A Very British Christmas

I am way behind, it's been a busy month and I've just got back from a short work related trip.

I went back to England for a couple of weeks over Christmas, which was lovely as always (although I did miss the big snow storm in Albany and came back to my car covered in a foot of snow). There were no big adventures like last year, but I did need to  go to London to renew my passport and pick up a new one the same day a few hours later.

The passport office was close to some reasonably famous London establishments, including this one...

Yes, the Queen was at home but she didn't say hello

... so I joined the tourists and took pictures! I'm sure I must have seen Buckingham Palace sometime in the past, but I don't remember so this was kind of like my first trip!

Tourist time

I also took a trip to East London to visit the Olympic Park. You can't go and walk around like you could during the Olympics as they are in the process of dismantling the temporary venues (and parts of venues) and generally convert the whole area. You could however get a good view of the major stadiums and tower from the department store across the road. Plus I got some nice souvenirs for half price! Wish I could have seen it during the Olympics but this will have to do. I can add it to my list of Olympic parks that I've visited (Sydney, Salt Lake City, Lake Placid and London).

Team GB!!

I didn't stay on Oxford Street long enough to see the lights all lit up, but particularly enjoyed this Marmite display. I can say with full confidence that I HATE it and always will.

Christmas Lights

Twas Christmas in the Martin house, and I apparently look about 16. Oh well, I was wearing clothes from when I was about 16 so I cant complain!

The Familia

2012 in short

In the same vain as last year, I though I would make a list of some of my firsts and lasts from the past year. Here goes!

Firsts....
1) Visit to (mainland) China (I spent 3 days in Hong Kong in 2005)
2) Time in Massachusetts and Connecticut
3) Half marathon!
4) Trip to New York City and Boston
5) Purchase of my own apple laptop (I have one for work but I don't own that)
6) (and probably last) time standing at the top of an Olympic ski jump
7) Post doc paper accepted!
8) Getting stitches (and they were in my mouth, yuck)

Lasts....
1) Olympics in the UK (in my lifetime most likely) and watching online as the torch goes past the top of my road at home
2) Birthday that starts with a 2 :-(

Okay, so the last list isn't very long but it's far more fun to think of firsts! I think I wrote blogs about most of these events so you can find them if you want to read more.