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31.12.2010 last day of the year

Posted in family and relationships, Fun Stuff, Historical, Holidays, It's my life, things to do in London, tagged around London, Big Ben, Churchill War Museum, Jewel Tower London, London Pass, Old Year's Eve 2010, spending time with my daughter, travel to Twickenham, Westminster Abbey on January 1, 2011| 2 Comments »

I very sensibly put in for a few days of leave over New Year determined not to work again….for the first time in years. Leaving Highgate on Thursday I made my way over to Twickenham, looking forward to spending a few days with my girl. The evening was very therapeutic for both of us; we covered some tricky issues and managed to discuss some painful subjects and without realising it, I made a comment that suddenly gave her a completely different perspective on her current situation and opened a new door, completely inspiring her!

Friday I decided to make the most of my London Pass;

my London Pass

the intention was to visit places I had on my list and try to see as many as possible…. a quick pop in and pop out visit and gather material for the 3 Days in London blog. I managed to persuade her to come into town with me and we stopped off at Waterloo station for Starbucks (of course) and a chat. We then parted ways….she to Tottenham Court Road to do some shopping (part of her Xmas present I promised was a DVD player), and me to one of my favourite places in the world…. Westminster. I had a list of 4/5 places to visit.

I walked past Big Ben

Big Ben - 11 hours and 17 minutes till 2011

stopping only to take a few photos and then made my way to the Jewel Tower opposite the Sovereign’s Gate at Westminster Palace. I had been passed the tower but never yet visited…and it is great. The remains of what was part of the wall of the Westminster Palace complex. It’s a really interesting place to visit and there are some great items on display, amongst which were remains of original 14th Century wooden foundations, removed when the building was underpinned in 1955.

14th century wooden foundations

There is a fab view of the Sovereign’s Gate from the 1st & 2nd levels.

view of the Sovereign's Gate

The stairs, ceilings and walls are original; it’s really weird to walk on stairs where Kings and Queens once trod.

the Kings Privy Tower

From there I walked towards St James’s park via the grounds of Westminster Abbey. I had intended visiting but the queues were too long and I did not have time to waste, so made my to the Churchill War Museum; a place I had so wanted to visit in the past but never had the time. It was awesome. I was allowed to take photos inside and made a few videos too. The bunkers are set out exactly they way they were during WW2 and are quite simply awesome!!

The War Cabinet Room has been laid to show exactly how it would have looked on Tuesday 15th October 1940 at 5pm, shortly before the meeting of the War Cabinet

There is a recording of Churchill’s speeches as well as others and on one you can hear an air-raid siren. Brilliant.

Then I went back to Westminster Abbey and finally the queues were short enough to join. I am so glad I went! I have visited the Abbey before, a few years ago and had quite forgotten how incredible it is inside. The Abbey is so beautifully designed and filled with the most amazing memorials and tombs, and intricate carvings that defy belief. I was totally entranced and enjoyed a very happy 2 hours wandering about, visiting the various tombs, the Shrine of Edward the Confessor, Henry VII’s Lady Chapel, Poet’s Corner, Chapter House, Pyx Chamber

Pyx Chamber

and the Cloisters. The High altar is magnificent and the ceiling in the Lady Chapel is breath takingly beautiful. The Coronation Chair is currently being restored and situated in a glass room near the Great West Door.

Great West Door

Afterwards I made my way back to the river via Big Ben and walked along Victoria Embankment, intending to find a suitable spot to stand and wait for the London Eye fireworks

31.12.2010 - London Eye at 4.30pm

….except that I suddenly didn’t feel like standing for what would at that stage be 8 hours!!! So instead I went up Charing Cross to the South African shop to buy some eats, then along to Trafalgar Square to see the Norwegian tree that they send over each year at Christmas

the Norwegian Spruce Tree at Trafalgar Square - sent over each year at Christmas as a gift from the Norwegians

and then back to Embankment and onto the tube to Richmond and home.

We sat on the couch listening to music, chatting to my sister & her hubbie in SA via skype and then saw in the New Year and watched the fireworks on TV! Exactly what I had said I did not want to do…..see the fireworks on TV, but I was with the most important person in the world to me and we had a fab evening. A few hours later we finally crawled into bed, eyes heavy and ready to sleep, already well into 2011!

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Women over 50 by Andy Rooney

Posted in Fun Stuff, tagged Andy Rooney CBS, women over 50 on December 20, 2010| 3 Comments »

I received this just today from a friend of mine in an email, and loved it so much I had to share it………what a bright guy!! 🙂

In case you missed it on 60 Minutes, this is what Andy Rooney thinks about women over 50.

60 Minutes Correspondent Andy Rooney (CBS)

As I grow in age, I value women over 50 most of all. Here are just a few reasons why:

A woman over 50 will never wake you in the middle of the night and ask, ‘What are you thinking?’ She doesn’t care what you think.

If a woman over 50 doesn’t want to watch the game, she doesn’t sit around whining about it. She does something she wants to do, and it’s usually more interesting.

Women over 50 are dignified. They seldom have a screaming match with you at the opera or in the middle of an expensive restaurant. Of course, if you deserve it, they won’t hesitate to shoot you if they think they can get away with it..

Older women are generous with praise, often undeserved. They know what it’s like to be unappreciated.

Women get psychic as they age. You never have to confess your sins to a woman over 50.

Once you get past a wrinkle or two, a woman over 50 is far sexier than her younger counterpart.

Older women are forthright and honest.. They’ll tell you right off if you are a jerk, if you are acting like one. You don’t ever have to wonder where you stand with her.

Yes, we praise women over 50 for a multitude of reasons. Unfortunately, it’s not reciprocal. For every stunning, smart, well-coiffed, hot woman over 50, there is a bald, paunchy relic in yellow pants making a fool of himself with some 22-year old waitress. Ladies, I apologize.

Andy Rooney is a really smart guy!

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losing life in my hands along the SouthBank

Posted in Fun Stuff, interesting things that happen in London, It's my life, Travel, tagged a walk along SouthBank, Big Ben, christmas tree at Parliament, German Market at Southbank, ice-rink at London Eye, view from Hungerford Bridge, Westminster Abbey on December 4, 2010| 1 Comment »

I went into town (London) yesterday for a meet up with my daughter for a business ‘Power Hour’. I am having a bit of difficulty with the business plan for 3 Days in London, so went along to get things in order. She is a genius at unravelling stuff and by the end of the session I felt like finally we had a workable direction….

After the meeting I decided to take a walk along the SouthBank to see the German Market and check out the ice-rink at the London Eye. First though I walked across the Thames via Hungerford Bridge….the view is so fabulous that I can seldom resist if I am in the area.

view of St Paul's from Hungerford Bridge

Then at a quick trot along the embankment…..it was freezing, I whizzed past the stalls absorbing the heavenly smells that whafted through the air. The stalls looked cosy and gay; decorated with lights and tinsel and baubles. There are a number of stalls giving you an array of choices that tempt your tastebuds: crepes, mulled wine, roasted chestnuts, fudge and chocolate.

fancy a Crepe (pancake)? go wild and have one with nutella and cream 🙂

There is a gaily painted carousel, the horses dizzily whirling by; a blur of colour and light and sound, the snow a fitting background.

gaily painted horses whirling by at a dizzy pace

From there I walked up to the ice-rink in front of the London Eye and watched the skaters whizzing around; thrills and spills! Looked like great fun.

thrills and spills on the London Eye ice-rink

By this stage my camera didn’t want to work, it was so cold it felt like I had lost life in my hands; I had no feeling and my face felt like it was going to fall off!

view of Big Ben from South bank

The lamp-posts, walls and sculptures were all covered with snow and looked incredibly pretty. As the light waned it got colder and colder, so at a quickening pace I walked along to Westminster Bridge and back over the river to Big Ben, Westminster Palace

Big Ben at 4pm. the Christmas tree in the forecourt is very pretty

and Westminster Abbey. The Christmas Tree in front of the Parliamentary buildings looks gorgeous and I watched the clock strike 4pm. Then a quick walk over the the Abbey for a photo or two.

Westminster Abbey looking ethereal in the diming light

Then it was back onto the tube and home. It was a delight to step into the house that although cold at the best of times, is a whole heck of a lot warmer than outdoors. It took me about 10 minutes to defrost and a lovely cup of tea helped warm me up 🙂

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the layers of winter

Posted in family and relationships, Fun Stuff, It's my life on December 3, 2010| Leave a Comment »

Ever since I have lived in the UK I have loved winter. I love how the days get colder and colder as autumn creeps nearer and nearer to winter, how the wind comes up and blows all the leaves asunder, scattering them far and wide.

leaves scattered far and wide

I love the smell of leaves burning as gardeners tidy up after autumns fall, how the trees look without their summer dresses, how their arms reach skywards; beseechingly, achingly. How the birds nests become more apparent without the leaves to hide them. I love how the wild birds and squirrels run about looking for food, digging their noses into hidey holes from the summer. I love how the days shorten and the nights draw in earlier and earlier,

as the nights draw in......5pm mid November

a perfect backdrop for the gay christmas lights that brighten the dark nights with their cheery colours. I love the anticpation of wondering if there will be snow…..and when! I love it when you wake one day and the world is white, a sparkling pure white that covers the world…the air hushed and still.

and then it snowed!

I love the early mornings when you pop your head out from under the duvet

popping your head out from under the covers

and its freezing and you scurry back beneath the covers. I love the icy cold that makes you hop up and down, the chill in the seconds between getting undressed and diving under a hot shower….goosebumps scurrying up and down your body as you shiver and laugh with the thrill of the cold. I love the sounds of the laughter as kiddies fly screaming down snowy slopes, precariously seated on bright yellow or red or blue sleds, with either Mom or Dad waiting at the bottom or maybe even hugging them close as they whizz along slippery slopes. I love the winter colours; purple, red, burgundy, emerald green – the clothes we pile on in an effort to keep warm before we venture outdoors; scarves wrapped tightly and caps pulled down in an effort to keep the cold air at bay. I love the seasonal activities; halloween, bonfire night,

Guy Fawkes - Bonfire night

thanksgiving, christmas….all seem more appropriate in colder climes. I love how the air ghosts up as you breathe out on a freezing cold morning, the thrill of a warm indoors after a quick walk to the store…that tingling feeling as warmth creeps slowly through your bones…a painful albeit comforting ache. I love how people stamp their feet to keep warm, how folks laugh more in winter coz of the cold that makes you jump about. Then the first advertisement of Starbucks ‘Gingerbread Latte’ and you know that winter has arrived

Gingerbread Latte at Starbucks...winter is here 🙂

And what I love most of all are the layers….the layers of clothes we pull on before we venture outdoors… no such thing as popping quickly out the door….

layer 2 - a camisol and tights

layer 3 - a top and socks

layer 4 - a jumper and trousers

layer 5 - jacket and shoes

layer 6 - and an extra pair of thick socks

(no! I didn’t forget layer 1 – like Victoria, a girl has gotta have some secrets 🙂 )

and then just before it gets tiresome, before you get sick of the cold and dark; I love the anticipation of spring….knowing that all that has died will soon come to life…the first buds of May as they peep through their protective winter covering, the snowdrops that look for all the world like a fresh shower of snow, the tulips

bright colours of spring

and daffodils that thrust boldly towards the light; brightening a dull day with their fabulous colours, then suddenly the blossoms appear

blossoms amidst the green

and and slowly slowly the trees form a sheen of green, and the days lengthen getting longer and longer….

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long live winter!!

Posted in around the UK, Fun Stuff, interesting things that happen in London, It's my life, tagged snow in London 30.11.2010 on December 2, 2010| Leave a Comment »

as I mentioned before, there is one thing guaranteed to get me out of bed before the alarm and that is snow.

what I saw when I opened my curtains at 7am this morning

I am dressed and out the door camera in hand in less than 10 minutes…….. it usually takes a cup of tea and a half-hour snuggle before I get up! so today I open my curtain to take a peek at what the weather holds in store and it’s SNOWING!!!!!! Talk about a ripple of energy!!!!! it’s like an electric current runs through the bed……..

So there I was, not yet 8am and I was out and about in the snow grinning from ear to ear and LOVING it!!!! There is one thing to be said for snow besides that it is beautiful – and that is that it is MAGICAL!!! There is something about snow on the rooftops and covering the trees that is quite simply magical.

picture postcard perfect

I know it causes chaos and I have lost out on work in the past…but hey so what! It is one of natures most beautiful visions and in all the 9 years of living in the UK I have yet to tire of it. Long live winter…. it brings the snow!

pretty as a picture

There were a few hardy souls out before me and we smiled a greeting (see thats what the snow does, creates a sense of community) as we wnet on our individual ways. Them to wherever they are going and me to the park nearby (can’t venture too far). I love the sounds of silence the snow creates, how it mutes all daily sounds, the crisp crunch underfoot as you step on virgin snow, the whoosh as it slides off the awnings, the slow steady drip drip drip as it melts off the branches.

birdbath frozen over

I love the sight of the trees under their blanket of white,

xmas trees

the ground a pure white disc, all uglies hidden, the enchanting vision of snow on the roof, the tumultuous flakes as they whirl and twirl down from the heavens, the smile it brings to peoples faces!

(p.s. this was written on 30.11.2010…I forgot to post it 🙂 )

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squirrels in the garden

Posted in Fun Stuff, It's my life, tagged it's my life, squirrels in the garden, wildlife on November 27, 2010| 2 Comments »

time for breakfast

one of my ongoing and constant sources of delight are the squirrels in the garden! ever since I arrived at this position last year in February, I have enjoyed the goings on and antics of the squirrels, who have taken up a load of video space on my camera! they are exceptionally funny, very greedy and quite resourceful at getting food, especially when it comes to raiding the bird-feeders.

resourceful is my middle name

I have tried every possible position available to hang the bird-feeders so that the squirrels cannot get to them; to no avail!

if I can just get this damn thing off the wall..............!

They slide down the awning, climb the window frames, shimmy up the walls, jump from amazing distances with hilarious results until they reach their goal!

intrepid little squirrel

A lesson could be learned from them……it’s called determination! and never taking your eye off the end results…..in this instance – food!!!

This morning was no different! I have recently started putting out peanuts along with the bird-seed and breadcrumbs on the verandah in an effort to stop the squirrels raiding the birds feeders and this seems to have quelled their lust for suet/peanut treat and the energy balls, it has also attracted a larger number than usual of the wee pesky critters and this morning there was a mad tussle and lots of jumping and squawking and hurry scurry as we had no less than 6 squirrels on the verandah; all vieing for the same treats…..the word is out!!!

early morning arrival

One of the ways I entertain myself during the very looooonnng and boring mornings of my job is to chase the squirrels! I put the food out in a pile, wait for a few to gather and then I rattle the chain on the door, turn the keys and open the door……. 🙂 🙂 This has the effect of an electric current running through the ground and the squirrels scatter at great speed. There are one or two of the regulars who are no longer perturbed by this and know that I am all steam and no action, so now when I go through the motions they either ignore me or run to just a few feet away, first having grabbed a mouthful, till I go back indoors and before I have even locked the door they are back….looking at me through the glass as if to say ” is that all you can manage?”. they are hilarious!

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snow in London :)

Posted in Fun Stuff, interesting things that happen in London, It's my life, tagged its my life, snow in london, wintery landscape on November 26, 2010| 3 Comments »

there is one thing guaranteed to get me out of bed before the alarm on a cold wintery day and that is SNOW!!! I woke up yesterday morning, had a peek out my curtain and jumped out the bed like an electric shock had just whizzed through my sheets!! 🙂 SNOW!! glorious snow!!! mind you it was just a light dusting of snow…but snow none-the-less!!! I was dressed and out the door before you could say “Bob’s your uncle” (which of course he isn’t…..), wrapped up warm and camera in hand, I scooted around the neighbourhood capturing scenes of snow before the sun got warmed up and melted it all.

houses in the neighbourhood

snow on the benches in the park

a snowy seat

a light dusting of snow

snow covered flowers

I believe we are in for a lot more in the days to come…………………..BRING IT ON!!!!! WHOO HOO!! snow glorious snow! 🙂

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my week in pictures

Posted in Fun Stuff, It's my life, tagged a week in my life in pictures, London, things I get to do and places I get to visit in London on November 23, 2010| Leave a Comment »

Monday brought a visit to Hampstead to meet with a potential Business Coach for 3 Days in London:

a school in Hampstead - reminds me of a school i went to in South Africa...a million years ago!

my kinda house. Hampstead is filled with delightful houses

and a visit to starbucks for the 1st 'gingerbread latte' of the winter season

Tuesday a walk to the village and I found these discarded pumpkins looking sad and lonely, waiting for the trashman

Wednesday and a walk on the Heath is in order. a dark wintery day didnt deter from the beauty of one of my favourite places

the fishing pond on Hampstead Heath... a favourite spot (much photographed)

Thursday was a wet and rainy day, and I got to walk through Waterlow Park on my way home from the village, the beauty of the foliage is much to be admired

the beauty of this particular spot catches my breath every time I walk by (this too has been photographed many times)

the pond looked suitably dark and mysterious

Friday I had the afternoon free so headed into my favourite part of London….the Square Mile

Guildhall, from whence the Lord Mayor starts his historic journey

the interior of Guildhall. the features are fabulous and it was awesome to walk in the footsteps of history.....

X marks the spot.....beneath this very unpreposessing looking slab, 20 feet below the surface lie the remains of a Roman Amphitheatre..which I visited of course

then a visit to another Wren church

St Lawrence Jewry - a Wren Church

and Saturday brought a visit to Keats House

the house where John Keats (poet) lived before he left for Rome where he died of TB at the age of 25

the chaise lounge in his parlour, Keats used to sit here and enjoy the view and write his poems

a fascinating discovery on the way home...a house in Hampstead

Sunday I stayed in 🙂

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The Lord Mayors Show 13 November 2010

Posted in Fun Stuff, Historical, interesting things that happen in London, It's my life, things to do in London, tagged The Lord Mayors Show London 2010 on November 15, 2010| Leave a Comment »

Wow!! what a fantastic show. I had the best day ever on Saturday, was totally impressed and can tell you one thing for sure….no other country can do Pomp and Ceremony like the Brits!!! F.A.N.T.A.S.T.I.C.

Pomp and Ceremony

The day started out grey and grim and I sent a tweet to my twitterverse to please wish for sunshine….we almost made it. By the time I left home I could see patches of blue sky…and the rain held off for the day!! Bloody marvellous.
I was so excited by the time I headed off for the bus…I have been in the UK for 9 years now and this is the first opportunity I have had to attend the Lord Mayor’s Show; a nearly 800 year-old tradition in The City of London. An annual event of 3 miles of fun, music and pageantry to welcome in the new Lord Mayor.
The lastest mayor being one Alderman Michael Bear, 683rd person to be elected to office, and latest in a long line of Lord Mayors that stretches back through centuries since 1189 when Henry Fitz-Ailwyn first held office.

cariciature of The Lord Mayor 1881

An illustrious position once held by Whittington, Lord Mayor of London thrice in his lifetime, the first in 1398.
“Turn again, Whittington,
Once Lord Mayor of London!
Turn again, Whittington,
Twice Lord Mayor of London!
Turn again, Whittington,
Thrice Lord Mayor of London!

The Lord Mayor’s Show dates to 1215 when King John allowed the City to elect it’s own mayor. The processional route takes you through thousands of years of history; a rich tapestry of events, places and streets of London over the centuries.

the processional route

Starting at the Guildhall

The Guildhall (1411-1440 15th Century Gothic)

and accompanied by the Mayor’s personal bodyguard,

Pikemen and Musketeers

Pikemen and Musketeer The Lord Mayors bodyguard by Royal Warrant

the coach winds it was through the streets of London, preceded by floats, the Pageantmaster,

The Pageantmaster - responsible for organising the event

Livery Companies, organisations, Merchantmen, buses, businesses, flambouyant carnival style costumes, marching bands, horse-guards charities, Freemasons, members of the Territorial Army, Cadets and a long line of wonderful coaches bearing the Aldermen of the City of London, 145 in all as well as zulu warriors and dancers

Zulu warrior

– supported by Standard Bank and reminescent of the Lord Mayor’s roots.. More than 6,500 people take part in the show and hundreds of thousands of spectators from far and near line the streets to see it.
The Lord Mayor’s State Coach,

The Lord Mayor's Coach

built in 1757 has pride of place and travels to St Paul’s Cathedral where it stops briefly (about 5 minutes), the Lord Mayor is welcomed into the city and blessed by the Dean of St Paul’s, a ceremony that takes place on the steps for all the citizens of the city to witness.

re-joining the parade from St Paul's Cathedral

From there it re-joins the parade and proceeds along Ludgate Hill, into Fleet Street past Prince Henry’s Room

Prince Henry's Room - Fleet Street

and into The Strand to The Royal Courts of Justice,

in front of The Royal Courts of Justice

the crowds following close behind. The journey pauses here for just over an hour while the Lord Mayor swears his allegiance to the Crown.
The procession starts once again and winds it’s way through Temple, along Victoria Embankment up past Puddle Dock, into Queen Victoria Street and thence to Mansion House – (completed in 1758 a rare surviving Georgian town palace) – the home and office of the Lord Mayor for the time he is in office.
Thereafter a gap of approx 2.5 hours and to end the event a fabulous display of aquabatics, a row-past by the Thames Traditional Rowing Association, (at which point I waved enthusiastically to Joe (from twitter) of The Brightside Six) who were part of the regatta,

Thames Traditional Rowing Association

dancing water fountains and fireworks on the Thames.

The Lord Mayor's Show - fireworks on the Thames end the show

fireworks on the Thames - a sparkling end to a sparkly day

The Lord Mayor is not to be confused with the Mayor of London, a completely different role. The Lord Mayor is primarily an international ambassador for the UK and spends 90 days a year travelling to around 23 countries, promoting the Square Mile aka the City of London.

griffin and herald - City of London

I was lucky enough to find a fabulous spot right near the steps of St Paul’s for that part of the ceremony and then another just past the Royal Courts of Justice for the 2nd part. I then followed the parade right to the end at Mansion House and thence to the Guildhall to see the coach in it’s display case.

The Lord Mayor's Coach

It was quite amazing to be part of this historical procession and to witness an event that has been re-enacted for almost 800 years. It was quite weird to see a funfair at St Paul’s too!!!

the fair comes to St Paul's

I phoned my sister in South Africa so she could listen to the bells ringing but unfortunately all she could hear was static. The bells rang out across the city, almost continuously for the whole time except when the Lord Mayor was actually at the cathedral. The streets were lined with thousands of people and an air of excitement pervaded the city. I had ever such a fabulous day, rushing along the pavements and streets of London following the parade, chatting to people, being cheeky with the police (heehee), and generally having a brilliant time. The day ended off with a pledge fulfilled and fireworks… the pledge was to Joe from twitter…I had said I would wave my pink scarf as they went by and so I did….and he saw me!!! how much fun is that!

It is fantastic to be able to witness these events and I am eternally grateful that I now live here…….London for ever 🙂 I am truly addicted!

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succumbing to the devil

Posted in Fun Stuff, It's my life, messages, tagged advertising messages, peppermint crisp, rowntrees mint aero, stapancras station, Wicked on November 6, 2010| Leave a Comment »

the devil in this instance being advertising aka marketing aka subliminally/blatantly telling us we need to have/taste/buy something that we most likely don’t need or never thought we needed until viewing said advertisement!

As mentioned in a previous post I went to St Pancras Station last sunday to see the Halloween event that was being staged there in conjunction with Wicked and the National Woodland Trust. And it was fun, I am so glad I went despite having missed the tour with the @TheSock Mob.

As mentioned in said post I stood in the queue to get an autograph from some members of the Wicked cast 🙂 and of course Lee Mead *big smile*, and while standing in said queue I was subjected to a billboard (one of those roll-up and pack away type billboards) that was advertising Nestle Mint Aero. It was kinda in your face and you could not miss it if you were in said queue for over 20 minutes!! Also it was a very pretty and bright advertisement……

On my way home I suddenly developed a craving for peppermint chocolate and thereupon stopped by at the store enroute (won’t say which one since they are one of my pet hates) and bought a ……………………

Nestle Mint Aero...the one with the bubbles

Never ever let it be said that advertising doesn’t work!!! I have bought aero before – however, never a mint aero since I am a bit picky about peppermint and chocolate and like the South African version of Peppermint Crisp.