Sunday, September 30, 2012

Scissors

I needed scissors so I bought a pair the other day ... Does any one else see the irony here?


Thursday, September 27, 2012

Clean Closet

Three weeks in and my closet is still spotless! Here's proof:

Plant

I got a plant at the house plant sale yesterday. ... Does anyone know if I am supposed to take the silver twist ties off or leave them on?

The lady at the plant sale gave me some plant food and watering instructions, ...
I probably should have written those down. 


Monday, September 24, 2012

Unidentified Kitchen Appliance

Here are some pictures of the space alien masquerading as a kitchen appliance in our flat. I would love any suggestions on what it might be, or instructions on how to use it.


The most descriptive knob ever. 

Sunday, September 23, 2012

Norwich Castle

Hello all,

I found puppets! 
Last weekend I visited the Norwich Castle Museum and Art Gallery, and I figured I had better post my pictures here before I did something exciting this weekend and had more pictures to post.
The castle was also started about 900 years ago like the Cathedral. It is supposedly the only castle in East Anglia. Work on the castle began in 1094 with William II and was completed by his brother in 1121. I kept seeing information about how the castle served for the area's gaol from anywhere as early as the late 1300's till the year 1883. I just figured that was some sort of castle-y thing like a area for fighting practice and patrolling or something else that sounds like it would have happened in a castle. Turns out gaol means prison or jail (thank you google).
Follow the paw prints to fun ...

Now it is mostly a museum. One part of the museum is all about the wide life in Norwich. There is a room full of stuffed birds on all four sides just staring into the middle of the room at you. Steph M, would have loved that room. In that portion of the museum there is a center area with activities for children, and Allie's. There I met Albert and Penny. (Yes, that penguin puppet does have legs.) Although it has since been suggested to me that perhaps it was meant to be a puffin. ... Does anyone know if puffins have legs?

I have no idea why he is that angry at me ... 
They knew how cute they were. 
I also met some seals! These seals represent the different seal breeds that can be found on the East Anglian coast. They are the common seal and the grey seal. Click here to learn about the seal reeds that inhabit the Norfolk area... you know you want to know. The good news is the common seals have there pups in June - July and the grey seals have their pups from October - December. You know what that means ... Seal pups all year round!

The idea was to try and build a bridge like the timber
bridges of the 12th century...
Long story short, I would not have made a good bridger.
Another part of the museum is all about the history of the Romans who lived there and also the Anglo Saxon tribes that once inhabited the area. There is also a room full of tea pots and an art gallery or Norwich related paintings (paintings of the Norfolk area, and by artists from the area). The special exhibit in the castle museum right now is portraits of Queen Elizabeth II. They also had a tape recording playing of her first live radio speech given during the evacuation of children from London during the war.
Inside the Castle Keep. 

A large portion of the castle is devoted to a replica of a medieval castle keep. With lots of activities for children and Allie's as well as some information about some of the King's who may have spent some time at the castle. Including the year 1121 when King Henry I spent Christmas at the castle.


You can learn more about the Castle, it's history and exhibits here: http://www.museums.norfolk.gov.uk/Visit_Us/Norwich_Castle/index.htm

Friday, September 14, 2012

Seal's Corner: Welcome

*Editor's Note: Seal once heard a story about a bear who had his own corner, and decided back then that one day she would have Seal's Corner. I told her she could write on this blog as long as she focused on topics that would entertain some of our younger readers. I hope she listens, that Seal has a mind of her own ... 

Orc! Orc, Orcc! (Hello, everyone)

This is me Seal. In case we haven't met.
I'm Seal. And I am one of Allie's best friends. We were living very comfortably in Fitchburg, WI. It was perfect, in fact this summer there was almost no rain! (I hate water, in case you didn't know) When all of a sudden Allie decided to move us to Norwich, UK, where coincidentally it rains all the time! Also, it can go from sunny and dry to pouring rain here in under 90 seconds. I timed it on Wednesday.
See what I mean: Water, water everywhere!

In case you are wondering where Norwich is you can check out the map on the right. What Allie forgot to mention is that the UK is pretty much one big island, and Norwich is right on the coast. We are about 2 hours London by train; which is like going going back and forth to Madison from Allie's Mom and Dad's house 2 times.

Allie told me there was a Seal colony nearby us one the coast. I think I am going to start my own seal colony in the comfort of my own bed ( I mean Allie's bed ...) After all does the coastal seal colony have pillows and fluffy green blankets?

More later! Wish me luck that I don't get washed away!
~ Seal

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Norwich Cathedral

This past weekend I visited Norwich Cathedral. Some pictures and a little information on the cathedral are below:

Yep that is me in this picture. Oh and the Cathedral is behind me :) 
Work on Norwich Cathedral began in 1096 when it was founded by the Bishop Herbert de Losinga. The cathedral has stood for over 900 years, through fire, wars, angry mobs, and a nest of hawks about halfway up the spire whose nest was filmed on a live webcam for awhile.

Picture taken from inside the cloisters
The Cathedral is still a working building so the cloisters as well as the inside are completely open to the public. The floor of the cloisters as well as much of the inside floor are gravestones for the people buried beneath them. Mark (my tour guide for the day and another student here at UEA) and I were wondering whose idea it was to first start burying people under these stone floors. I know it was a common practice for a long time and can even be found in some of the really old churches out east in America. But, think of all the work that must have went into pulling up each of those individual stones to bury someone there? (I will remember to get a picture of one of these the next time I visit so that you can see what I mean. And at what point did someone say, "okay there has got to be an easier way to bury these people"? Or did it just go out of fashion when churches were no longer built of stone?

The one detailing I found.
Inside the Cathedral there were three pictures of ceiling details that could be found out in the cloisters with a sign asking children if they could find them all. So of course I had to try it. I only found one .... but I suppose I have a year to find the other two still :)

If you are interested in learning more about the Norwich Cathedral you can:
1) Check out this webpage: http://www.visitnorwich.co.uk/norwich-cathedral-history.aspx

2) Perhaps try and hunt down this book: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Norwich-Cathedral-Church-Diocese-1096-1996/dp/1852851341

3) Or track me down during the Christmas holidays and demand to see the brochures I have on it. :)

If historical fiction is more your speed, I recommend you check out "Pillars of the Earth" by Ken Follet. It is a long book, but it is a very interesting story about the building of a English cathedral city. I believe it has also been made into a mini series of the same name.

Jazmyn


I think I have been replaced by a pillow ....

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

High Five!


Check out these two lions outside the Norwich City Hall!


Sunday, September 9, 2012

Yoghurt

All yoghurt should have to identify itself in this manner. "bits" or "no bits"


Saturday, September 8, 2012

Two Suitcases and One Long Plane Ride

I got to take two suitcases with my to the UK. Each could weigh up to 50 lbs. If you had to, could you fit your entire life for a year into 2 suitcases? A lot of you were wondering how I did it, what would get left behind, and whether or not I could even weed my things down that much. Well here is what ended up in each suitcase:
- Case # 1

  • Dresses
  • Tights
  • Socks
  • Underwear 
  • Tank Tops
  • 3 books and one notebook on game theory
  • An umbrella
  • Sweaters 
  • Grey flats and black boots
  • Photo album
  • Pictures my best friend drew 
  • Wrist brace
  • Going away present from my sister
- Case #2
  • PJ's
  • Sweat shirts
  • Gym shoes and black flats
  • Shampoo, conditioner, soap, etc
  • Snacks from my mother
  • Going away cards from my friends and family
  • My seal hand towel and one from my aunt Jan
  • Ellie the Elephant
  • A Blanket
  • A dvd drive
  • Power cords and adapter
  • Rain Jacket

Once packed it was time to fly to Amsterdam and then onto Norwich. I was surprised the flight was only 6.5   hours. It was a very uncomfortable flight, but I did manage to sleep a little. In Amsterdam I actually went through security twice, then at the gate went to an "exit" and was then bussed out to the run way to get on a tiny little plane to Norwich. 





Friday, September 7, 2012

About Me

I'm Allie. And I decided that starting in the fall of 2012 I will trade my life of software marketing and avoiding   Madison political rallies, for lectures, labs, and conversations about the weather in Norwich, UK.