UK trip

January 2019 - April 2024
January 2019 Read more
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  • 2countries
  • 1,936days
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  • 5.3kkilometers
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  • Day 1

    London by night and Wicked

    January 5, 2019 in England ⋅ ☁️ 4 °C

    After a couple of hours of nap, we went to the local pub called The Swan. A huge gin menu but didn’t indulge since I knew I would sleep during the play. Of course we had to have fish and chips with mushy peas and shared a Black Forest dome which is really just a layer of chocolate mousse, a layer of cherry mousse and a layer of cream mousse formed like half a ball. The dessert size is small and logical not like the huge portions at home. Then off to the Apollo Victoria Theatre to see Wicked. I usually read up on these things but had not this time. Surprise ending. Loved it. The subway ride back was so quick, 22 minutes. We should have one in Winnipeg. Now for a big sleep in preparation for more sightseeing tomorrow.Read more

  • Day 1

    London, UK

    January 5, 2019 in England ⋅ ☁️ 4 °C

    Arrived here at 7:30 am after leaving TO 45 minutes late. Slept briefly on the plane, probably because I napped on the way to Toronto. Train to our hotel was a quick 15 minute ride. So efficient. Dropped our bags at the Westbourne Hyde Park and started our walk around the city, after sharing a smoked salmon and cream cheese bagel and a wonderful cappuccino at Laurent, a small French coffee shop around the corner, through Hyde Park where we saw Kensington Palace, some Green parrots, lots of swans and even Canada geese. Saw the mounted guard ride their horses from the Buckingham Palace grounds into Hyde Park. Got our discounted tickets for Wicked for tonight in Leicester Square and took the underground back to our hotel. Just short of 20,000 steps and the day isn’t over yet. Checked in and had a rest.Read more

  • Day 2

    Sunday in London

    January 6, 2019 in England ⋅ ⛅ 9 °C

    We slept til 10 after turning off the lights at 11:30 last night. Felt good to have a good sleep. The Fitbit says I slept 7 hours without waking.

    Shared a cream cheese and lox bagel at Laurent’s again since that was lunch and made our way to the London Eye. Walked through the last day of the Christmas market and went on the Eye. The ride is 30 minutes long and is located on the bank of the Thames across from ‘Big Ben’, which, sadly, is shrouded with scaffolding. After each load of passengers leave the Eye, employees sweep the car with mirrors, looking for bombs and such. Enjoyed a soft ice cream with a Flake bar which, apparently, is a thing here. Had added a river cruise to the Eye ticket for only 5£ more. Cool and windy on the water as it was already 3:30 when we boarded the boat. Lovely to see things you read about, and did you know that the real ‘London Bridge’ was bought by an American who shipped it to Arizona, thinking it was the Tower Bridge that is obviously still in London. Should have gone to look at it first😆.

    Walked to Trafalgar Square behind the Charring Cross train station. The National Museum was open for another 50 minutes so we were able to visit the free galleries. Amazing art from the 1500s. Canada House is locates on the Square so had to take a photo of a piece of home.

    Stopped at Cafe Concerto to buy dessert for later and filled our yen for fish and chips at Sherlock Holmes’ pub. Good thing we shared the order; would have been too much otherwise. Enjoyed our dessert once we returned to the hotel and settled in for the night.

    Steps: 25,204 on Saturday. Sunday 14,039.
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  • Day 3

    Last day in London

    January 7, 2019 in England ⋅ ☁️ 9 °C

    Set the alarm for 8. Good thing because too much caffeine too late in the day messed up my sleep. Went to the shopping district, walked through Selfridge’s department store — bigger and more expensive than Saks Fifth Avenue. Also found Marks and Spencer’s— more sensible and affordable, a reminder of when we had M & S in Polo Park. The donuts were 4£ each, that’s roughly $7 each! Walked past the Marble Arch and through Hyde Park where I found the squirrel, the maple leafs and the irises. The parrots came back but didn’t stop because we didn’t have peanuts for them. Then back to our hotel to pack our bags and rest before the train trip to Huddersfield at 1:30.Read more

  • Day 3

    On the train to Huddersfield

    January 7, 2019 in England ⋅ ⛅ 10 °C

    Travelling through the English countryside one sees considerable green in the fields and sheep and horses and a few trailer parks, though not nice ones like you would see in Texas or Arizona. The hills roll gently and though we had a bit of blue sky yesterday, it is gloomy and grey today. The church is really the first I have seen here. Must not be looking in the right places. Arrived in Huddersfield on time and were picked up by Anna from Paxman who brought us to our hotel who had expected us yesterday. Somebody made a mistake when they booked and it wasn’t us! Went back to the office and met with Richard for over an hour. Our tech person who was supposed join us for the training emailed to say his flight had been cancelled as wouldn’t be coming. A blessing in disguise! This will save so much $$! Hope we sleep well tonight sine we need to be ready to go at 8 am tomorrow.Read more

  • Day 4

    Paxman training to learn how to train

    January 8, 2019 in England ⋅ ⛅ 5 °C

    Have been in the training session from 8:30 am til 6 pm when we will all go for dinner with Richard Paxman and the training staff. Maintenance training will continue tomorrow then technical training Thursday and Friday. It turns out I’m pretty good at providing clear instructions. Let’s hope when they test us on Wednesday when we do a complete presentation , it will be just as good.Read more

  • Day 5

    Final training the trainer day

    January 9, 2019 in England ⋅ 🌙 2 °C

    After learning each module of the training course today we had to put it altogether and present an hour-long session which was to include the history of the company, description of the Machine, cap sizes, fitting of the caps and hair care for the patient as well as basic maintenance. Having had a meager 15 minutes to put together this speech, it was a challenge to get ‘er done. Managed it but was encouraged to ask the audience more questions. Again had only a half hour lunch break during which to fine tune the final speech then had to present one on one with the Director. Aced it. Went to a restaurant called Pax Burger with a staff member and Rafael from California and Linda. This place is owned by Richard Paxman’s cousin. Beautiful burger (ordered it with lettuce instead of the bun) and four onion rings that Linda I and I shared. Of course while in England, one must have gin so here’s a photo of the raspberry gin slushy thing. Yummy!Read more

  • Day 6

    Dinner at Catch in Holmfirth

    January 10, 2019 in England ⋅ ⛅ 4 °C

    Today we had a brief marketing seminar then Linda participated in the tech training for the new scalp cooler. Since I cannot be certified, I just listened and knit at the same time.

    All the tech participants were invited for dinner with Richard Paxman and three of his staff. Beautiful fish and good company.Read more

  • Day 7

    Final day in Huddersfield

    January 11, 2019 in England ⋅ ⛅ 6 °C

    Checked out of our hotel right after breakfast. Have enjoyed the warm croissants with Nutella every day. I will however be glad to be home with familiar and healthier food. Received our train tickets from Richard P who, when he heard we were travelling by coach (bus) got on his phone app and reserved train tickets. Apparently tickets purchased on the app are cheaper than on the website. The best price we had seen for train tickets was £100 per person. He got £55 tickets.

    Another day of training for Linda and the rest. Our Spanish compatriots left at noon to catch their flight in Manchester so that allowed Linda and Hristo from Bulgaria and Artur from Poland more hands-on time. They will write a multiple-choice test to certify that they are capable to repair Paxman technology.

    All the while I have opportunity to knit and stay up to date with the company emails and messages from home.

    Had a tour of their workroom, probably only as big as our home’s main floor. They outsource certain parts and components and build the machines here.

    We took an Uber to Wakefield Westgate train station ad the express train back to London. Glad to be on the way home.
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  • Day 8

    On the way home

    January 12, 2019 in Canada ⋅ 🌙 -14 °C

    Stayed at The Blakemore Hyde Park last night. By the time we got off the train at 9 and found our way to the hotel in the dark and the king sized bed was changed back to two twins, it was 10:30. Minimal unpacking as we planned to leave this morning by 10:30.

    After a lovely continental breakfast in the basement of the hotel, we walked to the Westbourne Hyde Park where Linda had forgotten her wool coat when we left there on Monday. Finally we were able to get some answers from the manager who advised that they had seen the coat packed in a M & S bag and left in the linen room. They haven’t been able to locate beyond that. They will pay for the coat if they don’t find it. Went back to our hotel and checked out. Walked to Paddington Station to catch the Heathrow Express train. 15 minutes to the airport!

    Because we didn’t want to use the radio wave machine we asked for the pat down and had to wait very long for them to get available personnel. They also pulled our carry-on baggage from the x-ray machine to do a hands-on search. This all took a very long time and so had only 10 minutes to shop in the duty-free shop before boarding. Left on time and arrived in Montreal early. The tv at my seat didn’t owork so received a code to be entered online for a discount on future travel. Had a Montreal smoked meat bagel for supper and hung around for 5.5 hours til our flight left at 8:50. Long day. We will have been travelling for 16 hours. Made it home safely.
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