The Angel of the North

After the worst ferry journey ever (IMHO), the room was grubby and too warm, the sea was so rough we kept pitching and rolling and the food left a lot to be desired, although that could have been to do with my queasiness.

We disembarked and waited to leave, we were officially the very last car through the security gate.  I asked GO if he wanted to go and have a look at the Angel of the North, "While we're here!"

It was huge, the last time I'd seen it I was a little hungover, let's leave it at that.

GO did all the usual poses, I couldn't  quite get the right shot, so I said I'd just walk down the slope a bit. 

Well obviously I didn't make it.  I felt my foot start slipping.  I couldn't get a grip and before I knew it, I was flat on my back.

"Oop a la!"  I heard some Polish guys exclaim.  I just lay in the mud and laughed. As I have said before and I'm sure I will say again; it's always me!

Mini Cruising Like a Sleb - Part 1

"You have to leave early... 9am should do it.  Give you of plenty of time."  Papichen said emphatically.

I wasn't convinced, leaving at 9am meant we would get there at 12pm and our ferry was at 5pm!

Never the less in the end we actually left at half eight and after a teary first half and hour. I always hate leaving the "rentals".  This time we'd had two fantastic weeks.  We made excellent time, arriving with five hours to kill.

As is the norm for me my priority was food.  I was starving and I knew we wouldn't be eating on the ferry (£30 each for dinner, I think not, we had rolls), so we headed into the Amsterdam suburbs to find something to eat.

We went into Ijmuiden town (there's nothing there we were wrongly informed) and began by looking for a supermarket.  Jackpot, Albert Hjeine, not only could we pick up some food the had free coffee.

After a stroll past the giant crabs and fishermen tribute we spotted Subway, I was tempted but sandwich for lunch and tea was a bit much.

Just as I was about to give up we found a cool little bistro that served burgers and Frikadellen and pommes (no horse meat here, hopefully).

After filling our tums we made our way back to the port.  

We wasted a bit more time at the docks watching the ships arrive and making friends with the seagulls.

We decided to find out where we were supposed to be, we drove past a long queue of cars.  They must be on an earlier ferry I mused.  Nope that was the queue for our ferry, and we were at the back.  Bit of a theme for the journey.

Back to Crazy!

Oxford wanderings

No sibling rivalry here.

Mid December I received an email from my brother informing me of the intinarary he had planned for his stay.  Once a military man always a military man.  After visiting the parentals in Deutschland he would visit his bestie by the beach and was then planning to come and visit us.  The first day he wanted to do an Oxford Harry Potter tour, just a walk around Oxford looking at some filming locations, and the. Go out fr afternoon tea.  I managed to co once G.O to come in to town with me, if only for the tea.

As we were chatting about times to leave, I asked what time the tour started, perhaps we could meet up afterwards.  It was then that brother informed me, "oh, I have a map you can do the tour for us."

Before we set off I decided that we would have to line our stomachs, nothing sets you up for the day like a proper breakfast.  And what better place to get a good and budget friendly breakfast, why whether spoons of course.

Full English

Eggs Benedict are my guilty pleasure.