Look out Ginger and Fred... The Kipphuts are taking over this show!

Last night we headed to Wapping for a little vino and some dancing. To the relief of all involved in the evening there were no cameras. To answer your first question, Wapping is in east London. And to our surprise still in zone 2... However, I have not confirmed this on an official map so not sure I believe it! And now the second question, how on earth did I get CK out dancing??? This was easier than one might suspect. A friend, Tim, invited us and CK accepted without realizing what he was getting himself in to... That ought to teach him to read his email a bit more carefully!

Our friends, Tim and Laura, started the night off with a delicious roast and the first of a few bottles of wine. We had a great view of the dance venue from their dining room. The Wapping Project is an old hydro electric plant that has been converted into a restaurant, events hall, and exhibition space. Very little has been changed but it is a beautiful space with exposed bricks, huge windows and vaulting ceilings. A perfect place to take a spin around the dance floor!

There were 2 professional instructors. A sweet youngish girl who was patient, kind and did her best to stiffle her giggles as we trotted all over each others feet. And a rather gruff guy
who looked like perhaps his family was being held hostage until he taught us a few dance moves. His technique was simple... If they don't get it just move on and teach an even more complicated move... Including one that involves the guy sliding the girl along the floor, between his legs and then popping her back up to her feet. If you are having trouble picturing this just imagaine me flat on my back with Chris standing over me laughing uncontrollably.

All things considered and excluding the grande finale move, we rocked it! Chris even danced his way down the street to breakfast this morning just to prove he could still do it. And that is how a star is born!

Running Man

In September, we jetted off to Berlin for Chris to run his second marathon. It had been almost 2 years since he ran the London marathon and his legs were itching to get moving again!

Let me set the scene for the big race day. There was light rain with spots of heavy rain and moments of drizzling followed by a period of even more rain. To put is mildly... it was raining!

However, Chris did not let the weather dampen his spirits. He rocked the course and at every meet up point was smiling like only he can! It warmed my heart to see him enjoying himself so much. I ran into a problem with the camera... mainly that I was excited every time I saw him that I forgot to take pictures! So you will have to just enjoy the few I snapped with my phone about 45 minutes after he finished and we were able to track each other down.

For Aunt Sue

I have been horrible on updating the blog and have reminders from many family members on a regular basis. I offer this as a formal apology and yet another promise to do better... Part of the problem is our computer. It is not old but runs like a 1975 Ford Gremlin. It occasionally lapses into long periods of churning and grinding. I half expect it to start spewing smoke at any moment. Windows Vista is a joke beyond comparison. Bill Gates should be taken out behind the wood shed and summarily shot for allowing it to be released. Then Windows should offer compensation for the countless hours of my life that I will never get back waiting for the system to load only to find out it has reverted to the saved version from 6 months ago due some fatal start up error. The only thing I like about it is that it is green.

Having read this post aloud to Chris he says I have successfully achieved a British attitude!

On a positive note I have a solution. Mr and Mrs Clause (aka Mike and Laurie) got us a iPad for Christmas. As soon as we get the time to load some photos I will be using the much quicker and more reliable iPad for all future blogging. And then I will have no excuse... and if you believe that I have a bridge to sell :-)

Aunt Sue: Our NYE was rather boring. Went to see a movie, had a quiet dinner and watched the fireworks from the sofa on TV. Probably not the fun and excitement you were hoping for but we promise to make it up to you. Heading out tonight to a dance event where we will be learning the Lindy Hop and Jitterbug. Now that is fun and excitement! XO

Ain't no Sunshine...

The sun has left London and I seriously fear it may never return. In the last 7 (maybe more) weeks I have seen the sun a grand total of 2 times. I have started to take a vitamin D supplement to fend off rickets! I truly believe that SAD (or Seasonal Affective Disorder) is the cause of most British grumpiness. Complaints about the cold, grey, cloudy, rainy days are abundant... However, when the sun is out complaints about it being too bright and unseasonable sunny flow like water so maybe the British just like to complain! I fight with my co-workers to keep the blinds open on the sunny days and am starting to wonder if they are vampires. I am planning on sneaking in some holy water, silver crosses and garlic gloves to run some experiments... full report of findings to follow.

While I wait for spring and the sun to return, you can find me at the local tanning salon. Is it weird to slap on SPF 50 before fake baking?

Proper English lessons return...

Over 2 years in London and I am still learning new differences in the same language! Brits continue to correct me when I say the wrong thing or even better, they act like they have no clue what I am talking about! A few examples...

Pavement: The sidewalk.

Wally: A foolish or silly person. Similar to an idiot.

Jumper: A sweater. I have used this one before but I am constantly harassed for not using jumper. Try as I might I just think it sounds stupid to say jumper.

Have a go: When you are angry or upset with someone you 'have a go' at them or tell them off.

Pissed: Drunk. This can get you in trouble. If you want to say you are angry you must include off.

The shits: to be upset. So this is more of an Australian slang but I hear it all the time and giggle uncontrollably. Used in a sentence, "you know what gives me the shits? British people making fun of me for saying cell phone."

Mobile: Cell phone. The one and only acceptable term for this device. Pronounced with a hard i as in exile.

Shed load: Replace the ed with it and you should get the idea. It means a lot. This is Chris guilty giggle term. He hears it used in formal presentations on a regular basis.