Looks a lot like Christmas

After not doing much travelling this year (as compared to other years) we headed off to Vienna for a long weekend last weekend.  This time of year the city is  known for their Christmas markets which have various stalls of ornaments and other gift type knick-nacks.  There are also the food and drink stalls  (our fave) which serve mulled wine or gluvine as it is also known (warm spiced wine) and winter punsch (no idea but its warm, fruity and full of rum) along with other goodies like roasted chestnuts and bread with some sort of pate which was lovely.

We hit on a fantastic weekend as we had beautiful weather for 3 of the 4 days we were there – the last day was overcast but we didn’t mind as we were leaving anyway.   We ate Weiner Schnitzel (breaded thinly sliced veal), beef goulash (beef stewed in a thick gravy) and Sachertort (chocolate cake with a layer of apricot jam).  We also ate some weird potato hash brown thing that was brushed with garlic butter and sold at various stalls along the street and I got cotton candy because it’s my favourite treat ever – yes, the trip seemed to revolve around food and drink as most of our trips do.

Weiner Schnitzel

Hashbrowns

We visited a bunch of Christmas markets throughout the city and on Saturday went to one of their famous street markets Naschmarket which had everything from fresh food to antiques and was packed – it was amazing to see what incredible antiques they had though.

We were even cultured enough to take in an Opera – Mozart’s Magic Flute (my first and probably last unless the dudes from the Muppets narrate the next one).  I was amazed however that each and every seat had their own mini teleprompter that provided an English translation for what was going on on stage…pretty sure we wouldn’t have made it to intermission if not for that.

Opera translator

 

These guys would have livened up the show

It definitely got me in the Christmas spirit – and by Christmas spirit I mean sheer panic as to how little I have done and how quickly Christmas is approaching….I need another glass of punsch!

WTF? Friday

This ad is apparently causing some controversy in the US as it has been put out by PETA (people for the ethical treatment of animals) encouraging people to go vegan this Thanksgiving (might be a bit too late for some of you Americans waking up with a turkey hangover).

 

 

I was pretty okay until she said the word poop…I’ll get over it by Christmas though.

 

WTF? Friday

Okay so it’s technically Monday but I was on holiday last week so forgive me.  Anyway this one is a doozie…I will try to get a picture of the actual tube advertisement of this one but I think you will get the gist from this.

I am not sure if it is just my memory but I dont’ seem to recall an ex porn star anywhere in the story of Aladdin (unless that is what he really wished for when he rubbed the lamp)….evidentially the cast of the London production thought otherwise this Christmas and for a limited time have found a way to put even more magic in Aladdin’s carpet ride this Christmas…

Barking mad

This weekend was the Discover Dogs event that I went to last year and fell in love with.  To me this is the equivalent of sending a broody woman in the middle of a nursery full of newborns.  I wanted to give scratchies, cuddles and steal (almost) every 4 legged creature in the place.

Our favourite is the Border Terrier which has the cutest little scruffy Ewok face that I can’t resist (but am having to until we get a more dog friendly flat and are home more).  The breed also appears on Coronation Street in the form of a cute little guy called Eccles which means they have to be cool.

 

"Take me home Adrienne"

 

Instead of boring you with more pictures of my little furry obsession I will show you some dogs that may have you repeating my favourite phrase…WTF?

The first one is the hairless dog which no matter how many times I see it, still creeps me out a bit.  The skin looks like a leather handbag and feels like you are petting a pig.

 

Oink, Woof, Oink, Woof

 

 

How bout this next one…this guy was done up in this fashion for charity however I am thinking that some charity should try and rescue it from its owners whom are trying to dress it up like canine cotton candy.  The dog is literally pleading to the person petting him to save him from the humiliation.

Seriously, save me. If you think this is bad you should see what they have planned for me for Christmas

Finally my favourite….I don’t even know what it is called (and am too lazy to google it) but all you have to know is that this is in fact a living breathing thing and not a rug like I originally thought.  His dreadlocks are actually long and flat like a ruler and apparently keep him warm in the winter and cool in the summer, so they are functional and not just fashionable…

Dual purpose, dog and rug - take him for a walk then you can wipe your wellies on him

 

On the topic of fashion, how bout a dog fur coat?  No, me neither.  No Keeshonds were harmed in the making of this coat although I think the person whom thought of a dog fur coat should be slapped in the name of fashion.

Before you ask…yes I will be there in 2010 and yes if you read this blog you will have to endure another post about it.

Thanks to Fredrik for the cute picture of my Border Terrier…my camera battery had died at that point (unsurprisingly)

WTF? Friday

It’s all well and good to know the temperature for the day but wouldn’t you rather know what Angelina Jolie, House or Obama would be wearing if they were in your area this week?  Well now you can.  With Obama Weather you can choose your celebrity then your town and voila your weather questions are answered for the week.

Sadly I picked a bad week to show you the weather in London as it looks like its going to be pretty rainy but I swear it doesn’t rain here all that much it was beautiful earlier in the week…whatever, think what you like.

 

 

I particularly like how miserable House looks in this weather – no wonder he moved to LA

Hot feet

I have this special spot in my heart for the skymall catalogue (magazine available in your seat pocket on American flights that is of random gadgets)…I seriously would like to meet one of the buyers one day and hear what kid of ideas they reject because so far it looks like anyone with an idea can get their item listed in this catalogue shop in the sky.

The most recent gadget was intrigued with….Solafeet foot tanner -  because nothing is more embarrassing than tan lines on your feet and ankles (right, that’s way more embarrassing than taking off your shoes and tanning your feet in your office while using the world’s oldest desktop computer).

It can be yours for only $220

Other skymall finds - bug vacuum, trailer hitch hanging chair, truck antlers

WTF? Friday

I am all for new ways to promote things but this spin on ‘banner advertising’ ‘bugs’ me (lol this makes more sense when you watch it)

The promotion was at a book fair in Germany and was for a publisher who’s logo is a giant bug.  The campaign involved attaching ultralight banners to real live house flies.  The banners were attached by  natural wax which eventually disintegrated allowing the banner fall off so the flies can continue on to eating garbage and sh*t.  I am glad I wasn’t at this event (not that I would be at a book fair in Germany) as if one of those things landed on me I would have either screamed and run away or smashed it with a book.

Observe…. (you may want to turn your sound off – the music is nauseating)

A true cross walk

For months now they have been working on this fancy cross walk at Oxford Street and Regent Street (corner of shopping and more shopping).  It is inspired by a Japanese design and is meant to move more people across the street faster…me I see it as a fancy death trap or a strange orchestrated pedestrian dance (video below).

I am going to have to wander down there at lunch one and see the £5million refurbishment for myself  but until then I can’t stop watching this video….I am particularly amused by the  group of confused people that get stuck in the centre of the crosswalk that almost look like they are going to lock arms and ’swing their partner round and round’  then as the light starts to change I watch anxiously at the stragglers run for their life – I can’t imagine it will be long before some doddler gets a bus bumper in the a**.

I can’t embed this video but you can  click here to watch the BBC Video

or here for one from the Guardian – not sure if non UK viewer can see them but let me know as I am sure more videos will be added in the coming days.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/video/2009/nov/02/oxford-street-diagonal-crossing

 

 

Thanks to DKB for sending this to me

C’est l’halloween

Last night we went on a zombie themed pub crawl in celebration of our friend’s 30th birthday and halloween.  I hadn’t done the whole gory costume thing before and have always had an aversion toward fake blood so wasn’t sure how the costume situation would work out.  In the end the hubby and I decided to go as zombie golfers, the hubby was the golfer and I was the caddy – complete with bloody golf balls stuck in our head and golf tee injuries.

Unfortunately the hubby had plans prior to the pub crawl so I had to take the tube covered in fake blood all by myself.  Also it was only 3pm I was well and truly the only person on the tube all dressed up – I got some pretty strange looks from fellow passengers and fearful glances from kids.  The most awkward was when an older woman got on the tube and sat down across from me.  She looked at me then looked away then looked at me again then started digging in her purse.  At this point she carefully unfolded two tissues and handed them across the tube to me presumably so I could wipe the blood off my face.  I politely declined following which she looked at me and started shaking her head like ‘ tisk tisk – kids these days, they just go running around with blood dripping out of their head’.  Anyway I felt  a bit bad but luckily mine was the next stop so I safely got away from the disapproving passenger.

Overall it was a great night filled with gory and bloody costumes – I am pretty sure it wasn’t the only one that woke up with a headache and red stained skin (and hair) from the fake blood – I am hoping it will fade before work tomorrow.

Pic’s below of parts of our costume and below that a link to a halloween song that they used to make us listen to in French class every year.  I haven’t a bloody clue what they are saying but I had the chorus ‘c’est l’halloween, hey’ stuck in my head all weekend – I hope you find it as annoying as I do.

 

Contrary to popular belief there were not elastics in the golf ball when we cut it open, just solid plasticy stuff

 

Golf tee injury - what the woman was offering me tissues to clean off

The hubby's head wound

C’est l’halloween song….(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xy5V1lD_0Rs)