The Back Yard

27 August 2013

Sometimes you don't have to far to see some great things. Recently I was out back, checking my apples, when I realized there was a lot going on out in a very small garden (which is what the Brits call their small areas about the house). Some folks plant grass, others plant flowers and shrubs. My little cottage in the village has a bit of everything because one of the previous expats who lived here liked to garden. 

This is my apple tree. No idea what kind but they are just starting to ripen. I pick one each day and cut it up as a dessert. 

A close up of the apples, tart like a Macintosh. And crisp.

Next are a couple of hydrangeas. Big bushes but you are seeing the only flowers! Since everything was pruned back when I got here, I suspect I have blooms only because the pruner forgot some stems. I seem to remember that you only get blooms on last year's growth, or some such.

On my butterfly bush is some sort of bug...not a butterfly or moth but interesting to look at. She has a long proboscis and is just eating as much nectar as she can. Have at it!

I have no idea what this one is, but the flower is pretty. It grows wild near the hedgerows.

This seems to be another hydrangea, or at least related. The leaves are similar as is the flower. But it looks a bit sick.

Until next time...

Kirk Fell

10 August 2013

Kirk means church in old Scottish. And like a church steeple, Kirk Fell is a steep one! It doesn't look it in this first photo, but once get started you know it is.

The weather promised no rain (they got that wrong) so I went up past Wastwater to Wasdale Head at the foot of both Scafell Pike and Kirk Fell. There are three paths up, the one up the middle is the hard path--my guidebook says only do that if one is up for a real challenge. To the left is a difficult path, doable but steep and long. To the right is the easy route to the top...

So up I go to the right (betcha thought I was going up the middle, huh?) as my time and distance calculator says that would be about 4 hours and a good bit of exercise. I was a bit off in a couple of ways.

It started raining, lightly as I got out if the car, but I decided to trudge on because the rain was light and the sky appeared to be clearing from the west. By the time I got on the trail, about a mile later, it quit and other than an overcast remained dry until I got to the top.

So I stopped and turned around. This is the view to the west, towards the Irish Sea. That fell to the right is Yew Barrow, behind it out of site is Buck Barrow. The lake is Wastwater and the dale this side of it is called Wasdale Head. To the left is Illgill Head and behind it is Whin Rigg. The closest slope to my far left is the base of Scafell, via Lingmell.

Initially the climb was very easy, another half mile up and it was just a steady go of it. But then it got steep, and rocky. Unlike the other fells where I typically go up about 25-30 meters then take a short break, I was only able to go 10 meters before breaking, sometimes less. For some time the rocks were positioned like stairs, but very steep stairs.

My legs were a burning!

Eventually the trail got flat-ish (okay, not so much as flat as just less steep) but the path had turned to scree (loose rocks) so was actually tougher to walk on. Lots of slipping and stumbling as I worked my way up.

The view was pretty good...over towards Ling Mell, to the south, I could just make out 2 walkers...here's a close up, and then another to show the entire route.

When I got to the "top" it turned out to be flat, and I had no idea which of the rises was the tallest point, so I just wandered around looking for nice picture opportunities. After about an hour I could tell the weather was getting ready to turn. It was sprinkling a bit, off and on, and getting very windy and cold. So I decided to be safe and head down.

The walk down was just as tough as the walk up!  At about 2/3 rds the way down my leg muscles began to fail. If you've ever experienced muscle failure (weight lifting, exercising too hard for too long, you know who you are!) you know it can be a bear to do ANYTHING that requires those muscles.

With each following step, if my knee bent my leg would collapse. I'd take 2-3 steps, then break for a rest and hope I could take those steep steps down (where I HAD to bend my knees!). Obviously I made it, but it was a tough one.

I was good on Sunday, getting some rest and doing my usual chores...but on Monday my legs hurt so much every little movement was like knives stabbing into my thighs. Motrin was my friend but was only mildly helpful. By Thursday the pain was just soreness and by the weekend I was ready to go again!

Kirk Fell, 802 meters, 5.4 miles, 5.5 hours.

Until next time...

The Little Things...

Saturday, 3 August 2013

After 2 weeks in the US, visiting Suzanne and getting some work done (yes, it was a working vacation) I arrived at Manchester International Airport. I had to grab a taxi to get to the office, having arrived at noon and my car was in the parking lot there. After haggling a bit over the price of a taxi I decided to pay with my debit card. Here in the Eurozone it's strictly chip and PIN, no signatures please, they are easily faked.

I stick my card in and tap out the PIN. "Sorry, wrong PIN." Huh?! Oh yeah, that was my US debit card PIN. So I try the right number. "Sorry, wrong PIN." Okay, now I'm flummoxed. I have a mnemonic to ensure I remember all my PINs (don't we have too many numbers and passwords to remember!?).

Think about it, Tim...ah, now I remember! "Sorry, wrong PIN."

Well, if that's not it, then it MUST be XXXX. "Sorry, your PIN is blocked."

What does THAT mean?! The man behind the counter says I've entered the wrong PIN 3 times, so it's now locked out. I have to contact my bank to get it corrected.

(mild panic...keep it straight...)









I have just enough cash to pay for my taxi. And possibly buy lunch.

As a bit of background, this local UK bank is the same bank that told me to fill out some forms and bring them to the nearest branch so that I could open an account. When I arrived at the bank they then told me I had to make an appointment...to drop of my form...really?! I asked if they knew how silly that sounded...and I kid you not: The person looked directly at me and calmly said that was what I had to do; could I please step up to the appointments window.

So I was NOT, and I mean very NOT looking forward to trying to sort this out.

So I call the bank. The help desk lady admonishes me for dialing the wrong number. ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME!! I CALLED THE NUMBER ON YOUR WEB SITE, THAT SAID TO CALL THIS NUMBER IF MY PIN WAS LOCKED!

"We're sorry sir, I'll help you, but next time you must call this number: 1234 123 123456"

(heavy sigh on my part) Whatever.

"We'll send you your PIN. Your card will be unlocked by the time you receive it."

And how long will that take?

"About 2-3 days."

(heavy sigh on my part) Okay.

So, I'm off to an ATM that will dispense cash using my US card. You know, need to convert the $ to ￡ which means I'll get a ridiculous rate, plus have to pay bank fees. Oh well, when you're down you get kicked.

So my PIN finally shows up and just to be sure I call the bank (yes, I called the "right" number this time, smartypants) and ask if there is ANYTHING they have to do before I go down and use my debit card. (oh, a real "doh" moment: my PIN was off by 2 numbers being transposed).

"No sir, after a set period of time it automatically unlocks itself. You can now use it."

So there is nothing more needed? I can use it anywhere with my valid PIN?

"Yes, sir. But sir, as a reminder, you can go to any [bank name here] ATM and unlock your PIN yourself. If you know your PIN of course."

Okay, thank you.

So, on the way home I stop by a store and get a few groceries. Out comes my debit card, and with a smile I stick in the machine. I go to enter my PIN, and the clerk stops me.

"Sorry sir, your PIN is locked out."













(Okay, I am trying very hard to hold it together here.)










(I take a deep breath.) Okay, can you accept a US card, swipe and sign?

"I think so...let me see." (Lots of drama over whether my signature is mine, does it match the card, my driver's license...) "Sir, do you have your passport with you?"

After holding up the check out line a bit longer I'm all sorted at the store. I have food for a few days and just enough cash to last me to the weekend. That's just in case I have more "issues" with my debit card.

I get home and put away my food, have dinner and call Suzanne. Afterwards I head to the "local branch" over in Seascale, just 3 miles away. I park, walk across the street and look for the ATM...nothing outside...maybe just inside the door...door is locked. WHAT?! A bank branch with NO ATM?!

GRRRRRR!

So I decide at the moment to drive up to Whitehaven, 13 miles up the A595, where there is a large branch office, and I KNOW I've seen an ATM there.

I pop my card in...enter the PIN...eureka! It works. I get ￡100 in cash, just for insurance.

By this time it's been almost two weeks since I got back from the US. Hassle, hassle, blah, blah. But the next day I am planning to go to Dundee for a show and I want to use my cash to buy models (maybe) so my debit card will be buying gas. And I know for sure I'll need to fill up en route.

So the next morning (Saturday, 3 August) I stop for gas and present my debit card.

"Sorry sir, your PIN is locked."

(I take a very deep breath, count to 10...) Here's the cash.

Luckily, I had enough cash for what I wanted to buy at the model show. And on the way I saw a branch office, that was actually OPEN! I checked the Saturday hours...open until 2pm. I'll give it another try to get it unlocked at the ATM and if it doesn't work this time, they'll get a load of crap from me FACE-TO-FACE!

I pop in my debit card...enter my PIN...and lo! A menu choice to "unlock my PIN" pops up! A quick press...it says everything is grand!

By this time, I certainly know the probability of it actually working. But at lease I know I can talk to a human at the branch.

I head to lunch and note how much cash I have, just in case. More than enough for lunch at a typical pub.

I present my debit card...enter my PIN...and...it... WORKS!

If it wasn't so tragically funny, it could make me cry.

Oh by the way, Suzanne is very happy to have me work from home.

Until next time...

Not quite there...

Saturday, 27 July 2013

The weekend looked bleak, except for Saturday morning. So I decided to make it a relatively short walk around the fell called Haystacks. According to my guidebook it's an easy climb of less than a mile distance and then a bit of flat walking around with lots of good color this time of year. Sounds like a winner!

Haystacks is located just north of me, next village up the A595, then take the road to Ennerdale Water via Cold Fell. Park at the designated spot and then walk up the road a short distance, that's the base and start up one of 3 trails.

Way too easy...and of course I gooned it.

The parking area was well place, right on the north side of Ennerdale Water. According to the map the gravel road goes past two hostels then the trail starts up Haystacks. Distances were obviously a bit off, as I was to find.

The above is looking south towards Crag Fell, which I'd climbed earlier in the year.


Some of the gravel road was via the woods, actually a very pretty walk.


There was a river flowing into Ennerdale, the walk basically followed it up towards the base of Haystacks.

The water was crystal clear.



I've no idea what this flower is. But it's pretty and they are all over the place. I didn't see any today, but sometimes on drives (without my camera of course) I'll see a small field of them. A pink/purple carpet on a green base.


Ultimately I never made it to Haystacks. After 2 hours of walking and at about 2.5 miles up the gravel road I finally made the hostels. Which by my map (if to scale) meant I had at least another 2.5 miles to get to the base. If I was to walk Haystacks today it would be 13-15 miles of walking! Nope, I'm not feelin' it.

So I headed back down the road to the car. Good thing, by the time I got back to the house just 30 minutes away, it started raining. And it rained hard until Monday afternoon.

Until next time...

Dundee, Scotland

3 August 2013

So what makes Dundee so special? Well, to folks from Dundee I'm sure there's much, but to me there was a plastic model show there on Saturday. Since it is one of the very few over here that are within my 4 hour driving radius, I just had to go...

The UK is actually the birthplace of the International Plastic Modeler's Society, founded 50 years ago in 1963. I am of course a member of the US branch so I could, if I wanted to, enter in the local competitions here. But anyone who knows me knows I only compete against myself; I'd never want to risk putting my efforts up against some truly fantastic work. Some models range from the "perfect miniatures" to beautiful examples of art. I just have fun.

Dundee is north of Edinburgh, not only across the Firth of Forth, but on the north side of the Firth of Tay. Quickest route was actually to take the motorway north to Glasgow then take another motorway east to Dundee. If a motorway was direct to Edinburgh it might have been quicker, but would have required crossing two major bridges. Weather reported very high winds and traffic was reporting slow and go, so I'm glad I wasn't tempted to go via Edinburgh.

I guess the train was an option...but we all know how my luck is with trains to Scotland!

Generally a pretty drive through the countryside. Very windy as I walked about Dundee. I had lunch at a pancake house. Now, it is NOT IHOP nor is any pancake house an American would recognize. The menu was traditional British fare with a Scottish twist (haggis instead of blood pudding for breakfast). I had fish and chips with a banana milkshake. The fish was breaded (tempura in England) and the milkshake was just banana flavored milk.

They did have pancakes on the menu. Strictly deserts with ice cream and sauces -- the descriptions reminded me of crepes. The "American" was a stack of 3 with butter and maple FLAVORED syrup. More choices were savory pancakes. Imagine Indian curried chicken in a pancake...not my cup of tea.

Oh...here's a photo of one of ship models from the show:

And in case you're wondering...it's about 1 inch long (1/3000th scale). Turkish ship-of-the-line.

The drive back was a bit tiring; by hour 3 I was tired but glad I got back just before dinner. 8 hours on the road is a bit much sometimes, but it was worth it. I had fun.

Until next time...