Just so you all know, I am writing this under duress.
Some insect in my room in Cardiff bit me on the wrists and hands...
Probably a mosquito ...
( I think it had to be an Alien mosquito! )
Because I am ready to cut both arms off at the elbows.
Itch....it is driving me crazy.
Aura, housemate, said there is something different about the Mosquitos over here.
( Aaha! I told you! Alien Mosquitos!)
My wrists, fingers and hands are swollen and they itch like crazy!
Kept me awake last night...
Anyway, Aura has given me some antihistamines that she had to get when she first moved here.
They haven't kicked in yet.

Anyway...
Up at 8am....off to Portobello Market.
Nice sunny day...about 13 degrees top.
Directions again from Andy.
So...
Northern line to Stockwell....black
Victoria line to Oxford Circus....blue
Central line (westbound) to Nottinghill Gate....red
Arrived safely.
It is all so quick...
Hop off one train...the next one pulls in at the platform you need.
People are also so polite and considerate on the tube.
Offering seats...
( I am starting to think the lift incident at The Arc de Triumph was not an isolated one.)
'After you...'
It is wonderful...and so helpful.

So arrived at Nottinghill Gate.... And really just followed the crowd.
I have never seen so many people in my life.
All pouring down this one street.
And I was there by 10.15am....
You should have seen it by 2pm.

I loved it.
Antique stalls and markets everywhere.
You go in a door to a shop...and this shop opens into a maze of tiny stalls all with varied things to sell.
Shop after shop after shop...

I had a ball.
I was looking for a long, antique silver chain to attach the charms to.
Looked for hours...not much luck.
But I did find wonderful antique silver charms.
I had a wonderful time with these....at about 5 different places.
Gotta stop now though....got way past enough.

Then I found a chain.
1860's ...silver... And long.
When I hold it up to my nose....
( work with me here)
When I hold it up to my nose, I hold the other end in my fingers and my arm is stretched straight out....
That's how long it is.....double.
Is that a cubit?
Looks like a cubit.
And I am going to need every bit of that.
I counted the charms....
85.

Well...they are each beautiful in their own way...
And I had no idea I had that many.
You just buy a couple and get on the bus to the next town..
And do it again,
Stopping now.
(Actually just need a mermaid and a Clydesdale horse....but therein lies the problem.
While you're looking for the Mermaid and the Clydesdale horse...you see all these other wonderful one.)
Anyway, it's my holiday.

(Mermaid for Cardiff...horse...well that's easy...horse drawn carriage ride)

Headed back home about 2.30pm.
Sitting very determinedly on the Tube...absolutely NOT scratching my arms off.
If you had seen me at the market....you would have thought I had fleas.
And my hands just kept getting fatter and fatter.

I bought some antihistamine cream in Cardiff.
Just aggravated it, I think.
Didn't do anything startling anyway.

So...on the tube...not scratching.
Off the tube.
Straight to the chemist.
Nothing stronger
(What do you mean?)
Round to the hardware store for metho.
Calamine...( worth a shot )
And a cold pack...to get the heat out of it.

Metho worked for a while...but I smell funny.
Way past Vicks.
Hoping the tablets kick in soon.

Went out for a long walk around Balham this evening.
Had a wonderful dinner at Nandos....

Not sure what I am doing tomorrow.
Gotta look up the web.

Had a great day!
Xxx