Driving to Bristol

Tintern Abbey must have been spectacular when new.

We took the scenic route to Bristol from Shropshire.  Driving through beautiful scenery in the Wye Valley, we came upon the ruin of Tintern Abbey.

A brew from the Wye Valley.

Being thirsty and hungry, we visited the pub that shares the car park with the Abbey.  This is Wales, where English is the second language.

When in Wales, English is second on the signs.

Walking around the ruins, we came upon this sign.  Now you know where brass came from!  Can't say you don't learn anything while reading this blog!

A brass plaque commemorating brass.

On to Bristol and our B and B.  We took a side trip to the airport to find out where to return our car at 5 am.  Glad we went, as it wasn't really obvious in the daylight, so in the dark would have been impossible.

Tintern Abbey

A Visit With Friends; The Best Part of Housesitting

Jude and David

In 2011, we accepted a housesit in Shropshire, England, just on the border with Wales.  The job included the care of 3 dogs, Boy, Jazz and Branduu, plus two horses, Ziggy Stardust and Bebe. Oh, and I can not forget the chickens ruled over by Clarence the Cockerel!  We had a wonderful time.

Ming is a Border Terrier who rules over all!

Thanks to Facebook, we have kept in touch with Jude and David, the homeowners and in the process, our friendship has grown.  We each have standing invitations to visit the other whenever the chance comes up.  Well, it wasn't by chance, but planning that we included a visit to Shropshire during our stay in the UK.

The members of the household have changed, with Jazz now gone, but it took two dogs to replace his presence, Ming and Morgan.  All the dogs greeted us when we arrived and opened the gate.  Once I started talking to Branduu, the attitude changed from barking guardians to this person knows us.  I love dogs!

We spent a 2 days talking, playing tourist with Jude and David, and looking at the changes they have made to their place in two years. We also spent a good deal of time convincing them they should visit Arizona.  I think we were successful, but only when Jude realized she would be just a few hours drive from the Grand Canyon.

Thanks for a wonderful time!

The Joy of Technology

Having internet and computer issues.  We are in Nice, France.  It is a wonderful place, one of our favorites.  The house has internet, on a slow level, and no WIFI.  Means we can't use our computer or my iphone.  Working it out, but it may take a bit.

On another note, we went grocery shopping this morning, at a store that is quite a walk from the apartment.  Nice is a rather large city.  We only know two people who live here.  So, who do we run into in the store?  That's right, those two people.  Good to see you again, Roxanne and Bruce!

A Visit to Osborne House on the Isle of Wight

The Red Funnel Ferry, this is a sister ship to the ones we rode over and back.

The Isle of Wight sits just off the coast of England in the Channel.  The area between the isle and England is the Solent, where the river of that name runs into the sea.  To get there, you must sail, either a small boat or a ferry.   Well, I guess you could fly, but......  The sailing time on the Red Funnel Ferry from Southampton to Cowes is 1 hour, and the cost, for the two of us as seniors was 19 pound 20.   The ferry is huge, carrying both foot passenger and car passengers.  We left our car in Southampton.

Cowes, built from the harbor up.

The marinas were full of wonderful sail and motor boats.

The Wales Challenge from one of the Volvo Ocean Races.

Sailing into Cowes was a surprise for me.  I didn't expect it to be so crowded.  In hindsight, I don't see how it could be anything else.  This has been a holiday destination for nearly 200 years.  There are lots of houses and apartment buildings, with more being built.  Cowes is considered on of the best sailing areas in England.

A sample of English humor; this plaque commemorates the first speeding ticket given in Cowes!

After landing, we walked up from the harbor to Osborne House, the summer home of Queen Victoria, designed by her husband, Prince Albert.  After Albert died of typhoid, Victoria spent more and more time her.  The inside, where piare photos are not allowed, is rather depressing.  Little changed from when it was first furnished.  Albert's dressing room is still laid out as it was when he died.

The English Heritage aerial photo of Osborne House.

Walking up to the front entrance.

Boar and dog guarding the entrance.

After Victoria died, none of her children wanted the place, so her son, the new king, gave it to the nation.  It was used as a military school for a long time, then finally given to English Heritage, who has opened it to the public.  All the furnishings, though, are still property of Queen Elizabeth II.

Agave Americana in a large planter in the center of the back garden.  We have these growing all over our property in Tucson!

Back of Osborne House with gardens.

We did a walk around the gardens, then left to look for some lunch.  Deciding we would really like some fish, we headed down to the marina.  There were signs leading to "The Lifeboat", so we followed.  Good choice!  The hake and chips with fresh peas; delicious!  We each had a pint, then another.  Hey, we weren't driving the boat.

Cunard Lines Queen Victoria with 1800 people aboard.

The ferry ride  to Southampton was on a sister ship of the one from the morning.  Bill enjoyed taking pictures of all the sail boats in the harbor and out on the Solent.  On the way back, we passed the Cunard Lines "Queen Victoria", headed out to sea.   A nice day in a different sort of place.

A Day in Salisbury

On the August Bank holiday Monday we went to Salisbury.  The day turned warm and sunny.  The crowds were enjoying the weather and the day off.  There were lots of tourists like ourselves, but there were also the locals out and about.

We visited the old city where the cathedral is located.  It's easy to find, even if there weren't signs everywhere.  Just look the the huge spire in the sky! It is the tallest spire in Britain at 123 meters, or 404 feet. The cathedral was consecrated in 1258, taking only 38 years to build.  Most of these old buildings took centuries.  This explains why it is all in one style instead of evolving over time.

The interior is splendid.  Full of stained glass windows, tombs, carvings on the floor and walls, regimental colors and dedications.  There are also volunteer guides everywhere to answer any questions you may have.  One man, seeing me reading the tomb engravings on the floor, took me to one of his favorites.  It was the tomb of a child, with the birth listed in April and the death in February of the same year.  When I looked confused, he laughed.  This is a Church of England cathedral.  The old church calendar ran from April to March, instead of January to December.  The tax year in England still runs from April to March each year. would never have known this without him freely sharing his knowledge.

There are the largest medieval cloisters in Britain here as well as the Chapter House, which houses the finest of only four surviving original Magna Carta, from 1215.  Pictures were not allowed in the Chapter House.
Outside the cathedral, the surrounding city is of a fitting old style.

Riding on the Pink Ferry

There is a reason it's call the Pink Ferry!

Although we have been to the UK three times, we have never been able to match schedules with Ted and family.  Ted went to school with our daughter Amy, and his Mom aka BadMom, is a very good friend. (It's a long story.)

Waiting for the Pink Ferry.

Ana playing the back yard.

Well, third time was the charm.  We drove to their home from Alderholt to spend the afternoon.  It was a special day as their son, Rafa, had just returned 6 weeks old checkup.  We were pleased to meet Ted's wife, Samatha, and daughter Ana as well.

Branford waiting patiently for a sausage.

The afternoon was spent in their backyard playing with Ana.  Taking the Pink Ferry across to Branford the dog's favorite walk and lunch at a pub.  Then back to the ferry and home for a short play before we had to say goodbye.  As we were leaving, Ana says, "I will miss you!"  We miss her, too.  You have a wonderful family, Ted!

A beautiful family!

Avebury Manor, Gardens and Museum

Avebury Manor

Driving back from Uffington and the White Horse, we decided to go by Avebury.  Places here are remarkably close, even if they take a while to drive to.  We had visited Avebury before to walk among the stones, one of the largest circles and avenues in England.  The stones are older than Stonehenge.  The Manor and museum weren't opened for visitors; both being renovated.

The Queen Anne Suite from 1712.

Hand painted Japanese wallpaper in the dining room, the one thing you can not touch!

The dining room is set for 1798.  There is an exercise chair which you bounce up and down just in case you feel you have eaten too much.

The Tudor Parlour from the 1550's.

The ceiling in the Tudor Bedchamber.

The Manor was where Alexander Keiller lived in the 1930's while leading the excavation of the stone circles.  It was built in the 1550's and has been owned by several different families.  The house and gardens were renovated by the BBC working with the National Trust over a 6 month period in 2010-2011.  The BBC made a documentary and published a book about this endeavour.  There are seven rooms, each transformed into a time period when the house was owned by different families, ranging from Tudor to 1939.

Portrait of Queen Anne who is said to have visited.

Unlike all the other places owned by the National Trust, this one is hands on!  Sit on the chairs, open the drawers, find the secret passages, take a nap on the beds; please, though, don't touch the hand painted Japanese wall paper in the dining room and remove your shoes before getting on the beds.  There is also period clothing in various rooms that you may put on.  This is one fun place for kids and adults!

Game of billiards anyone?

The kitchen on a busy day in 1912.  The sink was full of dirty dishes.

Keiller Parlour from 1939;  I felt as if Hercule Poirot should walk in at any moment.

The walled garden was transformed into a Victorian Style kitchen garden during this same renovation by the BBC.  The formal gardens are still as they were; beautifully trimmed hedges and lawn, with the entry garden now planted with a riot of colorful dahlias.

Nothing says English like trimmed hedges in the garden. 

The kitchen garden complete with glass house.

Dahlias!

The museum is in two places, one a small building next to the Manor.  This contains items found during Keiller's work with the stones.  The second is in the old barn, now renovated with a new thatched roof.  This has more of an over view of the area from it first inhabitants to now.  Both are very well done.

The barn, now the museum.

The construction inside is amazing.

We took a short stroll through part of the circle on our way to the carpark.  Then is was back on the road for our drive home to Alderholt.  Trevor and Friday were waiting for their tea!

The stone in the circle.

One of the largest stones with sheep grazing.  They are more efficient  than a riding mower.