These are some pictures from our marathon walk around London. This is just a teaser! For more pictures go to the flickr site http://www.flickr.com/photos/bethandbrent/
Monday, April 30, 2007
Dan & Wendy in London
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Canadian Visitors
Last weekend found us in London, again, to see Brent’s cousin, Dan and his ladyfriend, Wendy. It was pretty good to see them, not only because they are family, but also because their Canadian accents were the best sounds these ears have heard in quite some time.
We started out by meeting them at our hotel – the Jurys Great Russell Street. The hotel was very nice and half a block away from the British Museum. However, our rooms were not ready yet, so we decided to head for a pub to catch up. Dan’s introduction to English ale didn’t go well for him but he recovered nicely. A short while later, we checked into the hotel much to Dan and Wendy’s delight since they had been up at the crack of dawn to fly out of Paris. After these preliminaries were finished, we took the tube to Green Park. We made our way through the Park (which, surprisingly in warm weather has hundreds of lounge chairs set out). Really quite nice. We headed to Buckingham Palace and then down The Mall. After that we made our way to see Westminster Abbey, Big Ben and the Parliament Buildings, Covent Garden and finished at a pub there. It was quite a lot to see in one afternoon and we probably tired our guests out after their early start. After we had enjoyed the pub for quite some time and got caught up on all the family stories, we made our way to the Med Kitchen for dinner. After an enjoyable meal we headed back to Bloomsbury and enjoyed another pub until we couldn’t stay awake any longer.
Day 2 started when we met in the lobby at … noon. This ‘early’ start required a wake-up call from the front desk for Dan & Wendy! Since we hadn’t actually reached Westminster Abbey in time to go inside the day before, we headed back to enjoy the interior. It was especially interesting for us as there was a sizable portion of the church which had re-opened since being closed during our last trip at Christmas. After the Abbey, we were fortified by a traditional pub lunch and headed out across town to the Tower of London. All in all, a very touristy day. We said our farewell to Dan & Wendy about 5pm to catch our train back to Leeds. They spent one more night in London before heading back to Paris for a few more days of European adventure. It was great to catch up with them and to have some London fun together. Best 24 hours we’ve had in a long time! Surprisingly we remembered how to socialize and to carry on a conversation with people other than ourselves!
We started out by meeting them at our hotel – the Jurys Great Russell Street. The hotel was very nice and half a block away from the British Museum. However, our rooms were not ready yet, so we decided to head for a pub to catch up. Dan’s introduction to English ale didn’t go well for him but he recovered nicely. A short while later, we checked into the hotel much to Dan and Wendy’s delight since they had been up at the crack of dawn to fly out of Paris. After these preliminaries were finished, we took the tube to Green Park. We made our way through the Park (which, surprisingly in warm weather has hundreds of lounge chairs set out). Really quite nice. We headed to Buckingham Palace and then down The Mall. After that we made our way to see Westminster Abbey, Big Ben and the Parliament Buildings, Covent Garden and finished at a pub there. It was quite a lot to see in one afternoon and we probably tired our guests out after their early start. After we had enjoyed the pub for quite some time and got caught up on all the family stories, we made our way to the Med Kitchen for dinner. After an enjoyable meal we headed back to Bloomsbury and enjoyed another pub until we couldn’t stay awake any longer.
Day 2 started when we met in the lobby at … noon. This ‘early’ start required a wake-up call from the front desk for Dan & Wendy! Since we hadn’t actually reached Westminster Abbey in time to go inside the day before, we headed back to enjoy the interior. It was especially interesting for us as there was a sizable portion of the church which had re-opened since being closed during our last trip at Christmas. After the Abbey, we were fortified by a traditional pub lunch and headed out across town to the Tower of London. All in all, a very touristy day. We said our farewell to Dan & Wendy about 5pm to catch our train back to Leeds. They spent one more night in London before heading back to Paris for a few more days of European adventure. It was great to catch up with them and to have some London fun together. Best 24 hours we’ve had in a long time! Surprisingly we remembered how to socialize and to carry on a conversation with people other than ourselves!
Friday, April 27, 2007
PhD Hurdles
Last week was a bit hellish for me. I had two big PhD hurdles to overcome. First, I had to attend the National Health Service (NHS) ethics meeting where they discussed my research project. I didn't know what to expect, so I was pretty surprised when I arrived and twenty people were gathered around a board room table and proceeded to grill me on my project and the ethical issues. It is all so bureaucratic here. My research will involve interviews with practicing midwives employed at NHS hospitals. Needless to say the fact that the NHS is involved means that the ethical approval process will be ten times more complicated than if I simply needed university approval. For example, not only does the central committee have to approve my research, but I also need to be approved at each site where I will be recruiting from and conducting my research. But really, I just want to talk to a few midwives about their training - how risky is it? Anyway, it went well. I have a few changes to make but then it will be approved.
Next, because I am a glutton for punishment, I also did a presentation two days later for the members of my department. I am in the medical school and all the other students are doing lab based research. The rest of the students presented about their lab rat cloning, tissue ablation, chemical phaser, mitochondria crap and then there's little old me talking about midwifery training and qualitative research! The worst part was that after my presenation they totally raked me over the coals with questions - 'how am I going to quantify this?' 'why don't I have a control group?' blah blah blah. Idiots. One guy even asked me what I would do if I didn't get ethical approval. I'm thinking to myself - you took osteopath cells out of the hip bone of living children and you are asking ME about ethics?!! I think I mustered the strength to answer with something more diplomatic than that, but it's all a blur.
Brent came with me for moral support and he claims I answered all the moronic questions well. He now knows more about Von Wildebrands disease, rare strains of Staph Aureus bacteria, and tissue culturing than he ever wanted to. Anyway, it's done and we're both stronger for coming through it alive. Two giant PhD hurdles to cross off the list.
Next, because I am a glutton for punishment, I also did a presentation two days later for the members of my department. I am in the medical school and all the other students are doing lab based research. The rest of the students presented about their lab rat cloning, tissue ablation, chemical phaser, mitochondria crap and then there's little old me talking about midwifery training and qualitative research! The worst part was that after my presenation they totally raked me over the coals with questions - 'how am I going to quantify this?' 'why don't I have a control group?' blah blah blah. Idiots. One guy even asked me what I would do if I didn't get ethical approval. I'm thinking to myself - you took osteopath cells out of the hip bone of living children and you are asking ME about ethics?!! I think I mustered the strength to answer with something more diplomatic than that, but it's all a blur.
Brent came with me for moral support and he claims I answered all the moronic questions well. He now knows more about Von Wildebrands disease, rare strains of Staph Aureus bacteria, and tissue culturing than he ever wanted to. Anyway, it's done and we're both stronger for coming through it alive. Two giant PhD hurdles to cross off the list.
MEC Spotting
There is a simple, joyous pasttime for a Canadian living abroad: MEC spotting. You can always tell a fellow Canadian by their distinctive Mountain Equipment Co-op gear. Yesterday I had the pleasure of spotting two fine specimens. Now you could argue that MEC wearers are not always Canadian. Perhaps some foreigners have snuck into the country and purchased MEC items. Even simpler still anyone from anywhere could order online at www.mec.ca. However, in my experience MEC wearers abroad usually also wear some other distinguishing item which makes their nationality obvious. For example, upon closer inspection yesterday, the two ladies wearing the MEC gear had Peller Estate Winery luggage tags! Dead give away. There is another MEC wearer who I often see in the Sheffield train station who in addition to her MEC bag is always wearing a fleece with 'Toronto' embroidered on it. Mountain Equipment Co-op is a little piece of Canada. I am beginning to think that Canadian foreign policy and environmental policy could be greatly improved if the Board of Directors at MEC were running the country. Oh Canada!
Monday, April 09, 2007
White Dogwood
Our Masters experience drew to a close last night. We managed to stay awake to watch it all which was quite a feat. Overall, the experience was a bit poor. Pear-shaped, as they say. It felt quite strange to be watching the Masters in the dark of the late evening and night. The glorious green of Augusta inspires thoughts of spring and is best appreciated while surrounded by fresh air and sunshine.
The television coverage was also strange. We mistakenly thought that the BBC was picking up the CBS feed and that all would be as it should. Boy, were we wrong. There was nothing familiar about the broadcast that we saw. We missed all the lovely Masters music and the tour of the course overhead. There was no Jim Nantz, or Lanny Watkins; instead we had Peter Alliss and Gary Linnaeker.
The commentators were blatant in their disapproval of American players and their support for all European players. Every suspect shot by Tiger Woods was critiqued as poor and ill advised, while every shot by Justin Rose, even when clearly off target, was seen as a move by him to charge into the lead. They contended until the last breath that the victory was inches away from his grasp. The pinnacle of this British favoritism was at the end when the Green Jacket was awarded to Zach Johnson by Phil Mickleson and when the camera feed returned to Gary and his other commentators on the green at the 18th hole they were laughing and snikering at the scenes from Butler cabin. The nerve!! Cheeky English bastards.
The television coverage was also strange. We mistakenly thought that the BBC was picking up the CBS feed and that all would be as it should. Boy, were we wrong. There was nothing familiar about the broadcast that we saw. We missed all the lovely Masters music and the tour of the course overhead. There was no Jim Nantz, or Lanny Watkins; instead we had Peter Alliss and Gary Linnaeker.
The commentators were blatant in their disapproval of American players and their support for all European players. Every suspect shot by Tiger Woods was critiqued as poor and ill advised, while every shot by Justin Rose, even when clearly off target, was seen as a move by him to charge into the lead. They contended until the last breath that the victory was inches away from his grasp. The pinnacle of this British favoritism was at the end when the Green Jacket was awarded to Zach Johnson by Phil Mickleson and when the camera feed returned to Gary and his other commentators on the green at the 18th hole they were laughing and snikering at the scenes from Butler cabin. The nerve!! Cheeky English bastards.
Sunday, April 08, 2007
The Lost Weekend Part 2
The first time we experienced a lost weekend was in 2004. Specifically, the period between Christmas and New Year's. We had received as a gift a copy of West Wing Season 2 Box set. We got so engrossed that we watched episodes, back to back, all day long. When we surfaced a few days later everyone was talking about the Tsunami. We were very confused. What tsunami? The West Wing didn't provide updates on news occurring in the real world. It was clear we had missed some stuff.
This weekend will forever be known as the Facebook weekend. It all started on Friday when I got onto facebook for the first time. Four hours later Brent came home from work and I had not moved all day and could not be torn away from the computer. Hello crack book. I went to bed wondering who I would find the next day and who would send me a message. I was officially hooked!
As the weekend progressed, we had both become addicted. Photos, Interests, Status, Messages, there was so much to do and so little time. When we started to fight over who had more friends and why, we realized we had to put the brakes on the whole thing. Obviously, Brent is too old to have a lot of friends on Facebook. People who graduated from high school in 1992 just aren't on Facebook. Well, not very many of them anyway.
So, as it stands now, we have connected with a bunch people we hadn't seen in a while. For some, it has been a long, long while. And that has to be a good thing. We're also at the stage of our 12 step program where we have to admit there's a higher power. This could take a while.
This weekend will forever be known as the Facebook weekend. It all started on Friday when I got onto facebook for the first time. Four hours later Brent came home from work and I had not moved all day and could not be torn away from the computer. Hello crack book. I went to bed wondering who I would find the next day and who would send me a message. I was officially hooked!
As the weekend progressed, we had both become addicted. Photos, Interests, Status, Messages, there was so much to do and so little time. When we started to fight over who had more friends and why, we realized we had to put the brakes on the whole thing. Obviously, Brent is too old to have a lot of friends on Facebook. People who graduated from high school in 1992 just aren't on Facebook. Well, not very many of them anyway.
So, as it stands now, we have connected with a bunch people we hadn't seen in a while. For some, it has been a long, long while. And that has to be a good thing. We're also at the stage of our 12 step program where we have to admit there's a higher power. This could take a while.
Thursday, April 05, 2007
Amen Corner
The masters begins today! I'm not sure I ever thought there would be a point in my life where I said that with excitement. But, against my better judgement, I have become a fan of golf (It would be going too far to say that I am a golfer, although I feel my natural talent shines through on the golf course). I guess somewhere along the line I actually paid attention to what Brent was saying and started to understand and even appreciate golf. As a result, I have also come to love the Masters. There is something so magical about Augusta and the Green Jacket. Every year I get sucked in. I think I first got hooked in 2003 when I started watching the coverage on Thursday and made the bold prediction that Mike Wier was going to win. And lo, and behold, I was right! I followed his round each day until he put on his Green Jacket on Sunday. What a sight. In the midst of following his round, I also managed to learn all the names of each hole on the course, and even the shape and par of each. Pretty impressive, if I do say so myself. Brent now takes great enjoyment of coming home on Thursday and Friday night of Masters weekend to find me glued to the television and reciting to him the events of the day. Shortly after the amusement, the frustration sets in when he finds that the house is in shambles, there's no food in the fridge, there's no dinner being prepared, and that I will not carry on a conversation with him until a commercial break. But eventually, he settles in and watches right along with me.
Now the Masters this year, much like many of our other experiences in England, will test our strength of character. Luckily, there will be live coverage of the tournament, but it begins at 9:30pm daily. Anyone who knows how Brent and I can barely keep our eyelids open past 10:05pm will see this as a considerable challenge. However, I think we will triumph. Conveniently, it is Easter weekend, so we can stay up both Thursday and Sunday nights without needing to wake up for work the next day. Plus, we have no family events to attend so it doesn't matter if we are tired and cranky all weekend. We'll keep you posted on how we do. But for now....I believe live coverage starts at www.masters.org so I better excuse myself.
Now the Masters this year, much like many of our other experiences in England, will test our strength of character. Luckily, there will be live coverage of the tournament, but it begins at 9:30pm daily. Anyone who knows how Brent and I can barely keep our eyelids open past 10:05pm will see this as a considerable challenge. However, I think we will triumph. Conveniently, it is Easter weekend, so we can stay up both Thursday and Sunday nights without needing to wake up for work the next day. Plus, we have no family events to attend so it doesn't matter if we are tired and cranky all weekend. We'll keep you posted on how we do. But for now....I believe live coverage starts at www.masters.org so I better excuse myself.
Old Friends
Now like many of you, that title inspires thoughts of Simon and Garfunkel singing 'Bookends,' yet in this instance I am not trying to pay homage to the gifted song writer that is Paul Simon, rather I would like to focus on the first part of this term - Old.
I'm not sure why, but I've always had friends that are older than me. Sometimes my friends were a year or two older, but sometimes they were twenty years older than me. For example, it was a strange phenomenon as a 19 year old, first year university student at Guelph to leave my friends at the U.C. to have lunch with my friend Fred, a sociology professor at that very university. Likewise, I remember dinner parties and 40 birthday parties with my friend Joyce when I was barely in my 20s. The latest addition to this elite group of friends is one of my colleagues who I teach with, Anne. It is great to be able to describe your co-workers as friends and to wish to spend time with them outside of work. We've been having fun shopping and having lunch - the usual girl things to do. And when I am with Anne, just like those who have gone before, I feel that we are simply friends, and I do not think about the age spread or the life experience that we do not have in common. However, there are moments when this realization hits me and yesterday was one such day.
Anne and her family (husband and two sons) came to Leeds for the day. Our midwifery students, and all elementary and secondary students in the UK have this week and next week off for their Easter holiday, so both Anne and I are also taking some days off to relax. And, Anne and clan decided that coming to Leeds and going to the Royal Armouries Museum (www.royalarmouries.org) would be a good way to spend one of these days. This was a great way to spend the day. It was good to go to the Armouries museum as it is spitting distance from our flat and now I can say I've been. Yet, it was a little odd when we went to see the Falconry demonstration and we were able to buy a 'Family Pass' to attend the event. I guess I should be thankful for my youthful, good looks (!) that allow me to pass for the daughter of a 45 year old. But, it was also a reminder that there are vast differences between Anne and I. I was five years old when she got married. She's ten years away from retirement and I am just starting my career. What does this phenomenon say about me? When it comes to friendship, does it matter if there is an age spread?
I'm not sure why, but I've always had friends that are older than me. Sometimes my friends were a year or two older, but sometimes they were twenty years older than me. For example, it was a strange phenomenon as a 19 year old, first year university student at Guelph to leave my friends at the U.C. to have lunch with my friend Fred, a sociology professor at that very university. Likewise, I remember dinner parties and 40 birthday parties with my friend Joyce when I was barely in my 20s. The latest addition to this elite group of friends is one of my colleagues who I teach with, Anne. It is great to be able to describe your co-workers as friends and to wish to spend time with them outside of work. We've been having fun shopping and having lunch - the usual girl things to do. And when I am with Anne, just like those who have gone before, I feel that we are simply friends, and I do not think about the age spread or the life experience that we do not have in common. However, there are moments when this realization hits me and yesterday was one such day.
Anne and her family (husband and two sons) came to Leeds for the day. Our midwifery students, and all elementary and secondary students in the UK have this week and next week off for their Easter holiday, so both Anne and I are also taking some days off to relax. And, Anne and clan decided that coming to Leeds and going to the Royal Armouries Museum (www.royalarmouries.org) would be a good way to spend one of these days. This was a great way to spend the day. It was good to go to the Armouries museum as it is spitting distance from our flat and now I can say I've been. Yet, it was a little odd when we went to see the Falconry demonstration and we were able to buy a 'Family Pass' to attend the event. I guess I should be thankful for my youthful, good looks (!) that allow me to pass for the daughter of a 45 year old. But, it was also a reminder that there are vast differences between Anne and I. I was five years old when she got married. She's ten years away from retirement and I am just starting my career. What does this phenomenon say about me? When it comes to friendship, does it matter if there is an age spread?
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