OT Christmas visit to England

Oh DARN!!! - (well, it`s not "Darn" really as we`re very much looking forward to it). We`re going down to Kent to stay with my son for Christmas (and taking the dog, which should be fun, as they have two cats.) Ilford (Essex) is only about an hour and a half away, too!

I just hope we don`t get a white Christmas this year! Last time we had one of those was in 1963, though, just after our son was born, so it`s highly unlikely.

My Mum lived in Ilford before she married my Dad - she managed a big china shop there. Small world.

Can you post to RCTN via Hotmail, by the way?

Maybe next time?

Pat P

Well, I'm going to be there from the 21st to the 4th, so maybe we can still work something out.

Uhm... since I was there for "one of the hottest summers" she (Claire) could remember, I'm betting you'll probably get snow. LOL Not that I mind, though. I found the loveliest photo of Leeds Castle under a layer of snow in the most recent InBritain magazine, so if there's snow, I'm shoving her partner out the door and we're going! Leeds was stunning in July, I can only imagine what it must be like under snow.

And the only reason I don't use any of the alternate email addresses is because my connection is so very slow, I lose patience just getting logged onto the website in order to use the email features. I tried gmail, and liked it, but my gosh.. it takes my system so long to load the page I just lose all interest in what I might have been going to do by the time I get there. I do realize that part of it is that I'm going thru aol, but we use what we're most comfortable with, and until I replace this relic, this is what I'm using. It's just easier... (no lazy slob here... LOL) Tegan

Leeds Castle IS stunning - we went there several years ago when they had a massive floral display throughout the castle. Don`t miss the Dog Collar museum just inside the entrance to the forecourt! Confusingly, Leeds Castle isn`t in Yorkshire - it`s near Maidstone in Kent! Richard was down there doing a security sweep before a major political conference this time last year, I think it was. (He`s in the CID)

Even if it`s not snowing, still force him out to take you - it`s really beautiful in any weather! Check up on the opening times on the website though.

Pat P

I was thinking it's a bit of a drive!!

It is fabulous, isn't it? It was my first "modern" castle, after having explored Caerphilly in Wales. I saw my very first white peacock there, as well. And Claire's partner and I got "lost" in the Garden Maze. We truly did have to have help getting out. It was so funny.. it was hard to follow the directions when you are laughing so hard you can barely hear them! Not to mention, I got some great pictures of the fuschias In The Ground, as proof to my Mom that they really CAN go in the ground (around here, fuschia's are potted plants that you just MIGHT get to survive thru the winter.. but usually not.. LOL). I don't specifically remember the dog collars, but I'm sure I saw them.

Tegan

My hardy fuchsias are still flowering like crazy - and about four ft tall. Even the tender ones (outside) are still in flower. Mind you we`ve had a very mild autumn, so much so that I still have roses and clematis coming out. We have a TINY garden with quite a lot squashed into it! I mean REALLY tiny. I said to Carolyn that she must have suffered from claustrophobia coming here, compared to all the space she has in Arizona!!! Where are you? Glad to see that you got the "s" in the wrong place too - I usually do, and have to keep reminding myself that they are named after Dr. Fuchs!!! (I just had to correct it anyway!)

Leeds castle modern? LOLOL! The dog collar collection is very easy to miss. When you enter the courtyard your mind is already on what you`re going to find inside the main building. Just imagine living there, though? The castle we feel we COULD live in is down in Deal (well, Walmer, actually) It`s a nice comfortable size with wonderful gardens. Walmer Castle - it`s the "Home" of the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports. The last one was the Queen Mother and the position was once held by the Duke of Wellington - you can see it at

I should have mentioned that we have a "Thorntons" chocolate shop in our town! I`m very hard put to pass the door!

Pat P

I'm going to be over there are Christmas too, and even closer to Pat. My sister is working in Ipswich at present, so I'm going over to see her. I'll be there from a couple of days before Christmas for about 2 weeks, and will do my best to get to the shop in Woodbridge which I missed when I stayed near there 2 1/2 years ago (mentioned a while back by Pat and someone else in the same area).

I've been told by a friend whose parents-in-law are in Stowmarket that Ipswich will be a lovely place to spend Christmas. Just wondering, do they still do pantomimes in England at Christmas? Would a town like Ipswich have one, or would you have to go to London? Curious minds want to know. :)

I'm refusing to think about Christmas as I have a biggish birthday before then.

Rosemary in Mooroolbark, Australia (outer suburb of Melbourne)

I expect there`s a pantomime somewhere in Ipswich, and we usually have one in Felixstowe - I`ll keep my eye open and email you! If you have time and like old houses, try and spare a couple of hours to visit Christchurch Mansion - lovely old Elizabethan place in a beautiful park. I love going into Bears and Stitches, but there`s an awful lot squashed into a small space! I`ll be up there myself next week, as I usually go for a browse while John`s in the opticians just around the corner! There are two or three needlcraft shops in Ipswich too. Well there WERE three, but I haven`t been up very often lately - the parking is so expensive!!!

Pat P

Keep in touch - just remove the NOSPAM from my email address.

Thanks about the panto. Yes, we both like old houses. My sister has only been there a couple of months so far, but she visited a few NT properties before they closed for the winter. We're members of the National Trust here which means we have to pay nothing or occasionally a very little bit to visit your National Trust and English Heritage properties there.

The house you have been doing a design for (starts with 'A', has ghosts, on River Piddle) is on my list of "must sees" should we be back down in that part of England again. I have been sitting here trying to remember the name and it is not coming. :)

Athelhampton House!!! LOL! I really must get on and finish it.

Maybe we could fix a date when Teagan`s over for you to come and meet both of us, if we can organise a mutually convenient date? Habe a mini reunion, so to speak. John can make the tea/coffee or whatever - I`ve volunteered him!

Of course the good thing about Christchurch Mansion is that there`s no admission charge!

You can see it at

Hi again Pat,

A get together with you and Tegan would be lovely. I suspect a workday would be best for me as my sister is likely to have plans for where to go when she is free.

Bye again,

Rosemary

PS Christchurch Mansion being free to enter is very good. Not too many places like that these days.

Contact me nearer the time and I`ll give you my phone number.

Pat P

Thanks Pat,

I'll do that.

Bye for now.

Rosemary

I'm so jealous! Give 'em both hugs for me.