Saturday, April 16, 2005
BIRTHDAY
That's right once again I am another year older - and if we happen to meet and you mention it I will thump you so you have been warned.
It was a brilliant day - we started off at the Cutty Sark which I found fascinating - it was a tea clipper and all the boats would race from China to see who could get the new tea back to England first. They could make a ton of money and the Captains reputation would be made. The Cutty Sark won the race twice and it is a beautiful ship. The top deck is where all the 28 crew slept in bunks and all the cooking was done, the two decks below were packed very carefully with tea. At the bottom of the ship now is a kind of weird graveyard of ships figure heads, some were beautiful others down right creepy, it is fair to stay I did not stay down there on my own.
From there we went to the City and visited the Monument - put up after the Great Fire of London in 1666 by permission of the king it was designed and over seen by Sir Christopher Wren the man who built St Pauls. The Monument is a tall elegant column of stone which in its day must have been amazing. I am here to tell you that I climbed the 311 stairs and nearly died trying. No one ever said I was fit and this proved it. That said the view from the top was amazing and you could see all of the city laid out before you.
It is fair to suggest that after 622 stairs everyone knew it was time to feed me. So we went to Chez Gerade across from the Tower of London, which was our next destination. I have been wanting to visit the Tower of London for several years now but everytime I have the impulse it is summer and full of tourists. I must admit that somehow the Tower of London for me lacked soul. Laura found it creepy and surreal, but I found a fascinating, very old building which did not move me at all.
After this we went to Leadenhall Market which was built in the 1880's and is a beautiful wrought iron covered market which is highly painted. During the morning it has an amazing meat, cheese and olive market but instead we went there for coffee and cake and a sit down before the next onslaught. The next event Laura and mum had been keeping a secret but, I must admit to having my suspicions. We headed for Regents Street and went to the Apple store to get me a beautiful shiny I-Pod - I LOVE IT!!
From there we jumped a cab to the SouthBank and went to Gabrielles Wharf to a restaurant which many of us like and which our bank balance loves. Miranda and Jake were waiting for us there.
Miranda bought me some beautiful glass bowls and an wind-up toy indian which I had seen and loved in New York. For those who do not know me well I have a love of anything tacky, friends are sent abroad with the stricture to bring back unusual and tacky gifts and they rarely disappoint. Well we went to this great Tex-Mex restaurant in New York and on the way out we had a look at a little stall full of tacky gifts. Miranda bought a little pouch which says Wife's Allowance and she informs me that despite placing it in strategic places around the house it still remains empty. Any way there was this wind up cowboy and indian. They both lie on their stomachs with their guns pointed and when you wind them up they crawl towards one another cool huh. Anywho Miranda bought the Cowboy for Oliver (new Husband) and I sighed and said I shouldn't. So now Miranda is going to set up a play date so that Oliver and I can play Cowboys and Indians.
Later mum, Laura and I went home and opened a ton of pressies. Jane had given me a mysterious box while in New York and I had managed not even to peak until now. It had this great car airfreshner and a beautiful butterfly broach. Mum got me some lovely books and tapes. Laura bought me this great Nightmare Before Christmas lantern that lights up with a tiny lightbulb (fabulous) Jo bought me a great book on British History and my grandma bought me a lovely dressing gown (thank god for grandmas). All in all it was a bloody awesome day and completely compensated for being (deepbreath) 28 eeck!!!!
It was a brilliant day - we started off at the Cutty Sark which I found fascinating - it was a tea clipper and all the boats would race from China to see who could get the new tea back to England first. They could make a ton of money and the Captains reputation would be made. The Cutty Sark won the race twice and it is a beautiful ship. The top deck is where all the 28 crew slept in bunks and all the cooking was done, the two decks below were packed very carefully with tea. At the bottom of the ship now is a kind of weird graveyard of ships figure heads, some were beautiful others down right creepy, it is fair to stay I did not stay down there on my own.
From there we went to the City and visited the Monument - put up after the Great Fire of London in 1666 by permission of the king it was designed and over seen by Sir Christopher Wren the man who built St Pauls. The Monument is a tall elegant column of stone which in its day must have been amazing. I am here to tell you that I climbed the 311 stairs and nearly died trying. No one ever said I was fit and this proved it. That said the view from the top was amazing and you could see all of the city laid out before you.
It is fair to suggest that after 622 stairs everyone knew it was time to feed me. So we went to Chez Gerade across from the Tower of London, which was our next destination. I have been wanting to visit the Tower of London for several years now but everytime I have the impulse it is summer and full of tourists. I must admit that somehow the Tower of London for me lacked soul. Laura found it creepy and surreal, but I found a fascinating, very old building which did not move me at all.
After this we went to Leadenhall Market which was built in the 1880's and is a beautiful wrought iron covered market which is highly painted. During the morning it has an amazing meat, cheese and olive market but instead we went there for coffee and cake and a sit down before the next onslaught. The next event Laura and mum had been keeping a secret but, I must admit to having my suspicions. We headed for Regents Street and went to the Apple store to get me a beautiful shiny I-Pod - I LOVE IT!!
From there we jumped a cab to the SouthBank and went to Gabrielles Wharf to a restaurant which many of us like and which our bank balance loves. Miranda and Jake were waiting for us there.
Miranda bought me some beautiful glass bowls and an wind-up toy indian which I had seen and loved in New York. For those who do not know me well I have a love of anything tacky, friends are sent abroad with the stricture to bring back unusual and tacky gifts and they rarely disappoint. Well we went to this great Tex-Mex restaurant in New York and on the way out we had a look at a little stall full of tacky gifts. Miranda bought a little pouch which says Wife's Allowance and she informs me that despite placing it in strategic places around the house it still remains empty. Any way there was this wind up cowboy and indian. They both lie on their stomachs with their guns pointed and when you wind them up they crawl towards one another cool huh. Anywho Miranda bought the Cowboy for Oliver (new Husband) and I sighed and said I shouldn't. So now Miranda is going to set up a play date so that Oliver and I can play Cowboys and Indians.
Later mum, Laura and I went home and opened a ton of pressies. Jane had given me a mysterious box while in New York and I had managed not even to peak until now. It had this great car airfreshner and a beautiful butterfly broach. Mum got me some lovely books and tapes. Laura bought me this great Nightmare Before Christmas lantern that lights up with a tiny lightbulb (fabulous) Jo bought me a great book on British History and my grandma bought me a lovely dressing gown (thank god for grandmas). All in all it was a bloody awesome day and completely compensated for being (deepbreath) 28 eeck!!!!
Wednesday, April 06, 2005
That Easy
Who Knew that getting Scott and Ed over here could be so easy. I simply happened to mention that Ewan McGregor was going to be playing Sky Masterson in Guys and Dolls in the West End and the next thing I know they have booked their flights and theatre tickets for June. I must try that trick again.
I have just spent a delightful weekend with the Flook Sproglets. Claire took me to Olympia for my birthday treat to the Stitich 2005 faire. We spent tons of money on stitiching stuff we do not need and had a blast. Then Mum and I took David and Rebecca to see Valiant at the cinema a war film about pidgeons (yep you heard right) I think mum and I enjoyed it more than the kids you know sad war films being our thing.
This Friday, as anyone who has spoken to me lately will know, is my BIRTHDAY. I have a strange response to birthdays I love and hate them in equal measure. This year Laura (bored at work) has arranged an entire itinerary of sad history type things to do in London. I have only been allowed access to some information but I understand we will be going to the Tower of London, Cutty Sark, Pudding Lane (sight of the Great Fire of London) and the Golden Hind and then a nice restaurant in Gabrielles Wharf (yum). Sounds a great day to me I shall keep you posted.
I have just spent a delightful weekend with the Flook Sproglets. Claire took me to Olympia for my birthday treat to the Stitich 2005 faire. We spent tons of money on stitiching stuff we do not need and had a blast. Then Mum and I took David and Rebecca to see Valiant at the cinema a war film about pidgeons (yep you heard right) I think mum and I enjoyed it more than the kids you know sad war films being our thing.
This Friday, as anyone who has spoken to me lately will know, is my BIRTHDAY. I have a strange response to birthdays I love and hate them in equal measure. This year Laura (bored at work) has arranged an entire itinerary of sad history type things to do in London. I have only been allowed access to some information but I understand we will be going to the Tower of London, Cutty Sark, Pudding Lane (sight of the Great Fire of London) and the Golden Hind and then a nice restaurant in Gabrielles Wharf (yum). Sounds a great day to me I shall keep you posted.
