Waiting for their mom: Three dogs sleeping in a row, Prisoning my legs. |
Short answer to your question, yes I’m quite happy with my life just now. Since I’m doing “slow travel” it’s actually quite laid back, and I’m not tired of it yet. I’m less than 5 months in, of course. This month will be a real test, because I’m staying at several places and going to London in between sits. Right now I have a bit of a cold, so I’m laying low. Fortunately, it’s been raining and that means I’m happy to stay inside, guilt-free. The tutoring is good, too: doesn’t bring in much money but keeps my brain active.
Dartmoor is fascinating and lovely. I’m trying to track down the Hound! One version of the movie was on last night (fortunately not the Shatner one), but the dogs got upset with the dogs and horses on the tv, so I went to bed with my audiobook.
The dogs are the best part of the gigs, of course. I’ve missed having pets. Later!
Ps: Great British Bake Off marathon today: such fun!
10/2/17
message to group:
Looks like I neglected to send a message yesterday, but there has
been no panicking in the streets, so I guess it's okay. I did post to
FB, so everyone but Vicki knows I'm still alive. And Vicki is doing her
own traveling right now, so she's off the table for tracking me this
month.
I’ve almost been here A month but I just saw this. So much to observe. |
St. Stephens Church at Royal Oak, Meavy. Stained glass from William Morris workshop.
Thousand year oak (by church) and bridge (near Meavy) |
At Burrator Reservoir
Apple Crusher at Longstone Farm ruins |
The Pekoe Sequence: Trying for a sense of scale; She scales mossy rocks. |
I treat R to breakfast at Kitchen Cafe and get a Bakewell Tart for later |
Sculpture at the Tavistock Independent Bookstore |
Ingra Tor. Chip the old dog wanted to come, but then got tired, so I carried him up the last bit. Pekoe was happy as a clam, and Teaser wanted nothing to do with it. I love this area, but it’s time for new pastures.
I got lost looking for Pew Tor, but this was an excellent substitute. The great thing about keeping options flexible is finding the unexpected! And then I found a lovely Norman church, meeting a couple that was visiting a family grave. The church was large, but there was no town to speak of, just a group of houses and farms.
I wandered around the church and then drove back to Tavistock, finding Pew Tor on the way. Sadly, I left the camera in the car. So, no pix of that.
Pew Tor near Moortown Is the one that got away: iPhone left in car. |
10/5
Arrived in Worcester around 4:30. My host was back at his car, because the station master told him the train from Plymouth had been cancelled and passengers were being bused from Cheltenham Spa and not due to arrive for 2 hours. I don’t know what phantom train that was: mine got me here with a minimum of fuss and one change at Bristol. Several different gents helped me with my heavy bag: chivalry is alive and well in jolly old England. My hosts treated me to dinner at the local pub.
Deep fried summer pudding in heavy cream, at Bowling Green pub |
The house is a converted barn, one of five in a compound in the middle of nowhere. It’s lovely and modern inside, in a craftsman style way, picturesque on the outside.
I was admiring Millie’s pose and suddenly remembered the dogs aren’t allowed on the furniture!
survey stone |
10/7
To B: Thanks! You must be clairvoyant, I just finished up a book and was casting about for another. I have a new cold, and this one feels like the real deal.🤧 Glad you’re feeling better. I’m in Worcester for the weekend, then up to London for a few days, then on to my 5th housesit. It’s much tamer here. Real English hedgerows and fields, lovely autumn weather. I’ll send contrasting pix from my dog walks. Two from Devon, two from here. The daily picture fest is what you miss from FB, but the best end up in my blog, I guess.
Chat with P re: books. BTW, my host and I spent our entire dinner trying to find common ground in our reading habits. We decided one of us was an alien. Me, of course. He only reads NF travel accounts with an emphasis on walking. He mentioned Bill Bryson's book about walking the Appalachian trail (unsuccessfully), and said a movie was made based on the book, so I pulled out my phone to look it up and he told me I'm a geek!
To R: Hope you are well! I have a favor to ask...I seem to be missing some yarn and my own laptop cords. It’s all probably in the living room, although I do have a mental picture of a ball of the tiger yarn on the floor by the window side of the bed. The rest is mainly white yarn, likely in a blue plastic bag. I left things on the floor by the couch, and by the China cabinet.. If they turn up, can you send them to my cousin’s in London? I’ll be there shortly before I leave the UK on Nov 28.
To Group: Slight cold. Watching movies, drinking tea, and knitting. Walked the dogs midday.
Windy, blowing leaves. Tomorrow back to London for a few days. Weather has been in the 60s, some clouds and rain in Devon, high winds and clouds in Worcestershire. But mainly quite nice walking weather.
10/8
I
took a picture of a mind the gap sign for G. He loves
Britishisms. Waiting for the train to London. Am here early because the
taxi was booked up for the optimum time. Had to cut the morning walk
short. I also took a picture of carnage (those are grey and white
feathers) because that’s a thing on country walks. Mainly I was skirting
fields, climbing stiles, and following hedgerows.
10/8
iPad can’t stitch photos... The lovely view from my train Is so bucolic. |
Oct 9
Spent the morning tutoring and getting tickets for flight to Ireland and train to Midhurst and Bath. Afternoon tea at the British Museum. I had better tea at the Huntington Rose Garden! But this was fine and I needed the sit down.
Got closer to the Rosetta Stone this time, sent pix of that and the Parthenon frieze for G. (Included a centaur aiming for the balls.)
Then I came back and helped R give V her bath. And finally R offered me a writing job, with an advance and royalties. This will be a new adventure! Looking forward to it.
I have another day in London, and then off to Midhurst for a week.
Oct 10
Leyton Library:
It’s more a social service cum community center than a reference place. So, I’m going into London to play
Fires in Santa Rosa: I woke up to the news and sent emails to the woman who gave me my first
housesitting gig, and to Esther’s niece, Jan. She’s okay in Petaluma,
but her sister got evacuated and is staying with her, and I haven’t
heard from Rudy’s Mom. Sickening to think of all those vineyards up in
smoke.
Mooched around London, looking at art and street scenes.
Oct 11
Last
night I was violently ill, and this morning I had to take care of
V until the nanny arrived at 8 a.m. I’ve been dragging myself up
and down stairs, through the Tube, and onto the train. Now I’m going to
bed: achy and exhausted. I’ve only eaten 1.5 pieces of toast all day, and even
that was too much. But I should be fine tomorrow. I dragged myself
through the pet routine, and it’s simple enough.
Oct 12
Slept 12 hours. Other than some aches, back to normal. It’s good to fast now and then, right?
That night: Typical: taking over the bed. Then one of the cats joins the fray, leaving me no room to turn. sigh.
Oct 13
Went for a walk on an old English estate (Petworthy) and Hetty (neighbor dog) found mud to sit in. Fortunately, the lake was right there. We threw the ball in the water and she swam clean.
We watch the deer graze.
We can hear clicking sounds, but
There’s no fighting. Yet.
Spent the day researching Boudicca and writing a summary: my first crack at the writing job that R has offered me.
Oct 14
Can you ID this call? woke me in the wee hours of the morning
Still feeling queasy, but not vomiting, so all is well. This afternoon I had no guide but my memory to get me home, E being busy and Rosie the dog being less than useless.
I love autumn woods! I’m liking this sit: walk, read, write; repeat.
Oct 15
Mainly around the old quarry: tonight’s walk. Text to E: Just wanted to thank S for the excellent company (she's as charming as her mother.)
Oct 16
It was supposed to be sunny, with low tide at 3, so my walking partner agreed to take me to Chichester beach....but we caught the tail of Hurricane Ophelia and end up on a hill that I suspect was an old hill fort, overlooking Goodwood Estates race track.
My new best friend E's husband works for BMW: he was at the SC plant for several years and now is at the Rolls Royce plant in Chichester. His team does the woodwork. They’re rolling out a new limo. The Earl of March (Goodwood Estate) gave permission to build the plant as long as he couldn't see it from his window!
Oct 17
Had a fabulous last morning beachcombing with E: she threw balls for the dogs and I collected flints and shells. And then left most of them behind, because my bags are already too heavy!
To V: Were/are you still in Ireland? Interesting skies here: yesterday tail end of Ophelia, today Saharan sandstorm. Who knew?!
Oct 18
For the country that practically invented train
commuting, train tickets are surprisingly expensive. Trainline was
E's solution for me. You buy in advance, pick the best option, and
pick up the ticket at a kiosk at the station, scanning any credit card
and inputting the trip code. The trip to Tavistock, via Plymouth, came
out of Paddington Station's RR platforms (as opposed to the Underground
station). The trips to and from Midhurst and Bath Spa came through
Waterloo station (Bakerloo line to Oxford Circus, transfer to Central
line to Leyton, which is E's stop.) Coming in through the Tube with
the big luggage is not fun, so I've been taking the small pack on the
short trips.
Daddy and babes and Jemima playing peekaboo
Oct 19
A leaf storm rages,
A brown blizzard whirling past
A train bound for Bath.
First, my current sitch: I am in Bath, taking care of a fluffy white cat. It’s raining but I have tutoring and a writing project with R to keep me busy.
On the 15 minute walk up from the station, I passed the weir below Pultney Bridge and a pub called the Pig and Fiddle. I took a pic of the sign for E.
This house is tall and skinny: 5 stories and a basement, each level has one function. Guess which level has the guestroom? First floor is the kitchen and dining area. The kitchen is amazing and the oven has some kind of a steam gadget as part of it.
It’s part of a typical Bath street built in the 1700s: White Bath limestone identical side-by-side façades, forming a curving line of street. Inside it’s very modern and white. The owner is a retired architect and they’re doing some major remodeling; it’s very comfortable though
Oct 20
Checking in with hosts:
Bibi was pouncing up the hill, then came back down (lower right in first pic) and inside. He was fed much earlier and all is well. You have a wonderful home: thanks for sharing! Hope all is with your journey.
Listening to Capella Romana's youtube "ad" got me into some other amazing music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7vvPXz-Qes Surrounded by beauty in my temporary Bath home..
One of my most comfortable sits yet, despite the narrow climb. I love living at different levels, depending on the activity of the moment. Am finishing up a lazy morning, post-tutoring.
When the family-owned hardware, brass foundry, manufacturing repair and soda bottling store, JR Bowler, closed after a 100 year run, a public spirited gent bought up the entire inventory and made a Museum/homage to a dying way of life. Most of the tools and objects were mysteries to me.
10/21
Mooched around London, looking at art and street scenes.
In search of baked goods For tonight’s episode of Great British Bake-off. |
Oct 12
Slept 12 hours. Other than some aches, back to normal. It’s good to fast now and then, right?
Is it possible To make a living in such Crowded conditions?! |
Oct 13
Went for a walk on an old English estate (Petworthy) and Hetty (neighbor dog) found mud to sit in. Fortunately, the lake was right there. We threw the ball in the water and she swam clean.
We can hear clicking sounds, but
There’s no fighting. Yet.
This is the focused Stare of a stag who really Just wants us to leave. |
E took us to Petworth Park. It was dog heaven, so aptly named, and we saw deer too! |
Oct 14
Still feeling queasy, but not vomiting, so all is well. This afternoon I had no guide but my memory to get me home, E being busy and Rosie the dog being less than useless.
I love autumn woods! I’m liking this sit: walk, read, write; repeat.
Hive mind IDs this as Evening Primrose |
My first solo walk Out the back gate. We get back No thanks to the dog. |
Mainly around the old quarry: tonight’s walk. Text to E: Just wanted to thank S for the excellent company (she's as charming as her mother.)
A sunrise need not Be bursting with color to Be spectacular. |
Birches in autumn: Natural pointillism, Perfect examples. |
windy day with Joe and Rosie |
|
| |||
chalk covered leaves |
We planned a beach walk But the hurricane's tail end Sent us back inland |
My new best friend E's husband works for BMW: he was at the SC plant for several years and now is at the Rolls Royce plant in Chichester. His team does the woodwork. They’re rolling out a new limo. The Earl of March (Goodwood Estate) gave permission to build the plant as long as he couldn't see it from his window!
Oct 17
Had a fabulous last morning beachcombing with E: she threw balls for the dogs and I collected flints and shells. And then left most of them behind, because my bags are already too heavy!
Saharan sandstorm Following the hurricane: Eerie light times two. |
"stick" mussels and other shells |
chez cousins in London: E works on backyard shed |
A hot shower and
A heated towel rack mean
Civilization.
To V: Were/are you still in Ireland? Interesting skies here: yesterday tail end of Ophelia, today Saharan sandstorm. Who knew?!
Oct 18
Lazy day hanging around with V (who is on antibiotics,
recovering from a
chest infection) and E (who is on autumn break) and R (who went
in to
work late, after E returned from a meeting). I had a migraine last
night and am still queasy, so took meclizine (antivert) and naproxen
last night, and another meclizine today. I tutored for 2 hours and have
been also listening to an audio book and working on the blog. Got a
refund from Trainline - woo-hoo! - for the tickets to and from Hayward
Heath. Normally those discount advance tickets cannot be refunded, and
can only be changed as far as date/time (for a fee), but because I've
had so many trips with them, they gave me a one-time deal. Works for
me.
Daddy and babes and Jemima playing peekaboo
A leaf storm rages,
A brown blizzard whirling past
A train bound for Bath.
First, my current sitch: I am in Bath, taking care of a fluffy white cat. It’s raining but I have tutoring and a writing project with R to keep me busy.
On the 15 minute walk up from the station, I passed the weir below Pultney Bridge and a pub called the Pig and Fiddle. I took a pic of the sign for E.
This house is tall and skinny: 5 stories and a basement, each level has one function. Guess which level has the guestroom? First floor is the kitchen and dining area. The kitchen is amazing and the oven has some kind of a steam gadget as part of it.
It’s part of a typical Bath street built in the 1700s: White Bath limestone identical side-by-side façades, forming a curving line of street. Inside it’s very modern and white. The owner is a retired architect and they’re doing some major remodeling; it’s very comfortable though
Oct 20
Checking in with hosts:
Bibi was pouncing up the hill, then came back down (lower right in first pic) and inside. He was fed much earlier and all is well. You have a wonderful home: thanks for sharing! Hope all is with your journey.
When the family-owned hardware, brass foundry, manufacturing repair and soda bottling store, JR Bowler, closed after a 100 year run, a public spirited gent bought up the entire inventory and made a Museum/homage to a dying way of life. Most of the tools and objects were mysteries to me.
This building used to be a "real tennis court" built in 1777. Hence, the high windows |
Well, duh |
After the signing I see textures ev’rywhere, Including textiles. |
Home, 5 stories tall.I hang on to the stair ropes. My room’s at the top. |
My morning peril, The narrow staircase sequence. He’s a catassin. |
1. A museum of a hardware store, set in an indoor tennis court.
2. https://www. temperleylondon.com/shop/rose- quartz.html at a local bookstore
3. A catassinThen a nice browse through the Bath Book Fair at the Assembly Rooms. Truly a unique experience. Lots of Rackham illustrations, including a Complete Angler for a mere 100 BPS. And a silver bound bible. And oodles of Alison Utley books. Never heard of her, but she seemed like Beatrix Potter for the middle school set.
Finally, the best find ever: a Peacock P&P for 575 BPS.
I refrained.
Chat with P: So, at the book fair I saw Lytton Strachey books, reasonable price, but I had no cash, and they wouldn’t take cards for small amts At the end of the fair, the seller found me wandering around the Octagon room, handed me the book and his card, and said to mail a check
recital on the Bath Abbey Klais organ, Patrick King |
Spent most of my day writing and tutoring. Then zipped down to attend
Evensong at the Abbey, followed by an evening walk and drinks at the
local Pub.
I zip down the hill
For the Abbey Evensong.
Both song and light soar.
For the Abbey Evensong.
Both song and light soar.
Halfway through my stay, Bibi finally joins me.
Oct 23
to S:
I'm having a splendid time. Right now I'm in the best set EVER! Bath is such a pretty and walkable city, and I only have a cat to care for. Today I was tutoring for 2 hours and then working on the book I got commissioned to do: my cousin in law is a publisher of kids books, and her author for Famous Faces and Their Families flaked out on her. It's a new sort of writing for me, and I'm enjoying learning the process. Do you know of a famous Canadian who would have an actual family tree that could be researched? Emily Carr info only goes back a generation. Alexander Graham Bell is really Scottish, and Tecumseh is really an Ohioan, although Canada claims both of them. And Wayne Gretzky? Too recent and only 1 generation of info.
Anyway, I'm enjoying having a project to work on when I'm tired of walking in the rain. :)
Oct 24
to CH For your next discussion about P values! And just a darn interesting article.
I'm
in Bath right now, having spent the summer in CA and September in
Dartmoor. It's a wonderful life of meeting new people and seeing new
things, with the added joy of spending time in between sits with my
cousin's family in London. I've stayed in places both luxurious and
"cozy" but this is the best place so far: I love the architecture here
and the walkability of the city, and I only have to care for a cat. So,
although I am still going for daily walks, there is no stress to it.
But it's my last day, so I should get out there and make the most of it!To L: Tomorrow I leave Bath for Brixham. The weather has been unseasonably warm, and the last two days rainy, but I had a recurrence of the illness, so I stayed inside and wrote and that’s fine with me. Part of my plan is to just enjoy where I am, and this is a lovely home.
Another rainy day, so I stayed inside. I was actually productive, but now I’m kicking myself for not at least going out for tea and a Bath bun.
My hosts were watching a series about Guy Fawkes http://www.imdb.com/ title/tt6128262/fullcredits? ref_=tt_ov_st_sm (
his day is coming up) and I sat through the pressing and drawing and
quartering and plotting and then threw in the towel. Mark Gatis (Mycroft
Holmes) Kit Harrington and Liv Tyler are the actors I recognize, and the cast is
good, but even though, like Dorothy Parker, I am one who weeps at
costume drama, this was just too grim for me.
Oct 25
I’m now in Brixham. It was a gorgeous day in Bath. The usual rule
applies: when you’re getting ready to leave a place, the weather clears
up.
Sending some pix to prove it...
A random child took the pic at my request: needed to show how big the tree was |
Long day, I’m going to bed in a few. Spent the morning researching and
writing the paragraphs about Ada Lovelace. Then walked over to the
Botanic Gardens, via the circus and crescent. Gorgeous day, amazing
trees. See FB for pix.
Then a 3 hour train ride with 2 transfers. My host picked me up at the station. And that’s it.
Oct 26Then a 3 hour train ride with 2 transfers. My host picked me up at the station. And that’s it.
Oct 27
To E: yes,
I do have skype! Would be happy to chat. I'll be up for another 3
hours tonight. I'm 6 hours ahead of you, and I tend to be up early:
that's when I tutor. I'm usually out and about in the afternoon, but
home by 7 or so. I don't think that will change much.
V
has been traveling, so she is also not monitoring much. I finished another biography for the book project and then did a
long round-trip walk around Brixham: down a steep hill to the harbor
where I had some awesome fish and chips, then around the harbor, then
back up the north side of the hill to Berry Head Reserve, where I looked
at the other fort. The weather was warm and sunny, with a crisp
underlay that showed up in the shade and chilled my hands. The reserve
is about a 15 minute walk north along the cliff top, so it's an easy
hike if I don't go down to the water. To BJ: Brixham is at heart a fishing village, but it does have a marina. Torquay is the tourist town, and Paignton is where the locals play. I love it here, and you could zip up to Dartmoor which I love even more.
Chat w/ P:
It's been a GORGEOUS day!
I walked into Brixham Harbor, then up the cliff to the north fort on Berry Head, then circled home.
Had lunch at Simply Fish, not simple, not cheap, but yummy fish!
I'm not a fish person, but the plaice was caught locally, grilled with garlic butter. The wine was a citrusy wonder. Also from Devon. The chips were "double-fried." Light and crisp. Probably artery clogging as hell.
And the lemon posset! suffice it to say, I'm a happy camper.
To FB: Can anyone ID the small orange fruit with huge dead leaves, garnishing the lemon posset? It was very tart, with tomato-like interior. But not a tomato. From GT: It's a physalis, also called GoldenBerry. Delicioso! From me: Thanks! It also was the source of the orange sauce swirl on top, I bet.
Yes, that is ketchup. I am an American, So please say nothing. |
MK: Believe
me, catsup is much better than mushy peas....that's what they prefer
with their fish and chips in York. If you want o try it, buy some baby
food peas.😉
me: Oh, the mushy peas were on the menu. I avoided them.
This
was really excellent: plaice grilled with leeks and garlic butter,
double fried chips that were crisp and light and NOT GREASY. The wine
was a citrusy blast from Lyme.
The younger dog is sitting in my lap and both licked my face: so they like me. Sadly, I leave tomorrow.
Looking back towards Berry Head, debating whether to walk the stairs down to ta rather unattractive beach or continue on to the headland. Either way, I have a climb back.
Nice walk on a grey day. Took Mudstone lane off Rea Barn Rd to the Coast path, then south to St Mary's Bay and Sharkstone head, then back through the development. Texted with P en route, looking at plane info: considering joining me in Ireland or Japan.
Oct 29
I tried Brixham plaice:
Although not a fish person
Although not a fish person
Per se, I had to.
10/28The younger dog is sitting in my lap and both licked my face: so they like me. Sadly, I leave tomorrow.
Looking back towards Berry Head, debating whether to walk the stairs down to ta rather unattractive beach or continue on to the headland. Either way, I have a climb back.
Nice walk on a grey day. Took Mudstone lane off Rea Barn Rd to the Coast path, then south to St Mary's Bay and Sharkstone head, then back through the development. Texted with P en route, looking at plane info: considering joining me in Ireland or Japan.
Oct 29
Buses don’t take cards, So now I have missed the bus, Literally. Sheesh |
pretty station at Torquay |
Was late for early tutoring: time change in the UK, but not in the US. Basically spent the day en route. Tutored for 2 hours, walked down the hill to the bus stop, had to search for a cash machine and take a later bus, rode in the top deck, where I took these pix, to Paignton Station, boarded with 2 minutes to spare. Reached the Newton Abbot transfer and a nice Station dude shlepped my bag up and over so I could make the next train: again with 2 minutes to spare!
Nicer weather in London.
To L: we all returned to London today, the cousins from Paris, and me from Bath and the south Devon coast. I’m tired, but they are totally active.
The Shawl Sequence
Oct 30To FB: A fabulous evening with the Barber and my charming host in the over-the-top and delightful Coliseum. Wonderful music, sprightly physical comedy, great company. Thanks, Stephen!
View from National Gallery, en route to meeting S at Notes |
opulent opera house, London Coliseum |
walking through Piss Alley to deliver champers to Eleazaer, our ticketing tenor, later texting him at intermission |
this selfie had people confused about us: i'm just happy and appreciative |
As I have said here before, The Barber of Seville is one of my very favorite operas. Basically I find its charm irresistible. In musical terms it is one gem after another and the libretto, silly though it may be, lends itself to the audience getting many a chuckle. It so happened that an old friend, Kari Hauge was in town and this provided a perfect opportunity to get together. Kari is a violinist and although has played as an orchestral musician in the Overture to the Barber, had never seen it and knew next-to-nothing about it. From the moment we went into the auditorium Kari was oo-ing and aaaah-ing over its splendor of the venue. We had excellent seats in the stalls and settled in for some fun.
From the opening notes of the overture, Kari was smiling. Over the course of the next 3 hours and 10 minutes, I would glance at her from time to time and that smile never left her face! Not once did I catch her without that happy grin. And that made two of jus ‘cos I was doing a lot of smiling myself. We were seeing the Jonathan Miller production which is now 30 years old (and which I have seen before) but to me it looked neither dated nor tired. It’s clever, inventive and, when done by a cast of this quality, very, very funny.
Oct 31
I only left the house once, to retrieve V from the nanny. E and R share the nanny with another couple, who were in the same birth class. The kids alternate houses on a weekly basis, and this week Vt is at the other house, 8 am to 6 pm. It’s about a 15 minute walk, so that’s my exercise for the day.
Otherwise, I tutored, worked on revisions for the book, Skyped with E (thanks), listened to my audiobook, worked on the book plan with R, and baked almond-butter cookies for tonight’s Great British Bake Off finale. But E was at his woodworking class until 10, and we go to bed early. So, I’m avoiding papers and social media until after tomorrow.
I’m doing a b/w photo challenge for 7 days. Here are today's pix that did not make the cut.
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