Have walked more in the past week than probably ever in my life. Local bus service (80/A) shuts down when term is over, which is grand for those that are still here working on papers and need to get to the library. Luckily, traveller extraordinaire Jon took a break from his week in Ireland to see Leicester and didn't mind all the walking (I think).
Weird feeling showing someone around the city that I have been living in for 2+ months. Never had the opportunity to see so many things or drink so many pints in a pub since I've been here. Conveniently used the excuse as hostess to put off working on papers that are looming over me as our five week break began.
The good thing about bus services getting shut down is that you have to walk at least 5 extra miles a day to get to the next closest bus service. Has really been nice to actually look at the gardens of people's homes that we drive by on our daily route to campus and back. Weather was also cooperative (a girl doing her laundry with me on Wednesday mentioned how "hot" it was ... sunny and 53 is "hot"). I've still not been able to get over how green all the grass is. It looks like they spend hours on their lawns picking out weeds by hand and combing the grass, but have been assurred it's just the climate. Dad, Al and the rest of the neighborhood mowers would be green with envy. Ha...haha.
Finally had the opportunity to walk through the Botanic Gardens that are adjacent to Beaumont. They are absolutely fabulous. Hopefully will be coming back for the end of the term (nasty situation with possible early auditions) and I pledge to take pictures of it in the sunshine. It's really beyond beautiful. Having lofty thoughts of what I might be able to do with our little patch of lawn in Chillicothe, although I'm sure Dad would lament the loss of taking 3 hours to mow all the grass.
Note: Will be taking off for Spain on Sunday. Not sure how close I will be to a computer, but will write everything and anything interesting down for a big blog when I get back. Lots of love.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Row, Row, ROW YOUR BOAT. Keep rowing.
Last few hours in London were spent in Regents Park with the lovely Miss Morgan Briggs. Weather beautiful, flowers blooming, children screaming at parents because they were hot/cold/hungry/tired/bored. Spring had definitely arrived.
Made our way to row boat rentals to get a half hour of relaxation on the lake. Half hour cheaper than an hour, and really, how much can you do in a boat for an hour? "Oh my. This bit of lake is vastly different than that last bit. Much wetter." We thought that a pleasant row out to a sweetly drooping willow should take less than 30 minutes.
Problem with movies like Bridget Jones's Diary is that Hugh Grant and Collin Firth make rowing look entirely too easy. For slightly younger women, full of the youth and vigor of life, not to mention undoubtedly stronger and full of more pluck than weak, proper Englishmen, this should be smooth sailing.
Outward voyage to said tree a little difficult, but we made good speed. Only spun round in circles 5 or 6 times. Absolutely certain no one was watching us out in the middle of the lake... hmmm... Can now understand why everyone had convenient lakeside sunning spots. Birdwatching? Poppycock. Probably locals were placing bets on which group of tourists would be able to survive the homeward journey before giving up and using maps to paddle back to shore.
With 15 minutes to cover the same amount of distance, we began our return trip. Blasted wind insisted on blowing in the same direction it had been blowing for the past quarter hour, which was very unpleasant. Eventually surrenderred the oars to Miss Briggs, who was decidedly better at the whole "Slow and steady wins the race" thing. My methodology had been more "Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead," but didn't really work out in the end. Served instead as coxswain (don't know what that means? look it up).
Made it to the dock with seconds to spare. No crew on dock as they were busy with other customers, so Morgan hooked us up to the closest rowboat, jumped on dock and I threw our bags out to her, grabbed on to her hand and launched myself out of the boat. Wonderfully exciting adrenaline rush to end our adventure. Left feeling very sure of ourselves, although next time might take on the paddleboats, as tiny English children had out-sailed us in speed and accuracy.
Made our way to row boat rentals to get a half hour of relaxation on the lake. Half hour cheaper than an hour, and really, how much can you do in a boat for an hour? "Oh my. This bit of lake is vastly different than that last bit. Much wetter." We thought that a pleasant row out to a sweetly drooping willow should take less than 30 minutes.
Problem with movies like Bridget Jones's Diary is that Hugh Grant and Collin Firth make rowing look entirely too easy. For slightly younger women, full of the youth and vigor of life, not to mention undoubtedly stronger and full of more pluck than weak, proper Englishmen, this should be smooth sailing.
Outward voyage to said tree a little difficult, but we made good speed. Only spun round in circles 5 or 6 times. Absolutely certain no one was watching us out in the middle of the lake... hmmm... Can now understand why everyone had convenient lakeside sunning spots. Birdwatching? Poppycock. Probably locals were placing bets on which group of tourists would be able to survive the homeward journey before giving up and using maps to paddle back to shore.
With 15 minutes to cover the same amount of distance, we began our return trip. Blasted wind insisted on blowing in the same direction it had been blowing for the past quarter hour, which was very unpleasant. Eventually surrenderred the oars to Miss Briggs, who was decidedly better at the whole "Slow and steady wins the race" thing. My methodology had been more "Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead," but didn't really work out in the end. Served instead as coxswain (don't know what that means? look it up).
Made it to the dock with seconds to spare. No crew on dock as they were busy with other customers, so Morgan hooked us up to the closest rowboat, jumped on dock and I threw our bags out to her, grabbed on to her hand and launched myself out of the boat. Wonderfully exciting adrenaline rush to end our adventure. Left feeling very sure of ourselves, although next time might take on the paddleboats, as tiny English children had out-sailed us in speed and accuracy.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Making Headlines
Inappropriate abuse of ducks by American psychopath
Armenian slave trader poses as Columbian birthday boy
Michael Jackson spotted in Oxford: spike in banana sales
Homeless man attacks bypasser with furry hat
Predicted gale force winds inexplicably absent: investigation underway
Violent attempted break-in at Christ Church Meadows
Students suspected of stealing haute cuisine jacket potatoes
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Food Crisis
Have discovered why everyone in England has thighs the size of toothpicks: food is abundant when one has no appetite, and mysteriously difficult to access when hunger strikes. Kyle is becoming increasingly bored with "cafe food," the only type of nourishment available to him while I am off learning grand and glorious facts about art and film. Must be rather difficult for a 6 foot athletic young man to live off of croissants and coffees for most of the day.
Yesterday had an awkward situation trying to figure out how/when to eat dinner, as were meeting Caitlin and James for a movie at the Odeon. Decided to look for food before the film, as pubs generally stop serving around 8pm, exactly when we would be out of "The Gran Torino." (Great movie, by the way... acting horrendous but amusing.) Had to look for food at 4pm--awful time to be hungry. Passed one establishment that served food "Wednesday through Saturday, 12-3pm and 5-8pm." Wonderful.
Kept walking down Welford Road for what seemed like a thousand years to Kyle but was really only about 10 minutes to locate Grimsby Fish and Chips joint, but restaurant closed. Got large hot package of fish and chips to go, wrapped in three layers paper. Made it to a sunny bench and tore into package like two hungry beasts. Best fish ever had.
I'm getting kicked now... lovely boyfriend has only had two cheeses and a banana today. On our way to a Latin restaurant. Let's hope it's open!
Yesterday had an awkward situation trying to figure out how/when to eat dinner, as were meeting Caitlin and James for a movie at the Odeon. Decided to look for food before the film, as pubs generally stop serving around 8pm, exactly when we would be out of "The Gran Torino." (Great movie, by the way... acting horrendous but amusing.) Had to look for food at 4pm--awful time to be hungry. Passed one establishment that served food "Wednesday through Saturday, 12-3pm and 5-8pm." Wonderful.
Kept walking down Welford Road for what seemed like a thousand years to Kyle but was really only about 10 minutes to locate Grimsby Fish and Chips joint, but restaurant closed. Got large hot package of fish and chips to go, wrapped in three layers paper. Made it to a sunny bench and tore into package like two hungry beasts. Best fish ever had.
I'm getting kicked now... lovely boyfriend has only had two cheeses and a banana today. On our way to a Latin restaurant. Let's hope it's open!
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Country music
I love it. I miss it. Large parts of my life involve driving fast in the sun with my sister... windows down and radio turned up. In a place where sunshine is rare, people keep to themselves and there are zero country boys, listening to this music has been a life-saver. Recently played songs include:
Country Man - Luke Bryan
Just Got Started Lovin You - James Otto
What Kinda Gone - Chris Cagle
Baptism (with Randy Travis) - Kenny Chesney
Meet in the Middle - Diamond Rio
This is making writing about German Rococo architecture a little difficult. Oh well. : )
Country Man - Luke Bryan
Just Got Started Lovin You - James Otto
What Kinda Gone - Chris Cagle
Baptism (with Randy Travis) - Kenny Chesney
Meet in the Middle - Diamond Rio
This is making writing about German Rococo architecture a little difficult. Oh well. : )
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Biohazard
Have been battling nasty cold for past three days. Beginning to think am like Native Americans brought over to England who perished from inability to cope with European illnesses. Okay, perhaps not, but it's a possibility. Was able to give my presentation in my Art & America class with a very hoarse voice. Fortunately my skills as an actress paid off and I got the class to laugh both at and with me during the presentation, making it a paramount success.
Desperately need to wash my sheets, air out the room and take a boiling hot shower before Morgan arrives tomorrow. Poor girl thinks she will be able to brave my germi-ness for the sake of making our spring break travel plans. By the by, have I mentioned my spring break is five weeks long? (Sigh.) We are planning on spending a couple weeks somewhere warm in an attempt to thaw out from this perpetual English chill.
Lovely boyfriend made wonderful comparison between beauty of a flower and sunset tonight... refuse to quote it directly because I'm being selfish and keeping it all to myself. Suffice to say, there's nothing like dating a poet. If presented with the opportunity, I highly request dating one. Just not mine.
Desperately need to wash my sheets, air out the room and take a boiling hot shower before Morgan arrives tomorrow. Poor girl thinks she will be able to brave my germi-ness for the sake of making our spring break travel plans. By the by, have I mentioned my spring break is five weeks long? (Sigh.) We are planning on spending a couple weeks somewhere warm in an attempt to thaw out from this perpetual English chill.
Lovely boyfriend made wonderful comparison between beauty of a flower and sunset tonight... refuse to quote it directly because I'm being selfish and keeping it all to myself. Suffice to say, there's nothing like dating a poet. If presented with the opportunity, I highly request dating one. Just not mine.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
A Taste of Home
Morgan visited this weekend, taking a few days off from the blustery north winds of Sunderland. Arrival was melodramatic, running towards one another in coach station with many approving lookers-on. First time I've seen someone from home.
Deposited bags, told lots of stories, and made our way back to City Centre for dinner at Latin restaurant called La Iguana. Wonnnnderful atmosphere. Decided to take advantage of their 2-for-1 cocktails and ordered margaritas... whoa. Probably 90% tequila, but worth it once food arrived. Morgan had left to use toilets so was only person at the table when tapas were delivered... taquitos, a quesadilla looking thing and then some meaty dish with a sort of pink grass looking garnish sticking out at odd angles.
When Morgan returned, we started on the garnish pile of unknown, but only took me 5 seconds to realize that what she pulled off the plate was in fact a shrimp. Head, eyes, legs, antenna. All intact. Am convinced will never look at shrimp the same way again. Only got through the dismemberment of one of four, and relinquised my second to Morgan. Ohh the tiny little legs... oooh. Not fun. Took a walk for an hour and went back to Iguana for banana dessert. Mmmm. Much better. Highly recommend the restaurant, perhaps not the shrimp for the squeamish diner.
Rest of the weekend consisted of a movie at The Phoenix with Caitlin (Vicky Christina Barcelona-- apathetic), high speed shopping at Primark (of course), a birthday party for Morgan's "twin" cousin in Coventry complete with bracing English walk in country-side, take-out kabobs on Saturday night, sharing the same computer screen to catch up with boyfriends and a movie on my laptop last night (Stage Beauty--loved it). Was just dropped off back home after meeting Morgan's dad at the bus station, and am planning on gym visit as have not been in three days.
Have massive scary presentation on Tuesday... wish me luck!
Deposited bags, told lots of stories, and made our way back to City Centre for dinner at Latin restaurant called La Iguana. Wonnnnderful atmosphere. Decided to take advantage of their 2-for-1 cocktails and ordered margaritas... whoa. Probably 90% tequila, but worth it once food arrived. Morgan had left to use toilets so was only person at the table when tapas were delivered... taquitos, a quesadilla looking thing and then some meaty dish with a sort of pink grass looking garnish sticking out at odd angles.
When Morgan returned, we started on the garnish pile of unknown, but only took me 5 seconds to realize that what she pulled off the plate was in fact a shrimp. Head, eyes, legs, antenna. All intact. Am convinced will never look at shrimp the same way again. Only got through the dismemberment of one of four, and relinquised my second to Morgan. Ohh the tiny little legs... oooh. Not fun. Took a walk for an hour and went back to Iguana for banana dessert. Mmmm. Much better. Highly recommend the restaurant, perhaps not the shrimp for the squeamish diner.
Rest of the weekend consisted of a movie at The Phoenix with Caitlin (Vicky Christina Barcelona-- apathetic), high speed shopping at Primark (of course), a birthday party for Morgan's "twin" cousin in Coventry complete with bracing English walk in country-side, take-out kabobs on Saturday night, sharing the same computer screen to catch up with boyfriends and a movie on my laptop last night (Stage Beauty--loved it). Was just dropped off back home after meeting Morgan's dad at the bus station, and am planning on gym visit as have not been in three days.
Have massive scary presentation on Tuesday... wish me luck!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
