Christmas is a-coming
Had a cold last week – I blame the guy who drove the shuttle from the airport, who was making some terrible snuffly noises! Decided to go downtown to do some shopping on Saturday. Jon had some Christmas shopping to do and I wanted to buy something to wear at our office parties. It’s no less hectic shopping in the weeks before Christmas over here: Union Square and Macy’s were packed. Didn’t find anything for the parties, but I did get a new pair of jeans and a handbag. It was then a mad rush to get ready for Jon’s company Christmas party when we got back. We caught the cable car back to Union Square and went to the dinner at the Sir Francis Drake Hotel. It was certainly a fun evening, although I didn’t think the food was that great. Afterwards we went to a couple of bars: one near the hotel and then the classic Savoy Tivoli back in North Beach. Carefully avoided giving my opinion on George Bush to Jon’s Republican office manager.
Sunday was another beautiful, sunny day, which filled me with a desire to go out for a long walk. This couldn’t be achieved until I’d gone out to the corner shop to get bacon and then cooked pancakes to help cure Jon of his hangover. I did persuade him to go for a hike, though. On the way, we stopped by the English grocery shop to get some mincemeat for mince pies, which don’t exist over here. We then headed over the Golden Gate to Marin County and did a pleasant six-mile hike up into the hills and around a valley, which offered views of Mount Tamalpais, the North Bay, San Francisco and the ocean with the Farallon Islands in the distance. Saw a few hawks flying around, but no large felines, even though we were on the Bobcat Trail.
On our way back, we stopped at Fort Mason, where Christmas trees were being sold from one of the covered piers. We went in and chose one (pretty pricey), then had fun trying to work out how to fit it in the BMW without scratching the leather seats. Back at the flat, we decorated the tree and Jon set about his pastry “dry run” – making coconut macaroons and raspberry tarts before setting about the mince pies. Before we knew it, it was the end of another weekend. However, I started the week off well with a lovely jog this morning along the waterfront. The views across the Bay to the Bridge are truly amazing as the sun rises.
Sunday was another beautiful, sunny day, which filled me with a desire to go out for a long walk. This couldn’t be achieved until I’d gone out to the corner shop to get bacon and then cooked pancakes to help cure Jon of his hangover. I did persuade him to go for a hike, though. On the way, we stopped by the English grocery shop to get some mincemeat for mince pies, which don’t exist over here. We then headed over the Golden Gate to Marin County and did a pleasant six-mile hike up into the hills and around a valley, which offered views of Mount Tamalpais, the North Bay, San Francisco and the ocean with the Farallon Islands in the distance. Saw a few hawks flying around, but no large felines, even though we were on the Bobcat Trail.
On our way back, we stopped at Fort Mason, where Christmas trees were being sold from one of the covered piers. We went in and chose one (pretty pricey), then had fun trying to work out how to fit it in the BMW without scratching the leather seats. Back at the flat, we decorated the tree and Jon set about his pastry “dry run” – making coconut macaroons and raspberry tarts before setting about the mince pies. Before we knew it, it was the end of another weekend. However, I started the week off well with a lovely jog this morning along the waterfront. The views across the Bay to the Bridge are truly amazing as the sun rises.
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