The second instalment of the long overdue catch up!
Monday (20 July) and Tuesday, Usual domestic chores, and a bit of singing at Pop choir for Nic followed by a quick drink for the monthly choir Social!
Wednesday 22nd July – Tuesday 4 August
Early start to get Nic’s Dad to hospital by 7.30 am, for a planned surgery. Although the procedure went well, the next fortnight was spent to-ing and fro-ing to hospital until things were properly settled. Thank heavens once again for NHS services and their sterling work, under significant pressure.
Thursday, Bag repacking day !
Friday, Off to London, early bus to York Station, then train to Kings Cross. In the V&A museum in time for lunch, stowing bags in the cloakroom and a wander round. Our first visit, won’t be our last …. So much to see! Highlights include the cast rooms, the jewellery exhibition as well as photography and Japanese rooms.
Out by tube and DLR to the Travelodge by City Airport, ( main reason heading for Mallorca on the Monday !). Dinner at a Chinese Restaurant overlooking the airport, and the strip of water in front with Dragon boat racing going on!
Saturday, Good and reasonably priced breakfast at hotel. Then onto the Tix app to get show tickets. Secured really good tickets for a fraction of face value for Titanique Matinee that day.
To make the trip into central London more interesting we walked to Royal Wharf to get the Thames Clipper to Battersea Power Station. We then walked along the Thames to Vauxhall, and then tube to Green Park. We grabbed some lunch, M & S again ! We headed into Green Park, not looking at all green due to the number of heat waves recently. Then we joined everyone else looking for space under the trees out of the fierce sunshine!
Titanique was a blast! It was quite ‘rude’ as described by a lovely Scot with a passion for musicals, who we met in the queue outside, but well worth it for the belly laughs! After some drinks in a couple of London pubs, at both of which we managed to get seats outside to watch the world go by !! Rog scored a fantastic Dinner choice, at Vasinko, tiny restaurant with amazing Pizza!
Sunday, Off early today to get to the Mail Museum for our 10.30 ride on the mail train, under central London. Another great museum, inspiring Nic to start writing more letters ! Then remembered the price of stamps !
Time for a smashing lunch at Cote Brasserie, welcome aircon again in the heat, amazing Madeleine with coffee for afters!
Then off to the next booked visit, Denis Severs House. Go on look it up !
Fascinating place, we booked a silent visit, very difficult not to chat to the staff, but very atmospheric, too much to take in really. More of an art installation than a museum, but so worth it.
Monday (10 August), Nice late check out with Travelodge, so straight to the airport. Surprisingly easy security experience, so lots of time for leisurely lunch before boarding. Landed in Palma de Mallorca, with another easy experience at immigration, straight in through the e gates. Then a big queue for car hire. Still made it to our friends lovely apartment by 8.40pm, so not a bad journey, and time to get supplies before the local supermarket closed for the night!
Tuesday, Settling in was easy as we had visited before. We had invested extra cash in an air conditioning unit, so there was some respite from the heat to help us sleep at night! It was however fairly loud when in use, so we used it in bursts to cool the room, it also produced a significant amount of water into a bucket which needed to be emptied, another reason not to leave it running overnight !
The apartment has a pool on site, and super views of the bay, so a lazy day was had. Nic began a daily habit of at least 3 dips a day in the pool, Rog went in Once !
Another trip to the local supermarket to get a few more supplies, essentials…..beer, wine and nibbles!
Wednesday, Since arriving in Mallorca Rog had been corresponding with a restaurant on the West of the Island who were running an event for the total eclipse today. This was our main reason for being in Mallorca.
The event was quite pricey, but given the quality of the restaurant and transfers to and from the venue, not to mention the promise of Laurent Perrier Champagne, made us feel this would be worth it.
The eclipse was due to begin at 19.37 hrs, our adventure started at 17.00 hours when we were waiting outside for a taxi…..that never arrived! Rog was in communication with the sister of the Maitre De, which eventually resulted in a taxi from a local firm, to take us to Palma to join a minibus for the 45 minute journey to the Restaurant.
We were first on the bus, once we spotted it, parked next to the enormous queue for the local tram service. Everyone on Mallorca seemed to be trying to make their way to the west, and due to Police road blocks to limit vehicle traffic, the tram was a popular choice!
Our bus was due to take 11 people, at 18.20 hrs ( 20 mins later than planned) we set off with 8 of us on board.
First police Road block went smoothly as our driver waved his paperwork and on we went. After a few minutes our driver pulled over after hearing something over his radio. He then started making phone calls, and even using Google translate, Rog and I could not work out what was happening. After a few minutes we set off again, Rog turned round to ask our companions if they knew what was going on. It transpired that the next road block, close to the restaurant was not going to be so easy!
We arrived at the road block at 19.00, along with a second minibus, also heading to the same event. After some discussions and the appearance of a vehicle with the restaurant logo on the side, eventually the Police waved us through. As we drove towards the restaurant it became clear why the Police had been concerned, there were lots of vehicles already parked up, on a fairly narrow road. However we arrived at the venue, we entered the restaurant to be met by the maitre de’s sister, who hugged Rog and I, as she already felt she knew us after the taxi debacle, she had considered coming to collect us in her own car !
The promised champagne arrived, along with wonderful canapés, and we were in position to see the eclipse as it began. Huge sigh of relief!
As the champagne flowed, we got to know our fellow guests, once the eclipse was over and the sun had set, we headed to our table and with our now new firm friends, we enjoyed a 4 course delicious meal, with wines, and then the same pink champagne which we had had for our Wedding, Laurent Perrier Rose. A super evening, well worth the price tag!
The adventure was not quite over! We left the restaurant at 23.30 hrs, back onto the bus, back to Palma, and into a taxi queue ! After a couple of minutes, Rog found another option, the last bus, going past our apartment block, arriving in a few minutes, so across the road we went, joined another queue, and luckily got on easily despite the busyness. As we know the last bus is always full of characters! It did the job, we recognised our stop and fell into bed just before 1 am.
Wednesday, After a lot of water before bed and overnight, we both woke feeling much better than expected! Another lazy day, then a super Pizza at a restaurant just round the corner.
Thursday-Monday (17 August) More of the same, reading in the shade on the balcony, dips in the pool for Nic, the days passed nicely. We felt no need to go anywhere, especially given the 30+ degree heat! We had a couple of super tapas meals out, walking no more than 10 minutes away from the apartment.
Tuesday arrived. A relatively early start due to advice about being at the airport 3 hours before the flight. As it happens the car return and all queues were reasonable, so no stress and lots of time to people watch in the departure lounge!
Landing in London City was smooth, again no real queues, so we were across London and at King’s Cross 3 hours before the departure of train back to York. More people watching! The train arrived in York, we hustled through the station, knowing there was a bus due …there it was! Result ! Home by 19.50 hrs .
Wednesday (19 August) After travelling back from Mallorca yesterday, today is an unpacking and washing day, plus the tax form! The excitement never ends!
Thursday, Off to Beverley to return some clothes, don’t you just love on line shopping. Then an appointment for Nic with Oncology team. All good news, no further treatment needed.
Friday, Some video catching up with far flung pals, and a lovely visit from Nic’s Cousin and Auntie, at Nic’s parent’s home. They had been in Leeds at the Test match for the couple of days previous.
Saturday, Nic did a volunteer stint at the local Gardens, raising money for a replacement sculpture, the current one has significant woodworm. Some dog sitting duties for Rog’s brother’s pooch. Including a visit to the cricket club, and a consolation pint as our local team sadly lost.
Sunday, A trip to Burton Constable, free entry as a perk for being a volunteer at our local gardens. Fascinating hall, and extensive parkland. The exhibits are all original to the hall and family, so a very personal history of the Constable family.
Travurple 