Ok, so here I am again! I know I am incredibly lazy with this, but 'c'est la vie'...
Ireland!!! What a fantastic place, as with every place that I'm visiting, would be monumentally different in the summer time. That said, the people and feel of Ireland was very friendly and warm. JP and Mary showed me such a fabulous time!!! I will forever be in their debt for everything they have done for me, thank you! While staying there, we dodged the Annual General Meeting of the parish's equivalent Women's Institute meeting and made our way down to Kilarny (i think thats the correct speeling). We headed there for the 'ring of Kerry'. I originally thought it was a piece of jewellery soo fantastic that it was kept in a medieval castle, but it's actually a loop road that takes you round the places to see in County Kerry. (By the way, I didnt let on at the time that this is what I thought we were going to see!! hahahaha) We stayed in a wonderful hotel for the night and in the morning we headed up to the mountainous part of the 'ring' where there was a viewing point. Being winter, and therefore cold, overcast and VERY windy, we were the only one's present! This was good for me because it meant no stupid tourists with cameras (oops, i guess im one of those) getting in my way...god those sort can be tossers!!! The surrounding area was very LOTR style, very eerie especially with the low cloud and mist that was there on the day. On the way back to Kilkenny, we stopped at a manor of the area. Another grand building with lots of interesting viewing points accompanoied by impecibly manicured lawns, and...SQUIRRELS!!! Have I mentioned how much I love SQUIRRELS?! hahaha... I also went into the town of Kilkenny and visited the local castle. Did the tour which was sooo interesting and fun! haha
Of all the things that I did and experienced in Ireland, the things that I will most likely remember for the rest of my life are the funny conversations, talks and interaction with JP, Mary, myself and their gorgeous two dogs (despite that one took my sock for a cooks tour of the muddy grounds, leaving it with a whole in the ankle!! hhaha)
On the last night (sorry, forgot bout this earlier) we had pizza with one of JPs friends and her son and daughter, after which they took me out to show me some Irish pubs. Being a thursday night, in a tiny village in the Ireland Midlands, not much was happening. But when we got to the final pub of the night, some locals were playing some 'trad' music. This was interesting, especially watching the two older women try and dance to it!!! However, this experience wouldnt have been complete unless I was drinking Guiness. I must preface this with a fact I learnt from JP, his father could easily pack away 7-9 ( i think thats what he said) pints of the stuff. After 1 pint, the feeling in the stomach is fine, but halfway through the second pint it felt as though I had eaten a 2 course liquid dinner!!! So, the point is, I'll leave it to the Irish keep Guiness' sales up, because I sure as hell wont be! hahaha.
After Ireland, it was an early morning flight back into London Luton. Once again, I havent yet experienced the notorious delays associated with air travel in Britain. Arriving 20 mins early, I made my way up to Bedforf for the funeral of my great Aunt's with ease. However, this included one incredibly embarrasing situation. Taking a cab from the train station to the Crem, I arrived just after a hearse entered the Crem's drive-way. What this meant was; a) I thought that I was late for the funeral {i wasnt} b) everyone inside waiting for this funeral process was looking at me through the glass windows with questioning eyes, turning to each other making gestures of my 'disrespect' and so on, and finally c) I started to think that the cabbie had taken me to the wrong plce, not knowing that Crem's in England spit out funerals like a kebab shop spits out donar kebabs every couple minutes. However, aside from this rather annoying and embarrasing interlude, the funeral was very nice. I met up with aunty Irene and great aunty Constance (for the first time) just before the funeral and helped Constance make her way. Everybody was incredibly nice and kind, I was able to talk to some 'younger' (but still in their late 20s and early 30s) people at the wake. Im glad that I decided to go there for the funeral.
So that night, Irene took me back to Constance's place in her village. By the way, Aunty Constance used to be a model and still has her class and style despite time's toll :D, this I loved about her!!! I ended up going back to Wales the next day with Irene instead of heading to London because Trudy's roomy wasnt going to be there anymore. But this worked in my favour because I was able to spend more time with Irene (in the country she has spent 30 something years {or close to}) and see my cousins again!!! On the way back to Wales, Irene and I stopped off and visited this touristy little place similar to Timbertown, the place of the first cast iron bridge. It was very interesting, the people in the 'park' were all acting out the everyday chores and activities of the industrial revolution. This included original dress and in one of the houses there was a couple acting out 'home living', I found this display particularly scary because...well...it just was!!! hahaha. Anyway, there were several displays where the people inside would tell you about the life of whichever activity it was, there was the butcher (closed), baker and candlestick maker!!! (serious, no joke...so dont laugh!) bahaha Along with the candy store, the pub, dressmaker, carpenter and iron worker etc. But my favourite would have to have been the candlestick maker, not sure why, but most likely it was the pyro within that had a field day!!! While there, Irene and I had our traditional Cornish Pasty and a shandy, but not together for some reason!! hahaha After we had seen enough, headed down to the site of the bridge, got some pics, then made our way back to Richards as the weather was changing. On the way back I experienced some classical Welsh weather, there are only two elements in Wales and warmth isnt one of them, they are as follows, wind...and...wet wind!!! But it was all good once in the warmth of Richard's beautiful house. The next day, before heading back to London (which cost a whopping £70 because i bought the ticket on the day!!!) we had Sunday Lunch with Victoria and her gang which was great because as I said before, I wished I spent longer in Wales with my cousins!!!
London...
Okay, I got alot done in my time in London (and left things to be done for future visits, because I know Ill be coming back to this part of the world!)
On the first few days I visited Greenwich, the Natural History Museum, Hyde Park and Kensignton Gardens, St Paul's Cathedral, Liverpool St then later in the week I made my way to the Tower of London and Tower Bridge, Southbank, Westminster (Houses of Parliament and the Abbey) and eah day finished with shopping on Regent and Oxford St because Trudy works right near there.
Greenwich was amazing! I went there first because I was set on getting to the Royal Observatory while in London. The whole 'village' area is very appealing. The markets there are supposed to be pretty good, but I didnt get back for a market day. Anyway, so I did the whole east and west hemisphere thing once I reached the observatory, checked out the views over London and made my round the museum set-up. Up the top of one part of it, there was this very inspirational wall, it was made up of peoples contributions on little place cards finishing the sentence 'Time stood still for me when...' Being alone up there, I spent a good 20 mins reading them with people from all over the world making their mark here, the most inspirational ones were about moments of realisation for love and when people discovered their purpose on this planet. I loved it!!! There was also the original set measurements for the foot, two feet, inches etc...
The Natural History Museum wasnt anything spectacular, they didnt have the dinosaur exhibits up, so I made my way round the History of Maths and Plastics:100 years on. But one of the most interesting things that I saw in all of London I found tucked around a dark corner behind the telecommunications display in the Museum. It was the piece of artwork (dont know if its supposed to be, but thats what im calling it) called Listening Post. This exhibit took fragments in real time from chat rooms on the interent and played them to a symphony. There were little green lit screens that displaye the words and a voice over and other effects to accompany the symphony. I had the luxury of watching this alone, in silence, with nobody's company but my own...it was fantastic!!! I strongly suggest that everyone who reads this, looks it up on youtube and watches the different scenes of the artwork.
Anyway, while I was in the neighbourhood, I decided to take a walk along The Broadwalk (sound familiar??) in Kensignton Gardens. Went over to Kensignton Palace, the residence of Princess Di Im pretty sure. The place where everybody placedthe flowers in rememberance of her after her death, and also featured in the film The Queen.
Wasnt really much at Liverpool St, the markets werent anything specatular that day.
Absolutely loved the Tower of London and the Crown Jewels!!! I got there just in time for one of the warden's tours, and I think I had the same one that mum had when she went. hahaha,
it was incredibly worth while and very interesting (and funny when making fun at the Americans present...us Aussie's were also rideculed, but it was halarious)
Well...thats caught up alot of my trip in the UK, I know there is still more of London to cover but I have to go now...lots of love to everyone back home, in the warmth!!! (its been snowing the last two days here in Belgium)
peace
Ireland!!! What a fantastic place, as with every place that I'm visiting, would be monumentally different in the summer time. That said, the people and feel of Ireland was very friendly and warm. JP and Mary showed me such a fabulous time!!! I will forever be in their debt for everything they have done for me, thank you! While staying there, we dodged the Annual General Meeting of the parish's equivalent Women's Institute meeting and made our way down to Kilarny (i think thats the correct speeling). We headed there for the 'ring of Kerry'. I originally thought it was a piece of jewellery soo fantastic that it was kept in a medieval castle, but it's actually a loop road that takes you round the places to see in County Kerry. (By the way, I didnt let on at the time that this is what I thought we were going to see!! hahahaha) We stayed in a wonderful hotel for the night and in the morning we headed up to the mountainous part of the 'ring' where there was a viewing point. Being winter, and therefore cold, overcast and VERY windy, we were the only one's present! This was good for me because it meant no stupid tourists with cameras (oops, i guess im one of those) getting in my way...god those sort can be tossers!!! The surrounding area was very LOTR style, very eerie especially with the low cloud and mist that was there on the day. On the way back to Kilkenny, we stopped at a manor of the area. Another grand building with lots of interesting viewing points accompanoied by impecibly manicured lawns, and...SQUIRRELS!!! Have I mentioned how much I love SQUIRRELS?! hahaha... I also went into the town of Kilkenny and visited the local castle. Did the tour which was sooo interesting and fun! haha
Of all the things that I did and experienced in Ireland, the things that I will most likely remember for the rest of my life are the funny conversations, talks and interaction with JP, Mary, myself and their gorgeous two dogs (despite that one took my sock for a cooks tour of the muddy grounds, leaving it with a whole in the ankle!! hhaha)
On the last night (sorry, forgot bout this earlier) we had pizza with one of JPs friends and her son and daughter, after which they took me out to show me some Irish pubs. Being a thursday night, in a tiny village in the Ireland Midlands, not much was happening. But when we got to the final pub of the night, some locals were playing some 'trad' music. This was interesting, especially watching the two older women try and dance to it!!! However, this experience wouldnt have been complete unless I was drinking Guiness. I must preface this with a fact I learnt from JP, his father could easily pack away 7-9 ( i think thats what he said) pints of the stuff. After 1 pint, the feeling in the stomach is fine, but halfway through the second pint it felt as though I had eaten a 2 course liquid dinner!!! So, the point is, I'll leave it to the Irish keep Guiness' sales up, because I sure as hell wont be! hahaha.
After Ireland, it was an early morning flight back into London Luton. Once again, I havent yet experienced the notorious delays associated with air travel in Britain. Arriving 20 mins early, I made my way up to Bedforf for the funeral of my great Aunt's with ease. However, this included one incredibly embarrasing situation. Taking a cab from the train station to the Crem, I arrived just after a hearse entered the Crem's drive-way. What this meant was; a) I thought that I was late for the funeral {i wasnt} b) everyone inside waiting for this funeral process was looking at me through the glass windows with questioning eyes, turning to each other making gestures of my 'disrespect' and so on, and finally c) I started to think that the cabbie had taken me to the wrong plce, not knowing that Crem's in England spit out funerals like a kebab shop spits out donar kebabs every couple minutes. However, aside from this rather annoying and embarrasing interlude, the funeral was very nice. I met up with aunty Irene and great aunty Constance (for the first time) just before the funeral and helped Constance make her way. Everybody was incredibly nice and kind, I was able to talk to some 'younger' (but still in their late 20s and early 30s) people at the wake. Im glad that I decided to go there for the funeral.
So that night, Irene took me back to Constance's place in her village. By the way, Aunty Constance used to be a model and still has her class and style despite time's toll :D, this I loved about her!!! I ended up going back to Wales the next day with Irene instead of heading to London because Trudy's roomy wasnt going to be there anymore. But this worked in my favour because I was able to spend more time with Irene (in the country she has spent 30 something years {or close to}) and see my cousins again!!! On the way back to Wales, Irene and I stopped off and visited this touristy little place similar to Timbertown, the place of the first cast iron bridge. It was very interesting, the people in the 'park' were all acting out the everyday chores and activities of the industrial revolution. This included original dress and in one of the houses there was a couple acting out 'home living', I found this display particularly scary because...well...it just was!!! hahaha. Anyway, there were several displays where the people inside would tell you about the life of whichever activity it was, there was the butcher (closed), baker and candlestick maker!!! (serious, no joke...so dont laugh!) bahaha Along with the candy store, the pub, dressmaker, carpenter and iron worker etc. But my favourite would have to have been the candlestick maker, not sure why, but most likely it was the pyro within that had a field day!!! While there, Irene and I had our traditional Cornish Pasty and a shandy, but not together for some reason!! hahaha After we had seen enough, headed down to the site of the bridge, got some pics, then made our way back to Richards as the weather was changing. On the way back I experienced some classical Welsh weather, there are only two elements in Wales and warmth isnt one of them, they are as follows, wind...and...wet wind!!! But it was all good once in the warmth of Richard's beautiful house. The next day, before heading back to London (which cost a whopping £70 because i bought the ticket on the day!!!) we had Sunday Lunch with Victoria and her gang which was great because as I said before, I wished I spent longer in Wales with my cousins!!!
London...
Okay, I got alot done in my time in London (and left things to be done for future visits, because I know Ill be coming back to this part of the world!)
On the first few days I visited Greenwich, the Natural History Museum, Hyde Park and Kensignton Gardens, St Paul's Cathedral, Liverpool St then later in the week I made my way to the Tower of London and Tower Bridge, Southbank, Westminster (Houses of Parliament and the Abbey) and eah day finished with shopping on Regent and Oxford St because Trudy works right near there.
Greenwich was amazing! I went there first because I was set on getting to the Royal Observatory while in London. The whole 'village' area is very appealing. The markets there are supposed to be pretty good, but I didnt get back for a market day. Anyway, so I did the whole east and west hemisphere thing once I reached the observatory, checked out the views over London and made my round the museum set-up. Up the top of one part of it, there was this very inspirational wall, it was made up of peoples contributions on little place cards finishing the sentence 'Time stood still for me when...' Being alone up there, I spent a good 20 mins reading them with people from all over the world making their mark here, the most inspirational ones were about moments of realisation for love and when people discovered their purpose on this planet. I loved it!!! There was also the original set measurements for the foot, two feet, inches etc...
The Natural History Museum wasnt anything spectacular, they didnt have the dinosaur exhibits up, so I made my way round the History of Maths and Plastics:100 years on. But one of the most interesting things that I saw in all of London I found tucked around a dark corner behind the telecommunications display in the Museum. It was the piece of artwork (dont know if its supposed to be, but thats what im calling it) called Listening Post. This exhibit took fragments in real time from chat rooms on the interent and played them to a symphony. There were little green lit screens that displaye the words and a voice over and other effects to accompany the symphony. I had the luxury of watching this alone, in silence, with nobody's company but my own...it was fantastic!!! I strongly suggest that everyone who reads this, looks it up on youtube and watches the different scenes of the artwork.
Anyway, while I was in the neighbourhood, I decided to take a walk along The Broadwalk (sound familiar??) in Kensignton Gardens. Went over to Kensignton Palace, the residence of Princess Di Im pretty sure. The place where everybody placedthe flowers in rememberance of her after her death, and also featured in the film The Queen.
Wasnt really much at Liverpool St, the markets werent anything specatular that day.
Absolutely loved the Tower of London and the Crown Jewels!!! I got there just in time for one of the warden's tours, and I think I had the same one that mum had when she went. hahaha,
it was incredibly worth while and very interesting (and funny when making fun at the Americans present...us Aussie's were also rideculed, but it was halarious)Well...thats caught up alot of my trip in the UK, I know there is still more of London to cover but I have to go now...lots of love to everyone back home, in the warmth!!! (its been snowing the last two days here in Belgium)
peace
