tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-172183972024-03-13T01:29:59.114+00:00craziequeen's palaceA little bit of Crazieness in a mad, bad old world....craziequeenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15098227916486173799noreply@blogger.comBlogger967125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17218397.post-70311708983323056872016-11-27T20:44:00.000+00:002016-11-27T20:44:13.721+00:00Leaving Day<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">After a hesitant start for this solo trip of a lifetime, the last day came round far too quickly. <br />All packed and ready for off I went down to the Coffee Terrace for my breakfast, like I did every day.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Breakfasts are magnificent at Rasa Ria and there is everything to choose from - Chinese, Thai, Malay, salad, danish, Japanese, English, fresh fruit, toast, a man making fruit juice, a man cooking eggs any way you wanted them, sweets, chocolate fountain...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I loved that the sweets were displayed over the fruit....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">My usual breakfast was juice, fruit, danish and toast - and buckets of coffee...although I did try the chocolate fountain on pancakes...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">yep chocolate fountain...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But the sweet display was magnificent - and entire wall of marshmallows and jelly beans...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">On arrival in the restaurant, my regular server Izza guided me to my usual table - but it didn't look usual that morning...I was touched to find the most beautiful flowers on my table. I loved them so much that I still have the picture as my wallpaper on my phone.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I couldn't eat much for nerves and was ready in plenty of time for my car to the airport.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">While we were driving to Kota Kinabalu, I took photos of everything I could bemoaning that I had not made it into the city..so many interesting things to see...but first, a magnificent view of Mount Kinabalu from the Mengkabong River bridge - I spent many happy hours on that river :-)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Trying to take photos from a zippy car was not easy, but I wanted to get an image of home life in Borneo, from blocks of flats, each with their own blue water butt...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">...to the more spacious traditional homes - usually over shops and businesses.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">and the stunning architecture of the City Mosque, second main mosque in KK, bordered on one side by roads and the other side by water, absolutely stunning.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And finally, the anachronism I saw on my arrival in the city, which bothered me the whole two weeks...Borneo has seen an influx of fast food, an irony itself in a country of fast cooking. McDonalds, Pizza Hut and KFC are all fighting for trade with more traditional noodle and coffee houses. <br />This KFC is a gleaming glass and chrome building, brightly lit and popular...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">...sat cheek by jowl with a traditional Malay street market, virtually empty and the coffee house with a couple of die-hard customers.</span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B1VDQbDViJ8/WDtDNsGsRiI/AAAAAAAAP04/I5NeE__fhC0nwg0Duosk17x_X5laHFu6QCEw/s1600/IMAG2288_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B1VDQbDViJ8/WDtDNsGsRiI/AAAAAAAAP04/I5NeE__fhC0nwg0Duosk17x_X5laHFu6QCEw/s320/IMAG2288_1.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And so were sown the first seeds of my decision to return to see everything I missed this time round.</span>craziequeenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15098227916486173799noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17218397.post-80660113166607838252016-11-26T15:02:00.000+00:002016-11-26T15:05:33.169+00:00Drawing to a Close<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Where was I...?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sorry, dear reader - I have been distracted by work recently. Lots of stuff happening in November, so my holiday memories took a back seat.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Britain does not have the monopoly on rain, but at least in Malaysia it rains quick and hard then dries just the same way. In the last week of October with Hurricane Haima off coast we had a couple of gorgeous tropical downpours. I found it very restful to watch the rain drops ping off the ornamental pond in an almost musical rhythm....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The staff are most pragmatic and well practised about it - clearing outdoor tables is a work of minutes and the sunbed mattresses are tucked under to avoid the worst of the rain.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">One bonus of the rain was seeing this little man - or girl....a water monitor decided to come to bask by the ornamental pond. My server Izza asked what I was looking at and I pointed saying 'that large lizard', she chuckled and replied 'huh, him SMALL lizard!' :-)</span><br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GqNhQrOmRKE/WDmbYpcFU9I/AAAAAAAAPx0/0vRqWQ97EQIeaDt9snBdjC-DL0pqZiIowCLcB/s1600/DSC01645.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="234" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GqNhQrOmRKE/WDmbYpcFU9I/AAAAAAAAPx0/0vRqWQ97EQIeaDt9snBdjC-DL0pqZiIowCLcB/s320/DSC01645.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Doing some research, I bow to Izza's knowledge - this was indeed a small, young water monitor - they grow quite big!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And saving for my last night, the excursion everyone recommended - the fireflies.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We were picked up by Nasim again and whisked to the same dock, ten minutes from the hotel. As the sun set we cast off and headed north on the Mengkabong River in the hunt for these elusive insects. With Mount Kinabalu watching over us we zipped up the river waving to fishermen and other tour boats.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Now I have never seen fireflies and had no idea what I was going to see, so this was a final adventure for me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">As we entered the mangroves for the second time it got dark really quickly and, with the rain holding off and the moon obscured, conditions were perfect for fireflies. The mother next to me had explained to me that we were there to see fairies, according to her three year old daughter Bea, so we were ready to see fairies.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The boat came to an idle and we looked about in the dark expectantly. Nasim told us no camera flashes and no torches as they would frighten off the sensitive insects. The local boys have learned the best way to encourage the flies to light up and respond to them, so we waited hopefully.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">There are no words expressive enough to describe the first sight of a whole bush lit up with fireflies. Like a hundred tiny LED lights they sparked up and then danced about in the bushes. Bea was, in her innocence, absolutely right, they weren't flies they were definitely fairies, skipping about in the dark and having little parties.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">As we turned corner after corner Nasim kept us on tenterhooks before flashing his torch under his shirt to encourage the little flies to light up. About half way through he showed us how he could attract the flies to the boat, so much so he could catch them.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">One of my enduring memories is sitting in a boat in the dark peering into my cupped hands and seeing a tiny firefly lighting up my fingers. There were six adults and two kiddies on the boat and the choruses of ooohhhs and aahhhhs came in waves as we were immersed in the nighttime mangroves.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">While the understandable ban on flashes meant no decent photographs, I was so blown away by the incredible beauty and dreamscape effect created by the fairies, I wouldn't have been able to drag my eyes away to take pictures anyway. At one point there were so many fireflies lit up we didn't know where to look first and I felt the first tears pricking my eyes that the next day I would be travelling home from this magical place.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Pictures courtesy of the interweb to give you an idea of the experience I will never forget;</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I arrived home at the hotel at 8pm ready for some dinner and with time left to pack ready for the morning departure.</span>craziequeenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15098227916486173799noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17218397.post-58644347694608902862016-11-02T20:54:00.000+00:002016-11-02T21:27:05.882+00:00Nocturnal Animal Watch...and Watch....and Watch<div class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Being unable to do the jungle walks, the nocturnal animal watch was my last chance to see some of the local fauna in the hotel's neighbouring rainforest.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Starting out with one of the local hens who settled to roost every evening in the Nature Centre toilets...I loved this girl's quirk</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And I loved the 'waiting area', a stone built hut open to the neighbouring jungle...no windows. While one waited, one couldn't help thinking (and hoping?) about what was the other side of the three foot wall....</span><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LYeHHFaC_9k/WBpQeBmPP7I/AAAAAAAAPeI/s4SbCPskiYU4PrE_A5sRF6anWvR_gOJmgCEw/s1600/IMAG2245.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LYeHHFaC_9k/WBpQeBmPP7I/AAAAAAAAPeI/s4SbCPskiYU4PrE_A5sRF6anWvR_gOJmgCEw/s320/IMAG2245.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">My first nocturnal animal watch was a bust; after 40 minutes we had only seen a rather ponderous tortoise, so Le Roy called it a night and took me back - but disappointment turned to thrill when a viper was pointed out only a metre from me, snoozing in the fork of a tree.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Outside the Nature Reserve my torch flicked over something unusual and on closer inspection I found a moving shell, home to a hermit crab. I've never seen one in real life, so that warranted a photo...and to that I added the biggest snail I have ever seen, the shell must have been two inches across... reminding me how far from home I was...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />Two days later I put on my one long sleeved shirt yet again (note to self, pack more long sleeved shirts next time!), liberally sprayed myself with my super dooper insect repellent and trundled off down the hotel path lit by my little emergency torch...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I was not alone this time (with a group of four Brits), and with the proper Ranger, Sabinus, back on duty we began a two hour vigil to see, hopefully, bearcats, civets, deer, snakes, etc.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This was my view for the two hours. sitting in a hide with an area of the rainforest subtly lit so we could see any visitors.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And did we...? Nah...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Despite Sabinus baiting the area with two cans of sardines (interesting experience, spending two hours inhaling sardine fumes) and, later, some delicious bananas we saw nothing more than a rat chancing his arm for some free banana. Finally, as we were getting tired and disappointed, we saw movement. As I craned into the dark I saw a porcupine (my first wild one!) which snuffled across the area. It was not interested in the free food, but happily wandered across our view and off into the dark. Unfortunately, no flash meant no decent photo of the beastie, but I held my breath as it pottered through the leaf litter sniffing all the interesting aromas left from the day. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">But he/she looked a lot like this picture of a Malayan Porcupine from the innerwebz;</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">So, the nocturnal watch was a complete bust, and this was my main opportunity to see the wildlife as the walks were prohibitive with mobility issues.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">When I was later asked for feedback I let them know my disappointment on the jungle walks to the hotel and this was the lovely response I received from the Director of the Nature Reserve;</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Your comment was shared with our Nature Reserve team as soon as it was received. Please do accept our apology for any inconvenience caused to you due to the lay out of the tracks within the Nature Reserve. For your information, we are in the midst of creating a trail system that can be utilized by all nature lovers without involving any slopes or more challenging terrain during the tour. We will also be introducing the use of night-vision goggles to make jungle trekking in the evening, and nocturnal watch even more interesting.<br />We sincerely hope to be given another opportunity to welcome you to our resort soon. Should there be anything that I can do to assist you in any way, please do not hesitate to contact me directly."</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And so I began my plans to return...the place kinda gets under your skin.</span>craziequeenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15098227916486173799noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17218397.post-72280090712196015342016-10-30T12:40:00.004+00:002016-10-30T12:50:50.560+00:00On the River<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Animals out of the way, for now, it was time to explore the local area. What better way than by boat - up the Megkabong River into the Mangrove forests and on into the local fishing community. This was a great opportunity to see how the local population live and earn their living.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Puttering up the river, after checking out a soaring sea eagle (too far away to photograph), we got an amazing view of Mount Kinabalu with a glorious coronet of clouds. I could see why the locals are proud of their mountain, a 4,000m World Heritage site which attracts climbers and hikers from around the world.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Then we had an up close and personal trip through the mangroves, seeing the unique flora that grows in the tidal brackish waters. Malaysia is the third biggest mangrove holding country in the world, with Sabah holding half of that record - and we only saw a tiny, tiny part of it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I was holding out for a mangrove crocodile (and Nasim did his best to spot one for me) - but had to settle for white cranes and macaques...neither of which stayed still long enough for photos.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">After this fun trip through the maze of mangroves to the soundtrack of cicadas and diesel engines, we stopped at a village of Malay stilt houses to visit with the locals. As we debarked we noticed local women gutting the morning catch ready for home and market, these people redefined 'upcycling' - everything they use is in a second or third existence. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I thought I saw lots of waste plastic in the water, and after thinking 'what a shame', I realised they made brilliant free buoys for the fishing spots. Tied together, milk bottles jostling with coke bottles and random plastic containers were unique markers for each fisherman.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The government built new stilt housing for the fisherfolk, but only 75% of the populations took up the option, so there is an anachronistic display of old and new houses.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Pandan coconut and sweet coffee awaited us, with a local cake called penjaram - a sweet cakey pancake made of rice flour, flour and sugar. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The stilt house was obviously the centre of the community, being larger than most with thrones set out for elders and a bonang ready to play. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">A display of local weaving was laid out for us to see and, of course, their prized possesssions - from the shells of enormous mangrove horseshoe crabs, elderly bonang to the remnants of an ornate old school telephone and a battered typewriter.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sitting on the floor seeing the water through the gaps was a weird sensation and after our coffee break we peered out of the window flap to see catfish frolicking under the house enjoying the penjaram scraps thrown by Nasim. While looking out the window, Nasim pointed out a neighbouring stilt house where he was born and grew up. A quick hello to hissing feral kittens and it was time to say goodbye to the local woman hosting us.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">On our way back we pootled past an island that is the burial ground of the Sama-Bajau people; a race found across South East Asia. While they were historically involved in two uprisings against the North Borneo Chartered Company they are now peaceful people trying to follow their fishing traditions in a quickly changing modern world. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Tied to branches of trees jutting out of the rock were cloths of yellow, red and white. These were gifts to the spirits whenever a wish was granted. Nasim pointed this out very proudly, as he is descended from the very people buried on this island.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Then a gentle trundle back to the mooring and we were whisked back to the hotel, hot, speechless and overawed.</span><br />
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<br />craziequeenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15098227916486173799noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17218397.post-3463398561994454872016-10-26T07:31:00.000+01:002016-10-26T17:53:15.717+01:00Once in a Lifetime - Part 2<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So, once the orangutans were checked out, it was time for a first for me - Sun Bears. As the day got progressively hotter, we crossed to the other side of the sanctuary to check out the Sun Bear enclosure.<br />Also known as the honey bear for its love of honey, the Sun Bear is the smallest, least well-known and one of the rarest of all the bear species.The Sun Bear can be clearly distinguished from other bears by a white or yellowish patch on the chest - every patch pattern is unique and is their identifying mark. Sun Bears are excellent climbers and spend considerable time in trees. They feed on sweet fruits, small rodents, birds, termites, and other insects. Like other bears in Asia, Sun Bears are hunted for their gall bladders and other body parts for medicinal uses that have been proven by science to have no medical value at all - they are classed as Vulnerable.<br /><br />Enough education - we want photos!! <br /><br />They are so cute...</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Showing off his Sun Patch</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Happy little bear rolling in leaves - move along now..</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">OK, one more LOL - check out the claws designed for climbing trees and their long tongue is perfect for poking into holes to get juicy honey/wee beasties etc</span><br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vVglYp3qSgA/WBBLuTbDQtI/AAAAAAAAPS8/NxOL4jDRRl8bjqUGs4OtnNfh35n4e6iMgCLcB/s1600/DSC01476.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vVglYp3qSgA/WBBLuTbDQtI/AAAAAAAAPS8/NxOL4jDRRl8bjqUGs4OtnNfh35n4e6iMgCLcB/s320/DSC01476.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Digging out scrummy titbits......</span><br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FA5eYWkmHWo/WBBLzawxiWI/AAAAAAAAPTA/ZwdtqMkSU1crPM2zASDUS4FC49W9o328QCLcB/s1600/DSC01495.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FA5eYWkmHWo/WBBLzawxiWI/AAAAAAAAPTA/ZwdtqMkSU1crPM2zASDUS4FC49W9o328QCLcB/s320/DSC01495.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />More soon....</span>craziequeenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15098227916486173799noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17218397.post-80205193747213995452016-10-21T03:59:00.000+01:002016-10-21T03:59:51.928+01:00Once in a Lifetime - Part 1<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Those who know me well will be aware I am very supportive of animal charities, both home and abroad - and this is what partly led me 7,000km away from home to have my holiday.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre in Sandakan is, in essence, a sanctuary for orphan Bornean orangutans preparing them for life back in the jungle. As the jungle is being decimated daily, first for logging then for palm oil, whether or not they will have a home is still under debate around the world.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But I digress, this is all about the animals, not the politics (Monkey World Director Dr Alison Cronin has taught me well).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I hasten to add, Sepilok is not the ONLY rehabilitation centre in Borneo, there are others such as those supported by International Animal Rescue and Centre for Orangutan Protection in the southern states. Those are not open to the public and they do a lot of wonderful unsung work there - my adopted orangutan rescue Gito is with International Animal Rescue in Ketapang. I will never meet or see Gito in the flesh (or fur) but I know he is well and thriving and has a safe home with IAR.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So, back to Sepilok; after a 3.30am alarm call and a hairy drive through the remnants of a tropical storm, I boarded the flight for Sandakan. After a timely flight and prompt pickup by my SDN driver I was whisked off to Sepilok, abuzz with nervous tension and anticipation.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The way trips are organised here is madness, so many tour operators using the same resources, so drivers are picking up and dropping off tourists all over the place. I was collected with a couple from another flight, but when we got to Sepilok we had to wait for the rest of our party who were being delivered by another driver....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Oh, you want to see Orangutans - not read my boring journal?...ok :-)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">First the babies in the nursery - very young orphan orangutans, learning to fly and dangle, what is good to eat and what is not...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And then the juvenile feeding, as they grow orangutans become darker and their faces change shape, depending on their gender.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And finally, after all the excitement of the centre, while we were having lunch - we spotted a WILD orangutan with her juvenile in the canopy, hoorah!! We played spot the ginger for a while, she was very good at staying hidden...</span><br />
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<br />craziequeenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15098227916486173799noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17218397.post-78113713555191721562016-10-19T15:14:00.000+01:002016-10-19T15:15:20.131+01:00Time Flies<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The days on this trip are melting away, but I have made some observations over the week...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This trip has been a mixture of success and failure. I failed to complete the Jungle Walk because it was too steep at the beginning. I felt pathetic and worthless following that little problem but, as we say in re-enactment, suck it up princess. I struggled for a bit, but with support from home (god bless the internet and Facebook!) I picked up again.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I have some photos,which have no specific category but things that have caught my attention over the last few days...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This gentleman is the resident musician and he also does a mean doorbell impression - whenever there is a new arrival (or he is bored) he cranks out a tune on the bonang...I remember a kids TV show that had, when the doorbell rang, this annoying refrain of 'There's somebody at the door, there's somebody at the door...etc' - and I now find myself singing this every time I hear the bonang chime...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">An impulse buy before setting off was my first pair of jelly shoes for swimming and sea paddling. They are very practical and meet the requirement, especially as the hot sun heats the ground and sand to a blistering temperature - and are a pretty purple...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The man who pays the piper calls the tune...and these two members of staff must have drawn the short straw...it's 33C in the shade and they are dressed as bunnies to give away ice creams around the pool. I was thrilled, initially, to receive a purple lolly - only to discover I do not like yam flavoured ice cream...!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">When one's gardeners have to tend the palm trees, they need a bigger scythe - say hello to their leetle friend! I watched, fascinated, as these gardeners carefully manoeuvred this extremely long palm scythe around the pool and into the garden...</span><br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WEiGRjnXq_8/WAd3fxzpZVI/AAAAAAAAPFQ/2wfObuduKwE4Qziat7tdqm0yt_v1VQpXwCLcB/s1600/IMAG2201%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WEiGRjnXq_8/WAd3fxzpZVI/AAAAAAAAPFQ/2wfObuduKwE4Qziat7tdqm0yt_v1VQpXwCLcB/s320/IMAG2201%255B1%255D.jpg" width="237" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We are not the only country with this new Monopoly money made of plastic - Borneo also has new notes, complete with see through bit. While the new notes are shiny and clever, as at home I have a deep seated preference for the old notes....but then I still miss the green pound note ;-)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Even the moths are big here; this is, I think, a sphinx moth I found while talking to the excursions clerk. She trilled 'take a picture, take a picture!' - so I did...fricken huge thing about two inches long...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Postscript to this bit, when coming 'home' last night my neck itched and when I scratched at it something huge and papery flew into my hand and then veered off, crashed into the ceiling of my room and ended up on the ledge out of reach...it fluttered and rustled periodically and very spookily last night until I fell asleep. I think it perished as it has been silent since...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So that brings us to day seven and the main reason I came to Borneo...more tomorrow.</span>craziequeenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15098227916486173799noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17218397.post-55992044020982782422016-10-14T05:40:00.000+01:002016-10-14T05:50:55.158+01:00Day Three - gone but not forgotten<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">What happened to day three I hear you ask....well, so do I! Being in paradise does not mean I left my Black Dog at home and he came along for the trip. Yesterday he tried whispering in my ear again and I listened - for a while.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Anyway, what have I been up to? On Wednesday (day two) I took the chance of the 'Cultural Evening' in the Tepi Laut restaurant. There I was, sitting on my lonesome with a plate of noodles and veg, miles away from the stage and a figure appeared at my side 'Would you like to join us? We've been given this huge table right by the stage...'but I jump ahead...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Back to Karen :-) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I met Karen on my first day when wandering on the beach - she and daughter Addie were playing in the sand and we got chatting - how glad I was to meet Karen, as I found out over the coming days.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Day two I pretty much lived in the pool - I love it, so easy for me to get in with arthritis and WARM - and reclined in the shade. And who should say hello in the pool, but Karen - this time with son Jacob. We caught up and she kindly suggested adventures for me. Not wanting to appear the clingy Brit, I chatted then swam off with nice words in my head.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">For lunch I decided to ditch the Brit and enjoyed veggie vermicelli and spring rolls (using chopsticks of course) - so delicious and filling without being filling, if you know what I mean (nods to girlfriends).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">More lazing by the pool people-watching...Mostly oriental, Japanese, Chinese and Korean, and Antipodean (Aussie and Kiwi)...I have come to the conclusion I am the ONLY Brit here.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Day over, cue 'Cultural Evening' and feeling lonely at my little table for one with Black Dog already whispering,,,,and then a cheerful voice 'Would you like to join us? We've been given this huge table right by the stage...'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">So I spent the evening with Karen, husband Nick and kiddies Addie and Jakey. The culture was fun - singing, dancing, blowpipes, and fire-eating, and so much more entertaining for being with someone to talk to and kids playing. I know I usually manage fine on my own, but I think Karen was sent to ease me into Borneo more gently than I was trying.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Day Two dawned and I was in a bad place. I had been awake until past 3am worrying and slept right through breakfast waking nauseous and sore, smothered in sandfly bites and burnt. I was so careful too - but the Malay sun got to me. Not really sure what to do, after a brief swim I retired to my room, and slept, drank water and slept some more. Black Dog was in his element, whispering how I deserved this, how stupid I could be to think I could do this, I was covered in bruises, even my face, I was all alone 7,000km from home and it was all my fault, I should act my age and not expect so much from life. I slept and cried, and slept some more</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">So,,,,day four has dawned....I was up for breakfast, and as I was choosing my danish a familiar cheery voice said 'How are you doing today?' Karen was back and I explained about the bad day, bites, burns etc. She directed me to the pharmacy, and the shop and was incredibly strong for me. And Jakey told me all about the animals he had seen on the nocturnal walk, stirring those desires in me again - the main reason I was here, animals. Spurred on by a decent breakfast I got antihistamines for my bites, calamine lotion for my burns, and new sun cream. I sat in reception for a long while reading and looking out over the China Sea reminding myself how lucky I was...as Black Dog slowly faded into the background again. I sorted my money, worked out local currency enough to give the right money in the shop and finally I stopped at the trips desk and booked my Jungle Walk and Nocturnal Walk (thanks Jacob x).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">So now I sit here on room-rest - ordered by the pharmacist - and feeling much more positive about this adventure. The antihistamine is kicking in quickly, my a/c is on and my calamine lotion is already working...I sure don't look pretty but it is working!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And I have jungle time and animals to look forward to - tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow...</span>craziequeenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15098227916486173799noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17218397.post-68512866998086297982016-10-12T11:26:00.001+01:002016-10-12T11:26:56.235+01:00Day One...So...after a hellish flight and a decent night's sleep, yesterday was spent mostly mooching on the beach barefoot, picking up shells and feeling very 'Tenko' and then an afternoon nap.<br />
Learning by experience, even in that short walk I burned...and shoes are definitely required on the paths!! Hot hot hot!<br />
But oh so lovely, beautiful vistas across the beach and South China Sea.<br />
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Came back hot but contented, stopped off at the aid station for chilled drinking water - yep it is free from huge iced dispensers!<br />
No lugging heavy bottles about... #5starbaby<br />
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I ended my first day with a meal in the hotel Italian restaurant, their minestrone was perfect and served traditionally, but the gnocchi was instantly forgettable...<br />
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I walked out of restaurant to find burning fountains and beautifully lit pools looking exotic and serene....<br />
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Couple more days unwinding in the hotel and I'll be ready for some trips....<br />
<br />craziequeenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15098227916486173799noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17218397.post-39425449559915990202016-10-11T06:18:00.000+01:002016-10-11T06:18:19.118+01:00Reincarnation for Utopia<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">So, another try at resurrecting my blog. Mainly because there is too much to say for Facebook...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">About 18 months ago I was inspired to consider holidaying in Malaysia as I had come into some extra funds and Borneo was the #1 choice destination because of the orangutans (I support several animal charities out there).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Long story short, I saved up the extra and spent six months planning my trip. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The trip of a lifetime didn't have an auspicious start...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The plan was - fly to Singapore and then shuttle across to Kota Kinabalu...simples.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">So I woke at 5am to travel to Heathrow...I always hate that there is a 5am...anyway, I digress. Me, one very heavy suitcase and one light backpack pitched up on time for the 13 hour flight and waited....and waited....and waited...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Finally, two hours late, my flight began to taxi and my holiday of a lifetime had technically started. However, as the connecting time was only 75 minutes at Singapore, I knew from the get go I was not going to make the local flight.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">13 hours in an aeroplane flying economy, is a trial all of itself.With an elderly lady in front who insisted in having her seat reclined the whole time and a teenage girl behind me who was obviously a football fan, from the amount of kicking she did, it was not a restful flight. The policy on long haul flights is to feed you and then encourage you to sleep, that way you are less likely to cause trouble. Once dinner was finished and cleared away the lights were dimmed and we settled down. I think I finally managed about four hours sleep, interspersed with various movies from their wide collection.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Now, I know my maths is basic, but I was right - 120 minutes does not equate to 75 minutes and we were way late for the Kota Kinabalu flight - only problem, there is only one flight a day from Singapore. I threw myself on the mercy of the lovely girls on the Transfer Desk and imagine my surprise when they said they were flying me out via Brunei. I've never been to Brunei - actually unless you count the airport, I still haven't been to Brunei!! At this point I was wondering what would happen with my hotel transfer - I mean 5* is 5* but would they take into account my 6 hour delay?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">To their credit, Royal Brunei were brilliant, shuttled me around Malaysia on time and with the most amazing politeness, although I was now wondering about my suitcase's final destination.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Finally, after 28 hours travelling, I was finally in Kota Kinabalu. I was exhausted but somewhat victorious. I had travelled 7,000 miles alone and, despite various hurdles, I had done it without incident. Even more amazing, as I walked off the little creaky A320 plane I noticed my lilac suitcase had also made it 7,000 miles with some detours and arrived at exactly the same time as I did....</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">So, somewhat inspired despite the fatigue, I made a short pitstop at the airport washroom. After carefully reading the notices ( I always read signs - it's the H&S officer in me) I tripped on the step they warned me about in the notices and fell face first onto the slate floor.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It was with a loose tooth and a bloodied and bruised face that I staggered out of Kota Kinabalu International Airport to find a local waiting for me with my name scribbled on a sheet of paper. I have never been so happy to see a little Malaysian man...I was so relieved I nearly cried. From then on I was not permitted to lift a finger. He manfully toted my case into the little old van and pootled me out through rush hour to the hotel.<br />At the Rasa Ria Hotel and Spa you are welcomed by the greeting gong, and when the gong sounds the local instruments are played, you are guided to a seat and a welcoming fruit drink is pressed into your hand (none of the old hoi polloi queuing at the reception desk) - so all in all, a unique arrival after an unusual trip.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">**Oh, did I not mention the reason for the delay in the first place? One of the ground crew in Heathrow collided with our plane...yes, he didn't see the enormous double decker A380 and drove his vehicle into the plane...</span><br />
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craziequeenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15098227916486173799noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17218397.post-54867621200554681042012-05-22T21:35:00.004+01:002012-05-22T21:35:50.821+01:00Morimondo, Italy 2012<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Company of Chivalry have just returned from a trip to take part in an event at an abbey in Morimondo, the recreation of the battle of Casorate 1356. </span><br />
<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This event is huge, including several European nations, and hundreds of re-enactors, recreating the 14C campaign camp and life.</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mmVbtg0tCMw/T7v1m9p9OyI/AAAAAAAACZU/XLYj60fp9GU/s1600/SAM_0872.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mmVbtg0tCMw/T7v1m9p9OyI/AAAAAAAACZU/XLYj60fp9GU/s320/SAM_0872.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />I don't do Italy every year, but this year I decided to go along. We travelled on Thursday, rest day Friday and then a 48 hour authentic event from 8pm Friday to 8pm Sunday.</span><br />
<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This was the weirdest event I have ever attended....</span><br />
<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We were putting up tents in sweltering heat and atrocious flies, which boded well for a hot weekend - which failed to materialise...</span><br />
<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After a restful day on Friday eating Italian ice cream, watching the other groups arrive and lazing in the sun, I decided to raid my vodka store in the evening and managed to get stonking drunk. I don't do that very often and, combined with sunstroke, it resulted in me throwing up all night Friday and being very ill all day Saturday. It was 24 hours before I could keep anything down and I slept, on and off, for almost 30 hours...<br />Being ill meant I missed the last decent day, weather-wise, and the Saturday night battle.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sunday the rain came...and more...and more...Our little tents were battered by the inclement weather.</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o9mcfrGwI0E/T7vwuTPyG-I/AAAAAAAACY4/JxyIm_0Stt8/s1600/456124_10150854381218440_778228439_9732762_176456464_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o9mcfrGwI0E/T7vwuTPyG-I/AAAAAAAACY4/JxyIm_0Stt8/s320/456124_10150854381218440_778228439_9732762_176456464_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With the rain almost non-stop and the Sunday battle cancelled, groups started to pack up and leave - we had to stay due to contractual obligations and flight bookings.
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CER3Udkrg9Q/T7vz7THpuxI/AAAAAAAACZE/CNlNk0j5x84/s1600/525962_10150832585232401_589267400_10106608_1662746392_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CER3Udkrg9Q/T7vz7THpuxI/AAAAAAAACZE/CNlNk0j5x84/s320/525962_10150832585232401_589267400_10106608_1662746392_n.jpg" width="213" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is me making my way through the camp in the miserable rain in kit.</span><br />
<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There were bright moments, such as being annexed by the Danes and having our lovely cook Liz kidnapped! I am now a proud citizen of Dane-Gland!<br />We spent some time teaching our Swedish friend Patric the intricacies of Bristolian speech.</span><br />
<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">By Sunday night after the exodus, there was the Company of Chivalry and a handful of other tents.</span><br />
<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We had also heard that there had been an earthquake in Italy in the early hours of Sunday, which was felt in the camp and made the Abbey shake. My first earthquake!<br />Sunday night was hell - the rain continued, the wind rose to a screaming gale and threatened all the tents. I was up twice in the night repegging our tent and helping with the other tents. The wind was just pulling the tents out of the ground.</span> <span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Even one of the portaloos shifted in the storm.</span><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />So on Monday it was a weary and very wet Company striking a soaking camp and loading the lorry for it's return to the UK.<br />Our sodden Company then made it's exhausted way to Malpensa airport to await our late flight home. </span><br />
<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's amazing what you do when boredom gets the better of you. The girls decided to work on the Dane-Gland flag and we</span></span><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">had our photos taken with the Danish flag.</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nB3nP8aEs-g/T7v0Qlpd8JI/AAAAAAAACZM/yHiPeTIabzQ/s1600/398235_10150797693213837_684918836_9627164_15560864_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="316" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nB3nP8aEs-g/T7v0Qlpd8JI/AAAAAAAACZM/yHiPeTIabzQ/s320/398235_10150797693213837_684918836_9627164_15560864_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Finally, at 10pm we staggered aboard our plane, still damp and exhausted to fly home to England.</span></span><div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Shall I do it again? Probably not, but never say never....
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">cq</span></span></div>craziequeenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15098227916486173799noreply@blogger.com47tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17218397.post-70779320299251354322012-03-21T20:57:00.000+00:002012-03-21T21:02:59.009+00:00A Kick Up The Ego<span style="background-color: #d5a6bd; color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The ego is a fragile beast. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: #d5a6bd; color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mine has had a small kick up the butt lately.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #d5a6bd; color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's all very complicated but basically, as our jobs are under threat, my boss and I applied for Voluntary Early Redundancy to increase our options over the next couple of years and give us a fallback plan.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #d5a6bd; color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was bullish and resilient during the application phase, but that all changed yesterday when the Personnel people wrote to us to say our applications were successful.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #d5a6bd; color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I didn't sleep much last night as the success of my application appeared to give me the sensation of 'not being wanted' after 26 years in the department, being rejected after giving them the best years of my life.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #d5a6bd; color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To add to the frustration I noticed they had scored me very highly for 'Timing' and it would appear that Personnel changed my preferred date from 2014 to 2012 to fit in with their plans for higher natural wastage this year.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #d5a6bd; color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And then we realised that with our dates being pulled forward we would have to decide much quicker than we were anticipating - instead of having two years to decide, we had one month.<br />Needless to say we agreed to decline the offer of redundancy with the limited compensation offered. As ever, my boss and I were as one in that decision - we were not going to be bullied into taking 'VERY' early redundancy.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #d5a6bd; color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Complex plans - unexpected outcomes....thanks to our lovely government.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #d5a6bd; color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">cq</span>craziequeenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15098227916486173799noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17218397.post-17261868816185077252012-03-18T10:26:00.003+00:002012-03-18T10:26:53.163+00:00Ch-ch-ch-changes...<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As the Crazie One is struggling with the new Blogger changes, she won't be posting for a while until the program sorts itself out.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">cq</span>craziequeenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15098227916486173799noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17218397.post-21793012804097340502012-03-02T19:53:00.009+00:002012-03-02T21:06:15.815+00:00March Madness<span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000066;">Those friends who know me, know I hate March.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000066;">While I yearn to embrace the first flush of Spring and wave farewell to the long nights and endless grey, my fragile mental state peaks at this time of year due to the dreaded Mother's Day.</span><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000066;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 555px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 457px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.designsdelight.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/spring-flowers.jpg" />Every year this is lauded as a celebration of motherhood and great emphasis is placed upon it, with shops overloaded with flowers, gifts and gushy cards.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 463px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 279px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.ukbankholidaydates.co.uk/images/mothers_day_uk.jpg" /> For those of us who cannot have children, this is merely a reminder of our failing to be able to carry out the most basic biological activity - to procreate. A reminder that others know the love and dependency of a child on the parent, and we will never truly know what that feels like. We can simulate this love with friends' children, but that innate love is never felt.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000066;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 241px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 209px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://powerboxfest.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Chinese-pregnancy-calendar1.jpeg" /> For years I looked after other people's children and I have now moved on to looking after babies before they are born, as I have become a bit of a Subject Matter Expert in pregnancy in the workplace. Women seek me out for help and advice during their pregnancy and Line Managers call on me for advice on the requirements for their pregnant staff. I enjoy helping these women and they are always grateful. I have pictures of babies I have helped protect and get thanks from new mothers and their management.</span><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000066;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 503px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 334px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_pw_b4_JUNvY/S9Hc1mGj6aI/AAAAAAAACFs/7StMAnMWF24/s1600/pregnant_at_work.JPG" /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000066;">But it still doesn't heal the hole in my heart, the cold shadow in my life.</span><br /><br /><p><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#000066;">Just to drive home how useless my body is, we recently had information on the first British female to male transgender to successfully bear a </span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9077506/Sex-change-British-man-gives-birth-to-son.html"><strong><span style="color:#3333ff;">child</span></strong></span></a><strong><span style="color:#3333ff;">.</span></strong><br /></p><br /><p><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000066;">So we irrationally now think MEN can have babies, but some women can't even do this simple thing..</span></p><br /><p><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000066;">Roll on April...</span></p><br /><p><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#000066;">cq</span></p>craziequeenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15098227916486173799noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17218397.post-59637410110926946942012-02-09T20:26:00.004+00:002012-02-09T20:35:50.188+00:00Where's my Toy?<span style="font-family:verdana;color:#006600;">I'm tracking PostKat, the meerkat who is responsible for delivering my toy meerkat, got free with my car insurance.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#006600;">I think he might actually work for Royal Mail, given his itinerary....Meerkovo, St Petersburg, Athens, Paris and Prague....but at least he is taking the scenic route :-)</span><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#006600;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 328px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5707236447855429938" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fh_Bd89diMg/TzQtT6OVyTI/AAAAAAAACV4/1P6gUOzwKBU/s400/PostKat.JPG" /></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#006600;">This price comparison website have really pushed the boat out to make the effect real :-)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#006600;">cq</span>craziequeenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15098227916486173799noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17218397.post-89937929524443150642012-02-04T12:33:00.003+00:002012-02-04T12:50:06.270+00:00Waiting for PostKat<div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#990000;">OK, so I ordered my new car insurance....now I just wait for PostKat with my free toy! :-)</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#990000;"></div></span><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 251px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705261570727586338" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-68XL7BfJSC8/Ty0pK7nnqiI/AAAAAAAACVs/WHNrgaHLyLA/s400/Meerkovo.JPG" /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#990000;">I'm a sucker for a well-spoken Meerkat selling car insurance :-)</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#990000;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#990000;">cq</span>craziequeenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15098227916486173799noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17218397.post-14454058336459919312012-01-26T19:37:00.002+00:002012-01-26T19:51:17.763+00:00Numbnuts the Magnificent<span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000099;">This is my friend's cat, Nummy, isn't he beautiful? Full Maine Coon, absolutely exquisite cat - if a little slow...he is adorably stupid...</span><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702027781472558914" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QbEuJ06elxU/TyGsDn4Un0I/AAAAAAAACVU/RTNE4bGG8CY/s400/IMG119.jpg" /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000099;">But, common in Maine Coons, Nummy has been diagnosed with feline hip dysplasia. It can happen a lot in Maine Coons and the bigger the animal the more serious the problem. As you can see Nummy is a VERY big cat and his condition is serious (this picture was taken before the symptoms settled in).</span><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702027781199692754" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EnznjiWDxIk/TyGsDm3RA9I/AAAAAAAACVc/hyvBFeAaF9E/s400/Nummy.jpg" /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000099;">He is due to have his femurs cropped (the failing balls of the joint cut off) in due course, and I did some research.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#006600;">"Restricting exercise, such as limiting access to outdoors or the ability to climb up on objects, can be helpful as well. For severely affected cats, a surgery called a femoral head and neck excision arthroplasty is widely available that removes the damaged tissue. Cats that have had this surgery can usually expect a full return of hip function and freedom from pain and discomfort once post-operative healing has occurred."</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000099;">That sounds so positive, it would be wonderful if this big chap got another chance - he's only 18 months old and that is just too young to creak about like me! </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000099;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000099;">cq</span>craziequeenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15098227916486173799noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17218397.post-49553258682973577022012-01-13T21:13:00.005+00:002012-01-13T21:24:21.463+00:00New Toys<div><br /><div><br /><div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#330033;">Yesterday my boredom at work was relieved by the delivery of a new toy. </span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#330033;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#330033;">When you teach First Aid you get great toys - and to go with my fake wounds, Resus Annie and defibrillator training unit I now have a 'Choking Charlie' :-)</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#330033;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 330px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5697229658553108594" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rjOssLRyAUM/TxCgMHHgyHI/AAAAAAAACU8/NmIuNmLGFaY/s400/Choking%2BCharlie.jpg" /></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#330033;">Abdominal thrusts (which used to be called the Heimlich Maneuvre) are too dangerous to be practised on live humans. Previously it was taught with pictures and slow time demonstrations.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#330033;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#330033;">Now we have a new dummy to practice on - Choking Charlie! I am teaching First Aid Skills on Monday, and will let my class loose on poor old Charlie....</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#330033;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#330033;">Go on, admit it - I have the coolest toys!</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#330033;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#330033;">cq</span></div></div></div>craziequeenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15098227916486173799noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17218397.post-25848461593376667562012-01-01T19:45:00.005+00:002012-01-01T20:06:24.065+00:00Dust<span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000066;">Wow, this place is dusty [blows dust off blog]</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000066;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692754416204847906" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iZoNaEp1T2Q/TwC5-uNtGyI/AAAAAAAACT0/W-Soqkoo9f0/s320/Dusty%2BRoom.jpg" />It looks like no one has been here for months....time to break out the cleaning products!</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000066;">OK, truth be told after a difficult 2010, 2011 turned out to be another bad year for me with work stresses taking their toll exacerbating my depression, medical problems requiring many tests and then, just as I was regaining my equilibrium from the loss of my dad in 2010, a good and valued friend was killed suddenly on my birthday in 2011, plunging me to new lows of depression.<br />Friends have helped pull me through the darkness and supported me along the way and I am still here.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000066;">But now it is 2012....the year of the Dragon..</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000066;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 226px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692756193373844514" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-efz4AInvqcs/TwC7mKrz9CI/AAAAAAAACUA/GX20OfLmn08/s320/New-Year-2012-Dragon-Pictures.jpg" />Me being a Dragon, this should be a good year for me....but let's just see how things shape up, yeah?</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000066;">For now, I will dust off the blog and try and post regularly on it...</span><br /><br /><p><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000066;">cq</span></p>craziequeenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15098227916486173799noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17218397.post-17259243305880150952011-06-15T21:03:00.010+01:002011-06-15T21:45:39.805+01:00First Father's Day<span style="font-family:verdana;color:#006600;">I thought I had done grieving until the Father's Day stuff started to appear on the shelves. I had discovered, when going through my dad's stuff, that he had kept every Father's Day card I had sent him over the years.</span>
<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#006600;">
<br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#006600;">
<br /><p></span><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#006600;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 318px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618542479045206402" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RPzTwyx8kek/TfkSncruoYI/AAAAAAAACS8/Yh2y5yv9AL8/s320/002.jpg" /></span> <span style="font-family:verdana;color:#006600;">So, what will I be doing on Father's Day?</span>
<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#006600;">Once I get back from our Fun Day event at Bishop Sutton, I will be heading here:</span>
<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#006600;"></span>
<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#006600;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618544379378774466" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-58PZOMVhJTk/TfkUWD-jscI/AAAAAAAACTc/XWvNM9gRlNs/s320/SAM_0770.JPG" /></span> <a href="http://www.olddowncountrypark.co.uk/"><strong><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#3333ff;"></a></span></strong><strong><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#3333ff;"><a href="http://www.olddowncountrypark.co.uk/">www.olddowncountrypark.co.uk/</span></strong></a></a>
<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#006600;">Why? Well, when I heard my dad was seriously ill I desperately needed to be alone, but not alone - if you see what I mean. So, for the first time, I nipped over to our local animal park to spend some time with the animals and walk alone with my thoughts and worries.</span>
<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#006600;">I fell in love with the goats, the cows, the sheep, the alpacas and llamas...and most of all with the horses, especially Woody the Clydesdale.</span>
<br />
<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#006600;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618542483748718754" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hxfMQtul8sQ/TfkSnuNIiKI/AAAAAAAACTE/bcUp_ABq8-M/s320/PB230013.JPG" /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#006600;">I bought a season ticket, thinking it would be a nice place to run away to in the difficult days to follow. When not at work or driving to and from the hospital and then the hospice, I spent many days strolling the parkland with tears in my eyes, enjoying the countryside while worrying about my dad dying.</span></p><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#006600;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 282px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618542500721469858" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0Cv_8olahvQ/TfkSotbwKaI/AAAAAAAACTU/TYrFKffFWBw/s320/SAM_0765%2B%25282%2529.jpg" /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#006600;">The day we got The Call, I had just got in from another couple of hours at the park with my animals.</span>
<br />
<br /><p><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#006600;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618545910502509058" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DfAF9j2gTOI/TfkVvL25ygI/AAAAAAAACTk/LjJ7MRE2l0w/s320/SAM_0233.JPG" /></span> <span style="font-family:verdana;color:#006600;">So, on this Father's Day I will be spending some quality time with 'My Animals' (including the new baby reindeer, here)...It's where he would want me to be...</span><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#006600;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 196px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618542493578971346" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YJZpecWAD_c/TfkSoS02SNI/AAAAAAAACTM/mRk4ce64Qio/s320/SAM_0760.JPG" /></span></p><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#006600;"></span>
<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#006600;">To all my friends who are fathers and grandfathers, hold your children close and tell them you love them...</span>
<br />
<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#006600;">cq</span>
<br />craziequeenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15098227916486173799noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17218397.post-57839809821530595012011-04-28T21:13:00.003+01:002011-04-28T21:37:19.973+01:00Kidwelly in the Sun<span style="font-family:verdana;color:#6600cc;">It was a glorious sunny weekend in Kidwelly Castle, for the first foray into the middle ages.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6600cc;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#6600cc;">Our new tent looked wonderful in the lea of a magnificent medieval tower.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#6600cc;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 270px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600732114917224210" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qqNWN4MYc0c/TbnMLz_DbxI/AAAAAAAACSQ/9e-LCPIQsDs/s320/SAM_0629.JPG" /></span> <span style="font-family:verdana;color:#6600cc;">This is one of my favourite pictures from the Castle - I found four windows in line...it looks almost magical...</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#6600cc;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600732120041112706" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Es7MMYK8Dro/TbnMMHErxII/AAAAAAAACSY/CcRLg9BRF3Q/s320/SAM_0598.JPG" /></span> <span style="font-family:verdana;color:#6600cc;">As the soldiers march off to perform their drill programme, the women sit around the fire, tending the fire and discussing the matters of the day.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#6600cc;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600732122926655458" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u6VbKXMm4CU/TbnMMR0pp-I/AAAAAAAACSg/x_OYuhfbQy0/s320/SAM_0634.JPG" />Amongst other displays, our soldiers put on a show of drill, using the bill weapons - a 6' pole with an evil weapon attached to the end. This movement is called a schiltron, where the soldiers gather to protect the assets, the Lords, Knights, the Standard and (in this instance) the Sergeant at Arms. The schiltron has been known to comprise up to 2,000 soldiers.</span><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--qlHyFPvGeU/TbnMNCJPEQI/AAAAAAAACSw/csaFx8oQjuQ/s1600/SAM_0659.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#6600cc;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600732135897895170" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--qlHyFPvGeU/TbnMNCJPEQI/AAAAAAAACSw/csaFx8oQjuQ/s320/SAM_0659.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#6600cc;"> Oh, speaking of Lords, here are Lords Hungerford Jnr (left) and Snr watching their soldierly detachment go through the drill to ensure they are effective in the battlefield. These Lords rely on the smelly soldiers to protect them and their households.</span><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KowBF35G2pQ/TbnMMm3LqyI/AAAAAAAACSo/VZpBc8r8YCE/s1600/SAM_0639.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#6600cc;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600732128574417698" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KowBF35G2pQ/TbnMMm3LqyI/AAAAAAAACSo/VZpBc8r8YCE/s320/SAM_0639.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#6600cc;">Yeah, I know...I'm a re-enactment bore...but I love it :-)</span><br /></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#6600cc;">cq</span></div>craziequeenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15098227916486173799noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17218397.post-3957423335491648272011-04-23T11:46:00.005+01:002011-04-23T11:59:19.713+01:00Hi Ho Hi Ho...<span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000099;">It's off to the Middle Ages we go.... :-)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000099;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000099;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 180px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598730506904165522" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rGAUcHDO-I8/TbKvu5EqXJI/AAAAAAAACSI/TjRa5vdJ4L8/s320/37912_423431543943_509228943_4697608_4268913_n.jpg" /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000099;">This weekend The Company of Chivalry are disappearing off to Kidwelly Castle. We are all bouncy this morning, swapping talk on Facebook, eager to see each other again and to time travel to the 14C....some have sent their apologies, and I won't see Nick, Marshall, Hannah, John, Georgi (either of them) or my medieval 'husband' Brambles this weekend. But we will all collide at some point in the season :-)</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000099;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000099;">This is the first time we are using the new tent in anger - she so pretty!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000099;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 259px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 336px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598730506035749426" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MUqGcMT-Z8g/TbKvu11nYjI/AAAAAAAACSA/gt0xMMxtx2Q/s320/SAM_0373%2B2.JPG" />and we are really looking forward to having a smaller tent which us ladies can put up without the help of the men.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000099;">The first event of the season is always a step into the unknown for me as I go around the house collecting all my medieval stuff I have stuffed here there and everywhere, and I always end up with LOADS in the car I won't use but pack just in case.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000099;">I have been making rosaries this week and have lots to sell, with loads more beads to make more as they go...trying out some brightly coloured wood beads this season, to supplement the plain wood and to attract the magpie in those members of the public!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000099;">The coin dies are packed and we are ready to explain the 14 century life to keen and eager (and hot!) holidaymakers...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000099;">cq</span>craziequeenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15098227916486173799noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17218397.post-2674032621436826432011-04-02T09:23:00.008+01:002011-04-02T09:43:45.571+01:00Here We Are Again<span style="font-family:verdana;color:#993399;">Every year this day rolls around. </span><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#993399;">Now I know most of you enjoy parenthood and have had many years of childish crayon cards and paper flowers, maturing into expensive bouquets and designer cards but always with love and appreciation, but some of us aren't blessed thus. </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#993399;"></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#993399;"></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#993399;"></span><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#993399;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 234px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590902313868329234" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r8aw5y63epM/TZbgCFgIARI/AAAAAAAACR4/q4tfHpjkzx0/s320/bouquet5.jpg" /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#993399;">A little something for you to consider:</span> <a href="http://craziequeenstorystore.blogspot.com/2005/10/outsiders.html"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><strong>Outsiders</strong></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#993399;"></span> <span style="font-family:verdana;color:#993399;"></span><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#993399;"></span><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#993399;">Happy Mother's Day for tomorrow to all the mothers, mums, mommies, mamas, mummies and moms out there. </span><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#993399;">I have plans for tomorrow. </span><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#993399;"></span><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#993399;">Watch this space... </span><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#993399;">cq </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#993399;">(and I am really aggravated that the 'compose' tool is not acknowledging paragraphs!)</span>craziequeenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15098227916486173799noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17218397.post-26955895131218261002011-03-15T09:38:00.003+00:002011-03-15T09:49:05.897+00:002 + 2 = 46<span style="font-family:verdana;color:#006600;">I have been doing some reading lately. My depression has been very bad, my behaviour much more unpredictable (to the point people are commenting on it), hot flushes, memory failure, sleepless nights, loss of libido, cold sweats, upset stomach...</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#006600;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#006600;">hmm, once I put my various symptoms together it all starts to look worrying familiar...</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#006600;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 250px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584240454642773730" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fuA-RAz_77g/TX81G19ZLuI/AAAAAAAACRw/tsle8sfHtwA/s400/menopause1.jpg" /></span><br /><div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#006600;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#006600;">I think I may be officially 'getting old'. The start of the (hopefully!) long road to old age, loneliness, boredom and disability.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#006600;">I have to go to the doctor and get a hormone test, I think.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#006600;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#006600;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#006600;">Nothing like being optimistic about these things....[brave smile]</span></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#006600;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#006600;">cq</span></div></div>craziequeenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15098227916486173799noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17218397.post-53629256974150720302011-03-05T20:30:00.003+00:002011-03-05T20:48:48.908+00:00Moving On and Staying Still<div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000066;">It's been four and a bit months since my dad died and I still see him dying last thing at night and first thing in the morning...that image and sound has stayed with me.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000066;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000066;">I am trying to see him like this - him in his heyday working overseas as a geologist when I was young...</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#000066;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000066;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 237px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580697874853630130" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gXideCQlFK4/TXKfJj1tkLI/AAAAAAAACRY/L0fZfvx0UGs/s320/017.jpg" /></span></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000066;">but the recent memories are stronger.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000066;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000066;">I am so pleased my friend Sarah has scanned in some childhood photos for me and done me fabulous hard copies too.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000066;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000066;">'Ugly Monster' (my chronic depresssion) has been in resident since before Christmas. It has been my constant companion for the last few months and I have been making a tremendous effort to remember my meds. As a result I have been horrendously run down and have been ill for a month or so. I have missed weeks of work and am physically exhausted now.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000066;"></span> </div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000066;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 160px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 120px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580697879456438866" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UaDp4L-NE8o/TXKfJ0_G2lI/AAAAAAAACRg/XqaPVHsvqR8/s320/LightaCandle.jpg" /></span> <div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000066;">But lately someone has lit the candle at the other end of the dark tunnel...</span></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000066;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000066;">Battle practice has commenced for the new season, which involves advertising Company of Chivalry to the hoi polloi, and the Spring Markets are here, which involves shopping (yay!) and the antici.....pation of our new tent (due to be collected on the 19 March).</span></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000066;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000066;">I also wetted my medieval appetite with Ironclad. It's a great film about the siege of Rochester Castle in the 13 century with the amazing James Purefoy. Admittedly, they have played fast and loose with costume and 'love interest' but the film was overall entertaining and, mostly, accurate.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000066;">More importantly, the Company of Chivalry provided soldiery for the movie and my boys can be seen handling the magnificent trebuchets and fighting in the ensemble scenes. I am so proud!</span></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000066;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000066;">cq</span></div>craziequeenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15098227916486173799noreply@blogger.com3