I recently completed the first draft on a project.  While I wait to do the next draft, I use the time to refill the creative well.  How do I do this?  I treat myself to some fun things.  I watched the very rainy US Open today.  I cleaned up my screensaver, so I can put in the photos from my most recent trip.  I wander around the internet and visit some of my favorite sites.  And I read.  I started keeping track of the books I’ve read last year.  Not so much so I can pat myself on the back and give myself a gold star for each one read — though those days in grade school were a lot of fun because I was always a bookworm, and my row of stars filled in very quickly.  It’s simply a way to look at how I was feeling, because I pick books based on my mood.  I’m sure a lot of people do.  Sometimes I want a rollicking adventure.  Other times, I want humor.  Then there are the times when I just want to read something that deals with the end of the world…and the people who try to put the pieces back together.  Or I’ll find a new author, and I’ll read everything s/he has written that I can find.

All these things fill the creative well.  And it’s a great excuse to catch up on those books I’ve been hearing about as well as watch some of my favorite movies…for the 100th time.

And then the itch will begin, and I know it’s time to get back to writing.  I’ve come to recognize the cycle…and how important it is to fill that well so I don’t burn out.  I learned that lesson when back-to-back-to-back deadlines forced me to skip a few steps in the process.  Not only did my characters’ voices grow so soft I couldn’t hear them, but I got physically sick.   So now I go to the well, not only to take out, but to refill it.

Somehow this failed to appear, so let’s try again (and be nice and don’t mention now how the lessons are out of order!)

If you haven’t already “dropped” from all those castles and gardens and tramping through the countryside, then it’s time to shop.

Shopping malls as we know them in the US – set away from the old-style business district of a town – don’t really exist in the UK.  The shopping malls in the UK are in the city centre.  They usually keep the same hours as the shops on the streets around them, so they close earlier than their US counterparts.  These city centre shopping malls often have a parking garage attached for the ease of their customers.  You’ll find all the standard shops in the mall – clothing, shoes, books, music.  Just remember that European sizes are different from the US.  Shoes are easy if you’re wearing sneakers (oops, trainers) because the corresponding sizes are listed inside.  When our luggage was delayed on one trip and we had a clothes allowance from the airline, we stopped at a city centre mall in Leicester.  I stuck with small, medium, and large…but even those can be different from US sizes.  So try on anything before you buy.  Again remember that the UK system of credit cards is chip and pin, so you may need to walk the clerk through swiping your card.  This is not a problem in big cities, but the smaller the town, the more likely you are to run into a clerk who doesn’t know/remember how to use a swipe card.

Smaller towns have high streets.  Bigger cities have them as well, but the shopping may have moved with time toward the malls or pedestrian promenades.  More than 90% of the time, the high street is called “High Street.”  You’ll hear references to this in “high street fashion” or “high street prices”.  What those mean is retail as compared to used or discount.  On High Street, you’ll find everything from clothes to fruit to the butcher to a travel agency.  You may see familiar names such as Staples…where we’ve gone to get tape for the boxes we brought to ship things home.  We will bring an empty suitcase or a knocked-down box (and tape!) if we’ve got extra luggage allowance.  Also you’ll see T*K* Maxx, the British version of TJ Maxx here in the US.

And you’ll find charity shops.  Charity shops are a great venue for finding deals.  The charity shops usually are open Monday-Saturday, but not Sundays.  Each charity shop raises money for a particular charity from Oxfam for world hunger to Scopes for cerebral palsy.  Some shops are well arranged.  Others look like someone’s attic exploded.  Some are single rooms while others go through room after room or up/down stairs.  If you’re looking for used books, bric-a-brac (we decorated our pub out of charity shops), framed pictures…go to a charity shop.  To find them, use Google maps.  Type in the search box the town you’re visiting and the words “charity shop”.  It will bring up a list of shops and their location on the map, and you’re set to go off and shop.  Keep your eye peeled for special charity sales events that might be going on in the area where you are traveling.  Also for specialty shops such as Oxfam Bookstores and Oxfam Furniture stores.  Just be aware that used books in Oxfam Bookstores are more expensive than in most charity shops…but the choice is soooooooo much wider.

Antique shops dot the British countryside, especially near tourist areas.  As always, shop with a careful eye and feel free to negotiate the price.  Even a moment of hesitation can get you a few pounds off on an item.  Let the owner know what you’re interested in, and s/he may have something that’s not displayed that’s exactly what you’re looking for.  Antique sales are held in many communities.  These are big events – often under a marquee (tent) – with an admission fee and lots and lots of dealers.  If you’ve seen “Bargain Hunt” on BBCAmerica, you know what these shows look like.

Markets are a great way to spend a morning.  Market towns were established in the middle ages, and they’re still around today.  The DK Eyewitness Books list market days and times, or you can look online.  When we last went to North Yorkshire, I typed in “north yorkshire market days”, and up popped this link:  http://www.northyorkshire.org/market_days.php  Market day means the main street or the town centre plaza is closed to traffic, and vendors set up their wares on tables and/or in booths.  You can find everything from food (including take-away food – food to go) to toothbrushes to antiques.  Wandering among the booths is great fun.  Definitely feel free to bargain, and be ready to walk away if you don’t like the price.  Some of the big cities – like Norwich – have markets every day and permanent booths.  Other towns – like Hexham in Northumberland – have a market day with lots of vendors, but also a daily farmer’s market.  Pickering in North Yorkshire has a market day once a week, and at the same time has an indoor market for antiques, books, and collectibles every day.  These indoor markets are fairly prevalent throughout England and Wales.

Auctions for all of us who have seen “Cash in the Attic” have great appeal.  Just be certain that you know all the costs involved, including what the buyers’ premium will be.  This is a percentage added onto the price you pay.  Also know how to buy at an auction – don’t get carried away on the excitement.  If you’ve never been to an in-person auction before, go to watch the first time.

Boot sales are great fun.  Think of a community yard sale in a field on the outskirts of town, and you’ve got a boot sale.  The boot sale is named for the boot (trunk) of a car.  However, most people will have their wares spread out on tables or on blankets.  Boot sales are weekend events from early spring to late fall, and you’ll see LOTS of signs for any upcoming one.  Some boot sales have a charge for parking or admission.  When you go to a boot sale, bring your negotiating skills, especially if you’re interested in multiple items from a seller.  Hey, what’s the worst that can happen?  They say no!  And we’re writers – we’re used to hearing the word “no” and persevering.

What do you do if you find something you just love…but it won’t fit in your suitcase?  Have the seller (assuming you’re buying it in a shop) ship it back to the US for you.  Make sure you arrange for insurance as well because items can easily be broken on the trip.  It won’t be cheap, but it may be worth it to you.  See below with used books for another suggestion.

If you’re interested in used/OOP research books, charity shops and boot sales are your best bet.  However, if you’re *really* interested in used books, you want to visit a book town.  The biggest and first is Hay-on-Wye on the Wales/England border (there is another in Wigtown in southern Scotland, but I’ve never been there, so I can’t say how good it is – check out http://www.booktown.net/ ).  Dozens of shops await you in Hay.  I usually give myself a day and a half to visit Hay…and I don’t try to get to all the shops.  I have my favorites including the Hay-on-Wye Bookshop, Addyman’s, and Richard Booth’s.  Some shops have bargain basements, so don’t miss those.  Check out Hay-on-Wye at http://www.hay-on-wye.co.uk/  Obviously weekends are busier than weekdays, and I hear it’s packed during the Book Festival, so we avoid visiting at that time.  At one time, Richard Booth (who established the first shop in Hay and who owns the castle and who is truly a character in his own right – as we found out the day we met him and chatted…don’t get him started on politics…although I don’t know how you can halt him from talking about it <g>) offered shipping through his shop.  He goes to the US to purchase books for his shops (so be careful you’re not buying something you could get at a used book store at home) and ships them by container back to Wales.  He used to ship items back to the US in those empty containers for what was a reasonable price.  I’m not sure if he still offers this service.  If not, there are other places that do.  If you’re buying a piece of furniture or an antique, talk to the sales clerk.  They’ll often know of places that will arrange shipping for you.  This will mean your items may take more than a month to cross the pond to get to you, but if you’re not in hurry – or the item is cost-prohibitive to ship – consider this.

Don’t forget the gift shops at the various venues you are visiting.  Most of them have excellent books on their site and also on their historical period, especially if you’re looking for recipe books or social histories.

Grocery stores – if they’re big like the ones in the US – are usually at the edge of town or set off from the town centre where they’ll have room for a car park.  If you want something quick – like a bottle of water or you are in desperate need for a Dairy Milk bar (btw, the British Milky Way is in actuality a Three Musketeers – no caramel in it!) – look for Spar’s.  It’s sort of a 7-11/Cumberland Farms/Circle K/bodega type of shop.  You’ll find all the basic needs of life – bread, milk, candy, crisps (potato chips to Americans), ice cream, disposable diapers, and newspapers.  These are also available at many petrol stations which have an attached shop as well as the welcome breaks on the motorways.

If you get sick, look for the sign with a green cross which is a chemist’s/drug store.  Boots is the big chain drug store, and you’ll find them on High Street and in shopping arcades.  They sell glasses, so should be able to help you if your eyeglasses are broken or lose a screw.  But make sure you have all your meds with you – both prescription and OTC.  Items that are OTC in the US aren’t in the UK.  We ran out of Advil once, and Bill went into the chemist’s…and he had to wait until the chemist came back from lunch because it couldn’t be sold by a store clerk.

Sadly Woolies (Woolworth’s) went bankrupt and has vanished in the past year from the British town centres.  There are still dollar (um…pound) stores like Poundland and Thing-Me-Bobs where you can find good, cheap stuff.

Hmmm…I think that covers shopping.  Follow the same rules you do here.  Retail doesn’t allow for bargaining; other shops/sales, go for it.  Always greet the owner/manager of a small shop when you enter and bid them farewell when you leave.  Avoid tourist trap shops unless you want a tourist item.  All of their items will be more expensive than in shops away from the tourist routes.

Oh, don’t forget what you aren’t allowed to take out of England/bring into the US (and those of you in other countries, check your regulations).  You can’t bring meat or dairy products – including cheeses – home.  You are restricted on the amount of alcoholic beverages you may bring in (and yes, both England and Wales have some amazing vineyards…who’d guessed????).  No plants of any kind.  No soil…although no one at customs has offered to do laundry for us so we don’t bring in those stained jeans where we clambered through the mud.

Now that we’ve had a whirlwind tour of the countryside – which I don’t recommend, as you’ve seen in real life, because I think it’s fun to spend time really getting to know a small area on each trip – it’s time to bop across the Channel and pay a visit to the Continent.  There are several ways to do that.  You could jump on the Chunnel Train in London and arrive a short time later in Paris.  You could go to Dover and catch one of the ferries, assuming you want to go to France.  Check out the ferries all along the coasts of England and Wales.  There is a ferry that comes to Newcastle-upon-Tyne from Norway, which we considered when we went to Sweden and Norway a couple of years ago for my husband to take delivery of his new car.  It sounded like great fun until we imagined driving in the UK with a car set up to drive in the US.  That quickly sent us back to the trip planning board, and we rented a car in Bergen, Norway, to drive through the fjords.  From Cornwall and Wales, you can go to Ireland.

But the focus of this class is flying to the Continent.  All the major airlines fly from all the major airports to the major tourist cities and capitals of Europe.  But what if, as we have in England and Wales, you want to go off the beaten track?  The choice is low-cost airlines at alternate airports.  Sort of the Southwest Airlines of Europe…but with a lot less service.  Remember the news item a few weeks ago about the airline that wanted to charge passengers a pound to use the on-plane toilet?  That’s Ryanair, one of the airlines we’re going to discuss…and, yes, they did back off from that plan.

If you decide to book via any airline a trip that will be complete within your original booking (in other words, the trip isn’t a leg of your complete journey), you need to book it before you leave home.  The two low-rate, out-of-the way/alternate airport airlines are Ryanair and EasyJet.  We have flown the first but not the second.  However, we’ve talked to people who have flown EasyJet, and their experiences were similar to ours on Ryanair.  And we called ours “The Greyhound of the Sky” – not in a nice sense, but in the sense it was more like a bus than an airplane (although in the past year, most airlines have lost so many of their services and tacked on so many fees that there isn’t as much of a difference).

You’ll notice that, for the most part, their planes leave from Luton and Stansted, so if you don’t have a car, you need to arrange public transportation via train or bus to the airports.  If you do have a car, you need to make a reservation for parking before you leave from home.  We use the Pink Elephant off-airport parking (also at Heathrow and other airports).  http://www.pinkelephantparking.com/  It will ask for a license plate number, but just put in some random letters (5-6), and it’ll think that’s the plate number.  If necessary, you can update when you have your rental car and know its plate number.  Your reservation will be connected to the credit card, so make sure you have that credit card to swipe when you reach the lot.  You may have a reserved spot, so make sure you park there.

For information on parking at British airports, check out http://www.baa.com/

Now it may seem to you that it’s crazy to pay for a rented car in England while you’re on the Continent, but remember you’ll need transportation when you return, and it’s cheaper to have one reservation (unless you’re going to be gone for more 3-4 days).  The other use of a rental car is to store your extra luggage.  Not only do the low-cost airlines charge for each bag, but they have very specific restrictions about what you can bring on before you trigger an extra charge for an oversized bag.  We leave our extra bags in the rental car (out of view, of course, even though the lot is patrolled and has the ever-present CCTV cameras), so we carry only what we need for that side trip.  What we save puts a big dent into the cost of the idle rental car.  There are some B&Bs we know of near Gatwick (The Lawn Guest House B&B, specifically http://www.bedandbreakfast.com/surrey-gatwick-horley-thelawnguesthouse.html ) that will allow you to leave your baggage with them for a fee when you’ve been a guest.  When we stayed in London at the Cumberland Hotel http://www.hotel-in-marble-arch.co.uk/ , we left our extra baggage with the bell captain while we went to Bath.  In that case, we stayed there both before and after our driving visit to Bath.  So there are alternatives to leaving your extra luggage in your car.  Just ask and see if where you are staying will offer this service to you.  Don’t expect it to be free.

Make sure you are at the ticket desk with your reservation and passport to check in before it closes for that flight (often 30 minutes or more before the flight – the web site should inform you of the requirements).  Be early if you want the first choice of seats.  With Ryanair, we were given numbers based on when we checked in – and the first, say 15, people were allowed to board first.  Ryanair makes its money by turning its planes around fast and getting them back in the air with a full load of passengers.  We timed it at Poitiers, France, and they took 20 minutes from the time they reached the gate until they left the gate with a new load of passengers to subject to what is an in-flight infomercial for whatever they happen to be selling – duty-free, credit cards, food, drinks, etc.  My last flight on US Airways resembled that Ryanair flight.

Know the restrictions of the countries you’re traveling to as far as export/import restrictions and carry-on bag restrictions.  At the moment, it’s the same as here – one carry-on and one personal item, but it changes with each terror threat.

Hope your next trip across the pond is great fun!

If you haven’t already “dropped” from all those castles and gardens and tramping through the countryside, then it’s time to shop.

Shopping malls as we know them in the US – set away from the old-style business district of a town – don’t really exist in the UK.  The shopping malls in the UK are in the city centre.  They usually keep the same hours as the shops on the streets around them, so they close earlier than their US counterparts.  These city centre shopping malls often have a parking garage attached for the ease of their customers.  You’ll find all the standard shops in the mall – clothing, shoes, books, music.  Just remember that European sizes are different from the US.  Shoes are easy if you’re wearing sneakers (oops, trainers) because the corresponding sizes are listed inside.  When our luggage was delayed on one trip and we had a clothes allowance from the airline, we stopped at a city centre mall in Leicester.  I stuck with small, medium, and large…but even those can be different from US sizes.  So try on anything before you buy.  Again remember that the UK system of credit cards is chip and pin, so you may need to walk the clerk through swiping your card.  This is not a problem in big cities, but the smaller the town, the more likely you are to run into a clerk who doesn’t know/remember how to use a swipe card.

Smaller towns have high streets.  Bigger cities have them as well, but the shopping may have moved with time toward the malls or pedestrian promenades.  More than 90% of the time, the high street is called “High Street.”  You’ll hear references to this in “high street fashion” or “high street prices”.  What those mean is retail as compared to used or discount.  On High Street, you’ll find everything from clothes to fruit to the butcher to a travel agency.  You may see familiar names such as Staples…where we’ve gone to get tape for the boxes we brought to ship things home.  We will bring an empty suitcase or a knocked-down box (and tape!) if we’ve got extra luggage allowance.  Also you’ll see T*K* Maxx, the British version of TJ Maxx here in the US.

And you’ll find charity shops.  Charity shops are a great venue for finding deals.  The charity shops usually are open Monday-Saturday, but not Sundays.  Each charity shop raises money for a particular charity from Oxfam for world hunger to Scopes for cerebral palsy.  Some shops are well arranged.  Others look like someone’s attic exploded.  Some are single rooms while others go through room after room or up/down stairs.  If you’re looking for used books, bric-a-brac (we decorated our pub out of charity shops), framed pictures…go to a charity shop.  To find them, use Google maps.  Type in the search box the town you’re visiting and the words “charity shop”.  It will bring up a list of shops and their location on the map, and you’re set to go off and shop.  Keep your eye peeled for special charity sales events that might be going on in the area where you are traveling.  Also for specialty shops such as Oxfam Bookstores and Oxfam Furniture stores.  Just be aware that used books in Oxfam Bookstores are more expensive than in most charity shops…but the choice is soooooooo much wider.

Antique shops dot the British countryside, especially near tourist areas.  As always, shop with a careful eye and feel free to negotiate the price.  Even a moment of hesitation can get you a few pounds off on an item.  Let the owner know what you’re interested in, and s/he may have something that’s not displayed that’s exactly what you’re looking for.  Antique sales are held in many communities.  These are big events – often under a marquee (tent) – with an admission fee and lots and lots of dealers.  If you’ve seen “Bargain Hunt” on BBCAmerica, you know what these shows look like.

Markets are a great way to spend a morning.  Market towns were established in the middle ages, and they’re still around today.  The DK Eyewitness Books list market days and times, or you can look online.  When we last went to North Yorkshire, I typed in “north yorkshire market days”, and up popped this link:  http://www.northyorkshire.org/market_days.php  Market day means the main street or the town centre plaza is closed to traffic, and vendors set up their wares on tables and/or in booths.  You can find everything from food (including take-away food – food to go) to toothbrushes to antiques.  Wandering among the booths is great fun.  Definitely feel free to bargain, and be ready to walk away if you don’t like the price.  Some of the big cities – like Norwich – have markets every day and permanent booths.  Other towns – like Hexham in Northumberland – have a market day with lots of vendors, but also a daily farmer’s market.  Pickering in North Yorkshire has a market day once a week, and at the same time has an indoor market for antiques, books, and collectibles every day.  These indoor markets are fairly prevalent throughout England and Wales.

Auctions for all of us who have seen “Cash in the Attic” have great appeal.  Just be certain that you know all the costs involved, including what the buyers’ premium will be.  This is a percentage added onto the price you pay.  Also know how to buy at an auction – don’t get carried away on the excitement.  If you’ve never been to an in-person auction before, go to watch the first time.

Boot sales are great fun.  Think of a community yard sale in a field on the outskirts of town, and you’ve got a boot sale.  The boot sale is named for the boot (trunk) of a car.  However, most people will have their wares spread out on tables or on blankets.  Boot sales are weekend events from early spring to late fall, and you’ll see LOTS of signs for any upcoming one.  Some boot sales have a charge for parking or admission.  When you go to a boot sale, bring your negotiating skills, especially if you’re interested in multiple items from a seller.  Hey, what’s the worst that can happen?  They say no!  And we’re writers – we’re used to hearing the word “no” and persevering.

What do you do if you find something you just love…but it won’t fit in your suitcase?  Have the seller (assuming you’re buying it in a shop) ship it back to the US for you.  Make sure you arrange for insurance as well because items can easily be broken on the trip.  It won’t be cheap, but it may be worth it to you.  See below with used books for another suggestion.

If you’re interested in used/OOP research books, charity shops and boot sales are your best bet.  However, if you’re *really* interested in used books, you want to visit a book town.  The biggest and first is Hay-on-Wye on the Wales/England border (there is another in Wigtown in southern Scotland, but I’ve never been there, so I can’t say how good it is – check out http://www.booktown.net/ ).  Dozens of shops await you in Hay.  I usually give myself a day and a half to visit Hay…and I don’t try to get to all the shops.  I have my favorites including the Hay-on-Wye Bookshop, Addyman’s, and Richard Booth’s.  Some shops have bargain basements, so don’t miss those.  Check out Hay-on-Wye at http://www.hay-on-wye.co.uk/  Obviously weekends are busier than weekdays, and I hear it’s packed during the Book Festival, so we avoid visiting at that time.  At one time, Richard Booth (who established the first shop in Hay and who owns the castle and who is truly a character in his own right – as we found out the day we met him and chatted…don’t get him started on politics…although I don’t know how you can halt him from talking about it <g>) offered shipping through his shop.  He goes to the US to purchase books for his shops (so be careful you’re not buying something you could get at a used book store at home) and ships them by container back to Wales.  He used to ship items back to the US in those empty containers for what was a reasonable price.  I’m not sure if he still offers this service.  If not, there are other places that do.  If you’re buying a piece of furniture or an antique, talk to the sales clerk.  They’ll often know of places that will arrange shipping for you.  This will mean your items may take more than a month to cross the pond to get to you, but if you’re not in hurry – or the item is cost-prohibitive to ship – consider this.

Don’t forget the gift shops at the various venues you are visiting.  Most of them have excellent books on their site and also on their historical period, especially if you’re looking for recipe books or social histories.

Grocery stores – if they’re big like the ones in the US – are usually at the edge of town or set off from the town centre where they’ll have room for a car park.  If you want something quick – like a bottle of water or you are in desperate need for a Dairy Milk bar (btw, the British Milky Way is in actuality a Three Musketeers – no caramel in it!) – look for Spar’s.  It’s sort of a 7-11/Cumberland Farms/Circle K/bodega type of shop.  You’ll find all the basic needs of life – bread, milk, candy, crisps (potato chips to Americans), ice cream, disposable diapers, and newspapers.  These are also available at many petrol stations which have an attached shop as well as the welcome breaks on the motorways.

If you get sick, look for the sign with a green cross which is a chemist’s/drug store.  Boots is the big chain drug store, and you’ll find them on High Street and in shopping arcades.  They sell glasses, so should be able to help you if your eyeglasses are broken or lose a screw.  But make sure you have all your meds with you – both prescription and OTC.  Items that are OTC in the US aren’t in the UK.  We ran out of Advil once, and Bill went into the chemist’s…and he had to wait until the chemist came back from lunch because it couldn’t be sold by a store clerk.

Sadly Woolies (Woolworth’s) went bankrupt and has vanished in the past year from the British town centres.  There are still dollar (um…pound) stores like Poundland and Thing-Me-Bobs where you can find good, cheap stuff.

Hmmm…I think that covers shopping.  Follow the same rules you do here.  Retail doesn’t allow for bargaining; other shops/sales, go for it.  Always greet the owner/manager of a small shop when you enter and bid them farewell when you leave.  Avoid tourist trap shops unless you want a tourist item.  All of their items will be more expensive than in shops away from the tourist routes.

Oh, don’t forget what you aren’t allowed to take out of England/bring into the US (and those of you in other countries, check your regulations).  You can’t bring meat or dairy products – including cheeses – home.  You are restricted on the amount of alcoholic beverages you may bring in (and yes, both England and Wales have some amazing vineyards…who’d guessed????).  No plants of any kind.  No soil…although no one at customs has offered to do laundry for us so we don’t bring in those stained jeans where we clambered through the mud.