Back in Town

After a fabulous holiday we are back in stinky sweaty tacky Tokyo. Will Blog more soon and upload pics.

SPLIT, Croatia, Art Hotel

Finally we are on honeymoon! It is absolutely beautiful and yesterday was a perfect day. Besides having to get up at 3am to catch a 6 am flight after going to bed at 12.30 after repacking and repacking suitcases trying to fit about 1 million bags of shopping in 2 suitcases. It was very stressful but it was fine in the end. The flight was fine and we got to Split no probs, bussed to the centre got to our hotel , which we were hoping was going to be lovely after staying in shonky BandBs in London, checked in, it was lovely then went tot the room, showered, bounced on the bed a bit because it is enormous and comfy danced around going yay yay a bit because it is lovely. Then qwere out again by 12. Fantastic. We walked into the town centre and mooched around Diocletian Palace, the palace of a former Emperor, which is incredibly well preserved and is magical, every turn of every corner turned up nooks and crannies of magical beauty and we took plenty of pictures and video. We wandered around the harbour another amazing place. Both of us agreed that this was a perfect choice for our holiday. After having ice cream and nibbling on local cheese walnuts and apricots from the food market, we headed for the cathedral and climbed the tower for even more tremendous views over the harbor, the rugged mountains and the winding medieval strees of Split. We headed into the crypts of the cathedral to cool off and experience even more medieval magic.
On the recomendation of our lovely, friendly and very professional hotel receptionist, we headed over to the park to the West of the City and rented bicycles (favorite thing and in any city I recommend cycling as a fun fun fun way to experience the place) and rode around the coast for an hour or so for the princely sum of 3 pounds. It was idyllic and we just kept saying this is great this is great. Romantic, the views were amazing and there were people of all ages and shapes and sizes swimming and enjoying the summer sun and fun. Relxed and energized we walked back into town for dinner, it took abuot 45 minutes and was again, magical, lush bouganvillier everwhere and marble houses, little chuches, people getting on with their lives, kids playing, I love it. Our feet were hurting and we were tired and hungry so we headed to the restaurant our hotel recommended on the West side of the harbour. WOW. Outdoors with a view of the City, the harbour, and the other side of the harbour, we watched the sunset and enjoyed local wine and fish and each others company as we relaxed and looked around at the space, the sea, the view and islands. Took a taxi home and was asleep by ten.
Perfect. I cannot recommend this place enough.

Happy Birthday my Husband!!!

Kei is 32 today. He started his birthday at about 12 this morning chucking up the curry we had had. I woke up too and did back stroking and such. He was a hurling. Then it was multi directional. Poor lamb. Worse was that I hadn't bought him a birthday pressie, but a cake shaped like a football and the mere mention of food was making him sick. Even more unfortunate was that we went to the amazing Borough food market where there was loads and loads of delicious and unusual organic English fare and he had to crouch down and stop himself from being sick when he could have been tucking into a delicious wild boar sandwich or some freshly made cake or cheese. I got treacle pudding, sticky toffee pudding (fresh and homemade this morning by the lady who sold it to me) parmesan, another cheese, tomatoes, cake and also enjoyed being surrounded by so much gorgeous food and so much love and respect for food. It was heaven. The fish stall looked pretty fresh too - but not cooking now, so bought non. K's folks arrived today so we are just off to have dinner somewhere close and easy. Howevere Kei will be sipping a lemonade and getting skinny as he still can't face dinner. Poor my husband. A(ctive bot)tom boy.

Terror

Yesterday saw blanket coverage of the latest terror threat to hit the UK. Very frightening it is too. Not least because Kei flies in tomorrow and his family next week. They must be really really worried. The flights for BA are delayed coming from Japan but do seem to be running. Flying has become such a popular way to travel now that it is a real blow. Anyway I hope it doesn't disrupt our celebrations too much.

BLIGHTY!!!

Well it's been a while since I posted and here is a quick rundown of highlights (no photos) of what has been happening so far:

THE BEST THING EVER!!! Saw Lemmy of Motorhead at Heathrow - he got off the plane, cracked open a bottle of Corona and had a ciggy. This is the best spot ever. He hasn't changed ever.

Stayed in Kensington in a hotel with best friend. Had fabulous tapas, good wime and great service the first night.

Shopping on Oxford Street - great lunch, good service - what's happening? Walked back through Hyde Park. Bumped into old school friend - bizarre, chances are so slim.

Evening had a swim and sauna at the hotel and headed out to dinner. God dinner, great service - London is not living up to its reputation.

London is fabulous. Nooks, crannies, so, so much history at every corner, but it is lovely. An amazing place.

Had a rubbish journey to Windsor - missed a direct bus that left from outside the hotel and braved the trains with international luggage. It took ages. It was rush hour.
But finally I got to my friend's place and it was great to see her. She is very preggers and can't make the wedding so we had a little kind of not hen night (a feather boa and a pair of willy earrings) and dinner at a local pub. I was the only one drinking - 3 friends preggers and the other two have kids so had to drive home, but frankly I got off very lightly compared to my other chums, Elvis suits, naughty nurse uniforms, inflatable willy hats. But that was before the breeding, the babies and we were a lot younger. I was so lovely catching up with them and I got some more great shots of baby bellies.

Trip back to Liverpool wasn't bad, got to stop off in Birmingham my old home for half an hour, even being in the station was nice and nostalgic.

Then I arrived home, got tonsilitis and saw the doctor yesterday - I am in agony, my face, throat, mouth aches, I can't speak well of swallow and I feel horrendous. I was so proud that I hadn't been ill at all for about a year and a half. Not a cold or anythng, but this long haul trip and maybe weather change has just floored me. It started as just a littel sniffle in Tokyo and then in London I felt it threatening but is has become full blown tonsilitis since then. Bugger. I feel so bad I can't wait for it to go. I even got antibiotics. So today is ring shopping, flower ordering and then a 21st party for one of the kids I looked after when we were younger. She is a darling and I love her family. They used to live up the road and I would go down there and help out every night more or less - I loved them. There were 4 kids under about 5 and I would bath, play with them and help them eat tea. They were all adorable and are now wonderful adults, one with a daughter of her own! So that's the story so far. All os well besides the lurgy. And I miss my hubby...