Windsor

We spent Monday afternoon and early evening in Windsor, we did not visit the castle, on our last visit we spent the day in the castle, post here. 

We decided to walk around the town enjoying the views and catching different glimpses of the castle above the rooftops. 

Loads of union jacks everywhere 

A walk along the river Thames 

The weather was very kind, not so hot and a lovely breeze, we parked the car at our hotel and took a bus into Windsor, I love how easy it is to find bus routes on my phone. It was packed with tourists, we sat people watching for ages, so many different languages, tour guides everywhere. It was much quieter along the river bank and in the huge park, a break from the noise.

Our hotel room had the air-conditioning on, so our room was nice and cool, it was noisy through the night, but that's expected when staying in a urban place. 

London

 The guards Chapel, we missed the Carol service last year, when I was taken ill, hubby promised me we would go this year. Very highbrow, just wonderful, with guards band high up out of sight on the right, 6 personnel with herald trumpets, (the long horns for a fanfare) at the back and the choir, it was a good service in an historic building, I came away feeling very festive.

Monday we spent a few hours walking, here in Covent garden, with loads of beautiful decorated trees, undercover. It was busy but as expected less people about, just a few photo's as the whole area was decorated, full of colour and cheer.

And outside

The only shop we entered was Liberty, I have never been there before, I have seen many programs on TV showing the interior, loads of panelling and dark wood, it did not disappoint. Hubby enjoyed all the interior, so much beautiful wood, and the extra seasonal decorations, this one is presently is in the main hall on the ground floor.

The trip was not about shopping, Liberty was the only shop we entered, I headed for the Christmas shop and purchased these three baubles for my tree, mission accomplished. The chocolate coin will be shared and if I can keep the outside tidy, I will make it into another decoration. 

We walked to St James palace, and was extremely lucky whilst we were there the guard duty arrived, marching with a band, escorted by mounted police, it added to another layer of our history and hubby's days in the Welsh guards. Regent street was at 5.30 pm on Sunday night packed full of people walking, on bikes and the rickshaws for hire, as we weaved our way along the street people were darting about, stopping for photo's, bedlam comes to mind, I would hate to live in such a crowded place.

We arrived home late on Monday evening, our coach journey took longer due to traffic as we left London and again around Guildford, it did not matter to us at all, one lady was worried about a connection at Portsmouth ferry terminal, so the driver diverted there first stop in the city instead of last and she was in time, nobody complained. 

We are both tired, we did so much walking, 19,000 steps on Sunday and 15,000 on Monday, originally we had hoped to have two nights, sadly our hotel was booked, we could only get one night, we do love the hotel it's location is perfect for us, we were on the 18th floor, so I was really glad the storm had passed. Now back to Christmas preparations, we are almost there, I am now really feeling festive. 

Lights

 We are back in London 

Trafalgar square tree is a bit underwhelming. 

We are in the capital for a couple of days, Sunday night we went to see the lights, the rain had finally stopped and the wind dropped, it was heaving, our hotel is just under 10 minutes walk from south bank, we walked to Regent street via Trafalgar square, about 40 minutes.

We took national express coach, we both were glad not to be driving, and sat reading for the 2 hour journey, it's the cheapest and most reliable way to travel from the south coast.

Above are some of the lights, everywhere was so festive, the wet surfaces reflected all the lights and made it magical. There were 2 demonstrations in the afternoon, for and against what is happening in the middle east, so roads were closed, we managed to miss most of it, there was a huge police presence. We saw loads of 'rickshaws' with christmas music blaring out adding to the festive feeling, we had no desire to take a ride in one. 

Rest of the trip

 We visited Trentham Gardens it was a dry day, perfect for a nice walk, the house is a ruin, but the gardens have been restored. There is a huge lake which can be walked around, we decided not to risk any storms and stayed in the gardens. Here the huge boarders full of flowers and paths winding through.

I loved the fairies around the gardens, they added to the atmosphere, something modern in a traditional garden.

We visited a local high viewing point, which allowed us to enjoy the local stunning countryside, Mow Cop is a ruined church on top of a steep hill, the carpark was just a few steps away from the base, so an enjoyable hour. Photos do not give the views any real justice, it was stunning up there.

Now back home, life again is busy, rain on Friday ensures the garden looks healthy, after a 4+ hours drive home, we had a lazy evening. The laundry is done, this morning I'm staying here to catch up with my blog reading, I'm behind. 

Tennis is on TV, we are watching so much good tennis, we both enjoy Wimbledon tournament, 2024 is the year of the underdog, the giants are falling.

Gladstone

Wednesday we visited Gladstone Pottery, Stoke on Trent, it's where they film The Pottery Throwdown, we delayed the visit from early June because of heavy rain.

 It's iconic chimneys and this well known view of courtyard from the programme. 

There are a total of 4 chimneys here, in an area of historic potteries, this is the only intact site left.

Inside the huge chimneys.

Huge metal bands on the outside of the kiln, still inside the chimney.

Hubby demonstrating the size inside, he is 6'2".

The site gives the history of Pottery making through the years, here the mould making and storage area.

So many slip moulds, all made on site.

Here a colour plate, to show the different shades.

The whole cabinate.

A mixture of tiles making a huge round.

We were given a site map and wondered around, taking as much time as we needed, it's a site for learning and we loved seeing a group of junior school children searching for information.

It was a dull dry day and a perfect couple of hours, we later went to the cultural area and visited The Potteries Centre and museum,  which was not so enjoyable.

YP, we did not visit anywhere else in Stoke, there are other potteries, Emma Bridgewater, Wedgwood and Moorcroft  which was sadly closed, we would have loved to take the tour. Its very interesting to learn the history of an area, as for shopping, forget it. We are driving home today, should be home mid afternoon. 

Trooping of the colours

 This program has a soggy look about it, it did get wet, as did both hubby and myself in the huge thunder storm near the end of the event. Its dry now and will be a reminder to a fantastic day, this post has loads of photo's.

The guards memorial, at horse-guards parade, we took this photo on Sunday, the day after all the troops were here. Typically for UK, lovely blue skies, much better than the grey skies on Saturday.

Just a few photo's from the troop, our seats as promised were in a great spot, hubby also explained everything happening, he has done a couple of these events, so he knew each phase, it was great to understand each bit which made up the whole, he was for years a drill instructor in the Welsh Guards. We did not see anything out of place, it went as expected. 

Sunday we walked up The Mall to Buckingham Palace, the roads were still closed, so we could get a great view of the fountain and the palace behind, just more photo's of the walk. 

The gardens looked stunning, so well kept, which for this typically strange weather year was no easy feat. We walked back through St James park, not many flower beds, mainly trees and grass.

This trip to London was vastly different, normally hubby's army mate and his wife stay in the same hotel, Angie has mobility issues and we use lots of taxi's, this trip we walked almost everywhere and saw so much more. Getting soaked on Saturday was not an issue, I would go again even if I knew it would end the same, it was heavy rain, thunder and lighting, it got to the point we are wet, not cold, so lets just walk back to the hotel.

We always watch the troop on the TV, it does show images closer and follows all the action, but nothing can compare listening to the sound of the Guards as they go through their arms routine, there is a crack as they all together, as one move their rifles. We saw the carriages, but could not see inside, too far away.

Here in UK, we do our traditions so well, I love to see the red tunics the guards wear, it was apparent I'm not the only one, when we got to the palace, the Ghurkha's were on sentry duty, we heard so many comments from visitors in many different accents complaining not to see guards.   

Over the three days we popped into Wellington Barracks, the Sergeants Mess, we missed the luncheon at the Calvary and Guards club, preferring to walk back to our hotel, have a hot shower and dry clothes, we found a lovely restaurant to have a late lunch. We did 50,688 steps, an average of 16,896 per day for 3 days, so a day at home resting is very appreciated.

London

 We took the nation express coach to London on Friday morning, we arrived by late morning  staying on 15th floor with great views of the capital. 

The shard looking closer than it was.

Our hotel was just 10 minutes walk from South Bank of the Thames, we went for a walk along to Westminster Bridge, up to Big Ben and the houses of Parliament. I love this iconic view, with our red buses on the bridge.

Another great view, all the city buildings, predominantly made with glass, with the old Blackfriers  bridge in front, London is all about the old and new.

The river Thames is a busy waterway, lots of tourists boats and the Uber water taxis,  but in places along the south Bank people can get down to the waters edge. Loads of people here skimming stones, it looked fun.

We have the rest of Sunday here in London, a planned walk along to Buckingham Palace, it's about 40 minutes from our hotel, we will book out early, leave our bags at the hotel, have some fun then catch the coach home.

The weather gods have been kind, much less rain that expected, we did get caught in a huge thunder storm just as the event on Saturday was finishing, we had purchased huge plastic rain macs which helped keep most of the rain out, we decided against going to the planned luncheon and headed back to our hotel for a hot shower and dry shoes.

My next post will be on trooping of the colours,  it was worthy of a post all to itself.