Hello all,
Last night John and I went to the Boston for one pint to celebrate his return from Bristol. I completely forgot that it was St. Patrick's weekend, we do live in the Irish section of London, and the Boston IS an Irish pub. OH, such a big mistake. We went in and there was a traditional band setting up, Irish people everywhere, and Guinness . . . ahhhhh Guinness!
So we sat down at a large table, just the two of us, and John went to get us drinks. All of a sudden, four full blooded Irishmen come sit at our table and I had to inform them not to take my boyfriend's chair. It threw me for a minute but then I remembered that in Ireland, people shared tables all the time.
John brought our drinks back and the band began to play. Amazingly, every song they played the whole pub knew, and sang along as loud as they could. People were dancing jigs, pounding the tables, stomping the floor . . . much to John's worry, he being a staunch Englishman and all. I mentioned to one of the Irishmen that I wanted to hear 'Black Velvet Band' a traditional Irish song. They shouted it out for me, all four of them as loud as they could, to the band and they played it. Soon John and I discovered that their names were Henry, Michael, Paul, and Gary. Not much longer after that their friends came over, all was forgiven where John being English was concerned, and we had us a nice party. Hey . . . it is St. Patrick's Day!
It was my round next and as I was waiting for my drinks at the bar I turned and the lead singer was right behind me. I introduced myself, when asked about my heritage said American with some Irish, and requested that he play 'The Wild Rover', the song I taught my American students to sing for their Language Arts Heritage Unit. He then went up, said "This is for a lovely Irish American in the audience." and played my request. Everyone in the bar was singing along, including myself.
I got to sit there, surrounded by Irish men and women, listening to Irish music, pounding tables, stomping floors, and even dancing a jig with a few Irish women once. It was a blast.
Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone!
Monday, 17 March 2008
Dog Racing versus Horse Racing
So last weekend we all went dog racing for Helen's birthday. Growing up near Santa Anita and Hollywood Park I have certainly been horse racing . . . . but dogs?????
I have to say I enjoyed it. You could get much closer to the dogs than the horses. Before the race you could hear them barking, stand right next to the track, hear them panting as they zoomed by, it was really exciting.
I won the first race only, which was neat, and John won the second. What made it really amazing was that he bet on a dog with the name Freddie in his full name. As most of you now know, John's new nephew is named Freddie Wiseman. After our mutual wins we did do rather poorly, but enjoyed ourselves nonetheless.
John headed off to Bristol this past weekend and I stayed in town. A similar crew went out horse racing and my friend Kyla and myself came along. There was an Irish band playing at the track, it being St. Paddy's weekend and all, and the food selection was definitely better, but I think I enjoyed the dogs more. You could barely see the horses, understand the commentator, and well . . . I didn't win one race darn it!!!!
Helen has promised we will go back to the dogs soon. I hope so, my poor little heart can't take another night of being a betting loser.
I have to say I enjoyed it. You could get much closer to the dogs than the horses. Before the race you could hear them barking, stand right next to the track, hear them panting as they zoomed by, it was really exciting.
I won the first race only, which was neat, and John won the second. What made it really amazing was that he bet on a dog with the name Freddie in his full name. As most of you now know, John's new nephew is named Freddie Wiseman. After our mutual wins we did do rather poorly, but enjoyed ourselves nonetheless.
John headed off to Bristol this past weekend and I stayed in town. A similar crew went out horse racing and my friend Kyla and myself came along. There was an Irish band playing at the track, it being St. Paddy's weekend and all, and the food selection was definitely better, but I think I enjoyed the dogs more. You could barely see the horses, understand the commentator, and well . . . I didn't win one race darn it!!!!
Helen has promised we will go back to the dogs soon. I hope so, my poor little heart can't take another night of being a betting loser.
Sunday, 10 February 2008
The People in My Life
Well, here I am again . . . . trying to catch up on my blogging.
This one is going to be simple, thought I should get people straight for my readers.
Okay . . . in London the couples and people. . . .
John and I
Natalie and Steve
Helen and Chris
Nicola and Gid
Dan
Kyla, my friend from Ontario, Canada
Simon, Dan's friend
Robert . . John's friend from back home.
Dave . . . . sometimes visits, he lives further north.
Dee and Chris Rickkard, they live in a village outside of London but commute in.
Dan lives in Muswell Hill, 15 minutes further north than us.
Natalie and Steve live in East Finchley, 10 minutes further north than us.
Helen, Nicola, and Gid all live together, 39 steps from the Winchester, our local hang out. See Sean of the Dead to understand the significance of the Winchester Pub.
Kyla lives and works in Colchester, an hour outside of London but comes out most weekends to hang with us.
In Bristol . . . . the couples and people are . . . .
Matt and Angela - getting married in Bristol May 24th of this year.
Kevin (Matt's brother) and Sarah (from Tasmania)
Nick
Al (Matt's cousin) and Miranda
John (Al's brother)
Nick Walters (John's Dr. Who buddy)
There are more people in Bristol but these are the people I have hung out with the most and know the best.
In Winscombe and around . . . . . (there are actually more family members than this but these are the ones I have been around the most)
John's Family
John Rivers Sr. (Technically John Rivers Sr. would be John's granddad, but I haven't met him yet so this is his father)
Janet Rivers (John's mother)
John Rivers (My man)
Jemma Wiseman (John's sister)
James Wiseman (John's brother in law)
Baby Wiseman (Will be arriving February 20th) :-)
Jack Rivers (John's brother)
Jess (sorry Jess, don't know your last name, Jack's girlfriend)
Jackie (John's aunt, Janet's baby sister)
Stan (her son)
Imogen (her daughter)
Mike (her boyfriend)
Nan ( Janet's mother and a lovely beautiful person)
I hope this straightens out who I am talking about in my blogs. Please feel free to go back and check if you get confused.
This one is going to be simple, thought I should get people straight for my readers.
Okay . . . in London the couples and people. . . .
John and I
Natalie and Steve
Helen and Chris
Nicola and Gid
Dan
Kyla, my friend from Ontario, Canada
Simon, Dan's friend
Robert . . John's friend from back home.
Dave . . . . sometimes visits, he lives further north.
Dee and Chris Rickkard, they live in a village outside of London but commute in.
Dan lives in Muswell Hill, 15 minutes further north than us.
Natalie and Steve live in East Finchley, 10 minutes further north than us.
Helen, Nicola, and Gid all live together, 39 steps from the Winchester, our local hang out. See Sean of the Dead to understand the significance of the Winchester Pub.
Kyla lives and works in Colchester, an hour outside of London but comes out most weekends to hang with us.
In Bristol . . . . the couples and people are . . . .
Matt and Angela - getting married in Bristol May 24th of this year.
Kevin (Matt's brother) and Sarah (from Tasmania)
Nick
Al (Matt's cousin) and Miranda
John (Al's brother)
Nick Walters (John's Dr. Who buddy)
There are more people in Bristol but these are the people I have hung out with the most and know the best.
In Winscombe and around . . . . . (there are actually more family members than this but these are the ones I have been around the most)
John's Family
John Rivers Sr. (Technically John Rivers Sr. would be John's granddad, but I haven't met him yet so this is his father)
Janet Rivers (John's mother)
John Rivers (My man)
Jemma Wiseman (John's sister)
James Wiseman (John's brother in law)
Baby Wiseman (Will be arriving February 20th) :-)
Jack Rivers (John's brother)
Jess (sorry Jess, don't know your last name, Jack's girlfriend)
Jackie (John's aunt, Janet's baby sister)
Stan (her son)
Imogen (her daughter)
Mike (her boyfriend)
Nan ( Janet's mother and a lovely beautiful person)
I hope this straightens out who I am talking about in my blogs. Please feel free to go back and check if you get confused.
Tuesday, 5 February 2008
Karaoke and New Year's
Well today is Pancake Day, or the day before Ash Wednesday. It is tradition in England to have Pancake's for dinner since you aren't suppose to have meat. And, apparently, they eat their pancakes with lemon. Not sure about that, will have to wait and see.
Well, onto Matt's Karaoke Party and New Year's Eve.
The Karaoke Party
Matt is John's best friend and the groom in the wedding we will be attending in May and then in Portugal in September. His birthday falls on the same day as my sister Amanda's, the 28th of December. By tradition, he throws a karaoke party in Bristol, where he lives, every year. John and I left his parents house on the 27th to stay at Mike's, John's aunt's boyfriend, house. First of all, we checked the price on this house afterward and it was worth about a million dollars. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I have stayed in a house worth a million bucks.
You walked in and there was an elaborate hallway with stairs wounding up. To the right was a living room about the size of my apartment in Torrance. Huge carpet, hardwood floors, full windows, and a fireplace. If you looked up, you had the elaborate ceiling decorations of the Victorian Era to gaze upon. Down the hall past the stairs was the dining room on the right, and then the kitchen. Again, elaborate, everything you could imagine technologically, tile floors, etc. To the right of the kitchen was, I guess you would call it, a conservatory. It had three sofa's, all glass, bookshelfs, and a coffee table. Then there was a wooden deck outside with table and chairs and and an expansive back garden. Upstairs took you to three bedrooms, one bathroom, and an office. My bedroom was about as big as mom's living room, decorated ceiling, gorgeous chandelier, etc. I was in heaven. The heat was on timers so we were never cold. My only picky thing was that there was only one toilet for the entire house. Other than that, I want one, can I have a house just like that please for next Christmas! Anyone, . . . anyone?
Well, after staying there a night we headed off to Matt's Karaoke Party. He had actually rented a Karaoke room upstairs in a pub. Due to tradition, the first song of the evening was 'Daydream Believer' Everyone from Bristol that I knew, and quite a few I hadn't met yet, were there singing. Only the boys could really sing, the girls tried, including myself, but we had fun doing it. I would have to say Nick and John, not my John but Al's brother were the best in my opinion.
I couldn't sing, my voice was gone due to my cold, but I still belted out as best as I could, 'I Will Survive', 'Sweet Home Alabama', 'Walk Like an Egyptian', and 'Hit Me With Your Best Shot'. What was surprising was how many of the English people there had no clue who Pat Benatar was. They had never heard that song before!
John sang many songs, but I remember him singing, 'Waterloo', 'I Would Walk Five Hundred Miles' and together we sang 'Imagine Me and You' by the Turtles. At the end of the night, again as tradition, everyone got up on the stage and sang 'Hey Jude'. It was so much fun and I can't wait again for December 28th, next year I plan on being healthy!!!!!!!!!!!!
New Year's Eve
The plan was to spend New Year's at the Winchester, or somewhere local. John and I decided we did not want to fight the crowd in Central London. So we went down to the Winchester, met up with Chris, Dee, Dan, Simon, and everyone else and sat and drank until 10 minutes before midnight. Then we walked the 39 steps to Nicola, Gid, and Helen's apartment and celebrated with them and the rest of the people at her party. It was great. They had the TV on and we could hear Big Ben go off, see the fireworks on the Thames, and tried singing to the best of our ability, 'Auld Lang Syne'. After that different DJ's, including my very own John, played dance music and we all cut loose, dancing like mad! Such a life and such friends I have over here.
It was the best New Year's I have had in a VERY very long time.
Well, onto Matt's Karaoke Party and New Year's Eve.
The Karaoke Party
Matt is John's best friend and the groom in the wedding we will be attending in May and then in Portugal in September. His birthday falls on the same day as my sister Amanda's, the 28th of December. By tradition, he throws a karaoke party in Bristol, where he lives, every year. John and I left his parents house on the 27th to stay at Mike's, John's aunt's boyfriend, house. First of all, we checked the price on this house afterward and it was worth about a million dollars. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I have stayed in a house worth a million bucks.
You walked in and there was an elaborate hallway with stairs wounding up. To the right was a living room about the size of my apartment in Torrance. Huge carpet, hardwood floors, full windows, and a fireplace. If you looked up, you had the elaborate ceiling decorations of the Victorian Era to gaze upon. Down the hall past the stairs was the dining room on the right, and then the kitchen. Again, elaborate, everything you could imagine technologically, tile floors, etc. To the right of the kitchen was, I guess you would call it, a conservatory. It had three sofa's, all glass, bookshelfs, and a coffee table. Then there was a wooden deck outside with table and chairs and and an expansive back garden. Upstairs took you to three bedrooms, one bathroom, and an office. My bedroom was about as big as mom's living room, decorated ceiling, gorgeous chandelier, etc. I was in heaven. The heat was on timers so we were never cold. My only picky thing was that there was only one toilet for the entire house. Other than that, I want one, can I have a house just like that please for next Christmas! Anyone, . . . anyone?
Well, after staying there a night we headed off to Matt's Karaoke Party. He had actually rented a Karaoke room upstairs in a pub. Due to tradition, the first song of the evening was 'Daydream Believer' Everyone from Bristol that I knew, and quite a few I hadn't met yet, were there singing. Only the boys could really sing, the girls tried, including myself, but we had fun doing it. I would have to say Nick and John, not my John but Al's brother were the best in my opinion.
I couldn't sing, my voice was gone due to my cold, but I still belted out as best as I could, 'I Will Survive', 'Sweet Home Alabama', 'Walk Like an Egyptian', and 'Hit Me With Your Best Shot'. What was surprising was how many of the English people there had no clue who Pat Benatar was. They had never heard that song before!
John sang many songs, but I remember him singing, 'Waterloo', 'I Would Walk Five Hundred Miles' and together we sang 'Imagine Me and You' by the Turtles. At the end of the night, again as tradition, everyone got up on the stage and sang 'Hey Jude'. It was so much fun and I can't wait again for December 28th, next year I plan on being healthy!!!!!!!!!!!!
New Year's Eve
The plan was to spend New Year's at the Winchester, or somewhere local. John and I decided we did not want to fight the crowd in Central London. So we went down to the Winchester, met up with Chris, Dee, Dan, Simon, and everyone else and sat and drank until 10 minutes before midnight. Then we walked the 39 steps to Nicola, Gid, and Helen's apartment and celebrated with them and the rest of the people at her party. It was great. They had the TV on and we could hear Big Ben go off, see the fireworks on the Thames, and tried singing to the best of our ability, 'Auld Lang Syne'. After that different DJ's, including my very own John, played dance music and we all cut loose, dancing like mad! Such a life and such friends I have over here.
It was the best New Year's I have had in a VERY very long time.
Thursday, 31 January 2008
Christmas in England
Well, here it is, my post about Christmas . . . over a month late. But as most of you now know, I have started in a new school where a permanent position is available, so therefore I have been working my little tush off to show my best as a teacher. I apologize for the delay, but I am sure you will understand.
Christmas in England . . . . . is everything it is in movies, books, and TV . . . . except without the snow. Mince pies that remind me of Mom's empanadas, mulled wine with a dash of cinnamon, sherry and port, the Nutcracker at the Royal Opera House, people singing Christmas Carols, Christmas pudding everything.
I was very sick this Christmas so forgive my lapses in memory. The one thing I can tell you for sure is, it is a VERY big deal in schools. I came in from playground duty one day and there was the head, with some governors of the school, offering me a sherry and a mince pie. . . . THIS IS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WORK DAY PEOPLE! It wasn't any big deal, as long as none of the teachers indulged, which of course none of us did. We made Christmas biscuits (cookies) as a class, handed out Christmas cards to everyone in class like students do in America for Valentine's, and had a nativity play for the parents! It was a WHOLE new experience working during Christmas! A little stressful because of the shopping and Christmas cards. The post office insists on weighing EVERY card I send internationally . . .individually, so yes, it took some time. And remember, I am use to having Christmas off! I am use to taking my time and enjoying the entire month of December as my vacation!
Well, after Edinburgh, John and I headed to John's parents house again. We arrived Christmas Eve, in the afternoon, just in time for lunch. I then headed upstairs to take a nap, ( I was still very sick at this point), while everyone prepared for the Rivers' traditional neighborhood Christmas party. It was amazing. Everyone from the neighborhood came over and they sang Christmas Carols while people took turns playing the piano. There was wine, appetizers, and music everywhere. I was taken on a whirlwind tour by John's parents who couldn't wait to introduce me to everyone! I am sorry to say, me being in my feverish state at the time, I don't remember many of the people. I do remember sitting and talking to John's Nan for a long time. She just lost her husband in mid-October and I could tell she was sort of sad. I sat with her and we talked for a while of John, her family, the parties of the past. I brought her food and drinks when she wanted them, then Jackie, John's aunt came to sit with her. Suddenly John's dad dragged me into the room where the piano was. We sang "If I Loved You" from the musical Carousel, which he knows is one of my favourites, and "Moon River" from Breakfast at Tiffany's.
It was a lot of fun and John's dad is a riot, I adore him.
Then John and I crashed and woke up the next morning. Actually, correction, I woke up, threw a pillow down at John who was sleeping on one of those fold away beds that turns into a chair, remember those from like 1985, and woke HIM up, then wished him Happy Christmas! He said Merry Christmas! back to me and went back to sleep. I threw another one and finally he went over to open our door. Our stockings were waiting outside the door as John said they would be. We opened them and then went downstairs for coffee and toast.
Finally, in the early afternoon, Jackie and her two young children Stan and Imogen came over, along with Nan and Jackie's boyfriend Mike. Imogen had reindeer antlers on and was parading around, bells ringing from the ends. Seeing this, Janet brought out a bunch of different silly hats, including two more pairs of reindeer antlers. We all put them on and had them on the rest of the afternoon. I think, knowing me as you all do, you now will believe I am with the right family. Oh, and I still have both my crazy santa hats, including the one that lights up! :-) For Christmas lunch we ate a dinner of turkey, stuffing, and roast vegetables and potatoes. Then we opened up the Christmas Crackers! These are a lot of fun and I got another crown, which I put on over my antlers! I think I also got nail clippers and a joke. You always get a hat, a prize, and a joke. Very cool!
Next but not last, Janet brought out the Christmas pudding. Now, upon first seeing this I thought, fruitcake! Then, John Sr. poured Courvoisier over it and lit it up. My first reaction to seeing this was, "What would Jenny say about lighting up Courvoisier like that?", and my section reaction was, " Wow, pretty!" It was really neat to see! I tried the pudding and was immediately overcome with the amount of liquor in that thing! I think my eyes watered. A few more bites though and I was good to go . . . . I think I actually did have a second piece. Now, whether it was the alcohol or my fever . . . I guess we will never know. ;-)
After Christmas lunch we opened presents. John's parents and family took a lot of time and effort to get me the gifts that they did. They were all very well thought out, and I am so grateful. I also got to open my gifts from my family, thank you all if I haven't already. I got to call my dad and Jacquie and speak to them. I can't wait to see them next Christmas and John can't wait to see Montana! Next we played a trivia game, two teams of five, along with an A-Team bottle opener that played the show's theme every time you pressed a button, which Imogen proceeded to do every time, whether we got a question right or not. (Jimmie, you might like one of those, except you don't like beer!) Our team lost, but not by much, I'll take the loss . . this time!
We then proceeded to watch Meet Me in St. Louis and Dr. Who's Christmas Special, which I thought was lousy this year. Then I went off to bed until midnight when I planned on calling my mom and family. John's parents keep a projector in the room we were staying in so I could fall asleep watching a movie every night. They have a wide variety of the classics and musicals, Mom you would be jealous. I fell asleep watching Singing in the Rain. It was a wonderful Christmas, despite being away from my family. I have to say it wouldn't have been so without the kindness and generosity of the Rivers family. Thank you with all my heart.
Christmas in England . . . . . is everything it is in movies, books, and TV . . . . except without the snow. Mince pies that remind me of Mom's empanadas, mulled wine with a dash of cinnamon, sherry and port, the Nutcracker at the Royal Opera House, people singing Christmas Carols, Christmas pudding everything.
I was very sick this Christmas so forgive my lapses in memory. The one thing I can tell you for sure is, it is a VERY big deal in schools. I came in from playground duty one day and there was the head, with some governors of the school, offering me a sherry and a mince pie. . . . THIS IS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WORK DAY PEOPLE! It wasn't any big deal, as long as none of the teachers indulged, which of course none of us did. We made Christmas biscuits (cookies) as a class, handed out Christmas cards to everyone in class like students do in America for Valentine's, and had a nativity play for the parents! It was a WHOLE new experience working during Christmas! A little stressful because of the shopping and Christmas cards. The post office insists on weighing EVERY card I send internationally . . .individually, so yes, it took some time. And remember, I am use to having Christmas off! I am use to taking my time and enjoying the entire month of December as my vacation!
Well, after Edinburgh, John and I headed to John's parents house again. We arrived Christmas Eve, in the afternoon, just in time for lunch. I then headed upstairs to take a nap, ( I was still very sick at this point), while everyone prepared for the Rivers' traditional neighborhood Christmas party. It was amazing. Everyone from the neighborhood came over and they sang Christmas Carols while people took turns playing the piano. There was wine, appetizers, and music everywhere. I was taken on a whirlwind tour by John's parents who couldn't wait to introduce me to everyone! I am sorry to say, me being in my feverish state at the time, I don't remember many of the people. I do remember sitting and talking to John's Nan for a long time. She just lost her husband in mid-October and I could tell she was sort of sad. I sat with her and we talked for a while of John, her family, the parties of the past. I brought her food and drinks when she wanted them, then Jackie, John's aunt came to sit with her. Suddenly John's dad dragged me into the room where the piano was. We sang "If I Loved You" from the musical Carousel, which he knows is one of my favourites, and "Moon River" from Breakfast at Tiffany's.
It was a lot of fun and John's dad is a riot, I adore him.
Then John and I crashed and woke up the next morning. Actually, correction, I woke up, threw a pillow down at John who was sleeping on one of those fold away beds that turns into a chair, remember those from like 1985, and woke HIM up, then wished him Happy Christmas! He said Merry Christmas! back to me and went back to sleep. I threw another one and finally he went over to open our door. Our stockings were waiting outside the door as John said they would be. We opened them and then went downstairs for coffee and toast.
Finally, in the early afternoon, Jackie and her two young children Stan and Imogen came over, along with Nan and Jackie's boyfriend Mike. Imogen had reindeer antlers on and was parading around, bells ringing from the ends. Seeing this, Janet brought out a bunch of different silly hats, including two more pairs of reindeer antlers. We all put them on and had them on the rest of the afternoon. I think, knowing me as you all do, you now will believe I am with the right family. Oh, and I still have both my crazy santa hats, including the one that lights up! :-) For Christmas lunch we ate a dinner of turkey, stuffing, and roast vegetables and potatoes. Then we opened up the Christmas Crackers! These are a lot of fun and I got another crown, which I put on over my antlers! I think I also got nail clippers and a joke. You always get a hat, a prize, and a joke. Very cool!
Next but not last, Janet brought out the Christmas pudding. Now, upon first seeing this I thought, fruitcake! Then, John Sr. poured Courvoisier over it and lit it up. My first reaction to seeing this was, "What would Jenny say about lighting up Courvoisier like that?", and my section reaction was, " Wow, pretty!" It was really neat to see! I tried the pudding and was immediately overcome with the amount of liquor in that thing! I think my eyes watered. A few more bites though and I was good to go . . . . I think I actually did have a second piece. Now, whether it was the alcohol or my fever . . . I guess we will never know. ;-)
After Christmas lunch we opened presents. John's parents and family took a lot of time and effort to get me the gifts that they did. They were all very well thought out, and I am so grateful. I also got to open my gifts from my family, thank you all if I haven't already. I got to call my dad and Jacquie and speak to them. I can't wait to see them next Christmas and John can't wait to see Montana! Next we played a trivia game, two teams of five, along with an A-Team bottle opener that played the show's theme every time you pressed a button, which Imogen proceeded to do every time, whether we got a question right or not. (Jimmie, you might like one of those, except you don't like beer!) Our team lost, but not by much, I'll take the loss . . this time!
We then proceeded to watch Meet Me in St. Louis and Dr. Who's Christmas Special, which I thought was lousy this year. Then I went off to bed until midnight when I planned on calling my mom and family. John's parents keep a projector in the room we were staying in so I could fall asleep watching a movie every night. They have a wide variety of the classics and musicals, Mom you would be jealous. I fell asleep watching Singing in the Rain. It was a wonderful Christmas, despite being away from my family. I have to say it wouldn't have been so without the kindness and generosity of the Rivers family. Thank you with all my heart.
Sunday, 30 December 2007
Edinburgh
Hello my faithful readers!
Well I know it has been a while but I have been out of town before, during, and after Christmas. Our first trip was to Edinburgh, Scotland. We took the train to make sure I got to see plenty of English countryside. I still cannot get over the beauty of it, even in winter. This time we went up through the Lakes District, the largest national park in England, and that in itself was amazing. It reminded me very much of Montana at this time of year, staggering mountains, valleys of grass, craggy cliffs. It definitely looked very much like it did in A and E's Pride and Prejudice, if you have seen that.
Once we got to Edinburgh it was already night. It is completely dark by 4pm everyday in England, and I am positive it was more like 3:45 in Scotland. I have learned to be nocturnal, as John puts it. Anywho, we went and walked around the German Christmas Market. The stalls and crafts were amazing. I also had a German pork steak roll and a hot dog. It was fun and we were starving from the train trip. We also went on the carousel and ferris wheel, but John refused to let me go on the Helter Skelter slide. Hmmm, there is one down here in Hyde Park! ;-) Then we went and had a beer at a pub called the Theater Royal. The beer was called Edinburgh Gold, and let me tell you, it was dangerously too easy to drink. I only had a couple but then I changed to something else because I knew it could spell trouble.
The next day we walked around Edinburgh, which was built on a hill by the way, lots of walking up hill, and made it up to the old city. The old city is built around a plateau, upon which sits Edinburgh castle. It is built into the cliffs of the plateau, and as we discovered later, the cracks of the plateau were used as dungeons. It was the most imposing castle I have seen so far. I know, I know, the Tower and all, but it isn't built into a mountain people! I thought I was looking at Dracula's lair instead of where Mary, Queen of Scots lived! After another long walk up the side of the plateau we made it to the castle. It was very impressive and had a tiny chapel about 1000 years old on top. While we were walking around the fog was rolling in, making the whole thing atmospheric. We also got to witness the 1 o'clock gun. The soldiers of the castle fire off a cannon at 1 o'clock everyday. John got a video clip of it, I will see if he can upload it to my blog.
For me the highlight of the castle was not seeing the paintings of Scottish kings and queens. Nor was it seeing the room that King James I of England was born in. For me, it was to see the Stone of Destiny. There are many rumours about this stone, that it came from Israel and was Jacob's pillow when he had his ladder dream. Part of it was supposedly given away to the Irish and used as the Blarney Stone, which I have already seen. The most important tradition with the stone was its importance in coronations. Scottish kings sat on it when they were crowned. When Edward I invaded Scotland, in 1296, he took the stone down to England and had a coronation chair built that would fit the stone underneath it. This is the same coronation chair that all monarchs have sat in since then, and the stone was only returned in 1996. It must return to England though, when Charles becomes king, but only for the coronation itself.
After that we walked down to a tour called Mary Kings Close. Basically, remember what I said about Edinburgh being built on a hill, well houses were built going up this hill until they reached the top. These rows of houses were all of six feet across from each other and the small streets that they formed were called closes. In the 1700's, in order to build a much larger building at the top of the hill, the town builders sheared off the tops of the houses, reinforced them, and used them as the foundation of the Royal Exchange building. The houses were left, covered over, underneath for hundreds of years. Now they actually take you down into these streets and tell you about the plague, the people that lived there, and of course, the ghost stories. It was very interesting to walk through these old houses and to hear about the sanitation, into the streets people, of the period. Here is a webpage with some pictures . . .
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_King's_Close
After that we went and had dinner. I was determined to try haggis and so was John. It was overpoweringly spicy and filling but it was very tasty. It wasn't sausage looking or, well, stomach looking in anyway, I think they just served us the filling and not the casing. After dinner we were going to go on a literary tour but the cold was getting to both of us. It was freezing at night and near freezing during the day, with or without the fog. I was trying to make the best of it but I could tell that the cold was getting to John. We finally went and saw a movie in the evening instead of going on the tour.
The next morning I woke up with a cold. I am pretty positive I got it from riding on the ferris wheel in the fog and cold. I coughed and coughed, had a fever for about three days, and am still coughing a week and a half later. I haven't had a cold like this in years! Fortunately we were able to get earlier tickets home on the train and go down the Eastern coast of Scotland and England. I got to see Berwick-upon-Tweed, the northernmost English city. I also saw the North Sea and the Yorkshire moors mentioned in the book The Secret Garden. It was definitely a trip of a lifetime, a few more dreams coming true to check off my list.
Next . . . Christmas in England!
Well I know it has been a while but I have been out of town before, during, and after Christmas. Our first trip was to Edinburgh, Scotland. We took the train to make sure I got to see plenty of English countryside. I still cannot get over the beauty of it, even in winter. This time we went up through the Lakes District, the largest national park in England, and that in itself was amazing. It reminded me very much of Montana at this time of year, staggering mountains, valleys of grass, craggy cliffs. It definitely looked very much like it did in A and E's Pride and Prejudice, if you have seen that.
Once we got to Edinburgh it was already night. It is completely dark by 4pm everyday in England, and I am positive it was more like 3:45 in Scotland. I have learned to be nocturnal, as John puts it. Anywho, we went and walked around the German Christmas Market. The stalls and crafts were amazing. I also had a German pork steak roll and a hot dog. It was fun and we were starving from the train trip. We also went on the carousel and ferris wheel, but John refused to let me go on the Helter Skelter slide. Hmmm, there is one down here in Hyde Park! ;-) Then we went and had a beer at a pub called the Theater Royal. The beer was called Edinburgh Gold, and let me tell you, it was dangerously too easy to drink. I only had a couple but then I changed to something else because I knew it could spell trouble.
The next day we walked around Edinburgh, which was built on a hill by the way, lots of walking up hill, and made it up to the old city. The old city is built around a plateau, upon which sits Edinburgh castle. It is built into the cliffs of the plateau, and as we discovered later, the cracks of the plateau were used as dungeons. It was the most imposing castle I have seen so far. I know, I know, the Tower and all, but it isn't built into a mountain people! I thought I was looking at Dracula's lair instead of where Mary, Queen of Scots lived! After another long walk up the side of the plateau we made it to the castle. It was very impressive and had a tiny chapel about 1000 years old on top. While we were walking around the fog was rolling in, making the whole thing atmospheric. We also got to witness the 1 o'clock gun. The soldiers of the castle fire off a cannon at 1 o'clock everyday. John got a video clip of it, I will see if he can upload it to my blog.
For me the highlight of the castle was not seeing the paintings of Scottish kings and queens. Nor was it seeing the room that King James I of England was born in. For me, it was to see the Stone of Destiny. There are many rumours about this stone, that it came from Israel and was Jacob's pillow when he had his ladder dream. Part of it was supposedly given away to the Irish and used as the Blarney Stone, which I have already seen. The most important tradition with the stone was its importance in coronations. Scottish kings sat on it when they were crowned. When Edward I invaded Scotland, in 1296, he took the stone down to England and had a coronation chair built that would fit the stone underneath it. This is the same coronation chair that all monarchs have sat in since then, and the stone was only returned in 1996. It must return to England though, when Charles becomes king, but only for the coronation itself.
After that we walked down to a tour called Mary Kings Close. Basically, remember what I said about Edinburgh being built on a hill, well houses were built going up this hill until they reached the top. These rows of houses were all of six feet across from each other and the small streets that they formed were called closes. In the 1700's, in order to build a much larger building at the top of the hill, the town builders sheared off the tops of the houses, reinforced them, and used them as the foundation of the Royal Exchange building. The houses were left, covered over, underneath for hundreds of years. Now they actually take you down into these streets and tell you about the plague, the people that lived there, and of course, the ghost stories. It was very interesting to walk through these old houses and to hear about the sanitation, into the streets people, of the period. Here is a webpage with some pictures . . .
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_King's_Close
After that we went and had dinner. I was determined to try haggis and so was John. It was overpoweringly spicy and filling but it was very tasty. It wasn't sausage looking or, well, stomach looking in anyway, I think they just served us the filling and not the casing. After dinner we were going to go on a literary tour but the cold was getting to both of us. It was freezing at night and near freezing during the day, with or without the fog. I was trying to make the best of it but I could tell that the cold was getting to John. We finally went and saw a movie in the evening instead of going on the tour.
The next morning I woke up with a cold. I am pretty positive I got it from riding on the ferris wheel in the fog and cold. I coughed and coughed, had a fever for about three days, and am still coughing a week and a half later. I haven't had a cold like this in years! Fortunately we were able to get earlier tickets home on the train and go down the Eastern coast of Scotland and England. I got to see Berwick-upon-Tweed, the northernmost English city. I also saw the North Sea and the Yorkshire moors mentioned in the book The Secret Garden. It was definitely a trip of a lifetime, a few more dreams coming true to check off my list.
Next . . . Christmas in England!
Sunday, 2 December 2007
Ulysses by Tennyson
I "discovered" this poem by Tennyson today. I really enjoyed it and found it inspiring. I hope you enjoy it and become inspired too.
Cory
Ulysses"
Cory
Ulysses"
Complete Text
It little profits that an idle king,
By this still hearth, among these barren crags,
Match'd with an aged wife, I mete and dole
Unequal laws unto a savage race,
That hoard, and sleep, and feed, and know not me.
I cannot rest from travel: I will drink
Life to the lees: All times I have enjoy'd
Greatly, have suffer'd greatly, both with those
That loved me, and alone, on shore, and when
Thro' scudding drifts the rainy Hyades
Vext the dim sea: I am become a name;
For always roaming with a hungry heart
Much have I seen and known; cities of men
And manners, climates, councils, governments,
Myself not least, but honour'd of them all;
I am a part of all that I have met;
Yet all experience is an arch wherethro'
Gleams that untravell'd world whose margin fades
For ever and forever when I move.
How dull it is to pause, to make an end,
To rust unburnish'd, not to shine in use!
As tho' to breathe were life! Life piled on life
Were all too little, and of one to me
Little remains: but every hour is saved
From that eternal silence, something more,
A bringer of new things; and vile it were
For some three suns to store and hoard myself,
And this gray spirit yearning in desire
To follow knowledge like a sinking star,
Beyond the utmost bound of human thought.
There lies the port; the vessel puffs her sail:
There gloom the dark, broad seas.
Old age hath yet his honour and his toil;
Death closes all: but something ere the end,
Some work of noble note, may yet be done,
Not unbecoming men that strove with Gods.
The lights begin to twinkle from the rocks:
The long day wanes: the slow moon climbs: the deep
Moans round with many voices. Come, my friends,
'T is not too late to seek a newer world.
Push off, and sitting well in order smite
The sounding furrows; for my purpose holds
To sail beyond the sunset, and the baths
Of all the western stars, until I die.
It may be that the gulfs will wash us down:
It may be we shall touch the Happy Isles,
Tho' much is taken, much abides; and tho'
We are not now that strength which in old days
Moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are;
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.
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