Collarspace Discussion Forums


Home  Login  Search 

Victory, our trip to Portsmouth (England, that is)


View related threads: (in this forum | in all forums)

Logged in as: Guest
 
All Forums >> [Casual Banter] >> Off the Grid >> Victory, our trip to Portsmouth (England, that is) Page: [1]
Login
Message << Older Topic   Newer Topic >>
Victory, our trip to Portsmouth (England, that is) - 10/29/2008 12:11:51 PM   
LadyEllen


Posts: 10931
Joined: 6/30/2006
From: Stourport-England
Status: offline 		We decided not to do Rome in the end. Paris was suggested for the week but that too was rejected, for similar reasons - not easy to justify the expense, when you might have to lose 20% of your workforce next month.

So, we decided on a two day trip to Portsmouth, mainly because neither of us had been there and it would help out on someone's school project about Henry VIII's flagship the Mary Rose too.

The four of us left bright and early Monday in the Jag, having booked the family room at the fabulous Queens Hotel on the seafront for the evening. Going on a trip with my ex and our offspring and sharing a room raised some eyebrows amongst those members (both of them) of the extended family that have a problem with me, but so what - lots of friends share rooms dont they?

Monday afternoon we booked in and took a walk to the Spinaker Tower - which turned out to be over a mile from the hotel, though it had looked closer! We didnt get up the tower though - for one there was a 45 minute queue and for two it was surrounded by lots of good shopping and for three there was a huge navy ship to watch as it was tugged out to sea. Monday night we ate out at the same spot.

Tuesday morning we set off the dockyards to see the Mary Rose. Having seen it raised from the seabed back in the 80s (I ducked out of class registration at school to watch it in the computer room - single - the school had) it was amazing to see what had been a crumple of wood on a platform, looking as it should. Even through glass and a heavy mist of water and wax being sprayed to preserve it, it was a sight to see.

But then - having walked past her on the way to see Mary Rose we went straight outside to see on board what is one of the most amazing things I have ever seen - Victory.

Pictures simply do not do her justice. Absolutely amazing is all I can say - she is huge, roomy, exquisitely built and appointed - absolutely amazing.

If anyone has the opportunity, I cant recommend highly enough a visit to the dockyards - our family ticket (valid 12 months) was £51-50, but the price is worth it simply for the amazing experience of seeing Victory and touring her from top to bottom and bow to stern - how mankind could have produced such a wonder, in the pre-industrial age at that is absolutely amazing. 

We had to confess - there was a lot more to do in Portsmouth than we had allowed time for. As it was we spent six hours in the dockyard and still didnt see some of it - particularly the Warrior, but we were all tired and cold and had to get home. We shall definitely be going down again soon!

E

_____________________________

In a test against the leading brand, 9 out of 10 participants couldnt tell the difference. Dumbasses.
Profile   Post #: 1
RE: Victory, our trip to Portsmouth (England, that is) - 10/29/2008 12:51:53 PM   
DomKen


Posts: 19457
Joined: 7/4/2004
From: Chicago, IL
Status: offline 		Every time I go to England I plan to get to Portsmouth to see the Victory but things have always come up. I hope you and yours had fun.

(in reply to LadyEllen)
Profile   Post #: 2
RE: Victory, our trip to Portsmouth (England, that is) - 10/29/2008 12:58:48 PM   
LadyEllen


Posts: 10931
Joined: 6/30/2006
From: Stourport-England
Status: offline 		My gob was utterly smacked Ken - we had fun on the trip alright, but seeing that ship - wow!

E

_____________________________

In a test against the leading brand, 9 out of 10 participants couldnt tell the difference. Dumbasses.

(in reply to DomKen)
Profile   Post #: 3
RE: Victory, our trip to Portsmouth (England, that is) - 10/29/2008 1:00:49 PM   
puella


Posts: 2457
Joined: 12/2/2004
Status: offline 		Hi there LadyEllen,

I am so glad to hear you had a great trip!  I have always been sad that I never got to see Victory when I was living in the UK! 

_____________________________

We must move forward, not backward, upward, not forward, and always twirling, twirling, twirling towards freedom...... The Simpsons

War is God's way of teaching Americans geography." ...Ambrose Bierce

"Don't you oppress me!"....Stan/Loretta

(in reply to LadyEllen)
Profile   Post #: 4
RE: Victory, our trip to Portsmouth (England, that is) - 10/29/2008 1:09:03 PM   
LadyEllen


Posts: 10931
Joined: 6/30/2006
From: Stourport-England
Status: offline 		Thanks Puella!

as an aside to the story, there was a concern about whether the hotel would let us book in - some can be awkward about things - but they didnt say a word and we had no reason to present our cover story; that she and I were sisters in law and not lesbians and certainly not an (as yet still) married couple!

also have to say theyre a very friendly and polite lot in Portsmouth - took me aback I must say to have strangers wishing me good morning and wanting to chat; youre lucky to get a grunt out of people where I live (and if youre unlucky a smack in the face), for as much as looking at them!

E

_____________________________

In a test against the leading brand, 9 out of 10 participants couldnt tell the difference. Dumbasses.

(in reply to puella)
Profile   Post #: 5
RE: Victory, our trip to Portsmouth (England, that is) - 10/29/2008 1:32:38 PM   
pahunkboy


Posts: 33061
Joined: 2/26/2006
From: Central Pennsylvania
Status: offline 		Supposedly we are nothing but friendly towns- coughs-  it always sounds rosey in the brochure.

It sounds lovely to escape to a different area.  :-)

Im glad you got away and had a great time.

oops-  you forgot to take me tho.!!       ;-0

(in reply to LadyEllen)
Profile   Post #: 6
RE: Victory, our trip to Portsmouth (England, that is) - 10/29/2008 2:15:55 PM   
DomKen


Posts: 19457
Joined: 7/4/2004
From: Chicago, IL
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: LadyEllen

Thanks Puella!

as an aside to the story, there was a concern about whether the hotel would let us book in - some can be awkward about things - but they didnt say a word and we had no reason to present our cover story; that she and I were sisters in law and not lesbians and certainly not an (as yet still) married couple!

also have to say theyre a very friendly and polite lot in Portsmouth - took me aback I must say to have strangers wishing me good morning and wanting to chat; youre lucky to get a grunt out of people where I live (and if youre unlucky a smack in the face), for as much as looking at them!

E

Does the UK allow discrimination in accomodations? I thought that had gotten sorted out a while back.

(in reply to LadyEllen)
Profile   Post #: 7
RE: Victory, our trip to Portsmouth (England, that is) - 10/29/2008 2:39:57 PM   
samboct


Posts: 1817
Joined: 1/17/2007
Status: offline 		Hi Lady E

I've only been to England once, and I didn't make it to Portsmouth.  In comparison to the sailing vessels from that era that I've visited on our side of the pond such as the Charles W. Morgan, the Constitution, and several smaller and more modern vessels (replicas of the Santa Maria and the Bounty in recent years), I'm sure the Victory was a most imposing sight!  However, when on your side of the pond, I did make it to Greenwich before the Cutty Sark burned, and she was indeed a lovely ship, albeit a touch more modern than the Victory.


Sam

(in reply to DomKen)
Profile   Post #: 8
RE: Victory, our trip to Portsmouth (England, that is) - 10/29/2008 3:11:19 PM   
GreedyTop


Posts: 52100
Joined: 5/2/2007
From: Savannah, GA
Status: offline 		*makes note of yet another place to go when I get moved*

_____________________________

polysnortatious
Supreme Goddess of Snark
CHARTER MEMBER: Lance's Fag Hags!
Waiting for my madman in a Blue Box.

(in reply to samboct)
Profile   Post #: 9
RE: Victory, our trip to Portsmouth (England, that is) - 10/29/2008 4:30:56 PM   
seeksfemslave


Posts: 4011
Joined: 6/16/2006
Status: offline 		LadyE: I carnt tell you how pleased I am that you enjoyed your trip to see the Mary Rose.

However I have to say that you should  thank your lucky stars that 'Enery V111 never clapped eyes on you.
I dread to think what might have happened.

I think we would still control the USA and the world would be a better place The Brits are cummin' hehehehehe

I see you actually visited the Victory. Well I have had a drink or two and I thought the Victory was a Vauxhall car.
Anyway after Nelson had stopped kissing Hardy I think he would have pointed his telescope at you.
I send you the Agincourt Archers two fingered salute.

< Message edited by seeksfemslave -- 10/29/2008 5:14:01 PM >

(in reply to LadyEllen)
Profile   Post #: 10
RE: Victory, our trip to Portsmouth (England, that is) - 10/29/2008 5:05:20 PM   
tweedydaddy


Posts: 673
Joined: 9/1/2008
Status: offline 		I agree, Victory is a heartbreaker. I have seen her a few times and she always moves me to tears, you can feel the history just by looking at her.

(in reply to LadyEllen)
Profile   Post #: 11
RE: Victory, our trip to Portsmouth (England, that is) - 10/29/2008 7:00:10 PM   
DesFIP


Posts: 25191
Joined: 11/25/2007
From: Apple County NY
Status: offline 		Thank you for mentioning this. Just looked up the site, http://www.hms-victory.com/, and find the pictures of her breathtaking.

_____________________________

Slave to laundry

Cynical and proud of it!


(in reply to tweedydaddy)
Profile   Post #: 12
RE: Victory, our trip to Portsmouth (England, that is) - 10/30/2008 4:31:38 AM   
Dnomyar


Posts: 7933
Joined: 6/27/2005
Status: offline 		Thanks celeste for putting the site up. Beautiful ship.

(in reply to DesFIP)
Profile   Post #: 13
RE: Victory, our trip to Portsmouth (England, that is) - 10/30/2008 5:05:17 AM   
Aneirin


Posts: 6121
Joined: 3/18/2006
From: Tamaris
Status: offline 		If you ever get to go to Stockholm in Sweden, you just have to see the VASA, it is a complete ship and very eerie, the water darkened timber and all those gargoyles carved into the structure, typical scandinavian art of the time. In fact the first time I saw it, I saw the ship's gargoyle carved beak all dark at night, the gargoyles highlighted with green light, it sent a shiver up my spine.

http://www.vasamuseet.se/InEnglish/about.aspx

In fact, Stockholm is a very beautiful city and well worth the visit.


_____________________________

Everything we are is the result of what we have thought, the mind is everything, what we think, we become - Guatama Buddha

Conservatism is distrust of people tempered by fear - William Gladstone

(in reply to Dnomyar)
Profile   Post #: 14
RE: Victory, our trip to Portsmouth (England, that is) - 10/30/2008 5:48:16 AM   
LadyEllen


Posts: 10931
Joined: 6/30/2006
From: Stourport-England
Status: offline 		Hi Ken - it was in the news about some gay couple being refused but I'm not sure what happened next? I guess it makes me lazy and complacent that I dont get anyone paying me any heed wherever I go, so I dont keep up with important stuff so well! The point remains though that had they got awkward, then it would have taken a long time to sort out (much longer than our trip overall) and in any case if they had shown an attitude I wouldnt have wanted to stay there anyway.

Hi Seeks - Henry VIII was at the museum and he very much did clap eyes on me, staring at what was rather a large codpiece. Luckily though he was just a mannequin so his movement and ability to do much with me was somewhat limited. I hear several of his wives had a similar problem with the real thing.

E

_____________________________

In a test against the leading brand, 9 out of 10 participants couldnt tell the difference. Dumbasses.

(in reply to Aneirin)
Profile   Post #: 15
Page:   [1]
All Forums >> [Casual Banter] >> Off the Grid >> Victory, our trip to Portsmouth (England, that is) Page: [1]
Jump to:





New Messages No New Messages
Hot Topic w/ New Messages Hot Topic w/o New Messages
Locked w/ New Messages Locked w/o New Messages
 Post New Thread
 Reply to Message
 Post New Poll
 Submit Vote
 Delete My Own Post
 Delete My Own Thread
 Rate Posts




Collarchat.com © 2025
Terms of Service Privacy Policy Spam Policy

0.078