I didn't get here this trip but look Mum: The White Cliffs of Dover (Not really - this is the same geological feature but is further south along the coast)
Ken walking dogs along a country path
Ken & Ros point to the Musket holes made by Cromwell's soldiers 
Pub built circa 1645 where we had lunch today 
Downtown Birmingham 
Church built 1209 
Jenny showing me Florence Nightingale's Writing Set 
View from my windowThanks Qantas for a wonderful flight on the newest 380 of the fleet. It was only 2 weeks old and flew very smoothly. Highly recommend the business class seats – thanks Benn.
My friend Ken was there at London’s Heathrow Airport to meet me on Wednesday morning. The last time I visited his home (Vicarage - his wife is a Vicar of 4 churches in this area) was 11 years ago). Their current Vicarage is in Padbury, about 50 miles NE of London, and we went past where they film the Vicar of Dibley to get here. The town was first inhabited by the Saxons in the 600’s. One of the churches where Ros is a Vicar was built in 1209. Another was shot at by Cromwell’s soldiers in the 1620's and the holes made by their musket balls are still in the original heavy wooden door. Hard to believe the history around this place! Their daughter Jenny is the warden at a nearby National Heritage listed property called Claydon House built in the mid to late 1700's. Although the House is closed up until the season re-opens on the 12 March, she gave me a personal guided tour. The rooms are all covered in dust sheets etc, but she pulled some covers off to show me specific displays. The house is famous for Florence Nightingale fans, as her sister was married to the Lord at that time. Florence spent 3 months of summer here every year from 1857 to 1890, and her room is preserved just how it used to be. The view from her room is rather beautiful.
The weather here is cool by my standards, with a max of 12 C each day. There was some drizzle yesterday morning, but today has been fine. The sun even came out both afternoons. Today we went to lunch in a pub built around 1645. Afterwards Ros had to meet with the organist from one of her churches, so the dogs were packed in the car, and while Ros was in the meeting, Ken & I took the dogs for a walk around the Parish boundary - probably just over one mile. Helped to walk off the big lunch. As you can see the area is quite countrified, and in season you will come across pheasants, hedgehogs, hare, badgers and foxes. Unleaded petrol is £2.10 litre. Ouch! Tomorrow I fly about 1.5 hrs to Copenhagen and meet up with Kim at 12.30pm. Very excited.
My friend Ken was there at London’s Heathrow Airport to meet me on Wednesday morning. The last time I visited his home (Vicarage - his wife is a Vicar of 4 churches in this area) was 11 years ago). Their current Vicarage is in Padbury, about 50 miles NE of London, and we went past where they film the Vicar of Dibley to get here. The town was first inhabited by the Saxons in the 600’s. One of the churches where Ros is a Vicar was built in 1209. Another was shot at by Cromwell’s soldiers in the 1620's and the holes made by their musket balls are still in the original heavy wooden door. Hard to believe the history around this place! Their daughter Jenny is the warden at a nearby National Heritage listed property called Claydon House built in the mid to late 1700's. Although the House is closed up until the season re-opens on the 12 March, she gave me a personal guided tour. The rooms are all covered in dust sheets etc, but she pulled some covers off to show me specific displays. The house is famous for Florence Nightingale fans, as her sister was married to the Lord at that time. Florence spent 3 months of summer here every year from 1857 to 1890, and her room is preserved just how it used to be. The view from her room is rather beautiful.
The weather here is cool by my standards, with a max of 12 C each day. There was some drizzle yesterday morning, but today has been fine. The sun even came out both afternoons. Today we went to lunch in a pub built around 1645. Afterwards Ros had to meet with the organist from one of her churches, so the dogs were packed in the car, and while Ros was in the meeting, Ken & I took the dogs for a walk around the Parish boundary - probably just over one mile. Helped to walk off the big lunch. As you can see the area is quite countrified, and in season you will come across pheasants, hedgehogs, hare, badgers and foxes. Unleaded petrol is £2.10 litre. Ouch! Tomorrow I fly about 1.5 hrs to Copenhagen and meet up with Kim at 12.30pm. Very excited.
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