No nyt se iski taas...

... nimittain ihan kauhea kaipuu Dubaihin.  :-(

Missing Dubai... :-(

Four years. <3

Bling

I met a couple of my dear Finnish friends in the city the other day.  We were on the move without our kids so we ended up walking around London the whole day.  Naturally we stopped by for lunch and coffee, too.  When we reached Knightsbridge we bumped into this beauty:

People were taking pictures and when we discovered the very familiar-looking licence plates we had to take a few shots, too.  Out of us three only one is still living in the UAE but I think for all of us the love for the country remains.  <3 UAE <3

Paa pyoralla

Tanaan ollaan oltu koko paiva pyorimassa Chessingtonin huvipuistossa.  Chessington on oikein kiva paikka ja varsinkin pienemmille lapsille siella on valtavasti laitteita.  Huvipuisto on iso, siisti, ja palvelut pelaavat.  Tekemista riittaa ja esim. ruokailupaikkoja on paljon.  Me emme kerenneet kayda lapi kuin noin puolet huvipuistosta ja esim. elaintarha ja sealife-osuudet jaivat nakematta.  Onneksi meilla on Merlin-passit joten paasemme Chessingtoniin koko vuoden ilmaiseksi.  Oli sen verran kivaa, etta mennaan varmaan pian uudestaan.  :-)

Today we spent the day at Chessington amusement park.  It's a lovely place and perfect for families with smaller children.  There are lots of excellent rides and the services are also good.  Plenty of places for eating etc.  We went through about half of the park this time but since we have the Merlin passes we can go back for free anytime throughout the year.  :-)

Lukupiiri

Meilla on super aktiivinen naapurusto, emme olisi ikina voineet uskoa saavamme nain ihanan ja sosiaalisen asuinalueen kun tanne muutimme.  Meilla on vaikka mita tapahtumaa meneillaan koko ajan, mutta ilman osallistumisen pakkoa.  Ihanan rentoa porukkaa, ialtaan laidasta laitaan ja kaikki tulevat loistavasti toimeen keskenaan.  Talla hetkella meilla on tulossa meidan kotikadun street party parin viikon kuluttua, ja kesalomien jalkeen safari supper jossa kierramme talosta taloon herkuttelujen merkeissa ja lopuksi kokoonnumme yhteen taloon drinkeille.  Lisaksi yksi parhaista ystavistani, Naomi, on hiljattain perustanut meidan kadun oman lukupiirin, johon minakin liityin mukaan.  Ensimmainen kirja on melkein luettu ja meidan toinen tapaaminen on ensi maanantaina.  Kivaa!

We have a very active neighbourhood and all kinds of things going on all the time.  At the moment we are getting ready for a street party and later on we will have a safari supper where we go from house to house with all our neighbours for a course of food in each and finally get together in one home for drinks.  In addition to other events my good friend Naomi has recently started a book club for our street.  I joined it as well.  Almost done with the first book, we will have our second meeting this upcoming Monday.  Fun!

Belgravia

Kavin asioimassa kauniissa Suomen suurlahetystossa ja kiertelin samalla sen ymparistossa hetken aikaa.  Alue on tosi kaunis ja viihtyisa, aivan upeita taloja ja rauhallisia katuja vaikka ollaankin kivenheiton paassa esim. Victorian asemasta.  Pienia puistoja siella taalla, ne tekevat tasta ymparistosta mukavan vehrean.  Olipa ihana paivakavely.  :-)

I needed to do some business at the Finnish Embassy in London so I took the chance to walk around the area surrounding it as well.  This area is beautiful.  There are many, many lovely buildings and the residential streets are quiet although they are only a short distance from i.e. Victoria station.  Little parks here and there give nice greenery to the neighbourhood as well.  :-)

Victoria...

... stationille vie tie taas tanaan.  Ihan yksin.  Auringonpaisteessa.  Ihanaa!

On my way to Victoria today, alone and the sun is shining.  Fantastic!

Bagels!

On Brick Lane one can find this famous bagel shop.  I love it!  I popped in one day and brought home a dozen of fresh, to-die-for bagels.  Busy and full of character, this shop has lots of yummy stuff to choose from!