Monthly Archives: August 2008

Horsies and squirrels and Bears, oh my!

Posted on by
1

“He who is tired of London is tired of life. ”

We’re not tired of London, and are already plotting a return trip. But it’s time to move on to the Cotswolds for five nights and we won’t miss our cramped little hotel room near Paddington.

On Sunday, I made good on my threat to attend services at St Johns-Hyde Park. Met the Rev. Margaret Legg, who presided while the Vicar preached. Very diverse, forward looking people- they’re looking forward to the Blessing of the Horses Sep 21, where the vicar will don cope and split cassock and bless the cavalcade (I believe there is a pub visit as well). Terrific young female soloist, plus a young man who played classical guitar.

Before church David and I walked in Hyde Park, with all the dogwalkers and riders on horseback. We paid several appendages to eat breakfast at the nearby Hilton. After I returned we headed out and wasted a lot of terrific on the Original Bus tour on a boat to Greenwich; took too long and the museum was closing by the time we got done with lunch and then had a terrible time getting back on the tube.

Mind The Gap: the first of many

Posted on by
Reply
Flickr

We’ve made it to London, installed in a conveniently located but inconveniently designed hotel room. About to get out and get touristy after a slow morning.

We lucked out and got upgraded to business class on the flight over, but had a rude awakening last night when we got to the hotel. Looks nice in the photos, but the room is half the size you’d expect. Internet service spotty, and there’s street noise. But oh well, we’re in London!

Just got back from a nice service at St John’s Hyde Park – lovely people, lovely music, good mix of different sorts and ages.

Now off to be touristy. We plan to spend part of the day “on the river.”

Via: Flickr Title: Mind The Gap: the first of many By: GinnyRED57
Originally uploaded: 17 Aug ’08, 5.47am CDT PST

Made it to London – naturally had to take the first "Mind the Gap" photo possible.

London Bound

Posted on by
2

We leave in 2 hours. Yeah, we like to hang around OHare and not run late.

The TSA guy was way too cheerful; what’s in his coffee?

We’re on standby for business class and it’s nice that AA’s gate monitor actually shows our request. I got a courtesy Space-A upgrade put in the record by the sales rep, and it looked good last time I checked. Nothing certain until our asses hit leather AND we’re in the air, but surely 11 years of booking biz class on AA for my corporate clients increases my juju.

I’ve been fighting a cold all week, using the Neti pot and OTC cold remedies. My doc is on vacation but yesterday decided I needed prescription drugs in case the cold upgrades itself to a sinus infection. Teh azmuh was already kicking in. The family tendency toward upper respiratory problems…. Gah!

So I went to the local doc-in-box. And it was better than seeing my own quack. Sad, I don’t think our guy has kept up enough.

People are starting to show up at the gate- we were the first ones here. The sunrise was lovely, weather looks good for arrival too. We have prepaid Heathrow Express tickets straight to Paddington, and the hotel is a short distance from the station; no cab needed.

We’re all set, now hope we get the upgrade.

Sorted! Boarding soon, hard work really does pay off. Met Sylvia, Premium Services, who gave us the good news.

Walgreens: Locking up the competition?

Posted on by
Reply

Here’s something odd. I went to Walgreens to pick up my favored brand of antacid/acid reducer. I found it in a locked cabinet, along with several other name brands each in their own locked cabinets. There was a notice saying the rather pricy name brands were secured for the protection of Walgreens’ customers.

The “house brands” were all displayed nearby, unlocked. They were lower in price but the highest-quantity packages were in the same price ranges as the lower-quantity name brand products.

Stymied, since my particular brand didn’t have a Wal-clone, I wandered off looking for someone to open the case.

Turned out I needn’t have bothered. As I returned to the aisle, I spotted a “sale items” shelf right behind where I’d been standing. And there was the large size expensive name brand product I wanted. Unlocked, and unprotected.

So: is Walgreens locking up the spendy name brands and leaving it’s cheaper store brands out, reasoning that shoppers will grab the handier brand and go?

Examine the photos and decide for yourself. Apparently my brand had discontinued the particular quantity packages, which may be why they were on sale and easy to grab.