love the pix--- happy you got out-- why is it a ghost town?
It wasn’t .It was actually pretty busy. Just a rare split second where everyone was out of sight.
z cats look happy -- and i wanna see zebras !! why on earth would there be zebras cruisin down town?
I guess there are no zebras. Lol I think that’s what they call a cross walk.
Great pics. i love thrift shopping! am very jealous. Our only decent one closed down recently!
Thanks. I don’t know what I’d do without thrift shops. It’s my main hobby :)
Do you carry an umbralla when you go out? If not, how do you get around?. You probably said but I've slept since then -- was that 'bed' in the closet made for the cats? Aj
When I go out I always have my rolling backpack. In it are gloves, scarves, hat ,ear muffs, umbrellaand my little purse.That’s a cat bed. There’s one on top of my wardrobe too.
I am laughing at what you said about McDonalds. I don't go there much anymore, but my hubby is gone today and the main thing on my mind is going to McDonalds to get something to eat.
I go there because it’s cheap. LOL I never eat there back at home.
The Red Lion Hotel looks interesting but what caught my eye was the stripes on the street. I could make no sense of them. Zerba crossing? Maybe an overstressed city employee had something to do with both. Just kidding. That's my wierd sense of humor.
I don’t get those stripes on the street either. One more reason I do not drive here!
Lovely pictures, looks like you enjoyed your day, out and about.
The "Zebra Crossing" is what they call the black and white cross-walks...guess they were giving the motorist a "heads up" so they can slow down.
There you have it.
What!!? You had your choice of some fine lookin pubs and you chose to eat lunch at McDonalds? Gahhhh!!! You coulda had a beer with your lunch. Draft ale. Great pics. They guy who painted the white stripes in the street in front of the pub must have been drunk. Good buys except maybe the little old lady pillow cases. G5
Those are shabby chic pillow cases and someone put a LOT of work into making them. LOL, MEN!
Believe me, I never thought I would be looking forward to McDonalds as my “big treat” , but it costs me 4 pounds just to take the bus TO town, then a double cheeseburger meal is about 3 pounds and 50. So, I’ve nearly spent 10 pounds, before I even hit the thrift store. I can’t afford to eat at a pub!
Wow, besides the crappy weather you have had, the pics look amazing! I miss Europe. It kinda looks like Germany.I hope your weather changes and soon! Love ya,
I remember when you were little and would come back from Germany wearing some cute ass red shoes, I was sooo jealous. I don’t think any place is that unique any more. That’s just sad.
Fareham? I didn't know you lived that close to me! I'm only in Winchester. Never been to Fareham, actually....but I know where it is.
Glad you got out though! If you ever want to catch a train and head to Winchester on a weekend, let me know! :)
We went to Winchester once. I thought the place was adorable. My spouse was a grouchy drag that day. I think I can take a bus there.
Don't think I will risk taking HIM with me next time. LOL
Loved the post and pics.
Thanks honey!
Haha, good idea.
Can't wait for spring/summer!
Yesterday at the park, the weather was fine. Now it's freakin' 42 degrees out! brrrr!
Believe me, I can’t wait either!
Ha today, I told my hubby “OMG! We’re having a heat wave; it must be 45 degrees out!”
ahhh wes quitchyer cryin-- 42 is a nice day out here lately :))
Yeah…see above.
that was a wonderful trip down a summery lane -- thank you :))
i an sooo havin withdrawals for sun, water, and FISH, i can't stand it !!
So am I!!! except for the fish part. lol
I love your house...brought back fond memories...waking up in the morning sitting at the table with the window open smoking the forbidden morning cig.,.having happy hour laying on the kitchen floor(she has the cleanest of floors)..Looking at our feet...up on the kitchen counter....you forget the very good smelling gardenias...they are the best. right outside your back door.....I have the best of times at your house!
Counting down the days Poodles!
You have a beautiful condo back home. The pics just prove it. Now, if you ever are sittin in that beautiful condo complaining and bitching about anything about it - you will immediately be sent to England where you will live in a shoebox for 9 months. Ha! Distance will make your heart grow fonder and I know it will be good to get back into 98 degree heat here in God's country. G5
You got that right buddy!
Yryin to figure out where that last beautiful sunset pic was taken. Was that at the Back Porch Grill? G5
That was on the deck at Does.
Not sure where it is, but looks great. A boat ride would be great and love the sunset pic. We have sunshine outside right now, hope you do too.
Yep, surprisingly…we HAD sun for the last 2 days! That is my home in America, it’s in Arkansas. Not that I’m a hick or anything. :)
That's not all the comments...but it's past my bed time.
I'm sure you guys are all saying “Damn, that Smocha is so spoiled, off in England on her big adventure. She makes me sick."
I know, I know...it's just not fair for me to keep all the glorious details to myself. So because I love you guys I'm going to spill it, right now, right here. The TRUTH, about being a spoiled expat housewife.
(Hang on...let me go smoke first)
Ok, here it is ...a day in the life.
Cavuto woke me up at the crack of dawn. " mow mow" paw in face. He immediately goes to my night stand and begins knocking things off, starting with my water. He has discovered that the sound of liquid hitting the floor works like a charm to get me up instantly.
Grab bra and a sweater and groggily trudge down stairs, take pills, start coffee and smoke a cigarette under the stove hood. Give Cavuto some whipped cream while finishing the coffee.
Feel groggy and disoriented because I took a Tylenol P.M. the night before, due to that NO vodka situation.(went to bed early)
When I woke up ,I was dreaming that we had this truck load of African refugee kids. They were all about 10 year old black boys, except their "spokes woman" she was a little white girl.She was trying to tell me that she was 5 . I KNEW she had to be more like 3.I asked her how come she was white and she said she was "south African"
(I have NO idea) ??? Thanks Cavuto!!!
Bring my coffee upstairs and check my email. Feel like I am in a hurry and am supposed to be going somewhere today. This goes on for a while. I finally realize I don't have to go anywhere except the grocery store. I'll be walking there so I have all day to do it.
To self" chill out you damn crack head."
Look around at house and feel overwhelmed .It is a sty. Hubby was just home for 3 and a half days. I’m behind on everything. Bleah!
Think about my kids and have trouble remembering their middle names. (I was NEVER one of those mothers who screams out the kids full name when said kid is in trouble) I could barely say the right FIRST name.
When they were in trouble, I'd be yelling "WES! I mean IAN! I mean LOGAN , whoever you are! YOU know who I mean!"
Check to see if anyone has updated their blogs while I finish my coffee. Go back down to stove hood for a cigarette. See myself in mirror, shudder in horror. Pimple head, with no makeup and monster hair. (Went to bed with wet, not even combed hair)
Realize the good part is no need to shower this morning.
Go back upstairs and retrieve pair of baggy jeans (now worn for maybe the 3rd time) throw those on, with the hot pink monkey shirt I slept in. (it's cleaning day)
Notice mountain of laundry and wince. Pile that up and check hamper, wince again when i see that it is full as well. See o'reiily walking in backwards circles and know this means he is about to vomit. Which he does ,TWICE, in different locals.
Stuff laundry into dirty jeans legs so I can carry it all downstairs. (Washer is in kitchen)
Sort laundry and start first load. Notice water is pooled on floor under fridge, again!
Turn TV on for background noise. (I can't even listen to my cleaning music unless I wear a cd walkman and headphones)
Inspect freezer and realize water has frozen under bottom drawer due to sloppy ice tray filling. Remove drawer and decide to melt ice. Afraid to turn off freezer because I'd never figure out how to turn it back on. Then I see switch on wall that says FREEZER/FRIDGE .Turn it off.
Wind up cleaning out entire fridge and freezer, including removing, deicing and washing all drawers and shelves and sorting and organizing food.
Glance at oven and remember that peach cobbler has been burned in there since Thanksgiving. Spot oven cleaner I had finally bought a few days ago. Spray it in there despite SAFETY WARNING : Turn off electricity to oven. Put out pilot light before using.
"Bite my ass, safety freaks! "
Scrub lime scale off of sink and built in drain board .(This builds up about every 3 days)
Notice that trash is about to overflow. Take trash out of can, replace bag . Stick full bag by front door for later. Now that I have room in the trash, I remember that the bag less vacuum cleaner is so full it doesn't pick up jack.
Drag vacuum out of (only) closet and empty it. Dust goes all over trash can and wall to wall carpeting in bathroom.
"cuss to self"
Shake hands with Cavuto who is sitting by kitchen faucet ,waiting for it to magically turn on and give him water. Smoke while Cavuto drinks out of sink. Notice his dirty starfish and wonder if his anal glands need to be expressed. I already asked my spouse a while back “Do you know how to express a cats anal glands?"
(Met with a resounding “NO!!!!!!!and I'm not gonna learn !!!!!!!")
Hear washer finish. Remove, shake out and sort wet laundry. It must be kind of folded so it's ready to hang on the old lady drying rack, and sorted because some of the socks go in the dining room . Hang the socks, and then trudge back upstairs to hang the rest in the bedroom. (What? you don't do that?)
On way thru living room hear some skank on Maury having 5 daddies tested. She swears EACH one of them is her baby daddy.
"Damn, there's some ho's out there!"
Back when I was single ,I could be like 10 pounds overweight and men acted like I had leprosy.I guess if I was 200 pounds over ,I'd a been a hottie. Live and learn.
Come back downstairs, make second pot of coffee. Shake hands with cavuto. Begin vacuuming the downstairs. Suck up phone cord in vacuum. (The house phone sits on the floor in the hallway because guess where they put the phone plug? that's right ..in the effin bathroom. But No electric outlets allowed in there! That would be out in the hall)
Cuss out loud to self and/or cats.
Turn off vacuum and unravel cord. Reassemble phone.
Resume vacuuming.
Decide I don't have the energy to vacuum the upstairs yet and put vacuum away.
Shake, sort and fold next load of wet laundry. Trudge upstairs and hang it on old lady drying rack.
Come downstairs and start 3rd load of laundry. Make list for grocery store. Notice that the sun is actually shining. Put hand on window to see if I can tell how hellish my walk to the store is going to be.
OMG! Window is warm. Get key, unlock front door and take trash out in my short sleeves.
Realize window was warm from the entire hot water running to deice freezer drawers.
Insert more cuss words.
Use key to lock door. (That’s right, we are locked IN here without a key) Drink more coffee, smoke, shake hands with Cavuto while waiting for laundry to finish. Wipe scum out of O'reilly's eyes .(he has clogged tear ducts)Looks like dirty poodle eyes.
Why be normal?
Sit on couch for a minute, see that King of Queens is on. Think how lovely it would be to just sit and watch TV. , force myself to get back up immediately!
Shake, sort and fold last load of wet laundry. Haul it upstairs and hang it on old lady drying rack.
Yell at O'Reilly to quit trying to bury his puke in the carpet. (If I let it dry a little, it doesn't make a big mess when I clean it up)
Ran out of cigarettes a couple hours ago. Ran out of T.P. yesterday. I can live without food and vodka, but not cigs or toilet paper. The time has come. I must FORCE myself to walk to the store.
Insert cuss words.
Get rolling back pack, scarf and gloves. Then remember that I have not one stitch of makeup on. Look in mirror; see my 2 enormo pimples sitting there like 2 extra heads. Consider going back upstairs to put makeup on.
Tell self out loud " Who the hell cares! No one knows you. You don't know them. You're just some zitty ole bag lady as far as they know."
I throw on what I call my "quarantine coat" It's hideous, greenish corduroy, 2 sizes to big ,but it's the warmest one I have. Then, my hat. Whoo! If I don't look like a bag lady now, I don't know what does.
I get out there and start walking. Man, if the effin wind wasn't blowing it might be ok. But NOOOOO ... that wind has to always be blowing.
Insert cuss words.
I walk the entire way to the store feeling just like I have a bloody nose. No way to know. If someone saw me (some zitty bag woman) with a bloody nose ,they probably wouldn't even tell me!
No way to know if it's frozen snots or a bloody nose. Frankly, by the time I get out of the wind, I don't even care any more.
Once in the warmth of the store, I put my backpack in my cart and mosey down every aisle. (This is the entertainment of the day) I come in there with a list.
We get "club points” for spending a fortune at their store and also for using our own bags.
Every month they send you vouchers for dollar value, for this. Today was the first time I ever used any of these vouchers. My list was : diet coke, vodka, potatoes, celery, sweet and low pills, toilet paper,
I threw in a toothbrush, a single stack of Oreos and a 47 pence Cornish pie. (I realized I hadn't eaten all day) Oh ...AND I searched their minisule sewing section and found some velcro for the curtains.
The total was 30 sum'thin' pounds, after they swiped my vouchers, all I had to pay was about 6 pounds. Sa weeet!
My joy was short lived. I still had the windy joy of dragging my bag and my running nose back home. The colder it is, the faster you try to walk. It's never fast enough.
Insert more cuss words.
I'm too exhausted to go on writing........
To be continued.
Stay tuned for such highlights as velcoing the curtains, cleaning up the cat vomit, scrubbing the toliets......
The other day when my bus picked me up it just happened to be one of the double Decker's ,I was the only person upstairs so I took some pictures. Here are the sights I see on my bus journey.
(click the pics to see them full size)
Inside the bus . I think only London had the red buses.
Notice how narrow the houses are.
Electrician freezing to death. This was a girl.
The scary branches ....mere inches from the bus.
Mini horses.
Most of the horses have those little coats on.
Titchfield mill. The pub we have been to a couple times.
Someones front yard. Pink house .
Note that the front yard is mostly bricks. They're not too big on lawns here. The majority of front yards are bricks, rocks or dirt.
A random street on the way to Fareham.
A single family house.
The pedestrian street in Fareham. Look how busy and crowded it is, even though it was extremely freezing cold out.
The day I took those pictures it started snowing on my way home ,I mean my mile walk home from the bus stop.
This is our inch of snow the next morning.
My hubby's flight home from Spain was delayed ,last night due to this blizzard.
Yesterday we took a little trip to a really cool town called Arundel. We went to see the Arundel castle. It was unbelievable. The mere fact the they managed to build it as long ago as they did....boggles the mind. We were not allowed to take pictures of the inside due to all the priceless things inside.The opulence was indescribable.Here are a few inside pics I found (mostly on Government sites)
The drawing room.
The library
One of many bedrooms
Chapel. the ceiling was unbelievable.
The billiard room
Another bedroom.
I can't find a pic of the dining room that will allow me to download it. (dang it!)
Everything was enormous , tables, fireplaces, fixtures. I can not imagine how they got that stuff in there in the first place. It had to have all been built on site ,somehow.
www.arundelcastle.org
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arundel_Castle
I had to re-do this movie because at first it was over 12 minutes long. I had a camera and so did my spouse. Here are our pictures ,in no particular order (nor do I know who took what,at this point) Enjoy this spectacular castle!
These are the fabulous sights that I see on my bus journeys.
The ever er.. never bright sky:)
Old brick bridge. I'd like to go down that road and see what's down there.
This is the pub we went to awhile back. Titchfield mill.
A pub I was hoping to go to but never did.Maybe in August.
The cute red phone booth. Sadly, I think they no longer make them.
This is something I find very odd. You can barely tell from the picture but this is a duplex. Both sides are completely different. There are tons of these around here. One neighbor has theirs all maintained and updated, while the other half is decrepit and neglected.
It seems like they could get together and agree on a uniformed decor for the front, but it's not that way.
See, this one is half brick ,half stucco.
This little beaut' was at the bus stop. I'm sorry but wouldn't "butt sex" or even "ass sex" sound a little more manly?LOL
A newer neighborhood. As you can see ,all the buildings are done in pretty much the same style. There are no rebels sticking out like a California ranch or a Victorian pained lady. It's all uniform. New is made to look like the old.
This one IS old and pretty cool I might add.
I believe it's a duplex.(with a unified front)
Ok ,let's me see ...do I have any new observations?
Oh , everyone says "Lovely" ,"Dahling","Hey ya" and "Yep" My husband says there is no P on the end of the "Yep" but that's what it sounds like.
And personally, I don't find it very macho to hear men saying "lovely" Maybe that's just me.
It is a big NO NO to use plastic bags around here. Everyone carries their own bags with them. At the store they HAVE bags , but they are hidden. They have to ask you "do you need a bag?"
I'm sure there's more.....but I have to go do something ;)
Today ,after we visit Cavuto they will drive him to London. We shall be on the plane tomorrow.
