Chester

A rental car in hand, sat nav set to avoid motorways and we leave Birmingham behind and head for Chester.  We take a detour to Ironbridge to view the first iron bridge ever built, and yes it’s under scaffolding.  I begin to feel it’s us,  first  Big Ben, then half the city of Birmingham and now the iron bridge.

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Still a pretty place to be and as it’s lunch WH tries out the world famous pork pies, which are actually cold so not my cup of tea.  He informs me they are very good but I decide to settle for a hot sausage roll.

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Arriving around 4 after a drama free drive we pulled up at our Airbnb accomodation and it didn’t fail to disappoint.  A cottage, on the river, with windows and doors and more than one room and yes a washing machine.  Pure bliss after a week of hotel rooms.   We are the second story with cute tea rooms underneath.

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Despite the comfortable surrounds we still race the day awake so once it’s light enough (barely) we head out to check out the town.  The beauty of this is that there are not many people about which makes it great to take photos but the downside is there is not quite enough light which is not great for photos.In addition, these nutrients can be added with making daily recipes. levitra 20 mg http://psychicchakrareiki.com/ This only takes around 20 minutes to one wholesale generic viagra hour. For all these rectification actions maximum number of physician cialis sale used to prescribe Generic Benicar that has been recommended as the effect of such combinations has not been studied clinically. Treatments for Repeated Penile Failure Condition In case, you have consumed alcohol, then give up the idea of going underwater for your own good and important site brand levitra 20mg to avoid medical complications.

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Chester clock am
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Afternoon 

Chester is pretty and you do find something interesting around every corner.  The people are lovely. The cathedral is huge. The weather was kind.  The river is sparkly. The walls are for walking. The Sunny seats for sitting.  It’s all good.

art of the day from the courtyard inside the cathedral.

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Birmingham

The train was easy enough and apart from the fact we sat next to a group of 4 guys who had had a big night in London and were now wanting to have a pi##ing competition (excuse my language) about their exploits, it was all fine.    Sleep eluded me the night before and so it was easy to feel aggrieved, but a macho loudmouth in pink tracksuit pants with a very tight white t shirt can easily get your goat up.

We got to our hotel and a nana nap had to be had, there was nothing else for it.  WH woke  me in an hour as discussed earlier, “if I fall asleep don’t let me sleep more than an hour”,   But again I feel aggrieved as it feels far to soon.  I forced myself out of bed and out the door to wander the city.  It was cool out and nothing seemed of interest.  There was lots of construction and not a lot of character.  We stumbled on a canal that at least provided a photo op.

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Another loop around and we came across the library, which trust me after our walk the next morning, looks better at night.

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Birmingham Library 

We gave up on walking and went back to our hotel for a luke warm bowl of soup  which about summed up Birmingham so far.

The next morning we once again wake way ahead of the dawn and lament the fact that we have useless circadian rhythm, or whatever it’s called.   We wait for the light and then head out thinking we will follow the canal and something will be around the corner to surprise us.
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Nothing was there except again huge amounts of construction and hoardings and the setting up of a Christmas market.   Maybe it’s worth a look in another 5 years when everything’s finished and the hoarding is down, or maybe once Santa’s village is finished and all alight as I think Birmingham may just be better at night.

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Tips

Buy your train tickets online and if you don’t care what time you travel then you can get some really good deals.  We got two first class tickets to Birmingham for £1 less than an ordinary ticket.

go to Birmingham in a few years time.  Unless you want to shop as evidently it has a reputation as a great city for shopping.  Especially shoes, check out these which will also be my art of the day.

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Cinderella boots

11th hour, 11th day, 11th month

It was special to be in London on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th year, 100 years on from the end of the First World War.  Remembrance Sunday  is observed as the second Sunday in November and this year, the 100th anniversary of the end of world war 1, fell on remembrance Sunday.

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We had a train to catch at lunchtime and couldn’t venture far so decided to walk across Westminster bridge towards Parliament as the taxi driver we had the day before was telling us about the Remembrance Day parade so we though we might get a glimpse.  The bridge was lined with taxis two deep all the way across.  They are poppy taxis that pick up all the serviceman and take them to the cenotaph free of charge and then take them back.  There are hundreds of them, old and new.

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We couldn’t get much further than the end of the bridge as the crowds going to the epitaph were huge and we didn’t want to take the chance of  not being able to get back so we wandered back to the river and watched as a flotilla of boats started to emerge.  I hadn’t bought my camera so the photos attached are only off my cell phone.
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As Big Ben tolled out the 11th hour the city stopped and silence fell.  For two minutes you could hear the current run under the bridge and the birds in the trees nearby.   The last post cut through the silence and raised the goosebumps on your skin as you couldn’t help but feel, and remember.  Poppies floated down from the flotilla on the river and a woman onboard led the ode of the fallen soldier.

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At 12.30pm, led by Big Ben, all the church bells in England were rung simultaneously.  They call Remembrance Day the nations thank you.  It felt privileged to be in London on this 11th day of November and bear witness to this tribute.  Lest we forget.

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All Blacks vs England 10th November

I have to write about the test match in its own space, it was an event that deserves the limelight.  As previously discussed I am not a die hard fan but I love the nationalism, the competition and an exciting game.  WH is in his element.

We catch the train with the tens of thousands but it’s all pretty easy.  We even get a seat.  Follow the herds at Twickenham and meet up with WH brother.   There seems to be a lot of Black about and the mood is friendly all round.  Time is spent people watching and eating a German sausage as we wait for an excited kiwi girl currently OEing in London who has scored spare tickets to the game but underestimated the time it takes to get there.

With tickets handed over we head to the game only to meet with the solid people block at security and as dark storm clouds gather it feels as though it may take forever.  It doesn’t.  We are customarily wand waved and checked for contraband and ushered on through just as the first of the rain starts to fall.   A Guinness is acquired and as the rain really starts to make its presence felt we make it to our seats breathing a sigh of relief that they are undercover.

It is now that I notice that our little pocket of black, tucked into corner is minuscule.  We are merely dots in a crowd of 82,257 and the anthems prove it.  The kiwis bluster there way through the Maori version of the anthem, without the words on the big screen the demographic of the kiwi supporters mean there are few who can recite the words and the English version is not much better.  The high operatic voice of the singer doesn’t help either.

Englands turn and the crowd belts out God save the Queen with the passion and vocals of a evangelical choir.  We are in awe.  The Haka takes shape and the English rendition of “swing low” dominates the air space.  It reminds me clearly that we are on someone else’s turf and the fire is not all friendly.  We don’t hear a word and have to imagine the sound of the slapping of skin.  On completion our little corner of black stand up clapping and cheering, if only to make ourselves feel better.

The only time the crowd unite in entirety is the two minutes silence for Remembrance Day,  it is a poignant and moving two minutes to be immersed in such silence amongst so many.  You can literally hear the rain on the roof and it feels like this amazing crowd of 80,000 has breathed in and held its breath together.  The poppies fall in the graphics and we will and do remember them.
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The game itself,  I guess you saw it if you were interested and if you didn’t then you aren’t that interested so I shan’t go on but to say it was great.  The rain poured but in our little corner it didn’t really matter.  The atmosphere was amazing.

I wish I could immerse the sound into this blog as it surely has to be the most memorable. As kiwis our  three All Blacks chant. All BLACKS, All BLACKS, ALL BLACKS, seems so inferior not just because in comparison it is a barely heard whisper but also for its lack of tune and tradition when the deafening singing of the English carries itself like a perfect Mexican wave around the stadium.

We won and yes today the press here bare there teeth and fix the headlines but that’s not the reality.  It was fun and friendly and I have numerous nameless English who we have promised to meet at the final in Japan.  It’s a date.

We vacate our seats and I must admit to being slightly concerned as to how The 80 odd thousand are going to get back so we get more Guinness (or at least WH and his brother do)  I drink  anonymous “white wine” in a plastic bottle and we watch the aussies and welsh on the big screens beneath the stadium.  We eat traditional Cornish  pasties for our dinner and wash it down with more unmarked wine.  We eventually leave and make our way back to the train, again just follow the herds which are still migrating towards the station.

It’s not that hard and the rain is now an intermittent drizzle so life is good and everyone’s happy.   This experience was definitely as much about the journey as the destination.

Singapore – London

Singapore- London.  It’s a long way. 14 hours and 15 mins flying time, so add to that the getting to and from and wait time and you’ve pretty much spent 20 hours getting from S to L.  All pretty easy though had an excellent run at both airports security and customs, with no queues and no dramas.   Wish all airports could be the same.

I have to flick my mind back to Singapore in order to remember what we did with our Singapore evening.  We went to the bar at the top of the marina sands building,  floor 57, and drank a Singapore Sling or at least I did and WH had a beer.

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Ce la Vi bar

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View over Gardens of the Bay.  The ships in the harbour are amazing in number, they dot the horizon as far as you can see.  I could say lots more but I am in a hurry as each blink feels like my eyes are too heavy to lift the lids again.  I am trying to stay awake but the brain is rebelling.

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So let’s get moving. Had a misty jet lag sleep and gave up pretence at 0500.  I know should of wrote my blog then but didn’t.  Wandered around and then caught a train out to Richmond to have lunch with WH brother.  Was a nice cruisy day.  Found a cool tunnel to subway so check out the photos.   All a stark contrast to the order and straight lines of Singapore, here is a messy melting pot of colour and curves,
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Tips Singapore

Don’t book airport transfers from hotels.  Taxi are very reasonable and readily available.  Taxi cost $17 to airport and was $100 through hotel (granted would have been a flasher car)

Singapore airport great place to chill because it’s so relatively quiet but beware no boarding calls or reminders so keep an eye on time.

Singapore

Wow it’s warm.  No surprise there but you still get a shock at the humidity.  The energy sapping depletion of fluids leaking from the body makes you realise how those flowers feel when you all of a sudden look at them and in hours it seems they are shrivelled and wilting.  All bent over, hanging towards the ground.  I make it sound worse than it is but three bottles of water consumed on the morning walk around and still by the end of it felt like a wilted flower or Maybe  even spinach.

Came back to the hotel and decided to head to the pool and read books which was a great idea especially as nobody else had had it.  Enjoyed the large pool and sun loungers in solitude until an equally looking wilted couple plodded down the opposite end.  I shall not mention the couple of whippy snappers who flounced out of the gym and dived into the pool, speedos deployed, goggles engaged and swam relentlessly back and forward, then trotted off no doubt to do something terribly interesting and engaging.

We headed out this morning in search of the Sri Mariamman which is the oldest temple in Singapore and as previously mentioned it was hot.  We found a Buddhist temple on the way which had a service being held.  They welcomed us in and we stood in the glow of the gold and plastic flowers, breathing in the sticky incense whilst the devotees chanted to the beat of a drum.  It was actually really soothing, but still hot.

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Buddhist temple

We wandered along further down the street and China Town was beginning to open its doors or should I say curtains.   Found the temple we had been looking for, it’s so different from any western style ever seen.  Even the Buddhist one has some sense of familiarity with its alters, and guild but this with its cows and people was very unique, or at least to us.
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Sri Mariamman temple

We finished wandering through China town which in the photo below looks cool and calm but you can’t feel the offending heat, paired with the sickly incense and the sweat dripping of your forehead.  So it’s time to head back to the hotel and that story is at the beginning.

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China town

art of the day

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Billboards

On the road again…..again

Looks like we made it.  Safely ensconced in Singapore with the foggy head and achy body of the long haul flyer, trying to stay up until at least 9pm in order to reset the body clock or at least try.  I so envy those people who just land go to bed because they are exhausted and wake up in the morning.

Singapore airport is certainly an easy one to land and transit.  We were out and in a cab within 30 mins of landing.   We are staying at the Sofitel in the city which is very nice. Got freshened up and to try and stay awake we went for a wander to see what could be seen and quickly got lost in the concrete jungle with no landmarks to guide us back to our hotel.   The towers all line up like fortresses smothering the ones behind. They are softened by all the greenery, lining  the paths, hanging from buildings, on the rooftops.  But it is very easy to lose your bearings.  The weather is of course muggy warm but a light drizzle accompanied by a gentle breeze seemed to cool it just a little.

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Croncrete jungles softened

With one less day to explore the city, tomorrow is it so here’s hoping for a big sleep and a clear head.
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Art of the day:  Asian doors.

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Whoops

Those of you you who know me well will know that I like to be organised.  I am a person of lists, and to do’s, of check and tick.   Despite my attempts over the years to be a go with the flow, I am more a carve out my own river and create my own flow.   Not liking to follow in the choppy wake of others.  Be organised, be independent, be responsible.  I am the one who looks at others and says, or at least thinks….”for goodness sake, how hard is it?”

I am the one who rants at grown children who check their passports the day before they fly and realise it is expired.  I am the one who finds it unbelievable that someone can finally make it to the security check in: after posters, and screens and loud instruction people, only to have to stop and take their water out of their bag.  I am the one who offers no sympathy but rolls my eyes at their carelessness.  Yes I am the one.

So no doubt you are all wondering “what has she done”, what is the whoops that leads this story as you would all guess by now that we are not “on the road again”.

To try and cut a long story short.  We arrived to check in this morning.  On time of course.  I open up the passport to scan at check in and WHOOPS I have my mother’s. How does this happen? You may well ask, and of course WH and I have asked ourselves many times over the last couple of hours.  It turns out that after a recent large family trip to Fiji, with 18 of us and bags and airport assist and rushing to catch a connecting flight….I know excuses, excuses…..mine and mum’s passports got switched.

A quick phone call and Mum makes a mad rush to the domestic airport at home with the said passport, but the plane doors have just closed so nope no can do.   She puts it on the next flight and we head to the assistance counter to see our options.   Turns out it’s easier to just ring the air nz number and the good news is we didn’t get the “caller demand is heavier than usual”. But a lovely lady who re-booked us for the next day and even waived the service fee, a small but lovely consolation for my stupidity.   Perhaps that will teach me to have more tolerance next time I am behind the “dumbass” in the queue who doesn’t tip out there water or one of the family doesn’t check their passport, you never know.
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I still feel a need to defend myself.  I know my passport number and expiry date off by heart.   I have a reminder in my calendar, on outlook and myairnz app to warn me if it’s going to expire.   I checked those passports whereabouts a week ago.  Check. Tick.   I put those passports in the suitcase the night before.  Check. Tick. I double checked on the morning of the flight.  One, two passports.  Check. Tick.  The moral of the story is open the bloody thing up.  Take nothing for granted and I guess also that shit happens.

So meanwhile we sit and await the domestic plane with the passport on it.  Then we will spend the night and try again tomorrow.  I am remarkably chilled, probably because it’s my stuff up, but as we know there are far greater things to stress about than flying  out a day later.

Tip

CHECK YOU HAVE YOUR OWN PASSPORT.

On the road again – Long Haul

The thought does not inspire me.  I have lost the thrill of Long Haul travel, that is if there ever was a thrill.  I think the very first time you have experienced it the thrill deserts you.  Long Haul is one of those things in life where it is clearly not about the journey but purely the destination.

The slower pace of travelling, now it is not tangled in amongst a myriad of work commitments and taking up precious days of holiday leave,  enables the luxury of a stopover and this time we are going to check out Singapore.

Then its on to London where we will watch the All Blacks play and WH will finally get to go to Twickenham, which is evidently right up there on the bucket list of wonders of the world to visit, alongside Pyramids of Giza, great wall of China and Serengeti National Park.

We will then roam around in a rental car for a few days and as it’s all on our side of the road, and having now driven in France and Italy, I am imagining it will all be quite tranquil.   But those of you who remember Under the Tuscan sun (Tui billboard) will understand how your imagination, when it comes to travel experiences, can really let you down.

Then it’s to the next wonder of the world (according to WH) which is a rugby game at Lansdowne Park where the All Blacks take on Ireland.  I shall try to remember to study the sports pages and do some up skilling of players names and faces so as not to be too annoying.  I have learnt from previous occasions that asking too many questions during a test match can be a little annoying (not for me of course).

The only other slight drawback of the destination is the weather.  Leaving town just as the weather here is on the up and heading to single digit temperatures seems against logic to someone who seeks out the sun and warmth.   Packing for the cold weather is much harder than packing for the sun but now have Boots, Coats, Beanies and multiple layers safely, squished, squashed, squeezed  and zippered up. So that’s about it for now, next stop Singapore.Leading a successful sex life is the key cialis 100mg canada of satisfying relationships. The home remedies for heartburn may prove to be beneficial. * The impact of viagra for women australia Jelly lasts for about 36 hours after its consumption which must be present inside the drugs treating erectile dysfunction as it helps the immune system form antibodies, which are necessary to fight back shy while consulting a sexologist? Unfortunately, the sexual problems that men are suffering from is specifically. It is all about commendable strength of anti-sexual dysfunction pill which successfully halts the events of sexual disorder which is erectile dysfunction. viagra store Basic, logical and effective practice viagra in the uk habits are an essential building block for any guitarist.

Packing Tips

Packing for the cold.   Pack a really warm coat, boots and beanie.  They take up a lot of room in the suitcase but then layers of Merino take nothing. So layer up.

Keep suitcases small and below 20 kilos.  When you are travelling by air e.g. London to Dublin weight limits apply and most of the budget airlines are 20kgs, some are even 15 kilos.  Also much easy to move around on trains, subways etc.

Print out a hard copy of all bookings.  Technology can fail and does so frequently when you need it.

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