End of the line: The unused railway at Chessington South shows the snow untouched.
Saturday, February 26, 2005
Friday, February 25, 2005
What's Up Doc?
Natalie and I are both sick at the moment. Natalie has the flu while I have a sinus infection.
Back at home I would be just about over this thing, because my doctor knows that for me one treatment of antibiotics lasting seven days will probably shake it but I get a repeat just in case. With me you have to hit the sucker hard.
Over here the standard treatment for a sinus infection is a course lasting three days, though you do hit it hard. But, alas, while the antibiotics have reduced many fo the syptoms, I am not getting over it and am starting to get new symptoms. So back to the doctor I will go.
Natalie has been told by the doctor to rest and keep treating the symptoms. Hopefully Natalie will be able to do this as she struggles with the concept of rest. :)
Back at home I would be just about over this thing, because my doctor knows that for me one treatment of antibiotics lasting seven days will probably shake it but I get a repeat just in case. With me you have to hit the sucker hard.
Over here the standard treatment for a sinus infection is a course lasting three days, though you do hit it hard. But, alas, while the antibiotics have reduced many fo the syptoms, I am not getting over it and am starting to get new symptoms. So back to the doctor I will go.
Natalie has been told by the doctor to rest and keep treating the symptoms. Hopefully Natalie will be able to do this as she struggles with the concept of rest. :)
Review: National Anthems
National Anthems, the three person play at the Old Vic Theatre, Waterloo, is a snapshot of suburban Detroit life in the 1980s.
The young couple, with social aspirations (he's a lawyer - played by Steven Weber, she's a teacher - played by Mary Stuart Masterson) have recently moved into the neighbourhood and following a house warming party, have an unexpected guest, Kevin Spacey.
Spacey, of course, isn't quite as social couture as the other two and he is not really wanted. But for fear of offending him, and getting other neighbours nose out of joint the pair endure his presence.
While the first act is slow, there is alot of setting up being done. Comments, backstory and the like are being put into place for a powerful second act.
That's not to say the first act drags. It keeps you interested, but when the final curtain falls, you realise how much got thrown into the second act and you start to wonder, what if the first act had been just a bit better. I don't think it is the actors, I think it is the play itself.
After discussions with another colleague who saw it, I am still not sure what the moral of the story was. While it definitely was a commentary on the social ladder climbing of the 1980s, it also had other comments to make, I am sure.
I enjoyed the play, I especially liked the second act. To see the calibre of actor that we did on that stage is one of the joys of living in London.
3 1/2 out of 5.
The young couple, with social aspirations (he's a lawyer - played by Steven Weber, she's a teacher - played by Mary Stuart Masterson) have recently moved into the neighbourhood and following a house warming party, have an unexpected guest, Kevin Spacey.
Spacey, of course, isn't quite as social couture as the other two and he is not really wanted. But for fear of offending him, and getting other neighbours nose out of joint the pair endure his presence.
While the first act is slow, there is alot of setting up being done. Comments, backstory and the like are being put into place for a powerful second act.
That's not to say the first act drags. It keeps you interested, but when the final curtain falls, you realise how much got thrown into the second act and you start to wonder, what if the first act had been just a bit better. I don't think it is the actors, I think it is the play itself.
After discussions with another colleague who saw it, I am still not sure what the moral of the story was. While it definitely was a commentary on the social ladder climbing of the 1980s, it also had other comments to make, I am sure.
I enjoyed the play, I especially liked the second act. To see the calibre of actor that we did on that stage is one of the joys of living in London.
3 1/2 out of 5.
Wednesday, February 23, 2005
Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow
All winter there has been rumours of its existence and on the weekend there were a few isolated reports of snow in London but on Monday the snow it with full force.
Big flakes, small flakes, and with wind behind it, the snow came down and interrupted traffic coming from the south-east. However, in London there was little left on the ground this monring when we got up.
During Tuesday the snow came again, though not with as much ferocity. The forecasts for Tuesday night suggest that we will find plenty of snow first thing on Wednesday morning, perhaps up to 10cm in some parts of greater London. This could play havoc with the trains, so I don't know that I am looking forward to it. We will see.
In the meantime, here are some of the images from yesterday.
Big flakes, small flakes, and with wind behind it, the snow came down and interrupted traffic coming from the south-east. However, in London there was little left on the ground this monring when we got up.
During Tuesday the snow came again, though not with as much ferocity. The forecasts for Tuesday night suggest that we will find plenty of snow first thing on Wednesday morning, perhaps up to 10cm in some parts of greater London. This could play havoc with the trains, so I don't know that I am looking forward to it. We will see.
In the meantime, here are some of the images from yesterday.
Sunday, February 20, 2005
Valentine's Day
On Monday, 14th of February, Peter and I celebrated our six-month wedding anniversary and Valentine's Day. Instead of going out to dinner, we decided to celebrate at home with an extra-special dinner by candlelight. The menu consisted of Szechwan pepper prawns on a bed of chilli and lime chinese cabbage and bean sprouts as an entree (see photo below), pepper steak with vegies and a side of french fries (with the customary mayonnaise) as a main, and italian cherry ice cream as dessert.
Accompanying dinner was an Australian Barossa Valley Shiraz (see below), which Peter chose for the evening. Another extra special touch was the massive bunch of flowers Peter bought me: 12 red roses among a mass of greenery and baby's breath.
All in all, it made for a very special evening. Hope you like the pictures.
PS The Szechwan pepper prawns were inspired by a Marie Claire Flavours cookbook that I was privileged to receive from Kate as a Christmas present in 2004!
Accompanying dinner was an Australian Barossa Valley Shiraz (see below), which Peter chose for the evening. Another extra special touch was the massive bunch of flowers Peter bought me: 12 red roses among a mass of greenery and baby's breath.
All in all, it made for a very special evening. Hope you like the pictures.
PS The Szechwan pepper prawns were inspired by a Marie Claire Flavours cookbook that I was privileged to receive from Kate as a Christmas present in 2004!
National Anthems
Monday night will see Natalie and I visiting one of the iconic venues of British theatre - the Old Vic. Many a British stage and screen actor has performed on its hallowed stage.
Our trip on Monday will be to see Kevin Spacey in 'National Anthems'. We are going with some people from Sunrise Software, where I work.
I will post a review of it later in the week.
The Old Vic Theatre website.
Our trip on Monday will be to see Kevin Spacey in 'National Anthems'. We are going with some people from Sunrise Software, where I work.
I will post a review of it later in the week.
The Old Vic Theatre website.
Korean Jenga: When Peter caught up with his friend Louis last month, Louis gave him a small gift - a Korean version of Jenga. In this version there is a dice which you roll to determine which colour of block you must remove. Louis, who is currently working in Korea, is a friend from Peter's time studying in Nebraska.
Saturday, February 19, 2005
English Football
Right you are Guv!
On Sunday afternoon, Natalie and I are heading off to White Hart Lane, home of the North-London based Tottenham Hotspurs for their 5th Round FA Cup clash with Nottingham Forrest.
Since our arrival in London last August, I have been encouraged (somewhat enthusiastically) by Stu J. to see an English soccer match. Well, we are finally getting to one. Part of the wait was finding the time to find tickets. If you want to see one of the Premiership teams, it can take a bit of organising. But things fell into place for us and I was able this week to purchase tickets for this upcoming game.
For those who know a little about English football, the Spurs (Tottenham) are in the top half of the Premier League. Nottingham this year are playing in the next division down, though they are running second last at this stage. But this is the FA Cup, where anything can happen, so we are looking forward to an afternoon of lively soccer and taking in the atmosphere of one of the well known clubs, when it hosts a home game.
On Sunday afternoon, Natalie and I are heading off to White Hart Lane, home of the North-London based Tottenham Hotspurs for their 5th Round FA Cup clash with Nottingham Forrest.
Since our arrival in London last August, I have been encouraged (somewhat enthusiastically) by Stu J. to see an English soccer match. Well, we are finally getting to one. Part of the wait was finding the time to find tickets. If you want to see one of the Premiership teams, it can take a bit of organising. But things fell into place for us and I was able this week to purchase tickets for this upcoming game.
For those who know a little about English football, the Spurs (Tottenham) are in the top half of the Premier League. Nottingham this year are playing in the next division down, though they are running second last at this stage. But this is the FA Cup, where anything can happen, so we are looking forward to an afternoon of lively soccer and taking in the atmosphere of one of the well known clubs, when it hosts a home game.
Monday, February 14, 2005
Busy Week Ahead
This week is a busy one for me.
I have a work conference which I have been helping organise up at Birmingham on Wednesday and Thursday. Hopefully though, Friday will be a quiet one. I am considering taking the day off to relax.
Natalie had an interview for a postgrad job last week which sounds like it went very well. Unfortunately she had to postpone her other interview as she has been sick.
On Thursday night we got to catch up with Mat again, before he flew home to Australia. It has been great to catch up with him and hear about Jen, his wife, and Nicholas, his newborn son.
One of the nice things hear in England is that I get to see a few more exotic cars. There are Ferraris regularly going through the business park where I work. So I am enjoying that.
I have a work conference which I have been helping organise up at Birmingham on Wednesday and Thursday. Hopefully though, Friday will be a quiet one. I am considering taking the day off to relax.
Natalie had an interview for a postgrad job last week which sounds like it went very well. Unfortunately she had to postpone her other interview as she has been sick.
On Thursday night we got to catch up with Mat again, before he flew home to Australia. It has been great to catch up with him and hear about Jen, his wife, and Nicholas, his newborn son.
One of the nice things hear in England is that I get to see a few more exotic cars. There are Ferraris regularly going through the business park where I work. So I am enjoying that.
Thursday, February 10, 2005
Cambridge and Brighton
Last weekend, Natalie and I had a very busy time. On Saturday we visited Cambridge and Natalie's sister, Kate. Saturday evening saw us catch up with our good friend, Mat, here in London on a business trip. On Sunday, Natalie, Mat and I went for a scenic trip to Brighton.
Cambridge was a little grey and overcast but that didn't stop us from seeing Jesus College, where Kate lives, and other famous colleges such as St Johns and Kings.
While it was a bit of a whirlwind tour of Cambridge it has given Natalie and I a good idea of the place and it was good to catch up with Kate.
Sunday's trip to Brighton saw much brighter weather - mainly sunny - but not much improvement in the temperature. It was quite cold in Brighton the entire afternoon.
The highlight would have to be the way Natalie entertained Mat and I as we went around the 'Crazy Mouse', a rollercoaster right at the end of the Brighton Pier. I am sure Natalie felt we were going to end up in the water at any moment and her screams and laughter were lots of fun to listen to. :)
Cambridge was a little grey and overcast but that didn't stop us from seeing Jesus College, where Kate lives, and other famous colleges such as St Johns and Kings.
While it was a bit of a whirlwind tour of Cambridge it has given Natalie and I a good idea of the place and it was good to catch up with Kate.
Sunday's trip to Brighton saw much brighter weather - mainly sunny - but not much improvement in the temperature. It was quite cold in Brighton the entire afternoon.
The highlight would have to be the way Natalie entertained Mat and I as we went around the 'Crazy Mouse', a rollercoaster right at the end of the Brighton Pier. I am sure Natalie felt we were going to end up in the water at any moment and her screams and laughter were lots of fun to listen to. :)
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