Where Did the Spring Term Go?

Where Did the Spring Term Go? Truth be told, I haven't a clue. Rationally speaking it was the same 10 weeks as Autumn term, but I swear physics bent its rules, the Fourth Dimension inverted itself, because term absolutely flew by. To help recap, here are some photos of Spring Term. Enjoy!


It snowed in London this winter, and I do mean it SNOWED. To the extent that school was canceled, all public transport (including the underground!) was shut down, as were all airports with nary a cab in sight. It was the first true snow fall in London in 20 years. Least to say, snowballs wizzed through the air as everyone indulged their inner child and let loose for a day. And yes, that is an igloo in central London.


After dragging my flatmates to see the Superbowl at the student bar, we were privledged to walk home at three in the morning through a city with fresh fallen snow. One of the prettiest - and coldest! - walks I've had over here. Here is me with Francesca in front of their house for next year. Ok, maybe in their dreams.


Borough High Street, covered in Snow!

Another shot from our post-Superbowl walk home. Mathew, Laura and I stood on the Millenium bridge staring at St. Paul's in wonder. I feel like we're in an oil painting in this picture, or in Francesca's words, "Something out of Narnia".

Kensington Palace - Gorgeous!!



Here are some of the Gardens attached to Hollond park, which I visited when fellow HC-er Sarah Langan came up to London for a visit.


I snuck this picture from the Tate Britain (and was told off by the guard who caught me doing so) of a giant, floor-to-ceiling art instillation. It's built out of highly polished silver plates, platters, bowls, mugs, etc. Or, as I like to think of it, a huge shiny pimp glass.


Here is a shot of the Steps in front of St. Paul's Cathedral. That tiny blob of a person there? Yep, that's me. I love night walks.


The sand art at Gabriel's Wharf never fails to amaze me, but this particular artist cracked me up with this slightly sadistic sand sculpture. It is, without fail, one of my favorites. I suggest clicking on the picture to study all the details.


On a very rare, beautifully sunny day, we made a trip to visit Buckingham Palace.


That same day we journey through St. James's Park. Admittedly, the river was drained for spring cleaning (like you don't all do that at home), but the sun was out and the trees were in bloom.


And finally, me sitting in a tree in St. James's Park.


More pictures to be posted as they come in!

Chinatown

This past weekend we paid a visit to Chinatown to have Dim Sum at a little place called Gerrard's Corner. The visit was in honor of my flat mate Laura, who turned 20 on the Saturday. What better way to leave behind the teen years than to eat random friend dumplings filled with "I'm not quite sure but I'll give it a go"? My thoughts exactly. It was the first time I've visited London's Chinatown properly. The hanging red lanterns were very pretty, and managed to give nineteenth century western architecture an oriental twinge. Below is the Birthday Girl - all grown up, isn't she?



We rounded out the day by visiting Piccadilly Circus and exploiting the massive Going Out Of Buisness sale currently plaguing entertainment mega-chain Zavvis. How I cursed that British DVDs are a different regional code than the US's... All in all, a very nice day out and about in the city. Note the blue skies! Below is a very pretty fountain right in the middle of Piccadilly Circus.

Start of the New Term

Hello Again!

Well, it's been a while, no denying that. I'm afraid the end of term rush in December got the better of me. However, I've just gotten back from a very restful and enjoyable Christmas vacation and I'm ready to blog again. The start of term was officially the 12th of January, but Week 1 tends to be a dead week while classes get started up again, new supervisions begin and the like. I have finished the supervision for my Early Modern Britain class and am taking Empire & Commonwealth this term. We've begun with our first topic, Britain in the 18th century. Oh I know your jealous.

London this winter has turned out to be fun in the sun compared to the poor United States. Those freezing temperatures are the price you pay for having Canada as a neighbor. It's generally in the High 30's, mid 40s here (F), a bit colder when the wind picks up. Definitely NOT Columbia Jacket weather, which is fine by me!

Besides settling into the new academic term, not much has happened over here. Twilight is beginning to make its splash in the UK, as I have two flatmates starting on the series, one who is finished with all four books already, and all three major fans of the movie. I attempted to explain that the Twilight phenomenon has reached Harry Potter-esque mania in the States, but they just don't believe me. What can I say? You just don't mess with the Boy Who Lived...

As a send off note, I will say that the UK followed President Obama's inauguration as diligently as any American. Every pub I passed on Tuesday had it on the television, and the BBC did a whole series of programs on the new president. Looks to be a promising year so far!