It’s just a blog. But we thought calling it a diary sounded classier.
Since I got back from London, it has been a blur getting things wrapped up for the year. It’s not really an excuse, but rather an explanation as to why there has been a bit of a gap. But, the new year has begun and it is time to get squarely back in the saddle. Of course, I will get back in the saddle after I spend a little more time with my wife and new son, Oliver.
Didn’t see THAT one coming, did you?
Shopping in London is one of those experiences that is unlike any other. One can go from over-the-top posh (Knightsbridge and the like) to a litte more down to Earth. There are markets aplenty here and, on this trip, I’ve hit quite a few of them. Its hard to not be tempted by fresh fruit and veg and all manner of arts and crafts. I suspect that my Waitrose bag will be filled with all kinds of bounty from my stay. Read the rest of this entry »
My travels in Europe have generally been north of the European “Mason/Dixon Line.” I’m not exactly sure where that is, but it just illustrates that my experiences have been in Germany, Norway, England and Wales. Not exactly the warmest of locales. So it stands to reason that I would be excited about taking a new journey to Spain to visit some dear family friends. Read the rest of this entry »
One of the things that we like to do most is hike. When little Ollie is old enough to be carried in his hiking pack (or is it a caddy), I’m sure one of the first things that we’ll do is set out to the Columbia River Gorge or the coast to take him out for a spin in the nature we love so much.
As much as I love London, I always have this great desire to get out of town every so often to take some solace in a long walk in the country. This time, I decided to go somewhere that I’ve never been before, Kent. Kent is south of London and there is a small town named Oford that looked promising. It was out in the country, but not too far off the beaten path. The Kent County folks do a very nice job of outlining their hikes. They do an even better job of marking the trails and giving directions, so I wasn’t too terribly concerned about getting lost (though I always take my mobile phone just in case). Read the rest of this entry »
The Chargers and Saints are playing over here today. It’s on BBC2. Thank goodness I get some NFL to watch.
However, the World Series is a bit more difficult. The games start at 1:30am. That’s a very tall order considering I get up at 6am every morning. Guess I’ll just follow the action after I wake up. As long as my beloved Phillies win, I could care less.
It seems as though that most people who travel to the UK seem to think that the food isn’t very good. Not true at all. In fact, the food here is remarkable. For years, there has been a conscious effort to grow and eat local with a strong emphasis on sustainability and organic ingredients. London also boasts some of the best ethnic food in the world especially Indian, Mediterranean and Middle Eastern. Read the rest of this entry »
Well, made it to London this morning. For the record, Business Class is the way to go. It was a surprisingly light flight from Seattle so I was able to fidget about throughout. The footrest on my seat (which turns into a fully flat bed) was broken so I was able to sneak on over to the next seat to get some shut eye. The British Airways staff was outstanding as usual and it was a relatively fast flight from home. Any time one can get 5 straight hours of good sleep, it is a good thing. Read the rest of this entry »
