Andrew's birthday

[azriona]

Andrew's birthday party was last night, which was a kind of odd time to have it, since it's essentially Sunday night in this part of the world. But it was the only night we could have it, and plenty of kids showed up, so there's that. Then again, part of that might have had to do with us holding it at the local Chuck E Cheese, which I think is

Comments

[lady_of_clunn]

Happy birthday to Andrew!

I feel you abaya-wise. At least you don't have to deal with it on the compound.

How about Christmas shopping in Edinburgh? We can go together!!

[azriona]

I've never been to Edinburgh! I suspect it's an even longer flight, though.

(OMG, I just looked it up; over nine hours with one stop! I would love to see Edinburgh and you, but NOOOOOOOO.)

[lady_of_clunn]

:(

Okay, *cracks knuckles* how about Christmas shopping in Berlin?

About 50 Christmas markets big and small, and while I can't go home this December, I could totally point you to some awesome insider things to do reg. Christmas shopping ;)

*cough* Potsdam *cough*

[azriona]

Yeah, I think we'll be heading back there at some point. Not super often - because for all its awesomeness and similarities to the US version, this one is way more expensive. The tokens are about $1 apiece - they're maybe 20-25 cents apiece in the States. Different tokens, too, so we can't buy 'em cheap at home and then use them here.

I'm really inclined to stick to familiar for this first trip (Bill agrees that given the current locale, I'll probably have more). And I'll just have to make the most of it after the long flight.

Then again... if I'm not flying with kids, I can DO WHATEVER THE HELL I WANT ON THE PLANE. Which is kind of awesome in itself.

[talloakslady]

The airplane thing Bill is in reminds me of our trip to Disney World and Andrew happy as a clam riding Dumbo.
London, go London. Teas, shopping, language in common and writing tea and those Coronation sandwiches you like. London.

[azriona]

HA! And then the next year, when we went after getting Charlie, he and I did the Barnstormer roller coaster about five times in a row. :) This roller coaster was about as roller coastery as Bill's willing to get.

Ooooo, coronation chicken sandwiches. I think you sold me.

[belleweather]

I took my first long weekend sans kids or spouse to Paris. Apart from buying tickets and apologizing for bumping into people, I didn't speak to anyone for four whole days, IT WAS AWESOME. So, I highly recommend anywhere with good metro, awesome museums and lots of silence in which to be quiet and read books, if that's the sort of thing you like. :)

[azriona]

Paris is on my short list (which is a very, very short list), because while I'm not quite as familiar with it as with London, I've been enough and have enough French somewhere in the back of my head that I feel comfortable there. At least, I know I can get around, and I'm pretty sure there are plenty of cafes where I can sit and write and have waiters bring me yummy things.

[belleweather]

I would suggest it, especially in fall and winter. It was such an easy trip, and not horribly expensive, either -- I stayed farther out, but very convenient to the Metro, so the costs were moderate. Plus, it was SO NICE to be back in an ethnically and religiously diverse place again. It was a very good mental break. :)

[earlgreytea68]

Charlie looks so excited to be on that carousel!!