Well the bags are packed and my Venetian event is coming to an end. However I still had one last great day here. Yesterday I visited the inside of the Basillica,nother utterly amazing building; the outside is pretty excellent, the inside is just another world. Again they did nto allow photographs insde and you can really see why they would not ( Read more... )

For some reason I feel shattered and its Sunday. Went to the gym every weekday; as well as the cross trainer I seem to have added the rowing machine to my daily routine and several of my colleagues have commented that it looks like I have lost some weight. Work itself has been busy and was in the office on Saturday for some test exercises. Not sure ( Read more... )

Yesterday was last day in Istanbul. Saw the old Roman/Byzantium Cistern system, which is a massive underground cavern with a lot of pillars it is very atmospheric and at the far end two very odd pillars that are supported by stone Medusa/Gorgon heads. Then I had a tea next to the fountains between the Haghia Sophia and the Blue Mosque. Did a little ( Read more... )

Yesterday went to see the Tokpaki palace, the Sultans Harem, the Mosque and the Grave of Suleiman the Magnificent, haggled in the Grand Bazaar and bought interesting looking things in the spice market (coffee, Turkish delights, pistachios, pastries and a selection of spices not all of whose names i know, this might be firm at customs :). Went to a ( Read more... )

Yesterday started by a walk down to the New Mosque and the Spice market. on the way i popped into Sirkeci station and had my fist disappointment of the day. I was expecting something very grand, considering it was the original terminus of the Orient Express it was just a small-mid sized station (in fairness it only serves the European side of ( Read more... )

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/may/13/hallucination-fish-cornwall

I think this is why the weather has deteriorated (and I really need to straighten the picture behind me):
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I am not posh, really...

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Well there have been two remakes on TV recently that got my attention and both have disappointed
( Possible spoilers )