Come with me on my nostalgic journey
Since I am staying the weekend, I have a relaxed morning. While the others are packing, checking out, and storing luggage, I have a cup of coffee and pastry. Our program today is packed with speakers from all arenas of government from civil servants to local authorities, and even a representative from the UK’s European …
Continue reading “September 3, 1999: Tony Blair’s Labour Government and Jack the Ripper’s London”
A BC staffer starts the day’s program by telling us that it is 333 years to the day that the Great Fire of London started in 1666. But, he says, “Don’t worry. Fire protection is much better today.” We listen to the Head of the North American Division of the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office, …
Continue reading “September 2, 1999: London Fellowship Orientation and a New Ferris Wheel”
I gobble down breakfast and hurry to catch the bus to the train station and on to London. Tony says he never goes to London as it is too crowded. He tells me that in 1900, when people traveled in horse-drawn carriages, the average speed on London streets was 4 mph. Today, he says, because …
Continue reading “September 1, 1999: London-National Portrait Gallery and National Liberal Club”
I am loaded down with my computer, briefcase, raincoat, umbrella, shoes, and packages to mail. I feel like it is the first day of school. The only thing missing is lunch in a shiny new lunchbox. Weighed down like this, the walk seems longer than 10 minutes. I stop at Mailboxes, Etc. to mail my …
Continue reading “August 31, 1999: INLOGOV and Banoffee Pie”
It is a bank holiday today so we are still on the weekend breakfast schedule of 9 instead of 8 AM. I go down for coffee and croissant and meet the newest guest—Akiko, a doctor from Japan. Akiko is staying for a week. She admits she is here on a research trip, but laughingly says …
Continue reading “August 30, 1999: The Venice of London and the Floozie in the Jacuzzi”
I am off on my long-anticipated, eagerly-awaited trip to Althrop, the ancestral home of Princess Diana’s Spencer family. As soon as I knew of my fellowship start date in Birmingham, my visit to Althrop was one of the first things I arranged. In fact, I scheduled my arrival a few days early so I could …
Continue reading “August 29, 1999: Althorp, Northamptonshire – Goodnight Sweet Princess”
My first morning in Birmingham, I head downstairs for breakfast. Tony makes the guests’ coffee with a French press and it is not too strong, which I have come to expect of coffee in England. I drink two cups. It is a continental breakfast with cereal, fruit, and pastries. I eat a half a grapefruit, …
I make my way through immigration control, customs, and on to baggage claim…oh, no…baggage claim! Did we arrive in Newark in time to for my bags to make it on the plane to Birmingham? But, yes, here they come around the carousel. I load up my “buggy” and go looking for the British Council representative …
I arrive at Logan in plenty of time and check in. I have four suitcases and am surprised when they don’t charge me extra baggage fees. Then, weather and air traffic control problems push my 4:30 flight to 4:45, then 5:00, and then 6:00 PM. Finally we board, but the pilot announces we are waiting …
This blog is taken from the journal I kept while I was studying and traveling in the UK on a fellowship program from late August 1999 through the Millennial New Year of 2000 (updated and annotated 20 years later). It is hard to believe it has been 20 years. Some things I remember like yesterday. …
Jody’s UK Memories