The road less travelled...

Back in London, having had my flight delayed by 10 mins due to stupid people. However I did breeze through passport control at Heathrow. Due to the fact that I was using a different airline, and because I couldn't be bothered trying to explain the situation in Berlin (which would have meant queuing for ages to check in my bags) I had to go back into the airport all over again at Heathrow. However I had a two minute wait at the check-in line, due in no small part to it being four hours until my flight leaves, and whipped through the x-ray at the rate of knots.

I also managed to sweet-talk my way into the Malaysia Airlines lounge by virtue of playing the sweet, innocent, 'I didn't know' card when it came to my reward points. Bwahahaha...

Oh, and I also picked up Blackpool on DVD, which I hadn't seen anywhere else during my week in London.

So in spite of the fact that I'm about to spend 24 hours on the plane and at KL airport, I'm a very happy camper! ;-)

ETA: I also have a Dreamwidth code if anyone wants one.

Back in London, having had my flight delayed by 10 mins due to stupid people. However I did breeze through passport control at Heathrow. Due to the fact that I was using a different airline, and because I couldn't be bothered trying to explain the situation in Berlin (which would have meant queuing for ages to check in my bags) I had to go back into the airport all over again at Heathrow. However I had a two minute wait at the check-in line, due in no small part to it being four hours until my flight leaves, and whipped through the x-ray at the rate of knots.

I also managed to sweet-talk my way into the Malaysia Airlines lounge by virtue of playing the sweet, innocent, 'I didn't know' card when it came to my reward points. Bwahahaha...

Oh, and I also picked up Blackpool on DVD, which I hadn't seen anywhere else during my week in London.

So in spite of the fact that I'm about to spend 24 hours on the plane and at KL airport, I'm a very happy camper! ;-)

ETA: I also have a Dreamwidth code if anyone wants one.

I'm about to head off and catch a flight to Berlin. See you on the other side, folks!

I have just got back from one of the funniest shows I've seen in ages: Forbidden Hollywood. If you're a fan of musicals and living in London, I highly recommend you check it out.

The very talented foursome began with Chicago and moved through just about anything, with personal jabs at Steven Sondheim, Andrew Lloyd-Webber and Sarah Brightman, and mocked most of the big shows out at the moment - Les Mis, Phantom, Hairspray, Wicked, Avenue Q and just about everything else I can think of.

So now I have a lot of CDs to track down...

I wasn't going to post this morning, but I just had the nicest experience in, of all places, the Post Office! Be aware that I'd expected things to be annoying and difficult, but they were the absolute reverse!

I had the bundle of DVDs I mentioned previously that, after a chat with shining_moment, I decided to post home instead of trying to carry with me. I was a bit worried about costs, but it's cheaper than excess baggage and the embarrassment that goes with it.

I turned up at the Post Office at ten to nine and got into a queue behind the guy who was already there. The doors opened several minutes early, according to the watches of everyone in line (there were a few people behind me by then) so presumably it will annoy people by closing a few minutes earlier than it should. *g*

After a few minutes of deciding on the packaging, I packed the DVDs into two small boxes and joined the short (!) queue to the counter. And yes, I honestly do mean short - three people! The waiting time was about four minutes and then I got to one of the counters where the man gave me the most delightful smile and got me to weigh the first box.

He continued to be nothing but pleasant as I fumbled through the process, but even nicer when we both heard an elderly man in the queue who was talking about nothing to all and sundry. We both had a quiet smile over the poor gentleman, but the Post Office man turned out to be very sweet as he explained that the older man came in most days because it gave him people to talk to. I do love people who have understanding and sympathy for other people like that!

And the postage for my two boxes was less than thirty pounds airmail, so yay!

So I've developed another unexpected theme to my tourist visits - Henry VIII history (hence my surprisingly appropriate icon). After managing to get a ticket for the exhibition at the glorious British Library, I pootled along yesterday morning and spent a glorious two hours looking through all of the material on display. While the exhibition was very well displayed, I did find the explanation did seem to lack information that I assume is considered 'general knowledge' so the people making up the displays clearly didn't feel that they had to show any of it. But it would have been nice to see any information about the way Henry felt about his wives during his marriages to them, rather than only in the time while he was wooing Anne Boleyn.

However the thing I loved most was something that everyone else seemed to ignore completely. There was a small collection of six texts that made up the arguments by which the King would consider changing Britain from a Catholic to a Protestant country so he could marry Anne (okay, so I know it wasn't that simple, but it's not 7am yet, so I'm not going into detail ;-). Around the walls were a collection of important literary pieces that inspired the six central texts. In front of each of the main six, there was a button. When that was pressed, a line of light lit up the text and then ran across the floor to one of the secondary texts to show which text had been the inspiration for Henry's writing.

The thing I really loved, though, was that when the line of light appeared, a silhouette of Henry was also cast onto the floor. Each of the six silhouettes moved! One pointed out a source text a nodded approvingly, one took off and put on one of Henry's hats, one bowed, one stabbed at you with a small dagger - they were absolutely brilliant! Very clever, lots of fun to look at, and I still can't understand why more people didn't pay any attention!

After leaving the Library, I'd planned to go to the V&A and the Natural History museum, but as I was heading for the Tube, I saw an advertisement for the Dressed to Kill Exhibition at the Tower. So, with a rapid change of plan, I headed for the same place as most of the other tourists in London yesterday (or that's what it felt like) to buy tickets for the Tower. I was actually very pleased to go because I haven't been to the Tower since 1997 and I'd forgotten what a glorious place it is, tourists and all. I love the historical feelings you have walking through the various buildings. And the Henry exhibition was fascinating - a number of his suits of armour and information about the various activities Henry would have participated in, in particular jousting and hand-to-hand combat.

So with those two visits and my planned visit to Hampton Court Palace on Saturday, I'm going to be well and truly knowledgeable about that whole era by the time I head for Berlin on Sunday. Unexpected, but very nice indeed!

ETA: I should perhaps have mentioned that last night shining_moment and I had a lovely dinner and glorious chat about all things Doctor Who and LJ and other things last night. Sorry for omitting it in the first place, Clare! *g*

So I've developed another unexpected theme to my tourist visits - Henry VIII history (hence my surprisingly appropriate icon). After managing to get a ticket for the exhibition at the glorious British Library, I pootled along yesterday morning and spent a glorious two hours looking through all of the material on display. While the exhibition was very well displayed, I did find the explanation did seem to lack information that I assume is considered 'general knowledge' so the people making up the displays clearly didn't feel that they had to show any of it. But it would have been nice to see any information about the way Henry felt about his wives during his marriages to them, rather than only in the time while he was wooing Anne Boleyn.

However the thing I loved most was something that everyone else seemed to ignore completely. There was a small collection of six texts that made up the arguments by which the King would consider changing Britain from a Catholic to a Protestant country so he could marry Anne (okay, so I know it wasn't that simple, but it's not 7am yet, so I'm not going into detail ;-). Around the walls were a collection of important literary pieces that inspired the six central texts. In front of each of the main six, there was a button. When that was pressed, a line of light lit up the text and then ran across the floor to one of the secondary texts to show which text had been the inspiration for Henry's writing.

The thing I really loved, though, was that when the line of light appeared, a silhouette of Henry was also cast onto the floor. Each of the six silhouettes moved! One pointed out a source text a nodded approvingly, one took off and put on one of Henry's hats, one bowed, one stabbed at you with a small dagger - they were absolutely brilliant! Very clever, lots of fun to look at, and I still can't understand why more people didn't pay any attention!

After leaving the Library, I'd planned to go to the V&A and the Natural History museum, but as I was heading for the Tube, I saw an advertisement for the Dressed to Kill Exhibition at the Tower. So, with a rapid change of plan, I headed for the same place as most of the other tourists in London yesterday (or that's what it felt like) to buy tickets for the Tower. I was actually very pleased to go because I haven't been to the Tower since 1997 and I'd forgotten what a glorious place it is, tourists and all. I love the historical feelings you have walking through the various buildings. And the Henry exhibition was fascinating - a number of his suits of armour and information about the various activities Henry would have participated in, in particular jousting and hand-to-hand combat.

So with those two visits and my planned visit to Hampton Court Palace on Saturday, I'm going to be well and truly knowledgeable about that whole era by the time I head for Berlin on Sunday. Unexpected, but very nice indeed!

ETA: I should perhaps have mentioned that last night shining_moment and I had a lovely dinner and glorious chat about all things Doctor Who and LJ and other things last night. Sorry for omitting it in the first place, Clare! *g*

Having had breakfast, I'm now waiting for time to pass until I can head for the British Library and the Henry VIII exhibition. (I have to be there at 10am.)

I spent yesterday up near Newcastle with a friend who has also written a Chalet School fill-in (well, okay, she's done two while I'm only just working on my second one). She showed me around Durham cathedral and we had a lovely lunch at the botanic gardens. In the afternoon we chatted about all sorts of topics and she played viola and violin for me. So it was a very lovely, classical and peaceful day.

Unfortunately the trip home wasn't quite as trouble-free, what with the signals being struck by lightning, then one of the train doors sticking, and finally a car trapped on the lines. In the end we didn't get into King's Cross until almost 11pm, which is why I didn't post about the day last night.

Just as a reminder to myself, I need to write a challenge for the weekly fic prompt. I do have a few ideas...

Having had breakfast, I'm now waiting for time to pass until I can head for the British Library and the Henry VIII exhibition. (I have to be there at 10am.)

I spent yesterday up near Newcastle with a friend who has also written a Chalet School fill-in (well, okay, she's done two while I'm only just working on my second one). She showed me around Durham cathedral and we had a lovely lunch at the botanic gardens. In the afternoon we chatted about all sorts of topics and she played viola and violin for me. So it was a very lovely, classical and peaceful day.

Unfortunately the trip home wasn't quite as trouble-free, what with the signals being struck by lightning, then one of the train doors sticking, and finally a car trapped on the lines. In the end we didn't get into King's Cross until almost 11pm, which is why I didn't post about the day last night.

Just as a reminder to myself, I need to write a challenge for the weekly fic prompt. I do have a few ideas...

I was feeling ridiculously exhausted last night and headed for bed rather than writing, but as I'm now sitting on the train, heading for Newcastle, and have Internet connection, I can describe my day. (The Chalet Girls never had that opportunity! *g*)

I headed for the train nice and early and was soon heading for Bristol. I was expected at Nailsea at 1pm and managed to catch the train without a problem. Thankfully I bought a BritRail pass before I left Australia, so no messing about with tickets for me. The journey was delightfully punctual and comfortable enough (although the train I'm on now is much nicer! *lol*) but because I'd been silly enough not to bring any water with me, I had to spend extortionate amounts of money at the dining car. Still, once in a while won't hurt.

I got to Bristol and headed for ticket office to get my pass stamped - only to find that the stupid ticket inspector on the train had written the wrong date on my pass. He'd dated it the 29th of June and not the 30th. Fortunately the girl in the office at Bristol believed me when I said that it was the inspector and not me who had made the mistake. She stamped the ticket with the correct date and suggested I explain to anyone who questioned me.

Luckily no one checked tickets between Bristol and Nailsea, so that was helpful.

However, once I got to Nailse and Backwell, I realised I had no idea how to get into Nailsea. I couldn't walk that far in the 20 mins I had before I was due at the restaurant - but luckily I found the bus stop and a bus was due in a couple of minutes that would take me right to the door of the restaurant I wanted. (I've never heard of a restaurant as a bus stop, but it's a good idea!)

The person I was meeting was already there and we finally sat down and began to catch up on the things that have been happening in our respective lives since we last saw each other - which would have been several years ago now. Her life has been far more interesting than mine as she's had several weddings and, sadly, even a few funerals to attend. (All right, so I've had one wedding to go to, which I have to admit was rather exciting, but I think you know what I mean!) We had a lovely lunch and then strolled back to her house to discuss plans for my next book, which is underway. It's wonderfully useful to be able to talk face-to-face and bring up little ideas and get instant reactions on ideas rather than having to send great long detailed emails that might not be completely clear anyway.

Ruth, I know you're almost certain to read this, so I thought I'd let you know that I've thought of something to have happen on the train trip which involves knitting and a ball or two of wool. Hopefully it will be as funny on the page as the images I have in my head are at present.

I left her house at about 4 o'clock and walked back to Nailsea and Backwell.

On that little journey - someone asked to check that incorrectly dated ticket! Heart in my throat, I showed it to him - and he glanced at it, nodded and moved on.

Hooray for people not being entirely sure what day it is! *g*

Even better, no one bothered to check my ticket for my entire trip between Bristol and London, so I got away with the incorrectly dated ticket and won't have to buy any others to replace it for travel to anywhere else.

So I'm now on the train headed for Durham to meet with another Chalet School-related person who wrote two of the fill-ins that have appeared over the past few years. In between writing this screed, I've been reading the text of her most recent book and getting myself ready for another lovely day.

Oh, all right, they've all been lovely.

Hooray for holidays!

(And not a single mention of the weather - aren't you proud of me? *g*)