Easter Week 12

The Easter Bunny did manage to find us to the great relief of Morgan. We had a hard time finding dye and white eggs to dye Easter eggs. We searched over 10 stores for white chicken eggs with no success. I finally came across some white duck eggs. I've found searching for ingredients to be the biggest challenge living in a city abroad. We have to go to several stores to do our shopping. There is no Super market as we know it in the US. There are just small stores and your forced to make several trips a week to do what would normally take one hour a week back in the states.

Over the long weekend we went to Kew Gardens, Kew Palace, HMS Belfast, Golden Hinde, and the British Museum. Kew Gardens is located just outside the city but still on the tube. Its very nice even though is was really cold and snowing. Yes it snowed here but nothing stuck.

Kew Palace was free for us because of our membership to the historic palaces. It normally costs 5 quid (pounds) and you get what you pay for. Its not that exciting. Kew Palace was the summer home of King George III. He was King during the American Revelation. He had some 14 kids and ended up coming down with some sickness that made him go mad. Personally I think it was the 14 kids which made him go crazy.

HMS Belfast is a WWII battleship. Morgan was scared to go into the engine room as it was very tight and dark. If your not a history buff then I would suggest skipping this attraction as it was 10 quid to get in.

The Golden Hinde is a small wooden sailing vessel used to sail around the world several hundred years ago. They had some pirate thing going on this weekend so Morgan and I thought it would be cool to check out. It was closed due to weather. I guess pirates don't like the snow.

I didn't have time to put together a video this week as tomorrow we are off to Scotland. Haggis anyone? Blah!

Make sure to check out the slide show by double clicking on the picture below.

week 12 Easter

Gwen is on the move Week11

Yes, Gwen has figured out how to successfully move about by creeping and crawling or just flaying limbs around. Last night she crossed the room and went under the table while we ate dinner. If that was not exciting enough for you she has two teeth. The bottom ones in the front and they are sharp.

We are also feeding her more solids which mainly consist of little bits of whatever fruit or vegetable Katie is eating. We don't buy baby food as many of them are filled with odd chemicals and loads of salt. Babies don't need any of that stuff. Plus they taste nasty and if you wouldn't eat it why should your baby? Her main diet is still nursing which is FREE, so there is no rush to ween her off that.

As for this weekend we went over to Canary Wharf and the O2 arena. Canary Wharf used to be all run down back in the day but the city has been pushing to refurbish it. Its filled with modern brand new sky scrappers. It does not feel like your in London when you are there...It feels like a US city.

The 02 Arena looks like a massive circus tent. Many concerts, and sporting events are held there. They also have shops, restaurants, and a cinema (movies). Sunday was very windy and rainy. We were going to go to the St Patty's day parade but who wants to deal with the rain. Instead we watched Gwen crawl around the floor looking for bits of whatever to put in her mouth.

Today (Monday) is actually St. Patty's day but no one in the office is wearing green. I sure did, and I asked the others why they did not. They are not Irish was the response. Everyone is Irish today! I replied.

Anyway check out the video...Its mostly Gwen moving about trying to get at things she is not supposed to.

Euro Disney Week 10

We spent three days in Euro Disney located just outside of Paris. Its the off season and also their 15 year anniversary so they had some nice package deals we took advantage of. I would have preferred to take the train which has a stop right outside the park - and I mean right outside the front gate. Instead we flew Air France and landed in the Charles De Gaulle airport. The terminal we were in is a very revolutionary design that is basically a massive concrete tube. A section of it actually collapsed so I was a little nervous when I realized we are standing in a building with a history of falling down.

The hotel was wicked cheesy and crappy but you get what you pay for, and we were not planning on hanging around the hotel anyway. The TV did play a couple English channels. The Disney channel and the park information channel trying to sell you on the extra shows you can go and see.

They were really pushing the Wild West Show which has "real Indians". I think real Native Americans would be cooler to see but real Indians from India would be interesting...I guess. We decided to pass.

Most people spoke English so there was no real issue with communication. Almost all the signs were in English and French. The only time I got stuck was trying to read the Snow White and the 7 dwarfs. Blanch is white and Sept is Seven. Whatever reason that sign did not have English. Katie figured it out from the Plywood cut outs of the characters on the wall next to the sign.


Most of the stalls to buy food were closed as it was their off season, and the ones that were open were very expensive. I recall when I last went to Disney World my dad made the same comment on the cost. We did find the actual restaurants to be much more reasonably priced. Actually the first night we ate at the hotel which had an all you can eat buffet. It SUCKED! Way to crowded, the food was gross and it was almost the same price as a regular restaurant. We learned our lesson - spend the couple extra bucks for something you will really want.

My favorite part of the whole trip was eating at the Blue Lagoon which is located in the Pirate of the Caribbean ride. Our table was right on the shore of the Blue Lagoon so you could watch the boats go by.

On the last day I decided to try the speed pass so I could ride on the Run away Railroad. For those of you who don't know about the Speed Pass. There are machines next to the popular rides. You put your ticket into the machine and it gives you a speed pass. You are only allowed one at a time. On the speed pass is a time period for you to show back up at the ride. When I got the speed pass my time was not for another hour so we went on its a small world ride..again. When the ride was over I ran back to Frontier land. Katie and Morgan went back on Its a small world for the the third time. On my way I passed the Pirates of the Caribbean ride which had no line. I still had time before my speed pass would work so I went on the Pirates ride again. That finished just in time for the speed pass. There are two lines for every ride that is eligible for the speed pass. I got in the speed pass line. They check your ticket and you head right to the front. I didn't have to wait at all to get on the train and away I went.

I offered to let Katie do the same since I imagine going on Its a small world three times is not her idea of a fun time. Instead she wanted to go threw all the shops on Main Street USA.

I took just under 300 pictures. I got it down to about 100 for the video, and the slide show has a few more.

Enjoy

Euro Disney Week 10

Help Help I'm Being Oppressed

The UK IT department here at work has blocked access to YouTube, MySpace, and FaceBook. I've got to find away around it. Luckily I can still access my blog. The problem is You Tube as I can't upload my videos now. I noticed they have not blocked Google video so I might have to switch to that. I've been experimenting with some sites that help hide were you actually going in an effort to get around but my results have been mixed. Anotherwords I know it is possible to overcome this annoyance but its a real pain. I beleive that is why the US office doesn't bother trying, as they know we would all stop working until we have figured out how to get around it or raise a real fuss. No one here seems like they want to rock the boat which I find odd.

Here is the last video I uploaded to You Tube now uploaded to Google Video. Lets see if it works!

We are a third done our trip

Our quest for the Holy Skippy Peanut Butter was actually successful. We received several tips from our fellow Americans. Sainsbury (looks like a Target) near the Angel tube stop had small containers. Waitrose (grocery store) near Finchery st tube stop also had small containers. Our quest was completed when we found a store called Partriges (like a Trader Joes)located near Sloan Sq, which had a large American product section. They have all the products we crave. The only downside was the cost. The peanut butter wasn't bad but the chocolate chips were outrageous. They were over 5 pounds a bag which equates to almost 12 dollars. They had stove stop, fluff, Kraft Marshmallows, Quaker oatmeal, Nerds, and on and on.

I also found popcorn kernels at our local Tesco (grocery store). They keep them in the ethnic food area with the lentils (duh I should have guessed?). So now the only item we are desperate for are those chocolate chips.




Click on the image below to see the slide show.

week9

Queen Morgan and the Holy Skippy

Morgan and I put together a fun little movie. 5 year olds have a very short attention span so I had to think of a very quick movie.

Enjoy!