What I Love Right Now

It been six months since our first week living in London (which I don't know how to respond to other than 'wow') so here's a list of the things I love about living here...

1. The National Gallery (see above pictures) and the other hundred or so amazing and completely free museums. Last weekend we saw one of Van Gogh's Sunflowers paintings in person, among many others, and it wasn't the least bit overwhelming- no feeling guilty about staying for less than an hour because you can go back anytime.
2. The Guardian newspaper every morning. Such a great paper, and the entire family has their favourite section. Dad loves the 'Review,' Franny reads the 'Family,' Mom likes the main front section, and I love the Saturday magazine. And reading it obviously has an impact, as I now add a 'u' to my words whenever possible. See 'favourite.'
3. All the great 'street style' and fashion blogs. Yes, I could read those anywhere, but it's fun seeing the pictures of places we've been to- one I love is Wish Wish Wish blog. Plus I've been more adventurous style-wise, I think, thanks to brilliant places like Asos.
4. London's public transportation.
5. New friends.
6. Thanks to BBC iPlayer I watch more TV than in Seattle, and we don't even own a television. I especially love BBC Charles Dickens adaptations- Great Expectations was fantastic; so was The Mystery of Edwin Drood, although it was a bit on the darker side. And don't get any of us (and probably most people in the UK) started on  how much we love BBC Sherlock.

I am absolutely loving living here, and have had such great experiences and learnt so much- I just hope that I'll remember and continue to appreciate all of it.

Greenwich in Winter

I love fun Fridays, the days that Steven and I have free to roam the city at our leisure. Yesterday we decided to head back to Greenwich, as we hadn't been there since a hot day last summer, with the kids. What a different scene in the winter months. The sun was shining, but it was very cold, and there was hardly anyone at Greenwich Park except hard-core runners, a group of students on a class field trip, a few other walkers, and some mums pushing fancy prams. Oh, all of them plus a famous person: Emily Watson! Ok, she's not a huge celebrity, but it was my first movie-star sighting in London, so I was excited (Steven wouldn't take a photo of her, so here is one I copied and pasted):



We walked through the Park and then along the Thames, even heading down to the shore when the tide was out. We had lunch at Greenwich Market and checked out all the stalls, then walked through the Thames tunnel, which is buried far beneath the River. We rode the tube and the DLR (Docklands Light Railway), and walked up and down little side streets for hours, one of my favorite things to do here.

This weekend is fairly mellow, with the usual football training and match for Franny and studying for Greta. Steven is very excited because Liverpool made it to the League Cup Final and will play their big game at Wembley Stadium next month. We went out for a pint last weekend at another great pub nearby, The Antelope, which is a preferred watering hole of fellow Abel & Cole staffers. And we're looking forward to a weekend in Bath next weekend, where we're staying the night, before heading to Grandma's surprise 90th birthday celebration at The Bear Hotel in Devizes. Lots of fun, life is good.

A (cold!) Walk in the Park

I am so over the bummer day at Richmond Park, honestly I am. Last weekend we went to Regent's Park to make up for our New Year's Day fiasco, and it was great. It was one of the coldest days we've had this winter, but it was sunny and beautiful, and loads of Londoners were out enjoying the park. We took the tube there, walked along the River to admire all the barges, and then headed for the park. It was great to run around a bit, see the ducks and geese, watch the rugby match (Franny could have stood there watching all day), climb on the sculptures, and of course finish off with a cuppa tea at the Park Cafe. I am totally over Richmond Park now.

A (Rainy!) Walk in the Park

We have finally dried out from our miserable expedition to Richmond Park. Happy Crappy New Year! On January 1st, we decided to take the bus to Richmond to wander around the amazing park there, hoping to spot some of the wild stags that run free (sometimes chased by dogs named Fenton). The bus took forever, literally about an hour, and then we hiked it up the hill to Richmond Park. It is a gorgeous green space and we had a lovely walk for about half an hour before the skies opened up and completely dumped on us. We were soaked to the bone, with no shelter anywhere, when Franny fell in the mud. Meanwhile, Greta wasn't exactly dressed for the weather and was shivering from the bitter cold. It was pretty awful, and then we had to take the bus home with our teeth chattering and none of us speaking to each other. Bummer way to start the new year, but the week has steadily improved.

The girls are now back to school, and both seem fine about that. Franny is also back at football, where she is tonight, and Greta is busy studying for a big Science exam next week. Work has gotten much quieter, now that the holidays are over, which is easier in a sense but does tend to make the days feel longer.

Today Steven and I went to Sloane Square and checked out the Saatchi Gallery. Very cool art space and we did really like some of the exhibits, while we wondered how some contemporary art qualifies as "art." After touring the whole gallery, we had lunch at the Nag's Head Public House, a truly classic old English pub. Another fun day out, so I guess we're on an upswing after our trip to the Park.