on a decidedly londish winter day, we immersed ourselves in the english tradition of rugby. an easy train to richmond, followed by a short walk to old deer park through a ticket window with a hay ceiling, there we stood with beer in hand with our standing only tickets to watch the battle between london welsh and nottingham.
we joined a group of aussies, fans of welsh for the simple fact that they weren't english. having no preference of our own, we followed suit in cheering on the black and red.
fortunately, our friend, cam, is an avid rugby fan and player. he gave us the play by play commentary so that we can learn the rules. the two primary formations during play are scrums (set plays, like a football line up) and rucks (plays following a tackle...nothing comparable in football). despite all our well-heard cheering, welsh played sloppy, dropping the ball on heads up plays and lacking the intensity of nottingham.
nottingham had bigger dudes who looked especially fierce with their cauliflower-ear prevention type hats. and their equivalent of a wide receiver whom we dubbed "billy ray" or "mullet guy" for the obvious reason, was truly a good player, fast on the play, even with the awful haircut.
the game was a tale of two halves with the welsh using their home field advantage in the first but unable to hold off the brute force of the blue props (enormous, barrel-chested linemen).
beer reigned throughout the event. it can't be helped with a pub onsite plus two beer stands for the little park. beer before the game, during the game, and especially after the game. the teams walk off the field to friends and family then join in the pub fun (home team, of course) to revel in life.
we'll be back to watch another game. and with jelli bean next time! they allow dogs in the park and pub!
Wednesday, 23 February 2011
Sunday, 13 February 2011
zurich revisited
with jason in zurich for work which also required us to spend valentine's day apart, we decided to celebrate it early by my joining him for the weekend. i took the first flight from london city airport (the best airport in london, much like sjc's terminal c before it became what it is) and was in zurich before 10a saturday morning. he greeted me at zurich's main train station, zurich hb, with gifts and a stuffed animal, usurped by jelli bean upon my return.
spending time together during this busy season was like sunshine to our souls, much like seeing the world through reflections on light in zurich or feeling the warmth on our skin compared to the routine driven motions of our life in london under a canopy of grey. it was lovely to walk along the river and lake, take in a bit much fondue and shop in old town all the while framed with blues skies.
jason received a short list of fondue recommendations and decided on one, simply by it's name, chuchi . it's attached to the hotel adler in old town and the food and service were fantastic. the only note that may be a drawback is the construction noise which was particularly on the forefront as we were the only customers in the restaurant. we still eat at normal times (some time around noon) whereas most europeans eat at earliest around 1p.
we also took the train up to uetliberg. this is a must for anyone visiting zurich who enjoys getting out of city-life (not necessarily zurich as it's a quiet city). it's a 20 minute train ride from hb and takes you up to the "top of zurich". from there, you can see the hills that run through switzerland and the valley where zurich resides. there are short walks or long walks up to 3 hours, picnic tables and restaurants, families and couples. we had lunch at the top and took in the greens and blues and patches of thin snow in the hills, still yet untouched by sun.
another rave - the central plaza hotel was a relaxing home away from home. it looks a bit cheesy on the logo with the palm tree because really, do they have palm trees in zurich? however, the interior was lovely. we had a corner room on the fifth floor overlooking banhofstrasse (the main street along the river) and the river. -and we didn't even have the street noise. the bed was circular but didn't move or shake so don't let it throw you off. the hotel has a restaurant and a piano bar which we enjoyed at the end of our moseying day.
we love zurich. we love switzerland and the pride they have in their work. we love the pleasant nature, either natural or reinforced through social norms, because it's sunshine compared to the accepted passive aggressive behavior of london...but that's a separate story.
spending time together during this busy season was like sunshine to our souls, much like seeing the world through reflections on light in zurich or feeling the warmth on our skin compared to the routine driven motions of our life in london under a canopy of grey. it was lovely to walk along the river and lake, take in a bit much fondue and shop in old town all the while framed with blues skies.
jason received a short list of fondue recommendations and decided on one, simply by it's name, chuchi . it's attached to the hotel adler in old town and the food and service were fantastic. the only note that may be a drawback is the construction noise which was particularly on the forefront as we were the only customers in the restaurant. we still eat at normal times (some time around noon) whereas most europeans eat at earliest around 1p.
we also took the train up to uetliberg. this is a must for anyone visiting zurich who enjoys getting out of city-life (not necessarily zurich as it's a quiet city). it's a 20 minute train ride from hb and takes you up to the "top of zurich". from there, you can see the hills that run through switzerland and the valley where zurich resides. there are short walks or long walks up to 3 hours, picnic tables and restaurants, families and couples. we had lunch at the top and took in the greens and blues and patches of thin snow in the hills, still yet untouched by sun.
another rave - the central plaza hotel was a relaxing home away from home. it looks a bit cheesy on the logo with the palm tree because really, do they have palm trees in zurich? however, the interior was lovely. we had a corner room on the fifth floor overlooking banhofstrasse (the main street along the river) and the river. -and we didn't even have the street noise. the bed was circular but didn't move or shake so don't let it throw you off. the hotel has a restaurant and a piano bar which we enjoyed at the end of our moseying day.
we love zurich. we love switzerland and the pride they have in their work. we love the pleasant nature, either natural or reinforced through social norms, because it's sunshine compared to the accepted passive aggressive behavior of london...but that's a separate story.
Tuesday, 1 February 2011
staying local
it's been awhile since our last post so here's a quick update to let you know our coming/goings and that we're still committed to keeping our friends and family posted. and i know i still need to post our pix from france.
between the cold/wet weather and busy work schedules, we decided to stay local for the remainder of winter. we're hitting up local sights such as hampton court, natural history museum - this weekend is the national gallery. we're trying to visit places one or both haven't seen before and maybe revisit a favorite. it's nice to leisure our way through sights instead of a hurried pace, especially when it's so cold.
we're even partaking in local traditions like quiz night at a pub. we didn't do so bad for not having a brit on the team.
we're returning to zurich in february as jason's work takes him out there. hopefully, weather will cooperate to allow us to walk around old town and explore the city over valentine's weekend.
also on the schedule is a weekend trip to the south coast at brighton and another weekend trip to the forest of dean, approximately 2.5 hours by train from london. both of these trips include jb. -we're so lucky to be in such a dog friendly country where dogs are allowed on beaches and trails. jb is going to be disappointed when we move back...
there's so much more on the schedule but i'll leave it at this. this quiet period of travel is so we can plan our summer weekends out of town. we're not sure how to squeeze in everything we want to do and see!
we stay in touch with friends and family but we feel like we're missing out on so much of your lives. life changes, uprooting homes, many causes for celebration or mourning and sympathy. friends and family - we miss you very much and hope you will visit soon.
we'll be ringing in the year of the rabbit at pearl liang tomorrow evening with a cheerful group from all around the world: malaysia, australia, scotland, hong kong...happy chinese new year!
between the cold/wet weather and busy work schedules, we decided to stay local for the remainder of winter. we're hitting up local sights such as hampton court, natural history museum - this weekend is the national gallery. we're trying to visit places one or both haven't seen before and maybe revisit a favorite. it's nice to leisure our way through sights instead of a hurried pace, especially when it's so cold.
we're even partaking in local traditions like quiz night at a pub. we didn't do so bad for not having a brit on the team.
we're returning to zurich in february as jason's work takes him out there. hopefully, weather will cooperate to allow us to walk around old town and explore the city over valentine's weekend.
also on the schedule is a weekend trip to the south coast at brighton and another weekend trip to the forest of dean, approximately 2.5 hours by train from london. both of these trips include jb. -we're so lucky to be in such a dog friendly country where dogs are allowed on beaches and trails. jb is going to be disappointed when we move back...
there's so much more on the schedule but i'll leave it at this. this quiet period of travel is so we can plan our summer weekends out of town. we're not sure how to squeeze in everything we want to do and see!
we stay in touch with friends and family but we feel like we're missing out on so much of your lives. life changes, uprooting homes, many causes for celebration or mourning and sympathy. friends and family - we miss you very much and hope you will visit soon.
we'll be ringing in the year of the rabbit at pearl liang tomorrow evening with a cheerful group from all around the world: malaysia, australia, scotland, hong kong...happy chinese new year!
miss list - evolving
disclaimer: as you read this, please keep in mind that we are enjoying life here and this is definitely no whining/complaining session. these are just things we miss in our daily routine, things we can't help but notice.
NEW: sun
NEW: microbrews - most pubs serve cask ales (room temp) on tap. and don't ever ask for an amber because i ended up with something that tastes like listerine...but actually, listerine tastes more pleasant. maybe cough syrup would be a better comparison...like robitussin. no offense to the makers of robitussin because i think it works but i still have memories of mom making me take a tb of that stuff then not allowing me to rinse it down right away with the notion that water would dilute its effects.
NEW: california produce - we dream of sweet tomatoes and crisp lettuce, buttery avocados and crunchy apples. i'm told that produce in the city, even that of farmers' markets, is "rubbish." supposedly, farmers markets source produce from the same place as large grocers then mark it up. i don't care if it's true, i just want to find some good, fresh eats.
NEW: central heating - these radiators in our late 19th building are fantastic after the 30 min warm up period. then quickly lose heat due to:
NEW: double-pane windows - conservation goes out the door when homes are protected for their historical significance. i'm all for preservation but there's got to be a way to keep the charm of these old windows AND insulate heat.
dryer - fabric softener can only do so much to hang dried clothes. it'd be great to have something that can remove dog fur in a consolidated fashion because we're not going to take a lint roller to boxers.
ph balanced water - hard water reeks havoc on hair and skin. i have so many stray fly aways, it looks like i have static cling.
good coffee - no such thing as drip here unless you go to starbucks, which i refuse to do. nothing against sbux but i'd rather check out a local cafe. and hey, i did purchase sbux's instant coffee packs...but i digress. it's either americanos or instant coffee. UPDATE: we got a french press. still not the same. we think it's the hard water...that and london's current tap water is estimated to be recycled 7+ times.
flavored creamer - they use whole milk as creamer. no such thing as international delight (which is kinda ironic given the brand...) or coffeemate. i think there's a whole new market opportunity here. UPDATE: helen, thank you so much for supplying us with creamer. we think of you whenever we use it...which is everyday.
cliff bars - protein bars are limited in brands and flavors. who wants a green tea flavored protein bar to energize their work out? they're also expensive not only in relation to USD but to the cost of living here. i can't imagine most londoners can afford it. UPDATE: helen, you're amazing. i try to get you as much chocolate as i can when traveling but we think we have the better end of the deal. cliff bars taste good AND are healthy.
OPI - another item i'm guessing most londoners can't afford at GBP 10/ or GBP 17 for nail envy. part of it is the exchange rate, i admit but the other part you've got to realize is that salaries aren't as high here - especially with the tax rates. so in relation to the cost of living here, it's almost like a high-end item. i got what i needed but i'm definitely stocking up when i go home. plus, OPI ships limited colors over here. LAME UPDATE: i just got my nails done and the lady poo poo'd on opi saying that professionals here don't like how thick it is. WHAT
peanut butter snacks - no peanut butter cookies, reese's pieces, peanut butter energy/protein bars...again, another market opportunity.
mom's cooking - need i say more?
jello vanilla pudding packs - jello has no presence here. and i think they only make chocolate pudding for christmas - from scratch! this is my secret ingredient for cookies...i can get this on amazon.co.uk but given that most of the critical ingredients cost significantly more than at home (a couple more to follow), i just don't think i can ever get to a break-even selling price. (bakery in mind) UPDATE: helen, because of you, we're able to buy love with cookies.
semi-sweet chocolate chips - i don't think people bake here.
walnuts (for baking that doesn't cost an arm and leg) - they come in these little itty bitty pouches, approximately 1/2 cup. what. where is costco? and don't blame the size on geography. costco thrives in japan.
professional cleaners - when cable was installed, the cable guy showed me my id card that gets inserted into the box and my pin. what do i need a pin for? to make purchases such as ppv. why would i need a pin to verify the purchase? in case the cleaners or someone unauthorized tries to make a purchase. !!! i thought, "wow, they're really extreme when it comes to purchasing security." a few days later, an expat friend tells me how she's on her 4th cleaner and has caught her sitting on the couch watching mtv multiple times. i guess there's a reason for the pin thing. cleaners here are paid by the hour. based on how we received our flat after a "professional" cleaning, i don't think they know how to get their back into it. i miss you, diego and express cleaning services!
jcrew and nordstrom - i haven't figured out fashion here. i like it when catalogs and stores prepare an outfit then i just buy the outfit. relaying this to a fellow boot camper (the class is THAT easy where i have enough breath to carry on a conversation), kinne enlightened me that london is all about expressing one's own sense of fashion. that explains a lot. most people look like they grabbed the first item in their closet or constantly in a state of mismatch. do you remember those spirit weeks/days? mismatch day. UPDATE: we like reiss, all saints and the designer outlets here but don't join the locals in mismatch day.
NEW: sun
NEW: microbrews - most pubs serve cask ales (room temp) on tap. and don't ever ask for an amber because i ended up with something that tastes like listerine...but actually, listerine tastes more pleasant. maybe cough syrup would be a better comparison...like robitussin. no offense to the makers of robitussin because i think it works but i still have memories of mom making me take a tb of that stuff then not allowing me to rinse it down right away with the notion that water would dilute its effects.
NEW: california produce - we dream of sweet tomatoes and crisp lettuce, buttery avocados and crunchy apples. i'm told that produce in the city, even that of farmers' markets, is "rubbish." supposedly, farmers markets source produce from the same place as large grocers then mark it up. i don't care if it's true, i just want to find some good, fresh eats.
NEW: central heating - these radiators in our late 19th building are fantastic after the 30 min warm up period. then quickly lose heat due to:
NEW: double-pane windows - conservation goes out the door when homes are protected for their historical significance. i'm all for preservation but there's got to be a way to keep the charm of these old windows AND insulate heat.
dryer - fabric softener can only do so much to hang dried clothes. it'd be great to have something that can remove dog fur in a consolidated fashion because we're not going to take a lint roller to boxers.
ph balanced water - hard water reeks havoc on hair and skin. i have so many stray fly aways, it looks like i have static cling.
good coffee - no such thing as drip here unless you go to starbucks, which i refuse to do. nothing against sbux but i'd rather check out a local cafe. and hey, i did purchase sbux's instant coffee packs...but i digress. it's either americanos or instant coffee. UPDATE: we got a french press. still not the same. we think it's the hard water...that and london's current tap water is estimated to be recycled 7+ times.
flavored creamer - they use whole milk as creamer. no such thing as international delight (which is kinda ironic given the brand...) or coffeemate. i think there's a whole new market opportunity here. UPDATE: helen, thank you so much for supplying us with creamer. we think of you whenever we use it...which is everyday.
cliff bars - protein bars are limited in brands and flavors. who wants a green tea flavored protein bar to energize their work out? they're also expensive not only in relation to USD but to the cost of living here. i can't imagine most londoners can afford it. UPDATE: helen, you're amazing. i try to get you as much chocolate as i can when traveling but we think we have the better end of the deal. cliff bars taste good AND are healthy.
OPI - another item i'm guessing most londoners can't afford at GBP 10/ or GBP 17 for nail envy. part of it is the exchange rate, i admit but the other part you've got to realize is that salaries aren't as high here - especially with the tax rates. so in relation to the cost of living here, it's almost like a high-end item. i got what i needed but i'm definitely stocking up when i go home. plus, OPI ships limited colors over here. LAME UPDATE: i just got my nails done and the lady poo poo'd on opi saying that professionals here don't like how thick it is. WHAT
peanut butter snacks - no peanut butter cookies, reese's pieces, peanut butter energy/protein bars...again, another market opportunity.
mom's cooking - need i say more?
jello vanilla pudding packs - jello has no presence here. and i think they only make chocolate pudding for christmas - from scratch! this is my secret ingredient for cookies...i can get this on amazon.co.uk but given that most of the critical ingredients cost significantly more than at home (a couple more to follow), i just don't think i can ever get to a break-even selling price. (bakery in mind) UPDATE: helen, because of you, we're able to buy love with cookies.
semi-sweet chocolate chips - i don't think people bake here.
walnuts (for baking that doesn't cost an arm and leg) - they come in these little itty bitty pouches, approximately 1/2 cup. what. where is costco? and don't blame the size on geography. costco thrives in japan.
professional cleaners - when cable was installed, the cable guy showed me my id card that gets inserted into the box and my pin. what do i need a pin for? to make purchases such as ppv. why would i need a pin to verify the purchase? in case the cleaners or someone unauthorized tries to make a purchase. !!! i thought, "wow, they're really extreme when it comes to purchasing security." a few days later, an expat friend tells me how she's on her 4th cleaner and has caught her sitting on the couch watching mtv multiple times. i guess there's a reason for the pin thing. cleaners here are paid by the hour. based on how we received our flat after a "professional" cleaning, i don't think they know how to get their back into it. i miss you, diego and express cleaning services!
jcrew and nordstrom - i haven't figured out fashion here. i like it when catalogs and stores prepare an outfit then i just buy the outfit. relaying this to a fellow boot camper (the class is THAT easy where i have enough breath to carry on a conversation), kinne enlightened me that london is all about expressing one's own sense of fashion. that explains a lot. most people look like they grabbed the first item in their closet or constantly in a state of mismatch. do you remember those spirit weeks/days? mismatch day. UPDATE: we like reiss, all saints and the designer outlets here but don't join the locals in mismatch day.
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