Post 27 To Hampton Court

Up reasonably early this morning to say goodbye to Mark who had an early golf match. I had been a bit concerned about being picked up by the car I had booked to take me to London. There is no vehicle access to Pene and Mark's house. However, I received a phone number for the driver by 7am. Pene was able to ring him and tell him where to meet us and we walked down the hill, with Pene making sure we got my bags down OK.

I was sad to say goodbye - but we have had such a nice time it only feels like au revoir.

My driver chose the A303 rather than the M roads. The scenery was not very varied, but there was scenery. It was either wooded areas or rolling plains.

I learned a bit about my driver - born in Romania, lived in South Africa and the Philippines, came to England because one of his children developed a health condition that was exacerbated by the heat and humidity of the Philippines. Doctors recommended a cool climate by the sea and a friend suggested his home town in England. Their son had totally recovered, speaks 5 languages and is doing really well at school. They visit the Philippines regularly and he intends to move back there when his children are established post-school. It is much easier to make ends meet in the Philippines, but he is sure his son would have died had they stayed.

This is the world in which we now live - but our policies do not seem to have caught up with that.

He gave me little snippets of information about the journey - but respected my space and privacy.

One of the reasons he chooses this route is because it passes close to Stonehenge. As he predicted, I could tell when we were getting close because the traffic banked up and slowed. No one can pass Stonehenge without being drawn to look at it.

It appears near the horizon from quite a distance

It then seems to emerge from the landscape.

and there it is. I haven't seen it since 1984 but it is still moving.





Somehow the ring of tourists only adds to the impact

along, of course, with the sheep.




After that, the journey was uneventful.





The receptionist at the Mitre asked if I was here for the needlework - thought she recognised me from previous visits.

My room is comfortable and warm. There is space to sit and stitch (light permitting) and there will also be space to completely empty and repack my suitcase ready for the home journey.


The view isn't spectacular - but I can see the river, which is what counts.


I managed a little cluster of buds on my Herdwick piece during the late afternoon.

There was a function in the downstairs   bar/dining area, so dinner was in the upstairs restaurant, where the Christmas lights have been left up. Apparently they look very pretty from the bridge.

I was a little late to watch the water life but I'm sure there will be plenty in the morning.





My RSN class is tomorrow - so I shalln't have a late night.

Post 25: Catch up Day

This morning I opened my curtain to find a secret visitor occupying the window ledge. In Summer she can reach the garden this way - but not today.



Pen and Mark left around 11 to their various activities and I settled down in their conservatory, with the great light to do some more work on Nicola's Herdwick sheep.



I had the sequins, a bit more on the large flower, one of the small leaves and most of the French knots left to do.

I'm pleased to say she is now finished.

I am now turning my attention to the Dog Rose leaves. It is possible, I think, that I might come close to finishing the piece before I get home.

Yesterday I omitted to tell the story of how Pene, myself and Sheila (Pene's neighbour) caused a scene at the Carriage Museum.

The Museum is staffed by many volunteers - mostly elderly. One operates a buggy to take visitors, who don't wish to walk, up the long steep slope to the Carriage House. We caught a lift back down.

Inside the Carriage House, part of the display is up a steep, narrow staircase. There is a small glass lift that can be utilised. The three of us got in the lift and Pene pressed the green button - one of those that you have to hold all the way. It moved incredibly slowly - and made a loud screeching noise. It took a good 2-3 minutes to travel to the upper floor, screeching all the way. We had plenty of time to notice the signs - one with a diagram of two people and the other saying Maximum Weight 400kg.

We realised that three of us were not meant to be in the lift, but figured our combined weight was well under 400kg.

However, as we approached the upper floor we could see the elderly attendant limping over to the lift. The screeching noise was the warning that we had overloaded the lift!
We could only apologise and assure him that our combined weight, although a couple of us weighed more than we should, was not over 400kg!  I'm afraid we did not make a good impression!

This timepiece was part of the display.

Back in Appledore today, after I had finished the Herdwick sheep, I took a stroll in the garden. From the conservatory you go outside and up a set of narrow stairs.

At the top it opens into a paved area, a path and a lawn. Right at the top is the office.

From the top, you look back at the house (cream) and the neighbour's house (white).

Raise your eyes and you look over the tops of the houses to the Estuary.

I can't resist a chimney pot.



I also failed to report yesterday on our visit to the Cinema on Monday night to see Fishermans' Friends. I thoroughly enjoyed it. It is a bit in the mould of Pride - a bit of history, feel-good, good performances. Well worth seeing. Warms the cockles of your heart.


I also did a bit of reading today, in particular, a book Mark lent me.

Of the 100 graves on the list, 17 are of women. Criteria for choice include accessibility, little or no cost to visit and 50% to be in London.

They include Rosalind Elsie Franklin who discovered a critical component of the DNA helix which was credited to another (male) researcher. She died aged 37 and her grave simply says "Scientist". Emmeline Pankhurst's grave simply records "Wife of R.M. Pankhurst". Hannah Twynoy (1670-1703) Barmaid, was the first person in England killed by a tiger. Jane Austen, Marguerite Radcliffe Hall, Flora MacDonald, the Brontes, Mary Shelley, Virginia Woolf and Cora Crippen all make the list (though it is known that the body buried as Cora Crippen is that of a man!). It is an interesting read, but I don't think I will be using it as a travel guide.

Tonight we are having fish and chips for tea. Tomorrow we hope to go on another excursion.

Post 23 Appledore, a man and his dog.

To an Australian, Pen and Mark's house in Appledore is a thing of wonder.

Perched on the side of a hill, it unfolds between other houses like a Japanese puzzlebox. I am writing this in the conservatory, under the glass seen to the left (and below).

Bedrooms are upstairs again. These two photos were taken from my bedroom window

Car access finishes 100 metres or so from the front door.


These back steps lead up to their garden and office.

They have renovated and adapted it to suit their needs. It is amazing.

This morning we went for a walk around the village of Appledore. Few people are on the street - a far cry from what it will be like in a month's time.




This wisteria must look stunning when it is in bloom.





The estuary is tidal, and there is evidence of the local capacity for shipbuilding.

Along with creative uses of vessels past their use-by date.















There is a substantial "front" ready for summer promenading.

We made our way to the Seagate for a cup of tea (coffee in my case) out of the wind.








We were joined in front of the (pretend) fire by a man.

It was not the Ancient Mariner, but the proverbial man and his dog.

He hailed originally from Yorkshire, more recently from Exeter and regularly visits Appledore for the music and seaside. His hound was bought  a couple of years ago from Corfu - a lost dog about 18 months old. He was a big hit - and beautifully behaved.




We walked home via a back street full of little shops, galleries, points of interest and enticing side lanes.






I, who never buy cards because I have a life-time supply of those I have made, bought some by a local artist because they were so reminiscent of the town





There is still a bit of work underway to prepare for Summer.








We met various neighbours and spoke to numerous residents along the way.

I thought we were headed for a dead-end here, but the footpath continues to the right in front of the Antique shop.














Along this road is an Appledore Retirement Village.







We stopped off the see the Community Hall that has been renovated and adapted for fully accessible use by community effort - in which Pen and Mark have been crucially involved. It is a great facility.

 Tonight we are going to the Cinema, to see Fisherman's Friends so I am posting this early. It will be too late to catch the email version by the time we are home. I am so pleased to be able to make this visit and see Appledore for myself. For a long time I have been intrigued by this place Pen and Mark have made their home - and it is a privilege to be able to experience it.

Post 22: to Appledore via Portishead

This morning Pen and I had a leisurely breakfast. Checkout was not until 12 and we left around that time, heading out across the bridge.

Generously, Mark and Pen had offered to take me via Portishead, and the school my father attended - now a gated luxury apartment complex.

Fortunately, the pedestrian gate was open so we walked through and looked around the outside.






The building is heritage listed, so has been preserved as it was when my father was there from 1932-36.  I doubt, however, that it was as well maintained.

There are still signs of its naval history.

The views are spectacular. 

It was pretty windy.



Although it was clearly the National Nautical School, it was known as the Bristol Training Ship Formidable, or Boys Training Ship Formidable when Dad was there.

















The old teacher housing is now occupied as part of the complex






















and the church is still accessible from the site.

From there we went to the Portishead Marina for a coffee. It reminded me quite a lot of Bowden- Brompton, which, although it is not on the sea, has a similar community feel. There were people relaxing, talking to each other, and celebrating St Patrick's Day.

From there it was an hour or so drive to Appledore.

It is cold and a bit windy - but fine as we watch Poirot after delicious lasagna.

I'm really fortunate to be here. Throughout the day I've been catching up on news back home - including a video news clip of Niamh, Veronica and Anthony at the student climate change rally in Adelaide.  Such an extraordinary world we live in.