We are here! Home at last!
We have been trying to get our things back to normal such as car insurance, winter tires, unpacking, changing over things for winter, getting used to new things in Winnipeg such as garbage pickups, going through 3 huge piles of mail and visiting children and visiting grandbabies. The girls in Toronto are growing like weeds and Mackenzie is a firecracker who will shake the world. Everything seems to be moving along well even if we have tons of things left to do.
It's great to be home!
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Last day in Europe
We had sunshine!!!!!!!
Listen, this is a huge thing in the United Kingdom. We took the train to Helensburgh which is north of Glasgow and is the proud owner of The Hill House - a Rennie Mackintosh original creation. This house was commissioned by Mr. Blackie, a publisher, and was built in less than two years as his family home.
It sits at the top of the hill in the town, hence the name, and so we walked straight for 1 mile. The area is lovely but the house is in constant repair. You just can't build a house that can withstand the weather, especially weather that is always wet.
For G it was a dream to visit this house but we didn't get to it last time because it is so far out. He has a list of 9 places that he wants to visit that are all over the world and with his trip yesterday, he has only one left.
We stayed in a very cool hotel which was on the River Clyde and we woke up to the picture of the river out our window. Also, the river has a tide because it's is attached at one end to the ocean. It was very cool and somewhat comforting for me to watch the tide come in and go out 2 times a day and one morning we watched a sea lion floating and playing around in the river just outside our window.
Today, Tuesday, we head for home. First a stop in Toronto, and then the final flight on Wed. into Wpg. It's been a long trip and I hate my suitcase and my purse ;)
Listen, this is a huge thing in the United Kingdom. We took the train to Helensburgh which is north of Glasgow and is the proud owner of The Hill House - a Rennie Mackintosh original creation. This house was commissioned by Mr. Blackie, a publisher, and was built in less than two years as his family home.
It sits at the top of the hill in the town, hence the name, and so we walked straight for 1 mile. The area is lovely but the house is in constant repair. You just can't build a house that can withstand the weather, especially weather that is always wet.
For G it was a dream to visit this house but we didn't get to it last time because it is so far out. He has a list of 9 places that he wants to visit that are all over the world and with his trip yesterday, he has only one left.
We stayed in a very cool hotel which was on the River Clyde and we woke up to the picture of the river out our window. Also, the river has a tide because it's is attached at one end to the ocean. It was very cool and somewhat comforting for me to watch the tide come in and go out 2 times a day and one morning we watched a sea lion floating and playing around in the river just outside our window.
Today, Tuesday, we head for home. First a stop in Toronto, and then the final flight on Wed. into Wpg. It's been a long trip and I hate my suitcase and my purse ;)
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Some little stories of Ireland
The first is of dear old Molly Malone who, with her cart in the olden days, would trundle along the streets singing the song to sell her wares. Her cart was full of fish as was the abundant
food at that time. She sparked the song we used to sing as children " with cockles and mussels, alive alive oh."
The second is about how in Ireland in years long gone in the past, it was illegal to teach children to read or write. There were many ways for the public to sneak children into places of learning such as the ship captain who had a house in the shape of a ship which you can still see on the Ring of Kerry. They called him the kidnapper because he used to sneak the kids on board and then bring them to school.
Well, in the cities they developed many ways to help people who couldn't read deal with life's chores. One way was to decorate the front doors of their houses with special and elaborate designs so that the delivery person could be told to "find the black door with white trim and red leaves all around." In Dublin today toucan still see how the front doors in certain parts of the city are still very decorated and colorful.
The 3rd story is about 4 children who many years ago in history had a father who tried to raise his children after losing their mother during childbirth of the set a twins. Later, he ended up marrying the sister of the children's mother and as a stepmother, she was very jealous of their relationship with her new husband.
She took them out to the lake one day and was going to kill them but found that she couldn't. So instead, she turned them all into beautiful swans and doomed them to remain so for 900 years. She convinced her husband that they had drowned.
The Irish are hugely superstitious and have several of these stories about all kinds of things but this one helped to create a sculpture of the swans and is now set in a park in Dublin which is called "The Park of Remembrance." It is to help remember all those who have been mistreated or killed.
food at that time. She sparked the song we used to sing as children " with cockles and mussels, alive alive oh."
The second is about how in Ireland in years long gone in the past, it was illegal to teach children to read or write. There were many ways for the public to sneak children into places of learning such as the ship captain who had a house in the shape of a ship which you can still see on the Ring of Kerry. They called him the kidnapper because he used to sneak the kids on board and then bring them to school.
Well, in the cities they developed many ways to help people who couldn't read deal with life's chores. One way was to decorate the front doors of their houses with special and elaborate designs so that the delivery person could be told to "find the black door with white trim and red leaves all around." In Dublin today toucan still see how the front doors in certain parts of the city are still very decorated and colorful.
The 3rd story is about 4 children who many years ago in history had a father who tried to raise his children after losing their mother during childbirth of the set a twins. Later, he ended up marrying the sister of the children's mother and as a stepmother, she was very jealous of their relationship with her new husband.
She took them out to the lake one day and was going to kill them but found that she couldn't. So instead, she turned them all into beautiful swans and doomed them to remain so for 900 years. She convinced her husband that they had drowned.
The Irish are hugely superstitious and have several of these stories about all kinds of things but this one helped to create a sculpture of the swans and is now set in a park in Dublin which is called "The Park of Remembrance." It is to help remember all those who have been mistreated or killed.
Saturday, October 13, 2012
Sat. Oct 13 back in London
Pics will follow later cuz I can't get them to download.
We were in two places today; Ironbridge and Stratford on Avon. Two really cool places that you really need to spend 2 or 3 days in to really appreciate them properly. First was the iron revolution which began in Ironbridge with the creation of steel and the first iron bridge built to span a river.
We stopped then at Anne Hathaway's house, she being the wife of Shakespeare. She was often alone here alone as he would spend his time writing or performing in another place. Their house was adorable, thatched roof, although nothing out of the ordinary for the times.
We then went into Stratford on Avon to see the place where Shakespeare died and spent a lot of his time. We saw his burial place in the church, also where his wife is buried along side him, the first ever Harvard House, the very quaint village streets and stores and the River Avon.
It is said that in the late 1800's a man, of course whose name always escapes me - McLellan or McDonald or something, created a perfume and then when he continued on to sell it after having lived in this area, changed its name to "Avon." See, a story in every part of the world.
We had a lovely soup in a petite cafe and then continued on our trek to discover the town. We drove into London again and felt comfortable in being in a place that we knew. How strange! We went out for supper at the pub to have a fish meal- the last of such in England- that which I am no longer calling England but rather "Hedgeland" as there are nothing but hedges everywhere dividing up the lands.
After I get done with the United Kingdom, it will never be the same. Tomorrow we head out on the train to Glasgow, first class, yahoo. A treat to ourselves, so we have learned to do more readily these days. Good for us, I say!!!
We were in two places today; Ironbridge and Stratford on Avon. Two really cool places that you really need to spend 2 or 3 days in to really appreciate them properly. First was the iron revolution which began in Ironbridge with the creation of steel and the first iron bridge built to span a river.
We stopped then at Anne Hathaway's house, she being the wife of Shakespeare. She was often alone here alone as he would spend his time writing or performing in another place. Their house was adorable, thatched roof, although nothing out of the ordinary for the times.
We then went into Stratford on Avon to see the place where Shakespeare died and spent a lot of his time. We saw his burial place in the church, also where his wife is buried along side him, the first ever Harvard House, the very quaint village streets and stores and the River Avon.
It is said that in the late 1800's a man, of course whose name always escapes me - McLellan or McDonald or something, created a perfume and then when he continued on to sell it after having lived in this area, changed its name to "Avon." See, a story in every part of the world.
We had a lovely soup in a petite cafe and then continued on our trek to discover the town. We drove into London again and felt comfortable in being in a place that we knew. How strange! We went out for supper at the pub to have a fish meal- the last of such in England- that which I am no longer calling England but rather "Hedgeland" as there are nothing but hedges everywhere dividing up the lands.
After I get done with the United Kingdom, it will never be the same. Tomorrow we head out on the train to Glasgow, first class, yahoo. A treat to ourselves, so we have learned to do more readily these days. Good for us, I say!!!
Last day in Wales, to London to see the Queen
What a beautiful country Wales is, almost more so than Ireland. We drove through the northern parts today and it is dotted with wild rocky hills and seemingly, I suppose, mountains with small quaint villages everywhere. Everyone speaks Welsh even the children which is wonderful to see that the country is doing well in their efforts to maintain their heritage.
Some people from our tour went on a water aquaduct canal ride, which was a bust, and G and I went to the hotel to wash up and rest a bit before supper.
We are excited to be back in London and almost nearing our time to head home.
Some people from our tour went on a water aquaduct canal ride, which was a bust, and G and I went to the hotel to wash up and rest a bit before supper.
We are excited to be back in London and almost nearing our time to head home.
Friday, October 12, 2012
Days and nights in Dublin
We had two rainy days in Dublin - go figure, and now the only sunshine we've had in our whole trip is now while we are sitting on the ferry heading back to Wales.
Yesterday we spent the day in Dublin walking the streets in the rain. We had a lovely soup from The Farm, an organic restaurant. We walked down the main shopping street to the only indoor shopping mall, totally covered in glass and it appeared as if you were outside in a garden.
We bought nothing but that's pretty normal for us.
In the evening whilst the rest of the tour people went on an outing, we met up with our friends who hail from Wpg. Hans and Brenda are in Dublin for 2 months doing research. We went to a pub for a delicious supper and then to another pub for some live music. We had to be up at 5 this morning so we headed back to our hotel around 9:30 but not before we caught two leprechauns on the street.
It was so nice to see friends in an obscure place like Ireland when we can't seem to manage to get together when we live in the same city.
Yesterday we spent the day in Dublin walking the streets in the rain. We had a lovely soup from The Farm, an organic restaurant. We walked down the main shopping street to the only indoor shopping mall, totally covered in glass and it appeared as if you were outside in a garden.
We bought nothing but that's pretty normal for us.
In the evening whilst the rest of the tour people went on an outing, we met up with our friends who hail from Wpg. Hans and Brenda are in Dublin for 2 months doing research. We went to a pub for a delicious supper and then to another pub for some live music. We had to be up at 5 this morning so we headed back to our hotel around 9:30 but not before we caught two leprechauns on the street.
It was so nice to see friends in an obscure place like Ireland when we can't seem to manage to get together when we live in the same city.
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Oct. 10
Kind of a long day as our drive around the coast took a bit longer than desired as we had fog for a bit of the way and then 2 routes of road works held us up for quite some time; but that was only added to the accident that happened right in front of us. As G was looking out the front window, he saw a little Ford Fiesta do a spin out and land in the opposite side of the road because her back axle had snapped and she was unable to get the car out of the way. In her backseat was her small child. We stayed until her boyfriend came and hauled her back but she was definitely in shock as she wouldn't accept our help at all. We stayed with her anyway until help came.
We stopped for a bit in Adair, where there is a beautiful park and more thatched rooftop homes.
As we drive through this country of Great Britain, we understand why the immigrants who made the journey across the ocean to begin the birth of Canada, had chosen to settle in the eastern end of our country - the Atlantic Provinces. The landforms are exactly the same and at times we felt as if we were in NS or then NF. The smells are the same and the people are just as quirky.
We took a much needed restful night by staying in and eating salads early before heading for bed.
We stopped for a bit in Adair, where there is a beautiful park and more thatched rooftop homes.
As we drive through this country of Great Britain, we understand why the immigrants who made the journey across the ocean to begin the birth of Canada, had chosen to settle in the eastern end of our country - the Atlantic Provinces. The landforms are exactly the same and at times we felt as if we were in NS or then NF. The smells are the same and the people are just as quirky.
We took a much needed restful night by staying in and eating salads early before heading for bed.
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Jaunting car
Just before the bar we had a jaunting car ride which is really a wagon pulled by a horse. We headed into the national forest and stopped at Ross castle by a lake for a bit and then headed back into Killarney.
The town is really quite small and doesn't seem to be doing very well as quite a lot of the younger population have left to move to Canada orAustralia. Shame, so we hope it will pull out of the recession all right.
The town is really quite small and doesn't seem to be doing very well as quite a lot of the younger population have left to move to Canada orAustralia. Shame, so we hope it will pull out of the recession all right.
Oct. 9 In Ireland at Killarney
We drove today and stopped in Blarney, yes, that's correct, the stone of which neither of us chose to trudge up the mountain and pay money just to kiss a rock which is supposed to give you better eloquence in speech. Neither of us needs to learn any more about how to cus, lie and grandstand.
So instead, we went into the Irish woolen Mill and bought two sweater thingys.
In the evening before supper we headed out to an old fashioned original Irish pub where sawdust was all over the floor, there was a wood stove burning in one corner, all seats were against the walls and in the men's room, the men peed into a bath tub.
We were entertained by two Irish singers, one who played the screech box and the other was the main singer. They told jokes and we as an audience played the spoons and sang. We had a super time for about two hours.
We were happy to head into our bed after supper which was another late one ending at 9. We sometimes feel as if we are back in Spain where food is not even ordered until 9.
So instead, we went into the Irish woolen Mill and bought two sweater thingys.
In the evening before supper we headed out to an old fashioned original Irish pub where sawdust was all over the floor, there was a wood stove burning in one corner, all seats were against the walls and in the men's room, the men peed into a bath tub.
We were entertained by two Irish singers, one who played the screech box and the other was the main singer. They told jokes and we as an audience played the spoons and sang. We had a super time for about two hours.
We were happy to head into our bed after supper which was another late one ending at 9. We sometimes feel as if we are back in Spain where food is not even ordered until 9.
Monday, October 8, 2012
Monday, Oct. 8
Ferry day. Up and out and on the bus by 8. Who said this was a holiday! (Pics to follow later.) Rainy day, no surprises AGAIN. We made pretty good time towards Cardiff - that is until the A5 clogged up. 1 extra hour was spent - do you all read me - LOCKED in a bus going 10 m/hr.
Never mind, let's not quibble over mere m/hr. We did get some time in Cardiff, the capital city of Wales. G and I headed towards the first hotel we could find as they always have a washroom
on the main floor and when you walk in with authourity, no one asks questions. Cardiff is an industrial city, used to build ships but still has some steel works close by and has the new millennium rugby pitch that all "Walians" ????, would kill over as they love their rugby more than life. It is said that people work as cleaners for free in the rugby stadiums in this country as they are given free tickets to all the games and would live and die for a game of rugby.
A small story, well, not so small, of the emblems of Wales, one of which is the leek - imagine, a LEEK! I've taken to capitals today, must be my frustrated attitude over bus ridership.
Okay, way back in the 5th century there was this ruler whose name escapes me. I shall ask of him later. Anyway, he was an evil, villanous man and wanted to enjoy the efforts of acquiring land. So he gathered an army and told them that their wages would be paid to them out of all the plundering that they carry out and then gather from the people of the lands. He never ended up paying them, however, so eventually they all turned against him and revolted and joined with the town's people to harm him and then oust him out.
Soon enough he was looking for advice and went to two wizards for advice of how to get his people to like him and respect him. The wizards told him to build a huge castle to help give him more prestige and to help protect him. He tried to build his castle but every time it would crumble and fall.
Again he went to the two wizards and this time they told him to sprinkle on the land the blood from a man who was not born from a woman. He set out to find such a man and he did. This man said to him that it was foolish to spread his blood (as his mother was a nymph)
and that instead the ruler needed to go deep under the castle area and kill the two dragons that lived there and then things would calm down.
The ruler dug deep within the earth below the castle and with all the noise, he woke the two sleeping dragons, one white and one red, who then fought each other until death. The red dragon won.
Then the castle was built and the people of Wales saw the red dragon, Wales, as victory over the white, England, as England's loss. From then on, the red dragon has been a symbol of Wales. The third man by the way, the nymph-born?, was Merlin.
True or not? You will see many red dragons here,,, and,,,, it makes a great story.
Anyway, so here we sit, in the special area, G asleep, me sipping peppermint tea and glass of white wine alternatively, whilst water splooshes over the bow and I write to y'all. Life is somewhat unexpected but cool.
Never mind, let's not quibble over mere m/hr. We did get some time in Cardiff, the capital city of Wales. G and I headed towards the first hotel we could find as they always have a washroom
on the main floor and when you walk in with authourity, no one asks questions. Cardiff is an industrial city, used to build ships but still has some steel works close by and has the new millennium rugby pitch that all "Walians" ????, would kill over as they love their rugby more than life. It is said that people work as cleaners for free in the rugby stadiums in this country as they are given free tickets to all the games and would live and die for a game of rugby.
A small story, well, not so small, of the emblems of Wales, one of which is the leek - imagine, a LEEK! I've taken to capitals today, must be my frustrated attitude over bus ridership.
Okay, way back in the 5th century there was this ruler whose name escapes me. I shall ask of him later. Anyway, he was an evil, villanous man and wanted to enjoy the efforts of acquiring land. So he gathered an army and told them that their wages would be paid to them out of all the plundering that they carry out and then gather from the people of the lands. He never ended up paying them, however, so eventually they all turned against him and revolted and joined with the town's people to harm him and then oust him out.
Soon enough he was looking for advice and went to two wizards for advice of how to get his people to like him and respect him. The wizards told him to build a huge castle to help give him more prestige and to help protect him. He tried to build his castle but every time it would crumble and fall.
Again he went to the two wizards and this time they told him to sprinkle on the land the blood from a man who was not born from a woman. He set out to find such a man and he did. This man said to him that it was foolish to spread his blood (as his mother was a nymph)
and that instead the ruler needed to go deep under the castle area and kill the two dragons that lived there and then things would calm down.
The ruler dug deep within the earth below the castle and with all the noise, he woke the two sleeping dragons, one white and one red, who then fought each other until death. The red dragon won.
Then the castle was built and the people of Wales saw the red dragon, Wales, as victory over the white, England, as England's loss. From then on, the red dragon has been a symbol of Wales. The third man by the way, the nymph-born?, was Merlin.
True or not? You will see many red dragons here,,, and,,,, it makes a great story.
Anyway, so here we sit, in the special area, G asleep, me sipping peppermint tea and glass of white wine alternatively, whilst water splooshes over the bow and I write to y'all. Life is somewhat unexpected but cool.
Sunday, October 7, 2012
Still Sunday, 3rd stop
Go back 2 entries to start for today's news.
The last stop was Bath, a very cool city, which started its beginning for what else, the baths.
History goes way back to some Great something or other guy who was very fond of his pigs. Yes, those pigs again. Well it seems that these pigs had leprosy and so the town folk banned him and his pigs onto his own land. Later the Great caught the disease from his pigs and had noticed that when the pigs bathed in the specials hot springs, they were cured. Need I continue the story?
Later in history, the Romans took over the baths and built huge facilities for the public which are still around today for viewing but not for bathing in. We could actually see the water boiling.
The large city is a configuration of many streets and water ways which are lined with beautiful buildings all of which have to be created out of the same colour stone. It is now a world heritage site and can't be altered. It's like looking at a Mary Poppins' movie, all facades the exact same.
The last stop was Bath, a very cool city, which started its beginning for what else, the baths.
History goes way back to some Great something or other guy who was very fond of his pigs. Yes, those pigs again. Well it seems that these pigs had leprosy and so the town folk banned him and his pigs onto his own land. Later the Great caught the disease from his pigs and had noticed that when the pigs bathed in the specials hot springs, they were cured. Need I continue the story?
Later in history, the Romans took over the baths and built huge facilities for the public which are still around today for viewing but not for bathing in. We could actually see the water boiling.
The large city is a configuration of many streets and water ways which are lined with beautiful buildings all of which have to be created out of the same colour stone. It is now a world heritage site and can't be altered. It's like looking at a Mary Poppins' movie, all facades the exact same.
Still Sunday, next stop
After Stonehenge, we moved on to Salisbury - which is not the home of the Salisbury Steak - much to G's disappointment.
It is a small city of 40 thousand that is centered around a huge cathedral which boasts the highest spire in Great Britain. The city, really a large town, is laid out to surround the church and has many small to ultra quaint street lanes where little cafes and stores are situated. The buildings are built with an unusual set of stones cemented into rows of bricks which gives the buildings a fairy tale appearance.
On the way to this town and a part of the people's life, are huge pig farms. It was very surprising to see that the pigs are all kind of "free-range" just a nibbling their way around huge land areas. And clean! Way cleaner than any pig I've ever seen. They do so love their pigs here.
It is known that in the olden days in GB your wealth was determined by the amount of pigs you owned. So, this is why the piggie bank was founded and still is used today. Don't I learn a lot on these trips?
My nose, however, as clean as they were, could still smell their little curly tails all through our walk in town.
It is a small city of 40 thousand that is centered around a huge cathedral which boasts the highest spire in Great Britain. The city, really a large town, is laid out to surround the church and has many small to ultra quaint street lanes where little cafes and stores are situated. The buildings are built with an unusual set of stones cemented into rows of bricks which gives the buildings a fairy tale appearance.
On the way to this town and a part of the people's life, are huge pig farms. It was very surprising to see that the pigs are all kind of "free-range" just a nibbling their way around huge land areas. And clean! Way cleaner than any pig I've ever seen. They do so love their pigs here.
It is known that in the olden days in GB your wealth was determined by the amount of pigs you owned. So, this is why the piggie bank was founded and still is used today. Don't I learn a lot on these trips?
My nose, however, as clean as they were, could still smell their little curly tails all through our walk in town.
Sunday, left London
We were successful in finding our bus and getting out of London. Our first stop was Stonehenge which was only a short drive out of the big city. The day started as a very wet and foggy day - surprised? Still, we managed to see the gigantic stones although you are now kept at a far distance from them. Seems they were tampered with a one time by a group of people and since then are guarded behind fences and a charge is laid to enter. G and I just took pictures of it from the outside fence area. Somehow we expected something more dramatic but still it is many more years older than Roman ruins.
There are many myths about their existence but the best info I find interesting is that in the area, there are the most UFO sightings in Britain as well as the most crop circles and at times all electronics go huey.
Also, they say that with the falling of each piece throughout history, a head of monarchy died and this was true up until Queen Victoria whom we joked, probably was seen putting crazy glue on all the stones. The last stone did fall on the last day of the last century and then she died shortly after. Hmmmm!
There are many myths about their existence but the best info I find interesting is that in the area, there are the most UFO sightings in Britain as well as the most crop circles and at times all electronics go huey.
Also, they say that with the falling of each piece throughout history, a head of monarchy died and this was true up until Queen Victoria whom we joked, probably was seen putting crazy glue on all the stones. The last stone did fall on the last day of the last century and then she died shortly after. Hmmmm!
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