Thanks to Emm’s love for dim sum, today eight expats were treated to a complimentary meal at Ping Pong- Googe Street.
I’m not entirely clear on how the invite came about, but was very excites when asked to join her for a set meal from Ping Pong’s menu.
For those of you unfamiliar with Ping Pong, it is a chain of restaurants across the UK specialising in Dim Sum (tiny packets of veggies or meat wrapped in booked pastries). Difficult to explain and envision, so here is a photo of our main course.

As you can see, each piece is bite-sized and stuffed with different fillings. I believe it is a form of Chinese nourriture. I’ve always found it a bit strange to eat as the texture of the boiled wrapping can be a bit gelatinous, but the flavour is always nice. there are other types of dim sum as well, such as pork buns which seem to be baked instead of boiled. They have a sweet flavour and are quite filling, despite being bite-sized.

Our lunch included a beverage, and after viewing Emm, Meujobeurco and her hubby’s drink, I wanted one of my own. I skipped on strawberries but went instead for the passionfruit iced tea. It wasn’t too sweet, although more passionfruit flavour would have been nice. For me, passionfruit is akin to cowbell- I can always use more!
At the end of the meal, I was enticed by the idea of dessert – or pudding as they call it here – and fell for the banana chocolate spring rolls. Gooey chocolate is good, particularly in a deep fried filling!

The service was amazing and I was very pleased that we were seated in a quiet area- I was able to hear the others at the table! This doesn’t always seem to happen in london.
It was a lively Saturday lunch and I’m very grateful to Ping Pong for making it happen, and Emm for inviting me!

Check it out for yourselves:

Ping Pong Googe Street
48 Newman Street
London W1T 1QQ

September 25 2011 marked the first ex-pat meetup that I attended, organised by Melissa of wanderlust. When the pottery was collected, we were I formed that something wonky had happened resulting in an unusual pattern of bubbles and crackling in the slip. The owner offered for us to repainting something of the same value, and as you can imagine we had no hesitation there.

Painting, drawing, anything with colour- it’s such a relaxing process. Nothing says “unwind” quite like a zone-out session of creativity.

With my mint tea and our various plans to further explore this foreign land in which we live, I felt like it was the perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon, particularly after the lunch crowd left and we had a bit more elbow room.
I’m excited to see our finished projects. Here they are pre-kiln.

Want to paint your own cow, vase or other tidbit (I was particularly taken by the elephant piggy bank)?
Biscuit Ceramic Cafe
3-4 Nelson Road
London SE10 9JB
Train: Cutty Sark

Is this looking familiar?
It’s the missing package from Marie and Gramps! Let this be a learning point for us all that packages sent sometimes don’t arrive until much later down the road.
I really like my book!!! Thank you!

Outside the Round Tower, fighting against the wind (the fringe lost today).

It was yet another trip that I did not fully research – all I knew was that I wanted to walk towards the tower (which I’ve learned is called the ‘Spinniker Tower’) and see the waterfront.

Waterfront Portsmouth including the Square Tower

Luckily, Ben consulted his Lonely Planet and learned of an area called ‘The Point’ which is Old Portsmouth and filled with cobbled streets and quaint little houses, not to mention a few pubs. This was our plan- lunch somewhere at the point and then wander around.

The journey begins - Mike watching for interesting scenery as we travel away from London

We caught the train from Clapham Junction and were treated to a two hour ride through lovely countryside including a passby of Arundel and Amberley Castles (note to self: schedule that daytrip to Arundel after all.) Portsmouth is in the county of Hampshire and the train ride took approximately two hours direct from Clapham Junction.

Upon arrival, as we were exiting the Portsmouth and Southsea train station, we discovered that an author very special to Laura’s heart was born in Portsmouth.

Can you figure out who?

Hint: his literature was a big influence in the social reform surrounding children’s roles in workhouses.

What could this be?

Did you figure it out? How about a second clue?

One of his books is partially based in the Shad Thames area of bermondsey near my house. (Jacobs Island).

Laura is excited.

One last clue – Wishbone played a main character – a hungry orphan.

Which way to Dickens' house? Portsmouth is the birthplace of Charles Dickens

You must now know that we visited the birthplace of Charles Dickens. Unfortunately the museum doesn’t open till January 28 so we couldn’t go inside.
Afterwards, we lost ourselves in the circular streets of Portsmouth on our way to the ‘Old Harbour’ but not before passing some beautiful buildings.

Left to right: Portsmouth Guildhall; Assassination!!! George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham, was KILLED here. oooooh; another quaint building.

Portsmouth Cathedral

The crocuses were starting to bloom outside the cathedral and there were signs warning not to walk on the grass, but I was careful when I captured this photo. Did you know:

The Cathedral Church of St Thomas of Canterbury, Portsmouth, commonly known as Portsmouth Cathedral, is the Church of England cathedral of the City of Portsmouth, England and is located in the heart of Old Portsmouth. It is the seat of the Bishop of Portsmouth. The Cathedral stands as a prominent landmark in Portsmouth and can be spotted easily from the air. It is located in old Portsmouth just off of the High Street. When entering and leaving Portsmouth by ship a glimpse of its turrets can be seen. In the Cathedral there is a Navy Aisle where bones recovered from the Mary Rose lay. The stones inscription reads “Here lies a member of the ships company of the Mary Rose”, “May they rest in peace 19th July 1984″.

From Portsmouth Guide.

Next area of interest was the waterfront, which was absolutely lovely, particularly in contrast to the inner ‘meh-ness’ of central Portsmouth. I much preferred the old town. From the Old Portsmouth website:

A tea shop in Old Portsmouth

Old Portsmouth was where Portsmouth started and it now houses many historic buildings. The area of Old Portsmouth is also known as Spice Island which is where all the spices used to enter the city. The area features many historical buildings and features. The old defences are still in place and you can walk along the hot walls, part of the fortifications for the harbour entrance. The area of Old Portsmouth is these days home to the fishermen of Portsmouth.

As we rounded the end of the high street in ‘new’ Portsmouth, we were first greeted with this view…

Waterfront Portsmouth (Royal Garrison Church)

Ben atop the Round Tower

The Royal Garrison Church is the oldest British Garrison Church in the world and has been called “The British Military Cathedral”. But the church dates back to 1212.  On the night of 10th January 1941 a fire bomb raid on Portsmouth gutted the Nave of the church but the Chancel was saved by the Verger Mr J Heaton who was assisted by soldiers and airman.

We did not enter the church.

Then we got to explore the fortified wall of the city. (You can see more photos in the slide show below).

According to a local history website, the battlements date back to the time of Edward III and have served several purposes such as residences, magazine storage, and lookouts. They still make good lookouts, as you can see from Ben’s vantage point in the photograph to the right.

They're just pretending to be happy... really they're just HUNGRY!

After a lunch that took up far too much of our time (two hours is too long to serve fish and chips, right?) We made our way over to the Spinnaker Tower and outlet centre where I bought chocolate. My camera battery had died so I don’t have many good photos, but in the slide show below you can see some that I took with my iPhone.

It was a sunny day on the South East coast

In celebration of a full year of service to our employer (A and I started on the same day a year ago) I spent a weekend with A at her lovely, cozy house in Kent. She lives in a smallish town and on Saturday took me to see a few points of interest in her area, including Rochester, Canterbury, and as per my request, Chatham.

Chatham

A. poses infront of St. Mary's Island

Chatham's Dockyards

The highlight of Chatham, Kent, England - the Dockyards

I have wanted to visit Chatham ever since planning to visit England in 2008. Robbie and I didn’t end up making it to the UK, so my plan was foiled – but only temporarily, you see. Now I have had the opportunity to visit this South East town. Ready for some history, courtesy of Wiki?

The town was named after Chatham, Kent, England, which was also developed around a naval dockyard. In England, the name Chatham came from the British root ceto and the Old English ham thus meaning a forest settlement.

I always thought that Chatham-Kent and Chatham, Kent were sister towns, especially with the C-K obsession with Dickens that spawned a few years back. Surprisingly, I wasn’t able to find anything on twin or sister status, except that C-K is a sister city to Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. Weird.

Rochester

The quaint streets of Rochester

Home of the Rochester Cathedral, and as A puts it, lots of “oldy-woldy” buildings and streets. (see above)

Rochester Cathedral - over 900 years of history here.

Rochester Cathedral - the Nave

Crypt at Rochester Cathedral - Reflections of Rochester's monastic past.

In the garden at Rochester Cathedral

This area is called “The Cloister Garth”  and is set amidst the ruins of Rochester’s Norman priory.

Rochester Cathedral grounds with Rochester Castle in the background

Canterbury

The gate to Canterbury Cathedral

The shop where I bought my yarn!

Shadow play on sculptures outside the theatre in Canterbury

The Canterbury Tales (museum)

Canterbury Cathedral

Because we had a day of driving around Medway prior to arriving in Canterbury, we didn’t get a chance to go to the Cathedral – that will happen on my next day-trip out. Nevertheless, I had  a wonderful time seeing A’s neck of the woods!

Above: set against a White bag, you can see the paint we chose.

My problem now is that I’m no longer happy with my curtains. As you can see below, they don’t hang nicely and I’m not sure the colour is ideal either. My only stipulation is that I need black-out quotient- I’ve found it is better for my sleep.

Do you have any suggestions? What if I trimmed them so that they fall just above the headboard? I find that curtains and drapes are an area of interior decorating that I just can’t wrap my head around. Oiy!
As a final hurrah, here’s another shot of my wall, including the straw hat I bought in Morrocco.

The other day duty called and I found myself looking at a big green blob on my googlemaps app. It separated me from my destination and made the route extra long.
As I wandered out of the train station, I noticed a few alleyways which eventually led me to a gate for the green space I had seen on my map.
A whole new world opened up before me.

Suddenly I found myself in a walled up area of the council, surrounded by happy dogs and children, parents sipping tea from a cafe while chatting next to their prams, and curious trees mixed in with aged tombstones.

My research tells me that this park space dates back over a thousand years and in recent centuries was used as a burial ground for service men.

I love stumbling onto little gems of history, especially when they are as lovely and tranquil as this space. And who can beat the name?
East Greenwich Pleasaunce.
Want to read more?

Can you see it in the photo? I tried!
Something that has surprised me about the UK countryside is the number of house boats along the canals that seem to run all over this country.
I wasn’t able to get a photo because the train was so fast.

This is a photo I found on google images.

January

GMT - The Prime Meridian

Luke and I visited Greenwich Town Centre, the week before I officially started working for LBG.

February

Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese

Met up with the Drama Kids in the old City of London and had my first view of ‘Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese.

March

Fountain outside St-Sulpice Church, from the Da Vinci Code

Met my Mom in Paris for three nights. Showed her my Paris.

April

Beach in Alghero

Escaped Royal Wedding Frenzy by staying on the beach in Alghero, Sardinia (an island off the coast of Italy). I now love Spaghetti Bolognese.

May

Outside the Duomo in the main piazza

Rachel and I visit Milan in effort to see her friend. Instead we see Milan, where the spaghetti bolognese was not that good, but the aperativo was.

June

A farm of calfs!

Went to a wedding in Nottinghamshire and fell in love with the English countryside. Also made it home to Canada for Kirk’s Wedding.

July

On our way to Queen Elizabeth's Hunting Lodge

Jennifer and I found Epping Forest. Love.

August

The varigated cliffs at Hunstanton Beach

Kings Lynn blew me away. Good tourism choice, Money.

September

A little cafe in the Nine Streets area of Amsterdam.

This one is a toss-up between the very new and non-European experience of visiting Marrakech, and spending a few days in Amsterdam with Melissa.

October

Reunited at last - lunch with the family after 17 years apart.

Euro-vacation for me and the fam!

November

Princess Diana's dress

I organized an ex-pat meet-up and we went to The Enchanted Palace.

December

The ice rink awaits

I won tickets to the advanced opening of the Somerset House Skating Rink.

That is a selective summary of my first full year in the United Kingdom. More adventures to come, of course!

The Albert Dock is Liverpool’s number one visitor attraction, showcasing the best of Liverpool in a stunning World Heritage waterfront setting.

Opened by Prince Albert in 1846, the Dock includes the largest group of Grade 1 listed buildings in the UK.

With award winning visitor attractions such as Tate Liverpool, Yellow Duck Tours, The Beatles Story, Shiverpool Ghost Tours and The Merseyside Maritime Museum, the Dock also offers a range of stylish bars and restaurants including What’s Cooking, Ha Ha Bar & Grill, Circo, Vinea, The Pan American Club, Pump House pub, Spice Lounge, Blue and Gusto.

I’d like to go back and spend a weekend in Liverpool. Here’s a quick snippet of what we saw: