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 :-).
Sunday, February 28, 2010
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!
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