Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Holiday
We've been to Alnwick and Dundee, fab time had by all pics will be downloaded when I get a chance...
Extension Hell
welcome to my idea of hell... waiting at home for Ikea to deliver the parts of the kitchen in stock... other pieces are out of stock and will need to be collected on another occasion!!! The delivery service is oh so helpful, as long as you can think of nothing better to do between the hours of 10 am and 10pm... what's worse is that we are mid extension, AND when they affixed the flashing to the new roof I think they took an angle grinder to cut the groove for the flashin in the existing wall and bisected the TV aerial... might have to watch Heros online tonight.. assuming the the kitchen doesn't arrive half way through!!!! Anyway I attach photos... dust not included! you'll have to image the permanent feeling of a veneer of fine dust particles on everything and that skin that forms on your cuppa... oh yes until the plumber arrives there's no water downstairs either......
and that's not mentioning the fact I had to empty the contents of the old kitchen cabinets on Monday evening and just shove them in the dining room, leaving space for the new kitchen cabinets...
would I rather be at work???? guess....
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Oops it's been a while...
Confession: It has been a while since my last blog... I have sought to back date some posts to the relevant dates... old bloggers don't die they just fade away...
Saturday, June 09, 2007
London bound 7th June
The day in London for Elspeth's birthday started with the old railway hazard, a delayed train. Still it enabled us to sample the delights of "Pumpkin" the exhorbitantly priced and thoroughly naff on platform cafe... better going to the Costa stand.
The journey down was quick and efficient, there's a story behind the tickets on GNER... the travel experience has changed since the days of one rail provider and before the likes of Easy Jet or Ryan Air came on the scene in terms of air travel. Since when has single tickets been cheaper than returns?? Firstly trying to check train times on the GNER web site is a pain as you have to register to get the information.
Trying to book tickets on the GNER website the returns were £42.30 each "advance apex" booking, that's the other thing there are about 12 different kinds of ticket depending on how far in advance you book, whether you want a transferrable ticket, an open return... so many conplications, I JUST WANT A TRAIN TICKET TO LONDON...
Rant over.... return [well 6 single tickets] to London came in at just over £62.
Kings Cross is a great hub, straight onto the Picadilly line to South Kensington and walking down the tunnel to the Science Museum. Both Sarah and I hadn't been for at least 20 years... it'd be a shame if it was still the same, fortunately we were not disappointed, the interactive displays were excellent, we wandered around the ground floor and Elspeth was taken by the rockets and the astronauts - "we must email Nasa again daddy" [i.e. You must get NASA and shake them until they answer my email...]
But Bob the Builder was the main attraction, an interactive experience for the children, Bob, Wendy and Spud all present to engage the children in building a numbered path, recycling a fallen tree into stepping stones, rebuilding a wall and mending some guttering, rather than paying the child labour the labour had to pay £6 each for the event, as did their accompanying parent...
After Bob we popped on the tube to see Big Ben, Elspeth appreciates that Big Ben is the bell in the Tower at the Houses of Parliament, but I think that is all she really wanted to do on Thursday, see Big Ben. We wandered over Westminster Bridge and walked with the throngs of people on the South Bank to have tea at Wagamama. After Wagamama one of the best walks in London, to the Tate Modern, over the Millenium Bridge around past St Pauls to Blackfriars, tube to Kings Cross Thames Link and a short walk to Kings Cross for the return journey.
Both girls were wide awake on the journey back and gave much entertainment to a friendly couple from Newark, Jemima in excellent form bouldering over things as if they were mere steps, clambering over the table was a favourite, standing on the table looking out of the window another.... as a consequence they were both wide awake on arrival back in Doncaster at around 9.20pm so we went for a drive out to the A1, down to the M18 and off at junction 4 to go home... both in bed and asleep by 10.15.. parents in bed much later as the preparations for the Peter Pan and Tinkerbell party on Saturday were not yet completed.... knackered.. good simple journey though.
The journey down was quick and efficient, there's a story behind the tickets on GNER... the travel experience has changed since the days of one rail provider and before the likes of Easy Jet or Ryan Air came on the scene in terms of air travel. Since when has single tickets been cheaper than returns?? Firstly trying to check train times on the GNER web site is a pain as you have to register to get the information.
Trying to book tickets on the GNER website the returns were £42.30 each "advance apex" booking, that's the other thing there are about 12 different kinds of ticket depending on how far in advance you book, whether you want a transferrable ticket, an open return... so many conplications, I JUST WANT A TRAIN TICKET TO LONDON...
Rant over.... return [well 6 single tickets] to London came in at just over £62.
Kings Cross is a great hub, straight onto the Picadilly line to South Kensington and walking down the tunnel to the Science Museum. Both Sarah and I hadn't been for at least 20 years... it'd be a shame if it was still the same, fortunately we were not disappointed, the interactive displays were excellent, we wandered around the ground floor and Elspeth was taken by the rockets and the astronauts - "we must email Nasa again daddy" [i.e. You must get NASA and shake them until they answer my email...]
But Bob the Builder was the main attraction, an interactive experience for the children, Bob, Wendy and Spud all present to engage the children in building a numbered path, recycling a fallen tree into stepping stones, rebuilding a wall and mending some guttering, rather than paying the child labour the labour had to pay £6 each for the event, as did their accompanying parent...
After Bob we popped on the tube to see Big Ben, Elspeth appreciates that Big Ben is the bell in the Tower at the Houses of Parliament, but I think that is all she really wanted to do on Thursday, see Big Ben. We wandered over Westminster Bridge and walked with the throngs of people on the South Bank to have tea at Wagamama. After Wagamama one of the best walks in London, to the Tate Modern, over the Millenium Bridge around past St Pauls to Blackfriars, tube to Kings Cross Thames Link and a short walk to Kings Cross for the return journey.
Both girls were wide awake on the journey back and gave much entertainment to a friendly couple from Newark, Jemima in excellent form bouldering over things as if they were mere steps, clambering over the table was a favourite, standing on the table looking out of the window another.... as a consequence they were both wide awake on arrival back in Doncaster at around 9.20pm so we went for a drive out to the A1, down to the M18 and off at junction 4 to go home... both in bed and asleep by 10.15.. parents in bed much later as the preparations for the Peter Pan and Tinkerbell party on Saturday were not yet completed.... knackered.. good simple journey though.
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Do blogs ever die?
I suppose this one has come close a few times, yet again I am resurrecting posting after a delay. Apologies to all thos awaiting South Africa pictures, it's been 8 weeks since our return and I haven't even printed any yet, it will happen although I cannot guarantee when.
Since the last post
1) the behemoth that was blocking our hallway has gone, ebayed, although despite 6 people watching the anticipated last 10 minute bidding war never materialised and the runner was bought by a seasoned ebay trader for the princely bargain of just £350, considering it retails at £850 I was a little disappointed, still we now have our hallway back.
2) Chris completed the London Marathon in just over 4 1/2 hours- congratulations
3) I walked on hot coals for charity, whilst it may sound a great event, the torture of 26 miles plus would be far greater
4) My Dad got married on Saturday 12 May some pics above
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Alas, we are the pox household too
Poor Jemima and Elspeth are spotty muldoons, waking this morning with the pox.. still better to get it out of the way now before they both start school and bring home some really nasty germs...
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Poetry
Thanks to James and Michelle, Josie and Sophie for a fantastic poetry book for my birthday. Poetry at school was always formulaic and frankly boring, whilst the unflappable Mr Wex tried to enthuse us, it just wasn't going to happen... Anyway the book, if you can get your hands on a copy, is Selected Poems of Don Maclennan.
The imagery is fantastic, it's amazing how so few words can say so much. I hadn't before truly appreciated the catharsis of [or in?] poetry, this is a great new experience, re-awakening, reinvigorating an eye opener.
Get it and read it...
.
thought provoking...
.
Letter in a bottle
.
When death takes me
I'll be in no mood to recount
the way I saw things
or work out my account
All I've ever wanted to make -
a few clean statements
on love and death,
things you cannot fake
Sunday, March 18, 2007
From here to there and back again
Well here is where I'll [eventually] blog and upload our South African photos and experiences... some notes for me to go on with... pics above, just to prove we were there... penguin at Boulders Beach and Table Mountain
We were welcomed akin to returning family members by our Southern Hemisphere returnees James and Michelle Adlard and their daughters Josie [nearly 4] and Sophie [almost 2]. Their new house is L shaped and boasts large family rooms and a pool. James has designs on some revamping and renovation which will make the home even more comfortable.
Driving and speed cameras...
South African speed cameras are cunningly placed in shade, underneath motorway bridges or behind bushes, and they're painted green, so best to keep to the speed limits [or follow the locals speed as a guide]. Lane discipline, speed restrictions and the majority of drivers in South Africa appear to be strangers... All those hours spent on the x-box or playstation on driving games may come in handy for longer term trips to SA.
Food
M&S exists in South Africa as Woolworths, at least the food is packaged and presented identically save for the name change on all of the packs. In restuarants the food is very reasonable and generally very good [if not the service]. The portions are American-esque and delicious, recommendations - for sea food and sushi "Ocean Basket" for wine [see separate entry] and steak nothing has bettered the delicious steaks that James and I enjoyed at Fairview Estates [www.fairview.co.za].
Wine
Well there is wine aplenty, for those not overseas as a comparison Arniston Bay, which retails at around £4.59 in your local supermarket costs around £1.70 in the local spa. One of the most enjoyable days was spent at Fairview Estates, their wine and cheese were excellent, I was all for driving back for another taster of the wine and food [especially aforementioned steak] but somehow it didn't fit the schedule... still this'll be a place we most definitely head for the next time we visit these shores.
We were welcomed akin to returning family members by our Southern Hemisphere returnees James and Michelle Adlard and their daughters Josie [nearly 4] and Sophie [almost 2]. Their new house is L shaped and boasts large family rooms and a pool. James has designs on some revamping and renovation which will make the home even more comfortable.
Driving and speed cameras...
South African speed cameras are cunningly placed in shade, underneath motorway bridges or behind bushes, and they're painted green, so best to keep to the speed limits [or follow the locals speed as a guide]. Lane discipline, speed restrictions and the majority of drivers in South Africa appear to be strangers... All those hours spent on the x-box or playstation on driving games may come in handy for longer term trips to SA.
Food
M&S exists in South Africa as Woolworths, at least the food is packaged and presented identically save for the name change on all of the packs. In restuarants the food is very reasonable and generally very good [if not the service]. The portions are American-esque and delicious, recommendations - for sea food and sushi "Ocean Basket" for wine [see separate entry] and steak nothing has bettered the delicious steaks that James and I enjoyed at Fairview Estates [www.fairview.co.za].
Wine
Well there is wine aplenty, for those not overseas as a comparison Arniston Bay, which retails at around £4.59 in your local supermarket costs around £1.70 in the local spa. One of the most enjoyable days was spent at Fairview Estates, their wine and cheese were excellent, I was all for driving back for another taster of the wine and food [especially aforementioned steak] but somehow it didn't fit the schedule... still this'll be a place we most definitely head for the next time we visit these shores.
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