Monday 19 August 2019, Our last day in England this time

We had quite a good breakfast at the Travelodge in Gloucester, although the buffet wasn't quite as plentiful as the Radisson's or indeed as the Coombeshead Farm breakfast options. We also managed to finish the tricky Prize Crossword in the Guardian. So far, we have never sent one in!

Outside Gloucester cathedral - we enjoyed visiting it

Then we went on foot to revisit Gloucester city centre, in particular its cathedral. It was very impressive, on a par with Durham, dare I say? Richard went up to investigate the tower while I sat in the north transept. Then he showed me up the stairs to the area behind the altar and the nave. We had a good view looking down. The Cathedral was begun in 1089 and took 400 years to complete. It has recently been cleaned inside, and was well worth a visit. I took several photos as usual. We also visited the cloisters which have been well maintained.

An art show in the cathedral - always good to get ideas!

Afterwards, we walked back to check out of our hotel and pay for our discounted parking ticket in the multi-story car park. We set off for Birmingham Airport accompanied by Radio Three. The car's navigation system turned out to be included and useful, but we went a bit wrong on the last stage when we wanted to buy (cheap) petrol. Anyway, we managed to hand back our car to Europcar at 15.00 and went to Departures.

We hung around for ages before we could check in our bags, but found a bar where we got a drink and a light meal - I had nachos with beans I think. Our flight was a bit delayed and we arrived back in Zurich at 22.45 in pouring rain. We took a taxi home. All's well that ends well!

Sunday 18 August 2019,the morning after, Cornwall to Gloucester

Saying goodbye to Laura and Dan

The morning after Laura's and Dan's wedding party is still a bit of a blur. We got up quite late, but only Cheri had beaten us to the breakfast table. We enjoyed a delicious Coombeshead breakfast including home-made bread and honey. I also had two boiled eggs from the farm. Coffee was the order of the day, plus local apple juice. David arrived a little later - they were heading to visit old haunts in St. Ives. We also saw Peter, Denise and Vittoria.

The Gloucester Docks area is very smart now after renovation

 

Later on, Lesley and David popped in to say goodbye, with Kathryn, Robbie and Angharad. We said goodbye to Laura and Dan as they took a taxi to Exeter Airport. Everyone else left Coombeshead - we were the last to leave.

We set off to Gloucester via the M5 - another Travelodge destination. The traffic wasn't so busy on Sunday and we arrived there at 3.30pm, after a slight detour to find the car park. We found our spacious but rather empty room and had a short rest and an attempt to finish the crossword.

Richard enjoying his Greek dinner. The waiter was very jovial

Later we walked down to the Docks area which has been recently renovated and looks very interesting with its smart warehouses. I took lots of photos.

We found a Greek restaurant with the usual cheery welcome and chance to practise our minimal Greek.We had dinner of a mezze of dips to share and baked chicken, Corfu Sunday style.

We also enjoyed a bottle of Greek Pinot Noir.

Saturday 17 August 2019, the Big Day, Laura's and Dan's wedding party

The big wedding party at Coombeshead Farm! All the close family members (except Matthew and Sarah in Melbourne) and friends were there. Evething went very smoothly and there was a great atmosphere. The sun also shone!

In the morning the girls (and mums) had their make-up done and hair styled. Laura was first up for the stylist Amelie to do her hair - blow-dry, curling and make-up.  My turn next, as Mother of the Bride,  for make-up and hair styling, what's left of it. It all looked nice. Then Dan's mum Denise and Laura's aunt Lesley took turns, followed by the four bridesmaids, Frannie, Emily, Kathryn and Jess, who arrived a little while later with a lovely haircut. It was a very relaxed and fun morning and afternoon bonding session.

The wedding party took place first at 16.00 in the Coombeshead Farm garden. It was very sociable, apart from the wasps. We had champagne on the lawn, and had chance to meet all the family members and close friends including my brothers Paul and Hugh, their wives Tam and Julie and children (apart from Joe who was at a music festival), and Dan's parents Denise and Peter, his brothers Josh and Sam and their partners Vittoria and David, plus his relatives Ruth, Irene, Melanie and Andrea.

We then went indoors to the barn for the

wedding celebration. After the guests were seated, the bride and groom entered to the music of Like a Rolling Stone, followed by their bridesmaids. Dan's friend Tom introduced the event warmly, and his brother Sam read the letter from John Steinbeck to his son. Laura and Dan exchanged rings and repeated their vows. The Clixby quartet of Hugh, Julie, Jess and Frannie sang a beautiful a capella version of Forever Young by Bob Dylan.

Then we all walked round to the restaurant where the reception continued with a sit-down meal. Robbie was the master of ceremonies and did a fine job! Everyone sat down to begin the starter course. Speeches followed each course. I made the first speech, recollecting Laura's early life, her talents and our move to Switzerland.  There were some other speeches. I've currently forgotten them all.

There were official photographers at both wedding ceremonies, and so private picture-taking was discouraged. I managed to get a few snaps in the restaurant. After the meal, there was dancing in the barn.

The official photos will be available soon.

Later I slept like a log!

Friday 16 August 2019, Day 13. To Coombeshead Farm in Cornwall

The real Coombeshead Farm

We woke up at the Taunton Travelodge and had our breakfast out of picnic boxes - cornflakes, brioche, orange juice. Not great. We packed our smaller suitcase back into the car and called at Sainsbury's nearby for petrol and a newpaper. Then we set our car navigation system to Coombeshead Farm in remote Cornwall. It was raining.

We took the M5 from Taunton to Exeter and then the A30 to Launceston. Our GPS then took us down a narrow road to a stone farmhouse, unfortunately not Coombeshead. The kind farmer directed us on to the correct location.

We found our room, number 3, and had coffee downstairs from the hospitable hostess. Dan and Laura were already in residence. We handed over Laura's wedding dress for the big occasion. Phew! We met Dan's middle brother Josh and his partner Vittoria. Then Dan's parents, Peter and Denise, arrived.We were offered cheese and snacks for a late lunch.

Tam, Paul and Laura

Me and Richard at dinner - a lovely evening, I seem to remember

We then rested until David N and Cheri arrived. They also stayed at the farm. Lesley and David H. also came in to say hello. They were staying elsewhere, with Kathryn, Robbie and Angharad who drove from London. Next, Dan's other brother Sam arrived with his partner David (could be confusing). Then my brother Paul and his wife Tam, and Frannie and Emily and their partners Doug and Will also arrived.

Hugh, Julie and Jess arrived the next day from St. David's.




My memory of supper that night is vague, but I think we had local mussels, crab and sea bass. They also served sangria and white wine.

Thursday 15 August 2019, Day 12 - Heading to Taunton

After yesterday's civil ceremony and and champagne party, we were a bit late getting up. We had a nice breakfast in Ropery Street, then sorted out the fridge contents and the dishwashing. Then we loaded up the car for the next stage of the Wedding of the Year.

We took the M25 and the M4, heading west. We stopped at Reading Services for a small snack. It was very crowded. Then we went on via the M5 to Taunton Travelodge - unfortunately we went first to the Wellington one by mistake! The accommodation there was basic. We rested for a while.

The New Mill, near Taunton

In early evening, we went out to look for supper. We first popped into a nearby B&Q to buy a soft polishing cloth for Richard (for our dining table...). Then he proposed a walk alongside two main roads and a roundabout to a pub which did food, the New Mill. Google Maps came up trumps again! I enjoyed a dry white wine or three and ordered fish and chips.

Delicious fish and chips for me! We don't get this in CH

The pub was very popular locally, it seemed. We were very hungry. Richard enjoyed his slow-cooked pork belly with potato gratin. He limited his beer consumption before heading back for the car to take me back to the hotel.

Wednesday 14 August 2019. Day 11 - Laura's and Dan's Civil Wedding

We had to be at Marylebone Registry Office at 15.00 for the start of the civil ceremony. Laura and Dan spent last night at Zetter Town House hotel while we had responsibity for their house.

With Laura after the civil ceremony

We got up very late, and had a shower and breakfast. I sorted out my new little handbag that Richard helped me choose in Jelmoli. I took the minimum contents, including my phone! It was pouring with rain for most of the day.

Laura and her good friend Shawna

We called an Uber at 13.00 to Toni and Guy in Baker Street. The 'girls' were having their hair washed and blow-dried. I met Laura and her friend Shawna there. It was very nice to be pampered. Richard went to see the Wallace Collection nearby. After the hairdos, we all took an Uber to Old Marylebone Town Hall with Richard. His hair didn't really merit a 'do'. I was wearing my green dress, and Richard (N) wore his smart blue jacket. Laura wore a short cream dress.

Laura, Denise, Peter, Dan

The civil wedding ceremony convened at 15.15, and started at 15.45 after Laura and Dan had answered some pertinent questions. Dan's parents, Denise and Peter, were there as well as his younger brother Sam and his friend Tom. Laura brought Shawna, Paddy and Eddie, Nicky, Richard and Natassa. Dan also invited Emma and other friends. There were two readings on the subject of love and marriage by Shawna and Lucy, one from Steinbeck and the other from Hemingway. Dan and Laura also signed the register.

Julia, Laura, Richard, Dan at Clarette

After the civil ceremony, there was confetti thrown on the registry office steps - still raining. There was an official photographer taking pictures. Then we walked or got Ubers to Clarette nearby for champagne and canapes. It was very sociable.

Finally Richard and I had dinner at Trishna, an Indian restaurant, with Dan's parents, Peter and Denise. We ate the five course tasting menu without wine, and it was a very pleasant evening. We eventually got another Uber back to Ropery Street.

Tuesday 13 August 2019, Day 10 - Letchworth to London

I slept well after tossing and turning for a while. We were up at 8 for a shower. I enjoyed a nice breakfast of orange juice, muesli with fruit, bacon and scrambled eggs (a small helping) and coffee.

Former ICL House, Letchworth

Then back in our room we had an extended discussion about packing. We have a small and a large case but I have bought too much stuff (the M&S things plus the four books I bought). We have hopefully sorted it out apart from the extra bag of dirty washing. :-(

We caught up with the newspaper and crossword before setting off to London via Letchworth and Stevenage, homes of our former workplaces at ICL, and where we met. We stopped and took photos for old times' sake.

Cavendish Road, Stevenage, home of Fujitsu, formerly ICL

We drove down the A1(M) and the M25 to Laura's and met her in Mile End. We had to have a parking permit to park outside the house. We had lunch outside in the small garden. It needs a bit of work, but the catmint is thriving.


Dan came home later and we watched the final part of Killing Eve (I fell asleep the first time). Matthew and Sarah had sent Laura and Dan a wedding present of some lovely modern glass decanters which they just unpacked. They were very pleased.



At 7.30pm, I had a manicure and Laura also had a pedicure. Now I've got silver fingernails to match my toenails! Dan did the cooking which smelt delicious. We had a late meal of chicken and roast veg with salad, and an Alborinho white wine and a Portuguse red. I slept OK.

Monday 12 August 2019, Day 9 - on to Letchworth and Hitchin

At the Midland Hotel in Bradford, we enjoyed a nice breakfast of orange juice, muesli with berries, coffee, toast and marmalade and a boiled egg, Breakfast is my favourite meal of the day! Then we walked round the shops to W.H.Smith's for a Guardian. Richard pointed out an article about 'unhelpful' war metaphors in discussion about cancer, eg. fighting, battling. I had another weird dream last night about a day in the country somewhere, but I forgot the details afterwards.

Our old home 120 Halsey Drive, Hitchin

We had a very long, slow, tortuous ride to Letchworth along the motorways until we passed Doncaster. There was heavy traffic all the way, with many lorries on the road who seem to like overtaking each other. We arrived at the Letchworth Hall Hotel at 15.00 and had a rest.

William Ransom School, Matthew's and Laura's first school

Then we drove round to see old haunts in Letchworth Town Centre and Hitchin - William Ransom School, 120 Halsey Drive, a drink in the Three Moorhens. Afterwards we did most of the cryptic crossword. Then we walked along the road to the Fox in Willian (the Three Horseshoes opposite wasn't serving food) and we had a very delicious dinner there.

The Fox at Willian has gone posh - my starter was yummy

Then back to the Letchworth Hall Hotel for a glass of red wine and a coffee in the bar. I felt very tired.

Sunday 11 August 2019, Day 8 - on to Bradford

We left David's and Cheri's after another nice brekkie. We drove without a break to Bradford - Richard's idea - without a hitch. We found our hotel, the Midland Hotel, in the city centre, and checked into our comfortable room.

Some old buidlings in the city centre

Then we went out to see the shops and the city. There was a shopping centre nearby and I bought several things from Marks & Spencer. I like to choose things from the shop rather than ordering online, whenever possible.


Then we rested in our room and got up to date with all the Guardian crossword puzzles and codewords.



We enjoyed drinks and dinner at the City Vaults pub nearby. I had another English favourite, sausage and mash with gravy, which was tasty. I also enjoyed the dry white wine, Sauvignon Blanc. My favourite! Richard enjoyed his pint of Saltaire Blonde and his vegetarian jalfrezi.

A pub supper of sausage and mash - yum

Then we strolled around and went back to the hotel for another glass of  SB - this time Chilean Rapel Valley.

Saturday 10 August 2019, Day 7, in Sedbergh

Cheri and David are proud of their new garden

We were up a bit late again and had another nice breakfast served by David and Cheri. It rained all day so we took the chance to relax and stay indoors.

In the afternoon, we watched a film musical, A Star is Born starring Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper. I enjoyed it very much and was surprised at how good an actress Lady Gaga was.

In the evening we went out for a Chinese meal nearby in Kirkby Lonsdale.

Friday 9 August 2019, Day 6 - In Sedbergh

David and Cheri celebrating her birthday

Today is Cheri's birthday! I was up at about 9am for a shower. We had a lovely breakfast and we gave Cheri the silver necklace with a leaf that we bought in Durham. We also gave her my new card from Florence. She also received some flowers from Laura.

We had lunch in Kirkby Lonsdale at Avanti restaurant. There we also visited the local church art exhibition. It gave me a few ideas. We also saw the so-called Ruskin's View.

Back at D&C's we read the paper and had dinner of salads with ham, chicken, cheese and tomatoes etc, plus some champagne for the special day.

The bridge and church in Kirkby Lonsdale

We heard also that Laura's flight to Zurich from London was cancelled! She had planned to bring Dan and some new friends to stay in our apartment for the weekend and also visit Bianca for her hair. No reason was given for the cancellations. I thought she might be glad of the chance to rest though.

Thursday 8 August 2019, Day 5 - On to Sedbergh

Durham Cathedral from the weir

I woke late after having a weird dream. Breakfast at the Radisson was nice again, with muesli, berries, scrambled egg, bacon and toast and apricot jam. Plus a strong coffee! Then we packed and checked out, and put our cases in the car.

The nave with its soaring pillars

We walked into the town and got some more cash out. Sharing the cost of meals the past two nights used up quite a bit for the two of us. We walked up to the Cathedral again. Richard climbed the tower - 327 steps - while I sat in the nave and also took a few more photos. Then we headed to the Flat White cafe for an orange juice and a chicken and avocado sandwich on brown bread.

Brough Castle, where we had an ice cream

After lunch, we set off to drive to Sedbergh where Richard's brother David and his wife Cheri live. On the way we stopped off at Brough Castle, which was built in 1178. Then we went on to Kirkby Stephen, a nice small town. We arrived at D&C's at 4.30pm. They gave us a warm welcome to their new home!

We enjoyed a nice meal of smoked salmon followed by chicken risotto with some white wine. We slept well.

Wednesday 7 August 2019, Botanic Gardens and Zizzi, Day 4

Today was my mum's birthday - I always remember those dates. We had another nice Radisson breakfast. We had planned to visit the Botanic Gardens in Durham, a new feature since my time there. We checked the map and decided to drive as it was quite a way up the hill past Grey College.We got a parking space and met the others in the cafe.

The Botanic Gardens in Durham are a recent feature

Then we walked all round the large park, and saw lots of trees, some quite exotic, and some seasonal flowers. There was a particular display from Japan as well as plants from Australia, USA and so on. We also went inside the glasshouse to see some tropical plants.Afterwards we had another coffee and a cookie in the cafe, in spite of some annoying wasps.

Jane and Steve enjoying their meal at Zizzi

We returned to our hotel for a cold beer and to do the 'i' newspaper crosswords before having a rest.  Then we headed to the Premier Inn bar again before walking up to Zizzi in Saddler Street. I had soup and pizza on a board with some red wine. I chatted to Jane and Alison in particular as well as the others - it takes a while to re-establish contacts and conversations. I also handed out some cards featuring my watercolour of Prebends Bridge. They seemed popular.

Tuesday 6 August, Day 3, Meeting the Aidan's crowd

Along the banks of the Wear

We were up a bit late! We watched BBC Breakfast briefly. Then we enjoyed the buffet breakfast at the Radisson. Nice! I took all my tablets today - gingko (daily) for memory, escitalopram (alternate days) for mild depression, statin (daily) for cholesterol lowering, calcimagon (daily after food) for bone density. Then we rested in our room to catch up with yesterday's Guardian. I finished the Codeword.

The east window of the cathedral

Later, we walked all along the river towpath, from the weir to the bottom of The Bailey, an old cobbled street which is home to several Durham colleges. We watched a family of ducks. We walked up South and North Bailey to Palace Green, where we had a coffee outside. I took a few photos of the Cathedral outside.



We looked round the Durham shops and I bought a new umbrella - always a good idea in Durham. In England we discovered that the Post Office is now located with W.H.Smith's, but I was too late to get some stamps for postcards to Switzerland. Then we walked to Back Silver Street again and found a nice handmade silver necklace for Cheri's birthday on 9 August. We had a light lunch - soup and cheese scones - in the cafe opposite. Then we headed back to our hotel past the Durham Passport Office.

Richard and Penny enjoying a laugh

Some of the Durham gang who were there at dinner

We rested a while and then  headed to the Cathedral Undercroft Cafe to meet our group of friends. We met Stephanie, who organised this reunion, Jane and Steve, Pat and Adrian, and Penny. We had a coffee and arranged to meet at 5.30pm in the Premier Inn bar where the others were staying. Hopefully Alison and Dave, and Carolyn, will join us later.




At 6pm, we all met up in the Premier Inn bar. Everyone was there as expected, We had a drink and caught up with old times, before heading to La Spaghettata for dinner. We had a large table upstairs and enjoyed an Italian meal. We enjoyed some red wine and I had sea bass with risotto, one of their specials. Otherwise, my memory of the evening is rather vague!

The original Aidans 1969 crew: Julia,Jane,Penny,Carolyn, Pat

Monday 5 August 2019, Day 2, to Durham

In the Market Square, Durham

We had a nice breakfast at our Novotel., before heading to Durham via the M1/A1. We stopped at Wetherby services for a Costa Coffee - a nice flat white. We listened to Radio 3 playing music from the Edinburgh Festival. The temperature was 21C - a bit cooler here than in Switzerland.


We arrived at the Radisson Blu at 12.30, just in time for a fire alarm! We always like staying at this hotel. After checking in our bags, we strolled into the town over the River Wear. We had lunch at The Library, a new bar (or newly renamed). I hoped for fish and chips but had to settle for vegan chilli and rice - quite tasty. We watched the cricket on TV - England v Australia in the First Test - sadly England lost. Then back to the Radisson for a rest.

Richard with Paul in the bar of the Radisson

Me with Carole - an old friend from Aidan's

We had planned to meet my old Durham University friend Carole in the bar. She arrived with her husband Paul, also a former Durham student. We enjoyed a drink in the bar - dry white wine and soda - before walking along Back Silver Street (recommended by Laura)  and into Saddler Street to Shakeen's Indian restaurant. I enjoyed my chicken balti with cauliflower and a pint of Kingfisher beer. We had a lovely evening reminiscing over old and new times.



Then Richard and I said goodbye to Carole and Paul, and we enjoyed a glass of dry Malbec in the hotel bar. I slept well but was worried about my phone for some reason.

Sunday 4 August 2019, Day 1, Setting off

On the train to the airport! We had the usual stress re packing. It took all morning. We also changed the sheets on the bed and washed the blue set, as we expected Laura and her friends to visit for the weekend of 9 to 13 August.

At the airport - cheers!

After a light lunch of carrot soup, we set off. It was sunny and 25 degrees C. Our 17.10 Swiss flight to Birmingham took off on time. I had  a cheese sandwich, a white wine and a yummy Swiss chocolate on board. I planned to buy a map of southwest England for the southern part of our drive - sadly I never got the chance.


We collected our hire car at Birmingham, a dark red Vauxhall Mokka. Our plan was to drive to the Derby/Nottingham Novotel, which we found easily. There was a group of Chinese students staying here too. We had a meal in the bar and watched BBC1 on TV. So far, so good!

Monday 29 July 2019 - links to stops on our tour

This morning I looked up the links to the places we are staying on our tour of England. I've added them - see right. It all sounds exciting now! I hope the weather stays fine - there are reports of flooding in the north-west. We hope to avoid that area.

Sunday 28 July 2019

Today we booked our remaining accommodations in England: on Sunday 11 August we're staying at the Letchworth Hall Hotel, on Thursday 15th we have booked into the Travelodge in Taunton, and on the way back we are staying one night on 18 August at the Travelodge in Gloucester. Some places in UK don't seem to recognise our Swiss address and postcode, but we have printed out confirmations. The only hotel that hasn't emailed to confirm is the Midland Hotel in Bradford (11 August). I had to ring them twice to be sure.

Friday 26 July 2019

Today Matthew confirmed that he would not be able to come to the wedding. He needs to stay and support Sarah who is having a difficult time. It's also a long journey. Laura collected her wedding dress which looks really pretty. Yesterday I had a footcare session lasting an hour, and had silver nail varnish  put on. It looks nice. I'm wearing a green dress to the registry office wedding in London and a royal blue one to the party at Coombeshead Farm.

Thursday 25 July 2019, setting up

Today I created a new blog for our upcoming visit to UK for a Durham college reunion with my old rowing crew friends, and then on to London and Cornwall for Laura's and Dan's wedding ceremony and party. Progress is going well so far!