happy anniversary!

Happy 40th Anniversary, Mamasita & Pop!


Look how nicely coordinated they are... This photo was from our dinner a few months ago at 1300 on Fillmore. Highly recommended!

www.cut URL shortener for iPhone

Have you downloaded S's newest iPhone app yet? www.cut (pronounced 'dub cut') shortens URLs so that you can save characters when tweeting, for example.


Read about it here and download it from the iTunes App Store here!


logo by yours truly

Pic of the Week: 31 Aug - 6 Sep

Abbey Ruins in York


York is best known for York Minster Cathedral, but something about the ruins of St Mary's Abbey is more interesting and mysterious to me. Why destroy most of the abbey but leave some of it standing? What did it look like when it was whole?


We visited York for my birthday a few years ago. It was also the first time I met S's family. Nice to think I'm part of the family now!


Click on the photo to see a larger version on flickr

brighton up summer

Work has been fairly manic recently, to the extent that I either don't have time to make plans for the weekend or deliberately refrain from making plans so that I can complete exciting tasks like laundry, going to the gym, food shopping and sleep. Unfortunately I have missed most of the summer and I have not seen as much of my friends as I would like.


When work starts to invade my personal life, I try to find a way to take a break. J and S were kind enough to indulge my suggestion that we spend a day in Brighton. Between the beach, pier, marina, pavilion, shops and restaurants, we had a lovely day with amazing weather.


My new relaxation technique is to look at these pictures and imagine the water splashing over our feet while the sun beams down. (Thanks to J for bringing the sunscreen - none of us fried!) I try not to think too hard about the pebbles under sensitive feet - ow! ow! ow! - but there's no ignoring the fact that that is part of Brighton's charm. Plus, it makes for a good workout to walk along the beach from the pier to Brighton Marina and back, stopping at a local pub for Pimm's, shandy and bitter.


I feel better already!





























Breathe in... breathe out......................

Pic of the Week: 24-30 Aug

Petra Treasury, Jordan


Another pic from our Jordan & Egypt trip in Nov 2007.


Click on the photo to see a larger version on flickr.

Pic of the Week: 17-23 Aug

Windsor Castle Path


This photo is from January 2006 of the Great Park outside Windsor Castle. The path has a lovely curve before it opens up to a long, tree-lined road for pedestrians, cyclists (only on some parts) and horse-drawn carriages.


Why post a photo from mid-winter in August? I thought I might want a reminder of colder days. Today was sunny and warm (even a bit humid) in London - hard to think about wool coats and gloves in weather like this.


We went to Windsor with friends, some of whom we actually have not seen since that day. Busy lives and all that. So hello M and R! Hope you're doing well... Thinking of you...


Click on the photo to see a larger version on flickr.

sweet, summery crepes for lunch

continuing after last night's dinner, we had crepes with fresh strawberries, blueberry jam, lime marmalade, and vanilla yogurt for lunch.


and now i should really go the gym!

savoury crepes for dinner

savoury crepes filled with chicken and spinach in pesto sauce with mushrooms, red onion, red and yellow peppers, and cheese


the best part? there are still enough crepes left to eat with strawberries for lunch tomorrow!

happy birthday, bob!

bob is nearly three years old now, and has proved himself to be a resilient - if perpetually hungry - goldfish. he has been happily swimming around in his blue bowl with gravel at the bottom and an algae-ridden plastic plant, but we thought he deserved an upgrade. so we splashed out (no pun intended) on the baby biorb.


as instructed, we did not transfer him for the first 24 hours while the water had a chance to filter. but i hadn't washed the rocks well enough and it was still murky the following day, so we started over with fresh water and left it for another day. this morning, we moved him as gently as possible (it only looked like he was unceremoniously plunked into a new environment) and he took to it like, well, a fish to water.


he still mostly avoids the filter bubbles but i'm sure he'll begin to enjoy having a live-in jacuzzi soon. i know i'd love one! happy birthday, bob! many happy returns...

Pic of the Week: 10-16 Aug

Bruges Grand Place, November 2005


This photo is from our first trip together, which was also my first blog entry. Glad to report that there have been many more trips and blog entries since then.


Click on the photo to see a larger version on flickr.

Pic of the Week: 3-9 Aug

These are a few of my favo(u)rite things: Mamasita, Florence, and my sister (who took the picture) during our family trip to Italy last year.


Click on the photo to see a larger version on flickr.