April 27 - May 28, 2010 - Our Time in Ontario

Greetings All,

You may or not know that we returned to Ontario so that I could apply for a Visa so I do not get asked a lot of questions when I return to the UK from our travels. The Visa is good for two years, then after passing a test "Life In The UK" I can apply for a Visa for "Indefinite Leave To Remain" in the UK. Our flight was uneventful and we arrived almost a hour early due to some good tail winds. The drive across the city was pure hell as we were in the evening rush hour. We finally arrived at the Hosier/Pagazani household after a drive that was almost two hours, even the limo driver found it exasperating. Our friends have graciously opened their home to us during our stay in Canada as they headed off to Florida for ten days and we minded my buddy O'Malley, Gracie the budgie and Snowflake a Siamese fighting fish.

On April 28th we left bright and early to head downtown to have Biometrics (finger prints and mug shot) taken as well as provide the paper submission of the application. They want to know everything possible about you except when you had your kids. Fred had to give over his drivers license and get a special visitors pass in order to come into the next room with me for the fingerprinting etc. While waiting we are somewhat entertained by the stupidity of the people who attend to get visa's for the UK. One lady is applying for her kids and gets quite upset when they ask questions about the father. Either they are estranged, divorced, dead or she doesn't know who he is. The poor clerk was trying to be diplomatic and I am trying not to start laughing as Fred and I nudge each other on the QT but avoid looking at each other. We also watch a film about Britain and sit there and say been there, know that and so on. The film also mentions a fee you can pay to fast track your visa. We ask about it, but for settlement which is what my Visa is for they do not allow it. So we were told it can take up to ten weeks for approval. I of course expected it to take the full ten weeks, so now we planned time to visit with friends and family. While downtown we drop into our old work places for a quick hello and I am asked would I work while I am back to help out with summer relief. Are they F#$%$%#$# crazy!!!

Our first visit was with Derek, Carol and Liz in Mississauga for a BBQ and we had a great time catching up with them over a steak dinner. Sadly Dyna, Liz's dog is on her last legs and after a ripe old age had to go to doggy heaven later in the week. Every day for the balance of the week is busy with short visits to friends and family as well as attending to business with our ScotiaMcLeod Financial Advisor and of course some shopping.

Lo and behold, the visa was approved on May 12th and my passport and all of the documentation was couriered back to the house on May 13th.

The Hosier/Pagazni family returned from Florida and we headed off to North Bay on May 14th for the weekend to see Geoff and Tracey and her family. We had a great time and unfortunately the boys are the big Euchre winners this time. But then again you have to let them win sometimes so they will keep playing LOL. Our next stop is Collingwood for a visit with Eve-Lyn and Jim both Scotiabankers. Eve-Lyn being the smart individual she is has retired and Jim may soon join her. Our last stop on this circuit is to visit my Mom who lives between London and Chatham. The drive is wonderful as we traveled there on the back roads and it was very scenic. I had forgotten how nice Ontario can be when you are not on the 400 series highway.

On May 20th we headed back to Oshawa and again chose a back road route from Kitchener to Oshawa. What a eye opener that was. A five hour drive but now all we see is development. Housing popping up everywhere and farmland disappearing plus the prices are unbelievable. Urban sprawl at its worst.

May 21st saw us have a great day out with Tom and Doreen. We visited St Jacobs and Elora. I am rather disappointed because St. Jacobs which, used to be a quaint Mennonite community has become very commercialized. Sad but as they say the times they are a changing. Our last visit is with Steve and Karen Hickey and Steve Hummel our friend for over 35 years. We have a great time reminiscing about Glenda who sadly lost her battle with cancer in March.

May 22nd, Party Time!! Michelle planned a party for Fred as he was returning home on the 25th plus it was the May 24 long weekend. A feast as always. We were spoilt and I must say I will miss the great food especially as I did not have to cook.

May 25th was sad day as Fred was on his way back to the UK. His trip was uneventful except for some old farts on the plane who he says should not have been allowed out (several were sitting in the wrong seats). The trip also raised a question of security as one old dear got on the wrong plane????

For the last few days I have just chilled out with the family, relaxed in the pool and caught some rays. My next report will be from Vancouver and I'll let you know how my travels went. Hard to believe but this will be the first time I am traveling on my own since I have been married. Let's hope I am not one of those Old Farts Fred so admires LOL.

I would also be remiss if I did not Thank the Hosier /Pagazani family for their generosity and hospitality while we stayed in Ontario when we were not off traveling and visiting family and friends. Truly Our Home away from Home.

Till then Ta Ra for now.

Sandy

April 18, 2010 - North Yorkshire Coast & Fountains Abbey

Hi YA (Liverpool Greeting)

We were up and at them early again this time to do some touring of the North Yorkshire Coast. We started out on the motorway to cut off some travel time and to get to see the most we can on our last day in the Yorkshire Area, before moving onto secondary and back roads. Once on the secondary roads we drove through some very pretty towns. It almost seemed like we were back in Ontario, as we passed through Picton, Scarborough, Pickering and stopped at the seaside town of Whitby. This was my first view of the North Sea and it was breathtaking as we came over the hill. The picture is from the town of Whitby. We then headed off to the North Yorkshire Moors.

The North York Moors (also known as the North Yorkshire Moors) is a national park. The moors are one of the largest expanses of heather moorland in the United Kingdom. It covers an area of 1,436 km² (554 square miles), and it has a population of about 25,000. The North York Moors became a National Park in 1952, through the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act of 1949. Rugged and desolate looking in the spring but must be spectacular when the Heather is in bloom. The Yorkshire Moors were formed from sandstones, which erode slowly and form poor acid soils which are deficient in nutrients. They are less permeable to water, impeding drainage and encouraging the formation of bogs. Sphagnum moss bogs are common where there is abundant rain and poor drainage. Cotton grass is a distinctive plant which grows in the boggy areas. In the cold acid waters of peat bogs there is little decomposition of organic material with the result that the dead sphagnum moss gradually accumulates to form peat. This raises the levels of the bogs and they dry out. Heather then invades the area.

The Dales on the other hand are green upland pastures separated by dry-stone walls and grazed by sheep and cattle. The Dales themselves are 'U' and 'V' shaped valleys, which were enlarged and shaped by glaciers, mainly in the most recent, Devensian ice age.

Our last stop for the day is back in the Dales at Fountains Abbey and the Studley Royal. It is a ruined Cistercian monastery, founded in 1132. Fountains Abbey is one of the largest and best preserved Cistercian houses in England. It is a Grade I listed building and owned by the National Trust. Along with the adjacent Studley Royal Water Garden, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We only walk the Abbey and a short walk about a mile around the river and lake. We spent about three hours here and took numerous pictures of the ruins as well as the grounds as we walk. We did not make it to the Studley Royal or the deer park so it is worth another visit.

We take secondary roads back to the hotel and go through some very pretty hamlets and towns.

You can Wiki the sites visited today for more detailed information on the history, both natural and historical, of where we were.

The trip back to Liverpool on Monday started out in rainy weather and our drive through the Pennines was rather scary for me. The fog was very thick and there was snow on the hills in some spots. Narrow winding roads are not my favorite, especially when you can't see a foot in front of you. We arrived in Liverpool in sunny conditions. Just shows the micro climates we can experience in relatively short distances in the UK.

I will have more pictures posted on Facebook by the end of Thursday and Fred will have pictures posted to Flickr by the weekend.

This is the end of our blog in the UK for now as we are returning to Ontario for me to sort out a visa so I can remain in the UK without hassles.

Ta Ra for now.

Sandy & Fred

April 17, 2010 - The City of York

Cheers Everyone.

Saturday, and we headed into the City of York to tour the York Minster. York has an amazing history and an early Christian presence, since the 300's. The site was, in 71 AD the Roman legionary fortress called Eboracum. Here the Principia or headquarters was constructed. In 306 AD Constantine was proclaimed Emperor of West York and declared the practice of Christianity acceptable. In 627 AD the first Minster was built for the baptism of Edwin, King of Northumbria by Bishop Paulinus. Finally, Thomas of Bayeux started the construction of the Norman Cathedral, the first Minster, in 1080. Construction continued until 1472 when the Minster was consecrated.

York Minster is a Gothic cathedral and is one of the largest of its kind in Northern Europe alongside the Cologne Cathedral. The Minster is the seat of the Archbishop of York, the second-highest office of the Church of England, and is cathedral for the Diocese of York; a Dean and Chapter under the Dean of York run it. The formal title of York Minster is The Cathedral and Metropolitical Church of St Peter in York. The title "Minster" is attributed to churches established in the Anglo Saxon period as missionary teaching churches, and serves now as an honorific title. Services in the Minster are sometimes regarded as on the High Church, Anglo-Catholic end of the Anglican continuum.

Needless to say I could dedicate pages to the history of this site alone, but you can Wiki it for yourself to get more in-depth information. In 1967 large cracks appeared in the walls of the central tower and underpinning began to save the structure from collapse.

Fred and I spent over three hours in the Cathedral admiring the amazing stonework, woodwork and exploring all the areas. The entry is free except for the Undercroft, Treasury and Crypts which we explore and the Tower which we give a miss as it is a 275 step climb on a narrow winding spiral staircase and my knees are not up to it. We leave after spending most of the morning exploring and taking a ton of photos and search out a place to have lunch and plan the next attraction to visit.

We had lunch at a pub called The Punch Bowl and then headed off to The Treasurer's House and Garden, which is a National Trust property. The site of this house has 2000 years of history and was named by Frank Green its last private owner as the house is on the site of the mansion of the medieval Treasurer of York Minster. Mr. Green purchased the house in 1897, which were three decaying properties described as a bug-ridden slum. Frank had a passion for interior design and was a collector of fine furniture, glass, ceramics, textiles and antiques. The rooms, 13 in all, reflect his eccentric taste. What is so unusual about the house is that Mr. Green donated the house lock, stock and barrel to the Trust with specific instructions that the furniture, pictures and fabric be maintained and kept as they were laid out when he handed the house over to the Trust. As well, he provided specific instructions to the Trust for regular inspections to maintain the electrical and water works of the home.

After leaving the House, we stroll around the small streets lined with high street shops and small boutiques then along the city wall. We then headed back to the bus stop to get back to our car, which we parked, at a Park and Ride, which, was also conveniently located at an outlet mall. Once we checked out the mall and purchased some teas we headed back to the hotel after a full day.

York is definitely worth a return and I think for me even more impressive than Chester.
I have posted some pictures on my Facebook and Fred will post on Flickr by the weekend.
The pictures posted are all of the cathedral.the carving is of two lovers that was in the Chapter House.

Ta Ra for now,

Sandy & Fred

April 16, 2010 - Off to Yorkshire

Greetings All,

We had booked a long weekend away to celebrate Fred's birthday and explore the county of Yorkshire. With an early start we completed part of our journey on the motorway (highway in North America) and then onto the "A" and "B" roads so that we can see some of the countryside on our way to the hotel. Our first stop was Hardcastle Crags a National Trust property located in West Yorkshire. Gibson Mill is located here in a wooded valley with deep ravines and over thirty miles of foot paths. The mill was not open today but we do get out for some exercise and walk the short trail along the river.

Our next stop was Skipton, the gateway to the Yorkshire Dales for a look around the town and lunch. Historically, a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, Skipton was anciently distinguished by Skipton Castle, first constructed in 1090 as a motte-and-bailey by Robert de Romille, a Norman baron. This building was replaced by a stone keep as a means to repel attacks from the Kingdom of Scotland to the north. The protection offered by Skipton Castle during the Middle Ages encouraged the urbanisation of the surrounding area, and in times of war and disorder, attracted an influx of families.

The community around Skipton Castle encouraged the region to become a prosperous market town, trading sheep and woollen goods. A market stemming from its formative years still survives, albeit with significant modification. In the 19th century, Skipton emerged as a small mill town connected to the major cities via the Leeds and Liverpool Canal and its branch Thanet Canal, but during the 20th century Skipton's economy shifted to tourism aided by its historic architecture and proximity to the Yorkshire Dales. We decided to have lunch at The Woolly Sheep Inn. The portions were absolutely huge. The picture posted shows my meal a burger, salad and chips. The chips are like roast potatoes rather than chips. The town itself is worth more exploring as we did not see the castle with just a short walk around after lunch.

The next we stopped at Pateley Bridge a small market town in the Nidderdale area, in the Borough of Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England, on the River Nidd. Originally settled as a lead mining village, it took its name from 'Pate' - an old Yorkshire dialect word for 'Badger'. It has the oldest sweet shop in Britain and is the home of the Nidderdale Museum. It is a small quaint town and we are amused by a sign posted on the shore of the River Nidd advising no canoes or boats as the river is only ankle deep.
Last stop of the day was our hotel which is a Quality Inn so nothing cute and quaint as in some of our previous excursions.

Cheerio for now,

Sandy & Fred

March 22, 2010 - Loss of a Friend

To all our friends,

This blog is dedicated to our dear friend Glenda who sadly passed away on March 21st after a long fight with cancer. Death is very much a part of life as we all know but it is not something you expect to happen to someone younger than yourself who was full of life and up to any challenge put in her path.

While we are greatly saddened by Glenda's passing I want to celebrate her life and what she meant to me and our family. We became friends with Steve and Glenda in September 1975 through Fred working with her at the Scotiabank branch at Eglinton and Midland, Scarborough. We were both fortunate to win the opportunity to purchase a home with a small down payment through a special lottery in Malvern a suburb in Scarborough. Now being friends and neighbours, we shared some wonderful times together. Young couples who saved up beer bottles so that we could have a weekend bar-b-cue, the guys watching a hockey game or a card game of euchre for our entertainment. We both worked for the bank and long before personal obligation days were a part of taking time off we would call in sick for a girls day out. This only happened a couple of times as Glenda would get so stressed out worrying that we would get caught. On one occasion in particular the car stalled and we could not get it to restart. I had flooded the motor and while it did eventually start, our day was ruined. We enjoyed a trip to their the cottage in mid winter with our dogs and froze off our butts but have great memories of the experience.

When I became pregnant it was Glenda who came with me on drive over bumpy roads to encourage the birth of our child. Steve and Glenda became the god parents first to Jonathan and then later Christopher. Glenda was always there for our Jonathan from having Fudgeo cookies, which he would invite the neighbourhood kids to enjoy, at her place when he would disappear from our driveway on his tricycle to later years when they lived in the same building and he needed consoling.

As the years went by we found our lives taking us in different directions but our friendship remained fast. We would go for years without seeing one another then connect again and it would always be as if we only saw each other yesterday. Always a part of our families lives, a great adventurer on our travels together and like the sister I never had. Glenda was a champion for the underdog and compassionate in all she did. She will be missed but we have wonderful memories of the times we shared and she will live in our hearts forever.

Gone but never to be forgotten.

Sandy

March 4, 2010 - Quarry Bank Mill & Knutsford

Greetings All,

Today we met up with Brian (Fred's cousin) and his wife Alison to visit a National Trust Site, Quarry Bank Mill, located in Cheshire about an hours drive away from home. The mill was founded in 1784 by Samuel Greg in the Village of Styal on the River Bollin. The estate surrounding the mill, also developed by Greg, is the most complete and least altered factory colony of the Industrial Revolution. The iron water wheel was designed by Thomas Hewes and built between 1816 and 1820. The Hewes wheel finally broke in 1904. After that the River Bollin continued to power the mill, through two water turbines. Today the Mill is home to the most powerful working waterwheel in Europe, an iron water wheel which was originally at Glasshouses Mill at Patley Bridge. This wheel was designed by Sir William Fairbairn, a Scottish engineer who had been an apprentice of Thomas Hewes.

The factory was founded for the spinning of cotton and upon Samuel's retirement in 1832 it was the largest business of its kind in the UK. Spinning and weaving was first done by hand on spinning wheels and looms but all this soon became mechanized with the introduction of the water wheel and production was notably increased.

Quarry Bank Mill is notable for its use of unpaid child apprentices, a system that continued until 1847, with the last child to be indentured starting work in 1841. Greg employed Peter Holland, father of the Royal Physician Sir Henry Holland, 1st Baronet and uncle of Elizabeth Gaskell, as mill doctor. Holland was responsible for the health of the children and other workers, and was the first doctor to be employed in such a capacity. The children lived in a separate building near the factory called the Apprentice House. Most children came from workhouses. They would work long days with schoolwork and gardening after coming back from the mill. The work could sometimes be dangerous with fingers being lost occasionally. However, most children were happy to work in the mill because life at a workhouse would be worse. To us the use of children as young as 5 years old and conditions while better than those in the cities was pure slave labour. The day would start at 5:30 A.M. and end at 7 or 8 P.M. depending on the time of year. The noise of the machinery was also deafening we only heard 4 machines running and the racket was unbelievable. Dust from the cotton and oil from the machine were also extremely bad and accounted for illnesses that eventually ended in deaths of the workers. Cancers of the lungs, groins and mouths. Deformities due to standing or squatting in one position for long hours and of course deafness. We saw a written note by one of the Greg's that called the death of a child as a melancholy event. The poor kid's head was crushed when he got trapped in a spinning mule. Times were certainly hard back then but they were supplied fresh meat and vegetables living at the mill and were housed in warm clean homes.

The workers homes have all been converted to private homes now and the village of Styal is today a thriving community. We then walked around the grounds and gardens in which the first signs of spring where evident. Crocus and Snowdrops where in bloom as well as some other flowers that we could not identify.

It should be noted that the mill still produces cotton calico which is used to make gifts in the on site shop. Also, I have posted Video's on Facebook that gives you an idea of the noise.

We then headed off to Knutsford a town in Cheshire. A quaint place with a lot of upscale shops and Brian told us there is a lot of money in the area. After a nice walk around town we headed back to Liverpool with a stop at a Pub the Kilton for supper. A great and educational day. We will be visiting more of the National Trust Sites in the near future.

We hope you enjoyed this blog.

Ta Ra for now,

Sandy & Fred

February 10, 2010 - St George's Hall Liverpool

Greetings All,

Today we headed out to St George's Hall to view the Minton Tiles in the Great Hall. St George's Hall came about as Liverpool needed a hall in which to hold its music festivals. In 1836 a company was formed to raise funds for the building of such a place. The site picked was formerly occupied by the Liverpool Infirmary 1729-1824 and the foundation stone for the new hall was laid in 1838 in honour of Queen Victoria, with a competition being held for the design of the hall in 1839. The winner was Harvey Lonsdale Elmes and construction was started in 1841. Harvey unfortunately died in 1847 so did not complete the interior design. Sir Charles Cockerall was awarded this task. The engineer for the total project was Sir Robert Rawlins who carried on with the work and oversaw the design until Sir Charles took over from Harvey's untimely death. The Hall was completed in 1854 and cost 380,000 pounds. Today cost comparison 25.3 million pounds or approximately 50.6 million dollars Canadian.

The design is Neoclassical and holds a Assize Court, Cells, a Concert Hall, Tea Room and the Great Hall. The pipe organ was built in 1855 by Henry Willis and for a short time held the distinction of being the second largest organ in the UK with its 7737 pipes. It is now the third largest pipe organ in the UK with The Liverpool Cathedral organ being the largest and the Royal Albert Hall organ in London being the second largest. Restoration work was done started in 2000 and the Hall was re-opened on April 12,2007 by HRM Prince of Wales.

Harvey Lonsdale Elmes design for the Great Hall (completed by Charles Cockerall) was based on the Roman Baths of Caracalla. It is 169 feet long and 74 feet wide and has a tunnel vaulted ceiling. The tiles were manufactured by Minton Hollins tile factory in Stoke-on-Trent. The tiles are encaustic, this is a method that creates the design where coloured clay is poured into moulds and fired giving more durability to the patterns and the tiles. The design comprises some 30,000 tiles and was laid in 1852 costing 2000 pounds. It is 140 feet long and 72 feet wide. It should be noted that Minton tiles are found all over the world one good example is The Whitehouse in Washington D.C. They are situated around fireplaces and floors laid from 1876.

The floor was designed by Alfred Stevens of Dorset a son of a house painter. Born in 1818 he showed great promise as an artist and completed his training in Italy. The main design of the floor consists of three large circles. The largest in the centre measures 40 feet in diameter and depicts the Royal Coat of Arms. The other two circles contain the Liverpool Coat of Arms and The Star of St George, Rose, Thistle and Shamrock. Around these are nautical themes. As well, there are inscriptions both in Latin and English that all relate to the various sciences and arts. Depending on where the inscriptions are they relate to either the courts or the organ.

The raised area of the floor shows serious wear and tear with the tile colour being worn away almost completely. The main floor was covered in 1883 with wood in order to make it a more suitable for dancing. The wooden floor is like a puzzle so lifting it is no easy task as it must be lifted according to a set plan. The floor was only lifted on a average of every ten years and as a result the main floor is bright and unmarked.

When we were in the balcony overlooking the floor of the great hall Fred was approached by a custodian on duty as he noticed his camera. He asked Fred if he knew what a plasters mark was. Fred said if it was like a masons mark then he had some idea. He then took us to look at a plaster of a Angel in one of the corners. The head of the angel has the signature in the hair. The plasterer had hidden in the hair a profile of himself. The staff think it is his signature or a good joke he was pulling on the architect. George went on to tell us of some more of the hidden secrets of the hall which they hope to open for public viewing in the future once they have covered all safety concerns such as the catacombs under the jail cells and space between the Great Hall Ceiling and roof. As well they hope to be able to open the roof top for viewing. George of course has seen these areas and shared his experience with us. It was rather appropriate that his name was George as we were in St George's Hall and we laughed as he said that is why he gets to go to all the secret places of the hall.

Last but not least I told you earlier that the Hall was to be a place to hold music festivals. But as Liverpool also was in need of a Assize Court and cells for those waiting trial, the architect felt that rather than have two separate structures the building could be designed to house and met all the requirements. So St George's Hall became the court, jail, tea room and music hall all in one. The tour of the hall is usually free but the charge to view the Minton Tile Floor was only a pound less then $2.00 Canadian and it was worth much more.

We hope you enjoyed this bit of Liverpool History, pictures will be on Flickr by Sunday.
Happy Valentines Day All.

Ta Ra for now,

Sandy & Fred