Big Week in Review

Well, it seems I have a lot to catch everyone up on!

Ireland was SO much fun! It was a short trip...but we definitely packed a whole lot in. I made it in about an hour late (thanks Aer Lingus!)...and arrived to the smiling face of my dear friend Jack Quinn. Jack and I met in France back when I was studying at the Universite de Haut Alsace. We became instant friends and thankfully have stayed in touch through the years. He’s the perfect cross between a brother and friend. I adore him!

Jack dropped me off at Jordan’s house in Booterstown, just outside Dublin. Jordan (see photos in previous posting) has been my friend through thick and thin and I love her. She and her hubby live in a cute house with ocean views. After some coffee and a nap (makes sense, right?), we dolled ourselves up for a night out.



Jordan picked out a fab restaurant along the coast and then we headed into town for drinks and to meet up with Jack. Give me some drinks and a camera – and I’m a happy girl! Loads of fun!




Back in London – and needing some rest – I joined my lovely new friend Sabrina for a walk in the park. It was such a beautiful day, we couldn’t pass up an afternoon in the sun. So we headed to St. James Park – smack dab in front of Buckingham Palace. We grabbed some food and had an impromptu picnic in the park.

People in London take every opportunity to enjoy the sunshine. I’m learning fast that you have to take advantage of the sunshine...it’s not always guaranteed! Plus, who doesn’t love a picnic?! I’m becoming a big fan!





The work week flew by...thankfully! After such a busy weekend and not much sleep...I don’t think I could have handled much more than a 4 day work week! Plus, I had a date with Eric Clapton to look forward to! That’s right...THE Eric Clapton. He played at the Royal Albert Hall. It was AMAZING! The venue alone is spectacular...and to see him there was outstanding! And even at 64 he can make love to a guitar like no one else. Holy cow! I think I might have a crush...

Not a whole lot can really compare to Eric...but even still the rest of this weekend was nice. The weather has been fantastic...so a couple more days laying out in both the backyard and the park (Hyde Park today), plus a few beer gardens in between have made this a pretty great one. It was all topped off with a Skype chat with the family tonight, so can’t really complain!

Hope you have a great week!

A Weekend for the Irish

As if one weekend would be sufficient...but a girl's gotta start somewhere!

I'm off tomorrow (bright and early) to visit one of my dearest friends, Jordan. We met and sealed our forever friendship during a "study abroad" year in college. We like to say that we went through hell together and will be forever connected. I'm so excited to spend time with her and catch up. It's been about 4 years since my last trip to Dublin...so I have much catching up to do.

Here are a few snapshots from our past visits. I like to think we're getting better with age and don't take ourselves too seriously!

Tributes

I took a new path to the train station this morning and stumbled across this sweet little memorial:

This street is lined with these big beautiful trees and homes (promise to take more shots of this street soon) and the fact that this particular tree has become a tribute made me happy and sad all at the same time. It's not really clear in the picture, but they've placed little plastic frogs hopping to the door as well as planted the flowers. So much thought and energy went into this little space. I have no idea who/what is being memorialized...but I'm not sure it matters. Just knowing someone cared enough to do it breaks my heart.

Have been giving lots of thought to making the most of today....every day. Our days get so busy with deadlines and obligations to others, that I think we ofter forget to stop and breath once in a while. I know I do.

I hope you stop and enjoy something beautiful today. Or at least be happy that it's Thursday, and the weekend is almost here!

Smile

News of the weird never fails to make me smile.

Violet Dreams

My favorite color growing up was purple. I LOVED it. I had purple everything. And I used to tell my mom that when I grew up I wanted a purple house, with purple walls, get married in a purple dress...the whole 9 yards!

Now that I'm older, I have some restraint on exactly how much purple to have in my life - no purple house anymore. But on a walk yesterday around my neighborhood...I think I found the right amount of violet for a house:

This house is beautiful in its own right - and the purple door just adds that something extra! I think it's perfect!

Missing Bisous...

For those of you who don't know...I had to leave my 'sweet' Bisous in Charleston with my parents when I embarked on this fabulous adventure. As much as I really wanted to bring him with me...I couldn't imagine getting him safely through the relocation package. He's not a guy that likes change...and a carrier, cargo hold of an airplane for 10 hours, etc. was probably not going to be good experience for either of us.

(looking cute at my parents house)

I might have considered it if this company were operating international flights: Pet Airways.

Bisous could have been flying in style...probably better than the coach seat I had for myself! :) The fact remains, Bisous is in Charleston and I am in London. And so I have to wait for my parents to catch Bisous on the web cam during our Skype sessions...or surf the net for cute cat pictures and videos (wow...I'm kind of embarrassed just writing that!). Here's today's gem:

http://meview.metro.co.uk/Video.aspx?id=44779

Sweet Family Ties

So, I'm not sure if I've mentioned it or not -but my cute, charming flat is a bit off the beaten path. I mean, we're talking a good 12-15 minute walk (sometimes when I've had a bit too much on the vino...it's a 18-20 minute walk!). On sunny days, the walk is great. When it's overcast - or worse - rainy...not so much.

But despite the misty gray skies this morning...I saw something this morning which truly made me smile. A father was walking his primary-school aged daughter to school. They were talking up a storm and she was definitely telling him a grand story (lots of hand waving and big smiles). And she held her father with such rapt attention...I melted. Fathers and daughters have this special bond. I can remember waiting anxiously for my father to come home after a long trip...so excited to see him walk through the front door. And as tired as he probably was...I got his full attention.

So I have such a special treat coming up. My dad is coming to visit in June. I'm SO excited! Despite my father being a pilot and seeing the world from an airplane - he hasn't seen much from ground level. So, I'm making up a list of things for us to do. What do you think?

1. Watch the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace
2. Go on the London Eye
3. Visit the Tower of London and the Royal Jewels
4. See inside St. Paul's Cathedral
5. Do the Museum Mile
6. Take a riverboat tour of the Thames
7. Catch a show in London't West End Theatre district
8. Visit Westminster Cathedral
9. See Big Ben
10. Check out Shakespeare's Globe Theatre
11. Grab lunch at Borough Market
12. Tour the Foundry which produced the Liberty Bell

Hmm...he's only here for 3 days. I've been here 2 months and haven't even done half this list (and it's a pretty small list in fairness...). There is just so much to do in this city! You can't possibly come to London and be bored. Which begs the question...when are YOU coming to visit?

Wishing you a great day!

I'm baaaccckkk.....

I thought about waiting until May 25th for my next post...thinking a whole month wouldn't be so bad, but I realized whatever is left of those of you reading this would officially disown me! Here's to maybe keeping the blog going... :)

So, part of why I moved to Europe was the opportunity to travel. I love getting to see new places and check out the scene. There's just so much history here! I mean, I think Charleston is an old city...and really it is for America. But we're talking about bustling cities in and around Europe before America was even "on the map"!

Plus there's the whole culture here which is completely different. Not better, not worse...just different. And I'm enjoying every minute of the experience!

What's even better about travelling is when someone else is picking up the tab, right? Check out my latest work trip: Winchester Cathedral - http://www.winchester-cathedral.org.uk/

I mean, who can spot the American tourist? I was walking up to the meeting, camera in hand, snapping photos! :) But it's just so impressive. Parts of this cathedral have been in place since 1068 AD! Incredible!

I didn't get a chance to go inside the cathedral - or visit the quaint city sites (gotta get a paycheck, so meeting took priority!) - but I will definitely be back here soon.

(imagine how many people walked through this door...so wild!)

And since this isn't a perfect world...and I do have to pay for some of my own travelling...here are a few snapshots of a day trip to Arundel, a pretty city about 1.5 hrs south of London.

(I like to think this castle could be my summer home along the river...really belongs the Duke & Duchess of Norfolk, but maybe we can work something out...)

(The grand entrance to the castle - and no, that's not my car...I'm not even going to attempt driving in this country!)

(A Dominican Priory - or basically a place where monks lived. This dates back to the 1250s)

(the pretty Arun River)

(my new sweet friend, Joanna)