London and Home

Saturday, William and Gavin took us to the Essex Agricultural Show. I held an owl, saw work horses, donkeys, flower displays, fruit, vegetables, and all the variety of things one sees at an Agricultural fair. There was even an antique car exhibit that William and Roger enjoyed.

Later, we took a train up to London where we spent two nights with Larry and Lorraine Shearer and their two sons, Sam and Tom. We went to the Victoria and Albert Museum on Sunday, had some great Indian take-away, and watched the final game in the World Cup.

Monday it was time to leave. We had an uneventful flight home, were picked up by Austin Limo, that was really a treat to come home in style. The best part of the whole trip was coming home to find that while we were gone our children had totally redone the living room!!! Freshly painted walls, professionally finished floor, new bookcase, sofas, a new rug on the floor and curtains on the windows. Oh, were we ever happy! No one has children has wonderful as ours are!!!

The Butt and Oyster and Barn Owl

Friday, we went with William to Pin Mill, another setting from Arther Ransome, Pin Mill is featured in We Didn't Mean to Go to See. After lunch we drove down to Shotley where one of Gavin's garden clients, Simon Bullimore, keeps his 50 foot, shoal draft, schooner Barn Owl. Roger was delighted to have a chance to go aboard this Phil Bolger designed ship. It was very impressive.

The Norfolk Broads

We spent three days in Essex with my cousin William and his partner Gavin. Great fun. On Thursday, William took us up to the Norfolk Broads, the setting of some of my favorite Arthur Ransome books including Coot Club. We had lunch at the Swan Inn on the Quay at Horning and later visited the nature center at Ranworth Broad.

The White Cliffs of Dover

We said goodbye to France and watched it recede in the distance from the aft deck of the P&O Ferry that took us across La Manche or the English Channel. It was a pleasant ride, sunny but breezy.

At last, the white cliffs of Dover. We were back in England where they drive on "the wrong side of the road" at least according to Americans!

Driving through northern France on our way from Mont St. Michel to Calais we saw a number of wind farms on the ridges and even as this picture shows by the side of the road.

Paddling Around Mont St. Michel

Mont St. Michel was another place I had always wanted to see. We stayed in a small, very French hotel that had a Small Planet recommendation. Walking across the causeway and then up the tiny medieval street of the village was like walking into a picture book. I climbed up what seemed like hundreds of steps to get to the entrance to the Abbey. Then there were more steps up to a stone terrace with an amazing view of the surrounding sands and the distant English Channel. Excuse me, the French call it La Manche or the sleeve. The inside of the Abbey was impressive especially when one considers the site, high up on what is essentially a rock, and the time of the building (the 6th century through the 18th century). Blocks of granite were brought from another island to build the imposing structure. From the Abby one walks out to a cloister that seems suspend in air, It was truly magical a place of peace and quiet, with a lovely garden in the middle, surrounded by closistered walks and with views of the blue-green sea. I coiuld have sat there for days just absorbing the beauty.

Monet's Garden

Visiting Monet's House and Garden at Giverney was a real highlight. The gardens were amazing and it was inspiring to see the scenes that feature in so many of his paintings. We spent the night in a small hotel about 200 yards from Monet's house and garden. It was serene and peaceful, the food was excellent and so was the wine. After a visit to the Impressionist Museum we went on our way to Mont St. Michel.

Paris in Pictures