CLIVE AND THE NEW FOREST

The start of half term combined with a Bank Holiday was marred by ghastly weather. Cold and raining. We had arranged to go down to the New Forest and stay with Clive Bowring for a couple of nights, and with dire warnings about the likelihood of millions of cars on the roads, we left early for the drive down to Fritham. And of course, the traffic was quite ordinary!! So we reached Winchester by 9 am and decided to have some breakfast and then have a look at the famous Cathedral. Very impressive of course and highlighted with a viewing of the Winchester Bible, a 15th century document. In addition there were other early tomes dating back to the 13th century - quite remarkable.

On down to Clives where we were met with a bottle of Moet pink champers! Clive's friend Dave arrive and we went off for a drive through the New Forest which was alive with sightseers, and dozens of the New Forest Ponies -lots of them with newborn foals. Visited Brockenhurst where I had lived in the 1930's. The photo above is of the house that we lived in.It is now a private residence but when we were there it was the Police Station with Dad as the local bobby.Brought back a lot of memories. Drove on to Lymington and walked down to the Quay and had a drink in the quayside pub. Then back to Fritham and Spaghetti Bolognese with copious quantities of wine before retiring to bed!

It was still raining on Sunday, but notwithstanding the dreadful weather we all decided to take the high speed ferry across to Cowes on the Isle Wight. Found a great little clothing shop where Carol bought a "hoodie" as she was feeling the cold. Then into a magnificent old pub for a delicious meal and a dram or two. Back to Clives and a quiet late afternoon - I watched the BMW Masters Golf while Clive had a nap,Carol read, and Dave departed for his place. We had planned to go out to Lyndhurst for a Chinese dinner, but I suggested to Clive that the weather was too awful,and we scratched around his batchelor kitchen and managed to cook up some delightful omelettes.

We left about 10am on Monday and drove along to Peter and Mary's place where we had arranged to have lunch with them. So another Pub - this time with a French restaraunt,a delightful meal and then home to Langdon Hills. Despite the weather we had a thoroughly enjoyable weekend and now look forward to flying over to Berlin for three nights.

SHAPPERS AND LE BROCQ

We had a big programme this weekend starting off with a trip to Bulls Brook where our old friends John and Brenda Shapiro were celebrating John's 75th birthday.The function had been organised by his children and it was brilliant. The garden setting was perfect and the weather quite kind. As one would expect with Shappers there was plenty of liquid refreshment, and we met some interesting people who were friends. It was quite amazing that so many of the pepople we talked to had either been to, or had some connection with, Australia - so conversation was easy.

Lunch from the BBQ was delicious and while we sat and ate under the tent shelter, a magician entertained each table with some amazing wizardry. At one stage he showed that he had one coin in one fist and three in the other - then invited two of the guests to firmly grip his wrists - and then bingo -opened his fists and showed all four coins in one of them! And at the same time he managed to undo and remove John's wristwatch without him knowing!! Clever stuff.We reluctantly left about 4 pm to drive on down to Bournemouth where we had arranged to meet up with one of my old schoolmates Michael LeBrocq.We found our hotel without any trouble.Although there have been many changes since I lived there 55 years ago, I still knew my way around. As we did not feel particularly like any more food we went for a walk along the cliff top and through the Winter Gardens into the City centre.
On the way we stopped to buy a book from a fellow who was sitting on the footpath beside a bicycle festooned with the names of countries of the world. He was a German who had spent his life cycling around the world and had clocked up 40,000 kms in doing so! He had gone through 15 passports, taken 80,000 photos and rebuilt his treadly many times.
Sunday morning Mike and his wife Merle picked us up at the hotel and drove us over to Sandbanks where he is a member of the Royal Motor Yacht Club. He actually supervises the boatyard in a voluntary capacity spending each morning of the week there. I had not had contact with him since leaving England in 1952 and was surprised to learn that he had become the Chief Engineer of the local paper "The Echo" where he had worked for 50 years. Mike had left school early at the suggestion of the school who felt his performance less than desirable!! But he had always been a bit of a DIY handyman, and it was that skill that he developed and as a totally self taught engineer suceeded. At his home he has a railway line through the garden on which he runs a steam engine and a diesel engine which he built completely from scratch. It is those talents which makes him invaluable to the Yacht Club. His wife Merle plays tennis several times a week and last year reached the finals of the mixed doubles in the English Veterans championship!! A great couple.

We had a lovely lunch in the club and caught up with past names of friends and associates which was pure nostalgia but wonderful. Then we walked around the golden streets of Sandbanks which has some of the most expensive land in the world. Houses are bought for millions of pounds and
pulled down so that a modern structure can take there place - money money money.

And then it was time drive the 150 miles home -motor way all the way and we did the trip in 2 and 1/2 hours.

ELLEN TERRY AND RYE

The weather is still very ordinary and we decided to drive down to Kent and have a look at the Southern coast, and on the way to call in to visit the Ellen Terry cottage which is National Trust.

The 16th century cottage leans this way and that but I guess is remarkable in that it still stands! Inside there is a very good presentation of memorabilia from the Theatrical career of Ellen Terry who was the most famous actress in the late 19th century. She had owned the cottage for many years, principaly as a place of retreat, and I was surprised to learn that she could access London within two hours by the old steam train line which no longer exists. It would take two hours to drive to London today.!!

At the rear of the cottage is a converted Barn which is used as a Theatre by amateurs and professionals, and whilst fairly basic, is very popular with the "in" theatre crowd.

We stopped at a Pub en route to Rye and had an excellent Pub lunch in a very friendly environment and it din't cost an arm and a leg. Then we arrived at Rye which is one of the most charming towns we have visited. The Pay and Display carpark was on the blink and swallowed our money without producing a ticket which was not a good start. But we walked up the cobbled streets to the 13th Century church and strolled through the quaint streets lined with buildiings dating back for hundreds of years.
The town evokes the feeling of the island it once was surrounded by the Rivers Rother,Brede and Tillingham and looming above marshland and sea. The area is reminiscent of the Fens which we loved so much at Ramsey.

We took the coast road home skirting the Romney Marsh and stopped briefly at Dymchurch to peer over the seawall and find a long stretch of sandy beach - yes real sand.The wind was blowing a gale- so we gazed and got!
Then into Hythe and onto the M20 and a fast run home with Carol Schumaker at the wheel.

LONDON EYE,WESTMINSTER AND WAR CABINET ROOMS

The forecast for London was 21 degrees and we took off with high hopes. Arriving at Fenchurch Street we were a bit miffed to find a cold wind blowing from the South and decided we would walk to Westminster to get warm! Hardly anyone about as is usual for London early morning and we both enjoyed the brisk walk for the 2 miles or so along the Embankment to Westminster.

The first thing we noticed was the difference between this place and St Pauls. A truly magnificent structure and full of tombs and memorials of historical Royals and notables. No photographs alowed unfortunately. Poets corner is like visiting an encyclopedia of well known names - Wordsworth/Keats/Shelley/Burns -they are all here.A poignant tomb was that of the unknown soldier, decorated with Flanders poppies and a beautiful tribute "laid to rest with the famous of the land".The ceiling of the main part of the Abbey is incredibly structured and as we heard a guide tell his group "an amazing feat of engineering for the 15th century".

We had booked a champagne "flight" on the London Eye which cost an arm and a leg but gave us priority boarding, soomething we appreciated when we saw the size of the queues. Our capsule held 16 people in comfort and enabled us to move around and take in the extravagant veiws from all sides. The champagne was welcome but there is not much in one glass!! Our guide was well versed in the whereabouts of all the famous buildings and we were kept busy finding the various landmarks. A unique experience and an understanding of the awesome design and construction of this attraction. British Airways,who invested in the project, made a profit of 50 million pounds from the Eye last year and are said to have contemplated selling their aircraft and building more of these around the world!!!

Down to earth again and we went to the wharf where we had paid for a River cruise, only to find that the boat was almost full and the queue for the last few seats meant we would have to wait another hour for the next one.But the ticket man told us that if we hurried across the bridge to the other side of the river we could use our tickets for a sister ship which was leaving in 15 minutes. A hectic scramble through the throngs and we just made it.The legs at this stage were starting to tell me that there was a limit to all this pedestrian activity. Lovely trip on the catamaran however.Up to the Tower Bridge and back with a guide telling us about the various buildings en route.

Another brief walk and we arrived at the Wartime Underground Cabinet Rooms and the Churchill Museum. The rooms themselves have been restored to their original condition (the bedrooms even have poes under the bed!!) and in some rooms models have been consttructed to represent wartime activity. The bomb proofing of these rooms consists of oak beams and supports placed against the roof and walls. I don't think that a direct hit by a land mine would have failed to demolish the whole thing.

The adjacent Churchill Museum is state of the art. Winston's whole life story is displayed with photographs, models and memorabilia. There are many recordings of Churchill's speeches including his famous tribute to THE FEW and his "We will fight them on the beaches".It is a really appropriate reminder of the role that he played in WW11 and it also highlights his many weaknesses such as Galipoli.

We spent nearly two hours here before catching a bus to Trafalgar Square where we had a drink before going on to Fenchurch Street station and catching a train home.Had a couple of loud mouthed mobile phone users in the carriage and some West Ham United football supporters carrying cans of beer - but they behaved OK.!!