BS: Animaterra in the UK!

Subject: BS: Animaterra in the UK!
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 19 Apr 05 - 05:48 AM

It's finally a reality- I've reserved the tickets, and this summer my daughter and I will spend 3 weeks in the UK! I know we're contributing to the general emptying of North America into the British Isles, but if there's room for us, we'd love to see and visit lots of Mudcatters.

We're arriving 21 July bright and early in London, and planning to start by bending the knee at various "must see" shrines (my daughter particularly wants to visit a certain pub in Oxford, as well as Stratford on Avon. She's a 16-year old Shakespeare and Tolkein geek!).

My cousin lives in London and will only be there for a few days around the end of July, but other than seeing her then, we're still pretty open as to the itinerary.

So please let me know if you're willing to put up with the two of us; you'll get gratitude, friendship and song in return!

This is a trip long in the planning- and it's finally coming. Hooray!

Allison

Subject: RE: BS: Animaterra in the UK!
From: Leadfingers
Date: 19 Apr 05 - 05:58 AM

Allison - I am five miles from Heathrow and would be only too pleased
to give you what assistance I can . Sadly I cannot offer accomodation
as I only have a one bedroom house. I am sure we can arrange a Cat Gather of some kind here for you any way !

Subject: RE: BS: Animaterra in the UK!
From:
Date: 19 Apr 05 - 06:06 AM

There is room at Micca and ours as you already know. We could...if we have dates... arrange for a Black Lion Session too!! See you soon

Subject: RE: BS: Animaterra in the UK!
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Apr 05 - 06:33 AM

Make sure she visits The Globe theatre on the Southbank of the Thames. A working reconstruction of Shakespeares Globe. I think it is on the original site. It is unamplified (unless that's changed) and a great to catch a play.

Also in the summer Regent's Park (central London) usually stages an open air theatre, with Midsummer Nights Dream. On a balmy evening that is magical too.

Subject: RE: BS: Animaterra in the UK!
From:
Date: 19 Apr 05 - 06:36 AM

Regents park unfortunatley aren't staging A Midsummer Night's Dream this year....every 5 years they have a break/rest.

Subject: RE: BS: Animaterra in the UK!
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Apr 05 - 06:38 AM

That's a shame. Anything in it's place?

Subject: RE: BS: Animaterra in the UK!
From:
Date: 19 Apr 05 - 06:40 AM

not that I'm aware off. Some friends of ours were looking into it as we were all going to go as a group again.

Subject: RE: BS: Animaterra in the UK!
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Apr 05 - 06:44 AM

It's ok...just googled it, they are staging Twelth Night, Cymbeline and HMS Pinafore whilst you will be in UK in Regent's Park open air theatre.

Subject: RE: BS: Animaterra in the UK!
From:
Date: 19 Apr 05 - 06:51 AM

Great minds Guest!...I've just googled it myself!....Allison, if you and your daughter are interested we can book tickets for you??

Subject: RE: BS: Animaterra in the UK!
From: jacqui.c
Date: 19 Apr 05 - 07:03 AM

The Globe is not on the original site, unfortunately, as the width of the river has changed quite significantly from Tudor times. I've read that the Thames once covered a wider area than it does now and so the original Globe was set further back in Southwark than is the case now, but still by the river's edge.

It is a great experience to see a production there - I used to work nearby and went to a number of the performances. You can stand in the middle for about a fiver, or sit on the wooden benches if you pay more - probably best to try and book early if you do want a seat, for the best view, and to hire cushions - those seats are hard on the backside!

They do the normal drinks and snacks there but it is very expensive so, if you are on a budget, I'd advise taking your own interval refreshments. Try and walk across one of the bridges after the performance - the views of London lit up are wonderful. If you go back across the Millenium (or 'wobbly') bridge St Pauls is quite spectacular when lit up.

Subject: RE: BS: Animaterra in the UK!
From: kendall
Date: 19 Apr 05 - 07:27 AM

The UK will be pleased with this lady. Have a great time, luv!

Subject: RE: BS: Animaterra in the UK!
From: katlaughing
Date: 19 Apr 05 - 08:16 AM

Congratulations, Animaterra! I hope you post when you can while visiting and don't forget pictures!:-)

luvyakat

Subject: RE: BS: Animaterra in the UK!
From: SINSULL
Date: 19 Apr 05 - 02:02 PM

Lucky Brits. Animaterra can teach you a little about Morris Dancing. Plus she is a sweet and gentle soul who brightens any room she enters. Her daughter is a sweetheart too. Enjoy!

Subject: RE: BS: Animaterra in the UK!
From: Micca
Date: 19 Apr 05 - 02:13 PM

Ali, It will be good to see you both, e mail me a list of your "Must Sees" and I will try and block out an itinerary with ways to travel and time needed etc, I will also fit in "Miccas famous Lightening Tour of London" (ask KT about this!!!) with Luck I hope to have some time off about then so I can meet and guide a bit
Looking forward to this, Micca

Subject: RE: BS: Animaterra in the UK!
From: GUEST,MMario
Date: 19 Apr 05 - 02:16 PM

Allison - enjoy the trip! Lucky you and lucky people in the UK you meet!

Subject: RE: BS: Animaterra in the UK!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 19 Apr 05 - 04:58 PM

There is also the Draper Hotel if you don't mind a Limpit! We'll certainly get you round for dinner and try out another Mudcat Just Dessert recipe!

A lot of the 'touristy must dos' are horribly expensive so if your budget is restricted, check out the London for Free site for some great fun stuff that doesn't cost a fortune.

Looking forward to meeting you.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Animaterra in the UK!
From: Morticia
Date: 19 Apr 05 - 08:10 PM

I'm on the Stongehenge, Avebury, all points West side of England these days, as you know, Allison....but even the town I live in is well worth seeing in it's own right.......pubs are good too :)Look forward to seeing you both.

Subject: RE: BS: Animaterra in the UK!
From: Guy Wolff
Date: 19 Apr 05 - 10:48 PM

Have a great trip !!! Ya Hoo !! ( as in cow boy throwing hat in air) Rawther good, What ? ( as Docter Watson not thowing hat in air ) !!! All the best , Guy This is going to be a thread to watch !!

Subject: RE: BS: Animaterra in the UK!
From: Mudlark
Date: 19 Apr 05 - 11:50 PM

Allison...how great that you are going to do this! What a wonderful trip to look forward to, to enjoy, and to look back on. Please keep us all posted, if you can. Nancy

Subject: RE: BS: Animaterra in the UK!
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 20 Apr 05 - 05:43 AM

This is so exciting! Thanks, dear friends, for all the invites and encouragement. I'm in the middle of another hell-week of non-stop days, but when it's over I'll work up a tentative itinerary- if you have made any offers to me, expect to be contacted soon.

I haven't been to the UK since 1978- it almost feels like going home.

Allison

Subject: RE: BS: Animaterra in the UK!
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 20 Apr 05 - 01:30 PM

Animaterra, chez George's is booked up those days unfortunately, but I'd love to meet up with you wherever LTS or Khatt can arrange.

As for a certain pub in Oxford - it wouldn't be the Bird & Bastard (Eagle & Child) now, would it? That was Tolkien's favourite pub; there's a plaque over his favourite seat (mine too, because I was sitting there the first night La Inglesa and I started going out, 32 years, 1 months and 24 days ago). Pehaps I should go there and stick a plaque of my own up...

Subject: RE: BS: Animaterra in the UK!
From: MBSLynne
Date: 20 Apr 05 - 05:16 PM

Your secret Santa and I would love to see you and put you up if you are in the area...we're not too far from Stratford! Only problem is that we will be in Sidmouth from about the 25th July to 6th August. Let us know your plans in more detail, and if you are around the Midlands while we are at home, let us know

Love Lynne

Subject: RE: BS: Animaterra in the UK!
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 21 Apr 05 - 05:59 AM

What fun! Refresh.....

Subject: RE: BS: Animaterra in the UK!
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 28 Apr 05 - 06:51 AM

Oh, dear, I'm trying to figure out how to do it all! My friends here are surprised when I tell them we'll be traveling for 3 weeks; I'm meanwhile wondering how on earth to fit it all in! Can I manage to visit this person on the only dates they're available, AND see my cousin for the few days she's in London, AND get to Sidmouth for a few days, etc., etc.

The answer is, probably not. So I'm trying to make a reasonable itinerary that's flexible yet gets me to the places I want to see and the people I want to visit. Most of the places, and most of the people, that is!

El Greko, that's the pub! My daughter claims to be a REAL Tolkein geek - the books, not the movies!
Do you know any good B&B's near Oxford, or perhaps an easy drive to the Cotswolds? I promised my daughter we'd stay at least one night in a B&B- so far, thanks to generous friends, we won't have to pay for lodging otherwise.

Is it too early to start a countdown???

Subject: RE: BS: Animaterra in the UK!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 28 Apr 05 - 09:49 AM

It's only 3 months away.... you count away girl!

I've sat that seat in the Budgie and Brat too....I'm another Tolkein geek, was before the films!! (and would have cheerfully swapped the last 20 mins for the 20 that Christopher Lee had cut out....)
We stayed in a pub in Jericho in Oxford. It was a lovely pub (and if you get 'Inspector Morse' where you are, it's featured in it) and might be worth a look. I think it was called 'The Globe'.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Animaterra in the UK!
From: karen k
Date: 28 Apr 05 - 10:02 AM

Gee, Allison you didn't mention this at NEFFA. I hope you have a wonderful time. You certainly deserve it. I went a year ago for a month. Mudcatters - Noreen, Barb'ry, Sussex Carole and Clive and Sheila put me up and drove me all over. They were absolutely fantastic. Best trip of my life. Can't wait to go again. I hadn't been since 89. You'll have the best time. Pictures, I want to see pictures!

Have a great time.

love ya,
karen

Subject: RE: BS: Animaterra in the UK!
From: YorkshireYankee
Date: 28 Apr 05 - 05:02 PM

Hiya -- have been so busy I haven't been looking at Mudcat much the past 2-3 weeks, but finally noticed your thread.

Don't know if your itinerary will include Sheffield, but you are welcome to stay with us if it does (if you & your daughter don't mind sharing a double bed). Only thing is, I'm expecting to be out of town (out of the country, actually) from 23 July to 7 August -- which may make it difficult to co-ordinate dates -- but would love to meet you if it works out!

Cheers -- YY

Subject: RE: BS: Animaterra in the UK!
From: bradfordian
Date: 22 Jun 05 - 07:26 AM

Hey guys, she's a CBS fan & I believe the're on at Warwick (24th?) Anyone help out there?
brad

Subject: RE: BS: Animaterra in the UK!
From: gnomad
Date: 22 Jun 05 - 08:29 PM

Warwick appears here, hope it helps CBS gig list

Subject: RE: BS: Animaterra in the UK!
From: Pistachio
Date: 23 Jun 05 - 06:14 PM

Warwick - if you're going to make it there I'd love to put a face to the name...i'll pm a mobile number. Hazel.

Subject: RE: BS: Animaterra in the UK!
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 21 Jul 05 - 10:58 AM

Welcome to London, bombs away! I don't mean to treat today's incidents lightly, but it does affect my arrival a bit. Maggie and I are safe and sound at Micca's, planning to meet LTS soon and go to Bill Sables' on Saturday. Stay tuned- some of our plans are quite fluid as yet!

Allison

Subject: RE: BS: Animaterra in the UK!
From: GUEST,MMario
Date: 21 Jul 05 - 11:03 AM

Allison - enjoy yourselves!

Subject: RE: BS: Animaterra in the UK!
From: GUEST,bbc on vacation in MO
Date: 21 Jul 05 - 11:19 PM

Give Bill a hug for me & have a *wonderful* trip!

love,

Barbara

Subject: RE: BS: Animaterra in the UK!
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 22 Jul 05 - 04:58 PM

If you do intend to go to Sidmouth let me know Alison.
Giok

Subject: RE: BS: Animaterra in the UK!
From: Micca
Date: 23 Jul 05 - 04:20 AM

They have Just left for Kings Cross and Yorkshire to Vist Bill Sables after a superb dinner at Liz the Squeaks last night. We had a day sightseeing in London yesterday, The serious sightseeing will be when they come back to London in a few days, I know they will enjoy Yorkshire,

Subject: RE: BS: Animaterra in the UK!
From: GUEST,Food lover
Date: 23 Jul 05 - 07:56 AM

Superb dinner? Must get round there one day.

Subject: RE: BS: Animaterra in the UK!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 23 Jul 05 - 08:39 PM

Gorsh... wasn't nuttin' but some old chicken recipe, a chocolate lime cookie cheesecake and a summer pudding.....

Thank you.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Animaterra in the UK!
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 26 Jul 05 - 04:21 AM

But how delicious it was! And what fun to meet LTS, Manitas, the Limpit, and Lady Penelope. Am having a wonderful time in Yorkshire, and return to London tomorrow. Too busy for much computer time, but I'm here!

Allison

Subject: RE: BS: Animaterra in the UK!
From: Pistachio
Date: 31 Jul 05 - 04:41 PM

Sorry to have missed you on your busy visit.
Maybe next time.
PS Did your mother ever get the Hissyfit CD - I'd just like to know if it arrived?
Hazel.

Subject: RE: BS: Animaterra in the UK!
From: Alan Day
Date: 31 Jul 05 - 06:24 PM

Well Allison and her daughter hopes to get to The George Borough High Street tommorow night(Monday 1st) and after writing to her for about eighteen months it will be lovely to see her, have a chat and make music.With luck, Allison will let you know if she enjoys herself.
If any of you want to join us you are very welcome.
The music will be English,French,Breton but there are no rules.
Al

Subject: RE: BS: Animaterra in the UK!
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 01 Aug 05 - 02:21 PM

I'm heading off to the George in just a few minutes! It's been great to meet the Mudcatters I've seen so far, and I'm looking forward to seeing Alan, whom I also know from Concertina.Net. I have some phone numbers of other Mudcatters, and I plan to use them within the next few days.

Ta ta!

Allison

Subject: RE: BS: Animaterra in the UK!
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 02 Aug 05 - 04:38 AM

What a great evening! Alan is a fine gentleman and a great musician. He kindly loaned me a concertina and I tried to hold my own through a delightful evening at the ancient inn.

Staying in Chipping Norton tonight!

Allison

Subject: RE: BS: Animaterra in the UK!
From: Pistachio
Date: 09 Aug 05 - 11:37 AM

Sorry Allison - Thanks for the phonecall. I'm now back in Yorkshire (from Edinburgh) but will have no chance to meet you this trip. Hope your Leamington Spa accommodation finally opened its doors!
Have a safe journey home.
Maybe meet up on your next visit to the UK!!
Hazel.
x

Subject: RE: BS: Animaterra in the UK!
From: Micca
Date: 10 Aug 05 - 11:49 AM

Well, They are safely sent off from Heathrow towards Boston!!! after a(reportedly) splendid visit, we were chuffed to little dickie birds to see you both. Allison attended Sharps yesterday evening and deligted those gathered with a couple of songs!! Including a Beaut called "Grizelda" which I and others had never heard before!!, also one of the singers did " I'm going back to where I come from" which, for some reason I associate with Bill D!!??

Subject: RE: BS: Animaterra in the UK!
From: Pistachio
Date: 11 Aug 05 - 12:33 PM

Sorry I was away from home when you called. I'd have loved the chance to meet up but such is life. You appear to have had a successful visit anyway.
Keep in touch. Regards
Hazel.

Subject: RE: BS: Animaterra in the UK!
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 11 Aug 05 - 06:35 PM

What a wonderful visit! My head is still so full of everything that I can't get it straight. I woke up at 4:00 am today from a dream that I was still in England. A part of me belongs there- I can't quite put my finger on it, but I feel I've left a part of myself behind.

Many thanks to Micca for escorting us from Heathrow and back again, and to him and Khatt for such warm and welcoming hospitality. I'm sorry I only got to see Liz, Manitas, Limpit and Lady Penelope once.

Bill and Lorna Sables gave fully and graciously of themselves and I love them and value their friendship as well. I can't decide if I loved Yorkshire or Oxfordshire better. I think it's because they reminded me of my New Hampshire home!

I'm so sorry I missed seeing Pistachio, MBSLynne and epn, and Sian and I kept playing email tag- oh, well, next time!

As for my daughter Maggie, she burst into tears as the plane landed in Boston. I think it's very likely that the next time I visit the UK it will be to visit her!

Got to watch "HitchHiker's Guide to the Galaxy" on the plane, then read half of the latest "Harry Potter".

It had been 27 years since my last visit. I won't let that much time go by again!

Allison

Subject: RE: BS: Animaterra in the UK!
From: bbc
Date: 11 Aug 05 - 11:34 PM

Welcome home, dear. I'm glad you had such a good trip. I know just what you mean about feeling that you left part of yourself behind. I felt exactly that way when I returned from Korea this spring. Let's be thankful that we have people & places that special to us.

much love,

barbara

Subject: RE: BS: Animaterra in the UK!
From:
Date: 12 Aug 05 - 10:22 AM

Glad you arrived home safe and sound and that you both enjoyed you stay in the UK.

It was wonderful to finally meet you and Maggie.

We hope to see you both in October when Micca and I make the trip across the pond!

Subject: RE: BS: Animaterra in the UK!
From: Guy Wolff
Date: 17 Aug 05 - 11:09 PM

Its great to hear of both your wonderful trip and Dick and Susans,as well . I know that western flight feeling . I think some of us just feel of Briton as our tribal center. Not said well but all those years of family history make it feel like our true home . Funny, I only have a few years of my life livving there but cant stop thinking of it in that way..
          All the best , guy

Subject: RE: BS: Animaterra in the UK!
From: karen k
Date: 18 Aug 05 - 02:06 AM

Welcome home. I'm glad you both had a great time. I know just what you mean about leaving a part of you behind. We'll have to find time sometime to compare notes. Time to get back to the real world.

See you at NOMAD I hope.

k

Subject: RE: BS: Animaterra in the UK!
From: GUEST,Alan Day
Date: 18 Aug 05 - 07:23 AM

I can confirm Allison that you did leave a bit of you in England it was lovely to see you.
It was a good thing your daughter did not come with you to "The George" she may not have gone home at all.
I look forward to seeing you on your next visit and playing "Chocolate Rabbit" (your tune)again together.
Take care
Al

Subject: RE: BS: Animaterra in the UK!
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 18 Aug 05 - 07:54 AM

I've been home a week and I still dream of England every night!

Allison

Subject: RE: BS: Animaterra in the UK!
From: MaineDog
Date: 18 Aug 05 - 11:34 AM

Welcome Home!
Did you get to Scotland at all?
MD