Chloe the cow

When we stayed at a bnb in Gretna, I was very taken by the art work in the room. It was Chloe the cow.

I looked up the artist and read up about him. He had done a series of the Highland cows. When we went for breakfast the next morning, there was another one called Charlie in the dining room.

Heading south, we stopped at Barnstaple and walked through a small alleyway, we saw a gallery and in the window was a cow but in muted colours. I went in to ask if it was a Stephen Brown (name of the artist). The girl hadnt heard of Stephen Brown but told me the artwork was done by a local person from magazines. I bought one and luckily it fitted into the top of my suitcase.

I asked Warren if he could make a frame for it. This is the result.

He cut the wood using old fence palings from when we changed the side fence and then white washed it. It has not been hung as yet but will go in the dining room. 

Winter specials

Today was a caching day with lunch out to finish off.

I had picked out four, first one was called something like ring my bell, as it was just off a bike path, it seemed appropriate but it was better than that. We wandered around following our phones and the hint said between knee and hip, hum so its off the ground but not too high. Ha, there it is, it was a small dinner bell hanging from a branch.

Did not find the next one but ten  inutes after posting a did not find, I had a message from the owner to give us a hint.

Next one had a hint that said, enjoy the view of the airport, really, we were in bushland, then it dawned on me that it was a tree climb, well that wasnt going to happen. It would have been about a 5 to 6 metre climb to get above the tree cover.

Last one was an ammo can and was difficult to open, had been out for a long time.

Time for lunch at our favourite pizza place opposite the beach. Only one problem, all tables were full as we drove past. Parked the car and walked back hoping that people had eaten and left. New Turkish restaurant interested us, so being fickle, we decided to try that. They also had a winter special on of all meals were $10 each.

Warren had a mixed grill, chicken, beef, chips and salad with Turkish dips.

I went for the all day breakfast of eggs Benedict.
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Bubbles and more bubbles

First morning home and I got up and went into the city for a flash mob turn out. I had gone to bed at 5.30pm the night before, we arrived home about 4.30pm, not much unpacking had been done on my behalf, but as we had been travelling for thirty hours, there was no guilt at all.

Flash mob was for 10am but first we were meeting some others to try to locate a cache in the city. We all stood around and looked, it was in a tree, concenus was that as coubcil had recently trimmed trees, it was no longer there.

On to the bridge for the flash mob get together, there had been one last year but I didnt go and I didnt know about jt til after. I was going to also met the members that I am spending a week with next month.

A small group of us went for coffee after, it was a fun time.

Winter flowers

Out walking with Lucy, I have been surprised to see flowers starting to bloom.

Wattle.

In the northern areas, these are around to celebrate Christmas and New Year.

This, I have no idea about, the flower was about to come out and it was well over my head, probably the top was about three metres above the ground. There were another two around the other side of the tree as well.

London 6

Heading back to the tube station we see a cut price pharmacy advertising perfumes in particular. Warren suggested that I may be able to buy the perfume that I like and use sparingly as it is fairly expensive. Too expensive in my mind to use every day anyway. We had looked at duty free stores in Beijing airport but apparently the perfume house is only a small one and they dont carry it.

In we go, lots of cosmetics, I tried a lipstick and ended up buying it plus a small tube of toothpaste. Sounds silly but I have not been able to find toothpaste at home for smaller than 110gms. When we came home from New Zealand it was only carry on and we both had to ditch our toothpaste as they were over the 100gms limit.

Yay, they had my perfume, all perfumes were behind the front counter.

I was amused to see that while there were women assistants walking the floor, there were only men serving at the checkouts. All were dressed completely in black.

My whole order was £21, same size bottle of Lulu here at home is about $49 if I can find it.

Mission accomplished and we continued on to the station, had to go down two very steep escalators to get to the platform. My photo doesnt show how long it was as I had to get my phone out and ready first. Many people were walking down and up them, I was content to hold the rail and ride.

Bomb Blasts London 5

Warren took me on a walk where he used to walk to pick

up the mail and papers each day that came from Australia.

Massive buildings lined the streets and it was hard to beleive that we were in the heart of London.

Warren pointed out the building that had bomb damage from World War two!

We turned a corner and then I saw lots of Australian flags flying, Warren informed me that the building was Australia House.

I wanted to go in but it was just an office to get a visa to visit so not much there at all.

Bells of St Clements London 4

Walking along the street, suddenly a tune started and I listened for awhile and then realised that I knew it. It was the nursery rhyme "Oranges and lemons".

What the?

Warren pointed out that we were near St Clements Cathedral. We/I decided to step in for a look. What a beautiful building although not as big as I thought it may have been.

There were several people doing the same as us and a couple of tours happening.