The Map House

The Swan Whisperer has just started two weeks' jury service - at his age, he could have refused, but he so enjoyed it last time he did it, many years ago, that he was really looking forward to it.  However, this means I shall have two weeks - well, ten working days, anyway - on my own, and I determined I wasn't just going to sit around feeling sorry for myself!  I already had plans for tomorrow, Wednesday and Thursday, so I decided that today I would make a point of going out.

I decided to be thoroughly greedy and treated myself to breakfast at McDonald's.  I have a shaming taste for their sausage and egg McMuffin, and it was as delicious as usual.

Then the day's main event, which was a trip to the exhibition at the Map House (link),  which I had learnt about from both IanVisits (link) and Londonist (link).  I braved the Underworlds, changing to the Piccadilly Line at Green Park and getting off at Knightsbridge.  Goodness, but it's years since I was last there!  I have been past in a bus, going to the South Kensington Museums, but I don't think I've used Knightsbridge Station for at least 50 years!  When I worshipped at Holy Trinity Brompton, all those years ago, I was living in Fulham, so came from the opposite direction.

So anyway, it's not a long walk to Beauchamp Place from there - it was my grandmother's local Tube station when she lived in Ovington Gardens - and I arrived at the Map House with about 5 minutes to spare before it opened.

The exhibition was fabulous! The Beck diagram in all its itinerations - including the map that inspired him, and some preliminary sketches.  And almost all the folding maps from 1932 right up to the present day.  Lots of photos on Facebook, but the one here is of the very nerdish (but I do rather love) gadget that shows you where all the trains are, either on all lines or on an individual line (the District, in this case).  As I said, I'm not that nerdish, but - well - it would be nice!

Then I walked down to Sloane Square, and got a 137 bus to Sainsbury's in Clapham, and then another bus home.  Since starting this blog post, I gather the Swan Whisperer is not actually wanted - they are expecting a long trial, and so called more jurors than they would need, as so many would have commitments after the end of the fortnight (as, indeed, we do!).  And also my tomorrow night's meeting is to be on Zoom, not, thankfully, in Westminster.  So I'm glad I went today and didn't wait until Friday!

The Spanish Riding School at Wembley Arena

 A few days ago, we were in Vienna and saw some of the Lippizaner stallions in their winter quarters in the Hofburg - something on my bucket list.  I had never seen them live, but the Daughter cleverly found out that they were to perform in Wembley this weekend.  They were selling tickets at half-price, and as both the Swan Whisperer and the Boy wanted to go, the Daughter bought the tickets (we paid for ours), and sent ours to me, so that we would meet up in the arena.

It was an easy enough journey to Wembley - at Citymapper's suggestion, we changed at Green Park and then again at Finchley Road.  Not a station I'd ever consciously been to before, although as I've been to Wembley Arena before, I must have gone through it.  It's a cross-platform change to the Metropolitan Line, which then only has one stop until Wembley Park.  After which, it is a surprisingly long walk to either the Stadium or the Arena, but we got there in good time.  You weren't allowed to take liquids into the arena, but had to empty your water bottles before you went through security - the Swan Whisperer refilled both mine and the Daughter's bottles for us before the performance began.  Other than that, and a cursory check of one's bags, though, it was easy to get in, and plenty of stewards to tell and show you where to go.

We had lovely seats (obviously we couldn't take photos during the event). 

and could see absolutely everything.  The event was hosted by Nicki Chapman, who introduced each act and the videos in between that gave the horses and riders time to prepare.  

It was, obviously, wonderful.  But there is an awful lot that they don't show on television, like the horses that do the "schools above the ground" being so keen that they try to do them when it isn't their turn! Or when the riders momentarily lose control, as happened once or twice! We did wonder if they had sent their "B team" to perform, as it wasn't quite the perfection you expect from the television coverage of them.  But it was still pretty amazing.  Especially the "quadrille" that concluded the event.

There was a 30-minute interval, which we thought was excessive from the audience's point of view, but I dare say the horses and riders needed it.  The Swan Whisperer and the Boy went for an explore, and came back saying that popcorn was £6 for a small tub, so they decided not!  

On the way home, we went as far as King's Cross on the Metropolitan Line, and then changed there, so that we could go as far as possible with the other two, who, of course, took the northbound service as we took the southbound one!  We were home by about 11:15, but I am very tired today.

There are loads of videos on YouTube if you want to have a look at the performance for yourself - there's even one of a similar show at Wembley about 7 years ago!  I hadn't known they ever came to the UK....

Early autumn holiday, 10 October 2024

Blériot-Plage, Calais, France

The sun was out this morning when we woke. The Swan Whisperer went for a run, as he usually does at Chamery, although he said that he had had to walk up some very slippery paths. When he came back and we had had breakfast, it was far too nice still to head straight on, so we went for a walk around the village and out into the vineyards.

Every other house there either makes champagne, sells it, or both! It was very up and down, but I managed, although wearing my rather heavy waterproof trainers didn't help! 

Our first port of call was a nearby E Leclerc, where I did a Last Shop in France, and the Swan Whisperer got diesel. They do seem to have stopped making my "Agrumes" tea, which is very sad indeed. Oh well, can't be helped, and I do like Earl Grey. Anyway, I had to ring the Swan Whisperer to get him to come and carry the shopping, as I had only taken a small trolley (I had forgotten a token or coin for a big one) and they are not allowed out of the shop. 

Just as we were ready to leave, the rain started! We drove direct on the motorway, and stopped in a services not very far along to have lunch, and then an hour later for a break. I fell asleep, and didn't really wake up until we turned south on to the A16. 

We went straight to the Cité Europe, and the Swan Whisperer went into the Carrefour to buy wine and see whether they had any agrumes tea (they didn't). By the time he got back, I was very cold for some reason, and it was nice to have the heating up full blast during the short drive to the aire.

Mind you, I did not appreciate having to wait while the van in front of us blocked the entrance trying to find out how it worked... But they got through in the end. I'd booked ages ago, so no problem there. And we have had supper and I am shortly going to bed to keep warm, even though we do have the heating on as we have electricity. And tomorrow we will be home! 

Early autumn holiday, 9 October 2024

Chamery, France

I hadn't originally intended for us to stop at Chamery tonight, but when I looked at our route to the place I'd originally earmarked, in Argonne, three places stood out for us that we know and like. The first was Amnéville, which would have been glorious, but which would also have meant a horrendously long drive tomorrow; then there was Les Islettes, which we nearly went for, but Chamery was only half an hour further and we know it's a relatively easy drive tomorrow. Plus it's free which Les Islettes isn't. 

Before we let Landstuhl, we went to an Edeka where I did a Last Shop in Germany; there was also a cheap clothes shop where I bought a couple of grey sweaters (ahem!) and then Woolworth's, which had the sort of shoes that are perfect for tai chi in my size for the princely sum of €1! Rude not to, really. I didn't quite like to use a card for just €1, so also bought another charging cable while I was at it. I would have liked a car plug for the latter, but if they had them, I didn't see them. Anyway, Edeka irritated me by being in the throes of reorganising itself, which meant that it was difficult to find anything. However, I did get most of what I wanted, with the exception of fresh orange juice, but I bought some juicing oranges which will take care of our breakfast needs for the next couple of days. 

It has not, however, been a very easy drive today. We woke up to a lovely sunrise,

but "red sky in the morning, shepherd's warning!" and so it proved to be. It has rained on and off most of the day, although it did stop for awhile when we first crossed into France. We stopped at a service area for lunch as there were - when we eventually found them - motorhome services so we could empty our grey water, and after that I fell asleep and only woke up when we came off the motorway.

It has been raining pretty much constantly since we arrived; the Swan Whisperer did go out for a walk, but came back so wet he has had to change into his pyjamas! I am making a large vegetable stew/soup for supper, as it is raw and cold and nasty! This holiday is supposed to be early autumn, but right now it feels very Novemberish! 

Early autumn holiday, 8 October 2024

Landstuhl, Germany (no, I don't know where that is, either!)

Oh dear. It rained. And it rained. And it rained. Not always, but sometimes, so heavily that you could barely see the lorry in front of you. And there were contra-flows, and more contra-flows. I swear that in Central Europe, more of the motorway is contraflow than isn't - or if that's not the case, it certainly feels like it! At one stage, the inside lane was full of virtually stationary lorries, which we were able to pass in the middle or outside lane at a reasonable speed, but this must have gone on for 20 kilometres or more. I felt sorry for the lorry drivers - and all the rest areas were so full no more lorries could get in there.

However, we made steady, if slow progress, and lunchtime found us at Sindsheim, home of one of the twin museums at Sindsheim and Speyer. We went to Speyer last year, but haven't been to Sindsheim since about 2011. There is a lot more museum there now, and it is a lot more expensive! We spent a very happy 90 minutes or so wandering round - separately, as we are not good at visiting museums together. The Swan Whisperer did go up on the roof to look at the Concorde and Tupolev planes, but I stayed firmly at ground level enjoying exhibitions about the Nurburgring and the Tour de France, as well as lots of different cars and trains and steamrollers and so on. But it was very wet outside. I'm glad I brought my more waterproof trainers - I just wish I'd worn them! As it was, I had to take my shoes off as soon as we were back in the WoMo, and have been wearing my slippers ever since. 

Then we drove on and on, in the pouring rain, heavy traffic, at least one long tailback. But when we crossed the Rhine, the rain disappeared and so did most of the traffic, and the drive from then on wasn't too bad. Only, when we got to where we had planned to spend the night, there it wasn't! It was full of builders and their equipment, so maybe they are making it nicer. Then again, maybe they aren't! 

The only alternative seemed to be an aire that only got one or at most two stars from reviewers, but honestly, there is very little wrong with it. The services appear to be out of use, but we weren't expecting services anyway, and being able to park for free is always nice. But we were both exhausted when we finally parked up!