Roman Holiday

We've just got back from a long weekend in Rome, where I'm confident in saying we missed almost all of the 'must do' things but had a lovely time wandering around regardless.

I didn't manage much sketching, apart from one morning by the pool. It's hard to draw when your fingers are slippy with sunscreen...

Rural Interlude 2012

Steam Fair time of year has come around again so, as last year, we motored down to Dorset through the now traditional rain to march about muddy fields in boots and drink 'traditional' (ie flat and very very dry) cider whilst sitting on hay bales.

The last one's a bit of a thresher.  It's supposed to look like that...

Weekend in Pictures

What was I most excited about at the Olympic Park? The fact that they sold porridge!

Breakfast! I believe there was some sword fighting going
on in the background...

And that it was sunny and surprisingly (pleasingly...) bereft of hordes of people.

We also found time to follow the sporting example and took the bikes out for a ride. And a pub lunch.

So yes... sport... mostly just excuse to eat in different locations.

Crazy Cake Golf

Regular readers may have noticed that I'm quite a fan of cake. Nick likes golf (a bit... he doesn't own any of those unusual trousers or anything). So when I heard that Bompas and Parr were putting a cake-themed crazy golf course onto the roof of Selfridges this summer, it seemed the ideal Sunday afternoon activity.


All the obstacles are London landmarks made to look like cake. They're not actually icing and sponge, that would be a recipe for melty disaster in the British summer, but they look pretty realistic. And you get a Bakewell tart scented score card to add to the ambiance.

There are ten holes, and they ticket it so there aren't queues or too much waiting around. 

Tickets are released in monthly batches,  so you can still go along if cakey golf's your thing.

Resourceful Chap...

So, London is all about sport at the moment. As I might have mentioned, I'm not very excited about it.


However, walking along Piccadilly this morning I saw this rather serious chap who was clearly committed to sport in a way I could wholeheartedly support. He was cycling along on his little tiny Brompton... with his jazzy coloured swimming shorts draped over the handlebars to dry in the long awaited sunshine. So resourceful!

I like to think he's a true Londoner and had been for a dip in the Serpentine before his cycle to work. Perhaps it's some sort of commute-triathlon and he ends his journey by folding up his bike and jogging the final stretch?

Transatlantic Adventure #5: Out and About in Vancouver

A trip to Vancouver would apparently not be complete without a trek round Stanley Park, the massive patch of green to the east of Downtown. It's got the sea around quite a lot of it, and possibly bears in the middle.

Thankfully, the wildest things we saw were raccoons. Which were still quite exciting!

Well, raccoons and the crime bird from the Week Word a while back. And some seals. Possibly.

There are also very impressive views, even when it's trying to rain.

We were actually visiting Vancouver for a wedding, so our last few days included an excuse to dress up.

Normal service will now resume, I think, as I'm out of holiday pictures!

Transatlantic Adventure #4: Vancouver by rail

Having spent four days in Seattle, we got the train to Vancouver. (The Canadian one, not the American one. Very confusing having them both on the same line. Recipe for disaster.)

The train was nice, so much nicer than the ones we have in the UK. Big seats, decent food that doesn't require a second mortgage. And very lovely views out the windows.

We stayed in a studio apartment rather than a hotel this time, and it was perfect. And in a very pretty bit of town, surrounded by 'heritage buildings'.

But still within walking distance of Downtown Vancouver, for more exploring.

Transatlantic Adventure #3: Seattle Sights

In between eating ice cream and drinking coffee in Seattle, we did also find time to have a look at most of the touristy things you're supposed to see.


The Space Needle (although we didn't go up - too cloudy to bother) and the monorail. It' s really like the 60s view of the future...

Pike Place Market

Mostly, though, we just wandered about and enjoyed being in a different city. Occasionally, the sun even came out.