Spring 2009
I arrived back in the UK to start my new job on 8th December last year. I was very lucky to get a job working for my old company that I had left in December 2006. They recruited me to work with my old team and ex boss but employed by a contract company ready for a new drug launch in January 2009. I didn't really
need to do the first week of training as I had sold the product before but I didn't think it would do me any harm to go over it again. It not only would serve as a refresher course but also get me used to an alarm clock, diary and also get me on the payroll. The course was away from home and when it finished on 12th December I went to stay with Paul and Katrina in Norwich as our tenant was due to move out of the house on 15th December. I went to the house on the 15th and was horrified to discover that most of the contents had disappeared and that there was a considerable amount of damage. Window blinds, towel rails
and coat hooks had been ripped from their fittings and were in a pile on the garage floor. The carpets were in a revolting state with what looked like hair dye stains and what we can safely assume to be dog wee in numerous other places. Clearly I could not spend the night, not only was it cold and depressing but also all the bed linen had vanished and as I didn't have a sleeping bag I headed back to Paul and Katrina's. Mike was in Spain having a few days with his son Lee who had flown over from Germany. As I had rung Katrina and informed her of my plight she had very thoughtfully provided me with supper and some uplifting morale boosting cans of cider. Fortunately apart from the decorating we are nearly back to normal with new carpets throughout so
any visitors won't have to endure one of Mike's grim 'tour of stains.'
December flew by with visits to friends and family and celebrating Christmas and New Year as well as being back in the UK. Unfortunately Mike was ill over New Year so we had to cut short our visit to his parents so he could take to his bed. We had also been invited to the first New Year party in years but he was too ill and I didn't really want to go on my own. I wish I had now-apparently it was a riot. The rest of January passed by fairly uneventfully with the real highlight being a visit by Nige and Sally from Yorkshire.
I arrived back in the UK to start my new job on 8th December last year. I was very lucky to get a job working for my old company that I had left in December 2006. They recruited me to work with my old team and ex boss but employed by a contract company ready for a new drug launch in January 2009. I didn't really
need to do the first week of training as I had sold the product before but I didn't think it would do me any harm to go over it again. It not only would serve as a refresher course but also get me used to an alarm clock, diary and also get me on the payroll. The course was away from home and when it finished on 12th December I went to stay with Paul and Katrina in Norwich as our tenant was due to move out of the house on 15th December. I went to the house on the 15th and was horrified to discover that most of the contents had disappeared and that there was a considerable amount of damage. Window blinds, towel rails
and coat hooks had been ripped from their fittings and were in a pile on the garage floor. The carpets were in a revolting state with what looked like hair dye stains and what we can safely assume to be dog wee in numerous other places. Clearly I could not spend the night, not only was it cold and depressing but also all the bed linen had vanished and as I didn't have a sleeping bag I headed back to Paul and Katrina's. Mike was in Spain having a few days with his son Lee who had flown over from Germany. As I had rung Katrina and informed her of my plight she had very thoughtfully provided me with supper and some uplifting morale boosting cans of cider. Fortunately apart from the decorating we are nearly back to normal with new carpets throughout so
any visitors won't have to endure one of Mike's grim 'tour of stains.'
December flew by with visits to friends and family and celebrating Christmas and New Year as well as being back in the UK. Unfortunately Mike was ill over New Year so we had to cut short our visit to his parents so he could take to his bed. We had also been invited to the first New Year party in years but he was too ill and I didn't really want to go on my own. I wish I had now-apparently it was a riot. The rest of January passed by fairly uneventfully with the real highlight being a visit by Nige and Sally from Yorkshire.
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Amy and Esmee visit in February and Mike, Evie and Alex snuggle down to watch a DVD together during their weekend stay
Feeling ready to be cheered up by Kate and her 3 lovely children during a cold snowy February we invited ourselves down to stay in Beaconsfield. On Friday night I had to get ready for her works leaving due and Christmas party at her local winebar, Styx. Mike babysat so we could let our hair down and enjoy a night out on the town. On Sunday we took the train up to London and visited the O2 stadium for the Bodyworks exhibition. Having visited The London Hospital Medical Museum and also with a fairly scientific background I didn't
learn much. However the exhibits held a gruesome fascination as they were real human bodies which had been preserved for display using a special plasticising technique. After an expensive lunch for what it was at the Ha Ha Bar we enjoyed fairground rides inside the O2. We then really felt as though we were on holiday as we took a high speed catameran water taxi back to the Embankment. The waterfront views of London can really be appreciated from the warmth and comfort of the boat on a distinctly chilly February day.
Feeling ready to be cheered up by Kate and her 3 lovely children during a cold snowy February we invited ourselves down to stay in Beaconsfield. On Friday night I had to get ready for her works leaving due and Christmas party at her local winebar, Styx. Mike babysat so we could let our hair down and enjoy a night out on the town. On Sunday we took the train up to London and visited the O2 stadium for the Bodyworks exhibition. Having visited The London Hospital Medical Museum and also with a fairly scientific background I didn't
learn much. However the exhibits held a gruesome fascination as they were real human bodies which had been preserved for display using a special plasticising technique. After an expensive lunch for what it was at the Ha Ha Bar we enjoyed fairground rides inside the O2. We then really felt as though we were on holiday as we took a high speed catameran water taxi back to the Embankment. The waterfront views of London can really be appreciated from the warmth and comfort of the boat on a distinctly chilly February day.
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We have also enjoyed our first mini-break. Not in the motorhome but to a part of the United Kingdom that we have never visited before: Northern Ireland. We were delighted to be invited over to stay with Jimmy and Dee Duffy who we met whilst travelling and have become friends. They had both agreed to educate us
about Northern Ireland so they took us on fact finding visits and gave us the opportunity to sample the local food and drink as well as enjoying the scenic beauty of the countryside. Luckily Ryanair serve Londonderry and the airport is just 5 mintes from Dee and Jimmy's house.
about Northern Ireland so they took us on fact finding visits and gave us the opportunity to sample the local food and drink as well as enjoying the scenic beauty of the countryside. Luckily Ryanair serve Londonderry and the airport is just 5 mintes from Dee and Jimmy's house.
Jimmy and Dee live just outside Londonderry which is the only completely walled city in europe. We walked the entire length of the wall and visited the Tower Museum and St Columb's Cathedral. The museum houses a detailed exhibition of the history of the city of Derry. We were taken through the entire history of Derry from its origins as a clearing in an oak forest, colonisation in the 17th Century, the Siege of Derry, the division of Ireland, World War Two and the Troubles. We were then bought right up to date as the last display case contains Michael Bradley's leather jacket. Michael Bradley is not only the bass player for the truly excellent Undertones but also Jimmy and Dee's son-in-law. Great to see one of my favourite tennage bands honoured not only in the museum but also on the walking tour as well. After an excellent meal in a wine bar we went to the Forum theatre in Londonderry and saw a satirical 3 man show about the Troubles through the decades. Having been to the museum and walked around the city we had the background knowledge to appreciate the humour.
We took the train to Belfast along the most beautiful scenic coastline which Michael Palin has highlighted as one of his favourite train journeys for the views each side of the railway line. When we arrived in Belfast we took a hop on hop off bus tour of Belfast. We didn't follow the guide's advice to get off and walk around the Shankhill Road area which now has tourist shops. Less than 18 hours later a news bulletin on the car radio informed us of the shooting of soldiers and civilians outside an Army base in County Antrim. It seemed so sensless and harsh when we had just seen the evidence of the hard work going into rebuild the community. It was also so sad
in light of the proud citizens of Belfast encouraging us to walk around and enjoy their relatively new found peace. We could see the peace line in Belfast which runs between the Loyalist and Republican areas and it was obvious which part of the city we were in as the kerb stones were painted in the colours of the corresponding flag. We can only hope that the recent news proves to be a one off and not a return to the terrible bloodshed at the height of the Troubles. Belfast is a smart cosmopolitan city with regular flights provided by the budget airlines making it ideal for a short break with it's lively student area, loads of bars, clubs and restaurants.
We took the train to Belfast along the most beautiful scenic coastline which Michael Palin has highlighted as one of his favourite train journeys for the views each side of the railway line. When we arrived in Belfast we took a hop on hop off bus tour of Belfast. We didn't follow the guide's advice to get off and walk around the Shankhill Road area which now has tourist shops. Less than 18 hours later a news bulletin on the car radio informed us of the shooting of soldiers and civilians outside an Army base in County Antrim. It seemed so sensless and harsh when we had just seen the evidence of the hard work going into rebuild the community. It was also so sad
in light of the proud citizens of Belfast encouraging us to walk around and enjoy their relatively new found peace. We could see the peace line in Belfast which runs between the Loyalist and Republican areas and it was obvious which part of the city we were in as the kerb stones were painted in the colours of the corresponding flag. We can only hope that the recent news proves to be a one off and not a return to the terrible bloodshed at the height of the Troubles. Belfast is a smart cosmopolitan city with regular flights provided by the budget airlines making it ideal for a short break with it's lively student area, loads of bars, clubs and restaurants.
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On our last day Jimmy drove us up to the Giant's Causeway with stops along the way to appreciate the gorgeous sandy beaches and quaint seaside communities. When we arrived we built up our strength with creamy hot chocolates to drink and calorie rich cakes. It turned out to be a blessing in disguise that the National Trust Cafe had upheld their tradional slow level of service. Had they been efficient we would have definitely been drenched as it had been raining or sleeting all morning. The Causeway itself was smaller than had imagined but this didn't matter as the rugged natural beauty of the coastline was truly wonderful with huge waves rolling in off the Atlantic Ocean and a very strong, cold wind blowing.
Thank you so much Jimmy and Dee for a wonderful weekend, we left Ireland with many happy memories. We got over our exhaustion by the middle of the following week and look forward to sharing some English hospitality with Jimmy and Dee is the future.
Thank you so much Jimmy and Dee for a wonderful weekend, we left Ireland with many happy memories. We got over our exhaustion by the middle of the following week and look forward to sharing some English hospitality with Jimmy and Dee is the future.