half term

Well, both the half term and my co-inciding break are nearly finished, though daughter has another day with which to chill, and I have thoroughly enjoyed it. Most of it has been spent relaxing on the home front, building and re-building forts and playing games, reading and just chilling.

Me, partner and daughter plus some friends took a day trip to Covent garden, pent about half of the day in the amazing Transport museum. It is a wonderful blend of modern, classic and antique vehicles associated with London and particularly Transport for London. You get the history of the buses in the capital, the black cab and the tube and trains and so much more. There are character actors and volunteer's with immense knowledge topped off with one of the most fabulous gift shops. Luckily that was not the end of our day, though partner did have to break off to attend academic duties. The friends, daughter and I then had lunch and walked down to Trafalgar Square, which is huge. With two massive ponds with monuments of a ship in a bottle and several others as well as a large bronze statue of Admiral Nelson getting pride of place. After this a quick pop around the corner and you can have a relatively peaceful and relaxing stroll down The Mall, a road leading from Trafalgar Square to Buckingham Palace. Dotted along the Mall, which is used for many royal processions like the funeral of Princess Diana and the upcoming wedding of Prince William, are many monuments and memorials. Finally we reached Buckingham, which pictures and movie/tv screens just do not do justice. While not particularly spectacular there is just a presence to it. A great experience and one we will repeat to allow for partner to enjoy.


The next couple days were spent relaxing at home to allow daughter to charge up for spending the day in Kingston upon Thames, a relatively close town known for a large shopping center. Though lacking the charm of Woking or the class of Reading, Kingston has a much larger shopping are than either and while the affordable Primark is a bit out of the way (like Reading but unlike Woking) many of the name brand and high end shops are there. Plus many old building and a decent sized outdoor market. Spent quite a few hours poking around but did not do any spending myself except for kunch and a few ties. Daughter spent a little of her own money. I saw a few nice cardigan's but lacked the money to buy, which is ok.

Saturday the girls had their belated manicure and pedicure appointment (originally it was supposed to be for Valentine's but daughter was invited to a party) and they were quite happy about that. I nosed around the charity shops in town and ended up finding another winter coat, a two piece suit and a blazer for 30 GBP which is not bad. I will definitely miss the charity shops here, the quality of products you can happen upon are just worlds beyond what you generally find in the states. Plus people here in general tend to dress quite nice (it is not uncommon to find people wearing suits, or suit pieces, in places other then just the office; like the shops, the movies and so on).

Spent most of today chilling as well, did some laundry and have some ironing to do after my shower later.

Partner has had a very busy week, starting off with spending three days at a Lodge in Windsor on a Learn to Lead seminar, which will look great on the resume at least. Tuesday after spending the first half of the day marveling at the Transport museum with us she had to abscond and attend her usual academic duties, small sessions and post-discussion. Wed and Thu was spent mostly relaxing at the house, though about the first half of Wed we went on a whirlwind adventure of Surrey county searching for the correct hospital to have daughters blood drawn, to test for anemia, and ended up on three separate buses to do it. Thursday afternoon partner met up with a friend who will be returning to the US shortly and picked up some stuff she wanted from his place. Friday partner again left the group of me, daughter and friends to attend a meeting with colleague's from another university to finish up a project with them and again with the friend leaving soon to finish a project with him. So despite having a hectic week she managed to get a good bit of stuff knocked out which she is happy about.

For me it is back to work tomorrow.

Peace,

Chris

Good Monday to all

Happy Valentines day!!

Not much going on here, daughter restarted her French lessons two weeks back and has been really enjoying it and choir also started back up too. She is doing well for the most part but is kind of waffling back and forth about how excited (or not) she is to go back. On one hand she can hardly wait to be nearer to family and loved ones but on the other she is really getting on with a number of kids at school. Only time will tell how she truly copes but what can be done to keep us here is being done, we just reiterate to her that it will be the next step in a new adventure. Daughter is also excited about having next week off.

Partner has been at usual hard at work, cracking on with her Ph.d thesis. She has just submitted several bits to her advisor/supervisor and is readying for an event this weekend that will put a few good notes on her CV. She recently received a copy of a publication she submitted to the Geographical Review. It reads really good and she was quite chuffed. Partner has also been partaking of Tai Chi classes weekly at my request. I always feel bad that she spends so much time at home (it is part of her job but still), she has had two now and is really enjoying them. She is also trying really hard (I guess she kind of has) to give up smoking and I of course hope for her success.

I have mostly just been working but have been working on some self improvement as well. I have been getting up a little earlier and not spending so much time on the computer for a start. I have tried to spend the time mostly either reading or learning to cook, which is going swimmingly. I have nearly finished an old copy of the Scarlet Letter that I got from a local charity shop. I am also reading an introduction to sociology and will soon be starting an intro to chemistry. I have also been improving my look so I have tidied up my beard and been buying nicer looking and better fitting clothes.

We are also planning a trip to Scotland in the near future, a stay at Loch Ness. Daughter has always been fascinated by Nessie and the like and it looks like a lovely time. Plus the area is gorgeous. I also told partner that I would like to go on a tour of Europe before we go but we have not decided if that would be done with or without daughter as it would be a long coach trip.

Peace...
Love