Large print

Question: What does it say when I have to use the "large print" London tube map?

Answer:  I think I know and I don't like the answer.

a few not not alot

Olympic ticket updates...although I applied for £1800 of Olympic tickets through the online lottery system, I cane up almost empty.  Actually, I received 2 tickets for an early round of gymanstics; in other words, about £80 worth of tickets.

No one I have met has fared much better.  In all but one other case, no one I know that applied for tickets received any...zero...nada...nothing.  Guess I should be happy I landed got the tickets I did.

That said, within less than 4 hours of notification of my mostly unsuccessful ticket ballot attempt, I was offered another set of gymnastics and a pair of men's volleyball set of tickets, increasing my total London 2012 Olympics ticket tally to three events.

Clearly the friends and family approach is a better route...let you know how I fare in round 2 which commences tomorrow.

Ginger 1993-2011

Ginger, had more than 9 lives...she had at least double that.  Her warrior spirit kept going as each new health issue arose; she was a bit like that Energizer Bunny.  She just kept on ticking.

After 18 years however, the little body just gave out.  Rest in peace, "Sweet Kitty"!

































Yea, that little yellow kitty liked to sleep!

T-2 days: Edinburgh marathon

I have done all the training, eating, stretching, etc. I can do for the last 5 months.  The race is here. Wish me luck!

Catch you on the flip side.

Chiswick Choir: Mozart, 1791 – His Last Year

On April 9, 2011, I was finally able to return to singing with my choir, the Chiswick Choir, after a break in 2010, and participate in the concert entitle:  Mozart, 1791- His Last Year.



1791 saw the composition of four of Mozart's most sublime works; the Clarinet Concerto, the opera La Clemenza di Tito (The Mercy of Titus), the singspiel Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute) and his unfinished Requiem Mass. It is well known that Mozart's widow, Constanze, took pains to have the Requiem completed in order to receive the promised fee. Two full concert performances of the opera were given in her own 'benefit' concerts, with all the musicians and singers donating their services.

The evening's program included:

*  The La Clemenza di Tito (excerpts)
*  Missa da Requiem

My entourage for this evening's concert included the Budman, Confused Swiss, and Martini.  Thanks guys for the support!

February Trip: Markets

We spent our last day in Lyon exploring the various markets:  food (of course!), flower, book, and art markets.  Everyone was out and about doing their weekly shopping....

This was our last and final meal...we ate our way down one side of the river to the other...and shopping a little along the way.

February Trip: we just ate our way through that city

As if our dinner meals were not enough, we snacked our way through that city at every opportunity.  See what I mean?

February Trip: Puppets

Guignol is the most famous puppet ever to have been created, and he was created in Lyon in 1908 by Laurent Mourguet. The creation of this puppet inspired the street theatre tradition that quickly bloomed across the city with Guignol and his many friends.

Monument to Guignol, Theatra Guignol, and Laurent Mourguet.



Suffice to say, the city was awash in puppets.











Even the local street art market carried the puppet theme into its works.

February Trip: the man known as Bocuse

Well, as if the Friday one-star Michelin restaurant located in our hotel was not enough to satisfy the "foodie" in us both, the "piece de la resistance" awaited us on Saturday evening.  The man and his restaurant:  Paul Bocuse.

http://www.bocuse.fr/accueil.aspx

Who is he?  Paul Bocuse (born 11 February 1926) is a French chef, based in Lyon, famous for the high quality of  his restaurants and his innovative approaches to cuisine.  He is one of the most prominent chefs associated with the "nouvelle cuisine", which is touted as less opulent and calorific than the traditional classical French cuisine (not sure I personally experienced that on this evening) and stresses the importace of freshest quality ingredients.  

Side note:  Paul Bocuse was honored as the "Chef of the Century" by NYC's Culinary Institute of America in March of this year, about a month after our visit.



Although not a milestone b-day for the Budman, still a reason to celebrate; thus, we trundled off on Saturday evening to a 4 1/2 hour meal consisting of 10 courses. 



A photo with the Monsiuer Bocuse - too charming!



Without further ado, our selections:

MENU GRANDE TRADITION CLASSIQUE

Bocuse appetizers for the table - potpourri of little morsels

Scallop of Foie Gras, pan-cooked and served with verjus sauce

Truffle Soupe V.G.E.

(dish created for the French President in 1975)

Filey of Sole with noodles, "a la Ferand Point"

Beuajois Winemaker's Sherbert

Bress Chicken cooked in a bladder "a la Mere Filloux"

Selection of fresh and matured cheeses from "La Mer Richard"

Delicacies and Tempations

(every kind of possible dessert  - over different 24 options)

Fantasies and Chocolates

The cheese bladder before puncture.

Cheese board....take what you want.  Budman is flagging at the point and passes, but the Hachie Gal's gastronomique marathon is in full force, and she surges ahead with selections from the cheese tray.  This is definitely known as "hitting the wall" to use a running term.

About half of the desserts we actually were able to choose from...and we could have had one of everything if we'd wanted.  I counted over 24 different desserts options.

Singing "happy birthday" to the Budman with the organ grinder in the background.  Charming!

As if 10 courses were not enough food, including the dessert tray featured above, Budman then got his own birthday cake.  Now, we are really groaning with aching stomaches.

At last, the taxi awaits us to take us back to our hotel...we are gorged!