AUGUST HOLIDAYS - PART 1

Our planned holiday for this August was for a week in a cottage in the Yorkshire Dales, and then on to a week in a cottage on the Isle of Mull in Scotland.

En route to Skipton iin Yorkshire where had booked our cottage, we decided to visit Shrewsbury and then spend a night at Chester. Shrewsbury was delightful, and we arrived on the opening day of the Flower Festival. By chance we were at the entrance to the Castle and Regimental Museum, when a bus stopped and unloaded the Regimental Band of the Shropshire Light Infantry. This looked promising so we stood around while they assembled, and then the Mayor and Mayoress of Shrewsbury drove up in a vintage Rolls Royce. All very interesting. The picture above shows the 16th century market square.

Leaving Shrewsbury we headed for Chester and as Wales was not far off the route, we decided on a diversion to at least see a bit of Wales. We soon knew we were in Wales because the signposts started becoming bilingual. Once more we hit the jackpot and arrived at a little town Llangollen. There was a Thomas the Tank Engine railway running up the mountainside on a scenic run, and a beautiful river (The Dee so beloved of cryptic crossword setters). A canal ran along the high bank of the town and we saw several narrow boats drifting along above eye level! We took a trip on a horse drawn narrow boat which was totally relaxing. Photo above.
We had been told that we should visit the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct (in Welsh this is spelt Ddyfrbontysblennydd!). What an amazing sight.The aqueduct (like a viaduct but carrying water) is 127 feet above the River Dee and the span is 1037 feet long. It is basically a metal canal connecting the Llangollen Canal to the Shropshire Canal. It was built in 1805 and we walked part of the way across and saw a narrow boat making the crossing - picture above. Then it was on to Chester where we had booked a night in a hotelon a dinner bed and breakfast deal.

When we booked in we were told that as there were three coaches booked in, the earliest we could sit down for dinner was 8.30,but could probably arrange something at the bar.As I find it hard to eat while asleep, we approached the barman, who said hang about! Came back shortly sayiing we had a table booked for 6pm! In the morning when we paid the bill, there was a charge for dinner which we queried and were given an amended bill which deleted the entire dinner charge including a bottle of wine! Carol pointed this out to them (I was going to keep Mum) but the reply was that the dinner charge was all in one and could not be separated - so a free bottle of very nice wine thankyou! And then we visited Chester. See part 2.

START OF THE SEOND YEAR

Well we have left Ramsey and The Fens and now live in Essex. The move went quite well, with Carol managing to stack the back of the Vectra with more things than would normally fit into a two ton van. The flat at the stables waas inspected by the school and we were cleared to get our full bond back. Our neighbour Ed (the Canadian) gave us a gift of a Snow White Dwarf in appreciation for the times we had had together. Ed has a miniature Dwarf which he takes everywhere and always includes in digital photos he takes. Our dwarf above!!

So by mid afternoon we had finished carting all of the things we had brought, up the stairs and into our new abode. The flat is excellent, modern and bright and well furnished. We have unpacked and there is still space in a few drawers. This is a really lovely area to live in, quiet and somewhat up market - ideally suitable for a couple of Aussies!

So far we have been exploring the area. A trip to Southend on Sea was a bit disappointing, because the tide was out, and a few hundred meters of mud flats is a bit off putting. And the famous Fish and Chips were at best described as ordinary. But the tide came in with a rush and Carol was bit more impressed. Of course it is holiday season so there are scads of people around.

We also went to Canvey Island which is on the Thames Estuary and visited Hadleigh Castle, or what remains of it. It was built on a high part of the land in the 13th century and overlooks the entire Thames Estuary. It was later used by the wives of Henry v111 - Ann Boleyn/Catheriine of Aragon and Jane Seymour before he had them beheaded.

At the weekend we took the train up to London from the local station.Parked the car at the station car park for a quid all day, and paid 9 quid each for a return ticket to London including a day free use of London Underground and Buses - wonderful. We went to Hyde Park and just avoided getting involved with a big demonstration against Israel's bombing of Lebanon, and walked across to the Serpentine Lake where lots of people were out in paddle boats/row boats/canoes etc .We shared a sandwich for lunch (bloody expensive is London) and then walked along to Knightsbridge which is the site of Selfridges of course. Would be lovely to shop there with Bill Gates' credit card. Saw a couple shirts that appealed but managed to resist them at 125 quid each!

Hopped on the tube to Green Park and walked across to Buck Palace where we had hoped to be able to get in to see the Queens Chambers which are open to the public for a few weeks at this tiime of the year. No luck! All tickets sold for that day, but we will make another trip later on and pre book by internet to see the Chambers/Gallery and Royal Mews for a mere 25 quid each - Liz doesn't come cheap.

We are off to Yorkshire at the end of the week, having booked the same cottage that we had in April this year so that we can further explore that area, and also get across to the Lake District.Then w have booked a cottage for a week on The Isle of Mull which should be fascinating.