Just say "no", right?

Well, I'm trying desperately to do what my Dad always tells me to do, "just say 'no'!" to getting sick...however, the cold is giving me a run (literally from my nose) for my money. Yesterday would have been perfect if not for this confounded cold!! (I really like that word, 'confounded' and Watson uses it in Sherlock Holmes!). So, fist let me say that I enjoyed the second performance, In Extremis, that I saw at the Globe much more than Othello and I love Shakespeare!!! It was a fantastic performance, witty, thought provoking, all those great things!! I loved it enough to go and buy a written copy of the play from the gift shop! Actually, I've been buying a lot of stuff for myself lately, must stop and save some money. I bought some fridge magnets, one from the Globe with the quote "Love is but a madness" and one with Stonehenge on it. I bought some jewelry stuff, not that I needed more jewelry, but I got a hematite ring that is just a plain band but it matches the ring mom and dad got me from Alaska, as well as a pendant from the Chalice Well at Glastonbury Abbey.

So my tour yesterday was wonderful (but imagine this whole story with me having to stop at every possible point to blow my nose and restock on tissues because I just couldn't hold enough in my purse :S) It was not the Bards day tour, but instead I had to go early on the Magical Day tour as all my other possible days were already booked up...So, I got up at 6:30 and was gone by close to 8 as the bus was a bit late. The tour driver and guide were both great, funny and very informative! It was one of the most perfect gorgeous days yesterday!! Blue, with fluffy white clouds!! Our first stop was Stonehenge, which was everything I hoped it would be except that the closest we got was about 10 feet away. Still, it was amazing!! Bought the magnet and some chocolate to keep me going until lunch (no time for breakfast that morning as I was waiting for the bus). Then we went on to Glastonbury and did something I have dreamed of doing since I first read The Mists of Avalon, we climed the Tor. It was breathtaking, you could almost see the processions of priestesses walking the slopes! I was in a very happy place! For all those who don't know, Glastonbury is one of the biggest spiritual centers on the planet, with one of the largest amalgamations of faiths journeying there. For centuries it was an island, until the people drained the water in order to farm. The Tor itself is a very tall, steep hill, with a large bell-tower like thing at the top. Then we journeyed down into the Chalice Well Gardens. These were beautiful as well, and another pilgrimage point. The Chalice Well is a natrual spring that predates Arthur, it has never been known to run dry, and people believe both that it is the resting place of Arthur and Excalibur and that it has healing properties. Very cool, stunningly beautiful spot. Don't worry, I have lots of pics of yesterday. From there we toured around the Abbey, more pics. Then we all went for lunch (only about 9 of us on the bus in total, including the guides). Then we journeyed to Averbury, another stone monument sight, about 10 times the size of Stonehenge (just smaller stones) Stonehenge could fit inside just one of this sights innner circles. It was very spiffy. The town of Averbury was built inside the Henge.

After all the wonderful day, I still had to make it back home before 7 if I were to have any chance at making Les Mis on time....lemme just say that I walked into the room with all the seats to find mine Row K Seat 4 just as an announcement came over the speakers saying "Ladies and Gentlemen, please take your seats, the performance will begin in 1 minute's time"...so yeah, had to run a lot to get there on time from Gloucester Underground, five stops to Picadilly Circus, then running down the street to collect my tickets and go through the door...whew!! Les Mis was also fantastic!! I loved it!!

But now I'm just finishing this as fast as I can so I can go out and meet my next bus to go on my Bards and Battles Day tour today...when I get back I'm just going to do my laundry and go straight to bed...I'm exhausted (but very happy) and just want to beat back this cold!! Miss you all!! Love and Giant Hugs,

Mel xox