goddesstogo and mr. goddess's big London adventure (an ongoing tale)
Nov 19th, 2010, 01:21 PM
#601
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Is it 600 really? I live for your pride, coldie! 
Sue, I know how hard it is to get away for more than the two or three weeks normal vacation. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for us so we grabbed it. Unless that lottery win comes in, we'll never be able to do this again. I agree about doing it while you can. As I said to SO, I wanted to do it before we had to use walkers. And there's also the problem about elderly parents. My parents are no longer alive but SO's mom is 92 and lives in a long-term care home. We call her every day and every two weeks, his niece takes the laptop to her and we Skype her so we can see each other. Our friends have been wonderful about visiting her. I know with elderly parents things can turn bad in a moment's time but in fact, while there have been a few concerns, there was nothing we couldn't handle from here with calls to the facility and/or her doctor.
It takes some long-term planning to get all your ducks in a row, Sue, but it can be done. Four weeks isn't so long.
We're done with the kind of vacation where you rush from place to place. From now on, we'll pick one place we really want to be and then stay there for two or three weeks, with some day trips tossed in for good measure.
Sue, I know how hard it is to get away for more than the two or three weeks normal vacation. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for us so we grabbed it. Unless that lottery win comes in, we'll never be able to do this again. I agree about doing it while you can. As I said to SO, I wanted to do it before we had to use walkers. And there's also the problem about elderly parents. My parents are no longer alive but SO's mom is 92 and lives in a long-term care home. We call her every day and every two weeks, his niece takes the laptop to her and we Skype her so we can see each other. Our friends have been wonderful about visiting her. I know with elderly parents things can turn bad in a moment's time but in fact, while there have been a few concerns, there was nothing we couldn't handle from here with calls to the facility and/or her doctor.
It takes some long-term planning to get all your ducks in a row, Sue, but it can be done. Four weeks isn't so long.
We're done with the kind of vacation where you rush from place to place. From now on, we'll pick one place we really want to be and then stay there for two or three weeks, with some day trips tossed in for good measure.
Nov 21st, 2010, 01:28 AM
#603
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You know that fall that pride goeth before? Well, I've just taken it.
After all these years of being so careful about my purse (pocketbook, here), I had it stolen yesterday. And of all places, it was at the leisure centre cafe where I feel so at home because I'm there so often.
It was sitting right beside me on a couch along with my library book bag and a small shopping bag and it was so clost to me that I was pretty much leaning back on it. The only thing I can think is that when I leaned forward to reach the newspaper, the person on the couch behind me reached over the back and took it. There was only about 10 minutes in-between the time I had it in my hand and then it was gone.
I've made a police report and cancelled all my cards and my phone so while it will be a pain in the neck getting everything in place again, at least the thief can't charge anything. My keys were in there but nothing with our London address on it. And there was only about 10 pounds in my wallet plus my oyster card which I'd just topped up. The think I'm most upset about is that my calendar was in there and I depend so heavily on that. Also, my list of personal phone numbers. The most expensive item in there was my good opera glasses which I'd forgotten to take out the day before.
One of my friends has told me to sign up with a credit rating company to protect against identity theft so I'm going to do that today. We're going back up there today to walk around the building and look in bushes and garbage cans in the hopes that he just took the money and tossed everything else.
I'm more pissed off with myself than anything else! How could I have been so stupid to relax in that place! From now on my purse strap never leaves my body.
If you have any other suggestions for me re what else I might do now, I'd be happy to hear them.
After all these years of being so careful about my purse (pocketbook, here), I had it stolen yesterday. And of all places, it was at the leisure centre cafe where I feel so at home because I'm there so often.
It was sitting right beside me on a couch along with my library book bag and a small shopping bag and it was so clost to me that I was pretty much leaning back on it. The only thing I can think is that when I leaned forward to reach the newspaper, the person on the couch behind me reached over the back and took it. There was only about 10 minutes in-between the time I had it in my hand and then it was gone.
I've made a police report and cancelled all my cards and my phone so while it will be a pain in the neck getting everything in place again, at least the thief can't charge anything. My keys were in there but nothing with our London address on it. And there was only about 10 pounds in my wallet plus my oyster card which I'd just topped up. The think I'm most upset about is that my calendar was in there and I depend so heavily on that. Also, my list of personal phone numbers. The most expensive item in there was my good opera glasses which I'd forgotten to take out the day before.
One of my friends has told me to sign up with a credit rating company to protect against identity theft so I'm going to do that today. We're going back up there today to walk around the building and look in bushes and garbage cans in the hopes that he just took the money and tossed everything else.
I'm more pissed off with myself than anything else! How could I have been so stupid to relax in that place! From now on my purse strap never leaves my body.
If you have any other suggestions for me re what else I might do now, I'd be happy to hear them.
Nov 21st, 2010, 05:09 AM
#605
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I don't remember registering it, Jamie. How would I have done that? I probably didn't.
Hope I find the purse. Even better, hope I find the thief. I'll slap his face so hard he'll be finding his teeth for a month!
Hope I find the purse. Even better, hope I find the thief. I'll slap his face so hard he'll be finding his teeth for a month!
Nov 21st, 2010, 05:55 AM
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GTG, That's awful news about your bag and I hope you find it dumped nearby. Cold has great advice as always!
I've just finished my unpacking. It takes me a whole week after a trip because I hate it so much and this time it was especially hard after seeing so many friends.
I've found a few things I'd forgotten I'd bought in London including some Ploughman's chutney from M&S. I thought it would make a good gift as it has a Union Jack on the lid but now I'm tempted to keep it!
I think you might feel the same way when you get home and find all the little things and memories you've squirreled away these past few months. It's bittersweet!
I've just finished my unpacking. It takes me a whole week after a trip because I hate it so much and this time it was especially hard after seeing so many friends.
I've found a few things I'd forgotten I'd bought in London including some Ploughman's chutney from M&S. I thought it would make a good gift as it has a Union Jack on the lid but now I'm tempted to keep it!
I think you might feel the same way when you get home and find all the little things and memories you've squirreled away these past few months. It's bittersweet!
Nov 21st, 2010, 09:33 AM
#609
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I'd just as happily slap her face, Mathieu. I'm an equal-opportunity enraged victim.
This morning we went to the leisure centre to walk around, peer into bushes, shake garbage bags, etc. I wasn't holding out much hope but thought it was worth a try but no luck. I noticed that the cafe has now (just after the nick of time) put a notice on their door saying that thieves operate in that area. It probably wouldn't have made any difference, though. It was just a momentary lapse in vigilence on my part. Lesson learned.
This afternoon, we went to the huge Brent Cross shopping mall. It's just like any of the big North American malls. We went there because it was just the easiest way for us to do a bunch of shopping errands. My purse (fortunately I have an old one here) had to be re-outfitted with a wallet, some make-up, and a few other little things. I had to get a new phone (geez they're cheap here. The one that got stolen cost 7 pounds. The new one cost 4) and SO had to take his new jacket back to M&S because they'd neglected to take the security tag off.
I'd forgotten how exhausting those big malls can be and we only went into a few stores. SO is cooking at home tonight (pasta with chicken, rocket and cherry tomatoes) and I'm putting my new wallet together. Just a cozy evening at home.
This morning we went to the leisure centre to walk around, peer into bushes, shake garbage bags, etc. I wasn't holding out much hope but thought it was worth a try but no luck. I noticed that the cafe has now (just after the nick of time) put a notice on their door saying that thieves operate in that area. It probably wouldn't have made any difference, though. It was just a momentary lapse in vigilence on my part. Lesson learned.
This afternoon, we went to the huge Brent Cross shopping mall. It's just like any of the big North American malls. We went there because it was just the easiest way for us to do a bunch of shopping errands. My purse (fortunately I have an old one here) had to be re-outfitted with a wallet, some make-up, and a few other little things. I had to get a new phone (geez they're cheap here. The one that got stolen cost 7 pounds. The new one cost 4) and SO had to take his new jacket back to M&S because they'd neglected to take the security tag off.
I'd forgotten how exhausting those big malls can be and we only went into a few stores. SO is cooking at home tonight (pasta with chicken, rocket and cherry tomatoes) and I'm putting my new wallet together. Just a cozy evening at home.
Nov 21st, 2010, 01:07 PM
#611
GTG - hard cheese. i don't envy the thief if you find him/her.
did you look in the toilets at the leisure centre? this isn't a silly question as it's a favourite place for dumping stolen bags, I'm afraid.
Never been to Brent Cross, though I've driven past it a few times. Now, if you'd told me that you'd got "dipped" or robbed there I'd not have been in the least surprised. but the leisure centre? a fit thief, obviously!
did you look in the toilets at the leisure centre? this isn't a silly question as it's a favourite place for dumping stolen bags, I'm afraid.
Never been to Brent Cross, though I've driven past it a few times. Now, if you'd told me that you'd got "dipped" or robbed there I'd not have been in the least surprised. but the leisure centre? a fit thief, obviously!
Nov 21st, 2010, 01:40 PM
#612
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annhig, yes, I even rummaged around in the diaper disposal box in the women's toilet. Ugh. I had to scrub myself down for a long while after that one. And I had the manager go through the men's toilet for me.
You know the cafe at the leisure centre is really the perfect place for this type of thief. There are always lots of mums running around after their kids and leaving their pocketbooks on the chair for just a couple of seconds. And it can be pretty chaotic in there, what with all the birthday parties.
You know the cafe at the leisure centre is really the perfect place for this type of thief. There are always lots of mums running around after their kids and leaving their pocketbooks on the chair for just a couple of seconds. And it can be pretty chaotic in there, what with all the birthday parties.
Nov 22nd, 2010, 02:09 AM
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So sorry to hear about this. I once had my wallet swiped somehow from my office years ago - and found they'd dumped the remains of it in the loo cistern, if you please. Not much comfort to know it's happened to others, but at least it makes you a real Londoner now.
Nov 22nd, 2010, 02:41 AM
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Really sorry to hear about getting your purse nicked. Hope that you managed to cancel everything in time. That café is certainly a good target as you say - very chaotic. Much better sticking to West Hampstead cafés from now on 
Sorry I've been awol for a while - busy with lots of stuff. Lets try and schedule a lunch date very soon - let me know when works for you. I'm also organising a big local get-together for my blog readers and Twitter followers on December 2nd at The Lion on West End Lane to which you are - of course - extremely welcome to come. J
Sorry I've been awol for a while - busy with lots of stuff. Lets try and schedule a lunch date very soon - let me know when works for you. I'm also organising a big local get-together for my blog readers and Twitter followers on December 2nd at The Lion on West End Lane to which you are - of course - extremely welcome to come. J
Nov 22nd, 2010, 12:35 PM
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"...but at least it makes you a real Londoner now."
Finally! And it only cost me about 10 pounds, a few pence, and a purse and my good opera glasses!
Hi Jonathan,
Yes, I did cancel the cards in time and there had been no new purchases on them. Because I emptied all unnecessary cards out of my wallet before we left home, I'm not even sure I brought my driver's licence and if I didn't, that means I don't have to go to the trouble of replacing it. I was thinking about you the other night because we finally got around to walking down to the Lumiere for some music but what a terrible band (at least for us). We're clearly unable to make these sorts of decisions without your guidance! We did have an unexpectedly good dinner that night, though, at a very dark and eerie looking pub across from the Tricycle -- the Black Lion. It looks like the kind of place a damsel might venture into the cellar with a candelabra to find out "what that strange moaning noise is". And she was never seen again. The food was good though.
We'd love to come to your 'do' at the Lion. Thanks for including us. What time are you getting together?
Sue, I need many drinks before the 25th! I'm obviously not thinking right these days. First there's the purse incident and then today we went to the special key guy to get my keys replaced only to find out that he's not open on Mondays. It would have been sensible if I'd called before, right? Oh well. We had a nice walk on Primrose Hill Road, and lunch, and then came back to Finchley Road to go to the movies. We saw a rather strange Bruce Willis film called Reds. Don't rush out to see it.
Finally! And it only cost me about 10 pounds, a few pence, and a purse and my good opera glasses!
Hi Jonathan,
Yes, I did cancel the cards in time and there had been no new purchases on them. Because I emptied all unnecessary cards out of my wallet before we left home, I'm not even sure I brought my driver's licence and if I didn't, that means I don't have to go to the trouble of replacing it. I was thinking about you the other night because we finally got around to walking down to the Lumiere for some music but what a terrible band (at least for us). We're clearly unable to make these sorts of decisions without your guidance! We did have an unexpectedly good dinner that night, though, at a very dark and eerie looking pub across from the Tricycle -- the Black Lion. It looks like the kind of place a damsel might venture into the cellar with a candelabra to find out "what that strange moaning noise is". And she was never seen again. The food was good though.
We'd love to come to your 'do' at the Lion. Thanks for including us. What time are you getting together?
Sue, I need many drinks before the 25th! I'm obviously not thinking right these days. First there's the purse incident and then today we went to the special key guy to get my keys replaced only to find out that he's not open on Mondays. It would have been sensible if I'd called before, right? Oh well. We had a nice walk on Primrose Hill Road, and lunch, and then came back to Finchley Road to go to the movies. We saw a rather strange Bruce Willis film called Reds. Don't rush out to see it.
