A PR practitioners worst nightmare

Notice anything wrong in the picture?? One small letter missing makes a large news story (West Virginia NIT Champions Wear Misspelled T-Shirt). This is the type of thing that keeps me up at night - oh the horror.

New Shoes!

Saw these yesterday when Katie was looking for sandals. Had to go back today and get them! So comfy.

Moderator side note, Doctor Who starts Saturday. Our household is very excited, not just for show, but for the Doctor! Yummy!

Equestrian Update

For those of you unaware (or for those not remembering for one reason or another), I have been taking English riding lessons since February. I figured - hey, I'm in England, why not learn to ride English?

I usually get in about one lesson a week, unless I am at school. So far I have had three horses: Coco (slow and fat), Xando (a show horse), and today was Lysander (a temperamental boy). So far I've been able to canter and today we went over rails ... on the ground. Sighs of relief I'm sure for you safety-checkers!! Don't worry we wear helmets too!

All in all I am thoroughly enjoying getting out of town and into the stables. Plus I've got great new riding boots and a sign-up sheet for side-saddle lesson looming. One step closer to becoming a Lady!!

Curious side note from the moderator, no one commented on me going to a punk engagement party!!! Geez - what does it take to get a comment around here!!

Currently on our Sky planner

Thanks to Sky (our friendly cable box), we have the following shows marked for our viewing:

• CSI .
• Ugly Betty
• Bones
• House
• Shark
• ER
• Boston Legal
• Ghost Hunters
• Kidnapped
• Doctor Who (new season starts Saturday!!)
• Saturday Night Live (showing in the UK for the first time!)
• Top Chef
• Persuasion (Jane Austen movie of the week)

Unfortunately for us, some shows (like House and Bones) run at the same time on different channels. Thank you VCR!

In other entertainment news, quite the uproar was made last week when Terry Wogan announced a different winner than his co-host for UK spot for Eurovision. Scooch officially won and will be representing the UK in Finland in May. Katie and I saw the song they will be performing - no comment as it is completely horrendous. That being said, they will probably win with it. If you have never heard of Eurovision, read up on it through Wikipedia. Scary, yet entertaining.

Finally, go basketball Buckeyes!

Fantastic Extras!

Season 2 Extras is already over with in the UK, but they are going to start showing repeats soon. I'd thought I'd post up on my mine and Katie's favorites involving Sir Ian McKellen. Hilarious!

Tonight ...

Tonight I went to a punk engagement party. You read that correctly - a punk engagement party. Very interesting.

On the menu this evening ...

While Leslie is away house-sitting, Katie and I (ok, mostly Katie) pulled together the following menu for dinner this evening.

• Moroccan Chicken (bought on sale from the butcher today for 2 pounds!)
• Butternut Squash in the oven
• Green beans
• Plum tart (with some very old plums)

Everything was around the house, except the chicken, and we couldn't help remarking how gourmet we are for just a quiet night in. Bon appetit!

Mini-Break to London

So I am finally recapping our long weekend (including pictures!) to London for our housemates Leslie's 40th birthday. We took the train down on Saturday and munched on my homemade scones and mimosas the way down. Highlights to the weekend were:

• Going back to the swanky hotel I stayed at in November, that due to an issue gave me an extreme upgrade and free drinks. Yes!
  
• Going to Portabello Road to visit the infamous pashmina lady and on the way, seeing the BBC production of "Bargain Hunt" being filmed (I think it also makes an appearance on BBC America). Oh, and Katie's phone was stolen ... we think ... luckily she recovered a new SIM card and is back in business.
  
• Expertly navigating the London Underground since they decided to do work on three (!) routes, including the two main tourist routes. What a mess!


• Going to see "The Dumbwaiter" with Jason Isaacs (pictured above and of Harry Potter fame - read about him on IMBD.com) and Lee Evans and meeting them afterwards - so very nice - and then eating at a fantastic Thai restaurant.


• Sunday, we saw the Hogarth exhibit at the Tate Museum and Becoming Jane at the Odeon. V. good. Had dinner in Chinatown - yummy!


• Monday, we rode the slides at the Tate Modern (whee! and seen in a previous post), visited the original Twinings Tea Shop, Temple Church, the Knight Templar church, the Banqueting House, and saw the Horse Guard. Then Katie and Leslie went shopping for Doc Martins, while I met up with Lisa and Jon (my first Ohio visitors!) at the Founders Arms to drinks.

Then it was back home Monday night so I could leave Tuesday for school in Scotland. Ah, the life. Photos are posted to Yahoo! - Enjoy!

Leave it to Stephen Colbert ...

Leave it to Stephen Colbert to perfectly describe the Irish v. English clash in less than three minutes. Enjoy the clip at Comedy Central. Also, anything that mentions the Welsh language as "looking like someone who threw down a bag of consonants" is bound to be great! I wish we got this show in the UK, but seeing as it took 9 years to get the Daily Show, I doubt it will be any time soon.

I promise pictures and an update of our London weekend soon! School work is cutting in ... and baking (currently coconut macaroons).

Yesterday in class ...

We had the possible future prime minister's brother as a lecturer. Interesting.

Back in York after completing my last week of classes. I do have a few papers to finish, but it is straight on to my dissertation. Hard to believe ....

I've been neglecting my blog - partly due in fact to the fantastic weather (which has now disappeared for artic, actual arctic, winds) and an amazing trip to London. Pictures are loaded on my computer - details to follow soon!

The Ninja Biscuits

This is one of my favorite cards by Edward Monkton ... in fact, I love everything he does. Weather in York is fantastic - upper 50s and sun! Perfect for Leslie and mine's horse riding lesson on Thursday. Riding has been going great and with the recent arrival of my riding boots, I am ready to go.

In UK fashion news (of which I know some of you will be interested), the colors have gone crazy! Bright yellow, red, blue, greens, and mustard yellow (gross!). Everything in the shops is late 60s , early 70s with horrendous prints and high, high waisted trousers. And a side note to MVHS grads, hope you saved your Jacket-wear, orange and black is in!!

Sunday Roast & A Red Moon

Last night, when the sky was clear, we were able to catch the lunar eclipse from our back garden. My tiny grainy photos are posted to Yahoo! photos.

Today Katie and I finally got to experience the Sunday Roast in a village pub. We travelled out to The Highwayman in Sheriff Hutton (yes, that is the name of the village!) for a Sunday roast. We had roast beef, pork, creamy leeks, stuffing, potatoes, Yorkshire pudding, and I got blackberry and apple crumble for dessert. It was rainy and a fire roaring - so British. Foodie photos in Yahoo!

Last night we saw Hot Fuzz, from the creators of Spaced and Shaun of the Dead (if you haven't seen those - do!). Was extremely good and had a lot of police references that we made funnier by having law enforcement knowledge (I won't give it all away - but there was a whole scene devoted to traffic accidents vs. traffic collisions! Hee hee!)

In school news, I passed all my papers and exams (with the exception of one I am still waiting on)! Only two more papers and project - then on to dissertation!