Hi :)
I won't be posting for a few days. I'm off to London, by train tomorrow because I decided I really HAD to be there to wave my daugher off on her team's bid to row round Britain.
I'm going to stay with an old friend from the north east who lives in London. My rent for a few days is six "stotties" (round flatish bread which only seems to be found in NE England) peas pudding and ham from the local butcher.
I'm really excited because I've arranged to meet Mim on Monday. Mim is a 'euro-chat' host and used to post here regularly too - but not so often recently. I've 'known' her for about 5 years now - but have never met her.
It's going to be an exhausting few days but I'm looking forward to it.
Take care - Scottie :)
Scottie . . . . have a wonderful time on your trip to London. You must be so excited for Bev to be a part of this special opportunity. Plus, you get to stay with an old friend. Plus, you get to meet Mim!! :o Oh boy!! How fun! ;D
If you get to give Bev a hug before she takes off, give her one from her Sjoggie friends here . . . we wish her and the team well on their adventure. Can't wait to hear all the details of her trip.
Enjoy your time away Scottie . . . take care.
Bucky
Enjoy Scottie! What a fun time you have planned!
Wish your daughter well from all of us.....she will be so glad you are there to see her off on her adventure of a lifetime! And have fun visiting your friend in London and meeting Mim....even though you two have known each other online for years...it will still be exciting to meet in person!
Have tons of fun.....be safe....and we will see you when you get home!
Have a great time! Tell Bev we are all cheering for her. Please say hi to Mim from all of us as well.
And what is peas pudding?
Genko
Have a brilliant time, Scottie.
Kathyx
Scottie,
I'll be thinking of you while you travel. Have a wonderful time with your friend in London, and cheer Bev on for all of us. I know you and Mim will have a fun visit, too! Don't forget to rest when you can, so that you don't overdo!
Cheryl
Have a wonderful time my friend and I hope that it all turns out well!
Take care -
Patze
Scottie . . . I know you're back home now . . . how was: your train ride to London, your visit with your friend, seeing Bev off, meeting Mim? ? Questions, questions, questions.
What's the latest news on Bev?
Welcome home . . . .
Bucky
Hi everyone :)
Back - and more or less awake! I had a busy few days. Travelled on Sunday and was met by an old, but manic friend, who took me and my suitcase for a walk round Camden Market and along a canal before taking me back to her flat via a pub. After dropping my suitcase, she then took me for a walk up Primrose Hill for a view of the city over Regent's Park. I slept well that night.
On Monday I met up with Mim. My friend came along too and did most of the talking that day. It was lovely to see Mim 'in the flesh' though. She's every bit as nice in real life as she is on the boards or in chat. We were 'hi-jacked' by manic friend and taken to Highgate Cemetary, which was very interesting. After a tour round it we needed food, which we found harder to track down than it should have been. One place that usually did food wasn't doing it that day because there had been a tragedy in the chef's family. Another place was just closing for a couple of hours but re-opening later. Eventually we found somewhere serving and had 'lunch' at about 4p.m. Aaaaargh! As Mim said - it was like her stomach thought her throat had been cut!
Monday evening I contacted my daughter and went for a drink with her and her husband (and friend) at the hotel she was staying at. (Very posh!) Obviously didn't stay late as she was leaving the next day but had a press call at 6 a.m. and was going to have to get up about 4 a.m. It was nice to see her though.
On Tuesday morning my friend dragged me round a museum I could have done without - but then I was staying at her place free of charge! She had to go home and I made my way along the Thames, to the HMS Belfast which is where the crews were leaving from. It was cold, wet, grey and horrible and my feet got soaking - and sore. I found my daughter, her husband and his mother, father and a couple of cousins. We were with her for a couple of hours before saying our goodbyes. Watched her row off into the distance with her crew. It's a two boat race - men against women. My computer is playing up so I'm going to do another post to finish off. It's not letting me see where I'm typing!!
Take care - Scottie :)
Scottie,
What a fun trip! I hope you have at least 2 weeks now to recuperate.
Keep us posted on the rowing competition. I'm pulling for the girls.
Cheryl
Hi again :)
www.gbrowchallenge.com (http://www.gbrowchallenge.com) and www.seagals.co.uk (http://www.seagals.co.uk) are good ways of seeing what my daughter's up to.
On Wednesday I was walked round Hampstead Heath before catching the train home. It was a lovely day and I was glad that the rowers would be getting good weather.
The train trip home was uneventful and it was nice to see hubby again. I went to bed about midnight and didn't wake up again - until I was woken - at 4p.m. today. That is the longest I've slept in one stretch for ages. Silly thing is - I think I'll be able to sleep tonight again OK.
Of course I keep checking my daughter's progress every half hour or so. They started off in the lead and then got stuck on a sand bank and got overtaken. They caught up, overtook and were ahead for awhile but I see they are behind again now. I guess it's unrealistic to think that 4 women could beat 4 men in a martathon rowing race but I hope they manage to stay close.
I've been trying to catch up with the posts!
I passed on all your good wishes.
Thanks - Scottie :)
Oh Scottie...how much fun you sound like you had and how much excitement for your daughter! I'm sure you were exhausted...so rest all you can! :)
Thanks for sharing the websites here...I'm going to be checking them out on a regular basis to keep up with whats going on.....go girls!!!!
Scottie
Just had a look at the links. Your daughter looks beautiful. You must be so proud of her. Is she your eldest? I hope she has a wonderful time. It's something she'll never forget.
Kathyx
Hi Kathy :)
My daughter's my 'second' - she has an older brother. She's a determined young woman and i hope she contributes to her team's success. She continually surprises me because of the challenges she undertakes but this is the biggest so far. I tried to bring all my kids up to believe they could do anything if they worked for it. She actually believes it!
Take care - Scottie :)
Hi Scottie,
I'm so glad that your daughter is doing well, and I'll keep my fingers crossed that the teams wins!
And I'm so glad to hear that you had a wonderful time in London; can you tell that I'm so jealous?!?!?! :D
Patze
Scottie
Yes, she does, and that's all credit to her upbringing. Will keep an eye on the links.
Kathyx
Hi Scottie
You must be so proud of your daughter and glad to be there at the start of the event.
Your trip to London sounded fun but exhausting. You lucky thing getting to meet Mim 'in the flesh'! We've all talked about a grand get-together for so long but you two actually got on and did it. I'm so jealous!
Take care - Chickpea
Hi Chickpea :)
I was thinking of you just the other day when I saw the girls had rowed past Brighton. I hope you get to see all your World Cup games!
Take care - Scottie. (One day we'll arrange that meeting!)
Chickpea
Lovely to see you posting. If you and Scottie meet up, please can I come too?
Kathyx
Ooooh yes Kathy - that's be lovely! :)
I'm watching the links Scottie...the girls got quite a little lead now!
I hope Bev knows she has mothers, grandmothers, sisters, aunts, friends from all over the world over rooting for her! We have all adopted her! :)
Aww - thanks Lynn :)
I'll tweet her and tell her just that! Last news was that there was quite a heavy swell and the last two days have been really hard going. Hopefully at some point they'll get the wind and tides with them but UK waters are pretty changeable. I believe it's meant to be easier to row the Atlantic because of currents.
Take care - Scottie :)