Snow on Vesuvius

Vesuvius Day 20 234, originally uploaded by hallsan.

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that in the morning, there were patches of snow on the trail.

Sun coming out

Vesuvius Day 20 226, originally uploaded by hallsan.

Our walk was overcast on the trail but as we started down, the sun started to reach the trail a bit. It wasn't exactly a clear view from the top, but I kept snapping hoping to get a good light that would allow us to see the Bay of Naples and the city of Naples lit up. Vesuvius is known for having heavy cloulds at the top.

Vesuvius crater view

Vesuvius Day 20 209, originally uploaded by hallsan.

Vesuvius Top

Vesuvius Day 20 208, originally uploaded by hallsan.

Western view.

Nathan and Isaac by the smoking crater

Vesuvius Day 20 204, originally uploaded by hallsan.

It was good to start heading down.

Top of the West Side

Vesuvius Day 20 198, originally uploaded by hallsan.

Nathan and Isaac were pretending to be Sam and Frodo returning the ring. The baby was Smeagle, which was pretty mean.

Sweet Isaiah and Daniela

Vesuvius Day 20 197, originally uploaded by hallsan.

Here we are at the farthest place we can go on this trail.

Smoking crater

Vesuvius Day 20 185, originally uploaded by hallsan.

I don'thave a wide angle lens, so I snapped a lot of shots to try to record the majesty of the crater, which is huge. It was smoking in spots as well.

Hiking Mt. Vesuvius

Vesuvius Day 20 245, originally uploaded by hallsan.

Isaiah, Daniela, Isaac, Nathan and I hiked up the mountain to the very top in an hour and an half. We had to walk at a 2 year old's pace but it was fine.

Stonehenge Day 10

Stonehenge, originally uploaded by hallsan.

Well, it was cold and windy yet very impressive. We listened to an audio tour while we walked around the awesome, towering stonehenge. The tour was devoid of spiritual content, IMO. The mystery of how is matched with the mystery of why these humungous stones were brought here from 200 miles away by people assumed to be primitive. But nevertheless, I felt an unspoken spiritual richness about the place and was impressed with the feat and the results.

Oxfam Unwrapped - Gifts with conscience

Oxfam Unwrapped How does the scheme work?
You buy a gift from Oxfam Unwrapped. You receive a card and a fridge magnet that represents the gift that you have chosen to give to your friend or family member. Someone in the developing world receives this gift. Whether it be an alpaca to earn a living from, the means to plant an allotment or safe water to drink – the result is that their lives are much improved!

I suggest that we all consider this when thinking of gifts to buy our friends. Help the poverty stricken in Ethiopia or Rwanda or dozens of other countries in Africa with gifts that they really need. You can help in Asia, South America and Mexico. It's a marvelous and very special gift to give a friend.

America also has an option: http://www.oxfamamericaunwrapped.com/

My husband has a last minute birthday party to go to and I thought of a fishing net (yes, a net http://www.oxfamunwrapped.com/ProductItem.aspx?ProductID=OU2601) for his colleague. Hope he likes it.

Adding to the Yarn Stash

Reading day 8 Yarn Stash, originally uploaded by hallsan.

Even tho I'm thousands of miles from home, I knew I would find something to add to my yarn stash. I found a good deal on something different . . . Hobbycraft had R2 Paper Tape (148 yrds) 100% Nylon and R2 Rag (27 yds) 100% Cotton each for 49p (about $1.00). I got 4 ball of Blue Paper Tape and 13 balls of Rag (4 black, 4 sky blue and 5 khaki). I started a patchwork crochet throw with the paper tape, to give us something to throw around us when we sit on the sofa. I figure it's cheap to play with until I decide to buy something nice.

HobbyCraft Yarn Department

Hobbycraft Reading, originally uploaded by hallsan.

Not bad selection . . . average british prices

Local Yarn Shops in Reading

I've already found 3 nice yarn shops in the local area:

1. Jackson's Department Store on King Street http://www.jacksonsofreading.co.uk/lifestyle.htm , very old style but friendly.
2. John Lewis in The Oracle http://www.johnlewis.com/Shops/DSShop.aspx?Id=19 , a very well-lit, modern and clean yarn selection, with lots of notions and a nice selection of fabric.
3. Hobbycraft, Forbury Retail Park, Off Kenavon Drive, http://www.hobbycraft.co.uk/ . Going to check it out in a few minutes.

I bought a knitting kit for my son . . . it's an octopus for fun. Knitting is not easy for a 7 year old, tho. 6.99 pounds was a bit steep for 4mm needles and yarn with instructions but he was excited.

I will be starting something with either the camouflage yarn I brought with me or with something new I pick up at HobbyCraft.

Reading - along Chestnut Walk near the Abbey ruin

Reading, originally uploaded by hallsan.

We are having a good time walking around town. This is a footpath on the River Kennet, not too far from the apartment.

This weekend, we'll visit Stonehenge, for what that's worth. It's far out into nowhere, about 90 minutes from here.

By train From Paddington Station, London to Maidenhead then drive to Reading, Berkshire

google map from paddington to reading, originally uploaded by hallsan.

Reading is not very far from London. We'll walk around Reading today. There is a mall called The Oracle which is a 20 minute walk from the apartment. Isaac and I will tackle it later today, if it's as beautiful and sunny as it was yesterday.

UK day 4- Move from London to Reading UK

UK Day 4 - Move from London to Reading, originally uploaded by hallsan.

We moved to Reading, a town in Berkshire . . .Berkshire is a county in the South of England, to the West of London, in the Thames Valley. It is one of the oldest counties in England, dating back to the setting of county borders by King Alfred the Great. Berkshire saw many battles throughout history, from Alfred's fight against the Danes to two battles in Newbury in the Civil War, and the Battle of Reading in the Revolution of 1688.

The county was often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire, due to it's being the home of the monarch, and this title was formally ratified in 1958. However the Berkshire County Council was dissolved in 1998. The county now exists only geographically and in ceremonial matters.

The move took place by train from Paddington Station to Maidenhead. We took a taxi to pick up Henry's car, then he drove to Reading where we now live in a very nice 2 bedroom 2 bath flat.

London day 2 029

London day 2 029, originally uploaded by hallsan.

Okay, we got our grub on at this steak house, but I wasn't that impressed with the steak I had. It was nice to sit by the window, tho, and watch the Piccadilly Circus go by.

ISBN 4893968556
ISBN 4579110811

Couple of new japanese craft books: Relax Goods, and Quilted Items.

I hope to take them with me on my trip to London. I'll be taking some needles and some fabric for some handsewing. Also some crochet needles and yarn to keep my hands busy. I checked the TSA website and apparently crochet needles aren't a problem. I'm carrying a selfaddressed stamped envelope with me just in case I need to mail a confiscated item back home.