One Year Down....

I don't believe it myself but I've now been in the UK for one full year. Crazy. I'm not quite sure where this year has gone but looking back at some blog photos, I think I've done a pretty good job exploring so far.

But, no time to reflect just yet. I've got loads of work to do and some Barcelona and Italy pics to organize. As for the photo above, it's a good picture of my new routine. Steak, ale and stilton pie with veg at the pub and my dog begging on my knee. The comforts of home....

A Night At The Races

Horse racing in England is big. Huge. The Grand National, Ascot, Triple Crown - they are into it all over here. So I went to the local races for an evening of excitement and betting. (Apologies in advance for the photos - it was quite bright and I could never be sure if the picture turned out)

First off, there is tailgating. Pull up the car, set up at the picnic tables and voila! you are getting ready for the races.

My friend Jo and I toast with some birthday champagne to really get us in the betting mood. (It was a bit windy which is why my hair is flying all over the place)

The horses also run on grass. It is very cool - and you get to be very close. I'm pretty sure you can't get this close in the States but here, you can hear them thundering down the field and get hit with clods of dirt as they fly by. Here you can see the field coming and going.

And here is where the horses used to be and you can see the dirt still in the air. They were much faster than my camera. Jo was the skilled one for the day. She picked the winner in the first 3 races, too bad she only bet on one of them!

Anyway, these pictures don't do the evening justice but trust me that horse racing is quite popular here. I'm hoping to get tickets to Ascot so you might see horses and big funny hats here in the future. Also, pics from the Half Ironman and Italy/Switzerland still to come...

Another Year Wiser?

I'd like to think that I'm another year wiser but looking back on a few things, I'm starting to doubt that. What I am however, is officially another year older. I won't go into all my recent reflection (I almost wrote 'deep' reflection and that made me laugh) as my birthday tends to be a time when I reflect on the year and try to figure out what my next year will bring. On top of that, I try to determine what kind of person I am going to be - will I keep looking back? Will I move forward? Or am I on some crazy sideways path the might even bring me right back to where I started from? (See why I almost used the word deep?) In any case, it is a time to celebrate and try and have a little fun with MY day. So - I'm off to Italy tomorrow as a present to myself. :o)

Speaking of presents, my English friends came over the other night and presented me with a very fitting gift. A proper kettle! I think it might be more for them than for me since they were tired of popping round or staying for dinner and then being denied their tea. No more! They'll turn me into a right Brit soon......

Barcelona...Sort Of

So I've been talking for awhile that I had a trip planned to Barcelona. That wasn't exactly true.. I did fly in and out of the Barcelona airport. But I really went to Spain to compete in a Half Ironman in a town called Calella (I survived by the way). I did go to Barcelona however, those pictures are below. However they are a wee bit scarce due to the amount of time I spent at the beach or freaking out about my race. I have a few more race/beach photos then city pictures. So - those will come next as soon as I steal a few from some of the best race spectators ever! Read on...

Sarah (who competed) and her boyfriend Julian (best race support ever) changed hotels after the race. This is what happens when you have to carry your bike everywhere with you.

The Cathedral in the center of Barcelona. Built in Roman times it is one of the oldest structures in the city.

Lots of pedestrian friendly places to walk and shop

A wonderful square off Las Ramblas, the main pedestrian thoroughfare. It was a great place to rest with a fountain in the middle and cafes lining the perimeter.

Michael and Tom (fellow competitors and appearing in previous posts) get us a table in the corner. The tapas was yummy!

The statue honoring Christopher Columbus, having been sent abroad with money from Spain's Queen Isabel.

The Barcelona harbor - I loved the contrast of the boats in the foreground with the European buildings in the background.

Billed as the most beautiful church in Barcelona, it has the largest and oldest circular rose window. I love the cafes at the base so that you may just sit with a glass and admire it.


Sarah and Julian check out my new favorite store.

Very narrow streets - you could jump from one balcony to the other!

Las Ramblas - filled with more people and street performers than you could believe. It actually made me nervous that I was going to be pick pocketed so I didn't linger long. Barcelona is known for having your valuables relieved of your possession.

Me being a dork at Park Guell. One of Gaudi's (the modernist architect) main creations.


The columns amazed me how they were built and continue to hold strong today without the help of modern technology.



Tom helps just in case it might fall.
A fanciful lizard guarding the entrance to the park.

Tiled art on the ceiling of what was meant to be an open air market (columns below)





Originally designed as a market, now a resting area out of the sun!

Another Gaudi design still under construction after 100 years! The cathedral is built to hold 13,000 worshippers.

Tom and I (with my crooked hat) in front of the Cathedral.

So ends the Barcelona portion - pics from Calella and the race soon. Except I'm off to Italy on Wednesday so there might be a slight delay ... :o) Ciao!

How Coffee Beans are Born

Saw this in a coffee shop in Spain and just had to laugh.

Just Call Me a Guinea Pig

My good friend Tom needed a few subjects for a cycling study so I volunteered to help out. The study took into account cycling technique and how that affected your heart rate, oxygen intake, etc.


As part of the study, reflectors are placed at key points and filmed by 12 separate cameras. This gets transmitted to the computer where you can see my form and technique. Very much like The Matrix or how they film people for video games! I'm glowing!!

Next they set up the test bike in the middle of the cameras

Here I am looking extremely happy that I'm wearing a very attractive nose clip to keep me from breathing through my nose. At least I'm glowing.

I'm sure they are discussing how excellent I am doing. Don't even ask why Lee is wearing latex gloves. It's all in the name of science....

As promised, I'm off to Barcelona for a week so photos and stories when I get back. Happy Memorial Day my U.S. readers...

Did my first triathlon in a l-o-n-g time. Finished 8th in my age group only after a mild panic attack in the water.

Here is another dorky photo of me. Why is it that my rubber suit doesn't make me look like Catwoman?