It is such a relief to finally be at the home of Karen and Ben, my good friends from university, in Media, Pennsylvania.
It's been a bit of a drama getting here - my flight from Heathrow was delayed by 2 hours, and customs at chicago airport took quite a while - to fingerprint and take photos of every person arriving! I was steeling myself for the 20 questions i had seen several other passengers having fired at them, but when I told the security guy I was a vet, he sincerely told me that must mean I'm a very caring person, for animals and people, and that he had a couple of dogs that he had to give away and that he was surprised I was travelling on my own, being such a caring person!! I smiled and nodded and wondered if this was a weird interrogation technique, but I think he was just a nice (though slightly odd) guy!
Overall, I spoke to lots of friendly people while I was waiting at Chicago. There were lots of people in the same boat as me, and it certaily give a sense of comradery when we are all sitting waiting for our names to be called on a standby list for the last flight of the day out of Chicago. Even more so when you realise you're not leaving on that flight and have to find somewhere to sleep for the night!
I had a tip off that one of the terminals had some 'cots' took me a while to work out what they were - camp bed type things, with blankets and pillows for people who had to stay around. I didn't fancy finding a hotel in Chicago on my own, so I checked them out and they were ok! it was like bedding down on a big school camp in the middle of one of the concourses in a massive airport! It didn't seem to be common knowledge, and it was free, so I was very grateful that someone mentioned it to me!
So early up today and back on the standby list - hooray, my name was called and I made it to Philadelphia!
On first impression of the USA - I was struck by the size of the cars (especially after the UK!), the friendliness of the people (I sneezed on the plane and the guys on both sides of me said bless you!) and the houses that really do look like the ones out of the movies!
so all I need now is a good night's sleep and I'll be a bit more ready to explore tomorrow.
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Lake District
The second May long weekend was the long awaited 'Truly Magnificent Weekend away', organsied by David Marchant, and a couple of other guys from church, and truly worth the wait!
We set off after work on the Friday, David driving the minibus with 15 of us, and Paul driving his 'beast' (40 year old volvo station wagon), on the 6 hour journey to Kendall, in the Lake District in north West England.
Friends of David's very generously offered their home for all 16 of us to use for the weekend, as they were away in Morocco.
It was a 3 bedroom, 2 sitting room, kichecn/dining room 4 - storey house, which accomodated everyone, either on the floor or beds for those lucky enough to get a spot in one of those!
Saturday morning we set off for Lake Buttermeer and the Haystacks, where we walked for the afternoon. We were blessed with really nice weather - mostly sunny, with a few clouds, that thankfuly didn't drop any rain on us.
We were rewarded for our steep treck up the mountain with the amazing views from the top (see photos below!).
I had not done any kind of hiking for many years, and I realised why people get hooked on walking up mountains, especially with a good pair of boots and nice weather!
I'm looking forward a little more to the Macchu Piccu hike in August, though I'm still a bit nervous about the altitude.
Saturday evening we all managed to have showers (in the one bthroom in the house!), and had it was great to sit down to dinner with 16 top people, whose company was a absolute pleasure.
Sunday morning, some of us visiting the Parr Street Evangelical church, where re received an amazingly warm welcome. I think any church in a smaller country town would love for 7-8 twenty-somethings turn up for a service, but the people there were really chatty and welcoming.
I had a 'small world' experience, as two of my good friends, Mark and Cathy, from Buxton last year are from Kendall. It happened to be Mark's uncle's place we were staying at, and he was in town and dropped in on the Saturday, and his fiance, Emma was at church on the sunday morning, so it was lovely to see her. I have been invited to their wedding in august, which I so excited at - my first 'England friends' wedding! What's more, I'll actually be between trips, so I can actually go to it!
Sunday afternoon some of us went to an indoor pool for a bit of fun, and a few went for a walk around lake Windermeer.
Sunday night, all 16 of us turned up at Parr street church, where we were welcomed even more warmly!
With Colin in the kitchen with some helpers, making one of his delicious curries (from scratch!), the rest of us played Frisbee till about 10pm, though the game was cut a little short when Claire intercepted a Frisbee throw from David with her eyebrow - lucky she ws wearing glasses, or it could have been a lot worse!
The curry was well worth the wait, and we all slept very soundly.
Monday we cleaned up and set off for Chester. The zoo there was amazing, though 4 hours was just not quite enough time to see it all - will have to go back one day!
a brief walk around historic Chester, followed by a downpour had us running bck to the minibus to head back to London.
An amazing weekend or beautiful scenery, great food, and hanging out with a bunch of fantastic people, getting to know them better.
We set off after work on the Friday, David driving the minibus with 15 of us, and Paul driving his 'beast' (40 year old volvo station wagon), on the 6 hour journey to Kendall, in the Lake District in north West England.
Friends of David's very generously offered their home for all 16 of us to use for the weekend, as they were away in Morocco.
It was a 3 bedroom, 2 sitting room, kichecn/dining room 4 - storey house, which accomodated everyone, either on the floor or beds for those lucky enough to get a spot in one of those!
Saturday morning we set off for Lake Buttermeer and the Haystacks, where we walked for the afternoon. We were blessed with really nice weather - mostly sunny, with a few clouds, that thankfuly didn't drop any rain on us.
We were rewarded for our steep treck up the mountain with the amazing views from the top (see photos below!).
I had not done any kind of hiking for many years, and I realised why people get hooked on walking up mountains, especially with a good pair of boots and nice weather!
I'm looking forward a little more to the Macchu Piccu hike in August, though I'm still a bit nervous about the altitude.
Saturday evening we all managed to have showers (in the one bthroom in the house!), and had it was great to sit down to dinner with 16 top people, whose company was a absolute pleasure.
Sunday morning, some of us visiting the Parr Street Evangelical church, where re received an amazingly warm welcome. I think any church in a smaller country town would love for 7-8 twenty-somethings turn up for a service, but the people there were really chatty and welcoming.
I had a 'small world' experience, as two of my good friends, Mark and Cathy, from Buxton last year are from Kendall. It happened to be Mark's uncle's place we were staying at, and he was in town and dropped in on the Saturday, and his fiance, Emma was at church on the sunday morning, so it was lovely to see her. I have been invited to their wedding in august, which I so excited at - my first 'England friends' wedding! What's more, I'll actually be between trips, so I can actually go to it!
Sunday afternoon some of us went to an indoor pool for a bit of fun, and a few went for a walk around lake Windermeer.
Sunday night, all 16 of us turned up at Parr street church, where we were welcomed even more warmly!
With Colin in the kitchen with some helpers, making one of his delicious curries (from scratch!), the rest of us played Frisbee till about 10pm, though the game was cut a little short when Claire intercepted a Frisbee throw from David with her eyebrow - lucky she ws wearing glasses, or it could have been a lot worse!
The curry was well worth the wait, and we all slept very soundly.
Monday we cleaned up and set off for Chester. The zoo there was amazing, though 4 hours was just not quite enough time to see it all - will have to go back one day!
a brief walk around historic Chester, followed by a downpour had us running bck to the minibus to head back to London.
An amazing weekend or beautiful scenery, great food, and hanging out with a bunch of fantastic people, getting to know them better.
Friday, June 08, 2007
New Forest
Wow, it seems to have been an age since I've had a chance to sit in front of a computer and actually write something on here. I've taken the chance to upload pics when I can, but it takes a bit more time and attention to explain what they are about!
The first May long weekend, Claire and I had decided that after working very hard, we would book a nice relaxing weekend in the New Forest. It's in Hampshire, sort of in the middle at the bottom of the UK. It is famous for it's beautiful forests, but more so for the ponies that inhabit it, which are all allowed to roam free in the quaint little villages and in the forest itself. I think it's Britain's smallest National Park, and used to be the Hunting ground for the Monarchy.
we stayed at a lovely B n B in the middle of the Park, in a little town called Lyndhurst. It has lots of really pretty buildings and shops, and the churchyard has the grave of the lady who Alice in Wonderland was based on.
We hired bikes and rode south through the forest on the Saturday, seeing lots of horses running around, and some cows and donkeys as well. We were pretty tired out by mid afternoon, so jumped in our little hire car and checked out Fordingbridge, which has a cool bridge (predictably!).
Sunday was wetter, but we headed down Bournemouth on the coast to meet up with Lara, a friend from uni, and her friend (now our friend!) Marian.
We checked out Bournemouth Pier, and went to a lovely restaurant in Lyndhurst just up the road from the B n B. Monday we went to a Cider press and a lovely ancient thatched roofed cafe for a bite to eat before heading back to London.
The first May long weekend, Claire and I had decided that after working very hard, we would book a nice relaxing weekend in the New Forest. It's in Hampshire, sort of in the middle at the bottom of the UK. It is famous for it's beautiful forests, but more so for the ponies that inhabit it, which are all allowed to roam free in the quaint little villages and in the forest itself. I think it's Britain's smallest National Park, and used to be the Hunting ground for the Monarchy.
we stayed at a lovely B n B in the middle of the Park, in a little town called Lyndhurst. It has lots of really pretty buildings and shops, and the churchyard has the grave of the lady who Alice in Wonderland was based on.
We hired bikes and rode south through the forest on the Saturday, seeing lots of horses running around, and some cows and donkeys as well. We were pretty tired out by mid afternoon, so jumped in our little hire car and checked out Fordingbridge, which has a cool bridge (predictably!).
Sunday was wetter, but we headed down Bournemouth on the coast to meet up with Lara, a friend from uni, and her friend (now our friend!) Marian.
We checked out Bournemouth Pier, and went to a lovely restaurant in Lyndhurst just up the road from the B n B. Monday we went to a Cider press and a lovely ancient thatched roofed cafe for a bite to eat before heading back to London.
Saturday, June 02, 2007
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