3rd (and final!) travelpost: Ipswich, LND & the ferry home

[beelikej]

Oops. Had honestly planned to continue with part three of my travelreport right away, but then I got hit with the blues and I spent some time feeling sorry for myself instead of doing things. A combination of a brutal period and frustration about the slow progress with my calf rehabilitation drove me to the edge of the pit of despair. (I also blame the heat, pffff).
I felt guilty about skipping a day of my Hero's Journey work-out and not doing my calf exercises, but after being pampered by my mom on our weekly tv-night, I realised resting is taking care of myself too, and I started focusing on getting back on track. I even tried a bit of cycling yesterday afternoon! It was scary, especially the dismount is tricky, but my calf didn't object to the movement, so here's hoping I can brave the traffic to work again soon.

Who's up for the final part of my trip to and with amberdreams? If you missed the beginning and middle of our adventures on the Pigs Gone Wild art trail, click for part 1 and part 2 to see what you missed before moving on;)


SATURDAY AUGUST 20: TO LONDON!
Today AM, P and I are traveling from Ipswich to Londen. We took a little detour on our way to the station to see some more pigs;)

First we went to the Sailmakers Mall for these five junior piggies: from left to right, meet Bridget, Jimmy, Union Jack Pig, London Skyline and Jack's Beanstalk. I think the one with all the pink handprints is my favorite (Jimmy:)


Saw him from afar yesterday, now we entered the shopping mall from the other side to get upstairs to Major Tom by Jane Anderson [26] - I love the zipper.


The Trotters Pig by David Graham [27] was inspired by the yellow van from the classic BBC comedy Only Fools and Horses. It stands on Giles Circus, named after cartoonist Ronald 'Carl' Giles. The statue by sculptor Miles Robinson features a couple of his cartoon characters. I love how round it is:)


These are two sides of the same pig! Dr Trott and Nurse Honey-Cured by Mik Richardson [28] is a guest pig while the original pig on this spot, Major Henry Wigglesworth, is in surgery being repaired. I love all the puns, my favorite has to be "spare ribs", heehee.


Oh yes: THE KING aka Elvis Porksley by Stephen McKay [29]; look at that upperlip, uhu-uhu;)
The last pig on our way to the station is standing right in front of it: Hamlet by Cyndi Speer [30] features pigs living in the Suffolk countryside, in almost their own communities, or ‘hamlets'.


Goodbye, pigs, goodbye Ipswich! London, here we come!
Such beautiful views along the way.


Treating ourselves to first class, baby! I have my camera up a little too high for you to see the bag of crisps I hold in my hand: the trainticket comes with a choice of snack and drink from the traintrolley, woohoo!
We arrive at London Liverpoolstreet station, which is crazy busy.


Because I couldn't possibly face walking, we take a taxi to our destination. I love that we can sit in the back with the three of us AND I have plenty of room for my crutches and legs:)


We have an SPN fangirl/fanboy meet up at the Mulberry Bush Pub - no pics of the fangirling but there was a lot of squeeing, I found another fellow JDM fan, wahey! Good company, good food. Sticking with the pig-theme of this weekend, I had a Hampshire Wild Boar and Pulled Pork Burger (served with fries and roast bramley sauce). For desert (no photo) I chose Chocolate and Marmelade Bread & Butter Pudding with Custard. Omnomnom.


Some touristy pics on the way back to Ipswich: from the taxi London's St. Paul's Cathedral and from the train the Stratford Olympic Stadium with the ArcelorMittal Orbit by Sir Anish Kapoor and Cecil Balmond (2012)

DID YOU THINK WE ALREADY SAW ALL THE PIGS? THINK AGAIN :-D. When we get back in Ipswich amberdreams and husband P. think of another route home to track down two more!


How cool is Frankenswine by Matt Reeve [31] with his square head and bolts in his neck? Last but not least is Refuge by Joy Pirkle [32]; made for Suffolk Refugee Support, International Women’s Group.

So, in two days we found 17 junior pigs and saw 32 adult pigs up close (I'm not counting the one that I only saw from the piggy bus (Porkman Road). I'd say that's a pretty impressive score, especially with crutches \o/

Alas I only have an evening in Ipswich left, which AM and I spend watching Jeffrey Dean Morgan (with Uma Thurman & Colin Firth) in The Accidental Husband. A fitting end to a wonderful weekend. <3



SUNDAY AUGUST 14: GOING HOME

Early Sundaymorning AM and P drive me to Harwich Harbour where I get on the ferry back to the Netherlands. *sniffles*


After walking the pigtrail I'm exhausted and don't want to spend seven hours on a chair, so I upgrade to a cabin and even treat myself to one with a window;) I feel very fancy reading in my bunk with my feet up.


Again I get all the assistence in the self serve restaurant; a member of staff walks with me while I pile goodies on the tray. My goodness, that desert was awesome.
After this big lunch I retreat to my cabin again for a nap and more reading <3<3


I also spend time just staring at the water *chinhands*. But eventually I have to get off the ferry; once again I'm escorted off board, this time I even get to sit in a wheelchair to be pushed to the arrival hallway, where I get on that speedy cart again to get me to customs and the exit.


I only have a little walk to the station left where I'm grab the train to Rotterdam. Two more trains (and about three hours) later I arrive in Z. where my mom is waiting in her car to take me home.

The end.

I had a blast and hope to visit Ipswich again so I can explore the town a little more without being distracted by pigs or slowed down by crutches;) Thanks for a great time, amberdreams (and husband P and the fanpeeps in LND)!

J.

Comments

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Aw sorry you were feeling down - You have to remember that recovery can be slow sometimes, so you will have to try and be patient, frustrating though it is... It sounds like you are progressing well though.

We'd love to have you back sometime - there's a lot of Suffolk to explore!

[beelikej.livejournal.com]

I just wish I could have a little more control over the recovery, you know? Healing always goes too slowly;)

Oh, you better be prepared for my return. Can't wait to do some proper exploring (and more fangirling *grins*)