Hello once again my beautiful family and friends xx It is the bank holiday weekend this weekend in the UK, so I have decided to get out and do a few things. I awoke after a reasonable slumber, must admit it was nice not to HAVE to look at the clock to get up incase the Agency would ring etc, instead I enjoyed an extra lie in, actually got up, made a cup of tea and snuck back to bed as it was nice and cosy and I looked at what I might do for the day. First up though, were a few chores, washing, vacuuming and a wee bit of shopping. With a long weekend, first thing on my list is a top up for my 3 network, so I'm able to keep using my wifi on the iPad :( otherwise your not going to be kept up to date with my exciting life :)
As I want to go somewhere today and the weather looks a bit grim, I frantically look up on my phone, oh how I hate to try and read the small screen on that for the Internet! Why I ever bought a mini Samsung, I will never know! It never occurred to me that, I would look like a geriatric trying to look at the screen, let alone type anything on it. Oh my lord, it's so frustrating, so for all you nimble fingered friends who text me, you know, that you will have to wait a good while for my response! That is why I love my IPad :) at least I can see the keys, not the most ideal for touch typing as the keyboard is a bit too small, but I manage. Note to self though, when I start writing my book (yes if I say it often enough, it is going to be a reality) I will have to type that on a proper keyboard, so I will need a new laptop for that I feel.
I have done my chores now, even prepared myself a sandwich, small yoghurt, piece of fruit and have water for the journey, packed my backpack with overnight stuff just incase and have my camera, check, ipad, check, phone, check, all leads and batteries, check. Just a quick trip to top up on fuel at Tesco's and get my topup for my Wifi.
I'm at Tesco's ( that was quick, i here you say!) have my trusty little top up voucher in my hand, you have know idea how great I feel when I know I'm WIFI enabled. I have my Wifi dongle with me, as it's portable and can run on a battery. I have brought the electric cord with me as well, incase I do decide to stay overnight anywhere. Ok we have lift-off, I now can visit my web page and actually see something, other than something the size on a pin head. I know to all those smarty pants out there, who scroll and enlarge everything with a touch of one thumb, let me just point out to you, yes you too one day will have arthritis and have fingers and thumbs that don't seem to want to co-operate with the brain.
Looking on the weather map today, it looks the safer option to head south, so pointing finger to the map and where shall we go Alana? Bournemouth, ok not too bigger trip, two and a half hours maybe by what it says on the map locator. Set the coordinates in my trusty little GPS, (where would we be without technology) and off we go. I have decided my GPS needs a name, it reminds me of a holiday I took with a very good friend Nola, (whom I haven't heard from for a while, just made me think of her then. hope your doing well Nola, will have to write snail mail or send you an email!) anyway getting back on track, Nola and I had so much fun and fits of giggles, we affectionately named my Gps at the time "Ralph" and Ralph became part of our holiday enjoying the scenery with us, one day we hadn't heard a peep out of Ralph and thought he was napping and we had been travelling a long while on this very windy road, next minute from under the seat,Ralph pipes up "turn left at ..... ". Oh so you have decided to join us, have you Ralph? we had thought we had turned him off as he kept getting uptight and telling us, "recalculating" turn when possible when he knew very well we didn't want to go that way! I tell you, Men! Well I had to leave "Ralph" at home in the good hands of my son and daughter, so now I have adopted an English female (slightly proper voice) GPS but not too snobby, she needs a name people, so I'm open for suggestions?
Now I know the reason, or one of the reasons I came here, driving along English roads, lanes and just soaking in all of this beautiful scenery. I cannot believe the people that have such a negative reaction to England and ohh but the weather is shite most of the year and this is .... etc but why, it's such a glorious place, I know what it's like most of the year and YES I have actually been here for Christmas to see my Helen, yes it was cold and wet, but it was winter! Whilst it is summer, I have to say, it is absolutely glorious weather and I thank god for every trip I take, that I get to experience such beautiful places, for we certainly do have heaven on earth, I do believe so. I think for me, I am loving that 10 or 15 degrees less that our summers at home pump out every year on end, to be honest, tht is one thing I hate with a passion now is the Extreme heat!
Windows are down, I'm singing, on the road again.... Lol for some reason, I just prefer silence in the car when I'm out in the country, it's amazing what you do hear, birds in the trees, the branches rustling on the 6' high hedges through some of the tiny lanes. I am even becoming more comfortable with those single lanes, never thought I would hear myself say that. All is wonderful, until I get to the road block at Castle Cary, oops didn't see the diverted traffic sign, which was way back. One thing tht GPS' don't like is road works, which is a real pain, they continue to try and send you on a merry go round trip if your not savvy enough, so I to try follow the road work signs and ignore GPS by this time is getting fed up with me as I have ignored the past twenty instructions from her!
Finally, after a good 30 mins I find my way back onto what seems the right road, after passing some dairy farm out the back of Wraxall Hill or somewhere, omg a very quick, up with the windows and put the vents on internal air, as I couldn't breathe! I was heaven getting back onto the open road again :) I see so many great happy snap moments, but of course, I can't stop there can I? There usually at the top of a hill, or overlooking a valley. The scenery is breathtaking at times and not like in Australia, where there are a lot of places to just pull over, you simply cannot do that easily here :(
One thing I have noticed here very quickly is, at roundabouts, be very careful. If your taking first or second exit, you must be in the left lane, if you are wanting the third or fourth exit, you must be in the right lane. But, and there is a big but here! The roundabouts are not always that simple haha You're coming around what you think is the right lane and omg there's another lane and I have to be over there, because I need to get over there now! Luckily I pay full attention to (no name GPS) as to the exits, especially going into Poole and Bournemouth. Started to feel a bit tense as all the cars came from everywhere, but thought, all is good, will just head for the beach. That was a good plan in theory, but not realistically when it came to parking. I drove down to one spot right opposite the beach, nice hotel on the beach, I saw a sign for an "eye ticket" whatever that was, saw a woman about to get into her car, so went to ask her for assistance, she said she worked next door and had a permit, the parking here was about £5 hour (ouch! I don't think so) she was very helpful and said I'm driving up the main road and I can show you where there might be some free parking if you like. Yes thankyou, I said and I followed her up the very lively Main Street, many people about, not sure where they were all heading, but it was quite the little hub of activity. Next minute she had her lights on hazard, that was my queue to head left, so I waved to her in thanks and drove around the main cliff road to look for parking. No luck, all full, it seemed everyone else had the same idea. Next thought was just to drive down the main strip and stay as close to the beach as I thought until I found a park. I saw a parking place, but it was way down a hill, went a little past that and then into a road, which I swear was exactly the same to the entrance to Kings Park, it was a bit like Deja Vu really, I drove along a bit and found a park right under these massive trees and it was on a big hill, just like Kings Park. Walked down the car park road next door, ran into a nice couple and said does this take you to the beach and he said yes, follow us.
This was a icon marker, incase I couldn't remember where I had come from, where my car was near.
It was quite a steep hill and even quite tricky walking down, I was watching all the people coming back for. The beach, lots of families with their kids and ice creams and prams and it wasn't long and I was down on the flat of what you might call the promenade, which seem to go for miles and miles, which I actually discovered as I walked a very very long way and back.
The beach was so lovely, a bit of cloud cover came over unfortunately as I was walking along the promenade, but I managed to take a few pics do the action down here,
One of the man made groins.
I was so amazed by the beach huts, that is such a British thing! I so wanted to take a shot of a family with of of them open, but I didn't want to be too rude, I did manage to look inside one through the windows as I was curious to see what was inside? A table, a few deck chairs and a gas bottle and a little portable gas stove. Very interesting, obviously, you can't sleep in them!
I'm walking up closer to the Bournemouth Pier now, much more going on as I get closer and closer.
Such big gulls over here, but not as big as the ones in Shetland.
A family were having fun with this kite, but I couldn't fit them in with the kite, so the kite one.
Closer to the Pier.
All the fun for the kids starts here!
Keep walking....
This reminded me of a large baby's bouncer! They jumped up and down on a trampoline.
I get down to the main area, people everywhere I turn, there is the aquarium in one direction, all carnival type rides in another, but I hear music or someone setting up, of course I have to investigate!
They were "Ultimate Earth Wind & Fire" apparently a tribute band for the original " Earth Wind & Fire" band, my curiousity is a little peaked, hmmm wouldn't mind listening to them, there were people already sitting in some chairs there, but of course, I wouldn't want to sit, I would want to DANCE! they weren't quite ready to start, so I thought I would go take a bit more of a look see around.
I'm walking back down a footpath, when I got a pebble caught in my shoe, so I slowed up a bit, next minute I nearly had a bicycle up my rear literally! Some idiot on his bike wasn't paying attention to the pedestrians obviously, all good though apart from a bit of tyre tread on my foot and the fact I nearly collected him in my lap (maybe that could have had a happy ending?) Anyway I decided to change direction after that, I was a bit put off going up that road, other main factor was that in the background I hear drumming music and African type band singing, I suddenly look up and three gorgeous men are crossing the road, I feel my heart race, they had a chuckle, because they saw me look up and I said, where is that music coming from, they had just been there. Off I wander across the busy road and down another road.
Just love the flowers.
This was just near the entrance to a dance place, where I could hear the band and boy was I in for a surprise!
Omg I'm in heaven! I look up the steps and I see this amazing band playing my favourite music and all these people are dancing, to the Samba :) Yayyyyyy Now I didn't expect to be having outdoor Salsa dancing this Saturday night :) and I could join in, as lots of people there, I wasn't going to stand out!
The groovy band :)
The guy in blue, during interval, rushes to ask her out? Hahaha I don't know, he was just telling her how much fun he was having I think. There were so many people ther of all ages dancing, it was so wonderful.
I was going to try and put two videos on here of this and the other stage, but they aren't allowing me to do it, other than trough YouTube so not quite sure how to do it, but for the moment, you will have to Invisage me doing my salsa moves to the sound of the beat. I may not have quite looked the part as our Salsa queen there, but honey I still have a few moves, I found out, I haven't forgotten after all!
When the band decided to have a break, I decided I would head back to see the other Band which I could now hear playing in full swing, Dow near the beach, so I wandered down there, quite a few more people there, so then I stayed and boogied a while to their music, enjoying the view. I was stopped by a guy who wanted me to take his pic, see I'm not the only one here by myself, I never thought to get him to take mine :( I had put my camera away by then, because I was dancing.
It seems that there is quite a bit going on down here, looking at this poster. It's getting a bit dark at this stage, after 9.15pm so I had better start walking ack to my car, as I still have to find it, it is quite a walk back there and the road is not lit up very much, so common sense prevails, go now before it's too late Alana. I was happy walking back, thinking of all the fun I had had, all on my lonesome, I had totally not expected all that dancing and music tonight. I was following a couple down the street, so I wouldn't be on my own and they slowed up a bit and I suddenly found myself saying, it's ok, I am sorry I just felt safe being close to someone walking down here, as I don't really know where I'm going? They were really lovely, can't remember their names now, but the husband was pleased I was taking care of myself and he gave me directions and said "yes your heading in the right direction"
Wow I have done another mamoth walk today and tonight, forgot again to put my Runkeeper on hahaha to track it, still it doesn't matter, the main thing is that I'm actually "out there, doing it". Finally got got into my car and was quite thankful for my cushion on the seat :) By this time it's about 9.40pm. Only just starting to get dark, so funny having such long days, it reminds me of my days and long light nights in Canada and in Shetland where they call it "the simmer dim" meaning it is still light near to midnight, and then it's only dark for about 4 hours, the same on Norway when I travelled through there, I woke up when I was on the train, thinking I would go down for breakfast at 6 and it was only 4am!
Decision time, seeing as I couldn't find a hotel on the way back to the car, will I continue to find one around the area? Or will I go on further and find one, or just bugger it, lets just go home! Well after hunting through Bookings.com and last minute.com, I came to the conclusion that I didn't really have the funds to go there, it was enough just to come down here for the day in petrol, but it got me out of the house. I did save my pennies by making my lunch. I'll be home in a couple of hours, I thought it would be a piece of cake. Hmmm well it was relatively smooth, but a little stress on those windy slim roads at night, when you can't see anyone coming and you don't see their lights till their right upon you. I did though, manage the road block coming back and went around it! But I. Doing so, ended up adding extra miles to my journey home and suddenly I was off somewhere again in this country lane, pitch black, hadn't a clue where I was and then suddenly a red van is coming the other way, so do the right thing, give way to him, then as he's squeezing past me stops and gestures for me to wind down the window. I didn't even think for my safety, you don't when your stuck out on these roads, you don't see too many people. Anyway I rolled down the window, he wouldn't have been able to get out because there wasn't any room, we were wedged that tight on the road. He was rather a young guy, very nice too :) H asked me where I was heading, because there was a big collision further up the lane :( so he was giving me directions to take this fork and that road to Pyes Hill and then that will take you out to the main road to the A37, thankyou x someone was definitely looking after me tonight.
Finally got home safe and sound, had to have a cuppa and had a little chat to my friend Janet on F/book xx she was up early and I was definitely up late! Time for bed now sleepy head, it's been a long day.
Bit of a quite day today (Sunday) the weather is a bit cool here, I was going to go out driving again, but I think I will stay home today and do a bit of reading and I have to research a few things, so a bit of a rest and recoup kind of day, after yesterday and this evening I'm dining with friends for dinner, so that will be a nice outing.
Until my next post, my dear ones xxxxx love to you all xxxxx
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