My last Blog became over-run by gremlins (mainly on viagra) so I have resolved this by creating a new Blog for my next trip. I have brought across my old postings - but the pictures have not travelled well!!! Welcome to this new blog - do leave comments and I'll get back to you.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Obesity worse than smoking - so say doctors
But there is a lot in the media here about how a very high proportion of the population are overweight and the majority (of the population) will be classed as obese in a few years time. The lead in to these stories is that 'obesity is worse for health (I suspect the NHS coffers) than smoking'. I think now they feel they have smoking under some sort of control then the next thing on the list is bad diets and obesity. Lets hope they don't bottle out (the way they did with the Tobacco companies) and do make the food companies change their practices.
So, I suppose you don't really want to hear what I've been eating, do you? Well, what I will say is that it has been relatively healthy - apart from a couple of visits to an Indian restaurant - and that it is really easy to get healthy, take away and food to go here now. I have been having a lovely time!
Macbeth was - as you will see from my previous comment - excellent, with a splendid cast of actors, some scary special effects and three quite spooky witches in nurses uniforms.
I had a drink with Jan yesterday, and it was good to see her before I go. But her mother is in her final stages of dying and so we could not spend too much time together since she had to get back to relieve Ed who has been looking after Lee while Jan is at work. Jan says she is very lucky to have had this time with her mother and both she and Lee have had long discussions and wish Lee would simply go to sleep and not wake.
Today feels a bit like waiting to start a journey. The flight is at 9pm and I have kept my room till 5pm and will leave at 4.45. But I feel restless and can't settle to anything. All the bags are packed, I just have to have lunch and then a quick shower and I'll guess I'll be ready about 2 hours ahead of time. I think I better get something to read!
This is the end of this blog - till I travel again. Thanks for logging on, reading, commenting. Talk to everyone soon I suspect. In the meantime, love and hugs all round. Ann
Monday, October 15, 2007
Lovely London
But, when the going gets tough you do really find out who your friends are and I ended the week not only with all my friendships intact and the kittens futures ensured but two of my friends who had not been close for some time seem to have resolved some difficulties to the extent that I wish for them what they give to me.
And Skopelos is still beautiful.
Now I am in London having stayed (and shopped) with Candice - thank you Geoff for taking me to the hotel and I am sorry not to have been able to say goodbye to you. I have had dinner with Maggie and Steve and am trying to track down Jan so I can have a final lunch with her. But tonight I go to what has bveen called the very best production of Macbeth - with Patrick Stewart (Star Treck) and am looking forward to that. Meantime I am off to do a bit of my own trecking - around London.
It has been a great trip and wonderful to have seen everyone here and I am so looking forward to seeing everyone on my return. Someone asked me the other day 'Which do you prefer NZ or England' and I had to say that I loved them both and would be very happy to stay in either. I love things about each area (and Skopelos) - scenery, animals, nature, culture, - and I have good friends in each (so I always miss someone!). But I do feel I am truly blessed to know all of you and know you are all 'on my side'.
So, I am off to do, hopefully, the last bit of serious shopping!!! Have fun my dears. Love - lots of it - to all. Ann
Monday, October 8, 2007
A bit hit or miss
Yes, the island is magical as always. I wondered whether I would feel like that or not. NZ is beautiful, there is sea, sand, sun, beautiful landscape and so I wondered not only why I was going to Skopelos but whether it would 'work' for me. Well I wasn't here 10minutes before I knew. There is something about the island that just melts myheart. I don't expect this would happen with anyone else - but it does with me. So, it will be no hardship to be here for a week.
I have been out with both Mimi and with Heather and it is splendid to see both of them. I have plans to see each again and in fact I shall have lunch at Panarmos with Mimi today and dinner with Heather this evening. Tomorrow I have the keys for Mimi's new house in Glossa and so shall beetle up there in my little red jeep tomorrow and spen the night there. I am so looking forward to it - I want to see the stars in the Northern hemisphere in all their glory. So I am hoping for a cloudless night tomorrow.
I have done all the things I expected to, I have visited Glisteri and swam/snorkelled, had coffee at Stafilos, lunch at Agnondas (although all tavernas are closed so I took my own lunch); I have visited the monasteries, driven the roads I like etc , eaten my fill of good Greek food - all the things I wrote about last time and won't bore you by repeating.
The island is closing down for the winter, so many places that I would normally frequent have shut up shop already. Partly this is because everyone on the island has made enough money early this year. There was a film crew here for most of the summer - they were filming Mama Mia with Peirce Brosnan and Meryl Streep - and the money they had to spend far outweighted anything a horde of tourists could offer. But I like the island quiet so it suits me fine. It is interesting to be almost the only tourist here. It is also interesting to go out with Mimi now she is a councillor in the local government - everyone wants to speak to her! Very interesting.
OK sweets, I am off to lunch now. Bye for now. Love & hugs. Ann
Sunday, October 7, 2007
Ann sends her regrets
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Getting ready to go to Skopelos
I had a very pleasant weekend with Ed and Jan, visting Jan's mum, Oxleas woods, Blackheath farmers Market. They are such a very pleasant couple to be with, very gentle, caring and thoughful. Jan is now vegan so I fed very well and felt better for even two days of good vegan food.
We went to town for dinner on the Saturday evening (wonderful dosa's Elisabeth) and coming over Blackfriars bridge the city looked absolutely beautiful. But, even better, when we were leaving and all the lights were on, it looked fabulous and magical. I never fail to be impressed by the view of London from the river either upriver or down, there is always something interesting to see. Jan and I will be getting together, probably for lunch, before I leave for Auckland since she works in town.
We were visited each evening at Ed and Jan's by the foxes who come to the garden to feed. There are two adults and the cubs of one of the adults. Foxy - the mother of the cubs is unafraid and I have some lovely pictures of her. Talking of pictures, I am totally frustrated at not being able to post pictures for you to see as I go around. The lead (from the camera to the computer) is not working and so I bought a card reader (where you put the memory stick from the camera into it/it is plugged into the computer via a USB lead) but this does not load onto Candice's computer - and in fact caused a major problem when I tried to load it. So, sorry, no pictures till I get home.
Yesterday i spent the day at Rowhill grange being pampered. A swim (25-30 lengths), a spa, a jacuzzi; time for tea and a relaxing read before my facial, then lunch and lastly the hairdressers. Blissful.
Last night I had dinner with the Leharnes who were as rumbunctuous as ever and kept me entertained for a good few hours. Thomas has done brilliantly in his GCSE's and is going on to do A Levels before going to University. He says Cambridge to do Environmental Chemistry/Geography. A bit like his father I think. Rebecca is, as always, Rebecca, indomitable, cheerful, funny and full of life. Lovely to be with, as is the whole family. Steve and Maggie are coming up to meet me on the Sunday after I come back from Skopelos.
Tonight I will have dinner with Andy and Lena the father and mother of Eleni, who came to stay with her boyfriend Paul last year - some of you will remember? I am looking forward to this since I haven't seen Andy since we left England in 2003.
Now I am off to book tickets for the theatre for when I return from Skopelos. Mmmm Patrick Stewart in Macbeth? I've seen the RSC Seagull and King Lear in Auckland so no point is going again. Ah, well, pleasures to come.
And then, my dear, it is off to Skopelos for me - where, I hope, the next blog will be from. Till then, take care of each other. Lots of hugs. Ann
In the interests of cross-speciesism
I can tell you about this species called humans. I can tell it in my language, perhaps they will understand, perhaps not. But I know YOU will.
Tail wag, tail wag - welcome.
Dance-woof-woof - walk.
Bark-woof - sausage - dribble dribble.
Tertiary education - snore, snore.
Pant, pant smile - treats
Grrrrr, growl - Blobs
Huh, Huh, Huh - meat, quick
Cringe, hide - bath - Ugh!
Simple folk these humans - what more do you need to know!
Signed: High Princess Mordomenia (commonly known as Daisy)
Monday, October 1, 2007
I wonder
So today I'm feeling very suspicious as to why the Caretaker is looking so cheerful. It can't be the weather - sadly, his very favourite subject - because we have been having an horrendous storm. It can't be the food - sadly his second favourite subject - as even he seems to be getting bored with peanut butter sandwiches and icecream. It's not the company of me and the Blob - she tells me she has been making him very anxious by the strategic placement of bird feathers around the house so that he spends half his time looking under chairs and behind cupboards. If he looked carefully he would see that the Blob is blobbier than usual. It could, of course, be quality assurance in tertiary education - a subject which, very, very, sadly, makes him almost orgasmic - but, according to his diary, that's a week on Thursday. The most likely thing is that it's me...the most perfect companion, golden, gorgeous, graceful...but that would apply all the time. Humanoids are very strange. Blob and I often say, I wonder what they're thinking. If only they could tell us. Do you think they have emotions? Why are they so obsessed by food? Do they do anything without a reward? I wonder. If any of you can help us understand, we would be very grateful.
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Millennium Clock
http://freespace.virgin.net/sharmanka.kinetic/clocktower/
I thought it was quite the most amazing thing I had seen for ages and hope you find it interesting too.
A beautiful day in London - warm and sunny and quite unseasonal. I am off to enjoy it - have fun today friends. Love as always. Ann
EXTRA, EXTRA, EXTRA - Hostilities are called off in the matter of Daisy vs unLucky
Lucky has been informed of the failure of the venture to rescue her again and is quite philosophical about it. She is a bit like me and speeding I think. She has a, mistaken, belief that she will never actually be caught with a sheep between her jaws - and is looking forward to testing that theory. So, I am sure she will be fine (ish).
You can now turn your finely tuned nose up at the flighty Betty and the bad hair Amber and reassure your pal Bentley that no incomers will be taking his place in the sniffing line. So, please, lets call off Woofing, Barking and Snarl and I'll promise no more hard Luck(y) stories - OK?
Your repentant Madam.
Lucky, Lucky, Lucky...
So I'm down at Narrow Neck and that flighty little genetically modified poodle, Betty, comes along, giggling away, doing her Kylie Minogue bit...You're Not So Lucky, Lucky, Lucky. What's going on here, I think as I see her off with a vicious twitch of my nose. And then that lunatic Amber...the wheaten with a permanent bad hair day (tried to eat me once)...comes by with her 'got a new boyfriend then? Aren't you Lucky' An angry raising of the eyebrow gets rid of her, but by now I can see something is up. And my pal Bentley (who is the only one who realises how sensitive I am) confirms it. They're up to something he says.
So when I'm at Sue's and Coralie's I do my cutey bit, sitting near to them when they're on the the computer. Thinking me a brainless blonde, they assume I'm just devoted to them but I see what's going on, the dastardly deed being planned, and even worse voted on. Now I know who my friends are!
So, lets be clear. I've talked to my solicitors - Woofing, Barking and Snarl - and they advise me in the following way:
All negotiations with alternative animals will cease
A public apology will be made in the Flagstaff within two weeks
Compensation will be paid for the hurt and humiliation I have experienced
Those who voted in favour of this Lucky creature should be very very afraid
I can see the Caretaker looking apprehensively at me sitting at the computer, so I will leave it there. Madam may wish to ponder, as she continues her travels around Europe, on what might be suitable recompense on her return
You have all been warned.
Friday, September 28, 2007
After spending the weekend with Lucy and Forest in Kent - lovely, lovely Kent - and returning to regroup at Candice's, I flew up to Edinburgh on Tuesday. Boy are my feet sore!!!
It is now Thursday afternoon and I think apart from eating and sleeping this is the longest I have sat down. I am surprised how much I remember of Edinburgh and where places are. It is such an easy city to walk around that it is tempting to overdo it and end up with SORE FEET - as mine are (throb, throb they say). Still, the rest of me is happy so I don't care that they are complaining.
Now, what have I been up to. Well, lets see, on the Tuesday I walked from my hotel, just off the Royal mile, up to the University taking in the Museum and Greyfriars Bobby (the pub, not the little statue in the graveyard). I had a drink in the pub Rob and me used when we lived here - the Meadows - which is totally changed (thank goodness) and now serves a variety of wine - unheard of in the 60's. Then it was through the Meadows and back along George Bridge. I ate at an up-market vegetarian restaurant that evening - but the menu was better than the food (Elisabeth, the dosa was not what we would have enjoyed).
The following day I took myself off into the wilds of West Lothian to revisit my roots. The village I came from was attached to the mining in the area. Now there is no mining and the village has been expanded by Glasgow over-spill. There are new houses being built but every single shop has closed, The Church hall is boarded up, the library gone, I did not see one person on the street and the school - which was the first school I attended - was impenetrable. A nearby, larger town seemed very poor, with grey people, lots of second hand shops, scruffy buildings and surroundings. So, it was a bit of a relief to return to the prosperity of Edinburgh again. I did take a taxi out to my senior school and that, at least, is thriving.
I got off the return train at Haymarket in Edinburgh and made my way past Atholl Crescent, where I had trained as a teacher in domestic science all those years ago. They have long gone now but the crescent remains as imposing as ever. I wanted to visit Charlotte Square and see a house there that they keep in 1790's style. Most interesting, no toilets, no running water, no gas, but sumptuous furnishings and hard, hard work for the servants. On my way back to the hotel I took in the National Art Gallery - lovely Florentine and Renaissance paintings, but not the Whistler I was expecting to see. I asked a taxi driver to recommend a good Indian restaurant and ate there in the evening.
Today has been a bit of a this and that day and not at all what I had planned. I had decided to visit Valvona and Crolla my most favourite deli in the WHOLE world, and that was fab. It still smells just as good, but has expanded to include wine, a gift shop and a cafe - guess where I had my capucinno? Then I wanted to walk the Waters of Leith to dean village, where my mother was born, and thought if I took a bus down Leith Walk then I could begin there. I was not wrong - just about 3 miles out of my way! Still, I began walking and it felt really unsafe - I had asked a young man and a woman with a baby if it was safe to walk the path and they had said yes, but I wasn't sure - especially when the path stopped and I had to walk through industrial areas and the path began again but looked derelict and full of discarded junk. Eventually I came to a bridge and a pub. The barmaid said it was definitely not safe to do this part of the walk so, I had a tonic to revive me and set off - for the nearest bus stop! I got talking to a retired Welsh fireman at the bus stop who said the only bus went to the docks. OK, said I, I'll go there. The docks have been vastly improved and are now the home to all the 'yuppies' in the town. However, I think we got our wires crossed and he recommended I get off miles away and walk! So I got another bus that was going to the centre of the town. Aren't I lucky it stopped at the second vegetarian restaurant that I had been intending to go to - so that was lunch sorted! Now I have found this Internet Cafe and I am as happy as Lucky/Larry.
Personally, I think I have done as much of Edinburgh as I want to. It is a very beautiful city if you look up, but at the ground level it is either very touristy or a bit scruffy. When I was here 20 odd years ago I was impressed by the sense of emerging self identity. There was the new parliament, new art scene and everything felt very vibrant, exciting and progressive. This time it all feels a bit tired. One taxi driver was telling me a story about transport plans which, if true, points to a waste of money but also a lack of political will to see plans through and a bureaucratic mess which makes it difficult to achieve anything. There also seems to be a jaded feel about the ability of politics to be effective in changing social ills. Such a shame, especially after the high hopes and very real initial changes that were put in place by the early parliament.
Ah, well, back to London tomorrow to spend the weekend with Ed and Jan - in the peace of their garden. Talk soon. Love to all of you out there. Ann
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Doggone
Dear Daisy, would you mind very much if I brought home this lovely boy dog called Lucky? He is very well trained and apart from a small matter of chasing sheep - which we won't concern ourselves with just at this moment - I think he would be an ideal addition to our household. He is black with a bit of white, he is very obedient, affectionate and very very intelligent, picking up everything you say and I think he would fit in very well. At the moment he lives in the house of Lucy and Fossie with Harry, a West Highland Terrier , and Bernard, a beautiful golden Labrador puppy (about 18 weeks old I think) as well as five cats, with whom he gets on very well. So, when you discuss this with Sissy you can let her know that he is cat trained to purrfection (in fact he could assist you in tipping the scales in your relations with Sissy - you know what I mean?).
There would be no conflict of interest with you because where you like a gentle stroll Lucky loves a big bouncing run - he could run behind the car round and round Ngataringa, no? Again, where you don't care for wet grass Lucky loves nothing more than to run through bush and nettles and the stickier the better for him to bring home presents for his carers. He is very like you in that he too likes to lie just where causes most problem for passing humans. He wouldn't even compete for your food since he has dried food and any forage that the cats bring in (apart from gallbladders, which he does not care for).
Finally, he is in a bit of trouble just now because he was found playing with - well scaring to death - some neighboring farmers sheep (you'd think those sheep would know better and keep out of his way!. So he may have to wear an electric collar - and if that does not work then he may be shot. I, personally, think we should apply for deportation - like they used to do to criminals - and send him to new Zealand. They like hard luck cases there - although they are not to keen on introduced species and so Lucky may have to disguise himself as a Kiwi for the first few months till the local animals get used to him - and I think he would fit right into our household and to NZ in general. What do you think? Will you discuss it with Sissy and get back to me. Time is of the essence - the electric collar beckons. Love. Your human, Ann.
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Time for tea said Robin
If you remember, I was bowled away by how well everything had gone in Hornsea on the Monday. Well, it continued in the same vein so that by Wednesday the auctioneers had removed the big furniture, the British Heart Foundation had taken the small electrical - and a couple of bookshelves I saw them sequester away - as well as some other household items, the Dove House Hospice took the beds and fridge and Oxfam - courtesy of Derek (bless him) - got all the rest. Well, that is apart from all the dog and cat stuff - why did we have 12 dog/cat beds, including hers and hers in some designs - which went to a pet re homing project that Maureen is part of. Derek managed to get the bike off the wall and the lock succumbed to fierce work with a hacksaw while Gary rode it over to Kidds before going off for his session at the gym. The solicitor was very efficient and we completed 6 steps in the process instead of the normal one in the hour I was with her. I even managed to do all the little bits of house administration, management company and general tidying up that is the fall out from such a complex set of things. And all is well.
I had such fun at David and Maureens with their wonderful dog, Polly, who is nothing like Daisy and in no way reminded me of her. However, she did remind me of what real dogs do - licking, jumping, playing, rolling over - which Daisy does not do. But I think just being with another dog made me realise how much I miss Daisy (and all of you). Of course, as Rob has mentioned, there were the geese - not as scary as I thought they would be (well, actually, Maureen's protection of me probably had something to do with that)- and the chickens, who are rescue chickens. Did you know that egg producers 'discard/kill' chickens who do not lay 'regular' eggs. Maureen took 20 of them but says 1,800 are regularly discarded! And all because supermarkets say the customer wants 'regular' sized and coloured eggs! I collected eggs from the chickens and fed the sheep some cabbage but did not get too close to the pigs who can be quite rough - but look very sweet. Maureen and David have 5 acres on top of a hill overlooking all the land to the coast and out to sea. They are on the edge of the North York moors and the view is spectacular and very English and pastoral. It is a view one would never tire of and Maureen says it is always changing as different things go on in the farm land and as the landscape changes. I particularly liked the variety of garden birds I sat and watched from their kitchen.
Coming there was a joy after a day in Hornsea when I was quite tired and a bit washed out from taking leave of our belongings, house and area. The drive was about 40 minutes through very pleasant, peaceful countryside with nothing to bother about apart from the slowest drivers in the country (Grrrr!). I can so see why they live there.
I was fortunate to finish work early on Wednesday and so I took myself off to Burton Agnes for some visual gardening and a (very) little shopping. The trip gave me the opportunity to make a side trip to Ulrome, and a minor road drive to Burton Agnes through farmland where there were skylarks, hares and a kestrel.
Yesterday I departed Yorkshire by the gentle route which took me through countryside with signs to towns such as Thwing, Fridaythorpe, Holme on the Wolds, Cherry Burton, Rascal Moor and Melbourne before I entered the fray again and drove down to Alconbury and Sarah. And it was quite splendid to be with Sarah again and catch up on what has been happening in her and Charlie's lives (Charlie is going to university to be a designer of shoes). But the time was too short really and I had to be off this morning for London.
OK, now you are up to date and I am going to have some tea. I shall be away for the weekend but will log on again before I go to Scotland on Tuesday. LOTS of love to everyone - and some hugs too. Ann
Thursday, September 20, 2007
42 Mozeley Calling
Meanwhile, back at 42 Mozeley, the dog would like her chauffeur back, the cat her pillow, the worms their haute cuisine, and Rob just Ann. Further insights into the remarkable changes at No. 42 will appear over the weekend. Meanwhile we can all look forward to Ann's next blog.
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
from mary and Joe
Great to read all your latest happenings. It is quite a mission. I am all ready to leave in the morning and very excited/nervous about the trip but really looking forward to meeting up with Amanda.
We have seen a little bit of Rob and I am sure the boys will get together while I am away.
The bathroom has been a litle delayed but hoping it will be finished by the time we get back.
We will catch up again when I get back 30th Sept.
lots of love from Mary
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Sounds like rain
After a very pleasant dinner at Ticton Grange on Sunday, where I had the restaurant all to myself, I spent the night from 12 till time to get up wide awake. So, I thought today would be pretty awful, and I would need to borrow matchsticks to stay awake, but no, today was VERY successful. After a shaky start where the storage man (Derek, or fabulous Derek as I came to call him) denied all knowledge of why I was there, declared the impossibility of what I wanted and generally did a lot of teeth sucking, we managed to sort 4x20 cubic metre storage containers so that 1 got sent for shipping, rubbish thrown away and the contents of the other got spread out so that the auctioneers, who are coming tomorrow, can view them - and all in 3 1/2 hours! Pretty impressive, no?
Derek is an expert shipper and teaches classes in shipping (yes it is true), had walked all the peaks in the Lake District before he was 16, has 5 siblings, one son (chronically disabled) and a wife who he adores. I told him I did not want to have any more than 1 container, and, bless him, everything I wanted to put in he said he could find room for - even after I kept adding this and that and abit of the other. So, all I have to put in is Rob's bike, and Gary is putting that on his trailer to take from the house to Kidds on Wednesday.
It was lovely to see Gary again and to catch up on the harrowing family eventsof the last two years. But they - Gary, Ben and Bianca - all seem to becoming through and surviving. The same is not true of Anne-Marie, whose lifeis descending into alcohol and chaos from which neither she nor anyone else can save her - so, so sad.
Continuing my efficiency I saw our house management agents and got all sorts of things agreed with them; I talked to our estate agents and got good advice from, another, Derek. Because of all of this I think it might just be possible to finish here by end of business on Wednesday!
I was early to arrive at David and Maureen's, so I took the opportunity to look around Hunmanby, a small town on the edge of the North Yorks moors. Requisite Norman church, 2 pubs, 1 hotel, 1 of most kinds of shop including a florist come fruit shop and a shop selling an eclectic mix of fresh pies/bread/pizza and home made preserve and pickles - as well as,importantly, Yorkshire Tea, for all you tea enthusiasts.
I decided to go to the pub. Have you ever walked into a room and had EVERYONE stop and look at you? I thought that only happened in bad detective films, but no, it happens in North Yorks pubs. I reckoned they were up to something illegal to do with CD/DVD's and were just checking I was not the local police. They all turned out to be really nice and helpful and I think I was the first person ever to be served coffee in that pub. But it gave me the opportunity to sit and read and watch for a while, which was extremely pleasant.
So now I am sitting with Maureen and Polly, who is a beautiful and intelligent black lab (David is out at a Parish meeting in his role as local councillor), with the rain beating on the conservatory roof, while we inside are toasty and warm. Who could want for more. Till later, love to all. Ann
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Sunny Saturday
I have been busy contacting people in Yorkshire and have them all lined up for next week. If all goes well - or at least as I have planned - then I should be finished by next Friday. However, we all know about well laid plans ...
We have some belongings stored at Candice and Geoffs and I have been re-acquainting myself with them. Now, do I really need a 3 tier cake stand, an Austrian wine filter and a Victorian flower pot, as well as a framed print of Greenwich University (which I suspect is a a goodbye present given to Rob). I have 3 large boxes to take to Yorkshire with me but I may do some culling when I get there (after mature consideration, of course) and get rid of them!
As I was coming through duty free out of Auckland I picked up a device that I can plug into the cigarette lighter bit in a car and the other end into my (well Rob's really) iPod and can play all my chosen music in the car - a very nice grey car (a Peugeot, so Geoff tells me) - as I beetle up the motorway to Yorkshire. This will vastly enhance my driving experience early on Sunday morning.
However, first, Ed and Jan are coming over to Candice and Geoffs for lunch today and I am so looking forward to seeing them. Candice and I have prepared lunch, Geoff has set up the table on the lawn and - as I said - the sun is shining. Now, what more can one ask for, good food, weather and friends, so I shall have a very pleasant afternoon, before packing this evening for departure tomorrow.
Ticton Grange, where I am staying on Sunday night has no internet contact, so I will blog from Yorkshire , but possibly not till Monday or Tuesday evening when I am with David and Maureen. So, thats all for now. Love to everyone of you. Ann
Friday, September 14, 2007
I'm here
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Twas the night before ......
I think all this intense preparation is my attempt to control what I can and to de-emphasise how open and relatively uncertain/unorganised my time away is at present. Because of not knowing how quickly things will resolve themselves in Hornsea the rest of the time has been left open-ended. So I have not been able to plan my itinerary in the way that I had all dates times sorted when I last travelled. I am not anxious, and although I don't know where I will be sleeping for a lot of the time, I do know that there are lots of beds available to me and if I am not near one, then there is always the credit card!
Anyway, I hope the next time I log in I shall be with Candice and Geoff in Hextable, waking at ridiculous times of the night as jet lag receeds and getting ready to travel to Hornsea on Sunday 16th. Till then, lots of love to all.
Meanwhile, try these 3-4 second videos taken on a visit to Russell. The reason they are so short was that I didn't realise I was taking them!! Ann
..
Monday, August 27, 2007
New Blog
As you might know the Blog I've been using since 2005 has become corrupted by spams. The way round this - so that I don't lose my text - is that I have created this new blog and have copied and pasted all my old stuff into this one. So, you can totally ignore everything below because you may have read it already. There is another blog that Rob and I have but that is mainly about Rob's recent trip to England and some of you are already readers of that one.
I am sorry that all the photos have been lost from the 'recovered' 2006/2005 blog - but I shall work hard to get more for this one. Try this address, I have posted some photos there.
Anyway, it is just one week till I set off again. On Wednesday 12th September I leave New Zealand for five weeks to England, Scotland and Greece. The main purpose of my trip is to dispose of our possessions which are in storage in Hornsea. So, after that is done then I have time to play - and to blog. I hope you will keep me company again; it comforts me to know I am not out in the big wide world all alone, but am watched over by my blog friends wherever I go. So, until September, bye for now. Love to all. Ann
Ann's Birthday blog 2006
Saturday, November 18, 2006
Birthday Treat
Hello everyone,
A birthday blog - since I went on a trip! Rob has planned a birthday trip for me for the last few years (
The following morning we set of for Akaroa in the chaffeur driven mercedes that Rob had hired. Akaroa is 1.30hrs away and over some high hills and low dales. We saw lots of cows and lots and lots of sheep; we visited a cheese factory and bought some to take home; spent some time in Akaroa and bought a beautiful kouri bowl with inlaid ebony and pau shell - as well as pressies for friends. Akaroa is a French settled town although it has lost most of its French influence and you can see it in the names of the streets, some shops and the cemetary. There were three impressive little churches, a pretty harbour and again the ubiquitous idylic hills and outlook from the town. Our driver, Lyndal, was knowledgeable about the area and kept us informed of all sorts of information about the area. We went off for lunch to the French Bay Vineyard - good wine and food, wonderful views, lovely weather - the superlatives just go on and on!!! On the way back we went over the hill to Oakin Bay where there was a very quaint Maori Museum - which had not seen a duster since it began I think. However, there were lots of very interesting Maori artifacts in the main museum as well as some colonial buildings with contents - I am so glad that I live now and not then - a couple of cottage, a smithy and a chandlers as well as a couple of Maori traditioanl buildings.
Back to
Ann's (& Rob's) USA holiday 2006
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Home sweet home
Hi everyone from sunny Devonport. Yes, it is nice to be home and in my own bed again I have to say. However, first things first - our last day. Spent most of the morning packing before taking a cab across to Greens, the vegetarian restaurant I had wanted to go to. Extremely good lunch place with views of the bay - got their menu again and will salivate over it occassionally to remind me of their food. Just as good as, but different from, Milleniums; more a lunch/brunch place but very populare and crowded even by the time we got there. Walked over to Ghiradelli Square and was no more impressed by it this time than I was last time we were here so moved on to a Tomato and Olive festival which was being held at the Cannery. Lovely heirloom tomatoes that I was unfamiliar with and lots of blended olive oil - not as good as NZ though, apart from one who used Koroniki olives and that was delicious and dark green. The owner has competed in NZ and has done well with his oil so it was good to talk to him about what he is doing. Then it was back to the hotel for a freshen up before Val collected us for the trip to the airport. Good flight back and arrived 15 minutes early so missed the crush and queues from the other 3 flights that were due at our official arrival time. We were out of the airport in 15 minutes and home by 6 am - and collecting Daisy by 7.45 - and very excited she was too!!! She had been extremely well tended and looked after by Coralie and Philip and looked in perfect health, relaxed and playful. Sissy and she kept close for the next day or so - perhaps thinking we might disappear again? The house and garden were lovely and had been really well looked after by Sue and Alex and Julia and Chris. So a huge, huge thank you to all of you for taking such good care of everything.
OK, so that is the trip and now we are home - and planning the next one!!! Will keep you informed about the next steps, meanwhile thanks to everyone, helpers, readers, commenters - I love you all. Ann
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posted by Ann at 1:09 PM | 2 comments
Saturday, September 16, 2006
Sausalito by the sea
Modern art, I'm afraid to say, does not capture me in the same way anything up to the early 21st century does. However, we visited the
We walked to the
We are in the process of packing just now - I have finished before Rob - and then it is off to Greens for lunch,
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posted by Ann at 8:06 AM | 2 comments
Friday, September 15, 2006
A Taste Sensation Day
Yum, yum, yum - it was one of those days when the sense being indulged was the sense of taste - and boy did it get sated. We had decided not to take up Val's kind offer of a car (I even went driving - and did not do any damage!) and that if I drove to the wine country then I was not going to be able to see or taste anything, so we hired a limousine with a driver to take us up - and a very very good idea it was too. We set off at 10.30 and arrived back at 5 and in between visited 5 vineyards and tasted lotttts of different wines. We started by driving over the Golden Gate Bridge and stopping off at the Vinisa winemakers before going up to Sonoma town. Vinisa had a lovely selection of mid priced wines and we tasted 5 wines, of which two were white, one rose, one red and one sweet - and all delicious. Then it was off to
OK, so now it is Friday and we are counting down the days - but first we are off to the Museum of Modern art (Rothko's and Diego Rivera's) and then a ferry over to Sausilito (?), so got to go, things to do, places to see, memories to make. Take care of yourselves and see all in NZ soon. Love Ann
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posted by Ann at 8:52 AM | 0 comments
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
Museums, museums
So, today had a nice, gentle, slow start with reading, breakfast and emails before we even thought of what next! Then it was full steam ahead for the museums - Asian Art and the DeYoung. We walked down to the
The museum was a model of excellence in the way it was set out for the visitor. Escalators, clear signage, excellent curatoring so that it was a pleasure to go round and be involved with the exhibits - although Rob and I disageed on the level of labelling. At any rate, we thoguht this was a really well presented museum - even though it did not have on display the items I had wanted to see - and made you want to stay and learn more about the exhibits. Nevertheless, time was of the essence, so after eating in the Asian restaurant of the muesum it was off to the DeYoung. Now that is a very different place entirely. Both museums have recentlu undergone a refurbishment. While the
Tomorrow we are off to the wine country - more later & love for now, Ann
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posted by Ann at 6:57 PM | 0 comments
Happy Birthday Val
We were up nice and early this morning since we were meeting Val and Darell at the wharf where they were arriving by ferry to spend the day with us (we are very pleased about this, since it is Val's birthday and special to be able to spend it with her, and Darell). At least that was our intention - and we did get out early enough we thought (9am to meet at 10) - however the vagaries of the SF Trolley bus system meant we were still on the trolley at 10, and as you know, I am not good with lateness, so what should have been a leisurely and attractive journey to the wharf was, on my part at least, one of unresolved frustration, unbridled scorn for such an inefficient mode of transport - all of which Rob found highly amusing - which also did not help. Drat!!! However, Val and Darell had had similar frustrations - missed the ferry, driven to
Because Val & Darell had the car - for which we are so grateful, because we would certainly not have got to do the things we did today otherwise - they took us up to Coit (?) Tower, one of the highest points to look over the city and the Bay. I won't give the history - oh well, just a bit. It was built by the wife of a philanthropist/businessman of the city who was also a volunteer fireman (every small boy's dream) and when he died she built the tower, which resembles the end of the nozzle of a firemand hose, to honour SF firemen (and her husband). Anyway, inside, it has these wonderful murals, all done by local artists in the late 20's, 30's depicting various aspects of the working life of those in the Bay area - they are sort of 'folk artish', very strong, and quite wonderful. I took a few photos so you will get to see some - if you haven't already on your journeys. The views from the top of the tower (got to by an elevator run by a man who gives a brief potted history on the way up) are stunning, and you can see SF's equivalent of NY's Ellis Island, called
From there Val drove us down
Then we went back to the wharf for a very pleasant lunch before going to the ferry. At the dock where the ferries are there is one area where sea lions, quite by themselves, voluntarily and persistently have taken up residence. There are a whole series of floating pontoons (I don't know the 'technical' word) and on them are at least 150 sea lions, honking, yelping, being very smelly, but very captivating.
We all got the ferry - Darell was going over to
Then it was a walk back through
Well, I think that is all for today, lets see what tomorrow brings, shall we? Love to all. Ann
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posted by Ann at 9:37 AM | 0 comments
Monday, September 11, 2006
Museum Monday Menace strikes again
Ok, you would think I would know by now - do not go to a Museum anywhere in the world on a Monday (and sometimes a Tuesday) because the are closed!!!! Since Rob was going off to Berkely to talk history with James Vernon I decided I would visit the MG DeYoung Museum in the
So now I am doing my blog before I go to eat at the Millenium Restaurant just up the road - it is a vegan restaurant and won the best vege. restaurant award last year, and the menu looks yummy. I was going to go to the theatre tonight but the Tom Stoppard play I wanted to see does not start till Thursday - so I shall jsut have to wait till then.
Ok my dears, lovely to hear from everyone, talk again soon. Love, Ann xxxxxx
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posted by Ann at 5:55 PM | 2 comments
Saturday, September 09, 2006
Happy Birthday to Rob
Thank you everyone who has sent Rob cards, both paper and electronic. He was very pleased to receive all of them this morning and to know so many of you are thinking of him. He has gone of to the
Yesterday was very pleasant for walking, so after shoring up this knee of mine, we walked around Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market. Faneuil Hall was the hall where all of the major revolution, slavery and emancipation debates took place in
OK, my dears, will get back to you soon. I am off to enjoy Rob's birthday. Love & hug, Ann
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posted by Ann at 6:15 AM | 1 comments
Friday, September 08, 2006
All through the night......
Even
After such an exhausting morning I stopped at a free classical concert in the square (3 classical guitarists) before setting off again for the
Rob returned from
PS 0- I forgot to bring my glasses - so can't see a thing - so do forgive whatever bad typing; I only hope enough is decipherable!
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posted by Ann at 2:21 AM | 5 comments
Thursday, September 07, 2006
I wandered lonley as a cloud
I saw Rob off to
I then had a walk down
In the evening, after a little rest and a chat with Rob I went for a stroll. Rob had successfully reached NY and used the Staten Island Ferry to reach his destination, passing the Statue of Liberty on his way, and he tells me that the 4th finger on the SofL is 8ft long (hope that does not fall off and hit anyone!). He has walked the length and breadth of the island - through some very rough parts too (he reckons the Teamsters and Tony Soprano have regular meetings at his hotel), and is looking forward to the museum and library tomorrow.
The weather has been very comfortable for walking around - in the 70's - and the evenings are especially pleasant. So, love to all, and will sign in again soon. Ann
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posted by Ann at 4:40 AM | 0 comments
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
Boston - a little like London
Hello my dears everywhere - welcome back to my blog. My arrival in
In the morning we walked in and around Trinity Church, which is the oldest church in Boston and is opposite our hotel in Copley Square. It had some Burne-Jones windows made by Morris and Co we wanted to see - beautiful and others by a
Thank goodness for the
In the evening we did a 2 hour tour of the Boston Library - again just across from our hotel - and were particularly interested in the murals completed (well almost) by Singer Sargent - most weird and wonderful, and in their day scandalous!
Today Rob is off to
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posted by Ann at 7:02 AM | 0 comments
Rob's train trip
September 2nd
Get on train. 'Room' smaller but seems OK. Bed will be put down by Kotara who seems to be in charge of coach 4810. Generally the whole outfit seems in need of a bit of a makeover but then if Bush is threatening to remove subsidies why would anyone invest. However, its obvious that Ann was right to persuade me to go the whole hog and get an ensuite room. We're called to dinner well before the train sets off. Go to the diner and a very efficient bossy boots tells me I can't sit where I want to, and read my book (On Beauty by Zadie Smith) and sits me across from two women who had also been told to sit next to each other. We're all a bit surprised at this approach to First Class travel but actually get on fine. We're joined by the oldest woman from the Golden Girls. One of the women is from
When I returned the bed has been put down which leaves little soace to do anything other than go to bed, which is quite large. They do claim you can sleep 3; two in the bed I have and one in another bunk that comes down from the ceiling - no thank you!
I discover I don't really want to go to sleep. All this US going by and its dark and I'm supposed to be asleep. I keep looking out of the window to see things flashing by. We stop and there, out of the window, is
Breakfast and lunch are forced sociability again but I've got the hang of it and quite happily talk to people I haven't been properly introduced to, and won't see again. Quite a few people are college kids returning for the new semester; tourists wanting to do a train rather than a boat or a plane (me), fat people (very fat people) who can't travel on a plane; aerophobes or those who can't afford a plane and sit in coach class for 24hours. There are, in fact, two trains; the front half with people in rooms and roomettes (which don't have toilets); and the others in normal carriages. After breakfast I sit in my room watching the world go by - hills, forests, lakes, clapboard houses, industrial degradation, big cities, big towns, small towns and hamlets.
The scenery gets prettier the nearer it gets to
Go to the hotel, check in, eat room service, watch TV and go to sleep. Am awakened by the cleaner at 9.30 the next morning.
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posted by Ann at 5:49 AM | 0 comments
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
Playing truant!!!
Hello everyone,
Just to say i will return to blogging tomorrow. I've been visiting with my freind for the last few days but am now in
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posted by Ann at 5:36 AM | 4 comments
Thursday, August 31, 2006
My friend Val
Hello everyone from
Bye for now, love to all
Ann
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posted by Ann at 10:02 AM | 1 comments
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
On the road again....
Ok - so it is official, my typing AND spelling leaves a lot to be desired! I have just looked bvack at yesterday's blog and am appaled by all the mistakes. The only thing I can say is that by the time I had recreated the lost blog I had lost all will to live or correct mistakes - so, apologies.
Yesterday was Gamble House day and it was quite splendid. Unlike Red House, Gamble House is quite open to passersby and so is quite visable from the road instead of being behind walls or hedges. So our first sight of it was in all its glory. It is a very substantial Californian Bungalow on 9,000sq yards (??? not sure) of land and is the only Green and Green house in its original condition with all the furniture and carpets etc. There are other Green and Green houses in the area but either they are privately owned or have suffered over the years either from disrepair or desecration by unsympathetic owners. The fron doors have the most beautiful inlaid galss spread over three panelss of an oak tree. Unfortunaltely no pictures are allowed inside so our only pic are of the outside - and there the sun was so bright and the house is so dark that I'm afraid my photos were not too good. We had a private tour from one of the doc-ents (guides) and then Bobby Mappstone (the PR person for Gamble House) met us and talked to us for a couple of hours about the house/its history/ history of Green and Green/the organisation of the running of the house/friends/ traing the guides ect. We were there till about five o'clock so had a very thorough introduction to the house, its owners and history. Rob had a fabulous time and was so pleased with the visit.
Now this morning it is time for us to leave
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posted by Ann at 6:53 AM | 0 comments
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
A fest for the eyes
I can't believe it - I have just lost the blog I have spend the last hour creating!!!
Anyway - here goes again. We started yesterday by wanting to go to two close by museums, one on Asian art and the other Californian art - of course, both were closed Monday and Tuesday. Since Tuesday is to be Gamble House and we shall be gone on Wednesday we shall have to miss these.
Today I am going off to do my homework - in the cool of the hotel - for Gamble House where we are going this afternnon. Rob meanwhile, is out - in the heat of the day, armed with sunscreen and water (it was 95 in the shade yesterday)- to walk around an area called Bungalow Heaven. This is an area which has the beast collection of Californian Bungalows in one area - Rob is a very happy bunny!!
Ok, my dears, all for now. I shall try to write tomorrow but we have to be on our way to the airport by 9am. Rob is off to
Ann
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posted by Ann at 10:08 AM | 2 comments
Monday, August 28, 2006
85 degrees and rising
Hello my dears from sunny-hot
The hotel has this very good system that it will take you anywhere you want to go within a 3 mile radius of the hotel. So, after resisting the enormity of a leisurely
Then of course jet lag struck and we were awake till 3.30 this morning!!!
OK my dears - we are off to play - I think 3 museums today!!!
Lots of love to all, and thanks for all the emails and text's.
Talk soon
Ann
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posted by Ann at 9:43 AM | 0 comments
Sunday, August 27, 2006
Mmmmm the sun
Hi everyone,
The flight was great, good food, lots of space, very comfortable -
We explored Pasadena yesterday, and is a very substantial town which - 2 young men that we met told us - had been very run down until about the 70/80's when big businesses moved in as part of the LA overspill and now it looks a very prosperous town with beautiful shops set in open air - but curiously souless - shopping malls and an old town where lots of resturants offer all sorts of different foods for the tourist trade; there is also a 'municipal area' with the town hall, library and police station and these buildings are sort of reminicient of Napier with an arrt deco feel to them. It is clear that a lot of the town has art deco touches and some of these are old and original while some aer newer and echo the older buildings by linking through some design motifs, there are also - obviously - spanish influences.
Today - afert being up for 36 hours and asleep for 12 - we are off to the
Anyway, I am off to see if I can sort out the blackberry for all you texters - wish me luck!!!
Will talk soon.
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posted by Ann at 9:19 AM | 0 comments
Friday, August 25, 2006
Going, going........
Hello from
Bye for now & love
Ann
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posted by Ann at 9:15 PM | 0 comments
Monday, January 23, 2006
I love to go awandering
Sissy and Daisy will be left behind when we depart for our adventure on the 26th of August. We will be flying to LA - where we will not stay - drive to
Rob and I will meet up in Boston where we will celebrate his 60th Birthday (can you believe we have made it so far!!!) before coming back to stay in a very nice boutique hotel in San Francisco for a few days before returning to Auckland on the 16th September.
I'll be posting between now and then and while we are away so do log in, read and even comment if you like. All for now - love & hugs, Ann
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posted by Ann at 7:21 PM