5th June Salisbury
Today we were up early for an 8.30am train. The main reason we were going to Salisbury was to go to the Cathedral, which Matt's wanted to see since he was 14.
Salisbury is pretty,
One of the old town gates in Salisbury
but the Cathedral really is oh my God territory. It is really beautiful on the outside,
Some of the carvings on the outside of Salisbury Cathedral
but on the inside it really is so beautiful – it's been ages since either of us have walked in to a building which evoked such a strong emotional response.
View of the tower from inside the cloisters
The Cathedral is the gothic style, complete with flying buttresses and arched vaults inside – it was rather spectacular, even with part of the exterior covered with scaffolding.
Architecturally it is more beautiful than Bath Abbey.
It has beautiful stained glass windows,
and some of the small chapels had been there since the 13th century with the worn foot holes to prove it. The ceilings were panelled,
and the tombs and choir were in top notch condition (unlike Canterbury). The font is modern, and has water flowing over the edge like a fountain – it's very beautiful.
In the body of the Cathedral is the tomb of Jayne Seymour's nephew,
and the illegitimate son of Henry III.
In the beautiful, octagonal Chapter House is 1 of 4 remaining copies of the Magna Carta. The document has incredibly small writing – the clerks who wrote it must have had to written so carefully. Given the importance of the document, why aren't there more people looking at it? [Matt: the place had heaps of transatlantic tourists, what did you expect?]
After wandering around the Cathedral for a while, we has a little wander around the outside and the lovely green which surrounded it. The green was bounded with beautiful Georgian era buildings, which made the whole area look just amazing.
Next we went to Monpesson House, which has a nicely restored Georgian interior. There's a lovely collection of Georgian glassware and the front rooms overlook the green by the Cathedral. Apparently it was used in the BBC production of Sense and Sensibility.
After lunch (that was an effort – things were closed down and the 'the kitchen closes at 2pm' comment from a rude waitress who treated us as though we were idiots for not knowing. The Lonely Planet let us down) and a bit more wandering around we stopped off for a drink before our train home at a place called The Mill. It's the old mill house (funny that), and we were able to sit outside by the spill way from the mill wheel. It was warm and sunny, so the spot was really seductive. We could have stayed there all day.
By the time we got back to Cardiff it was emptying out of disappointed drunken Welsh rugby fans and refilling with Stereophonics fans. So it was back to Pontcanna for dinner and the end of a great day.
Sunday 6th
Today we went to St. Fagans. We caught the bus up this time and walked through the building museum. It was great just wandering around and looking at the old farm buildings from Tudor through to Edwardian eras. We really enjoyed the farm – there were lambs, piglets
and a hen with some recently hatched chicks.
The guinea fowl were running around like crazy things,
and massive big turkeys wandering around.
It was brilliant. We had some yummy cheesy buns from the bakery, using flour ground on site. We looked in at St Telio's church, which has been painted inside to look as it might have in the medieval period, and had a look in a cock-fighting ring.
There was a Working Men's Institute building from an old colliery town. We also looked at the mill-house and it's water wheel, and saw 3 different styles of pigsty. On the way out Matt bought a Cardiff edition of Monopoly. Oh dear, I feel a pub crawl coming on....
Back in to Pontcanna, wine and a light lunch at the Conway before heading off home.
Saturday 12th
Today we went to Oxford. It wasn't quite what we expected, but for much of the place it could be a town anywhere. Yes, even with the university buildings. And it was cooler than it was in Cardiff, which was unusual.
We did some of the open topped bus tour, but we got annoyed with the guide, so we hopped off. We had a little wander around Trinity College,
I didn't think a squirrel could drink that much.....
visited the Saxon Tower (aka St. Michael's) at the North Gate. We had nice views over the town
and there was an old clock for us to have a look at. Inside the church was an organist practising something terribly modern.
We then went to St Mary's
and had a steep climb up a narrow circular staircase to the top of the tower to even better views over the town from its medieval parapet.
Figures from on the tower
Back at ground level, we had a beer at the Wheatsheef, then food at Chequers, and home on an earlier train.
Sunday 13th
Today we had lunch at Karen and Dai's to celebrate their first anniversary.
Karen with the gentlemen on the day. The colour theme was unintentional
We had wonderful wines and fabulous food, all done by Karen.
except for the lamb which Dave cooked
We had lobster bisque, home-smoked duck breast with chicken pate, rack of lamb and wedding cake. We had a fabulous afternoon and evening. There were heaps of glasses broken – and not by us! And singing around the piano (yes, really). What a great afternoon.
Weekend 18-20 June
Friday
We went to London! Matt had to go up for work, so Kathy took a Friday afternoon off and joined him. It was a great afternoon, if a little grey and surprisingly chilly. We had a quick drink in the bar at the hotel, then walked to Kings Cross St. Pancras via The Euston Flyer, where everyone was watching the football. Our reason for being here was to go to the Champagne Bar which overlooks where the Eurostar goes from.
One of the statues at St Pancras
We had a bottle of Tattinger Brut Reserve NV and half a dozen of each of Carlingford Lough (Co. Down) and Isle of Islay Rock (Scotland) oysters. Mmmmm – absolutely delicious. Both had totally different tastes, and one were large and one were smaller. After getting the service charge removed from the bill after Matt had water from the basin in the gents go all down the front of his jacket we headed off to Soho for dinner. We were off to Bincho Yakitori. It was soooo yummy! Kim chee and 6 skewers of yakitori deliciousness – chicken, duck, pork belly, asparagus and bacon, fish and some peppers. We finished with some fried rice and a soup. To drink we had sake – of course. We could have stayed on and eaten and drunk more, what with the delicious food and amazing staff, but decided to be 'good' and left it at that. Then Kathy found our amazing little Italian cafe we found last time!! Hooray! It's called Bar Italia, and is on Frith Street. So espressos all round! With strega, limoncello and a canoli. What a perfect end to the day. Back to the hotel in the rain, a nightcap to warm up and bed. Brilliant.
Saturday
After an early breakfast we walked back to Bar Italia for a morning hit – and what an astounding hit it was too. Mmmmmmm
Negotiating our way through multiple line closures on the Tube we made our way to Bank to go up the Monument. For those who don't know, this is the monument erected after the Great Fire of London to commemorate that calamity. It has 313 steps
The view up the steps to the top
And back down again
of hellish pain to get to a heavenly view. It was totally worth it for those amazing views over London. Once we got our breath back, that is.
The top of the Monument
Back to ground level, across London Bridge
and we caught the ferry to Greenwich. It was getting colder and winder. I thought this was supposed to be summer!!!!
At Greenwich we walked up to the Royal Observatory and through the astronomy exhibits.
Cool....
The view back towards London
At 1pm we watched the ball drop,
then back in to see the rest of the Museum – just as the heavens opened. Matt got very excited with the longitude exhibit, especially seeing H1-5 (the clocks made to calculate longitude), and most especially by H4. We had a look, too, at some naval clocks and we could see in to the lab where the conservators work. Then we joined the queue to take the obligatory photos of us either side of the Prime Meridian.
A foot in both camps, so to speak
Kathy
Matt
Us!
We were both getting really cold by this stage, and it was getting windier. We tried to find Matt a jumper, but with little joy. Bit we did buy a cribbage board. After a fairly so so lunch we went back up the river and back to the hotel for a rest for 90 minutes or so. Back out, and on the tube to Leicester Square. Kathy was on a roll – she re-found a lovely wine bar we'd been to before – Le Beaujolais on Litchfield St in Soho. Mmmmm. So we had a quick glass of wine then we were off to find the restaurant we were booked in to for dinner – The French House, on Dean St. Finally found it, then had a quick prosecco and glass of beer before dinner. It was delicious. Kathy had Dorset crab and king prawn, then Lamb with red pepper and olives, and finished with a delicious chocolate tart. Matt had a guineafowl terrine, steak frite (rare – perfect) and cheese.
Sunday
After breakfast and checking out
The hotel
we had a wander through the park in the centre of Russell Square,
The fountain in the centre of the garden
then to the British Museum. Outside the Museum was a garden made up with South African plants (for the World Cup).
Not really what you expect to see outside the British Museum...
We went to the exhibits of clocks and watches, money, ancient Greece and Italy, and then the treasures from York. We were exhausted. After a sit and a coffee we were off homewards. Dinner at Cibos and an early night. What a great weekend.
Week 21st
This week saw Kathy's last 3 days at work. Woo hoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And they passed quietly. Matt worked from home, and because it was sunny we 'had' to sit outside at the Cayo and have a drink in the sun.
On the 24th we went to the cricket. It was a beautiful, warm sunny day. And the Aussies lost. Again. Can someone please explain where the bowlers were today? Never mind, had a good day – despite the football supporters at the cricket.
The crowd at the river end
One of the ground staff. That takes real investment.
Even these guys were watching the match
Sunset over Swalec Stadium
We finished the working week with a delicious dinner on Friday at Le Gallois. Yet again it was a beautiful meal with wonderful wine. We started with champagne (K) and a martini (M) and finished with coffee and digestives. Matt had beautiful pork and Kathy had lovely lamb.
Saturday was Armed Forces Day. We headed out and found out that Charles and Camilla parked their helicopter in Pontcanna field.
We walked down to Cardiff Bay, following a little way behind the parade which stepped off at about 10am.
I spy with my little eye....
We attended part of the drumhead service, and watched the flyover. It was so cool! There was a Lancaster and a Spitfire, which was following so close behind in attach position. Brilliant.
We headed back in to Cardiff, lunch and home.
We finished the weekend with a lovely picnic in Bute Park in a nice shaded spot. Good food, good wine and good company. Who could want more?
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