Monumental Love

On a recent trip to London, I ended up walking through Kensington Gardens, and past the awe-inspiring Albert Memorial, created by the heartbroken Queen Victoria when her beloved Albert died (aged 42) from typhoid in 1861.

The romance between Queen Victoria and Prince Albert ranks with the greatest in history. I thought it quite fitting to share my photos of the Albert Memorial with you all today, a day devoted to love and romance...

The 176 feet (54 m) memorial was designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott in the Gothic Revival style, took over ten years to complete, and cost £120,000 (the equivalent of about £10,000,000 in 2010).

On the four diagonal corners, are representations of the continents Europe, Asia, Africa and America. These recall the four corners of the world which came together at the Great Exhibition of 1851 that was Prince Albert’s incredibly successful idea to showcase culture and industry. 

Europe Group

Asia Group

America Group

Africa Group

The gilded Prince Albert sits at the centre, surveying London from his throne....

“Queen Victoria and Her People

to the memory of Albert Prince Consort

as a tribute of their gratitude

for a life devoted to the public good”

Happy Valentine's Day!

Weekend Morsels

This weekend, I realised that resistance is futile and I may as well just give up the fight...I am gradually turning into my mother in so many ways. Not only am I obsessed with doing laundry, and always having enough milk in the house, I’ve really taken to cooking with the aid of a Slow Cooker. I confess to buying one quite a few years back, making some half-arsed attempts at almost inedible, watery stews and then putting it aside as, quite literally, “a Crock of old sh*t”.

However, as my new “active” lifestyle is taking up most of my evenings (and takeaway curry four nights a week is just not conducive to achieving a svelte body or funding flights to Canada), I recently revisited this marvellous kitchen appliance, this time with the aid of several simple but successful recipe books, specifically written with the slow cooker in mind (read that any way you want!). Tasty lamb stew, chicken casserole, pork with dumplings, and sausage casserole are just some of the culinary delights I’ve prepared the night before, left to simmer the next day and then gobbled up after a strenuous night in the Aikido dojo or packed gym class.

Tigers in love?

Sunday saw the start of a new Chinese year...the year of the Tiger. Up until quite recently, I’d assumed I was born in the year of the tiger, but, it turns out I’ve been growling up the wrong tree. According to the Chinese lunar calendar, a person born in January 1974 was in fact born in the year of the ox.

“Persons born in the Year of the Ox are diligent, patient and rather remain silent. They are consequent and reliable as friends. But they are easy to irritate and tend to be stubborn and obstinate.”

It was also Valentine’s Day...the day that keeps card makers, florists and chocolatiers in business for another year. B and I don’t go in for V-Day in a big way and usually just exchange cards. I really struggled this year to find him one as I’m not into all the soppy satin hearts stuff (or the bluntly sexual stuff on the other side of the scale)...finally settling on this one that quite amused me and sh*t.

Maybe I’m not turning into my mom after all...she’d never give my dad a Valentine’s Day card, let alone one like that.

One Tiger who probably didn't get a Valentine's card this year