Primrose Hill & Regents Canal

As I was finishing up my highly anticipated batch of blueberry buckwheat pancakes this AM, I realized while sitting at my kitchen table that the SUN was actually out.  We haven't seen that guy in quite a while.  So, I whipped on my boots - the opportunity to finally take the recommended Primrose Hill / Little Venice walk was upon me.

Just a short tube ride away to the Chalk Farm station you exit into a darling part of London called Primrose Hill.  The main street is full of cute shops, coffee and pastry, and a couple notable fresh food stores.  Pleasurable stroll.

As you come to the end of the road, you hit Primrose hill, which is a - well - hill that is just north of Regents Park.  You hike your way to the top and are rewarded with panaramic views of the city.  Go down the other side and you are right at Regents Park Zoo (next time) and the Regents Canal.  

This canal runs across the vast majority of the city (actually passes just south of my flat) and has some pretty parts, today included.  

There is a very cute cafe on top of one of the bridges, where I just had to stop off for a little pick me up from all my walking.  Awesome caprese and a little Proseco to celebrate it being Sunday and sunny.

Anyway, I should talk about all the canal boats that line the waterway in some areas, and the very bizarre fact that people live on them and they are covered in plants and all kinds of crazy stuff, but I am making this one brief.  You'll have to come see that for yourself!!

 

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Year of the Rabbit

I have been a bit moved by the Chinese New Year this year. It does just so happen to be the year of the rabbit - that would be my year.  Hay-ay!!  

In some sort of horoscope induced intoxification, I have been convinced that this is yet another sign - yes indeed, it is my year.  The stars have aligned.  It is my time.  The year of the rabbit.  {Leg kick / hand punch / time to buy a rabbit's foot !}

Though the year formally starts next week, I started with a trip last week to Chinatown in London, very near my office, and had a nice dinner with a colleague.  It is beautifully decorated with lanterns, fried ducks, etc.  Then, for lunch today I went for my first dim sum experience.  Also very good - love the pork sticky buns.

Conincidentally, my BF is also a rabbit.  Read into it what you will that us rabbits will be spending the majority of the next year apart  ;-|  Definitely not the highlight of the festivities.  Nonetheless, I am going to take advantage of all the spirits cheering me on!

To save you the Google:  1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999  

People born in the Year of the Rabbit are articulate, talented, and ambitious. They are virtuous, reserved, and have excellent taste. Rabbit people are admired, trusted, and are often financially lucky. They are fond of gossip but are tactful and generally kind. Rabbit people seldom lose their temper. They are clever at business and being conscientious, never back out of a contract. They would make good gamblers for they have the uncanny gift of choosing the right thing. However, they seldom gamble, as they are conservative and wise.

Well, well  -  think that may describe pretty well both me and my partner rabbit.

January

Despite January being off to a horrific start, with a blizzard convincing every expat they'd been duped about the London winters being mild, the rest of the month really has been quite amazing.

We had a week that was consistently up in the 50s, and the rest of the month has been quite mild.  OK, not so bad.  (I know, I know ... it has been a rough January in Chicago, so no griping here!)

What has been most surprising to me though is that the trees and bulbs are already starting to bloom.  The pansies I put in my bedroom window are still going strong - despite being under snow for a period.

The majority of my plants are still so green it almost seems impossible.  I mean, there is rain pretty much every day, but there is inversely as much sun.

I am wondering if they have some sort of super breed over here, and why we have yet to figure out how to get this done in the U.S.

I have heard people say that if you blink in London you just may miss summer, but the bright side is that it appears to be the same with winter.

I'll be planting the flowers in the garden out back in no time!!

Pub Quiz!!

A 2009 study puts the number of regular weekly pub quizzes in the U.K. at 22,445.  This is a serious national past time, and one I can get into.  Thursday night up the street from my flat, a great pub has a weekly Pub Quiz - my first one.  Basically you get together a team between 1-6 people, pay a pound a piece (or something close to that) and then are succumbed to the torture of knowing how little you actually know.

The quizmaster (see pic) shouts out two rounds of 20 questions (generally in some sort of thick accent which also requires expats to have to translate each question first), and then your team gets together, rolls their eyes left / right / up / down racking their brains to come up with any sort of realistic answer.  The quizmaster then gathers the papers, grades them, and announces the winner that will usually get a cash prize or bar voucher.

For example:

• Who was the Arch Bishop of Canterbury when the first woman was allowed to enter Parliament?
• What country first legalized euthanasia?
• What mammal is the only to live as a parasite?
• What city did Stevie Wonder run for Mayor?
• What do you call a crack in a glacier (pronounced "glaaah-see-yer") ?
• What year was Mohammad Ali born?

You get the idea ... no cell phones allowed for this ... and they mean it.  The quizmaster called someone a spazz twice after a dispute over the intended use of the iPhone after a question.

Whereas in the U.S. bars that have trivia usually have just Kara and I with a couple creepy dudes hanging around (much to my disappointment), in the U.K. pub quizzes are down right an educational experience that pack the pubs and simply just give everyone a somewhat justifiable reason to be in the pub AGAIN.  Lovin' it!

Oh, P.S.  We got last place.  Leaves plenty of room for improvement!!

Bikram

Well, I survived the first week back at work.  What a relief.  I was a bit stressed about the first day back.  Something about the first day of a new year - I put all of the things I want to conquer in a year in front of myself and it just is overwhelming.

When I was a kid, the first week of a new school year was always torture for me.  The teachers would always lay out the year's agenda with all the major projects you would do throughout the year, pass out humongous two ton text books you were going to have to read, and detail the 40 page term paper you will write, the twelve exams you need to get good scores on, etc.  I would be in tears after the first couple of days, trying to find a way to not have to go back, not knowing how myself "the perfectionist" would possibly get it all done.  In the end I always did spectacular.  The first week back at work kind of feels the same way for me now, but I know it will be a great year with many accomplishments.

So, I am in serious need of a stress outlet and have turned to Bikram yoga.  I was doing this "hot yoga" while in Chicago and it really is wonderful - stretches out your back and hips, detoxes, and gives you a good workout.  I found a place here in London that is really conveniently located between home and the office.  I did my first class Saturday AM.  That experience is honestly a post in itself, but let me summarize:  it was literally 100 degrees in a room with 80 people in it, a pole thin yogi (male) wearing nothing but these wee bitty black spandex shorts, an hour and a half of moving through THE 26 Bikram poses (my favorite is 13), and then a locker room experience unlike any other I have had.  In the end, I felt great afterwards, a little entertained, sore today, and will actually go back.  Bring on week two!

Detox

Just got back home today from a long three weeks in the Chi.  I could barely keep my eyes open today (though I forced it) and now of course as soon as evening hits (about Noon in Chicago) I am feeling wide awake!  A little energy to document some of the trip ...

It all started with me being the lucky one - stuck on the tarmac for five hours before take off (I am not being sarcastic, I was lucky ... the unprecedented blizzards in Britain and EU left thousands stranded, including many of my expat friends, and I got out minutes before the cancellations waved over the departure boards).  Just an other-worldly test on my endurance:  a move to London for the worst December in over a century.  On the bright side it is supposed to be in the 50s all week and the grass was still green when I got back.

So, straight from ORD to Buona Terra to eat the delicious meal I had been dreaming of the last 5 months, and even better company.  I am humbled by the amazing show out of my neighbors/friends/family ... I love them.

Spicy Creamy Tako Handroll, the good stuff!

I had mentioned in an earlier post that one of the major things I miss from the States is the food.  Not that it is bad in London (despite its reputation), it's just that some things you get used to are hard to replace.  So, I spent most of the trip resting, getting my cuddle time in, and eating up enough of my favorites to last the next 6 months.  Sai Cafe sushi twice, Lula breakfast three times, Urban Belly, Hopleaf, Toast, Lou Malnati pizza, countless BT, and don't forget the X-mas dinner by my Brother/Sister-in-law and the beautiful tin of X-mas cookies ala Mom (which we polished off before I left) ... exactly what I wanted, though I have made a cliche of myself and will be starting my New Year workout plan now!

Speaking of New Years, we took it relatively easy and hung out at the usual digs.  Good food, good wine, good friends ... what else do you need?  Oh, and the poppers were pretty fun too (note, Eddie's gun).  Thanks Eileen!!

I had some worry about what it would be like to go back to the States after moving away, and especially fearful about how I would react to leaving again when it was time to come back to London.  Would it be harder the second time?  I mean, when something like this happens the first time you just have to put your head down, slap the blinders on, set aside all of the good reasons not to leave and just ... get ... on ... the ... plane.  Going back for the first visit provides you a raw reminder of all the love you left behind - blinders off.  The way I see it now, I am just going to focus on the positive - how amazed I am at the love that is in my life and how fortunate I am to be healthy, wealthy, and wise ;-).

I am now fortified to attack 2011 and make this all worth while!   The motto is work hard and play harder in 2011!

Playing with the blog layout

Hey!  With all this time on my hands over the holiday break I have been playing with the blog-o-sphere a bit, attempting to learn more about designing the layout of my blog.  You will see some layout changes for a while until I figure out exactly what I like (and you like), and as I get better at designing my own header.

Also, I added a widget on the side that will allow you to enter your email address if you want to get notified when I add a new post to avoid having to check whenever you remember.  I had just a few of you set up for auto emails and if you go that route and want me to remove the auto send I have you on let me know.  I'll be back to blogging soon!