June 8th. Farnham & Alice Holt forest

Some of our best sightseeing experiences were in the South so in the morning we headed out to Farnham to see the ruins of the Waverley abbey. The weather was perfect. It was amazing how quickly the summer had some and everything around had started to bloom.

The ruins alongside a small river with yellow water lilies were very scenic. It was also great that there was no one around for some time so we took our time enjoying the scenery. After the abbey, we drove up a few miles to Farnham to see the castle keep.

It was built around the same time as the abbey and hardly anything had remained besides the walls but in its heyday some 800 years ago the castle has a well tower that was built in the center of the keep. It had the walls 3 meter thick that ran into the base of the castle below - some distance below the ground level and the castle was built on a hill. Pretty impressive feat that probably made it one of the most capable castles in the area for withstanding a siege.

We caught lunch in, as Georgia calls is, "very posh" Farnham. It is clearly a very upscale area - both from the look of local real estate office listings that do not feature anything bellow a few million pounds and Waitrose supermarket, hidden away in a nook with similar fine establishments.

We had stopped at the Maison Blanc - highly recommended for lunch and desert. Isabella downed her red lentil soup with surprising alacrity. I had eggs, cheese, and smoked salmon that arrived in a very hot clay bowl - the eggs were still raw when they brought it out. Would be cool to try it at home.

After lunch we drove a bit more down South to Alice Holt forest. It was an interesting experience. The "forest" was highly developed with crowds of people walking and cycling around myriad of roads and trails. We ventured into the "wild part" only to emerge, to Isabella's relief back on the trail in about 100 meters. They did have some of the nicest most interesting playgrounds I've ever seen.

We drove back home after a while... After dinner we sat downstairs on the boardwalk and watched the sunset and swans floating around. Kids did some drawing. It was a perfect way to end the weekend. We do miss our friends and are looking forward to seeing them again soon.     

Blogger is going through some strange formatting days. Hopefully it will be fixed in a couple of days.

June 7th. London Tea

This weekend was a celebration of eating. Although it does not feel that celebratory anymore. It is a good thing the weekend is over since some discipline is way way overdue.

This Saturday Dan went around his business and kids and I checked out the Transport Museum @ the Covent Garden. It is a very nice museum and is put together well. We started by taking the elevator to the second floor. The dial on the elevator started at 2014 and then went down to 1800.

Georgia was mesmerized by that. We got out and saw a palanquin and then some horse-drawn omnibuses. We continued our tour and gradually made it back to the ground floor where a multitude of the familiar red buses was waiting.  

 

For lunch we met up with Victoria S. and went to our favorite Dishoom. We got the last remaining table in the basement. At this time we focused on covering the gluten-free portion of the menu. It did not disappoint. And had set us all forward by more than a few pounds.

Placement is spot on

After lunch we explored a few tea shops starting with East India company a few steps away. Then we caught a quick snack at the Borough market (we owed it to our guest to provide the thorough coverage of the local culinary attractions.

Dragged our semi-conscious bodies to Busaba Eathai for dinner. Seriously. That's why there has not been any (confirmed) contact with the aliens. They are afraid we will eat all their food and them too. This a totally probably threat.

On the familiar subject of bread and circuses, we had been hooked on "Lie To Me" show. And so in the last few hours of the evening, we had been doing the mini-marathons consisting of four shows. Thank god the last season is coming up soon.

June 3rd. Want to Cancel Your BTInternet contract? Better Be dead..

This is not a full posting just a quick moment of sharing while I am LMAO. Called to BTInternet today to cancel our service. The automated system started listing the different options. None of them were it. I've called out "Cancel." The system reconfirmed, "Would you like to cancel your service?" I said, "Yes." The next prompt was, "Did the account holder pass away?" I said, "No" and my mind cheerfully fed the next line from the phone system: "In that case, thank you for calling. Good bye." I wonder if they get a lot of calls like that. Feel free to try it for your personal enjoyment. But remember: most customer service calls are not toll free here. Maybe there are discounts in an event of a death.

From a landline: 0800 345 7310
From a mobile: 0330 123 4150*
From abroad: +44 179 359 6931**

Here is another one of life's mysteries. Courtesy the bathroom doors of Busaba Eathai restaurant downstairs. When you only have a few seconds to make a decision, make sure it is the right one.

   

June 1st. The Summer Begins!!

In the morning we took a leisurely stroll to the Bushy park with some fruit and berries in the backpack. Kids enjoyed spending a few hours in the playground with a boy from Georgia's class and his sister.

In the afternoon we went to the Rose Theater to see Gruffalo. We went to 11 plays in the last year. It certainly is a great plus having a theater right downstairs. We all really enjoyed it. Beautiful acting and singing. We really will have to make some effort to make sure we do at least half of that when we are back.

In the evening we spent a few hours in pursuit of worthy dinner venue. Walked around town and went to Teddington but other than Charmed Thai and a few pubs there are not many other option there. So we took the bus back and settled on Las Iguanas. Actually, surprisingly, it was very good. They have a great selection of Mexican and South American dishes and drinks, including my favorite Pisco Sour. Something happened to Isabella in the last few weeks.

She had started to eat everything! Previously she lived almost entirely on fruits, vegetables, yogurt and cheese. Getting her to try anything new was next to impossible. But now it is a joy to my eyes to see her pick up and try all sorts of things. I've commented that she must have been replaced by some other Isabella. She countered that she is the real Isabella and the other one was not real.

May 31.The Northeast: Colchester, Lavenham, Ipswich, & Aldeburgh

It was an intense weekend. On Saturday we decided to cover the area northeast of London. We've started in Colchester.Colchester is the first recorded town in England and the capital of the Roman England. The town features a beautiful giant keep - the largest Norman keep in the area. Also there is a firstsite - an interesting modern museum.

One of the claims to fame is very well preserved old Roman mosaic. Compared to some of the other ones we've seen in the British Museum, Spain and elsewhere it is not that amazing. The kids had a blast though with the typewriter. It is such a cool tactile machine :) Can't believe that I've still used those right before I went to college!! We enjoyed a stroll through town... it seems to resemble Cambridge. So it definitely has a bit of distinctive Northeastern look to it.

On the way to the parking lot we've stopped at the Artisan Kitchen & Larder shop. We wanted to ask what the word Larder meant. Young guy at the counter could not explain but older looking woman in a business sheaf dress sitting at her computer nearby got up to explain that it means pantry. She must have been the owner. We looked around and decided to stack up for the picnic. Got freshly baked still warm seed loaf, Stilton, cold pressed apple juice and a few more tidbits. We did not actually get to stop anywhere for the picnic... as soon as the smell of the bread filled the car, we started the picnic right there.

The next stop was Lavenham, extolled by the guide for its amazing pink pastel timberhouses, art galleries, and antique stores. It was nice but probably not worth the trip. Isabella fell asleep and Dan took a nap too with her as Georgia and I did a quick run about. The galleries were not that interesting. I've always wondered why it is that such remote locations become the mini centers of art. What's it is about these destinations that inspires creativity? Most of the stuff is well executed, expensive but decorative and sedate. We visited the right ochre timber house in the town square. It's at least 500 years old and used to be a residence but on account of local potters having a market there the entry was free. I was glad of that because its only claim to fame seems to be its age.

Georgia and I were more struck by the giant (garden variety??) poppies growing outside. It is a poppy season - and bright orange and red spots are lining the fields on our way. But these were enormous.

Dan and Isabella woke up and we moved on to Ipswich. As Stardust predicted, it was not all that thrilling. We drove through more provincial streets and kept going to our final destination: Aldeburgh on the coast. It is very cute. The town has a long promenade along the pebble beach. Some ancient looking lookouts with closed in towers line the beach. There are also black fish monger's huts on the way.

The full circle

Georgia and I tried smoked shrimp. Interesting. The promenade was filled with people. It was lively and pleasant. We strolled a few streets over to the main street and witnessed complete and utter lack of any life. It looks like the entire population has gotten themselves to the boardwalk. Which probably makes sense given the lovely views. We walked up and down, had some ice-cream and started on our long long drive back.

7 hours on the road is probably not the best way to spend time. But by now we have covered all the top destinations in our guide and may have become a bit jaded. The area we visited is nice but after a cursory glance today certainly not as scenic as Cotwolds, Peak region, or the South.   

May 30th. Discovering Kingston

The numbers are aligned again. We had a wonderful week with kids off from school discovering more of the city and diving into its expanded culinary scene.

View of the cellar through the window

This little city has some more interesting secrets that we continue to discover. During one of his walks, Dan found the remains of the 800 year old bridge and cellar visible from the riverside basement window of John Lewis department store about a block away from our building. These were first dug up by the builders in 1900 while making renovations at the local pub. The next rediscovery was during subsequent construction in 1995 when the store was being built. Since it was built in 1182, for the next 500 years it remained the only bridge over Thames upstream of the London Bridge.

On Thursday we went to Kingston museum with kids. There we saw more pictures of the bridge. And some more cool exhibits. Like a human leg bone with some clear signs of work to remove the meat (early cannibals here??), interesting ancient coins from the time of Romans; and old pictures of the town market square that remarkably was still quite recognizable. I also know now why Turks Launches LTD boats that ferry passengers between Richmond and Hampton court are called this way. Pretty amazing story. The time spans are incredible.

I don't know if I already wrote about the old woman who comes to our Starbucks once a week. She is one of Kingston's characters. When she comes in the staff immediately sets out to make tea for her and bring it out to her. She does pay for it. Then she sits down at the table that already has someone sitting on the other side even if there are other tables available. She seems unfazed by that. The staff tries unsuccessfully to get her to move but she would not and states her intent very loudly. Some people feel uncomfortable and start to move. Then she asks what time it is... usually it is around 9am. When she is finished with her tea she leaves quietly. Often times she sits at the table right across from my laptop. When I raise my eyes, she is gone.

I've tried to strike a conversation with her and she told me to leave her alone. She speaks with a slur... Maybe she had a stroke. Maybe her family abandoned her. Though she seems well kept and has the money to pay for tea. Maybe she wants to be around people but does not want to speak. In any case, she is a mystery and a sad reminder of the lonely people who are surrounded by other people and yet seem completely alone.

The construction work in our modern market square is rapidly feverishly coming to the end. I think the builders realized that "To be completed in the spring of 2014" sign they had displayed all over means probably before June 1st. Mind you the work started right after Christmas in August.

They are now working Sundays and later hours and there is only the tip of the square left to replace the cobblestones on. The market square with its elegant white/gray cobblestones beautiful already. There are new wooden stalls for the old vendors and a bunch of new temporary kiosks featuring artisan cheeses, meats, & international food.

Town center 100 years ago

During the week we checked out the artisan portion & the Korean stall.. Unfortunately for our ongoing peace of mind the vendors totally hit the mark. On Friday we focused and worked very hard and covered Slavic, Indian, and Bacon Pretzel stalls for dinner. Fortunately they will not create the same mental turmoil when we pass them by every day.

The boardwalk eateries are finally all open as well. They are bursting on the weekends but have little traffic during the week. Will have to focus on these in our upcoming final weeks here.

May 12. Leeds Castle Picnic & London Zoo

Another busy week. Everyone was working hard including the kids with their homework. The year is coming to its close and we are trying to make sure that we will be aligned with US schools.

I was next in line to get Isabella's angina virus and Dan followed a few days later. Georgia was spared so far. Dan's mom came over this week. So the numbers have not changed. The kids were super-excited to see her.

They spend a lot of time in the kitchen - preparing their delicious favorites - cheese Danishes, cheese pancakes, and other things.

On Saturday everyone headed out to Leeds castle to show it to grandma. As I wrote before, the castle turned into the outdated home is not that interesting on the inside. Georgia was eager to hit the playground. Isabella was not scared of the underground grotto under the maze anymore. It was raining everywhere else in the UK but Dan picked a perfect time and place for a great picnic.

On Sunday, the long awaited trip to the zoo. It has a pretty interesting history. Not as dramatic as Bronx zoo, which housed a human exhibit. Georgia was impressed with the size of the butterfly. It was as big as her hand. It was a cold day so Camden Market was busy but passable.

Happy Mother's day all the mommies out there!! I think it is celebrated earlier in the UK. At least I got my cards some time ago.
 

May 5th. Titus Andronicus and other adventures

Highlights of the week. Isabella was kind of in a bad mood and so on Monday after school she went down with a fever. We are fortunate not to have explored what medical facilities have to offer here so far. Compared to the US where kids take antibiotics at least four times in the course of the year, not to count other instances, remarkably we were really lucky so far. Not sure what specific factor to attribute it to. However, it looks like we may be down on our luck.

We kept her at home on Tuesday and Wednesday and, fortunately, other than that bout of fever there were no other symptoms. We brought her back on Thursday energized and happy to re-join the other kids. Incidentally I am starting to get a clue to the endless cycle of toys thrown all around the apartment. Maybe it is because the setup in Isabella's school is multiple play/discovery stations that kids go through in the course of the day. In Montessori, they give kids a bit of autonomy in being able to pick their toys off the shelf and put them back prior to moving on to the next one.


On Wednesday Dan and I we supposed to meet with Thomas E. for dinner but he canceled. Since we were working in the city anyway, we walked 3 miles to "Georgia" Georgian restaurant kids and I passed by in September in Kensington. Unfortunately it is now a different restaurant. And subway is not running because of the strike. So we walked back. Not so bad in a great weather that's here now. Lilacs are about done and peonies are out.

Blackboard along the canal. Some
interesting entries

On Saturday, after Dan took care of his business we took a train over to the Little Venice over by Regents park. We got off at Edgware Rd stop and walked over to Maida Vale. The area starts out very gentrified looking as Mark would say a.k.a. no gentry. Appetizing multi-national restaurants line the way and beckon to take a break and try out their wares. Maida Vale is very pretty and.. we cracked and stopped over at Paul's to same of their culinary wonders.

There was a festival going on at the canals. It was very interesting to see all the different types and designs and decorations on the narrow boats that were parked along the canal. This is a way of life for many who convert them into floating homes and spend years floating around. I Googled floating barges in UK and came up with some US ones, owned by Google. Given all the secrecy around them, it does not look like they would only be there as the learning centers.

We walked along the canal through Regents park and onto Camden market passing through the London zoo. Boar and bird environments are visible from the canal and make the trip even more interesting.

There were even more people at Camden market so we took the train to South Kensington to recharge on the chocolate chip brioche and gather the strength for the final three mile walk to Vauxhall. That portion of the Kensington is up kept very well but walking past row upon row of immaculate white row houses gets boring after a while. Though they did have many entertaining Stop signs like the one below. Here are a few more fun ones.

Forgot to mention, as we were walking past V&A museum, one of the clerks standing outside the beauty parlor (haha - salon) pulled me over and thrust some cream sampler in my hand. Then he started to pull it away saying "I am so sorry, it is the wrong one, let me get you the right one. I really apologize." We were all relaxed and just strolling comfortably, so before Georgia and I realized what is going on we were inside that s... establishment and he was smearing some junk on my face. I started trying to get out and in a few moments could finally leave. Dan was walking with Isabella and missed the whole exchange and now he was worried sick running around looking for us. He was holding my phone too to navigate us... not like there is a good reception in the area but still. To be fair to that salesperson, he was doing his job. And I should have been more alert. But it's annoying.

We agreed on the course of action if one us adults gets lost - I wait on the street for 10 minutes and then go home. 10 minutes allows 5 minutes to notice that the group has fallen apart and 5 minutes to look around. It should always be the same person waiting since you don't know who was ahead and who was behind.

Finally, on Sunday, Georgia and I took our bikes into the Bushi Park. The weather was wonderful and there was a race going on as well as scores of picnickers, joggers, cyclers, & walkers around. We rode into Woodland garden and walked through beautiful meadows with multi-colored azaleas and fairy-worthy ponds.

In the evening Tanya came. Dan and I headed back to London to see Titus Andronicus at the Globe. As far as Shakespeare is concerned we have a big fat checkmark: to visit his birthplace and then to see his first play at his theater. I am not counting the Mid-summer's night dream over at Rose because we left after the first act. The posters say that Quentin Tarantino has nothing on Titus Andronicus. And while I would not say nothing, it certainly hits the mark on the amount of graphic violence. 5 people fainted in the audience the night we were there.

According to the usher wearing the green cross pin indicating that she is qualified to do first aid, on the record at the premiere was 62 people down. The show is extremely well done and the Globe is a perfect venue for it. The play takes place in Rome. The Globe is designed to have a large semicircular yard area in front of the stage surrounded by 4 stories of the actual seating. These are standing spots. Some of the bloody action takes place directly among the audience in the yard. Roman soldiers and Goths alike run through the crowds, unceremoniously pushing the people out of the way, stealing occasional beer, spraying them with wine, and doing some of the killings right there and then. We liked. We should go to the theater more often when we are back. Onto the new week ahead!!