Roo Reynolds - What’s Next?

Amsterdam. Birthdays.

Posted by Roo - 04/10/08 at 12:10:11 am

Ray and I were both 30 this week, so we spent a long weekend in Amsterdam with to celebrate our birthdays.

Amsterdam doesn’t deserve its seedy reputation. It’s a bit of a cliche to talk about going to Amsterdam for the museums and culture, but no more of a cliche than the assumption that the whole city is full of drugs and prostitution. In truth, the red light district is confined to a fairly small and densely packed area, which has the side effect of making the rest of the city feel even more clean and family-friendly than I would have guessed.

We visited

• Anne Frank’s house (harrowing)

• Rembrandt’s house (interesting)
• Van Gogh Museum (disappointing)
• Hermitage Museum (brilliant)

and much more.

In stark contrast to LA (which you’ll remember I didn’t like very much) Amsterdam is a cultured and relaxing place to stay; no extravagant displays of opulence or vast downtrodden underclass. Houses may be expensive, but people get around on tatty old bicycles and drink beer and read books in cafes. It feels comfortable and friendly.

We really enjoyed our four days there, and I would definitely go back again.

Wedding Weekend

Posted by Roo - 31/08/08 at 09:08:55 pm

I went to Oxford this weekend to celebrate Megan and Ben’s wedding.

The wedding (complete with double violin concerto) was held in the chapel of Worcester college. The reception (complete with bouncy castle) was held in Mansfield college. I stayed in Keble college (shown above). All three colleges are stunning.

If you’ve never been to Oxford it’s eminently worthy of a visit. Utterly soaked in history, it lives up to the foreign tourist’s idea of what England should look like beautifully. Eating breakfast in the dining hall at Keble this morning, Ray and I were reminded of Harry Potter. Philip Pullman is from Oxford, and it clearly influences his work too.

Congratulations and best wishes to Megan and Ben. A lovely time was had by all.

• My photos of the wedding
• Flickr Group (if you were there, add your pics)

Family Fun

Posted by Roo - 15/08/08 at 04:08:57 pm

Just back from a very relaxing family holiday in the Algarve. 7 days of exploring, sunbathing, swimming and reading. I couldn’t feel more relaxed.

We stayed in a lovely villa between Silves and Algoz (about an hour from Faro airport). Six of us stayed in the villa, which was large, clean, well equipped, had a (cheerful and friendly) cleaner who visits twice a week. We were very sorry to say goodbye. Indoors, and in the shaded outdoor dining area, it was cool and shady. A very good thing, since temperatures outside ranged from 25 to 39 °C during the week. Hot hot hot. Coming back to England was a bit of shock.

• My photos

• Ray’s photos
• Villa (strongly recommended)

Christmas 2007

Posted by Roo - 27/12/07 at 07:12:16 pm

Back from a lovely few days seeing friends and staying with our families in Dorset.

I’m at home now, and won’t be back to work until Monday 7th January.

Iceland day 1

Posted by Roo - 15/10/07 at 01:10:45 pm

My brother Sam and I are in Iceland for a week. We flew in this afternoon from London Heathrow to Iceland Keflavik, which 40 minutes outside Rekjavik.  Importantly, it’s also only 15 minutes from the Blue Lagoon - an amazing geothermally outdoor pool full of blue-green algae and strange squishy mud. The departure of the transfer bus was kept waiting by group of kids delayed in the airport, but we soon forgave them when they turned out to be a choir. A choir which sang beautifully on the bus (and even, briefly, in the lagoon).

I don’t think I’ve yet found a better way to relax and de-stress after a flight then soaking for a couple of hours in hot, eggy, milky blue water. There’s a waterfall, grotto-like steam room, and a sauna (which we ignored). Dotted around the edge of the lagoon itself are containers from which you can scoop mayonnaise-like mud. Rubbing white mud onto your face is nice, but the biting wind means you really want to keep your face dry.

Post lagoon, San introduced me to the best hot dog in the world ever, complete with the local treat of crunchy onion bits. Here’s a tip: go to the blue lagoon and on the way out, have a hot dog.

The hotel is basic, and a 20 minute walk into town, but comfortable. Comparing tour prices with car rental was amusing: 7000 ISK (£70?) per person for one 8 hour trip around three or four of the major tourist attraction (Gullfoss, Geysir, etc). Renting a car, however, is only 4995 ISK for 24 hours. That’s tomorrow sorted then.

Walk into 101. The wind is cold, and initially my nose and ears are stinging, so I remember the technique of wrapping a scarf around your head. With that, a hat and a hood, I’m pretty cosy, with the exception of my thighs. And so, we walk into the hippest town centre between London and New York - Reykjavik 101. Hot chocolate at a cafe, then find the 10pm showing of Sigur Ros ‘Heima’ film at a nearby cinema. Wow. Back at around 1am, tired and happy.

More photos are being added to this set as I can upload them.

Iceland Airwaves 2007

Posted by Roo - 09/10/07 at 09:10:17 am

I’m getting rather excited about Iceland Airwaves (find it on Upcoming.org and Last.fm). I fly to Reykjavik with my brother, Sam, on Monday 15th October, and we won’t return until the following Monday. Seven whole nights of Icelandic bliss.

Blue Lagoon by Tomosaurus on Flickr

The festival itself runs between Wednesday 17th and Sunday 21st October, and takes over nine different venues in Reykjavik, as well as a ‘hangover party’ in the Blue Lagooon (above) plus more events running in eleven ‘off-venue’ locations including clubs, record stores and coffee shops.

The list of artists playing at the festival is eclectic to say the least, and the schedule is impressive. Just some of the bands I’m looking forward to seeing:

• Amiina (Ray and I even have a dog named after this band)
• Sam Amidon
• múm
• Grizzly Bear
• Plants and Animals
• My Summer as a Salvation Soldier
• Valgeir Sigurðsson
• Seabear
• Loney, Dear
• Kira Kira

I missed last year, but my brother’s enthusiasm for the event meant I had to join him this time around. To give a flavour of it, after the event proper finished, Erlend Øye (of Kings of Convenience) fame played an acoustic set in a church in the middle of nowhere for an audience of three or four people. Fortunately, one of them captured and shared the moment…

Although Sigur Rós (my long-time favourite Icelandic band) are not scheduled to play this year, Sam and I are hoping to take in quite a bit of the local Sigur magic. Having missed tickets for it in London, I’m looking forward to seeing the film ‘Heima‘ which is playing in Reykjavik that week. Plus, Riceboy Sleeps (formed of Jónsi Birgisson from Sigur Rós and Alex Somers from Parachutes) are exhibiting a new video at the Turpentine Gallery in Reykjavík as part of the Sequences Art Festival.

I just need to pack some warm clothes, a notebook, prepare the iPod and get some spare batteries for the camera.

Update:
John Lennon´s Memorial Peace Beacon is in Reykjavik.

It´s turned on on his birthday (October 9th) and off again on the day he was killed (December 8th).

The Harvester Connection

Posted by Roo - 06/07/07 at 10:07:04 am

Some would say that going to school with Pete Docherty and Duncan-from-Blue should be enough of a claim to fame for anyone, but get this…

“Have you ever been to a Harvester before?”

 

The guy in the right wearing glasses in this Harvester advert? (1:20 into this collection of old British TV ads) That’s my second cousin, e.g. my Dad’s cousin, Stephen. I’m sure there was another version of the advert in which he held up a pair of onion rings as glasses, but I can’t find the video evidence for this anywhere.

I have vague memories from childhood that Stephen appeared in a commercial for Bounty (the coconut chocolate bar, not the absorbent kitchen roll), and I seem to remember tales of him having to stay in bed on the days he couldn’t afford to eat. Whether Stephen himself ever told me such horror stories or my parents supplied them I am not sure. In either case, I assume they were designed to dissuade me from pursuing a career as an actor.

I know Stephen was also in the TV adaptation of the Chronicles of Narnia as the King Giant in The Silver Chair episode, and in ‘The House of Elliott’ (remember that, British types?) as Fox. His profile in IMDb helpfully tells me that he also appeared in single episodes The Bill and Allo Allo and that I should now watch All Quiet on the Western Front and Rough Cut to see if I can spot him.

Migraine

Posted by Roo - 31/05/07 at 03:05:41 pm

Urgh. Had the worst migraine of my life (and the first for 10 years) last night. Rachel, who was not feeling at her best herself, kindly drove out to get me some medication.

I’m feeling better today, though still fragile.

[cc-licensed image from blackgraphite on flickr]

Puppies grow up

Posted by Roo - 22/01/07 at 09:01:05 pm

Amina (who you’ll remember was previously named ‘Amiina’, and has subsequently lost an ‘i’ but fortunately not an eye) is 17 weeks old today, and is growing fast.

She’s eating meat, bonemeal, vegetables and a little fruit. Great fun. Preparing her dinner us just as much fun as cooking for people (a little grated carrot, half an egg, some meat, a teaspoon of bonemeal, sprinkle of olive oil…) with the exception of minced tripe, which has a strange and disturbingly fishy smell.

In the sunlight you catch a hint of chocolate brown, but otherwise she still looks very black. Her coat is still very straight, with the exception of a curly tail.

Walking her is enormous fun, and both Rachel and I are feeling fitter and happier through the enforced exercise regime. Socially, dogwalking is very different from regular walking. You meet people who are friendly and want to talk to you when you have a dog.. and an adorable puppy makes even non-dogwalkers want to say hello.

She’s already good at “come here”, “sit”, “stay”, “leave”, “paw” and “heel”. Obedience classes start tomorrow night, and I’m hoping add “lay down” and “fetch” to her repertoire. “Put the dinner on” may be beyond her, at least until she gets a bit taller and can reach the oven.

Not just a Min

Posted by Roo - 17/12/06 at 03:12:52 pm

Mrs Roo and I picked up a Labradoodle puppy yesterday. We have named her Amiina (after one of our favourite Icelandic bands), but she is already also known as Min and sometimes Minnie.

Her mother is a chocolate brown lab, and her dad a black show poodle. At 11 weeks old she is very labrador-like. Whether her coat will remain so dark and straight is unsure. First generation (F1) labradoodle’s vary greatly, but one this is for sure: she’s staggeringly cute and it’s already clear she is a lovely dog. Playful yet gentle, intelligent and calm.

We picked Min up from the breeder yesterday, stopping at the vet on the way home. She was weighed, vaccinated, ID chipped, and given a worming tablet, none of which she seemed to mind at all. We’ve been house training her, which just involves a lot of watching, instant removal to outside at the appropriate moment and lots of praise. It’s going well. After less than 24 hours she’s already letting us know she wants to go outside when she needs the toilet. Even better: she didn’t wake us last night (no mess to clean up in the morning. Hoping that continues). I’m quite enjoying the responsibility, as well as the fun, of having a puppy.

I have to leave Rachel with Min all of next week, so I’ve been getting my share of play in this weekend. I had a lovely moment earlier when I introduced her to the beautiful music of the band whose name she shares. The dog has taste, and listened attentively with me, gradually relaxing on my lap and falling asleep.

I wonder if I can sneak them both into California with me in my suitcase?

Update: ‘Amiina’ soon became simplified to ‘Amina’. She’s still “Min” most of the time.

More photos