tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34240549946584190712024-02-19T20:37:15.069-08:00The Peripatetic BearAlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02514977963623374915noreply@blogger.comBlogger53125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3424054994658419071.post-37820516346458845742014-07-25T10:23:00.002-07:002014-07-25T10:23:42.436-07:00Beating like a drum<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Hello there bears, or, since I'm in Glasgow, "Well, herro rer bears," and I have an earworm - you know, one of those tunes you can't get out of your head.<br />
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OnWednesday night we had a great time and we ended up singing singing - "Oh the rhythm of my heart is besting like a drum, with...<i> "Enough, enough, it's driving me crazy too.</i><br />
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Ahem, well anyway, himself, Katy and I went to tropical Celtic Park for the Opening Ceremony of the 20th Commonwealth Games being held in Glasgow. Did I say tropical - I could have taken off my fur it was sooo hot.<br />
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When we finally got through security - I was x-rayed again one of these times I'll just glow - we took our seats in the shade - we hoped.</div>
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Shade, what shade? I sat there sweltering in me fur, and he sat there melting in his kilt. So we just went down below the stands so he could get a beer and we could cool off. Phew, I could have done with <a href="http://bearbits.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Sebastian's snow</a> I can tell you.</div>
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We looked on the set and there was an arch thingy. Can you guess what it is?<br />
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And these are Tunnock's tea cakes, a Scottish speciality and I think all bears would love the chocolate and marshmallow filling. These were big enough for humins to wear. I bet they were tasty.<br />
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This is a warm up band of pipers and drummers. "WARM UP," I said when he explained. "WARM UP. I'm fair biling* so I am. I need a cool doon act." But it wasn't to happen. We just sat and baked until the sun went down, when it became merely hot.<br />
*<i>To explain, he's gone all Scottish again. Fair biling can loosely be translated as Hot, Damned Hot as in, Good Morning Vietnam.</i><br />
Ahem professor Higgins can we get on?<br />
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After we'd been warmed up sufficiently it was time to find out what that arch was. Wellll!! it was Nessy, who come all the way down from the highlands to show us she does exist. Do you like her scarf - she didn't need it on Wednesday I can tell you.<br />
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This big screen was over 100yds long and 36ft high-- tuge it was, T-uge, and there were doors in it too. Here it's showing what the Scots invented.<br />
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Then Rod Stewart appeared - he's the we dot in the silver suit - and he sang, "Oh the rhythm of my heart is beating like a drum.." <i>SHUT UP.</i><br />
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Shortly afterwards Her Maj turned up in her (air-conditioned I bet) posh car. She waved regally as she passed and everyone cheered and sang the national anthem.<br />
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Just as she arrived the Red Arrows flew over painting the sky red, white and blue. The next couple of pictures are of some of the athletes.<br />
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The guys above were dancing including the ones in the wheelchairs. They were having great fun and so were we. We clapped and cheered and shouted "Come on in" when each team was announced.<br />
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I liked the way everyone went red. I think it must have been the sun, but he says it's just the lighting.<br />
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Here's his and Katy's team from Nor'n Ir'n <i>(that's Northern Ireland, Jock. Norn Irn may be the way we say it, but the longer version is correct).</i><br />
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Hip, hip, hooray, here's my team SCOTLAND, and of course it's Ann's team too. Oh how I cheered, and they did too.<br />
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Once all the athletes were in Mr Stewart came back - "Oh the.." <i>SHHHH.</i> He didn't sing that but just saying his name puts it back into my noggin.<br />
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Throughout the night we'd been talked to by nice people from UNICEF and so at this point the humans were invited to text a donation and then switch on their phone torches. All the wee pinpoints of light are the torches. They've raised £2.5m with help from the telly audience.<br />
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Finally it was all over, but we were all sent home to our (very late) beds with a volley of fireworks.<br />
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Until next time.<br />
<br />
Hugs,<br />
<br />
Jock</div>
Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02514977963623374915noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3424054994658419071.post-14139811992603351832014-07-14T14:19:00.002-07:002014-07-15T04:33:39.381-07:00Va, Va Vroom!!!!! Part 2 - Zoom zoom machines and other bears<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Searching for friends</h3>
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So this was our campsite when the sun was shining - you don't get to see it when the sun wasn't. On Friday night we heard and saw some of the vroom vroom machines <strike>playing </strike>practising on the circuit and Himself used the time to sort out where he could get some pictures from. (Some, some, did I say? 1800 in three days!)</div>
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I thought I would be unique, but when we walked around there were several bears. This is the Lotus bear in an old ambulance painted up as a Formula 1 John Player Special Lotus support vehicle. We waved at each other, but he wasn't allowed out.<br />
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On Saturday morning we got all poshified to go into the paddock so the humins could ooh and aah at the cars. On the way we passed a little Austin Healey Sprite with a very contented looking co-driver. He sat there looking out happily, wearing his googles <i>(goggles, bear, goggles). </i>If I wants to call them googles it's up to me 'cos it's my blog - OK <i>(Sigh - Whatever)</i></div>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<strike>Pillocks</strike> In the Paddock</h3>
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While we wandered around inside the circuit we came across these two old geezers <i>(Hey, that's Ian that invited you on the right, and Tony who brought your tent and most of the beer!) </i>As I say we met these two old geezers and had to sit down for a coffee, though Tony said it was only alright.</div>
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Ian thinks he'd make a good racing driver. Snigger, what, like he was Britain's next skiing sensation. <i>(What's got into you? Maybe falling off your skis at 70 isn't sensible, but he did drive us all that way and shared the tent with you.) </i>Sorry, I couldn't resist, I'll be kind to him.</div>
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This is a pretty little Triumph Spitfire from 1964. I like the very red nose.<br />
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This is an Aston Martin DB3 from 1952, that makes it as old as the Staff. It belongs to one of Tony's friends and he was racing it, except when we looked into the car there was no seat and no gearbox. Apparently the old one broke and he had to borrow another one. Hey Alan, does that mean when your gearbox breaks we can ask someone for a spare? <i>No Jock, humans don't work like that, though with the number of artificial hips and knees, pacemakers and stents out there, maybe you're right in a sort of a way. So far I'm alright. I'll just keep cycling and dancing, but not at the same time.</i><br />
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Still, I managed to sit on the shiny shiny bonnet. Do you like my deflection? I am upside down in it. <i>(That's reflection). </i>Is it? Oh well deflection, reflection they're almost the same. And, to repeat your comment, Whatever.<br />
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
RRRRacing</h3>
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There were very complicated rules for the racing. First everyone was split into six "Grids" each covering a number of years. This Bentley was in Grid 1 (1923 to 1939). Everyone got three one hour races spread over 24 hours so everybody had to drive at night, but they also got to race during the day. Even within the grids there were different classes so the little Bugattis weren't racing the huge Bentleys. Well they were, but they weren't if you know what I mean. No? Neither do I.<br />
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As evening drew in Grid 4 (1962-65) whizzed around in the gathering gloom. This is an early Ford GT40.<br />
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Grid 5 (1966-71) had this amazing Porsche 917, one of Alan's favourites with a flat 12 engine!<br />
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The night racing was mostly fun. We went into the stands and watched from under the covers out of the rain. Can you see the paper bag behind my head? That was filled with doughnuttie wormy things that we very tasty, and just what a bear needed <i>(As well as the occasional nip of whisky from a hip flask.) </i>Well, yes they did help though I found after a while that there were two racing tracks and I'll swear that some of the headlights rotated.<br />
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Next morning we went to see Grid 3 (1957-61) and two cars came into the last bend on the last lap with the big Aston Martin trying to pass the ickle Lotus.<br />
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They appeared from behind the screen and the Aston was trying to race backwards, and then sideways and finally forwards again. It didn't work and he got passed by a D-Type Jaguar and came third.</div>
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Grid 4 cars were having lots of fun. Just under the bridge is that little Triumph Spitfire racing the Fords GT40 - but not very well.</div>
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Grid 6 - the most modern cars from 1972 -79 - were very very noisy but also very fast indeed.<br />
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
Time to pack up</h3>
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Soon it was all over except for the party where people helped to drink our beer, but left us the dregs of a bottle of Jameson.<br />
As the campsite emptied there were fewer and fewer cars and we went over to drool over this Aston Martin V12 Vantage and there in the car was its rightful owner - Angus the Bear. I made short work of meeting him.<br />
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Look - He got to go on the piste, a bit like us really, I mean 17 pints each, and we didn't need a ticket. <i>(No, no, no, it means he got to drive around the track with his staff. </i>Oh, I see, that must have been fun.<br />
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Before we finally set off I thought I'd try to be the bonnet mascot, but himself reckoned I'd blow off.</div>
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Here we are again - notice that we were leaving and the rain had stopped.<br />
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Our last Normandy site was the Merville Battery, a very famous battle where 150 British Paratroops overcame 200 Germans manning the battery. That plane is like the one the came in.<br />
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The worlds most valuable ferry</h3>
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It was only a few minutes drive to the ferry port where we lined up with everyone else.<br />
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Did I say everyone? Some of the cars were priceless. That Bentley was racing and we had passed it on the Autoroute.<br />
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Here we are parked up. To the left is an old Mustang, then a BMW, a Triumph TR5 and behind is a Shelby Cobra, not a replica.<br />
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Onboard ship and we were surrounded by millions of pounds worth of cars, a couple of bikers gobsmacked by what they saw, but no, definitely no commercial vehicles. Soon enough we sailed and then drove through the dark in England until we were back at Ian's. Our great big adventure all over. Everybear say, "Aah."</div>
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Till the next time,</div>
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Hugs,</div>
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Jock</div>
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Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02514977963623374915noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3424054994658419071.post-63643609515904520042014-07-13T09:18:00.000-07:002014-07-13T15:22:59.059-07:00Va, Va, VROOM!!!!!!! Part 1 - Getting there.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Hiyo everybear,<br />
<br />
What tocitement, I've been off playing with cars and meeting new peeps and bears (well I only got to meet one bear, but I saw several).<br />
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
A great idea</h3>
It all started with a phone call in January when the staff's brother Ian rang up and said, "Hi Jock, how d'you fancy coming with me in my E-Type to the Classic Le Mans races?" <br />
"Great idea. Will there be beer?"<br />
"Oh, I expect so, just a bit." It turns out that because of a logistics foul-up we got 4 flagons of beer and I had to help them to drink 17 pints each in the 3 days we were at Le Mans itself . <i>At this point I must interject to say we didn't quite manage it even with some help from random campers. Thank goodness it tasked good and wasn't too strong.</i><br />
Whatever, I said, "That sounds good, and can I bring the Staff to carry the cases and the cameras."<br />
"Oh, I suppose so," said Ian, "If you must. He can keep us amused, bring the tent, and supply the<br />
wine gums."<br />
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
Let's get going</h3>
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Cut to early July and we're at Toad Hall, Ian's house, and I finally get to try out the E-Type while the <strike>mugs</strike> staff squeeze everything into the car. I tried out several positions to see where I'd get the best view. Behind the windscreen seemed good.<br />
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On the other hand sitting on the boot mean I could see behind me and <strike>thumb my nose</strike> wave at all the cars we passed.<br />
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Alternatively, sitting on the sun visor gave the best view, but the staff pointed out that it would be a tad windy and maybe I'd get squished if they had to put the roof up. So I contented myself with sitting behind the screen as you'll see.<br />
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So, we climbed aboard, himself learning quickly how to fold himself into the passenger seat, but I don't know what he was fussing about. I just jumped in and sat down.<br />
Ian started the car. First there was a whirring sound that got higher pitched as it went along and then vroom, VROOM, burble, burble, and we were ready to go. We got some petrol and set off to meet our travelling companions at Portsmouth, where we went on the ferry. Here I am sitting on the fence <i>(unusual for you to be uncommitted bear.) </i>No, stupid, I mean really sitting on the fence, while the capting started the engines.<br />
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When we got to the other side, I hid 'cos I hadn't brought my passport, but we were safely delivered to our hotel in Ouistreham. Here I got to see the other special cars in the group. First it was Damon's Volvo Amazon, that he and his Dad race up hills. I looked and looked but I couldn't see any lady warriors, but it did make quite a noise when it got going.<br />
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Here I are with Phil's TVR Chimaera. It has a very very Vroomie engine. When we were following it it was noisier than the Jag.<br />
<br />
There was a big Peugeot estate that was boring so I didn't bother with that. <i>It was useful bear because it carried the tents and the beer. </i>True, but boring.<br />
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
The Normandy Landing Sites</h3>
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We had a spare day and a half before went to Le Mans, days added on so we could go and see the Normandy Landing Beaches and stuff. It's is really lovely zooming along with the hood down and the sun out, looking along the very long bonnet of the E-Type and getting the wind in your fur.<br />
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This is the museum at Ste Mere Eglise. This is where the brave American paratroops landed (but without a tank). Can you see the man dangling on the church tower? I asked Alan if he'd been there 70 years and he laughed. No, he was there for six hours and he managed to survive until he could be rescued. He was the battalion barber!<br />
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Next we went to the battery at Azeville and it was huge, with tunnels and places for gun to stick out. One of the gun emplacements is now the office, and you can see it behind me. Places like this made it awfully dangerous for the soldiers trying to land.<br />
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At Pointe du Hoc the US Rangers climbed the cliffs to stop the guns firing on Omaha Beach. What courageous men they were. All around in the limestone are huge shell craters. It must have been terrible place to be on 6th June 1944.<br />
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At Arromanches, it all looks so peaceful on a sunny calm day, but in 1944 this was one of the British Beaches and afterwards the site of a Mulberry Harbour, and lot of it is still there for us to see.<br />
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When we'd see'd was was to be seen I thought, "I can't go to the beech without playing in the sand." So I did, as you do.<br />
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Next morning we went to the control bunker at Ouistreham and then on to Pegasus Bridge.<br />
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We were lucky enough to see the new bridge in action.</div>
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<span style="text-align: left;"> This was the first place to be liberated in France in 1944 when British Airborne troops stormed it after landing their gliders on what looked like postage stamps to me. You can see just how close Major Howard and his troops were to the bridge. The first German to see them is still </span>alive. He said that as soon as he saw the British soldiers he lit a flare and ran away - sensible man.</div>
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Here I am sitting on the end of the old bridge.The museum there is also fascinating and sad too, reading the stories of the men who survived and those that didn't. Unless the British, US, Canadian and French soldiers, sailors and airmen hadn't been so brave and persevering we dread to think what our world would have become.<br />
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Off to the main event.</h3>
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After lunch we headed south for Le Mans, with me in my customary position. While it was sunny it was very nice, but we got some nasty showers and the windscreen wipers were going swish, swish, swish and it got a bit hard to see out. The staff got the co-pilot's job of mopping up the rain that go in under the hood.<br />
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Never mind, we soon arrived on our campsite. Here I are sitting on top of our tent after the Staff and Ian had put it up. We slept on sleeping mats, but the humins weren't too happy with that. (They're old, old and they couldn't help it.) <i>Here, watch it you. </i> What do you mean? I are 2 and you are 62, and Ian is even OLDER. So you're both old, old. See!<br />
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Anyway, once the tent was up a beer was called for - it's thirsty work directing operations you know.<br />
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Come back later this week and you'll get all the fun of the racing.<br />
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Hugs,<br />
<br />
Jock<br />
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Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02514977963623374915noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3424054994658419071.post-13222451363704972752014-06-22T05:47:00.000-07:002014-06-22T05:47:04.529-07:00Yum, Yum Bearthday<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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High ho everybear, it's the bearable twosome again. No sooner had Jock got back from Germany than we had packed up again and set off on our travels. </div>
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You see, it was Ann's bearthday on Thursday and we went away for a couple of days to a tiny village about an hour away from here called Cartmel. Alan said he wanted to treat Ann to an extra special meal so they had booked into a place called L'Enclume. This is a picture of the place we stayed and where they ate on the first night. It was her bearthday proper but that meal was only special, and normal 'cos they <u><i>only</i></u> had three courses. It was quite yummy if you ask me, but they wanted the extra special meal to be the following night after they'd had a bit of a rest..</div>
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Next day dawned bright and sunny and we found that the food market was in town. We went to the hunny stall and met lots more bears (and a fox). Alan bought some yummy hunny and we made new friends.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieU1EWB-jEYwHYue43XjWPngzISV57XQBhSCyNJcOjNQeDnuSrx4rp1K4MHRfpZFmgNs12thSx_Id87Lgjz_zvSu4hioCiWkyv6rNhh1ShFlHaBlQ0GNxPETqgSwvbsV_YipUQFeLjhQ/s1600/Cartmel+003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieU1EWB-jEYwHYue43XjWPngzISV57XQBhSCyNJcOjNQeDnuSrx4rp1K4MHRfpZFmgNs12thSx_Id87Lgjz_zvSu4hioCiWkyv6rNhh1ShFlHaBlQ0GNxPETqgSwvbsV_YipUQFeLjhQ/s1600/Cartmel+003.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a>Then we headed for the woods across the horse racing track. We sat on the rail to see if we could see the horses, but we looked and looked and there weren't any. <i>It wasn't a race day bears so the horses were somewhere else. </i>Hmm, that snot fair. <i>Bears, how rude, you mean, "That's not fair." </i>We know what we mean.</div>
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Next we went to the woods and he said, "There's bears in tham thar woods." So we waited and waited and there weren't 'cos we couldn't see any. <i>There were bears in the woods, you know. </i>Oh no there weren't. <i> Oh yes there were - two bears as plain as can be. </i> Weren't I tell you. <i>You were there weren't you? </i>Um, yes... Oh... That's not fair, either.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjgmg0QBUS7ZFVA_FV3plulscd2zkNgqM98DmGq3pwMKgbAiaeMtvZZdcWU38GC2YpBwb7LWYgAzjhyphenhyphenHqDyP8VMrCpXUngG3krG_Wnac6nY3LUGyyNzdhHkFdLWnclP8ow7wUe2FKKjw/s1600/Cartmel+005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjgmg0QBUS7ZFVA_FV3plulscd2zkNgqM98DmGq3pwMKgbAiaeMtvZZdcWU38GC2YpBwb7LWYgAzjhyphenhyphenHqDyP8VMrCpXUngG3krG_Wnac6nY3LUGyyNzdhHkFdLWnclP8ow7wUe2FKKjw/s1600/Cartmel+005.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg58P7U469bmo9EKAw_GMeYKdBfPJN12wFbZi9oMzS7yrH2-althWnS67qeuwshSoWqvi4mk9Z-CjkP4dn8XPwh1jeu8GK6Zq-aIaE9PRUTsJd2E3FFNKJjg8eAjgEhvh56oMFKHOTkNg/s1600/Cartmel+004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg58P7U469bmo9EKAw_GMeYKdBfPJN12wFbZi9oMzS7yrH2-althWnS67qeuwshSoWqvi4mk9Z-CjkP4dn8XPwh1jeu8GK6Zq-aIaE9PRUTsJd2E3FFNKJjg8eAjgEhvh56oMFKHOTkNg/s1600/Cartmel+004.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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All the way along the road we saw lovely flowers and we asked what they were. Ann told us they were fox gloves, so, remembering our friend from the food fair, we decided to stay and wait until Mr Fox came to put on his gloves. Well, he didn't come, so we just had to move on to Holker Hall, a lovely stately home and gardens.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6piMh6JZsigBJKgF1xlloNQ_7ekZR6Uv8pmoqjOV0_Xx0HAWhw8-RzVR1-kL2BSGyAPEgbqmdJB83SWWFIgXE-hLEI-qEpCUrF6iJxacGsV4HvW1kSJvjhS0IYGSylG_iCtc6Ns7gbw/s1600/Cartmel+006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6piMh6JZsigBJKgF1xlloNQ_7ekZR6Uv8pmoqjOV0_Xx0HAWhw8-RzVR1-kL2BSGyAPEgbqmdJB83SWWFIgXE-hLEI-qEpCUrF6iJxacGsV4HvW1kSJvjhS0IYGSylG_iCtc6Ns7gbw/s1600/Cartmel+006.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Sy3MJ1qelHNkQ9vXqJv17X9sjMePUSz8ZfQnX53bAtfasOYOg5DIwQiYVCw7Ax75S2lE_kqWJQqCHoaeCnyoEdyxu0mmAf9gLRJAeMsOzpVNjlh4IGdOsPYg0o0hPh1PobIvsSod7w/s1600/Cartmel+007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Sy3MJ1qelHNkQ9vXqJv17X9sjMePUSz8ZfQnX53bAtfasOYOg5DIwQiYVCw7Ax75S2lE_kqWJQqCHoaeCnyoEdyxu0mmAf9gLRJAeMsOzpVNjlh4IGdOsPYg0o0hPh1PobIvsSod7w/s1600/Cartmel+007.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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Before we got there we met this Wol, but he was much less talkative than Pooh's friend. Then we saw a sign that said, "Park." We tried, but it was very uncomfortable so we gave up and went into the gardens instead.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_6AYM3ZmcM9ZjUw3gZCPSf940kqt2C2BgQomBHv6DidEAqPS4ASr0F4QOgxtZ_HanokMmiphzh8HOP9bCNGczjpX8pl2-z6iCbpquYaZv1fmqoI5XRDgb7KJImb765HH2d7Bjcn2kPA/s1600/Cartmel+009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_6AYM3ZmcM9ZjUw3gZCPSf940kqt2C2BgQomBHv6DidEAqPS4ASr0F4QOgxtZ_HanokMmiphzh8HOP9bCNGczjpX8pl2-z6iCbpquYaZv1fmqoI5XRDgb7KJImb765HH2d7Bjcn2kPA/s1600/Cartmel+009.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkrSwDCxAdq1KmgQANpbOtcuE-VjiI5KWFqaGCUjGBFihjtiA6ptaDLl1eTgE8vaMo3C6XDI1bYoKGrQpAKghRed8JWohPrG_bbqZr3L8WS92met2Cz26woPE5sC8AJEXdoyBlQYPkHQ/s1600/Cartmel+008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkrSwDCxAdq1KmgQANpbOtcuE-VjiI5KWFqaGCUjGBFihjtiA6ptaDLl1eTgE8vaMo3C6XDI1bYoKGrQpAKghRed8JWohPrG_bbqZr3L8WS92met2Cz26woPE5sC8AJEXdoyBlQYPkHQ/s1600/Cartmel+008.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLgSVv-n71mue4pwKn-SU-LA6ueb-h4AsxLicRu3R6MmL1Y3SaChGUWh2SaYlzLNSIKon-FNbj61dt-2fsVm9CnLXM9tfUDxlrylX7eNUEvI_zt7dxLvfQGKtjm8mhHKjYMlA8PRAj5Q/s1600/Cartmel+027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLgSVv-n71mue4pwKn-SU-LA6ueb-h4AsxLicRu3R6MmL1Y3SaChGUWh2SaYlzLNSIKon-FNbj61dt-2fsVm9CnLXM9tfUDxlrylX7eNUEvI_zt7dxLvfQGKtjm8mhHKjYMlA8PRAj5Q/s1600/Cartmel+027.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSiuH9aVPNZAgWrGTXTFO20Umj9C5PoT7voNBGaopdkp76R_pMel00RbUo3bl1KCsIpyF01SlXQ4oLuAu73_nZcBSK-udCfwOPBm5UWtOPUeyqNcHKGoYbiUlFsPpo0o9qgcyU0g0oeQ/s1600/Cartmel+011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSiuH9aVPNZAgWrGTXTFO20Umj9C5PoT7voNBGaopdkp76R_pMel00RbUo3bl1KCsIpyF01SlXQ4oLuAu73_nZcBSK-udCfwOPBm5UWtOPUeyqNcHKGoYbiUlFsPpo0o9qgcyU0g0oeQ/s1600/Cartmel+011.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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Here we are with our fellow travellers. You can hardly see us, specially in the one with his nibs, but you can see in the picture below that we were there. The thing we're sitting on is a sundial and you can tell the time by looking at the shadow, so it's just as well it was a sunny day. Not a bad timepiece, but a bit bulky to go on your wrist if you ask us.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjklfTRisWhhvAjRN24kAjAZsIh5RDpiAeqnxkhhCTJhm-ERBrvWJz28N_oOx44MydkSFeksJaHW9t0R0g34dk4c3UF1QYUV-ucywoWhl-VoUf3fyhOjUiWstmlhw6Tnj9V2POQeeb0vQ/s1600/Cartmel+012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjklfTRisWhhvAjRN24kAjAZsIh5RDpiAeqnxkhhCTJhm-ERBrvWJz28N_oOx44MydkSFeksJaHW9t0R0g34dk4c3UF1QYUV-ucywoWhl-VoUf3fyhOjUiWstmlhw6Tnj9V2POQeeb0vQ/s1600/Cartmel+012.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK1NLgLegfkf94UqeE4YlV9yo3erpC41Bj-aCK94kwgfH7dPCsbW-XUu0QWLrJwNjN4Hw52bpFc9Idx4EFzNkJ2jdRxY4tvLsj8fgQuAUIV_vUuQtWlrd7iJEXPvZV1u3t6XaolWtTIA/s1600/Cartmel+013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK1NLgLegfkf94UqeE4YlV9yo3erpC41Bj-aCK94kwgfH7dPCsbW-XUu0QWLrJwNjN4Hw52bpFc9Idx4EFzNkJ2jdRxY4tvLsj8fgQuAUIV_vUuQtWlrd7iJEXPvZV1u3t6XaolWtTIA/s1600/Cartmel+013.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a> Nearby was a fun labyrinth with standing stones. Can you see us? We are there. No, really, we are.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxk_G8w_9k8bfPdDNQ85RIdXzc_IOj5L1EIDoaDE0bigjszhGnW48b9apnLB0hC30jvaQfXyzylILiaun1d5PGGlp0vSUMo5Jf9EIUoEoSD148iKXnPt3yzXxrmH03Pmka2XCAy36FRQ/s1600/Cartmel+014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxk_G8w_9k8bfPdDNQ85RIdXzc_IOj5L1EIDoaDE0bigjszhGnW48b9apnLB0hC30jvaQfXyzylILiaun1d5PGGlp0vSUMo5Jf9EIUoEoSD148iKXnPt3yzXxrmH03Pmka2XCAy36FRQ/s1600/Cartmel+014.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
What about now?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBEZBmH1Hz8UfkaIT_1C2GUUK3MnC-l2TErS8FJUykK3_Tx59vj9ibYCXfFNfLw79RtzYye6jg5wjPiL8SfV02MMeKv5FQKzZuDbiAg9jb0ngMZ91cBJdR0VYGSnLSRo3toxmAjCm6ig/s1600/Cartmel+015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBEZBmH1Hz8UfkaIT_1C2GUUK3MnC-l2TErS8FJUykK3_Tx59vj9ibYCXfFNfLw79RtzYye6jg5wjPiL8SfV02MMeKv5FQKzZuDbiAg9jb0ngMZ91cBJdR0VYGSnLSRo3toxmAjCm6ig/s1600/Cartmel+015.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a>Told you we were there.<br />
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After we'd had a little snackeral and a lick or two of ice-cream (Thunder and Lightning flavour, with caramel and hunnycomb in it), it was back off through the woods so that they could get ready to go out.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ_Md-W4jxDVLrjFujUK75uFfnVpBrUBttBS-bwy3hA6omirNs1tcfHqPecOz9753uEPR_tDkiBydyDnLoLPm2cuPgFw4VRghAvVRGkHGRyuLZD_3T0M0Nay6uFDgJPnXLxgH0reoDJw/s1600/Cartmel+016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ_Md-W4jxDVLrjFujUK75uFfnVpBrUBttBS-bwy3hA6omirNs1tcfHqPecOz9753uEPR_tDkiBydyDnLoLPm2cuPgFw4VRghAvVRGkHGRyuLZD_3T0M0Nay6uFDgJPnXLxgH0reoDJw/s1600/Cartmel+016.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
We waited for the horses again, and they still didn't come. <i>Same reason bears, sorry.</i><br />
And so to food.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIq_gaqguEXcjFltKr5opbUR-p77BlP6ezL3IfX2evhj1ZbehBhtBficOxBCKnnC8iFvyPE-uU8DCQTwWajAHSk8QANhXCDYwKDfa_2BykuQ1utDm5WnTaftQH8ev7uYDdLIw8tB-LyA/s1600/Cartmel+019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIq_gaqguEXcjFltKr5opbUR-p77BlP6ezL3IfX2evhj1ZbehBhtBficOxBCKnnC8iFvyPE-uU8DCQTwWajAHSk8QANhXCDYwKDfa_2BykuQ1utDm5WnTaftQH8ev7uYDdLIw8tB-LyA/s1600/Cartmel+019.jpg" height="158" width="320" /></a></div>
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Here's the me and you. Yes, that is 17 items (plus the unmentioned chess board) Oinkety, oinkety, oink is what we say. <i>Jealousy will get you nowhere, and the servings were very small. </i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifb68DovTi6OYE-XwaSQUHMsl1q8WYY1yLnTKA21aPEfOGgXkHiWIYcmHgnAGl7TRxQ50VT3BNo6eLtY5DFDwJB26dSS2aMY69ru_b4trHU6ADWkqBoSFhvP239F8nbmQOJb6k56xqqA/s1600/Cartmel+020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifb68DovTi6OYE-XwaSQUHMsl1q8WYY1yLnTKA21aPEfOGgXkHiWIYcmHgnAGl7TRxQ50VT3BNo6eLtY5DFDwJB26dSS2aMY69ru_b4trHU6ADWkqBoSFhvP239F8nbmQOJb6k56xqqA/s1600/Cartmel+020.jpg" height="315" width="320" /></a></div>
Here's just some of the offerings<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVSDFV3ZdDOSvrCAbSIlWSl0UwFa7cqLnpqtdLTmzif3f_XXm-u7eTS5bqZCqziaRqGwowrwY3UqbU9buYWQ5nTNZAtXgyokeSotzPQsuDPjbIF1S3nvInhScRPVMN5LdaPQhtGMMoyw/s1600/Cartmel+021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVSDFV3ZdDOSvrCAbSIlWSl0UwFa7cqLnpqtdLTmzif3f_XXm-u7eTS5bqZCqziaRqGwowrwY3UqbU9buYWQ5nTNZAtXgyokeSotzPQsuDPjbIF1S3nvInhScRPVMN5LdaPQhtGMMoyw/s1600/Cartmel+021.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
Turbot grilled over spruce, mussel, salsify and sea vegetables<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5hG6Zs4ZoRTklx_vc5XG6EvZUTVSYvRek47UWxpD7stzjjpRf7SecqGuoc8X68mXLI9FNDJMkaV8tM-6VmenLbCUmlsxwNFJgyVS4OtnYNPmNtaGc_u6FMqapUqBbTt3BMZ9evdvIpA/s1600/Cartmel+022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5hG6Zs4ZoRTklx_vc5XG6EvZUTVSYvRek47UWxpD7stzjjpRf7SecqGuoc8X68mXLI9FNDJMkaV8tM-6VmenLbCUmlsxwNFJgyVS4OtnYNPmNtaGc_u6FMqapUqBbTt3BMZ9evdvIpA/s1600/Cartmel+022.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
Lamb, during<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2QR9eJM_Re-HVpFeDiFfFozD1aMroJ7jsnk8i3BkdSo6lLI0TBu_MlULPIDfWfWSIggnocebSl5n4ep6ynXwSzKUdAQwWXQDGZofHO1BsUBrL0xwjD_uQxpyRD3TeGqH0CRX0aHppbA/s1600/Cartmel+023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2QR9eJM_Re-HVpFeDiFfFozD1aMroJ7jsnk8i3BkdSo6lLI0TBu_MlULPIDfWfWSIggnocebSl5n4ep6ynXwSzKUdAQwWXQDGZofHO1BsUBrL0xwjD_uQxpyRD3TeGqH0CRX0aHppbA/s1600/Cartmel+023.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
Lamb after<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPG1Lei-oj_0E3NacHMeTch-5M64_SfjfTMSo5jIOORcEjo9lqquMfd3sAwDnexwsus-BChL5w2EN4IJ1JSvevvwClVz1rksScizsWkicyxGdzb1U-s5WsladZMOFqZFE0mHqkQIPvqA/s1600/Cartmel+024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPG1Lei-oj_0E3NacHMeTch-5M64_SfjfTMSo5jIOORcEjo9lqquMfd3sAwDnexwsus-BChL5w2EN4IJ1JSvevvwClVz1rksScizsWkicyxGdzb1U-s5WsladZMOFqZFE0mHqkQIPvqA/s1600/Cartmel+024.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
Ginger bread, nuts and stuff, left and gooseberry stuff on the right<br />
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Strawberries and things<br />
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Apple?<br />
<i>It was a fabulous meal, fantastic food, amazingly different wines and theatrical service. No wonder it took four hours - not fast food, but wonderful. The oyster pebbles as part of the starter came served on a bed of pebbles (we were warned they weren't as tasty) accompanied by oyster leaf. Now this sounds odd, but oyster leaf does taste of the shellfish. Incredible. Some of the herbs and flowers get picked from the hedgerows by foragers employed by the restaurant. Will we go again - you bet. </i><br />
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Well we only heard about it, 'cos we didn't get to go, so maybe next time. Still we did enjoy ourselves and Ann had a memorable bearthday.<br />
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We came home yesterday and Ann and Zeke are already on their way to Pontiac and Alan and I won't see them till next weekend. Then he and I will be off to France in Ian's long car <i>(his E-Type) t</i>o Le Mans for a few days. See you then.<br />
Hugs,<br />
Jock and Zeke</div>
Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02514977963623374915noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3424054994658419071.post-31312546069545260432014-06-18T14:27:00.002-07:002014-06-18T14:27:32.324-07:00Guten Tag Bear Freunde<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Well hello, Mein Lieber Freunde (that's yer actual German, you know) <i>Well three words of it anyway. </i>His nibs came home last week and said, "There's someone in Germany I have to go and see about business." So off we jolly well went. As you can see from the picture we went to Frankfurt and we had a few hours for ourselves so I thought we'd better start as I intended to continue. This looked like the sort of wine barrel that would keep me going for a while. <i>What about me? </i>Who? You? Na, there's not enough for two of us. Find yer own barrel. <i>Thanks a lot, given that I found you that one.</i></div>
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Frankfurt is on the Main and the river flows through the city and not far downstream into the Rhine. Here I am on a footbridge over the river. There are some very tall buildings and some quite big boats too.</div>
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It's Ann's birthday to-morrow so we were out looking for something for a wee prezzie and I found this bear blowing bubbles. Old spoilsport wouldn't bring him home. <i>He is a bit big and he has his own hug. </i>Well harrumph is all I can say, though we did find a little somebear to liberate.</div>
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After all the trawling around it was time for a little something and when in Germany...<br />
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A nice pair of white sausages with mustard and a pretzel really hit the mark as you can see.<br />
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Then we had to trawl out of town so he could busify himself - yawn.. but then in the evening we hit the town. Now that glass of wine was yummy and naturally had to be followed by another to go with dinner.<br />
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After the wine I was feeling all aglow and at one with everybear, as you are in the circumstances.</div>
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So back we went to the bridge and I sat on the lovelocks and I wanted to have a little snooze, but he said that I might fall in the river and would never be seen again and that wouldn't do. So I just sat on the parapet and waved at the world until it was time to go to bed.<br />
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Termorrer we're off again to somewhere to have special food and such with Ann and Zeke. Then those two (Ann and Zeke that is) are off to America on Sunday. Then in a week or so his nibs and I are off in Uncle Ian's E-Type to Le Mans for a boys toys trip. Hoorah. See you then!<br />
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Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02514977963623374915noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3424054994658419071.post-42956391358063654062014-05-11T12:04:00.000-07:002014-05-11T12:04:24.000-07:00India 6 - Messing about in a boat and stuff<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Hi folks, Jock and Zeke here signing off for the last time for a while - everyone say ahh!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTof5v7WjVxibRumqOugbR-DLclTptvC9nlV1Tfe0QcWFpdSITF9XY68tyH13sXpkHi4LCi_ryy3sYw3F7_z9gIGe76AQZ5YqQ9yRrPDiNaw2WcKcN8QAwmN0nnkwqvi4j9MkhRv-0Bw/s1600/Messing+about+033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTof5v7WjVxibRumqOugbR-DLclTptvC9nlV1Tfe0QcWFpdSITF9XY68tyH13sXpkHi4LCi_ryy3sYw3F7_z9gIGe76AQZ5YqQ9yRrPDiNaw2WcKcN8QAwmN0nnkwqvi4j9MkhRv-0Bw/s1600/Messing+about+033.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a>Well, the next morning the nice paddly man came and paddled and took us back to Mr Shijo and our car, and we thought, well that was fun what next? <br />
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"We're not leaving the waters just yet boys," said the crew (see we're getting nauticalical again). <i>(Ahem, don't give up the day job just yet.) </i><br />
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Whatever, that's what was said, so we watched out the winder of the car and quite soon Zeke was leaping up and down and pointing, "Look Jock, look everyone, another neffalent!" And we looked and there was a neffalent, another neffalent, a HUGE neffalent. It was just a-strolling along in the mididdle of all the traffic. It was a tusker with his mahout perched on his shoulders and carrying a huge bundle of greenery - almost a whole tree. Mr Shijo explained that it was its food that the tusker was carrying, but how could you live on a tree? Apparently that's what neffalents eat, but it looked quite chewy if you ask me.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaa7O4r-r6hH87eaXzJvBJEaDWApqXNAYj92kOkDG8965DrzHPf3aIEE6YK34yEEnBGV2dYSXpgwSvCQe6bJKXi2KLZvta5uC8mljh9sZjn2zSHZ3eNJNT7BOu4MqKr8vuUtgvQcqelw/s1600/Messing+about+035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaa7O4r-r6hH87eaXzJvBJEaDWApqXNAYj92kOkDG8965DrzHPf3aIEE6YK34yEEnBGV2dYSXpgwSvCQe6bJKXi2KLZvta5uC8mljh9sZjn2zSHZ3eNJNT7BOu4MqKr8vuUtgvQcqelw/s1600/Messing+about+035.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a>That was an unexpected tocitement and after a bit more driving and getting snarled up in traffic in Aleppy, we arrived at the boatyard to see our floating home for the next two days. This isn't our houseboat, but ours was quite like it.<br />
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We were soon aboard and just a-cruisin along. Mr Captain was sitting up front with his steering wheel and we managed to sit on some cushions just behind him so we could see all the world floating by.<br />
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We were quite settled, when one of the crew decided that they needed the cushions to stretch out and watch the world go by. All I can say is that watching must be very tiring 'cos very soon she was all tuckered out and was zizzing away. Well, we can symphonise, it can get quite hard work, we do it and we like our zizzes too.<br />
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We had our own real crew on the boat and Mr Cook gave us lovely, tasty, scrumptious food. This meal was chicken biriani and it just goes to show which came first. The chicken or the egg? Have you guessed yet? No? The both come at the ams time, along with poppadoms, vegetables and minty sauce. See, we don't know why it's such a mystery.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtcw5ptEfT5hXMWRycuQLVGqkszfULzZjdjXgkznliyOUsw-Tr_QFLZOKg5i-Ia72aEXEzHGIAEbX5-5Mg01KjxW_nAmOJEMyzrNGkW6BA9nLAzcMZukHYAKaMuubp-H_q84kipjA8rQ/s1600/Messing+about+036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtcw5ptEfT5hXMWRycuQLVGqkszfULzZjdjXgkznliyOUsw-Tr_QFLZOKg5i-Ia72aEXEzHGIAEbX5-5Mg01KjxW_nAmOJEMyzrNGkW6BA9nLAzcMZukHYAKaMuubp-H_q84kipjA8rQ/s1600/Messing+about+036.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6c_vv9X19g3WAHgOkNlRTR9QL_yLmX1jEAWjY2x_3LNbWZ27udHY_oKRc6HAFnM4V6pPZ0ERBjwIMp5kcI5wL5DPOEtPRf39CJqabOTsXyVHp9zy5wF4ELPlAZBFWbvmgH_D9dIya8w/s1600/Messing+about+011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6c_vv9X19g3WAHgOkNlRTR9QL_yLmX1jEAWjY2x_3LNbWZ27udHY_oKRc6HAFnM4V6pPZ0ERBjwIMp5kcI5wL5DPOEtPRf39CJqabOTsXyVHp9zy5wF4ELPlAZBFWbvmgH_D9dIya8w/s1600/Messing+about+011.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a>One of the nice things is that Alan got to bring his own bottles of beer. At this meal it looks like Zeke only got water, but he didn't. <br />
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See, we got to share it really.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivUyPZIzLLkoJw5o4SlanhBdubOJ_bI-JT_-FVMz2YOGjWztCjOb7owMVCRTVVz8f1-CgwJbESWD9vhk8HN4aKzr1HZvtyjayRhMYspukoAmqGc621vVv5VKK5eQy_0crzMMLfK14CJg/s1600/Messing+about+008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivUyPZIzLLkoJw5o4SlanhBdubOJ_bI-JT_-FVMz2YOGjWztCjOb7owMVCRTVVz8f1-CgwJbESWD9vhk8HN4aKzr1HZvtyjayRhMYspukoAmqGc621vVv5VKK5eQy_0crzMMLfK14CJg/s1600/Messing+about+008.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a>After we had eaten our fill it was time for more serious watching the very busy world go by. It was hard work, but someone had to do it 'cos the humins seemed to drift off and sleep at the drop of a hat. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN4n5Z-1MLl0st2K0PA75yV_k_G6kwCRLJUHo3V2COK28bl1zB9Mg85GyPakeJurzHt-2POnp-vnW41IkCMojeaO_pzoBZ_cB6AbTTWRUoZglSfMW_35iZvcMrA_bxMyDLCsycHl8b2g/s1600/Messing+about+037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN4n5Z-1MLl0st2K0PA75yV_k_G6kwCRLJUHo3V2COK28bl1zB9Mg85GyPakeJurzHt-2POnp-vnW41IkCMojeaO_pzoBZ_cB6AbTTWRUoZglSfMW_35iZvcMrA_bxMyDLCsycHl8b2g/s1600/Messing+about+037.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a>We had great fun watching everyone out and about on the waterways. Most people seemed to get around by canoe. Can you imagine taking a canoe to go for your messages? Yes, going shopping was a bit more complicated than most of us would think. You have to pay a man a few pennies so he will paddle you to the other side of the water, and then you can walk along the banks to the village. It certainly makes you think before you set off. There was no sign of Mr Sainsbury's delivery boats that's for sure.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh55iSl6TVx-Aob6VDe7-ZHcbe3TR4EtKGJ4wmtAU8I6A3Ksd6o7ZV2ttuywzlctSgLrR2MCfPjU_AbyADtsvI3val8bvo3ot7XiBx9QgD9zVmoApzOABgx0dJfcdabiuAkvjDMD3udZg/s1600/Messing+about+004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh55iSl6TVx-Aob6VDe7-ZHcbe3TR4EtKGJ4wmtAU8I6A3Ksd6o7ZV2ttuywzlctSgLrR2MCfPjU_AbyADtsvI3val8bvo3ot7XiBx9QgD9zVmoApzOABgx0dJfcdabiuAkvjDMD3udZg/s1600/Messing+about+004.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
It wasn't all sunshine of course and we did get some rain. Until it got really really heavy this was Mr Captain's wet weather gear.<br />
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Soon we tied up for the night and Mr Cook gave us duck. Yummy it was though the staff said that there wasn't too much meat on an Indian duck.<br />
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Next morning we set off after brekkers of curry and fruit and we cruised along in great style. From time to time along the banks we saw duck in flocks and men in canoes herding them along the waterway.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDrz53QPx-WXdP83lqLUU55mwi_r2o7X0GdfGl85GpS1RFY0ZvbBSu98kS9NxFvwJKMhk9w59WmeNwU-nHdIOwTwpogj6jUH3kHz7VMO5pUTPbWsnoA9xOetLdLE3JOXyM3Tkb_enpmg/s1600/Messing+about+006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDrz53QPx-WXdP83lqLUU55mwi_r2o7X0GdfGl85GpS1RFY0ZvbBSu98kS9NxFvwJKMhk9w59WmeNwU-nHdIOwTwpogj6jUH3kHz7VMO5pUTPbWsnoA9xOetLdLE3JOXyM3Tkb_enpmg/s1600/Messing+about+006.jpg" height="132" width="320" /></a>Can you see what the dark band in the water with a man in a canoe behind it? Well, that's ducks. thousands and thousands of ducks, stretching right across the waterway - at least 400m.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIeqhwBr1gRz02pRp30y3GMaReorPaBTJDKnSD1CbQN441S4Cfy3wsHCxtOlTLN1KPOIMjxZyJSph-w75rojE55KcVEP3OmEbofpf1aLDSHbUyRc9p8UEImsT5RRbxMlTnDngsLhZf9Q/s1600/Messing+about+007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIeqhwBr1gRz02pRp30y3GMaReorPaBTJDKnSD1CbQN441S4Cfy3wsHCxtOlTLN1KPOIMjxZyJSph-w75rojE55KcVEP3OmEbofpf1aLDSHbUyRc9p8UEImsT5RRbxMlTnDngsLhZf9Q/s1600/Messing+about+007.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a>Mr Captain headed straight for the middle of the flock and we clapped our paws over our eyes, but it parted miraculously to let us through, though the duckies made a LOT of noise as they got out of the way! The boat was going slowly so they had plenty of time to get moving, "Qauck, quack, ack, ack, QUAAAACK, rackety, ickety rackety, quack!" My, what a noise, and all that water was churned up as they paddled away. When we went to the back of the boat, the flock had formed up again from bank to bank none the worse for their experience.<br />
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Soon it was time for lunch - well you know, watching all those ducks made us quite peckish, but our toventures weren't over yet, 'cos we had things to do afterwards.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBEYJUS_ER0I834zw_QxQnkQnCwmdMfOy_ny2QVifH1FCg477XeiPLwj7OMkMV0DLCAohou80MjUhE5daBJDBBtNijmxrTGHocVhdngms9N1JnskcDdZZuAUlBHHyQ_Teu8yxqOhJ8bA/s1600/Messing+about+014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBEYJUS_ER0I834zw_QxQnkQnCwmdMfOy_ny2QVifH1FCg477XeiPLwj7OMkMV0DLCAohou80MjUhE5daBJDBBtNijmxrTGHocVhdngms9N1JnskcDdZZuAUlBHHyQ_Teu8yxqOhJ8bA/s1600/Messing+about+014.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a>We met up with another big houseboat with two n=more humins in it and a big canoe and we all jumped aboard the canoe, though Ann did struggle a bit getting down into it 'cos she says her legs were too short. Our legs are much shorter and we had no bother at all! <i>Ahem, might that have something to do with you being inside my bag? </i>Welllll, we aspose so, but soon we were all aboard and off we went up a side canal.<br />
It was just like going through a village, except here the road was the canal. There were children playing and the waved to us . Of course, we waved back, that was only polite. Up in the trees the birds were calling, calling and they were very pretty. We think we could have liked to visit that village, but we just putted along in our canoe and soon we came back out where our houseboat was waiting for us.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiadt7R9PqcU5kzrzqO7rzg8-CkYmX9_NP68CSO-D3H61ghCjHzhMqJ2964HGIvpX_7gFMJuzwN9CHpsvbyJc_JXbna6MnhaMYndg8X8OcrUPUvFljKlTfqyqfvZ06YwShr0GLWsLp6_A/s1600/Messing+about+017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiadt7R9PqcU5kzrzqO7rzg8-CkYmX9_NP68CSO-D3H61ghCjHzhMqJ2964HGIvpX_7gFMJuzwN9CHpsvbyJc_JXbna6MnhaMYndg8X8OcrUPUvFljKlTfqyqfvZ06YwShr0GLWsLp6_A/s1600/Messing+about+017.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYjd8RQiJ7M5GbJstU3043NcybSCwg9lPHpAWX6ztkWrq0cG7mwE2yEK9UcWKBElPukoZ-g59Dr-l0vw1Amugu9Pz-MnaMjVnWFvlRFS5X2gXjqKR-666ZtdBuUDhHsAZqXcge75BrGg/s1600/Messing+about+016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYjd8RQiJ7M5GbJstU3043NcybSCwg9lPHpAWX6ztkWrq0cG7mwE2yEK9UcWKBElPukoZ-g59Dr-l0vw1Amugu9Pz-MnaMjVnWFvlRFS5X2gXjqKR-666ZtdBuUDhHsAZqXcge75BrGg/s1600/Messing+about+016.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a>A little later on when Mr Captain wasn't there we thought we'd see what it was like sitting in his seat. It was quite comfy, but we couldn't see past the wheel, so we just clambered up and sat in front of instead. It was a good view, but we decided that maybe we'd get into trouble if we decide to drive off. <i>You bet! We'd have all been sent home in disgrace, so I'm glad you weren't too tempted.</i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRpqy0NcBGaXzpZravDCrTvdPktxzANy_29H1gkw-JUslZfb42Hhei56AcZG-Ru4yOpdWuYZq00l5pD32_eulzuQrZnXWKBCf1Zj7mwXQDK_MOv9bAtbWDrmKKibJZ0ihs5vN5C5NWug/s1600/Messing+about+040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRpqy0NcBGaXzpZravDCrTvdPktxzANy_29H1gkw-JUslZfb42Hhei56AcZG-Ru4yOpdWuYZq00l5pD32_eulzuQrZnXWKBCf1Zj7mwXQDK_MOv9bAtbWDrmKKibJZ0ihs5vN5C5NWug/s1600/Messing+about+040.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a><br />
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Soon it was time to settle down for the evening, while Mr Cook cooked, his nibs went for a walk to see the birds <i>(and get well chewed on by the insects) </i>and on the way back he stopped to get the sunset. Wasn't it lovely?<br />
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There were no pictures taken of dinner, but it was yummy as ever and washed down with a nice bottle of wine.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitPIssC5GtLKnMgJhGSiEed5OWY5WTtqUtvco2EaDEXn-UjJH1uuulfflPhz9B7J16iBzpGAzaWUeRQb4Cg_bMT_lU2YuKRXJV5SDv4wlSZK6fyReKHh90OQ6VhIGiMf5XwRIOhIUXFw/s1600/Messing+about+018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitPIssC5GtLKnMgJhGSiEed5OWY5WTtqUtvco2EaDEXn-UjJH1uuulfflPhz9B7J16iBzpGAzaWUeRQb4Cg_bMT_lU2YuKRXJV5SDv4wlSZK6fyReKHh90OQ6VhIGiMf5XwRIOhIUXFw/s1600/Messing+about+018.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a>Next morning Zeke and I had a lovely surprise, 'cos there on the table were our own wee boats. We sat in them, but they didn't seem to be going anywhere until we realised that they were a cunningly folded napkin and we had to move so that we could get our breakfast.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTTN3x_zBfCe88zdZf8Gg_6dbFFtSxJfkdppyhdfbQfQEXBsrrtYCARBFUgdMBZbEEEOkwk4G3aJDrC82nQTXjkQpwQJqYdgFUfj7JivG_mWPw65lZ51kXMZ_-qG4VgKc-YXujZXx8JQ/s1600/Messing+about+019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTTN3x_zBfCe88zdZf8Gg_6dbFFtSxJfkdppyhdfbQfQEXBsrrtYCARBFUgdMBZbEEEOkwk4G3aJDrC82nQTXjkQpwQJqYdgFUfj7JivG_mWPw65lZ51kXMZ_-qG4VgKc-YXujZXx8JQ/s1600/Messing+about+019.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
Dosas, yum and sambar - vegetable curry - with coconut chutney, and for juice it was creamy grape juice. Just thinking about it makes our tummies rumble in unison<i> (Mine too, mine too!)</i> Curry for breakfast, lunch and dinner, sounds a lot, but we soon got used to it. One morning we had uppuma, tapioca cooked like couscous with saffron, vegetables and chillies and served with Zeke and Jock sized bananas. Yummy too, but eaten before a photo could be taken.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDRdcfIlbeY-CmEb9La6mgcHBn-wiLjg7nH2Psxm6kkAUov_D84F1RUrV1oDOgTRNJLGe1e1AzB6SK9j2m4Yy8efjOXNfZ9Atih6rq1440cjvtlB3NZCZFATBJhUKiOZeuwqwC5s6cRQ/s1600/Messing+about+039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDRdcfIlbeY-CmEb9La6mgcHBn-wiLjg7nH2Psxm6kkAUov_D84F1RUrV1oDOgTRNJLGe1e1AzB6SK9j2m4Yy8efjOXNfZ9Atih6rq1440cjvtlB3NZCZFATBJhUKiOZeuwqwC5s6cRQ/s1600/Messing+about+039.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a>Soon we had to say goodbye to our real crew, from left to right, Mr Cook, Mr Engineer and Mr Captain, three lovely people who looked after us so well.<br />
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Then we headed off in Kochi, or Cochin as it used to be called.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4SW247Q6vBHdkpexrgpxC0jCeHvrvQL2UXGGUpHNoA8JtpWYS7_G7DvKvDoFIhr6ynlNjDikBiCkEyWmRil-KAoxxb0K57MCGGAzwhZd1Qk3Qg3W-h4g5jPIwLi3nSARf5zXeFNk2cw/s1600/Messing+about+020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4SW247Q6vBHdkpexrgpxC0jCeHvrvQL2UXGGUpHNoA8JtpWYS7_G7DvKvDoFIhr6ynlNjDikBiCkEyWmRil-KAoxxb0K57MCGGAzwhZd1Qk3Qg3W-h4g5jPIwLi3nSARf5zXeFNk2cw/s1600/Messing+about+020.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a>On the way Mr Shijo took us to the beach where we could look out at the Arabian Sea. Can you see the fishing boats behind us. There were a lovely shape and sometimes quite colourful.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfJFEVHiyyTUFGUq9SxTjfMSM3yvaezIOfBJvd8eQiI0II-omo3lncNZn9aWAYgB7yXUgIDmLye_BS3c3nsPVdx1nnE763KTe7OKdkOPtGkqiCbFh9NyHarp2lPZ3dojoJR_YrazuYEA/s1600/Messing+about+042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfJFEVHiyyTUFGUq9SxTjfMSM3yvaezIOfBJvd8eQiI0II-omo3lncNZn9aWAYgB7yXUgIDmLye_BS3c3nsPVdx1nnE763KTe7OKdkOPtGkqiCbFh9NyHarp2lPZ3dojoJR_YrazuYEA/s1600/Messing+about+042.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2pSlm_SAmbJPYPQEAeV4Q3BNeqeMkZyu9zUlGDyKaEdrllT3xwhyphenhyphenQwKFzhfhkIIxc45iWRXty0foxeBFbFnbA8bODIEtUAGsh8oLXn1w3YxPhLPUX3nROZ21D_47N4fape0zK1ta0Kw/s1600/Messing+about+041.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2pSlm_SAmbJPYPQEAeV4Q3BNeqeMkZyu9zUlGDyKaEdrllT3xwhyphenhyphenQwKFzhfhkIIxc45iWRXty0foxeBFbFnbA8bODIEtUAGsh8oLXn1w3YxPhLPUX3nROZ21D_47N4fape0zK1ta0Kw/s1600/Messing+about+041.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a>When we'd looked at the boats and Ann had got herself all wet - she went for a paddle that almost turned into a swim - we went past lots of interesting places. We got to see some smashing birds like this Brahmini kite. Isn't it big? We kept inside the car when it was around, 'cos you never know when little bears can just look like little snackerals do you?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLrui8s1GyLijHhP_DuBYiP0SvlnbtaCtBlWXnpnqZdDfbpPFWjdAWEUGcnSh8VngVckiRSMOFEpPVCKJFtSrd32CyN2s2Ujx1Pihyphenhyphen_8q4Vuu5v7Zd3-wIki6nSZW4cTskmp9wuDiuzA/s1600/Messing+about+043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLrui8s1GyLijHhP_DuBYiP0SvlnbtaCtBlWXnpnqZdDfbpPFWjdAWEUGcnSh8VngVckiRSMOFEpPVCKJFtSrd32CyN2s2Ujx1Pihyphenhyphen_8q4Vuu5v7Zd3-wIki6nSZW4cTskmp9wuDiuzA/s1600/Messing+about+043.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a>This is our last hotel, and just below you can see us sitting on our balcony wall looking out at all the hustle and bustle of the harbour.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheesMccfBOvYS27emQAUqIwxYyd1p-9OttvMb0yXnXMbcN1OzxyQOvL_rDN6dHo18B2tsixxKeJVnrwLAFHgnSIQoT0WOdyPTIYCk8hb37HEfvy_I4sdjZWlPMpxTbRRjGNJGlnbUhpQ/s1600/Messing+about+023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheesMccfBOvYS27emQAUqIwxYyd1p-9OttvMb0yXnXMbcN1OzxyQOvL_rDN6dHo18B2tsixxKeJVnrwLAFHgnSIQoT0WOdyPTIYCk8hb37HEfvy_I4sdjZWlPMpxTbRRjGNJGlnbUhpQ/s1600/Messing+about+023.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh33rAZXgXZW8mUZSvXmsRWzpl0_SrtMgjGewaz2stFLgs-7yLK2aEm_Jd7rSPgxBF0LBij_dbWo7xa8XoJWswuMbAJ19D67KpMGJmlh-CGY9jmBY48_zRTQO1Rc0_UUvasst1WsteuCA/s1600/Messing+about+022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh33rAZXgXZW8mUZSvXmsRWzpl0_SrtMgjGewaz2stFLgs-7yLK2aEm_Jd7rSPgxBF0LBij_dbWo7xa8XoJWswuMbAJ19D67KpMGJmlh-CGY9jmBY48_zRTQO1Rc0_UUvasst1WsteuCA/s1600/Messing+about+022.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a>Inside, our room had a great big high bed, that even Alan needed a step to get onto. We got given lovely little bunches of jasmine flowers and they smelled so sweet. Meanwhile, above our bed was an embroidery with a tree on it. In the tree were birds and bats and bees, and Ann and Alan wanted to take it home, but thought that people might notice, which is a shame, 'cos it would look so nice on our wall too.</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbJAbCwy2mQ_qWJ1BrPz3FYvcEUUhsxRYzca7lH3r5aBbbH-u0Yvioddy6B8lJmt1lVEwfTEVv2ou8LQRJp1m7zNwkgO3b2KlGZ0WzLQIeLVZ15ZKZZvcmRjLXl8vI6n2rL8REVFkgmw/s1600/Messing+about+032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbJAbCwy2mQ_qWJ1BrPz3FYvcEUUhsxRYzca7lH3r5aBbbH-u0Yvioddy6B8lJmt1lVEwfTEVv2ou8LQRJp1m7zNwkgO3b2KlGZ0WzLQIeLVZ15ZKZZvcmRjLXl8vI6n2rL8REVFkgmw/s1600/Messing+about+032.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvFC692d3pBl0-nO9Anhv0tDzSfyPK2oHQKrZWEyMq7_uATmX5yMqvU4pvOsejdRGj0KsMGAShoPkLWeFuMKSB6XD5uxjh25VGrr5nK8sn7t60nkcGR2hjRsHlwz0-sniA4p36bC3NtQ/s1600/Messing+about+026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvFC692d3pBl0-nO9Anhv0tDzSfyPK2oHQKrZWEyMq7_uATmX5yMqvU4pvOsejdRGj0KsMGAShoPkLWeFuMKSB6XD5uxjh25VGrr5nK8sn7t60nkcGR2hjRsHlwz0-sniA4p36bC3NtQ/s1600/Messing+about+026.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a>After a light lunch it was time for a tour of Kochi and low and tohold there were more neffalents. We thought that this one was very friendly looking. It was there to take part in a festival and in the evening it would be all dressed up, but we didn't get to see that 'cos it was past our bed time. We went for two walks, one with a nice Mr Roy, who showed us the nephalents and one with Alan when we saw the Chinese fishing nets again. We even got to see men catching fishes.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWGK4a8f82zMVrJ20uff4uJFURGqe9Oy6p00SPfDz7RQVJEsZZS2seBzibguwTzRvD9E5YMOJoHq_CurCT_DbOtannhfzNDjv667ZsOqIcTphlBQV6VqMuBkgPMlT8bX8Qr4IgDxFj6A/s1600/Messing+about+045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWGK4a8f82zMVrJ20uff4uJFURGqe9Oy6p00SPfDz7RQVJEsZZS2seBzibguwTzRvD9E5YMOJoHq_CurCT_DbOtannhfzNDjv667ZsOqIcTphlBQV6VqMuBkgPMlT8bX8Qr4IgDxFj6A/s1600/Messing+about+045.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYsGCdiFo15fc49Ue8EPikV4V3b285P1tJouQpv3fEEzFa1Xym7RVjAkO7gF5svuZVyBCnlgzS0aArgT9CZbInDqpEz1FTTxv4Wxz2eokxCl9I8LLgflFZbeqIHKgv4ponHCEQBw4weg/s1600/Messing+about+046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYsGCdiFo15fc49Ue8EPikV4V3b285P1tJouQpv3fEEzFa1Xym7RVjAkO7gF5svuZVyBCnlgzS0aArgT9CZbInDqpEz1FTTxv4Wxz2eokxCl9I8LLgflFZbeqIHKgv4ponHCEQBw4weg/s1600/Messing+about+046.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a>In the evening we got to see a nice man cooking fish molee, very very tasty and we followed up with a really tasty dinner from the fish menu. His Nibs had lobster massala and Ann had king prawns. Yummyness personified.<br />
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Next morning was our last day - oh dear we were enjoying ourselves. We decided that it was time for a swim - well maybe Alan did 'cos water and bounce fill doesn't mix. So we sat on the dolphin's back and when it got too sunny, we sat under the brolly. My it was hot - about 40C - that's 100F for you souls who don't do celcius.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_zw45-f3hfLome5kjytMyyAFz9P3KzCtgClmNqO_cxK3E5cblO-_Uy_nQpRJda-Ar45idi2q80bB2M1RKCgCmqbtp5V9DRp82o7s2qYHUXd2vBQ8Qo2YBX0cn4O9HM7Xx-OCVKc9ocQ/s1600/Messing+about+044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_zw45-f3hfLome5kjytMyyAFz9P3KzCtgClmNqO_cxK3E5cblO-_Uy_nQpRJda-Ar45idi2q80bB2M1RKCgCmqbtp5V9DRp82o7s2qYHUXd2vBQ8Qo2YBX0cn4O9HM7Xx-OCVKc9ocQ/s1600/Messing+about+044.jpg" height="226" width="320" /></a>After we'd been to see the men catching the fish for people's dinners we came back and Alan had a shower and changed into his glad rags. "What are we doing that's you're all dressed up? Huh?"<br />
<i>"We're off to see some special dancers and then we're going to have our final dinner in the History Restaurant."</i><br />
Here's on of the Kathakali Dancers that we went to see. He's a prince of heaven. Doesn't he look amazing?<br />
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Main courses arrived and Alan and I shared a First Class Railway Mutton Curry.<br />
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He had to stop me from diving into that sauce.<br />
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Ann and Zeke kept to fish and had a lovely dish with pomegranate seeds in it. It was a fitting end to a fantastic holiday. Next day we were up early, early and off to the airport for our flights home.<br />
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There are just a few things to say. We loved Karnataka and Kerala. (You haven't guessed have you?) The people were friendly, the food was fantastic and the scenery wonderful. Thank you so much to our guides and most especially to Mr Shijo our driver. He was safe and reliable and had so much knowledge of the country and it's wildlife. He made the holiday.<br />
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We'll just leave you with a sunset on the backwaters. We will have to wait to go back, but we are already planning.<br />
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Jock, Zeke and the humins</div>
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Alan has pointed out that all the tocitement with the nephalents actually took two days, but it felt like one big long day, so it doesn't really matter. In the middle we went to a spice farm, and for lunch Alan had some special tea.<br />
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You all know that coffee smells of jasmine, but how do spices grow? Don't say, "In the ground," 'cos I know that, but it's the higgledy piggledy every which way that matters.<br />
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Nutmeg grows on trees, pepper - achoo - grows up trees, as does vanilla, allspice is a tree, cloves are flower buds, cinnamon is tree bark and cardamom pods grow on stalks under the leafy plant. When you go to see them growing it's amazing, 'cos there's no apparent rhyme or reason on why one grows where and another grows there. But it's all very cunningly done.<br />
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Coffee and cardamom need shade, so you grow trees that will provide it. You can grow pepper and vanilla vines up the tall trees and in the spaces you can grow the smaller bushy trees like nutmeg, cloves and cinnamon. In even smaller spaces you can grow allspice bushes and piripiri pepper plants, turmeric and ginger too, and even cocoa for chocklit!<br />
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Pick and crush an allspice leaf here and sniff the heady scent, bite a clove bud there and you find it has almost no taste until it's dried. Then crush a peppercorn and see your hands go red. Bite into the fresh peppercorn and feel your mouth explode with the perfumed heat, then pick the seeds from a fresh green cardamom and experience the fragrant taste straight from the plant. Around and about are other little plants to keep the bees busy all year.<br />
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Here are some pictures of spices and things:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXf1hvtrhC1Ucvfgr9TPYvR-7SOb5kvaqyKv6s-nY6heyCHi0-jTelYX5oLrPnSBbCrl_jjwlikbdPYpKkbDF_oCOiHafW7jOgpND4qrX1EQrN9t5EkZ7WsrV2jdIGHUGWumwjtP8XcA/s1600/Spices+and+Kottayam+013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXf1hvtrhC1Ucvfgr9TPYvR-7SOb5kvaqyKv6s-nY6heyCHi0-jTelYX5oLrPnSBbCrl_jjwlikbdPYpKkbDF_oCOiHafW7jOgpND4qrX1EQrN9t5EkZ7WsrV2jdIGHUGWumwjtP8XcA/s1600/Spices+and+Kottayam+013.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMQhf0DtH1WEmAEgUrz6D1fQeTXhiwzUvLCrb6VDRj6Y4VFc8FFqK4Yuy9F1C7ZPw9TNYNLQjeyLknsYzwZR0mugTe727Ljk37f0PHl_AY1CfKD8Y2fG7BlHUD7gg1_ls8kAMBI9emlw/s1600/Spices+and+Kottayam+010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMQhf0DtH1WEmAEgUrz6D1fQeTXhiwzUvLCrb6VDRj6Y4VFc8FFqK4Yuy9F1C7ZPw9TNYNLQjeyLknsYzwZR0mugTe727Ljk37f0PHl_AY1CfKD8Y2fG7BlHUD7gg1_ls8kAMBI9emlw/s1600/Spices+and+Kottayam+010.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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Here's a man up a bamboo ladder picking pepper, and that's pepper before it's ripe. It goes red before you pick it. The red pepper is dried to make black pepper, but the outer red skin is removed to get at the seed and that makes white pepper.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVzW5L-BXWZ6muOWeD9nmH8E4inlR4_cTBQ4FMEXE2be2Seih9berhJiHgOvgi3dPyoLwOa1irh-O-KyZXUYgD54xQ1xyTHjvqd6heZzaGW3GxuZk34b9IN8350yaWe-Kx6fvfSb1j5w/s1600/Spices+and+Kottayam+012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVzW5L-BXWZ6muOWeD9nmH8E4inlR4_cTBQ4FMEXE2be2Seih9berhJiHgOvgi3dPyoLwOa1irh-O-KyZXUYgD54xQ1xyTHjvqd6heZzaGW3GxuZk34b9IN8350yaWe-Kx6fvfSb1j5w/s1600/Spices+and+Kottayam+012.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFOs3G5RvikOc3ltINR43OnS_z47Ny8dlEEmeK1INL-AaU_LiahtAygkcGwYFDm69DRgbhH_OrDqrv9xdDZsZeI2pGebtcJucgLFpDEK0kQ6smChtnkrLWrHsKi9w8ecz348a7wvEWUQ/s1600/Spices+and+Kottayam+011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFOs3G5RvikOc3ltINR43OnS_z47Ny8dlEEmeK1INL-AaU_LiahtAygkcGwYFDm69DRgbhH_OrDqrv9xdDZsZeI2pGebtcJucgLFpDEK0kQ6smChtnkrLWrHsKi9w8ecz348a7wvEWUQ/s1600/Spices+and+Kottayam+011.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a> Here's nutmeg on its tree.</div>
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Inside the fruit there is some soft flesh that you can make chutney from. The red stuff is mace wrapped around the seed shell. Inside that is the nutmeg.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdLhDAFjCB2y74raGyLwlVhECb9QzoE_lX9-i8_VHDn0yN8QxB3vx2LAuqYc9antXTkm_w-8CVbPpntW6Rbk3-mnnnjB2zMZcXOrlX0zGSUngkGFaRDSt60LEW-LA1X7FXORBOKZB8tw/s1600/Spices+and+Kottayam+019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdLhDAFjCB2y74raGyLwlVhECb9QzoE_lX9-i8_VHDn0yN8QxB3vx2LAuqYc9antXTkm_w-8CVbPpntW6Rbk3-mnnnjB2zMZcXOrlX0zGSUngkGFaRDSt60LEW-LA1X7FXORBOKZB8tw/s1600/Spices+and+Kottayam+019.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
This is a whole hillside of cardamom with pepper vines growing up the tall shade trees.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRVzphkQ5OZro6gLRHnxT2YSazMklaP9tvsF6KW9Rk82fiOtWrNoM3oV0-AV-0nJoPdr7eL6Qtgb3GBOTF7TXU3JT8Fnmao5ZGVLVLd1WJ5hsytGl9FBm9dgscDxSem3ua6UJBKSJwaA/s1600/Spices+and+Kottayam+018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRVzphkQ5OZro6gLRHnxT2YSazMklaP9tvsF6KW9Rk82fiOtWrNoM3oV0-AV-0nJoPdr7eL6Qtgb3GBOTF7TXU3JT8Fnmao5ZGVLVLd1WJ5hsytGl9FBm9dgscDxSem3ua6UJBKSJwaA/s1600/Spices+and+Kottayam+018.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a>Here are more cardamoms with a young banana plant growing in front of the bushes and in-between is a very tiny and very hot piripiri pepper<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9VwANACLP_NGMzml2KN2_ILrvbHDB-QwSHMn2U7phtHLPtheVYCN7-VSrOQc2q6QgY7sbrvwH04EDJbAiI0QEHmoHbujbCyiJTBo0oxxSH_o_gKHGFDAHgojgFgua77qstRYW37N0UA/s1600/Spices+and+Kottayam+020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy8V3g-sRKT3Y6cXL_Okgyfv6G1pWnEdLa4SLZmulc4OTPM02FZ1Q1QRGeKNbu9n2v1TAHMCsOp7Svj9on8Za8B7YeQqztjXgAardhnoXavyb0TVDn6-fEehTASLfVjaVtRq6jxIJqPA/s1600/Spices+and+Kottayam+015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy8V3g-sRKT3Y6cXL_Okgyfv6G1pWnEdLa4SLZmulc4OTPM02FZ1Q1QRGeKNbu9n2v1TAHMCsOp7Svj9on8Za8B7YeQqztjXgAardhnoXavyb0TVDn6-fEehTASLfVjaVtRq6jxIJqPA/s1600/Spices+and+Kottayam+015.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9VwANACLP_NGMzml2KN2_ILrvbHDB-QwSHMn2U7phtHLPtheVYCN7-VSrOQc2q6QgY7sbrvwH04EDJbAiI0QEHmoHbujbCyiJTBo0oxxSH_o_gKHGFDAHgojgFgua77qstRYW37N0UA/s1600/Spices+and+Kottayam+020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9VwANACLP_NGMzml2KN2_ILrvbHDB-QwSHMn2U7phtHLPtheVYCN7-VSrOQc2q6QgY7sbrvwH04EDJbAiI0QEHmoHbujbCyiJTBo0oxxSH_o_gKHGFDAHgojgFgua77qstRYW37N0UA/s1600/Spices+and+Kottayam+020.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></div>
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Cardamom flowers grow on shoots from the ground and the are very pretty. If you hold one up it looks like the whole plant. In between the stem you can see the pods that will be picked.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFzVCjdNu0D7cXr8yUkk2a_9lahcu_CFhQt2ja9rBoQFK_6LBlYygJYYJIOwvOENy-EId577vw6f8m2Och39PEK2Zc_Bf6ofLoC8s83EKzo2TG0yvXMwf5E1vnXeKc5b-Qs_eh7rxFRg/s1600/Spices+and+Kottayam+017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFzVCjdNu0D7cXr8yUkk2a_9lahcu_CFhQt2ja9rBoQFK_6LBlYygJYYJIOwvOENy-EId577vw6f8m2Och39PEK2Zc_Bf6ofLoC8s83EKzo2TG0yvXMwf5E1vnXeKc5b-Qs_eh7rxFRg/s1600/Spices+and+Kottayam+017.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a>Cloves grow in bunches on trees and they are picked before the buds open. These have very little flavour until they are dried. We are used to black cloves, but the best ones are reddish brown.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqqACsxiSvShFtaqJvy1l_5sINNP0mpakJxOYZ94YUoIBv6flql6UFHXoRd8GDeC91XX2Y0BdiD0-PVOcX6OM1lPaOsv-ymN5PNgZHGuwNa6PdCe0SIvoqJAU-RCnWMgIiM-zkkbDJNw/s1600/Spices+and+Kottayam+016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqqACsxiSvShFtaqJvy1l_5sINNP0mpakJxOYZ94YUoIBv6flql6UFHXoRd8GDeC91XX2Y0BdiD0-PVOcX6OM1lPaOsv-ymN5PNgZHGuwNa6PdCe0SIvoqJAU-RCnWMgIiM-zkkbDJNw/s1600/Spices+and+Kottayam+016.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a>On trees nearby grow little rose apples. These are tasty but very very sharp. In any spare ground the farmers also grow roses so that they can extract the oil for perfumes and the flowers get used for garlands too.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKSh9JYC_AjRm9Dta4XkGpDQmXmQ9dC4jou4CBfmyWCfS3xI-6LtWdQKhVsYINBhZpwtvwkhQrnCdXyp_taM1PI2qWiVNehqkLibTBhxgdBVdlK7uJUq2kHz6pYOVD5Q7rVt5o-SfSkQ/s1600/Spices+and+Kottayam+014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKSh9JYC_AjRm9Dta4XkGpDQmXmQ9dC4jou4CBfmyWCfS3xI-6LtWdQKhVsYINBhZpwtvwkhQrnCdXyp_taM1PI2qWiVNehqkLibTBhxgdBVdlK7uJUq2kHz6pYOVD5Q7rVt5o-SfSkQ/s1600/Spices+and+Kottayam+014.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a>Finally these are cocoa pods, and when they grow ripe they pick them and make chocolate. </div>
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Cor, wasn't that amazing and then we went for lunch in an interesting little restaurant. Alan had special tea with his food. It came in a teapot and he drank it out of a china cup. Funny though it didn't smell of tea and when peaked into the cup it was very pale for tea, and it was definitely fizzy. "Here," I said, "That's really special tea alright - it's beer." "Shhhh!" said Alan," we have to call it tea because they haven't got a licence. So it's special, Kingfisher tea." <br />
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Coo flip, we had a smashing time in Periyar, but then we had to go and leave the nephalents behind. Everyone say, "Ahh." We didn't know it but we would see them again, but that's a story for another time.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRBCAgIi_q6FJKgFDxoR3HXcxnXCmKLlQpa3PZTFCismf4F1uWuHK7EErLKYzupRjQcpsTQ7VMpWMKzyh8ldnXGdkd18revJs6iaZug_BQ_TZvP53LyzdqXYqU60LgbPSwNEbJnjbQTQ/s1600/Spices+and+Kottayam+021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRBCAgIi_q6FJKgFDxoR3HXcxnXCmKLlQpa3PZTFCismf4F1uWuHK7EErLKYzupRjQcpsTQ7VMpWMKzyh8ldnXGdkd18revJs6iaZug_BQ_TZvP53LyzdqXYqU60LgbPSwNEbJnjbQTQ/s1600/Spices+and+Kottayam+021.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a>The next morning we were up nice and early to head off to our next destination. You've seen the coffee and spices, so here's a glimpse of some tea on the hoof. Alan laughed when he saw that the tea estate was called the Connemara Tea Estate. I don't know why it was funny, something to do with that being a part of Ireland. <i>Indeed it is, way out in the west and seldom as hot as Kerala!</i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnsqjmwOPv6_SIU79iEvOyNBLRmc5MX81UoaNCAxEyhla588b0bu1QfJs-aCZ9oG5RWOSlfp2111KUMKM6lFSBPaboHUWpmsOEvIe6crXtmS6Z0suzMAILZiTyTiXM9Y_-WHtvymC9uQ/s1600/Spices+and+Kottayam+024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnsqjmwOPv6_SIU79iEvOyNBLRmc5MX81UoaNCAxEyhla588b0bu1QfJs-aCZ9oG5RWOSlfp2111KUMKM6lFSBPaboHUWpmsOEvIe6crXtmS6Z0suzMAILZiTyTiXM9Y_-WHtvymC9uQ/s1600/Spices+and+Kottayam+024.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a>After we came down from the hills we drove for ages and ages, and when we stopped a nice man in a canoe was waiting for us and he punted us across to where we were staying. This is our room.<br />
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And here we are sitting on the half door enjoying the view across the water.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCFpkxODiiBU4g5NopGQodtMOUAOb408XjDax_yvlRPGEH5gdaXMhA87cE7uKGi354VAsLsw9PebmzFwslTZEpubcm1-kmn2UENeZXzzH3B8wKrdQTnOp0PR-Xax6R6oN4iLBIIAxsnA/s1600/Spices+and+Kottayam+004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCFpkxODiiBU4g5NopGQodtMOUAOb408XjDax_yvlRPGEH5gdaXMhA87cE7uKGi354VAsLsw9PebmzFwslTZEpubcm1-kmn2UENeZXzzH3B8wKrdQTnOp0PR-Xax6R6oN4iLBIIAxsnA/s1600/Spices+and+Kottayam+004.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnh2MXwBuKca4B8fcLaspFbY2RK9Bt4bMwSqMTavi_IrjTwYsQoTww3hVq_NChdFERPB_GWBH6QYHM5B5IjUYv9nt2UJDqC7i_TxCx5FW5JFN8IhIRRM5BZwhZ0vgDQYsZ9m9whiNMkg/s1600/Spices+and+Kottayam+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnh2MXwBuKca4B8fcLaspFbY2RK9Bt4bMwSqMTavi_IrjTwYsQoTww3hVq_NChdFERPB_GWBH6QYHM5B5IjUYv9nt2UJDqC7i_TxCx5FW5JFN8IhIRRM5BZwhZ0vgDQYsZ9m9whiNMkg/s1600/Spices+and+Kottayam+001.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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When all that looking got too much we sat on our comfy chair and watch more of the world going by and listened to the birds<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQhXR-bTa8oD3w9Xu9_8jAJF3ABL53Me9bc6dnY9t3hQrHxkvzgbiIDwTpKPIrcyg74ex17gWfuEhXkX2KYU9JC9d88P0Z0i9Vzeo4EBdyd_OakgtZZdv27DHdfu68Ml1mnJSilIgZ8Q/s1600/Spices+and+Kottayam+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQhXR-bTa8oD3w9Xu9_8jAJF3ABL53Me9bc6dnY9t3hQrHxkvzgbiIDwTpKPIrcyg74ex17gWfuEhXkX2KYU9JC9d88P0Z0i9Vzeo4EBdyd_OakgtZZdv27DHdfu68Ml1mnJSilIgZ8Q/s1600/Spices+and+Kottayam+002.jpg" height="320" width="248" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP2kUYSGVquKV8b4jKjtpdcDbql9yzrKrOL2Fsd9EM88A5Bw1LrjFNyA58E2agyLO9R2hVJKhfbo73DhqVPCHP1LOAuApHB8im5n6Vbklkfxg5ppOzs_o82oRmnwqxgtlFuWV1vDQbCQ/s1600/Spices+and+Kottayam+003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP2kUYSGVquKV8b4jKjtpdcDbql9yzrKrOL2Fsd9EM88A5Bw1LrjFNyA58E2agyLO9R2hVJKhfbo73DhqVPCHP1LOAuApHB8im5n6Vbklkfxg5ppOzs_o82oRmnwqxgtlFuWV1vDQbCQ/s1600/Spices+and+Kottayam+003.jpg" height="320" width="249" /></a></div>
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When evening came the nice man with his boat came back and we had a sunset cruise. First we had a look behind us and then we turned around to see where we were going.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyOfGZ3ZIVTyEffcDAOiOdec_g4_OAzQfF54YT3erXSMSv0kUmonU-F1BPX7HYNJCTV2jv1X3r95F3G7lPh4KIZZDcI2cuC3Wuzf_Zgv0RwxMNVUQCRyuJbagf7n-Gkt-6PcMfNRMklw/s1600/Spices+and+Kottayam+022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyOfGZ3ZIVTyEffcDAOiOdec_g4_OAzQfF54YT3erXSMSv0kUmonU-F1BPX7HYNJCTV2jv1X3r95F3G7lPh4KIZZDcI2cuC3Wuzf_Zgv0RwxMNVUQCRyuJbagf7n-Gkt-6PcMfNRMklw/s1600/Spices+and+Kottayam+022.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a>We went out into the lake near the Chinese fishing nets. No, I don't know why they are Chinese either 'cos there were definitely no Chinese people there. While we were puzzling with that the sun dipped towards the horizon and his nibs took lots of pictures.</div>
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We had lots of lovely meals there and while we ate we sat with the other guests around a huge enormous table with a great big turntable this on it. Ann says it's called a Lazy Susan, but there was no-one called Susan there so I spect she left it behind. Next day when it was late morning we snuck back in and clambered up.<br />
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Well we had to sit on it of course and then we got to go whee, round and round on it. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuegIDNvYNoqaU29neaWkXaO05Oz31LQMIz31kJ4rh7O8XvCwC9FymhFz7aL5xX4MNCpkbI0OKncj1eNrtGiZyJzBuuU4gj4dubCXC0YSdGOtzQZksoDWnkCFKgIXc4e16r3ajShrkvg/s1600/Spices+and+Kottayam+007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuegIDNvYNoqaU29neaWkXaO05Oz31LQMIz31kJ4rh7O8XvCwC9FymhFz7aL5xX4MNCpkbI0OKncj1eNrtGiZyJzBuuU4gj4dubCXC0YSdGOtzQZksoDWnkCFKgIXc4e16r3ajShrkvg/s1600/Spices+and+Kottayam+007.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">First Zeke got dizzy.</span></div>
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Then I got dizzy.</div>
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hen we BOTH got dizzy. Tee hee, what fun it was until the humins came and said could they have it back please, because it was time for lunch.<span style="text-align: left;"> </span></div>
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After lunch we sat in the sun and caught some rays, and we saw some lovely flowers that smelled wonderful. They're called frangipani and we think they made us look quite festive and smart.<br />
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Next morning we got up early early while all the birds were singing, and we watched a man carry a basket of coconuts on his head from the farm and load them into a canoe. Then another man came and took the coconuts to market.</div>
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Here's a video of him. We wanted you to hear the birds and the music wafting over the water from the temple. It takes us all back, 'cept for Ann who was still in her bed!</div>
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<br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwSp3LD81qFenfMowN4qehtfUgvoXg_9euL71lUd7JVHW2rgGTUuOV8PKqp60xY33rNUVQu9gcxUKdMbT15Pg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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Anyway bears and peeps, that's all for this time. Just one more story about messing about in boats and living in a boatyard.<br />
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Hugs,<br />
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Jock and Zeke<br />
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Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02514977963623374915noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3424054994658419071.post-38437346254290737962014-04-21T05:11:00.001-07:002014-04-21T05:14:38.253-07:00Nephalents! NEPHALENTS! We get to ride a REAL NEPHALENT!!!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Oh the tocitement of it!! Nephalents everywhere!!</div>
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We were staying in a lovely place called Periyar, a long drive up throughout the mountings and tea plantations to a place where lots of spices grow, but more importantly where lots of nephalents live.</div>
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What a day we had. We got up really really early and went to the Periyar National Park and had a lovely boat ride. It was all very calm with oodles of birds; egrets, storks, kingfishers, herons, darters and many more. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijWm5Ex2fK7nePsiHYsbs0G26oAoz_NDrBcivCi7TPfEe-dihw5DxcKa9mYDuOghfrj5u4lMHrBd302zska322rluFoU1r7ES5WRPUDKUaotWRpLYqnWiuPfHr0fHSj-Z3zyBVVbQZMg/s1600/Periyar+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijWm5Ex2fK7nePsiHYsbs0G26oAoz_NDrBcivCi7TPfEe-dihw5DxcKa9mYDuOghfrj5u4lMHrBd302zska322rluFoU1r7ES5WRPUDKUaotWRpLYqnWiuPfHr0fHSj-Z3zyBVVbQZMg/s1600/Periyar+001.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a>There were so many that Zeke and I nearly fell asleep after our early start and no breakfast, but then Ann said, "Look boys elephants!" </div>
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"Where, THERE, LOOK, look nepahalents!!! REAL live NEPHALENTS. Whoopee, we see'd nephalents, hooray, hooray!"</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisOACV81yD2AK290ZaYqQqPBR2T7AuMzpc8d8zbSLL5JUnjzhfP90-Ds5i4uv-DROBwIDybL7Y0a7TU6pW5-1WflDHXf2a0hsC2egQ2XX5BnKpO4pn0PIat8mr8NdviWa9ufJLDhhCbg/s1600/Periyar+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisOACV81yD2AK290ZaYqQqPBR2T7AuMzpc8d8zbSLL5JUnjzhfP90-Ds5i4uv-DROBwIDybL7Y0a7TU6pW5-1WflDHXf2a0hsC2egQ2XX5BnKpO4pn0PIat8mr8NdviWa9ufJLDhhCbg/s1600/Periyar+002.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a> "Shh, said Ann, don't make so much noise boys." Well, how could we not? But she explained that we might scare them off and that wouldn't be good.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmCyAKZd76x3l1pdNWI_Z3YJbEAqmBkXCrj81S1twYHcOqCEcqCnIzvgbwwyVbSHxO393nzRsmsrei2ZTi9ULqSRmH5gYX4nSOe53UekuV1jGgBknjqLoZAXEGtjfqqQUmMyjhNEbNZA/s1600/Periyar+003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmCyAKZd76x3l1pdNWI_Z3YJbEAqmBkXCrj81S1twYHcOqCEcqCnIzvgbwwyVbSHxO393nzRsmsrei2ZTi9ULqSRmH5gYX4nSOe53UekuV1jGgBknjqLoZAXEGtjfqqQUmMyjhNEbNZA/s1600/Periyar+003.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
We certainly agreed about that, so we sat quietly and watched the mother with her little tusker. That means he will grow up to be a great big boy nephalent, 'cos mummy Indian nephies don't get tusks.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg377ypkQYi4VqdDmBhxHJhPffKnWzpF5TM4dkYsrce2HIKRCmlnxNvr8UFsaUqzkQ6wVwwi55RMMIdpSmBIYGxIUIlxDIBKzXi4fpBhqT7M5lKnVpLCy1BTr7Lf_pBmgRntf9d5sax9g/s1600/Periyar+004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg377ypkQYi4VqdDmBhxHJhPffKnWzpF5TM4dkYsrce2HIKRCmlnxNvr8UFsaUqzkQ6wVwwi55RMMIdpSmBIYGxIUIlxDIBKzXi4fpBhqT7M5lKnVpLCy1BTr7Lf_pBmgRntf9d5sax9g/s1600/Periyar+004.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a>This is a lovely group and we saw them twice during our ride. We also saw wild water buffalo, wild boar and even Riki Tikki Tavi mongoose. There were bear tracks by the side of the lake, but sadly no bear - we'd love to have seen a bear and said hello, but we didn't. Ah, never mind, Alan says it's another reason to go back. Though I don't think he needs any excuse at all.</div>
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Soon our excitement was over and we went back for breakfast. Then we asked if there was anything else to do, and Alan and Ann smiled and said that we might enjoy ourselves a bit more, but it would be a surprise.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzYTTAe4JnQ8gqyVQCo3uKpa5ynyk66A0HZQHX9Vd-TqCevGKW03wcBA9lodDNRSDNVe11M6pvWxhNuCN44_RU9aOU_tH4utBEmyZyk_92vO0h5JAvogluiSK1KeWIJS3ZiDLLTM64gA/s1600/Nepalents+015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzYTTAe4JnQ8gqyVQCo3uKpa5ynyk66A0HZQHX9Vd-TqCevGKW03wcBA9lodDNRSDNVe11M6pvWxhNuCN44_RU9aOU_tH4utBEmyZyk_92vO0h5JAvogluiSK1KeWIJS3ZiDLLTM64gA/s1600/Nepalents+015.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a>Many of the rest of the photos below were taken by our friend and driver Mr Shijo. He took us safely through India in his car and any photos with no copyright below are his. Thank you Mr Shijo.</div>
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After a huge breakfast served in our Homestay by the friendly Mr Cyriac and made by his wife Mrs Dolly, we piled back into the car and next thing we we arrived at a place called "Elephant Junction." Here there were lots of nephalents. Why was it not called Nephalent Junction Alan? <i>Well, that's because you've been getting their name wrong. Those large pachyderms are really elephants. But, if you want to call them nephalents as your pet name, who am I to stop you. </i>Hmm, elephants..nephalents..? No, nephalents it is. Everybear knows that's what I call them, so it would be too confusing to change now. <i>You're probably right. Nephalents it is.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7CM3lZIoCdAxgUS9Yekl0hsHIAnqWJU4cwjI9x2dS81MuSzfNxjzRXdPvi8L6nMTdj0EIcTzJR2R5pVZj8FaeoBPdhIYFCS9srJEbzTbArr8X8_hYsYuSM0Kw15-XUzFB7qJvfhaCSA/s1600/Nepalents+006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7CM3lZIoCdAxgUS9Yekl0hsHIAnqWJU4cwjI9x2dS81MuSzfNxjzRXdPvi8L6nMTdj0EIcTzJR2R5pVZj8FaeoBPdhIYFCS9srJEbzTbArr8X8_hYsYuSM0Kw15-XUzFB7qJvfhaCSA/s1600/Nepalents+006.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a>At Elephant Junction we met the lovely and friendly Puja, who was going to give us a long ride through the forest. Here she is blessing us, isn't that nice? I did wonder if she was going to have a little nibble, but no, she was a very friendly nephalent.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPDtKjYyw2PMZ7hXPo2XUCzsiBN_MV2HfNh2C_QXFyu4JFZbzVkRLa0U79HqpGVS08rXtiXy7yNAEa_4AVtkp2UHwF5RYKDcFJGMYRsoAyp7nhWiam-XBOko1EWkj-eXOhyUnSiJfx5Q/s1600/Nepalents+005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPDtKjYyw2PMZ7hXPo2XUCzsiBN_MV2HfNh2C_QXFyu4JFZbzVkRLa0U79HqpGVS08rXtiXy7yNAEa_4AVtkp2UHwF5RYKDcFJGMYRsoAyp7nhWiam-XBOko1EWkj-eXOhyUnSiJfx5Q/s1600/Nepalents+005.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a>We went up onto a great big platform and suddenly we were at nephalent level and we scrambled on her back and started on our way up the hill through the spices. Can you see us in Alan's hands?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXxui5o13jmR3X_jC2NobmB62-Pj2g2eP9-zf4xE5s9pvv_Qe_tTT9V2iKx1fZYn2h0vbJhqg0D7eG4RcZoxDmjhHuQGqEbc7oCrA6xbHH5kAlYP0M0eZxNtVN9uN248cpc0oLsXN-yQ/s1600/Nepalents+003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXxui5o13jmR3X_jC2NobmB62-Pj2g2eP9-zf4xE5s9pvv_Qe_tTT9V2iKx1fZYn2h0vbJhqg0D7eG4RcZoxDmjhHuQGqEbc7oCrA6xbHH5kAlYP0M0eZxNtVN9uN248cpc0oLsXN-yQ/s1600/Nepalents+003.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a>What about now? </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5XGneAZypl9zhpae-eGIQrl_7xSG3B1AmB56PuYqYFHZ9xJ-2kMaAu7Eh2tTSEXboL3Tv4uKm0usFuZylZ28nlTfis-BCv09a-W3-hEkzIP4oS7Ye0GVcv5e25Cqh9en3a93OiG9lJQ/s1600/Nephalent+ride+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5XGneAZypl9zhpae-eGIQrl_7xSG3B1AmB56PuYqYFHZ9xJ-2kMaAu7Eh2tTSEXboL3Tv4uKm0usFuZylZ28nlTfis-BCv09a-W3-hEkzIP4oS7Ye0GVcv5e25Cqh9en3a93OiG9lJQ/s1600/Nephalent+ride+002.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a>If you look very carefully you can see us tucked in behind Ann.</div>
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When we had ridden for an hour we got off and the humins stretched their weary limbs - I don't know what all the fuss was about, Zeke and I were quite comfortable thank you. After some tea and a snackeral Ann went off with the ladies of the house and Alan with the men, and then they re-appeared all dressed up for a Kerala wedding. Here they are with Puja and her mahout, Mr Vishnu.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnpPTQLRQhcpIsPGr3_dVga1wqzQbV0ZkAl1hopmxgZIbaXelKSJB30iffyV4LWo-k9454ekU91SApISfJm3C4n3lV3Iab_dgDeETEW2vqn38vaBtRJbiwn2cu0HrHwXi0ncgEEh0HCA/s1600/Nepalents+007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnpPTQLRQhcpIsPGr3_dVga1wqzQbV0ZkAl1hopmxgZIbaXelKSJB30iffyV4LWo-k9454ekU91SApISfJm3C4n3lV3Iab_dgDeETEW2vqn38vaBtRJbiwn2cu0HrHwXi0ncgEEh0HCA/s1600/Nepalents+007.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzilIGcTtu1R3BUpgPOSuQlzafJUvXtymwSf0Axc43AC6h7JVXqVWayuggOUUUz1kvCyC5YIsulciXUPMJ27U4VIWidjHiK4gUoJVtjjzzd6EXcdn9gYmVVfjf-F5TOExwMEIjF3a5Ug/s1600/Nepalents+008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzilIGcTtu1R3BUpgPOSuQlzafJUvXtymwSf0Axc43AC6h7JVXqVWayuggOUUUz1kvCyC5YIsulciXUPMJ27U4VIWidjHiK4gUoJVtjjzzd6EXcdn9gYmVVfjf-F5TOExwMEIjF3a5Ug/s1600/Nepalents+008.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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Soon it was time to get back on board and go back down the hill. Here Ann is holding us so that Alan Can take our photos to really prove that we were actually on an nephalent's back.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjthfSb1jcbrB6CXcPI77qVu7KjCZbhDVl4AMxi9oTGSEI8o154lGTJ_3jT11hMzDAIWQVdlAGJf8cJ5vW2MDtrLmjFuUzaee7ylP4K9UcLzUrWuq1bfuEnJ8Z2deXeO5CdVERBWkVhWg/s1600/Nepalents+014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjthfSb1jcbrB6CXcPI77qVu7KjCZbhDVl4AMxi9oTGSEI8o154lGTJ_3jT11hMzDAIWQVdlAGJf8cJ5vW2MDtrLmjFuUzaee7ylP4K9UcLzUrWuq1bfuEnJ8Z2deXeO5CdVERBWkVhWg/s1600/Nepalents+014.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a>This is the view from a nephalent's back. Puja had a very hairy head, <i>(but not as hairy as yours!). </i>True, but it was an intermeresting view all the same. On the way up and back agin Mr Vishnu was talking to Puja and she seemed to talk back to him. Sometimes it was a bark and at other times it was a rumble that vibrated our chests!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNnCkI605QkagiLbZBCBuHCN1nRn-5WT0O4NjRughVlX8uTa0O-ErDuTc-mP18NETbCDHy8xAaLaC23atFAXUWSlsOBaOLT5MJmXqwjiHYeoTfR3IQQcAPv1uRVa0437t37D3DAR5Spg/s1600/Nepalents+009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNnCkI605QkagiLbZBCBuHCN1nRn-5WT0O4NjRughVlX8uTa0O-ErDuTc-mP18NETbCDHy8xAaLaC23atFAXUWSlsOBaOLT5MJmXqwjiHYeoTfR3IQQcAPv1uRVa0437t37D3DAR5Spg/s1600/Nepalents+009.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a>After the excitement of the ride, it was payback time as we got to wash the nephalents with scrubbing brushes. <i>What's with the "We"? I seem to recall two creatures saying things like, "Water, water!? Sorry you two we'd hate to spoil your fun, we'll just watch." </i>Hmm, well, um, yes I aspose it was just the humins, what did it. You see we only have short paws. <i>Ah, that explains why you didn't join in. I quite understand.</i></div>
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You see where the nephie's trunk is heading? Just in front of her is a tank of nice clean water and she was itching to get her trunk in there.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcvmvhZF94SVX6X44GCW5GsT_f9-Uc1byCwzvLyPoNYMEo5cPNL_Vwoq7K37zHaZnbO3AyY2fhSnDg7-kq3tmlcLXTcMzO-qsAW8RZlYzyjybsIBBm9FfioLJ8AQsHZMzd8UL6_ns4tg/s1600/Nepalents+010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcvmvhZF94SVX6X44GCW5GsT_f9-Uc1byCwzvLyPoNYMEo5cPNL_Vwoq7K37zHaZnbO3AyY2fhSnDg7-kq3tmlcLXTcMzO-qsAW8RZlYzyjybsIBBm9FfioLJ8AQsHZMzd8UL6_ns4tg/s1600/Nepalents+010.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a>Well, first she got to roll onto her front and Alan got sit up near her shoulders. Then she sucked and sucked and then her ears started flapping - it's to a nephalent what wagging tails is to a dog. Then suddenly skoosh and Alan got a shower. Just to make sure he was really wet the nephalent repeated the process several times. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQWkmLEeQd-gnlbiwonxyeWlN2uTOvqShr3YWRP4mDxE8qTnSTqbSWBn49TnPjpndn-ef9iCZbCAFntjBG9pFbOmpyVcmRF3MRAf8b4Ff0sgj_HevntadzvX8ikY0rtyWgSpNtOkFMIw/s1600/Nepalents+011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQWkmLEeQd-gnlbiwonxyeWlN2uTOvqShr3YWRP4mDxE8qTnSTqbSWBn49TnPjpndn-ef9iCZbCAFntjBG9pFbOmpyVcmRF3MRAf8b4Ff0sgj_HevntadzvX8ikY0rtyWgSpNtOkFMIw/s1600/Nepalents+011.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
For some reason Alan had a great big grin on his face, and Ann laughed, but then it was her turn so Alan got to laugh while Ann got skooshed.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoh-jO5iyquj0ygMR7ljFHxARd56kjLHpKhOn_WfKg-r7rrOEMBOPSrdlpICgbFOnPhEVW-KZ4gfD6CM0GWGb6Di2EK58Rh7gAKmzfgnMHhg585B2k3sdBk1CxuUYUf1porN-Oo-XitQ/s1600/Nepalents+012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoh-jO5iyquj0ygMR7ljFHxARd56kjLHpKhOn_WfKg-r7rrOEMBOPSrdlpICgbFOnPhEVW-KZ4gfD6CM0GWGb6Di2EK58Rh7gAKmzfgnMHhg585B2k3sdBk1CxuUYUf1porN-Oo-XitQ/s1600/Nepalents+012.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a>They didn't need to wash again till they came home! <i>Oh, we did bear! </i>Huh? After all that water? I wouldn't have bothered.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG5XQmwn9p9LrU0pnYkNG9qMTQF5PYa5TJVEV2hVczTJUmCEOUVWl9xrho7ZKcpzvwtijzhUNhfzPFD-8IpHgzhcSvN5xKFfuKbIw9_E466VGu-UpiwXFQ3H7pYtSkcIESIgKmWAHuvg/s1600/Periyar+people+004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG5XQmwn9p9LrU0pnYkNG9qMTQF5PYa5TJVEV2hVczTJUmCEOUVWl9xrho7ZKcpzvwtijzhUNhfzPFD-8IpHgzhcSvN5xKFfuKbIw9_E466VGu-UpiwXFQ3H7pYtSkcIESIgKmWAHuvg/s1600/Periyar+people+004.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a>Well that was very tociting and it was still morning, and so we went back to Mr Cyriac's house for lunch as we were getting peckish. We had a rest in Mr Cyriac's lovely house until the evening when we went to see men jumping through hoops of fire!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpu0uuDcbGrQQoaRH2454uqESFIJgMOs8gKAMGC0PmfyrEPYTNJGPfR2Jl5dh1y52bnuJWn08f_46SfTMIJXc_lkm8yIe0ZXCipjNEd-5YtJKy4UzFD5JDqR9gquSGn6S_Z1fnyr8C6w/s1600/Periyar+people+005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpu0uuDcbGrQQoaRH2454uqESFIJgMOs8gKAMGC0PmfyrEPYTNJGPfR2Jl5dh1y52bnuJWn08f_46SfTMIJXc_lkm8yIe0ZXCipjNEd-5YtJKy4UzFD5JDqR9gquSGn6S_Z1fnyr8C6w/s1600/Periyar+people+005.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a>Here's Mr Cyriac with a nutmeg tree.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkqMZmy8vU1cOG6yQ4i_IB1L-sGV4iA2B_S6sIBj4fnyPO9oZc6IDYAbbWWHGt69dIf4vsBJjlW40nif8QuTcc3DGaAqMNAJNPTvITD1144e6meHl-tg4G47QIf03Zn4bqswUVU0BtrQ/s1600/Periyar+people+006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkqMZmy8vU1cOG6yQ4i_IB1L-sGV4iA2B_S6sIBj4fnyPO9oZc6IDYAbbWWHGt69dIf4vsBJjlW40nif8QuTcc3DGaAqMNAJNPTvITD1144e6meHl-tg4G47QIf03Zn4bqswUVU0BtrQ/s1600/Periyar+people+006.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a><br />
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Here are those people jumping through fiery hoops.<br />
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After all that tocitement we needed to have a nice relax so next time we'll tell you all about that.<br />
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Hugs,<br />
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Jock and Zeke<br />
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Hi again, sorry this has taken so long but his nibs says there's been no why phi. Now you may also ask, "Why phi?" and indeed I did, but he says it's wifi and without it we can't connect to the internet. So anyway here we were in Cochin and we had wifi at last so we tried to stay in touch, but failed and now we're home and he has no excuse.</div>
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After staying in our lovely cabin for fewer days than we all would have wanted we moved on again to a place called Wayanad. It's up in them that hills. The place itself was called <a href="http://www.tranquilresort.com/index.html" target="_blank">Tranquil</a>, and it was really lovely. We got to chill out a bit - well in so far as you can when it's 35C or more.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs5jkc0u0B3wr2EhgGutoQPRnhylJZKGh5gbV8iu2OcOjQ-zkbiXYA-9_Etydbay1YwQxKJGCzQLDuFWkdOzxucrmNeicZ-ii38DXWHWMf8yQmsaB5FnY00nTmNAaSv7iaASEizQJSWg/s1600/Athirapilly+017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs5jkc0u0B3wr2EhgGutoQPRnhylJZKGh5gbV8iu2OcOjQ-zkbiXYA-9_Etydbay1YwQxKJGCzQLDuFWkdOzxucrmNeicZ-ii38DXWHWMf8yQmsaB5FnY00nTmNAaSv7iaASEizQJSWg/s1600/Athirapilly+017.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT99LGKDkgdX_L6ZZy-Usx-r79zlzcHuS04hfaN2yilxNfHzgM-wyYI4EF_TTHCAkzxewKIXMFMQ2DNA3XCgdKZupN3AioXlfY9pnQKAbk0JklBjiASzMfybZ0roRgfZ4wktGgoDbH-w/s1600/Athirapilly+007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT99LGKDkgdX_L6ZZy-Usx-r79zlzcHuS04hfaN2yilxNfHzgM-wyYI4EF_TTHCAkzxewKIXMFMQ2DNA3XCgdKZupN3AioXlfY9pnQKAbk0JklBjiASzMfybZ0roRgfZ4wktGgoDbH-w/s1600/Athirapilly+007.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a><span style="text-align: left;">On our only full day there we went for a long walk - well, before he says it - the staff walked and we rode in splendour. We walked through the coffee plantation and we could see far far away across the fantastic hills of Kerala.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimVdPbVNkaI5najRVIOmq-sadzlfvTHyG-m_yrHIEUZ4u3sWXJq2J73CwfklSSo-9jc741lME8q-j27H1NdIHcmkRlR1PeJ-hxE846cOqLnfqUTb80fk18_0sKH0kaeiZ8zIbK4s3VWg/s1600/Athirapilly+009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimVdPbVNkaI5najRVIOmq-sadzlfvTHyG-m_yrHIEUZ4u3sWXJq2J73CwfklSSo-9jc741lME8q-j27H1NdIHcmkRlR1PeJ-hxE846cOqLnfqUTb80fk18_0sKH0kaeiZ8zIbK4s3VWg/s1600/Athirapilly+009.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a>At one point we had a lovely viewpoint with picker knicker tables, so Zeke and I sat down and waited for our food. But there wasn't any!!!!! The staff said that we had huge breakfast of dosas and scrumptious masala sauce, with freshly squeezed pineapple juice and lovely coffee, so we didn't need a picker knicker, and we had to admit that multiple meals with multiple courses meant we really didn't need any snackerals, but still, being bears....<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9HPVkDO0bmQJ6GEAHMv5GTev_Co6K1KPOMGihUUayTP5o2yGYYHnUKW3dk9iaEnkGaCzg8YfpfoLGnvAE4DLWG1Ozcd7gNux58sN5oKdDbnci1oEKJk3DvM3fcyQ5I8yBFAzv4evvzw/s1600/Athirapilly+010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9HPVkDO0bmQJ6GEAHMv5GTev_Co6K1KPOMGihUUayTP5o2yGYYHnUKW3dk9iaEnkGaCzg8YfpfoLGnvAE4DLWG1Ozcd7gNux58sN5oKdDbnci1oEKJk3DvM3fcyQ5I8yBFAzv4evvzw/s1600/Athirapilly+010.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
All too soon we were on our way to a wonderful place called Arthur pally, or how do you say it Alan? <i>It's, "Athirapilly"</i> <i>Jock. </i> Oh, Athththth rapilly. <i>No, let's do it slowly because I know it's hard for a small bear. Ready now? </i><br />
<i>"Ath" </i><br />
Ath,<br />
"<i>Ir</i>,"<br />
Ir<br />
<i>" A Pilly"</i><br />
A Pilly.<br />
<i>Now run it all together and you get, "Athirapilly"</i><br />
Athira-pilly, Athirapilly, Athirapilly. It's not really that hard, but I do spray a bit when I say it. <i>Not really, well done.</i><br />
Athirapilly is famous for its waterfalls and in the picture above we're sitting on our hotel balcony with the falls in the background.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZs7keQ1kosBRy73G1ksfP3Qw9btja-jlW1hx8Hb0uyfAfQtMRDwoW9pG-K4PrChmY2y3l865CFAtHAdeF8QgucixSQ5iCZ77Yem5YSlDtxc3rcrVFlxngfjv3SDq76190u13E1AT1KQ/s1600/Athirapilly+012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZs7keQ1kosBRy73G1ksfP3Qw9btja-jlW1hx8Hb0uyfAfQtMRDwoW9pG-K4PrChmY2y3l865CFAtHAdeF8QgucixSQ5iCZ77Yem5YSlDtxc3rcrVFlxngfjv3SDq76190u13E1AT1KQ/s1600/Athirapilly+012.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a>We had a tosplore and we found another nephalent to be friends with. It had a funny head, but it was just right for both of us to sit on. Little did we know that riding a real nephalent would be <u>much more tociting</u>, but you''l just have to watch this space.<br />
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Next morning we went for a walk and hey presto we were down at the bottom of the falls, so it was time for official beside the waterfall portraits.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6hyT2xG7qKE2Z_e_toJ-hjk7-gQfL3GmGYUq_ZFbAV3ltpSnwWhBP8rrjcjFxJRZS_9Ai_LBSORtxMcwZOWgaS9BtCSNEpkHyyK42j3bVC32PSE0cmPC1WyAPlRVAfIOsuUbO77IFcA/s1600/Athirapilly+013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6hyT2xG7qKE2Z_e_toJ-hjk7-gQfL3GmGYUq_ZFbAV3ltpSnwWhBP8rrjcjFxJRZS_9Ai_LBSORtxMcwZOWgaS9BtCSNEpkHyyK42j3bVC32PSE0cmPC1WyAPlRVAfIOsuUbO77IFcA/s1600/Athirapilly+013.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
Zeke was a wee bit concerned that he'd be washed away by all that water.<br />
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So I put my (slightly atremble) arm around his shoulders and we both felt much safer. That's what friends are for.</div>
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Finally he jumped into Alan's bag and I got to be a brave bear an had my own photo taken. You can see that there were THREE waterfalls and we were rather near the one on the left!</div>
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Well, that was the end of our tocitement, but there had been some earlier, 'cos on our way out we met some new friends! </div>
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We could see over breakfast that something was trying to get at the jackfruit in a tree that we could see from our table. There was much shaking of the huge fruits, but none came down, and we wondered what was doing it. Would it be a bird, or a nephalent? When we went out all we could see was lots of legs and two tails. So Zeke said, "Gee what's that Jock?" and I said, 'Coo-flip looks like a two headed two tailed monster thingy rumbling round in a fury blanket."<br />
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Aren't they lovely, and much bigger than ickle bears like us.<br />
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Well, that's enough tocitement for this time. In our next instalment you'll get to see us riding on a real nephalent! Stay tuned.<br />
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Hugs,<br />
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Jock and Zeke<br />
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Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02514977963623374915noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3424054994658419071.post-69011217059457030112014-04-05T08:54:00.000-07:002014-04-05T08:54:32.482-07:00Mysore and Orange County and Nearly Nephalents<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Hi there - partners in crime Jock and Zeke here. <i>(Crime?) </i>'s a manner of speaking eejit, we're honest really. <i>(Ah, that's alright then. I didn't want to have to hide you from the Indian Police.) </i>Na, don't worry. Anyway we piled into the car and went to noisy, noisy, Mysore. A pleasant enough is slightly scary journey. We occasionally did have to clap our paws over our eyes, but Mr Shijo our driver is very careful.</div>
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We got all tocited when we got to our hotel. Here were some nephalents and near our room too. First we got to ride a great big nephie, but that was quite high up so then we found Jock and Zeke sized ones and they were really cool, 'cos we didn't worry about falling off.</div>
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After our ride on the nephies we went out for the day. First we went to a temple, but we just looked at it from the safety of the car 'cos there were naughty monkeys and Alan and Ann were worried that we would get bear napped and never be seen again. So we waited until we came down the hill a bit and foot our photie taken in front of the city. Then we had to rush back to the hotel</div>
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Remember my bad joke about Mysore? Well, Alan was sore and we had to leave him in the hotel for rest of the day while we went out with Ann. We saw a special palace, and Ann bought some silk. Then we had lunch in a nice restaurant with our lovely lady guide. After going round a (yawn) art gallery we headed back to the hotel where Alan was finally feeling ok, and he has been ever since. </div>
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Next morning before we left for our next place, we decided that it was important that we have another practice riding on nephalents, 'cos you never know when it's going to be necessary to bring all our experience into play. So, we had a go on another matched pair.</div>
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Then we spied a friendly tigger and got our photie taken with him. I think he has a nice smile, what about you?</div>
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He was such a friendly tigger <i>(tiger, bear, tiger)</i> tigger, tiger, who cares, he let us ride on his back. He was just the right size for both of us!</div>
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Well, next day all was well and we went to a lovely place called Orange County in a lovely place called Coorg. First things first. After we were shown to our cottage we saw a lovely plate of sweeties and all for us! There was a bit of scrapping over who ate what, but all in all we enjoyed our choccies.<br />
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Now for a tour of our ickle back yard. Do you like the lily pond and the bear sized pool. Apparently it was an definitiy pool. <i>(Infinity.) </i>Well it definitely had a good view so my name's best. We could sit in the shade and watch the birds in the coffee and pepper plantation. It was all great fun and the birds were beautiful.</div>
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When we got fed up with our lickle pool there were two other big pools. This is the one by the restaurant, where his nibs was able to write episode 1.<br />
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Alan says it was the bestest hotel he's EVER stayed in with lovely people to help, excellent food and lots of things to-day. We will defertootly be going back. Alan and Ann met a lovely man called Ganesh and another called Murti. Ganesh organised events like a walk in the plantation and a bird-watching walk both of which were led by Murti who knew all the birds and told us all about coffee. By the way have you ever smelt coffee flowers. Can you guess what the smell like? No? I'll tell you at the end.<br />
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One day we went back to the room to find that the housekeeping staff and left some lovely peacocks made from towels and flowers.<br />
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In the evening there are cultural events, and on the first day we went there were a group of men who were singing and playing cymbal things while dancing and then making tumin pyramids. Colourful weren't we.</div>
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On the last day (boo-hoo) we went back to find that we had a monkey to play with. Again the lovely housekeeping staff made him. Isn't he fun.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgstJtj2_On98CS8r4EkW-604x7a6y982Z6lU_HctvXjXUwhjffWvvIfot3FskHTwGtIuI3Wd8qzc-CAr_5cIrDLD6BEeQA9UsbJv3bMDoGvqyrNNvVhzkPZkCu0TMc3_CaoWDsARtVMA/s3200/Mysore+and+Coorg+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgstJtj2_On98CS8r4EkW-604x7a6y982Z6lU_HctvXjXUwhjffWvvIfot3FskHTwGtIuI3Wd8qzc-CAr_5cIrDLD6BEeQA9UsbJv3bMDoGvqyrNNvVhzkPZkCu0TMc3_CaoWDsARtVMA/s3200/Mysore+and+Coorg+001.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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Well that's about it for this time, but I aspose you want to know what coffee smells like? First this is what it looks like.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg56YSL7u0VEp747iSt2YRicD8rrMOlfWcdk4j8OAAALsGnWzH7pi42tV_pYKFjuAx4PQBeIghSkS7SsPevNucS-WOP4P9clHNdGQCXwOugFGDfWIyHZukRsjwzIvtR4MrM2y7GW3590g/s3200/Coorg+004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg56YSL7u0VEp747iSt2YRicD8rrMOlfWcdk4j8OAAALsGnWzH7pi42tV_pYKFjuAx4PQBeIghSkS7SsPevNucS-WOP4P9clHNdGQCXwOugFGDfWIyHZukRsjwzIvtR4MrM2y7GW3590g/s3200/Coorg+004.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
It smells like Jasmine only much nicer. Really heady. So now you know.<br />
Till next time.<br />
Hugs,<br />
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Hot and sticky Jock and Zeke.<br />
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Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02514977963623374915noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3424054994658419071.post-75772363603246159252014-03-25T09:31:00.000-07:002014-03-25T09:31:07.654-07:00Hooray, we are in Injar<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHBL4kqvgfNCu0WAkKW89TfPrCjG9UPBgAOVwqmfgzkTX10XVM-j0ZPbCZI22TTnfhbYs9I4AXzLWpXLnzbqrUHredG6lZ0ZwWrEoYYuNJkp463AIVi4j0ITpAU5aSyzyL4JOhGwVqPQ/s1600/Peripatetic+bears+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHBL4kqvgfNCu0WAkKW89TfPrCjG9UPBgAOVwqmfgzkTX10XVM-j0ZPbCZI22TTnfhbYs9I4AXzLWpXLnzbqrUHredG6lZ0ZwWrEoYYuNJkp463AIVi4j0ITpAU5aSyzyL4JOhGwVqPQ/s1600/Peripatetic+bears+001.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a>Yawn, yawn, "Is it ever going to happen?" I asked Zeke. A little beady eye opened, "Nope, I cain't say that I think it will Jock. I jess think they're pulling our legs." "I think you're right, but I tell you what my littler friend, I'm not taking my eye off these cases for ANYTHING."</div>
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And then then suddenly we were on a tuge, TUGE, big nairyplane up in the sky. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixWeYwOnOBc4Po6g1QB5TV-Dv7imeCc4Yc7zcHranPigJdScAbZN7S6iKsuDTZ075042-mgWly61lA5vCovPDC0vNQLgRjg21wvbEY5hOs0ULIJDOeZieoM1zt_-Gd_2Iu3NpoYpJBCw/s1600/Peripatetic+bears+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixWeYwOnOBc4Po6g1QB5TV-Dv7imeCc4Yc7zcHranPigJdScAbZN7S6iKsuDTZ075042-mgWly61lA5vCovPDC0vNQLgRjg21wvbEY5hOs0ULIJDOeZieoM1zt_-Gd_2Iu3NpoYpJBCw/s1600/Peripatetic+bears+002.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
Here we are a reading of the me and you. You see which ever side of it we sat it was that page is for me and that page is for you, 'cos the one that got "you" hadn't a clue 'cos it was written in funny squiggles <i>(Arabic bear. arabic).</i> Whatever, we couldn't make head or tail of it even trying to read it right to left! Well, that would have been the correct way to read it, but I doubt if you'd have made sense of it anyway.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVrQDgxbUn_ErTWlMyJnnMYBSQHoeaOBuFyCiczQyoXVvXEVX9z9_XcOaZnmR00tGvlXZTRqbkIX6pcX3S-BSBDUNouF-rgcoJdDlGdXCCbOwt1h-i8Eoo-24mJ6mtBmiJZ4vaiIVIDw/s1600/Peripatetic+bears+003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVrQDgxbUn_ErTWlMyJnnMYBSQHoeaOBuFyCiczQyoXVvXEVX9z9_XcOaZnmR00tGvlXZTRqbkIX6pcX3S-BSBDUNouF-rgcoJdDlGdXCCbOwt1h-i8Eoo-24mJ6mtBmiJZ4vaiIVIDw/s1600/Peripatetic+bears+003.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a>Well, maybe not, but once we'd got ourselves outside that wine, it all seemed so much easier to read.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3CH6oo5WcG_Ih_mMhQo9UEHCb_jw6PtRv-EWjrCTcSp-yqq9CTy-mblMapFvc5AnrHIdZPvENUZ2tFJToET1po1F8SpRrR4OZ4hwMbMIg_foWlUtlu1mqVN4ElQK8NxTEiw5FZ-uO_w/s1600/Peripatetic+bears+004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3CH6oo5WcG_Ih_mMhQo9UEHCb_jw6PtRv-EWjrCTcSp-yqq9CTy-mblMapFvc5AnrHIdZPvENUZ2tFJToET1po1F8SpRrR4OZ4hwMbMIg_foWlUtlu1mqVN4ElQK8NxTEiw5FZ-uO_w/s1600/Peripatetic+bears+004.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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We arrived in Bangalore in time to get to our hotel so that the tired out humans could get a zizz. Silly peeps - Zeke and I were ready to rock and roll. <i>(I'm not surprised after the consumption of that wine. Not so much knockout drops, as knockout glugs!)</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9_zHR1qV3UesmgcUoosZaT2XdgrLcrTyMSJF8oh24cK9VtAMRJ-5KoGxd55ttHCzU9_OpReD4xuYDaLPYS4MkBG9_E6C35rkGpeccoHtNz9l8tL5UMT8Fa2PhGvYm8LI7kpt9roovRw/s1600/Peripatetic+bears+005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9_zHR1qV3UesmgcUoosZaT2XdgrLcrTyMSJF8oh24cK9VtAMRJ-5KoGxd55ttHCzU9_OpReD4xuYDaLPYS4MkBG9_E6C35rkGpeccoHtNz9l8tL5UMT8Fa2PhGvYm8LI7kpt9roovRw/s1600/Peripatetic+bears+005.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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Here we are on our balcony, watiently paiting for the staff to get their act together, 'cos it was overdue time for a snackeral. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieaXMu9234qzkV_z35kg-UYZ3TkGIke0n-APvnZc5BSVM7dj0ytDCo69nPFSDlZ-w7BbwTGPiQgK-Vb42n_un94enQd1GX0g5wEms6hOagyBD-PFF-41q5FrZQGQi8-ttQQNFiVabEAQ/s1600/Peripatetic+bears+006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieaXMu9234qzkV_z35kg-UYZ3TkGIke0n-APvnZc5BSVM7dj0ytDCo69nPFSDlZ-w7BbwTGPiQgK-Vb42n_un94enQd1GX0g5wEms6hOagyBD-PFF-41q5FrZQGQi8-ttQQNFiVabEAQ/s1600/Peripatetic+bears+006.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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So we sat down and I thought we'd have to eat that pretty flower, but then some ickle crips and spicy peanuts arrived. Well, they were nice, but I thought, "Is that it then? The famous Injun cuisine?" <i>(Bear, I have told you it's India and Indian.) </i>Oh, have I been getting it wrong? <i>Yep. </i>WHATEVER. <i>(No, sorry you have to get it right!) </i>Oh, alright then Mr TEECHUR.<i> </i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwwVNabyVtxm864MILQxYkCMnHVnpBsOXkKtAKQUyx2Lq-UUCTthU71ObgiFPgUpAO3nPowBNE0zbTXktL8tvV2TPAC5bcjQ_gSn3MTxfkw1vDLFyWWAj02tMGyYvmBN2pMpPFr6KzIg/s1600/Peripatetic+bears+008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwwVNabyVtxm864MILQxYkCMnHVnpBsOXkKtAKQUyx2Lq-UUCTthU71ObgiFPgUpAO3nPowBNE0zbTXktL8tvV2TPAC5bcjQ_gSn3MTxfkw1vDLFyWWAj02tMGyYvmBN2pMpPFr6KzIg/s1600/Peripatetic+bears+008.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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Then, just as we wus despairing, in comes a couple of delicious plates of tandoori delicacies. We left the boring veggies to the humans and tucked into the koftas and the chicken. Yum, though here was a bit of a scrap over that third kofta. His nibs had to get involved. He solved the debate, 'cos HE ATE IT. Can you imagine!?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnV5-gbbIsjWuw11MYkVpgHn_W-gK2WAjWZZUH74EPdXvlNFZ-2yYfQ2dXPvhE0-I_g1e-Y79rxdzunPl8Jy3rXvQxbVHk4KXUyoMr20lm_0jh_PbZF0gezYItKsIRlhtQmDl4-ZJPww/s1600/Peripatetic+bears+009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnV5-gbbIsjWuw11MYkVpgHn_W-gK2WAjWZZUH74EPdXvlNFZ-2yYfQ2dXPvhE0-I_g1e-Y79rxdzunPl8Jy3rXvQxbVHk4KXUyoMr20lm_0jh_PbZF0gezYItKsIRlhtQmDl4-ZJPww/s1600/Peripatetic+bears+009.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
After we'd had our fill a nice man called Joe came and took us to a big garding called the Lalbagh, and we got to ride on a heffalent.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEL8nPekt6mZK5JdIiE8_m_xj2pexpcgHlIsyHIM_kF-N9KBA-O5tiNfkvCTaj1B_13nt-bZvJToZ3YaVD3mBFMFBb-HUem4RcWG6wchttyyJtx7MhKrpzDef2nbFGZoj8TV-k7tLyOg/s1600/Peripatetic+bears+010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEL8nPekt6mZK5JdIiE8_m_xj2pexpcgHlIsyHIM_kF-N9KBA-O5tiNfkvCTaj1B_13nt-bZvJToZ3YaVD3mBFMFBb-HUem4RcWG6wchttyyJtx7MhKrpzDef2nbFGZoj8TV-k7tLyOg/s1600/Peripatetic+bears+010.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a>Then, this morning we found another one in the hotel and we got to ride it too. This was just before we left to travel to Mysore - No I'm not, nor is Zeke! Ha, ha, ha - get it M y sore? <i>(Don't give up the day job.)</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMKPI0u3RSeAIP8HXjUTpmWgQJ9RH48CmPle_xsvHPWsD0EPskvL0nMCbYU6fiD0jBhCiJvMWpomJ1Pd5D2LJ1MiXjoCpyawEpU7tj2A7VWPGzYRb2d1Vsjzw1G1n6ixAGDVwkvUNjOg/s1600/Peripatetic+bears+012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMKPI0u3RSeAIP8HXjUTpmWgQJ9RH48CmPle_xsvHPWsD0EPskvL0nMCbYU6fiD0jBhCiJvMWpomJ1Pd5D2LJ1MiXjoCpyawEpU7tj2A7VWPGzYRb2d1Vsjzw1G1n6ixAGDVwkvUNjOg/s1600/Peripatetic+bears+012.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a>Well we travelled a lot and saw birds and things and paintings of heffalents, but none to ride on, so when we got to Mysore we had to have a little something <i>(As you do.). </i>Indeed we do. So this was some Mango Lassie <i>(Lassi) </i>Well, you know what I mean, a mango yoghurt thingy and some mango cheesecake. Yummy.<br />
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Termorrer we're off in search of more heffalents. We'll be back soon.<br />
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Hugs,<br />
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Jock and Zeke<br />
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Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02514977963623374915noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3424054994658419071.post-20855840777857849642014-03-16T04:58:00.000-07:002014-03-16T04:58:23.179-07:00NEARLY, NEARLY NEARLY time to be going<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Hi, I bet you've missed us - Zeke and me I mean. <br />
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Well, things are getting very tociting in our hug at the monument. Piles of clothes <i>every which way </i>and camera bags and shoes and suitcases - cor flip when will we be going? <i>(next weekend my little friend). </i> WHAT? A whole week! S'not fair we say. <i>(Be patient it will be worth it.)</i> Better be, is all I can say.<br />
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We've been waiting absolutely AGES to go. Good grief it was all booked last August. Since the beginning of the year it's been a slow build up. First four, yep that's right, four trips to Manchester to get the visas sorted, then the tickets arrived, then the clothes and stuff started to come out, and so, when the suitcases came down from the loft, Zeke and I decided to make sure we weren't forgotten, so here we are sitting patiently <i>(that'll be a first!), </i>yes, patiently waiting on top of the biggest suitcase just to make sure.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXrdhaig61OIjczrlfhF-yb0DNqWNGUblM2kZbhoo4x92NCi58HUTmKHAiTJA7PJlOqFIbpz5Xij3AJjqhzWQ5nCUTgEDwT5gnsKmCfJgwavbVTo-kaaVe8d52ilxdK7yoG69DbtbCjg/s1600/Nearly+time.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXrdhaig61OIjczrlfhF-yb0DNqWNGUblM2kZbhoo4x92NCi58HUTmKHAiTJA7PJlOqFIbpz5Xij3AJjqhzWQ5nCUTgEDwT5gnsKmCfJgwavbVTo-kaaVe8d52ilxdK7yoG69DbtbCjg/s1600/Nearly+time.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
You can see all the chassis behind us and there's no fear we'll be going over there - a bear or even two bears could get buried in all that stuff. Anyway, we're good and ready, all we need is for our humins to get their act together. <i>(Sorry bear, we have another week of work and I'll be in London. I'm leaving you behind just so there's no confusion when next weekend comes.) </i>Tohind, TOHIND, well it's only boring London, so I' rather make sure I get to Injar, so that's alright then.<br />
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Keep a lookout and maybe we'll get to feature while we're still away. He says it's all to do with broadband access, whatever that means, something technicalical and I 'spect he'll be too busy looking at his photies and seeing things to write about us, but you never know.<br />
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Hugs until we write from foreign parts.<br />
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Jock</div>
Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02514977963623374915noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3424054994658419071.post-16694548726461434092014-01-20T01:52:00.000-08:002014-01-20T01:52:22.369-08:00Happy New year, and that sort of thing<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Hello all, sorry I've been away - his fault you know <i>(All true. I admit it.) </i>Coo, that's a first.<br />
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A bit of pre-history is needed. I need to tell you about Chrifniss 'n stuff. We went up to Glasgow for the holiday and we had a great time. <br />
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Chrifniss Day <i>(Christmas bear!) </i>Stop interferating, it's Chrifness to me. <i>(Ah, ok).</i> Ahem, Chrifniss Day was special. I had a great big <strike>secrut,</strike> <strike>secrit</strike> secret to keep from Ann. Can you see me in the background sitting on a box? I think I nearly gave the game away, by jumping up and down and shouting, "Open this one Ann, open this one first! Ann, Ann, ANNNNN!"<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOEsCU5NY_4ZYJoNEx-G-DyJNa6QsknsRKqz1q9qyN5VIH45rBqzzBg66UdBGfIKhiJQq802_gRk6EehcdY2dpQn1EnhMZo_wA9b1sipHHpoANTKBj163yuT4E1lEzxrtkXhrhmVd7Gw/s1600/Christmas+2013+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOEsCU5NY_4ZYJoNEx-G-DyJNa6QsknsRKqz1q9qyN5VIH45rBqzzBg66UdBGfIKhiJQq802_gRk6EehcdY2dpQn1EnhMZo_wA9b1sipHHpoANTKBj163yuT4E1lEzxrtkXhrhmVd7Gw/s1600/Christmas+2013+001.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB3VUMZDAk76camiku7Fo74oIdJU7y48LSgrQbLxRM5kywp_AdF8vWb22i5eSnaNSdu_aP4lGZ99RjRu3QfSUEigZnXfIK6psaHJodmXCWEnx-r1AJNBuniisKSZU1iR_egxf1XBHBVw/s1600/Christmas+2013+020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB3VUMZDAk76camiku7Fo74oIdJU7y48LSgrQbLxRM5kywp_AdF8vWb22i5eSnaNSdu_aP4lGZ99RjRu3QfSUEigZnXfIK6psaHJodmXCWEnx-r1AJNBuniisKSZU1iR_egxf1XBHBVw/s1600/Christmas+2013+020.jpg" height="260" width="320" /></a>Well, eventually she noticed, and she saw that the box had a straw sticking out the side. I said, "Can you guess what's inside?" And she said, "I wonder? It's all a bit of a myskery, but maybe you can help me to open the box." So, of course, I did and out popped a bear! I knew that's what was inside, but it was a secret between Alan and me. The straw was a breathing tube for when he was all shut up inside the box. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9nA3rukWTNWLsjwtmhJBz5WdFeeyq_A_7IkK0XjiyHDjhgShsIUEAz5rnyfncfBf1T79IwZjjmKrpg65wIxWibG3IhCE7_9RUn9W5YHKF40H2TGHmsGU3BfFKZTm0uJz0xUb2qP4CnQ/s1600/Christmas+2013+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9nA3rukWTNWLsjwtmhJBz5WdFeeyq_A_7IkK0XjiyHDjhgShsIUEAz5rnyfncfBf1T79IwZjjmKrpg65wIxWibG3IhCE7_9RUn9W5YHKF40H2TGHmsGU3BfFKZTm0uJz0xUb2qP4CnQ/s1600/Christmas+2013+002.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a>Please welcome Zeke to our hug, here we are sitting on Alan's pressie from Katy. </div>
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Zeke came all the way from Ginger Brame and Sebastian, and he's come to go travelling with me! Alan says it's only when Ann's going, and he'll probably go with her when she travels on her own. That will be nice for her, but not so much for me I think, as he'll be away and I'll be home. <i>(Sometimes the boot will be on the other foot. He'll be at home and you'll travel.) </i>Oh, really. If a boot's involved, does that mean Wilbur will be there too? <i>(No sorry, that's just a turn of phrase. Wilbur lives in Australia and won't be joining us.) </i>Ah, that's a shame.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKzymntJdxnTtipQBNb3WfKxfDdytTSQcwZ5g-iEhkTTq7eapDnHatz3xv8__SgrYniSD9kvFLk49L4TFwQ4yZgjgS8QzJK8wcQqqYpAkGgLAf8ICyY6XDXnT7K55Rl8ODnOi-4gzuFw/s1600/Christmas+2013+006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKzymntJdxnTtipQBNb3WfKxfDdytTSQcwZ5g-iEhkTTq7eapDnHatz3xv8__SgrYniSD9kvFLk49L4TFwQ4yZgjgS8QzJK8wcQqqYpAkGgLAf8ICyY6XDXnT7K55Rl8ODnOi-4gzuFw/s1600/Christmas+2013+006.jpg" height="320" style="cursor: move;" width="213" /></a>Well, after the 'citement of the morning it soon came to be dinner time and we all had a great meal.</div>
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Zeke and I tucked in to the parma ham and pomegranate and salad, and then our main course of sitka deer, though the photographer fell down on that one. You can't get the staff, can you? <i>(Mm, sorry.) </i>I should jolly well think so too!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOl7iXiOzmKxOisMwsu8StRT8BaurlzKB3QFUOUMkmv8kEF4DBdItLKK1t1jhVC2dNTx3KOOOAxLW4rX5Qd50qsYcsIxtkXfrZtvlvxbdoM7WBlLCRxdWIuLxkOLYmfKmdQajCu3j-kg/s1600/Christmas+2013+007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOl7iXiOzmKxOisMwsu8StRT8BaurlzKB3QFUOUMkmv8kEF4DBdItLKK1t1jhVC2dNTx3KOOOAxLW4rX5Qd50qsYcsIxtkXfrZtvlvxbdoM7WBlLCRxdWIuLxkOLYmfKmdQajCu3j-kg/s1600/Christmas+2013+007.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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Pudding came and Zeke and I thought it looked nice, but..</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjohAHhknWvQFBWX2_VLpofWNeseduKguKt4aBrIEHu7V65S4dijQsqBeDee1xd1Czcj0IT-4wICnwZeO_m4d7DXwsk508XMq4dia2X9-abY4Qh38fK-3V4Um0Dk4uhT8qu7aI80D8OPg/s1600/Christmas+2013+008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjohAHhknWvQFBWX2_VLpofWNeseduKguKt4aBrIEHu7V65S4dijQsqBeDee1xd1Czcj0IT-4wICnwZeO_m4d7DXwsk508XMq4dia2X9-abY4Qh38fK-3V4Um0Dk4uhT8qu7aI80D8OPg/s1600/Christmas+2013+008.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a>Bears need more than an ickle bowl of Chrifniss pud, don't they? So we got fell in.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_qtobTeV5fUhyphenhyphenVP1GTe0tqWQRa-0HxI39e-ztDVmRCiJHX_OSgHHv-ipuV-rwSU1SrfFV1PNGhZOY_U5LE6n-L9SzMoB8u_xeXr2rf4ax4LELVr1mylH-yYK1DLpzZmKoFT13oGcYjw/s1600/Christmas+2013+009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_qtobTeV5fUhyphenhyphenVP1GTe0tqWQRa-0HxI39e-ztDVmRCiJHX_OSgHHv-ipuV-rwSU1SrfFV1PNGhZOY_U5LE6n-L9SzMoB8u_xeXr2rf4ax4LELVr1mylH-yYK1DLpzZmKoFT13oGcYjw/s1600/Christmas+2013+009.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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When we'd polished that off we were a tad full, but it is amazing what a bear can tuck away - after all look at those grizzlies and the salmon.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiafj4eb2ntGCawQ-mfnwM_1TVv6n6bMB2Sk-vWLg9wCq4F1y4wR5Rvqm9ofReN-VSfhskw6UwhpRxfYfJhDdYciFYFjgA2md-sEof4ZFFuZ-ETkzX6CssrqaPIIYfVEEvREnWKCHyCpQ/s1600/Christmas+2013+004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiafj4eb2ntGCawQ-mfnwM_1TVv6n6bMB2Sk-vWLg9wCq4F1y4wR5Rvqm9ofReN-VSfhskw6UwhpRxfYfJhDdYciFYFjgA2md-sEof4ZFFuZ-ETkzX6CssrqaPIIYfVEEvREnWKCHyCpQ/s1600/Christmas+2013+004.jpg" height="218" width="320" /></a><span style="text-align: left;"> Next we came across another interesting thing. Zeke saw all that whiteness and said, "Say, Jock, is that snow?"</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpH4BxphhjU36rge24_sAjEzafyjW6AI49oNn3sE4w9SgwQhwCZtYF-Splst_stagAAeboOIsb7zvTMciUgQD3EHGYY8iYzLYVFTQQ6TRTcJvOqhoGpRFZZ1JAieHW0qbd3uVD6qqz9w/s1600/Christmas+2013+003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpH4BxphhjU36rge24_sAjEzafyjW6AI49oNn3sE4w9SgwQhwCZtYF-Splst_stagAAeboOIsb7zvTMciUgQD3EHGYY8iYzLYVFTQQ6TRTcJvOqhoGpRFZZ1JAieHW0qbd3uVD6qqz9w/s1600/Christmas+2013+003.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a>Titter, tee hee, "No it's much better than that, IT'S MUCH BETTER THAN SNOW. IT"S CHRIFNISS CAKE! HOORAY"</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq1otJdPN3VW3Me4WhtqJJo0pIROSJjcCvg3J49OLUE1M72dcYL1i3P40jvKTCEAm3wxSqCfjJgAdqsLPjAs8EXq-yc0MYx1ExZEopXO9USa9NkYpdAG9Nc849BRTBVhe4y0xJ8iQwjQ/s1600/Christmas+2013+005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq1otJdPN3VW3Me4WhtqJJo0pIROSJjcCvg3J49OLUE1M72dcYL1i3P40jvKTCEAm3wxSqCfjJgAdqsLPjAs8EXq-yc0MYx1ExZEopXO9USa9NkYpdAG9Nc849BRTBVhe4y0xJ8iQwjQ/s1600/Christmas+2013+005.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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After all that 'citement we only got an ickle piece, but it was yummy. <i>(After what you did to the Christmas pudding, there's no way I was going to allow you two free rein with the cake.) </i>Spoilsport, but I aspose there wouldn't have been any to keep us going into the New Year.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjHbKxY4EvLpwMlpjbNJ8JSDjjQQII-JHErG9sd6RkTP1cfV_EhQj4-DbiqVq3-vP_cFzKrJz5yq2pojCZTpb5IE53vlRIIRIKBPukmLytNMhuMmmhRo4nP9_Yrsy3vGDwiW_XnihVDg/s1600/Christmas+2013+010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjHbKxY4EvLpwMlpjbNJ8JSDjjQQII-JHErG9sd6RkTP1cfV_EhQj4-DbiqVq3-vP_cFzKrJz5yq2pojCZTpb5IE53vlRIIRIKBPukmLytNMhuMmmhRo4nP9_Yrsy3vGDwiW_XnihVDg/s1600/Christmas+2013+010.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
After dinner Alan, Ann and Katy did the clearing up. But it was all too much for Nancy - Katy's Gran. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9WU00J_9G_fHDVUfTw-OgtC5ke8Gri5NgcBB6YXaZBHzETu3Ipy8cZGBdYHBoIShNClMF3I2_8mVxZCn03QTwPMXvYBmwgzSI-sFyTOiPOGL0oYDFZs6QPTFlFG2IRWH5LkDDziWr1g/s1600/Christmas+2013+011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9WU00J_9G_fHDVUfTw-OgtC5ke8Gri5NgcBB6YXaZBHzETu3Ipy8cZGBdYHBoIShNClMF3I2_8mVxZCn03QTwPMXvYBmwgzSI-sFyTOiPOGL0oYDFZs6QPTFlFG2IRWH5LkDDziWr1g/s1600/Christmas+2013+011.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
A little while later we saw to it that it became all too much for us too. Alan opened some Calvados. I said "What's that made from?" and he said "Apples." So Zeke and I deemed that it must be one of our 5 a day and therefore A Good Thing.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe4SOgIaWv9YjcS1mtndUbtz-AMgBSB_dnJkF26k776N9ZZUavP4pgepJgoXMgH3U5_KJeAR_66r41X-9TQffUQNuHs1faYKKXpHOnY2LZWpRCpF3Rpi-gSw0PPVhvqeBOoEXhSr2AEw/s1600/Christmas+2013+012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe4SOgIaWv9YjcS1mtndUbtz-AMgBSB_dnJkF26k776N9ZZUavP4pgepJgoXMgH3U5_KJeAR_66r41X-9TQffUQNuHs1faYKKXpHOnY2LZWpRCpF3Rpi-gSw0PPVhvqeBOoEXhSr2AEw/s1600/Christmas+2013+012.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
While I could get into the glass, I had to help Zeke. We think it smelled lovely and tasted even better.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR4hZkpI72Ayig974ZKuWMIIPO0RBLCP6ZC1b9iPg4MxUrSMpg8D8VNPCdDXgwcpCYGqE9SZSI-EcPvJkG2w1063NtV8SN4qgfdHD2Ra9QW31xytd_EpoQt7-j4kVtddGGOXJcqgVgAg/s1600/Christmas+2013+013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR4hZkpI72Ayig974ZKuWMIIPO0RBLCP6ZC1b9iPg4MxUrSMpg8D8VNPCdDXgwcpCYGqE9SZSI-EcPvJkG2w1063NtV8SN4qgfdHD2Ra9QW31xytd_EpoQt7-j4kVtddGGOXJcqgVgAg/s1600/Christmas+2013+013.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
When we'd done, we weren't feeling any pain. Who needs peanut butter and honey after that before toddling off to bed?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCI5ZBG4Uvx3dDoP5y24Vs3tEsREyiYGeRZVawcZG9AW8u7eGggru4EkpZfYoUTkYtsmSGop9Dz4GUye6KBZ-Rj249C2vRttpI-L6ZLXu3fSMLjO3KPntQ-6pGrfxDTzfqOBWHYiATxA/s1600/Christmas+2013+014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCI5ZBG4Uvx3dDoP5y24Vs3tEsREyiYGeRZVawcZG9AW8u7eGggru4EkpZfYoUTkYtsmSGop9Dz4GUye6KBZ-Rj249C2vRttpI-L6ZLXu3fSMLjO3KPntQ-6pGrfxDTzfqOBWHYiATxA/s1600/Christmas+2013+014.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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The very next day we had even more tocitement. We went to the theatre and saw "The Jingle Book" (<i>No bear it was the Jungle Book, and do you remember who was in it?) </i>Ah, yes of course it just it was Chrifniss and you get Jingle Bells, so I thought Jingle Book. <i>(An easy mistake to make.) </i>Yes I remember who was in it, lot's of jungle aminals, but best of all - a bear!<br />
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Here Zeke and I are getting our photos taken with the poster. Ann kindly held us up so we could be beside our hero.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcu1tTdMLyj_BIcWwnbHLtZnAlgee1QXKsLogx-kFzjxYqSPeoO52Ejw60Wp1WbqmYU2h5TXSlo-uX3HSuy3_BHRHLdd94qDDWowAMsGaoYCaNEvgaGff65Yze3mv9jGvrHTG4JU-q0Q/s1600/Christmas+2013+015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcu1tTdMLyj_BIcWwnbHLtZnAlgee1QXKsLogx-kFzjxYqSPeoO52Ejw60Wp1WbqmYU2h5TXSlo-uX3HSuy3_BHRHLdd94qDDWowAMsGaoYCaNEvgaGff65Yze3mv9jGvrHTG4JU-q0Q/s1600/Christmas+2013+015.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a>Anyway, there was Mowgli, Akela, Baghera, Shere Khan (Booooo!) and very besets of them all was Baloo. How Zeke and I cheered every time Baloo came on stage. Do you like it? It was a very exciting show with lots of drama, but the monkeys were very silly and nearly led Mowgli straight into Shere Khan's (Booooo) jaws. After that Mowgli learned to listen better to Baloo (Hooray, hooray, hip hip for our hero!) That was definitely the bestest bit of Chrifniss - apart from meeting Zeke of course.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBlCFRz51cubRJVU63tLKyy61Z6R3bYqZMEf21HXLxIF7qCm8_zCfA6D7A1hD-z4xFv4QNbZcpLq-5x4k_pbdZAa-OQ9OunR2r_BIh46m9LSkCOXUInacbeT951YKFFBLNNfJVIoBQNw/s1600/Christmas+2013+016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBlCFRz51cubRJVU63tLKyy61Z6R3bYqZMEf21HXLxIF7qCm8_zCfA6D7A1hD-z4xFv4QNbZcpLq-5x4k_pbdZAa-OQ9OunR2r_BIh46m9LSkCOXUInacbeT951YKFFBLNNfJVIoBQNw/s1600/Christmas+2013+016.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a><br />
Well, all good things come to an end, and soon we had to come home, but then I got to have Zeke on my motorbike. Doesn't he look well on the back and even the font.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuzaYrUmG3jZoPjHYg_sXClJ6cN252moG0ZvL2sF_xnFi7TCBCssbKRCKud6b6OE2oltsVVK1g9WYa4bpmvjBK_I-W4DbuQfdF-2h7L1Rxte5gdpX5WF3lqGeEPwx1Y0vp9jDQ8mB0rg/s1600/Christmas+2013+019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuzaYrUmG3jZoPjHYg_sXClJ6cN252moG0ZvL2sF_xnFi7TCBCssbKRCKud6b6OE2oltsVVK1g9WYa4bpmvjBK_I-W4DbuQfdF-2h7L1Rxte5gdpX5WF3lqGeEPwx1Y0vp9jDQ8mB0rg/s1600/Christmas+2013+019.jpg" height="320" width="279" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsavlWMUnjUE739xTZmb2JYr-H1mzQQ_LeUTtr1Er28Z-0oQCWr5t89-SQArhroqtazu_w6zy0R77u-BQxF75h2Pxovel30PtmJvMkva87LSn0vROvV3nfCBkpSgVhsvmtAqf7PJ9I4Q/s1600/Christmas+2013+017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsavlWMUnjUE739xTZmb2JYr-H1mzQQ_LeUTtr1Er28Z-0oQCWr5t89-SQArhroqtazu_w6zy0R77u-BQxF75h2Pxovel30PtmJvMkva87LSn0vROvV3nfCBkpSgVhsvmtAqf7PJ9I4Q/s1600/Christmas+2013+017.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj3pqmrutyBldwxvTTFEcR7BhQEizDlKkxPwKU5a6zWS1TMtNYsPlx-IOJ1KNiFLOW8bSu8w_iHnQlMNp88u9f9aKOU3D4aytCNH3F1z-g3YJoyL7IU3Ecw1cKVI9Ot8HKsrpTvJ81wg/s1600/Christmas+2013+018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj3pqmrutyBldwxvTTFEcR7BhQEizDlKkxPwKU5a6zWS1TMtNYsPlx-IOJ1KNiFLOW8bSu8w_iHnQlMNp88u9f9aKOU3D4aytCNH3F1z-g3YJoyL7IU3Ecw1cKVI9Ot8HKsrpTvJ81wg/s1600/Christmas+2013+018.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a> Though maybe he shouldn't try to ride this way too often.</div>
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Speak to you all soon, I 'spect it will be from Indjar.</div>
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Hugs,</div>
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Jock and the hug.</div>
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Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02514977963623374915noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3424054994658419071.post-56363345115668813002013-10-28T07:43:00.003-07:002013-10-28T07:45:50.707-07:00O Sole Bearo<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Beargiorno (<i>sorry bear, its buongiorno.) </i>T'isn't, 'cos I say every bear will understand beargiorno, so you're stooopid if you can't. (<i>Well, I suppose, but then I'm not a bear.) </i>See, told you, now let's get on with our story shall we?<br />
Stooopid here was clearing out his jacket a couple of months ago, when hey presto he pulled out a wad of unexpected Euros. Well, I told him to expect the unexpected, but would he listen? Anyway, Ann also got an offer of a free night in a hotel, so she put Euros and free nights together and got Naples, though we did have to pay for some of our stay. So off we jolly went.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifi-vPL9H-_KkMIl15aCgjUbJ-uGQm_4i1uQhM8GLoYAAiIhQK0vSqRUOc2R0teLSvek9uid7zevd3Yo4cf7vy1GyekpVU8WKRODmBJASIXtCrL1IMCorp0HTop-Rov1xUdr2BNiMmBg/s1600/Sunny+Italy+015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifi-vPL9H-_KkMIl15aCgjUbJ-uGQm_4i1uQhM8GLoYAAiIhQK0vSqRUOc2R0teLSvek9uid7zevd3Yo4cf7vy1GyekpVU8WKRODmBJASIXtCrL1IMCorp0HTop-Rov1xUdr2BNiMmBg/s320/Sunny+Italy+015.jpg" width="320" /></a>Our hotel was on the shores of the Bay of Naples and we had a fantastic view across at a big mounting called Vesuvius. He says it's a volcano, but I see no smoke, do you? <i>(Just wait!)</i><br />
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Next morning we went to Sorrento and caught this boat and went out to Capri. <br />
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Then we went up to the top of the island and I perched on the fence to get my photo taken<br />
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He said, "Sit with you back to the view and wave, so I did. Then I looked over the fence - Yikes, it was a long way down.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7v3hBUc_3DIxLGWmBq-W8tIETeLOZuuEgeREQvwvcExdpwHotYAeqTLg2beBOO6zz2Lu4B4DbUP7minGPnTz70RFuA3FCEERCoYx8xekNNYoGaIjBP7rpRYyc7wCpC-Za4O4KyHqgIw/s1600/Sunny+Italy+013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7v3hBUc_3DIxLGWmBq-W8tIETeLOZuuEgeREQvwvcExdpwHotYAeqTLg2beBOO6zz2Lu4B4DbUP7minGPnTz70RFuA3FCEERCoYx8xekNNYoGaIjBP7rpRYyc7wCpC-Za4O4KyHqgIw/s320/Sunny+Italy+013.jpg" width="320" /></a>So to get my pitter pattering palpitatitatiting heart back on an even keel I went and sat on a big Roming stone. He said it was Roming, but it looked pretty static to me. <i>(Not Roming, but Roman, bear. The Romans put it there a very long time ago and I don't think they ever thought a bear would sit on it.)</i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWdR01uDYyaJV-dPQKfZYlFm9gb86dmblDD-jP09fZkQrFXLIBMA89UpdQVwjsOCOpeEUoUqoJwDuq0hvwMlSn5e2iTgP8L7e2Z6zOCTd8dBKH76WcuBgf_Z9qMq5RjnGrm6DYhH3XVA/s1600/Sunny+Italy+012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWdR01uDYyaJV-dPQKfZYlFm9gb86dmblDD-jP09fZkQrFXLIBMA89UpdQVwjsOCOpeEUoUqoJwDuq0hvwMlSn5e2iTgP8L7e2Z6zOCTd8dBKH76WcuBgf_Z9qMq5RjnGrm6DYhH3XVA/s320/Sunny+Italy+012.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I didn't tell you how we got up there did I? We took a bus up to Anacapri and then took a chair lift, so if you've got no head for heights, it's time to put your paws over your eyes. What's that you say? It's a bit late for that? Yeah well I aspose it is. Can you see me on Ann's shoulder?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS0V88-E1KnwioxC67u6ZmHk3M95q0-RjjU5JBvsMgCKnoJX0tEar0Bvy1DTKj_ejXhiXrQ33qicLsCrXbaHxuM59L91Rvx06yoesO3vyopjRknCjuEBHyKs9jw7hmKBB6v0m9jYxF_A/s1600/Sunny+Italy+023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS0V88-E1KnwioxC67u6ZmHk3M95q0-RjjU5JBvsMgCKnoJX0tEar0Bvy1DTKj_ejXhiXrQ33qicLsCrXbaHxuM59L91Rvx06yoesO3vyopjRknCjuEBHyKs9jw7hmKBB6v0m9jYxF_A/s320/Sunny+Italy+023.jpg" width="213" /></a><span style="text-align: left;">When we got down we found some lovely gardens in Capri town and we saw this amazing </span>footpath and nothing would do but for his high and mightiness but that we would walk down it. <i>(I walked, you rode I think, and you enjoyed it.)</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgon81MiHPSZUNy9A2TQmL68tmclgpix7KYosd43B9nY60yMAjXPJ90TOCXCj7yw1isUfxU5nfrOBvo9kO80vVSEzaOHdVp61tbzyQDOuhQ7ikoLSu1sxDu6HQ7h0N86sYYWkQPiD5-rA/s1600/Sunny+Italy+010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgon81MiHPSZUNy9A2TQmL68tmclgpix7KYosd43B9nY60yMAjXPJ90TOCXCj7yw1isUfxU5nfrOBvo9kO80vVSEzaOHdVp61tbzyQDOuhQ7ikoLSu1sxDu6HQ7h0N86sYYWkQPiD5-rA/s320/Sunny+Italy+010.jpg" width="320" /></a>Well... yes I did and the views were lovely. And yes, it's those rocks again. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpZnMgqvL21xWFN5DRZQRnpmJxMrrqQvOvMiM8d_gubQbX1jwaZypyXRLEJMzZN69uz-gJ-NMsy9XhifbSzQ9QgB64c83ZxEvFTcHiK97jKE00MWYpQ1TEBgNzBnapLBn1b__g_GvJ5A/s1600/Sunny+Italy+009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpZnMgqvL21xWFN5DRZQRnpmJxMrrqQvOvMiM8d_gubQbX1jwaZypyXRLEJMzZN69uz-gJ-NMsy9XhifbSzQ9QgB64c83ZxEvFTcHiK97jKE00MWYpQ1TEBgNzBnapLBn1b__g_GvJ5A/s320/Sunny+Italy+009.jpg" width="320" /></a>Back at the harbour it was time to take a nautie pose <i>(nautical, bear, nautical - you were a very good bear.) </i> Ah, yes, whatever. Then it was back on the big boat and home in time for bed.</div>
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Next day we went in a funny creaky wee train to Pompeii, where there were lots of ruins and painted walls and stuff. Being ruins meant that well, there wasn't much left standing, but my humings certainly found it very fascinating, and I liked it too.</div>
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We went to the circus, but I think it was a dead loss, there were no aminals, and no acrobats and definitely NO CLOWNS. How can you have a circus with no clowns? I only went 'cos he said there'd be a circus. It's a swizz I tell you. <i>(Sorry bear, but Roman circuses weren't so nice.)</i></div>
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On Sunday we went on a cruise down the Amalfi Coast. When we got to Sorrento, we had breakfast and then clambered on the boat. Here I am cutting another nautie pose <i>(I give up.)</i></div>
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Then I settled down in his camera bag to enjoy the view. That's Ann's foot and it was a bit close for comfort at times.</div>
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When we got to Amalfi we had a nice walk around and bighead had an ice-cream, and I didn't get my picture taken with it! Still, it tasted lovely.</div>
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On our last day we went up Vesuvius, and had a nice walk up to the top.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4vd8u0h6YDaNURH5u4e1wHqA63_cCKBa4BeG5hfHy3F-HHdKLZH3kxbtylfW6ta8JfV64cC36tyg7TwORcnqzM1Z8bHryypdwu553aTZiy1Ol-lGF7MAu2SAADaERXDH5ZuKXi0T1mw/s1600/Sunny+Italy+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4vd8u0h6YDaNURH5u4e1wHqA63_cCKBa4BeG5hfHy3F-HHdKLZH3kxbtylfW6ta8JfV64cC36tyg7TwORcnqzM1Z8bHryypdwu553aTZiy1Ol-lGF7MAu2SAADaERXDH5ZuKXi0T1mw/s320/Sunny+Italy+001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Here I am with Ann, looking into the middle of the mounting. It's got a GREAT BIG HOLE in the middiddle, so it has, TUGE in fact.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh8PjlIRBUfzlsYkidSkXjE5v3V5079pLxHBxIUUSyOM2JycWurYsQ8zKoj_jzGKiFDnIaphdooB40voUckkGx7zvEDR5lkTXWAB_3ebSBdv5PslzMlDVO03fsavI_TU8YOraX1niclA/s1600/Sunny+Italy+017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh8PjlIRBUfzlsYkidSkXjE5v3V5079pLxHBxIUUSyOM2JycWurYsQ8zKoj_jzGKiFDnIaphdooB40voUckkGx7zvEDR5lkTXWAB_3ebSBdv5PslzMlDVO03fsavI_TU8YOraX1niclA/s320/Sunny+Italy+017.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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See? I told you</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlb4_jVbSFpa1f4gK1ElSlfpn4Id8JOxKBGIKpGzelm6ddQberdCCvBOYOfiWZOLq1-T1s1PyMkolxtSpiBHrkvCPzEZsfuAJV5PzeCSJJyTQK2n9p1rmiAceMl274Ci6s43RvUUzUcg/s1600/Sunny+Italy+018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlb4_jVbSFpa1f4gK1ElSlfpn4Id8JOxKBGIKpGzelm6ddQberdCCvBOYOfiWZOLq1-T1s1PyMkolxtSpiBHrkvCPzEZsfuAJV5PzeCSJJyTQK2n9p1rmiAceMl274Ci6s43RvUUzUcg/s320/Sunny+Italy+018.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">Alan held on to me and calmed me down and then I said I'd like to sit on the rail and have my photo taken as a BIG BRAVE BEAR. So here I are.</span></div>
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And, just so's you know there is smoke coming out of that there mounting, and right pongy it is too.<br />
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See you all again soon,</div>
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Hugs,</div>
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Jock</div>
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Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02514977963623374915noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3424054994658419071.post-13996645421459634362013-09-28T14:18:00.003-07:002013-09-28T14:18:48.562-07:00I ARE a work of art!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
A quick 'ceding 'citing post. I are officially a WORK of ART. <i>(It's been said before!) </i><br />
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Well, he's in it too and you can't have everything.<br />
We are back in the Netherlands and to-day we went to the Unseen Photo Fair where we took part in the "Outside In" project and became part of a work of art.<br />
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We went into this big hall place and there were HUGE pictures of people all over one wall and on the floor.<br />
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At one end there were people queueing up behind a van that looked like a camera, and every now and then a picture would spew out of a slot in the side an the people got <i>very</i> tocited and smiled a lot.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrIU-T_u1Xmu0VNvs2jbVDdYjaR_fS_FH-Di-mFUGrzH6IBZLFS6JMMyPg1f8yuxVXgj021we-ozikjgayLzknNd3mJKZDF2Fq7kORtQK1LTRvSWYsuJJWT2zAUlod9oa0VPbW87OONw/s1600/Unseen-Amsterdam+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrIU-T_u1Xmu0VNvs2jbVDdYjaR_fS_FH-Di-mFUGrzH6IBZLFS6JMMyPg1f8yuxVXgj021we-ozikjgayLzknNd3mJKZDF2Fq7kORtQK1LTRvSWYsuJJWT2zAUlod9oa0VPbW87OONw/s320/Unseen-Amsterdam+002.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div>
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<i> </i>Well, we had to join the line and watch all the tocited people getting their silly photos. <i>(Oh, come on grumpy, it was a lot of fun watching people of all ages giggling and playing about. It put a smile on everyone's face.) </i>Well, I aspose so, but it's 15 minutes I'll never get back.<br />
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Eventually we got up to the back of the van and his nibs and I climbed aboard. We had to look at a screen and smile and then, <i>Flash!</i> Then, calm as you like, he get's out. "Is that it?" I said. "Is that what they're getting all tocited for?" <i>"Yes," says he,"Just be patient," He says. </i>Well, I had a bit of a harumph and sighed a bit.<br />
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Next thing I know we're standing at the side of the van like all the other eejits before us and then..tada.. magic happens, and first my feet appeared and then the rest of me shortly followed by a grinning idiot. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ai95Zy9zQEhXmqTlD3dcMUuaVk3mUIqG-p7JdJDlMXE8XmcrQtJc7lNXJ6p7dPBNfvtKqK_4bjBgq1oR25nUlEmSCnrjL7IpVnYc64kVwpdhH8mDlqG7nJaBEXUwTTIkAfDilmvZ_g/s1600/Unseen-Amsterdam+006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ai95Zy9zQEhXmqTlD3dcMUuaVk3mUIqG-p7JdJDlMXE8XmcrQtJc7lNXJ6p7dPBNfvtKqK_4bjBgq1oR25nUlEmSCnrjL7IpVnYc64kVwpdhH8mDlqG7nJaBEXUwTTIkAfDilmvZ_g/s320/Unseen-Amsterdam+006.jpg" width="213" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3CYzWomgazl5NoCJb1QskyduIgRzOIOAcXI425L8J662fjnWlciqS2Xi9slQyWDqB9Rd6cHCj1kWex01Me2IGkviThzlyy8h1M9VowS6DJTGqk9QX6XOqrRoJMlQ56QUzRB8Qu8e0Ew/s1600/Unseen-Amsterdam+007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3CYzWomgazl5NoCJb1QskyduIgRzOIOAcXI425L8J662fjnWlciqS2Xi9slQyWDqB9Rd6cHCj1kWex01Me2IGkviThzlyy8h1M9VowS6DJTGqk9QX6XOqrRoJMlQ56QUzRB8Qu8e0Ew/s320/Unseen-Amsterdam+007.jpg" width="213" /></a> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTEFvkXLtX6dMm_O_T0i87a6MQwmdtVmE-0KUcgXsLIuh-WOmghuLXC8IRAlJz5vMbAlcnUdozHdkgN3jqlDIrbov7TzqqSnpIl6SyDPD5WYiLjPUpkJC0P1wZ7ZV2qLcPw64pjmS2jw/s1600/Unseen-Amsterdam+009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTEFvkXLtX6dMm_O_T0i87a6MQwmdtVmE-0KUcgXsLIuh-WOmghuLXC8IRAlJz5vMbAlcnUdozHdkgN3jqlDIrbov7TzqqSnpIl6SyDPD5WYiLjPUpkJC0P1wZ7ZV2qLcPw64pjmS2jw/s320/Unseen-Amsterdam+009.jpg" width="213" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2zxbNOyD7HzqIqVrO0LGiZI0b-pVci-ZmYGhJbRdKszhqyDA3pJvf-qy1JhbOY5d45udvDMu3PV_9Ht4E9XYQsMQIdt_MgPCt_QN4FTm8ooSUtokPMRc5BYqcnnZYFx85X6lRG5u3oA/s1600/Unseen-Amsterdam+008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2zxbNOyD7HzqIqVrO0LGiZI0b-pVci-ZmYGhJbRdKszhqyDA3pJvf-qy1JhbOY5d45udvDMu3PV_9Ht4E9XYQsMQIdt_MgPCt_QN4FTm8ooSUtokPMRc5BYqcnnZYFx85X6lRG5u3oA/s320/Unseen-Amsterdam+008.jpg" width="213" /></a> We had become part of a work of art. A nice lady took our photos together and then I said, "Come on then, let's get the real star's photie," and here you see me bigger than life size.</div>
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At the end of all the 'citement we went to the other end of the hall and joined all the other people getting stuck to the floor! Finally I are famous, just like Moaning Lisa, or maybe the Girl with the Pearl Earlug.<br />
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See you all again soon.<br />
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Hugs,<br />
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Jock</div>
Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02514977963623374915noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3424054994658419071.post-14759876972113183192013-09-15T12:08:00.003-07:002013-09-15T12:08:51.910-07:00A little light climbing<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Cor, I'm not sure what's going on - only one post in months and now he's got Red Bus syndrome, you know, you wait ages for one and then two come at once. </div>
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As you'll see I got over all my injuries and made it to the Lake District with himself, Bill and John. We all stayed in a cottage and they seemed to spend a lot of time holding up glasses and laughing a lot. <i>(I'm not sure what you're talking about. What's a few beers a couple of bottles of wine and the odd whisky between friends on a hot sunny weekend?) </i>Well, I don't know I didn't get to share much of it, so the truth will out. <i>(Telltale!) </i>Am not. <i>(Are so!) </i>AM NOT!!! Let's not fall out over it but maybe you'll give me a better share next time. <i>(Well ok then. I know blackmail when I see it.)</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf6466FcYhcahqQxFC7nir2Y_SoaZrT7idw5XZSZ4JMLSG9k3o71ERYfWJ-kmeMz8MJPQAZZS323P6wiwqbtJy9tdKyfEYM-k5GK44OLpWGes-DQ74lscIXpmJvXq4SkRCAAM-SFb-Rw/s1600/A+little+light+climbing+022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf6466FcYhcahqQxFC7nir2Y_SoaZrT7idw5XZSZ4JMLSG9k3o71ERYfWJ-kmeMz8MJPQAZZS323P6wiwqbtJy9tdKyfEYM-k5GK44OLpWGes-DQ74lscIXpmJvXq4SkRCAAM-SFb-Rw/s320/A+little+light+climbing+022.jpg" width="320" /></a>The rest of the time we went walking. As you can see I had some difficulty with my rucksack, so I hired a porter to carry it for me <i>('Scuse me, you hired a what?... You rode in MY rucksack in a nice poistion with a good view!) </i>Well, it sounded good didn't it? </div>
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Anyway back to the story. The road goes ever onwards as anyone who has read The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings will know. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH-zof1yNy5L7FHvyALdsxtJZgDrcFTe1ILUKF-hJogcMKfj5fmj-Cn61NI8-jWm2hWE2Y9USb7iN9B83qBNzE3nuCTf_ZATTFqb-HGincYUdfJrpBvV4DtbOJCLS-mofkaSJwtUsEpw/s1600/A+little+light+climbing+023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH-zof1yNy5L7FHvyALdsxtJZgDrcFTe1ILUKF-hJogcMKfj5fmj-Cn61NI8-jWm2hWE2Y9USb7iN9B83qBNzE3nuCTf_ZATTFqb-HGincYUdfJrpBvV4DtbOJCLS-mofkaSJwtUsEpw/s320/A+little+light+climbing+023.jpg" width="320" /></a>In this case it was up into the hills above Braithwaite and the day was good. We went up Grisedale Pike, Hopegill Head, Grasmoor, Sail and Causey Pike, walked 17km and climbed 1500m or maybe more. Aren't the names of the hills wonderful.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2dg9Mk0dE5i6DRaZRK6Yag8biHwpAuuO3UEFRc9XD875_ax0-vb3Qj9ROA0-j8RCMiCDYVFVehpOmW0xeDtqdYxG4qhuEmS7Udxrl4UZpH_EKw0Wx7JNW-VT4BIfLsHFtQtax2Y3cHQ/s1600/A+little+light+climbing+024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2dg9Mk0dE5i6DRaZRK6Yag8biHwpAuuO3UEFRc9XD875_ax0-vb3Qj9ROA0-j8RCMiCDYVFVehpOmW0xeDtqdYxG4qhuEmS7Udxrl4UZpH_EKw0Wx7JNW-VT4BIfLsHFtQtax2Y3cHQ/s320/A+little+light+climbing+024.jpg" width="320" /></a> Himself seems to be a bit quicker than the other two, so I hopped out of the rucksack and did some mountaineering practice. I chose a suitable precipice and got climbing.</div>
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When I got to the top I sat down and had a great rest. The views were wonderful and because it was so stremely high I sat and had a well earned fruit pastille just to keep up my energy levels you know.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXCHUlDBJ_ZjIiWA9UYYemdDXOIaqbr13igOAVjj4Q4_0Vcz-eeQKl8Q9VEiBgYTJRDNkpRyZRnN9DDkcvlDdGD_6F_dJ6UQ3hAdiAcqtlyjU9-D98LccIsjuWvepiHOjQq8BUW4HZ5g/s1600/A+little+light+climbing+026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXCHUlDBJ_ZjIiWA9UYYemdDXOIaqbr13igOAVjj4Q4_0Vcz-eeQKl8Q9VEiBgYTJRDNkpRyZRnN9DDkcvlDdGD_6F_dJ6UQ3hAdiAcqtlyjU9-D98LccIsjuWvepiHOjQq8BUW4HZ5g/s320/A+little+light+climbing+026.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<i>(Excuse me bear I think it wasn't that high, but it was a good try.) </i>Well, it felt high to me. I only have wee legs <i>(and a big </i><span style="text-align: left;"><i>tum.) </i>That's a very tummiest remark. <i>(Sorry, you did really well. Shall we start calling you Sherpa?) </i>Maybe not.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7mFaY48h4ZMZ2fnBYr7UcTN5VpCkNKMm60vT6qT2wg6ZJG4xveZPqAQXceHnt_upN9286TPoe4G6OI9a2PQ8qIbu_HB6ZoT9qJVketb1jqN7LWtYaDoNfepzivhA6FeMcce-Hp7FhWg/s1600/A+little+light+climbing+030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7mFaY48h4ZMZ2fnBYr7UcTN5VpCkNKMm60vT6qT2wg6ZJG4xveZPqAQXceHnt_upN9286TPoe4G6OI9a2PQ8qIbu_HB6ZoT9qJVketb1jqN7LWtYaDoNfepzivhA6FeMcce-Hp7FhWg/s320/A+little+light+climbing+030.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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After lunch there was time to chill and enjoy the view. This is looking north towards Skiddaw and Blencathra. Then it was onwards and around and up and down and down and down until we got back home. In Braithwaite there was time for a beer (<i>rehydration being very important</i>) and then back to the cottage for dinner and wine and maybe a bit more beer. Then there was lots of laughter, eventually followed by snoring and other noises. <i>(Too much detail, I think). </i> Only reporting what I saw and heard.</div>
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Next day was another good one - even better weather than the last and we set off from the carpark at Ennerdale Water to <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Great Bourne; Red Pike, High Stile and High Crag. It were a very long way and we climbed a lot too. In fact it was 1220m climbing and 20km walking - the last 7 of which we did in 1hr 30m</span></span><br />
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On the way up above Ennerdale water we met some woolly friends.</div>
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Here I are whistling away while some of the humings catch up. You can just see Bill and his hat coming on the right of the picture.</div>
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It was a hot day and a big climb so I sat on this stone in the middle of the stream to cool off. <i>(It must have been <u>really</u> hard, all that climbing.) </i>Oh yes it was really was. At times it was a scramble with all paws in use. <i>(Fibs, fibs. Who was scrambling and puffing and panting? Me I think. You had a grandstand view!) </i>Yeah, yeah, yeah, stop complaining.</div>
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Can you see me? This is the summit of Great Bourne.</div>
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Here I am, silly Billies if you couldn't see me. Time for lunch.</div>
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On the top of Red Pike the view to Crummock Water. Can you see Scotland in the distance? Neither can I, but it is there!</div>
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Your intrepid splorer sitting in front of the view</div>
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Just before we came down we saw this set of fields. It looks just like a butterfly from up on high.</div>
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Well that was it, a long route march back to the car at express speed. Just time for a last look back along Ennerdale water, before he dragged me back to more food and wine. <i>(And beer, don't forget the beer.) </i> As if I would?</div>
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See you soon</div>
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Hugs,</div>
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Jock</div>
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Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02514977963623374915noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3424054994658419071.post-63984089532032599622013-09-13T08:13:00.001-07:002013-09-13T08:13:42.698-07:00King of the Road,Ventoux and bust!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
So he's got his mojo back and after a huge gap he's going to tell you all about how I went up Mt Ventoux and came back down again in triumph. <i>(Hi, sorry about that. Are you sure it was triumph?) </i>You're forgiven and yes it was triumph. <i>(Hmm, we shall see.)</i><br />
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It all started when Jack and I had a wee drink. It was a lovely mango smoothie thingy, and, as you can see, we were fairly prostrated when we'd done - it was a big glass for little bears.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNALVvMPo45myk1A9NUTMGgB6tTTT5besdM0MSWbEmoWCjG3ZEcXfCeN6te7f-rNEcQxNyerBjksWk9XCdiMqBY63FbOEMdnbEle0S-nlXynlZWuIeklw9cZikuAY-ekyD4AGHWIcoEw/s1600/Ventoux+and+Bust+003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNALVvMPo45myk1A9NUTMGgB6tTTT5besdM0MSWbEmoWCjG3ZEcXfCeN6te7f-rNEcQxNyerBjksWk9XCdiMqBY63FbOEMdnbEle0S-nlXynlZWuIeklw9cZikuAY-ekyD4AGHWIcoEw/s320/Ventoux+and+Bust+003.jpg" width="320" /></a>So I said, "I'm off for a wee ride on my bike. Up Mt Ventoux!" Well, there was some consternification, and cries of, "Are you sure?" and, "It's a long way for a wee bike." and stuff... "Boff!" as the French would say.<br />
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Ah, the smell of the open road, the singing of the tyres on tarmac, the funny signs people write on the road. <i>(They do?) </i>Yup, they do, well at least they do there.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjTW1z-blaFDVR8lWAt2-B08xOGz7eLbvRWlS6X945XM6SDVWo6QLooSGWfUGG7ZDkmX_pyULi4jbsNM4PoLEX0roAFsq8OxjV0xnRf8BAB7JlkYh1fXfPxB6MsQrEaDMWUvZ_NEtY1g/s1600/Ventoux+and+Bust+004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjTW1z-blaFDVR8lWAt2-B08xOGz7eLbvRWlS6X945XM6SDVWo6QLooSGWfUGG7ZDkmX_pyULi4jbsNM4PoLEX0roAFsq8OxjV0xnRf8BAB7JlkYh1fXfPxB6MsQrEaDMWUvZ_NEtY1g/s320/Ventoux+and+Bust+004.jpg" width="320" /></a> The road was steep.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7wgNl2zdefROpDQM41cUu4GM1Q69x2TbEUNmwxrmSnX7D_8_b9tthCwMmDIXJTsJMktN0rR95HgOfbrlYTCwS6hxOZT893AENQQhUTM_jenDdDmH2iX-h1DcgmGbu8ufVBd0hQ2rgYw/s1600/Ventoux+and+Bust+005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7wgNl2zdefROpDQM41cUu4GM1Q69x2TbEUNmwxrmSnX7D_8_b9tthCwMmDIXJTsJMktN0rR95HgOfbrlYTCwS6hxOZT893AENQQhUTM_jenDdDmH2iX-h1DcgmGbu8ufVBd0hQ2rgYw/s320/Ventoux+and+Bust+005.jpg" width="320" /></a>And I saw some interesting sights. This big man on his even bigger bike thought I was funny until I zoomed past him leaving him in a cloud of dust and exhaust fumes. Pah, peasants. <i>(Heh, hang on a minute. I ride my bike a lot and I don't like people who do that to me. Or bears for that matter.) </i>Don't care, he shouldn't have smirked.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4-RaLwEGsCIqiR3zXkZmrnen2nkAaEUokDjo1dDOodeupQudEB_FSaHkxiD_Ooul1Tdz_ISxa3Vy9moupbXKkyQ-tFOaYpcLcnBp2Wm_8NQBnxIITiotuTCbOLMctAhmK0xkb6RIC1A/s1600/Ventoux+and+Bust+008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4-RaLwEGsCIqiR3zXkZmrnen2nkAaEUokDjo1dDOodeupQudEB_FSaHkxiD_Ooul1Tdz_ISxa3Vy9moupbXKkyQ-tFOaYpcLcnBp2Wm_8NQBnxIITiotuTCbOLMctAhmK0xkb6RIC1A/s320/Ventoux+and+Bust+008.jpg" width="320" /></a>I like this sign - it says <i>The only way is up </i>but it says it backwards if you know what I mean, and what if you want to came back down, as I did? Then the only way is down. Then it would read "Is up, way, the only?" And of course then the answer is "It isn't."<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdBpccSyw1qrJJnSpKHZRwQuoWHsysnuuw9f0sEugk0r791PZduwi91oN6PauY5u8lAPJ_rEOlRgW73TaVAYwNoD97IN0BAzr_V4ojs1YKxH50M4A1B6l5Vqd0smZn48HlCPyxWUfa6w/s1600/Ventoux+and+Bust+009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdBpccSyw1qrJJnSpKHZRwQuoWHsysnuuw9f0sEugk0r791PZduwi91oN6PauY5u8lAPJ_rEOlRgW73TaVAYwNoD97IN0BAzr_V4ojs1YKxH50M4A1B6l5Vqd0smZn48HlCPyxWUfa6w/s320/Ventoux+and+Bust+009.jpg" width="213" /></a><br />
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<span style="text-align: left;">Soon enough I reached the top, and my little bear bot was fairly throbbing after all the bumping on the road. So off I hopped and a kind personage took my photo as I was right on the tippy top of the mounting. 6,273ft up I was - that's 1912m for those of you who are metric - so I didn't run about too much as it was quite puff making.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMBUl-1Z2PjDFvph3NZP-IhEZBNuWO3ob-Ekc0a0utVyPuGDVaRjvitzn7r7N4k5R4UeIyE7W-ah4X6mI15Cw8qotSNRgZXTBOLcT1GV6d3Kb1B3MoSFReBU91gjd1-dfGtaPuQgvyFg/s1600/Ventoux+and+Bust+013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMBUl-1Z2PjDFvph3NZP-IhEZBNuWO3ob-Ekc0a0utVyPuGDVaRjvitzn7r7N4k5R4UeIyE7W-ah4X6mI15Cw8qotSNRgZXTBOLcT1GV6d3Kb1B3MoSFReBU91gjd1-dfGtaPuQgvyFg/s320/Ventoux+and+Bust+013.jpg" width="320" /></a>Soon it was time to go, 'cos dinner beckoned down at the gite.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI6XFiMNlBC0O8QtIIk9UN2DL8Jl1HffRBz9LxsvRQQndeva5NOH6MGD4onistYCiAIL1Qyjm9fefPZvKs2uvy6g6Jr6Kpgign8VAg86x-z85rmx00ZT-_VVHmKOMX63pO5uKlkDyRoQ/s1600/Ventoux+and+Bust+012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI6XFiMNlBC0O8QtIIk9UN2DL8Jl1HffRBz9LxsvRQQndeva5NOH6MGD4onistYCiAIL1Qyjm9fefPZvKs2uvy6g6Jr6Kpgign8VAg86x-z85rmx00ZT-_VVHmKOMX63pO5uKlkDyRoQ/s320/Ventoux+and+Bust+012.jpg" width="320" /></a>Most of the road was clear though sometimes there were some cars to avoid.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh2xE75Yz65MH9T-wyAaCac-MAfKMcz4AXCjElul_3bAI3JS_HyIw466suZy6h_1oDfQQoxQteyVXQDaQkOdT_kREkDiznWNleCBkHXyon1-FHWZ4d_vS5Nyb7zDArpBHBlZ9ruG2Ycw/s1600/Ventoux+and+Bust+014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh2xE75Yz65MH9T-wyAaCac-MAfKMcz4AXCjElul_3bAI3JS_HyIw466suZy6h_1oDfQQoxQteyVXQDaQkOdT_kREkDiznWNleCBkHXyon1-FHWZ4d_vS5Nyb7zDArpBHBlZ9ruG2Ycw/s320/Ventoux+and+Bust+014.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Here I am back at the bottom of the mounting. Can you see me? I'm almost all the way over to the left of the picture - 'cor this is like spotting Sebastian.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgemqg3y1Oc_dqSo92f2qalXIj4ffIDBlnIYNo7fEBj-uraLEbw-88fmLs1lzmVesoYpWeaJ_8QWm7GIotQ9JZGPsaiE4Z2dVLwvYbU3wPAWbdNwT0YSFNoUNfOB6wcQuCh-BxwT8UMtQ/s1600/Ventoux+and+Bust+015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgemqg3y1Oc_dqSo92f2qalXIj4ffIDBlnIYNo7fEBj-uraLEbw-88fmLs1lzmVesoYpWeaJ_8QWm7GIotQ9JZGPsaiE4Z2dVLwvYbU3wPAWbdNwT0YSFNoUNfOB6wcQuCh-BxwT8UMtQ/s320/Ventoux+and+Bust+015.jpg" width="320" /></a>I was whizzing along, not a care in the world, admiring the scenery when...................<br />
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I didn't see a big clump of lavender and next thing I was sailing over the handlebars.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_hhtqtxGJgmCJV7Q-Pn_pWDrk89fh_RNYSC-svYjWNE14T2-eK5Lni9LgLGlfH5jsKWgXiq9tavoNmobfXRykrrwCxzYqWr_Oky3PM4mDLzLzsFqHEanrEvqPW6loz5u2KG1N3JB1oA/s1600/Ventoux+and+Bust+016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_hhtqtxGJgmCJV7Q-Pn_pWDrk89fh_RNYSC-svYjWNE14T2-eK5Lni9LgLGlfH5jsKWgXiq9tavoNmobfXRykrrwCxzYqWr_Oky3PM4mDLzLzsFqHEanrEvqPW6loz5u2KG1N3JB1oA/s320/Ventoux+and+Bust+016.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKziaWbpp1ABDBTxXYZAP64OMqCpYYmP8h9qeIi2g_DoaJ7slMJUrKS-z6DPYM3QMbWCmHTPIAM8HzgfcnbvNkoOXSyuFKbALSVMi49I2WxgedSA5S0_I3AoLzOY09BUUMzYgpTnAFFQ/s1600/Ventoux+and+Bust+017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKziaWbpp1ABDBTxXYZAP64OMqCpYYmP8h9qeIi2g_DoaJ7slMJUrKS-z6DPYM3QMbWCmHTPIAM8HzgfcnbvNkoOXSyuFKbALSVMi49I2WxgedSA5S0_I3AoLzOY09BUUMzYgpTnAFFQ/s320/Ventoux+and+Bust+017.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHxfHaVwfhRklJW4WPBei9ioRe44h8JIDON5OHhcguPjYrhNxlu8tF9cWTv_AcoiPC42rbKYuf5MlTgDyISJpwYfnsU2Vb6syF1sITzKADwWJULTM4NwWteFae8xL5mdc187ZCkQI-og/s1600/Ventoux+and+Bust+018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHxfHaVwfhRklJW4WPBei9ioRe44h8JIDON5OHhcguPjYrhNxlu8tF9cWTv_AcoiPC42rbKYuf5MlTgDyISJpwYfnsU2Vb6syF1sITzKADwWJULTM4NwWteFae8xL5mdc187ZCkQI-og/s320/Ventoux+and+Bust+018.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
There I lay, groaning and wondering where I was, when a kind somebody <i>(Let's call him Alan) </i>came along and said, "Hello bear what rare you doing there?" What a STUPID question. I ask you.<br />
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Still, he picked my bike up and me and carry us gently back to the gite, where I got all bungaged up. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH4lt_lWX9UgPlICFX8osAAA32MjtMISC60v8VDa5BQNAm3pz8UKa1xKGYJ1OXFewAwNIB8Dw3Ltjp7uvrPPh53xQ1TzqEyQChOHnlmulSZvePbhf9zZsYjBrwHSNGjrRwzJm7xUe0dQ/s1600/Ventoux+and+Bust+021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH4lt_lWX9UgPlICFX8osAAA32MjtMISC60v8VDa5BQNAm3pz8UKa1xKGYJ1OXFewAwNIB8Dw3Ltjp7uvrPPh53xQ1TzqEyQChOHnlmulSZvePbhf9zZsYjBrwHSNGjrRwzJm7xUe0dQ/s320/Ventoux+and+Bust+021.jpg" width="320" /></a>Then I got my ear bashed by Bearacht. "There, I told you little bearie, nay crash hat and nay sense. You'll be more careful next time." Yeah, yeah yeah. Who need friends like that? <i>(Well you do, it may have been hard to hear, but better that it came from another bear and not me.) </i> Well, I aspose so.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7PdU-lXjdhQIDP1VAFg6ZsvYhx4nyqgtbT7VaKrfuJJi64psGl7B9eKdLVRQCBUvO8rPjjkurbqktYxDHbCrmnE62pSSPe4TdxTcRIe5R52xaEX0WU-OlwmK4WU_IAZw7ww4K1FX3Og/s1600/Ventoux+and+Bust+020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7PdU-lXjdhQIDP1VAFg6ZsvYhx4nyqgtbT7VaKrfuJJi64psGl7B9eKdLVRQCBUvO8rPjjkurbqktYxDHbCrmnE62pSSPe4TdxTcRIe5R52xaEX0WU-OlwmK4WU_IAZw7ww4K1FX3Og/s320/Ventoux+and+Bust+020.jpg" width="213" /></a>There was a silver lining 'cos Ann and Jack got me some yummy cherries and a macaroon and I felt ever so much better afterwords. I won't do that again in a hurry.<br />
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Hugs to all,<br />
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Jock<br />
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Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02514977963623374915noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3424054994658419071.post-25996410583909075822013-06-22T12:32:00.001-07:002013-06-22T12:32:55.912-07:00Bonjour and all that<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Hi all, they’ve taken me on
nolerdays to France. All very well you
might say, but I hardly saw the light of day for almost a week. I’ve got some ‘ceeding ‘citing news, but you’ll
have to wait until the end of the report to find out what. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">First Bearacht, the help and
I went on a great big boat, and all we bears saw was the other cars all parked
up for the night. Then it was off for a couple of nights in Beargundy <i>(Burgundy or Burgogne – home of fabulous
wines!) </i>I might have guessed you’d chime in sooner or later. If I say it’s
Beargundy, then it is, so there! <i>(OK keep
your hat on.) </i>Ann and the help had a
big blow out at a fantastic restaurant called Le Montrachet, but we stayed in
the digs, clearly bears weren’t welcome. <i>(Maybe
next time.) </i>Hmph.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Meeting up with Jack.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">On Saturday we plied back
into the car and set off for our real holiday In Provence near a village called
Bédoin. We arrived in the late afternoon, and guess what Travellin’ Jack
appeared about 20 minutes later hauling LT in tow. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibRbnhQlhTV-dqaV_WeUPUILgSFz1q0yRTrGq0j0gOyJx_GVFQzjCtT5un15wnYGoRexxFhSFl1e7OqU296U29tsKZomdVhaRTjxl36CgLDI8N2wa7NfI4lAUST1PrK4ZsU06jZxCZQQ/s1600/A+pair+of+teeth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibRbnhQlhTV-dqaV_WeUPUILgSFz1q0yRTrGq0j0gOyJx_GVFQzjCtT5un15wnYGoRexxFhSFl1e7OqU296U29tsKZomdVhaRTjxl36CgLDI8N2wa7NfI4lAUST1PrK4ZsU06jZxCZQQ/s320/A+pair+of+teeth.jpg" width="299" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">It was great to meet up again and even better
when Alan said, ”How about a pair of teeth?”
So we bears thought “What is he on about? We don’t need teeth! The help and Ann have teeth so why a pair of
them?” Jack and I went outside and hopped onto the table where there was a
glass of what they call a “Bonsoir.” Smelt more like pastis to me. Tasted more
like it too and Jock and I had a good slurp.
<i>(You’re right it was pastis. We
call it a bonsior ‘cos one evening Alan said to Ann, “What would you say to a
petit pastis?” Well she said, “Bonsoir petit pastis.” So any pre-dinner pastis
is called a Bonsoir.) </i>Well that’s too confuddling for a bear, but it tastes
nice anyway.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Then we noticed little
cheeses in a tray and well you know, being bears we just had to sample them and
very nice they were too. We’re still
waiting for those teeth though his nibbs has had several since. <i>(It’s an aperitif Jock, a drink one has to
set oneself up for a meal, and those wee cheeses are called amuses bouche by
the French. That means “A little something to amuse your mouth,” more or less.)
</i> Well it sounded more like a pair of
teeth to me, though I like the idea of having my mouth amused. It’s a smiley sort of thing to say.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Drumming our heels<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Then nothing; nada; rien;
not a damned thing. We were left to drum
our heels – well Beracht and I were – jammy Jack got to go out on Monday and
Tuesday but I stayed at home. So, nothing to report – boo hoo! <i>(Sorry!) </i> I should think so.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Things are looking up<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Nothing much happened on
Wednesday morning except that Ann had cards and pressies to open, ‘cos it was
her bearthday. Apparently it has a two
on the end and a multiple of decades first. I ‘spect it’s two or maybe three
before the two. <i>(Flatterer.) </i>Who me? <i>(Yes you.) </i>Moi? <i>(Toi.) </i> Well, whatever, she’s
still only young.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Come the evening the humings
all got spruced up and Jack and I were picked up and off we drove to the Mas
des Vignes, their favourite eating place in Provence where you can sit out on
the terrace in good weather and watch the sun go down as you eat. Sadly we only sat out for our pair of teeth as
I was blowy and looking as if it might rain. So Alan says we'll just have to go again next week - well you've got to try haven't you?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNAD8qrzhBxRYHl6IEIYUJeomJ0qIT-_7Hd5ygN2Ag9FykQO4ITwjZz40892BWjANMCQCY9Bc-X3O_bXVPh_ekNvwPqzqKcwqZrQi5MWddZZH5SI6d7ijc-tlFYWob6vqm9X-GOpNfNA/s1600/A+snackeral+for+two.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNAD8qrzhBxRYHl6IEIYUJeomJ0qIT-_7Hd5ygN2Ag9FykQO4ITwjZz40892BWjANMCQCY9Bc-X3O_bXVPh_ekNvwPqzqKcwqZrQi5MWddZZH5SI6d7ijc-tlFYWob6vqm9X-GOpNfNA/s320/A+snackeral+for+two.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Jack and I had Champagne cocktail with our
first amuse bouche – tee hee – and then we had another amuse bouche – ha ha –
with a shiny spear through it. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs0cH6yIcWK3-pATwsDZpMUFxvy2kFHJAs7bCUINcRHrbye8GZYG-BbmyN1eBcGW0zKeAXPQsFOP9cl-QbpuBiE5Bkfn_C1v68iPg96ZPldS0z0QaMPaU-MKXGSkVn7C7O5cfJyrCSyA/s1600/Is+it+dead+yet%3f+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs0cH6yIcWK3-pATwsDZpMUFxvy2kFHJAs7bCUINcRHrbye8GZYG-BbmyN1eBcGW0zKeAXPQsFOP9cl-QbpuBiE5Bkfn_C1v68iPg96ZPldS0z0QaMPaU-MKXGSkVn7C7O5cfJyrCSyA/s320/Is+it+dead+yet%3f+(1).jpg" width="259" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5VctuPGeK0jOV6dz0P0Dg4i8TsOWgvrWM2wUHqyWhYQlBOc5nvlfxss-kgTFyh3P0t329k2sNt8BQ3pj_x5UuYPbFKrzaiVoJbOR2yOiqatuW8JBkCgg18NgV6DY4XulYPyPtL3L99Q/s1600/Sir+Jock+and+Sir+Jack+joust.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5VctuPGeK0jOV6dz0P0Dg4i8TsOWgvrWM2wUHqyWhYQlBOc5nvlfxss-kgTFyh3P0t329k2sNt8BQ3pj_x5UuYPbFKrzaiVoJbOR2yOiqatuW8JBkCgg18NgV6DY4XulYPyPtL3L99Q/s320/Sir+Jock+and+Sir+Jack+joust.jpg" width="316" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Jack and
I liked those because we could have pretend jousts afterwards. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXKrS5Vt-WQn_MZftPE3wdPRyw94Avr9OAp5JhaNjxM7Vv4F0j9ssiNrbOerNANO_qDsUoypqwf9cqPx_WTzzv3Gv4LEoeZH19QirXRIRh2UiCzvpIUfqKgC_26P0UwnRsl__c4pjZmw/s1600/Marshmallow+as+big+our+heads.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXKrS5Vt-WQn_MZftPE3wdPRyw94Avr9OAp5JhaNjxM7Vv4F0j9ssiNrbOerNANO_qDsUoypqwf9cqPx_WTzzv3Gv4LEoeZH19QirXRIRh2UiCzvpIUfqKgC_26P0UwnRsl__c4pjZmw/s320/Marshmallow+as+big+our+heads.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">We did get to
share some of the dinner, but the best bit was at the end when we got loads of
sweeties – marshmallows as big as us and then some round, yummy chocs to
follow. My, my, we slept well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Vroom, Vroom <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Thursday was a red letter
day – well YELLOW in my case a RED in Jack’s, but we didn’t know it when we
left home.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">We went to Vaison la
Romaine, a fine town not far from here – indeed a very EXCELLENT TOWN not far
from here. It has three towns in
one. First, and much of it under the modern
town, is the Roman town from, oh, </span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> ages ago, before even Alan was bearthed. <i>(Watch it!)</i> It’s ruins and there are some columns
still standing.</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">We looked in but didn’t
visit.</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">Down at the bottom of the town
there’s the Roman bridge – still in use all these years later – Alan thinks
it’s a bit like the road-sweeper’s broom it never wears out. It’s only had
three new arches and four road beds – whatever; the bridge really is old.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbo2bLstEg3c0pn4-ONxlOO4vUk6OeSMHe-hGtr_G3u6JYI0S52Dbrko0f1Ggrgxrj3jyu8YWDZjytPxoiafKPIvWa2dtNmee6K2UxMNOzeGgzOimgucF5TDALVE8ZQ6A4krZFDSeJDQ/s1600/Is+this+what+Jock+wants%3f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbo2bLstEg3c0pn4-ONxlOO4vUk6OeSMHe-hGtr_G3u6JYI0S52Dbrko0f1Ggrgxrj3jyu8YWDZjytPxoiafKPIvWa2dtNmee6K2UxMNOzeGgzOimgucF5TDALVE8ZQ6A4krZFDSeJDQ/s320/Is+this+what+Jock+wants%3f.jpg" width="213" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">On the way we passed some
lovely shops and there was one we all liked. LT went in and got herself a wee
VW car, and while she was doing it Ann saw some cars on a stand. “Do you think
that this was would do for Jack?” she asked.
Alan was a bit dubious but I insisted that we should try it. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2GAEqoaa1egNIV0EYVPuZ2gWWEZDXPAv1dl6sXpGoZVEA_Z1emu4ssGHCOKQM3S0EclDdkMS88RSM7YgCRrEHvzBb0m-fagN1Sfq74_C42up-71-f2_EVxV8BOz6KzN_Ecdv0pbUHYA/s1600/Snot+fair+I+can't+reach+the+pedals.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2GAEqoaa1egNIV0EYVPuZ2gWWEZDXPAv1dl6sXpGoZVEA_Z1emu4ssGHCOKQM3S0EclDdkMS88RSM7YgCRrEHvzBb0m-fagN1Sfq74_C42up-71-f2_EVxV8BOz6KzN_Ecdv0pbUHYA/s320/Snot+fair+I+can't+reach+the+pedals.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">You can image how sad I was when I couldn’t
reach the pedals or the steering wheel.</span><span style="font-family: Arial;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial;">I cried, and Alan said, “Never mind Jock, we’ll keep looking.”</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">He took out his hanky and wiped my eyes and
on we went to the pretty medieval part of the town on the other side of the
bridge.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">We had a good wander around
and a nice galette (savoury pancake to you) for lunch and that restored my
spirits a little. Then we wanted to look
at more shops back in the modern town, so we tripped over the bridge and Alan and
LT had a little discussion. I heard
things like, “..that shop – other cars Jock’s size? What d’ye think?” and
“Hmmm, it’s worth a look, but he might be disappointed.” “well, nothing ventured and all that…”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTYsCknS_U_iXa_QA3bE7FP7w4xr6RjAqSarqnWcxB-w1cSacq5UkqSLfY9vJa06kk3UAIhnkZbD5ok4e_W_qKmTClzN1ZvmsxDdxfTL77MoPvePe2seUPa02hOzPht9XvBP6kZSd02A/s1600/Do+you+like+my+new+wheels+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTYsCknS_U_iXa_QA3bE7FP7w4xr6RjAqSarqnWcxB-w1cSacq5UkqSLfY9vJa06kk3UAIhnkZbD5ok4e_W_qKmTClzN1ZvmsxDdxfTL77MoPvePe2seUPa02hOzPht9XvBP6kZSd02A/s320/Do+you+like+my+new+wheels+(1).jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">So in we went and it was a
really mixed up place with lots of things EVERYWHERE. We looked here – no – and there – NO – and…gulp,
there – NOPE – and then suddenly, there on the floor was not one, but a
selection of the perfectest <i>(?) </i>ok
the bestest vehicles a bear could ask for.
Not only were there three things, they were Jock or Jack size! We tried them out for size and I decided on a
lovely yellow chopper motorbike, while Jack settled for a red scooter. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMlLjtHwMHhgP6BitW3KnTEpFojB-yS2n0HJqhPh06LKqyZEtEkpaBxsK1t89VXTtp6dschHt-w8X7YFQBScK9SYs2tFDbf3u8zz-xLoQqV6hv8YkhXvi1Ni-cyBR0cHI1zFHUXQsxGg/s1600/VROOM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMlLjtHwMHhgP6BitW3KnTEpFojB-yS2n0HJqhPh06LKqyZEtEkpaBxsK1t89VXTtp6dschHt-w8X7YFQBScK9SYs2tFDbf3u8zz-xLoQqV6hv8YkhXvi1Ni-cyBR0cHI1zFHUXQsxGg/s320/VROOM.jpg" width="213" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">We thought we looked really cool, though the
lady in the shop actually laughed when she saw me on my mean machine. I didn’t
care; I was one of the two luckiest bears in France or anywhere and I was
hopping about asking Alan if I could have a go, and he said we’d have to wait
until we got back to the gite. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7X-f1TBuptMAZlKeviG9RYC_Uh7GZex9POznfdT4DF17Vemw_csASpEHqpwbx7u1HDzZBinNfSmRSEFn2d2XdsBFIVPV4z8hVbjamWnCvtqR8haRdt5xmCbjy2sJc5dk_OD4PMWhxyQ/s1600/Guava+flavour+-+yummy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7X-f1TBuptMAZlKeviG9RYC_Uh7GZex9POznfdT4DF17Vemw_csASpEHqpwbx7u1HDzZBinNfSmRSEFn2d2XdsBFIVPV4z8hVbjamWnCvtqR8haRdt5xmCbjy2sJc5dk_OD4PMWhxyQ/s320/Guava+flavour+-+yummy.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">To ease our
tocitement we went and had an ice cream in a lovely shop. I had guava flavour and Jack got some too and he'll tell you all about his. We got all sticky but it was worth it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwr4X2E-fr1SmN_A_ikrNMc-kpt028TCrdKKkTyFWn7noWeyg53W0vas420zm1RpMT9h7kk4wOdIuKsO0ORjMc_ztyU6yE_pMjPkTGKsrfR73eaA5GZAbU728xFnH7vavdZQ2uYiS7Yw/s1600/Do+you+like+my+new+wheels.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwr4X2E-fr1SmN_A_ikrNMc-kpt028TCrdKKkTyFWn7noWeyg53W0vas420zm1RpMT9h7kk4wOdIuKsO0ORjMc_ztyU6yE_pMjPkTGKsrfR73eaA5GZAbU728xFnH7vavdZQ2uYiS7Yw/s320/Do+you+like+my+new+wheels.jpg" width="320" /></a>Here's me with my lovely new machine. I think it's just splendid. When Sebastian comes over he can go out in his mini and I can follow him on my motor bike.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjIcxspGfOHqVVoqWSfmA7xCH8fwSBE5iTaaqfn3ygkgNH2EuM1w3YsN7ziRkCBC9h1k9Cw7t5ZsQQ5SWBUTniRcfQZNzD2kNhfaA82gLCh6dK8ZfvkqyvFWQh4NIrXcvnlYQwXgMeZw/s1600/in+the+car+park.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjIcxspGfOHqVVoqWSfmA7xCH8fwSBE5iTaaqfn3ygkgNH2EuM1w3YsN7ziRkCBC9h1k9Cw7t5ZsQQ5SWBUTniRcfQZNzD2kNhfaA82gLCh6dK8ZfvkqyvFWQh4NIrXcvnlYQwXgMeZw/s320/in+the+car+park.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">When we got back to the give Jack and I parked our steeds neatly beside Alan's car. Can you see them?</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">ZOOOOOM, ZOOOOOM<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgseFyZvJVc-MagXVDlxu-bBi9CQRi8bcluSHhDiSIp0n_KM2-D2xImCxJ9sMKoelHGpuvIhv9oc6xoEw0XmCV5KnMJdxe542oQkrzEe97iKXb88dQbOw0haxP0nyKdvElv9bZ0__01MQ/s1600/out+with+the+traffic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgseFyZvJVc-MagXVDlxu-bBi9CQRi8bcluSHhDiSIp0n_KM2-D2xImCxJ9sMKoelHGpuvIhv9oc6xoEw0XmCV5KnMJdxe542oQkrzEe97iKXb88dQbOw0haxP0nyKdvElv9bZ0__01MQ/s320/out+with+the+traffic.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">Ah, the smell of the open
road, the wind in your fur…the great big cars, the even bigger camper vans and
the HUGE lorries. “Boff!” as the French would say, it’s so good to get out on
my own set of wheels. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Jack and I had
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3wCPdDps88MN4gHuTViRPZrxsl3G7jBtaPG9ACuwOHhQuMyFM7DQ8WDRMVNMRdCxcIYM5a3OukY22WXO7YZdQRGGzm0tTMrlnRPsIk58YwUSl5YHv7N8Wq5gkMSkU52pqP8vo661BAg/s1600/Move+over+beetle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3wCPdDps88MN4gHuTViRPZrxsl3G7jBtaPG9ACuwOHhQuMyFM7DQ8WDRMVNMRdCxcIYM5a3OukY22WXO7YZdQRGGzm0tTMrlnRPsIk58YwUSl5YHv7N8Wq5gkMSkU52pqP8vo661BAg/s320/Move+over+beetle.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">The best
bit was zooming up on that Beetle thingy and making it jump. <i>(Now Jock, you really are getting to be a
bit naughty – we don’t need roadhogs.) </i>Yeah but he’s so very slow, and
jumps at the slightest noise, and we didn’t mean him any harm.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb20G3UqkU96EclN3y6bjM0EfoSVk_Oc2Y5l4bsfQAo01RTNr3VKV4vLrZYO63-nv35pZmogQNFozFzxvrCB2nCUj7su0v9f_jYHWYPIcvz_XZD2-64zSKnkiqCvfIUTGReATagoMlvg/s1600/Look+here+laddies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb20G3UqkU96EclN3y6bjM0EfoSVk_Oc2Y5l4bsfQAo01RTNr3VKV4vLrZYO63-nv35pZmogQNFozFzxvrCB2nCUj7su0v9f_jYHWYPIcvz_XZD2-64zSKnkiqCvfIUTGReATagoMlvg/s320/Look+here+laddies.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">Then we met up with
Bearacht. Good old dependable Bearacht. “Well, hello laddies, what’s this then
– new wheels?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Jack and I chorused “Yes,
aren’t they great?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">“Aye they ur, but you’ll
have to be careful – you havena any crash hats. Ye ken that you really ought to
have them?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">“Ah go on with you big B, we’ll
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">“Just take care wee bearies.
I’m really fond of you, ye ken, and I’d hate for anything to happen to you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">“Alright Bearcht we’ll take
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">But once he’d gone, Jack and
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Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02514977963623374915noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3424054994658419071.post-23241198966787044412013-04-26T05:32:00.000-07:002013-04-26T05:32:57.082-07:00Two Lips or something<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Hi, have you missed me?<br />
Well, I have just been away on a nice weekend, but you'll have to guess where I took Alan and Ann. <i>('Scuse me WHO took whom?) </i>Oh, well, um, technically it was you, but the fans take it better if I say I took you. <i>(well I'm happy to be the bank and tag along.) </i>Good, that's settled now shut up! <i>(Mmmmmm mmmm.)</i><br />
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I can give you a few clues. It wasn't in Britain as we flew over the sea, but not very far. It was a city, with lots of canals. They grow flowers there that they're very proud of. Have you got it yet? No, then read on. even if the answer was "Yes", read on anyway 'cos it was fun.<br />
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On the day we arrived I settled in to the hotel while they went out to reconnoitre <i>(My, that's a posh way to say, out for a dander around and a quick skelly.) </i>What did I say? <i>(Sorry.) </i>The hotel was cosy and it was chilly outside.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3fQGSjQcGCvydXsVoh7frAWxUN_yBUa6t3yvkZoK4lzk6SVwYhEKy2YhNmuUqUDxDsSgMPLsDDS6bDgrG8OSU5Sj_ctp1Vd_rc1LxYO-9PC_MOgaC_FTluZuyzxC2mFnrOp6etta7CA/s1600/Bear+in+Amsterdam+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3fQGSjQcGCvydXsVoh7frAWxUN_yBUa6t3yvkZoK4lzk6SVwYhEKy2YhNmuUqUDxDsSgMPLsDDS6bDgrG8OSU5Sj_ctp1Vd_rc1LxYO-9PC_MOgaC_FTluZuyzxC2mFnrOp6etta7CA/s320/Bear+in+Amsterdam+5.jpg" width="213" /></a>Next morning we hopped on a tram and went to a great big museum place with lots and lots of paintings. The funniest one is called The Night Watch. First of all I couldn't see any watches, just people and then it wasn't a night time picture at all. I prodded Alan and he explained that it got its name when it was all grubby and it looked like it had been painted at night, but now it's been cleaned up and looks much brighter. Apparently a watch is a number of people keeping watch - a silly name for a group of people, though I suppose there was a mix of long and short hands so they could make up lots of human watches that way. I was worried 'cos this lot seemed to be playing with their gun or drinking, and that's pretty dangerous don't you think? Apparently no-one was harmed and lots of people think it's a lovely painting.<br />
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Here I am with Ann, and she looks pretty happy to be there, as was Alan, but you'll have to wait to see him.<br />
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Then it was LUNCH time, but I thought to myself, we're not going to get fat on this bare table, but then the help explained that we had to wait for the food. Wait? Wait? I'm a bear, how can I be made to wait? I have to fatten up for winter. <i>(It's spring not autumn.) </i>Details, details, I needed my food.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioL3w00FWALiAxPf_EjEoPVQvBGKMv68p59y-FPSSPrfxdiUcOjN12Qud1hGSY8wcRXcPRJbJdPuTc24dE9POBh2a9wxIC0EZ4ez2LMk6MXvdQqZFP4XyW_PukpvX-6soDX_0Ea_4UEA/s1600/Bear+in+Amsterdam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioL3w00FWALiAxPf_EjEoPVQvBGKMv68p59y-FPSSPrfxdiUcOjN12Qud1hGSY8wcRXcPRJbJdPuTc24dE9POBh2a9wxIC0EZ4ez2LMk6MXvdQqZFP4XyW_PukpvX-6soDX_0Ea_4UEA/s320/Bear+in+Amsterdam.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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Eventually a waiter came so we didn't have to be waiters ourselves - Ha, ha, waiters - do you get it? I'm still tittering about that one. Sorry, ahem, I'll get on with it. Eventually a waiter came - hee, hee - and brought us some nice open sandwiches and tomato juice and stuff.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy4RjqlMKH7C2IKeLxhf0mPsmAyENUql-QLSW-euqgaY68bDFnrLWqH7Ma8MaFrINMoVEHwjPgq_OAt5ag2thpCFZyP1q0yJWy6gBgMfFPea9mhYht8vocNKXscYF-8Y36AXpudyXtig/s1600/Bear+in+Amsterdam+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy4RjqlMKH7C2IKeLxhf0mPsmAyENUql-QLSW-euqgaY68bDFnrLWqH7Ma8MaFrINMoVEHwjPgq_OAt5ag2thpCFZyP1q0yJWy6gBgMfFPea9mhYht8vocNKXscYF-8Y36AXpudyXtig/s320/Bear+in+Amsterdam+1.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
It was yummy, but not as yummy as this bar of chocklit. Can you see the shape. It looks like a little house from this city. Have you guessed where we are yet?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZWZa68IdN5ZzOzGxZMrKzUrFD1aosAxZ8_rr16crdX-KRZlWXRtvQ9D4cqkOjERz9ERH8LCyFPt7uswX2DsAgJU9_t5XWvheXS5h7K0pclsgXi8eYXeaXVC5KA_J9I3x18cwCVe_veA/s1600/Bear+in+Amsterdam+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZWZa68IdN5ZzOzGxZMrKzUrFD1aosAxZ8_rr16crdX-KRZlWXRtvQ9D4cqkOjERz9ERH8LCyFPt7uswX2DsAgJU9_t5XWvheXS5h7K0pclsgXi8eYXeaXVC5KA_J9I3x18cwCVe_veA/s320/Bear+in+Amsterdam+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Suitably fed we went back to the gallery for more works of art. Here I am with a statue. Just in case you can't see me too well in the first photo there's another one below. I was a bit close to that foot, the merest flick and I'd have been off there. The help said that it wasn't a live statue, but I've seen them in the street and they have a habit of suddenly moving so you can't be too careful.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG4n2qz_Qp-wiKGuWRtuu856_i8oVZkZmwlYPKrY7TxeIl7snWod3ZF5PyHLkY9SokWBlapjbwtVspavUb7GY8J35_YcE3EnocbKcePqVmcBlA0mZ8UBnNliyW12k9541Y3XSFFmnckg/s1600/Bear+in+Amsterdam+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG4n2qz_Qp-wiKGuWRtuu856_i8oVZkZmwlYPKrY7TxeIl7snWod3ZF5PyHLkY9SokWBlapjbwtVspavUb7GY8J35_YcE3EnocbKcePqVmcBlA0mZ8UBnNliyW12k9541Y3XSFFmnckg/s320/Bear+in+Amsterdam+3.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE6045T6K2EEHf0XzCBc8f9CrMKrNXCRwPUAx5ZSzhw3-dt1SV_b9IDaUFD8-yeVhRdXmLzQNVJmb22Q4TmECVu08lPRAxrl29VbyRcJKPLpusPYL8ACHnQcqldVQ2Mh5-pSqWA-AAwQ/s1600/Bear+in+Amsterdam+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE6045T6K2EEHf0XzCBc8f9CrMKrNXCRwPUAx5ZSzhw3-dt1SV_b9IDaUFD8-yeVhRdXmLzQNVJmb22Q4TmECVu08lPRAxrl29VbyRcJKPLpusPYL8ACHnQcqldVQ2Mh5-pSqWA-AAwQ/s320/Bear+in+Amsterdam+4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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All was well and I came out unscathed though it was touch and go. <i>(No it wasn't you drama queen, that was definitely a bronze and quite old too.) </i>You say that, but I think caution is the better part of valour.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgne8vU3rBgI-qB0le4BxXIQ2gv8lZJVkvzolRfynCdxkdWKrDU6f_5i4Mg6BLgh5Zc3zHrce7tYPgIMYsNuxJz5sldSMlTj1FtJiqzGpAW7eKHyilqgeLs9ut4nLwEL_8y1XN-b8OzRg/s1600/Bear+in+Amsterdam+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgne8vU3rBgI-qB0le4BxXIQ2gv8lZJVkvzolRfynCdxkdWKrDU6f_5i4Mg6BLgh5Zc3zHrce7tYPgIMYsNuxJz5sldSMlTj1FtJiqzGpAW7eKHyilqgeLs9ut4nLwEL_8y1XN-b8OzRg/s320/Bear+in+Amsterdam+6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Before we left we went to the Asian gallery and very interesting it was too. The Tate Modern in London has a pile of bricks on display, well, the Rijksmuseum has a block of tea instead and this is me sitting in front of it. You'd need a great big teapot for that amount of tea.</div>
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Outside the museum, we had another chance for a photo call and the next few pictures will show you where we were.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVIYQqj3S3i_HGUeSvWjTNPsRPM3oxxSot9z0jV4AJ8KNH6UpUc0n3dPI4demz5QgA7miezltBOk1c49_3s7PssAGN5ZZxfdANVfcZnftl8uWH9J9Yq0rpFcibxZa-dgKzUtONOYeRzQ/s1600/Bear+in+Amsterdam+14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVIYQqj3S3i_HGUeSvWjTNPsRPM3oxxSot9z0jV4AJ8KNH6UpUc0n3dPI4demz5QgA7miezltBOk1c49_3s7PssAGN5ZZxfdANVfcZnftl8uWH9J9Yq0rpFcibxZa-dgKzUtONOYeRzQ/s320/Bear+in+Amsterdam+14.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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First here are some of the flowers that the country is famous for. Did you know that in the 18th century the search for the black tulip nearly destroyed the economy of the country? Just like the bankers, idiots speculated on tulip bulbs and built up the price into a bubble that burst and lots of people went bankrupt and the whole population suffered. Humings eh, they never learn! Maybe it's just as well some of thebankers didn't know about that this century, otherwise they'd have given it a try!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNQAs1S5lggqEBOPSajhpouG5mICiRXjugFjW0ny_2K0LkXsHPlNwTk9zBECsVkY1jPPP3oz7i4HXlVZ7LOh8QSbejgkWzODWPVuIYgHwGWc05-xJ2OPDFYgfW4yqes0KKx27vv_GKig/s1600/Bear+in+Amsterdam+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNQAs1S5lggqEBOPSajhpouG5mICiRXjugFjW0ny_2K0LkXsHPlNwTk9zBECsVkY1jPPP3oz7i4HXlVZ7LOh8QSbejgkWzODWPVuIYgHwGWc05-xJ2OPDFYgfW4yqes0KKx27vv_GKig/s320/Bear+in+Amsterdam+7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvvomIfxQ5DUPcV7RYU6fm63TTmd3cnGd_DBLnzcRmhyWyZXZ_IATzdyhLJwYqSw4-3XT_G5M1v4LLreN64BaueDkquMD1XdMrW8_69d_CLd-UotTrPuefpucavi2KRPSENaMFgHYkew/s1600/Bear+in+Amsterdam+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvvomIfxQ5DUPcV7RYU6fm63TTmd3cnGd_DBLnzcRmhyWyZXZ_IATzdyhLJwYqSw4-3XT_G5M1v4LLreN64BaueDkquMD1XdMrW8_69d_CLd-UotTrPuefpucavi2KRPSENaMFgHYkew/s320/Bear+in+Amsterdam+8.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Here we are in front of a sculpture that people could play on. Alan looks happy, but he was only a little, 'cos his Mummy has just died and he was thinking and thinking about what he was going to say at her funeral.</div>
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Have you guessed yet where we were?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYMbV01QH5hMr-QKZ5zQWizifbZ7amXwIzZUoSaUtHmFjtSglsTkKq1liYpI0_04_Or3wGjt3HNzRXIMPTawfCtpIFid3Y_lwcUO0Ho4rFFddYNGsRjiWGA9ZqO5aotny-YkP6tP4Cgg/s1600/Bear+in+Amsterdam+9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYMbV01QH5hMr-QKZ5zQWizifbZ7amXwIzZUoSaUtHmFjtSglsTkKq1liYpI0_04_Or3wGjt3HNzRXIMPTawfCtpIFid3Y_lwcUO0Ho4rFFddYNGsRjiWGA9ZqO5aotny-YkP6tP4Cgg/s320/Bear+in+Amsterdam+9.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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And now?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNafGGNyKH9aByXaV6xL_JrsHf4WwsgQR0CgdTiXbk4g7H_gvnHIICFFcnzfXpQfj_WHhCovoAIqfUec3WD3-9jPkUbYdXAznyE9eTphWndgD74JSP0TY6k0WoQqhSnxvGNfRrhyphenhyphenIkQg/s1600/Bear+in+Amsterdam+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNafGGNyKH9aByXaV6xL_JrsHf4WwsgQR0CgdTiXbk4g7H_gvnHIICFFcnzfXpQfj_WHhCovoAIqfUec3WD3-9jPkUbYdXAznyE9eTphWndgD74JSP0TY6k0WoQqhSnxvGNfRrhyphenhyphenIkQg/s320/Bear+in+Amsterdam+10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Maybe now?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibYHQcCOS701PGMMtZ8r__Ztx25VQtY1KOG98Wsd-tvONI6nvwUJFZF6o_5eex_gEnuehyEvcl2AxeziqRmSzAXFlJQYzYrTs8JYvsNpanH-dUwZuY_wUcML44hdGP1PlfSyB4hrFfkg/s1600/Bear+in+Amsterdam+11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibYHQcCOS701PGMMtZ8r__Ztx25VQtY1KOG98Wsd-tvONI6nvwUJFZF6o_5eex_gEnuehyEvcl2AxeziqRmSzAXFlJQYzYrTs8JYvsNpanH-dUwZuY_wUcML44hdGP1PlfSyB4hrFfkg/s320/Bear+in+Amsterdam+11.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Surely you've guessed by now?</div>
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What do you mean - "No"?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG5e-Zc0AVCV1VkAdlJfjverlgS_h0eBR3rbkjEpFdZ-ikuoSk3ikZGHYhMA1jm8AgBG_XenEP5RtUMh5Tebd0fyYQxUvi7Mwb556EOe7HGbUiC9A5tH1JeKUozKAC-sS7JdIKHxBBmg/s1600/Bear+in+Amsterdam+12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG5e-Zc0AVCV1VkAdlJfjverlgS_h0eBR3rbkjEpFdZ-ikuoSk3ikZGHYhMA1jm8AgBG_XenEP5RtUMh5Tebd0fyYQxUvi7Mwb556EOe7HGbUiC9A5tH1JeKUozKAC-sS7JdIKHxBBmg/s320/Bear+in+Amsterdam+12.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Yes of course, it was Amsterdam in the Netherlands, and that building behind is the Rijksmuseum which has just re-opened after being closed for 10 years for refurbishment.</div>
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Time for a look around for the next couple of days, and here are three pictures to show you a few of the sights. The help took over 500, and I only appear in about 20, 's not fair.</div>
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Anyway that was our weekend, we had lots of nice weather, excellent food and wonderful sights, so maybe we'll get to go again. Watch this space.<br />
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Hugs and stuff,<br />
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Jock<br />
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Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02514977963623374915noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3424054994658419071.post-29275526296378571822013-03-18T14:02:00.000-07:002013-03-21T15:35:34.510-07:00Don't fiddle with buttons!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Hi all, I've not been away recently, though Ann did take me to Pontiac in January nobody reported on it!<br />
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Anyway we've had some tocitement to-day 'cos we got a new suite. I say we, but I really mean they - him and her, he and she - got two new sofas, so when his back was turned of course the hug just had to try them out, and it nearly ended in tears.<br />
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Well here we are starting to gather, first the Poosie and me with Edwood and Woodwood.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIcYz-ap04BUpmlZV67OHEeYsXMY0C4m9G7hrI6ft-2JTmGxBLMKDGBJUXRxFDu68uGT4LtaFL1YiOklA779iyKIbiK49IUIn6Do2U-ku3wiaRDNigaGXV7kuQjPOx7Pnn5rt1dPeNig/s1600/New+settee+(18).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIcYz-ap04BUpmlZV67OHEeYsXMY0C4m9G7hrI6ft-2JTmGxBLMKDGBJUXRxFDu68uGT4LtaFL1YiOklA779iyKIbiK49IUIn6Do2U-ku3wiaRDNigaGXV7kuQjPOx7Pnn5rt1dPeNig/s320/New+settee+(18).jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Then Beech joined us and finally Bearacht clambered up</div>
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Well, we bounced up and down and laughed and giggled and on one of my bounces I landed on one end and when I looked down there was a GREAT BIG BUTTING.</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbI0awFG6cOCJfkYK3Z5700XhzhixPZzcf5cr-8-nlNRP5FXQ71dR9moiZjR0pitb8mlrHiJ9-migc7RqLCqVSetuHk46izOZRT5EqCBdl4XYTQrGDNDw7RlYxJ4i0F1m6pthIvgjNQA/s1600/New+settee+(15).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbI0awFG6cOCJfkYK3Z5700XhzhixPZzcf5cr-8-nlNRP5FXQ71dR9moiZjR0pitb8mlrHiJ9-migc7RqLCqVSetuHk46izOZRT5EqCBdl4XYTQrGDNDw7RlYxJ4i0F1m6pthIvgjNQA/s320/New+settee+(15).jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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So I said to Bearacht, "There's a GREAT BIG BUTTING on the side of this. What should we do, 'cos GREAT BIG BUTTINGs are there to be pushed." <br />
"You're right enough laddie," said Bearacht, "but who'll we get to push it?" Well, we chawed the fat a bit and eventually Beech decided he should do it.<br />
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Well, I pointed to THE GREAT BIG BUTTING and Beech pressed it. There was a whirring sound until.</div>
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Oh look the front comes up!<br />
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"Dat's great," said everyone, and it kept going back until Bearacht and Edwood were quite sprachled.</div>
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"Oh look," said Woodwood. I can sit on the end of it. "Dat's nothing," said Edwood I can sit underneath it. We all sat and wondered, but then Beech decided he was bored and pushed THE GREAT BIG BUTTING again and then --- Disaster!</div>
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Woodwood ended up in a heap and Edwood was trapped!!!! "Oh stop. I'm getting squished!" cried out Edwood. "And I landeded on my head!" wailed Woodwood.</div>
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Bearacht rushed to the rescue while Woodwood, picked himself up. "Alright, laddie, stay calm. Don't panic, I'll just apply my good Scottish edgercation and get this sorted out. DON'T PANIC," he shouted as loud as he could. So we all ran around not panicking while Bearacht thought what to do next.</div>
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Bearacht turned to Beech. "You great big useless lummox. Quick, no time to lose if we're to avert disaster. Right, you press the GREAT BIG BUTTING again and raise the front of the chair."</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjETH3wgNxzEVs2CLhe_tvedau8Ms0SIIdL9GGB_pj7YsRO0lASv59J0_GtIhYo5Is94bQrV9YrQu1TMHTc2gliTPiJeCLJ6qY1JwZJE4z6FWHwtC9mNN1PFFcrpbjdHA3OxnTZ7qJfOg/s1600/New+settee+(5).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjETH3wgNxzEVs2CLhe_tvedau8Ms0SIIdL9GGB_pj7YsRO0lASv59J0_GtIhYo5Is94bQrV9YrQu1TMHTc2gliTPiJeCLJ6qY1JwZJE4z6FWHwtC9mNN1PFFcrpbjdHA3OxnTZ7qJfOg/s320/New+settee+(5).jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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While Beech was pushing the GREAT BIG BUTTING Woodwood grabbed Edwood's feet and pulled..</div>
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And he <i>PULLED..</i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglVEsjOTlDdQvQ83twxdk7BQL3US5w94ex4XCDL1qYmZHa8ekfHN-MGm68MeGFVSf6bT8IQDcssonxrFpUiMukOglXxW8pZR23y4cvUvu4DYYsW7zkcgLMs6bKO5GYjIKLGei2xBfP4Q/s1600/New+settee+(3).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglVEsjOTlDdQvQ83twxdk7BQL3US5w94ex4XCDL1qYmZHa8ekfHN-MGm68MeGFVSf6bT8IQDcssonxrFpUiMukOglXxW8pZR23y4cvUvu4DYYsW7zkcgLMs6bKO5GYjIKLGei2xBfP4Q/s320/New+settee+(3).jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
while I gave him encouragement. "<i>Come on...PULL." </i>I shouted until finally.<br />
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He was free. "Are you alright?" I said breathlessly <i>(Why were you breathless/ Woodwood was doing all the work.) </i>Why do you think? It was all the shouting and running around telling everybear not to panic. <i>(Ah, ok I wasn't there just curious you know.)</i> Back to the story you eejit. <i>(Sorry.)</i></div>
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"Are you alright?" I said again as someone stopped the flow of the story.</div>
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"Yup, never better," said Edwood, "though my tummy did get a bit squozeded." </div>
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We all gathered around and symphonised. "There, there, Laddie. It's great to see you safe and well." said Bearacht. "I'm glad you were so quick," I said. "If you hadn't been he might have been cut in two!!!!!!!!" "I'm sorry," said Beech. "I think I'll leave THE GREAT BIG BUTTING alone in future."<br />
"Here, here," we all said, and we all vowed not to touch no matter how tempted we were.<br />
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Edwood and Woodwood clambered up to their comfy seat and talked about the big adventure. "Don't think I'll have anything to do with GREAT BIG BUTTINGs again Edwood, will you?" said Woodwood. "Nope I don't tink so." said his brother. "You got a bump on your noddle and I got a squoze tummy, and I don't want that again do I?"<br />
<br />
So there you have it bears. No matter how tempting it may be to press GREAT BIG BUTTINGs, they're best left well alone.<br />
<br />
hugs,<br />
<br />
Jock and the crew.</div>
Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02514977963623374915noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3424054994658419071.post-10391899352937178312012-12-29T09:39:00.003-08:002012-12-29T09:39:38.884-08:00Hic, Yum and OOOH my head!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="text-align: left;">Hi everyone, I promised I'd let you know about Christmas with Jack and friends. We had a fun time as you'll see, but for some reason Alan isn't talking to me.</span></div>
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On Christmas Eve Jack came over with LT and stayed the night. After Santa came we decided it was time to do some vestigating. "Vestigating?" said Jack. "Yeah, you know, poking around and finding things out." "Ah" said Jack, "nothing to do with clothes or anything. That's fine, let's get on with it."<br />
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Hey, look what we found! A bear in a stocking. We had to get our photo taken. Don't we all look fine.<br />
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"Oh," siad Jack, "I think I've found LT's stocking. Isn't her name very posh looking. There's lots of STUFF in here, but maybe we should leave it alone. Have you found anything Jockie boy?"<br />
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"Who? Oh, me. Yep I think I've found Alan's, but D A D D Y seems to be a funny way to spell Alan. There's lots more STUFF in here too. Shouldn't we open them?"<br />
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"Better not, those humans can turn nasty you know." But then they arrived and we helped them. <i>(Ah, is that what you call mayhem?) </i>Oh stop complaining you were just as bad if not worse.<br />
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<b>Then we were abandoned!!!</b> <br />
The humans went out for dinner, leaving us in charge. So we had to do more vestigating.<br />
"Hey Jack what's in here do you think?"<br />
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"I dunno, but maybe we ought to have a look."<br />
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"Look, look it's another bear." "great Stuff Jock with three of us we can have a party!!!! Hello bear, what's your name?" "Oh hello," came a very growly voice. "My name's Edwood. Help me get out of this bag." <br />
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So, we huffed and we puffed and tried to pull him up, but he's a very weighty bear and we rocked things about so much the whole bag fell over and out came Edwood. Oh how we giggled.<br />
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Next we opened a box and there was a bear in it. So we all said in chorus "Hello." and "Who are you?" and he said, "I don't know!" "Oh dear, everybear has a name you know?" "But I don't," he said. So he's just the Bear in the Box for now. He said in a tiny voice and Carolina accent. "I came from a long way away, from Sebastian's hug." "Whoopee," said Jack, "That's where I came from," and that's the last we saw of both of them for a while as they caught up on all the news.<br />
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We noticed after a while that we were sitting on a book, so we climbed down and sat around it wondering what was inside it. Then we saw it was the Bear's Own Annual. So the others asked me to open it, 'cos they wanted to hear all the adventures inside it.<br />
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When we opened it we found it was the very best sort of book - a hollow one filled with biscuits!<br />
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We only ate a couple of those and then we all sat around and some bear said, "What are we going to do now?" Everybear else said, "I don't know. What <i>are</i> we going to do now?"<br />
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Well, we sat and thought and thought and then Jack said, "Hey there are four of us now! Paws up, who wants to have a party?" Well, Edwood put his paw up and I put two paws up and Bear in a Box swung higher and higher saying, "Me too, me too.You cain't leave me out of the purty."<br />
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Next we thought, "What do you need for a good party?" Some food and drink of course and just nearby we found some hunny, and some choclits and some wine and some brandy. "Oh that'll do just fine," said Jack.<br />
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So Jack and I went over to see if we could get into them. Jack shinned his way up the wine bottle, but after a lot of huffing and puffing he had to admit he couldn't get at the wine never mind sharing it.<br />
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We had a bit of a thunk and Jack whispered in my ear "Whisper, whisper, whisper." "Oh get on with it Jack! "Sorry, do you think that Edwood might be able to help?" He's strong enough to do what we need. Maybe you should ask him." "Me, why me?" "Well," said Jack, " he's from LT's hug like you and you probably speak in the same accent."<br />
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So I went and sat on Edwood's lap and explained to hime what was needed. "Umm," said Edwood, "Dat sounds like a GREAT idea." I know, aren't we bears clever?<br />
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So Edwood went and sat behind the bottles and rocked them back and forth until...<br />
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Thump, thump down they fell. "Now we're in business bears!" said Jack<br />
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"Me first, 'cos I thought about it." said Jack as he took a long slow slurp of wine.<br />
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"My turn now," I said, "'Cos I got Edwood to do the needful." That's how I got drunk. So it's all Jack's fault really. "Not," "Oh yes it is," "IS NOT," "IS, is, is," "NOT, not, not. You pushed me out of the way to get your share." I aspose he's right. It's really my own fault, but he helped.<br />
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"Now it's me, for I DID the needful," Said Edwood. He fairly craddled the bottle when he'd done.<br />
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"What about me!!!!!" came the plaintive cry from the swing, so we bearhandled the bottle over and Bear in a Box got his share and more. We'd had so much wine we left the brandy alone - just as well as the bottle looked empty!<br />
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"What comes next?" said Edwood, "I'm hungry." "Ha, thought of that," I said, and I rolled in the hunny.<br />
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"Yeah, well, that's all good, but how are we going to get it out?" said Jack. Not a problem, 'cos Santa left Ann and Alan some funny spoon things called "Sporks" and I think that one of them will do the trick." And it did.<br />
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By now were were sticky and very merry too, and then I said "I wants shome shocklit." "Shome wha?" said Jack. "You knows, Jack, shome shocklit. 'S over there in the big red box. Edwood bring over the shocklit in tha' red box." "Ohhhkay, here t'is, hic. But how are we going to get any out?"<br />
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"I knows," said Jack in a funny woozy voice,"I can get inside and lob them out."<br />
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And that everybeary is what he did<br />
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We all got at least one.<br />
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Jack and I helped unwrap them by pulling on the ends of the wrappers and soon we were sticky and chocolaty.<br />
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Then we had a bit of rough and tumble as bears do, and we had great fun.<br />
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<b>Caught in the act</b></div>
Then, disaster, the humans came home. Alan looked into his box of chocolates and there were NONE LEFT. He was very upset. Maybe that's why he isn't speaking to us anymore.<br />
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Then LT and Ann came in and were horrified.<br />
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This is what they saw. Four tipsy bears sound asleep in a big heap.<br />
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Then we all up with VERY SORE HEADS and quite icky tummies too. But it was all worth it 'cos it was FUN. <i>(You might say that, but what about my chocs?) </i>Ah, get over it you need to lose weight anyway.<br />
<br />
Hugs,<br />
<br />
Jock, Jack, Edwood and Bear in a Box</div>
Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02514977963623374915noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3424054994658419071.post-55012039849407830002012-12-25T06:01:00.000-08:002012-12-25T06:01:11.490-08:00Up a Huge High Mounting<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Merry Christmas everyone - Jack and I will be showing you our Chrimble Day in another post. <br />
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Just for the monument you'll just have to catch up with Colorado. Life - his not mine - got in the way of getting around to this - no priorities I aspose. <i>(Sorry bear, I'll try to keep up honest.)</i> Humph, just see that you do.<br />
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Well ANYWAY we reached our lovely bed and breakfast in Colorado Springs late on Thursday and wondered what to do. We thought about going up Pike's Peak on the Friday or the Saturday, until Alan noticed that Saturday would mean the "Santa Special" whatever that means, but that sounded fine to me. Somehow the humans thought that a bad idea 'cos it only goes half way up the hill and they wanted to go all the way up. So Santa was ditched and we went on the Friday instead.<br />
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Before we went we had to look at the mounting from the end of the street. It looked high, and even higher when he said that we were already at over 6000ft (1900m) and the top is at 14110ft (4328m). So I said, "Hey that's a LONG way up, how do we get there? What's this special and the not special." "Well," he said,"we could walk." Now, I thought, "How long have we got?" and, "My wee legs would be worn to stumps." So I folded my paws, looked him straight in the eye and said, "You have to be joking." He laughed and admitted that he was, and said that the special and not specials were trains. Phew what a relief, though he says he does want to walk up it sometime.<br />
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Here are the trains, they're pretty red carriages, though as we were about to leave our kind conductor, Darrell said that the journey lasted over an hour and there were "NO BATHROOMS" and that somehow caused a stampede among the humans. It was a sedate journey up and good fun with Darrell telling us all about things on the way.<br />
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Here I am at the top with Colorado Springs way down below. This was the first of some COLD, no BLOOMING FREEZING BOT moments. It was -18C or -1F in old money and pretty chilly though very pretty looking.<br />
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Here I am just plonked down beside the snow with all the other hills and the Black Forest behind me. That's funny, I thought that the Black Forest was in Germany, but apparently they've got one in Colorado too.<br />
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Nothing would do but <i>he</i> had to get in the picture. You can see that he was well wrapped up. <i>(You bet. I had a long sleeved merino base-layer, two fleeces and a windproof jacket on and I was still quite chilly. I don't have your fur I'm afraid.) </i>Well I can tell you I wished I had some of those on, but I did get to snuggle down in his front pocket and that was quite good. Can you see me sitting there beside that big lump. <i>(Excuse me?) </i>Well, you are MUCH bigger than me so you must be a lump.<br />
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I think that this is the highest I've ever been without a nairyplane, and I liked the pretty sign with the snow on the top.<br />
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Soon we got called back to the train and before we went down I went and met our friend Darrell the conductor. Isn't he a very nice man.</div>
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Here is the view from the train on the way back. Way in the distance is Kansas and we could see other states from up at the top, but he's forgotten which ones.<br />
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At the bottom was Manitou Springs, a lovely wee town and we said we'd be back, but you'll just have to watch out for the next instalment for that.</div>
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Hugs,</div>
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Jock</div>
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Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02514977963623374915noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3424054994658419071.post-21010354003006992112012-12-14T08:16:00.002-08:002012-12-14T08:16:47.399-08:00HIgh Living - Colorado<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Well hello again - it's MEEE! No correspondent, just me. Himself actually remembered me as off we went to Colorado. <br />
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First stop was Denver, speaking of which he was humming and singing to himself - it quite put me off - something about Rocky Mountain High. <i>(Sorry bear, I couldn't help it, good old John D.) </i>I survived the experience, snuggled down in the camera bag as is my right. Manchester to London at crack of dawn was followed by a leisurely 9 hours to Denver, where we stayed out in the middle of nowhere near the airport. <br />
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We did that strange un-American thing of going for a walk next morning. On the edge of the hotel area there were some fields and so first I sat on a pole and then a much more comfortable wooden fence to have my photies taken. Can you see the mountains in the second picture? They're the Rockies and we were going to the top of one Rocky a few days later.<br />
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Soon we were picked up by a nice lady and man. They were Sue and Andy and they took us everywhere in the car they'd hired. Andy thought I was funny - not very nice of him, and even funnier when he heard I had a blog - that's even less nice. He thought that Alan was writing a children's book involving me and came up with all sorts of scenarios, so I'm just going to steal a few of them for my blog. So are you going to turn me into a book Alan? (<i>No I don't think so, not yet anyway. I have to finish my photobook on India first.) </i><br />
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We drove and drove for quite a while until we reached Pueblo. The land round there is very flat and very dry so there wasn't much to see, though on the way we saw the mountings a lot, and they were very high. We were quite high up all the time 'cos Denver is the Mile High City and Pueblo is even higher.</div>
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<b>Three days later</b><br />
The next few days were pretty boring really. I sat in our hotel room while he went to meetings and dinners and stuff. Finally the right day dawned and off we set for our adventures.<br />
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We were aiming for Colorado Springs, but on the way we went west to a place called Royal Gorge. On the way we spotted a winery - as you do - and nothing would do but we should visit it. I thought, "Boring!!" but then I met this chap. He looks quite severe, but I liked his santa hat. He told me that Colorado is bear country. I like that, a whole country owned by bears. I think it's only right. We looked and looked and looked for a real live bear, but all we could see were wooden ones. <i>(They're all hibernating so if we want to see one we'll have to go back again. I'm up for that if you are.) </i>You betcha, I'm up for it.<br />
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So the wine was tasted and a bottle bought for another time, plus some peach and lavender jam for Ann. She get nice apricot and lavender in France but it's all done so we thought, "Just the thing."</div>
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In the Rockies there are some very old and gnarly trees, and I thought I be like Sebastian and sit in one. The bark is very rough, but I'm a big <i>(?)</i> brave bear and I found it really quite comfortable.<br />
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There were some animals in pens for us to see and I really liked this fellow. He's a Bighorn Sheep, he's certainly got big horns. There were some beefalos there too, but they seemed to be sleeping so they didn't even say' "Hello," so they aren't getting their photos on here.</div>
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Next I perched on another fence while we waited for the cable car to come and collect us. That's it in the background. It was a long way down behind me, so wasn't I brave? <i>(Well, it was a few feet that's for sure, but you weren't in danger of falling down the gorge, I made sure of that.) </i>That's what YOU say, but I wasn't so sure and it was a very long way down to the bottom for a small bear. <i>(Aren't you a "Big brave bear"?) </i>Of course I am, just reduced in stature, stupid. <i>(Ah, OK just so long as I know which one of you I'm talking to.)</i><br />
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I was really quite worried about getting into a red box and swinging over a HUGE drop, but I tomembered that I was a brave bear and on I got. Despite the height I sat there nonchalantly whistling and kicking my heels as we went about 2000ft across the gorge.<br />
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He ran about and kanga'd and stuff to get as many photos as he could, but I just sat and enjoyed the view. This is what you see from the cable car. It might be a bit scary for some of you, so if you don't like heights, I suggest you shut you're eyes when you're reading this.<br />
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Oh my that was quite an adventure, though it was quite cold. When we'd had enough oohing and aahing over the gorge we got back into the snuggly car and went all the way to Colorado Springs.<br />
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To-day was just the start of it. In my next two posts I'll tell you about a super high mounting and cliff dwellings and gardens and cakes.<br />
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Bye for now,<br />
Jock<br />
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Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02514977963623374915noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3424054994658419071.post-13257209250009344392012-11-26T07:52:00.000-08:002012-11-26T07:52:07.068-08:00From my own correspondent<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Hi, have you missed me? I promised you Portugal and stuff, but instead of me you'll have a report from my own roaming correspondent. <br />
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It all happened like this. We were all ready to go, well I was, and he was running around like a mad thing doing 16 hour days and stuff, so when the day came to go off they went and I didn't. Now Prudence you mustn't be angry. I was upset it's true, but he was really unhappy when realised I was still at home. He was so tired that picking up a bear slipped his mind.<br />
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What to do? He telepathed that he was sorry and asked me what to do. So I thought and thought and sent him back this message. "It's Children in Need time, so why don't you see if there's a Pudsey on the loose?" "What a brilliant idea," he thought and so he picked up a Pudsey and he became my special correspondent. Here he is:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-OvC3HeBpW4K1PZ07rx6PNyK4rCMBFIaeX7spRSvxah-D57cRg4rCPoqpAEAmhYeGPyeZGqQHKr5Mik675-J1gmZHSQPc4M1OOFlZ27Lol-1fdiZS8OJ1VUjafbQMpLnqO8fclimfIA/s1600/IMG_3170.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-OvC3HeBpW4K1PZ07rx6PNyK4rCMBFIaeX7spRSvxah-D57cRg4rCPoqpAEAmhYeGPyeZGqQHKr5Mik675-J1gmZHSQPc4M1OOFlZ27Lol-1fdiZS8OJ1VUjafbQMpLnqO8fclimfIA/s320/IMG_3170.jpg" width="213" /></a>Hello everyone, my name is Pudsey, and I'd like to say a big thank you to Jock for making me his special correspondent. Alan donated a nice sum of money to the Children in Need Appeal so that I could come with him along with my friend Blush, who's off travelling with Ann in Helsinki at the moment.</div>
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<b>First Day</b></div>
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We stayed in a little village south of Lisbon called Alcacer do Sal and it was really very pretty indeed, all white houses with contrasting colours.</div>
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At first the sun was hidden a little by the clouds but then it burst forth and made the whole place seem so cheery. There were two pretty boats on one side of the river and when we went over there Alan got a nice picture looking up into the village. Just down from there we looked at the lovely reflections and then we noticed something on top of the church towers. There were some storks over there and if you have a big magnifying glass you might just see them standing on their huge nests. They were there on the Saturday, but by Monday they'd all flown away on their holidays in Africa.<br />
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We really liked the village, but one thing we noticed in every town was the washing. All the houses seemed to have frames on them to take washing lines and in lots of places the washing was out and sometimes it nearly dripped on our heads!<br />
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After lunch we went to the seaside at a place called Troia. It was a bit boring so we went down to the beach and that was lovely. I thought about Sebastian on his beach way across the other side of this ocean. At the high water mark there were lots of seashells, big one, little ones, pink ones, yellow ones, broken shells and complete ones too. It was all very pretty. Alan says he thinks the picture below would make a fiendish jigsaw for someone to do.</div>
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<b>Day Two</b></div>
We had a lovely dinner that night in the village and next day we went to a World Heritage place called Evora.<br />
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We all liked Evora very much even if it was Sunday and pretty much closed. The sun shone but there was a cool wind blowing - we think it blew away the storks 'cos it made them shiver.</div>
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Evora has Roaming Ruins <i>(Sorry Pudsey they're Roman).</i> Look, I'm a roaming reporter so they're Roaming ruins, do stop arguing. After all who forgot Jock? It has an aqueduct built way back when and the people have built houses into the arches. I think they look very pretty and funny at the same time. There were other nice corners too with orange trees and everything!<br />
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When we went back to the square before we went home we saw these two interesting contraptions with chimneys on the back. Can you think what they are? Go on have a guess.<br />
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Have you got it yet? No? Well you'll just have to wait.<br />
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<b>Day Three</b><br />
The next day it was sunny again, but not so windy so off we went to Setubal a pretty port north of where we were staying. I got quite excited when I saw this chap. I thought I'd get all splashed when it went back into the sea, but Alan said he wasn't a real dolphin, no matter how lifelike he looked. He and his friends did look very pretty.<br />
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We walked along the quayside and saw the fishing boats bobbing in the harbour and the fishermen mending their nets too. I liked the reflection of the boat and also the tiller of one of the older boats. Alan got a nice close up of this boat's tiller - but he didn't get wet 'cos it was a dry land boat. Well I suppose it wasn't really, just out of the water for the winter.<br />
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This amazing mural is on the front of an old fish warehouse. It has no roof just this amazing painted wall. Near there we sat out in the sun for a lovely lunch as we watch people fishing and one man actually catching something - an octopus. Cor, that was exciting.<br />
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Soon we headed back to the hotel in time to buy some pine nuts to take home and for Alan to get a sunset picture <strike>or two</strike> - no make that or lots. Still, it kept him occupied.<br />
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<b>Day Four</b><br />
Next day we said goodbye to Alcacer do Sal and headed into Lisbon for the day. What a HILLY place and we went up on the hill towards the castle to see what we could see - the sea, well, the sea and lots of houses.<br />
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We went up the impossibly steep streets in a tram just like this one. Isn't it a nice yellow colour. Alan says they shouldn't be able to make it up hills like that, but they do and with lots of people crowded in too. They take eighteen sitting down and FIFTY standing up - just like sardines.<br />
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Sadly, this was our last day and we went back to the hairyport to catch our nairyplane back home. Well back to London. Ann went home to Blackpool next morning while Alan went to Amsterdam. He go pictures there, but he did manage a few in London.<br />
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We were walking from Victoria to Trafalgar Square and, as we walked past Buckingham Palace where the Queen lives, there was a kerfuffle and when we looked around there was a troop of Royal Horse Artillery coming back from firing their gun in Hyde Park. No, they weren't trying to hurt anyone, just making BANG noises to celebrate Prince Charles's birthday.</div>
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When we reached Trafalgar Square there was someone else on horseback and I think that he was having lots of fun. This is called the fourth plinth statue. Every few months the art work on this plinth is changed. They've had ships in bottles, real live people standing there for a bit, a statue of a pregnant lady who'd been born after her mum had taken Thalidomide, and other fascinating things.</div>
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Well that's my report. We hope that next time it will be Jock who's doing the reporting.</div>
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Pudsey</div>
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Have you guessed what was in those contraptions yet? They are selling hot chestnuts. They roast them on plates under those chimbleys and add sugary stuff to them. Very tasty but quite sticky. Jock would have loved them - lots of sticky goo to get into his paws for later.<br />
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P.S. A big thank you from me Jock to Pudsey. Children in Need raised £26million for needy children in the UK and other countries so well done him for helping with that.<br />
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Till next time,<br />
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Jock<br />
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Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02514977963623374915noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3424054994658419071.post-65553827061397455052012-10-28T06:12:00.001-07:002012-10-30T02:41:32.124-07:00A Daring Rescue<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Hi all, two posts in two weeks - wonders will never cease! <i>(Watch it!)</i><br />
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This week we were off to Germany. He doesn't work on Fridays, so what were we doing working in Munich on Friday? <i>(You may well ask bear. Sometimes I just do - Sigh).</i><br />
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Anyway we flew out on Thursday and I was safely tucked into his bag with my book to read. All very nice and not at all forgetful, otherwise he'd have never heard the end of it. He ought to understand that our heads may be full of fluff, but we have LONG memories. <i>(I do understand, and I try not to forget you, but sometimes it happens that way. On with the story, 'cos it's quite 'citing).</i><br />
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Well, anyway, I got out in his hotel bedroom and had a good read and next morning we set off for a business meeting with our friend Herbert. He says it was a good meeting, but I just had a read and a zizz. <i>(Luckily no-one else noticed the snoring from my briefcase!) </i>What, me? Snore? I don't do that. Anyway, who wants to listen in to a scabby old business meeting?<br />
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There was a slight hope of another meeting but it didn't come off, so we had a few hours to ourselves in Munich. So his bag was parked in the station and off we set.<br />
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It was cold and grey in Munich, but we made the most of it. One of the first places we saw was a big place that was a prison for bears. Look at the picture and you can see some bears behind the glass - I wanted them to come out to play, but they couldn't 'cos they said they weren't 'dopted whatever that means. We went inside and saw some other captives, I saw one and said to Alan that I really wanted to help him to excape. I asked the bear his name and he said "Andi." I said, "Would you like to come home with us?" Well he got quite tocited about it and jumped up and down. He said, "Ja, wunderbear!" That's your actual bearish German, you know. Aren't you impressed that I understood it? <i>(Watch it big head.) </i>I don't know what you mean.<br />
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The staff said we'd have to think about it and come back later. "Oh, oh," I thought, that means "We'll see," and we all know what that means don't we. So I waved bye, bye to Andi, who looked quite crestfallen. But I told him I'd be back, and I'd drag my human with me if necessary.<br />
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So we walked out, with me craning round to wave goodbye to a tearful Andi, and went down the street and until we came across this dramatic boar. I sat down at his feet so you could see just how big he is. Look at his tusks. He looked very fierce, but really he was very friendly and he let me sit right on the end of his nose, but I had to keep away from his sharp tusks.<br />
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After that encounter we went to a brewery for lunch. The food was very tasty and we washed it down with a dark wheat beer. Then we moved on the the famous Marienplatz with the city hall and statues all around.<br />
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There was quite a fierce looking cherub slaying a dragon, and all that bronze was a bit cool under my bot. But the idea of a fierce cherub got me talking to Alan about my plan for the daring rescue. He said that it would have to wait until we got back up to the shop. "Shop!" I said, "it's a nasty prison for bears, I see'd it and I know." He just chuckled, but I wouldn't let him off. He hadn't said, '"Yes," but then he hadn't said "No," so I was getting quite hopeful.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYSsjg1Qx7kPBvjsd9HTih3OCn3KAoA3Gv78FMjdJxyjtC4D45PvDfh1dqFRs8I0Ak71r3os9InRiJIx89vlChNeTsUDho3zJUG5bQ1vA8BbWzHAR_YCTYN4xPrLNDmk0KtKeFRvho2w/s1600/A+daring+rescue+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYSsjg1Qx7kPBvjsd9HTih3OCn3KAoA3Gv78FMjdJxyjtC4D45PvDfh1dqFRs8I0Ak71r3os9InRiJIx89vlChNeTsUDho3zJUG5bQ1vA8BbWzHAR_YCTYN4xPrLNDmk0KtKeFRvho2w/s320/A+daring+rescue+7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
It was quite a walk back up the road and we saw lots of strange people purtending to be statues, but then they moved so I could tell they weren't really statues after all.<br />
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Then he stopped for some fresh dates, something to do with pudding, but fruit isn't pudding. <i>(I know but much better for my waist line than a big bit of cake.) </i>Maybe, but not half so sticky.<br />
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Then, hurrah, we entered the place of captivity and stood looking hopeful by a cabinet full of bears including Andi. Then a gaoler lady came along with a whole set of rattly keys and she opened the door and we managed to get Andi out. He came with a little travelling box and a tissue blankie. We had to queue up and the staff waved a bit of plastic about. I wanted to know what it was for, and Alan said it was to pay Andi's ransom. I thought we should just run out, but Alan explained that paying the ransom meant that we were 'dopting Andi, so I was happy about that.<br />
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When we got outside Andi and I got quite tocited. He dried up his tears and had a long drink of his beer. Then before any nasty people chased us and put him back in gaol, we sat down and had our picture taken with the prison in the background. The staff said I shouldn't worry, but until we were well clear I couldn't relax. </div>
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Soon enough we were at the airport and the plane was late and that made us anxious, then we got to Dusseldorf where the plane to Manchester was late, and that made us even more anxious. It was very late when we finally made it home, where Andi was introduced to Ann.</div>
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Here he is to-day. Aren't his lederhosen very smart, and he has his own stein of Bavarian beer. Isn't he lucky?</div>
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I'm really happy to have Andi as a friend 'cos he's even smaller than me, so I have someone that I can boss around at last. <i>(Excuse me bear, did I hear you right? That's not fair and I won't let it happen.) </i>Well...... but someone has to show him the ropes around here 'cos he's much less experienced than me. <i>(That's guidance, not bossing around.) </i>Yes, I suppose you're right. I'll enjoy doing that.</div>
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Until next time.</div>
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Hugs,</div>
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Jock</div>
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Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02514977963623374915noreply@blogger.com4