Friday, August 29, 2003

The last blog of the holiday, the last London Blog. We have had a really nice last day, a lunch of noodles at Ned's Noodle Bar, followed by a quick look around the the Foyer of the Saatchi Gallery, damned if I am giving those buggers a penny, besides we didn't have the time. Then the trip on the London Eye which I highly recommend to anyone. Got lost again around London Bridge and Guy's hospital, but thewife asked someone and we were kinda headed on the right track.

We had hoped to go to the Tower of London but basically we ran out of time. A quick look around the South Bank again where thewife saw something previously that she wanted to get for me birthday and turned out place was open and she got me a designer waiter's friend which will come in handy indeed.

Then off to Chinatown for dinner. thewife really likes Chinese food and frankly I don't, for vegetarians its horrible bland nonsense. Every so often I have one last shot just to please her, but honestly it never gets any better. So imagine my surprose when I get deep fried tofu (Which lets face it is boring tasteless shit) with garlic and chillies and my god I love it. This is the best Chinese food I have tasted. She sort of purred her way through an entire duck knows, we may return.

Then home. Its a bit late and we have to get up early tomorrow, so a glass of Andy's fizzy and then bed. I thought about trying to change the flight time, but the prices on offer are a joke, with Ryanair you have to book a few weeks in advance for the cheap stuff. Both our return flights cost collectively � 62 whereas for a single on the same flight tomorrow, they are looking for � 90. So its early to bed.

A final thanks to the reidboy and Jo for their kind hospitality, to Andy for the reminisences and Ken for the tube.
posted by timesnewroman at 9:12 PM  

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Thursday the last day of our 7 day passes and jolly useful they have been may I add. I would like to take this brief moment to pay tribute to the fine service that is the London Underground. Those 7 day tickets for example cost a mere 19 of your earth pounds apiece and for that you have unlimited travel on zones 1 and 2 which is pretty much all a tourist is likely to require. Additionally there have been but 2 occasions when we have waited longer than 5 minutes for our tube (notice how easily one slips into the ways of the locals) to arrive. That and for the most part it's clean and tidy to boot, of course that may be due to our frequent use of the Jubilee line extension. Well done Ken.

Well as I mentioned yesterday we were setting off for hell in the form of Oxford Street, but hey did we go there, no we went to Knightsbridge instead. That way we were very clearly going to window shop, as we don't have the means to purchase anything there or thereabouts.

First call was Harrods, well the tube drops you at the side door where the Saudi chauffeurs await their mistresses beck and call. We did enter and have a look around and emerged some time later with a couple of wee pressies for Mumsy and Mumsy'spal. The food hall was impressive indeed lots of stuff from all over the planet. I thought that the Beluga at �750 for 250g was a tad overpriced myself nevertheless, we did get a cople of hot baguettes, mine with cheese and thewife's with cheese and ham, these were a mere � 1.39 each which in fact provided us with probably our cheapest lunch to date and tasty they were too.

I'm a liberal sort of bloke and welcome asylum seekers with open arms. I did observe a scam of outrageous proportions however, being perpetrated by (possibly Romanian) women with babies. There was one begging outside Harrods and a few minutes later I noticed a group of 8 no less, all with baby in arms, crossing the road and slowly seperating to their various pitches. Frankly I would have got the local Social Services to take the bloody kids into care.

Anyway we moved on to Harvey Nichols once thewife had visited Harrod's loos smelling of something expensive, seems they have samples in jars around the place.

Harvey Nichols was similar in that its a big Department Store, a bit more modern and trendyish. I do have to ask though, does Calvin Klein have no end to his ego that he thinks he can design beds as well as pants? Three steps on and it seems Ralph Lauren likewise wants to have his name on everything possible as well. Its was like when we passed BabyGap, what the fuck is that about? I offered up for thewife my new concept of FoetusGap, designer amniotic fluid for mums to be huh niche or waht? Up there with "CheesyDrink"(c) methinks. Shoot the designers shoot all of them!!!

Rant over we headed back home in the rain, first we've seen so can't complain, also, I don't need to water the garden tonight. Hit Sainsbury's around 6.10pm. bought our dinner and were just making our way to the checkouts when the famous London Power Cut happened. Sainsbury have a genreator though and within minutes the computerised checkouts were re-booting themselves and I was then impressed that they started off from where they finished, no need to rescan anything. I suppose they need that sort of back up. It was only when we got home and the power came on and we watched the news we realised the scale of things. Tube's out etc, could have been stuck underground for a while jeez would not have liked that.

Next morning I read that in fact the tubes operated succesfully during the blitz for christssake. Up until last year the tube had it's own power station, that was until the Government stepped in with it's new Part Privatisation Programme and PFI and hey they closed it down didn't they.

Rant over off for a shot in the London Eye in the rain.

Oh and almost forgot, Happy Birthday to me, Happy Birthday to me............
posted by timesnewroman at 10:20 AM  

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Thursday, August 28, 2003

Wednesday, gone already. We had a very quiet day planned, long lie, lunch at home and a fine lunch it was too, I tried to charge thewife � 7 for it and she agreed that on the South Bank, she would have paid that. Then it was off to meet Andy Bell near his place of work. thewife and I sat there and discussed what would he look like, would we recognise him and conjured with images like, will he have long hair and a denim jacket, will he be wearing a tie? Will there be evidence of comfortable middle aged spread? I had plumped for a moustache and goatee-like beard, with a blue shirt and I was right. We couldn't possibly comment on middle aged spread comfortable or otherwise, but I suspect he eats well. I had worked out yesterday that I hadn't seen Andy since I were a youngster, but he reminded me we had an encounter once in the Ship Inn, Irvine (No Children's Portions, No Chips) about eight years ago. I had this vague recollection and recalled the event to an extent, but I was probably quite pissed, given the location. Anyway enough of the distant past, last night was a refreshing opportunity to catch up on much. Where we'd been what we'd done what who was doing with what etc. I even managed some work related stuff in terms of high risk assessment in relation to the supply of meat, what the hell has that got to do with what I do you may ask, but I won't tell so there.

We had a few pints in the Hope opposite Smithfield Market. Thence on to an Indian Restaurant, the Raj I think - Opposite Farringdon Tube Station - which Andy recommended as good. It was in fact wonderful, best Vegetarian Thali I have ever had and the lime pickle was sublime. The wife, more of a chinese person enjoyed it tremendously as well. The one downer on the night was the fact that Andy beat us to the bill. Like Patten, we shall return though, and it'll be our turn.

Finally on to a nearby bar where they sold budweiser budvar which very much suited me, for a brief discussion on music and our need to acquire a mini-disc and dishwasher, but not necessarily in that order. Finally to the tube station and home. Andy pointed out that we didn't always need to find our way onto the Jubilee line for Canada Water, but could take a direct train to Whitechapel. Longer here and wiser for it. And he left us with a bottle of fizzy to boot.

Enjoy the hols Andy, and we hope, thewife and I, that Jo gets her job.

And a txt on the way home but I don't know if you got the return message, which kept being returned as couldn't be delivered. It was pretty much ta for the great evening.

Today, Thursday I fear we head for the part of a London holiday that I am not looking forward to. thewife got a brief sniff of Oxford Street yeasterday and methinks she enjoyed the smell.
posted by timesnewroman at 9:26 AM  

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Wednesday, August 27, 2003

Another full day of Culture under the belt with sore feet to show afterwards. Spent the day at the Tate Modern which was pretty fabulous, well for the most part pretty fabulous, I still have difficulty with Arte Povera, but what the hell if someone wants to look at shit, they can. Frequent contributor to the comments section, Andy Bell called, whilst we were in the Tate Modern and we have arranged to meet up (today) for a swally. Looking forward to it, thewife and I have worked out that I haven't seen Andy in about 20 years and she hasn't seen him in about 25. I know he has changed though, his voice is different, dropped? No just kidding, more anglified I think. The good thing about long walks along the South Bank of the Thames is that one does need to frequently stop for a rest and refreshment and we had several of those. I would skip Gabriels Quay though, boy can those people seriously overcharge for almost evrything in their little handmade craft stores. We skipped the pint of Stella in a shed for � 4.50 and instead found an attractive pub on the Bank which sold a decent Pint of 80/- for just under � 3.00 hah.

Then off to a Mexican restaurant Pacifico (Free Ad) in Covent Garden. Damn fine place, authentic looking, smelling and sounding and the food was extremely good, as were the Margueiritas! The service was fine and we were quite happy to accept the (Optional) Service Charge already added to one's bill which seems common in this part of the world, as the service was extremely efficient, courteous and attentive.

Even made it home in time to catch the West Wing.


posted by timesnewroman at 9:03 AM  

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Tuesday, August 26, 2003

Bank Holiday Monday and the culture vultures made their way quite early to the Natural History Museum, the choice of thewife who has always wanted to see a model of a huge blue whale ever since she were little. The first thing we came across was a fabulous, massive, outdoor photograph exhibition of the earth from the air. This was absolutely brilliant and successfuly managed to convey the fragility of the planet, the interdependence of our world and has given me much scope for an envigorated Pioneer programme, once our group re-opens.

The Natural History Museum itself was quite impressive too, even if the big whale wisnae.

After the Natural History Museum it was my turn, for The Science Museum just along the road and that was brilliant, exceeded all expectations, could have spent more hours than we had quite easily, even lost thewife, she was at the lunar landing site while I was admiring the Cray Supercomputer, it didn't impress her at all but the �8m price tag did. I was most amused by the quote from Seymour Cray, who apparently liked pencil and paper himself when he was told that Apple had bought one of his Super Computers to design their new machine, he remarked that that was funny, he was using one of their's to design his new machine.

We were all knowledged out so we decided to leave some for another day and go home before Sainsbury's closed.
posted by timesnewroman at 8:58 AM  

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Monday, August 25, 2003

Started Sunday lazily. the plan was for thewife and I to make our way to the Covent Garden Odeon, via Covent Garden Market, have something to eat and drink and then watch Good Bye Lenin. After visiting the overpriced but oddly quaint and original stalls at Covent Garden, we got lost slightly didn't we. Walked the wrong way along Charing Cross Road. Adjusted bearings and then found roughly where we were aiming for. Then turned left rather than right into Shaftesbury Avenue. Soon realised that this was wrong, so I wanted to walk a little bit further, thewife demanded we stop and ask someone. Like I would do that, for god's sake I'm a guy we don't ask, we plod on hopeful that we'll eventually get where we want to be. Besides I suggest that everyone around is a tourist so they won't know either. She goes into a shop and emerges moments later pointing in the opposite direction to the one we were travelling in. This delay put a serious dent in my plan for a pint and something to eat, so we settled for a quick pizza instead.

Goodbye Lenin? Go see it as soon as you can. It's a while since I've seen such a tragicomedy this good or this funny. thewife agreed, despite the subtitles.
posted by timesnewroman at 8:52 AM  

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Sunday, August 24, 2003

Sunday morning already. Boy was Saturday a scorcher, very very hot, particularly at night, sweltering I was, had to have a shower to cool down and that only lasted for a short while. Spent the day around Camden markets, god they have loads of markets and loads of stalls which is pretty much hippychick heaven, suited thewife no end. Got bored though, there are only so many tee-shirt stalls and bolivian crafts that one can take. I reckon we spend far too much time walking around that come evening we are pretty knackered and can't be bothered going out anywhere. That changes tonight though because we are going to see Good bye Lenin, in Covent Garden, yes that's the same Covent Garden famous for it's market.
posted by timesnewroman at 8:14 AM  

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Saturday, August 23, 2003

thewife and I have arrived and are well esconced in Sarf London. I think its actually East London, but it's definitely sarf of the river thames. Yesterday, we bid bon voyage to the reidboy, Jo and Ewan who are Italia bound, and then found a pleasant enough pub, Bar Alchemy to have lunch of Tapas, Veggie Burger and Beer. The Scottish �20 was viewed closely and after checking with the manager, eagerly accepted. Spent an eternity waiting for food, woman at bar did apologise and say it was on its way, however thewife says she would have left had we not paid for it up front. When it did arrive we were quite pleased with the generous quantities and it was generally okay. Methinks a 4 though and won't be back. We then spent the afternoon pottering around the South Bank which was pretty, full of tourists though. Some of the housing looked fabulous and going relatively cheap at 750k.

Walked perhaps a bit too far as both of us complained of sair feet, so home via Sainsbury's, (the wife and I are in near heaven having a humungous Supermarket practically on our doorstep) where we selected a nice light salad with olives and feta and bread for our dinner al fresco, sat out until almost dark, watching the local squirrels pick plums and eat them from the tree at the foot of the garden.

thewife is making breakfast as I write, I am supposed to be surfing to plan an itinerary but one must blog.

Rainbow and Ginger are both well, although thewife speaks to them like they understand
posted by timesnewroman at 8:19 AM  

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Thursday, August 21, 2003

Very very quick blog. thewife is downstairs making breakfast on a Thursday no less. That's because it's Holiday Time. thewife and me are soon to jet off to London, where I hope it is a bit sunnier than here. Oh and I have a car to get fixed. For some reason the back tyre has a slow puncture or something and by the time we get back it will be as flat as the spare that doesn't fit!

Back soon
posted by timesnewroman at 9:13 AM  

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Sunday, August 17, 2003

Friday Night, actually had three options here, a leaving do at work, running a quiz night, or the YIK night out, watching Marc and Omar's band. I had promised to do a who wants to be a millionaire quiz at the Water Sports Club, with thewife, but all I really do is keep score, so I persuaded someone else to do that for me so that I can go to the gig. Fine show it was too. Weird though for folks their age to be playing their own tunes, that if I were pushed to pigeon-hole them would be a la late seventies Fleetwood Mac. Followed up by Spleen who are pros.

Saturday. the season beginneth in earnest first home again versus Partick Thistle, beautiful summer day,and the beginning of the Marymass Festival, which has attracted ten year old Stewart away from his first available football game to go round a variety of crap stalls and a bouncy castle. Get your priorities in order young man! Final score 2 - 1 to Killie. Bloody lucky really it was a pitiful performance against 10 men for most of the match, with Colin Meldrum maintaining his woeful start to the season. Jeffries must accept a lot of the blame his tactics, particularly towards the end, lacked ambition and desire. It had better get better.

Saturday night, I scanned a hundred photos of Jim Stewart while thewife made dinner, potato and mascarpone gratin. Bloody good it was, followed by far too much wine, and what was a fabulously clever film, Adaptation. thewife went out back to see the Marymass firework display, loud it was, very loud. Still managed to fall asleep though and remained there for a very long time. I will not mention thewife's strop.
posted by timesnewroman at 2:07 PM  

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Wednesday, August 13, 2003

Simple concept really. Take 300 plus people from, the Celtic Fringes + Leicester, Ealing and Tyneside, of a voluntary, co-operative educational organisation that believes in international friendship and peace, put them in a field together with visiting delegations of Latvian, Basques, Italians and Palestinian refugees from the Lebanon and let them live together in harmony for a week.

That was the plan anyway and pretty much that�s how it worked out. We had our irks and niggles, but on the scale of things, it achieved pretty much what it set out to. Particular highlights��there were a few, the Hiroshima Commemoration, The Burns Supper with the Piping in of and the Address to a Haggis, together with the accompanying �To a mouse� by young Neil, formerly of Irvine, �Recitation is an entirely different thing!����.legend, not forgetting tommyd�s fine singing of a �A Man�s a Man for a� that�, The Palestinian singing, piping and drumming etc.

There was millions more happening throughout the week, but thewife and I cleverly persuaded folks that we should be the keepers of the provender for the week. Was that wise? We will never know for sure, we spent the weeks prior to the camp devising tasty, nourishing menus for 100 plus people, both meat-eaters and veggie and then quantifying them only to discover some days in that there were significantly less than this number. That and the sheer size of the onions (I ordered large and got footballs) meant that there was more than enough to go round if people weren�t picky. People not picky???? We managed, Meat-eaters, Veggies, Vegans, Gluten Free, Non-Dairy and even Atkins. If I had brought electrodes, I may even have been able to cater for the special exclusion diet. The special exclusion part being that everyone bar the follower was excluded from discovering its make-up. Ahhrgghhh� and then of course �if you don�t like it we�ll find it for you� says I foolishly in the council circle, before thinking that frankly if it�s not covered by the above and you don�t like it then we don�t have it!

Further tip always have gherkins for the Eastern Europeans. I knew that from experience and boy did they go down well. Try offering gherkins to our own kids and they would not thank you. Perhaps that�s why the Latvian kids all had great complexions, were generally really healthy looking and were a happy hard working bunch of youngsters, who were a pleasure to know.

So that was the �holiday� then, a week of three meals a day for just under a 100 folks. By the time breakfast was over it was lets start lunch and the same for dinner. There was a rota system, but that depended on someone taking a leadership/or collective decision to do it and there were few volunteers. Glasgow being the extremely notable exception, where credit is due for effort above and beyond the call of equitable mutuality.

Well its over for another year but you might be able to find some interesting details here, once the young chap who made the site gets back from abroad. If any links don�t work, change the URL from upper to lower case, but don�t tell him I told you so.

Next year I want to be the official camp photographer!

Since then, been too knackered/busy to blog. But tonight�s the night. Things are happening going down etc. thewife and I are now booked in for a proper holiday while the reidboy et al head for Italia, we�ll be looking after their place in Lewisham, and much looking forward to it we are. We were thinking about hiring, don�t laugh a Daewoo Matiz from Arnold Clark for the week, so we could road test it in a variety of situations, urban, rural, Motorway, London etc and get a clue of what it was like. But at � 120 for 10 days plus fuel, we had a look at Ryanair instead and got 2 returns for the princely sum of � 61.00 guess what we chose?


posted by timesnewroman at 8:22 PM  

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Saturday, August 02, 2003

Damn lost the post again adn this time I have no time. No posts for a week as we are off to cook for hundreds and spend 7 days under canvas with the woodies enjoying the sun, food and ethnic and cultural diversity. It is our intent to export the phrase "Quality Man" in a Burberry Hatted accent.
posted by timesnewroman at 4:57 PM  

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