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Mom is a big fan of English royalty.  She likes the kings and queens, stories of Lancelot and Merlin, and all things up that alley.  On our second day in London, she was thrilled to learn that she would be watching the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace.  As another surprise, the queen was in residence, and we saw when she left the residence in her Jaguar!  Yes, everyone cheered.

When you get the opportunity to stroke a royal horse ...

After a long day with several stops along the way, we finally made it to London. It was already late in the afternoon. Even so, we wanted to bring mom in and let her see some sites. Being we were staying on the outskirts, we took a couple tubes in.

Mom is settling in well to riding the tube.

Mom had no idea where we were heading. When the Westminster stop was finally announced, we started talking over the announcement … “Exit here for House of Parliament, Westminster Abbey …” so that she didn’t hear any of it. Once we exited the station, and mom looked up, she was stood still in absolute disbelief.  Her head looked upwards, her mouth dropped, and she kept saying, “Oh my God, Oh my God. that’s the Big Ben. Oh my God.”  :)

Derry was great with mom, often walking her around as she looked at everything in disbelief.  We went to Westminster Cathedral.  At that point it started to rain.  Mom was fine with the rain saying she was in England, she was expecting it to rain.   It was a quick shower and the skies started to clear.

Derry walking mom around.

Mom sure looks happy!

After a lot of English and National Heritage sites, cathedrals and castles, scenic overlooks and more, it was time to start our trek to London.  The prior evening, however, there were some beautiful skies before the sun started to set, meaning landscape pictures.  Here are a couple of my favorites.

Anyway, along the way to London, we stopped at a folly in Cotswold called the Broadway Tower.  While this is something I’d like to visit again, especially on a clear day, it was very windy so we decided to look around the area but not go up the Tower.

Another work day in the a.m., and tourist day in the afternoon.  Today we visited Worcester in the county of Worcestershire, and a visit not far from the office.  First we walked around the town, wandering the shops, and visiting a National Heritage site, The Grayfriers, which was built in 1480 and later restored.

The Greyfriars

There were many handmade items on display.

The included many large panels of Jacobean crewel embroidery.

From there we went to Worcester Cathedral.  The last time Derry and I visited, we made the 235 step climb up the incredibly narrow, winding staircase to the bell tower.  It’s so narrow that the traffic is one way.  There is a person on the bottom and top with a walkie-talkie to get clearance on how many are coming up or down.  According to the literature, “during the civil war in 1651, it was said that the future King Charles II viewed the Battle of Worcester from the top of the tower.” On this visit, the tower was closed.  That was fine by me as there was no way I wanted to make that climb again let alone suggest that mom make it.  I remember I was so tired on the way up that there were times I didn’t think I could make it.  While the architecture and artwork throughout is spectacular, I am particularly drawn to the archways in the basement  crypt.  When mom and I finished going through the Cathedral, we had delicious Victoria sponge cake and tea.

The tomb of bad King John.

Mom and me after tea.

After work on Tuesday, we visited the town of Chester located in the County of Cheshire (and, yes, we did stop at a pub called the Cheshire Cat). Chester has a lot of black/white Tudor buildings and lots of shopping.

Lots of rain when we arrived.

There were shops along the second floor of the buildings, which is where we stopped for tea.

While having tea, a tour group gathered under us and photograhed people drinking tea!

We went to the Dewa Roman Experience, which has archaeological remains and relics. In 1991 remains were discovered, and the excavations remain open for public viewing.

Part of the excavations left open to the public.

Once we were outside, the skies cleared. After walking around the shopping area, we went to Chester Cathedral.

Chester Cathedral

After our long weekend, and being it was a Monday (a la work), mom and I didn’t start our adventures until the afternoon.  First we headed to Ludlow, also located in Shropshire. After walking through the town with its medieval and Georgian buildings, we visited Ludlow Castle.

Next up we went to Ironbridge, a world heritage site also located in Shropshire. It has the world’s first arch bridge made out of cast iron and is the birthplace of the industrial age.  The bridge crosses the River Severn (the same river that runs through Bewdley).

Mom, me, and Derry.

After visiting Stonehenge, we were off to Bath to stroll around, visit the Roman Baths, see the Bath Abbey, and walk around the parks.

The Bath Abbey

On Sunday, we first trekked to another scenic overlook called the Cotswold Scarp.  Then it was on to Stonehenge, with an age estimated at 3100BC .  Mom didn’t know where we were headed, and each time we saw a sign, we directed mom’s attention elsewhere.  “Oh, look at the sheep!”  “Oh, look over there.”  It worked, and she didn’t realize where she was until she saw the sign in front of the rocks! Since summer solstice was days away, it was crowded, much more so than I’ve seen in the past.  I’ll add that while we didn’t take mom, another very cool place if you’re in the area is Avebury.

Mom is a bit stunned!

They always look happy together!

I forgot that during our busy day to Wales, on route we also visited Stokesay Castle.  Stokesay is another English Heritage property located in Shropshire that is considered to be  “the finest and best preserved fortified medieval manor house in England.”

After Powis Castle, we continued on, driving through part of the Snowdonia Mountains.  The views were breathtaking, and we went from sun to rain clouds to sun again.  It all made for dramatic skies.

Eventually we came to Barmouth which is on the west coast of Wales near the Irish Sea. We ate at a pub called The Last Inn.  I had one of the best steaks that I’ve ever had in my life at that place, and fabulous chips (fries) too!

Yes, it was very windy on the beach.

Great food at this pub!

On the drive back.

I love those sheep!

It was the weekend, meaning no work meetings!  And, our next adventure was taking mom to Wales.  Along the way we first stopped at Clee Hill in Shropshire to enjoy the views.  Although it was a bit overcast, it was still lovely, and we enjoyed looking at the sheep.

After some driving, we hit the border of Wales!

Our first stop was Powis Castle, which is not far from Welshpool.  The oldest part of the Castle is believed to be from around 1200.  No photos were allowed inside of the Castle; however, we were able to take lots of the gardens and the views.

The back of Witley, with dreary skies that at times sprinkled with rain.

After some work, on our next day we first headed to St. Leonard in the Parish of Ribbesford. Then we headed to one of my favorite places to visit — Witley Court and Gardens in the Midlands. From photos I’ve taken in the past, I made “Witley Decay 1” and “Witley Decay 2.” Here’s a link for Witley Decay 1. Another was the basis of a journal quilt that published in The Creative Quilting book. I also have a lot of other designs based on photos I’ve taken there. Even so, another visit and another batch of Witley photos. Some hundred years ago, Witley Court was one of England’s great mansions. Today the incredible gardens and property — a “spectacular ruin” — are maintained by English Heritage.

Provided is a free audio guide.

The backyard magnificent gardents, prior to the fountains being turned on.

From the gardens looking at the back of the house.

The fountains are on.

My favorite thing about the place are the ruins.  I have so many photos that I’ve taken of it from each time I visited.  Close-ups of textures, archways, views from the archways, and so on.  Here are a few.  Hopefully some will inspire some new artwork.

The next up was Harvington Hall.  Harvington Hall is also located in the Midlands and is “is a moated medieval and Elizabethan manor-house.”  Most interesting are the “priest holes” used to hide priests during the time when it was treason for a Catholic priest to be in England.  No priest hidden at Harvington Hall was ever discovered, and the hiding places are considered to be among the finest surviving in England.  I remembered this place for some beautiful lighting. 

I’m partial to some of the still life photos, and I hope to use them as the basis for some digital paintings.