Yes, I made my third trip over to Wales yesterday (Tuesday), and so far, each time I have traveled there, the weather has been absolutely beautiful. However, this time, I could not keep my eyes open on the train trip. I was so tired that I almost missed one of my train stops to transfer to another train. Holy shit, that would have been disasterous!!! I must take three different trains up to Chester, England, then have one of the staff members from the residential place pick me up at the station. The drive from the train station to the facility is about one hour.
When standing on the platforms waiting for my next train to arrive, I commonly see other trains whiz by on their "express" schedules and the energy from those trains makes my heart pump faster and faster. I love to watch them speed by!!! I can see them coming (and the loud speaker informs us that they are coming) and I listen to the rumble getting louder and louder. By the time they reach the station platforms, it is so loud that you cannot even hear the person stading next to you. As soon as the first coach passes, the wind whips up into a frenzy and the windows of the coaches flicker like watching an old-time black & white movie. I try to pick out a word or two on the side of the coaches, which I now have become very good at doing. I can easily recognize the various train companies since my travels have covered the entire southern UK (except for over by Bristol & Bath). I have traveled on First Great Western, Virgin, CrossCountry, London Midlands, Southwest Rail Service, Northern Rail Service, and others. Those are the main ones anyways.
The horns on the trains do not sound like the ones back in Pennsylvania. Those are loud whistles; where over here, they are lower tones instead of horns. Don't get me wrong, these horns are extremely loud, but they just sound very different. When I first walked under the train tressel near my work, I heard this long-sounding tone and wondered what it was. Then a train passed overhead, and I figured it was the train horn. I was right. Now I am so familiar with this sound that I sometimes even miss hearing it in a distance. I have noticed that the sheep, cows and horses along the train tracks do not miss these train horns!!!
While I was up in Wales yesterday, this young man and I went for a short walk so I could talk to him alone. He took me over to the farm next to their facility and I got to run around with the sheep and lambs. hat was so much fun. The little lams were playing, while the mama sheep were watching and protecting their babies. I know I certianly can not out-run a sheep, so we stayed close to the fence. For those of you who remember my goat experience in Uganda, I learned my lesson then not to mess with the little ones too much or the larger ones will "kick your butt." Literally!!!! I got to walk along this nature trail in Wales through the tress and along a river. I wanted to stay there but I had to do my job and get back. This young man is doing so well and I just enjoy visiting him every six weeks (statutory time limit). This is one of my easier and more positive cases.
When we were driving back to the train station to Chester, we saw this HUGE plane coming in for a landing near to Chester. The man who was driving said that this plane shuttles airplane wings which are manufactured in/near Chester to other parts of Europe and across the Atlantic. He informed me that the place in Chester builds the wings for the large airbuses, where they have to place them on barges and move them that way since they are too large to transport by air.
I got back on the train and settled in for the ride home. Once again, I could not keep my eyes open and I fell asleep. Falling asleep on a train is very similar to falling asleep on an airplane. It's not very comfortable and you are stiff as a board when you try to get up and move. I finally reached Reading at 8:00pm. Once again, a 12-hour workday, which wasn't too bad. As a matter of fact, it was pretty nice. I now have 5 days of overtime I MUST take off, so I think I will take it in mid-June. Maybe I will finally visit Bristol and Bath then -- or maybe not. Maybe I will just relax at home and take short trips to places around Reading. At least I can get some sleep then. Which is what I need to do now folks. It's almost 10:00pm and I still have two days of work to go. I hope someday you will be able to go to Wales. It is an absolutely BEAUTIFUL country!!!
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Last Week (May 10th - 16th)
It was crazy over here last week, and when I got home from work I was way too tired to type anything on my blog page. Therefore, I will sum up last week for you as to why it was so crazy. I will give you three words: WORK, MONEY & SHIPMENT.
WORK: Just when I was getting familiar with the system / process of working in my team, my assistant team supervisor leaves. She was a "contracted" social worker and her contract was up last week. Although I was aware of this, it did not help matters much that I was all out of sync on who to turn to for help. Plus, I made three trip out of the Reading area to visit some of my clients, which took away from the paperwork I was going to do. One of the kids decided to flip a chair and start throwing things at me so I made a quick exit. It actually was not too bad, but I did not want my presence to escalate his frustration. As far as the "dreaded paperwork," that has been SLOWLY getting better; however, I still have a very long way to go with this.
MONEY: Okay, not to get too detailed, but my stupid bank decided to pay my rent to my landlords TWICE in one month. This, of course, left me largely short of money, and I have been scarmbling to find someone to help while I work with the bank and/or until payday comes on May 25th. I think I have strecthed the British pound as far as it can possibly be stretched. After many, many prayers, God sent an angel to help with this situation, although the money situation is far from over. I am still trying to work with the bank on several situations. I do not want to go into any more details, but money is still the source of much of my stress.
SHIPMENT: Ahhh. . . the dreaded shipment of my belongings. I told one of my sisters that I think my boxes of things are in the same place as all those socks lost during the wash. They just fall off the face of the earth. Well, I must say that I was worried that my boxes of personal items were long gone. However, at the end of last week, my sister (yeah Cathy!!!) uncovered that my shipment was on another ship across the Atlantic and are sitting at a dock in Southampton. After faxing forms to the storage facility this weekend, they believe that they do have my boxes. Once again, I am not holding my breath on this, but it is a good sign.
To top things off last week, it was cold and rainy all week. A pretty miserable week as far as the weather goes. This week, it has been sunny and will continue to be sunny and get warmer. Once again, a sign of good things. Well, that's the jist of last week's adventure. Take care everyone and talk soon.
WORK: Just when I was getting familiar with the system / process of working in my team, my assistant team supervisor leaves. She was a "contracted" social worker and her contract was up last week. Although I was aware of this, it did not help matters much that I was all out of sync on who to turn to for help. Plus, I made three trip out of the Reading area to visit some of my clients, which took away from the paperwork I was going to do. One of the kids decided to flip a chair and start throwing things at me so I made a quick exit. It actually was not too bad, but I did not want my presence to escalate his frustration. As far as the "dreaded paperwork," that has been SLOWLY getting better; however, I still have a very long way to go with this.
MONEY: Okay, not to get too detailed, but my stupid bank decided to pay my rent to my landlords TWICE in one month. This, of course, left me largely short of money, and I have been scarmbling to find someone to help while I work with the bank and/or until payday comes on May 25th. I think I have strecthed the British pound as far as it can possibly be stretched. After many, many prayers, God sent an angel to help with this situation, although the money situation is far from over. I am still trying to work with the bank on several situations. I do not want to go into any more details, but money is still the source of much of my stress.
SHIPMENT: Ahhh. . . the dreaded shipment of my belongings. I told one of my sisters that I think my boxes of things are in the same place as all those socks lost during the wash. They just fall off the face of the earth. Well, I must say that I was worried that my boxes of personal items were long gone. However, at the end of last week, my sister (yeah Cathy!!!) uncovered that my shipment was on another ship across the Atlantic and are sitting at a dock in Southampton. After faxing forms to the storage facility this weekend, they believe that they do have my boxes. Once again, I am not holding my breath on this, but it is a good sign.
To top things off last week, it was cold and rainy all week. A pretty miserable week as far as the weather goes. This week, it has been sunny and will continue to be sunny and get warmer. Once again, a sign of good things. Well, that's the jist of last week's adventure. Take care everyone and talk soon.
Monday, May 17, 2010
A Coot!!!
Remember the picture of the bird I posted to the right? Well, I found out what type of bird this is. It's a coot. Coots are medium-sized water birds which are members of the rail family. Coots have predominantly black plumage, and, unlike many of the rails, they are usually easy to see, often swimming in open water. They are close relatives of the moorhen.
They are common in Europe and North America. They have prominent frontal shields or other decoration on the forehead, and coloured bills, and many, but not all, have white on the under tail. Like other rails, they have lobed toes. The featherless shield gave rise to the expression "as bald as a coot", which the Oxford English Dictionary cites in use as early as 1430.
They tend to have short, rounded wings and are weak fliers, although northern species are nevertheless capable of covering long distances; the American Coot has reached Great Britain and Ireland on rare occasions. Those species that migrate do so at night. Coots can walk and run vigorously on strong legs, and have long toes that are well adapted to soft, uneven surfaces. These birds are omnivorous, taking mainly plant material, but also small animals and eggs. They are aggressively territorial during the breeding season, but are otherwise often found in sizeable flocks on the shallow vegetated lakes they prefer. A flock of coots is known in the US as a cover.
They are common in Europe and North America. They have prominent frontal shields or other decoration on the forehead, and coloured bills, and many, but not all, have white on the under tail. Like other rails, they have lobed toes. The featherless shield gave rise to the expression "as bald as a coot", which the Oxford English Dictionary cites in use as early as 1430.
They tend to have short, rounded wings and are weak fliers, although northern species are nevertheless capable of covering long distances; the American Coot has reached Great Britain and Ireland on rare occasions. Those species that migrate do so at night. Coots can walk and run vigorously on strong legs, and have long toes that are well adapted to soft, uneven surfaces. These birds are omnivorous, taking mainly plant material, but also small animals and eggs. They are aggressively territorial during the breeding season, but are otherwise often found in sizeable flocks on the shallow vegetated lakes they prefer. A flock of coots is known in the US as a cover.
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Tower of London & Tower Bridge
Last Sunday, my good friend, Cori, came to London for vacation for a few days with her boyfriend, Charlie, and we went to see the Tower of London. An AWESOME time!!! I have not seen Cori in seven years, but we talked as if we just saw each other last week. Anyway, we went to the Tower of London and it was very interesting to learn about its history. We got those headset & recorders to do your own walking tour, but we could not get our bearings and the recorder to be in sync. I just took mine off halfway through the tour.
The first thing we came to was "Traitor's Gate." This is where they would bring in those who were accused of being traitor's to the crown. The water is a direct link to the River Thames. Even though the river is very near the tower, a moat was built around the original tower because the banks of the Thames was farther away than today. Right across from Traitor's Gate, we entered the Tower of London under The Bloody Tower. This is where "famous" prisoners were held, like Anne Bolyen and the Two Princes (Prince Edward V and his borther, Richard of Shrewsbury). There are many original portions of walls and stone which are clearly visible. When we walked inside the tower, we had to climb a very lengthy, spiral stairwell to get to the top. It was very cool, yet eerie.
In one of the other prison towers, we could see the carvings of the walls of past prisoners (see picture). Although there were many executions in the Tower of London, only a few "famous" prisoners were executed in the publlic courtyard. The tower is fully staffed with Yeomen Warders (also known as Beefeaters), at all times and answer to the Constable of the Tower. Yeomen Warders have served as defenders of the Crown Jewels and prison guards since the time of Queen Victoria. The crowned jewels were BEAUTIFUL; however, that seemed like a waste of money for this contry just sitting behind secured glass. There was sooooooo much gold and diamonds that could easily put a HUGE dent in this country's deficit. Oh well.
We finally made our way into the White Tower. This is the original tower/fortress build by William the Conqueror in 1078 A.D. Other towers and walls were built after his reign. The White Tower is the place of the armory for England's history. King Henry VIII's suit of armor indicates that he "thought very highly of himself in the man area." Cori and I laughed at this king's "big head." There were many of the torture devices, weaponry, suits of armor, and statues of the horses of various kings. There was just so much to see in the Tower of London. Cori, Charlie and I were able to see just about all of it before it closed.
After we exited the tower, we walked down by the River Thames to look at the Tower Bridge. And, much to our surprise and LUCK, the drawbridge opened!!! I could not believe my eyes!!! So cool!!! It is said that the drawbridge does not open that often, but if you see it when it does open, then "luck" is in the near future -- and, boy, do I need it now!!! We did not have time to go to the top of the Tower Bridge since it was Sunday afternoon and most things were closing; however, we did walk onto the bridge to experience its majesty. After that, Cori, Charlie, and I went to dinner at an English pub near Piccadilly Square. I loved just talking to Cori and spending time with her. After seven years, we really have not changed much. Oh sure, lots of things within our lives happened and some things changed, but neither one of us have changed "who we truly are." After dinner, I headed back to the Tube and Cori and Charlie went for frozen yogurt. It was very hard to say "good-bye" to Cori. I know that it will not be seven years before we see each other again. I will make sure of that!!! Last Sunday was a great day!!!
I love you, Cori, and miss you so much. I just love laughing with you!!! Talk to you soon, sweetie.
The first thing we came to was "Traitor's Gate." This is where they would bring in those who were accused of being traitor's to the crown. The water is a direct link to the River Thames. Even though the river is very near the tower, a moat was built around the original tower because the banks of the Thames was farther away than today. Right across from Traitor's Gate, we entered the Tower of London under The Bloody Tower. This is where "famous" prisoners were held, like Anne Bolyen and the Two Princes (Prince Edward V and his borther, Richard of Shrewsbury). There are many original portions of walls and stone which are clearly visible. When we walked inside the tower, we had to climb a very lengthy, spiral stairwell to get to the top. It was very cool, yet eerie.
In one of the other prison towers, we could see the carvings of the walls of past prisoners (see picture). Although there were many executions in the Tower of London, only a few "famous" prisoners were executed in the publlic courtyard. The tower is fully staffed with Yeomen Warders (also known as Beefeaters), at all times and answer to the Constable of the Tower. Yeomen Warders have served as defenders of the Crown Jewels and prison guards since the time of Queen Victoria. The crowned jewels were BEAUTIFUL; however, that seemed like a waste of money for this contry just sitting behind secured glass. There was sooooooo much gold and diamonds that could easily put a HUGE dent in this country's deficit. Oh well.
We finally made our way into the White Tower. This is the original tower/fortress build by William the Conqueror in 1078 A.D. Other towers and walls were built after his reign. The White Tower is the place of the armory for England's history. King Henry VIII's suit of armor indicates that he "thought very highly of himself in the man area." Cori and I laughed at this king's "big head." There were many of the torture devices, weaponry, suits of armor, and statues of the horses of various kings. There was just so much to see in the Tower of London. Cori, Charlie and I were able to see just about all of it before it closed.
After we exited the tower, we walked down by the River Thames to look at the Tower Bridge. And, much to our surprise and LUCK, the drawbridge opened!!! I could not believe my eyes!!! So cool!!! It is said that the drawbridge does not open that often, but if you see it when it does open, then "luck" is in the near future -- and, boy, do I need it now!!! We did not have time to go to the top of the Tower Bridge since it was Sunday afternoon and most things were closing; however, we did walk onto the bridge to experience its majesty. After that, Cori, Charlie, and I went to dinner at an English pub near Piccadilly Square. I loved just talking to Cori and spending time with her. After seven years, we really have not changed much. Oh sure, lots of things within our lives happened and some things changed, but neither one of us have changed "who we truly are." After dinner, I headed back to the Tube and Cori and Charlie went for frozen yogurt. It was very hard to say "good-bye" to Cori. I know that it will not be seven years before we see each other again. I will make sure of that!!! Last Sunday was a great day!!!
I love you, Cori, and miss you so much. I just love laughing with you!!! Talk to you soon, sweetie.
Trivia Answer: Trafalgar Square
YEAH, two correct answers!!!!
Yes, Admiral Horatio Nelson, the admiral who commanded the British Fleet at Trafalgar. is the statue which adorns the top of the Nelson Monument in Trafalgar Square. The name commemorates the Battle of Trafalgar (1805), a British naval victory of the Napoleonic Wars. The original name was to have been "King William the Fourth's Square", but George Ledwell Taylor suggested the name "Trafalgar Square". On the north side of the square is the National Gallery and to its east St Martin-in-the-Fields church. The square adjoins The Mall via Admiralty Arch to the southwest. To the south is Whitehall, to the east Strand and South Africa House, to the north Charing Cross Road (this is the Tube stop for the London Underground to visit the square), and on the west side Canada House.
At the corners of the square are four plinths; the two northern ones were intended for equestrian statues, and thus are wider than the two southern. Three of them hold statues: George IV (northeast, 1840s), Henry Havelock (southeast, 1861), and Sir Charles James Napier (southwest, 1855). On the lawn in front of the National Gallery are two statues, James II to the west of the entrance portico and George Washington to the east. The latter statue, a gift from the state of Virginia, stands on soil imported from the United States. This was done in order to honour Washington's declaration he would never again set foot on British soil. A bust of the Second World War First Sea Lord Admiral Cunningham by Franta Belsky was unveiled in Trafalgar Square in April 1967 by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
The square used to be famous for its feral pigeons, and feeding them was a popular activity with Londoners and tourists. The estimated flock at its peak was 35,000, and considered a health hazard. In 2000, the sale of bird seed in the square was controversially terminated and other measures were introduced to discourage the pigeons, including the use of trained falcons. The square is a social and political location for visitors and Londoners alike. When my friends and I are out in the London area, we always meet at Trafalgar Square ON Nelson's Column -- we even got our pictures taken on the lion (I named him Leo - my astrological sign). This is an easy stop from the London Underground and definately a wonderful place to just "people watch." They have jugglers, artists of every kind- including sidewalk mural artisits - and tons of musicians. Definately world famous!!! And FUN!!!
I hope some of you are learning from these trivia questions. I am going to try to make the time frame for answering shorter -- like four days -- so I can do more. Best of luck on the next questions.
Yes, Admiral Horatio Nelson, the admiral who commanded the British Fleet at Trafalgar. is the statue which adorns the top of the Nelson Monument in Trafalgar Square. The name commemorates the Battle of Trafalgar (1805), a British naval victory of the Napoleonic Wars. The original name was to have been "King William the Fourth's Square", but George Ledwell Taylor suggested the name "Trafalgar Square". On the north side of the square is the National Gallery and to its east St Martin-in-the-Fields church. The square adjoins The Mall via Admiralty Arch to the southwest. To the south is Whitehall, to the east Strand and South Africa House, to the north Charing Cross Road (this is the Tube stop for the London Underground to visit the square), and on the west side Canada House.
At the corners of the square are four plinths; the two northern ones were intended for equestrian statues, and thus are wider than the two southern. Three of them hold statues: George IV (northeast, 1840s), Henry Havelock (southeast, 1861), and Sir Charles James Napier (southwest, 1855). On the lawn in front of the National Gallery are two statues, James II to the west of the entrance portico and George Washington to the east. The latter statue, a gift from the state of Virginia, stands on soil imported from the United States. This was done in order to honour Washington's declaration he would never again set foot on British soil. A bust of the Second World War First Sea Lord Admiral Cunningham by Franta Belsky was unveiled in Trafalgar Square in April 1967 by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
The square used to be famous for its feral pigeons, and feeding them was a popular activity with Londoners and tourists. The estimated flock at its peak was 35,000, and considered a health hazard. In 2000, the sale of bird seed in the square was controversially terminated and other measures were introduced to discourage the pigeons, including the use of trained falcons. The square is a social and political location for visitors and Londoners alike. When my friends and I are out in the London area, we always meet at Trafalgar Square ON Nelson's Column -- we even got our pictures taken on the lion (I named him Leo - my astrological sign). This is an easy stop from the London Underground and definately a wonderful place to just "people watch." They have jugglers, artists of every kind- including sidewalk mural artisits - and tons of musicians. Definately world famous!!! And FUN!!!
I hope some of you are learning from these trivia questions. I am going to try to make the time frame for answering shorter -- like four days -- so I can do more. Best of luck on the next questions.
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