Heart Ache
A heartbeat symbolises constancy
though even suns burn out. All things are changing,
yet, that thumpy thump is constantly
reassuring. Speeding, slowing: rearranging.
A stethoscope sends frightening, clammy fingers
counting extra beats. Then ultrasound
spreads eyes, recording back-wash blood that lingers.
Deathly pools mean future plans are drowned.
Conditions must be right for crops to thrive,
producing healthy yeilds year after year.
With care, an engine in a car might drive
much further than expected from the wear.
I know about the murmur in my heart
but labels only limit what we'll start.
GREAT MINDS DISCUSS IDEAS; AVERAGE MINDS DISCUSS EVENTS; SMALL MINDS DISCUSS PEOPLE.
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Monday, June 06, 2011
Diary Limerick
Diary Limerick
Lost in Limerick. Got there about 6pm tired after driving all day. We saw our hotel from the motorway as we arrived but couldn't get to it. So we spent a while driving around heading back generally in the direction we had seen it until we decided to look for a petrol station or similar for a map. Found a set of betting-book maker, pharmacy and mini supermarket together all open but no maps so I asked the chemist and he said it was easy from there and it was just down the road through 4 sets of traffic lights. Impressive hotel with open spiral curving up the centre of all floors.
We walked just around the corner to get subway for dinner (2nd night running) and found a supermarket too so we got Munchen beer, Irish stout and Italian Chianti. At the check out the conveyor belt was so jerky the bottles all threatened to tip so I grabbed them to hold upright. The girl told me to lay them down but I didn't understand until the 3rd time she said it. The lady in line after me put all her various tall items laid down on their sides automatically. In subway a young man came in wearing waders as if he'd just come off a fishing boat. Paul couldn't understand what he said at all. He got a subway with meat and lots of sauce, nothing else.
We went to Adare the next morning, Sunday and enjoyed the quaint thatched cottages and souvenir shopping. We found Curran's Heraldry in the Information centre but they had never heard of Gurran castle. The man there assured Paul that Gurran was just a mis spelt version of Curran. Then we drove along the main road south and every side road looking for Gurran Castle without success.many of the houses are painted a pale mustard and some are more beige while there are also some white like the cottages in Scotland. Back to Adare for lunch where I had a scone that was more like a cake than ours. We drove out of a different road from Adare on another quest before returning to Limerick and Shannon airport to check our route for Tuesday morning when we leave for London. Saw Bunratty Castle on the way, they had a May Day picnic on. Had a short sprinkle of showery rain drops then the sun returned although we have yet to see blue skies. Cloudy hazy whitish skies yesterday and today.
Heard on car radio news about a gang of 6 who attacked a Bank ATM with a digger.
Noticed the judder bars here are split in half and off set for each side of the road. Even seperate when 2 lanes on one way road. Many empty pedestrian crossings have traffic lights which flash orange that you can drive through.
I love the chips here. Delicious and we've had them 3 times. We hear a lot of people mentioning magic here. On the Red Viking bus tour the driver told us the maternity hospital was known as the magic building as 1 person goes in but 2 or more come out. Saw rugby stadium and tour guide went on about how it is the only place in Ireland where the mighty All Blacks were defeated. He explained that a Limerick poem is a 5 line humorous verse and said one.
King John's castle is the main building of interest. It is on an island between the Shannon and Abbey rivers. Quite a good exhibit with life size models dressed in period costumes and a short movie to explain the history of wars the people have been through. Limerick was a Viking settlement then Norman hence the castle. In the movie an older Irish woman raved on indignantly about the treatment of the Irish blaming everyone else. It rained while we were there but only light showers. A grey cold day.
Had dinner in the hotel bar and we were the only ones there so the bar man chatted now and then. He told us one of the snooker players on TV was a cheat and he was quite indignant about the light punishment for throwing games. The Irish do seem to get indignant more.
Leaving Tuesday morning. Got up at 5:45 only to find the plane had been delayed for over an hour and a half so we spent a long time reading at the gate with a lot of US soldiers. Osama Bin Laden was killed yesterday and retaliation has already been threatened. Someone always rises to replace a person who is a figurehead so who knows what the few months hold? There has been 1 natural disaster after another all year, then each arab country rebelling against leaders 1 by 1, now another sort of disaster threatens. However Easter with the Pope and thousands of people and then the Royal Wedding have bothe passed without incident and I had thought they were great terrorist opportunities.
Lost in Limerick. Got there about 6pm tired after driving all day. We saw our hotel from the motorway as we arrived but couldn't get to it. So we spent a while driving around heading back generally in the direction we had seen it until we decided to look for a petrol station or similar for a map. Found a set of betting-book maker, pharmacy and mini supermarket together all open but no maps so I asked the chemist and he said it was easy from there and it was just down the road through 4 sets of traffic lights. Impressive hotel with open spiral curving up the centre of all floors.
We walked just around the corner to get subway for dinner (2nd night running) and found a supermarket too so we got Munchen beer, Irish stout and Italian Chianti. At the check out the conveyor belt was so jerky the bottles all threatened to tip so I grabbed them to hold upright. The girl told me to lay them down but I didn't understand until the 3rd time she said it. The lady in line after me put all her various tall items laid down on their sides automatically. In subway a young man came in wearing waders as if he'd just come off a fishing boat. Paul couldn't understand what he said at all. He got a subway with meat and lots of sauce, nothing else.
We went to Adare the next morning, Sunday and enjoyed the quaint thatched cottages and souvenir shopping. We found Curran's Heraldry in the Information centre but they had never heard of Gurran castle. The man there assured Paul that Gurran was just a mis spelt version of Curran. Then we drove along the main road south and every side road looking for Gurran Castle without success.many of the houses are painted a pale mustard and some are more beige while there are also some white like the cottages in Scotland. Back to Adare for lunch where I had a scone that was more like a cake than ours. We drove out of a different road from Adare on another quest before returning to Limerick and Shannon airport to check our route for Tuesday morning when we leave for London. Saw Bunratty Castle on the way, they had a May Day picnic on. Had a short sprinkle of showery rain drops then the sun returned although we have yet to see blue skies. Cloudy hazy whitish skies yesterday and today.
Heard on car radio news about a gang of 6 who attacked a Bank ATM with a digger.
Noticed the judder bars here are split in half and off set for each side of the road. Even seperate when 2 lanes on one way road. Many empty pedestrian crossings have traffic lights which flash orange that you can drive through.
I love the chips here. Delicious and we've had them 3 times. We hear a lot of people mentioning magic here. On the Red Viking bus tour the driver told us the maternity hospital was known as the magic building as 1 person goes in but 2 or more come out. Saw rugby stadium and tour guide went on about how it is the only place in Ireland where the mighty All Blacks were defeated. He explained that a Limerick poem is a 5 line humorous verse and said one.
King John's castle is the main building of interest. It is on an island between the Shannon and Abbey rivers. Quite a good exhibit with life size models dressed in period costumes and a short movie to explain the history of wars the people have been through. Limerick was a Viking settlement then Norman hence the castle. In the movie an older Irish woman raved on indignantly about the treatment of the Irish blaming everyone else. It rained while we were there but only light showers. A grey cold day.
Had dinner in the hotel bar and we were the only ones there so the bar man chatted now and then. He told us one of the snooker players on TV was a cheat and he was quite indignant about the light punishment for throwing games. The Irish do seem to get indignant more.
Leaving Tuesday morning. Got up at 5:45 only to find the plane had been delayed for over an hour and a half so we spent a long time reading at the gate with a lot of US soldiers. Osama Bin Laden was killed yesterday and retaliation has already been threatened. Someone always rises to replace a person who is a figurehead so who knows what the few months hold? There has been 1 natural disaster after another all year, then each arab country rebelling against leaders 1 by 1, now another sort of disaster threatens. However Easter with the Pope and thousands of people and then the Royal Wedding have bothe passed without incident and I had thought they were great terrorist opportunities.
Diary Dublin, Kilkenny Cork
Arrived in Ireland to see people in airport watching the Royal Wedding then by the time we had picked up our brand new Citroen Hertz rental car and found our hotel we were sitting down to lunch in the next door hotel and on the big TV there Kate and William came out on Buckingham Palace balcony to wave at the hoards. There might be more people there than there were at the Vatican for the Pope's Easter blessing.
Took a bus into O'Connell Street but they only take coins on the bus and we have just used all ours for the tip for lunch so we got the ride for free. The bus driver said take a seat and ask others for change. I did ask one older couple but they had the same problem. When we got off the driver said to remember to have coins next time. Then got the hop on hop off bus to see the sites. Every time the bus stopped and the driver stopped his narrative Irish music came on. Didn't know I knew so many Irish tunes. Saw where U2 has a penthouse across the river from Jameson's Distillery near Arran quay.
A leprechaun is a pixie and a cobbler to the fairies.
On the bus back to our hotel our driver was something like what I imagine a typical Irishman to be. He called out to men he knew on the footpath exchanging friendly insults such as "You're always in the pub!" and to another bus driver going past he called something like "I'm finding this new 6 hour shift very hard". Paul saw him carrying out his ablutions at the lights. He cleaned the steering wheel, his face and hands with wipes then got out his deodorant.
We looked at maps and decided to take the long way to Limerick in the car via Kilkenny and Cork. Stopped at Kilkenny for a new suitcase to replace Paul's with the broken wheel and lunch at an old pub with Smthwicks superior Irish ale since 1710. The publican expressed his frustration to me that both the tvs have gone at the same time and there's a big game on (rugby) and the place would be full if only. Delicious meal and real olde worlde fittings including cellar bar with low ceiling and more rooms upstairs from the ground floor where we ate looking over the river through a tiny casement window.
Lovely old town with narrow roads full to busting with cars because it is Bank holiday weekend and nice weather.
Cork was pretty grim really despite the sunshine and glimpses of blue in in the hazey skies. Like Dublin it had a river channel with bridges crossing and roads on each side but nothing to oo and arr to. Carried on to Limerick after a coffee and muffin. I notice that in Ireland they don't have overtaking lanes, instead they have slow traffic lanes. Same but different.
In a tiny village we saw a truck with stainless steel 20 litre kegs on parked blocking one side of main street (main highway) while a man onn the back threw the beer kegs down to another man on the footpath who then put it sidways and rolled it with his foot to a stack against the shop wall.
The countryside is lovely, all rolling grassy fields with a lot of trees. Some ranges usually visible in the distance. It could easily be NZ except that the roads are so good.
Took a bus into O'Connell Street but they only take coins on the bus and we have just used all ours for the tip for lunch so we got the ride for free. The bus driver said take a seat and ask others for change. I did ask one older couple but they had the same problem. When we got off the driver said to remember to have coins next time. Then got the hop on hop off bus to see the sites. Every time the bus stopped and the driver stopped his narrative Irish music came on. Didn't know I knew so many Irish tunes. Saw where U2 has a penthouse across the river from Jameson's Distillery near Arran quay.
A leprechaun is a pixie and a cobbler to the fairies.
On the bus back to our hotel our driver was something like what I imagine a typical Irishman to be. He called out to men he knew on the footpath exchanging friendly insults such as "You're always in the pub!" and to another bus driver going past he called something like "I'm finding this new 6 hour shift very hard". Paul saw him carrying out his ablutions at the lights. He cleaned the steering wheel, his face and hands with wipes then got out his deodorant.
We looked at maps and decided to take the long way to Limerick in the car via Kilkenny and Cork. Stopped at Kilkenny for a new suitcase to replace Paul's with the broken wheel and lunch at an old pub with Smthwicks superior Irish ale since 1710. The publican expressed his frustration to me that both the tvs have gone at the same time and there's a big game on (rugby) and the place would be full if only. Delicious meal and real olde worlde fittings including cellar bar with low ceiling and more rooms upstairs from the ground floor where we ate looking over the river through a tiny casement window.
Lovely old town with narrow roads full to busting with cars because it is Bank holiday weekend and nice weather.
Cork was pretty grim really despite the sunshine and glimpses of blue in in the hazey skies. Like Dublin it had a river channel with bridges crossing and roads on each side but nothing to oo and arr to. Carried on to Limerick after a coffee and muffin. I notice that in Ireland they don't have overtaking lanes, instead they have slow traffic lanes. Same but different.
In a tiny village we saw a truck with stainless steel 20 litre kegs on parked blocking one side of main street (main highway) while a man onn the back threw the beer kegs down to another man on the footpath who then put it sidways and rolled it with his foot to a stack against the shop wall.
The countryside is lovely, all rolling grassy fields with a lot of trees. Some ranges usually visible in the distance. It could easily be NZ except that the roads are so good.
Saturday, June 04, 2011
Diary York
Diary York
Because Osama Bin Laden has been killed London is on high security alert. Gillian warned us to take a bottle of drink on the underground in case of stops. The train did stop several times and the driver announced there had been a security alert further down the line at Charing Cross causing hold ups. Our train was having to wait for the one in front to go at nearly every stop and then it was diverted to a different route but luckily our stop was still on the list, Euston, on the way to Kings Cross where we plan to get a fast train to York.
It was a relief to get on the train to York and know we were heading away from the high security alert although it wasn't actually stressful, more interesting, seeing police everywhere and underground inspectors with clipboards peering at things. Lots of tunnels that affected our ears as we left the city.
Saw many fields of a yellow flowering crop (rape seed?), a few sheep and a few towns plus a line of windmills and 2 sets of 4- 8 huge wide chimney-like structures spurting vapour we thought might be nuclear cooling towers.
When we arrived at the York railway station we discovered that our hotel was right next door. The Royal York Hotel is old and grand. Our room had an extra space as a dressing room.
After a cup of tea (yay, another hotel with electric jug etc) we went for a wander to see what we could find. We walked from 3:30 until 6:30 and it went very quickly. The Minster was just down the road and the Shambles, castle tower and the Jorvik Viking centre were easy to locate via lovely street signs. We'll visit them tomorrow. There were at least 4 Cornish Pasty shps so we shared a pasty there were 3 specialist tea and teapot shops but nosigh of the tea Kirsten wants. We'll have to go to the Buckinham Palace gift shop or Fortnam and Mason's. The last part was following the battlements along the wall back to our hotel vicinity where we found a burger restaurant advertising as winners of a few food prizes so we went in. The menu included NZ wines -1 was Vidal's rose and the red and white wines were Dsahwood. There was as Wellington burger and and Kiwi burger so we read more to discover they were part of a charitable UK trust for the Whakatane Kiwi.
In York a street is called a gate, gate is called a bar, a bar is called a pub. There are 4 bars/old wall gateways. We walked half the walls before tea and crossed over the Micklegate Bar. Near the Minster we saw a plaque saying where Guy Fawkes grew up. Coppergate was Coopers and woodworkers street. This is where the Viking centre is.
Big Peter is the name of the huge bell that rings at noon everyday and is so big it has to keep ringing until it stops of its own accord.
Because Osama Bin Laden has been killed London is on high security alert. Gillian warned us to take a bottle of drink on the underground in case of stops. The train did stop several times and the driver announced there had been a security alert further down the line at Charing Cross causing hold ups. Our train was having to wait for the one in front to go at nearly every stop and then it was diverted to a different route but luckily our stop was still on the list, Euston, on the way to Kings Cross where we plan to get a fast train to York.
It was a relief to get on the train to York and know we were heading away from the high security alert although it wasn't actually stressful, more interesting, seeing police everywhere and underground inspectors with clipboards peering at things. Lots of tunnels that affected our ears as we left the city.
Saw many fields of a yellow flowering crop (rape seed?), a few sheep and a few towns plus a line of windmills and 2 sets of 4- 8 huge wide chimney-like structures spurting vapour we thought might be nuclear cooling towers.
When we arrived at the York railway station we discovered that our hotel was right next door. The Royal York Hotel is old and grand. Our room had an extra space as a dressing room.
After a cup of tea (yay, another hotel with electric jug etc) we went for a wander to see what we could find. We walked from 3:30 until 6:30 and it went very quickly. The Minster was just down the road and the Shambles, castle tower and the Jorvik Viking centre were easy to locate via lovely street signs. We'll visit them tomorrow. There were at least 4 Cornish Pasty shps so we shared a pasty there were 3 specialist tea and teapot shops but nosigh of the tea Kirsten wants. We'll have to go to the Buckinham Palace gift shop or Fortnam and Mason's. The last part was following the battlements along the wall back to our hotel vicinity where we found a burger restaurant advertising as winners of a few food prizes so we went in. The menu included NZ wines -1 was Vidal's rose and the red and white wines were Dsahwood. There was as Wellington burger and and Kiwi burger so we read more to discover they were part of a charitable UK trust for the Whakatane Kiwi.
In York a street is called a gate, gate is called a bar, a bar is called a pub. There are 4 bars/old wall gateways. We walked half the walls before tea and crossed over the Micklegate Bar. Near the Minster we saw a plaque saying where Guy Fawkes grew up. Coppergate was Coopers and woodworkers street. This is where the Viking centre is.
Big Peter is the name of the huge bell that rings at noon everyday and is so big it has to keep ringing until it stops of its own accord.
Diary Bath
Diary Bath
Our hotel turned out to be quite a long walk from the railway station even though it is on the road running directly behind. But we found it just as we were doubting anything but businesses were on the street.
Bath stone is limestone. All Georgian buildings are built from it. Ban on all chimney fires to preserve the city. A down is a hill. A combe on a down is a valley in a hill. There are 3 hot springs and many cold springs. A million liters a day. We went on a skyline bus tour up on one of the downs. This is the Cotswolds. The river Avon goes through Bath, one of 7 river Avons in England (Welsh word for river). Richard (Beau) Nash was one of the most influential men in the mid 1700s, the Master of Ceremonies and he was responsible for developing certain rules and manners. He ensured the Sedan chair men all charged a regular rate. The Yow? Boys had a popular but dangerous job, they had long poles to stick into the wheel skokes to slow down wagons carrying 4 tons of limestone down from the downs.
Lots of great pub names like
The Old Green Tree Hut. The Hop Pole. The Horseshoe. The Griffin. The Saracens Head (oldest and joined to church: St Michaels Outside _the walls). The Golden Fleece (cotswold sheep have a golden hue to their wool.) The pig and the Fiddle. The Moon and the Penny.
We found the Bath Bun Shop and Sally Lunn's around the corner. Had sally Lunn Buns and tea. Huge. Bigger thana burger bun but lighter. They were toasted and vame with clotted cream which looks like whipped butter. Mine was toped with cinnamon butter and Paul's was just buttered but came with jam as well as cream. Delicious and light but I felt a little stuffed by the end. Walked around taking photos then stopped at an Irish pub so much like the one in Kilkenny. Then we found a Thank God Its Friday restaurant so we had to go there for dinner despite still being full. The other time we went to a TGIF was in Glasgow with Mike and Kirsten after a snowy hop on bus trip. Terrible going to an American food place with ice hocky on the big screens and no British beers at all. The bar tender spent all his spare time practising fliping bottles and glasses around. People with birthdays received balloon crowns made like balloon animals we watched one being made. The TV screens told us the every TIG franchise has a rowing scull ob the wll and a propellor over the bar. There were Andy Warhol Marilyn Munros in star cutouts on the toilet doors and Castro?s on the wall. Reminded me I want to make similar images of Kirsten and Mike.
My Italian leather bag catch broke again while we were eating. Paul had replaced the spring in the catch in London but it only lasted 2 days.
First full day in Bath we went on both hop on off buses and then lunched at the Bath Bun Shop where Paul had a fantastic Ploughmans lunch with 4 wedges of different cheeses, ham corned beef and 4 pickles with lovely bread. The Bath Bun is not a secret recipe like the Sally Lunn also smaller and heavier and not toasted. OK with currants and sugar on top and a sugar lump in the middle.
After lunch we went to the Roman Baths where they have great audio guides like at Jorvik. Then onto the Assembly hall and fashion museum, then a house in the Royal crescent. After all these treats for me Paul insisted on walkiing all the way in the intensifying rain to a bike shop he had spied on the moring bus. We took shelter in the Saracens Head pub about 5:30 then when the rain eased we set off looking for fish and chips. Found a chip shop almost across the road from our hotel and they lived up to the reputation of delicious.
Our last full day we booked an afternoon bus tour of the Cotswolds including Stonehenge and Lacock village where some of Harry Potter movies were made. Also Cranford and Pride and Prejudice with Colin Firth. Spent the morning looking through the modern shopping centre then the Jane Austin centre where I learnt a lot more about her and the regency times. This fitted well with the house visit in the Royal Crescent and the 2 tea houses.
The bus trip started at 1 and returnedat 5:30. The driver told us that the yellow flowered crop in many fields is rapeseed or canola for oil that farmers grow for bio fuel. First stop Lacock. Lacock is an old Saxon word meaning little river. Lacock is gorgeous with a variety of old styles of buildings. Got photos of the houses used in Harry Potter and all the others. Had a small glass of Royal Wedding beer and a piece of (quite dry) sponge cake filled with jam and normal whipped cream (as opposed to the clotted cream that I have found everywhere else.)
Beautiful rolling countryside. Some roads have hedges on both sides. A village with less than 10 houses is a hamlet.
Stone Henge and another audio guide. Useful and quite interesting but they are losing their appeal. This is the 4th for us. Paul was disappointed that it wasn't as imposing as he expected. I agree. To me it seemed smaller than I expected. It isn't the biggest just the most complete. On the way back we should see a chalk carving on a hill. Paul saw it I missed it.
On our return to Bath just after 5:30 we headed for the Thermae Spa thinking it closed at 5:30 but it was still open so in we went. We had brought our togs so we were set. Very relaxing 2 hours in warm pools (an inside one and an outside rooftop one) as well as 4 steam rooms, each with different aromas. Eucalyptus, cucumber and mint. There were foot spas and a strong multi rainforest warm shower that was like a massage. The rooftop outdoor pool had a few side jets. It was 4 stories up and had glass wall fences so a sort of infinity pool to compare with the one we want to try in Singapore.
Jamie Oliver's Italian restaurant was the next and last treat. We had a 20 minute wait so ordered drinks.
Passionfruit daquiri and Paul had an Italian beer: Messina. The antipasti was delicious and the 2 sizes of olives were less salty than in Italy and even nicer. The capers were good too. I had sea bass for my main because the one I tried in Italy was pretty ho hum and I had heard it is the best white fish. It may be but that shows how much better tasting our fish are. It was baked whole with lemon and was juicy, full of tiny bones and lacking flavour. Nice but I wouldn't choose it again.
Left Bath on a train to Paddington then the Heathrow Express.
Our hotel turned out to be quite a long walk from the railway station even though it is on the road running directly behind. But we found it just as we were doubting anything but businesses were on the street.
Bath stone is limestone. All Georgian buildings are built from it. Ban on all chimney fires to preserve the city. A down is a hill. A combe on a down is a valley in a hill. There are 3 hot springs and many cold springs. A million liters a day. We went on a skyline bus tour up on one of the downs. This is the Cotswolds. The river Avon goes through Bath, one of 7 river Avons in England (Welsh word for river). Richard (Beau) Nash was one of the most influential men in the mid 1700s, the Master of Ceremonies and he was responsible for developing certain rules and manners. He ensured the Sedan chair men all charged a regular rate. The Yow? Boys had a popular but dangerous job, they had long poles to stick into the wheel skokes to slow down wagons carrying 4 tons of limestone down from the downs.
Lots of great pub names like
The Old Green Tree Hut. The Hop Pole. The Horseshoe. The Griffin. The Saracens Head (oldest and joined to church: St Michaels Outside _the walls). The Golden Fleece (cotswold sheep have a golden hue to their wool.) The pig and the Fiddle. The Moon and the Penny.
We found the Bath Bun Shop and Sally Lunn's around the corner. Had sally Lunn Buns and tea. Huge. Bigger thana burger bun but lighter. They were toasted and vame with clotted cream which looks like whipped butter. Mine was toped with cinnamon butter and Paul's was just buttered but came with jam as well as cream. Delicious and light but I felt a little stuffed by the end. Walked around taking photos then stopped at an Irish pub so much like the one in Kilkenny. Then we found a Thank God Its Friday restaurant so we had to go there for dinner despite still being full. The other time we went to a TGIF was in Glasgow with Mike and Kirsten after a snowy hop on bus trip. Terrible going to an American food place with ice hocky on the big screens and no British beers at all. The bar tender spent all his spare time practising fliping bottles and glasses around. People with birthdays received balloon crowns made like balloon animals we watched one being made. The TV screens told us the every TIG franchise has a rowing scull ob the wll and a propellor over the bar. There were Andy Warhol Marilyn Munros in star cutouts on the toilet doors and Castro?s on the wall. Reminded me I want to make similar images of Kirsten and Mike.
My Italian leather bag catch broke again while we were eating. Paul had replaced the spring in the catch in London but it only lasted 2 days.
First full day in Bath we went on both hop on off buses and then lunched at the Bath Bun Shop where Paul had a fantastic Ploughmans lunch with 4 wedges of different cheeses, ham corned beef and 4 pickles with lovely bread. The Bath Bun is not a secret recipe like the Sally Lunn also smaller and heavier and not toasted. OK with currants and sugar on top and a sugar lump in the middle.
After lunch we went to the Roman Baths where they have great audio guides like at Jorvik. Then onto the Assembly hall and fashion museum, then a house in the Royal crescent. After all these treats for me Paul insisted on walkiing all the way in the intensifying rain to a bike shop he had spied on the moring bus. We took shelter in the Saracens Head pub about 5:30 then when the rain eased we set off looking for fish and chips. Found a chip shop almost across the road from our hotel and they lived up to the reputation of delicious.
Our last full day we booked an afternoon bus tour of the Cotswolds including Stonehenge and Lacock village where some of Harry Potter movies were made. Also Cranford and Pride and Prejudice with Colin Firth. Spent the morning looking through the modern shopping centre then the Jane Austin centre where I learnt a lot more about her and the regency times. This fitted well with the house visit in the Royal Crescent and the 2 tea houses.
The bus trip started at 1 and returnedat 5:30. The driver told us that the yellow flowered crop in many fields is rapeseed or canola for oil that farmers grow for bio fuel. First stop Lacock. Lacock is an old Saxon word meaning little river. Lacock is gorgeous with a variety of old styles of buildings. Got photos of the houses used in Harry Potter and all the others. Had a small glass of Royal Wedding beer and a piece of (quite dry) sponge cake filled with jam and normal whipped cream (as opposed to the clotted cream that I have found everywhere else.)
Beautiful rolling countryside. Some roads have hedges on both sides. A village with less than 10 houses is a hamlet.
Stone Henge and another audio guide. Useful and quite interesting but they are losing their appeal. This is the 4th for us. Paul was disappointed that it wasn't as imposing as he expected. I agree. To me it seemed smaller than I expected. It isn't the biggest just the most complete. On the way back we should see a chalk carving on a hill. Paul saw it I missed it.
On our return to Bath just after 5:30 we headed for the Thermae Spa thinking it closed at 5:30 but it was still open so in we went. We had brought our togs so we were set. Very relaxing 2 hours in warm pools (an inside one and an outside rooftop one) as well as 4 steam rooms, each with different aromas. Eucalyptus, cucumber and mint. There were foot spas and a strong multi rainforest warm shower that was like a massage. The rooftop outdoor pool had a few side jets. It was 4 stories up and had glass wall fences so a sort of infinity pool to compare with the one we want to try in Singapore.
Jamie Oliver's Italian restaurant was the next and last treat. We had a 20 minute wait so ordered drinks.
Passionfruit daquiri and Paul had an Italian beer: Messina. The antipasti was delicious and the 2 sizes of olives were less salty than in Italy and even nicer. The capers were good too. I had sea bass for my main because the one I tried in Italy was pretty ho hum and I had heard it is the best white fish. It may be but that shows how much better tasting our fish are. It was baked whole with lemon and was juicy, full of tiny bones and lacking flavour. Nice but I wouldn't choose it again.
Left Bath on a train to Paddington then the Heathrow Express.
Wednesday, June 01, 2011
Diary Venice
Diary Venice
On the way from Florence our bus went through Bolonga and heard about parmesan cheese, proscitto and Ferrarro factory. Apparently most Italians avoid buying Ferraris because if they buy then they are listed on a rich list and taxed very highly. Saw rice fields flooded. This area is very swampy and has humid summers with lots of mosquitos. Tortolleni pasta and lasanga and cantalloni pasta and bolognaise sauce all invented here so considered culinary centre. Stopped at one of the many Autogrills shop/cafe/toilets and had the best cappucino yet, it was thicker and more to our taste.
Driving into Venice we went past a huge port. Heard about main products- masks, lacen burano glass. Most elegant mask is black and white and was used by Doctors to prevent inhaling malaria they stuffed the long nose of the mask with cotton.
Local guide Ilari (Hilary)
St Marks cathedral is most Byzantine church. Constantinople and Greek influence. Never been in a Greek Orthodox church, most have been Catholic. It was the private chapel for the doge before St Mark's remains were stolen back from Alexandria in Egypt. Sneaked body past Muslims by covering with Pork.
Doge palace. Most important museum in Venice. Doge was figurehead political leader with power only along with others. Rich and elected for life. Only 3 days to take away own gear when a doge died. Saw golden staircase and the mailbox where citizens could rat on tax evaders and others who did bad things. First waiting room has cameo statues on ceiling. 2nd room most important where 6 councillors sit 3 each side of Doge in audience room with ceiling of paintings in huge thick very ornate frames covered in gold. Doge wears special hat with pointy shape at back and jewels all around instead of a crown since not royalty. Keyholes in wood of inside wall. Cabinets for storing documents. Next room bigger than receiving Collega room (number 1 room). Bigger room not such quality but still same ceilngs and paintings, this room was for the senate. Both rooms have 24 hour clocks back to back through the wall. Another clock with zodiac signs and manually moved hands.
Another room for judging wrong doers. Sala del Consiglio. In paintings by Veronaise Venice is represented by a blonde woman.
2 secret rooms off the next room. Casonova escaped when accused.
Great council room. Council elected the Doge. Mechanism in ceiling behind gold ornate framed paintings to make such a large open space with no pillars.
Bridge of Sighs named by Byron because of prisoners crossing to jails.
Glass works factory. Watched jug and horse being made. Bought a red murano glass and decanter set for wedding present. If broken in shipping must take photo and send to venice factory within 8 days.
We went to dinner and walked around Venice with some others from our tour group on the way back to our Palazzo. We crossed the Rialto bridge and then navigated through the narrow streets and across short bridges following the wall signs to San Marco square. There we stopped outside the famous Florian restaurant where we have the farewell drink tomorrow evening. There was a small orchestra playing a medley from My Fair Lady so a few of us sang along through several songs.
There is an electric jug and tea and coffee bags in our room which is a treat.
We had the last morning on tour free to wander so we queued to go up the bell tower beside San Marco Cathedral. Great view from the top of Venice and the outer islands. Cold and very windy but there was a sign at the bottom beforethe lift, warning us of that.
At noon we met our guide again and went on a boat trip to Burano island where the lace makers live. The houses are all painted different colours and there are 2 stories to explain this. The fishermen spend all day out fishing and drinking wine so they need a colour to guide them to the right house... Or they need the colours to see them in the fog. The women took up lace making because it was so boring all day on an island. Lovely lunch with snifters of Amaretto after, along with almond-toffee biscuits and almond shortbready S shaped biscuits to dip into the drink. Wandered the shops and stalls in lovely atmosphere. At La Perla where our guide Igor guaranteed we would get authentic handmade lace I got a white satin and lace reticule for Kirsten (Wedding) and 2 fine needlework tapestry wall pictures or placemats with scenes of Rialto bridge and St Mark's Square. On the way to and from Burano we passed Murano where the famous glass has been made since the 13th century.
Left Venice early. We caught the water bus at 6:50. It stopped at several stops on the way to the aeroporto, taking about an hour. Next stop Dublin. Today is the Royal wedding which we are avoiding by going to Ireland before England.
Paul' suitcase lost a wheel just before we got on the water bus so he had to carry it everywhere. We looked for trolleys at airports and found them very convenient.
When we got to the airport we found it was the wrong one. Had to get a car taxi to Treviso. Another 30 minutes. Only 1 hour until flight. We made it and spent the next hour in queues. Ugh and the Ryan air seats are the smallest ever. Funny landing though: a trumpet ta ta ta ta ra blast over the speakers.
On the way from Florence our bus went through Bolonga and heard about parmesan cheese, proscitto and Ferrarro factory. Apparently most Italians avoid buying Ferraris because if they buy then they are listed on a rich list and taxed very highly. Saw rice fields flooded. This area is very swampy and has humid summers with lots of mosquitos. Tortolleni pasta and lasanga and cantalloni pasta and bolognaise sauce all invented here so considered culinary centre. Stopped at one of the many Autogrills shop/cafe/toilets and had the best cappucino yet, it was thicker and more to our taste.
Driving into Venice we went past a huge port. Heard about main products- masks, lacen burano glass. Most elegant mask is black and white and was used by Doctors to prevent inhaling malaria they stuffed the long nose of the mask with cotton.
Local guide Ilari (Hilary)
St Marks cathedral is most Byzantine church. Constantinople and Greek influence. Never been in a Greek Orthodox church, most have been Catholic. It was the private chapel for the doge before St Mark's remains were stolen back from Alexandria in Egypt. Sneaked body past Muslims by covering with Pork.
Doge palace. Most important museum in Venice. Doge was figurehead political leader with power only along with others. Rich and elected for life. Only 3 days to take away own gear when a doge died. Saw golden staircase and the mailbox where citizens could rat on tax evaders and others who did bad things. First waiting room has cameo statues on ceiling. 2nd room most important where 6 councillors sit 3 each side of Doge in audience room with ceiling of paintings in huge thick very ornate frames covered in gold. Doge wears special hat with pointy shape at back and jewels all around instead of a crown since not royalty. Keyholes in wood of inside wall. Cabinets for storing documents. Next room bigger than receiving Collega room (number 1 room). Bigger room not such quality but still same ceilngs and paintings, this room was for the senate. Both rooms have 24 hour clocks back to back through the wall. Another clock with zodiac signs and manually moved hands.
Another room for judging wrong doers. Sala del Consiglio. In paintings by Veronaise Venice is represented by a blonde woman.
2 secret rooms off the next room. Casonova escaped when accused.
Great council room. Council elected the Doge. Mechanism in ceiling behind gold ornate framed paintings to make such a large open space with no pillars.
Bridge of Sighs named by Byron because of prisoners crossing to jails.
Glass works factory. Watched jug and horse being made. Bought a red murano glass and decanter set for wedding present. If broken in shipping must take photo and send to venice factory within 8 days.
We went to dinner and walked around Venice with some others from our tour group on the way back to our Palazzo. We crossed the Rialto bridge and then navigated through the narrow streets and across short bridges following the wall signs to San Marco square. There we stopped outside the famous Florian restaurant where we have the farewell drink tomorrow evening. There was a small orchestra playing a medley from My Fair Lady so a few of us sang along through several songs.
There is an electric jug and tea and coffee bags in our room which is a treat.
We had the last morning on tour free to wander so we queued to go up the bell tower beside San Marco Cathedral. Great view from the top of Venice and the outer islands. Cold and very windy but there was a sign at the bottom beforethe lift, warning us of that.
At noon we met our guide again and went on a boat trip to Burano island where the lace makers live. The houses are all painted different colours and there are 2 stories to explain this. The fishermen spend all day out fishing and drinking wine so they need a colour to guide them to the right house... Or they need the colours to see them in the fog. The women took up lace making because it was so boring all day on an island. Lovely lunch with snifters of Amaretto after, along with almond-toffee biscuits and almond shortbready S shaped biscuits to dip into the drink. Wandered the shops and stalls in lovely atmosphere. At La Perla where our guide Igor guaranteed we would get authentic handmade lace I got a white satin and lace reticule for Kirsten (Wedding) and 2 fine needlework tapestry wall pictures or placemats with scenes of Rialto bridge and St Mark's Square. On the way to and from Burano we passed Murano where the famous glass has been made since the 13th century.
Left Venice early. We caught the water bus at 6:50. It stopped at several stops on the way to the aeroporto, taking about an hour. Next stop Dublin. Today is the Royal wedding which we are avoiding by going to Ireland before England.
Paul' suitcase lost a wheel just before we got on the water bus so he had to carry it everywhere. We looked for trolleys at airports and found them very convenient.
When we got to the airport we found it was the wrong one. Had to get a car taxi to Treviso. Another 30 minutes. Only 1 hour until flight. We made it and spent the next hour in queues. Ugh and the Ryan air seats are the smallest ever. Funny landing though: a trumpet ta ta ta ta ra blast over the speakers.
Diary Rome
Diary Rome
Arrived on Easter Saturday at Hotel Cicerone after being met at airport by a driver with a sign. Settled into lovely room. No sign of gypsies in lobby as I had read on trip advisor. Have been stressing a bit about bag stealers.
Met our Globus tour director as we came out of breakfast. Gave him our details and will meet group at 5:15pm. Off to Vatican about 11am. Found an English tour that avoids long lines. All given ear piece. Guide was the first tall Italian man. Good looking and funny. Should have given him a tip but we all gave back audio before Sistine Chapel and he didn't come in there. He was very humorous and explained about costs and tipping in Rome on walk to the place to pay to get in. Pizza no more than 7 euro. Taxi to airport 40 euro and check for a 1 on taxi counter. If a 2 the charge is being doubled. He told us lots of funny stories about Pope and Michel D'Angelo who "came from the other Parish" as he put it.
Local Tour Guide Stefano took us around Colloseum and Forum. Lots of interesting information. Cypress tres came from Iran and live for thousands of year so symbol of long life. Palantine hill was first settled. Then conquered other 6 hills. Valleys between were markets. Flavian Amphitheatre is official name of colloseum. At entrance was a collosal statue of emperor Nero as a god. Desigh copied from Greek semi circle theatres which have great acoustics. Doubled to make oval terrible acoustics. River through centre and one side rock other sand. The sandy side fell down more in earthquake 600 years ago. Originally amphitheatre was filled with water for naval battles but not big enough so built wall room dividers and covered in wood then sand to absorb the blood.
Ladies looking for short term employment eg 20 minutes sat in top rows. Next down were commoners then middle class then rich then Caesar sat centre of oval. Animals etc entered from one end.
Rosary beads are made by Nuns out of pressed roses to keep smell a long time. We bought some at Easter ceremony on St Peter's Square and they be blessed by the Pope during the ceremony.
3 guides have warned us about gypsies now. 13 obelisks from Egypt are in Rome. One in Vatican. Swiss guards are all descendants of original guards from Switzerland who a Pope used to replaced Spanish guards he didn't trust. Swiss were best body guards. Now have to be a descendant between 18 and 25 years old and Catholic.
Sx obelis but 13 left.
Spanis Steps lead up to Holy Trinity Church. John keats came here to get well in warmth but it was Feb and cold and he died. Spanish Embassy in Spanish piazza so named steps. Trevi fountain is huge for the small square. Rome is known as city o water all fountains water comes from the ancient aquaducts. City of fountains because they are all built to show off the water. Toss a coin by standing backwards. 1 coin right hand over left shoulder. Come back to rome is 1 coin.
Hadrien was the architect Emperor he got lots of architects to work and design the Pantheon. Indcluding oldest biggest dome. Has a hole in centre or it would collapse. Famous Italians are buried there including Raphael.
Piazza navonna used to be horse track. We saw all the gypsies who were selling knock-off bags and sunglasses running away with their wares when the police came along. Saw horse police wearing swords and spurs when walking around.
Last day in Rome we had a fascinating tour of the Church of Saint Paul. Or San Paolo. Huge and all stone. MArble. Alabaster and the most precious hardest dark red stone columns from Egypt.
We visited the catacombs before leaving Rome. These are tunnels underground going down 25 metres all dug into relatively soft volcanic rock along the Appian Way outside the city for Christian burials. Narrow single file the guide had a torch but the parts tourists see do have lighting although all the empty rooms with emptied graves holes in walls are dark. The bodies were removed and reburied elsewhere a few years ago because tourists took bones as souvenirs. Marble slabs with names and messages.
Arrived on Easter Saturday at Hotel Cicerone after being met at airport by a driver with a sign. Settled into lovely room. No sign of gypsies in lobby as I had read on trip advisor. Have been stressing a bit about bag stealers.
Met our Globus tour director as we came out of breakfast. Gave him our details and will meet group at 5:15pm. Off to Vatican about 11am. Found an English tour that avoids long lines. All given ear piece. Guide was the first tall Italian man. Good looking and funny. Should have given him a tip but we all gave back audio before Sistine Chapel and he didn't come in there. He was very humorous and explained about costs and tipping in Rome on walk to the place to pay to get in. Pizza no more than 7 euro. Taxi to airport 40 euro and check for a 1 on taxi counter. If a 2 the charge is being doubled. He told us lots of funny stories about Pope and Michel D'Angelo who "came from the other Parish" as he put it.
Local Tour Guide Stefano took us around Colloseum and Forum. Lots of interesting information. Cypress tres came from Iran and live for thousands of year so symbol of long life. Palantine hill was first settled. Then conquered other 6 hills. Valleys between were markets. Flavian Amphitheatre is official name of colloseum. At entrance was a collosal statue of emperor Nero as a god. Desigh copied from Greek semi circle theatres which have great acoustics. Doubled to make oval terrible acoustics. River through centre and one side rock other sand. The sandy side fell down more in earthquake 600 years ago. Originally amphitheatre was filled with water for naval battles but not big enough so built wall room dividers and covered in wood then sand to absorb the blood.
Ladies looking for short term employment eg 20 minutes sat in top rows. Next down were commoners then middle class then rich then Caesar sat centre of oval. Animals etc entered from one end.
Rosary beads are made by Nuns out of pressed roses to keep smell a long time. We bought some at Easter ceremony on St Peter's Square and they be blessed by the Pope during the ceremony.
3 guides have warned us about gypsies now. 13 obelisks from Egypt are in Rome. One in Vatican. Swiss guards are all descendants of original guards from Switzerland who a Pope used to replaced Spanish guards he didn't trust. Swiss were best body guards. Now have to be a descendant between 18 and 25 years old and Catholic.
Sx obelis but 13 left.
Spanis Steps lead up to Holy Trinity Church. John keats came here to get well in warmth but it was Feb and cold and he died. Spanish Embassy in Spanish piazza so named steps. Trevi fountain is huge for the small square. Rome is known as city o water all fountains water comes from the ancient aquaducts. City of fountains because they are all built to show off the water. Toss a coin by standing backwards. 1 coin right hand over left shoulder. Come back to rome is 1 coin.
Hadrien was the architect Emperor he got lots of architects to work and design the Pantheon. Indcluding oldest biggest dome. Has a hole in centre or it would collapse. Famous Italians are buried there including Raphael.
Piazza navonna used to be horse track. We saw all the gypsies who were selling knock-off bags and sunglasses running away with their wares when the police came along. Saw horse police wearing swords and spurs when walking around.
Last day in Rome we had a fascinating tour of the Church of Saint Paul. Or San Paolo. Huge and all stone. MArble. Alabaster and the most precious hardest dark red stone columns from Egypt.
We visited the catacombs before leaving Rome. These are tunnels underground going down 25 metres all dug into relatively soft volcanic rock along the Appian Way outside the city for Christian burials. Narrow single file the guide had a torch but the parts tourists see do have lighting although all the empty rooms with emptied graves holes in walls are dark. The bodies were removed and reburied elsewhere a few years ago because tourists took bones as souvenirs. Marble slabs with names and messages.
Diary Florence
Diary Firenze
We had some exploring time before dinner when we arrived so we walked until we discovered the most enormous colourful church. Went to dinner via a lookout point where we could see Florence spread out below us. Beautiful all creams and ochres. Ate at a restaurant owned by a scotsman right on one of main piazzas. Drank a lot of the free Chianti Classico which is lovely. - am converted to reds now.
First morning went with local guide Andrea to see museum with Michael Angelo statues including the David. Then walked to piazza with Baptistry with gold gates of paradise doors and Cathedral so huge and colourful on outside with different white green and pink marbles and mosasic paintings and niched statues.
Town hall piazza has loggia like veranda with open air statues. In front of the town hall is the copy ofthe David put there when they moved him to museum we went to. Also neptune fountain, Hercules, Perseus and Medusa.
Next Santa Croce Cathedral square which is in leather district. Largest Francescan Church. St Francis had stigmata so this church is dedicated to the Holy Cross Santa Croce. Full of tombs of famous Italians in side niches. Galileo is here he was born in piza but spent most of his life working for Medicis in Florence. Born same year Michael Angelo died. He is also entombed here. Also Dante has a memorial here, the poet who basically invented the Italian language. He is actually buried in Ravenna.
Next we walked through the leather district to a factory shop where first we listened to a woman (from Melbourne originally) explaining about the gols jewellery famous in Florence. We handled several lovely necklaces and bracelets then moved around corner to leather area and had entertaining time as 4 of our group modelled jackets and a dapper gay italian man described all the leather types. Paul was the first model in a goat skin jacket that looked and felt like fabric. Very light and thin but he was still hot.
We had the afternoon free so we walked about half a hour to get to a bank and then returned to have pizza and buy some leather belts and got initials in silver gilt pressed in, a wallet and a small flat travelling purse. The leather comes from NZ! It is the way they work with it that makes it special - apparently.
Then we followed the map to find the covered bridge, Ponte Vecchio and the Pitti Palace which was big but not pretty being made of large tofi rough brown volcanic bricks. Bought a gelato on bridge and walked across past all the goldsmith shops.
That evening we went on the optional dinner in the countryside outside in the garden of a Tuscan villa. Had a good time again as most of our group came. 4 courses. Plenty of red wine and grappa to finish. Grappa wasnt quite as mouth stinging as Aldos home made stuff in our kitchen cupboard. In Rome one night we were served free Limoncello after our meal which I liked better. The red wines here have to have low sulphate levels by law so no headaches or sinus problems.
We had some exploring time before dinner when we arrived so we walked until we discovered the most enormous colourful church. Went to dinner via a lookout point where we could see Florence spread out below us. Beautiful all creams and ochres. Ate at a restaurant owned by a scotsman right on one of main piazzas. Drank a lot of the free Chianti Classico which is lovely. - am converted to reds now.
First morning went with local guide Andrea to see museum with Michael Angelo statues including the David. Then walked to piazza with Baptistry with gold gates of paradise doors and Cathedral so huge and colourful on outside with different white green and pink marbles and mosasic paintings and niched statues.
Town hall piazza has loggia like veranda with open air statues. In front of the town hall is the copy ofthe David put there when they moved him to museum we went to. Also neptune fountain, Hercules, Perseus and Medusa.
Next Santa Croce Cathedral square which is in leather district. Largest Francescan Church. St Francis had stigmata so this church is dedicated to the Holy Cross Santa Croce. Full of tombs of famous Italians in side niches. Galileo is here he was born in piza but spent most of his life working for Medicis in Florence. Born same year Michael Angelo died. He is also entombed here. Also Dante has a memorial here, the poet who basically invented the Italian language. He is actually buried in Ravenna.
Next we walked through the leather district to a factory shop where first we listened to a woman (from Melbourne originally) explaining about the gols jewellery famous in Florence. We handled several lovely necklaces and bracelets then moved around corner to leather area and had entertaining time as 4 of our group modelled jackets and a dapper gay italian man described all the leather types. Paul was the first model in a goat skin jacket that looked and felt like fabric. Very light and thin but he was still hot.
We had the afternoon free so we walked about half a hour to get to a bank and then returned to have pizza and buy some leather belts and got initials in silver gilt pressed in, a wallet and a small flat travelling purse. The leather comes from NZ! It is the way they work with it that makes it special - apparently.
Then we followed the map to find the covered bridge, Ponte Vecchio and the Pitti Palace which was big but not pretty being made of large tofi rough brown volcanic bricks. Bought a gelato on bridge and walked across past all the goldsmith shops.
That evening we went on the optional dinner in the countryside outside in the garden of a Tuscan villa. Had a good time again as most of our group came. 4 courses. Plenty of red wine and grappa to finish. Grappa wasnt quite as mouth stinging as Aldos home made stuff in our kitchen cupboard. In Rome one night we were served free Limoncello after our meal which I liked better. The red wines here have to have low sulphate levels by law so no headaches or sinus problems.
Bath Diary
Diary Bath
Our hotel turned out to be quite a long walk from the railway station even though it is on the road running directly behind. But we found it just as we were doubting anything but businesses were on the street.
Bath stone is limestone. All Georgian buildings are built from it. Ban on all chimney fires to preserve the city. A down is a hill. A combe on a down is a valley in a hill. There are 3 hot springs and many cold springs. A million liters a day. We went on a skyline bus tour up on one of the downs. This is the Cotswolds. The river Avon goes through Bath, one of 7 river Avons in England (Welsh word for river). Richard (Beau) Nash was one of the most influential men in the mid 1700s, the Master of Ceremonies and he was responsible for developing certain rules and manners. He ensured the Sedan chair men all charged a regular rate. The Yow? Boys had a popular but dangerous job, they had long poles to stick into the wheel skokes to slow down wagons carrying 4 tons of limestone down from the downs.
Lots of great pub names like
The Old Green Tree Hut. The Hop Pole. The Horseshoe. The Griffin. The Saracens Head (oldest and joined to church: St Michaels Outside _the walls). The Golden Fleece (cotswold sheep have a golden hue to their wool.) The pig and the Fiddle. The Moon and the Penny.
We found the Bath Bun Shop and Sally Lunn's around the corner. Had sally Lunn Buns and tea. Huge. Bigger thana burger bun but lighter. They were toasted and vame with clotted cream which looks like whipped butter. Mine was toped with cinnamon butter and Paul's was just buttered but came with jam as well as cream. Delicious and light but I felt a little stuffed by the end. Walked around taking photos then stopped at an Irish pub so much like the one in Kilkenny. Then we found a Thank God Its Friday restaurant so we had to go there for dinner despite still being full. The other time we went to a TGIF was in Glasgow with Mike and Kirsten after a snowy hop on bus trip. Terrible going to an American food place with ice hocky on the big screens and no British beers at all. The bar tender spent all his spare time practising fliping bottles and glasses around. People with birthdays received balloon crowns made like balloon animals we watched one being made. The TV screens told us the every TIG franchise has a rowing scull ob the wll and a propellor over the bar. There were Andy Warhol Marilyn Munros in star cutouts on the toilet doors and Castro?s on the wall. Reminded me I want to make similar images of Kirsten and Mike.
My Italian leather bag catch broke again while we were eating. Paul had replaced the spring in the catch in London but it only lasted 2 days.
First full day in Bath we went on both hop on off buses and then lunched at the Bath Bun Shop where Paul had a fantastic Ploughmans lunch with 4 wedges of different cheeses, ham corned beef and 4 pickles with lovely bread. The Bath Bun is not a secret recipe like the Sally Lunn also smaller and heavier and not toasted. OK with currants and sugar on top and a sugar lump in the middle.
After lunch we went to the Roman Baths where they have great audio guides like at Jorvik. Then onto the Assembly hall and fashion museum, then a house in the Royal crescent. After all these treats for me Paul insisted on walkiing all the way in the intensifying rain to a bike shop he had spied on the moring bus. We took shelter in the Saracens Head pub about 5:30 then when the rain eased we set off looking for fish and chips. Found a chip shop almost across the road from our hotel and they lived up to the reputation of delicious.
Our last full day we booked an afternoon bus tour of the Cotswolds including Stonehenge and Lacock village where some of Harry Potter movies were made. Also Cranford and Pride and Prejudice with Colin Firth. Spent the morning looking through the modern shopping centre then the Jane Austin centre where I learnt a lot more about her and the regency times. This fitted well with the house visit in the Royal Crescent and the 2 tea houses.
The bus trip started at 1 and returnedat 5:30. The driver told us that the yellow flowered crop in many fields is rapeseed or canola for oil that farmers grow for bio fuel. First stop Lacock. Lacock is an old Saxon word meaning little river. Lacock is gorgeous with a variety of old styles of buildings. Got photos of the houses used in Harry Potter and all the others. Had a small glass of Royal Wedding beer and a piece of (quite dry) sponge cake filled with jam and normal whipped cream (as opposed to the clotted cream that I have found everywhere else.)
Beautiful rolling countryside. Some roads have hedges on both sides. A village with less than 10 houses is a hamlet.
Stone Henge and another audio guide. Useful and quite interesting but they are losing their appeal. This is the 4th for us. Paul was disappointed that it wasn't as imposing as he expected. I agree. To me it seemed smaller than I expected. It isn't the biggest just the most complete. On the way back we should see a chalk carving on a hill. Paul saw it I missed it.
On our return to Bath just after 5:30 we headed for the Thermae Spa thinking it closed at 5:30 but it was still open so in we went. We had brought our togs so we were set. Very relaxing 2 hours in warm pools (an inside one and an outside rooftop one) as well as 4 steam rooms, each with different aromas. Eucalyptus, cucumber and mint. There were foot spas and a strong multi rainforest warm shower that was like a massage. The rooftop outdoor pool had a few side jets. It was 4 stories up and had glass wall fences so a sort of infinity pool to compare with the one we want to try in Singapore.
Jamie Oliver's Italian restaurant was the next and last treat. We had a 20 minute wait so ordered drinks.
Passionfruit daquiri and Paul had an Italian beer: Messina. The antipasti was delicious and the 2 sizes of olives were less salty than in Italy and even nicer. The capers were good too. I had sea bass for my main because the one I tried in Italy was pretty ho hum and I had heard it is the best white fish. It may be but that shows how much better tasting our fish are. It was baked whole with lemon and was juicy, full of tiny bones and lacking flavour. Nice but I wouldn't choose it again.
Left Bath on a train to Paddington then the Heathrow Express.
Our hotel turned out to be quite a long walk from the railway station even though it is on the road running directly behind. But we found it just as we were doubting anything but businesses were on the street.
Bath stone is limestone. All Georgian buildings are built from it. Ban on all chimney fires to preserve the city. A down is a hill. A combe on a down is a valley in a hill. There are 3 hot springs and many cold springs. A million liters a day. We went on a skyline bus tour up on one of the downs. This is the Cotswolds. The river Avon goes through Bath, one of 7 river Avons in England (Welsh word for river). Richard (Beau) Nash was one of the most influential men in the mid 1700s, the Master of Ceremonies and he was responsible for developing certain rules and manners. He ensured the Sedan chair men all charged a regular rate. The Yow? Boys had a popular but dangerous job, they had long poles to stick into the wheel skokes to slow down wagons carrying 4 tons of limestone down from the downs.
Lots of great pub names like
The Old Green Tree Hut. The Hop Pole. The Horseshoe. The Griffin. The Saracens Head (oldest and joined to church: St Michaels Outside _the walls). The Golden Fleece (cotswold sheep have a golden hue to their wool.) The pig and the Fiddle. The Moon and the Penny.
We found the Bath Bun Shop and Sally Lunn's around the corner. Had sally Lunn Buns and tea. Huge. Bigger thana burger bun but lighter. They were toasted and vame with clotted cream which looks like whipped butter. Mine was toped with cinnamon butter and Paul's was just buttered but came with jam as well as cream. Delicious and light but I felt a little stuffed by the end. Walked around taking photos then stopped at an Irish pub so much like the one in Kilkenny. Then we found a Thank God Its Friday restaurant so we had to go there for dinner despite still being full. The other time we went to a TGIF was in Glasgow with Mike and Kirsten after a snowy hop on bus trip. Terrible going to an American food place with ice hocky on the big screens and no British beers at all. The bar tender spent all his spare time practising fliping bottles and glasses around. People with birthdays received balloon crowns made like balloon animals we watched one being made. The TV screens told us the every TIG franchise has a rowing scull ob the wll and a propellor over the bar. There were Andy Warhol Marilyn Munros in star cutouts on the toilet doors and Castro?s on the wall. Reminded me I want to make similar images of Kirsten and Mike.
My Italian leather bag catch broke again while we were eating. Paul had replaced the spring in the catch in London but it only lasted 2 days.
First full day in Bath we went on both hop on off buses and then lunched at the Bath Bun Shop where Paul had a fantastic Ploughmans lunch with 4 wedges of different cheeses, ham corned beef and 4 pickles with lovely bread. The Bath Bun is not a secret recipe like the Sally Lunn also smaller and heavier and not toasted. OK with currants and sugar on top and a sugar lump in the middle.
After lunch we went to the Roman Baths where they have great audio guides like at Jorvik. Then onto the Assembly hall and fashion museum, then a house in the Royal crescent. After all these treats for me Paul insisted on walkiing all the way in the intensifying rain to a bike shop he had spied on the moring bus. We took shelter in the Saracens Head pub about 5:30 then when the rain eased we set off looking for fish and chips. Found a chip shop almost across the road from our hotel and they lived up to the reputation of delicious.
Our last full day we booked an afternoon bus tour of the Cotswolds including Stonehenge and Lacock village where some of Harry Potter movies were made. Also Cranford and Pride and Prejudice with Colin Firth. Spent the morning looking through the modern shopping centre then the Jane Austin centre where I learnt a lot more about her and the regency times. This fitted well with the house visit in the Royal Crescent and the 2 tea houses.
The bus trip started at 1 and returnedat 5:30. The driver told us that the yellow flowered crop in many fields is rapeseed or canola for oil that farmers grow for bio fuel. First stop Lacock. Lacock is an old Saxon word meaning little river. Lacock is gorgeous with a variety of old styles of buildings. Got photos of the houses used in Harry Potter and all the others. Had a small glass of Royal Wedding beer and a piece of (quite dry) sponge cake filled with jam and normal whipped cream (as opposed to the clotted cream that I have found everywhere else.)
Beautiful rolling countryside. Some roads have hedges on both sides. A village with less than 10 houses is a hamlet.
Stone Henge and another audio guide. Useful and quite interesting but they are losing their appeal. This is the 4th for us. Paul was disappointed that it wasn't as imposing as he expected. I agree. To me it seemed smaller than I expected. It isn't the biggest just the most complete. On the way back we should see a chalk carving on a hill. Paul saw it I missed it.
On our return to Bath just after 5:30 we headed for the Thermae Spa thinking it closed at 5:30 but it was still open so in we went. We had brought our togs so we were set. Very relaxing 2 hours in warm pools (an inside one and an outside rooftop one) as well as 4 steam rooms, each with different aromas. Eucalyptus, cucumber and mint. There were foot spas and a strong multi rainforest warm shower that was like a massage. The rooftop outdoor pool had a few side jets. It was 4 stories up and had glass wall fences so a sort of infinity pool to compare with the one we want to try in Singapore.
Jamie Oliver's Italian restaurant was the next and last treat. We had a 20 minute wait so ordered drinks.
Passionfruit daquiri and Paul had an Italian beer: Messina. The antipasti was delicious and the 2 sizes of olives were less salty than in Italy and even nicer. The capers were good too. I had sea bass for my main because the one I tried in Italy was pretty ho hum and I had heard it is the best white fish. It may be but that shows how much better tasting our fish are. It was baked whole with lemon and was juicy, full of tiny bones and lacking flavour. Nice but I wouldn't choose it again.
Left Bath on a train to Paddington then the Heathrow Express.
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Point of View
I've been mulling over the concept of truth being in the eye of the beholder.
Point of View
Most leaves speak in greens, heard in varying tones,
the lightest all shouting in neon-lime zones
as leaves spread the word in a view.
A truth shines as brightly to seekers who find
it beckoning boldly but closing the mind.
For, what you believe will be true.
The truth is opinion and it can depend
on seasoning. Custom confines but we bend.
One truth only leaves us one view.
An olive-grey tint, or a minty fresh shade
will darken when winter clouds make the days fade.
Green –clouded or clear – which is true?
GREAT MINDS DISCUSS IDEAS
AVERAGE MINDS DISCUSS EVENTS
SMALL MINDS DISCUSS PEOPLE
Point of View
Most leaves speak in greens, heard in varying tones,
the lightest all shouting in neon-lime zones
as leaves spread the word in a view.
A truth shines as brightly to seekers who find
it beckoning boldly but closing the mind.
For, what you believe will be true.
The truth is opinion and it can depend
on seasoning. Custom confines but we bend.
One truth only leaves us one view.
An olive-grey tint, or a minty fresh shade
will darken when winter clouds make the days fade.
Green –clouded or clear – which is true?
GREAT MINDS DISCUSS IDEAS
AVERAGE MINDS DISCUSS EVENTS
SMALL MINDS DISCUSS PEOPLE
Friday, November 19, 2010
I went on a ballon ride on Tuesday
Our flight was fantastic and we didn't get lost but it reminded me of this joke I rhymed a few years ago:
A lost hot-air balloonist searched the countryside in vain
He didn't recognise the hills, nor houses in the lane
Reducing height, he called a man and asked just where they were
Explaining "I have promised I will meet a friend soon, Sir"
The man below, called "Latitude: Forty degrees to North"
And "Longitude: in the West, degree mark, sixty fourth"
The man above, came lower still, his basket almost grounded
He scratched his head and then he said "Lost and now confounded!"
He added then, "I guess you are, an engineer by trade?
(This from the accuracy with which, your kind reply was made)"
"But I have no idea at all, about what those facts mean
I promised to be far from here! These parts I've never seen!"
The man below was not surprised "Yes, I'm an engineer.
And you're a politician, yes? Your words have made that clear."
"How did you know?" the basket-case, demanded, rising high
The engineer just laughed aloud, then yelled into the sky:
"You don't know where you are, it seems. You don't know where to go
You made a promise you can't keep: You're all hot-air, we know!"
The politician's skin hue rose, as did his altitude
He hummed and hawed long windedly and mouthed a platitude...
GREAT MINDS DISCUSS IDEAS AVERAGE MINDS DISCUSS EVENTS SMALL MINDS DISCUSS PEOPLE
Monday, October 05, 2009
Friday, September 25, 2009
Rugby contract
My baby is a giant now at six feet five or six
and he has signed a contract with a rugby club. It ticks
the boxes when he wants to travel, earning money overseas.
He'll live in Scotland, train and play; for everyone agrees,
a car, a job, accommodation plus some extra cash
is just the deal to tempt young men... but is it rash?
GREAT MINDS DISCUSS IDEAS
AVERAGE MINDS DISCUSS EVENTS
SMALL MINDS DISCUSS PEOPLE
and he has signed a contract with a rugby club. It ticks
the boxes when he wants to travel, earning money overseas.
He'll live in Scotland, train and play; for everyone agrees,
a car, a job, accommodation plus some extra cash
is just the deal to tempt young men... but is it rash?
GREAT MINDS DISCUSS IDEAS
AVERAGE MINDS DISCUSS EVENTS
SMALL MINDS DISCUSS PEOPLE
End of term
End of term; perhaps my daily headache won't return,
and soon insurance will be sending what I yearn
for -another blackberry - a camera-video-cum-phone
and diary as well. I dropped my BB Bold into the throne
wherein it drowned (at only 2 weeks old). Quite like the one before
(washed to death inside the pocket of my jeans). My jaw
dropped disbelievingly, both times. A foggy screen is not a happy scene.
I may be jinxed re blackberries but qwerty keyboards keep me keen.
GREAT MINDS DISCUSS IDEAS
AVERAGE MINDS DISCUSS EVENTS
SMALL MINDS DISCUSS PEOPLE
and soon insurance will be sending what I yearn
for -another blackberry - a camera-video-cum-phone
and diary as well. I dropped my BB Bold into the throne
wherein it drowned (at only 2 weeks old). Quite like the one before
(washed to death inside the pocket of my jeans). My jaw
dropped disbelievingly, both times. A foggy screen is not a happy scene.
I may be jinxed re blackberries but qwerty keyboards keep me keen.
GREAT MINDS DISCUSS IDEAS
AVERAGE MINDS DISCUSS EVENTS
SMALL MINDS DISCUSS PEOPLE
Saturday, August 22, 2009
ParisJune09 (136)
The paintings in the Louvre amazed,
containing life within a frame.
But tourists in the Louvre seem crazed
with Mona Lisa as their aim.
containing life within a frame.
But tourists in the Louvre seem crazed
with Mona Lisa as their aim.
Friday, August 21, 2009
ParisJune09 (27)
I went, I saw and now j'adore
Paris... except the sound of sirens.
The buildings are bewildering
in size and need admirin'.
Paris... except the sound of sirens.
The buildings are bewildering
in size and need admirin'.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Practice Based Attestation - feeling the lack of control
Control over my day to day life:
I'm anchoring a windmill
tilted at right angles,
I'm pegging sheets and clothing,
fighting weighty tangles
and futile bids for freedom -
moored, they flap and slap
together, held enslaved.
Haughty words can't sap
my strength while I'm in charge;
egos wear a gag.
I'm hanging out my laundry,
raising my own flag.
Agendas won't take over,
swallow, or enclose mine,
I'm in control, empowered,
standing at my clothesline.
GREAT MINDS DISCUSS IDEAS
AVERAGE MINDS DISCUSS EVENTS
SMALL MINDS DISCUSS PEOPLE
I'm anchoring a windmill
tilted at right angles,
I'm pegging sheets and clothing,
fighting weighty tangles
and futile bids for freedom -
moored, they flap and slap
together, held enslaved.
Haughty words can't sap
my strength while I'm in charge;
egos wear a gag.
I'm hanging out my laundry,
raising my own flag.
Agendas won't take over,
swallow, or enclose mine,
I'm in control, empowered,
standing at my clothesline.
GREAT MINDS DISCUSS IDEAS
AVERAGE MINDS DISCUSS EVENTS
SMALL MINDS DISCUSS PEOPLE
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
it's all too much- just like every other Feb
It's Wednesday night and I'm
a stuffed potato, couched
in weariness and slouched
in stress-related grime.
The TV drones and even though
I stare half-lidded, work
replays and stirs the murk
of stop-gapped overflow.
GREAT MINDS DISCUSS IDEAS
AVERAGE MINDS DISCUSS EVENTS
SMALL MINDS DISCUSS PEOPLE
a stuffed potato, couched
in weariness and slouched
in stress-related grime.
The TV drones and even though
I stare half-lidded, work
replays and stirs the murk
of stop-gapped overflow.
GREAT MINDS DISCUSS IDEAS
AVERAGE MINDS DISCUSS EVENTS
SMALL MINDS DISCUSS PEOPLE
Friday, January 30, 2009
Inquiry Learning
Love the questions in your mind.
Wallow in them, Wonder 'Why?'
Answers drift until confined.
Let the questions stretch and sigh.
Wallow in them. Wonder why
your brainstorm only helps you ask.
Let the questions stretch and sigh.
Scratch the itch beneath the mask.
Your brainstorm only helps you ask
more questions - find a place to start.
Scratch the itch beneath the mask:
gather facts. Subdue your heart.
More questions! Find a place to start,
take an open-minded view,
gather facts, subdue your heart.
Questions undermine... renew.
Take an open-minded view,
ignore habitual compromise.
Questions undermine. Renew
your purpose. Let them energise.
Ignore habitual compromise,
answers hide behind knee-jerks.
Your purpose? Let them energise;
between the facts, an answer lurks.
Answers hide behind knee-jerks.
Answers drift until confined
between the facts. An answer lurks:
love the questions in your mind.
GREAT MINDS DISCUSS IDEAS
AVERAGE MINDS DISCUSS EVENTS
SMALL MINDS DISCUSS PEOPLE
Wallow in them, Wonder 'Why?'
Answers drift until confined.
Let the questions stretch and sigh.
Wallow in them. Wonder why
your brainstorm only helps you ask.
Let the questions stretch and sigh.
Scratch the itch beneath the mask.
Your brainstorm only helps you ask
more questions - find a place to start.
Scratch the itch beneath the mask:
gather facts. Subdue your heart.
More questions! Find a place to start,
take an open-minded view,
gather facts, subdue your heart.
Questions undermine... renew.
Take an open-minded view,
ignore habitual compromise.
Questions undermine. Renew
your purpose. Let them energise.
Ignore habitual compromise,
answers hide behind knee-jerks.
Your purpose? Let them energise;
between the facts, an answer lurks.
Answers hide behind knee-jerks.
Answers drift until confined
between the facts. An answer lurks:
love the questions in your mind.
GREAT MINDS DISCUSS IDEAS
AVERAGE MINDS DISCUSS EVENTS
SMALL MINDS DISCUSS PEOPLE
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