thebitchtroll

Posted by Abi at 1:09 PM | Comments (0)

September 6, 2005

Policemen & Civil Servants

Today we're up and about fairly early to do some things that need to be done. First off, we need to draw some money out of the bank, then we need to book a hire car to get us back to the airport on Thursday, and finally we need to go and pick up my bracelet from the Jewelers.

So off we go on our merry way to Molyvos, park the car and set about our chores. First thing we realise that hiring a car and dumping it at the airport can be a costly business, the first place (hertz) wanting 70 euros for the pleasure. So we tell them we'll think about it and move onto the next hire place where we managed to get a charabang for 50 euros instead - much more reasonable. You may be wondering why we didn't just get a taxi, but the truth is it's not much cheaper than getting a hire car and we don't have to rely on a taxi a) turning up at the right time and b) it actually finding where we are staying. And so we arrange to pick up the car tomorrow night so we can have it ready for Thursday morning.

We then get some euros out of the cash point, and head towards the jewelers which is up a big hill. A bit puffy and sweaty we finally make it, get the bracelet and then go to another shop selling all sorts of produce from the island (its famous for its olives and honey). Phil gets a few pressies for the folks back home and we then start towards the car.

Isn't it amazing that you can spot something out of kilter from 100 paces? Yup indeed, as we're walking towards the car I spy the familiar flapping of a pink slip under the windscreen - we'd been had by the traffic warden.

It's not that I'm angry that we've got a ticket (well ok I'm a bit miffed to say the least) but there were no signs that either made sense or were visible to say that we couldn't park where we had. Indeed there were several other cars parked along the same stretch of road that we had resided on too. But there isn't much use in complaining now, we're in a foreign country so there is probably little chance of pledging a complaint, all we can reasonably do is pay the fine (all 68 euros of it).

As we are driving out of Molyvos we spot the bastard officer of the law who had given us the ticket. I roll down the window and ask him where I need to pay the fine, but all I receive back is a load of gibberish in Greek. I know there is a police station in Petra and so ask him in pigeon english if I should go to Petra, to which he points roughly in Petra's direction.

So off we go to Petra's police station where it appears everyone apart from a junior officer had disbanded for a siesta. The dudes english is not very good, but I show him the ticket and he then dials a number, says some stuff and hands the phone to me. At the end of the line is a woman who speaks reasonable english. I explain to her what has happened and then hand the phone back to the police man. After another skermish of greek I get handed the phone again and to my surprise I am told that "since I am going home on Thursday I should not bother paying the ticket and just ignore it, after all, they'll never find me after Thursday!". Which is a good plan all said, the problem is that the car is owned by me (long story) and so doing a runner and increasing the risk of getting hauled into a greek court when I next come the country (remember what they did to those plane spotters?!). I tell the lady the facts and hand the phone back to the man again. More hurdy gurdy and finally the phone comes back to me, and after a bit of confusion as to where I have to pay the fine, I'm told that I need to go back to Molyvos and visit the police station there.

Back down the coast we go and after trailing through the back streets of Molyvos we finally locate the police station. We go in, and again, there is just one officer on duty. He's sat behind his desk, ash tray breaming as a result of a very heavy day of paper work obviously. He's on the phone and staring at a tv which is displaying the latest stocks and shares of christ knows what... feta maybe! He gets off the phone and I hand him the ticket. He looks at it then gives it back to me as if to tell me that he can't be bothered to deal with it. But then changes his mind, takes it back and then rings another person. The phone gets handed to me with the rather blunt and rude exclamation of "EXPLAIN!" (I swear to god he sounded like he was a throw back from the Gestapo!). So I go through the whole rigmarole again to yet another english speaking woman who translates what I'm saying to Inspector Grumpy. Half way through all this the Sergeant walks in donning little more than his uniform and a couple of cans of lager! I mean WTF, as Abi finally fallen through the rabbit hole and found herself in a greek wonderland! It is surreal to say the least, fags, stocks and shares, lager and an attitude that is generally obnoxious and condescending - all in a police station. I know the UK cops aint a pleasure to deal with, but compared to this lot they are a picture of prim and proper law enforcement.

So when the soon to be pissed cop stops his chit chat to the lady on the other end of the line, I finally learn that I have to go to the town hall to pay the fine. Good, I know where that is and I'm relieved to be out of the clutches of the greek law enforcement shambles.

A quick trip down the road and I go into the town hall where I am met with a sight that perhaps unfairly is associated with most civil servants. All the staff in the office are chatting away, and eating a whole bakery's worth of pastries ranging from croissants to thick and gooey greek cakes. It's almost too much effort in fact for the one man who is sitting directly opposite the head clerk to get to his feet, extract a cake from the desk and weave his way over to another paper pusher who is just tucking into a coffee and a bun.

I sit at the now crumb laden but unoccupied seat and produce the ticket to the clerk, who makes a bit of a "tut tut" and "opa" grumble, and sets about doing the necessary paperwork... albeit slowly. And finally, yes finally, after I've handed over the euros I get the receipt as proof I've paid the fine - huufeckinrah!

It's taken the best part of 2 hours to get this ticket sorted out, it scorching hot and all I want to do is sit in the pool to cool off, so we head back to the house and do just that, along with getting a bit of lunch too.

Later on in the afternoon we go for a quick trip into Petra and get a few more things (greek sweets for work buddies) and after the traumas of the day we take a leaf out of the Civil Servants book and sit down and have a milkshake and a cake - afterall we think we've deserved it!

It's back to Eftalou tonight so Phil can get some more baby tuna before we go, and good heavens above I actually get some fresh calamari that is cooked right and tastes great. It's only taken 2 weeks to get it, but it was worth the wait.

Oh, and I did get to see the moon after all - it does exist!

Posted by Abi at 12:57 PM | Comments (0)

September 5, 2005

Window Shopping

The wind has dropped considerably today, so we decide to settle back into our holiday ways and do very little - I start a new book, Jeffrey Deaver's Garden of Beasts, and although its not a Lincoln Rhyme novel, its engrossing enough to get me atleast half way through.

Phil is in the mood for Pizza tonight, so we head off to Molyvos and try out a restaurant that seems to do mostly european cuisine, and also some very nice Pizzas toboot.

After eating we then head up to the shops and have a look around, first of all at the Jewelers, where I try on a number of necklaces and pendants, but ultimately decide that the first eyecatcher I saw at the beginning of the holiday is probably the item I'll buy - that being the tourmaline and white gold bracelet. So we agree on a price (never the one on the tag) and tell the owner we'll come back tomorrow to pick it up.

We then go into one of the local art shops, who sell pieces produced on the island and we get some rather cool pottery / picture type things - 2 for Phil and I to hang up, and one for Phils parents as a present from Lesbos.

Its time to head home shortly after however, where we spend a little time staring up at the stars - quite spectacular from here, you can even see the milky way - along with sporadic shooting stars, and of course some of the closer planets. What is weird however is that I've not seen the moon at night all the time that I've been here... oh well I shall keep looking.

Posted by Abi at 12:53 PM | Comments (0)

September 4, 2005

The Tourist Trap

Considering we've done very little "touristy" stuff since we've been here, today we decide would be as good as any since the weather is still very breezy, not making it idea to sit out and do very little but get immersed into a good book or such like.

So, after a little breakfast and a quick glance at the map we plan a route - the first stop being Eftalou - the site of a thermal spa. The spa is quite busy, and in all honesty not that appealing since its sited in a very dingy dark hole and already full of holidaymakers. Instead we go outside to the back of the spa and paddle in the sea, and also the site where the spa waters ebb out into the Aegean. And I tell you, the water is pretty darn hot even when it meets the cooler water of the sea, so I'm pretty glad we didn't go directly into the small pool which collects the spa water - I think I may well have burn't my arse quite considerably!

Next on the hit list is a small beach call Tsonia, which is well off the beaten track and not visited by many tourists at all, just the locals. This is probably because for a good 3 or so miles to the beach the road is nothing more than a dirt track. To get there we also go the scenic route, another dirt track which winds its way along the coast line all the way to a place called Skala Sikamenia which is a very picturesque tiny harbour, typical postcard fare.

We finally get to Tsonia, and my main aim here was to get some underwater pictures, but alas the wind had whipped up quite a surf and it would be neigh on impossible to get any pictures. So we stick our feet in the sea and admire the view. The beach is unique because the sand is red - made up of the volcanic rock that is omnipresent all over the island.

Next we decide to wind our way home, but we plot a route that takes us through some of the small villages - Kapi, Pelopi, Ypsilometopo and finally Stypsi, all of which are what you would expect from Greece - tiny houses precariously perched on steep hillsides with tiny winding street hardly big enough for a horse and cart let alone cars.

Tonight we go back to Eftalou and our currently favoured restaurant, where Phil has some baby red mullet, which whilst quite fiddly to eat he enjoys - as do the numerous cats who had congregated around the table at about the same time the fish arrived on the plate. So Phil gets the meat, and the pussy cats devour the heads and tails which were met with much satisfaction.

Posted by Abi at 12:41 PM | Comments (0)

September 3, 2005

Road Kill

As suspected the ants left little time between us splatting the scorpion and them taking the carcass away, it was gone by the time I got up this morning which was around 9am.

We have another quiet day today, though the wind is quite gusty making it not so pleasant to sit outside and do things, but a welcome relief because if there had been no wind whatsoever it would have been unbearable heat wise.

Despite the breezy weather we do sit out for a while and whilst we're both catching some rays on the balcony we hear an almighty squeal of tyres on the road that snakes below the villa. We of course jump up and get out the binoculars to see whats gone on and if perhaps we need to go down and see if anyone needs any help.

As it happens, we didn't need to go and offer our services. It appears that a moped with a driver and a passenger and a 4x4 containing a group of tourists had nearly collided because of a marauding sheep on the road - unfortunately for the sheep it had pulled the short straw as it was now laying on the road looking pretty dead playing centre piece to a crowd of rather upset gaggle of holiday goers. Eventually they decide to move the sheep to the side of the road and after their guilt had wained a little they all drove off.

So Phil and I go back to what we were doing, checking the sheep now and again to see if moved or not, which it didn't. On one round of inspection however we see that another car has pulled up to the animal, only this time it's being loaded into a car and taken away. I'd like to imagine that a devout animal lover had seen the injured party and though that they'd get it to a vet - but the realist in me is saying that Lamb was definitely on the menu at some taverna tonight.

And talking of tavernas, we went to The Captains Table down in Molyvos harbour for dinner tonight. The food was ok, but by no means worthy of the stupendous write ups it seems to get on the internet. I'm failing to see why out of all of my visits to tavernas this holiday, only one of them has managed to cook calamari well. All the rest either use cheap frozen stuff which is tough, or suffocate the delicate flesh in heavy batter which does it no favours what so ever.

For anyone who is interested in cooking squid - it really is quite simple. Make sure you clean it well, and then simply coat it in some seasoned flour and then lightly fry it in olive oil for a short time. Its not difficult, but seems to be a lost art on Lesbos so far as I can see, perhaps they pander to tourist needs too much.

Posted by Abi at 12:34 PM | Comments (0)

September 2, 2005

Scorpijana - Again!

A bit more of a busy late afternoon for us today as we have to nip to the cash point to get some money, and then to the supermarket to get further supplies. We've been having lunch and breakfast in the villa everyday to try and conserve a little money and so we needed things like salad stuff and some cold meats - as well as the staples of our usual diet including crisps and some chocolate.

Before we go to the super market though we go to Petra to the internet cafe there and check our email - thankfully the spammers have been merciful, but it does give me a chance to mail my boss to tell him that I may well not be in the office when I get back depending on what the funeral arrangements are for my Nan.

With all of the chores done and after being served by a rather careless and dissolutioned cashier at the supermarket (really, if I'd have wanted my mars bar and crisps thrown down the conveyor belt in a tirade of boredom and disconcern I'd have asked for such) we head home and unload the car.

For tea tonight we go to a restaurant I've not tried before, the Sansibal, which nestles on the hillside of Molyvos. The food was good, and the owners seem to be trying to bridge the gap between greek food and a more european style of serving it (ie with a bit more than just a slice of lemon) - put another way, its the first time I've seen a jacket potato wrapped in tin foil served with a main meal in Greece!

So all in all a nice meal though a bit more pricey that what we have been paying lately, but nice to have a change.

We also do a little shopping, and we by a small pottery figurine which is a bit odd, but I like it. In fact I've liked it ever since I first saw it in the shop - a few holiday visits ago now and it was still there so we decided to buy it.

When we get home I ring my parents to see how things are going. The funeral has been arranged for a week on Monday, and typically my Nan will be going out in style, with most of her favourite things being entwined into the service - and no one is allowed to wear black either.

A celebration of her life, not mourning of her death - as she'd have liked it.

We then head to bed, only to be confronted by yet another scorpion lurking in the corner of the bedroom - but this one is a bit more feisty than the last, putting up a bit of a fight as Phil tried to get it out of our sleeping crypt. Eventually though we manage it, and flip flop it across the hall outside - where I sever it into two with the end of the broom handle.

It was quite gross to see its tail twitching despite the fact it was amputated from the rest of its body - I wonder how long it will take the ants to ferry this one away.

Posted by Abi at 12:27 PM | Comments (0)

September 1, 2005

Fishy

Today is much like every other day that we have had on holiday so far, with precious little being done except for reading and generally relaxing. I finish The Da Vinci code book - very good to I'd recommend anyone read it. As it happens we've got another Dan Brown book here, Angels and Demons so I think Ill start that one tomorrow - hopefully it will as unputdownable as the last one.

We go out to Eftalou again tonight since Phil enjoyed his fish so much the last time we went, and sure enough he goes fishy on me again tonight, this time savoring the delights of of some baby tuna which had been grilled. However, slightly phased by its presentation (ie. with head and bone etc) I have to give Phil a quick lesson on how to debone the fish before he could tuck in. It was worth the effort on all accounts, since no sooner had the waiter given the order to "attack" (an no I'm not joking he really did say that when he laid the plate down) Phil was marveling in the glory of simply cooked fresh fish.

Sometimes it isn't worth over-complicating food with sauces and a medley of other flavours - if the produce is fresh, that in itself is enough to compliment the natural flavour.

Posted by Abi at 12:22 PM | Comments (0)

August 31, 2005

Bye Bye Nan

I get some bad news today in the form of a phone call from my Mum who rang to tell me that my Nan, who has been suffering from a miriad of problems for a couple of months now, had passed away today.

To be brutally honest, I almost expected this to happen whilst we were away, I even said as much to Phil before we left and as it happens I was right.

My mum is pretty upset about the whole thing as you can imagine, but because Nan has been ill for such a time, and really at the point of touch and go for most of it, it's almost prepared us for today, the day that she actually died. I'm not sure how I feel about it - it's difficult to feel anything whilst I am 2000 miles away and separated from my family, but there is a distinct sadness in me, along with a relief in the knowledge that she's finally out of the suffering and humiliation of a disease that rapes the sanity out of you day by day until there is little left but the shell of the person you once knew.

There isn't much I can do here obviously, so we try to carry on as normal and go out for food and have a wander around the shops, and it looks like the jeweler has come up trumps as I've seen a rather nice tourmaline and white gold bracelet which is very pretty and much cheaper than what I would normally splurge out on. Something to mull about buying before we go I guess.

We do manage to get a cake and a milkshake tonight, and after Phil has made a quick call to his parents I then ring mine to make sure that my Mum is ok - she's as to be expected but a lot calmer than she was earlier in the day. She's got the unfortunate task of sorting out all the associated paperwork and arrangements that have to be done when someone dies, and so is heading to Cardiff tomorrow to do so.

Posted by Abi at 12:15 PM | Comments (0)

August 30, 2005

Small World

I found out not long before we came away that my cousin was also visiting the island the same time as me and Phil. I saw him briefly at the airport and we arranged for him to come over to the villa at some point so that he could spend the day - a brave move on my part because I've not seen him for a long long time and I have to wonder what the conversation would be like and if in fact it would dry up after about 10 minutes.

Anyway today is the day that he's coming over and he arrives at about noon, a little later than expected but it doesn't matter too much really, we're on holiday after all.

We spend the day chatting and generally enjoying the weather and in the evening we head over to Anaxos to see some friends of my parents and have some food. All very enjoyable and topped off with a few cocktails to end the evening.

As we've left the outside lights on tonight when we get back the resident geckos are out and about catching the abundant insect life attracted to the lights, so we grab some pictures because they are kinda cool, and cute :)

Sleeping is a lot easier tonight since my sunburn has cooled off a bit, though I've started to peel already. You live and learn I guess.

Posted by Abi at 12:12 PM | Comments (0)

August 29, 2005

Shade Sense

I've keep true to my word today and spent the entire day in the sunshine and moving as soon as the sun started to creep near me.

It's given me plenty of opportunity to start reading a book today, Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code, and typically it's one of those ones you can't put down, it's really good and I'm enjoying every chapter. Can't wait to find out what happens in the end.

Whilst I'm reading I also notice from my spot in the shade that one of the large rocks that surround the pool looks a little different, it's got an addition to it that wasn't there a couple of minutes a go. So I whip out the binoculars and espy a rather large lizard basking at the top of the rock in the sunshine. Phil grabs the camera and grabs some shots of it and it's a big bugger to say the least.

Tonight we head over to Eftalou to a pretty good seafood restaurant and after we've eaten (along with hundreds of cats) we stop off at a vista point on the way home to take some pictures of Molyvos and the castle, which were all lit up. By the time we've done that we figure we might go and get dessert at the local cake shop, but they'd closed for the night. Guess we'll have to wait for another day to get a sugar boost. :)

Cakeless we head home where it appears we have an unwelcome house guest waiting for us in the bedroom - a scorpion! The same type as last year but instead of crawling over my leg in the bed this one was somewhat more accessible to dispose of since it is on the floor looking rather bewildered, even more so when Phil twats it across the tiled floor with a flip flop accelerating its speed to about 50 mph across the hallway and out of the front door. I then complete the kill with the end of a broom.

After a quick scorpion floor and bed check we go to bed. I sleep better than Phil however who wakes me up in the middle of the night telling me that "the scorpion eggs are flying down from the picture like helicopters and landing on the bed". I ask him if he's awake since he's talking gibberish, to which he insists he is hehehehe :) So after a little persuasion and convincing that in fact there was no picture an no scorpion eggs he goes quiet and I head back to sleep.

Strange thing sleep talking - could get you into all sorts of trouble if you aint careful!

Posted by Abi at 12:05 PM | Comments (0)

August 28, 2005

Overcooked

Yep, defo overdone the sunbathing today and as a result I'm rather red and taking a shower feels like I'm being rained on by a 1000 razor blades. My boobs are burnt and my legs are well... to say the least, like having 2 radiators strapped to me, red hot! Anyway, I manage to lather on plenty of aftersun and moisturising oil and we head out to Petra to another restaurant I have some super calamari whilst Phil gets the greek equivalent of burgers (minus the bun and the cheese et al).

Whist we're eating I start to feel the familiar affects of sunstroke, so stoke up on plenty of fluids and remind myself that tomorrow I will stay in the shade (and probably for a few days after that too).

Posted by Abi at 12:01 PM | Comments (0)

August 27, 2005

Rocks and Stuff

Considering I've been to this island, and more importantly this exact location on about 7 occasions, I've never once been to the rather impressive castle that sits imposingly on a hill overlooking the local town and harbour. So today is the day, we decide to go see what it's all about.

It would be a rather stupid idea to walk to the top of the hill where the castle is, so we drive up there instead. Its a good job too, since is it absolutely boiling - it must be 40 degrees. We pay over our 2 euros each and scrabble around the castle for 20 minutes or so - it really is too hot to spend anymore time than that there. But in the short amount of time we do stay its quite evident to see that whilst the castle doesn't compare to what you'd get in the uk perhaps, its still impressive, if not a little intrepid negotiating the top of the castle walls without any safety fencing what so ever!

We then decide to walk down into the town from the castle through the winding alley ways towards the main shopping centre, where there are plenty of little boutiques selling various goods, and of course most importantly my favourite jeweler happens to have a shop :)

We take a look round for a while then move further down the hillside towards the sea and make a stop at a cafe where we get some refreshments, a rather impressive ice cream for Phil and a lovely pancake for me. We then get a taxi back to the top of the hill where we have left the car and head off home.

Tonight we head into Petra to a taverna I'm quite familiar with and have a lovely meal and take an amble through Petra's back streets which convene around a church which is built upon a rather large chunk of rock. It also looks very impressive when it is lit up at night.

So after an almost busy day today we go to bed and I know I'm ready for it, I think my calves are aching already :)

Posted by Abi at 11:49 AM | Comments (0)

August 26, 2005

Bite

So it appears the mosquitoes have figured out who out of me and Phil would be the best target in terms of blood extraction as last night I got a monster chunk taken out of me on my side - it's swelled up quite nicely to say the least.

Enough complaining though, I've learnt my lesson - from now on I will be clad with mossy repellent on every inch of exposed flesh.

Most of the day is spent lazing around, reading and solving puzzles, though we do pop out to get a few more bits and pieces so that we can have lunch at home rather than eating out all of the time.

I think I've also probably done a bit to much toasting in the sun, I've got a feeling already that my skin shouldn't perhaps be red and hot enough to fry an egg on. It's my own fault, and I guess I'll pay the penalty tonight and for a few days after. It's a good job we've got plenty of aftersun and the like.

Tonight we go down to the local harbor to have some food, and although the setting was lovely the food didn't quite live up to the expectation (well mine didn't anyway). It seems calamari is a tricky food to cook for even the greeks.

Posted by Abi at 11:42 AM | Comments (0)

August 25, 2005

Flying

Up at some unearthly hour this morning, 1 am to be precise and we are on the road by 2am so that we can make it to the airport parking that we'd prebooked. We arrive there after an easy (but long) trip at around 3.30 am, check the car in with the valet and then load onto the coach which takes us to the airport terminal - about 15 minutes away.

We have a bit of a shock when we get there since the whole of the entrance is surrounded with 20 armed police men and 3 riot vans, a bit ominous when you are about to make a flight, but we check in ok, and are soon waiting in the departure lounge after I've had my back swabbed and chemically analysed for traces of explosive! I knew it was a bad idea taking the magnetic travel scrabble with me! :)

We get some breakfast, and I'm somewhat flabbergasted at the fact thats its only 4.30 in the morning and people are buying pints of beer to go with the eggs and bacon! Amazing. It's not long however before our flight is blinking on the departure board and typically we have to trapse to the the gate which is the farthest away - gate 101, a 15 minute hike.

After we're all boarded it's quite nice to hear the pilot announce that the flight will be only 3 hours - and it was an uneventful 3 hours too - and we touch down a little after mid day local time.

So whilst Phil gets the luggage, I set about picking up the key to our villa and getting the hire car which was suppose to be prebooked. Unfortunately though it seems that someone forgot to write down the fact we wanted a car and they had none left to rent. Feeling a bit guilty the car hire manager arranges a free lift for us to our destination - which is cool, since we have a car waiting for us at the villa.

I have to say, it was quite a terrifying and quick ride to the other side of the island, the greeks don't seem to know what the brake is for! But we arrive in one piece and immediately take a dip in the pool because its roasting hot and we're sweaty! We then decide that we need to go out and get some essentials since there is nothing in the house, not even some bottled water. However, when we go to start the car it is as dead as a dodo - nadda. Luckily we find a battery charger and stick it on the car for a bit, but after several hours of charging it's not getting anywhere. I make a few phone calls and within 30 minutes we've got a mechanic wielding a new battery, and 80 Euros later we've got a working car and are able to go get some shopping - thank god!

There isn't much else going on for us this evening though, because we're so tired after the mammoth day of traveling, so we just nip to a local and close by restaurant. After topping up on some food and drink its beddy byes times... and I breath a sigh of relief when the aircon flicks on.

Posted by Abi at 11:35 AM | Comments (0)

August 15, 2005

Shopiau

Well I was right about the indigestion, I was up for the majority of the night guzzling Antacids trying to settle my stomach and ease its fight against the Sunday dinner my mum had cooked yesterday. Combine that and the kidney ache I got (yes, completely my own fault for not drinking enough water) I had a pretty shabby nights sleep. Luckily though things were getting back to the norm by about 4am.

So I mentioned yesterday that Phil rang me and told me that the Plasma had blown up, a bright flash and a big bang were it's ultimate demise. I arranged yesterday for a bloke to come out and pick the TV up to see what was wrong with it, which he did. I get a phone call of said dude today who tells me that it's the power supply thats gone, and its gonna cos about 500 quid to fix it. EEK! Thats quite a lot of money. So reluctantly I tell him I'll ring him back after I've spoken to Phil about it. As it happens I didn't get to call him back as I was busy with stuff, mostly shopping! Oh well, I'm not in too much of a hurry to fork out 500 quid fixing a busted TV, it can wait until tomorrow.

So, shopping. Mum and me head off to Carmarthen to see what's on offer, and I really want to go as I need some things like replacement t-shirts and the like. Most of mine got splatted during the decorating saga and I'd like some new ones, which I manage to get on sale making me most chuffed :) Retail therapy done, we then have a spot of lunch and head off home, where mum makes a rather nice curry for tea.

Nothing much going on this evening either, we just watch Silent Witness and thats it. Then it's time for bed, I for one have got a long journey tomorrow.

Posted by Abi at 10:09 PM | Comments (0)

August 14, 2005

Cows, Pigs & Trains

Today my Dad has decided that since I'm in Wales we shouldn't waste the day doing nothingness. I agree with him, it's not often that I go home and so to do something with my Parents would be nice.

His agenda for today then is to nip to the town of Aberaeron where there is a model train exhibition on - so we pile into the car and head off to our destination which is about 20 miles north.

When we get there we hit a traffic jam to get into the town. It confuses me a bit because whilst I appreciate there is an avid number of train enthusiasts, I didn't think that there would be sufficient numbers of them in Wales to constitute causing a traffic queue of about a mile to see and exhibition.

My confusion was quickly cleared up however because as we approach the town centre we realise that not only is their a train exhibition on, but the town is also holding a rather large horse and pony show which has attracted a lot of visitors (locals and tourists).

Eventually we get parked and tootle on to the trains. I've got to hand it to the model makers, they must but hours upon hours of time into getting their scenery just right. A labour of love it truly must be. I got another surprise whilst I was there in the fact that my old University Tutor was rampaging around on a garden gauge train giving rides to the kids. I didn't speak to him, but it was quite strange to see that he hadn't change one iota in the 4 years since I last saw him.

After the trains we then have a trot around town and a look at the stalls that had been set up around the horse show ring. A lot of the stalls were from local food producers who were eager to hand out plenty of samples for tasting. All of it was delicious, and we got a few goodies to take home and nibble on.

We then head off back home, but with a quick diversion for a cream tea and scones at a farm which is just a few miles from my parents house. The farm is quite ramshackle, and please don't have any visions of a quartet playing string music whilst a waiter fulfills your every need. Oh no. We were sit quite literally in the middle of the farm courtyard, surrounded by pigs, dogs, calves and piglets!

The farm uses all of it's own produce, and since they rear Jersey Cows the cream tea was astounding, and the clotted cream even more so. It really was cholesterol in a dish, but I don't care on bit, it tasted divine. Even the Jam was homemade!

We spend a good hour at the farm, talking to the owners and admiring the animals. The pigs were huge! But very cute, and the piglets were just bundles of mischievous pork chops trouble makers, digging, escaping and generally causing havoc.

The evening is spent watching some TV and eating a super Sunday Dinner that my Mum had cooked - though I've overindulged to the extreme and I can already feel the indigestion coming on.

Excuse me whilst I reach for the Rennie's - and recover from the fact Phil has just told me the Plasma TV has blown up.

Posted by Abi at 9:23 PM | Comments (1)

August 13, 2005

Shw Mae Cymru

So, I'm off to Wales today for an extended weekend break - Phil can't come as he has to work on Monday, and since I don't think I'll be back till Tuesday it would be a bit silly to take 2 cars on the 280 mile trip. I pack my bags, say my goodbyes (always hate that bit) and head off down the motorway to my Parents.

I get there at around 3pm and spend the rest of the day generally chatting and catching up with my family, and of course devouring the lovely cooking my Mum manages to magic out of the kitchen with regular monotony.

The trip there was ok, but there seems to be an uncanny weather / geological phenomena that always happens as I cross the Welsh border, that being that it nearly always rains as soon as I hit Welsh territory.. and today is no exception. The rain is so heavy, and the spray off the road so blinding I nearly decide to pull over and wait until the weather cleared up a bit. But I didn't. I carried on, but at much slower pace than I had been driving. Not that I was driving fast or anything like that, oh no, the government here have made that nigh on impossible with their camera trickery and general imposition on most aspects of anyone's life.

I get to see my dogs too, 2 border collies, who now resemble 2 very old ladies, they are even going gray! Bless 'um. Scrumpy, the oldest, is showing her age more than ever and has developed a useful "conveniently deaf ear", ignoring any commands you give her but picking up the word "biscuit" from 100 paces in a head wind and a thunderstorm.

Cheeky mongrel!

Posted by Abi at 10:07 PM | Comments (1)

July 24, 2005

Cold, Stiff and Desperate

Seems like my premonition of an uncomfortable night was about right. Ground mats are no substitute for a mattress. Sleeping bags do in no way make up for a feather duvet and I was most definitely not made for living in the great outdoors. I was especially unthankful for the 300 yard dash to the nearest toilet block at 6am in the morning, which even by public toilet standards was letting the side down.

In all honesty though I've no room to grumble, after all it was my idea to go camping, and I think with the addition of an airmatress and a slight bigger tent should we ever dare to meddle with the evil forces of being at one with nature, we might just be in for a more comfortable night.

It's raining too, but stops long enough for us to pack the tent away, get some breakfast and have another quick look around all the cars and stands. We do see a rather cool car thats had hydraulics added to it, but I've a feeling in order to own such a car you need a ready supply of the white stuff, a semi-automatic and enough money to own a small island along with the majority of the local police force ;)

We then head off back to the MR2 stand (via the doughnut place), say our goodbyes and then head off home. It doesn't take more than 10 miles before I've gone to sleep and left Phil the miserable task of driving home in the pouring rain with little company except for my snoring.

And what a relief it is to be home... 4 walls and a roof have never looked so appealing! We're both such lightweights, you'd think we were made of paper. No stamina what so ever! It's therefore not long before a hot bath has been run, we'd be submersed in bubbles and warmth and promptly gone to bed for a well earned kip. I do however spy a moth and a caterpillar that I think would be rather good macro candidates and take a few snaps before hand... you can see them here.

We eventually wake up about 4 hours later, and now that it's stopped pissing with rain we unload the rest of the car and get some tea - again nothing fancy due to a lack of anything fancy in the cupboard. A dose of Top Gear later and you guessed it, we're back in bed again.

Well, we both need to catch up on some shut eye before the dreaded Monday comes to taunt us!

Posted by Abi at 10:43 PM | Comments (1)

July 23, 2005

Camp, As In Tent

We have a nice lazy start to the day considering we are to be in Peterborough at some point for JAE and take ample time to pack the bags, get some breakfast and load the car.

And this is where the first interesting bit happens. You see we are off camping, but the car we are taking is Phils MR2 (well we are going to a Japanese Car Show, a beemer would look slightly odd) and despite that Phil has to put his car on show for the stand that his internet club has set up. To sum up our difficulty, let me inform you that Phil's car exactly 2 cubic feet of storage space, into which we have to fit the following:-

• A tent
• 2 sleeping bags
• 2 pillows
• 2 ground mats
• A bag of clothes
• 2 folding chairs
• Some food rations
• A camera tripod

If there ever should have been a spacial awareness section for the Krypton Factor, this should have been it! It was truly a challenge of mind over matter, but eventually we got everything in with me packed in to the passenger side with an array of stuff surrounding me. It's a good job I'm short otherwise we'd have been buggered.

The trip to the show ground was easy enough, and when we arrive and have done the hello's, we set about putting the tent up.

Considering this was suppose to be a 2 person tent, someone at Eurohike has got a funny idea of what constitutes 2 people, I think they envisaged bodies of no longer than 4 feet tall and no wider than 12 inches! The tent is quite small to say the least, but doesn't take long to pitch, despite missing 5 or so pegs to pin it down to the ground.

C'est la vie... we then put all the things that need to be in the tent, in the tent, and set of for a wander around the showground to see what's what. There are a huge number of cars to say the least, but by comparison I'd say there were fewer modified cars than last year, and certainly less that were worthy of taking a closer look at. In fact I'd go so far to say that the only stall that had my avid interest was the fresh donut one! :)

In the evening we have an early tea (burgers) which I then regret eating with the onset of quite nasty indigestion which remained with me all night. We do however go to the main stadium to see the Flame Out competition (basically a contest to see who can get the most flames out of their exhaust by revving the nuts out of the engine) which was good fun, and seriously feed my desire to get a Subaru Impreza sooner rather than later.

A bit of chatting and I'm ready for bed. I don't feel too well, I've got an upset stomach AND I'm cold, ask anyone who knows me and they'll confirm that isn't the best combination for me when I'm at home, let alone when I'm in the middle of a field.

Inside the tent is cosy enough, but after about 2 hours the rest of the revelers return, one of which seems to have developed a fascination with the words starfish and chocolate and endeavors to experiment with noxious gas whilst sealed in his tent... all very amusing :) heheheh :).

I've got to say though, I don't think I'm in for a wonderful nights sleep due to the absence of a proper duvet, a mattress, an extra pillow and curtains! Not to mention the fact that I'm practically mummified in my sleeping bag, I guess those people at eurohike also thought to presume that everyone is less than 5 inches in depth too!

Posted by Abi at 11:37 PM | Comments (0)

July 17, 2005

Homeward Bound

We're up just in time to catch breakfast being served in the hotel, and after I feel I've got my £20's worth of grub we then take a short stroll in to Cardiff to a camera shop that we'd spotted yesterday.

They don't have all that we want, but we do manage to pick up a small tripod for the camera. What we were really after was a set of extension tubes for the lens, a cheaper alternative to getting a fully fledge macro lens but with similar results. So we head back off to the hotel and ask the concierge if he knows of any other camera shops in the vicinity and he points us in the direction of a much larger shop than the previous one we'd been to.

A short walk later and after dealing with someone who really didn't know his arse from his elbow we manage to get the extension tubes we'd been after.

Since we have to be out of the hotel by 12 noon, we quickstep it back and pack our bags and check out, but with enough time for Phil to test out the extension lenses to make sure they worked before we headed off home, which they appeared to do so.

The trip home was very uneventful to the point of boring, but we do stop off near to home at a local beauty spot and take some pictures with the camera, which you can see here.

Eventually we pull up on the driveway and after unloading the car I go into the back garden and notice that our short absence has had somewhat of a detrimental effect on the sunflowers, one has fallen over and the others are bone dry and the leaves are wilting. So I quickly start to water them all to make sure the soil is good and damp.

Whilst I'm doing that I notice some flies feeding off one of the other flowers in the garden, and despite the subject matter, they are colourful and would be good candidates to test out the extension tubes good and proper. So we set up the camera and I get snap happy, until the point where my feet are burning on the concrete path as its so hot!

Take a look at the full set of pics from the shoot, I'm amazed at the detail you can achieve once again! Quite astonishing :)

A quiet evening ensues as were both quite tired from yet another busy weekend.

Posted by Abi at 9:58 PM | Comments (1)

July 16, 2005

Happy Birthday Sis

Up relatively early today, but not so much to take advantage of a Saturday which is good, because I think I deserve a sort of lay in, and I know Phil needs to catch up on some of his sleep, with the antics of night time photography and the like.

Today we're off to Cardiff to meet up with my family for my sisters birthday, and combined with that we are also going to go and see my Nan, who whilst is considerably better than she was, is still in hospital and as much as I hate to say it, is playing the waiting game rather than recovering from her ailments.

So with me driving we head off out on the road at about 11.30 am, and by 2 were in Cardiff and checking into the hotel. There is just enough time for us to grab some lunch before I meet my parents who then take me up to the hospital to see Nan.

There isn't much point in Phil coming, as my Nan has never met him and most likely plonking a stranger in the room will add more confusion than good. So whilst I'm visiting, Phil takes advantages of the amenities the hotel has to offer and goes for a swim in the pool and generally relaxing some.

The hospital visit was fine, and although my Nan recognised us, it was easy to see that she would remember one moment, and then forget the next. She hasn't lost her sense of humour though, the one glimmer of my Nan as I'd like to remember her is still there, albeit faint.

After the visit my parents drop me off back at the hotel so that Phil and I can get ready to meet them at the restaurant we've booked into. It's an italian called Signor Valentino's commanding some rather splendid views of Cardiff Bay, which has recently undergone huge investment to regenerate the area. I have the Gamberoni all' Aglio (king prawns in garlic sauce) to start followed by Filetto Grigliato (fillet steak) with a cream and onion sauce, and finally a really sumptuous mango cheese cake.

All of the food was lovely, but not £30 a head lovely!!

We then head off to our next venue, which is the Glee club where we've booked tickets to see a live stand up comedy show. There are several acts on, all of which are funny, but the headline act is performed by Sean Collins - a hilarious Canadian, who IMHO probably gets monged before he even puts a foot on stage!

By the time the show ends however we're all pooped, so my parents head off back home, and we head off back to the hotel... that is of course once we've found a taxi... and I struggle to even get into the hotel after a group of girls pick a fight with a rather lardedah lady who criticizes one of them for peeing on the pavement outside, and the security guard makes the assumption that I am one of the trouble makers!

Posted by Abi at 11:23 PM | Comments (0)

June 21, 2005

Heading Home

As promised yesterday, I'm up early this morning and out waxing the car. It definitely needs it as the water has stopped beading on the paintwork, and so I don't think I can do too much damage by building up the wax layers a little.

And boy, does it take a lot of waxing! I hadn't realised just how much paint there was before, but now I think I'm familiar with every last square inch of it! :) I finally get it done though and then have a bit of breakfast before packing up my bags and loading up the car ready for my trip home.

I meet Mum and Dad for lunch though before I head off, and Mum very kindly gives me a belated birthday present (I missed out this year on the day as my Nan who has just been diagnosed with Vascular Dementia was having a particularly bad day). However, the pressy was a welcome injection of cash into our digital camera fund... I think we may almost make it in time to get one before we go away!

Fed and watered then I start the long journey home and arrive back at around 6pm after some considerable squabbling with the Sat Nav once again and relying on cruise control to get me through the mine field of variable speed limits and road works on the M4.

I pick up something quick and easy for tea at the super market before I get home and then wait for Phil to get back as he's working late.

Other than that, not much more to mention apart from the fact that it's the longest day of the year today! Or should I rephrase that, its the day with the most hours of daylight today, or even the Summer Solstice! I'm kinda relieved to say the least because it means it won't be light until 11pm at night for much longer, which for a sleep lizard such as myself is a welcome relief :)

Posted by Abi at 10:22 PM | Comments (0)

June 20, 2005

Relaxation

There really isn't a lot for me to do today, as the rest of my family have all gone to work, leaving me with a considerable amount of time to do with as I please around the house and in the garden.

I start out by doing some weeding, my parents have quite a large garden in comparison to ours and so weeding is always a priority, but with them both being so busy at work, and the fact that their gardener much prefers mowing things to removing unwanted plants, the situation could have easily become quite overwhelming if some action wasn't taken.

So I do some of the flower beds, and then set about doing the gravel drive way which seems to be a hot favourite with thistles, dandelions and grass. It takes me a good hour or two to cover the drive way and give up shortly after the backs of my thighs feel like they've been torn out, chewed and suitably disposed of.

A cup of tea later and I decide to take some photos around my parents place as the weather is good and all sorts of insects and things seem to be flying / crawling around. I manage to get some quite good shots of various dragonflies and some close ups of flowers etc which can all be seen in the album section. There was one huge dragon fly which kept evading me though and I couldn't snap him, never mind :)

I then head off into town where I am meeting my parents for lunch, and after we've eaten I head off to one of the local boy racer shops to get some locking valve caps for the car, and a host of car cleaning goodies as I think I'll do my car this afternoon rather than waste the weather by sitting inside watching tv.

Once home again I set about doing my car, and my sisters. I wish I hadn't started the latter as she'd been parking her car under a tree which has been spewing sap all over her paint work and is a complete pain in the arse to get off, I'm talking finger nail scraping here, it wouldn't even shift itself with a special sponge I have for removing baked on bug guts. I decide against waxing the car today as it's way to hot, the wax would just cook if I slapped it on now, so I might well do it early tomorrow morning before it gets too hot.

The evening is taken up by going out for a Chinese meal, which was very very good, and then we come home and watch Shall We Dance - not a bad film with quite a funky sound track which my mum liked.

And finally, it's bed time. Thank god for the ceiling fan I had in my room because it's swelteringly hot.

Posted by Abi at 9:56 PM | Comments (1)

June 19, 2005

Heading West

Up relatively early for a Sunday today as I want to make a fairly early start and get on the road in good time - the reason being that I've got to make it to the other side of the country at some point today, it's Fathers Day you see and well I thought it might be nice if I go see my Dad.

I leave Norwich at 9.30 am and I arrive at my parents at about 5.30 pm, which by any standards is one helluva drive, especially when you take into account that I stopped only twice, and that was a toilet pit stop more than anything else.

When I do finally extract myself from the cocoon of air conditioning inside the car (the temperature was 32 degrees outside at its most ferocious) and roll up at my parents, it's not long before Mum has fired up the barby and we settle down to some rather good and varied pickings of the usual kind of fayer you'd expect on a hot summers evening - very good food and the company likewise.

I'd gotten my Dad a CD for Fathers Day, Careless Love by Madeleine Peyroux who sounds remarkably like Billie Holiday whom my Dad has a bit of a soft spot for. I thought I'd done quite well for once, steering well clear of the usual Fathers Day dross of socks, ties and DIY gadgets and figured someone who was as internet dyslexic as my Dad would never have even heard of Ms. Peyroux let alone have the opportunity of buying her CD (I wouldn't consider it a choice of many high street retailers).

How sorely disappointed I was though when it turns out he'd bought the exact same CD whilst over in Lesbos, which, all things considered, is a 40 x 20 mile island in the middle of the Aegean with little more than Olives to keep it going (it is however stunningly beautiful).

Nevermind :) I'll just order him an album of hers which I know he hasn't got.

By the time we've eaten, it's late enough that it's only just turning dark, and considering we're just a day away from the summer solstice, thats pretty late into the night. Mum and I have a few games of Patience (a pretty cool card game roughly based around solitaire, but played by more than one person) and eventually we head off to bed.

I certainly don't need any rocking tonight, I'll be out quicker than the light switch.

Posted by Abi at 10:23 PM | Comments (0)

June 18, 2005

Bunked Up

Considering I opted for the Bunk beds last night, I had a remarkably good nights sleep (I of course don't attribute any of that fortune to the wine I had to drink!).

It was so nice to not hear any traffic, police helicopters, boy racers or screaming teenagers frolicking in the night, and reminded me a lot of living back in Wales in the middle of nowhere :) Silence, as they say, truly is golden.

Vanessa kindly cooks breakfast for all all this morning, and the french toast, banana, bacon and maple syrup combination was so good, I opted for a second helping, and despite the tightening of my waist band I didn't regret it one iota - it was fantastic!

After brekkies a couple of us then head off to the supermarket so I can pick up the things I need to make tea, which is American Chicken Pie, and a few other bits which would be nice as well. I also manage to get Phil some Chocolate Pop Tarts since there is a distinct lack of them in our local Tesco and he's been craving them for a good while now.

So groceries purchased we head off back to the cottage, and it is only as I'm unloading the car I notice that some thieving bastard has nicked all the metal valve caps off my wheels - all four of them, gone! It wouldn't usually piss me off that someone had stolen my valve caps, but as it happens these were rather nice ones! Not only that my car is now has something amiss, and that really pisses me off, the cap less valves might as well each be the size of the millennium dome so far as I'm concerned because there omission is so blatantly obvious in my eyes. It is something that will have to be rectified sooner rather than later in order to preserve my sanity.

After we'd unpacked the shopping then and I'd relieved some of my "thieving mutha fooker" hatred, we head out to lunch and eventually find somewhere that serves food after the seemingly magical witching hour of 2pm when most pubs in the blessed country of mine suddenly deny all existence of any type of food excluding crisps and peanuts. However, what we did find was nice, and filled 4 rather empty tums.

In the evening it was much of the same as yesterday, we eat and drink plenty and then have a game or 10 or Uno and quickly discover that long standing vendettas were quickly rationalized via some sneaky card playing and general ganging up and bullying ;)

A good day then, but I'm still miffed about my valve caps.

Posted by Abi at 10:36 PM | Comments (0)

June 17, 2005

Heading East

No work for me today, as I'd managed to swap my usual Friday working day with yesterday - which had the distinct advantage of leaving the day free for me to get my stuff ready for a long planned Girly Weekend with a few of my buddies.

We'd booked a holiday cottage ages ago situated near Norwich for us to escape to for the weekend, and as it happens the date has finally arrived! :)

So after packing a few bits and pieces and the essentials to a girls weekend away (ie. wine) I head off on a trip which the Sat Nav thinks will take me about 3.5 hours to complete.

5 hours later I arrive at where I'm suppose to be :) But not after some directions from one of my friends as it seems the post code locator thingy whatsit on the sat nav isn't as accurate as it could be. But none the less I arrive, and an hour later the rest of the party turn up and so we sit down to have some rather good veggie lasagne and summer fruit Millefeuille - all of which was incredibly scrummy.

Eventually, after a lot of chatter and an inexhaustable supply of wine we head off to bed, all pretty zonked after a day's worth of travel.

Posted by Abi at 9:15 PM | Comments (1)

May 21, 2005

My Wookey Is Wet

Up relatively early today because we're out and about on a tourist mission today :)

I'm not quite sure how it came about, but the subject of stalactites and stalagmites nudged it's way into a conversation Phil and I were having about a week ago, and he mentioned a place called Wookey Hole - some show caves in Somerset. After a quick bit of research on the web, we decided it would be rather cool to go see them in the flesh, and so today's the day :)

The trip there took forever!!!! I opted for the drive there, and some 3 and a bit hours and enough rain to fill an ocean we finally arrive. A quick bite to eat, and some rather cool "avoid the million french school kids that have turned up" defense tactics, we wind our way up to the entrance of the caves where the tour guide is waiting.

The caves really are quite impressive, made even better by the fact that they've added some quite funky light and sound affects to make the tour even more interesting. The guide is also very funny, making what could have been a rather laborious 30 minutes of staring at rock rather more fascinating and insightful.

Although the caves are considerably more extensive than the bit the sightseers get to see, they've got a rather impressive portfolio of history (involving cavemen and a witch) and a few records toboot, including the largest unsupported dome shaped cave. This cave in particular has several 1000 tonnes of rock upon it, and to this day nobody has been able to fathom just how it is remaining upright, in fact it could "collapse at any time" - so we are told as we are standing in the middle of it, and "in times of flood, the cave fills up in about 30 minutes to create a vast whirlpool of tretourous water" - as the torrential rain continues outside!!! hehehehe - honest, you could physically feel yourself making your way to the exit as the guide was quite cooly reiterating the facts and figures!

After the cave visit, we then have a quick look at some of the other attractions they have at the centre, including a dinosaur park, papermill, penny arcade (full of very old slot machines and the like) and a very disorientating mirror maze (which I didn't like one bit but Phil was fascinated with) :).

With some typically "I've been to [insert attraction name here]" goodies purchased we then set off home, only now it takes half the time to get back, where we then wait for Phils sister to arrive. She's staying over the night with us and also picking up a spare TV that we have laying around.

We get Chinese for tea, whilst watching The Eurovision Song Contest (oh how proud I am to be british ;)). Not that political / tactical / hate / brown nose voting goes on obviously (har har!) but from what I heard, well the greeks deserved to win! Mind you, the whole thing has certainly gone down hill since the days of Abba and the like.

Wish me luck with the nightmares tonight, I'll probably have a few after being subjected to 2 over enthusiastic Ukrainian presenters, one with a voice that could shatter glass, the other with a monobrow ;)

Posted by Abi at 10:28 PM | Comments (0)

May 8, 2005

Tourist Trappings

A welcome lay in this morning, though we did only manage to get to bed once Phil had removed the 30 + hair pins that were stuck in my nut :) hehehe - he did good too, I only screamed once ;)

What with not heading home until after we've had sunday dinner with my parents, we've a couple of hours to kill and decide to head off to the Preseli's which we'd travelled over yesterday on the way to the wedding reception (and thought that the view would be ideal for some photo opportunities). So after ascending to the dizzy heights of 1350 ft (not quite enough to make it a mountain, but sufficent to bugger up my ears for the day) we get some snaps of the countryside.

We then head towards Llys-Y-Fran Dam, which is close by, and marvel over the miracles of modern engineering and the gift shop ;)

Finally then, on the way back to my parents we stop off at Pentre Ifan Burial Chamber which is rather cool to say the least :)

After dinner we then pack up and head back home, but not before we take a gander at some of the new plants my parents have bought for their garden. The one I am most struck with is the Black Bamboo, and now I'm pretty tempted to get some to add a bit more privacy to our back garden. I think if we get that and contrast plant it with a red Acer tree is should look rather nice :)

We get home about 9pm after a seemingly endless trip down the motorway, so I filled the time out taking some photos of our car trip... hope they come out ok! :)

Posted by Abi at 9:29 PM | Comments (2)

May 7, 2005

The Big "I, Do"

Despite the late night last night, it's up early again for me today (7.30 am to be precise) as I've got to be ready to go into town and get my hair put up for the wedding. So by 9 am I am sitting infront of a rather large mirror having pins stuck in my head and enough hairspray plastered on my hair to make me quite incandescent should there be a power failure and some happens to have a match handy ;)

So whilst I'm being used as a human pin cushion, Phil does a bit of shopping and gets a torque wrench, aniseed balls and some pontefract cakes.

Hair done and sweet bought, we head back to my parents where we then get tarted up for the wedding - suits, ties, high heels and makeup (not necessarily together or in that order ;)) and arrive at the church in plenty of time to witness just how nerve wrecking a wedding can be for a Groom - I'd say he was considerably more nervous that the Bride when I saw her having her hair done this morning!

After a fashionably late arrival of the Bride, the ceremony is lovely. Copious amounts of pictures later and some rather impressive bell ringing we then make our way to where the reception is being held, some 16 miles from the Church and virtually in the middle of nowhere! When we finally find the place however its fantastic, lovely weather and plenty of rather nice canopies to go around and keep the guests occupied until the Bride and Groom arrive.

We settle down to a rather nice 3 course meal at around 4.30 pm and by 7.30 we'd all eaten and the speeches had been read out. So with a quick breather between the afternoon do and the evening reception Phil and I head back to my parents to change into something slightly more comfortable.

The evening few by, and before we knew it it was time to come home, both of us being absolutley knacked - I dread to think how the bride and groom were holding up!

All in all then, a great day. The weather held out, nothing went wrong and it was rather special seeing 2 close friends tying the knot and making one helluva commitment - Good Luck to them both!

Posted by Abi at 11:44 PM | Comments (1)

April 30, 2005

Monsters & Mud

So, just over 2 months since Phil's birthday, and that means that today we finally get to go Monster Trucking for a couple of hours. I bought Phil a "Maxi-Monster Trucking Experience" for his birthday, but the waiting list was huge when we rang up, but finally our time has come.

A nice early start then... and we head off towards East Grinstead which is about 95 miles away, towards the South, roof down all the way (which may I say, is a very handy way of getting your hair dry) :).

We arrive a little early, and whilst we are waiting for Richard to arrive (who is coming along as a spectator as well as myself) we get refreshments and have a look at the Monster Truck that Phil will be driving at some point - and it's HUGE! I don't think you can get the full scale of these things when you just see them on TV, but to give you and idea, each tyre is about 1 metre across, weights about 900kg and will set you back about £1200. Apparently it doesn't do any miles per gallon either, but gallons per mile instead, and you can probably understand why when I tell you that this monster has a 7 litre v8 chevvy engine in it and weights about 8 tonnes. You also need a step ladder to get into it.

After a short briefing of what not to do and what to do when driving Phil gets underway with the first of 4 events that he'll be doing today, which is an off road drive in Black Ice, which is a European Spec Monster Truck (so smaller than the US one). From what Phil tells me, it has the turning circle of a combine harvester and is quite a tricky drive over the rough terrain and steep inclines that he has to battle with.

Next up was a drive in the US Spec Monster Truck, aptly named Grizzly. A couple of circuits later and some scrap cars have neatly hit the dust and been driven over which is great fun to watch and provide ample photo opportunities! Though I have to say I'm glad it wasn't me that had to get in and out of it, it looked like helluva job even with a ladder!

We then head off into the "Jungle" which is a section of the course which is very muddy, narrow, rutted, wet, steeply banked and has lots of inclines and sharp declines. To tackle this, Phil has to drive an only slightly modified Daihatsu 4 x4 - and after a very near collision with a post he makes it safely back in one piece - and is surprised by the agility of a car, which IMHO looked slightly beyond its best. But it's performance is unsurpassed and makes mince meat of all the obstacles thrown in its path.

Finally it's a drive in a modified Rally Buggy, which from what I can see is basically a stripped down 4 x 4 with a roll cage. For this task, Phil has to make his way around a really twisty and steeply declined track and then drive into a forced roll where he'll end up with the car on one side. So after a brief encounter with a tree, he does the roll with the ease of a professional stunt driver, and then is promptly rescued by a mini digger :) hehehehe :) I tell you what, I'd have done anything to be in the buggy on the way back up the track because it was like climbing Mount Everest!

After a couple of hours of climbing hills and basking in the glorious weather, we decide to head off to a local pub to grab a late lunch and some drinks... all very nice too, and now fed and watered we make our way home.

I'd recommend anyone to do a day out like this, it really is something different to do rather than sitting around doing the SS on a DD, especially when it comes to weekends. The other bit of advice I'd give anyone wanting to book an "experience day" is don't book through the ordinary channels (such as an agent)... if you've the time to do a bit of investigation and find out who it is exactly thats offering the service, then go to the company direct because more often than not you'll save money.

For anyone thats interested, the people we used to go Monster Trucking were Leisure Pursuits, who provided a fab day out with fun and hospitable instructors.

Posted by Abi at 10:44 PM | Comments (1)

April 29, 2005

I got a ticket to ride...

Off into London today, to see if the top that I managed to track down like a sniffer dog on heat is actually suitable for its purpose - so up early for me to catch the 10.04 am train into London from our local station.

The first thing I notice is that train services are not commuter friendly. When I was working in London, the cost of a return ticket from here to there was £42.50. Today, because I'm traveling after 9am the cost of the ticket is halved. Not only that, because I'm parking the car after 9am, the cost of that has also halved - thieving bandit train companies... as if just commuting to London isn't a pain in the butt, they double the price to do so! Another reason why public transport sucks.

Anyway, and hour later and I'm on the underground making my way to Oxford Street. My first stop is Selfridges where the top is suppose to be so I hop off the tube at Bond Street and battle my way against the crowds into what is truly a huge department store.

Not wanting to waste any time faffing around trying to look for the exact spot I need to go to I ask an assistant where the Frank Usher section is and receive a reply which really p*ssed me off. "We don't stock Frank Usher, I've never seen any of his stuff here" to which I reply "Yes you do, I spoke to a woman in the Frank Usher department yesterday, she is reserving a top for me". "No Madame, I'm sorry but you have it wrong, we don't have a Frank Usher department in this store"... "You know what" (I say) "I'll just find it by myself as obviously I'm inconveniencing you" and storm off into the wilderness of overpriced clothes and tarty shopping assistants. You see London has a really nasty affect on me, I turn into a super bitch troll rather than an ordinary one... that's why I don't do London (especially in the middle of the day in one of the busiest department stores).

Anyway, eventually I find that indeed they do have a Frank Usher department, and the lady I spoke to does infact exist. So quite excited I take the last 2 tops that they have, 2 different sizes so hopefully one should fit. First top, well it fits ok, but since this top is a little like a corset thing I'd have probably passed out due to lack of blood going to my brain and lack of oxygen going to my lungs... it's fine if I stand up, but sitting down is a whole different ball game. So then I try the second top, the next size up. None of the previous problems with this one except for the fact that for some reason the makers obviously think that if you need the next size up your boobs must double in size!!! Seriously, I'll be the first to admit that I have an ample bust, but in this top, well TBH, I looked a little "lost" to say the least!

So I then starting weighing up the pro's and con's. The first top looks better in the boob department but could be conceived as a medieval torture device. The second top whilst a little more comfortable does *nothing* for your boobs unless you were of a similar build to Pamela Anderson. So, at £185 do I really want to either be incredibly uncomfortable for a whole day, or result in using tissue paper to pad things out a little... urm, with neither really so I leave the top on the shelf and decide to go have a look around the rest of the shops before making my mind up.

Heading East, I walk down towards Oxford Circus looking for another shop which I quite like and pop into any other shop that catches my eye on the way down. But by the time I reach Oxford Circus tube station I've failed to see the one other shop I really want to go into. And it's at this point I realise how handy it is to have a mobile and to have a friend on the end of the phone who has internet access, so thanks Rich for finding out where the shop was for me (despite the fact it was in the opposite direction to which I'd just come! hehehe).

Not wanting to battle the crowds any more, and to suffer hearing the lunatic rantings of a religious nut who accused everyone who walked past him of being a sinner, rather than a winner yet again, I get back on the tube and head to Marble Arch where the shop is.

And what a relief, I get to the shop and manage to pick up 3 tops all of which will be suitable for a wedding and all around £20 each. Now I just need some trousers to go with them, but the ones I want, they don't have in the size :( Not too disheartened though I just think to myself "well there is one more shop that might be a possible, I'll nip there and see if I can get some trousers". The only problem with that was that the next shop was at Tottenham Court Road - yup, in other end of Oxford Circus from which I'd just come. So back on the tube again.

By now the weather is really heating up. I'm hot, hungry and thirsty, but the determination just to get what I need and come back home is more appealing that staying in the City any longer than I have to. I arrive at the next shop and I leave disappointed... nothing, then I have a bright idea. I'm in London, there must be loads of shops where I saw the trousers I wanted, I wonder if they would ring around other stores and see if they have them! Enthused with a little more hope, I get back on the tube, all the way to Marble Arch, into the shop and collar an assistant, who is very helpful, but to no avail, none of the other shops have the trousers either. Arse! Arse! Arse!

So that's it. I'm fed up, tired, my feet are killing me and I feel like I've walked a marathon so after a quick stop to pick up some new makeup (I hardly wear the stuff, and because of that it lasts for ages, and consequently goes manky too) I make my way back to Marylebone where I find I've exactly 45 seconds to catch the next train back home. I just make it, and persuade a geeza to move his bag so I can sit down (inconsiderate git taking up a whole seat on a train that is packed and just using it for his bag!).

An hour later and I'm back home. I then remember something. It's Friday, and that means that there is a market in town. I've been around it a few times and there is this fella that sells some really quite nice clothes. So what the hell, I nip into to town and see what he's got. I only just get there in time because he's packing up, but what do I spy with my eagle eye? YES! The trousers I'd been hunting for in London, the exact same ones! Same make, same colour and the right size... and half the price! *SUCCESS* at last, I can hardly contain myself... finally I've got together a suitable outfit for the wedding and I can chill out!

So I guess it just goes to show, what ever it is you are looking for, it will always be in the last place you look. Worldly advice from me, one completely shattered shopper.

Posted by Abi at 9:11 PM | Comments (0)

April 22, 2005

Tequila, Vodka & Chips

Up early this morning, as today I'm off into London to meet up with some old work buddies who I haven't seen in quite a while. So with the usual morning crap that needs to be done out of the way, I also manage to fit in some of that muscle building stuff I've been yabbering on about.

I've a few of Susan Powter's exercise DVDs, including one called Building Strength so I decided to give it a go. Not bad either, she really tries to emphasise the correct way to do the movements to ensure maximum effectiveness.

Anyway, a quick shower later I head off to my friends, who I'm meeting up with and then heading off into London. I arrive with about 20 minutes to spare, so just enough time to dump my stuff and walk to the station where we catch the train into Liverpool Street.

Since we've arrive early we head to the bar to see if we can get some drinks and a seat... which we manage to do eventually, and not shortly afterwards the rest of the gang arrive.

Most of the evening was well behaved, with everyone catching up with each other and sharing the usual gossip... that was until *someone* (i.e. me) had the bright idea of getting some tequila. 10 shots, £15 quid, not a bad deal! :) We even got free lemon and salt ;) hehehehe.... Strangely it was at about that point everything got a bit raucous and random displays of body parts took over, along with plenty of hand massages and urm... quite a lot of over-familiarity ;) !!!! I'll just let the pictures tell the story!

After the pub finally throws us out, we all have the munchies, and luckily for us someone knows of an Italian greasy spoon which we all head for, and get stocked up on some good old carbs.

I'm amazed we made it back to my friends intact (ok, I'm not quite intact, I've got 3 blisters) as we only manage to get on the train with about 30 seconds spare. Let me tell you, tequila, smirnoff ice, bacon and brie panini, 2 chips and a bottle of water are not the best combination of things to be floating around in your system when you've had a skinful and you've got to do a 40 minute train trip...

BUT, despite all that, I had a fabulous time, really enjoyable and I'll most definitely be doing it again... when my liver recovers!

Posted by Abi at 11:59 PM | Comments (1)

April 10, 2005

Homeward Bound

Exhausted... that's what I am. After all of the excitement of yesterday, I've suddenly landed on my feet again, and its 8 am in the morning. Luckily I packed most of my stuff up yesterday night, so all I have to worry about this morning is a) getting some breakfast b) driving home.

So after breakfast, and the usual goodbyes, I head home back down the motorway after having a truely remarkable weekend, doing things I'd never done before, and catching up with old friends.

The drive home was fine, 3 hours this time with no traffic problems. I get home and after a coffee, Phil and I pop out to Tesco just to get some food for tea, no sunday roast today, I'm too pooped!

A very quiet day for me today (or what's left of it!), but do manage to catch 24 before going to sleep about 2 seconds after it had ended!

Posted by Abi at 9:48 PM | Comments (0)

April 9, 2005

And they're off...

An early start this morning isn't exactly welcome after the late night last night, but after stocking up on bacon sandwiches, tea and coffee we all get on board the bus and head off to Aintree, the home of the Grand National horse race.

The Grand National is arugably the largest annual horse race held in the UK. Its a 4.5 mile run, with lots of fences, and has had a chequored history what with horses having to be destroyed during and after races because of broken bones. For me, going to the races is a whole new experience, I've never been let alone placed a bet on anything (I don't think the lottery counts). So whilst in transit to the race course I put a call into one of my friends who is very much horseyfied and get some tips... Hedgehunter is the one to go for apparently, so with that name stamped on my brain and the bus parked we make our way into the race ground. However not before we've gone through metal detectors and had our bags searched...

The actual Grand National doesn't start until about 4.15 pm, but to keep the punters occupied there are various food stalls and beer tents set up (with live music), there are also a number of races before the National, which provides me with ample time to learn the lingo from Leanna (who has worked in a betting shop before) and to put some bets on the early races. I quickly learn that saying...

... can actually pay of quite well and I win £15 on my first ever bet! So with that win under my belt my now fashioned rule of betting was either go for number 13 or what ever name grabs me, and put a bet each way if the odds are good enough.

With all the excitement of the races and shouting my lungs out to edge on any horse I have a bet on, I didn't really notice the appauling weather, it was bucketing down. Luckily for me I'd packed a good Arctic Explorer type coat and some good water proof shoes so I didn't suffer as much as some of the other stupid bints who were wearing high heels, dresses and hats... wtf! They must be insane... there is only so much fashion can do for you, and more often than that it doesnt include being immune for pneumonia...

Anyway, time ticks on and several races later (yup I won on nearly all of them... hahah!!!!) the National finally began. I'd already placed my bet on my winning tip, so got a good place right down by the track (and the first fence) so I could see the horses fly by. And boy! What a racket when they go past! Thundering hooves, you name it I saw it, jumping horses, falling jockeys, paramedics and camera crews. 2 Jockies fell off their horses at the first fence (the horses were fine though) and as the rest of the race fled past I was lucky enough to see all the action on the giant screen infront of me. I've never screamed and shouted so much! "Come on hedgehunter!" "Go, go, go" "Come on my son"... . The tension was unbearable!!!! Even worse at the end of the race when all the horses are flagging and you are left wondering if your horse has anything left to pull out of the hat! But I'd need not have worried, because Hedgehunter romped home with a easy win! WHy didn't I put more money on him! hehehehehe! All pimped up I collect my winnings with great satisfaction from the bookie (I think he was beginning to wish I'd bet elsewhere).

So now £30 quid up, I'm chuffed. We all head off back to the bus and finally get back to the hotel where we get ready to go out again.

Tonight's food consists of a rather splendid italian restaurant where I have king prawns wrapped in Parma Ham (very nice) and once we've all eaten the waiter recommends we check out Roberta Lee's Showbar and with the added incentive of free entry we decide it would be a good place to go.

I have to say, we had a really good night at Roberta's. Offering plenty of entertainment (drag style), cheap drinks, dance floor and seating we couldn't have asked for more. So after enjoying the show (and the booze) we finally get back to the hotel, ready for another early start - we've all got to be out of the hotel rooms by 10 am!

All in all, a great day!

Posted by Abi at 10:47 PM | Comments (1)

April 8, 2005

Departure

So the big weekend starts here... I can't rightly remember that last time I went off for a girly weekend, in fact, no I don't think I've ever been on one :) So this will be a new experience for me!

But, there is plenty that I have to do before I can dissappear off into the distance for 2 days. The morning is really busy for me, I do my exercise video, bake some brownies for Phil (just so he has something gooey to eat whilst I'm away... any food is better than no food!) and do the light fandango to Tesco to pick up those vital things you need for a weekend away, such as a small tube of toothpaste and a couple of disposable cameras.

After doing all the above, then packing and having a quick sloose, I finally manage to get out of the front door (yes, I did check several times that I'd locked it ;)) and into the car. Of all the gizmo's I got on the beemer, I have to say the Satellite Navigation is one of the best ones... I just punch in a post code and it does it thing, 30 seconds later I know where I'm going, how to get there and how long it's going to take me! And I get to see it all on a map which rotates depending on which direction you're going! None of this static map crap that just points north, no, not for me! So, sat nav reckons it's going to take me 3 hours to get to Southport (I know I said Liverpool im my last post, but it's close enough) which is located right on the North West coast of England. And so I set off, favourite music playing, Sat Nav lady telling me where to go and some suitable munchies for the trip.

*4* hours later I arrive. The traffic around Birmingham and Manchester is terrible and results in a good 50 mile crawl at about 30 mph. But never mind, I'd arranged to meet the others at about 6pm, and as its 5pm now I have enough time to check into my room and unpack and relax a little. I then get a phone call from Leanna saying that they'd be caught in traffic too (they were travelling by coach) and that they probably wouldn't be at the hotel until about 7 pm. With that in mind, and realising that I wasn't interested in watching rubbish about the Royal Wedding anymore, I decide to take a recki around Southport to see what it has to offer.

Southport is a typical seaside town, and having grown up in Skegness (a somewhat more infamous seaside resort on the east coast of England) it was quite a good blast from the past, though I have to admit that Southport is a little more up-market than good old Skeggy. There are all the tell tale signs of a beach town, including sand (obviously!), a pleasure beach (ie. a fun fair) and a pier as well as a variety of shops, clubs and pubs. However, I didn't really get to see the sea! Amazing as it sounds, the sea is so far out I can't see it beyond the horizon. I did see Blackpool though.

With time ticking over, I cut my tourist adventure short and headed off back to the hotel where the others had now arrived. The hotel manager did look a little flustered to say the least, but that was probably due to the fact that his hotel was fully booked - one half full of hen party gals (23 of us all together, excluding Mustafa - who required several blow jobs to keep him up all night... yes, he was an inflatable doll! ) and the other half was full of bookies (yes, all of them male). Eventually though everyone is checked in, and we get ready to go out (including Leanna (the Hen) who had the requiste flashing penises on her head).

We decide to go out for an Indian meal first, but by the time they have served us all its already late, but we battle on to one of the local Southport pubs which is packed to the brim. After some Tom Cruise action at the bar (pretty impressive, but really, when there are stacks of people waiting for a drink why not give up on flinging bottles around and prancing about and just get on with clearing the queue?) the hen's get some booze down them and have a bit of a boogie with the locals - but for me, I'm zonked - the early morning, travelling and late night are all catching up with me, so I head off to bed before I end up soozled and sleeping in a corner, or in a gutter.

Yup, definately getting old....

Posted by Abi at 11:47 PM | Comments (0)

March 30, 2005

Day Trip

Off to see some friends today for a catch up. It's a relatively long drive and not very far from where I used to work, which reminded me nicely that I must of been clinically insane when I was doing a tri-weekly commute there! They live in a really small village which is close to Dunmow, where they hold the annual competition - which is basically a competition whereby the winners are the most "romantic" couple. The prize given out is a salted and cured side of bacon (or a Flitch).

The travelling weather was horrid, the motorways were packed and full of really bad drivers (and yes I even flashed some silly bint who was hogging the outside lane doing 55 mph like no one needed to overtake her - pesky VW Lupo drivers!). So I guess it was a good reminder to me how commuting in a car gives you road rage and generally is bad news for your stress levels! Wow! I'm even getting angry just typing about it!

Anyway, when I arrived I had a lovely time, and it was nice to do some socialising with people I hadn't seen in a while and to also be amazed how quickly offspring seem to develop (no not mine, theirs!). The last time I saw the little chap he was barely pulling himself upright, now he's walkin' and nearly talkin' - not bad for 12 months of learning :)

I don't stay out too late, and head home quite promptly as Phil's parents are popping around this evening as they are holidaying nearby. When they arrive, we have a good chat, and eventually go out for a pizza, which I am happy to report had none of the side affects of the last one. It was in fact very nice (and I think quite diet friendly?). To describe it... well, it was like proper italian garlic bread (you know like a pizza base with a tomato and garlic topping) and then on top of that were Rocket leaves and Cray fish tails. All in all, very satisfying :)

A late night tonight, gonna regret that in the morning...

Posted by Abi at 11:30 PM | Comments (0)

March 12, 2005

Gloucestershire's Answer To Venice

After a not so speedy recovery the morning after the night before, I finally manage to haul myself out of bed so that Phil and I can do some errands. 2 parcels, a loaf of bread and some bicycle inspections later we get home, have some lunch and then head off to Bourton-On-The-Water - where my parents had recommended we go just to have a look around.

It's a lovely place, but quite geared up for the tourists, with plenty of tea rooms and fancy boutique type shops. But I manage to get some more cross stitch packs to do, and Phil picks up a Gallilao Thermometer, a tyre clock and a shoe rack.

A hot chocolate and tea cake later, we head off home into a evening of r & r.

Posted by Abi at 8:26 PM | Comments (0)

March 6, 2005

Mothers Day

Yup, that special day once a year when we show how much our Mum means to us. After the arrival of plenty of flowers (not that I begrudge buying them, but florists really are extortionists), and a rather nice breakfast I head into town to fill up the car with diesel and have a smooch around to see if anything has changed much since my last visit - alas, not much at all.

I was however disappointed to see that the local council there has abandoned their recycling project as its apparently not feasible. It amazes me that they have reached this conclusion. Where I live now they have a very good recycling project and I believe it is one of the best run in the country, its a shame my ex-council can not follow by example (they certainly could try to justify some positive use for the inflated council tax they charge in the area).

Judging from what my parents had to say about it, a lot of the reason inhabitants of the area haven’t fully exploited the recycling is not because they don’t want to, but the ease in which they are able to do so has not been facilitated for by the council, things such as plastic bags put recyclable goods into which are not strong, over complicated separation of card, tin, glass etc etc.

If you ask me, the scheme we have here is much more convincing for the home owner. Basically we have 3 bins:-

1. A green one (for food waste)
2. A blue one (for anything that can be recycled)
3. A brown one (for garden waste)

The bins are collected on a rotational basis, thus encouraging you to recycle more stuff because otherwise you'd end up with loads of stinking rubbish hanging around if you waited the 2 weeks the council leaves between collecting the green bin. There is no sorting for recycling, it all goes into just the one bin where it is then ferried off to be classified at a sorting centre. Much easier, job done.

If only government bodies could follow by example and communicate, perhaps then we could get rid of the unnecessary bureaucrats and actually achieve something for the greater good.

Posted by Abi at 9:19 AM | Comments (1)

March 5, 2005

Cymru

Well being its Mothers Day tomorrow, its an earlish start for me to head off to Wales and spend the weekend with my parents.

A really good trip there (via Cardiff to do a little shopping) and a pleasant evening chatting to the family, eating a superb savoury fondue (yes I know, very 80's but still lovely) and helping to complete a Lord Of The Rings jigsaw puzzle (was well tricky since it was a circle rather than a square - no edges!).

I also pop over to see a friend that I havent seen in a while, just to catch up and find out what has been going on in my old stomping ground, which apparently isn't an awful lot, if you exclude the police SWOT team he had in his back garden the previous night! :)

Posted by Abi at 11:05 PM | Comments (2)