December -- Aston Martins, London Snow, Christmas Cabaret and a very Merry German Xmas

A rainy and frosty December had more whirlwind adventures---we're taking advantage of our last bits of time in London before we leave for Australia mid-February.

Aston Martin

JT got to drive an Aston Martin around a race track a few times (a birthday present he cashed in on from last June) at Silverstone Race Track. I desperately tried to catch a few good photos, but they stuck the partners in a glassed room with limited view due to the rain.

London Snow

The first snow of the season blanketed London and for the first time in a few years it felt like Xmas for us. I was lucky enough to be working at Artyard those couple of snowy days, doing papier mache gingerbread houses with 18 - 5-10 year olds as the flurries floated in huge lumps from the sky. Xmas seems to be ever more magical and exciting with snow!

Christmas Cabaret

I choreographed a short piss-take on Christmas with a trio of dancers clad in Santa outfits. Unfortunately it turned out to be a burlesque piece instead of a satire due to the ever increasing rifts in communication from mac to pc. Needless to say it didn't go off as originally planned, but the process was a thrill. I had missed having regular rehearsals for a project I believed in, and I think it is only the start of something.

A Very Merry German Xmas

Xmas was a week in Kiel, Northern Germany with gusts of wind blowing down from Scandinavia and an hour or so drive from Denmark. Julz and I met while I was teaching yoga for Stoke Travel (formerly Smashed Travel) in Biarritz, France summer of 2008. Kindred spirits we keep in touch regularly, and JT and I family-crashed her mom's place for Xmas and spent the week eating, sleeping, playing games, learning German, exploring Kiel and some nearby Xmas markets, as well as getting to know her sister, mom and mom's partner better. We also became acquainted with a 12 year old ginger cat that swaggers by the name of Herr Schmidt (or if you are friendly terms with him, Schmitty). Julz is a radiant light of a friend that you can't help but smile when you're around her. So lucky to have her as a friend and this Xmas will always be among our favourites! (Not to mention our first white Xmas!!)

November -- cold weather, Roald Dahl and a new tattoo

November brought the winter weather (apparently the rainiest London November on record), and scarves, gloves and hats are now regular attire. With our recent announcement that my Australian Visa is in, we are busy planning the transition adventures before the Australian adventures come into full swing at the end of February 2010.

Here are some highlights from November 2009:

Roald Dahl Museum

We spent one rainy Saturday in Great Missenden, a town most known as the home and resting place of beloved author Roald Dahl. There is a museum dedicated to Roald and all of the fabulous characters he created. The building is filled with quotes, interactive writing projects and media, and Quentin Blake illustrations. JT even sat in Roald Dahl's writing chair, where he used to sit with his legs in a sleeping bag, a roll of corrugated cardboard underneath his writing board, and a space heater way too close to many flammable objects.

Tattoo#2

I hopped down to Portobella Road in Notting Hill Gate and got my second tattoo. It should directly translate as "No Fear Warrior", but for all I know it could mean horse's puckered ass, but either way it looks good and is healing nicely. The picture is of the tattoo a week old, smeared in lotion to keep it from drying out.

Hanger Hill Park

The park behind our home has had some incredible mushrooms, must be all the rain. I missed getting a picture of the smurf-home that I saw, but I did get picks of these ones when I revisited.