Ya' All Right?

Spelling Counts

2012-02-01T16:46:00.000Z

Somewhere along the line in this blog, I believe I've had a bit of a rant about the correct use of "there, their, they're" and "your, you're". I will admit that poor grammar and spelling annoy me, and that was a bit of an issue when I moved to the UK. I mistakenly believed that the rules of grammar and spelling would be universal among us English speaking countries. Oh sure, I knew the British liked to throw in the odd "u" every now and then (colour, flavour, neighbour, etc) and I quickly adapted to that. In fact, I now have a hard time spelling these words in American English, as they just don't "look right" without the "u". I wasn't prepared to start adding additional "l's" and "s's" in such words as travelled, dialler, or focussed, but that too has become second nature.

And then came the grammar.

I remember proof-reading a business document shortly after I started work in the UK. I wondered what I was getting myself into when no one on my staff could construct a proper sentence. The red ink was everywhere. "The bank are", "the team are". Huh? I kept correcting the verb to the singular form ("the bank is", "the team is"). I was also getting frustrated with all of the "as at" phrases ("as at 30 April", "as at 1st July") and the need for me to go in and correct them all to "as of". After making corrections on a good 3-5 pages of a lengthy document, it finally dawned on me that perhaps, just perhaps, the rules of grammar are different on this side of the ocean. I ended up tossing my marked-up copy in the bin, printing off a new one, and asking a trusted colleague about the English rules of grammar. It took a bit of time, but I adjusted. In fact, it's now second-nature. So for you Americans who are annoyed with grammar and spelling mistakes, and have found them to exist in this blog - perhaps it's just proper British English. At least that's what I'm going to attribute it to (and yes, despite what we were taught years ago, it is actually an acceptable practice to end a sentence in a preposition).

Back to my pet peeve. Let's add another to the list. Spelling mistake? Lack of knowledge? Lack of care? Who knows. What I do know is that if I were the business owner, I'd be appalled to have this hanging in my window!

Loose - "not firmly fixed in place"
Lose - "to have less of something than you had before"
* Source - Cambridge Dictionaries Online

The Letter A

2012-02-01T15:43:00.000Z

Photo Project 2012

2012-01-30T20:39:00.000Z

Hope you didn't think I forgot about my photo project for 2012. The fact of the matter is, I've been working on it. The project in 2011 was focussed on quantity. And whilst I should have been taking the time to also focus on quality, most days it was more about capturing the day-to-day. Project 2012 is focussed on learning and getting to know more about my camera.

The goal is to find all 26 letters of the alphabet. Sounds easy enough, doesn't it? But my vision of it is more than just finding a letter on a sign - and that's where the challenge has been.

There are 2 rules to the project.
1. Thou shalt not shoot in "Auto" mode. Auto-focus may be used, but that's it.
2. Stick to the theme and try to complete it before the end of the year.

I may end up making a separate page for the project, but for now, I'm putting the photos on the main page and labelling them. To keep it clean and simple, project posts will be photos only. The first two entries each have 2 photos; at some point, I anticipate I'll narrow it down to the final 26.

The Letter X

2012-01-30T20:38:00.001Z

The Letter O

2012-01-30T20:37:00.000Z

Another One Down

2012-01-30T20:01:00.000Z

The programmes are piling up on the DVR, as I've been reading more and watching the telly less. Today, another book was added to the "Books Read in 2012" list. I have to say - I'm really loving the ability to check out library books on the Kindle (of which I owe a big thanks to my sister for e-mailing me her library card number and letting me use it). "Let's Take the Long Way Home", a non-fiction memoir of friendship, by Gail Caldwell had been on my Amazon wish list for months; turns out, it was available at the library. As I read it, I found myself highlighting quotes throughout, and that tells me it's something I might want to keep around and read again. But here's the thing with library loans on the Kindle - you can't just not return it to the library. Once the loan period is up, the book is automatically removed from your Kindle and sent back (which, honestly, given my chequered past with library books - that's a good thing!). So what does that mean? I think it pretty much means that I'm anticipating a $9.99 deduction from my Amazon gift card balance in the very near future.

Last Saturday of the Month

2012-01-28T14:00:00.000Z

Last Saturday of the Month - that means it's Farmers' Market day. And, although a bit cold, it was a beautiful morning for a walk to town centre. I managed to pick up some good Aberdeen Angus beef (a roast and a couple of steaks), some chicken, some good pork steaks, carrots, onions, and bread (from the bakery across the street). Not too bad, but nothing like the summer months when produce is in season. In total, I spent about £23 - and in meat alone, I got enough for 12 meals. Add to that the carrots, onions and bread, and I think I did pretty well. However, I was once again disappointed that the ostrich man wasn't there. Maybe next month.

The market is open from 9.00 - 13.00. I got there at about 11.30 and must have missed the morning crowd.

From across the street

Just over the road, the bakery I visit on a fairly regular basis - nothing like fresh bread

It's such a small store front that if you get 3 people in the shop, you can't move

Gingerbread whales and shortbread ducks. I avoided the sweets and left with my loaf of bread.

The local coffee shop - great coffee, poor wi-fi

I'm on a Roll

2012-01-27T22:46:00.000Z

The month of January isn't over yet, and I've already read 4 books. I suppose that's a bit deceiving though; 2 of the 4 were started prior to the new year.

I've finished "The Help" and updated the Reading List page. I really enjoyed the book and feel that 2 stars doesn't really convey that. However, I'm sticking with my rating system. To give it 3 stars would mean that I'd be seeking out additional books by this author - and there aren't any other Kathryn Stockett books on my (rather long) Amazon wish list (which I suppose is because this was her first, and still her only, novel).

Perhaps my favourite quote from the book: "I always thought insanity would be a dark, bitter feeling, but it is drenching and delicious if you really roll around in it."

Organisation!

2012-01-25T21:55:00.001Z

I like to be organised. I just don't always like to take the time to get there. That explains why I've put been putting off a goal of mine - which is to get some of my paperwork organised. Today, I finally got a start on it. It may look a mess, but it's actually in pretty good shape now. At least "like" papers are together and I've found some needed tax documents. Another couple of hours tomorrow and I should be able to wrap it up. At least I hope so - I need the desk space!

Finally

2012-01-21T22:42:00.001Z

It took a good 6 or 7 months, but I finally finished "Pictures of the Mind: What the New Neuroscience Tells Us About Who We Are". I really debated on the rating for this one. To qualify for 2 stars, it has to be enjoyable. If it were really enjoyable, it shouldn't have taken me so long to read. But... It really did have some bits in it that were just fascinating (comas, the brain and addiction, the potential use of brain scans / brain activity to show intention, etc). So, two stars it is. I'm just happy to move it out of the "currently reading" section! Reading List page - updated.

In other news, I've had a few of my pictures posted to another website. If you haven't figured it out through previous posts, I kind of like trees, especially giant sequoia trees. There's a website that lists the locations of redwood trees throughout the UK, and the site now includes the trees I found and photographed at Wrest Park. Yeah! The site is Redwood World, and my pictures are here.

Beyond Ridiculous

2012-01-20T14:32:00.000Z

What are things coming to when a high school team can't call themselves the Cougars? Seriously, what does it say about us as a people? I saw this news article today stating, "Students at a new Utah high school are facing disappointment after their choice for a new school mascot was rejected for one of the strangest reasons possible: Board members deemed it might be seen as offensive to middle-aged women." I kid you not. This is ridiculousness to the nth power. Less than 30 miles down the road is Provo, Utah. Home of Brigham Young University. A university with an honour code, and a university that "exists to provide a university education in an atmosphere consistent with the principles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints" (quote from the BYU website). It's also a university with a pretty decent athletics program. Hall of Fame quarterback Steve Young, who played for the San Francisco 49ers, was a BYU Cougar. That's right. The Brigham Young University Cougars. Maybe word hasn't hit campus yet that cougar is slang for "a middle-aged woman seeking a romantic relationship with a younger man."

But hey, let's explore this a bit further. If this were a court of law, the rejection of the name "cougars", based on the thought that it could be deemed as offensive to some, would set precedence. Can you imagine how many teams would need to change their name?

I'm wondering if the Queen and her family would be offended that the baseball team in Kansas City is called the Royals? Is the Army okay with those folks in Texas naming their baseball team the Rangers? And how about the San Diego Padres. Do you think the Catholic priests are offended? And if we really want to go to the dark side, how about the Oregon State Beavers, the USC Trojans, and the Nashville Predators. Names like this, with such strong sexual overtones, are likely corrupting our youth.

C'mon people! This is political correctness gone too far. Lighten up and stop taking everything so seriously!

It Sucks!

2012-01-19T20:31:00.001Z

Pretty sad when the highlight of your day is getting a new hoover. First, a reminder on the definition and use of the word hoover. For the British, any vacuum cleaner, regardless of brand, is called a hoover. Not only is it used as a noun (as in, "I bought a new hoover today"), it's also used as a verb (as in, "I hoovered the lounge").

To be fair, I got my money's worth out of the vacuum cleaner I had, but that's only because it was free. And maybe it could have been saved with a bit of work, but I honestly just could not stand to look at it any longer. Seriously, the thing alternated between picking up nothing (not even a little piece of fuzz) to hoovering up dirt and then spitting it out the back (really!). It's off to the tip tomorrow.

So I broke down and went to Argos today. I can't believe this was my first trip ever to Argos - I think it's a British institution. If any of you Americans remember the old Service Merchandise stores, it's kind of like that. There are a few items on display in the showroom, but for the most part, you pick your merchandise out of the catalogue. You then pay for it at the counter and someone goes to the back storeroom to get it for you.

For the record - this new hoover sucks! And I mean that in a good way. I hoovered the whole house and didn't drop the f-bomb once!

Leaving the car park - I couldn't help but laugh at this sign.

As for the rest of my day, I did a little work at the pub and got in a good workout at the gym.

Stick to the Roads

2012-01-14T23:24:00.003Z

There's a scene in the film "An American Werewolf in London" where Jack and David set off to walk through the moors in Northern England. As they're thanking the gentleman who gave them a ride, he reminds them to "stick to the roads". Of course, after leaving The Slaughtered Lamb they go off road, in the dark, and we all know what happens next. If you don't know what happens, well then, it's time you watched the movie.

Let me tell you why I'm thinking about this particular movie. Although it was only about 35 degrees today, the skies were blue and the wind was non-existent. I found a map for a nearby footpath (a 6.75 mile loop through a couple of villages), grabbed the camera and took off. I started my walk at about 13.15. Allowing time for photo stops, I figured it would take 2.5 hours, 3.0 at most. Sunset these days is at about 16.15, and it's not completely dark until close to 17.00. Shouldn't be a problem.

The key word here is “shouldn’t”. If you’ve been reading the blog for awhile, you may remember that I’ve posted several times about the footpath maps; they’re not always very clear. Today was no exception. To be perfectly honest – at some point I took a wrong turn and got lost beyond all belief. I’m surprised I’m still not out there walking around somewhere.

Coincidentally, as of my walk last week, I started taking my GPS with me and recording my "tracks”. I haven’t really learned to use this to figure out how far I’ve gone, but it does show a line of the route I’ve taken. So, after 2 plus hours of walking and realising that I had no clue where I was, I looked at the gps. The little blue line showing my route should have been looping back around to my starting point. However, I saw that I had somehow managed to walk in a relatively straight line (despite the many turns I’d taken) and was moving further and further away from the starting point. If I were to simply backtrack, I'd never get back to my car before dark. What I couldn’t see on the gps were any roads or towns, so I fired up the maps application on my mobile to see if that would help. It helped in the sense that I could see I needed to head north. So here’s where I broke all the rules of good footpath etiquette. The compass on the gps pointed north, and I took the shortest route available, which was a straight line through numerous fields. Besides, at this point, there were no footpaths to be found.

After walking a good 45 minutes, I finally found a road and a couple of people to help me identify my location on the footpath map. By now, it was after 16.00, I was still 2 miles away from the car, and the sun was slipping below the tree line. Despite knowing where I was and having a choice of 2 footpaths to get me back to the car, the fact that it was getting dark was a concern. The couple helping me said, and I quote, “this time of night, I’d stick to the roads.”

So, as I left the road and headed across the ~~moors~~ field on the footpath, I could think of nothing but “An American Werewolf in London.” The good news - there was no full moon, so no need to fear that the werewolves would be out. The bad - there was no moon at all, which made it incredibly dark and difficult to find the gates as I walked across the fields.

When I got home, I recreated (to the best of my ability) the route I took on Gmaps Ped. Turns out it took me 9 miles to cover that 6.75 mile footpath. Now, on to the pictures.

A view over Yelden, my starting point

Self-portrait from atop Yelden Castle, which is now little more than an earthworks mound.

Another view from Yelden Castle

Just outside Yelden

Heading into Melchbourne. I just loved this tree

In Melchbourne

While getting directions from a couple of people, they pointed out to me that a "hunt" was going on. Sure enough, we looked across to a nearby field and saw loads of dogs running and barking. Sadly, that's all I could see. But as I was walking down the road, I came upon a couple of the people who were in the hunt and they were kind enough to let me take a picture.

Time for Tyres

2012-01-11T18:25:00.001Z

So, when I left the house this morning I expected to spend about £10 to get that leaky tyre fixed. Yes, I've tried before and had no luck, but I was convinced things would be different this time. Because the tyre has been losing air more quickly than before, I've been checking tyre pressures much more frequently. And as a result of checking more frequently, it turns out that the real culprit is the back left tyre, not the front right. With this new-found knowledge, I was positive the leak would be located and patched, and that bleeping yellow warning light would be a thing of the past.

Rather than wait around at the tyre shop, I took a walk around town and ran a few errands. When I got back, Mr Tyre Guy greeted me with, "Well Ms C, we checked your tyre but could find no leak. In fact, I had the guys check it twice, but no luck. And we can't fix what we can't find. But I should tell you that your tyres are pretty well worn. In fact, the tread on one is below the legal limit, and the other three are almost there as well." So instead of spending £10 to fix a leak, I ended up parting with £650 for 4 new tyres, and that's with a 25% off promotion! Was I surprised? No. In fact, I predicted it in my post on 13 December.

It's not that I mind spending money on tyres - it's a necessary evil of owning a car. What I do mind is that the tyres don't seem to last. Maybe I'm comparing chalk and cheese (British term for comparing apples and oranges), but if I compare tyre wear on my Pathfinder to that on my A3, it's nowhere close. The Pathfinder has over 90,000 miles on it and is on its second set of tyres - which show very little wear. The A3 has 60,000 miles on it and is now on its third set of tyres. It just doesn't seem right that I only get 20,000 miles out of a tyre here, when I've always been able to get 35,000 - 65,000 out of them in the States. Yes, I know the maths don't work - it appears as though I got 30,000 miles out of the tyres, which isn't really the case. It should be noted that although this is the third "set" of tyres to be put on the car, they've all been swapped out multiple times due to bulges or wear. In total, the 4 tyres put on today are tyres number 12, 13, 14, and 15. Yes, that's correct. I've had the car for just over 4 years and 60,000 miles and have put 15 tyres on it.

Okay, now that I've had my little rant, image how I felt when this *&$@ing yellow light popped on about 5 miles down the road!

Yep, that's the "low tyre pressure" light. I stopped at the petrol station to check the pressure; all was well. I'm hopeful that the guys at the shop just forgot to reset it. If it pops on again within the next week, I think you'll hear me screaming halfway round the world.

On the Footpath

2012-01-10T21:32:00.002Z

I was doing a bit of work on the computer this afternoon and realised it was blue skies and 50 degrees outside. We don't see that too often in January, so I found a nearby walk and headed upstairs to change clothes. As is often the case, by the time I got changed the sky was clouded over with not a peep of blue to be seen. But it wasn't raining, so I headed out anyway.

Today's walk was a loop on the footpaths from Aldwincle to Wadenhoe and back. Once again, I make a plea to the US public to adopt the public rights of way system that is used extensively (and responsibly) throughout the UK. There are various types of paths; some are for use by walkers only, whilst others also permit horses, cyclists, and horse-drawn vehicles. Footpaths (walkers only) total over 91,000 miles, while total paths total about 117,000 miles. "It's a beautiful thing."

Starting off in Aldwincle. Ironic that the "Concealed Entrance" sign is concealed. I'm thinking placement of the sign on this side of the stone wall would have been a better choice.

Leaving Aldwincle along the Nene Way, a 110 mile long-distance footpath.

Came upon this sundial as I was entering Wadenhoe

St Michael and All Angels Church in Wadenhoe, dating from the 13th century

It wouldn't be a footpath if it didn't pass by a pub - The King's Head in Wadenhoe. It looked like a great pub, but I didn't have time to stop (needed to get back to Aldwincle before dark). Perhaps another day.

In Wadenhoe

On an unrelated note, I've updated the Reading List page. I've added a few comments for each of the books along with a personalised rating system. And yes, I know what they say about opinions and I'm certainly not offended if you don't agree with mine. I've done this mostly for myself; a means of keeping a record of what I've read and enjoyed. Please feel free to share your thoughts or recommend a book.

New Year, New Look

2012-01-09T11:33:00.001Z

Can you tell what I was doing over the weekend?

It was time to give the blog a complete makeover and, in the process, learn a (very little) bit about CSS and HTML coding. I actually just use the templates provided by blogger, and then make my own adjustments (like adding the picture at the top and rearranging the layout a bit). It's still a work in progress, but I like that it's a bit brighter and fresher than what I was using.

Now, about those photography projects I had in mind..... Need to get to work on that, hopefully within the next week.

Damn Wind!

2012-01-05T19:21:00.002Z

Second post of the day. Just couldn't pass this up.

I've had enough of the wind. It really started to pick up overnight, to the point that I couldn't sleep. Do you know that noise you can make by pinching and stretching the opening of a balloon when releasing the air? That's what it sounded like in my house this morning, only it was much louder and lasted for several hours! What had started out as a good nights' sleep disappeared at some point very early this morning. We had sustained winds around 30 mph, with gusts in the 60-70 mph range. The BBC has an article about it here (both the East Midlands and Northamptonshire, the area where I live, are mentioned).

To top it off, today was rubbish day. I didn't bother to put my bins out for collection, as I knew they'd blow over and scatter my recycling throughout the neighbourhood. Instead, I kept them tucked into a little area next to the house in hopes they wouldn't blow over. It didn't work.

11.13am - All 4 blown over with some of the recyclable rubbish scaling the fence and ending up in the back garden (the 4th is a smaller food waste container - it's against the fence near the gate). I moved the recycle bin inside the fence to a corner that offered some protection from the wind.

12.18pm - Despite being tucked back by the grey bin with the chimney helping to block the wind, we ended up with another one blown over.

14.31 - I think Mr. Brown is just playing with me now. He decided to move halfway across the driveway, but didn't tip this time.

I ended up making readjustments twice more, but believe the wind is now starting to die down a bit. Let's hope so!

London in the Dark

2012-01-05T18:26:00.000Z

I had a very nice time visiting with my cousin Erin in London yesterday - it's nice to have family with me on this side of the Atlantic. It was her first full day in London, so we did a bit of walking around to see some of the major sights. We also got her set up with some pounds instead of dollars, an Oyster card for the Tube, and some adapters for her US electricals. Not only that, but she had her first true British Fish and Chips and stepped out of her comfort zone to enjoy one of our fine British beers. Another bit of British culture she was able to experience? Wind and rain. Yep. Despite the forecast showing a picture of the sun, we had rain. Can't say it surprised me at all. The only thing that does surprise me is that fact that I continue to use the weather forecast to make "umbrella decisions". One day I'll learn that you just don't go anywhere without the brolly.

Looking at my last post, which had no picture with it, was quite odd. Maybe that's why I'm loading this one up with multiple photos.

London after dark - a bit of a challenge to get some halfway decent shots, but it was nice to see everything lit up.

Cousin Erin rides the tube for the first time. All smiles!

I don't know what it is, but I just love Big Ben. Every time I see it, I have to take more pictures.

Horse Guards Parade. Two guards on duty, although there didn't appear to be too much to "guard".

Admiralty Arch

Night time view of the eye from Parliament Street, just opposite Downing Street. There was a demonstration going on about the use of conflict minerals from DR Congo to make mobiles (aka cell phones). Did you see the film "Blood Diamond" with Leonardo DiCaprio (if not, I recommend watching it)? Same type of issue, but with minerals.

Piccadilly Circus

A view of some Christmas lights from Piccadilly Circus

And finally, there were quite a few Christmas trees around the City.

I posted a picture of the Lego tree before, but was at St Pancras again and got a better view. Just a note that it's the "world's tallest Lego Christmas tree" and is made from about 600,000 Legos. There is also a small note placed at the bottom asking people not to take "any souvenirs".

Christmas Tree at Parliament

Christmas tree at Westminster Abbey

Christmas Tree in Trafalgar Square

Christmas Tree at Buckingham Palace. It was difficult to get a picture of the tree, as it was dark and not close to the gates. You'll just have to trust me that those lights behind the big front gates are on a tree (click on picture to get a bigger view).

And for my sister (if you made it to the end of this post) - we DID eat at the pub I wanted. They had 3 "pies of the day" - none of which were steak and ale. Perhaps another day.

Now What?

2012-01-03T20:59:00.000Z

I have to say, it was rather odd not taking a photo and posting to the blog yesterday (and no photo today); I could definitely tell something was missing. Tomorrow will bring about a bit of normality though. One of my cousins from the US arrived in the UK tonight and will be in London for the next couple of months. I'm heading down to spend the day with her, and I'll certainly have the camera with me. I've also come up with some ideas for photography projects in 2012 - some I found online, some I've come up with myself. Stay tuned for more info - perhaps the day in London tomorrow will be day 1 of a new project.

Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T16:41:00.000Z

Seriously, you didn't think I could just stop cold turkey, did you? I went for a walk today and took the camera along. Ended up in Irthlingborough, a neighbouring town, and took a few photos. It made it to 50 degrees today but was very grey outside - which is quite normal (the grey, not the 50 degrees in January).

Three Sixty Five

2011-12-31T20:47:00.003Z

The 365 Project #365

I made it! One year ago I decided to take a picture a day to document a year of my life. Hard to believe, but I actually did it every single day, without fail. I've had several people ask me about the project, which was often followed by the question, "Why?". The answer to that - I expected this to be a year of change. In fact, I not only expected it, I planned on big changes throughout the year and actually dubbed 2011 as "the year of me" (which really started towards the end of 2010).

So, what were the changes?

I put my health first.

And it's paid off. In a big way.
I decided it was time to exercise and eat right. I joined a gym in November 2010 and have worked out regularly since. I even managed to run my first "official" 5k. More often than not, I get my five a day. I've (almost entirely) eliminated processed foods. I haven't had a soda in at least 15 months (and I don't miss it at all!). I can't remember the last time I bought white bread. I gave up coffee, for awhile. Over the past couple of months, it's started to creep back into my regime, but I'm justifying that with the reported health benefits it provides, including a good dose of anti-oxidants. Don't believe me? Google "health benefits coffee".

The reward?
I lost weight and now have a "healthy BMI", I came off the blood pressure meds, got a clean bill of health from the GP, and I feel great. Oh - and, I got a boat load of new clothes.

What else changed?
I moved house. This wasn't expected, nor desired. The owners of the house I was letting decided it was time to leave Switzerland and move back home. As a result, I had to move. If you've followed this blog for awhile, you'll know that I loved Harrold and was gutted to have to leave my little village. But I'm now settled in a new house, in a new little town, and have managed just fine. It's not as charming as Harrold, but it's working.

I joined the ranks of the unemployed and have made the most of it. Taking time off to travel and decompress is something that most people, for one reason or another, can't afford to do. Am I cutting into my savings account? Sure I am. Has it been worth it? Absolutely. On a scale of 1-10, stress levels have gone from an 11 to a 2. I've had Jamón ibérico in Spain, Trappist beer in Belgium, dipped my toes in Lake Geneva (aka Lake Léman) in Switzerland, and I've kayaked in a fjord in Norway. I've also been back to the US a couple of times to visit family and friends. You can't ask for much more than that.

I met my goal of reading more in 2011. I've always liked reading but never made the time to do it. I'm so glad I did this year, and I plan on continuing to do so in 2012. Want to know the secret? Get yourself a Kindle.

I've even made a few new friends.

Life is good.

It's been awhile since I've been able to say that, and mean it. The changes above, along with various and regular doses of therapy for the body, mind, and soul, have helped me to make 2011 a year of change - for the good.

And many thanks to my family, friends, and readers of this blog for your support and encouragement along the way. It's meant more than you'll ever know.

Okay, enough of the year-end round up. It's time to move on to number 365. The photo for day 1 of 2011 was taken whilst I was on a walk through Harrold. On day 365 I was also out walking. Today it was at Wrest Park, one of the English Heritage sites.

I was thrilled to find several Sequoia trees at Wrest Park.

Given my reading list in 2011, I felt this was an appropriate picture to add to the blog.

For more pictures of my walk around Wrest Park, click the photo album below. As always, I think the pictures look best if you select "slideshow" and view full screen.

Wrest Park

So, what's on the agenda for 2012? More of the same, with the exception of unemployment. It's been fun but I'm ready to be challenged a bit and am hopeful that I'll get a new job in the year ahead.

What's on your 2012 agenda? Not sure yet? How about starting it off with a nice long walk. It worked well for me.

One More to Go

2011-12-30T20:00:00.000Z

The 364 Project #364

For my second to the last photo, you'd think I might come up with something a bit better than this. However, it's been a slow photo day. I'll see what I can find tomorrow. It's the last one - I ought to make it count.

"Home" Again

2011-12-29T16:53:00.000Z

The 365 Project #363

Someone once asked me if "home" referred to the US or to the UK. To be honest, if I'm in the US, "home" refers to the UK and if I'm in the UK, "home" refers to the US. When you step back and look at that statement, you could interpret it in two ways. I'm either homeless or I'm fortunate enough to have two homes. I tend to go with the latter.

I arrived "home" safely this morning with no major traffic issues on the M25 or the M1 - probably due to the holidays and a lot of people not working this week. I usually like to arrange for grocery delivery on the day I get home, but with the weather issues in the US yesterday, I wasn't sure I'd get home on time. This meant a quick trip to the grocery store today. And because I so dislike going to the grocery store, I only got a few necessities and will order the rest for delivery tomorrow or Saturday.

I've seen quite a few items at the grocery store described as "American" - looks like they're starting to get a bit more specific.

And right next to the grocery store is the Random House Group Archive and Library. I figured since I aimed to read more books in 2011, and I did (by a long shot!), I'd include a shot of it in the blog.

Travel Day

2011-12-29T16:33:00.000Z

The 365 Project #362 - 28 Dec

Yesterday was a travel day and I didn't get to post, but I did manage a quick photo. Very quick. Before disassembling my camera and packing it, I opened the front door at my sister's house and snapped my picture of the day. Despite repeated warnings of 2 - 4 inches of snow (and a serious amount of drama) from the weather forecasters, this is all we got. However, there was also quite a bit of wind, especially in the New York area. This caused air traffic delays that impacted many travellers. My flight was initially delayed in excess of 2 hours, thus jeopardising my connection from Newark to London. It ended up being delayed about an hour and landed only 20 minutes late. Others weren't so lucky. My flight to London left on time and we got home a few minutes early, with luggage. Always a plus!

Grocery Stores

2011-12-28T00:17:00.001Z

The 365 Project #361

One thing the Americans know how to do better than the British - grocery stores! I would love for my hometown Buehler's to open up a store in the East Midlands of England. What's better? Everything from the car park, to the trolleys (aka carts), to the bagging and loading of your groceries in your car. In England, the cashiers sit at their register, you pack you own groceries, and you wheel them out to the car park and load your car. Oh, and the British trolleys move side-to-side instead of forward and back.

If you look closely, you'll notice a bit of snow on the ground. It's coming down quite a bit and is supposed to total 2-4 inches by tomorrow. That, coupled with heavy winds in Ohio and Newark, NJ, may cause a bit of trouble for my flights home tomorrow. Am keeping my fingers crossed that everything is on-time, as I've got an appointment back home that I don't want to miss.

The Water Tower

2011-12-26T23:14:00.000Z

The 365 Project #360

Another busy day. A little shopping, visiting with family, and out for a run (which provided the view for today's photo).

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-26T01:39:00.003Z

The 365 Project #359

Merry Christmas everyone! Christmas is about family, and I've had a nice time visiting with mine over the past few days.

As for today - I think everyone had a great day and was more than pleased with what Santa left under the tree.

Nephew C received a new Kindle Fire and we haven't seen him since!

Nephew B gave the dog a hug and then headed to his bedroom to make use of the new gaming chair that Santa left under the tree.

I think Niece B is going to sleep with her new hat tonight

Cousin Steven, Grandma C, my sister, and I

It's Christmas Eve!

2011-12-25T00:46:00.000Z

The 365 Project #358

It's Christmas Eve, and it's been a busy one! First up, I went out for a run this morning. You know you're in small town Ohio when horse and buggy transportation is just the norm.

This was followed up by lunch at a nearby Mexican restaurant. We tried to go to our favourite place, Señor Pancho's, but they were closed for the holiday. So instead, we ended up at El Campesino's in Wooster. It was good, but comes in second to Señor Pancho's.

Next on the agenda was a family get-together for Christmas Eve. It was great to see everyone, especially the newest edition to my cousin's family. Here he is with his grandpa, aka my Uncle.

And with all of that done, we're now getting ready for the first annual Wii Olympics at the Wilson household. Good luck to all the participating countries and contestants.

O Tannenbaum

2011-12-23T23:12:00.000Z

The 365 Project #357

Gone to the Dogs

2011-12-22T23:55:00.000Z

The 365 Project #356

One of the great things about coming home is the chance to visit with friends and family I don't get to see very often. Tonight, my niece and younger nephew went with me to visit my Auntie C and cousin M. Not only did I get to see my Aunt's beautiful new house, but we all had a great time catching up and playing with the dogs. And believe it or not, my niece allowed pictures to be taken!

Auntie C, Cousin M, and I along with Zoe and Riley

Youngest nephew, niece, and I

My niece is under there somewhere, whilst my Auntie C thought she was being invisible

Molly patiently waiting for someone to throw her ball

Angie's

2011-12-22T01:46:00.000Z

The 365 Project #355

Dinner tonight with some very special people! It was great to see you Aunt Sandy, Charlie, and Pat. Looks like Angie's is becoming our favourite destination, and for good reason!

A Day in Columbus

2011-12-21T03:58:00.001Z

The 365 Project #354

I spent the day in Columbus driving around a couple of my old neighbourhoods and visiting with friends. The temperature was a bit warmer than the last few days, creating a very thick fog in the city. At one point, I couldn't see the buildings on the other side of the road.

First stop, German Village; just a few blocks from one of my old houses. If you're not familiar with German Village, it's on the National Register of Historic Places, where it is the largest privately funded preservation district on the list. It's also one of the premier historic restorations in the world (source - Wikipedia). Definitely worth a visit if you ever find yourself in Ohio's capital city.

While in the village, I paid a visit to my very favourite coffee house, Cup o' Joe, to pick up a half-pound of Beethoven's Blend (my favourite blend of coffee). I can't say that I miss living in Columbus, but I definitely miss my daily visit to Cup o' Joe's.

And here's another German Village icon - Schmidt's Restaurant und Sausage Haus

I then headed to the north side of the city, stopping off at another "house" where I used to live. This one is a bit more unique and is widely known as "The Shoe", as in The Horseshoe. The Ohio State University has had a Stadium Scholarship Dormitory since 1933, when 75 men moved into the southwest corner of the stadium and started a tradition of cooperation and scholarship. The residence hall was located in the stadium until 1999, when it moved to Mack Hall. The scholarship dormitory remained there until 2005, when it then moved to it's current location at the Scholars Houses on 10th Ave. Entry to the dorm was awarded through scholarships based on academics and financial need. In exchange for reduced housing fees, we ran the dorm ourselves, with the help of a cook and a maintenance worker. Additionally, we had to maintain grade point average requirements. I lived in the stadium dorm for 2 years and can't begin to say how many great memories I have of my time there. Sneaking into football games, chem-hose fights, spiking cans on the gates, the music room, sunbathing on C-Deck, and late night "get togethers" on B-Deck when we would have the whole stadium to ourselves. And if you think about it, there aren't many folks who can say they've had 100,000 over to their house on a Saturday afternoon.

Interesting to note - Ohio Stadium is also on the National Register of Historic Places. It holds over 102,000 people and is the 4th largest football stadium in the United States, and the 7th largest non-racing stadium in the world.

Although the stadium has had extensive refurbishments, the door to my unit was just about where you see the two doors pictured below.

And finally, dinner with friends! I had a great evening ladies - so good to see you!

Debbie and I

Karen, Debbie, Kathy and I

No More Metal Mouth

2011-12-19T21:58:00.000Z

The 365 Project #353

It was a big day for my youngest nephew. After 2 years, the braces finally came off!

Today at noon

A few hours later

Santa Pops and Smoked Chicken

2011-12-18T22:46:00.000Z

The 365 Project #352

My sister's creativity in the kitchen continues. Today, her and my niece made Santa hat cake pops. Bake a cake, scoop out little cake balls. Freeze them. Shape them. Dip them in chocolate. They taste as good as they look.

In the meantime, my brother-in-law put a couple of chickens in his new smoker. It was supposed to be the "trial run" before he smokes a turkey for Christmas dinner, however, the verdict is still out as to whether or not the Christmas turkey gets smoked or oven-cooked. As for the chicken, everyone gave it two thumbs up! Good job, Mikey!

Christmas Cookies

2011-12-17T23:15:00.000Z

The 365 Project #351

Nothing says Christmas like a batch of cut-out cookies.

Niece and sister took care of the dirty work

And they did a nice job on most of the cookies

And then there are the bad Santas. Niece's sad Santa is at the top, followed by my two "creative" attempts at making Santa cookies. They may not be pretty, but they taste good.

Thank You, Chipotle!

2011-12-16T22:16:00.001Z

The 365 Project #350

Who Let The Elves Out?

2011-12-16T01:38:00.000Z

The 365 Project #349

One of the many joys of being home - attending your niece's middle school choir and band concert. That would be her in the black shirt.

25 Hours and Counting

2011-12-15T01:10:00.000Z

The 365 Project #348

It's been a long day, but I've made it to Ohio. Flights were all on time, EWR was the least busy I've ever seen it, and my luggage made it to Cleveland with me. I've now been up for 25 hours and probably won't make it much longer.

Tyres

2011-12-13T17:44:00.001Z

The 365 Project #347

You know, I'm getting really tired of going to the service station to put air in my tyres (British spelling). I've had them checked for leaks, but none were found. I used to be able to go a couple of weeks before the air pressure would drop and turn on the little alarm light on my dashboard. Now, I'm stopping to put air in the tyres every 4 - 5 days. On a positive note, the tread is wearing down and they'll need replaced soon.

It's not often I look forward to buying new tyres, but I'm more than ready for these to be gone!

LX350

2011-12-12T21:54:00.000Z

The 365 Project #346 (12 Dec)

Time to come home. I've done enough travelling over the past couple of years that my miles moved me up to the Gold Elite status in Continental's frequent flyer program. The best perk that comes with the Gold status is entrance to the airline lounges, even when you're flying coach. Here I am in the smallest lounge I've ever seen. How small is it? They don't even have a restroom. Or perhaps I should put it this way - if they do have one, I couldn't find it. No matter - I still got to enjoy the lounge today and I'm not complaining! You see, I didn't earn as many miles this year (due to flying coach instead of business class) and am not going to hit Gold status. I'll make it to Silver with my trip home for Christmas, but no lounge access in 2012 unless I pony up and buy a business class ticket.

Bern, Switzerland

2011-12-12T21:42:00.000Z

The 365 Project #345 (11 Dec)

We took the train from Geneva to Bern to go to a Christmas market. Once again, we had great weather. I have to say, the beauty and charm of Bern far surpasses that of Geneva. I had been to Bern once before about 10 or 11 years ago - I really liked it then, and I still do today. One thing I remember about the first trip is that I wanted to see where Albert Einstein lived. I asked quite a few of the locals and none knew. After much walking and much searching, I finally found it. This trip, I wasn't looking for it, and literally walked right up to the door. It's a flat up on the first or second floor of a building; on the ground floor is a really nice coffee shop. And with a bit of a chill in the air, it was a welcomed stop on Sunday.

The Christmas market itself was very enjoyable (and very busy!). There were two different markets in town, one at Waisenhausplatz and one at Münsterplatz. The bigger of the two consisted mostly of items you'd find in a store or at a flea market. The smaller market was all hand-crafted, artisan items. If you happen to be in Bern before Christmas, be sure to stop at the Münsterplatz market.

The one photo that isn't here, but really should be, is a photo of roasted chestnuts. My friend Paige and I have had several conversations of roasted chestnuts, all of which centred on them being mushy and not very tasty (although I had never tried them before). As luck would have it, there was someone roasting chestnuts at the market. Let's just say I prefer them unroasted. As for my friend, she managed them much better than I did.

Some photos from around Bern

I really liked all the trees in the windows

Beautiful street, beautiful clock

The view from the other side of the clock tower

It was hard to get a photo at the market; the walkways were fairly narrow and the crowds were wide.

The obligatory holiday beer photo

Paige and I at the market

More Switzerland Fun

2011-12-12T20:43:00.000Z

I had a wonderful time in Switzerland, but am now back to reality. Time to catch up on the photos!

The 365 Project #344 (10 Dec)
After 344 days, it's time to have a guest contributor to the 365 project. But first, in order to qualify for completion of my project, I have to post one of my photos for the day (self-imposed rules). Let's get that out of the way first.

Fantastic weather made for a great afternoon of walking around Geneva. Something I noticed that was both puzzling and amusing were the Santas. They all seemed to be "elbows up" (and there were quite a few of them).

And now for the good stuff! The 51st International Geneva Horse Show. It really was amazing to see how high and how far these horses can jump when they're not even close to running at full speed. The photos below, which represent day 344 are submitted by Paige. Difficult angles, poor lighting, sitting halfway up the arena - you'd never know by looking at the photos. Thanks Paige, great shots!

This guy ended up winning the entire thing. Horse and rider just landed the jump, and you can see they are both already looking and positioned to move to the left for the next jump.

Up and over

Great shot, mid-jump

Welcome to Geneva!

2011-12-10T08:58:00.000Z

The 365 Project #343 (9 Dec)

Arriving in Geneva... In line with my last visit, on board instructions told all of us passengers that our baggage would be on carousel 12. Of course, during my last visit a few weeks ago I learned there are only 9 baggage carousels in the airport. My suitcase actually arrived on carousel 1 last visit. So this time, I headed straight to carousel 1, but found my luggage on carousel 2. At this point, my best guess is that carousel 12 means carousel 1 or carousel 2.

Still Dark and Windy

2011-12-08T16:39:00.001Z

The 365 Project #342

You know it's dark and dreary out when the street signs and your automatic headlights come on at two o'clock in the afternoon. Just another winter day in the UK.

Hoping for sunshine in Switzerland, as I'm heading there tomorrow to visit with my friend Paige. Plans include a big-time international horse show, which I'm really looking forward to seeing, and a day trip to the Christmas markets in Bern. And then it's back to the UK for a couple of days before heading off to see the family in the States.

With the travel plans, the blog may not get updated daily, although I'll be finishing strong with my photo-a-day project. Twenty-three more to go!

The Go-To Dinner

2011-12-07T20:02:00.000Z

The 365 Project #341

Well, I've got nothing. I went out today but didn't take the camera. And I missed some prime opportunities at home. It was so windy today that the wheelie bins blew over - 3 times! To give you an idea of how strong the wind was today, the bins weren't empty, and one of them was up against the house in a protected little area.

So, here's dinner cooking. When in doubt, go for the home-made turkey taco salad. Sound good? Here's how you make it. Brown 500 grams of turkey breast mince (for you Americans - use 1 pound). Add 1/2 cup water and taco seasoning mix, simmer about 10 minutes. In the last few minutes, add some freshly chopped coriander (aka cilantro) and fresh lime juice to taste. The recipe for the seasoning mix is here. I omit the instant onion (I use fresh onion on the salad) and use only 1/2 of the salt listed. When done, spoon over some shredded romaine lettuce, add onion, fat-free greek yogurt, and Branston Hot Chilli and Jalapeño relish (or the salsa of your choice). Sometimes I throw a few jalapenos on as well, and sometimes I add rice. Of course, for many people it wouldn't be a taco without cheese and tomato. Makes 3-4 servings.

Lego my Christmas Tree

2011-12-06T16:15:00.000Z

The 365 Project #340

I decided to head to London for a few hours today and finish up my shopping. There really wasn't much left to do, but I wanted a few things that I could only get in London. Whilst out walking around, I came across a Sports Direct store. Seems they're jumping the gun a bit on sales - it's only 6 December and they've already begun their January sales. What will they do when January rolls around? This particular chain has stores around the country and every time I see one, they always have signs up that say "everything must go". I thought they were going out of business, but nope. They just always have those signs up.

At St Pancras train station, I snapped a photo of the tree.

Look a bit more closely - it's made entirely of Legos.

Something Fishy

2011-12-05T18:03:00.001Z

The 365 Project #339

Ahhh, the local fish spa.... Not something I'm keen on trying, and apparently, many portions of the USA feel the same. From what I can gather, this service is illegal in many states. What is the service? Basically, a special kind of fish is used to nibble away the dead skin on your feet, leaving you with smooth soles. Again, not something I want to try.

This particular spa is in Northampton town centre.

This is the best photo I could get of the tanks

And just outside the spa, I spotted these 3 rhinos.

A Bit Graphic

2011-12-04T18:23:00.000Z

The 365 Project #338

The UK clearly outdoes the US when it comes to warning labels on cigarettes (as do about 30 other countries). In fact, as of August 2011, the tobacco companies in the US were suing the FDA over a new law that would force them to place graphic health warnings on cigarette packs. New warnings are to be in use by September 2012, but the tobacco companies claim it violates their constitutional right to free speech. Source - BBC news. Unfortunately, the tobacco companies may be winning.

Knotting

2011-12-03T19:29:00.000Z

The 365 Project #337

Took a drive today and followed the signs to the village of Knotting. The church is partly of 12th century Norman construction (per Wikipedia). I would post more pictures of the village, but this is about all there was.

"Make Mine a Guinness"

2011-12-02T18:15:00.000Z

The 365 Project #336

Went out for another walk today and found that the new footpath is making progress; about half of it is now blacktop. The workers were working on the rest. It won't be muddy anymore, but it's also lost a bit of character.

I found a couple of interesting cars on the way.

Looks like someone may have received an early Christmas present.

Can't beat this - a Guinness Mini-Cooper. In addition to the mirrors, the harp logo was painted on the top of the car.

'Tis the Season

2011-12-01T20:32:00.000Z

The 365 Project #335

Higham Ferrers is all decked out for the holidays! I've never seen this type of "decorating" in the US, but here, it's fairly common to see trees attached to the buildings.

A Little Industrial Action, Please

2011-11-30T17:12:00.000Z

The 365 Project #334

One more month to go! I've had some questions as to whether or not I'm going to continue my photo-a-day into next year. I think the answer is no, but I'm not yet certain. Rather than focusing on quantity, I think I'm going to find a project that will focus on quality instead. I really want to learn more about exposure, getting the most out of my camera, and working with RAW images. If anyone has any ideas, please send me an email.

Today in the UK there is nationwide industrial action, as public sector workers are striking over proposed changes to pension plans. This would explain why the kids in the neighbourhood weren't at school today. I've not read too much about it, but from what I gather, proposed changes in the public sector pensions would mean that the plans align more closely to those in the private sector. From Simon Walker, Director General of the Institute of Directors, "The plain fact is that people are living longer and so public sector pensions, like any other type of pensions, need to be reformed so they can continue to be paid in the future. Ordinary taxpayers cannot continue to subsidise public sector pensioners at today's levels." Indeed, many private sector pension plans have already undergone the changes that are now being proposed for the public sector. You can read more about the strike, which is reported to be one of the biggest in the UK in decades, on the BBC and The Telegraph websites.

In Northampton, there was a gathering of those on strike, but in my opinion, it wasn't very big. They took to the streets and marched around town centre, before ending up at a rally in the market area.

Thanks K & K!

2011-11-29T19:29:00.000Z

The 365 Project #333

I got a nice little surprise in the post today. Thank you Kathy and Karen for adding to the tacky fridge magnet collection.

Good friends and margaritas - a winning combination any day of the week!

A Frosty Morning

2011-11-28T19:45:00.000Z

The 365 Project #332

First frost - made it to the end of November.

A Late Afternoon Walk

2011-11-27T17:27:00.000Z

The 365 Project #331

I had a great Thanksgiving dinner with friends last night, and there were enough leftovers that we're all still eating today. The Buckeyes didn't fare so well though, losing to Michigan for the first time since 2003. To be honest, they played better than I expected and even had the lead several times. It was a rough season for them, but I expect they'll be back on top next year.

It was a beautiful day for a walk, so I grabbed the camera and hit one of the footpaths in Higham. There were quite a few people out walking, but I do believe the dogs outnumbered the people. I talked with one gentleman who had a cute little dog named Tess. As often happens, people notice my accent and start talking about America. And one bit that always seems to come up is how big America is. This guy had been to the Rockies in Canada, but not the U.S. He wanted to see more, but said he just didn't realise how big the place is - "it doesn't look like it would be that far when you look at it on a map." When he learned I was from Ohio, he wasn't quite sure where it was. I've found the easiest way to describe it is to say it's 500 miles due west of New York. Upon hearing this, he replied, "Oh. So that must be pretty near to Montana." It seems odd to talk with people who don't know the geography of the US, but it really isn't that strange. If you think about it, how many Americans would know if Cornwall and Cumbria were close to each other?

Near my house

It was only 3.30pm, but the sun was almost gone

One woman, three dogs

Last night's rain made for a muddy walk

Beautiful sunset over a pond

The River Nene

And by the way, Cornwall and Cumbria - about 400 miles apart.

O - H ..... I - O

2011-11-26T13:31:00.001Z

The 365 Project #330

Here on this side of the Atlantic, we're celebrating Thanksgiving today. I'm heading off to have a big turkey dinner and watch the OSU - Michigan game with friends. I'm certain the meal will be good, less certain about the game (but hoping for the best). I really shouldn't worry though; a dear friend of mine told me that Ohio State was going to win. Go Bucks!

I spent the morning going to the store and the farmers' market, and then making devilled eggs and a relish tray for this evening. The market was a bit smaller than my last visit, but I still managed to pick up a few items.

I also found out that there is some major work going on on the footpath I use to get to town centre. Of course, the sign says the path is closed, but that didn't stop me (or others) from using it.

Here's how it looked before (from posting on 23 July)

Here's how it looks today (taken from almost exactly the same spot)

I saw some Brussels sprouts at the market. I've never much been into green vegetables, so I suppose it shouldn't come as a surprise that I didn't know these things grew on a stalk like this.

A Not So Festive Gym Schedule

2011-11-25T21:40:00.000Z

The 365 Project #329

Today's picture is doing double duty - it's picture number 329 and it's my reminder of opening times at the gym during the "festive season". It looks like I might be able to get a workout in on the 30th, but that's about it.

Turkey Time

2011-11-24T15:04:00.000Z

The 365 Project #328

Happy Thanksgiving! I feel like I should have some festive holiday pictures, but this is the closest I could come - putting up the tree in Northampton town centre. And I don't want to give a false impression of the weather. That bit of blue sky you see didn't last very long.

I don't know the cost-benefit on these soft-sided trailers, but I hope the benefits outweigh all the work it takes to open these things up.

Gym Time

2011-11-23T20:37:00.000Z

The 365 Project #327

Pretty slow night at the gym. It also appears the quality of the pictures taken on my iTouch is going downhill.

Here in England, tomorrow is Thursday. But to all those back home, and to all Americans abroad - Happy Thanksgiving! As for me, I'll be joining some friends on Saturday for a Thanksgiving meal and the Ohio State - Michigan game. I know the meal will be good; as for the game - one can only hope.

November Fog

2011-11-22T15:07:00.000Z

The 365 Project #326

A foggy morning in England

New Shoes

2011-11-21T21:35:00.000Z

The 365 Project #325

Just back from Geneva today. Walking around the city yesterday, we went through the flea market (although I'm sure they don't call it a flea market). I found these wooden shoe lasts, which also have some leather on them (with a bit of design punched in) and had to buy them. I'm not sure what I'll do with them yet, or where I'll put them, but I just loved the look. And at only 10CHF, they were practically free! Did I mention how expensive everything is in Geneva? It's not quite Norway, but at $10 for a beer, they're getting close!

Geneva

2011-11-21T21:26:00.001Z

The 365 Project #324 (Sunday, 20 November)

I had a very nice time visiting my friend Paige in Geneva, Switzerland. And unlike England, I got to enjoy some sunshine for a few days. I have to say though, when it comes to the typical European charm that many of the cities have, Geneva is lacking. To its credit, the lake is beautiful, with crystal clear water, and you have to love a city with a view of the mountains. But even with that, something is missing.

Speaking of Lake Geneva, here are a few photos.

A lake. 48 degrees outside. And a man in a Speedo. Really? Surprisingly, he wasn't the only one swimming.

Jet d'Eau - the fountain waters reach 459 feet high

My friend Paige and I soaking up some sun.

Still Missing You More Than Ever

2011-11-19T20:32:00.000Z

I posted this poem last year. It remains my favourite and is worth repeating.

Loss of Mother Poem

Now that I am gone,
remember me with smiles and laughter.
And if you need to cry,
cry with your brother or sister
who walks in grief beside you.
And when you need me,
put your arms around anyone
and give to them what you need to give to me.
There are so many who need so much.
I want to leave you something --
something much better than words or sounds.
Look for me in the people I've known
or helped in some special way.
Let me live in your heart
as well as in your mind.
You can love me most
by letting your love reach out to our loved ones,
by embracing them and living in their love.
Love does not die, people do.
So, when all that's left of me is love,
give me away as best you can.

~ Author unknown

Friday the 18th

2011-11-19T20:29:00.000Z

The 365 Project #322

An odd sign in Geneva. Look closely.

Ready for the Weekend

2011-11-17T21:48:00.000Z

The 365 Project #321

Housecleaning, packing, and the gym today. Tomorrow I'm heading to Geneva, Switzerland for a long weekend, so may or may not be posting again until Monday night.

Today's photo is from the gym - just finishing up my workout and checking out.

Black Shoes

2011-11-16T20:26:00.000Z

The 365 Project #320

I spent a little time in Northampton town centre today getting my hair cut and trying to do some Christmas shopping (no success there).

If you're looking for black shoes, Bhs is the place to be. If you're looking for any other colour - forget it!

And if you're looking to watch the football matches at a pub on Saturday, here you go. No jukebox during the matches!

Fridge Magnets

2011-11-15T23:58:00.000Z

The 365 Project #319

Close call - 11.40pm and I hadn't yet taken a picture today.

While going through some boxes last week, I came across my fridge magnets. Up until now, I hadn't been able to use them because I didn't have a real fridge. So, now that I've got a real American style stainless steel side-by-side, I can once again bring a little tackiness to the kitchen. I've brightened it up with a little Guinness and the fun geometric magnets everyone likes to play with.

The Brit

2011-11-14T20:52:00.000Z

The 365 Project #318

Spent the evening having dinner and catching up with a friend at The Brit. Always makes for a nice night.

November Sunset

2011-11-13T20:32:00.000Z

The 365 Project #317

In a strange turn of events, we had blue skies and no rain today. I figured I ought to take advantage of it and go running outside instead of going to the gym. The only issue is - I keep forgetting that the sun sets at 4.15pm these days. I probably should have gone out a bit earlier, but if I had, I would have missed this sunset over the A45 (4 lane highway).

Seals

2011-11-12T21:34:00.000Z

The 365 Project #316

I happened to come upon a picture of a cute seal and her pup on the Mother Nature Network, only to find out the photo was taken just 100 miles from me. After a little research here, I also found out it's prime viewing time to see the seals and their pups. That's all I needed to grab the car keys and head out for the day. As expected, it was busy since it's a weekend. I may go back again in the next week or two, during the middle of the week. It really was an amazing sight!

Today's official photo, which is also included in the album below.

I ended up with 160 photos and have narrowed it down to 33 for posting (it really was a chore - as the seal pups are so cute!).

Hope you enjoy! Just click the photo album below. As always, I think it's best viewed on slideshow, full screen.

Seals at Donna Nook

11-11-11

2011-11-11T21:30:00.000Z

The 365 Project #315

Thank you to all those who served. Remembering you on Remembrance Day.

Am also adding an older photo from May, as I can't find my little American flag.

Pumpkin Road Kill

2011-11-10T20:56:00.000Z

The 365 Project #314

I guess this means the festive Halloween season is officially over.

Row, Row, Row Your Boat

2011-11-09T22:20:00.001Z

The 365 Project #313

Forgot to travel with the camera, so today's shot is at the gym with the Hipstamatic on the iTouch. Just finished my session of rowing and was ready to call it a night.

Another Lucky Break

2011-11-08T20:08:00.002Z

The 365 Project #312

When it comes to avoiding exploding glass, I'm feeling very lucky that I'm 2 for 2 (and I have no desire to see if I can go 3 for 3). Way back in June 2007, I was fortunate to avoid a face full of exploding glass (read about it here, see the picture here). Today it was an exploding light fixture. I turned on the light in the living room, heard a gigantic bang and saw glass flying everywhere. I'm lucky that it was one of the bulbs pointing the other direction. Even at that, glass landed 6 inches from my feet. Who would have thought one of these little lights could make such a mess! I did my best to clean it up, but am going to make sure I keep the slippers on for the next week or so.

On a lighter note, today was massage day - aaaaahhhh!

Blog World

2011-11-07T18:06:00.000Z

The 365 Project #311

I had a productive day. It started off with a visit to the eye doctor, followed by a trip to the mall, and finally a trip to Homebase.

It is so much nicer to shop at the mall when it's not half-term! Parking was a breeze and no need to elbow your way through any crowds. In and out of the Apple store with no problem and with minimal damage.

How's this for traffic? A truck, towing a Ghost Train, towing a caravan! I steered well clear of this thing, as they seemed to take up a couple of lanes on the roundabout and I really wasn't looking to climb aboard. Given their erratic driving, it probably wasn't the best time to take photos while driving, but I just couldn't pass up a shot of the Ghost Train.

And since I was passing by Homebase, I figured I might as well stop. Drying laundry outside isn't going so well now that it's 50 degrees, little to no sun, and higher than normal humidity. Plus, it's been raining a bit. Despite all of this, I'm still looking to avoid use of the tumble dryer, so I popped in to buy an airing rack. As I was wandering the aisles, I came upon an added bonus - a real broom! An 18 month search is now over and I can retire the clown broom to the garage.

Already in use!

And finally - whatever world you are looking for, I think you'll find it next to Homebase in Wellingborough. It's nice to see that Business World and Disco World appear to be happily co-existing next to each other. Today's post, titled Blog World, is vying for the empty spot below "Sony World".

Technology

2011-11-06T23:01:00.000Z

The 365 Project #310

Well, it's been one heck of a day in trying to get a photo. The next few paragraphs may seem to be unrelated, but bear with me, they'll all come together in the end.

I had a personal best at the gym, running (well, slowly jogging) 4 miles; my previous best was about 3.5 miles. So, I pulled out the iTouch and took a photo of the final readout on the treadmill screen. I also took a photo of my heart rate monitor read out, which showed the total calories I burned at the gym today (another personal best). I came home to upload the pictures, only to find out that I had actually shot video instead.

Alongside all of this, as I plugged the iTouch into the laptop, it was time for an update to the new iOS 5. This was a big update, and ended up taking about an hour and a half from beginning to end. Among other things, I had to change my Apple ID and password. Once that was all complete, I was looking at the video trying to figure out if I could pull out a still picture from it for today's photo. I didn't have any luck with that, but came upon something else. The new iOS has iCloud. I won't pretend to know what this is or how it works, but apparently, things will just sort of update between my Mac and my iTouch automatically. Another cool feature I found is that if I am looking at a photo or video on my iTouch, I can hit a button and it will instantly show up on my TV (via Apple TV). Same with music - if I'm listening to a song, I can hit a button and it will start playing through my Apple TV instead of the iPod. Quite handy.

So, where is this all leading? I pulled up the video from the gym, hit "Apple TV" and took a picture of the TV. How's that for creativity? Total calories burned at today's workout - 635. For some folks, that's just a normal day at the gym. For me, that was a personal best.

And on an unrelated note, I may have inspired one more person to take up the 365 project in 2012. Fair warning Paige - it's all fun and games until somewhere around day 250. Although to be honest, I have had thoughts of continuing.

Remember, Remember

2011-11-05T18:03:00.000Z

The 365 Project #309

Remember, remember the 5th of November. It's Guy Fawkes Day and the fireworks are going off all over the neighbourhood.

I must be crazy, because I ventured out to the electricals store on a Saturday afternoon. Kind of like heading to the mall last Friday during half-term. My DVD player isn't working, and from what I read on the internet, those with a similar problem were able to fix it by using a DVD cleaner. It didn't work for me, and I'm not really into buying a new DVD player at this time. I don't use it that often, but it would be nice to have it working.

Roundabout

2011-11-04T21:00:00.000Z

The 365 Project #308

On my way home from the gym. It was quiet at the roundabout, but not so much everywhere else. The fireworks are in full force already, as tomorrow is Guy Fawkes Night (aka, bonfire night). If you want to read a bit more about Guy Fawkes, I blogged about it here.

Dinner at The Harvester

2011-11-03T21:53:00.000Z

The 365 Project #307

I had a great evening catching up with friends over dinner. And they graciously agreed to participate in my 365 project. In fact, Kym hinted that she may give it a go (don't say I didn't warn you Kym!).

It was great to see you Becky, Kym, and Aliki! We'll have to do it again soon.

A Colourful Walk

2011-11-02T16:06:00.006Z

The 365 Project #306

I took a walk up to the bakery today to get a loaf of bread and came upon this scene - Christmas colours on a breezy fall day.

I'm going to back up a few days to Saturday, as I forgot to mention my visit to the London Zoo. It was a decent little zoo, but lacked a few things. Namely it was missing elephants and seals. I was looking for elephants, my friend was looking for seals. Instead, we went in search of the Galapagos turtles, which were on the map. I think it was a ruse though, as they were nowhere to be found. Maybe we'll have better luck next time, or perhaps we'll go to Whipsnade Zoo instead - I know they have elephants!

Hey Birdie

2011-11-01T21:56:00.000Z

The 365 Project #305

They do love their badminton in the UK!

Trick or Treat

2011-10-31T23:38:00.000Z

The 365 Project #304

Happy Halloween!

Back in Ohio, trick-or-treat isn't necessarily on Halloween night. I haven't really figured it out in the UK, but as it turns out, trick-or-treat in my neighbourhood was tonight. I was not prepared. Also in the States, if you don't want to participate in trick-or-treat, you don't turn the porch light on. Based on the number of times my doorbell rang tonight, the whole "turn on your porch light if you're participating" signal doesn't apply here. I answered the first couple of times and tried to explain. After that, I just pulled the curtains in the foyer (across the door) and ignored the doorbell. I'll expect some "tricks".

The Red Lion

2011-10-30T20:23:00.000Z

The 365 Project #303

Toni - look what I found! Tried to have lunch here, but they were too busy. Now that I know where it is, I can go back another time. And we were right - it's by Downing Street.

I Ain't Afraid of No Ghost

2011-10-30T20:20:00.001Z

The 365 Project #302

I spent the weekend in London looking for ghosts and playing tourist again. I hate to say it, but no ghosts were spotted. The tour was at Ham House, which reportedly has a history of ghost sightings; they just didn't happen to be out last night. I would have loved to have taken some pictures, but it was an "after dark" tour; it was dark inside and out - so photos weren't really an option. It was a really nice event; they only do a couple of these tours and they limit them to 25 people. Following a walk through the house and gardens, drinks and canapés were served in "The Orangery". Sounds fancy, doesn't it?

Entertainment on the District Line.

Busy Day at the Mall

2011-10-28T23:12:00.000+01:00

The 365 Project #301

I decided to go to the mall today to look for a new pair of shoes. Unfortunately, I didn't remember it was half-term until I got there. For those outside the UK, half-term is when the schools are on break. It also means lots of parents take the week off of work. So, with the kids out of school and the parents off work, the mall was extremely busy! Here's a photo of me trying to leave the car park. It was just as busy trying to enter it as well. I really don't like crowds, and I really don't like shopping. Put them together, and I was ready to poke somebody's eyes out.

I managed to find a little something to amuse me though. That's pink hair, it's not a hat! I followed this girl for awhile trying to get a better picture; I even followed her into a store I had no desire to visit. But, she wouldn't keep still and I had to stay on the move. Even though it's blurred, the bright pink hair can't be missed. I'd like to tell you this is an uncommon site, but I can't. The British women seem to love pink, purple, and bright red hair. And really, there's nothing as bad as a 50 year old woman with fire-engine red hair. It just doesn't work.

Breaking news in Northamptonshire - I used the tumble dryer today; first time in at least 3 months. I didn't want to, but it took far too long at the mall (due to all that traffic!) and it was dark when I got home. So, the load of laundry in the washing machine ended up in the dryer. I don't feel good about it.

Tomorrow's picture won't be posted until Sunday; as I'll be in London all day. It's Halloween time and a friend and I are going on a ghost tour at a 400 year old estate. Should be scary fun! If I get a picture of a ghost, you'll see it here first!

Reindeer Poppings

2011-10-27T19:30:00.000+01:00

The 365 Project #300

Yes, you read it right. Poppings. Not droppings. Maybe it's just me, but I don't get a very enticing visual image from the name "reindeer poppings".

Time to stock up on your Christmas popcorn

What's for Dinner?

2011-10-26T20:50:00.000+01:00

The 365 Project #299

A little chicken stir-fry for dinner. And tomorrow, we move to the 300's!

You Can't Catch Me...

2011-10-25T22:28:00.000+01:00

... I'm the gingerbread man

The 365 Project #298

How can you not smile when you're following the Oliver Adams gingerbread man for 5 miles?

In other news, it's now dark at 6pm and we're turning our clocks back an hour this weekend. Say goodbye to the sunshine! To my friends in the Eastern time zone - we'll only be 4 hours apart until you change your clocks on 6 November.

A Bit Peculier

2011-10-24T21:41:00.000+01:00

The 365 Project #297

Another slow photo day. Cleaned the house and went to the gym. Relaxing tonight with a Theakston's Old Peculier.

Another Windy Day

2011-10-23T21:26:00.000+01:00

The 365 Project #296

I'll try to make this the last picture of laundry day, but couldn't pass this one by. The "hurricane grip" clothes pins once again proved that they can stand up to anything. Too bad the clothes line couldn't do the same!

Audley End House and Gardens

2011-10-22T19:21:00.001+01:00

The 365 Project #295

It was a nice sunny day in England! I had three ideas of what to do today - go hiking in the Peak District, go in search of some Giant Sequoia trees (they have those in England!), or go to one of the English Heritage sites. Although I love hiking and Giant Sequoias are an absolutely incredible sight, I decided to pull out my English Heritage annual pass and go to Audley End House and Gardens. It was a perfect day to go - not only because of the weather, but they also had several events going on as well. One of the events was a falconry display. They were doing this at 3 separate times today - I went to two of them. It really was amazing to watch the birds in action. I was wondering how they go about training these birds to hunt and to return back to their handler. Turns out they don't train the birds at all. It has a little something to do with being a "bird brain" - they're just not intelligent animals. Instead, the handlers have to work with the bird's instincts - which is to eat. It really was a great demonstration that showed just how these birds hunt.

It was also "game day" in the kitchen. The workers were cooking wild game all day. What I saw definitely wasn't appetizing - it was a pigeon pie. You'll get a good look at this in the photos.

As it turns out, the Universe was being very, very kind to me today (perhaps because I've given it a spot on the blog?). As I was touring the house today, which was incredible, I looked out the window to the gardens. Guess what I saw? Giant Sequoia trees! How great is that!

Today's "official" photo - Guess which tree is the Sequoia?

Click below for more photos of Audley House

Audley End House and Gardens

Meeting Point

2011-10-21T19:39:00.000+01:00

The 365 Project #294

In case of fire, meet me here.

A Brief Stop at Rutland Water

2011-10-20T19:46:00.001+01:00

The 365 Project #293

I hit up the Lands' End outlet store again today. Had a bit more luck than last time, as I found 3 shirts. I really wanted to find a winter jacket and some shoes, but I had no joy (as the British would say). Looks like I'll have to order from the catalogue. Better do it soon; it's getting cold out!

On the way back, I stopped at Rutland Water and went for a short walk. I would have stuck around a bit longer, but it was getting late and the wind was a bit cold. Looks like they've got tons of stuff to do there!

Rules

2011-10-19T22:34:00.000+01:00

The 365 Project #292

There's a bit of work going on at the school in Sharnbrook (this is also where the gym is that I frequent).

No Shirt
No Shoes
No Service

And definitely no playing

Hurricane Force Grip

2011-10-18T17:26:00.000+01:00

The 365 Project #291

Remember way back when I started hanging my clothes on the line to dry? I bought some recycled plastic clothes pegs that claimed to have "hurricane force grip". Today was the test - and they passed with flying colours! In fact, the wind was so strong, it knocked the supporting pole down - but the clothes pins held tight!

A Lot of Words

2011-10-17T21:14:00.000+01:00

The 365 Project #290

A bit formal for the public loo, don't you think?

Northampton Town Centre

An X-Factor Sunday

2011-10-16T19:54:00.001+01:00

The 365 Project #289

Normal day today - home, gym, home, some Sunday cleaning. And now it's time to catch up on the X-Factor - both the US and UK shows.

Halloween is quickly approaching, so I thought this was appropriate. A little sepia effect to help the mood.

A church in Sharnbrook

The Thames Path

2011-10-15T22:42:00.000+01:00

The 365 Project #288

It was a nice sunny day with blue skies, so I decided to head to London and do some walking along the Thames Path. In total, the path runs for more than 180 miles along the Thames River; I only covered about 2.5 miles (total of 5, as I then turned around and came back to my starting point). My starting point was in Richmond, in the south-west of the city. With such a nice day, lots of people were out - walking, biking, rowing, and boating.

Fortunately, it was dry out and I didn't need to use the flood route.

A view along the way. The big building is The Royal Star and Garter Home. It's a care facility for older, disabled service members or their spouses or civil partners.

This guy was out on the water for quite some time - I saw him as I walked out, and on my way back. His two little pups were having a ball!

And finally, all that walking made me hungry. Since I was in London, I decided to visit one of their 2 Chipotle restaurants and get a little taste of home. So, did it taste like home? Pretty darn close. I noted a few differences. First, there was a choice of white or brown rice. When I was home last month, my local Chipotle didn't offer brown rice. I'm not sure if they do in other US locations or not, but it sure would be nice! Of all the people who were in line with me in London - I didn't see anybody get the white rice. Everyone got brown. In addition, the rice was a bit limier than it is in the States. I got a chicken burrito bowl. In the US, there is a bit of spiciness to the chicken - not so at the UK Chipotle. The cheese was a bit different, but good. Other than that, you would have thought you were in America.

Today's random act of kindness: As I was pulling into the car park at the train station, a gentleman was pulling out. Initially I wondered what he was doing, because he was a bit right of centre, making it hard for me to pull in. I then noticed he had rolled his window down, so I did the same to see what it was he wanted. He wanted nothing. Instead, he gave me his parking ticket which was valid through the end of the day (until 2.00am Sunday). How nice! It saved me a few quid in parking fees.

287

2011-10-14T21:47:00.000+01:00

The 365 Project #287

No rain today, so I managed to get a couple of loads of laundry done. I'm now just days away from 3 months without using the tumble dryer. I'm going to have to go buy an indoor drying rack soon though. It's cooler outside and the sun only hits the backyard for a couple of hours in the morning now. Other than that, it's been a slow day. Watched a movie and did a little reading. And now, I'm staring at the Mac wondering what today's photo is going to be. Came up blank, so it's a photo of the Mac.

Maybe I'll find something a bit more exciting tomorrow.

Forget About Rotten Row!

2011-10-13T13:22:00.003+01:00

The 365 Project #286

Just two days ago I posted about Rotten Row and the fact that it could, quite possibly, be the worst street name ever. In fact, I don't think it is. Take a look at this photo.

I saw this car at one of the car parks in Rushden today. Really? Titty Ho Motor Company? When I got home I googled it, and sure enough - it's a real business. In fact, it's just 3.5 miles up the road from me. Here's a direct quote from their webpage:

"We are open 7 days a week including all bank holidays. Finally before you ask the name of garage is the derived from 'Titty Ho' the street along side our garage!" [sic]

Guess I'm not the only one wondering!