Holidays – Page 8 – I Walk Alone

Central Park wandering

11 October 2015

We woke on Sunday morning still reeling from our airport experience but determined not to let it sour our views of New York. Our hotel, the Excelsior is just a block from Central Park on West 81st Street near the junction with Colombus Avenue. This was no coincidence, Commando knew one of the places I most wanted to see was Strawberry Fields in Central Park. This was the morning it was going to happen because Commando had a ten mile run scheduled and he planned to do it first thing in Central Park, followed by a late brunch in one of the places we’d seen when we went in search of coffee the night before. Because of the time difference we were awake early, just before six, and showered, dressed and out of the hotel before eight. In truth, I could have done with a coffee but I thought I might find somewhere in the park when Commando was running. Continue reading Central Park wandering

Welcome to America

10 October 2015

My nightmare about the check in at Heathrow turned out to be something of an omen for what was to come although not in quite the way I expected. Suffice to say, my welcome to America was not at all welcoming and most certainly not an experience I’ll be rushing to repeat. The following is a tale of woe that certainly doesn’t reflect on all my lovely American friends. It says more about the lack of organisation and common courtesy of the staff employed by American border control at JFK. Continue reading Welcome to America

Last minute rush

8 October 2015

In a long, snaking queue at the airport, hot in my padded coat because there was no room to pack it, I dragged my huge suitcase behind me, looking at my watch as I edged ever closer to the desk. The woman with heavy makeup wore a British Airways uniform that reminded me of the ones we once had at Dream Factory with sun ray pleated skirts that blew over your head in a high wind. She smiled and held out her hand for my passport. As she took it I struggled to get my case on the conveyor belt.
“Where’s your visa?” She asked, the smile suddenly gone from her face. “You can’t enter the United States without a visa.”
I turned to Commando standing behind with his own case. “We forgot to get the visas!” Continue reading Last minute rush

Interview mk II

5 October 2013

Monday was wet. Very wet. Streets running with water, can’t see out the window wet. Any plans I might have had for a morning walk went by the wayside and I spent my time putting things into my suitcase and taking them back out again. It’s one thing packing for a nice beach holiday where the main requirements are swim suits, sun glasses and things to cover my pale skin to stop it burning. Packing for New York and Toronto in mid October is a whole different ball game. The weather forecast didn’t help, it was changeable to say the least. Never has packing seemed like such hard work. Continue reading Interview mk II

bank holiday bark chip and the Moonwalk outfit is unveiled – first published 5 May 2013

After months and months of training for the Moonwalk, aching muscles, blistered feet and more getting wet than I ever bargained for when I started out, it was almost upon me. There was just one more thing I had to do and it was something I’d been putting off for a long time. This was the weekend I had to decorate my bra. Sewing has never been my strong point and, although I’m quite creative, I couldn’t seem to come up with a plan to fit the theme of outer space. Why do they have to have themes anyway. If they didn’t I could have just stuck some plastic flowers on and had done with it. Even knowing it was now or never I still managed to procrastinate. Continue reading bank holiday bark chip and the Moonwalk outfit is unveiled – first published 5 May 2013

The Bear Pit, traffic jams and the People’s Republic of Stokes Croft

Since the first cave man ground up colourful rocks and mixed them with animal fat to paint on the walls of his cave, people have been creating art. Humans seem to have an innate desire to paint, whether that be on cave walls in the hope of a good hunt or on canvas to capture the essence of the world around them. There was a time when artists suffered for their art in filthy garrets, swapping work that would one day make art dealers millions, for a meal. These days things have changed. Modern day artists live in large apartments with millions in the bank all made without the need to be mouldering in a cold grave first. Sadly, work created for money rather than love is not always good. Continue reading The Bear Pit, traffic jams and the People’s Republic of Stokes Croft

here comes the rain again

26 to 31 August 2015

The rain continued into Wednesday morning so, yet again, I found myself on the bus. Yet again, the trees were blowing about wildly as I struggled through the desolate park and the rain was falling. By the time I got to work I was drenched. The office had a faint smell of dampness about it all morning because everyone who came through the door was dripping. Continue reading here comes the rain again

Memories of the early sixties – holidays

Ulwell Caravan & Camping Site Swanage from geograph.org.uk by OLU

These days people jet off to some warm exotic place for holidays. Back in the sixties only the rich knew the joys of air travel and working class familes like mine spent their holidays far closer to home. My first holiday memories were of a caravan park in Dorset when I was about two or three. Our little caravan was permanently pitched on a grassy hill in Swanage, saving the need for towing it back and forth. These days there are lots of caravan parks in Swanage and I have no idea which one it was but we spent many happy weekends there. Continue reading Memories of the early sixties – holidays

a break in the rain

25 July 2015

Friday’s severe weather warnings came to nothing but steady, all day rain. Mostly I stayed indoors, catching up on housework. On a dash to the bins I passed the new waterbut and could hear water trickling in. On the way to the shops in the afternoon, the trickling had stopped. Lifting the lid I saw water to the brim. It had been empty the day before. Continue reading a break in the rain

A very short week

22 and 23 July 2015

Walking to work on Wednesday morning I had a spring in my step because I knew it was going to be a very short working week. The sky was trying to be blue, there were swans on the river and I had a few days holiday ahead to look forward to. The early risers amongst the swans looked at me as I passed while others slept on, drifting on the calm water amongst reflected clouds. One swan was having a very through morning wash and brush up, surrounded by an ever growing pile of old feathers while his lazy stay a bed partner snoozed peacefully, neck curled into an s shape, head under wing. Continue reading A very short week

M	T	W	T	F	S	S
					1	2
3	4	5	6	7	8	9
10	11	12	13	14	15	16
17	18	19	20	21	22	23
24	25	26	27	28	29	30
31