Dolly's Dreamings

A bit of a rude awakening

This getting up at 6 am is a bit of a shock to the system I can tell you.

What happened to - 'I am taking early retirement. I am not going to do anything!'

 

Seems it went out of the window.

 

And today I was 'at school from 7.30 until 4.15 - that's like a real proper work day. OK so, in all honesty, I came home for lunch for an hour, but still. And now I have additional responsibilities. I have been promoted! The good thing is, it pays for Christmas gifts so all is well and it is short lived. For 42 weeks of the year, I get to be a sloth!

 

I only have one new thing I can share at the moment - lots more to come but they are secret at the moment.

 

This is made with a new release coming TONIGHT by Dita B Designs - this LINK is to her store so you can watch for it there.

It features the Wildflower Inn in Vermont - a place we stayed in 1997 and visited last month.

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• work opportunities
• lovely colleagues to work with
• a stress-free job (that is really special)
• Kira being OK - she had a vet outing with her Daddy but all is well and he said for nearly 16 she is doing well. 

 

 24th October

 

The One With The Suite And The Beach

 

 

Yet again we had a very early start, having had breakfast and on the road by about 7 am. We knew today was going to be a hard day as it involved a lot of driving with not a great deal at the end of it. Myrtle Beach, our destination for today, was only selected as it was a reasonable stopping point en route to Charleston and Savannah.

We gritted our teeth and got on with it ... well, Nigel did. Bless him he was doing all the driving. We stopped for gas and a Starbucks and then pressed on to Fayetteville. And the sign in the gas station was about the Carolina's and Pepsi - Who knew!

 

 

 

 

We had selected this town as a stopping off point for a walk round, a little retail therapy and some lunch to break the journey. And what a little treasure it proved to be. Though the Hobby Lobby had closed there was a Joann, a Tuesday Morning and, more importantly, a Panda Express. I owed Nigel and Panda and it was lovely. I had never been to a Tuesday Morning before, but will certainly add it to the must do list. It is a bit like Home Sense which we love in that you never know what it has or is likely to have as it has ends of line etc but all at silly prices. They have a crafting section and o my the things were cheap and they were all big brand names too. I got some American Crafts papers, sticker books and some Echo Park Halloween goodies.

Refreshed and satiated both in a food and a retail sense, we pressed on. I had selected the hotel at Myrtle Beach based on the fact it was NOT in the busy, and I was quite right, tacky, part of the resort, but a little out on its own. I was a little worried as I thought it might not be good. We pulled up at the registration parking and checked in. There were no other hotels in the immediate area which was a bit worrying. We were now in the south proper and had such a lovely southern welcome. We were told where our room was and where to park and set off. Well WOW.

 

I had paid a little extra for an ocean front suite. Now we have stayed in a few hotels with suites, but they usually mean a small area with a chair and sofa, which is fine for us. This, however, was a suite.  It was clearly geared up for a family of up to 8 and was the size of a small home. As we entered there was a long corridor, complete with a laundry with washer and dryer. Off there was a beautiful colonial style bedroom … yes a proper bedroom with a door and everything with two queen beds.

 

 

You then passed the very spacious and beautifully appointed bathroom before reaching the kitchen ... a big kitchen with full-size fridge, cooker, microwave and stocked with every utensil.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The lounge, complete with dining room table was massive ... pretty much the size of our lounge at home. And to crown it all, patio doors with a to die for ocean view. We were both in awe of it. In addition, Nigel parked in the multi story car park ... a floor for each floor of the hotel and it was just a few steps to our room. Such a sensible design that I have no idea why more hotels don’t use it; it was so lovely.

 

 

 

 

The call of the beach was strong. We are not really ‘Beach people’ ... well, not in the summer and in a whole day in the sea and on the beach sort of way. We love to walk on the beach at home, but far prefer it in the winter when it is quiet and rough and rugged. However, the sun was out, the beach was inviting and so for the first time this trip, on went the shorts and crops and out we went. After the initial sharp intake of breath, the ocean was reasonably war,. Certainly not like the Gulf of Mexico with its bath temperature sea but very pleasant and way better than home considering it was the end of October. We paddled and splashed and, as usual, I went that little bit too deep and got soaked by the next wave. And true to form a Nigel caught me screaming then laughing my head off.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We walked a way, snapped copious pictures and even saw our very own Disney movie ..Piper. The little sandpiper was so brave in and out of the waves.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The desire for salt water fun satiated, we headed back inside, marvelling at not only the two outdoor pools and the hot tubs but an entire indoor complex complete with interactive water jets and a lazy river. What a perfect place for a family holiday by the ocean.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We changed ... well I did as I was very wet ... and headed off for dinner. We knew Myrtle Beach would be a good place to break our trip ever southwards as it had that very special ingredient ... a Hard Rock Cafe. We are big fans and never miss an opportunity to add to our ever growing list of cafes from places as diverse as Tel Aviv, Reykjavik, Venice and North American cafes like Washington, Salt Lake City and New Orleans. I think this was to be our 29th new cafe.

It appeared I was right to have picked the hotel I did for all sorts of reasons. It was on the quieter less tacky part of town. We headed into the main area and to a complex called The Avenue. It was clearly THE place to go in the evening with every chain you could think of, amusements, entertainment, bars and a cute waterfront. The sun was just setting and it was nice to wander, but we both agreed we were glad we were here early before the area became busy and the alcohol became more of a focus.

 

 

 

 

It was a very large cafe and was almost empty. Memorabilia was duly studied, souvenirs were bought (one of Nigel’s flat birthday presents had been a voucher for a hard rock t shirt funnily enough ... almost as if I had known) and a lovely dinner and sharing dessert was enjoyed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On the way back we did have to do a double take and a round the block circuit to see the most amazingly decorated house we’d seen for Halloween. We didn’t know even more outrageous was to come later in the trip.

 

 

 

We returned to our palatial suite and spent s9me time admiring the moonlight on the ocean from our balcony and listening to the magical sound of the ocean below. A quiet evening followed and a Nigel even caught s9me of The World Series on TV, watching his second favourite team, the Red Socks, increase their lead over the Dodgers. 

 

and no extra journalling today - someone hasn't done their homework!!!!

 

 

Lovely weekend in spite of the rain

No blog post yesterday as we were busy having fun.

It was my goddaughter's birthday in the week and so she and her husband came down to us for the weekend to celebrate. We don't get to see them as much as I would like as it is a long way from Manchester so it was wonderful to see them and, in spite of the weather beeing rubbish, we had a lovely time. We had breakfast out at their hotel which was a real treat, we drove the Jurassic coast; at least we believe it was there, you just couldn't see it much through the infernal =drizzle and mist. We had a lovely bit of retail therapy int he Christmas shop at Poundbury and much laughing, playing games and the odd drink was enjoyed. It was just so lovely to see them both. They dropped the girls off at bossy nanny's on the way so we just had a very relaxed time. 

No scrapping either as we were busy, but I am sure I can fill the gaps in visuals with yet more holiday reports.

 

Today I am thankful for

• my god-daughter. She is one of the real blessings in my life. Love her to bits

 

Tuesday 23rd October

 

 The One Where We Were Well-Educated and a Boy Celebrated His Birthday

 

We had the luxury of a lie in today ... the alarm wasn’t set until 6.30... luxury. And a good day for that lie in too – it was Nigel’s birthday.

 

Nigel was able to celebrate his first American birthday with flat presents ... it made packing so much easier to take photos of the gifts and wrap them. It was fun to be celebrating so far from home. We had a lovely breakfast ... cinnamon waffles today as I am becoming quite an expert with the waffle makers …  and then we headed off for the I mile trip to Colonial Williamsburg. The visitor centre was only just open and it was amazing ... my goodness Americans know how to do things properly and they have the space to do it too. It was a hugely impressive building and boded well for what we were going to see.  We were almost first in line for tickets ... long story ... and we got a good discount (did I mention we are savvy shoppers) and headed off into the historic town.

I am not sure how to describe it really, although it was exactly as I imagined it. Think part Beamish, part a stately home, partly a theme park, some of it genuine, some of its reconstruction. All of it very very impressive. The heritage guides, all in costume and more importantly in character, were brilliant throughout the town. They were carefully attired and so knowledgeable and we enjoyed talking to many of them.

 

We began with the Governor's palace and started the tour, but to be honest there were other things we wanted to see more. In the UK we have stately homes a plenty and so the inside left us a little cold, so we moved on. Just walking down the streets was beautiful.

 

 

 

 

The way the weapons were displayed - a status symbol and a symbol of the power of the governor - reminded us very much of Windsor Castle

 

 

 

We loved the map. Our guide explained that the lines of the states were straight at that point and ran all the way to the West Coast.

 

 

 

 

It was pleasantly warm and there was a cloudless blue sky. Just perfect. We enjoyed going into many of the houses and trade shops and although we didn’t by any means see them all, we enjoyed all of those we visited.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The shop where they were weaving and spinning was fascinating.

 

 

 

 

We loved seeing all the carriages roaming up and down the streets throughout the day. we didn't do a carriage ride as we felt they were nicer to see than to be on.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The presentation int he barber's shop was excellent and we learned a great deal about slavery and how slaves could be freed. The man presenting that was very good.

 

 

 

 

 

I loved the printers and it was amazing to see how tiny the letters were and each was set in place often taking more than 7 hours to set a newspaper page.

 

 

 

 

Everywhere was so beautiful and clean and there were some original buildings too, although many were reconstructions. I think one of the guides told us there were over 300 buildings and 88 were original.

 

It was in some ways smaller than we had expected and so we did feel we had done the right thing just having one day, although if you saw all the enactments and shows and did all the tours you would need a great deal longer. We were quite selective with what we did but felt we got a good flavour and the walking we did was more than enough at almost 7 miles.

 

There were so many guides, all in costume and all so very very knowledgeable about the whole site and about their own specialist area. It was fascinating to see them and to talk to them.

 

 

 

 

We did the tour of the Capitol building which was very good and we learnt a great deal about how the colonies separated from Britain. It was a period of history that we did not know a great deal about and so it was good to learn more. And the learning was in such a way as to be really entertaining and interesting. This was proving to be quite a historic trip with all we learned at Concord and now taking hat a step further.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I became a member of the magistrates on the bench and Nigel was a juror. We learned a great deal about the justice system and what punishments were given.

 

This was the courtroom

 

and the governor's council chamber

 

 

 

 

 

We then felt we earned a break for lunch before the afternoon activities which were largely entertainments. The restaurant we selected was full and they could not guarantee we could be served before our 1.50 show and so we opted for what we felt was second best and the bakery. However, it turned out to be one of our favourite meals. Nigel went off to buy goodies whilst I sat as I was struggling with my knee. Several failed what’s app calls meant he just surprised me ... and it was fabulous. He had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich ... how had we, who love America so much, never had this unique delicacy? I had a lovely selection of fresh fruit ... grapes, melon, pineapple and strawberry yoghurt. Add two gingerbread cookies, a bottle of water and a bottle of ginger beer (it was like being straight out of the Famous Five)  and we were set. We sat on a bench in the sunshine, eating and taking in the whole atmosphere of Williamsburg, and thoroughly enjoyed it. It seemed to be a very quiet day – there were not crowds of people and I am sure we were able to do more because it was so quiet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We then headed back to the Capitol to see Resolve. We were not sure what we were going to see, but it proved to be amazing. It told the story of the first to the fifth Virginia conventions. The actors were superb and we really felt that we learnt a great deal. It was at the same time very funny, very interactive and very moving, so much so that it brought tears to our eyes. It went through how the first Virginia convention was in response to and support of the Bostonians over the tea and the governor was so cross he sent the Burgesses away, dissolving their court.  The Burgesses were undaunted and met anyway in the tavern. At one point we were in the general court and 6 people were chosen to read out acts of parliament issued by the British Government to raise money after the French Indian wars which made life very hard for the people in the colonies in order to generate money for the British. We were told if we wanted to we could fake an English accent when we read our law out. Three people read theirs out before my turn. I just read it normally but earned a round of applause for my British accent. I don’t think they realized we were Brits … possibly just as well given the circumstances! By the fifth convention, they wrote their constitution which then went to Philadelphia and helped form the basis of the US constitution. It made the point that everyone had the chance to vote to providing they were white, male, over 21, free, Protestant landowners with no mortgage. The part in the council chamber where only 6 sat at the table and everyone else was disenfranchised was made very poignant by the lady playing a black slave. We had all been given cards as we entered stating who we were and what we were. I was a black slave, Nigel was a poor white woman. We all lined up around the council chamber and then the Governor said that six people had cards telling them they were eligible for a place at the table. 6 could sit and vote and the remaining 100 of us were not allowed a say. The black slave came in and said ‘I was not in this room and neither were any of you.’ We were all disenfranchised for one reason or another.  They wrote the words into the Virginia constitution .... ‘That all men are by nature equally free and independent and have certain inherent rights, of which, when they enter into a state of society, they cannot, by any compact, deprive or divest their posterity; namely, the enjoyment of life and liberty, with the means of acquiring and possessing property, and pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety.’ Those words ‘enter into the state of society’ was key ... not all were considered to have entered into society. Therefore the constitution and its rights did not apply to them. It was very powerfully shown.  It was a terrific way to be entertained, moved and educated.

 

We couldn't take photos during the presentation but there were plenty of other things to see and enjoy including the general store.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We then took the bus back to the Theatre near the governor's house to hear the Thomas Jefferson presentation. It was very busy, but we were really lucky to get a front row seat which meant Jefferson, and we were in no doubt it really was Jefferson himself, shook Nigel’s hand and kissed mine. He was amazing, speaking for three-quarters of an hour in character totally and even answering questions. He had now cue cards, no prompts, so we assumed he really was Jefferson. How he remembered it all, delivered it ins character we have no idea. It was again enlightening, educational and entertaining.

 

We walked back to the centre, watched the guns being fired

 

 

 

and the fife and muskets before catching the bus back to the visitor centre.It had been a good day and whilst there was more we could have done, we felt we had done the bits we wanted and had thoroughly enjoyed it.  

 

 

 

 

 

And on an aside - they have lots of evening activities which are an extra charge and one of them is a haunted Williamsburg and there was evidence around of this Halloween activity. Too bizarre not to share.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I drove, with fear, to TGI Friday for Nigel’s birthday meal. I think there was every type of restaurant in the area but this was what he had chosen for his birthday meal. We used to eat at TGI all the time but haven’t eaten there for some two or more years.

The meal was l was lovely, but small and expensive by our standards and served by Mr zero Personality. We did enjoy a cocktail each though. Nigel always always has pina colada ... terribly sweet ... and I had a whisky based one served in a tin cup again. It really is unusual for us as we rarely drink these days. I guess that is why it is such a treat. We returned to the hotel, shattered and yet again had an early night.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tuesday 23rd October

 

Today is my Birthday. It’s the first time I have celebrated on a road trip so it will be a novelty. Karen has had several birthdays within our vacations as hers falls in July the month we would nearly always choose when she was working as it fell at the start of School holidays.

This morning begins with ‘flat’ presents! Karen has carefully selected a few birthday gifts that will travel well. They include a couple of books that will be entertaining while at Disneyworld but, more importantly, she has taken photos of the larger, less practical, ones and printed them off so they can be presented in envelopes to be ‘unwrapped’.

There are, among these, vouchers (that she made herself) to be redeemed for dinner tonight and for a souvenir T-shirt from the hard Rock Café at Myrtle Beach tomorrow night.

We like ‘flat’ presents!

Our breakfast this morning is the usual buffet style, help yourself affair that we are quite used to. With so many different hotels it soon becomes a little challenge to find all the right ingredients with which to build your own personal feast.

I have grown to like the cereal, regularly found at most places. As usual, one needs to look in each container to see which ones contain treasure and which ones contain something rather horrid, such as grits in Florida.

The beauty of America is that almost all the time there is treasure! Today’s offering provides a new treat. A large cooking pot with a flame beneath is holding the most gorgeous, warm, apple cinnamon sauce. I apply a liberal helping to my cereal filled bowl and enjoy it as a starter before the heavy duty, scrambled egg, sausage and crisp bacon.

We have a little more time this morning although we know that, with so much to see at the Colonial Williamsburg site, we need to make the best use of time and arrive good and early as the parking lot is apparently far enough from the attractions that a courtesy bus ride is needed to get to them. 

We are indeed one of the first to arrive with around a half hour to wait before opening so we wait in the car. Once others start arriving we make our way to the ticket centre  which is actually very close by.

This is where the experience could become quite overwhelming. There is an almost sensory overload as you descend a few steps into the magnificent reception area. It is enough to almost take your breath away. Filled with murals and posters, it affirms the fact that this is a place of great significance and demands respect. It also reinforces the impression that we had already formed, that we could not possibly see all of it in a single day.

Then there is the model. Encased in a massive glass display, the is the miniature representation of the settlement and all the attractions. I am studying the lie of the land and I can see that there is masses of open space within the complex and the walk to each building will be quite an undertaking. It is simply HUGE!

As before, in Jamestown there are all manner of ticket options and combinations  to choose from. There are multiple ticket desks (as yet unmanned) and a line is beginning to form in order to just enter the rear of the hall where the business is done. We are second in line and we gaze at the magnificence of the colonial architecture, the mouldings, the cornices, pillars and beams. It shows in the woodwork and polished surfaces and of course the furnishing, all in a grand scale that we would never see in the UK. This is America at its showpiece best!

The place is almost designed to make visitors seem small. It’s as though we have entered the set of the borrowers! In fact, it’s easy to see where Disney gets a lot of its inspiration from, maybe there is a visual cue that tells our brains that we are in a ‘theme park’ as that would be a place where this might seem so familiar to us!

Although second in line, we are actually the first to complete a ticket purchase, which includes one of the interpretive live presentations that comes highly recommended, and we are quickly on our way to be first on the courtesy bus.

We are advised to go to the first bus stop and then make our way from there. We heed this and alight at the Governor’s Palace, along with the majority of riders. The bus continues a circular loop of the grounds and we know that we can hop on at any point around the complex.

We are welcomed into the Governor’s Palace and are immediately transported back in time and take a seat in the schoolroom. There are fascinating details including a states map that shows the existing colonies stretching all the way to the west with no end! There follows a short presentation and we are invited into the next room.  We realise, at this point, we have unwittingly joined a guided tour of the building and it’s apparently a fifty minute tutorial!

Knowing how much we have to cover today, we politely ask to exit the tour early and head back outside. We had seen a good deal of the inside by this point.

We take a stroll to admire the Palace Green and surroundings and at the intersection with the main thoroughfare we can now appreciate the actual size of the place.

It’s not too bad in reality and although spread out it’s a comfortable walk to reach the far end.

We quickly formulate a plan to see as much as possible and not to miss our allotted ‘show time’ of 13.50pm.

There is much to see and photograph. We visit the church, see a short ‘welcome’ presentation, and take in various houses including the weaver & spinner, print shop, bookbinder, general store, the Geddy house and stay for an excellent interpretive talk with the barber in his shop. We learn from guides that there are over 80 original buildings on this site amongst some 300 in total.

By lunch time we have walked the length of the main road (Duke of Gloucester Street) and arrived at the Capitol. There is time to take the guided tour here and it proves to be an excellent choice showing us the council chambers and the courtroom. There is even a mock trial in which Karen becomes a magistrate for the duration whilst I sit on the jury.

Exiting the Capitol we have about forty minutes before our ticketed show ‘Resolve’ which will be in the same building.

We’ve organized ourselves perfectly and are near to the tavern for lunch but, unfortunately, there is no room at this time, We double back a few yards to the bakery and armed with some goodies we have an impromptu picnic on one of the benches by the side of the road.

I try my first ‘peanut butter and jelly’ sandwich whilst Karen enjoys the much healthier option of fruit and yoghurt. We share water and a ginger ale to wash it down and I have to say the pbj goes down extremely well!

It’s time to return for the show. This turns out to be another trip highlight let alone a feature of the day. The participants are lively and portray a vivid impression of the timeline of Williamsburg and the Virginia convention. It’s an interactive affair and Karen and I get to exercise our very English accents, much to the approval of the cast, as we also have a few lines to say.

The most poignant part of the presentation comes in the council conference room. Here the 100 or so audience members congregate around a table of eight place settings. Each of us is given a card depicting a real person of the time and six are designated as council members. These six may take their place at the table for the debate. There follows a lively mock debate involving two cast members and demonstrating how the Virginia Constitution might have been drawn up. A short time into the debate a black woman is ushered into the room it becomes obvious that she represents the disenfranchised. Skillfully, the play illustrates the fact that whilst there are eight people around the table included in the decision making the remaining ninety or more would not have been heard. They simply were not there. The council members, or Burgesses, as they were called, had to be landowners without mortgage, white, protestant and male. No-one else had a vote. It was a moving realization of the vast divide and I don’t mind admitting that in its delivery, it easily brought a tear to my eye.

This educational presentation, galvanized much of what we had seen earlier into a rounded learning experience for us both. We had discovered much here and it has been thoroughly worthwhile, an experience I would wholeheartedly recommend.

The afternoon is still young however and we make tracks for another presentation, It will take us back to the Governor’s house at the other end of the grounds.

In a small amphitheater we gather to hear an address by Thomas Jefferson, obviously represented by an actor. What a performance. Taking on the look and sound of his subject he holds our attention with a forty minute address and even takes questions while remaining convincingly in character for the entire time. We readily agree that it is like being in the presence of Jefferson himself and we are in awe of the skill it requires to pull it off.

The afternoon ends with a short demonstration of arms and canon fire followed by a parade of the fife and drum corps who march in formation along the main road and onto the courthouse fields.

We snap some final photographs but figure we should aim to beat the crowd if we are to get a seat on the shuttle bus so we make for the bus stop rather than linger.

We are soon back in the van, it is after 6pm and time for my Birthday dinner.

I have chosen TGI Friday tonight as we rarely go there these days so makes for a nice treat. Karen will drive there, this evening,  in order to claim ‘points’ for driving in Virginia AND to the TGI and, as we depart Colonial Williamsburg, we can’t help but be struck  that the whole feel of the place, both outside and in, as well as even the roads around it are so reminiscent of the environment of Walt Disney World in a rather well sculpted and private nature.

On reflection of the day, it seems highly appropriate that we should spend the day of my birth learning about the birth of a Nation.Events in this very place undoubtedly shaped the writing of the US Constitution which followed heavily in the footsteps of the Virginia Convention.

Happy Birthday.

 

It's the weekend and it's lovely

One of the nice things about doing a  little bit of work (OK a lot of work but only for 4 weeks at a time) is you learn to appreciate the weekend again. I don't work on a Friday and neither does Nigel so our weekend starts on a Thursday night. Chores are done, groceries are done, and we have visitors this weekend too so it will be lovely.

 

I crammed in a bit of scrapping today between the chores and spent an age making a number plate for the title and the leaves in clusters, all cut and inked and scored and bent. I have just washed all the ink off m hands. I looked like I had a 40 a day habit as my fingers were all stained!

 

 

 

 

This film also popped up in my facebook page today and I thought it was a very powerful message and so thought I would share it here.It was made by Steve Cutts

 

 

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• being out of the rat race for starters
• weekends
• my silhouette- love using it and making things 
• the satisfaction of chores all done

 

Monday 22nd October

 

The One Where We Went Back to the Start

 

 

Today was yet another early start as we knew we wanted to cram a great deal in … when do we ever not? We had a swift breakfast, perhaps not as good as some we have been blessed with this trip, and we headed out. And yet again it was still dark. We are certainly making the most of sunrise even if we are not always seeing the sunset. But heck – it’s the East Coast so sunrise is always going to be better I guess. We drove fairly steadily southwards – the direction we will be taking for the rest of the trip after our brief foray into Pennsylvania. We were heading for the coast, and on the coast, we would stay until we veered inland in Florida with our goal being Disney.

The traffic was again light and with only one stop for a Starbucks, we made good progress.  The trip to Starbucks was another very odd detour which seemed to take us all round the Wrekin, but missed a lot of heavy traffic getting back on the interstate. We were so early the Starbucks it took us to was in a Borders and they didn’t open until ten o’clock. Thankfully there was a Target in the same mall and they had a Starbucks too. I love America!

The tricky bit of today was navigating around the nation’s capital, Washington DC. It was the first real traffic we encountered and even that was not at a standstill, just slow moving and lots of reasonably hectic intersections. Eyes on stalks, we negotiated round safely ... although I was heard at one point when watching for a tricky intersection, checking the sat nav that seemed to have odd ideas and watching heavily merging traffic to have said 'oh dear, it's all kicking off now!' with a slight edge of panic in my voice, but we negotiated that junction too and  the capital was soon behind us and quieter roads ahead.

We arrived in the Williamsburg area just after lunchtime, earlier than we had hoped for. There was so much to do in the area that we had had to be very selective. People often spend a whole week at just Williamsburg and we wanted to include Jamestown as well and had just the day and a half. Typical Leahy trip then. As it happened our timing was just perfect for us.

The Williamsburg area was very bizarre. The roads were ‘odd’. They were not like regular highways, had little or no road marking and it was a bit like being in a theme park. It’s hard to describe properly, but it was just different and a little odd. We followed the signs to Jamestown Settlement, a place we had looked forward to visiting. It sounded, on paper, like Plymouth Plantation we loved in Massachusetts. And indeed it was, if a great deal smaller.

Jamestown was the earliest permanent settlement by the British on the East Coast.  Near the site of the original colony, Jamestown Settlement tells the story of 17th-century Virginia; from the arrival of English colonists in Jamestown in 1607 to the cultural encounters and events that planted the seeds of a new nation. It was very impressive to pull up to. Nigel and I both said you just don’t see places like this in the UK. We have so much less space and in America, museums are built on a grand scale and this was no exception. We paid our money and went off to explore.

The first part of the visit was the Powhatan Village. It was a re-created village featuring reed-covered houses, crops and a ceremonial circle of carved wooden posts. And of course, this was the world of Pocahontas, daughter of Powhatan, the powerful leader of 30-some Algonquian-speaking tribes in coastal Virginia. The re-created Powhatan Indian village is based on archaeological findings at a site once inhabited by Paspahegh Indians, the Powhatan tribal group closest to Jamestown, and descriptions recorded by English colonists. Historical interpreters discussed and demonstrated how the Powhatan culture grew and prepared food, processed animal hides, made tools and pottery, and wove natural fibres into cordage.

The guides were very knowledgeable throughout the settlement and enabled us to learn more than we would have done just wandering around.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From the village, we wandered down to the ships. Re-creations of three ships that brought America’s first permanent English colonists to Virginia in 1607 are moored at Jamestown Settlement’s pier and you are able to go on board and explore. We were shocked at how small the ships were considering they were at sea for some four and a half months. Space was at a premium and the settlers were not allowed on deck very often during the voyage. The Susan Constant was the largest of the three and we spent quite a bit of time on board this ship, speaking with the guides and learning about what life would have been like and what they would have been expecting on the voyage. Again the guides were all in authentic costume which added to the whole experience.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The final part of the visit outside was to the fort. Inside the triangular wooden palisade of the re-created 1610-14 fort are wattle-and-daub structures topped with thatch roofs depicting dwellings, as well as an Anglican church, a guard house, a storehouse, a cape merchant’s office and the Governor’s House. We were staggered and had to ask several times if the buildings would really have been like this. We had been to Plymouth where the Pilgrim Fathers’ settled and their dwellings were very basic and almost dug into the ground. These buildings were far more elaborate. Sturdy structures with beams and brickwork too and the church was amazing. It was explained that these were not poor pilgrims. These settlers had the backing of wealthy merchants and people were selected on the basis of the skills they could bring to be able to build these dwellings and the fort and to be able to create a proper settlement that others would come and join.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We ended with the museum which was, quite frankly, amazing. It was huge and perhaps it would have been better if we had seen the museum first as we would have started at the beginning of history instead of entering the museum from the wrong end and being like two unravelling time travellers and spinning backwards through time. However, even going the wrong way through history it was fascinating. The way the displays were done, with so many interactive elements, huge exhibits and copious easy to digest information, was truly amazing and made for a very enjoyable educational visit.

 

We had almost not visited Jamestown, thinking we had better focus all of our energies on Williamsburg, but I am so glad we did as it was both enjoyable and educational and it was also so right to see it BEFORE Williamsburg to set things in context.

 

By now we were starving – absolutely starving as we had not eaten all day – and so we headed for dinner at Ruby Tuesday. Ruby Tuesday is one of our favourite chains in America. It is known for its amazing Garden Bar and we love it. It’s not the cheapest of places but –  well we are savvy shoppers and we were Ruby Tuesday members so of course, we had VOUCHERS! It meant my meal was free so not only a delicious dinner but a cheap one too. Oh, and it was meant to be served lying down like that!

 

Finally, we went in search of our home for the next two night – it was a Comfort Suites –a chain we had not used before and it was one of the nicest hotels we stayed in. It looked like it was brand new. The décor in the room was lovely, it had a separate lounge area and was clean and comfortable. All in all, what a great day for going back to the beginning of the British time in America.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monday 22nd October

 

It’s an early start again this morning and we need to get the car loaded and ready for departure which will be immediately after our 6.00 am breakfast. The end of breakfast is usually determined as being when Nigel reaches the last half of his cup of tea.

It’s the perfect time to pronounce breakfast is over and we need to get moving. After all, I wouldn’t want to turn into a snail again!

Our journey continues South and will take us around Washington and Baltimore today and should put us in Jamestown with the remainder of an afternoon to explore.

It’s a comparatively long drive mostly on the interstate but it does appear to switch between major routes rather more than I had anticipated.

To pass the time, and to stay alert, we engage in our favourite pastime during road trips or any occasion where waiting is necessary, we play guessing games or naming games.

We start with a category and try to name as many things taking it in turns until we are both out of ideas. This usually occurs around four or five answers after Nigel is out of ideas. Karen almost always wins.

Today is no different as we begin with films set in or around the first world war. The list in our heads is not very long so we soon concede into extending the classification to the second world war and then, I think, to almost any feature set before 1950!

When we are done with that, next comes songs. We have to name any song titles containing names of cities. Our final classification before we have had enough of thinking, is Sci-Fi films.

Karen is an easy winner in all classifications though I try to disguise my failings by affirming that I am too busy concentrating on the road to make a fist of it!

Both driver and van require refreshment so, after a stop to get Starbucks and Gas we press on without the guessing game for now.

For the first time on the open road, we encounter quite significant traffic. The negotiation around Washington moves slowly forward without coming to a standstill but it pushes our arrival time back according to the GPS.

We actually reach Jamestown just after mid-day and pull up in the parking lot at 12.30pm.

The buildings and museum are impressive and much larger than we might have imagined.

It’s a simple process to buy a day ticket although we notice a number of options to purchase multi day passes that include nearby Colonial Williamsburg. Although planning to go there tomorrow we are not seduced by the seven days all-inclusive super-duper multi saver ticket. No, just a one day pass for us. Oh and let’s not forget Karen is a teacher and qualifies for a discount so, I suppose, we could say we are on a saver after all!

We are not quite sure what to expect, we know that the site comprises of an historic village (Jamestown settlement) but we also believe we are going to see at least one reconstructed boat and as it happens a representation of an Indian settlement such as would have been there before the pilgrims.

It’s a reasonable walk to get to the Indian village but the site is not that huge and we investigate the interiors of the dwellings and engage with a couple of the guides in character

Then its onwards to the boat dock another short walk along the path.

Turns out there are three replica boats here, Godspeed, Discovery and the Susan Constant.

The overriding impression, to begin with, is how small they are and how many people would have been aboard.

The crew it seems were allowed on deck where there was at least some space to move around. The other passengers would be confined below amongst stores, equipment and even weapons! It is thought, and hoped, that the crew would give permission for the passengers to go on deck on occasions but mostly they would be crammed in makeshift quarters during the weeks of the crossing.

The boats are accessible for photos and we spend a good deal of time exploring each one in turn and snapping away.

To complete our experience we walk the remaining half of the circular tour back towards the museum via the settlement village itself.

Here we are surprised to find the buildings looking a far cry from the wood and straw constructions of Plymouth Plantation in Massachusetts. Indeed these were much more in keeping with the colonial houses of a much later period, or, at least to our eyes.

On enquiring, we were soon corrected. It seems that the English arrived with all the tools and knowledge of shipbuilding and construction and were fully prepared for the task in front of them.

The result is a collection of sturdy buildings giving a vivid impression of life in the period.

Several interpretive guides are engaged in various activities including the ironmonger and the leatherworker and there was a regular demonstration of armoury that sent the sound explosions and gunfire around the site for all to hear.

As we exit the settlement we are directed through the museum. We have, however, entered at the end rather than the beginning of the timeline. It is an amazing display full of information and different aspects of life from several different perspectives. Despite wandering, rather aimlessly in the wrong direction, we are still able to savour the information and though saturated with facts and images it had to be seen.

I'm quite sure we could have spent the whole day on site between all the exhibits both outside and in, but, in true Leahy style we give it all the ‘cook’s tour’. Three hours is plenty for us to soak up the history!

What’s needed now is a bit of retail therapy so we set the controls for Walmart and a simple browse around our second favourite theme park in America!

We grab a few bargains but Karen is thwarted in her attempts to buy any clothing as for some reason known only to themselves, this store has no mirrors what so ever at the changing rooms.

Its only a short hop to our chosen spot for dinner tonight. Another favourite of ours, ‘Ruby Tuesday’. We have been saving vouchers on email at home with great anticipation of using them. Unfortunately the redemption process It makes the ordering process slightly more complex as we have to decide on which combination will be the most advantageous and if the restaurant will deem it to be within their ‘rules’. Our helpful server assists and we are soon on our way to a couple of chicken sandwich meals with the obligatory garden bar with a free beverage for Karen and a soda for Nigel. This is further followed up by a shared dessert comfortably big enough for two. When the check is delivered we have enjoyed all this for a mere $29 rather than the full price of over $40.

Having had our fill, including refill drinks and all you can eat salad, it’s time to find our bed for the night.

Our hotel is located behind another and we are dubious at first with Karen warning that she is not sure about this one, it might be a bad choice.

Her fears are unfounded as we can see straight away that it looks brand new. Everything is spotless and gleaming. There is a freshness about the place which looks to be quite empty and just one very relaxed receptionist on duty.

He informs us that he is pleased as he is only expecting “two more check-ins” after us so is anticipating a quiet shift.

This will be our base for two nights and we are delighted with it after all.

You would never have guessed but, when we come to check out two days later, we will be informed that it is, actually, five years old!

 

 

A busy old day

Today has been busy busy busy.

Partly work but also scrapping commitments and picture editing. I HAVE to get on with editing these pictures, reducing the numbers and resizing for my blog. It is taking an age but will be so good when it is done. 

 

I have some new scrapping to share today - a page made as part f my DT work for A Trip Down Memory Lane

I received a gorgeous DT parcel with Halloween papers and Disney papers and travel papers and have been loving creating with them. They are all Simple Stories papers and if you check out the store HERE you can see their full range of papers in stock and there are pages of them. I love them.

 

This was made using Simple Stories Say Cheese II - a fab set and made for your Disney pages. For years at school I used my full set of Disney Winnie the Pooh soft toys - yes I have them all, Pooh, Pigley, Kanga, Roo, Tigger, Owl, Rabbit and Eeyore - as a focus for assemblies as there are so many good teaching points in the stories and their friendship. Winnie the Pooh has been a huge favourite of mine and so I was thrilled to be able to meet him in person (OK stick with me here) at both The Crystal Palace and again at 1910 Park Fair. Nothing beats a Pooh cuddle I can tell you.

 

 

Today I am thankful

• that I have completed Day 8 of photos (we were away for 24 days ... gulp)
• that my expertise was recognised at work and I was invited to take on additional responsibilities ... maybe not quite on the scrap heap yet
• that antibiotics seem to be working and I feel so much better

 

Sunday 21st October

The One Where we Saw the Buggies

 

We were up at the crack of dawn ... no wait, that’s a lie again, dawn hadn’t even cracked. We walked through empty streets ... New Jersey on a Sunday at 6.00 am ... to the city diner. It wasn’t quite as photogenic as the roundabout dinner but it was lovely and Michael Bouble serenaded us through breakfast. The food was huge and very well presented and prepared.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We were back at the hotel, loaded on our borrowed trolley and downstairs and I waited with the luggage whilst Nigel went to get the car. We then took a short detour ... which was very very bizarre ... through docks at Bayonne to see the teardrop memorial, a gift from the Russians to mark an end to terrorism. It was a beautiful memorial, and one we had never heard of, but we had never been anywhere which was so windy and by windy I mean you almost could not stand up. I have never seen a water fountain blowing horizontally before. But it was almost worth it for the view. Plus there were great views of the Statue of Liberty

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was so sad as it was the first day my hair had looked ok (American soft water doesn’t suit it) and I looked, quite literally, like I had been dragged through a hedge backwards and forwards again. It didn’t bring out the best in me. It resulted in me telling Nigel he didn’t understand because I was a GIRL and he wasn’t.

We travelled through New Jersey and into Pennsylvania, stopping for gas and a Starbucks before pressing on, via a very very odd route which Flossie deemed to be the fastest and to Centralia. We had read about Centralia some 20 years ago, in a Bill Bryson book; the town that was built on an anthracite mine, as so many in the area were, where the mine caught fire in the 1960s and it is still burning today. Since reading about it we always wanted to go and today was the day. I am not sure quite what we expected ... certainly not for it to take as long as it did and that didn’t bring out the best in me as I was worried we wouldn’t have so much time in Amish country. The fire wasn’t only burning underground in Centralia. The temperature in the tour bus was pretty high too, words were said, tempers frayed but, in true Leahy style, our disagreements are feisty but short lived. We did see a bit of graffiti highway, but nothing else and so it turned out we had taken a three hour round trip detour for no real reason. We live and learn and we moved on, physically and mentally.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It turned out we were right to leave early ... we did have just the right amount of time in Amish country. We saw our first buggy before we entered Lancaster county ...I so wanted to see a buggy ... and we were amazed at the small towns and the open countryside. It seemed like a very very affluent neighbourhood. We were quite surprised and both of us had a preconceived idea that the Amish farmers would be poor. We were very wrong. Simple and poor don’t always equate. Of course, not everyone in Lancaster County by any means is Amish or Mennonite.

 

 

 

 

 As we drove on a fairly extensive loop we had pre-planned we enjoyed the beautiful countryside. Lovely farmhouses peppered the landscape, as did covered bridges and, I am pleased to say, buggies. We even saw a buggy hire/sale venue where they had dozens of them, I had worried that as it was Sunday everyone would be at church or quietly at home. In fact, it was possibly the opposite. Sunday was a chance to socialise with the other members of their community and we subsequently learnt they do not have churches but meet in each other’s houses on a rota basis. When you host church the bench wagon arrives a few days earlier as there are likely to be 60 plus people coming to your home and you need seats to seat them and tables for the meal you will provide afterwards. We saw how the benches and tables combined for ease and people would eat in shifts. I love the idea of going round to a different house each week for real community worship in the truest meaning of ‘church’ and I know you would only host every couple of months but the thought of feeding 60 people would terrify me. Possibly because I can’t cook I guess.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We enjoyed our preplanned driving tour but decided we would investigate one of the Amish tours. I had disregarded these out of hand initially as I said they would be very touristy and tacky and not at all authentic, but we realised there was no other way to learn anything and we did genuinely want to learn. So we ended up at The Amish Village and booked a tour of the house and the schoolroom. We spent a very pleasant three-quarters of an hour in the gift shop ... well, it was warm and they had free WiFi ...whilst we waited for the tour. We didn’t have high hopes as it seemed a little like Papa Lazaru’s Amish school and farmhouse .. Apologies for those of you who are not League of Gentlemen fans ... but in actual fact, it was very very good. The same girl who had sold us our tickets conducted the tour, but she was very knowledgeable, answered questions fully and it was both enjoyable and informative. The first part was in the school room which was interesting and we learned that school finishes as a very young age for the Amish and that they are all taught in one room school-houses by unqualified teachers ... usually, young women before they get married. I was fascinated at this very different take on education, but could see that they focus on the education needed for the lifestyle they live and that education happens out of the schoolroom just as much as within it.

We then went into the house and learned a great deal about how they dressed, what they would have in their home and interesting facts like they would have a telephone if it were needed for business etc but it was not in the house, but in a separate little outhouse so that it did not become a distraction.

We were fascinated with the concept of rumspringa. Which literally means running about. Amish teenagers have a bit more freedom when they are deemed to have reached maturity but have not yet chosen to be baptised, these youngsters are usually between 15 and 19 and they are allowed to experience different things to know the world a little. Clothing restrictions are less severe, they are all allowed to read other books, go out etc. It sounded very vague and I did wonder if it made it even harder for these youngsters to sample a less severe or strict type, of lifestyle and then have to give those freedoms back up again. However, I am guessing that their faith, their reliance on community and family is such that they find it easier than I might imagine to give these material things up.

Filled with Amish knowledge we then headed for something to eat. Not a huge range to chose from so we opted for IHOP. The menu was appealing for us in that it was similar to Denny’s but I have no idea why but we both felt a bit grim. The first booth we sat at was vibrating ... very odd. We both felt it and neither of us said anything for a while and then Nigel said, ‘does it feel like the floor is vibrating’ and I said yes, relieved I wasn’t going mad. We asked to move and the reaction of the waitress was that we were both mad ... clearly. We were also both freezing. I have no idea why ... it wasn’t that cold and we hadn’t been outside for ages or anything but it ended up being a quick meal and then such a quick check in to the hotel and an early night because we were cold and tired that neither of us can remember what the hotel was like at all.

 

Nigel's journal

 

Sunday 21st October

 

For breakfast this morning we have been looking forward to the City Diner that Karen had found in her research for suitable food in the area. We checked it was open early and the menu was suitable and both boxes had gotten ticks.

Turns out that one of us was actually not convinced when the time came to leave the hotel and was considering options of places we might be more familiar with!

She was just not sure

With encouragement we DID take the short walk just two and a bit blocks and it proved to be well worth it.

A Sunday morning in New York was something we enjoyed many years ago and have oft pondered that these quiet morning strolls amongst awakening cities have occurred often on our travels and have punctuated several previous trips.

Today’s was just as pleasant as the city was still partially slumbering. It was dark and a little cold but the streets were somehow inviting, with the lights from the adjacent buildings shining down and the sun beginning to make its first appearance.

At first sight the diner looked as though it might be closed as the window lights were around the corner from our approach. I held my breath long enough to be rewarded with the welcome glow of warmth and activity within as we reached the door.

Indeed, it was a most warming sight and the food smelled good as we entered.

A friendly welcome and just a sprinkling of other customers, making a similarly early 6.00am start, soon made us feel relaxed and we admired the décor which had been one of the attractions in the first place. It was rather typical but not so dated as the Roundabout Diner, on our first day, but it was lovely to experience the authenticity of the place and to blend in, once more, with the ‘locals’.

After a hearty meal, we made our way back to the hotel as the sunrise was taking effect, of course, pausing for photos along the way. After all, we had to record the diner itself and there was the inevitable stop at the waterfront for yet more of the Manhattan skyline. Sunrise was not as dramatic as the sunset last night but we captured it anyway.

Retrieving the car was simple and I very much approved of the spacious and secure parking garage, just another short walk away. I am even more pleased when I reach the very helpful attendant and the advertised fee of $25 dollars, for the overnight stay, is all that she requires. Somehow I felt there might just be a catch!

Our luggage was already safely stowed on the ‘borrowed’ trolley so we were swift in getting loaded up and away from the front entrance of the Hyatt.

Our first stop today will be at a little known monument just south of our location and deep in the cruise terminal serving Jersey City at Bayonne.

The memorial, ‘To the struggle against World terrorism’ perhaps casually known as the ‘Teardrop Memorial’ had been another find during our research. A Bold 40ft chrome teardrop is captured ‘weeping’ amidst a gash in the brick wall which stands 100ft high like an imposing monolith. It is in a small garden of remembrance and despite its imposing and thought provoking appearance has not received critical acclaim. In fact only a petition of local residents has kept it in place when the terminal was being developed into a container port.

We had practiced our route to get there and with our guidance working overtime due to a new road layout we soon were in the right area.

There was an air of foreboding as we entered the terminal. Everything seemed to suggest that this was a restricted area and we were expecting to be turned away at any moment!

Undeterred, we pressed on and thanks to the practice session on street view we negotiated the twists and turns and, without so much as one single official to prevent us, we pulled up in the empty parking lot.

This morning is windy and as Karen opens her passenger door a powerful gust flings it wide and we were glad there was no vehicles close by that it might have hit!

I don’t appreciate the coldness and windiness so endure the next ten minutes or so in just a T-Shirt while we frantically snap away from all angles. Karen is windblown to the extreme and having spent time getting herself ready is distraught that she feels wrecked within a mile or two of leaving for the rest of day.

There is an iciness in our van despite the warming effects of the heater as we depart the terminal preparing for our next stop.

We learned from Bill Bryson that there is a town in Pennsylvania called Centralia that has become a ghost town and is largely abandoned due to an underground strip mine that caught fire.

The blaze began in 1962 and, incredibly is STILL burning. It ignited our interest as a place to see and, with our route taking us within a half hour of the place, it seemed like a no brainer.

Our plan is to drive via Centralia into Amish country deeper in the state and to get a feel for both places, time permitting.

The journey to Centralia seems to be taking longer than anticipated, following the guidance is convoluted and involves some minor roads. It is already approaching mid-morning and we have a distance to go!

Of course, being largely deserted, there are no signs to the area and we are simply following Wikipedia descriptions of what to look for. As always we have done the dummy run on street view but it’s all rather vague.

Eventually we know we are close-by and some recognizable features come in to view. We are looking, primarily, for the closed section of highway now known as graffiti highway. I spot the location and it confirms itself with the number of parked cars and one or two people climbing over the embankment!

We join them and pick our way through the bushes and lo and behold there it is. Just as we had seen in the pictures, it’s a highly painted road, now buckled and broken due to subsidence.

In reality, there is not much to see but we photograph the moment and content ourselves that we have made it this far to see Centralia!

Time is short now and we decide together, although probably not at the same time, to abandon hopes of seeing much more here and head off to find the Amish.

Navigation takes over and we are soon in the heart of a farming community and it becomes obvious pretty quickly that these people are not quite the poor puritans that we had expected.

We spy several Amish buggies trotting their way along the highway at regular intervals but the most impressive part is the homes!

We have planned an elaborate loop to catch site of the area and take in several covered bridges. This proves mostly useless as road signs and route numbers are at a premium so we do our best to follow our noses. We actually make a good job of it seeing all we had hoped for and getting the feel for the place.

By now, it is well into the afternoon so fearing we will run out of time we head to the Amish Experience at Bird in Hand.

This turns out to be a rewarding experience despite first impression that it might be pretty tacky.

The young girl in the gift shop takes our booking for a tour of the schoolhouse which is due to start in around 20 mins. It’s a 40min commitment but we figure we should do it.

It transpires the same girl is our guide and she meets us at the front door. To our surprise, there are another half dozen people joining us to complete a pleasant group.

The girl is very knowledgeable and presents the story of the school and the Amish way of life extremely well. We feel we have learnt and understand it a lot better. We also know how to tell an Amish house from the rest, not just by the lack of electricity wires, but, by the little outhouse in the garden that must be used for any telephone calls!

Some of these homes with outhouses are such splendid mansions that it shows the money saved on technology is obviously well used for construction.

We leave the museum satisfied and feel that we have really seen what we came to see. Now its time for food so we make a beeline for the IHop we had already selected as our option as it is nearby and OPEN on a Sunday!

A strange experience awaits us on arrival. We both admit to feeling frozen and snuggle up in our fleece jackets. Independently we both reveal that it feels like the restaurant is vibrating, so much so we actually ask to move to a different table. It doesn’t solve the problem though and it merely convinces us that it is US that is vibrating not the surroundings!

The food is good and we feel warmer when we leave. The heater is on full blast in the van as we head for our hotel and by the time we arrive and check in to our room we feel thawed out but, to maintain our comfort, we have to turn up the heating in the room. Now there’s a first, I can’t recall ever before having to turn the dial to ‘heat’ in an American hotel!

Thank god for electricity and technology eh?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amazing designers

We are blessed at Pickleberrypop to have truly amazing designers. OK so I may be a little biased but I challenge you to go and look and NOT find stuff you love.

 

Today is Pickle Barrel Day and again there have been amazing things to work with.

First up is wonderful winter by Lorie M

 

 

This is the only page not of the holiday - sadly there wasn't this much snow in Vermont! 

 

 

Fayette's This Is Home collection was so good I ended up making two very different pages

 

 

 

Loved the holiday but, as always, it was good to come home and also to put up my new fall decorations. It's amazing what a girl can do when Hobby Lobby have 70% off fall decor!

 

 

and this was one of the many neautiful roads we travelled

 

 

Finally  I worked with the gorgeous Winterfall by Heather T 

 

 

 

photos taken at Ogunquit

 

as usual all of the Pickle Barrel packs are on sale so there are great bargains. No need to wait for Black Friday grrrrr. I am so cross about Black Friday here int he UK. We don't celebrate thanksgiving but we are ready to jump on the bandwagon of the commercialism that comes after it. It makes me cross.

 

Today I am thankful for

• finishing a huge project - can't share yet
• feeling better - the new tablets made me so so sick yesterday. Today has been a better day

 

Travel will continue tomorrow but meanwhile - ridiculous ways to serve food!!!

 

 

Id send most of it back I'm afraid

A bit of this and that

Today began early as it was a work day - and a chilly one at that. However, the school is super heated and so it was when I came home the cold hit.

Not felt fab as the antibiotics are making me feel a bit nauseous and falling up the stairs didn't help. The trouble was I totally deserved it. I knew my slippers were useless. They are lovely leopard print boots but have gotten so loose I keep falling out of them and I keep saying I will throw them out but of course, I haven't and I fell out of them part way upstairs. I will have some corkers when the bruises come out! 

 

I have however been scrapping and have two pages to share.

The first is another Halloween I am afraid - apologies but everything was decorated in America so it was hard not to take pictures. This is the amazing Jeater bend we loved at Christmas and it was just as fab at Halloween ... if you look for you tube videos of Jeater bend you will find loads. Sadly I haven't found one that showcases the projection on one of the doors so well.

I will upload mine but haven't rendered it yet

Anyway here is a page showing one of the houses

 

This page was a challenge in every sense. I bought a paper pad I knew I would find challenging and I wanted to try and use some of the heavily pictured papers.

This sheet was a woodland with gold foil edging and I was scared to death but am rather pleased with how it has come out.

 

 

Today I am thankful for

not actually breaking my wrist when I fell 

central heating

 

Now onto New York part 2

 

Saturday 20th October

The One Where a Dream Came True Part 2

The whole area either has been or is being regenerated as obviously there was little left after that fateful day. Huge hoardings covered with gorgeous graffiti style art work screened areas still being worked on and we walked in the bright sunshine we were admiring what had been done. The gleaming Freedom tower stretched into the cloudless blue sky, a true symbol of hope and faith.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We saw the memorials, though the North tower memorial did not have the fountains running due to the very  strong winds. We walked around, already feeling very sobered by where we were and what had happened on this very spot.

 

 

 

 

 

Nigel wanted to walk around and take some more pictures and I sat and waited and spent a few minutes in silent prayer. I felt very much that this year we had made two pilgrimages to places we both felt very drawn to visit to pay respects to those who lost their lives. Obviously this was very different to visiting Auschwitz earlier in the year, but both places were filled with the sense of tragic loss of life that was so unnecessary. I confess that I expected to feel more of the ‘ghosts’ ... an experience we had had at places like Alcatraz and Ellis Island ... but we did not experience that here. Maybe some places are too awful for the spirits to linger in.  For such a huge area – and it is vast – and one that was crowded, you would expect it to have been very noisy, but it really wasn’t. I am guessing most people felt as we did, that it was a place for respectful contemplation. We waited for our time slot and then entered the museum. We had come to New York just for this, to pay tribute to those who had died and to reflect on the events that changed the world forever. We  knew it would be hard, but it had to be done. For me, the tragedy of 9/11 will forever be tied up with my dad and his passing. The two events are interwoven and whilst paying my tribute to those who died here, I was also remembering watching the events unfold with Daddy as I packed for his final trip to the hospital from which he would never return. He passed away just three days later.

 

 

 

 

The museum was excellent. We watched presentations and saw so many artefacts and heard and saw so many personal recollections, but it was actually quite overwhelming. We tried to take in as much as possible, but it was all a bit too much to process. It was very intense. We spent about an hour and a half and then left to head for home. I was so pleased we had visited and it was quite a quiet reflective trip home.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The large block is the base of theNorth Tower Memorial so the footprint of the original North Tower

 

 

 

 

 

 

We went back into the oculus, admiring its beauty, and then headed for a much quieter train back. As we exited the station, the sun was starting to set and it was another of those Niagra moments where the light was changing so quickly and it was just so beautiful you just had to keep snapping. And keep snapping we did.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dinners for me had been a bit of a disaster for most of the time we had been in America, and so we opted to eat in the hotel. Initially disappointed that, despite our efforts to book, we couldn’t get a window table, we were eventually moved to the perfect seat. One of the things I had longed for on the trip was the moment when I sat and drank a Manhattan overlooking Manhattan. I just never dreamt it would be whilst eating a gorgeous, gorgeous meal. Perfectly cooked chicken and a wonderful fresh salad, it was an evening I will never forget; the skyline perfectly illuminated just outside the window, the great food, the wonderful service and the very boozy cocktails.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A quick trip outside to take yet more photos now that it was really dark, and we were back in our room ... same view ... for more cocktails (truly unusual for us)  and a very satiated early night. It had been a standout day and one we would never forget.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nigel's Journal

 

We exit to the plaza above where we are quickly surrounded by the vastness of the buildings and in particular the shining Freedom Tower which appears as a beacon to all that has been rebuilt in the intervening years. The memorial area is dominated by the empty footprints of the twin towers and, as you gaze across them, their vastness is evident. It’s a fairly silent vigil with only the sound of the running waterfalls cascading down each of the four sides of the two square ‘craters’ to encroach on the ambient street noise.

The four sides of each memorial are lined with people paying respect. The names of fallen victims are etched into the metal surround and some have roses pressed into them by loved ones.

I am surprised by the somewhat clinical feeling of the place. There are no ‘ghosts’ here which is amazing to me as I have felt them in other such places. We stare at the ground too taking a moment to absorb the fact that so many chose to plunge to an unthinkable death rather than burn or be trapped.

The Freedom Tower appears to be watching over the memorial plaza and I see it as ‘triumphant’.

I take photographs but feel I am not capturing the place. It is crowded and buzzing with young life yet I feel it should be like a graveyard. My best attempts to find a definitive view leave me wanting and I attempt to get the shot of the memorial ‘pit’ and the now single tower, together, but it can’t really be achieved.

I feel it barely possible to attach the events of that day to this place despite having been to this very spot before the occurrence.

There is a long line to reach the entry to the museum and we join at our appointed time slot.

We descend the street once more and quickly realise that the footprints of the two towers go deep into the firmament. The crisply sculpted square foundations are profoundly evident as you are inside the cavity that surrounds them and the museum is constructed below and around them.

THIS now feels more like the graveyard.

It is an intense experience and after a short while it is as though it is voyeuristic to keep looking at the suffering. Images that seem etched onto our consciousness are everywhere and it brings back the exact memory of the day and how it unfolded here and wherever and however you might have been witnessing it.

I am struck by the numbers of students and children that are here today. I consider that for many this is just a history lesson maybe akin to my own understanding of Pearl Harbour or the Titanic.

But for most I can see it is a remembrance and the atmosphere is as respectful as it is stunned.

It is possible to quietly reflect on all the aspects of that day, the missing, the efforts to save lives, the sacrifices and the sheer destruction.

After a while, probably well over an hour, one becomes sensitised to the experience and it is time to leave. You cannot continue to view it once it becomes like a movie. We decide that we have seen enough and it is now more respectful to leave and so we retreat .. it is quite overwhelming.

We skip the gift shop, both admitting that it is the most unlikely souvenir opportunity!

The experience may not have been exactly as I had imagined it might be, and the fabric of the place has been all but removed, however I am leaving with a feeling much as before, when the towers were still standing, that I had been THERE.

We board the train again after admiring the station once more and as dusk descends we arrive back across the river after a less crowded journey beneath.

A clear sky with the moon making an appearance over lower Manhattan and we can’t resist a myriad of pictures as we arrive back outside our hotel. Each one similar to the last but you just can’t stop yourself. It’s a glittering view with the water and the light set for a poster perfect image.

There is a very formal Indian wedding reception inside and many of the guests in traditional dress have come out to do likewise.

It’s evening now and time for dinner so we ascend the hotel to recline and dine.

The restaurant we discovered earlier is inexpensive and serves very acceptable choices so we make a bee line for a window seat. Though thwarted at first, the maître-de senses our disappointment and moves some tables to make room for our modest setting for two. It is the most spectacular location against the window with the whole of Manhattan alongside and we are almost drunk in awe of it!

Not so drunk that a couple of cocktails wouldn’t be welcomed, so we duly choose from the menu. I go for my cocktail of choice, the cool and smooth pina-colada whilst Karen satisfies her ambition, since booking the hotel in the first place, and orders herself a Manhattan to enjoy overlooking Manhattan!

Better yet, the cocktails prove not to be the best part of the occasion as Karen’s chicken is perfection and my Angus burger proves itself to be quite the finest burger I have ever enjoyed. And oh, what a view!

We are on a high and we both are fully aware that this moment will stay long in our memory as an experience we will savour.

Not enough to have enjoyed such a spectacular vista from our table, we venture back outside to get even nearer to it. We cross the deck to waters edge and again snap happily away in the darkness ever hoping to catch that perfect shot.

To crown a memorable day we retire and order a second round of cocktails to take to the room a most unusual occurrence for us but, after all, we are on vacation!

I think there may even be some cake left!

 

 

A catch up day

Today has been a catch-up day on various things - but I  also have scrapping to share

 

This was made for a challenge on Pickleberrypop and documents how I learnt - eventually - not to pull the heads off  flowers but just smell them gently. 

 

 

 

And this was made for a challenge on For the love of pretty paper making a  page with a transport theme - Amish buggies.

 

 

I have felt rotten on and off for almost 4 weeks - including on holiday - so a doctor's visit today confirmed I have an infection and I am on some very strong antibiotics which don't sound a lot of fun. Hopefully, they will sort the problem out.

 

Today I am thankful for

• GPs. Our surgery is very good. I could not get an appointment until 8 days time when I rang this morning but they hold appointments back for the afternoon and so I rang at 1 pm and was seen by a lovely kind lady GP at 3.30. That's awfully good service.
• catch up time
• my lovely husband who is getting better at looking after me when I am poorly!

 

Now - on to travel and I hope you are enjoying my husband's accounts. I think he writes so well. Mine are dead boring and just factual - he writes prose like a pro. I love his writing.

 

 

Saturday 20th October

The One Where A Dream Came True PART 1

 

 

Today was always going to be a good one... but we were not aware of how good it would be. It was epic.

We had planned on leaving at 6 but in the end, we figured we would have to stop for breakfast and so we might as well wait until 7 and have the free breakfast in the hotel. I mean, holidays are expensive and money saved on breakfast could easily be spent on cocktails later! I had had a long-standing dream to drink a Manhattan in Manhattan.

So breakfast done, without noisy children today, we loaded the car ... how easy was that. We had missed a trick on arrival. Our room had a patio which leads out on the car park. Open the patio doors and the boot was right there. Easy peasy! We were keen to be on our way to our next adventure and what we hoped would be a trip highlight.

 

By 7.30 we were on the road and start heading south again. The colours were lovey, but it was overcast quite a bit of the time. We took a brief detour for a Starbucks and believe me it was a detour. We could SEE the Starbucks and we explored every possible area of the parking lot. Not to be thwarted, we were persistent and eventually found the right lot. We were served by one of the weirdest baristas ... pierced everywhere, white hair, we think male, but might not have been, and the quietest voice ever. However, drinks in cup holders,  we resumed our trip south.

 

Our maps had taken a route which avoided Manhattan, but we put our trust In Flossie,  the SatNav, and she took us right through Manhattan. I think our eyes were on stalks. We had visited New York several times, but had never driven there and that had been a pretty conscious decision, New Yorkers drive on their horns and they take no prisoners. As we meandered down the equivalent of the embankment in London, following the Hudson, we commented on how civilised it all was. So much quieter than the embankment in London, no tail to tail traffic. We were to find out that was because all the cars in Manhattan were just down the road right where we were heading!  The Sat Nav has different ideas for our day. Flossie planned to take us off at 42nd street and through the Lincoln tunnel. It was all pretty intense with lots of horn blowing, lots of jostling for position and I tried hard to keep my eyes open to be Nigel’s wing man, though every breath in my body told me NOT to look. And my instincts also told me to breathe in so we would take up less space on the road. I swear I leaned into the middle of the car several times.

 

And then, well then there was the tunnel! I am terrified of tunnels ... I have quite bad claustrophobia, and even I knew the Hudson was wide and so the tunnel was going to be long. I confess the eyes did close once in the tunnel and serious counting was done to calm me down. We managed the ordeal of driving through the middle of New York intact and were in our fourth state of the day, having whizzed through Massachusetts, Connecticut and New York and reaching the relative sanity of New Jersey.

 

We had planned to go to the hotel and then take the train to Hoboken to go to Carlo’s bakery. We have been avid Cake Boss fans for years and it was a must see. But I was bothered. It all sounded a bit difficult and I wasn’t convinced Hoboken would be an area I would feel completely comfortable in and so I said, as we were coming in near Hoboken, ‘let’s see if we can just drive there.’ I just didn’t fancy trying an early check-in, finding the train, walking from the station etc. We had a fab drive in, passing endless traditional New York brownstones all decorated for Halloween, and some quite elaborately.

 

 

 

 

And then we saw the bakery. Mmmmm... we couldn’t even snap a picture. We decided to drive round a couple of blocks and then we spotted a space on a street. Nigel levered himself in, it was just one dollar to park and we walked to the bakery. We were so thrilled to have parked just a few blocks away. However, that was nothing compared to the thrill when we walked in. It was just like the TV of course, but wow. You could see the bakery behind and there were Joey and Mauro, just right there. I mean I assumed they were there for the cameras and not really there working all the time or at least if they were working they would be at the factory at Lacuanda. But no... they were there and Mauro came out to have a picture taken and said, of course, he was there ...where else would he be. That was where he worked. We stood in a very short line and we saw Grace who then came over, chatted and had her picture taken. She was so tiny and cute and so friendly. They really were just as you hoped they would be. We were both more than a little starstruck. We bought our goodies ... cake and of course cannoli and lobster tails and also a glass, a mug and a bag. It was utterly thrilling and so much a better experience than we had ever imagined. We were on such a high and we hadn’t even imbibed the sugar yet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We took more photos and then meandered back to the car, lapping up New York ... well, New Jersey ... life.

 

On to the hotel. I had spent ages picking this hotel and agonised as it was way more expensive than our usual stays. The trouble is as soon as you look at New York you look at big bucks. Hotels are expensive and rooms are small ... and don’t even get me started on parking costs. Consequently, I had found a hotel across the Hudson in New Jersey .... but with benefits. Being the other side of the Hudson meant you looked across the water towards Manhattan and the hotel was right on the Hudson. It looked like a cruise ship, docked, and I just knew we had to stay there. I envisaged myself drinking a cocktail ...a Manhattan on course, looking over the Manhattan skyline. You could have rooms with a view of Manhattan or the Statue of Liberty, but they came at a heck of a premium so I opted for a standard room without the view. We could see the view from the bar and the terrace.

 

The other big draw of the hotel was that it was right next to the Path station where you caught the train to New York. Just perfect as our ONLY reason for going anywhere near New York was that we wanted to visit the 9/11 museum. We had done everything else we wanted to do in NY on previous trips. So we had booked the Hyatt Regency. We don’t do posh hotels... we do cheap, but not too cheap. Our preference is for Best Western ... they have never lets us down .. or Marriott etc. If we do stay higher end it has always been Hyatt’s. Hyatt’s at Newport Beach, Seattle, St Louis etc.

 

We pulled in and opted not to valet park. I hate valet parking when we have loads of luggage and I feel hassled.  However, we were helped with our luggage to check in. There were 4 weddings going on as it was a Saturday and so we were told our room was not ready, but for a mere 20 dollars we could upgrade to a room that was ready, that would be well away from the function rooms, so quiet AND was a view room. We bit their hands off and checked In to a gorgeous room with views of Manhattan, the Freedom Tower and the Statue of Liberty (ok so you needed a zoom to see the lady, but she was visible). It was perfect. Oh and we were very very bad. We kept the luggage trolley as the room was so big. It was easier than trying to get one early in the morning. Naughty naughty naughty. When you stay at a nice hotel you do get what you pay for... proper thick fluffy quilts and proper loo roll and even a sleeping bag for your phone which was too cute for words.  The room was lush and we relaxed and ate a lunch of cannoli and lobster tails and then headed, literally, next door to the Path Station.

 

 

 

I love the sleep kit they provided

 

 

 

Taken from our window (albeit on zoom)

 

 

view from our room

 

 

 

 

 

So easy. Oh, wait ... don’t peak too early.

 

The first attempt to buy a ticket was thwarted as you had to give a zip code ... for goodness sake, what do Americans have against tourists. We are bringing money in, or at least we would be if they would let us spend on our cards. It is always a dose getting petrol. Last year there was no way to buy a sunpass toll pass and don’t even get me started on Joann.

 

Anyway, the second machine took cash so we were good.

 

The path station was quite a bit deeper than I was really comfortable with. Remember, I am a girl who doesn’t do the London Underground without a safety net and hyper ventilation.

Of course, as I was already edgy, we hit a disabled train.  It was full and sat there for a good ten minutes whilst they tried to do something with it. We were not sure what. Eventually, they reopened the doors and we slid ourselves in, pressed closely together like human sardines in a very claustrophobic can. The short trip was OK and it was cooler on the train even with the crush of people as there was air con on board, but the real issue came when we arrived at the stop for the world trade centre. Our train was a good twenty minutes late arriving and so the platform was heaving with people waiting for it. And they immediately took the train out of service and so the people waiting had nowhere to go and we all had to force ourselves off and through the crush.  My anxiety was reaching a peak, but then we had to walk along the platform right next to the tracks.  Now bear in mind I hate being underground, I hate being In crowds and I never ever walk next to the edge. I am a ‘press yourself against the wall’ sort of traveller. Poor Nigel cajoled and encouraged and I am sure he wished I was a horse as at least he could have used blinkers and hooves couldn’t have gripped his hand that tightly. Eventually, stressed out, we were through and into the utterly beautiful new terminal. It was beautiful from the inside, but the outside was truly stunning, like a dove of peace mid flight  What a work of art.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I will continue this tomorrow as it focuses on the real reason we went to New York at all.

 

Now enjoy Nigel's - he doesn't need photos - I think his writing is beautiful.

 

 

Saturday 20th October

 

 

Another early start this morning and a relatively peaceful breakfast as the boisterous family appear to be lying in.

With the van loaded it’s time to head for our much anticipated next destination of New York. The chance to revisit the site of the twin towers for the first time since 9/11 and also to visit Hoboken, close to where we will stay, in order to visit Carlo’s Bakery that we have admired so many times in the hit TV program ‘Cake Boss’

I pause outside the hotel for a moment to appreciate being in Concord once more and stop to take a picture of the sign showing the direction to Concord Center almost to validate our visit.

It’s a long drive South and we rely on ‘Flossie’ our Sat Nav to guide us over the next 227 miles.

I have to admit that not using the map leaves me somewhat devoid of bearings as we simply obey the commands to turn left or turn right and to join this state road or that.

At times i could barely predict the direction we were travelling next but am content to place our trust in technology.

We will score another four states over our journey as we leave Massachusetts into Connecticut before entering New York and New Jersey. There are a couple of large towns along the way which always provide points of interest and we anticipate the arrival of each new state by seeking out the state sign ‘welcome’ boards.

A short stop for Starbucks at Hartford off the main road and we congratulate ourselves on being accomplished road trip exponents with no fear of leaving the highway to find these places even though, in this case, there is a road closure and a detour posted. It’s tricky even to negotiate a way into the parking lot but we are not fazed and manage it just fine. We feel proud that we could be mistaken for ‘locals’ (even if the licence plate says Illinois!)

The remainder of the journey goes fast and we are soon realising that we are in the outlying areas of New York City. The sign announcing that we are entering the Bronx confirms we are close and Karen begins to feel the anxiety that the prospect of driving in the city will herald.

My grip on the steering wheel tightens and the traffic starts to build. The buildings are getting taller now and we can even see the familiar sight or the New York Skyline emerging ahead.

We had intended to avoid driving into the city itself but Flossie has other ideas. We dutifully follow our guide as she takes us deeper into the metropolis.

At this point, Karen reveals that she has been worrying about our plans to take the train to Hoboken on arrival. She imagines all sorts of danger and horrors on such transport so gives in to telling me that it might be better to drive there and just ‘see it’ (Carlo’s Bakery) from the safety of the van!

I agree, of course, but am concerned about navigating there as I scoped it out on google earth and I know it is deeply congested and not very accessible. We would surely struggle to get close to the bakery.

Meanwhile, our guidance has brought us deep into the city now. We have passed under the George Washington Bridge, the Hudson is on our right the Empire State Building stands proud out of our left window and we can see traffic and more traffic through the windscreen.

Our next direction tells us to turn left at 42nd street!

It’s a fight to get across several lanes of queuing traffic but with determination and some anxious high pitched noises from Karen we achieve it and I believe I have earned my New York driving licence!

Having made it to the correct turn guidance now calls for a right turn towards the Lincoln Tunnel and I have to start a new fight to claim my space on the other side of the carriageway.

Unfortunately, Flossie doesn’t know that the approach is under heavy construction and that there are police (with whistles) directing traffic. And let’s not forget these guys have guns!

I am relieved to make it into the correct lane to enter the tunnel and for a few minutes at least we just need to point the van in a straight line!

My anxiety for Karen’s anxiety starts to build as we descend to the mouth of the tunnel. She hates being underground with a passion and I wonder how she will cope as the traffic now appears to be stationary INSIDE the tunnel!... I need not have worried as, just as we reach it, the traffic flows forward and we begin to cruise our way through.

I reassure Karen we are almost through it when the roadway begins to ascend again and shortly after we can see daylight. 

At the other end comes the problem of selecting the correct lane. Flossie tells us that we have another half mile to go but the road signs differ so I make the sudden choice to follow those instead. It requires quick thinking and a dash to the exit, but luckily the way is clear and I use my right foot, hard, to get across and out of the chaos.

Now we are in the Jersey City grid of streets and high rise. Actually, it is less hectic and affords a bit more time to manoeuvre. A few criss-cross moves to negotiate the rail terminal and we are within striking distance of Washington Street, our goal.

Low and behold at the next turn we see the bakery, just as it is in the TV show. We are gladdened by the sight and stupidly think we should try to park!

As it happens, not so difficult. We tour the block and follow our noses keeping track of where the building was, our intention is, at least, to drive by again to photograph it but, to our surprise, a car is leaving a kerb-side parking bay just a few steps away from the main road so we give way to it and grab the space it leaves. It’s a metered space that takes quarters so we are safe to stay for up to an hour!

The anxiety and the journey prompts a bathroom break so we confidently stroll into the Mac Donald’s opposite to make ourselves comfortable and start to feel like ‘locals’ again.

Walking calmly down Washington Street is an unexpected pleasure and we again congratulate ourselves on being accomplished travellers.

It’s only a very short walk to the bakery and we are inside in a flash. To our great surprise as soon as we enter we spy stars of the show Mauro and Joey as well as a couple of the cousins, and serving, we spot Grace who looks tiny yet just as recognisably loud!

Both of us are a bit star struck, we never expected to actually encounter these people, I had thought they would more likely be at the larger production unit and not in the small shop.

We pause and take pictures and politely ask if there is a chance of a photo call with Mauro.

They are all obliging and kind and after a moment Mauro himself is happy to pose and chat for a moment. He is gracious and friendly just as he appears in the program. Next comes Grace who is keen to be in the action and volunteers herself for a pose too.

Still, star struck we fumble around to make up an order of pastries with barely enough time to take in the array of exotic looking treats. We settle on a cannoli, a lobster tail and carrot cake to fulfil our need and, by the time we reach the register, we have added a glass, a mug and a souvenir bag as well.

Our total is a meagre $40 and we willingly hand over the cash as others too purchase souvenirs and are even having them signed.

In what seemed like a whirlwind we are back on the sidewalk and elatedly pose for pictures outside the shopfront as we take in the moment. We both agree that it will be a standout moment of our trip.

Next up is the drive to the hotel. It’s another well-anticipated aspect of our journey and is set to provide a magnificent view of New York being on the river front directly opposite lower Manhattan.

Again our guide is flawless in getting us there and we are soon checking in with the help of a very courteous but not at all ‘pushy’ attendant.

He is happy to let us push our luggage trolley to the room which is a good thing as Karen then has the brainwave that we should hang on to it in the room to avoid looking for one or having to haggle for it early in the morning.

The room is large enough that it isn’t in the way and we are impressed with our river view from which we can see Manhattan and even the Statue of Liberty!

The afternoon is only just upon us so we take time to relax, enjoy the view and to devour the sweet treats we bought earlier. The van is safely parked in the multi-storey park just a short walk away and we feel calm and accomplished.

The purpose of this New York leg is to visit the 9/11 museum and memorial. We have chosen a location that gives maximum convenience to do so and so it proves as we take the 200 meters or so walk to the ‘path’ train station that will transport us one-stop, under the Hudson River, to World Trade Centre.

We even negotiate the ticket purchase machine without calling for help and we descend the long escalator down.

A yelp from Karen alerts me to how busy it is... at first I thought it was sarcasm as the platform looks fairly empty but, closer inspection reveals the train standing in the station is rammed full of standing passengers, some pressed against the doors!

We wait expecting it to depart but nothing moves. More people arrive on the platform which begins to crowd. There is clearly a problem with the train as it is still not moving and now some people have opened the doors further along and they are getting on too.

It relieves the crowding on the platform but the train is now packed.

An engineer appears to be trying to resolve the problem which looks to be caused by a door not fully closing. After a little more time ALL the doors slide open and again people board. To my surprise, Karen is ahead of me urging us to join them!

We squeeze on holding tight to each other and all our possessions and as the doors slide shut we silently wonder if we will now be compressed like this for some indefinite period but, to our relief, the train moves and we are finally underway.

It moves exactly like a London Underground train, the crossing takes a little longer than I expected for the one-stop journey but we are then plunged back into the light of the World Trade Center station only to realise that the long delay back down the line has caused the platform here to be overrun with passengers.

Holding tightly to each other we follow the throng of alighting passengers, as best as possible, and pick our way gingerly to the exit trying to keep away from the edge.

I am acutely aware that this was the site of awful horrors on that fateful day seventeen years ago as the station would have been deeply buried in the rubble and remains. I ponder for a moment with thoughts of those that worked there who would have perished.

Once we ascend to street level the Path Station here is a sight to behold.

We had seen a preview of it thanks to Michael Portillo’s great railway journeys and we had been looking forward to seeing it ourselves. It didn’t disappoint.

Beautifully light and gleaming white it represented a great dove of peace with wings extended protecting all below. 

The sunlight light penetrates the ceiling through what amounts to a skeleton, the spine of which runs the length of the concourse, gleaming and is bustling with people.

I also note that the retail opportunities look to be ‘high-end’ akin to a shopping mall and is in fact managed by Westfield, the very same as in London’s West End.

 

Testing out the new camera

It has been an absolutely glorious day here today and so we headed out to test my new camera. I am not great with it yet but I will get there.

 

The reason for the new camera - mine suffered a fatal accident on holiday. I have loved my little Panasonic Lumix. It has a mega zoom and takes great shots. I rarely take it off automatic and it copes with most things. So I was really sad when it suffered a broken LCD screen when we were away. Thankfully it was at Disney where I have already got the odd photo or two. You could still use it - you just couldn't see what you were taking, which was kind of fun. We figured it would cost almost as much as a replacement to have the screen fixed so I went for the same again just the updated model which has a few more bells and whistles which I probably won't use.

We tried it out today int he New Forest as it was a gorgeous day

 

 

 

 

 

Wery busy on the roads as you can see, with some very slow moving 'traffic'

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and this is the view from my garden ... not bad eh!

 

 

I also have some scrapping to share - and lots of fab digi stuff coming during the week too.

 

I am thrilled to be on the DT for ATDML and had the most gorgeous box of goodies to welcome me home. This is made with Simple Stories Simple Vintage Halloween which they have in store.

 

 

 

 

I will catch up with the holiday journal tomorrow. I am a little behind as I have been off enjoying myself! Normal service will be resumed next week.

 

Today I am thankful for

• living in England - all too easy to forget. I love love love America but actually, England is pretty cool too.
• my new camera - I think
• quiet days at home

 

 

 

A chilled out Friday

Today has been lovely - no work for either of us unless you call sorting some 9000 photos work! Um yes, I am starting too. It will be good when it is done and I have a manageable number that escaped the delete button. Still, best to take them whilst you can so you don't miss a thing eh! 

We went to see Fantastic Beast Crimea of today and it was very good. We had a cheeky pizza afterwards. It’s been hard to adjust to having to prepare our own meals and clean up after ... we were too used to being away.

 

today I am thankful for

a good film

a lie in 

gifts from my bestie to craft with. 

Onto today's travel journal

Friday 19th October

The One Where We Stayed in One Place

 

We were up earlier than anticipated ... today was to have been our lie in day, but sadly no one told our bodies. However, it meant we able to cram more into our day. We started with a lush breakfast. It really was a very good hotel breakfast. I braved the pancake machine this time... much simpler ... just one button to press and out popped two lovely pancakes. There were good choices for cereal and the bacon was so crispy it just broke up ... just the way I liked it.

 

Fortified by the food we headed off to start our Concord to-do-list ... first, stop Walden Pond. Perhaps not the easiest of our visits. To begin with, we had to scrape the car as it was all iced up. This is only something we have had to do three times n America ... and two of those days have been on this trip! Nothing to scrape hard ice with so thank goodness we had two room key cards - it worked almost perfectly. 

 

 

Jim had advised us to park in the ten-minute bookstore parking rather than pay the $15 ... yikes. We found that easily enough but hadn’t listened carefully enough to the rest of the instructions. We parked in the 20-minute bookstore parking and meandered round to the store so it looked legit. Mmm... two hours before the store opened! So we made our way through the regular parking lot. It was huge and Nigel kept saying he didn’t feel it was right, but I am nothing if not tenacious so I tramped on through the lot, through the woods on scarcely cleared paths and down a ridge where, below is, shimmering in the early morning light  ... a rather large puddle.

Hearing a gun shot and fearing they shot trespassers in these parts, we made our way back to the parking lots but clearly took a wrong turn as we ended up in the staff only area. Clearly, that was an even worse idea and so we hightailed it back to our car to have a rethink. Nigel tentatively asked whether or not the water across the other side of the road might, in fact, be Walden Pond. It turned out of course that he was right as he usually is. there was Walden pond below us. Just the steep slope to negotiate and we were on the shores of the lake itself. It was actually rather disappointing as we had remembered being so much bigger and more beautiful. However, we had achieved our goal and photographs were truly taken.

 

 

 

 

 

 

No time to waste when the Leahy’s were on a mission, so it was back into town and a Starbucks was called for.  Neatly avoiding the dry cleaning parking with only the politest reminder from the owner, Starbucks duly purchased and a special Boston card snagged. Next stop was the Alcott school where I had spent time some 21 years ago but had no photos of. It would be difficult to imagine a worse time to go and visit school than the time we selected. The drive was lined with school buses, parents were dropping off children, extremely stern parking directors were on duty and it was like every school worldwide at the start of the day. I should have known better.

 

 

Nigel dropped me off and, knowing better in this instance I sought out staff to ask permission to take a photo. They were very happy and, pictures taken, we were off to our next stop to visit Jim at Debra’s natural gourmet where he is the store manager. He had been there for 20 years and we were keen to see it. I found it fascinating ... gorgeous aromas, beautiful displays, I could happily have spent a fortune on the granola (so many varieties) the herbs and spices all so beautifully displayed. Jim was able to introduce us to many of his staff who had already heard about Nigel ... they assured us only good things. The store was much larger than I expected and Nigel enjoyed spending time with his brother. Stayed for about an hour before leaving for the next stop on our very busy itinerary.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

granola to die for - dozens of varieties all fresh and organic and wonderful

 

 

 

 

We headed out to the old North Bridge the place where the shot that echoed round the world had first been fired backing 1775.

 

In the 1830s, famed American poet Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote the dedication for a new monument to the colonial soldiers of the Battle of Concord, the first official battle of the American Revolution. Of the dedication, entitled ''The Concord Hymn'', a few lines (the last two in particular) have stood out:

''By the rude bridge that arched the flood
Their flag to April's breeze unfurled
Here once the embattled farmers stood,
and fired the shot heard round the world.''

Many of us have heard of the 'shot heard round the world', but where did it actually occur? Well, it was right here. Emerson's dedication was for a monument placed at the North Bridge, often called the Old North Bridge, just outside of Concord, Massachusetts. It was along this structure that the American Revolution truly began.  Taken from a web site this is a little about the Battle of Concord.

In April of 1775, the colonial governments of Massachusetts had been dissolved and were in hiding. Members of this government were being kept in the towns of Lexington and Concord, as well as weapons and supplies that the British were after. British troops were sent to these towns to capture and destroy the contraband supplies and arrest any hiding officers. In order to prevent rebels from escaping, the soldiers at Concord realized they had to establish a presence along the bridges around the town.

The local minutemen (militia) of the towns heard of the British plans and started moving supplies and people. They also grabbed their weapons and prepared to fight, holding off the British until the contraband was safely relocated. British troops arrived in Lexington first, where shots were briefly exchanged. In Concord, however, the British found a greater resistance. As they marched into the town, about 400 militiamen appeared and marched towards them. The British retreated to the east side of the North Bridge, while the militia took its position on the west side, blocking British access to the town. Shots were fired, and the British were forced to retreat.

We watched a very good film in the visitor's centre and decided that keeping the English accents quiet was a good thing when the British were the baddies this instance. It was a  beautiful sunny morning and we enjoyed the walk to the bridge and beyond.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beyond included a very bumpy boat dock which was the perfect place to take pictures or at least it would have been had it not rocked quite so much and I hadn’t looked so terrified in the selfies we tried to take. 

 

 

 

We also visited The Old Manse which links Old North Bridge with Concords impressive literary history. A handsome Georgian clapboard building, The Old Manse sits near the banks of the Concord River among rolling fields edged by centuries-old stone walls and graced by an orchard. From upstairs, you can look out over the North Bridge, where the famous battle of April 19, 1775, took place. Ralph Waldo Emerson and Nathaniel Hawthorne both called the Manse home for a time – and each found inspiration here. Emerson would draft his famous essay “Nature” from an upstairs room, and Hawthorne would write a tribute to the homestead called Mosses from an Old Manse. Hawthorne and his wife, Sophia, started their married life here, and you can still see the poems they wrote to each other, etched on the Manse’s window panes. The heirloom vegetable garden, which has been recreated today, was originally planted by Henry David Thoreau in honour of the Hawthornes’ wedding.

 

 

 

 

 Next stop was Sleepy Hollow Cemetery... even the name was magical. It wasn’t that we just wanted to enjoy graves ... we wanted to visit Authors’ Ridge. Concord has a very strong literary pedigree and was home to four great authors: Henry Thoreau, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Hawthorne and, of course, Louisa May Alcott.

 

Author’s Ridge is a scenic little corner of the large cemetery and is the final resting place of many legendary authors and transcendentalists who once lived in Concord. During the 19th century, Concord became a hot bed of forward-thinking transcendentalists who were eager to usher in a new age in American history. Many of the followers of the social movement would go on to pen some of the most indelible works of literature in the American canon. From Henry David Thoreau’s Natural Reflections in Walden to the essays of Ralph Waldo Emerson, their progressive ideals would help shape the direction of national thought. This woody area of the cemetery is home to the bodies of Henry David Thoreau, Louisa May Alcott, Nathaniel and Sophia Hawthorne, Ralph Waldo Emerson (who spoke at the cemetery’s dedication ceremony) and their families. I was surprised to see that visitors left offerings of pens, pencils, and even library cards to commemorate the famed authors.

 

Jim said it was quite hard to find and so we didn’t have great hopes, however, luck was once again on our side. Taking a wide detour to hit Bedford Street on the right side, we entered the cemetery, headed in the general direction I thought it was and, alerted by some parked cars, we were straight at it.

 

 

 

 

 

It was lovely to see all four graves, adorned with pens, pencils and tributes, but it was Alcott’s that was most important to me, having grown up with Little Women. Nigel had a random English 5p piece in his pocket and he laid on her stone, quite literally dotting the I. I was so pleased we had visited.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We still had some time left before going to Nigel’s brothers and so we drove round Concord enjoying the houses and soaking up the atmosphere. We paid a quick visit to what is to be the stop and shop Purchasing goodies for the road trip ahead.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We went to Jim and Diane’s home and admired all the work they had done since our last visit. The breezeway was beautiful and their home is like something out of a magazine. It is what I imagine a typical New England home is like ...    very pretty and just so country and American and pretty with cute little details. It is gorgeous and homely and they made us feel so welcome.

 

 

 

 

Gene and Janet came over and we all sat to some gorgeous desserts ... a wonderful apple and fruit and granola dessert with homemade cinnamon ice cream. It was gorgeous, the company was excellent and the time flew by. We even played a Massachusetts quiz ... which we did much better than expected in, but had such a laugh. It was a lovely afternoon. When Gene and Janet left we set off for an early dinner and boy did I feel bad. Thai had been my choice and Thai it was. I ordered my favourite pad Thai and was so shocked when it came that it tasted so strongly of fish oil. I wasn’t sure I could eat it but wanted so much not to make a fuss. Diane and Nigel assured me I should order an alternate meal but I was so embarrassed and close to tears and managed to eat most of it, but I feared I had spoilt the night for everyone.

Dinner over and we returned to Jim’s to collect our tour bus, say our farewells after a wonderful trip, and head back for an early night before our next adventure. Jim was leaving in two days time to take Nigel’s place in England caring for their mom. Once again only one brother would be in the US but this time it would be Nigel. It had been lovely to spend time with family as part of our adventures.

  and Nigel's

 

A more leisurely start this morning, although the jet lag kicks in and we are still up around 6 am and ready to see some sights before our 9 am rendezvous with Jim at the store.

Our breakfast this morning is punctuated by the noisy and rather reckless family of three children who are running free and being boisterous. As we leave I notice a car key wedged in the back of a chair where we are sitting, so immediately go into the mode of ‘International Rescue!’

I feel the panic of the person who will be looking for it and now I need to do everything in my power to find them.

A scan of the room reveals nobody looking for keys. I decided to find an employee to hand it in to. However, the moment I hand over the find, I regret parting with it .. for now after a routine “thank you sir” the employee places it out of sight and I’m even more sure that the key will never be reunited with the owner.

If only I had noted the reg. no of the vehicle (I did spot it was a Transit) I could have played detective and spent the rest of the morning scouring the car park for the vehicle and waiting for the distraught owner.

Of course, this is out of the question but my next best plan is to inform front desk so if they are approached for lost keys at least they would know where they were.

Ever helpful .. and not trusting them to complete my mission without me, I suggested the desk agent contact the dining room employee to get the tag No. so she could identify the guest from her records.

I bet they did nothing of the sort and simply shrugged when I had gone.

As we left for our tour of the sights I did a mini scan of the car park to see that there were, in fact, THREE Transits which could each be candidates!
 

I tried to put it out of my mind as we turned into route 2 on course for Walden Pond.

Traffic is heavy at this time on the highway so it takes us a slow crawl and several pauses to get to the junction. Flossie (the GPS) tells us to turn right and we follow her bidding. We arrive at Walden Pond but aren’t sure of the best way to park without incurring the $15 parking fee. We opt for the 20min parking for the gift shop and then set about finding the water! Luckily the gift shop provides a ready-made excuse as it is not open.

Karen is sure the pond is over here behind the park. I am unsure but follow her lead. We trudge around on leaves and rough paths really not knowing where we are heading. No signs to guide us either.

After 10mins of fruitless exploring, we give up and head back to the car.

Now THAT too is a treasure hunt it seems! Eventually, after brazenly plodding through the staff back lot we reach our car and I nervously suggest that perhaps the Pond is the water we can see across the road. In fact, yes I recall Jim telling me it was so.

Of course, it is... we cross over and walk the slope down to the water where a solitary figure is meandering along the beach. We pause for some photos, and comment how much smaller it is than we remember, then climb the stairs back to the car, satisfied with our haul of photos.

Next up is Starbucks. Followed by the Alcott school. Both of these afford the opportunity to recall familiar sights of Hubbard Street, the Concord Depot, Brick Oven Pizza, Spice and Grain and the site of the old ‘Friendly’ restaurant.

By the time we are done, we are all set to meet Jim at the store. I have never been to it as although he has been there approaching 20 years it is longer since we last were in town.

Over that period the store has extended and remodelled it is quite the mini supermarket now with multiple registers, endless departments and thousands of product lines. Staff are plentiful and all are welcoming and seem to know all about me. Jim must indeed mention his family a great deal.

He is happy to show us around and we even take a trip on the roof to see the extent of the area to be cleared of snow each winter and to be hosed down in the summer heat.

We make a few small purchases including the store-branded shopping bag before leaving.

Before lunch, we take in North Bridge and Sleepy Hollow Cemetery to complete our wish list and leave the afternoon free for family time.

At Sleepy Hollow, our luck holds out again as we inadvertently happen on the Authors Ridge that we were looking for right in front of us by pure chance. In such an expanse it could have taken an age!

We reflect a moment at each of Thoreau, Emerson and Hawthorn’s grave sites and stop to lay a British 5p piece Queen side up to ‘dot the i’ on Louisa May Alcott’s stone. I had been wondering where to put the damn thing since realising it was in my trouser pocket yesterday!

With a few minutes remaining to meet for lunch, or desserts, actually, we make for the town once more with a final stopover at what we remember being the ‘Stop & Shop’ we are in good time for Jim and Diane who together with Janet and Gene will be our company this afternoon.

Gorgeous fruit crunch and homemade ice cream make up Jim’s favourite dessert and we have room for seconds as well as carefully selected tea for each of us and an apple and pomegranate sparkling juice.

We round off the afternoon with lively conversation and Jim &Diane’s Massachusetts Quiz where the Leahy Family take on the home team of Janet & Gene.

We hold our own thanks to Karen’s greater knowledge and my contribution to the ‘baked bean’ question but I fear it’s a Home win. Even though I try to cover failure by complimenting our opponents on being such gallant losers. I don’t think any one bought it!

For our evening meal, we agree on Jim & Diane’s favourite Tai restaurant in Waltham.

It’s a great choice as, having checked the menu on-line, there is even something I will eat!

It’s a short car ride away and we each choose our dishes even though it gets a bit confusing with vegetarian Pad Tai and vegetable Pad Tai.

My Orange Chicken appears to be routine though.

When the meals arrive it seems like all is well but after one mouthful of hers, Karen is horrified to find they have used a fish sauce on her vegetarian dish!

Bravely she battles with it and denies any offers of assistance or thoughts of replacements and slowly and surely manages to all but clear her plate. As I enjoy my orange chicken and rice I can’t help but feel her anguish and it spoils the experience pretty much entirely.

We wind our way home to Jim’s to collect our ‘tour bus’ and bid farewell to our hosts knowing it will be at least several months before we see them again.

Now, under our own steam once again, we arrive back at the Concord Inn by 7.30pm and I am somewhat relieved to see that ALL the transit vans have left the parking lot. Phew!

.... unless, of course, one had to be recovered?

 

 

 

work and leisure

Today has been a very productive mix of work (4 hours this morning) and leisure this afternoon with art group.

Work is OK and it is nice to feel valued and serve a purpose and meet nice people but I am glad itis only a couple opf weeks every few months - suits me well.

At art today our brief was to be free and loose and paint with marks, no detail and quickly in sketchbook style.  I haven't picked up a brush for 5 weeks and I really don't do free and loose, I do tiny and detailed and painstaiking hours. So it was a really really good exercise for me. And I loved it. I completed my painting in well under and hour and it looks kind of OK. I am not sure it is a style I will revert to but it was great fun.

 

Today I am thankful for

• work accomplished for the week
• my car - I love driving her and she is so so pretty
• the weekend - it starts now
• an amazing amazing DT package

 

And now on to travel journals as I left you just about to get to Concord Massachussettes where Nigel's brother lives.

 

Thursday 18th October Part 2

The One Where We Reach Historic Concord

 

Bridge traveled and recorded for posterity ... and scrapping,  we continued towards Concord. Tummies were rumbling and the need for a Starbucks was great and so we entered a town called Keene. Well, it was so us. We love nature and scenery and views, but we also love retail therapy. Starbucks and fast food and Keene offered it all, I was thrilled to find cards at Target that were awesome. I had been upset that, when packing, I realized that whilst I had bought and wrapped presents for Nigel’s birthday which would be during the trip, with everything going on I had not bought a card. And yes, I do make cards, and no, it wasn’t happening at that point.  I have vowed never to buy Nigel a birthday card from anywhere but America again. The cards had such wonderful words. Americans are not afraid to wear their hearts on their sleeves and that floats my boat.

 

 

Starbucks bought, Macdonalds eaten (I love that they have all day breakfast as I can have an egg McMuffin for lunch)  and we agreed it would be rude not to visit the Michaels. My heart wasn’t in it though as I knew we had a lot of travel to accomplish and scrapbook supplies would be hard to store on the move so I was remarkably restrained. My time would come later. I did manage 4 180 sheet pads of paper though - well it would have been rude not to when they were half price

 

 

It wasn’t long before we were nearing Concord, Mass and, as it was earlier than expected, we decided to park up in the town and take a few photos as the sun was bright and the sky cloudless. We walked around, enjoying the small town feel and the picturesque buildings before a quick visit to the Alcott house, one which I couldn’t  miss as I had already bought Little Women scrapbook supplies.

 

 

Concord is a very special town for many people for many reasons. The town of Concord, Massachusetts, just 20 miles west of Boston but with major small-town charm, holds a special place in the heart of many Americans. What was once the site of seasonal Indian camps, and then a sleepy New England village, became something else entirely one April morning in 1775 when one of the first battles of the American Revolution was fought in Concord and later immortalized in Ralph Waldo Emerson’s “Concord Hymn.” Emerson, along with the likes of Henry David Thoreau, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and the Alcott duo of Bronson and Louisa May were part of Concord’s mid-1800’s literary and transcendental flowering, for which the town is also famous.

 In no order some of the beautiful houses int he town, the gorgeous churches and general shots. It is a town we have always loved visiting when we go to see Nigel's brother. He has lived in Concord for some 35 years now.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Colonial Inn has been used in many films including one of our favourites... Housesitter. It also serves a delicious breakfast i remember from many years previously.

 

 

 

 

well, the immigration officer did ask us if our vacation was to go leaf peeping

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Isn't it such a pretty town?

 

and this is Louisa May Alcott's family home

 

 

 

 

We checked in to our hotel and rang Nigel’s brother, Jim, to let him know we had arrived and arranged a pick up time.  Cases sorted, photos downloaded and a quick wash and change and we met Jim and Diane and we went to dinner at a lovely pizza restaurant with an amazing brick oven and great food. It was a far cry from Enzo’s pizza of yesterday ... I mean they even had real silverware and china plates. It was lovely to catch up with a Jim and Diane and Jim even paid for dinner as Nigel’s birthday present.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exhausted and very happy we climbed into bed at the very late hour of 9.30. Tomorrow we could have a lie in, our first for days.

 

 

and Nigel's

 

By Lunch time we reach Keene which proves to be a veritable oasis for weary travellers providing several options for food and shopping. We decide on a visit to McDonalds and take advantage of their ‘all day breakfast’ menu to ward off our hunger thanks to a couple of Mac muffins... Oh and a side of fries!

There is also a Starbucks inside a Target store so we are all set for part two of the journey to Concord.

Arriving a little ahead of schedule there is time to tick off a couple of places from our ‘hit list’.

We park in the centre of Concord and walk about amongst memories of previous visits and recollections of stores, churches, the village green and the post office.

There is even time for the briefest stop at the Alcott house where we pretend to be interested in seeing the entry fees whilst in reality only aiming to steal a few picture opportunities.

Job done, it’s time to find our hotel for the next two days and we easily locate the Best Western on Elm street which is pleasant and proves another well researched stopping point.

Here we discover the convenience of what’s app phone calls thanks to Jim’s ingenuity and we are are able to make arrangements for dinner.

Taking a rest from the wheel it was nice to be a passenger and be taken out this evening. We make for Bedford and a Pizza restaurant called Flatbreads. I learn that Jim and Diane have favoured this place for some time and that they even brought Mum here on a previous trip.

It turns out to be a lively location.

It was in danger of becoming even more lively when the food came. We had ordered a large pizza made half and half with pepperoni and mushroom & onion.

The pepperoni was so large that it had overlapped into the ‘vegetarian’ half and was present on every piece of Karen’s portion.

Undeterred, we ate well and even managed to squeeze in a desert. But the biggest treat came when we tried to settle the bill and Jim insisted that it would be their call as it would be a suitable birthday present for me.

We were very grateful and, suitably full, we were Chauffeured back to the hotel for a not too late night.

Tonight might be more of a challenge though as we have to share a bed for the first time on the trip.. although I have to say with it being the size of a small football field there was still a feeling of remoteness about it!.