SFO to LON

This is travelling UK style - trip to Norfolk and Suffolk

2011-09-06T02:59:00.006+01:00

Sorry so far behind - must catch up on the last couple of months.

So after returning from Somerset with Sarah, I took off with Robert on a driving tour of Norfolk and Suffolk. I made him pose for many embarrassing photos. Luckily he is a ham of the old school and didn't mind.

Here he is enjoying a ham sarnie (sandwich) and a hot drink (coffee) sitting on the boot (trunk) of the car. We are just about to get to Ely which is a cathedral city with the most amazing Norman church. holy cow.

2011-08-29T18:53:00.002+01:00

Good Jam haul from the village fete. It was very fun; there was lots of junk for sale, a tambola, funny games, and tea and cakes in the church.

Proper village fete.

Time to set off back to the big smoke but one more picture of Sarah and her Mum in front of the cottage.

Wells Cathedral

2011-08-28T21:23:00.026+01:00

Part of August Bank Holiday weekend trip to Somerset was a quick whip around the ground of Wells Cathedral. Which as frequeently turns out, is a pretty interesting place with a ton of history - smack in the middle of rural England. The present cathedral was begun in 1175 on the sight of a much earlier Saxon church from about 705. the 1175 church was the first English Church to be built in the French Gothic style.

The adjacent Bishop's House is surrounded by a moat with swans - who apparently can ring a bell for their supper. Now these swans also apparently feature in the film Hot Fuzz. So this post gives you both historical facts and movie trailor what more could you want?

swans (not ringing the bell)

Somerset with Sarah

2011-08-27T21:42:00.001+01:00

Leaving merry olde southe London behind, we set off on our August Bank Holiday trip. Sarah has agreed to drive and I have agreed to passenger (!). We are headed to Somerset, specifically a little village (actually the second largest village in Somerset) called Everchreech known as Evrecriz in the Doomsday Book. My goodness my parents live in a a place that was dredged from the sea in the 20th Century and this place dates back to before the Doomsday Book which was 1086.

Pfffft - Stonehenge?! We have Woodhenge

2011-08-27T13:19:00.002+01:00

2011-08-27T13:02:00.000+01:00

Here I am centred on the ley lines. Despite being bank holiday weekend it was cold.

On our trip to Somerset Sarah took me to Woodhenge - a timber circle 2 miles from Stonehenge. It was discovered in the 1920s from an aerial photograph.

June and Roger celebrate summer

2011-07-17T15:26:00.006+01:00

June embraces the summer (needless to say it was cold and windy and looked like rain). We had just had a nice lunch at the marina were they keep their boat.

Roger points out France.

July garden

2011-07-03T15:04:00.005+01:00

Next update on the garden. This is the 3 July BBQ. Adam as usual is supplying scale. Its really flourishing. I have been spending a lot of time out there, when its sunny. When I move back to SF I'll need a garden of some sort.

Jen relaxes and the garden entertains

2011-06-15T14:56:00.002+01:00

Bob and Jen came again to visit this summer. You know I am obsessed with my garden this year. Well, Jen and Bob approved! Here's a beautiful picture of relaxing Jen taken by Bob.

We had a lot of fun in the garden this summer.

Garden 28 May

2011-05-29T12:57:00.001+01:00

Here is farmer Adam visiting his plot (my back garden) after 2 months. My how she has grown. TO remind you, here is what she looked like on planting day 1 April. Adam will be my scale from now on - he's six foot - six inches. That front fox glove plant is about my height - I'm 5'2".

I asked for an English Cottage garden and look what I am getting. It was a BBQ day for Spring Bank holiday weekend. Weather was grey and cold; after almost 2 months of glorious weather. We considered lighting a fire after huddling round the BBQ outside but ended up just turning on the heat. Ah, British Summer.

here's what 49 looks like

2011-04-21T18:55:00.002+01:00

a bit battered all sorts of new scars but not bad.

Can't smile as its meant to be my passport photo - apparently evil-doers don't smile or something. I still don't know why they don't let you smile

birthday shoes

2011-04-19T13:28:00.007+01:00

For my birthday I bought shoes. a celebration of walking again. still slow and with a stick but better and better. Time to move out of lace up daps, trainers, sneakers, or kicks and into childlike red, flat, mary-janes. Not sure what that says about my currently mindset, but I also bought a pair of green flats and flowered Doc Martins! So now set for a walkable spring.

Birthday drinks and dinner very lovely. Getting older by the minute!

leg 9 April

2011-04-09T13:17:00.002+01:00

have held off on the gross leg pictures but as this blog is sort of my diary, too, I thought I should record the leg with scar. Its not too gross right now just a heck of a scar. In April I have made some big strides . Back to work full time and walking with out a stick around the flat and office. I still look like a toddler but getting more stable. Not quite so freaked out when someone walks near me too quickly.

March was tough as I kept thinking I would be better more quickly. This is taking forever. So as it is 9 April, it has been six months and seven days since I was hit. Still hurts a lot, when I first stand up. At physio I am now doing small lunges and standing on one leg. Have been ok'ed to use the cross trainer getting on and off is a bit tricky but its nice to be doing something that makes your heart go.

Roll on, summer!

new garden

2011-04-01T21:09:00.007+01:00

To go with my new deck, my friends planted a new garden. Lucky me I now have something to look at as I stare out the window. will take pictures as it grows.

This is Adam, the designer and his trusty dog Miko helpfully digging holes.

Adam, Gary and Meko after garden clearing

2011-03-27T18:47:00.011+01:00

The beginning of the great garden updo. The deck looks so much better that Adam tells me we need to cut everything back. So after a lovely lunch or was it dinner he forces Gary and to a lesser extent me to help him clear out the debris.

I've never seen any one so quick and decimating with the secateurs. Slash, chop, bash, rip out - boom! The back garden is now tidy. I've given him a budget and next week, Easter Bank holiday weekend we will get cracking. So exciting. I've never really been a garden person before but I am looking forward to this small space.

flowers flowers spring is coming!!!

2011-03-23T18:19:00.001Z

return of more mobility aids

2011-03-02T13:34:00.012Z

Well some of them anyway - here in my tub are the raised toilet seats and seating assist cages as well as a shower stool. So I can climb up the step (one, omg, can it actually only be one step?) shower and stand up to take a shower. Yippee... Yay... hurray...!!

Thank you, Camden Social Services, but you can have them back now.

I am obsessed with my legs

2011-02-28T18:12:00.003Z

Not really, but I do take a lot of pictures of my feet/leggs, well, who wouldn't be if you were in my shoes (sorry). Any way last weekend I went out and bought a whole slew of fancy socks and tights. If you have to wear sneakers at least your socks can be cool.

This will be Ceri's birthday present

2011-02-07T18:16:00.001Z

but in much brighter yarn as chosen by her in January. I wont finish it until the summer but am looking forward to see how it turns out

walking to physio now

2011-02-04T13:47:00.001Z

this doesn't look like much but its the hill that I must down and up to get to the Royal Free hospital.

This is the one that Dad pushed me up in December and now I must walk up and down it on my own. This bit is actually ok, up a bit further it moves to cobble stones which is tricky for those who are learning to walk again.

Someday soon I will skip up this.

my new stick

2011-01-25T13:52:00.000Z

Not much too look at but this Fischer stick represents another part of the walking process. Nice ergonomic handle, basic black, aluminium, plastic with a rubber ferrule at the bottom. This looks like a Porsche to me.

They call them sticks here, not canes. Canes are made of cane - sticks is the generic name. Who knew?

As soon as possible I am heading to James Smith & Sons (est. since 1830) to buy something more beautiful but this will always be my first...

mobility aid goes back

2011-01-23T13:40:00.013Z

Good bye wheelchair! He she is all packed up and ready to be picked up. OAt Jan appointment they said move to full weight bearing (FWB). So byw bye wheelchair as I'll soon have a hand available to carry stuff around. Hope to be off the crutches and down to a walking stick as soon as possible.

Have hydro-physio this week and hope to convince the physio I can move to a stick.

This makes me almost as happy as taking the zimmer frame back to the hospital once I conquered the crutches!

Uncle David tests out the truck

2011-01-01T03:02:00.001Z

My Uncle David has built a scaled down boat and now he's building a trailer for it. Of course the trailer needs to be pulled by a car so here we are testing the remote controlled monster truck. You will be pleased to know it can easily pull four pounds - so all it needs now is a gear box. A gear box!!??

At least its sunny out on my perch above the turning basin, so I'm happy just watching.

This is the way to start the New Year - nice temperatures in the Tampa Bay Area

2011-01-01T02:59:00.002Z

Another ridiculously nice day on the turning basin

2010-12-31T03:07:00.005Z

Half completed new floating dock. when there is a ramp installed I can roll out on it and get close to the water. Pelicans and me just sitting around watching the water...

Physio room

2010-12-29T02:51:00.001Z

Here's where all the physical jerks happens in the Mad Beach house. Spare room with Scandinavian furnishings, stretchy band, rolled up towels, small weights, tiny weights, roller ball, and lots of carpet and books.

Sometimes I get distracted by the books. After an early session, I picked up a book on clipper ships which I really had to read.

Getting stronger and more flexible. Knee is bending nicely, scar not getting in the way to much. Really looking forward to knowing that all is well after x-ray on 18 January.

I guess the wonderful Dennis (Physio guy) will then start the really cruel exercises. Looking forward to it.

Boxing day humour

2010-12-26T20:14:00.004Z

In my family, we go to a movie this picture was posted on the wall of the bar where we had lunch. Florida humour has never been so funny to me. There really are a lot of these electric scooter things here - its like a different race of non-walking humans inhabit the Sunshine State.

If you look closely you can see my Dad holding his coat open in the reflection. He's not a flasher we just tried to take a picture that was legible - but it is funny.

I got a hand scaner for christmas

2010-12-25T20:10:00.001Z

pillow scan

recipe scan

I am a scanning demon. Look out world, if it sits still I'm gonna scan it and post it somewhere. So far I've done pillows, books, pictures. Next I'm gonna try my leg...

Merry Christmas everyone.

Full moon in Carrollwood

2010-12-21T20:02:00.000Z

Visiting My Friend Nancy Yost during the holiday season os always a joy, the house is be-decked. Even the dock is becked out! The moon rising above Lake Carroll made it even more picturesque.

Had a great time again this year. Still haven't managed to try out that pool. Must try and visit in the summer.

Tasty winter comfort

2010-12-20T19:58:00.000Z

Here's a little pre-Christmas joy. Its a 15 to 18 year old whisk(e)y tasting. Its (relatively) cold here in Mad Beach so to keep the chill away we broke out the sipping stuff and had some with cheese. Nice way to end the day. Must remember to buy some to take back to the office. Something tells me when I do finally get back there I will need some at the end of the day.

Nice staples, huh?

2010-12-19T03:27:00.000Z

Target AND and electric wheelchair

2010-12-18T20:07:00.000Z

My dreams are fulfilled.

11 weeks since that man knocked me off my vespa

2010-12-18T02:57:00.000Z

10 weeks and three days since the surgery. I got a letter from the police saying they were going to make the guy take a driver's awareness course. Hmmm, not really what I had in mind.

The invalid herself

2010-12-16T03:22:00.001Z

Here she is, sitting on the new deck furniture in the sun.

View for recovery

2010-12-15T03:19:00.001Z

John's Pass from near the new bridge

2010-12-14T02:48:00.005Z

Bright and sunny day. No one at the boardwalk. no one on the boats and one lone jet ski idiot.

Quiet stroll (ok, push from my Dad) around John's Pass Village ending in rocky road ice cream cone.

Wedding was fabulous

2010-12-11T03:33:00.020Z

On Friday my Cousin was married to her long term squeeze in a beautiful wedding at a beautiful old church, St. John the Baptist Church outside of Oxford. I can't find any information on the church but it was old, beautiful and very very cold inside. Cousin Rhian and Husband Mark both looked amazing and the ceremony was grand. The reception was at this amazing hotel/event place called the Crazy Bear. Since it was my first full day out of the house, I didn't make it too late to the reception. It was rocking when I left at 1900.

Spent the next couple of days with family recovering form the event.

New deck almost finished, next summer will be great. Snow gone after the rain of Saturday.

2010-12-07T03:13:00.003Z

Snow

2010-12-02T03:07:00.006Z

Just as the family arrives from Florida, the temperature plummets and it snows.

Floridians in the snow are funny to watch. This is the third time Ceri has seen snow.

Back garden in the snow with back deck half built. No pictures of the frozen Floridians in the living room.

Dad, Mum and Ceri arrive in London

2010-12-01T20:24:00.029Z

Dad has decided to help me get to and from physio. So today we did the first trip. Cab there, physio, then Dad gets his work out by pushing me home and of course stopping by the George for a celebratory pint of London Pride. This picture shows a happy man.

Week after next we are going to my cousin's wedding. That will take some doing; three days of not being in my little home cocoon. Luckily, I will be surrounded by family. They can help haul the crutches and wheel chairs and bad leg. Have decide to go home and do some recuperating in the sun.

Carer falls asleep

2010-11-28T08:44:00.002Z

'nuff said

Robert came to visit and we had an outing

2010-11-28T08:39:00.000Z

It was a lovely sunny day and I actually crutched it down to the village! Had to get a push back up the hill as it was my first foray out of the house which didn't involve the hospital and a cab.

So its now looking like at some point in the futuer I may actually get over this. Also note that lovely pink cheek with no stitches. Hope that swelling goes down

It was so lovely out we just paused at the corner and soaked up some sun.

Meanwhile....

After the push up the hill - my carer overreacts

2010-11-28T06:42:00.000Z

OK, maybe not but still. Always the actor, Robert takes a break

Stitches out of my face

2010-11-19T16:56:00.011Z

District nurse cam eout today and removed the stitches in my face from the BCC biopsy. Of course, it looks a lot better than I had thought it would a week ago. It is still a scar and its still in the middle of my face - right cheek close to my nose - and I will need to watch out carefully for others in the future.

I am so relieved that this week is over. I didn't really need another thing to worry about while I am still trying to get over the motorcycle accident. Technically I still have to wait for the results from the biopsy to make sure all the edges are clear and they got everything; but I am happy to be on my way to smiling and laughing again with out worrying that I am pulling on those stitches.

Six week X-ray for my broken leg

2010-11-18T17:05:00.027Z

Enjoying the first London Pride out of house since the accident. Note the lovely bandage covering up the site of the biopsy - does one woman deserve all this medical attention? Thanks to Kirsty for pushing me up the hill to the pub and then getting me back to the flat.

Today - its six weeks and three days since the surgery (ORIF - Open reduction, internal, fixation with hardware, since you asked) on my fractured leg. I have been back to the Royal Free for yet another Xray. This will be the gazillionth since I was knocked off the lovely vespa on 2 October. In this one they are looking to see if all the hardware remains where it should be and if there has been any bone growth.

I think I was a little to optimistic about what happens after six weeks. I think I thought I would be at least getting to be off my crutches but no partial weight bearing just means you get to put your foot down and then work your way slowly back to walking but still with crutches....

Augh. At least I md arrangements for Kirsty to come to the hospital to meet me so we could get a cab back together. She talked me into a walk/push home with her doing all the work. We made it up the hill to Haverstock then decided we needed a beer before going any further - so we nipped into The George, a local. The London Pride was so good, I had to have dinner.

After a pint and dinner, we rolled home - well I rolled and Kirsty pushed. Then we attacked the front steps - there has to be a way to get up those **blinking** four steps at the front of my building. After much hilarity I ended up scooting up on my backside and wriggling onto the emergency stool kept just inside the door. Its scary that this much later I still cannot get back int othe flat by myself and therefore I cannot leave the flat unless I have a back up plan ready to receive me.

Plus - how ridiculous do I look crawling up the steps on my behind (it always rains here) and wriggling up onto a stool. Good think I'm not too hung up on my reputation for suavity. Jeez.

Anyway, Thanks Kirsty for the night out and lets see what the physio says now that he can come back and work with me.

Tomorrow, sutures our from the BCC and continuing to get better

Basel Cell Carcinoma

2010-11-12T16:42:00.009Z

When it rains it pours they say and so it is with our intrepid writer. Before getting run over by Mr. Wong the Ford driver -- who it turns out is the dude who hit me on 2 October 2010. I went to the GP to have her check out a spot on my face. Hmmm, better get that looked out by a dermatologist.

Two weeks later I am at the Royal Free awaiting the verdict. Yes, indeed, Its a Basel Cell Carcinoma (aka BCC or delightfully here in jolly olde England a rodent ulcer). Bad news, good news. Bad news - that spot on my face is actually a cancer but good news - its a milder form of skin cancer. However its nothing to sneeze at and should be taken very seriously. So I was scheduled for a biopsy and after several delays, today is the day.

I thought it would be a small incision - but it turned out to be a pretty big hole right on my cheek; several layers of stitches and the top layer looked pretty bad. I am depressed but what the heck compared to the massive and still healing scar on my leg from the crash and the otehr scar on my face also from teh crash - this is really not that bad.

Gotta say, its been tough this last couple of weeks. In seven days the stitches come out and we will see.

Mum leaves! no no no

2010-11-08T12:00:00.004Z

But before she goes, here's a picture of her in her foraging outfit. She did a fabulous job of running around for me while I laid around the flat.

Together we have worked on the flat so I can handle it on my own but I will still miss her.

Wouldn't you?

My bedroom, with Laundry and bandaged leg

2010-11-03T11:55:00.008Z

Here's the view from my bed. Its night time and there are clothes hanging to dry because this is Britain and for some reason they refuse to adopt decent dryer technology, therefore if you launder at home you end of with clothes draying all over the home. Foot still has the mark on it so the surgeons wouldn't accidentally reconstruct the wrong leg.

Getting better. but its still a long way off.

A ramp means I can climb mount kitchen!

2010-11-02T19:28:00.005Z

Note the excitement on my face. I can now scale the Olympian heights of Mount Kitchen and begin to take care of myself.

Not that I will until Mum leaves on the 8th but its all in the preparation.

new chair to help getting around for the short term

2010-11-01T19:26:00.000Z

isn't it breezy?

The end of the cat period in my life - for now

2010-10-28T14:27:00.021+01:00

It has been beyond tough for the last month, what with the motorcycle accident on 2 October and now six weeks (minimum) at home> Thank my lucky stars, Mum could come and stay with me for almost four of those weeks as I am now almost able to take care of myself in my flat.

Sadly, today I had to put Dylan to sleep. Morgana passed away this summer after a short illness which was a big surprise. I had been worrying about Dylan as he was at least 2 years older. Finally, it just became too much to watch him get skinnier and skinnier and have more trouble getting around. He was at least 21 years old to Morgana's 19. This picture is from his San Francisco days - when he was a mere 14 years old. He did have a good life.

Saved from a vet in Knoxville in 1992, I took him in because Jen and Shannon and Susanne and Ross all thought I needed cats. He joined me in residence in Atlanta. Then boyfriend-at-the-time convinced me that two cats were easier than one, so Morgana joined our happy band. Both moved with me to SF in 203 and then on to London, where they have been international cats of mystery for four years now.

I will miss them both dearly.

My baby is total-ed

2010-10-19T14:54:00.003+01:00

Well, if you look here you can see her when I first took possession of the bike in May. Here you see the same side of the bike post-accident. The insurance engineer decided it wasn't worth repairing.

Right now I'm not sure what I am going to do about getting another one. I have another several weeks before I can leave the house so I'll deal with that later.

Mum keeps timorous beastie at bay

2010-10-15T16:56:00.002+01:00

lovely shiner

2010-10-13T14:41:00.000+01:00

This was probably day 3 in hospital - so round about 5 October. Probably just before surgery on my leg. The shiner was still pretty large and the cut on my nose from my glasses still healing. Thank goodness for helmets. At this point most of the body bruising hasn't even come to the surface yet and I didn't really take photos of that as it was just to gross.

Boy, did I want to have my hair washed. Not sure which bits of hospital are worse dirty hair or bed pains of course there is also the endless round of needles.

Some of the lovely flowers

2010-10-13T11:49:00.004+01:00

Thanks to all of my friends who visited me and sent me flowers while I was in the hospital. They really brightened up the ward - this was a particularly beautiful bouquet sent from my friends in San Fran. At least I remembered to take a picture of these - they were so cheery.

Thanks

its been a pretty crappy couple of weeks

2010-10-12T13:34:00.001+01:00

On 3 October, I was knocked off my scooter by a car that "didn't see" me. Incredibly painful broke two bones in my lower left leg. Had to wait four days in hospital for surgery then another week before I could get out. My Mother flew in from FLA to help me through the first weeks of recovery. No wieght on my right leg for 6-9 weeks. To say I have been a physical and emotional basket case is putting it mildly.

How ever on the plus side (I am very optimistic) I have had a lot of time to think and while not struck by any incredible insight, I have managed to not be my usual pissy self (though I have my moments) and found some moments of real laughter in the ward with the other patients, mostly women in the 70+ category getting knees and hips replaced.

Once I got over the whole bedpan things - why oh why hasn't someone designed something better for that function!! - and got through the surgery, then got home with Mum helping me out things began to look up.

So I thought I would spend the time I have stuck at home on getting a few things sorted out that I never did before. 1) get someone in to look at the garden. 2) get the flipping plumbing sorted out and 3) re carpet the really grotty bits of the flat.

So something to do/direct along with my physio for the next couple of weeks.

big ole swollen leg with exoskeletan brace

2010-10-09T16:59:00.002+01:00

couple of days after surgery

Here he is - my new baby

2010-05-20T20:25:00.001+01:00

You may not have known but Cream Puff is no more. She was spirited away on one Sunday evening in April by bad men. Actually they were probably boys because who else would hotwire, steal, joyride and them dump trashed a 12 year old crapped out (but loved) vespa?

Anyway after hours on the phone and a measely check from my insurance company, I decided to spring for something from this century and even this decade. He's a 2004 GT in silver (grey?) with "Grantourismo" elegantly scrawled on the right hand side. I'm not showing the left or front as he was clearly dropped on the left and bumped into something on the front. But the newer and slightly larger frame with a nicer engine does feel pretty cushy. Interestingly he has over twice the mileage of cream puff.

what shall we name him?

Laura Lee's sweater is finally assembled!

2010-05-02T12:36:00.022+01:00

Started this sweater two years ago on holiday in South Carolina. the actual knitting finished months ago,but assembly has been waiting for yonks. Mainly because its cotton and therefore a pain. Actually had to be blocked which required a big flat surface and even then it took several hours and a trip to my upstairs neighbor to see it on someone! The sweater is from Sally Melville's book The Knit Stitch, Its called "where's the opaque? sweater"

This is hard to picture and the photo doesn't show it well, but the top front, back and sleeves are all slightly see through and the main front is opaque. The opaque bit wraps around the back a bit so the sleeves have a lot of shaping and joining the opaque to the non-opaque took some serious attention ans the rows and fabric all all very different. I also forgot until I starting piecing it together that I had mad it a bit longer as LLG not short. Therefor as I am blocking the pieces out puzzled about how I managed to miss the measurements by over an inch, then I found my original notes. I should take better notes - especially as I take YEARS to knit things for adults.

Anyway over all I am happy and I hope she will be too when she gets it. Why did I finally manage to get it together? It's her birthday this weekend - so happy BDay LLG!

Here's where I frogged big portions of the sweater last summer

finally blocking LLG's sweater

2010-05-02T10:01:00.001+01:00

Amazing

2010-04-30T15:09:00.015+01:00

I love these trees. I know I seem to have an obsession with spring blossoms but these trees really give their all in the spring. Its kind of hard to believe that can put out that kind of energy and still remain standing. This week was lovely in London, of course it started raining was I walked home on Friday night, perfect rainy weather for a bank holiday weekend.

Guitarist - skinny legs and grills

2010-04-26T22:27:00.000+01:00

skinny legs and grills
Originally uploaded by sillewellyn.
Funny sign posted in Hackney - all over Hackney and East London actually.

Henry's sweater

2010-04-25T15:19:00.005+01:00

Have been on bit of a binge of late with knitting. I started this project last month and finished this month and--even more shocking--I actually put it together this weekend. Now if I really behave in an un-Sian-like way I will actually mail it to San Francisco.

Good thing its cold-ish in San Fran all year around.

Summer Dressing Saturday Times

2010-04-24T22:23:00.000+01:00

Summer Dressing Saturday Times
Originally uploaded by sillewellyn.
I love the British press, we are two weeks away from an election and the cover shot of Saturday Times was this picture.

Lovely Saturday at Stratford, with Swimming and Stadium

2010-04-24T09:51:00.000+01:00

stratford, swimming and stadium
Originally uploaded by sillewellyn.
Here's the view of the London Olympic Site on Saturday 25 April 2010. just over 2 years before the Games begin. We are standing on the top of the parking deck across the street from Stratford Train, Tube and Eurostar station with its lovely glass facade which will face onto the High Street.

Behind it with the big sweeping manta-ray roof is the swimming venue by Zaha Hadid and behind that is the Main Stadium by Populous (formerly HOK Sport) Way in the background you can just see the Gherkin (Swiss RE Building) a prominent feature in the City of London Skyline, so we are looking South-west-ish.

My firm (who shall remain nameless as this is a personal blog) did the Masterplanning for the Games and is now working on the post games or legacy planning. Its a huge regeneration scheme and very exciting to see the bones now set up for the Games as well as the post-games neighbourhoods. Plans for the Legacy stage are now in the hands of the London Olympic Park Legacy Company.

Very exciting, the Games are really coming.

Interactive art in the East End of London

2010-04-24T08:40:00.001+01:00

Gary and Heather interact.

Clearer view of the stadium waiting for its roof

2010-04-24T08:24:00.000+01:00

'The horses, as everyone knows, are brilliant' ... War Horse.

2010-04-04T23:21:00.001+01:00

Photograph: Graeme Robertson

Really amazing theatre, I went with Robert for his birthday. Usually Robert and I travel on Easter weekend but this year he just came to London to hang out at the flat and go and see a play for his birthday (ok it was six months agao but Oxford is so far away from London I don't see him that often.

anyway after much faffing, we decided on War Horse at the New London Theatre in Drury Lane. It was amazing. Calling them puppets doesn't really do the show justice. It was really amazing, you suspend all belief in fact that you are watching three people pretend to be a horse - or a duck or a bird or a tank...

After the play we indulged in too much gin and didn't get to sleep until 5 am. Then we went to meet a friend for Easter lunch at Magdala pub in Hampstead at South End. Turned into a lovely and leisurely walk around the Heath. I think I may even have a bit of a tan. Robert's friend John was a great find. We laughed so hard we fell off furniture, made others uncomfortable and even laughed until we cried.

All in all it was an excellent day - I am enjoying the last light of a dying fire and drinking water to overcome the dehydration last night's bout of gin drinking brought on.

Flat Stanly in the Olympic Stadium (model)

2010-04-03T15:27:00.009+01:00

My Friend Nancy Yost, has a son and son Yost is doing a project in school which consists of sending Flat Stanley to friends around the world and having his picture taken. With me Stanley has been to Cannes, Warsaw, Ashridge Conference Centre in England. This is Stanly astride the Olympic Stadium in a large floor model of the Olympic site.

Flat Stanly in Warsaw

2010-04-03T15:00:00.001+01:00

Flat Stanly gets ready for a plane ride

2010-04-03T07:42:00.002+01:00

Can't help but feeling spring is in the air... the bloody birds are making too much noise

2010-02-26T09:36:00.001Z

Traditionally February is a LONGGGG month for me despite its actual number of days. Since I moved (ages ago) from Sunny Florida I have missed the sun. Funnily moving to London - really far away and really far north.

--Caution Big Diversion ahead--
I got curious about how far north I really was so I started looking up Lats of places I have lived and here they are in chronological order:
TPA Latitude: 27° 58' 23'' N;
ATL Latitude: 33° 38' 27" N;
SFO Latitude: 37 °34' 5" N;
LHR Latitude: 51° 28' 39" N
Holy cow - Moscow's main airport (not that I live there or plan to, its just, you know, cold) is Lat 55° 58' 59" - thank you Gulf Stream

I guess I'm some sort of weird reverse snowbird. While I thought San Fran really was the frozen north it was only 10° north. A reminder for those of you who fell asleep in middle school there are 90° of Lat north of the equator to give you a comparison scale.
--Big Diversion now over--

Going to Tampa for Christmas I watched the sun come up most mornings because it was such a beautiful sight. In fact I frequently took a picture of it with my phone (I need to figure out how to get the phone pictures in the blog). Now I see why I did that - I actually crave the sunrise at about 6-7 am - when it really should be rising!

But you know you can always tell when after weeks of rain and darkness you wake up at 6 because the birds are making a bloody racket; you look out the window and its NOT dark. I swear sap rises in my soul.

But I'm getting British enough to know that I'll start moaning about something else soon. I bet I'll start complaining about not sleeping because it get too light to early.

sheep

2010-02-26T08:26:00.001Z

sheep.
Click on the word sheep to hop to You tube and see a video. I know you can embed them but I don't feel like slowing down to learn how!

I am a knitter and my family is Welsh. I have heard sheep are not too bright. This link is from and it feels like home's blog - see link on list to the right.

so fabulous

First Country Music then Shootin'

2010-01-08T22:57:00.003Z

As a friend just reminded me I am getting it all done this holiday season. Last week it was all about Country Music and today I'm out at a shooting range with my Daddy. Turns out I am a crack shot with a 22 pistol, so long as I'm shooting at a target and its no further from me than about 25 feet. BTW, that's 10 shots, eight of which went in th ered zone and that's my phone for scale purposes.

I disliked the 9 mm Beretta and the .45 Para-ordinace, but really liked the .22 Ruger. So if you are ever in a pinch and require some back up (remember only targets with in 25 feet) I'm your gal. Just call me Annie Oakley.

Original Carrollwood and the new Yost Estate

2009-12-30T22:38:00.002Z

Part of my Florida Christmas was the annual Yost pilgrimage. She and all of hers has moved into the new residence and its lovely. The night I stayed was also the night that daughter had a sleep over and the next morning we had breakfast with the girls and their Mums. So here we are in the new chairs enjoying a sunny morning between Christmas and new year in The Original Carollwood.

Now the funny thing is about The Original Carrollwood is that if you grew up in north Tampa way back when. There was no need for the "the original" part of that moniker there was only Carrollwood. Then across Dale Mabry they built Carrollwood Village. That was where the 1970s nouveau riche lived. I was decidedly out in the regular 'burbs in Lake Mag. Anyway, apparantly The Original Carrollwood had to stake its claim as everything north of, say, Waters Avenue is now know as generic Carrollwood. So now its famous in a song and everything. Here's Piece of Paradise as sung on WMNF.

Note my Mum is a volunteer at WMNF so this is kind of a plug.

Sunday morning with papers and lace

2009-12-20T12:59:00.003Z

sunday morning with papers and lace
Originally uploaded by sillewellyn.

Am trying to learn to knit lace because I found this amazing book; Victorian Lace Today. This woman from Oxford did all this amazing research on old Victorian patterns for knitted lace. Its funny, the actual patterns are fascinating, but not something I would wear myself. They do seem like they would be at home draped over a large overstuffed sofa in a crowded room.

But the challenge is really something I am up for! Plus lace weight yarn is so wonderful and light. Once I have put that much effort into something I'm not sure I would actually want anyone to wear it...

Of course its also just a big excuse to sit by a window and knit in the soft winter light.

Green Acres is the place to be...

2009-12-19T12:31:00.000Z

green acres
Originally uploaded by sillewellyn.

At the end of October several of us went to the wilds of Kent to celebrate a birthday. We stayed in a renovated oast house

and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.

On Sunday we took a long walk and I was delighted to pass by the Green Acres farm. Do you think they know they named it after an old American television program? As it happens, there wasn't another American on the weekend (three Australians and a Brit) so I didn't get to have a big giggle with anyone else - so giggle with me now, please.

snow on creampuff

2009-12-19T11:56:00.001Z

snow on creampuff
Originally uploaded by sillewellyn.

Here is day 2 of the big London snow. Actually, it has not been that bad but I did have to leave creampuff at home for the day. I'm not that confident of London drivers, icy roads and my ability to negotiate both of them. It would have been cold but I am now getting used to dressing for the weather.

I still say there is nothing better to put an exclamation point at the end of your day than riding home through the streets of London. If its been a particularly harrowing day; I drive across town and go up through Regent's Park. Its dark and green and in the summer lovely. IN the winter its cold and dark and lonely but its still a nice end.

Hope your last Saturday before Christmas is not too busy.

4th Plinth - extreme knitting

2009-12-17T22:18:00.001Z

http://www.oneandother.co.uk/participants/Knitsib

I fogot to show a link to this fabulous article about planners in Croyden

2009-12-17T18:30:00.001Z

The boys and girls in the band - or the future of planning in the UK

It's supposed to snow tonight

2009-12-17T18:23:00.002Z

Yikes, travel tomorrow will be hell but hopefully there will be some good photo's to link too. Not much happening now - other than darkness but you know that don't you.

Left the office

2009-12-16T18:14:00.003Z

Tonight I went to a great party at nla. With my new job I get to leave the office on occasion, now. The exhibit was interesting and there was a great model of London on display. I missed the talk given by Peter Finch, but had a lovely conversation with nla chairman Peter Murray, programme director Debbie Whitfield and Managing Director Nick McKeogh. I highly recommend that you go by the Building Centre if you are in London.

Good wine and I met some wonderful new London people; perfect pre-christmas open house. Despite the fact that it was raining and I had to get a proposal out the door, I still went with our new marketing director and it was great.

Note to self: leave the office.

gosh, I have let down the side and not blogged in an age

2009-12-15T18:06:00.001Z

It's ridiculously dark in London by 3:30, so I am looking forward to my visit home. I'm scheduled to fly BA next week and on Monday BA flight crew scheduled a 12 day strike! Oh no, much gnashing of teeth and then I just said, "what will be will be." Guess what? Today a court said the ballot was illegal and so (hopefully) I fly on Christmas Eve as planned.

Makes me think is BA too big to fail? How many times have you heard that phrase "too big to fail" in the last year? So, I have decided to start thinking of myself as too big to fail.

I am toatlly going to cheat and retroactively post an entry about the ladies who knit!

Ladies who knit

2009-12-13T12:37:00.002Z

ladies who knit
Originally uploaded by sillewellyn.

had to post a pipcture of the newest knitting group. barely holds a candle to the pub group when I first got here.

Yesterday we had the first domestic meeting of the Ladies "who all work together at an un-named place" knitting session. There were loads of tea sandwiches, I even made cucumber ones. I broke out the tiered cake stand, and made massive amounts of coffee. Of course, we all ended up drinking gin and tonics and then wine as the afternoon wore on.

We did get some knitting done though as can be seen in the photo above. Sarah's working on a sampler scarf (which she promptly left in a cab two days later!). Kirsty is working on a small house - she's an architect so I guess that explains it. Rachael is just knitting, we think it may be a scarf but mostly she's just learning.

We also had a roaring fire so it was a wonderful Saturday well spent.

Financial Times visits Macon and Athens

2009-10-10T22:31:00.002+01:00

How weird is that? Macon and Athens (GEORGIA!) are the travel spots in this Saturday's Financial Times. Bizarre.

Plus the mention Chad's Band Hank Vegas. The world is officially getting too small.

Saturday night fun

2009-10-10T22:24:00.002+01:00

This week I managed to catch a miserable cold. So I've collapsed today and just lounged around at home. Knitting and catching up on some reading. Started feeling better -- day 3 you always feel better -- around 20:00. Just as the Ocado man was supposed to be delivering my groceries. In a whirlwind of activity I cleaned up the kitchen and mopped up the crap that accumulates when you are not feeling well. I knew I had reached a moment of craziness when I found myself cleaning the kitchen garbage bin/can lid. So, do you ever get stir crazy and find yourself cleaning things?

Yipes.

Unravel or rip!

2009-10-09T11:04:00.001+01:00

unravel
Originally uploaded by sillewellyn.

Oh, no, I finally admitted that I had messed up this sleeve for a UFO (unfinished object) that has been languishing in my basket for over a year. so on a sunny day in the summer I just ripped it out. Painful to see but I documented it. Here it is partially ripped

Rip and wind

2009-10-09T11:03:00.000+01:00

unravel and wind
Originally uploaded by sillewellyn.

here its is all ripped out and partially balled/wound up. Note the lovely day outside and the dappled sunlight. sigh

All neatly re-wound

2009-10-09T11:01:00.001+01:00

all wound
Originally uploaded by sillewellyn.

Here is the sleeve all ripped and wound up neatly. Funny thing about knitting all the labour just disapears -- a bit like life I guess

Shira's unfinished gloves

2009-10-04T11:22:00.002+01:00

shira's gloves
Originally uploaded by sillewellyn.

One of the benefits of being home is you get to knit all the time. Two days in bed mean that I finished one fingerless glove and started the second. Really like this pattern, but it is the yarn which is so yummy. I bought it at Christmas last year in Florida but its a Welsh Collinette yummy yarn. I've lost the ball band but I think its called Jitterbug. It travelled from Wales to Florida and back to the UK. This summer it went on vacation with me to Egypt; last month it went to Tahoe and Chicago; and now its back in the UK.

The pattern is called Porphyria by Cissy Black. I got it off the web when I was home for Christmas. However; when I went to put a link to the pattern to give some props to the designer I find Porphiria is a disease as well as a glove pattern.

Knits up nice and springy, I think its meant to be a sock yarn. I'm sure Lawyer Shira will find a use for them when they make there way back to Chicago! Thanks for the hospitality, Shira and Jeremy!

Bench in Westminster dedicated to some Atlantan

2009-08-25T20:51:00.001+01:00

atl bench
Originally uploaded by sillewellyn.

I sat on this bench in Westminster and as I sat down I noticed that the bench had a plaque on it (most benches do in London). I turned around to see th estory and was shocked to see the bench was dedicated to the "honor (spelled wrong) of Mr. Boggs, beloved Director of Choral music at Westminster School, Atlanta Georgia."

How odd is that? Any of my Atlanta friends know of Mr. Boggs - sadly it looks as if he passed in 1992, holy cow he was born in 1969 - he was super young.

Sarah's new front door (hopefully)

2009-08-24T20:42:00.000+01:00

Sarah's new front door (hopefully)
Originally uploaded by sillewellyn.

Last week, I went to south (pronounced "sowf" and north London is pronounced "norf") London to see my friend Sarah's (hopefully) new home. I say hopefully because buying a place to live in the UK is a long and onerous process. Found this place ages ago, did all her homework, made, offer, accepted, back and forthing now for MONTHS. I do not have her patience. Anyway, its super cute with a nice back garden we went there to speak with builders ---- so she may be getting close to possessing it!!!

Anyway, here she is at the front door saying, "I can't belive you are going to take another picture." But isn't it fun to have something almost yours. I remember both places I bought and how it felt to know that all those changes I made were mine. Hmmmm. maybe its time to settle down again and buy something.

or I could always just live vicariously...

Sarah in her soon to be dining room

2009-08-24T20:30:00.000+01:00

Sarah in her soon to be dining room
Originally uploaded by sillewellyn.

more of Sarah's home buying adventures. Funny thing was once I got home and looked at the pictures there were none of her house just her texting builders and standing in doorways - oh well, the floor boards look nice and that will soon be here living room.

On a roll

2009-08-23T18:29:00.004+01:00

Just finished the Debbie Bliss Baby bolero for Sally and Lucy's baby girl. It fits my old teddy bear perfectly but will look incredibly cute on the six month old. Now I just need to mail it to her - I'm not good at mailing.

So I'll send them this post!

Sunny Day in "Sowf" London

2009-08-22T18:43:00.001+01:00

Mostly I took this photo because of the blue blue sky. Then I enjoyed the two elderly ladies at the top of the stairs. I was on my way to Borough Market for coffee, veggies, pastries, and a bacon butty.

I have to ration bacon butties... They are the best thing EVER. No thing in the US comes close to a UK bacon butty. What is a bacon butty, you ask? Its an amazing concoction of bacon (not American bacon but British bacon which is kind of like Canadian bacon but somehow better) in bread with "tomato sauce" AKA ketchup. That's it, but its perfect and on a sunny London Saturday, before the crowds make the market unbearable, in the shadow of Southwalk Cathedral, with a Monmouth coffee accompaniment; a bacon butty/sarnie/sandwich is the best thing ever.

creampuff parked

2009-08-17T21:30:00.000+01:00

creampuff parked
Originally uploaded by sillewellyn.

I finally bought a Vespa. I've only been talking about it for about a zillion years. Isn't she a beauty? She's a cream coloured, 1997 ET4 125 cc Vespa. She's had six previous owners and she's only done 12000 miles. There are bits of her which are held on with zip ties (! I love that) but she's still elegant and probably not going to be the first one stolen when it comes to choosing a bike to steal.

I've been scootering to work for 2 weeks now and I'm having trouble remembering what its like to take the bus or the tube. I rush out of work at 6 pm because I cannot wait to ride her home. Last Thursday I left work and just drove around Regent's Park for no apparent reason, other than I could.

summer Sunday afternoon

2009-08-16T21:33:00.000+01:00

summer Sunday afternoon
Originally uploaded by sillewellyn.

I had another set of visitors on Saturday afternoon. We had a lovely couple of hours drinking Pimms in the back garden, strolling around Hampstead and then having dinner at XO in Belsize Village.

It was great to see Bob, Virg, Ru and Ollie and catch up on all the SF gossip. They brought me some lovely sun flowers which made a beautiful display the following evening on a late Sunday afternoon.

do i need reading glasses?

2009-08-14T21:56:00.000+01:00

do i need reading glasses?
Originally uploaded by sillewellyn.

This weekend someone asked me if I had reading glasses, yet. The answer is yes and here's a picture of them. However, I don't really need them to read yet. I've been expecting to need them since I turned 40 (that's seven years now).

A whole slew of folks told me its all downhill post 40; but I'm still hanging in there on the presbyopia front.

In anticipation, I bought a pair of reading glasses from Boots and even out them on a chain so I can be a librarian. It struck me as odd that I bought them before I needed them, so I took a picture of them and here they are.

Guerrilla handman

2009-08-09T21:48:00.000+01:00

Guerilla handman
Originally uploaded by sillewellyn.

Dylan (my ancient orange tabby) has been breaking out of the back garden and wandering the neighborhood. All week Bob and Jen had to battle to keep him in. Bob, being the resourceful type, took some wood out of the scary back garden shed and plugged up as many escape routes as we could find.

Unfortunately, nothing stops Dylan, just because he's at least 19, he will not let a little guerrilla handiman action keep him from his appointed rounds with the local news agent.

I'm looking into a harness and leash. If I find one that fits I'll take a picture of that. In the meantime enjoy Bob's antics.

Bob and Jen: Pub a day no. 675

2009-08-08T21:24:00.000+01:00

Bob and Jen: Pub a day no. 675
Originally uploaded by sillewellyn.

On Saturday we set out to enjoy a stroll around the east end and ended up in a pub, as you do. I managed to scam the only empty table and sent the intrepid pair to secure our drinks.

Must have been their 800th Guinness. I had a lovely fruity Belgian beer just right to recover from an afternoon of strolling and shopping off of Brick Lane. Best section of shops are on Cheshire Street near : Labour and Wait is a favourite; but Mimi rocks, too.