25 November 2006
Porto was everything you could hope for from a holiday except for the taxi drivers who kept taking us to the wrong places.
We had nice hot sunshine all day, every day. We shopped in abundance and everything was at least one third cheaper than in London. The hotel was only Euro 65 a night and very nice too. We ate a lot.... quasi peri chicken (because I didn't know how to ask for the peri), chourico, salsiccia, egg based dishes (for BB), filet mignon, saltimbocca, fish fresh from the river, cakes, lamb, pork in the syle of Minho (which means with tripe, blood and other bits and pieces), green tea icecream, chocolate mousse & lots, lots more. It was great! We also went on the new Metro which doesn't seem to go anywhere particularly useful but is very clean and shiny. J., who we went to visit, was very, very busy so we only managed to spend one afternoon, a lunch and a couple of dinners with her but it was good.
Back to the taxi drivers... The one from the airport took us to some hotel near the football stadium, which is definitely no where near where we wanted to go, after correcting my pronunciation of the name of the hotel several times on the way. Turns out it was a completely different hotel which he hadn't heard of and there was nothing wrong with my pronunciation.
Then, when we went to visit J at her home in Foz, the taxi driver didn't realise there were two roads with similar names and took us to the wrong one. To be fair to this taxi driver, he did stop a hapless lady in the street and asked her to check with us in English where we wanted to go, so he knew he had the right place. Didn't help though.
Been back now for two weeks and it's cold and rainy and London public transport sucks big time. Give me a misguided Portuguese taxi driver anyday - at least taxis there are cheap.
We had nice hot sunshine all day, every day. We shopped in abundance and everything was at least one third cheaper than in London. The hotel was only Euro 65 a night and very nice too. We ate a lot.... quasi peri chicken (because I didn't know how to ask for the peri), chourico, salsiccia, egg based dishes (for BB), filet mignon, saltimbocca, fish fresh from the river, cakes, lamb, pork in the syle of Minho (which means with tripe, blood and other bits and pieces), green tea icecream, chocolate mousse & lots, lots more. It was great! We also went on the new Metro which doesn't seem to go anywhere particularly useful but is very clean and shiny. J., who we went to visit, was very, very busy so we only managed to spend one afternoon, a lunch and a couple of dinners with her but it was good.
Back to the taxi drivers... The one from the airport took us to some hotel near the football stadium, which is definitely no where near where we wanted to go, after correcting my pronunciation of the name of the hotel several times on the way. Turns out it was a completely different hotel which he hadn't heard of and there was nothing wrong with my pronunciation.
Then, when we went to visit J at her home in Foz, the taxi driver didn't realise there were two roads with similar names and took us to the wrong one. To be fair to this taxi driver, he did stop a hapless lady in the street and asked her to check with us in English where we wanted to go, so he knew he had the right place. Didn't help though.
Been back now for two weeks and it's cold and rainy and London public transport sucks big time. Give me a misguided Portuguese taxi driver anyday - at least taxis there are cheap.
Labels: travel
8 November 2006
Holiday!!! Off to Porto for 4 whole days, leaving the incomprehensible fear behind that people seem to have when they leave work for a couple of days because they think everything is going to fall apart in their absence. Whoopee!
I can't wait...
Lots of lovely fresh seafood, peri peri chicken and hanging out with my friend, J. Hurray!
Mandarin lesson was a bit rubbish yesterday. Was far too busy at work, consequently forcing me to be incredibly rushed getting to the class and being in a bit of a bother. All my newly learned Mandarin escaped me to be replaced by quite a lot of ingrained Cantonese. Sigh. Two steps forward, one step back...
I can't wait...
Lots of lovely fresh seafood, peri peri chicken and hanging out with my friend, J. Hurray!
Mandarin lesson was a bit rubbish yesterday. Was far too busy at work, consequently forcing me to be incredibly rushed getting to the class and being in a bit of a bother. All my newly learned Mandarin escaped me to be replaced by quite a lot of ingrained Cantonese. Sigh. Two steps forward, one step back...
16 August 2006
Back from the Lake District. It was very nice to do things familial and BB's grandma was very happy to see us. Much eating was done with the Chakraborties and a great deal of driving around the lakes with minimal ambling on the hills.
The house we stayed at was huge with towers and very baronial. The main bedrooms had turrets and there were lots of stairs. Unfortunately, being in the middle of nowhere, we were hard pressed to have electricity, hot water or any form of telephone signal whilst there. There was a stream though for Pooh sticks and paddling to while the time away. The middle Chakraborty child fell into some rose bushes and managed to make great holes in her skirt and legs. Chakraborty cousin, O, was obsessed with ghost stories and exhausted my supply. She said she would be able to sleep at night as her bed was in between her dad's and brother's - until I told her that ghosts always disturb the ones who sleep in the middle. You should have seen the terror in her eyes!
Though extremely pleasant and encompassing such Cumbrian delights as the Cumberland Pencil Museum and the environs of Carlisle Castle, our hols were eventful in unfortunate ways as well. We got a parking ticket because Cumbria exercises a weird parking disc system that seems peculiar to those parts which a) we didn't notice and b) if we had noticed, wouldn't have known what it was and probably have ignored it anyway. Then, this morning, just as we were about to embark on the marathon 350 mile journey home at the roundabout for the M6, some old codger in a 4x4 with a trailer rear-ended our poor little car. The car seems fine except for some cuts, dents and bruises (we got the AA to come out and check) but now I've got to take it to the garage for a proper check-up and pursue said old codger for any repairs. What a nuisance. People are always driving into us without a by your leave.
The house we stayed at was huge with towers and very baronial. The main bedrooms had turrets and there were lots of stairs. Unfortunately, being in the middle of nowhere, we were hard pressed to have electricity, hot water or any form of telephone signal whilst there. There was a stream though for Pooh sticks and paddling to while the time away. The middle Chakraborty child fell into some rose bushes and managed to make great holes in her skirt and legs. Chakraborty cousin, O, was obsessed with ghost stories and exhausted my supply. She said she would be able to sleep at night as her bed was in between her dad's and brother's - until I told her that ghosts always disturb the ones who sleep in the middle. You should have seen the terror in her eyes!
Though extremely pleasant and encompassing such Cumbrian delights as the Cumberland Pencil Museum and the environs of Carlisle Castle, our hols were eventful in unfortunate ways as well. We got a parking ticket because Cumbria exercises a weird parking disc system that seems peculiar to those parts which a) we didn't notice and b) if we had noticed, wouldn't have known what it was and probably have ignored it anyway. Then, this morning, just as we were about to embark on the marathon 350 mile journey home at the roundabout for the M6, some old codger in a 4x4 with a trailer rear-ended our poor little car. The car seems fine except for some cuts, dents and bruises (we got the AA to come out and check) but now I've got to take it to the garage for a proper check-up and pursue said old codger for any repairs. What a nuisance. People are always driving into us without a by your leave.
Labels: travel
23 May 2006
Rainy HK day
Last day of Hong Kong. Am staying at sis' place which is up in the clouds. We have only caught fleeting glimpses of Hong Kong through the mist all weekend. It's rained almost the whole time. Somehow we've managed to catch the only three days that HK has had rain in ages and it's going to be sunny tomorrow when we've gone.
Spent most of Sunday playing with the kids. L's piano is pretty good and we played some duets. Played a lot of Monopoly with S and L until even they got bored.
Yesterday we shopped till we dropped. HK and Kowloon were absolutely heaving despite the torrential rain. I don't remember there being quite so many people the last few times I've come. What with all the rain and shoving, it was really quite unpleasant but it was all made up by getting lots of good booty. Managed to get two pairs of Merrells for about a third cheaper than in London and there was heaps more choice. Nice sandally ones for the summer, so my toes can be free and trainers to replace the smelly, tatty ones I've had for the last 5 years.
Then Shanghai Tang for nice pressies. Nice shop, still expensive in Hong Kong (though not as much as London). Bought a new Mahjong thing (don't know how we'll get it to Malaysia as it's bigger than the suitcase), Seven Swords on VCD (not bootleg), hand warmer things (for wintery days at home) and went to Yau Ma Tei for BB's army gear stuff.
Got back to N & C's, pooped, to yummy roti canai, leftover mutton curry and homemade spinach curry and daal. Mmmm!
Spent most of Sunday playing with the kids. L's piano is pretty good and we played some duets. Played a lot of Monopoly with S and L until even they got bored.
Yesterday we shopped till we dropped. HK and Kowloon were absolutely heaving despite the torrential rain. I don't remember there being quite so many people the last few times I've come. What with all the rain and shoving, it was really quite unpleasant but it was all made up by getting lots of good booty. Managed to get two pairs of Merrells for about a third cheaper than in London and there was heaps more choice. Nice sandally ones for the summer, so my toes can be free and trainers to replace the smelly, tatty ones I've had for the last 5 years.
Then Shanghai Tang for nice pressies. Nice shop, still expensive in Hong Kong (though not as much as London). Bought a new Mahjong thing (don't know how we'll get it to Malaysia as it's bigger than the suitcase), Seven Swords on VCD (not bootleg), hand warmer things (for wintery days at home) and went to Yau Ma Tei for BB's army gear stuff.
Got back to N & C's, pooped, to yummy roti canai, leftover mutton curry and homemade spinach curry and daal. Mmmm!
Labels: food, shopping, travel
10 May 2006
Back from Helsinki. And what a whirlwind 4 days it was. We worked till 20:30 the first night, which was the early night, after getting off the plane (we left at 07:30 in the morning). Then the next two days we finished at 22:00 and 23:45. The structure and stories we were telling changed every two minutes and even between the two performances yesterday (which were 15 minutes apart) we were making additions and alterations. Certainly keeps you on our toes. But it all went well and all the bigwigs were happy apparently.
Security was very tight and we weren't even allowed to use wireless mikes in case someone on a ship in the harbour picked up the content of the presentations/show.
Helsinki was interesting - it has a very Eastern European feel about it. It certainly didn't seem to be a late night party city. We went in search of food on Monday night at 02:30 and could only find a McDonalds open. They wouldn't sell us chicken nuggets as it was past 23:00, so we had burgers and chips. Very strange.
Meals consisted mainly of open sandwiches, although on the first night we had a proper dinner in which I had boletus, reindeer, lambchops and sea buckthorn and birch wrack pie (dessert). There was also lots of snatched takeaway food. Surprisingly, the Chinese and Thai food was pretty good.
Alcohol was hideously expensive - upward of 7 Euros for a pint.
All in all it was a very interesting experience and a shame we didn't see much more of Helsinki than quick 10 minutes rides in the taxi back and forth from rehearsals. Maybe there'll be a next time.
Learnt eight words of Suomi, but can't spell them - so excuse the spelling. Hei for Hello, ei for no, kylla for yes, hyva for good, kitos for thank you, ulos for out/exit and the all important, yhtaus ihmseen for connecting people.
Security was very tight and we weren't even allowed to use wireless mikes in case someone on a ship in the harbour picked up the content of the presentations/show.
Helsinki was interesting - it has a very Eastern European feel about it. It certainly didn't seem to be a late night party city. We went in search of food on Monday night at 02:30 and could only find a McDonalds open. They wouldn't sell us chicken nuggets as it was past 23:00, so we had burgers and chips. Very strange.
Meals consisted mainly of open sandwiches, although on the first night we had a proper dinner in which I had boletus, reindeer, lambchops and sea buckthorn and birch wrack pie (dessert). There was also lots of snatched takeaway food. Surprisingly, the Chinese and Thai food was pretty good.
Alcohol was hideously expensive - upward of 7 Euros for a pint.
All in all it was a very interesting experience and a shame we didn't see much more of Helsinki than quick 10 minutes rides in the taxi back and forth from rehearsals. Maybe there'll be a next time.
Learnt eight words of Suomi, but can't spell them - so excuse the spelling. Hei for Hello, ei for no, kylla for yes, hyva for good, kitos for thank you, ulos for out/exit and the all important, yhtaus ihmseen for connecting people.
Labels: acting, language, travel
2 April 2006
Sheffield was fun! There's a surprise. It's got a pretty cathedrally, oldy bit in the middle where we were staying. The city centre is in the midst of regeneration, so there are lots of new bars/restaurants, art galleries, an upcoming trendy shopping area, a refurbed spa and a modern Winter Garden which was linked to our hotel. All in all a very good time was had by us both and we could actually have spent more time there. We stayed at the Macdonald St Paul's Hotel which is smack bang in the city centre and pretty decent. Breakfast was very good (I had kippers, porridge, toast and fruit salad; while BB had full English with black pudding twice) and you can walk straight into the Winter Gardens and the new art galleries without stepping outside (which is good when it's cold, windy and rains intermittently). Bedroom was a decent size with plasma screen telly and the bathroom was smart with heated towel rail and good water pressure.
Assassins was very good. The singing was very strong and it was really great to see all the monologues and bits of dialogue that you don't get on the recording. All the actors were really good, as were their accents (only John Hinckley's slipped a bit). What a relief. It could have been a disaster spending all that money and time to go miles away to watch a crap piece of theatre. At least if it's on your doorstep, you don't feel so bad if you've only wasted the price of a ticket.
A former colleague of mine was in the show and halfway through the show he pointed at me and winked (I was sitting in the front row), so had to say hello afterwards. It wasn't that I didn't like him or anything, but just that I didn't know him that well so was hoping to sneak away unnoticed. Ah well. BB said, at least he didn't wave like Joey in Friends.
On the way back we drove through the Peak District as it seemed a shame not to see it as we'd gone all that way. Stopped at Matlock for a light snack and some tea. Just a tip if you're ever driving through the area in the future - don't stop at Matlock. It's not a beautiful town and there didn't seem to be many people there under the age of 50. Also, if you find you've stopped there by some mistake, don't head for the centre of town for eateries. When we were leaving, we found out that there are a lot more shops on the road out of town - just to be perverse.
Assassins was very good. The singing was very strong and it was really great to see all the monologues and bits of dialogue that you don't get on the recording. All the actors were really good, as were their accents (only John Hinckley's slipped a bit). What a relief. It could have been a disaster spending all that money and time to go miles away to watch a crap piece of theatre. At least if it's on your doorstep, you don't feel so bad if you've only wasted the price of a ticket.
A former colleague of mine was in the show and halfway through the show he pointed at me and winked (I was sitting in the front row), so had to say hello afterwards. It wasn't that I didn't like him or anything, but just that I didn't know him that well so was hoping to sneak away unnoticed. Ah well. BB said, at least he didn't wave like Joey in Friends.
On the way back we drove through the Peak District as it seemed a shame not to see it as we'd gone all that way. Stopped at Matlock for a light snack and some tea. Just a tip if you're ever driving through the area in the future - don't stop at Matlock. It's not a beautiful town and there didn't seem to be many people there under the age of 50. Also, if you find you've stopped there by some mistake, don't head for the centre of town for eateries. When we were leaving, we found out that there are a lot more shops on the road out of town - just to be perverse.
21 March 2006
Well, half of the office, including boss, was off today. Of the remainder, only a select few are not walking dead. Everybody else has the lurgy. So I might as well have stayed at home.
The flesh-eating bug virus demanded food just before 11am today, so I had a bowl of kitsune udon that I had cunningly stashed in my drawer. Thus pacified, I only had to eat M-A's leftovers for lunch. I wonder if I can live on leftovers for the rest of this week. Hee, hee.
Am interested to see that Mack and Mabel is going to be on at the Criterion starring David Soul, of all people. For some reason, I know all the songs but not the story of this musical. I shall investigate further.
BB has just told me that they don't check your passport when you arrive from Eire. Any prospective illegal immigrants should bear this in mind....
The flesh-eating bug virus demanded food just before 11am today, so I had a bowl of kitsune udon that I had cunningly stashed in my drawer. Thus pacified, I only had to eat M-A's leftovers for lunch. I wonder if I can live on leftovers for the rest of this week. Hee, hee.
Am interested to see that Mack and Mabel is going to be on at the Criterion starring David Soul, of all people. For some reason, I know all the songs but not the story of this musical. I shall investigate further.
BB has just told me that they don't check your passport when you arrive from Eire. Any prospective illegal immigrants should bear this in mind....
19 March 2006
Just had a series of sad text messages from BB.
1) The whole of Ireland is flying back home today after St Patrick's Day.
2) They just won the rugby at Twickenham.
3) His seat is number 13.
At least they let him on the plane. And he's not flying Ryannair.
Let's hope there's not only cheese based items on the flight menu as he's allergic.
1) The whole of Ireland is flying back home today after St Patrick's Day.
2) They just won the rugby at Twickenham.
3) His seat is number 13.
At least they let him on the plane. And he's not flying Ryannair.
Let's hope there's not only cheese based items on the flight menu as he's allergic.
Labels: travel
8 March 2006
So little of interest has happened over the last few days that it has all blurred into one. Trying to arrange a weekend away in Sheffield so that we can see Assassins at the Crucible. However, there doesn't seem to be anywhere boutique-y, cool and contemporary to stay, unless we go to Nottingham or Leeds. I found one place - The Crown at Bawtry which looks pretty good - a converted 17th century coaching inn that's been made all stylishly modern. But then I found this.... Eeek! Everyone at work wants me to stay here so they can have a good story, but I'm not sure.
I'm quite taken by a restaurant with rooms that I've found near Nottingham called Sat Bains.. Definitely, more my kind of thing.
Anyway, once that's sorted out should all be fun. We can mooch around the Peak District for a bit and best tickets at the Crucible are only £17! What a difference from the West End, eh?
On Sunday, went to the gym to do a bit of rock wall climbing. My arms are now killing me. Fell off the wall at the end because I couldn't hold on any longer. Then yesterday the instructor made us do a gazillion sit-ups and so my stomach hurts.
This evening will be working for ex-boss on some presentation. Yesterday's team pizza lunch, what I organised, went very well. Some people scoffed more than their requisite two-thirds of a pizza though, as lots of people only seemed to have two bits. Had to feed sixty-five people though so, all in all, I estimated things pretty well. We were a sight carrying forty pizzas, fifteen salads, four boxes of dough balls and sundry dressings, toppings etc across the road. Made the whole office envious.
I'm quite taken by a restaurant with rooms that I've found near Nottingham called Sat Bains.. Definitely, more my kind of thing.
Anyway, once that's sorted out should all be fun. We can mooch around the Peak District for a bit and best tickets at the Crucible are only £17! What a difference from the West End, eh?
On Sunday, went to the gym to do a bit of rock wall climbing. My arms are now killing me. Fell off the wall at the end because I couldn't hold on any longer. Then yesterday the instructor made us do a gazillion sit-ups and so my stomach hurts.
This evening will be working for ex-boss on some presentation. Yesterday's team pizza lunch, what I organised, went very well. Some people scoffed more than their requisite two-thirds of a pizza though, as lots of people only seemed to have two bits. Had to feed sixty-five people though so, all in all, I estimated things pretty well. We were a sight carrying forty pizzas, fifteen salads, four boxes of dough balls and sundry dressings, toppings etc across the road. Made the whole office envious.
29 December 2005
Hello all! Am back from the unceasing frenzy of a small, snow-covered village (well, suburb masquerading as village) nr Aberdeen. Arrived back home just before 10pm to find the boiler has given up the ghost. Hurray! So, it's dark and cold in our little flat. Fortunately, the pipes haven't frozen up despite the Arctic temperatures.
We bunged on the puny fan heater (looking on the bright side - at least we have one), put on all our clothes over the ones we already had on including our coats and slunk under the duvet eating rapidly cooling Chinese takeaway. Have left BB to sort out a plumber and an electrician while I sit at work wrapped in all my clothes because someone has stolen our fan heater.
But, at least, no one broke into the flat or abused the car. So, that's quite good for a change.
BA outdid themselves on the catering front on our way up to Aberdeen. We got a bag of crisps and a drink. That's it. I made a joke about that being all that we were getting - but it actually was all that we were getting. Was dumbstruck after that, partly from hunger.
Not many people at work today so I shall be improving my Sudoku skills tenfold.
We bunged on the puny fan heater (looking on the bright side - at least we have one), put on all our clothes over the ones we already had on including our coats and slunk under the duvet eating rapidly cooling Chinese takeaway. Have left BB to sort out a plumber and an electrician while I sit at work wrapped in all my clothes because someone has stolen our fan heater.
But, at least, no one broke into the flat or abused the car. So, that's quite good for a change.
BA outdid themselves on the catering front on our way up to Aberdeen. We got a bag of crisps and a drink. That's it. I made a joke about that being all that we were getting - but it actually was all that we were getting. Was dumbstruck after that, partly from hunger.
Not many people at work today so I shall be improving my Sudoku skills tenfold.
Labels: travel
25 October 2005
We let Annoying Temp go yesterday. She has been replaced by Much Better Temp who managed to do more things in one day then Annoying did in a week. Went to tedious meeting yesterday about our programme plan going forward. I protest - I am a temp, even though I don't act like one, and have no real interest in such meetings, nor any business being there. I also missed my dance class because of said meeting. I accidentally forgot to go to another meeting today. I doubt I was missed much.
While I do my job well, most of the time I'm just thinking about lunch, breakfast, dinner, the gym and winning the lottery - with Sudoku thrown in occasionally. Sadly, have been too busy at work to think of any of these much.
Portugal was super swell and we were very unhappy to come back. Whilst there, we partook of caldo verde, Almeijoas al Bolhao Pato (clams with garlic), prawns - cold and hot, grilled sea bass, wild boar in piri piri sauce, piri piri chicken, sushi, bolos de cenouras and chocolate, soups, sandwiches and the like (courtesy of J's new café, Itso).
BA should be ashamed of the plane grub they served - faux ham and cheese pizza stick, coronation style rice salad and fruit cocktail (both of which looked suspiciously tinned). That was it. Pathetic.
While I do my job well, most of the time I'm just thinking about lunch, breakfast, dinner, the gym and winning the lottery - with Sudoku thrown in occasionally. Sadly, have been too busy at work to think of any of these much.
Portugal was super swell and we were very unhappy to come back. Whilst there, we partook of caldo verde, Almeijoas al Bolhao Pato (clams with garlic), prawns - cold and hot, grilled sea bass, wild boar in piri piri sauce, piri piri chicken, sushi, bolos de cenouras and chocolate, soups, sandwiches and the like (courtesy of J's new café, Itso).
BA should be ashamed of the plane grub they served - faux ham and cheese pizza stick, coronation style rice salad and fruit cocktail (both of which looked suspiciously tinned). That was it. Pathetic.
26 March 2005
Holleeeday!
Hurray! It's the long bank holiday and although I've only been temping 4 days I've had more than enough. Suddenly the prospect of sitting in a van for hours and then doing two shows a day in minus 14 degree temperatures doesn't look so bad - shame it's not to be.
However, the weather is all sun shiney and so all is good with the world Particularly as we have now booked our hotel for Langkawi.
I'm soooooo excited!!!! Tanjung Rhu (our first choice) was unfortunately fully booked so by some lucky happenstance I stumbled upon the new Four Seasons Langkawi which has literally just opened this year. They are doing a special introductory rate otherwise there's no way in high heaven we'd be able to afford it. It looks spectacular and I'm sooooooo excited!!!! (Did I mention that?)
We're spending three nights there and I already have pictures of us getting off the plane at 2 o'clock in Langkawi and being beside the pool, cocktail in hand, by 3.30. Mmmmmmm!
Keep looking at their website in the hope that more piccies will materialise. Sigh! I'm sure it's wrong to be looking forward to something so much but I can't wait.
However, the weather is all sun shiney and so all is good with the world Particularly as we have now booked our hotel for Langkawi.
I'm soooooo excited!!!! Tanjung Rhu (our first choice) was unfortunately fully booked so by some lucky happenstance I stumbled upon the new Four Seasons Langkawi which has literally just opened this year. They are doing a special introductory rate otherwise there's no way in high heaven we'd be able to afford it. It looks spectacular and I'm sooooooo excited!!!! (Did I mention that?)
We're spending three nights there and I already have pictures of us getting off the plane at 2 o'clock in Langkawi and being beside the pool, cocktail in hand, by 3.30. Mmmmmmm!
Keep looking at their website in the hope that more piccies will materialise. Sigh! I'm sure it's wrong to be looking forward to something so much but I can't wait.
Labels: travel
18 March 2005
Stuttgart
Hooray! Last day of tour. Feet are really beginning to feel it now. But it´s all lovely and sunny and has been for the last three days. Rah!!! I love Stuttgart. It´s got lovely shops, art galleries, is fairly compact and bijou and has Chinese supermarkets, service wash laundries, cheap Asian food, internet cafes and all those things which are necessary when living an itinerant life.
While reading other blogs, saw interesting article about new restaurant in KL serving Sarawakian food - so famille Lee take note. Maybe should go try it out.
Back to temping on Monday. :( Back to the real world of bills and grocery shopping. Received gas bill by e-mail. Am thrilled.
Still, am relatively solvent so that´s all a good thing. Am also greatly cheered by knowing that The Incredibles DVD will be waiting for me when I get home. And BB, of course!
While reading other blogs, saw interesting article about new restaurant in KL serving Sarawakian food - so famille Lee take note. Maybe should go try it out.
Back to temping on Monday. :( Back to the real world of bills and grocery shopping. Received gas bill by e-mail. Am thrilled.
Still, am relatively solvent so that´s all a good thing. Am also greatly cheered by knowing that The Incredibles DVD will be waiting for me when I get home. And BB, of course!
Labels: travel
13 March 2005
Bath Bath
Nearing the end of the tour and am in the lovely town of Baden Baden. It's so good they named it twice - making it twice as good as our very own Bath, Somerset. And the baths are actually usable and about half the price of the projected cost of using the baths in Bath - making it four times as good. Ah well.
We have a lovely day planned in hot spa pools and saunas in turn. So we shall swell like plump grapes and then shrivel up like prunes and come out shiny and slightly red. Sounds enticing, no?
With luck we'll be so relaxed that we won't even notice we have two shows every day for the next five days. At least, I hope my ankles will hold out another week.
Yesterday was swell driving up from Ravensburg. It snowed horizontally, sleeted, rained heavily, then was sunny all at once. Watched A Beautiful Mind and was perplexed by Game Theory all over again.
Can't bear to think what it must be like to think that your best friends and people that are as real to you as any other people are just figments of your imagination. When you live in your head so much, what do you do when you can't rely upon your mind?
We have a lovely day planned in hot spa pools and saunas in turn. So we shall swell like plump grapes and then shrivel up like prunes and come out shiny and slightly red. Sounds enticing, no?
With luck we'll be so relaxed that we won't even notice we have two shows every day for the next five days. At least, I hope my ankles will hold out another week.
Yesterday was swell driving up from Ravensburg. It snowed horizontally, sleeted, rained heavily, then was sunny all at once. Watched A Beautiful Mind and was perplexed by Game Theory all over again.
Can't bear to think what it must be like to think that your best friends and people that are as real to you as any other people are just figments of your imagination. When you live in your head so much, what do you do when you can't rely upon your mind?
20 February 2005
München town
Here I am in Munich. It has been all snowy and generally round about minus one to five degrees since we´ve been here. All proper snow too. The kind that drifts down slowly in large flakes, all silently and settles on your nose. It´s all crunchy under foot and the efficient Münchners have gritted everywhere.
Rehearsals are going well and we´ve ploughed through the first act. Only thing is we have had a trauma. We went to pick up our set from storage to find that two thirds of the main set covering has been binned in an act of mindless cleaning. It´s very sad as the set was so effective considering is was for touring. Now it will be very sad and little indeed. Berndt, the designer, is livid - as is our director and well, us, really. Ah well - the path of touring never did run smooth.
Nonetheless all is well and Munich is beautiful as ever. We went to see the Crucible last night at Amerika Haus and it was most excellent. Very powerful, well-acted and full of great imagery. Had dinner with the cast and they were all lovely and chatty.
So far have partaken of roast duck, kabeljau red Thai curry, paprika schnitzel, grilled swordfish, heaps of lovely salad and sauerkraut since being here. Paul got me a box of porridge as a pressie which is very nice indeed. (I know it seems strange to be excited about porridge).
Enough drivelling, don´t seem to have much exciting to say.
Rehearsals are going well and we´ve ploughed through the first act. Only thing is we have had a trauma. We went to pick up our set from storage to find that two thirds of the main set covering has been binned in an act of mindless cleaning. It´s very sad as the set was so effective considering is was for touring. Now it will be very sad and little indeed. Berndt, the designer, is livid - as is our director and well, us, really. Ah well - the path of touring never did run smooth.
Nonetheless all is well and Munich is beautiful as ever. We went to see the Crucible last night at Amerika Haus and it was most excellent. Very powerful, well-acted and full of great imagery. Had dinner with the cast and they were all lovely and chatty.
So far have partaken of roast duck, kabeljau red Thai curry, paprika schnitzel, grilled swordfish, heaps of lovely salad and sauerkraut since being here. Paul got me a box of porridge as a pressie which is very nice indeed. (I know it seems strange to be excited about porridge).
Enough drivelling, don´t seem to have much exciting to say.
Labels: acting, food, theatre, travel
