We are in transit for only 19 hours inside Changi Airport. It is magnificent. We booked the Aerotel for 12 hours, you could actually book for 6 hours. We didn't need to go through immigration or collect our baggage.
And I'm speaking like Pepper Pig. Inexplicably, I want to "stomp about in muddy puddles". We've been staying with our friends, John and Linda Twidle, in the Midlands. We are very familiar with their little village, Congerstone.
England is very dry at the moment. They've not had decent rain in more than five weeks. It's been a late, cold spring. Now summer has come with a vengeance.
We have had two big days sightseeing around the Cotswolds. We are camping and it's been a bit rough. (I'd prefer my feet didn't even touch the floor.) Even so, I have to admit the views over the countryside are amazing. It's 9.22pm and I can see the sun as it dips below the horizon. One last bright gold eyebrow going, going
...gone.
Our hats are pulled down low
This is the Peak District in Derbyshire, north of the Midlands, where we are based.
Never let it be said that Poms are an idle lot. There were people hiking everywhere. We camp at beautiful Eedale village with a massive camp ground and nice hot showers and a pub. We watched about 150 school kids come, fully-laden, into the grounds from their own hike. They had big backpacks and water bottles, and a map around the neck. They were obviously tired and bent forward with the weight of their load, but they weren't complaining at all, but rather, chatting quietly as they trudged up the hill past our campervan.
6 sets per week
Fantastic news. To sleep better? - Exercise, but not too much. Here is a really short and helpful YouTube link:-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpIg5V0QBWQ
We can strengthen our five major muscle groups by repeating a set for each group a mere six times per week. The groups are:-
· Chest
· Back
· Abs/Core
· Legs
· Arms
Such a low number of sets requires a certain level of intensity, so start with weights that feel moderately heavy, even at first.
Before you start, make sure you warm up because a warm up is not included. Alternatively, go for a walk before you start. Do jump in where you are and work at your own place. You don’t need to be a champion, but be mindful of your own safety and feel free to stop at any time.
The session contains two to three sets for each muscle group and a stretch at the end.
This means that by repeating the “2nd half” session of the recordings two or three times week, you will have met the goal of keeping our strength up, as we age, by doing:-
6 sets per week.
I loved our apartment in Palermo. Quite modern and elegant inside and to enter, first go through the little door. Chris calls it the Hobbit door. Then lots of stairs to climb. There was almost no traffic noise. The streets are mostly closed to cars. The loudest noise was the sound of people chatting as they strolled by below. It really floats up. Good news is whenever I closed the double-glazed windows, complete silence. There was a perfect outlook from the kitchen window - just next door's terrazzo- nothing special. I would linger, looking out, while I drank my morning coffee. It always made me happy. I even took a picture.
I've never seen so many people. Maybe at the RNA. It's spring break in America and a public holiday here - 2nd June is Festa della Repubblica. Local people out and about and there are so many tourists that we three reprobates aren't worth robbing...so that we actually feel safe.
We bumbled about on foot. Grabbed a lovely slice pizza for dinner and the two gentleman had a beer.
Meanwhile, tomorrow is a tour of the Tivoli Gardens, Villa d'Este and Hadrian 's Villa. A big day out - looking forward to beautiful gardens, architecture and fountains galore with a big dose of history thrown in.
Is it only Sicily or is it a thing? All the fashionable ladies and men were in expensive joggers. Young people and old. In fact, it was more than 10 days before I saw a well-dressed woman in high heels walking on the cobbles. Previously that masterful walk was everywhere. The shop windows were full of joggers, with a small section devoted to very high heels, seemingly for formal occasions.
The beautiful young women wear crepe trousers, biggish, like palazzo pants with a tiny top and joggers, really pared down, minimalist look, very classy. THE colour seems to be an emerald green, bright, but not fluro, - alas not everywhere, but very eye-catching.
In the small villages well dressed older women were in low-ish heels.
Wedding are very big here. Thursday night is bride-night. I think we saw 4 in Palermo last Thursday. We were right in town, close to the Quatro Canti....the hottest spot. Wedding parties make their way there for their photos. One couple even had a drone photographer.
As we were walking into town, a horse and carriage passed close by, the groom's hand was right next me and I swear he had had manicure. Alas, Don never had a manicure when we got married.
