The lady in the van

Or how Maggie Smith does troll us again. 

Yes, Dame M. Smith is on again. Hardly making any holiday it seems from making movies and TV Shows and being guest on Talking Shows. 

Now she is playing another role of her live I may suggest. Thought she played this part already in the 90tis on stage in London- around 1999. 

Now the Lady in the van is a story which is more or lesson true and happend to be about a real person which Alan Bennet meet years ago. A women who came with her car and parked outside his new house and finally in his parking space/ garden and did not left him before 15 years have gone buy. 

The book is a bit different to the stage play and the movie also from both but after reading the book and seeing the movie I can assure you that the movie is a very good adaptation. Different from the storytelling but telling the story in a warm and nice way. With quite a lot of humor and a soft storytelling and this made it lovely to see, as the actors all had a very good chance to dig into the caracters and play as well as possible and even more. The story freely told and a bit like a fairy tale, touches and will not let you without tears of laughter and cry. 

It's not a big movie, not very long, but entertaining, marvelous and warming. You can watch it alone or with friends- it is always perfect. 

Maggie Smith who has the main part, plays that vagabond and a bit crazy women without any hasitation and completly without vanity. She shows age, she shows insanity, she shows hunger for life, but also fear and hope and the which of being human, being self. A stubborn person who seems to have her very own mind but not without logic. 

Alex Jennings who plays Alan Bennet and his second self is splendid in his douple role play. Naturaly and calm he declares this women, his story as something very natural, thought he shows how much this isn't the case. 

This idea is new in the movie as the book and play are telling the story more or lesson from his (Alan Bennets) point of view and kind of like he is sitting in a couch and telling stories for us to remember a women who declined and changed her name twice for not being noticed. Well, that lady will be remembered. Thought in the end you may say she is with us. 

So watch the movie and have your heart melt and your face with a smile in the end. 

P.S. you will also met two teachers from Hogwarts...

Love & Light

L-O-N-D-O-N or the stage for your holiday

Yes, this town never fails to show me new sides and as I have friends in town it is always great to see what to discover new or going to places I still have never been, thought I have been many times in London now. 

Again a rainy day and a storm warning from Gatwick and so my start was unsure and a bit of a bumpy ride then. Thought I had worse flights. 

But being much later in town as planed it was just to be flexible in making my decisions. 

As I arrived at London Bridge station, I went on to take a little walk through the South Bank to come to Waterloo station, where a dear friend of mine was waiting on a side of the station I have never been before and so it took me actually more time to find him, then the walk from one station to another. 

I really love the South Bank. There is all I want to see and always meet again when I am in London, from the Tate Modern, to the Globe, to the London Eye. 

But behind the Waterloo Station do people live and that was nice to see and as it also looked very like you imagine it, it was fun to stay at my friends home and area. Could also see from the window the Shark, as the trees have lost their leaves. 

That afternoon we went to the centre to Soho to eat in the Gay village and to walk around, look into stores and see what Oxford Street has to offer. 
The shopping malls have been dull and far to many H&M stores are in that area. Not a god sign I believe and usually shopping used to be nice there, but just now it seems very without fantasy. The musical theatre on the other hand, well there are many of them actually, all have been successful and a lot of people stood outside to come inside to watch the plays. 

The Carnaby Street was once a very good secret tip and you could shop alternative and special clothes there. Now it has changed totally. Blinking lights are fine but expensive shops and nothing special, alternative or something -a -like is there to find. Very sad. 

I so much remember the old way it was in the 90'tis. But Soho has nearly changed to the same thing, thought it is still Soho and the Pups are nice and the clubs are fun, but the shops have changed and it is much for tourists and people with money. 

The apple market was surprisingly nice and with mistletoes hanging around, I had to smile and wonder.  Thought all the stores are very expensive there too. 

Actually being around Soho and several streets from them made me feel it all is like a stage. All looked so similar to watching a movie in that area. It felt like being in a movie, not in a town. Wonder what people feel, who are going through this area every day. Do they still see? 

My friend and I had a very nice afternoon and eat good food and later went on to drink our coffee in a more quite place which we found not far away from Soho. Thought it was a stormy day, it felt like, the english people complain about something, which was not really that strong. I remember heavier storms in Berlin. 

Then our way was to go back and behind the Somerset House over the bridge where it has been very, very stormy and hard to make pictures of the skyline. The Waterloo Bridge is big and long but my decision for next day was made. Go back and take again some pictures in daylight.

Next day we came back but with a turn to Gabriel's Wharf, which is a little tip for amusing you, shopping nice and being next to the river and if you go round the house you'll see it is very old and very nice. 

Then after taking pics again, we went into the Somerset house and went through the portal and there we have the winter fun starting. Skate on Ice, a x-mas tree and x-mas shopping inside. How wonderful this was. Coming out of the Somerset to the street named Strand, you'll see the little Saint Mary -le-strand church in the middle of the street. No explaining to get. It just stands there. 

Now the Embankment was behind us and we walked on as our goal was to come to sky gardens. We booked our time before and you should do it too as it is not easy to get time to go up. So book in time!!!!

But we had time over and drove to science museum and it is as last time very interesting and we also watched two of the 3D movies - one was -The unseen and hidden world- and the other one was -Being in space-. Thought, I still must say the 3D movie about -Undersea- is best. But watch them anyway as it is fun and meanwhile you can also eat popcorn or if you don't watch it go to the museum coffee. 

Sky Garden then in the late afternoon is a spectacle up on the 35. floor, big, bigger then you believe and with palm trees, three restaurants and a bar more then just a place to look over town and see the sunset. Unlike the Shark. It is a place, a place to be, a place to meet, to celebrate and if you go to the restaurant, take the Darwin. Good food. Not too expensive and friendly and nice service. We had not booked a table but have been able to get one. The view was special and our time up there in the sky, between the clouds has been very amusing and nice. 

Later we went down to stroll around and took a coffee to go. 
Big towns always have an open coffee shop. :-)

But it was not that late and still time to do something. What can one do in the middle of the week? Go out dancing was not the plan so we went to cinema in the Odeon. Saw the -Lady in the van- and had fun that way. Yes, one should always go to cinema once in another country. 

Next day my way went to Hammersmith a very nice area and less tourist are to find and so you also see more how people do live and there are nice ways to take a walk at another river side. But on the way I stopped by again in Soho in the Greek Street to take our breakfast in the Maison Bertaux. Go there, best french breakfast, cake and so on in town I dare to say. Yummy and all self made and it is really very english and french in the same time being there. Little, with a bit of hustle and bustle in the morning, but then, charming and an original which is seldom now in that area. Just go there! 

In Hammersmith then, I was there to see the River House Trust again and to meet another friend. 

Of course we went into a Pup. England with not going in one of them would not be real. I just don't understand how one can drink beer before ten or eleven, or even 12 o' clock. 

Soon the time was over and I had to travel to airport, thought it seems always the same, the Gatwick Express can take a longer time then the normal Southern line train. Anyway, I was back in time and that was good as we had a lost baggage and police with big guns went around and all had to wait. I had also seen the many flowers in front of the National Museum by the way as Paris was not far away and long ago. 

But I am one of those who believes in now more then ever to live our life is best we can do instead of hiding. 

LOVE & LIGHT

...and of course PICTURES! 

Station London Bridge this pic and above

walk in the South Bank.. and pics below too

the Globe Theatre 

this place is well known, isn't it?

that is part of the apple market

x-mas decoration in SOHO

on the Waterloo Bridge

spot the LONON EYE

the same on daytime

Somerset House

in the science museum

sky garden just in front of the entrance 

right side is the Darwin restaurant

underground floor... many of them to walk along- that is LONDON

mince pie 

the golden swan in Hammersmith

Manchester United or a visite in the red town

It's already a week ago that I touched the ground on Canal Street in Manchester and found Kikki still alive and vivid. Actually I was with my man in another club which is in an old house and seems to be a Pup and a Disco in one. I really liked it. Just the music was that night not really my thing, but the decoration, the look of the inside, the mix of the people, the beer and the barkeeper, all was very enjoyable and like it should be, I may say. 

Starting from raining Berlin, we arrived in part cloudy, part sunny Manchester on Picadelly Station and let the wind blow through our hair. Immediately the eye catched the mix of old and new, of beauty and well less beauty buildings and surprisingly a lot of folks on the street. 

But the first surprise was earlier when flying over Manchester before landing on the airport to see that Manchester and what is part of it and around is quite a big area, not just a little town with about 500mill people and some more. 

Now most people asked me why going to Manchester. It's not London, it's just soccer- Manchester United and then what? 

It's culture, it's architecture, it's a lot going on there and change is on every corner more or lesson. It has history and music, it has fashion, thought most is just starting to rise again, as you may know, once this town was rich and successful and had a lot more inhabitants but after industry situation changed it all went down but not completly which is now the reason why things are going up again and why this town has potential. Above the fact that it is a bit cheaper then London. It has beautiful churches, libraries and coffees and if you have more then 3-4 days, you can also prove that Manchester is the new kitchen in town or should I say from the country itself.

So strolling, kind of, through the centre as it is next to the station, when you arrive from the airport with the train, we got the first catch on how far things are and what to expect. 

Then we went down to the Oxford Rd and near the station with the same name and took a coffee in Sturbucks which looks bit different to what we are used to in Germany, but then it was kind of a mix inside. Being nearly under the train bridge, next to the river Medlock, with windows so typical for England and there it was, old and new together. Fitting all the students as this is the beginning of the area of the universities in Manchester. 

Yes, take an afternoon to walk the Oxfolk street up and 1,5 km or so just buildings from the University area and inside the stones from the University of Manchester is the Manchester Museum, which is very nice and quite big and mostly about nature and science of it, with real animals and skeletons of Dinos and many other animals. Also very perfect for a day with children. Then walk the same street up again and you will find a red house in a little park/garden and it is the Gallery of Costumes in the Platt Hall. Thought so many costumes did we not find and it contains also other arts. It is a small but fine museum. 

Not far away from it, there is the famous curry mile, thought it seems very dull at daytime and you may try it in the late afternoon otherwise this was the only area which I absolutely did not like and it had the feeling of a energy I simply did not like and so turning around fast was the only solution.

Inside Manchester, in the centre is enough to discover, so let's get back and walk down the Oxford Rd and then walk into the Whiteworth street. Right side. Looking back then you will see the River Palace a very beautiful building and if you turn right one street before, you'll discover a better side of it, and very old Pups too. 

Walking up the Whiteworth street offers you food on the way and the look on so many busses, that you wonder how they make it. Even in Berlin I never saw so many on one street. Not once! 

But let's go on and then you will reach the Sackville Gardens which are a must when you love internet, and of all those machiens called computers, as there he is, Alan Turing. Visite him and say hello! 

After that, left of him, right beside him, the memorials for the victimes of HIV are to find and still people suffer, still numbers risen, but that is another blog about. 

Then just look over the river and there is the famous Canal Street. The gay village, it's of course bigger then this one famous street and in summer for sure a place to be! 

Not far away and the chinese village is to cross, thought don't expect to much, it is very little and surprisingly dull. 

Three days is a start, but soon you discover it is far to less to see all and so you have to decide. 

We took of course first into the rooms we would stay over night. No, not a hotel, not a motel, it was B&B, actually a mix of couchsurfing and B&B, This gives you always the chance to come into contact with locals. More or lesson. Our host was very friendly, smiling and funny, thought the room was nice but a bit improvised. Not really my thing this B&B and couchsurfing. Yes, I am a hotel people after all. The luxury must it be. 

So breakfast, the real one, we found it in a very nice and quite big Pup right across from the Town Hall. The service nice and the food good, thought the little extra was missing. The rooms absolutely fantastic, even the toilets. 

The Town Hall is a must to go in and just now and untill christmas is over, there will be a market inside! Outside there is the famouse x-mas market which just opend the weekend we have been there and of course all that german dingsbums was there from Bratwurst to Glühwein. The christmas market goes on in the streets around and has much to offer, from food to presents to buy and the atmosphere is warm even when it rains. 

At one of the endings you meet the Joahn Rylands Library, which looks like a cathetral and has many very old books and manusciptes to show. Go inside, if not you'll miss a very nice experience and a dream of a library! 

What can I say, to walk from there whatever direction is to see old buildings, best shopping and food and Christmas Minions too. 

Three days and we went to the Northern Quarter as this is called the area for alternative shopping and has the famous alternative shoppig house. Yes, here shappy chic is still reality and on our way we took our afternoon tea in the 2/4. Then we just went on this direction, then another one, this street and that street, discovering arts on walls and buildings, paintings and went back to the centre, had our street food which was very good and the shopping for presents went very well. 

Another day and we went by to eat - all you can eat- near china town and then let the foot inside the little St. Mary Church. The Manchester Cathetral was not planed but suddenly we have been standing in front of it and so we went inside. Well, it is big and surprsingly with modern windows and warm. Good place to hide a while from rain. 

The national football museum is nearby but we did not visite it. It is said to be good but with little time in three days including arriving and leaving, we had to make choices.

By the way, Manchester United T-shirts have never been cheap, but go in a shopping mall it is cheaper, go to airport, it was cheapest price. I just only knew before. 

The Manchester wheel we did not found. Is it still there? The Hat museum was also on the list, but seemed to be always not on our way. 

Manchester is good to discover by walking but some things need a ride with a bus or tram. 

Even when the rainy days are on, it mostly does not look depressing, thought some old new buildings are really ugly and many places are a question- what will they build there? The buildings most time only in the centre higher then the average high, it is all smaller then in London. More cosy in some corners too. As a tourist you'll find enjoyment here and will have enough to discover for a week and even more, when you take the train to Liverpool and the national gardens. But how living really is in Manchester I still do not know. Got such a small look at it, that it feels unreal. Can't say I fall in love with this town and have to see it once again and others too. But for a traveler it is a good destination and a reason to be there instead for London. 

So catch a guide you can buy in a good book store or travel store and look up what you want to see and more, when you have some days left. 

We will come back for sure to prove, if there is sun in summer in Manchester!

Now of course a lot of pictures to go through, even for YOU!

Have fun!

Love & Light

yes it is what it looks like :-)

Picadelly Station

look out of the window from starbucks on the river

near GAY Village

the Palace

China town Gate

in the centre you'll find some of these buildings

Kiki and the original Queer As Folk Show comes to mind

Canal Street by daylight

Alan Turing

HIV/ AIDS Memorial

Town Hall in the back and just the red Pub is to recommend for english breakfast

Town Hall and christmas market

the Library I wrote about

inside the Library and also the pics now following

old and new together- the library entrance

must be the english humor!

inside the St Mary's Church

inside the Manchester Cathetral

on the way to the northern quarter- looks like Sherlok Holms could have been here

again, Town Hall, but the market inside! Oh those x-mas cloths!

on the Oxford Rd down the University lane

the little museum- Whitworth Art Gallery

seems the beast looked once very much like a wild pig

Art installation about how we live and use things

Harry Potter must be here somewhere!

Manchester Museum

same building... and I have a lot more pictures but that should be enough for now...