Back again. But only for today

So, here I am, back in my flat *sigh*. I'd rather have stayed in England, but I have to earn money and my family missed me, so I came back.

A report then: on Thursday 21st, my parents drove me to the trainstation, from then on it was trains the whole time. And I found out, in Brussels, that I only had a ticket for the 22nd. Well, they let me go on,
so I was lucky, as I usually am. In the german train, they didn't see it. Does not matter, I got there.

Missed - again - the right way to the hotel, but I found it after all and it didn't take all that long. It was nice and clean and friendly and only for the night.

Then I only looked on my i-Pod for time and so I was at the train-stations TWO hours to early, instead of only the one planned. Well, I survived it, had a good breakfast, got on the train and thus to Leeds. In Leeds
I found the next platform (with the help from the information-desk). I had to wait a little, but it all went well.

Then I got to Gargrave and there I found out, that my b&b was not so very close to the village. About 2 1/2 miles away. So I walked there, Suitcase and all and that took me about an hour. Up and down the hills. BUT: when I arrived, it was well worth it. A really wonderful place and very friendly and helpful people.

So: I enjoyed getting there and I got Tea and Shortbread and a very nice room with a good view. The Bath was very nice, as well. So I made myself at home and then watched a little TV.
The next day I had a really tasty breakfast and met the other guests and we had nice chats. Then I got ready to go into Gargrave and yes, I walked that way almost every day, but to that later.

On my first day I took a bus to Harrogate. It was a long bus-ride and partly in heavy rain, but it had nice views. The North-Yorkshire Countryside is really well worth a visit. In Harrogate I just walked around and admired the houses. Beautiful houses, really. I chose, not to visit the museum, as I am not keen on them.
Then I took the bus back, walked all the way back to Newton Grange (my B&B) and just relaxed and went to sleep early.

The next day, since it was Sunday and the first bus started at about 1 pm, I took a Train to Skipton. I had planned to go on a steam-train, but I skipped that, because I couldn't walk there and I was too cheap to take a taxi. BUT, I took a one hour canal-tour on a boat and that was  very nice. And good to relax my feet.
Then, after some more running around, I found a litte Tea-Room "The Three Sheep". There I got a nice corner seat, where I could put my bags and frome where I could look out a bit.
I ordered a traditional tea, with cucumber sandwiches, carrot cake and a scone. Very lovely and filling.
After that I leisurely walked back to the train-station and there waited for the train, trudged up to my room and just collapsed. :-)

Since I was told, that there was nothing much to see in Bradford, I went to Leeds. There I found an additional bag for the Stuff I had bought so far and a Burger Bar "Byron", that I remembered from London last year. So I had my lunch there and I found a Sweet Shop, with lovely stuff in it, where I bought some things for my colleages, when I get back. And cinnamon ticktack for me. :-)
After all that running, I was really done in and decided, that for once I would take a taxi back from Gargrave. But I left it to the Universe to find the right solution. And it came, as expected. I asked a nice couple, that came back with their grandson, where I could find the local taxi and they offered to take me.
They only had to feed the dogs. Now that was very lucky. Then I had even more luck, as their grandsons parents came and so the men drove me up to the first sign of my B&B and I only had to walk 10 Minutes.
So, as usually and because I believed in it, I was lucky.

The next day, Neill drove me to Skipton and there I was lucky again, though someone else was unlucky.
Someone in the train before mine had collapsed and so the train was delayed. This though triggered a long line of luck for me: at first I could take an earlier train to Leeds. There I went to the Taxi-Stand and the lady before me changed her mind, so I could get her taxi. Because I was earlier and quick - with the taxi - I had time to use the restroom, enquire from where the bus would start and go there to find it, when I needed it.

It was about 9.30 or 9.35 am. There was a bus standing, that would go to London. My ticket was only for 11.00 am, but I thought, I just ask and trust in my luck again. And I was right, as I was able to get on that bus without extra cost. So I was in London at about 2.00 pm, instead of 4.15 pm.
In Victoria I got a ticket to Waterloo and had a very helpful man to write down, how to get to Waterloo.
The only bad thing was, that I took some missteps, that hurt my left knee and they didn't have an escalator to my platform. So I had to take the stairs and with my knees, that was rather hard work.
But I got to Waterloo and out of the Train-Station and found The Old Vic right away only five minutes from the train station. I couldn't have my ticket then, as I had bought it from an agency, but I could get it on Thursday, from 4.00 pm an. So I walked to my hotel, another five minutes away. And I saw at once, that there was a bus-stop close to my hotel. Very lucky.

My hotelroom had all the luxury I had dreamed of and was really beautiful. It was the H10. After I had rested a bit and taken a shower, I went back to reception to ask about the washing service and an appointment for a massage on my birthday. That done I collected my washing, got it to reception and then went to restaurant. I was a bit early, but I just sat down and watched the street.  Then I had a very nice meal. It was very little on my plate though, considering, that I cost more than 17 Pound and that the dessert at about 5 Pounds was almost as big. Also, there was a little salt lacking. But otherwise it was very nice. And the waiters where all very friendly. After that I just watched TV and then went to sleep.

Next day I bought two day tickets for London transport and then betook myself to Buckingham Palace, in order to watch the changing of the guards, of which I didn't see anything, because I didn't have a good place. So I stood there, but I saw the bands going there and I could here them. And it was dry, so it was o.k.
Afterwards I went to see Buckingham Palace and there I was lucky again, because there was an exhibition about childhood in the Palace and that was really interesting, as was all that could be seen of the state rooms.
Great fun and really fascintating. Then I went to the shopping centre and just looked around. I had a lovely salad in a little place, that I could build myself, so to speak and then I took a bus back to Waterloo Station.
There I got hopelessly lost. So I asked a nice woman at another bus stop, after walking around for about an hour or more (or so it felt) and she could help me. So I got home again. And I was really done in. So I only showered and watched TV. But my washing was back. That was great.

The next day was better. I got up and showered and had a leisurely breakfast. Before that though, my parents congratulated me on my birthday. After breakfast I got some more congratulations and then I went to the massage. A lovely one-hour-long massage. Great.
After I got back, I grabbed my stuff and took a bus to St. Paul's. There I looked about, then found another bus to Tottenham Court Road. All very fascinating. I even remembered to take a few photos. Then I found  another Byron, but I needed an ATM, that I found as well. So, after getting cash and finding out, where my bus back would start, I had a very big luxury lunch and then I went to Foyles and bought some books. Afterwards I took the Bus back to The Old Vic. There I had a little time, so I went to another book shop.
Then I got my ticket and went to my hotel. For some reason I found a voicemail from my coffee-round only then, but it was very nice. I relaxed and packed and got myself ready for the evening and then went back to The old Vic. When I went to my seat, I found myself right on the stage. Oh.... Then I sat on the wrong seat, but that wasn't all that bad.
The play took 3 1/2 hours, the first part was 2 1/2 hours. But somehow it was all so intense, that nobody realized the amount of time it took to get to the break. It is a really great cast, they all played very well.
Afterwards I did think about waiting for an autograph after all. But it just isn't my thing. So, though I did look at the stage-door, I didn't go there. I just went home/to the hotel, packed the rest of my stuff and got myself into bed.

The next day I took the Underground to get to Kings Cross/ St. Pancrass and due to my excellent planning, I  arrived there without hassle and with time enough to check in and wait for boarding. My coach was way down and someone sat on my seat. That was o.k. for me though, as I wanted to stretch my left leg, because of my knee and I couldn't have done it on "my" seat. So I asked him, if he would just stay there..
The ride back was uneventful. As on the ride to London, I slept through the tunnel and in Brussels I didn't have any problem to get to my train. Also, my coach was the first to get to from the elevator. And my seat was right at the beginning. And I  had both seats until Liege. So that went well. In Cologne my neighbour helped me get my luggage down. There I had time to get the german version of a hotdog and then I got my
train home. I walked the last 5 Minutes and wasn't molested by any neighbour with talk. At home I found the birthday presents from my parents. Very nice. :-)

And so I am home again. Tomorrow I have to go back to work. Sad, but true. Anyway, I wrote, that I am back only for today. That means, I will not be writing again. At least not for a long time now. Not until I have something worth writing. Also I have decided to keep the weekends PC free. So at first I thought about writhing on Tuesdays, instead of Sundays, but last night I found, that I don't really want to write anymore.
I might come back, but I won't promise.

So, THANK YOU FOR ALL WHO READ THIS. IT WAS NICE TO KNOW, THAT SOMEONE DID.  And sorry for leaving you on such short notice. With all things I end, I do it on cold turkey. Like an addict. It is easier for me. 

I leave you with this clip, that I don't own, and bid you good bye!

Caught a cold :-(

And I don't particularly like it. I had planned to go to an Amusement Park with my siblings and due to that cold and the fact that I am very close to my holidays, I decided it too dangerous. And it was good. What I did today was sleep and sweat.That's what I always do, when I fall ill. I sleep and sweat. And in the few times I am awake, I drink. I have torn myself out of bed to be able to sleep tonight. There is no sense in lying awake because I slept all day. Well, I might not llie awake, because I am actually rather tired. But still.
And the sneeze didn't break out proper. That is a tiny worry and only because I don't like to leave a trail of hankies in my wake.

Other than that, I am fine. My holiday comes ever nearer, we had two birthdays in my family recently and a good party, the weather wasn't too nice, but that should make it easier for the kids to return to school next week. So, may be all for the best.

I can't reall write so very much, as I had already written a lot last time and that reminds me, there is ONE thing I can write about. Well, I did not re-read it, but I may have sounded judgmental on people who wait at stage-doors to get an autograph. I can't even absolutely say, that I wasn't. At any rate, I want to apologize.

I'd say, if the stars didn't want to give autographs and pause for photos, they'd find another way to leave the building, Or if they just didn't care for their fans. But most don't, so I assume, it is o.k. with them and therefore: who am I to judge? Just because it isn't my cup of tea, doesn't make it wrong. It is different.
Sometimes I really have to remind myself that if I insist on living my way, others have the same right. And the fact, that I wouldn't do something does not always make it wrong. Except for crimes like murder, adultery, robbery and whatever is a real crime. But other than that.... So, I am sorry, if I gave someone a bad taste in the mouth. It was not intended.

And the perfect clip for that, not owned by me, would be something with the word sorry and with that I leave you... after I told you, that' I won't write next week, as my computer will get an overhaul.. but the weekend after...

V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N!!

Thought I'd start with a song this time. And so with yet another clip I don't own. This one absolutely expresses my feelings, as from Friday on I am on my vacation. Three glorious weeks. Lovely!!

I have decreed a lazy weekend and that it was. A lot of knitting and audiobooks on the balcony and a very late night with the sims for yesterday. A sleep-in today, writing here and playing and what-not today.

Tomorrow though I will get on to my flat, a thorough clean up and I will finally get used to the digicam my Dad gave me as a permanent lease, or lending-object? I don't know. Whatever, it is a holiday preparation.
Then I will travel to England and enjoy my time there. The highpoint will be the last day, mainly because that is my birthday. I shall start with a leisurely breakfast, then a massage and then I'll take a boat to the Royal Observatory to Greenwich. There I shall spend some time looking around, taking photos and then back to have a leisurely tea time, before I pack my backs and get ready for the theatre in the evening.

I'll be seeing "The Crucible" by Arthur Miller with Richard Armitag as John Proctor. Well, I hope, he'll be there and not promoting his new film somewhere. BUT, even if he isn't, I am convinced the drama will be
very well played out. Judging from the reviews, the actors are one and all very good. So: though I would
regret him not being there, at least I would not regret having seen it.

I had been wandering what to watch on my Birthday and nothing really appealed, until I - more accidentally - read, that he would be John Proctor. So, since I would like to see Richard Armitage life, but don't want to meet  him personally, that seemed the best and most comfortable way. Well comfortable for the body at least. No long standing about in crowds and being jostled about, but sitting, albeit for 3 1/2 hours in a cushy seat. :-) Much prefer that. And would still get to see him. :-) And not have to think about what to say to him.
I have a technique of sounding completely inane with people who fascinate me.
Then there is his voice, he has a very dark and calm one and I am calm to these kind of voices and to voices in general who read well. I once had to listen to the beginning of "A Passage to India" read by Ben Kingsley five times, before I was able to hear, what he was actually reading, without drowning in that voice. Talk about "reading the phone book". Mr. Armitage does have that kind of voice. Very nice to listen to.

At any rate, I won't only see him, I'll be seeing the Changing of the Guards and the last time I saw that, I was 6 years old and didn't really see very much of it. And I shall see Buckingham Palace from the inside. Yeah. Never did that.

In North Yorkshire I shall see Harrogate. And Harrogate seems fascinating because in my head I combine that with the romances of Georgette Heyer. So That is worth seeing. And I'll see Bradford, where J.B. Priestley grew up. They do have a Bronte-Museum as well, but I really am not into this family. On the other hand, the lived in a time that interests me. So I might go there after all.  Other than that I shall have a tour on a  steam-train and in a Canal-Boat. Sounds like a lot? I don't agree. There is one full day for Harrogate and one for Bradford and only the last mentioned tours will be on the same day. But they start from the same town. So: no stress. :-) It is a holiday after all.

At any rate: those are my plans, while my poor friend housesits here. The reason why I clean so very well. Not that she is very exacting, but who would like to live a flat untidy, when a friends comes living there?
Exactly. :-)

That's enough babbling from me! All the best!

Almost forgot over a knitting fever

Today I got into bed very late. Well maybe you can call it early, too. At any rate, I only got up after my Dad called me. He wanted to know about my mobile phone blocking yesterday. My brothers phone had been stolen and he couldn't get through to the hotline. My parents and sister couldn't be reached, so he tried me and I actually got through and got it done. I am rather proud of myself.

Anyway after I had told my Dad about it, I decided, that I might as well as get up. It was only about four minutes to 12. Yes, yes, I am a sloth, but it is the weekend and didn't have any duties, so I gave that to myself. Yesterday I had washed three machines of washing. The day before it had been two machines. So I had been busy. Then yesterday I managed, what I never managed to do ever before: I burned water in a pot.
That was, because I forgot it there, watching TV.
So let that be a warning to you: don't watch TV and cook. Stay in the kitchen, until the water cooks. :-)
Today I managed to heat water, without burning it. So you see, it was a one off.

The next week will be rather stressful, as it is the last before my holiday. A lot to do: two special lunches to attend, a meeting to prepare and then to get as much work done, as possible so as to save my colleague from having to do all my work.

I am not travelling right then, but I shall have time off. That's lovely and it is a really long holiday. Almost a month and a bit. Most of it spent at home. Lovely, if I manage to just have peace... Though I will go to an amusement-park with parts of my family. :-)

Other than that: it is cooler, than it was, that is a relieve, especially for my feet, they are not as swollen, as they were these past weeks. Very nice. AS I said, for my feet.

Other than that, nothing much happened here, but a lot happened in the world. Since I assume, that you all follow the news and since I don't want to talk world politics here, I leave it at that.

At any rate, I shall drop off now, not to bed, but to play and leave you with a random clip, that I do not own, but that fascinated me a lot. :-)

A day early

But I was sitting here and so I thought, I might as well. You don't have to read it earlier than Sunday dear Reader. :-)

Anyhow: this has been a horribly hot week here in my part of Germany and I am definitely NOT heatprove.
So, the songs, that I already had, about the heat, are still valid. Although, I think, I only had one of them on, so I put on the other one now. I don't own it. It might bore you to read that all the time, but I can hardly put on the mantle of creatorship for something, I didn't create. So I don't. Here goes:

There is a nice version sung by Miss Monroe, from the film "There's no Business, like Showbusiness" But somehow the version I found was a bit grizzling in the pixels. And this is really nice enough...

As I said, we had a heatwave and this always means, that my feet swell to about double their size. So I wear shoes with laces, that I can widen. But if this goes on, I have to buy these kind of shoes a size larger. Just so I won't have to go to work barefoot or in flipflops. That is generally frouned upon in an office and generally rightly so, but in this heat? There should be exemptions. Though: I do not like to walk in FlipFlops, but some people do and can and should be allowed to.

Other than that: not only did I finish the second act of "The Crucible" I finally got around to read the story of the real happenings in Salem in the 17th Century Massachussetts (sorry, if I wrote that wrong, not on purpose). Anyway, I did know, that it really happened, I just didn't know, that Arthur Miller stayed so near the truth.Some things he eliminated and some (mainly the ages) he changed, but most of the characters he kept. It is a shocker and more shocking than the truth of the story is, that this can practically happen every day, everywhere to everyone. Well, maybe minus the hangings, I hope, but the "witchunt" of people.

Even more frightening to me personally is, that I cannot be sure, that I wouldn't be a witchhunter. Now, unencumbered but such happenings, I would say: no way! But if I thought my life or that of the ones I loved depended on it? I couldn't say. I really couldn't say, but I say it right away: I wouldn't want to try it out.

So, apart from reading The Crucible I finished the Great Railway Bazaar by Paul Theroux and I am currently listening - again - to "The little Beachstreet Bakery" by Jenny Colgan. I like her style.

Yesterday I started "The black Country" by Alex Grecian. It is good and it is about the work of Scotland Yard in its beginning in the late 19th Century. But it started with a girl finding an eye and it started with "The American" who had a gash in his cheek, that showed his teeth. Won't describe it further. 

On my e-reader I am also reading "Locavore - U.S.A." which is about people to try and make their grocery shopping more local. That is interesting and it is, what I try, but not always manage to do. Anyway, it is a nice book and when I don't want to read about crimes in the 17th or 19th centtury I gladly turn to economic adventures in the 21st Century.

Oh and I have been watching a lot of clips from X-Factor (several different countries), and "you name the county" go talent. I watched again Susan Boyles first audition, but there was one by a then 13year old girl, Carly Rose Sonnenclar on X-Factor America, who then got sponsored or whatevere it is called, by Britney Spears and I thought then and think now, that Britney Spears did a great job. It was a bit as if she wanted to show, how it can be done. She didn't turn the girl around, She asked hard work of her and she tickeled out the best and she showed, that she herself really is a pro. Also I had the feeling, that she found some sort of piece in this. She got a girl on first place by her mentoring (that was the word) and showed, that she is more than her child and teen clips, but a talented, hard working woman.

She should do more of here quiet songs, like "Sometimes I'm sad..." Maybe even Jazz or Blues or Soul? I don't know, but I think, that she is much more, than what she was made to be.

So, to honour that, I shall try to find a clip of Miss Sonnenclar, after Britney Spears mentored her.

As always, I don't own that clip!

O.k., she does not look like 13, but she does not sound like it either. Below another clip of hers, the original audition, that clip I don't own either...

Yes, it is the same girl. :-)

I wish you a good Sunday!!

The Garden Song

Today we start with a clip almost right away. One of those I do not own:
It is a John Denver/Muppet-Version of the Garden Song...

I found this song on i-tunes, sung by Arlo Guthrie. The text is a little different, but the melody stays lovely.

Now, where I live, it is definitely far too  hot to either work or be in the garden, but never mind. It is summer.
Though judging by the heat, the temperature is curtesy of hell, not of heaven. But this may be, because I am
not heatproof.

Anyway, life goes on, the World Cup is finally finished, so as far as that is concerned, there should be some peace for about four years. Well, there are always those, who would like to revel in these things for more than a month and I am sure it will come up again at the "end of the year" reviews, but other than that, it will be rather peaceful.

My Aunt finally died. Now, this might be hard, even though she was 91 already, but for the past two months, all she could do, was lie and sleep. She wasn't conscious to speak of and she couldn't eat of her own accord. That is not living, that is vegetating. And she has always been a very active person. So she had a right to die, says I.
It is also a relieve to my father (her younger brother, who had the worry and the close up work. But my cousins do now have the paperwork and organization of the funeral and all that. They are executors.
At any rate, it is an aera ended. She has always been there, one way or another and it is weird, that she is not now. Though lately we did not get on so well, I shall still miss her.

Other than that, there is really not much to tell. My BBC-links don't seem to work and I hope, that the problem lies not in my computer. Since obiously my blog works and YouTube, I'd say, it isn't.

Yesternday I had some business in the city and it was darn hot. Which gets me to another song I don't own, nor do I own the clip. But either "says" what I mean...

Yet another Sunday

I had so much fun, playing the Sims 3, I actually only remembered, that Sunday is my blog day. But a look as to the number of readers showed me: nobody realized it. Yet. It is out now, that I pointed to it myself.

So yesterday we had our "Schools-Out" barbecue and coffee, though not in that order. My oldest niece is finished with school, my nephews are changing schools and my niece holds the fort in primary school.
It was great fun and took a long time. Still, as long, as it is fun....

Today the last game in the world cup takes place and ain't I happy. I do hope, that the bother of it all will be finished with it. Though I do not see that yet. But at least it will all quieten down and that's something. Really I am not fond of soccer. People turn into annoyances, which makes me turn into an annoyance. And I do not like to be one.

Anyway, I got on with my holiday planning. I can do a tour with the steam-train and on the canal on the same day. They start not so very far apart. So I can do exactly, what I had in mind. I just love it. It is wonderful. I still have to buy a ticket for The Buckingham Palace, but I can do that tomorrow. I am suddenly very tired. AND I am eagher to go on reading "The Crucible". I thought, that I might be better to know more about the peace. Well, I do know, what it is about and the main characters and how the hold together or rather apart. But I didn't know the details. Well, I am getting there and I only just started.

From the pictures I saw - and I obviously don't mind repeating myself, see above - there is a lot of female screeching and male roaring. Am partial to neither. The screeching is on a level that induces my tinnitus-nerves to wake up and the roaring rather frightens me. Which is, why I am more afraid of the Thunder, than the Lightning in a storm. And so I avoid it, if I can. I usually can. But this I brought on to myself.
Still, it is a very interesting story and a good study in human behaviour. Seen not only in 17th century. From what I read about Mr. McCarthy in the 50ies, it really wasn't much different, though for different reasons.

There is the thing, that Mr. Miller wrote his piece at that time, when he was made to feel the workings of those trials and this has obviously made a strong impression on him or he wouldn't have written this piece.
So one can learn more than one new "thing".

There is a song sung by Noel Coward, his text to a melody from Cole Porter: "Let's fall in Love" and Mr. Coward shortly refers to Mr. McCarthy.
And then, coming to names mentioned in a song, there is the name of Fred Astaire mentioned in "A Nightingale sang in Berkeley Square". I own neither, but I will try to get both or one of them on here.

For now it is enough frome me. Cheerio!

Since I'm still awake

I decided to write now and not much, much later...

It has been a very hot week, but the weekend is rather wet. As this saved me from walking, I was personally not very sad about it. But I do hope, that there was nobody inconvenienced by it.

It was the 4th of July so a very important day in the U.S.A. and I do hope, that the weather there was nice.
I do assume, that there will have been parades and barbecues and fireworks and a lot of fun for everyone.
Much nicer and good weather.

Actually, I do not have much to tell. The world cup is still on, but fortunately, there are only three more games. I do hope, that Brazil or Belgium wins. Though I wouldn't mind Argentina either. We shall see.
But I am keeping my fingers crossed.

Next week we have a "schools-out-barbecue" in my family. My oldest niece did her A-levels with very high marks, she will be off to University soon. Her brother finished part of his schooling, you might call it High School, equally well. He will go to college to do his business-A-levels there. My younger nephews will change to Junior High-School, Grade 5 at any rate. And my youngest niece will go on to second grade.
The summerholidays here started on Friday, with the last day of school.

I love the summerholidays. It means, that the trains are emptier and the chances to have a seat in the morning are much higher. Lovely. And it's nice for the kids, though their parents might be glad for the end of the holidays, when they don't have to find ways to keep the kids occupied or watched ove. For them it will be a long 6 weeks.

That's about all I could tell you. My holiday is getting nearer and I am looking forward to it. I'll be seeing "The Crucible" by Arthur Miller with Richard Armitage. It will be interesting, but I got a bit worried from the photos, as the insinuate, that there will be a lot of screeching, screaming and shouting. And that I am not a fan of. Or my ears are not, especially the screeches. At first I was sad to sit rather in the back rows of the stalls, because I might not be able to see Mr. Armitage so well. Now I am actually rather glad. Otherwise my ears would be ringing the whole way back home. As to the view: I shall borrow my Moms opera glasses.
At any rate, the piece will be very good and it got a lot of good reviews, so I am all in all looking forward to it. And it will be a nice roundup to my holidays. Since I will have a long trip on the train the next day, I have enough time to think about it.

Now: since it is in the middle of the night, I thought a clip referring to the night might be in place. I do not own it, as is never the case, but enjoy anyway:

Last Sunday in June

Isn't that quite shocking? The year sort of raced by. That in itself is weird, but the shocking part is what I was told, when I was much younger and time just wouldn't past (expecially in maths-classes): then I was told, the time would simply race by, when I was grown up. And somehow it seems to get faster as I grow older.
Well, I don't know about you, but that's, what it's like for me.

Still: I managed to corner out my own slow time: every Sunday is my person-free summer. I do not have to meet anyone, phone anyone, do anything with anyone. This day belongs to me and to me only. And don't
I love it. Makes me quite cordial to the rest of the human race. Because not only time runs, my patience with human beings seems to run between my fingers. Ah well, that's what it is. It only means though, that I wnat my time without other human beings. I do like the pixellated once. They do, what I want, when I want them to. Mostly, that is.

Last week my colleague and I found, that christmas was only 6 months away. Now, Christmas in my religion is held on the 24th of Decembre. Christmas Eve. And even if I already wrote it, this is, how it goes:
On the 23rd, my Dad and I decorate the tree, while my Mom gives the finishing touches to the Herring Salad. Then she comes to review it and my Dad drives me home. On the 24th, we go to Service in the Afternoon, then meet at my parents, trying to get my Uncle to eat a lot, so he won't have enough appetite for the Herring Salad. Then the presents are given out and enjoyed, the salad with Bread and all that enjoyed and then we all drive home again. The next day or the day after, we met at one of my siblings houses, because not all my siblings are at my parents. My big brother usually has christmas at his home.

Now, we do not know of course, if this will be the same this year. My parents are getting older and so we will take over some of their works. Like preparing the Herring Salad. Or I won't pick the tree with my father, but with my oldest Nephew or some such thing. Rituals will change, that's how life goes. But then again, it is
good, as it is.

Oh, something entirely else and sad at that: my Godmother, who is my fathers older sister, had her fourth stroke, about two weeks ago and developed a inflamation of the lungs. She is not really concious either
and frankly, at the age of 91, she doesn't want to live on. Especially, as it seems, that she will stay the way she is now for the rest of her life, which does not seem to be long. Though 91 is old.
So, if you are at all into praying, could you give a prayer for her? Pray, the Lord will take her to  him? I do know, that HE decides this things, but maybe if a lot of people pray for her, it helps. Or helps her to let go.
It is quite as likely, that she finds it hard to let got of life.
Now, this was religious and I do not generally write about religion, but this one is close to my hard, as I liked her, with all her faults. Mainly because she took me with all mine. And she was a generous person and very active. She travelled and met for coffee and until her second stroke she even met regularly with her schoolmates. And that was school in the 1930ies. So they were all very fit very long. But when my Aunt turned 90, there were only three left, including her. I think of about 20 women. She had a hard life, but a full one at that, at any rate, she does deserve a place in heaven in my eyes.

That was heavy stuff, wasn't it? First Christmas now age. So let's talk about travel. It fits, as she liked that.

Even though I haven't even embarked on my travels to England, I have already an idea for next years Holiday. I will go to Sweden by train. It will be Malmo via Hamburg. I have been in Sweden at the age of 17 with a group and it was lovely, but somehow then I travelled to other parts, so I thought, it would be nice to go back to Sweden and see it on my own. I haven't planned any further than that, though.

And, speaking of Sweden, this shouts out for some Astrid Lindgren and some of the songs in the films about her boos. So here goes. They may have been on here before, but I do not own them anymore, than then:

Food

Lately my thoughts have been centred on food. I am not sure if I wrote, that I was diagnosed with Gastritis, after having painful nights with stomach ache. And writing this, I feel like a fraud, because "I was diagnosed with Gastritis" sounds like I had some really dreadful and terminal illness. And that it is not. It opens up new ways, gives new opportunities, leads to new experiences.

What I mean? The stomach aches made me look up, what I can and can't eat without pain resulting from it.
So, I'll be saving a lot of money in future, because all the fatty stuff I like is off limits for me. Unless I want to spend my nights lying awake in pain and, let's say, developing a very close relationship to my toilet.

Therefore, the door is opend to better food. Healthier and tastier food. And I can get that from several food-traditions. A lot of which I may not even know yet. What I do know is Italian Food. And a little bit of Indian Food, Naturally enough, I know German food, also Amercian (I am referring here mostly to Fanny Flaggs Cook-Book). Then English Food and French Food. And I very little of Australian Food. That's not a lot and then again, it is quite a lot, looking at it.

Just recently I started a book by Erica Baumeister. It is her first book and is called: "The School Of Essential Ingredients". Apart from having quite beautiful stories, the descriptions of food and its' preparation are very inspiring. I have laid it aside for now, because I remembered, that I hadn't written my blog post as yet. AND because I don't want to finish it so soon, because then it will be finished and that will be a real shame, any time it happens.

I am not a foodie. I eat to fill my tummy. So of a weekend, after I finally got up, the whole food of the day may consist of buttered toast and cucumber. We are not speaking of two slices and a piece of cucumber.
This would be about eight pieces and a whole cucumber. Yes, it is greedy. And it was topped with a Cup of tea or Cappuccino.

But due to the requirements of my stomach and the aforementioned book, I made the resolution to change my food habits entirely. Not only the eating of it, but also the choosing and preparing of it.
Yesterday I started small with Pasta and Pesto out of a glass. Today I had Asparagus with salt and pepper and some butter baked in double aluminium foil in the oven for about 30 Minutes (I am not yet very good with the preparation of Asparagus). This I combined with small potatos, cooked in their skins and then boiled in a sauce of butter and rosemary. I do not as yet have my own little rosemary plant, but I will get one tomorrow. It was very tasty at any rate, even if I say so myself and the asparagus was rather hard than soft.

Anyway. Tomorrow - in the office - it will be a big salad with olives and tomatoes and cucumbers and a roll. That I will get from the bakery in my street, made from spelled flour. So that takes care of that. In the evening I may make some fish, but since I also planned to finally do some sports, I am not so sure about it.

Well, full fun ahead and a lot to think of and to learn. And it is always nice to learn. If you should have any ideas for slowfood, with little or no meat, no sharp ingridients, no cabbage, peas, lentils: go ahead and send them here, I am trying out cooking.

Now for a clip to do with food and as ever not owned by me....

It doesn't look, like it has to do with food, does it? But listen to the song, imagine yourself in an italian ristorante. Whole families are there talking to people waay down their table. Laughing, eating, drinking wine, the children playing, the waiters serving food. It is a hot summers days and la cena (the dinner) is in the garden of the restaurant, starting with antipasti.... and now: dream on.

Vivaldi, Verdi and Puccini are also very nice to listen to, while eating - or even only thinking about - italian food.

Enjoy! Until next week!

Life is good

Not, that I haven't written that here before, but no harm to write it again. I can only speak for myself anyway.

But just as an example, how bad things sometimes turn into something good:
around Pentecoast we had a horrible storm around here, almost a tornado. My neck of the wood does not generally have tornados. That was bad. And that the electricity in the train-lines was hit was bad as well.
The good and lucky thing about it for me was, that I couldn't get to work. I did try though. But there was
no getting there and so I took a day off on Tuesday and on Wednesday, since the problem was not cleared completely by then.
Since both were very warm and humid days and would have been even more so in my office, it certainly was no hardship to stay in. I also had enough days to take the days off. So it worked off.

This way I also got some ironing done ahead of time and payed some bills a day earlier, got my shopping done and hoovered through my flat once more.

I also downloaded some music and I will see now, wether I can't find a clip or two of the songs.
I don't own them, I just borrow them. As ever...

The second song is a different version from the one I downloaded (which was by Art Garfunkel), but the version I can hear I can't see on YouTube, it is only for people in the USA. It's a bore, but this one is a very nice version for sure.

Anyway, nothing much happened. Oh, my nice got her A-Level-results. I expect them to be very good, as she is an A-Student... 

Other than that there is really nothing much to tell except, that the weather is nice, the birds are singing and it is Sunday again. 

Oh, I had a very good night and in my book that is not so very often, so I rejoice about every good night I can get. 

I wish you all good and peaceful nights, but first a sunny and happy day and week!

Don't eat the daisies

I thought, I'd start this post with a clip (that I don't own), because it came to my mind.

So, it is the Pentecost weekend here and mighty hot it is. I spend some time on my balcony and then had a "nap" afterwards. Time on my balcony: 30 Minutes. Naptime: 6 hours. How I am going to sleep tonight? I have not even the remotest idea.

Whatever: yesterday I went walking, but not in the heat, we went in the late afternoon, when it had cooled off a good bit. Afterwards I finished watching "When Harry met Sally". I found, that I am not so very fond of the pretending scene of Sally, but I like the comment of a lady in the restaurant afterwards. "I'm having what she has."

Other than that: I have been very successful last Tuesday: I found a trainticket from London to Yorkshire for about under 25 British Pound and a busticket back to London for exactly 25 BPD, plus a theatre ticket for 63,30 BPD (instead of 108 BPD) in the stalls. So all in all I saved 211 BPD in one go.
I was so swelled with pride, that I did my income-tax declaration right away and sent it off the next day.
May that money come in... :-)

At work I did something new all by myself and did it well and I worked off some Minus-time I had collected. Also I worked quite well all in all, in spite of the heat.
The new office-team with my colleague so far is a good one and we get along just fine. We can each do, as we like and neither gets irritated.

I'll have to have the door open for the next days though, as it is going to be very hot and steamy here in Germany and I can't stand that at all.

Oh and on Friday and Saturday I washed, hung and took off the line again: SIX loads of washing. You can see from this, that I have not been washing a lot lately, also there was one load of Bedclothes, that I kept for drying out of doors. Someone kept his stuff hanging in the drying cellar. Including his underpant. I hope he has more than one. :-)

Other than that I have been fairly lazy, but I have also been dreaming of what I will be doing, when I am in Yorkshire and London. It will be wonderfull and relaxing. I shall have a great time. Well, only being there, without doing anything will be great.

Now I will go back to my balcony, but I thought: it's Sunday, write your post, there may even be people waiting for it. Oh, if I find another clip (not owned by me), I'll put it here, but anyway I wish you a good Sunday. Peace be with you!

It's a lovely day today

..... because it is Sunday and I don't have to work today. So I slept in and then I've read a little and now I am sitting here, with my almond cappuccino and writing.

This will be one of the last cappuccini, due to my having developed a Gastritis. This means, that I have to bar a lot of food items from my shopping list, because they do not combine well with Gastritis. Since I meant to loose a good deal of weight anyhow, I consider that my body's way of helping me along.
And boy does he have a way of re-thinking my food-choices of the day: he keeps me awake with horrible stomach pain, until I finally crawl out of my warm and cozy bed and take a tea. After I drank that slowly, the pain leaves and I can sleep.

Now, I do not deserve any compassion for my pain, as I did it to myself. Years of unhealthy stuffing finally caused my stomach to strike back. And then some. So I am learning what I can eat without pain and what I can't. At first it seemed, that there are more things, that I can't eat, but that's not quite true. Surely, all the things I love fall flat and have to go, but there are a lot of things left, that I like. So I shift.

Also this means, that I will save a lot of money on Gyros, Doener, Big Macs, Fries, Cappuccini, Carrot Cake and such. I will switch to pasta, rice, potatoes (not the fried version), tea (not black though) and a lot of veggies. Lean Meat and Fish are allowed as well. So I am not likely to starve, these are all things I do like and therefore I am not even deprived. I just shift.

Other than that: a colleague told me on Monday, that there is a way to get tickets much cheaper, so I will be able to see The Crucible after all, from almost the front row (I am not a fan of the front row) at a more reasonable price. 74 €. That's much better, than 133 € and I am willing to pay that. Even though it still is quite a steep price. But compared to other prices.... :-)

Now for the Music of this day, I will use - yet again - a song I like. I don't own it, but it is nice and fits the title. I am pretty sure, that I already had it here, but it is one of the songs, you can hear more than once and still like.

EU-Elections and others

Today - at least in Germany, the Representatives for the European Union, as well as for the Town-Council and the District Council and - if you are not German, but live here - the Integration Council are elected.
In some European Countries (in this case it means Countries, that are members of the EU) the Elections were held on Thursday. My parents among others voted by letter and one can also vote right in the town hall, ahead of today. So one gets very many chances to vote. To use ones right to vote.

I voted just now, but I'm not telling you, what I voted. If you're not from Germany, you wouldn't know who I was talking of anyway and if you are, there is the secrecy of the ballot to be considered. What I can say is: I voted neither extrem right nor extrem left for the simple reason, that I go in for Extremists. They seem to me to leave out matters essential to even themselves. But this is my personal oppinion.

I enjoy having the right to vote, having many parties to vote for, not being harrassed by any one in my country, being able to make a free and unbiased choice. And not being in danger of being shot on my way to or from election. I do not only enjoy it: I deeply appreciate it, because I do know, that not everyone has
this privilege and it is a privilege. Unfortunately it is one, that many people are to lazy to use and that makes me ashamed for anyone who does not vote, even though he/she can do it without any danger to him-/herself.
It's not to late though, if you are in a country, that holds the election today, you have about 3 1/2 hours left to vote! GO FOR IT!!

In Germany, every election is traditionally held on a Sunday. This way most people have the day off to go voting. In some countries, it is on a Tuesday or - as with this Election - in the UK and I think Greece, but am not sure about Greece, the Election was held on Thursday, as I wrote. I do not criticize that, but I always wondered, why elections weren't held on a day most people have no excuse other than lazyness not to go.

And I am most emphatically not saying, that everyone, who has the right to vote does not go because of lazyness. There are always those who are too sick, but didn't get time to do election by letter or vote in the Town Hall, since some things you can't know ahead of time. There are emergencies, that can people from voting. There are good reasons sometimes. And then of course, if you have the right to vote, you also have the right not to vote. So these people I do not mean. Only the once who are to lazy. Or who say: it does not help anyway. Well: if you never use your vote, YOUR voice is missing. And I do still not mean those who do not vote for good reasons, but those, who grumble, don't vote and then complain about the results of the election. That was it about the Election from me.

There were some interesting videos (that I don't own, like the one above) for the last US-Election. But since this is aout the EU-Election and the wrong date anyway, I didn't choose those.

Apart from the elections, some few things happened last week, so I can write about something, apart from having nothing to tell.

On Friday I bought the train-tickets to and from London for my holiday and booked a room for the night enroute as well. I also bought a new printer, because the one I had is not compatible with Windows 8, having been produced even before Windows XP. Now I have a wireless one, that took me some time to install, but I finally made it. Yesterday was a day of installing stuff on my PC. I changed my Internet-Connection and had to let go of my splitter. It turned out, that I did not have the right cable, so I had to get that yesterday. The lacking cable meant, that I couldn't use my telephone, since it is all connected now, somehow. Also, with the help of the Telecom-Hotline, I finally managed to get my WLAN-Connection going. And I installed a new security-programm, since McAffee was getting on my nerves with notes, that the contract was running out. So I installed the new programm and de-installed McAffee and now I am almost happy, I only have to get rid of the annoying advertisement. But I shall get there. I am really puffed up about the other successes.

Next Thursday, we have a holiday and so we are going to a Theme Park, as we usually do on this day. That means my sister, her son, his friend, my older brother, his son and me. It should be great fun. It usually is.

I don't do the dangerous stuff and that would be practically everything there, but someone has to go on the old carousel and the kiddie-stuff, so I volonteer. Plus I hold the bags, when the others do the dangerous stuff. My younger nephew is not yet 10, but will be soon. He can't do everything there for, but he is more of a daredevil than I ever was or will be.

In my job I will be moving into the office next door, as another colleague changed firms and a new apprentice, who works in another line, that my current "room-mate" works in, too, will come at the beginning of June. So he is to "break" her in and I sit with the colleague, that I am working with anyway. So it does my sense, but I will miss my room-mate.

And I will have to sit opposite my bosses office. I don't like that I like my boss, but I don't have to sit right opposite her. She always has her door opent, too. My new "room-mate" does that as well, but agreed to keep it shut, when I am in. I have the place right in "the line" of fire. When you pass the office and look in, you see me first and that get's severely on my nerves. 

BUT: since she is in earlier than I am, she has the mornings to get, what's going on on our floor. I am not interested in that either. I want to do my work in peace and quiet and not under supervision of any chance passer-by. It is - as ever - a personal oppionion. :-)

To all you, who read this, I wish a happy day and a happy new week. This post has become long enough, I'd say.

I am sorry, but today I don't have any texts for today. I just don't have.

At least, I can tell y'all, the weather this weekend was great and I got knew wool and new films and a lot of fun.

So this is a very short one. I hope, that you all had a great weekend yourselfs! I hope to write more next time.

Mother's Day

And to all mothers a happy Day! Enjoy it very much.

In my family, we do not do that. Not, that we don't love and admire our mother, the reason is, that she refuses to have someone outside her life and family decide, when she is to admired.
She prefers to be shown whenever, not just on one dedicated day. So I only call her, that makes her happy as well. She does not want presents.

But to all mothers out there who DO relish this day: have yourself partied. You do absoulutely have a right to it, as you do a lot for your children. And I mean those mothers who really do take care of their children, not those, who are to lazy and have personnel for this.
I also mean those mothers, who would love to spend more time with their children, but just get much of a chance to do so, because they have to work so hard to keep body and soul together. You are doing a great job!! Don't let anyony tell you otherwise! But take a few minutes to yourself as well!!

Here is a song by Louis Prima as a reminder (I don't own it):

Apart from this, nothing much happened lately, I have been working on my traveling schedule and decided to spend one night in London on my way to Yorkshire, though I might have written that already. Still have to book the room, b.t.w.
Also I have re-read a book by Georgette Heyer - "The Nonesuch" that takes place somewhere between Harrogate and Leeds and not 20 miles from York. In a fictional village of course.

Yesterday we did not walk, because of heavy rain. Today most of the girls do walk, but I do not go out on Sundays, as those are my days off to relax from people. I am weird like that. But hey, since nobody really has to suffer from it, I could not say, that I minded. And I do make exceptions, where needed and fair. I'm not that much of a recluse.

Lately I have re-uploaded all my Sims 3 Games and I mean all. I do have each and every game and almost every world. Barnacle Bay is ordered though. So I enjoy playing it again. It is great fun.
Also I get on with my audiobooks and my paperbacks and my housework.
Yesterday I gave my bedroom a thorough cleaning and at the same time moved my bed. Not it is at the outer wall, feet to the balcony. And I would have slept well, if I didn't have a biological problem. But once I did sleep, I slept very well. Don't know if it is Feng Shui, to me it is a simple change. I have a habit of turning around the furniture, that I can move on my own. Inherited from my Grandma I am told.

Recently I ooked on a website about frugal living and got some more inspiration. I do have a habit of throwing my money around. That is good for  our economy, but not good for my purse. So I have to find a way to save my purse more and only occasioinally do something for our economy. I couldn't keep it going on my own anyway.

Anyway, I finally found a way to get rid of my plastic bags by reusing them as trash bags. Such a simple thing and I already did that, when I had forgotten to buy new trash bags. But I could really always use them and I do have a lot of plastic shopping bags. Not good. Now I will use them all up and save on the "extreme" price of trash bags. At any rate: I get some space back and have a good use for my plastic bags.

I will also pack my linnenbags (if that is the right word) into my handbag, so should I have to buy anything, it can go in there and I won't have caused more trash than needed. For freezing I will use the multiple boxes I have as well as for storage and food-transport. It all works out.

Now it is time to call my Mum, since she will have finished her nap. All the best to you! Muddleheaded

Another Sunday Night

and this means, that another Monday Morning is looming.
I am not against Mondays really. But I am not for it either. So, I suffer them. But, this one is not a so very bad one. Tomorrow there is an english lunch at my place of work and a colleague and I are going to work at a new task I am to take over in future.
I hope I'll have the strength to do sports. I do need to do sports. I have been speaking to my scales.

On Tuesday and Wednesday I have a First-Aid-Course at my place of work and on Wednesday we do have a Team-meeting, that will hopefully not take hours, as it usually does. At least, there will be cake, as one of my colleagues has his birthday this week.

Other than that I will be booking a hotel-room in London for one night, in a hotel near Kings Cross.
Because  I found out, that the ferry from Rotterdam to Hull is off, because of the prices. The ferry from Calais to Dover is off, because of the lengthy trip to Yorkshire from there and so I decided, that it will be the Eurostar to Kings Cross, a night there in a hotel I already know and then on the next day. Yes, I could of course go from Dover to Kings Cross, but that would be an extra trip and  I don't  want that. Just arrive and get on the next day.

Yesterday I have been walking with a couple of friends and the weather here had been very lovely. So perfect for a walk and an icecream inbetween. Lovely, as I said.
Apart from that I did some major housework and today I had a lovely lunch of Zucchini, Aubergine, Chicken and Cheese. Very tasty, if I write it myself. I do not often cook, as I am generally too lazy. But somethimes it comes over me.

What else did I do? I started to upload my Sims 3 games again. I had them off, because I had to reboot my computer. Then I couldn't get them play. So I de-installed them again. But now I got
them on and tried them out, now and again. Fun.

Since it is late now, I will stop here and upload a song before, that I don't own, as I never do.....

More travels

I decided, to write more about travels. Not, because I am doing so much, only because for the time being I am occupied with my travels. This being the end of the easter holidays in Germany, a lot of people may have returned or not traveled at all.

Personally, I prefer to travel by train. Others travel by car or bike or on foot or plane or ship even. Though travels by ship have become rather seldom. Though I recently thought that a tour on the Rhine for a week or so might be nice.
Or - with time and money, that is - to the United States. Means I'd have to wait until my retirement.
I'd never have the time and it would take time to horde the money.

But my travels in the nearer future will be by train and either to the United Kingdom or inside Germany. The latter, because I don't really know a lot about Germany. Especially the eastern part of it. My mother has friends in the east, from evacuation during the war. They took her and her family in very kindly and the contact held. But I have only ever seen that part and Berlin. That's not a lot.

So, this year it will be the U.K., next year it will be eastern Germany. I'll find something there, no doubt. And it should be a very nice train-tour as well. I am not bound to holiday times, so I can travel out of season rather cheaper. That is not unimportant, since I don't see, why I should always travel expensively.

My upcoming travels are getting more attention as well. Not quite four months until I start and I am really looking forward to it. It will be great. The last time, that I took a ferry to the U.K., I was 18 and we went from Calais to Dover. This year it will be from Rotterdam to Hull and from there either with a bus or a train, I tend to get sick on long bus-trips, so I would prefer a train, but we will see. 

On my trip from Yorkshire to London it will be definitely a train. There seems to be one, that goes from Bradford to Kings Cross/St. Pancras and this seems to be the one I have read about ages ago.
It is - or so it seems - a train dedicated to a painter, so very artistical themed. Or I just take another one. I am not generally artistically minded.

In Yorkshire itself I want to take a steam-train, can't remember to ever have traveled in one, so that should be exiting. I will also go into Harrogate, as I have only just found out, that that is, where my favourite tea is sold. Apart from being at least twice mentioned by Georgette Heyer in her Romances.
So there.

I am not a very interesting travel writer. I like to be there in time, board the train with enough to drink and eat and then have my peace. By that I mean, not being talked to, unless it is the ticket-collector.
And of course read and listen to my I-Pod, look out of the window, enjoy being on the road.

Then while I travel, I like to plan in enough time in between trains or ferry or bus or whatever. I don't want to run from transport to transport. It looks ridiculous and it isn't any fun at all. Plus: it takes away the enjoyment beside the breath. And to run with luggage.....

Anyway, arriving at my destination, it's time to refresh inside and out and look about me in my room. Get unpacked, try out the bed and the TV and radio. Just be. If it is still light, I might like to go out to grab some food and look about me a little. But all slowly and relaxed. And then have an early night, so I can start early the next day. Ah, lovely.

And that's it for now. I will end with a clip, that is not owned by me and may not have anything to do with travel... :-) Or not. Because I can't get there. So it is just a picture I found online, but don't own either...


This is traveling a canal by boat in Yorkshire. A nice idea as well, but it can't be done alone, unless one is accomplished with boats. I am not. But it looks nice.

Travelling

As I might have mentioned before I plan a trip to Yorkshire this year.

So, why Yorkshire? First, it is in Great Britain, second, I have never been that far up north of England. And Third, I read in a book called "Icons of England" about a very nice train track that goes from London to York with wonderful sights. Three good reasons, so I started planning.

Whenever I travel - and I do not do it very often - I start to map it out. How to get there, what to do there, what books to buy there, what to eat there. I do take planes, but I don't really like planes. So I decided to skip planes and find alternative ways of travelling.

I might have mentioned a book called: the idle traveller and that is about slow travelling. That idea appealed to me, as I found our world is getting to fast. Maybe I am just getting slower, though I am not yet pensioners age, so maybe not. At any rate, I decided to slow down the few travels I intend to do. Therefore taking the train was the first idea. Taking the Eurostar that would mean. So travelling to Brussels and from there to London. OR, travelling to Calais and then take the ferry to Dover and the train from there.
In the end I decided to take the train to Rotterdam, then the ferry to Hull and from there take the National Express, which seems to be a bus, to Gargrave, where my B&B is. So, the "to" is cleared.

The "What to do there" I decided to leave open. There are a lot of things to do, like travelling on a steam train, visit the Yorkshire Dales, take the Herriot-Country in, visit Bradford, where J.B. Priestley is from, maybe even see the Bronte-Museum, though I am not a Bronte-fan.
Then go to Harrogate and York and Cleckheaton. A lot to do for three days, but these are just the options.
Why Cleckheaton you ask? Because of a book by Dame Agatha, called "Passenger to Frankfurt". Not only did that remind me of "The Prisoner of Zenda", it had a great-aunt in it, called "Mathilda Cleckheaton" and I loved that character. So when I found the name on the map of Yorkshire I thought, that would be a nice idea. Giggleswick sounds like an interesting place. If you just take the name alone.

At any rate: I will go to York, on the last day, because I want to take the train I wrote about. I don't think the sights will be any less nice, if you travel from York to London.
Now Yorkshire I will have for four days and then I travel on to??? Yes, you guessed it, to London. I decided to have my birthday there this year. So I will take three nights there and I will have them in a four star hotel near Waterloo station. I looked at a lot of four star and five star hotels and finally decided on this, because I liked the look of it, so there it is. And there are songs about Waterloo..

 

 

Just to keep the musical theme on track. I had written this text very much earlier, but - as so often - had some technical problems. At any rate, I got there finally and so let's go on about travel. 

What I like about holidays is being on the go, once I arrive, I do not always seem to know what to do with myself. This is completely unrelated to wether I travel alone or with others. Personally, I prefer travelling alone, as I can then just do or not do, as I please. Take this arrival problem: what would I like to do? Have a shower and put the kettle on. Then unpack or not, watch the TV-Program of the country I am in, just BE. Maybe just sit on the bed, fiddle with the stuff in the room, look around and once I did that - providing it is not late at night - going for a stroll, getting my bearings.

 All this can be done with another person of course, but then you have to discuss who takes the shower first, who next, whether the TV will be switched on (which can become a problem, if you don*t agree in that point), whether you go out or not and if you do, where you go and what you do.

Even with the most compatible person you have to at least grunt your ideas and then find out, if that is agreeable or not and if the latter, what the other person would prefer. YES! I know, all this is not really a problem, you just talk it out and act accordingly, I never said, it is not possible. I am just trying to convey, that I prefer to just do or don't as I please, without discussing it.

Also I have the - for others - annoying habit of going somewhere and on the way there deciding to do something entirely else. So I do that. One can't do that to others. I wouldn't like it, if the shoe was on the other foot. So I can only do that alone.

Before traveling you have to find the hotel and the mode of travel, as I described and that can be trouble as well. The company might not like the hotel you fell in love with or would prefer to fly, as that is faster and would take less time off the holiday or would not like to fly or take the train, but take a very cheap bus, with no conveniences but the low price. No luxury, only the cheapest acomodation for a longer stay or to have more money for museums.

Once there he/she/it might prefer to take long walks, see all churches or museums or spend the whole holiday on the beach roasting or swimming and not seeing anything else at all. At the same time not willing to do that alone, but expecting the company to stay on the beach as well.

OR, if a tour is o.k., than not on ones own, but in a guided tour, in German of course, why bother to take the english tour in England (I prefer England or Great Britain for travel).

You see, I have given this some thought and come to a conclusion: I myself am not an easy travel-companion. I like my experiences just so. And I like to change my plans a lot, not do something I wanted, but doing something else instead or nothing but having tea at a nice place, spend time in a library or bookshop or a fun museum or any other fun place. Just sit and read somewhere, just traveling around in a bus, or sit in my hotel-room and read. That's not easy for others and so, to prevent trouble for both sides, I started traveling by myself and am very happy about it.

A funny thing, I always experience, once I tell my holiday plans is: Who do you travel with. And my answer evolved into: With myself... Which causes the question: All alone? And I say, of course...

Doing things all alone is for most people a horrible thought. Being alone somewhere, doing things alone. And this does not concern danger at all. Now: I do not go, where I know it to be dangerous or not wise for a woman to travel alone. And I don't go out late at night. I don't like it here, why should I bother in my holidays? Any other danger might meet me at home as well as abroad. So, that's no problem. And at home I like to be by myself as well, usually one has 6 days out of seven filled mostly with people. I think that too much. So I looked forward to four days of peace and only really got 2. One I let go for some shopping, but I didn't really have to chat to anyone or be with anyone. The other was taken from me by my family who can not share my enjoyment in being alone and since they think I can't be happy, they cajole me into meetings. It makes them happy and I am expected to be happy as well. I am not.

And on this happy note, let me say good bye. I shall write more about travels. Be afraid. Be very afraid, as Johnny English once said.

Which reminds me, that I liked Rowan Atkinson best as the Black Adder. VERY WITTY!!

And in Keepin Mum as well... :-)