A Somerset weekend and stuff...
Friday, 9 June 2017 03:00 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
byslantedlightI've been starting this since last weekend, but I'm determined to post it now, because blimey and yes! Okay, it's going to be interesting times, but I've got some of my faith back in the UK electorate, who did not overwhelmingly vote for a party that has been secretive, that has been aggressive (and secretive) about Brexit, and fairly openly out for the profit of the few rather than using our taxes to look after our people and our country. Keep thinking like that people - keep realising and seeing what is really going on...
Anyway. *g* Back to my week-long attempted post...
My flist could almost be described as buzzing over the last week (or at least present *g*) - hurrah for everyone who's posted lately! You've inspired me to finally get back to my keyboard and post something too, so thank you! Mind you, I've been trying to write this ever since last Sunday night, so I'm still slow, but... getting there. So - have some pics first. I had to go back to Somerset last weekend (woe is me!) to collect the last of my plants from my friend,
I visited here, of course.
This is where I stayed:
Unexpected ferris wheel!
Somerset morning
Lunch in my favourite Rainbow Cafe in Glastonbury
There's also been lots going on besides work - two new book clubs (and a sci-fi/fantasy/horror writers group tonight), more about all that in another post, I guess (nb. I re-started this post this morning, and now it's lunchtime! I'm taking a few minutes while the girls nap/rest...) The more exciting thing is that tomorrow (yes, tomorrow!) I go off on holiday to Ireland - wheee! Well, I drive over to Fishguard in Wales first (more than five hours), stay at a YHA, then ferry to Rosslare tomorrow, an hour to my B&B by the southern coast, and then as follows:
(uh-oh - incoming four year old!)
- Duncannon to Killarney (cos one of my favourite places in Aus. is Killarney Beach), via the Blarney Stone, I hope
- Killarney to Doolin (Dingle Peninsula, Ring of Kerry etc.)
- Doolin to Bushmills (5-6 hour drive, eep! Not sure what's in between except the Burren, but places to stop - and Bushmills is by the Giant's Causeway!)
- Bushmills via the Dark Hedges, Carrick-a-rede bridge etc., to Co. Meath, where I'm going to stay in a wee castle - whee!
- To Dublin via the Boyne Valley, to stay in YHA for a night, and hopefully get to the National Library to answer a geneaology question
- Ferry to Holyhead, in Anglesey (I've never been, I figured why not!) and drive to YHA in Snowdonia
- Home!
It's been such last-minute organising (oh, and car passed its MOT again last weekend before I drove down to Somerset and back the next day - yeay!), and there's been so much else going on, that I'm only now starting to feel properly excited. I still have a panic about exams this year, which effectively kick off while I'm away, and for which my computer this year is not working (aaargh and ack!) - I've tried the helpdesk twice: the first time they hung up on me mid-process when it hit 6pm and the second time the bloke said he wasn't allowed to help me with IE11 issues. Which - I only need to download it for the exams, I don't actually want to use it, and no it's not as simple as knowing how to download it, the bloody thing gets hung when trying to download, every time! (Yes, I have googled, and am in the process of trying all the fixes that are suggested... *headdesk*)
Oh, and I've pretty much decided to go with a Huawei P10 mobile - expensive, which is unlike me, but if it works as well as it's reputed, then hopefully I'll be able to post etc. from my mobile when I get a chance, rather than waiting until I'm too tired in the evening. Speaking of which - four year old is getting stroppy, so back to it!
PS - I've been enjoying the glimpses of lads in my flist, even when I've not commented. I'm missing them...
Anyway. *g* Back to my week-long attempted post...
My flist could almost be described as buzzing over the last week (or at least present *g*) - hurrah for everyone who's posted lately! You've inspired me to finally get back to my keyboard and post something too, so thank you! Mind you, I've been trying to write this ever since last Sunday night, so I'm still slow, but... getting there. So - have some pics first. I had to go back to Somerset last weekend (woe is me!) to collect the last of my plants from my friend,
I visited here, of course.
This is where I stayed:
Unexpected ferris wheel!
Somerset morning
Lunch in my favourite Rainbow Cafe in Glastonbury
There's also been lots going on besides work - two new book clubs (and a sci-fi/fantasy/horror writers group tonight), more about all that in another post, I guess (nb. I re-started this post this morning, and now it's lunchtime! I'm taking a few minutes while the girls nap/rest...) The more exciting thing is that tomorrow (yes, tomorrow!) I go off on holiday to Ireland - wheee! Well, I drive over to Fishguard in Wales first (more than five hours), stay at a YHA, then ferry to Rosslare tomorrow, an hour to my B&B by the southern coast, and then as follows:
(uh-oh - incoming four year old!)
- Duncannon to Killarney (cos one of my favourite places in Aus. is Killarney Beach), via the Blarney Stone, I hope
- Killarney to Doolin (Dingle Peninsula, Ring of Kerry etc.)
- Doolin to Bushmills (5-6 hour drive, eep! Not sure what's in between except the Burren, but places to stop - and Bushmills is by the Giant's Causeway!)
- Bushmills via the Dark Hedges, Carrick-a-rede bridge etc., to Co. Meath, where I'm going to stay in a wee castle - whee!
- To Dublin via the Boyne Valley, to stay in YHA for a night, and hopefully get to the National Library to answer a geneaology question
- Ferry to Holyhead, in Anglesey (I've never been, I figured why not!) and drive to YHA in Snowdonia
- Home!
It's been such last-minute organising (oh, and car passed its MOT again last weekend before I drove down to Somerset and back the next day - yeay!), and there's been so much else going on, that I'm only now starting to feel properly excited. I still have a panic about exams this year, which effectively kick off while I'm away, and for which my computer this year is not working (aaargh and ack!) - I've tried the helpdesk twice: the first time they hung up on me mid-process when it hit 6pm and the second time the bloke said he wasn't allowed to help me with IE11 issues. Which - I only need to download it for the exams, I don't actually want to use it, and no it's not as simple as knowing how to download it, the bloody thing gets hung when trying to download, every time! (Yes, I have googled, and am in the process of trying all the fixes that are suggested... *headdesk*)
Oh, and I've pretty much decided to go with a Huawei P10 mobile - expensive, which is unlike me, but if it works as well as it's reputed, then hopefully I'll be able to post etc. from my mobile when I get a chance, rather than waiting until I'm too tired in the evening. Speaking of which - four year old is getting stroppy, so back to it!
PS - I've been enjoying the glimpses of lads in my flist, even when I've not commented. I'm missing them...
no subject
Date: Friday, 9 June 2017 03:23 pm (UTC)I don't know what I'd do without my modest smartphone... I barely use my laptop anymore for leisure stuff (incl. LJ and other social media activity); especially when you have a quiet moment while you're away from your desk... like me right now in a waiting room for a physio appointment...
Great Somerset pictures!
Enjoy your trip!
no subject
Date: Saturday, 10 June 2017 12:06 am (UTC)I know what you mean about using a phone for social media/leisure - I keep thinking that if I finally get a decent one, then perhaps I can get back to it. But I also don't want to give up my lovely laptop, which I use alot for photos and (in theory and hope) writing. I couldn't use a small screen for those things. But a better phone would be useful for waiting rooms, definitely... *g*
no subject
Date: Friday, 9 June 2017 08:59 pm (UTC)Also lovely leafy pics - ta for sharing - and is that honeysuckle in the *counts carefully* eighth one?
The little tea room looks a delight. Bet it's lovely on a summer's day.
Must you use IE11 or could you use a different browser, such as Firefox or Chrome? (I'm sorry, but I managed to missed your previous posts about exams, so I don't know which ones you are taking.)
Huzzah! for the car passing its MOT just in time for the Ireland trip. (The alternative was simply too awful to contemplate.)
I hope you have a wonderful time on your trip! Please take lots of pictures! :-)
no subject
Date: Saturday, 10 June 2017 12:11 am (UTC)That is indeed honeysuckle - it smelled gorgeous! When I went in the space was full with cyclists, so I went indoors, otherwise I would have been sat right under it for hours...
The exams (marking them, not taking them!) require IE11 - very specific they are this year. Last year they worked on Chrome as well, but they've put up some kind of block this year, cos a message came up when I tried it - grrrr. I've not managed to sort it today after all, so tomorrow morning is either a (very hopeful) computer repair guy, or else bizarrely a new laptop... Which is so frustrating when I love this one - but having looked it up, it turns out Sony went out of the Vaio business three years ago (it's been so problem-free that I didn't even notice), and I must have had this one for about six years, so I suppose it's not unreasonable... except it's still got a decent spec compared to what else I could buy in my budget-such-as-it-is, and.. argh! If I wasn't away for a week then I could get it repaired, cos I'm sure it can't be that hard a fix, but I just cannot work it out myself...
And thank you! Pictures are pretty much guaranteed... *vbg*
no subject
Date: Saturday, 10 June 2017 11:02 am (UTC)no subject
Date: Saturday, 10 June 2017 03:20 pm (UTC)And you are off on holiday already! I hope you can post here and there, and show/tell us where you are.
I'm wishing you reasonably good weather and a wonderful time!
Oh, and have you booked a flight to Germany yet? *g*
Is that phone the one with the really good camera? Sometimes an expensive phone pays off in the long run.
Mieke is still using the only expensive phone I ever bought years ago: a Note 3. It works better than many new
budget phones, even with a somewhat outdated operating system!
I hope you can get your computer problems sorted out for the exam marking.
Somerset looks so inviting and lovely!
How do you like the book clubs and writing group?
Here, it's almost the end of the school year, and therefore super busy. Apart from that, the MG is getting a new set of
house batteries (bigger and hopefully longer lasting) to match the solar panels. We had to rip out the old, tiny battery box,
cut a larger hole for a bigger door and are now building the new box. While in there, we are also upgrading the wiring to
make it a bit easier to add things, and have less "cable salad" in the battery box.
So, never a dull moment! :)
Going to North Cascade National Park for a few days at the end of next week.
no subject
Date: Sunday, 11 June 2017 08:54 am (UTC)no subject
Date: Monday, 12 June 2017 08:38 am (UTC)Damn, but looking at your Glastonbury photos reminds me of just how many years its been since I visited
no subject
Date: Monday, 12 June 2017 06:57 pm (UTC)