So, yeah, i fell out of habit with my posts....
In August 2008, I took up the activity kite-surfing....a bit like wakeboarding behind a boat, but powered with a big kite that you harness yourself into. A bit unnerving at first, but exciting once you get going. I can actually do jumps now.....just not intentionally. If I over-steer the kite, I get yanked out of the water, smack face first into the water.
I kite-surf when I can on the weekends in Poole Harbor....a shallow body of water with good conditions for wind in the North/East/South directions, but very crowded on an ideal weekend day due to all the beginners also being there.
I'm still not great, but doing better. For more details, www.britishkitesurfingassociations.co.uk
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
25-May-08 Quiet Sundays
So far, I've really enjoyed my Sunday mornings here. I'm a rather early riser....and when I've ventured out on my bicycle or been kayaking, it's usually deserted most places (except for the occasional drunk on the sidewalk from the night/morning before). I think that's the time I enjoy the most.......having certain places all to yourself. In Chicago, there are always people around, so even if you are in the park or down a side street, within 5 minutes, someone is likely to come along and spoil your privacy. Today I kayaked for about 1.5 hours but only encountered about 2 people as I went along.....it doesn't start getting busy until noon, and even then, people don't start taking their boats out until 2 or 3pm, which is when the day is mostly over.
I've only ventured up the Stour/Avon rivers to this point.....I haven't had the courage to venture down into the main part of the Christchurch harbor as I've been told sometimes the wind can get the waves built up. As I'm still getting acclimated to the kayak, I need a little more time and confidence.
I've only ventured up the Stour/Avon rivers to this point.....I haven't had the courage to venture down into the main part of the Christchurch harbor as I've been told sometimes the wind can get the waves built up. As I'm still getting acclimated to the kayak, I need a little more time and confidence.
24-May-08 3-day holiday Saturday craziness
Bournemouth went from a small quaint town to a bustling crazy place in just 1 day. Quite a number of out-of-towners here on the holiday weekend, driving in from London and elsewhere. As I walk along the beach, I recognize many a foreign tongues speaking.....Italian, Spanish, Indian, etc. Not sure if they are just venturing down from London or all the way in from other countries.....never thought Bournemouth would be such a melting pot.
So far, when I've been in many of the restaurants or fast food joints (a.k.a. fish and chip shops), there's been practically nobody in the place, so I wonder how they can stay open. But today I understood these are the days for which they froth at the mouth. There were queues after queues of people....and in sit-down restaurants, no availability for seating.....all booked up.
So far, when I've been in many of the restaurants or fast food joints (a.k.a. fish and chip shops), there's been practically nobody in the place, so I wonder how they can stay open. But today I understood these are the days for which they froth at the mouth. There were queues after queues of people....and in sit-down restaurants, no availability for seating.....all booked up.
23-May-08 Friday before 3-day holiday
Was busy working through the afternoon on Friday before holiday.....look up and thought I was in the twilight zone. 1/2 the floor had vacated early on the Friday before the holiday well before 2pm. No wonder no work ever gets done around here. Well, if I wasn't covering the holiday on Monday, I'm sure I'd be out the door somewhat early....but 2pm? They do enjoy their 3-day holidays here.....but as it's only 3 days, it's not as if they are traveling anywhere far.
When I've remarked where I've gone over a 1 day, 2 day or 3 day period, they are aghast that I can cover that much distance in a short time. They just don't understand how I can't just take a leisurely weekend day and do nothing.
When I've remarked where I've gone over a 1 day, 2 day or 3 day period, they are aghast that I can cover that much distance in a short time. They just don't understand how I can't just take a leisurely weekend day and do nothing.
22-May-08 Meter man
I had to meet some guy after work today to escort him to the back of the building to read a gas meter. There is access to the back area but he wouldn't dare go back there to do that without someone around. I just thought it odd. I was more unnerved that I had to leave work early just to do a meter reading.....and didn't know the guy from Adam. More surprised in this day and age why it wasn't captured electronically, but I digress.
21-May-08 London work trips
Occasionally for work I make it up to London to see some work colleagues and vendors. Originally when I used to fly into London for personal travel, it seemed so exotic, so untouchable. Perhaps it was the 8-hour flight that made it seem so far away, so remote, so different. But now that I can just pop up to London under 2 hours, it just seems like a commute, more like a true work trip.
The first work trip up to London, I got into Waterloo station and was dis-oriented. I've only been back 1 time since, but now know exactly where to catch the tube on to wherever I need to go. When I was there in May, it was quite warm and everyone (I mean EVERYONE) was laying out on the grass outside Buckingham Palace.
Riding on the tube is unnerving....it's worse than the Chicago CTA for reliability. No, there's no risk of the train teetering on the edge of a track when jumping a track, but there are constant delays and downtime. Ask anyone in London.....and they'll go off about this. But don't dare ask anyone while you're on the train....it is TABOO to talk to someone on public transportation. VERBOTEN! But aside from the train, you can either walk.....or take a cab and sit in traffic for hours. Not sure which is the least of all evils. :)
The first work trip up to London, I got into Waterloo station and was dis-oriented. I've only been back 1 time since, but now know exactly where to catch the tube on to wherever I need to go. When I was there in May, it was quite warm and everyone (I mean EVERYONE) was laying out on the grass outside Buckingham Palace.
Riding on the tube is unnerving....it's worse than the Chicago CTA for reliability. No, there's no risk of the train teetering on the edge of a track when jumping a track, but there are constant delays and downtime. Ask anyone in London.....and they'll go off about this. But don't dare ask anyone while you're on the train....it is TABOO to talk to someone on public transportation. VERBOTEN! But aside from the train, you can either walk.....or take a cab and sit in traffic for hours. Not sure which is the least of all evils. :)
20-May-08 Time Zones
In my work, I sometimes have to contact Sydney, Australia.....which is 10 hours time difference from Bournemouth. So, if I get into work by 6am, it's already 4pm in the afternoon. If it was most businesses there, many would already be rushing to the beach for a few hours on the waves. But as they are remote, many of them work late and are cognizant of keeping some overlap with the UK.
Conversely, when I'm ready to go home, people in the US are just starting to get in gear....and because we Americans are so self-geocentric....we just assume everyone's going to work our same hours. "How dare they be gone from work when it's only 2pm in the afternoon locally?" People do realize when you are gone from work......but it's nice to come into work the next day and have a flood of new emails in their in-box. Hee hee hee....although they catch on, and you get the reverse as well. :(
Conversely, when I'm ready to go home, people in the US are just starting to get in gear....and because we Americans are so self-geocentric....we just assume everyone's going to work our same hours. "How dare they be gone from work when it's only 2pm in the afternoon locally?" People do realize when you are gone from work......but it's nice to come into work the next day and have a flood of new emails in their in-box. Hee hee hee....although they catch on, and you get the reverse as well. :(
19-May-08 Cornwall recovery
So, am catching up with several ancient blogs after quite a hiatus due to work priorities!! You probably thought I went back to Cornwall to live for good......ummm.....no!
Was good to get back to Bournemouth after that weekend.....and then people REALLY started to tell us what Cornwall people are like. They didn't want to scare us away before we went.....said we had to experience it. I guess they are a different breed.....or as most people said, more like 1 breed, if you get my drift. Was also told that the remoteness tends to make them a little unusual, similar to those people on Isle of Wight. Anway, probably a lot like that Ted K from Montana who sent lovely mail to all those unsuspecting people.
Can't say it was all bad, the scenery was nice and air was clean, and I have lots of humourous memories.
Was good to get back to Bournemouth after that weekend.....and then people REALLY started to tell us what Cornwall people are like. They didn't want to scare us away before we went.....said we had to experience it. I guess they are a different breed.....or as most people said, more like 1 breed, if you get my drift. Was also told that the remoteness tends to make them a little unusual, similar to those people on Isle of Wight. Anway, probably a lot like that Ted K from Montana who sent lovely mail to all those unsuspecting people.
Can't say it was all bad, the scenery was nice and air was clean, and I have lots of humourous memories.
Friday, May 23, 2008
18-May-08 Trip to Cornwall - part tri
A semi-early start to view more of the coast today, stopping by the stones of the Merry Maidens, where supposedly 19 maidens were dancing on a Sabbath, this irked the gods and they were cast into stone. It basically is an ancient stone circle of 20 stones.....in this part of England, there are these stone circles placed there from ages ago (similar to Stonehenge) that likely had some ritualistic religious purpose, but the people who placed them there were long gone before they could be explained. I danced in the circle on the Sabbath, but I wasn't turned to stone....so I think that pretty much discounts the legend. Then again, I'm not a merry maiden......
We stopped back in Penzance for a visit to St. Michael's Mount. It is an "island" just off the mainland that is accessible by foot during low tide, but boat during high tide. Many years ago, there was a sighting of St. Michael, and a few years later, a monastery/castle was built here to pay tribute to the sighting and it has been there since. The castle now is the home to the St. Aubyn family for the past several hundred years, and they share in the upkeep with the British Heritage society for people to visit.
After that, off to the Eden Project (http://www.edenproject.com/). This is a former strip mine in the Cornish countryside near St. Austell. To revert it back for public use, a group created multiple geodesic domes that cover a "park" that contains plants imported from across the world. This includes a section called the "rain forest" which really feels like it is when you are inside. They keep it hot and humid, and the foliage towers over you. They also have little simulated waterfalls. It was rather an impressive project, but was disappointed there weren't more people there to support it. It does contain a plant that supposedly smells like rotting flesh, but we weren't able to find it.
And then the final drive back to civilization.....we never thought that Bournemouth would feel like a metropolis, but it did after our visit to Cornwall.
We stopped back in Penzance for a visit to St. Michael's Mount. It is an "island" just off the mainland that is accessible by foot during low tide, but boat during high tide. Many years ago, there was a sighting of St. Michael, and a few years later, a monastery/castle was built here to pay tribute to the sighting and it has been there since. The castle now is the home to the St. Aubyn family for the past several hundred years, and they share in the upkeep with the British Heritage society for people to visit.
After that, off to the Eden Project (http://www.edenproject.com/). This is a former strip mine in the Cornish countryside near St. Austell. To revert it back for public use, a group created multiple geodesic domes that cover a "park" that contains plants imported from across the world. This includes a section called the "rain forest" which really feels like it is when you are inside. They keep it hot and humid, and the foliage towers over you. They also have little simulated waterfalls. It was rather an impressive project, but was disappointed there weren't more people there to support it. It does contain a plant that supposedly smells like rotting flesh, but we weren't able to find it.
And then the final drive back to civilization.....we never thought that Bournemouth would feel like a metropolis, but it did after our visit to Cornwall.
Monday, May 19, 2008
17-May-08 Trip to Cornwall - part dew
What I hadn't realized before we headed to Cornwall, is that there is a local language spoken fluently (as a 2nd language) by about 500 people, called Cornish. It is similar in nature to Welsh, such that "What do you want to drink?" is "Pandra vynn'ta dh'y eva?". To which I might reply "Pinta korev marpleg" (a pint, please). And counting from 1-5....onan, dew, tri, peswar, and pymp.
Today I traveled to Land's End, the western edge of England, not the retail store. There's a rugged coast with medium-sized cliffs and rocky outcrops. While the view is great, there are the tacky tourist traps, including a Dr. WHO exhibit, homemade crafts, etc., including scrumpy - an alcoholic cider, of which I bought a cheesy version. I'm told scrumpy is made from the dregs of the apples....rotted cores, wormy pulp, stems. how yummy.
I also ventured to the nearby towns of Falmouth (mostly just a nice bay full of cruise ships, this is actually the 3rd deepest bay in the world after Sydney and Rio de Janeiro) and to Truro, an historic market town with lots of great boutique shopping. Here we encountered one of the first Starbucks we've seen outside of London. It was good to get our 'fix' and was wired all afternoon.
In the evening, another visit to the irreputable bar from the night before (The Longboat), with an equally amusing crowd. And during the night, we were approached by a Cornish woman who was totally mental. Most of the time she was just talking to herself but sat next to us at a table and occasionally would include us in the middle of her own conversation. I won't go into more details, but she was rather scary. (After we returned, we were told that life out there can be remote and people are unique, to say the least.)
Today I traveled to Land's End, the western edge of England, not the retail store. There's a rugged coast with medium-sized cliffs and rocky outcrops. While the view is great, there are the tacky tourist traps, including a Dr. WHO exhibit, homemade crafts, etc., including scrumpy - an alcoholic cider, of which I bought a cheesy version. I'm told scrumpy is made from the dregs of the apples....rotted cores, wormy pulp, stems. how yummy.
I also ventured to the nearby towns of Falmouth (mostly just a nice bay full of cruise ships, this is actually the 3rd deepest bay in the world after Sydney and Rio de Janeiro) and to Truro, an historic market town with lots of great boutique shopping. Here we encountered one of the first Starbucks we've seen outside of London. It was good to get our 'fix' and was wired all afternoon.
In the evening, another visit to the irreputable bar from the night before (The Longboat), with an equally amusing crowd. And during the night, we were approached by a Cornish woman who was totally mental. Most of the time she was just talking to herself but sat next to us at a table and occasionally would include us in the middle of her own conversation. I won't go into more details, but she was rather scary. (After we returned, we were told that life out there can be remote and people are unique, to say the least.)
16-May-08 Trip to Cornwall
Today, BK and I took a weekend trip to the Cornwall area far west of Bournemouth, to the southwestern tip of England, leaving after work on the Friday. There are parts of the drive that were single carriageway (2-lane road), but surprisingly most of the drive was at least dual carriageway (4 lane road, with a grass/wall median between both sides). The trip took about 3.5 hours to get from Bournemouth all the way to Penzance, where we stayed.
As it was late, we didn't get to see to much of the countryside, but the road was certainly hilly and twisty/curvy in many parts, and slowed down to 30mph as it went through small villages.
After we arrived, we ventured out to a local pub for a pint. It was a little rougher crowd, many of the individuals extremely drunk. At one point, one younger bloke dropped his trousers and waddled around the bar dancing like a chicken. But the funny thing is that nobody paid any attention, as if it was just a normal occurrence. I suppose in that part of the country almost anything happens and people are numb to idiocy.
All in all, it was amusing to people watch and talk with a few of the locals. You get the sense that there isn't much going on in that area, and it's just getting worse with fewer people traveling there for getaways.
As it was late, we didn't get to see to much of the countryside, but the road was certainly hilly and twisty/curvy in many parts, and slowed down to 30mph as it went through small villages.
After we arrived, we ventured out to a local pub for a pint. It was a little rougher crowd, many of the individuals extremely drunk. At one point, one younger bloke dropped his trousers and waddled around the bar dancing like a chicken. But the funny thing is that nobody paid any attention, as if it was just a normal occurrence. I suppose in that part of the country almost anything happens and people are numb to idiocy.
All in all, it was amusing to people watch and talk with a few of the locals. You get the sense that there isn't much going on in that area, and it's just getting worse with fewer people traveling there for getaways.
15-May-08 Council Tax
Aside from the "national income tax", individuals are also subject to council tax in their area of residence based on the location and dwelling where they live. There are different "bands" that determine how much someone will pay for council tax. Band A is cheapest, all the way up to Band G, etc. Most flat units are somewhere in the C or D band. Interestingly, the closer you are to the town centre, the higher the band in some cases. But obviously, the higher value properties (detached houses) also have the higher band, as well as those along the seafront.
Council tax covers the equivalent of a state/city income tax in the US. There are 10 installments during the year (not 12....not paid in 2 months of the year). You can either pay monthly, quarterly or annually for the amount. This goes to support the expenses of the municipality - streets, sanitation, public works, emergency personnel, administration, etc.
There are constant gripes about how the council spends the tax money, so it's the same in any location!
Council tax covers the equivalent of a state/city income tax in the US. There are 10 installments during the year (not 12....not paid in 2 months of the year). You can either pay monthly, quarterly or annually for the amount. This goes to support the expenses of the municipality - streets, sanitation, public works, emergency personnel, administration, etc.
There are constant gripes about how the council spends the tax money, so it's the same in any location!
14-May-08 Bournemouth Attractions
While London has the London Eye ferris wheel to see the sights, Bournemouth has the Bournemouth Eye, which is a hot air balloon raised in the sky for a viewing attraction. This is within the town city centre, in the middle of the central park leading down to the seafront.
Bournemouth also has the BIC (Bournemouth International Centre), hosting various musical and dramatic events. Upcoming performers include Avril Lavigne and Jay-Z, amazingly enough.
There are a couple of summer festivals on the pier and several sights to see, but the main focal point in the area remains the beaches. To read the comments on the Daily Echo web-site (www.bournemouthecho.co.uk), there are a lot of complaints about the lack of things to do in the area other than the beaches, and just don't understand why people would want to come here just for that.
Bournemouth also has the BIC (Bournemouth International Centre), hosting various musical and dramatic events. Upcoming performers include Avril Lavigne and Jay-Z, amazingly enough.
There are a couple of summer festivals on the pier and several sights to see, but the main focal point in the area remains the beaches. To read the comments on the Daily Echo web-site (www.bournemouthecho.co.uk), there are a lot of complaints about the lack of things to do in the area other than the beaches, and just don't understand why people would want to come here just for that.
13-May-08 UK Bank Holidays
This is a schedule of UK (England/Wales) Bank Holidays for the next couple years:
England and Wales 2008 2009 2010
New Year's Day 1 Jan 1 Jan 1 Jan
Good Friday 21 Mar 10 Apr 2 Apr
Easter Monday 24 Mar 13 Apr 5 Apr
Early May Bank Holiday 5 May 4 May 3 May
Spring Bank Holiday 26 May 25 May 31 May
Summer Bank Holiday 25 Aug 31 Aug 30 Aug
Christmas Day 25 Dec 25 Dec 27 Dec
Boxing Day 26 Dec 28 Dec 28 Dec
While they do have St. George's day and recognition of other events and people and saints, there is not a public holiday for them. Early May holiday is actually really May Day. But the spring and summer bank holidays are just to have a holiday, or at least with the several people I asked at work, they could not explain why they were holidays then....though they do equate to Memorial Day and Labor Day holidays in the US. And finally, Boxing Day (Feast of St. Stephens in Ireland) is not a national sporting holiday, but rather a tradition from medieval times when a box of food/gifts was given to the peasants and less fortunate the day after Christmas.
And Northern Ireland, being the odd lot that they are, celebrate a public day-off holiday with St. Patrick's Day (surprise, surprise!!) and Battle of the Boyne/Orangeman's Day. The Scots celebrate the Feast of St. Andrews (not with a round of golf, but rather a jig in the town square) and also an extra day after New Years (Hogmanay) for further recovery, I guess.
England and Wales 2008 2009 2010
New Year's Day 1 Jan 1 Jan 1 Jan
Good Friday 21 Mar 10 Apr 2 Apr
Easter Monday 24 Mar 13 Apr 5 Apr
Early May Bank Holiday 5 May 4 May 3 May
Spring Bank Holiday 26 May 25 May 31 May
Summer Bank Holiday 25 Aug 31 Aug 30 Aug
Christmas Day 25 Dec 25 Dec 27 Dec
Boxing Day 26 Dec 28 Dec 28 Dec
While they do have St. George's day and recognition of other events and people and saints, there is not a public holiday for them. Early May holiday is actually really May Day. But the spring and summer bank holidays are just to have a holiday, or at least with the several people I asked at work, they could not explain why they were holidays then....though they do equate to Memorial Day and Labor Day holidays in the US. And finally, Boxing Day (Feast of St. Stephens in Ireland) is not a national sporting holiday, but rather a tradition from medieval times when a box of food/gifts was given to the peasants and less fortunate the day after Christmas.
And Northern Ireland, being the odd lot that they are, celebrate a public day-off holiday with St. Patrick's Day (surprise, surprise!!) and Battle of the Boyne/Orangeman's Day. The Scots celebrate the Feast of St. Andrews (not with a round of golf, but rather a jig in the town square) and also an extra day after New Years (Hogmanay) for further recovery, I guess.
12-May-08 Creams
As the UK is famous for it's afternoon tea, they also usually serve it with cream and/or scones and various creams. The thicker and heavier the cream, the higher the butter fat content.
In the US, we have half-and-half which is about 15% butter fat, coffee cream about 25% butter fat, and heavy/whipping cream at 40% or so.
In the UK, they have similar names (half cream, not half-and-half) and same butter fat, but they go a step further. Double cream is at 50% butter fat, meaning half the content is butter, so it's extra "creamy"; this is usually used for puddings and piping in pastries.
But the king of them all, clotted cream is a whopping 55-60% butter fat. It is created through a heating process to capture the cream at the top and then skimmed off. This is usually served with scones and muffins as a spread. If you travel through Cornwall and Devon, everything there is made with this. Clotted cream fudge, clotted cream bread, clotted cream ice cream, etc. It's a wonder the Brits are not falling over from a heart attack daily.
In the US, we have half-and-half which is about 15% butter fat, coffee cream about 25% butter fat, and heavy/whipping cream at 40% or so.
In the UK, they have similar names (half cream, not half-and-half) and same butter fat, but they go a step further. Double cream is at 50% butter fat, meaning half the content is butter, so it's extra "creamy"; this is usually used for puddings and piping in pastries.
But the king of them all, clotted cream is a whopping 55-60% butter fat. It is created through a heating process to capture the cream at the top and then skimmed off. This is usually served with scones and muffins as a spread. If you travel through Cornwall and Devon, everything there is made with this. Clotted cream fudge, clotted cream bread, clotted cream ice cream, etc. It's a wonder the Brits are not falling over from a heart attack daily.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
11-May-08 Side Trip to Bath
Yesterday we drove about 1hr 40 min to the old city of Bath, England. There are remains of the Roman baths from Roman times, where you can drink a glass of water fresh from the underground springs. It's safe, but it smells of sulfur and tastes quite "minerally". You can take a tour of the old roman baths and structure, but as we've visited here before, we skipped the tour this time.
There's an old famous bakery there, Sally Lunn's bun shop. So it's a little cheesy, and there's a whole tour of the old traditional stone bakery (we skipped the tour), but you can order a bun and get clotted cream (basically a thick sweet cream for putting on breads/pastries), and tea. The bread IS good, but don't think it's the be-all, end-all of breads.
The last time we had visited the city of Bath, was in 2001. Since then, it has added a number of upscale retail shops along the streets, including Gap, Disney store, etc.
I think the best part of the trip was the drive up the A350 through the area around Blandford Forum, a group of multiple communities nestled against high hills, with sprawling green fields/pastures and dotted with little quaint villages. As we started out late in the morning, we didn't have time to make any stops along the way to see the towns. The drive up was using a medium-sized road, that required us to slow down to 30-40 mph as we went through the towns. And there are a number of speed cameras along the way to make sure you comply.
There's an old famous bakery there, Sally Lunn's bun shop. So it's a little cheesy, and there's a whole tour of the old traditional stone bakery (we skipped the tour), but you can order a bun and get clotted cream (basically a thick sweet cream for putting on breads/pastries), and tea. The bread IS good, but don't think it's the be-all, end-all of breads.
The last time we had visited the city of Bath, was in 2001. Since then, it has added a number of upscale retail shops along the streets, including Gap, Disney store, etc.
I think the best part of the trip was the drive up the A350 through the area around Blandford Forum, a group of multiple communities nestled against high hills, with sprawling green fields/pastures and dotted with little quaint villages. As we started out late in the morning, we didn't have time to make any stops along the way to see the towns. The drive up was using a medium-sized road, that required us to slow down to 30-40 mph as we went through the towns. And there are a number of speed cameras along the way to make sure you comply.
Saturday, May 10, 2008
10-May-08 Yobs and thugs
The newspapers that I review constantly use the terms yobs and thugs to describe the derelict young population wreaking havoc across the country. As I looked up yob, I found this "backslang for boy" and "A person who engages in antisocial behavior/behaviour and/or drunkenness." from Wikipedia. Also sometimes called yobbos.
Anytime the newspapers write about these terrible nuisances, it is about this pervasiveness their behavior and how the police are doing little to crack down on this.
When I read the Bournemouth Daily Echo today, it had an unusual way of dealing with this. http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/display.var.2261678.0.terror_teen_is_banned_from_estate.php
So, the gist of the above article is that the person is banned from appearing in 3 locations, and is not allowed to congregate with 4 specific other people or congregate in groups of more then 4 youths, unless accompanied by adult supervision. That hardly constitutes much of a punishment. This type of "punishment" is called an ASBO, Anti-Social Behavior Offense (??) No time served in a juvenile detention center, which is what the US would have done.
Anytime the newspapers write about these terrible nuisances, it is about this pervasiveness their behavior and how the police are doing little to crack down on this.
When I read the Bournemouth Daily Echo today, it had an unusual way of dealing with this. http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/display.var.2261678.0.terror_teen_is_banned_from_estate.php
So, the gist of the above article is that the person is banned from appearing in 3 locations, and is not allowed to congregate with 4 specific other people or congregate in groups of more then 4 youths, unless accompanied by adult supervision. That hardly constitutes much of a punishment. This type of "punishment" is called an ASBO, Anti-Social Behavior Offense (??) No time served in a juvenile detention center, which is what the US would have done.
09-May-08 London Re-visited
The trip to London via train on Thursday was very efficient and ON TIME both ways. As we approached nearer to London, it became standing room only for the last 40 minutes. This was an early morning train so many people were using it as a commute to work.
The train arrives into Waterloo station on the south bank of the Thames River, across from the Victoria Embankment area on the north side. From there you can switch to the Tube (subway) to reach anywhere in London. Depending on how far you want to travel, you will have to get tickets for Zone 1 (london main area), or Zone 1, 2, 3, 4, etc. depending on how far out from the city centre you want to go. When you buy the ticket from either the ticket window or kiosk, you will use that to enter the subway and then again when you exit the subway. So if you only buy a Zone 1 fare, but you will depart from Zone 2, etc., you will have a problem when you try to depart the station. For day trips where you will use the train a lot (most cases), you should just buy a day card, with unlimited travel within 24 hours. Sure, it's a little more upfront, but pays for itself the more trains you take.
The noticeable thing about the Tube? It's very clean.....the corridors, the trains, everything. I supposed that's going to be the case in the more touristy/professional areas, but wonder if the same in the locations further out where there may be fewer patrols.
The weather for the prior day was upwards of 75 F, so a little warm and muggy for London. As I walked to Green Park to head into Mayfair area, the grass was full of mostly younger individuals lounging around, eating, sleeping, partially sunbathing.....and all within sight of Buckingham Palace.
The train arrives into Waterloo station on the south bank of the Thames River, across from the Victoria Embankment area on the north side. From there you can switch to the Tube (subway) to reach anywhere in London. Depending on how far you want to travel, you will have to get tickets for Zone 1 (london main area), or Zone 1, 2, 3, 4, etc. depending on how far out from the city centre you want to go. When you buy the ticket from either the ticket window or kiosk, you will use that to enter the subway and then again when you exit the subway. So if you only buy a Zone 1 fare, but you will depart from Zone 2, etc., you will have a problem when you try to depart the station. For day trips where you will use the train a lot (most cases), you should just buy a day card, with unlimited travel within 24 hours. Sure, it's a little more upfront, but pays for itself the more trains you take.
The noticeable thing about the Tube? It's very clean.....the corridors, the trains, everything. I supposed that's going to be the case in the more touristy/professional areas, but wonder if the same in the locations further out where there may be fewer patrols.
The weather for the prior day was upwards of 75 F, so a little warm and muggy for London. As I walked to Green Park to head into Mayfair area, the grass was full of mostly younger individuals lounging around, eating, sleeping, partially sunbathing.....and all within sight of Buckingham Palace.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
08-May-08 Trip to London
As I'm going up to London tomorrow for the day, thought I'd get a jump-start on tomorrow's blog. The train ride from Bournemouth to London's Waterloo station takes about 1 hour 55 minutes, and the round trip outside of peak days is 71 GBP. I can even park my car in the parking lot with no problem, and only a small parking fee for the day.
From Waterloo station, I can then take the Tube (subway) to various points in the city. The tube is not the most efficient (lots of delays, incidents, closures), but is still usually the fastest to get around London.
I've been told that occasionally the trains do become standing-room-only for peak periods....but I doubt there's that much of a mad rush in Bournemouth. I'm supposing it gets busy as it gets closer to the London stops. Surprisingly, there are a number of people living here who do commute up to London for work, in some cases daily. At 71 GBP, that's a little expensive to do daily.
From Waterloo station, I can then take the Tube (subway) to various points in the city. The tube is not the most efficient (lots of delays, incidents, closures), but is still usually the fastest to get around London.
I've been told that occasionally the trains do become standing-room-only for peak periods....but I doubt there's that much of a mad rush in Bournemouth. I'm supposing it gets busy as it gets closer to the London stops. Surprisingly, there are a number of people living here who do commute up to London for work, in some cases daily. At 71 GBP, that's a little expensive to do daily.
07-May-08 Ultimate Politeness
Today I was in a meeting with an external vendor and they were unhappy with the company's area performance. They never came out and said they were upset, but went round and round about some things they would like to see different. What I was told later is that meant they were really upset. Go figure!
The equivalent discussion in the US would include expletives and raised voices. The funny thing was that in most cases, the vendor actually said what they could do to help the process, when they really meant was "what the hell are you doing about it".
These kind of discussions occur all the time, they are never likely to say "no" or "I'm upset with you", as that would put the other person directly at unease. Instead, they use lots of words to imply the problem or make a suggestion, when they are really telling you what to do, not just recommending.
I must be an anomaly as I just speak what I mean and what I feel, and too bad if they are at unease. They should be, right?
The equivalent discussion in the US would include expletives and raised voices. The funny thing was that in most cases, the vendor actually said what they could do to help the process, when they really meant was "what the hell are you doing about it".
These kind of discussions occur all the time, they are never likely to say "no" or "I'm upset with you", as that would put the other person directly at unease. Instead, they use lots of words to imply the problem or make a suggestion, when they are really telling you what to do, not just recommending.
I must be an anomaly as I just speak what I mean and what I feel, and too bad if they are at unease. They should be, right?
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