For Corinne

I definitely felt that I should have had a fbit for this. However, since you were mentioning about the flights and this has no landings, that is a bit consoling.

River race on the Thames

Not the best photos ever, but gives you an idea. It was remarkable to get to the Hammersmith Bridge a little further up and see so many boats and spectators. My favorite part was a man sitting in a little row boat yelling at them thru a megaphone thing - "Oooh, number 85, you're not going to make it if only two of your team are doing any work."

Walking around Barnes and Chiswick

To the observatory

We took a boat ride up to Greenwich. Not totally successful as it was a bit nippy and we ate a semi-poisonous lunch. However, wonderful views. Probably would have been even better views if we'd made it up to the observatory, but it was cold, so we had to settle on looking up at it from the "queen's house"

The Lost Gardens of Heligan

After some wandering, we really were content here to just sit on a bench under a monster rhododendron and enjoy a gorgeous day.

Carlyon Bay

Mum booked us into a fancy hotel with a golf course, swimming pool, etc right on the cliffs. Friggin gorgeous and totally luxurious. We definitely didn't fit into the demographic they were catering to, but we paid, so they didn't kick us out.

I really enjoyed walking along the coastal path flanked with gorse which was filled with little birds singing away (probably trying to tell me to piss off).

All outta order

Just blame it on the jet lag. Going to post some pictures, but they won't be in the order of events. Anyhow, will give you a smattering of some cool things - at least until the camera battery died.

Let's start with some from the Eden Project. All 'a bit naff' as Mum says. Don't know exactly what that means, but definitely geared towards groups of school children. 2 hours was really nice - esp early in the day when the biomes were a bit cooler and it wasn't totally overrun with other tourists and groups of kids. It was interesting and even learned a bit.

Home away from home

London, thanks for the awesome Monday. If Mr offered up to move here, today I would have had to go with yes.

Oh, and to the guy who gave up a seat on the underground for my Mum and then a second spot for me. You rock!

Good-for-something-inmates

So, on my usual route thru the neighborhood behind ours today and came across a bunch of really nice guys picking up trash on Mossy Rock. I have been horrified to see how gross it was getting in there. Even if your motivation was the guy with the gun in the van, thank you!

Tassajara

More success adapting from the Tassajara Bread Book!

Here I based off the banana sandwich bread recipe (used 3 packets of yeast; substituted some grated, fresh ginger for the second orange's peel and substituted cardamom & cloves for the second tablespoon of cinnamon).

One loaf I added more sweetener and spices to the batter and the other I dusted with sesame and poppy seeds. They both came out great for toast/sandwiches. I preferred the more savory one and have been gobbling away at it with peanut butter. Such decadence!

The best part, of course, is in the sharing. It has been a struggle to find friends & neighbors who are not dieting though. Guess I need to figure out how to make low calorie bread that is not disgusting. Does such a thing exist?

Garden fresh climate change

I don't know if this warm weather is part of a regular cycle or if there's something more sinister going on. Whatever the case, it's been lovely to run out to the garden and cut off sprigs of parsley, marjoram & even oregano all winter (thus far - maybe I've just jinxed us).

No soggy feets

Love my galoshes. Hope they last me the rest of my days.