Summer 08 Recap

Wait, what summer??!! Somehow summer skipped England once again. They claim two years ago it was sunny and hot here. Although I'm learning that anything above 75 degrees with some humidity is about the tropics for the Brits, and they complain about how HOT it is at that temp. They really have no idea. It's interesting how it's their fave topic to discuss in length, even though they don't really experience any real drastic changes in the climate/weather here. Just grey and rain. All the time. Every season. Ugh!

Well I've been lame again keeping up with the blog. But my excuse is still the same, we are busy living out the travels and hosting guests, so no time to talk about it all - we're living it! Actually, we're back to normal now for a bit anyway. So spending the weekend catching up on emails, Facebook, photos, etc. Anything to do with the computer while it pours outside.

In a nutshell, here are the places we visited and family and friends that visited us since March:

Traveled to: Stuttgart, Germany; Brussels, Belgium; Australia (Brian for a conference); Normandy & Paris, France; Edinburgh, Scotland; and Stockholm & Gothenburg, Sweden.

March - the Batz family visited for their spring break
April - Steffan Freeman, Bri's GAC roomie, visited
May - John & Marcy visited - their #4 visit?
June - Bestie Sonja and her fiance Sanjay visited
July - the Grannies - Brian's Grandma Dorothy and her cousin Jan
August - Meghan K, her mum Karen and friend Kelly (Biggie) from MN

We've been busy busy - but have had an absolute blast with everyone visiting and traveling ourselves. We still hope to fit more in before our time is up here. We don't know yet what our plans will bring next year, but working on some options. Anyone interested in visiting us in Singapore?! :)

Gallivanting About England...Wet Socks and All

A Guest Blog Entry by Meghan Krause:

I set out to visit England with no agenda, and little more than a ridiculous fake accent and a shoddy packing job that was the result of absolutely no sleep and an increasingly familiar lack of planning. Spontaneity has generally served me well in the past but, this time, my only saving grace with my ill-conceived attempt to pack the entirety of my closet is that I have fabulous hosts for nine whole days. (Mom -- travel partner extraordinaire -- and I traipsed around Ireland the week prior, which left me wanting to toss my suitcase into the Liffey. And, dammit, I should've done it -- the cost of shipping it over to England via Ryan Air made me dry-heave. What will Scotland bring?)

Six days into my stay with dear Kelly and Brian, I've come to realize I fancy the walkability of Oxford, the quaintness of the Cotswolds and the grandeur of Blenheim and Windsor. K&B had better watch out -- I just might extend my stay. The only thing remotely pushing me out the door is the mildly flavored (read: bland) English food. Ah well, no place is perfect. But Oxford just might be as close as any!

I've seen lots, done lots, walked lots and cursed the indecisive rain lots. Through it all, I've realized three fundamental truths:

1) No matter how much walking I do, the circumference of my thighs will not change.
2) A strawberry cider is the foremost English asset that Minneapolis lacks.
3) I would either be a millionaire or a pauper if I were a dentist in England (case in point: the wonderfully kind and conversant Melvin and Francine in Bourton-on-the-Water, whose...ahem..."teeth" belied their warm grins).

As my time in merry, ol' England comes to a close, I shall lament not running into Prince Charles (like I did 10 years ago!) but am crossing my fingers that I might still have a throw-down with Amy Winehouse for pure entertainment's sake.

Grannies take on the UK!

Brian's maternal grandma Dorothy Anderson, from his home town Two Harbors, MN, and gram's cousin, Jan Potter from Washington state, came by storm for their first overseas European tour! And without giving away their age - let's say it's pretty darn impressive that they came all the way over for a crazy-busy tour of Europe!

They arrived just two days after Bri and I both got home from our respective trips (Belgium and Australia) and it was so great to see them over here! The first week, we mainly stuck around Oxford and the surrounding places, since there is so much to see so close by. We went to Blenheim Palace, Windsor Castle, Salisbury Cathedral, Stonehenge, and Oxford colleges of course. We went to an Evensong service at Christ Church Cathedral which was also great for them to experience. Brian and gram spent a day in London, taking the tour bus around. The weather wasn't the greatest while they were here, but as the week went on, the rain stayed at bay. The temps weren't all that warm, but they were definitely tolerable.

I then took a few days off of work, and we all hopped a train, then Ferry across the English Channel to Northern France. We were staying in Caen, in the Normandy region for 3 nights. One the second day we hired a car and drove along the northern coast to see the WWII beaches. We the small town of Arromanches, where the false harbor was built by the Allies; the American Cemetery, which is an extremely impressive and emotional place to visit; and Germany battery, where gigantic guns are still in place from the war. Brian and I had been to this area before, about 4 years ago. But it was great to show gram and Jan, and especially to drive through it all ourselves. Wow, the French countryside in July is absolutely spectacular! Guess where we'd like to retire!


The third day we drove south to Le Mount St Michel. I'm sure you've seen pics. It's an enormous abbey built on this island. It's like a little town on the bottom, and then tiny winding road to walk up to the abbey. We had to leave the grannies in the town, there was just no way to get them up to the top. But Bri and I went to the abbey for a quick tour and view. The drive to get there was just as impressive though. It's truly this island in the middle of nowhere, but not far from the coast line. There are enormous fields of sheep all around, and there is really no obvious coast line, since it's such a gradual incline. To drive to Mt St Michel, there is a causeway to drive on. Twice a month, the tide comes up so high that part of the causeway is underwater. So then is not a good time to go visit! Our timing was fine, and it was a beautiful day. We stopped for a picnic lunch on the way there, which had a great view of Mt St Michel.

I'd say another great part of our visit to France was the dining and drinking - no skimping there! We really enjoyed nice meals for dinner and ate local. So lots of fish and good wine! Even enough food options for Brian eat. And yummy Bordeaux and Cotes du Rhone red wines.

The last day in France, we took the train into Paris, and spent a day in the city. It was crazy busy with tourists and I have to say, I worried about the grannies getting knocked down by all the fast moving tourists and locals! But they held their own, and by this point, were in pretty good shape after we had walked them all around Oxford and France! We took the open top bus tour again, to see all the main sights. We got off at the Eiffel Tour of course, and took pics. Stopped a cafe nearby for wine, chees and olives. Then back to the hotel so I could get my things, as I was leaving in the evening to catch a plane home. Brian, gram and Jan were coming back the next day via the Ferry again.

We all arrived home in Oxford in our respective ways, and without incident. There was just enough time to have a nice meal at the flat, before the grannies had to pack up and get things in order as they had to catch the bus back to the airport the next morning. Both Brian and I took to them to the bus station, then I said my goodbyes. Brian went along with so he could help with their luggage, as it was pretty weighed down from the souvenirs!

We had a wonderful and such a special time with them here - we hope they had a trip they will never forget!

Colvin's back across the pond

Well it's been another month since I've blogged, and as usual it's 'cause we've been crazy busy with visitors!

After Sonja & Sonjay were here, Brian then took off for two weeks to Australia for a conference. Quite a long flight for him - London to Singapore, then Singapore to Brisbane. He had a fantastic time though. Made great contacts (he's actually a physicist who enjoys the networking parts!) gave a well received talk, and even fit in time to feed the kangaroos and go snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef. I was pretty jealous, and if we had though about it, maybe I could have even gone with. But we've been so busy with visitors, that I was more focused on hostess duties. :)

John and Marcy were back for a couple of weeks at the end of June. They arrived in Oxford, just after Brian had left, so unfortunately they didn't get to Briguy this trip. But we had fun in Oxford visiting the good 'ol standbys (Dew Drop Inn and Royal Oak pubs) and went on a day trip to a new place for them - Stratford Upon Avon, which is Shakespeare's birthplace. It was so nice for me to have family around with Brian gone for so long. Didn't really have much of a chance to miss him to be honest!

Then on Monday, Ma and Pa flew to Dublin, where they rented a car to drive around the Ireland for the week. I have to say I was very impressed, since they were driving on the left side of the road the whole time! I haven't even attempted that myself. Although it does help with an automatic car. But most cars here are manual. Sounds like they had a great time staying at little B&Bs along the way and visiting the local pubs. They found a new fondness for Guiness as well!

In the meantime, on Friday, I flew to Brussels to see Chazz and catch up with him. Brussels is a great city, and if nothing else, I am perfectly content sitting in the Grand Place enjoying a good many Belgium brews (Gouden Corolous being my fave)! Charlie and I had a good time that night, drinking and eating our way around the city and catching up.

Saturday, Mom and Dad flew in from Dublin, so we had the weekend all together. We went to Antwerp for the day and unfortunately it was raining pretty hard that day. But the evening was more of the same, so pretty fun. And Sunday we had lunch with Charlie's friends and to see their new baby. I had to take off Sunday night to get back to Oxford. The three of them were taking off to Vienna and then Salzberg for the Sound of Music tour - I was so jealous! You'll only understand if you're from the Moen clan!

I had to get back home, to meet up with Bri since he was just returning. And to also get our place ready for the next set of visitors - Grannies from Minnesota!

Frolicking in London - Saw Prince Charles!

Brian and I met up with Sonja and Sanjay again, on their return from Paris. We just headed in for the day, as S & S were going to have to get up and get going on Sunday to catch their flight back to Chicago.

We didn't have much of an agenda for Saturday, just wander about the city to explore and enjoy one another's company. We went to Leceister Square and found there was West End Live! going on, which was great. It was a large stage with various West End musicals putting on 15 minute free shows. So we caught - We Will Rock You - the musical about the rock band Queen. So Brian really liked that!
Off to Trafalgar Square and St Martins in the Field church, where we grabbed lunch in the cafe in the crypt. Sounds a bit morbid, and it is, but also a really cool place and off the main tourist path.

Walked a ways toward the Royal area, and saw that there was military parade happening along the Pall Mall, between Buckingham Palace and Horse Guards. As we were walking/watching, a black posh car was escorted in the front of the short parade of military tanks, and inside was Prince Charles and Camilla!! We had no idea that they were going to be coming down the way, but it was def them! He was dressed in his military best and she had on a white suite and big hat of course. Before we realized it was them, it was too late to nab a photo. But Sonja and I thought that was pretty cool!

Then to Harrods for the ultimate London shopping, walk through Hyde Park to Kensington Palace, and then pub hopping of course!


We got so comfortable at this great pub off the tourist track, that we had to pull ourselves away to go find a proper dinner back down in the theatre district for some action. Had to part catching the Underground, so we could get back to Oxford and they could get back to their hotel. We took the bus to/from Oxford this time, and arrived home about 3 a.m. Will def admit I'm moving slow today!

Sonja & Sanjay are Here!

We're having fun showing S & S around Oxford! Off to Windsor Castle tomorrow to visit the Queen! They are heading to Paris next, and then we'll meet them again next weekend in London. Cheerio!

A note on our British life

Can you figure out the 3 main British-isms on this note I got from a colleague last night!? I just thought it is a pretty good example of our current life in England. (Especially as we all know Brian and what the note is inferring!)