Lord Richard Rogers Snedd building in Cardiff

The Senedd building is in the former Cardiff Docks, just under 2-miles south of Cardiff Castle. Cardiff Docks had been the largest coal-exporting port in the world, but by the 1980s with the decline of the south Wales coalfield, the area had gradually become derelict. By the 1990s the area was being transformed.  The building faces south west over Cardiff Bay, it has a glass façade around the entire building and is dominated by a steel roof and wood ceiling. It has three floors, the first and second floors are accessible is to the public and the ground floor is a private area for officials. The building was designed to be as open and accessible as possible, according to the architects, the Richard Rogers Partnership."The building was not to be an insular, closed edifice. Rather it would be a transparent envelope, looking outwards to Cardiff Bay and beyond, making visible the inner workings of the Assembly and encouraging public participation in the democratic process." 

Lord Richard Rogers was also responsible for the Lloyd's of London building. 

Cardiff (Welch: Caerdydd)

Carey flew in Friday night. We had just over a day in Cardiff and are currently on a long cross-country train journey to Edinburgh. The people in Cardiff were lovely -- as well as being quite different from the reserved British stereotype -- they seemed kind, open, friendly and warm, though in a low-key sort of way.  A country fair was in progress on the grounds of Cardiff Castle -- featuring, amongst other things, a large selection of British cheeses, breads and beers. After soliciting suggestions we enjoyed a picnic lunch of Stilton cheese, walnut bread and a pint each of Old Slug Porter. It was divine -- with the added plus of the setting.

Harrods

Back to London for a second --

A trip to Harrods is an opportunity to view over-the-top excess first-hand. Harrods motto is Omnia Omnibus Ubique—All Things for All People, Everywhere. Several of its departments, including the seasonal Christmas department and the Food Halls, are world famous. The store, whose origins go back to1824, is nearly twice the square feet of Selfridges, London' second largest department store. 

cakes from one of the food halls

amazing floral arrangement of orchids and green hydrangea, in the watch department -- sorry about the blur but taking photos here was prohibited so it had to be quick and sneaky

National Football Centre, Burton-on-Trent

St George's Park is the English Football Association's national football centre, on a 330-acre site at Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire.  The centre was officially opened by the Duke and Dutchess of Cambridge on 9 October 2012.

The purpose of the centre is to be the base for all coaching and development work undertaken by the FA, and the training and preparation ground for all of the England national football teams. (Wikipedia)

Brock (Christopher, Tom & Susie's oldest son, formerly of Moscow, Idaho) is UK Performance Director for Michael Johnson Performance headquartered in Dallas. MJP has partnered with UK based Perform (part of Spire Healthcare) the official healthcare provider at St. George's Park.

Bottom line, it is mind-boggling for someone with little interest in professional sports to get a glimpse of how enormous the business of performance enhancement, the legitimate variety requiring discipline and hard work,  is ... Brock provided a wonderful tour followed by lunch in the cafeteria. The Brits here affectionately call him 'the American'.

Open House London

Over 800 buildings, of all types, not normally open to the public are open this weekend -- if you are willing to stand in line. The wait to see the Lloyd's of London building was only a few blocks long and  moved fairly quickly, maybe 30-minutes total. The company, in business for 325 years, moved into this site in 1986. It was designed by Richard Rogers, now Lord Rogers.  There are no offices, only 11 floors, each a sea of desks encircling a central atrium. All services, elevators, lavatories and staircases are located on the exterior of the building.

     

     

More of the market

     

Saturday in London, out amongst the humongous crowds

Where to start? Portobello Market? Open House at Lloyd's of London? checking out £20,000 (approx. $32,000 US) Christmas gift hampers at Harrods?  to die for Indian food? Or unlike home in Cathlamet - not seeing ONE person I know, all day??

 Portobello Market is really several markets in one, Saturday being the day when all are in full swing. Then you can experience a mile of hustle, haggle, colour and energy. The feature of Saturdays is the opening of hundreds of antique and specialist shops and stalls. There are some talented and bizarre street performers to be spotted too -- how about a few shots from here first?

Left: photo really doesn't capture her look-- very high heels, a visible face-lift and a huge amount of hair in the back, mostly in dreadlocks. Right: freshly fried potato chips on a stick  -- just looking at them makes your arteries slam shut.

 

Kensington Palace & gardens

The palace is divided into two parts -- a private wing where members of the wider royal family have their homes and the historic state apartments which are on view to the public. Currently there is a newish exhibit called " Fashion Rules: dress from the collections of HM The Queen, Princess Margaret and Diana, Princess of Wales". The exhibits had several small, clever contemporary touches -- one is a special wallpaper in the ladies room hallway -- with watercolor sketches commemorating the life of Princess Diana.

Churchill Arms

-- reportedly dates back to around 1750. Winston's ancestors dined here. It is the only pub in London with a Thai food menu. The inside is as visually interesting as the outside -- filled with dozens of plants hanging from the ceilings , as well as bric-a-brac, some old and some slightly tacky. The color of the flowers doesn't show well because of the rainy day. After a plate of Pad Thai noodles it was time to cure jet lag with a queen-size sleep.

London Lodge Hotel

 

London, at last --

-- after 11+ hours of bun-numbing tedium, knees crushed against the forward seat and lots of circulating germs, I am here in the most diverse, international city in the world. The London Lodge hotel is about a 15-minute ride to Earl's Court Station on the Piccadilly Line -- followed by a 10-minute walk.

 

testing, testing ...