Wrappin' it up....

Well here we are, at the end of 2011. Not sure where this year went.
James has been here and we've enjoyed having him. This next year he's off on a deployment. Not worried though, as that's a ways off. We had an enjoyable Christmas season. James had his 22nd birthday yesterday. In true tradition, we let him pick where he wanted to dine. Benihana. Who even knew there was one here. Luckily it was right next door in Chelsea. It was amazing. Oh it was typical Benihana food, but the dining area was in the basement and very classy. Tres chic.
Today, hubby and I ventured back to Greenwich. James wasn't inclined to go, so we went without him. Last time we didn't get to do everything. We did finish it off this time. Hiked up the hill to the observatory and the Prime Meridian. Informative, yet fun. It was a cool, crisp drizzly day.

Hubby and I got a cuppa at e tea pavilion in the park then headed back to see if the Cutty Sark was open yet. It's under renovation for this summer's Olympics. So no, it wasn't ready. But we knew there had been a pedestrian tunnel under the Thames frrom the north bank to the sound bank Greenwich. Let's see if we can find it. Yup. And it's still in use. This was built in the 19th century and still in use today.

I wanted to take hubby to the Dockland Museum up at Canary Wharf. I had been with the spouses group last month and found it really interesting. So we killed about 2 hrs there. A definite addition to anyone's list of things to do in London.
So, while we think, and contemplate if we can stay awake till midnight tonight, to ring in the the new year, I'll stop here and say " a glorious New Year" to you all.

Happy Christmas .....ya'll

So, here we are, the end of 2011, and hubby and I are enjoying an English Christmas. It's so very odd how different Christmas things are here than in the States. I expected, or thought it would be more like a Victorian Christmas here. But I guess that is just a Hollywood image. Cause there is little to no house decor, and the street decorations are minimal. But we did do up our place, tree and all.

We also did on minimal gifts this year. Hubby got practical gifts such as a badger shave brush, cookbooks, and a Scottish food hamper. I, on the other hand, got a regency tea caddy! It is now one of my favorite possessions. It just thrills me to think that 200 hundred years ago a London craftsman created a tea box, never thinking it would be around at this day. If only this box could tell us the story of where it's been.
I also got another wonderful gift from my boys. It's what I asked for - a recent photo. Aren't they handsome?!!

 So a happy Christmas, Joyous Noel, Froliche Weinnachten, and any other seasonal greetings to you.

Here Kitty Kitty.....

We are cat sitting. And not just any normal cat. Oh no. This is a show cat. He's not performing, but he's definitely a fluffy fur ball. Sky, as he is called, is so typically "cat". All our cat games and tricks work well on him. While his folks swelter in the Virgin Isles, he entertains himself here with brown grocery bags, wine corks rolling across wooden floors and a laser light dot to chase. He seems to be adjusting to our flat just fine. Since our Baby Boy will be arriving at the end of this week, he can enjoy curling up to the "puffy one".
So that brings us to Christmas. It's just around the corner! Gosh, how did that happen? We're ready. Since we're not doing anything, it's no trouble. Baby Boy arrives this week and we get to anjoy him for over a week before he goes back. I've got some cultural things planned, as well as a few fun ones. I hope he has a good time, but I'm concerned with entertaining him. Since he is older, and we are all so independent, I assume he'll take the oyster card and disappear. And I'm ok with that. It's his vacation, so he can drive his activities.
It's all good....
Especially since I got good news today from the doc. SPOILER ALERT - the following contains graphic conversation about females parts......I've had a lump in my breeast for the last three weeks. And not just a little dot of hardness. No, this was a massive, golfball diameter crusty lump. Yuck. But after working through the paperwork reequired here for the military to pay priviate doctors (not NHS please), I was seen by a specialist, who immediately sent me for a scan and ultrasound. Within a two hours I was scanned, diagnosed, drained and sent on my way. Looks like I'm "Lumpy, the cyst breasted girl". Ok, I can live with that. Cancer averted!! Yay!
My heart's out there for any of you who haven't gotten the good news that you are just lumpy. Hats and hair off to you fighters!

Squeeky clean in Bath

Ah Bath. While I love a good "tubby", I'm talking about the city of Bath. It really is, and has been one of my favorite places in all the world. There is something about the local Bath stone, with it's warm honey hue, mixed with the Federal (what us Americans call it)  architecture that makes it so pleasing and calming to the eye. It's not for everyone. I normally don't like cookie cutter repetition, but somehow it works perfectly here.

Plus add the bonus of the last weekend of the Christmas Market in the Abbey square. so nice. We took the train from Paddington Station last Friday and presto, an hour and a half later we were there. Nice! Of course we arrived after it was dark - seeing it's dark now around 4pm....So we just wandered around a bit. The city at night is even glorious with it's lights and Georgian appeal.

Saturday was filled with doing tourist sights. Yes, I got Hubby to go to No 1 Royal Crescent. He claims he enjoyed it. I think that's cause it was small and quick to get through. The hotel had a book on the city's architecture and I had spent the evening reading up. I feel like a pro now and could give a tour. We by-past the Fashion Museum in the basement of the Assembly Rooms. I had been there before. It is honestly the best costume museum I've ever seen. Amazing. But I knew that would be too much for Honey Bun. So we strolled up and down streets and alleys being in awe of the views, the people and the overall beauty of the place, I was looking forward to seeing all the antiques shops Ive heard about at Bath. We saw 2.....Apparently the market has dried up. What a shame. The one we do go into had amazing Federal and Georgian pieces. It is thrilling for me to touch something that was made, used and loved over 200 years ago. But I'm odd. You all know that.

 After looking at most of the sites ( we had to save something for Sunday) we found a Spanish restaurant and had tapas. Not too bad. I did find them lacking in vegetables. I was hankering for something green. Brits somehow think potatoes count as a veg. No, it's a starch. Bring on the frilly greens.

Then off to the Christmas Market for shopping, if need be. There were mostly vendors from the countryside, not from Germany as some have. but the wares were still good to enjoy.

Sunday brought a possibly drizzly day. but after the too last clean sunny days, that would be fine. we checked out, stowed our bags and  had 6 hrs to kill. so, more wandering, eating and even found a local Rugby game to watch from over the fence. We also had time to explore the New baths, which we've decided to come back for a day trip and enjoy the thermo spas, which still pump heated waters to the town. Of course its a modern facility, but I will be able to put aside that fact, as I float in the warm waters of the rooftop exterior pool. I dragged Hubby into the Pump Room for a cup of tea 9 And coffee for him) while we enjoyed some piano music and a newspaper. Besides we had time to kill off.  More roaming took us to a pleasant surprize - a Mexican burrito shop. Yum!  Normally we pass up places like this. But the hankering for greens and fiber drew us in. We were not disappointed. Of course one must walk teh River Avon while in Bath. It's a lovely stroll. I didi not do this last time and I'm glad we bothered to take the time.

As all things must comet to an end, this one did too. We have great photos, fond memories and a few mementos of our trip. Hopefully we can venture back before it's time to leave Jolly Olde England.

If its Tuesday, it must be Belgium.....

So I go to blog right now...and the text is all in Dutch. Yes, I'm still here in Brussels, but I figure I'd better scribe some of this down before I forget all.
The trip across, or should I say under, was fun. I used to think it would be scary to travel in the Chunnel, but actually it was over so quickly it's not an issue. I've also seem to have gotten over my unrealistic fear of different travel. I used to be very skid dish in tunnels, especially underwater ones... Eurostar was great.

The waiting lounge was nice and the train is luxurious and fast. Hubby and the other students were traveling in "business" class, while the spouses were traveling coach. But it was still great. While free wine flowed in the students car, we had to pay for ours. Cie la vie.
We arrived after dark and taxied our way to the NH Atlanta hotel. Very nice and in the city center, close to everything. Dinner was emass that night, with 13 of us trying to find a place to take us in. Had a lovely bucket of mussels.

mussels in Brussels...

Sophie and I decided to take a hop on hop off tour bus the next day, in order to learn the city. I've ridden these before, but this was an adventure. We got off at an early stop, wandered around a square, found a lovely chocolate shop and then wandered back for a pick up. An hour later, I finally called the company gos find out when the next bus was. Well, they had somehow changed the drop off route during that day, but didn't bother to tell us. We did get on another and headed out to the Atomium and mini Europe.
After all, we get €1.5 off the admission. Uh....it's another €12 to get in and takes an hour and a half...this being after the tour buses stop running. So not good on that one.,once back onto bus number three - oh yes and by the way, each bus seems to be different and we have to figure out which station to switch our plug in head sets to in order to get the English commentary. So we get into the city center and near our hotel, when then bus, which has been slugging along in traffic stops mid intersection. Then the driver yells "everyone off. I can go no further". ???? Turns out there was some accident way ahead and he'd had enough and was making a turn to head back, ignoring the remaining two stops. But hey, we were a block from our hotel so it was good. Sophie and I stopped at Hotel Metropolie (the oldest hotel in Brussles) and had some Kriek. Mmmm, nothing like cherry beer! Good stuff.

The next day, today, the students head back. But hubby and I had decided to stay an extra day. So while he's at the EC, I get to move hotels. Normally this is no biggie. But turns out today the bus, tram and metro operators are demonstrating and on a One day strike. Great. Only gets better when they are demonstrating in from of our hotel, with whistles, flags, music, fireworks. And the street is blocked off. So no taxis can come. I get to hoof it to the taxi stand a few blocks away. But it is also blocked off. The police said to head to central station for a cab. Bat, it's up hill....but on the way I spot a makeshift taxi stand. €15 flat rate to go anywhere today. Great! But do I have a choice? And let me mention, this demonstration is mobile. They will be marching across the city, toward out new hotel.......
I did have a fun morning today though. Let night, we say the Grand Place with it's lights to music. Just gorgeous! So I wanted to go this morning and take pictures in the day.

I had seen this 30 years ago (ahem) when I was here last. It looks smaller now.:)  I did wander down to see the mannekin pis. While I had no intention of taking a photo of this famous little guy, I did end up doing so, cause he was dressed in the demonstrators uniforms. Too cute.

On the way back I stumbled across the Brussels costume museum. Wow. It's tiny,but very good. They had lovely examples of Regency and Victorian clothes and fine samples of Belgian lace. It's truly amazing how fine bobbin lace is. It's one craft I'd love to learn. Of cours I would never be able to use the talent once learned. Who buys hand made lace? No one!

Ah, today was a lovely rainy morning. We had a leasurely start and headed off to the Autoworld museum. It was a nice collection of cars from the late 1890s to 1970s. Bugatti, Rolls, Mercedes, Minerva all abounded. It is a nice collection of early automotive engineering. We then hoofed it across the European district  to my museum of choice- the Horta Mueum.

It was Victor Horta's (one of the foremost leaders in the Arte Nuveau movement) home. Built around 1895, it is a stunning example of Arte Nuveau architecture. I'm so glad we took the time to cross the city for this wonder.
We stopped on the way to Eurostar at the Fat Boy sports bar on the place du Luxenbourg. There we we're treated to a free round of shots before being treated wonderfully by our French, yet English speaking, bartender. After 3 or 4 shots we staggered to the metro staion and boarded the train to the Midi station to catch the Eurostar back to London.
And guess what?.....we made it home