A bit of Scotland, wing mirror casualty, 7 days in London, and a Fodors GTG
May 23rd, 2013, 11:10 AM
#44
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 208
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Old Bank pub was the one place that was on my "to do" list, but we missed visiting on our March '13 trip. It looks amazing in the photos. My DH has little patience however, with confusing order/pay procedures.
Something I forgot to mention in my trip report - I tried a shandy for the first time during our Cotswolds tour pub lunch - LOVED IT! Had one at every pub stop after that. I found a bottled Leinenkugels Summer Shandy readily available back home in TX - not nearly as good, but OK (not a big beer drinker).
Something I forgot to mention in my trip report - I tried a shandy for the first time during our Cotswolds tour pub lunch - LOVED IT! Had one at every pub stop after that. I found a bottled Leinenkugels Summer Shandy readily available back home in TX - not nearly as good, but OK (not a big beer drinker).
May 23rd, 2013, 02:34 PM
#45
clearly audibility is something to add to the list of requirements of a GTG location!
BTW, do you remember a thread that was titled something like : "how do you know they're not murderers?"
I must have walked past the Old Bank hundreds of times in my previous existence, but it wasn't a pub then so I'm intrigued by this confusing ordering/paying malarkey. What are you supposed to do?
BTW, do you remember a thread that was titled something like : "how do you know they're not murderers?"
I must have walked past the Old Bank hundreds of times in my previous existence, but it wasn't a pub then so I'm intrigued by this confusing ordering/paying malarkey. What are you supposed to do?
May 23rd, 2013, 10:32 PM
#46
Original Poster
"I'm intrigued by this confusing ordering/paying malarkey. What are you supposed to do?"
It was just that we could either order at the table or open a tab, and the waiter pushed us to open tabs. OK - up to the bar to open a tab and order drinks. But then once tabs were open we couldn't order from the waiter . . . because we had tabs open. Same when we tried to pay. Just not well organized. And whatever I asked of the waiter - the answer seemed to be 'no'.
Don't get me wrong - it was a good place to meet but maybe would have been been better for a smaller group that fit around a smaller table. (and got a waiter whose vocabulary included 'yes'
)
It was just that we could either order at the table or open a tab, and the waiter pushed us to open tabs. OK - up to the bar to open a tab and order drinks. But then once tabs were open we couldn't order from the waiter . . . because we had tabs open. Same when we tried to pay. Just not well organized. And whatever I asked of the waiter - the answer seemed to be 'no'.
Don't get me wrong - it was a good place to meet but maybe would have been been better for a smaller group that fit around a smaller table. (and got a waiter whose vocabulary included 'yes'
)
Last edited by Moderator1; Jun 30th, 2020 at 09:36 AM. Reason: Removed broken html
May 23rd, 2013, 10:58 PM
#47
jj - that is irritating, especially when you're a group in full GTG flow. I have to say I've never come across that elsewhere where I've run a tab - normally they are all too keen to get your order, and your money, from whatever source.
given the sort of clientele they presumably get [ie argumentative lawyers] I'm surprised they get away with it.
given the sort of clientele they presumably get [ie argumentative lawyers] I'm surprised they get away with it.
May 23rd, 2013, 11:41 PM
#48
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 20,924
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
"given the sort of clientele they presumably get [ie argumentative lawyers] I'm surprised they get away with it."
Perhaps he's just filling in while training to be one.
Perhaps he's just filling in while training to be one.
Last edited by Moderator1; Jun 30th, 2020 at 09:36 AM. Reason: Removed broken html
May 24th, 2013, 12:58 PM
#50
Original Poster
<B>May 9 - our last day . . .</B>
Plan today is to hit the British Museum, maybe have lunch there, then some last minute shopping (Liberty or F&M or book shops)
We ended up staying about 4 hours at the Br. mostly in the Assyrian, Greek, Egyptian, Mesopotamia and Roman Britain galleries. I wanted to visit more of the European/Medieval galleries - but I'll have more opportunities - while DC probably won't so we stuck to things she really wanted to see. "That's <i>REALLY</i> the Rosetta Stone !!!
We ate in the Court Restaurant upstairs above the Great Court. Food was really good but service was weird-ish. Lots of people dashing around looking busy but very little actually happening. We wren't having coffee/dessert so asked for our check when the plates were cleared away. And waited, And waited, And waited. And waited some more. Couldn't catch anyone's eye - like I said lots of dashing about but they seldom actually did anything (we weren't in the middle of the room but certainly weren't in Siberia). We got up and walked over to the hostess/manager/whatever she was (another one of the 'dashers'). She apologized and said she'd bring it right away - and she did in a fashion. Another 5 minutes at least - probably more. But she removed our drinks and the service charge so more than made up for the disorganization.
Spent some more time in the museum - by now DC was flagging a bit so we decided to bag any more shopping and went back to the flat. I would have liked her to see F&M at least, or take a boat ride or lots of things but I need to realize not everyone has the same stamina. She keeps saying she can't believe we've done/seen sooooo much, so I won't worry (much) about how much she's missed.
Watched Telly, grazed in the kitchen, packed and just enjoyed the view off the balcony w/ glasses of wine.
<B>May 10 - going home</B>
Just Airports - showed up at 10AM with an MPV anyway but only charged the £33. He started out the back way vis St Katharines Way and up towards Tower Gateway - but encountered really stopped up traffic (is there any other sort around there?) . Anyway he reversed course and crossed Tower bridge down around Elephant and Castle and across the south side, crossing back north of the river at Vauxhall Bridge, down Chelsea Embankment and eventually to the west. DC whispered was he taking us out of the way and would it cost extra. I explained it was a flat fare, and it wouldn't matter if he took us by way of Timbuktu.
We only had rollaboards but decided to check them anyway just to lessen the load during the 5 hours on the ground in LA. Nice meal in T-3 then an uneventful flight.
LAX was an absolute mess!! Immigration was very fast but it took more than an hour after Customs, queuing just to re-drop the checked bags. yet <i>another</i> reason for carry-on only . . . Landed at SMF at 10:30PM
DC's son picked her up at SMF (her grand daughter's first communion was the next morning and they had a 100 mile drive ahead of them. They offered to drive me home first but it was already going to be well after midnight before they got to her son's home so I just waited for Super Shuttle.
All looks good at home except for one house plant casualty. Cats were sitting on my back terrace and very happy to see me (which is weird since they usually ignore me for a few days after every homecoming)
My answering machine is full w/ 9 of the calls being from one of my banks and their fraud department - the final one stating since they hadn't been able to reach me my card is blocked even for use at home. (I had cash cards from 3 different banks and this one didn't work during our first week in Scotland so I put it aside and didn't worry about it - would straighten things out when I got home)
Yes, I did have them enter on my account that I would be in the UK from 21 April - 10 May -- I called their 24 hour freephone number and talked to an earnest young man who said yes he could see the notation, but that I didn't mention I'd be in <U>Scotland</U>!!?? ^&*%$#@ (maybe they know something about the referendum that we do't ),
I told hime he was lucky I was exhausted and jet lagged . . . and had other bank accounts or I'd might be closing that account just for spite. (Got a VERY apologetic phone call from my branch manager on Saturday morning)
Went to bed around one AM - and woke up at 3AM worrying about something or other - walked past my guest room and saw DC was not in the bed and freaked out that I had locked her out of the house! . . . THAT my friends is some <u>serious</u> jet lag
Plan today is to hit the British Museum, maybe have lunch there, then some last minute shopping (Liberty or F&M or book shops)
We ended up staying about 4 hours at the Br. mostly in the Assyrian, Greek, Egyptian, Mesopotamia and Roman Britain galleries. I wanted to visit more of the European/Medieval galleries - but I'll have more opportunities - while DC probably won't so we stuck to things she really wanted to see. "That's <i>REALLY</i> the Rosetta Stone !!!
We ate in the Court Restaurant upstairs above the Great Court. Food was really good but service was weird-ish. Lots of people dashing around looking busy but very little actually happening. We wren't having coffee/dessert so asked for our check when the plates were cleared away. And waited, And waited, And waited. And waited some more. Couldn't catch anyone's eye - like I said lots of dashing about but they seldom actually did anything (we weren't in the middle of the room but certainly weren't in Siberia). We got up and walked over to the hostess/manager/whatever she was (another one of the 'dashers'). She apologized and said she'd bring it right away - and she did in a fashion. Another 5 minutes at least - probably more. But she removed our drinks and the service charge so more than made up for the disorganization.
Spent some more time in the museum - by now DC was flagging a bit so we decided to bag any more shopping and went back to the flat. I would have liked her to see F&M at least, or take a boat ride or lots of things but I need to realize not everyone has the same stamina. She keeps saying she can't believe we've done/seen sooooo much, so I won't worry (much) about how much she's missed.
Watched Telly, grazed in the kitchen, packed and just enjoyed the view off the balcony w/ glasses of wine.
<B>May 10 - going home</B>
Just Airports - showed up at 10AM with an MPV anyway but only charged the £33. He started out the back way vis St Katharines Way and up towards Tower Gateway - but encountered really stopped up traffic (is there any other sort around there?) . Anyway he reversed course and crossed Tower bridge down around Elephant and Castle and across the south side, crossing back north of the river at Vauxhall Bridge, down Chelsea Embankment and eventually to the west. DC whispered was he taking us out of the way and would it cost extra. I explained it was a flat fare, and it wouldn't matter if he took us by way of Timbuktu.
We only had rollaboards but decided to check them anyway just to lessen the load during the 5 hours on the ground in LA. Nice meal in T-3 then an uneventful flight.
LAX was an absolute mess!! Immigration was very fast but it took more than an hour after Customs, queuing just to re-drop the checked bags. yet <i>another</i> reason for carry-on only . . . Landed at SMF at 10:30PM
DC's son picked her up at SMF (her grand daughter's first communion was the next morning and they had a 100 mile drive ahead of them. They offered to drive me home first but it was already going to be well after midnight before they got to her son's home so I just waited for Super Shuttle.
All looks good at home except for one house plant casualty. Cats were sitting on my back terrace and very happy to see me (which is weird since they usually ignore me for a few days after every homecoming)
My answering machine is full w/ 9 of the calls being from one of my banks and their fraud department - the final one stating since they hadn't been able to reach me my card is blocked even for use at home. (I had cash cards from 3 different banks and this one didn't work during our first week in Scotland so I put it aside and didn't worry about it - would straighten things out when I got home)
Yes, I did have them enter on my account that I would be in the UK from 21 April - 10 May -- I called their 24 hour freephone number and talked to an earnest young man who said yes he could see the notation, but that I didn't mention I'd be in <U>Scotland</U>!!?? ^&*%$#@ (maybe they know something about the referendum that we do't
), I told hime he was lucky I was exhausted and jet lagged . . . and had other bank accounts or I'd might be closing that account just for spite. (Got a VERY apologetic phone call from my branch manager on Saturday morning)
Went to bed around one AM - and woke up at 3AM worrying about something or other - walked past my guest room and saw DC was not in the bed and freaked out that I had locked her out of the house! . . . THAT my friends is some <u>serious</u> jet lag
May 24th, 2013, 01:27 PM
#51
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,313
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
A fantastic read. Thanks for the trip report.
We had the same credit card experience going to California. We told the bank we would be traveling out of state and when DH tried to use the card at the gas pump, it was denied.
We had the same credit card experience going to California. We told the bank we would be traveling out of state and when DH tried to use the card at the gas pump, it was denied.
May 24th, 2013, 01:48 PM
#52
Yes, I did have them enter on my account that I would be in the UK from 21 April - 10 May -- I called their 24 hour freephone number and talked to an earnest young man who said yes he could see the notation, but that I didn't mention I'd be in Scotland!!?? ^&*%$#@ (maybe they know something about the referendum that we do't ), >>
I think that was similar to the problem we had - i said we'd be in Sri Lanka but they didn't recognise the name of the town where we tried to use the ATM.
However, not knowing that Scotland is in the UK is a lot worse than not knowing the names of towns in Sri Lanka. where did they think it was?
I think that was similar to the problem we had - i said we'd be in Sri Lanka but they didn't recognise the name of the town where we tried to use the ATM.
However, not knowing that Scotland is in the UK is a lot worse than not knowing the names of towns in Sri Lanka. where did they think it was?
May 24th, 2013, 02:52 PM
#54
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,556
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Lovely to read of your visit to the British Museum. It returned pleasant memories of my own visit there last October with a good friend. She and I also enjoyed close-ups of the Rosetta stone (real and copy), though she may have been exaggerating her enthusiasm a little of seeing it for the umpteenth time for my sake. Were the Elgin marbles in one of the galleries you visited ? What did DC think of them ? I was quite impressed (amongst other things, about how they ended up where they are) and came away with some nice pics.
It's probably moved on by now but there was also an excellent exhibition at the time called 'Shakespeare: Staging The World' (or something similar) which was along the lines of the developing prominence of London in the 16th and 17th centuries as viewed through the perspective of Shakespeare's works. I was quite fascinated at this unusual and creative viewpoint of the growth of London as a world class hub of trade and culture, and there was plenty of original memorabilia from Shakespeare's time on display which was great to see.
Had to chuckle at your experience at the Court restaurant; we stopped for tea there and our service experience was much the same as yours. It was so bad in fact that we had to laugh our annoyance off out loud at how long everything took and all the rushing about. The tea was great and very hot when it finally arrived (then again we were parched) but the scone and sliced cake not so much.
Thanks again for a great read.
It's probably moved on by now but there was also an excellent exhibition at the time called 'Shakespeare: Staging The World' (or something similar) which was along the lines of the developing prominence of London in the 16th and 17th centuries as viewed through the perspective of Shakespeare's works. I was quite fascinated at this unusual and creative viewpoint of the growth of London as a world class hub of trade and culture, and there was plenty of original memorabilia from Shakespeare's time on display which was great to see.
Had to chuckle at your experience at the Court restaurant; we stopped for tea there and our service experience was much the same as yours. It was so bad in fact that we had to laugh our annoyance off out loud at how long everything took and all the rushing about. The tea was great and very hot when it finally arrived (then again we were parched) but the scone and sliced cake not so much.
Thanks again for a great read.
May 24th, 2013, 10:14 PM
#57
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,312
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Just catching up with your report which I am enjoying very much.
I do have a question though. Was DC disappointed that no axe murderers showed up? Just kidding, of course, but my family had a similar reaction when I told them I was going to a GTG with internet strangers the first time.
It is a standing joke now.
I do have a question though. Was DC disappointed that no axe murderers showed up? Just kidding, of course, but my family had a similar reaction when I told them I was going to a GTG with internet strangers the first time.
It is a standing joke now.
May 25th, 2013, 06:41 AM
#58
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,209
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thank you for a superb trip report, Janis! Enjoyed your stories, the descriptions, your humour - well done!
I love your tradition of getting an enamel box from Harrod's. You must have a beautiful collection!
I love your tradition of getting an enamel box from Harrod's. You must have a beautiful collection!
May 25th, 2013, 09:17 AM
#59
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,087
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thank you for posting janis. It was lovely to meet you and DC, I really enjoyed the evening.
"Little did I know that tiny scratch would be NOTHING compared to the exploded mirror"
Does that mean there's more to tell?
"Little did I know that tiny scratch would be NOTHING compared to the exploded mirror"
Does that mean there's more to tell?
Last edited by Moderator1; Jun 30th, 2020 at 09:37 AM. Reason: Removed broken html
May 25th, 2013, 11:13 AM
#60
Original Poster
Nope - it was just that I made a point/ semi big deal of having them notate/initial the change of one itty bitty teensy scratch (that I had to search to find in the first place) . . . And then I bring the car back w/ probably £500 worth of damage for replacing the wing mirror/housing.
Luckily the exploding mirror didn't cause any other damage to the windows/body/paint.
It was so much fun meetiing everyone. Didn't get the chance to talk with everyone as much as would've liked. But there will be other opportunities . . .
Luckily the exploding mirror didn't cause any other damage to the windows/body/paint.
It was so much fun meetiing everyone. Didn't get the chance to talk with everyone as much as would've liked. But there will be other opportunities . . .
