Coffee Machine's First Use

Today is the last day of 2013, and as I reflect here on this year, and what I have done so far, there is something so simple that I want to be able to do, but that yesterday turned into a bit of a disaster. 

Yes, it was using the coffee maker's milk frother, which caused a shower of milk across the counter; I mopped up a bit of it before taking the picture, but the evidence of the mess remains, as well as a bit of a numb fingertip from the hot steam and milk drops.  I do hope I learn how to use the frother properly next year.  Perhaps a re-read of the instructions is necessary.  Anyway, here's wishing all a very Safe & Happy New Year.

Harry Potter Stamps in the US (though owls have not yet been hired to make delivery)

Imagine my surprise, when I woke up one morning in mid-November, and heard that US Harry Potter stamps were going on sale.

After much fretting, I was able to get my hands on a couple of booklets, before they sold out.  And now I own a total of 40 First Class Forever Harry Potter Stamps.

As I gently opened one booklet, my eyes feasted upon delightful images from all seven Harry Potter movies, and I happily relived the storyline of a book series that changed my life:

- The first page shows the three best friends (Harry, Ron and Hermione) in their pre-teen years.

- The second page is dedicated to the creatures of the series (e.g., Hedwig, and my personal favorite, Dobby, the hous elf). 

- One mustn't forget the disciplinarians, and Professor Dumbledore, Snape, Hagrid, and McGonagall make their presence known on page 3.

- Page 4 - the Weasley twins and some of the other secondary (though no less important) characters

- Page 5 - One image of Harry Potter using his wand with a painful expression on his face as if he was surrounded by a rather foul stench; the rest dedicated to the villains (you know who + Bellatrix + Draco Malfoy)

The booklet can be expanded to see the full image of Hogwarts on the back.  It is truly a wonderful collection of stamps, and now I am in a dilemma - to use the stamps or not to use the stamps.  They are after all limited edition only.  Hmm, but not to use them at all would be a shame.  I think I will start with using just one booklet, and use the villains first ;)

Early Aug 2013 - Images of London

Covent Garden - An Italian musical performance

 

 

Covent Garden - Charlie Chaplin having a bit of fun with an audience member

 



Driving British style



Trafalgar Square - Peace - country flags (kudos to the artist....when it rains, he'll have to redo the work)

Hahn/Cock at Trafalgar Square - by Katharina Fritsch of Essen, Germany.  A sculpture of a familiar domestic cockerel in ultramarine blue, made from glass fibre reinforced polyester resin and fixed on a stainless reinforced polyester resin.  Unveiled 25 July 2013

Near St. Paul Cathedral - remnants of "The Blitz;" a dentist office is now on the left side of the building.  Someone lives on the top floor, who paid 1.4 million pounds for it...apparently, no elevator exists)

 

Near St. Paul Cathedral - remnants of "The Blitz"

 

Near St. Paul Cathedral - remnants of "The Blitz"...now a garden blooms

Near the Museum of London

An apartment complex near the Museum of London, which is very expensive.  Many legal professionals live here.  A few ducks have made this place their home.

 

Guildhall Art Gallery - free entrance

 

Horse's Head...forgot where this was exactly in London

Victoria & Albert Museum - angel podium...isn't it beautiful?

Victoria & Albert Museum - ceiling deco

Victoria & Albert Museum - three person sculpture by Georg Baselitz

 

Natural History Museum - a dinosaur

Natural History Museum - an owl

Natural History Museum - a full view from the stairs

Trafalgar Square - what's with all the people?  Scottish football (soccer) fans, of course

Trafalgar Square - Scottish football fans gathering....a friendly match was to take place between Scotland vs. England later at the Wembley Stadium

 

Trafalgar Square - two Scottish football fans decide to climb the fountain, which by the way appears to be foaming with a LOT of beer

Trafalgar Square - one Scottish football fan has made it to the top of the fountain, now helping his buddy up as well

Churchill War Rooms - posters from WWII

 

 

Churchill War Rooms - typewriter

Crossing the street in London....watch out for those cars, they don't yield to pedestrians....also, the driver is on the left side, not right side.

English strawberries....juicy and quite sweet....now I know why it's a big thing here, with the cream on top :)

The time is 5 minutes to 3pm, or as the British like to say, 55 minutes past 2.

On these grounds, Henry VIII liked to go jousting and/or also hunting

 

To find out a street name, you got to look at the building itself...no separate street signs.

Westminster Abbey - here William & Kate got married on Fri, Apr 29, 2011....yes, I watched this on TV at 6am EST :)

St. Margaret's Church - right next to Westminster Abbey.  It is here where Winston Churchill married Clementine, who was 10 yrs his junior.  In the marriage documents (on display at the church), it states that Winston at 33 was a bachelor, while Clementine at 23 was a spinster.  Really???  A spinster??? They couldn't say bachelorette?

A statue of Queen Elizabeth and her husband

 

 

London in a Nutshell: How to get the most of your visit

London is one of those great walking cities that you must visit, especially if you love to learn more about history and the theatre....wow, I just spelled theater with an "re"....purely unconsciously.

Here is a list of top 7 things you should do when visiting London.  Oh, and if you are a student, by all means, bring your student ID along; a deduction of 2 to 3 pounds here and there does add up, especially if you are from the US, and are FREAKING out that a tall cappuccino from Starbucks is the equivalent of coughing up around $6....YIKES!!!!  Oh, and it costs more to drink it on the Starbucks premises, then to take it to go (ehh, I mean "take-away").  And it's not just Starbucks, other fast food places charge more to eat at the location (e.g., Pret a Manger).  This would not fly in NY....just saying.  Anyway, here is my top 7 list to make this a rewarding experience:

i) Take at least one London Walks tour.  You will really get a feel of the city.  The cost is 9 pounds for adults, and 7 pounds if you are a student.  Each tour is about 2 hours long, give or take 15 minutes.  Wear comfortable shoes and bring your camera.  If you like history, then "Past the Palace" (for a bit of mischief and you're over 12 yrs old ;) or "The Blitz" (more serious and your heart will break a little) is for you.  If you prefer something more fictionalized, then the "Ghost Walks" or "Harry Potter" walks would be more appropriate.  I am a big fan of most of the guides.  I have had only one dud so far; for the most part, they are dramatic and great story tellers, and are happy to answer any of your questions.  You can't help getting sucked into the story.

ii) Visit the Churchill War Rooms.  Here you will find a detailed account of what happened in WWII in London, where Churchill and his Cabinet met, how Churchill led England during the war, and other interesting tid-bits.  Please do take the free audio guide, which comes with your cost of admission.  It adds more color to what happened in the 1940s.  Reserve at least two hours of your time for this visit.  You can take pictures here.

iii) Go to the National Gallery at Trafalgar Square.  Great works by so many artists from the Renaissance period to other eras (including a couple from Hans Holbein, a painter in Henry VIII's court).  Best of all, it is FREE.  Yes, you read correctly.  It is free, unless you want to see the special limited time only exhibitions.  I don't think there is a need for it.  There is so much to see.  Do note, you are NOT allowed to take pictures here.  Another thing to point out, there is a FREE one hour guided tour at 11:30am and 2:30pm in the Sainsbury wing, where the guide will show you about 4-5 paintings, and discuss some of the meaning and symbolism behind it.  Very interesting...apparently, the use of the color blue was worth more, than the use of the color gold.  Hmm....

iv) Visit the Royal National Theatre.  Get tickets for a backstage tour, and consider also buying a ticket to watch a play.  About half the plays are the usual classics, while the remaing half are of newer playwrights.  Many of these tickets can be bought for as little as 12 pounds, because the government subsidizes much of it.  Wish they did the same in NY, so more younger folks could go there.  Anyway, it's worth visiting it.  The location is great, too.  Right by the water.  You can take the tube to Waterloo or Embankment, and walk there in 10-15 minutes.

v) Visit the Tower of London.  Once inside, you can walk on one of the guided tours with a beefeater, and learn all about its rather bloody history.  It is here where King Henry VIII had two of his six wives beheaded.  Oh, Henry....what were you thinking????

vi) Visit the Victoria & Albert Museum.  FREE entrance, except for special exhibitions, and here, you are allowed to take pictures.  There's a great garden, where you can hang out by the water fountains.  Lots of Roman and Greek sculptures, Asian art, and so much more.

vii) Eat fish & chips.  This is one of the great meals you must have at least once before leaving.  I cannot describe to you how delicious and crispy the fish tastes (make sure you verify that it is haddock, not cod....for some reason, haddock has more flavor, is juicier, and more fulfilling).  They sprinkle malt vinegar on the fish and the chips (i.e., fries), and it is absolutely yummy.  Two things to keep in mind: i) you may have to pay for the ketchup....I know, how strange it that???  Or alternatively, they give you one measly packet; and ii) DO NOT eat fish & chips at the airport; it tastes like crap there, is dripping in oil, and they apparently don't remember to give you malt vinegar...I'm speaking from experience).

If you happen to have more time, you can drop in some more museums with free entry (e.g., Tate Modern, Tate Britain, National Portrait Gallery, British Museum).  Alternatively, if you have more budget to spare, you could include Westminster Abbey and London Dungeons in your schedule as well.