Friday, February 20, 2009
One Size fits all ...
Is it just me or do other folk have trouble with their headphones. Been out walking this lunch and my headphones kept working their way out of my ears! How do folk go on that jog! I'm sure it's a case of "one size not fitting all ... " I'm assuming that folk have different sizes and different shaped ear holes. I suppose I could buy some supa-dupa made to fit ones ... but I like the ones I've got because they are pink and match my player. Perhaps I should tape them in place :)
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
London and Oliver
Yesterday spent the day in London. Got down there about 11.30. My friends had already booked tickets for Madam Tussauds. I did go and see how long the queue was to pay on the door (one to one and half hours) so decided against that. Instead I visited the Sherlock Holmes Museum. http://www.sherlock-holmes.co.uk/ It was interesting but I'd wandered around it in just over half an hour! As I had a bit of time to kill before meeting back up with my friends who had gone to Madam Tussauds I headed off to look around Regents Park which I can't remember if I've ever been to before. Had a wander along the boating lake and into the inner circle (sounds like something from the Freemasons!). It was nice and quiet but as most flowers and trees were out of season there was not a lot to see.
I met back up with my friends and we headed off down Baker Street (or as Jerry Rafferty would say ... Windin your way down on Baker Street) in search of the Wallace Collection. http://www.wallacecollection.org/thecollection I'd purchased myself a map from the Sherlock Holmes Museum for a couple of pounds as we'd not taken one with us. We eventually found the Museum (not well signed off Baker Street!). Oh it's a bit posh! A very nice gentleman (and I mean gentlemen) greeted us at the door. We had a shufty around the armoury and around the porcelian and furniture. We headed up to the art galleries. I admit myself I'm pretty ignorant of art .... I can't spot an "artist". However I did spot the Laughing Cavalier and I must say that's not "laughing" that's "smiling". I mean a laugh is what the Laughing Policeman does on Blackpool pleasure beach! I don't suppose the Smiling Cavalier has quite the same ring!
From the Wallace Collection we headed off down to Oxford Street pausing briefly at the side door of Selfridges as we had spotted a couple of paparazzi hanging around the door. We got the map out to "kill a bit of time" so we could lurk around without looking to obvious but soon got bored. We decided to wander through Selfridges but as we had no idea who we were looking for we decided, after a squirt or two of posh perfumes, to carry on down Oxford Street. Stopped off for a coffee and to rest our weary feet and then continued down Oxford Street and Tottenham Court Road, gazing briefly into the bookshop windows. We had a quick wander around Covent Garden and to watch the Street Entertainers before heading off to find Cafe Rouge. Meet up with one of my cousins who I'd not seen in over 18 years so that was lovely to catch up on what's been going on.
Oliver was fab. Well worth going if you get the chance. The show is great, scenery fabulous, Rowan Atkinson is excellent as Fagin. I did have my reservations about Jody playing Nancy but she did a great job as did Oliver and the Artful Dodger. Burn Gorman also did a good as Bill Sykes and well Bullseye was Bullseye!
All in all a great day ... even if a very long and tiring day. I've clocked it up on Google Pedometre and we walked 5 miles and that wasn't counting what we did round the museums! No wonder my feet ached!
Will post a few photos when I get five.
I met back up with my friends and we headed off down Baker Street (or as Jerry Rafferty would say ... Windin your way down on Baker Street) in search of the Wallace Collection. http://www.wallacecollection.org/thecollection I'd purchased myself a map from the Sherlock Holmes Museum for a couple of pounds as we'd not taken one with us. We eventually found the Museum (not well signed off Baker Street!). Oh it's a bit posh! A very nice gentleman (and I mean gentlemen) greeted us at the door. We had a shufty around the armoury and around the porcelian and furniture. We headed up to the art galleries. I admit myself I'm pretty ignorant of art .... I can't spot an "artist". However I did spot the Laughing Cavalier and I must say that's not "laughing" that's "smiling". I mean a laugh is what the Laughing Policeman does on Blackpool pleasure beach! I don't suppose the Smiling Cavalier has quite the same ring!
From the Wallace Collection we headed off down to Oxford Street pausing briefly at the side door of Selfridges as we had spotted a couple of paparazzi hanging around the door. We got the map out to "kill a bit of time" so we could lurk around without looking to obvious but soon got bored. We decided to wander through Selfridges but as we had no idea who we were looking for we decided, after a squirt or two of posh perfumes, to carry on down Oxford Street. Stopped off for a coffee and to rest our weary feet and then continued down Oxford Street and Tottenham Court Road, gazing briefly into the bookshop windows. We had a quick wander around Covent Garden and to watch the Street Entertainers before heading off to find Cafe Rouge. Meet up with one of my cousins who I'd not seen in over 18 years so that was lovely to catch up on what's been going on.
Oliver was fab. Well worth going if you get the chance. The show is great, scenery fabulous, Rowan Atkinson is excellent as Fagin. I did have my reservations about Jody playing Nancy but she did a great job as did Oliver and the Artful Dodger. Burn Gorman also did a good as Bill Sykes and well Bullseye was Bullseye!
All in all a great day ... even if a very long and tiring day. I've clocked it up on Google Pedometre and we walked 5 miles and that wasn't counting what we did round the museums! No wonder my feet ached!
Will post a few photos when I get five.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Weekend
Well the weekend came and went. Opened the necklace I'd won off Beadyjan which was lovely. Also got some roses and a DVD ... well it was Valentines day and when a girl has to shop a girl has to shop! I normally buy myself flowers on a Saturday and roses where on offer in Asda and Sex in the City movie was a fiver! It would have been wrong not to have made my purchases!
Went out for a pizza and to see a film on Saturday night with a friend. We decided to go to the Odeon instead of the Vue because they were showing films at a later time. Bad move! First we purchased the tickets from the automated machine and we got three blank sheets of paper - two of which were our tickets! We explained the problem to one of the assistances and they wrote on one sheet the film and the screen so we would be able to get in! Then we went to bar in the cinema complex and there was one bar staff and a HUGE queue. We eventually got served. The film was showing in screen 10. I'm sure folk have bigger TV screens at home than the screen in there! Film (Role Models) was ok but the seats aren't half as comfy as the Vue. So next outing to the cinema was are going back to Vue!
Tomorrow I'm off to London to see Oliver so tonight it's an early night. Will post about the show later in the week.
Went out for a pizza and to see a film on Saturday night with a friend. We decided to go to the Odeon instead of the Vue because they were showing films at a later time. Bad move! First we purchased the tickets from the automated machine and we got three blank sheets of paper - two of which were our tickets! We explained the problem to one of the assistances and they wrote on one sheet the film and the screen so we would be able to get in! Then we went to bar in the cinema complex and there was one bar staff and a HUGE queue. We eventually got served. The film was showing in screen 10. I'm sure folk have bigger TV screens at home than the screen in there! Film (Role Models) was ok but the seats aren't half as comfy as the Vue. So next outing to the cinema was are going back to Vue!
Tomorrow I'm off to London to see Oliver so tonight it's an early night. Will post about the show later in the week.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Tree Walk
This lunch time we went on a tree walk. These are really interesting and you learn such a lot of trivia about trees. Keele has an arboretum and over recent years they have been tagging and indexing the trees. http://www.keele.ac.uk/university/arboretum/intro/about.htm
Today we were shown how to identify an oak and a cherry tree in winter. Do you know that inside the cherry bud is all of next years growth but in minature - no neither did I!
We were shown English and Turkey Oak and told how to tell the difference - Turkey Oak has longer leaves! We were also shown a Knopper Gall which is an insect that affects the acorns. However there has to be a Turkey Oak and an English Oak in close proximity. http://www.keele.ac.uk/university/arboretum/articles/oaks.htm
In general an oak tree that lives out in the open grows approx one inch in circumference each year - I wonder if the same happens to us humans ... as my waist size seems to be growing with age! Anyway back to the trees. The particular oak we were looking at was approximately 150/170 years old. In later life trees do not grow as much. Also trees that are found in woods do not grow at the same rate!
We were shown various cherry trees ... but they are far better to look at when in blossom! http://www.keele.ac.uk/university/arboretum/trees/cherries/aboutcherries.htm
Trees that have had branches cut or broken will try and repair themselves. You often see bark growing back over the cut (or wound). Trees do this to strenthen themselves - and you thought trees didn't have a brain!
Very interesting and informative lunch. More details of the trees we saw can be found here http://www.keele.ac.uk/university/arboretum/intro/index.htm
Today we were shown how to identify an oak and a cherry tree in winter. Do you know that inside the cherry bud is all of next years growth but in minature - no neither did I!
We were shown English and Turkey Oak and told how to tell the difference - Turkey Oak has longer leaves! We were also shown a Knopper Gall which is an insect that affects the acorns. However there has to be a Turkey Oak and an English Oak in close proximity. http://www.keele.ac.uk/university/arboretum/articles/oaks.htm
In general an oak tree that lives out in the open grows approx one inch in circumference each year - I wonder if the same happens to us humans ... as my waist size seems to be growing with age! Anyway back to the trees. The particular oak we were looking at was approximately 150/170 years old. In later life trees do not grow as much. Also trees that are found in woods do not grow at the same rate!
We were shown various cherry trees ... but they are far better to look at when in blossom! http://www.keele.ac.uk/university/arboretum/trees/cherries/aboutcherries.htm
Trees that have had branches cut or broken will try and repair themselves. You often see bark growing back over the cut (or wound). Trees do this to strenthen themselves - and you thought trees didn't have a brain!
Very interesting and informative lunch. More details of the trees we saw can be found here http://www.keele.ac.uk/university/arboretum/intro/index.htm
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Photoshop
Oh photoshop is quite addicitive. Just been playing around and we went from this
to this in a few clicks!
Yet another walk
Yesterday the snow was still lying in some places and it was one of those misty, errie days. So off we headed for our lunchtime walk, camera in pocket! We only did a small circuit of about one mile but still managed to capture some good photos. Posted them in black and white as I think it adds to the atmosphere!
Been having a play on Photoshop tonight .. so who knows how the photos will turn out in the future!
Been having a play on Photoshop tonight .. so who knows how the photos will turn out in the future!
Burt is no more
I’m sorry to report that Burt the snowman is with us no more. When I went to the window this morning all that was left were two sticks which had previously been his arms and Burt had gone to that place where all good snowmen go.
Burt’s life was short but he will be remembered as the snowman that brought happiness to me when I looked through my kitchen window.
Burt the Snowman
5-2-09 to 10-2-09
Burt’s life was short but he will be remembered as the snowman that brought happiness to me when I looked through my kitchen window.
Burt the Snowman
5-2-09 to 10-2-09
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
