Rising to my London Visit

Of course my plane out of Tallahassee was late.  So arrival to Atlanta was late. I had to switch to another late night flight to London.  But I ended up with two seats in the "extra space" section, so I could curl up in the fetal position during the night.  Not comfortably, but better for my legs than straight down all night!

Got into London late - who knew that  the Piccadilly line would be so long...  But it is like a free guided tour.  You are now passing Waterloo....

It was late when I finally arrived, not late like bed time, but late like it gets dark here at four p.m. and cold and I traveled all night and day kind of late. Hopping on the Piccadilly and the Jubilee trains thanks to my daughter sending me the Oyster Transport Card which I could "top off' or Float up".  I checked in to my lovely room on Canary Wharf and then headed out for a close stroll of the riverside and the little shops and cafes.  Aside from the cutting wind, the scenery at night was lovely.  The whole area is glass buildings with intermittent hundreds of year old chapels interspersed.  Christmas lights are going up all along the banks of the river.  After stopping in one small cafe, I had a glass a wine and met a nice chap who made fun of my ignorance on how wine is ordered here (small, medium and large, what happened to a pour?) and how to pay (didn't know how to count pounds correctly).  The barkeeps then ganged up and all had a jolly time making fun of me....  They did give me a tip on going to the Borough Market near London Bridge.  What an EXCELLENT choice that was.

Dinner beckoned so back to the hotel and ate in the dining room downstairs, the Manhattan Grill at West Indian Quay (my hotel).  The whole place was filled with single people eating alone.  I assume everyone is staying for work.  I take a seat next to lady who is talking to the waiter.  Having overheard her speak, I knew she was "yank".  Sure enough, she is from Brooklyn.  We talk and talk a bit about work and travel.  She is an attorney who works in the finance industry and travels the world.  I was green with envy.  Then she told me her parents live in Broward County and that her father used to work for the State of Florida in Corrections.  So believe what you want  BUT her father worked with me and was a Director hired by Harry Singletary!!! (For those in Corrections, click on the link to see whom I reference.)  Small world story.  Fly to London, meet someone who is almost like a home girl!  That was funny and fun.

Back to the room and rest up because the agenda for the day was long and longer.  I left early and headed for London Bridge and the Boroughs Market.  How lovely and interesting and dynamic.  Fish, vegetables, sugars and a whole shop of licorice.  The smells all mingle together as bratwurst is cooked next to curry, next to scallops, next to fish and chips. Every vendor who saw me with a camera asked me to put them on facebook.  No one asked me to tweet.  Interesting.  I wandered around looking and smelling before settling for a venizen sausage with peppersauce on a home made dense bread.  It hit the spot, glad I brought my water.

Back out to see London Bridge and the Abbey and walk across the Thames so that I can say that I have.  The wind picked up over the river and my eyes started to water.  I realized that I had enjoyed a lovely sunny day till that moment.

 Back off the bridge and around the market taking photos, then back on to the Jubilee route of the Tube.

Next stop, Westminster!  Just like on PBS.

Fabulous tour walking around with thousands of other tourists.  All languages on the corner, all looking at maps, actually we all had the same free tourist map.  Funny, we have nothing in common except none of knows anything about our geography.  Standing at the light waiting for the cross sign to give permission, I heard, "Well, what do y'all think?"  I looked up to see the camo hat and the cowboy boots and a nice young couple who could have been from north Florida.  I let the moment pass.

Walking walking through the squares, past the House of Commons up to the National Archives to see Star Trek characters, no wait, Star Wars characters.  I immediately thought of Jose and Mary.

Not exactly what I thought I would see.  But it follows that there would be a global interest in Star Wars.

Which reminds me that London reminds me of everyone.  One of the things that happens when you travel alone is that you accept bringing your friends and family in your head.  It is hard to to see something and say, "Wow Charles would have loved that or Patrick probably thought that was smaller than in the pictures."  So everywhere you look, instead of saying it to someone, you think, gee, I know Corbett would have had fun with this or Tami would be dressed like a Michelin tire man in this cold!

After my parliamentary excursion, back on the Jubilee and to the Green Park district to see Piccadilly Square and Soho.  . One alights at Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens.  St. James Park is to the east. the parks are full of residents and others, mainly people photographing residents in the park.  Parks are the only green space abound so they look like special places.  And I guess if I did not live in the canopy tree capital of the world, I would have more appreciation.  Talked to several people who have never left the city ever.  Ever. County.  They never even considered it.  Reminds me of the people I talked to in Panama City Florida who have never left Bay County ever.

Piccadilly Square is an interesting juxtaposition of rich rich and artsy.  It is riveted with stores like Tiffany and Cartier and Sothesby.  And if you get past that, there is Burberry and J.Crew.  None of which I could afford.  After meandering for a time, I realized that for the first time, I wanted to ask Richard Prudhom  (which I am sure was spelled Purdhomme at one point) where the H*** I was.  I am quite sure that it is the only time I wanted to ask Richard what to do.

The curious thing about the sun setting at four is that people start heading home early.  They say they work till five, but humbug.  At four, the streets flooded with people young and old, mostly in work attire and you could hardly get down the lane for the fast pacers.  They are holding phones or looking at phones or talking about phones.  The lovely people with money coming in and out of the finer stores are dressed to the tee. Wool draped into coats with collars larger than shoulders.  Boots that look like four hundred dollars with leather finely crafted to fit off feet.   Coiffed in a way that says taste, but not showy so  But what I did notice, was most people wanted fewer finer things.  Others want lots of new things that are cheap.  At least I presume that is what Walmart is all about.  But there is reverence for old things here.  Not necessarily old people, but old things.  I talked to a woman today about her divorce.  But what she concentrated on is that the church that she married in was five hundred years old and she still goes there.  She loves that she is part of a community that is older than her family can remember.  It gives her comfort that she will be part of a remembered entity.

Wandering around London in late November in the dark brings up the question of proper footwear.  My husband, who has been to Europe, told me I needed rubber boots.  I just have to say that I saw NO ONE wearing rubber boots.  Forgive the digression, but here is my foot photo:

So I guess going to Europe means you can't tell about the Croatians by what the tourists in London are wearing... hmmmm So there you are Charles Higman.

The walk to Soho was long and cold and the walk back was equally so.  I find myself wanting to be more proper in London.  The people are polite no matter their accent.  You can ask anyone how to get somewhere.  And they may not know, but they will be polite about telling you they are bloody ignorant.  And they have no shame in being politely ignorant.  I am too.  I am bloody ignorant of many things.  Including London lines, except the Jubillee, theSt Pancras.  Tomorrow, I will be woefully ignorant of Paris transport.  And by Wednesday, I will be able to tell you how to go from here to yon.

Funeral Etiquette, Clothing and The Swing

Rising to meet the world today was a little harder than usual.  My husband and sons had already discussed our morning plans the night before, so when I rose to let the chickens out, I knew what lay ahead.  Today was the funeral of a friend, my brother's father in law Mack.

The day before, my brother had called and told me the obituary was online in the local web version of the paper.  I looked.  It simply said he was born, he died, the funeral will be held at this place.  But below the small lines was a link on funeral etiquette.  I clicked, how could I not.  I was surprised to find several writers talking about how to dress, what not to say, what not to do.  Being raised a southern woman, there were always rules.  Summer black, simple dress, pearls.  Bowed heads, folded hands, modest steps.  Reading through the posts, I realized how uncomfortable this will be for many.  My own husband says, "I don't know what to say."  The advice of the bloggers: tell the truth.  If you say, "our prayers are for you", mean it.  Otherwise, stick with sorry for your loss.

With this back drop, I was proud when both my boys opted for ties and shirts (no they left the jackets off given the 90 degrees and humidity of Tallahassee).  They both asked if they looked okay, clean shaven and khakied up.  My husband, old school, wore the jacket and tie anyway.  I stuck to black skirt and seersucker jacket.  We left together, all dressed on a Saturday morning, headed for the funeral.

We have known Mack and his family almost twenty years.  We met through his lovely daughter, Lisa,who eventually married my brother.  Hence forth, all family gatherings included them or us.  The generosity and kindness of Lisa's family was exemplified by Mack's questions.  He always asked the same ones:

Where is Charles (my husband)? and Where are the children?

Mack was a kind and gentle soul.  And arriving to the funeral home did not seem so hard.  I had fond memories and knew the family and Mack had lived to 89, a full and rich life. I was surrounded by my family and Mack's family.  Then, one of his grandchildren came up to hug me.  I have known him for almost 20 years as well.  I told him that my fondest memory of his grandfather was the swings that he made for all the children, including mine.  Round wooden discs that had holes in the center for the rope to run through and to extend upwards to the sky over a high limb.  All the children had one in their yard.  All the children congregated there, for fun, for talking, for fighting, for crying.  I can still see my teenage daughter sitting on the swing, long legs twirling around and round,  talking on her phone and crying over some awful teenage thing.

The swing sits idle today.  But even now, when the "kids" come home, there can be fights and shouts on whose turn it might be to swing. And I am sure that there will be more joy and happiness and emotion and jousting over that swing.  Mack knew how to relate.  Keep it simple, keep it accessible, keep it fun.

Not a bad way to be remembered, if you think about it.  So here is to you Mack.  Thanks for the lessons in making children happy and funeral etiquette.  You will be remembered warmly.

Rising as in the Waters of the Pacific

Had a marvelous cross country trek.  In less than three weeks I traveled to  Baltimore, Maryland, Tallahassee, Florida and Laguna Beach California, Tampa and then Tallahassee!

Let me tell you the time does take it's toll.  When I flew into Tampa and had to work the day after the red eye, I was one tired pup.  But enough of that, let's look at the trip!

View from the hotel terrace of the Montage Resort Hotel where we spent two nights. http://www.montagelagunabeach.com/

The rocks cause the surf to swirl making a beautiful vista right out of the front balcony and perfectly aligned with the hotel.

Dana takes a photo of the view whilst I take a photo of her!

the views are marvelous as the hills rise out of the clouds to present a  contrast to the white sugar sands of the  gulf coast beaches that we are used to seeing in Florida.  And the plants were unbelievable.  California is blessed with desert and coastal plants all in the same location.

So, off we go on our first morning, up and out by six a.m. because that is nine a.m. our time.  Rocky coastline, such a variety of textures and moving waters as tide goes in  out and around where we are.  Rushing waves let the slip of cold waters come further to our toes as we walk.  The coolness surprises me, as it is really cool, not just new water cold.

The rocks on the beach hurt bare feet and cause one to walk on tiptoes even though it doesn't help!

So the light of day brings the view of the pool and the pacific.  What a fabulous place.  They hold a lot of weddings here and probably many more gala events.

This is Jenn.  She is our consultant and the host of our training at this wonderful hotel.

Dana and Jenn pose at the lobby of the hotel.

Then off to a dinner at a famous home built in an European style on tip of a cliff side.  Incredible views and construct.

Dinner was amazing and the people were fun and interesting.  Most business dinners are not very comfortable, but this one was wonderful!

This is the view of the pool at this incredibly built home.  The  shadows to the right are the hot tub.  Amazing design and use of the slate, the water, the light and warmth.  Then....

After the meetings, I headed out and drove to the airport. Took the redeye to Tampa so that I could visit with my Mother, sister in law, and daughter.  The fun day at Tarpon Springs http://www.spongedocks.net/ eating smelt and lamb and tasting the life of the greek culture.  We all bought hats and sandals and wished we could belly dance and thought of the Greeks across the seas....

After the fabuloso lunch and shopping trip, we went to the house in Crystal Beach to nap.  And Three hours later we were off for a night out!

This is Morgan in her new dress examining the restaurant http://www.thelivingroomonmain.com/ which was unique and very tasty.  We had tapas and ordered four different dishes to taste and one very tasty cocktail, the skinny ginny.  That is a cocktail with basil and cucombers and gin and lime and tonic and agave.  It is really sweet and makes you smile when you drink it. http://www.thelivingroomonmain.com/docs/DinnerPg11.pdf

Last shot is the dog, jumping in the pool at Uncle Bill's kid pool.  A perfect pool ending for the best trip ending in awhile