Hello forumintes,

Today’s travels in the English capital brought me very close to making P_P, Sibeen and others jealous by nearly visiting a patch of turf just west of Regents Park. But due to Madame Tussauds museum being quite interesting, and taking a bit long, Lords Cricket Ground will have to wait until tomorrow for a vist from me.

Today also included seeing ‘Wicked’ in the West End which was, well, wicked. So we have seen so far ‘Lion King’, ‘Shrek’ and ‘We Will Rock You’. Still to come are ‘Mamma Mia’ and ‘Matilda’. And I hope to pick up tickets for ‘Seussical’ which is playing at a theatre that appears to be owned by a fellow forumite, Arts Theatre.

The crappy WiFi in England is starting to annoy me, sorry about the triple post.

No need to rub it in…

No need to rub it in

No need to rub it in

My wife has still not forgiven me for making her miss the first half of Les Mis back in 2000 in the west end. She brings it up on a regular basis, and the release of the new movie has increased the number of times that it gets mentioned in the last few weeks.

As a ‘mea culpa’ I’ve promised to take her to a gold class viewing of the movie…and to turn up on time.

If you are staying in Bayswater Stealth take the time one day to walk into the town via the parks, you can walk all the way via the parks, Kensington Gardens, Hyde Park, Green Park etc but just realised it’s mid winter so maybe not such a good idea.
Carry on.

sibeen said:

My wife has still not forgiven me for making her miss the first half of Les Mis back in 2000 in the west end. She brings it up on a regular basis, and the release of the new movie has increased the number of times that it gets mentioned in the last few weeks.

As a ‘mea culpa’ I’ve promised to take her to a gold class viewing of the movie…and to turn up on time.

I am looking forward to seeing the movie when we get back. We were tossing up wether to see Les Mis or not, but decided the SWMBO and I have seen it several times and it is probably a bit hard going for the kids. Boy child did fall asleep during act 2 of Wicked tonight, and Les Mis is longer.

Peak Warming Man said:

If you are staying in Bayswater Stealth take the time one day to walk into the town via the parks, you can walk all the way via the parks, Kensington Gardens, Hyde Park, Green Park etc but just realised it’s mid winter so maybe not such a good idea.
Carry on.

We’re going to do Kens Gardens and Hyde Park (including the winter wonderland fair) yesterday but weather got in the way. Will do Regents Gardens tomorrow after the Lords tour. Hopefully do Hyde Park on Sat.

Peak Warming Man said:

If you are staying in Bayswater Stealth take the time one day to walk into the town via the parks, you can walk all the way via the parks, Kensington Gardens, Hyde Park, Green Park etc but just realised it’s mid winter so maybe not such a good idea.
Carry on.

I would have thought that Spankers Hill Wood would have been high on that itinerary of garden walks. The brisk cold on bare cheeks would be a counterpoint to a wood of spanking.

hmmmm not a good time to visit

too wet and cold

if you can – visit parliament on the tour and westminster abbey

if i were you i would visit in august

another thing you should know about taking a women on holiday is to follow the simple rule about keeping their blood sugars up and their body temperature low – in this case in britain , make sure they are kept warm and dry or things go down rapidly

take them to the national gallery in trafalgar square

visit “the monument” it will cost you 3 pounds i think

http://www.themonument.info/

Hellfire Caves

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West Wycombe Caves

Entrance to the caves, 2005

Location

West Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, England

Geology

Chalk

This article relies largely or entirely upon a single source. Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page. Please help improve this article by introducing citations to additional sources. (May 2011)

West Wycombe Caves (also known as the Hell-Fire Caves) are a network of man-made chalk and flint caverns which extend a quarter of a mile (500 metres) underground. They are situated above the village of West Wycombe, at the southern edge of the Chiltern Hills near High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, Southeast England.

They were excavated between 1748 and 1752 for the infamous Francis Dashwood, 15th Baron le Despencer (2nd Baronet), founder of the Dilettanti Society and co-founder of the notorious Hellfire Club, whose meetings were held in the caves.

They have been operating as a tourist attraction since 1951 and have attracted over 2 million visitors since their reopening.

West Wycombe is a small village situated along the A40 road, three miles west of High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, England.

The historic village is largely a National Trust property and receives a large annual influx of tourists – being the site of West Wycombe Park, West Wycombe Caves and the Mausoleum on top of West Wycombe Hill. The Mausoleum and Golden Ball above West Wycombe village are impressive local landmarks, visually dominating the village and local landscape for miles surrounding.

West Wycombe Park, Caves, Mausoleum and St Lawrence’s Church were all constructed in the mid-18th century by Sir Francis Dashwood, founder of the Dilettanti Society and co-founder of the notorious Hellfire Club.

wookiemeister said:

another thing you should know about taking a women on holiday is to follow the simple rule about keeping their blood sugars up and their body temperature low – in this case in britain , make sure they are kept warm and dry or things go down rapidly

That’s amazing information. I guess you keep a blood glucose monitoring kit, ice packs and rectal thermometer handy when you take your lady friends on holiday.

wookiemeister said:

… make sure they are kept warm and dry or things go down rapidly

… what exactly goes down rapidly?

That’s stumps…off to the pool.

>>… what exactly goes down rapidly?

The Wookster’s theory of keeping women happy is an absolute mind boggling ripper, if you haven’t heard it before it’s worth hanging around for if he talks about in in todays Wookster Report.

Peak Warming Man said:

>>… what exactly goes down rapidly?

The Wookster’s theory of keeping women happy is an absolute mind boggling ripper, if you haven’t heard it before it’s worth hanging around for if he talks about in in todays Wookster Report.

I could try Wookies theory, or continue with the old tried and tested “here is a new shopping street, you take the credit card and I will take he kids, see you in three hours”

Stealth said:

Peak Warming Man said:

>>… what exactly goes down rapidly?

The Wookster’s theory of keeping women happy is an absolute mind boggling ripper, if you haven’t heard it before it’s worth hanging around for if he talks about in in todays Wookster Report.

I could try Wookies theory, or continue with the old tried and tested “here is a new shopping street, you take the credit card and I will take he kids, see you in three hours”

right

but this actually might just make them angry and you’ll end up being accused of not “helping”

oh yes

if you climb the monument you’ll get a certificate to say you climbed it

i always include it in my resume when i need results

Flamsteed House and the Royal Observatory was a really interesting afternoon out. The kids really enjoyed the evolution of maritime clocks displays.

Our Paris hotel is nicer than I expected as we choose a fairly cheap one. But we are 22 floors up and have a fantastic view of the Paris skyline, only spoiled by the massive triangular scaffold thingy about 500m away. And it is lit up at night and every hour has thousands of strobes randomly flashing for 5 minutes.

Stealth said:

Our Paris hotel is nicer than I expected as we choose a fairly cheap one. But we are 22 floors up and have a fantastic view of the Paris skyline, only spoiled by the massive triangular scaffold thingy about 500m away. And it is lit up at night and every hour has thousands of strobes randomly flashing for 5 minutes.

Ooohlala

Stealth said:

Our Paris hotel is nicer than I expected as we choose a fairly cheap one. But we are 22 floors up and have a fantastic view of the Paris skyline, only spoiled by the massive triangular scaffold thingy about 500m away. And it is lit up at night and every hour has thousands of strobes randomly flashing for 5 minutes.

The pyramid at the Louvre?

Stealth said:

Our Paris hotel is nicer than I expected as we choose a fairly cheap one. But we are 22 floors up and have a fantastic view of the Paris skyline, only spoiled by the massive triangular scaffold thingy about 500m away. And it is lit up at night and every hour has thousands of strobes randomly flashing for 5 minutes.

I’ve heard you can pick up a cheap french horn on many of the street corners. Might be worth looking for a blow while you’re there.

Ok, I have ticked off The Louvre, Notre Dame, Sacre Cours, La Fayette, Arc de Triomphe, Avenue de Champs Élysées and even climbed that 324m high scaffold thingy that is outside our hotel window. Time to jump on a TGV and head south to the Alps and hope that it has snowed a little bit.

Stealth said:

Ok, I have ticked off The Louvre, Notre Dame, Sacre Cours, La Fayette, Arc de Triomphe, Avenue de Champs Élysées

Not surprised, you ticked me off too.

Kingy said:

Stealth said:

Ok, I have ticked off The Louvre, Notre Dame, Sacre Cours, La Fayette, Arc de Triomphe, Avenue de Champs Élysées

Not surprised, you ticked me off too.

I do try my best…

Stealth said:

Ok, I have ticked off The Louvre, Notre Dame, Sacre Cours, La Fayette, Arc de Triomphe, Avenue de Champs Élysées and even climbed that 324m high scaffold thingy that is outside our hotel window. Time to jump on a TGV and head south to the Alps and hope that it has snowed a little bit.

Sounds like you aren’t doing anything at all… :D

Well my hope for snow has been exceeded. We are at 2100m and the constant snow line was from below 1000 m. A 2.1m snow base outside our hotel. My kids have never seen snow before and were very excited in the train when it began to appear. Once arriving at our hotel a snow fight ensured, and a little bit of tobogganing. Tomorrow they start ski school and I am going to find out how much I have forgotten since I last snow skiied ten years ago. The alps scenery is just absolutely stunning, if fact all the countryside between Paris and the Alps was beautiful even if it was passing at 280+ km/h. Lots of little villages and lakes and fields, absolutely gorgeous. The last 16km up to the hotel was by bus and it was a series of mountain switchbacks that featured in the Tour De France in 1995, and I was tired just sitting in the bus, unbelievable that they can ride up it (with or without EPO).

Stealth said:

Well my hope for snow has been exceeded. We are at 2100m and the constant snow line was from below 1000 m. A 2.1m snow base outside our hotel. My kids have never seen snow before and were very excited in the train when it began to appear. Once arriving at our hotel a snow fight ensured, and a little bit of tobogganing. Tomorrow they start ski school and I am going to find out how much I have forgotten since I last snow skiied ten years ago. The alps scenery is just absolutely stunning, if fact all the countryside between Paris and the Alps was beautiful even if it was passing at 280+ km/h. Lots of little villages and lakes and fields, absolutely gorgeous. The last 16km up to the hotel was by bus and it was a series of mountain switchbacks that featured in the Tour De France in 1995, and I was tired just sitting in the bus, unbelievable that they can ride up it (with or without EPO).

:) enjoy..

yay .. rich people swanning about the world ….

meh

I have seen a few of them and they look at us in disdain, but I don’t GAS.

Dropbear said:

yay .. rich people swanning about the world ….

meh

I can’t afford to put fuel in my car but I still have a life.

I must admit it was quite nice to get out of Paris. Paris is very nice, but the tension was disconcerting with the French entering two Islamic Extremist fights in Africa and several internal protests against various political polices while we were there.

When mum visited Paris, she was amazed at how they park their cars- bumper to bumper yet they are able to get out of the spaces. Did you find the same and did you witness how the bruddy heck they did it??

Divine Angel said:

When mum visited Paris, she was amazed at how they park their cars- bumper to bumper yet they are able to get out of the spaces. Did you find the same and did you witness how the bruddy heck they did it??

Yes the parking is unbelievable, even moreso the ability to freely park cars on the apex of corner, even if it is a busy intersection with traffic lights.

Stealth said:

I must admit it was quite nice to get out of Paris. Paris is very nice, but the tension was disconcerting with the French entering two Islamic Extremist fights in Africa and several internal protests against various political polices while we were there.

It is time they learned Vive La difference..

Divine Angel said:

When mum visited Paris, she was amazed at how they park their cars- bumper to bumper yet they are able to get out of the spaces. Did you find the same and did you witness how the bruddy heck they did it??

VTOL

Stealth said:

unbelievable that they can ride up it (with or without EPO).

1995. With.

Speaking of which, Luke Durbridge took out both the Time Trial and Road Race national championships at Mt. Buningyong yesterday. Never been done before, to take both in the same year.

Rule 303 said:

Speaking of which, Luke Durbridge took out both the Time Trial and Road Race national championships at Mt. Buningyong yesterday. Never been done before, to take both in the same year.

That bodes well for him this season. Does he have a ProTour team to ride with?

Stealth said:

That bodes well for him this season. Does he have a ProTour team to ride with?

Orica Green Edge, who took 2nd in the Road as well.

:-)

Have OGE been invited to Le Tour this year?

Stealth said:

Have OGE been invited to Le Tour this year?

Looks that way:

http://www.greenedgecycling.com/node/2013-tour-de-france-route-offers-ample-opportunity-for-orica-greenedge

Rule 303 said:

Stealth said:

Have OGE been invited to Le Tour this year?

Looks that way:

http://www.greenedgecycling.com/node/2013-tour-de-france-route-offers-ample-opportunity-for-orica-greenedge

Thanks Rule, I will look at it tomorrow as sleep is calling, least I miss the full oportunity of broken ankles, busted knees or a fractured pelvis on the slopes tomorrow.

Stealth said:

Rule 303 said:

Stealth said:

Have OGE been invited to Le Tour this year?

Looks that way:

http://www.greenedgecycling.com/node/2013-tour-de-france-route-offers-ample-opportunity-for-orica-greenedge

Thanks Rule, I will look at it tomorrow as sleep is calling, least I miss the full oportunity of broken ankles, busted knees or a fractured pelvis on the slopes tomorrow.

If that’s optimistic.. I probably won’t read the pessimistic ones.. ;)

Stealth said:

I must admit it was quite nice to get out of Paris. Paris is very nice, but the tension was disconcerting with the French entering two Islamic Extremist fights in Africa and several internal protests against various political polices while we were there.

people openly aggressive?

did you see napoleons tomb?

Divine Angel said:

When mum visited Paris, she was amazed at how they park their cars- bumper to bumper yet they are able to get out of the spaces. Did you find the same and did you witness how the bruddy heck they did it??

Yes, I noticed that in France. Parking is allowed facing the wrong way, just about anything goes. The ideal car is the smallest thing you can fit into.

Before The Incident I spent some time in France, some of the chaps had villas over there, those contacts came in handy.
Once you were in Marseille you could pay a fishing smack captain to take you to Corsica, Sardinia and on to North Africa and you were home free if you had the money and knew the right chaps.

Bye, bye Europe. I guess it will be another 10 years before I get the chance ( money) to visit again. :(