Monday, December 8, 2008
It's been way too long....
I promise to update the blog eventually. Life has just been a little too busy between work and spending time with our wonderful family and friends....there is just not enough hours in the day to accomplish the items on the to list and January is approaching way too fast. I just pray that we all get to take a few minutes and celebrate the true meaning for this wonderfully busy season and of course survive the end of year stuff with work! Love you all...
Monday, November 3, 2008
Sunday, November 2, 2008
How Sweet It Is...
After so many close calls throughout our college career....it took Matt and I getting married to finally beat F$U....
The girls waiting on our crazy husbands...who rushed the field like they were youngins'...
It so hard to get all of us in one location since entering the grown up world so Fall is a sweet time we relish being altogether again on most Saturdays. But we are excited about the rest of the year for we still have the ..the holidays and Baby C's birth to celebrate...oh and a few more football games! :)
And a video of the celebration....the greatest fight song....
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Homecoming Weekend 2008
This weekend has been a whirlwind of homecoming, friends and family. We spent Friday night with Matt's parents for a quick visit. Saturday was a busy but fun fall day of Homecoming festivities. Then Sunday was spent at the baseball field with my brother's family watching Dylan and his team play in a wild game against the Kennesaw Express. Congrats to the Styxx 10U team on another tournament victory!
Saturday was so much fun and the weather was wonderful. It was our usual 12 plus the Novacks and Natasha! Here's a picture of our grill master...
Here are the guys a Yellow Jacket Alley...with their weird need to give butt slaps...
Everyone's favorite mascot....
And Georgia Tech is a family affair...
Another busy week of work...but looking forward to wiping away the bad loss with a win over FSU and another great Saturday of tailgating!
Clemson Sleepover
The Clemson game was the best sleepover I have been to in a long time. The Lowe's were awesome hosts and it was great to get away for a weekend with twelve of our closest friends with great food and games. An oscar winning game of charades (just ask Matt about grey poupon and Adam about Cool Ranch Doritos), an awesome win over Clemson, and Mrs. Lowe's chocolate chip pies!
Plus we saw this guy....
And nose bleeds have a new meaning....we were in the very last row and the view from the stadium!
Friday, October 17, 2008
Stress Relief...
I have got to get it under control and let go and let God...I know I know...I have multi-lists going around...one for the house...one for myself...one for work, etc. but for now I am trying to concentrate just a little more on work while Matt is doing the count down til Tiffanie tells me I can leave... pacing around the house. Because he is oh so ready for our fun weekend with the Lowe's and crew in South Carolina full of food, friends, football and hopefully a sting em' to the Climpson Kitty Cats.
Pictures and tales of our fun weekend to follow..Hope ya'll have a wonderful weekend!
Pictures and tales of our fun weekend to follow..Hope ya'll have a wonderful weekend!
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Politics...The bailout bill / mortgage financial crisis
Matt and I have some family members whose career is in politics...and we received this email with some insightful information...
Friends,
If you care about the “bailout” bill in and wonder if Obama is right that McCain and Republican policies are to “blame”, watch this story done by Brit Hume at FoxNews of McCain and others repeatedly warning that this day would arrive (link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMnSp4qEXNM&feature=related) and read the story below from the New York Times in 1999.
This will take 15 minutes, but it will probably make you very angry.
While the media goes along with Obama’s effort to blame McCain and Republicans, it was the late ‘90’s Democrat policy of pushing loans to people who had risky credit via the government loan agencies of “Fannie” and “Freddie” that caused this problem (often called the “GSE”s). These bad mortgages got bought-and-sold on Wall Street as “good deals” because they had the government name behind them via Fannie and Freddie. When these mortgages started blowing up because they went to people who never should have gotten them, the meltdown began.
When McCain co-sponsored a bill 3 years ago to clean up the Fannie /Freddie/GSE problem (because he said it would cause a financial meltdown), it was Senate Democrats including Obama who defeated the bill. Coincidentally, Obama is now the 2nd largest recipient of Fannie and Freddie contributions – ever. And Franklin Raines (who is quoted in the New York Times story as head of Fannie) is a major advisor to Obama.
The media (outside Fox) will apparently not tell this side of the story. Therefore, I would encourage you to forward this email to friends (particularly anybody you know in FL, PA, OH, CO, VA, IA, MI, NH, NM, or NV). This issue will probably determine the presidential election, and people need to know the facts.
Clint
p.s. If you want to get really angry, check out this video of a 2004 Congressional hearing where Dems are outright mocking GOP calls for more regulation of Fannie and Freddie: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MGT_cSi7Rs
September 30, 1999
Fannie Mae Eases Credit To Aid Mortgage Lending
By STEVEN A. HOLMES
In a move that could help increase home ownership rates among minorities and low-income consumers, the Fannie Mae Corporation is easing the credit requirements on loans that it will purchase from banks and other lenders.
The action, which will begin as a pilot program involving 24 banks in 15 markets -- including the New York metropolitan region -- will encourage those banks to extend home mortgages to individuals whose credit is generally not good enough to qualify for conventional loans. Fannie Mae officials say they hope to make it a nationwide program by next spring.
Fannie Mae, the nation's biggest underwriter of home mortgages, has been under increasing pressure from the Clinton Administration to expand mortgage loans among low and moderate income people and felt pressure from stock holders to maintain its phenomenal growth in profits.
In addition, banks, thrift institutions and mortgage companies have been pressing Fannie Mae to help them make more loans to so-called subprime borrowers. These borrowers whose incomes, credit ratings and savings are not good enough to qualify for conventional loans, can only get loans from finance companies that charge much higher interest rates -- anywhere from three to four percentage points higher than conventional loans.
''Fannie Mae has expanded home ownership for millions of families in the 1990's by reducing down payment requirements,'' said Franklin D. Raines, Fannie Mae's chairman and chief executive officer. ''Yet there remain too many borrowers whose credit is just a notch below what our underwriting has required who have been relegated to paying significantly higher mortgage rates in the so-called subprime market.''
Demographic information on these borrowers is sketchy. But at least one study indicates that 18 percent of the loans in the subprime market went to black borrowers, compared to 5 per cent of loans in the conventional loan market.
In moving, even tentatively, into this new area of lending, Fannie Mae is taking on significantly more risk, which may not pose any difficulties during flush economic times. But the government-subsidized corporation may run into trouble in an economic downturn, prompting a government rescue similar to that of the savings and loan industry in the 1980's.''
From the perspective of many people, including me, this is another thrift industry growing up around us,'' said Peter Wallison a resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. ''If they fail, the government will have to step up and bail them out the way it stepped up and bailed out the thrift industry.''
Under Fannie Mae's pilot program, consumers who qualify can secure a mortgage with an interest rate one percentage point above that of a conventional, 30-year fixed rate mortgage of less than $240,000 -- a rate that currently averages about 7.76 per cent. If the borrower makes his or her monthly payments on time for two years, the one percentage point premium is dropped.
Fannie Mae, the nation's biggest underwriter of home mortgages, does not lend money directly to consumers. Instead, it purchases loans that banks make on what is called the secondary market. By expanding the type of loans that it will buy, Fannie Mae is hoping to spur banks to make more loans to people with less-than-stellar credit ratings.
Fannie Mae officials stress that the new mortgages will be extended to all potential borrowers who can qualify for a mortgage. But they add that the move is intended in part to increase the number of minority and low income home owners who tend to have worse credit ratings than non-Hispanic whites.
Home ownership has, in fact, exploded among minorities during the economic boom of the 1990's. The number of mortgages extended to Hispanic applicants jumped by 87.2 per cent from 1993 to 1998, according to Harvard University's Joint Center for Housing Studies. During that same period the number of African Americans who got mortgages to buy a home increased by 71.9 per cent and the number of Asian Americans by 46.3 per cent.
In contrast, the number of non-Hispanic whites who received loans for homes increased by 31.2 per cent.
Despite these gains, home ownership rates for minorities continue to lag behind non-Hispanic whites, in part because blacks and Hispanics in particular tend to have on average worse credit ratings.
In July, the Department of Housing and Urban Development proposed that by the year 2001, 50 percent of Fannie Mae's and Freddie Mac's portfolio be made up of loans to low and moderate-income borrowers. Last year, 44 percent of the loans Fannie Mae purchased were from these groups.
The change in policy also comes at the same time that HUD is investigating allegations of racial discrimination in the automated underwriting systems used by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to determine the credit-worthiness of credit applicants.
Friends,
If you care about the “bailout” bill in and wonder if Obama is right that McCain and Republican policies are to “blame”, watch this story done by Brit Hume at FoxNews of McCain and others repeatedly warning that this day would arrive (link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMnSp4qEXNM&feature=related) and read the story below from the New York Times in 1999.
This will take 15 minutes, but it will probably make you very angry.
While the media goes along with Obama’s effort to blame McCain and Republicans, it was the late ‘90’s Democrat policy of pushing loans to people who had risky credit via the government loan agencies of “Fannie” and “Freddie” that caused this problem (often called the “GSE”s). These bad mortgages got bought-and-sold on Wall Street as “good deals” because they had the government name behind them via Fannie and Freddie. When these mortgages started blowing up because they went to people who never should have gotten them, the meltdown began.
When McCain co-sponsored a bill 3 years ago to clean up the Fannie /Freddie/GSE problem (because he said it would cause a financial meltdown), it was Senate Democrats including Obama who defeated the bill. Coincidentally, Obama is now the 2nd largest recipient of Fannie and Freddie contributions – ever. And Franklin Raines (who is quoted in the New York Times story as head of Fannie) is a major advisor to Obama.
The media (outside Fox) will apparently not tell this side of the story. Therefore, I would encourage you to forward this email to friends (particularly anybody you know in FL, PA, OH, CO, VA, IA, MI, NH, NM, or NV). This issue will probably determine the presidential election, and people need to know the facts.
Clint
p.s. If you want to get really angry, check out this video of a 2004 Congressional hearing where Dems are outright mocking GOP calls for more regulation of Fannie and Freddie: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MGT_cSi7Rs
September 30, 1999
Fannie Mae Eases Credit To Aid Mortgage Lending
By STEVEN A. HOLMES
In a move that could help increase home ownership rates among minorities and low-income consumers, the Fannie Mae Corporation is easing the credit requirements on loans that it will purchase from banks and other lenders.
The action, which will begin as a pilot program involving 24 banks in 15 markets -- including the New York metropolitan region -- will encourage those banks to extend home mortgages to individuals whose credit is generally not good enough to qualify for conventional loans. Fannie Mae officials say they hope to make it a nationwide program by next spring.
Fannie Mae, the nation's biggest underwriter of home mortgages, has been under increasing pressure from the Clinton Administration to expand mortgage loans among low and moderate income people and felt pressure from stock holders to maintain its phenomenal growth in profits.
In addition, banks, thrift institutions and mortgage companies have been pressing Fannie Mae to help them make more loans to so-called subprime borrowers. These borrowers whose incomes, credit ratings and savings are not good enough to qualify for conventional loans, can only get loans from finance companies that charge much higher interest rates -- anywhere from three to four percentage points higher than conventional loans.
''Fannie Mae has expanded home ownership for millions of families in the 1990's by reducing down payment requirements,'' said Franklin D. Raines, Fannie Mae's chairman and chief executive officer. ''Yet there remain too many borrowers whose credit is just a notch below what our underwriting has required who have been relegated to paying significantly higher mortgage rates in the so-called subprime market.''
Demographic information on these borrowers is sketchy. But at least one study indicates that 18 percent of the loans in the subprime market went to black borrowers, compared to 5 per cent of loans in the conventional loan market.
In moving, even tentatively, into this new area of lending, Fannie Mae is taking on significantly more risk, which may not pose any difficulties during flush economic times. But the government-subsidized corporation may run into trouble in an economic downturn, prompting a government rescue similar to that of the savings and loan industry in the 1980's.''
From the perspective of many people, including me, this is another thrift industry growing up around us,'' said Peter Wallison a resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. ''If they fail, the government will have to step up and bail them out the way it stepped up and bailed out the thrift industry.''
Under Fannie Mae's pilot program, consumers who qualify can secure a mortgage with an interest rate one percentage point above that of a conventional, 30-year fixed rate mortgage of less than $240,000 -- a rate that currently averages about 7.76 per cent. If the borrower makes his or her monthly payments on time for two years, the one percentage point premium is dropped.
Fannie Mae, the nation's biggest underwriter of home mortgages, does not lend money directly to consumers. Instead, it purchases loans that banks make on what is called the secondary market. By expanding the type of loans that it will buy, Fannie Mae is hoping to spur banks to make more loans to people with less-than-stellar credit ratings.
Fannie Mae officials stress that the new mortgages will be extended to all potential borrowers who can qualify for a mortgage. But they add that the move is intended in part to increase the number of minority and low income home owners who tend to have worse credit ratings than non-Hispanic whites.
Home ownership has, in fact, exploded among minorities during the economic boom of the 1990's. The number of mortgages extended to Hispanic applicants jumped by 87.2 per cent from 1993 to 1998, according to Harvard University's Joint Center for Housing Studies. During that same period the number of African Americans who got mortgages to buy a home increased by 71.9 per cent and the number of Asian Americans by 46.3 per cent.
In contrast, the number of non-Hispanic whites who received loans for homes increased by 31.2 per cent.
Despite these gains, home ownership rates for minorities continue to lag behind non-Hispanic whites, in part because blacks and Hispanics in particular tend to have on average worse credit ratings.
In July, the Department of Housing and Urban Development proposed that by the year 2001, 50 percent of Fannie Mae's and Freddie Mac's portfolio be made up of loans to low and moderate-income borrowers. Last year, 44 percent of the loans Fannie Mae purchased were from these groups.
The change in policy also comes at the same time that HUD is investigating allegations of racial discrimination in the automated underwriting systems used by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to determine the credit-worthiness of credit applicants.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
It's been a long week...
We had a wonderful weekend off from Yellow Jacket football... my brother and his family came up for a baseball tournament and we got the chance to spend a little bit of time with them between games. Dylan's team actually won the tournament for his age group...which is always exciting for a south ga team to come to Atlanta and take care of business...
I know its been frustrating with the gas shortage but it made this down week from work even better...when the email came out saying work from HOME!! So all week I have enjoyed working in my comfy clothes and spending time with Matt. However, the week for Matt has not been so peaceful. We are at the end of his sales year so work is busy...but he was struck with some stomach bug...virus...food poisoning...not quite sure. Hopefully he will be back to normal soon but all he is worrying about is making it to the Tech/Duke game on Saturday.
Friday, September 19, 2008
A New Cousin...
Colton Parrish Flournoy was born Wednesday the 17th, at 8lbs. 1 oz. Congrats Scott and Amie!
Here is Colton with his Pop! I can't wait to meet my new baby cousin!
Here is Colton with his Pop! I can't wait to meet my new baby cousin!
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Chicago
Is one of my favorite cities, too bad I am stuck in an office all day. The weather has been awesome with a touch of Fall in the air...it makes me ready to put out pumpkins and tailgate...
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Where did the Weekend Go?
What a fun weekend especially now that the Jackets are 2-0! Will post more later...off to pack for Chicago!
Monday, September 1, 2008
It has begun...
Football Season that is. Excited about seeing our team in its new era...tailgating...and loads of time with our friends. But I know the beginning of football season means the whirlwind of Fall and that Christmas is just right around the corner. Does anybody know a good way to slow time down?
And who is up for old guys painting their chests and wearing chicken hats!!
And who is up for the old gold? Maybe if the helmets matched it would be just a little bit better...
And who is up for old guys painting their chests and wearing chicken hats!!Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Mid-Quarter Stress Fest
My job is almost like college...the middle of the semester all the tests and projects are due before the break...the heat is on to make a Monday deadline and its like pulling a semi-truck with your pinky across the line. I can't complain because this quarter (so far) has definitely been a lot easier than the last. But I have definitely had to remind myself of the Blessed Assurance...to sing HIS praises...and that eventually I will accomplish all my personal wishes and of course those professional ones that help bring home the bacon. That life will balance out and God is my story not this earthly schedule...I just have to be patient.
This hymn brings back so many childhood memories..and I sing it with my whole heart everytime I hear it now...
Perfect submission, perfect delight!
This hymn brings back so many childhood memories..and I sing it with my whole heart everytime I hear it now...
Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
O what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.
This is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior all the day long;
this is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior all the day long.
Perfect submission, perfect delight!
Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
Angels descending bring from above
Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.
This is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior all the day long;
this is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior all the day long.
Perfect submission, all is at rest!
I in my Savior am happy and blest,
Watching and waiting, looking above,
Filled with his goodness, lost in His love.
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Busy Weekend
It's been a busy weekend....
The guys....hanging out during the cocktail hour...
The beautiful bride and groom...
Our nephew Dayne celebrated his 3rd birthday on Friday. From all the reports from the Good Life City...he had a big time at his pawdy at Putt-Putt...can't wait to get home to see him!
And Daddy celebrated his on Saturday...along with starting a new job! Hopefully this is an answer to many prayers...a job a little less hard core and a little more golf action :)
And hopefully one of our kids will get the curls. And then Saturday evening we had the pleasure of celebrating with Bryan and Paige at their beautiful wedding...we had a lot of fun dancing the night away.
The guys....hanging out during the cocktail hour...
The beautiful bride and groom...
And just when you thought I was finished with pictures...the Maxfields' are here for a quick visit...I miss them loads and was so excited to get to spend the afternoon with two of my favorite ladies shopping while Matt and Aaron had fun at the pool.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Monday, July 14, 2008
Summer
I hope everyone had a wonderful July 4th weekend. We spent a relaxing weekend with my parents and sister. I can't wait to go home for a visit though...this south ga girl is getting a little homesick...
Summer is flying by way too fast. Matt has already started the football count down and planning weekend tailgates. Tyler, we are counting on you for an awesome Clemson-GT celebration :) It is amazing how being in the UK for two months has made this year fly by, but its not over yet. Other trips and events are in the planning stages.. including Boston and hopefully NYC!
Work has started to pick up again, even though it feels like the last quarter just ended. Last week I went to Greenville, SC for training at our GE Assembly plant and then we both headed over to Mt. Airy to celebrate Josh's 1st Birthday. We had a wonderful time with Kevin, Jenn and Emily...and even enjoyed a bonfire complete with smores and firecrackers...
goldensteelefamily.shutterfly.com/action/?a=1JctWLZixYmY
Summer is flying by way too fast. Matt has already started the football count down and planning weekend tailgates. Tyler, we are counting on you for an awesome Clemson-GT celebration :) It is amazing how being in the UK for two months has made this year fly by, but its not over yet. Other trips and events are in the planning stages.. including Boston and hopefully NYC!
Work has started to pick up again, even though it feels like the last quarter just ended. Last week I went to Greenville, SC for training at our GE Assembly plant and then we both headed over to Mt. Airy to celebrate Josh's 1st Birthday. We had a wonderful time with Kevin, Jenn and Emily...and even enjoyed a bonfire complete with smores and firecrackers...
goldensteelefamily.shutterfly.com/action/?a=1JctWLZixYmY
Monday, June 23, 2008
MIA
Yes, I apologize that I have been missing in action since my return home. I have recieved a few complaints that I have not updated the blog. But life has been a little upside down the past two weeks since I am still working London time and trying to function on EST. Its been great to be able to work from home so I can at least see Matt even though I have been working what feels like 24/7.
We have been working hard to add landscaping to the yard. Father's Day weekend we planted around 25 shrubs and flowers. We still have lots of flower bed space to fill...and weed!
We celebrated Father's Day with Matt's family and got to spend some quality time with our sweet nephew Josh! I can't believe just a few more weeks and we will be celebrating his first birthday!
And finally this weekend, we spent in the wonderful state of South Carolina in enemy territory aka Clemson. Congrats to Tyler and Paige! We had a wonderful time at their wedding and hope they are enjoying their honeymoon in St. Lucia. Sorry Tyler, I forgot to buy the tassles!
Well let's see..upon arriving home I learned that our good friends, Jenny and Trevor our expecting their first baby! Baby Brooks should be arriving sometime in January! Congrats!
But most of all upon coming home I got to see the wonderful surprise my husband accomplished while I was gone...he finished our patio! and of course had sod installed! Much to the approval of our neighbors, but that's a better story in person...just ask Matt!
We have been working hard to add landscaping to the yard. Father's Day weekend we planted around 25 shrubs and flowers. We still have lots of flower bed space to fill...and weed!
We celebrated Father's Day with Matt's family and got to spend some quality time with our sweet nephew Josh! I can't believe just a few more weeks and we will be celebrating his first birthday!
And finally this weekend, we spent in the wonderful state of South Carolina in enemy territory aka Clemson. Congrats to Tyler and Paige! We had a wonderful time at their wedding and hope they are enjoying their honeymoon in St. Lucia. Sorry Tyler, I forgot to buy the tassles!
Thank you for letting us be apart of your special day...sorry I didn't take too many pictures since Rhonda was playing photographer all weekend!
Monday, June 9, 2008
Home Sweet Home
Yes, can you believe it...eight weeks has semi-flown by and I am back on American soil!!
More pictures to post from my last few adventures in the UK and of our wonderful patio that Matt and his dad finished while I was gone!
More pictures to post from my last few adventures in the UK and of our wonderful patio that Matt and his dad finished while I was gone!
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Working...
Working on a Saturday when its sunny and you are in London...is no fun! Hope everyone is having a great weekend!
Here is a sweet picture of Baby Jake. He will be two months old on June 2. I can't wait to get see him!
Monday, May 26, 2008
Oxford in the Rain
So Kyle and I set off for a Sunday stroll in Oxford...well it didn't start out as much of a stroll. For a holiday weekend in the UK, the weather has not been so lovely. When we arrived in Oxford it was pouring rain, we headed to find somewhere for breakfast and to try to wait it out.
Above is the bridge of sighs....were you use to get your grades!
So the rain calmed down a bit...but definitely didn't stop so we headed out to explore a few of the colleges of Oxford. First we visited Trinity College, then Merton College and finally Christ Church College. The university is made up of 39 colleges and Merton and Christ Church are two of the oldest and most beautiful. Merton and Christ Church sit near the river and are surrounded by the meadow. We walked down through the meadow paths after the rain had stopped for awhile. Seeing Oxford in person made me really wish I had taken the study abroad trip. Here are a few pictures of the area...
Above is the bridge of sighs....were you use to get your grades!
"sweet city with her dreaming spires" ~Matthew Arnold
And a little something for my favorite little ones:
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Quotes
“I'm looking for love. Real love. Ridiculous, inconvenient, consuming, can't-live-without-each-other love."
~Carrie Bradshaw
I found mine....
~Carrie Bradshaw
I found mine....
I love London
Sorry I have been absent from the blogging world for awhile...work has been extremely busy and taking up quite a bit of my time even on the weekends. Even though that seem horrible...its just part of the process and means my time in the UK is growing short...which makes Matthew very happy!
Last Sunday I headed back into a London for break...the more time I spend in the burroughs of London the more I fall in love with it. I took the fast train from Reading to London Paddington. And then headed into Chelsea and spent some time around South Kensington...of course enjoy the stores and finally getting to spend sometime in Kensington Palace, the former home of Princess Diana. Of course Matt was palaced out by the time we got there while he was here in London...so I saved it for a later date. Her beautiful dresses are on display and some items from Queen Victoria's childhood...the palace was her birthplace and childhood home.
Then I headed over to Covent Garders. A lovely area full of theathers, the Royal Opera and of course...shopping! On Sunday the area is filled with actors, singers and string quartets giving street performances. A great area to spend some relaxing time...so many familys strolling around. Here are a few pictures of the area...
And then I continued my stroll over to the original Hard Rock cafe...just for a few snap shots....
And then sweet Kyle took me to dinner in Chinatown...and everywhere we went we saw way too much PDA....here we are making fun of one couple...
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Happy Mother's Day
Beautiful flowers for all the beautiful mothers I know and love...I hope ya'll have a wonderful Mother's Day...I miss you and love you!
About the picture above...everywhere you go there is a florist selling fresh flowers like this..and they are so beautiful...one thing I wish we had in the States...
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
The best part of...
walking home each evening from the train station....the Forbury Gardens and Abbey Ruins.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Missing the boys...
They are all growing like weeds....Hank even got his first stitches this weekend!
Work is very slow today...not good it gives you too much time to think :)
Monday, May 5, 2008
A Day at the Beach
Since Monday is a bank holiday, I decided to have two adventures this weekend...on Sunday I headed down to Brighton, along the coast. It's a very lively city and has its own little Midtown flare if you know what I mean...of course, the shopping here was also very nice and I made quite a few purchases...
Then off to the Brighton Pier...ok weird to see Victorian architecture at the beach...I mean when you grow up with the Redneck Riveria..its just hard to imagine...
Mmmm look...seeaaafoood! Fish and chips on the boardwalk!
And then sometime chilling on the beach...but no bikinis here ladies...thank goodness...I was still wearing my jacket!
And its a little tough on your tooshie....
But on to the most interesting palaces yet, King George IV fell in love with Brighton as a prince and of course brought high society flocking to Brighton. His Majesty was in love with art, fashion and anything from the Orient. The decorations were lavish and the chandliers amazing... but once Victoria became queen...with her nine children. The palace would not accomdate the size of her court so she sold it to the town of Brighton...
Then off to the Brighton Pier...ok weird to see Victorian architecture at the beach...I mean when you grow up with the Redneck Riveria..its just hard to imagine...
Mmmm look...seeaaafoood! Fish and chips on the boardwalk!
And then sometime chilling on the beach...but no bikinis here ladies...thank goodness...I was still wearing my jacket!
And its a little tough on your tooshie....
Hope everyone has a great week...don't forget to check out the rest of my pictures
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