A year later and it is finally done!!

Pauline's Pages: England May 2005

I finally put all my notes together for our last trip to England. I blogged for the first two weeks of this trip and kept a journal for the rest, so I had nearly everything written down. It was great to do this just before another trip - reminded me to pack warm clothes and reminded me how much we love England.

This trip was four weeks, with one week in each of these places: Salisbury, Somerset, southern Cotswolds, Devon. It was a fabulous trip, but our cat Butch died during our last week, which is probably why I have been avoiding finishing this trip report.

Thanks Pauline! I'm anxious to read this and I'm sure I'll find lots of helpful info and insights!

Interesting to read, for me as a Brit. Some points - working class people DO eat out quite a bit, especially fast food, here in London/SE England. Waitrose is the posher option amongst supermarket chains, hence it's more expensive and there are less of them. House-price inflation over here is just crazy, and a real bind if you're a first time buyer. I live in a suburb of London and our house (Edwardian terrace, 4 bedrooms, small garden) has gone from £120,000 to more than £300,000 in 15 years.
Come back soon you hear!

quote:

Come back soon you hear!

She's back now - they arrived in Bath yesterday

Jonathan

Well done on the trip report, Pauline. I liked the Waitrose leitmotiv .

BTW in response to the charming person who told you that all Brits think all Americans are thick, I hope you said in response that all Americans think all Brits are rude.

Chattering-class Brits (usually 'in the media') think that all Yanks are stupid. Working class Brits are in awe of Americans because they are all so glamourous, because that's how they are on TV. Londoners think that all Americans are old, because only old Americans visit, or are visable I suppose. (On a trip to Nashville I was, truly, sort of unnerved by being amongst young Americans and families.) It's a case of thinking that the mass of people reflect what you know - George Bush, TV, Hollywood films, etc.

My Canadian friends (not the ones on the board, the ones I grew up with) all tell me that all Yanks are stupid too - maybe I just attract that type of comment

We are in Bath and had a heat wave today - in the 70s!! On the TV weather they called it a "mini-scorcher". We are having a WONDERFUL time!! Everyone, and I mean everyone, is super friendly and cheerful (probably the good weather).

We even opened a bank account today!! Gave our US address (thanks to Jonathan who reminded us to bring proof of our address - bank statements, utility bills).

Tomorrow off to Great Hinton (Wiltshire).

Pauline,
I am so pleased you posted your notes, thank you. Reading them brought back happy memories.Your photos of Tintinhull are lovely. You are quite right though the gardens were smaller than I was expecting.
Next week end I am hoping to visit both Hidcote ad Kiftsgate Court Gardens and visit the Van Gogh exhibition at Compton Verney. I am feeling fairly optimistic about our gtg going ahead as planned.
We are both looking forward to seeing you both again.

Palazzo I am a litte offended by some of your comments and sweeping generalisations even though I'm sure you don't mean them that way.

Wendy

I remember on my first trip to Europe being surprised at seeing young families with babies. Somehow I thought everybody in the Old Country was old; only those in the New World were young and fertile. This wasn't a conscious thought, just an unconscious, irrational assumption.

I just saw Wendy's post about visiting Hidcote and Kiftsgate gardens. We visited both of them when we stayed in Stow in 2002 and then returned to Hidcote in 2004. It was quite crowded at Hidcote both times, much less so at Kiftsgate. I loved the idea of the three generations of women developing the garden at Kiftsgate.

Pauline, will you be going to Hidcote? You can see a "ha-ha" there! We also picked fresh strawberries and raspberries at farm at Hidcote... this was in early July.

Kathy

Hi Kathy,

The trick with visiting Hidcote and many other gardens and attractions is to go at tea time when many coach parties will just be packing up.

You can only do this of course if you are staying quite close to the attraction and have membership as we usually aim to visit Hidcote twice if we ae staying in the Cotswolds. It is one of my favourite gardens.

Kiftsgate has a self catering flat to offer by the way.

You must have seen the Kiftsgate rose at that time of year?

Wendy

Wendy, I hear you about the timing! Next time!

The Kiftsgate rose was beautiful. Unfortunately our visit there was before I had my digital camera, so it's tough to post a photo!

The owner of Kiftsgate-- a very nice woman-- was actually selling tickets the day we were there. It has a much different, personal feel than the National Trust environment of Hidcote.

Here's a link to the website for Kiftsgate for anyone who is interested. And here is some info on the famous Kiftsgate rose, which is claimed to be the largest rose bush in England.

Kathy

Pauline - it sounds like you had a wonderful trip. Thanks for the photos of Tintinhull. My late grandparents lived in the village (just opposite the church) and I spent many childhood holidays roaring around the gardens while my grandmother was in the 'big house' visiting. I'm having a sleepless night here in the UK and you've triggered some very happy memories. Bridget

We went to Kiftsgate and Hidcote on Saturday with Wendy and Richard - and we found the Ha Ha!! Below is a photo with Steve and Richard demonstrating the Ha Ha.

We had a lovely day - Kiftsgate was empty and we went there first. We went to Hidcote after and there were lots more people. We left around 4:30pm and there was still a tour bus in the parking lot. Wendy thought they had to leave by 4pm and said she would have to go and change the info she posted on SlowTalk!!

Our Windrush cottage is lovely. We went into Burford and Whitney today - our first time in both towns - what lovely towns!!

Raining and overcast today, but last week it was sunny and hot nearly all week.

Love the photo of the Ha Ha. And love the name, too.

Hi Pauline and Steve!
Sounds like it's been a good trip. Good luck with the agent for finding your long-term rental.

the short person in the photograph is is my husband !!

Wendy

Oh! Oh! Oh! We visited Hidcote on a crowded Spring Bank Holiday Sunday. Sunny day too. Even though we got there when the garden opened, it was just too crowded. So we skipped Kiftsgate, even though it was about to open. Now I'm kicking myself. Love those bluebells. Well, we'll just have to go back!

Marianne

Hello Marianne,
You have made me realise that we actually visited Hidcote on a Saturday,something we've never done before and although it was busy it wasn't overrun actually in the garden.

There was one coach there at 4pm so it obviously had special dispensation because normally parties are not permitted at week ends or on Bank Holidays.

Kiftsgate has just extended it's opening hours bu tI guess those gardens are so famous they will always be busy at Bank holidays in particular.

Wendy