London’s Southbank and more books
japra | Jan 22, 2009 | Comments 21
Here are a couple more photos from our trip into town on Saturday:
On the way to the Jubilee Walk from Waterloo Station. I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of seeing Big Ben and Parliament. And one of these days before we repatriate, I will get on that London Eye–acrophobia be damned!
The Southbank Centre Shop has lots of neat things! Great, unique gifts–for you or someone else, if you must.
I’ve been feeling quiet these last couple of days. Reading lots. Today, I have to make cupcakes for Roxi’s advisory party tomorrow. I’m going back to the basics and trying the yellow cake and chocolate frosting recipes from Betty Crocker. I also need to bake cookies for the Middle School semi-formal tomorrow night.
Audrey, I am reading The Road. Gripping! And it is also the reason I’m not getting much done around here. Barrie, I inhaled your I So Don’t Do Mysteries yesterday. I’m ready to visit San Diego now… and drink lots and lots of coffee!
Filed Under: Blog • Destinations • Food • London • United Kingdom
About the Author: JaPRA is an expat Texan living in England with her husband (Mr. DJ), their 17-year old daughter (Roxi), and their dog Trudy.
JAPRA, no way! I am also going to make a yellow cake with chocolate frosting AND some chocolate chip cookies today!! (Girlfriend, we are SO on the same baking page.)
I got soaked on my walk this morning, and just want to have a warm, bustling day in the kitchen.
BTW, you really must do the Eye some day. The view of London is incredible. (You “know” it’s so big . . . but you still quite take in its hugeness.)
Wish you luck with the London Eye. I have tried to talk my wife into getting on it, but no way. I loved the photos of the South Bank. One of my favourite spots in London.
Greetings from London.
Isn’t it always the way? Visitors always seem to know our country better than we do. I have terrible vertigo but the London eye is definately on my list.
Going to make a Lemon Drizzle cake from scratch today.
Show us some more of our Capitol.
Really? Wow!!! Thank you! I’m so glad you liked it!! You are the first post I’ve read today. Great way to start!
And did you know there’s a wonderful YA mystery called The London Eye. It’s by Siobhan Dowd.
I loved, loved, loved the Road. It was my first Cormac McCarthy book and it’s not going to be the last. You just cannot put it down!
My office was the other way from the Waterloo station at Kings College London.
Okay, look: red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting! I’ll send you the recipe if you want.
Also, why have I not given you a book recommendation? HUH?
Out Stealing Horses is really good.
Pretty pictures…
JAPRA Loved the London Tour,thank you !
Bee–My cupcakes turned out pretty good! I’ve not made this kind of frosting (with butter, etc) before. It was so easy and good! I’m going to save the cookies for tomorrow. I got too caught up in The Road (now finished). BTW, my “Family Happiness” came in the mail today. I am determined not to open it until Saturday.
A Cuban in London–I am going to do it! I can’t go home without getting on that thing. Glad you enjoyed the photos.
Moannie–I NEVER took photos of my hometown. I think I took it for granted! But there is beauty in the everyday. And how I love lemon drizzle cake! I am sure yours was delicious :-)
Barrie–Count on you to know that! I am SO getting it ;-) Can’t wait for your new book… And more Josh!!
Lucy Lucia–I literally couldn’t put it down. Oh, my. Sadly, I finished it this afternoon.
P-D–I thought of you when I was in that Southbank Centre store. It reminded me of our outing!
Chris–Yes, please send me the recipe! I will make those next time. And you did recommend a book to me: Woody Allen’s “Without Feathers”. I have it now too :-) But I shall put your other recommendation on my list for next month’s book spree.
Barbara–So glad you liked it. Glad to hear all is well with your heating now.
We have an ‘eye’ in Manchester ( about 12 miles away from where I live) but I just can’t bring myself to go on it – I’m afraid of heights. I hope you overcome your fear and do the London eye before you go home.
I too never tire of Big Ben and the Parliment Buildings. Nothing like them really.
Great photos — I work over in that area but am always rushing in and out and never stop to enjoy the view.
Thanks for the pics.
Hey, may I please have Chris’s recipe for Red Velvet cupcakes, too? I’ve tried two different recipes, but I’m not feeling loyal to either of them!
BTW, we are about to cut the cake!
Akelamalu–You should do it! And actually, I heard those cabins are very steady. And they go nice and slow. Or that is what I am telling myself ;-)
Susanna–I think it must drive my family crazy (or perhaps they’re used to it now), but I stop to take photos A LOT. Lucky you for working so close to that view! I make myself stop and say hello to “Ben” every time I’m in that area. I don’t want him to think I’m taking him for granted!
Bee–I am sure yours is a lot tastier than mine. I thought my cake was a bit too sweet and needed a tad more vanilla. Also, is there something different with the flour here? Every cake I’ve made seems so dense. Maybe I need to use pastry flour?
Lucy Lucia–I just thought of another book you might like if you loved “The Road”. Have you read Z for Zachariah?
Thanks for the pictures. Enjoy your baking. I’ll be buying mine tomorrow!
For some reason, when I see other people’s photos of London I get homesick for it, not when I look at mine. Maybe I’ve been spending too much time with my photos and need to take a break…..
Forget the Eye. I want to view the London skyline the way Harry and the Aurors did at the beginning of Order of the Phoenix. Flying low and fast over the Thames.
Oh, yeah. Sign me up for one of those Firebolts.
Christine–I ended up ditching the cookies! I’ll send drinks to the dance instead ;-)
Kathy–There comes a point when you have too many photos and just looking at them makes you tired. You’ve been doing so well posting so many photos since you’ve been back in Texas. By all means, take a break!
Fantastic Forrest–Okay, THAT would be awesome! I loved that scene!! When we first moved to England, we had such fun thinking about HP and where it was filmed. What fun! And of course we had to go see Platform 9 3/4. Total geeks ;-)
If you’re reading The Road, make sure you have a sunny, preferably green spot to go afterward.
You’ll need to be reminded those places still exist.
Very intense book.
One of the great disappointments (okay, maybe it’s a minor one) of my life is that we didn’t make it to Kings Cross station when we were over there.
If you and your family want a fun HP moment, you should go to Scotland for the Hogwarts Express-like steam train ride. Here’s a good article describing that and other ways to indulge your not-so-inner geek: http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/uk/step-this-way-for-the-hogwarts-express-565347.html
Isn’t The Road an amazing book? One I found really difficult to put down.
BSR–Agreed! I finished it days ago and can’t stop thinking about it. PS We went to Windsor Great Park yesterday for a bit of sun and green.
Fantastic Forrest–That is an awesome article! I know my family would love that train ride. Thanks for sharing!!
Pamela–I totally agree. I had a hard time putting it down. I fell asleep with the light on trying to get in “one more page”.