Canada, Brighton and the London Museum

Well, I haven't been on here for a while as I have been in Brighton and then Canada. There is much to say but I have to keep it brief tonight. I have found a great site called Flickr where you can upload photos for free; really cool. If you look to the right menu, you can see a link to the site with some of my photos.

I will post some of my images on this blog but from now on I will try and put all of them on Flickr.

Keep watched for my holiday tales!!!

Darwin May Ball 2005

On the 24th of June, Bec, Cathy and I went to the Darwin May Ball. May balls, traditionally happen in June at Cambridge, not May. It coincides with the end of the academic year which finished during May in the past, but now finishes in June. You can read about it more here. We had a great night, meeting Becky before had for a few drinks.

Cathy came up from London on the train and managed to get ready in about 15 minutes. I was amazed, record timing.

Bec and Cathy, playing up as usual!!















Hello Ladies!!















Cathy and I (I never did manage to get a photo with Bec that night)















The theme for the night was Moulin Rouge. The can can girls showing some dancing steps.


Guess what this is? You put your mouth where the tip of the arrow is and someone pours midori or some other alcoholic drink from the feathered end. It runs through the ice sculpture and gets cooled on the way down.










I can't remember this Magician Dude's name but he was awesome. I have always wondered how the guys do the card tricks right in front of your eyes, but we were amazed, very dexterous.

If you every get the chance to get a magician do tricks close, you will be amazed.





There was sumo wrestling in padded suits, a bungee cord running track, a donut making stall, a crepe stall, a stage with various acts and plenty more.

I have to say the vegetarian food was not served until 2am in the morning and that was crap. The only thing I could find was rice at the curry stall. I was so hungry I just asked the guy serving for a bowl of rice. Funny because he didn't understand what I wanted.
Yes we also had a Gambling table, you recieved 5 chips to bet with.

Wimbledon 05

Well we made it to Wimbledon this year, which was great seeing we missed the French Open. The day was early with a 5:40 bus ride to london and then a tube to Southfields to walk to the tennis station.


Then it was queuing time. This took a couple of hours in a field near the tennis club.











Queuing















Still Queuing...


We managed to get in and purchase ground tickets, which meant we could go anywhere but court one and centre court. We decided to watch Taylor Dent as he was about the best player on the outer courts.








Finally in















Henman Hill as they call it. We watched a court one match on the big screen in the centre of the photo.

We also managed to watch a bit of Todd Woodbridge, which was excellent seeing this was his last Wimbledon.















Some guy returning Taylor dents shots.















Becky and becky watching the outer courts















Doubles on the outer courts















Me in front of the outer courts

The Paris Holiday Part 5, Disneyland

Well on the second last day of our Paris holiday, we finally made it to Disneyland Paris. The day was a little overcast so there were not too many people in the queues.


























Me in front of the Dumbo Ride














Bec somewhere in Disneyland















I was pointing at the cool jumping water.















Mmmm, toffee apples.

The Paris Holiday Part 4

After the Louvre, and the Musee Dorsey, we jumped on the Hop on hop off bus and managed to arrive at Cleopatra's Needle in Paris. Cleopatra's Needles are a trio of obelisks in London, Paris (Place de la Concorde) and New York. Each is made of red granite, stands about 21 metres (68 feet) high, weighs about 180 tons and is inscribed with hieroglyphs. They have nothing to do with Cleopatra.

I have seen the London and Paris Needles, only the New York one to go.


Next we walked to the Le Opera where the film the Phantom of the Opera was filmed. On the way we discovered La Madeleine. The basis for the design was the Panthéon.





















Don't I look Regal!!!

The Paris Holiday Part 3

Alright, where was I...


...Ah yes we went to the Musee D'orsey which houses a large number of famous pieces of art that I have seen in books.

A lot of paintings from modern impressionists including Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, and Dutchman Vincent Van Gogh; and Pointilist Georges Seurat.

Being a lover of impressionists, I was loving this museum.

There was also a specialist impressionist exhibition showcasing a lot of pointilism.

Look at those piercing eyes.
















Recognise this??
















Becs favourite.

191!!!

Whats that you ask? My work had a bowling night last Thursday and on the second frame I managed to score 191. I cleared every frame with a strike or a spare except the last frame. Frames 8 & 9 were strikes but on the 10th frame I scored 7 followed by 1 to score 191.

I don't think my workmates were impressed as I scored 89 in the first frame and they were sure I had bowled before, despite my protest I had only ever scored about 120.

Stephen Hawking!

I just walked into Cambridge and strolled across the bridge near the Jesus Green Lock and who was coming across the bridge but Stephen Hawking who lives in Cambridge. I had to look twice but it was him and have to say I felt slightly strange walking past one of the smartest men on the Planet.

Napoleons apartments

I must have a separate post for Napoleons apartments. These apartments were like nothing I have ever seen before.

See the images below.

Finally, the Paris holiday part 2

Here are some more photos from the first couple of days:

In front of the Eiffel Tower

View from the top of the tower at night

Another view at night

Looking up from the base of the tower at night

Champs Elysee

Arch De Triumph


The Mona Lisa.

We arrived at about 9am and managed to get to the front of the barrier as the people were only about 5 deep. When we walked back past the exhibition room at 9:30, the people were about 10 deep.

So if you go to the louvre, go to the Mona Lisa first, then go and see everything else.

The Winged Victory


This is just a bit of the roof, but have a look at it!


"Bec, are you sure you know where you are?"

"This place is so damn big, I'm lost. I just want to see the expensive Jewelery!"

"Hey I think its in here somewhere"


"Oh yeah, I want to buy some of that."
Yes those stones are real and that was all they recovered after the poor french people raided the Louvre. Let them eat cake indeed!


Bec went through a shrinking machine before going into this bedroom.


Take note, the smallest piece of art in the Louvre!


Nope, can't read anything.


A few coffins.

Lots of mummies tombs.


Out of the camera frame Big boy!!


Something Famous! (My dad will probably spew that I don't know what this is)


Dude, ancient guitars!!


More art!

Two minutes after this I saw another piece of art with just two arms...


More jewellery


Becs favourite piece of art in the Louvre

Napeolen being crowned King. The cardinal in the painting chose not the turn up from the event however Napoleon had him painting in the painting. This is true for a couple of other people in the painting.