On the Docks

Feeling a bit of cabin-fever and fever-fever.  I've been fighting a cold for the last week but it was such a beautiful day today that I could not stay in.  I took a walk down to the docks in Grimsby.  Once I arrived I felt as though it was a scene from apocalypse.  The Docks are still operational but Mon-Fri,  the area is old and many buildings are abandoned.  I was the only person wandering the area and I felt very unsure of my decision to check this out on my own.  But it was so nice out, a balmy 8-9 degrees, clear skies and a bit of a wind.  Beautiful, in fact I went out for two walks today.  Yes I am rubbing it in to all Canadian friends and family.  Did I mention how nice it was outside today in Grimsby. LOL.

I just love this building, it is the Victoria Flour Mill from the back side.  I want to see the inside some day.  I'm told there are apartments and offices but the roof is falling in on the main structure so I am very curious.

Same building from the front.

Look at that, built in 1906, beautiful.  Notice the clear blue sky reflected in the windows.

On the docks, most of the area looks like this.

The curtains are still in the window even though there is no glass.  They appear to be like the ones my mom had in the 70's with the big lacy holes.

The Grimsby dock tower.

What is it?  Hint, it is in front of the Sea Cadets meeting house.

Yup, a beautiful day.

Delayed

I have not even looked at my blog for almost three weeks.  Sorry for the lapse in photos.  I have been busy at school and saving my pennies to do something during my February and Easter breaks.
I have joined the Cleethorpes camera club and enjoy seeing other photographers works.  When I first went I was regretting my decision to bring my good camera to England and after an evening of looking at competition winners I now want a new HD camera body.  I probably won't be so frivolous but I am at least thankful for now having brought my good camera.  Tonight was the weekly meeting but I stayed home.  I seem to have found my first cold since arriving, which is pretty good if you ask me.  I did not get sick after my flight, or after being exposed to all my roommates colds in October and the many sick children at school could not even bring me down.  But all my co-workers are getting some kind of bug and I did not want to be left out.
We have not had a single snow flake here.  We've had much rain and very cold days but no snow.  I have been following the news from Canada and I am so thankful that I am not experiencing the heavy snowfall and terrible driving conditions.  I bet Leah is wishing I had fixed the snowblower before leaving.

This is a simple picture from a couple sundays ago.  We had a heavy frost, OOOoooo.  I now it does not compare to Ontario right now.

I love this layer of ice, especially when you step on it and it breaks.  Such a feeling of power.

This is the ceiling at Kings cross train station, taken after new years.

R & R

Nothing to show you for today/this week.  I'm sorry, it's a bit of a let down for me too.  I was back at school this week and the first few days back were exhausting.  I love these kids and the saying is true " if you love your job, you will never work a day in your life".  Corny yes, but I really am enjoying all aspects of work and play here in the UK.  Despite the fact that the school felt I would be of assistance in an IT class five periods a week.  I'm just assisting thank goodness.
Today I ordered my groceries online, this was the extent of the excitement for me.  No line ups or screaming kids, and they deliver.  We have a lot to learn from the British.
I will get out again, but this weekend is simply recovering from London and tomorrow I will make my way to church.
I'm trying to think of an adventure (only one week and limited funds) for my February break.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Day 5 in London

I am completely done in.
With map in hand I set out this morning for Camdon Town Market.  I am so thankful I left before the crowds began to form.  This city is crazy busy all day and all night.  While in Camdon I went to the Horse Stables Market.  It was incredible.  there was amazing food and spectacular sights to photographed. I made way up from there to Primrose Hill and saw the city from one of the highest vantage points.  At this point the weather went from mild and sunny to windy and cold, so I headed back to rest and put on a warmer coat.  Thank goodness I did because as soon as I got back there was a thunderstorm.
After some cheesecake (it makes everything better) the weather cleared and I ventured back out.  This time I went up Oxford street (the shopping district) and slalomed through all the people to make my way to Wallace House.  Here there was a small contemporary glass exhibit as well and some beautiful pieces from the Wallace Collection.
I could not stop there though, with the help of a Google maps app on my phone,  I found my way to the London Eye.  It was closed due to the high winds but I would not have gone on it anyway.  I thought about skating again, but the cost was too high, almost ten pounds for less than an hour on a very small rink.
Still I could not go back, I was drawn to Big Ben in the night.

These Bronze statues are everywhere throughout the market.

They really are horse stables converted to these wonderful market stalls.  These are some of the doors of vendors who where not yet open.

A Mosaic statue.

Many thanks to my cousin Brenda (Werth) who put the bug in my ear to visit Camdon.  It is just down the street from where I am staying but I had no idea it would be so fantastic.  And thanks to Emma who encouraged me to go, and even prepared a map with directions.  Despite all your efforts I still managed to get turned around but not as bad as New Years Eve.

At the top of Primrose Hill overlooking the city.  An inscription at the top reads " I have conversed with the spiritual sun, I saw him on Primrose Hill". (William Blake)

A walk on the Towpath along the Thames.

The neatest shoes I have ever seen.

One of the pieces in the glass exhibit.  I thought of Kevin when I saw this, he was working on some high speed photography which captures a drop of water falling onto a thin layer of water and how it bounces upwards after impact. 

A tunnel going towards the Eye.  Street artists seem to have their own panels and are respectful of each others work.  At first I was intimidated and did not want to venture through on my own, but when I realized what it was, I was in awe.

This was a big day.  Tomorrow I may get some sightseeing done, but for the most part I will be travelling back to Grimsby,  I am a bit relieved to just go home and relax (I mean plan lessons for next week).

Day 4 in London

My goodness, I could not possibly get everything done that I want to do in just one short week.
Today was spent with friends.
In the afternoon I met up with a friend from Nipissing (Sarah) and she showed me around one of her favourite places, Greenwich.  What's the first thing you thought of when I mentioned "Greenwich"?  That's right GMT.  This is the location of the Observatory (which is still functioning) and was used to define the Greenwich Meridian Line. It  is no longer used for this, today they use a formula to determine the correct time.  We opted out of viewing the Observatory, instead we visited the Queens House (Originally Queen Elizabeth the 1st) and walked around the magnificent park.  This was such an exceptional day weather wise, about plus 10 and sunny.
Later in the evening I met up with Emma (my cousin's daughter) and she showed me around Covent Garden.  What an extraordinary place.  There were many people, shops, theatre's, and restaurants.  For me the best part of the day was the company of these wonderful women.

I decided to show you this blurry picture of the stairs going down to one of the subway lines.  I did manage to take one that was less blurry but that just looks bad.  This one is more artistic and I really genuinely think it conveys Londoner's better.  They are so very rushed here, you either keep up or get run over and I was too intimidated to stop and take a still picture.

There is a maritime museum at the park but we choose to skip over it today.

My favourite picture of the day, The Tulip Staircase in the Queen's House (looking up).

A sculpture outside the Queen's House by Yinka Shonibare.

Facing the Thames with London in the Background.

A full view of the Queens House with London in the Background.  Look at that sky, I haven't seen it a couple weeks and judging by the amount of people in the park, we really appreciated every second of it today.

As we were walking through the park two green parrots flew over our heads, we quietly creeped up on them to get some pictures.  As we were trying to do so I could her a little girl behind us asking her dad "where's the carrot" LOL.

This is the Sundial just to the side of the actual Meridian Line.

The Tree on the other side of the dial marks the spot or the line.  It raises the question "Why not put the sundial on the Meridian Line?".

Well tomorrow is my last full day here and I have an idea of what I will be doing, Emma made me a map with detailed instructions.  She hardly knows me but already she can sense my geographical limitations.

Day 3 in London, Windsor

My feet really hurt today when I awoke.  But that's not going to stop me.
I set off this morning for Windsor Castle.
As many of you know I had the opportunity as a child to travel with my parents and one of our trips was to Windsor Castle to see the Queen's Doll House.  However the day we came, the Castle was closed.  Being only 6 at the time I remember the drive up a hill and the drive back down.  Ever since, I have been inspired by Queen Mary's doll house.  I even did a research paper on the subject in high-school.  Then my passion for building miniatures started about 25 years ago and this grew to a new level when I joined the Trillium Miniaturists club 10 years ago.
Today I realized a dream, I visited the Doll House in person at the Windsor Castle.  Photography was strictly forbidden so I found these on the internet.  There is electricity, the outside shell lifts up to reveal the interiors, dinnerware is made of silver, real books, the list goes on and on (you can Google it yourself).

It is a huge Castle.

If it had not been raining I might have enjoyed just wandering the shops, but the rain and excruciating pain from walking kept me moving in the direction of the train station. 

This made me laugh.  The Queen on one side and Kate and Harry on two others. (It's not a real phone booth.)

This is in the train station.  I was excited to see it but now I am contemplating the question "Where are the Tim's?"

Day 2 part II, in London

It feels like day 10.  I think I 'm trying to do too much.
I went to the fireworks last night but my inner miserable self hated every minute of it.  I know that if I had not of gone I would regret it the rest of my life.
So here it is in point form:
-the buses stopped short of Trafalgar Square and I had no idea where I was
-I do as I always do in this circumstance - follow the people
-found myself in Covent Garden (it was beautiful)
-walked for miles and miles and miles, with some really stupid people
-found a good place to stand at 11:15pm with a decent view of the Eye
-at precisely 3 seconds before midnight people came from every direction and stood in front of me preventing me from seeing anything
-I left before the end so as to not get stuck near any really stupid people
-walked for miles and miles and miles
-found the underground
-made my way back to Judy and Joel's

Covent Garden

The view just before midnight.

And just after.

My hail Mary shot and off I go trying to find my way out.

 If I ever think of trying this again would one of you please speak up and remind me of this night.