College Campers

When you’re on the edge of a college campus in the middle of the country, you usually have to make your own entertainment. Normally that’s not a problem, but we didn’t want to stray too far away from our digs. We ended up commandeering a firepit for a barbecue, but unfortunately there was no-one to join us. Not that it mattered since I didn’t get much sleep anyway due to my travel companion’s excessive snoring. Even stretching my legs in the middle of the night didn’t seem to work. For the first day we’d planned to cook up a breakfast while our cool bag supplies held out, while on the second day we discovered that there was a café on-site. We ventured in and saw that the prices were a bit steep; they were asking £4 for a bacon or sausage roll. Nevertheless, we coughed up and at least the cash went to the students. I even bought one of their chocolatey rocky roads to keep me going for a mid-morning snack. 

Ghosts (Series 2)

When I first learned that the Horrible Histories team had written a second series my first reaction was oh no, not these nutters again’. But aside from the return of the annoying theme tune, this instalment was rather good. We had a few more character insights (though I would have loved to have known about how the major died) as well as novel ideas of things that you can do with an old house. Even the plague team got a look-in. I thought that the idea of the older characters witnessing the demise of some of the younger ones was great and this should have been brought in earlier. I enjoyed Julian’s plotline in the Christmas Special where his past begins to haunt him. We’re also teased by Mary’s witch trial, though this is something that could be covered in a third series which has now been commissioned. Kitty’s character could also be explored; although she is one of the more annoying characters and perhaps it’s time that she could be moved on. We also don’t know about Robin’s death or the real reason why any of them were left behind. There’s plenty more ghost stories to come!

Glamping at the National Star College, Ullenwood

Our digs for the next two days was a little glamping site next to a college; yet we had no idea that we’d be staying on the premises of an actual college for special needs. We therefore had to be a little more careful as to what we’d normally get up to in the evening. The premier suite was a bungalow with a very round door rather like a hobbit hole. We got the gypsy caravan. Inside our pined wagon were two leather mattresses separated by a shelf mounted on the wall. Above this was a porthole that looked out onto the farmland. We also got a wall socket each and a light switch; though our phones served better once we were in bed. Outside was a small wooden table and two wooden chairs in our porch, while across the road was a modern toilet block complete with outside sink for our cooking needs.

Hanging at the Hostel

I needed somewhere cheap to stay in London. I looked at hostels but didn’t really want to be put up in a dorm. Then I discovered that private rooms were available, and I could even upgrade to a double if I wanted. After the booking, I was told that there was an issue with my window. It wouldn’t open but they didn’t have the capacity to move me to another room or the ability to repair it in time. But why would you want a window open in January? Their solution was to offer me a 10% reduction of the room. I didn’t say anything but it just happened. It took me a while to find the place. It wasn’t on Oxford Street as advertised but down a sideroad. Then after being buzzed through the door, I had to climb three flights of stairs to reach reception. The whole place seemed to be a jumble of flats on top of a building. It was quiet on arrival and the check-in went smoothly with a nice chat from the receptionist. I suppose she was trying to discover why a single person had booked a double bed… 

Glamping Supplies

 After leaving the cathedral, we headed over to Eastgate to see the famous Greyfriars. This Tudor church wasn’t that impressive in its location adjacent to a modern shopping centre, and it looked more like an ideal local hangout for druggies. However, we were impressed by the nearby jewellers on Southgate Street. Confusingly called Baker (though I suppose that you can’t help what you are called sometimes), this traditional watchmaker sports a large clock overhanging the street while beneath it in an alcove is a line of guild statues in painted middle-aged dress. Each figure holds a bell apart from the friar who pulls a rope to the bell above. After waiting for the clock to strike the hour, we decided to get supplies for the evening and had a browse in the pound shop. We came away with a chess board for our evening entertainment which we later discovered had a piece missing. We thought about taking it back, but I thought that the effort would outweigh the cost.  

Wedding Plans #devilsdaughter 15

Luke and Lucinda walked down the boardwalk towards their chauffeured limousine. Luke had no idea where they were going next. In fact, he couldn’t really see where they were going next as most of Lucinda’s hair was draped around his head but he daren’t let go of this voluptuous lady. All he could feel was the weight of her hips with every step that she took.

‘Did you realise sweetie’ asked Lucinda as passers-by turned their heads and stood to make way for them ‘that the store clerk referred to us as Mr. and Mrs. Evans?’

‘Yes’ said Luke. ‘Lucinda, let’s do it. I can’t wait for that dress. Let’s get married. Today.’

‘Sounds like a proposition to me. But a gal ought to wear something nice for her big day.’ She climbed into the back of her limo which somehow seemed to have shrunk in the heat. Luke scrambled in after her and began discussing plans with the driver.

Galivanting in Gloucester

With dinner done, we set about exploring the rest of the city. We started with a stroll towards the cathedral, passing a military museum and posing for a picture next to a small tank. We passed through a lovely pedestrianised archway with cafes lined up either side and it really felt like we were in a different country. On arrival we noticed that a film crew was outside. We were still allowed into the cathedral but the cloisters were closed to allow filming to take place. I’m not a particularly religious person but I do enjoy exploring the architecture of these large buildings. After exploring the lower levels, we worked out how to get upstairs to explore the upper levels. As well as some amazing gargoyles on display here, we also found the whisper corridor. This was a u-shaped passageway from one side of the cathedral to the other that allows a whisper from one end to be heard at the other. Unfortunately, we got a bit carried away and got told off by a passing couple. 

Should workplaces provide a free breakfast or lunch to employees in order to boost morale or work ethic?

Absolutely. It shows people that you care. It could be for a special occasion or a regular fixed weekly teambuilding event. I’ve worked in a number of places that have this policy; though in most cases it’s a buffet full of sugar to keep everyone going and there’s rarely anything fresh, savoury and healthy as they’re perishable. It’s also hard to choose items within your budget that will have something for everyone. I’ve only encountered a free hot meal policy in one role which was on a breakfast shift since none was provided at the accommodation. It certainly encouraged me to arrive on time so that I wouldn’t miss out! When you’ve arrived, there’s also opportunities to socialise and network with people from other departments that you might not necessarily meet during the course of the workday. But you do need to be aware of what the policy is and maybe make sure that they’re not asking you to give a PowerPoint presentation to the rest of the dining room the minute that you’ve wolfed down your toast.

A Towering Journey

It’s never easy deciding where to go on a holiday. We had an idea planned for various places that we’d like to visit then one week we decided to round them all up into one trip instead. We investigated camping then we thought that for the time of the year and the weather, it was cheaper to stay in built accommodation. We had a route planned and managed to book all our accommodation the evening before we left. Our first stop was to Broadway Tower, the highest point on our tour and the gateway to the Cotswolds. It was also the most scenic route to the Gloucester Docks. We parked in the lay-by on the road outside to avoid the hefty £6 car park charge. Unfortunately, the nuclear bunker wasn’t open and I couldn’t find the giant chess set that was there in my childhood (I think it’s been replaced by the café and the arts centre) but we did get great views. My friend suffers from vertigo so he didn’t fancy paying to go into the museum to climb the tower and I didn’t really feel like venturing up on my own. So onwards we went.

"Do not judge me by my successes, judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again."

 -Nelson Mandela.

Being great in everything you do is fantastic. But winning all the time is just boring. It might make you the greatest, but people really like to watch their heroes overcome hurdles which means that they must fail some of the time. Otherwise it’d just be boring and people will focus their attention on other things. But if you’re coming back from failure all the time, you may need to examine what keeps causing you to fail. You might be determined to do the task, but there’s a great difference between making progress and being stubborn. You’re also not going to get much sympathy, especially if you've had a very heavy night on the booze. In the end, failure could be expected of you if you’re not too careful. It’s good to find a noble balance between the two. That’s a true skill to master which illustrates that you can cope with just about anything.

The Adventures of Sir David

Trapped as a kitten, he was brought up in a pen at the back of a house. He had food and water aplenty but it was the freedom and exercise that he craved. He grew as rabbits should but started to find his quarters a little cramped. His keepers visited him less and less then suddenly not at all. Then one cold day, just as he was beginning to freeze to death, a tall kind stranger picked up and took him into the warm. This new pen was huge. It was open and many rooms to explore. There was a room with a basket full of hay at the top of some steps, while downstairs there was a roaring fire and a dish full of nibbles. He would often sit in the middle of this room nibbling fresh carrots while the kind stranger stroked him gently. The stranger would often pick him up and let him explore the garden. He once jumped through a hole in the hedgerow but then realised that he would miss the food and attention that the stranger gave him and allowed the stranger to pick him up and return him to the house.

We Get Around #dreamdiary 103

I’m on a narrowboat with two friends. It’s made of Duplo but it’s a sturdy craft that floats. None of the pieces are loose and there’s no sign of any leaks. We reach a lock and there’s a tall tower at the top. Two of us head up the steps alongside the tower to reach the lockkeeper’s cottage. It’s all locked up and we’ve got a horrible feeling that this particular lockkeeper has an attitude problem. We’ve walked past in years gone by and we’ve seen previous sailors storming out from a tirade of abuse as he refuses to open the lock for them. We’ve knocked the door and there’s no answer. Just as we’re about to turn away and head back to the boat, we hear a jangle of keys followed by a bolt being removed. Then the door opens to reveal a black man with dreadlocks spouting out of the top of his head and a knitted rainbow sweater. ‘Come on in lads’ he says with a wide grin on his face. It must be our lucky day. We venture inside and climb into a plastic sled. Then we head down a steep chute rather like a log flume only there’s no water. There are a couple of large holes but our sled slides over them smoothly. Just before we hit the water into the canal, the sled slides to a comfortable stop. Our third friend brings our narrowboat over then the lockkeeper throws down some straps from a platform outside the cottage. We attach these to our narrowboat and we’re suddenly skybound as he hauls us up out of the water and to the top of the hill; much to the amusement of passers-by.

Barn Life

My boss is proud of his property. He lives on a farm in a converted barn. It’s in the countryside and he’s a couple of miles from the nearest town. He’s always boasting of his home maintenance and his horticultural efforts. We’re often shown his painstaking efforts to build a fence on a strip of land to turn part of his driveway into a vegetable garden. The house itself also has a beautiful front garden complete with patio and pond that’s sheltered from the main road by a hedgerow.  The kitchen is small but modern, but because of the nature of where they live, they still end up with a pet mouse. They take great pains to protect their food but they do leave a few nibbles out for it at night. And their other pet is a house rabbit named Sir David that was rescued from one of their expired neighbours.

Spiralising out of Control

I’m a man who knows how to get things. In a time where things are hard to come across, that suddenly becomes important; especially when you’re limited to where you can go and if you should venture out. And I quite like my new delivery service. The customer gets a nice discount; they pay in full and they often provide me with a small gift as a thank-you for my service. I leave it up to them as to whether they collect it from me, or I venture out to their doorstep. I also collect two sets of loyalty points from each transaction as well as a small commission that I can use towards my phone bill. And once I’ve got their cash, I invest it before I have to pay off my bill. So far I’ve managed to get away with balancing the books without having to dip into my own reserves. But there may come a time where I regret that I haven’t paid off my costs straight away…

Drying Off

So we’ve just broken the pub’s rotting terrace and the first thing we want to do is get ourselves dry. We head into the bar where all the bar staff have to offer is bar towels. Not ideal but what else can we do? Meanwhile we’ve ordered a taxi to de-camp ourselves to the nearest friend’s house to get changed. The offending tackler has disappeared to the caravaners. Our taxi arrives and we pile in and head all the way round the corner to the off-licence. This makes no sense to me whatsoever. Apparently keeping the buzz is more important than getting to dry digs. We take off laden with booze and I’m seriously thinking about disappearing for the evening. I calculate where I am and figure it’s only a few miles back to the boss’s house at which point I can either crash in the car or be sober enough to go home and abandon the whole thing.

Pets

There was once a suburban neighbourhood where every house was nearly the same. Everyone who lived there seemed to have a car, a job, and a family to look after; apart from two elderly people who loved next door to each other. These people lived on their own, but each had a dog. The dogs each enjoyed looking after their owners. They would play with them, let them know when someone was at the door and kept them company. But they each missed the hustle and bustle of the outside world. When their owners were asleep, they would spend ages at the window watching the world go by. It annoyed them that they could hear and see these outside sounds but that they could not take part in it. Occasionally, they would be let outside to run around in the back garden. This was amazing for them since they could get a proper sniff of the world beyond the house even though they couldn’t see it. And one morning, both dogs were let out at the same time. The only thing between them was a fence.

Second Foundation by Isaac Asimov

Second Foundation by Isaac Asimov
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

There’s some oddly confusing behaviours in this book that don’t seem to be challenged at all by the other characters. Only a teenager seems to question the bizarre entrance of an expected visitor through a girl’s bedroom window rather than through a door. I thought it was great fun when the actions of the galaxy seem to be placed within a single free-spirited being; though we later learn that it was the subliminal actions of another party that made this occur. It’s made especially confusing when Arcadia’s thought process is examined as she escapes Kalgan. Once again, the character plotlines aren’t exactly clear which makes confusion amongst the ranks. It’s not clear as to why Stettin went to war and which side the First Foundation are actually on. Things are further complicated when the identities of Second Foundation agents start to be revealed and as Asimov states; there’s lots of double-double-double-double crossings. Any character can act without revealing their true purpose, and it all hampers the natural character development. I suppose with hindsight a second reading would make things clearer, and it’s always the quiet ones that you need to watch. It’s an interesting tale of events but there’s still very unclear explanations to the saga. 

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Stoned

Short but stout, this is a man who knows his beer and is willing to travel to get it. He’s round in both cheeks, stomach and face, and he’s got a grin to prove it. He’s always willing to share his travels with other people. He began his work building up a good reputation at a local boozer until his free entrepreneurial spirit surpassed his contractual duties and he left with a great list of contacts to build up his own company. After a bout of travelling the world and setting up live music events, he began selling cushions that would fit onto beer barrels to create extra seating. Though these were steep, the novelty caught on and he couldn’t push them out fast enough. He then earned enough cash to open his own digs to run them as he saw fit; though at times it’s a struggle between serving the customers and drinking the stock himself.

Wye Valley HPA at the Wharf Inn, Holt Fleet

Our next pub was just around the corner. We planned to cross the bridge over the river then walk underneath it to avoid the road, but the steps were flooded so we just followed the road around the corner to reach the Wharf Inn, a pub adjacent to the river and a nearby caravan site. Inside was a pool and games rom while a back room had the bar occupied by a few locals. I had been here before, but it looked as if the place had taken a downward turn. There wasn’t any beer on the handpumps so I settled for a chilled Wye Valley HPA in a bottle. We headed out onto the terrace where the lower section had already given way to the flooded river. Just then, the city boy decided to rugby tackle my workmate, who went flying through the rotten wood and into the river. We fished him back out followed by bag which would otherwise be making its maiden voyage towards Worcester.

I Dream for a Ream

It’s come to a rare occasion. The printer has run out of paper and I must fork out for a new ream. There’s no more sheets hidden in drawers or down the back of the desk. It would be nice if we could re-use the back of another sheet but our printer doesn’t like pre-used paper. It’s probably the presence of two young children in our house eager to be occupied. It would have probably helped if the kids did use the back of old sheets rather than taking new ones but I suppose they want to get doodling quickly and we really didn’t want them rooting through the drawers. There was a time when we could justify that a ream could mysteriously arrive in the house for business use; but sadly those days aren’t with us now. We’re just ordinary folk without secret sources for our stationary. Maybe our time will rise again.

Turkish Detours

One of the best parts of visiting a city is coming across something while you’re just wandering around. Essentially, we were looking for a footpath and we followed people through what we first thought was a university complex until we discovered a beautiful park. We had a vague sense of where we wanted to end up, so we just walked straight through with no idea of what we expected to find. It turned out to be Gulhane Park, a former outer garden to the adjacent palace which has now been donated back to the city. The original palace walls still remain and you can walk through some of the ancient archways. Its statues, bedding and fountains is a miniaturised version of Central Park; a space in the city for its citizens. I love the stone book in its glass case at the southern entrance with water flowing over its pages to portray history in motion. It’s well worth a picnic stop.

 

Do I really need to know that?

I’m just wondering about the news content lately. Yes, there’s a lot of doom, gloom and uncertainty out there. But there’s also things that I don’t need to know. Granted, the news isn’t tailored to me (yet) and some people need some good news to give them hope. But there’s certainly some power in choosing what makes the news and what doesn’t. Obviously the editors must source the best content to attract and retain as many readers and viewers as possible, all while pleasing their owners and sponsors. And even when we have 24-hour news, there’s always way too much focus on one topic and not enough of the other. Who cares as to why a former reality TV star was arrested last night? I just want to know what crazy new rules the politicians have thought up today. But while I’m trying to find this out, the editors throw all sorts of things at you to keep you hooked.  

Buses and Branches

It was quite a wait to be collected from the bus stop. The tracker didn’t seem to work and we were desperate to get away; partly to avoid the long walk back and partly to leave the beggar’s area. A few local buses came and went and it was a shame that we didn’t take the time to explore these services. Eventually it arrived and we made a dash for the top deck and plugged in our headphones. The bus made a long detour on the main road then passed a stadium and crossed the Bosporus into the Asian side of the city. We had to duck our heads as our bus swiped against overhanging tree branches. After pausing outside the Dolmabahce Palace, we headed down a hill past what looked like a craft beer bar. Then it was into rush hour traffic. Eventually, it seemed as if our driver had enough as we took a back route off the route map down a service road. We soon arrived at our embarkation point. I was all for doing the second route as we’d already paid for it, but Mum wanted to head back to the hotel for a rest. As we’d unlocked the door, I realised that in my haste to connect my headphones to the bus’s on-board commentary system, I’d dropped my sunglasses and left them there. 

Some People Just don't get It.

Stay at home. That’s the message that we’ve been given. So why are we finding loopholes to encourage people to venture out? One of the primary reasons is the economy. If people aren’t buying things or earning a living, then then government will rapidly run out of income to raise the capital required to fight this pandemic. It’s a delicate balance. But there’s a big difference between the essentials and things that give you comfort. When people are taking part in televised sport or buying beer, revenue is still being generated but it’s also illustrating a mixed message that people are going out and about to do these things. And of course, people need to earn their income to obtain these things. But at the end of the day, it’s about saving lives. So if you need to set out to buy something, you really need to think long and hard about whether you need it. I often wonder how these people would cope in a wartime situation.

Begging for a Bus

After our tour of the tower, it was time to catch our ride home. Many of the roads that had wandered through were very narrow, so we needed to get back to the main one that was on our bus route. We had a map and my GPS but we had to wander around a bit before we could orientate ourselves and work out where we had to go. I had my map out and was pretty sure that we just had to walk up the hill o the stop, but a man saw my map and instantly offered to lead us. We very kindly accepted, and I knew that we would probably have to give him something for our trouble. As we prepared our farewells, he insisted on giving my shoes a clean since that was his trade. I was trying to talk myself out of it, but Mum thought it was hilarious and wanted to take my picture. But we both stopped laughing when he wanted 60 Turkish Lira. I gave him twenty and we hastily walked away. 

 

Black Books

This enjoyable series has some great plotlines and some surreal moments alongside some celebrity guests in their younger days. It’s kind of like watching what those at the bottom end of the pit are up to. It’s a shame that they didn’t feature some re-occurring customers to pan the series out. I found the last episode to be a bit of an anti-climax. I don’t know whether the producers had planned it that way or whether they ran out of ideas of commissions. Its character-shaping plotline should have been revealed much earlier in the series. But its conclusion shows that they’re friends forever and that they’ll always look out for each other despite the squabbles and predicaments that they get into. The theme music to this show is so irritating. It’s deep bass cello really strikes an annoying tone. I suppose it’s much like Bernard so it suits, but it’s not so great for the viewer to listen to every time.  

From Top to Bottom

We climbed up the stone steps and into the beautiful tiled lobby. Large signs displayed the various entrance packages available, and we opted for the balcony walk followed by the virtual flyover. We climbed into the elevator and flew upstairs. We were relieved to see that the crowds weren’t in abundance on the balcony and that they were limiting numbers for safety reasons. We captured some excellent images of both the blue mosque and the Hagia Sophia, and posed for excellent shots with the city and the Bosporus in the backdrop. Then it was time for the virtual tour. Instead of taking the exit elevator, we descended some very steep steps to the basement. After a short wait we were admitted into a small room with cinema seats that moved to the music. It was a very good bird’s eye view tour with a spectacular firework display at the end.  

A Discount Dress #devilsdaughter 14

After a lot of note-taking and frantic phone calls and double-checking, the shop manager had made arrangements for a dress in Lucinda’s size to be shipped, though it would take time as it would need to be custom-made. When it came to delivery, Lucinda demanded that it be sent to Luke’s house as compensation for the shoddy service that she’d received today. Inwardly, Luke’s heart jumped for joy. He’d never thought up till now what would happen beyond this day and when he would have to depart from Lucinda. He couldn’t bring himself to be apart from this amazing woman. There was something intoxicating about her that made him want to be alongside her all the time. At least this way he’d have a sure-fire excuse of at least making contact with her again. He ‘d love to see her house.

…‘And that’s for Mrs. Evans. Thank you Mr. Michele’ said the manager and put the phone down. Well then, that’s all arranged. Thank you very much.’

‘Thank you’ said Lucinda and put her arm around Luke’s waist as they walked out of the store.