Christmas Markets, 19 December 2024

Roeulx, Belgium

At least my cold is somewhat better today, although it is leaving a nasty cough behind! I did sleep a bit better, though, but it was a mistake to listen to "The carol of the bells" just before snuggling down, as I was earwormed by it on and off all night, and had nightmares about the forthcoming carol service! Not that we are singing it, unless the worship group do it as their solo, which I doubt they will, but still! 

We did not hurry this morning, but enjoyed a leisurely breakfast, and then used the services before paying for the campsite and heading off. Our first port of call was the local REWE, where I did a Last Shop in Germany, and then we decided to go to what we call the Duck Path (goose path, really!), just near the Strépy-Thieux canal lift. It poured with rain during the first part of our journey, really nasty, although the traffic wasn't too ghastly for a Belgian motorway, and there were no serious hold-ups. We stopped for lunch at a random service area, and then headed on again. By then, we had mostly driven out of the rain, although we did run through a few more showers.

When we arrived, we parked up on a rather muddy pitch, and had a cup of tea. It was still light, and the rain was away, so we went for the first part of the walk, down to the old canal lift, under it, and back the other side, which gives a most unfortunate tracing on Strava!

But it was a good leg-stretch, and I hope we will be able to do the other half of the walk in the morning, assuming it isn't raining. 

The geese appeared on schedule - I don't know if somebody feeds them, or what; they certainly appear to be bedded down for the night here! As, indeed, we will soon be, since we have no electricity and the batteries aren't all they should be. We are being very mere with lights and, although we should like the heating on (it is at least 10° colder than this morning), we think we'll go to bed with hot-water bottles instead. Of course, my boots are not very mud-proof, so my socks have got wet on the one night I'd really like to be wearing them, but I do have a spare pair.... 

Christmas Markets, 18 December 2024

Rodenkircher, Cologne, Germany

So today was the Big Day, when we were to visit the Christmas markets. I slept badly again (this wretched cold!), and in fact drowsed off to sleep again after the alarm went off. However, we had agreed not to leave until late morning, so that wasn't really a problem. 

We had decided to do as we had done last time we were here, and drive up to the Park&Ride at Heinrich-Lübke-Ufer, the next stop up the line towards Cologne. But when we got there, it was full, and no space to be had. We pulled up to consider our options - the SW thought we should go to the big P&R the other side of Cologne, where we have been before, only it would have taken a good hour to drive to. I thought that perhaps, before we did that, we should investigate one in Rodenkirchen itself, but there was probably a good reason why the campsite didn't mention it. However, while we were pondering what to do, a tram came in, several people got off, and several spaces became free, including one that was absolutely perfect for the motor home, as it was far enough back, and beside a tree, the so it did not block any other vehicles.

Since we were last here, 10 years ago, when we had terrible trouble finding enough coins to buy tickets for public transport, they have now produced an app, which makes things quicker and easier, and we were each able to buy a 24-hour ticket with no problems. 

I took a couple of cold relief tablets (I only have 8, so am rationing them), which were absolutely magic, and I was able to forget all about my cold until we got back! We caught the next tram into the city, which dropped us off at the Hauptbahnhof, just near the first of the markets. 

We had a wonderful wander around, buying Bratwurst for lunch - this was a slight failure, as the stall we went to sold them in rolls, and later we saw another stall which sold them with potatoes! Ah well. Plus I put the wrong sauce on mine - it was based on barbecue sauce and really wasn't to my taste. So I wiped most of it off with my napkin, and then had nothing to wipe my hands with! For pudding, we bought a sort of fruit sundae - hot fruit puree underneath, topped with crumble topping and a scoop of ice cream. The Swan Whisperer's was apple, which I should have liked, but the ice cream that came with it was cinnamon, which I am not fond of. I like the smell, but not the taste. My fruit was plums, I think, and the ice-cream was mango sorbet, and it was delicious!

We took a wrong turn leaving the first market, and walked halfway down the high street before realising we needed to retrace our steps to get to the Alter Market, but we got there in the end, and enjoyed wandering though it, and then down to the Heumarkt, where we treated ourselves to the quasi-obligatory mulled wine (which was delicious) and the SW decided to keep the mugs as he thought they made good souvenirs. Then we walked down through the market, and caught first a bus and then a tram back to the P&R. Unfortunately, the tram left before we could get off, so we had to travel another stop, into Rodenkircher, and then wait 10 minutes for a tram back again! Ah well, no real harm done. Back at the campsite, a cup of tea was swiftly followed by a nap to recharge both me and my phone!

I think that on balance, we prefer Strasbourg, but maybe that's because it is easier to visit after dark - we don't know what the illuminations here are like. But Christmas Markets are pretty much the same all over the place. I think I want to come back to Cologne when it isn't Christmas - I know we do visit it fairly often, but I don't think we've visited the Heumarkt when the Christmas market isn't on, as they seem to have some lovely houses there. Photos on Facebook, as per usual. 

But sadly, somewhere along the line I lost my knitted beret that I bought in Graf last trip. I did so love it. Oh well, I do have others, but not so nice. 

Christmas Markets, 17 December 2024

Rodenkircher, Köln, Germany

I slept a bit better last night, although I woke up there times before 1:30 am! Then I did sleep until 4:30,and then again until 6:30 or so, at which point I called it a night! 

The trouble is, what with it being the winter and all, our batteries are misbehaving rather, and there was only just enough electricity to man the pump for our showers, and we basically had one reading-lamp on in the bedroom and one in the living area, groping in the dark the rest of the time. I decided not to wash my hair - I couldn't have dried it, anyway, as we were not on mains electricity - and washed my face in the basin rather than in the shower, and it lasted out, but did switch off fairly shortly after, so we had to run the engine a few minutes in order to flush the loo! 

By the time breakfast was ready, it was light enough to manage without lights once all the shutters were open, and of course the batteries have charged up a bit during the course of the day. 

We set off about 10 or thereabouts, stopping after an hour for the SW to have coffee. We then stopped again at the Lidl in Düren, so that I could shop, ostensibly for things for lunch, but there was a van in the car park selling chicken and chips, so I got that instead. I did shop for lunch stuff, though, so we might have our rolls for breakfast tomorrow. They were on coupon, anyway! 

Then the last leg of the journey, to this campsite, should only have taken an hour, but we got badly held up by an accident on the motorway - didn't look serious, praise be, but did mess up the traffic! Then when we got to the campsite the receptionist was on the phone, and you could hear her desperately trying to get off to check us in, but she couldn't! And we needed the services, which also took time. So by the time we were settled in, it was really too late to go into Köln this evening, unless we were planning to eat there, as we wouldn't have been back until about 8 or later, and my blood sugar doesn't do late supper any more! 

So we had our tea, and now the SW has gone for a walk along the river in the dark. I wish it wasn't dark - it's so lovely to sit and watch the boats go by,

especially the cruise ships, all festively lit up for this time of year. 

Tomorrow will be the Christmas markets. I doubt we'll do all 7, though! 

Christmas Markets, 16 December 2024

Ronquières Inclined Plane, Belgium

I have a cold, which isn't very bad, but left me quite unable to sleep last night. And although I do have some cold relief tablets, what I didn't have was any Sterimar, so I was glad to find some in Carrefour this morning. Carrefour was our first port of call. The Swan Whisperer went to find a bakery, as the nearest one was closed on Mondays, and came back with a delicious baguette and croissants, and after emptying the grey water, we set off, calling, as I said, at Cité Europe for me to shop at Carrefour and the SW to get diesel. 

That done, we headed on, and I promptly went to sleep, rousing up when we stopped for lunch feeling quite a lot better, which didn't stop me falling asleep again when we set off. 

I had suggested spending the night here, beside the Ronquières Inclined Plane,

although there were several other places we could have stopped. One of which I didn't really want to stop at today as it's such a lovely place for a walk, and I really don't feel up for one! Maybe on Thursday.

We have seen barges being carried up and down the Inclined Plane,

but I have closed up the van now to keep what heat there is in. The SW has gone for a walk, of course, but will be back soon. I wonder if there is any mulled wine left..... 

Christmas Markets, 15 December 2024

Blériot-Plage, Calais

Today is the Swan Whisperer's 74th birthday, and, to celebrate, we are off on our annual visit to the Christmas markets, this time to Cologne. It will be interesting to compare them with Strasbourg, where we have been several times, and we have not been to the Cologne markets for 9 years.

We got up early and were away by 08:30, and arrived at No 6 at about 10. I The others were at Church, so we drove straight up to the motor home and put everything into it, and then drove it down to No 6 and emptied the crates. We couldn't empty the fridge stuff immediatelythough, as it had developed sooty mould, which it has done before, so we had to quickly wash it out. The SW washed the body of the fridge, and I did the shelves in the kitchen of No 6. 

The family came back from church at about 11:15, and we finally set off an hour later. We made good time to Folkestone, but, alas, there was a disruption and all services were running about 30 minutes late, and we could not be booked on to an earlier crossing. This did, however, give us a chance to buy a pie and - blissfully - a Chelsea bun in the terminal. We had got so hungry earlier that I had profited from a traffic jam to get the SW an overripe banana and me a Lebkuchen, which kept wolf and door nicely apart! 

Anyway, we got off at last, and the crossing was uneventful. At least, I think it was, I fell asleep! We drove the short distance to the Camping-Car park at Calais, and had just time to make ourselves a cup of tea before the monthly Zoom Bible Study. 

This is the Christmas tree we have in the WoMo. It is a real tree, but small enough to be propped up with a cushion when we are on the move!

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....