Worcester, October 16

It was a later start, but still people were late.  They probably wouldn't be good Airstreamers, whose motto is:  "If you're on time, you're late!"

Our first stop was the town's shopping area so we could pick up OTC meds.  Colds seemed to be making the rounds, so many needed some help with the symptoms.  My throat was a bit scratchy, so I bought throat lozenges and sucked on a Zicam.

We then headed to Jinney Ring Craft Centre, a group of artisan shops that ranged from chocolates to handmade violins and included handmade violins, glass blown items, garden plants, art classes, handmade soaps and lotions (our favorite) and a gift shop.

Lunch was in their restaurant and I had broccoli Stilton tart (delicious) and vegetables.  Larry had mushroom chicken and both of us packed up our desserts to have later.

It was then on to Hanbury House for a tour of the house and gardens.  The stories of the previous owners were quite interesting and somewhat scandalous.  Bigamy, adultery, thievery, etc.  You get the picture.

Back to the hotel where we hosted Suzanne and Laraine in our room with Suzanne's wine.  We had a very nice visit, especially with Suzanne when Laraine went off for her walk around the grounds.  The cold wine we'd experienced earlier had lessened considerably.

Some had "Lite Bites" for their dinners in the bar-lounge and most of us visited until it was time to go pack.  On to Edinburgh tomorrow!

Wedgewood Factory and Monkey Forest

Monday, October 15

We were off at 9:00 after breakfast for the Wedgewood Factory.  We toured, browsed, shopped and had a fine tea lunch.

 I love high tea!  As I recall, Suzanne and Laraine were at our table and we sampled (ate) as much as we possibly could.  The scones were our favorite and as we spotted other tables who hadn't eaten all their goodies, we decided to help them out.  The napkins and baggies came out of pockets and purses and we gathered all we could so it wouldn't go to waste.  Others did the same.  Those who didn't eat their original fare were the losers by far.  It was our dinner that night - and a delicious one at that.

After that we journeyed on to the Monkey Forest where we saw monkeys of the macaque variety - just like the ones on Gibralter except these did not steal shopping bags.  They're too well fed for that.

At 4:30 we returned to the chateau and at 6:30 we headed back to the police station for the area at large.
They wanted to show us their cars and guns.

Back to the chateau where we were met by one of the IPA members who had goodies for us - including 3 photos apiece, one in color, one in black and white and another in a sepia tint.  Plus, we were given pens, pins and baseball caps.

Leaving London

We were scheduled to leave our hotel at 9:00, but Suzanne and Laraine were just a little late:  no clocks or watches!

Today's drive was to Worcester and upon our arrival we stopped in the city centre and then walked to the cathedral, where we were met byIPA members.  Poor Brian, our bus driver, almost got a ticket for parking in what he was told was the wrong place - despite the sign saying it was for buses!

We toured the cathedral and then shopped in the shopping area until 2:10 when we met back at the cathedral for a special service for law enforcement.   I was intrigued by the attractive hats worn by some of the ladies in the congregation.

After the service it was back on the bus and off to the police station for a photo op - with all of us in "Bobby" hats!

Finally we got to the Chateau Impney Hotel.  Gorgeous!  Our presence was immediately requested to say our farewells to Allen, who had to leave early.  So, we all met down in the lounge for drinks.

Dinner was at 7:00.  There was a carving station and buffet, which was excellent.  Tea and coffee followed in the lounge.

Saturday and the Hop On Hop Off Experience

At breakfast we said our farewells to Steve and his family and the two ladies named May from Sweden.

Jim and Claudia, Glen and Susan and Larry and I took off in search of bus tickets for the Hop On and Off bus tour.  We found them near the London Eye.  It then became a game of bartering for the best price and best route.

First stop was Tower Bridge where we transferred to a boat headed for Greenwich.  Claudia and Jim left us at this point.  As we arrived just before 1:00 the boat driver directed us to a tower with a large red ball.  This was where world time is set.  We got to see the ball drop, signaling that it was 1:00.  Pretty cool!

We toured the Marketplace where Larry got licorice at the sweet shop and I got a stitchery book at a needlework shop.

Susan and Glen did not catch the 2:00 boat, so we had to leave without them.  We then got back on the bus near the Tower Bridge and went all the way around London - back to where we'd started.  From there we walked and took the shortcut to Waterloo Station.  We picked up Cornish pasties and coke at the station for our dinners that night.

Continuing On...

Friday, October 12

We had difficulty sleeping last night and were up early to shower and do sink laundry.

News on TV of the VP debate, Lance Arnstrong doping - and we saw news anchor, Louise Minchen - who we met during our Spain and Portugal trip while she was on holiday with her family 6 years ago.
She looks even better than she did then.  Her little girls must be about 8 and 10 now.  How time flies.

Other news in the UK is of Jimmy Savile, a BBC presenter now deceased, who apparently was a serial pedophile.  A statue of him has been taken down and a "coverup" is being investigated.  He raised millions for charity and it looks like many just turned the other way as a result.  This story headlined the news broadcasts the entire time we were there.

We all had breakfast at the Union Jack before taking the underground tunnel to Buckingham Palace.  From there it was a relatively short walk to Harrod's for shopping and looking.  Mostly looking.  We visited the memorial for Princess Diana and Dodie Fayed, men's shoes and the Food Court.  That was amazing.  Of course the prices were extremely high, so I just bought some tea and candy for the girls so they could say they had something from Harrod's, other than the aprons Grandma Warren got all of us many years ago.

 I rather enjoyed the underground experience.  It was a long and steep escalator down - and then another long and steep escalator down to the trains.

After Harrod's we took the tunnel to Trafalger Square.  Then back to Waterloo Station and Boots where I got a hair straightener.  There is a large shopping mall in the station.  Our hotel was right across the street.

Tonight was the first gathering of our tour group and we were met by visitors from Scotland Yard and Sweden.

At dinner Gillian encouraged us to mix with the others, so I sat with Kevan (spelled the same way our nephew spells his name) and Phil, plus Barbara and Bev and Yvonne and MJ.  Dinner was lamb, potatoes, vegetables and apple pie for dessert.

One officer had his family with him that included his young daughter (Courtney) and even younger son.  They were charming and MJ and Courtney became fast friends, especially when Courtney gave MJ lessons on how to use her new phone.

England and Scotland - 2012

We weren't home long before it was time to head back across the pond to England with the IPA group.
After a memorial service in our area for Jake Erlich onSunday and then a funeral in Sacramento on Monday for Frank Borgia, we headed to Santa Rosa.

  This would be October 8 and we arrived at Shelby's bearing gifts of cookies and early birthday gifts for her and Bruce.

On Tuesday we caught the early shuttle to SFO and finally got there about 2 hours later; traffic was heavy.  After checking in, we found others in our group down at the boarding area and then went in search of lunch.  Note:  United Airlines might have its faults, but we don't go hungry.  Skip the extra airline food.

Our taxi met us and took the six of us and our luggage to the Union Jack Club.  Our rooms weren't to be ready until 2:00 and it was around 9:30, so off we went by foot.  The location was great and the weather was beautiful (sunny and blue skies).  Past the London Eye, over the bridge to Westminster Abbey for a tour, then lunch at a pub down the street.  Fish and chips, what else.  Potato chips are called "crisps" here.  French fries are the chips.

Back to the hotel to check into our rooms and take naps.  At 6:00 we met the others for a walk in the opposite direction.  Jim and Claudia picked up some take-out sandwiches and we all headed back.


Thursday, October 11.  My hair straightener fried!  It proved to be the first of many such mishaps for our group.  About 3 converters are needed to make our appliances work with their electrical outlets.  At least it wasn't my In-Styler (the company might not be so happy to replace another one), but it was still a rather expensive one!  Not to mention how my hair looked!

We took a boat ferry to the Tower of London where we spent several hours.  At 12:00 we had a half-hour Beefeater tour that met in the chapel.  He was very entertaining as he regaled us with stories of some of the more famous victims of beheading.

The crown jewels were on display in another building.  The White Tower, Bloody Tower and Museum were also toured.

After we'd had enough blood and guts stories, we met Jim and Claudia at Starbucks where we waited (and waited) for Susan and Glen.  Finally they arrived and we were off to Hung, Drawn and Quartered Pub for a late lunch.  Ours was a steak, mushroom and ale pie (puff pastry) with chips.

A quick tour of a church and we headed back to the boat ferry.

Glen and Susan then joined us for a tour of Parliament, where Glen's knife was confiscated!  We listened to a bit of a session that was not at all interesting; the coatroom supervisor said he never listened in himself.

Back to the hotel in the rain.  Many of the rest of our tour group had arrived and were having dinner.