HARTLEPOOL !!!

It’s Tuesday – and the first day I’ve been able to access internet since being in LA. I had a good flight from there to London, but definitely suffered from lack of sleep – I got only about 2 hours’ worth the whole trip. I’d thought I would sleep easily on the last leg but got none whatsoever. Most of this flight was through stormy weather so if wasn’t the turbulence keeping me awake, it was seatbelt on/off warning signals. When we arrived in London our flight path took us right over the central area with Buckingham Palace, Big Ben etc. The view was fantastic – as clear as a bell, but I wasn’t allowed to take any photos because the plane was ‘landing’. Just my luck eh!

Plans of heading into London rather than hanging around Heathrow disappeared due to tiredness. I spent most of my free time making sure I stayed awake instead. Mind you, by the time I’d gone through customs, collected my bag and taken the express train from Terminal One to Terminal Five to catch my next flight I had only a couple of hours to fill in. I realised how tired I was when I saw the sign ’Harrods’ and couldn’t even be bothered to check it out. I found a coffee, a comfortable chair and filled in the time on my laptop. No internet though – my PC security system didn’t like the wireless network there and kept shutting my laptop down.

I was able to take a couple of photos of the crowds though.

This is just one area of one terminal (of five). I’ll leave it to you to consider how big the airport is.

Pat & Barry met me at Newcastle and by the time we got to Hartlepool I’d got my second wind, so enjoyed an evening of yakking with Pat. She’s taken a couple of weeks off work, so we spent yesterday just checking things out and relaxing.
Today would have been Dave’s Mam’s birthday so we’re off to the cemetery with flowers in her memory and I can start sorting things out for plaques etc for him. The Tall Ships event starts on Saturday and things are gearing up for it in the town. So far the most evident sign has been this -

-double yellow lines!!!
There will be no parking hardly anywhere in the shopping area and lots of roads will even be closed to everything except emergency vehicles. People who normally park on the road outside their homes have been told they have to park elsewhere – and pay for the privilege.

Apparently some of the stores, including their largest supermarket Asda (which is near the marina) will be shutting their doors for the duration because they think there will be hardly any customers able to get to them easily. Weird eh – they anticipate at least 200,000 visitors every day and they’re closing shops!!!

Well, that’s all for the day. Take care. More when I can get to the library next.

ON THE WAY NOW

Well, here I am in the transit lounge of LA airport. It's yesterday!!! LOL

I had a good flight from Auckland. We are well looked after. I hadn't even sat down and I was offered a bubbly. Good start eh.

I've had two meals so far. The food has been superb. Our evening meal was 4 courses. Wine was served with each course - luxury. We even finished off with NZ cheese and grapes served with port. Every thing was served using the 'real thing'as well - proper plates, wine in glass - not plastic, silver service cutlery etc etc.
Breakfast started out with a selection of fruit juices, followed by muesli and yoghurt, then a hot course and finishing with a hot croissant or muffin with tea or coffee (and a chocolate). I decided not stop at the muesli course. If I didn't I could see myself regaining all the weight I've just lost before I even got to Hartlepool.

They've just announced the are going to start reboardind in 15 minutes so I'll finish here. Hope everyone is well and that Buddy's not drivoing Mum up the wall already.

Take care everyone. I'll try to get photosloaded after the next leg.

JUST ONE MORE SLEEP

Well it's nearly time to go. My big adventure starts tomorrow and I'm almost ready - just final packing to do. Dave's memorial DVD isn't finished, but there will be time to do that while I'm in Hartlepool. His family may have a few photos that I can add to it anyway.

I've been busy for the past couple of days except for a lovely, unexpected short break for coffee and lunch with Sandra C on Thursday.

I've decided to relax totally tonight, so this will be just a short message. I'll be back with my first true travel record as soon as I can get access to internet on my trip.

Be back soon.

THE COUNTDOWN CONTINUES

Well it all seems to be coming together now.

I got quite a bit done today - mainly because Mum took Buddy off my hands for me for most of the day. I've been trying to keep things as normal as possible for him. His actions today proved this is working.


We got up at about 8am. I let him outside and started fluffing around getting breakfast ready etc. He came back in and headed to the lounge as usual to watch out for 'trespassers'' on the footpath outside the house. After a while I wondered where the heck he was and found -



"Where have you been Mum???

My bags have been laid out in the spare bedroom for some time now, and I made the most of his absence by sorting out some of the clothes etc I'll be taking.

When he came home we to played the usual chase the dog around the house with his toy game. This was the final outcome -

"Well I'm packed. Whats the hold-up."

I'm starting to learn the benefit of keeping the camera ready.

Well back to more work on the DVD tonight. Two full days to go - I think I will make it. Nite Nite.

FAMILY AND FRIENDS

Well today's been both sort of productive, mainly fun.

This morning was taken up with trip preparation - sorting out summer - yeah summer!!! - clothes for the trip and general housework.

Lunch was with Mum and sisters Sue and Merle. It's great to be able to do this. I've really come to realise and appreciate how important they are to me. I was just sorry my brother Larry wasn't able to join us as well.

Then it was a drive to Levin to meet up with Diane and Jocelyn. Buddy travelled with me so we had a small 'pee break' on the way for his comfort. What a waste of time - he disgraced himself at Diane's, much to my embarrasment. Luckily his bad behaviour didn't ruin things altogether. It's really great to have a good gossip with good friends sometimes eh.

Now I'm catching up with EMails, and downloading Skype on my laptop - just in case someone wants to talk to me -and relaxing a little because it's full on for the rest of the week to avoid a panic on Saturday.

So it's coffee time. Buddy's asleep with his head on my lap.
Photos tomorrow. Nite nite.

TIME TO GET MY BUTT INTO GEAR

For months now I've been mentally preparing for my trip to take Dave back to his family in England. Suddenly there's only a few days to go and yep you guessed it - I'm nowhere near ready.

I've resorted to a 'to do' list - something I vowed I wouldn't need. I reckon I'll get everything done - gardens seen to, housework all up to date, everything I'll need packed, bills all paid, Dave's memorial DVD finished, Buddy comfortable with staying with Mum, Mum comfortable with having Buddy etc, etc, etc.

I'm really glad I'm not working. I reckon I will have been a basket case by now if I had been. Instead I'm starting to get excited about it all.

Tonight's plan is to do some more work on the DVD - interupted by Buddy's constant demands for attention. Why is it he can sleep through the day just to pester me when I need to concentrate????

Tomorrows plans include lunch with the family, followed by a drive to Levin with Buddy to visit CHH (where I used to work)to collect the duty free orders from my workmates and then coffee later with my two good friends Diane and Jocelyn.

This will most likely be the last time I'll get free to socialise until Saturday so I'm determined to get the best out of it.

On with the work.............

HANG ON FOR THE RIDE !!!

Well folks. This is my first ever post.

I had planned to have my blog organised by now - but I decided to spend time with Buddy instead. It's so good to have him home from the 'hospital' and almost back to normal.

Thanks for all those that left me messages. I'll repay the compliment once I sort everything out.

Then I'll add photos etc as well to make things more interesting. In the meantime theres a small Bichon begging for my attention.

So Buddy says hi. I'll say goodnight.

FIRST POST!

Hello! This is Chris D's first ever post... not that she knows it YET!
You see... I have set it up for her.. 'I' being Chris H from http://diet-coke-rocks.blogspot.com/.

THIS is Chris D:

She has just turned 60... she's gorgeous ... and she wanted a blog to document her upcoming trip to England.... so we can all see what she gets up to! And of course, once she comes home she can continue blogging to her hearts content.. I expect to see lots of photos of Buddy, her darling wee Bichon dog.

ABOVE: two of Chris D's bestest friends! Sandra on the left and ummm.. ME.. on the right! LOL

Right, I better go... and tell her she has a blog eh?

nite nite.

Ha ha, I said nite nite too soon... cos I have been playing around with a Header Photo... I tried green, purple and finally BLUE... it looks perfect to me! lol I do believe we are set to go!