London Wander

Our first walk around London for 2013 - Marylebone to Covent Garden.

Distance walked: 3.3miles
Lattes drunk: 2 (but one was huge)
Red Velvet cupcakes: 1

I love Marylebone High Street, it's very upmarket, so lots of little designer shops and it's great for people watching. One of the shops had a French bulldog in the window which was very cute.

There's also some lovely organic farm shops, one of which we had brunch in - perfectly cooked poached eggs.

Part way down Marylebone High Street there is the site of an old graveyard which has been turned into a park - I think it's really lovely and I really like how they still keep a lot of the old headstones around the edges of the small park, and on a plaque (see picture below) they commemorate some of the notable people that were buried there.



To follow are pictures taken along our walk.



Door Knocker that I loved



Spot the cow on the balcony???



I love the mad things you see when you're not really looking for them - why a cow on a balcony??  We don't know as there was nothing there to suggest what it was doing.  The other thing I love is when you see signs with incorrect spelling that's not done deliberately - now I know that I'm not the most accurate person in the world, but the sign below is particularly bad.

 The worst thing about this is that they stole the letter 'C' from the word Jacket as there was another sign which I couldn't quite get a picture of with 'Jaket Potatoes' on it.

On the way to Covent Garden we always stop in Neal's Yard to soak up the atmosphere - it's a tiny little piece of London, but really lovely in a very Bo Ho (bohemian) sort of way.  Very colourful - in fact when we took mum there she took a picture of a lady with purple hair.



Hairdressers in Neal's Yard - I love this sign



Covent Garden is always lovely to wander around especially at this time of the year because the Christmas decorations are still up - very lovely.

 Now I'm sure I've featured the next place before, but we thought it would be rude to be so close and not go into BB's, the tea room that we love.  As it was the end of the walk we definitely deserved a cake ( I'm sure I'd used enough calories to justify it).

Ken's is the healthyish fruit tart - mine gorgeous red velvet

That's it for today - stay safe, keep smiling, and we hope 2013 is a really special year for you and yours.

Pamela & Ken.
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Animals make the world a better place!

Today's blog is dedicated to Bob, my oldest brother Shane's dog, who has just gone to doggy heaven - he was a lovely dog.

I truly believe that having  an animal in your life helps to ease anxiety, soothe the soul, and really lift your spirit. Our furbies, Bertie, Cookie, and Muffin, help us to have lots of days of fun and I thought it would be nice to introduce you to them properly.

The brats (cats) came first - entering our lives in 2004 after someone needed to get rid of some kittens. They were 8 weeks old and so cute!! They're sisters, but couldn't be more different - one skinny, talkative, and very friendly, the other one curvy, talkative when hungry, and likes to be loved on her own terms. We named them after food (not that I'm obsessed), Cookie and Muffin.


Cookie walking all over Ken



Muffin in her new bed - she loves it


Bertie was Ken's explosives search dog and was getting very stressed in kennels so Ken brought him home to live with us. As you can imagine the cats were not best pleased and stayed behind the sofa for 24 hours. That only lasted a little while before they asserted their dominance and made Bertie realise that they are the bosses.



Bertie - it's a hard life!


For someone who wasn't really a dog person, Bertie has definitely won my heart - he's such big softy. He's now retired and enjoys his days at home with the brats.



Scary looking woman with Bertie


(Muffin has just joined me and is padding up and down on my leg - I think she's trying to remind me to tell you how lovely she is).

Muffin and Bertie sometimes touch noses, and Cookie occasionally bats him on the nose to assert her dominance - minus claws.

I know some of you reading this will not be animal people and that doesn't make you a bad person, just a little strange.


Cookie - she knows she's beautiful!



Muffin - life is such an effort


Before I finish I have to include a picture of an old gentleman who I knew when I lived in Sydney - his name is Geoffrey and he now lives on a narrow boat travelling around the UK. Geoffrey is over 20 and has lost his ears to cancer, but is still very handsome.


Geoffrey

 That's it for today so stay safe, keep smiling, and hug an animal - it will make you feel better.

Pamela, Ken, Cookie, Muffin, and Bertie
xxxxx


Bob and Shane



Whitby Holiday

Early in December we went to Whitby in Yorkshire for a week - the week of our anniversary.  The cats went on holiday to a lovely cattery and Bertie came along with us to enjoy the bracing cold of the North.  Our apartment we stayed in was really lovely and the owners had put up Christmas decorations which made it really nice.  It was right on the west cliff area of Whitby, so Ken got to take Bertie for lots of walks along the beach, which of course they both loved.

For those that don't know, Whitby is famous for Dracula - Bram Stoker lived there whilst writing the novel and lots of the town inspired his story.  Because of this a lot of the town and cafes have a bit of a Dracula theme going on, as you'll see from these two pictures.



Ken being attacked by Dracula



In case you can't tell, it's a bulb of garlic in the box!

  Whitby is a lovely place, dominated by the ruins of an abbey on the hill overlooking the town.  Fortunately there are lots of coffee shops so on the days when it was a bit miserable we had plenty of places to go for coffee and cake.  One of our favourites allowed dogs and was also a second hand bookshop - really nice.

Here are some views from around Whitby.

 

Whale bone arch



On our anniversary (13 years) we went to York for the day - I love York, it's such a beautiful and magical city.  We had a really nice meal, a wander round the Christmas market, evensong at York Minster, and a lovely afternoon tea in Betty's Tearoom.


Christmas market by day

 

Market by night



My afternoon tea - fruit scones with jam & clotted cream

 To get into York we parked in a park and ride and got the bus in - when we got back to the park and ride we discovered that someone had left the lights on and so the battery was dead!  Luckily the rescue people only took about half an hour to come - how we laughed.


Ken calling the rescue people

 My other favourite day whilst we were away was the day we went to Fountains Abbey - it's a National Trust property with the ruins of a huge abbey.  The day we went it was freezing, literally, and very misty which made it very atmospheric.  Here are a few pictures from our day there, along with some great shots that show how cold it was.



Icy cobwebs



One of the best tearooms we went to was on a farm on the way to the abbey - fabulous local food in a wonderful environment.  I was taking a picture of the tractors and the farmer noticed so came over to chat to me - I told him that we had a Massey Ferguson on our farm, and he told me all about how they had developed the tearooms and shops on the farm to help with income generation. 

A very cute sheep on the farm



I loved this sign - especially the last one.

Now before I finish, I have to share a couple of pictures of our beloved Bertie - he was totally spoilt on our holiday and I'm sure he bragged about it to the cats when we got home.



Ready for his walk in the cold

 

Thoroughly spoilt - he's not allowed on the furniture at home!

 We've been very lucky this year, having some lovely holidays around the UK - and every self catering place we stayed has been fabulous.

That's it for now - stay safe and keep smiling.

Pamela & Ken
xxxxx

P.S: Final photo is lights in one of the trees at Fountains Abbey.

Scotland Family

I am so behind with my posts - fault of a rotten cold/cough that has lasted for over a month now - so lots to catch up on.

During November we went to Nairn (in the north of Scotland, not far from Inverness) and spent a three day weekend with the clan McCamon - Ken's sister Jean and her three men (husband and two boys, not a very weird menage a quatre). 

When we left Gatwick airport our plane was delayed due to thick fog, but once we flew past the border of England with Scotland the skies cleared and we had beautiful weather - really clear which was nice as we could see the snow on the mountains.

Even though it was a flying visit it was still lovely as it's nice to get out of the rat race and spend time in the proper country, or as Ken would say, God's own country.  We went for a couple of walks whilst there, one where we ended up at an adults outside exercise area - I think these are such a good idea - free to use and the benefits of fresh air.  We all had a go on the various machines, though I'm sure you all know my aversion to exercise so I didn't do too much.



Jean - watch out the rowing team at Rio 2016



Murray



Ken looking very determined

 

Jean - looking way to happy to be doing exercise

  

Murray & Uncle Ken

 Further on in our walk we came across some very unusual animals for the Highlands of Scotland - I think they're a rare breed that they are trying to introduce to the area.



Fergie trying to tame one of the beasts

Now of course we did manage to do some shopping and I'm now going to share with you one of my favourite things to make shopping into a day of fun - dressing my beloved up in silly hats and taking photos of him!!  Try it yourself sometime - it's a great laugh.



Doesn't he look gorgeous??

So a flying visit, but as always a wonderful one and hopefully it won't be too long before we're together again.

That's all for today, but I will be catching up with recent fun over the next few days in preparation for Christmas - the most wonderful day of all.

Stay safe and keep smiling

Pamela & Ken (aka beloved)

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Making Memories

Okay, those that know me well often say I'm a bit of a weirdo being obsessed with death - having graveyards as a bit of a hobby, being involved with Dying Matters, and working in Palliative Care, so to those people what Ken and I got up to last Sunday is going to be up there amongst the odd things I've done.

During October they held a festival in and around Oxford called the Kicking the Bucket festival - a celebration of life and death.  I booked Ken and me onto a craft workshop called making memories, not knowing quite what to expect.  We were told we could bring photos, poetry, or anything else we may want to use in our craft.  The session was facilitated by an art therapist, going for two hours, and there were only 4 other participants so it was a really safe environment .  I wasn't sure if Ken was just attending to humour me, but once we got there he threw himself into the experience being the first to introduce himself and talk about the death of both his parents.

We both used pictures, Ken one of his parents that we love, and I used two of Dad that were taken in the weeks before he died, including a picture of him trying an oyster for the first time in his life - better late than never!!

We both really enjoyed the experience and would recommend anyone who lives near Oxford to attend a session next year if able.

On the way home we got totally lost due to an accident at a major intersection causing us to be diverted through the countryside not knowing where we were heading - ended up at pub called the Pickled Ploughman in the middle of nowhere to have tea (I'm not sure if we could find it again if we tried).  My favourite thing about it, apart from the fabulous meal, was the milk jug they brought out with my coffee which was a cow (I know, small things amuse me).

The following Thursday - Nov 1st which is the Day of the Dead (festival held in Mexico - look it up as very interesting) I spoke at the National Celebrating the Day of the Dead event in London about what we did at work for Dying Matters week earlier in the year.  Needless to say I was extremely nervous but really proud of myself for doing it.  The whole event was so motivating and interesting, and the organisation was great - we had skull shaped biscuits on the tables, table centres designed by one of the local schools, margaritas and Mexican food after the event along with a wandering musician.

So basically the last week has been full of really different experiences but really great ones.  I promise not to mention death for a while, but I must be due to visit an old graveyard and take pictures of fascinating gravestones.

Hope all well with you and yours.  Keep safe, and keep smiling.

Pamela & Ken
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