happy days

Woz has taken this week off work and wont return until January 2nd. We're hoping to have some lazy days together, mulling around, hanging out with friends and checking out what's going on in London.

This morning we've had yet another sleep in, this time snoozing while Nate played with his new toys. Then we headed out for a walk to Coram's Fields so that Nate could get some fresh air and run around. We wandered slowly home checking out the flats in the local streets and talking about where we want to live. It's fun dreaming but we're not looking too seriously until we find a buyer for the boat.

As far as the sale process is going we've had loads of hits on our website with many returning visitors, and have a viewing lined up next week. It's strange to think that they could be the very one to buy our home and that our life on the water could be over. Who knows what 2008 will bring?

st pancras international

Yesterday I met Woz on his lunch break and we went to check out St. Pancras International which is the new Eurostar Terminal replacing the one at Waterloo. We've always loved the outside of the building, which for the last three years that we've been living here has been covered in scaffolding, so the opportunity to see it unveiled was something we'd looked forward to for a long time particularly as Woz has become something of a Trainspotter, or at least, a Trainstationspotter.

Inside it really is breathtaking and exciting all at the same time. It was originally designed in 1863. The Barlow train shed arch spans 240 feet and is over 100 feet high at its apex with every inch beautifully designed and beautifully restored.

It will also house a significant number of shops, cafes and a farmers market which I know we'll make the most of meaning we don't have to head into manic Oxford St if we just want a few things.

Most exciting of all, we are just a few hundred metres from the gateway to Gare du Nord, Paris, or just two hours and 15 minutes. I can't wait until that first trip when we wheel our suitcases from home to our train, taking us right into the heart of Paris.

Ooh la la!

another lensbaby shot

The more I use this lens the more I discover it will be months or perhaps years before I have mastered it. Even with an image in mind it is very difficult to see it materialised. It will probably be a similar undertaking to learning the violin - no frets to work with but purely an incredibly fine tuned eye (as opposed to ear!) will be required to make music, so to speak. I think I need to become 'at one' with the lens and clearly I am not!

a new toy

Our good friends Andrew and Vicki spoilt me during the week with a new toy, a 'lensbaby', which is a new lens I have had my eye on for a while. It is a strange looking concertina like lens for our digital SLR which allows you to bring a very small area of your subject into sharp focus and creates a graduated glow from that point (Nate's right eye). A very rudimentary attempt but it was my first time! Woz and I are going to have lots of fun with this I can tell!