What are you all up to
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We returned to Shrewsbury as OH wanted to do a couple of drawings of things seen yesterday. We called into the Museum and Art Gallery for a cuppa and saw this bronze of Wilfred Owen. Those who know their WW1 history will know of him as a war poet who was tragically killed just one week before the Armistice was signed. The coliseum figure is of St.Michael and the coliseum is dedicated to the local Shropshire regiments
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@Bakers2 thanks for the Peterborough heads up👍
We are having a great time in Edinburgh. Been to lovely North Berwick on train today, easy half hour from Waverley Station. Zoo for us two tomorrow. Will catch up properly when back home.
OH and chum bird spotting. They are both gazing at Bass Rock.
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I recognise that stance @Takethedogalong , having done it myself! Enjoy the zoo.
We drove the short distance to Swettenham, firstly for a walk through the Davenport estste before lunch then had a look in 16C St Peter's Church, which has been greatly changed during restoration in the 1720s and 1800s. The interior is quite simple, the main interest is the modern organ built by Noel Mander for Sir Bernard Lovell, who was the church organist for 40 yrs. We then had a wander through the Lovell-Quinta Arboretum.
The Mander's church organ and the carved norman style arches.
Early Rhodedendron in flower,Camelias and Daffodils and a ancient oak that caught my eye.
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Our 17 year old grand-daughter in N.Ireland was playing in the girls schools cup rugby final today, she was team captain and scrum half (the same position as her father and OH used to play) and luckily we were able to watch the match livestreamed online. (she sent us the link) Isn't tecnology wonderful! It was so wonderful to see her play and so well. - she converted a try so much cheering here. I have to admit though that my heart was in my mouth every time she was tackled and pulled down.
After a foggy start it is a lovely sunny day here.
I am so enjoying your photos @Wherenext and so pleased to hear that your OH is now less stressed. I hope you are enjoying the same good weather as us. It is a good few years since we last visited Shrewsbury.
Great photos from @nelliethehooker as well.
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Well done to your GD @milliehull. Not something you would have written 30 years ago so good to see an enlightenment finally breaking through in woman's sports.
We had a lovely wander home today, going slightly off piste to visit 2 very contrasting churches. The first one was at a small village called Alberbury, a few miles west of Shrewsbury. The church is huge bearing in mind the size of the village but a lot of the funding came from a wealthy land owning family. A church of some sort is said to have stood on the site from 700 but obviously its been modernised since then when, say from 1200s , when boundary disputes between the nearby Welsh and local English subsided a little. The interior roof is magnificent and a few of the windows also special.
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Part 2. We then drove a short distance to the village of Melverley and St.Peters, one the oldest timber, wattle and daub churches in the UK. A bit of shame that the mist hadn't quite lifted. Its in stark contrast to the other church in it's simplicity. The original church was burnt down by Owain Glyndwr, a well known Welsh rebel/hero in these parts. That was in 1402 or thereabouts but a new church built just a few years later. They still have a chained Bible and an extremely simple altar.
We then meandered home in hazy sunshine. Now raining, welcome home 😁.
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Very well done to your granddaughter @milliehull did they win?
A couple of interesting churches @Wherenext how did you come across them? Thanks for the fine photos.
It was another sunny start to the day and we had a trouble free tow home, arriving at lunchtime. Caravan all emptied out and OH was able to get two rounds of washing done and pegged out for a couple hours. It had been around 16C for much of the afternoon but there was a very rapid drop in temperature just before 4 and it got quite chilly.
Shortly after sunrise this morning, Sahara dust sunshine.
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Car went in for MOT and service, yesterday - and it passed and no advisories, so I was pleased. Seemed to spend the whole day like an expectant father, waiting for the phone to ring to give me the news one way or the other😂.
Made a very sharp phone call to Amazon customer services, this morning. Yesterday, a new iPad I had bought for Ros, arrived - but not until 7.30 pm. Light left on, over the front door so that delivery driver could see the doorbell etc. First thing I knew that it had been delivered was when an email popped up on my phone, telling me. No doorbell, no knock on the door - nothing. Meg didn't even bark which she always does if someone comes to the door. It had just been left outside the front door in full view of anyone passing. According to the email it had been "handed to the resident". Given the value of it, I was fuming when I went outside to collect it. Trouble is, this is by no means the first time this has happened and it all appears to stem from the opening of a new distribution centre just outside Hull - and, presumably, an influx of new drivers.
The young lady I spoke to got a piece of my mind and she promised they would start an investigation, but I'm not holding my breath.
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It's been a difficult few days as my eldest son's step daughter, Isabella, has been stuck in Dubai where she was on holiday with her cousin from Canada. Apparently they are now safely back in the UK. She works for BA so could have even found herself in the same position had she been at work?I am sure she is used to dealing with difficult situations but you don't end up in a war zone everyday!
David
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Glad to hear they ars safely back @DavidKlyne. There are some friends of ours who are in New Zealand and have been 'forced' to extend tbeir holiday. They flew with Emerates. To swap to Quantas was going to cast them £7000, so they've decided to stay a little longer!! 🙂
David
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@DSB Yes David I expect there will be lots of people in a similar situation and hearing some of the comments on the News I am not sure how helpful insurance companies are?
David
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Hi @nelliethehooker - Years ago I bought a book dedicated to Churches, principally in England. It only mentioned those that had at least 1 memorable reason for a visit. The book was already second hand and it broke the churches down into counties, it's currently in the van so if want to know the title let me know and I'll look tomorrow. Some churches in Wales got a mention. I use that as a starting point. However I know the there are Church trust sites set up in most counties and Shropshires is more active than most. Try https://www.nationalchurchestrust.org/explore/central-england/shropshire.
The national churches trust website will give you a county to look at but many of the churches in Shropshire have a free leaflet "Guide to Shropshire's Churches" inside them.
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Glad to hear that your car has passed it's MOT @richardandros it is always a worrying time waiting to hear that it's gone through without any problems.
Thanks for the link @Wherenext we have picked up the guide to Herefordshire churches and will certainly look out for the Shropshire one. The title of the book would be very handy too.
After a dull start the day gradually brightened up and we had late afternoon sunshine. The morning was taken up with a visit to Specsavers for OH to pick up her replacement glasses followed by a bit of shopping and a walk around the park, and after lunch I was able to get the car washed, as it was filthy after our trip. It now needs a good polish and a hoover out, but that will have to wait until I can get the caravan clean.
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We are back home after a really good four days away. We are exhausted though, not used to packing so much into a day, and we have walked a lot of miles, much of it up and down Edinburgh hills. I planned things carefully, trains, hotel location, meals, things to do and see, and everything worked out really well. Didn’t quite manage to see and do everything, but we can save those for next time. Blessed with the weather as well. We could see thick snow up on the hills around Edinburgh, but it’s been lovely in the city and along to North Berwick. Edinburgh was heaving with French visitors today, all in town for tomorrow’s big game at Murrayfield. Berets and Tricolours everywhere.
Zoo King Penguins strutting their stuff. The Gentoo penguins were hilarious picking up pebbles to build their nests, the pebbles are painted by children in the local hospitals, and there’s a live stream camera for them to watch.
Always one of my favourite animals, a Pygmy Hippo.
Another lovely church seat dog carving, this time in The Thistle Chapel in St Giles Cathedral.
Panoramic view from up on the Castle ramparts. There’s quite a bit of building work going on, including something happening to the old Jenners building.
Edward Burne Jones window in St Giles.
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Hi @Takethedogalong - good to see you had a great time. Also good to see you enjoyed the same benevolent weather we enjoyed at the same time in Shrewsbury. The sun shining on the Righteous methinks.🤣
@nelliethehooker - The book is an old 1980 version titled "Collins Guide to Parish churches in England and Wales", with a foreword from John Betjeman. I picked it up from a Book Emporium in mid Wales, Askam Bryan, for £2. The subject matter isn't going to change much. I use it as a pointer and then do further research.
Not a great deal happening today. To town on Market day but mainly for meds for OH and a visit for library books. It looked warm in hazy sunshine but it was lying. At least it was dry.
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We have Simon Jenkins’ 1000 best churches book. Bit of a tome to carry around, but good for reference before starting a trip. Don’t always agree with his thoughts, but a good starter. Big cathedrals and Abbeys have the “wow” factor, but some of the smaller churches are absolute gems for originality and things of unusual interest, including their churchyards. I love medieval carvings, so always poking around under misericords and behind curtains.
Weather is same here @Wherenext it looked lovely, but I decided to do a short walk from Mum’s, hadn’t taken a coat, and ended up the wrong side of chilly. But thankfully dry. Hoping to get into garden tomorrow.
Anyone interested, it’s Strade Biancchi today, Women’s and Men’s.🚴🚴♀️
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We left home yesterday afternoon and spent the night at our usual CL in Longtown. Got up this morning to misty weather but it soon cleared up to bright sunshine as we left. Easy 3 hour tow down here today would have quicker but there were a few areas of 40 and 50mph restrictions on the motorway around the Lakes. Not sure what was going on but there were a couple of sections s of the M6 northbound completely closed with lots of police cars parked up on the carriageway but no sign of any accident. Set up here on site now for the next week just been out to stock up may take a walk to the pub down the road for a drink but it may be busy so might just have a drink in the van tonight.
@Takethedogalong glad you enjoyed Edinburgh our second oldest stays over there so we are there quite a lot
Hope everyone else is having a nice weekend
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Hope you enjoy your stay at Chester @Francis. I don't know if you've ever been to the North West Museum of Road Transport in St.Helens but if not its the sort of place right up your street. Not too far to travel either if you go over the bridge at Runcorn (pay online). There's a small chance we might be passing the Chester site sometime early next week to go to the dealers just up the motorway from you. If so I'll let you know and we'll pop in to say hello. Strangely we will be at Rake Hall having lunch with my cousin and her OH on the Monday after. We'll probably be ships passing in the night though.
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@Takethedogalong glad you had a good time in Edinburgh I have only been once from my old company in Redditch so really did not have much time to see much stayed in a posh hotel opposite to Scott memorial only 2 nights but saw a lot of it from the air when plane was coming into land and take off.
Been busy in the garden today putting in some perennials that I got reduced in a local sale 1 euro each although they are small but should do ok and a small shrub plus some grasses, then some strimming and a bit of mowing in a few areas and OH busy putting new brake discs and brake pads on the front of his Toyota Rav awhile since he has done that on other vehicles but all done and all ok after a run around the village he got the discs on a local sale site very good price and pads from Amazon so all done for under 80 euros as he said it would have been nearer to 400 to 500 euros at a Toyota dealers so he is a bit tired now so a lazy day tomorrow as rain in forecast.
We also got rid of our Lunar caravan last week had a few issues with it so sold it cheap and glad it has gone and just got our little Adria looks a lot smaller where the Lunar was parked and looking forward to getting away in May at long last as 2 years since we have been away in it.
Enjoy the rest of your weekend folks.
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Thanks again @Wherenext I will have a search for it on line for starters.
@Francis the police were carrying out investigations following a probable suicide. A truck driver found body parts on his wagon when he stopped at Tebay Services and the police were able to identify where the body had struck the wagon. Details on the North Yorkshire Weather Updates Facebook page from 8hrs ago. Enjoy your stay at Chester.
We had a very misty dart to the day, but it gradually cleared and the sun came out. It was pleasantly warm in the sun but still chilly in the shade. I managed to go over out both the car and the caravan after an early morning bus trip into town. Watched much of the rugby, with a great win for Scotland and a rather humiliating defeat for England. No real surprise with the result of the man's Stade Biancchi @Takethedogalong was it? Grand photos from your trip to Edinburgh, glad you enjoyed it and had decent weather too.
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@nelliethehooker If you are In in Gloucestershire I can recommend Kemply which is a small village about 6 miles from Ross on Wye. It has 2 churches one is early 11th century and the second is arts and crafts
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If ever you are our way @Takethedogalong / @nelliethehooker..(Polesworth Abbey, N Warwickshire), do let me know. You will be most welcome to visit…
David
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@DSB thank you. We are on a mission to visit as many Abbeys, Cathedrals, Minsters as we can, so you will be on the list👍
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@Wherenext Glad you enjoyed your stay at Oxon Hall, thanks for posting photos. We like Shrewsbury, have stayed there about 3 times now, for the ease of travelling by bus into town. Have also visited the Museum a couple of times now.
@nelliethehooker Thanks for posting photos; one of the places you visited, Little Moreton Hall, we visited a while ago, and really enjoyed it too, very interesting.
@Takethedogalong The photos of Edinburgh are really good; also a while since we were there. I remember visiting the Museum on the Mound amongst other things, very interesting.
Hoping to get away this coming week, been doing some gardening and other "jobs", so now ready to get awy again 😁
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Not a bad day today we went out early afternoon to New Brighton and had a good walk along the prom it was very misty so couldn’t get a great view but saw a couple of tankers coming up the river and could just about make out Everton’s new stadium (will go and see it properly during the week) nice walk but a bit chilly. Then went to Port Sunlight to the garden centre and got a couple of things surprisingly quiet. Came back to the van and went to the nearby pub for a pint thought it would be busy being a Sunday afternoon but wasn’t too bad. Good result for our team today in the old firm. Site was almost full last night but lots of vans left this morning but still quite busy for the time of year.
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Thanks @DSB I will certainly let you know if we are in the area, we have not yet visited Polesworth Abbey. Hope all goes well with your trip. Last week the cheapest fuel in that area was at Sainsbury's and Asda in Northwich, and Tesco was slightly dearer but had no diesel!!
Cheers for the info @Oneputt we like the area around Ross, and have visited quite a few churches thereabouts.
@Takethedogalong I was listening to an Open Country podcast on BBC Sounds about Savernake Forest and the Church of St Mary, Great Bedwyn was mentioned as it contains the tomb and effergy of Sir John Seymour of Wolfhall. Sounded like one for the list!
It started off misty again today and although that lifted it didn't brighten up all day, and we had rain later in the afternoon. However I was able to get the outside of the caravan cleaned and Bobby Dazzled in preparation for our next trip.
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👍👍 @nelliethehooker and @Takethedogalong ... and for the heads up for the fuel prices, Nellie.
David
P.S. Should anyone else want to visit Polesworth Abbey, just let me know...
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After a nice sunny weekend, today is grey and wet. As many of you will have seen, we have been swithering over buying a new caravan at our age, but the decision has now been taken to go ahead with the purchase.
We have had good use over the past 18 years from our present van, it has travelled over 50,000 miles with us, but it has an economically not sensible to repair problem, apparently known as a “floating front end” , which will only get worse with time. And now the mover has conked out and the tyres need to be replaced, so time to move on.
Yesterday we went with DD and the boys to take a really good look at the Bailey Cadiz, single axle, 2 fixed single beds, which we thought would be ideal for both us and DD. The boys tested the beds, and approved them, as did the rest of us, DD took lots of pictures, tested the make-up front double bed, OH had her list of questions, which were all answered, so we have paid a deposit and signed on the dotted line. The dealer has 2 in stock, the display one in the showroom and one that nobody has trampled through, which is now reserved for us. They will fit a Powertouch mover, we will take delivery at the end of April.We have the option to either sell our current van ourselves, or trade it in, we do not need to decide immediately. We have some stuff to remove from the van, and, more problematic, we need to work out how to extract it from its present parking place in our son’s yard.
We are most likely going to take the easy option of a trade in, in which case we have been advised by our dealer that we should not spend money on repairing the mover or fitting new tyres, they are happy to take it as it is. They will not sell it to anyone, but pass it on to another dealer. The fittings in the van are probably worth more as “spares” than the trade in price we will receive.
The big problem will be how to get it back out of our son’s yard without a mover. We can pull it forward a bit with the car, but then it needs to be turned 180 degrees to exit the yard, by hand, as I am pretty sure there is not enough space to turn it with the car. The entrance to the yard is not straight, so reversing it out would be very tricky, with stone walls and gateposts on both sides. I think we will need to gather 6 strong helpers!
Meantime, DD needs to organise getting a towbar fitted.
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