Roman Holiday II

So, more Roman stuff. We were walking around, Day 1 methinks, and came across this wedding party minding there own business, and along come a Segway tourgroup. I was never sure whether they were part of the wedding party or made their own "fun". Anyways it was a bit strange
Far more interesting was just to the right of this picture, surrounded by the chains you can just see ...


Marcus Aurelius! WhoHoo. Author of Meditations, one of the more famous authors and stoic philosophers of antiquity - and Emporer. The statue only survived the desecration of the early church, who melted down all images of the emporers or princes, because they thought it was of Justinian.

Ah yes, that's me in the foreground.



And so here's Fiona, caught reclining after the midday meal, she is replete and happy.

Roman Holiday I

Hi Guys, so, a few months ago I left the green shores of Ireland and travelled to the eternal city to see what all the fuss was about. I guess I also went to see Fiona - she's in the odd picture below. My first attempt was kyboshed by that unpronouncible Icelandic volcano so, rather than greeting Fiona when she arrived in Europe, I farewelled her (ahhhh). And here is the first photo I took. It needs no explanation, but ... SPQR, Senatus Populusque Romanus = The Senate and the People of Rome. These letters were carried by the legions on their standards, throughout europe, 2000 years ago. And here they are again, still emblazoned on the manhole covers of modern Rome - cool eh? The alternative explanation is that this is an artifact about 2000 years old, but you can make your own mind up about that.So, Rome is full of i) Romans ii) Tourists and iii) History. N.B Romans may be Italians but, Italians are not necessarily Romans. My personal experience, with which I think that Fiona would agree, is that Romans, i), are far more pleasant than one expect given the IMMENSE number of ii) trying to get a grip on the STUPENDOUS amount of iii). A nice smile, a little effort, a little modification of behaviour so that you perform a task the way the locals would prefer, pay for your gelati first, gives great rewards. Don't knock extra gelati. Anyways, here are three buildings. The first is (I think) is the back end of the temple/structure commemorating Victor Emmanuel. The second, the colosseum, still standing because it was blessed and consecrated by one of the Popes, and this couldn't be pillaged for stone. It also was nice touch of Hah! given that the Roman Empire had slaughtered who knows how many Christians there and the church and finally triumphed. This last photo is an attempt at being artisitic with the columns surrounding St Peters. Early on a Monday there were few people about and I rather like it.

REWIND - Aberdeenshire

June 2010
Quick Quick! We've just enough time to shoot of to Aberdeen for a sunny weekend, to catch up with friends, Mark and Bodil and their 3 wee laddies, masters Erik, Martin and Fredrik.

Aberdeenshire is every bit as green as here (minus a few rocks), with that same luminescent grass creeping up and over the ruined castles, which dot the landscape here and there, between fields of cows and horses... Needless to say we felt much at home. :)

Except .... The cows there are a much cuter than here or anywhere else in the world..
(Note this gorgeous little highland cow above)
(and more Highland cows, below..)


Speaking of Ruined Castles, we visited Dunnottar Castle, near Stonehaven on the coast of Aberdeenshire, which dates back to at least the 1100's, and possibly the 600's-700's.





It is an amazing cliff-top location, right on the edge of the sea, with a stunning backdrop and coastline... and a long fall down into the chilly waters. but perfectly safe.

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Back at home, later that eve, we sat outside in the summer sun and wacked some Angus beef steaks on the BBQ.. mmm... and that is how Australia met Scotland.

Here's little Fredrick ready for dins.

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It's a huge world at there and there is such a lot to see..
Scotland looks so beautiful but unfortunately we have only seen a little of Aberdeen and a bit more of Glasgow...
We will have to go back at some stage for the rest... But that is what life is for, after all.

yum yum in my tum!

Hello peeps,

check out my friend's cooking and food blog - Alchemy..
We all need a bit of help and inspiration in the kitchen, and this is just the thing!
How about this Honey Apple Scone? Yum!

http://www.alchemy-fabulousfood.blogspot.com/

enjoy...