Museum Visits

We took advantage of the Bank Holidays earlier this week to visit a few museums: Gavin and I went to the Imperial War Museum and I sojourned across town to the Geffrye Museum.  Two very different experiences! I was interested in seeing the "Ministry of Food" exhibition at the Imperial War Museum.  It was all about food rationing and vegetable gardening during WWII - very timely given the current "local food" movement. Now we understand why eating out has become so culturally important here as people dined more at communal eating houses to forgo using their rationed food at home. Before the war, the British imported a surprising amount of food necessities from all around the world and by planting vegetables - even in Kensington Gardens - they were able to eat more independently. That exhibition and the rest of the museum was really well done.  It contains WWI and WWII exhibitions, full size trench and Blitz recreations, a hall full of tanks and planes and a wholly intense Holocaust exhibit.  It was all so much information but we really enjoyed ourselves. We even passed the house where Captain Bligh lived on the walk from the tube stop. History comes alive! ;)

Then I visited the Geffrye Museum - a museum devoted to British interiors of the "middling class" through the last 400 years. The building consists of around ten full scale recreations of living rooms complete with period specific furnishings and wall decor. I was keen to get to the museum before next week as the rooms were set up to display Christmas traditions during the different time periods as well. I took more pictures than I normally do in museums, but I couldn't help myself.... the recreations were so precise and the furnishings well maintained! I decided against a picture of the reception from the 1990's.  That room had a stereo playing a Moby CD. Hee.. the mid 90's aren't long enough ago to make the room a novelty for me ;)

unfortunately, I didn't bring my camera, just used my phone
but the Imperial War Museum reminded me of the Air
and Space Museum at the Smithsonian

dining hall, mid 17th century

parlor, late 18th century

drawing room, mid-to-late 19th century

drawing room, 1890 showing "aesthetic movement"
known for artful furnishings heavily influenced by Japan.

living room, 1935

living room, 1965

Christmas Dinner

It's befuddling to think that a few inches of snow can throw an entire country into traveling chaos.  I mean, it IS winter and snow CAN occur in the winter season.  When will the whole of England figure out this unsurprising principle of cold weather and PREPARE??  I guess I'm lucky I don't need to contend with the masses trying to get in/out of London and mainland Europe as we aren't headed back to the States for the holidays.  This will be our first Christmas away from family so we thought we'd embrace the traditional British Christmas dinner.  We comforted ourselves with food- lots and lots of food.  And Christmas crackers filled with Christmas crowns (which we donned for the meal.) But alas, no flaming Christmas pudding! Just yummy sticky toffee pudding.

The dinner was an alright substitute, but it can never come close to cheesy potatoes, shrimp cocktails or spending special time with our parents, sisters, brothers-in-law and niece (and soon to be, nephew!)

I've spared you the first course and dessert pictures; trust me, I'm still stuffed.

Hampton Court Palace

After the snow storm cleared on Sunday we drove down to Hampton Court Palace.  The palace is infamous for being the (stolen from Cardinal Wolsey) royal home to King Henry VIII, when he wasn't killing off his wives. Did anyone watch the Tudors?? That's where I get my British history, of course.

The entire place is pretty impressive with enormous halls, tapestries, thrones and fireplaces in every room. It was very easy to imagine Henry walking through the halls-- especially when an actor playing Henry rolled through.... Huzzah! We kept our distance. It was also interesting to learn that King William III and Queen Mary II had renovated part of the original palace to their more current (at the time, late 17th century) Baroque style.  I guess even for the royals, times change. I'd love to go back when the weather is warmer to walk the grounds and gardens.  I think you can take a boat down the Thames from central London to the gardens during the summer months. Perhaps in May..?? (hint, hint, Mom and Dad!)

the fireplace in the King's kitchen

King Henry's wine cellar

Aaah! Huzzah!

the portion renovated by King William

no British attraction would be complete without
a winter ice skating rink outside

London Snow Globe

I generally do not like snow.  I wish I could say I missed the grand state of Minnesota right now, but in all honesty, I'm so glad I'm not in the frigid temps and multiple feet of snowfall.  Having said that, I think the snow in London might grow on me. The way it blankets the city is amazing.  It makes everything prettier.. and I think it makes Londoners happier.

I knew it was supposed to snow today, but we headed to Borough Market this morning anyway because we are hearty Minnesotans.  While picking up the few items that, apparently, we cannot live without anymore, the flurries began to fly.  By the time we left, it had started to snow a bit harder.  Now, the snowflakes here are pretty large, just like the raindrops and within a matter of minutes, we were in smack in the middle of a mini snowstorm (I still say mini, because this is still nothin' compared to home!)

Thankfully, Gavin got us home in one piece.  It took us MUCH longer but considering how people tend to freak out about traveling in any precipitation, I was just glad to get off the streets. Once we dried off, Chewie and I were off to the park to play with Jonah, Chewie's BT friend.  I had to carry the little wimp to the park because he does not like to walk in snow (based on my scientific observations, I think we have about 4-6 inches.)  Miraculously, once at the park, he was fine.  Little stinker ;)

Walking to and in the park, you would have thought you were in the song, "Walking in a Winter Wonderland." Families were out in the streets laughing, having snowball wars. People all throughout the park were building snow forts and snowmen.  Dogs were running all over, eating snow, chasing snowballs.  I don't think I've ever seen people just enjoy snow, en masse. It was almost beyond my comprehension that people could find pure joy in it, but the feeling almost was contagious. It defies every fiber in my being that has despised the cold snow for my entire life!  Buuut.... It really is so pretty the way it clings to every little branch and leaf. And it will probably melt in a few days anyway ;)

few flurries...

to driving in a white-out!

our park... can't get over how pretty it was.

hard to tell, but there were probably around
thirty people out there, making snowmen and snow forts.

someone is ready for home ;)

Surprise Night Out

Last Friday, just as I was gearing myself up for a long day and night alone (Gavin was to attend a work Christmas party that evening), I received an email from a friend saying she would be in London for the evening and that we should get dinner. Umm, yes please!! I mean, seriously: opportunities like this don't come by that often for me.  It is real cause for celebration.

She was staying at a hotel in Kensington, so I suggested we walk to the ice rink at the Natural History Museum- not to actually skate, but just to take a look around.  Many of the museums and shopping areas around town put up ice rinks for the Christmas season and I had heard the Natural History's was one of the best.  Then we walked a short distance to dinner at a cute place called Bumpkin.  British comfort, country staples for the well-heeled set ;) J had a delicious bangers and mash dish (when in Rome!) and I had haddock, cabbage and mushrooms.

The night was so much fun! Great conversation, great wine and great sights! So unexpected, but so appreciated.

Home Tour

I promised a while back that I would post pics of our home when I felt it was tour ready... and I guess now that we have our furniture, a few art pieces and photos hung and have our Christmas decor (tiny amount that I have) out, it's time for show and tell!  Bonus points for finding little Chews ;)

Come on in!

Once in the door, the kitchen is to the right.

Reception (dining room) to the left, and

lounge (living room) even further left (a little patio/garden outside.)

Now back through the reception..

and up the steep staircase...

to the main bedroom at the top to the right.

The long hall with guest bedroom on the left, and

the split bathroom at the end of the hall.

And this concludes the grand tour.  Come back again!