Shopping Mall and Acrophobia - February 29

This morning I went across to the shopping mall across the street and connected to my hotel. A complex of 18 or more floors with a massive atrium going from the 4th floor to the top, two giant escalators each moves you five floors at a time, and many smaller ones, otherwise stair and ramps between each floor. A complex I walked around and which my mobile phone told me I had covered 3.47 kilometres.

The view from the walkway across to shopping mall looking downtown Mongkok

A complex at every turn gave magnificent views into the atrium. Not so good if, like me, you had a bit of a fear of heights. You should have seen me when I finally stepped onto the last escalator going down; moving stairs stretching down five floors and open space above me for eight floors. After several attempts, I stepped out into space, hung on to the moving handrail with both hands, and never let go until I was three steps from the bottom.

The first escalator going up 5 floors

The view from underneath the first escalator.

Looking down about 7 floors from the turn-round in one of the into floor ramps.

Back in my room, I turned on the air conditioning and sat down to relax. The chair was side-on to the floor-to-ceiling window looking out over Hong Kong from the twenty-second floor.  I turned the chair to face into the room then opened my Kindle and began to read.

AA selfie sitting in the chair with my back to the window.

The last for today. I am back from the Lady's Market and have bought a wallet, a proper cover for my mobile, and something for Emma.  The rest of you don't worry (to too much) I still three days.

Day one Hong Kong - February 29

I Flew in to Hong Kong yesterday at 4 pm and was installed in my hotel room by about 5.30.  It is now the next morning and have just returned to my room after breakfast.  As it is 9.15 and as nothing really starts outside until after ten I thought of you all back home and decided to write another blog. Not that there will be much writing just a few pictures of my room on the 22nd floor.  The layout of the room is normal except for the glass window wall looking into the bathroom.

The view from the loo looking through the glass wall across the bed to Hong Kong

Now looking from the room through the glass wall into the bathroom

The glass see-through basin and a pair of legs.

A couple views out the window

Later I will show you all the technology in the room but now it is 10.05 and I am off to the shops!

Heathrow onward to Hong Kong - February 27

Left Cambridge at twenty past twelve and got into Heathrow a little after three. At the bus centre took the lift down one floor and into the tunnel system that gets you around Heathrow. An underground motor way system which as long as you follow the signs you get to were you going. In my case Terminal 3. Into the lift and up to checkin and then through security.

Security was fairly easy but would have been quicker if the staff attended more to the passenger than their own conversations. Do we have to take shoes and belts off. Do you need to see the liquids. What about my  watch. We had to answer these questions our selves, because the three staff were too busy talking about some show in town. They did occasionally look up to tell us to get bin from under the table.

Once thorough I walked around for bit and then had some dinner.  It was then I realised I had left my hat on the bus and there was no way I was going bach to bus station and having to go throgh security again. And no I didn't leave it behind on purpose. I had got quite used to it after wearing it every day for three weeks.

Well that's about all. Just a couple more chapters on my Kindle and I go to my departure longe ready to fly onto Hong Kong

Posted via Blogaway

Mystery sovled - February 26

Today was the last day at SPRI and at about four o'clock having finished the last diary I decided to pack up and go back to the hotel. Told the archivist and she said "What about this last field book on your list" 
"No" replied " the dates are too early"
"You know you don't want to get home and realise its important"
"Ok then"
When I opened it several mysteries were solved. I had been wonder why one of Campbell's field survey note books listed the angles to mountains and glaciers by names that at the time he didn't know as they had not got to them and were yet to be name them.  Also an elaborate sketch I have, that is known to have been made on the 19 January when he and Priestly climbed some hills. It would have taken a significant time but Priestley doesn't mention it.

All was solved, this last note book was in pencil with none of 'future' names used and the sketch, and many others, just a very rough outline that could have been done in couple of minutes. Then, at some time latter, these were copied to second field notebook, written and drawn in ink, edited, and updated. This last book answered a lot of questions.

Now I am back at the hotel waiting for my coffee to cool and my camera battery to charge so I can finish backing up my final day's notes. Then pack up and tomorrow catch the bus to Heathrow and fly out to Hong Kong and hope to thaw out.

Hi, Iam still here - February 24

I haven't been doing much except going to desk in SPRI and reading and writing, but each morning I walk in past all lots of bikes outside the Department of Chemistry. After the bikes come the replica of Shackleton's boat he sailed into South Georgia 

One of the bike racks outside the Dept. of Chemistry

Then comes the replica boat

At lunch time I walk up the road and round some very old buildings into a main street of many restaurants. Although very old and from this end very narrow the building houses a beauty salon, a farmer's market shop and two restaurants.

The end on view I see as I walk up for lunch.

From the left a beauty salon,Vege shop,a Bistro, and a Chinese restaurant.

Once around the corner the dinning choices cover Turkish, Greek, Thia, Mexican, Italian, British Pub, Steak House, Pizza Hut or one or two others I can't remember. However the choice has reduced with the recent closing of the local Fish and Chip shop.

To day I had Turkish.

Sunday at the Coumputer History Museum - February 21

The Cambridge Computer History Museum is hard to find, even by the taxi driver, but well worth a visit. There are plenty of desktop computers going back 40 years and few main frames on display but going through their online database they have many more in storage. Not only computers but examples of many  'playstation' through the ages. Starting with chunky graphics rectangular table table tennis.  The importance thing is this is a working museum where all the desktop machines and 'platstations' are operational and you are encourage to have a go.

One of early personal  computers was a Sinclair all set up to have a go programming in ZX81 Basic.

1981 Sinclair ZX81

The following photo are of  1988 Sinclair and Amdstand computers.

A 1988 Sinclair and Amstrand computer

I am sure Gary would feel at home with Xtree pro and Wordstar.

You might recognise some of these programs

In the centre of the largest room was a large magnified imprint of a CPU embossed on the floor.  When I took the photo there were four of visitors using one of the computers to program two computer control cars.

CPU embossed floor with HP computer complete wit dual tape drives and three 'washing machine' disk drives,

In another room was the history of the mobile phone, starting from those monsters that nearly took two people to carry.

An early mobile and video phone.

There was a third room set up as a teaching room. On one side there were at least sixteen old BBC computers set up and on the other several workstation and a net server.

I arrived just as the museum opened and by the time that I left there were about thirty people with at least ten children brought along by their parents. I was suprised to see the kids into the old chunky graphic games even though more modern machines and games were available.

In the end I got taxi up town did a bit more walking and had another pub lunch, chicken this time and in a different pub. I have mentioned before how frustrating it is when can only hear one side of a conversation.  It is worse when you can here both sides and you can't turn it off. Two couples came into the pub and sat opposite me and there volume was off the scale. I thought when the food came along it would quieten down, but no. One of the girls would have made a good digeridoo player as she had no problem in talking while breathing in and out--continuous talk without a hint of pause.

Saturday in Cambridge - February 20

This morning at breakfast was told there were spare rooms available so on the way back to my room I called in at reception and now I am in bigger room on the ground floor. And it has a real bathroom complete with a shower and bath and plenty of room to move round.

My old room taken from laying on the bed.

My new room

The rest of the morning I walked down into Cambridge town and wandered round a few of the colleges. The whole town from seems very crowded with its old building and narrow streets but if you look at a map or the bronze sculpture, I specially photographed for you, there is a lot of open green space. The colleges are buildings arranged to create large walled enclosures surrounding open grassy areas.

The bronze layout of the central colleges showing the walled enclosures.

 

The entrance large square top centre on the bronze above.

This is the next college to the right on the bronze. At an angle and gap in the wall.

After a lot of walking I headed back to the hotel but stopped at a pub for a pint and a meal. A pint of Nelson Ale and a British beef and ale pie with chunks of prime beef in a rich Ruddles Ale gravy topped with short crust pastry and served with mashed potato, peas, and gravy.

One week at SPRI - Februray 19

It is Friday night and I have survived five whole days sitting at a readers desk in the SPRI archives.

The photo below shows the original building in Lensfield Road which has been added too and now extends out the back. The front entrance goes into a museum of Antarctica and Arctic material. One day while waiting I had a look through it and to my amazement I discovered that I actually knew the first man to reach the North Pole overland.  Wally Herbert the man that brought the new huskies to Scott base and during the summer lead a field party down the Axel Hiberg Glacier.

The Scott Polar Research Institute front entrance.

The side entrance is really the main entrance and at present is the replica of the modified lifeboat Shackleton sail to South Georgia.

The side entrance I use each day.

To day I asked if I could take some photos of the Readers room but I was told no. The archivist said it was because of security but she said she could take my photo at the desk as long as she didn't include any of the photographs on the wall or the doors into the the written and photographic archive storage room.
The Readers room is small with just two desks The archivist office offices open off this room and there are two doors into the written and photographic archive storage areas. While writing this I am looking at my photo and see that next to the angle poise lamp is a large magnifier. Just this after noon I went out to my locker to check my bag for magnifying glass and I found I had left it back at the hotel. Here in the photo I am wearing one of the new jerseys I bough at M&S in London.

Me at my readers desk with one of Priestley's field note books.

So far in the first three days I copied sixty pages using a  pencil and paper. I didn't start using my computer until yesterday as I believed with my two finger typing,  writing with a pencil would be faster. Yesterday proved me wrong and now I am tapping away at the keyboard with great gusto.

Work day lunch - February 18

I am working at my readers desk in the SPRI  archives from 9.30 in the morning to 5 at night with an hour for lunch between one and two. Lucky its only a five minute walk to Regent Street and a whole range of eating places.

I started off Monday having Chinese followed by Turkish on Tuesday. On Wednesday I wasn't that hungry so just went for a walk and grabbed a takeaway sandwich. To day I had Italian., Spaghetti Bolegnaise and risked having a glass of red wine. Something I been avoiding as I didn't want to go to sleep at my readers desk in the afternoon. But good news I stayed awake all afternoon and better still I didn't spill anything down my from while eating the spaghetti

To day I was going through one of Priestley's field note books and found his sketch map of the Boomerang Glacier climb. I compared it to my plot of the route using Google Earth and was please to see they were the same including the final two peak they climbed. Although I had picked out the peaks I  only marked the area of the climb with a circle as I had no direct proof. But there in his sketch were the two peaks and the third that still obscured his view and they were the same as mine.

Tomorrow I may should have some photos to include.

Footpaths - February 17

I am sure you don't want to hear about sledging, hoosh, and digging ice caves back in 1912 so I talk about footpaths. The footpaths I mostly used in London where wide and in good repair while the ones here in Cambridge are narrow uneven and slope every which way. However they both a a similar problem--people.

The first question I had was which side of the footpath do you walk on?  In London I thought I had worked it out--every block just change sides. That was OK but where do you start? Forget that it was the least of worries.

Cell phones. It is bad enough someone coming up behind you and appearing to talk to you and in a loud voice too. Funny how people using mobile phones seem to think they need to shout. And while on about people talking on cell phones isn't frustrating when some near you is talking loud and all you hear is one half of the conversation. Talking a frustrating, on the way to Cambridge the bus stopped on the main street in Hamstead and there was a big tall chap talking on his phone. He might have been Italian because he was using his arms as much as his mouth or a least one of his arms as the other was holding the phone to his ear. That must have been frustrating for him and curtailed half his conversation. It was worse for the pedestrians. The road was busy and the passerby had to duck or swerve to mist his expressive arm. It wasn't so bad when he was facing out to the road and his arm was swinging downstream but he kept turning at right angle to the flow and the people had to duck. At one point it lloked like he was going to get on the bus, but he didn't. Although I thinks a worse problem are people texting. They seem oblivious to everyone in front of them. Step out of their way at your peril.

The other danger in London were women with push chairs. Normally no problem but beware as you just finish cross a road controlled by lights. Out of nowhere you can be confronted with a speeding pushchair in the control of someone trying beat the red light. Again step out of their way.

Which side to walk on in Cambridge is a little academic because the footpaths are so narrow you could say there is only one side. The footpath surfaces are so uneven it is hard to keep your balance and with he roads also extremely narrow the cars and buses drive with one wheel in the gutter. There is only one side to walk on and that is the side furthest from the gutter.

That is my two pennies worth and just add that yesterday it was minus two degrees and had been raining so irregularities the footpath to SPRI were as smooth as ice.

First day at SPRI - February 15

Today my holiday was put on hold and my work started. The point of coming to England was to go to the archives at the Scott Polar Research Institute. I need  to study the dairies of Scott's Northern Party for the period of there sledging at Evans Coves Antarctic--January to March 1912. This is my third visit to the archives trying to put together the details of the six week summer sledging trip that ended in the six members of the Northern Party being abandoned and surviving an antarctic winter in a snow cave.

The second visit in 2011 provided me with a lot of the information I needed but I still need to to come back again. However I had problems with the Insurance companies and couldn't travel overseas. This meant putting my research on hold. In reality stuffing all the papers into boxes stowing them on the top shelf in my spare wardrobe.  That was until Probus came up with an insurance that would cover me. So here I am in Cambridge hopefully getting all the material to finish the job. 

Today I completed my first day at a readers desk in the archives. Nine thirty to one , and hour off for lunch  then two to five--six and half hours reading and writing. And I did it. I was bit worried if I could hack the pace of full days work. Something I haven't really done since I retired in 2000.

Now all I have to do is another nine days and I can fly to Hong Kong for a holiday.

First day in Cambridge - February 14

Woke this morning to a bright sunny day. After my shower, an experience in itself, I went down and had breakfast--a marvelous spread. By ten I was outside heading for the centre of Cambridge. Yes it still was sunny, but the temperature was four degrees.

Back to the shower, quite small, fully tiled with a modern set of controls and shower head and flexible lead. The controls were easy to use but lifting the shower rose above your head the water stopped flowing. So to rinse my hair I had to crouch. Before going out I asked at the desk it they do something about it and also to turn the heat down in my room turned to full strength.

Before going on with the Blog and stop you wondering when I returned the low chair had been replaced, so I am not typing like a rider on motor bike with ape-hanger handle bars.  Also the room was cooler, but as yet I haven't checked the shower.

I walked down to markets and on the way took a photo of the old gates to Christ's College.

Had a good look around the markets and headed off to Davids bookshop. Unfortunately it was closed--at least it hasn't cost me anything yet.

The market of several rows of very interesting stalls. Open every day

The close book shop that cost me nothing.

I walked back through a few of the larger stores, not to shop but rather to warm up. On the way I saw a sand sculpture and a couple of armed policemen

A sand sculpture and yes I paid to take the photo.

Two armed police with their pistol slung lowjust like in the old wild west.

On the way back I stopped Zizzis, an Italian restaurant for lunch--carbonara and a glass of Pino Grego. After which I picked a pork pie and some orange juice for tea,

Tomorrow I am of to, SPRI,  the Scott Polar Research Institute.

Off to Cambridge - February 13

To day I checked out of the Amba in London and took the bus Cambridge and are now checked in at  the Lensfield Hotel. A cold day, worse than yesterday, and with rain. Luckily the bus stop M in Portland Street where I picked up the bus was just around the corner less than 100 metres away.

As my ticket instructed me I got tot he bus stop 10 mins before the bus was due. I checked the National Express Android App and saw the bus was on time. Ten minutes later and no bus. Then five minutes later when the bus still hadn't arrive I checked the App again--the expected time was in red and  the bus was running fifteen minutes late.

Eventually it arrive, the driver put my case on, I climbed in, and we were of the Stanstead Airport where I was to pick up a connecting bus to Cambridge. The trip to Stanstead took one and three quarter hours. For the fist hour and half from London we were travelling through built up residential area. Hampstead Heath, Golders Green and then non stop to Stanstead.  Still raining I change buses I was off to Cambridge.

The first bus had WiFi but I had problems connecting my mobile. When I got on the second bus and having about ten minutes to wait I had another go and eventually got it working. The bus pulled out and a little way down the road I got my mobile out and found out this bus didn't have WiFi. I had set up the mobile with the WiFi from the airport where the bus was parked.

By three I was in Cambridge and it had stopped raining. I walk the kilometre to my hotel and checked in. The hotel, a B&B, is in an old listed building and my room on the first floor (for those North Americans, the first floor above the ground floor) is up a very steep and narrow set of stairs. I got someone to carry my case for me. The room is small but has everything except a decent chair for the writing desk. I am currently typing this blog sitting in an antique style low chair such that when my fingers are on the keyboard my hands are  at shoulder high.  House keeping going to replace it for me tomorrow.

Before starting this Blog I waled down to the corner and had a Chinese meal. A real Chinese restraint. I sat opposite the front of house cook and was impressed at the way he could cut up on of those hanging ducks-- you know those cooked ones you see with their heads under their wing. a few deft strokes with his cleaver and the duck was in pieces and crisp skin for Peking Duck was ready to serve.   

No pictures this time but tomorrow I may show you the bus's on board TV screens.

Last day in London or I've been Kindled - February 12

I have just finished breakfasts and already starting to write today's Blog. Strange, but after walking down to breakfast and back to my room, 660 steps, I found my key car would not work. Back to reception to get a new one then back to my room, another 660 steps. I am now in my room writing to you after walking more than kilometre. Good for my health you might say, but more importantly what happened to my key card--it was Kindled. As I approached my room, the first time, I took out my key card with my right hand then moved it to my left holding both the card and my Kindle together. Kindles can be dangerous and have no consideration for an old chaps legs.

Amba Hotel. My room is this end and lifts are one block away at the other end.

Looking back to Marble Arch through which I entered Hyde Park

One of two army groups doing their morning PT.

I am back from a walk in Hyde Park--another 4 km added to my exercise. When I entered the park through the Marble Arch it was 3 degrees and when I returned it had warmed up to 4 degrees. My new hat worked wonders for my head but did nothing for my ears. The things I have to do to bring you this Blog.

Passing through the Marble Arch and negotiating two extremely busy roads you are in Hyde Park. Not only the park but right at Speakers Corner, although not much speaking was happening--must be a warm weather sport.

The park is a large open grassy space with many trees and pathways running in all directions.In the distance I saw the first group of soldiers having their morning PT. I actually heard them before I saw them. I assume, it was their sergeant who was shouting 'gentle' instructions. Later I saw a second group following orders of run, drop, press ups, and then run again. I am certainly glad I am a civilian!

The bed of daffodils, the horsr track and the Serpentine.

Continuing on I came to the Serpentine, the lake in the centre of the park. I crossed through a bed of daffodils, across a dirt horse track and a roadway to stand on the edge of the Serpentine.  Using my telephoto I recorded the first signs of spring in this park.

The first daffodil of spring!

Walking around to the end of the lake I found Serpentine Tea Rooms and took the opportunity to move into the warm--sat down and had a coffee and rather nice pastry. From my table I looked up the lake and watched the people and horses walking past. Not that there were very many. I think it might have been something to do with the temperature.  Although in the time it took to drink my coffee I did see three policemen, one walking and two horse back.

It is interesting to note that here in London you see the police everywhere. Not just the occasional one but two at time and on every second block as you walk down the road.

Walking back I passed through an area that looked very much like farmer's ploughed fields. A large area known as the Parade Ground was being re-turfed with rolls a turf the size of our circular hay bales. A sign informed me that after a series of successful events this area was being returned to its original state (large treeless grass area) for future events. The funding coming from the event organisers themselves.

Two policemen riding past the tea rooms.

Re-turfing the Parade Ground

Pork pie, eccles cake and Spanish wine - February 11

Today I had a Milton Mulberry pork pie, an eccles cake, and bakewell tart. This was to be my lunch along with a bottle of nice sounding Spanish wine.The food was great but the wine was corked. I wasn't going to return it as I had been out all morning, my legs were tired, and it was long way back to the shop. So I poured the wine down the basin. What a mess, red wind everywhere. It looked liked someone had be murdered in my bathroom.

This morning I took the tube back to St. Pauls and this time the cathedral it was open for visitors.

The Tube at St. Pauls station.

The Cathedral was impressive and well worth the visit, but unfortunately no cameras were allowed. You could opt for waiting for a group and have a conducted tour or have self tour using a recorder and head set. I opted for the latter and it proved excellent. I found the two large raised stone coffins in the crypt interesting-- on the Duke of Wellington and the Lord Nelson.

The dome.

After a long time on my feet and up and down a lot stairs I left the Cathedral and got the tube back to Marble Arch and bought myself some lunch.  Afte lunch went for a walk around Portland Square and then decided to buy myself a hat.

I could have used Emma's selfie stick instead had to rely using the mirror above the desk in my room. If  I look funny it is because everything is reversed!

Finally, the hotel covers a complete city block and my room is down one end lifts are at the other. Each time I leave my room I have to walk one complete city block to get to the lifts.

For those interest today I walked 9190 steps or about six and a half kilometres.

St. Pauls and the London Museum - February 10

This morning up early and Skyped my son and family back in NZ. Had breakfast later, at about eight. A bit of a mistake as the place was full and noisy, but still the buffet had plenty for everyone. After breakfast planned my day--my first trip on the underground and a visit to St. Pauls.

Left about ten for Marble Arch tube station, just around the corner--down two flights of stairs and the onto an escalator. Moving stairs, on a 45 degree slope, disappearing into the depths. At the bottom a series of  gates. Flashed my Oyster card and a set of gates opened and through I went. I knew I need to go westbound on the Central Line and I found on platform two a straight line map showing all the station to St. Paul and beyond. I was in tunnel with black hole to my left and right, a single rail track and a very narrow platform. Suddenly a roar followed by a strong wind then a train rushed out of the tunnel to my left and screeched to a stop in front of the me. The train and tunnel appeared to be the same size. The doors opened and everyone rushed in then doors quickly closed and we were off. I was hanging onto one of the poles trying desperately to keep my balance against the acceleration. The train was packed. This was 10 am, I would hate to see what rush hour was like. Off I went westward with a nice lady continually telling everyone the final destination and the next station--Bond Street, Oxford Circus, Holbourn, Chancery Lane, and St. Pauls where I got off. Again a narrow platform then the gates where with a wave your Oyster card they opened and let you through. Up two very steep and long escalators and I was in daylight again. What a way to travel, extremely fast and efficient.

Now across the road and around the corner I was at rear end of the cathedral. A bit of wind was blowing, the temperature was seven degrees and it was cold. I walked around to the front climbed the stairs and there it was--a notice saying no visitors today as it was Ash Wednesday. So I walked a couple hundred metres up the road to the London Museum

 

.A museum well worth the visit and like most museums over here, free. After seeing all about London from the year dot to the present and future I had sandwich and a drink of homemade lemonade in one of the cafes. The one encircled by a text screen providing all sorts of facts about London and the people that live there.

 Outside the museum was part of  the old Roman wall that was unknown until uncovered by the German bombs dropped during WW 11.

Now with time to spare I picked up a London Cab to the bottom of Charingcross Road to visit some second hand book shops. I didn't buy any thing but took a photograph some expensive books.

Nine of the books here added up to about 4000 pounds

From here I walked back to the hotel and clocked up a record of 9019 steps. At the hotel I had a large cider and some popcorn before going up to my room and having a bit of nap. I felt I deserved it as today I went on The Tube, ridden in a London Cab, visited books shops in Charingcross, saw part of the old London Wall, and nearly got into St. Pauls. Pretty good for one day!

Shopping in London - February 9

After a later breakfast this morning I headed down Oxford Street to Marks & Spencer for some shopping. I was after couple of jerseys and  a umbrella. After seeing some interesting  items I thought I would check out Selfridges, in the next block, before buying. What a silly idea. The men's floor was large open area with everything laid out by brand name. To look for jerseys for example you had to traverse all the brand name sections across the first floor--a floor that covered a whole city block. In the end I ask salesman where could I find a sleeveless jersey and he told me a particular section right across the other side of the building. So off I went got to the other side I couldn't find it. So I asked another sales person. They didn't know. I did eventually find it. Ask the sales person there and was told they only had summer clothes. To which I replied "Well as it 7 degrees outside and I think it's winter." Only to be told "It' summer in here."

So back to M&S where everything was laid out in clothing items. Ask a man with tape around his neck what was my size. To be told "Sad to say sir, but your are XXL."
"That's alright" I replied "I have been working on it for long time."

I tried on a XXL jersey and it fitted. So I picked out two jerseys, a sleeveless jumper, a scarf, and a small umbrella. Took them up to the counter and paid by Visa card. Put the card in the machine, it flashed up a message "Remove you card and give it to the cashier." The thought went through my head something was wrong with card and nice man behind the counter was going to chop it up. But no, here in England they do not use pin numbers the cashier needed to use the card to check my signature on the receipt.

Two jerseys,a scarf, and an umbrella

 To finish up with, here at the hotel I have a very new and modern bathroom, but the hole in the toilet seat is interesting. The phrase a round peg in square hole seems to spring to mind.