LATE BREAKING NEWS

Deborah has arrived safe and sound and just two days late.She had to drive to Halifax and was redirected to Montreal and then that flight was delayed but she finally got here around 8:30am London time. She is tired but happy to be here. We are off to the National Ballet this afternoon to see The Nutcracker. Our tickets were for yesterday but they were kind enough to change them for me after a sob story and 6 pounds penalty.
She was quite excited to hear about me sitting with Liam from Corrie on the flight from Dublin. Turns out it was NOT LIAM BUT KIERAN I was sitting with!!!! Now aren't I just the arsehole! Megan and Angus will surely be disappointed with me. Thank God I didn't call him by the wrong character's name
Raining and cold here today with snow predicted for tomorrow. The coach tour starts in the morning when we head for Paris.

Later that day:
Back from Nutcracker. It was enjoyable with wonderful dancing and music. It is now snowing in London!

More Things That Caught My Eye

Day 17-18 - London

 Started the day with a visit to Stratford-upon-Avon, home of the Bard. I was amazed that the original home is still standing. The home is on the town's main street where there is a welcome centre called "The Shakesperience," I detect a Disneyesque influence. The most interesting part was that one of the guides could recite any speech from Shakespeare upon request! I requested Marc Antony's " friends, Romans... and off he went in full flight. Yes, Deborah, I tipped him.
Stratford is also the home of a gentleman who emigrated to America, became wealthy and endowed a university in Boston. His name is John Harvard. There is no Harvariety welcome centre.

The next stop was Oxford. The tour guide asked, "Does anyone know what Oxford is famous for?" Duh! Gimme a break. " Inspector Morse," I said. The guide replied, " well, yes, but is there anything else? A university maybe." I love screwing with people.

DOC CAMPBELL MOMENT - at Christ Church, Oxford, the guide pointed out a building that contained Doric,Ionic and Corinthian columns with a Tuscan thrown in. The second photo shows them all, albeit not too clearly as it was getting dark. I will try to fix this up later.
The days are very short here. I didn't realize just how far north England is. It doesn't get light until around 8am and starts to get dark at 3:30.

I got back into town in time to take in a performance of War Horse, a play based on the novel of the same name. It is the story of a boy whose horse, Joey, is sold to the army in WWI. The boy enlists and is sent to France where he tries to find Joey. Because I was late getting a ticket I had to sit in the second row where I found myself in a German trench in the middle of the action. The horses were life size puppets operated by three men and were very real. There were times I was nearly kicked in the head. I would highly reccommend this play...but don't sit so close.

Deborah has still not arrived. Bad weather has delayed her flight for two days so she is driving to Halifax today and should arrive tomorrow, Thursday. The coach tour starts Friday so I am keeping my fingers crossed.

Day 15-16 - London

Did the National Gallery on Saturday - Michelangelo, diVinci, Rubins, Picasso, Rembrant, Constable and on and on ... but still no... enough of that joke. After so many art galleries and I am Madonna & Chiled out! Saw two shows, Pricilla,Queen of the Desert in the afternoon and Yes,Prime Minister in the evening. Pricilla was an over the top tale about Australian female impersonators travelling across the country to put on a show in Alice Springs. It is based on the movie of the same name. It was great fun, especially listening to the three Cockney couples behind me.
"Cor, blimey, 'ees a fella! I'm goint baw! Fetch me end a show."
Yes, PM was excellent, having been written by the same people who did the TV series.

After the show the theater district was invaded by hundreds of Santas. I never did get the story but someone said that it was university students, not tired out from protesting, trying to get in the Guiness Book of Records for the most Santas. Trafalgar Square was overrun by them earlier in the evening.
On Sunday I went to the Victoria & Albert Museum in memory of my late friend Jim Attwood who called the V&A his favourite place to visit in London. It was interesting but just too much stuff! The top photo shows two Davids, one a fake and the other a statue...and only one of them is anatomically correct.
Spent the afternoon at the Imperial War Museum in Lambeth. There is an excellent reproduction of a WWI trench complete with smells and sounds, and on the WWII side there is the Blitz Experience. Two very moving exhibits were Children in War explaining about the lives of English children during WWII, and the UK Holocaust Memorial. The Holocaust section covers two floors and traces the rise of antisemiticsm following WWI. It was moving and very disturbing- so much so it is restricted to visitors over the age of 14.
Had an enjoyable evening washing out my socks and undies - Guaranteed to Dry Overnight or your Monry Back! And yes they do actually dry, especially if you put them on the radiator. Watched a Corrie 50th Quiz Show - David Plath is very bright - Ken Barlow is as stupid as a stick! Entertainment was provided by cast members. Michele and Natasha can sing up a storm and so can Liam. I still don't have it straight if he died or not.
I always said I would go to Oxford one day...tomorrow.

Why Europeans Hate Americans

The following conversations were overheard:

1. At Handel's Messiah in Dublin
American (female) Will Mr Handel be here tonight?
Irish usher - No, luv.It's 'is ni-toff. But if ya pray reeel hard the Messiah may put in a short but memorable appearance.

2. At Jersey Boys in London:
American ( female) What is this show about?
English usher - The Four Seasons
American - You mean like winter and spring?

3 At hotel in France
Desk Clerk - There is a Christmas Market in the main square
American ( female) Will there be Christmas stuff there?

4. At Guiness Brewery in Dublin
Waiter - That will be six Euro,sir.
American ( male) What's that in real money?

And the winner:

5. In hotel lobby in Manchester the day after the Corrie tram crash:
American ( female) to desk clerk - I saw on the news there was a tram crash last night. Will the trams be running today?

Signs that caught my eye

Day 13 - 14-Carlisle - Hadrian's Wall

Hadrian's Wall was by far the most challenging item on Doc Campbell's list. There was a blizzard in Scotland and the north so many of the roads were closed-not by snow but by cars and trucks left on the road, so busses were not running. The Wall runs from Carlisle to Newcastle but the most interesting parts are on the Carlisle end. The owner of the B&B thought I was snoooookered but I perservered and managed to get a bus to the Roman Army Museum where I got to walk a section of the wall. The third photo shows me on top of Walltown Hill in the Pennines with Hadrian's Wall behind me. The snow was up to my knees in spots but it was a glorious day with bright sun and little wind. It was -17 the night before, the coldest in 50 years!
At the bottom of the hill there was a village called Greenhead which had a church and a pub. At the pub the barman was amazed that anyone was out let alone walking the trail.
"Ya right?" he said (that passes for hello up here) "Wud ja dune oop e-ah this time ye-ah? Rung time cum oop
e-ah this time ye-ah."
"I'm Canadian. We swim in this weather."
"Gud on ye, lad. Pleezed you ain't a yank. Wud yaven?"
I got back to town just after dark. The landlord was sore amazed.
Up early Friday morning to catch the MegaBus to London - fare 4.50- train would have cost 300!!! There was
one drawback, however. It was so cold the bus toilet had frozen and the driver didn't know what to do. When
we got back to Manchester a gentleman got on the bus and exclaimed:
"Oy! This bus don't aff stink." He refused to get on until something was done so we were diverted to another
depot where the problem was fixed. Arrived in London this afternoon to +5. It absolutely balmy. Will take in a
show tonight.