Monthly Archives: September 2012

Don’t leave me out in the rain

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This week I have been up north, and what rather pissy weather it was. Drove up in constant rain on Monday. Rained all day, but at least I was indoors. I was almost last leaving the office, only one other person, who is in charge of locking-up, was there. The office is set in parkland and is in quite a nice setting, surrounded by wooden rail fences. Would be better without the rain. After I left, I sat in my car for a few minutes, phone calls, and satnav setting. Ready, I set off to the hotel, to be immediately confronted by a shut gate, major irritation cos I would get have to get wet, opening the thing. Oh no, it was padlocked. The person in charge must have left, and locked the gates without checking the car park. No problem, I know these 5 bar gates, you can lift them off at the hinges. Not this one, specially made so it could not be lifted off. Gypsy proof. Back to the office, all lights were off, no cars in the car park, I was well and truly stuck.

I had no mobile phone numbers, so nothing for it but google maps to find a local taxi service to come out and pick me up. One came out for me, had to get him to stop at a cash machine on the way to the hotel so I could pay him and tomorrow morning’s driver.

The hotel was a welcoming site, except ominously they seemed not to have my booking through laterooms.com, but all finally sorted. The hotel was in refurbishment mode, and the bar cum lounge was covered in plastic sheeting.

Well, it continued to rain for most of my stay there, only clearing up for the drive home on Thursday evening. Met Rosemary, and then she was off on the Friday back up the motorway to Prestwich for the weekend. Yes we met like passing doves in the night.

Now she is back, and hopefully will be giving me a fond farewell as I am off to Plymouth in the morning.

Denise, Denise, I’m so in love with you

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Yes I am a sad bunny and played this Blondie song from my Galaxy 3 to the poor bar tender who went by the name Denise. Actually she had used me to bypass the rather persistant man who had started to inquire on her married status, who had also tried to strike up a conversation with me on motor cars. He was dreadful, but she did her best to smile and be polite to him.

I ate at the Red Lobster last night. Definitely a strange and different set of humanity dine there. The food was acceptable, the bar tender was nice. I know this sounds snobbish, but the clients, well ….. I don’t really know what to say.

Was woken at 4 in the morning with a women in the parking lot screaming at some man, ‘You got another girl, You got another girl’ and then sounds of slamming doors and car leaving at high speed.

Last day here, off home from Boston Logan in the evening. Then back out here again in a little over two weeks.

Wet or Dry Cappuccino

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Went to Starbucks for a Cappuccino today, and was asked if I wanted it wet or dry. I looked perplexed, thinking I had misheard, I am often told I am going deaf. I still asked and was informed that wet had more milk, and dry had more froth. So I have now learnt a new American phrase and new possibility when ordering my coffee to take out.

Wethersfield

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Made it to the hotel after just 35 minutes waiting in the American immigration line, the rest went smoothly and I was on the road by 9.35pm.

Traffic was quite bad on the interstate, not helped by the number of roadworks. In a two and a bit hour drive there must have been five lane closures for resurfacing. Moral, don’t drive at night when road surfacing is a night task.

Arrived at Comfort Inn by 11.40pm and soon tucked up in bed for a 3 hour sleep. Body clock soon stepped in and kept me awake. Off to work now in Glastonbury.

Gonville and Caius 1972 Ruby reunion.

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This weekend Rosemary and I attended the Ruby reunion of the 1972 Matriculation year of Gonville and Caius.  We decided to make a weekend of the event, and arrived on Saturday.  Went for a punt on the River Cam, heading towards Granchester.  Stopped for lunch at Granchester Meadows, checked the GPS and decided we were only half way to the pubs, so headed back.  Examining my hand, I see I have a blister now.  There was one dastardly man who was challenged by a group on the bank.

You are punting from the wrong end of the punt, Sir.

Ah, I come from the other place he replied.

Supper was in a Thai restaurant near to Harvey Court / Stephen Hawkins building where we were staying for the night.  Afraid is was OK, not excellent.

The Sunday was spent meeting those Ruby alumni, first for coffee in the Stephen Hawking building, then at lunch in the old buildings.  We had a tour of the library where there appeared to be some embarrassing  memorabilia.  The Junior Common Room comment book, and the college directory for our year.

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Back to Stephen Hawking building to get changed into Black Tie, then church service in the chapel, Champagne reception and evening meal.  We sat with the Old Gits, Richard, Andrea, Norman and Valerie.  Ravi who was coming was unfortunately unable to make  the event.  Good food, lots of wine and fun time.

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I am sitting writing this waiting for my plane to Boston, I have 4 days work in Glastonbury CI.  I have caught a latish flight, so don’t expect to be tucked up in bed until midnight, (5am UK time).  Better go and drop my bags at the bah drop and get through security.

Saturday Home again James

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Up early before Mike and Linda arrived to claim their home back, breakfast and farewells and of we set to good old blighty.  We were going to take it easy and stopped off at a campsite in the village of Le Bec-Hellouin just West of A24 a few miles South of Rouen.  Pleasant enough municipal site, pretty open plan and living grass to pith the tent on.  Probably will have Moules et Frites at the camp bar.

Walked down into the village, and discovered there was a monastery there, along with a church and French wedding.  No it was not a monk getting married.  Cooled off with a beer, rather slow service, must have caught the bar on a busy day.  The village houses were not like the houses we have seen else where, very English looking in many respects.  The monastery we discovered had been under the control of the diocese of Canterbury.

Back at the campsite we sipped a beer, order a bottle of wine and food.  Chips and sausage for R, and Moule frites for S.

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Friday Last day in Arcais

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Today we were evicted from the Eaton’s gite.  They had some proper clients arriving, a couple who played  musical instruments.  The proper clients lived in London and Aldburgh, he played the cello for the London Philharmonic, while she played the harp wherever she could.

Car packed we paid a visit to the super market at Mauze-sur-le-Mignon, rather a rush visit because it would be closed at midday for lunch.  Oh fooled again, it was Friday, all day opening. So we had a relaxed shop, buying their entire stock of 10 litre Bordeaux boxes of wine.

Back at the Eatons we had lunch and then off in the car to La Garette for a grockle. Visited a couple of shops, and Rosemary even bought something, a lace bordered pillowcase.  Beer and ice cream on the river bank.  Back at the Eatons, Mike had been left in charge of the dinner, and welcoming the new guests.  The dinner was a vegetable and lamb tagine cooked on a BBQ tagine.  A much later supper today, the tagine had got off to a slow start.  The new guests came round and shared some rose, seem pretty nice people.

Time for bed and we kicked the Eatons out to sleep in another house.  

And I was Thursday’s Child

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Stayed in Arcais all day.  First a short walk around the town, discovering the items in the second hand shop and the various pottery and local produce shops. The second hand shop had a large box marked fragile.  Steve look a little peak inside and jumped back in shock when a brown object inside moved and clucked.  From then on the hen inside the box clucked away until the owner came over and placed a cloth on top to reduce the light.  The hen had laid an egg earlier, I had been perturbed by a dark brown egg amongst the items for sale, had thought it might be an item of bric-a-brac, but it had looked so real down to the lion stamp.

After lunch we all went for a paddle around the Marais in Mike and Linda’s boat. There were masses of dragonflies and damselflies.  The Marais had some large patches of weed, which were teeming with small fish.  Mike was excited this would mean a good season fishing in the future. There were ducks, but alas no Kingfishers.  The trip was 3 kilometres and at one time there was some consternation amongst the crew as to whether we were in fact lost amongst the maze of canals.

After supper took a quiet walk along the tow path to a major  arterial waterway.  Very quiet as the last Herons flew back to roost, and then the owls were out hooting.  Very peaceful and idyllic.  Spotted yet more satellites amongst the stars.

Wednesday Falling in love With Falling in love With Hermione Granger

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IMG_1851Set off to Rochefort to see the reconstruction of 3 mast galleon. This is a long project and using mainly traditional techniques.  The boat is now on the water, launched in the last year.  It is now waiting for the masts to be made.  The boat is called Hermione.  The boat is a typical French English bashing project, they are building a reconstruction of the Frigate of Liberty, on which La Fayette embarked in 1780 to bring help and support to the American revolution.

The work yard was open at lunchtime, but alas all the people working there were taking the long French lunchtime.  We bought some food to eat on the hoof after visiting the museum.

Back at Mike and Linda’s, we were preparing to have our evening snifters, when were invited out to a cheese and wine party by some local Scottish ex-pats.  Dutifully drove over there and tasted a few glasses of wine.  They were drinking some red Bordeaux in a 10-litre bag, the very same I had been eyeing up in the supermarket.  Now a chance to taste the wine before committing to a large quantity.

IMG_1792Once back home Mikie prepared Moo Cow Soy. Thai noodles and pork.  V good. Spent the evening listening to the Owl screeching away and looking at the stars with the aid of the mobile phone and Google star application.  Very impressive app to help aid you in identification.  Saw a satellite pass overhead, and a bright flash in the sky.  I wonder if that was one of the Iridium satellite flares.