United Kingdom
Tilling Bourne

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    • Day 36

      OH LORD, WONT YOU BUY ME A MERCEDES BENZ

      June 22, 2023 in England ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

      Today just had to be another car day, didn't it, and this Colonial boy went to Mercedes-Benz World at Brooklands, Weybridge in Surrey. Being me, I couldn't resist a chance to go out on a race track and find out how good a Mercedes-Benz is.
      Driving a Mercedes-Benz AMG V8 at break-neck speed is phenomenal. I had an instructor with me, and not only did he get me to put the car through its paces, he put me through my paces as well. Learning to control a car at speed is amazing, and then experiencing aqua planing and simulated black ice and controlling it was difficult.
      Mercedes World is also a museum and research centre . I saw a Mercedes-Benz that were one off or out of reach of most NZers.
      After Mercedes World, I took Gavin & Glenys around Weybridge, where I lived in the 1980s for 4 years. Weybridge has changed little, still has a beautiful cricket green and choice shops. After our short tour, we went to Pyrford Lock for lunch at the Badger pub.
      We finished up the day at Dorking looking at antique & curio shops before arriving back in Gomshall for a well-earned G&T on the terrace. Another brilliant hot day in the land of hope & glory.
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    • Day 38

      The Gomshall Whisky Assoc meeting

      June 24, 2023 in England ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

      A trip to see Gavin and Glenys would not be complete without a Whisky tasting session. As you may know, Gavin and I have started a Whisky still in NZ, and we bought some of our brew to England to partake in a " blind tasting." G& G invited their neighbour over, who is quite famous in the UK( more later) along with their British friends from Woking.. We had nibbles, etc, and then got down to the serious business of Whisky. Matt said a special Gallic ode for the proceedings and then judging began. To Gavin and I surprise, one of our brews won the competition .
      Their neighbour, Adam, is a local, and he is a landscape architect and does work for the Royal family. He regaled stories of his interactions with the family and the work he had done.
      Over the last few days, we have visited Abinger Hatch, Dorking, Peaslake, Godalming, and my ⁹favourite village, Shere. We walked the Pilgrims Way to Shere. The Pilfrims Way to a path stretching from Canterbury cathedral to Gloucester. The weather has been a real treat.
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    • Day 40

      LONDON CALLING - DO YOU RECIEVE?

      June 26, 2023 in England ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C

      I just couldn't resist another day in London, so the Knights and I got up early and headed in by train to London for a day of being tourists.
      It was a day to wander around so Lucy & Issac could get a feel for London and for us all to attend the theater that evening to see "Austentious."
      Arriving in to Waterloo, we headed for the Thames and walked to Westminister Bridge and took in the view of the House of Commons, Big Ben (very accurate clock😉)and then onto Westminister Abbey(the queues!). We then wandered our way up to Buckingham Palace(shame they built so close to the road😆) to be in time for "the Changing of the Guard" which was spectacular with the Royal Hussars on horseback. Onwards to St James Park(my favourite park) and then to the Horseguards parade where we were privileged to see the Royal Hussars again. We then headed to "The Mall" ( the Mall had no shops😒) and visited the memorial to Sir Keith Park. Then we headed for Knightsbridge but on the way got waylaid at Fortnum & Masons and I had to show the Knights my old haunts( Rowleys, Three Crowns, The Shirt Shop) in Jermyn St, most posh ' chaps.
      On our way to Knightsbridge, we stumbled across a delightful free house (as pubs are called) and had a spot of lunch, awfully nice(as one says in London). Couldn't resist going to Berkerley Square to view a few car show rooms.
      Then, a quick jaunt across Hyde Park and in Harrods! OMG! only fools and horses would part with their money in Harrods! The price of everything was ridiculous. Who pays $1,000 for a pair of running shoes? and $180 for one pair of socks? Still, it was worth a look, especially the food hall where white Asparagus was a mere $20 a head, Gordon Bennet!( as Delboy would say).
      At this point, we all went our separate ways until we met up for the theatre in the early evening, just off Leicester Square.
      We saw Austentious, which was a comedy about Jane Austen. The actors did the whole play impromptu, and it was so clever. A good way to end our London day out.
      On collecting the car, we spotted a fox in the carpark and another crossing the road. Sadly, foxes are ostricused here as they are seen as pests. However, they are beautiful looking animals, and I have now seen one in the flesh.
      Tomorrow, I head to Heathrow to fly to the Colonies and back to reality. There is a saying, " One who grows tired of London grows tired of life." However, I would say; "one who grows tired of the Motherland, grows tired of life." In my mind, Britian is still great, and England will always be "the Motherland." Long may we have a connection to Great Britian!
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    • Day 39

      VILLAGE WALKS

      June 25, 2023 in England ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C

      Today, Sunday, I decided to walk to the next village from Gomshall, called Abinger Hammer, all of 1.2km away. I had tea and cake at the Abinger Tearooms and read the Sunday Telegraph. Coincidently, I had tea at the same tearooms in 1985. Jolly, nice it was. Abinger Hammer is known for a quaint clock tower.
      Today has been "rather close," as they say in Britian, with the temperature reaching 29c. This must be global warming, I hear you say. Nope, it ain't! These temperatures in an English summer were occurring in the 1980s when I lived here. History also shows Britian experienced very high temperatures in Roman times.
      Walking in the Surrey Hills and between villages is so enjoyable and easy. These villages were created in a time of limited transport, so close proximity of villages and dwellings were important for contact and trading.
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