Day 7.089: Truck!

Many of our worldly goods are now in here:

(just look at the size of it!) including some it would be useful to still have in circulation, but so it goes!

The house is rather empty and echoey, but we have beds still, so one last night in this house awaits.

Day 7.086: A cake-off

This morning we completed our goodbye-filled weekend with a send-off at church. We've only been going there for about a year and a half, but we were so welcomed that it feels like much longer.

It seems all-too-recently that they had a cake after the service to celebrate our membership, today we had another one to mark our departure.

A piece of it made it to Maine with me

Actually, it was a bit more than that as you might be able to discern.

Day 7.085: Partly party

The first half of the day included some chores related to the move, but then our friends started arriving.

It's probably a good sign that this was the only photo I took from the moment the first person arrived until after everyone had gone:

In between, there were lots of great conversations, kids charging around inside and out, food, drink and general merriment.

I had a blast - but of course it's a reminder of all that we are leaving behind this week.

Day 7.066: A slight slip-up

Here's another picture from the "Rug City + marbles" session last weekend. It has nothing to do with the rest of this post.

On Saturday afternoon, I arrived at my hotel more than 30 minutes before the wedding was due to start. The wedding venue was less than 15 minutes away. I did a quick bag drop in my room then asked the hotel to call me a taxi. So far so good. A few minutes later a taxi arrived. Even better.

This is when it started to go less well. The taxi was not for me. I waited. I waited some more. They called the taxi company again (he'll be right there). More waiting. Even more waiting. The taxi company called the hotel (not a good sign). They would be twenty minutes. It was now 5 minutes before the ceremony was due to start. They called another taxi company - they said ten minutes (at least I might make it by the end). Then a couple of minutes later the first taxi company's taxi showed up. I got in.

It doesn't get better yet.

The driver confirmed the address with me - then spent what felt like ten minutes typing the address into his ancient Garmin GPS. Then we were off - down to the road and make a right turn. I wasn't sure of the route, but that didn't feel right. I tried to see the Garmin, but it didn't seem to be saying anything. A few minutes later it woke up - Recalculating - continue for 0.1 miles and make a U-turn. Great. Just great. I may have muttered something under my breath. The driver pulled over just before a blind turn on the 55 mph one-lane-each-way-with-double-lines, let a car go past us and went for the U-turn. He didn't make it. We were now doing a 3-point turn. By a blind bend. On a fast narrow road.

Then, as we were side-on blocking the whole road, a car came round the blind bend.

We survived that moment of excitement and a few minutes later, we were driving back past the hotel - some 40 minutes after I'd called for the taxi. We eventually arrived at the church. I was too rushed/happy-to-be-alive to be upset by then. I walked in just in turn to hear the end of a song and them being declared husband and wife - well that was the point I suppose.

The rest of the day was - happily - a vast improvement and I wasn't the last to arrive at the church - my friends walked in a couple of minutes behind me (for less dramatic reasons) only in time to hear the bagpiper lead the recessional.

Day 7.058: One person ruffle

I remember seeing a film where a wife or girlfriend returned from a trip to see the bed and conclude that it was too messy for it to have been made that way by her other half alone. If I recall correctly, she described it as a "two person ruffle". I can't remember if she was right, but let me tell you I can make a bed pretty messy on my own.

Day 7.023: Super drive

I started the day making a rug city with E5N1 (I look forward to sharing it with you in due course) and I'm ending it watching a big football game (on TV) in Portland. In between, some games with the girls and some computer problems. Oh, and four hours in the car. Quite a day.

Day 7.017: Ice, shrink-wrap and a war memorial

My outing to photograph the loon wasn't quite that simple. Rather than drive to the park by the lighthouse, I drove to the next lighthouse along the coast and walked from one to the other.

The lighthouse I drove to was this one:

the four nouned, Spring Point Ledge Light. I set out to walk out to it, but was struck first by the icy wind and then by the questionable footing - ice combined with jumping from rock to rock:

and thought better of it.

Instead, I set out for the Bug Light, walking first through the campus of Southern Maine Community College and then into the adjacent marina.

Not surprisingly, there are no boats in the water - as you can see here they are not only brought up onto dry land, but most of them are shrink-wrapped too!

With the wind at my back and hurting the back of my head even through my winter hat, I was pleased to arrive at the other park after a short walk.

I'd run past this strange ship-sculpture a couple of times, but yesterday I could investigate.

It turned out to be a war memorial of sorts - nervously I wondered which war (finding revolutionary war or 1812 memorials is always strange given my nationality) but it was WWII.  It turns out that nearly 240 of the 2700 Liberty Ships - all built to the same design between 1941 and 1945 were built at a pair of shipyards near here.

Day 7.016: Deja viewed

Having complained about my running taking me to places with no camera, I found myself with a couple of free hours this afternoon and decided to brave the bitterly cold wind to take my camera back where I'd been yesterday morning.

I got a nice picture of the light and the dual-carriageway trails:

But the big surprise was to see the same huge bird I'd attempted to photograph with my phone yesterday.  In the same place - diving and reappearing near the shore.  I got some better pictures:

and with the help of my parents on a Facetime call earlier, identified it as a common loon - its winter plumage threw us off briefly - but it is quite unmistakable once you've seen it.

And as a bonus, I captured a nicer picture of a previously-punned common eider.

Day 7.009: Sproing-ed

We had quite a busy day - but not one that leaves a lot to write about. I ran 13 miles, we went to church, we went to the store to buy some sproings.

Hang on a minute - to buy what?

Well, that this the name that Exile #2 used to describe the springy things that stop door handles making holes in walls. We were missing a few of them and we're trying to chip away at these odd jobs (rather than the walls) around the house while we wait for someone to fall in love with it.

So, E5N1 and I went for an outing and bought some sproings.

And also one of these for the door that opens against a closet door - preventing the use of a sproing.  It stops the door opening too wide by limiting the travel at the hinge.

We don't have a fun and pithy name for this useful item - do you?

Day 7.007: An Englishman's home, and this castle

I wasn't planning it when I left for work this morning, but tonight I am home and the kids will have quite a surprise in the morning!

Day 6.363: Happy Birthday (ME)

I was completely prepared for my birthday to slip by unmarked except by Facebook greetings until I get home at the weekend, but that was not to be.

I got a surprise invitation for dinner and so I had a lovely evening - including birthday brownie:

Much better than celebrating my birthday on my own in my apartment!

Day 6.361: Waterworld

It was a very wet day today. With a couple of feet of snow around the place, the temperature rose to nearly 50°F with steady rain this morning. Yikes.

Tonight, the temperature will get back into the teens so I suspect it will be Iceworld tomorrow.

Here's a picture from yesterday.

Because I'm contractually obligated to do this once in a while.

Day 6.356: Dear deer

We spotted a young deer in the back yard a few days ago. It was hobbling badly holding one of its back legs off the ground. We saw it fall over, get back up and then just lie down under a small tree.

Not sure what to do, we called animal control - who were out due to the holidays. A few minutes later, two of the local police were on our doorstep.

They walked towards it, hoping to get close enough to put it out of its misery but it wasn't ready for that and made its way off across our neighbours' yards.  We saw them a minute or so later, one street over and half expected to hear a gunshot but never did.

It was with mixed feelings we saw the same deer back in our yard again - still limping - a couple of days later.  This time, we let it be.

Day 6.353: Viewing, the 'verse

The day started with a viewing at 9:30 - which considering the amount of "last minute" tidying and cleaning that is required is effectively the crack of dawn.

By mid-morning, we were back in the house and by lunchtime our visitors from NYC had arrived and we spent the afternoon playing lots of games as first the rain, then the snow fell outside.

When the kids went on their way to bed, we embarked on a four and a half hour session learning and playing this excellent Firefly game.  So good to have geeky gamey friends!

Complicated, intense and awesome.

Day 6.342: Swap it like a yankee!

Had a lovely time at the church Christmas party tonight. A great potluck meal and a yankee gift swap - it doesn't get more American than that.

Pictured: choosing a gift from under the tree and the moment that the person holding #1 got to exercise their right to the final swap of the night!

Day 6.337: Sweet home...Alabama?

I'm home for the weekend. But Google Maps' generally excellent turn by turn directions seem to have an issue with the Albany turn off the Thruway - it's got that last-thing-on-a-Friday vibe.  Not inappropriately on this occasion.

The audio says:
"Take Exit 'exit 23' for Alabama nine west toward Albany/Troy," and the display shows:

A couple of minutes later, "Alabama nine west" seems to have turned into good old US 9W.

Which is something of a relief because making the trek to Albany is quite far enough - Alabama is rather more than I'd reckoned with.

Day 6.334: Happy hour, Euro slide & the skeletons

After my walk along the beach on Saturday, I walked back along the street. It was very much out-of-season seaside town. Only one food place was open - it was doing pretty good business, but it was a bit early for me - also, it wasn't the unique British pub.

And the rides (from various continents presumably) were definitely closed to business.

But they were quite photogenic.

Day 6.332: Sunset at the beach

Yesterday, just before sunset I found myself near Old Orchard Beach.  I parked in Ocean Park and walked just over a mile along the beach as far as the pier.

It looked something like this:

Or, if you looked closer, like this:

Much of the time the sea looked about as calm as can be:

But then you'd look at it and see this:

and then run for drier land without taking the final photo.

And, in case we forget the time of year - there was snow on the beach:

and a Christmas tree by the (shuttered) entrance to the pier.

Today was a church, washing-up, recycling, clothes-washing, TV and chatting to family kind of day - but I'm entitled to one of those from time to time right?

Day 6.321: Weather all over

On Monday I ran under this:

On Tuesday I ran in the snow and then had an eventful commute on very slippery roads.

This morning, I packed a few things into the car in the middle of a torrential downpour, went to work and then drove back to New York through strong winds, heavy rain, snow and pre-Thanksgiving traffic.

I'm quite relieved that this week has been a short one - I'm not sure I could have coped with any more.

Day 6.320: I like these signs (and I cannot lie)

These are from the beach on Saturday.

First, if you go swimming in the woods - you do so at your own risk.

(there was no water in that direction as far as I know).

And then there's this:

And so, after nearly two years absence, we welcome back the feature that says: that was pop pun 122 for title watchers - you other brothers can't deny.