Just Stuff Really...

I have now been home since last Friday, and I have been really busy in that time... Paying bills, catching up on house work and getting ready for this trip to Melbourne for the ARA Awards. Somebody had her Annual Report nominated for an award, and whilst it did not get up, the organisation that one the category (Communications) actually won the top award for the night! So they were beaten simply by a better report... It was wonderful to have been short listed with the type of organisations that were in the room really! Melbourne is a lovely city, lots of Heritage and I will get some photos to share...

I left Sydney this morning in a real 'Pea Soup'... She was so heavily fog bound that the airport was closed for a while, but we were able to get out as a couple of others did, due to it lifting a little. I did hear that delays were felt all across the network by several hours. Upon arrival, I went to get my car, and found out that I will be driving around in a much bigger version. I would normally post some photo's, but guess who forgot to pack the lead that uploads them off the camera...

In other news, I will be calling the Spa company when I get back as I am NOT a happy camper at the moment... When I got back from overseas, I started it up, put some chemicals in and got it underway. When I went to check it a little while later, one pump was not working. Now here's the thing, BOTH pumps have been replaced in the nearly 12 months we have had it! But in more concerning matters, it is now 'tripping' the fuse, so there has to be something major wrong with it. Luckily for me, it is still well and truly under warranty...

Talk soon, and take care...

A little lost and ready for home...

Over the last couple of days, I have been feeling somewhat 'lost'... Not knowing what to do, where to go and generally, feeling as though ALL I want to do is stay in my hotel room and do NOTHING! Kind of lonely I suppose.

However, even though I have spent a lot of time in here, I have still been getting out and about and seeing the greater part of Central London. I went to the Portobello Rd Markets (what a mistake this was); too many GOOD things that I could not take home, AND simply WAY to many people! I think I have come to not like being in crowds...

1. Portobello Rd Markets, 2. Portobello Rd Markets crowds, 3. Portobello Rd Markets crowds II, 4. Portobello Rd Markets Silver, 5. Portobello Rd Coloured Houses, 6. Coloured Terraces Notting Hill, 7. Notting Hill Gate Stn, 8. Big Ben 6pm, 9. Ch 4 UK, 10. London Eye, 11. London Eye Side, 12. Westminster

I also got a couple of shots of both Westminster and the London Eye, but my shots of the Tower Bridge did not turn out like I had hoped, so they will not be posted! In case you're wondering about the '4', it is for Ch 4 here in the UK, and it is made from Umbrellas!

I am starting my trip home in just under 24 hours, so this will be my last London post until I get home. Then there will be some major 'redecorating' and so on, so stay tuned...

Cya!

Kew Photo Mosaic

Instead of clicking on the MOSAIC below, click on the linked text below to see a full sized photo...

1. Kew Tree Top Walk, 2. Kew Palm House WIDE, 3. Kew Palm House, 4. Kew LARGE Seed, 5. Kew Funny Seed, 6. Kew 3 Sedd Pods, 7. Kew Large Seed, 8. Kew Seed, 9. Kew Allium, 10. Kew Seeds Created with fd's Flickr Toys.

Not much has really changed within Kew, but I do seem to be having a recurring theme throughout this trip, Sculptures. You will remember that back at Burghley I visited the 'Sculpture Garden', and now at Kew Gardens, the first thing I got to see when through the gates, was MORE sculptures, this time, from Willow Twigs.

There was an amazing array of different sculptures and things, but I also got to walk around the gardens. Much of it I saw back in 2004, so I did not go back into some of the exhibits, but more so walked around and enjoyed the Gardens. One thing I did go back to look at, was the 'Tree Top Walk', which on this trip, is a more permanent structure. In 2004, it was more of a scaffolding mess, where as now (see pic above in mosaic) tends to blend in more with the surroundings. It is built of a rusted steel (which blends nicely to look like tree trunks). I was going to go up, but the lift was unserviceable, and I did not at all feel like climbing the steps as I was a little sore, so I enjoyed the view from below.

The following day, I took "The Original Bus Tour" around Central London. This was a great trip, a little cold which was not so pleasant and against the forecast, but I got to see all of the sights. Due to it being extremely overcast (typical London?), I did not get a good pic, so I went for a second trip the following day. Thank goodness for a 24 hour ticket! I will do another mosaic tomorrow with those pics!

Is a Church a good place for a shop?

Stamford, is a place that is full of Church's... There are so many, that in fact, some have closed. One was a working 'Historical' museum of sorts, but this one, just blew me away. Is it just me, that this is not a good use for the now disused church, OR is it ok to use it for a set of shops? I think that if they had concealed the shops in some way (as opposed to them being so 'in your face', then maybe it is ok. But, from what I heard, inside make no resemblance to what it was originally...

They even moved a lot of headstones to make way for the carpark for the shopkeepers...

So, is this ok, a good use of a church, or could they have done better with concealing the shopfronts??

Off to Kew Gardens next, stay tuned...

Burghley Gardens: - Stamford

I had a trip to a lovely countr estate, Burghley Gardens. Its sort of a sprawling open gardens type of place, until you come up to the house!

Before we headed into the 'Orangary' for lunch, we took a stroll through the "Sculpture Garden". So here is a photo essay of the walk...

Magnetic rock that you throw your pennies at...

Of course, I had to have a formal lawn shot...

Southport and the Penny Arcade...

Today, Aunty Patt took me out to a new place that I had not been before, Southport Pier. This is quite an old pier!

And here is an old aerial shot of just how LONG it is...

Looking back towards Southport:

It even needs it's own TRAM to get out to the end!

There is a wonderful old 'Penny Arcade' with lots of old Penny machines, just for fun!

Even Aunty Pat had a go!!!

Ness Botanic Gardens

Tuesday, Aunty Pat took me across the Wirral to the Ness Botanic Gardens. It is in a very quaint parcel of land across the River Mersey. We got there, by way of missed connections and waiting, but that was OK as the day was lovely and warm...

Upon arrival, I was delighted by the lovely entrance:

Ness Botanic Gardens

Due to our day of missed connections, we were a little peckish, and had lunch in the little Cafe before heading out into the Gardens. I came across a little 'lookout' and the view was grand:

Ness Botanic Gardens

Upon rounding the corner to get to the lower level of the Garden, there was an embankment of (mainly) blue Blue Bells, with the odd white one thrown in as well:

Ness Botanic Gardens Blue Bells

Just a short distance on, there was a great maze mown into the grass as well:

Ness Botanic Gardens Lawn Maze

A short distance away was an amazing Yellow Arbour, and this amazingly blue flower:

Ness Botanic Gardens Arbour

Ness Botanic Gardens Blue Flower

Continuing along the way, we came across a 'Monet' styled bridge and a tricky little carving:

Ness Botanic Gardens Monet Bridge

Ness Botanic Gardens Woodwork

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Ness Botanic Gardens

Tuesday, Aunty Pat took me across the Wirral to the Ness Botanic Gardens. It is in a very quaint parcel of land across the River Mersey. We got there, by way of missed connections and waiting, but that was OK as the day was lovely and warm...

Upon arrival, I was delighted by the lovely entrance:

Ness Botanic Gardens

Due to our day of missed connections, we were a little peckish, and had lunch in the little Cafe before heading out into the Gardens. I came across a little 'lookout' and the view was grand:

Ness Botanic Gardens

Upon rounding the corner to get to the lower level of the Garden, there was an embankment of (mainly) blue Blue Bells, with the odd white one thrown in as well:

Ness Botanic Gardens Blue Bells

Just a short distance on, there was a great maze mown into the grass as well:

Ness Botanic Gardens Lawn Maze

A short distance away was an amazing Yellow Arbour, and this amazingly blue flower:

Ness Botanic Gardens Arbour

Ness Botanic Gardens Blue Flower

Continuing along the way, we came across a 'Monet' styled bridge and a tricky little carving:

Ness Botanic Gardens Monet Bridge

Ness Botanic Gardens Woodwork

I'm here!!!...

After the 14.5 hour flight to Dubai on Emirates A380, I arrived quite refreshed actually! I had a bit of sleep along the way (enough time to get some anyway, right?). I had what I thought to be a fair bit of time to have another look around this wonderful place... WRONG!
I was at the furthest most end of the terminal (to where I needed to be) when I heard my flight had started boarding... I then had to rush through what I was doing (looking for an IPod Touch for my nephew who had just started working and saving...) and walk briskly (running) to the gate, only to find that yes, they had started boarding, but it was only to a holding area where we then waited for another 20-30 minutes!
Once on board, I was nicely settled into my seat, chatted briefly to the lady in the aisle seat, that we were fortunate enough to have the centre one free... But the a local gentleman (loosely named) boarded and started to move everyone else's luggage to accommodate his... We then taxied to the active runway and departed... After about 20 mins the seat belt sign went off and his seat came back. I asked him nicely, if he could just raise it a little as I could not even see the TV screen... A small argument happened, and result was that I would be moved! Up to Business class though!! The 'Trolley Dolley' (aka Hostess) told me later in the flight that they had another issue with him, but more so that the seat was faulty in its recline!
Anyways, I arrived at Manchester, caught the train across to Liverpool and settled down... We did a day trip today, and I will post all about it tomorrow, I'm exhausted!
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Well, I'm here...

After the 14.5 hour flight to Dubai on Emirates A380, I arrived quite refreshed actually! I had a bit of sleep along the way (enough time to get some anyway, right?). I had what I thought to be a fair bit of time to have another look around this wonderful place... WRONG! I was at the furthest most end of the terminal (to where I needed to be) when I heard my flight had started boarding... I then had to rush through what I was doing (looking for an IPod Touch for my nephew who had just started working and saving...) and walk briskly (running) to the gate, only to find that yes, they had started boarding, but it was only to a holding area where we then waited for another 20-30 minutes! Once on board, I was nicely settled into my seat, chatted briefly to the lady in the aisle seat, that we were fortunate enough to have the centre one free... But the a local gentleman (loosely named) boarded and started to move everyone else's luggage to accommodate his... We then taxied to the active runway and departed... After about 20 mins the seat belt sign went off and his seat came back. I asked him nicely, if he could just raise it a little as I could not even see the TV screen... A small argument happened, and result was that I would be moved! Up to Business class though!! The 'Trolley Dolley' (aka Hostess) told me later in the flight that they had another issue with him, but more so that the seat was faulty in its recline! Anyways, I arrived at Manchester, caught the train across to Liverpool and settled down... We did a day trip today, and I will post all about it tomorrow, I'm exhausted! ------