Tuesday, February 26, 2008

I'm in the jailhouse now, well tonight

http://www.carletoncountygaol.com/

In the capital Ottawa

Hello all

Spent an eventful night at the backpackers inn in Ottawa sharing the caring for a woman who had an op on a cataract. Made her breakfast too. Sounds very noble but I played a very small part. The hostel is not brilliant, although lovely bathrooms. Going to the jailhouse hostel tonight for a better sleep i hope before boarding a bus tomorrow Thunder Bay bound.

Sunday, February 24, 2008

Bury my heart at wounded knee - a must see film

http://www.hbo.com/films/burymyheart/

I saw it yesterday at cinema du parc, Montreal

Montreal photos





first pic, bikes bogged down in the snow
second pic, Vieux Port
last pic, winter fun in Vieux Montreal

Atlantic photos





First pic, Welsh coastline
second pic, west of Ireland
last pic, approaching Canada

More South Downs photos





First pic, approaching Beachy Head
second pic, Beachy Head
last pic, the woods near West Dean

South Downs photos





First pic, Seaford Head
second pic, a horse at Cuckmere Haven
last pic, the white chalk horse in near Alfriston

Friday, February 22, 2008

Montreal II

Spent the day at four museums including the planetarium where I saw a short film about Pluto in french. Started the day at the Redpath (geology) museum followed by a visit to the McCord museum. It was then to Montreal's modern museum of art.

All the while outside it snowed and the temperature sat at -8.

Cooked another risotto dinner with peas and made a lentil tomato soup (Campbells).

not much else to report right now

Thursday, February 21, 2008

Montreal

-10c most days not figuring in the windchill. speaking french. meeting lots of nice people. enjoying the metro. visited the biodome, saw a lynx and alligators. visited botanic garden and saw beautiful butterflies. Tomorrow hit the the modern museum and check out more of the downtown core.

leave montreal monday for Ottawa.

bought bus ticket for Ottawa to Nelson BC. Hope still to be able to do stops but I am getting conflicting information.

Wait and see. If I can't get out and do stopovers then the worse of it is I will be in Nelson, a short distance from Vancouver but somewhere I haven't been yet. Making the most of the remainder of my time here in Vancouver.

keep checking in folks, and remember comments as ever are appreciated

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Sheppey photos





First pic - another sunset, sorry...
last two pics - Shellness

London photos





First pic - sunset over Barnet, north London
second pic - The Thames, millennium bridge, St Pauls
last pic - south bank sand artists

Brighton photos






Pic 1 timbers washed ashore after cargo ship spilt its load
Pic 2 A street off Southover, Brighton
Pic 3 Lyons Tea Southover
Pic 4 a more usual Brighton beach scene

Typos, warts and all - an update of sorts

I knew it was too good to last. I get an internet connection and then AVG, my anti-virus friend instructs me shutdown is imminent.

So yes, I am posting from Brighton England. I have tried to get online with my laptop previously during my trip to England but gave up and packed away my laptop for safekeeping at mum and dad's in Sheppey. I made way off armed only with my digital camera and a cell, er sorry mobile phone.

After a brief stop in south london and then east London I boarded a plane from Stansted Airport to Shannon, close to Limerick, in Ireland. I passed a very relaxing but also adventurous week in Ballina, Killarney, Baltimore and finally Cork before flying back to Gatwick, and heading south to Brighton, for my first of two visits here on the south coast of England.

In Ireland I stayed with my cousin for three nights before striking out on the national bus services. My first port of call - Killarney. At the hostel met some other adventurous souls and the next day we made it out to Carrantouhil, the tallest peak in the country. We successfully climbed it despite the unfavourable conditions of snow, sleet, wind and rain.

From Killarney I took the bus via Cork to Skibbereen only to find that the hostel there was closed for the season. The hostel manager very kindly gave me a ride back to town from where i started walking south direction Baltimore, and after a Polish woman picked me up in her car I found myself soon at the hostel.

I spent two nights in Baltimore walking out to the Beacon and admiring the cliffs and the small bars with a fellow traveller.

After Baltimore it was back to Cork for three days of city life, in Ireland's second city. Again I stopped at the hostel. Back in the UK I arrived in Brighton for a few days more by the sea. Then back to the Smoke and Sheppey again for a second stay with my parents. I left yesterday.

I believe like the saying says a picture can tell a thousand words so I will endeavour to put a few more pics up.

Cheers.

A wireless connection, for the benefit of Times & Guardian readers

Well here I am in Brighton again for the second time during my trip to England. I'm eating porridge at the leisurely hour of, well I don't actually know the time. Past midday I'm sure.

For the benefit of Times and Guardian readers, that should read Sheerness Times and Guardian readers. If anyone has found this blog via the local paper I'd be pleased to know.

For those reading back in Canada, be rogjt bacl cp,[iter i[deates

Sunday, January 27, 2008

Ireland photos






First pic, Irish postbox Garrykennedy, county Tipperary

Second pic, en route to Carrantouhil, Ireland's tallest mountain, county Kerry

Third pic, cliffs, Baltimore, county Cork

Last pic, drinking a pint of Guinness at Bushe Bar, Baltimore

Thursday, January 24, 2008

Timber a go go

At this time of year there's nothing I like more than to sit beneath Brighton Pier.
It beats walking lonely streets with the wind whizzing by and holding out for the prospect of sleet.

I watch the kids playing with the timber.
There's so much here, another shipwreck cargo untouchable the clown cops and authorities would have us believe. But I'm on holiday and their barmy UK rules and clown cops mean nothing to me.

I run from beneath the pier at this time of year and build a stack, build a wigwam, build what the heck I like.

It's this time of year with the sleet and the wind on the street that I'm searching thinking of the felled tree, the continuous D.I.Y sales and clown for cops stopping me and my mates from enjoying just the tiniest of splinters and feeling the sleet on our faces on the cold and windy beach.