2012 is just around the bend...

Yesterday was a very fun day.  To be honest, I didn't even leave the house.  A friend of Joanne's (and now also one of mine) came over and brought her two children with her.  We spent a few hours just chatting and entertaining the kids and being entertained by the kids.  We engaged the help of Zoe and David in taking ornaments off the tree.  This idea was not inspired.  David found it more fun to take ornaments back out of the box and dump them on the floor.  Zoe wanted to sweep up every pine needle that fell, which was an impossible task.  

After they made their departure, Joanne and I made the gigantic effort of taking out our tree.  Joanne is now rethinking the beauty of having a cut Christmas tree.  By the time we had the tree out of the house, I think over half of the needles were on our carpet!  

We had to sweep the carpet well before we could even attempt to vacuum!  I maintain that a real tree was worth it.  They are so pretty.  I only wish we could have gotten a live tree to replant in the garden.  

After that rather prickly endeavor, we cleaned up the house and eventually settled down to watch a film.  Part way through the film, Joanne mentioned that our friend (who had stayed over Christmas eve) had left some pie crust dough in the fridge and told us to use it.  (She didn't need it for the peach pie she made for Christmas dinner.)  We  starting thinking of cinnamon buns.  Mmmm... 

So we went to the kitchen and I started rolling out the dough.  We quickly realized that this dough did not look good.  I'm not sure what the problem was, but it did not look right to either of us.  But I remembered that I had some puff pastry in the freezer left over from one of my previous baking experiments.  So, we binned the dodgy dough and got out the puff pasty.  After defrosting it in the microwave, I unrolled it, only to find out that I had a lot less than I had remembered!  By this point, we were quite giggly at our unsuccessful efforts.  Joanne looked up a recipe and we then made the dough from scratch, also using the remainder of the puff pastry.  

Once mixed, I rolled out the dough and Josie spread a lovely concoction of brown sugar, cinnamon, and butter over the dough.  We rolled the dough and then sliced it.  After a brief ten minutes in the over, our kitchen smelled lovely.

Once cooled from the oven, Josie made me giggle by saying, "Come, let's go ice our buns."  I couldn't stop laughing and advised her not to say that particularly odd sounding phrase again. :)  But we mixed up some icing sugar and check out the result:

I think our efforts with the dough were rewarded.  Oh, they are yummy.  I was amazed at how easy they were to make too.  It is definitely a recipe to save!  We will probably be enjoying some tonight as part of our New Year celebration.

Neighbors have already begun their celebratory fireworks.  I was chatting online to a friend in China, who is already in 2012.  Time is a funny idea.  It's a bit strange to think that now I'm exactly one month away from leaving London and moving back to Pennsylvania.  As I've thought about the future year, I keep thinking of this song from Disney's Pocahontas (A flash from my childhood when my sister and I could sing almost any Disney song word for word).  Pocahontas is in her canoe and sings:

What I love most about rivers is

You can't step in the same river twice

The water's always changing, always flowing

But people, I guess, can't live like that

We all must pay a price

To be safe, we lose our chance of ever knowing

What's around the river bend

Waiting just around the river bend

This coming year has a lot of unknowns but most of the time, that doesn't bother me.  I have a sense of anticipation about what is just around the river bend. Sometimes it bothers me and I just want to know!  But at some point, we go around the corner and we see.  And then there is another river bend up ahead, holding more unknowns.

This is my 270th blog post.  I know that doesn't seem like much for most bloggers, but it represents a lot of writing and rambling on my part, a lot of reading on your part, and a lot of memories.  We shall see what the next year holds.  I'll keep posting and I hope you'll keep reading.  For now, Happy New Year!  

Back in London Town

Well, the brief mini-break is over.  Yesterday, I got a bus back to the airport (woke up way too early) and had an uneventful flight back to London.  Thankfully, the tube was running a normal service!

Goodness, looking back through my pictures, I feel so thankful for this short trip.  Wow, what a lovely part of God's green earth!  Scotland has become the 33rd country I've been to and it was a delightful one.  Here are some of my favorite pictures:

St John's Church

Palace of Holyroodhouse, as seen from Calton Hill 

The National Monument, and me, in the gale force winds on Calton Hill

Abbey Church

Abbey Church

Me at Edinburgh Castle

On the way up to Calton Hill in the wind.

Oh goodness, the memories I have.  You know, my overwhelming reminder on this trip was that I am blessed.  And I've not done a thing to earn it.  I have so much to be thankful for and trips like this are the sweet, sweet icing on top of a very large cake.

The Abbey pictured above was one of the highlights of me.  It is all that remains of an Abbey built by King David I of Scotland in 1128.  1128.  Wow.  It is attached to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, also pictured above.  This is a working palace and the royal family stay there when in Scotland.  It is also the historic home of Mary, Queen of Scots.  I paid my entry fee and walked into the palace, listening to the audioguide as I walked.  At one point, I was directed up a tiny winding little staircase, to the private bedroom of Mary, Queen of Scots.  I'm not a huge fan of that particular part of history, but for some reason, this impacted me the most.  As I carefully climbed the stairs, a father behind me pointed out to his daughter, "Wow, Mary, Queen of Scots would have walked up these steps too!"  Just wow.  What a reminder of the footsteps of those who have walked before us in history.  Now Mary wasn't exactly a role model, but history fascinates me.  That tour was a great reminder of the fact that history is people just like you and I, who lived and loved and dreamed.  Mary probably would have found it odd that one day, her bedroom would be a tourist site.

Edinburgh, day two

This is not a vacation I will soon forget for both lovely scenery and more memorable reasons.

I'm staying in a lovely four star hotel. I got a great deal! My first night, the power went out for ten minutes. Last night, the fire alarm went off at 1:30. I had to grab layers and go down six flights only to stand out in incredible wind with everyone else on the hotel while the fire department came. Fortunately, after about twenty minutes, we could go back inside. Rather than wait for the lift, I took the stairs back up six flights. Crawled back into bed. Woke up at 3:00 to the fire alarm AGAIN! We were experiencing intense wind at this point, and when I got to the lobby, the staff directed us to a large room rather than outside. Once we were allowed to head back to our rooms, I heard one of the firefighters explain that it was faulty wiring complicated by the wind. I'm note sure that answer actually comforted me! Again, walked back up six flights of stairs. So ready to crawl back into bed again. I pulled off one boot and the alarm went off again.

I groaned. It was turned off. I went to bed and didn't wake up until ten. Got ready to head out the door and wouldn't you know, it started pouring. Maybe pelting is a better word. It was painful rain. I ran across the street and found shelter in Starbucks, figuring I would wait out the rain. After a little while, it seemed to clear and I headed to the Scottish national gallery. It started pelting again. It almost felt like hail. I reached the national gallery in desperation and then found out that I had come to the paid exhibit. The free gallery required going outside again. So I did. By this point, I was nearly jogging across the courtyard.

The gallery was worth it though. It was really nice and also let me warm up.

Then I headed out and made the bold choice to go to Calton Hill, a public park wth great views over the city. Great views because, as the name suggests, it is a hill. it was deserted due to the wind. The sky cleared enough that I could get some pretty pictures but then the rain came back with a vengeance. I started to head back down the hill. Literally the wind was moving me along. Then the pelting rain reached monsoon levels. And started to include snow. By the time I needed to cross the north bridge, I had to stop at one of the bus stops for shelter and a reprieve from the wind. Let me tell you, the BBC headlines include "Gale force winds batter Scotland.". No joke. This is not just my flair for storytelling. Winds have reached 53 miles per hour here in Edinburgh, and 90 miles per hour in other parts of Scotland. I felt like a physics calculation crossing that bridge...125 lbs moving one direction at a brisk walk and 50 mile an hour winds moving another way...

I just read that the castle was closed to visitors because of the wind so I'm very glad I went there yesterday! I'm still headed in the direction of the Palace of Holyrood, home of Mary Queen of Scots at one point, but in the meantime I'm in Pizza Express enjoying a free coffee and snack thanks for a voucher from a friend. The sky is blue now. What are the chances that as soon as I bundle up I'll be back in the rain?

Edinburgh, day one, part three!

First view of the castle as I started walking around the city. Many more pictures followed! I think the buildings in this city are so pretty!

And of course, this warranted a picture for my sister.

This is Victoria Street, which winds it's way around to the Royal Mile, the oldest street in the city. I love the different colors to the doors and shutters. It adds such color on a bleak winter day. By the way, I say bleak because of the gray sky, but it really wasn't that cold today. Tonight and tomorrow the weather is to be rainy and windy, with winds up to 70 miles per hour tonight, but it should clear up by morning.

Tomorrow is another day! I'll plan to spend it much the same as today. Outside in the daylight and relaxing in my hotel in the evening when it's dark and cold outside. Then Thursday morning, I will be heading back to work!

Edinburgh, day one, part two :-)

Me standing in front of Edinburgh castle :-). Most of my pictures will have to wait until I'm home but here are some to start with! next you'll see edinburgh's camera obscura (the white building) and the spire of the Hub, a cafe and ticket office for the famous festivals.

Adam Smith, the father of modern economics

Edinburgh, day one

Oh my word. This city is gorgeous. I fell on love with it just walking around to find coffee! As I write, I'm sitting on Castle Street, and the castle is literally just down the street. I have plans to visit there first but there is so much to see! Originally I thiught this would be s low key, meditative sort of holiday, but now I think two days won't be enough to see all the sights! I could just walk and walk around the streets here. It's not a very big city, population 500,000, but it is lovely, especially with Christmas lights still up. Words will not do this justice so expect lots of photographs!

My "boxing day-tube strike-one time I wish I had a car" adventure

I feel this warrants a blog post.

There is a Tube strike on the day I need to travel across London to heathrow airport. I know it isn't personal, but it is annoying timing!

9:30. Going to attempt the tube. Central line running from leytonstone to white city. Next train in 9 minutes. Oh my. They are normally every two minutes. Sitting on a train in the station is so odd. Praying the district line is running from mile end to hammersmith.

9:45 it's not. Next plan. Stay on central across London, change at queensway, book it across the park, get on high street kensington. I hope this works!

10:21 arrive at queensway.

Walk across Kensington gardens to high st Kensington. I felt like a momma duck. A few other people apparently wanted to try the same but weren't sure of directions. They figured I looked confident and followed from a distance.

10:40 I cant believe it only took me 20 minutes. Wait for the train which thank the lord is coming at 11:00 because there are only three an hour. I'm the only one on the platform. This will get me to earls court where I can change once more to my final line, the Piccadilly. That takes me to heathrow!

10:53 I'm literally praying blessings on the tube drivers who are working today. Thank you so much for not striking like everyone else! The district line train arrives and we can at least get on the train to wait until it leaves in 6 minutes. It looks like i could get the Piccadilly at earls court but I'm not sure the Piccadilly is running that far, so I think I will play it safe and stay on district until Acton town.

11:03 plans change again. the train pulls into hammersmith and I see a piccadilly line across the platform. Grab my bags and dash across, getting on the train half a minute before it leaves. I had just enough time to glance at the board to make sure it was to heathrow. It is!

12:00 I'm sitting in the waiting area, through security and now with two hours before my flight begins to board. For the love of all that is good and kind! I can't believe it took me two and a half hours to get to the airport, to wait another 2.5 hours for my boarding, all for a 1.5 hour flight to Edinburgh! And my family thought they had it rough when they came to see me! I'm so glad I've gotten to know this city well! At least I've got time to browse the duty free shops and decide between Giraffe and Cafe Nero for my morning coffee!!

The Nutcracker

Thursday night I went with a friend to see the Nutcracker Ballet performed by the English National Ballet.  It made me think of my dear Grandmother!  I know my Nan would have loved to have been there with me, and I would have loved her company.  

Our seats were quite high up, as you can see, but we still had a good view of the ballet.  It was a nice evening, finished off with ice cream at the Haagen Dazs restaurant.  And on the way home on the tube, I was entertained by two intoxicated fellows singing Christmas carols while wearing a Santa hat and reindeer antlers.  There is always something unexpected when out in London!  

Christmas Market

For my day off, I took Carolyn and Joanna K to Southbank, where a Christmas market has been set up for the month of December.  It wasn't a large market, but the booths were all very pretty.  My favorite is below; Christmas decorations of dried oranges and cinnamon sticks.  They smell so nice!

Unfortunately, the rain started while we were walking around.  Given the cold lately and the fact that we were next to the Thames, it got rather chilly!  All in all, it was a nice day.  Given that the sun is setting at 3:50 now, we went back to my house fairly early and settled in for dinner and a movie.

Sugar Cookies

Today was my day to bake cookies to give to my neighbors.  Everyone always seems to give store (boxed) cookies as presents this time of year, but I've missed my family's tradition of making cookies.  I decided I would make sugar cookies and give plates to my neighbors and friends from my house group at church.  I recently ordered cookie cut-outs and a friend had a large baking project and gave us her leftover food coloring and sprinkles, so I was good to go!

They are definitely not perfect, but 36 cookies 33 cookies later, I have plenty to give away.  My little Christmas trees are my favorites, but I do like the Christmas stockings as well.  

Smart Gloves

I decided to do a present a day!  I'm spending Christmas Day with friends at another house, and I won't be taking my presents with me to open there, so I'm opening one a day.

Today's present was a pair of hot pink smart gloves!  For those of you who aren't hooked on technology, phones or other electronics with a touch screen do not respond to gloves.  In the cold weather, that means I need to take my hands out of my warm gloves to answer my phone, respond to a text, etc.  These gloves have a special fingertip material that touch screens respond to, which means...no cold fingers!  Pretty sure this was my sister's idea :)  I love 'em, Joyful.

Customer Service Woes, Continued

A few weeks ago, I blogged about customer service in the UK and some missing deliveries.  I don't want to bad-mouth companies, so I'll keep the names out of this.

For Company 1, part of my order arrived and part did not.  They were shipped separately.  I called Company 1's customer service line four times.  They did not answer once, disconnecting the call after I had been waiting on hold for ten minutes.  I sent an email.  I got an automated response informing me that they would respond in five days.  Finally, I tried to call one more time.  After waiting on hold for EIGHT minutes, I finally got a person.  I waited on hold repeatedly throughout the call as he waited for his manager.  Finally, after a SEVENTEEN minute call, they agreed to refund me for my missing item.  Ironically, the item cost me £2.50.  The call cost me £0.85.  Sigh.  It was the principle of the issue!

I called the second company the same day.  They were much faster to answer their phones, and much more helpful.  They apologized and said they would resend my delivery, sending it next day shipping.  The next day, I knew Joanne would be home all day, which was wonderful because that meant someone would be home to sign for it.  From work, I checked online and it said it was delivered at 10:30 am.  Yes!

I got home that night and asked Joanne about it.  She looked confused and told me no one had been here to deliver a package.  By this point, I had had enough.  I called Customer Service again.  Explained again.  Got transferred to someone else.  Explained again.  Everyone was very helpful and sympathetic.  Apparently, the delivery company left it on my porch.  The problem is, I don't have a porch.  The customer service person put me on hold while they spoke with their manager.  When he came back on the line, he explained that they cannot re-deliver a re-delivery order, and my options were a refund or else I could collect it one of their stores in five days time.  I went for the refund.

Three days later, my account was refunded.  The same day, I heard a knock at the door.  I opened the door to a complete stranger.  He introduced himself as living at Number 8 on a different street.  My parcel had been delivered to his address, but he was away on holiday, so his neighbor signed for it.  When he returned, she gave it to him.  He then brought it to me.  It was one of the two orders that had been delivered from Company 2.

Great.  Now I had a refund AND my original order.  An order for which I now hadn't paid.

I was not feeling very Christmas-y at this point.  In fact, I think I might have looked like the Grinch.  I put the box in a bag to make it easier to carry, and got a bus to the nearest store for Company 2.  Once there, I queued with the other Christmas shoppers.  One gentleman at the till was a manger.  Of course, the girl who wasn't a manager beckoned me over first.  I told her, "You might want me to just wait for your manager."

He came over.  I handed him the box and explained my dilemma.   I told him, I didn't want to send it back by their usual return service because I don't want to be reimbursed a second time by accident, so I chose their return to store option.

He looked confused.  "So, you need to be reimbursed?"

"NO!  I don't want to be!  I already have been!"

"You don't want these purchases?"

"NO!  I haven't paid for them anymore.  I've already been reimbursed for them!  I brought it here because I don't need to be reimbursed but I can't keep them either, because now, I technically haven't paid for them."

He still looked confused.  "Ok.  I'll send them back to the store.  It was very...nice....of you to bring them back.  Thank you."  He looked like he wasn't sure if I was really honest or if he should be calling security to take the crazy lady away from his store.

I thanked him for his help and walked away.  I only hope the parcel from the second time they delivered my order doesn't show up as well.  I have no idea where it is and right now, I don't want to make a second trip back to Company 2!

Last night, Company 2's delivery company rang my bell.  They asked if I could sign for a delivery for my neighbor.  It is a rather sizable box.  I said, "Yes, is it for Number 6?"

"No, Number 2."

I thought, Eh, ok, it's still just three houses down from me.  I can walk it down to them tomorrow if they don't come to collect it.  I signed for it, said goodnight, and they went on their way.

I looked at the huge box after I carried it into my hallway.  I wanted to beat my head against a wall.  It is for Number 2, but Number 2 for a different address!!!!  Fortunately, it's across the street and further down, still not too far away, but it is a completely different post code!

For once in my life, I'm regretting that online shopping is so popular.  Maybe we should all just have to go to the stores and carry our purchases home ourselves.  Now if you will excuse me, I need to go take someone else's shopping to their door.  I really hope they are home and that this trip isn't in vain.

Christmas Came Early

Today was the only day we three housemates would be together between now and Christmas.  We decided to have our favorite breakfast (pancakes) and then exchange our presents before we needed to go our various ways.  (I'm staying in London but I still needed to go out today, and Laura and Jo were both traveling out of London today.)  

My sister included a little present for Joanne and Laura when she mailed my Christmas presents!  They loved the gloves!

Laura bought me this lovely faux fur winter headband in a Christmas market in Munich.  I love it!  The blanket wasn't a present, it was just to keep me warm.  We did joke that this looks like a wanna-be Pocahontas picture. 

I also decided it was only fair to open one of MY presents from my sister today.  (After all, Laura and Joanne got to open theirs!)  My sister knows me and she knows English winters.  She sent me an insulated coffee mug.  I often have days where I need to reheat my coffee cup twice before I finish a single cup of coffee.  I will admit, that is partly just because because I take a long time to drink a cup of coffee, but the other part is the cold!  

the best family ever ;)

My family is very special!  They spoil me even from a distance.  

My Christmas box arrived today!  I was so excited to see it. There is something wonderful about getting post with familiar handwriting on the outside!  

My sister, mom, and grandmother had packed it full of wrapped Christmas gifts to go underneath my tree!

It will require some patience to wait 13 more days, but I will do so.  My housemates and I have some presents for each other under the tree as well, but my parcel doubled the present count!  The chocolates they sent may not last so long though.  No promises about those lasting 13 more days!

Market flirtations

I started my Christmas shopping today.  Before and after a meeting, I traveled via a local market and shopping centre.   While in the food area of the market, I had a "hankering" for oranges.  I do try to eat healthy, but fruit is often pricey and spoils quickly here.  I don't buy it often, even though I know it is very good for me.  I decided I should change that today and the market is a good place to do so.  The vendors call out their prices as you walk by and try to get your attention.  On my second trip through the market, I stopped at an Englishman's stand. He had a lovely crate of HUGE "sweet oranges" marked 4 for a £1.    

As soon as I stopped, he grinned at me and said in his East London accent, "I like you.  You look like a real sweetie."  

Haha.  That's one sales tactic, I guess.  Before anyone (such as my father) gets too concerned, this particular gentleman was between the ages of my father and grandfather, and probably closer to my grandfather's age!  

I smiled at him and said, "That's very nice of you, but the only sweet I'm interested in is the oranges."  

He kept his smile.  "Well all right then.  Four good ones for a 1£ then?"  

I decided to try my charm right back at him.  "You could always make it 5 for a £1."  

We kept chatting as he put them in a bag, but I couldn't see how many he moved into the blue shopping bag.  After I handed him a £1 coin, he grinned again, winked, and said, "Count 'em when you get home.  'ave a good one, luv.  And Happy Christmas!"

To which I always respond, "Merry Christmas," proving my American background!  As I walked away, I peeked into the blue bag.

He gave me five. :)  

The other funny interaction today was on the phone.  I got a fundraising call from a charity I have had connections with in the past.  As the guy started speaking, I realized with some surprise that I was speaking to an American!  After we had gone through the usual questions and answers, he said, "This isn't part of what I'm to ask you, but where are you from?" I answered that I am from Pennsylvania.  He responded, "I'm from Baltimore!  I've never gotten an American accent before on these calls!"  

This one's for my Dad

One of my favorite people in the world is my Daddy.  He's a special man.  We both admit that we can drive each other a little insane (he would add that it's a short drive), but we love each other fiercely.  We are also very similar in many of our loves, habits, and pursuits.  One of those love is exploring.  He raised me on Star Trek, best described with the line, "Space: The Final Frontier."  I'm not sure my Dad or I would ever even consider exploring space.  It freaks me out, to be honest, but I'm generally not willing to let that stop me from trying something.  However, we do both enjoy visiting a new country or a place that has captured our interest.

We do joke that we "compete" to see who gets to where first.  However, this trip, though it was a first for me, was entirely done in my Daddy's honor.  He loves C.S.Lewis and I think practically memorized J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings Trilogy.  

Today was my day off.  Val and I booked coach tickets and took a 100 minute bus journey to Oxford to see a friend who is studying there.  We had a cold/windy/rainy/overcast/cold/colder day to walk around Oxford, but it was still very fun.  I've visited a few other times but never with a student.  Students are allowed to take guests free of charge into the various colleges of Oxford, which are a treat to see.  (More pictures of that to follow.)

But for lunch, I made a request.  I had not yet been to a famous pub in Oxford, one called the Eagle and Child.  We were able to go for a late lunch.

This was the favorite pub of C.S.Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien when they were at Oxford.  They were part of a literary group called the Inklings who nicknamed the pub "the Bird and the Baby."  (The name of the pub comes from the crest of the Earls of Derby.)  There is even a picture of C.S.Lewis at their favorite spot to sit and eat and talk.   The pub still serves a great menu, which some fabulous fish and chips.  (Yep, had those today for my Dad too!  He loves 'em.) 

The Eagle and Child has been a pub since 1650!  

The friend I was visiting and myself, bundled up for the cold after our nice hot meal.

Daddy, this isn't to make you jealous that I got there first :) I wish you could have been with me today!  

High Street Moments

Today is an office day for me, which means that I drag myself out from underneath nice warm blankets and trudge to the office.  Our new office space is close enough for me to walk or take one bus.  However, bus routes aren't direct and if I'm honest and not lazy, I can walk to the office in about the same amount of time I would spend on the bus.  I do try to walk, unless its dropping buckets of rain.  Today the sun was shining.

And the wind was blowing.  The temperatures are in single digits (low 40s in Fahrenheit) and I'm glad I bundled in layers.  The walk is 1.3 miles, and generally takes me half an hour.  Today, I was walking into the wind.  I literally had to lean forward to take a step at times.

I do wish I could take little instant videos of what I see and share them with you as snapshots along these streets.  You could see the Pakistani men calling out their morning greetings to each other as they open their little shops.  You might notice the tiny white haired English lady taking her morning constitutional with her Yorkie, who is bundled up against the cold with his own little sweater.  You could see the ladies from many countries in hijab walking with their trolleys as they go to get the groceries for their families.  There's Rastafarian on his too small bicycle singing at the top of his lungs for all the world to hear.  Even the shops tell a story of the area, with a Nigerian "mama-put" take away restaurant, the Cypriana (Greek) restaurant not far from the Russian and Eastern European grocery store, and then of course you have several places with Lahore in the title and Habibi cafe, or Desert Rose cafe all mixed in between the much older pubs.  The one in my area is from the 1850's.

As I approach my last two months of living here, I know it has been a privilege.  I feel content that my departure is the right decision, but I have loved living here (most days!).

Even as I write nostalgically about my last three years, I have to laugh about the things that drive me a little batty about England.  I am continually amazed by the lack of customer service.

I'm currently in the midst of trying to sort out some missing deliveries.  I ordered a few things online and the tracking service says they were delivered.  I don't have them.  Sometimes packages are left with our neighbors.  They don't have them.  There are two other roads with similar names...I'm guessing they were left at the wrong number 8.  This results in a call to Customer Service, because calls get a faster response than an email.  Customer service numbers are not free here.  You pay to call to complain!  Perhaps that is their way of making certain that they have a low number of complaints :)  Oh and for my phone plan, I also pay to check my voicemail.  Which means, I pay to call Customer Service and if they need to call me back, and miss me, I then have to pay to hear the message they leave, and then pay to call them back!

Yesterday, I had another such moment.  I have worn my favorite boots down to the barest of soles.  Last week, I took them to a local cobbler.  They have a notice posted that there is a discount for paying in advance.  I paid in advance with no discount given.  The discount should have been £2.50.  Is it worth raising a question over this?  I decided not.  Maybe I'll say something when I come to collect the boots.

They said they would be ready by Friday, but I couldn't get there for Friday or Saturday.  Yesterday, I walked to the shop, which is a good thirty minutes walk away.  I hand the man my ticket.  "What kind of shoes?"  "Black leather boots."  He tried to hand me black leather ballet flats about five sizes too big for me.  "No, they are knee high boots."  He looked around some more.  "They must still be with the repair man.  I'll call.  Come back later this afternoon."

I just looked at him.  "No, I can't come back later today.  I came here just to collect these and I was told they would be ready Friday."

He went to the back room and returned with a second man.  Man 2 looked around the same, single shelf.  He tried to offer me the same black leather ballet flats.  "No, they are boots.  Knee high boots."

Man 2 left and returned with  Man 3.  (By this point, Man 1 is on the phone and looks like he can't believe I'm actually making them look for my boots.  Thankfully, he's speaking a different language, so I at least don't know what he's saying about me.)  Man 3 came around to the front of the store and pulled out a bag with *sigh of relief* my black leather boots.  He looked at me with a slightly injured look.  "They were ready for you on Friday."

£2.50 is so not worth this.  At this point, I'm just glad to have my boots back.

Hyde Park

This is lovely, isn't it? Hyde Park on a Sunday.  However, the sad thing is that I took this at about 3:50 this afternoon.

It's been good weather for curling up and reading a book.  Instead, yesterday I was handing out leaflets for two and half hours.  It took another hour for my toes to warm up!  Everyone keeps trying to convince me that it isn't very cold, but tonight is to have a low of 3C (which is 37F!)  I think that counts as cold!

O Christmas Tree is up at Number 8!

Last night, we three housemates piled into Laura's car and took ourselves off to HomeBase (like Home Depot) to pick out our Christmas tree.  Given the size of our garden, we had no choice but to get a cut tree, but they do make me sad.  However, in this case, I would have been more sad not to have a tree at all!  Because of that, I suggested and Laura and Joanne agreed, and we bought a tree!

I also bought a poinsettia because it just didn't seem right to not have one.  I have so many memories of my Nan buying them at Christmas and I was tickled to see them at Homebase.  They also had mini Christmas cacti!  But I refrained.

We decided on a lovely 5 foot Norwegian Spruce.  I wanted a fat one.  We couldn't afford or transport any larger options, so I went wider!  She was a prickly companion on our ride home.

You can't really see it, but I'm in the front seat of Laura's car, and the Spruce is poking over my shoulder, while I hold the poinsettia.  

We carried the tree in from the car, found a bucket, and unfurled the branches.  Then the decorating and Christmas music began!

I did manage to sneak a video of us all singing and decorating, but I'm pretty sure I'd get in trouble with the 'mates if I shared it here!  I think it looks lovely.  There is something incredibly soothing about sitting in a dark room, just admiring the pretty lights on a Christmas tree.