Thursday, August 19, 2004
Back home
It was lovely to get home after a great trip. We watched three mediocre movies (Garfield - easy on the eye, Shattered Glass - very cheesy and bad acting from Hayden Christianson, and 51 first dates - better than we thought), on the plane and managed to get a little sleep (I was better armed for the flight with an eye cover, ear plugs and blow up pillow).
I experienced more culture shock arriving back in London than going to China. I guess I expected everything to be different in China but underestimated adjusting back to England. There were so many white people around!
On Saturday we went to Hampstead Heath. It was a lovely day and we checked out the swimming ponds which looked murky. This didn't seem to deter the punters though. Kenwood House is a stately home in Hampstead Heath and it is very well preserved. We enjoyed wandering around and appreciating the art works (some by Vermeer...of Girl with a Pearl Earring fame). We walked to where outdoor concerts are held, just down from the house. The philharmonic orchestra, a soprano and a tenor where practicing on a stage across a lake. It was a beautiful setting and I sat down to listen to one of my favourite arias from Madame Butterfly. Bliss.
In the late afternoon we went to Rae and Steve's for a lovely bbq. Our first of the summer! Sad but true.
I've been enjoying the Olympic coverage. Hope the Kiwis can pull out a medal winning performance soon. Just watched Patterson win the Women's all round gymnastic title. I got a bit distracted whilst watching Korkina's floor routine as the sound of sirens blared outside and I saw a load of cop cars cut off a car, pull out a guy and overpower him to clip some cuffs on. It's not every day you see that! Just another day in good old Kilburn.
Went to Canary Wharf to meet Michelle and Mel for Tapas last night. There is a great vibe out there as there are a lot of bars and restaurants along the water front. A bit like back home. The buildings are very modern out that way. All the investment banks have offices in this area so there are a lot of suits with pound signs in their eyes.
I experienced more culture shock arriving back in London than going to China. I guess I expected everything to be different in China but underestimated adjusting back to England. There were so many white people around!
On Saturday we went to Hampstead Heath. It was a lovely day and we checked out the swimming ponds which looked murky. This didn't seem to deter the punters though. Kenwood House is a stately home in Hampstead Heath and it is very well preserved. We enjoyed wandering around and appreciating the art works (some by Vermeer...of Girl with a Pearl Earring fame). We walked to where outdoor concerts are held, just down from the house. The philharmonic orchestra, a soprano and a tenor where practicing on a stage across a lake. It was a beautiful setting and I sat down to listen to one of my favourite arias from Madame Butterfly. Bliss.
In the late afternoon we went to Rae and Steve's for a lovely bbq. Our first of the summer! Sad but true.
I've been enjoying the Olympic coverage. Hope the Kiwis can pull out a medal winning performance soon. Just watched Patterson win the Women's all round gymnastic title. I got a bit distracted whilst watching Korkina's floor routine as the sound of sirens blared outside and I saw a load of cop cars cut off a car, pull out a guy and overpower him to clip some cuffs on. It's not every day you see that! Just another day in good old Kilburn.
Went to Canary Wharf to meet Michelle and Mel for Tapas last night. There is a great vibe out there as there are a lot of bars and restaurants along the water front. A bit like back home. The buildings are very modern out that way. All the investment banks have offices in this area so there are a lot of suits with pound signs in their eyes.
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