We managed to make it through the snow-pocalypse last week. As the people in the central belt of Scotland suffered under 2-3 feet of snow and temperatures down to -15 C, we Aberdonians took our lumps as well. The city slowed down, traffic got worse, the shops and petrol stations started to run out of stock, but life just kept on going. It was a little easier for us because we had an interesting weekend to look forward to.
Friday was the staff Christmas party, so the boss and the boss's wife got all fancied up and walked down to a nice restaurant for dinner and drinks. Although we somehow got stuck on the end of the table (again), I work with such a good group of people that it didn't really matter. Fiona won the first prize in the raffle and the skirlie on the turkey platter was only mostly inedible. I even got in a great Cuban cigar on the way home, and once we got there I got to Skype with my sister and my niece, whom I haven't spoken to for way too long.
Saturday morning we slept in a bit, packed a suitcase and headed off to the airport. After a slight delay due to a malfunctioning radar instrument, we were off to London. We hit the ground there, jumped in a cab to our Kensington hotel (2 thumbs up to the Crowne Plaza on Cromwell Road for upgrading us to a two storey suite with a monster bed!) and did a quick change so we could hop another cab to Quaglino's for dinner.
We really like Quaglino's. Fiona took me there earlier in the year for my birthday and it was grand. You pay a little more, but you get to sit amongst the fabulous people and pretend you are important. Fiona was, of course, looking the part and I tried my best as well, but looked quite tame surrounded by guys in grey suits with lime green shirt-tie combos. When our heads hit the pillows that night we were thoroughly exhausted.
Sunday morning saw us walking down the street to try and beat the queues at the Natural History Museum. We'd tried before but had always been put off by the lines snaking down the street. It wasn't too bad this time. Actually the line outside was just long enough to let you take in the grandeur of the building. And it continued inside. There were many times where we thought the building itself outshone the exhibits inside. Everywhere you looked were intricate carvings of snakes, birds, monkeys and other fauna.
There were several cool exhibits, including the geological ones, the dinosaurs (of course) and the thousands of stuffed birds. The highlight for us was a temporary exhibit entitled "Wildlife Photographer of the Year". It was absolutely amazing. I think it inspired Fiona to get behind the camera a little more. Hopefully next year we'll be getting free tickets as she goes back to accept first prize.
We then trekked further into the city by Tube to visit the London branch of our favorite Tex-Mex restaurant, Chipotle. While not completely the same as in the States, we enjoyed every bite. It was well worth the trip.
After a brief nap at the hotel we hopped in the Tube again to go see the Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square. It was not quite as awe inspiring as we had hoped, but Fiona got some good shots. There was one view from the steps where you could see the square, with the tree, the planet Jupiter shining brightly just over Nelson's shoulder on top of the column and down the street, past the large double decker bus, Big Ben shining through the darkness.
Back on the Tube - next stop Hyde Park, where a Winter Wonderland was in progress. We walked past the stalls with all sorts of Christmas crafts, mulled wine and pretzels, had some sub-par poffertjes and enjoyed the Christmas music and lights. When we hit the carnival, with the haunted house where they had simply put Santa costumes on all the zombies, we turned around and headed back to the hotel.
On Monday I had a course at the office in Crawley and Fiona spent the day with a friend touring the National Portrait Gallery and surroundings. She had to stop and flirt with Winston.
We were looking forward to sleeping in our own beds when we got home, so were sorely disappointed when we opened the door to find the internal alarm blaring away. Our codes didn't work and the alarm company wasn't answering any calls, so I hauled out my tool kit, cracked open the alarm and loosened the right wires to get it to stop. I fell asleep quite proud of myself. It was probably the height of handyman skills. I hope I didn't peak too soon.
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