What's up down your neck of the woods?

marleneandgypo · What's up down your neck of the woods?

Hi all

Operating here on my little laptop in the kitchen connected to a wireless thingy plugged into my USB port in the computer where my friend Sini is still fast asleep. She is here from Finland.

I am up bright an early awaiting delivery of our new treadmill which we have purchased in an effort to get nice and fit. We are both getting out of breath far too easily.

Went up to London on Friday with Sini as I was booked on a training course and she went sightseeing. I had forgotten what a hell hole the underground is. We were all packed like sardines. Mind you each way someone gave up their seat for me which I was grateful for and in this day and age with youngsters getting a bad press, I think it is fair to say there are some lovely ones out there. The course was about producing a good an effective newsletter for the charity I work for. I have been editor of our church one for 8 years and have learned a lot from my proofreader who works for a publisher so I took up our latest copy and the tutor kept holding ours up as the correct way to do it. I guess I don't do such a bad job after all.

Yesterday was family day and we all went out then came back here and babysat little Max our 2 1/2 year old grandson.

I hear a stirring now so best get breakfast started. Clive likes his Lancashire Cheese melted in milk and poured over toast with a bit of bacon. Gerry Kane may know about that coming from the same neck of the woods.

Catch you later

Marlene

GerryK · Lancashire Cheese

Your description takes me back a long time Marlene. But, believe it or not,the last time it was served to me like that was in New Zealand. You see recipes can travel a long way !!

paul croxson

Marlene.
Give a thought to we poor blighters who HAVE to travel on the underground DAILY just to earn a living. It aint fun, I assure you.
Nothing pisses off the natives more than when some hairy tripper from the sticks staggers in to the compartment and announces, full of wit and wisdom "bloody hell (or "by Gum" or some other local idiom), I couldn't do this every day". He is probably right too. We Londoners are a tough lot under the soft exteriors. We don't do it for fun, I can assure you! It is also usually preceded by another train or bus journey and then a walk too. My daily commute is a TOTAL of 5 hours by the way. And that is if everything works and is on time. That does happen now and again resulting in headlines. Last week I caught the 5.59AM at 6.51AM after a cold hour on a windy platform comforted by the helpful public announcement ... "we apologise for any inconvenience that the delay may have caused you". No mention of hyper - bloody - thermia.
Sorry Marlene. End of rant.
Oh and a welcome to Denis Weir too. Let's hope he is not just a voyeur but will regale us with some juicy titbits, possibly of Langeleben times. He has made a great contribution to the History which will appear in the next version to go on the web shortly. Just waiting for JR's final episode

marleneandgypo

Hi Paul

Oh I DID give a thought, big time. Prior to my going to Langeleben I worked for a stockbrokers in Leadenhall Street. I loved it. I was young 18-19 yrs. I had a season ticket so used it at weekends too to go to Battersea Funfair and other exciting places. The journey on weekdays was a drag, but worth it for the fun involved at weekends. I left to go to Langeleben at 19 years old. On my return a couple of years later I got a job in Mansell Street for an Insurance broker (shipping.) Once more I enjoyed the challenge, but I was a little older and the cattle truck journey began to grate on me. Standing all the way to Liverpool Street at all hours. I re-met Clive and decided there was more to life. I got a local job and we married.

I have fond memories of London and my life there. but I think I viewed through rose coloured glasses.

Last week the commuters all just seemed to take it for granted. Some read a book or SLEPT. Maybe it is a form of brainwashing for those of us who have done it regularly?

In 2006 I went up there to meet a group of friends and en route back they cancelled all underground trains AND esculators and I found myself walking through the tunnels and up and down the steps for three stations. I truly felt I would have a heart attack. Last weeks was my first back on an underground train since then and I was so scared it would happen again.

I am so glad the course it over so I needn't think of it again for a while.

Marlene