Take that, Pippa

Hey Everyone,

If you are familiar with one of my previous posts about cockney slang, you will know what I mean when I say it has been "Brass Monkeys" here this week.  Of course, it is nowhere near approaching what is cold in Minneapolis, but 40 degrees can feel pretty bone chilling in the damp and dark London nights.  It is sure better than having your eye lashes and brows freeze in a matter of seconds, but we did both say that we are going to miss the snow this year.

We have had such a relaxing last couple of weekends.  We have gotten to do some much needed shopping, x-mas decorating, as well as taking in some different parts of London and seeing all of the extraordinary holiday decorations and lights.  We are going to put together a slideshow of different x-mas scenes from London as it gets closer to x-mas, so stay tuned.  We also bought the whole box set of "The Wire" on DVD.  That is up there with Mad Men and Dexter for us now.

On Monday night, one of my co-workers arranged for a group of us to go ice skating at Somerset House.  What a lovely place.  It is a Neoclassical block of buildings built in the late 1700's and overlooks the Thames.  It was originally the government's tax collection offices, but now is home to one of London's main Arts and Cultural Centres.  In the Winter, they construct an ice rink for people to come and skate.  As we have learned, ice skating is a very popular winter activity here and this venue is breathtaking.  To be quite honest, the setting at Somerset House, in my opinion, exceeds even Rockefeller Plaza.  Anyway, as it had been the better part of 20 years since I had laced up the skates, I was not overly keen when it was proposed to me.  I was skimming the English tabloids one day, however, and I saw that Pippa had gone ice skating at Somerset House.  Well, I certainly am not going to be shown up by Pippa.  It was such a fun experience and while my Triple Salchow into a Double Toe Loop was a little rusty, I was catapulted back into my childhood days and again became one with the ice.  Sadly, Pippa was not there on this chilly London evening to be witness, but I am sure that she read about my skating prowess the next day in the tabloids:  "London Newcomer's Brilliant Bum beats Pipps'a at Somerset House."  Take that, Pippa.