Stay for sauna and self-catering in Scotland at a Distillery

Scotland' s well known attractions are Edinburgh castle, the Edinburgh festival with comedies and serious plays. Glasgow's museums and galleries, such as Rennie Mackintosh. The Lakes - the the loch Ness monsters. You start your day with porridge, adding salt, or it may come with added salt, instead of the sugar you would get in London. During the day you could visit a whisky distillery, and end your day with a night cap, a drop, or dram of the local drink.

Whisky distilleries are a feature of Scotland. Popular with the Japanese. In fact anyone, even if you don't drink the stuff.

Short Tours and Long Stays

If you are interested in gin, vodka or whisky, a distillery tour might interest you. You can also stay at Arbikie whose accommodation option is self catering. Add a sauna. Or simply sit admiring the scenery, their website suggests.

Whisky is strong stuff. So are other spirits. A wee dram (a small sample of drink) is enough for me. 

A little goes a long way. So a barman will gladly dilute it make a longer drink. You can add water to whisky, or ice, in which case it is called 'on the rocks'. Turn your other spirits into cocktails. Perennial favourites are gin and tonic. 

Or vodka and orange. That's for me.

 Useful Website

https://arbikie.com/pages/stay-with-us-1

Charing Cross Station Artwork

 A lot of platforms. But here are some of them. More later.

Embankment station - abstract artwork on platforms

 

Modern abstract artwork on platforms of Embankment station. Photo by Angela Lansbury.

A handy station with several lines. Walk uphill to Trafalgar Square.

Lots of eating places nearby. both coffee bars for a quick coffee and a bite or pubs and restaurants where you can linger.

Useful Websites

https://tfl.gov.uk/tube/stop/940GZZLUEMB/embankment-underground-station/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embankment_tube_station

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_on_the_Underground

Sweet wine from Bali

 

As the label tells you, Sweet Syrah comes from Bali.

13%. 

Sweet Syrah.

You can visit their vineyard in Bali, Indonesia.

Useful Website

hattenwines.com

Don't leave children in cars - doesn't everybody know this?

 

Children trapped in cars by car locks can suffer from changes in the temperature inside the car. 

The same applies to babies, and animals.

Sometimes the parents make a mistake. Sometimes the carer does so. How could you check on your child? By a sensor in the car, a car seat, or just asking the driver of the car, or the carer, to send you updates.

In the UK two pre-schools send the parents a photo or video half way through the morning, at lunch and after lunch, about every two hours. To a group chat on whatsapp which both parents can watch. This should be done with all children. 

You also need a visual watch on the inside of your car to be sure nobody is left inside. 

Some modern cars in the USA have text reminders. Or digital messages about detecting heat or movement in the passenger or back seat. These reminders can also be connected to your phone, or to a group such as both parents.

I think there should be a big sign warning that is it a criminal offense to leave a child locked in a car for more than 5 minutes. It should go on private cars and hire cars. 

Check the government and local laws where you live and the USA State or country you are visiting. 

Useful Websites

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15664655/Frankie-Rodenbaugh-marthas-vineyard-car-left-nanny-manslaughter-Aimee-Cotton.html

Previous Event

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14859103/Kameron-Jamel-Williams-dead-hot-car-Georgia.html

https://www.safeintheseat.com/post/what-is-sensorsafe-car-seat

A post on the USA

https://www.safeintheseat.com/post/is-it-illegal-to-leave-your-kids-in-the-car#:~:text=Yes.,big%20difference%20for%20their%20safety.

https://www.facebook.com/DonaldTrump4President/posts/-my-baby-my-baby-terrifying-daylight-carjacking-attempt-at-la-gas-station-expose/1352903463532346/

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Late night soup near Embankment & Charing Cross Stations

L'Ulivo, The Olive restaurant.

Notice that the name is not Olivo but Ulivo. The restaurant is between Embankment and Charing Cross stations. In a pedestrian alleyway between the two.

Popular Locations

I use Charing Cross station and Embankment stations a lot. Charing Cross is by Trafalgar Square and several museums and galleries. Embankment is near other attractions. Walking between them you see the old Sherlock Holmes pub.

Embankment Station Coffee Shops

Coming out of Embankment station, you are facing a coffee bar with minimal seating, and just to its left under the arches with more seating is another coffee bar. A good place for a quick stop when on your way to a meeting if you are early, and it is raining.

Embankment Station Souvenirs

A huge souvenir shop is under the arches by Embankment station. I love looking in the window and want to buy everything. It sells everything from nonsenses like mesmerising nodding head dolls and ducks wearing union Jacks and crowns, to small suitcases at large prices.  I once saw a minicar covered in Union Jacks. I immediately announced to my spouse, 'If I lived in a mansion with a large hall I would buy it'. My alarmed husband dragged me away.

However, my latest discovery, was the restaurant down the alley which leads uphill to Embankment station. 

We ordered soup of the day, vegetable soup, and white bread to dunk in it. That was enough to ruin the diet, but gave us energy for long journeys home to the suburbs.

The place, whose name means olive, has recently been redecorated. The latest romantic style, with fairy lights on trees. 

A great place to sit and converse after a meeting, recount stories of people and places and tell jokes.

The toilets are down a steep flight of stairs. Our jolly host claimed he was quoting the late Queen Mother, 'Go when you can, not when you must.'

I think that applies to both toilets and restaurants.

Useful Websites

tfl

Embankment Station

Charing Cross Station

Olive Restaurant

lulivocharingcross.uk

L'ulivo Charing Cross, Italian Restaurant, caffe, bar, 23 Villiers Street, Charing Cross WC2H 6ND

tel: +44 020 3441 3012.

Open 12 noon until 11 pm, until 10.30 pm Sundays.

Links and photo being added. Come back in half an hour.

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Driving or Hiking - need toilets and toilet paper?

What to do in a car or traffic jam

Keep a bowl or empty bottle in the car. If you are caught short and will soon reach toilets, but not in time, empty out a water bottle. Use it as a toilet. Empty out - it still looks like a water bottle, but remove the label. Wash it out later or with a second bottle of water.

How to Hide - Undressing Discreetly Behind Barriers

When hiking, you might wish to go behind a bush. But you risk falling over tree roots, into holes. Or attracting insects, even animals. 

Once in the undergrowth, removing your underwear is another challenge. You don't want to wet your clothes from drips, splashes.

How to hide when removing underwear. 

Use an umbrella over yourself when squatting, or over the open door of a vehicle, or over the window, or held by your passenger. 

Use a towel or coat over the car door or window. A closed car door or open car door.

Place a coat or cushion or pillow to block the view into the car through the back or front window. 

Keep in the car and fold up concertina cardboard or cloth car window shade. These are designed to protect the car from over heating in sun. They also, keep off flies. Or as a barrier to rain and snow.

Prevention Rather Than Cure

Remember, it might be unhygienic or illegal or unpopular to urinate within a city or near buildings. to avoid needing to go, wait to eat food and drink liquids until you are near a toilet.

A saying attributed to various people, is:

Go when you can, not when you must.

This means using the toilet before leaving a restaurant even if you don't feel the urge.

Wet Wipes - DIY

You can make emergency wet wipes and hand cleaners by putting the contents of a box of tissues or face flannels in a sealable plastic box and adding enough water to wet the fabric. If it dries out, you can add more drinking water.

Useful Websites on improvising toilets when hiking

https://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Shit-Woods-Environmentally-Approach/dp/1984857134

https://www.hipcamp.com/journal/camping/forget-toilet-paper-here-are-5-leaves-you-can-use-in-a-pinch

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