Bluebell Wood with Mark and Dee

This morning dawned with the sun shining for once. After a leisurely breakfast at Bistro Pierre in Stockton Heath, we came back to take a walk in the Bluebell woods around Mark and Dee's house.

Our House

I didn't think I would want to see the house but suddenly I realised that I needed to see it one last time. I felt nothing, no tugging of heart strings to move back in, no longing to transport it to Australia. It was a kind of closure I guess. I was pleased to see that the family renting it were apparently enjoying it, with a bouncy castle in the garden and a party in full flow with seven cars parked in the drive. The canal, which runs beside the house, was busy with narrow boats going up and down. Further down the canal is a very low bridge which can only take one boat at a time. Before motorised boats the crew could push the boat through by lying on the deck and pushing off with their feet on the ceiling of the bridge.

Reunion

Wednesday evening,after driving to Warrington, I met up with the most wonderful people you could wish to work with. I was so thrilled that so many met up with me, especially as the weather threw everything at us including torrential rain, wind etc . We laughed, hugged, cried and ate our way through the evening. I really miss these guys.

Warwick Castle

Tuesday Stuart,Pat,Simon and I went off to Warwick Castle. It turned out to be the loveliest day yet with warm sunshine and lots of historical
explorations.Pat and I did think of leaving the boys in the stocks for the day! We climbed the towers, visited the gaol, I was ordered to the battle field of the Duke of Warwick because I could sew and met King Hal! We also discovered the Lovell coat of arms and learned that a branch of the Lovells was transported to Australia as a convict! So that's why I feel so at home there.

One Extra For Dinner

Adam sprung a surprise visit to Bromsgrove on Sunday evening, just hopped on a train and there he was. It was wonderful to see him and we are so grateful to Pat and Stuart for having him. Monday was a Bank Holiday here and we planned a train journey to Bridgenorth on a 1934 steam locomotive. It was wonderful, like being on a Poirot set or in a Harry Potter film. Why they have to modernize trains I do not know, the private compartment, luxurious seats that you just sink into and that glorious age of steam, when trains had character. The English countryside was wonderful BUT it was so cold and wet! Once in Bridgenorth we decided it was too unpleasant to hang about and got back on the train and headed for home. Adam caught his train back to London and the four of us went out for a lovely meal and then back to a round (or two) of G&T's and,in my case, hot toddy

Back Tracking

We have been so hectic since we arrived that I have not had a chance to blog. So where are we? OK Sunday last started out as a leisurely affair with a visit to Webbs garden centre, a treat for all would-be horticulturists. I had arranged to meet up with my cousin Anne in the afternoon after she had visited my Uncle but a certain person sprung a surprise on us and arrived in time for dinner!

A Chilly Bromsgrove

Saturday morning and it is another grey and very cold day. Simon and I ventured into Bromsgrove to buy a mobile phone but I just had to go into the Edinburgh Woollen Mill to buy a warm sweater, the cold wind just going right through me. Uncle Vic came out of hospital for a few hours to have lunch and to cut their 60th wedding anniversary cake. In the afternoon Simon and I went to Harvington Hall , an Elizabethan house built in 1580's by Humphrey Parkington. This moated manor house has many rooms still having their original Elizabethan wall hangings and the finest series of priests hiding places anywhere in the country.

Tudor banquet.. the lady of the house cutting the meat.

Elizabethan Dunny

Harvington Hall, Kidderminster