Scotland

Last Wednesday, we took off for Scotland to visit our friends and North Manchester neighbors, Sally and Andy Rich and their family. This is just a brief recording of the heart of the trip--a hike in the highlands in the shadow of Ben Nevis. We had started out in St. Andrews, and toured there on Friday. Saturday, we got up early and made our way to the highlands.
Once there, we stayed in a youth hostel. Sunday morning, New Year's Eve, we set out to hike. Here we are on the trail.
The waterfalls were our destination. The Rich's have been back and forth to the highlands many times in their tenure at St. Andrews. Here you see why.
Kieron crosses the river by cable bridge.
And Kaity follows.
On the way home, we ran into snow for the first time in the UK. Here, high on a mountain pass. Alas, the snow was shortlived and turned to rain as we came down the mountain. We went back to the Rich's house for New Year's Eve, and then back home yesterday.

I think this ends my chronicle of life in the UK. But don't leave!!! Kaity and Greg stay for another month!!!! They want to keep the blog going for you, and I'm pretty sure their commentary will be quite refreshing! Love to all of you--Kieron and I will be touch down in Indy Thursday night, 10:30 pm. Pray for good weather!

Happy New Year!!!

In Scotland right now at Sally and Andy's house. It is beautiful here!! We've walked the beach and hiked in the shadow of Ben Nevis. Pictures to follow.

Christmas in Wales

A belated Happy Holidays to you all from the Clark family!! On Christmas Eve, we went to a carol service, then spent the evening at a gathering with some of our new friends.
Christmas morning pretty much resembled Christmas at home. We missed being at Grandma's house a lot. We opened gifts and had a big breakfast (pancakes for the first time in Wales!). Then we settled down and watched Christmas movies and Dr. Who.
Later in the day, we went to the beach for a Christmas walk.
We returned for a mostly traditional dinner-roast pork with roasted vegetables (including parsnips which were amazing!) Cranberry sauce and cranberry and chestnut stuffing. And we topped it off with Christmas cake. (This I want to bring back with me. Christmas cake!! Lovely!) Although the holiday is past, know that we love you all and are looking forward to seeing you again very soon!

London in a day I

Here begins our day in London. We got up at 4:15 and jumped in the car to go to London (Well, it was 5:20 by the time we were on the road...). After arriving somewhere around 9, we parked the car at Jude's and had a gorgeous breakfast. Jude walked us to the train station, advised us on our transport pass, and we hopped on the train. On the way, Greg spotted the Battersea Power Station in South London. An icon, and the inspiration for the cover of Pink Floyd's Animals, along with a Dr. Who episode we recently watched.
Here, the London Eye.
After switching from train to tube, we emerged. This was my first sight of London proper.
Westminster Abbey. I don't have a lot to say about it, except it was my least favorite cathedral so far. Crowded with tombs, there were two highlights--the poet's corner and the knight a pope interred. (Dan Brown has no idea how many tourists he's influenced.)
Buckingham Palace.
The plaza across from the palace. Beautiful sculpture, beautiful view.
The palace guard. We missed the changing of the guard but were assured by the guidebook that that was ok. (Continued, below.)

London in a day II

By now it was well past noon. We ate in Green Park, across from the palace and headed off to the British Museum. Above, What We Really Wanted To See. The Rosetta Stone.
Ancient Egypt collection.
The newly renovated courtyard, now under roof.
I think they liked it here.
This is how Greg wants to remodel our family room in the basement. The absolutely stunning reading room at the Museum.
We left the Museum and headed to Picadilly Circus. Here, circa 5 pm.

Another view of Picadilly Circus. We shopped at the amazing toy store, Hamley's, ate dinner at Subway (which we'd been wanting to do forever) and topped off the day with tea at Jude's. Then home by 11 pm. London in a day.

The Second Country House

Ok. Back to last Sunday. This is Kaity in front of the buggy that took us from the gate to the door of Upton House.
Upton House was owned by the Chairman of Shell Oil, the 2nd Viscount Bearsted and his family. Extensively decorated in the 20's, it was truly a period piece. But no pictures inside!!
It was gorgeous. We were only allowed on the first floor.
The back of the house.
The gardens.
Again, the gardens.

The best things about London

Jude. Hands down. We started our day with breakfast with Jude and ended with tea at her lovely house, and the whole family loved her. Thank you so much for everything!!!!
The Christmas lights above Regent Street. Here we're making our way toward the fabulous Hamley's Toy Store. (Think FAO Schwartz.) Christmas in London!

English country houses

Sunday was my day. I chose for the family to visit some English country houses. We jumped in the car early (8:30--early for us anyway.) and took off for the Midlands. Our first stop... Charlecote Park.
Owned by the Lucy family for generations. The original house had been built more than 700 years ago. On arrival we had good news--no entry fee, last showing for the year, and bad news--only one room would be open.
The kitty of the manor. Look--he's laying in the sunshine! Do y' see that? The entire weekend was sunny. AND there had been 3 days with no rain before that. My world had opened up this week with the blue skies.
Entry into the grand hall.
Inside the grand hall (where pics were not s'posed to be taken, but Greg got this before I told him), a group was singing carols. Very lovely. Christmas on the manor.
View from the gardens to the little manor church.
Leaving the house--we had to photograph the mushroom-shaped trees flanking the garden wall.

Once we left, we took off to tour another country house which had not been on the itinerary, but which, we thought, would have more of a tour. Pictures of Upton House later today.

So, the sun's been shining, the air's been brisk, kind of like early November. Except for the green green grass and the blossoms on the trees here and there. My neighbor has cyclamen in full bloom in her garden. Very lovely.

Tomorrow...London and my friend Jude. We leave at 5 am.

St. Fagan's II

The estate house or "castle" of St. Fagan's. (Continued from the last entry--woohoo-two entries in one day!!)

The flavor these days is rainy, dark and windy, more Lent than Advent. Greg was gone overnight last night--off to a Physics conference a couple of hours away. I've spent the last two days pretty much attached to the computer, writing up an assignment I brought with me for the fall which I've spent more time researching than actually composing. Until now.

Last night, Kaity made oatmeal bread. Her first solo breadbaking experience ever. While it was rising we nested in the living room watching Breakfast at Tiffany's and commenting on the luminescence of Audrey Hepburn. The bread came out of the oven, the house smelled like a cozy winter's eve, and who came to my door but Elaine, returning some plates we had sent over with goodies. She sat down in the kitchen and we spent the next hour trying to teach me how to pronounce English words with a Welsh accent, just so I can impress all of you when I come home. (Never mind Welsh words--just never mind.) It was hopeless/hilarious. But the bread was amazing. Good job, Kaity!

I have maybe two more engagements with Elaine--an outing and a dinner with our families. I'm so thrilled to count down the days to our return (22), but it also means counting down the days til I leave a friend behind. Next time, it's her turn. She must come to America.

St. Fagan's

About 4 miles from Cardiff city centre is the village of St. Fagan's. And on the outskirts of St. Fagan's is the National Museum of Welsh Life, a living history village. Houses from differents counties and different eras have been moved here and reassembled. Above, a Welsh farmhouse circa 1610. Inside, dark.
For the pigs.
This is a house a poor worker's family lived in around 1760. The walls are made of clay, stones and straw. Dark, smoky.
This is reproduction of a hut from a celtic village 2000 years ago. Darker. Smokier. With no chimney, the smoke rises through the roof and out the door.
This is the closest I've gotten to an English country garden. Except it is Welsh. It belongs to the castle of St. Fagan's, which is really an estate house built on the foundation of an old castle. As for the estate house, which unfortunately has been deleted, bright. Cheery kitchen.
More of the garden. Kaity especially loved this village. When I told her we had something similar in the states, Greenfield Village, she disagreed. "But it's not Welsh, Mom."