Tunstall, UK - More Country Living

Another few days in the country and nothing much to report although yesterday, just as I was typing an email to Arleen in NYC I looked up through the huge kitchen window and saw an incredible rainbow just in the distance. I got so excited and jumped up with of course prompted Teddy to start barking and then the Sooty Cat went to the window, I'm sure in hopes there was something of interest for her. I got a few pictures from outside and in this one if you look from the bottom right corner you should be able to follow the rainbow arch to the left. I love rainbows and hope no matter how many I see I will still get excited.

The air turned cold overnight and we had our first frost as you can see in the picture of Teddy out in the garden area near the tree with the frosty grass beneath him. And a little weed of some sort thinly coated with ice.  The days have been quiet which is nice and the furry ones have mostly been good although Teddy was not great on our walk today. We only stayed out for just under an hour and we walked around a nearby field where Teddy frolicked and I just meandered about and then to the center of the village to pick up some eggs at the local farm but they didn't have any today so I'll get some tomorrow at the supermarket when I go into Woodbridge for a hours.

The kitties as you can see from the picture are all fine. Olie and Gweni were snuggled together in a little box they've grown fond of near the AGA and the Sooty Cat was off to the side warming herself. She's been very strange today rubbing herself up against Teddy and basically annoying him. He's very tolerant of her but I can't imagine why all of a sudden she feels compelled to bother him. She was rolling around and just have a grand old time. I got some cute pictures of her although some do make her look a little evil.  She has a odd temperament, nothing like Sooty, all aloof and scheming She's always trying to get into something and if a fly or moth get into the house she'll spend hours chasing it down until she kills it and if a small bird happens to land in the pond outside the kitchen window well she gets so excited and then sits for a long time just watching it, waiting, through some miracle, until she can break through the glass and pounce on it. She's basically got a good killer instinct and you can just see the wheels turning in her head thinking all kinds of devious things. She is though very cute and since she ways less than 2 pounds she's like a little furry rag doll.

I do enjoy being snuggled in the kitchen with the sun shining outside and the furry ones all quiet and content sleeping on the floor next to me (Teddy) or on my lap (Qweni and Olie - sometimes both at the same time) and the Sooty Cat just doing her thing either near the AGA or on a kitchen chair. It is interesting though, that after over 4 weeks I still am obsessed with time. I can't stop planning things even if it's what time I vacuum or at what point I'll write my blog or send a certain email. I just can't give up the time scheduling thing. I'm a New Yorker and I have to have some semblance of managing my time an feeling productive. Today I scheduled in some time to work on some ESL lesson plans I came up with when I woke up this morning. I figured no time like the present to get them all down and organized on paper. I wonder how long you'd have to be in the country and have nothing much to do before you stop caring about keeping a schedule or being productive. I don't imagine 7 weeks will be it.

The Sooty Cat just yelled at me from across the room. It could mean she wants a snack or that she's agitated there are no flies to kill or just her way of saying "I'm here, pay attention to me!"  And Teddy just passed gas which smells so bad but if I get up to move away he'll get all excited and think it's time to play and the kitties will think it's snack time and spring on me so I'll just sit here and finish the blog and hope the air will clear soon. Oh, these furry ones could drive a person to drink!!!

Tunstall, UK - The Country LIfe

Three days of country life and all is well. I've vacuumed up enough fur to make another cat or a very small dog, I've mopped up enough dirt, mud and general muck to plant a small garden and done all the usual duties associated with taking care for 4 animals and a large 18th century converted school house. So basically time goes by and before I know it the dog has been walked, the furry ones have been feed and the house is as clean as a country house can get and eventually, around 4:15pm, the sun has set, the moon, which is visible on clear, or fairly clear nights like tonight, shines brightly and can be seen easily from the large 12 foot high windows in the kitchen where I've made a nice little Debra nest on and around the comfortable sofa. I like being in the kitchen because it's a large, fairly modern space with warm butter colored walls, and chestnut cabinets and honey colored hardwood floors, not to mention it's always pretty warm because of the AGA and my little electric heater which is currently helping to dry my boots which I washed with the hose this afternoon when Teddy and I got back from our nearly 4 hour walk. Teddy of course got hosed down first as he was a mess of mud and goodness only knows what other of nature's creations he'd brought home.

Today was a beautiful, mostly sunny day, although in this part of England it's only normal to have a few dark clouds float by obscuring the sun even if only for a short time.  Only a few minutes into our walk today we saw a rainbow (you can see it in this picture if you look closely) Teddy and I walked to Little Glemham again this time going past St. Peter's church where we stopped in so I could see the those stained glass windows I'd written about in my blog several weeks ago. The first time I'd been there not only was Teddy being difficult I also didn't know about the Rope family who created such well known glass works. They really are so beautiful and it was once again quiet and peaceful and I love that they have a table in the back of the church with tea and cookies laid out for anyone who might stop in and it says something about if no one is there to serve you then please serve yourself all free of charge. It's a very friendly place Blaxhall and they are very proud of their church.

When we left the church we walked toward the left side because we saw the church sheep, something I hadn't noticed the first visit and only knew were there because of that elderly man who I met on the bus a few weeks ago who told me he and his wife had seen the entry of a New Yorker visiting in the church book. Which, by the way, is still at the top of the open page of the sign in book. It seems there have only been a handful of tourists visiting since I was last there. Anyway, he told me the church had sheep. I couldn't imagine where so when Teddy and I got into the church yard we looked to the right and there in a small pen were three adorable black and white sheep. We walked over to them and they were so friendly, I got so excited because two of them let me pet them. I scratched their little noses and head. I was thrilled even if Teddy was not the least bit impressed. In fact he snubbed one of them when it bent down and squeezed it's head out of one of the fence slots and put it up against Teddy's who was sniffing about the ground there. Teddy just looked at him with disdain and move aside. Teddy and I just don't see eye to eye on the wonder of sheep or even cows for that matter. Birds he loves, rabbits, hares, small woodland animals he loves but sheep he could just as soon never see one and live a happy life.

So I said goodbye to the friendly sheep which attracted some odd stairs from a women about 20 or so feet away who was cleaning and maintaining one of the graves in the church yard. I smiled and said hi but I think she was too afraid of the crazy women talking to the sheep to want to engage in a conversation.  Oh, and a note, although you can see from the picture, the pen that was set up for the sheep is set up around a couple of graves and the headstones are clearly visible. I'm hoping that those souls that passed on and are now under the sheep's grazing area were happy farmers are take pleasure in having sheep busy above them.

We walked along Church Road and met up with a very nice man walking his black lab retriever named Maisey who was as sweet as could be so I let Teddy of his leash and the two of them played and flocked in the field while the nice man talked to me about life in Blaxhall and the church sheep and my fear of ticks and other creepy crawlies. He said it's rare to find ticks here but that if you are near the sheep and not the church sheep they're different, but the sheep in the fields you may find some but it's not a big problem. I'm just so paranoid about them and about fleas and about spiders and about snakes and about all manner of things that creep, slither, bite or attach themselves to you.

So we went on our way and took a lovely walk to Little Glemham and to Glemham Hall, this time being sure to walk to the front and around to where the gardens are. The Hall is magnificent and there were even more cows today, what seemed like hundreds, so that was exciting, again, only for me, Teddy was busying looking for more places to leave his mark. Every time we set out for a walk I try and count how many times we have to stop so he can pee on a tree, a bush, a blade of grass, anything really but after 10 or so I stop counting and that's usually within the first 2 minutes. He never stops, I'm serious, never. Even at the 3 hour and 30 minute mark we still had to stop so he could mark a pile of leaves. It's exhausting to say the least. I'm wondering if it's because he's not fixed but either way it makes any walk ten times longer.

We went to St. Andrew's church in Little Glemham but it was closed so we just walked the outside. It turns out from what I found online that you have to go about a mile away to the caretakers house to get the key to visit the church, very different than the all welcoming church of St. Peter's but I imagine that more people are roaming around here because it's so close to Glemham Hall and they need to protect it more. I couldn't find out when it was built but it looks like 1700's originally with lots of refurbishments in the subsequent years. Here's a little from what I found on line which mentions the windows also done by the Rope family.  "...the window to the west of the Mausoleum is by the great Margaret Edith Aldrich Rope. It shows the Blessed Virgin and child with a halo of stars in the middle flanked by two Gospel stories, the summoning of the fishermen and the feeding of the 5000. Mortlock records that the window opposite is by her elder cousin, Margaret Rope, a sequence of the four ages of man, but it doesn't look much as if it is in her style. Whether it is or not, and considering that the Rope cousins' work is generally considered among the finest stained glass of the 20th century, whoever whitewashed the wall above it was rather careless."

Teddy and I headed back home and by then I was getting tired having already walked 2 hours but since it is not the city and not bus, subway or taxi is available when your legs start to get tired so we just had to push on until we got home. We walked some lovely paths, took some nice pictures and generally got lots more fresh air and poor Teddy, having some kind of bowel disturbance going on made several extra stops to do his business which sadly did not seem to work. And at this very moment, while I write this, he is passing gas and if only the large window would open. Gweni, the cat was sitting next to me and left abruptly from the offensive odor although Teddy remains asleep in his restless dream state. Yes, he dreams and he is usually very rest and when I mentioned it to Elaine she said he's dreaming of chasing rabbits and getting all excited or frustrated. Oh, the pleasures of having a dog!

We took one path home past some beautiful horses and I guess today is just my day for bowel related surprises because I walked right into some horse poo. Oh my goodness the country is a filthy place, just take a look at my boots in this picture, I'm a mess!!!

But then we saw another rainbow (you can see it pretty well in this picture) so that made even the horse poo just a slight annoyance. 

As we got within a 20 minute walk home we met a young couple and their black lab but this time it was not as friendly an encounter as the earlier one because their dog is still young and has not mastered playing well with others so she attacked Teddy who attacked back. Thankfully they were both fine and the nice man who was trimming his hedges next door came to help us detangle them.

Our walk ended with passing a field of 100's of sheep so I chatted with them as we walked on. It was a surprise to see them as we had walked this way so many times in the first two weeks I was here and there were no sheep so to come back after my visit up North and to London to find hundreds of them scattered about was great. I didn't attempt to pet any of them as I didn't want to push my luck and besides I was so exhausted and really just had to use the bathroom by this point. Oh, and then we saw another rainbow - 3 in one day, so exciting!!!

I quickly washed Teddy off with the hose and then my boots and then locked all the furry ones in the kitchen and went and took a nice hot shower and changed. I just felt so dirty I couldn't possibly have spent the night trying to relax in that state. So now they've all been feed, washed (cats took care of their own bathing) and I'm on the sofa with Teddy at my feet and the cats scattered about and just so happy to be clean, warm and snuggled under a fleece blanket which funnily enough, has white and black sheep all over it. 

 

Saturday - Ipswich & Sunday - Woodbridge, UK

It's an overcast day with a tiny bit of a chill in the air but not much rain so I am exploring Ipswich which is the main town nearest Tunstall. The family I'm sitting for is still here until Monday morning so I have a few days to explore the area as they have the responsibility for Teddy all to themselves. Ipswich is clearly a popular place to live because it's an easy hour and a bit ride from London, direct and it also connects you to many parts of England and Scotland very easily. There are lots of new apartment buildings near the train station and the center of town has lots of charming small walking streets with shops. Today there is a Christmas Market going one which is very nice. The stores and streets are packed. And they have the town decorated but the lights aren't on yet.

I visited St. Mary-le-Tower Church which has lasted through eight centuries. It’s a very impressive building from the outside as well as in with incredible stained glass windows throughout. Often when I go in to local Church of England buildings they have clear glass windows even like the amazing and massive St. Paul’s in London. From their web site: “The first church, endowed with 26 acres and probably built of wood, flourished in the time of Edward the Confessor as recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086.  Holy Trinity Priory was founded in about 1177 and for 360 years its black-habited Augustinian secular canons served the Tower church and parish. The present fourth church was almost totally rebuilt in phases beginning with the chancel in 1850-53. The two-bay south chancel arcade was retained. In the 1860s the nave and aisles were tackled, again retaining the arcades. The whole campaign was paid for by George Bacon, banker and philanthropist, and the architect was Richard Makilwaine Phipson. Ipswich was from the 17th century a Puritan stronghold, in early-Victorian times Evangelical, but the vicars who oversaw the rebuilding of the Tower Church were Tractarians and the furnishings and ornaments suited the ritual they favoured. A tradition of choral services and sacramental teaching still exists, but the churchmanship has never been extreme.”

I also visited the Catholic church, St. Pancras which from their web site is described “Ancient Ipswich dates back to the Iron Age and has developed as into an important industrial, commercial, shopping and tourist centre. It has a long history with twelve Churches mentioned in the Doomsday Book. Later it had at least five Priories and became a place of Pilgrimage to the famous Shrine of Our Lady of Grace. This stood in what is still called Lady Lane. The first Catholic Church in Ipswich was opened in 1827 on the outskirts of the town.  It was soon recognised that there was a need for a central place of worship and the Church of St. Pancras was built in 1861. Somewhat plain on the outside, it had an interior that is an outstanding example of Victorian Gothic Architecture. The arches of the Nave and Sanctuary have alternate courses or red and white brick, in what is known as the Venetian Style. Behind the Altar and above the Reredos, five large statues depict Our Lord and the four Evangelists. The statue of the Blessed Virgin, in the small Lady Chapel, is over an ornamental marble Altar. This has floral carving symbolic of the title of the Queen of Heaven: the rose, lily of the valley and the marguerite.  The Tabernacle is rotary and available for both the High Altar and the Chapel.  The Organ, which was built in 1891 and has two manuals, stands in the recently almost rebuilt Choir Gallery which, with the Organ, was badly damaged in a disastrous fire in 1985.  Beneath the Gallery will be found the Caen stone Font,  the round bowl of which is a sculptured band of water lilies and four bosses of crystal spar, and the parish War Memorial of marble. The church also contains the Shrine of Our Lady of Poland, a souvenir of the stay in the town of the Polish Free Army during the second World War, which is cared for by the local Polish community. In the Parish garden is a statue of Our Lady of Grace.”

One thing that struck me strangely or just made me ponder a bit was how they have a huge football stadium (soccer) and all the pubs, bars, etc. near there are allowed to post huge signs that say only fans of the local team are allowed. They do say please at the end of some of the signs but I'm pretty sure that would be illegal in the States. Certainly I don't think you could say to a Red Sox fan visiting New York that they can't come in unless they are a Yankees or Met's fan. Or even that a Met's fan couldn't eat in restaurant that is owned by a Yankees fan. Anyway, it just seems strange, but maybe that's normal here or they just want to avoid any violence between rival fans.

Down one of the lovely shopping streets I found the statue of the Giles family - " A statue of Grandma, some spherical babies and a dog. Being representations in bronze of members of the Giles family, characters from the long-running British cartoon series drawn by Carl Giles. It is in Queen Street in Ipswich, England. Grandma stands looking up at the newspaper office window where Carl Giles used to work. A bit about the cartoonist and a copy of one of his cartoons. "His cartoon style was a single topical highly detailed panel, usually with a great deal more going on than the single joke. Certain recurring characters achieved a great deal of popularity, particularly the extended Giles family, which first appeared in a published cartoon on 5 August 1945 and featured prominently in the strip. Of these, the most famous is the enigmatic matriarch of the family, known simply as Grandma. Another recurring favorite was Chalkie, the tyrannical school teacher who Giles claimed was modeled on one of his childhood teachers, and Larry, the mop-haired child from next door, often seen with a camera."

I stopped in at what I thought was another lovely old church, which it was years ago. But this tiny, yet ideally situated on one of the small lanes in the center of tow is actually the Ipswich visitor and tourist center. They have lots of great locally made items like jams and crackers as well as clothes, jewelry, soaps and stationary. They had samples of the yummy crackers and jam but I knew if I got any I'd eat it all while at the house and since I only get exercise when I take Teddy out better to not have the temptation of jam and crackers to snack on.

And one little side note to an entry I made on Scotland about a women on the train who mentioned Shivery Biscuits or at least that's what I thought she said but it is actually "Shivery Bites." I found this blurb online to confirm it. The reason, in case you were wondering why I was thinking of this today, is because I think I may use it in a play so I just wanted to be sure I got it right but never expected to find such a clear and succinct explanation or really any mention of it at all. So goes to show you check the internet if ever you're in question on something you may just find the answer. "Shivery bite" is an expression used to describe a little something to eat after a dook(swim) in the sea. It was usually a biscuit or chocolate bar or maybe a packet of crisps. I first heard it when I moved to the East Neuk of Fife in the early 1960's. Children were hardy souls in those days and everyone used to swim in the outdoor sea-water swimming pools which still existed in Cellardyke, Anstruther and Pittenweem as well as in many other coastal towns and villages. The water was usually freezing even in the summer, hence the need for something to stop you shivering when you emerged blue with cold... I don't know if it's used so much nowadays but it's a great expression all the same"

Sunday - Woodbridge

John drove me to Woodbridge so I could go to mass at the Catholic church, St. Thomas of Canterbury at 11:00am. The church is sort of modern but still very nice and it was packed. There aren't many choices for Catholic masses so I'm sure they come from all around. The music was very good and just nice to be able to go to mass.

The family is off again tomorrow morning to go to their conferences on the Contentant for the next three weeks. I am looking forward to getting back to my Tunstall routine, but it's also been so amazing to be able to see the Lake District, Scotland and spend time with friends in London.

Woodbridge was busy with people but a lot of shops and restaurants are closed on Sunday so I just walked around got a sandwich and went in to a few shops and then met John around 2:30pm and back to the house where I took Teddy for a 20 minute walk. His leg is doing much, much better but we are still going to have to take it easy for a week or so and build up to our longer walks. Maybe add 5 or 10 minutes each day until he's back to normal. I am going to have to have a talk with him he's still wanting to pull away and run when he sees a bird or something. I'll have to say "I know you like rabbits and you love chasing them and killing them but no, no, no, no, no!!! Now what I'm sure Teddy will hear from all that is "Yap, yap, yap, yap, RABBIT, yap, yap, LOVE, yap, yap, yap KILLING, yap, yap NO, NO, NO, NO NO! But even then it still gets the message clearly across "RABBIT LOVE KILLING, NO!!!

He really is a sweet dog though and I'm glad he's okay. A man who was walking his golden retriever today stopped to say hi and Teddy and his dog did the usual sniffing greetings and the man said he'd like to get a dog like Teddy because he's smaller. I wanted to say "Look at your lovely, sweet dog, being so well behaved while my little man here is all rambunctious and frenzied, why would you ever want to switch?"

Although Teddy is so loyal I can imagine why someone would want him. Elaine was telling me about a year ago when they started to travel so much for business that they decided to give Teddy away to a good home so they posted on the internet for families to inquire. The same day of the posting they got like 3 people  wanting him, not unusual he is very beautiful and sweet, but that same day, within 12 hours of the posting, Elaine said Teddy started to get sick. By the next day he was really bad and they took him to the vet and the doctor couldn't find out why he was so ill so they took him home and over a few days he got so bad that he was barely breathing and they were sure he was about to die so she told John to take the posting off the internet right away which he did and she said within 12 hours of that he was completely back to normal hasn't had any issues since. She said some dogs, they've had him since he was a puppy, know that they are meant to be with one family and if that family no longer needs them then they know it's time to die. So strange and a bit melodramatic on Teddy's part, but still very sweet in a way. I'm just glad he likes me and hasn't become all dramatic and stopped eating or anything while they're away. He actually gets lots of attention from me because I have him next to me almost at every moment when I'm in the house.

London, UK - Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving!!! Although it didn’t seem much like Thanksgiving here, well understandable since they don’t celebrate it, I still was reminded of all the things in my life I am eternally grateful for. Like my family and friends, the opportunity I’ve been given to take this incredible journey and in particular for this Thanksgiving, being able to spend the day with my dear, dear friend Barbara and her husband Neil who are visiting London for the long weekend. I never expected to see them because I was supposed to be back in Tunstall by Thursday afternoon and not be able to leave Teddy, especially after his accident, but the family isn’t leaving for a few days so I was able to zip off to London for a few days and found a hotel I could afford right near Barb’s hotel so it all just worked out so perfectly. I am a very, very grateful person and although I miss Thanksgiving dinner with my family in the North End of Boston and especially my aunt’s incredible, amazing, fabulous (yes, I could use just about every good adjective to describe her food) food. But hopefully she wasn’t too upset since her grandson surprised her by coming in from Italy.

So Elaine dropped me off at the Woodbridge train station around 9:00am on Thursday and she went off to have her hair done. My train wasn’t until 10:18am so I got to walk the waterfront and take some wonderful pictures of the sun shining brightly on the bay area as low tide was beginning. I’ve had such incredible weather since I’ve been here it’s really amazing! So as I walked I saw lots of joggers, moms and dad’s walking dogs and children and just random people enjoying the incredible morning.

The train was exactly on time and I headed off to London and was in the city by about 12:30pm. I walked around for almost 3 hours straight so you might say I was a bit tired but I saw so much I hadn’t seen before and even this open air market, Spitalfields Market, and got a feta and cheese snack for lunch. The Market is also like a big flea market with people selling all kinds of old clothes and house wares. By the time I reached Barbara and Neil’s hotel the Holiday Inn at Kensington Forum.  It’s a very nice hotel, I just never know what to expect with Holiday Inn’s but this one is huge and in a fabulous neighborhood. My hotel was the Best Western on Cromwell Road around the corner and although my room was small it was so nice and clean and just simple which is perfect for me. I don’t spend much time in the room I just like to know it’s clean, safe and not expensive. A note about my trip by subway from the other side of London where I was walking around, I bought a day pass (I learned about this when mom and I were here and were horrified by the 4.20 pound one trip rate. ) The pass is only 7.00 pounds and it allows you to take as many buses, subways as you want for the whole day. I ended up taking three rides so I saved a lot not doing it individually but Neil and Barb who I had emailed the details about the pass to weeks ago bought theirs at Heathrow Airport as soon as they landed and then took the subway to Gloucester Road station which is around the corner from their hotel and across the street from mine. But either way that only paid for the pass but then they took 4 or so other rides with it so they did really well saving money. So the moral of my story is if you are in London get the day pass!!!

Also, you do meet lovely people. For me I got on the subway at my starting point somewhere near Liverpool Street Station and couldn’t figure out where the stairs were for the train direction I needed so I stopped this young man who kindly directed me to the stairs down the way. I thanked him and we parted ways and I went to the platform. A moment or so later the young man comes bounding down the steps he realized he had sent me to the wrong direction so he showed me the other steps and I went down and a train approached so I got on and just then the young man came bounding again, this time right on the train, and he said something like “I’m sorry I forgot to tell you there is more than one train line on this track. This is the wrong train.” So we both got off and he kindly waited with me chatting about Vancouver, Canada where he’s from and how he’s working in London for a year and half and loving it. I was just so, so impressed, although Canadians are known for being friendly and helpful so I shouldn’t be so surprised but he went totally out of his way to make sure I got on the right train. I must admit that I have done something similar to people I’ve helped in NYC especially when I’ve realized I’ve given them the wrong information. You feel so bad misdirecting tourists even if it’s unintentional. The young man, Chris, also told me about the Olympics this summer here in London and how he also got to go to the Vancouver Olympics as well. That’s pretty unique I would think to be living in two cities that have hosted the Olympics back to back.  So I finally said good bye to Chris who waited until I had gotten on and the train pulled out. So, sweet really an then I realized I didn’t know exactly where the hotel was when I got off at Gloucester Station but once again I met a nice person or in this case a nice couple from Washington, D.C. who just happened to be staying at the same hotel as Barbara and Neil. So they walked with me and made sure I got there safely.

I also met a nice Italian dad who was in London with his teenage son for a Harry Potter festival of some sort. He didn’t speak English but I understood most of what he said and when I asked about where his wife was he said with her mother and he didn’t like her mother so they came to London. People really do tell me the oddest things even in a foreign language. Interestingly there are so many American’s in London today as well as Spanish and Italian families. Even with the exchange rate being so bad everywhere I’ve gone I’ve bumped into an American or and Italian.

So after I called up to Barbara to say I was in the lobby they met me down there and then Neil took us all out to a pub for drinks which was so sweet and then we all took the subway to Piccadilly Circus because I had gotten online a discounted ticket for a play in the West End (London’s equivalent to our Broadway.) I couldn’t believe I got the ticket with the booking fee for 12.50 pounds which was almost 70% off the ticket price. The couple I met up in the Lake District recommended this web site for last minute tickets and she was so right it worked so easily and my ticket was at the box office when I arrived.  My seat was up in the last row in the highest balcony (4 floors up) but it was perfect and I could see just fine. Barb and Neil went off to Chinatown for dinner and then to do the London Eye Ferris wheel which it turned out they didn’t do because around 9pm a rain storm came and it was too windy.

It was beyond exciting to be going to see a play. Yes, I know I’ve seen over 1,000 plays since I moved to New York almost 17 years ago, but I still get so excited it’s crazy. I saw the comedy “A Chorus of Disapproval” and here is a little info from their web page: Don’t miss Rob Brydon‘s acclaimed performance, in Alan Ayckbourn‘s much-loved comedy A Chorus of Disapproval, where he stars alongside Nigel Harman (Shrek, EastEnders) and Ashley Jensen (Extras, Ugly Betty), directed by Olivier and Tony award-winner Trevor Nunn. The cast also includes Teresa Banham, Daisy Beaumont, Georgia Brown, Rob Compton, Matthew Cottle, Steven Edis, Jessica Ellerby, Barrie Rutter, Paul Thornley and Susan Tracy. Play synopsis: The Pendon Amateur Light Operatic Society’s production of The Beggar’s Opera is going off the rails, that is until a handsome but shy young widower Guy (Harman) joins the group. An instant hit with the company’s ferociously zealous director Dafydd (Brydon) and the show’s leading ladies, including Dafydd’s wife Hannah (Jensen), Guy soon gets more than he bargained for as he discovers that all the best action happens off-stage. Classic songs fill the air as the drama on stage is mirrored by the romantic rivalry and small town squabbles causing a stir in the wings of this ambitious local show.   Not seen in London since the National Theatre’s hit production over 25 years ago A Chorus of Disapproval is stealing the limelight once more in the West End.”

The play was very funny and entertaining and when we got out at about 10pm I zipped off to the Piccadilly Circus subway station which was very close and I could not believe how many people where there. It took almost 5 minutes to get through the turnstile before we could even get to our different subway lines. I know it’s busy in New York but I don’t remember this after a show but of course 99% percent of the time I walk home from the theater in NYC.

I got to my hotel and had a quick dinner at a fast food place and then off to my warm room, a hot shower and then to bed. I was so exhausted but it really was such a great day and so wonderful to see Barb and Neil especially as this was a big trip for Neil, he’s celebrating his 50^th birthday and his mother and brother (who is my dentist oddly enough) gave him and Barb this as gift since Neil was diagnosed with cancer over 10 years ago, underwent years of treatment for that including having to have a liver transplant and was told years ago he would probably not live to see his 50^th birthday. So you can imagine how happy he is to be here and he’s just a whirlwind of energy wanting to do everything, whereas Barb was not doing well with the jetlag and just wanted to stay in the hotel. Neil said if I hadn’t come to the city to meet them they would have spent the whole night in the hotel so he was thrilled I got Barb out and that they ended up going to Chinatown for dinner.

Black Friday or Day 2 in London

I got up early and met Barb and Neil at their hotel for breakfast. They overslept, understandably since they only landed at the morning before at 6:00am. So they took me to a nice Parisian bakery for a yummy breakfast and lots of chatting and I helped them plan out their day on the hop-on-hop off bus, Big Bus, the same mom and I did when she was here.  They also got tickets to go into the Tower of London and the London Eye since they hadn’t done it the night before. Neil is also trying to convince Barb to do a one day trip to Paris tomorrow so I’ll find out in a few days when she gets home and emails me if he succeeded but I figure since he’s been through so much way not just go to Paris.

So we parted ways as they got on the tour bus and I headed across town for a long walk to Liverpool Street Station where I’d be catching my train back toward the country.  But I had all day to explore so I went up to Harrods and as you can see from the pictures they’re decorated for the holidays and the food court (check out those cupcakes) is fabulous. I only got a small slice of salted milky caramel fudge.

From Harrods I headed toward Buckingham Palace because the tour bus lady who sold Barb and Neil their tickets said that they had the changing of the guard today at 11:30. I made it a few minutes late but it was so exciting to see it, I don’t remember seeing it the last 4 times I’ve been here. I didn’t see Barb or Neil so I’m not sure if they made it there in time.

Next I went up to Trafalgar Square and walked took some great pictures of the lions and the Nelson’s Column as well as this newly added sculpture of a boy on a rocking horse painted gold. From the London Telegraph article: “Bronze statue of a boy on a rocking horse adorns Trafalgar Square’s Fourth Plinth

Artist duo Elmgreen and Dragset have become the latest contemporary artists to unveil a public sculpture on Trafalgar Square’s Fourth Plinth. Joanna Lumley unveiled the sculpture, which was designed by two artists famous for opening a Prada boutique in the middle of the Texan desert.

Elmgreen and Dragset's 'Powerless Structures, Fig. 101' depicts a classically proportioned young boy atop a flat rocking horse. The 4.1m high statue is the fifth contemporary artwork to adorn the empty plinth in the Fourth Plinth Project series, which has become an annual fixture in the London culture calendar and is considered a great honour for an artist. Powerless Structures, Fig. 101 is a twist on a traditional equestrian portrait, the artists say, because instead of celebrating military victory and commemorating fame, it acknowledges the “heroism of growing up”. The artists have said that the sculpture makes a serious point. "Why do we have this tradition to put people on horseback if they have won a battle? What do we want to say by doing that? “ That is an interesting question since so many of sculptures in this city as well as most throughout the world including NYC have national figures riding on horses. 

Then I headed up through Regent Street which is the main shopping street and it’s fabulously decorated with lights hanging above and large, colorful signage depicting the 12 days of Christmas song.  The streets were crazy and it wasn’t until much later that I realized it was Black Friday even here in Britain. I’m so glad I really didn’t need anything and could just window shop and enjoy the sights. I passed Soho Square, a small park "Soho Square is a square in Soho, London, England, with a park and garden area at its centre that dates back to 1681. It was originally called King Square after Charles II, whose statue stands in the square. At the centre of the garden, there is a distinctive half-timbered gardener's hut. During the summer, it hosts open-air free concerts." I passed the  I also visited the Liberty department store which according their web page: “Since 1875, Liberty has been synonymous with luxury and great design. Arthur Liberty’s intuitive vision and pioneering spirit led him to travel the world looking for individual pieces to inspire and excite his discerning clientele. Liberty is not just a name above the door, it’s Arthur Liberty’s legacy, which stands for integrity, value, quality and above all beautifully designed product. This vision and spirit continues today within the iconic Tudor building.

Arthur Lasenby Liberty was born in Chesham, Buckinghamshire in 1843. He was employed at Messrs Farmer and Rogers in Regent Street in 1862, the year of the International Exhibition at Kensington in London. By 1874, inspired by his 10 years of service, Arthur then decided to start a business of his own, believing that he could change the look of home wares and fashion. With a £2000 loan from his future father-in-law, Arthur Liberty took on the lease of half a shop at 218a Regent Street with only three staff.

The shop opened in 1875 selling ornaments, fabric and objets d'art from Japan and the East. Within eighteen months Arthur Liberty had repaid the loan and acquired the second half of 218 Regent Street. As the business grew, neighboring properties were bought and added.” Also, check out their web page I just couldn’t do it justice with my pictures although I do like the one I took looking up at their gold decorations and glass ceiling above. http://www.liberty.co.uk/fcp/content/about-liberty/newsarchive

They even have a haberdashery and yes, I had to look up the word, it’s a place that sells small notions for sewing. They also have a Christmas shop on the 4^th floor that was packed with Christmas ornaments and people were going crazy up there buying so much. There were people with 10 and 15 ornaments in there baskets and although they had a few inexpensive ones some were really pricy. I do like Christmas trees though especially when they’re decorated in matching brightly colored ornaments. Arleen and I didn’t have a Christmas tree in the NYC apartment all these years because our beloved Zaboo was a bit of a terror and we could just imagine coming home one night and find him on the floor with the tree on top of him and his adorable orange stripped body impaled with a tree branch. He used to like to jump on things.

I left Liberty and went through the West End and past all the theatres and to Covent Garden’s where their open air market was all dressed for the holidays and the red Christmas tree was beautiful. I also found Neal’s Yard which is a small area down a shopping ally where the great Neal’s Yard perfume/bath product shop is and a place I visited my first time to London well over 17 years ago and where I had a facial or massage or something. I could see the room where I had my treatment from down in the courtyard. I still can’t believe I found that place all those years ago, I was only like 24 years old, I have no idea how I got around so well having not yet lived in NYC and experiencing such a big city on my own.  This whole day has brought back so many memories of my first visit which was so lovely and perfect. Except today the weather, unlike on my first visit in February, was amazing and warm (like 60 degrees) and so sunny. Really just one of many, many things to be thankful for and on my first visit I stayed outside the city with a friend of the family from when we lived in Italy, Gloria Ingram.

So from Covent Garden’s I continued my walk toward Liverpool Street passing by St. Paul’s Cathedral where Princes Di and Prince Charles got married and I wanted to go in but it was closing so I only saw a little bit from the front entrance and the windows which are clear, not stained glass.

All in all it took me about 7 hours from when I began to get to Liverpool Street but it was a great, great day and with the exception of 45 minutes at an Indian food place for lunch and 15 minutes for something to drink at an African café near Covent Garden’s I walked the whole time. Yes, my legs are tired and I am looking forward to a good nights rest. Oh, and I also saw a famous Italian singer who was getting in a taxi and about 10 Italians were mobbing him to get his picture. I didn't know him of course he's extremely tall and bald and I asked an Italian man who it was and he said Mario Biondi. He must be a big deal these people were so excited.His bio on line says "Mario Biondi  is a singer and composer, born in Catania, Italy on January 28,1971. His father Stefano Biondi was also a singer. Mario's passion for music began at the early age of twelve when he sang in his church choir . His many musical experiences over time in Italy  saw him develop more and more into an artist whose scope was destined to be of an international level. For a while he worked as a session singer -  then in 1988 he had an important opportunity as support act to Ray Chales' Italian dates.  His love for soul music helped shape his particular vocal styling that takes its cue from great vocalists  like Lou Rawls, Al Jarreau and  Isacc Hayes."