Please take a moment for this moving song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpYVfHTajOg&feature=player_embedded

Wish I were home

I am really missing everyone in Texas and the nice warm weather.  But enough about me. 

I just saw this trailer for a new short film called "Letting Madison Go."  Alexa's best friend Lena plays young Mallory.  I am so impressed.  I am sure she is going to be a star one day soon!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ylWdDwPd3w&feature=player_embedded

Relaxed Weekend

This weekend was a pretty laid back. I slept in Saturday morning and then spent the day watching movies and eating chicken stew. I have never seen the Star Trek movies and they had a marathon on TV. I watched the first three movies and actually found them pretty entertaining. I wanted to watch the fourth - but I was Star Trekked out by that point. Maybe another time.

Today I forced myself to get out of the house. I desperately miss Richard and the girls and could veg all day on the sofa hoping for any chance of communication if I let myself. Instead, I went to Kingston and did some people watching and had some lunch.

I then went to Bushy Park just on the edge of Hampton Hill and was very surprised. I noticed that it said "Beware of Deer" at the gated entrance, but I didn't think any would get that close for me to worry about. I walked in and instantly saw a 13+ point stag lounging in the grass. He was really only 100 yards away from the path. I walked around and got as close as 25 yards and he just sat there watching the people pass by as if they were on parade just for him.

Then I decided to go see the Water Gardens, recently refurbished to their 18th century design.

On my way there, I passed some soccer fields and found another stag equally large. He was much closer to the path (like 10 feet)and had no problem with me taking his picture. I have to say, I was just a little nervous.

When I came back from the Water Garden, this guy looked a little dejected...

I will definitely be exploring this park much more now that I know where it is.

Not a good sign

I was at a bus stop tonight to change buses and I happened to be in front of the Teddington Memorial Hospital. As I look at the entrance to the Hospital walk, I noticed a big monument* with the words GLORIOUS DEAD on the front. Not what I would call the most reassuring message to see while entering the hospital.




(*It was a monument for the fallen soldiers in various wars.)

Promised Weekend fun

As promised, I tried to make my weekend interesting. I slept in - and boy did I need it! Then I bought the new Ken Follett novel Fall of Giants. It is a massive book - looks like an old Websters Dictionary.

I ventured out in the cold rainy weather into London and had a very late lunch at a French cafe in St. Pancras Station. It is my favorite train station. It is so pretty and a perfect mix of old and new.


Then I found my way to the British Museum. I love this museum and have not even come close to seeing everything there. This time around, I saw the Easter Island statue - which is pretty cool - but I just kept waiting for it to come alive and chew some gum.

How many of you have ever seen his back?

I also found a few interesting places on a side street near the museum. First I found a coffee place perfect for Richard. It was called Camera Cafe and they really sold cameras and coffee there. I didn't buy either - but it was an interesting concept and it did draw a larger than average crowd of men for a cafe.

The second made me think of Borgin and Burkes in Harry Potter. I saw the Occult Bookstore. The street was not nearly as narrow and dark and the bookstore was weirdly bright and cheerful for a place specializing in the devil.

That was about the extent of my exciting Saturday and Sunday was even more rainy and wet. I got a little bored on Sunday and even took a nap. Everybody deserves a lazy Sunday sometimes.

Today I went to work and also finalised the details in getting a short term apartment. I am so happy to have a place where I can cook and relax again. I got the keys today and took a suitcase out there after work to get my bearings. It is in a place called Hampton Hills, a very nice little village close to Hampton Court and Teddington.

Afterwards, I took a stroll into the High Street to check it out and to get something to eat. I found a charming old pub, typical of an English High Street and thought I would try it out. When I walked in, it had the old look of a period pub with the velvet benches and stools and oak plank tables.

Then in the back there was a more modern restaurant serving Thai food.

I did not expect that. So I thought I would try it. The chef is from Thailand and it was wonderful. The Fosters was also very good and the bartender is from Russia. I have never seen anything like this place. Very quirky, but also very friendly and excellent food. The weirdest thing though was picture in the restaurant of an Asian man standing in front of a statue and some flowers.

While nice I guess, I just could not see what it all meant - especially the Cannon camera he is holding. Why? I don't know - but it made me smile.

Hope that was interesting for you. I will keep looking for new things. I am sure I will have some new adventures in my new place.

What a couple of weeks...

How crazy is it that we left one house, rented out another to new tenants, signed a lease for a place to live in The Woodlands and found a new corporate apartment in London all in the space of two weeks? Also, the girls started new schools and I flew over 16,000 miles in that time. Whew - makes me tired just thinking about it.

So here I am in London again without my family for the next several weeks. In a hotel for now, but soon to be in a small apartment in Hampton Hill. I miss my family like crazy - but I feel good knowing they will be in a home of their own again soon and that the girls are enjoying school.

I am not sure what I will do this weekend, but I will try to do something of interest that will be blog worthy.

Hope everyone has a great weekend!