20 March 2006
19 March 2006
Beautiful Day!
What a lovely day!
It is warm and sunny; the temperatures are in the fifties. I am feeling great! There is nothing like a nice nap to make one feel better. I got feeling better early yesterday afternoon. It was lovely to lay abed until two in the afternoon. I then got up, took a shower, had breakfast and dressed for the day. (Well, what was left of it.)
After a late breakfast (and another cup of coffee) I set to airing-out the house and making sure that the the linens were all downstairs, ready for the cleaning lady to take away tomorrow. Around six last night I headed into Hampton Court to go to the Pub. It was a lovely evening.
Today I rode down to the village to do my marketing. It is so nice that I didn't need a jacket. Of course, once I was riding along the Thames (I swear that "Thames" must be Middle English for "Wind Tunnel") the wind made me wish I had worn one.
My shopping and chores done, I have decided that this afternoon I'll mount my bike, ride over to Hampton Court and see if The Wilderness is in bloom. If it is, there will be pictures tomorrow.
I hope wherever you are, this last full day of Winter is a pleasant one for you!
Don Bergquist - 19-March-2006 - Thames Ditton, Surrey, United Kingdom
It is warm and sunny; the temperatures are in the fifties. I am feeling great! There is nothing like a nice nap to make one feel better. I got feeling better early yesterday afternoon. It was lovely to lay abed until two in the afternoon. I then got up, took a shower, had breakfast and dressed for the day. (Well, what was left of it.)
After a late breakfast (and another cup of coffee) I set to airing-out the house and making sure that the the linens were all downstairs, ready for the cleaning lady to take away tomorrow. Around six last night I headed into Hampton Court to go to the Pub. It was a lovely evening.
Today I rode down to the village to do my marketing. It is so nice that I didn't need a jacket. Of course, once I was riding along the Thames (I swear that "Thames" must be Middle English for "Wind Tunnel") the wind made me wish I had worn one.
My shopping and chores done, I have decided that this afternoon I'll mount my bike, ride over to Hampton Court and see if The Wilderness is in bloom. If it is, there will be pictures tomorrow.
I hope wherever you are, this last full day of Winter is a pleasant one for you!
Don Bergquist - 19-March-2006 - Thames Ditton, Surrey, United Kingdom
18 March 2006
Big Plans to Stay in Bed!
I'm feeling a bit under the weather today!
It was bound to happen. Coughs and sneezes have been prevalent at the office and the weather has been all over the grid with the mercury pouncing up and down like the foot of a rock guitarist.
The house is silent this morning! Really, I got up to the sounds of silence this morning and realized that all my colleagues have left for the states. I HAVE THE HOUSE TO MYSELF! I think the first thing I do after having my second cup of coffee will be to go back to bed.
I've taken some cold medication and perhaps I can lose this tickle in my throat before the entire day is lost. I think I will just finish writing this, then take it easy either napping on the couch or head back up to bed and try and mend.
I hope wherever you are, you are feeling great today!
Don Bergquist - 18-March-2006 - Thames Ditton, Surrey, United Kingdom
It was bound to happen. Coughs and sneezes have been prevalent at the office and the weather has been all over the grid with the mercury pouncing up and down like the foot of a rock guitarist.
The house is silent this morning! Really, I got up to the sounds of silence this morning and realized that all my colleagues have left for the states. I HAVE THE HOUSE TO MYSELF! I think the first thing I do after having my second cup of coffee will be to go back to bed.
I've taken some cold medication and perhaps I can lose this tickle in my throat before the entire day is lost. I think I will just finish writing this, then take it easy either napping on the couch or head back up to bed and try and mend.
I hope wherever you are, you are feeling great today!
Don Bergquist - 18-March-2006 - Thames Ditton, Surrey, United Kingdom
17 March 2006
On the Verge of the Weekend
As I sat in my office packing my briefcase to leave last night, one of my coworkers asked me if I was on my way out. When I said that I was, I was told that "should I find myself in the pub tonight," to give her a call.
(What a silly thing to say... if I find myself in the pub? I find most of my evenings I at least stop by the pub to see who is there.)
So I went to the pub and had a few drinks with my colleague and then off for dinner at a Japanese dinner in Kingston. It was quite a nice evening. But now I am getting ready to go into work. I am sitting here with my coffee, cereal and yogurt. It is a lovely (okay, it's still a bit dark out) morning and the day holds promise. At least it holds the promise of the weekend coming up soon. (C'mon 17:30!)
(What a silly thing to say... if I find myself in the pub? I find most of my evenings I at least stop by the pub to see who is there.)
So I went to the pub and had a few drinks with my colleague and then off for dinner at a Japanese dinner in Kingston. It was quite a nice evening. But now I am getting ready to go into work. I am sitting here with my coffee, cereal and yogurt. It is a lovely (okay, it's still a bit dark out) morning and the day holds promise. At least it holds the promise of the weekend coming up soon. (C'mon 17:30!)
I have no real plans for the weekend. All my colleagues will be headed back to the states this weekend so I will have the house to myself for a week. I may go into London and do some more shots. The Wilderness is starting to look pretty good so I will probably be going down there at some point this weekend.
I hope that your day is full of the promise of great things where ever it finds you today!
Don Bergquist - 17-March-2006 - Thames Ditton, Surrey, United Kingdom
16 March 2006
Patterns
For those of us who see patterns everywhere, winter in London is a wonderful thing to observe. It seems to have settled into a nice little pattern. For the last couple weeks, and predicted again for this weekend, the weather is supposed to be improving just in time for the weekend.
The pattern we seem to have settled into is that the weather starts getting abominable around closing time at the pub on Wednesday night, steadily worsening until mid-Friday evening when it starts getting better.
Saturday mornings are the dregs of the bad weather, then the rest of the weekend is just beautiful! The weather has been getting colder, darker, and wetter since late last night. They are out gritting the roads in preparation for snow today. But the weather for the weekend is predicted to be in the highs forties and partly cloudy.
I hope wherever you are today it is fair to partly cloudy!
Don Bergquist - 16-March-2006 - Thames Ditton, Surrey, United Kingdom
The pattern we seem to have settled into is that the weather starts getting abominable around closing time at the pub on Wednesday night, steadily worsening until mid-Friday evening when it starts getting better.
Saturday mornings are the dregs of the bad weather, then the rest of the weekend is just beautiful! The weather has been getting colder, darker, and wetter since late last night. They are out gritting the roads in preparation for snow today. But the weather for the weekend is predicted to be in the highs forties and partly cloudy.
I hope wherever you are today it is fair to partly cloudy!
Don Bergquist - 16-March-2006 - Thames Ditton, Surrey, United Kingdom
15 March 2006
Polite Americans?
The other night in the pub the subject of stereotypes came up. (I believe it was predicated by the discussion of the complete tosser who drenched me as I was riding my bike along the A308.) Someone said that there were some incredibly rude people here. I said that on the whole, I found the English (British? I am always getting in trouble for using the wrong word to group people over here...) were pretty considerate of others.
This lead to the discussion that they (the locals) are always hearing about the manners of their people but their perception is that Americans are far-and-away nicer than the British. "Really?" I asked... "What Americans have you met?"
I'm sure that my parents would be gratified (and more than a little surprised) that I was the first American that they named - I mean, sure, I was sitting right there, but being held up as exemplar for my manners? Cool! (I guess there is a first time for everything!) But it leaves me to wonder: Do we fail to notice in our fellows that which we seem to admire most in strangers?
Do we think the British are more polite than the Americans we see every day because we so rarely interact with them? Conversely, do the British like the manners of Americans because they so rarely spend time in New York? (...or a Denver traffic jam, for that matter...) If you're a sociology student looking for a masters thesis, please feel free to look into this. Use it in good health - please let me know the conclusion you come to!
It certainly could be something along those lines. Perhaps we (Americans) would be better served by keeping all those rude and aggressive members of our society in special enclosed compounds and not letting them travel abroad. We could confine them, say to Washington, D. C.
Hey, it's worth a thought!
I hope wherever you are today, you're met by mild-mannered, and polite people!
Don Bergquist - 15-Mar-2006 - Thames Ditton, Surrey, United Kingdom
This lead to the discussion that they (the locals) are always hearing about the manners of their people but their perception is that Americans are far-and-away nicer than the British. "Really?" I asked... "What Americans have you met?"
I'm sure that my parents would be gratified (and more than a little surprised) that I was the first American that they named - I mean, sure, I was sitting right there, but being held up as exemplar for my manners? Cool! (I guess there is a first time for everything!) But it leaves me to wonder: Do we fail to notice in our fellows that which we seem to admire most in strangers?
Do we think the British are more polite than the Americans we see every day because we so rarely interact with them? Conversely, do the British like the manners of Americans because they so rarely spend time in New York? (...or a Denver traffic jam, for that matter...) If you're a sociology student looking for a masters thesis, please feel free to look into this. Use it in good health - please let me know the conclusion you come to!
It certainly could be something along those lines. Perhaps we (Americans) would be better served by keeping all those rude and aggressive members of our society in special enclosed compounds and not letting them travel abroad. We could confine them, say to Washington, D. C.
Hey, it's worth a thought!
I hope wherever you are today, you're met by mild-mannered, and polite people!
Don Bergquist - 15-Mar-2006 - Thames Ditton, Surrey, United Kingdom
14 March 2006
Cold Front
Seriously, I do not remember the weather being this cold here this time last year! I am, glad that I didn't bring both my coats home last time I returned to Colorado. It will be absolutely beautiful for a few days, then it gets rainy and when the rain stops the temperatures drop drastically. I guess it is, after all, still a couple weeks until spring actually starts.
Last night on the way home, it was so cold, I even had to put on gloves!
But at least there is noting to chill my enjoyment of my friends and my travels. I hope that wherever you are, you are having a great day!
Don Bergquist - 14-March-2006 - Thames Ditton, Surrey, United Kingdom
Editor's Note:
Sorry that this entry is pretty short, it has been a busy week already. I will write more soon.
Last night on the way home, it was so cold, I even had to put on gloves!
But at least there is noting to chill my enjoyment of my friends and my travels. I hope that wherever you are, you are having a great day!
Don Bergquist - 14-March-2006 - Thames Ditton, Surrey, United Kingdom
Editor's Note:
Sorry that this entry is pretty short, it has been a busy week already. I will write more soon.
13 March 2006
The London Eye
One of my house-mates and I spent the day together yesterday. I had given her some directions on how to get around, some pointers on where to get the stuff she needed, etc. So she said that she would love to go with me when I went in.So, after a lovely breakfast in the pub down the street from the house. We then went into Surbiton to do our grocery shopping and then headed into Hampton Court to meet-up with another of our co-workers to catch the train into town. Well, we missed the connection and ended-up going into the city alone.
We saw the London Eye (but the lines were so long we decided not to head up on it) and then headed into St. James Park, past Buckingham Palace, and then down some of the side streets.
Having spent a couple hours walking around the town for a couple hours, we decided to head home. After a quick rest, I headed down to the pub to meet-up with my friends and go have curry redeaux.
I hope that wherever you are today, you can look back on your weekend and have pleasant memories.
Don Bergquist - 13-March-2006 - Thames Ditton, Surrey, United Kingdom
12 March 2006
Weekend Plans Going Well!
As I had hoped, by sharing my plans on the weekend have made them all come-out exactly as I had planned! Now, I wish I had planned on not winning the EuroMillions Lottery. Oh well, there is always next week to not win the lottery!
This weekend has been good thus far. Friday night I had dinner with some friends, a special curry that had to be ordered 24-hours ahead. It was a whole leg of lamb curried and served with various vegetable curries. It was yummy, but there was far more than we could eat so this evening, Terry has invited us over to have a curry he is making from the left-over lamb.
My housemate and I are headed into London today to do some sigh-seeing. So the quest for a non-imaginary solution to the square-route of negative one will have to wait. As for the Nobel people, do you think they would be impressed by whirled-peas?
I hope wherever you are this weekend you have something that impresses you in your life!
Don Bergquist - 12-March-2006 - Thames Ditton, Surrey, United Kingdom
This weekend has been good thus far. Friday night I had dinner with some friends, a special curry that had to be ordered 24-hours ahead. It was a whole leg of lamb curried and served with various vegetable curries. It was yummy, but there was far more than we could eat so this evening, Terry has invited us over to have a curry he is making from the left-over lamb.
My housemate and I are headed into London today to do some sigh-seeing. So the quest for a non-imaginary solution to the square-route of negative one will have to wait. As for the Nobel people, do you think they would be impressed by whirled-peas?
I hope wherever you are this weekend you have something that impresses you in your life!
Don Bergquist - 12-March-2006 - Thames Ditton, Surrey, United Kingdom
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)