Saturday, 30 May 2009
Preparing for Ireland
A week to go and then we are setting off to Wales and Ireland. Will be giving Hymie a thorough clean this weekend in readiness for our summer holidays.
Monday, 18 May 2009
17th May
Leave Warwick, heading for Leicester to see Gunfield Vizsla's which is the kennels where we hope to get our new puppy from.
Tina has done loads of research on Vizsla's and after seeing them in the flesh they are the perfect dog for us - they are simply gorgeous - see photo.
Hoping that we will get a puppy from a litter around December / January time and once Tina has got it puppy trained I hope to train it in field trials. (hunt, point and retrieve - HPR)
This is our last weekend away until we have our two week holiday to Eire and Wales in early June.
Warwick - 15th - 17th May
16th May.
Tina has a poor nights sleep but we are both in good spirits and after showers and breakfast walk into town and visit Lord Leycester's hospital, http://www.lordleycester.com/which isn't, but was set up as a charitable foundation to house the elderly.
On the way in Tina stumbles and falls on a slippery cobble and is quite shaken but uninjured but a bit bruised.
The buildings are quite amazing as was the Brethren's kitchen which serves some fantastic homemade cakes - I have a lemon drizzle cake and Tina has Victoria sponge.
Attached to the building is a knot garden and the master's garden - both very impressive and include a pineapple house.
We then head for the castle having avoided the earlier shower and a procession of Town Criers, who are having a competition, which we stumble on later in the day - oh yeah, oh yeah!
Arrive at the castle and do the 'Royal Weekend Party, the State Rooms, Kingmaker, Gaol, the parapet and towers - 537 steps, in the rain - even Tina, against her better judgement does it.
We also watch the bird's of prey exhibition - see photo's.
Pretty tired and slightly wet as we cannot avoid all the showers and head back to the campsite and read the papers and Tina has a short nap.
Then get ready to go out and take a taxi to the Cellar restaurant and have a grown up evening starting off with G&T's, a nice bottle of Pinot Grigio, olives, Chef's appetiser: ham hock, then game terrine, ling, and six cheeses - me and asparagus, belly pork and trio of brulee's - Tina. I even indulge in a glass of Port with my cheese. Then it's a taxi back feeling quite stuffed.
Bad nights sleep again - next door motor home watching Eurovision very loudly and then at one 'o' clock are woken by a noisy couple in a caravan opposite talking very noisily and then proceeding to have a very loud phone conversation with Leah, who seems to be threatening to take an overdose - all in all not very conducive to sleeping well. (Bloody tuggers) We also get pretty short shrift from the wardens when we mention it in the morning, who were really unsympathetic!
Wake up the next morning at 08:00 to go and see the doggies.
Warwick - 15th - 17th May
15th May - take a leisurely trip up to Warwick after visiting the reptile shop and putting a deposit on a corn snake - Chester - see Life with Nutmeg.
Arrive at campsite at Warwick racecourse shortly after midday and set up on our pitch and have lunch and read the newspapers.
About mid-afternoon we take a short walk into Warwick to assess the lie of the land i.e. where the castle is and where the Cellar restaurant is, which we have booked for Saturday night.
Walk into town via the Westgate, where there are some fantastic medieval buildings (Lord Leycester's Hospital - see Saturday's entry when we visit.) After walking around the town we stop off for afternoon tea at Thomas Oken's house and have some proper tea and passable cakes.
Head back to the campsite, avoiding the rain showers and arrive back and have some wine, crackers and nuts. Then we cook dinner - lamb steaks, beefburgers and ratatouille.
Watch 'Forgetting Sarah Marshall' and can hardly hear it due to the pounding rain on the roof.
Tina has a poor nights sleep.
Monday, 11 May 2009
Paris - 6th - 9th May
Saturday 9th May.
Heading home but need to get fuel, having unsuccessfully tried yesterday on the way back from Versailles.
Plug details in to satnav and first attempt takes us to the main boulevard in Maison La-Fitte, which is tiny and unmanned so reset the satnav for the Carrefour and hope that there are no height restrictions.
Drive through some delightful parts of M L-F and past the local chateau - all very nice and eventually get to the Carrefour at Sartrouville and fortunately no height barrier, for the petrol station but there is for the hypermarket car park - so what do you do if you need to go shopping en route in your motor home!
Fill up and head off to Calais - very circuitous route back to the autoroute but we get there in the end and arrive early at the Tunnel sous Manche and catch an earlier train so arrive home about 16:00.
Next week Warwick for a short break.
Heading home but need to get fuel, having unsuccessfully tried yesterday on the way back from Versailles.
Plug details in to satnav and first attempt takes us to the main boulevard in Maison La-Fitte, which is tiny and unmanned so reset the satnav for the Carrefour and hope that there are no height restrictions.
Drive through some delightful parts of M L-F and past the local chateau - all very nice and eventually get to the Carrefour at Sartrouville and fortunately no height barrier, for the petrol station but there is for the hypermarket car park - so what do you do if you need to go shopping en route in your motor home!
Fill up and head off to Calais - very circuitous route back to the autoroute but we get there in the end and arrive early at the Tunnel sous Manche and catch an earlier train so arrive home about 16:00.
Next week Warwick for a short break.
Paris - 6th - 9th May
Friday 8th May
Both sleep very well but eventually woken up by the rowdy Dutch who are saying their goodbye’s right outside our motor home – then to cap it all they start singing about a boiler!
Today we are due to go to Versailles – a place I have wanted to go and see for many years. Head off after breakfast and whilst only 12 miles away takes about half an hour to get there.
On arrival we find out that the Palace is right in the heart of the town and have difficulty parking: first of all try the coach car park but get beeped at so carry on round to the car park, but hey guess what; there is a height barrier (2.5m), which we cannot get under. So we carry on round following the other car park signs but the next one is an underground car park. This has all the hallmarks of Freiberg so we decide to go round and try the coach park again. Eventually drive round but it costs €53 for a coach so we decide not to park there and go round to where we saw some cars parked on the edge of the road but no, the kerb is too high and now we are heading out of Versailles, turn around and head back – both of us pretty tense and pissed off, feels like another letter to Sarkozy as neither of us can believe that there is no where for a motor home to park – sacre bleu!
Head round again and find on street parking and manage to squeeze Hymie in the last space, about 300 yards from the entrance to the palace – only problem is we can only park here for a maximum of 2-hours. Really fed up now and start to head back, get caught up in a parade – it appears that 8th May is a national holiday here. Get diverted and follow signs for an alternative car park but end up going down another street and get caught up in the parade again – decide to do a 5 point turn in Hymie, much to the annoyance of the Frenchwoman behind me who clearly doesn’t understand that there’s no where for her to go as the traffic is stopped – hey you know the French see a space they want to get in it.
This finally is it so we decide to head back and go into Paris and go to the restaurant that we wished we had gone to on Thursday – only thing is I’m running out of fuel, fortunately I recall a petrol station on the way in to Versailles.
Pull in to petrol station – height limit 3m and we just squeeze in only to find that it is unmanned and only accepts cards and as we all know English credit cards are not accepted in French petrol stations unless they are on the Auto route – sacre f***ing bleu again.
Anyhow, we have enough fuel to get us back and we then head up to the station – same request as yesterday but get charged more but still receive four tickets.
Train arrives shortly after and head for le Chatelet les Halles, where we change for the Metro to St. Michel.
Arrive and head for the restaurant, slight confusion as to which one it was as today there is no one outside whereas yesterday it was heaving – slight crises of confidence and the maitre’d of the Italian next door tries to tempt us in but we have the courage of our convictions and stick with the French one and sit outside.
With passable French we make ourselves understood and understand the menu and order mozzarella and tomato and mushrooms and garlic, both fantastic followed by steak and scallops and filet of fishy, again pretty magnificent – this is the one redeeming quality of the French and France, sitting outside with a bottle of Sancerre and delicious food.
It is pleasantly warm and incredible relaxing, the only slight downside is the number of French who smoke – sacre bleu – four bikers next to us who not only smoke a lot the two men had a pastis and the best part of a bottle of wine. In the Italian next door there are two women and one of them is chain smoking, no sooner does she put one out then she lights up another. I love people watching.
Well the French bikers all have starters but the woman forgo main courses for cigarettes, and then they all have dessert. We also have dessert profiteroles de maison and crème brulee, followed by café / tea. A perfect lunch, just warm enough to sit outside, great food and a decent bottle of wine.
Don’t intend to do any sightseeing this afternoon so head back to the metro and then RER back to Maisons la-fitte. Oh, the tickets we used on the way in still work for both the metro and the RER on the way back – so what were the other two tickets for?
Intention is to get some bread and cheese for tea but as we mentioned today is a national holiday and the fromagerie and even the supermarche is closed. Fortunately I found a boulangerie / patisserie that has the most fantastic selection of jewel like cakes and macaroons and even though we have already had a sweet buy a tarte citron and a Kani – raspberries and cream in a pink heart shaped macaroon – delicious.
Both sleep very well but eventually woken up by the rowdy Dutch who are saying their goodbye’s right outside our motor home – then to cap it all they start singing about a boiler!
Today we are due to go to Versailles – a place I have wanted to go and see for many years. Head off after breakfast and whilst only 12 miles away takes about half an hour to get there.
On arrival we find out that the Palace is right in the heart of the town and have difficulty parking: first of all try the coach car park but get beeped at so carry on round to the car park, but hey guess what; there is a height barrier (2.5m), which we cannot get under. So we carry on round following the other car park signs but the next one is an underground car park. This has all the hallmarks of Freiberg so we decide to go round and try the coach park again. Eventually drive round but it costs €53 for a coach so we decide not to park there and go round to where we saw some cars parked on the edge of the road but no, the kerb is too high and now we are heading out of Versailles, turn around and head back – both of us pretty tense and pissed off, feels like another letter to Sarkozy as neither of us can believe that there is no where for a motor home to park – sacre bleu!
Head round again and find on street parking and manage to squeeze Hymie in the last space, about 300 yards from the entrance to the palace – only problem is we can only park here for a maximum of 2-hours. Really fed up now and start to head back, get caught up in a parade – it appears that 8th May is a national holiday here. Get diverted and follow signs for an alternative car park but end up going down another street and get caught up in the parade again – decide to do a 5 point turn in Hymie, much to the annoyance of the Frenchwoman behind me who clearly doesn’t understand that there’s no where for her to go as the traffic is stopped – hey you know the French see a space they want to get in it.
This finally is it so we decide to head back and go into Paris and go to the restaurant that we wished we had gone to on Thursday – only thing is I’m running out of fuel, fortunately I recall a petrol station on the way in to Versailles.
Pull in to petrol station – height limit 3m and we just squeeze in only to find that it is unmanned and only accepts cards and as we all know English credit cards are not accepted in French petrol stations unless they are on the Auto route – sacre f***ing bleu again.
Anyhow, we have enough fuel to get us back and we then head up to the station – same request as yesterday but get charged more but still receive four tickets.
Train arrives shortly after and head for le Chatelet les Halles, where we change for the Metro to St. Michel.
Arrive and head for the restaurant, slight confusion as to which one it was as today there is no one outside whereas yesterday it was heaving – slight crises of confidence and the maitre’d of the Italian next door tries to tempt us in but we have the courage of our convictions and stick with the French one and sit outside.
With passable French we make ourselves understood and understand the menu and order mozzarella and tomato and mushrooms and garlic, both fantastic followed by steak and scallops and filet of fishy, again pretty magnificent – this is the one redeeming quality of the French and France, sitting outside with a bottle of Sancerre and delicious food.
It is pleasantly warm and incredible relaxing, the only slight downside is the number of French who smoke – sacre bleu – four bikers next to us who not only smoke a lot the two men had a pastis and the best part of a bottle of wine. In the Italian next door there are two women and one of them is chain smoking, no sooner does she put one out then she lights up another. I love people watching.
Well the French bikers all have starters but the woman forgo main courses for cigarettes, and then they all have dessert. We also have dessert profiteroles de maison and crème brulee, followed by café / tea. A perfect lunch, just warm enough to sit outside, great food and a decent bottle of wine.
Don’t intend to do any sightseeing this afternoon so head back to the metro and then RER back to Maisons la-fitte. Oh, the tickets we used on the way in still work for both the metro and the RER on the way back – so what were the other two tickets for?
Intention is to get some bread and cheese for tea but as we mentioned today is a national holiday and the fromagerie and even the supermarche is closed. Fortunately I found a boulangerie / patisserie that has the most fantastic selection of jewel like cakes and macaroons and even though we have already had a sweet buy a tarte citron and a Kani – raspberries and cream in a pink heart shaped macaroon – delicious.
Paris - 6th - 9th May
Thursday 7th May
Actually don’t sleep too badly, though did get woken occasionally by the trains. Tina took ages to get off to sleep as she felt quite unwell. We shower and are off to the station about 09:30 and catch the 10:00 train in to Paris – Chatelet. Try to purchase all day travel card tickets but my French and the ticket master’s English don’t quite match up and we end up with tickets that get us into Paris and one metro journey.
It’s a longish walk to the right Metro station (line 11) to get to Republique and then manage to find the Patisserie – Des Idees – and it lives up to expectations – really tiny boulangerie selling various ‘escargots’, which are similar to pain au raisins but mine has chocolat and pistache and Tina has a red one – we cannot remember what was in it but they were both scrummy – Tina also has a banana and chocolat pave – mini roll.
We sit outside in this tiny little backstreet having these delicious pastries and wonder how the Times ever stumbled upon this place.
Then walk back to Republique and catch the metro back to Hotel de Ville – first ticket still working and alight here for the short walk over to Notre Dame.
The Cathedral is free to enter but we have the audio guide - €5 and my driving licence as security and wander around – it is really busy and very noisy – no respect at all!!!
Not overly impressed with the audio guide as it really doesn’t do the cathedral justice – not like the guide in Wells.
Back outside and it is a glorious spring day and we cross the to the Latin Quarter in search of a typical French restaurant, we dismiss the first two and end up having the fixe prix menu at a random back street restaurant – Tina Anchovies, tagine (lamb, prunes, apricots) and pear and almond tarte and I have eggs mayonnaise, porc and pineapple slices – all OK and only €12.50 a head.
Then we walk to St Michel Metro and pass a very nice looking restaurant – oh well. First tickets no longer work so try second tickets – these do and we take the metro to Barbes Rochouart and change for Anvers and take the Funicular up to the Sacre Coeur – it is really hot and we rest a while in the shade before going in, where we rest again and take in the atmosphere, discussing the architectural influences of the basilica – unbeknownst to either of us the Sacre Coeur was built in 1875!!! – modern architecture.
Pretty unimpressed with Paris – everywhere smells of pee and is pretty dirty – dogs allowed to mess on the streets – Tina is threatening to send a letter to Sarkozy.
It’s been a pretty tiring day so we head back to Anvers to catch the metro to Charles de Gaulle, but second set of tickets don’t work so we purchase a single metro ticket to CDG and then use our return RER tickets once we’re there. Take a double deck train back to Maisons-Lafitte and return to campsite for afternoon tea.
Early evening the Dutch gather across from us – must be 30+ with their portable Cadac’s for a BBQ and social gathering – we don’t get a invite so we open the wine and have olives, crackers and crisps – not envious at all. Very well behaved and disperse after only a few hours.
Actually don’t sleep too badly, though did get woken occasionally by the trains. Tina took ages to get off to sleep as she felt quite unwell. We shower and are off to the station about 09:30 and catch the 10:00 train in to Paris – Chatelet. Try to purchase all day travel card tickets but my French and the ticket master’s English don’t quite match up and we end up with tickets that get us into Paris and one metro journey.
It’s a longish walk to the right Metro station (line 11) to get to Republique and then manage to find the Patisserie – Des Idees – and it lives up to expectations – really tiny boulangerie selling various ‘escargots’, which are similar to pain au raisins but mine has chocolat and pistache and Tina has a red one – we cannot remember what was in it but they were both scrummy – Tina also has a banana and chocolat pave – mini roll.
We sit outside in this tiny little backstreet having these delicious pastries and wonder how the Times ever stumbled upon this place.
Then walk back to Republique and catch the metro back to Hotel de Ville – first ticket still working and alight here for the short walk over to Notre Dame.
The Cathedral is free to enter but we have the audio guide - €5 and my driving licence as security and wander around – it is really busy and very noisy – no respect at all!!!
Not overly impressed with the audio guide as it really doesn’t do the cathedral justice – not like the guide in Wells.
Back outside and it is a glorious spring day and we cross the to the Latin Quarter in search of a typical French restaurant, we dismiss the first two and end up having the fixe prix menu at a random back street restaurant – Tina Anchovies, tagine (lamb, prunes, apricots) and pear and almond tarte and I have eggs mayonnaise, porc and pineapple slices – all OK and only €12.50 a head.
Then we walk to St Michel Metro and pass a very nice looking restaurant – oh well. First tickets no longer work so try second tickets – these do and we take the metro to Barbes Rochouart and change for Anvers and take the Funicular up to the Sacre Coeur – it is really hot and we rest a while in the shade before going in, where we rest again and take in the atmosphere, discussing the architectural influences of the basilica – unbeknownst to either of us the Sacre Coeur was built in 1875!!! – modern architecture.
Pretty unimpressed with Paris – everywhere smells of pee and is pretty dirty – dogs allowed to mess on the streets – Tina is threatening to send a letter to Sarkozy.
It’s been a pretty tiring day so we head back to Anvers to catch the metro to Charles de Gaulle, but second set of tickets don’t work so we purchase a single metro ticket to CDG and then use our return RER tickets once we’re there. Take a double deck train back to Maisons-Lafitte and return to campsite for afternoon tea.
Early evening the Dutch gather across from us – must be 30+ with their portable Cadac’s for a BBQ and social gathering – we don’t get a invite so we open the wine and have olives, crackers and crisps – not envious at all. Very well behaved and disperse after only a few hours.
Paris - 6th - 9th May
Wednesday 6th May
Left home at 07:00 to catch the 10:20 shuttle from Folkestone – never seen the Channel Tunnel so quiet, but then we’ve never been mid-week before. Shared our carriage with a Ferrari and its twattish owner – gosh they were lucky to be in such great company! (Or as the train guard said it was our lucky day sharing a carriage with a Ferrari – I don’t think so.)
Windy but uneventful journey down to Paris arriving at Maison – Lafitte around 15:30 and set up overlooking the Seine.
After a cup of tea I wandered up to the town to see how far the station was (8 man minutes) and to purchase a lettuce for our salad – found a Charcuterie, Fromagerie but no greengrocerie – so went into the Casino supermarche and purchased required lettuce another cucumber and some shallots.
Returned back to the campsite to find Tina waiting for me at the entrance having gone for a little stroll herself.
The site is full of Dutch – who seem to know each other. It is either a national holiday in Holland or else this is some form of official club rally – more of that tomorrow.
Back to the pitch and time for wine and nibbles – crisps, crackers and olives.
A bottle of wine later we decide to start cooking dinner – out with the Cadac and start slowly frying the shallots, tomatoes and then the rib eye steak.
As with most French sites there is an abundance of moggies plus geese and here the ever present sound of trains and barges – all conspiring for a sleepless night.
At around 21:00 a very ropey Elnagh rolls up on to the pitch next door with a very young German family who proceed to be very noisy but fortunately they quieten down shortly after 22:00 and we retire just before 23:00.
Left home at 07:00 to catch the 10:20 shuttle from Folkestone – never seen the Channel Tunnel so quiet, but then we’ve never been mid-week before. Shared our carriage with a Ferrari and its twattish owner – gosh they were lucky to be in such great company! (Or as the train guard said it was our lucky day sharing a carriage with a Ferrari – I don’t think so.)
Windy but uneventful journey down to Paris arriving at Maison – Lafitte around 15:30 and set up overlooking the Seine.
After a cup of tea I wandered up to the town to see how far the station was (8 man minutes) and to purchase a lettuce for our salad – found a Charcuterie, Fromagerie but no greengrocerie – so went into the Casino supermarche and purchased required lettuce another cucumber and some shallots.
Returned back to the campsite to find Tina waiting for me at the entrance having gone for a little stroll herself.
The site is full of Dutch – who seem to know each other. It is either a national holiday in Holland or else this is some form of official club rally – more of that tomorrow.
Back to the pitch and time for wine and nibbles – crisps, crackers and olives.
A bottle of wine later we decide to start cooking dinner – out with the Cadac and start slowly frying the shallots, tomatoes and then the rib eye steak.
As with most French sites there is an abundance of moggies plus geese and here the ever present sound of trains and barges – all conspiring for a sleepless night.
At around 21:00 a very ropey Elnagh rolls up on to the pitch next door with a very young German family who proceed to be very noisy but fortunately they quieten down shortly after 22:00 and we retire just before 23:00.
Monday, 4 May 2009
Wells - 24th - 26th April
A short break this time as I'm only taking Friday off.
Set off to Cheddar caves and due to a road closure at Salisbury we end up taking a less direct route than I had expected but we get there via some very pretty villages in the Mendips and a drive down the gorge itself.
Park in the coach park and walk down to the main cave entrance, where Tina gets talking to the man from the RSPB whilst I sort out the parking ticket.
Explore the main caves and whilst we had been here 20+ years ago I don't remember it.
Afterwards we go back to Hymie and have lunch and then walk down to the second, smaller cave, which I do recall from our last visit, but has been Tolkienfied with a story of elves and dragons etc. Head for the museum and spend 10 minutes talking to the flint nappers, which was very interesting. It's a small museum telling the story of man's development of tools, fire and hunting skills.
Then head off for the campsite about 8 miles away, just outside Wells.
Arrive and there is an 8-month old beautiful looking Boxer in reception that licks and slobbers all over Tina and whilst he is quite excited Tina definitely eggs him on and ends up with scratched arms - but all is OK.
Site has recently been developed so looks quite bare but very well laid out and reasonable views, only downside is the new shower block isn't finished and as we find out in the morning the old one's only do cold water.
It's pleasant enough to sit outside with a cup of tea, so we do for a short while and then back inside and crack open a bottle of wine - very relaxing.
Next day after cold showers we walk into Wells, which did take about 15-minutes as promised by the site warden. It starts off very sunny but by the time we get there its has become overcast so we head for a little tea shop and have a cuppa. Fortunately we are inside when the heavens open for a short sharp shower.
Then we walk up to the market square and check out the potential venues for lunch, deciding on the Old Spot and phone and make a booking - good job to as they are quite busy - anyway lunch booked for 12:30 so it's off to the cathedral.
No wonder it costs £3k a day to run this place, it has the most wonderful oak beamed extension - just for the toilets, which have got to be the best public conveniences I've been in.
Join a guided tour of the cathedral, which was brilliant must do this more often as it is far more interesting than wondering around on your own.
Wells cathedral has a stunning series of three scissor arches, which were built to stop the tower falling down. (see above)
It's lunchtime and we go back to the Old Spot and have a very pleasant 3-course lunch for £15 a head plus wine: herring, belly pork and orange sponge pudding - T /Devon blue salad, chicken and almond tart - me.
Avoided a second downpour during lunch and afterwards go to the Bishop's palace, see the swan and it's bell, that it rings for food and have a wander around the house and gardens.
On the basis that we walked in to Wells and did a fair bit of walking during the day we take a taxi back and relax for the rest of the day.
Early May we're off to Paris.
Sunday, 3 May 2009
London - 26th - 29th March
Day 3
Going to the British museum today to see the Egyptian and Medieval exhibitions.
Decide to take train in to Victoria rather than London Bridge and on arrival find the tube line we want is closed so have to take a small detour using one of the other lines. Arrive at British museum and have a coffee before looking at the exhibits.
There's so much to see here, you could spend days but we limit ourselves to a few quality hours and then head off to Covent Garden for lunch.
Decide on Chez Gerrard - a French Bistro - but clearly Gerard isn't home as the Maitre d'ess says sniffily that they are fully booked. I appreciate that we don't look that smart - ruck sack, fleece, walking gear and trainers but it's not that posh a restaurant. Our refusal seriously miffs Tina and we wait and see whether this is a slight against our dress or whether they really are fully booked as we wait at the bottom of the stairs to see if anyone else is turned away - still undecided but think it was the way we were dressed.
End up at an English theme pub.
Tina's pretty shattered so we head back for a few hours relaxation before heading home tomorrow. These city breaks are very, very tiring - not much of a break.
We return and take a taxi back from the station.
Next month it's a Friday, Saturday break as I am running out of holiday and we're off to Wells.
London - 26th - 29th March
Day 2
Up and at 'em - surface around 08:00 and shower and breakfast and then take the short walk to Crystal Palace station and the 25 minute journey to London Bridge.
It's quite a walk from London Bridge to the Tower of London - it doesn't look quite as far on the map.
A great time at the Tower, this is my second time here but the last mus have been 35 years ago and all I remember was the armour and weapons in the White Tower. This time we see the Crown Jewels.
Had a very pleasant lunch in the Armouries restaurant - hot ham sandwich for me and Tina has a very large Greek salad.
Walk up to the tube and head off to Knightsbridge for an ice cream sundae at Harrod's - had a tropical fruit one and got a free monkey! (Furry monkey swizzle stick).
On our way back we alight at Green Park tube and head for Old Bond Street and the Mont Blanc shop and purchase another charm for Tina's bracelet - excellent service no airs and graces.
Decide to go for a drink and find a fiver in the street and despite Tina wanting me to hand this in - to whom! I keep it but agree to give it to charity.
After our drink we stop off at M&S and get some snacks for later when we get back.
On the train back we decide (Tina's decision) to get off at the station before Crystal Palace as we think this might in fact be nearer to the campsite - it is but not if you cannot find a direct route to walk.
Outside the station is a young lady with a gorgeous black lab puppy, which Tina pets as we ask for directions to the BBC mast, which we can see is quite close, but directions are duff and as we head off we can see that we are walking further away and up a very long steep hill. We end up walking about twice the distance as when we get to the top of the hill we then walk back the way we had come down a different road, basically a big u-shape.
London - 26th - 29th March
Day 1
Travel to London, well actually the campsite is at Crystal Palace, just under the BBC transmitter.
Arrive around midday and drive to pitch, only to find a fox lying there. He quickly scurries off and we set up and get the kettle on.
An afternoon spent relaxing and I go for a short (ish) walk to see how far the station is - about 20 minutes (15 if man walking).
On returning the fox is back out - see photo and then it pours down with rain.
Happily ensconced in Hymie we have a bottle of wine and dinner and bed early in preparation for assaulting London tomorrow.
York 19th - 22nd February 2009
Day 3
Up around 08:00 again and walk into the city after showers and brekkie - aiming to be first in the queue for the York Dungeon, only one problem it doesn't open till 10:00 so we decide to walk up to the Cathedral.
I go up the tower but as it's 275 steps Tina declines and waits for me at the bottom. When I return we tour the cathedral and undercroft - all very interesting - originally built on a Roman temple.
Time for a coffee and a cake so we find a small cafe for refreshments and once refueled walk back to the Dungeon and queue for about 40 minutes for what I must say is a particularly disappointing walk through some dark rooms - also v. expensive - tho' fortunately our York Pass covers the cost and with everything else we've done makes it a bit cheaper - but definitely not a value for money attraction.
Not wishing to walk around looking for somewhere to have lunch we choose an Italian just across the street. On first appearance it 'sells itself' as an independent family restaurant, which has expanded with a couple of other restaurants in London. We find out on our trip to London that it is actually part of a chain. Anyway the food was acceptable.
To finish off I go and buy a cornish pastie for Tina's dinner whilst she goes for the obligatory trip to Lakeland.
Then its back to Hymie, tho later there are fireworks to end the York festival that's been on all weekend.
Up and home tomorrow looking forward to next months trip to Londonium.
York 19th - 22nd February 2009
Day 2.
Up early - 08:00'ish and shower and breakfast and then walk up to the castle museum. Doesn't open till 09:30 so we had to wait a short while.
This really is a fabulous museum and we spend several hours here, having originally intended to finish by 11:00 and then go for brunch.
It's nearer to midday when we finish so we go for a 'lunfast', Tina has the full cooked and I have poached eggs and bacon - on wonderful freshly baked toasted bread.
After 'lunfast' we head for the Jorvik centre but the queues are horrendous so we go and purchase Tina a raincoat - very fashionable and then walk up through the shambles - quaint narrow original old street.
We then take the open top bus tour and then go for a mid afternoon drink and then on to the Jorvik centre and still have to queue but it's much shorter as it is near closing time.
The display was much shorter than I remember - oh well.
We decide that we should go for a drink and then dinner and after discounting two possible restaurants - one not open and one where the menu wasn't anything special we end up at the Biltmore for cocktails and people watching.
It's about 17:00 and as it's Friday the place is quite busy with people leaving work early for a pre-weekend drink. Tina has a couple of champagne cocktails and I have a couple of vodka based ones.
Then we go upstairs to the galleried restaurant that overlooks the bar for dinner and a bottle of wine, oh and more people watching as the owners seem to have their three kids at the bar and everyone is trying not get annoyed with them!
Very good food, though Tina doesn't finish her ribeye and asks for a doggy bag, which after a little resistance they do provide - slight concern that Tina may not re-heat it properly and catch something nasty.
Despite being a little merry and having walked for miles around York I encourage Tina to walk back - which under due protest she does.
York 19th - 22nd February 2009
We've decided to take several long weekend throughout the year and see some English cities.
Our first outing in Hymie this year is to York, which took about four hours to get there and as usual the satnav took us an interesting route!
Anyhoo we arrive early afternoon to the campsite, which is near the racecourse and overlooking the River Ouse and a short walk into the city.
Set up on the pitch, which takes all of five minutes and then get the kettle on and have a tea / coffee and some lunch.
It's a bit overcast but not raining so mid afternoon we walk along the river in to the city. Our initial port of call is the York Tourist Board to collect our York Pass, which allows entry to the main attractions in York.
The YTB couldn't be further away but we eventually find it and then decide to have a late afternoon tea at the famous Betty's Tea Rooms, it's about 16:00 and there's quite a long queue but we decide to wait.
Eventually get to the front and are shown downstairs, our choice as we didn't want to be sitting in the window being gawped at by passersby.
We both have a very nice pot of tea and cake - I had a warm fat rascal - a flat fruit / almond scone and Ceylon Blue Sapphire tea, Tina had the stem ginger cake but cannot recall which tea T had.
Afterwards we head back to the campsite - yes I made Tina walk back - I'm a harsh task master.
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