Yorkshire

Left London yesterday and took the rented car at 1pm. It was a medium size Vauxhall auto transmission. After refueling, we left for York. As it was my first time driving in the UK, the GPS was highly depended upon and yet it took me almost an hour to find my way out to the motorway.

Driving was fun and the 400 km journey was a breeze with beautiful scenery. We arrived in York at 6 pm. After checking in, we left for Leeds to do some errand and had dinner at subway. By the time we returned to the hotel, it was 9pm. The hotel is an F&B property owned and managed by a family of four with an old English theme.

Driving up North on the motorway

The Ascot, F&B in Yorkshire

A farm along the way to Leeds

Old country house in Leeds

It was cold and raining this morning. Although Yorkshire boasts the highest concentration of stately homes and castles in England, we just managed to take a walk in York city. It’s a beautiful city with many old gothic and medieval buildings.

At noon, we continue our drive to Edinburgh another 400 km up north. The drive was more scenic with open grassland and highland and we stopped more often to enjoy the scenery. After almost 5 hours, we arrived in Edinburgh at 6pm.

The ruin of York city

Street of York

Scenic view along the way to Edinburgh

Border of England and Scotland

2nd & 3rd day in London

There was a make shift market behind the hotel (just like our pasar malam). These stalls start their business at 8am but shops are only open at 10am and close at 5pm (malas lah Mat Saleh), After lunch at the Sub Way yesterday, we left for Central London, We walked n walked n walked n walked sampai kengkang baru balik……..by then its 7pm. Pewai la.

Some pix to share

Entrance to the Noting Hill tube station

Entrance to the Oxford rube station

1st pix with wifey

..........................................................................

Today we left for Portobello before 8am. The crowd was unbelievable. There were so many Spaniards there……fans of Barcelona Football Club (tonight is the EUFA Champion league final between Barcelona and Manchester United in Wembley),

Portobello is a well known Bohemian market where retro and antiques are much the thorough fare. I can’t resist at the many old clocks on sale. So, I bought one for my self. Its embarrassing to say that I will be self collecting 3 more clocks bought earlier through ebay. Wifey, as usual………shopping for bone china and more shopping. Now I am thinking how to bring them back to Singapore.

After Portobello, we headed for Oxford Street. It was madness there with the soccer fans of both teams in town. We even had problem going back to the hotel by the tube. It was so bad that tube stations were close due to overcrowding. In the end, we had to take the bus. It was all day long of walking and walking and more walking. Semalam punya pewai belum hilang lagi.

Along Portobello

Along Portobello

Makan time at Portobello

Fist day in London

After on flight delay for an hour, we finally arrived in rainy Heathrow at 3.30pm. The airport was busy with many flights arriving almost at the same time thus immigration clearance took more then an hour.

Next was the walk to the tube station with 45 kg luggage which took 15 mins. Finally at 7pm, we arrived at the Hotel in East London safe and sound and of course with sore arms and legs.

After checking in, we get to survey the vicinity. Halal food restaurants were every where and that include the Sub Way. There were 2 mosques around the area as well. Get back to the hotel after dinner at 9pm (4am Singapore time) for the much needed rest.

Some pix near the Hotel at Bethnal Green to share,

Long overdue trip

Last minute packing for tomorrow’s flight to London.
This trip was planned many years back. It was supposedly a retirement trip in 2008, a month of backpacking in UK and Europe. However, it was postponed due to my official trip to UK in the same year and Japan trip in 2009.

Suspecting that my contract will not be extended, I went ahead with the planning and arrangement since last year for all necessary trips ie the umrah and this long overdue trip.
Instead of backpacking, I decided to do a 15 day self drive of the UK.. The map below is the planned route and it will be extended from Edinburgh to northern Scotland, Inverness. covering more then 2000 km.

England
London 3 nights
Yorkshire 1 night

Scotland
Edinburgh 2 nights
Inverness 1 night
Glasgow 1 night

England
Lake District 1 night
Liverpool 1 night
Stratford upon Avon 2 nights

Wales
Cardiff 1 night

England
Bath 1 night

Many years spent in the SPF helps to a certain extend in shaping my personal character and world view. From impressionable and rebellious young men the Force turned me into a rationale gentleman………erhhhhhhh, perhaps not totally laa. Sometimes I would still challenge the authority on something which I think is not right but of course in a more constructive way.

LEAVING THE SPF

Reference to my posting on 25 Nov 2010 hinting about managing my last official project then, well it is true. After 33 years of loyal service my application for an extension of re employment was unsuccessful due to a certain criteria that were not met. Thus with much trepidation I’ll be leaving the SPF on 7 July 2011 for the unknown frontier.