Inverness - Summer 2003

Forth Bridge, Edinburgh

Inverness

Loch Ness

Over breakfast in Edinburgh the next morning we were chatting about the things we had seen and how a trip is never really long enough to see all the things that you really wanted to see. Emily and I had planned to go up to Inverness after Kathy left and it suddenly occurred to us that with a small shift in plans and a little sucking it up re: clean underwear and little things like that, the three of us go today and come back tomorrow instead of taking the West Highland Line to Oban. It was pretty easy to convince Kathy because she suffers from motion sickness and going to Oban and returning the same day would have been about 12 hours straight on the train. So we bolted down the remainder of our breakfast and dashed across the street to the Scottish Tourist Board where they were happy to help us make arraignments for a B&B in Inverness on such short notice.

I don't remember how long it took us but we had to change trains in Perth and arrived in the late afternoon. Of course we hadn't gotten a very early start so it probably was about a four hour trip. The countryside was lovely and the train wasn't all that crowded. They did not however, have any first class carriages so we had to ride with the ordinary passengers. I say this in a joking manner because we had been laughing at ourselves for riding in solitary splendor on most of our trips. I do remember that we were starving so the first order of business was to find a place to eat. About a block up the street from the train station was the East Gate Shopping Center and outside was a place that made a pretty decent pizza. After lunch Kathy and Emily went off to scout out the B&B and let them know we were indeed in town so they would not give away our room. I waited in the square until they came back and then we window shopped our way down the High Street, stopped in a pub so Kathy could try out a shandy, which she thought tasted downright nasty, and checked out the Tourist Board where we made reservations for a cruise down Loch Ness the next morning. I took a cab back to the B&B, and Emily and Kathy, who were hungry, went in search of sustenance.

I want to add a few words about the B&B we stayed in. I am sorry that I cannot remember the name of it but it was very comfortable and the people who ran it were very nice. The husband was rather odd, but when he explained that he was a math teacher that was all the explanation I needed. I have always found math type people to be alien creatures. Myself, I can only add, subtract and sometimes multiply but never divide. I figure that's why God made calculators.

But the place was lovely and the breakfast, served in a dining room furnished with lovely antiques more than adequate. So, well fed, and happy, we called a taxi and departed for the Tourist Board where a bus was waiting to take us on the tour boat down Loch Ness. Lucky for us we were only carrying our overnight luggage that we had packed for one night in Edinburgh so we didn't have to drag all our suitcases along with us.

The tour starts on the river Ness that feeds into the Loch and is an interesting part of the trip in its own right.. A footpath runs along the edge and is obviously a popular place for people to hike. We went through a loch and on the other side began passing sailboats and house boats. Since the weather was so fine, there were a lot of people out on the decks of the vessels we passed so we were all kept busy waving. Surprisingly, the tour boat, The Jacobite Queen was not so crowded that it was uncomfortable. There seems to be just the right amount of people on board. As the tour progresses they play a recording explaining the history of the area, what you are passing by at the time, and tell you about the wild life in the area that can be seen if you keep your eyes out for them.

Scotland is experiencing a very rare heat wave and on the day that we were on this tour the temperature reached the mid 90's. Emily had bought a rugby shirt in Edinburgh that she wanted to wear and it lasted just long enough for her to have her picture taken in it and then she had to take it off. We all ended up getting a little sunburned. Who would have ever thought it!

Once out onto Loch Ness the view opens up and we really start to feel that we are in some place very special. One of the first things we saw as we chugged along was Aldourie Castle. The castle was originally a laird’s house in the 17th century and is now classified as "of outstanding historic and architectural interest." This historic baronial castle, situated on the southern banks of Loch Ness along with 447 acres of adjoining land, was sold to an American firm that plans to turn it into an exclusive holiday resort, complete with golf course. From the description I gathered that this was going to a place that caters to the very rich and famous.

The boat makes a brief stop at Urquhart castle. People who want to explore the castle up close and personal can get off the tour boat and then re-board another one to return to the tour when they have finished. This is one of the most picturesque sights on Loch Ness, and probably the most photographed. The castle was started in the thirteenth century, was held under siege by Robert  the Bruce and eventually destroyed in 1692 by British government forces who had been holding it under siege by the Jacobites. When the Jacobites eventually withdrew the British army blew it up with gunpowder to stop it being occupied by Jacobite forces.

At the end of the tour it's back to the train station to catch a southbound train to Dumbarton. I think that the less said about Scot-rail the better. It was not a pleasant trip. The fact that Kathy is leaving us tomorrow did not make things any better. Emily and I are really going to miss her. It's been the three of us through thick and thin, literally from one end of Britain to the other. From here on out it just won't be the same.

Kathy’s Side of the Story:

We were in Edinburgh (-o), when on a whim, down a deep dark alley, where we were dining before the Tattoo, we three decided to go to Inverness to see Loch Ness the next day. We had planned to return to Nicky's and then go north the next day on a long train excursion but I mentioned that I was sorry I wouldn't get to see Loch Ness (the one thing I knew everyone would ask me if I went to...regardless that it's near the North Pole! LOL) and Emily said, "Hey, why don't we just go to Loch Ness tomorrow?" and Jeanette said, "Hey, that's a great idea!" and I said, "Hey, but we don't have enough underwear!" and then they said, "Get OVER IT  Tinkerbell!" so I did.

Anyway....Jeanette said that it was no biggie that we had no where to sleep...she'd just go and check with the Scottish agency for people who want someplace to sleep. I didn't believe her, but it had a fine gift shop on the premises, so I went happily along with her. She stood in line while I bought stuff I couldn't live without (Emily turned her nose up at my thistle rubber stamp, but honest, I've been looking for one for a while!) and pretty soon I went over to check on her progress. Emily pulled me to the side and whispered that I was to be Jeanette's daughter and she was my daughter. (I never got the full story on that one, but I straightened up right then and there and acted like Jeanette's daughter would act. :)

After a few minutes, Jeanette had secured for us a B & B. More about that on a further date...the owner looked like Lurch from the Adams family and had the thickest accent I ever heard. I looked distinctly like a crazy smiling bobble head Katy while in his presence. He ended up being a retired physics teacher (he even threw in some math formulations that went right over J's and my heads!) who was trying real hard to be friendly. His home was beautiful.) Anywho...again...when I asked Jeanette what this service was all about she said that that's what they are there for. I am sure I was asking this at some weird time...like running for our train or something...and I didn't quite get to say, "Whaaaaa?"

I just wondered if any of you have used this service?  I doubt it would work here, but it seemed to work just fine there. (Even though they wrote down that Jeanette was from Arizona. snort....yep, those Arizona accents give you away every time!)

Emily’s Side of the Story

Went to the mall, bought a shirt that says, "Smile if you’re a wanker," with a smiley face on it. Haha, its great. Plus I bought some souvenirs for my friends. Got on the train to Inverness- it was hot. There was like a whole car full of wanna be rucksackers, I had a good time laughing at them. That train had the worst train bathroom yet. We got to Inverness, had a nice lunch at Pizza Express. Kathy and I got lost trying to find our B&B..finally found it..Creepy guy...ugh..Walked back to Grams, hung out...went to the tourist info and booked our "cruise " for the next day. Kathy and I ate dinner at Pizza Express AGAIN, it was the ONLY place open. Grams went back to the B&B..shortly after her, we went too..then went to sleep.

Went on the cruise of Loch Ness. Beautiful, slow, but fun. Didn't see Nessie :( Got on the train,- the MOST horrible train of them all. It was hot and cramped. There was this lady on there and all Kathy did was ask her if the seat was taken, because we needed a place for Grams to sit and the lady went all hostile on her. The lady asked if we had the seat reserved and said that she had paid more for first class. Finally she moved, and got all huffy puffy about it, and then Grams sat down. The train guy came and checked tickets and it turns out she HADN'T paid more for first class. So I, being myself, said "If you are going to lie, I think you need to apologize for it, and you don't just get mad at someone when all they do is ask you a question." She knew I was talking about her because when I got up to throw something away she started cursing me out, and she said I was either a bloody French or I was as bad as a French. Whatever, Kathy and I decided that she was upset because she knew she had on ugly earrings. :) I will write more later :)

We got off the train at Perth and our train was delayed for about an hour. Met some people from Houston. This next train was so much better than the one before..wahooo! We then arrived at Glasgow Queen Street and caught a train to Helensborough. Got to Nicky's and crashed out. I stayed up late so that I could finish this book that I wanted to lend to Kathy. I finished it and put it on her suitcase so that in the morning on her way to the airport she would find it.

Edinburg, Scotland - Summer 2003

Edinburgh

Queen St. Station, Glasgow

We left Nicky's and took the train into Glasgow's Queen Street station where we changed trains for the trip to Edinburgh. There was a first class carriage on this train which is definitely an iffy situation in Scotland. It was still fairly early when we arrived in Edinburgh and the first thing we did was go and find our hotel which was right across the street from Waverly station. I love these old hotels in Britain. They have so much character. They are definitely not the slick, modern all amenities that the large chains have. So siree, these places have personality and occasionally a little attitude as well. Anyway, after a slight mix-up where we were assigned to a room with only two beds, we ended up with the room we had reserved with three beds right in a row. Just like the three bears.

Naturally the first thing we did was go in search of the Tattoo office and make sure our tickets for that night were under control and that no mix-ups had occurred there. We picked up our tickets and set off to see Edinburgh. Since this was Kathy and Emily's first trip I suggested that we take the double-decker tour bus and get an overview of the city. This might not have been the best idea since our time was so limited but at least they got to see some of the city away from the Royal Mile and a ride up the hill, which was no small thing.

The Edinburgh International Festival was due to start in 3 days and the Tattoo was in full swing so Edinburgh was crowded. I love this city, it has a different personality for every season. This time it was definitely in a party mood and the streets were full of performers, pipers, and tourists from all over the world. The square in front of St. Giles was full of booths selling just about anything a tourist could be tempted to spend their money on. As we started to make our way down the street it suddenly occurred to us that it was past lunch time so we ducked into a tea shop. While we were there we chatted with an American couple at the next table from Oregon who had tried to get tickets to the Tattoo but been unsuccessful. You have to book your tickets a long time in advance to get any seat, much less a good one.

After lunch we browsed around the shops and then slowly made our way up the hill towards the Castle. We were way early so I found a place to sit down while Kathy and Emily headed back down the hill to do a little more shopping. A very nice policewoman came by and told me that in a little while I was going to have to move. We started chatting and naturally I told her my granddaughter was a policewoman in the Strathclyde region and also played rugby for the Edinburgh Academics. The lady didn't know Nicky but she was a rugby fan so she let me sit where I was until Kathy and Emily came back and it was time to go into the stands.

Grand Finale

The Tattoo experience is hard to describe. Spectacular is about as close as I can get to describe it. It's not really accurate to describe the people who presented the programs "performers" but I will just list the folks who entertained us. In no particular order there was The State Band of the Royal Artillery, The Bermuda Regimental Band and Corp of Drums, Gombey Dancers from somewhere in the Far East, the Republic of South Korea's traditional Army Band; Pipes and Drums of the Royal Army of Oman, including a troupe of dancers. From Switzerland the "Top Secret" Drum Corps was just wonderful, and the regular Tattoo Highland Dancers who were joined this year by the Schiehallion Dancers from Canada. Also featured were the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery, The Royal Artillery Motorcycle Display Team, The Flying Gunners and the US Army Drill Team which performed routines with bayonet-tipped rifles. The Royal Scots, the oldest infantry regiment in the British Army, celebrates five centuries of history with a pageant during which a number of significant historical events are marked: The Union of the Crown in 1603; Raising of The Royal Scots 1633; and the anniversary of the end of the Korean War in 1953.

After a rather long but pleasant walk back to our hotel I fell straight into bed and slept soundly the entire night, oblivious to the sounds of all night partying that Emily and Kathy were treated to. The next morning after breakfast we set off to the Tourist Information Office and made plans for our Inverness adventure.

Tattooed!

Emily’s Take

Deja Vu - we saw you in London

Got up and went to Edinburgh. Went to the Tattoo store, got the tickets...got on tour bus...got off at top of hill. Went down, had tea and lunch..met a nice family from Oregon. Decided over lunch that instead of taking a long train ride on Kathy's last day here, since she gets train sick..sometimes..then we would go up to Inverness to Loch Ness and she could do that..something she was regretful she wasn’t going to get to do. It was my idea..thank you *bows* I will take all the credit for coming up with it. :)

Swiss Precision Drummers

 Anyway we got into the Tattoo 10 minutes before everyone else because Grams can't walk very well, with her knees like they are. Got up to the Tattoo..and for all of you who don’t know what that is, it ISN’T where you go to get a tattoo. It’s a salute to all of the British and some of the other countries, military troops. It is totally awesome. We had really nice seats, not much leg room though. The Tattoo is very different from anything I have ever seen before. It was a completely beautiful night. Tons of talent. My favorite was the Swiss drummers. They put on an awesome show. Totally in sync. All the shows that I saw were different...Mamma Mia was a musical, Richard III was..well Shakespeare..and the Tattoo was cultural.

We got back to the hotel..Is it too much to ask to go to sleep in this country? Some people were outside just laughing it up and whooping and hollering all night. I kept looking out of the window and as far as I could see, there was no one there..but you could sure hear them. I must’ve gotten up like 5 times..because they wouldn’t shut up... ARGH I say!

Birmingham! - Summer 2003

Emily's Adventure's in Birmingham.

Went to shops, the train station and caught the train to  Nicky's. Changed trains Birmingham from Moor Street Station to New Station. We had to walk, hauling luggage with us.  Larry's bag is going in the trash. It blew up on me in Birmingham. Birmingham is the worst place in the world. I don't EVER want to have to go back there again...AHHH! To get from one train station to the other you have to get off your train, cross a busy street, go through a mall, up cobble stone hills, through another street, go around a corner, cross another street, go over a bridge, over a hill, and then to another intersection- where a lady yells at you. This lady like came up to me and was like, "YOU SHOULD HAVE CROSSED WITH YOUR PEOPLE!" "You were supposed to go!" I just looked at her like..."Who in the crike are you?" and she goes, "Never mind I guess you don?t speak English." I just went across the street...whatever. 

Then we finally arrived at the train station. So anyway, its 100 degrees outside, Larry's bag explodes..in the middle of the street, bottom falls out, rips open...using Luke's rucksack to get back home. There are splinters of wood coming out of the bottom of Larry's and the so-called "wheels" aren’t wheels. It's a health hazard I tell ya!

Went to get on the train. I went to first class and asked if it was and the lady said "Yes," and I said "Good cause we are on first class." She looked at me and like put all of our bags like 10 miles away and then tried to make us sit in these horrible seats and then I said..."You mean to tell me that our bags have to be way back there in the middle of the walk way and you say it's a hazard if they stay there so we have to move them to another cart at another stop, but its not a hazard for people to sit there? We cant have our bags in this cart with us?" And she said, "Are you first class?" I said "Yes" and she goes, "Well why didn’t you tell me that?" I was like ARGH! I did tell her that...It was just NOT a good day..haha..people are weird. 

Then when she knew we were first class she like ushered us in and we didn’t have to do anything from there on. Got off that train, got on another one..Tom told us he would bring us our bags..but he didn’t...

Got to Niky's in Dumbarton, Scotland. Thank God. Ate pasta and konked out. Woke up to these two guys out across the street trying to kill each other. They yelled for like ever. One was shirtless and the other one had on a football type jersey. They had two girls with them except that the girls were in the phone booth crying their eyes out. The guys were like fighting and yelling- obviously drunk. One was shouting and the other one would run across the street and trying to clobber him. I swear I thought someone was going to die. They just kept yelling for a couple of hours. I laid back down and heard someone honk their horn because the guy had run out in the street. I just laid back down and prayed for a while, that someone wouldn’t die. It was a very scary feeling to think that I was going to witness someone dying. Nikki called the cops and the police came and arrested them...

Stratford Upon-Avon - Summer 2003

We left Weston-Super-Mare headed for Stratford, the first stop on our way North to Scotland. It was incredibly hot for the UK. Well heck, it was hot for anywhere. The train that goes to Stratford is kind of a rinky dink one and we had to change a couple of times. This day’s trains were all old, none too clean and, naturally, not air conditioned. But we survived. Adventure is what it's all about, isn't it? We arrived at the station and took a cab to our B&B. It was pretty nice for the price and while it was a way out of town, the local bus stopped right across the street. We were all simply wilted so we did not even try to go into the main part of Stratford but instead took showers and Emily and I napped while Kathy took a walk to look around. Later that evening we went downstairs to the restaurant that was attached and had a very credible dinner.

The next morning we caught the local bus and headed into Stratford to see the sights. The town was wall-to-wall tourists everywhere we went. After walking around the main part of town and checking out the shops I decided to relax along the river bank while Kathy and Emily went to see Shakespeare's birthplace and Trinity Church. I supplied myself with some chilled water, a book, rented a lawn chair, and settled down to watch the world go by. Eventually Kathy and Emily made their way back and we all went in search of a good place to eat a combination lunch/dinner. This is a rather hit and miss business with so many places catering to tourists and I am sad to say that the place we decided on was more miss than hit. But it filled the hollow space in our stomachs and wasn't too pricy so I guess we can't complain too much.

We had tickets for Richard III at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and I for one loved it. Shakespeare certainly did a hatchet job on poor old Richard and didn't miss a lick in giving him afflictions and vices. Kathy also enjoyed it but Emily found it a little heavy going I think. But that's OK, it was an experience for her and she can always say that the first time she ever saw Shakespeare performed was at by the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford on Avon.

It's lucky we got a good night’s sleep that night because the next morning we were up bright and early to start our trip to Scotland. I will leave the telling of that journey to the next journal.

Emily’s Side of the Story

Got on a train to Stratford-upon-Avon...Got to the B&B and turns out some Japanese lady who had been staying there got our room that we had requested downstairs. So instead we had to take her room which was upstairs..so ONCE again we had to lug our stuff UP STAIRS. Okay, maybe this is my red neck side coming out of me, but if I was a B&B owner and someone REQUESTED a room downstairs and someone else wanted it..oh well, shove it. You have been staying here..and NOW you want to change rooms, well if you wanted one downstairs, then that's what you should have asked for. You can't just TAKE someone's room. It would be different if we hadn't ASKED for one downstairs but we had, or if she had like a broken leg or something..but she didn't. She seemed perfectly normal to me. GRR...Apparently the golden rule doesn’t apply in this country. Ok...I am done complaining for now..haha.

Anyway..It was such a HOT day..We had bad trains...No A/C..I had a migraine and felt like I was going to be sick..We all went up to the room..which was like a 12 by 15...we are being generous here.. bunk beds and a full..I went to sleep..Grams went and took a shower and then went to sleep too. Kathy went around and wandered for about three hours...Then we all had dinner at the B&B restaurant. It was good, I had shank of lamb...dessert was ice cream and it was better :)

Kathy and I toured the city. Went to Holy Trinity church, where Shakespeare and family are buried. Grams chilled in the park, reading. We shopped, then stopped at a pub and ate lunch-lasagna and BLT. Bought some more stuff.."Sod off" pen. Found Grams, ate dinner- stunk. Went to the Royal Shakespeare Theater to see the play Richard III. It was long, boring in parts, interesting in some. Glad I went, but was glad to go to sleep as well.


Link to more pictures of Stratford

Salisbury Summer 2003

Salisbury July 2003

We left London on Tuesday morning and after a quick hour on the train arrived in Salisbury around noon. We had booked our rooms via the internet and I was expecting the B&B to be IN Salisbury. We hopped into a taxi, gave him the address and the fellow drove, and drove and drove and finally we asked him where we were going. He said that this particular B&B was in the New Forest area. It turned out to be about 20 miles from Bath. I was hot and aggravated when we got there and I am afraid I wasn't very nice to the poor man who checked us in. Fortunately he was not the type to hold a grudge and when I apologized later he was very sweet about it.

We were way out in the country though. The room was very nice and Kathy amused herself by taking pictures of some cows out the window of our room. After dumping our luggage and gathering up our thoughts, Kathy and I got directions from one of the staff members and walked down the road and took a bus into Salisbury. It was misting rain and had we know what was in store for us for the rest of the trip we would have enjoyed it more. We were in the UK during the worse heat wave they had ever had and for the rest of the time we were there it was miserably hot. We wandered around a small covered mall, checked out the book store, and then made our way back to the bus station for the trip back to the hotel.

We had just about the best dinner we had on the whole trip at the restaurant attached to the B&B that evening. To the vast amusement of some of the other patrons we all took pictures of our food. Then stuffed to the gills, we stumbled off to our room. Because we were burdened down with luggage we took a taxi back into Salisbury and I stayed with the luggage and wrote my London travel journal on my laptop while Emily and Kathy went to see Salisbury Cathedral. Kathy and I both read Susan Howatch's Starbridge Series which was set mostly in the Cathedral and Cathedral Close so it was one of those must go to see places. She took some really great pictures there and I wish I had space to put them all up here in this journal. One of these days I am going to figure out how to do that.

Bob has fixed one of his super Cottage Pies and it was delicious. He explained to us Americans who don't know the difference that a Shepherd’s Pie is made with mutton and a Cottage Pie is made with beef. Whatever! Everything that he cooks is wonderful.

Emily’s Side of the Story 

Left London...took a train to Salisbury. Got there..with all of our suitcases..I hate traveling with those things. GRRR..We thought that our Bed & Breakfast was very close, 9 miles, different town and 20 pound cab fare later, we arrived at New Forrest Inn. "The one with the Deer." <--a little trip HUMOUR just for You :) Grams was mean to the B&B owner, but somehow he deserved it...but after we all apologized and told him that it wasn't him, it was just that we thought that the B&B was in Salisbury...everything was okay. We all went up to our room..it was huge :) I slept while Grams and Kathy walked to the Bus Stop and went into Salisbury and looked around. We, later that night, ate at the Inn, "the one with the deer," and it was the BEST food so far. The Chef was my age...a man that knows how to cook, always a good thing. I had the Shank of Lamb and taters, it was wonderfully done. Superb. My dessert...well I just call it the "doo doo dessert," it wasn’t THAT good, and it looked like a mound of poo...not very appetizing sounding, eh', who cares.

Took a Taxi, and all of our belongings to Salisbury train station to find out if they had a lost luggage area where we could leave it so we could all go to the Salisbury Cathedral. Taxi man was nice :) The man that I asked about the lost luggage area was rude. I said "Do you have a lost luggage area so that we can leave our luggage here to go to the Cathedral?" and he said "No, No." Kathy then said, "Do you have any suggestions?" He replied. "No." And then shoved us off. As Michelle from Full House would say, "HOW RUDE!" We then left Grams, only because she insisted-as she has already seen it, at the train station guarding our luggage. Kathy and I...we are best friends forever :)...went to the Salisbury Cathedral. It is awesome, I say that alot...oh well. I still like Warwick Castle better, but then again they are two totally different things..Our tour guide needed to pluck his eyebrows. Also Canadians aren't Americans...just so we all know..sorry if you are Canadian and reading this..haha. Caught the train back to Weston-Super-Mare. At the train station usually it’s just me and grams and like 10 other people. Today though there were like 200 people there, NOT including us. Some Green Peace thing going on up the way...it was crazy...Got back to Bob and Jenny's finally..Had an amazing Shepherd's Pie..got to get the recipe.  

London, Breen and Cheddar Gorge - Summer 2003

London- Redux

Jeanette’s Version

We are not doing a very good job of keeping up with our belongings. It all started when we left the B&B in Salisbury and discovered after we got to back to WSM that I had walked off and left the folder containing our tickets to Richard III in Stratford lying on the table in our room. We called the B&B and the owner very obligingly sent them to us. Lucky we aren't going to need them for a couple of days so they will have time to get here. Then Emily suddenly discovered that she had left her caricature in the hotel in London. She called them and discovered that when I changed handbags my passport had apparently fallen out on the floor between the bed and the wall and that also Emily had left an undergarment as well. All of this necessitated a return trip to London without delay.

Naturally the first thing we did on arrival was take the underground to the hotel and retrieve my passport and Emily's unmentionable. Sadly the caricature must have been thrown away, so we went back to Covent Garden so that she could get it done again. We are all falling in love with this place and could spend hours there. We pretty much did, wandering through the flea market area and then going across the street to a shop that sold souvenir sport shirts. Emily got a Scottish rugby shirt and a couple of other items.

Tonight was Jorel's birthday so dinner was special for him and there was a cake and presents. He is such a cutie. The present he liked the best was a fancy shirt with flames all over it. After dinner we all just relaxed and visited and watched movies.

The next morning we all loaded up and went down to Breen where Bob's family were all gathering for week of sun, fun and family togetherness. It was an interesting experience for us, especially for Emily and Kathy who had not met Bob's family before and also to go somewhere that was totally different from where tourist's visit. The Chalets were not what we pictured when we first heard the word. We had somehow pictured an A-Frame with little gingerbread house type trimming, although how we figured this to be located on a beach in Devon is beyond me. But it was all different to us and we enjoyed it. Joanne, Emily and Kathy and I went down to the beach in the car. I was amazed at how wide and sandy it was. My prior experience with beaches in Britain had all involved gravel so this was a pleasant surprise. Later on we all went out to a local restaurant/bar/nightclub/disco that we ate in that night. I will leave it to Emily to describe it.

The next morning I went to the beach with the family and later on Jenny drove us back to WSM as we were leaving the next morning for Stratford and The North. On the way we did a little sightseeing through the Mendip Hills. I had visited Cheddar Gorge before but wanted Kathy and Emily to see it. We parked at the end of the main street and made our way slowly up, shop-hopping as we went. We stopped in a lovely tea room and had lunch, topped off with a cream tea which consists of a scone, topped with clotted cream, and strawberry jam. The area around Cheddar is an internationally famous archeological site because of its Late Upper Paleolithic finds (12-13,000 years old) and where Britain's oldest complete skeleton (9,000 years old) was found. It was also an important Roman and Saxon Center, and the site of one of Alfred the Great's strongholds.  It later became famous as the place where Cheddar cheese originated. You can just go in most of the shops and buy a chunk and walk down the street munching on it, which we did.

Emily’s Side of the Story

Got up, caught a train (6:57 AM) which was a straight shot First Class all the way. I crawled under the seats- which most would say is yucky but....who cares...hehe- and I slept. Now, in case you have forgotten, our reasons for heading BACK to London: Grams forgot her passport, and I forgot my blue bra, brown shoes and my caricature...which at the time I thought they may have kept it...yea...right..and they say I am not a blonde. Anyway, got to the hotel..got everything that we had left, except for the beloved caricature- the one where I had big boobies. Got on the underground..."Love is...standing to the right of the escalator." 

Made it to Covent Gardens..almost an hour later..kinda poopy but all we have is time. Saw one of those painted people. He was a bronze man..and he was mean, I asked him to take a picture with him and he said "No.." and he was very mean. Then, every person that wanted to take a picture with him he like had a mean look on his face. I mean..COME ON..you are there to MAKE MONEY. Get a grip on life, you freak. Anyway then Grams and I went to get my caricature done...AGAIN. It is way better than the one that I had done before..just think, if I had gone to that guy in the first place, Kathy and I would have never gotten fondled. Sheesh. Then we all ate at Ponti's..high priced crap :) We then all went shopping...as always..and then we got back on the London Underground. The underground is our friend now. We went to Paddington..and I ate two bagels..yum yum to my tum tum.

We then got on our train home...our "train helper"..well cause I can't really call the person a "stewardess" because well we couldn't figure out if it was a man or woman..and well to be quite frank..we still can't. Hmmmm... There were no muggers on this train..just two chicks who put away a huge bottle of wine.

Got back to Bob and Jenny's..met Steve, Joanne's partner. Had Jorell's birthday party.The cake itself was...spongey...with raspberry JAM in the middle. Then Jorell opened his presents and one of them was a bag with toys in it and he goes, "WOW!" and we were all like, "What is it?" and he goes "I have NO idea." Man it was a hoot. Then he got some videos of Thunderbirds, and he was like, "Awh..Thunderbirds?" Haha it was classic. After that it was pretty late so I laid on the couch and finished watching Harry Potter with Bob and Jenny and then I crashed. Muggles stink :)

Saturday

Bob and I messed with my computer for forever! Finally Bob got my songs that I had downloaded, onto a CD. Then we went to Brean...yay. Off to our chalet..ugh. I felt like we were in the ghetto. Everyone was mad about how gross it was. 630 pounds later you still have to pay for the electric. This is how poopy it was: couch was completely torn up, bed sheets had urine and blood stains on them. No toaster..extra 10 pounds. Microwave- NOT. Jenny took the sodded bed clothes back and had them replaced. Price stickers still on wall pictures. Then later Kathy, Grams, Joanne and I all went to the beach..it was pretty, I got some really good shots..and I wrote in the sand.."Emily 's {bleep}" and I took pictures of that and pictures of me with it :) Then I wrote "Emily Brean 2003" because everytime I go to the beach I write my name in the sand and the year and then we take a picture and my mom has them all..

So anyway... Ate at the "Seagull"....night club/Chuck-E-Cheese gone bad/Pub/restaraunt. Okay but they had a DRESS CODE. The dress code was a dress shirt. There was this guy in there though that had a shirt on that was with his FAMILY, his daughter-young like 3 or 4, and his wife/girlfriend, and he had on a shirt that said "Porn, Beer, Footy." Footy= Football. Now, does that sound like something a dress shirt would say? Anyway, 20 million kids engulfed in smoke, beer, and 30 year olds acting like a Boy Band called "Life, " well, life passed them by while they were singing that awful song. Left at 10 PM and the night life was still going strong..and kids were still there...they must've had dance fever.

Sunday

Got up...Grams went to the beach with the family. Kathy chilled, and I slept. Left there, saying parting words- they were nice :) promise. Went to Chedder Gorge. Ate at "The Wishing Well"..cream teas, cheese and tomato sandwiches. Kathy paid :) I love my best friend forever. Bought some postcards..and I saw this gold plaque thing and it said "On this spot in 1832 nothing happened." Which apparently is a really old joke, but I had never seen it before. Came back to the house...Pilfered through Luke's rucksack, that he left here. Nothing worth stealing :) Sitting here with Gram's reliving the last week of my life, cause I don't keep people up to date. Stuff was left out cause..."What happens on the road, stays on the road." Summer Tour 03..."Don’t let the truth get in the way of a good story." *smiles*

Bath - Summer 2003

There is something faintly just a little different in Bath from the rest of the places I have visited in England. It's a little more European, maybe a little bit Italian. But considering it was first settled by the Romans, maybe that's why. As soon as we arrived I grabbed up Emily and Kathy and shoved then onto one of the ever present Green and Tan tour buses and off we went on a circular tour of the city. The whole area is very impressive. The river Avon cuts through the eastern part of the city of Bath, carving through parks, meadows, and rows and rows of Georgian houses. But the part we are interested in lies between the Abbey and the river. This always formed the border of Bath and in medieval times housed the market gardens and fisheries of the Abbey monks. Nowadays the whole river bank is a good place for strolling with its pubs, parks and even river trips taking you under the bridge and up the river Avon. The river Avon is particularly idyllic here. And below the bridge is a gushing weir which sometimes has fishermen standing in frothing water waiting for trout or breen to go through. Also mallard ducks can be observed on the Avon as well as families of white swans gliding slowly by. Did I read the brochure or what?

As we tootled along, the tour guide pointed out an area of more modern houses. He said that these houses had been built as a result of an urban renewal project carried out by the German Luftwaffe during WWII. I had not realized that Bath had been bombed heavily during WWII. According to our tour bus guide on just two consecutive nights in late April 1942, over 400 people in Bath lost their lives on an essentially senseless attack by the German Air Force here on one of the country's most beautiful and historic cities. I just don't understand this kind of destruction.

One of my few quibbles about Bath is the Parade Gardens. Granted, they are very beautiful and set at water level and they have extensive views of the river - but does Bath Council really have to charge £1.50 to visit? Most cities in the world do not charge for visiting their public parks. The park itself is beautiful with statues, flower beds, deck chairs, topiary covered lawns, and a bandstand; perhaps the charge is due to the upkeep? I can see where the city might figure that this is a good way to tap into the tourist trade and certainly the price is way below what a tourist generally pays for admission to an attraction, but I keep thinking about the locals. How would I feel if I was a resident of Bath and had to pay £1.50 to visit my own city park?

We rode across the Pulteney Bridge and that is one of the coolest places in Bath. All the way across it is lined with the booths for shopkeepers. On my 2001 trip I wandered all across it and the shops and restaurants are worth a look. First of all is a Cornish pasty shop whose delicious smell hits you as you approach. Further on are galleries, souvenir shops, Indian restaurants, tea and antique shops. On the other side a stairway of stone steps descend to the river bank. From here you are just below the bridge and can view its great span from another angle.

.One of the last places we passed before we got off the bus was the Jane Austen Center. I would have liked to go back and seen what they had to offer but we had gotten a late start this morning and there is so much to see in a limited amount of time that you just can't get everything in. After our tour we decided to splurge and go to Sally Lunn’s for lunch. It was nice, but kind of a let down. The food was pretty good, but not outstanding. The prices, now they were outstanding. We did get the waitress to take a picture of the three of us.

After lunch, Kathy and Emily toured the Roman Baths and, since I had toured them before and am also a  little claustrophobic, I decided to sit in the square outside the Cathedral and people watch. There was one of those mime people we keep seeing everywhere we go outside the Cathedral door and it was a hoot to sit there and watch people talk to him and to watch him go through his very slow motion mimed answers. Children get a huge kick out of these characters. This is the first time I have ever seen them, so they must be the latest thing in street performers.

By the time that Kathy and Emily had finished their tour it was about time for us to walk down to the train station and head back to Weston-Super-Mare. Joanne had driven down from Scotland a couple of days ago and had gone straight to Farham to visit with one of her good friends and was driving up to us today. She and kids were supposed to be there by the time we got back and I was looking forward to seeing them.

Emily’s Side of the Story

Got up...went to Bath...It was cool. Sally Lunns's sucked, well maybe not, but it sure wasn't what I expected. It was built in 1482..10 years before Columbus sailed the ocean blue in 1492, and then Sally Lunns came about in 1680. Just a little historical knowledge for you.

Kathy and I then went to the Roman Baths..Grams had already been, plus she gets claustrophobic in those things. The Roman Baths were fun...hot...interesting...packed...the whole of America was there. Tour bus man thought he was funny and cool, but he needed straight teeth, eyebrows plucked, and a haircut to even qualify for the "I am funny and cool," club. He kept calling us all children and there were like 3 kids on the whole bus. Every tour that I have been on-over here, regardless if it’s on a bus or I am touring through something..the guides always ask.."Are there any Australians in the group?" and then there aren’t any, and then they always go "Oh well, doesn’t matter." Then they go, "Are there any Canadians?"..No..."Oh well, wasn’t important anyway." AHHHHHHHH What’s going on here. Then it’s always, "When we fought the French...which is ALWAYS a good idea." HAHA..the Bloody Frenchman.

Left Bath..Came back to the house and met my cousin Joanne for the first time...and her kids Jorell and Jade..they are a hick-a-bob-a-hoot-a-nanny<---you have to say it really fast..its great..*smiles*> The kids are great...funny. Then I called the Holiday Inn in London, because I had left my caricature there...anyway..they threw it away...and Grams left her passport there..and I left my brown shoes and my blue bra..so we had to go BACK to London....Then we crashed...

More to come...will write the rest of the installments on the train tomorrow...don’t know when it will get posted...cause we will be up north for 2 wks...but hopefully will get done sooner than 2 weeks...stuff was left out cause..."What happens on the road, stays on the road."