Ending the year and a bit more

I won't get nostalgic as this year ends. It's been full and eventful, with lots of good. There were some rough spots too but thankfully they were less frequent than the good times, and they were manageable.

There are some great times ahead this year. I never wish time away but I'm so looking forward to our upcoming trip to DC. It's going to be great in many ways.

But as for the current things catching my eye, here are a few bits and pieces...

As if Radio 4 didn't already give me oh-so much, but today the guest editor of the Today show was Jarvis Cocker. How fab is that?

Here's an amusing (and unfortunately pretty accurate) list of the 19 worst worst Americans of 2008...

But there's a bit of bad in UK culture too. Check out this summary of the unhealthy examples on the soaps. I guess this is part of why I don't watch them...

This retail opportunity is just my style. I really want one of the librarian badges...

Enjoy the final hours of 2008, everyone!

Heavy but life affirming

I just finished reading Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl. Although I had nightmares each night after reading this book, the positive messages from it stayed with me during waking hours. If you haven't read it, please do.

Skating at Somerset House

Yesterday Bailey and I went ice skating at Somerset House. Although I expected it to be a fun experience, I didn't except the fantastic service from all members of staff. From the cloakroom staffers to the ice rink guardians to the servers in the cafe, everyone involved with the experience was friendly, professional and helpful. This made our hour on the ice enjoyable and stress-free. The customer experience at this event was fantastic.

Our day in London also included lunch and a bit of sale shopping at Selfridges. Admittedly, we could afford very little even with 75% off but we got a few small things then hit the amazing food hall to get some treats in.

Of course, the day included a few bus rides. Bailey loves public transport and especially when she can sit atop a double decker bus.

Today at Westfields

Today we went to the post-Christmas sales in the new Westfields mall in west London. No doubt it is very nice and I did like the selection of shops. I also really liked how they isolated the very upper-end shops in one area, in The Village, so if that type of retail commit wasn't your scene, you didn't even have to look at these shops.

I made the most of the Gap sale (of course) and enjoyed a Starbucks run so efficiently, professionally and friendly, even I was impressed.

Well done to Westfield.

How did I get through an entire Christmas season without BandAid?

It's Boxing Day and I just realised I hadn't yet seen Do they know it's Christmas? this year. Had to correct that! Here it is...

Happy Boxing Day

Although there are Boxing Day sales galore here today, we are off to London this morning. We are going on the London Eye, then having lunch at Brown's in Covent Garden. I'm very excited about this family outing (Jack and Jean are coming too) and looking forward to the day out.

We've had a nice and quiet Christmas time. On Christmas Eve we went to the cinema in the morning, to see The Tale of Despereaux. This was followed by the kiddies' church service in the afternoon, and a relaxing evening at home.

Christmas day had everything to do with Bailey. She opened her gifts and used the rest of the day to enjoy her new things. Our only outing was to the canal, to feed the ducks their Christmas bread.

At the moment, she's using her new digital camera to take pics of just about everything. Her big present was her own laptop, and by the end of last night she had figured out how to download her pics on it. She had also typed lots of words, and played Sonic (with a little help from Daddy, just to get going). She's strutting around the house like she owns the universe.

I'm very relaxed at the moment. Having two weeks off is so nice and I've ensured each day has had as little stress as possible. I've cooked for our little family and our guests each day, which has kept us out of the handful of restaurants these three generations agree on. I think that has helped with the low-stress feel to having houseguests; no waiting for food in crowded mediocre eateries.

Another Christmas miracle?

The end of the SUV?? If it's true, we have witnessed a beautiful Christmas miracle.

Yesterday in London

Yesterday Bailey and I headed to London, to make the most of each precious day off school and work. We focused our energies on the South Bank, enjoying lunch at a very busy Wagamama. We enjoyed the gorgeous German market and the delicious Slow Food Market. We visited the Hayward Gallery, to see Andy Warhol: Other Voices, Other Rooms. Yes, concerned loved ones, there are obviously parts of this unsuitable for 5-year old eyes but as long as it's not porn, art is art and that's how we treat it. Thankfully Bailey wasn't over interested in the film portion of this exhibit, since that's where the potentially-inappropriate-for-little-ones material was displayed, but she was enthralled with the viewings of Andy Warhol's T.V. episodes, certainly because all the participants were very glammed up. The other part of the exhibit she loved was the Silver Clouds installation.

We also made it to Somerset House, in hopes of ice skating. Unfortunately, the tickets were sold out for the day, but we booked our tickets for next Monday so we shall return for some time on the ice.

Our day wouldn't be complete without a visit to Hamley's. It was a crazy idea; the place was solid with people. Poor Bailey kept saying she was getting squished, which was completely accurate. We did a quick tour of the girlie area (level 3, for those of you who are interested) then headed back toward the car, via a relatively quiet walk through Soho.

Our Christmas miracle of the day was the makeover of the NCP carpark under the YMCA on Great Russell Street. In the past, for the sake of centrality and convenience, we've ventured through the stink, excrement, minor flooding, rough sleepers and out-of-order lift. When we parked there yesterday, we parked there to find newly painted walls, new clean brickwork, dry floors, NO ODORS, and a lovely professional attendant. We were in carpark heaven. Then, upon our departure, we found out the carpark was free during this time because the renovations are still taking place...this gesture alone thrilled because it saved me about £25. As I said, a Christmas miracle.

My husband

Last night we went to the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols by candlelight service at our church. When we sat in our pew before the service, Simon asked if this had anything to do with the film Nine Songs...

My witty husband!

Yesterday in Cambridge

Yesterday we spent the day in Cambridge, one of our favourite day trip destinations. I like it for the mix of the university, the funky student vibe, the market, the big high street shops and the fab charity shops. Since we were last there, the new Christ's Lane complex has opened (completely getting rid of the old manky arcade there), which is very nice. I did visit the Starbucks there, however, and the service was beyond horrible (as always, I made my comments known through the customer feedback questionnaire).

Here are a few pics from our day, including Bailey by one of the many buskers (this one doing traditional Christmas carols on his trumpet), one of the offers in the market square (yes, Bailey accepted the offer) and one of our other fav buskers of the day, man and dog singing pop Christmas tunes.

Fiscal fallout

I'm not the least bit bothered that Woolworths has gone into the final stages of closing for good. Honestly, the store was overpriced and mostly full of cheap products. I really don't get the English feelings of endearment for this low-end establishment.

One store closing I am mourning is The Pier. It's just a good store with cool stuff, and I will miss it.

Yesterday morning at Hunton Bridge

I tool this really nice pic yeaterday morning. The canal boats with the smoke over them was so nice on the canal. Enjoy.

Hilarious way to start the day, and more

I read this hilarious item on The Guardian this morning and laughed aloud, then called the family in to hear and explain the laughs (but didn't read the title to those under the age of 39). Thank you, sweet Guardian...

I'm reading Middlesex and can hardly put it down. I'm so glad it's got a gazillion pages (OK, 544 pages)...

Bro Ted, thanks for posting those lovely Thanksgiving pics on your Flickr (and your bicycle legs look fab!)...

I watched Marie Antoinette last night and loved it...

Bailey just came in asked to see the Scooby Doo website. As an information professional I am thrilled for her information literacy confirming request; as a parent, I don't want to give up the laptop just yet; as Karen, I turn my nose up at this low-brow request.

Saturday morning

We're having a quiet start to the day, courtesy of the very dark sky (I will never get used to the winter long nights) and rainy weather. We're parked on the couch, reading the paper (me) and watching old-school Scooby Doo (Bailey), while Simon works.

The ear update is I still can't hear out of the punctured ear. I went to the doctor earlier in the week and he confirmed it's still full of goo (my term, not his). I'm on meds to try to drain it, which has resulted in me blowing my nose so much I now have a chapped and red nose. SO not attractive. Anyway, I must say at least the ear is popping and at times I can hear a faint and very out of tune version of what's going on in the aural world, so maybe there's hope.

Bailey's class performed their nativity play this week. Proud parents and grandparents arrived at the school on Thursday morning, and Simon was amongst the long line of camcording parents standing in the back. Bailey was an angel and did a great job.

We had our secret Santa exchange at work, within the WHC Watford campus Learning Centre team. My secret Santa knows me very well because she gave me two essential tourist books for DC, one being the Eyewitness top 10 book and the other, a small map. As you can guess, I was thrilled with these gifts.

Speaking of work, early December is the time to submit our calendar choices for the Learning Centre pin-up calendar for 2009. You may recall last year's choices, so this year I felt I had a pretty high standard match. I went with Barack Obama (not a shock, I'm sure) wearing sunglasses and requested this be the January photo, so I can remind everyone I will be in DC for the inauguration. My colleagues are very kind and humouring me in my regular mentioning of this upcoming trip.

On a completely different topic, I'm not at all in favour of the X Factor (OK, you all already know I don't watch reality TV but that doesn't meant I can't have an opinion) Christmas release of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah. I'm all for Leonard Cohen reaping the benefits but this song is not a pop culture song; it has a life of its own.

Image du jour

Seen in the Howies shop window on Carnaby Street today...

Sunday morning thoughts and concerns

I still have a bad ear. It's completely blocked, so I can't ear a thing, and it's giving me a headache. Ugh.

But back to normal concerns, Bailey and I are relaxing a bit before our Sunday starts, so I have a little time to review the on-line news. Here are a few things which caught my eye...

French cafe culture is on the decline? Non!

I'm already a John Lewis supporter, but their Christmas ad campaign is really good.

RIP Sunny von Bulow...

Plagiarism in the news, again...

I never tire of Dominick Dunne's thoughts on anyone, but his words on the Simpson verdict are essential reading (as are the items in the Dominick Dunne VF archive)...

And on the topic of Vanity Fair, I got my January issue in yesterday's post and last night I read this story. It's completely mesmerising...

Enjoy the day.

Today's musings

Yes, I'm still suffering from the poor ear but many thanks for all the kind messages of "get well soon" and an extra cheers to Dr M who said my recitation of the illness made him laugh. Of course getting to use the word "earhole" is rare, and it made me laugh too.

More laughter...yesterday Bailey and I were in the car and she had asked me why we hadn't done something (I can't recall) before we left. I said we had to go; her reply? "Rock and roll!" Where in the world did she get that?

I would SO love to visit the Royal Mail's lost mail office...

Weekend of highs and lows

On Saturday Simon and I took Bailey and Alice to Winter Wonderland for most of the day. The weather was indeed cold, so we were all bundled up like we were going to the Antarctic or somewhere equally as cold, so I think we looked ready for just about anything.

The girls had a blast and we had a lot of fun watching them enjoy it all. As always, Bailey got really excited being out with lots of people after dark (this started in Paris, where she had the realisation that people do lots of fun things outside at night) and to then be with her dear Alice, well, Bailey was in heaven.

I did, however, learn a few things about the world. Here they are:
1. Being a Northerner doesn't give you the gift of ice skating talent. I had naively assumed Simon would be fine on the ice; I was so wrong.
2. Couples enjoying a mulled wine on their own don't want to share a table with two children and their grown-up companions. We had to share a table in one of the cafes and a couple, probably expecting a pleasurable day as a romantic duo, ended up being miserable next to us. I wasn't at all bothered because we were all behaving just fine (pretty fine, in fact).
3. The "credit crunch" hasn't stopped hoards of people visiting London, and, in fact, Winter Wonderland. There were crowds everywhere and queues to do just about everything.
4. Don't go out in the cold all day if you are having any ear troubles. Even with a hat covereing my ears, I got really sick...

Which leads me to the down of the weekend, having to go to hospital first thing on Sunday morning with ear pain like I've never felt. My ear blocked up whilst out on Saturday and by Saturday night, I couldn't hear a thing in it. By bedtime, the pain was pretty bad and through the night I managed with heavy doses of some night-time pain med but as soon as these wore off, I was in agony. This led to the morning visit to Hemel Hempstead Hospital, and the diagnosis of two infected ears. I stayed in bed for the rest of the day, sadly missing the Advent Market at school and church. To make it worse, one eardrum tore during one of fevered naps, so I now have a perforated eardrum and a weeping earhole. It's disgusting.

After all that, I am at work today. Yes, I'm heavily medicated and a little dizzy but am making up for missed time from being housebound last week with Bailey's similar illnesses.

And so we start Advent.