Next Year's Holiday

A train in the park? London is always full of surprises. It was a promotion showing off the new trains Eurostar plans to introduce in 2011. They'll whisk us between London and Paris in 2 hours - reducing the current journey time by 15 minutes. There are plans to take in other destinations in Europe as well. Amsterdam could be a mere 4 hours away.

Flying out of London these days takes a whole day by the time you have travelled to the airports, passed security and crossed your fingers that your baggage will actually turn up at the other end.

However, a row has now broken out between the French and English members of the Eurotunnel ruling committee. The trains are German made and the French members are saying they will not meet tunnel standards for electrical safety. The English members are saying they will and the real issue is that they did not select French made trains. Alors!!

Competition Update

Unfortunately Gillian is unable to make it to London by November to take up her wee break to Brussels prize.

The other finalists Gunn White, Frenchies in London, Bower Bird, Karen Billing, Ham have been put back in the lovely red hat for a redraw.

The winner is: Karen Billing,

Skywatch Friday - Boats and Trains

A view from St Pancras lock on Regent's Canal. The train crossing the rail bridge will take the winner of my competition on a wee break to Brussels, courtesy of Eurostar.
See the results below.

Don't forget to visit other skywatchers around the world.

Competition Results

The six finalists chosen by we are social to win a Eurostar little break, big difference trip to Brussels. These six were popped into the lovely red hat here and one drawn out.

The winner is: Gillian

Win a Trip to Brussels

Remember my Sun and Fun in Brussels? The good folk at we are social thought you and a friend might like to have some fun in Brussels courtesy of Eurostar little break, big difference .

what do you have to do to win this super duper prize? - easy

• answer the questions on the 3 pictures above (the images have all been posted on this blog in 2009) AND


• add a sentence or two on what a little break big difference would do for you

how do I enter?

• leave your answers (and creative responses) in the "comments" of this post - remember to leave a way in which you can be contacted OR


• write a post on your blog/website but make sure you leave a comment on this post with a link to your efforts OR


• if you don't have a blog or website and comments don't work. Don't despair, you can still enter, email me aglimpseoflondon@gmail.com with your answers

What's the prize?

• Two lesiure class return tickets (that's the posh seats) from London St Pancras to Brussels


• any time, any day, however long (or short) you want as long as it is taken between now and November

Competition ends Tuesday 22 September midnight UK time

How will it be judged and when will we know who won

We are social will short list to 5 the most amazing/brilliant/wittiest of you. I will draw one of those out of a hat the following Friday. Easy Peasy.

Get creative.

Sun and Fun in Brussels

Sun and fun in Brussels? Yes it's not the boring EU centre of its reputation.

Saturday courtesy of we are social I was part of a group invited on a Eurostar little break, big difference trip to Brussels.

Our full on day began with an incredibly interesting guided tour of the Margritte Museum followed by a Peruvian BBq on Bruxelles les Bains ha you don't have that on Paris Plage. I'm betting there was a great party later on.
Some of us took to the streets to see the amazing street art. London artists get spraying you've got huge competition here.

Stumbled on a small beer festival where we tried Bremers beer and I manged to convince the boys to try snails. All except one and now he wishes he had. You'll just have to go back.
Locals told me there is also a festival not to be missed in September.

We got a glimpse of the square and the amazing buildings before we raced off to a beer tasting. Cherry beer, that was a first for me. We sampled local sausage, cheese and of course mussels.

The day flew by so quickly, so much to do. I feel a wee break coming up soon.

You can see more of my street photography here and you can meet all of the fabulous people I spent the day with here:
Alex David Gordon Katherine Lux and Jourik Mark and Tom Mehrdad Radim Sarah Violette and Medina.