As you can probably guess, I am in Paris. This is a beautiful city loaded with culture and amazing things to see and do. I had a drink on the Champs Des Elysees last night after a quick stop at the Notre Dame. I believe Thursday night will include a trip to the Eiffel Tower. This is such a romantic city and I have no one to share it with. Maybe I can find myself a nice french man to show me the city. I will post my pictures when I get back to London.
I am in France teaching a course this week. What a great way to see an amazing city on someone else's dime! I believe I will be off to Turkey for another course sometime in June. It is all very exciting.
Last week was spent near Reading at a training course (I was attending not teaching). The course was very relevant and made you really think about how your behaviours can effect a situation. Outside of learning some brilliant material, I met some great people whom I hope will remain friends for a very long time.
Off to enjoy a nice bottle of French wine....
Betsy
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Spring!
We are having a beautiful day here in London. The sun is shining, the birds are chirping and the flowers are blooming. This must be Spring! I live jabout a block away from Clapham Common (big park) and am going to head down with my travel books to plot out my next adventure (Berlin in early May). There are loads of people in the Common reading, eating, playing, drinking (no open container laws here) and I can't wait to join them. I will make sure to take my camera and snap a few pictures.
I was in Reading yesterday for my friend's, Penny, Hen Night (bachelorette party). It was lovely, about 15 of her good friends went to dinner where the champers (champagne), wine and cocktails were flowing within the first few minutes followed by a fantastic meal. We had a great time and Penny really enjoyed herself. I think we stumbled home somewhere around 12am only to stay up and chat for a couple hours. I really enjoy Penny and Nick and their friends are simply wonderful; I am very lucky to have them in my life. I can't believe the wedding is only 6 weeks away (which means, Mom will be here even sooner!).
OK, off to enjoy the beautiful day. -B
I was in Reading yesterday for my friend's, Penny, Hen Night (bachelorette party). It was lovely, about 15 of her good friends went to dinner where the champers (champagne), wine and cocktails were flowing within the first few minutes followed by a fantastic meal. We had a great time and Penny really enjoyed herself. I think we stumbled home somewhere around 12am only to stay up and chat for a couple hours. I really enjoy Penny and Nick and their friends are simply wonderful; I am very lucky to have them in my life. I can't believe the wedding is only 6 weeks away (which means, Mom will be here even sooner!).
OK, off to enjoy the beautiful day. -B
Monday, April 9, 2007
Happy Easter 2007
"If it's not Scottish, it's crap." - Mike Meyers in "So, I Married an Axe Murderer."
I spent the holiday weekend in Scotland with some friends from London. We started with a planes, trains and automobiles type of excursion with a cancelled train, a substitute train, a hour and a half trip on a carriage (bus) and another train ride into Glasgow (about 3 hours later). It was a heck of trip.
We stayed in a Hostel (my first) in Glasgow after a lovely dinner and drinks then woke up early for a trip up to the Scottish Highlands where we stayed in a haunted castle. It was VERY cool. The castle was over 900 years old and had a spectacular view of the North Sea. We were in a small town about 15 minutes from Inverness called Dingley. On the road trip up, we stopped at the Glenlivet Distillery for a tour. Our tour guide was a very Scottish man named Ewan. He was an elderly gentleman with the bulbous nose and ruddy cheeks. It seemed he had enjoyed several whisky's over his lifetime. He was great!
The next day we headed down to Loch Ness where we stopped at the Urquhart Castle. We headed on towards several other Lochs where we stopped and enjoyed the views and the Eilean Donan Castle for a quick tour. It was great and we were on the East Coast of the Atlantic Ocean. A pretty cool sight for the American in the bunch. I was truly in awe of the distance travelled over the last several months.
Last night we stayed in a lovely B&B in a little fishing village called "Fort William". We saw a local in full Scottish kilt and enjoyed traditional Scottish music played on the accordian during dinner. A very cool experience.
Today included a road trip back to Glasgow to catch the train. We passed more Sheep, Lamb, and "hairy" cows along the way. I guess I was really expecting lush green rolling pastures and instead saw 3000 feet high "mountains" with loads of moss and brown ground cover. I'm including a couple pics if I can get them successfully load.
OK, I am tired and need to crash to gear up for the work week. Later.
I spent the holiday weekend in Scotland with some friends from London. We started with a planes, trains and automobiles type of excursion with a cancelled train, a substitute train, a hour and a half trip on a carriage (bus) and another train ride into Glasgow (about 3 hours later). It was a heck of trip.
We stayed in a Hostel (my first) in Glasgow after a lovely dinner and drinks then woke up early for a trip up to the Scottish Highlands where we stayed in a haunted castle. It was VERY cool. The castle was over 900 years old and had a spectacular view of the North Sea. We were in a small town about 15 minutes from Inverness called Dingley. On the road trip up, we stopped at the Glenlivet Distillery for a tour. Our tour guide was a very Scottish man named Ewan. He was an elderly gentleman with the bulbous nose and ruddy cheeks. It seemed he had enjoyed several whisky's over his lifetime. He was great!
The next day we headed down to Loch Ness where we stopped at the Urquhart Castle. We headed on towards several other Lochs where we stopped and enjoyed the views and the Eilean Donan Castle for a quick tour. It was great and we were on the East Coast of the Atlantic Ocean. A pretty cool sight for the American in the bunch. I was truly in awe of the distance travelled over the last several months.
Last night we stayed in a lovely B&B in a little fishing village called "Fort William". We saw a local in full Scottish kilt and enjoyed traditional Scottish music played on the accordian during dinner. A very cool experience.
Today included a road trip back to Glasgow to catch the train. We passed more Sheep, Lamb, and "hairy" cows along the way. I guess I was really expecting lush green rolling pastures and instead saw 3000 feet high "mountains" with loads of moss and brown ground cover. I'm including a couple pics if I can get them successfully load.
OK, I am tired and need to crash to gear up for the work week. Later.
Sunday, April 1, 2007
Redefining everything
I've spent the last 30 years of my life setting these unrealistic goals for myself and then trying, in vain, to reach them. Seriously, I think I need my head examined. Why do I do these things? Sure, a challenge is good and makes me better; but I need to set goals that are realistic for me. I am tired trying to be something I'm not.
So, here I am. Maybe this experience will provide me some comfort, happiness, insight, etc. What does redefining everything really look like? You know what, I'm not sure and that is absolutely OK.
Otherwise, I've had an interesting week. London is a great city. I spent yesterday on Bond Street shopping with Penny (and friends) for wedding goodies. I found a little gem at Tiffany's that I might not be able to live without. I just need to count and save my pennies before the big splurge.
The job is unexciting. I expect a change in the future. I want to make sure I am doing the right thing for me.
OK, enough of my debby downer ways for today. I am off to file my 2006 US taxes.
PEACE.
So, here I am. Maybe this experience will provide me some comfort, happiness, insight, etc. What does redefining everything really look like? You know what, I'm not sure and that is absolutely OK.
Otherwise, I've had an interesting week. London is a great city. I spent yesterday on Bond Street shopping with Penny (and friends) for wedding goodies. I found a little gem at Tiffany's that I might not be able to live without. I just need to count and save my pennies before the big splurge.
The job is unexciting. I expect a change in the future. I want to make sure I am doing the right thing for me.
OK, enough of my debby downer ways for today. I am off to file my 2006 US taxes.
PEACE.
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