Blog 1.10.2017

We have been staying at the campsite in Crystal Palace for almost 2 weeks now and it is great to have a break from being on the road and of course to explore more of London. Autumn is in full swing and we walk through piles of leaves to get to the bus each day. It has been relatively warm and last week there was even a pollution alert. Surprising that is still happening even with low emission zones and congestion charges.

We have had a great few weeks visiting people in the UK and exploring some of Scotland. Soon after crossing from France we stayed a couple of nights with Marg's cousin Jean and her friend Jenny who had moved into a newly renovated house in Chobham since our last visit. We explored some of the local sights including a fascinating Art Deco chapel at Compton where Mary Walls had organised workshops for the local women to make some of ceramics needed. 

Jenny, Marg, Jean!!

Marty Watt's remarkable Chapel at Compton, all clay and brick, built by local women whom Mary taught!

We headed off to stay with our friend Sue in Arlesey near Hitchen. Sue's husband John had recently died after a sudden illness. Our friendship with John goes back to London in 1977 and catching up with him has been part of our trips to the UK ever since. It is extremely sad that he is no longer with us. We were grateful to spend some time with Sue and to see Sue and John's son, Chris and family. Earlier we caught up with their other son Matt and partner Gemma.

Then it was off to Newark on Trent to get some of the things fixed on the van. The mechanics think that the fuel leak we experienced in Germany was due to rodents eating through the piping! Discussions were held about shipping Annie the Vannie home. Of course a trip here includes swims in the heated pool, soaks in the jacuzzi and blobbing in the sauna.

Next we drove North for a brief visit with Marg's brother Doug and Isabel in Harrogate. We also caught up with niece and husband Jessica and Alex. They had just driven back from Alex competing a half marathon as part of The Great North Run in Newcastle on Tyne.

Garlieston village and campsite

We headed up the West coast being rocked by the wind. We found out later that it was the tail of the Caribbean hurricanes. At one of the view points in a rocking van we looked out on the Isles of Bute, Arran and Mull of Kintyre. Visited an impressive castle on this coast, Culzern Castle. Had an entertaining guide called Gordon and it took us a wee while to tune into his lowland Scots accent. He had a remarkable knowledge even to detailing in many of the paintings as well as architectural points re the castle, these weren't prescribed but as answers to our questions!

Culzean castle in Ayreshire

 Culzean Castle and Col.

We headed up to Scotland and spent a few nights exploring Galloway and Ayeshire where we have never been before. Our first stay was at Garlieston, which is a pretty village on a very tidal harbour. We were surprised to learn that this is where the D Day landings were rehearsed as the tidal movements were similar to the Normandy beaches and the village is pretty isolated as secrecy was important. Just north of here is Scotland's book town, Wigtown where we spent a few hours in delightful bookshops. In one shop we had a delightful conversation with the owner who had lived a while in Pirie Street in Wellly!

Our next stop was Ayr and we explored Robbie Burn's birthplace and museum in nearby Alloway. Both great visits and the museum did an excellent job of bringing the poems to life. The descriptions of the exhibits were written in the same language Burns used with translations of some of the words at the bottom so it kept us on our toes. Walked down to Brig o'doon, the wee bridge mentioned in his poems.

Marg using quill and ink from the Burn's time in his birthplace.

Marg and the "Tim'rous  Beastie"

We drove to Perth for some ancestor hunting. This is where Marg's grandfather was from and since our last visit postcards written to him from 1905-10 have come to light giving the addresses where he lived.  So these places were visited and photographed. We visited second cousin Anne and her husband Peter who we had met once before in 1977. It was great to see them and share family stories. We took the opportunity to visit Scone Palace where Scottish Monarchs have been crowned on Moot hill (just a mound really) is said to have been formed by nobles bringing boots filled with earth from their lands to show their fealty. The gardens are beautiful and there were pipers playing by the gate. 

 Marg, (she'll nae be a king but a St. perhaps!!) on the way to Moot Hill at Scone castle. And of course one must eat a scone at Scone!

Pipers drawing breath before playing @ Scone.

Our week in Scotland over we headed south staying a night in North Yorkshire at Barnard Castle. The campsite was a lovely walk along the river from this beautiful village. Famous sons include the explorer Murchison (NZ connection) and author Parkinson whose Parkinson's Law we all know (Work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion).

On the way to Barnard town and castle

Our suitcases had been stored with friends Cindy and Richard near Oxford and we spent a lovely evening with them on their farm along with 7 adorable month old laboratory puppies. We left the next morning with good farm gifts of apples, veggies and eggs. With difficulty we left without one of the puppies.

Marg,Richard,Cindy,Col @ Lower  Farm Barns, Bucknell!

The on the day discount ticket sales in London means that we have seen some great shows. A hilarious play called The Play That Goes Wrong. Described as The Mousetrap meets Monty Python, we laughed all the way through. The musical An American in Paris had some great Gershwin songs and Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers type dancing but also great classical ballet. Shakespeare's Globe theatre is having a season of love and we saw a fascinating performance of Much Ado About Nothing set in Mexico in the revolutions 1910-20. 

We have been doing the rounds of the museums firstly seeing the exhibition at the British museum of the Scythians, nomadic fighters from Siberia around 7 century BCE. Because their graves were in permafrost amazing things have survived, carpets, fabric and tattooed skin! The British Library has displayed among other things, original letters written by Henry 8th's children, Ghandi, the rough notes of Beatles lyrics, a letter from Queen Victoria disapproving of Women's Rights. No wonder it took the Brits so long to give women the vote. The Science museum was a bit of a letdown but we did see the Apollo 10 capsule, the original Puffing Billy train and the mathematics section had some of the technology we used to use. 

We had a great day walking around the markets, Spittalfields, Brick Lane and Petticoat Lane. Spent time on Charing Cross Road and the bookshops getting lost in the big Foyles shop. 

The Imperial War Museum was not all guns tanks and rockets and the exhibits on the World Wars, the Holocaust and the Cold War gave balanced presentations about the impact of war on society with good descriptions of what society was like when these wars started.

The standout museum visit so far has to be the Pink Floyd exhibition at the Victoria and Albert. Just amazing and we managed to spend almost 4 hours absorbed by it.

 The Globe, just waiting for beginners please "Much to do About Nothing"!

 P.F. one of the many wonderful exhibits @ the V & A

Agapanthus by Jenny Pickford @ Kew..Metal and Glass!

Agapanthus....detailing of the glass!!

Small temple @ Kew Gardens

A boat trip up the Thames to Kew Gardens was a good break from the city and the extensive collection of trees, sculptures and gardens was great.

All of this and we still have three days in London before we leave for Morocco.