Pam’s Notable Loos!!

Now, a loo when you’re travelling, takes on a whole new importance in your life.  “Don’t go when you need to, go when you see one” becomes a sort of mantra in your head, especially when you get to a certain age/stage in your life when winging it just doesn’t cut the mustard.

So not only have I been become acutely aware of availability of conveniences, but I am also finely tuned into their various good and bad points.  To wit, I started a rating system.  To be fair there have been many average and ok loos, but one or two made the game of rating them very entertaining.

Admittedly we have not been travelling in third world countries, so this is quite a sanitised, excuse the pun, personal account.

We have used a variety of accommodation styles on this trip – hotels (high end hotels, middle of the road, airport hotels), sleeper train, self -catering accommodation, cruise ship. And we have travelled by ferry, plane, bus, train, and ship. Of course, or should I say thankfully, these have all had loos! But the variety and style and cleanliness has varied.  And as for the public loos we have used, well that’s where the rating system really comes into its own. 

There has been the “really? How long is this queue” loo, the no seat loo, the” where do I flush”, the no toilet paper, the very popular slow closing lids, the self-flushing ( quite disconcerting but brilliant idea), the pay as you use, the “try and keep your balance as you hurtle along a train track” loo, the very compact loos, the row of loos with one cubicle closed off with the sign “ this cubicle closed for the winter”, the “how do I even open the door” loo, the “please only use this loo in an absolute emergency” loo, the foot pedal flush loo (another great idea), the unexpectedly delightful loo, and the special award winners, which I will detail.

Our first encounter with a troublesome loo was on the first leg of our journey on The Canadian train– not an auspicious start.  The loo in our sleeper cabin was not working (they were not working in the whole carriage actually), a problem only detected once the train had left Vancouver station.  This could not be fixed until the first scheduled stop at Jasper many hours away.  Our cabin steward kindly provided us with a large black plastic bag – haha, not to use, but to encase the whole toilet in, just in case the rolling motion of the train caused any backflow – sorry, perhaps I should have put an “Indelicate material” warning on this!!! Anyway, we were able to use the other toilets not too far away, and the situation was rectified as promised. Phew!

By and large the Canadian and American loos were fine, as we mainly used ones in restaurants or information areas. And like all good savvy travellers we have pretended to be guests just to use the loos.

I guess I should also state the obvious that men do not face the issues that we ladies do, when it comes to finding and using a suitable loo.  That said, it was wonderful in Italy to find the men queueing alongside the women as there were no specifically designated “mens” or “ladies”.  Equality at last!

So….. onto some of my awards……..

Best loo (to date) – the restaurant loos at the Baltic Centre, Newcastle – Loo with a view – Fantastic!!!  Looking out over the Tyne.  5 star.

The view when you first enter the toilet.

Hand basins

Taken from the loo! Fantastic!

Worst loo (to date) – the public loos in Mourne(Northern Ireland) car park – scores a minus 4 – disgusting health hazard.

Most Quirky – the Lighthouse in Glasgow – brilliant signs. 3 star

Scottish sense of being "un PC" which appealed to me immensely

Brought a smile – Virgin Trains – their recorded message in the loo goes something like “please don’t flush nappies, sanitary products, your unpaid bills, goldfish, that extra sweater or your hopes and dreams down this loo”  Love it! 3 star.

Most unexpected – Pizza restaurant in mountain town in Sicily. In behind the pizza oven in the kitchen. Clean, gracious owners. Molto Bene!

Sicilian pizza place provides good pizzas and loos!

Made an effort – public loos in Thirsk (north Yorkshire) – pretty 3+ star.

Nice baskets make a difference in a small market town

Tolerable cos we had no choice – planes, boats, trains, ferries, railway stations.......

And just to finish off ...... a loo with a political view - Houses Of Parliament, Westminster.

Travelling, they say, broadens the mind. It also allows you to have a bit of fun.

Cheers folks

Pam xx

London calling...

Our last few days have been filled with many things London. Ten days to spend here seemed a luxury at the beginning, but as our travels draw to a close we are trying to pack in as much as possible, hopefully this is apparent from the photos below!
Barbara



It feels as if London has wrapped its arms around us once again and welcomed us back. Yes, the list of "Things to do'' here has included the familiar, the new, the eclectic, family, fireworks and the realisation that our trip is all but culminating in this wonderful city. The magic of Christmas is alive and well, with the street lights and decorations easily seen before 5pm. And throngs of people everywhere. We will leave them to their ways, when we fly out on Monday morning.

  London, UK, Scotland, Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Med Cruise, Malta, USA, Canada  - its been a fantastic journey. I have felt enriched, challenged, enthralled, and excited by each and every place. And I have been blessed with a patient, (Oh, so patient!) Barbara by my side to share these precious times.
A couple of days in Singapore for us to let our minds & bodies and (feet) recover, then homeward bound.
Pam

Westminster - Houses of Parliament. The colours in the windows change with the rise and fall of the Thames

Big Ben needs a lift for the disabled, hence all this scaffolding

Guy Fawkes night - view of fireworks in Battersea Park

Pam's extended family - Linda, John, Pam, Duncan, Lynne

Barbara hoofing it down The Mall

"It's all right" in Trafalgar Square - 4th plinth artwork

Pam reflecting on the actor, the late John Thaw in the gardens of the actors' church

Fortnum and Mason in Christmas finery

On the i360 in Brighton. Over 130 metres looking out over Brighton and the south coast

The Natural History Museum - blue whale

Restoration work in one of the rooms of the Victoria & Albert Museum

Synchronising watches at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich

She goes east, I go west but we are still hanging on!. The meridian line at the Royal Observatory which is where GMT is calculated from

View towards Canary Wharf in background and the Old Royal Naval College from Royal Observatory Hill, Greenwich

Paddington is in town to promote his new movie. Pam caught up with him to share his marmalade sandwich!

Carnaby Street

Carnaby Street Christmas lights - we were there for the switching on of the lights

Pam and George relaxing - Madame Tussauds sadly!

If Dame Judi ever needed a double ...

Queen Mum looking suitably impressed with her new friend

Family photo

WTF Donald!

Seasons of Mellow Fruitfulness (and Lakes)

I am no poet but being in the Lakes District for a week has seen me waxing lyrical on more than one occasion, much to Barbara’s dismay.  So here are just one or two of my observations – leaves falling like gentle snow; a glow of golden colours; wind-rustles in the hedgerows; leaves piled up on steps like a bubble bath of foam (that one is truly awful I know, sorry). One of the more unexpected noises/sights that we discovered is that Lake Windermere is on nearby RAF Spadeadam’s training ground and the jets come out of nowhere with a noise and verocity that is both alarming and thrilling at the same time.  RAF, NATO, Royal Navy and British Army all practise here. We probably surprised ourselves by choosing to spend our “free week” in the Lakes. We bandied around all sorts of ideas & locations both in the UK and offshore, but very happy with our decision to unwind & enjoy this lovely region. We went to the local movie theatre and saw Stalin (interesting choice but it was ok), and also to the local professional theatre (Old Laundry Theatre) to see and thoroughly enjoy “By Jeeves”, a Lloyd Webber/Alan Ayckbourn collaboration. We have negotiated narrow and intriguing lanes (searching for farm shops, visiting Beatrix Potter’s Hill Top house, and stopping at other National Trust properties to make the most of our NZ Historic Places reciprocal membership). We have loved staying so close to local walkways and the Windermere Ferry.  Bowness is a busy tourist spot, even at this time of the year, but thankfully we chose a self-catering cottage just far enough away (15 min walk) to make it feel less hectic.  Although it is right on the road to the ferry! But this was so interesting, as there is also a boat building yard across the road, so plenty to keep us amused. This week has given me (us) time to reflect on our travels. But more on that later….

Meanwhile dear friends, I will leave you with one more reflection (thanks to Beatrix……..”…I walk step by step on the fells and rough lands seeing every stone and flower and patch of bog and cotton grass where my old legs will never take me again”. If that be the case, then I am still a lucky lass.

Pam

Truly a lovely spot, and when you get away from the crowds it is a time to relax, take in the sights and take things rather more slowly! The luxury of a rental car for a week has given us the freedom to move further afield and we have explored both ends of Lake Windermere and lots in between. It also meant we could take our time travelling from York to the Lake District and explore the Yorkshire Dales – a beautiful part of the country.

We have also seen the lake from a cruise on same and have been fortunate to enjoy stunning vistas as we have had several days of sunshine although with temperatures around 12 degrees so jackets are a requirement on outings.

Daylight saving ended here last weekend, we are now plunged into darkness about 5 pm! But with that, the festive season is starting to take a life of its own as shops gear up for Christmas. It is just as well we have limited capacity to bring purchases home!

And so to the last leg of our trip –

Barbara

Some of these Yorkshire Dale bridges are quite high! Spot Pammy

On the way through the Dales

Askrigg Village - setting for All Creatures Great and Small

View from our accommodation in Bowness-on-Windermere

Hill Top House where Beatrix Potter wrote many of her works Her hat and gardening clogs just as she might have left them

Hill Top House garden and Pammy

Claife viewing station on the shore of Lake Windermere looking south. This was built by the Victorians. The building windows tinted with coloured glass were designed to re-create the landscape under different seasonal conditions. Yellow = summer, orange = autumn, light green = spring, dark blue = moonlight

Old phone boxes put to good use! Good idea

View from Biskey Howe looking north

Autumn colours

Treated ourselves to a cream tea at The Belsfield Hotel, Bowness. Not a bad view looking out onto the lake. A Laura Ashley themed hotel apparently