Oliver

No its not the latest musical to hit the West End, much more important. Today was the arrival of my first little nephew - Oliver Deane Joseph Stratton.
Mark and I are very excited and cannot wait to meet him in November.

Both Mum and bubs are doing very well. It was a natural birth, with epi, but he is a nice 7lb11oz, about 3.6kg and 50cm long with a shock of black hair.

So exciting - so congratulations to my little sister Renee and her hubby Ben on their new bundle of joy... let the baby shopping begin :-)

Annes Visit to London in pictures.....

Anne and Lisa at The Flask pub in Highgate (near Hampstead)














Mark and Lisa at Camden Lock - Camden Markets

Count down...

Only 4 days to go and we are off to Athens and Santorini, woo hoo we cannot wait. It feels like we have been talking about this trip for ages.... and we just want it to hurry up and happen.

Last weekend we visited the Farnborough Air show down in, you guessed it Farnborough, just South West of London. Well I am not really a planes and jets gal, but it was a good day out. Basically from 12:30pm onwards to 5:30pm they had an air display of all different types of jets and planes.

The most impressive I would have to say is the new Airbus 380, which is just massive, but in the air it was very manouverable and did some impressive turns for a plane its size. The loudest was the Russian MIG 29 (that was thanks to Mark - as if I was going to know that!!!) and unfortunately holding a camera, an umbrella and a burger while it was going past was not a good move - very tricky to get my fingers in my ears!! (pics to come - have loads)

Yes umbrella you read correctly. We had a bit of a thunderstorm and it bucketed down for about 20 minutes...there was quite a mass exodus of people from the grounds dashing for the minimal shelter during that time, but thankfully that was about all and the rest of the day pulled up nice.

Sunday we had a lovely relaxing day and paid our first visit down South of the River - to where all the Aussies live - to Clapham Common. well my first visit anyway, as Mark now plays touch footy down there every Wednesday. Its big but not as nice as Hampstead Heath, particularily since they cannot water the grass and there has been so little rain.

Ah the reason we went down there - well that was for Simones fundraiser picnic to raise money for her on route home to Australia trip to Tanzania. It was great to catch up with her again and we did enjoy playing childrens games - sack race, egg and spoon race, three legged race, and Pin the tail on the "Charlie" (a friend of hers) - see Laura we celebrated with kiddies games on the weekend too!

Ah alas it is time for me to go once again...oh and the weather was 33 today :-)

Welcome Hannah Nicola Wanzek

On Saturday a little baby girl arrived and she belongs to Justin and Michelle. We just like to congratulate them on her safe arrival and we hope that there is a little boy - Jayden - who is very happy to have a new little sister. All the best guys. Love from us :-)

Hot Hot Hot

Yes its been HOT!!! Read all about our July Heat wave, yes its almost as hot as summer at home, if that is possible at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/5193970.stm, and don't forget you can read our daily news anytime you like as I have added a new link to the BBC website on this page now.

The worst thing is the tube, it is like a sauna at the best of times, but summer makes it extra hot - even my daggy Silverlink train is a pleasant to be on with the heat even though I normally would rather take the tube. Thank heavens that both our offices are airconditioned!!!

They do some strange things to keep animals cool over here, like feeding monkeys icecream, elephants bathing and piggies eating carrot ice blocks (see pictures)




























Also this was from yesterdays BBC....

Wednesday, 19 July 2006, 19:55 GMT 20:55 UK
Heatwave breaks record for July
People all over the country are trying to find ways to cool off
Britain has sweltered on its hottest recorded July day as temperatures hit 36.3C (97.3F) near Gatwick Airport. It was also the hottest day of the year with the high at Charlwood in Surrey beating Tuesday's 33.2C (91.8F).
Schools closed, workers were being encouraged to dress down, and elderly people and young children warned to drink plenty of water to cope. Peaks were 29.7C in St Angelo, Northern Ireland, 31.3C in Prestwick, Scotland, and 33.6C in Anglesey, Wales.
British temperatures this week have exceeded such holiday destinations as Malta, Athens, Bermuda and Rome.
As temperatures soared across the country, the heat brought people to the beaches and into the shade, melted roads and provoked health and safety warnings.
In the heat:
· Several schools chose not to open on Wednesday, while others closed at lunchtime and many school sports days were cancelled.
· On the roads, emergency measures were brought in to protect surfaces with gritters spreading gravel after the asphalt began to melt. Ambulance service bosses urged drivers in jams to stay with their cars after crews had difficulties getting through to an accident.

What I love about an English Summer..

Well it continues to be the most fabulous Summer that England has seen for a long time. I think its just because I am here and that is what I expect to have, but I could be wrong. I could spend hours gloating about the brilliant sunshine, warm summer evenings, sunshine till 10pm, floaty dresses, flip flops, lush green parks, dining outside....but I won't.

Last weekend we were lucky enough to have Anne (my Aunt) come and stay with us in our lovely little flat (did I mention we have air conditioning....lucky us) and be our very first visitor. We did a mini trip to IKEA, and before you all groan Anne wanted to go she doesn't have one near her and it really was a short trip, just a couple of hours LOL!!!

Since the weather, did I mention it was brilliant, was so nice we headed over to Hampstead, well more Highgate to Waterlow Park for a bit of a wander. We hadn't been before it is quite pretty. The pub nearby called The Flask was supposed to be good for celeb spotting, but alas not on Saturday. Dinner was at the Banana Tree, yes I know we go all the time, but Anne hadn't been and we love the food.

The next day after a breakfast at one of the little places across the road, Sirous, we took the bus over to the Camden Markets. They are just brilliant in summer, much more lively than our last trip in the murky winter. Lots to buy too, plenty of little summery dresses, jewellery, bags and food; but lots of fatty, greasy stuff you just do not want on a hot day. They have the best fresh lemonade and orange juice too and we had plenty of that.

The rest of the afternoon was spent at a bar in Hampstead just watching the shoppers go by, chatting, drinking cheap cocktails and enjoying the atmosphere. Did I mention a quick trip to Kirk Geiger for a bit of shoe shopping too....none for me but Anne got a pair.

All up we had a lovely lazy weekend, just exploring North London with Anne we have already made plans to see her again down in Goring (near Brighton) in August, so hopefully it's still warm and we can go to the beach lots.

Trooping of the Colours...Queen's Birthday in Pictures

The Mall and all the British Flags

The Queen and the family on the balcony at Buckingham Palace

The Famous Red Arrows



More Jets


Me in St James Park on the Queens Birthday!!

Other things

Today Mark and I went out to Kings Cross and then Russell Square to visit the memorials for the London bombings, though they were not very big and were not even at the stations, but in the parks nearby. However that actually makes sense as the memorial is an oak tree!!!

The rest of the day we walked around Covent Garden doing a bit of shopping, gearing up for our Greek Islands holiday. The sales made the streets jam packed, but in general Covent Garden (and along Neals Road and Long Acre) is always quite busy as its a touristy people watching spot with lots of street performers and a weekend market.

Tonight its a quiet night in watching Germany kick Portugals butt in the football, well we can only hope they do anyway. Those cheaters do not deserve to win the game even if its only for 3rd place - plus Germany have played really well in front of their home crowds so why not have them win. (Woo hoo - Germany win!!)

A reflection on what should never have been...

Yesterday it was the anniversary of the London bombings - a year since the tragedy that killed 52 people, injured and disabled hundreds, and shocked and disalluded a nation, a country and a world. After all how could such a thing happen here, in this bustling lively town of 12 million hamoniously existing peoples, but yet it did.

I actually thought about it whilst on the tube in the morning, Friday, and wondered how many others thought the same, especially those on the Northern and Piccadilly lines, on which "it" happened. I almost felt like the tube was a little bit quieter than normal, but then again I am usually selfishly absorbed in my own little commuter bubble with my MP3 player and Metro paper disregarding the people around me.

At lunch there was 2 minutes silence, a memorial service was held at Regents Park, whilst flowers were layed and the bells of St Pauls cathedral tolled at the times of the bombings and memorial plaques were unveiled at Aldgate station, Edgware Road stations, at King's Cross Station, Russell Square, and at Tavistock Square (for those on the number 30 double-decker bus that day).

Today Mark and I will visit one of the memorials, which likely to be that a Russell Square because Russell Square was where we stayed on our first London visit in 2000 and it was actually from there that we actually took our very first tube ride.

Have a read of Heathers blog (link to the right) back in July 2005. It makes for somber reading, but it is a true account of someone who was a bystander caught up in the London bombings, who actually was in tube at the time and who had to exit through Kings Cross Station into the chaos of the day beyond. Heather is Sue Anders daughter, for those of you who work at Santos and she lives here in London with her partner Dave.

Welcome to the World - James

Fabulous news today, baby James Kouzaba arrived. Big hugs and sloppy kisses to the new baby and big congrats to mum and dad - Deb and John.........

The Press Photographers Year

Tonight I visted the National Theatre on Southbank (near Waterloo) to see a photography exhibition for outstanding press photography. I took my friend Noni along as Mark's not a photo nut like myself.

There were some rather remarkable pictures on display; most memorable was one of a young girl who survived having acid poured on her (not nice though, but very haunting), as well as one of a casual queen caught in a rear vision mirror, a washed out Glastonbury, Robbie Williams in the crowd for Live 8.

There were also photos of the London bombings - one which I won't forget was off the bus right after the explosion, people were still on it, literally looking themselves over as if to check they were still alive, the bus driver was standing dazed next to the bus, the roof was the other side of the road and, unfortunately, towards the back of the bus were the dead or injured. Haunting... truely so. Oh the 1st anniversary for this is on Friday too.

The attached picture is from the winner Sean Smith whose pictures come from the Iraq desert.

Germany.....

Blast it! We decided to go for Germany and jinxed them. I cannot belive Italy got past them with 2 goals in the last 1 min or so of extra time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Who to go for now... maybe Portugal to get them out!

World Cup Pictures... my favourites

And then there were 4...

What a disapointing game....so we are now left with Germany, France, Portugal and Italy. I think we may support Germany from now on. Its a bit sad, even early this morning on my way out the pub windows (which were previously covered in Enland flags to support the team) were just washed clean and it was as if the world cup was no longer on. Boo hoo.

I did a fun run today...not much fun in the heat though. It was out at Blackheath, near Lewisham and it was called Race for Life, a female only 5km run where you raise money for cancer research. I completed it in 33min, but boy was it tough. There were no water stops and none at the end, plus the race was on at 11am, so I was running in the peak heat of the day. After the run I went for lunch with my friends who did the run, down at Canary Wharf, which was great, nice and relaxing with the breeze off the Thames.

Now we are just at home resting and waiting for another warm week to begin :-)

Just another week

Well we have, believe it or not, been in London for 5 months on Monday!! Wow where did the time go. I know we have done a lot, which was proved to me the other day when TNT mag did a special on markets/shopping in London and we'd already been to all the places listed!!!!

There is a bit of a heat wave on in London at the moment, wait for it....its been 25 plus for over 5 days, and it will be well hot. (see pic) Note - the heading says Kilburn, but that is the closest weather observation site to where we live, its only 5 minutes away.

Earlier in the week, straight after our hectic day at Wimbledon, we actually headed back to London to see "Avenue Q" (see http://www.avenueq.com/) which is the latest and greatest musical to hit the west end. It is actually hilarious, its basically a very political incorrect muppet show and it previews a few of the songs on the website...

Then unfortunately Wed, Thurs and Friday we were back at work, so just the usual - though I have had my work contract extended to December. I did discover this week that my new favourite things are Branston Pickles....yummmm with cheese or ham and Pimms (but I am sure I have mentioned that before).

I am hearing great news from home, more babies and more babies - and this month I am looking forward to hearing of arrivals of baby Wanzek, baby Kouzaba and baby Stratton....in that order!!! Also great news of a new house for Mel & John. Oh and a big hello to Crumpet!

Anyway must go we are off to watch the England v Portugal game which will no doubt render the streets of London empty...