The Rasmusens in Oxford

Three Coins

Across the street from the British Museum are a used book store (which we did not visit) and a coin and antiquities shop (which we did). Dad bought these coins at the coin shop. Constantine’s was 8 pounds (which is probably way above market, looking at hte Web) and the other two were from the cheap box, for 2 pounds each. Maybe later we’ll photograph the currency that 3 of the kids bought.

The coins were photographed with a Kodak EasyShare V70 Dual-lens. Use the macro setting, not as close up as possible, and with a dark background.

Gallienus-tails

Gallienus-heads

Constantius II follis-spearing a barbarian

Constantius II follis-head

Constantine follis I

Constantine follis II

Elgin Marbles

We had a good time at the British Museum on Saturday. We went in by car, stopping at a Surrey suburb to pick up a scooter for Lily and eat at a wonderfully organized MacDonald’s with balloons and Philipino staff.  We parked at the Hammersmith mall, for 7.50, and got   two adult day Tube passes for about 12 pounds.

Elgin Marbles

The Elgin Marbles are better than I remembered or had thought they would be.  One needs to look at them close up.  The horse manes, the angles of heads, the muscles of the animals– all are striking.

Outside the British Museum

Boy and Baboon

We at The Beebimbop Cafe, which had only two main dishes–chopche and beebimbop (kimchi and watery soup too, and cookies).  It was very good for us. 5 pounds per dish, very quiet and convenient, good service.

The Beebimbop Cafe

http://www.straitstimes.com/Latest+News/World/STIStory_192860.html

title: Thousands struck ill in UK by vomiting virus or something like that.

This gives you a good idea of what we are contending with this christmas holiday. It gives me great pleasure to dispel the glamor of our blog postings with news of our continuing illness here. We are thankful though that the symptoms don’t last very long miserable as they are, and that we’ve had it knocking us out one by one and not 7 at a swoop. By the way, if anyone has any suggestions for what to do about our 1 year old having very liquid poops for the past 2-3 months, but seeming to be otherwise very healthy, please email me!

Grandma Choi’s visit was so good. We miss her a lot and would have been unspeakably lonely without her presence at Christmas. La Cenerentola at the Royal Opera House the day after she arrived, was a special outing. Incidentally, paying $100 a ticket doesn’t ensure a good view, and I watched/listened at the amphitheatre level monitor in the hall in the second act due to the threat of a very gross coughing fit. But mummy enjoyed it so much. The singers were young and I guess second rank due to the Boxing Day performance; voices were beautiful. Tenor couldn’t quite make high C, and soprano 1 was nearing exhaustion at the end of the 3rd hour of unrelenting runs, turns and extreme fioritura or whatever the term might be. wow, i was crying in appreciation of their efforts.

We arrived home around 12:30.

We miss the convenience and ease and relative low cost of life in America. But on the other hand, there is something to be said for the British way of life. I was told that the British will lower the thermostat for a month in order to go the the theatre. The American might Might do that for a superbowl ticket… maybe? We have no culture. We have no appreciation for the high arts in comparison. Well, ok, one day I will write some of my observations in a reasonable way, but it is now very late, so I will go to bed.

Realistic Painting on the wall

Photos of the Cast, Ben

Dad went to see Rapunzel at Chipping Norton’s town theater Thursday night with the four oldest, while Mama and Faith took Holminy to Heathrow. After the show, we went to the Chequers Pub , one of Fuller’s top pubs and dating back to the 1500s, in some way (the stone building certainly did look old). We had chips to start, ESB ale, two rabbit-and-noodles split among the kids, and bread-and-butter. Mama and Faith joined us later and took us home. An old gentleman at the next table complimented Dad on the children’s behavior as he left, impressed no doubt by how they quietly drew pictures while Dad was with one or another of them at the toilets.

Pantomime, or Panto, is a Christmas-season tradition of live shows for children and their parents. The one we saw featured many of the conventions, which include: 1. A female character played obviously by a man, 2. Audience participation, with booing the villain, clapping, saying “No, you aren’t” to contradict a character, and “hello”s. 3. The characters talking directly to the audience. 4. Lots of songs and dances. 5. One song with words put up on a banner for the audience to sing along with, and halves of the audience competing as to who can sing the best. 6. The characters throwing candy out to the audience. 7. Being able to take intermission ice cream back to the seat. 8. The story being adapted from a well-known children’s story. 9. Lots of puns. 10. Slapstick.