London Day Seven - Leaving London by Train to Stoke-On-Trent

I was just so nervous about this whole train thing. I don't know why, but I had this whole fear of missing the train. Well...it turned out much simpler than I though. You don't need to arrive early, you have no x-ray security.....which is a little scarey really.....all you have to do is just show up before your train leaves.

So here's the inside of London Euston Station. Notice all the boards with all the locations of each train.

The 8:10 to Manchester is what I was taking...... You have to listen carefully because they call out a track and you better be ready to board because the train will leave without you......So no showing up 7 minutes late or you'll be left standing on the dock!

This was the train opposite mine, but looks the same. I was on Virgin Trains, quite nice and very quiet, well except for the group of college guys at the back of the train.
Two and a half hours later and you are in Stoke On Trent. Stoke is very famous for it's pottery making. If you own any Johnson Brothers stoneware, it's most likely come from Stoke and Gills Mum has most likely been the one who checked it for quality. She worked at the factory for years. The country side here is far different from London. Very beautiful rolling hills and picturesque. It's quite lovely really.

Gill and John (her husband) were there waiting for me just as I got off the train. Then Gill wisked me away to take me to breakfast. So here we have driven up to a window to buy some Oat cakes for breakfast. It literally is a hole in the wall with the people selling oatcakes out their window. They say that the recipe is a very guarded secret recipe that has been handed down for generation......

I do recommend you visit the website and order. They do sell internationally. I dont know just how to describe the oat cakes except that they are like a pan cake but made from different types of oats. Mine had bacon and cheese inside and it was quite delicious.
A dozen oat cakes will set you back around 1.50 pounds. So around $3 from the states plus shipping. People come here and buy them by the dozens. I doubt that many of them make it home since they are so tasty you tend to eat them in the car.

Since leaving London, I have not seen a cab - just so you know.

We then went back to Gills house to set my things down.

About thirty miles away in a village of Walgherton is a place called Dagfields which is known for its quaint little antique shops full of English china and craft shops. I bought quite a lot of china tea cups.....(ssshhhhh don't tell Dana)

After that it was back home for a party of all of Gill and John's family. It was a very nice time and it's always great to meet new people. Tomorrow it's a tour of a Castle in Bolsover.

London Day Six - It's a wrap!

By now you're probably thinking with the title I chose for the blog I'm going to talk about food....um........no. Well... not too much anyways. No...It's a Wrap because WE ARE ALL DONE FOLKS!!!!! (claps and cheering now....)

I didn't get out like yesterday so I didn't get to do quite the Taxi Hunting that I did yesterday, though I managed to get a couple of new ones. I'm hoping tomorrow on the way to the train station, I'll find some more, so I'm saving that for another time. I also have a very interesting food blog I'll be doing so keep checking back for that too.

The day couldn't begin without a trip to Waitrose to buy some Marmite for breakfast. (Sorry, but you'll just have to find out about his "love it or hate it " type of stuff in another blog. But no sooner that I got back with the marmite, Marie and David are diggin in.........( I think David is practicing his food modeling skills for one of his upcoming photography shoots - as you can see he rarely has a serious look on his face...)

Since today was the last day of the photo shoot Liz one of our editors dropped by to make sure everything was just the way they wanted it. Here is one of David's rare serious moments discussing the photograph we set up to shoot the containers for the flower arrangements. (really it wasn't as intense as it looks, but it is one of those....if you don't get it now photo's..you'll never get it kind of things...)

I think David may have hopped a "fashion cab" because his "thing" is funny "trainers" aka tennis shoes and "wild socks"......I believe he's sporting some his girlfriend got for him. I just have to laugh when I see this photo...makes me think he knicked these socks off a bumble bee.....

I was "forced" to wear this toga all week long over my clothes because Geoff said it reflected the light better. I like to wear dark colors, which apparently doesn't work well when you are trying to bounce light. You can only be confined in a dark studio with a toga so long before you start to go bonkers. So Geoff and I took the look to new heights as he dressed up as an arab with a Wal-Mart sack and a moustache made of sheet moss from the shoot. Pretty creative huh?? Sometimes you just have to let loose....no they don't have WalMarts in the UK....

Marie decided to join in the fun.....she wanted to make a tiara of berries and be the berry princess for our wrap up after work party....

Here's three of the girls who help make my books look so wonderful. Harri, Cindy and Liz. They are part of the editorial team at Cico. Of course they all hate their picture, but I think they are delightful, beautiful and lovely girls to work with. Thanks for all your hard work Girls!!!
Carmel has just joined Cico about 2 month ago. She's so sweet and I think she's going to be a great asset to the Cico bunch. This is the second time Marie (on the right) and I have worked closely together on a book. She's a fantastic editor and a wonderful tour guide. It's really been a pleasure getting to know her.

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In the morning I hop the train North to Stoke-On-Trent to visit Gill for a few days. I just have to say THANKS to everyone on the team. Again, it was such a memorable and pleasant experience. Thanks for all your friendship and professional talent and all the laughs! You're the best!!!!!!

London Day Five - How to Select a Taxi

As I travel, I take notice of the things that are alike.....and the things that are different. I think we all know what a taxi cab looks like and when you are traveling to a major city, especially by yourself and out of the country, it can be a little stressful trying to get anywhere.

So I decided to put together a little London Taxi Cab Directory to help you in making travel arrangments. Hopefully this will make journey a little more of a breeze.....

You'll need to know how to get a hold of a taxi..... so here's your options:

You can Dial a Cab (Sorry don't have a picture)

You can Radio a cab........

or lastly...if you really need to get there FAST.... You can" Dial a Flight".....these go so fast you will feel like you are flying.......

Now that you know how to get a taxi.....where do you go to get one?
This is "the first place to look" for a taxi..............

If you are here on business, you might hop a ride in this cab....they are "business drivers" for business people.....

If you are needing up to the minute stock quotes while you are here, this is a taxi especially for "investors who know the score".......

For those of you with children, there are kid friendly taxi's...........

Be good BE GOOD....or "Super Nanny" will come after ya....

Apparently all you have to do to get faster broadband internet in the UK is to "raise your hands up " like you are Praising the Lord......and take a ride in this taxi..

Rush hour in London is quite scarey really and the space between the cars is quite tight, so if you are in a hurry to get somewhere - hop this cab. You can "Out Manoever" anything or anyone. ....

Wanting to go on a holiday?

Take this cab if you want to go on a hunting expedition...........

The beach sounds more like your syle you say?? ... Here's one just for you....

If you are a bit indecisive and just don't know where you want to go.....

Do you want to change the world?

Perhaps you find yourself a little fashion challenged......well fear no more.....

I didn't see any fashion police...however, this taxi will take you "straight to fashion heaven."

Here's one for all you polymer clay artists.....the skinner blend taxi.....

Here's one that got away.....

And last.....but not least..... need I say more?

Believe it or not, there's still few more that I wasn't able to catch while I was on my Taxi hunting expedition at lunch....hopefully I'll get those tomorrow and add to the directory.....

I've got everyone in the studio looking out for unusual taxi's and helping me snap photo's of them....how hysterical. It's typical though, when you live in amongst these things you don't really take note. Sad really...that we dont just sit back and look at the "funny side of life" for a while.

London Day Four

It occurred to me this morning while I was waiting for Marie to pick me up, that there are sooooo many different colors of taxi cabs here. In the states you mostly have yellow....but not here. So Im on a hunt for unusual taxi cab's. I took a few today, but they are still on my camera. I hope to have that for you tomorrow .

I did get a snippit of video on driving on the opposite side of the road as well...but...it's in my camera too. And frankly...I'm just too tired to fool with it tonight.

Today, nothing really eventful happened. My publisher Cindy stopped by, and although she made a few changes, she was overall very pleased with the arrangements I did for the book. So...all I have to say is...WHEW!!!! R-E-L-E-I-F!

It was such a long day today. We filmed alot of tedious stuff. Until write a book, you really have no idea just how much time and people power is packed into a How-To book. But, it's something I really enjoy, so I wouldn't trade it for anythingl

I did get a photography lesson over lunch. I had Geoff critique the photo I took out my window last night. (the one posted yesterday) He said overall I did a pretty good job!! I was thrilled. I did get a lesson in aperature settings and shooting in low light. This is really helpful when you are in situations that you just can't use a flash. Like when you are trying to take photographs at the British Museum and you don't want the flash to bounce off the glass case. So THANK YOU Geoff for the tips.

Sorry to say I am WIPED out....so Im going to have to keep this short and sweet and say night night. I do hope to be outside early tomorrow morning collecting taxi photos....I know...kinda silly...but ...if you can't have fun....you might as well stay home right?

London Day Three - Lights! Camera! Action and a few more pictures..

Before I get into today's blog.....I have to tell Dana....



I'm thinking about you right now, because I'm watching hunting wild pigs on TV....I sure do miss you. They have a British outdoor channel here Hun! The show is called Breathing Places. Anyway, love you!


Mariah, Marie's daughter Emily was with us today, wish you could have met her. I miss you too and love you...


Beth, got you some galaxy chocolate....you're in for treat!
Alex, I love you and Miss you!


Okay...now back to the blog.....thanks for letting me take care of family stuff.

Around the corner from me is a "chain" deli called Pret A Manger. In the morning and I step out of the hotel to the aroma of fresh croissants baking. How can I resist? Today I had my favorite, sun dried tomato and mozzarella croissant. Boy....does it make a mess...but boy it sure is tummy!!! Oh and add veggie crisps to that too. They are a combination of carrots, beetroot and parsnips. Sounds gross...but they are yum-ola!



I'm getting used to the money system here, identifying all the different coins so I don't look like a doofus when I pay. Now, if I can just master that accent! Not quite there yet...but it's coming along. It's pretty obvious I'm not from these parts.


Just a couple of doors down from Pret is the little market I visit to buy my Dr. Pepper. Normally I prefer iced tea, but ice seems to be a delicacy or maybe just no one likes it. In any event, you just can't find it and without ice....you guessed...no ice tea.


But....they do have rather unusual Chips in a variety of what we might consider unusual favors. That's the one thing I love about visiting different places...seeing the difference in the cruisine and even all the things they have in their markets that we don't. Walkers "crisps" are the best! I can't tell you just how many flavors they have. But when no one was looking, I snapped these photos. Could I interest you in some Roasted Chicken Chips?


Not your thing? How about Prawn Cocktail? Seems like you can flavor a potato chip with just about anything, why not make a shrimp cocktail out of it?



After we got to Geoff's studio this morning we decided we needed some munchies or "nibbles" as they call them. So Marie and I walked to Waitrose - the corner supermarket. As we walked down the road, street vendors were setting up. All sorts of food available here. One guy painted his car/truck with really scrolly designs. He had a whole Mexican cafe inside. For Mexican, it smelled pretty good..but not at 9 in the morning.

Geoff tells me this street was settled in the mid 1300's. The architecture is beautiful. It's like a quaint little village tucked away inside a great big city and was the center for 'markets" Didn't have my camera there to snap a picture of the truck/car or the road but when but we did buy Thai with lemon and Caramelized Onion and Vinegar chips at the market. Believe it or not.....they were awesome!

Okay...so quit thinking about food...lets get to work..... Here's what Geoff's studio looked like after we unpacked the four boxes I had sent over...

Today was pretty intense. We actually worked thru lunch and just munched on the nibbles, but yesterday we took a break....okay more talk about food. The little deli next door is called The Dolce Deli. You can get a variety of sandwiches and soup...or you can order a Jacket Potato. What's a jacket potato? Well...it's a baked potato and the skin is the "jacket". Apparently they like mayonnaise allot, because it's served with every potato. I happened to order the avocado, prawn and flavored mayo jacket potato. It was pretty tasty. I decided to go ahead and risk asking for ice....the lady looked at me like I was crazy!! Well...at least I tried. A jacket potato will set you back about 3 1/2 pounds.

We finished around 8pm and filmed just a little under half the book. Tomorrow will be another intense day, but then we can just relax a little the rest of the week. I don't mind working long and hard. I think we are producing a really beautiful book. Geoff is a brilliant photographer and with Marie's guidance I think we have an A+ team.

I was hoping to get a movie of rush hour, but didn't get to, so maybe tomorrow.

Now, I'm back at the hotel, the sun is setting. . Geoff really inspires me to improve my photography skills, so as the sun was setting, I practiced taking lo-light pictures out my window. Hope you enjoy the view... I'm exhausted.... nightie night......