Aylesbury, England

[Big Sarge]

I have been to Iceland and the area we were in was just flat and cold with a constant twilight. I was really bummed

[glatt]

I spent 26 hours in Iceland in the summer of 1983, and the area was flat and cool, and sunny until late, late, late. I liked it. Except we drove a little too far and ended up sleeping in our rental minivan near some bubbling mud pit, and had no dinner or breakfast.

We had flown Iceland Air from Luxemburg to NYC and the stopover in Iceland was either 2 hours or 26 hours. Your choice. But your checked bags had to stay checked. So we didn't have any of our camping gear and had to just sleep in the car.

[Trilby]

Originally Posted by Big Sarge

I have been to Iceland and the area we were in was just flat and cold with a constant twilight. I was really bummed

What? No Wildings?

I need to meet one (preferably female) and learn their sex secrets.

Apparently they have some major moves.

And no White-Walkers?

I don't think you were in Iceland, Sarge....maybe Greenland?

[Sundae]

Were you a tourist, Sarge?
Probably not

I'm saving Northern Europe and Japan until I have major ducats.
One of my dreams is to see the lights, but my goodness Norway is expensive.

My bro and SIL are cruising to Alaska next year but I don't have to kill them because 1) they're not going far enough to see the Aurora Borealis and 2) they're not going South.

Even more than the Northern Lights I want to see the Aurora Australis because I am obsessed with the voyages of Scott and Shackleton. 'Specially Scott. On my Top Ten of books is The Worst Journey in the World by Apsley Cherry-Garrard.

And I tell you, if you have the desire for knowledge and the power to give it physical expression, go out and explore.

If you are a brave man, you will do nothing: if you are fearful you may do much, for none but cowards have need to prove their bravery.

Some will tell you that you are mad, and nearly all will say ‘What is the use?’ For we are a nation of shopkeepers, and no shopkeeper will look at research which does not promise him a financial return within a year.

And so you will sledge nearly alone, but those with whom you sledge will not be shopkeepers: that is worth a good deal.

If you march your Winter Journeys, you will have your reward, so long as all you want is a penguin’s egg.

[limey]

Is that where the "nation of shopkeepers" phrase comes from?
Anyhoo, you're all welcome, whenever.

[DanaC]

No, that phrase dates back to the mid eighteenth century I think.



[eta] first used by Adam Smith in the 1770s according to wiki :P

[Sundae]

Dad's photos of the Christmas lights this year.
I think I could have taken better (the County Court looks amazing) but... well I didn't bother and he did.

Looking up the High Street.
From halway up hte Hight Street, where it curves.

[Sundae]

I always wonder if the trees miss their strange fruit when the lights are taken down.
They might feel melancholy that their garish clothing was only borrowed for a short time.

Slightly further up to the top of the High Street where the Christmas tree is. No worries about the Christmas tree worrying, she's a seasoned old campaigner.

[Sundae]

Off to Thame yesterday (Saturday) to have a general poke about and go to Waitrose.
My Mum's cousin was supposed to be coming today, so we wanted to get some tempting little nibbles for them.

Sadly, as it's turned out, Mum was very ill last night and had to cancel.
Shame for all of us - especially her being poorly. But also especially me as I was going to be taken out to lunch Not to be sneezed at you know.

There is a new fleet of buses on the 280 route, which goes all the way to Oxford.
Leather seats, wi-fi, plug sockets for recharging etc.
Still no air-conditioning though...
But it was fun to get on a dedicated new bus.

[Sundae]

And yes, we got the premier seats, at the front on top.
In fact we selfishly took up all four, but it wasn't a busy bus anyway.

Oh, there was something wrong with the ticketing system. Many people were advised that their ticket couldn't be issued so they could just take a seat.
Guess whose ticket went through just fine?
Oh yes. Mine. I can hardly write a letter of complaint about it though.

Thame only has a market on Tuesdays.
The rest of the time the market ground is a car-park. As this was a Saturday I thought the least I could do would be to show you some of the individual shops.

- The shops abutting the market in general.
- The sort of place in which I will shop when my ship comes in. Actually that counts for 90% of shops in Thame...

[Sundae]

- Florists with hanging garden decorations.

- Swan Hotel, where I used to drink as a callow youth. We didn't go in, but it used to be a marvellous warren of a place full of secluded inglenooks and surprisingly large sofas. The Management didn't approve of using optics, so everything was measured freehand with jiggers; a very good reason to stay on the good side of the bar staff.

[Sundae]

An AGA is a solid fuel stove. It's kept burning 24/7. I don't know if the name is known elsewhere, but only very well-to-do people have them here.

Thame has its own dedicated shop. Say something?

It also has a dedicated chocolaterie.
The sister shop is in Wendover, so we'd already checked it out.
Too sweet for me, too expensive and County for Mum to enjoy.

[Sundae]

Just to clarify, Thame is pronounced without the H. It's Tame. As opposed to the Thames, which is the Temms.

And also, I wouldn't call a single shop in Thame twee.
They cater for an income bracket different than mine, but it's not a touristy or over-inflated prices place. Which is why it's good to go there and see how the other half live.

They have proper fish and chip shops!
Everywhere else I've lived, the fish and chip shops have been f&c and kebabs, or f&c and Chinese etc etc. These are old-style. You can even eat-in in one of them. And I bet they serve warm cola in thick glasses and white bread & butter as a side too.

[Sundae]

Even the Indian is pretty.
I think this is where the Prince of India used to be.
I lived almost opposite and although it was more expensive than I was used to, you really were treated very well in there. By the time you had a complimentary dish and a free drink at the end you were on pretty much the same cost. We went in about every ten days and were therefore recognised and valued as polite customers.

This was my Lottery Dreaming house.
Bri and I were going to live here together.
It's the whole of the front and it goes back a long way. It has an amazing conservatory linking the old stone-flagged passageways with the modern kitchen extension. It was also on the market for £895k

[Sundae]

Even the public toilets are posh.
Although we didn't try them out. Unusual for Mum, but she'd just been in Waitrose.

Okay. The cows.
No idea.
Mum thinks they were hidden and/ or chained up to stop people stealing them as a prank.
I think they needed to be restrained as they come alive at night and wreak havoc.
Either way, they were a bizarre find.