Visit to London

First things first. It was possible for Doug to get away for a few days because a good and kind friend looked after not only Poppy but the other animals too. You know who you are and we cannot say thank you enough!

We packed not only a lot of eating and drinking, but a lot of culture, sightseeing and other activities in to only three days.

First off we had crispy chinese duck at the Feng Shang Princess in Camden

On Saturday during the day, we visited friends. No photos of them. They have a new baby and were a bit tired but fed us with yummy fish and chips from the local fish and chip shop. It was lovely to see them and the first time Doug saw their very posh new (ish) kitchen.

In the evening we went to the Royal Opera House

To see Verdi - Il Troubador

We sat in the front row.

So close we could just lean forward a little and read the orchestra's music

We dressed up nice

and had champagne and salmon sandwiches at the interval to keep us going

Then curry afterwards

On Sunday we went to the Tate Modern to see Elton John photos (ones he owns rather than ones he took). I enjoyed it a lot as he has many nice things by Man Ray and lots of others.

We went there by river boat. Looking back towards work (hurrah I am having a day off!)

Waiting for the boat

Still waiting for the boat

On the boat

Rain, flag and tower  bridge from the boat

Here is Aidan heading in to the relatively new 'The Tanks' bit where they have emptied out old fuel tanks and added massively to the space.

This photo shows the remains of the crack in the floor 'concept' art from some years ago. I love that you can still see it badly filled in.

This is the view of some flats from the Tate Modern. It would be a very weird place to live with people staring in at you all day like you are a piece of art. I wonder how much the rent is - they look very nice!

Before the art we had lunch at Noodle Street which is near the flat and does good dim sum and various other things

Doug and I both got the same fortune in our fortune cookies! Surely this means it is the dreams about the house being done soon and coming out PERFECT that will come true

In the evening after the art, we had nice food and beer at The Gun which is a gasto pub near the flat

Venison carpaccio with yellow beetroot

Roast beef

Mmmm beer (yes dry jan finished a little before the end of jan!)

 On Monday we went to the British Museum in the morning

Our favorite things in the BM - the Assyria collection

Why is he poking something with a lemon and carrying a handbag?

This was in a new section and interesting because it shows that they are covered in clay or something which explains somewhat how they get the amount of detail in to the carving

We also like the Elgin Marbles. I always say this but they remind me of Georgette Heyer books.

In the afternoon we went climbing at The Castle (near Finsbury park). We had a lesson so that Doug could learn how to do the knots right and I could have some extra tips and practice so I can get signed off to do it safely without supervision.

 More beer was had afterwards

In the Prince Albert in Camden

Camden Town tube - we used to live near here. Bit weird going back

I bought DM boots here when I was a student (as did probably every other student in London at the time)

We had dinner at the Mango Rooms which we frequented quite often when we lived in Camden. It was just the same as it used to be. Perfect!

Yet more beer in the Spread Eagle (where we started going as students and went many more times since)

We now all need a few more days back to the 'dry' of January to recover from so much activity and beer and food... 

It was nice getting out and about with Aidan too as he is off to a job in Falmouth soon so good for Doug to see him plenty as well before he is off. 

Best shelves EVER

Doug made these. They don't look quite straight in the photo, but they are in real life. They are so awesome I nearly had to wake him up in the middle of the night to tell him - but didn't as I thought he wouldn't appreciate it.

He is going to make various other similar to fit in to spaces here and there in this room so that we have as much storage as possible in this tiny space when we move in here. It is hard to find ready made that fit the spaces - and they wouldn't be as good anyway! They will be painted white - though they look good like this is will be easier wipe clean.

Here is the workshop area (and you can admire my onsie in the reflection in the window). For some reason the plywood smells of popcorn and seems quite flimsy for the price. It is really hard to find good quality wood in France for a reasonable price for some reason. They seem to grow a lot so not sure why...

Progressing in the new 'kitchen'

Worktop is stained and Danish oiled (maybe some more coats needed) and the sink is plumbed in.

Tiles should be arriving shortly along with the sliding rack which will allow the door on the narrow unit to the left there to be attached. Annoyingly Leroy Merlin didn't mention we needed this when we bought the unit.

There will be shelves at either end of the space too.

Winter is here again

There was a worrying few hours sitting on the runway at Gatwick waiting for first a crew, then the baggage, then the de-icer as more and more snow fell. The plane had come in on time and ended up leaving nearly 3 hours late. As you can see there was not a MASSIVE amount of snow. Relieved in the end just to make it home. Hopefully I can make it back to work (hmmmm or maybe being snow bound could be good!!)

It snowed at the house, fortunately not a great deal. There is more forecast and then temperatures of -11C overnight and a max of -4 during the day. This doesn't sounds nice - with no heating and water to the animals that will freeze. At least we don't have to sleep outside like the cows and sheep!

All this has been very good in the ski area. We didn't get quite fresh runs and visibility was a little dodgy but all good fun. Glad I have been to the gym a few times recently!

Yay look how deep that is and how AMAZINGLY I am skiing it

V happy

Poppy had to get on her down jacket (I made it last year from an old jacket of mine which had got slightly melted on the fire). Cool huh? I try not to worry about being a saddo who dresses up their dog. She is a very pathetic and heartrending sight when she is cold. A friend mocked me for dressing up my dog and treating it like a child then saw her once when she was shivering and cold and demanded I get a jacket on her IMMEDIATELY and stopped being so cruel

Lovely walk on the way back from skiing to give Poppy some exercise. Sadly she cannot normally come on the ski lifts so has to wait in the car (with a special high tech warming rug to lie on to avoid hypothermia). Early season we do take her skiing, but just on the drag lifts or when we walk up

Beautiful and peaceful. Better than grotty London in the snow

Here is another knitting effort that I made before the blog so annoyingly didn't write down what I did. I love the huge pom-pom. Basically it is k1 p1 ribbing to above the 2nd pink line then stocking stitch after that. It is alpaca wool and very warm so good for the current conditions

This is how Poppy plans on spending the cold spell (except when she is running in the snow which she loves)