Proclamations

I've seen enough episodes of 'The Simpsons' and films to know that in America, sometimes the local Mayor will proclaim it to be a certain day. I've never actually seen this in real life until now. When we heard that one of our favorite local singer/songwriters was going to be honored at City Hall in Austin, we had to go along!

Here's City Hall. It's a very cool building. Lots of interesting angles in the architecture.

Inside the Council Chambers, they put Cheryl's album cover on the screen.

Cheryl played a song before the proclamation.

A few more shots of the Council Chamber while Cheryl's on.

The Proclamation is read out. I don't know who the lady in pink is but she seemed to be the main speaker in the Mayor's place. The Mayor himself was busying himself with the recipient of the next Proclamation who was the reason for all the TV cameras in the room. His loss!

(too bad they didn't get the spelling right but what can you do?)
Cheryl is presented with the official Proclamation.

And that was it! Short but sweet.

UK2013: AUS-JFK-LHR

I took a trip to the UK to see family and friends, and spend some time in my work's office. The next few posts will be photographic (hey, aren't they all!) and mainly feature lndscapes and architecture, since that is what I shot whilst over there. Buckle up...

Austin airport terminal

This Redbud tree had about a dozen birds nests in it

On the way to New York

A sculpture in the JFK terminal building

Welcome to New York!

At this point, I was annoyed to learn I would have to leave the terminal, go round to the next terminal on a train and have to go through security again... good job I wasn't in a hurry.

My aerial chariot to the UK, a British Airways 747.

I'd picked this journey partly because I'd never flown on a 747 before. I have to say that BA gave us an excellent flight. My seat was at the very back and it's not a bad place to be; you can slip out of the seat and stand at the back to stretch your legs without getting in anyone's way.

I arrived in London at some time after 6am and treated myself to the Heathrow Express train into Paddington. Just couldn't be bothered spending another hour riding the endless Picadilly line tube. The Express gets you there in 20 minutes. Nice!

Greeted by some Proper Architecture at Paddington Station.

Look at the iron work on that window.

I found a little steam train celebrating 150 years of Welsh railways.

I purchased a ticket to Bury St Edmunds and went to the tube system, to find the Circle Line was shut! Oh well.

At the other end of the station there are more tube links, and this great view of the platforms and trains.

Another look, including that moster roof. It's a fabulous bit of Victorian building although it does nothing except let the light in and keep the rain out. It certainly doesn't keep the heat in, the place was freezing. A sensation I was to enjoy for the next two weeks.

Off I went on the Hammersmith & City line to Kings Cross...where I walked in to find they'd been busy with some ticket office renovations. Look at this fabulous new roof!

It rises up from in front of you as you enter the building.

Looking straight up from behind where the policeman was standing.

Tip the camera backwards and look down at the other side. Just below the edge of this shot are the ceilings of the shops below.

From here, I got a train to Cambridge, and changed for Bury St Edmunds. Onwards!

Austin Half Marathon

I am very proud of Alan for completing the Austin Half Marathon at the weekend! 13.1 miles of running, which he felt he was not properly prepared for, but he did it in a very respectable 2 hours 15 minutes and 17 seconds.

I chased Alan around the course on Sunday morning; I spotted him and cheered him on at the bottom of South Congress and later on by the Long Center, although I didn't take pictures there. Here he is (above and below) having just come up the very steep hill up to 15th and West.

Then I made a dash for the finish line, which wasn't all that far away. The runners took a slightly more roundabout route than the shortcut I was able to make, which put me in sight of the finish line...

Just in time to see Alan coming through!

Last corner :-)

There was a very long chute after the finish line through which the runners had to go, first to pick up their medals and then there were many refreshment stations. Alan found me at the fence by the banana stand.

We waited there for Tamzin, who also ran the same distance, and she completed it in 2 hours 37 minutes and 29 seconds. Here's the two of them looking pretty happy about it :-)

And finally, here's the medals they earned. Pretty cool, eh?

Austin by Night

I love to take night shots, and views from high places. So when I recently had the opportunity to visit the 19th floor of the Hilton hotel in Austin, it made me happy! This is what I saw out of the window: