General Chat

Panini and we shared onion rings. We also shared a bottle of wine.
We walked back to the hotel via the law courts and Knights Templar church. Unfortunately the opening times of the latter had been changed so we were unable to go inside. We walked down to the embankment and back to our hotel where we read or watched TV and took yet more photos of the views from our balcony, being very aware that we would never have this wonderful experience again. At 7.30 we went out to eat and found a very nice Thai restaurant where we shared a couple of dishes and a rice. Tony chose a mild (one tick) chicken dish and I chose a prawn dish with no ticks at all. Mine was lovely, in a coconut sauce, very mild spice, Tony’s was a bit hotter (especially if you inadvertently ate a piece of chilli. We went back to the hotel for a drink in the bar and to people watch! The hotel is fairly busy but not many people ate in. Had another restless night. Tony has started a sore throat and cough which kept him awake.
Saturday 23 October. We had a coffee and a breakfast muffin plus a potato cake in McDonalds, one of the few places open before 10am. We then caught the tube, using our
Oyster cards, from Charing cross to Oxford Circus. We didn’t go up to Marble Arch but wandered down Oxford Street and into Marks and Spencer where we each bought a scarf and I bought a top and an umbrella. I thought Oxford Street was looking a bit scruffy but that may have been because the sun was not shining and it had rained the night before, everything looked drab. We walked to Covent Garden again then back to the Strand and had a coffee and sandwich in cafe Nero. We walked down past the Law Courts again and Clement Danes Church then back to the hotel. The wind was very strong and very cold coming off the river.
We read and watched sport until we had a bath at 5pm before setting off to find somewhere to eat before the theatre. As we started down the Strand it started to rain, this was not part of the plan. By the time we got to the restaurants near the Adelphi we were drenched. We just managed to get a table in Bella Pasta, all the places were heaving, we thought we had left early enough but obviously we are out of touch. Still, the restaurants are obviously used to theatre goers and our meal of spaghetti Bolognese soon arrived together with the bottle of red we’d ordered. The meal was very nice and we had plenty of time to eat it. In fact we were still in the theatre a bit early. We had excellent seats in the Dress Circle and the theatre was almost full.

We had not known what to expect from the show as we had not particularly enjoyed the production of Phantom that we had seen. However, Love Never Dies, to us, was a much better production. This could of course be the difference between a travelling production in a provincial city and a London production. But we thought the visual effects were excellent. The setting is Coney Island this gives lots of opportunity for visual effects. We enjoyed it, not a lot of memorable songs, maybe a couple, the Title Song sung beautifully by Sierra Boggess and The Devil Take the Hindmost which has a catchy tune. As the music is all new to us it may be that if we hear it again there will be more songs that make their mark. The young boy who played Gustave was excellent and got a large cheer at the end but as there are 6 names against Gustave it is hard to know which one he was. All in all it was a wonderful end to a wonderful memorable weekend.
Sunday 24th. Sadly we packed our cases, took a few more photos and made our way to reception to pay. A taxi was procured for us and we set off for Paddington. More road closures and this time he was a strange not quite surly taxi driver who took us all round the back streets of Regents park and other areas over horrendous traffic calming humps. This time the fare came to £17 including tip. We had a lot of time at Paddington before the train. We found a nice little snack bar where I had a bacon roll and Tony a pasty. The train left on time at 1203, we had to change at Swindon but the train was in waiting, the journey again was uneventful and we easily got a taxi at Gloucester, the fare was £11 with tip and we were home by 3pm. It was a wonderful weekend to remember, a lovely present. We are very lucky to have a family who would do this for us.

N

Val
Please write some more, I found your description really interesting. Somehow, when having a description about where a person lives or has lived makes such a difference. It seems to me that it is very similar to haing pen-pals.

I am still feeling rather tired, but will be writing another piece in the next few days.

Ann
What wonderful memories you will have of this very special anniversary. Have you kept a hard copy that you can leave for future generations? Whilst I was reading it I thought if only some of our ancestors had written th same, how much more we would know about them.

By for now

Hi Bridget, yes there is a hard copy, with photos. I have a binder with reports of holidays going back to the early 90s. I will also, when I get time, do a scrap book page of it. Trouble is all me time at the moment is taken up with making my Christmas cards.

Hi everyone,
as long as not called away, or distracted by anything tomorrow, will be here for a proper chat.
Have enjoyed reading all the recent posts,

Tess

Hello again,

Your weekend sounds absolutely fabulous Ann, and you will have wonderful memories.

I mentioned before about the fun fashion show.put on by our church ladies,one of the Afrikaans churches asked us to do the show for their Seniors meeting, As one of the original "models" is away I was asked to fill in for her. I am a very reserved person so was very nervous but I have just returned from the "performance" and it was not as bad as I had anticipated. I modelled a 9-carat necklace and earrings - my necklace my made up of 9 carrots with goldy coloured beads between then and the earrings were tiny young carrots - what a scream!! Everyone enjoyed themselves.

Some more about Grahamstown.


Among the institutions in Grahamstown are The South African National Library for the Blind, the National English Literary Museum and the JLB Smith Institute the latter has had a name change but I do not know what it is. There is also the College of the Transfiguration - the only residential provincial college of the Anglican Church in Southern Africa.

Then there are the Museums – The Albany Museum complex consists of 5 museums – The Natural Sciences, The History (which includes the 1820 Settler Museum), The Observatory, The Provost Prison and Fort Selwyn.

Something about the OBSERVATORY MUSEUM - A simple double-storey house was bought by Henry Galpin in 1859. Over the years he made extensive changes among which was a rooftop development which included the Observatory from which the building took its name, it houses the only Camera Obscura in the Southern Hemisphere. There is only one other Victorian Camera Obscura in the world and that is in Bath England. One must go up a rather steep staircase to reach the Camera Obscura which mirrors the town reflection onto a circular table, this is really well worth a visit. Galpin trained as an architect, surveyor city engineer as well as a clock and watchmaker. He was keenly interested in optics and astrology, all these skills are reflected in the Museum. The building has been proclaimed a National Monument.

FORT SELWYN - is situated on Gunfire Hill overlooking Grahamstown. It was named after Captain Charles Selwyn of the Royal Engineers. He was responsible for the design and building of the fort and was stationed in Grahamstoen from 1834-1842. Sir Benjamen D’Urban, Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Cape Colony ordered plans be drawn for a fortified barracks on the Provost Grounds now part of Rhodes University), to house an increased garrison and also to provide refuge for civilians during a time of war. He ordered a redoubt to be built on Gunfire Hill, from where it would dominate the surrounding ravines – this was to protect the approaches to the town and also the town’s water supply. The Royal Artillery occupied the fort from 1836-1862 when most of the garrison was withdrawn from Grahamstown. With the intention of connecting Grahamstown with Fort Beaufort and Fort Peddie a semaphore mast was erected in 1845. This, however, wasn’t a success as very often the masts were obscured by mist. At 9 a.m. every morning a gun was fired from Fort Selwyn, allegedly to remind the town’s Civil Servants that they should be at work. During the Anglo-Boer War of 1899-1902 the Fort was once again manned. It then fell into disrepair and was converted into a domestic residence and tea-garden. During the late 1970s a work colleague lived at Fort Selwyn and ran the tea garden, this was not a successful venture for him and it was then closed. It is necessary to make an appointment if wanting to visit.
Fort Selwyn was declared a National Monument in 1936. The Cape Provincial Administration restored it during the 1970s and it was handed over to the Albany Museum in 1977.


Do enjoy the weekend whatever you will be doing.


Val.

Val,
I have really enjoyed reading your entries, I can now to some extent picture in my mind the places you have described.

I will write some more this evening, after I have cleaned my little flat.When I rented this place for my time in the UK I thought a small place would be easy to look after, but that is not my experience. So out will come tho hover, the polish, the black bags, etc etc this morning and then this afternoon the washing and ironing and then this evening I will feel justified to sit down and come back on here. Has anyone got any tips about how to keep tidy a very small rented flat on the third floor of a building where the lift is constantly breaking down an the wonderful variety of sea birds like my window sill?...

Enough of my moaning.

Is anyone celebrating Halloween? At home we would have a big party and lots of fun, but here everything is deadly silent.

Well bye for now time to do those chores


Bridget

Have continued reading all your posts ladies. Enjoyed them = = =

Still getting over a busy and tiring week. So off to bed in a short while (with a mug of Horlicks).


Tess

THE SANTA MARÍA GATEWAY THE FINAL PART OF THE CASTEL ROUTE IN PENISCOLA
On the final leg of the route, still following the line of the medieval walls (some sections of which were built in the 18th century), visitors will pass by La Batería Alta del Maset, La Batería Alta del Boctoglio, La Batería Baja del Maset and El Polvorín in the Artillery Park, right where the Renaissance wall begins. The Baluarte de San Fernando, Baluarte de Santiago and Baluarte del Calvario bastions lead to the Batería del Olvido, or the Battery of Oblivion, so called as legend has it that French troops left a wounded soldier here by accident as they scaled the castle.
A little further on, after the Portal Fosc, the route leads to the Santa María gate.
The city route ends at this gateway, through which visitors can access the beaches and admire the vision of the fortified Peñíscola. Thanks to its history, to the silver screen and to the landscape which offers spectacular journeys between the Mediterranean and the Serra d’Irta mountains, this has become an eternal city.
The lighthouse and the lighthouse keeper’s cottage mark the halfway point along the route. Precipitous, winding steps lead down from here to the sea. Now blocked off, legend has it that this stairway was constructed by Pope Luna in a single night.
After skirting the castle that figured so prominently in Anthony Mann’s film El Cid, the route returns to the white squares such as La Plaza de Armas and La Plaza de la Ermitana.
The Portal Fosc is a gateway attributed to Juan de Herrera that is built from white stone and adorned with military motifs. Leading to the guardhouse, the Portal Fosc was the main entrance to the city up until the 18th century and still bears the shield and cartouche of Felipe II to this day. The Portal Fosc leads straight onto the Town Hall Square which is dominated by the parochial church.
Constructed following the Reconquest, this church has a single nave and still boasts its Romanic facade. It houses jewels that belonged to Benedict XIII, such as the processional cross, a Gothic piece made of silver and rock crystal with carved images and the coat of arms of Pedro de Luna and the Pietà, and the Chalice of Pope Luna, made of gilded silver with limousine enamels. It also holds Clement VIII’s Lignum Crucis reliquary and Felipe II’s processional cross.
THE SANTA MARÍA GATEWAY
On the final leg of the route, still following the line of the medieval walls (some sections of which were built in the 18th century), visitors will pass by La Batería Alta del Maset, La Batería Alta del Boctoglio, La Batería Baja del Maset and El Polvorín in the Artillery Park, right where the Renaissance wall begins. The Baluarte de San Fernando, Baluarte de Santiago and Baluarte del Calvario bastions lead to the Batería del Olvido, or the Battery of Oblivion, so called as legend has it that French troops left a wounded soldier here by accident as they scaled the castle.
A little further on, after the Portal Fosc, the route leads to the Santa María gate.
The city route ends at this gateway, through which visitors can access the beaches and admire the vision of the fortified Peñíscola. Thanks to its history, to the silver screen and to the landscape which offers spectacular journeys between the Mediterranean and the Serra d’Irta mountains, this has become an eternal city.


The cold weather is making me think of home so sent this instead of the second piece about Frinton

Bridget

Thanks Bridget, I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the Santa Maria Gateway and also found the fact that the Church has the jewels which belonged to previous popes interesting.

Just two more things I will write about Grahamstown before you are all bored out of your minds!!!

THE PROVOST - The Provost Prison derives its name from its association with the Provost Marshall who was the officer responsible for maintenance and order in the military camps as well as the punishment and custody of deserters and military offenders. The Royal Engineers built the Provost Prison, which was completed in 1838.,. The original building consisted of an outer circle of cells and exercise yards which could be constantly observed from the windows of a two-storey guardhouse. The Old Provost was declared a National Monument in 1937. The Cape Provincial Administration restored it and handed it over to the Albany Museum in 1982. It is opened only on request.

Grahamstown hosts THE NATIONAL ARTS FESTIVAL (often known as the Grahamstown Festival). This is the country’s largest and most colourful festival. .For ten days the town is taken over and every nook and cranny is filled with artists, posters, vendors, writers, performers and of course tourists. Festival goers or as they are known locally Festinos take over the town, thousands of visitors arrive and there is an atmosphere of keep-going-till-you-drop. There is something for all tastes – opera, drama, music, art, lectures , tours and exhibitions. The streets in the centre of town are all turned into one way streets for the duration of the festival and finding parking is always a problem but this does not put anyone off. The pavements are filled with vendors selling their goods. This year the traders were moved from the Fiddler’s Green venue in the town to the University’s Great Field which is much bigger. One certainly sees some very strange attire during this time. I think the atmosphere at festival time is really great although I am the only member of the family who thinks so.


Today has been very hot again and it hardly seems possible that summer is once more upon us. I have found another game called Worddrop which I spend a lot of time playing instead of Bejewelled, I actually have to think!! Obviously too much time on my hands!

A cup of tea sounds like a good idea right now.

Take care.



Val.

a cup of tea sounds fine at anytime Val. I have really enjoyed reading your descriptions, you have certainly made me "picture" the places you have written about.
I will be writing again but most likely not until sometime next week. I am very busy at work, and I am going away for the weekend to Frinton, I have been invited too stay for the weekend with my former neighbours and am looking forward to seeing them,
They have arranged a dinner party with four other couples who live in the same road so we will undoubtedly have great food, good wine and lots of fun and laughter,
Maybe I can write about my weekend when I am back here.
I have just checked the date and am delighted that the time is passing by fairly quickley My last working day here is 4th Feb..
Well time to go and have that first cup of tea today
Take care of yoursekves and I will be peeking in each day to see who we hear from


Off to put the kettle on now.....
Bridget

Goodmorning.

The day started out cloudy and humid with a very few drops of rain, now however, the sun is shining and it is jolly hot.

Please Bridget do write and tell us alll about your weekend at Frinton, I am sure you are going to have a great time. Food, wine and lots of laughter sound good to me - enjoy! February will be here before you know it.

I am thinking of visiting East London(SA) later this month to visit my niece who is not very well at the moment (it was her father who died in June). She has had a very sad life having fractured her skull in a motor accident when she was nine years old., this left her paralysed on one side, she speaks with difficulty and her mental age is about 9, and prone to violent outbursts. She has spent most of her life in institutions as her parents were unable to cope with her at home.. The Matron at the Home seems to think that she has now suffered a mild stroke. Her father was her world she misses him so much.

There is a Country Estate on the outskirts of JBay which is going to be turned into a world of lights in mid-December. This festival, "The Festival of Lights", will have stallholders who will be approved according to the quality of their products. There will also be a farmer's market, well-known artists will be performing. The main attraction will be a light display. It all sounds very nice and will be well attened I think because it is in the middle of the holiday season when thousands of visitors flock to town..

Do have a lovely day.

I still keep dropping in here to read all your posts.

The arts Festival sounds fantastic. If I lived closer I would be trying to get there!

Bridget, Frintin sounds good too, you must have enjoyed living there. Will be thinking of you enjoyinf yourself this week-end. 4th Feb will soon be here, it really is count down time. Looking forward to hearing how the weekend goes.
Have enjoyed reading about Peniscola, have even Googled Images, just to remind myself how magnificent it all looks.

Val, so sorry to hear about you niece, as you say, her life has been rather sad. it must have been difficult for her too. I hope that you have a giid visit with her.

I was interested to see about "The Festival of Lights"
In Birmingham last Sunday (31st October) there was a Diwali Celebration, called "The Festival of Lights" this is one of the main Festivals in the Hindu religion.
This year there was a big celebration in the National Indoor Arena, which would have included, music, dance, foods, arts and crafts etc.
I would have loved to have gone to join in or watch, but was just not (quite ) up to it.

I will keep reading the posts, so keep them coming ladies.
Will try to join in a little more too.
Hope that you all have a good weekend, including the "Holiday Ladies"
Tess

Page 53, my goodness I had no idea that this woud last so long. We have had our quiet times and our busy times, Our sad times and our fun times but best of all we are talking to people whom we would never have known about except for this thread. so a very big Thank You to everyone.

Maybe we should nudge some of the others who have sliped by the wayside, and give them a chance to return

Good night

Hello, to-day has started out cool and cloudy but I think in a short while it is going to be quite hot.

Hope you are feeling a little better to-day Tess.

I baked my Christmas cake on Friday and yesterday I baked another one which I will give to a friend who doesn't do much baking any more due to ill-health. They both look very nice, I don't do icing as I don't like marzipan, though if I am feeling energetic enough I might try my hand at icing the one for my friend.

Our Matrics (that is their final school year) start writing their exams very soon, after which I guess the town will start filling up with holiday makers.

Fireworks are illegal here, so Guy Fawkes night was quiet, we did, however hear a couple of bangs.

Have a pleasant day.


Val.

Tried to post a message earlier today - but lost it somewhere!

I sometimes wish that fireworks were illegal here too Val.
We seem to have quite a lot in my neighbourhood. Possibly because it is a built up area, so lots of people. As well as that, at this time of year fireworks are used by those celebrating Diwali (The Festival of Light) as well as all those celebrating guyfawkes/bonfire night.
I would musc prefer it if we only had fireworks at organised displays. This would seem a lot safer, as well as less annoyance to anumals and those people who dislike loud noises.

Went to the local shop this morning, as I am running out of wholemeal bread. It seemed that they only had white bread left, till I glimpsed the words "wholemeal bread" on one loaf. Delighted, I grabbed it quickly and paid for it.
However, when I got it home I saw that it was in fact white bread, and what it actually said was "have you tried our Tasty Wholemeal "
I'll get my son to eat the white bread, as he isn'y as fussy as I am.

Items on the shelves of said local shop, reflect the ethnic diversity of the people locally.
So I also bought some Ciastreczka a cakey/biscuit slice type of thing which has peanuts on the top and some chocolate in another layer.
I haven't tried them before, but will let you know what I think when I have tried them.

Son has just phoned to say that he will be taking me to a local Chinese Buffett Restaurant this evening (as much as you can eat for £10.99
So I will have to get ready - don't want to show him up do I?

Was feeling rather anxious earlier, then realised that I hadn't taken my anti-anxiety pills for a couple of days! Perhaps that had something to do with it ..

all for now,
Tess

hello everyone,
I have been away for a few days and deliberately did not take my Ipad or my lap top as I decded that I needed a complete rest. Mind you that did not mean that that I wasn't wondering what you ahd all been doing.

I drove from hastings area to Frinton on Sea and it took me 4 hours becuase I went on the M25 and of course it had road works for miles so I missed my turn off and then went all over the plcae before I found my way back....what a waste of time that was. Anyway friends expressed great delight when I finally arrived and we went out to see Bucks Fizz and Brotherhood of Man live at Clacton Theatre. Not normally my kind of music but it was very good fun.
It was sad that only half of the theatre was full but most of the attendees were obvioulsy great fans and new all the songs.. The oldies still enjoy their music!

On Sunday my friends had invited 4 other couples we were close friends with when we lived in Frinton and we had a very good lunch and some wonderful debating and discussions. The wine flowed so I did not drive back until earlier today. The weather was truly appalling and the M25 and the A21 were pretty difficult to drive on but most motorists were being careful and sensibly, I must say that the rain fall was very high.

Well that is about all for now will be back again sometime tomorrow. Goodnight and have happy dreams

Bridget

Tess, I hope that you enjoyed your meal. Please remember to take your pills, maybe you should set your alarm clock for a certain time each day, it might help.
I am feeling quite good today and I think, if my brain is working that it is 84 days until I finish working.Sounds so much nearer than when in the hundred plus numbers,
I cannot stay on too long this morning as have to go to work but will be back this evening.
I wish everyone a happy day.

It is raining hard here and the forecast said it will be worse tomorrow, so we may end up like Noahs Ark at this rate!!

No one on here today,
I have not had an opportunity to write anything today and may not tomorrow. One of my sons is here with me at the moment but agreed not to discuss his concerns so if I am not here please continue keeping this going and I will be back in a couple of days.

Bye for now
Bridget