CHRIS SHRIGLEY'S "TRIP TO ENGLAND" ....
Chigley's Christmas Beano Part 1 (Introduction)
Hello and welcome to my "Christmas Trip To England" Blog. Over the next couple of weeks, I will be posting a few articles, chronicling my adventures in and around my home town, the City of Derby.
I leave on Thursday 18th December and come back on January 4th. I'm looking forward to 2 whole weeks away from the crazy, plastic World I live in. It's a chance to recharge and get my head in order for the New Year.
I'm excited and nervous and a little sad, all at the same time.
I'm excited because I get to see my Family and friends for the first time in 6 years or so. I'm staying with my big Sister Taz and her Hubby, Stu, in their lovely house in Little Chester, Chester Green. I plan on visiting and hanging out with some old friends while I'm back, including a visit to Manchester and scenic Ripley. I intend to do lots of partying, drinking and eating and making merry. It will be a blast!
I'm nervous about the trip because it's going to be a bit of a challenge for me personally. Most people who know me, know I have crappy eyesight, and getting around, especially on my own, can be a little stressful and challenging. I am travelling alone one this trip, so I don't have anyone to rely on but myself. As my eyesight has got worse, my World has shrunk. I tend to avoid certain social situations because it's easier to stay at home. I don't enjoy or like going to places I don't know, because unfamiliarity is my enemy. So why the fuck am I travelling 7,000 miles by road, plane and train? Well it's going to be a test of my mettle. I am stretching myself, and it's good to stretch.
I am sad because my Darling Wife can't come with me on this trip, due to work commitments. I will miss her terribly, especially over the Holiday. Of course it's a double edged sword, kinda, because although I'll miss my Girly, I will no doubt have a great time back in the Family fold. Next time we'll go together, my dear, and you'll get to see the sights and sounds of my Mother land.
So there you have it, I'm just about prepared and packed. I have all my gifts ready to go, and my papers are in order. My next post will be from England. Weeeeeeeeeeeee!!
More later ... |
Chigley's Christmas Beano Part 2 (Getting There)
Hello from England! I got here safe and sound with only a few minor setbacks. The trip out was as bad as I expected, and started well with a 4 hour delay to my flight. The plane was scheduled to leave at 5:30pm, but finally took off at around 10:00pm, so a very tedious 7 hours were spent at LAX, watching people getting more and more irate, trying to wrangle kids.
The flight was cramped and unfortunately I was put in the section where they put all the children. I was put between a stressed out family with 3 small children and a lady with a 2 year old. I remember well what it was like when I flew with my Son when he was tiny, so I had nothing but sympathy for these poor people, trying to contain their kids. The earplugs made it bearable.
Virgin have gone down in my estimations quite badly after this flight. The plane was really shabby and the entertainment controls were knackered, and the Air Hostesses (can you call em that nowadays?), were aloof and unhelpful. I think they need to be a little more mindful of the details, because there are plenty of other airlines out there competing for my dollars.
The delay really threw out all my carefully timed plan to get up to Derby. By the time we landed, it was just getting dark, so I had to bumble my way out of the airport to a taxi and get across Londont to St. Pancras Railway Station. The taxi ride was fun, and I got to see all the traffic around London. Of course I'm being sarcastic here, because the drivers in London are completely fucking mental, and it was a real white knuckle ride. I got to the railway station and to my horror, it was really poorly lit, and packed with people. I still have no idea how I managed to buy my ticket and find my train, but I did. The train trip was uneventful, and I started to wind down and relax a little.
I arrived in Derby at about 8:00pm yesterday (Thursday), and it was the first time that I actually got to stop and take in the ambience a little. Hey, I'm in England! Cool! I called my Sister from a pay phone (the cell that Jaffa loaned me didn't work and kept being hijacked by O2, trying to make me top the damn thing up), and wandered out into the damp, cold evening, to wait for her to pick me up.
The first thing that struck me (apart from the cold), was the smell of chips. Amazing! The other thing that struck me was how miserable everyone looked. My Sister showed up and after a big emotional greeting, we hopped in the car and drove to Chester Green. We chatted and laughed and ooed and ahhed, and before I knew it I was sitting in my Sisters front room, infront of a roaring fire, eating a Pea Mix, and drinking a milky cup of Tea  Fantastic! |
Chigley's Christmas Beano Part 3 (Out and About)
It's so goddam cold! It's easy to forget how cold England really is, and to romanticize about the place and even miss the English weather. Never again! I guess this is why it's called the $1000 cure. My first full day here was wet and windy, as a storm rode in across from the North, bringing gale force winds and torrential rain. The wind is just bitter cold.
Stu and I went into the city center yesterday, to have a wander around. We had a giant rainbow umbrella, and we looked like a Gay Pride parade or something, albeit very small. It was odd to be walking around the Eagle Center again, pushing my way through the throngs of miserable looking shoppers. Not much seems to have changed, apart from an abundance of places to drink coffee or get drunk.
I've been taking lots of photos, but as yet, I've been unable to get the damn things into the computer here. I spent 3 hours last night trying to get my USB card reader to be recognized by Windoze 98, and didn't manage it. It's reminded me why I hate computers so much So, no photos or videos yet I'm afraid. Hopefully I'll be able to figure out a way.
I attended my Sisters work Christmas party on Saturday evening. My Sister is Director of The Open Center in Derby, which is a multi-cultural education center, kinda thing. It was an ecclectic mix of Indians and Pakistanis, with a sprinkling of Irish Catholics and me sat in the middle, fielding questions about the weather in America for 4 hours. It was actually a lot of fun and I met loads of interesting people. The food was all home made Indian dishes, and it was really, really good.
Yesterday we had a drive around the Derbyshire countryside, through Matlock Bath with a stop off for lunch at a posh Pub in Beeley for a pub lunch and a pint. I had Steak and Ale pie and chips and a pint of Theakstons Old Peculiar. We sat at a table in front of a roaring fire, warm and cozy, surrounded by a beer soaked atmosphere. It was fantastic! The food was really good and the company was brilliant. After lunch, we drove to Chatsworth House for a tour, which was fun and very festive, and then back to Derby for a relaxing evening watching TV, drinking tea and eating biscuits.
England is odd. It's a wierd mix of American and Asian culture, with a hard English edge. I'm beginning to understand where the English get their sense of humor from. Things are so grim here that you need a sense of humor to survive. The other way people seem to cope here is by drinking lots of alcohol or taking drugs or both. I've seen lots of youths staggering around town, apparently off their heads. I'm feeling a little homesick at the moment, thinking about my girly and my friends, and my creature comforts back in California. It's strange that a part of me just doesn't belong in England anymore.
It's around 7:00am right now, on Monday morning. I'm jetlagged and bleary eyed. I'm going to my Mums house in Ashbourne later today to stay for a day or so, which should be nice. I've purposely kept my itenery open, but things are already getting a bit complicated, trying to satisfy everyones need to see me. My family is fragmented, and I have to see everyone seperately, and make sure everyone gets a fair share
Tomorrow, we're off to see a traditional Christmas Pantomime at the local Theatre, so that should be a good time. |
Chigley's Christmas Beano Part 4 (Settling In)
I have the most incredible wind ever! I guess my new diet is playing havok with my digestive system. I usually eat tofu and rice and veggies and stuff, so maybe it's no surprise I'm suffering, or rather those around me are suffering, from gas
I'm beginning to settle in a little now; getting into the swing of things and such. I still have some difficulty sleeping, and I'm up and around at the crack of dawn usually. I'm averaging about 5 hours sleep a night. I'll probably be sorted by the time I have to come home, and have to deal with it all over again when I get back.
I managed to get some photos and video off my camera, with the help of "The Ginger Prince". He's a nice chap with similar tastes to my own  Thanks for the help mate! I added in some links to some of the photos and video in the previous posts, so you should definitely take a few minutes to go back and re-read them and view all my hard work. I will be putting up a gallery or two of my entire trip when I get back home.
I spent the night at my Mums house the day before yesterday, and managed to get a solid 11 hours of sleep. Her guest bedroom is so dark and quiet, and you can't really tell whether its day or night. Marvellous! In the evening, we drove over to see some family in a remote country location and IT SNOWED!! We sat around a cozy fire and drank beer and ate fancy chocolate biscuits (seems to be a theme going here), and chit-chatted. I fell asleep 3 time during the evening, suffering from jetlag. They had a cool fiber-optic Christmas tree, with some bizarre singing toys under it. They communicate through RF, and coordinate their singing. Freaky!
Yesterday afternoon, we all went to see "A Christmas Carol" at The Derby Playhouse. It was absolutely great. The production was really clever with spritits projected on the walls and things coming out of the stage. The singing was very festive and got everyone into the Christmas mood, and the costumes were spot on according to my Mum (I didn't think she was that old). It's funny though, because everyone still looked miserable on the way out.
The evening was spent at a local computer shop, pulling photos off my camera and putting them onto CDROM. We watched Bo Selecta on TV (I must have been in Americ too long, because I was shocked!), and then went grocery shopping at ASDA at Midnight to get some last minute things for Christmas Dinner. ASDA was packed, and looked like a bomb site, with shelves stripped bare. It looked like one of those post-apocolyptic films, exept there were millions of stressed out and pissed off people wandering around.
It's Christmas Eve morning (6:30am), and I'm taking my Sister Christmas shopping in town a little later on. Should be total chaos. Tonight we're visiting some friends I haven't seen in donkeys years so I'm looking forward to that. Tomorrow (Christmas Day) is going to be spent with my Brother-in-laws family. It's going to be a big, traditional, family Christmas. You know the type, where everyone eats till they feel ill, gets drunk and fights, and eventually vegitate infront of the telly, watching crap Christmas TV. I'm really looking forward to it 
Merry Christmas everyone! |
Chigley's Christmas Beano Part 5 (Christmas)
Ahhhhh, Christmas! What a great time of year! Christmas in England really reminds me what it is about the place I love. Good food, good company, bad TV and having a right laugh. It's been a brilliant 3 days and I've enjoyed myself immensely. Everyone has been so friendly and welcoming and hospitable. This is what its all about! Unfortunantely, I'll have to add photos and stuff later to this post, when I go and see The Ginger Prince to get them off my camera. I'v got some great pictures and video.
On Christmas Eve I went down town with my Sister and did a bit of Chrimbo shopping. The town was full of people and noise. It was so alive. I think the milder weather and the relief that Christmas was almost upon us, and all the shopping had been done, really showed on the faces and attitudes of the multitude. A nice atmosphere pervaded every shop and street corner. I don't know if it was just me, but people were actually smiling
We walked all over town, looking for gifts to bring back for family. We went to The Derby Heritage Center for lunch and I had Broccoli and Stilton soup and a baked potato. The fella that runs the Heritage Center is called Richard Felix and he's an ex market trader, wide-boy type, who's done quite well for himself. Nice chap really.
I spent Christmas Day with my Brother-in-laws family. They are the nicest, most down to earth people you could ever meet. There were 12 of us all together (almost the last supper), so you can only imagine the mayhem. The Christmas dinner was delicious, and there was lots of it. Mash and roasties and stuffing and brussels, gravy and veggies and mushy peas, turkey and beef and pork, mint sauce and bread sauce with a flaming, brandy soaked Christmas pudding to finish. The drink flowed freely and the spirits were high.
After dinner, everyone collapsed in front of the telly and groaned about the amount of food we'd all eaten. We watched the Christmas top 10 countdown and ate chocolate and drank fine scotch whisky. We talked and laughed and sang songs.
Then it was tea time Suddenly the table was spread with cold turkey and beef and slabs of bread and butter, potato salad and crackers and cheese and pickled onions, and Trifle to finish. Christmas is a time of excess it would seem. The strange thing is, everyone was hungry again. I can't begin to convey the atmosphere or the joy that was had. Stu's Brother, gave me an amazing Derby County shirt, worn by a real player in the Premiership. He wanted an authentic American football shirt in return. Good trade dont you think I won't tell you how he "aquired" the shirt, but it does have a rather interesting story behind it
The day went off without a hitch, without any of the usual family drama or fighting. I think everyone was on their best behaviour because "The Yank" was there Thanks for a lovely day everyone!
I spent Boxing Day at my Dads. He lives in a posh part of Eggington, where every house has a BMW or Range Rover parked outside. I had another full Christmas Dinner with all the fixings (thanks Pat). It was really good.
All in all, a fantastic 3 days of Christmas. Everyone was so nice.
I'm off visiting Family with my Dad today. I haven't seen some of them in over 15 years, so it's going to be interesting. On Monday, I'm going to Manchester to see some old friends. Should be fun! |
Chigley's Christmas Beano Part 6 (Relaxing)
I spent Saturday with my Dad. It was a day of memories and visiting. We drove all over Derby, visiting the places I grew up; childhood homes, places I played as a lad and schools I attended. So many memories. It was strange to see all the places again, after they had become just memories to me. Many had changed and many were the same.
We later stopped for lunch at a nice country pub, and talked about politics and the state of the World. It would seem that our views are similar. My Dad told me stories of missed business opportunities, and decisions gone awry, and tales of youthful escapades in his younger days.
In the afternoon, we went to visit family I hadn't seen in almost 20 years. Everyone was so nice and welcoming, as if I'd never been away at all. I drank obscene amounts of tea and ate so many mince pies I lost count. My Aunty Roz kept plying me with vodka and Limes, which were quite delicious, and made me quite jovial My auties and cousins were all as I remembered, just a little bit older. It was an absolute blast to see them all again.
I spent the evening with my Sister and Stu at a local Mexican restaurant called Peppitos. The food was quite authentic and probably better than 90% of the Mexican food I eat in Southern California. Quite strange realy to be sitting in the middle of Derby, surrounded by chili-shaped fairy lights, listening to Mexican music and drinking Margheritas. We drank a lot of Margheritas actually, and some Tequila Slammers and Tequila coffee to finish. Stu and I were a little plastered by the end of the meal. It was a very nice end to a very nice day.
Sunday was my day of rest, and boy did I need a rest. The constant visiting and being sociable had really taken it's toll. I was knackered! I spent the day doing absolutely nothing, apart from drinking tea and eating Mince Pies. My Mum popped in to say hello in the afternoon, and when the evening came around, I was all ready for a special treat that Stu had promised me.
My Brother-in-law Stu, is a Shamanic Healer amongst many other things. He has a really nice room built on the back of the house, where he practices his craft. It is one of the most relaxing spaces I've ever been in. I had a massage and some crystal healing to balance me and open up my meridians (ooerr). I also had my ears cleaned with Hopi Indian Ear Candles. I felt so damn good after it all. Cheers Stu! |
Chigley's Christmas Beano Part 7 (Manchester)
Blimey, it's almost New Years already, and it'll soon be time for me to wend my way across the World to Sunny California once more.
I just got back from Manchester today, after visiting some good old friends. I went by train on Monday morning, setting out on a crisp, clear day towards the City of Sheffield. It was a real pleasure to watch the countryside whiz by, in a blur of hedgerows and sheep. After a brief stop in Chesterfield, the train pulled into Sheffield station, bang on time. I used to work for a while in Sheffield in another life, so I thought I'd be familiar with the surroundings. Alas, everything had changed and the old station had been patched with garish plastic bits in a vain attemp to improve and modernize. One nice addition though, were the tiny information boothes, manned by tired looking men, that were placed on every platform. "Next train to Manchester please?". "11:10, platform 8". "Thank you very much", and I was on my way.
Manchester was completely unfamiliar to me. It wasn't how I remembered it at all, and I spent a little time wandering around the mall-like station interior, until I decided to phone my friend Steve on his mobile. I soon tracked him down and after a bit of handshaking and back slapping, we were off, driving across Manchester, on the way to Chorlton (made famous by Cosgrove Hall Films, Chorlton and the Wheelies and Danger Mouse).
We arrived in good spirits and after stowing my overnight bag, we went to do a little shopping for bread and some essentials. I changed some money at the bank and then we went to one of the many local pub called The Bowling Green. After a chat and a pint of Kronenberg 1664, and a rather nice cheese and Branston Pickle cob, we struck out into the clear, crisp afternoon for a stroll around the greenbelt. We talked and laughed and reminisced about the old days back in California. Steve is newly single, and some of his stories about dating and his sexual escapades were quite entertaining. I won't share anything here, but safe to say, he has my utmost respect
After our walk, I spent some time with Kate, who is Steve's soon-to-be-ex-wife, and also someone I consider a dear friend. I went to her new apartment and we chatted about old times and ate pizza and cheesecake. It was so nice to see her again, and see her looking so healthy.
After visiting with Kate, Steve, his delightful Girlfriend and I, all went to the pub again to meet some of Steves friends for a tipple. We whiled away the evening talking about everthing under the Sun, while drinking large amounts of beer. One of Steve's friends is a games programmer and the other is a writer for various magazines including "Bang", which I think is a music magazine like Kerrang!, only quieter. As well as being a very loud person, with an opinion on every subject, he has the largest thumbs I have ever seen.
Eventually we staggered back home from the pub and sat in Steves front room, chatting and drinking 12 year old, single malt Scotch whiskey. Nice! I awoke the next morning, a little hung over but nowhere near as bad as I should have been. The inflatable bed I slept on was actually quite comfortable, although I'm sure it was made that way by the copious amounts of alcohol consumed
Steve is a top bloke and very hospitable. It was great to see him and Kate again after so long. Hopefully I'll see them all again sooner, rather than later.
The trip back to Derby was grey but quite pleasant. I was greeted at Derby station by snow. I considered taking a taxi back to my Sisters, but quickly decided to walk back instead. I tightened my hood and dug my hands deep into my pockets and started out. The walk across town was fantastic. The snow fell and the cold turned my nose numb and my cheeks red. I passed my old house where I lived before leaving to come to America all those years ago. I stopped for awhile and looked and thought about all the good times spent inside. I walked on across town, through The Eagle Center, and on to The Market Hall where I stopped to buy Rum Balls for Eliza. I headed for home, stopping only to buy a bag of chips to warm my hands and take the edge off my hunger. I retraced the path I used to take every Saturday when I was a younger man; over St. Marys Bridge, and across the old railway bridge at Darley Park, over the river Derwent, and on to Chester Green.
And here I am, sitting in my room, writing this and waiting for dinner. It smells good, whatever it is |
Chigley's Christmas Beano Part 8 (New Years and Winding Down)
New Years was nice and quiet. We decided against going out into the chaos and maelstrom that accompanies this time of year. It may have been nice to go to town and have a drink amongst the revellers, but in reality, it just isn't really our scene. I guess I'm getting old or something So we stayed at home and watched TV and had a nice drink to welcome in 2004. I phoned my lovely Wife and my Son and a few friends in Bakersfield. It was nice to hear their voices, and share the English New Year.
Today we're off down town to do some last minute shopping before I leave. I'm going down to London on Saturday (tomorrow), and staying in a hotel close to the Airport. This will make everything far less stressful and last minute hopefully.
I arrive back in Los Angeles on Sunday 4th, and I must say I'm really looking forward to getting back. I've enjoyed this trip immensely. It's been nothing but a positive experience and everything just seems to have fallen into place. I made no firm itenery or plans, but my time was packed and everything went very well indeed. The trip has just flown by. Soon it'll just be a collection of memories and photographs.
The high points were seeing my Mum and having insane, mad, laughing fits with Taz and Stu. Christmas Dinner was fantatstic (both of them). Jan was delightful, and her friends were very, well friendly. My trip to Manchester was great, and the beer was outstanding.
The atmosphere in England at this time of year just can't be beaten. I make jokes about everyone being so miserable, but really, in all honesty, the English are wonderful, and England is definitely in my heart. I think next time I'll come in the Summer, and bring my girly. There is nowhere on Earth more beautiful that Derbyshire in the Summer.
Here's to a safe journey home again. I'm looking forward to getting some sleep |
Chigley's Christmas Beano Part 9 (Fin)
My odyssey has come to a close and I am now 2 weeks older and a little bit wiser.
I got home yesterday, completely shattered. I am currently at home, feeling very jetlagged. I also have a head cold  The trip back really was quite disagreeable! The airports were utter chaos and security was a nightmare. I flew out just over an hour late from Heathrow, and the flight was monotonous and un-eventful. I think someone at baggage claim at LAX was taking the piss or something. The bags came down two different shoots on 2 different carousels. WTF?! Everyone had to keep running back and forth to see if their bags were there. I'm sorry, but someone should get their ass kicked for that one.
Flying is just awful in my opinion, and I've decided to do as little of it as possible from now on.
With the actual getting to and from England aside, the trip was a total success! I had loads of fun and everyone was fantastic, friendly and very welcoming. Everything just worked out well and fell into place. Yay!
I am also quite proud of myself for getting through it in one piece. This trip was really much more than just a holiday for me. For one thing, it was not relaxing at all. Nope, not at all. Secondly, the trip was very edifying for me. It was probably the most challenging thing I have ever put myself through, in my entire life so far.
Really, I don't get to stretch myself that much nowadays. A mixture of old age and fear has got in my way. I think it's very easy to forget how to stretch yourself and give yourself new challenges. It's easy to sit back and watch things pass you by. I think it's good to do this kind of thing once in a while, in fact, I recommend it.
So what have I learned from this little adventure? Quite a few things about myself. I have realized that I don't have to be scared of losing my eyesight. That's a big one. I have some very good people around me who genuinly care about my well being. I know they will help me if I ask, and support me in great and subtle ways. I am grateful for that.
As I recover my senses, I'll be posting a gallery of most of the pictures and videos from the trip, for anyone interested. Not sure how long thats going to take, but I will get around to it. Meanwhile I will remain jetlagged and full of snot. |
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