Okay so Week 8 we did not go to Hampton Court as planned due to the train being down. We went to the tate modern instead. I got my hair cut and tried out some local discount brew.
I found out that the brits don't use the term noon. They do say midnight but not noon. They asked me when I wanted my lunch break..I said noon and they all stopped dead in their tracks and said in unison "whot??" (what).
Katie meet a few Americans recently and they warned us that the soft serve icecream over here is cool whip! Blah! They don't eat too much icecream over here.
Make sure to check out my new wacky You tube video. No regular slide show this week.
For those of you thinking of visiting us the spare room is pretty much booked for April and May. Still there is March and June open! All are welcome...okay perhaps not all. Most...no thats not right either. Okay a select few people are welcome, but I think you know who you are.
If your thinking of sending a care package or visiting us please send us Skippy Creamy Peanut butter, popping corn kernels, chocolate chips, and stove top stuffing.
Week 9 we plan on searching all of Britain for Skippy. Its like the Holy Grail. so watch out for the nasty rabbit, and the knights who say knee! My goal is to theme next weeks You tube like the movie.
Run Away!
Anyone have any ideas for funny parts I might try and incorporate? Remember my video equipment is rather limited.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Brussels
Last week we went to Brussels Belgium. Its not exactly the a big tourist mecca but there were still plenty of Americans and even though the locals speak wither French or Flemish we found almost everyone spoke enough English for use to get by. The strangest part of Brussels is that the city shuts down around 6pm. The malls, shops, museums, and even some restuarants all close earlier then expected which turns the city into a bit of ghost town. I went out one night to find an open grocery store but all I found were scantly glad women in picture windows, and liquer stores.
We were surpised to find they drive on the correct side of the road and the steering wheel is also located on the correct side as well. They also drink more soda then the Brits. We also found many stores selling American products such as cowboy boots, and hats as well as blue jeans. All were crazy expensive. In general most things cost more then they would in the US. Or first meal in Belgium was at Pizza Hut which was the nearest restuarant to the hotel. They had a wine menu but other then that it was the same.
We had plenty of Belgium Waffles, chocolate, and beer. The chocolate is good but it melts at a very low temp so your hands get messy. I personally prefer Cadbury chocolate over Belgium or Hershey's. We also bought ice cream while we were there and the regular size was smaller then a kiddie cone in the US, and it was of low quality (lots of air).
I made up a You tube video which is almost 12 minutes long. Sorry for the length but I included a section of pics of the kids as per popular demand. Below that is the standard slideshow. Just click on the picture to be taken to the slideshow part.
Next Saturday is Children at Hampton Court Palace. They have kid actors dressed up in period dress.
Enjoy!
We were surpised to find they drive on the correct side of the road and the steering wheel is also located on the correct side as well. They also drink more soda then the Brits. We also found many stores selling American products such as cowboy boots, and hats as well as blue jeans. All were crazy expensive. In general most things cost more then they would in the US. Or first meal in Belgium was at Pizza Hut which was the nearest restuarant to the hotel. They had a wine menu but other then that it was the same.
We had plenty of Belgium Waffles, chocolate, and beer. The chocolate is good but it melts at a very low temp so your hands get messy. I personally prefer Cadbury chocolate over Belgium or Hershey's. We also bought ice cream while we were there and the regular size was smaller then a kiddie cone in the US, and it was of low quality (lots of air).
I made up a You tube video which is almost 12 minutes long. Sorry for the length but I included a section of pics of the kids as per popular demand. Below that is the standard slideshow. Just click on the picture to be taken to the slideshow part.
Next Saturday is Children at Hampton Court Palace. They have kid actors dressed up in period dress.
Enjoy!
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| Brussels |
Monday, February 11, 2008
Chinese New Year
This week we went to the London Museum. We saw what London was like from ye old cave men days to the great fire in 1666 (give or take a couple of years) The rest was being remolded so the trip turned out to be a half day. It was a fairly decent museum but I wouldn't recommend it to others as there is so many other better things to see and do, but it was free.
From there it was a quick walk to St. Pauls cathedral. It costs 10 pounds to get in and it looks like something all our visiting family members would like to see as well so we will wait and see that with them. Along with Westminster Abbey which also costs 10 pounds.
We walked up to Trafalgar sq and checked out a few more rooms at the national gallery. From there it was a quick walk to the shore line, so we walked along the river bank. It was a fantastic day. I'd say in the mid to upper 50s with little wind and a very bright sun.
We had fish and chips again for dinner. I don't mind the cod as its fishy taste is mild and you mainly just taste the beer batter. Katie got something called rock fish which tasted too fishy to me. Morgan got a deep fried sausage which is about the most nasty thing you have ever tasted.
On sunday we saw the Chinese New Year parade. It was very good and it was the first parade I'd seen outside of Pepperell and Townsend. We then went and checked out the festivities in Trafalgar sq and China Town. It was WAY to crowded at Trafalgar sq so we left there quickly. China town was a little disapointing as we expected there to be lots of vendors selling traditional chinese food, trinkets and stuff. I mean its nice that Pizza Hut put up some decorations but Pizza doesn't cut it for chinese even for a hick like me. Morgan did think Gramps would like to see the cool decorations hanging across the street since we eat Chinese sometimes when he visits. From there we went to St James Park in front of Buckingham Palace and ate a picnic lunch we had packed. The plan was to then go and see the fireworks but it seemed like a huge waste given the fact it was the middle of the day and the sun was so bright. We decided to wrap it up at the point and call it a day.
Next weekend we are going to Brussels so we will have some Belgium Waffles and Chocolate. We plan to visit a brewery, some crazy palace, Lenorado exhibit (the artist/inventor not the ninja turtle), and a cartoon museum. Did you know the Smurfs are belgium?!
Below is a snazy You Tube video and a traditional slideshow below that. Just click on the picture to start the slideshow.
Oh and this morning I actually got yelled at by a native, which I was starting to think was impossible as they are all very polite. It was extremely foggy this morning and I walked in front a bicyclist and he was non to happy about it.
From there it was a quick walk to St. Pauls cathedral. It costs 10 pounds to get in and it looks like something all our visiting family members would like to see as well so we will wait and see that with them. Along with Westminster Abbey which also costs 10 pounds.
We walked up to Trafalgar sq and checked out a few more rooms at the national gallery. From there it was a quick walk to the shore line, so we walked along the river bank. It was a fantastic day. I'd say in the mid to upper 50s with little wind and a very bright sun.
We had fish and chips again for dinner. I don't mind the cod as its fishy taste is mild and you mainly just taste the beer batter. Katie got something called rock fish which tasted too fishy to me. Morgan got a deep fried sausage which is about the most nasty thing you have ever tasted.
On sunday we saw the Chinese New Year parade. It was very good and it was the first parade I'd seen outside of Pepperell and Townsend. We then went and checked out the festivities in Trafalgar sq and China Town. It was WAY to crowded at Trafalgar sq so we left there quickly. China town was a little disapointing as we expected there to be lots of vendors selling traditional chinese food, trinkets and stuff. I mean its nice that Pizza Hut put up some decorations but Pizza doesn't cut it for chinese even for a hick like me. Morgan did think Gramps would like to see the cool decorations hanging across the street since we eat Chinese sometimes when he visits. From there we went to St James Park in front of Buckingham Palace and ate a picnic lunch we had packed. The plan was to then go and see the fireworks but it seemed like a huge waste given the fact it was the middle of the day and the sun was so bright. We decided to wrap it up at the point and call it a day.
Next weekend we are going to Brussels so we will have some Belgium Waffles and Chocolate. We plan to visit a brewery, some crazy palace, Lenorado exhibit (the artist/inventor not the ninja turtle), and a cartoon museum. Did you know the Smurfs are belgium?!
Below is a snazy You Tube video and a traditional slideshow below that. Just click on the picture to start the slideshow.
Oh and this morning I actually got yelled at by a native, which I was starting to think was impossible as they are all very polite. It was extremely foggy this morning and I walked in front a bicyclist and he was non to happy about it.
 |
| London Week 6 |
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Hampton Court Palace
Week 5 has come and gone. This weekend we went to Hampton Court Palace which is the first place outside of London we have visited as a family since we arrived. We took the Tube to the Waterloo station and then the train to Hampton Court Station. The station is right next to the palace. We could have take our private yacht as the palace does provide a dock for such use but decided to mingle with the commoners. As if! We got in for free because we have a membership. It is most famously known as the palace of King Henry the VIII. He is the one that had 6 wives. They have people dressed in period custome that give tours. It was very good and we hope to go back and check out more of it.
Morgan was sick on Sunday so we didn't go anywhere but that gave me time to make some videos with the web cam. Enjoy
Morgan was sick on Sunday so we didn't go anywhere but that gave me time to make some videos with the web cam. Enjoy
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| london week 5 |
C is for Cookie and that is good enough for me
My cousin Jay is coming to visit in May, and it so happens he has a "vblog" video blog. The most recent entry was about cookies. He discussed cookies while making some from a tube. I decided to make some of my own home made cookies in reply to his own. I ran into some difficulties finding ingredients and the oven was in Celsius rather then Fahrenheit.
Here is my cousin Jay's vblog
Here is my own cookie video
Here is my cousin Jay's vblog
Here is my own cookie video
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