December 26, 2009 - Boxing Day

Greetings All,

Christmas is over and we are on our way back to Liverpool. We left London on a sunny balmy day with the temperature 9C. The snow is all gone and the grass is green again. The roads were clear though somewhat busy around the roadworks on the motorway and we saw a rainbow on M6. The trip home took just over four hours as we had a quick stop for a washroom break and shared a sandwich. The roads got busier as we approached Liverpool as there was a game on at Liverpool, Liverpool versus Wolverhampton Wanderers. Good news, Liverpool won 2-0, a good end to 2009 at Anfield.

We hope you've enjoyed this segment of our travel blog and our first Christmas in the UK. We wish You all a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year.

Ta Ra for now,

Sandy & Fred

December 25, 2009 - Christmas Day

Merry Christmas All,

Christmas Day is finally here and for Fred and I it was a very relaxing day. John and Adrienne have a very specific routine and we stayed out of their way as they organized and prepared Christmas dinner for 6 of us. Joining us for dinner was Stewart and Janet, friends from Ascot just outside of London. They arrived around 1:00 p.m. for Proseco and hors d'oeuvres which were supplied by Janet and Stewart.

Supper was turkey, roast potatoes, mashed brussel sprouts, fried parsnip sticks, sausage stuffing, cranberries and gravy plus copious amounts of great Italian wine. Dessert consists of seven different items, from sweets to cheese and crackers. We all enjoyed our meal, each others company and it was a relaxing afternoon and evening with Portia supplying the entertainment displaying her gift opening skills for Stewart and Janet.

Fred and I had clean up duty after the guests left and we all relaxed for a night cap before heading off to bed. John and Adrienne have been very gracious hosts and we had an excellent week in London and a fantastic Christmas.

Cheers,

Sandy & Fred

December 24, 2009 - Christmas Eve

Seasons Greetings All,

We had a fairly relaxing day with a bit of last minute shopping for Christmas dinner for John and Adrienne. We had an early dinner of Duck Lasagna and salad and then headed off to the Royal Albert Hall for the Christmas Carol Concert. John had purchased seats for us with a great view of the stage on the first level off the floor. The concert is fantastic with the Mozart Festival Chorus and the Mozart Festival Orchestra in period dress, a reader and a guest soprano, Rebecca Bottone. To top it all we also get to participate by singing carols at certain times during the concert.

Now for a bit of history of the carol. The carol was a form of both song and dance long before it was associated with Christmas or Christianity. In the times of ancient Greeks choros was the word for circling dance and the chorus that preformed it. This was thought to be a forerunner for the carol and was so popular and entertaining that even Plato frowned on people giving such performances just for pleasure. Now over time the modern word carol comes from old French 'carole' meaning song of joy. This also began as courtly dancing and song in medieval times. This practice spread where by it reached England in about 1300 it was a popular form which told stories and celebrated religious themes not only during Christmas but other festive times like Easter. Until the 16th century there were three types of carol: serious ones for religious use, those by famous composers sung by professional choirs and cheerful ones for dancing. In Elizabeth I's time the sacred part of the carols became more important. For a while in the 17th Century under Cromwell any carols were considered frivolous and as such were suppressed. It was not until 1660 that carols came back but were not heard in church and were sung by the common people often on Christmas Eve going from door to door. These carols were passed on to families and children by word of mouth or song and were not written down until much later in 1846 when Queen Victoria made carols popular again as part of the whole re-invention of Christmas. Since 1878 carols were now very popular and a big part of our Christmas celebration.

After the concert we headed back to the flat for dessert and to open presents. A Christmas Eve tradition that John and Adrienne have. It is also one that my family (Sandy) used to have when we were older, as my Dad worked afternoons and would come home around 11:00 p.m. He would shower and change and we would have a buffet meal and open presents allowing everyone to sleep in and for my Dad get some much needed rest. Portia, John and Adrienne's Westie, loves Christmas and opening presents. She is quite talented at it and we were all entertained by her. With presents opened, we all headed off to bed after a Great Night!

We hope Santa was good to you all,

Sandy & Fred

December 23, 2009 - Hyde Park & Sake Tasting

Seasons Greetings All,

Today found us heading off to Hyde Park to check on the festivities happening there. The weather had warmed up in London and we were not plagued by the snow and ice as the rest of the nation seemed to be. The newspapers were saying this is the worst weather that they have had in the last 25 years. To us it is just good old Canadian
winter weather, which by the way we had hoped to leave behind. Anyway I am repeating myself but just let me say a spring coat today would have been good rather than the fake fur I was wearing. It was way to hot for the Tube.

A section of Hyde Park has been made into a Winter Wonderland Fairground that is set up to look like a Bavarian Village. There are rides for the kids, a skating rink, stalls selling food, trinkets, beer, mulled wine and sweets. We wandered around checking out the sites and I took a number of pictures for my Facebook site. We grabbed lunch at one of the stalls Fred had roasted pig, stuffing and apple sauce on a ciabatta bun and I had a sausage on a bun. From the park we walked along Knightsbridge Road. I remark that if we go down a street that we passed we would be walking back towards the flat, Fred responds you are right. Before he can ask or wonder how I knew that given my good sense of direction I let the cat out of the bag. There was a sign for The Nag's Head a pub we have frequented on previous occasions and I know we have walked from there no problem.

It started raining so we opt to take the tube back to Victoria Station rather than walk. That was a Big Mistake, it is hot, crowded and I am overdressed. At Victoria we escape to the outside and despite the rain, which now is only a light shower it is a relief to be in open air and make the short walk back to the flat.

Tonight we headed out for a sake tasting at Zuma's. This is generally a Christmas Eve Tradition of John and Adrienne's. However, because the carol concert at Royal Albert Hall is earlier this year we are doing it tonight. Our first tasting is a warm sake Dewazakura Oka and it is very good. The next is a cold sake Kokuryu-Jumai-ginjo. it is also very good. Zuma itself looks to be quite an interesting restaurant, a place to try in the future. We then head to a pub where we had hoped to have supper but it was crazy busy and loud so we headed off to the Thomas Cubitt. It is a pub near the flat. Pints of beer for the guys, wine for the gals and fish and chips all round. At the flat a night cap of wine for John and Sandy, while Fred samples one of the beers he purchased at the market (Bateman's Victory Ale). A good night was had by all.

Cheerio,

Sandy & Fred

December 22, 2009 - Christmas Season in London

Season's Greetings All,

We left Liverpool on the 20th in sleet and snow reaching finally dry roads just south of Birmingham. The weather in the UK has taken a turn for the worst and according to the papers one of the worst seasons in years. That figures, seems to be our luck in getting Canadian like conditions while we are away from good old Ontario. I guess the good lord just wants us to feel like we're at home where ever we may be. The weather was so bad that the airports in Manchester and Gatwick closed down in order to clear the snow and de-ice the runways. The chunnel was also affected with people being trapped in the tunnel as well as stranding people in France, Belgium and England.

On Monday Fred and I went window shopping to look at the decorations in the major stores. Hamleys, a major toy store, Fortnum and Mason also known as the Queens Store and a few others on Regent Street are well decorated with Christmas themes. Harrods was a disappointment as the windows were mostly covered with paper and signs announcing % off sales. As it started to rain, we decided lunch was in order and stopped in a Pub called The Bunch of Grapes not too far from Harrods. It really poured down while we ate lunch so we cut our walking short and headed back via the Tube. The rain later turned to snow which I personally much prefer to rain. After supper John took us on a tour of the lights.

Oxford and Bond Streets as well as Regent St. were well lit. Sloane Square was also done very nicely. Disappointingly, Buckingham Palace, Tower Bridge and the Parliament Buildings were not lit. John told us that in past years they have been much better. I guess everyone is cutting back. I must make note that they do not go out in decorating homes with lights like they do in Canada just the big department stores and town squares.

On Tuesday we all went to Borough Market to get supplies for Christmas dinner.
The fresh produce here always amazes me. The variety and size of the fruits and veggies is incredible. The beer stall is a hit with the guys. Some of the Christmas beers come in 24oz bottles and again a vast array of varieties. Well stocked with goodies we head back to the flat. After lunch Fred and I head off to finish a bit of shopping then go for a walk along the Thames Embankment. We walked down to the London Eye across the bridge by the Parliament Buildings then back to the flat with a stop at the Morpeth Pub to wet our whistles and to give Fred a chance to warm up as it has turned rather frosty. A large square of around 2 1/2 miles in all for our walk today. Later, back at the flat we are entertained by John and Adrienne in the Kitchen. John baking and Adrienne tidying and providing advice, not a good combination. The treats are yummy all the same in the end and they survive the experience of the two cooks in the kitchen that have very different styles.

Cheers,


Sandy & Fred

December 18, 2009 - Christmas Season in Liverpool

Seasons Greetings All,

I though I would give you a quick update of what has been happening with us since our return from Ontario and before we head to London to take in the sites and celebrate Christmas with John, Adrienne and Portia. My body clock continues to be screwed up after a week and a bit home so we have tried various ways to try and get back to a normal sleep pattern for me, as Fred has had no problems at all.

Wednesday the 16th we went to the football match, an 8:00 p.m. kick-off so during the day we headed into town for some money and a late pub lunch. For those of you who don't know how food ordering works in the UK, you go to the bar get your drinks and order your food, give your table number and the food is then brought to your table. While waiting to be served at the bar Fred sees a very good looking young girl approach the bar and ask the bartender if the All Day Breakfast is still being served. A young lad also waiting responds "Yes that's why they call it a ALL Day Breakfast" I asked Fred if she was blonde (sorry to my blonde friends and family) but he responded no though her hair was light coloured. The game was a good one Liverpool won 2-1 and I am allowed to go another time as Liverpool have not lost a game when I'm in attendance. LOL some good luck charm !

Thursday, after our haircuts we checked out the Christmas lights at Liverpool One and the Ferris Wheel which we have nicknamed "The Liverpool Eye". To ride the wheel is 6 pounds and the line up is huge so no pictures from the top of the wheel. For those of you on Facebook I have posted pictures. The weather has finally turned cold and our Canadian winter coats have finally come in handy. There has been no snow in Liverpool but some has fallen further north and in the areas surrounding London. The weather in Liverpool has been for the most part dry and sunny with a bit of rain on the odd day.

Here is a bit of trivia for you to ponder on as well. The following was in the Liverpool Echo a while back:

Wine Labels Gets 'Scouse' Translation:

A convenience chain is trialling wine labels written in local slang - including Scouse.

Spar is in the process of redesigning its labels and one idea was to tailor a wine blurb for each region.

A label for a Merlot was "translated" to fit regional languages.

The original read:
" A truly great Merlot which is ablaze with succulent blackcurrants and blueberries. This Merlot has legs like a thoroughbred, strong and forward, which tantalises your palate. Its full bouquet is a delight for your nose and will leave you yearning for more. This isn't a wine for the faint-hearted."

For Scousers it said:
"A totally boss bottle of Merlot which smells o' blackberry, choccie, a brew and toffees. Juicy and complex like, this bevey is top wi most scran 'specially me ma's scouse. Tellin ye, this is deffo a bevey that will leave youz and youz mates made up over yez Sayers pastie.

Well that is about it for now until we head to London on Sunday .
Take care and look out for our blog of our London Christmas experience.

Ta Ra,

Sandy & Fred

November 22 - December 8, 2009 - Canada

Greetings All,

Our time in Ontario was extremely busy upon our return from Mexico. We did have a chance to relax and enjoy with the Hosier/Pagazani clan. We had forgotten the great fun and chaotic time young kids can bring to a household. From Monday we found ourselves on the go to doctors appointments, banking updates,lunch with our good friends the Hummel's and Hickey's and finally Thursday we headed down to visit my mom. Sunday November 29th saw us back to the Hosier/Pagazani household for more great meals and a day to catch our breath.

Tuesday found us at the dentist where I took all the time so Fred ended up having to return, lunch with Barb our banker in Ajax branch and a catch up on old and current times.

Wednesday December 2nd found us off to Peterborough to visit Meaghan's mom Josie and her significant other Jim and to drop of Christmas gifts for Christopher and Meaghan. We had a game of One Eyed Jacks were the women remain victorious over the men but just barely. We returned to Oshawa Thursday for yet another doctors appointment (optometrist). Friday December 4th we got our flu shots and said our goodbyes to our most gracious hosts the Hosier/Pagazani family. Our next stop was Brampton were we visited with Amanda our niece for dinner, a game of Sequence better known to us as One Eyed Jacks and an overnight stay.

Saturday December 5th we found ourselves at the event of our stay in Ontario. Nicholas, our nephew's hockey game. We were advised by Sandra his mom that his team has yet to win a game this season and Nicholas had advised that he was going to score a goal today. Nicholas is 10 years old and has been playing for some time but we really don't know what to expect as our boys never played the game. They play three ten minute periods and it is non stop action from the get go. True to his word Nicholas had an assist on the first goal and scored the winning goal for the team. Apparently we are now their good luck charm as they got the win.

Our last stop was in Mississauga where we stayed with friends. Carol and Derek put on a great bar-b-cue and we stayed with Liz, Carol's mom who lives in the same complex. Liz treated us like royalty and we ended our stay in Canada on a very relaxed note.

Our flight back to Manchester was one of the best we have experienced yet. Fred upgraded us to Club Class on Air Transat and the food, service was awesome. We arrived back home in the UK at 7:00 a.m. and I got some flack over the number of times I have come in and out of the UK. Fred is also asked a number of questions. To the point I am advised by the customs/immigration officer that I should seriously consider getting a more permanent visa. So now I have to decide when is the best time to go back to Canada and get the visa processed even though I don't get what the issue is really.

Well we hope you have enjoyed this portion of our travels. We look forward to sharing our experiences this Christmas Season as we are headed to London for Christmas.

Ta Ra,

Sandy & Fred

November 20,2009 - Zip-lining

Hola Chicas

Our last day in Mexico and Amy, Fred and I headed off to zip-line. Jonathan, Brent and Kyle went cavern diving. Christopher, Sayaka and Feraz went sailing and the rest of the gang did their own thing from shopping to sun worshiping.

The bus ride to the zip-line park took about 1/2 an hour as the highway is divided and there is no entrance into the park from our side of the road. It also gave the guide time to push the extra attractions at the park.

Zip-lining for those who do not know is a ride where you are strapped into a harness then attached to a very heavy wire and you jump of a tower and zoom down the line to the next tower. The highest tower is 70 feet off the ground and we zoom over water and some jungle. Amy and Fred seem like old pro's at this but I have some difficulty stepping of the platform with the height. Fred is supposedly the one who has issues with heights and not me but my issues maybe because my equilibrium is off due to my cold. The first tower I zoom down so fast I knock over the guy who is supposed to catch us and bounce off the tower. We have a total of 11 towers with 10 zip-lines. There was one monkey walk which you are attached to a line then you walk along poles that have been place like stepping stones only you are about 20 feet up to get to a tower. There was an alternative route, a narrow plank bridge which I took.

Zip-lining was a lot of fun and what the hell you only live once and I wanted to try it even though it rattles my chain. We returned to the resort and hit the pool for the last bit off sun before we packing up for our return flight to Canada. We leave at 7:20 a.m. for a 10:30 a.m. flight back to Toronto.

We hope you have enjoyed this segment of our travels.

Buenos Noches All,

Sandy & Fred

November 19, 2009 - The Wedding Day

Hola Chicas

Today is the Event of the Year. Jonathan and Amy's Wedding. As Jonathan is stressing out about the ceremony Kyle takes Jonathan off in the morning to do some wreck diving in Cozumel. Amy gets beautified along with Kim the Matron of Honour and her Mom Joan. Fred and I relax around the pool catching some rays before the big event.

The wedding takes place in a open gazebo overlooking the beach and the breeze is perfect so it is not too hot. Jonathan and Brent the Best Man are waiting anxiously for guests to arrive. Jonathan is extremely stressed and has taken meds to calm himself down. Brent is chatting with him trying to calm him down. Jonathan and I do fine on our initial meeting but avoid looking at each other after that. Brent advises me just to look at him so both Jonathan and I don't burst into tears. As we are early and seem to have a long wait I avoid looking at Jonathan but the flood gates open. Guess whose mascara is not waterproof so I end up looking like Rocky Raccoon with blues streaks running down my cheeks. Get the kleenex quick and repair the damage before the Bride arrives. Composed again Jonathan now chooses to look at me and point. His drugs have kicked in and all is well. The balance of the guests arrive and Travis escorts his Mom in.

Amy and her Dad arrive in a horse drawn carriage and everything is right on time. As it is a civil ceremony the magistrate does all the talking and reads a couple of poems.
He then says what amounts to vows and all Jonathan and Amy has do say is "I DO" well we wait and wait for Jonathan to respond and I am saying under my breath just say I Do!!! The ceremony was very good, short and the poems are about respect for each other. We toast the bride and groom with champagne, see the cake cut then we depart for pictures on the grass and on the beach. We have an hour to kill before our private dinner overlooking the beach.

Dinner is a buffet with a huge bar. Dinner itself is salads, chicken, shrimp, beef, rice and buns. Jonathan and Amy are totally relaxed and they set up his PC to post live pictures of the reception on Facebook. After dinner we all headed off to the Lobby bar to finish our celebrations. A great day was had by all in a perfect setting and a laid back environment. A perfect choice by Jonathan and Amy!! Our kids made us Proud!!

Buenos Noches,

Sandy & Fred

November 18, 2009 - A Day of Adventure

Buenos Dias Chicas

Today Fred, Christopher and I headed off to Xel-Ha and Tulum. Xel-Ha means where "the water is born". It is a natural water eco-system that includes mangroves, rivers, caverns, as well as the Caribbean ocean. We decided to snorkel and Snuba. Snuba is a combination of snorkeling and scuba. The air tanks float above the surface so there are no heavy tanks on your back and the dive is shallow only 12 feet. Christopher does an excellent job considering he has no experience in scuba and we see some great fish and rays. As well the dive master uncovers some very small jelly fish and conch. We also get to stroke some rays which are extremely silky soft to the touch. Something Fred and I do reluctantly just because as divers you are taught not to disturb the sea life. We have lunch in the park and then head back to the bus to go to Tulum. The park itself is so expansive that we hardly cover anything. We see the dolphins and it is obvious that they are well cared for and are in a more natural environment as one is 27 years old. The holding tanks and swim area are very large I would guess at least 4 acres.

Tulum is the site of the last fortified Mayan City. The following is a brief history of the site:

The earliest date lifted from the site is A.D. 564 (the inscription on a stele). This places Tulum within the Classic period, though we know that its heyday was much later (1200 - 1521 A.D.) during the Late Post-classic period. Tulum was a major link in the Maya's extensive trade network. Both maritime and land routes converged here. Artifacts found in or near the site testify to contacts that ranged from Central Mexico to Central America and every place in between: copper rattles and rings from the Mexican highlands; flint and ceramics from all over the Yucatán, jade and obsidian from Guatemala and more. The first Europeans to see Tulum were probably Spaniards, Juan de Grijalva and his men as they sailed reconnaissance along the Eastern coast of Yucatán in 1518. The Spaniards later returned to conquer the Peninsula unwittingly bringing Old World diseases which decimated the native population. And so Tulum, like so many cities before it, was abandoned to the elements.

The beach here is amazing and Christopher comments that is what he though he would see at our resort. Aqua water and white sands.

It is a long day and we return at 6:30 P.M. a 10 1/2 hour day. We all meet at the lobby for drinks but Fred and I decide just to do the Italian buffet as I am exhausted and tomorrow is the Big Day!!

Buenos Noches Chicas

Sandy & Fred

November 15 - 17, 2009 - Moon Palace

Hola Chicas,

November 15 - Our first full day in Mexico. Fred and I set out to explore the property and it is absolutely huge. We walk along to the second lobby to see what restaurants are there and to check out the shops. We spend the balance of the day catching some rays. Fred in the shade under a palapa and I find a nice seat in the pool on a lounge. In the evening we meet with Brent (Jonathan's best man), Travis (Amy's brother) and Christopher for drinks in the Lobby then head off to the second lobby and the Mo-Mo-No-Ha-Na Restaurant. This is a Japanese restaurant (Mexican style). We have sushi, chicken satay and some kind of fried cheese for appetizers. Fred and I have mixed tempura while the boys are more adventuresome and have actual sushi raw tuna and various rolls. Sake for four of us mine and hot theirs cold and Fred had red wine. Christopher shared some of the Japanese culture he learned with us in the serving of Sake. Needless to say a lot of Sake was consumed especially by Christopher and Travis. Fred, Brent and I left them to it as we headed back to our lobby to greet Jonathan and Amy and the Vancouver group who were arriving at 10:30 P.M. More drinks and greetings then off to bed.

November 16 - A lazy day around the pool all day. Relaxing, enjoying the local drinks the meeting with everyone at the lobby bar at 7:00 P.M. Fred and I meet with all the kids and opt for the Mexican restaurant, Los Caporales. The food was good but the service totally sucked. We had to ask for wine three times before it arrived and then the waiter proceeded to pour for only two of us. We all headed back to the lobby bar for night caps and the kids headed off to explore the disco and other entertainment.

November 17 - Another day of lazing in the sun. Got to get that all important vitamin D working for me. Same routine as the previous day meet in the Lobby Bar for pre-dinner drinks. Tonight, however, we split up and head to different restaurants. Fred, Amy, Kim, Derek, Travis, Christopher and I head off to El Caribeno. Service is excellent food is just Okay. The rest of the kids opt for Arrecifes, the Brazilian Restaurant. We had eaten in this restaurant on our first night and the food was excellent. Skewers of meats, lamb, beef, sausage, chicken, ribs, and pork all very yummy. A night cap at the lobby bar then off to bed while the kids do their thing.

Buenos Noches,

Sandy & Fred

Novemebr 11-14, 2009 - Returning To Canada-Off To Mexico

Greetings All,

We are finally headed back to Canada in preparation for The Big Event, Jonathan and Amy's Wedding. We headed off to London a day early and relaxed at the Marriott Renaissance for our mid afternoon flight. The check in process was one of those wonderful machines that Fred so loves to use. We had already pre-booked our seats 6 month previous but the plane type had changed (three times), so our seats went from row 17 to 58 which we were not happy about. Fred tried to change it as row 19 was available but it would not accept the change. I stayed off to the side and when the agent asked Fred what the problem was he told him. Next I heard No Need To Get Mad Sir!! This is not sounding good at all. Turns out the guy had attitude,so that was what set Fred off. Finally checked in and through security, the flight was uneventful and we made excellent time landing a whole hour early.

November 12 - We spent a relaxing day with our best friends the Hosier's/Pagazani's just relaxing and catching up on news and events over the past six months. An excellent meal was made by Michelle and we enjoyed some of her amazing homemade wine.

November 13 - I headed off to get a new set of nails and once again feel pampered and whole, as I had removed them in September. The nails were removed as they had bruised through closing drawers on them, cleaning and rearranging the flat. We headed off to the the airport to meet with Christopher at the Sheridan in Terminal 3. He arrived there a lot earlier than we thought and passed the time in the bar at the Sheridan. Two beers (pints of Bass)later at an exorbitant cost of $31.00 we arrived. Our room was very nice and it was nice to be able to walk across a walkway and check in at the airport the next morning.

November 14 -Check in was old style a person who serves you and we get seats together. A non eventful flight and arriving in the morning to a lovely 80F temperature. The check-in for our room is a bit dis-organized but we finally get into our room at 2:30 p.m.

Our room is amazing and has a free mini-bar, unbelievable. It houses a mini-fridge with beer, water, pop, juice and a section with bottles of rum, scotch, vodka and tequilla all part of the package and it is restocked daily. In addition there is a bottle of red wine.

We settled in quickly and take a stroll along the beach. The resort is huge, Moon Palace has 2500 rooms, 14 restaurants all which are on a first come first serve basis. No signing up for which ones you want to visit or only being allowed to go them once. Very nice indeed.

So Long for Now,

Sandy & Fred

October 27, 2009 - Liverpool

Greetings All,

Today we did the tourist thing in Liverpool. We parked in Town, and then proceeded with our walk about showing Carol & Derek the sites in Liverpool. We started off at St. Georges Hall with its statues of Albert and Victoria on horses, lions and great Georgian architecture. Just as a point of interest Liverpool has the most Georgian architecture outside London in England. We then walked along the older part of town up to Hope Street where the Roman Catholic Cathedral is located. This cathedral is affectionately known as "Paddy's Wigwam" by the locals due to its shape. This area is home to the Liverpool Philharmonic, University Campus, upscale restaurants, farmers market and the Philharmonic Dining Room.

We stopped in for snacks and a pint. The Philharmonic was built in 1898-1900, commissioned by Robert Cain and Son Brewery in the style of a gentleman's club. With the Victorian flamboyance of the pub, it has been described as the most ornate pub in England and the most lavish in Britain. The men's toilet is extremely elegant with marble and glazed urinals. Women are allowed in, with permission, to view the extravagance of the men's room (Picture attached).

After our short respite in the pub we headed to Liverpool's Anglican Cathedral. The Liverpool Diocese was founded in 1880, separating it from Chester St. Peter's Church in Church Street becoming the Pro-Cathedral and John Charles Ryle becoming the first Bishop.

A brief history of the Cathedral is as follows:
1900 - Francis James Chavasse becomes the second bishop.
1901 - A decision is made to build a new Cathedral for Liverpool
1902 - Giles Gilbert Scott aged 22 wins the competition for architects and starts work on the detailed design of the Cathedral
1904 - The Foundation Stone is laid by King Edward VII
1910 - Lady Chapel is completed and consecrated, allowing services to be held on the site for the first time.
1924 - High Altar, Chancel and Eastern Transepts are completed and consecrated in the presence of King George V and Queen Mary
1941 - Completion of the Central Space under the Tower
1942 - Tower completed at 331 feet above the Cathedral floor.
1951 - Cathedral bells rung for the first time
1955 - Lady chapel re-opened, after repairing war damage.
1961 - Dulverton Bridge and 1st Bay of Nave opened
1968 - Second Bay of Nave completed
1978 - Completion of whole Cathedral after 74 years marked by a dedication, attended by Queen Elizabeth II

The Cathedral is the largest in Britain and the fifth largest in the world. It has been described by John Betjeman as "One of the great Buildings of the World' John was a English poet, writer and broadcaster who passed away in 1984. The fourth largest Cathedral is located in New York City designed by the same architect Giles Gilbert Scott.

After our tour of the Cathedral we strolled back through town, past China Town down Bold Street to Mathew Street and The Cavern Quarter where the Beatles performed in their early years. We stopped before heading back to the flat for a pint at The Grapes a pub on Mathew St. and I meet and chat with Welsh gentleman. It turns out he is Alan Williams the first manager of the Beatles and quite a character.

We have all enjoyed the day and Fred and I have also visited new sites with the topper being meeting Mr Williams.

Ta Ra for now,

Sandy & Fred

October 26, 2009 - Wales

Greetings All,

Today we headed off to Wales to show our friends Derek & Carol, who are over from Mississauga, some of the sites in the area. We headed off to Snowdonia National Park. Once off the main highway or motorway as they are called in the UK we travelled through some very lovely countryside. Very winding one lane roads that follow the hills up to Snowdon. Sheep seems to be the main staple of the farms here. Our first stop is the small village of Llanberis. We walk around to take some photo opportunities of Lake Padarn and the church. From here you can take part in what is known as The Great Little Trains of Wales which are narrow-gauge stream trains, we pass on this. In the past this area was well known for its slate quarries and we see the evidence of this in the attached picture. We headed off to Betws-y-Coed, our next stop, and the fall colours in Wales are the best we have seen and the hills are in full bloom.

Betws-y-Coed is a lovely little town that reminds our friends somewhat of Niagara-on-the-Lake. We have a great, although late lunch here. The guys have haddock and I must say the largest portion of fish I have seen yet. No such a thing as a small meal in a pub. I have plaice and Carol a burger. After lunch we walk around the town and do some shopping. Derek scores a gollywog for his mom, much to our surprise as these are now considered rather racist. Gollywogs for the uninitiated are little black dolls that used to be available through Robertson jams and were available until the mid 1970's we think until the change to political correctness. The mug and doll were actually marked gollywog. We are thinking maybe Wales are not worried about today's political correctness. Just a point of interest Fred does have a gollywog pin back from his childhood days in England.

As the UK has already had its time change it gets dark by 5:00 p.m. so we decide to head back to Liverpool on the coast road going through the seaside towns of Rhyl and Prestatyn. The changes astound both Fred and Derek as they don't remember them as being as large as they are today. Mind you in this area there are trailer parks (caravans in the UK) for miles and I do not think it is a place to be during the summer months. We arrive back in Liverpool just as it is getting real dark. A good day was had by all.

Ta Ra for now.

Sandy & Fred

October 6, 2009 - Leeds Castle

Greetings All,

Today we visited Leeds Castle, which gets its name from the ancient Saxon manor of Esledes and was recorded in the Doomsday book of 1086.

The Domesday Book is the record of the great survey of England completed in 1086, executed for William I of England, or William the Conqueror. While spending the Christmas of 1085 in Gloucester, William "had deep speech with his counsellors and sent men all over England to each shire to find out what or how much each landholder had in land and livestock, and what it was worth". One of the main purposes of the survey was to determine who held what and what taxes had been liable under Edward the Confessor; the judgment of the Domesday assessors was final - whatever the book said about who held the material wealth or what it was worth, was the law, and there was no appeal. Damn government even in those days.

Following the Norman Conquest of 1066 many manors were fortified to remind the locals and foreign invaders the strength of the nobility. Construction of the first stone castle on the Leeds Castle site began in 1119 by Robert Crevecoeur, a descendant of one of William II's knights. While looking very fortified the castle was besieged twice in 1139 & 1321 when its residents of the day offended the king. The beauty of the castle is not accidental. As they say location, location,location is everything. The castle was built between the two strategically important towns of London and Dover. Leeds castle passed into royal hands in 1278 and became part of the Queen of England's dower - the settlement queens received from their husbands. Over the course of the next 150 years it was held by six mediaeval queens in all; Eleanor of Castile, Margaret of France, Isabella of France, Anne of Bohemia, Joan of Navarre and Catherine de Valois.

In Tudor times Henry VIII visited the castle with his Queen, Catherine of Aragon in 1520 and his son King Edward VI granted the castle to one of Henry's courtiers for his services in 1522.

Since that time it has been in private ownership and used as a garrison, prison and a convalescent home. As well it has been the private home of the Culpeper (17th century), Fairfax (18th century) and Wykeham Martin (19th century) families. The castle as we see it today the final result of over 900 years of alterations and changes. Upon the death of Lady Baillie in 1974 (the castle's last owner) it was left to the Leeds Castle Foundation whose aim is to preserve the castle and grounds for the benefit of the public forever. The grounds surrounding the castle used to be a 3000 acre estate, while today it is smaller it still contains farms, woodland, a golf course and several gardens.

Today, as we tour the castle, the final preparations are underway for the annual flower festival. This year's theme is to honour the 500th anniversary of Henry the VIII's ascension to the throne. We see the displays being prepared, as well as some finished displays. The smell is amazing. As you tour the castle, you are given information on the various rooms and how their usage changed over time. Some rooms have been recreated as closely as possible to how they might have looked during the time the mediaeval Queens owned the castle.

The pictures will be on Flickr, but will not be available until Thursday.

We have spent three hours exploring the interior of the castle, however, due to the rain we do not explore the grounds so a return visit will be in the planned in the future.

From here we headed into Maidstone but we are rather disappointed. After a late lunch we headed back to the Inn.

Cheerio for now,

Sandy & Fred

October 5, 2009 - Canterbury

Greetings All,

Today we left London. John had warned us about being careful about what lanes we were in to get out of Westminster alone never mind London. After one unsuccessful attempt, (we were in the wrong lane) we are finally on our way after driving over Vauxhall Bridge twice. We do have another detour later on as the Nav. Chick is not very clear on her instructions (or is it the listener). Finally we're out of London and it is raining quite hard. Thankfully by the time we get to Canterbury the rain is now a heavy mist.

We headed to Canterbury Cathedral after lunch as we have paid for 4 hours of parking. The cathedral is unbelievable. When you consider when it was built and the tools of the time, in comparison to today, the results we see in the architecture is mind boggling. Since 597 AD Canterbury has been the seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury. We enter the Cathedral through a very ornate gate Christ Church Gate which is early Tudor probably built as a memorial to Henry VII's eldest son Arthur, Prince of Wales whole died in 1502 at the age of 16. The shields on the front represent officers of his household and his trusted supporters. The heavy wooden doors were given by the Archbishop Juxon in 1663. We spend over two hours inside the cathedral exploring the chapels within the church itself. It is in this cathedral that Thomas Beckett was murdered by Henry II's knights in 1170. The windows are from various periods as the the church grew. We see the only two that have survived from 1180's. The crypt is a very solemn quiet place with various prayer chambers and the structure of pillars are amazing. Picture taking is not allowed in this area here but we do sneak some. There are some spots which still have the original painted walls and are protected against taking pictures which while understanding the need to protect the walls it is a shame we cannot take photo's without flash. There are a number of tombs and shrines to people of note since 1170 onward. The Black Prince's Tomb is one of the finest medieval tombs, Edward Prince of Wales (1376). The gilded effigy shows him in full armour and gauntlets, spurs, his dog and helmet. We spend over 2 1/2 hours in the Cathedral trying to take in all the history and beauty of the place.

We then head out and do a quick walk around the area near the cathedral and realize we have only glimpsed a tiny bit of Canterbury. There is an Abbey and a castle which we have not even come across. This is definitely a place the needs another visit. We then head off to Lenham for our stay at the Dog and Bear a Inn (a 17th century coach inn built in 1602 and visited in 1704 by Queen Anne and her coat of arms are proudly displayed over the entrance). The back roads are very pretty and the countryside is rolling hills. Once we are checked in we stroll around the village. The church has some very old tombstones on which we cannot see dates. Fred does make one out that dates back to the early 1800's. Tonight we have a fun moon and I suggest we head back to the cemetery to take pictures. Fred nix's my idea. Maybe scared of ghost's LOL.

Cheerio,

Sandy & Fred

October 1-3, 2009 - London

Greeting All,

October 1 - Today we headed off to London. We take all the back or A & B class roads to get there. just over a two hour trip. The original plan was to stop at some of the little villages or towns along the way. I had especially wanted to stop at Burford to browse the shops but the car sticker expired and our replacement was waiting for us at John and Adrienne's in London and Fred did not want to chance a fine for a expired plate which I think is quite expensive. We pass some very pretty countryside with winding roads and as we get nearer to London the towns become bigger. Our afternoon in London is used to catch up on e-mails as we did not have the anticipated WiFi in Shipton-under-Wychwood. Then a quick jaunt to Harrods to get some great kids we know Fulham Balls. Supper is made by Adrienne then we all head off to a pub the Jugged Hare for a pint. Adrienne then heads back as tomorrow they head off to Prague and Fred, John and I have another pint at the White Swan. Bedtime at a decent hour for all of us.

October 2 - Catch up day continues, blogs to be posted, pictures downloaded and laundry to be done. Tonight we finally are taking in a show in the West End, Sister Act at the Palladium. We decided to have supper at The Clachan a pub close to the theatre. Friday night and it is crazy busy (see picture). The show is amazing and the actress who plays Delores has a fantastic voice. I especially liked that before the show started a voice which sounded like Whoopi Goldberg told the audience to shut your damn cellphones off and if they heard any ring that they the actors and actresses were going to get you, same for candy wrapper noise. The theatre is hot so we walk down to Green Park to cool off after the show. It is busy with theatre goers, clubbers and general tourists . We see our very first street person ever which is really quite amazing given the number of times we have been here. He has two overloaded shopping carts but is quite clean and rather well dressed for a street person. Makes us wonder if he is just out to collect some spare change. Back at the flat Fred does the doggy duties as required then its bedtime.

October 3 - Today we are finally up to date. We have a late start and headed off to Covent Garden as I want o do a bit of Xmas shopping. The Victoria tube line is closed for the day, so we walk to Victoria Station to get another line to get up to the Garden. Once my mission is accomplished we walk back to the flat covering some old stopping grounds. The Mall, Green Park, Buckingham Palace. We stop at the Jugged Hare for lunch. Here we are served at the table which is a first usually you order at the bar and then they bring your food. A nice change if I do say so. In the pub we learn a bit of trivia about hares. There are two types of hares in Britain, the brown and blue hares. March Madness is a mating ritual where the females box overly attentive males!! And you all thought it was to do with college basketball!! By the way the pub's signature pie is hare pie which I was told is very tasty, I passed on it. Another short stop to pick up some salad stuff for the next two nights and we are back in the flat. I am exhausted today must have been the cool windy outdoors. I had hoped to get to Hyde Park today didn't happen. Pictures have been posted on Flickr but still need a description, hopefully Fred with accomplish that tomorrow before he heads off to the footie match.

Cheerio,

Sandy & Fred

September 30, 2009 - Oxford

Greetings All,

Today we headed out to Oxford, a University City in the area. The other University City not too far away is Cambridge which we had reported on in our very early travels to the UK.

In the days of old the Church was responsible for the higher education of its nobles and their sons. Girls were not to be given a formal education. We used the park and ride as the city is quite congested and parking for a day can be expensive. The 4 pound bus ride return for both of us is cheap when all is considered.

Oxford was originally founded in 680 by the patron saint of Oxford St. Frideswide who built the first church on the site where Christ Church Cathedral now stands. Once off the bus the first site we come across is the remains of St. Martins Church a 14th century tower. The tower has a clock with two quarter boys that hit the bells every 15 minutes. This site is the junction of four ancient routes into the centre of old Oxford. From here after purchasing a map we go into St. Mary the Virgin University Church. The building is amazing as you will see from pictures on Flickr. It takes us a while to get our bearings or at least Fred the map reader I think he has become too dependent on the GPS :) (Editorial note: the author Sandy is too damned impatient to move on before allowing a proper evaluation of where we are or were we're headed).

We then head off along the main street High Street to Merton College. This college was founded in 1264 by the Lord Chancellor Walter de Merton. The cobblestone lane is still intact. The college boasts the oldest Quad in Oxford - the 14th century Mob Quad. The chapel built in 1290 is also the University's oldest. We end up in a park like setting which is part of Merton's grounds but are also the grounds of Magdalen College (pronounced Maudlin). We walk along dead Man's Walk I believe so named for the men who walked along this path to be burned at the stake, such as Cramner, Ridley and Latimer in 1555 at the behest of Catholic Queen Mary. Wow those Catholics could be nasty back in the day.

We end up back on High Street and arrive at Magdalen College. This college was founded in 1458 by William Wayneflete. This college has the most beautiful grounds of all as it has a river walk and deer park. We have come across all this while searching for Oxford Cathedral which we finally find as Fred now has his bearings. As the college dining room is closed until 2:30 we opt for lunch as there is a fee to enter the college and we wanted to see it all. We pass a lovely house and gardens just outside the college which is the War Memorial Gardens. A picture of it I have posted on this blog.

Our final site for the day is Christ Church College, which also houses Oxford cathedral, which is the smallest cathedral in Britain. It is here we are able to enter the college and tour inside. Founded in 1525 on the site of the old priory. Originally called Cardinal College (by Cardinal Wolsey) it was re-founded by Henry VIII 20 years later. All that remains of the priory is the 12th century Norman Cathedral which acts both as the colleges chapel and the town's cathedral. This college has the largest of all quads, called Tom Quad and the tower bell rings each night 101 times. The original college had 101 students and they had to be inside the college before the bells stopped ringing at 9:00 P.M.. The bell chimes at 9:05 as Oxford time is 5 minutes after Greenwich Mean Time. The dining hall at the college is massive and was the model for the Hogworts dining hall in the Harry Potter movies. The stone work of the ceilings in the cloister, Meadow building and cathedral is amazing again you need to look at Flickr or Facebook (me) to check it out. The other thing I found very interesting was Charles Dodgson better known to us as Lewis Carroll the author of Alice in Wonderland was a math tutor here and his writings are based on real people. Alice was the deans daughter and the characters in the books were based on people who worked or lived in the college as well as objects in the college.

Well I could go on forever about Oxford and we only covered a few of the 33 colleges the city has. As well there are other sites to see that we didn't have time for. A full day was spent in Oxford and it's a place that is worth another visit. We headed back to the Lamb Inn for pie night. We arrived just after 6:00 and notice a lot of reserved tables. We get a seating for 7:45 thank goodness cause Fred was really looking forward to pie night. Again the food was amazing and portions good. Well tomorrow we are off to London for 4 nights to dog sit.

Cheerio,

Sandy & Fred.

September 29, 2009 - Blenheim Palace & Hailes Abbey

Greetings All,

Today we headed back to Woodstock to finish off the tour of Blenheim Palace. Our last visit to the Palace on September 4th allowed us to upgrade our entrance fee to a years pass for free. Today we explore the side of the Palace that is guided by the ghost of Grace Ridley maid to the first duchess Sarah Churchill. It is very well done with computer images in mirror's and on walls as well as animated mannequins. This tour gives us the history of the people who lived in the palace and some insight to the type of people they were. As well there are additional information kiosk's which you can access for information on the family tree, what the various dukes have contributed to the palace since it's original construction. A good two hours was spent here.

Our next stop is Hailes Abbey near Winchcombe in Gloucestershire. Founded in 1246 by Richard, Earl of Cornwall, King of the Romans and the younger brother of King Henry III, this once great Ciscertian (monks from France) abbey became a site of pilgrimage when Richard's son Edmund donated a phial of the holy blood to the community in 1270. The blood was to said to be from Christ and have great healing powers. Abbot Stephen Sagar had the phial opened and said it just contained a sticky honey like substance and was not blood at all. Fool did not know that over time blood separates and he was just looking at the serum, so he had it destroyed. Hailes Abbey was one of the last religious institutions to acquiesce following the Dissolution Act of 1536, Abbot Stephen Sagar and his monks finally surrendering their abbey to Henry VIII's commissioners on Christmas Eve 1539. After the Dissolution, the west range was converted into a house and was home to the Tracy family in the seventeenth century, but these buildings were later looted and demolished by not only Henry VIII and other lords but finally the peasants and farmers of the area.

The area was also renowned for it wool and sheep are still farmed in the area today. It is said, even today, that the wool is the finest in the UK. As well there are a number of horse chestnut trees on the site and when walking under them you have to be careful of the falling conkers. As a point of interest there are 470,000 horse chestnut trees in Britain. The World Conker Championships are held in Oundle Northamptonshire on October 11 and the length of the string the contestants are allowed to use is 12 inches.

On the drive back we stop in Stow-on-Wold for a walk around another quaint village and I drop into St Edward, a church that is open to check out the stained glass. We head back to The Lambs Inn for a pint and then venture onto the Red Horse Inn for supper. I have the best burger I have had since we have arrived here and Fred has fish and chips. Then back to the Inn to relax for tomorrow's adventure.

Cheerio,

Sandy & Fred

September 28, 2009 - Cotswolds Bound

Greetings all,

After an appointment at the clinic for a prescription renewal we headed off for a three night stay at the Lambs Inn at Shipton-under-Wychwood. This is a quaint village in the Cotswolds that is near Burford. The village itself while very small does have three pubs, the one we are staying at, the others being a small hotel The Shaved Crown and The Red Horse Inn.

Once off the highway our drive takes us along some single track roads. While you must pull over onto the grass in order for cars to pass each other I like the roads as you must drive slower than on the two lane back roads or A or B class roads as they are called. The leaves have started to change but because we do not get the frost and sudden drops in temperature that Ontario does we do not get the brilliant colours of Ontario. Golds, some red and dull green. As well a lot of leaves just dry up and fall off. We see pheasant along the road side and at one round about there is a huge male strutting around, of course I missed the photo op.

After we settled in our room, we went for a walk around the village and then headed back to the Inn to have a pint on the patio as the weather is warm. Supper tonight is at the pub and the food is excellent. All local produce. Fred has a caprese salad to start,followed by braised lamb shank and rum bama for dessert. I have duck spring rolls with the most amazing fresh plum sauce followed by a steak. The meal is complemented with a bottle of Fighting Flat Shiraz,an Australian red and a very good full bodied wine. We then head up to our room to relax. We find out tha the WiFi is not working so its reading time and games on the PC.

Since this is a relatively short blog and somewhat boring I thought I would give you a bit of trivia on How Britain likes their Tipple!! (Wine) 1.6 billion bottles are imported to the UK every year, 2.6 billion pounds is spent on wine drunk in licensed premises, 5 billion pounds is spent on wine drunk at home and 27.9 litres of wine are drunk per head in the UK every year. Note that last bit of trivia was based on information before we arrived in the UK. A figure sure to go up:)! Chardonnay is the most popular white wine drunk in Britain followed by Pinot Grigio and last but not least alcohol production and retailing employs 650,000 people in the UK.

Cheerio,

Sandy & Fred

September 22, 2009 - Sitting Bull in Liverpool

Greetings All,

I just have to do this blog of our experience today. It is too funny not to share with you. It is a great day to walk, sunny but with a good wind off the River Mersey.
Our walk covers 4 1/4 miles in total. There is a sign that indicates x number of Kilometers to Sitting Bull Sculpture. Well as you all know my Native Heritage I am very curious as to why Liverpool would have a statue to a American Indian Chief. We are trying to walk every day or at least every other day when the weather co-operates and on each walk we go a little further. So today is the walk to check out Sitting Bull and his relationship to Liverpool. So another lesson is learned today The British are very literal. When they say a statue of sitting bull they mean just that!! The statue was of a Red Bull Sitting, not Sitting Bull the Indian Chief. LOL Fred and I sure had a good laugh over this one.

I thought now that you have recovered from you laughter I would give you a bit of info on the River Mersey. The river was a ancient divide between what is now Lancashire and Cheshire. The river is 70 miles long starting at Stockport/Manchester and ending in Liverpool Bay, Merseyside. It has the second highest tidal range in Britain. It was made famous by the song "Ferry Cross the Mersey " by Gerry and the Pacemakers, as well it is known for the Mersey-beat by the Beatles and Stone Rose. The first dock on Liverpool was built in 1715. The Industrial revolution that followed was very responsible for the pollution of the river. With today's cleanup of the river it once again is home to several specie of fish. Salmon, trout, lamprey and dace. The estuary is now home to grey seals, porpoises and octopus. The river is even considered sacred by British Hindus as sacred as the River Ganges. Go figure that one.

Well that is all for now.

Cheers all,

Sandy & Fred

September 20,2009 - A bit of This and That

Greetings All,

Well a bit of time has passed since our last post so I thought I would update up you on what's been happening. Not Much (kidding)!!! The weather in Liverpool has improved immensely and Autumn has arrived. In the UK they call it the Golden days I am guessing because most of the trees turn yellow. None of the amazing colours we get in Ontario. Sadly, it is getting darker earlier and we need lights in by 7:30 PM.

The place is now home for me as I am now rearranging cupboards and making a few small purchases for our daily living. The only thing I really hate is laundry days. It takes forever to do our bit of laundry a full day for clothes and another full day for bedding. The machine is an all-in-one unit, washes for over a hour for a short wash and drying takes 120 minutes or more and it still comes out damp so you hang things around everywhere. None of the nice 3 hours tops to get it all done like in Canada:(.

I am really enjoying our view of the river as it seems to change daily from sail boats, skidoos, to tugs, freighters and ferries all dependent on the tides of the day. Fred is enjoying going to the Footie Matches but still has not learned that shouting at the TV when a match is on accomplishes nothing. A Guy thing I know but really it is only a game, you girls understand what I am talking about:).

We have visited some local areas and gone driving to get a better feel for the area.
Last weekend we went to Southport and walked along the pier by the beach. No water was to be seen for miles. According to Fred's Uncle Jim you never see water at Southport we must check the tide tables to find when the tide is in. The beach was used as a parking lot and there were donkey rides for the kids. We also had our first flake ice-cream cone since our arrival in England. The pier had an arcade that housed all the old penny arcade machines and were rather interesting (pic attached). The old pennys could be purchased and for a family with kids a very cheap source of entertainment. We then went into the town proper for a bit of a walk around. We ended up at the start of the pier where there are water rides, boats for hire and a amusement type atmosphere. Southport has the second longest pier in England at 3,650 ft first opening in 1860. In 1868 it's length was 4,380 ft so it has been shortened somewhat. Southport is a typical seaside town. We leave Southport to travel some lovely country lanes as we headed back to Liverpool.

Today we checked out the Hope Street Festival. Its all about the NOSH (Food and Snacks). There is a farmers market and crafters. We purchased bread, scallops and prawns (Shrimp) all reasonably priced. We went into town early and are glad as the street became packed just past noon. Buskers came out and the place became crazy. This area of town has some beautiful old buildings and worth a visit to take some pictures when it is less crowded.

We headed back to the flat with our goodies and to action on the River. As the tide is in the sail boats are out in their all their glory and a freighter is being helped by 3 tugs as it heads upstream.

Well that's all for now, we are heading to London again end of the month for a long weekend to dog sit and will be visiting the Cotswolds again on our way home making it a full week away.

Ta Ra,

Sandy & Fred

September 4, 2009 - Blenheim Palace and Black Burton

Greetings All,

Today we headed off to Woodstock in Oxfordshire where Blenheim Palace the home of Winston Churchill is located. The Palace is still lived in by the 11th Duke of Marlborough, John George Vanderbilt Spencer- Churchill (now that's a mouth full) and his family. The Palace was created a World Heritage Site in 1987. The family uses the funds received from visits to restore and conserve the Palace and grounds. Current restoration work is being done on the dam created in 1760. We are in luck today as parts of the private family apartments have been opened for tours so we sign up. The whole Palace is full of history of the family and its course of history. Construction on the Palace was started in 1705 and completed in 1722, the year the 1st Duke of Marlborough died. We spent over 5 hours in the Palace and the grounds and did not see everything. We only do half of the Palace that is open to the public as we opt to explore the grounds as the weather was sunny and dry. Unfortunately the taking of pictures is not allowed inside the Palace and they are well patrolled staff and security. The grounds are over 2,000 acres consisting of parkland outside of what is around the palace itself. We signed up for a years pass to the Palace that is being offered for free. We just hand in our ticket that we paid for today in exchange for an access card which gives us unlimited access for the next year. We plan to come back early in October to finish exploring the other half of the Palace on our way back from London.

We now headed to our final destination Black Burton and The Vines. This place is rather disappointing given the Inns we have just stayed at. It is clean though and the food is very good which really surprised us. Supper again is included I have fried Camembert cheese with a raspberry sauce and Fred has duck spring rolls with plum sauce each has a small salad with a light orange dressing. We both have crispy duck with new potatoes and vegetables. Very tasty and filling. Fred has room for dessert and has apple crumble with custard. He sure made short work of it.

After breakfast we headed back to Liverpool using the secondary roads.

I have enjoyed our stay in the Cotswolds where we have traveled narrow one lane "Tracey" roads, beautiful country side of farmland (both animals and food products), quaint villages and historic sites (both ancient and somewhat newer). We will be returning in the future.

We hope you have enjoyed this segment of our latest travels.

Ta Ra for now,

Sandy & Fred

September 3, 2009 - Moreton-In-Marsh

Greetings All,

After a full day of exploration we arrived at Moreton-In-Marsh a 13th century market town. The town has been a travelers rest spot for at least 1700 years, first coaches and then trains. A traditional market is still held every Tuesday and the 16th Century bell tower still stands. The bells were rung nightly until 1860 to warn people of the dangers of fire.

The Manor House our home for the night was originally granted by King Henry VIII to Dean and Chapter of Westminster in 1539. Ownership then changed to the Creswyke Family. One of the hotels most notable guests was King George VI who stayed in the hotel during the Second World War. The grounds are beautiful and there is a huge Mulberry Tree that dates back to the 17th Century. The hotel harvests the fruit using it for cakes, cocktails, jams and syrups.

Our room is posh to say the least. A canopy bed, and antique furniture. Our stay here included supper and breakfast. Supper is decadent to say the least this was our dinner.
My starter was foie gras parfait, kumquat marmalade, cinnamon brioche and orange jelly. The main dish was chicken breast, mushroom duxelle, butternut squash puree spring onion and garlic pomme puree. Fred's starter was Breast of Woodpigeon, tarragon risotto and poached quail egg. The main dish was Scotch beef, port red wine shallots, wilted bok choy and tyme roasted carrots. We both had Chocolate fondant,iced orange and rosemary ice cream for dessert. Wow all included our only expense was a bottle of Montepulciano D'Abruzzo Italian wine. Are you hungry yet??

This has been the best yet. Tomorrow another day of exploring.

Cheerio for now,

Sandy & Fred

September 3, 2009 - Exploring Villages towards Moreton-In-Marsh

Greetings all,

Fall has arrived in the UK and it is rather dull in comparison to what we are used to in Ontario. The leaves are less colourful, some yellow, a bit of red but mostly the leaves just turn a dull green gray and drop off the trees. Autumn in Canada is something I definitely miss.

We have packed up and are heading to Moreton-in-Marsh, exploring towns and villages along the way. We headed to Cirencester in search of the Roman Amphitheatre. Signage is very poor and we never did find the site. Fred comments that maybe the ruins are such they are not worth seeing if the signs lead to no where. We head on and stop in Chedworth where there is a Roman Villa. The villa was discovered quite by accident by a games-keeper in 1864 while he was digging for a ferret. The then owner of the land Lord Eldon undertook the excavation of the site and built a house as a museum to house the artifacts that were found. The site is now administered by The National Trust since 1924. Given that the site was excavated by Lord Eldon and the workers on his estate and they did not have any archaeological background, they did a remarkable job in unearthing the remains of the villa. The villa dates back to the second century and was completed in the fourth century. The villa houses a heated sauna, bathhouse, kitchen, temple and water cistern that still feeds fresh water today. The mosaics that remain are incredible and the detail amazing.

Our next stop is Bourton-On-The-Water. This village is very picturesque with the river Windrush running through it. It is known as the 'Venice of the Cotswolds'. Numerous footbridges span the water throughout the village. We have lunch at the Kingsbridge Pub as once again the heavens open. Thankfully the rain stops and we enjoy an hour or so strolling around the town taking photos.

Or last stop before reaching our final destination for the day is Lower Slaughter. This is a lovely little village. The name of the village of Lower Slaughter stems from the Old English name for a wet land 'slough' or 'slothre' (Old English for muddy place) upon which it lies. This quaint village sits beside the Little Eye stream and is known for it's unspoilt limestone cottages in the traditional Cotswold style. The stream running through the village is crossed by two small bridges and the local attraction is a converted mill with original water wheel selling craft type products.

We now head off to our final destination for the day and for that I must do a new blog.

Cheers,

Sandy & Fred

September 1 & 2, 2009 - Cotswolds

Greetings all,

We left Liverpool in the morning under bright sunny skies, although it is windy. We took a route that avoided the highway or motorway as they say in the UK. We traveled through some lovely countryside and many small towns and villages. In addition, there were a number of amazing looking pubs that all looked very inviting. No stops though I think you need to take a trip just doing a pub crawl but then there would be issues around drinking and driving. Mother nature being true to form since our arrival in the UK sheds her tears once again.

It rains rather hard at times and although Fred said he is doing the speed limit I think we are driving too fast around these curving single lane roads. We arrived in Broadway around 4:00 p.m. and checked into a very quaint inn. Once settled in, we then head out to explore the village.

The village of Broadway in the English county of Worcestershire and is often referred to as the 'Jewel of the Cotswolds' and the 'Show Village of England'. The 'broad way' leads from the foot of the western cotswolds escarpment with a wide grass-fringed street lined with ancient honey coloured limestone buildings dating back to the 16th century. The village has one of the longest High Streets in England.

We decided on a pub supper in the inn and then relax in our room planning our next days exploration.

September 2 - After breakfast all which is included in the cost of the room, we headed off to Sudeley Castle. The castle was established back in the 10th century and has had numerous owners. The most notable figures being Henry the Eighth and his 6th wife Queen Catherine Parr. Henry visited the castle with his second wife, Anne Boleyn in 1535 and it is said that the rose bush they planted a red/white rose was to be the uniting of the two Houses, the Red of Lancashire (Henry) and the White of York (Anne). The bush is still in the garden today. Queen Catherine who survived Henry is buried in a tomb in St. Mary's Church which is on the grounds and is still used as a Parish church today. Part of the castle and Church were either destroyed or desecrated during the English civil war by the Parliamentarians (Cromwell). The castle then went through a number of owners and restoration. The current owners are Elizabeth, Lady Ashcombe, (wife of Henry Edward Cubitt, 4th Baron Ashcombe), who owns 50 percent of the equity, and her two children — film-producer Henry (married to a Hawaiian model Lili Maltese at the castle in 1998) and Mollie Dent-Brocklehurst — who each own 25 percent. This situation arose when the children's father, Elizabeth's first husband, Mark Dent-Brocklehurst died intestate in 1972. The castle is lived in today and while on tour we were greeted by the son Henry.

After our visit to the castle we set off to Stratford-upon-Avon. We had lunch at The Pen and Parchment Pub then walked about the town. Stratford is very much like the Stratford in Ontario. High end stores, quaint tea rooms, and of course the theatres. We saw the home of Shakespeare and have our photo moment. As well we saw the oldest pub in Stratford, The Garrick Inn. A gentlemen stops and chats with us as we are looking at a map to get our bearings and he advises against eating at the Garrick. Poor food for a big price and directs us to where we ended up eating. Turns out he has friends that live in Ajax, small world. After a walk along the River Avon for more photo ops we headed back to Broadway for our second night stay.

Cheerio,

Sandy & Fred

August 30, 2009 - Mathew Street Music Festival

Greetings All,

Today we decided to check out some of the local events and headed into town for the music festival. There are six band shells situated around Liverpool, in what I will call downtown, all within close walking distance. The first stop is Williamson Square where a current musical group is playing and we really did not identify with them. Next stop the stage at Exchange Street. The group playing here is performing music from the 50's, a tribute to Billy Fury. Fred and I are by far one of the younger people in the crowd.

Billy Fury was born Ronald William Wycherley (1940 - 1983). An early British Rock & Roll and Film star who equaled the Beatles record of 24 hits in the 1960's. The attached picture is his statue at the Albert Docks. An interesting fact is Billy Fury sacked his band and held auditions for a replacement. Among those who did not make it as the replacement was The Beatles who at that time were know as the Silver Beetles. They were offered the job on the condition that they fire the bassist Stewart Sutcliffe which John Lennon refused to do. The band left after John got Billy's autograph.

Next stop was the stage at Derby Square. The group playing was The Tearaways from Santa Barbara California. Great rock and roll band that played not only their stuff but a lot of the Beatles music. At this point the heavens opened. They did promise a proper British Weekend so rain is very appropriate. From here we headed off to Ask a pizza restaurant which makes excellent food. We enjoyed our supper/tea and then head back to the flat.

We have checked out tomorrows venue and The Commitments are playing at one stage as well as Amy Winehouse so back into town we will go.

Ta Ra,

Sandy & Fred

August 19, 2009 - Back in the 21st Century Finally!!

Greetings All,

Our last couple of days in London were really rather boring as far as reporting any news for our readers so I did not do the blog. Fred did go to a Footie match and unfortunately Liverpool lost. I knew it was not going well as John who was watching the game on TV was very quiet. I relaxed on the balcony catching some rays while reading then packed for our trip back to Liverpool.

We left London on the morning of the 17th, arriving back in Liverpool to find we did not have a telephone line. What the hell else can go wrong. Seems nothing has been simple. Fred phones Sky and he goes through hoops for them to try and determine what the issue is; our phone or the line. I stayed out of his way and in the end we headed out to Fred's cousins to test the phone in his phone jack. The phone works so it is the line and Fred calls Sky to arrange to have someone come out to fix the line. In the UK if BT who is the phone company come out and it is not the line they charge you 160 pounds like that's over $300.00 Canadian so you really try and determine what the issue is before they come out. It turns out Sky screwed up when they switched on our internet which of course went live while we were away. We waited in all day on the 18th and get a call on the phone by BT at 3:30 p.m. to advise us the line has been fixed.

So now we are back in the 21st century. Live internet, phone system and TV. We have also had news from our landlord about painting the flat (already done). He will reduce our rent by 120 pounds for one month, after and inspection of the paint job to ensure it is ok. Not bad at all since we only spent 70 pounds on paint and that is all we were looking for in the way of reimbursement.

Over all while I have bitched about how long things take here it really has only been a month (still long by Canadian standards). Our travel time to Europe and London while most enjoyable and with no regrets did affect hookups and repair work. So if you do plan a big move like ours to a different country I hope our experiences help you.

Next week we hope to get out and about to explore some sites in the UK. Fred has downloaded all our pictures on flickr (www.flickr.com/photos/fredparkins) now so you can check that out at your leisure and I will get pictures posted soon of our new home. The picture on this blog was taken from our balcony at low tide a few weeks back.

Ta Ra till our next Blog.

Sandy & Fred