It Don't Come Easy - Saturday 9

Saturday 9: It Don't Come Easy (1971)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) This was Ringo's first big hit as a solo artist. Who is your favorite member of his old, very famous group, The Beatles? I really liked Ringo.  He seemed very funny and quirky. Of course, I thought Paul was dreamy. I love them still.  I would have been one of those girls at Ed Sullivan.  
  

2) In this song, Ringo sings that you have to pay your dues. Do you belong to any organizations that require you to pay dues? We pay dues to the Greater Ozark British Motoring Club. 

3) He also sings, "you don't have to shout." When did you last raise your voice? Probably, in frustration, at Totem....He is back to his fussy eating habits.  Last week he was looking for stuff to eat, this week he looks at it....and walks away. I 

4) Ringo has two piercings on each ear and one tattoo on each arm. Do you have more piercings or body art? Just conventionally pierced ears. 
 

5) Ringo gave his first wife, Maureen, a one-of-a-kind birthday gift. Frank Sinatra made a recording of "The Lady Is a Tramp" personalized to her. Tell us about one of your most memorable birthday celebrations. It was not a  celebration for me but we were.....many years ago, able to throw my Dad a surprise party for his 60th. We lived in a great house for parties and everyone was there.

6) Ringo appeared as Mr. Conductor on Thomas the Tank Engine. He recorded the narration for the entire first season in just a week. Tell us what you did last week.  Not a dang thing, except feel bad.  Fall allergies are really bad for me this year.  It has been raining on and off for a couple of days which should, dampen down the allergens. I was looking forward to a weekend outing, which was cancelled for us, by Mr BC getting sick.

7) Ringo also did the narration for Ladybird children's books. Do you like audiobooks? We listen to audio books when ever we can, on long drives in the RV.

8) As a boy in Liverpool, Ringo loved watching American westerns. His passion for the genre is reflected in the outfit he's wearing on the sleeve for "It Don't Come Easy." Do you like cowboy movies/shows? We are currently hooked on Longmire. 

9) You know what else don't come easy? Nine questions every week. Crazy Sam has heard it all: this meme asks too many movie questions, too many questions about sports, too many questions that sound familiar ...  OK, now it's your turn. Help a tired meme mistress out. Contribute a random question that is not about movies or sports (pro or collegiate) and has never been asked before on this meme. Sam will compile these for an all-random Saturday 9 in November. That way she'll get a much-appreciated week off. Thanks for your help!

Do you have any irrational phobias?

Do you tend to hide something about your personality/essence when meeting new people? If yes, what?

Do you practice any kind of escapism? If yes, what kind? 

Do you have to look in the mirror before going out?

Has your 'resting face' ever got you in trouble?

What would your own fantasy world consist of?

On to Buckingham Palace and the Queen's Backyard

I've been to London to visit the Queen....although she wasn't there, she opened the the Palace for a visit....for £40.  I really wanted to do this, Mr BC almost bailed on me because of....walking.  In making plans, I forgot again that walking the mall in Joplin is different from walking the Mall at Buckingham Palace.  Taxi's from the start next time. 

Mr BC is somewhere on the steps of this statue.

Crowds Everywhere

I planted Mr BC at the Victoria Statue outside Buckingham Palace and went to find the ticket office. Then went back to get him when I found the ticket office around the side of the palace on Buckingham Palace Road.  The whole ticket taking was very well done as you might think.  It was a Friday and next to last day of the tours and crowded as expected. (Pictures of the inside of the palace are from the a web site.

Paul was able to go back stage a bit and take an elevator up and down.

You get the idea, the rooms actually seemed a little smaller with crowds and informational displays.  All very opulent, lots of Dutch painters, Chinese vases, silk, lavish ceilings and wallpaper. Between this and Windsor Castle, they were the reason, I didn't want to see Versailles on the French portion of the tour. I imagine the personal rooms being filled with tweed, tartan, chintz and corgis. 

One could take pictures outside, in the backyard. We had some coffee and sat on the porch, then made our way out. We could see Magpies and sea birds on the lawn and there was a small lake/pond, toilets (finally) and the ubiquitous gift shop with really nice (read, expensive) gifts. 

At the end of the walk out, I found where everyone got the ice cream they were eating, in front of the palace....I was craving something to eat by the time we got there. Good move, Liz and Phil!

We made our way to crowded Victoria underground...It was Friday night, remember and then to our hotel.  We had an excellent room service. We also noted the bus stop in front of the hotel and check bus service to the Tower of London for tomorrow.

Click Home for link to W Hodgepodge-Sunday Stealing

Swiped Meme

Stolen from: Love Me Some Surveys

1. Did someone die in that last movie you watched?
We watched San Andreas Friday night.  A lot of people died in mind boggling quaking.  Dwayne Johnson actually made it seem almost real???? He is kind of cute.
2. Are the trees pretty colors outside for you now or at all? 
They are starting to turn, it might get cool enough this week to make the colors burst.  We are joining our British car group for a leaf peeping ride to Lake of the Ozarks next weekend, I hope for real color then. 

My house in a good year!

3. Have you ever made a bad first impression on someones parents? I don't think so. 
4. When's the last time you video recorded something on TV? 
When we lived in Ca, we had a DVR with our cable and used it a lot. Now, with streaming TV, we don't need it, and we don't get it with our basic cable here in MO.
5. What is a career you wanted to have when you were younger, and still kind of want to have now?  

I wanted to be a nurse or a ballet dancer.  I admire nurses, but after volunteering at a hospital when I was older, I wouldn't want to be one. Ballet dancer is up there with wanting to be a princess, certainly out of the question at my age.

6. What are your views on
 sunflowers? Van Gogh liked them. The seeds are tasty but not really worth the effort.

Giphy

7. What is your favorite incense or candle scent? 
Baking smells. Apple or Pumpkin pie this time of year.  I burned a lot of candles in the dining room before I got my new floor.  The carpet was awful. I am not fond of strong flower smells.
8. Caramel apples or candy apples? Neither, I want to keep what teeth I still have.  I really didn't like them so much as a kid. either.
9.  Have you ever walked into a wall? I have walked into sliding glass doors before...never got hurt badly...but felt very silly.

10. Would you ever or do you make your dog wear a bandanna? They wear them to the car, after a groomer visit, unless I remember to tell the girls not to bother.  I am not big on them and the pups don't care for them. I don't dress the dogs.

11. Do you find dandelions when they're gone all white pretty? 
I use to blow on them to make a wish when I was a kid before I found out they were seeds and just spread to the rest of the lawn. My favorite white weed is Queen Anne's lace, it grows in our wood pile, in the yard.

12. What makes you laugh? Funny babies or dogs.

13. The scariest moment of your life? 
About 30 years ago, Mr BC was following me home after taking a load of furniture etc, to a new house we bought.  Someone, clip me on the back of my car and I spun around several times and ended up facing the other direction on the freeway.  It was late, the guy was drunk and Mr BC was scared too, in the other car... had the where-with-all to slow the traffic behind him from hitting us.  I had DD2 in the car, asleep, with me.  She slept thru the whole thing. It was like seeing your life pass in front of you.  Luckily we were not hurt.
14. What’s the coolest thing you’ve bought lately? 
I bought a bag similar to this in Italy. A souvenir to bring home souvenirs. 

15. What’s the worst you’ve had to do because of losing a bet? I do not have an answer for this.  I guess lose money in a slot machine. I remember we use to play penny-ante poker with friends, many years ago and the brother, of the couple, was caught trying to cheat. A big scene.     

When I Thought I Lost Mr BC in Westminster Abbey - Pt 2

Part One Here

Well, after our day of rest on day one we got up feeling more refreshed.* Our hotel provided a great breakfast and we feasted every morning to fuel our day. This should be the only picture of food from the H10 Waterloo, and I pulled it off the internet but this was what Mr Bankerchick had every morning, What I liked were the pastries, fruit, and they had smoothies, peach and strawberry.....yum!   We always had lunch out and about. 

 

We tackled the Tube again, as we had our Oyster Card, which worked for us the whole time we were in London.  It was only one stop to Westminster....It could have been walked but, we knew we would be walking a lot.  When we came out of the station, we were greeted by Big Ben. A big Just Think moment for Mr BC.  We never did get a good picture of Parliament (the traditional one) but did get this. 

 We then made our way to Westminster Abbey, a top spot on Mr BC's list.  Needless to say no photography in the Abbey, but we clicked as we waited in the line.
  

You buy your tickets at the door and the handset guide was free.  We used a London Pass and I would say we got our money's worth in admissions for the 3 days we purchased.  It advertises you can skip long lines, but those are only the ticket purchase line....it is your ticket.  But you still might have to stand in line if the ticket purchase is at the end of the entrance line or if there is another line to get in.....as was the case most every where we went .

Since 1560, the building is no longer an abbey nor a cathedral, having instead the  status of a "Royal Peculiar"—a church responsible directly to the sovereign. The  building itself is the original abbey church.Construction of the present church began in 1245, on the orders ofKing Henry III.^{[3] Wikipedia}

Queen Elizabeth I
Pinterest

Paul and I got separated during our visit, I had walked through at a leisurely pace so I waiJust ted for him at poets corner..(I have been here before) He had spent time Thinking at Queen Elizabeth's crypt, he explained when he caught up with me.  We moved on to the outside portion of the Abbey.

The Cloister

The Chapter House
They found and uncovered some 13th and 14th century paintings on the wall.  I did not take pictures, but pulled some off the Abbeys website to show some examples.  This picture was taken from the door.   Out side was the Oldest door in England which an Asian tourist was trying his hardest to open, that really tickled me!. 

By this time we were ready to have a bite to eat, so we went to the Cellarium Cafe which is Zagat rated.  Fourteenth-century Benedictine monks once stored their provisions in this bi-level space beside Westminster Abbey, which has been converted into a relaxed eatery where midpriced Modern British eats are served for lunch and afternoon tea; the bright, modern setting has vaulted ceilings, refectory-style oak timber tables and a small outside terrace.

Next up for the day....Buckingham Palace.


*  From this point on I won't be referring to how tired we always were at the end of a day of touring, any more, just know that it is implied.  I will spare you our pain, it would become very tiresome. Since this wasn't a food tour, we did a lot of room service for dinner rather than going out again.  I know this would be anathema to many.....sorry.

A Bag of Trouble for the Squirrels

I can't say I am unhappy, that we won't have many walnuts this year. I have six black walnut trees, which provide wonderful shade in the summer and more walnuts than you can count.  This time last year, the ground was covered, with more dropping each week. 

I tried to keep up with the walnut rolling, last year, so I could walk through the yard and play ball with the dogs, without tripping on nuts. I waited and waited for someone to ask again, if they could pick up our walnuts presumably, to sell them  They came the year before, and I gratefully let them pick them up.   When they didn't come back, last year, I saw it as a sign the economy was getting better.

I don't sell them or shell any, as I don't care for black walnuts and I am not sure where to take them. OK, I could google it, but I didn't want to!  So when winter arrived, the squirrels stayed and feasted.  By Spring there was not a walnut to be found, only the black hulls and shells, in piles around the yard. The varmints in the neighborhood. were very fat indeed. I figured if no one wants them, the squirrels will.

This summer, we had a huge bagworm infestation, in our town and surrounding area. 
Indeed every nut tree...in fact most trees of any kind, had the pests. They apparently, won't kill the tree,,,,but they will destroy the leaves and hinder the growth of the nuts. The leaves of the walnut trees won't turn the lovely yellow this year, looking so mellow in the afternoon light of Fall, this year. 

When we returned from our trip, the trees had very few leaves left and I could skip through the yard, if I wanted, without turning an ankle. Maybe, there are an eighth of the walnuts we would expect.  So my squirrels may have to go further afield, to eat this winter.  While I am not unhappy to lose the walnuts and the work involved in clearing them the squirrels will miss them. They will be looking for a different food source.....and I will have to keep them out of my bird feeders, or simply look the other way.

Mind the Gap - Pt 1 of the Great Adventure

And the stairs!

We weren't met at the airport by Go Ahead, because we choose to have extra days before the tour, so we were aware that we had to make our own way to the hotel.  Boy, Howdy! I made plans and some were good and others not so good.  We arrived at about 11:15 am, after the overnight flight.  All was good, I had made plans......

After clearing the passport part of arrival, we had to decide whether to take the Heathrow Express to Paddington or the Piccadilly Line to Bakerloo, to Waterloo station.  Since the Oyster card did not cover the Heathrow Express (I thought it did), we opted for the Underground, while it worked and we got to our destination, We would have done better on the train and a taxi to our destination. 

Next time in London, I will take more taxis  Less wear and tear on our tired bodies. We opted for less expense and adventure.....! Not the best choice.  I only remember the escalators on the underground,,,,,not the flights of stairs between different lines (with 1 suitcase and our carry ons in tow and Mr BC knees.) 

It was a really a short walk to our hotel from Waterloo Station but after the flight etc,  we were glad to be able to check into the hotel to nap, order room service and then sleep again.  The room was lovely, the bed was great, and room service was reasonable. This hotel had the best room and breakfast, of the whole trip.  This part of the trip was all my planning and so far...on day 2, I was regretting some of my planning decisions, but not the trip.

H10  London Waterloo Hotel from their website.

Next time: A good night rest and on to Westminster. 

That Alphabet Thing Meme - Sunday Stealing

Stolen from: Songs of innocence and of experience

A: Accent -- American....I was recognized as such, every where I traveled in Europe last week, and since I was so fashionably dressed and impeccably mannered, it must have been the accent.

B: Breakfast -- I had French Toast this morning, but usually I have breakfast cereal with blueberries or pomegranate seeds...there back.  I freeze them and add a handful...yum. 
C: Chore you hate -- Laundry...I have a stack of it that I have been working on since Wednesday.  I hate the folding and hanging. Toilets run a close second.

D: Dad's name -- Earl Dean, he was a good Oklahoma boy, transplanted to So CA after WWII. He went by Dean.  His brother's name was Buford.
E: Essential everyday item -- My computer.
F: Flavor ice cream -- Fruit flavored frozen yogurt.  Can't process dairy very well. 
G: Gold or silver -- I wear a lot of silver.
H: Hometown -- San Gabriel, CA
I: Insomnia -- Jet Lag
J: Job title -- Retired Banker, AVP
K: Kids -- Two grown daughters and two Grandsons.
M: Mother's birthplace -- San Gabriel, CA
N: Number of significant others -- Isn't one enough?

O: Overnight hospital stays -- About 10 nights, over my lifetime.  We use to stay in the hospital for longer time with our babies and tonsils. 
P: Phobia -- Extreme heights.

Q: Quick at -- Not much, any more.  My mind and body have really slowed down.
R: Religious affiliation -- Not really...I am mostly a Humanist.
S: Siblings -- It is just my brother and I.
T: Time you wake up -- About 5:30 am.
U: Unnatural hair colors -- I went red once...then I let the gray out.
V: Vegetable you refuse to eat -- Okra
W: Worst habit -- I am taking care of my procrastination issues:  just you wait and see.

 X: X-rays -- Last ones were dental, but several years ago, I had a broken ankle.
Y: Yummy -- Mint flavored M&M's.
Z: Zodiac sign -- Leo on the cusp of Cancer....what ever that means.