Holidays
Celtic Myths - part 6
Tuesday-04-March-2008
Here is an example of a layout with no photos. I
always like to map the places I visit and this is the
Scenic Coastal Drive in Ireland. I used a tourist
map, highlighted the route we took and added stickers
that caught the feel of that part of the route! It
was very bumpy, as you can see we got lost and ended
up back where we started at one point..... it took us
on a river ferry and more pages follow of the route.
Celtic Myths part 6
Tuesday-04-March-2008
Very simple this one. Patterned background. White
Alpha stickers (and White Sakura Gel Pen), a photo
(already printed with a white border) of Hook
Lighthouse and a bit of card with some journaling
about the history of the Light House from a tourist
leaflet - quick and easy!
Celtic Myths part 5
Tuesday-04-March-2008
Double Page - Hook Head, Ireland.
This page used my newish tool - corner scissors from Fiskar. The photo of the ship is mounted on DCWV metallic pale blue card. The lighthouse is from a postcard which I double mounted on patterned paper then the metallic blue card. I cut out lots of flowers from the patterned paper and dotted diamond glaze for a watery effect on both the flowers and waves. The rock pool is a photo also taken on that day but 'cut out'.
I used a free set of clear plastic blue letters from a craft magazine and highlighted with Blue Sakura Gell Pen for the word 'Sail' and mounted it on the patterned paper. I then wrapped fibres around a pre-cut frame and attached with foam pads for a raised 3D frame effect (you can tell that from this picture). A Few Prima Flowers attached with brads were used on the second page.
This page used my newish tool - corner scissors from Fiskar. The photo of the ship is mounted on DCWV metallic pale blue card. The lighthouse is from a postcard which I double mounted on patterned paper then the metallic blue card. I cut out lots of flowers from the patterned paper and dotted diamond glaze for a watery effect on both the flowers and waves. The rock pool is a photo also taken on that day but 'cut out'.
I used a free set of clear plastic blue letters from a craft magazine and highlighted with Blue Sakura Gell Pen for the word 'Sail' and mounted it on the patterned paper. I then wrapped fibres around a pre-cut frame and attached with foam pads for a raised 3D frame effect (you can tell that from this picture). A Few Prima Flowers attached with brads were used on the second page.
Celtic Ireland
Sunday-10-February-2008
Last August we went to Ireland for a week - here is one of the layouts from the Dunbrody Famine Ship.
The ships is in New Ross in the South of Ireland (Waterford) and visitors are taken on board to hear from 'passengers' about their journey on a ship to escape the Potato Famine of the 1840's. The boat is accessible for wheelchair users and the only place you can't see into are the very end cabins of the ship (unless you can be lifted over a ridge about 4-6 inches high).
About this page.
Visitors are give a 'ticket' to go on board which I 'aged' using chalks and ink. I scratched the edges of the matt photographs and inked them with a sepia stain which made a good wood effect.
As well as our photographs I also cut out pictures from the tourist leaflet to add to the information and the 12x12 paper is a celtic knot background.
Celtic Llangollen
Sunday-10-February-2008
I love the flower NRN Paper (I think that's what it is) and it's zesty tones of orange fitted in well with the photos from Llangollen on our Wales holiday. You can't see the orange colours so well in this photo of the page.
I used a a tag with a transparency overlay that reads 'Llangollen' and some rustic orange Ange Hair for the photo corners.
The 'hand' sculpture is made from lots of different bricks that have the company's name on the side. You can take a ride across the famous Pontcysyllte Aqueduct on a narrow boat - 126 feet above the River Dee. They have a small water museum and no trip to my beloved Wales would be complete without a visit!
New Forest
Monday-26-June-2006
We did lots of walking in the forest which has quite a lot of accessible trails / walks and also visited the Otter and Owl sanctuary which has lots of British wildlife to see. Access wasn't really a problem and the sun was blazing for our first day. Sadly on our last day it rained. We attempted Butler's Hard but gave up and trundled home.
Fabby holiday in .... wait for it..... Birmingham!
Monday-29-May-2006
So why on earth Buuurrm-ing-am. Well we had tickets
to see 'I'm Sorry I haven't a Clue' (BBC Radio) on
the Sunday night so we made a weekend of it. Friday
night we said 'Tom Tom' take us to our Holiday Inn.
Well actually, we said take us to 'x' road - and it
did (but not the right one - an hour and a half away
from the hotel... eh hmmm [cough]).
We arrived very late, checked in and went to our room. It wasn't accessible. Back we went and without a word the guy at reception handed over another key card. After a trek, once again, down the corridoor, the room wasn't the twin we had booked...back again. Anyway, basically the booking got messed up somehow so we stayed in the the twin. Not even an apology
Good and Bad.
How did I rate this room. Bathroom was half of the room next door converted and was big enough for a bath and a shower - but only a bath and oodles of room. Not a bad room really. Just 0/10 for friendliness of reception - shame on you.
Saturday we went to the Black Country Museum. It rained for the majority of the day. Accessibility is as expected for a Victorian recreated museum (bump bump bump.... oh how I love cobbles). They did have portable ramps to go where no Victorian could have gone before and we even donned on a hard hard and went down the mine. It was so funny. The chap (guide) kept referring to me as 'the chair' in a really Brummy accents. Every time we stopped to hear the 'story' of that part of the mine complete with resin pit pony and figures, he signposted each member of our party to a particular viewing spot so 'the chair' could see. Each time we stopped we had this loud ushering of people into their places. You had to be there - it was very John Cleese. My hat kept falling down to cover my eyes and I couldn't see anything as we trundled through the narrow passages.
Sunday we basically stayed inside until it was time to go the city centre to 'see' our Radio Show. It was really funny and a good night.
Monday we checked out - and the tried to charge us £600 for three nights!! Finally having argued my case with another guest who had been charged too much, we paid up and headed back home.
So... that was Birmingham!
We arrived very late, checked in and went to our room. It wasn't accessible. Back we went and without a word the guy at reception handed over another key card. After a trek, once again, down the corridoor, the room wasn't the twin we had booked...back again. Anyway, basically the booking got messed up somehow so we stayed in the the twin. Not even an apology
Good and Bad.
How did I rate this room. Bathroom was half of the room next door converted and was big enough for a bath and a shower - but only a bath and oodles of room. Not a bad room really. Just 0/10 for friendliness of reception - shame on you.
Saturday we went to the Black Country Museum. It rained for the majority of the day. Accessibility is as expected for a Victorian recreated museum (bump bump bump.... oh how I love cobbles). They did have portable ramps to go where no Victorian could have gone before and we even donned on a hard hard and went down the mine. It was so funny. The chap (guide) kept referring to me as 'the chair' in a really Brummy accents. Every time we stopped to hear the 'story' of that part of the mine complete with resin pit pony and figures, he signposted each member of our party to a particular viewing spot so 'the chair' could see. Each time we stopped we had this loud ushering of people into their places. You had to be there - it was very John Cleese. My hat kept falling down to cover my eyes and I couldn't see anything as we trundled through the narrow passages.
Sunday we basically stayed inside until it was time to go the city centre to 'see' our Radio Show. It was really funny and a good night.
Monday we checked out - and the tried to charge us £600 for three nights!! Finally having argued my case with another guest who had been charged too much, we paid up and headed back home.
So... that was Birmingham!
Brighton trip
Monday-10-April-2006
For this trip we pootled off to Brighton and checked
into the Holiday Inn on the sea front. Disabled
parking is right on the front and is charged at the
same amount as the underground hotel carpark.
Although we didn't pay the extra for a sea view, the accessible room did have a good view through a window the entire length of the room. We also a had a balcony but access is through a narrow door without a low or level threshold.
I gave the room 1/10. The 1 point was for being able to get into the room and for one of the largest rooms we have stayed in - big enough for two Kingsized beds.
Where did the other 9 points go.... well.
For starters 8 of them went on the naff design of the bathroom. For example the door opened inwards so if you need help to transfer - once you have done so the other person can't get out (or back in). If someone fell off the loo nobody could get in to help because chances are you would be in front of the door and splatted on the floor. Talking about the floor - lovely white shiny tiles which are great for slipping and sliding. Oh and did I mention a grab rail stuck in the most stupidest of places - if you need a wide base to raise from seated to standing - forget it as the rail comes up from the floor and pins you to the loo... need I go on.
I will say one other thing - special people who book special rooms can not be trusted with hot water - so the tap water is regulated to 'luke warm' making a wash at the sink a cold and unpleasant experience - we used boiled water from the kettle to make it usable. I ended up using the bathroom in the lobby which was very accessible.
The good thing (and reason for booking it) was that we were a very short walk from the theatre where we had tickets to see Chris Rea. We had been before to this venue and you get to sit with all the other special people on the 'balcony' opposite the stage.
The other 1 point was lost for the tables in the room - none of them accessible to me because they were too low to eat off when we had room service for dinner and breakfast. Even Kevin, sitting on chairs provided in the room could not get under the main 'desk' - poor design.
On our way home it was freezing cold and
raining - but we still had a short run around part of
a country park (Borde Hill) before we were so cold we
had a meal and came home!
Although we didn't pay the extra for a sea view, the accessible room did have a good view through a window the entire length of the room. We also a had a balcony but access is through a narrow door without a low or level threshold.
I gave the room 1/10. The 1 point was for being able to get into the room and for one of the largest rooms we have stayed in - big enough for two Kingsized beds.
Where did the other 9 points go.... well.
For starters 8 of them went on the naff design of the bathroom. For example the door opened inwards so if you need help to transfer - once you have done so the other person can't get out (or back in). If someone fell off the loo nobody could get in to help because chances are you would be in front of the door and splatted on the floor. Talking about the floor - lovely white shiny tiles which are great for slipping and sliding. Oh and did I mention a grab rail stuck in the most stupidest of places - if you need a wide base to raise from seated to standing - forget it as the rail comes up from the floor and pins you to the loo... need I go on.
I will say one other thing - special people who book special rooms can not be trusted with hot water - so the tap water is regulated to 'luke warm' making a wash at the sink a cold and unpleasant experience - we used boiled water from the kettle to make it usable. I ended up using the bathroom in the lobby which was very accessible.
The good thing (and reason for booking it) was that we were a very short walk from the theatre where we had tickets to see Chris Rea. We had been before to this venue and you get to sit with all the other special people on the 'balcony' opposite the stage.
The other 1 point was lost for the tables in the room - none of them accessible to me because they were too low to eat off when we had room service for dinner and breakfast. Even Kevin, sitting on chairs provided in the room could not get under the main 'desk' - poor design.
Greenwich Visit
Tuesday-14-February-2006
My review of our two day trip to Greenwich, London.
We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express and used the
Dockland Light Railway (DLR) to
get to Greenwich (or a ten minute drive by car).
Day 1 - Cutty Sark by car then to the hotel.
Day 2 - Greenwich Observatory & National Maritime Museum
Cutty Sark: It was raining and cold but we parked right next door in a pay and display car park. Kevin had just put in near a fiver for the afternoon - only to read it was free to blue badge holders.
The Cutty Sark has one accessible floor (the one beneath being the cargo hold and the one above the top deck and cabins). Most of the displays were on the accessible deck with the gift shop. Apparently they are putting the whole ship under cover with an external lift to all three decks in the next few year - and had reduced exhibits as a result of badly needed repairs and restoration. The 'model / plans' were displayed showing this great new access - yet were not on an accessible floor!! Oh yes, and at precisely the same time we were there on every third Sunday you will be subject to loud singing of sea shantees from local volunteer 'sailors' (prepare to be blasted or take ear muffs if you want to concentrate on reading the history of the ship!!). You can't really visit Greenwich without going on board to discover the joys of tea and its import- hurrah for tea I say!
We took shelter and had a meal in a local pub - expect London prices for a basic pub meal.
Accommodation
Holiday Inn express. Our first room had wheelchair access with 'wet room' with shower seat. Alas the sink was somewhat high and inset into the unit meaning I couldn't wash my hair in the sink. Also noticed that plugs were really low down even for a wheelchair user. As we discovered the shower then didn't work so we moved to another room fairly easily the next day. This was bigger and a different layout, again with a wet room. Electric sockets were at a more reasonable level along with other furniture - a much better room. It is worth looking at different accessible rooms if possible as they were both different. Parking was right next to the front door.
Day 2 - Greenwich Observatory & National Maritime Museum
Transport:
DLR from Silvertown station. A short walk from our hotel with one change on the outward journey. The DLR carriages themselves are very accessible in terms of wheelchair access. However we were let down by the platform lifts. We were supposed to get off at the Cutty Sark Station which is a few minutes walk to the Museum etc. However you must reach street level via a lift - which wasn't working. We had to get another train to the next stop at Greenwich - but that lift was broke also. Now we had to go to the next one which would not be within walking distance of our destination. We got off at the next stop where you could cross by ramps to the opposite platform. We returned to Greenwich stop only to find the lift again did not work on this side of the platform. However, we could reach street level and left the station and walked to the park.
What would have been ten minutes by car used up half of our day getting on and off trains. Apparently the 'lifts never work' which is not a lot of use for wheelchair users who want to do something other than visit a platform before going home again.
On the return journey we had to change twice - once at Canary Wharf during rush hour.... say no more. It was almost impossible to get off the train without just mowing people over - so I wouldn't advise travelling at that time.
So, trains are easy to access - if you find a working lift to the platforms.
Greenwich Observatory
We walked through the park and up the hill -
use the road to reach the observatory rather than the
steep path at the front which is impossible to get
up. Alas this too was undergoing work for a new
building and part of the museum - leaving not a lot
left open. The new buildings will be more accessible
and had lifts ready for when they open.
It is a good view from the top and at night is illuminated a a laser beams out showing the Meridian Line. The park shuts at dusk though. We will come back again in a few years to take a peak.
Greenwich Maritime Museum
Access was very good and we spent until closing time here. Many galleries to wander around and exhibits. Photographs aren't allowed which is a shame and entry was free. I can't remember how many lifts we had to get in and out of - lots as the galleries are on different levels and 'half levels' which is confusing! I could actually see the exhibits which was good - lots of galleries have cases you can't see into whilst seated so it was good in this respect.
Day 1 - Cutty Sark by car then to the hotel.
Day 2 - Greenwich Observatory & National Maritime Museum
Cutty Sark: It was raining and cold but we parked right next door in a pay and display car park. Kevin had just put in near a fiver for the afternoon - only to read it was free to blue badge holders.
The Cutty Sark has one accessible floor (the one beneath being the cargo hold and the one above the top deck and cabins). Most of the displays were on the accessible deck with the gift shop. Apparently they are putting the whole ship under cover with an external lift to all three decks in the next few year - and had reduced exhibits as a result of badly needed repairs and restoration. The 'model / plans' were displayed showing this great new access - yet were not on an accessible floor!! Oh yes, and at precisely the same time we were there on every third Sunday you will be subject to loud singing of sea shantees from local volunteer 'sailors' (prepare to be blasted or take ear muffs if you want to concentrate on reading the history of the ship!!). You can't really visit Greenwich without going on board to discover the joys of tea and its import- hurrah for tea I say!
We took shelter and had a meal in a local pub - expect London prices for a basic pub meal.
Accommodation
Holiday Inn express. Our first room had wheelchair access with 'wet room' with shower seat. Alas the sink was somewhat high and inset into the unit meaning I couldn't wash my hair in the sink. Also noticed that plugs were really low down even for a wheelchair user. As we discovered the shower then didn't work so we moved to another room fairly easily the next day. This was bigger and a different layout, again with a wet room. Electric sockets were at a more reasonable level along with other furniture - a much better room. It is worth looking at different accessible rooms if possible as they were both different. Parking was right next to the front door.
Day 2 - Greenwich Observatory & National Maritime Museum
Transport:
DLR from Silvertown station. A short walk from our hotel with one change on the outward journey. The DLR carriages themselves are very accessible in terms of wheelchair access. However we were let down by the platform lifts. We were supposed to get off at the Cutty Sark Station which is a few minutes walk to the Museum etc. However you must reach street level via a lift - which wasn't working. We had to get another train to the next stop at Greenwich - but that lift was broke also. Now we had to go to the next one which would not be within walking distance of our destination. We got off at the next stop where you could cross by ramps to the opposite platform. We returned to Greenwich stop only to find the lift again did not work on this side of the platform. However, we could reach street level and left the station and walked to the park.
What would have been ten minutes by car used up half of our day getting on and off trains. Apparently the 'lifts never work' which is not a lot of use for wheelchair users who want to do something other than visit a platform before going home again.
On the return journey we had to change twice - once at Canary Wharf during rush hour.... say no more. It was almost impossible to get off the train without just mowing people over - so I wouldn't advise travelling at that time.
So, trains are easy to access - if you find a working lift to the platforms.
Greenwich Observatory
It is a good view from the top and at night is illuminated a a laser beams out showing the Meridian Line. The park shuts at dusk though. We will come back again in a few years to take a peak.
Greenwich Maritime Museum
Access was very good and we spent until closing time here. Many galleries to wander around and exhibits. Photographs aren't allowed which is a shame and entry was free. I can't remember how many lifts we had to get in and out of - lots as the galleries are on different levels and 'half levels' which is confusing! I could actually see the exhibits which was good - lots of galleries have cases you can't see into whilst seated so it was good in this respect.
