So after waiting for over a year, we finally escaped for our annual holiday to visit family and wander the English countryside.
Our first two days were spent in London. Hilary surprised me with tickets to see the revival of ‘Oliver’ at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. And for those who know of Rowan Atkinson from “Black Adder” and “Mr. Bean”, he played a brilliant Fagin. We also wandered through parts of the British Museum to see some family silver. While there I came face to face with the Rosetta Stone. I had no idea it was in London and sitting in a large glass case in the museum. The next day we went to see the crown jewels and see where Sir Walter Raleigh was imprisoned in the Tower of London.
From London we headed to Yorkshire and despite the worst storm of their winter season we really enjoyed our short stay there. Our innkeepers, Simon and Jane, at the Thorney Mire Barn B&B were perfect and we highly recommend staying there if you ever find yourself in Wensleydale. You’ll be pampered! We toured the Wensleydale Creamery (where they make the favorite cheese of Wallace from “Wallace and Grommit”), then moved on to the Black Sheep Brewery to see how they make really good beer. That little visit has now resulted in my first batch of home brew!
From Yorkshire we went back to the middle of the country to spend Christmas with Hilary’s family. Much food was eaten, Christmas crackers pulled, gifts unwrapped, children filled with chocolate, and generally a wonderful Christmas was enjoyed by all.
From Christmas we headed to Plymouth in Devon to find my ancestral roots. Aside from the wind and cold we found some of the significant roots of the Bickford family, to which I am related through my grandmother.
I really enjoyed eating and drinking my way across England. This turned out to be such a fun packed trip that we’re now both ready for another one, but somewhere warm and beach-like.
Not Likely … unfortunately. H.