A Limo is the only way to travel to the hotel with vodka preceded by a bottle of bubbly.
In reception we were greeted with smiles and all the help that we needed. All this was so different to The Comfort Inn (our hotel 2 years previously) across the road where they neither smiled, nor were that helpful without coercion. I recommend The Metro Hotel on 34th. What a difference the width of a street makes!
Monday, 22 April 2013
THE FLIGHT.
OUR FLIGHT was the best one ever. We were pampered with smiles, lots of good humour with some great service from Andrew and Deborah. Two wonderful people that knew how to work and the interaction between the cabin staff was superb so much so that Neal asked for and completed a customer form which was full of praise for them. Eat your heart out Virgin because you are not a patch on British Airways!
We ate, we drank, we had fun. I slept but not before I was able to watch Hitchcock but there is to be better ways of appreciating a film although no complaint for it did pass away a large chunk of the journey.
We ate, we drank, we had fun. I slept but not before I was able to watch Hitchcock but there is to be better ways of appreciating a film although no complaint for it did pass away a large chunk of the journey.
START OF OUR JOURNEY & REAL ALE!
I am sitting in Terminal 5 at Heathrow on Friday morning at 8.15am with a full half hour before the gate opens for the five of us to board British Airways flight to Kennedy Airport.
Yesterday Michelle, Yvonne and I flew into Gatwick from Alicante. There was a pre-ordered cab waiting to take us on to a Holiday Inn, Bath Road alongside the airport. Shopping was essential for both of them with High Street Kensington’s M&S, Boots and Barclays all requiring a visit. I picked up the dollars and prepared myself for my first pint of English ale for four months. Neal and Robbie arrived just in time to escort me to The Three Magpies where we found a smiling welcome, good beer and now I had good company too. Neal’s shot of the day was ‘a stranger shot’ and our smiling blonde (of course) pint pulling barmaid fulfilled that function – with permission of course. She then reversed the process when she left the bar to take a photo of us standing in her place. Both shots downloaded that day and onto Neal’s web page. We had fun waiting for the ‘must do’ shoppers. It’s so good to be having fun, drinking with two good friends.
I am afraid that the afternoon disappeared into the evening very quickly for at 7.30 we had booked a table at The White Hart in Harlington Road. I know, it’s another pub, but we needed to eat and so the five became seven when Neal’s Ma and Pa joined us. The meal was good but sadly the beer could have been better. That is sad for me as my next English ale could be as far away as late September. Now, we are about to find our gate and fly away.
Yesterday Michelle, Yvonne and I flew into Gatwick from Alicante. There was a pre-ordered cab waiting to take us on to a Holiday Inn, Bath Road alongside the airport. Shopping was essential for both of them with High Street Kensington’s M&S, Boots and Barclays all requiring a visit. I picked up the dollars and prepared myself for my first pint of English ale for four months. Neal and Robbie arrived just in time to escort me to The Three Magpies where we found a smiling welcome, good beer and now I had good company too. Neal’s shot of the day was ‘a stranger shot’ and our smiling blonde (of course) pint pulling barmaid fulfilled that function – with permission of course. She then reversed the process when she left the bar to take a photo of us standing in her place. Both shots downloaded that day and onto Neal’s web page. We had fun waiting for the ‘must do’ shoppers. It’s so good to be having fun, drinking with two good friends.
I am afraid that the afternoon disappeared into the evening very quickly for at 7.30 we had booked a table at The White Hart in Harlington Road. I know, it’s another pub, but we needed to eat and so the five became seven when Neal’s Ma and Pa joined us. The meal was good but sadly the beer could have been better. That is sad for me as my next English ale could be as far away as late September. Now, we are about to find our gate and fly away.
Friday, 12 April 2013
REMEMBER THE DAY
Remember the day; black and white TV;
B.B.C. English – but sod it we spoke it our way
Newsprint that came off on the chips
Nylon was the vogue, lime green socks;
shocking pink; winkle pickers even -
imagination in that name. Doctor Who scarves;
Church choirs; surplices for boys - trust in the priest,
no argument with the establishment
do as you’re told, get yer ‘air cut.
Who needs heroes?
They came: The man with fast moving hands
and the fingers that plucked with hair
that made a sergeant major convulse.
Out with the ballads, Alma, Johnnie Ray
and Frankie left by the Green Door.
They broke the mould
Bill came; kiss curl, halo and all,
over sexed and over here.
Sixth formers jived in the drive.
The Jam sang Eton Rifles and
then there was Alice.
Did she actually give a fuck about
A Town Called Malice.
Heroes came and went.
Shunned the order: refused the gong
and everyone moved like Jagger.
Kool and the Gang they couldn’t spell
and did you want to be in my gang?
Heroes- well choose your medicine.
Some chose god or pot or coke or crack,
turned on the priest – innuendo? Well you choose.
Money was easy. Mis-sold; mis-spent; mis-used.
Argued, blamed others, spent more than they had.
Heroes in suits, lawyers, bankers, wankers, and thieves.
Absurdity; Arrogance, Ignorance and Greed –
you can sing it, If you know the words.
Show your hands, if you dare. Stand-up and deliver
those heroes are in my head where I want them to be
The real ones - don’t (necessarily) sing.
They care for someone; our planet;
the whole bloody world. You choose.
Because You Can.
B.B.C. English – but sod it we spoke it our way
Newsprint that came off on the chips
Nylon was the vogue, lime green socks;
shocking pink; winkle pickers even -
imagination in that name. Doctor Who scarves;
Church choirs; surplices for boys - trust in the priest,
no argument with the establishment
do as you’re told, get yer ‘air cut.
Who needs heroes?
They came: The man with fast moving hands
and the fingers that plucked with hair
that made a sergeant major convulse.
Out with the ballads, Alma, Johnnie Ray
and Frankie left by the Green Door.
They broke the mould
Bill came; kiss curl, halo and all,
over sexed and over here.
Sixth formers jived in the drive.
The Jam sang Eton Rifles and
then there was Alice.
Did she actually give a fuck about
A Town Called Malice.
Heroes came and went.
Shunned the order: refused the gong
and everyone moved like Jagger.
Kool and the Gang they couldn’t spell
and did you want to be in my gang?
Heroes- well choose your medicine.
Some chose god or pot or coke or crack,
turned on the priest – innuendo? Well you choose.
Money was easy. Mis-sold; mis-spent; mis-used.
Argued, blamed others, spent more than they had.
Heroes in suits, lawyers, bankers, wankers, and thieves.
Absurdity; Arrogance, Ignorance and Greed –
you can sing it, If you know the words.
Show your hands, if you dare. Stand-up and deliver
those heroes are in my head where I want them to be
The real ones - don’t (necessarily) sing.
They care for someone; our planet;
the whole bloody world. You choose.
Because You Can.
STANZA MAR MENOR MEETING OF FRIDAY 12TH APRIL 2013
Three of us met this morning. David is in Russia and Kathy is busy with her book and painting her house.
Margaret brought four poems to read. Two we had glimpsed before but had not had the opportunity to examine and comment upon. One was ‘Exposed’, that was about her encounter with a ‘flasher’ and ‘The Party’s Over’. This latter one was her recalling a moment from her past working life. All credit to her for putting ‘a long pullover’ into a line – it works for me.
Then there is a change of tone with ‘Turn back time’ and ‘Female World’. There are some clearly expressed sentiments and the images created in all four, but the sensitivity of the latter two, leaps off the page and stays in the mind. There are some great lines with rhymes as well. If you want to read them then ask her – you should.
Douglas was not outdone and came up with ‘Black Epitaph’, a wonderful thoughtful tribute to Nelson Mandela. This ought to be aired again at the appropriate time.
He followed this up with ‘Conundrum’ with the opening line giving some clue as to the subject matter. The line is ‘Queen Lizzie is a Thatcherite!’ There is no vilification here just pure wit, clever writing with some great lines. You should read it.
John came up with forty lines on the subject of heroes – a TWC theme – called ‘Remember The Day’ which he read last Wednesday dealing with ‘trust the establishment’ to today’s malaise of ‘Arrogance, Ignorance and Greed’. He used music as the vehicle to convey but could not refuse a ‘pop’ at the bankers. He may put this on his blog.
He then introduced a work-in-progress for discussion, advice and how to go about to progress it. He read the second version but there are two others already written. More consideration will be given as to form, line length, repetition and rhyme. It may be allowed to ‘sweat’ for a while.
Iarla has been in contact and supplied feedback. We hope to see him soon in sunny Spain.
Margaret is pursuing how to present her poems which may see her published in some form at a later date. I think that the issue of publication and/or what to do with what we write has been/is being considered many times. At the same time some of the work of group members has been or is in the process of being published.
FOOTNOTE:
I am now in possession of ‘In Pursuit of Spring’ by Edward Thomas and ‘Cycling After Thomas And The English’ by David Caddy. I will let you know what I think of my new reading.
Margaret brought four poems to read. Two we had glimpsed before but had not had the opportunity to examine and comment upon. One was ‘Exposed’, that was about her encounter with a ‘flasher’ and ‘The Party’s Over’. This latter one was her recalling a moment from her past working life. All credit to her for putting ‘a long pullover’ into a line – it works for me.
Then there is a change of tone with ‘Turn back time’ and ‘Female World’. There are some clearly expressed sentiments and the images created in all four, but the sensitivity of the latter two, leaps off the page and stays in the mind. There are some great lines with rhymes as well. If you want to read them then ask her – you should.
Douglas was not outdone and came up with ‘Black Epitaph’, a wonderful thoughtful tribute to Nelson Mandela. This ought to be aired again at the appropriate time.
He followed this up with ‘Conundrum’ with the opening line giving some clue as to the subject matter. The line is ‘Queen Lizzie is a Thatcherite!’ There is no vilification here just pure wit, clever writing with some great lines. You should read it.
John came up with forty lines on the subject of heroes – a TWC theme – called ‘Remember The Day’ which he read last Wednesday dealing with ‘trust the establishment’ to today’s malaise of ‘Arrogance, Ignorance and Greed’. He used music as the vehicle to convey but could not refuse a ‘pop’ at the bankers. He may put this on his blog.
He then introduced a work-in-progress for discussion, advice and how to go about to progress it. He read the second version but there are two others already written. More consideration will be given as to form, line length, repetition and rhyme. It may be allowed to ‘sweat’ for a while.
Iarla has been in contact and supplied feedback. We hope to see him soon in sunny Spain.
Margaret is pursuing how to present her poems which may see her published in some form at a later date. I think that the issue of publication and/or what to do with what we write has been/is being considered many times. At the same time some of the work of group members has been or is in the process of being published.
FOOTNOTE:
I am now in possession of ‘In Pursuit of Spring’ by Edward Thomas and ‘Cycling After Thomas And The English’ by David Caddy. I will let you know what I think of my new reading.
BIRTHDAY MONTH IS NOW REALLY HAPPENING!
LISTEN UP LOOK UP. I know that it has been Michelle’s birthday month for a few days now but I haven’t been taking that much notice – so far and I think that I have been getting away with it! Would you believe that two friends from the early 90’s are here in Spain just to celebrate with us. We met them in Florida, they live in Folkestone and they are here for her. We saw them yesterday, lunched with them in L’Afaz de Pi and chatted for hours. Well that is what good friends are for isn’t it?
Things are winding up, events are getting closer. Sister Jos arrived from Woodhouse Eves on Wednesday evening before the bars close, of course. There will be another trip to the airport on Friday evening where two lovely people, Rachel and Claudio will be arriving from Schipol which will require more eating and drinking. However it will be good to talk and catch up.
On Saturday things will definitely hot up with a lunch-time barbeque here followed by another noisy, hectic evening in The Stray Sod. A few snacks laid on for forty people, but some will have eaten, some will arrive early and some will not stay that late. The ancient and the infirm will decline but the aged ones will insist on their early to bed philosophy and we can’t possible sleep in the day syndrome! It’s great you know, a siesta, for it stops you falling asleep with a glass in your hand. Some will come later and stay with us to the boozey, rumbustious end.
Unfortunately Neal and Robbie will not be here but we will see them on Thursday week when we meet up for some Real Ale when we overnight in preparation for our flight the following morning to New York. Then it will be all go as we have lots of things planned. We had a great time two years ago and I don’t see that this should be anything other than wonderful. There are different things planned – compared with last time. I am now really looking forward to it all for it should be a great trip.
In the present Lee, our personal hairdresser is here (Wednesday afternoon). I didn’t want a colour this time but Michelle has had the full treatment. She now has blonde roots - fantastic. Of course there has to be more pampering for eyebrows and hairy legs. I wonder what they do with those obsolete bits. Horse hair mattresses are now out of fashion but we would have to search for a modern use other than birds’ nests. Sell them to the Chinese, I suppose.
I am looking forward to the 3 Magpies and The White Hart for real beer!
The next time I blog I could be in Manhattan.
Things are winding up, events are getting closer. Sister Jos arrived from Woodhouse Eves on Wednesday evening before the bars close, of course. There will be another trip to the airport on Friday evening where two lovely people, Rachel and Claudio will be arriving from Schipol which will require more eating and drinking. However it will be good to talk and catch up.
On Saturday things will definitely hot up with a lunch-time barbeque here followed by another noisy, hectic evening in The Stray Sod. A few snacks laid on for forty people, but some will have eaten, some will arrive early and some will not stay that late. The ancient and the infirm will decline but the aged ones will insist on their early to bed philosophy and we can’t possible sleep in the day syndrome! It’s great you know, a siesta, for it stops you falling asleep with a glass in your hand. Some will come later and stay with us to the boozey, rumbustious end.
Unfortunately Neal and Robbie will not be here but we will see them on Thursday week when we meet up for some Real Ale when we overnight in preparation for our flight the following morning to New York. Then it will be all go as we have lots of things planned. We had a great time two years ago and I don’t see that this should be anything other than wonderful. There are different things planned – compared with last time. I am now really looking forward to it all for it should be a great trip.
In the present Lee, our personal hairdresser is here (Wednesday afternoon). I didn’t want a colour this time but Michelle has had the full treatment. She now has blonde roots - fantastic. Of course there has to be more pampering for eyebrows and hairy legs. I wonder what they do with those obsolete bits. Horse hair mattresses are now out of fashion but we would have to search for a modern use other than birds’ nests. Sell them to the Chinese, I suppose.
I am looking forward to the 3 Magpies and The White Hart for real beer!
The next time I blog I could be in Manhattan.
Tuesday, 2 April 2013
THE LUCK OF THE IRISH
This evening I met Jim abd Mary again with the intention of visiting another Eagle Owl site. I decided that we would visit some small areas of water en route to our destination. Two of these areas helped make my evening.The first one produced a Green Sandpiper - Andarrios Grande which we identified after a lengthy discussion but it was not a Greenshank. On our second area Mary spotted a tern on a buoy and once we set the scope up Jim identified it as Whiskered Tern - Fumarel Cariblanco. We watched it for several minutes and then we saw it fly and presumeably take insects from the surface of the water. It was wonderful to see it in action. We had many other sightings and these included Little Ringed Plover - Chorlitejo Chico, Red-crested Pochard - Pato Colorado and Little Grebe - Zampullin Comun in breeding plumage.
Patience to see the Eagle Owl - Buho Real was rewarded when it flew and perched. Mary and Jim were delighed again. This is always a good site for raptors and our identification skills were tested when two large birds flew. We cannot say for sure but we believe that they were Golden Eagles -Aguila Real.
We seem to have had a land-fall of the Common Cuckoos because they were calling every time that we stopped. Another great evening spent doing what is good.
This evening I met Jim abd Mary again with the intention of visiting another Eagle Owl site. I decided that we would visit some small areas of water en route to our destination. Two of these areas helped make my evening.The first one produced a Green Sandpiper - Andarrios Grande which we identified after a lengthy discussion but it was not a Greenshank. On our second area Mary spotted a tern on a buoy and once we set the scope up Jim identified it as Whiskered Tern - Fumarel Cariblanco. We watched it for several minutes and then we saw it fly and presumeably take insects from the surface of the water. It was wonderful to see it in action. We had many other sightings and these included Little Ringed Plover - Chorlitejo Chico, Red-crested Pochard - Pato Colorado and Little Grebe - Zampullin Comun in breeding plumage.
Patience to see the Eagle Owl - Buho Real was rewarded when it flew and perched. Mary and Jim were delighed again. This is always a good site for raptors and our identification skills were tested when two large birds flew. We cannot say for sure but we believe that they were Golden Eagles -Aguila Real.
We seem to have had a land-fall of the Common Cuckoos because they were calling every time that we stopped. Another great evening spent doing what is good.
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