Technology is a wonderful thing… here I am, on a train on the way back to London after a night York, typing up my latest blog entry… and yet I am frustrated that can’t get the laptop to connect properly to the wireless network on the train… therefore I can type the blog… but not post it until I get home… not that it really matters… but while technology is marvellous… the more marvellous it gets the more opportunity it has to frustrate!
But, ranting about technological inadequacies is not the point of this post… its all about the City of York
I travelled up on Friday for a one day seminar for work… the company very generously put the attendees up at a very pleasant hotel and fed us… and boozed us… so I figured I would take the opportunity today (being Saturday) to look about the city…
York is a charming place… narrow, twisting, cobbled and car free streets lined with ancient shops and houses. York is home to a very impressive cathedral, well a Minster to be precise. With a few colleges from work, who had the same idea as me, we climbed the 275 steps the top of the tower to take in the panorama it offered of the city. It’s a view over a city largely untouched by the second world war, which means it still has much of its old city intact including most of the city walls.
Only having a few hours I was limited in what I had time to see, and after the Minster, a 45 minute tour of the city on one of those open top tour bus things (they are kind of cheesy but they do show you a city quite quickly) and a bite of lunch headed for the Nation Rail Museum. It’s a bit of a boys museum… full of giant bits of shiny metal on wheels… but I think anyone who has any interest in history would find it a great place to lose a few hours.. I only had 2 and barely had time to take even a cursory glance at the exhibits… although I did linger over a few of the more famous bits, the great blue streamlined Mallard (which still holds the world record as the fasted steam train, set in 1938), the various carriages from royal trains, and the Flying Scotsman which is currently in pieces all over a workshop floor as it undergoes a full rebuild.
2 hours here is no where near enough and of course 1 day in York is not nearly enough either. I didn’t even get to Shambles Street. – not that it looked all that messy as I whizzed by on the tour bus. So I guess it gets added to the ever-growing list of places to go back to.
Sunday, 20 January 2008
Thursday, 3 January 2008
Stand up if you hate Tottenham!
European football, soccer, the round ball game, whatever you want to call it...
it's actually quite fun to watch live.
I have tried, with limited success, in the past to watch European football on TV. Australia's (relative) success in the last world cup spurred some interest and I watched a game or 2 but found the game lived up to its cliche of a lot of effort for no result...
However, I have now seen a game in England, live, at the ground.... and my attitude has somewhat changed.
A few weeks ago now I was lucky enough to score a ticket to a Chelsea v's Valencia game with the boss. It was a very pleasant evening entertaining a client with dinner and drinks followed by the game.The game was very entertaining, Chelsea were at home and top of their table (the competition they were playing in was explained to me but I failed to grasp the details... it appears teams here play in several competitions at once...) and Valencia were pretty much out of the competition but put up somewhat of a fight... the atmosphere was great... the stadium was full... some 40,000 people turned up... and they were in fine voice.
I am still not sure how 10,000 blokes spontaneously burst into raucous song, but they do ...and much of it was directed at Tottenham, the traditional rivals of Chelsea (clearly they didn't give a damn about Valencia). The stadium was filled with the dulcet strains of stand up if you hate Tottenham, Tottenham, stand up if you hate Tottenham! ...and yes, they stood up.
The singing and raucousness was not due to alcohol! Well, alcohol bought at the stadium anyway... football stadiums in the UK are dry! God Forbid! not even light beer is served... but I suppose it helps stop rioting... the English are a tad fanatical when it comes to their football.
...and then of course there was the game itself... Valencia put up a bit of fight, but were held scoreless by the clearly dominant Chelsea. In fact Valencia never even looked like scoring... Chelsea on the other hand had at least 6 attempts at the goal, but despite their best efforts were also denied a goal... there was some bad luck involved with the ball striking the woodwork 3 times... but all in all they failed to capitalise on their advantage...
so... my first game of football was a lot of effort for no result... nil all!
But... if you are going to see all that effort, see it live!
Now all I have to do is choose a team to support... Chelsea maybe??? well, I did get a large, free team flag at the game (the Brisbane Lions would have charges $29.95 for it!) But I think I will reserve judgement... a football team is for life... so one much choose with care!
Monday, 24 December 2007
staying on your feet...
Ice skating is not really the most natural of things for the average Australian...
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Somerset House on the Strand is currently home to one of a number of temporary rinks across the city, and it provides a most picturesque backdrop...
but... I managed to stay on my feet!
That ice is cold and rather hard upon the back side when one falls upon it!
Somerset House on the Strand is currently home to one of a number of temporary rinks across the city, and it provides a most picturesque backdrop...A couple of weeks ago I spent a delightful hour or so with my new work colleagues on the ice as part of our Christmas party. Thankfully I maintained my dignity and stayed on my feet... despite a couple of very close calls... none of which were caught on film...
Ice skating seems to be a very popular Christmas pastime, and there are rinks at the Natural History Museum, The Tower and various other landmarks.
The Somerset House rink (pictured) sits in a neoclassical courtyard a few feet from the busy Strand. However, stepping through the arches into the court you move away from the bustle of the West End and into a serene space with piped classical music, the rink and most importantly a bar!
Friday, 21 December 2007
school's out
Today was the last day of work for me for the year... and it dawned on me when I got home that it's been a while since I wrote here... almost 2 weeks...
I guess that shows that life has gotten busy... or at least that my days are taken up with work now, which gives me a lot less time to write (and things to write about)
Although I have managed to get out and about a little bit over the last fortnight and will endeavour to complete a new post or two this weekend... since I am on holidays for a few days!
I guess that shows that life has gotten busy... or at least that my days are taken up with work now, which gives me a lot less time to write (and things to write about)
Although I have managed to get out and about a little bit over the last fortnight and will endeavour to complete a new post or two this weekend... since I am on holidays for a few days!
Sunday, 9 December 2007
3 or 59???
Ramblings from Friday 7th December…
The last few days, and Tuesday in particular I have felt a tad homesick...
Up until now I guess I have been busy travelling, seeing sights and generally just taking everything around me.
But this week I have been at work (which in itself is fine) but it has given me more time to think about home, warm weather, beaches and family.
Thankfully there are mornings like today. I got up, had breakfast and shuffled down the stairs to go to the bus stop...
Outside though, the sun was shining, the strong breeze that had been blowing all night had gone and even Waterloo looked a lovely place.
My first big decision loomed...
The No. 3 or the No. 59 bus?
The 59 heads past Waterloo Station and over Waterloo bridge (with its sensational views of the City to the right and the Houses of Parliament to the left) and drops me on the Strand next to Somerset House; I then have a pleasant 3 block stroll to the office. It is probably the quicker of the 2 options.... but as fate would have it... the number 3 came first.
The Number 3 crosses Lambeth Bridge which, I think, gets a bum steer to the favour of Waterloo. True, you look to the left down to Vauxhall - which is nothing spectacular, but to the right you have the Houses of Parliament from the west - which is apparently not the purists preferred view, but for my money is infinitely better ...and, it is a nicer bridge!
The view in not dominated by Big Ben - don't get me wrong Big Ben is very impressive, but it seems that everyone looks at it and forgets the rest of the building... The view from the west puts Victoria Tower (the Sovereigns Entrance to the Parliament) into the foreground - if you look at your standard pic of Parliament, it is the tall bit in the background with the union Jack flying on top; and even gives you a little bit of green in the form of a park along Millbank (the name of which alludes me right now) and the joy of a Rodan's sculpture 'The Burghers of Calais' a copy of which resides in Canberra.
But that is not the real reason the No. 3 cheered me up this morning as I was on the bus as I passed these things and didn't get to stop and look... it was when I got off that I was glad it had come first. After rattling up Whitehall the No.3 drops me off at Trafalgar Square. This morning the sun was shining on Nelson, casting shadows on the enormous Lions at his feet and glinting off the freshly applied gilt on the weather vein on the steeply of St Martin's in the Field (most of which is still hidden under plastic as it undergoes restoration) Everything seemed right with world.
The Square was deserted except for some cleaners - London at 8:15 am is a rather quiet place!. I had the place to myself as I walk across it toward the Charing Cross Station and the Strand. To have Trafalgar Square surrounded by its grand buildings, pretty much to yourself at anytime, let alone in broad daylight on is a rare thing indeed!
...and with the weather forecast for the weekend showing rain wind and cold sunny mornings are to be savoured.
The last few days, and Tuesday in particular I have felt a tad homesick...
Up until now I guess I have been busy travelling, seeing sights and generally just taking everything around me.
But this week I have been at work (which in itself is fine) but it has given me more time to think about home, warm weather, beaches and family.
Thankfully there are mornings like today. I got up, had breakfast and shuffled down the stairs to go to the bus stop...
Outside though, the sun was shining, the strong breeze that had been blowing all night had gone and even Waterloo looked a lovely place.
My first big decision loomed...
The No. 3 or the No. 59 bus?
The 59 heads past Waterloo Station and over Waterloo bridge (with its sensational views of the City to the right and the Houses of Parliament to the left) and drops me on the Strand next to Somerset House; I then have a pleasant 3 block stroll to the office. It is probably the quicker of the 2 options.... but as fate would have it... the number 3 came first.
The Number 3 crosses Lambeth Bridge which, I think, gets a bum steer to the favour of Waterloo. True, you look to the left down to Vauxhall - which is nothing spectacular, but to the right you have the Houses of Parliament from the west - which is apparently not the purists preferred view, but for my money is infinitely better ...and, it is a nicer bridge!
The view in not dominated by Big Ben - don't get me wrong Big Ben is very impressive, but it seems that everyone looks at it and forgets the rest of the building... The view from the west puts Victoria Tower (the Sovereigns Entrance to the Parliament) into the foreground - if you look at your standard pic of Parliament, it is the tall bit in the background with the union Jack flying on top; and even gives you a little bit of green in the form of a park along Millbank (the name of which alludes me right now) and the joy of a Rodan's sculpture 'The Burghers of Calais' a copy of which resides in Canberra.
But that is not the real reason the No. 3 cheered me up this morning as I was on the bus as I passed these things and didn't get to stop and look... it was when I got off that I was glad it had come first. After rattling up Whitehall the No.3 drops me off at Trafalgar Square. This morning the sun was shining on Nelson, casting shadows on the enormous Lions at his feet and glinting off the freshly applied gilt on the weather vein on the steeply of St Martin's in the Field (most of which is still hidden under plastic as it undergoes restoration) Everything seemed right with world.
The Square was deserted except for some cleaners - London at 8:15 am is a rather quiet place!. I had the place to myself as I walk across it toward the Charing Cross Station and the Strand. To have Trafalgar Square surrounded by its grand buildings, pretty much to yourself at anytime, let alone in broad daylight on is a rare thing indeed!
...and with the weather forecast for the weekend showing rain wind and cold sunny mornings are to be savoured.
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