Monday, February 23, 2009
Pancake Day!!!
I just found out that tomorrow is Pancake Day!! I guess this is a national holiday and everyone makes pancakes for the evening meal. Even the stores had displays just for pancakes makings!! The pancakes are more like what we would call a crepe' (very thin and can be consumed in three bites) but of course that is French so they call them pancakes here. The most common way to eat them is to spoon white sugar and then pour a bit of lemon juice in the middle and roll it up and eat it. I've also had pancakes with nutella, cheese, and an icecream bar. Tomorrow Jane and I will be making a plate full and then meeting up with some other residents of the hospital accomodations to add the toppings and then play Balderdash.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Spring!
Well, not quite spring but today I saw these small white flowers which I think are some type of crocus. These are the first flowers to have emerged and give me hope that spring with warmer weather and more beautiful flowers is right around the corner!
Best laid plans
February 22, 2009
Best laid plans
A couple days ago I got the bright idea to go to Whitby. As it is my favorite place near Middlesbrough and I haven’t been in 2009, I figured that it was about time for a visit. But, what should I do or see this time? Church! St. Mary’s is my favorite parish church so why not go to Whitby on Sunday and go to church at St. Mary’s? I spent Friday evening planning bus schedules and looking up service times and by this morning, I was ready to go. I couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful day; by the time I caught the 8:45 am bus, the sun had burnt through the clouds, warming the earth, and creating a brilliant blue sky. I hopped on the bus to take me to Whitby. Through the countryside we went, past the little villages and fields of sheep heavily laden with their winter fleece. Up, up we went on the narrow winding country road to take us to the top of the moors. Then, slow, slow we crawled to the grassy shoulder. As cars whizzed by us, I assumed the driver was allowing the cars that had formed a train behind us to pass. Groan. Stop. Sputter, sputter, cough, cough, the old bus replied to each turn of the key. Stuck. In the middle of the Yorkshire Moors, the 93 bus to Scarborough calling at Whitby decided to stop and die. The driver tried to reach the depot on the radio; no answer. He tried his cell phone; no reception. He tried a passenger’s cell phone; lost reception. For over an hour we sat, 4 passengers and one driver. It is amazing how much influence the mind has when confronted with a situation such as being stranded. I suddenly found myself to be starving; would I starve to death before being rescued? I suddenly needed the toilet desperately; what patch of heather would afford the most privacy? Finally, the next bus to come along stopped and collected us. By this time, it was well past the church service start time. Arriving in Whitby, I wandered out to
the end of the pier-a place I had never been but is amazing as it juts out into the churning waves making one feel small and insignificant as they are surrounded by the North Sea. I wandered the shops; I can always find some quirky amusements to entertain myself. I stopped in for fish and chips with mushy peas at Hadley’s and then decided to climb the 199 steps to St. Mary’s. After services, the church is open for visitors so I wandered through the church appreciating the beautiful woodwork which resembles ship architecture; suitable for the area. With ominous thunder clouds beginning to roll across the moors, I quickly bought a lemon top (vanilla icecream with lemon icecream on top) and then boarded a bus suspiciously resembling the one from earlier, and headed back to Middlesbrough. This time I made it back without incident. Maybe I’ll try again next week….
Best laid plans
A couple days ago I got the bright idea to go to Whitby. As it is my favorite place near Middlesbrough and I haven’t been in 2009, I figured that it was about time for a visit. But, what should I do or see this time? Church! St. Mary’s is my favorite parish church so why not go to Whitby on Sunday and go to church at St. Mary’s? I spent Friday evening planning bus schedules and looking up service times and by this morning, I was ready to go. I couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful day; by the time I caught the 8:45 am bus, the sun had burnt through the clouds, warming the earth, and creating a brilliant blue sky. I hopped on the bus to take me to Whitby. Through the countryside we went, past the little villages and fields of sheep heavily laden with their winter fleece. Up, up we went on the narrow winding country road to take us to the top of the moors. Then, slow, slow we crawled to the grassy shoulder. As cars whizzed by us, I assumed the driver was allowing the cars that had formed a train behind us to pass. Groan. Stop. Sputter, sputter, cough, cough, the old bus replied to each turn of the key. Stuck. In the middle of the Yorkshire Moors, the 93 bus to Scarborough calling at Whitby decided to stop and die. The driver tried to reach the depot on the radio; no answer. He tried his cell phone; no reception. He tried a passenger’s cell phone; lost reception. For over an hour we sat, 4 passengers and one driver. It is amazing how much influence the mind has when confronted with a situation such as being stranded. I suddenly found myself to be starving; would I starve to death before being rescued? I suddenly needed the toilet desperately; what patch of heather would afford the most privacy? Finally, the next bus to come along stopped and collected us. By this time, it was well past the church service start time. Arriving in Whitby, I wandered out to
the end of the pier-a place I had never been but is amazing as it juts out into the churning waves making one feel small and insignificant as they are surrounded by the North Sea. I wandered the shops; I can always find some quirky amusements to entertain myself. I stopped in for fish and chips with mushy peas at Hadley’s and then decided to climb the 199 steps to St. Mary’s. After services, the church is open for visitors so I wandered through the church appreciating the beautiful woodwork which resembles ship architecture; suitable for the area. With ominous thunder clouds beginning to roll across the moors, I quickly bought a lemon top (vanilla icecream with lemon icecream on top) and then boarded a bus suspiciously resembling the one from earlier, and headed back to Middlesbrough. This time I made it back without incident. Maybe I’ll try again next week….Thursday, December 4, 2008
Softly falling snow
December 4, 2008
Softly falling snow
This morning I woke up to more snow! We are experiencing a “winter storm warning” which means we will get about 4 inches of wet snow by the end of the day. Yes, I know that this is nothing compared to what I am used to from living in Washington and Idaho but over here this much snow means that schools, motor ways, and bus routes will be closed. I’m sitting on my bed with the curtain open so that I can enjoy the snow falling outside while Christmas music is playing on my computer. Why am I at home on a work day you might ask? I have come down with my annual winter cold involving sore throat, loss of voice, and head ache. :( So, I’m recuperating at home and getting caught up on my blog.
Softly falling snow
This morning I woke up to more snow! We are experiencing a “winter storm warning” which means we will get about 4 inches of wet snow by the end of the day. Yes, I know that this is nothing compared to what I am used to from living in Washington and Idaho but over here this much snow means that schools, motor ways, and bus routes will be closed. I’m sitting on my bed with the curtain open so that I can enjoy the snow falling outside while Christmas music is playing on my computer. Why am I at home on a work day you might ask? I have come down with my annual winter cold involving sore throat, loss of voice, and head ache. :( So, I’m recuperating at home and getting caught up on my blog.
Rule Britannia
November 30, 2008
Rule Britannia
Wanting to visit the port area of Edinburgh, Kim and I took a bus out to the North Sea. We decided to visit the royal yacht Britannia which was decommissioned in 1997 and is now a tourist attraction. We toured the several levels of the yacht including the state rooms which were not as grand as I thought they would be. I also can’t agree the queen’s taste in décor. The crew areas were also really interesting to see as well as the engine room. Enjoy these pictures:
Iron for sleeves and collars
Rule Britannia
Wanting to visit the port area of Edinburgh, Kim and I took a bus out to the North Sea. We decided to visit the royal yacht Britannia which was decommissioned in 1997 and is now a tourist attraction. We toured the several levels of the yacht including the state rooms which were not as grand as I thought they would be. I also can’t agree the queen’s taste in décor. The crew areas were also really interesting to see as well as the engine room. Enjoy these pictures:
Queen's room
Grand dining room
Bell
Iron for sleeves and collars
Medical room
Napkin holder for officers
Picture of knots
Flag locker
Edinburgh Castle
November 29, 2008
Edinburgh Castle
Another day in Edinburgh and the day to tour the castle. We again climbed up the steep incline to the castle. The castle is built into the stone on top of the hill so that it appears to merely be a part of the boulders and not a separate entity sitting atop the land. Inside the castle is almost a little village. There is an old hospital, a military prison, and military barracks. The castle appears menacing from the outside as one approaches it with the barrels of cannons peering out to defend the structure. This is also the location where Mary Queen of Scots gave birth to King James. Here are some of the more interesting pictures with explanations
Entrance to the Castle
The defense portion with the cannons
The hostpital in the castle
Picture of a ship carved into the wall in the prisoner yard
Cannon
At the end of the day, we again ended up at The Tass, the pub we visited last night. For tea we had decided to try a quaint Italian café so did not have tea at the pub. Instead we had a variety of olives while we listened to more music. There were several other areas we would have like to visit including the Holyrood Palace which the queen usually visits in early December, and a Royal Gallery.
Edinburgh Castle
Another day in Edinburgh and the day to tour the castle. We again climbed up the steep incline to the castle. The castle is built into the stone on top of the hill so that it appears to merely be a part of the boulders and not a separate entity sitting atop the land. Inside the castle is almost a little village. There is an old hospital, a military prison, and military barracks. The castle appears menacing from the outside as one approaches it with the barrels of cannons peering out to defend the structure. This is also the location where Mary Queen of Scots gave birth to King James. Here are some of the more interesting pictures with explanations
Entrance to the Castle The defense portion with the cannons The hostpital in the castle Picture of a ship carved into the wall in the prisoner yard Grave yard for officers dogs
CannonAt the end of the day, we again ended up at The Tass, the pub we visited last night. For tea we had decided to try a quaint Italian café so did not have tea at the pub. Instead we had a variety of olives while we listened to more music. There were several other areas we would have like to visit including the Holyrood Palace which the queen usually visits in early December, and a Royal Gallery.
Exploring Edinburgh
November 28, 2008
Exploring Edinburgh
After my exciting adventure last night, I enjoyed a bit of a sleep in this morning before bundling up to face the cold Scotland air and explore the historic city of Edinburgh. Our first stop was to visit a German Christmas market and enjoy a bratwurst with sauerkraut for lunch. Next, we toured an art gallery with a section on Scottish artists and then other such work by Raphael and Rembrandt. This is a picture of the Scott Monument; a tribute to Sir Walter Scott.
Exploring Edinburgh
After my exciting adventure last night, I enjoyed a bit of a sleep in this morning before bundling up to face the cold Scotland air and explore the historic city of Edinburgh. Our first stop was to visit a German Christmas market and enjoy a bratwurst with sauerkraut for lunch. Next, we toured an art gallery with a section on Scottish artists and then other such work by Raphael and Rembrandt. This is a picture of the Scott Monument; a tribute to Sir Walter Scott.
Eventually, we made our way up the climb to Edinburgh Castle; once there we were told that if we came back tomorrow we could get free admission! With the change of plans, I decided to get my Christmas shopping done today and then do tourist type things tomorrow. I toured a woolen mill and saw how tartan scarves and blankets were made and then wandered down Royal Mile Street. Edinburgh is known for its magnificent views so I was also snapping my camera a lot as we made our way down the street. One of my goals while being in Scotland was to try Haggis so that night we stopped in at a small pub and had haggis with mash and neeps, very yummy! While we were there, four men came in and started playing traditional Scottish folk music. It was fantastic! 
View from up by Edinburgh Castle
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