abby's blog

Little Green Veggie Eating Monster

2011-05-26T12:08:00.005Z

Today looks like the perfect day to curl up in the living room, watch the rain out the window and just knit. Knit like mad. Then nap. Then knit. And maybe nap again.

But I am at work and its lunchtime and because it is raining, I can't go outside. Or nap. Or knit. At least there is a 3day weekend to look forward to.

Do you see that? I think this kid has potential for RED HAIR!

So, this is my nephew. He's modeling the Hooded Striped Top by Debbie Bliss that I knit for him. It is a bit big, but I reckon that is spot-on so he'll be able to wear in when Fall comes in a few months. Yes, I'm skipping through Summer to justify a big knit.

The husband picked out the colors. He thought they shouldn't be too "baby" and pastel. I think he picked some good ones. Plus green goes well with RED HAIR.

The hood and sewing of the seams with the hood were my only downfalls. Things bunched up and made me frustrated. And I'm really bad at picking up stitches, so I didn't enjoy the ribbing around the hood. It's bitty and I don't like bitty. If I had a lot of raining days, I could have knit this way faster.

Midwest Ho!

2011-05-18T19:09:00.001Z

Toby looks onward, a photo by pumpkin spice on Flickr.

We've returned from our long trip back to the states. Lots of fun and photos to share. As usual, it'll take me ages to upload them though. We really need a new computer. Or more memory space anyway.

Man is it tough to get back to work.

Happy Fruit.

2011-04-03T21:17:00.001Z

Untitled, a photo by pumpkin spice on Flickr.

Toby left me a message on the kitchen table.

30 turns to 31.

2011-03-31T14:01:00.002Z

Untitled, a photo by pumpkin spice on Flickr.

I'm not talking about today's date. I'm talking about my age. I hear a lot of women stay 31 for a very long time. I wonder how many years I'll get out of it.

Had some lovely drinks and some grub at The Giant Robot on Friday night. I was told my drink of choice (a groovy pink Campari, Martini and prosecco-styled Negroni) is something a grandma would drink.

I bet his gran is a classy lady. As am I.

Craft and Coffee.

2011-03-22T16:27:00.003Z

A couple of interesting London things to keep an eye out for....

(picture from Renegade website)

Renegade. Isn't actually until October, but I feel the need to shout that Renegade is coming to LONDON! At the Old Truman Brewery. This has potential for amazing things.

The London Coffee Festival. How could this not be good? Also at the Old Truman Brewery, where lots of good things happen. Apparently there is some sort of "third wave" coffee thing going on. I don't really understand this, but I take it to mean that more people are paying attention to the goodness of coffee. Sort of like they do in the states. People here are starting to catch on that there is coffee beyond the chain stores. It is a very good thing.

Speaking of coffee...went to Prufrock's new location on Leather Lane with the husband last week at lunchtime. I wish I had taken a picture because the way my coffee was brewed was quite the show. I had a come brewed in a siphon. Chemistry crazy cool. Have a look at the Timeout article. I will be going back. Probably not with Tobes at lunchtime because we waiting about 15 minutes for a cup, but I'll be back.

Just so the husband knows.

2011-03-19T10:06:00.004Z

The picture above was taken on a historic tram you ride up into the foothills of the Alps that surround Turin.

At the end of the line, you arrive in Superga. In 1949, the entire Torino football team died when their plane crashed here. There is a memorial next to the Basilica. It was easy to see how this could happen. It was so foggy when we were there, you couldn't see a thing. (Pictures below)

So, this husband of mine in the photo up there, he's been making me very proud lately. In the photo, he's reading It's Not About the Bike by Lance Armstrong. I've never seen the boy so engrossed in a book before. He carried it around with him on holiday and picked it up to read whenever he could. This put a massive grin on my face.

He has also just set off for a long ride out to Tring, which is where his sister lives. About 45 miles from here. He wants to increase his cycling fitness and he is doing it. Such a beautiful blue sky sort of day, so I reckon he'll have a good time.

He's has such a rough time lately and he's handled it all with a lot of courage. It makes me so very happy to see him enjoy things like cycling and reading.

I'll say it again, I'm quite proud of him.

View in Superga.

What the view was meant to look like.

The tram line.

Us outside the Basilica.

Trees around Superga.

Ready to ride back down. So foggy that day.

Something to hold onto.

A calm day.

2011-03-15T09:04:00.002Z

For some reason, the fog always makes everything feel calm. Even when there is construction all about. And trains screeching. And people crowding around a platform. And the noise in your head when you think about the world.

Just one look at St. Paul's in the fog and I start to feel like I can face the day.

Sunday evening.

2011-03-06T18:24:00.004Z

Sunday evening is here again. It just sort of happens.

I thought I was being lazy today, but when I write down all of the things I've done, looks like I've been busy.

Dishes and 3 loads of laundry. The grocery store. Knitting, reading, uploading the rest of our holiday snaps!

I made granola bars and pulled pork for tacos.

Food.

We had a lot of that in Italy.

Pizzas at 8 3/4 in Turin. (We even went back a second night).

Lunch at Princi in Milan. (Yes, we went here a couple of times too)

And gelato. We tried to keep it to two a day. Some people were more generous with their ice cream than others...

Hadn't touched this yet, that is a second scoop on top. What a meanie!

Our dinner tonight better be as tasty as those meals in Italy.

The start of Milan.

2011-02-27T11:19:00.002Z

It is sunny! Clear blue skies today!

Which means I want to get outside and soak some of it up. Toby is on a long bike ride and I'm going to get a coffee and sit outside Horniman Gardens. I'll look at the crocuses and daffodils and be grateful that March is almost here.

Still struggling to upload all of our holiday snaps. Our poor desktop computer is fighting hard to stay with us, but when you can only upload 3 pictures at a time, it gets frustrating.

Toby promised me we could take lots of silly pictures on holiday.

Which we did.

There were some serious photos too.

Chiesa Santa Maria

Milan Cathedral

Most Italian cathedrals, heck, most cathedrals are pretty awesome, but this one was amazing. The art inside that thing...beautiful, so, so beautiful. I took a couple of pictures inside, but as I didn't use the flash, they aren't great and don't do it justice.

This morning.

2011-02-22T08:58:00.001Z

There are so many people cycling in London these days. No fewer than 15 cyclists waiting for the lights to change with me at the end of Blackfriar's Bridge.

I can't decide if this is wonderful or horrible. I only think it is horrible because I'm selfish and would rather the roads completely to myself. That would mean the cars, buses, taxis, vans, scooters and motorcycles need to go too. That would be wonderful.

Ugh. Today is grey again.

But soon I will share some happy and sunny (for a few days anyway) pictures from our visit to Italy.

St. John take 3 (with a birthday surprise)

2011-02-06T19:56:00.003Z

Toby's 28th birthday was on Thursday.

We went to St. John. All night he had his eyes on the big treacle tart. He was so worried they were going to run out by the time we were ready for dessert.

I wasn't worried though as I knew there was going to be a little surprise for him.

Happy birthday Tobes!!

1.

2011-01-22T17:42:00.002Z

The first post of 2011. A little late, but I don't mind because posting isn't my job. And my job isn't my life.

I'm trying out a different attitude this year. One that will hopefully make me a little calmer and make me stop worrying about silly things that aren't important.

I've already had plenty of challenges to that approach!

Tobes and I ended 2010 with a little theater at The Young Vic (The Glass Menagerie) and then some dinner and beer at The Draft House. London looks awfully pretty at night. Funny to think that just down the river, there were thousands of folks waiting to see the fireworks. They stood outside for hours waiting for midnight to arrive. We headed home early and watched them warmly and quietly on the sofa.

I don't like to use my flash, so pictures are a bit blurry sometimes....

Next month we head to Italy to celebrate our 5 year anniversary! You can bet there will be lots of pictures. Anyone know any good bicycle shops in Milan or Turin? Or, more importantly, any wool shops?!

London at Christmastime

2010-12-19T19:56:00.004Z

On Thursday night, I cycled home in the snow.

On Friday morning, I had a flat tire. Toby fixed it. It snowed again during the day. We cycled home from work. I got another flat tire. We walked home. With our bicycles. Nearly 2 hours.

On Saturday morning?

It started to snow again and all was forgiven.

(Two flats in one day = buy a new tire)

Once we finished walking in the snow, we enjoyed some proper Panettone, straight from Milan (NOT via Sainsbury's. This is the good stuff)

Come visit Forest Hill!

2010-11-27T14:18:00.003Z

I think I ought to get a little more involved with my community. How could I JUST find out about this awesomeness?

Crazy activities right on the very street I live!

T-shirt painting while you drink sangria and eat tapas at 148 Kirkdale...
Thai vegetable carving at the Thai Orchard restaurant across from the station...

Actually, I'm a little annoyed that I just found out about this. I live on a very main road in Forest Hill and it is only today that I've seen a couple of signs advertising this event. Are they trying to get the community together or are they bringing people from other neighborhoods into this one? I'm a little confused.

I shouldn't complain too much. This is an excellent idea and I really hope it turns out well and gets a lot of support.

Come visit Forest Hill!!

Away he goes

2010-11-20T10:41:00.006Z

Life is busy. Fall is swooshing past without giving us any proper time to appreciate it.

The morning bike rides to work have been very chilly. We grumble awake in the morning, not wanting to leave the warm bed behind. Though, occasionally we are greeted with some seriously amazing sunrises. You need sunglasses to be in our kitchen on mornings like that. Then we bundle up in all our windproof/waterproof jackets, socks, trousers, etc to go out in the cold. More grumbling up the hill by the Horniman...but then we get to Peckham Rye Park. The way the cold hangs in the air is so beautiful. The sunflowers are now all brown stalks, but surrounded by the dewy, bright green grass and the frosty air hanging around them - it is just so darn beautiful that for a little while, you really don't mind that you're out in the cold. It is actually pretty darn nice to be in the crisp, cold air.

Then a Royal Mail truck will speed by you while beeping their horn and completely ruin the moment, but heck, that's a cycling commute in London.

The husband is doing even more cycling these days. He recently purchased a Surly Cross-Check. He'll be taking all sorts of adventures on this bicycle.

Long adventures. Last weekend he set out for his sister's in Berkhamsted.

View Larger Map

We live in South London and Berkhamsted, is a bit further north and actually out of London. About 40 miles out there! (round trip around 60 miles as he got a train part of the way back)

I was a little worried as this was his first really big ride. I waved him away and out he went down the road at 10 to 10.

His sister has some post ride pictures that I'll have to show you another time. Yes! he made it to his sister's in one piece. AND he really enjoyed it! Which means that this Saturday he is also out on a long bicycle ride. To Richmond Park. I reckon this ride will be a lot prettier than the traffic-filled streets of London.

I suppose it is only a matter of time before he joins one of those fully Lycra-d up cycling clubs....

Happy Halloween!

2010-10-31T10:04:00.003Z

It is Halloween again!

I'm looking out the window and can see a bright red tree to the right and a bright yellow one to left. I'm eating candy corn and caramel apple suckers. I'm smelling a cinnamon candle.

Everything Fall and Halloween-y is here and yet, I've got no craving to carve the Halloween pumpkins. What's up with that? I made sure we purchased pumpkins weeks ago and they have been sitting in our living room and I keep talking about how we need to carve them, but ... well, we sort of have to today or not at all as it is Halloween. Weird. Anyway, we'll get around to carving them and I'll take some pictures and put them up here at some point.

I did do one very Halloween-y thing this year. I made a pumpkin hat! This is Dylan's (my nephew) first Halloween and I knit, so he HAS to have a pumpkin hat.

My sister took this picture when he went to the pumpkin patch. Every Midwestern kid has memories of the pumpkin patch and I'm glad Dylan's getting that tradition in early.

Happy Halloween to you all! (and mom, we did the old fall time-change here in the UK, so I think we are only 5 hours difference now! for a few weeks anyway)

St John take 2.

2010-10-23T08:04:00.003Z

Last night, Tobes and I went out after work. This doesn't happen too often. We ditched our cycle commute and took the train (don't worry bicycles, this just confirms how much we loathe to take the train into work).

Stopped for a quick drink with Toby's co-workers at The City Retreat on Shoe Lane (very near Chancery Lane). I walk pass this thing a lot and it just looks like your average pub. Never felt the need to go inside. But his friends suggested it -- the pub looks awesome inside! Super high ceilings with exposed beams. Lots of enclosed booths so you can hide from the rest of the bar-goers. As one girl said, it makes you think of Harry Potter. Yep, I felt like I could have a butter beer there. It's a Sam Smith pub, so all the drinks are pretty cheap, but they aren't anything special either.

Anyway, that wasn't the highlight of the evening. The highlight was going to the bar at St. John.

Awhile back, Toby and I had our anniversary dinner in the restaurant bit. It was offal. Haha, no, it was great! There was offal (Toby had a bone marrow/parsley salad). There's a bar area too that has great food and isn't so expensive, so we thought we'd come back sometime. Friday was finally that time.

The place was pretty busy, but we spied a table for two in the back corner by the baker's oven. Toby was fast and we secured our 2 chairs and table. I wouldn't say he stole the table, but well, let's say he was more confident that that chair was ours!

I love EVERYTHING about this place. The white-washed walls and wooden tables. The suckling pig on a platter that gets carried into the main restaurant. The clientele was mixed with designer-y types, ladies with leopard-print, people with "interesting" glasses, and old men in their elbow-patched sweaters (we sat next to 2 old men that were totally awesome).

They had Greenwich Meantime beers on tap (Helle's for T and Oktoberfest for me. I can never resist an Oktoberfest style beer). Friendly bar staff too!

We ate bread & butter (because their bread is the best around!), olives (we don't even like olives, seriously, but I knew they'd be good and not marinated, so if we are ever going to develop a taste for olives, this is the place to do it), welsh rarebit (the biggest you've ever seen!) and cold lop (cold roast pork) with green beans and shallots. I was actually bouncing around a bit as we ate.

And then, because we were there so why not, we splurged and got the rum & raisin ice cream. AWE-some.

A little worried about what our night out on the town was going to cost, but at that point we were both so darn happy that we were there that it didn't matter. I went up to clear our tab and the lady said £31.40. I kid you not...all of that goodness for £31.40!!

The evening was topped off with a walk through the city, around St. Paul and over the Thames to London Bridge. Pretty, pretty and more pretty.

Colorful Kew

2010-10-15T20:22:00.006Z

It's been a little while since I last put up a post. I'll write about that time later. I think I need more time to reflect. And maybe it is too soon to reflect.

It was and is a very sad time. The summer of visits out to Bovingdon, of garden veggies, and of drives in the car listening to the radio are over.

Now we have the fall and the chilly nights (man does our flat get cold!!), cycling in the rain and dinners where we don't want to leave the warm kitchen.

You know what might be lovely to see? Something cheery and colorful. Got just the thing...photographs from Kew Gardens! When my mom came to visit (when was that again? end of Aug/beginning of September?), we took a boat down the Thames and wandered around Kew. The place is massive. Kew needs mutiple visits throughout the year. Loved what we did see though. I'll try not to go overboard here. If you want to see the full set....they are on flickr.

Mom in the City.

2010-09-06T18:46:00.012Z

Yep, the mom came to visit last week! (No, that wasn't her. Just a lovely dog she liked.) She's been to London a few times before so we didn't need to see Buckingham Palace or Big Ben (though we did end up seeing Parliament and a few times).

Instead, I took her to Shoreditch (trendy) and Peckham. That's right, I said Peckham.

Last summer I heard about this place called Frank's Campari bar. It is on the rooftop of a disused carpark in Peckham. We never got around to going and I thought this would be a good opportunity to show my mom a place off the touristy path.

It wasn't signposted too well, but we found it and very hesitantly boarded the lift. I know we were all thinking the same thing when Toby bravely pressed the 7th floor button. "Please don't break down. Please!!" The thought of getting stuck in that thing for who knows how long was very scary. The place looked deserted so who knows how long it would have taken for help to arrive.

The top couple of floors had some art installations (it IS art Toby) and the very top of the carpark hosts some picnic tables with half of covered in a tent/tarp thing. We all got drinks (gin collins for my mom and I - very sour, but very good). I had a brief moment where I thought food would be a good idea. I even glanced at the big chalkboard with the evening's menu. £10 for chili. I repeat. £10 for a chili. You've got to be kidding me. No food for us. Just some drinks and a view, before it started to rain.

Peckham is a great place for a view of a city. Who knew?

Yes, I have a local coffeeshop.

2010-08-14T13:15:00.006Z

I went on and on about this place and am only writing about it now? Yep.

Verdict? I love this place. I mean LOVE this place.

Finally, finally, finally, a coffee shop that makes me feel like I'm back in Minneapolis. Small, friendly, and good coffee (I like their lattes. Heavy.) It just has that feeling.

The one thing they are lacking is coffee. No, no, I mean just plain old coffee. No espresso machine. We're talking brewed coffee. This is still one thing that coffee shops don't really do in London and I cannot figure out why. Penny University opened up, but not for long. Whenever I looked at reviews, people seemed to be getting all up n' arms about it. Saying people are pretentious for liking coffee brewed at its best. This is NOT a new thing people! Before all the fancy dancy espresso-style drinks, when you said coffee, you got coffee. Sheesh. Guess I'll have to keep using my french press at home. Not a big deal as I really shouldn't be buying coffees everyday. That adds up mighty fast. But I do want to support them so much. In my opinion, St. David's needs to stick around. It adds a little something special to Forest Hill. I think there are more good things to come.

Option-C do a really well-informed review. I'm just here to tell you that you should go. Go right now. Bring a book and plan on spending some quiet time with it and your velvety coffee.

the one about the veg

2010-08-01T16:19:00.012Z

The summer isn't whoosing by as quickly as I thought it would, which is good because I don't have that fall, back-to-school feeling yet.

I want more summer sun.

That said, it is the first day of August. So, I should get myself prepared, as this is the month that is going to fly by.

I blame the vegetable patch. Toby's parents have a vegetable patch that I've been "shopping" at every weekend.

The courgettes (zucchini - I think Toby likes the American word better. How could you not? It starts with a "Z" afterall!) are monster-like.

Almost every dinner we've been eating involves a courgette.

I've had lots of firsts with the gooseberry. First time picking them...first time cooking with them (elderflower cordial and a bunch of unrefined caster sugar)...

...first time eating them!

We see garden veg wherever we go.

Okay, okay...we haven't gone that crazy.

I'm just saying, I'm enjoying our Summer of Veg. Got to get to the kitchen now. I've got a rhubarb crumble in the oven and I can't be having it burn.

st davids!

2010-07-13T08:24:00.001Z

oh my goodness. after nearly 6 years of london life, I finally have my own local coffee shop.

I even had their inaugural coffee! the barista was so sweet and handed over my coffee with two shaking hands. he was nervous. i'm so excited for them.

sad thing...no normal brewed coffee, just the espresso machine. but it is square mile coffee and they are thinking about provided plain brewed coffee.

oh i can't wait to visit again on Friday!! (will take pictures!)

A find?

2010-07-11T12:49:00.002Z

St. Davids coffee house in Forest Hill. Opens July 13th at 8am. You know I'll be there for my free coffee.

It will have Square Mile coffee!! So many high hopes for this coffee shop, you've no idea how excited I was when I saw the shop today.

Please don't let me down Tuesday morning...

morning-time stillness

2010-07-11T08:02:00.002Z

It is so, so very quiet this morning. A Sunday morning at 9am feels like a weekday morning at 6. And if that might not be as quiet as it is today.

I wonder what it is...maybe the heat has slowed down the trees and birds as much as it is slowed all the people down.

I'm going to drink my coffee (I used my poor neglected coffee grinder this morning. It is happy coffee) and enjoy the quiet. Oh wait! Is that the wind in the leaves? That is a sound I'm okay with listening to today.

this summer.

2010-07-01T15:13:00.003Z

After a lot of wishy-washiness on Mother Nature's part, summer has finally come and decided to stick around. It is so warm!

Days are filled with bright sunshine and evenings with the thick, golden sun.

Each night we throw aside our dinner plans and opt for bread, cheese and fruit.

Summer isn't what I expected it to be this year, but I like it.

It is quiet and filled with a lot of time outdoors.

Spending weekends at Toby's parents.

Gardening in the vegetable patch.

Watching the World Cup (if I support a team, they go out, so now I can't support anyone).

Listening to music.

Enjoying the amazing colors.

I like summer.

Ready for the Major League

2010-05-31T10:54:00.004Z

Last time we visited the States, we headed down to Beloit to see the Snappers. They are a minor-league team and gave Toby a taste for baseball. This time about, I wanted to show him the big league.

The Brewers had a game against the Phillies and though I knew we didn't stand too much a chance of winning, it was going to be a good time.

First up was a lot of tailgating. You know, beer, brats, beer, cheese, more beer...all in the parking lot. Tough to explain that this is actually a very important part of the baseball game experience. But I swear, it is!

Then inside Miller Park. This was my first time inside the stadium since it was rebuilt in 2001. You could say it has been awhile.

We were treated to a few home runs by the Brewers before they lost to the Phillies 10-6.

No matter. We made some memories with good friends and my streak of never seeing the Brewers win in Milwaukee continues.

home

2010-05-25T20:19:00.002Z

I have been in Wisconsin and it has been awesome.

Many, many pictures to come...

the cold spring.

2010-05-08T10:57:00.008Z

Spring was here and then it disappeared. Now it is chilly and all dark again.

Last weekend I had a dear friend visit and we caught a little sun on Saturday. Headed to Pall Mall and Mayfair and saw a lot of ridicolous cars and ridicolous people gearing up for the big Gumball 3000 rally. Highlights included seeing Tony Hawke skateboard, a group do a little Michael Jackson dancing, seeing Toby's favorite car, the Ferrari F40, and my highlight...seeing Vivenne Westwood with her bicycle!!!!!

By Sunday we were stuck indoors, putting the heat on (!) and curling up under blankets, drinking tea and playing Uno and Scrabble. Well, there was tea AND a few g&t's just to remind us that it really was May.

Did manage to get in a little walk and a Sunday roast at The Clock Tower next to Peckham Rye park. It was a bit empty in there, but once the rain looked like it would stop, the place filled up a bit. The walk home was nice and I couldn't resist stealing a few lilacs off a bush. Reminded me of taking some from our big backyard lilac bush and bringing them in for the teacher. Yep, I was that kind of student.

Election Day!

2010-05-06T08:28:00.001Z

It's Election Day here in the UK!! Not that I can vote, but it is all very exciting!

The Teddy Bear is complete!

2010-04-23T11:06:00.006Z

Been meaning to post this for awhile.

Finally finished knitting up the Teddy Bear all-in-one from the Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino book. Stocking stitch can take a long time when you are knitting up something long for a baby. Sweaters? Quick and Easy. Add some trousers to it? Long frickin' time.

I started to read comments from other knitters about this knit and then started freaking out. Most people found the newborn size too small for the little one. I was too far into it and really didn't want to rip anything out (I normally don't), so I trucked on.

The very, very good news is that IT FIT!

A baby made even cuter by one of my knits. Heck yeah.

On to the next project for the nephew...a matching stuffed teddy bear. Matching, of course, not because of style, but because in the end, I bought too much yarn.

30th birthday memories made.

2010-04-02T18:12:00.009Z

2010. This is the year I turned 30. Yes, it's just a number, but a pretty important milestone. As most friends say, I don't feel 30.

Birthday celebrations started early on the 24th with this greeting me at work!

You see, I like to knit. 10 ladies in the office got together to make this. Made me smile endlessly all day and is now the benchmark for birthday greetings in the office.

Throughout the day, Toby sent me emails gearing me up for my big surprise. He'd been planning something special for months and I really had no clue what was going on. I discovered my surprise when I found myself at Stansted airport on the morning of my birthday. We were going to Berlin!!

Berlin is a wonderful city. It's still developing so it seems there will always be interesting things to see while walking around. As my favorite things are walking and eating, this proved to be the perfect weekend away. The Prenzlauer Berg area where we stayed was lovely and quiet. There were cars parked everywhere, but it seemed no one drove them. Everyone was walking or on their bicycle. Little cafes and markets tucked away on every corner. And stands selling bratwurst and chips. Covered with a sprinkling of curry powder.

I took loads of photographs and you can find them all on flickr. Here are a few of my favorites.

Happy Spring!

2010-03-20T10:51:00.002Z

Spring is finally here!! This must be the best day of the whole year. Then again, it doesn't look very springy outside right now. Grey, grey, cloudy and grey, but it is isn't super cold. That's got to be something.

We've had a proper winter here in the UK this year. Of course, this was the winter I decided to cycle throughout. Proud to say that I've made it through. If I can make it through a winter like this, surely I can make it through anything. Except a Wisconsin winter. Or a coldy-virusy-chest infectiony type thing that I am still fighting now.

Don't take my word for it that it's been a hard winter. The Guardian have confirmed it. BUT they say we are in for a specatular spring. Bring it on!

(old picture - March 21, 2008 but I'm hoping if I headed over to Green Park today it would look similiar-ish)

Progress on knitting and me.

2010-03-14T17:24:00.003Z

I have been ill. A cold to dwarf all other colds I've had for a very long time. Getting better though, just pathetically weak because of it.

Finally getting back to knitting. I swear. I haven't felt like reading, knitting, watching tv or even sleeping. That's right. I spent 2 full days off work staring into space because I just wasn't well and was tired, but couldn't sleep. I can sleep now and that's great. I need. Toby needs it too. Me coughing and sweating like an ice cube on a hot day were not helpful to his nights either.

Anyway, the knitting.

I am so nearly finished with the teddy bear all-in-one. Unfortunately (though it is a good thing!) the baby is here!! I have a nephew! Born March 1st. Today is the 14th and I'm hoping he hasn't grown too too much in 2 weeks. I still have the hood to finish, some ears to make, and a button band to sew on. Oh yeah and I have to buy more yarn for it. Again. I swear, I need to just bite the bullet and buy more yarn than needed despite the cost. I can always return it if I don't use it.

Here's my progress

I'm really ready for spring to get here. And for the end of my winter cold. Wish me luck.

There are all sorts of raindrops.

2010-02-25T20:36:00.003Z

On tonight's menu? Big fat raindrops.

The kind that land in your eye and hurt. And I'm a nerd that wears glasses while cycling and warmer weather (yeah for that though!) and big fat raindrops that hurt are a bad combination for nerds that wear glasses while cycling. I couldn't see a darn thing out of those wet, foggy glasses!

I'm tiring a bit of this whole rain while cycling thing again.

The rain better lead to good stuff soon. Good stuff like green, green grass. And buds on the trees. And pretty flowers.

Yeah, I want some of those pretty flowers. Or else Miss mother nature!
(totally an empty threat, but what's one to do?)

Four years on.

2010-02-12T22:46:00.007Z

We celebrated our 4th wedding anniversary this week. The years are going by faster and faster. Also, totally think we are looking older and older. Does this just mean we are officially grown-up? It's a good thing, right?

We enjoyed some Nose-to-Tail eating as they call it over at St. John. Well, mainly Toby tried some of that. He had a bone marrow and parsley salad for starters. I'm so, so proud of him for trying something new. It's not just new, but it's pretty out there for us. They brought out 4 bones, some toast and the salad, along with a little fork thing, which I kinda wanted to steal. You push out the marrow and spread it along the toast like pate. Then you put some wet salt and the parsley salad on it and eat. I tried a bit too. It's different. I'm really pleased we gave it a go. Also had some Turbot (Tobes main of choice) and Braised Rabbit (me! rabbit is totally tasty).

I think we are a pretty cool couple. Happy Anniversary to us!

Happy Birthday Tobes!

2010-02-08T21:04:00.004Z

Toby's birthday was last week. The 3rd to be exact. Well, his 27th that is. His birthday was on the 3rd of February!

It was a sunny day that started with a little Birthday Beatles music and a bit of cake before work. To be fair, I should say that it was me that sneaked a little chocolate frosting. He was good and saved his piece of cake for work. Though he managed to eat something like 4 slices, so I'm not sure if that equals good.

He's looking more grown-up every year. Extra handsome I'd say. Happy Birthday Tobes!

A few hours spent wandering.

2010-01-24T13:47:00.004Z

Recently I spent a slightly rainy day wandering around Paris for a few hours.

It was a gray day filled with bits of color.

This yarn shop, la droguerie was especially filled with color! It was the sort of place where you pick your yarn and someone weighs it up for you. I've never been to a yarn shop like that. So much pretty in there, but they have little no photos signs everywhere and I sort of felt like I should respect that, so I only have a photograph of the outside of the shop.

I didn't buy anything since I didn't have much time. You had to wait ages and ages to get anyone to help you. Not that they were mean there. Those lovely ladies with their gorgeous hand-knit sweaters were just really, really busy.

I walked down rue sebastopol and then realized I was going the wrong way.

Thought about hopping on the metro, but knew I wouldn't really have a clue which stop I needed to get on.

I kept wandering and snapping pictures.

Until I realized it getting dark very fast.

Man was the light brilliant.

I figured out that I was totally heading the wrong way and if I just flipped the map I would be near the Lourve in 10 minutes. Just had to find those hidden pyramids and I would meet up with the group. I got there in the end and have got my proof that I was in Paris.

Beans on Toast!

2010-01-11T20:22:00.002Z

I'll miss some beans on toast, but maybe you can catch them.

Heinz have a pop-up cafe on Shoreditch High Street. Get there quick though. From the looks of it, shop shuts up January 14th!!

Seriously, you should go. Only 50p and it goes to charity/

Slow Riding

2010-01-10T14:49:00.005Z

The first full week of the new year is over. It hasn't been as long and horrible as I thought.

Thank you dear crazy snowstorms visiting the UK. We had full on hope for a snow day on Tuesday night. I wanted to cry on Wednesday morning when most of the fallen snow in Forest Hill had melted on the roadway. The main road anyway. We took the bus in this day because the trains were crazy delayed. Didn't chance it on Thursday either as we took the train in. By Friday, we were back on our bikes. As long as you stuck to the main roads, there wasn't too much ice or slush anywhere. I was feeling pretty nervous and riding super slow, but I guess that isn't a bad thing. The tune of choice running through my head? Slow Ride, do-do-do, take it eas-y... I think it helped.

I think this week is going to be much of the same. And cold. And windy. This is probably going to end up being the long week.

A bit of Christmas Cheer

2009-12-29T15:32:00.003Z

Despite having Christmas songs in my head all the time, I wasn't feeling very Christmas-y this year. We didn't even pick out a tree until a week before the big day. Upside is that the tree still looks good. Hasn't lost a single needle.

We rented a van this year to drive out to Toby's parents. Well, we didn't want to rent a van, but that was sort of the only thing left in our price range. Wasn't a bad little van either.

That's Toby enjoying a little van driving through Peckham on Christmas day.

Lots of colorful, tasty food with nice people. Pretty good day.

Now I've got a tiny cold and lots of rainy, miserable weather. At least I have lots of things to snuggle up with.

2 good things

2009-12-21T09:18:00.000Z

a couple of awesome things about cycling to work on the monday before christmas.

1. there is no traffic! i can actually hear my bicycle rather than all of the car noise out on the roads.

2. there are hardly any other bicycles! i swear i only passed a handful of people. and i was going slow, so it wasn't like i was zooming pass all of them.

tale of the swallowtail shawl

2009-12-07T19:45:00.010Z

i had a great idea. this year was going to be the year that i finally knit something for my grandma. i've been wanting to for ages and never got around to it. how awful is that?

i wanted to find something pretty and simple. i also wanted to add some new skills to my knitting repertoire. i had a dink around ravelry and flickr and found many swallowtail shawl successes. with so many positive comments, i HAD to knit this shawl.

turns out i was going to be the one person with negative comments. typical.

it all started out okay until i started realizing that my buds weren't really looking like buds anymore. then i noticed that my stitch count was always one or two off.

i tore it apart a few times and then was happily on my way again, but it seemed like i was knitting 4 rows and then ripping out 3 and so forth. i tore this thing apart so many times my yarn BROKE!

clearly, i do not have concentration for such a project at the moment. instead, i've found an easy-peasy shawl to knit. it is still interesting, but requires far less attention than i'm willing to spend. and it doesn't matter too, too much if i'm off a stitch or too.

maybe someday i'll go back to that swallowtail, but at the moment, it's just bringing me down.

can i go on?

2009-11-25T19:00:00.002Z

my hardcore cycling has been put to the test these past couple of weeks. i don't know how much more rain and wind i can take.

seriously, i know cycling is the thing right now, but all of these easy-breezy people MUST live like 5 minutes from where they work. maybe even 3 minutes. i struggle with my hills and my rain and my sweaty and near the end of the ride, all i want to do is throw down the bicycle and have a temper tantrum. it's haarrrd.

i ride my bicycle to work to save cash (though one ends up spending lots of money on bike-related items, so i don't know how well we're doing on that one), for my health, for my toby, and because i don't like being squished into small places with sweaty strangers.

i keep trying to tell myself these things when i struggle home, but the cold and squishy soaked shoes and jeans don't help.

all that said, it didn't rain today and i'm home.

i didn't throw a temper tantrum, so i think i deserve an ice cream. yea me!

the newest member of the family

2009-11-18T19:15:00.001Z

my new bike.

i'm still adjusting.

ps. isn't this bench cool? at peckham rye park. there is a boy's one too.

howling

2009-11-14T18:56:00.002Z

what a miserable day! especially if you are on your way to evans to pick up your brand new bicycle. the rain! the wind!

it howls i tells ya, it howls.

but, it also makes me feel very cozy in the living room with our little lamps and lit candles. too bad we couldn't put a fire on in the fireplace. turns out it is a working fire place, but the estate agent told us we couldn't use it. suppose it is safer. knowing us, something would go wrong.

fingers crossed the blasts of wind die down tomorrow. i suppose i should go for a ride on that brand new bicycle of mine. (yes, our bike count is up to 5)

hurray for halloween!

2009-11-04T19:48:00.004Z

yeah, i know that we are already, like, 4 days into november, but i'm still eating halloween candy (major thanks mom), so it still feels like halloween to me!

we carved our pumpkins a bit late this year (on the day -- purchased them early though). i'm glad we waited to carve them though. they weren't all gummy on the big night! nice and crisp and shining through the window.

i also made some pumpkin sugar cookies to make the office feel more halloweeny. every person that had a cookie asked if i had made them. um, yeah...don't think they'd be selling something this odd in the stores!

the weekend before we went to the blackheath farmer's market (just to the right of the train station for you london folks. sundays from 10-2). picked up some autumn-y type treats. yeah for fall!

if i had...

2009-10-30T10:17:00.003Z

if i had, the window open with a light autumn breeze, pumpkins on the table, a cup of jasmine tea, and the whole day ahead of me every single day...i think i could be a well-rounded and relaxed person.

why can't i have that?

We couldn't refuse.

2009-10-10T08:30:00.005Z

Man, is it cold! Wait, shouldn't complain. I hear it is SNOWing in Minnesota right now. It isn't even Halloween!!

Last night, Tobes and I enjoyed a little high culture at the British Film Institue (BFI). A little culture in the form of The Godfather on the big screen. Both of us had been familiar with the film, but only in bits and pieces. It was incredible to finally see the whole thing. I think I can be an Al Pacino fan now.

I really like the BFI. It is the type of place where you'll find 80% of the audience sit still when the credits start to roll. And when a film starts at 7.40, it starts. No adverts or previews, just straight up, the film.

Of course, this causes problems. Most people are used to the movie starting 20 to 30 minutes after it is supposed to start. So, you will get a few stragglers coming in, but they are harshly shushed. The woman next to me last night was a shush-er. I had a bit o' anxiety about Tobes eating M&Ms. (Food isn't allowed) I thought she'd evil eye us throughout the film, but Toby was quiet and she was into the art on the screen, so she left us alone.

I think The Godfather is playing for a few more weeks. If I were you, I'd try to catch it. (And then try not to say all of the greatest lines from the movie)

the reason why

2009-09-30T19:08:00.005Z

i always get asked the same questions when i go through passport control.

do you live here?
--yes.

why?
--i'm married to an english guy.

why?

--that's why.

split to podgora and back

2009-09-17T20:12:00.002Z

the first batch of pictures are up. head over to the little flickr badge on the right somewheres and you can have a look.

we arrived at split's tiny little airport around 6pm-ish and hopped on the bus into split. funny thing about those buses to the airport, you never really know when they'll show up, but you can be certain they will. since the split airport is pretty small, they know when all of the flights will be arriving and when might be a good time to catch some fares.

that first evening was a bit tiresome. mirna (sonja's sister) picked us up and brought us over to sonja's parents place in split. we waited for their mother to arrive and drive us over to podgora, where sonja is currently living for the summer season. this is also where her father grew up and is where her grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins etc live. family is big over there.

we finally arrived and were tired, hungry and happy to see sonja...not in that order, of course.

sonja had to work pretty much the entire time we were there (she's a busy girl), but her job was fairly relaxed and we were able to hang out with her for awhile at the banana bar next to the dress shop she was working at.

toby got his first taste of the adriatic sea that day too. it was a bit cooler than it would be in july and august, but very, very tolerable.

podgora is a lovely town along the fancy makarska rivera, somewheres between split and dubrovnik. i highly recommend you make it a must visit spot if you head over to croatia.

ask around for the vela's. they are good people!

back from the sea

2009-09-15T19:09:00.004Z

how did england great us today? with 15 degree (c) temps, wind and rain. just yesterday, we were baking in the sun. toby even got heat rash. i'm pretty sure my tan has disappeared. not that you'd know. i'm wearing long johns and a sweatshirt. i'm tempted to find myself a blanket to curl up in.

i've got lots of holiday snapshots and little stories (we hired a scooter--i was stung in the ear by a bee) to share.

have you seen a map?

2009-08-30T18:15:00.002Z

football season is back. toby found a new place for us to watch the matches. an old cinema converted into a weatherspoon's pub. not bad really. still really looks like an old cinema! i have a feeling we'll be back there again, so i'll get a quick picture sometime. though i know i'll get a few stares.

i got a few today.

as traditional on our football outings, i'll bring my knitting. toby watches the football and i knit a few lines or read a book. of course, this gets a few funny looks from people at first. eventually they ignore me, so it isn't a big deal. this time about, a woman asked a few questions. so, i was polite and smiled and said thanks and yes, knitting is fun, etc. she asked me where i was from and, as normal, i said near chicago. most people know whereabouts that is. she said where in chicago, as she is quite good with geography. oh! i say, well, then, i'm from a place called janesville, right on the border of wisconsin and illinois. oh! she says, is that near texas?

i'm not kidding! good with geography, ha! then she went on to say something about israel and all you have to do is type it into google to find out where it is. then she asked if i went to church.

i think this pub is gonna be awesome.

we heart ice cream

2009-08-30T09:25:00.005Z

a few weekends back -- let's be honest it was july, august kind of just happened and it is so nearly over! -- at the end of july, tobes and i went to ben and jerry's sundae on the common in clapham common.

as the saying goes, typical british weather. mega chilly, wind and a bit of rain. we're there for ice cream though, so we had to forget about all of that. the ice cream! it was all you could eat! granted, it turns out you can only eat so many ice cream cones. caramel chew chew, cookie dough, chunky monkey, etc, etc.

we also saw a few good bands like camera obscura and the futureheads. human league (!) was headlining, but we just couldn't be bothered to stick around. it was really starting to rain by then. i heard they were pretty funny. a bunch of old '80s synth pop ladies dressed in tube tops.

anyhoo, i think we need to make this a regular thing. anyone want to come with us next year?

my first baby sweater

2009-08-21T09:13:00.004Z

i'm back on the knitting. end of august now, so it just feels appropriate, you know?

this little sweater didn't take a long to knit, but i started getting lazy and it took ages to finish. i'm not so good with the finishing and i don't enjoy it.

michelle and craig are my first baby knit recipients. hope it isn't too small for their new little one. i'm so, so happy for them and i hope i get to meet him before he's wandering around and talking.

i picked up some yarn on the most brilliantly warm day wednesday. i'm all ready for my next project. wahoo!

the imperial war museum

2009-07-26T10:51:00.002Z

a couple of weekends back (or maybe it was even last weekend, i can't remember), we cycled down to the imperial war museum around the e&c. we've been meaning to for ages, but somehow, never managed to get around to it. a case of, it's close and always there, so we can go another time.

must get out of that cycle!!

anyway, it is a pretty cool place. much larger than i thought. probably even needs a couple more visits to really see it all.

we wandered about and toby put his hand in a tank. as you do.

we lost steam after the war and children exhibit. it was a major downer.

to sum up the museum, war is a downer and people are brave.

a lot to learn in that place. a lot to learn.

summer storms

2009-07-19T08:37:00.008Z

we've been getting some brilliant storms lately. real, proper thunderstorms.

normally, we get this wimpy sort-of drizzle rain. you know, miserable, it's cold, you don't need an umbrella unless you wear glasses...boo to that kind of rain.

last week there was a lovely storm that decided to erupt right as we were due to cycle home. once you're cycling in the rain, you're wet, so you might as well keep going. it can be quite fun!

though, the hail probably won't be very much fun. it's a good thing we missed it.

just a word of advice. when finding a puddle... no, i don't mean puddle. i'm talking a flash flood sort of lake that has appeared out of nowhere... don't go through it slowly. the cold water that comes up to your knee will feel just icky. you've got to blaze through it as fast as you can.

the visit

2009-06-28T17:15:00.002Z

i've been waiting to write this post until i've uploaded all of the pictures.

that's not going to happen.

it takes so much flippin' time to upload pictures, you've no idea. well, you might have some idea, but the thing is, i take so many and i like most of them, so it's really hard.

i hope we made some more memories.

the zoo

2009-06-15T18:49:00.002Z

ricardo clark.

a few weekends ago, we went to the whipsnade zoo.

it's a pretty big place and holds a lot of animals the london zoo is missing. the reason for this is that all of the lovely animals, like hippos and elephants, need more space and they get that at the whipsnade zoo. lots of space. they even just let wallabys roam about. peacocks too.

get yerself moving.

2009-06-14T09:03:00.002Z

i haven't felt like anything for awhile. the weather's been sad for a week and i've been avoiding.

today it is sunny (and a little cloudy) and warm. i'm drinking coffee and toby's cycled out to the park for a little morning workout.

i want to put on some music and get things done. it won't happen and there will be more avoiding, but we've finally got a deadline. next weekend we will have a super awesome vistor staying for a whole 10 days!! i think that will perk things up around here.

so, for today we must do what we must to get by. the grocery store, dishes, laundry. and cycling in the sunshine.

as much cycling in the sunshine as possible.

to begin.

2009-05-04T13:18:00.004Z

may crept up out of nowhere. i was really thinking that april had 31 days and so, when friday came and it turned out to be may 1st, i was pleasantly surprised. may 1st. the beginning of a month. the beginning of may bank holiday weekend. the beginning of warmer weather to come. AND it means i can say cheripaul is coming to visit next month!!

what better to celebrate all of this after work than to have a little barbecue in the park.

after work, we got on our bikes and cycled down to crystal palace park. we found a little tree stump to set up our mini-bbq on, cracked open a couple of bottles of beer and started grilling up some hot dogs.

we're trying to remain hopeful that summer will be warm this year. we will have a genuine summer. we will.

lately

2009-04-26T18:07:00.004Z

one post a month does not a blog make.

the weather in london has been beautiful. absolutely beautiful. more so during the week of course.

that is what i've been up to lately. i've been at work every day thinking about how badly i would rather be outside, eating an ice cream cone, soaking up the sun and laying in some grass. i've been thinking about all of the things i would rather be doing. i've spent a lot of energy doing that this week. and a little work. i've hit a slow patch at work. just a patch though i'm sure, so i'm really trying to enjoy it while i can.

for awhile now my eyes have been a bit funny. just little things like i'd look down at a page and the line below that which i was reading would be blurry. a little odd, so i got in the habit of taking my glasses off when reading. i started doing this when i spoke with people too as they were going a bit blurry when they were near me. i hadn't really thought too much of it, but it was started to happen to me at work too with my computer. what it all came down to was me taking an eye test and finding out...my right eye has improved eyesight! well, heck.

this called for NEW glasses, meaning an excuse to purchase some new frames.

and i did. and they are different, but different is good.

a few weeks into my 29th year.

2009-04-07T20:12:00.004Z

it's been so, so long!

a couple of wednesdays back, i celebrated my 29th birthday.

i stood inside a tree,

saw a few graves in highgate,

ate a very large, tasty indian meal (no picture, i was too hungry at the time),

and generally had a nice day about town with my dear tobes. not a bad way to spend the day.

the london eye

2009-03-08T08:52:00.003Z

along with big ben and buckingham palace, the london eye is one of the ultra touristy places. that being said, toby didn't want to go and spend the money and i was slightly reluctant to throw myself in with the masses and tourist it up. but i still wanted to go just once to say i did. so, the two of us decided that the next time my mom came to visit, we'd get around to it.

well, my mom hasn't been able to visit yet BUT we did get a trip on the london eye a few weekends back.

last year toby won a free private pod on the london eye! even with a free ticket, it took us an entire year (it expired at the end of feb so we HAD to go). what an AMAZING clear blue day we had. if i had to complain (which i always do) it was almost too sunny to take pictures! you really could see for miles and miles though. from wembly arena to crystal palace and everything in between.

creepy blanket advert

2009-02-27T20:12:00.002Z

we saw this creepy "i want to be in a cult" blanket commercial a lot when we were in the states. i recently (though you probably have seen it before...) found this...

we're here for the beer.

2009-02-23T19:37:00.003Z

a few weekends ago, toby and i spent the weekend in amsterdam. we've been wanting to go together for ages, but just never got around to it. well, tobes birthday was the 1st week of February and our anniversary was on the 11th, so we thought we found a good enough excuse to go. and then i got an extra mini bonus at work (thank you miss stephanie meyer and all of those vampire fans out there), so we now had an excuse, a little extra cash and a dream.

amsterdam is lovely. old rusted out dutch bicycles everywhere. seriously, the place is infested with them. but i'm not complaining. i belong in a city with so many beautiful bikes. and not a single person with a bike helmet. heaven i tells ya. (i HATE to wear my bike helmet, but understand it's pretty stupid not to have it on if you are cycling the streets of london).

being that amsterdam is so dang close to belgium, there were a lot of tasty brews to sample. and that's basically what we did. we sampled the food and the beer and wandered around. and it was a great time.

for the rest

fashionably late

2009-02-17T21:09:00.004Z

joining the party a little late, but

CANNOT stop. playing guitar hero.

especially as i don't suck (as much) anymore.

toby's 26th.

2009-02-15T13:45:00.003Z

toby celebrated his birthday the day after the big london snow day. the young one is 26 now. on the other side and heading to 30. haha...you're getting just as old as me tobes.

but it IS a reason for a mass skive

2009-02-02T19:39:00.002Z

boris, you don't know.

thank you russia.

2009-02-02T08:32:00.003Z

i'm enjoying my first ever (and probably only ever) snow day in london!!

all of the london buses are suspended and my train station is suspended too.

i'm going to go camera crazy with the snow in about 10 minutes. this is freakin' awesome!!

ps. if i had known i wouldn't have to go to work today, i would have watched the entire superbowl rather than the 1st quarter.

delighted

2009-02-01T18:44:00.002Z

it is quarter to 7pm and it looks like this outside.

head full of books

2009-01-31T17:14:00.005Z

today is the last day of january. the end of the first month of the year and i've yet to upload all of my holiday photographs. i've yet to do a lot of things, but the new year has been brimming with so many new possibilities that i'm finding it hard to catch up.

this week was a very book heavy week. without a lot of reading.

toby was a little surprised when i had planned to go to a bookslam on thursday after work and then bookgroup on friday after work. you're doing an awful lot of book related stuff...he said (more or less). everyday, 9 to 5, 6ish i work with books. you'd think i'd be sick of it, but it just makes me really happy to be surrounded by something with so much potential as a book.

bookslam is a literary reading in a little club under westway in notting hill. it's a little tricky to find, but worth the wandering around in the dark. they had 4 published authors read from their latest works with the director of cannongate dj-ing in the background.

i recommend.

eye-xcellent

2009-01-28T19:49:00.001Z

Exercise Your Eyes a..
Watch the ad...

who knew...

2009-01-15T20:24:00.000Z

you had to dust plants as well as water them?

some people may be horrified

2009-01-14T20:12:00.000Z

we have not unpacked our suitcases.

there are many, many reasons for this. i promise laziness is not one of them.

home

2009-01-10T17:20:00.003Z

i'm lucky to be able to call a lot of different places home. i'm even luckier to have toby as my home home.

we're back in london in our little flat in forest hill. by london's standards, it is COLD here. -2 c (28f...i know we got used to colder in the midwest, but you can never get used to it really) our flat is taking ages to warm up and i've just stepped out to purchase a hot water bottle to warm up our bed. the only one they had left in the shop was a little pink fuzzy one with a kid/angel/princess thing on it.

we got home, ate, and watched 3 episodes of spaced. now i'm typing away and toby's fixing his new red grips from milwaukee's cycles' to his bike.

things are as they were and it is nice.

pictures to post in the next few days. toby and i are both feeling pretty happy about our visit. it was much needed.

you people are awesome.

motivation

2008-12-12T10:40:00.003Z

another day off.

i'm the opposite of a slacker though. because i didn't take much holiday throughout the year, i'm struggling to use up all of my days right before christmas. no vacations or anything, just lots of sleeping in and taking my time.

normally when i have the whole day stretching ahead of me, i freak out because there are just too many choices of things to do. the thought makes me tired and i end up on the couch watching tv or dinking around on the internet. what a waste, eh?

but today. today!

i got myself up and walked to sydenham as i had heard of a few cafe/coffee shops in the area and i was really eager to see if there was a little piece of mpls here for me. (lots of cafes that serve coffee and lots of chain coffee shops, but no straight up coffee shops that you can find everywhere in the cities. i miss it).

the walk was lovely and all sorts of little lovely things have come my way just by making the decision to get out of the house!

the weather is crisp and cold, but i only needed my scarf. the walk was good exercise (for me). i stopped to watch all of the bushy tailed squirrels scramble around. they are everywhere at the moment. i watched a cat on a fence eye up a bunch of pigeons.

i interacted with people. who says people in big cities are too busy to notice and talk with one another? a street cleaner noticed that i was looking a my map, a little confused. he was really helpful and friendly. no teeth, but i guess you don't need teeth to be a decent human being. i'm always a bit freaked out when people don't have teeth. it's 2008 (9 practically people). how can you not have teeth?

i advertised for macs. (where's my commission?) i'm sitting in the middle of the window at the blue mountain cafe, typing away on the laptop. it must be funny for people to walk by and see the little apple symbol in the window. subtle product placement like they do in the movies. this older gentleman walked in, not to get a coffee, but just to ask my opinion about mac computers. he's thinking of getting one to listen to (ah..there he is again, outside, strapping on his panniers to his bike) music. i gave good reviews and suggested the regent's street apple store. the biggest in london. told him to go in and test things out for himself and he'll find that macs are lovely. it was funny. he hadn't heard of the shop. didn't go down to oxford circus or regent street much. how great is that? sydenham isn't that far out of the city (se26 i think). but a lot of people just stick to their little community i guess.

well, i found a little coffee shop. it plays luther vandross, so not quite like (flatcap alert! another old man with a flatcap! everyone should have them) the coffee shops of mpls and stpaul, but a ten minute walk from the house and a tasty mocha isn't horrible.

perfect sunday? i think so.

2008-12-07T17:35:00.001Z

home alone. mince pies. tea.

it's christmas time.

too, too many choices

2008-12-04T20:20:00.002Z

my new camera. it makes most everything i snap a photo of look amazing. or at least it does to me. i can't take just one picture because i have to try every possible angle. every possible shutter speed. every possible everything. before i know it, i've taken 10 pictures of the light in our living room.

not kidding.

i love it.

charging

2008-11-22T16:04:00.001Z

today we bought a new camera. 10 years after i got a super-awesome film slr from my mom, i've got a super-awesome digital slr from me (and toby).

the battery is charging, so i haven't played with my new toy.

but soon.

soon there will be lots and lots and lots of pictures.

you talkin' to me?

2008-11-20T10:33:00.002Z

i think the fridge is talking to me. every so often the sound of an electric screwdriver buzzes.

i've pushed the fridge. even told it to be quiet and still the blasts of buzz.

i've got another day off of work. i've got another day and a half to use up.

so now, i sit in the kitchen, in the quiet (except for my friend the buzzing fridge) and drink my coffee.

things to do today:

lunch date with toby at the all-you-can-eat indian buffet
bank matters
christmas presents
more coffee
book group

it'll be a busy day off of work--better get going. only so long you can postpone a shower.

ps. we saw death cab for cutie last night. wowza.

a quick seasonal change

2008-10-29T20:17:00.002Z

last night we carved pumpkins and today, there was snow on the ground!

i made my way to marylebone station very early this morning to go to a class about color. i was greeted with freezing cold temps. as i wandered out of the station in search of a starbucks (there wasn't one in the station (!)-or outside for that matter) i saw some white stuff on top of a black cab. i couldn't believe my eyes--but then, as i kept wandering i saw it on the ground too!

it had snowed!!

this proves that i was up early and was NOT paying attention as i quickly made my way from train station to train station. i've seen snow on halloween in the states, but i didn't think it was possible here. apparently, it hasn't snowed in october since 1934.

luckily, i was able to enjoy the white earth while i took my hour-long train journey to haddenham & thame parkway (near oxford). white snow covered everything and i couldn't stop smiling.

of course, by the time the class was over and i finally made my way back home by 7o'clock, my smile wasn't so big. i was (am) tired. i still have a half smile going on though as there are still bits of snow on the ground and i'm sitting next to a couple of jack-o-laterns.

i love halloween.

fall updates

2008-10-26T10:19:00.007Z

this picture isn't mine, obviously as we don't have a puppy dog or any type of pet. though i have been pestering toby lately about the idea of a kitten. long-term we want a dog, but it isn't too practical right now. anyway. my mom's friend pixie sent over some pictures of sophie the dog. dressed as a pumpkin. my mom does it every year. as she's living in michigan, dinah the cat got a break and didn't have to dress up as a witch. dinah resents the fact that just because she's a black cat, she has to be dressed up as a witch. just one year dinah would like to be the pumpkin.

this isn't mine either. it's from the bbc, but i like it. and it's informative too. don't forget about those clocks.

jack-o-laterns to follow once the tobster and i carve 'em.

happy fall peoples!

zoo day

2008-10-13T18:00:00.002Z

turns out we have lots of holiday to use before the end of the year. just didn't have the time (or more likely money) to tick any places off of our "must travel to" list.

instead we went to the zoo and had a really beautiful fall day out in london.

i had really wanted to go to the zoo (which is in regents park) when we lived in st. johns wood, but it's just one of those things...when you live so close to somewhere you figure you'll get to it. you never do.

fruits of our summer

2008-10-06T19:07:00.003Z

i grew these and then i ate them.

they took spring, summer, and fall to grow, but they were well worth the wait.

we are still without battery charger, so all of the picture taking has been with toby's phone. pretty good even if it is a phone.

i've got a digital slr on my christmas list. the thought of pictures with that camera sends me over the moon.

me, me, me

2008-10-01T19:58:00.003Z

i don't do this often, so bear with me. ages and ages ago i helped out carisa's friend anwen with a photography assignment. i was wandering about myspace and saw that she had these two up. she passed on a couple of photos to me, but i don't remember these two. how cool do i look? anwen takes some nice photos.

double the danger

2008-09-28T18:20:00.000Z

watch out world. we now know how to ride tandem.

my favorite room

2008-09-24T18:24:00.000Z

i love our kitchen. really, really love it.

and as soon as we can find that darn battery charger for the camera, i'll show you some pictures.

ha.

settling in

2008-09-09T19:25:00.004Z

home.

home for as long as they let us (or until they raise the rent, please, please give us more than a year!)

we're just about fully settled into our new flat and let me tell you, this place feels like home. toby and i both feel like we've been here before or something. it is a very nice feeling.

we've had a few trip-ups along the way, but, generally, things are good.

the train ride to work is a bit crowded, but i really enjoy the walk from london bridge to blackfriars in the morning. it reminds me of my daily crossings across the mississippi river during college. this time i walk along the thames twice a day and pass the globe, st.pauls, the tate, etc... i fall in love with the city a little more with each walk.

the toby is a trooper and is still cycling to work. i complained about hills in north london, but south london? holy moly. he's working hard people.

the long weekend.

2008-08-24T10:44:00.003Z

hurrah! a long bank holiday weekend! a weekend full of . . . packing.

yep, we are moving on tuesday. i know, i know. didn't we just move? you're right. this very same weekend one year ago we moved to cricklewood. we've never quite warmed to the neighborhood though and once our rent was raised, we went hunting for a new place. we found ourselves in forest hill; swapping north london for south. it's a completely different world down there and toby and i are excited about exploring our new surroundings.

View Larger Map

look up there on the top left...near saint john's wood and then glance down on the bottom right and you'll see forest hill...way down there.

see you next week sometime with lots of pictures, wireless signal permitting, of course.

gently moving along

2008-08-12T19:20:00.003Z

the cycling to work thing is still happening. it isn't an 100% complete success, but it's moving along. i cycled twice the week before last, then twice last week and i've cycled on monday and, fingers crossed it isn't pouring with rain tomorrow morning, i'll cycle tomorrow too. i haven't killed anyone and i haven't been injured, so it's okay.

knitting now and again, but they are christmas presents so i suppose i shouldn't be showing them. slowly all coming along.

the other thing that is TOTALLY coming along are my tomato plants! i promise you i see tiny hard green bumps on the plants that will soon become tomatoes. very excited peoples.

i'm doing my best to think it's summer over here.

happenings

2008-07-29T16:48:00.002Z

i wonder why i bother with this thing as i don't seem to update it all that much and only a handful of people ever see it, but there you go. it's a tiny bit addictive i guess.

been up to a lot since i last said anything. concerts and festivals and movies and knitting and food and work parties and cycling. oh and race for life! yes, i completed it and even ran most of it. quite pleased with myself. turns out that i'm a lot more fit than i thought. i'm also just a lot more lazy than i thought. if that's possible.

just got back from a printer visit at Clays with a few folks from the design department. the people over there are always really nice and give you a lovely meal and provide friendly conversation. AND i got to pick up a few books. i saw Charlotte's Web in the bookcase. 50th anniversary edition, it was just so lovely and they let me keep it. before breakfast i had a little read and it made me smile.

here are a couple of pictures from latitude festival the weekend before last. good time had by all (us and a lot of strangers)

i run

2008-07-08T19:41:00.003Z

okay, i've only jogged 3 times, but i'm doing the Race for Life this Sunday with some folks at work and i'm going to do my very,very best to run as much of it as i can. running any of it will be an accomplishment i think.

so! if you haven't already, please, please donate some money!! you can do this even if you are in the states, no excuses people.

thanks if you've already donated. if you know me at all, you know this is very much a once in a lifetime sort of thing. best to get on the bandwagon and support me while you can :)

here's the link Race for Life

plant update.

2008-06-29T19:49:00.007Z

there is no rhyme or reason to my gardening skills. while one day a plant can look green and leafy:

the next, it can look like it has lost all hope. so you decide to put it outside, maybe it needs some fresh air, but no...it just continues to curl up.

i just don't know what i'm doing. here is another example. these tomato plants are kept indoors. they are completely green and looking good, but don't seem to suck in the water that quickly. that's okay, i won't water them as much.

these are kept outside. they dry out quicker, so i water them more, but their leaves are starting to brown and they just don't look as perky as the ones inside. what am i doing so differently? how can i keep these guys alive?

these two (marigolds grown from seed! and zucchini plants grown from seed) are...at the moment...doing really, really well. give me a week or a month and i'll kill them, right? why? i just don't get it.

watch out world

2008-06-26T19:00:00.002Z

i now knit mittens. and if you're very lucky, you'll get a pair of your own someday. i take color requests.

i also kill plants. sadly, it's true. i can't bring myself to take a picture of the poor plant while it's dying. i like to remember it all green and leafy.

i'm giving the planting another go. this time, with tomato plants. we have 8 tomato plants scattered about. i expect at least one of them to fruit. i've grown them from little seeds and let me tell you, you'll know when i get a tomato. i'll be so happy i'll probably tell strangers in the street that i've grown a tomato.

here's a picture of my good husband doing housework. he may not clean the floors or the bathroom, but he does laundry like nobody's business.

it was the bike

2008-06-08T17:05:00.002Z

what a lovely weekend! the weather today was just so beautiful. no complaints.

it was so lovely that we went cycling on saturday AND sunday. we got pretty chilly on saturday, but it was still pretty decent and only started to sprinkle on the way home. we headed out to regent's park and had a sit and read there and then just headed back. sunday we were a bit more adventurous and rode along the canal path and then into the park. i wonder what it would be like to live on a houseboat.

as it turns out, this road bike toby's put together for me is a lot more comfortable than the beautiful dutch bike. it doesn't have the style, but i am able to stand up on it when i cycle up a hill, which helps a lot. i was barely crabby! no, seriously, you can ask toby, i barely complained at all and i came home and was STILL in a pleasant mood.

it's getting there

2008-06-01T20:24:00.003Z

my cardigan is looking like a cardigan! i have to sew on buttons and sew on the sleeves and make sure the pockets are in place, but other than that, it's a real cardigan!!

i'm really pleased, but now that i see what it's become, i'm thinking about the likeliness of me wearing it. pretty sure i'll be too embarassed to wear it to work. i mean, it looks like i knit the thing and that can't be good. people will ask if i knit it, i'll say yes, and they will (very kindly, though totally unconvincely) say how lovely it is. i don't know if i'll be able to take it, so i reckon it'll be a round the house sort of cardi. at least i'll stop wearing out my other cardigans.

in other news, we went to regent's park today and walked around the camden green fair and bikefest. went last year too. it's such a hippy fest. i say that in the nicest way, i promise. we ate freshly made donuts covered in sugar, listened to music, watched toby gaze at other people's bikes AND bought some herbs! my growing of herbs from seeds is going very slowly, so i thought if i had some plants it might go a bit faster. i have an apple mint plant, a coriander plant and some golden lemon thyme. i'll see how long it takes me to kill them. any advice though so i don't would be appreciated.

keep green. as i know you all are.

free rainy days

2008-05-26T16:38:00.003Z

i hate bank holiday mondays. you wake up with the whole day ahead of you. you could do ANYTHING because you don't need to be at work. and then you look out the window, heck, you don't even need to look out the window because you can hear what it'll look like outside. crap.

really, this should be a great excuse to snuggle inside with tea and coffee and books and yarn, but want you really want to do is be outside and so, you sit indoors and be crabby.

at least we had a lovely saturday. zo and jim invited us down to suffolk with them to stay at jim's mom's house. they all wanted to go bike riding on saturday and though i wasn't feeling the love, i had a pretty good time. we went to bewl lake, technically in kent, and rented mountain bikes. turns out i'm pretty good with mountain bikes. they are very bouncy and once you get going down a hill you can use that to get back up the hill and not have to do anything at all. that's my kind of riding.

to complete the lovely saturday, we watched eurovision (and did a lot of yelling at the tv. russia won and the uk came in last place, well, tied with germany and poland, but the uk was dead last because it starts with a "u" i won't even get into how wrong the voting is because if you watched it you know and if you didn't watch it, i'm not sure you'll want to know because you will be just as frustrated as us), ate a takeaway indian and had lots of bud (or if you're zoe and jim, pear cider...how sweet is that stuff!).

one more week of may and then june will arrive with the hope of summer. at least i'll start my summer hours and have those rainy friday afternoons to myself.

i did something

2008-05-19T17:53:00.001Z

i'm not sure what, but it involved me messing around and *poof* away went that picture i had on the banner. ah well, i say.

little bit of hope

2008-04-30T18:51:00.003Z

it's been awhile. nothing special going on. nothing not so special going on.

i've been planting and knitting and generally hanging out with the toby. it's been rainy and cold and generally not nice to be outside. though that's where toby is right now, outside. playing football. in the rain. you know he'll be happy when he gets home.

soon, soon it will be summer. a summer minus the sound of rain, but full of warm with a gentle breeze days. days where you sit outside in the park and enjoy a cold bottle of beer. or three ice cream cones.

anyway, here are a few of my new little accomplishments

hychydig Cymraeg anturia*

2008-04-08T18:56:00.005Z

wales is beautiful. well, i can really only say north wales in the snowdonia region is beautiful because that's the only bit of wales i've been too...but i bet you'd find some nice bits in south wales too.

we stayed a little bit outside of ffestinog. thank goodness because ffestinog...well, there's a lot of slate and a lot of children (and people in general) with not a lot to do.

here are some picture highlights.

*little welsh adventure

coffee, tea and cake at a tea room in cricceth

harlech castle, back in the day the sea came straight up to the castle

gingerly coming down the mountain side

toby and the mountains....there was a lake in between, which is why we trekked up there

sunday morning turned out to be a welsh winter wonderland

if you want to see the rest go here