Mortimer Tuesday the 29th I was up bright and early before the alarm went off, John and I had to meet Christine and Barry at the Heathrow hire car rentals, 1 car one. We were late despite the fact I tried to get his lordship organised, we left ten minutes later than intended and then got stuck in a traffic jam, the meeting time was to be 8 am we arrived at 8.33, I felt rather bad for Chris and Barry travelling from Australia and then having to wait, especially where they were waiting. It was directly under the flight path of landing planes, the huge plane bellies seemed within metres of our heads and the noise they made was horrendous. Poor Chris and Barry had to endure this every few minutes until we arrived, and the street was rather grotty, a real eyesore.
Back in Mortimer John had a cuppa with us all, and then left for work. It was now my responsibility to keep Chris and Barry awake and entertained. So I took them for a walk to the old roman ruins at Silchester. What a great idea, or so I thought. The walking trails to the ruins have overgrown somewhat since John and I walked them. So here we are Chris, Barry and me being snagged by blackberries and stung by nettles and gathering mud under our shoes from some recent rain. Barry asked if we had snakes in England? My reply was, “ no dangerous ones here, you do get the occasional grass snake, and they are harmless.” Just as I had finished the statement Barry had stopped abruptly, there lying before him was a rather big snake. The snake was dead but we girls don’t like the idea of any snakes being here. Later I found out they do have poisonous snakes called vipers in the UK. Lord only knows what type ours was, but we chose to think it was a grass snake. I do not think Barry was very concerned but Christine could have done without the snake and the cross country walk, let alone having to climb over wooden sty’s to get on the other side of fences.
Back in Mortimer John had a cuppa with us all, and then left for work. It was now my responsibility to keep Chris and Barry awake and entertained. So I took them for a walk to the old roman ruins at Silchester. What a great idea, or so I thought. The walking trails to the ruins have overgrown somewhat since John and I walked them. So here we are Chris, Barry and me being snagged by blackberries and stung by nettles and gathering mud under our shoes from some recent rain. Barry asked if we had snakes in England? My reply was, “ no dangerous ones here, you do get the occasional grass snake, and they are harmless.” Just as I had finished the statement Barry had stopped abruptly, there lying before him was a rather big snake. The snake was dead but we girls don’t like the idea of any snakes being here. Later I found out they do have poisonous snakes called vipers in the UK. Lord only knows what type ours was, but we chose to think it was a grass snake. I do not think Barry was very concerned but Christine could have done without the snake and the cross country walk, let alone having to climb over wooden sty’s to get on the other side of fences.
I managed to get us lost coming back from the ruins and relied on Barry’s sense of direction and observations from his lofty vantage point (rather tall is Barry) to get us home. It was great fun as we travelled through very rough tracks…… well maybe not for Christine, she did confess later it was not that bad, just a little long.
Wednesday morning the three amigo’s set off for Stonehenge leaving John to go to work. Having seen Stonehenge I sat in their car and read my book while they did the tourist stuff. From Stonehenge to Old Saram Ruins, The massive Iron Age hillfort of Old Sarum, next stop Salisbury. Planning only to have lunch there, we discovered that Salisbury has a magnificent Cathedral. Salisbury is unique amongst medieval English cathedrals, built within one century with no substantial later additions. The building itself is remarkable. Reading the translation of the Magna Carta was very entertaining we overstayed our parking time but luckily we did not receive a ticket. Next on the agenda was Woodhenge, then the White Horse. The Alton Barnes white horse looks out over Pewsey Vale towards the new Pewsey horse, and can be seen for many miles.
We were all a little thirsty and had taken a bottle of water with three plastic wine goblets from home. Some passing motorists were a little concerned when they saw Barry driving and drinking from a wine glass. It looked very convincing. I could not help but wonder if a police siren would be heard soon. Lastly we visited Donnington Castle at Newbury, The most impressive part of the castle, and indeed the only part now standing, was the gatehouse. Donnington is a three-storey rectangular building with two round towers that flank the entrance and rise another storey above the rest of the building. Unfortunately many people picnic there with their children, who run and climb over the ruins with no regard for its history, let alone the rubbish littered about.
Thursday morning Christine and Barry Set off for Bath and the Roman Baths, whilst I stayed home catching up on my ironing and house work. By 8.30 that night Chris and Barry were not home and I was getting a little concerned that they couldn’t operate the Tom Tom navigation system. A little later, just as I decided to put all dinners in the oven, in they bowled, full of merriment and tales to tell, backed up with great photo’s.
Friday, August 1st
Another day with Christine and Barry while John worked, Barry drove to Somerset the jewel of the southwest. We visited parish church of St John the Baptist at Glastonbury. This is where I learnt what the word antiquities meant …… I was asked by a kindly old gentleman if I was from the antiquities, showing my ignorance I replied proudly “no I am from Australia”. With a look of distain, “yes” the man replied. I just wanted to run away when Christine told me what it meant.
We walked the picturesque streets to Glastonbury Abbey. It was fantastic. Whilst walking the grounds, it started to rain. Christine as swiftly as a rabbit moved to seek shelter in the Abbots’ kitchen. We continued to wander investigating many of the magical and mystical shops, a spiritualist’s heaven.
Tor was our last stop, a site of many legends and myths. Barry drove us to the base of a rather steep hill and right on top sits the Tor. We watched people trogging up the hill, and watched them winding down . Tor is home to Gwyn ap Nudd, King of the Fairies, who make you feel “good and happy”. So up up up we went one step at a time. Two hundred and sixty three steps later we were on the top. Cows share this place their lovely green sloppy pats was every where, making it very difficult to walk around without stepping in it. The view of the surrounding country was beautiful but the wind and the poo made us retreat very quickly. We were feeling “good and happy” to be leaving the poo and wind, plus the experience of such a beautiful view. Much easier going down those torturous steps!
Back home to find John drinking champagne and snacking on the cheese platter he had prepared for us (nearly finished of course). To think that he would have been worrying about how late we were.
Saturday August 2nd
We awoke to English rain and so the canal walk was canned. The breakfast conference determined a drive to Gorring and Streatly to give Chris and Barry a quick tour of the area and a late morning tea over The Thames before onward to Oxford.
After a detour to find a typical country pub for lunch, only to have the selected local restricted due to a power failure, John remembered a pub in Woodstock that would be a lovely spot for us. Barry setting the Tom Tom without his glasses mistakenly programmed in Wooton, a pretty little place but the pub had closed the lunch bar. So, a quick adjustment to the Tom Tom and off to Woodstock.
Most establishments close for lunch after two and by now it was after three, however we found a little bakery with an outside courtyard. We wondered why most people were inside, as it now had become a lovely sunny afternoon. A small courtyard of two levels, two tables set in each, surrounded by plants, hanging pots and hedging. Down we sat and ordered our lunch. Drinks arrived and then it happened! A wasp started to hover about John, he was wildly swinging his arms to shoo it off. The wasp then tried to get into Johns drink, I told John if he upsets the wasp and it stung me I would be a very cranky girl. Another three wasps had joined they seemed to want either Christine’s or Johns drinks. I had asked one waitress to do some thing but she seemed unconcerned (not her problem) and continued to take the order of the newly arrived second table. The second waitress was a little more obliging she came armed with a fly swat, and with one expert swipe killed two wasps on the wing in one go (John was impressed). John had trapped one in his glass with a drinks coaster, it probably was sending out a distress signal for all its mates to come. And come they did (not in a swarm), one after another. Under any other circumstance we would have moved, but we were finding it amusing even though we were all scared of being stung. A beautiful elderly German lady, and I assume her daughter sitting at the next table, soon came under the same aerial attack when their food and drinks arrived. So the good Samaritan John….. the hero of the day went on wasp patrol for both tables. I could not stop laughing, he kept swatting away while they attempted to finish their afternoon tea. The elderly German lady asked if this was typical British behaviour, as she thought the British were suppose to be rather reserved and then immediately launched a surprise attack on the French (history does repeat itself). Calm was restored when John proudly announced that we were Aussies and not stuck up British bringing a large smile to the ladies face. We had a great laugh and a great lunch.
A short distance away is Blenheim Palace, a magnificent baroque palace set in glorious formal gardens housing some of the most spectacular portraits, tapestries and ceilings in Europe. The work in the ceilings were so elaborate and ornate, and again we ran out of time, as they were closing before we had even scratched the surface of our tour. We were all disappointed that we had not arrived earlier but we can’t cry over spilt milk. On our way home we had dinner at The Butt Inn after a short stop back in Streatly to see the Thames with evening sunshine and a walk in the mud. A great meal to end a special day.
Wednesday morning the three amigo’s set off for Stonehenge leaving John to go to work. Having seen Stonehenge I sat in their car and read my book while they did the tourist stuff. From Stonehenge to Old Saram Ruins, The massive Iron Age hillfort of Old Sarum, next stop Salisbury. Planning only to have lunch there, we discovered that Salisbury has a magnificent Cathedral. Salisbury is unique amongst medieval English cathedrals, built within one century with no substantial later additions. The building itself is remarkable. Reading the translation of the Magna Carta was very entertaining we overstayed our parking time but luckily we did not receive a ticket. Next on the agenda was Woodhenge, then the White Horse. The Alton Barnes white horse looks out over Pewsey Vale towards the new Pewsey horse, and can be seen for many miles.
We were all a little thirsty and had taken a bottle of water with three plastic wine goblets from home. Some passing motorists were a little concerned when they saw Barry driving and drinking from a wine glass. It looked very convincing. I could not help but wonder if a police siren would be heard soon. Lastly we visited Donnington Castle at Newbury, The most impressive part of the castle, and indeed the only part now standing, was the gatehouse. Donnington is a three-storey rectangular building with two round towers that flank the entrance and rise another storey above the rest of the building. Unfortunately many people picnic there with their children, who run and climb over the ruins with no regard for its history, let alone the rubbish littered about.
Thursday morning Christine and Barry Set off for Bath and the Roman Baths, whilst I stayed home catching up on my ironing and house work. By 8.30 that night Chris and Barry were not home and I was getting a little concerned that they couldn’t operate the Tom Tom navigation system. A little later, just as I decided to put all dinners in the oven, in they bowled, full of merriment and tales to tell, backed up with great photo’s.
Friday, August 1st
Another day with Christine and Barry while John worked, Barry drove to Somerset the jewel of the southwest. We visited parish church of St John the Baptist at Glastonbury. This is where I learnt what the word antiquities meant …… I was asked by a kindly old gentleman if I was from the antiquities, showing my ignorance I replied proudly “no I am from Australia”. With a look of distain, “yes” the man replied. I just wanted to run away when Christine told me what it meant.
We walked the picturesque streets to Glastonbury Abbey. It was fantastic. Whilst walking the grounds, it started to rain. Christine as swiftly as a rabbit moved to seek shelter in the Abbots’ kitchen. We continued to wander investigating many of the magical and mystical shops, a spiritualist’s heaven.
Tor was our last stop, a site of many legends and myths. Barry drove us to the base of a rather steep hill and right on top sits the Tor. We watched people trogging up the hill, and watched them winding down . Tor is home to Gwyn ap Nudd, King of the Fairies, who make you feel “good and happy”. So up up up we went one step at a time. Two hundred and sixty three steps later we were on the top. Cows share this place their lovely green sloppy pats was every where, making it very difficult to walk around without stepping in it. The view of the surrounding country was beautiful but the wind and the poo made us retreat very quickly. We were feeling “good and happy” to be leaving the poo and wind, plus the experience of such a beautiful view. Much easier going down those torturous steps!
Back home to find John drinking champagne and snacking on the cheese platter he had prepared for us (nearly finished of course). To think that he would have been worrying about how late we were.
Saturday August 2nd
We awoke to English rain and so the canal walk was canned. The breakfast conference determined a drive to Gorring and Streatly to give Chris and Barry a quick tour of the area and a late morning tea over The Thames before onward to Oxford.
After a detour to find a typical country pub for lunch, only to have the selected local restricted due to a power failure, John remembered a pub in Woodstock that would be a lovely spot for us. Barry setting the Tom Tom without his glasses mistakenly programmed in Wooton, a pretty little place but the pub had closed the lunch bar. So, a quick adjustment to the Tom Tom and off to Woodstock.
Most establishments close for lunch after two and by now it was after three, however we found a little bakery with an outside courtyard. We wondered why most people were inside, as it now had become a lovely sunny afternoon. A small courtyard of two levels, two tables set in each, surrounded by plants, hanging pots and hedging. Down we sat and ordered our lunch. Drinks arrived and then it happened! A wasp started to hover about John, he was wildly swinging his arms to shoo it off. The wasp then tried to get into Johns drink, I told John if he upsets the wasp and it stung me I would be a very cranky girl. Another three wasps had joined they seemed to want either Christine’s or Johns drinks. I had asked one waitress to do some thing but she seemed unconcerned (not her problem) and continued to take the order of the newly arrived second table. The second waitress was a little more obliging she came armed with a fly swat, and with one expert swipe killed two wasps on the wing in one go (John was impressed). John had trapped one in his glass with a drinks coaster, it probably was sending out a distress signal for all its mates to come. And come they did (not in a swarm), one after another. Under any other circumstance we would have moved, but we were finding it amusing even though we were all scared of being stung. A beautiful elderly German lady, and I assume her daughter sitting at the next table, soon came under the same aerial attack when their food and drinks arrived. So the good Samaritan John….. the hero of the day went on wasp patrol for both tables. I could not stop laughing, he kept swatting away while they attempted to finish their afternoon tea. The elderly German lady asked if this was typical British behaviour, as she thought the British were suppose to be rather reserved and then immediately launched a surprise attack on the French (history does repeat itself). Calm was restored when John proudly announced that we were Aussies and not stuck up British bringing a large smile to the ladies face. We had a great laugh and a great lunch.
A short distance away is Blenheim Palace, a magnificent baroque palace set in glorious formal gardens housing some of the most spectacular portraits, tapestries and ceilings in Europe. The work in the ceilings were so elaborate and ornate, and again we ran out of time, as they were closing before we had even scratched the surface of our tour. We were all disappointed that we had not arrived earlier but we can’t cry over spilt milk. On our way home we had dinner at The Butt Inn after a short stop back in Streatly to see the Thames with evening sunshine and a walk in the mud. A great meal to end a special day.
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hi john and janette just a test comment to see if it works
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