Between 265 & 485 SQ/FT London Calling. An ordinary life.

[sawduststeve]

Fords Head Office – Warley – Essex – March 2020 | Other Sites

The History The Headquarters of the Ford Motor Company are located on the site of the old Warley regimental depot and barracks. Most of the barracks have long been demolished and only the chapel, the officers' mess (now Marillac Nursing Home) and one of the regimental gyms (Keys Hall)...

www.28dayslater.co.uk

Whilst watching for the girl child to finish trampolining , thought I’d share this as it’s opposite her club.
It’s mahoosive. Flats now.

 

[stillp]

Nice. I was offered a job at Ford Dunton once - are they still there?
My grandfather was discharged at Warley Barracks, after having lied about his age in 1914 to join the 1st Essex - strange because he was from Herefordshire - sent to Gallipoli in 1915, where he lasted about 3 weeks before being disabled by gunshot wounds. Discharged just 2 weeks before his 18th birthday...
Pete

 

[Trapps]

There's a great Pub near Dunton, The Olde Dog. If you're in the area, go. If you do go, duck. I've left parts of my scalp on at least two beams in there.

 

[sawduststeve]

Nice. I was offered a job at Ford Dunton once - are they still there?
My grandfather was discharged at Warley Barracks, after having lied about his age in 1914 to join the 1st Essex - strange because he was from Herefordshire - sent to Gallipoli in 1915, where he lasted about 3 weeks before being disabled by gunshot wounds. Discharged just 2 weeks before his 18th birthday...
Pete

Pete, wow , that’s some amazing stuff, I was just arseing about when I was 18, certainly not getting shot. My great grandfather was in WW1
and my 91yr old aunt has a couple of postcards, dated 1916, from the front line, sent from him to his family, my grandmother.
The Essex regiments were based at the Warley barracks for a long time, behind the Ford HQ is Little Horndon Hall a rather grand house I’ve done some work in. It’s in an elevated position with far reaching views down to the Thames, and some of its acreage is where the regiment camped, around the time of the North American war 1812-1814.
It was the Essex Regiment that burnt down the first White House, either by accident or design, oops. it always get messy with us Essex boys on tour
The guy that owns the hall is a stone rich fella, and what do you buy when you can have anything , why a stuffed giraffe, of course.

 

[sawduststeve]

There's a great Pub near Dunton, The Olde Dog. If you're in the area, go. If you do go, duck. I've left parts of my scalp on at least two beams in there.

Trapps, this one?
I’ve not been to this one, but it looks like the sort of place that could give you a headache.
We went out Sunday for lunch to The Ship in Gidea Park, and they’ve actually upholstered the top of a couple of door frames with some cushioning. Most pubs like these have a sign that’s bares the legend “Duck or Grouse”

Steve

 

[Trapps]

That's the one!

 

[sawduststeve]

Panic ye not, the frames we made and glazed
last week, fitted like a glove, everyone is happy and it’s the first of many. The client has given the go ahead for another.
This is the front.
The interesting part is that it’s a house on the exhibition estate. Built for the Grand Exhibition of 1911. There was a competition for the best built house or cottage in either the £500 or £350 range.
There was a massive amount of land bought and
many great architects of the day built houses
here.

1911 Exhibition - Gidea Park and District Civic Society

L. J. Leicester, M.A (Cantab.)

gpadcs.org

Steve

 

[stillp]

Pete, wow , that’s some amazing stuff, I was just arseing about when I was 18, certainly not getting shot. My great grandfather was in WW1
and my 91yr old aunt has a couple of postcards, dated 1916, from the front line, sent from him to his family, my grandmother.
The Essex regiments were based at the Warley barracks for a long time, behind the Ford HQ is Little Horndon Hall a rather grand house I’ve done some work in. It’s in an elevated position with far reaching views down to the Thames, and some of its acreage is where the regiment camped, around the time of the North American war 1812-1814.

My grandad was just 16 when he signed up at Canvey Island. We don't know why he was in Essex, but it's possible he was a telegram boy for the GPO. He was shot within about 3 weeks of arriving in Gallipoli, and as far as I can tell he lost much of the use of his left arm. He could use the hand, but had to move it where he needed it by lifting it with the other hand. After his medical discharge he worked for the rest of the war as a checker in an ammunition factory back in Herefordshire, which is where he met my grandma, but after that he was retrained as an upholsterer and cabinet maker. He died 4 years before I was born, so I knew none of this until quite recently. I didn't know we had a family Essex connection, but my maternal great-granddad was from Great Oakley. Ran away to sea aged 14, married a girl in Sunderland, moved to South Wales!

I don't remember the Old Dog - we used to go with the Ford guys to a pub I remember as The Dirty Duck, so it's proper name was probably The Black Swan.

Pete

 

[sawduststeve]

My grandad was just 16 when he signed up at Canvey Island. We don't know why he was in Essex, but it's possible he was a telegram boy for the GPO. He was shot within about 3 weeks of arriving in Gallipoli, and as far as I can tell he lost much of the use of his left arm. He could use the hand, but had to move it where he needed it by lifting it with the other hand. After his medical discharge he worked for the rest of the war as a checker in an ammunition factory back in Herefordshire, which is where he met my grandma, but after that he was retrained as an upholsterer and cabinet maker. He died 4 years before I was born, so I knew none of this until quite recently. I didn't know we had a family Essex connection, but my maternal great-granddad was from Great Oakley. Ran away to sea aged 14, married a girl in Sunderland, moved to South Wales!

I don't remember the Old Dog - we used to go with the Ford guys to a pub I remember as The Dirty Duck, so it's proper name was probably The Black Swan.

Pete

Pete, it’s nice to know some family history, I know very little of ours.
My wife and her family come from Surrey and their local is The Dirty Duck whilst the pub sign says The Black Swan.
Dunton is still going strong, we’ve been to a couple of classic car shows there, in aid of the local hospice. This was pre covid and sadly I don’t see it starting back up.


This is the only photo I could find with the offices behind.
My small claim to fame twice removed is my Dads best mate worked here in the clay modelling department and it was his design that was the wing mirrors on the MK1 transit.

Steve

 

[sawduststeve]

Two photos of the royal docks, once some of the busiest docks in the world. They stood abandoned for many years and over the last thirty years or so the regeneration has begun.
Now if your photo has , Deadpool, the Scarlett witch and Spider-Man in shot it can only mean one thing.
It’s on like Comic Con.
The girl child is into all things superhero and Japanese comics, who am I to complain, I might have had something to do with it.
It’s a fun day out.

Steve

 

[Grizz1963]

I started to get into the Japanese stuff 30 years ago, ultimately bikes won.

I will watch every super hero movie, despite some being dire.

But these Comicon meetings and pics from there always make me smile.

So much effort goes into them, some attendees look exactly right, but some do not have a clue just how far they miss the mark.

However, as far as I am concerned, it beats “kick and fall ball”

Thanks for the dock land pics too.

 

[sawduststeve]

I started to get into the Japanese stuff 30 years ago, ultimately bikes won.

I will watch every super hero movie, despite some being dire.

But these Comicon meetings and pics from there always make me smile.

So much effort goes into them, some attendees look exactly right, but some do not have a clue just how far they miss the mark.

However, as far as I am concerned, it beats “kick and fall ball”

Thanks for the dock land pics too.

Rian, I never got into bikes I went racing kart’s instead, always preferred 4 wheels over 2.

Yeah, we don’t miss many movies, even the rubbish ones

It’s the costumes we love the most at comicom
as you say, some are really expensive, and it shows, some not so much. However that all make it what it is, a good fun day out.
How about these shifty looking characters

Steve

 

[sawduststeve]

Morning all
Had a mixed week this week
Started well, with a new tool, after my 10-12 yr old Dewalt chop saw packed up and the new Makita arrived. A 260mm blade and a 300mm cut. Made light work of the bay cill.
Mid week the view from the site was very pleasant. That’s the Havering-Atte-Bower water tower.



Then Friday this happened. It’s so frustrating, having to deal with insurance companies is worse than being sideswiped by an artic while parked outside the workshop.

Fingers crossed better week coming.
Steve

 

[Grizz1963]

****** !!!



Really sorry to see that Steve.



And knowing that even with video evidence (in my own experience) and on another occasion finding the hit and run vehicle that rear ended me (being told by police and insurance to walk away) the insurance companies are not interested in taking your side or helping.


Hope you have a good outcome.

 

[Old tool guy]

What is an artic?

 

[captain14]

What is an artic?

Maybe a PC name for something else that starts with an A?

 

[sawduststeve]

What is an artic?

Sorry fella , my bad
Articulated lorry , we shorten it to ‘artics
Big rigs ,you may know them by
Here’s the offending ******.

Steve

 

[NakeDiesel]

Hello ya brits. Liked seeing the pics and all. I travel over there a few times a year for work. The parent company I work for has their main office in Fulham over by Putney bridge. I'm flying over again on the 23rd of this month for another week. I usually get there Sat morning and spend the weekend seeing sights and museums. This trip I plan on checking out the natural history museum on that Saturday and on Sunday going up to Greenwich and checking that out.

I work from home here on my farm in Oklahoma and talk daily to my team over there and have been working close with most of them of quite a few years.

Really enjoy seeing all the old flats and buildings around London when I get over there an am able to do a walk about.

 

[cannuck]

I wasn’t try to pry into your private life, but the explanation was interesting. Much of my knowledge of English life comes from that tv series where they foreclose on people for not paying debts.

Funny you should mention that. Our favourite TV programme is "Escape to the Country" where city folk are looking to move to the simpler life of rural UK. While it definitely colours our view of life in the UK by strange co-incidence I now do a lot of work for a 100 year old engineering firm based in Rye/East Sussex. Wife is looking forward to me getting more involved with them so we can spend some time cruising around UK. Both of my Grandmothers were British immigrants, so I guess it just skips a generation.

BTW: Also a VW family. No more air cooled (although I am just building a 2.3 litre Type IV engine for best bud's 356 replica) but have a pair of Scirocco ice racers for A1, a Golf Country for A2, Golf for A3, Jetta Wagon (Bora TDI) for A4, B5 Passat Variant, C2 tdi sedan and the last Q7 TDI to be registered in Canada for wife's DD.

 

[sawduststeve]

Maybe a PC name for something else that starts with an A?

Hell no , there was nothing pc about what I called him, some very Anglo Saxon vulgarity.
I think I may have also questioned his parentage.

Steve

 

[Old tool guy]

Interesting that you have that picture, makes pretty good evidence who did it.

 

[colin39]

‘Ello ‘Ello ‘Ello what’s going on ‘ere then?
After you showing me yours I thought it about time I showed you mine.
This is us.
Front.

Rear
I’m a 58 yr old carpenter/joiner with a serious petrol fetish. We’ve a few interesting car shows coming up that will be good to share.
We’re on the East London / Essex boarders and been in this house about eight years now, and have totally renovated it from hat to pan, with photos to prove. What’s that I hear, oh I know the sound of 100’s of eyes rolling.
Workshop and not the works van.

I work mostly around London and Essex in some very interesting places.
Speak soon
Steve

Small world Steve I work for London borough of Redbridge

 

[sawduststeve]

****** !!!



Really sorry to see that Steve.



And knowing that even with video evidence (in my own experience) and on another occasion finding the hit and run vehicle that rear ended me (being told by police and insurance to walk away) the insurance companies are not interested in taking your side or helping.


Hope you have a good outcome.

Rian,

Yup, buggeration indeed

I have it all recorded on my cctv and it’s all been emailed to the insurers along with a bunch of photos.
The delivery company supply the drivers with a
Booklet to fill out in event of an accident.
The driver keeps the top copy and I get the bottom copy with all the drivers details.
There’s no argument, he admitted it.
He rolled up about 8” from my van and then did a 90deg left turn and seemed surprised when the 4ft over hang behind his rear wheels ran down the length of my van.

We’ll see what this week brings
Have a good one
Steve

 

[sawduststeve]

Interesting that you have that picture, makes pretty good evidence who did it.

Old tool guy, I’ve got it all on the workshop cctv,
I’ve pulled off the recording of it and emailed it to the insurers. I should have shortened the recording, it does get a little shouty/sweary The driver admits the accident and we’ve a witness, the banksman from the builders merchants , who watched him do it, but was there to stop it before it occurred.
I had the cameras installed for exactly this reason, the builders merchants directly opposite have a habit of this.

Steve

 

[sawduststeve]

Hello ya brits. Liked seeing the pics and all. I travel over there a few times a year for work. The parent company I work for has their main office in Fulham over by Putney bridge. I'm flying over again on the 23rd of this month for another week. I usually get there Sat morning and spend the weekend seeing sights and museums. This trip I plan on checking out the natural history museum on that Saturday and on Sunday going up to Greenwich and checking that out.

I work from home here on my farm in Oklahoma and talk daily to my team over there and have been working close with most of them of quite a few years.

Really enjoy seeing all the old flats and buildings around London when I get over there an am able to do a walk about.

Howdy friend.

Sounds like you have an interesting job and get to do some great travelling. I don’t travel much more than 2/3 hours in a van for work although as you know that might only be 20 miles max in central London.

The Natural History and Greenwich are both great choices, the Tate Gallery at Trafalgar Square is also a good shout, also the British Museum.
Here you go, just in case you miss it

Yup, there’s plenty of history to see, don’t forget when your walking about, look up, there’s loads that get missed above your head.
Enjoy your visit

Steve

 

[sawduststeve]

Funny you should mention that. Our favourite TV programme is "Escape to the Country" where city folk are looking to move to the simpler life of rural UK. While it definitely colours our view of life in the UK by strange co-incidence I now do a lot of work for a 100 year old engineering firm based in Rye/East Sussex. Wife is looking forward to me getting more involved with them so we can spend some time cruising around UK. Both of my Grandmothers were British immigrants, so I guess it just skips a generation.

BTW: Also a VW family. No more air cooled (although I am just building a 2.3 litre Type IV engine for best bud's 356 replica) but have a pair of Scirocco ice racers for A1, a Golf Country for A2, Golf for A3, Jetta Wagon (Bora TDI) for A4, B5 Passat Variant, C2 tdi sedan and the last Q7 TDI to be registered in Canada for wife's DD.

Cannuck, evening fella

I think the percentage of England that is built on is around 8% , there is a lot of country left, my problem is that we don’t get out enough and when we do we’re always surprised about how less populated the place is.

I love Rye and East Sussex , my dad had a holiday home at Battle, about 7 miles outside of Hastings and we visited Rye many times.

Wow, that’s quite a VW collection.
I’ve know a couple of guys with Q7’s and honestly I think they’re to big for here.
Before I bought the split screen I had a ‘76
Cali import bay window with an early efi 2ltr
Type IV engine in it, what a lovely motor.
Our previous car, before the T6 was an Audi A4 Avant SLine, that was a truly great car , we rampaged all over Europe in that.

Steve

 

[NakeDiesel]

Howdy friend.

Sounds like you have an interesting job and get to do some great travelling. I don’t travel much more than 2/3 hours in a van for work although as you know that might only be 20 miles max in central London.

The Natural History and Greenwich are both great choices, the Tate Gallery at Trafalgar Square is also a good shout, also the British Museum.

Yup, there’s plenty of history to see, don’t forget when your walking about, look up, there’s loads that get missed above your head.
Enjoy your visit

Steve

Hello, this will be my 4th trip to London in just over a year. First trip was last may and my wife tagged along. We did an all day tour that took us to Stonehenge, Westminster, and Bath, we spent the Sunday going around and seeing a bunch of sites inside London like London Bridge, London Tower, changing of the guard, etc... The last weekend we were there in May we flew to Dublin, Ireland for the weekend and saw as much there as we could before heading back home. Been to most of the museums in central London at this point, I could spend another day or two at the British Museum, there's a ton to see in there. Last trip I did the Imperial War Museum, Science Museum and the Churchill war rooms. My wife loves it there and had a great week of going and seeing as much as she could while I was working. She's planning on going again with me in November if she can get it off, she's a Registered Nurse and is in the process of moving from being a Case Manager over a couple of floors and training new Case Manager and Social workers to being in charge of half the hospital's case managers/social workers. So were not sure if she will be able to go, plus were taking a family cruise in October with the kids/grandkids, and she's taking the week of July 4th off and were doing a 3500 mile bike ride up to Michigan up through the Upper Peninsula and down through Wisconsin and back home.

That's about the only place I travel to for work anymore. My boss is there, and the developers that work for me are there. I'm the Senior Data Architect for the whole company. We have offices all over the world as we are a global events company. I'm technically out of the Tulsa, Oklahoma office, but it's an hour away and I don't work directly with anyone there. Clarion bought the events company I worked for in Tulsa and I'm one of the few remaining ones from the old company left, between selling off portions, covid layoffs, etc... I've got almost 11 years in between the old company and this one now and not many understand the data we deal with like I do.

Work over the last 30 years has taken me all over the world and US. Been to Brazil, Taiwan, Switzerland, Germany, Japan, Canada and about 45 US states due to work/projects that I've worked on or meeting with Clients.

 

[sawduststeve]

Small world Steve I work for London borough of Redbridge

Evening Colin

Small world indeed, our previous house was in Redbridge, Newbury Park. I’ve always lived local to Romford/Upminster.
The kettles always on , if you’re ever passing.

Steve

 

[Grizz1963]

Like my lodger whose car was written off outside my house at 07.05 on his way home from a night shift, these idiots do not realise the real impact it has on lives and livelihoods.

Lodger then needed to go spend £22k on a new to him, used car to replace a perfectly good car he owned outright.

And of course the woman who overtook him outside my house, denies any fault.

So it may drag on for a while.

Good luck with all aspects of this.

 

[sawduststeve]

Hello, this will be my 4th trip to London in just over a year. First trip was last may and my wife tagged along. We did an all day tour that took us to Stonehenge, Westminster, and Bath, we spent the Sunday going around and seeing a bunch of sites inside London like London Bridge, London Tower, changing of the guard, etc... The last weekend we were there in May we flew to Dublin, Ireland for the weekend and saw as much there as we could before heading back home. Been to most of the museums in central London at this point, I could spend another day or two at the British Museum, there's a ton to see in there. Last trip I did the Imperial War Museum, Science Museum and the Churchill war rooms. My wife loves it there and had a great week of going and seeing as much as she could while I was working. She's planning on going again with me in November if she can get it off, she's a Registered Nurse and is in the process of moving from being a Case Manager over a couple of floors and training new Case Manager and Social workers to being in charge of half the hospital's case managers/social workers. So were not sure if she will be able to go, plus were taking a family cruise in October with the kids/grandkids, and she's taking the week of July 4th off and were doing a 3500 mile bike ride up to Michigan up through the Upper Peninsula and down through Wisconsin and back home.

That's about the only place I travel to for work anymore. My boss is there, and the developers that work for me are there. I'm the Senior Data Architect for the whole company. We have offices all over the world as we are a global events company. I'm technically out of the Tulsa, Oklahoma office, but it's an hour away and I don't work directly with anyone there. Clarion bought the events company I worked for in Tulsa and I'm one of the few remaining ones from the old company left, between selling off portions, covid layoffs, etc... I've got almost 11 years in between the old company and this one now and not many understand the data we deal with like I do.

Work over the last 30 years has taken me all over the world and US. Been to Brazil, Taiwan, Switzerland, Germany, Japan, Canada and about 45 US states due to work/projects that I've worked on or meeting with Clients.

NakeDiesel, blimey that’s some info there, where to start.
I think you win on the cram as much as you can into the shortest amount of time on holiday award, and we’ve been to Disney, twice
We love the British museum, so much so we enrolled our daughter as a Friend of the British Museum and twice a year she , with us in tow, were invited to a sleepover in the museum.
I think we did it 4 times, and we mostly slept in the Egyptian rooms.
We arrive as it’s closing and sort our beds out, then she has 4 activities laid on, which really are very special, we have food half way through.
All done by 11pm with lights out at 12.
Breakfast is supplied in the morning with an hour to visit the newest exhibition before the doors open. We leave looking like hobos carrying all our gear, being stared at by the waiting queue.


That’s some crazy mad travelling you’ve done, is it still fun? A great mate of mine, owned a cruise company, and was travelling constantly and ended up hating it. Eventually selling up and moving to Portugal.
Your obviously well respected within the company, long may it continue

I hope you continue to enjoy your visits here, the kettles always on.

Steve

 

[NakeDiesel]

NakeDiesel, blimey that’s some info there, where to start.
I think you win on the cram as much as you can into the shortest amount of time on holiday award, and we’ve been to Disney, twice
We love the British museum, so much so we enrolled our daughter as a Friend of the British Museum and twice a year she , with us in tow, were invited to a sleepover in the museum.
I think we did it 4 times, and we mostly slept in the Egyptian rooms.
We arrive as it’s closing and sort our beds out, then she has 4 activities laid on, which really are very special, we have food half way through.
All done by 11pm with lights out at 12.
Breakfast is supplied in the morning with an hour to visit the newest exhibition before the doors open. We leave looking like hobos carrying all our gear, being stared at by the waiting queue.


That’s some crazy mad travelling you’ve done, is it still fun? A great mate of mine, owned a cruise company, and was travelling constantly and ended up hating it. Eventually selling up and moving to Portugal.
Your obviously well respected within the company, long may it continue

I hope you continue to enjoy your visits here, the kettles always on.

Steve

That would be cool getting to camp out in there. I'd do it in a heartbeat.

Yeah, I flew so much in my 20's and 30's that it's not much fun anymore, especially after 911. I was flying that day while it was happening and didn't find out about it until after I got off the flight and into the office.

I now drive whenever it's possible. The trip to Michigan is to tick that state off of my wife's 50 state list. I only need to go to Oregon as that's the last state I haven't been too. She needs Michigan, Alaska, North Dakota and Oregon. She had only been to I think 3 states when we got married 13 years ago.

I do still like going to see new places and if all works out and the wife goes with me in Nov, we are planning on a few days in France to see Paris sites and go tour the Normandy Beaches. I had one Grandfather fight in WWI in France and the other Grandfather and an Uncle fought in WWII in France, would like to see the area.

I've enjoyed my trips to London and being able to see the sites. I don't like sitting around, so I'm always taking a tube even after work to go walk around different parts of London.

 

[sawduststeve]

Like my lodger whose car was written off outside my house at 07.05 on his way home from a night shift, these idiots do not realise the real impact it has on lives and livelihoods.

Lodger then needed to go spend £22k on a new to him, used car to replace a perfectly good car he owned outright.

And of course the woman who overtook him outside my house, denies any fault.

So it may drag on for a while.

Good luck with all aspects of this.

Rian, you’re not giving me much hope, you’re killing my buzz, man. I’m generally an optimist.

Consequently on my way home tonight I had a phone call from the insurance and the other third party has admitted all responsibility and liability and the deal is done. I’m gonna be made whole.
They want to deliver the hire van and collect mine for repair Friday 16th. That’s going to be fun
A place for everything and everything in its place. It’ll all fit in a hire van, just don’t know what’ll stop it all rolling around
Anyways, let’s see what actually transpires against what they’ve said there doing.

Steve

 

[sawduststeve]

In other news I paid a visit to a good mate last night, to give a little hand with his new motor.
A ‘75 ‘vette he’s been given by a guy we know.
It’s a manual with electric and power everything, but could we get it started, not a chance.
It had been sitting in a garden, under a tarp for 18 years though.
I just did as I was told , wiggled some wires and smacked a few things with a persuader.
Then low and behold it fired right up and sat and idled , as happy as Larry

Who knew you had to dip the clutch to start.

Hope this works. It’s a little video of his 615ci 57 Bel Air.
Steve

 

[sawduststeve]

That would be cool getting to camp out in there. I'd do it in a heartbeat.

Yeah, I flew so much in my 20's and 30's that it's not much fun anymore, especially after 911. I was flying that day while it was happening and didn't find out about it until after I got off the flight and into the office.

I now drive whenever it's possible. The trip to Michigan is to tick that state off of my wife's 50 state list. I only need to go to Oregon as that's the last state I haven't been too. She needs Michigan, Alaska, North Dakota and Oregon. She had only been to I think 3 states when we got married 13 years ago.

I do still like going to see new places and if all works out and the wife goes with me in Nov, we are planning on a few days in France to see Paris sites and go tour the Normandy Beaches. I had one Grandfather fight in WWI in France and the other Grandfather and an Uncle fought in WWII in France, would like to see the area.

I've enjoyed my trips to London and being able to see the sites. I don't like sitting around, so I'm always taking a tube even after work to go walk around different parts of London.

NakeDiesel, great job in visiting all the states together, I often enjoy the journey with the family as much as the destination , wether it’s in the car or a plane.
Paris you will love, the metro is much like the tube, there’s plenty to see all within walking distances.

The 9/11 flight sounds a bit scary.
And in remembrance of those no longer here, I also have family that fought in WW1 and 2
I have visited Ypres or wipers as the Tommys pronounced it, and it was very sobering.
The amount of names on the bridge is an incredible eye opener.
The DDay beaches are on the list of to do visits and funnily enough we are of to Belgium shortly and pass Dunkirk, but I think time might be to short to stop, we’ll have to see how it plays out.

I hope your English colleagues look after you.

Steve

 

[NakeDiesel]

NakeDiesel, great job in visiting all the states together, I often enjoy the journey with the family as much as the destination , wether it’s in the car or a plane.
Paris you will love, the metro is much like the tube, there’s plenty to see all within walking distances.

The 9/11 flight sounds a bit scary.
And in remembrance of those no longer here, I also have family that fought in WW1 and 2
I have visited Ypres or wipers as the Tommys pronounced it, and it was very sobering.
The amount of names on the bridge is an incredible eye opener.
The DDay beaches are on the list of to do visits and funnily enough we are of to Belgium shortly and pass Dunkirk, but I think time might be to short to stop, we’ll have to see how it plays out.

I hope your English colleagues look after you.

Steve

We did a big family vacation about 5 years ago, I rented a 15 passenger van, and it was my wife and I, my son, her two daughters and their significant others, our grand daughter and my mother in law, we travelled 5k miles in 10 days, hit 11 national parks, camped out the whole time at the parks. Went from Oklahoma - New Mexico - Colorado - Utah - Idaho - Wyoming - Montana - South Dakota - Nebraska - Kansas - Oklahoma. It was a great trip and we saw a lot of cool places and parks.

The co workers in London do a good job, we usually hit a pub a couple of nights while I'm there, including dinner/drinks with the COO and CTO of the company most times.

 

[sawduststeve]

And we’re off

 

[sawduststeve]

Made it. Westende Belgium.

 

[Grizz1963]

Very nice.

And thanks for sharing.

 

[sawduststeve]

We did a big family vacation about 5 years ago, I rented a 15 passenger van, and it was my wife and I, my son, her two daughters and their significant others, our grand daughter and my mother in law, we travelled 5k miles in 10 days, hit 11 national parks, camped out the whole time at the parks. Went from Oklahoma - New Mexico - Colorado - Utah - Idaho - Wyoming - Montana - South Dakota - Nebraska - Kansas - Oklahoma. It was a great trip and we saw a lot of cool places and parks.

The co workers in London do a good job, we usually hit a pub a couple of nights while I'm there, including dinner/drinks with the COO and CTO of the company most times.

NakeDiesel, that sounds like a superb road trip, maybe hell to some, holidaying with family , but one hell of a hoot to me.

Good work with the London boys hospitality.

Sorry it took a while to get back to you.

Stephen

 

[sawduststeve]

Very nice.

And thanks for sharing.

Rian, my pleasure. Thanks for passing by.