Kate and ANdy come to London--part 1

Everyone else is out doing fun stuff (except Jim, who is working...decidedly not the most fun option) and I am home feeling crappy, so I thought I would use my time at home productively by updating the blog! Plus, our neighbor is experimenting with the different alarm sounds on his newly purchased scooter (similar to someone testing out all the rings on their cell phone...but much, much louder), so an excuse to go to the other side of the house was in order. The most exciting part about this blog is that I have NEW material to update with because Kate and Andy are here!

On their first evening in town, Kate and Andy were good sports and went with me to a pub where they met all my work friends. I didn't take pictures during this time, but Kate did, so as soon as I can get her to download them onto my computer, I will add them to this blog because they are pretty funny. There is one of me where I look especially beautiful as only a person who carries billy bob teeth around in her purse at all times can.

Jim met us, too and after we had enough of the pub, we headed up to Primrose Hill. Here are Kate and Andy at the top (they look pretty good for being jet lagged!):


Thus ends my pictures taking for THAT night, but after we walked up Primrose Hill we then wandered down to Chalkfarm/Camden, where we had dinner, followed by the usual cab vs bus arguement (bus won). Kate and Andy were troopers. I never would have been up for so much after 16 plus hours of traveling.

The next day, we headed out on the town, with the plan to go to Borough Market. Kate and Andy posed for a picture on our fabulous street.


We dedided to take the long way to Borough Market and got off at Green Park (called Green Park because it doesn't have any flowers..something to do with a jealous queen). We were heading towards St. James Park (named after a leper hospital, Kate informed me...how romantic!) when we stumbled upon the changing of the guard at Buckingham palace. It was a thrill and a half! Jim perched on a wall to watch:

Can you see it? Yeah, neither could we:

The music was festive, though!

At least we got a good sister picture in front of the palace. Don't be fooled by my 70's fro...this was only taken a few days ago!


The white pelicans were hanging out in St. James' Park. The last time I was there they were pink. This time, they were just having a rest. The one on the far left was having a rest with a big blob of grass on his beak. Kate and I wanted a rest, too because we (and everyone else in the park) were having seriously bad sneezing fits and itchy eyes from the unidentified white substance that was coming out of the trees. But Jim and Andy were power walking, so we had to move on after the pelicans.



We did finally make it to Borough Market, where we spent a small fortune on steak and got some lunch. It's always great when people take pictures of you when you are in the middle of stuffing your face. Thanks, Jim.


That night, Meg, Dan, Tony and Sophie came over for a Kate and Andy bbq! (We didn't bbq Kate and Andy, but they were the highlight of the evening.)

Meg made some incredible trifle. We finished that entire, giant bowl!

We got a little distracted from catching up on old times by the Eurovision Song Contest which is unbelievably bad and cheesey and really fun to watch in a big group of friends. We were shocked....SHOCKED...that Russia won (picture this: cheesey guy with no shoes, lying on the ground and singing off key while his friend plays the violin in another spotlight and then, out of nowhere, a third guy shows up with ice skates on and starts doing an ice skating circle around the other two...on plastic. At least I assume it was plastic because if not, the cheesey guy with no shoes is REALLY tough. It was HORRIBLE!). We decided that people voted for Russia because they had been threatened by the KGB. There could be no other reason. Definitely political voting. The best part, actually was the guy commentating. He was seriously funny. The UK got like 1 point I think. Not so great.

Anyway... it was a fun and gluttonous evening and the next day, because our arteries weren't clogged enough with steak and trifle, Kate, Meg and I went to Claridge's for high tea. It was GOOD. We started with finger sandwiches and champagne, followed by the most delicious scones I have ever tasted and some interesting desserts.

One dessert, in particular, was just plain weird. It was rose flavored macaroons. Here is how the dialogue over the macaroons went:
Kate: Hmm...it tastes like potpourri.
Claire: Do I want to taste something that tastes like potpourri?
Kate: you should taste EVERYTHING!
Claire: (tastes it) It tastes like bath salts.
Meg: (tastes it) Yeah, it kind of tastes like my grandmother....smelled.

Overall, we didn't really like it. But the scones....


Kate and Meg outside of Claridge's:


Kate and me inside of Claridge's:


The next day, the weather was horrible, so we decided to go to some museums. Kate and Andy went to the Natural History Museum. Jim and I had been there recently (and, after hearing about it from Kate and Andy were really glad that we didn't go again because there were huge crowds) so we went to the Victoria and ALbert Museum, where we looked at fashion, photography, a Medussa-like glass chandalier and some gigantic pillars before we grew tired of the rain and the museum and went home. Kate and Andy took a botony tour that they liked and never got to see the dinosaurs because there was a line 1.5 hours long to get in. Sheesh. I think the Cleveland Museum of Natural History has a better dinosaur exhibit anyway.

Poems from 2003

Back in the old days, Jim and I used to email each other a lot more often. On November 17, 2003 Jim went on some work trip and took our only tube of toothpaste with him. Here is what I had to say about it (poetically and as archived in my hotmail folder entitled "specials"):

My Breath (To be read in bohemian style with bongo drums in the background and a soft sax if you feel in the mood)By Claire:)

I'm so glad that you took the toothpaste
And left me in the bathroom alone
with a toothbrush
baleful bristles pointing upward
towards my open mouth.

I'm so glad that my toothbrush is so worn
that even brushing with water
feels like not brushing at all
and when I floss
I can still taste the salt

You, who brush your teeth so diligently
In your Hilton hotel
In your boxer shorts and your falling off glasses

You, who lavish the feel of the foamy frothiness across your teeth
Left me alone with no toothpaste.
Left me alone with nothing but an empty sink.

FINI

Jim responded by writing a poem full of suggestions for how I could brush my teeth without toothpaste:

Oh how the guilt eats me
For leaving your toothbrush alone
Without it's companion,
it is so far from home

Maybe my love can improvise
By mixing some mint and cheese
Or maybe baking soda, with a pinch of dry bay leaves

Or maybe my love can wait
Until I return this night in haste
With a bag full of kisses,
and the missing Crest toothpaste

I'm pretty sure I went and bought some toothpaste.

Adventures at Angel Studios

Last week, through my volunteering, I got to go to Angel Studios and watch (and listen) while three guys laid some tracks. Over the past few months, we have been helping facilitate a rap and songwriting workshop which has given a few young people the chance to workshop, write and record music. The studio donated the time and technicians. VERY cool.

Conrad the Scoundral (aka Louie) strikes a pose for me. He was one of the guys who ran the workshops:


Zak composed the music and wrote his lyrics when he got to the studio. He was one of the really dedicated young people who came to all the workshops and got to us 5 hours of free studio time to record his music:


Zak with the mixing equipment:


The studio was really posh in an old, huge building. I think it might be the biggest name in studios in London (besides the blah blah Abbey Road Studios).

Louie:


JB, Zak and Louie at the end of the session. JB was the other workshop leader. He is a spoken word artist. All three guys have different styles and voices, so the final track they made was really interesting and GOOD, I think. I feel really lucky to have had this experience and I hope I can get Louie and JB to come to our school (one of my fundraising goals!)

Billy Jean in the country

I feel almost certain that I'm going to get in trouble for posting this video, but it was such a fun day and such a nice time in the clover field...we love our friends!

lazer eyes

R2D2's cat paid a visit to our wall recently.

Count Down

7 days until Kate and Andy get here!!
27 Days until our four year anniversary!!
28 days until Mindy, Jack, Olivia and Mendy get here!!
68 days (a little to early to start counting) until the end of the school year!!!!!!
77 days until I leave for my month in Sevilla!!!

There is a lot to look forward to!

In our garden

In our garden, there is Finchley:


On our very rickety and dangerous stairs there are flowers and herbs:

A walk in Snodland (yes, that's really what it's called)

Now that the weather is better, we are going to start taking more walks. Last weekend we were joined by our friends Dan and Aurelie (unfortunately, Meg was studying for exams, but she's coming on the next one!)

We started out in Snodland (founded by Mr. Snod). We were very amused by the name and also by the beautiful papermill, which we tried to feature in this group picture, but blocked with our heads:


Proud to be from Snodland:


Ok, no more making fun of Snodland, or I'm going to get hate mail from offended Snodlanders (snort!).

It's spring and things are growing. There was a Jim growing in this field:


Some of us were having a little trouble with the hills on this walks:



But not Aurelie:


We came across a skeleton in a phone booth:


And the bluebells were looking in full bloom!


Dan found some metal:


It's always good to get to the pub. Especially when the sun is shining and you can sit outside!



Dan brought Kinder Eggs. They are so fun!Jim got a Mexican hermit crab, which was appropriate for Cinco de Mayo:


After lunch we had a rest in park for about fifteen minutes, then we saw this gnome house:




THis was an interesting piece of equipment. Dad probably knows what it is:


Another rest in a clover field, where we listened to Michael Jackson's Billy Jean and made clover chains:



A lot of time was spent photographing this tank.


Good times! We have some video footage oft he day, but have to get permission from others involved before posting it. Dan can sing Billy Jean.

Malaga

Our last evening was spent in Malaga, which is a very popular place with the British tourists. As soon as we got within range of Malaga, all of the radio stations were in English. One of the most amusing stations was one that was for Britains living in Spain and emphasized being proud to be English in Spain.

We weren't super impressed with Malaga, but we did like where we stayed, which was a small hotel that had been a monastary in its past life and was run by a very nice and funky French couple. We stayed in a small green room:





We did a little wandering around, but didn't really do much in Malaga. Jim wasn't up for trekking around after his morning of being forced to slosh through rain and mud to take a picture of me waving from the top of a tower. Here are a few pictures from around the city:


The windows on this building were cool:




And thus ends my blogging about our trip to Spain.

Ronda

On the way to Ronda, we met a horse.


And saw some spectacular views.


To get to Ronda, we had to drive through mountainous terrain. The mountains were dotted with little Spanish villages, which we could see off in the distance and the wildflowers were beautiful.




Ronda is known for it's Matadors and it's gorge, which runs through the middle of the city and can be seen from various perches up above. We were staying in a very cool hotel at the bottom of the village, so when we wanted to go into town we had to walk up a steep hill through the historic ruins. In Spain they aren't so concerned about safety, so we could climb up on walls and to the top of towers without anyone caring or stopping us. It was pretty cool.

Our very aromatherapeutic room:


Roman ruins:


Our hotel from above:


The gorge:


My very own matador!



We had dinner at our restaurant (the other one that tied for best meal of the trip). It was Morrocan inspired food again and I had shrimp tanjine. Our table was pulled up to a couch, where I was pretty comfortable. Jim took this picture from the stairs above:



My tanjine! It was seriously good!


This is Jim's interpretation of what he thinks he looks like when he's posing for a picture. HAH!


The next day it was raining, but it was our last full day in Spain, so we decided to brave the weather and wander around Ronda a little more. We started with the Roman baths next to our hotel:

There was a pretty interesting movie (in Spanish), which explained how the baths used to work. Fortunately it was animated, too, so it didn't matter that we couldn't understand anything else.



Jim was a little reluctant to partake in the next project, because of the rain, but I insisted that I run to the top of the ancient tower again and pose at the French soldier from Monty Python and the Holy Grail. (Someday we will actually go to the North of England where it was filmed and run around on the hills with coconuts, but for now we have to settle for places that look similar).



Sadly, we had to leave Ronda for Malaga, which was our last stop before heading back to London again.