Epsom & London - July

Saturday night at Mike & Ellas BBQ and here we are with Corinne, Ian and Helen

Monday we had breakfast with Corinne, after a lovely Sunday evening, before sending her away so we could head to Epsom. Despite it being a Monday morning and the M25 being involved it was a good journey. We arrived to be met by Linda from over the road who showed us in, checked we were ok with the alarm and the watering and was generally lovely. Straight off to Lidl and we were set for a few days. We've stayed here before, when Helen and Richard had a cat, Frodo, on her last legs when we cared for her. I probably commented then how weird it is to be in a house where there are pictures of you, as a bridesmaid, from when Sarah married John.

Martina & Bill were there too along with a dog they were looking after

Tuesday we went to Kew Gardens. Brian had never been, so it was on his list. I remember the giant lily pads from going as a child, perhaps 50 years ago. I also went regularly with a university boyfriend when he/we worked on a farm in Swanley, Kent. My main memory from then is the Princess of Wales Conservatory, opened by Princess Diana in 1987 right in the middle of my University time. These two houses were still as I remember them, as was the Palm House. Glad we went when we did as that is about to close for refurbishment. The weather was kind to us, not too warm and only wet when we had popped in for lunch. The glass houses were the main attraction for me as much of the rest of the gardens were trees with rather than all being formal laid out gardens.

There's Mike in the yellow top (haven't got a photo of Ella) dancing to YMCA next to Corinne with the shield on (something to do with the theme of the evening: Neon. Mike and Ella have a perfect party house, they throw many parties. This is the dance hall, he has flashing disco lights and a wall projector displaying pop videos to the music

Wednesday, a train into Waterloo from where we walked past the London Eye, over the Golden Jubilee Bridge, in to Covent Garden, via Trafalgar Square. A brunch stop here before carrying on to Tottenham Court Road and Outernet, the British Museum and a few minutes sit down in Russel Square park. From here to the Shaftesbury Theatre where we had tickets for Just for One Day, a musical based on the events of Band Aid and Live Aid 40 years ago. Thoroughly enjoyable, a little 'worthy' but made you laugh, made you cry, made you sing along. What more do you want from a musical? Came out buzzing, which is always a good sign before heading back south towards China Town. So many places to choose from. I think we made a good choice. Many reviews for many places complain about length of wait, not us, we had barely nibbled a prawn cracker before the meal was with us. Tube back to Waterloo, we'll we'd bought that sort of ticket so rude not to, and the train back to Epsom. We'd expected to get an Uber back from here but walking just seemed to be easier, after a full day out.

Down in Epsom at Helen and Richards house (see their photo at the top of the last blog). They are away in Africa at the moment and offered us their house while they are away. With top London sights a train or car drive away, what's not to like. Helen and Richard are Sarah's mum and dad, Jackie's long time friend and wife of John in the village, who died of cancer just over four years ago. It's very nice of them to offer use of their house, they are the nicest of people 

Thursday we thought we'd have a relaxing day, the forecast wasn't very good and we had walked almost 40,000 steps over the previous 2 days. We did have a more relaxed start to the day, but decided to take a walk over the Epsom Downs from the viewpoint, across the racecourse, to the Regiment of Trees, a memorial garden to soldiers from the First World War and the inspection of troops by Lord Kitchener. Helen said she has planted two trees for two of her Great Uncles. We wonder if one of them was Uncle Nobby, not someone we know, but a relation of Helen's whose war grave we found for her in Kanchanaburi in Thailand 13 years ago after he died in the war in the Pacific. We came back, later than planned after a long chat with an old guy on his daily 5 mile walk, to the Rubbing House. This is a pub, right on the racecourse where we had a well deserved pint and a light lunch. Another 11,000 steps, not such a rest day then!

Day 1 (Tuesday) we drove to Kew Gardens. I'd never been but always wanted to, Jackie's been many times in the past. For me it was the link to the age of exploration and Sir Joseph Banks, president of the Royal Society for 41 years. He, among other things accompanied Captain James Cook on his first great voyage visiting Brazil, Tahiti, New Zealand and Eastern Australia, returning with many plants, specimens and sketches, making Kew Gardens the worlds leading botanical garden. We followed their trip through NZ and Australia on our trip 12 years ago, visiting many of their landing sites

Friday had to be Hampton Court Palace, the last of Brian's list, on the hottest day. There were more school trips, on the last day of term, than I would have expected. We walked around the gardens, and the famous maze, before going into the Palace. We did manage to avoid most of the kids this way, and probably the worst of the heat. An amazing place, the Palace is beautiful, both inside with the paintings and tapestries and outside with the building and gardens. Another full day out before returning for fizz Friday.

Visiting the Princess of Wales Conservatory at Kew, a place familiar to Jackie

Saturday we could have stayed, but thought we'd come back although it has taken longer than the journey down we were prepared for that. Proper rain meant no watering before we left, though strangely although we know it's rained at home too, the poor little black elder under the hawthorn tree is still looking limp and dehydrated. I know how it feels, we've come home for a rest!

Jackie wanted to visit the giant waterlily house, a place she remembered visiting many times as a child. I think I'm right in saying there are three types of rare lily's there, one of which was found some years ago through sheer perseverance from a rumour and long jungle treks to track it down

The Victorian palm house. It was open and we were able to visit the mature, huge tropical palms inside, but its shortly to be closed for four years for refurbishment. They want to make it 'carbon positive' as well as preserving the beautiful Victorian architecture

The treetop walk, a nice circular walk giving splendid views over the gardens and a good view from above

Kew Palace, retreat for George III and other monarchs. He was the one who went mad, as well as being instrumental in losing the America colonies, and he used this as a retreat during his worst periods

Wednesday and a train trip to Waterloo station in central London

Iconic view from Jubilee bridge over the Thames. London Eye on the left, Westminster bridge behind Jackie and the houses of parliament and Big Ben clock tower on the right

Trafalgar Square with Nelson on top of his column and four lions to guard him, with Big Ben clock tower in the distance

Inside the British Museum

And a selfie of the museum from outside, a beautiful building as well as an interesting museum

Inside the Shaftesbury Theatre waiting for our musical to start

What a great show it was, fabulous musicians, great acting and, of course, we knew all the music!

Chinatown for dinner. Crystal, we needed you to help us order, although I think we did pretty well, it was de
licious!

On the long down escalator to catch the tube at Tottenham Court Road station

And finally the train back to Epson from the impressive old Waterloo station

Thursday was our walk to the Regiment of Trees, starting at the Epsom Downs viewpoint. You can't really see it in this photo, but there were amazing views over London, including the arch over Wembley Stadium

Our six mile walk took us down and through Epsom racecourse, crossing the racetrack

And then out towards the Regiment of Trees first World War memorial

On the way posters told us about the areas importance as a training ground for troops in the first world war, before going to the front in Flanders in France. This view is of a camp for 8000 new recruits that was spread across this land during the 1914 to 18 war which occupied all these fields and Epsom racecourse

Lots of interesting information, including this one where a lookout post was made of a replica of a dead tree on the battlefield to allow troops to spy on enemy positions. The mock up was made, the dead tree sawm down overnight and replaced with the model with look out inside

The Regiment of Trees a memorial of many stone carved troops, commemorating the inspection of the troops by Lord Kitchener in January 1915. The men were raised at 04:30am and stood in this field to attention waiting for his arrival in freezing conditions. Lord Kitchener eventually arrived at 10:30 after one man had died from hypothermia with a number of others fainting and spending many hours in hospital 

The tree monument is a place for reflection to remember those who gave their lives. The branches are inscribed with poignant messages

Back across Epsom racecourse to the Rubbing House pub, the only pub in the country located inside a racecourse

Excellent beer and lunch while we enjoyed the afternoon sun. Googling when the next racing is on at Epsom we found that it was today, gates open at 4:30pm, followed by a concert by an Abba tribute band in the evening. It was 3:15pm then, better get a move on to avoid being locked in the pub inside the racecourse! That's why we could hear Abba music nearby (they were rehearsing) and the reason outside broadcast vans were parked nearby

Next day (Friday) was our visit to Hampton Court Palace, home to King Henry VIII and William III (William of Orange). It's a place I've wanted to go to since I was in Junior school and did a project on London and the Palace. The world famous maze, the oldest in the world, constructed in 1700 captured my imagination as a child. I've always wanted to do it, so of course we had to, along with thirty or so schoolchildren running through it screaming. It's only taken me about 60 years to fulfill this ambition!

This is in the centre of the maze, just to show we got there. And we found our way out again without using the emergency escape door!

The tiltyard where Henry VIII would joust on horseback

The fabulous palace reflected in the lake with the Diana fountain. The palace is huge with sections devoted to the Indian army stationed there in the first world war, the Tudors and the Georgians. It was Queen Victoria who opened the palace to the public after she made Buckingham Palace in central London the seat of monarchy

Its easy to get lost in here. We walked miles, many of it twice to try to see everything

The royal chapel. It didn't say, but I assume this must have been catholic originally but converted to protestant after Henry VIII's conversion to protestantism

Beautifully decorated rooms

One of William III's ante room with over 2000 pieces of arms on display, intended to demonstrate to any visiting dignitaries the power of the crown

The Privy Garden as laid out by William III and viewed from the best position here from one of his rooms. Only distinguished guests would have got this view

Another fabulous side garden with the banqueting hall beyond

This is part of the Great Vine (it's impossible to get it all in). It is the largest grape vine in the world, planted in 1768 for King George III by Lancelot 'Capability' Brown, who was Chief Gardener at the palace at the time

The West Gate is the normal entrance, but it was undergoing some renovation work so we had to use another entrance/exit

We've had a lovely week staying in Epsom for the week, our thanks to Helen and Richard for the use of their house, we look forward to catching up with them when they are back

In the UK June to July

Quizzing Helen and Richard on their Uzbekistan trip whilst in John's garden, who was away! As its a 'selfie' its a mirror image of his garden and, as it drove him nuts seeing it that way round, he had to reverse it for himself. Me? I've left it as it is so it'll still drive him nuts when he sees it here!

Getting boring here, time is flying.

The downstairs loo is finished and floored, though we did have to get Tariq back for a little tweak. The cabinet is in in the kitchen and filled with my crystal and crockery. Nice to see it again after 13 years. Fitting has caused some slight scraping on the kitchen wall, but that’s the joy of this wall it can be updated at will. It’ll be like the never ending broom, it’s had 3 new handles and 2 new heads, but it’s still the same broom, it’ll be the wall I painted with mum when she moved in, though I’ve repainted half the squares!

Our lovely corner hand-made cabinet with all Jackie's glassware in it (that you can't see as it's overexposed)

Painting has continued at Abi’s, Tariq plastered and said he’d do the emulsion but he wouldn’t do the gloss, so over to Brian and I. One day for prep, much sanding, and one day for painting. All she’s got to do now is pin Tariq down and select a colour!

Now that is how to get two road bikes and two mountain bikes into a small corner of a small garden shed! Pleased to get the road bike back from Tim's its a great way to keep fit riding round our local roads. Only used it twice so far, with the temperature over 30C outside its too hot to go too far!

There’s been more walking, more drinking, and more body maintenance. We’ve caught up with Alex and Rob and Tim and Jill who cooked a great Sunday lunch when we went over to collect our road bikes that they have been storing for a few years! We met up with Helen and Richard to pick their brains about Uzbekistan which was the next trip destination, but has been pushed to next year, and to chat about housesitting when we can visit London and Hampton Court Palace which was on Brian’s request list for the summer.

Caroline (Jackie's niece) and Jackie go into Birmingham City Centre

The most excitement for this blog however is we’ve had Caroline stay for the week. We’ve had a lovely time, a challenge to cook vegetarian for a week, but it’s been great. She arrived on Saturday on the train from Milton Keynes to Birmingham, that went via Stafford! Still no idea why, but obviously led to a later than expected arrival and collection from Barnt Green. Sunday, after a leisurely start we got the train to Barnt Green and walked over the Lickey Hills. It was a longer walk than Caroline and I expected, though I have done the walk before. The only problem with this was we arrived back in Barnt Green just after the cake shops had all shut. We were rescued by Tesco selling us drinks and cake we could consume in the park so all was well. Monday the floor was being laid in the loo, so Caroline and I decided to vacate and leave Brian with the problem of whether or not to move the washing machine. We went into the Jewellery Quarter to look at progress on my ring. There wasn’t any as he hadn’t taken any of the stones out, but “give me 10 minutes”….. that was ok, so we looked at layouts and arrangements, before walking through the Quarter looking in every window, for inspiration for what Caroline should buy with her 21st birthday money from mum. Something long lasting. She didn’t see anything she wanted, but did realise some of what she didn’t want, so that’s a good start. After lunch we went to look at the library for a bit of culture (and the AC) before going to New Street to get the train home. Didn’t seem to be any Redditch trains, we’ll go to Barnt Green then (there’s a theme developing here) nope, 2 out of 3 of them seem to be cancelled. Just get on the first train going south then. Got us as far as Longbridge, Brian was in Aldi, in Redditch when this was announced. We could have got an Uber, though it didn’t take him long, and as it turns out there was a bus replacement due to the points failure just north of BG! Would appear Caroline and trains may not be a good mix!

Jackie starts to paint Geraldine the giraffe

Tuesday a gentle start again, oh to be able to sleep as long as a nearly 21 year old. Brian went for a bike ride while I painted the black bits of Geraldine the giraffe. After lunch Caroline and I started on the main body, the bronze looks good, but my yellow around the edges is a bit loud. John thought he had some gold hammerite but sadly his tin was also bronze. I’ve been and bought some gold which we haven’t had the opportunity to try yet, lots to do and then showers! Wednesday Abi brought Tariq over for the morning to look at the plumbing, not ideal just after the flooring has gone down, but hey. As it turns out it wasn’t a big job and we carefully moved the washing machine without damaging the floor. With that ticked off we could go to the cinema, using our Meerkats 2 for 1 deal. Brian and I had been the previous week and as is usual, when you go you are made aware of the new releases. We’d thought the new Jurassic World movie might be worth the big screen without realising quite how keen Caroline is on dinosaurs, so this was a definite tick. Good dinosaurs though I wasn’t overly struck with the film. We followed this with a curry, as we did last week. Eating out is all part of the cinema experience so the calories don’t count! 

Then they both have a go. Not sure about that yellow!! Neither was Jackie, so...

Thursday as the temperature had dropped we thought we’d brave Redpoint climbing centre. Brian and I used to climb there at least twice a week sometimes more, but we haven’t been at all since we gave up work 13 years ago. It was lovely to be recognised by Paula, and even better that our membership numbers of 90 and 91, and even Caroline’s of 3131 are still valid. Membership is now up to 64,000, we felt very special. We thoroughly enjoyed our trip, though Brian’s arms ache and Caroline has a good collection of bruises. So much so that we plan on climbing again on Monday before putting Caroline on the train home.

She repainted all the yellow bits to gold to go with the bronze and she does look very good

Friday was a full day out at the West Midlands Safari Park. It was busier than we expected as it was still term time, but we were there for all bar about 30 minutes of its opening time so we made best use of the day, though the long wait for lunch did mean that we missed feeding the lorikeets. We did feed the giraffe, but it appeared only one was really hungry so we had to queue for a while till he was joined by Acacia giraffe. A really good day out even if they have changed the rules so you can no longer buy food for animals on the drive or on the walk. They were getting too fat apparently!

Compare her to the real one's Caroline was feeding at the West Midlands Safari Park and its not a bad match

Saturday we went for a little meander around Redditch for a bit of shopping and a look at the music festival. It wasn't brilliant, but at least we looked. A cooler, wetter evening meant movie night, the Full Monty on Amazon, Caroline hadn't ever heard of it when we were talking earlier in the week. Despite being a little non PC we all thoroughly enjoyed it, and it made a change from the 3D jigsaw that had been doing our heads in.

I did take a lot of photos of all the animals there that I'm not going to put on here as we've seen them all in the wild, but we loved this baby rhino, who was not even 2 months old. He is so cute!

Sunday we had another go at painting Geraldine, not quite finishing, though I have now. She looks stunning. Monday another trip to the climbing wall before lunch and train home for Caroline. I hope she enjoyed it as much as we did and I think we got the balance of activities right. When Caroline and Charles used to come for the weekend we had to ensure every second was full, now she's a grown up I knew this wasn't necessary or wanted. We introduced her to the cryptic crossword which she got the hang of very quickly, she's a smart cookie. Cooking was interesting, but the main thing we all brought away was that vegan smoked salmon is surprisingly good, but NEVER try and cook with it (it melts into the sauce and then rapidly congeals into something with the consistency of playdoh!)

We also liked this one, Caroline with attitude - fabulous!

I did sadly have to send her a message on Monday evening telling her I was pleased she had gone, but this was nothing to do with her, but because I found a Noble False Widow spider in the bath. Not quite like a black widow spider, but can bite you and feel like a wasp or bee sting so certainly not pleasant. She hates spiders even more than I do so I'm pleased it wasn't her that found it in the bath!

They have built lodges in the park that you can rent. Imagine waking up to giraffes outside your window (they also have lodges in front of hippos and tigers). We have to do this sometime, its expensive, but wouldn't it be fab!

Tuesday we went for a walk with John and Brian, a walk we've done before, but enjoyable nonetheless. Thursday a walk with Denise and Paul, early before the heat got unbearable following by tea and cake in the garden for Denise's birthday.

At the climbing wall and Caroline's all roped up ready to climb that big stalactite behind. She looks confident...

Friday we went to shift everything out of Abi's bedroom for the carpet to be laid, followed by what was meant to be a light lunch. Delicious it was, light it wasn't. The evening was meant to be train into Bournville for curry with Helen and Ian, Corinne and Manu and Crystal. The curry happened, but the train didn't, points failure at Barnt Green again, so we drove in and stayed overnight. A good evening, hopefully to be repeated tonight at the Beetlestone's annual BBQ. Neon is the theme this year! Corinne is coming to stay with us on Sunday as she was afraid we wouldn't have had chance to properly catch up, and Monday we go down to Epsom. It's all go!

Up she goes, not far to go... However, she fell off at that point and came down. She did however successfully complete it after both Jackie and I did it. She wasn't going to be beaten - competitive she is! Give it a while and she'll be better than both of us

However, Jackie was the only one of us to complete this ridiculous slot climb, squirming her way up it. Caroline and I just couldn't work it out

Waiting for our connecting train at Droitwich on our Tuesday walk with John and Brian  (another Brian)

Brief stop on the lock at at Stourport on Severn at the point where the canal joins the river Severn

It's been very hot this year (33C today) and next doors Luna cat, along with most animals and us, just don't know what to do with ourselves

I must put this photo on from the West Midlands Safari Park as we drove into the dangerous animals areas. Don't go in if you drive a convertible car, we loved the drawing!

We were really close to them and they didn't seem to mind. Anyway, no more photos from there

Out for a local walk with Denise (Brian's sister) and Paul on a glorious day

Pause at Bittel reservoir followed by lunch at the Hopwood Tavern...

Followed by tea and cake at the top of our garden, where there was the only shade to get out of the hot sun

A seven legged False Widow Spider in our bath. When Jackie showed me this photo and told me it was in our bath and I had to dispose of it, I went up with trepidation armed with a fly swatter. Actually it was only 6 or 7mm across, but I duly dispatched it. She's since found a few others lurking in webs outside the house which we hope we've now got rid of

Last night out with our Sunday Tea Club. After drinks in the Attic pub in Stirchley we decamped to the Balti Bazaar for a curry followed by more drinks back at Ian and Helens before staying the night there and having a lazy morning in their garden over breakfast, Saturday newspapers and a good old chat and catch up. Good to see Corinne again (sitting next to Brian) who's back here from Australia, where she emigrated to a few years back and intermittently turns up.

Breakfast this morning on the lawn at Ian and Helens with Monty dog. We're about to get changed and go back round there to go on to the Beetlestone's annual BBQ, another busy evening....

One last photo from when Caroline was here. She might be studying Bioscience (or something like that) at Oxford University and talk about things we have zero understanding of, but there's still a child inside her who likes to climb trees!