Flying visits.
I had a reasonably relaxing day last Thursday, heading towards the airport, doing my chores. The trip over was dull, as most plane flights are, but uneventful. Arriving in London, I dropped myself off at a hotel, showered and dozed off until 4pm.
I then was woke up, met the erstwhile dealer for a couple of British Ales and then proceded to try and sleep of the rest of the jet lag. This wasn't too successful, and I've been tired for most of the week. Some of that may have been a couple of later nights and strange beds though.
I headed over to kauket and zenithed's house in Muswell Hill, played some board games, caught up a little, then headed back south for beerfood with a few old colleagues. Then into Camden for beers with a variety of folks, from York, Rag, London, ex-colleagues and other assorted places. Was marvellous to see steer, whom I don't think I've seen for a few years. Beer was drunk, I wandered back on the night bus, watched the eurovisions scores with my hosts and slept the sleep of a man who'd had several good beers (but not too many good beers).
Next day was more hanging out with my hosts, playing some guitar hero, and then down to Covent Garden to see a friend from York and his wife (not from York), and Chess from Sheffield (even if she lives in Bristol area, she'll be Chess from Sheffield to me). More random catchingupnostalgia, and a pie which was not a pie. Pie crust on soup. Edible, but not a pie, dammit. I wanted pie!
Next day, kauket escorted me on the tube towards Paddington, where I jumped on a train and headed west to Cardiff. There I spent two worthwhile days with my sister, her husband, and her two kids (3 months and 30 months). The youngest is new, not seen her before, and sits and grins, wriggles and cries (a little) in turn. Very cute.
The oldest runs around, talks and plays with things, but only for 3.72 minutes at a time. Hard work dealing with a butterfly mind you can't really converse with. Still was excuse to run around a science experimenty place, and watch all the latest toddlers shows. Peppa Pig seems to have half the cast of absolutely, Roary stars a Big Chris, In the Night Garden scares me as I'm reading too much into it, and Chuggington is really daft.
I ten headed to Scotland, to meet the folks and visit the Scottish Borders. The borders were green and lush, the scenery as impressive (in a much less imposing way than Canada's big mountains, but still impressive) and my parents aces. We visited a nature reserve/sanctuary and saw wildlife, brought whisky (mine) and headed to the Scottish Musuem of Flight. This was well worth it, as it has a Concorde you can get on and walk around. Once you realise the fuel consumption of the supersonic passenger jet, you realise why it wasn't kept up.
So in the front room now, writing a journal entry. Off on the 1300 plane to Heathrow, and then onwards to Seattle and finally Victoria.
I then was woke up, met the erstwhile dealer for a couple of British Ales and then proceded to try and sleep of the rest of the jet lag. This wasn't too successful, and I've been tired for most of the week. Some of that may have been a couple of later nights and strange beds though.
I headed over to kauket and zenithed's house in Muswell Hill, played some board games, caught up a little, then headed back south for beerfood with a few old colleagues. Then into Camden for beers with a variety of folks, from York, Rag, London, ex-colleagues and other assorted places. Was marvellous to see steer, whom I don't think I've seen for a few years. Beer was drunk, I wandered back on the night bus, watched the eurovisions scores with my hosts and slept the sleep of a man who'd had several good beers (but not too many good beers).
Next day was more hanging out with my hosts, playing some guitar hero, and then down to Covent Garden to see a friend from York and his wife (not from York), and Chess from Sheffield (even if she lives in Bristol area, she'll be Chess from Sheffield to me). More random catchingupnostalgia, and a pie which was not a pie. Pie crust on soup. Edible, but not a pie, dammit. I wanted pie!
Next day, kauket escorted me on the tube towards Paddington, where I jumped on a train and headed west to Cardiff. There I spent two worthwhile days with my sister, her husband, and her two kids (3 months and 30 months). The youngest is new, not seen her before, and sits and grins, wriggles and cries (a little) in turn. Very cute.
The oldest runs around, talks and plays with things, but only for 3.72 minutes at a time. Hard work dealing with a butterfly mind you can't really converse with. Still was excuse to run around a science experimenty place, and watch all the latest toddlers shows. Peppa Pig seems to have half the cast of absolutely, Roary stars a Big Chris, In the Night Garden scares me as I'm reading too much into it, and Chuggington is really daft.
I ten headed to Scotland, to meet the folks and visit the Scottish Borders. The borders were green and lush, the scenery as impressive (in a much less imposing way than Canada's big mountains, but still impressive) and my parents aces. We visited a nature reserve/sanctuary and saw wildlife, brought whisky (mine) and headed to the Scottish Musuem of Flight. This was well worth it, as it has a Concorde you can get on and walk around. Once you realise the fuel consumption of the supersonic passenger jet, you realise why it wasn't kept up.
So in the front room now, writing a journal entry. Off on the 1300 plane to Heathrow, and then onwards to Seattle and finally Victoria.