http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=FUVagbFcSUU
This just cracks me up - and is a nice antidote to the gloom and doom news all around.
Thursday, 29 January 2009
Back from whirlwind trip
Flew to LA (Air New Zealand - VERY nice!) for 4 days last week, on quick consultancy job I am doing. Great to see some of my dear friends and colleagues, but too short to let most people know I was coming, as I had no time for anything social.
It felt weird staying in a hotel in LA, and I resisted the burning temptation to drive past our old house (in Laurel Canyon), which, I hear from neighbours has been repainted dark brown (it was yellow).
The air felt really thick and polluted, even though it rained 2 of the 3 days. Strange to notice that so much. (It's also because I don't live in London, where the air quality is not so good as in the country.)
I have also become unnacustomed (so quickly) to being in a car for hours on end. I missed walking, and started to feel I needed exercise. No wonder everyone goes to gyms in LA!
Going back to the studio it was like seeing family again. How lucky I was to have worked there for so long. Me, just a girl from Wembley, with big dreams, who ended up at a major film and TV studio in LA. And then gave it all up! What a journey!
I hope I am lucky enough to get back to the U.S a couple of times a year so I can see everyone.
That is, if Immigration allows it. They gave me such an unpleasant hassle as I was entering. Apparently they don't like people with a green card living outside the U.S. Even though I am married to an American. they didn't like that I had a green card but am living abroad.
J
It felt weird staying in a hotel in LA, and I resisted the burning temptation to drive past our old house (in Laurel Canyon), which, I hear from neighbours has been repainted dark brown (it was yellow).
The air felt really thick and polluted, even though it rained 2 of the 3 days. Strange to notice that so much. (It's also because I don't live in London, where the air quality is not so good as in the country.)
I have also become unnacustomed (so quickly) to being in a car for hours on end. I missed walking, and started to feel I needed exercise. No wonder everyone goes to gyms in LA!
Going back to the studio it was like seeing family again. How lucky I was to have worked there for so long. Me, just a girl from Wembley, with big dreams, who ended up at a major film and TV studio in LA. And then gave it all up! What a journey!
I hope I am lucky enough to get back to the U.S a couple of times a year so I can see everyone.
That is, if Immigration allows it. They gave me such an unpleasant hassle as I was entering. Apparently they don't like people with a green card living outside the U.S. Even though I am married to an American. they didn't like that I had a green card but am living abroad.
J
Saturday, 17 January 2009
Seagulls in London
The sounds and smells of London.
I had forgotten how delightful it can be to work in central London, Covent Garden in my case, surrounded (within easy walking distance) by art galleries, museums, Buckingham Palace, the river Thames, dozens of cafes, restuarants, clubs, pubs, boutiques, and the street performers in the old market square.
If I wasn't walking so much, I could get fat - French patisseries and artisan bread shops abound, and the aroma of good coffee wafts on to the streets (no, NOT Starbucks!).
It still seems strange to hear the squawk of seagulls circling overhead, but of course, nowehre is very far from the sea on this island!
It hasn't rained in 3 whole weeks. Cold, yes, but damp, no.
As long as you have the right clothes on (layers) the cold is fine. It's the damp I don't like.
It's gorgeous. Winter = cold. But it is beautiful.
J
I had forgotten how delightful it can be to work in central London, Covent Garden in my case, surrounded (within easy walking distance) by art galleries, museums, Buckingham Palace, the river Thames, dozens of cafes, restuarants, clubs, pubs, boutiques, and the street performers in the old market square.
If I wasn't walking so much, I could get fat - French patisseries and artisan bread shops abound, and the aroma of good coffee wafts on to the streets (no, NOT Starbucks!).
It still seems strange to hear the squawk of seagulls circling overhead, but of course, nowehre is very far from the sea on this island!
It hasn't rained in 3 whole weeks. Cold, yes, but damp, no.
As long as you have the right clothes on (layers) the cold is fine. It's the damp I don't like.
It's gorgeous. Winter = cold. But it is beautiful.
J
Saved by Jamie Oliver
If you look up "World's Worst Cook" in the dictionary, my photo is right next to it!
The running joke in our family is that I manage to burn everything - water, toast, beans - and today I burned the pine nuts I was toasting!
The prospect of having to try and cook Christmas lunch was daunting, to say the least, since I have never even roasted a chicken before.
I was still sweating at the thought of it, 4 days before the Big Day.
I happened to catch a bit of chef Jamie Oliver's TV programme, and immediately responded to his can-do, make it easy, enthusiastic cooking style. I went to his website and lo! there were recipes to be had for Jamie's Christmas - including how to roast a turkey and all the trimmings, for idiots.
A Tesco bronze turkey, a bottle of good olive oil, clementines, fresh rosemary cut from the garden, and parsnips, carrots and potatoes - following Jamie's instructions to the letter, and everyone said it turned out brilliantly!!!! Phew!
J
The running joke in our family is that I manage to burn everything - water, toast, beans - and today I burned the pine nuts I was toasting!
The prospect of having to try and cook Christmas lunch was daunting, to say the least, since I have never even roasted a chicken before.
I was still sweating at the thought of it, 4 days before the Big Day.
I happened to catch a bit of chef Jamie Oliver's TV programme, and immediately responded to his can-do, make it easy, enthusiastic cooking style. I went to his website and lo! there were recipes to be had for Jamie's Christmas - including how to roast a turkey and all the trimmings, for idiots.
A Tesco bronze turkey, a bottle of good olive oil, clementines, fresh rosemary cut from the garden, and parsnips, carrots and potatoes - following Jamie's instructions to the letter, and everyone said it turned out brilliantly!!!! Phew!
J
New Year
On the train from Berkshire into London Waterloo...early morning, looking out the window as the countryside flies by, all grey, slightly foggy, frosty.
Then, in the sky to the east, a break in the leaden clouds, with the sun lurking behind them, and cracks of silvery gold burst out, bright, pushing through, flashes of blue behind the thick clouds.
Frozen lakes with ducks and birds sitting on top of the ice, an empty racecourse (Sandown), and, incongruously, as we are approaching the built-up sprawl of London, a farm and fields still holding its own amongst the suburbs.
It's still a welcome surprise to find politeness still rules (mostly). People usually let you in at crossroads, and thank you, with a hand signal, for doing the same for them. On the underground a pleasing female voice announces, clearly-enunciated: "Good morning. There is a good service on all London underground lines this morning. There was a delay on the Circle Line due to an incident at High Street Kensington, but this is now cleared. We apologise for any delays". :)
If there is a problem, they give you details. It is no less frustrating to be dleayed, but at least you are kept up to date with what is happening.
When I occasionally have to wait for my connection on a windy, cold station platform, I treat myself to a hot chocolate or capuccino at one of the many cafes or booths that seem to have sprouted up at all stations. I always have a book with me, or a newspaper, too, to catch up on reading. Just finished Zoe Heller's "The Believers" which I loved.
J
Then, in the sky to the east, a break in the leaden clouds, with the sun lurking behind them, and cracks of silvery gold burst out, bright, pushing through, flashes of blue behind the thick clouds.
Frozen lakes with ducks and birds sitting on top of the ice, an empty racecourse (Sandown), and, incongruously, as we are approaching the built-up sprawl of London, a farm and fields still holding its own amongst the suburbs.
It's still a welcome surprise to find politeness still rules (mostly). People usually let you in at crossroads, and thank you, with a hand signal, for doing the same for them. On the underground a pleasing female voice announces, clearly-enunciated: "Good morning. There is a good service on all London underground lines this morning. There was a delay on the Circle Line due to an incident at High Street Kensington, but this is now cleared. We apologise for any delays". :)
If there is a problem, they give you details. It is no less frustrating to be dleayed, but at least you are kept up to date with what is happening.
When I occasionally have to wait for my connection on a windy, cold station platform, I treat myself to a hot chocolate or capuccino at one of the many cafes or booths that seem to have sprouted up at all stations. I always have a book with me, or a newspaper, too, to catch up on reading. Just finished Zoe Heller's "The Believers" which I loved.
J
Friday, 16 January 2009
Tuesday, 18 November 2008
Early October
I get to see my family - one of the great benefits of being here!
My father is 90 minutes drive south, near the coast, in Dorset, and sister S. is 50 minutes north of here. Neither trip entails going into London. We have 5 (!) airports (Stansted, Heathrow, Bristol, Luton and Gatwick) all within fairly easy reach, and no going into London.
In fact, when the truck fire damaged the Euro tunnel recently, I couldn't get to Paris except by air, and had to resort to Easy Jet, one of the cut-price airlines. However, they had jacked up their prices the minute the tunnel closed, and I ended up taking a train to Bristol, on the west coast, and flying from there. It was a revelation, because the train trip entailed just 1 change, and it was fast, comfortable and took 2 hours from my house to the airport. Bristol airport itself is lovely and set high on a hill amidst glorious countryside, so it was really nice to travel from.
So, I spent another 3 days in Paris - I went for the 60th birthday party of one of my oldest friends I have known from when I lived there (a very successful businesswoman) – and I stayed with my sister, D (the one from whom I have been more or less estranged for years; who had many problems. She is 11 years younger, and I was out of the family house by the time she started to grow up).
What a revelation! I rediscovered a sister! We had the best time. She is at a good place in her life right now, and has a lovely man (an osteopath) who appears to be a great stabilising influence on her. He was away on a business trip, so we sisters could spend all our time together.
The weather was gorgeous. We window-shopped, had lunches or coffees in small street-side cafes. I got up early and went to the local bakery (they open at 5.30am - the smell of fresh-baked breads - mmm!!) and bought warm baguettes, croissants and pains au chocolat!
One morning I walked into the Pere Lachaise cemetery which is literally next to her street. It is where Jim Morrison, Oscar Wilde, Colette, Victor-Hugo, and a host of others are buried. It's like a strangely empty village, with horse-chestnut tree-lined avenues, sidewalks, cobble stones, and everywhere these huge statues and tombs, chapels and stained glass. Wild cats running around and masses of birds. Very quiet, except for the odd tourist paying a pilgrimage.
Being able to see my father often is so great. I think it's that sense that Time is running out that we get, that makes us want to make the most of every moment we can with our family’s older members. Just having him on the same time zone is fantastic, as we can talk by phone, even if I don’t see him.
I was able to spend 4 days last week looking after sister S who had major surgery, so she is on instructions to do no driving for 6 weeks and have as much rest as possible. We had a really good time. I did shopping, washing, cleaning and cooking (! - with her directing from the couch) and looked after her 7 year old son. It was great to be able to do that for her. (Her husband was away on a pro-am golf tournament - which he won, so that was good news, as they have been having a very hard time this year. He hasn't won anything on the tour and it's all money out, none in, so it is tight, financially. But he cannot give up his dream and turn to coaching or an actual job. Golf is his life. Hard on their relationship, but we were able to talk a lot when I was there, and she was able to get emotional and tearful and talk it through. I think it helped),
I feel like all this is such a bonus.
A's father is coming over from Texas this weekend to spend 6 days with us. His wife cannot make it as she has a pacemaker and doesn't want to fly - understandable at 83. We are happy he is coming, and it is T's half term so we'll do some fun things.
My father is 90 minutes drive south, near the coast, in Dorset, and sister S. is 50 minutes north of here. Neither trip entails going into London. We have 5 (!) airports (Stansted, Heathrow, Bristol, Luton and Gatwick) all within fairly easy reach, and no going into London.
In fact, when the truck fire damaged the Euro tunnel recently, I couldn't get to Paris except by air, and had to resort to Easy Jet, one of the cut-price airlines. However, they had jacked up their prices the minute the tunnel closed, and I ended up taking a train to Bristol, on the west coast, and flying from there. It was a revelation, because the train trip entailed just 1 change, and it was fast, comfortable and took 2 hours from my house to the airport. Bristol airport itself is lovely and set high on a hill amidst glorious countryside, so it was really nice to travel from.
So, I spent another 3 days in Paris - I went for the 60th birthday party of one of my oldest friends I have known from when I lived there (a very successful businesswoman) – and I stayed with my sister, D (the one from whom I have been more or less estranged for years; who had many problems. She is 11 years younger, and I was out of the family house by the time she started to grow up).
What a revelation! I rediscovered a sister! We had the best time. She is at a good place in her life right now, and has a lovely man (an osteopath) who appears to be a great stabilising influence on her. He was away on a business trip, so we sisters could spend all our time together.
The weather was gorgeous. We window-shopped, had lunches or coffees in small street-side cafes. I got up early and went to the local bakery (they open at 5.30am - the smell of fresh-baked breads - mmm!!) and bought warm baguettes, croissants and pains au chocolat!
One morning I walked into the Pere Lachaise cemetery which is literally next to her street. It is where Jim Morrison, Oscar Wilde, Colette, Victor-Hugo, and a host of others are buried. It's like a strangely empty village, with horse-chestnut tree-lined avenues, sidewalks, cobble stones, and everywhere these huge statues and tombs, chapels and stained glass. Wild cats running around and masses of birds. Very quiet, except for the odd tourist paying a pilgrimage.
Being able to see my father often is so great. I think it's that sense that Time is running out that we get, that makes us want to make the most of every moment we can with our family’s older members. Just having him on the same time zone is fantastic, as we can talk by phone, even if I don’t see him.
I was able to spend 4 days last week looking after sister S who had major surgery, so she is on instructions to do no driving for 6 weeks and have as much rest as possible. We had a really good time. I did shopping, washing, cleaning and cooking (! - with her directing from the couch) and looked after her 7 year old son. It was great to be able to do that for her. (Her husband was away on a pro-am golf tournament - which he won, so that was good news, as they have been having a very hard time this year. He hasn't won anything on the tour and it's all money out, none in, so it is tight, financially. But he cannot give up his dream and turn to coaching or an actual job. Golf is his life. Hard on their relationship, but we were able to talk a lot when I was there, and she was able to get emotional and tearful and talk it through. I think it helped),
I feel like all this is such a bonus.
A's father is coming over from Texas this weekend to spend 6 days with us. His wife cannot make it as she has a pacemaker and doesn't want to fly - understandable at 83. We are happy he is coming, and it is T's half term so we'll do some fun things.
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