LONDON KIND OF SUMMER WEEKEND

Last summer (our first summer in our little kingdom), was a shock for our Mediterranean bodies. But this year, we are ready for what is waiting for us: 90 days of rain!

After a normal, rainy and windy summer week, this morning we had a little bit of sun. It was a good reason for a walk to London’s famous Columbia Road Flower Market to buy some new rosemaries, thymes, tarragons, peonies and lavenders for our terrace.

Afternoon? Some kitchen activity, making zucchini pickles in a “lovely” rainy afternoon... 

LONDON LONDON

DAFFODIL TIME IN LONDON

It has been a while since last post. When we wrote the last post it was winter, now spring (kind of). The Brits are over excited and allready with summer dresses and flip flops in the streets. For our Mediterranean bodies, it’s little bit chilly yet.

We opened our terrace lunches season. Also outdoor pints season in the pubs. Daffodils are everywhere again. It’s spring everybody! Yaaaay!

THE BIG FREEZE

It was one week ago when the big freeze alert began in our little kingdom. First some ices appared in the fountains of London .

Then, the next night when we were having few pints in our pub, the snow covered everywhere in one hour. We saw a big fox visiting our neighbourhood. We had a little walk to Trafalgar Square, Westminister and Big Ben by night.

We woke up the next day, to a lovely white and calm London. We had a lovely walk in Regent Canal before having our breakfast .

Aaand we made our first snowcat in London. It’s still freezing out there but no more snow and snowcat. Pity...

SMELL OF THE SEA IN PORTSMOUTH

Yesterday we were in Portsmouth. It wasn’t an ideal day for being on the sea side but c’mon, is there a really ideal weather for planning something in UK? We tried our best and enjoyed the visit.

First we visited Charles Dickenson’s house where he born and died. (The museum is not open to the public till 28 January). It was a small museum and –unfortunately- except the sofa where he died and a kitchen cupbord in the souvenir shop, all in the house were replicas of the same period.

Then we walked to The Historic Dockyard of Portsmouth. Most exciting part of the visit of this big maritime museum, was the battleship H.M.S. Warrior.

Then we walked through Gunwharf Quays, Spinnaker Tower, Square Tower and Round Tower and take a break in The Still&West, a lovely, classic pub next to the sea before getting back to London. We had a toast to the honor of Mr. Dickenson’s 200th birthday in front of this stove.  

LONDON ART FAIR 2012

Today, after a good breakfast at home, we visited the London Art Fair. After a five minutes walk from home, it was a nice no rush few hours visit. Lots of lovely art pieces (some were not so our taste) by 120 art galleries.

London Art Fair is open between 18-22 January at Business Design Centre in Islington. 

LONDON ICE SCULPTING FESTIVAL

Today we joined to  London Ice Sculpting Festival at Montgomery Square in Canary Wharf. When we arrived there around 2 o’clock, the ice esculptors were giving the first forms to their ice blocks using chainsaws.

During three hours, we have been around taking photos, walking around Canary Wharf  and having a pint in The Cat and Canary. When we leaved there, they were still working to win the competition and doing the finishing touches but because of living one of the warmest winters of UK, the sculptures were  melting down by the other side unfortunately.

London Ice Sculpting Festival is taking place tomorrow also in Montgomery Square and Canada Square if you want to join.

CHESTER ON THE WAY OF MANCHESTER

Last weekend we were in Manchester and on the way through there, we visited historical Cheshire town Chester. We walked around town centre and took photos of  historical Tudor houses. We surprised about the quantity of people visiting and shopping around the town. And moved to the next destination: Manchester!

SKATE IN SOMERSET HOUSE

In winter, there are lots of ice rinks around London. Even we are not big fun of practising, as members of a generation who grown up with ice skating championships -Katarina Witt, Ekaterina Gordeeva and Sergei Grinkov,  etc.- in one channel tv at the beginning of 80’s, we like to watch it.

This year, during christmas time we visited two ice rinks in Hyde Park Winter Wonderland and Somerset House. It’s was funny and very christmassy.

If you like ice skating or watching people ice skating, Somerset House ice rink is open untill 22 January.  Don’t miss the last days.

A WALK THROUGH GREENWICH

Yesterday afternoon we went to Greenwich for a walk in a sunny London day. But the meteorology god of our little kingdom was indecisive  about what to do and sun and rain  -rain or shine-, wind and everything was together as always.

We climbed to the Royal Observatory’s hill and looked to London from there.

We checked our watches with the 24 hours clock of the Royal Observatory.

And turn back to London for a celebration dinner for our first year in this city.