It's only two weeks now till I go on holiday to the UK. Last week I was overcome with exhaustion just thinking about it traveling all that way and the 26-hour trip, but this week i am suddenly all excited and raring to go. What has caused the change of heart I don't know, but hurray anyway!
I don't have much to do before I go. As usual, I am going to take hand luggage only. I hate traveling with loads of stuff - just a pair of jeans and a couple of T-shirts will do me and then I can go and buy my yearly supply of clothes in Marks and Sparks when I get over there. If I travel light, it also makes it far easier to get the early National Express coach from the bus station at Heathrow, because I don't have to wait for ages for the luggage to come off the rotunda. That's if it gets to the rotunda at all. I stopped stowing luggage about ten years ago, when my suitcase ended up in Denmark. Bloody Paris baggage handlers.
Yesterday I went to get my travel insurance. As usual, the bloke in the local HIS left the new recruit to deal with me. I can't read the insurance forms so well, so the young guy explained them to me in Japanese and asked me questions. Some of the questions were so stupid that we both ended up giggling. was I planning to go bungee jumping? No. hang gliding? No again. Sky Diving? No. Was I planning on a trip to Cuba? Yes, I said. I'm having tea with Fidel. I laughed at my own joke, but he didn't as he didn't know who Castro was. Oh well. I had a laugh anyway.
I went out for a late-night walk last night. You can see the pictures on this page. It was very pleasant in the gardens in front of the Imperial guest house. There were more people about than I'd expected - taxi drivers catching 40 winks, courting couples and a man with a banjo. I took a few pictures on long exposure to see what came out. Some of them produced quite a nice effect. Mysterious. Gothic even. I like walking around my neighbourhood at night. It's not something you could do in my hometown, especially not with an expensive-looking camera. You might as well just stand in the shopping centre with a sign saying "Steal my Nikon then stab me."
The weather has been quite nice and cool since last week's typhoon. I have also been using the lovely fan that hubby bought me as a very practical wedding anniversary present. It stands two feet high and gently blasts me with silent air. :D
I bought a few books today. I have been treating myself recently - buying books, buying nice food, spending money! I hum that little tune "Enjoy yourself, it's later than you think. Enjoy yourself while you're still in the pink." Today I bought "To Kill a Mockingbird" and "Three Men in a Boat." Both classics. I also bought " Animal Dreams" by Barbara Kingsolver. Not a classic yet, but it may well be. I have just finished reading her "Poisonwood Bible" and thought it was magnificent. I have a couple more Hemingway stories to finish in the book of his collected works and then I will make a start on the Jerome K. Jerome. I am planning on saving the Kingsolver for my journey to the UK. :D
Last but by no means least, like so many people I have been deeply saddened by poor Amy Winehouse's death. I wasn't surprised, but I was shocked nevertheless. She had managed to stagger her way through the last five years and I'd just hoped that she would continue surviving until she finally made it out the other side into a happier life. Sadly that wasn't to be. I've read a few preachy statements from people going on about the dangers of drugs. We don't need to hear that. We've all had a ringside seat these last five years watching the poor woman wrestling with her drink and drug demons; we have seen it all happen in front of our eyes courtesy of Fleet Street. We don't need anyone to tell us about that. People have been going on about the sad waste of talent, but at the end of the day, her singing was just a job. I am more saddened by the sad waste of a young life. RIP Amy. We will keep playing your records and remembering how you were funnier than all the so-called comedians put together on "Never Mind the Buzzcocks".
Anyway, best get a reasonably early night for the first time in ages... yawn... night all :)
0 comments:
Post a Comment