Good times, good food, good friends

Rik here ...

I figured I would catch up on some picture loading and story telling.  

First some shots from the Christmas Eve party we had at the Stubbs.  Good fun had by all.

Next a couple of artsy shots from our Boxing Day walk in Hazelhead Park.  Guess who took those?

And finally some shots from the Snow Ball, which was a load of fun.  It was held at the Beach Ballroom, which is, funnily enough, right on the beach.  Everyone was dressed up - lots of ballgowns for the ladies and tuxedos for the men.  I would say about half were brave enough to do the kilt.  Dinner was quite nice and some decent raffle prizes were awarded.  We kept with our longstanding tradition of never winning anything and left empty handed.  The real fun started up after dinner when the band started playing.  The majority of songs were for traditional Scottish dances.  It was fun to get out there and try and figure out how to do them.  A great many are group dances, so you kind of tucked yourself in on the end and hoped that by the time it got around to you, you had figured it out.  Fiona and I managed quite well to "Strip the Willow" but had a harder time with some of the reels.  These songs are like marathons, they just keep going and going.  You either need to be in good shape or well fortified with your alcohol of choice.

We rounded off our weekend by having the Stubbs over last night.  We broke out the Yahtzee dice (I was the overall champ) and one of our new faves, Pit, a commodities trading game (I ended up looking for a government bailout by the time that was done).  A little vino and a little prosciutto with melon and it made it a pleasant way to ease out of Christmas and back into work.

We had a great "We love Aberdeen" moment tonight.  Getting a little sick of leftover turkey we wandered into downtown, walked past several good restaurants and settled on this nice Italian place that we had been to once before.  Service was great, food was delicious and price was very reasonable.  And we could walk there and back.  Just a nice little reminder of the good thing we can get here.

Cheers,

Rik

Christmas Tidings

Rik here ....

To our faithful blog readers, it may be a day late and a dollar short, but we hope you had a Merry Christmas, or as they say here - a happy Christmas.  

We tried our best to make one here in Aberdeen.  On Christmas Eve we went for dinner at a friend's house.  Fondue was served, wine was enjoyed and games were played.  Our efforts to keep it in the realm of a friendly game were foiled by our choice of teams - boys vs. girls.  Although it was close, the eventual winner was ... the men.  We had a really good time and it feels good to know that no matter where you go, you can always find nice people that you can turn into good friends.

We had a refreshing walk home (I never once got the opportunity to say that in Houston!), but unfortunately were to tired to get into the lovely sausage rolls that Fiona had picked up at the butcher shop.  They are now in the freezer awaiting an occassion grand enough to warrant sausage rolls.

Christmas day started well enough.  We had a little bit of a sleep in before tumbling down the stairs to check out the Christmas tree and its full load of presents.  Fiona had a good day, picking up a Nintendo DS (a portable game system for the non-initiated), a series of books on psychology, our favorite British series "As Time Goes By" on DVD and a panini maker.  She had earlier intercepted her jewelry box as it was being delivered.  I was similarly spoiled with a Blu-Ray player to replace the one we left in Houston, some movies, a couple of Rothko prints (look him up, you'll either love it or ask yourself what anyone could possibly see in them), some reading material and a new blue bathrobe.  I guess it was our attempt to keep the British economy afloat.

We set a nice table for dinner and Fiona turned out a perfectly cooked turkey.  She spent a considerable amount of time trying to convince me that she hadn't and that it was either undercooked or overcooked, she had a hard time accepting her own brilliance for some reason.  Anyway, we had all the trimmings, Brussel sprouts, cranberry sauce, home made stuffing and some nice potatoes.  Fiona had decorated the table with candles and tinsel and we listened to our 1000th Christmas carol.  We missed our families, but it was nice to have a meal like that just the two of us.  Before I get too sentimental, we then broke out the blow torch and finished off our creme brullee.  Fabulous.

We hooked up the Blu-Ray and were happy to note that it played discs we had purchased in the States.  That was nice, because most DVD's purchased there won't work here, and vice versa.  Glad to see something go our way on that front.  It has been frustrating to have to go out and buy new stuff to replace perfectly good stuff we had in Houston just because the plug is wrong or the TV signal is different.

We did manage to finish our Christmas puzzle, which was actually our second Christmas puzzle.  As Fiona solved puzzles on her Nintendo I got to lay in the last few pieces.  Always satisfying.  I do sometimes regret not picking up the 18,000 piece puzzle we saw that one time in Las Vegas.  I can't imagine the arguments we would have over that: "Rik, you have to move your puzzle, I need the dining table back", "I can't move it now, I only have 4000 pieces to go!"

We spent this Boxing Day catching up on sleep and laundry.  We went for a walk in Hazelhead Park, a great recreational area on the edge of Aberdeen.  It helped clear our heads a bit.  We broke in the pannini press with turkey, brie and cranberry panninis.  And we watched the incredibly awful last installment of the Mummy movies.  I'm hoping to take advantage of Fiona's new Nintendo obsession to finish reading my book - a recommendation from my sister Linda.  It's David Starkey's "Monarchy".  Anyone with PBS might recognize him as the bespectacled Englishman with a similarly titled show.  It's a great read, full of interesting tidbits about the zany kings and queens that have ruled Britain for the last few hundred years.

We've got the Snow Ball to go to tomorrow and we're both looking forward to that.  Any chance I get to be seen dancing with the most beautiful woman in the room, I take.  I do have to put on the tuxedo, though.  That feels like a photo opportunity to me.  Keep your eyes on the bog, I'll try and convince Fiona to post at least one.  The Internet deserves to have our good looking mugs on it.

Cheers and Merry Boxing Day.

Irn Bru Commercial Update

Rik here ...

Enjoying a half day off and relaxing a little before a dinner party tonight.  Fresh sausage rolls are in the kitchen waiting for a midnight snack to be had with hot chocolate and Baileys.  Does it get better than that?

Fiona and I were watching the telly this afternoon and caught a traditional Christmas show called "the Snowman".  Apparently it is an institution here, just like Rudolph and the Grinch are in North America. 

About half way through the show there's a flying sequence that was obviously the source for the Irn Bru commercial we posted earlier this week.  It just reinforced the brilliance of the commercial.  And as much as we mock the power of advertising these days, I really want to try an Irn Bru now.  I'll actually think less of myself if I don't like it ...

Fiona just poked me when I wrote about the Grinch.  She hasn't seen it this year due to the inability of British broadcasters to "get with the program" and the fact that our DVD version is North America format (and packed into a box in a storage locker in Houston).  I for one was never as enamored with the Grinch as Fiona and my sister, Hanneke, always were.  For me, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer was tops.  An elf who wanted to be a dentist?  A creepy talking snow man?  I have a feeling you could probably teach a college level Visual Arts class on the content of that cartoon.  So it's time for an informal poll: which was your favorite - Grinch or Rudy?

Cheers and Merry Christmas,

Rik and Fiona

Recovery

Rik here ...

We've had ourselves a pleasant little weekend.  We did some more shopping on Saturday morning, buying some bits and bobs to get ready for Christmas.  We went out to the staff Christmas party on Saturday night and had a thoroughly enjoyable time.  We did quite a bit of dancing and the raffle we organized went quite well.  

We spent most of today recovering, with lack of sleep making us drag our feet somewhat.  We did get the rest of our grocery shopping done, so everything is ready for the holidays this week.  

I'm looking forward to our first Christmas here.  It looks like everything is in place for a nice relaxing, festive time.

Cheers,

Rik

A little Christmas Cheer?

There is a beverage here that is as Scottish as the kilt and Loch Ness.  Proudly thought of as a surefire hangover cure, it is a slightly radioactive orange color.  It is called Irn Bru.

While Rik and I have not actually tried it and so cannot speak to its taste, we immensely enjoy some of their very creative ads.  Here is the Christmas one... Make sure you have your sound on and listen to the words of the song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfiqrkV_Zql

Enjoy!

Edinburgh

So we decided to head out this weekend and go for a little trip.  Our destination was Edinburgh...

It is a really pretty city, very green and full of amazing architecture.  We arrived on Friday, and after a pretty harrowing drive (it was very windy and very rainy and pitch black at 4:00pm) we headed out on the town to find some dinner.  We ended up at a small Greek place not too far from the hotel.  The tzatziki was delicious.  

We then wandered out into Edinburgh and quickly stumbled upon a Christmas street market.  They had all sort of booths selling toys, food and drinks.  We had to get some gluhwein.  It had quite a kick, so I think something extra had been added.  Beyond the fair was a carnival that lit up the street.  They had a ferris wheel, merry-go-round and swings.  It was a cool atmosphere, with lots of fashionable people wandering about.  Wed did our best to blend in.

We woke up the next morning and wandered on up to Edinburgh castle.  Edinburgh seems to be all about the statues, as we passed many on the way.  And not just for famous politicians or military heroes.  Sir Walter Scott has several, and we saw ones for James Clerk Maxwell (bonus nerd points if you can tell me what he is famous for without consulting Wikipedia) and Adam Smith.  Poor Mr. Smith has apparently borne the brunt of some people's frustrations with the credit crisis.

The castle is truly spectacular.  Situated on the hill above Edinburgh, it gives great views of the surrounding city and into the firth.  It has been well-kept and the facilities within are well worth viewing.  We particularly liked the Scottish Crown jewels, the great hall, the dungeons and especially the National War Memorial.  The Memorial is an example of what memorials should be.

We then went out for a short but delicious lunch at the Witchery.  Next came the Royal Mile, with a piper on the corner near St Giles Cathedral.  We went in and toured around.  It was very impressive, showcasing a lot of Scottish history from around the time of the Reformation.  The best part was easily the Thistle Chapel.  The carving is incredibly ornate.

We had a great dinner out - Fiona had Scottish lamb and I had a great salmon starter.  We're really starting to appreciate Scottish cuisine.

Sunday morning we made our way to the Palace at Holyrood house, the Queen's residence when she's in Scotland.  The tour was great and the grounds are suitably grand.  They had several displays and rooms set with the possessions of Mary, Queen of Scots.  All very well done and conveniently wrapped in an audio tour. 

Across from the Palace was the new Scottish Parliament Building.  While Holyrood house was classic and grand, the new architecture of the Parliament was not.  Someone needs to describe the art nouveau thing that they have done there, because I don't get it.

Anyway, we'll be back to Edinburgh soon, I think.  There seemed to be so much that we didn't get a chance to do.   

Potpourri

Rik here ...

We're off to Edinburgh tomorrow for a nice weekend out.  It's been a tough week at work, so I'm looking forward to tramping around another castle and sampling some high end Edinburghian cuisine.

I've been doing some more driving lately.  Still a little scary, especially for Fiona in the passenger seat.  Getting used to shifting with your left hand is harder than adjusting to the modified rules and all the roundabouts.  Hopefully by the time we get some visitors I'll be comfortable acting as chauffeur.

I was fitted for my tux today.  Fiona and I are going to a Snow Ball on the 27th.  It wouldn't do to have such a good looking lady accompanied by a hobo in his own suit.  We almost talked ourselves into a formal kilt, maybe next time.

We thought we had stumbled on the world's worst chip flavor here - Prawn Cocktail.  I think Fiona's sister Adele will back us up on that.  But straight from Singapore, Christian sends us proof that you can never claim any particular item is the best/worst of anything.  You can try, but it probably means you just haven't been to Asia yet.

I was Googling a work related item today and came across a Geophysics blog.  I thought, wow, what a horribly bad idea.  With everything that the internet has to offer, why would you stop and read about geophysics?  Anybody looking for more geophysics in this blog?

Gotta go, Beverly Hills Cop is on.  Clearly a top 5 Eddie Murphy movie.  In no particular order: Beverly Hills Cop, The Golden Child, Coming to America, Bowfinger and Another 48 Hours.  Try and argue.  You can't.

Cheers,

Rik

What's Occurring?

Rik here ...

Today we went off to Crathes Castle - a manor house not too far from Aberdeen.  They had the inside set up as a true Victorian Christmas, down to the oranges and cloves.  People wandered the house in character and you could partake in mulled wine and cheese scones.  The gardens looked pretty elaborate and I think we'll have to go back when they're blooming (and when it's not dark at 3pm!)  They had a giant sequoia on the grounds that truly boggled the mind.  Another castle to add to the itinerary, should anyone choose to visit.  Enjoy the pics...

We went to the butchershop down the street yesterday and ordered our Christmas turkey.  Minimum order was 5kg, so we'll be accepting your favorite turkey leftover recipes.  

We also saw a good looking leg of lamb, which we roasted tonight with rosemary and garlic.  Fantastico, as this odd Italian cook on local TV likes to say.  It also makes us feel good to be supporting our local shopowners, as well.  As cheap and high quality as the Wal-Mart cuts are, it just isn't the same.

My bus trip to work has been taking a little longer than normal the past few weeks, early darkness worsens the already horrible Aberdeen traffic situation.  The upside, small though it is, is that I have been getting caught up on my reading.  I've burnt through a few books lately, including a history of the Texas Revolution, Norman Mailer's last book (a horribly gratuitous and vulgar historical fiction of Adolf Hitler) and my brother in law's recommendation "Freakonomics".  Some interesting topics, but probably not everyone's cup of tea.  I'm currently going through a history of the Peloponessian War, which is quite interesting.  Sparta versus Athens, with good coverage of the changing methods of warfare and use of terror as a weapon.   Interesting parallels with current methods.  I've got a few more waiting on the shelf, including the new Salman Rushdie and a biography of Chairman Mao.  I would like some suggestions, however, for something new once I'm done.  Leave your comments with anything good that you've read in the last few months ....

Cheers,

Rik

Sinterklaas

Tonight is the eve of Sinterklaas. In the Dutch tradition, he will go from house to house on his big, white horse leaving presents for good little boys and girls.  For those who end up on the wrong side of the good/bad ledger, his assistant 'Zwarte Piet' or Black Peter comes by to give you a thrashing with a bunch of sticks, before stuffing you in a sack and taking you off to Spain (where Sinterklaas spends the rest of the year). Talk about trying to get your kids to behave!?!

In his family tradition, Rik and his sisters would spend the evening singing special songs and wait for that knock on the door that signified that Sinterklaas had arrived, and also send them into a screaming frenzy running around the house.  The door would then open a crack and Zwarte Piet would throw candies into the house.  Traditionally, they are mostly pepernootjes (small ginger cookies), they would find them all around and sometimes after a few months behind the couch.  Anyway, that night you leave out your shoe with an offering for his horse and hope that in the morning he has filled it with presents and even a chocolate letter.

This afternoon I did some searching on the internet and found some of the traditional Sinterklaas songs and learnt them to surprise Rik when he came home.  Here is one of the songs and a translation.

 Zie ginds komt de stoomboot

uit Spanje weer aan.

Hij brengt ons Sint-Nicolaas

ik zie hem al staan.

Hoe huppelt zijn paardje

op het dek op en neer,

hoe waaien de wimpels

al heen en al weer.

Zijn knecht staat te lachen

en roept ons reeds toe:

"Wie zoet is krijgt lekkers,

wie stout is de roe!"

Och lieve Sint Nicolaas,

kom ook eens bij mij,

en rijd toch ons huisje

niet stil voorbij.

Look here comes the steamboat

from Spain again.

It brings us St. Nicholas, 

I can already see him standing there.

His horse is a-prancing

on deck, up and down,

The banners are waving

back and forth.

His helper stands laughing

and shouts to us take heed

"Who is good gets candies,

who is naughty gets beat with my sticks"

Oh, Saint Nicholas

come also to me

and do not ride 

quietly past our house.

Happy Sinterklaas, Everyone!!

Christmas Puzzle

Rik here ...

It turns out we're getting a jump on the Christmas season this year.  Christmas cards are already done and out.  Fiona stumbled upon a Christmas delivery and now has a jump on present opening.

We also got an early start on our traditional Christmas puzzle as well.  Unfortunately either we've become really good at puzzles or this one was easier than we thought.  It seems we've squeaked in under the Christmas Eve deadline with only 21 days to spare ...