Esther Williams we're not. . . yet . . . but practice makes perfect . . .
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
27 Feb
The only way to spend the day
Esther Williams we're not. . . yet . . . but practice makes perfect . . .
Esther Williams we're not. . . yet . . . but practice makes perfect . . .
Monday, February 27, 2012
26 Feb . . .into San Pedro
Another hot, humid day, and what better way to start it!
Down to the beach, and wait for the water taxi
. . . and a dashing ride into San Pedro
and our first spot of rain, which is simply an excuse to seek shelter and a beer . . . .
but not a long enough cloudburst to slow the locals down from eating
or cooking
The rest of the gang arrive, and we set out to explore a little of San Pedro, and find lunch!
plus an after lunch ice-cream, of course.
and the water taxi home.
Down to the beach, and wait for the water taxi
. . . and a dashing ride into San Pedro
and our first spot of rain, which is simply an excuse to seek shelter and a beer . . . .
but not a long enough cloudburst to slow the locals down from eating
or cooking
The rest of the gang arrive, and we set out to explore a little of San Pedro, and find lunch!
plus an after lunch ice-cream, of course.
and the water taxi home.
25 Feb
Orientation day . . . and adjustment to ‘pace of life’ from a minus Celsius to very much plus Celsius . . .
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Sun and Sand in Belize - 2012
24 Feb ’12
Finally made it.
Phew – what a journey. The connections were not the best to start with . . . Kingston – Toronto – Houston – Belize City, but when we learned the Kingston – Toronto portion was cancelled due to bad weather a scant 6 hours before we were due to depart, it was a real scramble to find us a limo to get us to Toronto in time for the departure there.
Still, made it, and although a very, very long day, glad to be here. Our ferry has a much more solubrious departure lounge than the Wolfe Island Ferry.
Now, time to chill out, and relax!
Finally made it.
Phew – what a journey. The connections were not the best to start with . . . Kingston – Toronto – Houston – Belize City, but when we learned the Kingston – Toronto portion was cancelled due to bad weather a scant 6 hours before we were due to depart, it was a real scramble to find us a limo to get us to Toronto in time for the departure there.
Still, made it, and although a very, very long day, glad to be here. Our ferry has a much more solubrious departure lounge than the Wolfe Island Ferry.
Now, time to chill out, and relax!
Monday, September 26, 2011
22 September 2011
One final treat before we pack and head for home, organized by Jenn, and enjoyed by all of us. A visit to the Moorcroft factory, in Stoke on Trent. Not allowed to take photos inside, but we spent over three hours on a guided tour of the production of Moorcroft pottery, still hand made in the same manner as it was produced over 120 years ago.
20 September
Today starts out quietly, but plenty of surprises in store for the evening.
A surprise trip planned up-town for a final birthday celebration, so off to the station for the 5.50pm to Kings Cross.
Mar had been saying that Jenn really should see St. Pancras station before we leave. So – that’s just coincidentally where we were headed, meeting up with sister Debbie on the train (surprise!), nephew Luke at Kings Cross station (surprise!), then walking the short distance to the St. Pancras and its Hotel, currently ranked London’s top hotel.
Designed by Gilbert Scott and opened originally in 1873, the hotel has undergone a £220million renovation over ten years, re-opening just last May.
There in the Lobby Bar, who should we ‘bump into’ but cousin Lindsey, with son Lawrence and daughter Aimee!
Jenn and Luke figured out they hadn’t seen each other for at least five years
But enough chat – time for dinner at the Gilbert Scott restaurant, housed inside the hotel.
The Gilbert Scott is a collaboration with the renowned Marcus Wareing, one of London's very best chefs.
Marcus Wareing's menu is a good read, with dishes which sound Olde Worlde in the Heston Blumenthal way. They are inspired by historic British recipes, yet the dishes we tried were modern interpretations.
But rather than a table in the restaurant proper, we trooped below stairs to the kitchen, for our very own private setting, where, in the words of the restaurant itself :
“Our lively Kitchen Table is the ideal place to share a relaxed afternoon or evening with friends. This spacious table is surrounded by walls of wine in the "engine room" (the kitchen) of the restaurant."
The buzz of the kitchen creates a fantastic atmosphere from the intimacy of our own private space. The chefs share the event, bringing food directly to the table. The arc-shaped table seats up to 10 with the whole party facing towards the kitchen for a birds-eye view of the brigade.
mouthwatering, even in a photo!
All served directly from the pan and grill by our very own personal server, Nick, who inadvertently managed to spill wine on himself!
The icing on the cake, but not the end of the evening.
Then, with the kitchen closing and cleaning up for tomorrow, an invitation by Chef Oliver Wilson to take a tour, a mass of high tech equipment in gleaming stainless steel.
A freshly created ham and veal pie for tomorrow’s diners . . .
and a mega stock pot!
Finally, time to leave . . .
. . .but still time for a little more larking about
"It is one of the blessings of old friends that you can afford to be stupid with them"
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-82)
A surprise trip planned up-town for a final birthday celebration, so off to the station for the 5.50pm to Kings Cross.
Mar had been saying that Jenn really should see St. Pancras station before we leave. So – that’s just coincidentally where we were headed, meeting up with sister Debbie on the train (surprise!), nephew Luke at Kings Cross station (surprise!), then walking the short distance to the St. Pancras and its Hotel, currently ranked London’s top hotel.
Designed by Gilbert Scott and opened originally in 1873, the hotel has undergone a £220million renovation over ten years, re-opening just last May.
There in the Lobby Bar, who should we ‘bump into’ but cousin Lindsey, with son Lawrence and daughter Aimee!
Jenn and Luke figured out they hadn’t seen each other for at least five years
But enough chat – time for dinner at the Gilbert Scott restaurant, housed inside the hotel.
The Gilbert Scott is a collaboration with the renowned Marcus Wareing, one of London's very best chefs.
Marcus Wareing's menu is a good read, with dishes which sound Olde Worlde in the Heston Blumenthal way. They are inspired by historic British recipes, yet the dishes we tried were modern interpretations.
But rather than a table in the restaurant proper, we trooped below stairs to the kitchen, for our very own private setting, where, in the words of the restaurant itself :
“Our lively Kitchen Table is the ideal place to share a relaxed afternoon or evening with friends. This spacious table is surrounded by walls of wine in the "engine room" (the kitchen) of the restaurant."
The buzz of the kitchen creates a fantastic atmosphere from the intimacy of our own private space. The chefs share the event, bringing food directly to the table. The arc-shaped table seats up to 10 with the whole party facing towards the kitchen for a birds-eye view of the brigade.
mouthwatering, even in a photo!
All served directly from the pan and grill by our very own personal server, Nick, who inadvertently managed to spill wine on himself!
The icing on the cake, but not the end of the evening.
Then, with the kitchen closing and cleaning up for tomorrow, an invitation by Chef Oliver Wilson to take a tour, a mass of high tech equipment in gleaming stainless steel.
A freshly created ham and veal pie for tomorrow’s diners . . .
and a mega stock pot!
Finally, time to leave . . .
. . .but still time for a little more larking about
"It is one of the blessings of old friends that you can afford to be stupid with them"
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-82)
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