Lisbon, Portugal 5 June 2016

An invite to spend a week with Ann and Revel in Lisbon - irresistible!  Getting there though ...   bus to Slough, train to Paddington, bus to Standsted, Ryanair (of flying supermarket fame) to Lisbon, taxi - who took the really long way round.  Then 84 steps up to the apartment - that was probably the hardest part.  All in all 11 hours of forward movement.  Isn't that always the case though and having to haul luggage around just adds to the experience.  But going from a damp, chilly England to a warm, humid Lisbon, all worthwhile and the view at the top!

Ann and Revel had already been there for most of the week so had a good idea of where they were and what  to do and see.  I pretty much tagged along gawking.  The big surprise for me is how many hills there are! Very little walking on the straight, either up or down mostly. They had the measure of the transport systems available and we used most of them, besides the trams that always seemed to be full to bursting.

First day out - isn't the hallway beautiful?

We caught the bus very close by the apartment and headed off to the Tile Museum - or to give it it's full title - Museu Nacional do Azulejo.   Though to travel through Lisbon is to experience ceramic tile art - it's everywhere and gives the city vivacious colour and life, some of it old and cracked, some of it shiny and new, all beautiful.

Today was Museum Day - all museums were free - though I have to admit that one museum a day is enough for me.  Information overload sets in after that.

The museum is located in a former convent - the Convent of Madre Deus, founded in 1509.  The highly ornate chapel and church contrast dramatically with the simple rooms of the convent which house the collections of tiles.

There was so much to see and I took a lot of photos!  At the entrance is an exhibition of materials and techniques, after that the exhibitions follow in chronological order.

Pause for reflection ...

I really like the contemporary tiles.  Also shows the still strong tradition of ceramic tile artistry in Portugal.

Do you see what I'm getting at when I say sensory overload?  So just a couple more ...

Yes, definitely time for lunch.

LX Factory was our destination - a trendy design market in a former abondoned manufacturing complex under the Big Bridge.

Lunch was the priority though, so we headed for Cantina LX.  The day had got really hot so we needed shade and wine, in that order.  Food came after and wasn't hugely memorable.  No pics from that part of the day - heat and low blood sugar caused dodgy photos - that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Sustained, we strolled around, came across an unhappy South African from Joburg selling bead sculptures, I don't think she was going to be happy anywhere though,  and fantastic graffiti / wall / street art.

And Ler Devaga bookstore - 'read slowly' in Portugese - which offers place to do just that.  Along with an exhibition of kinetic machines - fascinating.

Time to head home on the bus and put feet up - yes, wine too.

Haywards Heath & Brighton 29 May 2016

My birthday this year was a bit of a washout, tummy bug, work, family all a long way away.  Thank goodness for social media, contact and messages and calls from the other side of the world and for family just an hour's drive away.  I delayed celebrations until the weekend and ended up having a great birthday!

First of all was the pedicure ...

I LOVE to have my feet rubbed ..

The look on Judy's face is her discovering that the chair is giving her a massage.

We definitely should have brought the champagne with us.  

Then a bit of a walk around the village - look - spy pigeons!

After that came a genuine braai.  It was lekker!  Matthew braaied, Kean.

On Sunday we caught a train down to Brighton.

We hadn't realised that we had just missed the fringe festival, but there was still lots to see and do.

Dress code?  Whatever you fancy.

Careful where you leave your bike though ...

Obligatory fish & chips for lunch on the beach.

It was almost warm enough to swim.  End of May!  About time.

A walk around the lanes and some interesting shopping available.

Then it was time to head home and clock up another year.  Thanks Pattersons, you made my day.

London 16 May 2016

I'm on a catch up drive.  Quite a lot is going to be happening in the next couple of months so I'm trying not to get further and further behind.

Carla is in the UK for a couple of months so we all arranged to meet up in London.  I met Dayne at Victoria station and we meandered on down to Trafalgar Square.

And then up to Piccadilly to meet up with Carla and Tessa.

Lunch first, Tess was working but it was great to catch up on their news.

Dayne wanted to see Chinatown which I'd never seen before .  We ran into a march protesting the Dog Festival.  Feelings were running high!

I love this wall art!

We found the M&M store but it was a bit of a disappointment - mainly just merchandise. But gorgeous cousins.

Pizza! In Chinatown?  Just seems wrong.  I do like the building though.

Time for beer after all that walking.