7.00am: Well, here we go again! After increasing my charcoal content ( good for the bowels apparently...LOL! ) with the toaster, I meet up with several lexxians over breakfast. Chencha, Kali and Kaisfem all look a bit worse for wear over their muesli. Justin and Rachel Spence are in hot discussion with Adam 2000 on how to sneak back in to the US, so I bid them farewell and good luck on the looonnngggg drive they have ahead of them. I zoom back upstairs and get ready to fly off into town again, especially after MissJean does a good job of nearly knocking the door down to my room to hurry me up. . .( Now my memory gets a bit fuzzy here so I'll do me best to describe with a vague type of apocryphal accuracy what may have happened this day...hehehehe! )

09.00 or so: We get into town, to O’Brien to pick up Muse and Amyzon and I am dragged on a hunt for some gifts with Muse and Amy, and will catch up with Jean et al later. We trudge along Barrington Street (well, it’s me who is doing the trudging as I am getting wheezed out by the humidity) and end up in a mall, where I learn how to skate on highly polished parquet floors in me worn out leather sandals. We find a Hallmark shop, and look for a card and some trinkets. I spot a fabulous card with a butch guy in a tutu and walking boots, but I don’t think to buy it….hehehehe! But Muse finds the ultimate card with ‘Thanks for giving a crap’ or some such written on it, we also find a nice little stuffed dragon fly with detachable thorax, and so spend some loonies on that.

Then we head up town to the Ceildeh Internet Cafe downing much needed orange juice as it is STIFLING outside in the humidity. We get online for a bit, Dave manages to contact me via #lexx chat room, is first and only attempt to chat online via a computer. After boasting to my husband 4,000 miles away about the fantastic time I’m having, we head out down the hills to the post office.

Now, I would imagine the Canadian Post Office in Halifax, and the Crown Postal Service in general...have had some odd things sent via that service in the past...but today...it beat all!! Delly and Jean had some stuff to get off in the post, Delly was sending back some of the posters she obtained at 'Electrolysis', and Jean...well, it seems there is an American Tradition of 'Laundry Posting', and Jean has a fine time bending the will of the posties, to fulfil her every...and I mean EVERY....whim! With the said Crown Postal Workers beaten into submission with helping Jean with her...er...parcel.....The Evil Jeanius sends off her laundry to terrorise sniffer dogs in the US Postal and Customs...heheheheheheh!

Not long after this...I think we go our separate ways. I go off to do some shopping and to have a peek around the Maritime Museum. Fab place, with some good exhibits...even one of a children's program, a tug boat of all things...seen the bloody thing on satellite here...yuk...heheheh....but the production notes are interesting. There are bits of everything...including one remnant from the Titanic, a wooden deck chair, which stands quietly on it's own and speaks volumes. There is a lot on Halifax maritime history, including the tale of the Great Explosion when a munitions vessel exploded in the harbour killing over 2 or 3,000 people. I am also fascinated by the range of sailing boats that were used, including the history of the 'Blue Nose', a famous turn of the century racing yacht. There is a 'Blue Nose II' which sails from Mahone Bay during the summer, to Halifax, but sadly, I don't get to see this. There is a Doctor at my place of work who visited Halifax years ago and he is interested in the Blue Nose....his wife asked me if there was any way I could bring back a momentum, so I go in search of the tackiest t-shirt I can find!!

On a more serious note, there will be no shenanigans in the Economy Shoe Shop bar. Jimmy, a bartender and I think, co-owner of the Shoe will be buried today.( He was the chap I heard about last week from the Taxi Driver ) It was apparent yesterday that a lot of the Staff and customers of the Shoe were very upset over Jimmy's death. A few of us saw one of the bar staff in tears, and I can only guess at how the rest felt.... We pass close by to the church where Jimmy's funeral is taking place, a lot of people are arriving, and we spot Hannes Nothegger passing by...some think it’s Michael McManus...but it wasn't. We don't stop to stare and quietly go on our way. The Shoe is shut all day today as a mark of respect, there will be a wake for Jimmy there later in the afternoon. It appears that Jimmy had been a very popular man.......

God Bless You Jimmy...you seemed to have touched a lot of lives there mate....

Now, I know Halifax is not for all, but Lexx or no Lexx, I find myself falling in love with the place...hills included!! Compared with London, the place is so CLEAN! The traffic actually WAITS for you to cross the road ( at designated crossing areas mind you...although what is an ordinary crossing area and one controlled by traffic lights, you have to be careful on that one, plus they can turn right at a red light!...) with no fuss or anything. There are plenty of cafes, fast food places and restaurants. It's not always a cheap place by any means though ( I nearly pass out at having to cough up $95 ca for two rolls of 36 exp. films I had put in the previous Saturday to be developed....Hell's Teeth!! You can get the same done here in an hour for about $25 in an hour!!! ) Yet stuff such as Taxis are a good price and so is public transport. Mind you, I didn't scrimp on eating out so did spend a bit on that. If you look about, there are cheaper eateries to go to. And of course, touristy stuff can be a bit pricey...but it depends on where you go. The Pound usually does favourably against the Canadian Dollar as a rule...but at the time of writing, the pound has dropped overall about 20 cents to the Loony. So price-wise during the high season, Hali prices are comparable to those in the UK.

I find myself back at the Waverly with Poet Man and Jean. We say g’bye to My Hero ( so called, because the dear dubbed me a copy of his free tape from Electropolis with the out takes from a certain codpiece scene on it, as did Angie Blackley later on ) and wish him well. Poet is quiet in RL, but an absolute demon in the chat room…mwahahahahaha!

19.00 or so: After spending a few more dollars and generally having a nose about...I wind my way back to Shirreff for the 'Traditional Nipple Stinging Shower' and prepare for the evening. I'm going back into town to meet up with Delly and the gang for a meal at Bearly's, a no nonsense bar opposite the Waverley that usually has live entertainment during the week, namely blues and stuff, but not on the night we go...bugger!! Never mind. It's still an experience and a whole pile of us turn up, I won't even try to list the names, as there are soooo many, but I remember Jinx and Eo...being 'cute', Darrow and Stardancer completing their video record of the event, Knightie and everyone else looking over the photos I had of the Saturday etc. Angie and Devoted2 were there as well..heheheh..as well as Muse, Jean, Astartae etc. The only thing you can wear to a place like that, is 'casual' which to me means 3/4 trousers and the loudest orange pseudo-luau shirt I could find. Delly and I grin will absolute GLEE at ribs the size of what Fred Flinstone used to demolish. Served with a bit of coleslaw and mashed potato...gawd...you would not need to eat ANYTHING after that!! Heheheheheh!

After duly stuffing ourselves with one course...someone suggests we head into town for dessert, apparently there’s this place that does WICKED...and I MEAN wicked desserts! We descend on 'La Cave', where we meet up with Cookie and a few others. The deserts at this place are cheese cake based with choccy and loads of cream.....whatever...and I discover why these desserts are referred to as ORGASMS...heheheheheh. ( I will give a more 'intimate' review of the desserts later...mmmmmm!! ) After we have indulged...er...our pleasures, we then go off in search of more night life. So a gang of unruly females go plodding about the waterfront again and head over towards a more developed area of the waterfront. We gaze and giggle about, passing by a yacht moored close by, and in the distance, I hear MUSIC, Folk Music, like WOW! I LOVE folk music!! We are passing by a place called the Privateer's Warehouse and there is the most wonderful sounds of thumping, cheering and singing going on.

Suddenly abandoning my friends, I feel myself being mysteriously pulled in to the place. There's a $3 charge on the door, but what the hell, I'm in there! I even managed to get served a drink quite quickly, although the place is packed and find myself joined by Muse, Angie and Devoted...Haahhhaaaarrrrr m'andsomes!! There be twankard banging on the tables in time to the music (you do that in Penzance at your peril, but here...), so I join in with my 'lil bottle of pop and leap about to some fine tunes, doing a lot of 'Arrr Me Hearties' and having photos taken of our arms slung around each other, trying to look like Long John Silver himself...heheheheheh!

I had a fab time in there but eventually have to rejoin my patiently waiting friends, who are more sensible and are parked outside on the front lawn where it is cooler and there is a lot more room. We do some more wandering about, and this is where I say goodbye to MissJean *sob!*. She flies back to the 'Untidied States' 'pon the morrow and I know right there and then I'm gonna miss the gal like crazy. MissJean is one of these Evil Jeaniuses who are greatly underrated in their home port, her writings and observations are razor sharp in wit and critique and anyone who visits the Lexx bored at bored.lexx.com, will be more than familiar with her 'Stanley Tweedle Show' parodies. Jean is a Stan Fan, that's it and no one will stand in the way of her worship and defence of anything Tweedle ;).

If you want to read anymore of Jean's..er...musings, check out her reviews of Series 4 and Andromeda, by clicking on the link for DrDel on my links page...you'll be in for a treat, make no mistake!

Well...here endeth the Monday of the trip...heheheheh...tomorrow I'll be off to the Citadel in the morning..and gawd knows what else!!!

Tuesday, 15 August 2000

08.00: Oh JOY!! This time the toasting machine isn't smoking quite so much, as I enjoy my penultimate Haligonian brekkie. Today, I'm gonna explore the Citadel at the top of a VERY steep hiil, and then head over to the Shoe for lunch. Halifax, and Nova Scotia in general will be relieved of most of the Lexx acolytes that have invaded their fair city these last few days. Back up to me room and a quick tidy up, then grab yon purse and head down to the lobby. While I'm awaiting my chariot to arrive, I espy two rather nice looking 1000 cc motorcycles. They have the appearance of a Harley, but on closer inspection, they both turn out to be 'Yammies' (Yamaha). But no matter, they look sexy enough. I get chatting to one of the owners, who is about to finish packing up one of said hogs. They're down for the music convention (following the science convention last week), with some of the attendees boarding at Shirreff. I happen to mention that my other half has just finished restoring a Moto Guzzi V50 twin and am somewhat surprised at the slightly envious look on the chap's face. Apparently, Moto Guzzi owners are allowed in to Harley clubs and gatherings, where mere 'Crappy Jappy' bikes aren't (NOT my words BTW! I happen to own a Honda Townmate....all 90 cc's of it...LOL!!

Anyway, my chariot arrives and I head off to the Citadel for a bit of history dahlinks! Once there, I find the view over Hali is spectacular. The Citadel is one of a number of forts built to ward off invading Americans. Apparently, Canada and America had a bit of a punch up a hundred and fifty or so years back. Also the barracks are open for inspection and there are staff dressed in various military uniforms worn over the years. The turrets are great as well, even though a misty fog rolls in for a while, but when clear, you can see over the estuary and town. Occasionally, the Citadel guides will approach and do the 'have a nice day bit'. I'm also taken with the huge cannons facing out over towards the harbour, and are capable of firing a volley over a few miles, and yet had never been fired in anger. I take a peek in some of the armoury rooms set in the citadel walls at the various exhibitions, and then amble over to the Barracks and the souvenir shop. I buy a few trinkets and then make my way out of the fort and down the looonngg steps, past the Clock tower, back down towards Argyle Street.

Near to the rear of the Salter Street Offices, there is a small museum which forms part of the Dalhousie University costume department, and I send a couple of bucks to pop in for a look. The exhibition includes ladies wear through the Victorian and Edwardian periods, and are beautifully made to say the least. Also, you can see the workshop where the students create and make the costumes, and I buy a nice silk scarf as a present for my Mother In Law, as well as a few other items. I?m no dressmaker, but am fascinated how these costumes are designed and put together. It's a pity Lexx isn't filming at the moment, it would have been cool to be able to maybe chat with the production crew involved with costumes and make up. I leave the museum to head down for the Shoe, and heading in my direction comes Paul Donovan!! I'm not sure as to what to do as I don't want to interrupt the guy. He's spotted me and now looks as if he's trying to escape..LOL!! I simply smile and have a few words when he does the same, and then carry on my way.

12.00 or so: Most of the Lexxians will be leaving today, and there is a bit of a goodbye lunch to be had. I find our party in the back of the Shoe, including Shuki, Delly, Aaud, Dev, Angie amongst others. We order up some nosh and generally chat about. The card also does the rounds and those left sign on the dotted line. My little contribution is on the same level as Brunnen G poetry ( i.e not very good ) and goes as follows:

''Roses are Red,
Codpieces are Blue.
I had an Asthma Attack
Because of you!'

And 'best wishes to you all' etc.hastily scrawled at the end.

We munch on what is becoming standard survival fare and that's the nachos served at the Shoe. Then gradually, those who are departing share a few kisses, hugs and some tears. Delly, Muse, Myself, Aaud, Knightwolf and a more sober Astartae go back to the Salter Street Offices to present our humble gifts to the Beans. With reverence, us mere acolytes present our bits 'n pieces to the somewhat stunned receptionist and then hastily head back down stairs for the obligatory piccys by the posters in the lobby.

Then its time to head back to Shirreff, after a bit of a shop around, as us gals are off to LaCave for more of those orgasmic cheese cakes. We're due to meet up at about 07.30pm, so again, I flood the shower and get tarted up for the occasion. My chariot arrives and I am whisked back in to town to the entrance of La Cave and meet up with Dev, Angie and eventually Delly and Astartae. Delly points out a pizza place opposite called 'The Big Slice' and we think of Kai and his magnificent brace...hehehehehe! We then saunter in and are shown to an alcove, where we can cackle to our hearts content and begin to feast on starters, entrees and then comes THE dessert! Again the conversation ensures..' *ooh* your orgasm looks good! Can I have a nibble' etc, much to the consternation of the ever smiling waitress..LOL!! And so after nibbling on each other's orgasms etc, we pay up and head out. We amble back to the Shoe and have a few quiet drinks, chatting for a while as we digest our food. We then head to the harbour area for a cool down, it's still very humid and we just amble about the water front. Soom we find we need to sit down on the benches and rest out weary 'lil tootsies, but Devoted finds a LARGE mooring post, dubbed 'The World's Largest Butt Plug'..heheheh, and is having a wonderful time sitting on it...LOL!!!! So after loads of rude comments about the said butt plugs, we make our way back to our various resting places, arranging to meet up on the tomorrow for the last time for lunch.

I start to pack up some stuff that night, as I do not want to be landed with trying to over stuff my suitcase at the last minute. I?m sad that there will be a few faces I won?t be seeing again, but then again, you never know!

Wednesday, 16 August 2000.

Where a Bug burns the toast for one last time, gets all to pornographically pose with a StanSuit (TM), have one last goodbye at the Shoe and goes on a woolly hat hunt, braves a limo and says a sniffling g'bye to Halifax, plus learns 'how to deal with a medical emergency in a very narrow row of seats, while resisting the temptation to have the plane diverted back to Canada....'

07.30am: It is with considerable heaviness of heart that I gather up my bags and then head down to the eatery to charcoal my toast one last time. Today is my last day in Halifax and I have to be out of Sherriff Hall by 09.30 sharp. The plan then is, to dump my stuff off in Delly's room for the day. My flight doesn't leave Hali until 10 pm, so I have LOADS of time to kill.

I eventually book out and find I have not been charged for my first night, so do not argue and get myself into Town. Next comes the hauling my tonnes of luggage up the stairs of that place (hope they'll put a small elevator in there one day!) and into Delly's oh so NICE room, en suite bathroom and everything! Muse is there as well and we chat amiably for a bit and I have a little doze on the large double bed. Once more rousable, I note the Stanley Tweedle Suit, Delly won at Electropolis and I have a sudden flash of inspiration. It's time to punish Jean for leaving us the day before, and next thing is, Delly has got her digital camera and I get my Pentax out and we start..er..posing with said suit on the bed, naming ourselves as 'Stan's Sluts'for the occasion..heheheh! After assuming some positions with that suit, that are not workable on paper, we then head off into town for a last blast at the Shoe! But first meet up with Angie and Devoted for lunch at a lovely little Lebanese restaurant. I have moussaka and the most wonderful dessert!!

We chat for a while and then bid farewell to these wonderful sisters, then head back to the Shoe, where Brian Downey is having a last blast with the stragglers. Also there are Chic, Fishbone, Muse, and a few others milling about. We all start reminiscing about our trip, and Brian regales us with tales and plenty to drink. I try to buy the man a drink back, but the bar person just puts it on his tab which I'm not happy about at all. Never mind. There is also a lady from Newfoundland who noisily joins in and Brian is none too pleased about that! There then followed the sacred ritual of the signing of the Downey Arse, and Brian yelps a bit as I engrave in Biro 'Nice Ass Brian' with an arrow pointing downwards...heheheheh!

I have to break off for a bit to go hat hunting. I promised Dave I would buy him a new woolly hat but have not been able to find one anywhere, but head back to a wool shop near the Law Courts and lo and behold! Find one there! Ok, it's blue rather than black, but I don't think Dave would have liked grey or bright red ;). I then get back to the Shoe and the party is still going strong. There's a few Tequilla chasers going on, I stick to my orange juice, but everyone else is still swaying happily. There is an emotional moment though, as Brian is still upset over the death of the Shoe barman Jimmy, so a few cuddles get passed. But all too soon, Delly and I have to head back to the Waverley, so hugs to everyone before we leave. We get back there and have one last meal at Bearly'...the ribs still being fantastic! Then it's time for my limo to pick me up and I find myself bidding g'bye to Delly and feeling very emotional about it as well, not in the least because of the 10 hour flight with the 2 hour stop over in Reykjavik on the way back! I don't know if or when I'll be seeing Delly again, or MissJean or Muse, or anyone else for that matter so I am feeling more than emotional on leaving.

After a 3 hour wait at the airport, we are stuffed back on to the plane and take off reasonably on time. I begin to doze off, which is great as I am feeling sooooooo tired! But still get jolted awake.

Then the classic happens....

'Ladiez and gintlemein, is dere someone on der flight who has medical experience..?' (Tell ya what, Iceland Air can be interesting to fly with at times....)

Looking about, I see that Charlton Heston ISN'T on board so shyly put my hand up, bearing in mind the rules of my regulatory body that I am Registered with as a Nurse in the UK. It appears that some chap has passed out. It wasn't that long since we had a meal, but he looks really grey and I find it hard to get a pulse first off. I am joined by a retired radiologist and so between the twom of us, shuffle other passengers out of the way. I can't get the guy to respond, so get him down on to his side over the chairs. The cabin crew have a wrist monitor for blood pressure, but can't get it to work, then they ask ME if we should head back to Halifax!! The radiologist looks at me, since I am currently in practice and he isn't....ooohh! The temptation!! But we're exactly half way between Halifax and Reykjavik so might as well fly on. At this point, the chap starts to come to and we note that he is fully responsive and is able to move all his limbs. I watch over the chap for another 40 minutes and return to my seat only when he is fully upright and drinking water. So, with that bit of drama out of the way, I advise he is checked over by the company doctor when we land, and then I fall asleep for the rest of the flight.

Thursday 17th August 2000. 05.00 am

Islandic local. Well, here we are in sunny Reykjavik. I am shattered and my feet are about the size of a house! I try to put them up on the transit lounge chairs for a while, but am no better off. Eventually, it's time to climb aboard again for the last jaunt back to London Heathrow. we arrive and there's the usual heart stopping eternity to wait before my baggage finally tumbles down the belt. Then, it's a dash to find me way back under ground to get the shuttel back to Paddington Station.

11.00am. I jump on the first train heading back to Penzance and immediately regret doing so. No seats or anything, so I'm faced with a six hour journey sat on me suitcase, but eventually, a seat comes free so I can settle down and doze. I awake 5 hours later just as the train is rounding a corner over the Tamar Bridge. I put me CD on with the Lexx sound track, and then Mount's Bay comes into view, with St.Michael's Mount looming up, as the last track plays. (Moth Ride)

17.00pm: I'm home, knackered and my feet are HUGE! Dave has met me at the station and we had a customary drink at 'The Lamp And Whistle', where my beloved informs me we will be heading out at 08.30 am the next day to the St.Agnes Steam Rally. We get a taxi up the hill to our house and I get in to have a tea cup shoved under me nose. Also, the cat is baying for food and both whine for food and tay in that order and I come flying own to This Little Blue Planet with a crash.

So much for the glamour of Halifax! Arr whell, back to the muddy tent in a field and head gasket repairs..... Here endeth the adventure! And what an adventure it was too!



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