Saturday 2 July 2011

Our hosts suggested we do a bit of a ticky tour today so we set off for Bradford On Avon which is only around 8 miles from Bath. No problem finding our way as very well signposted. Got there nice and early and found a park in the shade – necessary today as very hot! Wandered around this pleasant little village where we were fortunate to find the annual Fair on in the park next to the river. This was fun and very like the markets we have back home. Lots of baking, plants and brick-a-brack and lots of stalls supporting different charities – such as the Church as well as overseas charities.

After the best coffee we have had so far we set off for a wander down alongside the river to an area where in a cluster of old buildings they have shops containing artwork, jewellery and other bits and bobs. It was so lovely and there were a few families playing alongside the little foot bridge over the river. We spent about an hour looking around and talking to a lovely English fellow who was an artist and had his own little shop there. There were also lovely English gardens with the most glorious roses including Iceberg – with the most delicious perfume. We have decided that apart from the Queen, Jan and I speak the most refeened English that we have heard except for the painter gentleman that we met today!! Could have bought several of his works.

We then crossed over the river and wandered back to town on the opposite side. As we neared town we came upon the old Saxon church which is believed to be the oldest church in GB. It is believed to date back as far as AD700! It was extremely small and we weren’t able to go inside as there was a service in progress. We did peep through the doorway and the congregation had to stand as there were no pews due to its tiny size. Back to the car then and onwards to Lacock. Due to a minor glitch in the navigation we ended up going a slightly circuitous way to get to Lacock but we eventually made it and immediately found a neat pub to rest and recover! It’s funny how the dot on a map against a place name can appear to be at the end of the word when its actually at the beginning of it!

Mum if you are reading this I need to tell you that beer is good as it keeps all the bugs at bay. It must work because we have been very healthy since getting here and we’ve had at least one glass a day since then! We again ate healthy for lunch with prawn and crayfish salads washed down with the beer. Was lovely sitting in the garden and watching the families sitting around.

After the lunch we walked around the village. There is not a new building in the whole place. Talk about quaint and the slope of some of the walls, small doorways, rickety slate roofs, dormer windows and old and ancient brick and block work. We could see someone upstairs in one of the dormer windows but the window was so low that we could not see the persons head. Must be fun to live in – for a short time!

There have been a lot of period films and television programmes filmed here and the locals are paid £50 a day for the inconvenience. Was a lovely place and the little shops were cute but expensive – mainly catering for the tourists. The abbey was a lovely building but we decided not to fork out the £11.50 each to go and have a look inside as we have seen our share. Back to the car and Mary eventually got going and got us back to our B&B no mishaps. We are sick of pub meals so are going into the centre of Bath for a restaurant meal tonight.

Lu congratulations on the team time trial gold medal at the South Island champs. We are stoked. Well done love.

Marie – I woke in the wee hours to hear an owl. Told Jannie when she woke this morning and she said that the hoo hoo was not an owl as every book she has ever read says that the owls say ti wit, ti woo. I ask you. But the hoo hoo was followed shortly afterwards by a screetch so I guess that there is one less vole? There are lots of squirrels outside the dining room window that I watched whilst having breakfast this morning.