According to some website (the best place to get creditble inforation) The Radisson Edwardian in Heathrow has been voted the best airport hotel by some pack of snobs at some point in time. I would have to concur- but as the premiere classe hotel is the only other I've stayed in that's probably not a large enough sample for such awards to be handed out.
So I had a lovely bed, a TV with lots of different stations, in more languages that just French, which had a personalised greeting message on the screen when I arrived. There was a bath, a desk AND a small table (so many places to sit!) and amusing things like a minibar, personal safe and steam press.
I had a burger for dinner and a glass of wine at the bistro, and another drink in the lounge bar afterwards, all of which cost me more than my average weekly food budget...
All in all it was a lovely experience, but considering it was about 3-5 times the amout I normally pay for accomodation,I don't think it's a lifestyle habit I'll be adopting any time soon.
Showing posts with label England. Show all posts
Showing posts with label England. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Monday, November 3, 2008
London Town
London has been turning on all her charm for Claire and I - and by charm, I mean rain - but that has not stopped us having a lovely weekend. Having both visited here before, and therefore being free of the imperative of sightseeing, we have taken a more leisurely itinerary.
We spent a morning at Camden markets, an afternoon trawling the second-hand book dealers along Charing Cross Road, and managed a visit to Brick Lane for curry, Harrods for tea (actually, chocolate milkshakes, but they were divine) and a late-night jaunt to my favourite bagel shop, which I was very happy to find has not changed a jot in the last five years (including the prices...).
Apart from all of the pleasantness above, we were also treated to a special wake up at our hostel this morning from London's finest. Someone had apparently reported a 'woman in distress' in the hostel and the police decided to door knock each room at seven in the morning in an attempt to find said woman. It was almost like being in The Bill (but without the explosions and workplace sexual tension).
Tonight Claire is heading off to Oxford, and I'm catching an overnight ferry to The Netherlands for the start of my Benelux week (Benelux being Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg). There'll be plenty of sightseeing, plus a special nerd excursion on Tuesday. So expect a week of postings on chocolate, hot chips, beer and... psycholinguistics!
We spent a morning at Camden markets, an afternoon trawling the second-hand book dealers along Charing Cross Road, and managed a visit to Brick Lane for curry, Harrods for tea (actually, chocolate milkshakes, but they were divine) and a late-night jaunt to my favourite bagel shop, which I was very happy to find has not changed a jot in the last five years (including the prices...).
Apart from all of the pleasantness above, we were also treated to a special wake up at our hostel this morning from London's finest. Someone had apparently reported a 'woman in distress' in the hostel and the police decided to door knock each room at seven in the morning in an attempt to find said woman. It was almost like being in The Bill (but without the explosions and workplace sexual tension).
Tonight Claire is heading off to Oxford, and I'm catching an overnight ferry to The Netherlands for the start of my Benelux week (Benelux being Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg). There'll be plenty of sightseeing, plus a special nerd excursion on Tuesday. So expect a week of postings on chocolate, hot chips, beer and... psycholinguistics!
Friday, October 31, 2008
England (the telly, the weather, the cake...)
These three thngs are really of great importance while in England. most of my time over here is generally spent visiting family, which means we get a lot of chance to watch the local TV content, discuss the weather and eat cake. Thus I will tell you all about these things, as they are at the forefront of my activities.
TV
There is a new quiz show called Golden Balls. No, really, there is. And people are given these golden balls with cash values written inside and have to try and vote each other off, and then the balls all go in this big tumbler. it's hilarious, ridiculous, and every time the host says the name of the show I almost wet myself. Nut then what do you expect from a country that still has Millionaire and Weakest Link on air?
Also, in TV news, the British Telly Awards were on last night. In his acceptance speech for best actor in a drama, David Tennent said that he WON'T be returning as the doctor after the 4 2009 specials. There has been much weeping and gnashing of teeth.
WEATHER
Really, the only thing worth mentioning here is that it snowed while we were in Eastbourne yesterday. Actual big fat snowflakes. Unfortunately it was too warm for it to settle, but it looked magic.
CAKE
This is only here because Claire and I had morning tea by the fire side in these lovely little tea rooms. I really like tea rooms. I think Melbourne really has too many cafes and should really have more tea shops, with cakes, and scones and nice china, and with a fireplace.
Tomorrow Claire and i are off to London to terrify the good citizens of that fair town.
TV
There is a new quiz show called Golden Balls. No, really, there is. And people are given these golden balls with cash values written inside and have to try and vote each other off, and then the balls all go in this big tumbler. it's hilarious, ridiculous, and every time the host says the name of the show I almost wet myself. Nut then what do you expect from a country that still has Millionaire and Weakest Link on air?
Also, in TV news, the British Telly Awards were on last night. In his acceptance speech for best actor in a drama, David Tennent said that he WON'T be returning as the doctor after the 4 2009 specials. There has been much weeping and gnashing of teeth.
WEATHER
Really, the only thing worth mentioning here is that it snowed while we were in Eastbourne yesterday. Actual big fat snowflakes. Unfortunately it was too warm for it to settle, but it looked magic.
CAKE
This is only here because Claire and I had morning tea by the fire side in these lovely little tea rooms. I really like tea rooms. I think Melbourne really has too many cafes and should really have more tea shops, with cakes, and scones and nice china, and with a fireplace.
Tomorrow Claire and i are off to London to terrify the good citizens of that fair town.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
What's up, Doc (Martin)
In revenge for dragging them into a library, yesterday, my parents folded all five members of our not-too-short family into a Ford Fiesta for a two hours drive into Cornwall. More specifically, we went to Port Issac, where the show 'Doc Martin' is filmed.
Although I think the eponymous doctor is a bit of a twat, I have to give him credit for settling in such a lovely little town. We strolled around, ate Cornish pasties and drank Corninsh ale, and then folded ourselves back into the car for the drive home.
My legs were sore from the folding and the walking, and my stomach sore from the pasty, but it was a fun excursion none the less.
Although I think the eponymous doctor is a bit of a twat, I have to give him credit for settling in such a lovely little town. We strolled around, ate Cornish pasties and drank Corninsh ale, and then folded ourselves back into the car for the drive home.
My legs were sore from the folding and the walking, and my stomach sore from the pasty, but it was a fun excursion none the less.
Friday, October 24, 2008
The Exeter Book
While the trip down to Exeter was made with the intention of the family reuniting (and, apparently, sampling a range of ales in a range of pubs) I couldn't resist fitting in a bit of nerd tourism around our busy pub schedule.
Thus, my family found themselves crowded into the small and homely Exeter Cathedral Library, where can be found one of the most fascinating and priceless books of the English Language.
It is unsurprisingly, but somewhat unoriginally, named the Exeter Book - and has the finest collection of Old English verse, poems and riddles in existence. It was all written around 950 AD and only managed to survive because it was shown such little regard for about 500 years that no one got around to throwing it out.
Having studied Old English at uni, it was pretty exciting to come face to folio with a book full of Old English that I'd read in class. And unlike most other priceless manuscripts (da Vinci folios, Bodleian books, The Lindisfarne gospel, etc) it was very easily assessable. And the staff were excessively friendly, enthusiastic and knowledgeable.
So between that, and my growing fondness for the local ciders, Exeter has been good fun so far.
Thus, my family found themselves crowded into the small and homely Exeter Cathedral Library, where can be found one of the most fascinating and priceless books of the English Language.
It is unsurprisingly, but somewhat unoriginally, named the Exeter Book - and has the finest collection of Old English verse, poems and riddles in existence. It was all written around 950 AD and only managed to survive because it was shown such little regard for about 500 years that no one got around to throwing it out.
Having studied Old English at uni, it was pretty exciting to come face to folio with a book full of Old English that I'd read in class. And unlike most other priceless manuscripts (da Vinci folios, Bodleian books, The Lindisfarne gospel, etc) it was very easily assessable. And the staff were excessively friendly, enthusiastic and knowledgeable.
So between that, and my growing fondness for the local ciders, Exeter has been good fun so far.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Reunion!
For the first time in about 8 months, all five members of my family were in the same room at the same time. We're down in Exeter visiting my little brother, who is working here for a while.
As my brother is our tour guide all we've seen so far is the cathedral (from the outside) and quite a few pubs. Nice pubs too.
Today my brother is at work, so we're going to do some less alcohol oriented tourism. As we're in the shire of Devon I think we'll have to stop at some point for Devonshire tea. Perhaps more than once...
As my brother is our tour guide all we've seen so far is the cathedral (from the outside) and quite a few pubs. Nice pubs too.
Today my brother is at work, so we're going to do some less alcohol oriented tourism. As we're in the shire of Devon I think we'll have to stop at some point for Devonshire tea. Perhaps more than once...
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