Winter whimsies

The cold weather is starting to get serious. It rains practically everyday now and no one can stand being still outdoors for more than 5 minutes. Today it actually hailed - small slimy pellets of ice rained down on the city like a shower of stones threatening to break glass and pavement. A good thing though that it did not last very long because we could have been stuck indoors at the university and would finally have to admit openly to sleeping in the library.

It won't be long now before it snows and then, I predict all hell will break loose as the city will be inundated with Asians (obviously unused to the white stuff) jumping and squealing about with their cameras in tow. Just the thing to bring about that warm and fuzzy feeling.

The prospect of frost-bite has driven most of us to stay home, strapped to our portable heaters and wearing 5 layers of socks and 6 layers of underpants. And even though it's that time of the academic calender when we really should be going over the books, most of us have found some other more pleasant pursuits.

For me, I have discovered the wonderful world of Downton Abbey.

Having spent the greater part of the last four years never having any time for television, it seems that I am back with a vengeance. I have been completely drawn in to the show's exquisite story-telling, period costumes, tantalizing dialogue, sumptuous cinematography, and addictive cliff-hangers.

Downton Abbey is the story of the household of the Earl of Grantham, the head of the Crawley family and landlord extraordinaire of Downton during the early 1910s to 1920s. At a time when the estate came perilously close to bankruptcy, the Earl married an American heiress but failed to produce male heirs. Such is British law that the estate and title cannot then pass to any of his daughters upon his death and so, we now have a story. Throw in bitter rivalry amongst the help, children who don't get along to the point of conspiracy, a sassy grandma (Dame Maggie Smith, of McGonagall fame), love in the oddest places, and you have yourself an Emmy-award winning tv drama series like only the English could.

My favourite bits about the series is the effective acting from all but especially by Maggie Smith, who is proof positive that not only is age ain't nothing but a number, but that women are like fine wine that ages into perfection. She is simply sublime as Dowager Countess (mum to Earl of Grantham). Another point is the fantastic work put into making everyone look so good and authentically turn-of-the-century. The costumes have clearly been put together by a team who knows their worth. And finally, the artful realism with which the writer of the series has sewn together historical events like the sinking of the Titanic and World War I into the story line makes you relate to the cast and plot effortlessly.

If you haven't come across it before, I implore you to watch at least the pilot episode and see where you go from there. If you think yourself an anglophile, then even better! If you need more encouragement than what I have said, then certainly these snapshots (photos from ITV and various other sources) should do the trick.

Apart from this, I am very much enjoying the fact that it really is the season to be jolly. Christmas is indeed upon us as carolers stroll the streets singing joyful music, everyone huddles around a hot chocolate cart trying to keep warm and steal some delicious whiffs, children waddle around in their shiny red Wellingtons, and adults bustle around the city clutching paper bags full of Christmas goodies.



The entire city is decked out in every kind of decorations from colourful Christmas trees to icicle lights and boughs and boughs of holly. There's a Christmas market in the centre of town with their boxy wooden huts housing sellers displaying their wares from wine racks to jellied apples. We even have a German quarter where people stand around all day drinking beer and gobbling down foot long frankfurters and cheering something inaudible every 5 minutes just because.

Cardiff Winter Wonderland

Perhaps the most exciting thing to do is the Winter Wonderland which has taken up residence this season on the lawns of the city hall. We call it a funfair back home and it really isn't all that different with the dodgy rides that make you sick, carnival music blaring and games that make you feel like you've just been had. But the centrepiece of the Winter Wonderland is the outdoor skating rink. I have yet to go on it but it does look tempting. Maybe when my wobbly knees can finally get up the courage?

For now, I am days away from shipping off on my next adventure - Rome! I am beside myself with excitement at the thought of roaming the streets of the world's most famous centre for the antiquities. I can just imagine admiring the historical sights with every turn and have already in mind a mental list of places to take photographs and make memories. Our hotel is just one street over from the Spanish Steps and promises quick access to the important attractions like the Trevi Fountain, Villa Borghese, and the Pantheon. Not to mention, one of my other favourite things to do, shopping! As a Christmas present, I was given a highly informative guidebook by SS. and Amirul (did I mention that I love this holiday?) and ever since then I have been busy making plans. Everything in the book seems so exotic to me and leaves me aching to leave as soon as possible so I can explore it all.

Making plans

Alas, time is a cruel mistress, always so painfully slow when you are looking forward to something, and so incredibly short when you are having the time of your life.

Until the next time, friends.