tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-222094252011-12-21T07:03:18.881ZMy other body is a templeVictoria Lubbocknoreply@blogger.comBlogger471100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22209425.post-68426808405590040772008-09-27T20:36:00.005Z2008-09-27T21:05:18.667Z

After a fab week in Edinburgh with Archie and at the Fringe Festival, summer's drawing to a close.Alastair is back home and completing his MA dissertation. We now have Jack, Alan's nephew also in residence and our travelling companions, Kay & Richard are moving on and out to Abu Dhabi where Richard has a new job. As can be seen from the photo, Ziggy seems to be taking all the household movements

Victoria Lubbocknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22209425.post-77384132084368079542008-08-02T19:12:00.006Z2008-12-09T00:57:44.962Z

Victoria Lubbocknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22209425.post-37632891628870912852008-07-26T18:21:00.012Z2008-12-09T00:57:47.525Z

And so to France once more … first a couple of weeks on our own, with time to do the gardening and house maintenance stuff before the arrival of various friends. We took the opportunity to go and see the Tour de France whiz by at St Brieuc which was an experience, albeit rather a strange one. Firstly, hours of hanging around and trying to pick a decent spot and then a prolonged assault from the

Victoria Lubbocknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22209425.post-12455812752805380852008-06-28T17:51:00.004Z2008-12-09T00:57:49.188Z

An unprofitable but fun evening with Penny & Mickey at Walthamstow Dogs which, most sadly, will be closing for the last time this summer, making way for posh new flats. Death of an institution.

Victoria Lubbocknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22209425.post-19589198439500562712008-06-17T13:54:00.007Z2008-12-09T00:57:50.829Z

Lyulph's birthday celebrations, Ally @ home, Arch & Alan in Edinburgh

Victoria Lubbocknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22209425.post-90140945171797090832008-06-16T13:33:00.018Z2008-12-09T00:57:54.772Z

A lovely couple of days exploring the NW Coast of Brittany, including a trip to the beautiful archipelago of Île-de-Bréhat. We stayed at the Hotel Agapanthes in nearby Ploubazlanec and visited Paimpol which was a lovely old town.

Victoria Lubbocknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22209425.post-10365237712968792512008-06-16T11:31:00.003Z2008-12-09T00:57:55.510Z

A quick flit to Ville Cario before the summer guests start arriving, and a veritable forest in the garden which took AB three days to mow and clear. He has now vowed to contract a gardener to keep the grass manageable when we're not there.

Victoria Lubbocknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22209425.post-17579220279379855662008-06-16T11:26:00.003Z2008-12-09T00:57:56.128Z

Ally is home for the weekend and attending the Stop The War Coalition march whilst George 'Dubya' is in London for tea with The Queen, Mr Murdoch, Brown and Blair. He asked me to make him up like a zombie, complete with bullet hole in his forehead (saying 'hadn't I always wanted a girl to make up!) God knows what the other passengers on the train to Liverpool Street must have thought!

Victoria Lubbocknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22209425.post-29293873724595932992008-05-07T15:53:00.002Z2008-12-09T00:57:56.948Z

Victoria Lubbocknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22209425.post-62214903899161882822008-05-07T15:35:00.006Z2008-12-09T00:57:57.915Z

A surprise 25th Wedding Anniversary breakfast, thanks to our neighbours, Celia & Neil, followed by a slap-up lunch in Casale Franco in Islington with Bob & Cathy, Rebecca & Robin,

Victoria Lubbocknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22209425.post-21643363377782935652008-02-12T10:41:00.000Z2008-12-09T00:58:02.415Z

A beautiful sunny Spring day and it's off to Kew Gardens with 'the girls' (Louise Barfield, Lisa Cromer, Sonia Maloney and Karen Sainsbury) for a day's outing. There are 28 Henry Moore sculptures impressively dotted around the gardens which are just bursting into life again after the winter hibernation.

Victoria Lubbocknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22209425.post-64648115124216398762007-07-24T17:17:00.000Z2008-12-09T00:58:03.160Z

In between cloud bursts, I hosted the Hackney Lib Dem's Annual Summer Garden Party which seems to have been a great success and raised considerable much-needed funds for the Party. We had Chris Huhne MP along who spoke on environmental matters and civil liberties. Around 40 people turned up and, for the most part, it stayed dry-ish. My American friend Karen had helped me the day before and we'd

Victoria Lubbocknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22209425.post-86606807328034751632007-06-24T16:28:00.000Z2008-12-09T00:58:07.785Z

A wonderful few days in Paris staying, firstly with Fadela, Archie & Alastair's first ever au pair, and her family. Then off to stay with my cousin Marina and her husband Francois at their incredible house and garden in St CloudThen my cousin Sophie's wedding to the gorgeous Nico and a chance to catch up with many cousins and relatives including Uncle Francis and his wife Amoutha and their two

Victoria Lubbocknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22209425.post-33091756641864641362007-06-05T20:58:00.000Z2008-12-09T00:58:09.574Z

Congratulations to Debs & her partner Arun, who are now the proud parents of Baby James. Well, as you can see from the photos, hopefully, it's a little girl, as yet nameless and the subject of some discussion between Debs and Arun (Arun's surname is James). Anyway, she's very cute and I get to play surrogate granny' .The month of June is already filling up with happy events; my French cousin

Victoria Lubbocknoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22209425.post-22696074321101704842006-12-25T05:00:00.000Z2008-12-09T00:58:09.692Z

To save updating two blogs at a time (and as posting photos to this one is cumbersome), please see www.mytripjournal.com/vixandalan for up-to-date postings of our travels in South East Asia.We’re currently in Laos (this is our Christmas View) and will be travelling around the south of the country for a couple more weeks before moving into Cambodia, then probably back to Thailand before heading

Victoria Lubbocknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22209425.post-51412305299317972412006-11-24T05:49:00.000Z2006-11-24T06:20:08.902Z

Arrived in Bangkok on Monday and settled into the Buddy Lodge Hotel in the heart of backpacker's hang-out, Kao San Road. The street comes alive at night with all kinds of weird and international types of all ages. Plenty of places to hang out, internet surf, buy massage or simply sample fab fruit juices.By day it's quite hot but the hotel has a modest roof terrace swimming pool providing decent

Victoria Lubbocknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22209425.post-22570561687861690962006-11-18T11:59:00.000Z2006-11-18T12:08:36.432Z

A busy couple of weeks, mainly on the paperwork front, but thankfully now almost complete. AB's last visit to the dentist for five months and hopefully he won't be needing an emergency visit to a Thai dentist!Enjoyed a happy family gathering last night. Poor Lyulph drove down from a meeting in Bolton, via Orpington to pick up Sue, but in the end, everyone (except Maurice in New Zealand!) managed

Victoria Lubbocknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22209425.post-6508576030604519702006-11-07T14:55:00.000Z2006-11-07T15:22:23.188Z

Just imagine trying to crew solo one of these catamarns which we saw in St Malo, Brittany. The four-yearly 'Route de Rhum' from Brittany to Guadaloupe was in evidence when we arrived there recently. On the following Sunday, we went up to Cap Frehel to see the intrepids come around the headland with their sails in full flow. Unfortunately, a sudden and impenetrable sea mist descended just about 30

Victoria Lubbocknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22209425.post-1161555722830109912006-10-22T22:07:00.000Z2006-11-11T13:50:09.423Z

It's warm but wet and yesterday in London we had a torrential downpour of hailstones and rain - almost monsoon-like! Retreating indoors to continue our preparations for our extended travels we cleared out our kitchen and cellar. Think I'll write a book entitled "Downsize Me"!Have discovered a marvellous travel website covering the countries we're visiting (Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam)

Victoria Lubbocknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22209425.post-1160844024822073262006-10-14T16:35:00.000Z2006-11-07T14:46:29.941Z

Finally got around to actually booking our flight to Bangkok mid-November. With six weeks to go, there still seems so much to do but the practicals are in-hand.Firstly, (See earlier post, “Does anyone know Sean Andrews?”), the tussle with Stratford Crown Court is receding with clarification from the Clerk of the Court, that I don’t actually have to appear in person in order to prove I am not, nor

Victoria Lubbocknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22209425.post-1159716451781503732006-10-01T15:03:00.000Z2006-11-07T14:46:29.877Z

I am resigned to remaining incompetent in my pianoforte rendition of Debussey’s Clare De Lune. Despite lessons earlier this year, with a very nice girl called Tessa (trained in ‘The Suzuki Method’), and despite taking my upright piano to Brittany where opportunities to practise nonetheless eluded me), I am now turning my attention instead to the very melodious ‘Try A Little Tenderness’ by Harry

Victoria Lubbocknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22209425.post-1159616660930325232006-09-30T11:43:00.000Z2006-11-07T14:46:29.817Z

I am getting annoyed with Sean Andrews. I don’t have a clue who he is but some months ago, he got on a bus in Whitechapel and didn’t pay his fare. Since then, at increasingly frequent intervals, boring brown envelopes addressed to this criminal individual have been arriving at the Binnie Lubbock residence.I wrote to the court, on the last but one occasion of such a letter arriving (a court

Victoria Lubbocknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22209425.post-1158924847366493372006-09-22T11:28:00.000Z2006-11-07T14:46:29.754Z

Memory is a strange thing. It plays tricks on you, evades you when you need it and comes to you unbidden intruding as daydreams or flashbacks (depending on how chilled out or otherwise you are).As the seasons defy their properties and get all mixed up, Spring Cleaning has come early to our household. An imminent period of travelling for five months comes ever closer, and meanwhile, domestic 'To

Victoria Lubbocknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22209425.post-1158256571410367222006-09-14T17:45:00.000Z2006-11-07T14:46:29.693Z

Whoopee - Ally's passed his driving test on the second attempt and is now on the hunt for a second hand VW camper van to fulfill his hippie ambitions!Meanwhile, back to the real world and realising just how many things we need to get organised before our next travels to Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam (starting sometime in November). Apart from self-assessment tax returns, yellow fever jabs,

Victoria Lubbocknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22209425.post-1157300734252213232006-09-03T16:16:00.000Z2006-11-07T14:46:29.637Z

Victoria Lubbocknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22209425.post-1157039108788046622006-08-31T15:12:00.000Z2006-11-07T14:46:29.580Z

Victoria Lubbocknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22209425.post-1156709563576315742006-08-27T20:02:00.000Z2006-11-07T14:46:29.522Z

Another fine summer in Brittany. We've been here since early July and have just over one more week left. At the moment, on our own before Alan's folks arrive on Friday but we've been quite busy with lots of old friends visiting from near and far (Australian cousins Francis, Adam, Jackson and Alice; my daddah, stepmother, stepbrother JW and my boys Archie & Alastair; Rob & Yang La, Simon and

Victoria Lubbocknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22209425.post-1152007091656381182006-07-04T09:43:00.000Z2006-11-07T14:46:29.464Z

A busy time before heading off to Brittany for 8 weeks! Starting with Archie's recent graduation as a Computer Scientist in Edinburgh ... Then serious preps for the garden party - including Arch making sushi for 125 people and some serious help with delicious dishes from my mum, Kina. Great to catch up with so many friends and, probably to the annoyance of some neighbours, we managed to keep

Victoria Lubbocknoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22209425.post-1151362167547368092006-06-26T22:30:00.000Z2006-11-07T14:46:29.403Z

And so to The Who, playing live in Leeds at Harewood House, along with The Flaming Lips, The Zutons, Eels etc. A grand gathering and even grander picnic and a fab time had by all - with special thanks to Liz & Barry who were most generous hosts!

Victoria Lubbocknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22209425.post-1151361029279881642006-06-26T22:17:00.000Z2006-11-07T14:46:29.349Z

So, returned from a busy week in Edinburgh (Archie's graduation and moving flat), Leeds (The Who, live at Harewood House) and Warwick (Alastair drop-off and 'stuff' collection). Three trips to IKEA in one week and lots of practise with flat-packs and carting stuff up and down 80 stairs, but gratifying to get Arch sorted and settled in his new place. Lovely views out front and back and easily

Victoria Lubbocknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22209425.post-1150216227724219542006-06-13T16:24:00.000Z2006-11-07T14:46:29.290Z

Have decided to enter a photography competition on the theme of food and people. Here's a selection of my entries.

Victoria Lubbocknoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22209425.post-1148930631773482282006-05-29T19:18:00.000Z2006-11-07T14:46:29.235Z

This is my great grandfather, Sir John Lubbock and a typical Victorian polymath, seen here with his sixth son. Amongst his less eccentric claims to fame was the legislation he proposed and saw through Parliament, the Bank Holidays Act of 1871. (He was also responsible for the Early Closing Act for shop workers). As I enjoy another Bank Holiday at home in Hackney, I contemplate what The

Victoria Lubbocknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22209425.post-1148759947834934772006-05-27T19:58:00.000Z2006-11-07T14:46:29.178Z

A jolly stopover in Paris on the way back from Brittany. We managed to catch up with my cousin Marina in St Cloud. This is her garden which is quite amazing. And this is the kinda welcome happy eaters get in Paris!Preparations well advanced for THE BIG PARTY. Now thoughts turning to feeding over 100 ... Hopefully the gloomy rain will be out of the way and Alan can get moving on the garden.

Victoria Lubbocknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22209425.post-1146923081282732442006-05-06T13:33:00.000Z2006-11-07T14:46:29.120Z

Recovering well from anticipated election defeat in Stoke Newington. I polled a respectable 448 votes which, considering no input there, wasn't bad at all! Beaten by the Greens and, of course, the usual Labour victory but got more than double the three the Tories. Turnout the usual weedy 37% which, whilst better than the national average, still strikes me as appalling for democracy. Personally, I

Victoria Lubbocknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22209425.post-1146735506693817232006-05-04T09:34:00.000Z2006-11-07T14:46:29.059Z

Off to do some campaigning for the party in Hackney - although not for the ward for which I'm standing (Stoke Newington Central) which isn't classed as a target ward (yet). It will be interesting to see how much of an impact the recent incompetence of the Labour Party at national level has on local politics. It's over 20 years since I was last a Councillor in Hackney (Haggerston Ward in

Victoria Lubbocknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22209425.post-1145799698441858622006-04-23T13:27:00.000Z2006-11-07T14:46:28.988Z

Seen here in less stressful times (December last), Eric is now recovering from major surgery last Tuesday in which he had two lymphonas removed and part of a lung. As his blog (ericavebury@blogspot.com) shows, he had already had to endure some serious affronts to his body. I say again that it's fortunate that as a Buddhist he is well practised in separating mind from body! However, in spite of '

Victoria Lubbocknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22209425.post-1145486053639112502006-04-19T22:30:00.000Z2006-11-07T14:46:28.929Z

We are thinking about motorcyling our way around Europe sometime, possibly on a Honda Pacific Ocean. It will be quite a contrast to the last bike we rode. The picture shows Alan about to negotiate a 'bridge' on the remote island of Phu Quoc off the Western coast of Vietnam. It is six months since we returned. We have Vietnamese meal out this week and reminisced. The people were so nice and

Victoria Lubbocknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22209425.post-1145305699979685022006-04-17T20:26:00.000Z2006-11-07T14:46:28.873Z

Well, here it is! My lovely new piano. Deep and rich base tones to die for and, when it's tuned in about 12 weeks, it'll be just perfecto!And so to the other important news to record: Eric has had his operation and it thankfully transpires that he hasn't got lung cancer but a Lymphona. No doubt his blog, www.ericavebury.blogspot, com will keep everyone updated. No doubt, also, that I will

Victoria Lubbocknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22209425.post-1145043541101182042006-04-14T19:28:00.000Z2006-11-07T14:46:28.729Z

Sitting in contemplative mood. Re-discovered a Salt and Pepper pot set (perspex and tasteful). These were to have been a present to my maternal grandmother, Margot Bruce. Sadly, she died before I could give them to her and, like so many family possessions, they got 're-distributed'. The curious thing about objects is that their history can so easily be lost.When my other grandmother, Adelaide

Victoria Lubbocknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22209425.post-1144255575387474512006-04-05T16:37:00.000Z2006-11-07T14:46:28.673Z

Continuing debate in the household on the Government's intention to charge every so-called citizen (or subject, as we are more accurately constitutionally-speaking)for an Identity Card. Only the dear Lib Dems held firm, rejecting the voluntary-cum-creeping-compulsory nature of the forthcoming legislation.Already the most surveillanced country in the world (even more than the USA), I remain

Victoria Lubbocknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22209425.post-1144102964841129422006-04-03T22:22:00.000Z2006-11-07T14:46:28.614Z

The blossom is out, the magnolia tree next door is about to bloom in all its pink and white glory and the annual ‘To Do” list is brushed off and being re-visited. Try as I might to be idle, a compulsive ‘list-maker’ has to learn this skill and approach.Tidying up – whether it’s the inevitable and unwelcome domestic paperwork, nesting and repairing in the home or the sorting through other people’s

Victoria Lubbocknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22209425.post-1143313805662678382006-03-25T19:00:00.000Z2006-11-07T14:46:28.548Z

Our house has been commandeered as a film set for my son's film project. We are being invaded by satanic mutant schoolgirls in tartan plus friends. We now have a tasteless moving waterfall picture on our walls (complete with audio bird and flowing water soundtrack. Our cats have gone into hiding. The screening - three episodes on Warwick TV - will be interesting to say the least and i'm hopeful

Victoria Lubbocknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22209425.post-1142371374155054092006-03-14T21:12:00.000Z2006-11-07T14:46:28.492Z

A free software disk arrived today, bundled with an upgrade. It's a promo called iWork. It isn't of interest to me as idon'twork, and neither do I intend to in the foreseeable future (except perhaps on a voluntary basis). Even if I wanted to work again, I couldn't accept a job that starts before 10 in the morning (I'm an evening person, NOT a morning one, as hubbie will vouch).Having run my own

Victoria Lubbocknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22209425.post-1141911150376376842006-03-09T13:29:00.000Z2006-11-07T14:46:28.432Z

One week later and still in recovery mode from the intensive CELTA course - but all's well having passed with a B grade. Off to a local college this afternoon to see about contributing to an 'active study club' for 16-19 year olds who may need homework help. Just hoping I won't be allocated any maths students or they'll be teaching me!!Tomorrow, it's back to the college where I studied for this

Victoria Lubbocknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22209425.post-1141331507050768532006-03-02T20:11:00.000Z2006-11-07T14:46:28.380Z

TEFLBLOGSo, tomorrow is the last day of our course. Yippee! No more sleep deprivation, headaches and early starts. I had thought it should be a three-month course, but I really don't know if I could've kept up this level of commitment and social life on hold. As someone who has had the wonderful opportunity of simply pursuing hedonistic activities for the past 12 months, it;s been quite a shock

Victoria Lubbocknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22209425.post-1140824213164455282006-02-24T23:36:00.000Z2006-11-07T14:46:28.320Z

TEFLBLOGA challenging journey into “The Land of Gerunds and The Little People”So, here I am, day two and getting to grips with Kosovans, Slovakians, Turks and Colombians (amongst a myriad of other nationalities), gerunds and grammar. I am dipping my toes in the pool of knowledge that is TEFL – Teaching English as a Foreign Language.The course is intensive, the homework essential and, along the

Victoria Lubbocknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22209425.post-1139512556173309842006-02-09T19:09:00.000Z2006-11-07T14:46:28.156Z

Day three of teacher training on an intensive CELTA course at X College, North London. Mind already swimming with lesson plans, gerunds and collocations; added to with a morning session on phonetics - the study of pronunciation, stress and intonation. Managed to leave out the 'N' in the word "Spontaneous" during my 40 minute practise session with a 12-strong group of foreign students today so I

Victoria Lubbocknoreply@blogger.com0