The Flags of the UK, England, and Scotand

 

The Union Jack, flag uniting the countries of the United Kingdom.

The Union Jack contains the flag of Scotland. 

The Union Jack combines the flags of England, which football fans will recognize as the Red cross on a white background, with the flag of Scotland. (Plus the red saltire of St Patrick of Ireland. Wales was already united with England when the new flag adding Scotland, after the death of unmarried and childless Elizabeth I when the king of Scotland, James became the King of England as well.)

The flag of Scotland is the cross of St Andrew, a saltire (x shape) of white on blue. You will see this on buildings, alongside the Union Jack. Currently, in 2026, the Scottish flag may be flown on government buildings where there are two flagpoles alongside the Union Jack, but not allowed to replace or be put solo). 

Flags also appear on the front (bow) of a ship, as ships are not simply advertising their country but are required by law to show their country of origin by flying it on the flagstaff, a short pole or stick at the front. 

A more specific flag at the back, the ensign, is like a signature, at the back, the stern, higher on a flagpole, I presume so it can be seen from the front and all around, gives more detail, of the owner-operator, such as whether it is the royal navy or a commercial ship.

Useful Website

Wiki on flags

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

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

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

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

Above, top the flag of Scotland.

The Union Jack contains the flag of Scotland. 

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.  And whisky distilleries!

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

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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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Spanish Place Names Translated (Part 2)

Flag of the USA

 The name Spain is derived from the Ancient Roman name for the area, Hispania. That's why people from the region are still called hispanic.

I wondered why technical articles referred to ancient Roman, when we normally just speak about the Romans. Were they a subsection of Romans, the earliest ones? Then I realised that recent, modern, and current inhabitants of Rome are called Romans. Rome is still there, still called Rome. So it just means the Roman Empire?

Checking Spelling

I thought better check on this. When I was a sub-editor I learned that you need to check on everything, even if you think it is obvious and well-known. Spellings, vary from the UK to the USA. 

Checking Capital Cities

Capital cities are not necessarily the largest cities or the ones with the biggest population. New York is not the capital of America. The capital is Washington DC. Capitals move. The same applies to the capital cities of US states. Also watch out for the capitals of Australia, Indonesia, Poland, and Russia. 

Capitals get moved, because of weather, sinking cities, to be more central, or to please populations who want the capital nearer where they live, especially with rival groups, to depopulate a crowded place or to populate an empty area and provide more work and space. So, the names and locations of capital cities, and smaller cities, will change.

Spanish Place Names in Spain and the USA

Spanish names have stayed and become so familiar that if you don't speak Spanish, you forget the origin. Some Spanish place names are well-known and obvious if you speak some Spanish, or after you have heard about them. 

The Spanish origin names can be grouped into various categories. Some are named after saints or people. Others are named after geographical features.

I have arranged them alphabetically, with the components separated.

Spanish - English Place Names

angeles - angels, as in the Californian city Los Angeles

el - the (add an accent on the letter e to make the word he) as in El Paso

el paso - the pass

grande - not grand ie important but large

los - the (plural, like these and those) as in Los Angeles

Los Angeles - the angels

paso - pass or place where you pass over a mountain or through a border

rio - river

rio grande - big river, or river which is long and wide. The order of the name reminds you that in Spanish the adjective comes after the noun. 

sacramento - sacrament

San Francisco - Saint Francis

Useful Websites About Capital Cities and place names

This post is being compiled. Come back later for more.

Spanish Place names translated (Part 1)

Spanish - English

Costa - coast

Costa Del Sol - coast of the sun (or sunny coast)

de - of

del - of the

el - the 

entrada - entrance

salida - exit

sol - sun

Plaza Mayor, Madrid - main square, Madrid

PACKING LIST - clothes, shoes, accessories, souvenirs, documents

Suitcase Scooter

 

Permanent Packing List

When I was a busy travel writer, taking at least one trip a month, often two or three times a month, I would keep a suitcase permanently packed with clothes in black, white and red. 

My all purpose wheelie bag contained all the things I had regretted not taking on previous trips.

CLOTHES & COSMETICS

Clothes can be packed flat. Or rolled up. Packed in sets matching fabric and occasions. Accessory sets by colour, eg a black belt inside or alongside a bag or pair of shoes or hat.

1 A swimsuit and swimhat. Later I bought a swimsuit with an attached hood.

2 I always had one tank top in case it turned sunny, or I had a stopover somewhere warm.

3 A brimmed hat or baseball cap.

4 A thermal vest, scarf and gloves for chilly nights, air conditioning, breezy boat trips, or trips to another continent with reverse seasons.

5 A couple of scarves, one with gold to convert a plain black or white tee-shirt into an evening outfit, for dining out, unexpected invitation to a birthday party or wedding. A big scarf like a sarong for changing on the beach, sun protection, entering churches and temples. 

6 The spare clothes in my shoulder bag, in case my luggage took a side trip, were a set of underwear.

7 Plus spare sandals. 

8 Flat towelling slippers saved from a hotel.

9 For summer I had a towelling facecloth, sun lotion, mosquito repellent and sting relief. 

10 A gift - in case you end up staying with somebody, getting invited to dinner at a home, or are invited to dinner and cannot reciprocate. Take sizes of family at home in case you want to buy gifts for the family. 

10 TOILETRIES BAG

My year round toiletries in a waterproof bag were 

1 a travel toothbrush and toothpaste, 

2 comb and folding brush, 

3 razor, and shaving cream 

4 Swiss army knife or tweezers-cum-nailfile set, 

5 Corkscrew cum bottle opener, 

6 Mini knife-fork-spoon.

7 Instead of a mini perfume, I later carried a lavender roll-on and /or lemon/citronella which acted as insect repellent. 

8 Emergency tooth filling kit and spare glasses for driving/reading

9 Plus a folding bag to bring back souvenirs. 

10 Travel Diary/notebook and pen with my address stickers on them. 

Copied Documents

1 I emailed myself a note of where to find my passport 

2 and leftover currency.

3 I and the people at home had a copy of my passport showing the number in case of loss, 

4 and a copy of my annual travel insurance. 

5 Clipboard to keep vital documents handy. Temperature at destination. Currency converter, eg pounds to dollars, dollars to euros. Disguised version of my computer password. 

6 Two pieces of notepaper headed My destination address, one for my handbag, the other for family at home. 

7 Travel Tickets. Even if I had them on my phone, in case my phone battery died, the airport had no internet reception, or my phone was stolen.

8 Two printed pictures of my travel luggage, listing colour, size and brand, to show to airport staff trying to locate items removed from the carousel, or to report loss for delivery delayed, or compensation.  

Big card with the words and a tickbox

1 PASSPORT 

2 TICKET PHONE SPECTACLES/SUNGLASSES/READING GLASSES HAT KEYS DRIVING LICENSE NUMBER CAR INSURANCE/AA number, number of neighbour at home. Turned off gas. Closed curtains. Emptied bins. Left on lights, radio,  Turn off gas. PILLS. Plasters.

Turn on

Check nothing is left in microwave, oven, hob, fridge, tabletop, dishwasher, washing machine, tumble dryer.

Number of hospital overseas. Vaccination/COVID records.

On arrival, check emergency exit from building and bedroom and restaurant. 

Also fire extinguisher. If restaurant has no fire exit and no fire extinguisher, complain and leave. Inform family or colleagues of the fire exit and fire extinguisher locations. 

Gifts and birthday cards. 

Print out of essential words in foreign language from Wikitravel phrasebook.

Photographing everything you pack provides a record if you are looking for a lost item, proving the loss to insurance companies.

Another way of packing is to divide his and hers stuff in half. That way you only unpack one suitcase for the first half of the journey, the other for the second half. If one suitcase of the two goes missing, both of you still have clothes.

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Spanish Simple Words Translated In Online Reviews, The Media And Food

Spain in the world, from Wikipedia.

 I saw several of these everyday Spanish words in clothing reviews on Temu which were translated and in Facebook. You can also translate in Google translate. Find numbers, days of the week and phrases in Wikivoyage phrasebook Spanish.

Spanish - English

NB the ending o is masculine, and the ending a is feminine. The ending e is also feminine/ El is he. Ella is she.

buena - good

calidad - quality

buena calidad - good quality

de - of (the same word as in French)

delicado - delicate

el - the (mansculine)

elegante - elegant

en - in

en las fotos - in the photos

es - (it) is

estupendamente - great

fotos - photos

las/los - the (plural)

ligero - light (first three letters are the same_#

material - material

muy - very

muy elegante - very elegant

naranja - orange

para las noches - for the nights

Noches - nights

perfecto - perfect

y - and

English - Spanish

and - y

delicate - delicado

elegant - elegante

in - en

 in the photos - en las fotos

for the nights - para las noches

good - buena

good quality - buena calidad 

ingredients - ingredientes

(it) is - es

light - ligero

material - el material

of - de

orange - naranja

perfect - perfecto

photos - fotos

quality - calidad

the - las/los (as in Los Angeles, the city in the USA, meaning the angels)

very - muy

very elegant - muy elegante 

Useful Websites for learning simple Spanish

duolingo.com

translate google

wikivoyage phrasebook Spanish

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St Patrick's Day Shamrock Symbol On Planes, Buildings, Stamps And Souvenirs

 Yesterday I photographed jolly balloons in green, white and orange, outside Wetherspoons pub in Hatch End, near Hatch End railway station, in NW London, England.

The colours of the balloons are the colour of the flag of Eire, the Republic of Ireland, the south, from Wikipedia which tells you more.

The main colour in the north is green, from the Emerald Isle. Green because of the abundant vegetation, like Wales (where a famous book was How Green Was My Valley). The west gets the rain which grows the abundant plants, grass, and trees. And lakes, and rivers.

Green is the colour of the shamrock. 

Shamrocks 

St Patrick used the shamrock to convey the idea of the trinity, and you can see the shamrock on a stained glass window of St Patrick holding a shamrock, in a church. 

#Shamrocks are displayed on British coins, stamps, and on Buckingham Palace, and aeroplanes. 

You can buy hats and tee shirts featuring shamrocks. to be prepared for next year, or any other Irish gathering, you can buy a dress or cardigan with green shamrocks from Amazon.

 I bought flip-flops with shamrocks from a poolside shop in Singapore, to be seasonally dressed for a Toastmasters International speakers' club.

Useful Websites

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Patrick%27s_Day

Armagh, Northern Ireland, and St Patrick

https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Armagh

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Patricks-Women-Clearance-Outerwear-Sweatshirt/dp/

Updated March 19th 2026.

SPANISH SPEAKING quick tip on this and is

Flag of Spain

 I started translating sentences I was thinking.

I thought, what is this? This is my diary.

But the Spanish translation was que esto

este es mi diario

Why was este use in one place, este in another.

Este is like the. it comes before a noun. esto is alone.

Just remember este es, the letter e appears three times.

But what about esta!

¿Dónde está mi diario?

Notice the accent on the letter a.

And the accent on the o in where. |The accents for emphasis. Think of panic. WHERE IS my diary?

Duolingo includes tips. You can then check AI, Quora, Wikipedia and Youtube.

Useful Websites

St Patrick's Day balloons outside Wetherspoons Pub in London

 

St Patrick's Day Balloons outside Wetherspoons Pub. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

Jolly balloons in green, white and orange, outside Wetherspoons pub in Hatch End, near Hatch End railway station, in NW London, England.

The colours of the balloons are the colour of the flag of Eire, the Republic of Ireland, the south, from Wikipedia which tells you more.

The main colour in the north is green, from the Emerald Isle. 

Green is the colour of the shamrock. 

Shamrocks 

St Patrick used the shamrock to convey the idea of the trinity, and you can see the shamrock on a stained glass window of St Patrick holding a shamrock, in a church. 

#

Useful Websites

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Patrick%27s_Day

Armagh, Northern Ireland, and St Patrick

https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Armagh

How To Remember The past In Spanish

Spanish - English

 estaban - it was (b for back then, in the past)

fue - it was (forever, permanently, such as - was Spanish)

Useful Websites

duolingo.com

translate google

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St Patrick's Day - Irish sites and celebrations worldwide

 St Patrick's Day is an annual celebration of all things Irish. St Patrick's Day is celebrated on March 17th, treated as the nniversary of the day of his death, the end of his life converting the Pagan Irish to Christianity. But he is also credited with removing the snakes from Irelandd, but there were no records of any snakes before his arrival. 

If you are a devotee of St Patrick or Irish religion and culture and travel and tourism, consider a trip to the capital of Eire, Dublin, where you can visit St Patrick's cathedral. Other places are associated with St Patrick.

For writers, several places are memorable. Famous Irish authors. The Blarney stone. Limerick.

Visiting Limerick - what to see

Limerick is on the coast, on the river, and dominated by the massive castle walls and twin towers of St John's Castle.

Expect celebrations near and far in Ireland, Northern Ireland, and all over the UK. In pubs such as Wetherspoons, green hats to be bought or given to patrons.

Customers wear green clothes and items with Irish words and jokes.

London

Trafalgar Square in the centre of London has music, dancing, and food to buy.

You can buy Irish items from supermarkets and party shops.

St Patrick's Day hats on Amazon.

Expect celebrations in pubs and major cities in the UK, USA, Australia and Singapore. Check your local newspapers, TV stations, the internet and YouTube and Wikipedia. In previous years cities in the USA have sold green drinks and Chicago even turned the river green. Expect worldwide jollity, and people singing in public and on public transport in London in the evening.

If you are entertaining, you can download suitable green borders and symbols for invitations and menus.

You can look for the tunes and words of popular Irish songs to play as background music at the start o meetings and meals and celebrations.

Travel

For travellers, in addition to celebrations on the day, visits of interest include 

1 churches associated with St Patrick, and 

2 Guinness tours in Dublin, Eire, and London, England. 

In Northern Ireland you can visit sites connected with the Game of Thrones. Must see, major museum, Titanic Belfast. 

Celebrate St Patrick's Day 

by Angela Lansbury

St Patrick's Day the Colour green

Is on the pubs in every scene

The brightest green you've every seen

In drinks, on chairs, balloons and hair

The colours green, orange and white

Are sure to bring all great delight

Drinking by day, singing by night

And smiling all night til daylight

In some cities you see parades

New Yorker smile and wave all day

Singapore - hats given away

At pubs which wanted all to stay

Chicago turns its river green

And green drinks make the weirdest scheme

Different things in different places

Green on spectacles and faces

Ireland has a lucky shamrock day

Montserrat has a holiday

Each country celebrates its way

With bagpipes, harps, or dance all day

I see that opportunity knocks

Although I do not dye my locks

That would give all my friends a shock

I'll wear green ties, or frocks and socks

Afterward I'll store them away

And send emails in which I say

My box of Irish goods will stay

Locked in box rooms til Patrick's Day.

Green four leaf clover sandals. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright. 

You can learn or refresh Irish Gaelic on Duolingo and other online language courses. The Duolingo starter lesson, which is free, teaches you to say, hear and recognise, and read the words, tea, coffee, sugar, and, please.

Language

Bilingual Irish and English sign in Wikipedia article on language. Photo by Darren J Prior

Useful websites on St Patrick's Day

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It%27s_a_Great_Day_for_the_Irish

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Patrick%27s_Day

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

https://opengatelondon.guinness.com/en/tours

https://www.ireland.com/en-gb/things-to-do/events/home-of-st-patrick-festival/

Details of Northern Ireland, St Patrick's grave, and visitor centre, Giants' Causeway, Spring Equinox walks on Saturday March 21st

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/northern-ireland?

https://www.titanicbelfast.com/

https://visitbelfast.com/blog/post/glass-of-thrones-trail-map/

Irish Language

duolingo.com

https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Irish_phrasebook

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

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lingui-Sticks-Language-Learning-Stickers-Educational/

-ends-

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Limerick - sights to see, Learning Irish and Comical Limerick Poem by Angela Lansbury.

 

Travel to Limerick

Limerick is supposedly where the limerick was invented.

Limerick for Limerick by Angela Lansbury

The limerick came from Limerick

Easy to write and read, it's quick

Where it started we can't be sure

Let's write, sing and drink some some

You'll laugh, and hic and never be sick

Of the laughs which come from Limerick.

You can learn or refresh Irish Gaelic on Duolingo and other online language courses. The Duolingo starter lesson, which is free, teaches you to say, hear and recognise, and read the words, tea, coffee, sugar, and, please.

Language

Bilingual Irish and English sign in Wikipedia article on language. Street sign in Dublin. Photo by Darren J Prior

To get you started, here are some easy words which are the same or almost the same:

Irish - English

banana - banana

bus - bus

cat - cat

camp - camp

fork - fork

lion - lion

mug - mug

English - Irish

banana - banana

bus - bus

camp - camp

cat - cat

fork - forc

lion - lion

mug - mug

Useful websites on Irish Language

duolingo.com

https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Irish_phrasebook

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

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lingui-Sticks-Language-Learning-Stickers-Educational/

translate google English-Irish Irish-English

Pronunciation in 3 Dialects, from Munster in the South to Ulster in the North

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X75ZGEytOJs

www.focloir.ie free dictionary English-Irish and Irish-English with pronunciation you can listen to

-ends-

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Mother's Day Card From M&S

 

Three dimensional card from Marks & Spencer.

Mother's Day card from Marks & Spencer.

The awning lifts so you can write a message in the text box.

If you missed Mother's Day in the UK, it is celebrated on other days worldwide.

Useful Websites

marksandspencer.com

"Las Mañanitas"  is a Mexican Mother's Day song, sung in Spanish speaking countries, to wake mother on mother's day, by playing a recording or singing it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQpOuhl4abQ

Roses for mother sad song, hit song from the 1970s, about a trucker who goes to send his mother birthday roses, pays for roses for a little boy, whose mother turns out to be in a cemetery, so the trucker doesn't send the roses but delivers them to his own mother in person.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roses_for_Mama_(song)

Roses for mama song by Red Sovine

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tI0WwV0uoDU

Another similar version by McCall

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mq0XhuFOOXU

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Bonoo Indian Restaurant, Hampstead

Prosecco at Bonoo restaurant, Hampstead, N W London, England. Photo by Angela Lansbury.

The Restaurant Name

Bonoo is the owner's nickname. I had trouble remembering the restaurant name, until I thought, it starts like bonus and bon-bon. It ends with oo.

The decor has changed from last year. still very elaborate. Lots of hanging flowery parts, like an overhead vine. Very romantic. Lit by electric candles. 

The Menu

Read with your phone torch. or read online in advance. One of our family is a regular here. She always has salmon. They remember her.

As a starter, I ordered a naan stuffed with coconut. This proved popular. My husband said next time we must order three. Two to eat in the restaurant. One to take home.

Our main courses included a chicken tandoori. And a lamb dish. And plain boiled rice. And spinach with potato.

We had two desserts. Gulub jamun. And ras mulai. 

Booking

We booked. You can have small tables for two and large tables for four or more, on the ground floor and downstairs. 

Toilets Downstairs

Toilets are downstairs, down a well lit staircase with a good handrail on both sides.

The ladies single toilet cubicle is elegant, with a gold framed mirror. 

At the end of our meal the adults were offered a free Baileys (chocolate liqueur) or cognac.

I saved some food, just a little, in a take away box, but no bag and it leaked in my shoulder bag. I should have put it inside a plastic bag.

I had told them it was my birthday on the way in. They wished me happy birthday, but didn't do anything like a candle on a cake. I suppose Indian desserts aren't really geared for that kind of dessert. All the same, the atmosphere was lovely. A very satisfying evening. Reasonably priced, said the one who paid.

Parking

We were able to park nearby for free on a Saturday night, February 2024 

Useful Websites

 

Spanish Words - 10 Memory Aids

 

Photo by Angela Lansbury.

 Spanish  English

accidente - accident

camara - camera

catedral - cathedral

diploma - diploma

fuerte (as in the island in the Canary islands called Fuerteventura) - strong (pianoforte, fortify)

idea - idea

jugador - player (like juggling, and stevedore who is a dockhand unloading ships)

par - pair 

la radio - the radio

rugby (pronounced roo) - rugby

la television - the television

English - Spanish

accident - accidente

cathedral - catedral

idea - idea

the radio - la radio

Rugby - Rugby

pair - par

player - jugador

strong - fuerte 

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Spanish words (20) with magical memory aids

 

Spanish flag

Spanish - English

agua - water

área - area

conflictos - conflicts

dinero - money (to dine you need dinero, money)

las dunas - the dunes

Espagna - Spain

especial - special (add e before the initial s in Spanish words, like the name of the country)

fuerte - strong (as in fortify or make stronger, a fort or stronghold)

golf - golf

Julio - July

lago - lake

las/los - the, plural, las is feminine plural, los is masculine plural, as in the American city Los Angeles meaning the angels, who were male messengers in Greek myths 

marzo - March

miles de - thousands of (Looks like miles of. Not millions of which is millones de, drop the i and add an e)

millones - millions

nacional - national

natural - natural

oasis - oasis

palma - palm tree, las palmas means the palms

parque - park

pico - peak

plan - plan

playa - beach - where you go to play yo-yo on yellow sand, joyfully play on the beach in the bay, on a sunny day with beach toys. Letter Y.

plaza - town square - letter z, zillions of people zooming about in a city zone with stores, place, near a city zoo. Letter Z.

quedarse - stay (when you dig a place you queue up and dig in, d in the middle and sit down, arch your back)

reserva - reserve (nature reserve)

reservar - to reserve

ventura - venture, as in adventure or go towards a venture

viajar - to voyage / to travel

Spanish Words ending in o

banco, dinero, lago, marzo, pico

Spanish Words ending in a

Espana, agua, playa, plaza, reserva, ventura

English - Spanish

park - parque

peak - pico

reserva - reserva

to reserve - reservar

Spain - Espagna

To find more easy to recognize words look in the Spanish version of Wikipedia.

Useful Websites For the Spanish Language

https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Portada

The Canary Islands - wine and bananas on Gran Canaria (plus El Hierro)

• 
  El Hierro
 
• 
  La Palma
 
• 
  La Gomera
 
• 
  Tenerife
 
• 
  Gran Canaria
 
• 
  Fuerteventura
 
• 
  Lanzarote

 The Canary islands, so many of them. Seven. Nothing to do with canaries. The names is connected with dogs, canine, but never mind. Just watch out that typing canaries plural without the word islands may  bring up advertisements for buying pet birds.

The Canary Islands - Getting There And Getting Around

You can fly to one of the islands and fly or ferry to another. Only four and a half hours flight from England. P & O run cruises.

We decided that two island in one trip of maximum two weeks, our time budget, was enough. Follow up with a second trip to the other two main islands. One winter trip, one summer trip.

Why Go To The Canaries?

They speak Spanish. That's a plus point, because it is the easiest language to pick up if you are an English speaker. 

Summer sun, and winter sun. Sun all year. The ancient Greeks called the islands the blessed or fortunate islands.

The Canary Islands Alphabetically 

El-Hierro, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, La Gomera, La Palma, Lanzarote, Tenerife.

|The Canary Island West to East

The Canary Islands are 

El Hierro, La Palma, La Gomera, Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote, and La Graciosa.

A simple summary

El-hierro, so small, a a hideaway.

El-hierro

The logical place to start, but the island which as a tourist I shall ignore, is the tiny island of El-hierro. The name is Spanish for iron. I had trouble with the spelling. Does it start he or hi. Then I thought of say hi to hierro, and don't make an error

The little island features traffic-free villages, fresh fish, sunsets and early nights, hikes and views of the sea and clean water.  Plant life rather than nightlife. 

For now, when I still have to visit the bigger islands, I'll just read about it on the internet and admire it from afar. For me, as a photographer, the most memorable landmark is a rock archway, unfortunately reached by what appears to be a scramble over the rocks. Not for me. Not now. Later.

Let's move on east. 

Here are the main tourist destinations which I am considering visiting on two trips, possibly one to escape the British winter, one in the summertime.

Gran Canaria

Capital Las Palmas, plural, is also joint capital of the group of islands. It's the most populous (populated) city. A grand place, lots of people, varied landscape and weather with dunes in the south and snow capped mountain in the middle, bananas and vines.

Arehucas Rum Distillery

Buggy tour/ Camel/ convertible car (optional open top)/Quad/Segway/Three wheeler motorbike/ 

Banana tour (Banana World, Banana Museum)

Columbus House.

Dunes (Maspalomas Dunes)

Winery

La Palma

La Palma, singular, is the island. 

Tenerife

Black volcanic cliffs and black sand beaches in the north. Two cities. 

Mount Tiede, snow-capped mountain in the middle. 

Sunny south with yellow sand beaches and tourist hotels.

Loro Parque has parrots and penguins and other animal shows.

Fuerteventura

The name means strong winds.

Attractions include 

1 Oasis park, which has numerous animals and plants.

https://oasiswildlifefuerteventura.com/en/

2 Lighthouse Faro

3 Conatvs wintery tour. tasting room serves bread, olives and cheese.

The island is known for its red tomatoes.

Lanzarote

Artist Cesar built a house into the volcanic black rock with wonderful views over the sea.

A striking modern curved auditorium.

Useful Websites About The Canary Islands

Wikipedia Canary Island

Wikivoyage Spanish phrasebook

https://www.which.co.uk/reviews/overseas-destinations/article/best-canary-islands-

Tripadvisor

https://uk.hotels.com/go/spain/el-hierro

https://www.viator.com/tours/Gran-Canaria/Panoramic-Segway-Tour/d792-85318P1

Wiki in Spanish

https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Portada

https://en.androidayuda.com/android/Tutorials/keyboard-with-letter-n/#google_vignette

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

https://oasiswildlifefuerteventura.com/en/

https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Fuerteventura

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C%C3%A9sar_Manrique