Was That It?

So, back from another epic trip to Czech and it feels over all too soon and as if the days flew by.

Some thoughts, meanderings and conundrums on the past ten days:

• Weather was pretty good - some days comfortably topping 30
• Climbed the highest mountain in Czech - took eight hours including the walk there and back.
  
• During above walk did not apply nearly enough sun lotion and have suffered ever since. Legs, arms and neck quite bad - with bad pain and a blistering, leaking chin
• Both drives were OK. Coming back early this morning we were stuck near Frankfurt for an hour due to a bad crash. Luckily, we made the train on time, but it was a near thing
• Visited a Czech cinema for the first time. Interesting that beer is sold as well as the usual popcorn, natchos etc. In fact beer is sold in petrol stations as well - something our PC nanny State would never allow - and McDonald's (Vincent Vega was right). Cannabis is also legal (can be bought in drink form in Tesco and the weed variety in bars)
• Czech drivers are nuts. The overtaking and risk taking on the roads made even M1-hardened Claude wince
• Had a tour of the University of Hradec Králové from a professor friend of ours. He also printed a super-sized photo for Claude of a picture I took of the Giant Mountains

Off on Hols

So, we are leaving for Czech tomorrow. Will be leaving a bit later than usual, but will be the same trip to the Tunnel and then through Europe.

I quite look forward to the trip now - feels like a big adventure driving through all the different countries.

Well, will report on what we got up to on my return next week.

Claude out

Happy Birthday, Claude

1st Anniversary of this blog.

Amazed it has lasted this long to be honest...

Great New Site

Well worth checking out if planning a trip to Prague:

www.praguebreak.co.uk

London

Took a trip to the Smoke on Sunday - was a long day, but spent some time at the excellent Natural History and Science museums.

Also jumped on a tube to see the Palace - no sight of the Queen or even the Duke.

It is a very exciting place to visit, but also very tiring. At least the drive down and back wa a dry-run for the epic Czech trip we make next week.

Bat Out of Hell

I am not a fan of bats. Never have been and things didn't approve last year when one flew into our bedroom when we were asleep.

So, I was a bit unnerved when taking a late stroll home last night from the local pub with my fiancee, that the air was full of the little buggers. I wasn't happy as they flew across our path and could be seen in the moonlight twirling and darting about.

As my tension grew, one flew right over my head from behind and shot down in front of me. I am not proud to admit that I emitted, what can only be described as, a girly shriek and flung my arms over my head.

All self-respect gone, I have endured some merciless ribbing ever since.

State of the Nation: 2

Good on her - the English abroad are a total embarrassment:

State of the Nation

Working with a colleague this week on an information leaflet we are preparing to give to patients. In one part we had the phrase "to provide the ideal environment".

This prompted the colleague to suggest "we should use something instead of 'environment' as lots of people won't understand what it is."

Makes you proud to be British...