Old Blandy's Wine Lodge & The Sacred Art Museum

Again, I know that I have been to both places on previous trips to Madeira, but they are two places that really make me smile. Blandys’ because every time I think of it, I always remember the group of Scandinavian tourists, sitting in the Max Romer Try & Buy bar, slowly getting more and more plastered.

On the way into the Blandy’s Wine lodge – more correctly known as Adega Sao Francisco (I think) there are a series of wooden plaques with descriptions of the various wines on it.

(Apologies for the slight blurring in the subsequent photos – my arm was starting to ache!) This is then followed by:

This is then followed by:

Followed by:

And finally:

The main wine lodge is up some steps, and as you approach, there is a large banner proclaiming that this building is the Blandy’s Wine lodge.

Then, it’s into the main building. There are several tours that run, depending on the time of year, as they run a harvest tour the end of August to the beginning of September. (Ok – when I was there, it was the Vintage tour for which you paid €25 to try old wine, or the normal wine lodge tour that told you about the production of Madeira wine, and that was €5. I opted for the standard tour, as I am not a wine enthusiast by any stretch of the imagination, so it would have been a waste of money for me.

Whilst I was waiting for the tour to start, I made the most of the peace and quiet to get some photographs of the vintage room.

This room is incredible. The wines are stored in cabinets that seem to be fronted by chicken wire, and the atmosphere is something else.

Storage in the Vintage room

Vintage wines (without the chicken wire in the way!)

Vintage Sercial in the Vintage room

The Vintage room

Then it was on to the main tour itself. The guide as per normal, was really enthusiastic, and made sure that the tour party was aware of the heritage of the building – it had been used as a hospital and a jail, as well as being a monastery.

The first room that we entered was the canteiro room. This is where the wines are kept in American Oak barrels for a number of years and are heated by the sun shining on the building. Some of the wines in the room had been in there longer than I am old!

Casks in the Canteiro room

The next room was the Vat room – where the previous year’s juice (or very young wine) was stored prior to going into the canteiro room. The vats were made from Brazilian Satinwood, as this didn’t impart any flavour to the juice / wine before it made its migration to the American Oak casks.

Brazilian Satinwood vats - the grape variety is stencilled onto the vat

If a wine is to be declared a vintage, it must remain in the barrel for a minimum of 20 years, and the master vintner must have agreed that it is a good year for the particular grape variety. Then, four bottles are sent to the Madeira wine institute, who give it the final say so (apparently one bottle is tested to ensure the quality of the wine, two bottles are put into the archives and the fourth bottle? The guide always jokes that it is drunk!)

The tour always ends in the Max Romer try and buy bar, where I was able to try a 5 year old Bual and 10 year old Malmsey. I have to admit, neither is to my taste, but it is interesting to see if my pallet has changed from the previous year (it never seems to!)

The sales area of the Max Romer Try & Buy bar

The other place that I adore is the Sacred Art Museum. Again, I know I’ve mentioned this when I’ve been posting about my trip last year, but it’s one of those museums that really makes an impact on you.

Unfortunately, I only managed one photograph this time (and that was because I was standing in the street to take it!)

But, despite this, the museum remains one of my favourite places to visit, as the collection of Flemish and Portuguese art is some of the best that I have seen, and I really wish that I could get a proper guide book that gave all the information about this fascinating museum.

Ah well, guess I should call this quits for now – I’m starting to fall asleep at my computer!

Back tomorrow, if I get the chance.

Karen

Now some things you hold on to - and some you just let go
Seems like the ones that you can't have
Are the ones that you want most

Another day in Funchal - visiting the Sé

As Funchal is the capital (or more to the point major town) in Madeira, Mum and I went there most days. Not necessarily to the same place, although the Sé was a different matter (but that was because my camera decided to start playing up, and refusing to save images, so I had to borrow Mum's camera, so the pictures in this post are a mixture of her camera and mine).

The Sé is one of those places that stick in my mind, simply because the interior is so spectacular. The outside is rather plain, and doesn't give any hint at the splendour that lies within.

Outside of the Sé

Can't remember who this is...

Inside the Sé, it's almost like entering another world. The workmanship is phenomenal, and the artefacts on display are something else.

The view from the left hand bank of pews

The main Altar

One of the side chapels - this is on the right hand side of the main altar.

Close up of the chapel

This is to the right of the chapel and the main Altar

Think this is an image of St Micheal the Defender

Part of me wishes that I had a really big flash on the camera, as the workmanship on the walls and altar was spectacular, and my poor little flash barely illuminated anything, so I guess that the true splendour will have to remain as a memory.

Ah well, guess I should call this quits – I need to go and sort out a few bit…

Back later

Karen

Now some things you hold on to - and some you just let go
Seems like the ones that you can't have
Are the ones that you want most

How do you parallel park a cruise liner?

With great care, especially when one of the liners in question is P&O’s Arcadia. There were supposed to be two cruise ships in, both of them were due to arrive about 08:00.

Well, as luck would have it, I was awake and fully dressed when I spotted Arcadia arriving. I expected her to move down towards the Sea Wolf’s berth, but for some reason, she stayed at the top of the harbour, near the end of the berth.

 The Sea Wolf (or more correctly Lobo Marinho) pulled out just after 08:00, and it brought home to me just how big Arcadia actually is.

Then it was the turn of the second cruise liner. I cannot remember for the life of me what it was called, but I do know that it was a German ship. It waited patiently for the Lobo Marinho to pull clear, and then started one of the most amazing manoeuvres I have ever seen with a cruise liner.

The manoeuvre started normally enough, with the pilot swinging the ship around, so that it could reverse into the harbour – no problems there.

Then, much to my amazement, it looked like the pilot was starting to parallel park the ship!

I’ll grant the pilot his due, he was very skilled, and to watch the way he parked the second liner was incredible, but I still don’t like boats (or ships!)

Ah well, time to call this quits – I’m back into the playpen tomorrow, so I’ll finish updating tomorrow night – if I can face looking at a computer screen again!

Karen

Now some things you hold on to - and some you just let go
Seems like the ones that you can't have
Are the ones that you want most

Jardim Orquídea and the Botanical Garden

Mum and I decided that one of the places that we really wanted to revisit was Jardim Orquídea. So, as it was quite a walk (it’s a fair way out of the city centre and is up some tremendously steep hills) we decided to take a taxi.

Now normally, this isn’t a problem, but the taxi driver seemed only too keen to wait for us, telling us that we wouldn’t be there that long, and that he would drive us to the Botanical Gardens.

We politely declined the offer, and walked into Jardim Orquídea, with me carefully taking my camera out, ready to start taking photographs of the fabulous plants. As per normal, Mum and I split up, meaning that we both got different photographs of the various orchids (most of which I cannot identify to save my life!)

I can recall that this one is Macropelata ...

Paphiopedilum (I think)

No idea - think it might be a Miltonia...

No idea.

Think this one is a Dendrobium

Cymbidium

Phalenopis (no idea of variety)

Vanda

Think this one is a Cattalaya

In total, Mum and I spent about 2 hours there, walking around, taking photographs (and I was cursing the fact that I don’t have the right environment to keep some of these beautiful plants.) However, Mum fell for a plant and bought it. I think it was a little Cattalaya, but I know that it was only €12.

It was then time to head to the Botanical Gardens, which is allegedly 500m from Jardim Orquídea. What the guide books don’t tell you is that you almost need a mountain climbing kit, and the agility of a mountain goat to get there.

Because Mum was (and still is) suffering from Sciatica, we stopped halfway there (ok – we sat on a wall) to get a brief break before making the final ascent to the Botanical Gardens.

Once there, it was a case of walking to the coffee shop / café, where I left Mum and made my escape around the gardens. I know it sounds awful that I left her on her own, but she was quite happy as she had a couple of guide books and the paper to read. Me? I escaped with my camera, spare batteries and a bottle of water as it was quite hot - I think it was about 27 degrees Celsius (no idea what that is in Fahrenheit)

So, it was off to explore, and in my case, head straight for the Cycads.

These plants are the remnants of the mighty plants that were munched by the plant eating dinosaurs in the Jurassic age. Me? I adore them, as I think that the actual structure of the plant makes for some really stunning photographs.

 

Aside from the Cycads, the Botanical gardens are a real treasure trove of plants and flowers – everything from the traditional endemic plants found on the island, to the commercially important crops (such as apples and Monstera delicosa) to flowers such as the Hibiscus and quite a wide range of cacti.

The flower of Monstera delicosa

 The one flower that I was really pleased to be able to finally get a photograph of, was the White Bird of Paradise:

 

Strelitzia nicolai

Other things that caught my eye weren’t actually the plants – they were animals. As I was photographing the Cycads, I spotted a white peacock. It was a true white, as opposed to an albino, as the eye was black.

 

But the one thing that really made me smile was a lizard. Yes, a lizard. I’d stopped for a drink, and was sitting on a wall when I spotted this lizard cautiously sitting near me. Because I found it hot, I let a couple of drops of water land near the lizard (I didn’t want to scare it off) and was rewarded with the lizard staying put, allowing me to photograph it.

The one thing that did make me go green with envy was the bougainvillea that was scampering up the walls near the coffee shop. The colours were superb, and seemed to glow.

Ah well, guess I should call this quits for now – I’ve still got stuff I need to sort out for tomorrow!

Back when I get the chance…

Karen

Now some things you hold on to - and some you just let go
Seems like the ones that you can't have
Are the ones that you want most

First Day in Funchal

The first full day in Funchal, Mum and I took our normal walk into town and both of us were unsure what we would see, after the devastating floods in February.  To be honest, at first glance, there wasn't much of a change.

Or at least, not until we got to the first of the two rivers that flow through the centre of Funchal.  Last year, they were covered in Bouganvilla:

This year, it was totally different:

The bouganvilla had been swept away, along with the netting that it relied upon for support and the walls that it was attached to.

The bridge itself was also damaged:

But, once we got into the centre of Funchal, you wouldn't have know that there had been any flooding at all.  It was incredible to think that less than five months ago, this city had been inundated by tonnes of muck and gallons of water. 

However, when we walked down to the sea front that the amount of rubbish that was removed from the city became apparent:

Despite this, the island (or rather Funchal) seemed to be back to normal.  However, what the water had done to other parts of the island remained to be seen.

Ah well, guess I should call this quits - I've got to sort some bits out before I can do any more to my blog.

Back later, if I get the chance.

Karen

Now some things you hold on to - and some you just let go
Seems like the ones that you can't have
Are the ones that you want most

Back to the blogging

Well, I’m back. And the reason for the lack of posts? I was on holiday in my favourite location - the beautiful island of Madeira.

Mum and I had decided to return to Madeira within about ten days of us returning from our previous holiday, as the pair of us were so relaxed (ok – Mum had metalwork in her leg that decided to make a break for freedom, but that wasn’t the fault of the holiday!)

As per normal, I’m going to group the posts into the memorable parts of my holiday – fourteen posts would be a little extreme, as there were a couple of days that were wasted (the first day – i.e. the day that we flew out – more on that in a moment) and a couple of days where the pair of us just did very little, apart from chill.

The fun started at 03:30 on the Monday morning. Simply because Mum and I were being picked up by the taxi at 04:30, so it was a case of manhandling both cases down stairs the night before, as I am not at my best first thing in the morning – and certainly not at that time (I’m out of practice because I don’t have to get up and tend to Flame anymore).

The trip to the airport was uneventful, and we arrived at Birmingham Airport at 05:30ish... Now the check-in desk didn’t open until 06:00, so it gave Mum and few minutes to kill (and I was praying that the scales we had been checking the weight of the cases with was reasonably accurate, as the weight limit was 20kg per case…)

The desk opened, and we were second in the queue. Not a problem, until the girl on the check-in desk spotted Mum’s walking stick, which was folded up in her flight bag. Now normally, this wouldn’t be a real concern, as Mum regards it as more of a “comfort blanket” than an actual necessity most of the time.

However, Mum and I had booked seats with extra leg room – i.e. ones right by the aircraft doors (we were by the doors that are just before the wing on the B757 – think it was row 12). This meant that we had to be seen by the flight crew (or cart tarts) as being fully mobile; otherwise they would refuse to allow us to sit in the seats, despite the fact that we had paid extra for the privilege of not being treated like cattle.

Once that little hassle was overcome, it was then time to head for the security checks that allowed us to go airside. As per normal, the queue was massive, and this certainly didn’t improve my mood, as I had someone who seemed determined to keep as close to me as was humanly possible – without climbing into my flight bag!

It was then a case of waiting for the flight to be called. Only there is one problem. Birmingham airport (in their “infinite wisdom”) don’t make announcements for the flights that are ready to board. The only time that a call is put out, is when they need to round up passengers from either the bar or the duty free area, as they haven’t been keeping an eye on the information boards. Thankfully, we found seats directly facing the board, so we were able to keep an eye on things, and make sure that we were ready to make a move when the flight was ready.

So Mum and I headed to the boarding gate, and got onto the aircraft. Now as we were sitting by the emergency exit, we had to put our flight bags in the overhead locker… I wasn’t happy about that, as it meant that I had to hold onto my book and MP3 player / headphones as there was no seat pocket I could put them into. Then, we got the passengers from hell behind us.

Now normally, I’m quite tolerant when I fly – I just plug my headphones in, and ignore the world. Not this time. The prat behind me seemed to have ants in his pants, and every time he moved, he grabbed the back of my seat which seemed to pull it back to a point where it would almost twang back, and clout me on the back of my head.

In previous flights, I’ve had a nut free meal, because of my allergy. Not this time. I got given a vegetarian meal, and about 15 min after I’d eaten, I started to get the dreaded tingle in my mouth, meaning my allergic capability had started to kick in. Now where were my antihistamines? That’s right. In my flight bag, which was in the overhead locker.

But that wasn’t the worst part. The selfish prat who kept twanging the back of my seat had pushed his crap into the locker, putting my flight bag well out of my reach! All I can say is thank God for the gentleman who helped me. He helped me remove the selfish prat’s flight bag (who glared at me – I was just waiting for him to say something, and he would have been told in no uncertain terms what I thought of him) and got both mine and Mum’s flight bags from the locker.

The cart tarts were doing the pre-landing checks (seat backs upright, tray tables stowed, and hand luggage in the right places) when they spotted our flight bags. The one started to get a bit snotty – we’d stowed them underneath the seats directly in front of us – and I doubt anything short of a small nuclear explosion could have shifted mine.

Or she did until I said that I’d had and allergic reaction, and needed to get my medication. Nothing like the risk of a medical emergency to shut them up… But, it was back in the overhead lockers with them, and this time, it was our flight bags that were at the front, and the prat had to wait for his. Poetic justice in a way I guess...

Then it was into the terminal, through passport control and down to the luggage reclaim area. Now Funchal airport has a wonderful system, where the cases slide down on to the luggage carousel. Good idea in theory… In practise, not so good, as there is this chest that advertises the Madeira Story Centre, and I’ve seen cases get stuck behind there on a regular basis! Thankfully, the two cases weren’t one that were affected, meaning that all I had to do was grab them and get them off the carousel.

Once grabbed, it was a case of seeing what the transfer arrangements were (mini bus as normal) and getting across to where it was parked. As Mum managed to get the last seat in the normal bit, I had the delight of sitting in the passenger seat.

This didn’t actually bother me, as it meant that I could have a good look around, and see if there were any obvious signs of damage from February’s devastating floods. There was no obvious damage that I could see en-route to the hotel, but I wasn’t sure how the rest of the island was recovering…

Ah well, guess I should call this quits – I’ve go stuff to finish off before I head into the playpen tomorrow.

Back when I get the chance…


Karen

Now some things you hold on to - and some you just let go
Seems like the ones that you can't have
Are the ones that you want most

UCLA STUDY (very interesting and short)

I make no apologies for posting this – it made me laugh when all other jokes are about the blasted football.

Karen

Now some things you hold on to - and some you just let go
Seems like the ones that you can't have
Are the ones that you want most

A study worth sharing with friends both male and female:

A study conducted by UCLA's Department of Psychiatry has revealed that the kind of face a woman finds attractive on a man can differ depending on where she is in her menstrual cycle. For example: if she is ovulating, she is attracted to men with rugged and masculine features. However, if she is menstruating or menopausal, she tends to be more attracted to a man with duct tape over his mouth and a spear lodged in his chest with a bat up his ass while he is on fire.

Justice has been served? I wonder.

A man convicted of murder from the American state of Utah has been executed by firing squad.

Ok – this in itself is unusual, because most states that have the death penalty opt for lethal injection.

But what makes this case unique (in my opinion) is the attitude of the Attorney General. He used the micro-blogging site twitter to announce the developments in this case.

Don’t get me wrong – I have nothing against twitter (ok – it’s just not my choice to put my view on the world into cyberspace) but I find the method of self promotion to be distasteful to say the least.

Aside from the issue of the twitter posts, things like this do make you reassess your own ideas about capitol punishment. I was always of the opinion that killing someone who was proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt was right, just even.

Now I'm beginning to wonder. What purpose does this penalty serve? It certainly doesn’t serve as a deterrent, and the people who are in favour of what amounts to state sanctioned murder in America are the same people who are quick enough to cry foul when other countries enforce the death penalty.

Ok – I know that the death penalty in the USA is only imposed after years of appeals and counter appeals, but what happens when the appeal process runs out – the condemned man (or woman, but it’s more usually a man) dies.

But surely there has to be an alternative? It’s been stated that the death penalty is the most expensive option, but state prosecutors still go for it. Why? Because of the publicity that a successful case can bring them.

But does the death penalty bring closure to the victim’s family? I don’t honestly know, but I do know that in the Utah case (which started me thinking about this matter) the relatives of one of the victims pleaded for clemency, whereas the relatives of the other victim were against this.

Is this the right way to go? I don’t know. I get the impression that the idea was to use this as the ultimate deterrent, as in “you kill someone, and we (the state) will kill you”.

But times and attitudes have changed, so may be it’s time to do away with this barbaric option in what is supposed to be a civilised society.

Time to call this quits – it’s nearly time to escape, and I’ve got some travelling to do.

Back when I get the chance…

Karen

Now some things you hold on to - and some you just let go
Seems like the ones that you can't have
Are the ones that you want most

The Gyneacologist who became a mechanic

I make no apologies for posting this – it’s made me laugh out loud in the office this morning, on a day when not much else has managed to bring a smile to my face.

Enjoy.

Karen

Now some things you hold on to - and some you just let go
Seems like the ones that you can't have
Are the ones that you want most

******************************************

A gynaecologist had become fed up with malpractice insurance and paperwork, and was burned out. Hoping to try another career where skilful hands would be beneficial, he decided to become a mechanic. He went to the local technical college, signed up for evening classes, attended diligently, and learned all he could.

When the time of the practical exam approached, the gynaecologist prepared carefully for weeks, and completed the exam with tremendous skill. When the results came back, he was surprised to find that he had obtained a score of 150%. Fearing an error, he called the Instructor, saying, "I don't want to appear ungrateful for such an outstanding result, but I wonder if there is an error in the grade?"

"The instructor said, "During the exam, you took the engine apart perfectly, which was worth 50% of the total mark. You put the engine back together again perfectly, which is also worth 50% of the mark."

After a pause, the instructor added, "I gave you an extra 50% because you did it all through the exhaust, which I've never seen done in my entire career.”

Breaking news

I’ve just received the following message from my beloved:

Hi just to let you know I’ve seen Mum, she is shaken and battered and bruised but she is in better shape that the car – that is f****d. Any more info I’ll let you know.

Phew. It could have been a hell of a lot worse, and I am more than willing to admit that I am relived – if only for my beloved as I know the stress that this sort of thing can cause.

Guess I should think about doing some more w*rk, but it’s Friday, and I have TNFI…

Back later.

Karen

Now some things you hold on to - and some you just let go
Seems like the ones that you can't have
Are the ones that you want most

Worrying times

I’ve not heard anything from my beloved, so I am praying that everything is ok. But I know from past painful experience that a car accident leave an awful lot for the relatives to cope with, as the police and other emergency services get involved and you just get swept along for the ride.

It’s a scary time for all involved, as my beloved’s Mum is no youngster and already has a heart condition, so I just hope that she’s ok. I work on the principal that bits of metal can be repaired or replaced, but flesh and blood is infinitely more precious.

I’m not going to call him – as much as I would like to, as I don’t know what’s going on, and the last thing I want to do is cause extra stress to him at an already stressful time.

Back later, as I am supposed to be working – or at least that’s the theory.


Karen

Now some things you hold on to - and some you just let go
Seems like the ones that you can't have
Are the ones that you want most

Smeg.

I think this title is very appropriate. I’ve just had the following text from my beloved:

Call me please

So me being me, I called his office, only to be told that he’d gone home. Ok – now I admit I was starting to worry.

I broke every rule in the book and called his mobile… He was heading for home, as his Mum had been involved in an accident. He didn’t know how bad she was, but said that the car was a write off, and promised to call me as soon as he got any more details.

Having been through a similar experience, it’s quite scary, and I can imagine the emotions that are whirling through him at the moment – fear of the unknown being the predominant one – as in “how badly hurt is my Mum?”

So, at the moment, all I can do is wait for his phone call, and pray that things are ok.

Back when I have more information.

Karen

Now some things you hold on to - and some you just let go
Seems like the ones that you can't have
Are the ones that you want most

Cloth caps and clogs

I make no apologies for posting this – it was sent to me by a colleague and really made me giggle.

Enjoy.

Karen

Now some things you hold on to - and some you just let go
Seems like the ones that you can't have
Are the ones that you want most

******************************************

A London lawyer and a Yorkshireman are sitting next to each other on a long flight to Leeds .

The lawyer is thinking that Yorkshire men are all 'cloth cap and clogs' and that he can fool them easily...

So the lawyer asks if the Yorkshireman would like to play a fun game.

The Yorkshireman is tired and just wants to take a nap, so he politely declines and tries to catch a few winks.

The lawyer persists and says that the game is a lot of fun.

'I ask you a question, and if you don't know the answer, you pay me only £5; you ask me one, and if I don't know the answer, I will pay you £500.'

As may be expected, this catches the Yorkshireman's attention and to keep the lawyer quiet, he agrees to play the game.

The lawyer asks the first question. 'What's the distance from the Earth to the moon?'

The Yorkshireman doesn't say a word, reaches in his pocket, pulls out a five-pound note, and hands it to the lawyer.

Now, it's the Yorkshireman's turn.

He asks the lawyer, 'What goes up a hill with three legs, and comes down with four?'

The lawyer uses his laptop, searches all the references he knows. He uses the air-phone; he searches the Net and even the British Library.

He sends e-mails to all the smart friends he knows, all to no avail. After over an hour of searching, he finally gives up.

He wakes up the Yorkshireman and hands him £500. The Yorkshireman pockets the £500 and goes straight back to sleep.

The lawyer is going crazy not knowing the answer.

He wakes the Yorkshireman up and asks, 'Well! What goes up a hill with three legs and comes down with four?'

The Yorkshireman says "Buggered if I know!” reaches in his pocket, hands the lawyer £5 and goes back to sleep.

Don't mess with Yorkshiremen; we only talk different.

Football Blues

I’ve just realised that the blasted World Cup football starts in 11 days, and I loathe football.

Already the media is whipping up the hysteria about this, and I am starting to get bored even before the tournament starts. If it was rugby –that would be a different matter as I am a rugby fan, but football leaves me cold.

I know that there are people who will be watching every single match, and some people who will just watch the England matches. I, however am not one of them, so I have a stash of films that I have been saving for this four week period of rotten TV.

However, I guess that I am going to have to put up with the hysteria that will become almost the norm (and cope with the strange looks when I say that I won’t be watching any of the football.

Ah well, I guess I should do some w*rk, but as I'm only in the office (or playpen) for three days this week, I'm really struggling to find the enthusiasm to do anything today…

Back when I get the chance.

Karen

Now some things you hold on to - and some you just let go
Seems like the ones that you can't have
Are the ones that you want most

Chilling out, and missing someone…

Well, it’s back to the playpen tomorrow, and I have to admit I’m not really looking forward to it. I’ve enjoyed the peace and quiet of this bank holiday (not to mention seeing my beloved on Saturday), and am supposed to be preparing to get my stuff ready for the morning. However, at the moment, I have a severe case of TNFI…

Today has been quite good though – I went back to Milton Keynes with Mum. Now I know that I was there on Saturday, and only managed to get a couple of bits… I don’t think my mind was really on my shopping somehow!

If I’m honest, I was really looking forward to seeing my beloved, as it had been about five weeks since we’d seen each other. Yes, I know that we talk on the phone practically every day, but a phone call can’t give you a hug when you’re feeling really flat, or pull a silly face to make me smile.

But I digress. Milton Keynes was really good. Again, it was a real mixture of opening times, with some stores opening at 09:30 and others opening with their Sunday trading hours.

So, it was into McDonald’s for a Mcbreakfast (this was one of the few places that was open – aside from Dickens & Jones – which has serious delusions of grandeur, but is just overpriced).

After breakfast, Mum and I headed to Marks & Spencer, to have a look around. To be honest, I wasn’t too impressed with what I saw, and privately began to despair of finding anything that I wanted for my impending holiday.

However, things changed when Mum suggested that we headed back to a shop that had been closed when we walked past, on the way to BHS. As I’d given up on the idea of finding a swimsuit, I wasn’t really looking. Murphy’s Law seems to dictate that when you’re not looking, you will find precisely what you are looking for. This happened with my swimsuit.

It’s not anything really magical – it’s plain black with a coloured band decorating the top, but it was the fit that was the real delight. Since I tore my shoulder muscles about six years ago, I’ve had problems with the straps on my swimsuits cutting into it when the shoulder decides to swell up. This one however, has enough stretch in it to be secure when I swim (or move my arms) and still provide a comfortable fit.

Then it was trying to find a travel pack for my contact lens solution. My usual solution comes in a 360ml pack – which is too large to take in my hand luggage (you’re restricted to a maximum of 100ml for liquids) and also rather heavy to put in the case. Again, I’d given up on the idea of trying to get something suitable, but headed into Dolland & Atchison as a last resort…

And came up trumps. They had exactly what I wanted – a preservative free 3% peroxide solution, suitable for soft contact lenses. But I should have guessed that there would be a snag…

It wasn’t listed on the computer system so the poor lady who was dealing with me had to do a hand written receipt, as the head office wasn’t open today, meaning that she couldn’t get the code for the product to go into the computer. But, we overcame this difficulty by using the hand written receipt and a note of what I bought and the quantity.

But even as I was walking around Milton Keynes, all I could think about was my beloved. He seemed so tired when I saw him on Saturday, and I will admit to worrying about him overdoing things. But as I walked past a store (think it was Dorothy Perkins or somewhere like that) I heard Cindi Lauper’s song True Colours playing…

You with the sad eyes
Don't be discouraged
Oh I realise
It's hard to take courage
In a world full of people
You can lose sight of it all
And the darkness inside you
Can make you feel so small

But I see your true colours
Shining through
I see your true colours
And that’s why I love you
So don't be afraid to let them show
Your true colours
True colours are beautiful,
Like a Rainbow

Show me a smile then,
Don't be unhappy, can't remember
When I last saw you laughing
If this world makes you crazy
And you've taken all you can bear
You call me up
Because you know I’ll be there

And I see your true colours
Shining through
I see your true colours
And that’s why I love you
So don't be afraid to let them show
Your true colours
True colours are beautiful,
Like a Rainbow

This song always reminds me of my beloved, as he’s like me in so many ways – hiding the pain that he feels behind a cold-hearted façade, and rarely letting anyone get close to him. But to me, he’ll always be like a rainbow – something rare and precious, just like his smile.

Ah well, guess I should call this quits – I’m supposed to be getting my stuff ready for the playpen tomorrow…

Back tomorrow if I get the chance…

Karen

Now some things you hold on to - and some you just let go
Seems like the ones that you can't have
Are the ones that you want most