Cape Town

Greeting all from South Africa! We just had an amazing couple days in Cape Town.

Arrived Day 1 at the Blackheath Lodge (recommended by Robyn and Dennis - it was amazing) jogged to the V&A from our hotel, after that we showered and went to dinner at Beluga. Beluga felt like a San Fran restaurant and Burr tried his first Springbok - carpaccio style. After dinner we sat on the porch under the heaters at Blackhealth Lodge with a little tea and cookies. Very nice.

Day 2 Mervyn picked us up. Mervyn was our guide we hired for the day to take us to the Pennisula and Wine Tasting. Mervyn Davidson was like having your grandfather take you around. He was a retired insurance salesman and just loves wine and showing people around. We spent the whole day with him, he took us to 2 wine tasting (Cape Point Winery and Steenburg Winery). Steenburg was our fav, particularly the Cap Classic (Champagne) and Sauv. Blanc. We took tons of pictures which we will upload later. Unforunately there was no wine purchasing as you had to give an arm and a leg to get it shipped.

Highlights of Day 2 was driving along the road and having to stop for the Baboons. They look ugly monkeys and you get fined if you feed them! We also went to see the African Penguins which were very cute. Did you know Penguins find a "mate" for life and never stray?! So romantic. After we said goodbye to our dear friend Mervyn we did another walk along the waterfront.
 The words of Burr:
"Cape Town Awesome. Really liked Cape Point."
For dinner we went to Miller's Thumb for fresh seafood. Burr tried KingSlip and I had the Bluenose. Both delicious. Afterwards, more tea on the porch at Blackhealth and a fierce game of Uno, which I am sad to say Burr won 3-2.

We LOVED our hotel. Highly recommend for anyone going to Cape Town. The service was outstanding! Room was huge, bed comfy. Room came mobile phone for you to take with you during the day.

We are now at the airport where my airline status has us access in the South African airways lounge. Go me!

We are now off to our SAFARI at Thorneybush Game Reserve. We are really excited to see some Lions - ROaR!

Love you all!
Baboon Kisses
Anne

Our Going Away Bash

Was Saturday night in London. We had it at Windsor Castle, the pub not the actual castle - but the actual castle would have been a little stuffy for me anyway!

We had so many friends come we were really overwhelmed, but it was great to say goodbye the right way!  The evening ended with a game of raining flip cup at Daniela and Dave's flat around 2am.  Very nice.

Burr and I got everything finished up Sunday and then took off for Johannesburg. We are now in the J'burg airport waiting for our connecting flight to Cape Town.

We are in Cape Town until Wednesday and then off to our safari!!! I am SO excited and so in Burr. We are already planning who gets to take the pictures - hahaha.

Hope everyone is doing well.
Love you
Anne and Burr

BON VOYAGE

Burr and I are turning  in our comptuers in about an hour! We hope to update the blog while we are gone. Thought I would share these adorable cupcakes my team got me!! American Airline planes and Chanel Luggage! - sooooo cute.


We leave Sunday night starting in South Africa then off to
Cape Town
Sarafi
J'Burg
Cambodia
Thailand
Laos
Vietnam
Singapore
Hong Kong
San Fran/Napa
Charlotte - June 14th!!!

LOVE YOU!

Anne

Kambry's Baby Shower!

I had the oppurtunity to host a fun baby shower for Baby Lawson - or really Kambry Ruby, my dear friend in London. We walk together in Hyde Park at least 3x a week and am afraid this coming Wednesday is our last walk, I will be crying the entire time most likely! Here are a few pics from the shower !!!

Party Favors

Rachel and Elle came!

 The tea party selection!

 Something Lawson really needed!

Me and Kambry!

Weekend Update

6 days until we leave for our trip!!! We are trying to squeeze in as much socializing as possible...Saturday at dinner with Burr's Frat Bros

Burr and his frat bros

Burr and Anne at Arsenal Football match!

Burr and frat bros after game

Burr and Steve at match

Anne and Emily before dinner Friday night staring at Kate's evening dress....wasn't it adorable?!?!?!  Loved it!!!

PS - I totally went to Kate's hotel and saw her drive away on her way to the church. Royal Wedding exprience was A M A Z I N G  and if I ever have time I will tell you all about it

Lots of Love

Anne!

Our Weekend update

Well another whirlwind blog....sorry for the craziness!!! Also, these are old pics from our old camera...maybe tonight I can actually download the ones from this weekend! Haha....everything 3 weeks behind. Pancakes Burr made for me 2 weeks ago...

We had a 4 day weekend here because we love BANK HOLIDAYS in the UK – wahoo



Thursday night – Drinks with respective co-workers. After a couple hours Anne joins Burr where they are having a karaoke party. I see Burr has been given the most beautiful antique sketch of St. Paul’s Cathedral, Anne starts crying...(typical)...thank goodness no singing from Anne. Although Burr says he did “Jesse’s girl” right before I got there and it was a huge fail as NO ONE KNEW IT – hahaha....hello Brits, no 80’s tunes?!



Friday - Anne and Burr get up, take runs around the park * Followed by best BBQ ever!!!! Daniela and Dave hosted a huge BBQ party starting at 3pm, we left at 11:30pm and were one of the first to leave after lots and lots of beer pong, flip cup , and a huge dance party.....highlight of Anne’s night when everyone got nicknames and I got “princess Anne”- I was thrilled – YEAH!

*Side Note – we did not run together of course because Burr hates to run with Anne. Anne actually doesn’t love it either because Burr tends to sprint for 10 min, run for 10 min, and mildly jog for the last 15....I however keep a steady pace the whole time....(highly doubtful).



Saturday – woke up early and went on a walk with Kambry, followed by Portobello road! Lots of fun gifts and things to take home with us!!! Then we headed over to David and Rachel’s for some babysitting. We spent the early afternoon / evening with Eleanor and her toys. She is the most well behaved 18 month old ever. Seriously never cries and eats broccoli! Wow!



Sunday – woke up early for service at Westminster Abbey. We went with Kambry and Brian. We planned to meet at 8:30 for what I thought was a 10am service. Turns out the service was for 10:30am and we were the first ones in line – hahah!!! The service was an amazing experience though, priceless. 5 days before the royal wedding. Cameras and lights set up everywhere in preparation for the big event. After church we scurried over to the Wolsley for lunch...highly recommend this spot! Burr and I walked home and he took lots of good pics...he is totally loving our new camera – Thanks Dad!

Then we got home, changed and got on Barclay’s bikes and did the “London tour” with our camera. We rode from our house down to Tower bridge, walked to St. Paul’s over Millennium Bridge. Then biked to Trafalgar Square/Covent Garden/Soho. Then biked home. Followed by an impromptu Farrar- Del Kelley bbq. I helped Daniela attempt to register...not sure we accomplished much.

Monday morning woke up early went for runs (again separate) then boarded the train for Oxford! We went to go see Christine, Charlie, and Walter Lane Fox. Walter is ADORBALE! Blonde hair blue eyes ..9 months...butterball....sooooo cute. We toured around Oxford, saw Christ Church College, where Alice lived (in Alice in Wonderland) and such. Then got back on the train, headed home and met Tabitha and Brian! They came over to our flat, we had Maroush (burr’s fav) followed by Oddano’s Anne’s fav) and they took some electronics off our hands and lots of spices!!! Tabitha – I expect some amazing creations :-P

More later (well maybe)....3 days of work this week followed by the wedding on FRIDAY! (Yes, Kambry and I are totally going to see Will and Kate on the top of Buckingham!)

Dancing at our flat!

Our dinner table :-) (Yes, its our coffee table - just make it work1)

Our friends...Mike, Stef, Burr, Dave, Daniela

Anne and Kambry!

19 days....

19 more days.....until we are on a plane to South Africa. It is CRAZY! I cannot believe our time here in London is up. Every day I get a little more sad, have been on the verge of tears several times. So I am sure by the time the last week comes there will be streams of tears!!! (Poor Burr).



Even today while I was shoved onto the tube. And I do mean SHOVED –SQUASHED – CRAMMED – OWWW – IT IS HOT IN HERE - Up against the door, when the door was trying to close and it knocked me over cause it hit me in the arm very swiftly...I still loved London. Weird right?!



Right now the flowers and weather are to die for. About 70 degrees and so pretty out. Little rain, lots of sunshine until about 9pm – ish. I mean why am I leaving when its the best weather? Note – to all other moving here, leave November 1st always! If you are ever thinking about travelling always come between April 1 and October 31.....trust me!

PS - Burr is now quite the photographer. So here are some recent pics with our new camera!!!

Our street

totally random of me

upside down?!  I am not a photographer 

Dinner with Daniela, Dave, Kate, and Tim!

Burr telling an amzing story I'm sure!

Brunch at Meghans!  It rocked

Hype Park....Kambry I'm gonna miss you!

Isn't she the cutest thing ever!

Hyde Park!

To my uncle's

Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference. ~ Winston Churchill

We are thinking of you this week!!! We love you very much! 

XXXX

Sorry...

I have so been meaning to write like a thousand blogs in the last 10 days....but things are CRAZY. The countdown on the blog says 3 weeks and 5 days...seriously?1 5 days ...ahhhh... I need about 5 more months....where has the time gone!!!

Here is a great catch-up on what we have been up to lately:

1. Burr at work
2. Anne trip planning - Laos? In! Cambodia-  In! Indonesia - Out!
3. Anne and Burr socializing all weekend - check and check (David, Rachel, Eleanor, Kate, Tim, Kambry, Brian, and all our other friends - MUAH)
4. Burr at work
5. Anne making Burr take photography class for our new fancy camera
6. Anne and Burr walking around park with camera, Anne decides she likes "auto" function better than all these weird buttons
7. Burr at work
8. Anne talking to all the moving people while Burr works
9. Anne planning Kamrby's shower - baby Lawson love
10. Burr at work
11. Anne complaining  A LOT about Burr at work
12. Anne complaining more about her to-do's instead of ACTUALLY doing her to-do's (Note - this is about my worst pet peeve of other people)
13. Anne walking with Kambry in park
14. Burr at work
15. Anne and Burr looking at places to live in Charlotte to rent....any ideas ...anyone ...anyone?  Want some new roomies?!

etc etc etc.....

Promise we love you all, we will see you June.
Kisses
anne

Most Amazing Night of My life (Sans Burr of course!)

 Oh my goodness! How do I start?!  First, thank you to Meghan Grady and her fabulous friend Susan in Rome who hooked us up.  This was definitely a once in a lifetime experience and I had the most amazing night.

Background: So Meghan just moved from Milan and made several fabulous friends. She got an invite to this new restaurant opening in London to go to a "soft opening." And she invited me as her guest!  So what is a soft opening you ask?!  Well its where the place tries all its food/wine/service/etc. before actually opening to the public so critics, friends, etc are invited to this soft opening where you don't pay for anything!!!

Meghan I make reservations and do zero research on the place before 5pm the day of the booking. So at 5pm I'm looking online and realize this chef, Massimo Riccioli, has an amazing restaurant in Rome and this his new one in London and its SUPER fancy.  I am wearing black plants and a grey top with ruffles from banana....I mean nothing to be wearing to a 5 star restaurant. Meghan and I attempt to look as pretty as possible with the makeup we have at work, but we really should have gone home to change clothes! Anyway....we head over to the new Corintha hotel and are greeted by beautiful hostess who takes our coats and asks us if we want a drink at the bar before we get seated. Well sure, why not?!

We are led to the GORGEOUS bar that has a Mosaic floor (not kidding) with glass, chandeliers, awesome green leather bar stools, and these lovely platters of oysters.  [Now - Steve, Lee, Batten - Stop! I really really like them now - they were AMAZING. I promise!]

So the bar tender is shooking (sp?) oysters and he is very Italian and he is describing the 3 different varieties of oysters in front of us. Of course, we go for his favorite - the Beluga. Its to die for. AMAZING.  So then we try the Black Noire - also awesome. The Champagne is flowing.

 The bar bites keep coming (Shrimp Tartare on the left) - wow. Crab bites with fresh salsa on right.  So 2 glasses of champange later...

 And more calamari with couscous and sea bass tartare.

 We are seated for dinner......

This is a picture of our first of 6 courses. Scallops!  Every course was fish and a mix of Italian.  Literally my favorite foods.Menu was something like (they gave diff menus to me and Meghan)

1.  Oysters to Start

2. Scallops

2. Octopus w/ Avocado

3. Seafood Linguine

3. Ravioli with sea bream

4. Sea bass with lemon butter

4. Red Mullet and fennel

5. Pistachio White chocolate canoli

5. Strawberry Napoleon with caramelized bananas.

OH so after we are seated the somelier comes over to describe the wine they are serving for the night:  A white mix of Chardonnay, savingon blanc and Riesling from 2005 . Wow!!!

Needless to say , Meghan AND I are dying. Cannot believe we are in this beautiful restaurant and getting treated like royalty. Then....then....I see her..at the bar...walking towards us...

Yes, Renee Zellwenger is definitely headed right towards us, past our table to be seated behind us with a large party (15ish).  O M G....Meghan's back is to her so I say

 "O M G - That is Renne Z. " Meghan "What? I cannot hear you"

I repeat ...Meghan "I still can't hear you" - At this point I don't want to scream it Renee is so close, and of course I'm trying to act "cool" * I'm barely moving my lips now trying to whisper it. Finally, she passes....I watch her EVERY move.

* Really Anne?!  I'm sure I looked like an idiot.

After she passes Meghan is like "What, who is that? Do you know her?"  No ! I don't her that is Renee Zellwenger!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

We continie to stare at her all night long. She is wearing a long sleeve off the shoulder strapless black mini dress. Very short. Very tight. and the most amazing Christian Loubutions. So adorable.

At the end of our amazing night, after at least a bottle of champagne and wine between the 2 of us, we are leaving....getting our coats from the hostess stand. Renee is still sitting with her group of people, laughing, smiling, talking. And all the sudden she has to go to the bathroom which happens to be right by us!!!! So she gets up from the table, walks straight towards us, I'm sure I have drool coming out of my mouth by now, she looks right at us and gives us the biggest smile and sort of a friendly nod.......

We walk outside of the restaurant and start screaming, yes I am 12 years old...I know. But WOW. She was so pretty.  (And for those inquiring minds - I think she is aboUt 5 foot 5 with 87 maybe 88 pounds on her).

BEST NIGHT EVER!!! THANKS MEGHAN!!!

You can Read about the hotel here: http://www.forimmediaterelease.net/pm/3013.html