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2005/10/30

Non Guilded cage

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Reflections in Albert Hall

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The Orangery

 
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What wonderful colours

 
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Portabello Road market

 
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A new friend in Hyde Park

 
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Notting Hill


We woke at 3.30 after I received a wrong number call from OZ. !!!! little possums don’t they know I’m half way round the world!!!!!
Our route planned on the Internet, bus timetables sorted and an early breakfast saw us brave the cool morning weather to visit the Portobello Market in Notting Hill.
It began quietly with a trickle of interested patrons and tourists and as the morning progressed it built to a full size river. I’ve never even seen so many people even in a football crowd,
Did you know Portobello Market has been immortalized by the fact that Paddington Bear used to hang out there in Mr. Grobers Antique shop.
It’s a long, narrow winding road. The store owners are professional, slick and at times disinterested… no wonder when literally 1000’s of people visit their stores. You enter one door and pass through cave like passages, then come out an hour later having wound your way past dozens of booths specializing in all manner of wonderful treasures. Aromas of onions, sausages, coffee and fruit tantalize the senses…buskers play for their supper and the atmosphere is wonderful.
We were like little pigs in straw… just looking at each other and laughing at our good fortune as we found yet another wonderful booth of old china or fabric.
We stopped for a coffee and then came upon a line up of folk purchasing cooked prawns… they looked delicious and folk were devouring them with gusto propped against empty stalls. “are they prawns” I asked the vendor.
“Yes love, King Prawns
So we ordered a share between us and one bite told us a different story…that plastic seafood stuff… shaped like a prawn… how darn cheeky…. They ended up in the bin….and a waste of 3 pound…..
Hours passed, we missed Hugh Grant and Julie Roberts in the crowd so a quick look at our map showed us that we should visit Kensington Palace….
I begged Di not to embarrass me in case emotion overcame her on the approach to Lady Di’s residence… fortunately she was strong…we differ in our views of the Royal family… Afternoon tea of scones and clotted cream in the Orangery ...Designed by Sir John Vanburgh for Queen Anne in 1704. It’s a magnificent building with Corinthian columns, and Grindling Gibbon's woodcarvings as its most distinctive features. We just played ladies and I was equally taken by the design on the Menu cover.
We walked and walked, past the Albert Memorial and the magnificent Albert Hall through Hyde Park and into the city. We had an appointment with Gay who kindly delivered my coat left in the wardrobe… a short bus trip where the doors shut on me as I went to alight and Di banged on the door and the driver let me out as he took off.….next we had to catch the underground. I was jostled by a thug, who pushed me as I was going down the stairs so I kicked him in the shin… he had an unpleasant look on his face as he went on his way…. (don’t mess with an Aussie in red shoes friend) Just three stops on the underground and on leaving the station, my ticket wouldn’t work… so Di went through first and yelled “quick Pammy…run… and I did…. Getting smacked firmly with the barriers… but I made it….!!!
Dinner at the local Italian Restaurant and funny movies on the TV finished a wonderful day. !!!!!

Goodness what will tomorrow bring. No quilting that’s for sure.

2005/10/29


Crowds Posted by Picasa

view in a window in Regents Street. Posted by Picasa

Trafalgar Square Posted by Picasa

A day of contrasts


No Breakfast supplied today.... I don't know, we have an unusual booking with breakfast for only two days... the rest of the time we do our own thing. So we popped into a cafe that has come straight out of the 1960's and sat with the workmen who ordered bacon sandwiches and then ate them with gusto with grimy hands. The coffee was good and the price reasonable and really more than we needed for the day.
A deli on the corner looked inviting and we entered the door to the sound of loud Arabic music which was emitting from a radio placed high on a shelf. To my amazement, Di began to join in... until I realized that it was a call to prayer. I nudged her and mentioned that I didn't really think it was a song to be hummed along to. There were all sorts of delicacies to tempt the palate. Cheeses, humus in huge containers and trays of sticky sweets. I relented and purchased 4 pieces of Turkish delight and a diet coke which will last for the week. We investigated bus time tables. Our reasoning was that we would see more on a bus than an underground train. Admittedly it would be faster on the Underground but we decided to take the scenic mode of transport and 11.00 pound found us with a weekly ticket. Now where do we go? The weather began to clear from drizzling rain to intermittent sun and we rode atop the big red bus, quite pleased with decision.
What delights there are in London, the multitude of stores in Oxford and Regent Streets. A browse in Liberty of London. 1000's of people walking the streets, some in conversation to their friends and families, others talking to invisible people on the phone and most just following their life's path.
Trafalgar Square, pigeons and waterfalls, an Indian low budget movie on the steps of the National Gallery and 2 hours of viewing the Grand Masters of Art. We slipped quietly into the darkened interior of St Martins-in-the-Fields and listened quietly to the rehearsal of a Mozart Concert scheduled for this evening. A lone homeless man slept in the pew behind us while a man sat in the front row and intently followed the music with invisible baton in hand.
The Crypt below the Church houses a restaurant, brass rubbing workshop and store where choir music continues the feeling of harmony.
Covent Garden and time for afternoon tea accompanied by a violin recital by 4 amazing artists...(We actually forgot to have lunch)!!!
Back to the hotel aboard the No 98 bus and an Indian takeaway on the corner supplied our dinner in front of the TV.
It's been an interesting day; we solved the problems of the world over a coke and a coffee this evening and mused at our luck. As friends even insignificant experiences have merit and value. That’s the way it should be.

2005/10/28

London


I'm now in London, back online and enjoying a break with friend Di Mill who flew in from Houston yesterday. It was a beautiful day yesterday, almost a record heat for an October day. I've found the weather quite mild since I've been here.
The past few days have been great. I stayed with Gay Jenkins,(cook extraordinair and my tour organizer) and gave a lecture and class over two days. I have been greeted warmly around Britain and the Romsey Quilters were no exception. I got the opportunity to wander around Romsey and had my second visit to the historic Norman Abbey. It was founded by King Edward the Elder in 907 for his daughter, Princess Aelflaed, a nun at Wilton who became the first Abbess of Romsey. There was an increase in interest in the female monastic life around this time and the King probably wanted to make extra provision for widowed and unmarried ladies of the Royal family.
Some of the houses date back to the 1400's, I'm always in awe of the antiquity of the villages. Di and I arrived at our Hotel the Marriott Maida Vale at the same time... And there was a great deal of laughter and chatter as she recounted her adventures in Houston and I talked about my tour. Di presented me with a colour copy of my forthcoming book and I was excited to see my name in print for the first time. The day was just super... so we decided visit the London Eye
There were 100's of people lining up. It took about half an hour to purchase the tickets and then we had a wait of an hour+ for our turn to go on... the light was fading and I began to worry that it would be dark when we finally got alight however, another half hour line up and a chat with two girls behind us from Adelaide we finally got into the capsule. The view was spectacular as the sun went down behind the houses of Parliament and Big Ben. It was a visual spectacular. A ride on the underground and we had to make a decision on dinner.... Ok, the local pub and a budget dinner of sausages and mash... It's the first and last time I'll have it, but an experience we should all have at some stage when visiting England.
I was made aware of the dangers of the freeways yesterday. The bus I took to London came to a screaming halt due to a learner driver stopping suddenly for a rabbit on the road. This caused a calamity behind us. We were not privy to what actually occured... but people stopped on the verge and were running back to assist after witnessing the accidents.... the gal in front just took off unaware of the devastation behind her. It must have been quite bad as some 10 minutes later the freeway was closed to allow rescue vehicles pass....

2005/10/24


Brighton Pier Posted by Picasa

Brighton Pier Posted by Picasa

Our Country Retreat Posted by Picasa

The Abbey built by William the Conqueror in memory of the Battle Posted by Picasa

The fields where the Battle of Hastings took place Posted by Picasa

Brighton

It’s raining today, grey, cold and the wind is whipping the rain against the window of my hotel which looks out onto a turbulent grey ocean and the Brighton Pier. The lights are still blinking promising an exciting adventure for children who start mid term holidays today. At 7.32 it’s only just getting light so moving is slower and it appears I will be sightseeing in the rain.
Friday, I visited the sight of the Battle of Hastings at a town called Battle. The green fields dotted with white sheep gave no hint of the violence that took place some 932 years ago. It seemed such a small area and yet the course of history changed forever on October the 14th 1066.
The past few days have been a delight. A group of quilters and I stayed in an old Tudor Manor House out in the countryside nestled amongst green fields, huge chestnut and oak trees. From the conservatory, we watched squirrels and we could see the little piles of earth left by moles in the lawn… wonderful. !!!!
We quilted and ate and shared life experiences… it doesn’t get much better than that…. Spent Saturday evening at a Big Band concert… there were 100’s of folk of all ages. The highlight for me were the dancers who get into character and swing and jive 1940’s style right down to the costumes.
A short trip to Brighton last evening... and a stroll along the Pier and the compulsory fish and chips for dinner...
Now to brave the elements.

2005/10/21

To London, to London to visit the Queen

How many times have I lugged my case in and out of the car,?.... packed, unpacked. Rearranged.
I’ve met new friends, said goodbye a few days later… I’ve been privileged to share in the lives of like minded people, even if it’s just for a day.
I’ve learnt a lot about quilting in Britain, it’s a history we all share and take by the hand into the future.
I’ve had a couple of days with the Mead Quilters. The nicest ladies. Then yesterday I took off to visit the Queen. Those of you who know me well know I’m a dyed in the wool Royalist….The day was perfect, intermittently sunny with big white clouds. I visited Windsor and yes, the Queen was home but a little busy to entertain me. I understood when I wandered through the rooms of the palace…. My goodness, there’s and amazing amount of dusting and cleaning to be done… so I understood the reason for her absence at morning tea. Stayed in a B&B for the first time last night and relished watching TV in bed.
This morning I took off into a huge storm and I wish I could photograph the events of the next hour or so. The rain was incredibly heavy and driving on an 8 lane freeway was certainly out of my comfort zone…..but I did it…
Received photos today of the cover of my book, so I’m just plain excited…Now off to photo the site of the Battle of Hastings…. (hopefully in the sun)

To be on a quest is nothing more or less than to become an asker of questions.

Simply swans Posted by Picasa

Patterns everywhere.... the dark stone is flint, the remainders of the brick are Roman Posted by Picasa

Ceiling in the St Albans Abbey.... 1300's I beleive Posted by Picasa

The Queen is home Posted by Picasa

2005/10/17

Memories

In Starbucks once again and I have enjoyed a big mug of coffee. I do wish they would use china that is a little more refined instead of 1/4 inch thick stuff. I have to use two hands for this mug. It's whoppa.
Memories. I'm surrounded by young mothers with prams, raucous children and Grandmas with comfortable bosoms patting babies. How on earth did I manage to take 3 bambinos out at once?
I'm in a shopping Centre called Blue Water some 11 miles from Eyensford. It's rather beautiful and I believe it's the largest in Britain. However... the WiFi is the attraction for me.
Each time I open the mail there are surprises... conversations with friends, good news and sometimes sad. Smiles across the airwaves and the wish that you could give that special friend a hug.
I've just finished teaching at Eyensford and I'm off to Hastings if I don't spend too much time here... then I'm traveling to St Albans and then back down here again for a residential... so I have time to do Hastings on my day off if I dally here too long.
The countryside here is just picture postcard. Lush green fields with eyelashes of hedges and stone fence. The houses are generally old, white and quaint. The roads are incredibly narrow and winding and everyone drives very fast. Each morning there is a heavy mist which descends on the ground, enveloping everything in it's ghostly hue.
I've visited the local pub for a cider with my hosts Jan and Roy. Spent time with the nicest gals in the local scout hall where they learnt to create a portrait.. and driven in circles around the roundabouts...I've never seen so many in all my life.
All in all, a very interesting and enjoyable time.

As the traveler who has once been from home is wiser than he who has never left his own doorstep, so a knowledge of one other culture should sharpen our ability to scrutinize more steadily, to appreciate more lovingly, our own.
Margaret Mead

2005/10/16

Life on the road.

Once again I'm sitting in Starbucks... I think I'm becoming one of weirdos who frequent shopping centers...
When I wrote yesterday I was on the way to Hastings... well it was a rushed trip but significant... 14th of October, the Battle of Hastings began and I was there some 939 years later. I'm certain it doesn't have any resemblance to the time the battle began. However, as I have been studying the history for some time now it was a significant occasion and such a fluke that I could be there on that day..
This is my sixteenth day on the road, and I must say it sure takes some energy...I've met the most wonderful people and I'm sure our friendships will be long lasting. You just get to one place then just when you settle in you have to shift, and you just long to stay in the same place for the rest of the time. 8 different beds so far and a few more to go...The washing needs doing now, I am almost out of toothpaste and a few other essentials. I am comfortable driving, but I wish everyone else would slow down a little...
I've packed and unpacked my computer, work bag and case a 100 times it seems, everything has it's place.. but it's surprising how things shift into unusual places.
I've talked to 100's of new folk, and showed the quilts and shared my knowledge.
Business still needs to be done, and some of it is urgent. There are invisible lines to home and Keith is fielding questions from me and from students and taking bookings...
I have updates from Students and my Bambinos each day, but it's been difficult to get on line. I've had three emails with bad news and that is always magnified when you are away the comfort of your own home.
Well, it's time for the shop to shut. So I set the GPS for my current abode and I think an early night is in order...

2005/10/14

On the road again

Here I sit in Mc Donalds... The lunch crowd has arrived, the patrons are anxiously waiting for their food and someone is yelling for Yoghurt and nuggets... I'm catching up on business.
I have been in "Holland on Sea" for the past two days. Had a great class yesterday teaching the joy of Drapplique to 19 gals... and I'm on the move again. I had to drive almost into London to get onto the road to Hastings... I thought I was going to end up in the centre of London.... I panicked I can tell you.
However, I have to trust my GPS.... so it's rush to Hastings and back up to my next venue... Lecture tonight and teach Portraits for the next two days....

2005/10/12


Oxford Posted by Picasa

Punting Boats in Oxford Posted by Picasa