Champions League Qualifier

I am slowly knocking off a lot of big sports "must sees"!  This past week, I got lucky enough to see the Arsenal qualifier game for the Champions League with tickets from work.  Even better when it's free!

 Accidental artsy photo of the field

 

 Regular shot of the field

The pre-game ceremony

 

Gunners flag

The home team

Singing the Arsenal song

 

Field of play

 Some of the action

 

 

Caught the ball in that shot

A booking of some sort

 

Foul shot

 

And a video after the only goal:

Ignore my question - there is no special song.  Despite that, it was a great atmosphere - everyone really got into the match.  Lots of yelling and singing....I think one guy behind us thought he was coaching the game!  Great seats, great company, great night!

Local Tourist

A few weekends ago, a friend and I did the tourist thing in the Hague, hitting all the places I said I would go, but never got around to.

We started out with a tour of the Peace Palace, which houses 2 of the courts of international justice.  No pictures allowed on the inside, but it was a really great building to tour.  Built with financing by Andrew Carnegie, the idea was to capture through architecture and art the ideals of peace.  It was built just before WWI (so much for the peace idea) and contains priceless art from all over the world symbolizing peace and justice.  It's still used today for international disputes and arbitration cases:

The famous cases you have probably heard about aren't held at this building, like the trials for war crimes in Kenya and the former Yugoslav.  They are all connected, but held in different parts of the Hague.

After that, we headed to the Escher museum, which I had seen before.  It was packed, so it was hard to get a good feel for the museum, but it's a nice art exhibit in the old residence of the Royal family.  I like the building more than the art.  Escher is an illusionist artist - different people can see completely different things in them.  It's fun to look at, but not pretty.

Then we headed to the Hague Historical Museum, which had some interesting exhibits on the city's history, some of which I didn't know.  For instance, the area I live in right now was bombed in WW2 by a misguided British RAF bomber. Most of the Hague wasn't bombed, but I happen to live in the one area that took a hit.  It turns out that the Germans were most likely firing missiles toward the UK from the woods close to my house, but the bomber missed the woods and got my neighborhood.  The other interesting part was the trenches dug from the beach, which are now canals that are used to monitor the water levels in the city.  The rest of the museum was a special exhibit on Dutch golf - which just felt odd and misplaced.

After that, it was off to the Mauritshuis to see that elusive girl with the pearl earring.  She's back from her tour of the world!

The big announcement!

I've highlighted this on facebook, but felt its worth a full post on the bloggy.

I'M MOVING TO LONDON IN 10 DAYS!!!

This move has been in the works for a long time, in fact I know that my acquaintances / friends here and in the UK are tired of hearing me talk about it.  It has not been smooth, in fact, I still do not have a flight booked.  I'm headed to the UK biometrics office in Amsterdam on Monday to get finger printed and photographed for my long needed visa, which I should have on Friday, in time to move my stuff out on Monday (both to the UK and US) and book a flight for Tuesday night (fingers crossed).  There are a lot of things that need to go perfectly over the next 8 days, so I'm highly doubtful, but this is happening folks.  Holding onto my hat has commenced.

Following Edinburgh, I flew the next morning to London to look at different areas to live.  I've decided on Putney as my number one choice (even picked a road I think I want to live on) and West Hampstead as the back up.  I'm planning to live in a traditional house - I want the full experience.  I'm most likely going to do a short term - 6 months or so and then decide where I actually want to live and if a housemate would be a better call.  I'm not going to be around very much, so getting a place to myself seems like a waste, but I'll cross that bridge when I get there.  For now, I just need to make a decision so I feel like I have some control, while everything feels so out of control.

Sample shots of the area:






I love Holland, I always will.  It was time to make another life decision and I'm really excited about the opportunities London presents (personally and professionally).  Two years in a familiar role with familiar people means this move isn't nearly as scary as the last one.  I'm still terrified though for a few reasons:

1.  I'm moving to a huge city that makes Houston look like a village.  I'm going to get lost a lot and I don't know what the rough areas of town are to not get lost in.  I don't have that issue in the Hague.
2.  I know people, but they are all work people.  I need to spread my wings, which I have been pretty unsuccessful at doing so far in the Hague - will I do it any better there?  Time will tell.  Work people are definitely not going to want to hang out all the time (or possibly anytime) so I will need to get out there immediately and establish myself quickly.  Shudder.
3. I'm going to be travelling a lot for work. What if I can't physically keep up?  I'm pretty sure I can, but it's nagging me.
4.  I'm just straight up scared of moving again.  It was all new last time and didn't know when I was going to get frustrated or sad and as a result, it lessened the blow.  This time, I know what to expect...which is worse I think.

Holland has been the perfect place to get a feel for living overseas.  London will be a hyped up version of that...I'm pretty sure I'm ready, but I'm also really scared.  Hopefully the next 8 days will put some of those fears to rest.

It's also a good time to celebrate all that's been accomplished over the last 2 years...

I can't believe it's been 2 years since my move (Labor Day 2012).  My how times have changed.  If anyone needs proof that time really does fly when you are having fun, you need look no further than my last 2 years.  I'm 15 pounds lighter, have travelled to more countries than I ever thought I'd see in a lifetime (21!), been blessed along the way by some incredible friends, lost my love of driving, found my love of biking, made goals and met them, reaffirmed myself in my job (I can do this!), and learned a lot about myself, life and sports.  I've lost the ability to spell American (autocorrect in google is changing all my s's to z's).  I've been subject to a lot of American ridicule, survived and still feel proud to be an American (even if still naïve).  I love my life here and couldn't think of a better way to extend it than to head a bit further west, one hour closer to home. 

I'm excited about meeting the London Aggies group and connecting with some Texans again.  I'm excited about more travel to come.  I'm excited about a Lutheran church a tube ride away.  I'm excited about all the BA and Hilton points I'm going to pull down over the next 2 years.  But mostly, I'm ready for the next change in life that means new challenges and new goals to reach.  Life without a goal doesn't work for me and this provides a whole new host of them....just need someone to tell me I can't do it and then I will really be motivated.

On the travel schedule for the 2 years:
Booked - Munich - Oktoberfest with B and M!
Booked - M & D are coming at the end of September for 2 weeks - excited to see them!
Booked - Berlin - conference in November

Nothing else is booked beyond that, but here is the wish list.  It's a long list and I'm actively looking for travel buddies for next May (or other times, but specifically next May if you can spare 2 weeks).

 

UK travel - Lake district, Oxford, Cambridge, Windsor, Yorkshire, Glasgow, Belfast (all weekend trips)
Ireland - Dublin, Cork, countryside (mostly weekend trips)
Greece - Athens weekend trip or Rick Steves 2 weeks in Greece (first 2 weeks of May)
Turkey - Debating 2 weeks in Turkey versus Rick Steves 2 weeks in Greece (first 2 weeks of May)
Florence
Barcelona
Madrid
Lisbon
Cyprus
Krakow
Switzerland train trip
Sicily
Naples (South Italy)
Cinque Terre
Lake Como
Slovenia
Slovakia
Tallin
Riga
Helsinki
St Petersburg
Marrakesh
Malta
Ibiza
South Africa
Thailand

Here's to the best 2 years of my life in the rear view mirror and the next best 2 to come!

#EdFringe Day 3



 

So before my flight, I caught 2 shows.  I'm so sad I flew out on Friday - I could have done with at least 2 more days.  Lesson learned!!

 



 

Abi Roberts was a small show, showcasing another comedienne's musical tastes.  Her guest for Friday was Jo Caulfield, who regularly appears on the BBC (radio and TV).  It was small crowd, but the music was good and the chat was really nice, reminiscing through the old hits of the 80s (some of which I didn't know - thanks American radio!).  Jo was really funny, if I had stayed another day, I would have found a way to see her solo show.

My final show was a huge, huge win.  Sold out show for Austentatious, which is an improv group that makes up an Austen novel based on a title suggestion from the audience out of a hat.   The title pulled out was "Identity and Utility", which meant the show had a lot of plumbing jokes.  It was hilarious - the actors were really great at pulling off some ridiculous scenes in period costumes off the top of their head.  Some of them had solo shows as well, again, another time and I would have tried to see their individual shows.

 

After that, I grabbed a food truck hamburger and got soaking wet heading to airport (had to change clothes at airport in the bathroom).  I also did a drive by of my mobile store on the way to the airport - looking proper shady! 

 

 

I can't wait to go back to Edinburgh next August!!!!

 





Edinburgh Military Tattoo Festival - Day 2

Night 2 of the Tattoo was just as magical as the first.  I had the perfect seat this time - section 7 in the corner, full view of castle.  Just an incredible evening - I will definitely be back.

The videos and pictures:

I captured the Gaelic opening this time, including the traditional shot of whiskey.  The guest of honour escapes me - I think he was prominent in one of the Scottish brigades, but can't tell you.  He's got a kilt on, so that's what makes me think Scottish military.

 Headed out for the opening greeting

First glimpse of pipers and band

Pipers and band

Standing on the "stage" before the show

Gaelic greeting

Band marching in

 Band marching in

 Better shot of the torches around the castle

Full first band

Full shot of castle and pipers



The next video I got was of the Zulu performers:

Made me think of my time spent in Kenya (I know they are different countries, but it felt close to listening to the Maasai). 

Then it was the fiddlers from Scotland:

 

They are playing the other person's fiddle!

 

 

Next up was the band from Singapore:

 

Then it was the group from Northern India:

Then it was back to New Zealand and there great dancing:

 

 

New Zealand was definitely the highlight for me.  I love that dance - so manly!

Then the trip around the world went to Trinidad and Tobago:

 

Steel drums and bagpipes on the same night?  Don't mind if I do.

Then it was the Scottish sailor dancers:

The rest of the videos are from the mash up of the entire cast.  There's one long one, but definitely worth a full viewing:

Thriller video

God save the queen - chills

The long one - worth a full viewing.

All of the rest of the pictures are of the castle in different colors which I can't pick from to exclude from the blog.  Definitely going again next year!!!