Gone to Gatwick

4 lanes of slooow traffic

Where am I going

Nice leather seats on Airbus A320

Amazing bridge over runway

Its 6am and the car is here, time to wheel out the bag and head for Gatwick airport. My driver smoothly takes off and asks what time my flight is. I say 9am and he says oh, oh we might not make it. Hmm, some international traveler I am not being able to work out the correct time to leave for an airport.

Off we go heading for the A25 – the orbital freeway around London, there is traffic but it seems ok. What is he panicking about? Now we get to the freeway and slow down, 4 lanes of traffic, trucks, work vans you name it. Speeds go up and down, up, down, up and on it goes. I see signs for Hester Castle and think that might be a nice place to visit if I miss the one flight today to my destination. Now we are on first name basis and Ally sees a sign for Brighton and asks if I want to go there for an ice cream instead. Might be a good idea.

Ally suggests I check in online as we drive slowly past big green fields with black and white cows. We make it to the next turn, then crawl 8 long miles to the final turn and then road to the airport is clear!

Ok we have made it. Time to say goodbye to Ally and negotiate the bag up the ramp to British Airways. The line for baggage drop is about a mile long, and I know all too well how long a mile is now. Its funny hearing all the different places people are going, a big family is late for Jersey and there is a problem with people going to Algeirs. BA people are so friendly and helpful, bags done and time to find the departure entrance.

Through departures and a quick duty free shop for essential Christian Dior products that ED has got me addicted to.  Time to check what gate my fight leaves from its 101. Off I go following the signs to 101. I am going on escalator high up in the air way above ground level. Why? They can’t have planes boarding like in a parking garage can they? Once at the top I realise it is a bridge over the runway. All space age and white. I walk about another mile, a common theme for the trip and see planes taxiing under where I am walking. Pretty cool. I spot my gate and see the A320 pull in. I am ready, Captain lets go.

A mile is way longer than a kilometre

Highgate Cemetery, The Rossetti's

A boxer, Thomas and his dog, Lion

42

Karl Marx

Highgate east

Crazy people in Camden

Lots going on today

Essential reading, Royal babies!

All is well in Londontown its another bright and sunny day. We are heading  north today to Highgate Cemetry, an old Victorian cemetery. The timing is perfect, we waltz in at 10:58am and they have two tickets left for the 11am tour, lucky us. This is the only way to get into the western cemetery.

The big reason for the tour is to see Lizzie Siddall’s grave. Lizzie was an artist, poet and model and married to DanteGabrielle Rosetti. One of the artists who had parties at the Red house we went to yesterday. Lizzie features in many pre-Raphaelite paintings, the one I Iike best is Ophelia. After her death Dante dug up her grave by the light of a bonfire right where we are standing.  Dante wanted to retrieve poems he had buried with her to publish.

The whole cemetery is like an overgrown jungle. We move on and see the Egyptian walk, crypts, catacombs you name it. One of my favorite stories is about the boxer Thomas Sayers, a fighter that was very popular and had a huge cortege for his funeral. His friends where also a bit rough and a big fight broke out when everyone could not be admitted into the cemetery for the burial. His dog Lion followed the hearse wearing a black ruffle collar.

Ok I am confused now, apparently a few years ago two wallabys where found in the cemetery and animal control had to be called in to catch them. The tour is done, now we go over to the East cemetery where we can wander about on our own. Its much more tranquil and well maintained here, first stop is Douglas Adams of Hitchhiker to the Galaxy fame. There are lines and lines of people pouring down the path that must be the way to Karl Marx. Yep, it is big and impressive. Karl Marx spent a lot of his life in London and is a pilgrimage for tourists and locals on this sunny day.

Quote from Karl Marx on tombstone:“The philosophers have only interpreted the world in various ways. The point however is to change it.”

We are fading fast now, time for food. Its Sunday, so Sunday roast complete with Yorkshire Pudding is our choice for today. Revitalised we move on.

There is no point in being in London unless you can cram as much as possible into a day. We exit the underground and enter the madhouse that is Camden on the weekend, people, cars and dogs a stark contrast to the tranquility of Highgate. Time to launch into the mêlée and jostle for a spot to watch a barge exiting a lock. Its all very quaint and hundreds of people are enjoying the sunshine and spectacle. From here Jane has suggested we walk to Kings Cross. I am up for that, lets go.  Phew, how many miles is this, we trudge on along, in the sunshine along the tow paths it is amazingly quite away from the crowds. We even pass the famed Robbo / Banksy art site!

I am really fading and the sign says there is a mile to go but now Jane tells me there shops at Kings Cross and miraculously my energy comes back. We had a great day.

Art lives on but life is short

Back together again and out exploring

The entrance way

Can you find the wombat?

Secret views abound

My favourite room

From the back garden

New skills

Ladywell Lodge tea with William Morris placemats

Its bright and sunny, with a wicked wind blowing. We are on our way to visit William Morris’ house in Bexleyheath. 

William Morris moved out of London to the boondocks in 1860. His home was frequented by all the pre-Raphaelite painters like Dante Gabriel Rossetti and I have read many stories about their bohemian parties over the years. Wiliam’s designs are exquisite, I have always loved his bird prints the most.

We arrive just in time for a tour.  Our guide is Valerie and we can tell from the start that she is top notch and knows her history. William lived here at the start of his career when he started the William Morris company. He designed the building with his mate, the architect Phillip Webb after they has a few holidays to France to check out styles (as one does). We explore every nook and cranny of the house with Valerie, snapping away. Windows with garden views, seats to do tapestry in, doorways with mottos like art lives on but life is short and medieval touches everywhere, the turrets on the staircase are a work of art in themselves. Every inch of the house has thoughtful details that functional well, William’s motto was everything has to be useful and beautiful. He achieved that aim with Red House.

The national trust is restoring a lot of the murals that have been painted over with white by subsequent owners. We finally arrive at the mural I have been waiting for, the one with a wombat. As many of the artists who frequented the house where obsessed with wombats. Alas there is no wombat here, looks way more like a dog to me.

Now onto explore the garden and play a spot of croquet on the lush green lawn. Finally we pack our cameras away and head for home to finish the day with a traditional Ladywell Lodge tea.

The flight over

Love the flying kangaroo

2 hours 30 minutes to go

The patchwork that is England

Where did the last 24 hours go? Ding. The Captain has turned the seat belt sign off and its time to say goodbye to my seat buddies, Jim and Pauline.  Now it’s the long smelly line through customs. Finally its my turn, ‘Welcome to the UK, mam’ the girl with 2 inch nails tells me. Now to find my bag round and round on the carousel they go. I spot it and there is an airport man lifting all the bags off and placing them in a line. It must be my lucky day as I was not sure how I was going to drag the 27kilos of stuff I have brought over for with me off the conveyor belt. Don’t worry there is lots of room for shopping on the way back. I have Melita books for Monica and Aussie supplies for Jane cranking up the kilos.

Now out into the terminal I go, where are they, not on that side. Not this side, not at the end. Hmm. Relief, there is Mary coming like a rocket to get me. There is Jane bring up the rear. All is well and I am reunited with my London family. Now Jeff expertly navigates us through the back streets of London and we are back to Ladywell Lodge in no time. Time for a bath.

The 2015 adventure begins…….

New Apple Watch arrived in time for the trip

On Apple Watch you can see flight details and
it keeps sending me messages to go to gate 24.

At Campbelltown train station checking
 out the mammoth schedule for the trip

Met up with Prince Harry (again) on his
 recent trip to Australia.
He has invited Jane and I to tea.

• Swap Opal card for Oyster card. Check.
• Get through customs. Check.
• Get excited. Check.

Alex, Harmony, Jan and John and many others have already made the pilgrimage North and today it’s my turn to hop on a plane and chill out for 24 hours.

Am currently hanging out in QANTAS club with a cuppa and a brownie. On the way through the long lines at customs I spotted Mr. NBN getting escorted through the fast lane, otherwise nothing much to report from Sydney airport today. It’s a balmy 13 degrees according to my apple watch – hope it is much warmer where I am going.

In 24 hours the fun will commence, time to soak up some history, hangout with Jane, meet new family in Malta and so much more. Stay tuned.

Books set in New York

There is nothing better after a holiday to revisit a city via the pages of a book. As the author goes down a street, my memories fill in the blanks and holiday happiness comes flooding back. The trick is finding good books set in the chosen city. 

Some of the books set in New York I have enjoyed:

From Notting Hill to New York ... actually by Ali McNamara
Starting out in Notting Hill, London and quickly moving onto a romp around every major tourist site in New York. This is chick lit at its best. The main character in the book is called, Scarlett, that’s enough for me (GWTW) plus she has an addiction to movies. Everywhere she goes she sprinkles her version of happy dust amongst the people she meets. At the end of the book there is even a list of places to visit.

For: lovers of chick lit and a bit of harmless fun
Source: Jane's Mum discovered the book and then Jane pointed it to me, now I have to read Ali's other books especially the one set in Paris.

Red Tails in Love by Marie Winn
Pale Male is the name is a Red-tailed Hawk who has resided since the 1990s near Central Park. In this book Marie covers his loves and losses throughout the seasons and over many years. From hanging out on the balcony next to Woody Allen's place to becoming Time's father of the year, there is never a dull moment. Overall its an insiders look into one of the many tribes in New York, the birdwatchers.

For: bird and animal lovers
Source: Ricki my birdwatching friend from New York recommended this book. She also introduced me personally to the star of the book, Pale Male on our first encounter at the Central Park boat pond.

Let the great world world spin by Colum McCann

The dramatic start is the daring walk on a tightrope between the twin towers in 1974. The book weaves in and out of many different people who live in New York, from a judge who lives uptown and works downtown to ladies of the night. The most poignant group are the mothers who meet to share their grief over lost sons from the Vietnam war. Whilst the emotional tone of the book is intense the book exposes real people and gets underneath the tourist version of New York that is seen on a holiday. The characters live and breath on the same subways, roads and suburbs that we walk today.

For: Those who like American literature, even though this is wriiten by an Irishman. To be sure, to be sure.
Source: From one of the many lists on New York books, such as Goodreads and Huffington Post.

Here is New York by E.B. White
This book was written over 60 years ago as a essay for travellers. However White's acute observations and insights capture New York's essence in a timeless way. Its a short read that embodies the spirit of New York from the first sentence, "On any person who desires such queer prizes, New York will bestow the gift of loneliness and the gift of privacy".
My version was an anniversary reprint and I especially liked the forward by his step son, Roger Angell.  This gave me much needed context to get a deeper understanding of White's mindset.

For: Lovers of great writing.
Source: After a hot sunny day exploring New York I stopped off at the Plaza hotel on the way home. There was a tiny store tucked in the corner with Plaza paraphernalia like fluffy bathrobes and tea sets. This book caught my eye and I decided to buy it, little did I know that the purchasing experience would be something to remember forever. First the book was lovingly wrapped in tissue paper and sealed with a gold embossed sticker. Then tissue paper was waved in the air to create just the right folds to line the gold and white Plaza bag. Finally the book was laid to rest and handed over.

Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger
This book focuses on a 16 year old boy who gets expelled from school and then what he gets up to in and around New York. It's well regarded however I could just not get into it. I did not get the main character, Holden's superficial issues with people or things. Holden I don't really care about your silly hat but I do like the good relationship you had with your sister. Maybe my teenage years where simpler than his.

For: Anyone who has experienced teenage angst
Source: Alas this classic is not yet available on Kindle, so onto the Christmas list it went. Stephen obliged and under the Christmas tree it was.

Breakfast at Tiffany's by Truman Capote
This was read about 20 years ago so my memory may be a little rusty. The language is awkward, the characters are not very likeable and lots of undertones of sexuality. Is this a product of what was permitted in an American story in Capote's day? Did my more liberated 1980's viewpoint or being in my 20's cloud my vision? However I loved the storyline, Holly tried hard and worked hard - she was a gal to be admired. 

For: Those who want to say they have read American classics. 

Source: Years ago, pre internet, had to hunt down the book at the library, its was a bit smelly and old.

As at today it is 65 days till my next trip, stay tuned for adventures in Malta and Berlin. 

Creature of the deep

Bushranger Bay, South Coast, NSW

Stephen

Giant Cuttlefish

Its another sunny day and its time to head down the coast for some snorkelling. We arrive at the chosen spot a new place Stephen found on one of his bike adventures. He tells me we are taking the short route from the car park. I steady myself for a 5km jaunt up and down dale. What’s this we start with a wooden staircase, no scrambling down the side of cliffs? After 200 metres we are at the spot. Now that was a short route, I like this place.

The beach is just about deserted, its hot and time to don snorkels and flippers and see what is out there. Stephen jumps in with vengeance, I think I will just glide. The water is cold but not too bad. Stephen is off and racing heading out to sea over rock beds, weed farms and through hundreds of fishes. I wish I had an app in my goggles that identifies them. There is a little purple one, now three big black ones. Finally I catch up with Stephen as he is diving up and down chasing some rock cod. Now we go across the bay and its much more murky and harder to see all the beauty.

Back along some rock ledges and Stephen is pointing madly and diving down. Rrrr, rrr, rr he says through his snorkel. It’s big, about a metre long and reddish all over. Low and behold it is a giant cuttlefish. Its seem pretty unperturbed by us diving down and around and goes on about its business. The first great find for 2015.