Leaving on a jet plane

I'm going to Canada next Friday. Toronto, to be precise. It has kind of crept up on me so I am now in a flurry of excitement about it. Only stopping for 48 hours. I'm actually doing work a favour! I have to be in Ohio, at the mothership,the following week and by flying via Toronto, and staying a Saturday night, I'm saving the company 500 quid! I'm staying with friends (saving more money)...who I haven't seen for about 15 months, and a trip to Niagara Falls has been mentioned..so we are all winners!

Anyway, I fly into Lester B Pearson Airport, and being a bit of a geek I thought I should find out who he was to have an airport named after him. Well, if you didn't already know (I bet Kevin did....) he was the 14th prime minister of Canada, and recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. Now I know we might feel that they are giving those away with cornflakes at the mo (oooo...political satire...)but he got his for organizing the United Nations Emergency Force to resolve the Suez Canal Crisis. He did lots of other worthy stuff too, but true to form this is what actually caught my eye in the wikipedia entry...". In 1917, Pearson transferred to the Royal Flying Corps (as the Royal Canadian Air Force did not exist at that time), where he served as a Flying Officer until being sent home with injuries from two accidents; while training as a pilot at an air training school in Hendon, England, Pearson survived an airplane crash during his first flight. Unfortunately, in 1918, he was hit by a London bus during a blackout and was sent home as an invalid to recuperate and then discharged from the service..." Bless!

On a slightly sentimental note I shall take the opportunity to pay tribute to my lovely friends in Canada - kate & chris. Fifteen years ago this very month I went through a particular difficult time - my first marriage broke up - and without them and my other extremely lovely friends Jenny & Richard I could not have got through it and come out the other side.....thanks to them I have extremely happy memories of two drunken and slightly deranged years in my little bachelorette pad in Sale.

Where do you go to, my lovely?

Sorry, I've been a bit busy....but I'm back now.

I'm off to Munich tomorrow at some ungodly hour, if I make it. I tried the same trip two weeks ago, but the plane had a technical fault, and as I prefer to fly from a regional airport via Schipol, the delay meant I had to abandon the whole thing, which was a bit of a bugger as I'd been up since 4.15am. Anyway, I try again tomorrow, and am looking forward to a meal of very fatty pork, a couple of wheat beers and an early night tomorrow evening. That to me is Germany - well, Bavaria anyway. At the hairdresser's yesterday the junior washing my hair, after failing to get the hint that I have a very uninteresting life,and what's more i am probably older than her mother, after my answer to her enquiry about my weekend plans (taking my daughter to two birthday parties and doing the ironing) persevered with "and any plans for the week?". "Yes, I'm going to Germany" "Oh Germany" she responded gaily, "what's that like?". I muttered something about the place I was going to be very nice thanks, but really....what am I supposed to say to such an inane question? Answers on a postcard.....

Anyway, I've just checked in online, and should this flight actually take off, I've discovered that i'm flying business class tomorrow. Not at all a usual occurence I promise you.(don't worry Kev, that's not where Helminthdale's subscriptions go!) But certainly a treat as breakfast will consist of more than the cup of crap tea and packet of TUC biscuits that we are usually served with at all times of the day in pig class.

Auf Wiedersehen, Pet!

Ain't no mountain high enough

I'm here..I'm back...got back from Salt Lake City about a week ago, and straight into school hols. Oh, and the obligatory jet lag. When I'm wide awake at 4am, listening to the husband snoring like a stuck pig, I write the most witty blog posts in my head. Unfortunately they have disappeared by the time I finally wake up. So, sadly, y'all just get a few photos and a rather dull recap of what I did in Utah.

View of mountains as we flew in to SLC.




The SLC Temple and snow.



In the Family History Library - one of my Irish relatives - fourth from bottom.



And just for Kevin - a picture of the clean sidewalks!

I was actually on a work trip, but there aren't any pictures of those activities. Maybe a picture of me not understanding the functional specification my colleague was proposing, or me punching the air when the customer said" sure - go ahead and invoice us" would have been more exciting?

The Lebanon

[Yes - that is a song title - Human League]

Anyway, well done to the lovely Ms.SB and to dear old Kevin - you were very close with your guesses as to my work destination last week - what with the temperature up in the high teens, the haunting sound of the call to prayer, and the bullet holes in the walls of most public buildings, I could easily have been in Hastings or Cleethorpes. But I was, in fact, in Beirut. It was jolly nice too....I'm always partial to a trip to that neck of the woods. Gorgeous scenery, lovely people and fab food. Except for the pickled turnip, served at lunch and dinner. Sharn't miss that.

Eeee..it's all glamour my life. Next week, it's Liverpool, Sheffield and Birmingham. The trip to Swindon got cancelled, which is just as well, because I don't think I could stand the excitement.

Where do you go to my lovely....?

See if can guess where I'm going this week (for work) based on this: [KEVIN - you can't play!]

An independent republic since 1943, ?? is a compact country of 10,452 square kilometers with a population approaching four million. Located at the meeting point of three continents. In winter, the high peaks are covered with snow, and in summer, their limestone slopes glimmer white in the distance.

From the hotel the sea is just a short walk away as are the shopping areas.

Living in a windmill in old Amsterdam

I moan about my job - don't we all - and quite often the moaning is justified. In fact, it is what keeps me (vaguely) sane. But sometimes...just sometimes...there is something that makes it almost bearable. Some folks envy the international travel, but you know....a boring meeting is a boring meeting whatever the timezone. Airports are crap....hotels are the same the world over.

However, this week, on a mundane trip to Leiden, one of the nice things happened. We entertained our guests by chartering a boat on the canals of Amsterdam. An hour and a half of cruising the beautifully lit waterways, while we were plied with strong drink and canapes. Then dropped at a very very nice restaurant, for dinner in a private room.

(I didn't take the picture below - foolishly forgot my camera - but you get the idea).

Lost in France - Penderff 2008

So, a summary of our holiday. Another lovely lovely time in Brittany, and although Canada is defo. on for summer 2009, we are aiming for visit number 4 to Penderff in May.

This year we
*went to the medieval fete in Hennebont.

*entertained my stepson for a few days. Actually, bless 'im, he entertained Laura in his role as chief swing-pusher

*were saved from the smallest lasagne in the world and certain divorce by our wonderful friends (and landlords) Judith & Jeremy

*spent an enormous amount of time
here

*Went on the ponies - twice for Laura, once for me.

*Went to the Zoo with half of the Woodwards and one Pollington, then on to the Interceltic Festival.

*Went to the Oceanopolis Aquariam in Brest, but probably enjoyed the smaller one in Vannes more....along with the Butterfly House, and most importantly for Laura, a shop which sold Leily Kelly boots. Most importantly for mummy, the boots were half the price they are in England.

*Ate in all our favorite restaurants with our favourite people

*Shopped for handbags (me)

*Shopped for music and junk (Peter)

* Had a wonderful time, and agreed to go back next May!

All the photos can be viewed here, although those of a delicate disposition may wish to avoid the shots of my fat a**e getting off the pony.

We're all going on a summer holiday...

We apologise for this break in service, but Team Robinson has naffed orf on holibags. Two weeks in Brittany again, but we are banking on a trip to Toronto next summer....so I hope your offer was serious, Kate'n'Chris! And I am looking forward to a bit o' traveling that doesn't involve airports or lugging a bloody great laptop with me. Actually husband is taking his laptop I think. Me, I've got a pile of trashy (seriously trashy) novels, a soduko book and my embroidery. Luxury.

Leaving on a jetplane..

or not. Stuck at Schiphol this time, waiting on a 9pm flight home, now scheduled to leave at 11.00pm. Never mind. Just enjoyed burger 'n' chips and two LARGE glasses of wine in the Irish pub with a colleague, so everything has a bit of a fuzzy glow to it! Off to spend money I haven't got on perfume I don't need.

Jake the Peg

(Taking the lead from Kate, I am trying to continue my occasional theme of using song titles for my postings....we'll see how it goes)

So, the following morning my knee is swollen to the size..well, of a very swollen thing, and I can't put any weight on my leg. Having had practice when I knackered my knee last time I still manage to get a shower. Well, my hair was a mess and I wiffed of wine (see previous posting).

Luckily the time difference meant I could get travel insurance details from work, and was able to contact our *people* who told me which hospital to go to. It was called "Clinica Biblica" - yep that's Biblical Clinic. Conjures up some bizarre images, doesn't it. Anyway, the nice man in Urgencia (that's Emergency to you and me) got my x-rayed, and confirmed nothing was broken or dislocated, merely (!) strained. Basically I had damaged all the ligaments. And then he put me in plaster from thigh to ankle.....blue plaster!



Said I should keep it on for three weeks, and sent me off with my x-rays as a souvenir. OK - so then I ask the travel company to send me home, which was the point I discovered that you aren't allowed to fly in plaster, and would I mind staying in Costa Rica for three weeks!

So then the hunt begins for hospital who can fit me with a leg brace......more than 24 hours later, by which time I am gettting heartiliy sick of room service and costa rican TV, I am told to report to......Clinica Biblica. Actually, this time I am seeing the orthopedic specialist, who turns out to be a charming Colombian, who removes the plaster with one of those scary electric saw things, then announces I am fit to carry on my travels to Colombia (I think he was biased), but he writes me a note to say I must travel business class...heh heh heh! He also gives me a prescription which includes three injections that I have to administer to myself....injections...that is syringes....with needles!

Anyway, I did go to Colombia (business class), and it was lovely. What a beautiful country! And I discovered the way to jump all the queues at airports.....get wheelchair asistance! oh, except in America. That is still as crap as ever. They even make you get out of your wheelchair to go through the security thingie. Fine for me, but there were some proper disabled people....and they were the airport's own bloody wheelchairs.

So, I'm back now...obviously...still limping and a bit stiff in the knee area. Going to the hospital next week. Good old NHS. Back in this country 5 weeks after a serious knee injury, and have to wait all that time to check I haven't actually done any lasting damage to myself. What do you want to bet I have to wait anothr 5 weeks for the MRI?

Just for you, Kate!

And because I happen to have an hour or so to kill in the BUSINESS lounge at Atlanta Airport.

OK...so....I had to go to Central and South America for a couple of weeks. We have abunch of customers out there who are way overdue a visit. Plus, my new company has a division to manage the whle region, so we are working on some other stuff too.

Meeting in Costa Rica, then a 10+ day tour of Colombia. Got to admit, was not madly keen on the Colombia bit, but hey ho..it's a job...it pays the bills (just).

Anyway..I shoulda known it was going to be a bad trip when I split wine over myself at the beginning of an 11 hour flight. Then I managed to break my watch trying to adjust the time. When I finally arrived in Costa Rica my colleague was nowhere to be seen. My flight was an hour late...but even so....Turned out he had emailed me instructions, but as he has a Blackberry and I DON'T (that's another story) I was left at San Jose airport, not speaking the old lingo, and fending off eager taxi drivers to the best of my ability.

Anyway...eventually rolled up at the very nice Marriott San Jose. It's about 10.30pm by now. And then, about approximately 11pm, I trip over my laptop case, go down lack a sack o' potatoes....and an excrutiating pain in my knee. Who remembers my fateful pregnancy, and my dislocated knee at 6 months? Well, this is very similar! I am freaked, but realisingly it's not actually dislocated this time, I decide to go to bed (well, i'd been traveling for 24 hours plus at this stage), hoping it would all be fine in the morning.

What do you think? All better? No need to call the travel insurance company? WRONG!

And.....that's part 1, Kate. Tune in next week for more tales of our intrepid heroine as she intrepidly continues her travels against alal odds, and has to give herself injections...yes, injections...with a needle.

A taster....

Soon to come...a tale of woe in Costa Rica....highlights include a critique of the Costa Rican health care system....experiences in a plaster cast.....and how to jump the queue at airport scurity!! Those of you who read my facebook page as well as my blog have a head start....

Month end catch up - fully illustrated!

Well, it has been another busy month chez Robinson, or chez this particular Robinson. I spent a aweek in The Netherlands, a week in Dublin, Ohio and then a week in bed with tonsilitis. Any connection, d'ya think?

Dublin was snowy. In fact, they'd had the worst snowfall since 1910 the weekend before I arrived. Anyway, usual round of looong meetings, but lovely company in the evenings. First pic of a fantastic evening at Jennifer and Scott's home, complete with homemade Missisippi Mud Pie in honour of Jenny's (not Jennifer the hostess) b'day.



The week ended on a bit of a frustrating note......the short version includes the clocks changing in Ohio, but not in Colombia, a videoconference, changing flights and the equipment breaking down. End result - an extra night in Dublin, but a visit to a lovely french restaurant! Bet you're intrigued now! HOme, and the afore mentioned bout of illness, and then.....it was Easter.


Laura's hair is now long enough to scrape (!) in to the world's tiniest pony tail. This makes her very happy:




We had an indoor easter egg hunt this year ( and yes, she is wearing shoes with her nightie. We bought them the day before.)



Mummy got a very big egg for Easter:



And it snowed: