Sunday Snapshot

Tower Bridge on a cold, grey London afternoon

Cherry Cola Splits

I'm just enjoying the peace and quiet of 5.30pm...something that almost NEVER happens! And it's all thanks to a playdate. You've gotta love 'em!

I have the afternoon off and on a typical day, this is usually the noisiest time of day (a.k.a Supper Time), so I am enjoying it while it lasts.

This week did not have the best start, but that was all self-inflicted thanks to the Superbowl and my lack of sleep as a result, so I have no one to blame but myself. I can, however blame my youngest charge who this week decided to share his runny nose, cough and sore throat with me AGAIN. Such a generous little lad!

Today was probably the most eventful day. After arriving half an hour early for the school pick up, I decided to walk around to the shops down the road from the school and treat myself to a Diet Coke (woo-hoo...I am the last of the big-spenders!), something I haven't had for a while now. As I had the youngest with me, I must have been very distracted when I chose what I thought was a Diet Coke, paid for it, opened it up to take a swig...only to then discover that it was indeed Diet Coke, but with a truly horrible cherry flavour! Who makes this stuff? And more to the point, why?? Note to self: always read the labels!

Then, to cap off the day, I split my jeans getting out of the car! True, they are so old and I knew it was going to happen soon, but still, I could have done without it after the whole cherry coke fiasco.

But the good news is, it's pay day tomorrow and I can go and buy a brand new pair!

Superbowl XLIV

Superbowl XLIV. This was the first year I have watched the game live, even though kick-off was at 11.30pm in the UK. That's commitment for you.

And what a game it was!

Normally a strong supporter of the underdog, this year I decided the smart money was on the Colts.

And how wrong I was!

The Saints had it sewn up in the fourth quarter thanks to a touchdown from Jeremy Shockey (former NY Giants player) that put the Saints in front, a two-point conversion from QB Drew Brees to WR Lance Moore and finally, the nail in the Colts coffin - a Manning pass intercepted by Tracy Porter at the Saints 26 yard line was returned 74 yards for a Saints touchdown.

Well done New Orleans Saints. The first time they make a Superbowl appearance in franchise history and they come away with the win.

In hindsight, the smart money would have been on The Saints...they wanted it more.

Sunday Snapshot

This weeks Sunday Snapshot is from the Maslenitsa Russian Festival, that was on in Potter's Field Park today. These two girls were wearing the traditional dress of Tatarstan and kindly posed for me.

Maslenitsa is a Russian folk celebration that takes place just before Lent...sort of like a week-long version of Britain's Shrove Tuesday (or Pancake Day for the Aussies!).

I have a love for all things Russian and it's my dream to travel there one day. I even managed to say "Thank you" in Russian...very proud that I could remember it after 11 years! On a cold, foggy afternoon in London, surrounded by the Russian language, it was easy to imagine that I was in a city square, somewhere in St Petersburg or Moscow.

Sunday Snapshot

I took this in Kensington Palace. My first thought was who would want to lean over. The floor was slanted and creaky and the banister was wobbly. But then, there would always be the people who, after seeing the sign, just had to lean anyway! I am not one of those people.

Sorry there is no photo from today. The plan was to see the Watoto Children's Choir at Hillsong church, but thanks to burst water mains on Tottenham Court Road due to the cold weather, the theatre was closed.

I really need to have a back up plan for when things like this happen...especially so close to Oxford Street. It's just too easy to spend way too much money on that street!