Adventures of a Snappyjenn

Cairo photos

2011-05-27T22:17:00.008Z

Tank sitting at one of the roundabouts near the entrance to our suburb.

The pyramids at Giza as seen from the Citadel.

A mosque in Cairo

The Mohammed Ali Mosque in the Citadel.

Two danger zones in two weeks!

2011-05-27T22:01:00.004Z

I'm now in Egypt - this year is turning into quite a journey of 'where not to be in 2011'.

After leaving Japan earlier then expected, I returned to London and spent a couple of weeks getting over the shock of what I had experienced Whilst tentatively seeking out my next job. I had told my agencies that I was looking for something gentle - I would even consider a single baby. Something in London and maximum of 5 days a week.

So... 12 days after returning home, an email came through from an agency. A family urgently needed someone to start with them on Saturday - in Cairo!

All the things I was not looking for, but I could not resist the challenge.

When talking on the phone to the mother, she asked me how I felt about being in Egypt after the recent revolution. My reply was something along the lines of 'well, at least in Egypt I will see or hear the danger before it gets to me, unlike Japan where I have no idea if I am breathing clean air or radiation polluted air...'

Two weeks and one day after arriving home from Japan, and I headed off to Egypt.

Radiation

2011-03-26T23:49:00.004Z

After the earthquake, it became apparent there was a problem with nuclear power plants that were in the tsunami and earthquake struck region.

There was an explosion at the Fukushima plant and hence began a fight to contain what could be the worst nuclear disaster in the world so far.

Radiation was the word on everyones lips. How far was it reaching and what was the real danger. No one really knew. One 'expert' said it was imminent - the plant would reach meltdown and the radiation would spread fast. Another said there was no reason to panic. It was hard to know who to believe and what action to take myself.

We were based just south of Tokyo - about 210miles south of Fukushima. So in theory any radiation that reached us would be diluted by wind and air etc.

After a lot of thought and consideration, I decided I needed to leave in order to keep myself safe. I offered to go with the babies somewhere if the family wanted to get them out. They decided against this.

So my flight was booked and I left Japan on the 18th March, just one week after the earthquake. and a month after arriving in the country. I cut short my contract by 6 weeks and left the babies with their parents and grandparents.

It was such a relief to get out, although I feel huge guilt about leaving the babies. I have avoided watching the news for a week and I guess now it is time to get back into the real world.

Time to look for a contract to replace the one I left...

Earthquake

2011-03-26T23:30:00.003Z

On the 11 March, all began normally with babies needing feeding, changing and usual care. Playtime and books to be read. Sunny and bright outdoors. A cool wind blowing - to be expected for this time of the year.

2pm the babies got up and had a bottle, then lay on their play mat having a look at their toys. About 2.40pm I went to the kitchen as I was about to make a banana cake. I was looking at my computer screen reading the recipe and thought I saw something move. I stopped and checked myself.

The computer was moving. The ground was moving and it was steadily getting more and more violent. My first thoughts were to the babies. I had to get them off the floor and away from the windows - the living was all windows on one and a bit walls. I grabbed the first one and Grandma took the other. I said we needed to get out of this room and headed for the hallway. We both squeezed into the toilet room with the babies. Grandma called her husband and after a lot of yelling, he finally started to come downstairs.

3 adults and 2 babies jammed tightly into the toilet now! The earth was still moving vigorously and we waited and waited for it to abate. It went on for a very long time - apparently 5 minutes or so, we found out after.

Once it stopped we tentatively left the toilet and headed back to the living area. It was bedtime for the babies so we took them up to their room and settled them in.

No sooner were we back in the living area and another almighty bang shook the house. I ran up the hall and grabbed the babies out of their room, deciding they didn't need to be in there so far away from us. I put them in their buggy and there they slept for all their sleeps until midnight when I went to bed myself.

We had 7 aftershocks, the smallest one a 6.3 on the Richter scale, within the hour. Once I was able to gather myself a little I got online and discovered the earthquake had been 7.9, less then 250miles northeast of us. The rating eventually reached a 9 on the Richter scale a few days later.

The worst part, was still to hit - the tsunami. I was gobsmacked when I turned on the TV to see the water surging inland and destroying everything in it's path. It was shocking and distressing (to say the least) to think of this happening so very close to us.

Japan

2011-03-26T23:11:00.005Z

I had a contract that took me to Japan for 3 months. I started the contract elsewhere and returned to Tokyo with the family about mid February.

On my days off I went to Central Tokyo and stayed in the family's apartment where I got peace and quiet. It was on the 17th floor so the view was awesome. It was a view I don't think I would ever tire of.

The house we spent most of our time in was just outside of Tokyo, very peaceful and calm compared to the hustle bustle of the central city. We had a beautiful sea view and sunrise every morning was a treat.

I loved my day off, I had the opportunity to wander and explore a city of immense proportions. I hadn't realised while there that Tokyo was in fact the biggest city in the world! Nearly 30million people in the greater Tokyo region. I spent most of my time very central and even then barely scraped the surface of the city.

More weather...

2011-01-01T01:48:00.003Z

I'm telling you, I'm getting obsessed with the weather.

Today the sun came out and I got the paddling pool out again after 3 days of storm and tossed the boys in for a few minutes before the wind chill factor spoiled the fun. That was after I had poured 3 buckets of hot water from the kitchen tap into the 2 buckets of water from the pool to warm the paddling pool enough to reduce the goose bumps on the boys legs!

I also found myself feeling nervous as the the paddling pool was rippling in the wind and I had visions of the boys being scooped up, pool and all, by a hefty gust of wind and me running along below in a desperate bid to catch them before they landed in the Atlantic ocean never to be seen again!

Earlier in the day, my client went to the beach and we discussed the possibility of the boys going too. We both decided against it due to the wind. I did suggest we could tie a string on them and call them kites, but the idea was not acted upon...

Weather...

2010-12-30T01:11:00.007Z

Why am I sitting on a tropical island in the Caribbean writing about weather??? I didn't think I could find enough to talk about...

For example
"today was sunny, yesterday was sunny, I hear the forecast for tomorrow is for sun, I think I'll go to the beach..."

But because it is so bad, I can't think of anything else!

The first week here, was cold, grey and windy. Nothing I couldn't have had in London... I really did not need to travel this far to experience this sort of weather.

The second week improved slightly and we had a few days of bliss - until yesterday that was. Last night I was woken by howling wind and torrential rain at 01.53. Anyone who knows me, knows that I sleep like the dead. It was very noisy and I woke several times.

Today has been a mix of monsoon-like rains, hurricane style winds and extremely confused visibility across the bay.

I will post some photos when I am on my computer as there is an island in view of my room that I watched and photographed a few times throughout the day as the scene changed with mist, wind, rain etc.

Working 'holiday'

2010-12-16T23:47:00.004Z

I have landed in another part of the world I haven't been in before.

This time a holiday with a work family. It's hot, humid and have barely seen the sun in 4 days! Oh the joys of the tropical paradise...
We arrived on a tiny plane to this tiny island and just the experience of landing was amazing - I want to do it again!

To land, the plane has to do a bit of a climb over a hill then swoop down very suddenly to make it onto the airstrip with enough time to stop before the beach at the other end. Our pilot did it flawlessly - thankfully - and we arrived at our villa all exhausted and ready for bed. The boys went to bed a free a quick wash and a bottle of milk. They were little troopers by managing 12.5 hours sleep with only a couple of short disturbances. I loved them the next morning more then usual!!

We had a few glimpses of sun during the next couple of days and all made use of the pool enjoying a cool down each afternoon with the boys. They love the pool and even though it's been a bit cold, they still love to get in and kick and play around.

Today the weather decided to remind us of life in London and it's been windy, grey and at times, very wet. I suggested we could have saved an airfare by staying in London, closing the windows and turning the heating up with the shower going...

I met a man on the way to find the post office today. He asked me if I knew where the PO was in a very Australian voice. We had both been given directions by different people and neither had ended us there, so together we found it. Joined a very long queue and began to chat. He has been sailing mostly inNorth America since August and hopes the make it home to Australia by August next year. Lucky man! I bet it took some planning to get this far and no doubt continues to.

A fleeting visit

2009-11-29T11:28:00.003Z

I am in New Zealand for a week.

On the 23rd I left London, Heathrow for Christchurch and arrived on the 25th (local time) having traveled 12413 miles via Los Angeles.

My friend had a very premature baby on the 12th October so I wanted to see her and meet her gorgeous little baby boy.

He is putting on weight and learning to feed slowly but surely. Hopefully he will come out of hospital in the next week or two. I have been lucky to have lots of cuddles with him and I have promised to teach him all the best mischief for when he is a bit bigger.

In between visits to the hospital I have managed to fulfil a lot of yearnings for foods that I didn't realised I actually yearned for until I got here. But that is a whole new story for another day.

I also got to spend this weekend with my nephew who flew down from Nelson - his first flight as an unaccompanied minor! He arrived Friday night and we stayed with my friend that night and then drove out to Hinewai Reserve, near Akaroa to spend Saturday night at Tricia's. Lucy came up from Lake Hawea so the (poor/lucky) boy spent 24hrs with 3 doting aunties.

Tricia and Paul have a beautiful little spot in the wilderness to call home. After a yummy dinner we walked to the beach and enjoyed the views, the sounds of waves and birds and watching my nephew as he inadvertently filled his boots with sea water.

We watched as a pair of Canada geese wandered along the beach with just one tiny baby. The parents headed for the waves and each slightly bigger wave would send the hatchling hurtling back up the beach until it could finally dig it's toes back in the sand. Very cute to watch but obviously hard work for the baby.

Mum and I are VIP's for an evening

2009-11-16T01:58:00.000Z

I was given VIP passes for me plus one to go see Kasabian last night at Wembley Arena.

I first asked Megg (sister) if she would like to go but the answer was a resounding negative (not surprising - she listens to Radio 4!). So I asked my friend Teresa, again a no.

So talking to mum a bit later and I said I didn't ask her as I knew it would be mega loud. And I have still a very clear memory of mum stuffing tissues in her ears at the Tom Jones concert a few years ago!

How wrong can one be! She said she would love to come!

So last night we both finished work, jumped on trains and met at Wembley. Kasabian weren't playing until 8.45 so we planned our arrival on that. Picked up our VIP passes, dropped of our work bags to the coat check and made our way to our seats.

We got there just as Kasabian was about to start.

OMG! What an amazing concert! The special effects were simple yet great to watch, the crowd below us in the mosh pit were great fun to watch also.

All drinks were poured into plastic cups for the show as the night before a bottle that had been thrown had hit the guitarist in the hand. When talking to him, he said it is a sign of how much fun they are having and things get thrown all the time. What an interesting way of showing your affections. But if that is the case then this crowd were more in love with Kasabian then words could express!

Cups were flying the whole night and a few other interesting things too. Crowd surfing was banned and the security had a very busy time dragging off the offenders.

At the end we were escorted to the VIP room to meet up with the band. We had a drink with them and then headed for home - getting out of the VIP/stage area proved more challenging then getting in! They take security very seriously.

But as we left we got to see the floor covered in plastic cups and awash with beer as the cleanup gang started shovelling loads of cups into rubbish bags - I really really hope they recycle!!

Mum sat through the whole thing and can now say she has been to a real rock concert! Took a few years to get that one under her belt - but better late then never.

Christmas lights in Chicago last year

2009-10-11T00:21:00.002Z

Well, OK...
So it's a little late to be posting last years Christmas photos.

But at least I got them in before this years Christmas!

From busy to... well... busier!?

2009-10-09T20:11:00.006Z

I seem to have no time or energy to write on here these days but change is afoot and I hope it means more words on the blog.

I have taken a 5 month job working only 2 days a week (see Maternity Nurse Diary) although it seems to be more like 2-3days most weeks. And I am about to fill in some more days - the other 5 actually - with a local family having baby No1. Sounded like an easy job and here's hoping I am right. So although I was planning to reduce hours, I may well have increased them for a short time instead.

I've also moved house with Mum and my sister Megg. We now have a 3 bedroom place. So for the first time in 7 years, I have my own (double!) bed in my own room. I cannot believe I lasted this long! It is taking a bit of getting used to as I now have to walk the length of a hallway to make a cup of tea or go to the loo. I can't reach the toaster from my bed or the CD's to put in the stereo (also sadly out of reach now). We have more then one window to open, a real oven to cook in - unfortunately a gas one - and a little garden of our own.

Our former landlord was sad to see us go and did try to convince us to stay by telling us after we gave notice that he could reduce the rent - after putting it up just as the recession really kicked in! Too little too late.

A bee - but not in my bonnet

2009-07-31T20:28:00.006Z

It's been too long, and so much going on - but no time or energy to blog.

I'm in Colchester now in an 8 week job with twins. As usual it keeps me busy and oblivious of the outside world. In fact, today I took the boys for a walk in the garden for the first time since being here. Not sure if it has been laziness, exhaustion or the weather keeping me inside and idle.

I am in a lovely country house on a very quiet lane with only tractors with trailers laden with summer harvests dashing back and forth. The postie drives along once a day and we occasionally hear another car, but so very peaceful after the madness of London.

They have a huge garden (at a guess it must be about 3-4 acres) of which about half is lawn and the rest an orchard and out buildings.

Today while out tootling in the garden I realised just how many insects there were and how I have become 'unused' to them being around. I had my macro lens on and was trailing quite a few interesting creatures. Every time one flew away there were many waiting to take it's place.

Tonight is a perfect summer evening (about bloody time too!) and I have walked along public foot paths to a pub that comes recommended for it's food. There is a little fountain and lots of outdoor seating. It reminds me a bit of a garden bar at home - except better hanging baskets.

I am off tonight and tomorrow so will hopefully get out and explore somewhere a bit further afield - they have lent me their car for the day.

Braving the world

2009-05-26T22:02:00.003Z

Today we crept out into the streets of Essaouira, having holed up for the better part of 2 days.

We have eaten pasta with courgette, onion and tomatoes and bread and jam for 2 days as the thought of going shopping was just too much.

But we had a thoroughly enjoyable day with only a few 'moments' of unpleasantness.

We walked down to the water front - a place bustling with activity. There were fishermen taking care of fish - gutting and cleaning etc. Seagulls swooping in anticipation of the scraps. Cats stalking - also in anticipation of the scraps, and maybe something a little better...

The smell was something else!! Not a nice fishing village sort of fishy smell, but a full on 'fish guts from the last 100 years left in the heat' sort of fishy smell.

There were lots of men sweeping and scooping up caked on layers of sand from the walkways and we both thought it seemed odd that it had got to that state without being dealt with earlier. It was only later that I remembered a conversation with someone a couple of days earlier, he had said there was a movie being filmed here and they had put sand down to cover the cobbles for the set. I guess filming was over.

We walked out towards the fishing boats and got 'got' by a man who wanted to show a boat that was being built. We weren't remotely interested, but of course he managed to drag us in. After 2 minutes telling us about the wood used in the building of the boat, he then asked for money for his little 'tour'. I just happened to have 3 dirham in my pocket (and genuinely no more as we were yet to go to the bank) which I knew was a pittance, so handed it to him happily. He asked for more and I said I had no more, I needed to go to the bank, and he went off moaning and grumping.

How is it, someone invites me to go see something, they then expects me to pay for the privilage. Moroccan culture is obviously very different from my own.

We had some breakfast (ripped off again) and then went off to do a bit of shopping. Mum was keen on getting some slippers, which she duly did in a painless way (not ripped off).

I also bought some shoes (not ripped off) and then we wandered down towards the sea front, but a different point. The wind was incredible, so strong and blustery. We ended up covered in sand and sprayed sea water.

Home again buying some vegies for dinner (not ripped off) and then to buy tickets for the bus tomorrow (not ripped off).

So in general a good day. After thinking that I would only take the one memory card for my camera as it still had space for over 400 photos, I ended up having to delete some along the way - it was a big day for the camera!

Never to be repeated!

2009-05-25T19:54:00.005Z

Yesterday we braved our first Grand Taxi on the open road. Never ever will we set foot in one again - and advise all others to consider very carefully this mode of transport.

We had read and heard about the drivers being kamikaze madmen, but it couldn't be that bad... could it?

YES!! In a word, it can be that bad AND worse.

We left Marrakech at 4.30pm and getting out of the city was fine. Once on the open road though, the driver became obsessed with being in front of every vehicle on the road - those going in our direction and those not!

I said to mum at one point, 'I hate to think how fast we are going', and from where she sat she coud see the speedo.

'100... 110... 120.... 130' came the terrified whisper in my ear.

We swerved in and out of the traffic barely enough room at times for the ocassional 3 vehicles side by side on the 2 laned road. Scooters, bikes, pedestrians and donkeys were tooted a warning before being passed within inches.

There were several miles of road works in a few locations and these were treated more like a race track then the road - many vehicles were overtaken while on 40km/h restrictions.

He knew exactly where the police with speed cameras hung out so would drive sedately past them, only to put his foot down the second they were out of sight.

At one point, mum gasped as he overtook in a very stupid place barely missing an oncoming car.

'What are you worried about, we missed it by several millimetres' I said in relief.

We made it to Essaouira at 7.10pm. I think if there had not been so much traffic and road works, we would have broken the record for Marrakech to Essaouira.

Thank goodness for traffic and road works.

Watermelon and desert

2009-05-24T09:57:00.003Z

We're back in Marrakech, both been sick and I am still recovering. Yesterday felt like I had been run over by a steam engine. Today only a few scooters have run me over so must be improving!

The desert was great, loved the camels, and the sunrise and sunset were pretty - although a bit underwhelming. The clouds came over as we got closer to Merzouga - where we left from to ride into the sunset. I took a temperature reading from Merzouga and because of the wind I couldn't get an accurate one, but was between 40.8 and 43.4 celcius. Quite warm really....

The food at the camp was the best yet, but I was unable to eat more then a couple of pieces of carrot.

Mr Camel was very good to me and we enjoyed each others company very much.

Before we got to the desert we drove through a few sand storms and were very thankful that we were in the car with windows up!

I will hopefully be able to upload some photos soon as we are staying a few days in one of mum's former clients house in Essaouira. We are hoping to take a break from the manic activity and hide indoors with a very big watermelon and some oranges for juice.

Morocco in one photo...

2009-05-20T21:21:00.006Z

This is Morocco - my favourite photo so far...

It's clear we have the same sense of humour. But then it is also clear that the donkey doesn't mind a hard days work - there we have to differ.

Today...

2009-05-20T21:05:00.004Z

...we saw

1 half flattened snake (ie flat one end and not the other)
1 very alive little tortoise (although with a suicide mission well in place)
42.49 billion mud houses
33 dozen donkeys
3 tajines
4.25 litres of water
522.64 trillion sheep and goats
17.14 million other tourists
every colour of the rainbow - and more - in the landscape
1 kasbah ruin
293.86 gazillion lads selling gemstones - fake or real...? (anyones guess)
one blue lizard
one tiny black and white bird
2 stork nests, each with mum and 3 babies
about 300km of road
and
1 funny little thing resembling a chipmunk...

I swear, I never exaggerate at all...

Dishonesty and hard work

2009-05-20T07:09:00.003Z

Today we are off to the desert - here's hoping the people are nicer there.

It's incredibley hard work fending off all the dishonest con artists - of which there are so many!

Yesterday we went into the Place Djemaa El Fna in the Medina (central square) We had a great time wandering around the markets and chatting with a few locals, buying a couple of things and then having mint tea in a central cafe looking out to the market.

Then we went back to the hotel to meet a potential guide for todays journey. Afterwards we went back to the market and intended to look for more companies with guides.

Firstly when we got out of the taxi, he tried to charge us over double of the metred fare. We got out and left him with the fare on the machine. Then went over to a sign to read what one company offered and of course got nabbed by someone telling us this office was closed for day and we needed to go to the 'other' one jsut down the road.

We followed him to said office and of course wasn't same company so walked off. He followed us saying it was the same. We said no it isn't and continued walking. Another man then joined in and said he was from original company and was now open if we liked to go there.

We said no, you are lying to us and we are not going to either company now. The second man insisted he was telling the truth - but damage done. He retreated fast as he knew we could call the tourist police at any moment and he would be dealt with...

Then trying to get a taxi back and everyone wanted to charge triple or quadruple the metred fare again, so we started to walk instead. We both decided to try one more taxi and he gave us the right answer and got us home happily - so we paid him double...

Tuna, donkeys and the bus

2009-05-19T09:50:00.004Z

Three days with no connection. What a challenge!

Where to start...

We left Mililla, crossed the border again into Morocco and caught a grand taxi into Nador (again) and bravely entered the bus station. Mobbed within seconds by 'helpful' men asking where are we going. The first man was trying to lead us off somewhere unknown so we stopped and found another who was much nicer and he led us to a kiosk nearby.

The first soon stormed up and started to argue with the second man - we were obviously 'his' catch! They then seemed to work out an agreement and we were led off again with the first man (the second man assuring us all was well).

6 Euros each to Fes and then onto the bus and allocated a seat (after moving aside the cases of tuna with tomato sauce) to await our departure.

The journey itself was relatively uneventful.

We saw...
brown fields
green fields
5 dogs
20 zillion donkeys (predominantly bundles of straw or grass with legs and ears)
11 harvester machines
10 trillion harvester people
and more herds of sheep and goats then you could poke a stick at

The bus did not close the door for most of the journey so you could say it was air conditioned.

The good news of course is that we made it and did not have to share our seats with any chickens, goats or tuna.

Part 2

2009-05-16T08:39:00.003Z

So we got into a taxi and said we wanted to go to CTM Nador (bus station). After a lot of discussion in French, Spanish and Moroccan, we were on our way. English is not a language used much here - no need really as all the neighbours are Spanish and the old language is French. Out comes my trusty phrase book...

We then ended up in a taxi again going to Mililla which is Spanish and needing to get our passports stamped again as we crossed the border into 'Spain'.

What a difference - cheaper, friendlier and calmer. We found a hotel and went out to get some food at last. Unfortunately, in true Spanish style, the restaurant that sounded nicest wasn't open until 8.30 and as it was 7.20 we couldn't wait. We had a pizza in a little place that was full of locals - very good sign.

And back to the hotel for a welcome shower and sleep.

This morning, we went upstairs to the breakfast room and in my very few words of Spanish managed to get dos cafe negro - 2 black coffees - and some toast.

Now we need to repack our bags and get out to explore this little place before heading for Nador again for a bus to Fes (and the welcome tourist trail that will hopefully make our lives a little easier...)

The longest day... Pt 1

2009-05-15T21:03:00.004Z

What a day, yesterday we decided to go to Montserrat - about an hour out of Barcelona. But the pressing issue was what to do regarding our onward travel plans.

Off to the train station to book a ticket to Almeria or Algecaris so we could then take a ferry across to Morocco. The train to Algecaris was leaving at 10pm so 'perfect' we thought and then went to book it. Alas, there were no seats, not even a sleeper berth. So with no onward journey plans and no idea what to do next, we jumped on the train to Montserrat and forgot about Morocco for the time being.

Montserrat is a lovely monastry set high in a mountain with great views of the valleys below - on a nice clear day that is. Unfortunately it was raining and very cloudy so we had virtually no view at times and none at others. But it did make for some interesting photo opportunities (none of which I have viewed yet).

So back to Barcelona and on to the bus station to see what was on offer. A bus to Almeria leaving in 2 hours that would travel overnight and arrive 12 hours later. Perfect! So into a taxi to go and collect our bags from the hotel, then back again in time to buy tickets and board our bus.

While waiting for our bus we went to pick up a few food items to snack on - having not had any solid food since breakfast. And back at the station we were sorting it out when a man came by to ask a question about heck knows what - while another man proceded to pick up mum's wallet and start to walk away. Luckily mum spotted him and called him a not very nice name and grabbed it back - disaster averted, thankfully.

The journey was long and tedious - not helped by the smelly man in the seat next to mine. Every couple of hours the bus stopped and the smokers got out to smoke and then everyone got back in and off we went again.

09.10 this morning we pulled into Almeria and headed for the port to see what was available there to get up to Morocco.

By 10am we were aboard a boat ready to sail to Nador. Unfortunately this left no time to buy anything more to eat and the boat was not selling anything. We had just enough as it turned out - eating the last things as we docked.

Nador, it turns out, is a depressed town unused to foreigners - especially 2 lone women. We were 2 of 7 people who had non-local passports coming off the boat. The other 5 were all men and all looked like they probably belonged here, but who knows (they definitely knew the language).

The big bus in Barcelona and a croc of a handbag

2009-05-12T21:40:00.004Z

Today we took the Barcelona Bus Turistic all around town.

We intended taking the red route first, but got on the blue one near our hotel instead. First stop for us was MontJuic where we wandered around the MNAC (way too long to type out in full) art museum. Then up to the site of the 1992 Olympics. It felt a bit surreal to think that this was the place of huge hustle-bustle a few (17!!??) years ago. I wasn't inspired to use my camera here though until I found a lovely grass seed head and felt obligated to take it's photo with as many backgrounds as I could find...

Back down to the MNAC and a few more photos and we headed back for the bus. With beautiful views over the city, a warm sun and a man playing guitar, I think I could have sat there for a while.

We took the cable car up and then down the mount to see the view. Not particularly mind blowing, but pleasant all the same. The cable car running down to the harbour front was out of action due to strong wind (hadn't noticed the wind myself...).

To cut a long (boring) story short, we stayed on the bus until the point that we could do a swap to the red one. This was more interesting as it took in quite a few of Gaudi's buildings - what a clever and unique man he must have been!

Along the way we went past a shop called Croco-Park so after having completed a full circuit we stayed on board and headed around again to check it out. Turned out to be a very boring shop with lots of very shiney, glittery leather handbags more suited to... well, someone else...

So with that out of the way we found a Tapas restaurant and ate what we could - that wasn't cooked with the use of gas as the gas was out of order ( did they pay the bill??) in the kitchen. We picked up a cake each on the way home and finally limped into the hotel about 9.30'ish - both exhausted.

The adventure is in motion

2009-05-11T20:38:00.004Z

Mum and I are finally off on our adventure. We've both been looking forward to a break from work and the mundane slog of normal life. The main destination for our journey is Morocco, but we decided to get there by land and sea rather then fly - we have a month to spare!

Yesterday we left London on the Eurostar a couple of hours earlier then our needed timing (to catch our onward train) in order to have the joy of sitting in a Parisian patisserie supping good coffee and feasting on fantastic French pastries for a couple of hours.

Alas, it was not to be.

We wandered around the grounds of the Natural History Museum thoroughly enjoying the poppy gardens, the Petit Panda (seen throught a thin veil of bamboo) and the Biturong sitting on the roof of it's little house. OK... so I have no idea what a Biturong is, and the man I asked had no English word for me, but it was very cute and it's little face looked just like a seal. If anyone should wish to enlighten me, I appreciate it - time online is limited.

After a bit we decided that we could resist the temptation no longer and headed back to the streets to find afore mentioned patisserie. There was not one to be seen.

A snap decision was made as we knew that the next train was a long journey and vegetarian/fishatarian food likely to be limited, we had to eat and we chose what turned out to be my vote for the worst restaurant in the whole of Paris - and possibley France. Salad with dead lettuce, boiled potatoes, and an old car's waste oil made into salad dressing, and salmon (probably caught circa 1969), cooked until unrecognisable and then placed beside a pile of (very) boiled rice. Both meals bland and completely uninspiring. We knew though, that the train could not disappoint anymore!

Back to the station, thinking that we would find a cafe selling something, that even if not the desired perfect Parisian pastry, would still put British food to shame - not this time.

C'est la vie!

The train arrived and we found our little cabin and made ourselves comfy. The train did not disappoint in it's delivery of cr@p food - thank goodness we had bought our NZ made butter from London to have on our toast though!!

The journey was 12hours and ultimately, painless. There were several stops most of which I was awake for but one of which I seem to have missed was the border control from France into Spain.

The train guard had taken our passports upon boarding so we didn't need to be present as some unpleasant hour of the morning - nice man.

We arrived in Barcelona at 8.30am - 12 hours from departing Paris.

PS. Just tried to spell check and all words except about 7 came up highlighted - my computer seems to think I should be writing Spanish. Apologies for any bad spelling...

Milk chocolate fields forever!

2009-05-11T20:29:00.003Z

Eurostar to Paris and on the way, suddenly realised it was dark outisde - inside the chunnel already! Way too fast for me.

Popped out the other side and glorious fields of luminous rape seed flowers, fresh spring grass and delightful milk chocolate fields combed to perfection. Glad I couldn't get out to lick the ground and spoil the fantasy!

Wish I'd been able to get a photo - but the train so damned fast and windows so damned dirty, not worth the effort. I'll stick with the visual memory of this beautiful view...

A tube of what???

2009-04-11T21:43:00.003Z

A father of babies I was looking after went to a pharmacy to get some Metanium - a nappy rash cream.

When he got there he asked the shop assistant for a tube of Meconium*...

The look on her face apparently said it all!!
He did eventually come home with the right stuff!

*for the uninitiated, meconium is the black poo that babies do when first born.

G20 protests

2009-04-10T12:57:00.004Z

The other day, just before starting my current contract, I decided to go into London City to check out the G20 protests.

It wasn't hard to find where to go - follow the excessive number of police and the closer you get the more police there are.

I shuffled and elbowed my way to the front of the crowd and stood in front of a row a police who were 'holding us back'. They were in good spirits, no growling or scowling from this lot. My purpose for going was in fact to get the camera out on an excursion. It's been severely underworked these days.

So I played around and snapped this and that. Nothing was happening and I wondered how long I should stand there. No sooner having thought this, the crowd opposite started to get a bit agitated and began to push the line of police until they eventually broke through and started heaading our way.

At this point, the police holding us back all turned into different creatures and became very aggressive shouting 'GET BACK!' whilst pushing us. I am guessing the thought of 1000 or more people mobbing them from behind wasn't an attractive option. I was shocked at how quickly they turned from calm and quiet to very angry and loud.

So in short the crowd pushed through all police lines and the police were left looking a bit surprised. They then regrouped and formed another plan which was to hold the crowd at another point and bring in the riot squad. These police were not so friendly.

After a while I got bored at this location so headed off to Trafalgar Square where a more peaceful protest was happening. This one was specifically focussed on Palestine (whereas the 'main' one was for all agendas).

This was a whole different scenario, singing, invited speakers, etc. Peaceful and pleasant and yet still getting their point across.

Interesting day in all.

Český Krumlov - in pictures

2009-03-26T21:47:00.007Z

Too braindead to be writing screeds of anything of importance so instead, here's some photos of my day trip to Český Krumlov in Southern Bohemia...

This is the town itself - the castle is on the top right (left of the tower).

The day of steps

2009-03-25T19:48:00.012Z

Phew, today I walked for 8 hours with only a short stop for lunch (earlier post).

After lunch I wandered aimlessly again through lots of beautiful alleys and squares. After a few hours, I found myself at the beginning of the steps leading to the castle.

I never broke a sweat on the climb, simply because every 3 steps I had to stop and take a photo (or 7). The views are stunning!

The castle is not a castle in the Knights in Shining Armour kind of way. It is more of a series of buildings perched on top of a hill that are united and fortified by a surrounding wall.

Each entrance and exit is protected by two guards. I just happened to be hanging around photographing their untidy looking footwear when I heard the tell tale sound of more guards arriving.

The changing of the guards was over in a few seconds without much fuss and the 'old' two were marched off home. Hopefully for a well earned hot bath... although I suspect not. (They were in the path of a very cold wind.)

I didn't go into any buildings as it was getting late in the day, but I could wander through the complex unhindered taking many photos.

I was headed in a direction that I hoped very much had an exit so I wouldn't have to climb all the way back up to the top - I was lucky! I limped down the steps wondering how I was going to make it home with an aching back and very sore foot. At the bottom of the steps I discovered the No22 tram and it's route took me very close to my hotel - again I was very lucky!

John Lennon et al

2009-03-25T12:41:00.002Z

Even John gets a mention here.

I have been to see the John Lennon wall which is directly opposite the French Embassy. Funny really as, being a New Zealander, I don't see the French as a 'peaceful' people...

It is a very colourful wall on which people can express themselves in a very colourful way should they wish. I didn't wish, but I did enjoy looking.

I walked over a bridge of no great importance this morning after finding my way to the 'Dancing Building' nearby. It's a very wonky and interesting piece of architecture. There were lots of photos to be taken from the bridge.

Once I realised I was off the planned track for the day, I decided to head for the John Lennon wall instead via the other side of the river from where I am staying.

I found my way to the Charles Bridge before the JL wall - which wasn't supposed to happen. So I retraced my steps and eventually came across it.

I now am having lunch at a nice little cafe next to the wall. Replenishing the energy supply before heading out again on the next adventure.

Sleet, snow, hail and strong wind

2009-03-24T18:09:00.004Z

That was the weather forecast and it has prooved to be smack on! Damn!!

I waited indoors this morning for a very heavy hail/sleet storm to pass by then ventured out. It was sunny, cloudy and windy for the first few hours of wandering then came a very heavy snow storm - no photos of this as I found a very nice cafe with good cake and coffee and felt no need to thrust me and my camera into a blizzard...

Then fine again until I was on my way home and started with very heavy hail then very heavy snow.Today I just wandered. No plans or intentions so, of course, I never got lost. I figure I couldn't be lost if I had no place I had to be - if I was supposed to be somewhere and couldn't find it then I would say I was lost... But I wasn't! So there!

The architecture is stunning - the new town dates back to 14th century and the old town, well... it's older. Lots of pretty buildings painted yellow, pink and pale blue - a bit like baby wear.

Will be posting photos later when I get them downloaded. In the mean time I'm off for some dinner.

Prague, here I come, maybe...

2009-03-23T21:47:00.002Z

Well, the day started off so well, got up at a pleasant time, packed my bag (didn't manage it last night) and headed off to the airport about 11am.

I had intended leaving about 10.30, but that was the early estimate time so I wasn't worried to be a bit later. All was good, checked in online last night, the journey by tube was painless, got to the baggage check and it dawned on me that all was NOT well.....

THE BL@@DY PASSPORT!!!!! It was safely tucked away in my top drawer where it had sat since getting back from Chicago in December... It has to happen to everyone once so I have been told and I am guessing it is a hard lesson not to learn after doing it just that once!

OK, so can I rebook a later flight and take the tube home and back again? No - there is only one connecting flight from Zurich to Prague each day. I have 1 hour before the check in closes on my flight.

I decide to call Airport Cars (AKA Premier Cars) who have picked me up from the airport on many occasion, and request their fastest, most risk taking, racing driver to get me home and back within the hour. Anyone who has driven (or taken the bus) in London knows well that luck has a lot to do with traffic conditions. Cars are flowing nicely one minute and the next there can be a 2 mile tailback for no obvious reason.

The powers that be were on my side today and it took 25minutes to get home, 30seconds to get out of car, unlock main house door, run downstairs, unlock my door, locate top drawer and afore mentioned passport, run back upstairs locking doors behind me and back into car. (You should have seen the drivers face!)

Then 30 mins to get back to airport (leaving a BIG tip for the driver) and then I sauntered up to the check in with minutes to spare! Through security to airside - and then had to wait for the gate to be announced!! I had time to window shop, but instead I took a seat and, holding my head in my hands, caught my breath...

Flight was uneventful although over Switzterland looking down on all the snow and forests was beautiful (thought of you Walter and Karen!).

Connecting to the Prague flight was easy too and arrived in Prague on time to a cold,windy and raining evening. I'm hoping it gets it out of it's system tonight so tomorrow is a nice day! Just had a pizza for dinner (told you Megg I would end up eating pizza as only vegie food I would find!! Didn't go far tonight so will hopefully find something exciting tomorrow).

Then found a nice little convenience store and tried to buy some sparkling water. Only to discover that not only does water come still or with 'gas', but gas is then divided into 'big' or 'small'. Big gas for me please - no comments please... Czech water gets my seal of approval so far. Very delicious.

The art of procrastination - or simple avoidance

2009-03-22T23:46:00.005Z

It's amazing what I find to do instead of packing my bag... I loathe packing and unpacking so when it comes time to pack - I first have to unpack... Silly me!

Tonight I have managed to vacuum under my bed and behind the freezer. I cleaned the bathroom and toilet - even behind the toilet. I have washed all my scarves and hung out to dry, washed and dried my washing and found the table beneath the mountain of junk.

But I haven't yet packed my bag...

I am going to Prague tomorrow morning and really do need to put some clothes in a bag, sort out my camera and my computer too. At least I have unpacked now - and only 11.45pm! Doing well I think.

I have started to reload all the files back onto my computer - all lost when my hard drive died a couple of weeks back. Luckily I was backed up until just before the event. But still don't know exactly what I lost.

Anyway, back to packing I guess if I am ever to get to bed tonight..

Lack of Adventures of a Slackyjenn

2009-03-22T23:35:00.003Z

It's a while since I was here with energy and enthusiasm to write anything, but after the hue and cry from the general public(well, one or 2 friends anyway...), I am back!

A long time ago I received an email titled The Adventures of a Slackyjenn and so in return, I would like to announce my latest blog title...

The Latest Adventures of a Slappyjenn.

So no being mean to me any more!

Kindness... all for salt

2009-01-02T22:50:00.003Z

A knock on the door this evening and it's the neighbour asking me if he could have some salt as he has a visitor and no salt to serve.

Not a problem, I give him the salt pot and tell him to take what he wants as I don't really use it.

It turns out mum has had a couple of interactions with this man, the first when he was trying to do his washing in the communal machines. After putting 3 times the needed coins in, mum showed him how to get it started.

The next time mum was on her way to work with her suitcase and she had to climb the stairs to get to get outside (we are in the basement). This man was on his way down and insisted on carrying mum's suitcase all the way out the front door.

Tonight we had a bit of a chat about the fact there is no heating in our rooms yet again - a common occurrence these days it seems. Mum said she had contacted the landlord and he is out of town until tomorrow. We are lucky as we have a small electric heater so we won't freeze.

The neighbour was very concerned that we may be cold and checked that we had a heater - offering his one if we didn't.

He whispered quietly to me so mum wouldn't hear 'it is not so bad for us - we are young, but it is not right that your mother has no heating'. True, we are younger but mum also has a really bad cold and should be warm in her home.

After a few more words of anger about our landlord, he goes back to his room. But not for long.

A short time later he knocks on the door again and he has an electric blanket that he has taken off his own bed, insisting that mum use it.

There are some kind souls in this world and one of them lives next door to us.

Time flies and the end nears (of 2008)

2008-12-25T23:45:00.004Z

It sure does, it is weeks since I last posted on here and even so I have no exciting news to report.

I spent a week in Chicago on the way back to London earlier this month and thoroughly enjoyed myself - although would have been much more interesting to not have been working. I was very limited in the times I could get out to explore so I didn't get far and now need to go back to complete all the things I've missed out on...

We got back to London almost 3 weeks ago and it has all been about settling the babies in and getting life calmed to a comfortable point for the family. Since returning, I have had two days off and due another tomorrow. Really looking forward to it!

Lucy made it back to NZ after her accident in India. Unfortunately the whole time she was in London I was in Illinois and we only got to see each other on the eve of her flight out to NZ. I was part of the pack horse gang that she needed in order to get all her luggage to the airport.

Megg is now living in London too so I get to see her every now and then which is lovely.

I am making plans to go to NZ sometime soon - although 'soon' may be 2010 at this rate! Too much to do and too little time...

But right now, Christmas day is ending and I must make it to bed ASAP as I have babies who will require my attention in 2.5 hours.

Good night!

A bit more detail

2008-11-22T16:41:00.003Z

I hired a car the other day and accompanied by Bob (Dylan) and Melissa (Ethridge) took a drive to St Louis, Missouri. It is just across the Mississippi from Illinois.

Firstly I headed out West and then took the Illinois River Road (highway 100) south. I was stunned and pleasantly surprised at just how beautiful it was.

Countryside Illinois is all about farming and this time of the year the fields are all yellow with corn stalk after the harvest. Some of the fields were in the process of being ploughed. It's been a late harvest this year apparently due to weather conditions.

The trees have all lost their leaves, but the leaves remain on the ground so the colours are still bright and bold in places.

The river was huge - nothing like it in NZ or the UK - although the Thames comes close! I came to the conclusion that it must be a major summer holiday spot due to the number of camp grounds along the rivers edge.

After a bit on the Ilinois river I crossed through a lovely farming valley and drove along the Mississippi instead. I was most impressed to set eyes on this river. I had bought Bob's CD simply because it had a song called Mississippi. It proved to be a good thing - excellent driving music!

I didn't get into St Louis until about 6pm and all was dark. There was no sign posting giving even a vague indication of where downtown was. I had booked a hotel so needed to navigate there otherwise I could have just stopped anywhere.

I followed my nose and made it to the only street name I knew - Broadway. I then spotted exactly where I wanted to be so I was mighty impressed! My nose does not always do me justice when trying to follow it but in this case it did me well!

After something to eat, I took a walk out on the river front to the arch that is St Louis. When asking around before I left as to what I should do in St Louis, the only thing anyone could tell me was the Arch!

It was freezing!! About -7or8C. I had my down coat with light polar fleece under, gloves and scarf and I had to keep moving!

I got some photos whilst watching my back very carefully. The place was not exactly bustling with tourists (or locals) and I was very aware of being alone in the dark with my very expensive camera.

Back to the hotel and I spent $10.00 in the adjoining casino. I guess an hours entertainment for $10 is not too bad... Hmmm, not sure where my luck went - last time I went to a casino I came out with just a little more then I spent after an hour.

Then it was bed and to be rudely awakened by the phone at 1.40am(?????). I didn't bother answering - although I ought to have and mentioned my displeasure!

Another rude awakening at 9.15am, a quick shower and the 100 mile drive back via the main road.

Stats

2008-11-21T21:07:00.003Z

I took a 24hr break and arrived back at noon today.

While driving I saw
11 dead opossums
5 dead raccoons
5 dead small unidentified creatures
2 dead medium unidentified creatures
1 dead large bird

...and rather unpleasantly 5 very large splats of blood and fur that I take to be the remains of deer meets truck.

I did also see a few living creatures - not good statistics proportionally though.

2 deer munching in a field
1 completely bonkers red squirrel - skimming along a railing on a bridge with it's body low as possible looking somewhat like a SAS recruit.
1 hawk like bird
3 trillion small black birds swooping and darting around in an enormous 'cloud'

And I think that was it.
I saw the Illinois river - a tributary of the Mississippi and I saw the Mississippi!! I was very excited about that.

And this morning on my way back, I put petrol in the car at a the incredible rate of $1.66 a gallon!!! A definite change from the $3.40'ish that we put in the car in Florida just a few weeks ago!

Lincoln in Springfield

2008-11-16T00:23:00.003Z

Abraham Lincoln - standing outside the building in which he practiced law.

The house in which he lived with his wife and 4 sons

The gorgeous stove on which they cooked. This was my favourite thing in the house!

My last days off

2008-11-15T13:54:00.012Z

I'm not managing to get to my blog these days and it's not for lack of time.
I am holed up in a hotel suite with a family in Springfield, Illinois. We're awaiting the babies to be well and fit enough to travel back to London.

Last weekend I took the train into Chicago and met up with Jane who flew over from NY. We had 2 nights (Jane had 3) together and stayed in a hotel quite central.

I had been told the architectural boat tour was very worthwhile and so had Jane so on the first day we dropped our bags and went off to do it. I loved it and I think jane enjoyed it, although we were both somewhat cold throughout the whole thing... I caught my first snowflake of the winter on my glove.

The boat was open on top and we sat there in the cold (temperature at freezing point...) listening to a very interesting woman disecting the city into eras, architects and styles. The cold aside, it was brilliant. Chicago's cityscape is awesome. So diverse and bold in the design.

We took a walk uptown the next day and on the way walked along the edge of Lake Michgan.

It has whet my appetite for Chicago and now think I need to spend a week or more to really explore.

Here's 2000 words.

2008-11-08T06:35:00.004Z

No time to write them so here's a couple of pictures instead...

The lovely view from outside the hotel where I am staying with 2 tiny babies.

And a sunset A La Springfield Ford Car Sales Yard.

Surprised...?

2008-11-01T22:19:00.003Z

I'm still a little surprised to find myself in the Mid West now after being in the South East just a few days ago.

This morning I got up early and took a train to Springfield, Illinois. Arriving here an hour later then scheduled - better late then never (although with first impression of Springfield, 'never' may well be an option I would consider!!) .

While on the train, I found myself peering with expert eyes into all the water holes we passed, expecting at any second to spot a gator. I was in Florida only 2 weeks but I certainly learned quickly how to spot the wildlife! And now I feel I still should be on the look out. Alas there are no gators this far north.

I did spot an small eagle like bird on a power pole, but was too slow with the camera.

Springfield is small and spread out - we're about 20 minutes out. It's main claim to fame is being the home of Abe Lincoln or as many younger folk might remind you, it's also the fictitious home of the Simpsons.

Racking up a few airmiles

2008-10-31T23:30:00.001Z

I just arrived in Chicago after 2 painful days of exhaustion and headless chicken type behaviour.

After flying back to London on Wednesday, I had one full day and one part day to empty the suitcase of summer holiday clothes and refill it with wintry, sensible clothing.

I had a dentist appointment and a doctors appointment, a quick visit to mum, another quick visit to a client who is in London for a few weeks only and several bits of admin to catch up on.

As far as I am aware it is all done - although I doubt I have packed well.

Now to catch up on a little sleep before catching a train south early tomorrow.

News of Lucy

2008-10-31T23:15:00.000Z

Lucy had a paragliding crash yesterday in India.

I'm not sure of full details except that she hit a hill and spent several hours awaiting rescue. She was taken to a local hospital and then earlier today was flown to another hospital in New Delhi.

It seems she has a broken rib and collapsed lung.

I think we should be feeling very lucky considering some of the paragliding accidents I have heard about.

Really hope you are back on your feet very soon.

Home and chilly!

2008-10-29T22:41:00.002Z

I made it home and managed to fit everything in my 2 bags. I did have to toss out most of my clothes in the meantime!

We flew last night from Miami to London and arrived in first thing this morning to a very cold frosty day. It had snowed the night before - quite substantially in some places!

A bit of a surprise when the temperature has barely dropped below 80 degrees for 2 weeks and we arrive back to about 30-32 degrees.

Brrr

The alligaor and the heron

2008-10-27T02:13:00.008Z

Yesterday afternoon we went out the the edge of the Everglades and did a short walk.

First up was a great blue heron. It is a huge bird - up to 4 feet tall and 7 foot windspan. He was sat in the grass with just a bit of neck and his head showing.

A short distance further and we spotted a young gator - I'm guessing last years baby - and then some more tiny ones.
We watched for a while and then walked on a bit further.

The heron suddenly flew up and landed on the path in front of us and slowly and slyly started to stalk the baby gators. We watched as the heron got closer and closer and had his head lowered to catch his prey.

Suddenly there was a splash and a rustling of the reeds and shrubs around the waters edge. The mother gator was on her way to protect her babies!

The heron stopped dead and while still eyeing up the babies, was also fully aware of the presence of the big gator.

We were fasinated and really wanted to see the outcome - one way or the other. But a group of people walked past and the heron slowly backed away and the situation was over.

I have never been lucky enough to watch something like this and it made me feel like I was watching a nature program - without the narration.

Today I saw...

2008-10-25T20:08:00.002Z

...lots of fishes swimming in the sea.

Two dolphins playing hide and seek - they hide better then they seek.

The skimmiest fish I ever saw - they skim over the water better then I could possibly skim a stone.

And the inside of 3 hotel rooms - and nearly 4 after the internet didn't work in our room.

I did NOT see...

... the American crocodile in Crocodile Lake.

An alive raccoon - road kill doesn't count.

A manatee

Or a mermaid!

Phew - and the day hasn't even finished yet! We're off to start exploring the east side of the Everglades now.

Key West with monsoon rain

2008-10-25T02:17:00.004Z

I wish I had a regular internet connection and time to sit here and relate some adventures. Of course that would mean sitting at my computer instead of having adventures...

Today we left Key West - we spent 2 nights there. It rained solid in a very monsoon like manor for the best part of the 2 days. The roads were flooded and the sea was grey and angry looking.

My first (and last) impressions of Key West are not very pleasant to say the least...

But luckily the bits in the middle were fun and games. We just happened to arrive in the middle of Key West's biggest festival of the year. We could get fairly normal cost accommodation for Wednesday and Thursday but on Friday it nearly tripled and an executive decision was made to head for the north instead.

On Wednesday when we arrived we took the Conch Train - a guided tour of Key West - to get our bearings. Then went home and prepared ourselves for a night out.

First stop was Margaritaville - Jimmy Buffett's restaurant - where we ate dinner and of course had a Margarita. Teresa is a Jimmy Buffett fan so this was her 'moment'. Dinner was great and the place had a really nice ambiance about it.

We then wandered along the main street (Duval St) and eventually decided on a bar called the Lazy Gecko. It was fantastic sitting there and watching people come and go.

The Fantasy Festival is an annual event where people have the perfect excuse to take off their clothes and/or walk around in weird and wonderful costumes. There is lots of body art - designs and pictures drawn directly onto naked skin.

Wednesday nights theme was 'red'. So anything red went. Red knickers or boxer shorts were the sole items being worn by some. Others went all out and wore the most incredible fancy dress outfits that were obviously a labour of love.

The most memorable of all being a group who were dressed as rednecks. The women were all pregnant with many many children - one even pushing a pram full of baby dolls. They had tattoos - one daring man had 'I love Sarah Palin' written on his shoulder - lots of teeth missing, head scarves etc etc.

One man was painted all over with red paint and wore a very tiny black thong. He hovered near my stool as I came back from the loo and I have to say I was willing him desperately not to sit on the stool as I really did not want to have to sit on either the red paint or where his bum had been.

Thursday we spent about 10hours shopping and enjoying the festivities in Duval St again. I think I managed to clear all the gators and crocs out of Key West. I'm thinking I may need to buy an extra extra suitcase now!! I'm not sure just one extra will be enough any more!

Anyway, sleep is calling. Hoping to get up early and go out on a glass bottom boat to see the reefs around here (Key Largo).

Log-o-diiles, shade-o-diles and swamp-o-diles

2008-10-20T19:02:00.002Z

Everywhere we look there are 'o-diles'.

Sometimes they are the real thing and it gets REALLY exciting! Other times, we see things that are the same shape and colour and think we are looking at a gator, but when one of us gets brave enough to approach, we find it is only a log-o-dile or similar.

This morning we went driving along the Jane's Scenic Drive. It's an 11 mile unsealed track labeled as a dead end. We wondered if it was truly a dead end road or perhaps a 'never to return zone' road.

And was it scenic? Oh boy it was!!

It starts out with grassland swamps on both sides of the track and then becomes mangrove type swamps. It took us 2 hours to get about 3 miles up this road!

We stopped several times and saw a Cooter turtle, hundreds of butterflies, huge grasshoppers, heaps of birds - herons, vultures, eagles etc - and one tiny mini little pair of eyes peaking out from behind a log in a swamp!!

I didn't think it could get much more exciting, but it was all about to change...

We drove up the road a little more and ahead there was a fallen over fencepost partially blocking the road. As a joke, I said 'ooo look there's half a giant snake'. As I finished the statement, I realised it was not a fencepost at all... It was a very BIG alligator sunning himself on the road between the swamps!

We stopped the car and both assumed the position (camera's up to eye, that is) and started snapping (haha!!). We of course were desperate to get up and really inspect it. But both thought better of it.

After getting many many photos, we turned and headed back to the car - still keeping an eye on where that big fellow was of course!

We found a tiny dead snake on the road that was being escorted away by a large swarm of tiny ants. As we photographed that, the gator got up, crossed the road and slipped back into the water.

We drove on a bit further and again found another gator blocking our path, this time we stayed near the car and once we had taken another several 1000 photos, we decided to head onwards again. Unfortunately the gator had other thoughts and would not move. We managed to convince it to go a few yards then it flopped and went 'back to sleep'. We inched forward and tried again. But again it got up and lurched forward a few feet then flopped down for a rest!

It really did not want to move but we didn't want to get too close in case it had a taste for car tyres. Eventually it slid back into the water and we went on our way.

It was the best spent 2-3 hours yet.

Later we are going out on a boat to the 10 000 Islands, then tomorrow morning out again on another airboat in the mangroves.

Dolphins, pelicans, Mr Racoon, the turtle and the stick insect.

2008-10-19T12:56:00.003Z

Yesterday we arose very early and went off to walk in a wildlife haven in the hope of seeing some wildlife.

When we got to the gate and were waiting to be let in, Mr Racoon wandered across the roadway and climbed a tree. I was quick off the mark (for being up before sunrise that is) and out with the camera, managed to snap a tiny, underexposed little photo of him as he perched on a small and bendy branch directly above me.

We paid out $1 each and off we went. Walking along a path between 2 swamps and the first thing we saw was a wading bird eating fish. Nice, but not really what we came to see.

Then we saw a lovely ant trail with impressive signs of underground activity, still not what we REALLY wanted!

We saw a lovely red Cardinal, spiders, tiny lizards, more ants....

BUT! No alligators! In fact nothing bigger then the medium sized wading bird.

So we raced back to the car, drove to Jensens wharf and boarded our boat for a dolphin hunt.

We saw dolphins, but they were all feeding so just showing themselves briefly before diving for food. There were brown pelicans hanging out on a sandbar that we got close enough to to photograph. Osprey sitting high in trees on the islands.

I just saw the end of a spectacular manoeuvre by a King Mackerel - it leapt way out of the water and landed with a splash - possibly to be eaten by a dolphin...?

Then we saw a loggerhead sea turtle break the surface and disappear. Stunning!

Back on land and we wandered a few galleries while I bought more gator stuff.

Went down to the beach to watch the sunset - beautiful again! on the way back I spotted a stick walking across the path so stopped to investigate. A beautiful brown creature with a baby on it's back! I picked it up and photographed it. In appreciation it spat at me and after a few attempts it managed to blind one eye so after saying a naughty word in front of a small boy, I placed the wee fellow in the greenery and went on a desperate search for water to wash my eye. I can see perfectly fine this morning - phew!

Out for dinner then back to pack. Windy night so neither of us slept great, and I have yet again been eaten alive by tiny things and feel the need to scratch ankles raw.

Time to shower and pack car for today's adventure - it will include gators this time as we are heading back along Alligator Alley in the Everglades to a wildlife place.

Too many Gator-diles

2008-10-19T12:53:00.002Z

Last night I had the enviable (or not) task of laying out and then packing all my new crocodylian loot.
I have been in Florida for 4 days as at last night and without a doubt need to buy another suitcase. And I am only buying small things at this stage. Scarey!

Breakfast at Sanibel

2008-10-18T01:53:00.005Z

I haven't managed to get to my blog for any serious updates and getting very frustrated about it. So I am going to start from now in the hope that I can back track and fill in the last 3 days later.

We are on a lovely island called Sanibel on the west coast of Florida, very near Fort Myers Beach. Its a lot more sleepy and relaxed then Miami and for the first time in all my USA travels, I feel this is a place I could spend a lot of time and (perhaps!) never tire of the scenery, the weather, the beaches, the people etc.

Tonight we went to a restaurant/bar called The Mucky Duck and sat outside on the sand having a drink, listening to a local man sing his local ditties while the sun slowly slipped below the horizon. Too beautiful!

Earlier today we decided we wanted to eat pancakes for breakfast so off we went to the wonderfully named Island Cow having read that they do a good breakfast. Firstly, the coffee arrived ( more like a cup of acid then coffee) but no milk for Teresa. Then the orange juice and a milkshake, then the notification that breakfasts were now finished and lunch menu only as it was after 11am.

And true it was after 11am, but it certainly wasn't when we put our initial coffee order in...

We left feeling a little disgruntled and decided to head for the Lighthouse Cafe which advertises it's breakfasts as the 'best on the island'. I had eggs/seafood benedict - something I would never have thought as being a good combination, but in fact was divine! The service was fantastic and we left there feeling very happy and of course full!

Next door to the cafe was an intriguing shop full of 'things'. Jewellery, ornaments, etc. I managed to fill a very large bag with alligator paraphernalia while emptying the credit card a little.

Then off to the lighthouse to walk around the point and dip our incredibley hot toes in the sea. It was much too hot by this time and I could not wait to get into the car and get the air con going full blast!

We stopped off at the local antiques shop which turned out to be a real treasure trove of collectables - something for everyone.

And lots of somethings for the crocodile/alligator obsessives too. Another gasp from the credit card...

I've worked out that so long as I don't buy too many more crocodylians then I can probably fit it all in my suitcase if I throw out all my clothes and anything else that isn't a croc/gator related item.

I am feeling very tired and will be getting up very early to go on a gator hunt so must get off to bed.

PS - photos coming soon (I hope)

The definitive guide to castle ruins in England and Wales

2008-10-03T19:41:00.010Z

Well OK, maybe not definitive, but I can tell you about the ones we saw today.

First things first though, the name of the village we stayed in last night was Weston-on-Bury. We we a bit surprised to say the least when neither of us could remember where we were.

We left after a hearty breakfast of baked beans, eggs, toast and coffee and headed into the Forest of Dean. We were very impressed to find that it was, in fact, a forest. Quite different from the balding patches of scrub and earth usually called a 'woods'. This was lush and green with narrow winding roads - just like at home!

Our first stop - via a rather round-about string of little lanes - was Goodrich. A 12th century fortified castle ruin. An absolutely stunning ruin made better by the gorgeous sunshine. We climbed the spiral stairs up to the top of one of the corner towers and the view incredible. It was extremely windy so didn't manage to stay up there long to really observe, but enjoyed it none-the-less.

Next stop was Skenfrith, and again we didn't manage a direct route. But we did get there to find it was an impressive ruin. Perhaps not quite as spectacular as Goodrich.

Just along the road a bit further was a 12th century church. It had a very unusual top - being built from wood. It was in a lovely quiet little village at the end of a road so peaceful and calm.

A 'Cope' hung under a curtain that was made in the mid 1400's. It never ceases to amaze me that something of this age can survive.

'A cope is a garment like a cape and is still worn by Bishops and senior clergy in some churches. In the medieval period it was used in processions and special occasions. A cope has a semi-circular shape with a remnant of the hood still visible in the design.' (excerpt from www.skenfrith.org)

Getting too tired now so will try to update more later... yawn...

Blenheim Palace et al

2008-10-02T20:49:00.014Z

Today we went to Blenheim Palace, a place we've both been intending to see since we have been in the UK.

Upon arrival we're faced with a massive, imposing, yellow stone building with the most incredible, ornate gates.

Inside the Palace and it went down hill a bit as we were herded through a 35 minute 'production' of make believe goings ons in order to educate us of the Palace's history. Obviously set up to baby sit those without enough get-up-and-go to enjoy a wander through a building alone.

The next part was the State rooms which were also very disappointing -especially after seeing Basildon yesterday. The room in which Winston Churchill was born was very drab, the whole place was in a completely different league to the likes of Basildon. A smaller more personal property tends to feel warmer and more 'loved'. Blenheim felt like it was simply out to make money at the expense of personality.

It was a different story once out in the grounds. They were beautiful. We walked beside the lake to the 'Cascade' - a man made waterfall. I think it was made by Capability Brown - what
didn't that man do?

We walked back along the lake and saw herons flying, fishermen fishing and lots of bird life that I'm not clever enough to know.

Unfortunately we have just missed out on the colour of autumn this trip. In some spots the trees are just beginning to show a tinge of colour. Another few weeks and the area will be in full autumnal colour.

The formal gardens complete with fountain and ponds were lovely and not too many people about because of the cold winds.

We left Blenheim Palace and headed west until a sign came into view announcing an Historic Wool Church. Curious... It turns out this area (Northleach in Gloucestershire) was known for it's wool production so all very sensible. There were some very old 'brasses' of some of the locals from the 15th and 16th centuries. And a very pretty churchyard and village.

We've stopped somewhere tonight in a quaint old pub, the real issue being is we have no idea exactly where we are. We know we were on the road heading towards Chepstow...

On the road again!

2008-10-01T21:36:00.006Z

Mum and I decided to hire a car today and take off for a bit of a look around. We have no idea where we intend to end up except that tomorrow we will go to Blenheim Palace.

Mum is awaiting news on a job that will possibly mean she has to go to work, but if that doesn't happen we will return to London on Sunday.

Today we headed out of London about 1pm and drove to Reading where we stopped at the worlds most boring cafe for some lunch. We then did our favourite trick of taking back roads and seeing where we ended up. But we did want to go to Basildon Park on the way so after some lovely country lanes and a bit of back tracking, we made it there before closing.

It was a pretty house set in big wooded fields and a nice garden in progress in the grounds. The room stewards were all so passionate about their allocated room it became a battle of time to get around the place before it closed. A balance of listening and being interested while also trying to get out of the room before being bored to death by the details of the carpet of this particular room.

Back into the car and some more country lanes until we went over a series of bridges that took us over the Thames. The light was stunning with the sun not far off setting so we stopped and took a few photos.

Some more rural roads and we made it to Oxford where accommodation, it seemed, was at a premium. We eventually got ourselves a room and had some dinner in a local pub and are now settled in for the evening with a box of chocolates, a computer each and too many photos to sort!

Pearlies

2008-09-28T22:47:00.003Z

Today was the annual Pearlie King and Queen harvest parade.

Mum and I went to see what it was all about and were very pleasantly surprised by the afternoon of sunshine, dancing, humour and more 'pearls' then you could poke a stick at.

There were dozens of Pearlie Kings and Queens along with a few Princes and Princesses. One of whom was only 5 weeks old! Very cute in her pearl (in this case actually buttons) dress and hat! Another little girl was only 2 and dressed beautifully along with her mum.

Also several Mayors of various locations - London, Essex and Sussex - all in their robes and Mayoral chains. Some Morris dancers, a few marching bands (of differing levels of enthusiasm...) and some little may pole dancers who were joined at one point by the Mayors and Pearlies. A lively and amusing moment!There were donkeys with carts carrying harvest goods and big dogs towing little carts with harvest goods amongst other things - a puppy was being carried in one cart.

Obsession

2008-09-22T19:53:00.003Z

I have installed page counters on 2 of my blogs - would be all three if blog.com would allow them (stinkers!).

And as a result I have become completely obessed with the statistics! I love stats and this is an absolute dream to me!! I check them as often as possible and once even remembered after closing down the computer that I didn't actually blog anything. But the stats were interesting so who cares...

It even has a geolocation option so I can see where the readers are from. UK, USA, NZ, Singapore, Canada, Lebanon (?!!) and Australia so far. Must find out why my sister in Armenia doesn't show up!

So read on and keep me happy!

Brunch

2008-09-14T09:09:00.002Z

Yesterday was Teresa's real birthday so we went out to brunch at her usual haunt.

All was good until one of the group found a piece of plastic in her hash browns. The manager eventually arrived and with a voice of complete mistrust asked some very pointed questions about where it was found, etc. And then went on to say the chef didn't recognise it as something that would be found in the kitchen. So without actually saying it she was accusing the woman of placing it in her hashbrown...

For the sake of £7 I don't think it would be worth that much effort.

We were then thinking of having some dessert and the manager then came over again and said we had to leave as the table was booked for 15 minutes time. Unbeknownst to us they had given us a 2 hour timeslot to have brunch.

By that point I was dead keen to leave.

We found a lovely cafe that did the most incredible cakes and had coffee and cake instead. Utterly divine and no bolshy wait staff at all!!

Slightly different to the dining experience of the night before.

Dinner

2008-09-12T22:10:00.007Z

I went to dinner today with friends Teresa and Heather at the Ivy. It will be Teresa's birthday tomorrow so a celebration was needed.

Starting with a bottle of my favourite champers in the bar (hoping it was to everyone's taste... my taste buds were indeed impressed) and soon moved to our table for the evening.
A quick look around and there was John Cleese - my complete inability to star-spot is clearly high lighted here as I was facing him and didn't even recognise him after he was pointed out!

A short time later and Helena Bonham-Carter turned up with Tim Burton (has that man no hair brush???) and a few others to dine one table over from ours.

Charles Darwin sat in the corner eating alone... well, OK, we had no idea who he was, but he really did look like Charles Darwin and he was eating alone.

Some stringy haired lads appeared a little later... surely they must be 'someone' - why else would you let such a scruffy bunch in?

Who on earth was that at the head of the table behind us...? Very familiar face...

Rather unfortunate that on the night Lucy and I went last year, no one of any note turned up and we ate 'alone'.

The lobster was excruciatingly good again, as was the sticky toffee pudding and the wine.

The finale was offered when Teresa and Heather ordered a Baked Alaska to share and the waiteress turned up with all the ingredients and put on a seriously spectacular display of fire on a pudding.

Delicious...

Scary things eating stuff in the garden

2008-09-08T17:35:00.007Z

I finished my contract yesterday so sit here today looking at my computer screen wondering what I really ought to be doing.

The fact is there a 1000 things I could be doing but instead choose to wander aimlessly around my (very small) room occassionally sitting at my computer for a game of Zuma or to play with some photos.

Earlier today I was in the garden talking to a soon-to-be dad of two when I noticed a very large spider in a very large web. Upon closer inspection, I realised there were, in fact, two very large spiders in two very large webs and one of them was eating something very big and very strange.

...just wondering how often I can use the word 'very' in one sentence...

I of course found my camera and now have 72 photos of above mentioned spiders. This is the one that was eating - but in this photo the thing being eaten is quite a bit smaller then is was when I was busy on the phone.

This one lost his web after a micro hurricane (a swift breeze in reality) wizzed through and bent a branch which caused his web's anchor to snap. The web became a little bundle of silk and Mr Spider walked up and down a thread a couple of times then gave up and went to bed.

Hmmm, a spider that thinks like me...

How safe is safe?

2008-08-30T17:15:00.003Z

Last weekend I was on my way home and realised due to the Notting Hill Carnival that my usual route would not work.

I instead diverted and took the Hammersmith and City line. When I got on the train I thought there looked to be a lot of police. When I took a full 360 degree sweep of the carriage I realised there were not a lot, but a prodigious pack of police.

The ones I could see I counted... 42

Never before has the tube felt quite so safe.

Oh WOW!!

2008-08-08T22:12:00.004Z

Tonight I made a mad dash straight from work to the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden to see the Guangdong Acrobatic Troupe of China perform Swan Lake.

Boy am I glad I made it!

I think I just had one of the best nights entertainment I have had in as long as I can remember - but that may not mean much as my memory seems to be shot as a result of sleep deprivation...

But anyway, this was truly incredible.

I cannot hide my surprise when it comes to Swan Lake being performed by a bunch of rollerskating, juggling, trampolining, unicycling, pirouetting, flying, tightrope walking, acrobatic Chinese folk.

I could sit through it again - preferabley after a good night sleep though.

Words defy me right now...

When was the last time you saw someone standing en pointe on someone elses head? Or indeed performing a pirouette on afore mentioned head. The last time you saw four men dancing on their hands for several minutes (they can apparently do 30 minutes...!!) while dressed as frogs...? What about several men riding unicycles in time to Tchaikovsky while balancing the odd ballerina on his shoulders.

I saw it all plus more and loved every moment of it!!

My birthday wish

2008-07-27T13:26:00.006Z

OK so it's several weeks late, but on my birthday I wanted to go out and take photos. I arranged to meet Teresa at London Bridge and we wandered up the Southbank observing and snapping all the sights of interest.

We stopped off along the way at Giraffe to eat, then went on our merry way again.

I had a fantastic time and ought to do it more often. It surprises me how often I can go to the same places in London and still see things that I haven't seen before. Unfortunately I started working with triplets the next day so I haven't had time to look at these photos until today. Will attempt to get some more on Flickr one day soon!

Coffee and cake

2008-07-03T21:06:00.006Z

It's been an incredibley tough couple of days. (More on Maternity Nurse Diary... soon...)

Today I had a chance to escape the house and get out for a walk with two of the three and as it was raining and thundering and flashing massive lightenings, I went into a cafe and ordered a coffee and small chocolate slice. Quite delicious too.

I left the cafe and bumped into Daddy with baby No3 so we walked back toward home together. He suggested a coffee so I obliged (as you do) and ordered another coffee. He then suggested I try a macaroon so I obliged again (having never tried a genuine French macaroon). I choose the chocolate one of course

An hour or so later I was feeling very light headed and couldn't stop talking. I have learned my lesson - until next time - that one very tired person mixed with 2 strong black coffees and 2 chocolate delicacies make for a very enthusiatic couple of hours.

Not feeling quite so enthusiastic now though...

Joy of Socks

2008-06-30T11:45:00.005Z

I thought this ought to go on the personal blog rather then the maternity one as simply could not resist using this as a title.

This morning we bathed the boys and put them in clean outfits and these ones were ones without feet so we had to put socks on instead. Being tiny little babies with nothing more then chicken sized legs, we are having trouble keeping theirs socks on.

After their last feed I picked up one baby and his sock fell off and then another and the same thing so I picked up the sock and exclaimed 'Oh my goodness - the joy of socks!!'

Not til afer saying it did I realise just how close it sounded very close to a very famous title from the 70's...

It's my birthday...

2008-06-09T09:25:00.004Z

...and to celebrate I'm about to embark on 12 weeks of looking after new triplets!

I'm sitting at home now awaiting the call - STOP - the call just came in and I'm off in an hour!

Wish me luck and don't expect me to be coherent in the next 12 weeks...

xx

From the mouths of babes

2008-06-08T00:42:00.002Z

Ages ago, I sent an email out to some telling the story of a mum,dad and little boy who got on a double decker bus and rode on the top deck near enough for me hear their conversation.

I was reminded of this the other day and though it ought to be added here...

The boy was so excited about being on the top deck and he was looking down at all the people and cars and making comments about how small everything was. He said the mummies looked like little girls and the daddies looked the same size as him.

His mother looked out the window and said she could see all the bald patches on peoples heads from up here.

The boy turned to his mother and said "where are all the boiled heads?"

Sibling rivalry and moving house

2008-06-04T21:03:00.003Z

Now you'll have to write some more, Lucy...

Mum and I had given notice to move out of the hovel in Chelsea so had a limited time to search - and move. I got home from 4 months away 11 days before we had to be out so it was all hands on deck.

It still shocks me when looking for studios in London the number of places I come across that I would be too embarassed to make public. Some 'studios' are barely bigger then a single bed and also contain a 'kitchenette' and a shower and loo. And so dirty and smelly...

One place mum and I looked at several months ago is now known to us as 'the place with the dead person in the hallway'. The smell was horrific and we could barely walk in and look at the room before fleeing for fresh air. The room itself was one of the above mentioned single bed size rooms. It had a raised bed with a half height wardrobe and storage underneath. We had to single file into and out of the room as 2 people could not stand in it at the same time.

Oddly enough I went to look at another room in this street this time 'round and it turned out to be the same house but upstairs. The room was identical to the one downstairs.

The good news is that we finally found a place that suited us as much as we could expect given our limited time. The London small flat market requires swift movement - if you like a place it is vital to put a deposit on it immediatly or you miss out. So that is how it was with our new place. I went to see it on Sunday afternoon and had to talk it through with mum on the phone and make a decision as I knew this one would go before the end of the day. We went back to sign up on Tuesday and moved in on Thursday night.

The other difficulty with moving house in London is the challenge of finding an honest and efficient 'man-with-a-van'. The last couple of moves we did I had found a lovely man who worked so well I first phoned him first but he had no free time time that week. So after a search on gumtree.com, I found a man who could fit us in on Thursday night for a good price. He turned out to be brilliant as well, we couldn't have asked for better - except maybe a full size van so we could have done it in one trip... Boy, have we've hoarded some stuff since being in Chelsea - that is what happens when one spends too long in one place!!

Remind us to move sooner this time to keep the clutter down.

Dinner the other night

2008-05-25T20:13:00.004Z

I wanted to take mum out for dinner once I returned to celebrate her birthday - belated of course but better late then never.

So we went to the Ritz on Thursday night. I enjoyed it immensely once I relaxed a little and got used to the 72 000 staff running around doing all sorts of nothings while a few did somethings.

I had a whole Dover Sole that was truly delicious - and de-boned at my side by a lovely young waiter. Mum had the halibut with crab stuffed zucchini flower which was also delicious. We had a roast pineapple with lime and chilli ice cream that was extraordinarily divine and a chocolate thingey which surprisingly was outshadowed by the pineapple...

Since when has pineapple been better then chocolate??

YAY/BOOHOO - I'm Back in London!!

2008-05-25T19:53:00.002Z

I arrived reasonably unscathed in London last Tuesday morning and went to sleep for 5 hours before meeting Teresa for a coffee and dinner in central London. It was nice to be back and felt familiar and comfortable.

Then next morning I tried to get up and failed at all attempts - not sure if there was more then one attempt, but it failed nonetheless... I did finally get up as mum phoned and we met for lunch in Notting Hill.

Home again and to bed at 5.30pm until 3.30pm the following day - 22 hours sleep??!! One would hope that I had had enough sleep by then. Mum and I went out for dinner that night - more later - and then I was awake until 3-4am... surprise surprise...

But since then I've been forcing myself to bed at a decent time and still cannot wake in the morning. I'm hoping that is all about to change as I took care of one very big issue today.

We gave notice on our hovel at the beginning of the month so have to be out of here by Saturday. So it was getting tighter and tighter in the hunt for a replacement flat. Today I found a place and put a holding payment down so we move any time this week.

I hope very much that mum likes it as much as I did. It's no bigger then we have here now, but it has a shower and a WC (!!!!!!) that will only ever know our two lovely wee bottoms!!! Oh the bliss... no more antibacterial wipes before we pee!! No more 'loo shoes' as the floor will be clean! We will definitely not be able to swing a rat, let alone a cat in the bathroom though. I'm sure it is smaller then our first studio's bathroom - and that is truly something to behold.

So maybe the lethargy will lift now, or maybe it will lift after the move...

Not long to go now

2008-05-16T18:47:00.002Z

I'm on my way back to London on Monday and looking forward to it.

I love being away and visiting lots of new places but there comes a time when only the comfort of my uncomfortable bed in mum's and my tiny hovel will satisfy me.

Although we are intending moving in about a week if all goes to plan. We've given notice so it will be a flying start (haha) when I land in London as we need to find something quickly.

Toronto has put on the worst spring weather I can remember (perhaps a little selective memory going on here). It's been gray and cold - even snowing a little for me when I was up north.

This weekend we're off up to Isaac's grandad's house on a lake so here's hoping the usual long weekend weather holds off and it warms up a little.

Isaac's birthday dinner

2008-05-16T03:33:00.006Z

Pam, Isaac and I just got back from a birthday dinner at the CN Tower in downtown Toronto.

Isaac was sorely disappointed to discover there were no hamburgers on the menu, but settled happily with chicken strips and chips. We, on the other hand, had a very large dinner of seafood. Pam delighted in the dozen oysters while I ransacked the lobster and crabs.

It unfortunately was not the best seafood platter I've had but nice all the same. And looked fantastic

We took a wander down to the lookout level after and Isaac stood on the glass floor with much trepidation and looked down at the streets almost .5km below us!! He had been very nervous about going up the tower in the first place and in the weeks before he had been asking many questions.

The most regular (and most amusing) question was 'how big is the restaurant?' I said 'big like a normal restaurant'. His reply was 'but it is only a skinny pole this big' holding his arms out in a round circle.

It took a lot of explaining that the restaurant was in the bulging bit at the top and only the lifts went up the skinny pole bit. He can see the tip of the tower from his bedroom and had assumed that we would need to squeeze inside that bit (which looks tiny from his bedroom).

I was pleased to find upon arrival that we had a table in a civilised spot and not squished inside the skinny bit!

Isaac took this lovely photo of the sunset on my camera. He's quite the photographer!

Flat hunting in the big city...

2008-05-16T03:13:00.003Z

How depressing can it get??

Well, I just happen to have a search still going on from my last flat hunting spree (from a very long time ago) and today I got an email notification of a property in my chosen area within budget so I went to the link and discovered the flat was, in fact...

... a parking space...

Not even a private, lock up garage for goodness sake!! A parking space is all mum and I can afford in this area these days. No privacy and no doubt very cold next winter.

Oh well, back to the planning stage again. Perhaps we'll have to broaden our horizons!

The lizard man

2008-05-13T03:08:00.010Z

A bit over a week ago I delivered a rental car back to it's depot and walked back home to Pam's place. I was wandering along minding my own business - actually, I was not minding my own business as I was peering into all the house and shop fronts along the way.

I was peering intently into one such shop window and spotted few glass tanks full of baby lizards. After a few minutes of trying to work out just what this very run down shop really was, I decided it must be a pet shop so I opened the door and walked in.

It wasn't a pet shop and in fact really wasn't a shop at all. It turns out it is a man's woodworking workshop and a lizard breeding operation in one. He has hundreds of lizards of various size and colour.

He breeds bearded dragons and chameleons. I was lucky enough to meet a 6 month old dragon up close and personal. She was very curious about the lime green shirt I was wearing and had to try to lick it a few times.

I asked him if I could visit again with my camera and he seemed happy with that so I returned today. He got a pot of crickets and tempted Tom the chameleon out of his cage. I could not believe the speed of his tongue - I have a photo of Tom with a very soft blur of tongue, but no sign of the cricket...

When Tom had had his fill, the last of the crickets were poured into the small tank in the window. About 8-10 tiny month old bearded dragons were in there and they all ran around catching crickets eating their heads and leaving the rest (for later?). These little ones were about 3-4 inches long and very cute.

It was a very pleasant surprise to come across such an incredibly interesting character so unexpectantly.

Kristie and Cody's house

2008-05-12T16:07:00.004Z

I just got sad news regarding my nephew and his mum. Their house burned down on Saturday night in Nelson NZ. They had just moved in the day before.

Blaze destroys flat on house-moving day
Nelson | Monday, 12 May 2008

COLIN SMITH/Nelson Mail

Moving house came to a disastrous end for a Stoke woman over the weekend, when a fire destroyed her new home and all the possessions she had just shifted into it.
The fire started shortly after midday on Saturday, as Kristie McDonald and her six-year-old son Cody had almost finished moving into their newly rented Nayland Rd flat, opposite Broadgreen House.

Her father, Richard Stevenson, said all his daughter's possessions were in the flat, which was gutted in the fire.
Stoke Volunteer Fire Brigade senior station officer Jason Everett said the fire communications centre received numerous calls, and when firefighters arrived, the flat was well ablaze.
Smoke alarms had gone off but no one was at home when they sounded.
Mr Everett said he suspected that the fire was started by furniture being placed too close to a log fire, which was burning at the time.
Firefighters needed breathing equipment and had to break a window in an adjoining flat to check that there was no one inside. A firewall stopped the flames spreading.

It's a very sad thing as I know their life isn't the easiest thing at the best of times and now they are starting from scratch. It's moments like this I wish I was at home (NZ) so I could be of some help to them.

Heck-a-doody-dandy!!

2008-05-08T03:47:00.003Z

My favourite exclamation these days is the above mentioned heck-a-doody-dandy...

Just where it came from I do not know, but it comes out in many variations depending on the experience, mood and intensity of the moment.

Which brings me to an instance when it was used in a slightly more expressive moment. Yesterday I went a-wandering and had not long got off the bus on the return leg. I was a little distracted with the thoughts in my head - does Pam have tomatoes at home or not and should I go into the crappy little corner store that sells wilted things at inflated prices. I did go in and sure enough the wilted and pale vegetables were so uninspiring, I left without any tomatoes.

Last chance saloon presented itself across the road in the form of an even worse little crappy store with things that didn't quite rank as vegetables, but I am getting ahead of myself here.

To get to the store I had to cross a road. So I awaited the little white man (they don't have green men here and I feel it's a little racist every time I cross at the order of a little white man) and proceeded to cross when he said it was safe.

I heard a toot - a loud and aggressive honk - and looked around to see where it was coming from. I couldn't see the offender so I carried along on my merry tomatoe obsessed way.

Next thing I know a car zooms around the corner behind me so fast I nearly didn't see it - but I could feel it! I was in the process of trying to clear my head of tomatoes, and establish what just happened when I became conscious of a siren in the distance. In the meantime a woman was just stepping out from my side of the road to cross to the other side.

In a flash of enlightenment I realised that there was a car chase going on and I had just narrowly missed being run over by the followed. I also realised that the woman was about to step in front of the follower, so I yelled 'WATCH OUT!' and I guess at the same time she clicked as she took to her heels and got to the other side very quickly.

We both stood on our respective corners looking bewildered. And there I stood until I was able to mutter 'heck-a-doody-dandy' and continue on my way. Actually I said it a few moments earlier and the first word was not heck...

PS Pam already had tomatoes at home so all was well in the end.

Groundhog day in Jenn's world

2008-05-02T03:52:00.005Z

It has been a long few days.

Today I back tracked a little and headed for Manitoulin Island at the north east of Lake Huron. It is the biggest fresh water island in the world.

But the real newsflash is that I saw a groundhog today!! I thought it was a porcupine until I described it to a nice man and his wife this evening. He said definitely a groundhog. So I feel very lucky... does that mean that winter is over now? So why is it so cold here then?? If I were him, I'd hibernate a bit longer.

The man told me that his wife spotted a creature the other day and called out 'there's a squirrel - heck it's really big'. She assumed that eastern squirrels were bigger then the ones they have in Vancouver. Her husband looked over and said it was a groundhog. I think it is time for her to get glasses!!

Unfortunately he ran very fast for a stubby little thing and this is the only view I got. As I headed back to the car, I noticed in my haste I had left it parked in the middle of the narrow road, on a corner, with my door open... Hmmm, I see a strategy meeting being held tonight to plan the next emergency stop that I may have to do! Luckily I was the only one on that road at that point in time - in fact possibly the only person on that road this week!

And then it went bad...

2008-05-01T02:47:00.005Z

So my morning was great. I got back to the motel to have a shower and check out.

I handed over my credit card and it was declined. So it was tried again. Declined. Hmph! So I paid in cash and seethed and scorned at the bank for stopping the second card in as many days!

When I phoned the bank I discovered they had cause to stop my card as it was being used in New York yesterday while I was driving in Ontario.

I am now traveling Ontario with a few dollars in my pocket and an old credit card from NZ that I hope will not be stopped. At least tonight is paid for and I have a full tank of gas. And a nice mummy who would love to give me money (watch me as I flutter my eyelashes and look very sweet).

I saw some beautiful things I really wanted to stop and photograph but the roads are so difficult to stop on so I've missed a few interesting things. A beautiful white wooden church with a red roof and steeple reflected in a lake - on a dual carriageway that I couldn't have stopped on at all. A bird - size of large owl but maybe a hawk of some sort - on a fence post. Nice light on lakes and swamps etc.

C'est la vie, at least there will be less photos to sort when I get home.

Moose Poos(e)

2008-05-01T02:17:00.005Z

Yesterday I saw the moose and couldn't get the photo. Today I found the poo and I could have taken my time over getting the perfect photo if I had of wanted to. I chose not to spend too much time over taking a photo of poo... but I did feel good about having a choice this time.

I got up at 6.45am and drove to Eau Claire Gorge to have a look at a Canadian style gorge. It wasn't what I expected at all. In fact it was quite boring. Spectacular but not beautiful. I did like the wee picture of the person carrying his/her kayak though. And I was very pleased that they had that nice sign there as the water got very very rough a little further on. Almost as bumpy as the rapids below Niagara Falls, but narrower.

While wandering on the 30 minute walk in the nice woody woods, I suddenly realised I was in Canada, in the woods, alone. And it quickly dawned on me that bears live in the woods and I went back through all my years of TV and movie watching trying very hard to remember just what it is I am supposed to do in the event of meeting a large hairy local. And no matter how deep I delved into my memory bank of reality shows, I could not form a plan. Am I supposed to play dead? Run? (I think the odds are very poor for me on this one). Look at it, yell at it, cry, shake my fist, offer it a toffee...?

So I decided I would rather meet a moose as I could hide from a moose up a tree (a really long way up a tree), but not a bear.

So a bit of a background then...

2008-04-30T03:12:00.002Z

I have been wanting to see a moose in it's own environment for a very long time.

When we went to Sun Valley earlier this year, my clients saw a moose while out driving one day and this was a run down of the conversation...

ME: I've heard that people see the odd moose around here
CLIENT: Yeah, we saw one yesterday (showing absolutely no emotion of any sort)
ME: YOU SAW A MOOSE??!!!
CLIENT: Yeah
ME: Where??!!
CLIENT: While we were out driving, it was by the road
ME: You saw a moose??!!
CLIENT: When are the boys due for a feed?
ME: You really saw a moose??!!
CLIENT: Is there any spare toilet paper downstairs?
ME: What road? You saw a moose??!!
CLIENT: Excuse me while I watch this paint dry....

Well, OK so the last bit didn't really happen although it may well have given the chance.

I even suffered the Toronto Zoo last year so I could see a moose in captivity. Unfortunately it was hiding that day. I have several photos of moose that I found stuffed and mounted on various walls around Ontario.

But today I saw a fair dinkum real moose eating grass on the side of the road, but of course have no photo of this one as I was driving.

I'm not sure anything else of any importance happened today. (Did I mention I saw a moose?)

I drove from Toronto to North Bay - which just happens to be the home of the Dionne Quints! What a fluke! But it appears the museum is closed at this time of the year.

But it doesn't matter any more because I saw a moose.

Today...

2008-04-30T03:10:00.003Z

The thrill of the hunt

2008-04-25T22:15:00.006Z

I returned to the point of my earlier crocodile hunt the other day and to my delight I was successful in the capture of a couple of very nice specimens.

I was only going to catch a ring. But... I turned out I had to wrestle with a bracelet as well... sorry Mr Bank Man - but it had to be done.

And of course thank you Mr Kieselstein-Cord - I like your style!

Better late than never

2008-04-25T21:39:00.004Z

I have been lucky enough over the last few months to have had a few visits from a little kitchen fairy bearing food parcels (for the sad and suffering - if I may say so myself!).

Jane has turned up several times with such delights as veggie lasagna, sweet potato soup, vodka sauce and pasta, apple crumble etc. But the Piece De Resistance would have to have been the rhubarb crumble. And I hope that makes it worthwhile having spent $10 on rhubarb! It was mighty fine and I'd come again if I knew it were on the menu - although a little warning may be needed.

(Belated) thanks very much kitchen fairy - come visiting in London any time you need a new kitchen to work in!

Time to smell the roses

2008-04-25T20:55:00.004Z

I've just arrived in Toronto and made it to Pam's place. She is not here and I have the place to myself until her flatmate gets home. I am listening to Leonard Cohen and playing on my computer, the doors are open and there is a light breeze. It's overcast and cooler then NY.

AND A CAT JUST WANDERED BY ME AND STARTED EATING FROM A BOWL UNDER THE TABLE!!!!

It doesn't get too much better then this! Pam and Isaac have a new cat and I'm already in love with him. I am guessing he is a he as he is enormous and looks like a boy cat.

But I feel more relaxed and ready to enjoy a wind down after 12 weeks of madness. I have absolutely loved being in the same city as Jane. It is so different being in the same place for 3 months rather then our usual 1-2 week intensive visits. This way we could chill out and not feel like we ought to be doing something all the time or of course we could do something if we felt so inclined.

It's been very nice and was very sad to say goodbye this morning...

I want one of those!!

2008-04-24T01:37:00.001Z

I wish I could have one in my kitchen...

One heck of a gator-crasher
ITN - Wednesday, April 23 02:25 pm

A Florida woman got the fright of her life when she found an eight-foot alligator in her kitchen.

Sandra Frosti, 69, came across the uninvited guest at her home in Oldsmar, just north of Tampa.

She said: "I heard a noise from the kitchen, and was much too loud to have been my cat, so I went to check it out. Much to my surprise, a very large alligator was in my kitchen."

Ms Frosti phoned the police, who called in a wildlife expert to remove the 200 pound reptile.

It's thought the gator came from a nearby pond, and across Ms Frosti's back lawn before breaking in through a screen door.

"He looked awfully well fed. The police seem to think he was checking out my cat," Ms Frosti said.

Crocodile hunting in New York

2008-04-22T02:17:00.003Z

Today I went croc hunting and found more crocs then you can poke a stick at!

I found a shop called Kieselstein-Cord which seems to specialise in things crocodilian. Although the nice man in the shop seemed to think they were alligators.

I was in a state of absolute bliss - almost too excited actually - I was sweating and doing very quick calculations of my credit card and then my mortgage after finding out the price of one piece...

But I was able to plan a small purchase - I must remember to go back on Wednesday to pick it up...

Pope Idol '81

2008-04-19T01:28:00.007Z

The Pope just drove past my front door. I wanted to invite him in for a nice cup of tea, but he got away too quickly.

He is staying 4 blocks from me and while out walking the boys this morning I came across his vehicles all 'parked' in 76th St. I say parked, but the fact remains that the buses didn't really fit and the long cars were a bit awkward too. He has one helluva big entourage which it seemed was not much appreciated by the local traffic... Especially one other very large car on the road - part of another cavalcade it seems - who tried to run the boys over in his haste to turn the corner while I was on a pedestrian crossing with a 'go' sign!

After a moments vigorous waving of my hand he slunk sheepishly and much more sedately off down the road - no doubt regretting his stupidity after seeing the expression of his passenger in the back!

Anyway, back to the Pope... he picked a great day, the sun at full burst and the warmest day of the year so far. A very lovely 81F/27C. It went from spring to summer in only a few days and I feel sorely cheated.

Oops back to the Pope... There were at least 25-30 motorcycles and many large vehicles carrying armed folk. One SUV had his back door open revealing a couple of guys armed with large scary machine gun-type things. An ambulance, many many uniform police cars, plain clothes cars with serious people on board - no chance a joke or two. A tow truck??? Heck knows why... More bikes, 2 black sinister looking buses, two official cars - one carrying the Pope of course.

And no sign whatsoever of Gordon Brown who I hear is also on a visit to the US of A.

Gordon who...?

Slacker then a wet towel...

2008-04-17T17:51:00.004Z

I have had the worst couple of days in my job since the last worst couple of days that I had a while ago...

And in the midst of it I was talking (ranting) to mum this morning and at the end hung up without saying

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!

So here it is for mum today

And - if you were wondering - my day has had a miniscule improvement since this morning...

It's late and I am tired...

2008-04-13T04:44:00.003Z

...but I'm receiving complaints loud and clear from around the world about my lack of chatter on here lately.

As seen on my previous post I am tired and grumpy and ready to move on to the next adventure. It's been a long 10.5 weeks so far and the last 1.5 weeks look to be no different. Although, with luck, I will be busy so the time will pass easier.

The sun came out again on Thursday and I was able to walk to the park a couple of times (narrowly missing at least 3 dog-rats). But the sun went away again yesterday... Maybe tomorrow, but I will never know if I don't go to bed now as I will not be able to get up in time to see daylight at this rate.

Goodnight...

zz

Wish I could say life was a thrill a second here...

2008-04-07T23:30:00.003Z

I'm now so sick and tired of NY and NY'ers I'm ready to leave and enjoy some courtesy and pleasantries in other parts of the world.

I hate that I am always having doors shut in my face as I try to manoeuvre a double pram in and out of the smallest shops on earth.

I hate standing at a checkout waiting to pay for something while the operator has a chat with his/her co-worker or taps away on a computer with great exuberance while blatantly ignoring me for several minutes before finally relieving me of my cash - albeit at snail pace with more attitude then seen at an annual Dykes on Bikes rally!

I hate that people walk their dogs on leads long enough to stretch around the earth 3 times and then curse me when I push the pram within a foot of their precious creature while it craps on the footpath and the walker is standing on the other side of the footpath talking to another dog walker whose charge has also stretched it's lead back to the other side of the footpath to form an X with the other dogs lead.

I hate the fact that most dogs in NY don't really even rate as dogs in the real world - slightly oversized, disobedient rats in other parts...

I think I've had enough of NY and will look forward to the 25th when I will breathe a different city's energy... From experience that energy will be calmer, warmer and more gentle on the soul.

Spring sproinged forth

2008-03-22T01:01:00.005Z

Today was the first sunny day we have had since arriving home from Sun Valley... ironic really. Sun Valley vs New York... Hmph!

But it was so nice to wake this morning and fling up the blinds to see sun reflecting in the windows out the boys window. An hour or so later it finally reflects at the right angle comes into their bedroom. Lucky wee things they get morning and afternoon sun!

Back in boring old...

2008-03-20T01:04:00.004Z

Now that I am back in boring old New York, I have nothing more thrilling then my tooth brush to write about.

I have found the toothbrush that makes my teeth glow with cleanliness, my gums postively ripple with health and, heck!, my tongue has never felt so fresh and vibrant ever before! Watch it - it's even sharper then it ever was!

All because Oral B put their heads together and came up with this...

And we're off...

2008-03-17T03:52:00.006Z

We are leaving Sun Valley tomorrow and as usual it seems sad to leave when I am just starting to enjoy it.

It is such a beautiful place (think I've said that before...) and I could really go quite mad on the photos, but I have been a bit restricted on a couple of levels. Firstly of course is the work factor, and secondly the weather this week has been very changeable so getting out at a good time has been challenging to say the least.

That's not to say I haven't taken a few photos of course - I have all but filled a 4.7GB DVD so there is certainly no lack of visual record. But some photos I would have liked to go back to in better conditions - either more or less sunshine mostly.

We fly to Salt Lake City then on to New York from there and ought to arrive home about midnight. The boys will love to be in their own beds again I'm sure. I'm looking forward to being in the same town as Jane again for the next 5 weeks or so.

I'm also looking forward to more moisture in the air so my hands can start growing skin again and I can stop ladling the thick and greasy cream (amusingly known as 'goose fat') on the boys faces every time we go outside.

2008-03-14T22:58:00.005Z

I took a horse drawn sleigh to Trail Creek Cabin for dinner the other night.

It was spectacular, extraordinary, awesome, amazing... you get the picture...

I've always wanted to ride on a sleigh with real sleigh bells dinging and donging all the way - or was it jingling and jangling. Bill and Barney were the horses and Bill is the one here smiling for the camera.

We started at the Sun Valley Inn and took a very scenic route through the local golf course. There is obviously no golf being playing as this point in time - something to do with a few feet of snow covering up the holes. We went down dale, up yonder hill, over the river and around the lakes. All at dusk so the light was very pretty.

The meal at Trail Creek was good too, butternut squash soup to start - simply divine - pan fried red trout (cooked to perfection, although a bit muddy tasting, but thats the joy of river fish in general) and a glass of local red. Finished with choc mousse. Not bad at all.

We came home the not so scenic route and were trailed by a few foxes looking for the bread or dog biscuits that are in plentiful supply for the return journey.

Alan was the driver and he is the first real cowboy I have ever met. Quite frankly if all cowboys are as lovely as Alan, the world would be a much improved place. He was softly spoken and gentle, but knowledgeable and humourous. He liked me very much when I said I was from NZ and went on to tell me many stories of Australian flavour. At first I thought he may be being funny then I realised when I said NZ he heard Australia... Hmmm, not sure how that happened... lucky for him he was too sweet to feel any bitterness towards.

I am so pleased to have been able to take the sleigh ride. It really was the high light of my time here.

Would you park here?

2008-03-12T02:35:00.005Z

And where is the grass anyway...

Oh heck!

2008-03-11T04:24:00.004Z

Nobody told me I shouldn't pack the babies...

Snow up to my eyeballs...

2008-03-09T04:49:00.005Z

I'm in Sun Valley, Idaho for 10-12 days with the family. We arrived late on Thursday night with two very tired little babies.

The drive from the airport was along roads lined with massive snow piles. It was cold and very dark which meant the view was limited. But not so the next morning when I got up and pulled back the curtains.

There is snow up to my eyeballs outside! It is stunning!

...

PS If the truth be known the snow is up to my bum, not my eyeballs... And melting fast!

Oh Dear, it's Ebay again...

2008-03-03T04:56:00.004Z

I'm not sure if one can even begin to imagine how many crocodilians one can find on any Ebay site at any time. It would take a whole blog on it's own to even come close to being able to show all the weird and wonderful creatures I have come to own over the last few years.

It all seems to happen for me when in the USA. Not sure why, but it has become a bit of an institution that upon arrival in NY I start a croc search on Ebay and fill Jane's mail box several times over - she is not yet aware that the parcels will begin to arrive soon...
.

Today I bought a potato peeler and a Bakerlite croc with monkey

Why?

Because I could I guess...

Just for Lucy - here's the weather update...

2008-02-28T03:16:00.005Z

It's cold yet again.

We had a lovely few days after a good snowfall last week. I went walking in Central Park with Jane and the boys on Monday. Had a picnic lunch alongside Alice in Wonderland then met a snow cow/wolf on our way home.

Tonight it is -4C but with windchill it's -12C (and getting colder).

One day soon, I will have time and energy to write something interesting - I hope.

It's still cold

2008-02-12T01:44:00.000Z

I took the boys out for a walk today. It was -9C when we left - with the windchill it was more like -18C. They were dressed in their snow suits in the pram with cashmere hats and blankets, snuggled under the apron with the rain cover on to stop the wind.

I carried the thermometer in the pram so I could come home if it reached 0 degreees C inside the pram. I also have a thermometer on the outside which reached 0 very quickly and then malfunctioned when it should have gone lower.

They went down to 9C inside the pram and we had a lovely walk looking for socks for the boys. I found one pair at gap and then went to Maddison Ave to another shop I'd been recommended. They did have the type of sock I wanted but were charging US$18.00 per pair, so funnily enough I decided they could stay in the shop for some other fool... I'm off to go internet shopping instead.

My chin had an ice cream headache this time but in my nice long coat (thanks Mum) and knee boots I was very toastie everywhere else!