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Showing posts from January, 2011

Oh it's good to be back home again....NOT

Back in the land of ice and snow..boo hoo. I left London with a very heavy heart and tears in my eyes. However I will be back...not sure when but hopefully in better weather. I always seem to be going there on my way to somewhere else lately. No bumping...there were 135 empty seats which worked for me. I moved over to an empty middle row and was able to stretch out and close my eyes. The flights were good...I had a longer layover in Minneapolis than I had thought but just hung out. If I wasn't so tired I'd have gone to the Mall of America as it's just a light rail ride away but then again with security and all.....by the time I got through customs it was nearly 1 a.m. I had the taxi driver make a stop at 7/11 so I could get cream for my coffee and milk for my tea...the necessities of life!!! I am living off stuff in my deep freeze today - no intention of venturing out there. Tomorrow it's a hair cut and a small grocery shopping expedition... If I can figure out

Last post from the road

I head back to Regina tomorrow...boo hiss...and to horribly cold weather too... Went to Billy Elliot tonight and loved it; have been wanting to see it for a while and with a London cast...not Toronto or New York. I had a ticket last time I was here but was so sick and couldn't go. Last night I opted out of Romeo and Juliet...just could not handle sitting through a ballet and my seat was super cheap and a rotter at that. I went to The Kings Speech instead and loved it. Colin Firth deserves an Oscar for his performance...as a stammerer (is thata word?) I was right into it. Nothing worse than trying to say a word and nothing coming out...how well I know. It never totally goes away and you learn how to work around it...most of the time. Anyway definitely a recommended movie. Today I hopped busses all around London and saw my favourite places. I had lunch at a pub near the Tower of London called "Hung, Drawn & Quartered". I had a steak, mushroom and ale pie with c

Part two

Okay nature called and I had to listen but didn't want to leave my post up. I am using the internet cafe as the Wifi at Simon's is a bit too erratic. He was going to have it looked at while I was away but he was sick and I haven't brought it up - for 25 pounds a night for bed and breakfast I am not going to bitch about the free wifi not working. I have an invitation for tea but can't see me going. Sunday morning on the way to the tube station I decided to follow a little path that had intrigued me and saw a dog and then the lady who owned it and we walked together. Before I knew it she had invited me to stay with her next time I am in London...uh...I don't think so....perfect stranger? Very kind of her but no...She is an American living here...her husband is away right now and she said come for tea. She lives nearby. Anyway she was very friendly and kind but not sure I feel comfortable doing this with someone I've known five minutes. Maybe I'll be so

It's raining, it's pouring

Well not pouring yet..that's tomorrow. So guess it's shopping in Oxford St. today. I want to get myself a new "jumper" (sweater) for work. If I wasn't so damn fat I'd get some new trousers as they call them here (pants are knickers as in underwear) but oh well. Then I might just go and treat myself to "The King's Speech". Colin Firth...yum yum yum. As one critic put it he plays uptight English men with a stick up their nether regions so well. :) Hoping to get to Brick Lane for an Indian meal later too.... Not sure with it pouring tomorrow...hmm.....probably a museum or two. I had hoped to go to Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens as I realize I haven't been there this trip yet but guess I will live...I've seen them a lot over the years and I am sure they look the same. I saw my beloved St. James Park in the sunshine on Sunday so that's the main thing. I have a ticket to see 'Romeo and Juliet' tonight - the jury is out

I had good intentions

Good intentions of doing a 10km walk in Richmond today but got there and thought...nah.....I did walk a mile to Ham House. It was closed but did tour the garden and look in the shop. The walk, along the river path was pleasant. I am excited to do the Thames Path and revisit this area when I visit England in better weather....instead of in the winter on my way to somewhere else.... I then took the bus to Kingston which was much bigger than I expected. I walked along the river and looked in the shops. I guess this will be my only visit outside of London..even though it is actually part of London....in the southern part. It was a pleasant day. Had late lunch/early supper in a pub...had their five pound meal deal which was awesome....a grilled mushroom and stilton cheese baguette with chips(fries) and a glass of white wine. Yes the wine was included in the five pounds. It was nice to get a bargain and it was a good meal. A double Corrie night...my last evening in...three more sle

Catching up

Well the wifi is wonky this morning so who knows when this will get posted. I headed off yesterday morning to Wood Green tube station to finish off the Hampstead/Highgate walk. It was a great day - cold but clear with blue skys and sunshine. As someone had been beaten within an inch of their life in Alexandria Park a few days ago I decided to go on the weekend when there were more people. It is a lovely park. I had seen a sign for a farmers market so decided to visit - but couldn't see one. At Alexandria palace I asked a tall gentleman with a white beard and white hair (but no wrinkly old man skin) - well he answered but I couldn't tell you what he said. He had a lovely northern accent and his eyes twinkled and oh my....too bad his wife or whoever was with him. He reminded me of Paul..(Paul who?) and thought but he seems like somebody. Well then I realized later...the actor John Alderton. I've googled him but can't find any current pictures but anyway it was

Sickness is all around

As opposed to Love is All Around...anyone remember that song? Anyway....everyone and their dog, or I should say cat is sick here. So far I am keeping myself fairly healthy...am tired but surviving. Another reason for a leisurely morning watching Corrie. Simon, the B and B host was sick over Xmas, his wife had H1n1....she was ill as well and as she is a nurse they tested her at work and sure enough..so even though the symptoms are gone she is off work. Even their three cats have cat flu! My friend Irene was sick over Xmas and New Years....fingers crossed I stay healthy. I am taking my vitamins and using antibacterial lotion and gel like a mad woman. Of course if I got ill and my trip home was delayed...hmmm..nah....want to get back and see my friends and get back to work and make some money.....

Okay here we go again

My post published from here...yay. So now I will tell you about Thursday. I headed for Borough Market thinking it would be quieter than the day I usually go...Saturday (it runs Thurs. to Saturday) Well quiet it was - very few stalls were set up yet. I had told Simon no brekky so I headed for the market cafe - somewhere that normally you can't get close to as it's so packed. I had a bubble with mushroom and bacon breakfast - translation. bubble and squeak (mashed potatoes fried with veggies), bacon, fried mushrooms, fried egg and a sausage. Oh my it was so damn good...heart attack on a plate but the best brekky I've had in a long time. I discovered brown sauce as well - yum! Hard to believe this is from someone who still has the goal of being a vegetarian...but it's true! Well mostly vegetarian.... Then after a coffee in the coffee shop at Southwark (was holding out for a Monmouth coffee but the shop is being refurbished) I took off on the tube to the 02. I g

Windy London

Good morning from a windy London. I am sitting on my bed watching the omnibus of Corrie and watching the doggies play in the park opposite. I discovered they repeat everything on Saturday morning so here I am. After this is over I will head over to Camden market then tonight it's "Priscilla, Queen of the Desert". Should be great, can't wait. Being as between my netbook and this wifi connection they seem to have a hate on for blogger I probably won't be able to post this until I get to an internet cafe but hopefully this will be a draft. Yesterday I went to the Natural History musuem to see the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition. Wow! They were amazing; had to buy a program so I could get copies of the photos. Then off to Battersea Dogs Home to see the doggies.... From there I walked over to the Peace Pagoda in Battersea Park - saw the one in Pokhara so figured I had better finally see the one in London. Then over the Chelsea bridge to Sloane Squ

Another day

Well the last two posts I just posted now - they were not being posted from the wifi at Simon's which is still very erratic. So I am at the internet cafe with a decaf cappucino in front of me. I rarely order anything but needed something warm tonight - raining out there. But hey, better than snow! Just got back on the bus from Putney. I had supper at a pub there - can't remember the name but had steak and kidney pudding with chips and peas. (and not the mushy kind either...yeck) It was really good - I was in need of a real pub meal. Today was a museum day - I started off at the Wellcome museum near Euston station. He was a pharmacist but into all things medical and a few things not. What a wild collection of items - everything from Charles Darwin's walking stick to a stone animals in the shape of male organs (yes really and I've got the picture to prove it). There was also an exhibit on High Society - thought it was about how the other half lives but was about

More jetlag

It's 6 a.m. and I've been awake since 5 a.m. - yesterday it was 4 a.m. It's always worse going east than west - for me anyway. Of course last night I did go to bed early at 9 a.m. so that might have something to do with it! Yesterday I attempted a walk in Hampstead/Highgate - I say attempted but did not finish however will finish up another day. I was just getting too cold so did about 7.5 km of an 11 km walk. I did it backwards...no not walking backwards (as Simon commented when I told him yesterday) but started at the opposite end as I had done it two years ago. While on the walk I found out there is going to be a 12th night evening with mulled wine and cake at Keats house tonight so going to try and get a ticket today. (it was full...darn) I finished off the walk yesterday in Highgate with a cream tea. yum. Then off to the British museum to see the Book of the Dead exhibit. It was amazing....I was there an hour and a half and could have stayed longer.

Oh jetlag...you are a pain in the ass

Yes I've been wide awake since 4 a.m. Gotta love it..not! But its a five hour and 45 minute time difference so it's understandable. It's always worst going east than west for me...I will be up at 3 a.m. in Regina guaranteed. Anyway had my double Corrie episode last night - enjoyed it no end. What can I say it's the little things. I am trying to work out what walk I will do today -it might even be way out at the 02 for a change. Or it could be Notting Hill.... At 4 pm I am going to see an exhibit of the Book of the Dead at the British Musuem and then hopefully a 6:30 tour of the Brunel tunnels in SE London. Guess they were something in their time...the leader of the walk works there so we can get in. Something different; that's what I like. I have a list of things I want to do so taking each day as it comes . Snow is forecast for this weekend...boo hiss!!!! As long as it's gone by next Thursday the 13th...not that I don't want to stay but don't want the h

Back in London town

Back in London town. My flights with Qatar were both good - I'd fly with them again. However 12 hours of flight time (not including stop over) was exhausting. The airport hotel last night was very good and I got the bus there no problem. I slept like a log last night. Back at Simon's now and the wifi is better than last time although it still goes off at times. I did my laundry today - two huge loads of it. After sorting it all out here I walked over to Marks and Spencer in the Temple Fortune area. I walked through some woods - the Big Woods it is called. Very pretty. Well guess what I got for my supper...yep..a prawn and mayonaiise sandwich. (and apple juice...and other stuff which you don't have to know about!!) I didn't see any at first and was heartbroken so wandered around the store picking up other things (all the while whimpering and muttering...man I'd kill for a microwave...such good food...) and back to the sandwich resigned to a wensleydale and

On top of the world and on the bottom

Yes that's what my certificate says anyway..On Top of the World....it was an awesome flight and Everest was peeking out at us. Hard to believe I've seen it. We got to go up to the flight deck and take pictures too. Was expensive but worth it. Woohoo I've seen Everest..plus of course all the others - all the highest peaks in the world. Magnificent. Nearly cancelled as I am ill but immodium to the rescue - hate using that as it bungs you up something fierce although no one can accuse it of doing that to me this time. Sheesh. Hope I lose weight out of this. I guess it was the meal last night - something did not agree with me but who knows what. So here I am typing this in bed. Got NO sleep last night due to idiotic people down the hall from me....they are carrying on now so am going to see if I can move it although I think the hotel is full. IDIOTS. They had their door open and were yelling and laughing and carrying on - no clue as they are Indians and spoke Hindi