Ice skating :)

Welcome to the outdoor icerink at the London Natural History Museum. Today was the last day it was running and Alex and I both (finally) felt well enough to venture out and have a go.
These are a couple of photos from Alex's camera taken after we had had a go ourselves, and then sat in the cafe and watched the next group have a go.





Lots of people fell over... but not us!!!! yah!!! We had a bit of a shaky start, as I have only been once before in Dunedin with hel-sis (and that was before I had my knee fixed) and Alex has never done ANY skating (rollerskating, roller blading or ice skating) before. So, he had to get used to it all a lot more than me.
It was both easier and harder than the last time I went. The hard part was that, although it wasn't raining when we were there, it did rain yesterday and some parts of the ice had rather large puddles. They were definately to be avoided!!!!

However, Alex proved to be a natural, and after starting off holding the fence to get used to the skates and the ice really seemed to speeding (well, cruising would be a better description) around and having a good time.

We forgot to take a camera out on the ice with us, but took some photos with the camera on Alex's phone.


My rear view... note the frozen leaves in the ice :)

Action shot of Alex, looking a wee bit fuzzy, sorry.

Action shot of me.

Thats all for now. Back to normal life this week. Not long till we are heading back to NZ for Mel and Tim's wedding, all very exciting!!! (well, except for that looooooong flight).

See ya!
P. and LX.

Hola! Notes from Barcelona

Firstly, Happy New Years to everyone!



Hope you all had great New years celebrations and that the year has been good so far. Unfortunately, Alex and myself have been a pair of sick old people and have been hacking and sniffing all year (so far...) never mind.

So... onto Barcelona... well, when we finally got there anyways...

To start the story, we got up far too early to get to Heathrow by 0630, and managed to check in ok, found a coffee and then boarded our flight. So far so good. However, we then got to sit on the plane for at least 2 hours, because of a broken thermometer... Eventually we get shifted to another plane and took off! yah! finally on the way! only about 3 hours late... sigh.

Found the bus that went to Plaza Catalanya and jumped on. Jen and Alex very kindly met us at the bus stop and we went to their apartment.

Had a great walk about for the afternoon, walked through the Barri Gotic. Very nice to just finally be in Barcelona, hanging out with Jen and Alex, walking along Las Ramblas in sunshine that actually has some warmth in it! AND it was still sunny after 4pm! Shocking!


A picture of the Gothic Cathedral, as Jennifer's Alex said, it was probably going to be the last one they visit, for us, it was probably going to be one of the first. Very cool! The next photo is 'Coloms colon' hehehe... still makes me giggle. It is Columbus on a column... nothing to do with intestines. never mind.

The next day was Gaudi day. Starting off with a visit to Sagrada Familia. Oh my gosh! What an amazing building!!! Soooooo impressive!!! It was started in 1882 and is still not finished. In my opinion, Gaudi was one amazing guy! Very impressed with the building, I even appreciate the 'new' front that has been built. It is still very Gaudi-ish but in a much more modern and cubist way. It was also nice to know that since Jen has been there over 10 years ago, they have actually done quite a bit of work on the place. I would LOVE to come back when they finish, but who knows when that will be.




The inside of the building is fantastic! all very organic and alive. The window colors are FANTASTIC!!! I can only imagine what it will look like with all of them in there.



After lunch opposite the Sagrada Familia, we went to Park Guell, which is full of Gaudi's work, and also has the house where he spent his last years. I enjoyed walking about the park, and the views were great (including Sagrada Familia). Pity about all the annoying people who kept climbing all over the reptile...





The next day we took a trip up Montjuic, so named after the Jewish cemetary that was there during medieval times. We went up the funicular (funicule, furnicular, funiculee, funicu-LAR!) and then the cable car up to the very top. Unfortunately, we weren't allowed to play conkers with the cable cars (Jen's Alex is such a spoil sport!) The castel at the top is now a military museum. The views are unbelievable from the top, and there was a lot of modern guns (Vickers) up there.

We headed back down and then walked around the gardens and towards the Palau Nacional and Museu Nacional a'Art de Catalunya, in otherwords, a great big building. After we had found a nice pub for a sammie, we headed back up the mount (using the outdoor, yes, outdoor, escalators) to do some more exploring.

Unfortunately, the Olympic stadium was shut. A bit of a pity, as some of my students said it was a really good place to visit. Never mind. As we walked down the hill in the sunshine, I found some toi-toi. So, this photo is for mum and dad :)

After another good meal at Jen and Alex's and some really good conversation, another day was over. The next day was Jen and Alex's last :( It was sad to see them go. One of the best things about this trip was spending time with them, just hanging out and chatting.

After they left, Alex and I wandered about for a bit, had a look at some shops, went to the Picasso museum (but the queue to go in was horrendous!) so had coffee at the Picasso cafe instead! We then went and had a nosy in the Hardrock cafe, where Alex found a wall devoted to Paul Stanley from Kiss.

Unfortunately, by this stage we were both feeling sick, so decided to head to the airport and chill. Then it was home, and surprise, surprise, the plane was delayed. Not too long this time, someone apparently looked too suspicious for the airport security to be allowed on the plane. Very odd.

So, that was our adventure in Barcelona. It was fun, sunny, warm and the company was what made it perfect.

One last photo for you all. The most bizarre (and expensive) fusball table I have ever seen! All the players were pop stars. With a whole row of Kiss people, who could resist?

Love to all!

P. and LX.

Christmas in Barcelona... NOT!!!!

Well... we tried to go to Barcelona, but the weather in London was not on our side. Our flight on the 23rd was cancelled due to fog, so (after an hour on hold to BA) we got seats on a flight on the 24th. All good. At 0525 we received a text to say that our flight was cancelled again. So, after 3 and a half hours of beign hung up on (repeatedly) and waiting on hold, Alex finally got through to BA again, and the next earliest flight is on the 26th.

Stink.

So, after a mad dash to marks and sparks we managed to get some Christmas supplies and have had a nice quiet Christmas with the 2 of us in our flat.

:)

I hope everybody else has had a really good Christmas and here are a few pictures of our Christmas dinner!

Starting with pancakes and Champagne for brekkie.With a very nice bottle of Tattinger, thanks to one of my students :)

Next is a photo of the Christmas hamper we won from the local supermarket. It was very handy... :)

Alex's table setting for our dinner :)

First course of Paula's Pumpkin soup...Paula carving the cute little roast ham for 2... and then the dinner of roast potatoes, steamed vege and roast ham... mmm... verdict, good :)

Last but not least, the 'pav'... complete with Paula's yummy cranberry sauce... very nice.

So, hopefully, the next entry will be an update on Barcelona and catching up with my mates jen and her alex... either that or it will be a diatribe on the slackness that is BA... sigh.

Love to everyone! And Merry Christmas!

P. and LX

Gettin' some cul-cha in London.

So... What is better than going to have a look around St Paul's?

I know... Seeing St Paul's for FREE!!!!

And what is better than seeing St Paul's for FREE?

I know... Seeing a concert in St Paul's!!!... for FREE!!!!!

So, that is what Alex and I got to do.

About 3 weeks ago, I got offered 2 tickets to go and see a one off performance of Verdi's Requiem performed by a full orchestra and a HUGE choir. It was absolutely amazing. Alex's quote was 'yeah, it wasn't bad...' Not only did we get free tickets, but they were pretty amazing seats as well, very expensive...

Pity I don't have any good photo's though.

Next on Paula's list of cul-cha things is getting to go on a couple of school theatre trips. How much FUN!!! I basically asked if I could go, and went. First thing I got to see was a performance of Stephen Fry's version of the pantomime Cinderella at teh Old Vic. Very very funny. Although it was quite rude with lots of naughty jokes. I ended up having the year five boy who was sitting next to me ask me what it was that I was laughing at. Hmmm... yes... well, I ended up saying not very much about that to him. But it was very good.

Then this week I got to go to a performance of Tintin. It was basically the story of Tintin in Tibet. Amazing how it was so very much cartoon like! I loved the set and Captain Hadoock looked EXACTLY like the cartoons. There were billions of blistering blue barnacles and snowy was a real dog, then an actor. Again, very very cool. I am a very lucky girl!

The one other wee bit of cul-cha that Alex and I have been and done is last Saturday Alex and I went to a 300 year old church in Mayfair to see a friend from school sing in a candlelit carols service. It was very good, and felt all Christmassy! Including being nice and chilly outside! Very fun.

Apart from getting some cul-cha, life has been ticking over here. Alex is working nine till five. Aye, what a way to make a living....

And I have finally finished school for the year. yah! I'm on holiday... :) Hopefully going to go and make a pavlova at a friends place tomorrow. Then on Monday some of the girls are hopefully going to go outdoors iceskating somewhere in London.... yah! fun!!!

last picture... our bogan Christmas tree :)

Love to Everyone!!!

P. and LX.

Guards bands and the Grenadier Guards Band

One Sunday Paula and I checked out the changing of the Guards at at Buckingham Palace.

the Coldstream guards and the Band of the Royal Artillery doing the honours. Here is a few photos of that.

Then we happened upon the Guards museum and decided to have a look. All very interesting with 200 year old drums and various bits from the likes of the Crimean and Napoleonic wars, Including the boy drummer (aged nine) pictures of his uniform below.

All this isn't so unusual, However on the 16th I had the opportunity to visit the Grenadier Guards (which formed in 1660, no fear of an "originals" comeback tour then!) at there place of residence in Wellington Barracks.

So after a brief worry of how do I get in here, I was escorted in with barely a look from the armed Guard. I was then escorted across the internal court yard filled with ageing army vehicles. Down a set of narrow stairs towards the basement that wouldn't look out of place at lombard carpark. Eventually I was shown to the bands "staff" room if you like that included well worn furniture.
From there it was on into the centre courtyard with the vehicles with last minute instrument checks along the way. There was some debate here about weather the guard change would happen at all due to the rain. But they decided to go ahead and the rain cleared up anyway.

They then walked out and stood in a great circle for a warm up out on the parade ground.

I was watching from the edge next to the barracks.
During this period they bring the new horses in to get them used to the noise.

They then get the order to form up which is quite an effort coming from a circle.

The Officer of the new set of guards going on will then request the music the band is to play. Quite often this is not what the band actually plays on the march.

then the gates are opened and the band marches out.

The changing of the guard happens and they march back.

When the band is dismissed from the parade and changed back to civilian clothes this is quite often the end of there working day at 12.30.

I only got a couple of pictures of this because I felt a wee bit silly with my camera out...

The next week I was invited to play with the band during one of there morning rehersals and warm ups. I played three pieces with them, two on cymbals and one on snare. Unfortunately I didn't recognise the tunes so I had to sight read them. I also listened to them practice a swing tune and the Saudi national anthem which was for the Saudi kings visit just a week later.

I had a good time playing with them and I am glad I did something altogether different here.

Paula is happy again!

Yah! Reports have been written and handed in... phew... long story, lets just say that I am glad that it is (almost) over!


Anyways, feel very bad that we haven't updated this in a while, so I have decided to put up a few random photos, mainly of the Lord Mayors parade. VERY COOL!!!! probably the only time I will ever see a tractor going down through some of the main streets in London! And soooooooo many bands!!!!! I will try and put a few pics in...

These are just a few of the 24 bands or so that played on down the street. The next photo is for my wonderful blister... can you imagine marching with this many basses down the street??? :)

The last ones were odd, but very cool... I really cannot imagine trying to ride a horse, AND play an instrument... how hard can you get????

And the last photo from Paula, is a spot the odd one out... We went to the Borough Markets and had fun (well, I had fun, but there were a few too many people for Alex... )

Love to all!!!!!

I am sure ALex will add to this... he has some better photos... :)

P.