Amsterdam Photos
Home At Last
What an epic trip home. Bullet form because its laaate ....
- 20 minute walk in the snow/sleet from Hotel to Amsterdam Central Train station
- 30 minute train ride from Amsterdam Central to Schipol Airport
- checked in. Told to head immediately to gate as they put us on an earlier flight
- get to the gate to be told the flight has been delayed
- 30 minutes later the flight is cancelled (I really shouldn't have laughed earlier when I heard the easyjet flight had been cancelled) due to bad weather.
- Rebooked onto another flight boarding at 1930.
- Board the plane only to be told the airport has been shut because of conditions.
- 2 hours (yes, 2 HOURS) later the plane is off for a de-icing and we take off.
- 45 minute flight to Heathrow (instead of Gatwick where our original flight was intended)
- 20 minutes waiting on the tarmac at Heathrow while BA tried to find some steps to bring up to the plane
- 5 minute transfer bus ride to Terminal 4
- 20 minute queue in passport control
- 5 minute walk to Heathrow Express train terminal
- 5 minute train ride to Heathrow Terminals 1,2,3
- 10 minute walk to find the underground station
- 50 minute tube ride from Heathrow to South Kensington
- lost 2 quid in two different vending machines trying to buy a diet Coke (grrrr)
- 10 minute wait for the tube east to Victoria. Admittedly we were lucky in that we caught the last tube to Victoria. It was 1230 in the morning by this stage.
- 5 minute tube ride from South Kensington to Victoria
- 10 minute train ride from Victoria to Clapham Junction
- 5 minute walk home .....
Anyway, enough whingeing, Amsterdam was great. Will post photos tomorrow.
Amsterdam
Having a great time in Amsterdam. When we first arrived it was snowing and the city looked beautiful covered in the fresh snow. Has been a very relxing couple of days wandering about the canals checking the place out. Have sampled a bit of the nightlife - its a crazy city! Anyway, enough for now - time to make use of the free bar at the hotel! Will post photos when I get back to London tomorrow (not that any of you are reading because you all read this blog when you are at work. Shame on you. Shame. Shame.)
Boxing Day
Very relaxed day. More eating and drinking and that was about it. Didn't get outside much so todays photo was snapped from the car on the way home. Tomorrow off to Amsterdam for three nights. Can't wait. It will probably mean however that I wont be posting photos. Couldn't be stuffed taking my laptop with me. Never fear, my cameras will be coming with me so I will still have a photo a day for flickr to serve up once I am back .... Enjoy the holiday break if you are off ... I know I will.
Christmas Day 2005
Bit of a late night last night. First I rang my family back in Australia to wish them a happy Christmas at around midnight. Then I got distracted. Don't ask. (Oh ok then, was trying to get my external USB hard drive connected to the wireless network at home. Unfortunately the NSLU2 that I bought to to do the job was giving me grief, and still doesn't work. Grrrr. Sorry. Not a very rock and roll late night.) Got up this morning around ten and opened the presents. Made our way over to A's family for Christmas lunch/dinner. What a feast! And, as usual, I fell asleep in front of the television! Hope you all had a great Christmas.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS
Stocking Filler
Well it has been a while since I posted something which I thought was pretty much 100% filler, but I think I just broke that spell....
Stupid Name
I am not sure why I didn't take the, oh, I don't know, five seconds to google expectdelays before I signed up for this blog. Because, as you would see, there is already an expectdelays website. Silly silly. And, well, I post quite regularly now so the name doesnt seem that apt. Maybe its time for a new one.
Random Photos
Various photos from this eve. Finished work at 4 or so and then off down the pub. So excuse the blurriness !!
PJ
Spooky. Tonight I went to the pub after work. The Lazy Bar for those who know it. A top place. Anyway, somehow I got chatting to this girl. She was English. She mentioned Perth. I thought, well, that is unusual. Who do you know in Perth, because, well, if you know Perth you probably know someone there (sorry Perth readers, but you gotta admit.). Anyway. She said "PJ". Bizarrely enough I know a PJ from Perth. Yes there are probably a hundred PJ's from Perth, but we swapped characteristics and dammit, I swear it is the same guy. Spooky. Maybe she was having me on. But if not, damn, that is spooky. 
The Strangest "Dream"
You know when you have those "dreams" when you are not sure whether you dreamt something or if it happened for real. Well I had one of those last night. I "dreamt" that I woke up to the strangest noise - half crying child : half wailing cat : half vicious dog : half human conversation (it was a dream so it doesnt have to add up - sheesh). I woke up this morning and thought WTF? What a wack dream. Anyway, just as I was about to head out to work A (who had just got home from working nights poor boy), motioned me to the kitchen and pointed out into the backyard. There all curled up was a baby fox! Bizarre - but it probably explains my "dream" - those critters can make damn weird noises. At least they are native here!
Close to Home
I am so over this week already. Hurry up weekend. Have booked a trip away to Amsterdam for 3 nights between Christmas and New Years. Can't wait to get away for a bit of a break. It has been nearly 10 years since I have been to Amsterdam. Hopefully it is not as cold as last time, -7 degrees.
Another photo taken close to home. Left it a little late today. At least it is not Tower Bridge.
Another photo taken close to home. Left it a little late today. At least it is not Tower Bridge.
That Bridge Again
Yes I take a lot of photos of Tower Bridge, but it is a pretty cool structure. You gotta admit. Work is tough heading up to Christmas - I am already in holiday mode - a week early! Grrrrr.
Albert Bridge
Went for a walk today over to Chelsea to do some Christmas shopping on Kings Road. Headed over via Battersea Bridge and walked up along the Thames to Chelsea Bridge and then north to Kings Road. Came back south via Albert Bridge, todays photo. Beautiful sunny day, a balmy two or three degrees for a walk along the Thames.
Forgot to mention this yesterday. Bumped into someone I knew from Perth yesterday, for the second time in a couple of months. What are the odds!
British Museum
Today was Christmas Shopping day. For some strange reason I decided to do it in central london, Oxford Circus. So many people. It was nuts. Had lunch with A at the Great Court in the British Museum (BM), where todays photos are from. The BM has the Rosetta Stone on display, pretty impressive. It also has the rather controversial Elgin Marbles.
Todays photos were inspired by the other days accidental over exposure. This time it was on purpose!
Todays photos were inspired by the other days accidental over exposure. This time it was on purpose!
Fear Not
I am alive and photo of the day is not dead. It just got derailed by the work Christmas Party last night. Messy. Very messy. AND I had to go to work today. What is with a work party on a weeknight? Anyway, yesterday and todays photo later. I gotta be somewhere.
Little Camera Strangeness
My little camera has started to do weird things. Like choose a small aperture and warn me of a slow shutter speed rather than just use a large aperture. And those strange shadows are back again. And todays photos are just plain odd. The second I kind of understand because it was a strange half reflection in the bus window. The first is just way overexposed and it shouldn't be. But still, it kinda works. Anyway, hopefully I have just screwed up a setting on my camera somewhere.
Yes I know these photos are one step away from posting photos of my breakfast.
Yes I know these photos are one step away from posting photos of my breakfast.
Eye Spy With My Little Eye
It is quite scary playing count the security cameras over here. Apparently the average Londoner has their image recorded about 300 times a day. Disclaimer: My source was the Internet! Not that I have anything to hide from them ....
Sunday Evening ... Already
Where do the weekends go? Caught up with M & E, old workmates, today and did a lap of the Thames in central London. Very cool. Great to catch up with them. Ducked in to the Tate which is where todays photo is from. Have been trying to decide on plans for NYE. Possibly Barcelona. Anyone know a good hotel?
O Christmas Tree
Today A and I headed out to get a Christmas tree. It was a nice crisp day and we caught the train to Syon Park and bought a tree from the garden centre there. Yes we could've bought one a lot closer to home, but then we wouldn't have got to carry a tree home on the train. On second thoughts ....
Buried Treasure
Buried treasure on the way to London Bridge station.
And, yes, another photo of Tower Bridge ....
And, yes, another photo of Tower Bridge ....
London Eye
Photo taken on the way back to Waterloo Station. I pass the spot every morning and always resist taking a photo because it's too lazy. Well tonight I caved. Another easy opportunity used up! This photo a day thing is getting harder and harder.
Thanks
Thanks for your comments on yesterdays photo. It is *always* great to get some feedback. Back to the usual fare today I am afraid : reflections and that damn big sky fetish.
More Christmas Lights
Christmas lights on Regent Street. And no, it wasn't me zooming the lens, the bus was moving. I'm not a total one trick pony!
Royston Vasey
Made a quick visit to Royston Vasey this evening. It was hilarious.
"My insides are all wrong ...." (please B, lets not get started!)
"My insides are all wrong ...." (please B, lets not get started!)
Long Shadows
Was walking back from doing some shopping and noticed what I thought was a park up the end of one of the side streets. Still short of a picture I thought I would go check it out, you know, so I could give you today's photos of Autumn leaves or bare tree branches. Anyway, it turned out to be a cemtery which was far more interesting. Most of the grave stones were around 100 years old. The sun was just getting low in the sky, the golden hour, and throwing some awesome shadows. So I took the photo that you see above, which I thought would look pretty damn cool. On uploading it really doesn't seem that great. I hate it when then it happens. Grrrr. It certainly isn't helped by the modern buildings in the background (if you hadn't noticed them, then unnotice them again if possible.)
Off to see the League of Gentlemen panto-style tonight. It should be great. Unfortunately it is only for loooooocal people .......
Photoshop Shmotoshop
Went for a walk down along the Thames at lunchtime today, heading in the opposite direction to usual. Really interesting mix of old wharf warehouses and new (not so interesting) developments. The light was a bit dull, so excuse my journey into the realm of Photoshop.
@ Home Sick
I am at home sick today, nothing serious - standard issue cold, but it does mean todays photo isn't from afield. It is the roofline taken out of my steamed up bathroom window. Sums up the rainy weather and early sunsets of the passed week. It is just after four oclock and the sun has already set. The good news is that the earliest sunset is nearly upon us. It occurs in the week following Dec 11th and the earliest sunset time is 3:50pm. So not far to go until the sunsets start getting later again. Strangely enough sunrise continues to get later for a while yet. It is supposedly explained here, but it could do with a few diagrams. Hmmmm. Can you tell that I've been at home all day ....
Last Traces of Autumn
Tonight I caught up with P&K which was great. Hadn't seen them for ages because, well, they moved to London about a year before I did ! It is always nice to see a familiar face over here. Todays photo is another one of those last ditch effort ones taken on the way home ....
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