Greenwich Mean Time

I visited the city of Greenwich, the home of Greenwich Mean Time......and Meridian 0 0 0. a standard set for the entire world. Think what it would mean if it hsdn't been standardized......

The walk up to the Royal Observatory was worth it loved looking out over Greenwich and seeing the green laser light extending out into the sky of what is longitudinal meridian 0 0 0. An amazing thing to consider...... and it was a wonderful day!

History
As the United Kingdom grew into an advanced maritime nation, British mariners kept at least one chronometer on GMT in order to calculate their longitude from the Greenwich meridian, which was by convention considered to have longitude zero degrees (this convention was internationally adopted in the International Meridian Conference of 1884). Note that the synchronization of the chronometer on GMT did not affect shipboard time itself, which was still solar time. But this practice, combined with mariners from other nations drawing from Nevil Maskelyne's method of lunar distances based on observations at Greenwich, eventually led to GMT being used worldwide as a reference time independent of location. Most time zones were based upon this reference as a number of hours and half-hours "ahead of GMT" or "behind GMT".

Greenwich Mean Time was adopted across the island of Great Britain by the Railway Clearing House in 1847, and by almost all railway companies by the following year, from which the term "railway time" is derived. It was gradually adopted for other purposes, but a legal case in 1858 held "local mean time" to be the official time. This changed in 1880, when GMT was legally adopted throughout the island of Great Britain. GMT was adopted on the Isle of Man in 1883, Jersey in 1898 and Guernsey in 1913. Ireland adopted Greenwich Mean Time in 1916, supplanting Dublin Mean Time. Hourly time signals from Greenwich Observatory were first broadcast on 5 February 1924, rendering the time ball at the observatory obsolete in the process.

There is a great website on the history of time
http://physics.nist.gov/GenInt/Time/world.html

The New Forest - since 1079 (Does that still make it new??)

I was blessed to stay on the edge of an area in South England called "The New Forest", an interesting and diverse area. My nature walk outside of Beaulieu was a "New Forest walk". It has an interesting history, which I thought I would post - made into a "Royal Forest" by King William I in 1079!!

Other towns of the New Forest are: Lyndhurst, Brockenhurst, Lymington (Peter's fave), Burley, and Fordingbridge.

The New Forest has an awesome, interactive website of their own, with maps, etc - well worth checking out! Here it is - - http://www.newforest.hampshire.org.uk/

History
The New Forest is an area of southern England which includes the largest remaining tracts of unenclosed pasture land, heathland and forest in the heavily-populated south east of England. It covers south-west Hampshire and extends into south-east Wiltshire.

The name also refers to the New Forest National Park which has similar boundaries. Additionally the New Forest local government district is a subdivision of Hampshire which covers most of the Forest, and some nearby areas although it is no longer the planning authority for the National Park itself. There are many villages dotted around the area, and several small towns in the Forest and around its edges.

The highest point in the New Forest is Telegraph Hill. Its summit is at 167 m (550 ft) above sea level.

Like much of England, the New Forest was originally woodland, but parts were cleared for cultivation from the Bronze Age onwards. The poor quality of the soil in the New Forest meant that the cleared areas turned into heathland "waste" that was probably used as an inter communal heath-wood facilty.

There are around 250 round barrows ancient burial mounds) within its boundaries, and scattered boiling mounds, and it also includes about 150 scheduled ancient monuments.

The New Forest was created as a royal forest by William I in about 1079 for the private hunting of (mainly) deer. It was created at the expense of more than 20 small settlements/farms; hence it was 'new' in his time as a single compact area.

According to Florence of Worcester (d.1118), the forest was known before the Norman Conquest as the Great Ytene Forest; the word "Ytene" meaning '"Juten" or "of Jutes". The Jutes were one of the early Anglo Saxon tribal groups who colonised this area of southern Hampshire.

It was first recorded as "Nova Foresta" in the Domesday Book in 1086, and is the only forest that the book describes in detail. Twelfth-century chroniclers alleged that William had created the Forest by evicting the inhabitants of thirty-six parishes, reducing a flourishing district to a wasteland; however, this account is thought dubious by most historians, as the poor soil in much of the Forest is believed to have been incapable of supporting large-scale agriculture, and significant areas appear to have always been uninhabited.

Two of William's sons died in the Forest, Prince Richard in 1081 and King William II (William Rufus) in 1100. Local folklore asserted that this was punishment for the crimes committed by William when he created his New Forest, a seventeenth century writer provides exquisite detail:

"In this County [Hantshire] is New-Forest, formerly called Ytene, being about 30 miles in compass; in which said tract William the Conqueror (for the making of the said Forest a harbour for Wild-beasts for his Game) caused 36 Parish Churches, with all the Houses thereto belonging, to be pulled down, and the poor Inhabitants left succourless of house or home. But this wicked act did not long go unpunished, for his Sons felt the smart thereof; Richard being blasted with a pestilent Air; Rufus shot through with an Arrow; and Henry his Grand-child, by Robert his eldest son, as he pursued his Game, was hanged among the boughs, and so dyed. This Forest at present affordeth great variety of Game, where his Majesty oft-times withdraws himself for his divertisement."

The reputed spot of Rufus's death is marked with a stone known as the Rufus Stone.

The Rufus Stone Memorial John White, Bishop of Winchester, said of the forest:

"From God and Saint King Rufus did Churches take, From Citizens town-court, and mercate place, From Farmer lands: New Forrest for to make, In Beaulew tract, where whiles the King in chase Pursues the hart, just vengeance comes apace, And King pursues. Tirrell him seing not, Unwares him flew with dint of arrow shot."


An interesting thing about the New Forest, is that common people living there can still graze their animals on the common land - thus, instead of seeing wild creatures there, one sees ponies, pigs, and cows, just out wandering around!!


Common Rights

Forest Laws were enacted to preserve the New Forest as a location for royal deer hunting, and interference with the King's deer and its forage was punished. However, the inhabitants of the area (commoners) had pre-existing rights of common: to turn horses and cattle (but only rarely sheep) out into the Forest to graze (common pasture), to gather fuel wood (estover), to cut peat for fuel (turbary), to dig clay (marl), and to turn out pigs between September and November to eat fallen acorns and beechnuts (pannage or mast). There were also licences granted to gather bracken after 29 September as litter for animals (fern), Along with grazing, pannage is still an important part of the Forest's ecology. Pigs can eat acorns without a problem, whereas to ponies and cattle large numbers of acorns can be poisonous. Pannage always lasts 60 days but the start date varies according to the weather — and when the acorns fall. The Verderers decide when pannage will start each year. At other times the pigs must be taken in and kept on the owner's land with the exception that pregnant sows, known as privileged sows, are always allowed out providing they are not a nuisance and return to the Commoner's holding at night (they must be levant and couchant there). This last is not a true Right, however, so much as an established practice. The principle of levancy and couchancy applied generally to the right of pasture as it was unstinted but commoners must have backup land, outside the Forest, to accommodate these depastured animals as during the Foot and Mouth epidemic.


Commons rights are attached to particular plots of land (or in the case of turbary, to particular hearths), and different land has different rights — and some of this land is some distance from the Forest itself. Rights to graze ponies and cattle are not for a certain number of animals, as is often the case on other commons. Instead a marking fee is paid for each animal each year by the owner. The marked animal's tail is trimmed by the local agister (Verderers' official), with each of the four or five Forest agisters using a different trimming pattern. Ponies are branded with the owner's brand-mark; cattle may be branded, or nowadays may have the brand-mark on an ear-tag. The grazing done by the commoners' ponies and cattle is an essential part of the management of the Forest, helping to maintain the internationally important heathland, bog, grassland and wood-pasture habitats and their associated wildlife.

Stonehenge

I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to Stonehenge. Was an interesting visit, and as I walked around the site, the light changed, it was around 4 pm. The sky darkened with cloud, and the pictures I took really changed as we went around, was very cool!!!

I will post a few more pics of Stonehenge, and here is a little history about it......

Legend

"Laugh not so lightly, King, for not lightly are these words spoken. For in these stones is a mystery, and a healing virtue against many ailments. Giants of old did carry them from the furthest ends of Africa and did set them up in Ireland what time they did inhabit therein. And unto this end they did it, that they might make them baths therein whensoever they ailed of any malady, for they did wash the stones and pour forth the water into the baths, whereby they that were sick were made whole. Moreover they did mix confections of herbs with the water, whereby they that were wounded had healing, for not a stone is there that lacketh in virtue of leechcraft"

And Layamon, a 13th century British poet, also speaks of the healing quality of Stonehenge.

"The stones are great
And magic power they have
Men that are sick
Fare to that stone
And they wash that stone
And with that water bathe away their sickness"

Stonehenge is located on the Salisbury Plain. It is a great mystery who built this massive stone circle. Theories include Druids, the Greeks, U.F.O.s and Atlanteans. Although the bigger mystery is why they built stonehenge. Some say it was a sacrificial altar or that it was an astronomy tool, back in the 18th century it was even proposed that stonehenge was used as a gallows.
What we do know about Stonehenge is that it is aligned to many astronomical events. One alignment is the sun on the summer solstice rising directly over the heel stone (A on the diagram) viewed from the Altar stone (B on the diagram).

Stonehenge lies on the largest ley line in Britain. This ley line runs down the longest portion of Britain. Fourteen or so other ley lines meet at Stonehenge. (Ley lines are lines of burial mounds, stone circles and religious sites that are lined up in a straight line across the countryside. It is thought that along these ley lines are paths of energy that the early people who built on these ley lines knew about. There is a extremely long ley line that runs across the longest straight line distance in Britain, that ley also runs through Stonehenge) Cool!!

Stonehenge was built in three parts over a period of 1000 years. The first part was just a mound, ditch and aubrey holes that were dug to make a circle. The second was when timbers were erected systematically all inside the circle. The third was when the lentel stones were erected and the bluestones set up into the Stonehenge we see today.

Facts About Stonehenge

Stonehenge was built between 3100 – 1100 BCE.
The circle was aligned with the midsummer sunrise, the midwinter sunset, and the most southerly rising and northerly setting of the moon.
The ground plan and structural engineering of Stonehenge incorporate sophisticated mathematical and geometrical understandings on the part of its builders.
There were two types of stones used in its construction: the ‘bluestones’ (weighing as much as four tons and brought from 240 miles away) and the Sarsen stones (averaging eighteen feet in height and twenty-five tons in weight).
It has been estimated that the construction of Stonehenge required more than thirty million hours of labor.
More than nine hundred stone rings exist in the British Isles. Of these, Stonehenge is the most well known.
The megalithic monuments of Britain and Europe predate those of the eastern Mediterranean, Egyptian, Mycenaean and Greek cultures.

WOW! WOW! WOW!!

Salisbury Cathedral

I visited Salisbury Cathedral on Valentine's day :) A lovely cathedral, and the very best way to spend Valentine's day, in my humble opinion!

The pathway walk we did coming up to the cathedral was beautiful, beside a river, flanked by old houses, and crossed by gorgeous stone bridges. As I walked in, we passed a pub that had a sign saying it had been in the hospitality business since 1411. I guess the food must be very good... and the beer cheap! Came in through the big stone wall gate to what would have been the start of the walled city, and loved seeing the mansions there, surrounding green courtyards. Very, very beautiful!

The Cathedral's own website http://www.salisburycathedral.org.uk/


The history of Salisbury Cathedral -


Salisbury Cathedral is an Anglican cathedral in Salisbury, England, considered one of the leading examples of Early English architecture. The main body was completed in only 38 years. (AMAZING!!)

The cathedral has the tallest church spire in the United Kingdom (123m/404 ft). Visitors can take the "Tower Tour" where the interior of the hollow spire, with its ancient wood scaffolding, can be viewed. The cathedral also has the largest cloister and the largest cathedral close in Britain (80 acres). The Cathedral contains the world's oldest working clock (from AD 1386) and has one of the four surviving original copies of the Magna Carta (all four original copies are in England). Although commonly known as Salisbury Cathedral, the official name is the Cathedral of Saint Mary. In 2008, the cathedral celebrated the 750th anniversary of its consecration in 1258

History
As a response to deteriorating relations between the clergy and the military at Old Sarum, the decision was taken to resite the cathedral and the bishopric was moved to its present place in Salisbury. The move occurred during the tenure of Bishop Richard Poore, who was a wealthy man and donated the new land for construction. The new cathedral was also paid for by donations, principally by all the canons and vicars of the south-west, who were asked to contribute a fixed annual sum until its completion. Legend has it that the Bishop of Old Sarum shot an arrow in the direction he would build the cathedral, the arrow hit a deer and the deer finally died in the place where Salisbury Cathedral is now.

The foundation stone was laid on 28 April 1220. Due to the high water table in the new location, the cathedral was built on only four feet of foundations, and by 1258 the nave, transepts and choir were complete. The west front was ready by 1265. The cloisters and chapter house were completed around 1280. Because the cathedral was built in only 38 years, Salisbury Cathedral has a single consistent architectural style, Early English Gothic.

The only major sections of the cathedral built later were the Cloisters, Chapter house, tower and spire, which at 404 feet (123 metres) dominated the skyline from 1320. Whilst the spire is the cathedral's most impressive feature, it has also proved to be troublesome. Together with the tower, it added 6,397 tons (6,500 tonnes) to the weight of the building. Without the addition of buttresses, bracing arches and iron ties over the succeeding centuries, it would have suffered the fate of spires on other great ecclesiastical buildings (such as Malmesbury Abbey) and fallen down; instead, Salisbury is the tallest surviving pre-1400 spire in the world. To this day the large supporting pillars at the corners of the spire are seen to bend inwards under the stress. The addition of tie beams above the crossing led to a false ceiling being installed below the lantern stage of the tower.

Significant changes to the cathedral were made by the architect James Wyatt in 1790, including replacement of the original rood screen and demolition of the bell tower which stood about 320 feet (100 metres) north west of the main building. Salisbury is one of only three English cathedrals to lack a ring of bells, the others being Norwich Cathedral and Ely Cathedral. However it does strike the time every 15 minutes with bells.

The Clock
The Salisbury cathedral clock dating from about AD 1386 is the oldest working modern clock in the world. The clock has no face because all clocks of that date rang out the hours on a bell. It was originally located in a bell tower that was demolished in 1792. The clock was then placed in storage and forgotten until it was discovered in 1929, in an attic of the cathedral. It was repaired and restored to working order in 1956. In 2007 remedial work and repairs were carried out to the clock.

Our Lady of Paris

I visited Notre Dame in Paris, and was struck by how different it was from the polished and immaculate St. Paul's Cathedral in London. Notre Dame seems much older, and in fact it is, but also seems less well cared for than St. Paul's. Photos were allowed, and many of the pics I have posted of painted columns and artwork is from Notre Dame. Very beautiful and authentically well used.

Notre Dames own website, which allows a 360 degree view, well worth a look!!

http://www.notredamedeparis.fr/-English-


History Lesson of the Day :)

Notre Dame de Paris (in English: Our Lady of Paris), also known as Notre Dame Cathedral, is a Gothic, Roman Catholic cathedral on the eastern half of the Île de la Cité in the fourth arrondissement of Paris, France. It is the cathedral of the Catholic archdiocese of Paris: that is, it is the church that contains the "cathedra", or official chair, of the Archbishop of Paris, André Cardinal Vingt-Trois. Notre Dame de Paris is widely considered one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture in France and in Europe. It was restored and saved from destruction by Eugène Viollet-le-Duc, one of France's most famous architects. The name Notre Dame means "Our Lady" in French, and is frequently used in the names of Catholic church buildings in Francophone countries. Notre Dame de Paris was one of the first Gothic cathedrals, and its construction spanned the Gothic period. Its sculptures and stained glass show the heavy influence of naturalism, unlike that of earlier Romanesque architecture.

Notre Dame de Paris was among the first buildings in the world to use the flying buttress (arched exterior supports). The building was not originally designed to include the flying buttresses around the choir and nave. After the construction began and the thinner walls (popularized in the Gothic style) grew ever higher, stress fractures began to occur as the walls pushed outward. In response, the cathedral's architects built supports around the outside walls, and later additions continued the pattern.

The cathedral suffered desecration during the radical phase of the French Revolution in the 1790s, when much of its religious imagery was damaged or destroyed. During the 19th century, an extensive restoration project was completed, returning the cathedral to its previous state

Timeline of construction
1160 Maurice de Sully (named Bishop of Paris), orders the original cathedral to be demolished.
1163 Cornerstone laid for Notre Dame de Paris—construction begins.
1182 Apse and choir completed.
1196 Bishop Maurice de Sully dies.
c.1200 Work begins on western façade.
1208 Bishop Eudes de Sully dies. Nave vaults nearing completion.
1225 Western façade completed.
1250 Western towers and north rose window completed.
c.1245–1260s Transepts remodelled in the Rayonnant style by Jean de Chelles then Pierre de Montreuil
1250–1345 Remaining elements completed

St. Paul's Cathedral

St. Paul's Cathedral (in London) was the first of the three cathedrals I visited on this trip. On the day I was there a young couple were getting married..... a solumn enough and joyful occasion...... but in ST. PAUL'S????? Yikes!!!! After the ceremony, which was private, of course, all the guests and the couple assembled on the steps leading up to the front and they took a group picture. There were as many tourists looking on as there were wedding guests!!! LOVED the hats!!! Wahoo the British do a formal occasion so well!!!!

I thought I better have a look at the dates and history, since there wasn't time then. Here is what I discovered about St. Paul's - - -

St. Paul's Cathedral, designed by architect Christopher Wren and built between 1675 and 1710, is the fourth church on this site overlooking London. The first wooden structure was built in 604 AD by Mellitus, Bishop of the East Saxons, burned in 675 and rebuilt ten years later (St. Paul's #2) only to be burned again in 962, by the Vikings. In 1016, Viking King Cnut took over the city of London. Later, French Normans took over the city and in 1240 began St. Paul's #3, which was completed in 1300. Restoration on this structure was begun in earnest by Inigo Jones in 1633; but the English Civil War and the (temporary) establishment of the republic in 1649 stopped that. Finally, twenty years after the monarchy was restablished, Wren was commissioned to build the building as it is today

So...... the easy answer is that it was built between 1675-1710...... but that the site had been a place of Christian worship since 604...... staggering.

Pictures were not allowed inside the chruch, so the only pics you will see are the few I took and have already posted of the exterior, which do it no justice, really.

History lesson over for the day, for tomorrow..... Notre Dame in Paris!!!

Beaulieu Palace

I visited the town of Beaulieu quite a few times..... so beautiful, would have difficulty declaring a favourite town, but if I was pressed, I would say (so far) it is Beaulieu. There is a castle there (built 1204), still inhabited by the Lord and Lady Montagu (since 1538), and somewhere around there apparently Mark Knopfler formerly of Dire Straits has an estate as well. It was fun to speculated on which estate was his as I looked across the estuary at the grand houses :) Have to admit I did not figure out which one it was.....!!

When I were there, the abbey (1203), which is situated close to the castle was closed, but we did peak through the gates, both of the castle and the abbey. Pics are posted here. But, for more information, here are some Wikipedia links as well.....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beaulieu,_Hampshire

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beaulieu_Palace_House

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beaulieu_Abbey

I enjoyed walking through the woods, and along the shore in Beaulieu, and I am sure if you have been looking through the pics you have noticed that there are quite a few from there. A beautiful place. Maybe I should see if they need another paramedic there........ I wouldn't even mind working for free!!! I could sign on as a serf!!!!

O Chateau cheeses

I have successfully gotten ahold of the wine 'cheat sheet' from O Chateau in Paris, but am not sure how to post it as it is a PDF. I will work on that......

Here are the cheeses I tasted: Sainte Maure de Touraine, Saint Félicien, Camembert de Normandie, Comté, Cantal, Saint Nectaire.

Lio's favourite is the Saint Félicien (our winemaker who led the session). Am hoping beyond hope that I can find this cheese here...... was BEAUTIFUL. Also the Compte was fab.

Memories of Jamie Oliver's Fifteen

Jamie Oliver's Restaurant 'Fifteen London"

I enjoyed a wonderful evening at Jamie Oliver's Fifteen in London on 7 Feb 2010. I begged a menu off the waiter and brought it home as a keepsake and to share the things I had.
(For those who are dying to know....... no, Jamie Oliver wasn't there in person, even if he had been - darn it!!)

So hopefully I won't mess up all the Italian names for things....... but here it is - - -

Dining Room Tasting Menu

To start-

Kenny's freshly baked rosemary foccacia with Puglian olives and salami

Insalate

Brushetta of beautiful Italian greens, mozzarella di bufala Campana, chilli, capers, and Selvapiana (M had)

Freshly picked and dressed Cornish crab with grilled polenta, Trevisano tardivo and lemon aioli
(P had)

Primi

Risotto (vialone nano) of honey roasted parsnips, red onion, tarragon, and San Patrinagno pecorino (M had..... DELISH!!!!)

Agnolotti of Welsh Lamb, mint, and marscapone in a roast garlic and thyme butter broth
(P had)

Secondi

Crespelle - savory pancakes filled with ricotta, crown prince squash and sage with Belazu balsamic and Parmesan
(M had)

Pot-roasted rare breed pork from Pete Gott's farm cooked in balsamic, radicchio and bay, with oozy wet polenta, cime di rapa and pan juices (P had)

Dolci e Formaggi

Amaretto panna cotta with red wine poached pears and homemade biscotti
(M had)

Two choices of cheese - - I am not game to type all these weird and wonderful names!
(P had)

We also tried each and every cocktail on Jamie's menu - hic hic - and was a mighty good thing we were not driving home!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Really was a lovely meal, and Jamie did not disappoint..... though I have to say, and you may think it arrogant of me...... but my rosemary foccacia is better :) Hey, I wouldn't say it if it weren't true!!!

I loved the meal, and the ambiance there, and of course, the people watching!!

Now, I will try to track down the menu from the Blue Elephant Thai restaurant.... which was phenomenal!!

New video - Eiffel Tower

Sorry about this one being sideways....... windows media says I can't manipulate the properties of this photo, being a video and all....... ooops!! Oh well, you get the idea I am sure that it sparkles, even laying on its side!!!!

The Eiffel Tower..... how it sparkles!!

New video below....

OK, finally figured out how to post a video (Thanks Nicole!!!!).

The video is taken through the window of the Eurostar train enroute to Paris, travelling through the French countryside.......... thought it was funny that we were passing the highway traffic like it was standing still.................. not sure just how fast that train goes, but smokes the traffic!!!!

Sorry about the poor quality of the video, it was taken through the window......!!

Ohhhh Paris is so SWEET!!!!

Found the most incredible sweet shop in a little arcade in Paris....... bought some cookies, and interesting French sweets to bring home. The lollipops were a hit with the kids! The store was beautifully decorated, and I wish I had thought to take pictures. They do have a website though..... and there are a few pictures on there. It will give you a sense of the colours and decorating used.... just ....... absolutely....... incredibly...... beautiful! (Oh, and yummy too!)

Is called La Cure Gourmande...... now my French isn't that great, but I am sure that means chocolate CURES everything!!! HAHAHAHAHAHA!

Check it out - - http://www.la-cure-gourmande.fr/francais/index.asp

Wine and Cheese tasting in Paris

I totally enjoyed a wine and cheese tasting lesson in Paris........ was informative and in such a beautiful setting. Run by a winemaker, and in an intimate setting with only 5 people, we tasted such lovely wines and had a beautiful selection of cheeses as well. I have yet to find the little 'cheat sheet' the winemaker gave me with all the selections on it..... but when I do I will share!

The website for O Chateau is - -

http://www2.o-chateau.com/

Check it out.............. and I will look for that info sheet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Recovery and continuation!

Hi all, so have gotten back into my own time zone, and my own little world. Such an amazing trip!

I am going to flesh out the blog some, add more to it from the experiences I had on the trip, as often there was not enough time to blog, as I was doing!!! Will share some internet sites from the places we visited, so you might explore then as you wish.

Feel like this trip, as others I have taken, is a little like a Polaroid picture (remember those?? Pre-digital camera days lol) - the picture is taken, and it takes time to develop and show through all its colours, flavours, and textures.......

Having worked on my pictures when returning home, I realized how full a journey I had...... I think I am recovering still!! And yet, I will never let go of the feelings and excitement of all that took place. Can't wait to share!

So I hope you will enjoy the continuation.

I have been busy getting life back to normal here, but also have been spending a little time searching out the websites from some of the very cool places we went. I will share what I find and hope you will enjoy seeing them.

The first day in Paris, I went for a lunch at a corner restaurant - wish I had taken note of where, I was totally turned around direction-wise, and had a delicious lunch. I ordered a starter of something called 'tomato mayonnaise' which turned out to be a large tomato, cut in the manner of an onion blossom (cut almost all the way through, but still intact) resting on a bed of butter lettuce, with a fantastic vinaigrette or some kind......... delish!! I thought I could hop onto the web when I got home and do a little research and turn up with a recipe....... hmmmm..... easier said than done - there are millions of 'authentic French vinaigrette' recipes on the web........ So. I searched out the very cool Epicerie called Spring which I visited and loved, run by two gentlemen from San Francisco.... and have asked their advice on a recipe. We'll see if they can help!!

I was shocked when I googled Spring Epicerie, Paris to see that they are famous chefs from the States...... and ...... well, I was in the presence of Foodie royalty when I was there :)

They don't appear to have their own site yet, but to get a flavour of who Spring is, you could try:

http://megzimbeck.com/2009/11/spring-boutique-opens-is-mobbed/

and
http://springparis.blogspot.com/2010/01/introducing-joshua-b-adler.html

What a cool, cool place........ Peter and I enjoyed tasting olive oils there, buying wine, cheeses, and a killer black pepper sausage..... hmmmmmmmmmm.

Will share a good vinaigrette recipe if I do track one down.......

So, stay with me if you will, as I more fully articulate this wonderful, dream-like adventure, which continues :)

Back to Pacific time zone.....

Just remembered to change the clock on my laptop...... back to PST

Tuesday, 9 pm PST

Dateline - Prince George

Back home, loooooooong day..... can't believe I am still awake!!

Another eventful transatlantic flight - this Air Canada paramedic thing is becoming as habit......... yet another overhead call for medical help on the flight back from London....... for seizures........ moved up to first class again..........was interesting to hand off to BCAS paramedics at YVR.... :)

Finally home, and the cat is still ignoring me :) Hard to believe when last I woke up I was on the south coast of England.........

Going to fix a drink and then head to bed........ and will try to convince my body its bedtime, and not 5 am!!!

Into the wild blue yonder....

On my way back to Canada

Monday

Cool day here on the southcoast of England........ and last full day here for me.

Walked down to the waterfront this morning and walked way out onto the Hythe Pier to take the ferry across to Southampton to do a little shopping and look around the city. Was interesting to walk around the old walls of Southampton, which has forever been an important sea port. Lots of interesting ships were docked today - a car carrier, and maybe even a weapons ships docked at the military part. Lots of tug boats at the ready.

Visited the Titanic museum on Southampton dock, where Titanic left on her disastrous voyage from. Very good display, and interesting film clip as well. Made my way back to Hythe via ferry, and enjoyed the little railroad train ride back from where the ferry docks - the train runs along the pier to the shore.

Then off to Calshot beach to walk along and see the beach huts, and collect some pretty rocks and shells. Drove along in some tiny little in's and outs to see the houses and enjoyed seeing the countryside.

Another quick trip to Beauleui to visit a shop I had been eyeing something in, and then a visit to the old churchyard there...... beautiful!!!

Will try to blog tomorrow, but it may be difficult - 0830 leave Hythe for London, Heathrow, and 1300 board the flight to Vancouver. Will try to drop a line to say all is well, but don't panic if you don't hear :)

All things being equal, should be back in Prince George by 11:30 pm 16 Feb.

Hope you have enjoyed journeying along with me :)

Sunday - Valentines Day

Another action packed busy day. Breakfast in bed this morning then off to Salisbury to see the medieval city and cathedral...... so amzing and beautiful..... the cathedral has been in continuous service for 750 years...... that's 7 and a half CENTURIES...... the oldest crypt in the Church itself is dated in 1080 or so...... phenomenal......... the architecture and engineering just plain amazing, even for these times, and to think this all took place almost a thousand years ago........ crickey!!

Walking through the medieval town of Salisbury, beside the river, was beautiful, and peaceful. Lots of beautiful swans and ducks, and all the ancient buildings.... spectactular. There was a mill building built over the stream, where it was harnessed to run the huge stones.... the millrace (the stream exiting the mill) was powerful and you can imagine hearing the great mill wheels turning to gring daily flour for the people. Some of the very large houses, mansions really, have normal man-size doorsd, but also coach doors so you can drive your teams of horses right inside to the court yards within...... wow...... Also housed within the Salisbury Cathedral is the document called the Magna Carta...... a document beginning to garantee the freedoms of ordinary people...... google it! (http://www.middle-ages.org.uk/magna-carta.htm)

After being completely awed by Salisbury, I headed off for Stonehenge..... through rolling beautiful countryside....... field after field, divided by hedge rows........ picture perfect. Stonehenge appears in a field..... and ordinary looking field....... and awes by its presence....... why there? Walked around it, just before 4 pm, and as I walked the light changed, and thed skies darkened..... windy..... cold........ absolutely magnificent!!!!!!

From Stonehenge to Stockbridge, a very quaint town with small streams running through it..... a haven for fly fishing I would guess by the shops there. Stopped in to a restaurant/pub with a roaring fire in the grate and enjoyed a very good English roast beef dinner :) Hmmmmmm.

Sunday - Happy Valentines Day!!

MMMMM a nice slow start to the day, toast and steamed milk in bed :)

Off to Salisbury Cathedral and Stonenhenge today........

Saturday

A nice slow start in the morning, no hurry today! Off to the picturesque town of Lymington, which hosts a Saturday market all along the streets right down to the sea. A very 'yachty' town with lovely big docks, and gorgeous shops catering to those on the boats, and those who are 'horsey'. Friendly, fun town. Made the circuit of the market, and then enjoyed scones, cream, strawberry jam, and tea at a quaint tea room just off the docks :) Yummy!!!!

Next headed off to Beauileau (pronounced Be-yoo-lee) here, and went on a long walk through the woods, close to the river that runs down to the sea. Beautiful - - - gorgeous big trees, moss covered limbs, tons of holly, and mostly sunny...... have learned to be prepared for the chilly weather, and was wearing our Canadian Olympic mitts :) Nice and toasty warm.

Friday - home day

Got in very late from Paris last night, so have chosen to try to schedule riding 3rd for another day..... was very tired last night, and the spectre of getting 4 hours sleep and then going out on car was a little daunting, too much like real life LOL

So, took the Eurostar train from downtown Paris after window shopping and walking all over Paris, wha a fabulous, fantastic city!! The weather was a little brisk, and there was even snow, a little unusual in Paris!! The cafe au lait....... so very tasty..... the bakeries...... MMMMMMMM, and even the little fresh food markets, right in downtown, on the street corners the best! Bought and enjoyed tiny tomatoes from one such market, and they were so tasty.... even in the winter!

Laundry in is, and the suitcases unpacked for a few days. Weather a little warmer here on the south coast of England than it was in France.

Wednesday and Thursday

Hello from Thursday morning in Paris!! Yesterday a whirlwind of completely amazing sights and experiences...... a wine and cheese tasting and lesson in an underground 'cave' wine cellar, given by a winemaker....... very informative, and delicious! Fun to learn more, and have the excuse to drink in the middle of the day!!

Following the wine, made my way to the Louvre Museum...... 16 KILOMETERS of displays....... needless to say, one takes in the highlights here, you would need a week solid to see just the Louvre...... saw the Mona Lisa, and yes, she does have a secret smile :) Also saw the Last Supper, and Venus de milo statue....... phenomenal.........

Came back to the hotel for a short rest, and then off to the Eiffel Tower at night..... spectacular...... cannot describe how it sparkles and the effect that has...... walked all around it, and even stood directly under it......

Enjoyed a drink close to the tower and then headed back for dinner at home of delish tomatoes, fresh basil and bread from the market, two cheeses, some pepper sausage and some very good red wine ~ meals 'at home' have been phenomenal!!

So off to see more sights today in Paris, and then back to London on the Eurostar around 5 pm, and from London centre to Hythe afterwards. So will be in transit after 5, and will probably not be able to blog tonight.

Tomorrow is my ride along with Southampton Ambulance Service, so will be tied up doing that from 0800-1800.... looking forward to it!!

Tuesday - Paris - how amazing is that???

Well, in Paris.... what a crazy, vivacious, vibrant, incredibly interesting place!!! Got into Paris on the Eurostar train last night which was an experience all itself - blasting through the English and then Parisien countryside on a train probably going 200 km/hr......... we were going along side a highway... and we were smoking past all the traffic doing highway speed.... LOL.... I actually took a short video to prove this!!!!! Will post that if I can figure out how!!!

Got to the train station, and then figured out how to get a cab, find the hotel, and check in - all en francais..... boy I wished I had paid better attention in French class hahahaha!! Have been able to make out most things on a restaurant menu, so are doing fine with the language thing..... was funny last night tho - eating at a Lebanese restaurant in Paris..... what a delish meal, tho I really have no idea what it was!!!! When I ordered wine, the young waiter who took our order would then run out the door across the street to get the wine...... was funny to see, he would come back, open the wine, and deposit it on the table :) The restaurant must have an understanding with the wine shop!!!

Made my way back to the hotel, and enjoyed the room,in a tall thin building, on the fifth floor, with a little balcony and (of course) french doors!! Lovely to have a little bathtub, and because it is so cool outside, also a 'fridge' to keep the wine cool and the cheese and pepper salami good (lifes a bitch, aint it?? hahahaha). Bed very comfy, and it is very close to the metro system (underground subway, aka 'tube' in Britain)

Figured out how to buy tube tickets and studied the metro map.... and off to Notre Dame this morning. Immense...... medieval....... austere.......... and a little daunting. Can imagine it through the centuries...... and picture taking was allowed, so will attempt to put some pics on here as well.

Weather has been apparently unseanonably cold here, and it was snowing when I got up and out.... not enough to stay, but certainly enough to wear a hat and mitts.

I checked out the Louvre (biggest museum in the world) which will be open Wednesday, and also our wine tasting class, which was mistakenly booked on a Tuesday will take place tomorrow. Apparently Tuesday not such a good day as things are closed. However, in finding where the winetasting venure is, I located a WONDERFUL little store that happens to have a few lovely cheese, good olive oils (tasted 4), and wine, of course. Gathered up some bounty there to enjoy tonight for dinner, and I spied a most beautiful light yellow, pitcher....... so now I need to figure out how to get that home safely........hmmmmmmm

So as I sit writing to you, I can say that Paris completely delights...... and while the weather is colder than usual, even the snowflakes seemed alright....... made one think a little of how life must have been through the centuries for those who were not born to priviledge.... life must have been very difficult at times. And yet out of thsoe same times came cathedrals and buildings of such grandeur it is hard to imagine they were crafted by ordinary people.

The colours are vivid here, the life busy..... and yet such beauty is everywhere.

I turn to look out the window of our 5th floor hotel room, and gaze out into the night and see my 'neighbours' in their apartments, and the chimneys rising from each little place. White shutters on every window, and people racing home for their evening meals with baguettes of bread tucked under their arms (yes, really....)

I am getting ready to go have a bath, and then will enjoy my dinner tonight....... pepper salami, two kinds of fresh bread baked today, cherry tomatoes, fresh radishes, Parisien butter, two kinds of cheese, lemon olive oil, and of course, red wine!

I bid you good night!!

MWAH!!! (On both cheeks - very FRENCH you know!!!)

Vive la France!!

Bonjour from France!

A very short post this morning as I am off to see how to negotiate the Paris underground train and have some exciting things to do......!!

Just a note to let all know that I am here safely and enjoying all Paris has to offer ~ !

Sunday -

London - - - exhilarating, exciting, extraordinary........ an unbelievable place and time :)

Enjoyed a slow morning, reading the Sunday paper, out to see the sights by 10 am.....

Tower of London - a lovely place to visit...... wouldn't want to be compelled to stay as a guest....... out of the 7 royalty executed there, 3 were QUEENS........!!! Yikes.......
Dungeons, dragons, and Crown jewels...... WOW WOW WOW...... you have to see to even begin to believe the depth and weight of history here.........

Up the river without a paddle..... jets actually :) all the way to Greenwich to see the actual longitude 0000........ and the clock which sets the standard time for the entire world. Yes - -I said the entire WORLD. Picture to follow.

Came across, entirely by accident and happy coincidence, a place called the painted room - housed in the former Naval Academy building in Greenwich...... like thinking you are walking into a plain building, and finding the Sistine Chapel....... unbelievable....... you must see.

Walking in the rain, hot coffee in a funky Italian bistro, catching the last boat out, and watching the London waterfront light up before you. Unbelievable.

Jamie Oliver's 15 restaurant........... UNBELIEVABLE.

Pretty tired and inarticulate now......

Off to Paris tomorrow afternoon.......... au reviour and good night!!

Saturday!! Doin' London!

Saturday was a great fun day, busy, seeing this vibrant, crazy, colourful, fun city of London! So much history here, on every street corner it seems, and also new growth, and exciting things to see.



We started the day on London's Underground (the tube) and found our way to the start of the Big Red Bus Tour, which took us all around London with a commentary to hear all the details of the worlds most famous sights. The Tower of London. St. Pauls Cathedral, Trafalgar Square, The London Bridge, Big Ben, The London Eye - - so many!!



Stopped at St. Pauls and spent time walking around admiring this beautiful cathedral - -absolutely stunning..... words cannot describe the beauty of the work done in this church......... and pics were not allowed, tho I did buy some postcards. Went to see the crypt part of the church as well, many notables buried here, one being Lord Admiral Nelson.



Went to dinner, at the Blue Elephant - which is Thai food. Lush, beautiful plants, and koi ponds surround you as you enjoy this magnificent dinner.... we enjoyed the Royal Thai selection, which included many things to try, just a couple bites, to give one the chance to try more things. I was more adventurous than usual..... and tried lamb, and a few spicy things - all very very tasty and I enjoyed trying the new things!! Was a real treat of an evening!



Then we went out to a traditional English Pub downtown, and enjoyed a beer chatting with friendly folk. Gave away some of the Canada pins here, and just really enjoyed the ambiance!!



Off now to get to the Tower of London... hopefully they wont throw me in the dungeon there!!



Be here in London tomorrow until 2 or so, then off to Paris on the Eurostar Train through the chunnel!!

On the Move!

Checked out of the beautiful Pilgrim Inn at Hythe, and headed off to Southampton Train Station to take rail to London. Very comfortable trains, super smooth and fast. Loved sweeping through the beautiful, green countryside, and seeing it from a different view than from the highway. The London Train station terminus is MASSIVE.......... a little disorienting, with so many lines coming together at one place........!!

From London Rail station straight onto the Underground (Tube) system, which was a blast to navigate, with overhead messages updating slow and disabled lines...... was like solving a puzzle! Everything moves so swiftly, was quite exhilarating to make the hops and change lines and actually get where you are going!!!! It takes some amazing (and patient) navigating!!

Made my way to the Ibis Hotel at Aldgate (more very polite staff at the hotel!) and after a quick change of room several additional pillows were rounded up and kept for later. A quick wash and brush up before heading down to the bar for a couple of SOCO's and cokes (nice!). Back up to the room to get dressed up for the Wicked show tonight. Time was a little tight and so had a quick bar snack at the hotel to keep me going before heading out into the night and back into the under ground system to Victoria station to find the theatre.

Wicked - - - was WICKED!!! Fabulous, incredible, and magical!! Loved it.....! And the Apollo Victoria Theatre was outstanding....... beautiful architecture....... some art deco touches.... really an amazing experience!!

Back on the tube home to the hotel, then out for a late night walk and a stop over for Indian food (yes, really!) enjoyed trying some new tastes!

Nice sleep at the Ibis hotel, comfy bed, and a home made breakfast in the room as I had found a small convenience store around the corner, and had the picnic set. So, Alpen and yogurt and banana fr breakfast, update the blog, and then off to see the sights in London!! Will take lots of pics today!! Perhaps the queen will have me round for tea, but so far no invitation has arrived... perhaps she has not been informed of my arrival!!!!

London is a really amazing city - - - so much to do and see!!! And the underground (tube) is a ton of fun as well..... makes me feel like I was on the amazing race!!

M

Dorset Adventure - from reclamation to pirates to tank maneouvers!!

So!!! Breakfast in room at hotel this morning, yummy coconut yogurt ~ love British yogurt better than Canadian~!!!!

Then ! Off to Bere Regis to see the Dorset Reclamation site, but!! Detour!! Missed the sign and ended up in Dorchester!! What a beautiful town..... from the organic bakery (where I bought a roast veggie foccacia bread to go, to the tea room where they wore charming wait staff hats, to the cornish pasty making shop (mmmmmmmm... we shared one as we walked around the high street, and ooogled the churches.... St. Peters built in the `1600's and.... amazing a beautiful... full of history and spectacular buildings.

Went for a scenic drive of Dorchester, admiring all the beautiful buildings, and finding our way back to Bere Regis, given directions by an old doll on the street..... she knew precisely where we needed to go, and told me so :)

On arriving at Dorset (remember - Dair-asett) reclamation works... I had an immediate physical response.... ok, a happy one... as I entered the store and gained permission to gander about and admire the things ..... Oh My God......... a decorators paradise... Paul Zanette... you simply must come here........spent an hour admiring the neat things....
Immediately after I headed for The Worlds End...... Pub.... did a photo op (see photos) and then off to the Durdle door at Lulworth town, which is a chalk headland, undergoing erosion, and looks like a stone donut, where the sea can pass through it. The slope down to it was a little steep... I jammed out :) Too cold for this Canadian girl hahahahaha, or just lazy at that time of day...
Enjoyed a windy drive back to the World's End, and a fab dinner beside a fireplace. MMMM. Lovely. Super friendly staff everywhere.... contrary to what I have been told to expect :)

Came on back to the Pilgrims Inn at Hythe, for one last night on this pretty room, and four poster bed.

Off to London tomorrow on the train!

Wednesday - Highlights of Southampton

Weather today, still a little rainy, Good fine English weather :) not cold, and NO SNOW!! Headed off to Southampton to John Lewis (fancy department store) and enjoyed breakfast overlooking Ikea and Southampton water, with all of its shipping interests, varied and interesting sights to be seen.........

Then off on a car tour of the city, saw the Bar Gate which was the original entrance to the city built sometime around the 1100's..... impressive fortification! And beautiful still..... now located in the middle of the city due to the city growing around it. Pictures to come.....

Walked around Southampton a little bit... found a bank machine that worked for me... then off the quay, and Mayflower park.... yes, the same Mayflower as in the Plymouth Rock American Thanksgiving people!! The ship "Mayflower" departed from Southampton, as well did the Titanic, with somewhat less of an outcome........ saw the Calshot light ship which was used for many years as a portable lighthouse (moored) off the end of the Calshot spit (basically a gravel bar extending from the land out into the water - an oops for boats apparently), which juts out into the Solent (a large estuary)

Buzzed by St. Mary's Stadium, the stadium where the Southampton Saints football club play (also saw the training grounds for the Saints closer to Marchwood).

Came back for a little rest -supposed to be sleeping - tried. tried some more.. gave up....

Then off to Calshot Beach, walked on the beach, lovely pebble and shell beach...OoOOOOh very lovely rocks and shells.... little beach huts - all well kept and pretty!! Looked across the solent to see the Isle of Wight, and watched the ferry boats crossing, saw the big hangars built during the second world war, and did some work designing and building flying boats - google names like - Sopwith, Schneider, Sunderland - very large flying boats. Saw Calshot Castle, with its matching in-ocean counterparts seen off the coastline.

Then off to the country, down to Lepe beach, and Beaulieu village (reputedly, though not proven to be the home of Dire Straits' Mark Knopfler - we will stalk him later..... )
Crossed into the edge of the News Forest, with all its common land use animals - ponies, cows, and pigs! Very beautiful landscape....... gorgeous coastline...... Saw the estate of Lord Montague at Beaulieu, astonishing!! The Village is beautiful, many gorgeous old houses, all of brick and stone!!

Then of to Lymington, and character town, and looked at the High Street, filled with interesting and varied shops. Did some grocery shopping there in a very nice, high end grocery store, and picked up fixings for dinner, which we took back to Peter's to make. Enjoyed cooking together and then watched Love, Actually and enjoyed our dinner. Headed back to the hotel for a bath, and we are tucked in watching TV and writing the blog. Peter isn't feeling well, has developed a bit of a cold.

Has been a lovely day, the surroundings beautiful, verdant and green, and the company warm, and hmmmmmmmm.

Will make a concerted effort to get the camera going! If I can sleep tonight I make be back on track.

Southampton ~ and all!

Almost noon here, and you all will still be sleeping! Funny to be on the other side of this time zone!

Went out to watch some local football last night - ..... very hardcore players - they all played in the pouring rain! I sat for a bit on the bench and watched, and then bailed for the car, and watched from inside :) Jet lag was telling on me a little, kept falling asleep with my head against the side window!!

Went out for take away fish and chips, and brought it here to the hotel - was very tasty - decadently ate dinner on the bed and watched hilarious British cooking show - two hairy guys on motorcycles who can cook? Was very funny!

Had a little trouble sleeping last night, bed is very comfy, just felt a little like having done a night shift and was over tired.

Went into Southampton today, zoomed around the big mall there and did a little car tour, to try and get my bearings...... it will take a little longer!! Is very beautiful here, lots of history, character buildings, and lots going on! Finally located a bank machine that would recognize my bank card (whew!), and am now back at the hotel for a rest. I will.... right after this!!

So will be out and about later this afternoon, and promise to start taking some pictures!

And Karen, later tonight will post what all when on over the Atlantic on the Air Canada Flight - I wonder if those IV starts would count?? LOL...... the doctors kit they carry is really quite good btw!!! And really, if you are going to look after someone sick on an overseas flight.... you should do it in first class!! Will post a pic of THAT!!! (the seating, not the poor sick gentleman!)

Anyway, will write more later..... I am supposed to be sleeping :)

Things are going very well ~ am enjoying !

Good Morning from Hythe, England!

Wow! So am safely here, WOW, what can I say?

Flight was good from Vancouver to London, made all the more interesting with an overhead annoucement by the captain in the wee small hours looking for a doctor........ for a sick passenger. Fortunately there was one, a doctor that is, and between us we managed to help a passenger very ill with food poisoning. Will have to relate more about this later, am pretty sleepy..... suffice it to say, the doc and I had to stay with this patient for the rest of this flight, watching IV's etc, and since he was a first class passenger... the poor doc and I had to be given a first class seat next to him all the way to London........ By the time we had landed in London, the fluids and the medications had helped some, and the man was back on his feet, albeit pretty pale and shaky looking.

Travelled to Hythe, England and checked into my hotel.

Have come to the hotel to unpack and get ready to go out and about. Is raining out, but doesn't feel too cold.

Will write more later, just wanted to let you all know I arrived safely!! My eyes are closing........

OH!!! A NEW record!!

WOW!

Things are heating up - the view out the Maple Leaf Lounge providing much entertainment.....

Just saw a roller-skate-vehicle-thing towing TEN baggage carts, and this guy is a much better driver HAHAHAHAHAHA

Really is time to get on that plane and get going!!!!

Dateline - - The Maple Leaf Lounge, Vancouver Airport

First hop in the trip done, good flight from Prince George, smooth and quick. Arrived into YVR just a few minutes late, and found my way to The Maple Leaf Lounge pronto. Just enjoyed a complimentary fresh lunch of lovely veggies, dip, multigrain roll, soup, and have so far have indulged the complimentary FULL bar only for a diet coke...... that is about to change...... after I spied the giant bottle of Crown Royal Rye...... all FREE!! Yikes!!

Obviously, there is also free Internet connectivity here, and so here I am, writing more drivel!!!

I am perched in a comfy chair, sitting looking out the floor to ceiling, feet up on the low window sill, watching the aircraft come and go. Busy place!! Have been very entertained by the cargo handlers and their maneuvering of the baggage cart-trains - the biggest was 7 huge big baggage bins, towed by a little roller-skate-like vehicle, he had to weave his way through all the other cart-trains, and was a little like watching a kid play with a toy train - only life size! He skillfully manoeuvred his train all around, until the last one caught the corner of a parked set of bins...... he didn't even pause, just kept going!! Hit and run at the airport........ at least we now know why flying might be hard on luggage HAHAHAHHAHAH. Anyway, something to be amused by while waiting. In the lounge here, there are bins of newspapers from all around the world, I stopped counting at 20 different ones, a full computer and office centre, two full bars, a snack bar, and a full buffet that is continuously refreshed. And its quiet, and secure. Very nice!! It is how the upper eschelon fly.... and those of us who are willing to pay the extra $55 to enjoy the luxury for the day hanging at the airport. Highly recommend it as an experience!!

Have some pictures to add, flying above the cloud level was beautiful this morning!

The journey continues around 1800, with the boarding of the direct flight from YVR to London Heathrow! I think I will go investigate that bar......... and yes, I do know what time it is!!!!

BLAST OFF!!

Flight day today - First leg of the journey........ Michelle to coffee machine!!

Suitcases packed, hopefully within limits, and nothing more to do but to have a quick bath, pack the carry-on, and head to the airport with Afton!

Next post from Vancouver International Airport!