Europe Trip 2011 #2: London Aquarium

Part of my travels yesterday was a visit to the London Aquarium. It's well worth a visit if you're interested in such things, albeit a bit pricey at around GBP19 for an adult.

Pictures are fairly self-explanatory. Enjoy!

Europe Trip 2011 #1: Visit to London

Finally a blog update!

To recap, I arrived in London on Saturday afternoon [UK time]. Surprisingly, with a brisk walk from the aircraft to the immigration counters, and I was around # 8 in line, so I was through in nothing more than 5 minutes. It took longer for me to get my suitcase and wait for the pre-ordered taxi! Even then, I probably spent only 20-25 minutes in the airport terminal. So very easy this time!

I've been light on touristy things, having spent a couple of days with family, getting to know my new niece [photos on FB for those of you who have access to my FB wall]. Yesterday I did get out for a few hours, taking the tube into the Embankment station, and wandering around that area for a while, followed by taking a trip on the DLR [Docklands Light Rail]. All in all, a nice relaxing time.

Photos from this tripping around are just three photos from around Parliament. the first from across the Thames, the second from a bridge with Parliament on the left and the London Eye on the right. The last is from the parliamentary grounds [I think]

Off on holiday!

Just a heads-up that things might be a little quiet here for a couple of weeks. I'm about to head off on holiday. I think I should be able to get some decent wifi connections in most places, and if so, I'll be updating the blog with lots of posts of the awesome places I get to see and experience!

If not, see you all in a couple of weeks!

The last of "Snowmageddon"

Driving home this afternoon, I caught sight of the last of the snow which was deposited on the Rimutaka Ranges during the recent "Snowmageddon" event, where a "polar blast" popped up and across the country (for the "weather for idiots" guide, check out the official Met Service blog here).

Anyway, here is the best photo I took. This was taken looking east across Lyall Bay. As you an see, the weather has improved a lot in the past few days!

Panorama across the harbour to the snow-covered ranges

This image is a panorama that I created today by taking a series of pictures from the kitchen at my workplace. It has turned out OK, although if you look closely you can see that the free Canon software has struggled with a few of the joins [mega points and kudos if you can find 1/2 an Air New Zealand B737 in there somewhere :-)].

Remember to click on the image for a larger view!

They say it's a "1 in 50 year" storm...

... and that's perhaps easy enough to believe.

As you'll see in the photos below, it has been snowing on and off during the day [the first photo was taken from work this morning], and as the subsequent photos show, its much worse this evening than yesterday evening.

This evening the winds are up [!], there's been thunder and lightening, my deck is covered in ice, and likewise the pathway I had to [very slowly] walk up this evening. Add to that, I dropped a colleague off home this evening, and he's even higher up on a hill, and as the second photo shows, there's snow and lots of ice on the roads, and it's a steep road :-). The final 3 photos show the view from my place. Ice covered roads and an ice covered car [Mum, Dad, don't worry - I'm looking after your car :-)].

Driving home was hazardous with all the ice - I lost traction 4 or 5 times, albeit only very briefly. Fortunately I was driving slowly and didn't hit the brakes, so there was nothing too much too it - a bit unnerving at times on the hills though. Don't think I'll go anywhere tonight though, that would be asking for trouble. I checked the wheel tracks left by my car as soon as I got out, and they were smooth ice - ouch!

Inside all is warm with the heat pump and double glazing, although the lights have been flickering a bit, so the power network is getting a good workout.

Anyway, here's the photos. Not sure if I will get into work tomorrow - if it eases off a bit I might be able to make it, but if it's all ice, I won't be going near a car, or public buses.

Snow in Wellington!

Snow has been forecast for Wellington today and the next two days. It's reasonably common to get snow on the surrounding hills, but forecasts were for snow as low as sea-level, and this is definitely a less common occurrence! Certainly in the [almost] 6 years I've been here, I've never actually seen it snowing, and yet late afternoon it started to snow at home.

Very little settled on the ground, but there was plenty of ice left on my deck and windows.

It's a bit dark now, but it looks like there might have been a bit of snow on the hills just a couple of kms away from here - also never seen in the past few years.

Hopefully there will be more pictures over the next few days if the forecasts are right. 

Two photos - one of the windowsill, and the second of some of the snowfall. This second photo is dark, as I used the flash to capture the snowflakes, but this didn't illuminate the background... I might have a play with some settings later on.

Remember to click on the photos for a larger version. Enjoy!

Home Improvement # 7

The door is finally back in place and looking good with the double-glazing in place. Nice! Now the place doesn't look so derelict :-) Just some painting and blinds to install then I'll be all done!

Home Improvement # 6

Right on [the new] schedule, the double glazed windows are back in place. The door will be done next week [this was expected and all good - the door had a little damp wood which needed to be dried and repaired first].

Anyway, it's all looking really nice, albeit with the expected prep and painting to be done inside and out. This finishing work will be done after all the sealant has dried and the door is refitted - that way I can do it all at once. I can't wait until this is all finished, once and for all!

Pictures are from the lounge and bedroom.

Home Improvement # 5

Exciting news!

The double glazing is being installed. Yay!

Today the door and windows and window frames were removed, and the gaps boarded up temporarily. It looks like the windows will be put in tomorrow. The door needs a tiny bit of remedial work and so that looks like next week. Either way, I'm looking forward to this being done!

In the meantime, the neighbours will be very happy to have be seeing me prancing around at all hours :-) ha ha

Here are the photos :-)