Day Seven - Library and a "proper English curry"

The barman at The Fountain Inn recommended a local garage where Jon could get the window for the rental car fixed. So Jon left us behind (at least we had the computer and TV). Nothing like sitting around in a room waiting to put a sour note on your vacation. Patrick and I decided to take another walk around the trout lake. Ran into 2 Weimaraners out walking with their humans. They look so ghostly - all gray with pale colored eyes. They are actually quite soft to the touch.

We laughed because at one point on the trail when I spied some blackberries. Dani had taken to eating the black raspberries right of the bush in our backyard back home. She didn't seem to mind the stickers at all but just loved the taste of the berries. We imagined that Dani would have loved walking this path because of the blackberries, ducks to chase and doggies to meet along the way. By now both Patrick and I are missing Dani dog a lot.
















Jon got back around lunch time and had remembered passing a nice pub. Unfortunately, Jon is directionally challenged no matter what country he is in. We drove around for quite a bit trying to find this pub he had seen....finally pulled into one which turns out didn't serve lunch but recommended another pub up the road that did. We were just glad to be out of our room we'd would have eaten at McDonald's!

Later that day we met up with Jon's brother Chris, his wife Allison and daughters Bethan and Heather. We had drinks at the Inn we were staying at and then followed Chris to the local Indian restaurant. We parked across the street in what turned out to be the library's parking lot. Denby Dale Library - actually saw several libraries but never could get my camera out in time.

This was Patrick's first time having Indian food let alone a "proper English curry". He was brave enough to try a dish that was listed as medium on the hot scale. He said he liked it. I'm still not all that impressed with Indian food. It's okay just prefer Italian, Chinese, Japanese, French and a lot more over Indian. Maybe I just haven't had the "right" Indian dish that will hook me.

Back to the Inn for another night of coughing - poor Jon he didn't sleep much either. Tomorrow is our last day up North for we head South because we will be leaving soon. :(

Day Three - London Calling

We met up with Becky and James on Wednesday night. It was great to see Alice and Thomas (they've grown but then again kids do that)! Patrick was kind enough to babysit so the 4 adults could go out for "a curry". We went to a very nice Indian restaurant in Wickam. The service was almost a bit too much but I'd rather err on that side than on service at all. We talked about what we should do the next day or Friday. Becky and James both felt we should take Patrick to London. I had really wanted to but we had felt it would be too expensive and just not sure if we had the time. Turns out it was probably the highlight of our holiday.

Originally Jon was going to put us on a train and go visit his Dad and Toko at the nursing home. But he got to feeling he should be with his family and decided to come with us. We caught the train from Winchester and road in comfort (sad to say it wasn't like Hogwarts Express) all the way to Waterloo station. Since we didn't have a lot of time or money we decided to give Patrick a walking tour of some of the London sites. The London Eye was the first thing to spy once we got on Jubilee Bridge (a walkway with the railroad line down the middle) that took us across the Thames. Once across we stopped in a small park and had our picnic lunch. It was so well kept I felt guilty eating on the grass but lots of Londoners were doing the same.




















After lunch we walked along the Thames (getting another view of the London Eye and London Aquarium) until we got to the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben.



























Although the pic is a bit dark, due to the sun being behind the subject, I liked the idea of getting the Underground sign in with Big Ben. We found out later that we timed our visit perfectly. Big Ben has been silenced for the next 4-6 weeks for pre-birthday repairs. It turns 150 in 2009.

We turned the corner to see Westminster Abbey. Jon and I had toured it before but offered the option to Patrick. He didn't seem all that interested in visiting the dead old kings of England so we trekked on.














Next stop was to see the Queen! I'm not sure if she was in. Historically the Royal Standard is flown over Buckingham Palace (or Buck House as the Brits call it) when she is in residence. However, since Diana's death if she is not in residence instead of no flag flying they fly the Union flag flies over Buck House. I think she wasn't in as this is the typical time of year they go to Balmoral for holiday and the fact that the public was queued up to get in to see Buck House. If only we had gotten there earlier that would have been something to take Patrick to. I think he was impressed with it anyway as he took lots of pictures.



































Patrick wanted to know if that was real gold on the gates - we assured him it was. Nothing but the best for the Queen.


We continued our journey by walking down the Mall. This is the road that Diana's funeral cortege took. I explained to Patrick about Princess Diana, the People's Princess, as we walked. I remember getting up early for her wedding as well as her funeral. The day of her funeral, Patrick came downstairs (he was only 6 at the time) and asked me why I was crying. How do you explain to a 6 yo that someone you've never met has died and it has sadden you because she was such a good person that had had a lot of strife in her life. Just as she seemed to be happy again her candle was snuffed out too quickly. I morned for our loss and for her boys who were so young at the time and that she loved so dearly. William was just a year younger than Patrick is now. It makes me shudder to think about it. As we walked I looked down to see this -















We walked towards the Admiralty Arch. Notice the "famous" Brit in the foreground on the left.














Then to Trafalgar Square.





















Shame that right in the same square was St. Martin's in the Field (a church where many a great choral and orchestral recording has been done) was completely covered in scaffolding. While taking pictures of Lord Nelson's column and waiting to cross the street I spied one of the infamous double-decker buses and had to take this pic -














Harry was a theme throughout this trip without really realizing it. Later I found out later on the tram to the airplane leaving Heathrow, that they have Harry Potter tours in London and surrounding areas. Grrr! If only we had investigated or even known they existed. We were walked out by then so we just walked back to Waterloo Station catching one last photo op before going back to Winchester.














We all snoozed on the train ride home - in fact Patrick fell into bed and could not be woken for dinner. Tomorrow we'd have to leave our lovely bed and breakfast. Becky kindly offered to put us up for the night on Friday at her home. When we got back to the B&B I had a chance to talk to Mrs. Stevens again. Turns out she actually knew Princess Diana! She took over her job at the school when she left to marry Charles. She told me stories of Diana coming back and lunching with the staff (complete with body guards) and her clearing the table as if she was just anybody else. She sounded like such a lovely down to earth woman and Mrs. Stevens confirmed that she was. This makes her loss to England and the world felt even more.

Mrs. Stevens recommend a local pub that was in my eyes (and Jon's too I think) a REAL English pub. It was really off the beaten track. Basically just served ale and only a few selections of food. Only had seating for about 4 tables inside (but lots outside). However, it may have been one of the best dinners we had. I ordered their homemade ham quiche which was served upon a heaping plate of salad (yeah veggies). I couldn't finish it. It also came with 2 large chunks, not slices, of beautiful warm homemade bread and butter (with the wrapper still on). Jon got their infamous split pea, lentil and ham soup. It came in a huge bowl. Matter of fact as I looked around every one's dinner was just supersized. 2 couples were sitting at the table next to us. Jon heard they say something about Caterham (a car he had owned but sold). So when the one gentleman went up to get a pint Jon (who was paying the bill) asked him about it. They got talking cars and then he heard my accent. Told me the couples had recently been to the States on a musical tour (New Orleans and Memphis he mentioned). Very nice folk and an even better pub. What a find!