SNOW!

In case you're not on Facebook, don't text, don't check your email or don't read the news, the story is this: we have snow! Ok, so that's not all that shockin, given it is winter. But it's quite early in the season for us to get snow and we've gotten (and are still getting) a lot.

It's been pretty cold too. Our bathroom is especially cold. During the winter, it's not uncommon for things like shampoo and toothpaste to start to freeze. Can you see this bottle of Dr Bronner's? It's usually totally clear.

 

But there are some things that don't change, no matter what the weather! Drying laundry outside is tricky though, especially when it's below freezing.

 

I like it when the snow sticks to the telephone wires.

 

And fences.

 

Ole made a Danish Christmas cake.

 

Rosie was very interested in his baking process.

 

Ta-da!

 

The students think it's funny to make massive snowballs and leave them in the middle of the street. Rosie & I think it's funny to sit on top of them.

 

York

I've been neglecting the blog lately. Partly because I cannot be arsed to sit at a computer anymore than I already do and partly because I haven't had time.

We were a little busier than normal last week when Ole's folks came over for a little visit. It was really good to see them, especially as we won't be in DK over Christmas. The weather was pretty grim - it rained every day except Friday - but we still had a nice time together, chilling out and visiting. And eating.

On Thursday, we took the train to York for the day. It's such a beautiful city and one of the few walled cities in Britain. We hoped to visit the impressive Minster but it was closed for graduations that day - go figure! So we trekked around the wall, shopped and ate our way around York.

Do you know how dusty your ceiling is?

No? I didn't think so.

We decided to tackle our ceiling lamps. We never did them when we moved in and don't imagine they were done much before that. I thought I'd have to wash them, which I dreaded. But after taking them down and having a look, realised they were just really dusty - not sticky, dirty as I anticipated.

Here's the collection. Can you see the fuzz? Look at that section on the left one that's hanging loose. Gross!

 

Ole said it looked like they were wearing wool jumpers.

 

Night and day. I took them out to the alley and just brushed them with a broom. You can tell the difference between the left (clean) and the right (dusty).

 

We continued our cleaning mission today by hoovering - yes, hoovering - the picture rails and ceiling cornicing.

 

Kids - don't try this at home. This is a highly trained professional at work here.

 

NYC Highlights

We had such a great time in NYC last week. Ole's conferences and presentations went great; flights were smooth, despite strikes; apt was perfect; and weather was balmy!

As you can probably imagine, I have hundreds of photos. I'll be compling a photo album with mine & dad's photos. But until then, thought I'd put up some snaps of the highlights. I hadn't intended for there to be so many photos! But it was hard to weed them out - so fun was our time together.

Pumpkins! I miss pumpkins. They were everywhere, neatly lined up outside tiny cornershop greengrocers.

 

It was sooo good to see mom & dad. We had a blast being tourists! A new tradition.

 

Our apartment was only a few doors away from Central Park. It really is as beautiful as they say.

 

 

 

TIMES SQUARE! MENTAL!

 

 

The Subway is crazy. The trains hurtle through the stations and only when they come to a screeching halt do you realise they aren't just passing through.

 

Down on Wall Street we saw where George Washington took his oath as President. I didn't know that happened in New York.

 

We walked onto a film set while cruising around Greenwich Village. I'm waiting for the royalities to roll in.

 

We had a nice cuppa in the Village.

 

MMMM, pizza. It really is delicious!

 

How crazy are the skyscrapers?!

 

We spent a day at the Met(ropolitan Museum) and got to see the amazing Bambu exhibit before it was torn town.

 

Some view, eh.

 

We continued our Met-tastic day with an evening opera. It was La Boheme - the set, the singing, the atmosphere - once-in-a-lifetime!

 

One of the best perspectives of Manhattan is by boat. Classic.

 

 

We spent a day at the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.

 

I couldn't resist.

 

 

 

What's New York without a little double parking?!

 

We had a super yummy breakfast in a classic diner. Yes, Ole, there are unlimited refills.

 

Ole was happy he got to go to 30 Rock.

 

Look to the cookie! A symbol of racial harmony.