Christmas eve

Service at St Pauls and a stroll home via Westminster.

Night shooting

Some night shots from Friday night from an outing (& tuition!) with fellow 40D owner Peter Grainger...

Battersea Park, Albert Bridge & the Thames

Sloane Square

Prague

Impressions of Prague:

• Drinking fresh, smooth dark beer in smoky candlelit pubs to hide from the cold.
• Barging through throngs of tourists around the central attractions.
• Dumplings, goulash, deep fried everything and not a vegetable in sight.
• The setting sun sneaking through the clouds (after a grim day of rain) and turning the brickwork on the clocktowers overlooking the Old Town Market Square into a glowing pink.
• Chatty, friendly, helpful staff and locals.
• Draining grey, cold and short December days.
• Getting lost in a maze of cobbled streets.
• Carols and mulled wine warming the Xmas markets in the evening.

Old Market Town Square, with it's astronomical clock. The poor bloke who built this in the 13th century did such a good job that the Prague powers at be didn't want the feat repeated elsewhere so saw to it that he was turned blind. He got a revenge of sorts though as he was the only one who knew how the thing worked he managed to turn the clock off and it stayed that way for 100 years until they could find someone to fix it.

St Wenceles overlooking the main drag - the sight of many political protests and uprisings during Prague's 40 year Communist battle.

Prague Castle.

Another friendly local. I felt about as bloated and frosted as this fella by the time we headed for the plane.

All Blacks v Scotland, Edinburgh

All Blacks 32, Scotland 6. Though not their dynamic best performance always good to see the Blacks play ball. Also a relief to see the haka this time after the debacle two years ago in Cardiff.

Other highlights included a relaxing trip on the rail on Friday night, the reincarnation of euchre and whiskey and ginger beer after the game.

We're already making plans to return in Edinburgh in August for the tattoo, festival and hopefully lack of freezing Northerly's some more.

A few snaps below, starting with the view of the hill in Hollyford Park form our bedroom window and then a view of the town form the top with Dean, Helen and Josh.

Weekend in Warwickshire

A few quick snaps of our weekend around the Cotswolds as we try desperately to cling on to some sun - although no one else in the county seemed to be wearing shorts.


Highlights were the tan square from Norah's deli, a guinness at the Red Lion in Shipston, strolling around Stratforn on Avon and the birds of prey at Warwick castle.

And we were well hosted all weekend in the Asparagas room in The Fabulous George in Shipston - great food, wine and atmosphere.

Chipping Campden:

Stratford on Avon:

Warwick Castle:

Slaughter:

Catching up with the cyclists - St Cirq, France

Kelley, Helen and I made a quick dash over to Rodez to catch up with the cycle tourists: Fras, Dean and Helen. We had a great weekend relaxing with them, mainly consisting of picnics, lots of cheese, cheap wine, and wandering around St Cirq Lapopie (named as one of the most beautiful villages in France). Bliss :)

Pick Your Own

A lovely day out in the Surrey countryside picking fruit and veges, and drinking a good brew. Our picked goodies included strawberries, raspberries, corn, pumpkin and dahlias.

http://www.garsons.co.uk/