It's now really late - like 1am in the morning. I've been busily beavering away trying to get my blog up-to-date. Which I've mostly done, although it's probably as boring as hell, not full of wonderful insights or things like that but there you go....
So, I think, quickly, as I'm sleepy, off to Avignon tomorrow, or is it Arles - so much choice, I'll quickly cover off post-Paris.
Food. Let's start there. I have eaten so much, the food here is unbelievably stunning, there is so much of it. Yes. There we go I guess. :)
After Paris, it was off to Poitiers and Futuroscope. We had to catch a bus and after a bloody huge amount of walking, I had the tickets, we were at the hotel and we discovered that the bus stopped outside the hotel. Yes, the word fuck appeared a few times. So a lie down and then Futuroscope. What a cool place, the architecture if so funking, it's an audio-visual feast, they have little mushrooms everywhere playing music, we saw lots, did heaps of the shows, had a buffet dinner (where I made the women serving the food laugh - it was this weird kind've island theme thing with the addition of African and local options - fab but weird...), the 20th celebration show at the end of the night (10.45pm people - it gets dark late here!) was just stunning, lasers, films (they've worked out how to make water mist and then use that as a screen to project on to - it's so totally totally cool), sound, lights, fountains, fire, fireworks - it was seriously worth being there just for that. Really really cool!
Oh, and on the TGV - it took us 1.5 hours to go 400kms - pretty cool really! And first class all the way (which really only means bigger seats!).
Then the next day it was TGV from the Futuroscope station (it's a day trip now from Paris to the park!), to Marseille - train travel here is really a joy, out to the airport, picked up Craig and Louise (who have been feeling sick - not good), picked up the car - lets just say that driving on the right hand side of the road is all very weird, and rather stressful (it's been a little stressy here, getting used to driving and a few hassles with the house - but all sorted now!). I've managed to drive on the right hand side though and not kill myself, the other passengers or the other road users! The car is a Ford and it's great to drive (even if I keep looking the wrong way for the mirror and the gear stick being on the right is a bit odd!).
Found the house (fab navigating by Craig) and got settled in - with a few hassles, the guy next door doesn't speak english - I think my french has improved out of sight since I got here! Duh! - and the house is beautiful. It's sunny, it's warm, it's a gorgeous pool. A bit isolated but a lovely lovely house - it's on the road to Avignon from Aix-en-Provence if you're interested!). Found the hypermarche (Carrefour) - it's so huge, it's just crazy - a shoppers paradise!
Sunday was picking up Peter from the Aix TGV station (which is closer to Marseille airport than it is to Aix - go figure), back to the house, a swim, into Aix for a look around, Louise was sick so stayed behind, barbeeque that night (an electric one - no fires outside here, and we had to get the guy from next door to ring the owner of the house to find out where the switch was for the outside powerpoint for the barbee - it was in a bedroom - lol!) - but just a beautiful, sunny day!
Monday (today) Peter had a cold so the rest of us went into Aix for a look around. Nicola and I caught the little tourist train - fab fab, Louise and Craig sat in a cafe. We then wandered around, looked, shopped (without buying; it's possible to spend a fortune on food let alone clothes - which I can't carry but trust me, the clothes here are just fantastic - it's really style, fashion and looking good! Lunch, more looking around, walking, looking, buying little cakes, finding a church that we wanted to see that - duh - had just had a funeral so we wandered off until the hearse had gone; found Chez Gu (Gu et Fils) a restaurant from a Year In Provence - I've eaten there before but it is now, no more - it's some italian place... Oh well, things change... :)
Then it was off to the Carrefour hypermarche for a good shop - this thing is unbelievably huge! There is so much choice - of food, of groceries, of clothes, furniture, electrical, whitewear, household items etc etc etc. Imagine a supermarket, a briscoes, a warehouse (although the stuff is much better), a farmers, a noel leemings or a harvey normans, a bakery, a butchery (where you get to chose what meat and how much you want), a fromagerie (I think that's how it's spelt - as well as the cheese section in the fridge, there's the cheese part (it's bigger than just a counter) where you get to choose what cheese you want and they cut it to size - all this and more rolled into one - welcome to the French hypermarche - wow wow wow.... Hock - they didn't have any silk ties!!
And back to the house for snacky dinner, snoozing and reading... Ah, such is the life...
:)
I must admit though, I'm loving France - this country is just fantastic! :) Richard - marry me and give me your French passport!
Monday, 2 July 2007
Post 40....
POST 40….
I should also say – yah all of you who sent me txts! Fantastic and just yummy! And yah all of you who sent emails – fantastic and just yummy! I’m so sorry if I haven’t replied to each individually – duh!! I’ll owe so many people big time! It was so cool thought to receive all of them on my birthday (or the emails later) – yah!
On the 28th of June, as a 40 year old – lol – I went wandering by myself around Bastille. I found markets (the street food markets here are just fantastic – how anyone in this country stays thin I have no idea!), shops, more markets (the second set included an indoor food hall where I had fun buying cheese, a goats cheese and a blue cheese – both cru – unpasteurised milk), a wonderful boulangarie where the shop assistant slipped me an extra loaf of bread as it was my birthday – the little things like that are just sparkles really, a shop where I bought some paté (which in French means pasta I think - pate is terrine here!) and found a park and had myself a little picnic. Spot on! Then back to the hotel, bye byes to Tia, Lizzie and Amanda and saw them off on the metro (to the train back to London to the rain – although Paris had been pretty grotty!), dinner with Peter and Ivo – huge pizzas, like massive, then to the restaurant below the hotel for crème brulee with a very good looking waiter (who, no, I did not get to know better!) and then bed!
And so ended my time in Paris! I started as a baby-pup (if that’s what one can call a 39 year old) and left a not-so-baby-baby-pup. Paris is truly an amazing city, it would be wonderful to spend longer and longer there. Maybe one day….
I should also say – yah all of you who sent me txts! Fantastic and just yummy! And yah all of you who sent emails – fantastic and just yummy! I’m so sorry if I haven’t replied to each individually – duh!! I’ll owe so many people big time! It was so cool thought to receive all of them on my birthday (or the emails later) – yah!
On the 28th of June, as a 40 year old – lol – I went wandering by myself around Bastille. I found markets (the street food markets here are just fantastic – how anyone in this country stays thin I have no idea!), shops, more markets (the second set included an indoor food hall where I had fun buying cheese, a goats cheese and a blue cheese – both cru – unpasteurised milk), a wonderful boulangarie where the shop assistant slipped me an extra loaf of bread as it was my birthday – the little things like that are just sparkles really, a shop where I bought some paté (which in French means pasta I think - pate is terrine here!) and found a park and had myself a little picnic. Spot on! Then back to the hotel, bye byes to Tia, Lizzie and Amanda and saw them off on the metro (to the train back to London to the rain – although Paris had been pretty grotty!), dinner with Peter and Ivo – huge pizzas, like massive, then to the restaurant below the hotel for crème brulee with a very good looking waiter (who, no, I did not get to know better!) and then bed!
And so ended my time in Paris! I started as a baby-pup (if that’s what one can call a 39 year old) and left a not-so-baby-baby-pup. Paris is truly an amazing city, it would be wonderful to spend longer and longer there. Maybe one day….
Paris and turning 40 - need I say more....
PARIS
So, we’ve arrived. In the city of love, of dogs, of smoking everywhere, of expense, of another language, of beauty, culture, beautiful women, cars, people, food, chocolate, architecture, basically just pure amazingness! After my visa bounced (don’t go there – it’s turned out all cool and apparently the SCNF office, maybe at just Gare de Nord, has a low merchant limit so as to reduce fraud, so I had to use two different credit cards to get all our passes etc), stood in a queue to book some TGV trips only for the computers to crash and to be told to return later (a tip, allow heaps of time to book train travel – the queues can be huge, including at SCNF offices as I discovered later!), we were on our way to the hotel – metro style. Hotel de Nice – I liked it, the shower in Nic’s room was broken, Peter didn’t think much of his but to me it’s a hotel with charm, a wonderful location and, for Paris – not too expensive; watch the phones though – I managed to spend $150 NZ on calls whilst I was there!! Duh!
But, importantly, we arrived, we were checked in, my bad French was proving funny and after a little rest we wandered off for a look, to find the tourist office and ended up at the Arc de Triomphe (the tourist office on Champs Elysee is no longer there), we climbed up (Nic with her knee did too, not discovering there was a lift until it was time to come down), the view from the top was stunning, if a little wet – the Arc is huge and the roundabout mayhem that works - if that makes sense! Down the Champs Elysee we wandered when it really started to rain, we were all tired and ready for food – so back to the hotel and walking into the Marais did we go – and to The Gai Moulin (or something) did we go – which transpires means that the owner (Moulin or whatever his name was – I can’t remember know – duh, old age!) was Gai and this was his restaurant. He spoke really good English, the price was quick good for Paris and the women I were with were the only straight people there I think – he he! All good though and that’s where I learned that service is, by law, included in bills so you don’t have to tip! If you ask, the waiter will say it’s not included to get the tip – but the owner was super excellent and pointed out the reality to us (not that his waiter tried to rip us!). The other thing to remember about French waiters is that they are polite, but efficient and not chatty friendly like kiwi waiters. To bed it was then. I think, at that stage, it hadn’t really sunk in that I was in Paris, on holiday and about to turn 40…. Here too is as good a place as any to mention, too, how when paying by visa in Paris, they bring the machine to your table – so you can see them swipe the card, no going up to the check out and they get you to sign – but there is no gap to leave a tip – not like in kiwi restaurants (which bugs me!). The other tip to watch for here with Visa, make sure you have your passport with you as they often ask for it as proof of identity; although Craig did manage to use his drivers licence today as id).
The next day, we got up and the others buggered off to Eurodisney. Me, I slowly came too, and got Peter and Ivo up – they having arrived at some ungodly hour the night before from Prague, arrived late due to the plane leaving late due to bad weather and then deciding, upon arrival, that the only sensible thing to do was to go out to a bar – go figure! Lol!! I’m trying to remember back to what we did – it was the 26th of June which, although not long ago, seems ages ago as so much has happened really since then. I might remember more later and come back to it – but the long and short is that we hung out, caught up, had coffee, had hagan daaz, bought some stuff for Aaron, we went to the Monet Museum (Marmont or something) and it was brilliant, quiet, not too many tourists as it’s a bit out of the way – but in a beautiful old building and most the collection was donated by Monet’s son – it was just brilliant! Peter and Ivo left, I carried on looking around the museum, I wandered off, caught a bus through Paris to have a look and found shops, shops and shops (the sales started the next day – my birthday!), a church and more shops – it’s so possible to shop, shop and shop some more in Paris! We went to dinner at the same place as the night before (the women were at Disneyland – I’ll say it once, having said it before – but why go to American Disneyland when you’re in Paris????), that was great, we got invited downstairs where there was cabaret style singing going on (although Ivo didn’t like it – not sure why), we wandered off to the Banana Bar – which was ok, full of smoke (you end up stinking over here when you’ve been out), drunk young French things who were happy to practice their English on us and throw up behind the couch (17 year olds can’t hold their liquour….), Peter almost getting ripped off – the bartender shortchanged him 10euro and when Peter pointed this out, he just handed over the 10euro with no apologies nothing. I guess, though, at least Peter got served – Ivo couldn’t get served!! But, then, OMG, it was midnight in Paris and I was 40. Just like that. Wow….
I went back to the hotel as a 40 year old, it was officially my birthday (at least in the place where I was, if not where I live or where I was born) and went to sleep… The next morning I got up, rang my mum, found the women, Peter and Ivo were asleep, went to Notre Dame, stood with the crowds and crowds of people but enjoyed the magnificence of the church – we were commenting how we had no idea how the thing was built given that it was hundreds of years ago, well before cranes and electricity for lighting etc – just amazing. Peter pointed out later that it’s buttressed and apparently Notre Dame was the first church where they used buttresses to hold the building in – effectively is that without the buttresses, the walls start to fall outwards and the roof collapses – this is what apparently happened to Notre Dame and, as a result, they developed the buttresses concept to hold the walls up. Cool eh? And the do look amazing! After Notre Dame, the women (Nicola, Tia, Lizzie and Amanda – I’m not including myself in there, or Peter, or Ivo – although he is known as the Grand Duchess) went to to Saint Chappelle and I wandered off to the Left Bank to find the restaurant for that night – glad that I did as it was tucked away in a little street but it looked absolutely gorgeous! I then wandered off to Saint Chappelle, spoke with some Americans as I couldn’t go in because it was closed for lunch or groups or something (although the women were already in there), caught up with Peter and then eventually we all wandered off to the Musee D’Orsay (except Peter who wandered off to find Ivo). We got there, went in and wow it’s just stunning! We somehow lost Nicola in the entrance so Me et the others went to the café under the clock and had lunch. We then started look at art – so much art, art for Africa, Asia and Europe combined – and this was only one museum. It was stunning though, found Nicola, found Picasso, Cezanne, Monet, Whislter’s Mother (the original!), Van Gogh and too many others to remember! This doesn’t include the statutes, the furniture, the doors, the carvings and on and on – it was just stunning! There was a special exhibition of the artists who used the art dealer (Volland or something; if I remember all these names, I’ll fix up the blog, or actually get on the net and find them out, I’ll fix up the blog; I’m currently typing this offline) – Monet, Cezanne, Picasso etc – it was totally packed and so much art. With all of that though, the Musee was stunning and I was there on my birthday!
It was then back to the hotel, for Amanda, Tia and I (Nic and Lizzie caught the metro/RER) it was a walk via the Louvre – where Amanda and Tia went in – and I walked back along Rue de Rivoli just soaking up the atmosphere of Paris as a 40 year old! A snooze, a shower and then it was off to dinner. Some of us walked and some took a cab. Peter and I arrived (we’d walked) at Le Petit Prince – recommended by William in Wellington and I owe him; it was a great recommendation! It was also a restaurant I booked by writing a letter to them (they don’t have a website) – but it all worked perfectly! It was beautiful inside, the table set up wonderfully, the atmosphere great, the matron fab, out waiter fabber, the other waiter cuter, the cocktails to start (they didn’t put enough sugar in the majito!), the champagne to follow, the food peppered inbetween – stunning! I had goats cheese quinelles, fish for a main and for the dessert it was the made as we ate apple tart with a scoop of ice-cream which they put a candle in and again I turned red but blew it out making a wish (and for those of you who are wondering whether I got laid or not, you’ll have to ask….) It was a fantastic meal, we were treated well, the restaurant and the food great (if you’re interested, for 6 people it cost over $600NZ – and by Parisian standards it wasn’t expensive; although I guess champagne in any restaurant isn’t cheap… he he he….) and just a wonderfully wonderful birthday dinner. Afterward, the women and I (Peter going home…. ) zapped to the Eiffel Tower (having got stuck in the RER, me having to change my ticket as it was poked, getting told by a very helpful guy how to use the metro to get there as there were no more RER trains) – it was great. We just caught it as the lights were dancing up and down and then we just wandered around it – it was closed for the night but it is a truly amazing and beautiful thing – and really really big – like size queens go! Then lots of waiting for a cab – but who cares, so ended my birthday – and it was great!!
Why weren’t the rest of you here for it?? Huh? Huh???
So, we’ve arrived. In the city of love, of dogs, of smoking everywhere, of expense, of another language, of beauty, culture, beautiful women, cars, people, food, chocolate, architecture, basically just pure amazingness! After my visa bounced (don’t go there – it’s turned out all cool and apparently the SCNF office, maybe at just Gare de Nord, has a low merchant limit so as to reduce fraud, so I had to use two different credit cards to get all our passes etc), stood in a queue to book some TGV trips only for the computers to crash and to be told to return later (a tip, allow heaps of time to book train travel – the queues can be huge, including at SCNF offices as I discovered later!), we were on our way to the hotel – metro style. Hotel de Nice – I liked it, the shower in Nic’s room was broken, Peter didn’t think much of his but to me it’s a hotel with charm, a wonderful location and, for Paris – not too expensive; watch the phones though – I managed to spend $150 NZ on calls whilst I was there!! Duh!
But, importantly, we arrived, we were checked in, my bad French was proving funny and after a little rest we wandered off for a look, to find the tourist office and ended up at the Arc de Triomphe (the tourist office on Champs Elysee is no longer there), we climbed up (Nic with her knee did too, not discovering there was a lift until it was time to come down), the view from the top was stunning, if a little wet – the Arc is huge and the roundabout mayhem that works - if that makes sense! Down the Champs Elysee we wandered when it really started to rain, we were all tired and ready for food – so back to the hotel and walking into the Marais did we go – and to The Gai Moulin (or something) did we go – which transpires means that the owner (Moulin or whatever his name was – I can’t remember know – duh, old age!) was Gai and this was his restaurant. He spoke really good English, the price was quick good for Paris and the women I were with were the only straight people there I think – he he! All good though and that’s where I learned that service is, by law, included in bills so you don’t have to tip! If you ask, the waiter will say it’s not included to get the tip – but the owner was super excellent and pointed out the reality to us (not that his waiter tried to rip us!). The other thing to remember about French waiters is that they are polite, but efficient and not chatty friendly like kiwi waiters. To bed it was then. I think, at that stage, it hadn’t really sunk in that I was in Paris, on holiday and about to turn 40…. Here too is as good a place as any to mention, too, how when paying by visa in Paris, they bring the machine to your table – so you can see them swipe the card, no going up to the check out and they get you to sign – but there is no gap to leave a tip – not like in kiwi restaurants (which bugs me!). The other tip to watch for here with Visa, make sure you have your passport with you as they often ask for it as proof of identity; although Craig did manage to use his drivers licence today as id).
The next day, we got up and the others buggered off to Eurodisney. Me, I slowly came too, and got Peter and Ivo up – they having arrived at some ungodly hour the night before from Prague, arrived late due to the plane leaving late due to bad weather and then deciding, upon arrival, that the only sensible thing to do was to go out to a bar – go figure! Lol!! I’m trying to remember back to what we did – it was the 26th of June which, although not long ago, seems ages ago as so much has happened really since then. I might remember more later and come back to it – but the long and short is that we hung out, caught up, had coffee, had hagan daaz, bought some stuff for Aaron, we went to the Monet Museum (Marmont or something) and it was brilliant, quiet, not too many tourists as it’s a bit out of the way – but in a beautiful old building and most the collection was donated by Monet’s son – it was just brilliant! Peter and Ivo left, I carried on looking around the museum, I wandered off, caught a bus through Paris to have a look and found shops, shops and shops (the sales started the next day – my birthday!), a church and more shops – it’s so possible to shop, shop and shop some more in Paris! We went to dinner at the same place as the night before (the women were at Disneyland – I’ll say it once, having said it before – but why go to American Disneyland when you’re in Paris????), that was great, we got invited downstairs where there was cabaret style singing going on (although Ivo didn’t like it – not sure why), we wandered off to the Banana Bar – which was ok, full of smoke (you end up stinking over here when you’ve been out), drunk young French things who were happy to practice their English on us and throw up behind the couch (17 year olds can’t hold their liquour….), Peter almost getting ripped off – the bartender shortchanged him 10euro and when Peter pointed this out, he just handed over the 10euro with no apologies nothing. I guess, though, at least Peter got served – Ivo couldn’t get served!! But, then, OMG, it was midnight in Paris and I was 40. Just like that. Wow….
I went back to the hotel as a 40 year old, it was officially my birthday (at least in the place where I was, if not where I live or where I was born) and went to sleep… The next morning I got up, rang my mum, found the women, Peter and Ivo were asleep, went to Notre Dame, stood with the crowds and crowds of people but enjoyed the magnificence of the church – we were commenting how we had no idea how the thing was built given that it was hundreds of years ago, well before cranes and electricity for lighting etc – just amazing. Peter pointed out later that it’s buttressed and apparently Notre Dame was the first church where they used buttresses to hold the building in – effectively is that without the buttresses, the walls start to fall outwards and the roof collapses – this is what apparently happened to Notre Dame and, as a result, they developed the buttresses concept to hold the walls up. Cool eh? And the do look amazing! After Notre Dame, the women (Nicola, Tia, Lizzie and Amanda – I’m not including myself in there, or Peter, or Ivo – although he is known as the Grand Duchess) went to to Saint Chappelle and I wandered off to the Left Bank to find the restaurant for that night – glad that I did as it was tucked away in a little street but it looked absolutely gorgeous! I then wandered off to Saint Chappelle, spoke with some Americans as I couldn’t go in because it was closed for lunch or groups or something (although the women were already in there), caught up with Peter and then eventually we all wandered off to the Musee D’Orsay (except Peter who wandered off to find Ivo). We got there, went in and wow it’s just stunning! We somehow lost Nicola in the entrance so Me et the others went to the café under the clock and had lunch. We then started look at art – so much art, art for Africa, Asia and Europe combined – and this was only one museum. It was stunning though, found Nicola, found Picasso, Cezanne, Monet, Whislter’s Mother (the original!), Van Gogh and too many others to remember! This doesn’t include the statutes, the furniture, the doors, the carvings and on and on – it was just stunning! There was a special exhibition of the artists who used the art dealer (Volland or something; if I remember all these names, I’ll fix up the blog, or actually get on the net and find them out, I’ll fix up the blog; I’m currently typing this offline) – Monet, Cezanne, Picasso etc – it was totally packed and so much art. With all of that though, the Musee was stunning and I was there on my birthday!
It was then back to the hotel, for Amanda, Tia and I (Nic and Lizzie caught the metro/RER) it was a walk via the Louvre – where Amanda and Tia went in – and I walked back along Rue de Rivoli just soaking up the atmosphere of Paris as a 40 year old! A snooze, a shower and then it was off to dinner. Some of us walked and some took a cab. Peter and I arrived (we’d walked) at Le Petit Prince – recommended by William in Wellington and I owe him; it was a great recommendation! It was also a restaurant I booked by writing a letter to them (they don’t have a website) – but it all worked perfectly! It was beautiful inside, the table set up wonderfully, the atmosphere great, the matron fab, out waiter fabber, the other waiter cuter, the cocktails to start (they didn’t put enough sugar in the majito!), the champagne to follow, the food peppered inbetween – stunning! I had goats cheese quinelles, fish for a main and for the dessert it was the made as we ate apple tart with a scoop of ice-cream which they put a candle in and again I turned red but blew it out making a wish (and for those of you who are wondering whether I got laid or not, you’ll have to ask….) It was a fantastic meal, we were treated well, the restaurant and the food great (if you’re interested, for 6 people it cost over $600NZ – and by Parisian standards it wasn’t expensive; although I guess champagne in any restaurant isn’t cheap… he he he….) and just a wonderfully wonderful birthday dinner. Afterward, the women and I (Peter going home…. ) zapped to the Eiffel Tower (having got stuck in the RER, me having to change my ticket as it was poked, getting told by a very helpful guy how to use the metro to get there as there were no more RER trains) – it was great. We just caught it as the lights were dancing up and down and then we just wandered around it – it was closed for the night but it is a truly amazing and beautiful thing – and really really big – like size queens go! Then lots of waiting for a cab – but who cares, so ended my birthday – and it was great!!
Why weren’t the rest of you here for it?? Huh? Huh???
More on London - and maybe more repetition...
What else did I do in London – went shopping at Asda and bought some jeans, underwear and socks – ok, so I travelled with virtually nothing and decided that trying to do laundry – particularly when the weather was turning crap (you’ll have heard about all the floods – I luckily missed them but it was the start of the raining whilst I was there!). Yes, I sold out and bought the jeans when they were nuttily cheap (I think I paid $20 NZ for them – or to be more accurate, my sister paid and I have to pay her back!) and made in a sweatshop in China! I also caught up with my magical friend Marcus – yah! He took me for a beer, a hagen daaz and a goss/catch up (yes, you’ll have to have been there for that one – and, oh, shall we say that it was probably a juicy one – I tell Marcus stuff that I don’t even tell my priest – and I don’t have one of those!!)
Then there was the next birthday party – I’m telling you, it’s been completely overboard this 40 thing – and when I type that I go – fuck, have I really spent 4 decades alive! So, the next party – before the real birthday. We wandered in (my sisters, my brother in law, my nephews, met a couple of friends of Sarah and Matt) to the Thames, walked along and came to Ask. We were early (ie they stuffed up the booking) but had us seated (a lovely Polish waiter – the UK had an estimated influx of 500,000 Poles when Poland joined the EU – they thought they’d be a few thousand! Apparently though it’s done great things for the economy although you can sense the growing resentment. At it’s simpliest and as a generalisation, Polish immigrants are willing to work for the minimum wage (thus depressing wages) and are prepared to live in not so great accommodation (ie more like the stereotypical kiwi/aussie 15 people to a flat thing); this is helping to keep inflation down but “locals” are now having to compete with these highly skilled workers and the attendant disharmony from that. It does depend a little who you talk to.). Where was I? Oh, yes, we were seated, looking out over the Thames, had some wine, lots of chatting, Tia, Lizzie, Amanda (they were going to be coming to Paris) and Richard (he was going to a conference) turned up having just arrived that morning from NZ – jetlag is a funny thing!), I got given a flashing “It’s my birthday badge”, Daniel and Andrew were stars, there was massive amounts of food, a birthday balloon (prominently showing that I was turning 40 – ta Sarah and Matt!!) and then, lo and behold, no dessert. Any ideas why? Of course, my sister and brother-in-law had arranged for a cake, with candles, with singing, on the main tourist drag along the Thames at about 2pm on a Saturday afternoon – funny ha ha, I’m not sure that red is my colour!! But it was great! And super-big ta’s to my mum (who probably isn’t reading this as she doesn’t have the internet) for the wonderful gift towards lunch!!
And, really, so endth my time in London (although I’m going back! Yah!). Obviously there was lots of other little bits and pieces, thoughts and ideas – when I get back – ask me for coffee and I’m sure I can bore you to tears (and show you hundreds of photos; although my camera is making slightly weird whirring noises; go figure). Just mentioning quickly that we went to Greenwich (which is lovely), had brunch, looked at the markets, caught up with Craig and Louise (who are asleep in their bedroom whilst I type this in Provence – he he!), walked through Greenwich Park, hung out with my nephews, had a beer (actually, I think I had a coffee!) with Matt, feed the squirrels – you know lots of stuff; nothing touristy but just really cool hanging around, being lazy and spending time with the world as it tripped on by.
I packed on Sunday night (having had curry at Sarah and Matt’s and goo-goo’d at Andrew and said bye bye to Daniel). On the subject of curries – I do not understand why my british friends reckon you can’t get a good curry in NZ – the ones over here aren’t any better; they seem the same to me – only more expensive. Oh well…..
Monday morning, it was up, showered, finished packing, bus, to train station, lots of txts about how Nicola had misplaced her mastercard, on to the train, Nicola happened to be on the same train, to Waterloo (poor Nic’s knee was really sore – but to give her absolute credit, she’s not complained at all whilst we’ve been away), found Tia, Lizzie and Amanda and then, voila, on to Eurostar. It’s a very very cool train…. Next stop, Paris…..
Then there was the next birthday party – I’m telling you, it’s been completely overboard this 40 thing – and when I type that I go – fuck, have I really spent 4 decades alive! So, the next party – before the real birthday. We wandered in (my sisters, my brother in law, my nephews, met a couple of friends of Sarah and Matt) to the Thames, walked along and came to Ask. We were early (ie they stuffed up the booking) but had us seated (a lovely Polish waiter – the UK had an estimated influx of 500,000 Poles when Poland joined the EU – they thought they’d be a few thousand! Apparently though it’s done great things for the economy although you can sense the growing resentment. At it’s simpliest and as a generalisation, Polish immigrants are willing to work for the minimum wage (thus depressing wages) and are prepared to live in not so great accommodation (ie more like the stereotypical kiwi/aussie 15 people to a flat thing); this is helping to keep inflation down but “locals” are now having to compete with these highly skilled workers and the attendant disharmony from that. It does depend a little who you talk to.). Where was I? Oh, yes, we were seated, looking out over the Thames, had some wine, lots of chatting, Tia, Lizzie, Amanda (they were going to be coming to Paris) and Richard (he was going to a conference) turned up having just arrived that morning from NZ – jetlag is a funny thing!), I got given a flashing “It’s my birthday badge”, Daniel and Andrew were stars, there was massive amounts of food, a birthday balloon (prominently showing that I was turning 40 – ta Sarah and Matt!!) and then, lo and behold, no dessert. Any ideas why? Of course, my sister and brother-in-law had arranged for a cake, with candles, with singing, on the main tourist drag along the Thames at about 2pm on a Saturday afternoon – funny ha ha, I’m not sure that red is my colour!! But it was great! And super-big ta’s to my mum (who probably isn’t reading this as she doesn’t have the internet) for the wonderful gift towards lunch!!
And, really, so endth my time in London (although I’m going back! Yah!). Obviously there was lots of other little bits and pieces, thoughts and ideas – when I get back – ask me for coffee and I’m sure I can bore you to tears (and show you hundreds of photos; although my camera is making slightly weird whirring noises; go figure). Just mentioning quickly that we went to Greenwich (which is lovely), had brunch, looked at the markets, caught up with Craig and Louise (who are asleep in their bedroom whilst I type this in Provence – he he!), walked through Greenwich Park, hung out with my nephews, had a beer (actually, I think I had a coffee!) with Matt, feed the squirrels – you know lots of stuff; nothing touristy but just really cool hanging around, being lazy and spending time with the world as it tripped on by.
I packed on Sunday night (having had curry at Sarah and Matt’s and goo-goo’d at Andrew and said bye bye to Daniel). On the subject of curries – I do not understand why my british friends reckon you can’t get a good curry in NZ – the ones over here aren’t any better; they seem the same to me – only more expensive. Oh well…..
Monday morning, it was up, showered, finished packing, bus, to train station, lots of txts about how Nicola had misplaced her mastercard, on to the train, Nicola happened to be on the same train, to Waterloo (poor Nic’s knee was really sore – but to give her absolute credit, she’s not complained at all whilst we’ve been away), found Tia, Lizzie and Amanda and then, voila, on to Eurostar. It’s a very very cool train…. Next stop, Paris…..
The day in Portsmouth.....
THE DAY IN PORTSMOUTH
I finally got hold of Sharon, Liz’s sister, who lives in Portsmouth and she most wonderfully bent over backwards, really wanted me to come down to see her or for her to come up to London to see me and, as I’d planned a day out of London (I was going to pretend to be learned and go to Cambridge or Oxford) I thought – Portsmouth, why not. It turned out to be one of those things where, in hindsight, you realise you totally made the right decision. Up, to railway station, train to Waterloo, ticket office, chat chat with a Russian women, pushed through thousands of people (I seriously mean we have no idea in little ol’ Wellington about people, congestion and peak hour!) and then the train. It’s a 24pound return trip (23 I think one way – go figure) and the trains basically go every half hour – it’s a commuter thing really. So, on the train, clacky-te-clack and watching the English countryside (with some rain) go by. The very nice man with his cart came by and took some money off me (money – please, it’s like water over here, it just flows, flows, flows, through your fingers) and gave me coffee and a snack. The coffee was interesting as it consisted of a paper cup full of hot water – but no coffee. Hmmmm goes Cookie. Hmmm back goes the cup of hot water. Hmmm goes Cookie, that’s a cute boy (ok, that’s really just to see how’s actually reading this). Uhuh, this funny silver tag, if Cookie pulls it, then up from the bottom of the cup will bubble the liquid coffee which will make a cuppa coffee. All very good really. So, into Portsmouth I arrived and it was raining, had a chat with a very nice police woman, found the Information Centre, got hold of Sharon who said she’d be in shortly, started looking around the old docks, the sun started shining, had a look through a museum and Sharon arrived. We went for a walk to the new shopping centre (oh, the shopping….), stopped for a coffee, lots of gossip (yes, just like Deborah, I think you had to be there), reconfirmed that it’s not possible to get a flatwhite in England and the people serving, whilst polite, aren’t particularly friendly and then we found the French market. By this stage the sun had come out, it had turned into a beautiful day and I discovered that French stall holders came over to Portsmouth; it was just wonderful. Wandering along, have a look. Then it was up the Spinnaker. You’ll have to ask to see the photos – and yes, Liz, your sister did stand on the glass. It’s this amazing tower that was supposed to be open for the millennium but it was a little late – ie it only opened about 18 months ago, it’s shaped like a spinnaker and it’s rather just stunning. The exterior lift unfortunately doesn’t work – apparently it never has – so up the internal one we went. The views from the 3 viewing decks are just amazing – and it was helped so much by being a stunningly sunny day. We stood on glass looking straightdown (no shoes please!), looked over the naval base, the Isle Of Wight, saw a channel ferry come in, got shown all the sites around and about. Just beautiful. Like I said (or is that wrote), there are three levels with the third one being open air – it’s so worth it and something that the people of Portsmouth can be really proud of. After the spinnaker, Sharon and I headed back to the docks so that we could do a boat trip around the harbour. I’ll just note that there were some people who had a kid in a wheelchair and they weren’t allowed to take her on the boat – not good people. The boat trip itself was really cool, it had started to cool off a bit but we sat outside and wandered past an aircraft carrier – it didn’t seem as big as I thought they would be but the people on it waved back (he he – guess who waved first!!) and one of them was in camouflage and touting a automatic rifle looking thing – yep, it was a working ship of war…. We carried on around the harbour and saw lots of frigates/things/whatever they were – all grey so I could imagine that at sea they just completely merge into the sea. More armed guards (soldiers? seamen?). We saw the ferry which we’d seen come in earlier – it looked bigger than the aircraft carrier! Then there was the ships ghostyard where naval ships go before it’s decided what to do with them – sold/scrapped or whatever. Past the old submarine base (it’s no longer based there) and to the entrance of the harbour – where some nutty yachtees who didn’t know what they were doing but were trying to tango with out bigger boat were being rather “OMG, are we going to crash” (which is kind’ve what our captain was saying!). We docked and got off in the shopping precent (rather than where we started) and Sharon most stunningly wonderfully took me to lunch at Café Rouge, which is a lovely French restaurant. I thought that it was an independent – but it transpires that they are everywhere. Apparently, most restaurants you see around the UK, particularly in the tourist areas are chains – rather than independents. Notwithstanding that, Sharon and I had a wonderful wonderful lunch and it was a great way to top off an excellent day. It seems that my fortieth was being celebrated over a rather long period! After that, it was on the train back to London. Yah!
In terms of Portsmouth, what a gem it turned out to be – go everyone go!! I had a magical time, perhaps especially because I had a local guide who so kindly, wonderfully and yummily showed me around and pointed out all the little bits and pieces!
I finally got hold of Sharon, Liz’s sister, who lives in Portsmouth and she most wonderfully bent over backwards, really wanted me to come down to see her or for her to come up to London to see me and, as I’d planned a day out of London (I was going to pretend to be learned and go to Cambridge or Oxford) I thought – Portsmouth, why not. It turned out to be one of those things where, in hindsight, you realise you totally made the right decision. Up, to railway station, train to Waterloo, ticket office, chat chat with a Russian women, pushed through thousands of people (I seriously mean we have no idea in little ol’ Wellington about people, congestion and peak hour!) and then the train. It’s a 24pound return trip (23 I think one way – go figure) and the trains basically go every half hour – it’s a commuter thing really. So, on the train, clacky-te-clack and watching the English countryside (with some rain) go by. The very nice man with his cart came by and took some money off me (money – please, it’s like water over here, it just flows, flows, flows, through your fingers) and gave me coffee and a snack. The coffee was interesting as it consisted of a paper cup full of hot water – but no coffee. Hmmmm goes Cookie. Hmmm back goes the cup of hot water. Hmmm goes Cookie, that’s a cute boy (ok, that’s really just to see how’s actually reading this). Uhuh, this funny silver tag, if Cookie pulls it, then up from the bottom of the cup will bubble the liquid coffee which will make a cuppa coffee. All very good really. So, into Portsmouth I arrived and it was raining, had a chat with a very nice police woman, found the Information Centre, got hold of Sharon who said she’d be in shortly, started looking around the old docks, the sun started shining, had a look through a museum and Sharon arrived. We went for a walk to the new shopping centre (oh, the shopping….), stopped for a coffee, lots of gossip (yes, just like Deborah, I think you had to be there), reconfirmed that it’s not possible to get a flatwhite in England and the people serving, whilst polite, aren’t particularly friendly and then we found the French market. By this stage the sun had come out, it had turned into a beautiful day and I discovered that French stall holders came over to Portsmouth; it was just wonderful. Wandering along, have a look. Then it was up the Spinnaker. You’ll have to ask to see the photos – and yes, Liz, your sister did stand on the glass. It’s this amazing tower that was supposed to be open for the millennium but it was a little late – ie it only opened about 18 months ago, it’s shaped like a spinnaker and it’s rather just stunning. The exterior lift unfortunately doesn’t work – apparently it never has – so up the internal one we went. The views from the 3 viewing decks are just amazing – and it was helped so much by being a stunningly sunny day. We stood on glass looking straightdown (no shoes please!), looked over the naval base, the Isle Of Wight, saw a channel ferry come in, got shown all the sites around and about. Just beautiful. Like I said (or is that wrote), there are three levels with the third one being open air – it’s so worth it and something that the people of Portsmouth can be really proud of. After the spinnaker, Sharon and I headed back to the docks so that we could do a boat trip around the harbour. I’ll just note that there were some people who had a kid in a wheelchair and they weren’t allowed to take her on the boat – not good people. The boat trip itself was really cool, it had started to cool off a bit but we sat outside and wandered past an aircraft carrier – it didn’t seem as big as I thought they would be but the people on it waved back (he he – guess who waved first!!) and one of them was in camouflage and touting a automatic rifle looking thing – yep, it was a working ship of war…. We carried on around the harbour and saw lots of frigates/things/whatever they were – all grey so I could imagine that at sea they just completely merge into the sea. More armed guards (soldiers? seamen?). We saw the ferry which we’d seen come in earlier – it looked bigger than the aircraft carrier! Then there was the ships ghostyard where naval ships go before it’s decided what to do with them – sold/scrapped or whatever. Past the old submarine base (it’s no longer based there) and to the entrance of the harbour – where some nutty yachtees who didn’t know what they were doing but were trying to tango with out bigger boat were being rather “OMG, are we going to crash” (which is kind’ve what our captain was saying!). We docked and got off in the shopping precent (rather than where we started) and Sharon most stunningly wonderfully took me to lunch at Café Rouge, which is a lovely French restaurant. I thought that it was an independent – but it transpires that they are everywhere. Apparently, most restaurants you see around the UK, particularly in the tourist areas are chains – rather than independents. Notwithstanding that, Sharon and I had a wonderful wonderful lunch and it was a great way to top off an excellent day. It seems that my fortieth was being celebrated over a rather long period! After that, it was on the train back to London. Yah!
In terms of Portsmouth, what a gem it turned out to be – go everyone go!! I had a magical time, perhaps especially because I had a local guide who so kindly, wonderfully and yummily showed me around and pointed out all the little bits and pieces!
OMG - Repetition maybe on London....
So, finally I sit down to type up what I’ve been doing so that you can read it, be bored to tears and wonder why you ever logged on to my blog at all…. Don’t really blame you if you wander off to other things – although I will find out, I will track you down or is that I’ll just hang out in Provence a bit more and enjoy myself…..
Turning back to London (and I’m offline now typing this so I can’t quite remember what I’ve already typed – eek!), having gotten off the plane, had a facial, relaxed a little and met my new little nephew, it was off into London with my sister. Although, we didn’t get that far as I had left my cellphone in the carpark – which by turn of events was still there. The funniest part (apart from accidentally phoning my sister in London from Hong Kong airport; tip – always always always make sure your phone is on keylock..) was that we were on the motorway when I realised I’d left my phone so my sister took the next off-ramp which was still Heathrow airport – that place is rather huge!
We then drove to Blackheath where my sister lives – on the ring road – and stopped for MacDonalds – their banana milkshakes the bestest hangover cure and I figured that they might make me feel a bit better – although they’re really thick in England; hopefully no mad-cow-beef-based-non-diary stuff in it.
London then followed which was mainly hanging out with my nephews and sisters, walking to Blackheath one day (which was lovely and passed the most beautiful old folks home on the way). Blackheath itself it just a lot of grass. It’s pretty cool, and pretty big – but a lot of grass none-the-less!
Another night (which was before Blackheath but it’s very late, my timing is all mixed up, I’m trying to get as much typed as possible to bore you to tears and this laptop keeps doing weird things) I went into London Bridge – which apparently the Americans bought when they thought they were buying the Disneyland Tower Bridge - and caught up with Deborah Holyoake – whom I’m used to work with at MSD. Some of you may remember her but it was so cool to see her, and it was hard to think that it was over 3 years since I’d last seen her. We, of course, did the only sensible thing which was to have a major goss-catch up session over dinner. What we spoke about, looking out over the Thames, well, maybe that’s just private goss….
I should probably mention here that I was staying with Lee, nearly Lee (in Lewisham actually I think) which isn’t that far by walking, bus (which if I didn’t get off not knowing that it looped back I wouldn’t have walked so far, but it was nice) or train from my sister’s place (although you wouldn’t take the train, a bus is much easier – and you can use an oyster card but not on the trains – oyster being the “one card fits all public transport” card which is being rolled out across all public transport but hasn’t made all the trains yet). Lee’s place is great, the bathroom is fab and it’s just around the corner from a lovely little park which the local library is a wonderful old building!
Turning back to London (and I’m offline now typing this so I can’t quite remember what I’ve already typed – eek!), having gotten off the plane, had a facial, relaxed a little and met my new little nephew, it was off into London with my sister. Although, we didn’t get that far as I had left my cellphone in the carpark – which by turn of events was still there. The funniest part (apart from accidentally phoning my sister in London from Hong Kong airport; tip – always always always make sure your phone is on keylock..) was that we were on the motorway when I realised I’d left my phone so my sister took the next off-ramp which was still Heathrow airport – that place is rather huge!
We then drove to Blackheath where my sister lives – on the ring road – and stopped for MacDonalds – their banana milkshakes the bestest hangover cure and I figured that they might make me feel a bit better – although they’re really thick in England; hopefully no mad-cow-beef-based-non-diary stuff in it.
London then followed which was mainly hanging out with my nephews and sisters, walking to Blackheath one day (which was lovely and passed the most beautiful old folks home on the way). Blackheath itself it just a lot of grass. It’s pretty cool, and pretty big – but a lot of grass none-the-less!
Another night (which was before Blackheath but it’s very late, my timing is all mixed up, I’m trying to get as much typed as possible to bore you to tears and this laptop keeps doing weird things) I went into London Bridge – which apparently the Americans bought when they thought they were buying the Disneyland Tower Bridge - and caught up with Deborah Holyoake – whom I’m used to work with at MSD. Some of you may remember her but it was so cool to see her, and it was hard to think that it was over 3 years since I’d last seen her. We, of course, did the only sensible thing which was to have a major goss-catch up session over dinner. What we spoke about, looking out over the Thames, well, maybe that’s just private goss….
I should probably mention here that I was staying with Lee, nearly Lee (in Lewisham actually I think) which isn’t that far by walking, bus (which if I didn’t get off not knowing that it looped back I wouldn’t have walked so far, but it was nice) or train from my sister’s place (although you wouldn’t take the train, a bus is much easier – and you can use an oyster card but not on the trains – oyster being the “one card fits all public transport” card which is being rolled out across all public transport but hasn’t made all the trains yet). Lee’s place is great, the bathroom is fab and it’s just around the corner from a lovely little park which the local library is a wonderful old building!
Sunday, 1 July 2007
It's been a while...
OMG, it's been a while since I've managed to get to an internet café - why; well, maybe because I've been eating so much!
I'm now sitting in Provence, it's raining (still) but warm, we're ensconced in the most gorgeous house and, after a few initial hiccups, it's all looking good.
Driving in absolutely crazy - this driving on the left thing leaves a lot to be desired but I'm still alive, haven't crashed and the others are still here too!
Just quickly here:
Yah to everyone for the presents - you know who you are - ta heaps!! :)
Yah to everyone who has been sending me emails - I've not replied to them all and my biggest "I'm sorry" for that - the french keyboards are different, I've not been near an internet café and, umm, err, I'll owe you coffee!! Or hot chocolate!
It's also 11.40pm here, I want to get some sleep because tomorrow it's either Avignon or Arles - we'll decide in the morning depending on the weather!
I'll add posts shortly with what I've been up to - and I'm not sure about photos as I'm not sure when/how to get them from the memory card thing to the net - oh, well, there we go!
:)
Hope you're all just stunning. Yah!
Me - I'm just 40.....
I'm now sitting in Provence, it's raining (still) but warm, we're ensconced in the most gorgeous house and, after a few initial hiccups, it's all looking good.
Driving in absolutely crazy - this driving on the left thing leaves a lot to be desired but I'm still alive, haven't crashed and the others are still here too!
Just quickly here:
Yah to everyone for the presents - you know who you are - ta heaps!! :)
Yah to everyone who has been sending me emails - I've not replied to them all and my biggest "I'm sorry" for that - the french keyboards are different, I've not been near an internet café and, umm, err, I'll owe you coffee!! Or hot chocolate!
It's also 11.40pm here, I want to get some sleep because tomorrow it's either Avignon or Arles - we'll decide in the morning depending on the weather!
I'll add posts shortly with what I've been up to - and I'm not sure about photos as I'm not sure when/how to get them from the memory card thing to the net - oh, well, there we go!
:)
Hope you're all just stunning. Yah!
Me - I'm just 40.....
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