So long...

And thanks for all the fish.

Good-bye, Trolley People!

I really must be goooooing now (really would like to have Marx Brothers DVD box set for Christmas, but this is frivolous. And I am anything but frivolous. No laughing.). Well tomorrow. At noon. But it is best to think ahead so am sure not to miss my bus. Have never caught a bus all by my lonesome before, always with someone else. If miss it shall have a temper fit. And that wouldn't look right in front of Cardiff Castle, now would it?

I must confess: It seems have been sadly, but unintentionally, misled by a Dane and have transferred this misleading on to whoever reads this nonsense on a regular basis, you easily amused people. (Of course, am often misled and early New Year's resolution is Total Intolerance for people who do this purposefully and with malicious self-serving intent. Dead wood must be excised, and so on.) Anyhoo, off soapbox... right.

...Well, have been under faulty impression that will be staying ON London Bridge. This is apparently not quite true. Will be staying NEXT to Tower Bridge!!!!!! On a normal street. Which is even better as Tower Bridge is a marvelous architectural achievement. (this is not necessarily from my room with a view or anything -- is some pirated object from Yahoo.) Seem to have a shadow of reason to think my person must have been on London Bridge at some point as seems logical, relative to past excursionary activity in Londinium, but for the life of me have no absolute memory of this. So think it wasn't the bees knees, or I would have remembered it.

Let this serve as a lesson. If bridges want me to remember them, they had best be impressive.

The Vanilla Phenomenon

Newest acquisition is a sleeping bag from military surplus store on the corner -- am quite pleased with it. Is small and light and olive green. Similar to Junior Ranger, maybe. Wanted to wait to buy one in London before heading to Helene's house and buy some cunning and uniquely hip nepali sleeping mat or something in Camden Markets. Predictable paranoia set in and so decided best be wise (and thrifty) and have a definite item to sleep on for the weekend instead of being forced by foolishness to sleep under towel. :)

My parents' sweet neighbors sent me a lovely Christmas package today of cornbread mix, spiced cider mix and homemade CANDY. think upset tummy eating too many chocolate covered peanuts too quickly.

Also, am slightly alarmed by Paul's news of earthquake yesterday in Louisiana... WHAT?

Manic cleaning (because I am just like that, not because live in unclean manner) in preparation for Rauschenbach visit. And because am weary of phonology and grammar. House smells LOVELY, like Lily of Valley according to label on Glade dusting bottle! If didn't suspect it would burn, i might snort it, it smells so good.

However, this would probably end similarly to the Childhood Vanilla Phenomenon: you are just so convinced that nothing that smells so delectable could ever taste vile and that your mama is lying to you to keep you out of the secret Grown-up Vanilla-Gluttony Society... and then you taste it when she finally lets you (with her arched eyebrow and a slight and ever-so-expectant smirk). And it really is rawther unpleasant.

Sad realization of the tragedy and delusion of life at such a tender age.

Now have depressed self. Must clean :)

Tagliatella

After a lovely dinner with the Italians (Maurizio is stealing Fabiana's friends while she is gone), which included my learning several rude things to say in Italian, it is now nearly midnight and time for me to get back to reading about Systemic Functional Grammar. The more one reads, the more disoriented one becomes.

Tagliatella is both a pasta type and a liqueur made from grappa and marasca -- this is kind of a play on words.

Interesting items of note for today:

you cannot borrow pens at the public library.
there are, however, pens for sale for 10p.
i used my photographic memory for the title and author & looked it up at home for my bibliography -- stupid library.
another bone of contention for the library: one PAYS for books on CD.

WHAT?!? Hello, it is a library.

isn't that a synonym for "lending"?

and doesn't "lending" imply "free"?

Scrembled Eggs (aka, Emily) called me from the 'Port this afternoon!
my friend, Tracie, is coming to see me in March!
(we met at a conference in Birmingham last spring and our group of 4 had QUITE a cultural excursion into the finest of the city -- it involved Jell-O, a staple for fun and sustenance at many different events in the Southland)
Lisa and Ben will be arriving in one WEEK.
Mlle. Clarence appears to be planning a visit in April!
Will be insulting Karsten in person in THREE days.
Georgia and I skillfully created marvelous subterfuge when confronted by a stalking friend this evening. But it turned out to be necessary so we felt a little bad. And we helped her and she didn't know that we were originally hiding from her.
Italians do not like Marmite. (this web site is funny)
Rome appears to have become too commercialized for natives' taste.
(two dinner guests were Romans, and our newest friend is Siciliana).
Someone named Mark Darcy is a field reporter on Radio 4 right now.
Talked to Flee today -- she fled from the phone.

Oven Cleaner Christmas

Between, diligently working on the three papers that are due right after the "break" have been obsessively cleaning today, although have only really done most of the upstairs and the kitchen (sort of). First cleaning of the oven (which, BTW appears to have last been cleaned during the Thatcher administration) is now complete. But is not good enough.

Am allowing it to dry before second attack.

Thank goodness, the garage below the kitchen is closing up for the day. It is a bit distracting to attempt intelligent thought when the guy, who continues to be deluded that people want to hear him sing, has been shrieking in a most alarming falsetto all day, "All I want for Christmaaaaaasssss is yooooooooouuuuu!" Feel like am in a particularly unfunny and horrifying out-take of Love Actually. And I'm not in the happy ending.

Advent 4

Question of the day: "Why on earth am I on church prayer list?"

Am just toodling through the bulletin today before service began and trying to look like a good and inconspicuous Church of Wales attendee, and you know that feeling you get immediately when you hear a siren and think you have been caught speeding? (NOT that I have been speeding up and down the aisles or anything of that nature). On the back, under the heading: "INTERCESSION AT MASS For the sick, for those in need, for those who have asked for our prayers in general and in particular...", the third name was mine. Do what?!?

This is puzzling because a) the only place that I have written my name down, well, hmm, two places... on a sign-up sheet a month ago for a Spring Pilgrimage and also for a raffle of some sort two weeks ago and b) am not a real member and c) have this apparently deluded idea that am anonymous. After much paranoid pensivity, have decided that either this is because missed last Sunday, due to cultural outing and, later, brief emotional lunacy (due no doubt to nearly full moon); OR this is some supernatural communication.

At least name was not further down the right-hand column, the next heading being "Among the Faithful Departed..."

Still slightly paranoid, went to lunch with Jane, Graham, James and Granville (the infamous Grandfather -- who is JUST too precious). This was my first meeting with Granville and depsite much warning of pending pontification by said grandfather figure, was absolutely charmed by him :) And was also warned that since he is shy, he might leave early since a strange was at Sunday Lunch -- but he stayed and has even proposed a plan to take me on a tour of the Welsh Assembly building. Graham and Jane gave me an amaryllis (yay! something to grow!) and Notes from a Small Island by Bill Bryson for Christmas :) I gave them an amaryllis, too. (Instead of "jinx" when you do the same thing, here you say "Snap!")

Things I learned at lunch:
Badgers spread TB among cattle.
"They" are culling badgers.
Badgers are not "cute" (am holding onto my naivete, though).
Grey squirrels are bad.
Welsh Assembly Building was supposed to cost 19M GBP;
final cost was 64M GBP.

Last night, went to the Welsh Hospitals' Christmas Carol Concert at St. David's Hall with Graham, Jane and James. And a quite nice feeling when you are somewhere not exactly home is to recognize people in the audience around you; kind of balances out your head from always feeling kind of continually faceless (not that it is that extremely traumatic, but it is just an interesting psychological phenomenon).

Choir was about 200 voices and accompanied primarily by the Welsh Guards Brass Ensemble. Also performing was Catrin Finch, Royal Harpist to HRH the Prince of Wales; the Prince revived the ancient Royal tradition of official harpist in 2000. The concert was in support of CLIC Sargent, the UK's leading children's cancer charity.

(Picture is --with candlelight setting, so no flash!-- of the Fanfare Trumpeters of the Welsh Guards at the beginning. They have on the lovely big hats!)

For reading and educational development, the Welsh National Anthem (i was not able to sing this):

MAE HEN WLAD FY NHAD-AU

Mae Hen Wlad fy Nhadau yn annwyl I mi,

Gwlad beirdd a chantorion enwogion o fri:

Ei gwrol ryfelwyr gwlad garwyr tra mad,

Dros ryddid collasant eu gwaed.

Gwlad! Gwlad!

Pleidiol wyf i'm gwlad,

Tra mor yn fur i'r bur hoff bau,

O bydded i'r heniaith barhau.

Gwlad! Gwlad!

Pleidiol wyf i'm gwlad,

Tra mor yn fur i'r bur hoff bau,

O bydded i'r heniaith barhau.

I really like Christmas season here :) Carol services are everywhere and are just a little different. There are so many charitable fetes and events, and it doesn't seem that life is so inhibited by the need to be PC and worry about being sued. I know there are lots of events of goodwill and charity at home, but it seems to be more ordinary and more a part of the wider consciousness here.

Another carol that is sung to a different tune here is O, Little Town of Bethlehem -- also much more cheerful-sounding. Went to another carol service with Jane this evening, right around the corner from their house in Llanishen. This included a Nativity pageant and the little angels were cute, but the sheep were the CUTEST.

More things that I learned today:
The US forced Britain to dismantle the Empire.
This occurred much faster than Churchill saw as wise, which has led to a lot of the instability in former colonies.
Britain was far worse economically after WWII than during.
Britain will pay the last installment of its debt to the US (from WWII) on 31 December 2006.
Japanese soldiers brutalized the Chinese people during WWII.
The British invented the concentration camp during the Boer War.

140 Christmas parcels

Beginning quite early this chilly and winter-sunny morning, we unloaded cars, sorted donated goods and made up 140 charity Christmas parcels for Llandaff Rotary to distribute today. It was amazing to see all of the food they collected this week in the villages of Llandaff and Radyr. (You can see the mostly completed pile o' parcels and assembly line to R.)

A point of interest: the nice homeless man who lives in the doorway of St. Martin's Parish Hall, about 60 yards up the hill, has a Rio Forge mp3 player. okaaaaay.....?

But I have a Peter Pan peanut butter and honey sandwich! :) And Graham gave me a bag of handmade chocolate truffles an hour ago (JUST what i need). Only have had two.... so far.

Per 100 g, there are 52.7 g of carbohydrates. Do not know exactly how to read labels successfully here since they don't tell you how much per serving, but I think this means a bloody heckuvalotta carbs.

Tonight, going to St. David's Hall for Carol Concert. Maurizio has gone to a carol concert at St. David's Hall with his girl this morning -- there is a lot of carolling going on during December here.

Today is further an excellent day since can call the US for FREE!!!!! (with my Royal Post phone card -- every month, you can call one country for free and this is the US's month -- bouncy, flouncy, trouncy, pouncy.)

And cannot believe that will be going to London exactly 6 days from right now!



This picture was sent to me by Vir-roo who said, "This picture made me almost burst into tears because of cuteness overload..."

I quite agree.

Cwrw Seren

is the Christmas beer that we had for our Housemate pre-Holly Day Departure outing this evening :) Went to the Gower Pub, which is much more my speed (quieter and more relaxed) than the other two close to our house. It is a really real local pub and says "hotel" in stained glass in the window, but i do not know if this is still its status. Shall have to return for more investigatory activity.

Upon looking for description of Seren on web, found something that I have missed out on (and am quite vexed with self for being unaware of surroundings): Great Welsh Beer and Cider Festival. Oh! But found dates for next year.... smirk.

German dinner tonight hosted by Steffi: schnitzel, veg, tater tot relatives of some German derivation (they are kind of twisted little crinkles of mashed potatoes fried... but yum). Schnitzel is a really lovely battered and fried thinly sliced pork. It can also be done with veal, for the really posh. Maybe will put pictures up tomorrow...

Apparently, there is not such thing as "schnitzel with noodle" as mentioned in the song in the song in The Sound of Music.

Am now so disillusioned with life.

I Predict a Riot -- The Kaiser Chiefs

Belcher of the Hour

It's arriiiiived! It's arriiiiiived! (to be vocalized as if by Dr. Frankenstein)

Pressies from home from Paul! Maurizio and Hiroko are mightily impressed (both by Beneficence of Paul AND the massive 17lb package) and totally believe me now that American peanut butter really IS different. We have had a brief comparison sampling. I am further convinced of the imperial superiority of Peter Pan peanut butter. And Peter Pan, the character is of British origin, so it's not really American imperialism exactly :)

Am not so convinced of American media superiority, though. The Times is a truly woeful publication. hee hee.

And we have a 6-inch skillet, a muffin tin (both outstanding Lodge products!), begniet mix (God only knows HOW i am going to make those decently), Community coffee, Aunt Jemima and Bayou Magic! And, then this one time....

Never mind.

This is very distracting when one must finish one's intonation assessment for Phonology.

Llandaff Christmas Dinner

Radyr Golf Club served turkey with dressing, lovely British sausage, veg and Christmas pudding.

Pictured are: Phil and Dian, moi, Graham and Jane, and Jane and Howard.

Lovely evening, gin&tonics, Christmas crackers (won three times!), dinner, wine, loyal toast to the Queen (not sure if I have mentioned that before -- that is one of the things I like most about Rotary meetings is the Loyal Toast), Christmas carols and lots of laughing :)

Loads of work and reading tomorrow. ick.

But then, Steffi is cooking German food for us tomorrow night before Katharine goes to Iowa for the holly day! hoorah!

Bad Cat

Am so proud of mother for sending me questionable humor, bad cat -- I LOVE this book! It is one that induces tears from laughing -- Georgia and I were in hysterics. Although it doesn't take much to get us in hysterics.

Link has been added to right for My Cat Hates You, but the cats on there are not as funny as the ones in the book (a NY Times #1 Bestseller); obviously didn't make the cut.

(ooh! an idea..... let's see if the picture/link attempt works -- must keep fingers crossed that impressive web savvy is developing in manner of computer genius.)

Caerphilly Castle and Christmas Market

When one is forced to deal with Emotional Halfwits (cleaner version of Bridget Jones' term), it is always good to have gone to a Castle.

So yesterday, Dawn collected Katharine and Stefani and myself, and brought along her tenant Anna, and we all went toodling back across the mountain to where Dawn lives in Caerphilly. We toodled by car, of course. The Christmas Market was set up in the town centre, across the road from the Castle. "Castle" in Welsh is "Castell" -- this looks like an easy word to pronounce until one remembers that one is in Wales and that the "ll" is that fun consonant that we have already learned in a previous lesson. It is much easier to say at the beginning of a word, such as Llandaff or Llanishen, than it is at the end. A lot of side spitting is going on, so people should keep their distance from amateurs.

Castell Caerffili is Wales' largest moated medieval castle and there are trebouchets in the outer yard area. (For some reason I like trebouchets after watching some Discovery Channel show where they made one and pretended to attack a castle wall. Hurling things at high speeds is good fun.) The Castle was built in the 13th century by Gilbert de Clare, lord of Glamorgan under Henry III.

Most of the castle is ruined, but the Main Hall is still a function location for parties and such. There was a little market with food vendors and crafty people so my picture is more populated than I would prefer. There is a museum in another of the more intact towers. There is a Ghost of a Green Lady who haunts one of the large cathedral windows, looking for her banished lover to return and collect her.

One must attempt the Tower Challenge. This tower leans at a greater degree than the tower in Pisa. The challenge is to put one's heels against the base of the Tower and attempt not to fall over fowards. I only have proof of Katharine doing this. I succeeded in holding for a second by gripping my nails into the stones (very good for the cold fingers), until Dawn berated me for cheating. However, this was not mentioned in the initial instructions, so any means necessary... but i suppose i failed if one is being particular.

The castle is unusual in that it has two skins of walls, making it even more difficult to attack. It was never taken!

Before we went to the Castle, we meandered through Caerphilly Christmas Market and Famers Market and then had lunch at the Courthouse Pub. Market had international foods (including Swedish Pear Cider! with samples. mmm!) as well as local artisans -- kind of similar to the vendors at the Cardiff Christmas Market.

This particular dessert is the largest mixture of various and sundry sweets I have ever seen. I was too sated from Hearty Ale Pie, peas and potatoes to partake in the festivity so instead served as Documentarian. It's called something like the Luscious Delight or some such ridonkulosity, but we renamed it the Goblet of Sick.

At the bottom was a chunk of chocolate fudge cake, topped in fudge sauce, then about 10 profiteroles, two scoops of ice cream, whipped cream and smarties (these are NOT m&m's -- i asked and was scolded).

Finally, there is really no joy in life if you do not see it's absurdities. And make sure you document them. A Mini Cooper El Camino -- hee hee hee hee, snort!

It really is rather a travesty, yet so funny.

il est fini

...LAST lecture of the semester was today! At the same time, it was kind of sad, because we won't ever again get to giggle as a 'small' group of 7 in Patrick's Illuminati harem over picking out noun phrases and wondering WHY in the world this is relevant . But we will, no doubt, recover from this disappointment. We are, after all, strong linguists.

Yesterday, was a Christmas lunch in the canteen at the Business School, so most of our department went and we had a looooooovely time! We had turkey and 1/4 tsp full of dressing, brussel sprouts, parsnips, carrots, potatoes and cranberry sauce. And some desserts that weren't exactly lush.

Here is a trivia fact: a single grocery store will sell 140 million brussel sprouts in the period leading up to Christmas! ONE grocery!

AND Monirah's mom sent Kuwaiti food -- stuffed vine leaves and a delectable rice that was ever so slightly curried. It reminded me of Ms. Pemmi's rice. Georgia and I ate it left over last night for dinner :) mmmm....vine leaves. I must learn how to make them.

Of course, we had Christmas Crackers and poor Georgia lost every pull, so she was quite vexed and vocal. Then, she and Dawn fought over one of my toys. And Georgia finally won (as demonstrated in picture below R. She would like it to be clear that these are not her real lips.)! As you can see, there were hats for all. And, although you can't see, noisemaker popper things that BANG! and shoot paper streamers out were present; these are mildly alarming to easily startled persons such as myself.

Last night, made the last reservation for Lisa and Ben's trip. So they had better show up now! :) Oooh, I just LOVE planning travel!

Also, have found out where will be actually staying for Christmas. And am so brilliantly excited, I could dance up and down making sqeaking noises. But will refrain since am pretending to have air of sophistication. Karsten's friend lives ON (bloody ON!) London Bridge!!!!!! This is a mere pebble-throw away from Southwark Cathedral, so that will be lovely to go to Midnight Mass. This is one of my favorite churches in London and was Shakespeare's parish church.

Llandaff Carol Service

Tonight was the first time I have actually gone into Llandaff Cathedral (I know, so bizarre); the Rotary Clubs of Cardiff had their Carol Service and it was really lovely. Norman Lloyd Edwards was there as well (Her Majesty's Lord Lieutenant of South Glamorgan) and was one of the readers (actually in this picture, a tiny dot at the right hand podium by the base of the arch).

Cardiff (and the Vale of Glamorgan) has always been poorer than England's parishes and so the Cathedral is less ornate than a lot of English churches. Though it is still beautiful. It is built in a dip in the ground, so that the Vikings wouldn't be able to see it from the sea; Vikings loved to invade and decimate churches since they held so much gold and silver. In Cromwell's time (the English Civil War), the Cathedral was used as a stable! A German bomb landed in the center of the church in WWII, because the Germans thought it was a warehouse.

Christmas carols are a bit different in some cases -- either the carol is not common in America or the tune is completely different. A few are the same tune; the one that still stood out as different, though, was O Come, Emmanuel. Difference being that it was not sung like a funeral dirge :) At home, we sing it so slooooooooowly and mournfully.

In the center of the church, the arch is the base of the sculpture Christ in Majesty, by Sir Jacob Epstein. It apparently caused quite a sensational stir of controversy on its installation in the 1960s. (Love the "candle" setting on my camera since it lets me take pictures without flash because that would be terribly crass.). This picture was taken from the back of the cathedral just before I helped with the collection -- an official duty :) One of the lessons was read in Welsh -- Luke 2:8-14 -- and it was fascinating to listen since the rhythm and intonation was the same as English.

Also, helped with the serving of the mulled wine and mince pies (mmmmm! this was my supper.) after. Anyone who knows me well, knows I much prefer to be behind the scenes and actually doing something instead of mingling intentionally. You still get to see everyone and talk... so it. is. NOT. anti-social.

Another plus is that I got to walk by myself to the entertainment area through some of the hidden parts of the building and take some pictures without pressure to keep walking! Parts of churches that are hidden are so interesting. In addition, I am nosy. To the left, is an old vestment box, for keeping the ornate robes that priests wear. Sadly, you can't see how really old it looks. But the candle setting is again so effective and atmospheric, is it not? :)

Since two of the Rotarians in my club are affiliated with the Cathedral (one is the former Dean!), Graham seems to think that one of them will let me see some of the places that people don't normally get to see -- like the Clerestory (WAY up high, the row of grey arches above the larger white arches in the picture above -- so called for "Clere story", the place where the light came in in the original architectural funtion) and the Tower (self-explanatory). Oooh, ooh, oooh! You shall all get a complete, yet abbreviated, history lesson after that visit; if you are really eager to learn more now, you may read this.

Here is a cool picture that I took on the way out through the graveyard :) Even Graham was impressed even though this involved dawdling. This was again candle setting and am sorry to have cut off the Tower but was looking at a pitch dark screen on my camera.

The Conservative Party of Britain has a new leader: David Cameron. He is young and modern. Watching the debate and election unfold has been rather interesting.

Also, there may be a property glut next year before a new law comes into effect in the estate business. So prices may go down. Buying and selling property here is very expensive and difficult. But apparently, Scotland is worse.

For some reason, have not received any emails over past day and 1/2, possibly because my area on the server appears to have been full. So if i do not email someone back, do not be offended...please.

Am listening to Shipping Forecast now, so it is way time to go to bed. There appear to be gales in the forecast for the area around Fair Isle... heehee.

And there was much rejoicing.

Mood of day is Mad Hatter. Yet, happy Mad Hatter.

This is reason for repeat of this image of the Hatter singing the Bat Song. even though i do not normally endorse image repeats.

Twinkle, twinkle little bat!

How I wonder where you're at!

...

Up above the world you fly,

Like a tea-tray in the sky!"

Finally, something done correctly... Phonology assessment was returned today, with proof in red that do have some skills. Skills. LUCKYYYYY! (sorry, napoleon dynamite moment). My mark was above "Distinction" and made up (sort of) for last week's horrific tragic beginning. And the professor even wrote that i did "very well with a difficult transcription". UK grading system has three marks: Fail, Pass, Distinction.

Another positive thing is my lack of (mostly) inane babble when talking to the intimidatingly brilliant professor re: last week's trauma. She told me that this was a really necessary skill to hone (that of critical reading and writing) and that it was hard now, so that work would not be "shat upon later" by publishers! So that is good.

And had a mince pie that same professor brought to class this morning. Well, okay...two. But they were small. Tiny, even. And I walked home. And did my weights this evening. And diagonal pushups on my chest-of-drawers :)

Beautiful thing about ND link (that is not working) above is that one is able to click on phrases from this most silly film to hear them spoken and laugh hysterically. Should one choose to do so.

I caught you a delicious bass.

Look what the cat dragged in.

Linguistic accomplishment of the day is (with the help of Kath), explaining this phrase to Maurizio :)

yay me!

(art by Cydney Conger)

Bawth, continued

a cool weathervane on display in Abbey Vaults. It fell off a tower in 1800 or something.

Am only on second cup of tea at 14.51! And, no, did NOT just now get up -- Jinmi met me for church this morning at 9.45...just haven't gotten myself properly caffeinated today.

Have tried. Cannot. Cannot. Cannot say "Bawth" in any sort of credible way. It's kind of like me trying to use that same vowel in a word that is a synonym for "donkey" -- that doesn't work either :)

Anyhoo, to continue your history lesson.

Romans arrived in Bath in 44 A.D. Local hot springs were already used by local people for healing properties. Romans built a temple to Sulis Minerva and bath houses beginning in about 65 A.D. Did not go on the tour of the Baths, so just got this (free) view from the Pump Room. Probably ought to have, but did not, drink the (pricey) healing water; it is reputed to taste faintly of eggs, soap and metal. mmmmm! There are 43 minerals in the water.

Cloudy parts of picture are steam. Water temperature is 46*C (115*F)! Spa water fell as rain up to 10,000 years ago and filtered through limestone cave system -- it has reached depths of 2 to 3 km.

This bath complex is right next to the Abbey; there are some other baths close by as well. Christianity was well established in Bath by around 350 A.D. There was a monastery with Cathedral, built in 775, on the site of the current abbey, and this is where Edgar, first king of all the Britons was crowned in 973. That Cathedral was destroyed by Sweyn the Dane (those darn Danish -- hee hee) in 1010. Norman version built from 1088-1122; partially destroyed by fire in 1137. Then some more disasters, ending with the big one of Henry VIII's Dissoloution of the Monasteries in 1539, which resulted in the sale of the Abbey and the destruction of most of the buildings. One really sad thing about this period was that the library was dismantled and/or destroyed, so many illuminated manuscripts were sold or burned.

Abbey was re-roofed and restored by 1611 or 1616 and began to be used for worship as the Parish Church of Bath. It was damaged again in 1942 by bombs.

Famous people who have resided in Bath: Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, Napoleon III, Lord Nelson, Sir Walter Scott.

Yesterday, smart animal rescue people were using the higher than average number of people on the street to find homes for greyhounds and some other cute creatures. Is this NOT the funniest little creature?????!!!!!

Many people may tire of hearing me say how marvelously different British sausage is (although it will be a stretch to find something to make red beans and rice with). This is the product of me trying to surreptitiously take pictures at the window of a meat shop... people still looked at me funny :)

Here are just a few of the types of sausages: Thai; Lemon Chicken with Tarragon; Mulled Wine; Mercedez; Toulouse; The Bath Sausage (pork, smoked Wiltshire ham, spinach and dijon mustard); Cajun Scorcher; Stilton and Apple; Somerset Scrumpy; Newmarket Chipolata. In the top row, third pan from the R, is Haggis, which I love! Just don't look at it too long or think about it too hard, and you can eat it. Kind of like some Louisiana food.

So after it got dark-ish, was able to play with taking pictures in the dark. Sat under this tree in front of the coffee shop, Boston Tea Party, and ate some fish and chips.

Finally, this was just a cool thing on a side street... random. Have no idea what it is.

Will definitely be going back to Bath. Persons interested in accompanying should alert me to this fact :) (Have to go back. I mean, I didn't go to a SINGLE cemetary!)

Bath

Yes, I will have to agree with my cousin, Brant, that Bath is wonderful. However, personally, one really must be psychically up to it to go during Christmas Market season -- it is absolutely MAD!
Note: 4 1/2 hours of sleep are not adequate preparation :)

Today, I went on the Graduate Centre trip as a coach monitor. This meant that I got to talk on the public announcement system on the bus! The bus driver was really funny and was so frustrated with the traffic (going into Bath and going out -- totally out of control, did I mention?) that it was kind of like being with my Daddy in Dallas rush hour -- hee hee.

It was spitting rain this morning and quite cold, but blue sky ventured forth (even though the 9-day forecast for Bath is Rain, Rain, Rain) and it was really a lovely day. See, to L?

Yes, so in addition to two coaches from Cardiff University who were dumped in the centre of Bath, oh, about 13,472 other people drove, railed, walked, biked (?) their way in. There was no striding walking going on in the market area or in the streets immediately surrouding; it was the group shuffle.

First stop was the Vaults of Bath Abbey and the Abbey itself. Also www.bathabbey.org.

To R was taken in the vault and is a re-cast of the statue of Henry VII, which is over the Western Door of the Abbey. Should have re-taken it with the candle setting on my camera as have discovered that makes pictures have a cool glow. even without candles.

Inside the Abbey Church, the Gethsemane Chapel.

This shot is from the Northern Aisle of the church facing west, which includes the ceiling detail. Amazing. There are loads more pictures that will be put on flickr when I get time. Quite a few of them include monuments of death, yes, indeed. They are so fascinating! It makes me sad that the gravestones on the floor are worn away and fading out, because then the tangible memory of persons is wiped away. So it is my duty to try to document them. Yes, that sounds good. I'll keep that.

Once outside again, the Group Shuffle just doesn't do it for me, so instead did my favorite thing -- yes, i was being a loner today. sometimes loning is necessary. plus you don't have to worry if someone else is bored -- and toddled off the beaten path to test my directional problem solving skills (as much as one can do in Bath, that is. it is by no means London or anything, but still).

This sign sums up the reason for the fields that I noticed flooded on the way in to town. The riverside park where the angel picture at the top was taken (along the River Avon) was closed due to the flooding, but there were some excellent pictures to be taken from street level. Unfortunately, none of those pictures were taken my me....

Except this one.

So sorry, but this is going to have to be finished tomorrow, because I am really tired.... why is that? (Don't worry, there will be LOTS more pictures. I took only 200 today.)

birthday party and kimonos

not together...

Hiroko ready to go out for Rotary. Maurizio not getting ready to go to James' birthday party after playing squash. Fabiana documenting. Amrie photographing photo moment.

James' birthday party -- at Thai/Indian restarant (below). YUM! And soooo fabulously spicy. Was recommended to have chicken jalfrezi and it definitely leaves one's entire face burning. We were the last people in the restaurant...that always makes me nervous :)

picture L to R: James, Chris, Kath, Pete, Neil (or "Tom" if you prefer), Maurizio, amrie's scarf. Chris and Neil are James' roommates. Kath is in Maurizio's salsa class and is very cool. and Pete knows Kath from work, maybe? not sure.

imagine

a person in a kimono freeing a BIG spider trapped in a jar into the sidewalk outside the Hobbit Hole door. hee hee.

Imagine you are the poor spider. You have just been calmly relaxing in Fabiana's nice cozy room when you hear a shriek. You are put in glass implement and tossed unceremoniously (except for the kimono part) out into the Welsh rain.

Thanks to Hiroko, a tip: www.madonna.com. Open site; listen. Dance if there is no one watching. Admit it; you all want to -- deep down you really DO.

Lebanese food for lunch today :) Talked to one professor re: paper -- it was "written like an American" but he complemented my writing ability... so feel better. He also told me that at Birmingham University, it would have gotten much better -- am not really sure if this was to make me feel better, but have decided to take it as such. Monday, talk to other professor... the one that intimidates me because she is so BRILLIANT. Usually, I babble inanely in front of intelligent life forms. Should go well...!

My mama is sending me matching rain hat and gloves (in shade of Bright Clover Green)!

Now, Maurizio, Fabiana and I are off to James' birthday dinner at Indian/Thai restaurant. Pictures later.

all i want is a proper cuppa coffee...

...made in a proper copper coffee pot.

Tea is lovely, but coffee is fab. I refuse to buy "coffee crystals". So far, at least. May cave eventually. (the horror, the HORROR!)

oh, would also like for Toe Cramp to please leave now. Am on my 4th toe spasm of the last 24 hours in the second toe on my left foot. (my left foot -- not that i am talented like that at all) This is unacceptable. Did, however, purchase bunch of green bananas and ate one. Nothing happened.