Travel, Festivals and the end of Summer
Having been very slack on the blog-front, I figure it's pointless trying to add posts retrospectively. Instead I will list everything that has happened over the last 6 weeks since my last post then promise to be more diligent in the future.
- Brands Hatch - We went to see the World Superbikes race at Brands Hatch on the hottest day of the year and got burnt. At least the Australians did well.
- Christina came to visit - Christina arrived at the beginning of August for 4 weeks in Europe. She joined us for several events (Iceland, a Proms concert, the Peak District and Spam-a-Lot)
- Proms - We went to another Proms concert. This time it was Renee Fleming singing Berg (Seven Early Songs) and Korngold. The BBC Philharmonic Orchestra played Beethoven Symphony No 8 and Schumann Symphony No 2.
- Iceland - amazing place full of extreme natural wonders - the iceberg lake was my favourite place. Photos can be found at: Iceland Photo Set
- Tour of Westminster Palace - In between Iceland and Hungary we went on a tour of the Houses of Parliament It's an amazingly elaborate building inside and out. It was bombed during the world war, evidence of which Churchill left in place as part of the renovations.
- Hungary - we went to visit our friends Ildi and Mark who were visiting Ildi's parents in Hungary. We were able to experience authentic Hungarian hospitality (complete with Goulash, salami and paprika) and a Hungarian wedding. It was our 4 days of summer with temperatures over 30 deg each day. Photos can be found at: Hungary Photo Set
- Finished Harry Potter - I read the last Harry Potter book and was pleased with the outcome. I was able to give Ildi a summary who just wanted to know what happened.
- The Peak District - we spent the last long weekend of summer in the Peak District in a little town called Bakewell. We went with Christina and friends of hers - Vayra and Ian. We went to Eyam, Chatsworth House, Haddon Hall, Ashby de la Zouch castle and ate a fully cooked English breakfast every morning. Photos can be found at: Peak District Photo Set
- Spam-a-Lot - before Christina went home we went to see Spam-a-lot with her. Yes, this is the second time we've seen it. I think it's funnier second time round.
- The Fat Duck - yes, we went to Heston Blumenthal's restaurant in Bray - the home of molecular gastromony and the best restaurant in the world. We had the tasting menu. 4 hours and 18 courses later we were amazed and very very full. Photos of all the courses at: The Fat Duck Photo Set
- Sikh Wedding - Robert's team leader got married and we were invited to the Sikh religious ceremony and the reception the following night. The wedding festivities for a Sikh go on for a whole week and cost many thousands of pounds. They even had their own fireworks display. Robert has posted some photos of the reception: Jane and Sunny's Wedding and some of the religious ceremony pics are up on facebook.
- Throat infection - I had to endure a week of antibiotics due to a Strep Throat infection :-(
- London open house weekend - One weekend a year sees many of London's buildings open to the public. We went to the Quaker meeting house in Wandsworth and the Hurlingham club in Fulham.
- London Walking Weekend - The same weekend happened to be London Walking Weekend. We went on two guided walks - one around our local area of Wandsworth and another around Lambeth. We found out lots of interesting things about the area we live in (it had the very first public railway in England - horse drawn carriages on rails to cart coal).
- Museum of Garden History - we stopped by this museum at the end of our Lambeth walk. It is in and old church and has a 16th century knot garden in the church yard. The grave of John Tradescant is at the church - he is a famous name in 16th Century English garden history.
- Thames Festival - on Sunday afternoon we went to the Thames Festival on the Southbank. We caught up with Yash and Sarah, saw the parade, and watched the fireworks (they weren't a patch on Sydney News Year's Eve fireworks). Photos at: Thames Festival Photo Set
- Brands Hatch - We went to see the World Superbikes race at Brands Hatch on the hottest day of the year and got burnt. At least the Australians did well.
- Christina came to visit - Christina arrived at the beginning of August for 4 weeks in Europe. She joined us for several events (Iceland, a Proms concert, the Peak District and Spam-a-Lot)
- Proms - We went to another Proms concert. This time it was Renee Fleming singing Berg (Seven Early Songs) and Korngold. The BBC Philharmonic Orchestra played Beethoven Symphony No 8 and Schumann Symphony No 2.
- Iceland - amazing place full of extreme natural wonders - the iceberg lake was my favourite place. Photos can be found at: Iceland Photo Set
- Tour of Westminster Palace - In between Iceland and Hungary we went on a tour of the Houses of Parliament It's an amazingly elaborate building inside and out. It was bombed during the world war, evidence of which Churchill left in place as part of the renovations.
- Hungary - we went to visit our friends Ildi and Mark who were visiting Ildi's parents in Hungary. We were able to experience authentic Hungarian hospitality (complete with Goulash, salami and paprika) and a Hungarian wedding. It was our 4 days of summer with temperatures over 30 deg each day. Photos can be found at: Hungary Photo Set
- Finished Harry Potter - I read the last Harry Potter book and was pleased with the outcome. I was able to give Ildi a summary who just wanted to know what happened.
- The Peak District - we spent the last long weekend of summer in the Peak District in a little town called Bakewell. We went with Christina and friends of hers - Vayra and Ian. We went to Eyam, Chatsworth House, Haddon Hall, Ashby de la Zouch castle and ate a fully cooked English breakfast every morning. Photos can be found at: Peak District Photo Set
- Spam-a-Lot - before Christina went home we went to see Spam-a-lot with her. Yes, this is the second time we've seen it. I think it's funnier second time round.
- The Fat Duck - yes, we went to Heston Blumenthal's restaurant in Bray - the home of molecular gastromony and the best restaurant in the world. We had the tasting menu. 4 hours and 18 courses later we were amazed and very very full. Photos of all the courses at: The Fat Duck Photo Set
- Sikh Wedding - Robert's team leader got married and we were invited to the Sikh religious ceremony and the reception the following night. The wedding festivities for a Sikh go on for a whole week and cost many thousands of pounds. They even had their own fireworks display. Robert has posted some photos of the reception: Jane and Sunny's Wedding and some of the religious ceremony pics are up on facebook.
- Throat infection - I had to endure a week of antibiotics due to a Strep Throat infection :-(
- London open house weekend - One weekend a year sees many of London's buildings open to the public. We went to the Quaker meeting house in Wandsworth and the Hurlingham club in Fulham.
- London Walking Weekend - The same weekend happened to be London Walking Weekend. We went on two guided walks - one around our local area of Wandsworth and another around Lambeth. We found out lots of interesting things about the area we live in (it had the very first public railway in England - horse drawn carriages on rails to cart coal).
- Museum of Garden History - we stopped by this museum at the end of our Lambeth walk. It is in and old church and has a 16th century knot garden in the church yard. The grave of John Tradescant is at the church - he is a famous name in 16th Century English garden history.
- Thames Festival - on Sunday afternoon we went to the Thames Festival on the Southbank. We caught up with Yash and Sarah, saw the parade, and watched the fireworks (they weren't a patch on Sydney News Year's Eve fireworks). Photos at: Thames Festival Photo Set
posted by Elisabeth @ 2:17 PM
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