Keeping Up With the Blog-dashians

Please forgive me if my revelation is something you've used for a long time, I'm a little slow. 

I read a lot of blogs.  About a year ago I spent time each night clicking through my bookmarked blogs to see if there was a new post to read.  Yes it was tedious since not all of my blogs had daily posts, but worked for me.  Then I was shown the light with a website that collates all of the blogs I read and shows me the new posts.  I think it's called a blog reader or aggregator (that's a word I haven't used since my days as a special ed teacher), but I just call it Feedly.

There are many blog reader sites out there, but for the blogs I read, it seems that Feedly and Bloglovin are two popular sites.  It revolutionized the time I spent on the computer.   

After setting up a free account, I loaded all of the blogs I read into the site.  After each addition I further organized them into categories of my creation.

Take a look at the screenshot of my Feedly below.

The left-hand column lists the categories I created; some of them should come as no surprise to faithful readers.  The numbers alongside the categories indicate how many posts I have not read.  Yes, I have 108 posts to catch up on after ignoring my blogs for a week whilst on holiday.

The thing is, I won't read all 108 posts.  The center of the screenshot shows a preview and photo for the unread posts. If I want to read the post, I simply click through.  If I'm not interested, I can click a button at the bottom that reads, "Mark above articles as read."  Bam.

I can zip through the blogs I read in about 20 minutes.  Then it's off to wash more laundry in my tiny washing machine or go to the shop to buy milk for the third time this week.

The take away from this is that if you read a lot of blogs, a blog reader might be your new friend.

Then add this website as your first one

www.mattandholly.com

The Cartoon Museum - Touring Tuesday - Museum Mile

I'm continuing my journey along the Museum Mile.  Read the summary of my visits here.

Information posted near the entrance indicates that photos of specific pieces is not allowed due to copyright.  However, it was permissible to take photos of the gallery as a whole.  When I attempted to take a photo of the gallery as a whole to share with my fine readers, a museum volunteer apparated at my side.  She thought it was important to remind me of the museum policy.  In a sugary sweet manner, I clarified that I was allowed to take photos of the gallery as a whole.  

Anyway....

The museum is small but jam-packed with cartoons.  However, the cartoons are not what you think; the current exhibit is Never Again! WWI in Cartoon & Comic Art.  They displayed political cartoons written for the big newspapers and those drawn by soldiers on the front line.  Upstairs had a few recognizable characters, but the main focus of the museum is the current exhibit.  

Maybe I'll give the museum volunteer credit on 

this one, it might be a bit close.

The small upstairs had a classroom, which had how to draw cartoon posters on the wall.  I could see this as a fun school trip.  Overall my visit to this museum was underwhelming. I'm not sure if it was the topic of the main exhibit, or if I'm just not into this medium.  That's just my opinion as I paid £7 admission.

The Cartoon Museum charges £7 for adult admission and children are free.  It is open Monday-Saturday from 10:30am-5:30pm and Sunday from noon-5:30pm.  The Cartoon Museum is tucked away on Little Russell Street, not far from Holborn Underground and Tottenham Court Road Underground (both have the Piccadilly & Central Lines).     

Do Men Really Need Their Own Tissues?

I frequently have groceries delivered to The Manor.  It is a huge time saver to me, and it's just gosh darn convenient.  

As you know you, when shopping online you don't always get the whole idea of what you are getting based on the photo.  Maybe the color is not quite what you expected.  Maybe the quality is better than you gathered from the description.  The item might be quite smaller than you anticipated from the photo.  

Well, I had an interesting experience with tissues.  My grocery store provides many options from the Kleenex brand.  In an attempt to be a savvy shopper, I compared the unit prices to find the best value.    

According to the unit prices the Kleenex Mansize was the best value at £1.25 per 100 sheets.  At no point did it cross my mind to scour the description - come on it's a box of tissues.  Herein lies the comedy.   

After I submitted my order, I began to wonder why Kleenex made a mansize tissue.  I can only imagine the creative session when these were invented.

"I think the male segment of our customer base is grossly under appreciated.  The boxes for the tissues we make have flowers and frilly swirls, and I think the bachelors are looking for something to match their decor."

"I also think the size of our tissues does not properly provide for the amount of snot men expel."

"I know!  Let's make a Mansize line of Kleenex.  We'll design the box to fit into every bachelor's grey & black decor, and the size of the tissue will rival a cloth diaper!!!"

Fast forward to delivery day.  The driver handed me this huge stack of boxes.  It was the Mansize Kleenex.  I've placed the typical box we get next to these behemoths for comparison.  They look more like a shirt box than a tissue box.  

These are more than mansize, they are Hagrid size.  

The diagonal measurement is more than a foot long!

I suppose some take two regular-sized tissues to contain their nasal needs, and this product will take care of that.  However, where the heck am I going to put the box?  Not a chance it will fit in the window sill or on the back of the toilet.
    

  I mean, look at the size of that tissue!

The Brunei Gallery - Touring Tuesday - Museum Mile

Our journey continues along The Museum Mile.  Please see my summary of the museums in this collection here.  

The Brunei Gallery, SOAS is part of the University of London.  SOAS is the School of Oriental and African Studies, and their current exhibit is called Empire, Faith, and War - The Sikhs and World War One.  After I toured this I spent some time to learn more about Sikhism, and I think you should too.

The Sikhs soldiers were an important group in many battles of World War One.  They valiantly fought for a country most had never seen.  The Sikhs fought for their country in areas around Egypt, Turkey, and Palestine.  

I was shocked by the following statistic posted at the exhibit: 

"Although making up just 1% of the population of British India (concentrated mainly in the northern region of Punjab), Sikhs made up nearly 20% of the British Empire's Indian Army at the outbreak of the war."  

The exhibit displayed different swords and military regalia along with moving photos of the soldiers in posed and candid situations. 

This exhibit also showed many propaganda posters to promote support of Britain in the war.

A bonus to this museum is the Japanese garden on the roof.  It is small, but it provides a nice solace in the middle of the city.  

Admission to The Brunei Gallery, SOAS is free.  It's open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:30am-5:00pm (Thursday until 8pm) and Sundays 11:30am-5pm

It is located right off green Russell Square, which gives you many options for the train: Russell Square (Piccadilly Line), Goodge  Street (Northern Line), Euston Square (Metropolitan Line, Hammersmith & City Line, and Circle Line), Euston (Northern Line & Victoria Line) Tottenham Court Road (Central Line & Northern Line), Holborn (Central Line & Piccadilly Line), Warren Street (Northern Line & Victoria Line)

Going to the Post Box

Our mail is delivered through a slot in the front door.  It usually scares the heck out of me when the mail is delivered because it sounds like someone is trying to get into the house.

On the other hand, when one needs to mail something, the only option is to find a post box.  From what I understand, our postman will not take any outgoing mail, even if you hand it to him.  The red Royal Mail post boxes are all over the city, and we happen to have one just a block away.

It is not the most adrenaline-filled trip when we take a field trip to the post box.  However, Youngest Kiddo is always happy to go with me.  Mostly because of the zebra (zeb-rah) crossing.

The quick constitutional helps him burn off some energy.

Tower Bridge - Touring Tuesday

I visited the Tower Bridge with my mom when she was here in May.  

The bridge plays a big part of London's history, as I'm sure you can understand.  Originally, the upper walkways were created so pedestrians could continue upon their journey instead of waiting for the bridge to open for river traffic.  By the time 1910 arrived, the walkways were closed because it was more complicated to travel to the top.  Today a quick elevator ride takes you to the top in a flash.  The bridge continues to open several times per day to allow for larger boat traffic along the River Thames, and it is a beautiful sight.    

Many sites in London were damaged or destroyed during the Blitz (1940-41).  However, Tower Bridge was spared because the Germans used it as a geographic landmark.  Pedestrians wait for the bridge to return to its horizontal resting place, and tourists spend time in the walkways above.  The views down the River Thames provide a quiet, peaceful aspect of the city.

Tower Bridge Experience Adults £9 (buy online for £8).  Opening hours are from 10am-6pm in the summer & 9:30am-5:30pm in the winter.  Your best bet is to take the Circle Line or District Line to Tower Hill for an easy walk to the bridge.

A Little Bit of Telly

We do not watch much television at The Manor.  I'm not implying that we watched a lot at The 407, but it was often on for noise whilst in the kitchen or even down the hallway bedrooms.  The layout of The Manor is a big reason that the telly is not turned on very often.  Our television is in the reception room, which is an actual room, with a door, so the sound does not travel far.  

Happy New Year 2014!

What's different about the telly in the UK?

The shows on the BBC do not have commercials.  Our annual TV license covers what would typically be paid by advertisers.  This is good and bad.  Great because you can immerse yourself into a documentary about WWI (which there are many) or salivate over the Great British Bake Off.  The bad is no built in commercial toilet breaks.  Yes, we can pause live TV, but that kind of kills the momentum of the show (yes, this is a first world problem).    

When we watch American shows on non-BBC channels (How I Met Your Mother, Big Bang Theory) they only show half of the commercials. Which leads to my next fact.

BBC coverage of the Polar Vortex in the USA

TV shows do not always end on the hour or half hour.  It is not unusual for a show to start at quarter past or quarter to the hour. 

The Wii does not get much of a workout

The number of documentaries on at any given time is astounding.  The Brits love WWI and love to make documentaries about it.  

The Brits also like the Bake-off and Sew-off type shows.  The Great British Bake-off with Paul Hollywood & Mary Berry (baking celebrity) starts tomorrow.  This was copied in the US with Jeff Foxworthy.  I am quite excited to watch the series.  

This documentary had some action shots

We have several American Channels available to us including: TLC, Discovery, E!, Travel Channel, and Animal Planet.  The Travel Channel is only on from 6pm-10pm, not sure why.  Unfortunately the shows on these channels are not a good representative of what you can watch in the USA.  It makes me sad to think that Brits see the worst of American TV, such as the no talent siblings and their brainless escapades in LA & Miami.

Some of the American shows are dubbed with British voice overs.  I don't know why they do this, but it always makes us laugh.  Do you know the deep voice of the narrator on Myth Busters?  Well he's been replaced with a Brit.

What's the best thing about British telly?

Downton Abbey starts months before the US.  The next season is set to launch in the fall, but no date has been released.  No more waiting until January!

Grand Designs shows how one can spend a few million on their home in mostly classy style.  

A 14 Year Tour - Touring Tuesday

Today's Touring Tuesday is a little different.  Today we're touring down memory lane because it's our wedding anniversary!

It's not a milestone anniversary as in the number of years, however, isn't every anniversary a milestone?  Hallmark says fourteen years deserves ivory (traditional) or gold jewelry (modern).  I'm guessing no one has decided to update the traditional list for some time.  I do believe many animal rights groups would be unhappy if we bought some ivory for the house. Gold jewelry is always appreciated.

Check out our 2011 anniversary - it has a little more comprehensive list

What have we accomplished in 14 years?  Aside from what I shared in 2011, there are a few more things....

Holly took a leave from her job

We sold our house, cars, and a whole bunch of furniture

Moved to England

Added a few more stamps to the passport (with a lot more to go!)

Marienplatz in Munich

Amsterdam

What's on the list for the future?

• Add more stamps to the passports
• Buying a vacation home is still on the list, but now the question is if it has to be in the US.
• Where do we go when the London gig is over?

The answers will reveal themselves in the next few years.  And I'm glad to have my partner along for the ride.  

A4 Update - July 2014

Happy Summer!

• The school year is finally over.  Gracious, who would have thought that summer vacation would start on July 22.  The kids were out of school for 8 weeks (including two at Christmas) while we moved and found a place to live so I suppose they have to make up the time anyway.  They go back on September 2 just like our American friends.  
• We celebrated the 4th of July with another American expat family.
• Vacation planning is in high gear.  We are planning a trip whilst the kids are on summer break.  You are going to love it!
• We experienced an actual summer heat wave in late July.  The temperatures rose to 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) on Friday, July 18.  London was warmer than Chicago.  The heat in our house was not horrible; we have a nice breeze that circulates.  The Underground trains and busses are another story.  Situations like this highlight how not everyone bathes weekly in this country.
• Holly & the kiddos have now ridden all of the Underground lines.  The Waterloo & City line was the last one, and it was not very exciting as it has two stops - Bank & Waterloo.  
• Whilst playing with his sister, Youngest Kiddo bent his ring finger back quite far.  When it turned purple and began to swell, we determined a trip to the hospital was in order.  It was just a sprain that required a little tape to stabilize the finger.  
• Holly went with Oldest Kiddo's class on a field trip to the British Museum to learn about Buddha.  It was surreal to know that whilst working on a multimedia project in the basement of the museum, thousands of people were walking above us.  
• Youngest Kiddo lost his first tooth!