Jaye's Musings

Arrived safe and sound in Edinburgh yesterday. Had a great view of the Forth Bridge as the plane came into land, which was cool as, sadly, Edinburgh is pretty much all I'll get to do of Scotland on this visit...schedule is way too packed for anything else.

Seeing as by the time we got done with the airport and picked up the rental car, it was pushing mid afternoon, so we are doing the city centre today. Instead we found a cinema and watched X-Men: First Class. Brilliant! Okay, I knew Michael Fassbender would be great as Erik Lensherr/Magneto but he was even better than that! That man can do intensity, or what. Sure, there were some corny/stretching the suspension of disbelief moments (a hovering SR-71, wtf?), but nowhere near enough to spoil the rest. And there is a great cameo appearance in there as well!

So it's been ages since I've posted anything here, and even longer for something that wasn't a meme or birthday wish. So, I thought I need to start posting something more worthwhile more regularly, just to occasionally remind people that I'm still alive round these parts.

I was thinking of just doing a huge update post, but that's rather daunting both for me and for the flist. So, I'll give the briefest on what's been going on in the past few months, with a handful of pics to boot.

-- Back in November, we took a trip to Rome, and I totally loved it...right down to the taxi driver taking us along the Via Appia to come into the city.

-- Hubby deployed in January, and he's still gone.

-- I made and uploaded a new mood theme featuring my favourites.

-- I started working on the novel...which ground to a halt for needed research, and I'm trying to get back into again.

-- I had a visit from one of my oldest friends, gmnoonie and as I was showing her around Trier, I went flying down some steps and sprained my ankle pretty badly. So, her first time in Germany and her tour guide has her leg propped up. But we did get to see "The King's Speech*" in Luxembourg.

-- Then over my son's Spring Break, we took a trip to the UK, and after having an all too brief visit with gmnoonie, we spent a few days in North Wales, where I had a great time doing some research for Mark's novel. It was really good to get a real feel for the landscape. We also went to Portmeirion, also known as The Village in the '60s show "The Prisoner"

( Have some photos )

Future plans are meeting up with franzi1981 on Saturday for a day of fun in Cologne!! And in June, me and the kiddo are heading to Edinburgh and then driving down England, in a very indirect route, until I eventually reach my mum's house. Stops will include Alnwick Castle (aka Hogwarts), Vindolanda Roman Fort on Hadrian's Wall, Lake District, Blackpool, and York.

Then the hubby should be home!

[*] Will be making a post of some recent films I've seen here soon, as well. Gotta keep the momentum going!

We (me, hubby & the kid) are spending a few days in Chester, in north-west England, and the hotel fortunately has wi-fi. Last night we went to Wrexham and saw Adrian Edmondson (of Young Ones fame) perform with his band The Bad Shepherds, there unique brand of punk/folk music. Ade himself plays the thrash mandolin. It was very, very good. Especially the two on the fiddle and bagpipes.

The support band was...not so good. A local band, who I think will stay very local.

Today, we're off around Chester, and from what I've seen already, it's a lovely city. Plenty of old buildings and the medieval city wall. Of course, it was a Roman fort by the name of Deva...where Mark was primarily assigned when he was cursed...so I expect to hear a lot from the muses. *g*

Okay, must dash...again...and get a shower. Miss you all.

Off to Blighty tomorrow for a month! Heading to bed early as I must get up at an ungodly hour to catch flight.

Taking the laptop, so I hope to get a chance or two to see what everyone's been up to, but have fun...I will be. *g*

Hugs,
Jaye