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...