So, I’m off to the UK at the end of the month.
I’ve made arrangements, all being well, to meet with an American friend of mine at London Gatwick to to lunch.
After much trouble trying to align schedules we figured it out and he decided on a place to eat. Yes I’m from the UK, no I’ve never heard of this place.
The eating establishment chosen was a place called Frankie and Benny’s here’s what they’re all about:
"A themed New York Italian family restaurant and bar. From the clatter and chatter of the open kitchen, to the cosy booth seating and the bottle lined bar, it takes you back to 1950’s New York."
Really?! My first meal on my trip back to the UK will be at an American themed restaurant?!
Right now I’m at the Dispatch desk, working a 11pm – 7am shift.
I thought i was working this later in the week and had planed accordingly. I found out by chance that it was tonight and the new kinda threw my week for a loop.
It’s ok though, it’s 0230 and I’m not dragging too badly. Batman (the one with Jim Carey) is on TV and I have a can of Red Bull left and some Rice stuff to eat.
There’s something about early, early mornings. The still and the general….lifelessness of the peace and quiet that comes, at times, in the small hours of a morning.
It doesn’t seem to matter where I am or what I’m doing, there always seems to be times, at this time of day that remind me of overnight Ferry Crossings.
As a child I would travel to Liverpool (UK) regularly for various things and, more often than not, the most convenient crossing to board back to the Island was the late night crossing, leaving Liverpool (or Heysham) at around 11pm (or after) and getting to the Island around 6am.
Maybe those crossings have been my earliest experiences of very early mornings, thus my association with everything thereafter.
Maybe it’s the pleasant thought of being on a Ferry, on the Irish sea, with the hum of the engines, the sound of the sea and the still and quiet of everyone around you either quietly going about their business or trying to sleep.
Still, I’m not complaining, it’s not a bad thing and it’s sometimes nice to reminisce.
My economic stimulus check arrived today. It’s in the bank already.
Also, my second monitor arrived. It’s a 20.something inch Widescreen Princeton. It’s not spectacular, it’s so much brighter and seemingly bigger than my old LCD though.
I’m happy that I have 2 monitors on the desk now – I can see productivity increasing and my life getting a lot easier.
I’ll take a picture of the setup sometime when it’s all cleaned up a little.
So, here’s the plan.
Tomorrow I’ll go get my hair (all of them) cut at my local barber shop.
I’ve not had it cut anywhere else in years.
It’s a small, Italian type place, where, for $10 you get a haircut and the barber (Carmine himself) gets a $2 tip.
It’s more about entertainment than anything. At any time of day (4 or 5 am through 4 or 5 pm, Tuesday – Saturday) you’ll find all kinds of characters.
It’s a good cut too. Shaving cream and cut-throat razor included. Suckers for the kids and dog biscuits for the local dogs.
Yes, I know – you’d think that this post was is a sponsored one. Wrong. I’ll pay my $10 tomorrow and Carmine likely wouldn’t know a blog if it bit him.
Around the coast of the United Kingdom there are volunteer lifeboat stations (of course there are a number of the Isle of Man). Whenever there are emergencies at sea the lifeboats go out to do whatever is needed.
Most stations have the boat launch from the boathouse down a ramp into the water. (see videos after the jump)
It’s kinda like the fire service except not as hot and stuff.
