Jillian's Wedding

On Friday 14th May Andy's sister got married at Elcot Park Hotel in Newbury. My first time meeting most of Andy's family. The ceremony, meal and evening function was held at the hotel and we stayed up till the wee hours of the morning celebrating.

Here are just a few pics of Andy and me in our Sunday best.

Happy Birthday to the one I love

Andy is stuck in Falklands on his 29th Birthday, so I just wanted to do a small blog post to say:

"I miss you so much and wish I could be with you on your birthday!!!!"
Here's a poem I found:

________________________________________________

You’re first

When we’re together
or when we’re apart
you’re first in my thoughts
and first in my heart.

You always there for me

Whenever I’m in need

With you in my life

I will succeed.

Happy Birthday!

***

Andy (stuck) in the Falklands

Andy is stuck in the Falkland Islands off the coast of Argentina until they open the UK airspace due to the Volcanic Ash from Island. For those of you not sure where the Falkland Islands are:


Yesterday he went on an off-road trip across the island to all the historic battlefields which he very much enjoyed.




Here was there Itinerary - issued in true military style:

Gentlemen,

The plan for Sunday’s off-roading is as follows:

• Meet at the vehicle jet wash area near the MPA Main Gate Checkpoint at approx 0850 (don’t forget to sign yourself out at the guardroom first) and then we will leave at 0900. Passengers: if you need a lift to this point then contact Flt Lt Clayton.
• Approximately 0945: meet up with Keith (guide) at a designated location near Mt Harriet
• Approximate route: Mt Harriet, Goat Ridge, Two Sisters, Mt Longdon & Wireless Ridge (classic battlefield sites). The going will be a mix of hard & soft.
• End time: We will probably be back in Stanley by approximately 1530
• Kit to bring: Packed lunch, water, waterproofs, hat & gloves, boots, suncream, camera, maps (if you have them –if not you can refer to mine), off-road recovery kit (bring what you have –we will have at least 2 vehicle-mounted winches, 2 hi-lift jacks and tow ropes with us), Bimble chit (if in a military vehicle)
• Remember –if anyone does get bogged in, it’s all part of the fun, and don’t forget your sense of humour!
• It would be a nice gesture if we had a whip-round for our guide’s expenses –we’ve got quite a lot of people coming so if everyone chips in a couple of quid (to me at the vehicle wash point), I’ll give it to him later on.
• Don’t forget to jet wash the mud off all the nooks and crannies of your vehicle's underbody/chassis as soon as we get back –it will be much harder when it’s all dried hard

Sausage Roll

Andy and I made a home made suasage roll for dinner the other night...........

New York, New York, Feb '10

Wednesday 24 February 2010 (continued)....
After the 3 hour train journey through places including Baltimore and Philadelphia, we arrived in New York just after 2pm. We took the subway to our hotel in Long Island, called Holiday Inn Manhattan View. We had a lovely room with wall to wall windows and a balcony overlooking Manhattan Island and a great view of the Empire State building and the Chrysler Building.

We headed into the city to Times Square.

Afterwards we walked down 46^th street to the block between 8^th and 9^th avenue known as Restaurant Row. We were looking for a bar called Deacon Brodies, which is the same name as a pub Andy’s Dad used to frequent in Edinburgh, and low and behold, in true Scottish style there was a chap from Glasgow serving behind the bar and in turns out that this one in New York is affiliated with the one in Edinburgh. We just had to sit down for a drink!

Thursday 25 Feb 2010

This morning we woke up to snow falling, so we decided to go take a walk in Central Park. This was lovely and very quiet in the snow.

Andy’s shoes were not waterproof and his feet got soaked. We went for a quick lunch at Grand Central and headed back to the hotel to search for a shop that sold good hiking boots. We found one close the financial district and headed there. Andy got his shoes and on the way back we stopped to take some photos of the Flatiron building, before going to meet Cheane and Kirstyn at Grand Central. So nice to see the cuzzies (Cheane’s 25^th birthday today) and meet their friend Michael. We went for a drink at TGI Fridays and headed back to the hotel to freshen up for dinner. We met at the restaurant near Times Square (on 51^st street). It was a South African restaurant called “Braai” and the food was amazing. Some menu items included Sosaties, Boerewors and Pap, Drie-Hoekies (Samoosas), Koeksisters and Melktert. The food was divine and the wine was truly South African. Even the cocktails on the cocktail menu had "truly South African" names.

We took them for a quick beer at Deacon Brodies, then off to bed. I must add that it the meantime the snow got a lot worse and we found ourselves in the middle of what they called a “Snow Hurricane”. Not very pleasant to walk in, but quite and adventure.

Friday 26 Feb 2010

Today we slept in a little. Andy and I then headed off and went to Ground Zero to see the progress of the new Freedom Tower (built on the cleared site where the Twin Towers used to be) After this, we went to South Street Seaport near Wall street, which is a number of retail shops on the old Pier 17. The weather was still quite bad with heavy snow, but started to lift a little. We got some sunny spells which gave us nice views of Brooklyn Bridge and the Financial district.

From here we met Cheane, Kirstyn and Michael at the TGI Friday’s on Times Square, where there is a live Webcam. Click here to see Times Square at the moment. We called all our people at home who watched us wave live from Times Square, and Dad recorded it for the family blog. Click here.

From here we went for another walk in Central Park, after the heavy snow of almost 2 feet. It was gorgeous.

This evening we ate at a Mexican Restaurant in Greenwich Village and went for a quick drink at Beauty Bar.

Saturday 27 Feb 2010

A little lie in again to wait for the sun to come out, then Andy and I headed off to Macy’s as they have a sale this weekend and we get tax free shopping because we have foreign passports. We both got some Levi jeans and Andy got a Timberland top and I got a Hurley jumper for under $100. Bargain! The sun was out and we took the opportunity to go to the top of the Rockefeller Centre – Top of the Rock. We got beautiful views of the city and Central Park from the 69^th floor!

Andy and I went for a beer at the Hardrock Café on Times Square, and spent time walking through and looking at all the memorabilia donated by bands and rock stars, including a set of drums that belonged to Ringo Star and the famous grey suits the Beatles wore when they performed in New York the first time.

Later we met Cheane, Kirstyn and Michael here for some dinner and went for one last drink in Mean Fiddler.

Sunday 28 Feb 2010

We met Cheane, Kirstyn and Michael at Penn Station to say goodbye and took the train back to Washington DC. We stored our luggage at Union station and went to the Museum of Natural History.

A really great museum with anything from Ancient Egyptian history to under water displays and an exhibition of Africa. We saw an IMAX movie in 3D called Deep Ocean.

It was about the Sardine run in Africa from the Atlantic past the Wildcoast and up to Kwazulu Natal. And guess what – Scottburgh, the place where our annual family holiday was as children, was featured. I was amazed! We headed back to the station at 5pm to make our way to Dulles International for our flight at 10pm. Bye Bye Washington

Click HERE for all the New York photos

Andy, I just want to say Thank You so much for a fantastic Holiday.

It was so special to share it with you!

Washington DC, Feb 2010

Saturday 20 Feb 2010

Mom & Dad took Andy and me to Heathrow terminal 5 at 8am. Some breakfast, and off we go……..

Landed in Washington, D.C just after 2pm local time (7pm UK Time) and took a shuttle bus to our hotel, Crowne Plaza The Hamilton – Downtown D.C.

After a quick shower we walked down to the Mall, which is the park area with the US Capitol building at one end, the Reflection Pool (from Forrest Gump) & the Lincoln Memorial at the other end, with the Washington Memorial in the middle. This represents that the country is run by the people, and that the people is at the heart of the country. The Mall runs East to West. Off to the North is the White House. This symbolizes that the President is important, but is to one side of the people.

Washington had lots if snow the week before we arrived, and there is still lots of evidence about…..

After the long flight and time difference, we grab a bit to eat at the hotel restaurant and got to bed just after 8pm local time (1am UK Time)

Sunday 21 Feb 2010

Today we took the Metro to the Pentagon to see the Pentagon Memorial. This is in memory of those who died on September 11, 2001 when the plane hit the side of the Pentagon. After this, we went to Arlington National Cemetery. We joined the guided tour of the cemetery. Rows and rows of white graves for every American that has died in battle or whilst serving the country, Also Presidents (J.F.K. and Jackie Kennedy-Onassis is buried here). We saw the changing of the guard at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier. This tomb has been guarded since 1932 for every minute of every day. Even when the plane hit the Pentagon, which you can see from this hilltop, the guards were given the option to abandon their post, which they denied.

We then took a short walk through the snow to Iwo Jima War Memorial – the famous memorial where the American Soldiers plant the Flag.

From here we headed to the Capitol building and Library of Congress. Unfortunately these are shut on a Sunday, so we will come back tomorrow. Got some cracking photos though, as nobody was around. We then visited the Air and Space Smithsonian Museum with very interesting exhibits including the actual capsule that landed on the moon, as well as parts of the Wright Brothers original flying machine. This evening we took the Metro to Bethesda in Maryland, and had a few beers in a very local, truly American Sports bar, where the bartender called Andy “Mitchell”. Very long day with lots of walking.

Monday 22 Feb 2010

Today we went to the US Capitol building and took a guided tour that started with a movie in one of the theatres. Roger was our guide and took us to the Rotuda (below the massive dome), the ancient Senate room, the Hall of Columns, the ancient supreme court room, the crypt and the original section where George Washington lay the cornerstone for the Capitol Building, and that was not destroyed in the fire started by the Brits. Roger was a fantastic tour guide and took so much pride in sharing the story of this historical building, and the centre of the US Government.

We then went to the Library of Congress, another amazing building. Here we joined yet another very interesting tour and got to see the Gutenberg Bible and the very famous Reading Room. The Library of Congress holds 1 or 2 copies of every book that has ever been printed anywhere in the world – AMAZING

Later this afternoon we went to a shopping mall called Pentagon City for a little stroll and window shopping. Out for drinks the evening at Stan’s, a landmark Bar in D.C.

Tuesday 23 Feb 2010

We had a little lie in this morning, and then headed off to the Lincoln Memorial and Reflection pool. This is where “Jenny” runs towards “Forrest” in Forrest Gump. It was very cold outside today, so a bit of a struggle to keep warm. From here we wandered past the Ford’s Theatre were Lincoln got shot, and also past the F.B.I.

Tonight we went to a town called Alexandria in Virginia, to a little restaurant called Bilbo Baggins. Very beautiful quaint little town, with the high street ending at the Washington Masonic Museum.

Wednesday 24 Feb 2010

Well our bags are packed……Off to New York on the train from Washington’s Union Station to New York’s Penn Station.

Click HERE for all our Washington photos

Welcome Roxy

Andy and I took the plunge and bought Murphy a friend. We've named her Roxy and the two get along like a house on fire. We are like "new parents" so there are loads of photos, but below is one of our new little girl:
ROXY.



Instead of Murphy reacting like this to the new arrival:


He reacted like this:



Click here for all 100 000 000 photos