Edinburgh

The last week of July, J and I went to Edinburgh for a long weekend. We wanted to try out our new car, so we drove all the way there and back (about 7 hours). That doesn't sound like a long drive to me, but for J it was very long as those Brits aren't used to driving long distances like we Americans are!

The first day, we stopped at the Angel of the North on the drive up. We stayed at a lovely B&B in the Leith part of Edinburgh (about 20 minute walk from Princes St). We visited the Royal Botanic Gardens and saw a comedy act, which was a prep act for the Festival, which started this week.

Then on Friday, we saw the Royal Yacht Britannia, which was the Queen's boat that she used on all her holidays for nearly 50 years. That was beautiful and I really enjoyed seeing the Queen's taste in decor. Then we had lunch at The Kitchin, which is a Michelin starred restaurant and it was fab. I will never forget having minced pigs trotters - yum! J also really enjoyed his chocolate souffle for dessert. That afternoon we shopped, went on a ghost tour and then had a late supper at The Witchery Restaurant near the Castle.

On Saturday, we visited the Castle and then walked all around the town and shopped way too much. We saw Inception and then had a nice quiet dinner at a Mediterranean restaurant that evening.

All in all, we ate too much and spent too much but it was a great little break to get away. Even the weather cooperated :) Now we just have to get through 3 more days of work and then we're off for a week (or 2 weeks in J's case) for our visit with N. More pics to come!

London 2 Brighton

Last week was the annual Mini Run to Brighton. Our mini did so well but it took 4 hours to get to Brighton (it should only take about 2!) So much traffic which was a bore. But a nice day at the seaside and so much fun seeing all the minis!

Visit with Elder J

We went to King's Lynn in Norfolk last month to visit Elder J and his companion. We had a great time!

Cello lessons

I have decided to learn to play the cello. I've always loved it and figured now was as good a time as any to learn. I have hired a cello from the local music shop and found a teacher in my town. He's very good - still doing his degree in cello performance, but he also teaches piano and violin. I had my first lesson last weekend and was excited to get practicing on Sunday. Then I got the bright idea to try my hand at tuning and managed to break the C string. That's the really big fat one that is the equivalent of the C two octaves below middle C on the piano. When I told my teacher he said it was quite an achievement and he has never broken the C string. Guess I didn't know my own strength! I have managed to buy and fit a new string, but I think it's pretty bad quality because, even though it's now roughly in tune, it just sounds so much worse than the other ones. Think I'll be string shopping again this weekend once my teacher has had a chance to look at it and recommend the best one for the instrument (that won't cost the earth as I can't afford to keep replacing good strings on a weekly basis!) I have already managed a C major scale though and am learning how to hold the bow and make a sound that isn't too painful for the ears! (Poor J and the kitties!) But it gives me something to look forward to in the evenings to spend a little time practicing something and it has also inspired me to get back into practicing the piano. I really appreciate being able to sit down and actually make music on that instrument! Stay tuned for some pics with me and my beautiful cello :)

Happy Easter!

In the evenings, J and I have been reading a poetry book we picked up during our last weekend away. Here is one of our favs - which is perfect for this time of year. I never knew daffodils until I moved to Britain.

I WANDERED lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced; but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:
A poet could not but be gay,
In such a jocund company:
I gazed--and gazed--but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.

William Wordsworth
1804.

Marrakech

We just got back from a week in Marrakech! What a lovely city - a serious impact on the senses - all the sights, sounds, smells. We stayed at a brand new resort called the Riu Tikida Palmeraie, had a lovely suite overlooking the pool and Atlas Mountains. And we were spoiled with it being All Inclusive - all the food and drink you could ever want. We tried so many different types of food - tagines, kebabs, couscous, mint tea, and even lamb's brain (tasted fine but didn't like the texture)! And we are so happy that we spent a day up in the Atlas Mountains to go see the Cascades of Ouzoud (the 2nd largest waterfall in Africa) and several Berber villages. It really makes you appreciate and be grateful for all that we have. But the people are so friendly and kind. We never felt unsafe and were greeted with a Salaam Aleikum / Bonjour and a smile everywhere we went. What a great place - we would recommend it to anyone! We were so sad when we had to come back to dreary England.... But we can't wait to go back and are thinking of trying out the coastal town of Agadir next.

2nd Bedroom

We spent New Year's weekend finishing off the decoration of the 2nd bedroom. We had the ceiling re-plastered to remove the old textured pattern, repainted it white with several coats. We prepared all the woodwork on the skirting boards and doors and repainted in white gloss. We papered one wall with a gold shimmery paper and painted the rest in a caramel colour. We had a new carpet laid too. We then went out and bought a chest of draws to compliment the room and fitted a nice light. Finishing touches are J's grandma's African masks and a plate we bought in Morocco. Now you can come and visit!