Friday, 27 April 2012
On the smallest shower in the world
So far, the one in Carlisle is winning but the Edinburgh B&B is running very close behind. I reckon the shower base is about 80mm square. A tall person would have to open the door and get out to pick up the soap! Mind your elbows! They do have plenty of hot water, though, using those instant electric devices that deliver fast, endless hotwater, as advertised. The units have options to choose the flow rate you require, I can't see anyone wanting less than full flow, because even that is less than gushing!
Ever northwards
Yesterday Carlisle, today Edinburgh, and, unbelievably, sunshine!
I arrived in Carlisle as the weather was clearing and after settling into my room, headed towards the town centre for a bit of culture at the Guildhall Museum. Sadly it was not to be, "Unexpectedly closed due to needing significant structural repair" said the sign. Bother. Having decided I'd seen enough cathedrals for now, I did the next best thing, if you are a stereotypical female, anyway, and went shopping. Mundane stuff 'though, underwear at M&S, and a Barbour (get this) gilet (vest to kiwis), from a store aimed specifically at clothing for the country outdoors! Yes, really. A sort of not for tramping/climbing/camping Kathmandu. Lots of really warm clothing, must because the UK is cold more often than it's warm.
In spite of the lure of the credit, sorry, debit, card, I managed to notice numerous really interesting old buildings. As a border town, sometimes Scots, sometimes English, sometimes Cavalier, sometimes Roundhead, Carlisle has had a chequered and at times cruel history. Lots of info from googling Carlisle, UK.
As it was sunny this morning I decided to head for Edinburgh along Hadrian's Wall and spend some time at Vindolanda, the roman fort on the wall which is proving an astonishing treasure trove for archaelogists who believe that at least 9 forts were progressively built on the site. Digging continues there every summer, and the artifacts range from metal to leather to fabric, even. Much of the deeper material is anaerobic, so no microorganisms and no oxygen to destroy materials such as leather, wood and even some fabrics. The museum on site is very well done and tells a good story - factual, of course - with some AV of archaelogists talking about some of the more exciting finds.
I came north via a B road, through the wild border lands, steep, near barren, and cold! I had stumbled on a tourist bus route so avoided stopping at the lookouts, peopled by cold looking people, doubtless wishing they could get back on the bus and get warm again.
Scottish farmland is reminiscent of much NZ countryside. Well more the other way around really, pastures a bit rough, plantations of spruce, rather than pine and drystone walls everywhere are the major differences. It's windy too, many trees had that distinctive lean, frequently seen around Wellington and the Wairarapa.
I arrived in Carlisle as the weather was clearing and after settling into my room, headed towards the town centre for a bit of culture at the Guildhall Museum. Sadly it was not to be, "Unexpectedly closed due to needing significant structural repair" said the sign. Bother. Having decided I'd seen enough cathedrals for now, I did the next best thing, if you are a stereotypical female, anyway, and went shopping. Mundane stuff 'though, underwear at M&S, and a Barbour (get this) gilet (vest to kiwis), from a store aimed specifically at clothing for the country outdoors! Yes, really. A sort of not for tramping/climbing/camping Kathmandu. Lots of really warm clothing, must because the UK is cold more often than it's warm.
In spite of the lure of the credit, sorry, debit, card, I managed to notice numerous really interesting old buildings. As a border town, sometimes Scots, sometimes English, sometimes Cavalier, sometimes Roundhead, Carlisle has had a chequered and at times cruel history. Lots of info from googling Carlisle, UK.
As it was sunny this morning I decided to head for Edinburgh along Hadrian's Wall and spend some time at Vindolanda, the roman fort on the wall which is proving an astonishing treasure trove for archaelogists who believe that at least 9 forts were progressively built on the site. Digging continues there every summer, and the artifacts range from metal to leather to fabric, even. Much of the deeper material is anaerobic, so no microorganisms and no oxygen to destroy materials such as leather, wood and even some fabrics. The museum on site is very well done and tells a good story - factual, of course - with some AV of archaelogists talking about some of the more exciting finds.
I came north via a B road, through the wild border lands, steep, near barren, and cold! I had stumbled on a tourist bus route so avoided stopping at the lookouts, peopled by cold looking people, doubtless wishing they could get back on the bus and get warm again.
Scottish farmland is reminiscent of much NZ countryside. Well more the other way around really, pastures a bit rough, plantations of spruce, rather than pine and drystone walls everywhere are the major differences. It's windy too, many trees had that distinctive lean, frequently seen around Wellington and the Wairarapa.
Tuesday, 24 April 2012
The wilds (I don't think so!) of Herefordshire
Did a tiki tour of the area today, meandering along country lanes, catching glimpses of magnificent views - see earlier post. I'm fascinated by the way houses are dotted along the way, many with doors onto the road, others perhaps 5 or 10 metres back behing hedges, or not. Everywhere you look is a chocolate box image.
I finally managed to locate a gas canister that fits my 2 burner cooker, so will definitely be coffeeing tomorrow morning before setting off for places north - heading for Lancashire, first of two legs up to Edinburgh to visit my cousin whom I first met when he was about 3 or 4.
The hillsides are getting greener by the day, and the apple orchards, this being a major cider brewing area, are just coming into flower. Some trees are neatly espaliered and controlled, others look as if they are ancient - in tree terms - all twisted and untidy, some limbs clearly dead, but still attached, sticking (well branching really) out of the blossoming, live tree.
Lunch at Ledbury - ham and mushroom flan (otherwise quiche) with delicious salad and a good coffee - they are hard to find, as I was advised. Browsed an antique(!) market today, lots of lovely jewellery and crystal etc, even a set of antique planes (well, maybe not antique, just old fashioned.
I was 15 mins late back to the carpark and found myself ticketed! They don't half charge, £25 as long as I pay within 5 days, or £50.00 if I don't get on to it. That's a lesson well learned! If I ignore it the vehicle hire company will oncharge me when it reaches them!
Spot the crows' nests
Soon, as the leaves burgeon and thicken, the masses in these trees will be invisible, but for now, which of these trees is infested with miseltoe and which is infested, well perhaps populated, with crows nests? I wonder if the crowsnest on sailing ships was so named to due to the fact that these large black birds always nest high up - one wonders if they have toe ropes in the nests to avoid being blown out.
Hereford etc
It's raining, still or again, I can't decide. Exactly as forecast, surprise.
Hamster and I went to Hereford today, first to Tesco for a wee bit shopping, then a wander round the town and Hereford Cathedral.
It wasn't raining this morning and a drive in the English countryside offers the pleasures of pretty villages, beautifully manicured fields, some looking as if they have been mowed and rolled like a green on a golf course and are awaiting the arrival of 5 star sheep, others rolling away, aglow with yellow rapseed. Some fields have been planted with grain and are already 30 cm tall. The hillsides, where not cultivated, are covered in low level treets - coppiced perhaps? These are in the process of turning from their winter fawn into the lettuce green of spring. As each day passes they are greener.Hereford Cathedral, where lies the Mappa Mundi, is lovely. On arrival I was greeted by a verger in a blue gown (as in scholar) who directed me to the shop, cafe and new wing, where the locked books share space with the Mappa Mundi. (MM)
I felt a surge of spirituality when the organist began to practise, though I do think he had the trumpet stop too loud...
The MM is a fanciful middle ages map of the known world, drawn and scribed on vellum - a single calfskin, and populated with creatures derived from a very active imagination. It is now very faded but scholars have created a facsimile, coloured bright blue, red and green, as it would have been when new. It has survived because it was created at Hereford, and never left. More in Wikipedia.
I've bought a tea towel, yes I know, true kitsch, printed with the map and supplied with a key to the latin names and descriptions. Did you know that a race lived once that had large upper lips, with which they shaded their faces from the sun - so MM says, anyway.
I asked the curator in the locked book section to point out to me Sam Johnson's original printed dictionary, two volumes, sort of A3 size, complete with chains, and locked into the bookcases. The locked books, all immensely valuable and rare (I guess one begets the other) are available for study by scholars, who are allowed to take them 'upstairs' to the reading room, rather than sit on the hard benches by the bookshelves.
The cathedral contained much of the usual, monuments to past bishops and worthies of the parish, a glorious choir and screen behind the high altar, plus a set of recent stained glass windows, in 'modern' style commemorating Thomas Traherne, a 17th century metaphysical poet, who's work was largely lost. More at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Traherne.
The vast space was heated by Gurney Heaters, a Victorian Monster, designed, apparently, for church heating.
Hamster and I went to Hereford today, first to Tesco for a wee bit shopping, then a wander round the town and Hereford Cathedral.
It wasn't raining this morning and a drive in the English countryside offers the pleasures of pretty villages, beautifully manicured fields, some looking as if they have been mowed and rolled like a green on a golf course and are awaiting the arrival of 5 star sheep, others rolling away, aglow with yellow rapseed. Some fields have been planted with grain and are already 30 cm tall. The hillsides, where not cultivated, are covered in low level treets - coppiced perhaps? These are in the process of turning from their winter fawn into the lettuce green of spring. As each day passes they are greener.Hereford Cathedral, where lies the Mappa Mundi, is lovely. On arrival I was greeted by a verger in a blue gown (as in scholar) who directed me to the shop, cafe and new wing, where the locked books share space with the Mappa Mundi. (MM)
I felt a surge of spirituality when the organist began to practise, though I do think he had the trumpet stop too loud...
The MM is a fanciful middle ages map of the known world, drawn and scribed on vellum - a single calfskin, and populated with creatures derived from a very active imagination. It is now very faded but scholars have created a facsimile, coloured bright blue, red and green, as it would have been when new. It has survived because it was created at Hereford, and never left. More in Wikipedia.
I've bought a tea towel, yes I know, true kitsch, printed with the map and supplied with a key to the latin names and descriptions. Did you know that a race lived once that had large upper lips, with which they shaded their faces from the sun - so MM says, anyway.
I asked the curator in the locked book section to point out to me Sam Johnson's original printed dictionary, two volumes, sort of A3 size, complete with chains, and locked into the bookcases. The locked books, all immensely valuable and rare (I guess one begets the other) are available for study by scholars, who are allowed to take them 'upstairs' to the reading room, rather than sit on the hard benches by the bookshelves.
The cathedral contained much of the usual, monuments to past bishops and worthies of the parish, a glorious choir and screen behind the high altar, plus a set of recent stained glass windows, in 'modern' style commemorating Thomas Traherne, a 17th century metaphysical poet, who's work was largely lost. More at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Traherne.
The vast space was heated by Gurney Heaters, a Victorian Monster, designed, apparently, for church heating.
Monday, 23 April 2012
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