Before Stuart head
ing off we had a busy weekend and a couple of late nights, hence the lack of blogs. The week was spectacularly sunny and warm, and so on Friday night we went out to the Gingerman pub in Rice Village. Stuart was laughing when I parallel parked in Rice, because I was worried about hitting the car behind - but just look at it!! The Gingerman is one of these pubs that is better outside in the 'beer garden' than inside so we have not been there all winter because it was too cold to be outside. It is also one of these places you always see faces you know, and we went there to meet up with Andy and a colleague, but also saw a number of 
people from work. Stuart tried different beers as usual - the one in the photo was some weird one that was a different colour at the bottom of the glass than the top (I cant remeber what he called it). It was fun, although we were not planning a late one because we had to be up early the next day. As with tradition we went off to the Turkish place around the corner for dinner and as always it was very good. I had an aubergine (eggplant) and spice lamb kebab. The kebabs don't all come in pita bread like home which is nicer, I think. We must have been back before midnight, however, when the alarm went off at 063 it was painful to wake up.
ing off we had a busy weekend and a couple of late nights, hence the lack of blogs. The week was spectacularly sunny and warm, and so on Friday night we went out to the Gingerman pub in Rice Village. Stuart was laughing when I parallel parked in Rice, because I was worried about hitting the car behind - but just look at it!! The Gingerman is one of these pubs that is better outside in the 'beer garden' than inside so we have not been there all winter because it was too cold to be outside. It is also one of these places you always see faces you know, and we went there to meet up with Andy and a colleague, but also saw a number of 
people from work. Stuart tried different beers as usual - the one in the photo was some weird one that was a different colour at the bottom of the glass than the top (I cant remeber what he called it). It was fun, although we were not planning a late one because we had to be up early the next day. As with tradition we went off to the Turkish place around the corner for dinner and as always it was very good. I had an aubergine (eggplant) and spice lamb kebab. The kebabs don't all come in pita bread like home which is nicer, I think. We must have been back before midnight, however, when the alarm went off at 063 it was painful to wake up.We headed to Cinco Ranch, about 10 miles out west, on Saturday morning to go on an organised cycle ride with folk from the gym. They had three groups, beginners, intermediates and advanced. The difference was based on average speed and distance. Stuart talked me into the intermediate group and it was 
OK, but I was always near or at the back. But in my defence, everyone else had nice slick road tires on their bikes, while I have my hybrid. I pedalled hard and we did 30 miles in two hours. In Houston, you barely ever see cyclists except on the bayou, i.e. off the roads, however, obviously Cinco Ranch is the place to go and cycle because we saw most of Houston there on Saturday morning. There were a number of oil company cycling teams going out training for the MS 150. We were all overtaken at one point by a group of fit cycling men in their lycra, they must have been going about 30 miles an hour, however, not that long after, we passed them because they had had a big crash and were waiting for the ambulance - tortoise and the hare springs to mind! The roads out of Cinco Ranch are quiet and I guess all the residents stay at home on the weekend mornings as it is too difficult to drive anywhere. Even the police were out helping all the cyclist and cars occupy the road together. In the last stretch I was at the back, again, but another
guy stayed with me so we chatted all the was back to the car park. When I pulled up Stuart just looked at me as he knew I had been too busy exercising my mouth rather than moving my legs!
OK, but I was always near or at the back. But in my defence, everyone else had nice slick road tires on their bikes, while I have my hybrid. I pedalled hard and we did 30 miles in two hours. In Houston, you barely ever see cyclists except on the bayou, i.e. off the roads, however, obviously Cinco Ranch is the place to go and cycle because we saw most of Houston there on Saturday morning. There were a number of oil company cycling teams going out training for the MS 150. We were all overtaken at one point by a group of fit cycling men in their lycra, they must have been going about 30 miles an hour, however, not that long after, we passed them because they had had a big crash and were waiting for the ambulance - tortoise and the hare springs to mind! The roads out of Cinco Ranch are quiet and I guess all the residents stay at home on the weekend mornings as it is too difficult to drive anywhere. Even the police were out helping all the cyclist and cars occupy the road together. In the last stretch I was at the back, again, but another
guy stayed with me so we chatted all the was back to the car park. When I pulled up Stuart just looked at me as he knew I had been too busy exercising my mouth rather than moving my legs! In the afternoon we were out and about. First of all we went to Jiffy Lube for a quick oil change, I said to Stu I bet the guy asks me if I need new windowscreen wipers. Oh yes, like clock work! I of course said no, but then five minutes later he comes back with my rear windowscreen wiper in his hand, pulling the rubber from one end of it! I said fine, change it!!! We then went off to a framing shop not far from us to get our beautiful picture we were given by Sarah Forbes. The really weird thing was the guy was English and then his wife came out the front and she was ultimately English. They have been in Houston for 25 years, after working in the oil industry but getting laid off in the 80's downturn. He was having difficulties understanding us because he has obviously tuned his ear to the American accent. He asked us whether we needed a 'mount' for the picture, but called it something really strange. Stu and I looked at each other and he said he could not remember what it was called in the UK. Then he pointed to the mounts and we went 'oh mounts!!' It is more expensive to get the picture framed than back home but I am not sure why. We were however talked into getting something called 'museum glass' rather than standard picture glass. It doesn't have the same problem with reflections so you can see the picture much more clearly - I will let yo
u know if it is worth it! The final task was going to buy whisky for the Burn's Supper we were heading off to that evening. Stuart debated for a while and finally brought a bottle of Bunnahabhain. Whisky is pretty expensive here but I guess that is understandable as it is all imported in.The Burn's Night was fun and great to have haggis, neaps and tatties. We had tinned haggis which was pretty similar to the real McCoy, however we were told you can occasionally get real haggis at the British Isles shop in Rice Village. Plenty of whisky was consumed by the men wearing kilts! Since I am not a whisky drinker I was the natu
ral duty driver. Although I did drink a whisky cocktail that was tasty, similar to a whisky mac, with whisky, ginger beer and honey. It didn't smell or taste of whisky so I guess that is why I liked it! I finally dragged Stu away from the whisky selection at about 1 am, after he had finished teaching Rene how to ceilidh dance!.
ral duty driver. Although I did drink a whisky cocktail that was tasty, similar to a whisky mac, with whisky, ginger beer and honey. It didn't smell or taste of whisky so I guess that is why I liked it! I finally dragged Stu away from the whisky selection at about 1 am, after he had finished teaching Rene how to ceilidh dance!.Another blue sky day, but I didn't get to enjoy it. I didn't have the energy to go for a run (bad girl!). Stuart did the usual boy thing of throwing all his clothes into the suitcase at the last minute today! We went off to the a
irport and I just dropped him there as I was going back straight into work - boohoo! Dorte was already atwork and we both worked hard, but as usual time flies when you are having fun, and it was 1830 before we knew what happened!
irport and I just dropped him there as I was going back straight into work - boohoo! Dorte was already atwork and we both worked hard, but as usual time flies when you are having fun, and it was 1830 before we knew what happened! Tonight I have sliced the loaf of bread Stu baked for me and had some Campbell's Cream of Chicken soup. I also have two seasons of Sex in the City to watch thanks to Sam (she has the same as we both managed to buy each other the same birthday present!!!).
No comments:
Post a Comment