22 Aug 2009

A PINK ELEPHANT ?

On one of our excursion along the English coast, we stopped for a coffee. I ordered a medium black with sugar. I was more than surprised when I got my cup which had the size of a potty ! I wondered how a big one would look like ! I couldn't drink it all, although I am used to strong Italian espresso this was really too much. After a while I felt "flying" !


I admired the beautiful real typical english landscape and the color shades of greens. Never ever I have seen so many different greens then in this place, not even at art school !








an old farm house had been transformed partly into a café/snack bar where we had a Cornish tea with homemade warm scones, strawberry jam and clotted cream. The farmer's wife and daughter served themselves. It tasted heavenly ! On the way back home, Anne suddenly exclaimed : A camel ! Doug who was driving and I saw nothing and told her that probably she will see pink elephants next time. A camel in this english landscape ! We laughed. But she insisted. Finally Doug drove backwards and what did we see from far


A camel standing there like a statue !


and it was a real one, because it moved ! That really was quite insolite.


and behind it looking at us from far was a Llama ! We couldn't believe it. We got out of the car and called the camel by all names, but a camel is a camel and on top of it seemed to be deaf.

We got back into the car and a little further another surprise, no cows or sheeps as it should be but a whole flock of Alcapas !


I had never seen them grassing peacefully on a pasture just like my traditional cows and sheep would do ! Somebody must have had the good idea to raise future cardigans, pullovers and other knitted clothes on his farm.

21 Aug 2009

FRIDAY's FAVE FIVE



Susanne at Living to Tell the Story hosts a “Friday Fave Five” in which we share five favorite things from the past week. Visit her blog to see other participants.

1. Just a week ago I was watching the annual airshow in Eastbourne. There were thousands of people sitting on the beach or promenade, having a picnic while they watched. It was a special event to me I had never seen one. I was not so interested in the planes, but more into the cheerful athmosphere, with children having fun, people all talking to each other and I had the opportunity to listen to the life story of various people and why they spent their holidays just here in Eastbourne.








2. I then went on the Pier. These piers were built to allow leisure boats to board and go on land. They go from the beach far into the sea.

As the airshow lasted 3 days we went the next day above Eastbourne to Beachy Head. It is the highest chalk sea cliff in Britain, rising to 162 m (530 ft) above sea level. The peak allows views of the south east coast from Dungeness to the east, to Selsey Bill in the west. Unfortunately its height has also made it a notorious suicide spot. The green grass ends suddenly and down it goes.


We had a nice picnic up there and a lot of fun as you can see. All together we were eight and everybody had carried a lot of food. We spent the whole afternoon at this lovely place


Beachy Head



At ten the Airshow ended with a firework.


Lewes

3. We also made an excursion to Lewes, which has a very ancient history. Archaeological evidence points to prehistoric dwellers and it is also thought that the Roman settlement of Mutuantonis was here, large quantities of artefacts having been discovered in the area. The Saxons built a castle here, having first constructed its motte as a defensive point over the river; they also gave the town its name. It is also famous for its Harvey Brewery.


Hastings

4. Another day we spent in Hastings. Hastings was, for centuries, an important fishing port; although much reduced, it has the largest beach-based fishing fleet in England. As with many other such places, the town became a watering place in the 1760s, and then, with the coming of the railway, a seaside resort. We walked through the city and had lunch there too. The city is invaded by seagulls ! they are sitting and walking around everywhere ! When we went to the beach, they even sat on our car ! I could make some funny videos and pictures.


5. On my way back to Brussels/Waterloo, I spent the day in London. I had been there just for 3 h last year, but this time I had decided to visit as much places as I could which I knew so well in the past, as my son had lived here for 7 years. I bought a daily travel card and off I went with tube and bus to Oxford Street and Picadilly Circus, to Leiscter square and Covent garden. First I was lost because I had forgotten a lot, but then in no time all souvenirs came back and I had no problems anymore. I felt so happy to walk around, the sun was shining and lots of tourists had the same idea as I.


Covent Garden

In Covent Garden nothing had changed, there were still a lot of stands and artists making music or a show.


Leicester Square is the centre of London's cinema land, and one of the signs marking the Square bears the legend "Theatreland." It is claimed that the Square contains the cinema with the largest screen and the cinema with the most seats (over 1600). The square is the prime location in London for major film premieres and even co-hosts the London Film Festival each year. Most of the Theatres are here and people were lining up to get tickets.




At 5 I was at the station again to take the Eurostar back home. I had noticed that London had changed. The traditional Pubs have seats outside now, due to the non smoking law. It has lost its charm of being a "Public House" which people could use as their second living room. Everywhere inside it smells cold cigarette smoke of hundreds of years of smoking. Even non smokers are not happy with this law. There is also a lot less traffic, because private cars have to pay quite a lot of money to be allowed driving in the center. So you mostly see buses, taxis, trucks and delivery vans.

There is also a lot of construction going on, everwhere buildings are pulled down or built up, holes are digged everywhere, underground lines are closed for work, I wonder if it is because of the forthcoming Olympic games.

20 Aug 2009

THURSDAY THIRTEEN - Funny translations



more participants here

13 rather funny translations for English speaking tourists !

1. Because of the impropriety of entertaining guests of the opposite sex in the bedroom, it is suggested that the lobby be used for this purpose. -- A sign in a Swiss hotel.

2. Ladies, leave your clothes here and spend the afternoon having a good time." -- A sign in a laundry in Rome.

3. Do not spit here and there. A sign in Calcutta, India.

4. Deposit: The owner asks for a deposit of 100 € as a guarantee for the flat. This amount will be returned at the end of your stay if any damage has been done." -- A sign in a Spanish hotel.

5. Please leave your values at the front desk." -- A sign in a Paris hotel.

6. Caution Water On Road During Rain" -- A sign in Malaysia.

7. Please do not feed the animals. If you have any suitable food, give it to the guard on duty." -- A sign in a Budapest zoo.

8. Our staffs are always here waiting for you to patronize them." -- From an advertisement for a hotel in Tokyo.

9. You are welcome to visit the cemetery where famous Russian and Soviet composers, artists, and writers are buried daily except Thursday." -- A sign in a Moscow hotel across the street from a Russian Orthodox monastery.

10. You are invited to take advantage of the chambermaid." -- A sign in a Japanese hotel.

11. Ladies are requested not to have children in the bar." -- A sign in a Norwegian cocktail lounge.

12. Order your summers suit. Because is big rush we will execute customers in strict rotation." -- A sign in a Rhodes tailor shop.

13. Take one of our horse driven city tours -- we guarantee no miscarriages." -- A sign in a Czechoslovakian tourist agency.

19 Aug 2009

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY











Hard work

PS. Yesterday evening I returned home after having spent the afternoon in a very sunny London. It was so nice to see it again. I will post about this later. Today my heart is aching, I had such a wonderful time with my friends in Eastbourne, so that I am not quite home yet !
Fortunately I have a comfort, I will go back next year !

18 Aug 2009

MY WORLD - Eastbourne Coast


more participants here

Today I am on my way home and just show you an overview of what has been my world this week. I will stop in London for a few hours and maybe meet my son who is there on a business trip. It all depends on his work of course.

I am really sad to leave this beautiful place and my adorable friends. It had been such a lovely week and I was lucky that I could see the annual airshow here too. Yesterday evening we watched a wonderful firework at the beach. There were thousand of peoples unbelievable !

I will show you more pictures of this beautiful coast next time.


17 Aug 2009

FUN MONDAY - Scars ?



Lil Mouse challenges us to show our scars. Scars can be physical or emotional, they can be a reminder of something good or a warning against repeating past actions.

I belong to the happy people who don't have any scars. No, that is not quite exact because I have one 36 years old scar which was caused by a cesarian, but I don't consider this as a scar but rather as a happy event. The emotional scars I had in the past are all taken away and nothing is left. My soul is as smooth as a baby bottom.

I probably will have a scar left for a couple of weeks when I go home from this beautiful place, but this will heal quickly because I am coming back next year.

I am leaving Eastbourne tomorrow and will stay a few hours in London before I take my train home in the evening.



The scar I will carry for a while !

16 Aug 2009

WEEKLY WINNERS - English Village


More participants here at Sarcastic Mom Weekly winners


During my holidays here at the English coast we also went to Alfriston which is a charming village where the time stood still. Cars really didn't fit in the landscape ! I tried to shoot the photos when for a moment there were no cars, which wasn't easy.

Most of the houses are from the 15th or 16th century.


The landscape around Alfriston


The main street


























We never thought this tractor would make it through the little street !