LONDON! Part 1
Last Thursday I took the train to Brussels, where T. was waiting in front of the Eurostar entrance to start our four day trip to London. Here's a selection of photos of our adventures...

Day 1: Thursday August 4

My bicycle and me, happily waving, unaware of the journey to come...


View from the 'Silent' train compartment; train from Zwolle to Rotterdam. This train was on schedule and I arrived in Rotterdam well in time to catch the 10.55 to Brussels. Except that train was cancelled for unknown reasons. I didn't panic; I still had my back up train from 11.55, that would get there on time to go through Eurostar check in and customs. Except that train turned out to be delayed:


AAAAAAArgh. /o\ Twenty-five minutes late meant that I had less than the required thirty minutes by the time I arrived in Brussels. So when I got there I ran to the Eurostar, hoping to be allowed on. I did panic a little when I didn't see Tan at the entrance, but fortunately she had only stepped in to ask the staff what we should do if we missed the train.
Luckily we were still able to check in and customs was faster than usual too, so we managed to catch the Eurostar after all. Pfew.


Arrived in London exactly according to schedule, yay!


After checking into our hotel, we took the Tube into town, scored theatre tickets at half price and went to Covent Garden for a bit of shopping. (no icecream, but I loved this sign;)


We had dinner at Brasserie Johnstons. I had a apple-virgin-mojito, T. had wine!
Food was delicious too; T. had the starter Vichyssoise (Chilled leek and potato soup) and we both had the main course: Pork fillet served with prune dauphinoise and apple jus. For dessert I had a fresh fruit plate with lemon sorbet. Omnomnom.


While we walked to the Trafalgar Studios we did some sightseeing...


The entrance of the CharingCross Station


Detail on unknown building at Trafalgar Square


Nelson's Column, day time (scroll down for night time view;)


The theatre where we saw the musical Bewixt in a tiny tiny basement that would fit about 90 people, we sat second row with an audience of about 60 people. It was awesome! Great performance, with fun lyrics, dancing and amazing actors. Recommended!


Nelson's Column, night time (scroll up for day time view;)


I ended the day with a luxury bath. (With sensual pearls, mmm)


Today's loot: goodies from Lush, a filled up Oyster card for public transport (brought from home;) and program of Betwixt.


Day 2: Friday August 5

English breakfast \o/


Our hotelroom


Before going into town, we relaxed in Russel Square Park. We saw squirrels :-D


Detail of the gate of the British Museum, which we passed while we walked to Forbidden Planet (Shaftsbury Av.)
After shopping there, we took the Tube to Camden, where T. scored a pair of pretty shoes and I bought a really cool notebook. But we mostly just walked around, enjoying the atmosphere;)


Storefront of Aldo.


More cool shop designs


Camden Stables

From here we walked up north to a cemetery that T. wanted to visit and to have lunch on Parliament Hill. Unfortunately we got a little lost and got tired of walking, so once we found out where we were, we hopped on a bus to Hampstead Heath and pretty much sat down on the first parkbench we found.


So much walking, but eventually we sort of managed to have our picnic;)


In the -almost- middle of nature ;-p

After relaxing, reading and eating we took the bus back to our hotel to prepare for another evening in the theatre.


Goodies day 2: present at Forbidden Planet and very cool leather notebook.


We took the Tube to Waterloo station and walked to The Old Vic theatre to pick up our tickets (I had bought them in January!)


I had reserved premium seats for Richard III with Kevin Spacey (directed by Sam Mendes)


Before the play, we bought pasties and potato-skins and ate them in a park nearby.

The play was brilliant: over three hours of Shakespeare at his best:) Very overwhelming.

We got back in our hotel around 23.30.


Did I already tell you we had a separate toilet and bathroom? We also had a bidet. How fancy is that?


Another luxury soak in the tub; this time with a bubbly Ma-barr from lush.


More goodies from day 2: I not only bought a program, but also a poster and the script with extended notes. (had delicious icecream at intermission: caramel, vanilla with honeycomb.)

:-) To be continued! Part two here!

For some days there was a musty smell coming from my guestroom and on Monday (the first day of my vacation) I went in to investigate. I found a crate with old books and a plastic bag with arts and crafts from highschool. As it turned the latter was the source of the smell. Because I can't even throw damaged stuff out without getting sentimental, I made photos before I put the artsy schoolmemories in the trash. Ahw. Here are my creations from a not nearly forgotten past (about 1982/1983)


A mermaid painted on silk


A lid of a (lost) box, made of patchwork around cardboard. Apparently I had a 7 and an 8 (out of ten) for the set. Huh.


And the piece the resistance: made out of stuffed stocking... I don't even know. I labeled it 'The modern man'. It looks like my old teacher from middleschool. I have no idea what the assignment was or what I was thinking.

Okay, fine, you caught me: I didn't throw everything out. I saved this:


Isn't it gorgeous. I suspect I made the design, but possibly my mom helped making it; I'm not known to work very neatly;)
I put it up on the wall of my livingroom. I love the design. (And trust me; it doesn't smell;)

Ugh, what a great start of the day: here's what I found when I got to the busstop this morning:



Ironically that busstop is called 'Happiness'. Yeah, not so much.

The only bicycles that are still standing are the ones that were parked that morning. (They didn't have any dew on them).

Parked my bike anyway (didn't really have a choice). When I got back this afternoon I found my bikebags were emptied out; someone took my waterproofpants. Dammit. Of course it was raining.

I guess I should be happy at least my bike wasn't damaged.

For some time now I've been meaning to contact the buscompany/municipality to ask for a shelter, I suppose this is the reason there isn't one already and I doubt they will build one.

Went to Amsterdam with the Potter Posse to see the final Harry Potter film.


Getting off the train I could see the mega movieposter on the side of the cinema. Ahw.


See how big it is!


Of course I had to get a good shot of it. Very impressive image.


And here we are: Benthe, Judith, Jelle, Silvia and Hans, ready for the final film. *sniffles* (Still very much in magic mood thanks to our Harry Potter Mega Marathon Weekend)

Harry Potter Mega Marathon Weekend

Decorated the entrance of my apartment with Harry Potter hankies and wands for everyone.


Up in the attic I made a little HoneyDukes corner.


We had all kinds of magic-related candy, such as: licorice in the flavours Troll, Witches and Werewolves, magic balls that change colour in your mouth and edible paper. Silvia had made chocolate frogs again and I had brewed Mulled Mead!

Saturday July 16
Watched The Philosopher's Stone by myself and was joined by Sil and Tan for the next three films:)




Sunday July 17
Hans, Jelle, Benthe and Gayleen joined our PotterPosse and together we watched films 5, 6 and 7. (On Monday five of us are going to the cinema for the final film)

I had made Butter Beer!


Ready for The Order Of The Phoenix!


Afterwards we wiped away our tears and put on a brave smile for an alp photo;)


Some of the edible pieces of paper had tongue tattoos on them....


Which we of course all had to try :-)

A brilliant weekend \o/

Mom's (belated) Birthdayparty!
We gave her baby-pictures of my brothers and me, and although she was thrilled with those, the best present was of course cuddletime with grandson Ruben;)


We selected 15 photos in total, not all of them were black and white originally, but I had them all printed like that, so they made matching sets of three:) Ahw, look at us.


Here is a proud mom with her kids today. All grown up. Sort of;)


And now mom is a grandmom of Ruben \o/


They love to cuddle:)


Auntie J. makes a funny face :-p


Ruben is still struggling with the concept of sucking his thumb.

Was very sad this morning when I found out I left my pink hat on the back of my bike at the busstop. It's been with me on travels all over the world and I thought for sure it was lost.
BUT: when I came back this evening IT WAS STILL THERE \o/

After last week's first experience with the CureTape my Physical Therapist put two shorter pieces on my arm. These were easier to cover up, so I could do... the dishes!

Charge!


Only the edges were a little damp afterwards.

But when I took a shower this morning, the cut off glove didn't really work and the tape got loose, so I took it off

See how tiny those pieces are? Imagine the pull on my arm when they were stretched;)

Taking them off wasn't that bad, but in the afternoon a red pattern came up on my arm:

Rash! Probably the combination of stessed out skin and the incredible heat today (32C) It only itches when I sweat and seems to be slowly fading. Hopefully it's gone tomorrow, but I'm definitely not gonna put new tape on my arm.