The Litte Red Road

Well Tuesday evening was a crazy one. By time bill was close enough for Kim's friend to take me to meet him it was 8:30pm. I rode with Morton, a hilarious Scottish fellow whom i had a considerable difficult time understanding through his thick Scottish accent. We arrived at KFC at about 9:00 pm and waited.
Now let me give props where props are due. I expect an Angry grouchy temperamental Six foot Seven Bill Wilhelm! And if that is what i got i certainly would not begrudge him. I have not mentioned that about 30 minutes before Bill and I flew out here Bill pulled a muscle in his back and was in quite a lot of pain, and cramming a 6'7" man into a tiny ford focus does not help. Every time we got in that stupid car Bill's back would get a little worse, but being the trooper he is, he complained very very little. Well this man had little sleep, and had been driving a total of 10 and a half hours in this stupid little car. He had not been pleased with the meeting and the final st aw was the fact that Major Kim who promised to drive back with Bill and help him hook up with Mort and I abandoned Bill at the meeting leaving Bill to Drive, once again, alone in the Dark and in a foreign countries. Then add the fact that the road he was on was under construction and he had to make a few detours that left him lost a couple of times. I say all this to point out, despite this angry Bill is not what I got. He was annoyed by everyone of those things but he was not in any way a foul mood. He took them as they came and kept a cheerful attitude.
Bill and I finally met and we scoped out or route from Newark to Manchester. Now Mort (a native I add) pointed out that we should take the M1 (the British equivalent of a major Interstate). But Bill and i (both visitors to the UK) noticed that taking the M1, signified on the map by a thick bright blue line, would take us far north of Manchester (we were south of it currently) and then cut South West towards it. That Seemed a little out of our way. Then Bill and I noticed that there was a little curvy red line representing a road that went straight from our current location to very near the Manchester airport. We decided that we would go against the sound advice of the local and use our own foreign logic and take the little red road (the A617) to Manchester with Bill driving and I navigating!
Needless to say it was a mess. Bill realized he had a problem when he (who wore glasses) could read the road signs from about 15 yards out further than I could. My eyes (really I'm not kidding here) I have noticed are not that good any more and most words at distances tend to blend together. So I could only read about half of what a road sign said before we past it. Bill quipped at one point "I'm being navigated by Mr. Magoo!" Obviously I will be getting my eyes checked next week. The next problem is that the British road system is a disaster. The road went from four lanes sometimes immediately into a little one lane that curved through several subdivisions leaving us very unsure whether we were still on the right road or not. The British road ways are very very poorly marked. The only time you can find out what road you are on is when you come to a round about and they mark the exits off it. At one point we came to a round about with 5 exits and all of them were marked the A617, I'm not kidding! How can a road intersect itself???!?!?! We got lost a couple times, at one point I told bill i thought we were on the right road and I added "Whatever happens we don't wanna be in Baswell." No sooner had the words left my Lips than we looked up and saw a sign that said "Welcome to Baswell." Lucky for me Bill had a great sense of humor.
We reached the Marriott in Manchester at Midnight and got checked in. The Bed felt like heaven and I slept soundly . . . . . . that is until the fire alarm at the Hotel went off at 5:00 AM and woke every one up. But at least I was going home that day. Lord willing, before I hit the bed that night I was going to see my wife. And that was my only comfort, and the only one i needed!

Your affectionate uncle,
Screwtape

"Just can't wait to get on the road again"

W00t! I called the Marriott in Havant this morning and verified that Bill Wilhelm arrived safely sometime last night. What a relief off my mind that is. I mean not only did he leave late (no earlier than 6:30 pm) for a 4 hour drive in a foreign country at night but he stayed up to 3:00 am the previous night watching the Superbowl! But he made it, Praise God!
I did not sleep well last night at all, I kept waking up from bad dreams about not getting checked of the Hotel because my Corporate card didn't work, or missing my plane, or Bill and I not able to get together. It is a shame that Sigmund Freud has passed on because I really could have used his help in deciphering the true meaning behind those dreams.
I am now Homeless, I checked out of the White Hart this morning, and Now I'm waiting for Bill's 10:00 am meeting to get over. I don't think it will be done before 4:00pm so I prolly won't see him until 8:30 at the earliest. At that time we will head to Manchester. I can't wait to see my wife again!
"I'm almost there!" (of course that's what the Y-Wing Pilot said before Darth Vader blew his ship up)

Your affectionate uncle,
Screwtape

Cold and Alone!

Well a busy day! The best part was when my months of hard work was shown to the soldiers and the demonstrator kept saying he didn't understand it and pointing out the things he didn't like. Throw in a little rectal surgery and its my best day ever!
We didn't head straight in since the soldiers wouldn't be coming in until noon. So for one final time we walked down the Hill, walked around Lincoln, and walked back up the hill. My legs feel like noodles. On the plus side i think my calves are beginning to look a little more muscled than when i came here. It was bitter cold this morning, I know my friends and family have been suffering bitter cold in Alabama but it has for the last 9 days been very pleasant here. It has been in the high 40s and low 50s for the most part. but this morning it was well below freezing and it made our little walk just a little more painful.
I kept busy at work until Bill commandeered my computer to demonstrate some networking stuff. Bill has now abandoned me too the Brits and is prolly right now on his way to Havant (which is about 4 hours away from here). Its a long drive.
Tomorrow I get up early and check out of the white hart, and go to work. Hopefully at some point I will be delivered unto Bill (but not in a dirty way).
"And that's all I got yo say about that!"

Your affectionate uncle,
Screwtape

Floppin' and Ice Cream

Well not much to report today and unlikely there will be any more BIG blog postings for a bit. Bill checks out of the Hotel tomorrow morning and we will go to the base for work. After work tomorrow I will have to find a ride back to the hotel and Bill will head to Havant for the meeting at 10:00 AM on Tuesday. Tuesday morning I will check out of the White Hart and try to snag another ride to the base. Hopefully Bill's meeting won't be too long but we both suspect it will take most all day. Major Kim is supposed to meet Bill at this meeting (ironic, huh?), they will ride half way up to Lincoln and I will get a ride with one of Kim's Army buddies and we will meet them some where and Bill will Trade Kim for me (I think Bill is getting the better deal, don't you?) and we will head to the Marriott in Manchester. Wednesday morning we will get up and Lord Willing, go catch our plane back home. The Last time I will be able to Blog from here will be Tuesday Morning, but stay tuned Wednesday night as will will try and recap everything that happened between my last blog and getting home. Please Pray our flight from Atlanta to Huntsville will be 1000 times better than the one from Huntsville to Atlanta was.

Not much happened today, Bill and I met for breakfast and after that I read and studied my Bible and downloaded some sermons from my second favorite Pastor, Mark Webb (My first favorite being my own Pastor, Dean Olive) and watched them. Then I tried to pray some but those stupid bells from the cathedral kept going off for an hour so I had to pray under a pile of pillows. After that Bill and I walked about Lincoln and down the Hill for the last time I think. Not many shops or stores open on Sunday and the streets were real empty. We finished our walk under 2 hours and ended it by going to the Ice Cream parlor across the street from the Hotel. It was so good I went back to it for dinner.

Other than that mostly I have been taking it easy and relaxing and flopping around the Hotel room. I have done some work but not too much. Hope everybody else is having a good Sunday! Take care all!

Your affectionate uncle,
Screwtape

Lincoln

Well I tried to sleep in this morning, no thanks to the Church bells that decided to ring for half an hour straight at 8:00 am this morning! Alas my great view comes with a heavy price. After what I considered a lengthy breakfast William and I departed on what would be a 4 hour tour. After buying a little tourist map outside of the Castle we discovered that instead of exploring a quarter of the city last night we had in fact toured the whole outer west half.

Logically we decided to go east this time and so we did. First we scouted the times of some stores we intended to buy some nick-nacks at so that we could come and get them before the stores closed but also so we did not have to carry items for the entire walk. Some stores close here at 3:00pm some at 5:00pm. We scoured the entire east side and had some laughs. Finally we came to the southern most part of Lincoln where we found a Park of sorts. It was called a "South Park" (Which I found amusing) but it wasn't at all the kind of place that you think of (at least in America) as a Park. There was a place here mowed and clean for children that had swings and see-saws but at the back of the park was a bridge that crossed an overgrown creek and ended on the other side at a wooden fence. and on the other side of that fence was what appeared to me to be a cow pasture (although I didn't see any cows). To get into the Field we had to squeeze through a little gate very much like the kind that cow hands had to use in the old west to go into their fields. The grass was tall fescue and there were little muddy paths to and fro where people walked (you could see muddy boot tracks in the mud). There was a sign posted on a pool listing out rules and what not and after bill examined the rules as closely as any lawyer we set off to walk across the field to a tall hill crest on the other side. The top of the hill crest had another wooden fence that we could not cross but to look back was impressive to see how far we had walked. Keep in mind that when you look at these pictures that for all intense an purposes we walked from the cathedral that you see looming in the background.

We started out walk back, but not with out stopping buy little nick-nack shops, English equivalent of pawn shops, and whatever else struck our fancy. On our twisty turny path back we came to a little market area, it was very much like a flea market and I suppose it was. They had all kinds of bargains on purses, fruits, vegetables, candies, shoes and other strange odds and ends. Here i found a neat little Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton made of nuts bolts and all sorts of metal things. I couldn't resit it and bought it. I am however, very worried about getting it back to the U.S. in one peace. I hope they let me carry it on to the plane. After the market we were a stones through from the foot of the mighty Hill. Bill and I split up and he headed straight back to the Hotel and i ran to another couple of shops that had some other items I wished to purchase for my Claire Bear.

After a four hour walk (and a very hard walk for me as my little stubby legs have to stride fast and hard to keep up with the mighty pace of the long legged Wilhelm) the Steep Hill was far steeper than ever it had seemed before. I reached the top more than a little winded. Wheezing i returned to my room (up 3 flights of stairs might I add) and stumbled in and collapsed on my bed. I called my Love bug and intend to call her again in a few. She is with her parents today as they go to see her sister in a track meet in Tennessee.

I will likely nap before joining Bill again and going out to dinner. I saw a "United Reformed Church" on our travels and I hope to look it up and may have some brothers and sisters to worship with tomorrow, or so I hope.



I don't know if i will post again today or not, but whether or not I do, "That's the news, goodnight and have a pleasant tomorrow."

Your affectionate uncle,
Screwtape

Half-Day

Well after a Late late night last night of work and testing and a very busy day up until 2:30pm Bill and I left the work site and back to Lincoln where after 5 days here I would get to see Lincoln for the first time in the daylight. All the soldiers we work with left the base at 12:30 and the rest of the staff was out by 1:30 pm. But both Bill and I had work to do so we pressed on til we finished at 2:30pm. We were left the keys and we locked up the building and were the very last guys to leave the base.

We came back to the hotel and I threw on my hiking boots and we set out to explore the city of Lincoln in the last couple hours of daylight left in the day. It was an exhausting walk and after late nights and early mornings (we had left for work extra early this morning so we could do some testing before everyone else got there) we agreed that we are both sleeping in tomorrow. We walked around a quarter of the city and saw many neat sights, the city is a pretty one and if you are staying in the White hart Inn it is absolutely impossible to get Lost. Above every thing in the city you can see that towering Cathedral miles away on top of that great hill on the north side of the city. Everywhere you go you can see it.

For some unknown reason Bill wanted to see if he could find the Marriott hotel there in Lincoln that we both almost stayed at before Major Kim booked us in at the White Hart. We found it and it had a great view over a lake in the center of town but nowhere near as awesome as the view I have now. We walked further and found a McDonald's! But don't worry we didn't dare eat at a place so crass and uncultured, we instead went further and ate at a quaint little mom and pop's restaurant called Burger King. It was very nice.

We got to go to that Toys R' Us that I spotted the other night and walked for a few more hours and then headed back to the hotel. Bill's glasses had broke slightly and he found a place on the way back that sold glasses. What he didn't notice was that the store also sold make-up, lip stick and pink balloons as it was a women's store called "Bibbs" or "Boobs" or "Boots" or something. Some how he talked one of the ladies into fixing his glasses for free, I don't know how he did it. After that we came back and I called my woman and did some more work and now here I am typing up the days events before I head off to bed.

I can't wait for tomorrow to explore Lincoln for a full day and I plan to have a nice plate of bangers and Mash for supper. Until then my friends I bid you good evening.


Cheers!

Your affectionate uncle,
Screwtape

"Steep Hill"

What a pleasant night I had. Bill and I actually left work at a more reasonable hour than we have the times before. The day was a good one, I got several things done and turned them in to my S/W Lead and that is always a good feeling.

Bill and I had learned our lesson from the previous night, as soon as we got back to the Hotel we scampered out to get some food before the pubs stopped serving it. We were joined by a young man a little older than I, who works for one of Lockheed's co-contractors on this project we are on, and we all went to a pub right by the Hotel called the "Magna Carta." Praise the Lord, I got some fish and chips and they were in fact the best fish and chips I have had here in England (they were almost as good as Captain D's back home). We talked for a long time about various subjects and had some lively debate involving a subject very dear to me and in the end I can only pray that some seeds were planted and that the Lord will water. We'll see.

After dinner and discussions we decided to walk the famous "Lincoln Hill." Okay now is the time to fess up, I guess my memory plays tricks on me. I have described this hill to many people who have never heard it and when we walked it i realized that maybe I had embellished it in my mind which led to an over embellishment of it by my mouth. First, I told some people that at one point the hill is 45 degrees, well it gets close and maybe it does get that steep but not for long; but in truth i would still be afraid to drive a car up it (even a 4 wheel drive one). Second I told some people it was almost a mile long, and that just isn't the case, it is probably 1/2 a mile at most. One thing I did say that was true was that due to the steepness there were several doors in buildings on this hill that were only 4 to 5 feet tall; and as evidenced by these pictures that is the case. I tried to get pictures of the steep parts of the hill, but it was to dark to tell anything, so that will have to wait until Saturday. It was a great walk and we plan to repeat it tonight. After we got to the bottom we walked around the Lincoln streets for about half an hour before going back up the hill to the hotel. Going back up the hill, I suddenly realized why I had so embellished it in my mind, it definitely seemed steeper than it was when we came down and when we did reach the top I found myself breathing quite heavily and sweating despite the very chilled night air.

After that I returned to my room, read a little and went to bed. I had the fish again this morning and now here I am at work again. Nothing else to report, I am looking forward to the next three days. The soldiers we work with are given Fridays off so they can drive home to their families and that being the case most of the other people who work here take a half day off leaving at noon. So I hope Bill and I do too. Then I can do more exploring in the daylight hours. While walking in Lincoln we saw a "Toys R Us" off in the distance and I plan to visit it soon. Still no word yet on what to do about next Tuesday's meeting, Bill is inclined not to go but Kim really wants him to and so does everyone else in the UK. I hope we don't cause I don't want the hassle but also it would tick everybody else involved off, and for some reason that really appeals to me (I guess maybe that is kind of sinful of me, I should prolly look at that).

Well Thanks again for reading my pointless blather! Miss everybody! TTFN (Ta-Ta for now)

Your affectionate uncle,
Screwtape