R is for RHOSSILI

Since this week is brought to you by the letter R, I'd like to send out three rousing cheers (RAH! RAH! RAH!) to our regal ABCW administrator for this round - that resplendent rascal ROGER! Isn't he doing a radical job?  He is remarkably reliable and respectful to everyone who participates.  Just remember, though, he's razor-sharp in noticing posts that don't follow the rules.  So please review them carefully and be sure that your contribution relates to the weekly letter by using some words with it and refer your post to ABC Wednesday site.  We all would like to remain with the original representation created by our one and only Mrs. Nesbitt. That's only reasonable, don't you think?

Rhossili is located at the most Western part of the Gower Peninsula in south Wales. The most photographed part of Gower, The Worms Head, stretches out to sea and becomes an island when the tide comes in. The breathtaking view is completed by the long sandy beach and the towering cliffs and this makes it a popular destination throughout the year with surfers, paragliders and ramblers. However, Rhossili still manages to maintain its tranquility and unspoilt beauty. 

The village and surrounding area are steeped in history. The prominent wreck of the Helvetia, which ran aground on Rhossili Bay in November 1887 bears witness to the challenging weather conditions and the tales of our ancestors, who lured boats ashore to plunder their hold. The arch over the doorway of the church dates from the twelfth century and is believed to have been moved from the lost village (built in around 1100 and buried possibly by sand storms some time in the early part of the fourteenth century). 

Remains of stone age man were found in Paviland Cave and fourteen Bronze Age burial chambers and two Neolithic burial chambers (Sweynes Howes) have been identified on Rhossili Down.

Add to that a handful of Iron Age promontory forts and nobody can dispute that Rhossili is not only beautiful but full of history too! (Oh... and it can be very windy, so come prepared!) 

The parish of Rhossili stretches from the village itself towards Scurlage and encompasses the hamlets of Middleton, Pitton and Pitton Cross. There are plenty of establishments that offer various types of accommodation and many coves and beaches to visit and spend an afternoon. Walkers are most definitely in their element with some of the most fantastic views on offer and try not to miss one of our sunsets!   The above comes to you courtesy of http://www.the-gower.com/villages/Rhossili/rhossili.htm and if you click the link, you can see lots of great photos of the area. 

I had the wonderful privilege of seeing Rhossili courtesy of my friend Liz at "Finding Life Hard" here.  We "met" online blogging and on Facebook and then when she came to Vancouver a few years ago, we met for lunch at Granville Island's "Beaches" restaurant dining al fresco by the water.  We continued to correspond and this summer was my turn to see her on her home grounds.  She drove Cathy (my travel partner), Jane (my good friend who lives in Newport, Wales), and me to Rhossili for a distinctly pleasureable day.  My first reaction to the view was utter shock and awe!  Now, I must say I have seen some spectacular scenery during my travels, but Rhossili absolutely took my breath (and words) away! This time, we dined at Bar Helvetica on the patio overlooking resounding views! (photo below courtesy of Mr. Google)

I didn't get to see the churches or the Iron Age forts or even the hamlets that surround the area.  Because of that, I simply must return one day to spend even longer in the area.  I might even try out one of the many bed & breakfast inns or even a self-catering cottage.  Rhossili is a photographer's paradise and as such, I just have to get up on the top of the downs and try to get some sunset shots!  Finally, I want to be able to walk along the body of the "worm" and get out to the worm's head before high tide comes in.  To do that, one has to be prepared and know the right time to give it a go.  And if I can do that, I'll get to see some of the remains of the famous "Helvetia," the ship that ran aground here in 1887.  You can read more about the Gower Peninsula here.

I put together a nice little slideshow showing my photos of Rhossili and put it to the music of "Epic Journey" and "Panorama".  I hope you enjoy the scenery!  But remember, you just have to go there and see it for yourself.  In the meantime, sit back, turn up the sound and be prepared to be taken away on a cloud to the most romantic place! 

Q is for QUEEN ELIZABETH II

Great thanks to the quirky and queenly Mrs. Nesbitt who lives in a quaint, quality cottage in North Yorkshire.  I had the honour of meeting her this past summer and she took me on a lovely walk in the countryside that surrounds her home.  It was a quiet walk only interrupted by the neighing of horses and the quacking of the geese, ducks, and other water fowl that followed us for a short time along the path. (wait for our Y week to see!)

Moving on, having just spent a long vacation in England, Q just has to be for Queen Elizabeth II.  She has been my monarch for almost as long as I've been alive and I've had the privilege of seeing her in person as a small child and as an adult.  She came to Vancouver as Princess Elizabeth when I was about 5 years old and my mother took my sisters and me down to Burrard Street to watch her go past.  What an exciting event for a little girl!  When my own daughters were young, the Queen came to Vancouver again in 1983, and we went out to the University of British Columbia (my alma mater) to watch her arrival at the Museum of Archaeology.  I remember she wore a lovely yellow outfit and a photograph of her in it was front page news that day.  My mother arranged to purchase this photograph (framed) of her to present to daughter #1 (aged 7 that year) for Christmas.  This one is from Mr. Google.

In 2010, Queen Elizabeth came once more to Canada.  This time, she unveiled a commemorative stained glass window and a bust which was installed in the Canadian Senate.  And just recently, the Queen unveiled another stained glass window in the Chapel of the Savoy in London to commemorate her Diamond Jubilee.  It is inscribed with the words: "I declare before you that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service'.  The Edinburgh-born artist, Douglas Hogg, was chosen by the Queen to design the window. He incorporated a seal that he discovered while researching the royal archives and her love of horses and dogs.  The window shows the Queen on horseback with a corgi snapping at its heels along with her personal signature.

This year, Queen Elizabeth celebrated 60 years on the throne - a Diamond Jubilee.  I watched the entire celebration on TV and was very excited for her and for our country.  Although it was a wickedly cold, rainy, and windy day in London, I think the parade on the Thames was spectacular.  You can read an account of the day and see photos of her big day here.  And here is a short video about the parade on the Thames River that day.

P is for PADDINGTON

One of the paramount experiences I had during my holiday in England was to ride the underground trains. Once you get used to the idea of being up to 55.2 meters/181 feet (Hampstead Line) beneath the city in an unescapable tube, it's really not too painful; rather, it can be quite a pleasant journey. I travelled on the Docklands Light Railway (aka the DLR), the Overground, the Underground, and the trains that became either the OG or the UG.

In order to get to Wales, I had to go to Paddington Station, which serves the West country. It is located between Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle, and in 1842, Queen Victoria arrived at this station with her husband Prince Albert. It was their first trip and the engineer put the pedal to the metal, getting the train up to an average of 44 mph! Apparently, "Prince Albert wasn’t too happy with the driver’s speed-demonic ways and, after disembarking at Paddington, he scolded the driver with the words; “Not so fast next time, Mr Conductor”!" Eventually, a royal waiting room was built at the station and it was used by the royal family right up until the start of World War II.  Now it is used as a first-class waiting lounge. During the war, railway lines (which were strategically important in carrying troops and vital supplies) were a key target for Nazi bombers. In 1941, Paddington Station was hit by a particularly powerful parachute-deployed bomb.

Upon my arrival at the station, I was very impressed with the architecture and ease of getting on the correct train.  Ticket in hand, we stood with hundreds of other travellers looking intently at the departure board, waiting until our destination was highlighted to indicate which platform we should rush!  At that instant, everyone took off at a rapid pace, passing the First Class cars and hurrying to obtain a good seat.

The first time I went to Wales with my friend Cathy, we were too slow off the mark and ended up with seats separated by the entire length of the car.  However, my second time to Wales with Lorne in hand, I was prepared to rush the line and told him to just keep me in his sight and follow as fast as he could (what with his bad foot and all).  We managed to get in the "Quiet Car" together and I let him have the window seat to see all the lovely scenery as we passed through the plush panoramas.

But I digress.  When we got back to Paddington Station after four perfect days, we noticed a kiosk that sold Paddington bears and all sorts of paraphernelia relating to him.

Also, there was a statue of Paddington Bear near the station cafe.  I wanted to have my photo taken with it, but there were too many people hanging around and sitting right beside it.  So this photo is from Mr. Google. 

When I was preparing this post, I thought I should share a bit of background about this well-known bear.  After all, even I have a Paddington Bear of my own!

According to the story, he comes from Peru, having been sent to England by his Aunt Lucy who went to live in the Home for Retired Bears in Lima.  She taught him to speak English and arranged for him to stow away in a ship's lifeboat.  Upon arrival, he met Mr. and Mrs. Brown and their two children who took him home with them to their home at 32 Windsor Gardens.  Paddington wasn't sure how old he was so the Browns decided to start at one and that he should have two birthdays - June 25 and December 25. That was just the beginning of the adventures of a little bear who has become extremely popular all over the world. The following youtube shows the very first episode of the original 1975 series.

As usual, profound thanks to Mrs. Nesbitt, the creator of ABC Wednesday, and her peppy and personable pack of assistants who keep this meme popping!  Without them, ABCW would quickly pass away into the proverbial void of outer space.

Enjoy the episode, "Please Take Care of This Bear." At less than 4 minutes, it's really quite pleasant.

O is for OXFORD

This week, I'd like to share my visit to Oxford, England.  I'd known Anne, who lives in Oxfordshire, for several years through blogging and on Facebook but we had never met in person.  We arranged for me to come up from London by train and she'd meet me at the station.  (her photo at right) Well, it was as if we'd known each other forever!  We got along so well and she had planned a fabulous day for us.

First stop was Cafe Nero, a well-known coffee chain in England where we had lovely cappuccinos and talked and talked until we figured we should get going on our walking tour.  Long story short, she took me on the most fascinating walk all around the center of Oxford where I saw the most magnificent architecture ever!  You'll never see architecture like that here in western Canada!  We went to Christ Church Cathedral and its memorial gardens all the way down past University College to High Street.  We walked over Magdalen Bridge before cutting back and going down under the bridge to where you can rent punts at the Boathouse there.

We headed back up High Street past St. Edmund's Hall and Queen's College where we found a lovely place for lunch and then ambled into Mr. Simm's Olde Sweet Shoppe where we spent ages admiring all the shelves full of varieties of candy and cookies.  Again, you would never find a place like this where I live; my grandchildren would think they'd died and gone to Heaven!  We then cut through a narrow alley to view Radcliffe Camera, passing a quaint little cafe "Vaults Garden."  The next stop was one of my favourites because I'd seen the location many times while watching "Morse" and "Inspector Lewis" on BBC Canada and our Knowledge Network - the Bodleian Library. If you're an afficionado of these shows, you'll know that Morse loved opera and Lewis is beginning to understand it.  Hence, the music from Puccini's "La Boheme" in my slideshow.

Then it was up to Broad Street and a foray into Blackwell's Bookshop, apparently very famous in England, before passing by Trinity College on our way to St. John's College. Anne had decided that we would go and take a look inside this college because the church, in particular, was well worth a look.  However, it was closed to the public, so we chatted with the porter at the office just inside the gate and he allowed us to take a look at the courtyard and take a few photos if we wanted.  While Anne was still looking around, I continued chatting and mentioned I'd come all the way from Vancouver, Canada, and when he realized how far I'd come, he said to go along inside the church.  How obliging and kind!

It was beginning to get a bit dark by then so we decided to go to a lovely French restaurant that Anne had discovered once while in town.  We headed up St. Giles to the "Pierre Victoire" where we aced a lovely table in the attic area, even though we didn't have a reservation, it was 7pm and it closed at 8pm.

Anne had to catch her bus home and I had to catch the train back to London so we parted ways somewhere along George Street.  Anne asked me to text her when I got home, but that wasn't until after 11pm because I got lost somewhere along the way between the underground and the DLR - not a good time of night to be wandering around East London!  But I made it home safe and sound and went to sleep with visions of one of the most beautiful cities I've ever had the pleasure of visiting and of a new "real" friend that I hope, one day, will visit me so I can return the pleasure of being tour guide! Enjoy the slideshow!

N is for NEWPORT

N is for Newport - Wales, that is.  The one place my DL wanted to visit was Newport as his grandfather was born there.  He has the whole clan listed in his grandfather's Bible and Grandpa Herbert was born in the late 1800s but immigrated to Canada when he was in his twenties.  Since my paternal grandmother was also born in Wales, both of us think of ourselves as part Welsh.  Before we went together, I visited my friend Jane with my travel partner Cathy and stayed for 3 nights.  I'd stayed with Jane 6 years ago when she kindly showed me around Newport and Cardiff, but this was Cathy's first time in Wales.

We caught the train in Salisbury around 10:30 am and arrived at 12:30 - not a long trip at all.  Jane and her friend Neil, along with Freyja - Jane's new dog - met us at the station and after dropping our bags, we went out to Duckpool Farm where another of Jane's friends lives.  It's a beautiful location with lots of property and a paddock, just right for someone who owns a horse.  That evening, Neil took us all our for a lovely dinner at a traditional Welsh pub called "Cripple Creek." (photo at left)

After a breakfast of cereal and yogurt, and visiting Jane's new horse, we three girls headed out for a day touring the area around Newport.  First stop was Abergavveny for gas and then we drove to a town called Crickhowell.  We strolled through the narrow streets and arrived at the local church where I took a few photos of the beautiful rolling hills beyond the cemetery.  The locals were obviously still celebrating the Queen's Jubilee as there were flags and pennants everywhere. Next stop was Hay-on-Wye, which is world renowed for books and bookstores. We stopped at The Granary for lunch where Cathy & I tried "bubble and squeak."  Fully fortified, we walked down to the River Wye and strolled along its banks.

Next stop was the Skirrid Inn, famous for being the oldest public house in Wales. The first record of its existence was in 1110!  From earliest times, courts were held on the first floor, complete with a Judge's retiring room.  People believe that the Master-Hangman, Bloody Judge Jeffreys (1644-1689) sat in judgement at the Skirrid and many men met their end hanging from a beam.  The scorch and drag marks of the rope can still be seen to this day.  The owner, Geoff Fiddler, was there upon our arrival and when I told him I have Welsh blood, he offered to allow us upstairs to view the rooms where people can stay.  As we cautiously crept up the stairs - past the rope - we suddenly heard a blood-curdling scream, followed by our own screams and the sound of 3 hearts pounding in fright.  But it was just Geoff trying to scare the bejeezus out of us.  Well, mission accomplished.  And then we all howled with laughter! There were 3 rooms and one actually felt like there was a ghost in there! We all felt a chill go up our backs when we went in. If you'd like to read a bit more about the haunted areas of Wales, just click here.

Our final stop of the day was at Llanthony Abbey where I took lots of photos of the ruins.  It was an Augustinian Abbey and is found in a secluded valley in the Black Mountains, dating back to 1100 when a Norman nobleman, Walter deLancy, came upon a ruined chapel and decided to stay and dedicate himself to solitary prayer and study.

Newport has had a great history since medieval times and then it became the focus of coal exports in the 19th century. Now it is famous for its transporter bridge, of which there are only 8 in the entire world.  It was built in 1906, and it was fascinating to see it span the River Usk and learn how it functions.  The river banks are very low so near to the city center so an ordinary bridge, which would need very long approach ramps, wouldn't be able to allow ships to pass underneath it. Also, a ferry wouldn't be able to cross during low tides.  To read more about the bridge, just click here.

 Our third day in Wales was spent in Swansea and Rhossili, which I'll tell you about in a later post.   Naturally, I must thank Mrs. Nesbitt for creating ABC Wednesday many years ago and keeping it going now with her numerous assistants. I hope you enjoy this short slideshow I made up using my own photos.  The music is "Angel of Monmouth" which I thought suitable since Newport is in Monmouthsire. My most noteworthy memory of Wales is that, even under grey skies, it is so colourful, especially the deep greens!  See for yourself.

M is for the MAGICAL ISLE OF MAN

The ISLE OF MAN is a magical, mystical, and magnificent island situated in the Irish Sea between Great Britain and Ireland.  Evidence shows that colonisation started around 6500 BC when people arrived by sea.  People survived by living in crude shelters and hunting and fishing for food.  With the Iron Age came the Celtic influence and by the 5th century, the Manx language developed out of Irish and Scottish Gaelic. By the 8th century, the Vikings arrived and began to settle here.  We arrived in mid-afternoon on a beautiful sunny day and were greeted by the Tower of Refuge in the harbour at Douglas.

"The Tower of Refuge stands upon St. Mary's Isle (also known as Connister Rock) - a marine hazard upon which many ships approaching Douglas Harbour wrecked due to low visibility or bad weather. The miniature castle was built in response to the 1830 destruction of the packet St. George with local donations. The project, undertaken by Sir William Hillary and designed by architect John Welch, was completed in 1832 and increased the visibility of the waterway hazard as well as provided a storage place for dry provisions in case anyone shipwrecked upon the isle. The islet is seen here at an average tide. Low tide allows one to walk out from the Douglas shore. Extremely high tide will completely submerge the islet from sight except for the Tower of Refuge." 

I had a marvelous experience on my recent holiday, hosted by Carol and Alan Cooper, residents of Douglas on the Isle of Man.  As soon as we arrived by ferry and had dropped our bags in their elder daughter's room, (Thanks Becki) they took us for a drive south towards Castletown, the Isle's ancient capital. We saw Castle Rushen, built for a Norse king who died in 1265 and buried nearby in the Abbey of Rushen. Apparently, there is evidence in the castle that at one time there was a siege by Robert the Bruce. We did a little walking tour from the Castle to the Old House of Keys, the former home of the Manx Parliament and to the Old Grammar School, which was originally a church and transformed in 1570 to a school for boys.

A trip to the Isle of Man is never complete without a ride on the Steam Train!  We watched it arrive, puffing steam all the way, hopped on and had a memorable half hour or so.  As well, one of the first things we were told was that when we crossed the "Fairy Bridge" we must say hello to the fairies.  It is a long-standing supersition on the Isle, but most believe it is unlucky not to say hello.  As extra luck, I bought my granddaughter a little necklace with a pink-jewelled fairy on it for a Christmas gift. 

That first night we celebrated Alan's birthday  at Tanroagan, a wonderful seafood restaurant in Castletown.  However, the road on which the Coopers live was closed off for the trials of one of their famous motorcycle races. So in order to get there, we had to go through the forest behind their house, wind our way through the bushes and trees to find the path that led to stiles over which we climbed to get to the cars that Alan had earlier moved.  What an experience that was!  Carol and I got detached from the group of 8 that included their 4 kids and Alan had to come back to find us - in the deepening dark! Thank goodness we all have a sense of humour!

During our stay, we also visited Port Mary and Port Erin where sailboats line the harbours in style.  I have never seen so many sailboats in one area in my life!  On the west coast of the island is the town of Peel with beautiful beaches and stunning views of Peel Castle, an impressive fortress on St. Patrick's Isle.  Legend has it that St. Patrick himself visited this tiny island, bringing Christianity to the Isle of Man.  Magnus Barefoot, an 11th Century Viking King of Mann, remained a royal resident of the castle.  The castle was also the center of government for over 200 years until power moved south to Castle Rushen.

Alan and Carol took us for a lengthy visit to Cregneash, a picturesque village with thatched Manx cottages, Loghtan sheep (famous for having multiple horns and fine brown fleece popular with hand spinners), Shorthorn cows, and working horses.  We wandered the country lanes and marvelled in some breathtaking photo ops. We also drove to the Sound where we had a magnificent view of the Calf of Man, home to a breeding population of Manx Shearwaters, a seabird which derives its name from its presence in Manx waters. Do check out the link as it's quite an interesting place.

Also, Carol and Alan took us to the House of Manannan, a museum of the Celtic, Viking, and Maritime past.  We saw a life-size reconstruction of a Celtic roundhouse and a Viking longhouse, walked through a quayside warehouse to discover sailmakers, coopers and chandlers and learned about the importance of the sea to the lives of the Isle of Man's people.  There was also a Viking longship called "Odin's Raven" from which there appeared to be sailors pulling it through the window of the museum.

I must say I'd love to go back for another visit to explore the northern end of the isle.  I want to go by steam train to the isle's highest peak as well as visit the Manx Museum, the Laxey Wheel, and towns of Ramsey, Jurby, and Kirk Michael as well as the Point of Ayre. I hope you enjoy the slideshow accompanied by Celtic music as much as I enjoyed putting it together. I know it's long, but it might just encourage you to make a trip to the Isle of Man yourself!

L is for Leslie's Lovely Ladies

Hi everyone! I'm baaaaack!  Half of my holiday was wonderful and the other half was stressful.  My friend Cathy and I started out mid-August in the Hampshire area of England, near Salisbury and Stonehenge where we stayed with old friends John and Marion.  We met their two grandsons, both of whom had been born since the last time we'd seen them all.  After a few days of visiting, dinner partying, and spending a day at Churchill's residence at Chartwell, we headed west to Wales.

Arriving in Wales by train, we were met by my great friend Jane and her newest pup, Freyja.  At only 18 months old, she is extremely well trained, gentle, and friendly.  We went out for dinner with her and her friend Neil to a great old and traditional English pub called "Cripple Creek" nearby and stuffed ourselves with scallops, black pudding, and other tasty tidbits.  We spent the next day touring through Abergavveny, Crickhowell, and Hay-on-Wye (a very famous town for its book stores).  We stopped for lunch at a little place called "The Granary" where Cathy & I sampled "bubble & squeak."   After giving Freyja a stretch by strolling along the River Wye, we headed for the Skirrid Inn (more to come on that for letter S) but it is famous for being the oldest public house in Wales.  The last place we saw that day was Llanthony Abbey where we took lots of photos and had a cold drink before going back to Jane's for a light supper. The next day, we drove to Swansea and met up with Liz who took us out to Rhossili where the scenery is absolutely spectacular!  Lunch was spent overlooking the cliffs and the beach a long way down and then a lovely walk out to Worms Head before heading back to Swansea Harbour for a look around.

Off to Liverpool after our stay with Jane where we met up with Di and her husband Ian at a luscious restaurant at Albert Dock.  What a wonderful but short visit.  I loved what I saw of Liverpool (the Maritime Museum) and the area around Albert Dock and would like to go back some day.

Then it was off to the Isle of Man where we were welcomed by the Coopers - Carol, Alan and their 4 wonderful children.  They took us out right away for a drive along the coast where we went to Castletown (where the kids go to school), Port Mary where we stopped to take photos of the harbour and the sailboats, and later the entire family took Cathy and me for dinner at Tanrogan (a Manx word for a king's scallop shell).  The next day, Carol & Alan took us to the Crofters Cottages at Cregneash (a national folk museum), a historic village where you can see how people lived way back when.  Then we went to Peel and saw the majestic castle there and to the Calf of Man, a little island just off the sound of the Isle.  Then Cathy & I spent some time downtown in Douglas and did a bit of shopping.  That evening we had to spend in as the Manx Grand Prix was having its trial runs and they sped right past their house.  Their son Sam was watching at the end of the drive when he suddenly ran in shouting that there had been an accident just up the road.  We found out the next day that a young local boy, experiencing his first race, had been killed.  Before leaving the Isle of Man the next afternoon, we spent some time at the Museum of Man, which was fascinating.  Lots of photos to come for the letter M.  Lunch at the Hop Gardens and even though it was raining, you could easily see the beauty of the gardens there.

We spent the night in Liverpool again as we had to catch an early train the next day to North Yorkshire.  That is where we finally met the lovely Mrs. Nesbitt, creator of ABC Wednesday!  She brought us fresh eggs from her hens, which we decided to cook for dinner rather than wait for breakfast!  We stayed in the village of Grosmont where a friend of Denise's, Jill, had arranged a holiday cottage for us.  It was so lovely and comfortable and Cathy & I each had our own bedroom complete with queen-sized beds!  The next day, we decided to check out the village and were pleasantly surprised.  We popped in to see the historic railroad museum, the old schoolhouse (now a restaurant), and the church.  When we were having tea at the old schoolhouse, the owner, Mr. Sanderson, took our photos sitting at old desks and wearing dunce caps!  Then he gave each of us a School Leaver's Certificate that stated we had successfully completed primary lessons in reading, writing, arithmetic, needlework and country dancing WITH MERIT!

The next day, Jill took us for a drive all over the Yorkshire moors as it had dawned such a beautiful sunny day.  We went to the North Yorkshire Visitors' Center in Damby and had lunch at the Wooly Sheep Cafe.  One of the day's highlights was visiting the village of "Goathland" where the TV show "Heartbeat" and where the railroad station scenes from "Harry Potter" were filmed.  We also drove through Egton & Egton Bridge, Castleton, Gleisdale, Fry Up, Lealholm, and Dunsly.  Finally, we went to Sandsend near Whitby and got some photos of the sea and the promontory where a sailboat was just coming around the bend.  We saw the cathedral at Whitby from a distance and got the feel of the town as we drove through. We spent the next day with Denise at her place out in Liverton and went for a lovely long walk in the country to see horses, geese, ducks, and her local church.  What a fun day!

This is getting quite long and is only the first half of my holiday, so I'm going to stop now and let you watch a little slideshow of all the lovely ladies we visited in England and Wales.  You will also meet Ellee and Sally, with whom we had lunch at Peacock's in Ely, just north of Cambridge.  Also, you'll see Anne who lives in Oxforshire and Jennifer who is an American living in Paris but was visiting London while I was there, and Chris who lives out in Essex, north-west of London.  You'll be hearing lots more about the rest of my holiday in the weeks to come and I'll be posting lots of photos, too. 

K is for KNICKERS and KNACKERED

Hi from Wales, everyone!  I'm happy to announce we shall be home Wednesday - all things going well.  I must say, though, that we are both completely knackered from traveling and from all the stress of DL having had surgery requiring a 3-week stay in the hospital.  We will both be needing a lot of sleep in the next week or so.  One good thing was that I had packed so many knickers that I only had to do a couple of loads of laundry!

Another good thing, too, was that DL was well enough to accompany me to the home of his ancestors, Wales, to stay with my friend Jane and to see that Great Britain is much more than just London.  The green hills, the friendly people, the delicious lamb and other delicacies have helped to soften his mood and give him a better perspective on the entire country.  I have lots and lots of material to share with you over the coming weeks and months - maybe even years!   

In the meantime, we have decided that we will look into getting a female yellow lab puppy when we feel rested enough to deal with a "baby."  Now to find a name for her!  Any ideas?

Just to let you know, too, that I did meet up with the kind-hearted Mrs. Nesbitt.  Tea and scones were served in her kozy kitchen beside her new kooktop.  And - she does not have knobby knees.  Klick HERE to check out other contributions to ABC Wednesday!

J is for JOSS

The Urban Dictionary defines "joss" as good luck or good fortune. Good joss can also mean to have good kharma or fate.  See those knuckles?  Well, I'd like to jab them into someone's face right about now!

I left to go on a holiday with my friend Cathy in mid-August and was having a lovely time until we reached Liverpool two weeks into our trip.  My dear Lorne (hereafter known as DL) had been working in London since mid-May and called to say he was very sick.  I told him to get to the hospital, where he was told he had a broken toe that had become infected.  The infection had spread throughout his entire body.  DL told me to continue with my plans; however, a few days later when we were in North Yorkshire, he called to say he was having surgery in 2 days.  So after consulting with Cathy, we decided it was prudent for us to curtail our time in Yorkshire and head to London to check things out.  

Long story short, DL ended up with an amputation!  Yes, half of his big toe is missing now!  I know it does sound minor, but losing a toe, especially your big toe, means it will take ages to heal properly and even then one's balance is off until you learn to adapt.  

Cathy left on schedule, but DL and I have had to cancel our pre-booked return flights, fill in a bunch of paperwork for our insurance and get DL's doctor to fill in his part. Then we have to pay for our return flights up front, with DL's seat costing us an arm and a leg (over and above the toe!) because he will have to keep his foot raised.  Medical personnel have said he cannot fly 9.5 hours with his foot down.  

On top of that, the people DL was working for are trying to cut his contract short, which means less money with more expenditures!  And, we miss out on our long-awaited holiday to Wales that we were going to have when his contract was finished at the end of October.  

So, whom do I jab?
  
We both just want to get home and put this whole experience down to bad joss!  Then we will jump for joy that it wasn't worse than it was! And when these two sad puppies get home, we're going to decide what kind of real puppy we're going to get!

I is for ITALY

It has been 6 years since I had the most incredible trip to Italy!  It's almost inconceivable to imagine how beautiful the country is, but if you've had the pleasure of visiting this iconic country, you'll understand why it was the trip of a lifetime for me.  I brushed up on my Italian before leaving western Canada so that in case I got separated from the group, I'd be able to intelligently communicate with the locals.  That actually did happen and I was very glad that, although imperfectly, I was able to identify my needs.  Also, when I became sick in Sicily, an Italian dottore interviewed me about the symptoms of my illness. 

Briefly, I spent one month in Italy, 2 weeks touring from Rome north to the Italian Riviera as far as Portofino and then over to Tuscany to see Pisa, Florence, Siena, and small towns in the countryside which included San Gimignano where "Tea With Mussolini" was filmed.  Then we went back to Rome and went south to Pompei and the Amalfi Coast where we took a day trip to the Isle of Capri.  Finally, we spent a week in Sicily, which has an interesting connection to Greece. 

I took hundreds of photographs with my now-old Samsung Digimax 700 and it was actually fun for me to go back and look at them anew.  From them, I've chosen some in order to impart that feeling of inspiration and awe the country and people of Italy gave me.  I'd return in an instant if money were no object!  Salute Italia! Be sure to turn up the sound for the accompanying musica Italiana!

Incredible thanks to Mrs. Nesbitt, our founder/creator of ABC Wednesday.  She and her incomparable team immediately visit each contribution to see what interesting and intelligent ideas you've come up with.  To participate or to view posts, simply click here.

H is for a HELLUVA lot

In preparing this post for ABC Wednesday's H week, I was at a loss at first.  However, when I got going, I found a helluva lot of photos that work for this letter.  I hope you enjoy the slideshow.  But before you get to that, let's hear it for the honourable Mrs. Nesbitt who created ABCW.  She and her hysterical helpmates hop over to all your posts to give huge thanks for hustling to take part.  Now turn up your sound and enjoy the HOT and HAUNTING jazz as you honour me by viewing a healthy and hearty variety of my shots.

G is for GARY POINT

For a pleasant stroll by the sea GARY POINT is the place to be! It can be quite windy here, so you might want to bring a kite and join in the fun.  This 39 acre waterfront park is at the mouth of the Fraser River, close to Steveston Village, and where you can get great fish and chips and frozen yogurt! It's one of our favourite spots to take our chairs on a sunny day in any season and read, wander and take photos, or just simply relax and take in the scenery and people watch.  A few photos from there will hopefully give you a taste of the peace and tranquility there.

Gargantuan thanks to the great Mrs. Nesbitt, the founder and creator of ABC Wednesday.  To participate, please click HERE, and don't forget to read the "Rules & Guidelines" governing this meme. Thanks and have a glorious week! NOTE:  I'm currently in Yorkshire and have met the FABULOUS Mrs. Nesbitt, who welcomed me and my friend Cathy with fresh eggs!  Had them for dinner last night with bacon and a bap (the eggs,  not the hens or Denise!)

F is for FUNNY FACTS re FAHRENHEIT & FLAG

I laughed so hard when I read a posting on Bluerad's blog "Everything Awesome." Check it out here to read the top reasons for living in all the different provinces and to read a few good Canadian jokes.  But what I thought was the funniest (but tongue-in-cheek) and that my American friends will surely find funny is the following:

The Official Canadian Temperature Conversion Chart
 
50° Fahrenheit (10° C)
· Californians shiver uncontrollably.
· Canadians plant gardens.

35° Fahrenheit (1.6° C)
· Italian cars won't start.
· Canadians drive with the windows down.

32° Fahrenheit (0° C)
· American water freezes.
· Canadian water gets thicker.

0° Fahrenheit (-17.9° C)
· New York City landlords finally turn on the heat.
· Canadians have the last cookout of the season.

-60° Fahrenheit (-51° C)
· Santa Claus abandons the North Pole.
· Canadian Girl Guides sell cookies door-to-door.

-109.9° Fahrenheit (-78.5° C)
· Carbon dioxide freezes makes dry ice.
· Canadians pull down their earflaps.

-173° Fahrenheit (-114° C)
· Ethyl alcohol freezes.
· Canadians get frustrated when they can't thaw the keg.

-459.67° Fahrenheit (-273.15° C)
· Absolute zero; all atomic motion stops.
· Canadians start saying, "Cold, eh?"
· Vancouver Canucks finally beat the Chicago Black Hawks in the playoffs.

-500° Fahrenheit (-295° C)
· Hell freezes over.
· The Toronto Maple Leafs win the Stanley Cup.

A friend and I were talking about the Canadian flag when we were watching the Olympics and both of us felt that it isn't all that fabulous.  We both remember the days when we had the Red Ensign and we much preferred it even though it was never the "official" flag of Canada. Now we have the maple leaf flag that was made our official flag in 1965 under the auspices of our then Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson.  At least our provincial flag (British Columbia) still has part of the Union Jack, which pleases me because it reminds me of my British heritage.   The first flag below was Canada's flag beginning in 1868 (the year of confederation), the next became our flag in 1921, and finally our official flag in 1965.  Below that is my provincial flag, which I quite like because it represents not only our connection to Great Britain, but also the sun and sea.

I'd be interested in your feelings on the above flags.  Which do you like the best?  

Finally, we must not forget our fabulous leader, Mrs. Nesbitt and her current pilot Roger, who facilitate our fun each week with ABC Wednesday.  If you're new here, please familiarize yourself with the "Rules & Regulations" of this meme found here.  Some of Mrs. N's friends help fulfill her wish to visit each and every contributor each and every week.  We follow the rules, field questions, and function as a team to further ABCW and help it to flourish.  Have a fantastic, fabulous and fascinating week, my friends.  I'm having a fun-filled holiday and will be back next week with my post for the letter G.  Sorry, though, not to be able to visit everyone!

E is for ELGIN HERITAGE PARK

Elgin Heritage Park is located in Surrey, British Columbia and houses the historic Stewart farm.  The farm focuses on the time between 1890-1920 and includes the finished farmhouse, a pole barn with agricultural tools and machinery from the era, a boathouse, threshing shed, root cellar, gardens and an orchard.  At certain times, there are site interpretators in Victorian costumes who provide tours of the house and grounds.  Nowadays, the farm serves as a place where families can get together and enjoy activities, special annual events, programs and just simply explore.  The farmhouse was built in 1894 by John Stewart on the banks of the Nicomekl River and features a wrap-around verandah, parlour, dining room and kitchen with a woodburning stove. Tours of the farmhouse and the grounds include several buildings:

• POLE BARN | Built in 1900, the barn was used to store hay, machinery and once housed horses, a bull, cows and pigs. It is one of the last of its kind and today displays antique agricultural tools.
• STEWART BARN | Built around 1900, it once stored a threshing machine and today is a program and exhibition hall.
• BOATHOUSE | This building is used to display the old Hadden crab boat and is used to illustrate the oyster farming and crab fishing industry along the Nicomekl River and Crescent Beach region.
• HERITAGE GARDENS & ORCHARD | See vegetables, fruits, herbs and flowers once grown by local farmers a century ago including pumpkins, carrots, beans, heritage roses, snapdragons, calendulas, sunflowers and twenty-seven varieties of heritage apple, plum and pear trees.

Read more: Stewart Farm, Elgin Heritage Park, Surrey, British Columbia http://www.venturevancouver.com/stewart-farm-elgin-heritage-park-surrey-bc#ixzz230lEVRWc

Here's a slideshow I made up using my photos that I would love to share with you.  If you're ever in the area, do stop by for a wander.  But before viewing, please remember our enchanting leader, Mrs. Nesbitt, who has been entertaining us with ABC Wednesday for over 5 years now!  She and her energetic band of eager assistants embrace all participants, encouraging them with extravagantly exhuberant epilogues to continue to entertain us with their examples for weekly letters of the alphabet.  Continue to enlighten us with exhibitions of emotions, ecology, experiments, enterprises, and education!

Also, just so you know I'm not ignoring you all, but I'll be on vacation for 5 weeks and have my posts ready to publish from wherever I am that week.  However, I may not be able to get around to you all until I get back.  I will try, but I hope you'll still pop over and comment on my contributions.  I love to hear from you.   

D is for DISTRACTED DUMMIES

ABC Wednesday is brought to you this week by the letter D.  And lest we deign to dismiss the dynamic Denise (Mrs. Nesbitt) and her devilish discernment for a dazzling weekly blog, please remember that she is our dignified doyenne! To read more about the darling of ABC Wednesday, just click here. 

WASHINGTON —

 A young man talking on a cellphone meanders along the edge of a lonely train platform at night. Suddenly he stumbles, loses his balance and pitches over the side, landing head first on the tracks.  Fortunately there were no trains approaching the Philadelphia-area station at that moment, because it took the man several minutes to recover enough to climb out of danger. But the incident, captured last year by a security camera and provided to The Associated Press, underscores the risks of what government officials and safety experts say is a growing problem: distracted walking.

For a long time now in order to protect ourselves, we have had to wear seatbelts when driving in a car.  But have you noticed the increase of pedestrians walking while using devices such as cell phones or ipods?  They're talking or texting or checking their emails or reading their Facebook or even adjusting the volume on their ipods.  What right do they have to put other people (and themselves) in such danger?  It seems that if a vehicle hits a pedestrian - no matter why or how - he/she is to blame.  But don't you think a driver has enough to worry about without having pedestrians crossing on a red light or stepping into traffic without due regard?  Don't be a dummy because "According to The Associated Press, reports of injuries to distracted walkers treated in U.S. hospital emergency rooms have more than quadrupled in the past seven years." Read more: http://www.theprovince.com/Distracted+walkers+becoming+menace/7035621/story.html#ixzz22dpQD1yk  

The other day, I was trying to park my car when two distracted women started to cross in the middle of the street but suddenly stopped right on the edge of the curb.  They had not even seen me and continued to stand there talking to each other while I patiently waited to see if they were going to turn and step in front of my car.  Finally, I gave a tiny little tootle to get their attention and you know what happened?  They looked at me, started screaming to not be so impatient, and gave me the finger!  Here I was making sure they didn't step in front of my car and at the very minimum incur a broken hip and they get mad at me!

Whether driving and using a hand-held device, walking and using a hand-held device, or just simply being unaware of one's surroundings while out and about, people need to think about how their behaviour impacts others around them.  Drivers are too busy worrying about the distracted drivers and should not have to concern themselves with distracted walkers, too. Walkers who are paying attention to their surroundings should not have to veer around or be bumped into by distracted walkers.

At the very least, being a distracted walker is dastardly rude; at most, it could mean death!