010
Last morning
We had planned to explore the Jewish Quarter this morning, but time got away from us... So we had a lovely leisurely lunch instead (eating was a theme of the weekend!) and I decided I have to go back when the weather is warmer, and I'll do it then :-).
Really enjoyed Prague - great city, and am definitely keen to go back. I fancy sitting in a beer garden in the sun and enjoying some of that lovely beer...
Pics posted soon!
Really enjoyed Prague - great city, and am definitely keen to go back. I fancy sitting in a beer garden in the sun and enjoying some of that lovely beer...
Pics posted soon!
Sunday, February 07, 2010
Now that is what I call COLD
Sunday was freezing!! Fortunately it warmed up a bit later in the day, but it was absolutely bitter in the morning. We both agreed it was well in the minuses early on...
Sunday we wandered over the Charles Bridge - bit disappointing to be honest. It is undergoing renovations, but you could see hawkers where-ever there wasn't scaffolding etc, and I could imagine it is just unpleasant in the really busy season. Then it was up the Prague Castle - actually a collection of buildings rather than a castle per se. St Vitus Cathedral was very impressive - especially the stained glass windows which were fantastic. And the incredibly over-the-top silver tomb - over two tons of silver used!! But we were soooo cold we had to go for lunch and thaw out :-). So a restorative hot wine and beef goulash in a bread bowl (yum!) and we were ready to venture out again...
We walked down through Mala Strana, which in summer I imagine is a lovely green park. For us it was lovely and snowy, and just as lovely. Lots of Prague children out sledging down the hills! We checked out the Lennon wall as well. Apparently it was saved by the French ambassador a few years ago - although the Wikipedia entry doesn't mention this! We also found a fence covered in padlocks - apparently they are love padlocks. Newly married couples scratch their names/initials on a padlock, attach it to a fence and throw away the key as a sign of their commitment to each other... How sweet...
Sunday we wandered over the Charles Bridge - bit disappointing to be honest. It is undergoing renovations, but you could see hawkers where-ever there wasn't scaffolding etc, and I could imagine it is just unpleasant in the really busy season. Then it was up the Prague Castle - actually a collection of buildings rather than a castle per se. St Vitus Cathedral was very impressive - especially the stained glass windows which were fantastic. And the incredibly over-the-top silver tomb - over two tons of silver used!! But we were soooo cold we had to go for lunch and thaw out :-). So a restorative hot wine and beef goulash in a bread bowl (yum!) and we were ready to venture out again...
We walked down through Mala Strana, which in summer I imagine is a lovely green park. For us it was lovely and snowy, and just as lovely. Lots of Prague children out sledging down the hills! We checked out the Lennon wall as well. Apparently it was saved by the French ambassador a few years ago - although the Wikipedia entry doesn't mention this! We also found a fence covered in padlocks - apparently they are love padlocks. Newly married couples scratch their names/initials on a padlock, attach it to a fence and throw away the key as a sign of their commitment to each other... How sweet...
Saturday, February 06, 2010
Waitangi Day in Prague...
Saturday we spent just wandering around Prague. Started off at Wenceslas Square - which isn't a square at all, but is a big long street in the shopping district. Weather was cold and a bit snowy, but on the whole it was manageable.
We took a very laid back approach to our sightseeing - both agreeing that we were quite happy just walking around. I loved it - once we'd hit the Old Town it was just lovely. We climbed the Powder Gate for the view - which was ok. We thought we'd see the river and the Charles Bridge from it, but no such luck.
We had a late-ish lunch and lovely beer at Kolkovna, and then dinner at Stoleti, which had been recommended to us by Nicola. After also having a lovely latte during the day, we decided we were very impressed with both the town, the food and the beer!
We took a very laid back approach to our sightseeing - both agreeing that we were quite happy just walking around. I loved it - once we'd hit the Old Town it was just lovely. We climbed the Powder Gate for the view - which was ok. We thought we'd see the river and the Charles Bridge from it, but no such luck.
We had a late-ish lunch and lovely beer at Kolkovna, and then dinner at Stoleti, which had been recommended to us by Nicola. After also having a lovely latte during the day, we decided we were very impressed with both the town, the food and the beer!
Friday, February 05, 2010
Off to Prague
Friday evening I headed off to Prague with Divya for a long weekend - we'd booked it before Xmas and had got a very good deal on flights and accommodation.
I hadn't really thought too much about the weather when we booked it, but was quite nervous during the week as we kept checking the weather - and seeing forecast temperatures of -10... I wasn't sure I had the right clothes for that sort of cold!
Flight was painless (Easyjet, so its always good when there are no delays...) - and very short. Only 1.5 hours! Our hotel recommended a bar which we went out to find, but couldn't. Realised the next day we'd been on completely the wrong street. But we ended up in one over the road from our hotel for a quick drink before going to bed. My first experience in a bar where it is still ok to smoke for a very long time... I'd forgotten what it was like...
I hadn't really thought too much about the weather when we booked it, but was quite nervous during the week as we kept checking the weather - and seeing forecast temperatures of -10... I wasn't sure I had the right clothes for that sort of cold!
Flight was painless (Easyjet, so its always good when there are no delays...) - and very short. Only 1.5 hours! Our hotel recommended a bar which we went out to find, but couldn't. Realised the next day we'd been on completely the wrong street. But we ended up in one over the road from our hotel for a quick drink before going to bed. My first experience in a bar where it is still ok to smoke for a very long time... I'd forgotten what it was like...
Thursday, February 04, 2010
A cinematic start to the year
Not doing too badly so far for films... Have seen 'Up In The Air' and 'The Road'.
Up In the Air was good - bit of a George Clooney vehicle but not quite the romcom I was expecting so I enjoyed it. Not sure its good enough to be in the Best Film list for the Oscars however...
Saw The Road last week - wow. What a film. Blew me away. I haven't read the book, but absolutely thought the film was fantastic. Felt like I'd been emotionally thumped at the end of it, and would quite like to see the ending again. I think I was so over-wrought by it that I wasn't really taking it all in properly. I definitely needed my tissues for that one...
Up In the Air was good - bit of a George Clooney vehicle but not quite the romcom I was expecting so I enjoyed it. Not sure its good enough to be in the Best Film list for the Oscars however...
Saw The Road last week - wow. What a film. Blew me away. I haven't read the book, but absolutely thought the film was fantastic. Felt like I'd been emotionally thumped at the end of it, and would quite like to see the ending again. I think I was so over-wrought by it that I wasn't really taking it all in properly. I definitely needed my tissues for that one...
Sunday, January 31, 2010
A very cold Kew...
On Sunday we went to Kew before heading back to King's Cross so Dawn could get her train back home to East Yorkshire.
It was pretty cold, and a lot of the ponds were frozen - great fun watching the birds skidding and sliding around on the ice! And the tree-top walkway was fantastic as well - its always great, no matter what time of year. I'm not sure I'd been on it when the trees were quite so bare before.
Watch out for photos to be posted shortly!
It was pretty cold, and a lot of the ponds were frozen - great fun watching the birds skidding and sliding around on the ice! And the tree-top walkway was fantastic as well - its always great, no matter what time of year. I'm not sure I'd been on it when the trees were quite so bare before.
Watch out for photos to be posted shortly!
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Re-visiting Egypt
My friend Dawn (who I met on my trip to Egypt) came down to stay for the weekend - we decided that it made the most sense to re-visit our Christmas holiday with a stroll around the British Museum - home to many plundered relics from Egypt! It was quite strange to see pieces that were so similar to things we had seen in-situ such a short time ago - and also to look at these things with much more of an appreciation of the history of them.
There is a lot of controversy around the Rosetta Stone - but I must admit that after having been to the Egyptian Museum that I do think they need to do some work on their facilities before being able to display it - I can see why the British Museum is a bit loathe to return it...
It did occur to me while I was there as well that I don't think I've ever really spent much time at the British Museum so we had a lovely afternoon checking out the different galleries. I'm not sure its my favourite museum (that is probably sacrilege to say), but it was good to spend some time checking it out.
There is a lot of controversy around the Rosetta Stone - but I must admit that after having been to the Egyptian Museum that I do think they need to do some work on their facilities before being able to display it - I can see why the British Museum is a bit loathe to return it...
It did occur to me while I was there as well that I don't think I've ever really spent much time at the British Museum so we had a lovely afternoon checking out the different galleries. I'm not sure its my favourite museum (that is probably sacrilege to say), but it was good to spend some time checking it out.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
First walk of 2010
Did a cracking walk yesterday with Julia and Kevin. The Amberley Circular - 10.5 miles and it was really good.
First half before lunch was walking through the water meadows of the Arun - and after the snow and then the rain, they were definitely more water than meadow! We were all very pleased to be wearing our wonderful waterproof boots, and Julia was very envious of Kevin and I with our gaiters on... Highlight of the morning had to be coming around a corner to see about 7 or 8 deer at the end of our path leaping over a fence - a few young bucks with some rather large antlers as well! Just amazing to see - its all in the timing.
After lunch it was a stretch up the hill to the top of the South Downs for a great walk along the ridge. Bit grey, but the views were still ok - we could really see the waterlogged meadows. And time for a quick drink at the fab Bridge Inn pub before getting the train back to London. Excellent start to a new year of walking!
First half before lunch was walking through the water meadows of the Arun - and after the snow and then the rain, they were definitely more water than meadow! We were all very pleased to be wearing our wonderful waterproof boots, and Julia was very envious of Kevin and I with our gaiters on... Highlight of the morning had to be coming around a corner to see about 7 or 8 deer at the end of our path leaping over a fence - a few young bucks with some rather large antlers as well! Just amazing to see - its all in the timing.
After lunch it was a stretch up the hill to the top of the South Downs for a great walk along the ridge. Bit grey, but the views were still ok - we could really see the waterlogged meadows. And time for a quick drink at the fab Bridge Inn pub before getting the train back to London. Excellent start to a new year of walking!
Boot cleaning!
Boot cleaning!
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.
Attempting to clean mud off boots - turned out to be a waste of time - there was plenty more to come!
Playing in the snow
Playing in the snow
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.
Spot the waterlogged meadows in the distance!
A wee round up...
Not been enormously busy lately as I've been settling back into the groove of work - aligned with the fact that January is always a quiet month as we get paid earlier in December so that December pay has to stretch out a looonnngg way...
But I did go and see Moctezuma at the British Library a couple of weeks ago. Not sure if that link will work or not as it finishes today so they may move the page... Very good exhibition tho - in the same theme as the Hadrian one I went to - didn't paint the Spanish in a very good light - although I guess they were fairly typical of any conquering sort of nation. Also interesting to see the 'name glyphs' they used, as opposed to the 'hieroglyphs' the Egyptians used...
Also went to see Up In The Air last week - the new George Clooney movie. I didn't know much about it so was expecting a rom com. Doesn't quite fall into that category it has to be said... Enjoyed it tho - wasn't expecting the ending at all.
But I did go and see Moctezuma at the British Library a couple of weeks ago. Not sure if that link will work or not as it finishes today so they may move the page... Very good exhibition tho - in the same theme as the Hadrian one I went to - didn't paint the Spanish in a very good light - although I guess they were fairly typical of any conquering sort of nation. Also interesting to see the 'name glyphs' they used, as opposed to the 'hieroglyphs' the Egyptians used...
Also went to see Up In The Air last week - the new George Clooney movie. I didn't know much about it so was expecting a rom com. Doesn't quite fall into that category it has to be said... Enjoyed it tho - wasn't expecting the ending at all.
Saturday, January 09, 2010
Snow...
This was taken from my lounge window on Wednesday - with my phone so its not amazing quality, but you can just sort of see the snow falling...
It's been a while...
Since I've blogged about the weather...
But OMG! I haven't seen anything like this - it is incredible. Started snowing on Wednesday, and since then has got freezing cold and now the snow has frozen so the pavements are just covered in sheet ice. To get to the main road I walk on the road as opposed to the pavement. And more snow is forecast.
We're not anywhere near as bad down South as people in Scotland and up north. But despite all the protestations, this country still shuts down when it snows. My trains are running but they're pretty messed up - but at least they're running I guess...
Only two premiership football games managed to be played today - nothing is immune!
But OMG! I haven't seen anything like this - it is incredible. Started snowing on Wednesday, and since then has got freezing cold and now the snow has frozen so the pavements are just covered in sheet ice. To get to the main road I walk on the road as opposed to the pavement. And more snow is forecast.
We're not anywhere near as bad down South as people in Scotland and up north. But despite all the protestations, this country still shuts down when it snows. My trains are running but they're pretty messed up - but at least they're running I guess...
Only two premiership football games managed to be played today - nothing is immune!
All Egypt photos posted...
Now on Flickr - and for those of you also on Facebook, I've also done a 'best of' if you don't want to trawl through my albums... I'm so tired of uploading photos I can't face doing any more so won't add any more holiday ones to the blog - you'll just have to look on Flickr!
Monday, January 04, 2010
Blogging done!
Egypt now (briefly) written up and I've started to add my photos to Flickr as well. I've posted a couple below in my posts, but more on Flickr, and still many more to be loaded...
Sunday, January 03, 2010
Egypt bound
I headed off to Egypt on December 19th to do Explore's Nile Felucca Sailtrek. I just fancied a change at Xmas, and it was absolutely fantastic to get away from the madness of the silly season, see some sun, and see some absolutely fantastic sites.
Its the same company I went to Jordan with, and once more I wasn't disappointed. Brilliant trip, great guide and a fascinating country.
Updates below - on the correct dates (cos I'm a bit of a pedant like that...) :-). I'm about halfway through at the moment, and once I've done the blog I'll upload my photos - I'm going as fast as I can!! But its hard to write it without sounding like a 'then we went here, then we did this...' type of narrative...
Its the same company I went to Jordan with, and once more I wasn't disappointed. Brilliant trip, great guide and a fascinating country.
Updates below - on the correct dates (cos I'm a bit of a pedant like that...) :-). I'm about halfway through at the moment, and once I've done the blog I'll upload my photos - I'm going as fast as I can!! But its hard to write it without sounding like a 'then we went here, then we did this...' type of narrative...
C's and D's - racing along!
Having been a tad tardy with my updates recently I am now up to albums beginning with 'E' on my iPod. So here are the C's and D's I've listened to...
C'mon Kids - The Boo Radleys
Candy Apple Grey - Husker Du
Careless Love - Madeleine Peyroux
Carried to Dust - Calexico
Cassadega - Bright Eyes
Cast of Thousands - Elbow
The Cavern: The Most Famous Club in the World - Various artists
Cease to Begin - Band of Horses
Chelsea Walls - Jeff Tweedy/Wilco
Cherry Pie - Leila Adu
Cherry Tree - The National
Chester - Josh Rouse & Kurt Wagner
Chrome Dreams II - Neil Young
Chronicle - The 20 Greatest Hits
Circles - The Autumn Defense
City Chorus - Age Pryor
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
Closer - Joy Division
Cockahoop - Cerys Matthews
Colin Meloy Sings Live (Kill Rock Stars/Stage Three) - Colin Meloy
College Dropout - Kanye West
Colossal Youth - Young Marble Giants
The Colour and the Shape - Foo Fighters
Come On Feel the Lemonheads - The Lemonheads
Comfort in Sound - Feeder
Conor Oberst - Conor Oberst
Consolers of the Lonely - The Raconteurs
Copperhead Road - Steve Earle
The Coral - The Coral
Costello Music - The Fratellis
Cotton Teeth - The Snake The Cross The Crown
The Crane Wife - The Decemberists
The Creek Drank the Cradle - Iron & Wine
Creekdippin' for the First Time - Mark Olson & the Creekdippers
Crocodiles - Echo & the Bunnymen
Cuts Across the Land - The Duke Spirit
Dance Hall at Louse Point - John Parish & Polly Jean Harvey
Datapanik in the Year Zero - Pere Ubu
Dead Letter Office - REM
Dean Chandler - Dean Chandler
Decade - Neil Young
December's Child - Mark Olson & the Creekdippers
Decline of British Sea Power - British Sea Power
Definitely Maybe - Oasis
Deserter's Songs - Mercury Rev
Dig Lazarus, Dig!! - Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds
Digital Ash in a Digital Urn - Bright Eyes
Do You Like Rock Music? - British Sea Power
Document - REM
Dog House Music - Sea Sick Steve
Doolittle - The Pixies
Dr Boondigga & the Big BW - Fat Freddy's Drop
Draw - Matthew Jay
Drawn from Memory - Embrace
Drawn to the Deep End - Gene
Dream Letter - Live in London - Tim Buckley
The Dream of the Blue Turtles - Sting
Drive - Bic Runga
Dummy - Portishead
Dusty in Memphis - Dusty Springfield
A few blasts from the past in those two lists. And some perennial faves - Elbow, Gene, Embrace... I have no idea where or who I got the Pere Ubu album from - that remains a mystery to me.
C'mon Kids - The Boo Radleys
Candy Apple Grey - Husker Du
Careless Love - Madeleine Peyroux
Carried to Dust - Calexico
Cassadega - Bright Eyes
Cast of Thousands - Elbow
The Cavern: The Most Famous Club in the World - Various artists
Cease to Begin - Band of Horses
Chelsea Walls - Jeff Tweedy/Wilco
Cherry Pie - Leila Adu
Cherry Tree - The National
Chester - Josh Rouse & Kurt Wagner
Chrome Dreams II - Neil Young
Chronicle - The 20 Greatest Hits
Circles - The Autumn Defense
City Chorus - Age Pryor
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
Closer - Joy Division
Cockahoop - Cerys Matthews
Colin Meloy Sings Live (Kill Rock Stars/Stage Three) - Colin Meloy
College Dropout - Kanye West
Colossal Youth - Young Marble Giants
The Colour and the Shape - Foo Fighters
Come On Feel the Lemonheads - The Lemonheads
Comfort in Sound - Feeder
Conor Oberst - Conor Oberst
Consolers of the Lonely - The Raconteurs
Copperhead Road - Steve Earle
The Coral - The Coral
Costello Music - The Fratellis
Cotton Teeth - The Snake The Cross The Crown
The Crane Wife - The Decemberists
The Creek Drank the Cradle - Iron & Wine
Creekdippin' for the First Time - Mark Olson & the Creekdippers
Crocodiles - Echo & the Bunnymen
Cuts Across the Land - The Duke Spirit
Dance Hall at Louse Point - John Parish & Polly Jean Harvey
Datapanik in the Year Zero - Pere Ubu
Dead Letter Office - REM
Dean Chandler - Dean Chandler
Decade - Neil Young
December's Child - Mark Olson & the Creekdippers
Decline of British Sea Power - British Sea Power
Definitely Maybe - Oasis
Deserter's Songs - Mercury Rev
Dig Lazarus, Dig!! - Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds
Digital Ash in a Digital Urn - Bright Eyes
Do You Like Rock Music? - British Sea Power
Document - REM
Dog House Music - Sea Sick Steve
Doolittle - The Pixies
Dr Boondigga & the Big BW - Fat Freddy's Drop
Draw - Matthew Jay
Drawn from Memory - Embrace
Drawn to the Deep End - Gene
Dream Letter - Live in London - Tim Buckley
The Dream of the Blue Turtles - Sting
Drive - Bic Runga
Dummy - Portishead
Dusty in Memphis - Dusty Springfield
A few blasts from the past in those two lists. And some perennial faves - Elbow, Gene, Embrace... I have no idea where or who I got the Pere Ubu album from - that remains a mystery to me.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Fantastic Pop Life
Continuing to make the most of my time off between Xmas and New Year, after meeting Craig for lunch at the very delicious Pacific Oriental I headed off to the Tate Modern to check out the Pop Life exhibition. Interesting to read the reviews of the restaurant - it was fine for us, although the chairs weren't that comfortable. I did notice the big screen up on the wall, but nothing was showing when we were there fortunately.
Pop Life was great. I got an audio guide, which now comes on an iTouch so I had fun using that as well. Has made me want an iTouch/iPhone even more, but being fiscally responsible, that ain't going to happen sadly. Really enjoyed the exhibition - interesting to see how the featured artists have used business and commerce - and the three R18 rooms were definitely very explicit!
Pop Life was great. I got an audio guide, which now comes on an iTouch so I had fun using that as well. Has made me want an iTouch/iPhone even more, but being fiscally responsible, that ain't going to happen sadly. Really enjoyed the exhibition - interesting to see how the featured artists have used business and commerce - and the three R18 rooms were definitely very explicit!
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Comedy Wednesday...
Comedy Wednesday involved a trip into town with Kevin to see 'Men Who Stare at Goats' which was very good. Nothing at all like the book in the sense that the story is completely made up, but they do use a lot of the source material. And somehow watching it makes the ludicrousness of it even more unbelievable...
Then it was off to see Stewart Lee (I was using a spare ticket Kevin had). Very funny! No point trying to write about any of the themes as you really did need to be there, but he was great. Also very funny was the man sat in front of us who was absolutely shrieking with laughter the whole way through. Think it is safe to assume he was enjoying it as much as we were!
Egypt updates will follow - but its a bit daunting thinking about writing it up, so I thought I would keep this up to date in the interim.
Then it was off to see Stewart Lee (I was using a spare ticket Kevin had). Very funny! No point trying to write about any of the themes as you really did need to be there, but he was great. Also very funny was the man sat in front of us who was absolutely shrieking with laughter the whole way through. Think it is safe to assume he was enjoying it as much as we were!
Egypt updates will follow - but its a bit daunting thinking about writing it up, so I thought I would keep this up to date in the interim.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Ballooning and more sightseeing
My last full day started early with a hot air balloon ride over the Valley of the Kings. Although due to the wind it was actually a hot air balloon ride over the Valley of the Nobles. I'd been a bit nervous about it, especially as my travel insurance didn't cover me for it, but the price of the ticket included insurance so I was brave.
First time I'd ever done it and was great - so peaceful when the burner wasn't going. And the views were stupendous. It is so clear where the irrigation from the Nile stops and the desert just starts. Such an amazing landscape.
Then it was off to the Valley of the Kings - of which there are no photos as you aren't allowed to even take your cameras into the site, let alone into any of the tombs. My one regret is that I didn't go into King Tut's tomb - you needed a separate ticket, and our guide was pretty dismissive about it. In retrospect I should have just gone for it. Next time! These tombs were incredible though - to see the paintings and the hieroglyphs in full colour was stunning. And by now, we were starting to recognise quite a few of the symbols so we almost felt like we could read bits of them! Well sort of...
The last temple area visited was Deir el-Bahri. Which was also the site of the Luxor massacre back in 1997. I think by then I had reached temple saturation - it was really hot, we were tired, and it was starting to feel like yet another temple. Quite scary though when you realise that there really isn't anywhere to hide there if someone was to start shooting. Very sobering.
But it was a relief to get back to the hotel, have lunch and a beer and then devote myself to an afternoon practicing my bartering skills in the souk :-). A lovely wind down to what was a fantastic holiday...
First time I'd ever done it and was great - so peaceful when the burner wasn't going. And the views were stupendous. It is so clear where the irrigation from the Nile stops and the desert just starts. Such an amazing landscape.
Then it was off to the Valley of the Kings - of which there are no photos as you aren't allowed to even take your cameras into the site, let alone into any of the tombs. My one regret is that I didn't go into King Tut's tomb - you needed a separate ticket, and our guide was pretty dismissive about it. In retrospect I should have just gone for it. Next time! These tombs were incredible though - to see the paintings and the hieroglyphs in full colour was stunning. And by now, we were starting to recognise quite a few of the symbols so we almost felt like we could read bits of them! Well sort of...
The last temple area visited was Deir el-Bahri. Which was also the site of the Luxor massacre back in 1997. I think by then I had reached temple saturation - it was really hot, we were tired, and it was starting to feel like yet another temple. Quite scary though when you realise that there really isn't anywhere to hide there if someone was to start shooting. Very sobering.
But it was a relief to get back to the hotel, have lunch and a beer and then devote myself to an afternoon practicing my bartering skills in the souk :-). A lovely wind down to what was a fantastic holiday...
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Boxing Day - Karnak Temple
On Boxing Day we had to sadly leave our felucca's and head off to Luxor - doubly sad for some of us as it meant we were rapidly approaching the end of our trip :-(.
In the afternoon we headed off to Karnak Temple which I absolutely loved. This was one of the real highlights for me as the area was just so huge, and there was so much to see and take in. For those readers who have been to London and remember 'Cleopatra's Needle' on the Thames - that was taken from Karnak and I saw the spot where it should have been...
Also fascinating was seeing graffiti being pointed out 3-4 metres above us, and being told that when it was written that was where the sand had come up to... And to still be able to see the colours of some of the painting that was down thousands of years ago - it was just phenomenal. Hard to describe really - but I thought it was amazing.
We took caleshes (horse drawn carriages) from the hotel to Karnak - entertaining ride as some of the drivers had a pretty loose approach to obeying the traffic signals!
In the afternoon we headed off to Karnak Temple which I absolutely loved. This was one of the real highlights for me as the area was just so huge, and there was so much to see and take in. For those readers who have been to London and remember 'Cleopatra's Needle' on the Thames - that was taken from Karnak and I saw the spot where it should have been...
Also fascinating was seeing graffiti being pointed out 3-4 metres above us, and being told that when it was written that was where the sand had come up to... And to still be able to see the colours of some of the painting that was down thousands of years ago - it was just phenomenal. Hard to describe really - but I thought it was amazing.
We took caleshes (horse drawn carriages) from the hotel to Karnak - entertaining ride as some of the drivers had a pretty loose approach to obeying the traffic signals!
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Scenic scrabble, Christmas eve
Scenic scrabble, Christmas eve
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.
Doesn't get much better than this...
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Cruising on the felucca
The next three days were spent sailing down the Nile on a felucca. Brilliant. Although a bit colder than we were expecting at times - certainly wasn't like sunbathing on the gulet in Turkey!
But it was fantastic - each day spent tacking from side to side across the Nile, or using the current when there was no wind. At night we'd pitch up, dig the loo (well Mohammed the guide would...), and Ali and Islam would cook our dinner.
Our felucca was the 'dining one' which meant that everyone came and visited three times a day to get fed, so we didn't need to make any effort to see people. It also meant that we lived amongst their spillage and crumbs, but it was a small price to pay :-).
These three days were so chilled out - lying around reading, chatting, risking a beer if we knew a loo stop was coming up - I loved it. Christmas eve we had a bit of a 'party' - open fire, few drinks, bit of singing and dancing (the felucca guys looked very bored everytime we churned out yet another dirgish xmas carol!), but christmas day itself was just another day on the boat. Loved the lack of xmas - it felt a million miles away. We did stop off at Edfu Temple on Xmas day - second largest in Egypt next to Karnak and also a stop for the gin palaces that also cruise up and down the Nile. The kids were pretty full on - constantly trying to sell something or asking for pens.
But it was fantastic - each day spent tacking from side to side across the Nile, or using the current when there was no wind. At night we'd pitch up, dig the loo (well Mohammed the guide would...), and Ali and Islam would cook our dinner.
Our felucca was the 'dining one' which meant that everyone came and visited three times a day to get fed, so we didn't need to make any effort to see people. It also meant that we lived amongst their spillage and crumbs, but it was a small price to pay :-).
These three days were so chilled out - lying around reading, chatting, risking a beer if we knew a loo stop was coming up - I loved it. Christmas eve we had a bit of a 'party' - open fire, few drinks, bit of singing and dancing (the felucca guys looked very bored everytime we churned out yet another dirgish xmas carol!), but christmas day itself was just another day on the boat. Loved the lack of xmas - it felt a million miles away. We did stop off at Edfu Temple on Xmas day - second largest in Egypt next to Karnak and also a stop for the gin palaces that also cruise up and down the Nile. The kids were pretty full on - constantly trying to sell something or asking for pens.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Abu Simbel
This was a crazy early start - we had to get up at 2.30 for a 3am departure to meet the armed convoy to leave at 4.15am... I could have flown for £70 but I decided to save the money and just got the coach. Once we were up it wasn't too bad...
Abu Simbel was absolutely amazing. Everyone I know who had been to Egypt had said it was a must see, and that is true. I wasn't disappointed - the first sight of them is incredible. Part of Ramses II's legacy, they were fascinating. His wives included below his knees, the fact that they were built so that the sun highlights the figures inside on two days each year (very Indiana Jones!), and the detail inside just all added to how magical they were. Then when you consider that they were moved when the Aswan Dam was built so they weren't submerged is also staggering. If you look carefully inside you can see the seams where they rebuilt it, but otherwise you would have no idea that it wasn't in its original spot.
Abu Simbel was absolutely amazing. Everyone I know who had been to Egypt had said it was a must see, and that is true. I wasn't disappointed - the first sight of them is incredible. Part of Ramses II's legacy, they were fascinating. His wives included below his knees, the fact that they were built so that the sun highlights the figures inside on two days each year (very Indiana Jones!), and the detail inside just all added to how magical they were. Then when you consider that they were moved when the Aswan Dam was built so they weren't submerged is also staggering. If you look carefully inside you can see the seams where they rebuilt it, but otherwise you would have no idea that it wasn't in its original spot.
Monday, December 21, 2009
Aswan and Philae Temple
Once we'd checked in at the hotel in Aswan we headed off to Philae Temple.
Moved so it wasn't drowned in the creation of the Aswan Dam, this temple was lovely. Quite a Greek feel, as they added to it and such a beautiful setting. Our guide told us the story behind Osiris and Isis by giving us all different characters in the story - made it a bit more real, and we continued the characters for the rest of the week :-). I was disappointed at Abu Simbel to be given the role of Nefertiti (queen of upper and lower Egypt), as opposed to Nefertari... (queen of all the lands).
We had the rest of the day free after Philae. A few of us ventured out to purchase our own 'falafel sandwich' for lunch. We ate in a cafe that we all agreed we wouldn't have eaten in in the UK (not the cleanest place!), and once we'd established that we didn't want salad in our falafel (can make you ill - salad is washed in the local water which is best to avoid), we ended up with falafel with chips in it - but it was tasty and we were starving! Then I wandered around the souk with a friend from the group and soon established that I am no good at bartering - but did end with some nice cushion covers!
In the evening we took a boat across the Nile to visit a Nubian village where the lifestyle is still very traditional, and where we then went for a traditional Nubian meal. I found it odd being invited to look around people's houses, so didn't enjoy it that much - although the trip on the boat was great.
Moved so it wasn't drowned in the creation of the Aswan Dam, this temple was lovely. Quite a Greek feel, as they added to it and such a beautiful setting. Our guide told us the story behind Osiris and Isis by giving us all different characters in the story - made it a bit more real, and we continued the characters for the rest of the week :-). I was disappointed at Abu Simbel to be given the role of Nefertiti (queen of upper and lower Egypt), as opposed to Nefertari... (queen of all the lands).
We had the rest of the day free after Philae. A few of us ventured out to purchase our own 'falafel sandwich' for lunch. We ate in a cafe that we all agreed we wouldn't have eaten in in the UK (not the cleanest place!), and once we'd established that we didn't want salad in our falafel (can make you ill - salad is washed in the local water which is best to avoid), we ended up with falafel with chips in it - but it was tasty and we were starving! Then I wandered around the souk with a friend from the group and soon established that I am no good at bartering - but did end with some nice cushion covers!
In the evening we took a boat across the Nile to visit a Nubian village where the lifestyle is still very traditional, and where we then went for a traditional Nubian meal. I found it odd being invited to look around people's houses, so didn't enjoy it that much - although the trip on the boat was great.
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Me and the pyramids
Me and the pyramids
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.
Proof I was there - proudly wearing my NZ t-shirt!
A busy first day!
Sat Dec 19th was spent travelling to Cairo - about a 5 hour flight from London, and we arrived late. By the time we'd got from the airport to the hotel and checked in etc, it was pretty much time for bed.
Sunday was a late start (as it turned out) of 9am. First part of the morning was spent doing the usual tour admin, then it was off to see the pyramids at Giza. It was completely surreal - to have been in London one day, to then be looking at the pyramids the next day. And as Cairo has expanded, they really aren't far out of town at all - town on one side, then desert on the other. We were too late to go into the Great Pyramid of Cheops, but I did go into the slightly smaller one of Chephren - down and up a steep path, bent double (not to be recommended for those with a bad back!). Nothing to see inside, but it was one of those things that had to be done!
I also went into the Solar Barque Museum - amazing. A cedar wood boat from the time which may have been used to convey the mummy of the Pharoah across the Nile to the valley temple. The barque's were then buried around the pyramid to provide transport for the Pharoah to the next world. This boat was discovered in 1954 and recreated - but the wood is original.
After the Pyramids it was down the hill to check out the Sphinx. Again it was the surreal thing of actually being there and seeing it. Its a bit smaller than I was expecting - and I couldn't help but think of the Asterix and Obelix story where Obelix knocks the nose off... :-).
After a quick stop at a Papyrus institute and a 'falafel sandwich' (first of many!) we headed off to the Eygptian Museum. This was fascinating as it houses most of the treasures from King Tut's tomb. Just mind blowing stuff what was in there - and he wasn't even a particularly important Pharoah. Makes you wonder what someone like Ramses II had in his tomb - he ruled for 66 years. But the museum itself felt very dark and dusty and old fashioned. One of the arguments for the British Museum not returning the Rosetta Stone is that Egypt doesn't have anywhere appropriate to store it, and having visited that museum I can see the argument. They won't get it back until they open their new museum I don't think.
From the museum we caught an overnight train from Cairo down to Aswan - first class sleeper! But not exactly Orient Express first class :-).
Sunday was a late start (as it turned out) of 9am. First part of the morning was spent doing the usual tour admin, then it was off to see the pyramids at Giza. It was completely surreal - to have been in London one day, to then be looking at the pyramids the next day. And as Cairo has expanded, they really aren't far out of town at all - town on one side, then desert on the other. We were too late to go into the Great Pyramid of Cheops, but I did go into the slightly smaller one of Chephren - down and up a steep path, bent double (not to be recommended for those with a bad back!). Nothing to see inside, but it was one of those things that had to be done!
I also went into the Solar Barque Museum - amazing. A cedar wood boat from the time which may have been used to convey the mummy of the Pharoah across the Nile to the valley temple. The barque's were then buried around the pyramid to provide transport for the Pharoah to the next world. This boat was discovered in 1954 and recreated - but the wood is original.
After the Pyramids it was down the hill to check out the Sphinx. Again it was the surreal thing of actually being there and seeing it. Its a bit smaller than I was expecting - and I couldn't help but think of the Asterix and Obelix story where Obelix knocks the nose off... :-).
After a quick stop at a Papyrus institute and a 'falafel sandwich' (first of many!) we headed off to the Eygptian Museum. This was fascinating as it houses most of the treasures from King Tut's tomb. Just mind blowing stuff what was in there - and he wasn't even a particularly important Pharoah. Makes you wonder what someone like Ramses II had in his tomb - he ruled for 66 years. But the museum itself felt very dark and dusty and old fashioned. One of the arguments for the British Museum not returning the Rosetta Stone is that Egypt doesn't have anywhere appropriate to store it, and having visited that museum I can see the argument. They won't get it back until they open their new museum I don't think.
From the museum we caught an overnight train from Cairo down to Aswan - first class sleeper! But not exactly Orient Express first class :-).
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Party-tastic!!
Been to two great parties this week. The first one was Mhairi's leaving EY party - organised by me and Alecia. Our theme for this was NZ - and we couldn't have done it without Tracey as she sent over a box of NZ themed bits and pieces which just made the evening - check out the photos on Flickr!
Second was Mhairi's leaving London party- the theme was to come as your favourite Londoner, London place, London thing... I went as Margo from The Good Life (fitting as I live in Surbiton). It was another great evening - two fab send offs for a fab friend. Life in EY/London is going to feel very strange without Mhairi around... :-(
Second was Mhairi's leaving London party- the theme was to come as your favourite Londoner, London place, London thing... I went as Margo from The Good Life (fitting as I live in Surbiton). It was another great evening - two fab send offs for a fab friend. Life in EY/London is going to feel very strange without Mhairi around... :-(
Mhairi and me
Mhairi and me
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.
Spot the t-shirt - tying in nicely with the theme!
Me & Mhairi dancing
Me & Mhairi dancing
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.
Later on in the evening... my hair band has been replaced by a santa hat...
Sunday, December 06, 2009
Grotty cold
So for the last week and a half I've been suffering with a grotty cold - but it does appear to have finally gone... So a bit belated, but I have now updated with the end of the Loop.
Sigh - a great achievement - and great fun as well!
Lots of social things coming up in the next few weeks as Mhairi gets ready to leave. And I'm finally going to catch up with Maya as well. So get ready for some slightly inebriated photos no doubt from her leaving parties :-)
All before heading off to Egypt for a holiday over Xmas - can't wait!
Sigh - a great achievement - and great fun as well!
Lots of social things coming up in the next few weeks as Mhairi gets ready to leave. And I'm finally going to catch up with Maya as well. So get ready for some slightly inebriated photos no doubt from her leaving parties :-)
All before heading off to Egypt for a holiday over Xmas - can't wait!
Saturday, November 28, 2009
And so it ends... 160 miles later
Saturday was the last London Loop day - and somewhat fittingly it was just the four original walkers who were walking. Come full circle - so to speak!
We'd been worried during the week as yet again the weather was bad, then I was struck with a cold. I took a day off on Thursday, worked Friday, cancelled a Friday night out as I knew I wouldn't be able to both go out and walk on Saturday, and then we all had a crack of dawn start to get to Harold Wood to begin the final 13 miles...
It was actually a much nicer walk than we had been expecting. Aside from one unpleasant road stretch, most of it was good. A bit whiffy at times as we walked past the landfill (where most of London's rubbish ends up). And we ended up on a long stretch along the Thames - from where we could see Erith - where we had started walking back on 14 September 2008.
For our final walk we didn't see any scary dogs, or crazy horses - but did meet some racing greyhounds - include one called Ardbeg Kate who I was going to put a bet on, but was too poorly the next day. (Ardbeg is my fave whisky - it seemed like a sign!). We also walked past concrete barges that were used during the D-Day landings - just hanging around in the mud now - and the Tilda rice factory. No doubt we've all eaten rice that had been through there!
But it was cold! Winter has now turned up here, so it was definitely the coldest walk we'd done for a while. There was even an ok pub at the end so we had a bottle of bubbles to celebrate our achievement at the end :-).
Next up for Nicola, Jackie and me is the Capital Ring...
We'd been worried during the week as yet again the weather was bad, then I was struck with a cold. I took a day off on Thursday, worked Friday, cancelled a Friday night out as I knew I wouldn't be able to both go out and walk on Saturday, and then we all had a crack of dawn start to get to Harold Wood to begin the final 13 miles...
It was actually a much nicer walk than we had been expecting. Aside from one unpleasant road stretch, most of it was good. A bit whiffy at times as we walked past the landfill (where most of London's rubbish ends up). And we ended up on a long stretch along the Thames - from where we could see Erith - where we had started walking back on 14 September 2008.
For our final walk we didn't see any scary dogs, or crazy horses - but did meet some racing greyhounds - include one called Ardbeg Kate who I was going to put a bet on, but was too poorly the next day. (Ardbeg is my fave whisky - it seemed like a sign!). We also walked past concrete barges that were used during the D-Day landings - just hanging around in the mud now - and the Tilda rice factory. No doubt we've all eaten rice that had been through there!
But it was cold! Winter has now turned up here, so it was definitely the coldest walk we'd done for a while. There was even an ok pub at the end so we had a bottle of bubbles to celebrate our achievement at the end :-).
Next up for Nicola, Jackie and me is the Capital Ring...
Saturday, November 21, 2009
More loopy Loop
Another two sections completed (20 and 21). Only one more walking day left and we're done...
This walk was a bit of a worry - England has been lashed by wind and rain all week, but amazingly we had very little rain, and what we did have came at the end. Yet again we've managed to walk on a decent weather day. In fact for an hour or so before lunch it was positively lovely - very warm and sunny.
But crazy sections! The instructions did not match the map at all, and the little loop signs also seemed to bear no resemblance to either the map or the instructions at all. Needless to say we got lost, but Mhairi and Nicola managed to navigate us back to where we should be. All very odd - and somewhat frustrating. Luckily it wasn't raining - I think we probably all would have had sense of humour failures had we been trying to work it out in the rain!
But we did stumble upon a random collection of wooden sculptures which seemed to have an animal/nature theme. No explanation as to who had made them, or why they had been made, but they were really clever. And in the afternoon, to make a change from big scary dogs, we were 'chased' by a posse of horses. Who galloped (and I mean galloped!) from one side of the field to the other as soon as they saw us. All very odd, and just slightly un-nerving - I quite like horses, but not when there are lots of them bearing down on us at speed!
It will be quite odd when this is all over and done with...
This walk was a bit of a worry - England has been lashed by wind and rain all week, but amazingly we had very little rain, and what we did have came at the end. Yet again we've managed to walk on a decent weather day. In fact for an hour or so before lunch it was positively lovely - very warm and sunny.
But crazy sections! The instructions did not match the map at all, and the little loop signs also seemed to bear no resemblance to either the map or the instructions at all. Needless to say we got lost, but Mhairi and Nicola managed to navigate us back to where we should be. All very odd - and somewhat frustrating. Luckily it wasn't raining - I think we probably all would have had sense of humour failures had we been trying to work it out in the rain!
But we did stumble upon a random collection of wooden sculptures which seemed to have an animal/nature theme. No explanation as to who had made them, or why they had been made, but they were really clever. And in the afternoon, to make a change from big scary dogs, we were 'chased' by a posse of horses. Who galloped (and I mean galloped!) from one side of the field to the other as soon as they saw us. All very odd, and just slightly un-nerving - I quite like horses, but not when there are lots of them bearing down on us at speed!
It will be quite odd when this is all over and done with...
Wooden sculpture
Wooden sculpture
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.
This one had a sort of Praying Mantis theme going on - Lindsey would have loved it!
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Where's my gig mojo?
Went to see The Decemberists - who I love.
And they were really good - they played their album Hazards of Love first, then the second half of the set was more like a 'best of'. Although sadly they didn't play my fave song. They were very slick, and very entertaining. Lots of audience banter and participation which normally I like. But I just couldn't love it as much as I should have done. Felt grumpy throughout, and cross at people pushing past me, and spilling beer on me all the time. Although I may have been influenced by the kids next to me who were singing along so loudly I was finding it hard to hear the actual band... But despite that - if any NZ readers are going to the Big Day Out I would definitely recommend that you make sure you catch them.
But I haven't been to a gig which has blown me away for ages - I'm scared!!
Next up is Fat Freddy's Drop - maybe they'll fix it...
And they were really good - they played their album Hazards of Love first, then the second half of the set was more like a 'best of'. Although sadly they didn't play my fave song. They were very slick, and very entertaining. Lots of audience banter and participation which normally I like. But I just couldn't love it as much as I should have done. Felt grumpy throughout, and cross at people pushing past me, and spilling beer on me all the time. Although I may have been influenced by the kids next to me who were singing along so loudly I was finding it hard to hear the actual band... But despite that - if any NZ readers are going to the Big Day Out I would definitely recommend that you make sure you catch them.
But I haven't been to a gig which has blown me away for ages - I'm scared!!
Next up is Fat Freddy's Drop - maybe they'll fix it...
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Speaking in Tongues
Mhairi and I went to see Speaking in Tongues - both very excited as it had both John Simm and Kerry Fox in it.
Sadly it didn't quite live up to our expectations. He was fab (of course), but overall the story just felt a bit laboured and obvious. It was pretty easy to see what was coming, and we didn't warm to any of the characters either. But we did get 'upgraded' at the theatre and ended up in much better seats. Thats never happened to me before!
Still glad I went - first time I'd been to the theatre for a while, but a shame it wasn't as good as we were expecting.
Sadly it didn't quite live up to our expectations. He was fab (of course), but overall the story just felt a bit laboured and obvious. It was pretty easy to see what was coming, and we didn't warm to any of the characters either. But we did get 'upgraded' at the theatre and ended up in much better seats. Thats never happened to me before!
Still glad I went - first time I'd been to the theatre for a while, but a shame it wasn't as good as we were expecting.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Bird man...
Went to see Andrew Bird at the Union Chapel with Mhairi. Its a fantastic venue - this time I learnt there is an upstairs! And once again I had ice-cream at a gig :-).
He was good - but didn't blow me away so much. Think Mhairi enjoyed him a bit more than me. His music is great, but I think I'd prefer him with his band. He was solo this time, and was using a lot of backing tracks and I think that just doesn't really do it for me. I also thought he was tripping on something for the first couple of songs, but I think that was him just settling into his groove...
Not sure I'd go see him again - still love his CDs tho.
He was good - but didn't blow me away so much. Think Mhairi enjoyed him a bit more than me. His music is great, but I think I'd prefer him with his band. He was solo this time, and was using a lot of backing tracks and I think that just doesn't really do it for me. I also thought he was tripping on something for the first couple of songs, but I think that was him just settling into his groove...
Not sure I'd go see him again - still love his CDs tho.
Sunday, November 08, 2009
Chilling over a Sunday lunch...
Simon had us round for Sunday lunch while he was hosting the currently homeless Mhairi. Again, another fantastic meal. Brie (or camembert) for starters, with slow roasted pork for the main, followed by chocolate mousse (made by Mhairi) for pudding - with some lovely dessert wine as well.
A wonderful afternoon of eating, drinking and putting the world to rights - what its all about!
A wonderful afternoon of eating, drinking and putting the world to rights - what its all about!
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