April 21

So far the news is good.  Flights are going out.  It is 7 am right now.  Only was able to sleep about 2 hours last night.  That's ok, I can sleep when I get home.  I am fighting running to the airport now, flight isn't until 1:20 pm so will try not to leave before 9:30 for Paddington Station to catch the Heathrow express.  All in all it's been a lovely trip, one last big international adventures.  Think I will find my adventures closer to home from now on.  Hope to see you all soon.  Jackie

April 20

Today should have been the day I flew out.  Have found some flights on expedia so I am going to call Delta this morning to see if I can arrange something.  All depends on the "*~# ash cloud.

UPDATE

Did some checking online this morning at the Delta site and arranged a flight to 4-21 from London Heathrow to Atlanta and then from Atlanta to Detroit.  Won't get into Detroit until 10 pm but atleast I will be on American soil.  Although, I must say most people have been nice.  After all, there isn't really much we can do about the volcano.  Patience is the think most needed.  With my flight confirmed I went over to Hyde Park again today. It was amazing how much the possibility of having a flight arranged can lift your spirits.  I have tried not to spend any more money on shopping or doing things just in case this extends.  Fortunately money isn't the issue for me, like it is for some of the people I've met here.  If the flight is cancelled tomorrow, which is still a possibility, I may go to the British museum.  I had a walking tour there last week and wouldn't mind going back. But for now I am planning on getting up early to check the news to see if the flight is still a go.  Is so I will head to the airport as soon as possible.  The flight isn't until 1:20 pm so we will see.

Dreamed last night that I brought a baby dragon home for Jack, my great nephew.  It was a cross between a cartoon one and a real one.  I guess the anxiety is beginning to play with my mind.  That really isn't too difficult.

And I keep wondering why when I travel over here I always seem to get a twin bed whose legs are longer along the wall than the other side.  At least that is the way it seems.  It always feel like I'm sleeping on a hillside.  Probably just my imagination, looking forward to getting home to my nice big double bed.

Can't imagine what I will owe Sue, the other faculty secretary, when I get back. I have been weeding through my work email daily and hopefully my faculty haven't needed too much help.

Well, time is running out on the computer.  It costs £1 for 30 minutes in the business center, and there is no way to print anything, so if I want to I have to go around the corner to the internet cafe and wait in line there.  But at least there is that possibility.

Cheers!

Not Having Fun Anymore

Well, it's official, I'm not having fun anymore.  Well, not really, but it is getting more stressful. This morning I awoke to the news that flights are now cancelled through 1 am on Tuesday.  My flight is scheduled for 9 am Tuesday.  I got a sweet email from my niece today that cheered me up.  Evidently she and her husband were talking about the volcano and that Aunt Jackie might be stuck on this island.  Jack, 3 years old, right away said that "You need to go rescue Aunt Jackie." How wonderful.  He's the one who evidently made the comment that, men drive trucks, women drive cars and aunt jackie drives a lady truck.  You see I drive a small Colorado pick up with 2 quilts painted on the tailgate.  Guess that qualifies it as a "lady truck".

I am going to have to try to contact Delta and Expedia today and maybe the american embassy as well. I really don't want to go to the trouble of going from the UK to France and then on to Spain to find open air space. Evidently I was just talking to a young american couple here from Colorado.  They checked with the desk about extending their stay and were told they had to call a booking agent to see if they could extend.  I think I will check with the Columbia and Westminster where I have stayed before to see if they have rooms and the cost. I keep telling myself I can deal with this but am not totally convinced.

UPDATE:  I was able to book another night at my current hotel.  But still hoping that my flight goes out tomorrow.  Guess I've done all I can for now.  I'll have to wait until morning to see if they have lifted the ban.  Guess I'll set the alarm for 4 am so I can check and make sure I have enough time to get to the airport if it is a go. Will go rest and relax for a little while before deciding what to go about supper.  Went down to Covent Gardens this morning for a little while to occupy my mind.

Well, wish me luck.

Picture Perfect Sunday in London

I wasn't sure today about my flight on Tuesday, so decided maybe I should do laundry in case I'm stuck here, oh dear!, a couple of extra days.  The laundry was absolutely packed this morning.  Germans, Italians, Americans.  Didn't take too long and then I was on my way.

Sundays are the day that artists from all over set up on Bayswater along Hyde Park and exhibit/sell their work.  After I dropped my laundry at the hotel I headed over to the park.  It was another beautiful day.  My fleece vest and short sleeves were perfect.  After looking at the artwork I walked through the park.

Must admit that I am feeling a little home sick.  All the flowers in bloom reminded me of all the work in my garden that is waiting for me when I get back.  Part of it may also be apprehension over my flight on Tuesday.  I checked Delta tonight and it doesn't say anything about the flight being cancelled.  But I will check again tomorrow.

Dinner tonight at Bella Italia.  The streets are just packed with tons of people enjoying the weather.

Tomorrow I will visit Covent Garden again and maybe go to Greenwich.  Will check my email first thing to see if there is anything from the airline.  Picked up a Magner's on my way back tonight.  Guess I will finish up and go enjoy.

Cheers!

Saturday Second Portobello Road and Tea in Kensington Gardens

Went to Portobello Road for a second and final time today.  The weather seemed chilly but I was sorry after a short distance that I hadn't worn my fleece vest instead of my leather coat.  Today the weather was ideal.  Bright, clear skies, and about 68 degrees.  I walked Portobello road from stem to stern.  From the antique shops and street venders through the fruit and veggie venders and up all the way through the flea market and back again.  Picked up just 2 items.  Took my time so I didn't get back to Bayswater road until almost 1 pm. 

Sorry it's sideways, but this is a rose bush that has taken over a wrought iron fence on the way up Portobello Road.

Tile floor inside one of the antique shops on Portobello, good quilt inspiration.

Instead of a sandwich I decided to go through the Kensington Gardens to the Orangery where they serve tea.  I was a little too hungry for just tea, so ordered grilled portobello mushrooms with mashed potatoes, and green tea.  Decided to walk through the park awhile and then went back to the hotel to switch coats.

I went out again and took the tube down to Marbel Arch and walked from there to Bond street.  The streets and shops are mad crowded so I just decided to come back to the hotel, but came throug Hyde Park.  Everyone was out and rejoicing in the wonderful weather.  Had planned on going to Bella Italia for supper but they took too much time to acknowledge me so I thought I remembered a fish &chip shop about 2 blocks away that I had been to last time on Dennis's recommendation.  Mr. Fish was still there so I had cod and chips.

Stopped at Tesco (grocery store) to pick up more water and then headed back to hotel.  The news that greeted me was that all flights were grounded until Monday am because of the volcano.  My flight is/was scheduled for Tuesday am.  So am still not sure if it will be a go because the volcano keeps erupting.  Sure am glad I took out insurance on this trip.  Probably tomorrow I will get my flight information out and do some checking on the internet.  For now it's Keep Calm and Carry on.

Hope to see the Stars at our meeting Tuesday night.  It is this Tuesday isn't it.  But then maybe not.

Cheers!

National Gallery

Got banking straightened out this am.  Decided to do the National Gallery and the National Portrait Gallery.  It seems people here are still on Easter holiday so things were packed. It was nice to revisit the National Gallery and spend some time really looking at painting I've enjoyed in the past.  In one gallery I came across a group of people, mainly senior citizens, for whom they had set up little stools in from of a painting and they were all drawing.  Actually noticed quite a few people around drawing.  Reminded my of the time my niece, Denise, spent in the museums in New York when she was in fashion school.

Then went next do to the National Protrait Gallery.  Especially enjoyed the painting of Albert and Victoria and the present generation of royals.

Just picked a street and headed out,  was looking for a place for lunch, but they were packed.  So then I just started keeping an eye out for an underground station.  Next thing I know I turn the corner and there is Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, big as day. 

I headed back, since I hadn't found lunch and thought I would go out for a late supper.  Instead about 3 pm I grabbed a sandwich and went back to the hotel room.  Was think of going out now, but 8 pm is a little late to be eating, so I won't bother.

Tomorrow I think I will do one last slow cruise of Portobello road. And maybe look for somewhere to have proper english tea which I haven't done so far.

Cheers!

Paris

Today was my day trip to Paris.  Since I had a 5 am pickup I set the alarm for 3:30 am. Ugh!  Woke up ok and was down plenty early for side.  Taxi was on time so we proceeded to St. Pancreas station.  I checked in with the tour desk and received my packet.  It was about an hour wait to board the train.  I was surprised, but I don't know why that I had to go through a security search and passport verification.  The train was comfortable.  I set next to a lady from Conneticut and her friend, formerly of New York, now from North Carolina.  When we arrived in Paris after about a 2 hour train trip, we met our guide Fabiana.  I think there were about 15 of us on this trip. 5 from Australia, 5 of us from the US, and another 5 from the UK.  The countryside seen from the train gave me several ideas for quilts.  The french spring is about 2 weeks ahead of the UK.  Many of their trees are already leafed out.  We sent through a lot of potato and wheat growing areas.  It was surprising how flat the land was.

I was surprised just how terrible the Paris traffic was.  We have a driving tour around Paris viewing lots of items.  Our first real stop was the Eiffel Tower.  The package included going up at far as the second level, which was plenty high for me.  It was clear and sunny but the wind was really blowing, which made it really cold.  We were there actually in the tour about 15 minutes.

Train station in Paris.

Then it was down and across the road for a boat tour down the Seine.  The boat was glass enclosed and really warmed up with the sunshine.  The tour was about an hour.  We saw Notre Dame and other sights.

After the boat ride we boarded the bus and were delivered to the Louvre for about 2 hours.  Finally got a chance to grab something to eat here.  Then onto the exhibits. Must admit by now I was really flagging.

We then spent 45 minutes in traffic getting back to the train station, Gard du Nord.  Another wait for the train and then returned to London.  In London we were kept on the train as a passenger had had an argument with a member of staff and the police had been called.  Fortunately it wasn't in my coach, but we were held up about 15 minutes.

Returned to the hotel.  All in all I'm glad I did the Paris trip but was disappointed.  The trip detail read that we would have free time, but we did not.  I didn't get to go to the quilt shop in Paris, and almost wished that I had taken a taxi from the Louvre and gone to the shop.  But I wasn't sure with the traffic as bad as it was that I would have been able to make it there and back before the train.

I think London is still my favorite city.

Well, I'm updating this this am before I go out.  The pantry was bare so I went out to get water and milk and stopped and had a hot breakfast for a change.  Computer room is packed this moring with people trying to rearrange their travel today due to the volcano in Iceland.

Was going to do the Portobello flea this morning but decided to go to the National Gallery instead.

Chow!