Everyone was getting a laugh out of this shrub dog doing its business.
Friday, May 25, 2007
Chelsea Physic Garden
If you can't read the sign it warns that they have 2 ponds, poisonous plants and a beehive. I wonder how recently they felt they needed warnings.
London
This street is just off the Embankment so probably well named. Found a super little pub for lunch in the area close to Chelsea Old Church.
London
With 24 hr off-licence on just about every corner and services like this it is certainly the opposite of a puritan society...a little too booze fueled however.
London
Something we're seeing more of in London are bicycles and also the usual disputes as to whether they are appropriate or safe. Good on them for saving a bit of dough.
Chelsea Flower Show
TV or film crew along KIng's Road in Chelsea...no doubt something to do with the show.
Chelsea Flower Show
A lot of shops in Chelsea area had garden type displays in honour of the show. Not a hope of getting to see it though...all tickets sold in advance long ago.
This was the display the Oxfam (charity) shop had...everyone made some effort.
This was the display the Oxfam (charity) shop had...everyone made some effort.
Sign that caught my eye
Seems like as good a reason as any but I don't think we'll ever see such a sign at Sacre Coeur in Paris.
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Local pub
I guess the pubs will be full tonight since Liverpool lost the big game. Just listening to the TV news. A middle aged couple are talking recounting the melee that occured in Athens. They had legitimate tickets and couldn't get in. Terrible disorganization and lots of assaults. Now a young woman and her son who seemed to have just barely escaped with their lives. She mentioned they went to Barcelona for the same type of match and it was wonderfully organized. Interesting to see these respectable people going to these matches...you get the idea it's just drunken soccer louts.
Garden Furniture shop
So, in the highest rent district in London they have a display with a bunch of unpainted and badly painted boards. Goes along with the ripped jeans I guess that are still popular here.
Bibendum
This is a very cool looking bistro, come bakery, come oyster bar, come neat looking restaurant upstairs that is just down the street from us. The crispy pork belly on their menu sounds good.
Lots of great trees
I can see why this is considered pretty much the most expensive real estate in London.
El Fayad himself
Back to Harrod's since I left my credit card there...must not chat so much when doing financial transactions.
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
South Ken
This is a neat old building around our area. There are lots of interesting restaurants very close by but I think I'll wander around Chelsea today and look for somewhere for a belated celebration of our anniversary. We wanted to not have jet lag and also Jim wanted to get well settled into the British Library. He's had quite an easy time ordering materials and the process seems to be much speeded up in their new quarters.
Except for one drizzly day we've had warm sunny weather...a change from what we usually seem to experience in England.
Except for one drizzly day we've had warm sunny weather...a change from what we usually seem to experience in England.
London Gas Prices
Yep...119.9 a litre...more than twice what it is at home although I do remember gas prices being 3x as much here so I guess we are getting gauged.
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Harrod's
I went to Harrod's especially to get their wonderful saucages but they don't have much of a selection now but they do have Krispe Kreme Donuts of all things! Did buy some Scotch steak and partridge, quail and pear pate...looks fabulous.
British Library
I went with Jim to the British Library today and saw a couple of their special exhibits...wonderful old books and even some Beatles original song writings.
Sunday, May 20, 2007
Arrived in old blighty...
We had a good flight over and the plane was 30 minutes early due to winds. We even managed to doze a bit and got quite a good sleep last night so are feeling pretty good. We are loving the South Kensington area and our little apartment is very cosy and on a quiet street. Everyone was all keyed up for the football game around here in the new Wembley Stadium since Chelsea was playing and it's very close to Chelsea here...in fact, our apartment called the Chelsea Cloisters. No football hooligans maurading through the streets, though, and that is just about a first for a Saturday night in most places we've been in Britain lately.
We're steps away from a small Sainsbury's and a 24 off-licence shops with basics other than booze so we're well situated. We're off to have dinner with the Horne family tonight in Ealing...really looking forward to seeing them. We always have a lot of laughs together.
I really enjoy getting email when I'm travelling so all you people who read my blog and enjoy it, pretty please tell me about what you're up to and what's going on back home.
We're steps away from a small Sainsbury's and a 24 off-licence shops with basics other than booze so we're well situated. We're off to have dinner with the Horne family tonight in Ealing...really looking forward to seeing them. We always have a lot of laughs together.
I really enjoy getting email when I'm travelling so all you people who read my blog and enjoy it, pretty please tell me about what you're up to and what's going on back home.
Friday, May 18, 2007
Happy Anniversary to us!
Although we'd rather be doing something else than being on a plane for this day...the very wonderful upside is beginning our trip of two weeks in London, a week in Paris, and a week in our wonderful village of Carqueiranne in the south of France. We will celebrate our anniversary in all three places! Jim has research to do that he's excited about, we'll be seeing old friends everywhere we go, and the places themselves are all very special to us. It doesn't really seem all that long ago when we began our European trips for the first time in 1972...and it really was possible to do Europe on $5 a day...
May 18, 1968
May 18, 1968
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Dinner with the Curlings
Don made a great spaghetti dinner for Jim (and all of us)since Jim loves Don's sauce so much and Jim has been working so hard lately. And a wonderful Caesar salad which is my special favouite...fabulous...thank you both so much!
I've been wanting to get some video footage of the very beloved (but rather shy) Oscar, the cat. He's such a sweetheart!
Oscar and Elaine
Oscar and Don
Don and Elaine preparing dinner.
Jim tasting the sauce...
I've been wanting to get some video footage of the very beloved (but rather shy) Oscar, the cat. He's such a sweetheart!
Oscar and Elaine
Oscar and Don
Don and Elaine preparing dinner.
Jim tasting the sauce...
Student artwork at Emily Carr Institute
I had to take a photo of this because of my favourite blue!
This old "Mission" pop bottle is a great old reminder of Vancouver in the days we were growing up.
A neat example of "found art"...made exclusively out of paint chips.
I loved this "Self Portrait"...woman in superman outfit with a fan blowing on her.
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Kate and Jean's Wedding
The weather finally cooperated and it was a truly lovely ceremony in Derek and Mary's back garden. The fathers' each gave a little speech welcoming the new family...I caught Derek's and have posted it below. The dogs, Ian and Holly, were there as well and proved to be well behaved wedding guests! The food and wine were terrific.
Thank you, Kate and Jean, for asking us to share in your very special day. We wish you a long life of happiness together.
Kate, the minister, Jean.
Derek, Mary, Kate and Jean.
Mary and Derek...the happy parents!
Kate, Nin, Derek...three generations of the Sole's family
Holly, the dog walker, Ian.
Thank you, Kate and Jean, for asking us to share in your very special day. We wish you a long life of happiness together.
Kate, the minister, Jean.
Derek, Mary, Kate and Jean.
Mary and Derek...the happy parents!
Kate, Nin, Derek...three generations of the Sole's family
Holly, the dog walker, Ian.
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