Tuesday, June 01, 2010
Preparing to go away again and thinking back to the end of our last trip.
Two weeks ago we were packing our bags in preparation for Bill's birthday treat.
This evening we are packing again, this time to travel to North Wales to spend a few days with the Welsh Monkland family. It will be good to see Ashley, Liz and Ekatarina again.
The chores of the day are done - or almost done, and we must have an early night.
We have decided to make an early start - about 6 o'clock.
If we get away then we might not be held up too much by the morning rush hour on the M25.
Leaving at about 10 o'clock is another option, but that feels like the whole day is wasted on travelling.
We have a picnic packed - some of it will be our breakfast. Maybe we will stop at Pontcysyllte - the spectacular aqueduct which carries the Llangollen Canal.
It would be good to stop for half an hour to walk a little.
From there it would be about 2 hours to Bangor.
This morning I cleared the dining room table. I have nothing left to prepare for sale. Hooray!
This afternoon we went to Asda to get some cat food and also "sweeties" for the journey.
Long journeys have to have sweeties. The rule is that we can have a sweet every 10 miles or every 10 minutes - if we want to.
I have done a short blog for the shop.
http://pilgrimsantiquesweststreetdorking.blogspot.com/
I listed 26 things on EBay. Mostly things that didn't sell the first time - plus 8 books that have not tried their luck before.
And we have seen the neighbours about feeding Harry.
Frieda is the feeder in chief, but we are happier knowing that Rose is also on hand to deal with any problems.
Poor Harry - he does like to have us close at hand.
Soon we will have a cup of tea and get to bed. I am tired anyway. I still don't feel quite right, but the antihistamines have helped.
And finally a last look back to the birthday treat trip.
We spent a few hours at Bodiam Castle on our way back home.
I have described Bodiam as one of the most perfect castles in the country - it fulfills all our expectations of what a British castle should be.
Before we explored the castle we had our picnic - and we were persuaded to share our food with the ducks.
My companion was lots of fun leaping into the air, to grab a morsel of bread from my fingers.
Bill got the lazy one! "I'll have your bread" she said, "but I know you'll give it to me whether I jump or not".
Isn't that wonderful?
But we are members of the National trust and we could explore within the walls at no charge.
Climbing up the towers by steep spiral stone staircases was hard work.
Fields of bright yellow rape fill the air with pollen, but make a wonderful splash of colour.
Bill wandered off to try to capture the contrasting colours of rape flowers and flax flowers.
We enjoyed a cup of tea in the cafe - with a slice of cake and a most delicious elderflower sorbet.
This evening we are packing again, this time to travel to North Wales to spend a few days with the Welsh Monkland family. It will be good to see Ashley, Liz and Ekatarina again.
The chores of the day are done - or almost done, and we must have an early night.
We have decided to make an early start - about 6 o'clock.
If we get away then we might not be held up too much by the morning rush hour on the M25.
Leaving at about 10 o'clock is another option, but that feels like the whole day is wasted on travelling.
We have a picnic packed - some of it will be our breakfast. Maybe we will stop at Pontcysyllte - the spectacular aqueduct which carries the Llangollen Canal.
It would be good to stop for half an hour to walk a little.
From there it would be about 2 hours to Bangor.
This morning I cleared the dining room table. I have nothing left to prepare for sale. Hooray!
This afternoon we went to Asda to get some cat food and also "sweeties" for the journey.
Long journeys have to have sweeties. The rule is that we can have a sweet every 10 miles or every 10 minutes - if we want to.
I have done a short blog for the shop.
http://pilgrimsantiquesweststreetdorking.blogspot.com/
I listed 26 things on EBay. Mostly things that didn't sell the first time - plus 8 books that have not tried their luck before.
And we have seen the neighbours about feeding Harry.
Frieda is the feeder in chief, but we are happier knowing that Rose is also on hand to deal with any problems.
Poor Harry - he does like to have us close at hand.
Soon we will have a cup of tea and get to bed. I am tired anyway. I still don't feel quite right, but the antihistamines have helped.
And finally a last look back to the birthday treat trip.
We spent a few hours at Bodiam Castle on our way back home.
I have described Bodiam as one of the most perfect castles in the country - it fulfills all our expectations of what a British castle should be.
Before we explored the castle we had our picnic - and we were persuaded to share our food with the ducks.
My companion was lots of fun leaping into the air, to grab a morsel of bread from my fingers.
Bill got the lazy one! "I'll have your bread" she said, "but I know you'll give it to me whether I jump or not".
Isn't that wonderful?
It is possible to explore the views round the outside of the castle for very little money.
If one is not a National Trust member, one can pay £2 to park and spend as long as wanted looking and photographing.
The moat was teeming with fish. The medieval inhabitants would not have gone hungry.
But we are members of the National trust and we could explore within the walls at no charge.
Climbing up the towers by steep spiral stone staircases was hard work.
It was advised that elderly people didn't try!
Well, we are not that elderly yet - and accepted the challenge of proving it.
Fields of bright yellow rape fill the air with pollen, but make a wonderful splash of colour.
Bill wandered off to try to capture the contrasting colours of rape flowers and flax flowers.
We enjoyed a cup of tea in the cafe - with a slice of cake and a most delicious elderflower sorbet.
And so the mini holiday was over - time to drive back to Crawley.
The afternoon sun was lovely and lit up our beautiful countryside and villages.
I might write a brief blog whilst in Bangor.
Once we are home again I shall be dealing with lots more photos which will be posted on the blog through the following days.
Labels: Sussex
