We have decided it's time to pack our bags and head for home. We have been gone twenty-two days. It seems like a long time ago that we arrived in Camborne.
The main street (High Street) in Stratford was filled with country produce this morning when we went out. It was a beautiful sight. Everything is organic over here. The market comes to town each Friday. It reminded me of Findley Market in Cincy. which is not far from our house.
The town also hosted a food fair. Howard and I got a taste of cashews in various flavors. We were not hungry (I'm sure that is hard to believe!) so did not partake of their home-grown pork.
One of the things Howard wanted to do before leaving was to ride up the river Avon and back. We were looking at the long boats which offer rides (at a price), when we saw one that had lunch on board. We did it, and it was fun.
You might remember back in the summer when the heavy rains in this area flooded the Avon into the streets. We saw it back home on the evening news.
It rained this afternoon. Howard read the ARTS & CRAFT book which we purchased yesterday. I enjoyed a nap. It was a perfect afternoon for both.
I am going to bring this to a close and go pack our bags. I hope you have enjoyed traveling with us on this wonderful journey. We have had the time of our lives.
Blessings to all,
Love,
Martha (and Howard)
Friday, September 28, 2007
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Moreton-In-Marsh (A Hamlet In The Cotswolds)
Hello again.....
Our time is coming to a close; however, we did not want it to end without visiting the Cotswolds. It was recommended at the travel information we hire a driver, but decided against it when we discovered it cost $100.00 an hour (£50.00). We figured a bus ride would get us there just as well. Sure enough it was a delightful ride through the countryside.
We went from Statford to Moreton-In-Marsh. It was a sleepy hamlet with less to offer than the ones we had driven through. After a short sight-seeing walk and a visit to a lovely tea room, we boarded a return bus and got off at Chipping Campden. This entire town was built with the same light brown stone. We walked from one end to the other visiting every shop along the way.
As I mentioned several times before, we are eating our way through England. Today was no exception!!! We stopped at a darling tea room in Moreton-In-Marsh. It was very girlie. In fact, Howard came out of the rest room and whispered, "It's the first time I've gone to a men's room with lace curtains". I wondered if he had entered the wrong one, but not so. This place offered lace and frills for both genders.
As we were walking through Chipping Campden, we were getting chilly and again hungry (we did not have lunch), so we stepped down into a quaint shop with a sign on the window saying Rick Steves recommends it. He especially recommended the ginger cake. We tried it (along with more tea) and agreed with Rick.....it got a "thumbs up".
We missed our 5:10 bus, so had to kill time until 6:45. We continued to walk the streets which are so picturesque. It is very chilly here. We wore sweaters and the light fleece jackets we purchased a couple of weeks ago in Camborne. Gloves would have felt great! We saw others wearing them.
One of the treats for the day was a small Arts & Craft museum. William Morris actually came to Chipping Campden and got his inspiration for his design work. He was an important part of the Arts & Craft movement. He went into fabrics and wall coverings. The curator was knowledgable about the movement and was eager to share what he knew. It was a delightful experience. Howard & I are both interested in that period especially since our bungalo in Cincinnati is a Sear's kit home. Very much Arts & Craft.
I mentioned Rick Steves earlier. It reminds me of an experience I had a few days ago. Rick has a detailed book on Great Britian. He recommended a laundry here in Stratford with the address, times and phone number, etc. I walked to it the other afternoon with our roller suitcase filled with dirty clothes. (Remember....we packed lightly! I do the laundry at the end of each week. It has worked out quite well.)
When I got there, I told the woman in charge that I had read about her laundry in Rick's book. She was surprised. I told her how a lot of restaurants and places he recommends will be noted on the window. That surprised her even more. Just then the manager arrived. The woman was excited to tell the manager who agreed it would be a great idea to have a sign made. (You might have guessed the end of this story before I get there.) I am delivering a Brammer-made sign tomorrow. They did not offer a discount on my laundry, but I can always tell people I have a piece of original artwork hanging in a window in Stratford, England. No one needs to know it's only a sign in a laundromat.
(I have a few more minutes on this computer, so will continue to chat.)
Howard has been surprised at how friendly the Brits are. We had one little set back. Yesterday while waiting for the bus near Warwick Castle, we met two ladies who were waiting for the same bus. We began a conversation with them. The one who did most of the talking was in her 50's (I'm guessing). She told us she had studied in Canada and loved it. Howard asked her if she had been to the States. She said in a rather stern way, "No....I have never had a fancy to see the States!" I would have been offended, but when she said she had lived the last thirty years four miles from Warwick Castle, but had never been in it....I figured....hey, seeing the States would be a far reach!
The computer says my time is nearly up.
Our time is coming to a close; however, we did not want it to end without visiting the Cotswolds. It was recommended at the travel information we hire a driver, but decided against it when we discovered it cost $100.00 an hour (£50.00). We figured a bus ride would get us there just as well. Sure enough it was a delightful ride through the countryside.
We went from Statford to Moreton-In-Marsh. It was a sleepy hamlet with less to offer than the ones we had driven through. After a short sight-seeing walk and a visit to a lovely tea room, we boarded a return bus and got off at Chipping Campden. This entire town was built with the same light brown stone. We walked from one end to the other visiting every shop along the way.
As I mentioned several times before, we are eating our way through England. Today was no exception!!! We stopped at a darling tea room in Moreton-In-Marsh. It was very girlie. In fact, Howard came out of the rest room and whispered, "It's the first time I've gone to a men's room with lace curtains". I wondered if he had entered the wrong one, but not so. This place offered lace and frills for both genders.
As we were walking through Chipping Campden, we were getting chilly and again hungry (we did not have lunch), so we stepped down into a quaint shop with a sign on the window saying Rick Steves recommends it. He especially recommended the ginger cake. We tried it (along with more tea) and agreed with Rick.....it got a "thumbs up".
We missed our 5:10 bus, so had to kill time until 6:45. We continued to walk the streets which are so picturesque. It is very chilly here. We wore sweaters and the light fleece jackets we purchased a couple of weeks ago in Camborne. Gloves would have felt great! We saw others wearing them.
One of the treats for the day was a small Arts & Craft museum. William Morris actually came to Chipping Campden and got his inspiration for his design work. He was an important part of the Arts & Craft movement. He went into fabrics and wall coverings. The curator was knowledgable about the movement and was eager to share what he knew. It was a delightful experience. Howard & I are both interested in that period especially since our bungalo in Cincinnati is a Sear's kit home. Very much Arts & Craft.
I mentioned Rick Steves earlier. It reminds me of an experience I had a few days ago. Rick has a detailed book on Great Britian. He recommended a laundry here in Stratford with the address, times and phone number, etc. I walked to it the other afternoon with our roller suitcase filled with dirty clothes. (Remember....we packed lightly! I do the laundry at the end of each week. It has worked out quite well.)
When I got there, I told the woman in charge that I had read about her laundry in Rick's book. She was surprised. I told her how a lot of restaurants and places he recommends will be noted on the window. That surprised her even more. Just then the manager arrived. The woman was excited to tell the manager who agreed it would be a great idea to have a sign made. (You might have guessed the end of this story before I get there.) I am delivering a Brammer-made sign tomorrow. They did not offer a discount on my laundry, but I can always tell people I have a piece of original artwork hanging in a window in Stratford, England. No one needs to know it's only a sign in a laundromat.
(I have a few more minutes on this computer, so will continue to chat.)
Howard has been surprised at how friendly the Brits are. We had one little set back. Yesterday while waiting for the bus near Warwick Castle, we met two ladies who were waiting for the same bus. We began a conversation with them. The one who did most of the talking was in her 50's (I'm guessing). She told us she had studied in Canada and loved it. Howard asked her if she had been to the States. She said in a rather stern way, "No....I have never had a fancy to see the States!" I would have been offended, but when she said she had lived the last thirty years four miles from Warwick Castle, but had never been in it....I figured....hey, seeing the States would be a far reach!
The computer says my time is nearly up.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Wednesday At The Castle
You are, no doubt, thinking Howard found a WHITE CASTLE here in England, but no so. We spent the day at the one called Warwick. We found it to be absolutely amazing; however, we were surprised (and disappointed) to learn that it is now owned by the Arabs. It makes one wonder just how much of the world they own....not a pleasant thought.
We had a great time seeing Shakespear's play last evening. It was held in a younger theater due to the present renovation of the old. We had visited his parents, grandparents and his home during the day, so it was appropriate to top off the evening with "Twelfth Night".
News: Probably the number one news item is the Madeline McCann disappearance. It is England's version to our Jon Bonnet Ramsey story.
Sports dominates the TV throughout the day. I thought the US was sports crazy....but not so. England is definitely ahead of us.
I mentioned seeing the Magna Carta at Salisbury. Today's paper said the only one owned by a private citizen is being auctioned off this week.
The Burma story has made the front page for two days. I'm sure it is big at home as well.
It is interesting to hear the politicians giving their speeches. It is clear that our two countries have much the same problems.
(I am operating on coins again....and my time is up! I'll be checking in soon.)
Again....Cheers from merry ole England
Martha
We had a great time seeing Shakespear's play last evening. It was held in a younger theater due to the present renovation of the old. We had visited his parents, grandparents and his home during the day, so it was appropriate to top off the evening with "Twelfth Night".
News: Probably the number one news item is the Madeline McCann disappearance. It is England's version to our Jon Bonnet Ramsey story.
Sports dominates the TV throughout the day. I thought the US was sports crazy....but not so. England is definitely ahead of us.
I mentioned seeing the Magna Carta at Salisbury. Today's paper said the only one owned by a private citizen is being auctioned off this week.
The Burma story has made the front page for two days. I'm sure it is big at home as well.
It is interesting to hear the politicians giving their speeches. It is clear that our two countries have much the same problems.
(I am operating on coins again....and my time is up! I'll be checking in soon.)
Again....Cheers from merry ole England
Martha
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Twelfth Night
We have not been here in Stratford "Twelve Nights", but we are going to see the play tonight. We purchased a brief version of it so we can keep up with the play. The marque says the actors will be in modern dress.
We took a double-decker bus tour today. It was fun to go out into the countryside and visit Shakespeare's parent's homestead. It was a bit like "Conner Prairie" in Indy only much older!
One chest in the main bedroom was dated 1600-something. Here we think our house in Cincinnati is old....1920.
We got off the bus and ate in a local pub; however, it was more like a garden tea room with windows on all three sides plus the ceiling. Pink & white curtains gave it a girlie look. Not what you would expect in a pub. The food was excellent ...especially the fish 'n chips. Only locals were there.
When one elderly lady heard us speak, she turned and said, "Oh...you are Americans!!!! I LOVE Americans. She left and waved as she drove her husband (more elderly than she) out of the drive. I thought it was sweet. I assured her that we loved the Brits as well.
I am using coins in this computer and they are about gone, so I'll bring this to a close.
We are having the time of our lives, but both of us are getting ready to call it quits by the end of the week and head home. Three weeks away seems to be our limit.
Cheers!
Martha
We took a double-decker bus tour today. It was fun to go out into the countryside and visit Shakespeare's parent's homestead. It was a bit like "Conner Prairie" in Indy only much older!
One chest in the main bedroom was dated 1600-something. Here we think our house in Cincinnati is old....1920.
We got off the bus and ate in a local pub; however, it was more like a garden tea room with windows on all three sides plus the ceiling. Pink & white curtains gave it a girlie look. Not what you would expect in a pub. The food was excellent ...especially the fish 'n chips. Only locals were there.
When one elderly lady heard us speak, she turned and said, "Oh...you are Americans!!!! I LOVE Americans. She left and waved as she drove her husband (more elderly than she) out of the drive. I thought it was sweet. I assured her that we loved the Brits as well.
I am using coins in this computer and they are about gone, so I'll bring this to a close.
We are having the time of our lives, but both of us are getting ready to call it quits by the end of the week and head home. Three weeks away seems to be our limit.
Cheers!
Martha
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Stratford At Last
Stratford welcomed us last evening around sundown. I can't say we saved "best 'til last" because we have seen so many incredible things; however, this is close to the top. The village is larger than I imagined. One could take dozens of photos and still not capture it.
Our hotel is in the heart of the city. It is named after it's famous son, Shakespeare. The narrow hallways creek and the staircases rumble, but who wouldn't at this age. The entrance plaque records its birth to be in the early 1700's. Now that is old by anyone's standard.
Howard and I were late for church this morning. (Please don't tell anyone at TPCC.) We went to where the service was starting at 10:30, but there was no one there. It was an Evangelical group meeting in the local Civic Center. It must have disbanded. We went a couple of steps south to a Reformed Church only to discover it was well into the service. We sat in the back. The locals were delighted to have visitors.
We had an opportunity to hear more about Stratford and "how it used to be". I guess it was a quiet little hamlet with markets and a few clothing stores. Tourism is England's #1 industry, so no one was complaining....just letting us know they were here long before anyone else. One lady said most of the congregation were formally Scots.
Howard is taking a nap. When I get through, we are going for tea & scones. We thought we would give this addiction up, but it is proving harder than we thought. It could become a "tradition" that we take back with us.
Elvis continues to dominate the T.V. and some of the newspapers. We watched a competition on the "telly" last night to see who was winning the Elvis contest. A look-a-like from the U.S. is one of the top winners so far. Next week will be the final choice. Amazing!
Blessings to all,
Martha
Our hotel is in the heart of the city. It is named after it's famous son, Shakespeare. The narrow hallways creek and the staircases rumble, but who wouldn't at this age. The entrance plaque records its birth to be in the early 1700's. Now that is old by anyone's standard.
Howard and I were late for church this morning. (Please don't tell anyone at TPCC.) We went to where the service was starting at 10:30, but there was no one there. It was an Evangelical group meeting in the local Civic Center. It must have disbanded. We went a couple of steps south to a Reformed Church only to discover it was well into the service. We sat in the back. The locals were delighted to have visitors.
We had an opportunity to hear more about Stratford and "how it used to be". I guess it was a quiet little hamlet with markets and a few clothing stores. Tourism is England's #1 industry, so no one was complaining....just letting us know they were here long before anyone else. One lady said most of the congregation were formally Scots.
Howard is taking a nap. When I get through, we are going for tea & scones. We thought we would give this addiction up, but it is proving harder than we thought. It could become a "tradition" that we take back with us.
Elvis continues to dominate the T.V. and some of the newspapers. We watched a competition on the "telly" last night to see who was winning the Elvis contest. A look-a-like from the U.S. is one of the top winners so far. Next week will be the final choice. Amazing!
Blessings to all,
Martha
Friday, September 21, 2007
Continuation From This Morning's Journal
(I am taking advantage of the computer while it is available....and no one is looking over my shoulder for their turn.)
We had a delightful time in Saltair today. We toured an old wool mill which has been converted into an art gallery, bookstore, fabric & rug shop plus a restaurant. It has the largest collection of Hadney's art anywhere. Since he is not a favorite, I enjoyed the other displays more.
The day before yesterday (Wednesday) we left early for Salisbury. This was a coach tour with twenty-six of us and a great guide. The Salisbury Cathedral looked much larger than it appears on postcards. It is beautiful and majestic. One of the only two original Magna Carters is housed inside. We enjoyed looking at it but could not read Latin.
From there our tour went to Stonehenge which is out in nowhere. The guide said it was originally built in a wooded area, but the trees have long since been gone. It stands all alone in an open field. Our guide debunked the New Age version (which I had been told by my Cincinnati neighbor) and gave us a more realistic and sensible explanation. Think about the pyramids and how they were built (dirt ramps leading to the top), and you will have the same story for how the top horizonal stones were erected. I was not expecting to enjoy this venture as much as I did. I would like to take my photos and paint it when I get home (and the studio gets put together).
From Stonehenge, we drove to Bath. This is the home of the Roman baths because of the local hot springs. The elaborate baths were interesting. We moved quickly through the museum so we could go upstairs to the PUMP ROOM TEA ROOM. This was a real treat!!! The room was huge with a large grand piano. White table clothes and fresh flowers on each table. The napkins were thick and, what looked like, hand stitched. It was all so very lovely as the locals would say.
We have eaten our way through and around England. It is disgraceful I know, but it is a "chance in a lifetime" as I keep saying! We enjoyed crepes one night at a small corner crepe shop (mine was asparagus and salmon!) Pizza has been our evening meal a couple of nights. Every afternoon we stop in a local tea room for tea and scones. They are definitely not the South Beach diet!
Howard and I spent one day by ourselves while Denny worked from their hotel room and Sue took it easy. We walked all over downtown London. It was loads of fun. I only wish the dollar was not so weak. I mentioned a few days ago that it was only worth half the pound. That makes one stop and think before spending. One young clothing clerk told us how he LOVED to go to New York and purchase his clothes because everything in America was sooo-o-o-o inespensive.
It is 5:00 here in Saltair. We are going to take a taxi back into town at 7:30. The young Anglican minister who runs the coffee house is preparing dinner for us tonight. We had lunch there this afternoon. His parents arrived late this afternoon. His father worked with Denny years ago. They have remained close ever since. They had a happy reunion this afternoon.
We leave for Stratford tomorrow morning. Denny and Sue will be going back to London. They are going to see Mary Poppins tomorrow night and back to Michigan on Sunday. We will be another week here in England enjoying the sights and sounds of "Stratford upon the Avon". It is Shakespear's hometown. No doubt we will take in a play.
I hope all of you who read this are doing well. I will write next time from Stratford.
Blessings,
Martha
We had a delightful time in Saltair today. We toured an old wool mill which has been converted into an art gallery, bookstore, fabric & rug shop plus a restaurant. It has the largest collection of Hadney's art anywhere. Since he is not a favorite, I enjoyed the other displays more.
The day before yesterday (Wednesday) we left early for Salisbury. This was a coach tour with twenty-six of us and a great guide. The Salisbury Cathedral looked much larger than it appears on postcards. It is beautiful and majestic. One of the only two original Magna Carters is housed inside. We enjoyed looking at it but could not read Latin.
From there our tour went to Stonehenge which is out in nowhere. The guide said it was originally built in a wooded area, but the trees have long since been gone. It stands all alone in an open field. Our guide debunked the New Age version (which I had been told by my Cincinnati neighbor) and gave us a more realistic and sensible explanation. Think about the pyramids and how they were built (dirt ramps leading to the top), and you will have the same story for how the top horizonal stones were erected. I was not expecting to enjoy this venture as much as I did. I would like to take my photos and paint it when I get home (and the studio gets put together).
From Stonehenge, we drove to Bath. This is the home of the Roman baths because of the local hot springs. The elaborate baths were interesting. We moved quickly through the museum so we could go upstairs to the PUMP ROOM TEA ROOM. This was a real treat!!! The room was huge with a large grand piano. White table clothes and fresh flowers on each table. The napkins were thick and, what looked like, hand stitched. It was all so very lovely as the locals would say.
We have eaten our way through and around England. It is disgraceful I know, but it is a "chance in a lifetime" as I keep saying! We enjoyed crepes one night at a small corner crepe shop (mine was asparagus and salmon!) Pizza has been our evening meal a couple of nights. Every afternoon we stop in a local tea room for tea and scones. They are definitely not the South Beach diet!
Howard and I spent one day by ourselves while Denny worked from their hotel room and Sue took it easy. We walked all over downtown London. It was loads of fun. I only wish the dollar was not so weak. I mentioned a few days ago that it was only worth half the pound. That makes one stop and think before spending. One young clothing clerk told us how he LOVED to go to New York and purchase his clothes because everything in America was sooo-o-o-o inespensive.
It is 5:00 here in Saltair. We are going to take a taxi back into town at 7:30. The young Anglican minister who runs the coffee house is preparing dinner for us tonight. We had lunch there this afternoon. His parents arrived late this afternoon. His father worked with Denny years ago. They have remained close ever since. They had a happy reunion this afternoon.
We leave for Stratford tomorrow morning. Denny and Sue will be going back to London. They are going to see Mary Poppins tomorrow night and back to Michigan on Sunday. We will be another week here in England enjoying the sights and sounds of "Stratford upon the Avon". It is Shakespear's hometown. No doubt we will take in a play.
I hope all of you who read this are doing well. I will write next time from Stratford.
Blessings,
Martha
Cheers From Bradford
The train ride was delightful from London to Leeds last evening. We traveled in the dining car with a white cloth covering our table and stemmed glasses. The evening meal was served pipping hot and was delicious. Sue and I had split pea soup seasoned with Indian spices (a tip I'll take home). A taxi took us from Leeds to Saltair which is a smaller town northwest of Bradford.
Let me go back a couple of days and play catch-up. Yesterday morning we entered Sr. Winston Churchill's bunker and museum. What a joy that was! Everyone knows what an outstanding statesman he was; however, many of us are unaware of his love of and talent for art. He left behind over 500 paintings. He seemed to have a special giftedness in rendering color. Art and war do not seem like companions; however, he was able to conquer both.
We were on our way to the train station heading for Leeds when we saw a huge banner advertising an art exhibition in the British Royal Museum called "Impressionists By The Sea". We diverted our journey...took in the tremendous art show....and then caught a later train. It was a great show with Monet and his impressionistic contemporaries.
(I am using a prepaid card. Time is almost up!)
We are traveling the area with a local pastor today. Our friends Denny & Sue are acquainted with him and follow his ministry. It is raining here today.
Howard is having a great time and is doing well.
Time is up!
Farewell for now,
Martha
Let me go back a couple of days and play catch-up. Yesterday morning we entered Sr. Winston Churchill's bunker and museum. What a joy that was! Everyone knows what an outstanding statesman he was; however, many of us are unaware of his love of and talent for art. He left behind over 500 paintings. He seemed to have a special giftedness in rendering color. Art and war do not seem like companions; however, he was able to conquer both.
We were on our way to the train station heading for Leeds when we saw a huge banner advertising an art exhibition in the British Royal Museum called "Impressionists By The Sea". We diverted our journey...took in the tremendous art show....and then caught a later train. It was a great show with Monet and his impressionistic contemporaries.
(I am using a prepaid card. Time is almost up!)
We are traveling the area with a local pastor today. Our friends Denny & Sue are acquainted with him and follow his ministry. It is raining here today.
Howard is having a great time and is doing well.
Time is up!
Farewell for now,
Martha
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Sunny Tuesday In London (Day 13...I think!)
There is no way to blog and see London at the same time. I have been choosing the latter. Now it's time to settle down and pass along what we have experienced.
It was a thrill Sunday evening to see the sun filtering through Westminister Abby's stained-glass windows while Bach was being played on the giant organ. We sat quietly for fifteen minutes; then it was time for "Evening Song". This was their evening service. You could leave or stay. Move left than stayed. England is not known for its worship services. It was thirty minutes of very formal words and music.
My thrill came as we were leaving. Howard motioned for me to look under my feet. There in the isle was a large bronze plate which had David Livingston's name, death date and a short summary of his incredible life. What an honor to see his memorial.
We visited a local pizza shop for dinner. It was very European...charming....noisy....and fun. The pizza was thin with very little tomato sauce. It was delicious.
Monday morning arrived earlier than expected. We lounged the morning away; however, we managed to get on the double decker bus and tour the city. This included everything one would want to see.
(Woops! Someone wants to use the computer. Will chat later.)
It was a thrill Sunday evening to see the sun filtering through Westminister Abby's stained-glass windows while Bach was being played on the giant organ. We sat quietly for fifteen minutes; then it was time for "Evening Song". This was their evening service. You could leave or stay. Move left than stayed. England is not known for its worship services. It was thirty minutes of very formal words and music.
My thrill came as we were leaving. Howard motioned for me to look under my feet. There in the isle was a large bronze plate which had David Livingston's name, death date and a short summary of his incredible life. What an honor to see his memorial.
We visited a local pizza shop for dinner. It was very European...charming....noisy....and fun. The pizza was thin with very little tomato sauce. It was delicious.
Monday morning arrived earlier than expected. We lounged the morning away; however, we managed to get on the double decker bus and tour the city. This included everything one would want to see.
(Woops! Someone wants to use the computer. Will chat later.)
(Later) It is going on midnight. The lounge locks up when the clock strikes twelve....so I will get on with our journey....We saw The Sound Of Music tonight. The staging and performance was great. Andrew Lloyd Weber had anyone who wanted to audition to come and do so for Maria's part. A thousand tried out. It was televised once the judging was down to fifty or so. The public called in their vote. A young gal who sold telephones won. She sang tonight. She was very good. I wondered how she ended up selling phones rather than singing for a living. She had the appearance of Julie Andrews.
Last night we saw Les Miserable which was very good....but sad. Howard and I found it hard to follow since the English accent was very heavy and the sound was not really good. The story line moved fast. The book takes 900 pages to tell the complete story. It took a couple of hours last night. It was a great experience. The theater was absolutely beautiful....as most of them are.
Tomorrow we go to Stonehenge and other sites in the area. Our day will start very early.
We are spending time with Denny & Sue Nystroms this week. They have worked out the schedule which has really been a treat. Sue studied here in London for a year or so and Denny has business here. Both of them know this city like the back of their hand. They are great tour guides.
Howard just arrived to check on me. He knows this place is locking up soon. I will close and will be checking in in a couple of days. Hope you all are doing well.
Good Night,
Martha
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Day 10 In London
The flag on Buckingham palace flew high as we drove into London yesterday afternoon. That's the signal the queen is in. So nice of her to stay home and greet us!Our hotel (Marriott) is in the Embasy area which is around the corner from Hyde Park. We are going to walk over there in a few minutes to hear whomever is speaking on the "soapbox". This is where we get the phrase at home "she's on her soapbox again". Anyone who wants can step up on the box and speak. Viewers can ask questions or debate the issue. It will be fun to see if anyone is speaking-. It might be a good opportunity for me to get some things off my chest :-)
Last night Buddy Holly took us back to the 50's. The theater was small and very European. The best part was hearing the Brit actors/singers speak with our accent. They did a great job except when they forgot. Howard and I would nudge each other when that happened. An old gent dressed in black (including a black hat) sat behind us and sang every word along with the stage crew. He was delighted to know we were Americans.
As if the musical were not enough from that time period, we left there and went to the original Hard Rock Cafe for a late dinner. Eric Clapton's first guitar hung on the wall. John Lennon's jacket hung nearby. The sound was at it's highest decimals. We visited by yelling across the table. It was a night to remember.I have a hunch the people setting behind me are waiting for this computer. I am still in the Ex. lounge. Perhaps it would be manerly of me to close this and pass the keyboard on to them.
Now that I will have access to this anytime it is available, I will be checking in with all of you.
We read our emails, so if you have news, please write at (marthabrammer@hotmail.com)
Much love,
Martha
Friday, September 14, 2007
Day 8 Of Our Time In England
(Written last night)Small white-washed buildings nestled between sparkeling granite ones lined the English coastline as we arrived in St. Ives this morning. It was a picture-postcard moment.
The long growing season allows blooming plants to out do themselves. Flowers of every color in the rainbow were draped from second-story window boxes with vines trailing over our heads. It was a visit to Fairyland!
The streets were lined with shopes of all kinds. I enjoyed purchasing small packable items for the grandkids.
The Brits are warm & friendly. While Howard was on the library internet (still trying to figure out our third week with RCI back in Indy), I ventured off and ended up in a cafe drinking an "Americana Coffee" (milder) and a raisin twist. The lady on the stool next to me and I started chatting. She was eager to tell how much she enjoyed Disney World back in Feb. She said they could not spend all the money they brought! Since the dollar is weak against the pound, we are having the opposite problem. When we spend five pound, we know ten dollars just flew out of our pockets.
Elvis is everywhere. If you enter a restaurant and he is not singing, just relax. He will be next! A bookstore in St. Ives had a book display in their window. As we passed, Elvis was smiling back at us from several jackets.
The weight problem does not seem to be limited to the U.S. It looks like they deal with the same issue. They have a good excuse however.....everywhere you go the aroma of freshly baked pastries, fish 'n chips and chocolate warf through the streets and alley ways. How could you live here and resist that???
We watch very little "telly". The BBC records a short amount of news and plays over and over (and over again!). We were informed last night that the U.S. real estate market is responsible for the dip in the English economy.
If you have plans to come here, bring your washcloth. There are none (that we know of) in all of England.
We heard a lot about the Muslim population over here before leaving the states. It is true. There are over thirteen hundred mosques in England with about 40 percent being the radical kind. We have not seen a one in this area; however, they were everywhere in London as well as in the north.
This is it for the 8th day. We are going to roam around Camborne again and then back to the Clowance Estates....pack and leave in the morning. I will probably not have access to a computer for a few more days.
Until then.....Cheers!
Martha & Howard
The long growing season allows blooming plants to out do themselves. Flowers of every color in the rainbow were draped from second-story window boxes with vines trailing over our heads. It was a visit to Fairyland!
The streets were lined with shopes of all kinds. I enjoyed purchasing small packable items for the grandkids.
The Brits are warm & friendly. While Howard was on the library internet (still trying to figure out our third week with RCI back in Indy), I ventured off and ended up in a cafe drinking an "Americana Coffee" (milder) and a raisin twist. The lady on the stool next to me and I started chatting. She was eager to tell how much she enjoyed Disney World back in Feb. She said they could not spend all the money they brought! Since the dollar is weak against the pound, we are having the opposite problem. When we spend five pound, we know ten dollars just flew out of our pockets.
Elvis is everywhere. If you enter a restaurant and he is not singing, just relax. He will be next! A bookstore in St. Ives had a book display in their window. As we passed, Elvis was smiling back at us from several jackets.
The weight problem does not seem to be limited to the U.S. It looks like they deal with the same issue. They have a good excuse however.....everywhere you go the aroma of freshly baked pastries, fish 'n chips and chocolate warf through the streets and alley ways. How could you live here and resist that???
We watch very little "telly". The BBC records a short amount of news and plays over and over (and over again!). We were informed last night that the U.S. real estate market is responsible for the dip in the English economy.
If you have plans to come here, bring your washcloth. There are none (that we know of) in all of England.
We heard a lot about the Muslim population over here before leaving the states. It is true. There are over thirteen hundred mosques in England with about 40 percent being the radical kind. We have not seen a one in this area; however, they were everywhere in London as well as in the north.
This is it for the 8th day. We are going to roam around Camborne again and then back to the Clowance Estates....pack and leave in the morning. I will probably not have access to a computer for a few more days.
Until then.....Cheers!
Martha & Howard
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
(9-12) Day 6 From England
Hello Everyone,
Our day started early this morning which is a bit unusual for us. We decided to make a day of it and go to St. Ives which is a artist's colony by the sea. Howard had the details worked out plus train tickets in hand. We boarded the "First Great Western" railway for St. Ives. We were to change trains half way there at St Erth.
We arrived at St Erth shortly after getting on. I decided I would open the train door which seemed simple enough. The directions said to pull the glass window down (on the door) reach out and turn the handle. The engineer had to release the lock, however, before the door would open. I did all the above, but the door would not open. Howard said, "Relax....the engineer hasn't released the lock yet". As we relaxed, the train pulled out from the station while we were still on board. Suddenly our plans changed. We decided we would take in Penzance instead of St. Ives!
It was a delightful place to roam through the narrow streets and drink hot mocha with freshly baked breads. This is where Gilbert & Hamerstein wrote the opera "Pirates of Penzance". Most of the old buildings were made of granite. A lot of homes are as well. Heat does not penetrate through granite so the buildings are warm in winter and cool in summer.
We saw a sign which read "The Living Word". Howard told him to check out Bob & Judy Russell's website which bears the same name.
We were eager to visit and see what it was about. We found it to be a bookstore and restaurant which was being run by a pleasant young man who was delighted that we had stopped by. Neither of us were hungry, but we felt obligated to make a purchase. The man indicated that evangelical Christianity was gaining ground in England. That was encouraging. The Church of England is pretty much lifeless.
Since Penzance is more of an industrial town, we had pretty much seen all the sights by noon. We had packed our toothbrushes (remember...we are traveling lite!) just in case we wanted to tuck into a B&B for the night. We decided to head for "home". I got the train door to work on our return trip!
We are now in the public library in Camborne. This is a town that is off the beaten path. No tourists. It makes it fun to roam the streets with the locals. We have had many opportunities to engage several Brits in conversation. There is nothing like hearing the history of the place from a local. This has been one of the highlights of our trip. Those who have lived here through several generations are quick to tell you they are true "Cornish".
I am going to run around the corner to do a little shopping while Howard uses the computer. It is fun to know you are traveling along with us via the blog. Thanks for being in touch.
Cheers now....
Martha & Howard
Our day started early this morning which is a bit unusual for us. We decided to make a day of it and go to St. Ives which is a artist's colony by the sea. Howard had the details worked out plus train tickets in hand. We boarded the "First Great Western" railway for St. Ives. We were to change trains half way there at St Erth.
We arrived at St Erth shortly after getting on. I decided I would open the train door which seemed simple enough. The directions said to pull the glass window down (on the door) reach out and turn the handle. The engineer had to release the lock, however, before the door would open. I did all the above, but the door would not open. Howard said, "Relax....the engineer hasn't released the lock yet". As we relaxed, the train pulled out from the station while we were still on board. Suddenly our plans changed. We decided we would take in Penzance instead of St. Ives!
It was a delightful place to roam through the narrow streets and drink hot mocha with freshly baked breads. This is where Gilbert & Hamerstein wrote the opera "Pirates of Penzance". Most of the old buildings were made of granite. A lot of homes are as well. Heat does not penetrate through granite so the buildings are warm in winter and cool in summer.
We saw a sign which read "The Living Word". Howard told him to check out Bob & Judy Russell's website which bears the same name.
We were eager to visit and see what it was about. We found it to be a bookstore and restaurant which was being run by a pleasant young man who was delighted that we had stopped by. Neither of us were hungry, but we felt obligated to make a purchase. The man indicated that evangelical Christianity was gaining ground in England. That was encouraging. The Church of England is pretty much lifeless.
Since Penzance is more of an industrial town, we had pretty much seen all the sights by noon. We had packed our toothbrushes (remember...we are traveling lite!) just in case we wanted to tuck into a B&B for the night. We decided to head for "home". I got the train door to work on our return trip!
We are now in the public library in Camborne. This is a town that is off the beaten path. No tourists. It makes it fun to roam the streets with the locals. We have had many opportunities to engage several Brits in conversation. There is nothing like hearing the history of the place from a local. This has been one of the highlights of our trip. Those who have lived here through several generations are quick to tell you they are true "Cornish".
I am going to run around the corner to do a little shopping while Howard uses the computer. It is fun to know you are traveling along with us via the blog. Thanks for being in touch.
Cheers now....
Martha & Howard
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
9-11 In Camborne, England
We have found accessing the internet to be more difficult than expected. This is the first opportunity we have had since the last post. The one in our "A-frame" does not work. It has been looked at several times, but nothing happens.
We hired a taxi to bring us here in Camborne. It is a sweet place with lots of historical buildings lining the narrow streets. When I say "narrow", I mean narrow....and that is in the city. You cannot imagine how close two cars can pass each other until you go out into the countryside. The tiny roads are lined with high hedge rows on each side. The driver cannot see around curves, but has learned to hug the hedge with the hopes the on-coming car will do the same. So far it works!
We had a delightful day yesterday by taking a tour to the nearby villages and sights. We were mesmerized by Penzance and Marasion. Small stone homes clung to the hillsides with narrow paved paths winding through them. Young locals strolled baby carriages while old ladies watered their beautiful window boxes which hung over our heads as we walked by. It was so very charming. I felt like I was walking through a child's storybook. The little shops only allow one person at a time through the entrance.
Our tour guide was a local school teacher until he recently retired and became a tour guide. He was great...not too much chatting...but enough to give us a feel of the country. He took us to an abandoned tin mine. I did not realize that tin came in the form of black clumps when mined. Copper came next in this country. It laid under the tin in the earth. All of that is history and tourism has replace it as the number one industry. The young locals welcome us, but the elderly want it to remain as they remember it.
We now know how our "Sherlock Home" garden is going to look. We are going to have an English garden encircling the house. We have seen many lovely yards here. It seems that everyone puts a high priority on flowers whether picked fresh or in pots. They are everywhere which makes it all so very beautiful. They have a different climate here, so we may not be able to copy flower for flower. We met an older couple who said they could remember seeing snow and frost only a few times. That provides a climate where the flowers, shrubs, etc. can reach their maximum growth. Needless to say, it is amazing to see the holly trees, the rhodedendron which is huge. They bloom in May & June. It would be a treat to return at that time.
We are looking forward to tomorrow when we will return to Penzance and visit St. Ives. We are going there via train and will spend the day and perhaps the night if we decide to stay in one of the many B&Bs. They are in every nook and cranny. So very charming. We love it here.
Thank you all for writing. We love hearing from home and your comments about the blog.
For you who are wondering how the "CARRY ON" is working, we are doing very well. We have a washing machine which we will use tonight. We like not having a lot of luggage to lug around.
(Charlie, you were right about my shoes. No one cares!!!)
Okay, we are out of here and will be on our way to find some local food. We are not tempted to visit the restaurant two doors away....USA Chicken!
Keep in touch and we will do the same.
Martha & Howard
We hired a taxi to bring us here in Camborne. It is a sweet place with lots of historical buildings lining the narrow streets. When I say "narrow", I mean narrow....and that is in the city. You cannot imagine how close two cars can pass each other until you go out into the countryside. The tiny roads are lined with high hedge rows on each side. The driver cannot see around curves, but has learned to hug the hedge with the hopes the on-coming car will do the same. So far it works!
We had a delightful day yesterday by taking a tour to the nearby villages and sights. We were mesmerized by Penzance and Marasion. Small stone homes clung to the hillsides with narrow paved paths winding through them. Young locals strolled baby carriages while old ladies watered their beautiful window boxes which hung over our heads as we walked by. It was so very charming. I felt like I was walking through a child's storybook. The little shops only allow one person at a time through the entrance.
Our tour guide was a local school teacher until he recently retired and became a tour guide. He was great...not too much chatting...but enough to give us a feel of the country. He took us to an abandoned tin mine. I did not realize that tin came in the form of black clumps when mined. Copper came next in this country. It laid under the tin in the earth. All of that is history and tourism has replace it as the number one industry. The young locals welcome us, but the elderly want it to remain as they remember it.
We now know how our "Sherlock Home" garden is going to look. We are going to have an English garden encircling the house. We have seen many lovely yards here. It seems that everyone puts a high priority on flowers whether picked fresh or in pots. They are everywhere which makes it all so very beautiful. They have a different climate here, so we may not be able to copy flower for flower. We met an older couple who said they could remember seeing snow and frost only a few times. That provides a climate where the flowers, shrubs, etc. can reach their maximum growth. Needless to say, it is amazing to see the holly trees, the rhodedendron which is huge. They bloom in May & June. It would be a treat to return at that time.
We are looking forward to tomorrow when we will return to Penzance and visit St. Ives. We are going there via train and will spend the day and perhaps the night if we decide to stay in one of the many B&Bs. They are in every nook and cranny. So very charming. We love it here.
Thank you all for writing. We love hearing from home and your comments about the blog.
For you who are wondering how the "CARRY ON" is working, we are doing very well. We have a washing machine which we will use tonight. We like not having a lot of luggage to lug around.
(Charlie, you were right about my shoes. No one cares!!!)
Okay, we are out of here and will be on our way to find some local food. We are not tempted to visit the restaurant two doors away....USA Chicken!
Keep in touch and we will do the same.
Martha & Howard
Sunday, September 9, 2007
Hello From South/West England
Hello Everyone, We arrived here in Cornwall yesterday having come from London. The train ride down was amazing. The English countryside is just as I expected... charming....beautiful... peaceful...and inviting.We are here for a week and plan to see the sights with a local tour guide whom we heard speak tonight. It seems much simplier than trying to navigate ourselves. After all we are in an area that drives on the "wrong" side of the road not to mention the narrow alley ways they call roads. It all adds up to a quaint place.
Our dwelling is an A-frame nestled among tall trees on an old estate (Clowance Estate). We walked the grounds this afternoon. The foilage is amazing. Never have we seen Rhodedenron (sp?) this lush and tall. The food is excellent...except the coffee. MUCH too strong!!! (Sorry Craig...you would love it!)
Howard is doing well. He is a great tour guide and had this trip all planned down to the "T". We traveled with one carry on each....yes...I said it right! So far it is working. It is so much easier to travel this way plus it gives me a good reason to buy a new BIG bag to bring home my purchases in!The weather is a little cooler than we expected. Sunshine is expected all week. Very very lovely. I feel a bit guilty to have this little personal lodge with four beds empty! \Next time we will have to bring the clan.
Hopefully, they will come to our lodge and fix the new computer that was installed last week. It looks like our old Atari. A lot of things here are behind our standards, but it's fine. We are flexible.
Craig, would you get a map of England and let the kids see where we are. We are about sixteen miles north/east of "Lands End". We will tour that area tomorrow.Okay....I think our time is up. We'll be checking in soon.
Cheers!
Howard 'n Martha
Friday, September 7, 2007
We Made It!!!!
We arrived here in London safe 'n sound (10:30 local time....5:30 Cincy tme). The weather is perfect. We are staying only minutes from the airport.Believe it or not....we brought our entire wearables in carry-ons. If it works, we will be writing a book. Don't look for it to come out soon! I left my camera battery plugged into the dining room plug! (Craig, would you unplug it when you go over? I have heard you should not leave them plugged in beyond their charging time. Thanks!) We will be checking in. I am looking for a battery here in London.
Time is almost up on this computer. Will be writing as we do more. Right now we are in the hotel and will stay here until tomorrow. Good Bye! Martha
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Visiting A Tea Room
Linda Lister and I took a break from browsing in and out of shops to visit a tea room and sip a glass of raspberry tea. Did you notice something on a plate between us? Well....we also ordered a very rich chocolate cake; however, we shared it! Howard and her husband Bill went to the Red's game. It was a great game with the Red's winning.
They went back to Indianapolis and we came home to pack for our trip to England.
Happy Birthday Sawyer
Last night was a birthday celebration in our backyard. Sawyer turned nine. It was all family except a little neighbor friend (on Sawyer's left) named Allie. He is going to have another party Friday night. It will be for the neighborhood. He is quite a popular kid around here!
A Faithful Mom
Carol came to Sawyer's party even though she was sick. She was kind enough to keep her distance so not to pass the bug around.
Madeline, What Happened To Your Hair?
Madeline got up as a brunette yesterday morning, but went to bed with black hair. What happened? You might think she had friends over and they dyed each other's hair, but that is not the case. Her dad (our son Craig!!!) went to the drugstore with her...purchased the dye...came home and did it for her! Here she is...you can decide if you like it or not. She LOVES it.
Papaw Still Has It!
When these grandkids begin thinking Papaw is "out of it", he has to show them a thing or two!Taylor - Almost 16
Taylor is enjoying the camera and cake more than the new birthday shirt Sawyer is displaying.
Crosley To The Rescue
Carol had a summer bug so Crosley baked and decorated Sawyer's "caterpillar cake". The tiny colored cupcakes were arched around the top with the front one wearing candy beads for eyes. It ended up tasting and looking great. The only problem was those little bead eyes. The label on the bottle suggested we not consume a lot of them!!!
Monday, September 3, 2007
How Much Is A Tomato Worth?
If we could have gotten $3.00 for four tomatoes when I was a kid back on the farm in southern Indiana, we would be millionaires today!Tomatoes were one of the major crops which grew in our garden. They could be prepared in a variety of ways which made them interesting. We canned a great portion whole.
They were dipped into a large pot of boiling water and quickly flipped with a wooden stick. Once they spun in the water, they were lifted out with a slotted spoon. The fun part was to gently squeeze each one just enough to release the warm skin which had become detached from the meat. The goal was to have perfectly smooth surfaces.
Each glass jar was stacked neatly with tomatoes being as close to the same size as possible. We always wondered if this was the jar that would make it to the county fair.
We took the ones that looked shabby and used them for tomato sauce. This was a spicy sauce that was used as a base for chili or poured over meatloaf. It seems strange now, but I don't remember eating spaghetti or any Italian foods for that matter. We had our own "country" ways of using tomatoes which also included stewing them. We dropped dumplings into hot tomato juice with seasoning. This was delicious....especially with mashed potatoes.
We could not have survived the winter without an abundance of tomatoes coming on each August. Citrus juices were not available for breakfast in those days (at least in the country), but then we didn't need them. We had half gallon jars filled with chilled tomato juice down in the cellar anytime we wanted it. Who needed more?
(These tomatoes were at Finley Market. I bought the "blemished" ones to the left.)
Labor Day Fireworks Over Cincy
The thought of joining a half million people on the banks of the Ohio to see fireworks tonight did not sound appealing. We chose to stay on our couch and watch it from home. It was great, and there was no driving home afterwards. (This was taken from our T.V.)
The Other Side Of The River
Howard and I attended the Lakeside Christian Church this morning located on Buttermilk Pike in northern Kentucky. On the way home, we stopped in Covington for brunch. The "Mainstrasse" is quaint with coffee houses, restaurants and novelty shops. We found a small cafe with outdoor seating. We thought it was the perfect spot on such a beautiful day. It would have been great except for the fact that it was was overprices and the food wasn't good. Oh well...you can't win them all.
Sunday, September 2, 2007
A Day To Remember
We were delighted to receive a call from Jan & Mike Smeltzer as well as Tom & Carol Campbell saying they were at the new Creation Museum and wanted to stop by. What a treat it was to see them. We can never have too much company....the more the merrier!Friends At The Fountain
Gordon and Sandy Whybrew came from Indy last evening for an overnight visit. Sandy has been Howard Administrative Assistant for several years. We started our city tour this morning by visiting our neighborhood...Gaslight Clifton. Here they are at the fountain located at the corner of Clifton and Ludlow.Saturday, September 1, 2007
A View From The Campus
The city skyline has changed since Howard and I stood on this hill back in the 60's. We were students at the Cincinnati Bible Seminary. The college has recently been renamed the Cincinnati Christian University.
The Whybrews @ Findley Market
Howard and I are having a great time giving Queen City tours to our friends who come from Indy. Findley Market is at the top of the list if the tour is on Saturday. Sandy and Gordon Whybrew were our guests today.
Lost In The Crowd
While Howard is lost in the crowd, Sandy checks out the melons. The crowd gently pushes her along.Flowers @ Findley
Have you ever seen anything more beautiful than a bucket full of summer flowers? My mom always had the front of our garden filled with flowers that looked like this. She would pick them and take matching containers to church on Sundays. They made our small stark church come alive!
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