6 women, 2 flats, 2 cars (oops - 3 cars), big house -- 2+ weeks in England
Jun 17th, 2009, 07:52 PM
#163
Original Poster
<B>The ORD ladies back to LHR, others to Scotland and Ireland - and the Chelsea Flower Show</B>
re-Packing was a bit of an ordeal --
Because we had booked two small cars we simply couldn't bring the possible two checked bags and a carry on. Some of you know I teach packing classes -- so back in March the local girls asked me to give them a packing demo and I copies of my class handouts to the ORD ladies. I suggested they try to keep to 21 inchers, but that a 24 inch bags would be OK. Even w/ carry-on sized bags, those of us on VS had to check because of their 6 kilo limit. The AA group didn't have that issue. (Which may have partly contributed to the snafu at LHR the first day. Since they just had carry-ons and didn't have to retrieve bags, they may have thought the wait was over-long)
In the end we were upgraded to larger cars and a bit more luggage would have been just fine. But they were all troopers - in our entire group there was one 24 inch bag and five 21 inch rollies. Pretty good for a group of fairly high maintenance women. But some of them did a whole lot of shopping -- a WHOLE lot of shopping. So I spent a lot of time going from room to room answering SOS calls to help them get everything into those little bags. Everything fit -- but one was stretched to the absolute expanded limit.
We sat down w/ the atlases one last time to highlight the route to LHR. Really easy -- M40 to M25 to M4 junction 4 And that well before the M25 there would be signs to the airport. Couldn't be easier.
SCQ and her navigator had a confab and decided that they didn't think they could/should take the motorway. They would go surface all the way. That would take much longer, but that really wasn't an issue because none of the 3 were flying home on Friday. SCQ and Liz were going into London to stay near Euston station and then a train to Glasgow Sat AM. Her navigator would hang around LHR until her husband's flight arrived and then they were flying on to Shannon at 9 PM for a week in Ireland. So I showed them some options for things to see along the way if they wanted. In the end they just drove surface A44 to Oxford and M40 from there and didn't stop anywhere. Took them 4 hours.
The ORD ladies were flying out Fri afternoon. Our <u>original</u>, original plan was for me to take the ORD ladies back to LHR, drop the car, leave my bags at the Sheraton Heathrow and then go into London for Chelsea. SCQ would take the other two to Windsor for lunch and see the castle in the afternoon, and then drop the car and go to LHR/Kings Cross. They still had that opportunity - but decided to just go straight to LHR.
We tidied up and were all out the door about 9:05. The drive to LHR was even faster than I'd remembered. The way I went, the drive is approx 100 miles - north about 20 miles-ish to Warwick and then on the motorway for the 80 miles to LHR. We stopped for about 15 minutes at a service area to fill up and get snacks/drinks, and I pulled into Hertz on the northern Perimeter Rd at 10:47 -- hey - I got the thing into 6th gear for the first time
Instead of me dropping them at T-3, the girls said they'd rather ride w/ me to the rental drop off just in case there were any issues/more money due. Then they rode Hertz shuttle to the airport. I could have rode to LHR w/ then and then catch the Hoppa back to the Sheraton. But - the hotel is only about a 10 minute walk from hertz - so I hoofed it. It was faster and cheaper than going to LHR and back.
My room was ready so I checked in (Pricelined for $50 - $64 w/ taxes/fees) and then took the hoppa to T-2 which is shortest walk to the tube station. Took the tube to Hammersmith, switched to District line and on to Sloane Sq. My Chelsea ticket was for 3:30 (though I got in a little after 3) so I had a couple of hours to kill. I really like Peter Jones which is right on the Square. So I went there for lunch in their top floor cafe - it has decent food and really terrific views. Had poached salmon, and a California chardonay (Wente Brothers - from <u>Livermore</u> which was mis-spelled Livermere on the menu. Guess they thought it was from the Lake District )
Lots of people post about shopping at Harrods or sometimes Harvey Nicks. But IMO Peter Jones is really a neat department store. Very open and bright w/ its central escalators/sort of atrium. After lunch, I spent about an hour exploring the store. It's a good thing I don't live in London - there were ALL sorts of things I'd have brought home to my little flat in Pimlico £££ !
Then I walked over to Chelsea Hospital. Before hitting the flower show I stopped in the small gift shop run by the Pensioners/Hospital Boy were they picked over! Looks like the residents definitely benefit from the crowds. I found a couple of small things - probably less than £3 total.
Then I hit the masses - it has been described in other threads how crowded Chelsea is. I would normally go on one of the Member days - but that just wasn't a possibility this time. Friday evening was the only option. It was very VERY crowded - until about 7 PM when it did start to thin out a teensy bit. For gardeners - a trip to chelsea once in your life should be a must. All the talk this year was about fewer gardens and exhibitors due to the economy. And while it is true the set gardens seemed more low key than other times I've been - the other displays/exhibits appeared to be about normal. There are hundreds of displays of garden art, tools, fountains, equipment, statuary, and everything to do w/ gardening. There were everything from £3 garden gnomes to £100,000 bronzes and more. And that is just on the outer ring. Then there are the large gardens, the smaller ones, and the HUGE marque w/ every sort of flower/plant. The sites/smells in the tent are pretty overwhelming. Absolutely gorgeous.
I was briefly on the BBC coverage (they do two shows a night on BBC1 and BBC2 plus some daytime coverage -- flower show as a spectator sport ) Alan Titchmarsh does a live feed every night and he was down off the elevated BBC platform when I was looking a this weird pond/fountain display w/ all sorts of colors/sprays and I was in the camera shot.
There are many food/drink options - including kiosks selling Pimm's -- and JUST Pimm's. So of course I had one. And then ate dinner in an elevated cafe w/ overlooking the Embankment and river. They were sold out of almost everything - so I ended up w/ the very last, dried out jacket potato filled w/ a sort of chicken tikka masala (sure glad I had the salmon for lunch)
It was about a 1/2 hour from closing but my feet were yelling STOP! So I gave up and headed out to Sloane Sq. I figure I saw about 75% of the show -- but a lot was seen through and around LOTS of other people. Why couldn't all those folks just get out of my way??!!
I did go briefly to Westminster to get some night time shots of the river/Eye. But it was still really too light -- so I took the shots and will "sunset-ize" them on my computer
Then back to LHR, back on the Hoppa, and back to the hotel. Got a really good night's sleep and since my flight wasn't until 11:30 I wasn't in any rush in the AM.
Pretty much everything was uneventful - love VS' new check in at T-3 -- took less than 5 minutes and security was fine. My queue was a bit slower - but that was only because there were two wheel chairs ahead of me.
I had a terrific breakfast/brunch at the Metro (I think that is the name) and a glass of champagne before doing my last little bit for BAA's bottom line . . .
The flight was mostly fine -- except there was more sustained turbulence than I've usually experienced and some quite bumpy bits. - Of course the bumpiest usually happens right after getting something to drink . . . .
At SFO I waited about 10 mins for my bag and was at the Doubletree w/i 40 mins of landing (Pricelined for $51 - $66 w/ taxes fees). I hate driving my first day back home so I normally stay the night and drive back the next morning. This time the best 1-way rental I could find was w/ Budget at the Hyatt on the Embarcadero - so I took BART which has a station right outside the hotel, picked up my car and drove the 2 hours home. (while I was arranging for the car - three other people came up practically begging for cars. The poor harried counter agent kept trying to explain that is is Memorial Day weekend and they have no cars and they airport location was out of cars too . . . .)
I was home in hot, dry california -- wishing I was still in England -- but maybe <B>alone</B>
re-Packing was a bit of an ordeal --
Because we had booked two small cars we simply couldn't bring the possible two checked bags and a carry on. Some of you know I teach packing classes -- so back in March the local girls asked me to give them a packing demo and I copies of my class handouts to the ORD ladies. I suggested they try to keep to 21 inchers, but that a 24 inch bags would be OK. Even w/ carry-on sized bags, those of us on VS had to check because of their 6 kilo limit. The AA group didn't have that issue. (Which may have partly contributed to the snafu at LHR the first day. Since they just had carry-ons and didn't have to retrieve bags, they may have thought the wait was over-long)In the end we were upgraded to larger cars and a bit more luggage would have been just fine. But they were all troopers - in our entire group there was one 24 inch bag and five 21 inch rollies. Pretty good for a group of fairly high maintenance women. But some of them did a whole lot of shopping -- a WHOLE lot of shopping. So I spent a lot of time going from room to room answering SOS calls to help them get everything into those little bags. Everything fit -- but one was stretched to the absolute expanded limit.
We sat down w/ the atlases one last time to highlight the route to LHR. Really easy -- M40 to M25 to M4 junction 4 And that well before the M25 there would be signs to the airport. Couldn't be easier.
SCQ and her navigator had a confab and decided that they didn't think they could/should take the motorway. They would go surface all the way. That would take much longer, but that really wasn't an issue because none of the 3 were flying home on Friday. SCQ and Liz were going into London to stay near Euston station and then a train to Glasgow Sat AM. Her navigator would hang around LHR until her husband's flight arrived and then they were flying on to Shannon at 9 PM for a week in Ireland. So I showed them some options for things to see along the way if they wanted. In the end they just drove surface A44 to Oxford and M40 from there and didn't stop anywhere. Took them 4 hours.
The ORD ladies were flying out Fri afternoon. Our <u>original</u>, original plan was for me to take the ORD ladies back to LHR, drop the car, leave my bags at the Sheraton Heathrow and then go into London for Chelsea. SCQ would take the other two to Windsor for lunch and see the castle in the afternoon, and then drop the car and go to LHR/Kings Cross. They still had that opportunity - but decided to just go straight to LHR.
We tidied up and were all out the door about 9:05. The drive to LHR was even faster than I'd remembered. The way I went, the drive is approx 100 miles - north about 20 miles-ish to Warwick and then on the motorway for the 80 miles to LHR. We stopped for about 15 minutes at a service area to fill up and get snacks/drinks, and I pulled into Hertz on the northern Perimeter Rd at 10:47 -- hey - I got the thing into 6th gear for the first time
Instead of me dropping them at T-3, the girls said they'd rather ride w/ me to the rental drop off just in case there were any issues/more money due. Then they rode Hertz shuttle to the airport. I could have rode to LHR w/ then and then catch the Hoppa back to the Sheraton. But - the hotel is only about a 10 minute walk from hertz - so I hoofed it. It was faster and cheaper than going to LHR and back.
My room was ready so I checked in (Pricelined for $50 - $64 w/ taxes/fees) and then took the hoppa to T-2 which is shortest walk to the tube station. Took the tube to Hammersmith, switched to District line and on to Sloane Sq. My Chelsea ticket was for 3:30 (though I got in a little after 3) so I had a couple of hours to kill. I really like Peter Jones which is right on the Square. So I went there for lunch in their top floor cafe - it has decent food and really terrific views. Had poached salmon, and a California chardonay (Wente Brothers - from <u>Livermore</u> which was mis-spelled Livermere on the menu. Guess they thought it was from the Lake District
)Lots of people post about shopping at Harrods or sometimes Harvey Nicks. But IMO Peter Jones is really a neat department store. Very open and bright w/ its central escalators/sort of atrium. After lunch, I spent about an hour exploring the store. It's a good thing I don't live in London - there were ALL sorts of things I'd have brought home to my little flat in Pimlico £££ !
Then I walked over to Chelsea Hospital. Before hitting the flower show I stopped in the small gift shop run by the Pensioners/Hospital Boy were they picked over! Looks like the residents definitely benefit from the crowds. I found a couple of small things - probably less than £3 total.
Then I hit the masses - it has been described in other threads how crowded Chelsea is. I would normally go on one of the Member days - but that just wasn't a possibility this time. Friday evening was the only option. It was very VERY crowded - until about 7 PM when it did start to thin out a teensy bit. For gardeners - a trip to chelsea once in your life should be a must. All the talk this year was about fewer gardens and exhibitors due to the economy. And while it is true the set gardens seemed more low key than other times I've been - the other displays/exhibits appeared to be about normal. There are hundreds of displays of garden art, tools, fountains, equipment, statuary, and everything to do w/ gardening. There were everything from £3 garden gnomes to £100,000 bronzes and more. And that is just on the outer ring. Then there are the large gardens, the smaller ones, and the HUGE marque w/ every sort of flower/plant. The sites/smells in the tent are pretty overwhelming. Absolutely gorgeous.
I was briefly on the BBC coverage (they do two shows a night on BBC1 and BBC2 plus some daytime coverage -- flower show as a spectator sport
) Alan Titchmarsh does a live feed every night and he was down off the elevated BBC platform when I was looking a this weird pond/fountain display w/ all sorts of colors/sprays and I was in the camera shot.There are many food/drink options - including kiosks selling Pimm's -- and JUST Pimm's. So of course I had one. And then ate dinner in an elevated cafe w/ overlooking the Embankment and river. They were sold out of almost everything - so I ended up w/ the very last, dried out jacket potato filled w/ a sort of chicken tikka masala (sure glad I had the salmon for lunch)
It was about a 1/2 hour from closing but my feet were yelling STOP! So I gave up and headed out to Sloane Sq. I figure I saw about 75% of the show -- but a lot was seen through and around LOTS of other people. Why couldn't all those folks just get out of my way??!!
I did go briefly to Westminster to get some night time shots of the river/Eye. But it was still really too light -- so I took the shots and will "sunset-ize" them on my computer
Then back to LHR, back on the Hoppa, and back to the hotel. Got a really good night's sleep and since my flight wasn't until 11:30 I wasn't in any rush in the AM.
Pretty much everything was uneventful - love VS' new check in at T-3 -- took less than 5 minutes and security was fine. My queue was a bit slower - but that was only because there were two wheel chairs ahead of me.
I had a terrific breakfast/brunch at the Metro (I think that is the name) and a glass of champagne before doing my last little bit for BAA's bottom line . . .
The flight was mostly fine -- except there was more sustained turbulence than I've usually experienced and some quite bumpy bits. - Of course the bumpiest usually happens right after getting something to drink . . . .
At SFO I waited about 10 mins for my bag and was at the Doubletree w/i 40 mins of landing (Pricelined for $51 - $66 w/ taxes fees). I hate driving my first day back home so I normally stay the night and drive back the next morning. This time the best 1-way rental I could find was w/ Budget at the Hyatt on the Embarcadero - so I took BART which has a station right outside the hotel, picked up my car and drove the 2 hours home. (while I was arranging for the car - three other people came up practically begging for cars. The poor harried counter agent kept trying to explain that is is Memorial Day weekend and they have no cars and they airport location was out of cars too . . . .)
I was home in hot, dry california -- wishing I was still in England -- but maybe <B>alone</B>
Jun 17th, 2009, 08:07 PM
#164
Original Poster
A note: Yesterday I got a nice e-mail from one one of the ORD ladies (the one I mentioned was the best of the bunch)
We'd been emailing back and forth about exchanging photo cd's -- and she said "<i>Hey, some people I showed my photos to are interested in the trip. Maybe a business for you!! Can I come along??</i>"
We'd been emailing back and forth about exchanging photo cd's -- and she said "<i>Hey, some people I showed my photos to are interested in the trip. Maybe a business for you!! Can I come along??</i>"
Jun 17th, 2009, 08:25 PM
#165
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Janis, I'll double post on my itinerary thread to keep this one uncluttered with your response. BTW I am in no way expecting to buy maps here in the States, sorry to have given that impression. I knew about buying them at garages (gas stations?) where I can look at them. Thanks for the guidance.
Since I'm staying in Bourton on the Water, it makes sense for me to make a morning of it there before the hordes descend - the river, and the model village. After that I want to make sure I am at Snowshill at 12:00 or opening to get timed tickets of my choice (when? possibly later in the afternoon?) since it does seem popular - but we will be there on a weekday. I wouldn't mind getting my tickets then heading south on the A424 to spend time in Burford and then back up, but maybe you have a better suggestion because I do not know if I will have available time after we finish Bourton. I was looking at Tower's suggestion of Mill Dene and stumbled on the Moreton Falconry center - that might be interesting - but you mentioned that Warwick Castle has an exhibit and we would be doing that the next day. I am trying to balance kids vs DH photography (what about me? Don't ask lol) and don't want to overwhelm the day with gardens. Between Bourton, Snowshill, Burford, can and how do we fit in any of these - Hidcote Manor, Rollright Stones, etc., you get the idea - reasonable for teens, keep DH happy. I'm eyeing Chipping Norton, Campden, Stow on the Wold. Stop me now. Sigh.
The only other detail I think that works for us is walking between Upper and Lower Slaughter <u>after dinner</u>, while its still light (and not raining...).
THANKS!!!
Since I'm staying in Bourton on the Water, it makes sense for me to make a morning of it there before the hordes descend - the river, and the model village. After that I want to make sure I am at Snowshill at 12:00 or opening to get timed tickets of my choice (when? possibly later in the afternoon?) since it does seem popular - but we will be there on a weekday. I wouldn't mind getting my tickets then heading south on the A424 to spend time in Burford and then back up, but maybe you have a better suggestion because I do not know if I will have available time after we finish Bourton. I was looking at Tower's suggestion of Mill Dene and stumbled on the Moreton Falconry center - that might be interesting - but you mentioned that Warwick Castle has an exhibit and we would be doing that the next day. I am trying to balance kids vs DH photography (what about me? Don't ask lol) and don't want to overwhelm the day with gardens. Between Bourton, Snowshill, Burford, can and how do we fit in any of these - Hidcote Manor, Rollright Stones, etc., you get the idea - reasonable for teens, keep DH happy. I'm eyeing Chipping Norton, Campden, Stow on the Wold. Stop me now. Sigh.
The only other detail I think that works for us is walking between Upper and Lower Slaughter <u>after dinner</u>, while its still light (and not raining...).
THANKS!!!
Jun 17th, 2009, 08:59 PM
#166
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Janis,
Thank you so much for taking all of us along on your trip. I really don't understand SCQ. I was so stressed out for my first driving trip in England, that I would have been soooo appreciative to have someone navigate our daily routes - why would she not want to follow you Warwick? Why did she want a different route than the one you planned out for her to get to LHR? Ugh - I swear, she didn't realize how easy she got it.
Just curious - how did her week in Ireland go?
Thank you so much for taking all of us along on your trip. I really don't understand SCQ. I was so stressed out for my first driving trip in England, that I would have been soooo appreciative to have someone navigate our daily routes - why would she not want to follow you Warwick? Why did she want a different route than the one you planned out for her to get to LHR? Ugh - I swear, she didn't realize how easy she got it.
Just curious - how did her week in Ireland go?
Jun 18th, 2009, 03:35 AM
#167
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The State rooms are gorgeous, the great hall is just as magnificent as ever, and the family apartments w/ the wax figures is wonderful.>>>>
One of thmose waxworks is My Uncle George. Small world innit?
One of thmose waxworks is My Uncle George. Small world innit?
Jun 18th, 2009, 04:14 AM
#168
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Janis, thanks for sharing your trip with us. I laughed, envied, and felt your frustration with SCQ. Makes me want to get back to England soon ("if wishes were horses...") but vicarious is the only way travel is going to happen for the next year or two.
Jun 18th, 2009, 04:51 AM
#170
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"I'm eyeing Chipping Norton"
Don't build your hopes too high. Practically nothing of interest to a visitor, unless you count the best small-town bookshop in England, a micro-theatre with a reasonable selection of films and live events and a mini-Stonehenge at Rollright. But not a thatched cottage even for ready money and one of the dullest churches in the Cotswolds
Otherwise, a terrific place to live (the postcode and the area code regularly get voted Best Place in Britain by the classier mags) - but not to sightsee.
Don't build your hopes too high. Practically nothing of interest to a visitor, unless you count the best small-town bookshop in England, a micro-theatre with a reasonable selection of films and live events and a mini-Stonehenge at Rollright. But not a thatched cottage even for ready money and one of the dullest churches in the Cotswolds
Otherwise, a terrific place to live (the postcode and the area code regularly get voted Best Place in Britain by the classier mags) - but not to sightsee.
Jun 18th, 2009, 05:13 AM
#171
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I enjoyed this trip report enormously. I now have new places to see in the Cotswolds, but also appreciated your impressions of places I love--Hidecote, Minster Lovell, lovely church in Burford and Snowshill--all favorites.
The SCQ would have driven me crazy. Did I already the mention the woman I traveled with in Italy (for one day) who slapped someone's hand as they reached for the bread basket? She didn't want extra charges for bread! Had she slapped mine (I was already sitting as far away from her as possible) she would have had fava beans and a nice Chianti in her lap.
The SCQ would have driven me crazy. Did I already the mention the woman I traveled with in Italy (for one day) who slapped someone's hand as they reached for the bread basket? She didn't want extra charges for bread! Had she slapped mine (I was already sitting as far away from her as possible) she would have had fava beans and a nice Chianti in her lap.
Jun 18th, 2009, 05:43 AM
#172
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Hi janis- I think I also went to Chelsea Flower Show last year on the Friday afternoon. Your description is 100% accurate. The place was packed and I really couldn't see much until almost closing time. I'm not a gardener myself, so once in my life is probably enough.
Isn't Alan Titchmarsh the guy who has every woman drool over him? I remember glancing up at the BBC reporting platform, and there were at least a dozen of women standing next to me and drooling. I asked who he was and they were appalled that I had no idea.
Isn't Alan Titchmarsh the guy who has every woman drool over him? I remember glancing up at the BBC reporting platform, and there were at least a dozen of women standing next to me and drooling. I asked who he was and they were appalled that I had no idea.
Jun 18th, 2009, 11:59 AM
#175
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Thanks for a great read. I've been to many of the small towns, but it's been years and was a great reminder of my own trips with two small vans of artists! Our two drivers/guides were also saints; you don't know someone until you have traveled with them and they get tired and cranky. I volunteered to be the navigator because that way I got the best view from the front passenger seat! Plus I love mapping and knowing where we are.
Jun 18th, 2009, 12:18 PM
#176
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I'm so glad you are home safe and sound. You wrote so well I felt the relief rush right over me too (relief from SCQ....)
Speaking of SCQ, I can't figure out how to post pictures on Fodor forums, but I am sending you a virtual voodoo doll for your relaxation and stress relief.
Speaking of SCQ, I can't figure out how to post pictures on Fodor forums, but I am sending you a virtual voodoo doll for your relaxation and stress relief.
Jun 18th, 2009, 01:07 PM
#177
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Glad you made it back safely and without having added to the UK's nice low homicide rate. Though no jury would have had the heart to convict you.
Excellent reading.
I'd like a refreshing glass of Pimm's and lemonade right now.
Excellent reading.
I'd like a refreshing glass of Pimm's and lemonade right now.
Jun 18th, 2009, 03:47 PM
#178
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janis - I have thoroughly enjoyed your report and I'm making many notes. What a saint, and such patience!!
I will be in the Cotswolds visiting with fellow fodorite Julia_t in Oct. and really looking forward to it. I have to say, your trip comes pretty close to being as crazy as my Diva trip, which is why I always travel solo now. Learned the hard way.
I will be in the Cotswolds visiting with fellow fodorite Julia_t in Oct. and really looking forward to it. I have to say, your trip comes pretty close to being as crazy as my Diva trip, which is why I always travel solo now. Learned the hard way.
Jun 19th, 2009, 06:53 AM
#179
Original Poster
C_W is back!
To answer some of the questions:
How did the week in Ireland go? I have no idea. They were at the book club dinner last week but all that was mentioned was getting to LHR and their London hotel OK and Hill House. They had asked me something "different" to do on their free day in Glasgow before hooking up w/ the tour group. Since both are Frank Lloyd Wright fans - I suggested they go up to Charles Rennie Mackintosh's Hill House in Helensburgh. They loved it. But not another word was said about Scotland or Ireland. The girl who went to Ireland w/ her husband had a really good time. They ended up staying 3 nights in Killarney and did Dingle/ROK/the National park.
Is Alan Titchmarsh drool-worthy? Um - well he's no competition for Jude Law
Am I planning other groups? Are you NUTS Just kidding. I've planned trips for other groups of friends. Several years ago it was a group of <u>thirteen</u>. You'd expect a lot more "issues" w/ that many people, but only one couple was any problem at all. We rented 3 cars and every evening we'd all get together to decide where each car was going and who would ride in it (just to make sure no one was stranded). Most days the cars went to approx the same places - but a couple of times each car had a different itinerary and folks chose where they wanted to go. One morning this couple got up early and took off to parts unknown w/ one of the cars! Now that would give SCQ a run for the money . . .
But yes, I do enjoy my solo trips - a LOT
Feldie: The kitchen store in Burford is (I think) called The Cookshop. It's on the lower end of high street, you really can't miss it. Another shop to look for is the Cotswold Trading Company in Broadway. It is more gift than kitchen - but has a lot of good housewares.
Just remembered a couple of other little things. I noticed that several times one or more of the ladies ordered "American coffee" or "coffee American". At Waddesdon four ordered coffee and SCQ said make those American. The waiter wanted to clarify the order but some of them didn't hear/understand him. So I asked - do you all want coffee American and they all nodded yes. OK -- come to find out somewhere along the way a friend had told SCQ that English coffee was weird and to be sure to ask for American coffee. So that is what she told everyone to do. Don't know if they ever figured out they were getting espresso w/ hot water??
I felt so sorry for one of the girls - she was having terrible foot problems. I offered her some moleskin to at least help a little bit. Two days later she was almost in tears. Her foot was so raw - w/ a big patch of skin torn off. Why? Because she had stuck the moleskin to her <B>foot</B> - not inside her shoe! So when she tried to remove it after a couple of days it took a section of skin w/ it. I never thought to tell her HOW to use moleskin.
To answer some of the questions:
How did the week in Ireland go? I have no idea. They were at the book club dinner last week but all that was mentioned was getting to LHR and their London hotel OK and Hill House. They had asked me something "different" to do on their free day in Glasgow before hooking up w/ the tour group. Since both are Frank Lloyd Wright fans - I suggested they go up to Charles Rennie Mackintosh's Hill House in Helensburgh. They loved it. But not another word was said about Scotland or Ireland. The girl who went to Ireland w/ her husband had a really good time. They ended up staying 3 nights in Killarney and did Dingle/ROK/the National park.
Is Alan Titchmarsh drool-worthy? Um - well he's no competition for Jude Law
Am I planning other groups? Are you NUTS
Just kidding. I've planned trips for other groups of friends. Several years ago it was a group of <u>thirteen</u>. You'd expect a lot more "issues" w/ that many people, but only one couple was any problem at all. We rented 3 cars and every evening we'd all get together to decide where each car was going and who would ride in it (just to make sure no one was stranded). Most days the cars went to approx the same places - but a couple of times each car had a different itinerary and folks chose where they wanted to go. One morning this couple got up early and took off to parts unknown w/ one of the cars! Now that would give SCQ a run for the money . . .But yes, I do enjoy my solo trips - a LOT
Feldie: The kitchen store in Burford is (I think) called The Cookshop. It's on the lower end of high street, you really can't miss it. Another shop to look for is the Cotswold Trading Company in Broadway. It is more gift than kitchen - but has a lot of good housewares.
Just remembered a couple of other little things. I noticed that several times one or more of the ladies ordered "American coffee" or "coffee American". At Waddesdon four ordered coffee and SCQ said make those American. The waiter wanted to clarify the order but some of them didn't hear/understand him. So I asked - do you all want coffee American and they all nodded yes. OK -- come to find out somewhere along the way a friend had told SCQ that English coffee was weird and to be sure to ask for American coffee. So that is what she told everyone to do. Don't know if they ever figured out they were getting espresso w/ hot water??
I felt so sorry for one of the girls - she was having terrible foot problems. I offered her some moleskin to at least help a little bit. Two days later she was almost in tears. Her foot was so raw - w/ a big patch of skin torn off. Why? Because she had stuck the moleskin to her <B>foot</B> - not inside her shoe! So when she tried to remove it after a couple of days it took a section of skin w/ it. I never thought to tell her HOW to use moleskin.
