....to everyone who left a comment on my 'Another predicament' posting of yesterday.
I was flabbergasted this morning to log in and see so many of you caring about my wellbeing to such an extent..rarely do I smile so broadly or get a lump in my throat at such an early point in the day. I was genuinely, extremely touched and felt that I couldn't just thank you all at the bottom of the comments, rather that I must blog my thanks where anyone dropping in will see them.
Along with all the kindness and concern there was much common sense and good advice and for that too I thank you. When I lived in a city I was more than aware of my personal safety, since I moved to 'the back of beyond' I kinda listened to the locals who said 'nothing ever happens here', silly really considering we had a murder in the village a few months back!
Suffice to say, I will take heed of the advice and put my 'personal security head' back on, I cannot avoid this guy, he lives so close he can see my every move from his home should he be inclined and I'm not sure mace is available in the UK let alone legal for a 'Jane Doe' such as me to carry but I will take reasonable precautions and begin by telling the owner of the dog where to get off....tho hopefully in more polite terms than that!
All that remains to be said is another MASSIVE THANK YOU for the concern and care shown to me by you all
Thursday, 14 October 2004
A dictionary of terms
For those of you, like myself, in the U.K. who have ventured across the blogging pond frequently and found yourself bemused by some of the terms regularly used, we now have our own 'dictionary of terms' thanks to an hilarious favorite of mine, Wacky Southern Housewife :o)
Wednesday, 13 October 2004
Another predicament
I have an uncanny ability to find my way too frequently into somewhat difficult situations, my mother has long said that trouble and disaster seem to somehow find me with more frequency than is usual. I have blogged on this subject before and so won't repeat myself, suffice to say I have involved in more than my fair share of unpleasantness in my 40 something years.
My current predicament is not on the same scale as some of those I have previously found myself in but none the less a solution evades me for now.
This afternoon my neighbour visited me, the German lady who's disobedient dog I unwittingly inherited when she was taken ill during the summer. That is where the problem begins. Having made a good recovery I found myself still walking her dog four times a day, she seemed reticent to take back the task and so a protracted spell of my gradually excusing myself from the duty began. It met with some degree of protestation and various excuses as to why she couldn't now walk him herself but I dug my heels in despite having a tendency to saying 'yes' when I mean 'NO'. Hell.....why do I do that, and by a few weeks ago was only responsible for some of the evening walks.
And then something happened one night and I stopped altogether.
Despite arriving at my door apparently on different errand it was patently obvious that the reason for this visitation was to try and illicit from me a reason as to why I had abandoned all dog walking duties so suddenly.
That is where my predicament lies. I can't tell her the truth, if I tell her the truth, within hours it will be at four corners of the village and beyond and yet I can't think of a valid excuse to give her.....she is nobody's fool and I'm a crap liar!
So this 'something that happened'? The dog has to walked at 9.30 pm, it is not negotiable, that was fine in the summer, albeit it frequently messed up my evening and once the nights became dark by that hour I still had no worries. That changed on one of the regular 'dog drags' a few weeks ago when it became apparent that someone was hiding in a disused garage that it is unavoidable for me to go past. We have no street lights here, it is pitch black at night, I should have had a torch but I kept forgetting to buy one. The garage in question has no door and no light and as we approached it I heard the shuffling of feet, heavy feet, this was not a cat or a fox! The dog went instantly on red alert, I stopped and listened, I heard breathing, the shuffling stopped and for the first time I recall in my adult life I had to resist my natural fight or flight response and force myself to remain calm.
We walked on, I told myself not to be so silly, we got to the end of our route and turned back, on approaching the garage again, more shuffling, more breathing and dog on red alert again. I stood stock still for a moment, I could hear my own heart in my chest...that's it I thought and ran like hell!
It was PG who from then on forbade me to walk the dog at night. I'm not one generally given to allowing myself to be forbidden from anything but you may understand a little more and forgive our paranoia when I tell you we have a relocated sex offender living not 20 yards away who a while back took to calling at my door for no apparent reason, pulls his car infront of our flat looks and leaves and calls at my place of work with some frequency despite never buying a damn thing!
So my predicament is this, I have always believed in giving people a second chance and if I tell my neighbour my real reasons for quitting the dog rota she will doubtless broadcast the information. If I am wrong about this man his second chance will be gone. In my heart I know I am not wrong but I have no proof. My information regarding his past is of course not official but it comes from a reliable source and whether it was he in the garage that night I will never be able to prove.
Either way, I don't want to be the one to begin such terrible gossip, if I am wrong and it became common knowledge it would be terrible for him, if I am right should i not be warning my neighbour?
I just don't know.............
My current predicament is not on the same scale as some of those I have previously found myself in but none the less a solution evades me for now.
This afternoon my neighbour visited me, the German lady who's disobedient dog I unwittingly inherited when she was taken ill during the summer. That is where the problem begins. Having made a good recovery I found myself still walking her dog four times a day, she seemed reticent to take back the task and so a protracted spell of my gradually excusing myself from the duty began. It met with some degree of protestation and various excuses as to why she couldn't now walk him herself but I dug my heels in despite having a tendency to saying 'yes' when I mean 'NO'. Hell.....why do I do that, and by a few weeks ago was only responsible for some of the evening walks.
And then something happened one night and I stopped altogether.
Despite arriving at my door apparently on different errand it was patently obvious that the reason for this visitation was to try and illicit from me a reason as to why I had abandoned all dog walking duties so suddenly.
That is where my predicament lies. I can't tell her the truth, if I tell her the truth, within hours it will be at four corners of the village and beyond and yet I can't think of a valid excuse to give her.....she is nobody's fool and I'm a crap liar!
So this 'something that happened'? The dog has to walked at 9.30 pm, it is not negotiable, that was fine in the summer, albeit it frequently messed up my evening and once the nights became dark by that hour I still had no worries. That changed on one of the regular 'dog drags' a few weeks ago when it became apparent that someone was hiding in a disused garage that it is unavoidable for me to go past. We have no street lights here, it is pitch black at night, I should have had a torch but I kept forgetting to buy one. The garage in question has no door and no light and as we approached it I heard the shuffling of feet, heavy feet, this was not a cat or a fox! The dog went instantly on red alert, I stopped and listened, I heard breathing, the shuffling stopped and for the first time I recall in my adult life I had to resist my natural fight or flight response and force myself to remain calm.
We walked on, I told myself not to be so silly, we got to the end of our route and turned back, on approaching the garage again, more shuffling, more breathing and dog on red alert again. I stood stock still for a moment, I could hear my own heart in my chest...that's it I thought and ran like hell!
It was PG who from then on forbade me to walk the dog at night. I'm not one generally given to allowing myself to be forbidden from anything but you may understand a little more and forgive our paranoia when I tell you we have a relocated sex offender living not 20 yards away who a while back took to calling at my door for no apparent reason, pulls his car infront of our flat looks and leaves and calls at my place of work with some frequency despite never buying a damn thing!
So my predicament is this, I have always believed in giving people a second chance and if I tell my neighbour my real reasons for quitting the dog rota she will doubtless broadcast the information. If I am wrong about this man his second chance will be gone. In my heart I know I am not wrong but I have no proof. My information regarding his past is of course not official but it comes from a reliable source and whether it was he in the garage that night I will never be able to prove.
Either way, I don't want to be the one to begin such terrible gossip, if I am wrong and it became common knowledge it would be terrible for him, if I am right should i not be warning my neighbour?
I just don't know.............
Tuesday, 12 October 2004
A day to forget
I've had one of those days today, you know the ones, where nothing seems right and everything seems wrong and annoyingly I have no idea why!
I usually jump out of bed in the morning full of beans, well ok, maybe stagger a little, but this morning my beans seemed to have sauntered off overnight..... they certainly were not residing any place in me.
I dislike with intensity days like today, it was dull, overcast and intermittently pouring with rain and my mood was only marginally better. Nothing I turned my hand too seemed like it's usual fun and my motivation level was somewhere on a scale between minus ten and zero.
Mostly I feel lucky to live where I do and not to have to go to work on a daily basis but on days like today it's not good. There is no real structure, only that which is self imposed and the options of distractions available are very limited, unless of course one feels inclined to drive a 150 mile round trip. There is of course the countryside but wet and misty it does not inspire walking or visiting the beach!
Hell.........I must have had the hump, I didn't log onto my blog until gone midday and as you know that is most unlike me!
Some small amusement was afforded me mid morning, when PG and his friend set off for a game of golf. Bear in mind PG regularly claims golfing is good exercise, he always walks the course and carries his bag, no trolley for him. This reasoning is frequently proffered as an apparently valid arguement for his playing so often! So off they went, full of excitement ready for their exercise..........towing a two man buggy, yes a buggy, one of those small milk float type contraptions that most definitely do not provide anything remotely aerobic! I couldn't help but giggle.
The day progressed with me feeling like a spoilt, bored child, oh how I would have loved to have a tantrum......sadly at 40 something tantrums are not an option so I pottered on with my day and got precious little of what I had planned done.
This evening, as if by magic I feel better... life looks more like fun again. We all have these days I know but don't you just hate them...........Don't anyone dare make mention of anything remotely hormonally related!
I usually jump out of bed in the morning full of beans, well ok, maybe stagger a little, but this morning my beans seemed to have sauntered off overnight..... they certainly were not residing any place in me.
I dislike with intensity days like today, it was dull, overcast and intermittently pouring with rain and my mood was only marginally better. Nothing I turned my hand too seemed like it's usual fun and my motivation level was somewhere on a scale between minus ten and zero.
Mostly I feel lucky to live where I do and not to have to go to work on a daily basis but on days like today it's not good. There is no real structure, only that which is self imposed and the options of distractions available are very limited, unless of course one feels inclined to drive a 150 mile round trip. There is of course the countryside but wet and misty it does not inspire walking or visiting the beach!
Hell.........I must have had the hump, I didn't log onto my blog until gone midday and as you know that is most unlike me!
Some small amusement was afforded me mid morning, when PG and his friend set off for a game of golf. Bear in mind PG regularly claims golfing is good exercise, he always walks the course and carries his bag, no trolley for him. This reasoning is frequently proffered as an apparently valid arguement for his playing so often! So off they went, full of excitement ready for their exercise..........towing a two man buggy, yes a buggy, one of those small milk float type contraptions that most definitely do not provide anything remotely aerobic! I couldn't help but giggle.
The day progressed with me feeling like a spoilt, bored child, oh how I would have loved to have a tantrum......sadly at 40 something tantrums are not an option so I pottered on with my day and got precious little of what I had planned done.
This evening, as if by magic I feel better... life looks more like fun again. We all have these days I know but don't you just hate them...........Don't anyone dare make mention of anything remotely hormonally related!
The final meme picture....
......at Dale's request, my very grubby, post recent 800 mile journey, little car!
Saxo
Anyone who recognises the model will now know why I would so desperately like something a little bigger to chase up and down to London in!
Saxo
Anyone who recognises the model will now know why I would so desperately like something a little bigger to chase up and down to London in!
Ohhhh!!!
Apparently this is my 'magic pick up line', I think perhaps I will stick to something slightly more home grown should I ever find myself requiring one!! :o/
....er...courtesy of 'and now for something completely different'!
| If I could rearrange the alphabet... I'd put you between F and CK |
....er...courtesy of 'and now for something completely different'!
Monday, 11 October 2004
Knickers!
Yes, I said knickers........what is it with men and knickers, don't all shout at once please, I know what it is as do all we women. Perhaps my question should be why do we pander to the man/knicker thing instead of allowing common to sense prevail and standing our ground!
I made one of life's small but fatal mistakes whilst in London and I should at my age know better. Having access to a Marks and Spencer is rare for me and always promotes a feeling that while it's handy I ought to stock up on the aforementioned item. There is damn all else there these days to cause a migration of cash from my bank account but knickers? yes, knickers are still worth purchasing.
So with PG looking crestfallen at the suggestion he browse elsewhere, whilst I picked up a few essentials, I gave in and he accompanied me into lingerie. Of course his reasoning was valid, he likes to take an interest in my attire, how then, is he somewhat less keen when I purchase any other article of clothing?? Hmmmm.
We venture intrepidly among all manner of beautiful lacy bits and pieces, most of which I doubt would withstand more than one wash without disintegrating. Purposefully I head for the multi pack knickers.... with PG trailing in my wake hovering around anything but multi packs! How predictable.
Having reached my destination and ferreting among the thousands of packages in an endeavor to track down what I have come here to buy, I am constantly presented with 'alternatives' courtesy of my man. Withering looks are not putting him off here, bear in mind I do not wear anything Bridget Jones would favour, rather items that my mother chastises me for, with gems of advice such as "those won't keep your back warm". Er.... if I want a warm back I will wear a jumper!
However, she perhaps has a point, nothing PG presented me with would keep anything warm!
Thongs? who the bloody hell invented the thong? it must surely have been a man. Do we ever see guys sporting such an uncomfortable item of garb, no, not often I notice with little surprise. Wonderful things PG rationalises hopefully, no more VPL to worry about, they dry on the line quickly (well yes but so would a shoe lace) and he likes them! I think that is the bit that is supposed to sway me here. Pity, he can like all he wants but nothing will persuade me that they will ever be remotely comfortable nor as he assures me, never having had to wear them, will I get used to them! Tsk.
But as ever, and here is my frustration, I give in, or at least compromise and accept something bearing resemblance to one and a half shoe laces that I just know will result in my hiding in corners, rapidly trying to extracate aggravating slivers of fabric from places slivers of fabric have no right to be!
So guys, there maybe a place for minimalist underwear but it is not shopping in Tesco's, cleaning the house or any other daily routine. We may have dispensed with the VPL but is the sight of one such as me, fiddling with my rear to rescue an item of clothing any more attractive, for believe me, try as we ladies might to resist the aggravation and behave in a seemly manner in the end we will submit to comfort and fiddle in an undignified fashion. We will indeed endeavor to perform this little trick in private but we just know that someone will catch us.....just the same as we sympathetically catch others dealing with the same frustration!
As a final offer, should any one of you wish to 'try out' such an item of clothing strictly of course in an effort to see our point, I will turn a blind eye and not question your motives! :o)
I made one of life's small but fatal mistakes whilst in London and I should at my age know better. Having access to a Marks and Spencer is rare for me and always promotes a feeling that while it's handy I ought to stock up on the aforementioned item. There is damn all else there these days to cause a migration of cash from my bank account but knickers? yes, knickers are still worth purchasing.
So with PG looking crestfallen at the suggestion he browse elsewhere, whilst I picked up a few essentials, I gave in and he accompanied me into lingerie. Of course his reasoning was valid, he likes to take an interest in my attire, how then, is he somewhat less keen when I purchase any other article of clothing?? Hmmmm.
We venture intrepidly among all manner of beautiful lacy bits and pieces, most of which I doubt would withstand more than one wash without disintegrating. Purposefully I head for the multi pack knickers.... with PG trailing in my wake hovering around anything but multi packs! How predictable.
Having reached my destination and ferreting among the thousands of packages in an endeavor to track down what I have come here to buy, I am constantly presented with 'alternatives' courtesy of my man. Withering looks are not putting him off here, bear in mind I do not wear anything Bridget Jones would favour, rather items that my mother chastises me for, with gems of advice such as "those won't keep your back warm". Er.... if I want a warm back I will wear a jumper!
However, she perhaps has a point, nothing PG presented me with would keep anything warm!
Thongs? who the bloody hell invented the thong? it must surely have been a man. Do we ever see guys sporting such an uncomfortable item of garb, no, not often I notice with little surprise. Wonderful things PG rationalises hopefully, no more VPL to worry about, they dry on the line quickly (well yes but so would a shoe lace) and he likes them! I think that is the bit that is supposed to sway me here. Pity, he can like all he wants but nothing will persuade me that they will ever be remotely comfortable nor as he assures me, never having had to wear them, will I get used to them! Tsk.
But as ever, and here is my frustration, I give in, or at least compromise and accept something bearing resemblance to one and a half shoe laces that I just know will result in my hiding in corners, rapidly trying to extracate aggravating slivers of fabric from places slivers of fabric have no right to be!
So guys, there maybe a place for minimalist underwear but it is not shopping in Tesco's, cleaning the house or any other daily routine. We may have dispensed with the VPL but is the sight of one such as me, fiddling with my rear to rescue an item of clothing any more attractive, for believe me, try as we ladies might to resist the aggravation and behave in a seemly manner in the end we will submit to comfort and fiddle in an undignified fashion. We will indeed endeavor to perform this little trick in private but we just know that someone will catch us.....just the same as we sympathetically catch others dealing with the same frustration!
As a final offer, should any one of you wish to 'try out' such an item of clothing strictly of course in an effort to see our point, I will turn a blind eye and not question your motives! :o)
As requested
For Jenny, the building we live in.....ours is the 3rd and 4th windows from top left, not the whole building!...........
'Flat F'
.........and for Magz, PG having just come off a 12 hour night shift was not responsive to having his photo taken watching TV.......Ditto however was and obliged somewhat inelegantly for the litter box shot too!
Watching golf!
Quick entry
'Flat F'
.........and for Magz, PG having just come off a 12 hour night shift was not responsive to having his photo taken watching TV.......Ditto however was and obliged somewhat inelegantly for the litter box shot too!
Watching golf!
Quick entry
Your wish is my command....
......so here are the first of the meme pictures!
Shoes was hard a hard one........I normally wear boots. I have size 2 feet and girly shoes just don't exist in that size but those in the pic are my favorite.... Timberland, children's :o)
The pic of PG watching TV and me at my pc will have to wait until tomorrow, PG is on a night shift so for now it's impossible!
The rest need no further explanation:
My blogging spot
Sofa....with cat in situ
Meagre post holiday rations
Under the bed :o/
Fave shoes
Shoes was hard a hard one........I normally wear boots. I have size 2 feet and girly shoes just don't exist in that size but those in the pic are my favorite.... Timberland, children's :o)
The pic of PG watching TV and me at my pc will have to wait until tomorrow, PG is on a night shift so for now it's impossible!
The rest need no further explanation:
My blogging spot
Sofa....with cat in situ
Meagre post holiday rations
Under the bed :o/
Fave shoes
Sunday, 10 October 2004
Photo meme
Demob happy Teacher did this just before I went on holiday, seems like it might be amusing so I thieved the idea and here goes.
So if there are any requests that won't attract the attention of the blog police I will endeavor to oblige!
I started trying to track down the origins of this idea but then I realized that my sweater was completely unraveled. Still, a bunch of bloggers with cameras are having fun with it so here goes: Ask your readers to think of three photos they'd like to see posted to your blog. (Things around your house or whatever.) When you have enough requests, post them! Have fun! – Biz [10/1/2004 11:23:20 AM]
So if there are any requests that won't attract the attention of the blog police I will endeavor to oblige!
Six days or six hours?
Why do holidays just go so fast?, no 'age' comments please!
It feels like I was packing bags and driving South with anticipation about 6 hours ago not 6 days! I hate that, each time I visit my parents I tell myself that somehow I will take better notice of every moment, savor every minute of every day I am there and that it will in some magical way make it last longer....... that I will come home feeling I have been away much longer, despite my efforts I always feel I am back almost before I left.
We arrived early evening of Monday and spent the evening 'catching up'. On Tuesday all four of us spent the day in the pursuit of retail therapy and remarkably spent relatively little, relative to what?, I think PG would ask but you know what I mean!
Wednesday we hit town. The purpose was a personalised tour of some of the 'high spots', PG despite having worked in London for 2 years when he was younger spent most of it inebriated with friends, as one does at 20ish and saw little of the city itself. This is his second 'home grown' tour and by now most of the main places of interest have been on one itinerary or another.
We made it into town by 10, just late enough to avoid the worst of the rush hour and alighted at Marylebone at our 'starting point'
From there we got a bus (yes a big red one) to Marble arch (the place PG and I first set eyes on each other 3 years ago) and walked down Oxford Street past Selfridges to New Bond Street. I remembered Bond street as being full of designer clothes stores but it seems to have changed a little. The majority is now incredible jewelry shops, Graff, Tiffany, Asprey etc etc. Graff seemed to be a sticking point for me, how exactly does anyone afford a flawless 23.4 carat diamond I wonder? I have a definite passion for diamonds and this one was something else, I virtually had to be dragged kicking and screaming from the window!
On then down to Piccadilly, through Burlington Arcade, past the Ritz and through Green Park, past the new memorial to the Canadian troops that fell in the war to Buckingham Palace. There is a whole city here and what did PG find fascinating??......the squirrels in the park! ...and yes, to you who it concerns, I remembered to post the postcards!
Having meandered among the crowds and armed cops (they where un armed last time I was there)at the palace for a while we walked down The Mall and to St James' Palace and then to Trafalgar Square where we ate lunch with two ladies from Kansas who were on holiday and then on to the National Gallery. Sorry but I just can't go past without going in! To see for real Monet's 'Waterlillies', 'The Gare St Lazare', Van Gochs 'Chair' and 'Sunflowers' and Seurats 'Bathers' etc, never ceases to leave me in wonder. Yeah, I know they are perhaps much publicised works we all know well but to see the real thing, the one those guys actually painted is just amazing!
On then down Whitehall past Downing Street to Parliament Square and to The Houses of Parliament, Big Ben (webcam) and the Millennium wheel. Added interest here, a 'big wig' of some description was leaving the Foreign Office with the full protection furore, cops carrying sidearms stopping traffic and the motorcade of perhaps 10 vehicles enjoying a hasty and clear path thought the traffic, heavily escorted. For me armed cops are still quite a rare sight although sadly more common by the day it seems. I have to admit though to finding a guy armed and in uniform rather 'interesting'!
By now, sore feet prevailing we climbed onto a bus again and made for Knightsbridge and Harrods, circumnavigated that which is Al-Fayeds emporium, purchased a few items, drank coffee in Starbucks ....hell, Starbucks in Harrods, what is the world coming too..... and then another bus to Baker Street and among rush hour had the pleasure of standing on the tube all the way home! There are aspects of working in London I most definitely do not miss and that is one of them!
We ate dinner, gossiped more and fell into bed, a good day was had but our feet perhaps would tell another tale.
Pictures as promised, if I missed anything sorry but another day.....these took two hours to upload,grrrr. Get your scrolling finger ready.........
(again, click for big.)
Oxford Street
Bond Street
Burlington Arcade
Tiffany & Co.
Buckingham Palace
PG & Me, Buckingham Palace
Irony, Buckingham Palace
National gallery
St. Martins.
Cop
Stop the traffic
Downing Street
Downing street
Tis me! Trafalgar Square
Harrods
Big ben and The Houses of Parliament
It feels like I was packing bags and driving South with anticipation about 6 hours ago not 6 days! I hate that, each time I visit my parents I tell myself that somehow I will take better notice of every moment, savor every minute of every day I am there and that it will in some magical way make it last longer....... that I will come home feeling I have been away much longer, despite my efforts I always feel I am back almost before I left.
We arrived early evening of Monday and spent the evening 'catching up'. On Tuesday all four of us spent the day in the pursuit of retail therapy and remarkably spent relatively little, relative to what?, I think PG would ask but you know what I mean!
Wednesday we hit town. The purpose was a personalised tour of some of the 'high spots', PG despite having worked in London for 2 years when he was younger spent most of it inebriated with friends, as one does at 20ish and saw little of the city itself. This is his second 'home grown' tour and by now most of the main places of interest have been on one itinerary or another.
We made it into town by 10, just late enough to avoid the worst of the rush hour and alighted at Marylebone at our 'starting point'
From there we got a bus (yes a big red one) to Marble arch (the place PG and I first set eyes on each other 3 years ago) and walked down Oxford Street past Selfridges to New Bond Street. I remembered Bond street as being full of designer clothes stores but it seems to have changed a little. The majority is now incredible jewelry shops, Graff, Tiffany, Asprey etc etc. Graff seemed to be a sticking point for me, how exactly does anyone afford a flawless 23.4 carat diamond I wonder? I have a definite passion for diamonds and this one was something else, I virtually had to be dragged kicking and screaming from the window!
On then down to Piccadilly, through Burlington Arcade, past the Ritz and through Green Park, past the new memorial to the Canadian troops that fell in the war to Buckingham Palace. There is a whole city here and what did PG find fascinating??......the squirrels in the park! ...and yes, to you who it concerns, I remembered to post the postcards!
Having meandered among the crowds and armed cops (they where un armed last time I was there)at the palace for a while we walked down The Mall and to St James' Palace and then to Trafalgar Square where we ate lunch with two ladies from Kansas who were on holiday and then on to the National Gallery. Sorry but I just can't go past without going in! To see for real Monet's 'Waterlillies', 'The Gare St Lazare', Van Gochs 'Chair' and 'Sunflowers' and Seurats 'Bathers' etc, never ceases to leave me in wonder. Yeah, I know they are perhaps much publicised works we all know well but to see the real thing, the one those guys actually painted is just amazing!
On then down Whitehall past Downing Street to Parliament Square and to The Houses of Parliament, Big Ben (webcam) and the Millennium wheel. Added interest here, a 'big wig' of some description was leaving the Foreign Office with the full protection furore, cops carrying sidearms stopping traffic and the motorcade of perhaps 10 vehicles enjoying a hasty and clear path thought the traffic, heavily escorted. For me armed cops are still quite a rare sight although sadly more common by the day it seems. I have to admit though to finding a guy armed and in uniform rather 'interesting'!
By now, sore feet prevailing we climbed onto a bus again and made for Knightsbridge and Harrods, circumnavigated that which is Al-Fayeds emporium, purchased a few items, drank coffee in Starbucks ....hell, Starbucks in Harrods, what is the world coming too..... and then another bus to Baker Street and among rush hour had the pleasure of standing on the tube all the way home! There are aspects of working in London I most definitely do not miss and that is one of them!
We ate dinner, gossiped more and fell into bed, a good day was had but our feet perhaps would tell another tale.
Pictures as promised, if I missed anything sorry but another day.....these took two hours to upload,grrrr. Get your scrolling finger ready.........
(again, click for big.)
Oxford Street
Bond Street
Burlington Arcade
Tiffany & Co.
Buckingham Palace
PG & Me, Buckingham Palace
Irony, Buckingham Palace
National gallery
St. Martins.
Cop
Stop the traffic
Downing Street
Downing street
Tis me! Trafalgar Square
Harrods
Big ben and The Houses of Parliament
Saturday, 9 October 2004
Back in Scotland
(as ever, click for the big one.)
Trafalgar Square with Big Ben
millennium Wheel 06.10.04
Horse Guard
We crawled wearily through our front door at somewhere in the region of 1.00 am this morning to be greeted by a freezing cold flat and two huffed cats after a 9 hour drive, courtesy of the M1 being 'closed for works' for a significant distance and a diversion, seemingly involving a tour of Yorkshire in it's entirety, having been cleverly put in place doubtless by some bureaucrat sat in a warm office at a reasonable hour.
Coming home is a strange mix of emotions, part of me looks forward to getting back to my own 'patch', seeing the cat's and having my own space whilst the other part of me is always very sad to leave my parents behind again, particularly on occasions like this one when I don't know when I will next see them but I do know it will not now be until next year.
So a good time was had, time spent with my parents, my sister and nieces and we managed to make it to my brothers home for an evening too. We ate copious amounts of good food, my parents are heavily 'into' fine cuisine, so much so that a trip to a good restaurant is generally a disappointment by comparison, we talked until we were hoarse, we did London, walked in the countryside collecting conkers and partook of some retail therapy courtesy of Mr Al-Fayed (no comment) etc.
I have posted a few pictures to be 'going on with' but I have over 300 to sort through and there is a mountain of post holiday washing to attend too before I can fiddle here endlessly without guilt. Please bear in mind the pictures are purely a photographic record of my trip, it was never my intention to knock David Bailey from his position so forgive me for having Big Ben at a strange angle or other similar errors! Hell....I'm a woman, I can't eat, talk, stare in wonder at sights before me and take a technically correct photograph! :o)
I'll be back with more later once I have dug myself free of the pile of laundry!
Trafalgar Square with Big Ben
millennium Wheel 06.10.04
Horse Guard
We crawled wearily through our front door at somewhere in the region of 1.00 am this morning to be greeted by a freezing cold flat and two huffed cats after a 9 hour drive, courtesy of the M1 being 'closed for works' for a significant distance and a diversion, seemingly involving a tour of Yorkshire in it's entirety, having been cleverly put in place doubtless by some bureaucrat sat in a warm office at a reasonable hour.
Coming home is a strange mix of emotions, part of me looks forward to getting back to my own 'patch', seeing the cat's and having my own space whilst the other part of me is always very sad to leave my parents behind again, particularly on occasions like this one when I don't know when I will next see them but I do know it will not now be until next year.
So a good time was had, time spent with my parents, my sister and nieces and we managed to make it to my brothers home for an evening too. We ate copious amounts of good food, my parents are heavily 'into' fine cuisine, so much so that a trip to a good restaurant is generally a disappointment by comparison, we talked until we were hoarse, we did London, walked in the countryside collecting conkers and partook of some retail therapy courtesy of Mr Al-Fayed (no comment) etc.
I have posted a few pictures to be 'going on with' but I have over 300 to sort through and there is a mountain of post holiday washing to attend too before I can fiddle here endlessly without guilt. Please bear in mind the pictures are purely a photographic record of my trip, it was never my intention to knock David Bailey from his position so forgive me for having Big Ben at a strange angle or other similar errors! Hell....I'm a woman, I can't eat, talk, stare in wonder at sights before me and take a technically correct photograph! :o)
I'll be back with more later once I have dug myself free of the pile of laundry!
Thursday, 7 October 2004
Just popping in
I have managed to sneak online at last for a few minutes, somehow on holiday there just doesn't seem to be the time and now I have finally made it I'm too tired to blog anything of any real interest, so I will ramble incoherrently for a few minutes to salve the blog withdrawals and then get the hell out of your hair!
The day has been spent wandering the streets of London and a great day was had by all, I think barely a tourist attraction has been missed and my feet know it! We normally don't 'do' the tourist things much but today decided it might be fun to have a look and hence we pottered from one thing to another giving many a brief once over and then moving onto the next.
Unfortunately today alone I took over 150 photographs so be prepared to be terminally bored once we return home, you are spared for now, I can't post pictures from this computer but the reprieve will not last for long!
Tomorrow in theory it's Kew Gardens for the day but there is a distinct possibility we won't make it, choosing instead to collapse on the sofa and gossip, in the evening we are off to visit my brother who we haven't seen for an absolute age.
I notice I have only been gone for two days and changes are afoot, one of my original 'blog friends', Demob happy teacher has upped sticks and moved .....good luck in your 'new home' Jenny.
That's me done for today, I need to sleep and prepare myself for the possibility of another entire day on my feet.....I love Kew, I have to make the effort and get up early! :o)
Again no spell check so I ask forgivness for gross errors in advance!
The day has been spent wandering the streets of London and a great day was had by all, I think barely a tourist attraction has been missed and my feet know it! We normally don't 'do' the tourist things much but today decided it might be fun to have a look and hence we pottered from one thing to another giving many a brief once over and then moving onto the next.
Unfortunately today alone I took over 150 photographs so be prepared to be terminally bored once we return home, you are spared for now, I can't post pictures from this computer but the reprieve will not last for long!
Tomorrow in theory it's Kew Gardens for the day but there is a distinct possibility we won't make it, choosing instead to collapse on the sofa and gossip, in the evening we are off to visit my brother who we haven't seen for an absolute age.
I notice I have only been gone for two days and changes are afoot, one of my original 'blog friends', Demob happy teacher has upped sticks and moved .....good luck in your 'new home' Jenny.
That's me done for today, I need to sleep and prepare myself for the possibility of another entire day on my feet.....I love Kew, I have to make the effort and get up early! :o)
Again no spell check so I ask forgivness for gross errors in advance!
Tuesday, 5 October 2004
We made it
Well, at last we are here at my parents. It's kind of strangely unnerving posting from someone else's computer, like driving a different car, everything is in the same place but somehow just doesn't feel quite the same! Blogger seemed not to want to let me log in first second of even tenth attempt but eventually it gave up the fight in the certain knowledge that I was going to win, and here I am.
The journey was somewhat less than fun, eight hours of mostly torrential rain and strong winds but eventually somewhere South of Leicester the sun came out and things improved. I had one of those nights last night where the moment my head hit the pillow it became filled with thoughts of things remaining to be done before our departure etc. and consequently I was still looking at the clock, in sleep deprived frustration, at 3 am. As a result PG, always a trooper in these situations, did the majority of the driving while I read and slept!
Strangely and conversely the first thing I noticed on hitting the South is that autumn is a week or two further advanced. In Scotland we still have all the leaves on the trees, here the ground is carpeted in fallen golden leaves already and unusually it is markedly colder than it is in Scotland.
We have been suitably 'fed and watered', gossiped, consumed copious amounts of wine and good coffee and now PG has fallen asleep on the sofa behind me and my parents have given up for the day.
Tomorrow has already been designated for some serious retail therapy :o) and Wednesday for something a little more cultural, the specifics of which are yet to be decided.
Ok...I'm done for now, I have to sleep, well perhaps a little tour of the blogosphere first and then I'm done. Oh, and my apologies for any errors, the pop up blocker on this pc seems a little over zealous and not keen to be disabled, consequently I can't spell check!
Dale: the badgers were somewhat reticent this evening, in fact less than reticent, completely absent, maybe tomorrow ......I'll keep trying :o)
The journey was somewhat less than fun, eight hours of mostly torrential rain and strong winds but eventually somewhere South of Leicester the sun came out and things improved. I had one of those nights last night where the moment my head hit the pillow it became filled with thoughts of things remaining to be done before our departure etc. and consequently I was still looking at the clock, in sleep deprived frustration, at 3 am. As a result PG, always a trooper in these situations, did the majority of the driving while I read and slept!
Strangely and conversely the first thing I noticed on hitting the South is that autumn is a week or two further advanced. In Scotland we still have all the leaves on the trees, here the ground is carpeted in fallen golden leaves already and unusually it is markedly colder than it is in Scotland.
We have been suitably 'fed and watered', gossiped, consumed copious amounts of wine and good coffee and now PG has fallen asleep on the sofa behind me and my parents have given up for the day.
Tomorrow has already been designated for some serious retail therapy :o) and Wednesday for something a little more cultural, the specifics of which are yet to be decided.
Ok...I'm done for now, I have to sleep, well perhaps a little tour of the blogosphere first and then I'm done. Oh, and my apologies for any errors, the pop up blocker on this pc seems a little over zealous and not keen to be disabled, consequently I can't spell check!
Dale: the badgers were somewhat reticent this evening, in fact less than reticent, completely absent, maybe tomorrow ......I'll keep trying :o)
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