Boat trip and Gin tasting

Mom and Dad came to visit this weekend and I took a few days holiday to make it a long weekend. They didn't pick the best weekend weatherise (we are Harris' - we have a weather talent) but we managed to miss most of the rain. 

On the Friday we got the river boat from Hampton Court up to Richmond. The trip was lovely though busier than I expected. It is a beautiful journey even when raining.

A little soggy on the boat

Our river boat

We had a lovely lunch in Richmond by the river. And then sat with a coffee watching it pour down. It slowed when we left and we wondered through the town and did a little shopping. 

On the evening (well late afternoon) we went to the Sipsmith Gin Distillery near Stamford Brook tube station. We had to stop halfway for a coffee due to rain and mom's foot (she is still waling with a stick). The distillery is on a residential street so a bit odd and hard to find. 

But it was probably the best tour I have been on. We got a very nice G&T as sooner as we entered. Which was appreciated. It was all in the distillery room but mom got a seat so we were good.

Inside Sipsmiths.

Welcome drink

We had a talk on the history of gin and the Sipsmith name, followed by a tasting of 4 different gins and an explanation of how gin is made.

Very happy tasting

We all really enjoyed it, and we got a little gin gift at the end.
We spent the evening back at mine watching films and sampling a few more gins. :)

Coding and Cocktails

It's been a crazy busy week as usual. Not helped by my bad planning of putting an astro talk to the company at lunch and then a training session in the evening all on the same day.

On Thursday, I organised a Coding and Cocktails session to introduce SQL to as many people in the business as I could. Especially those who have never done any coding in their lives. The idea is you are taught SQL and complete queries. For each complete query, you get the element of a cocktail (or two) of your choice. (Well, one of the 8 I had recipes and alcohol for.)

We set up a bar in the top kitchen and had about 10% of the company show up, including one of the execs! There should have been more but for various reasons I can't go into, it has been an extremely rough couple of weeks for the company. But the ones that did show seemed to really enjoy themselves!

My team helped out with checking the queries, and making the cocktails, which they enjoyed a lot more by the sounds of them at the end. ("One for you, one for me" maybe?)

Our bar.

Geek joke

Everyone said they really enjoyed themselves (not sure if it was the coding or the cocktails - I am going to go with the combination). Afterwards my team certainly enjoyed themselves making up some cocktails. I have never seen a mojito make someone blink in shock. But they do when made by my team. (At least they weren't giving those portions sizes to the crowd - they would never have done any coding!)

Hopefully we will make it a regular-ish thing. Though as much fun as it was, I can't face organising that every week.

Chiswick Lantern Festival

Friday night, after a friends leaving drinks, Clair and I headed to the Chiswick Magical Lantern Festival, this year themed on the Silk Road. Here are a few pictures.

Paris.

Turkey

Genie

Alladin.

Panda.

Noodles.

Corsets

On Thursday night I went to a lecture on corsets. (Don't ask me why. I am still wondering myself.) It was interesting though I refuse to believe that corsets were not designed and created my men! (If not, they would wear them.) The other women there insist they comfortable. I'll still pass.

Testing one out

Fitted out.

They are pretty and very well made. But I'll still pass. 

Christmas at Kew

Lights!

On Wednesday I took my first trip to Christmas at Kew (I am going again with some friends next time). And it was really cold!

Entrance

They have lit a lot of the trees along with path (about a mile long) as well as the exhibits, which are themed for obviously Christmas. There are also plenty of places to get food and drinks. :) 

Creepy tree

5 golden rings

4 calling birds

3 french hens

2 turtle doves

And a partridge in a pear tree

I really loved the light tunnel. To music of course.

Dancing elf.

Santa did not look this creepy in real life.

I ate at the fair ground, and I am really hoping we will again. I had tartiflette, basically baked potato, cheese and bacon. So nice. And they have rum punch and mulled cider and wine. No, I did not try all of them. But will give the other a shot next week.

They have a few fair ground rides. Why do carousel horses always look slightly demented?

Freaking out!

And some rosters as well

Lantern garden

I thought I read they were getting rid of the Hive. Thankfully they aren't (yet at least). And it looks great lit up.

The Hive

Looking up

 I also found a secret little stop which most people seem to miss. Unfortunately it was way too cold to sit outside and enjoy it.

Also hoping to visit again next, there is a stall selling amazing giant marshmallows next to open pits you can roast them over. (This is one US tradition I miss.) The strawberry and Champagne marshmallows were very nice. (Though an open fire is better. You can get them crispier!)

Roasting marshmallows.

Stags head.

Giant Candles.

More elves.

The grans finale is the light show over the pond and against the palm house. Very impressive. And it was so cold the pond/lake was frozen over. 

Snow flakes.

Drama.

I loved it! I can't wait to go again! And I am definitely in the Christmas spirit now. I have also brought a tree (a little smaller than I expected but it going to be dressed soon!). 

In other news, I spent today in hospital again, thanks to a vicious can which sliced open my finger last night. And would not stop bleeding. After 16 hours, I figured enough was enough. And spent 3 hrs in urgent care to make sure it was ok. It is. Just painful and gross. And I am still of occasionally bleeding on things! (Doing the tree tomorrow and my christmas wrapping is going to be interesting.)