Blaise Castle

Saturday dawned wet but warm. We didn't get going until quite late and started with returning our thermos and buying two aluminium ones instead (not quite as efficient as keeping drinks warm but at least they are reliable). We went over to Blaise Castle Estate - it is a huge park with a few old buildings. I forgot my umbrella, so shared Harry's which was a little bit difficult as we wandered through muddy narrow tracks. Still, we had a good time and enjoyed looking at the museum. Was a bit disappointed that the castle was closed but it is run by volunteers and I suspect they wouldn't think many people would come wandering through on a wet Saturday afternoon. Apparently the castle was built in the 18th century but all the literature says it isn't a real castle only a mock one - we suppose that means that it was never used as a real castle. Harry is hiding in one of the robbers caves.

We then went to the supermarket (well almost), got caught in a traffic jam (Harry eventually decided to drive over the grass median strip so we could turn round and get out of it), wandered through the mall and then found the supermarket - one car park has 2000 parks and another 5000 so we were glad that our little car was yellow and stood out a bit when we were pushing the trolley back full of groceries (thank goodness it wasn't parked behind a big SUV). For those of you who like shoes - you would love the shops here - the range is incredible - colours, beading, sparkling, high, low - even I was quite impressed.

A Friday night in Bristol

It is our third week on the bus (being at the end of the bus route we can catch a 52, 89 or 90)and we are beginning to see the regulars in the morning. The girl with the ponytail who gets onto a 52 bus everytime it comes to be told it doesn't go where she wants to go, the woman with the 29 piercings in her head (13 in each ear, 1 each on her nose, her lip and her eyebrow) - I keep wanting to ask her if she would open her mouth to see if there is one hiding which would make it 30, the young couple who are obviously embarking on a relationship after meeting possibly at the bus stop, and the young boy about 11 who avidly reads the free newspaper every morning. I wonder what they think of the kiwi regulars who don't sit on the same seat each time and still talk about the scenery and the bus route.

We've had all seasons of weather this week but tonight we are sitting in the sun after a long walk around some more parts of Bristol tonight. The photos are what we are hoping we can call a typical summer Friday night in Bristol. Tonight we found the 'Courtenay Place' of Bristol where all the drinking happens in 18th century pubs along the floating harbour. The area is the Queen Square and King Street, little cobbled streets and little old buildings intermingled with newer buildings that replaced ones destroyed in the war. We went to the Llandoger Trow -originally there were 5 gables but two were bombed in the war, you can notice the one of the left has a distinct lean. The ceilings were carerra type but very simple with bent wooden beams. We got a picture of us in the little snug as it was so little with low ceilings. The Old Vic is a theatre which people are at the moment trying to save and restore. We snuck in a door and had a look at the theatre it is beautiful, a lot smaller than the hippodrome, but with a real character. It is in blue and gold and the seating is arranged in three or four levels.

Along from work is Christmas steps. This 'streete was steppered down in 1669' which is a real quaint way of saying it. The street has some quaint little shops with lovely little gifts for us girls for Christmas. At the top is the Chapel of the 3 kings of Cologne (which has the statue on the buildings) and the building has now been made into posh apartments - pity they had an open day in May which would have been fascinating to go to.

On the funny side of work Harry got an email from an unknown woman asking him out to lunch in the park. It took him a while to realise it was me using an email address which doesn't have my name - never found out if he was disappointed or not. At work they are doing a disaster recovery plan (I think this is quite amusing cos it doesn't even feature earthquake disasters) and they needed floor plans of our wards and offices. So I rang up someone I knew in estates (email address harry.friedlander) and got them within the hour. The person who wanted them couldn't believe I could achieve something in an hour which would take her days!! By, the way a couple of disasters they have had - they discovered what they thought was a WWII bomb when they were doing some building construction at the hospital, and they had a gas leak in one of the buildings.

This week went to Oceans 13, which we both enjoyed. The theatre down the road from work reminded me of a Hoyts (a bit run down). We paid an extra £1.50 for the comfortable seats but they weren't very comfortable. We watched 25 minutes of ads before the movie started. Enjoyed the movie but apparently there are theatres around like the Penthouse and Lighthouse so we might look around for those.

On Thursday we went to Bingo. Jayne goes with her Mum sometimes. The last time I went to Bingo was in a community hall where we put red counters over numbers. This time, was in a huge hall decked out like a casino, with electronic games and paper based games. You played against the rest of England in some (someone from Aberdeen won one) and locally in others. It was all quite mind boggling looking up and down rows of numbers fast. This is the last week of smoking in doors - yes we go smoke free on 1 July. Also last week of Tony Blair as prime minister (can't work out the country's reaction to that one).

Sunday in Beer

Sunday started with a English breakfast where we could have boiled eggs and soldiers if we liked and we were to take our "pullys" to the quarry as it got cold. Titan the dog sat at our feet - so called because he used to live in a pub and he was so 'tight he never bought a drink'. The place next door adopted dogs out but his owners were a bit too fond of him. The quarry was interesting and has given me a different appreciation of all the stone buildings we have seen. When I was having a bad day at work I would often think of the coal miners in early England and realised my life wasn't that bad. But the quarry miners were also pretty badly off working in the mines, having to pay for their own candles and not getting paid if the limestone blocks were flawed or chipped. The mines must have been dark, smelly and very noisy. They grew mushrooms and rhubarb in the mined caverns. Their was a stone church window in the quarry that was mined and carved there (the masons were paid more and got their candles free) and later returned to the quarry when a church didn't want it any more. Very interesting, but at the same time a very sad part of our history. The quarry is closed for 5 months over winter to allow for the bats, which are protected, to hibernate in peace. They had a wooden wagon that they used to take out the 'gob' - this apparently meant 'waste'. We wondered if this is where the saying 'shut your gob' and the good old 'gobstopper' came from.

Had fun at the park which had model trains, a small steam train, a tram to have tea in (memories of Melbourne and our tram dinner with Leigh and Ken floated through our minds), a nice garden and a keep fit area. Also went to Brandscome where there is a historic mill and bakery (they can no longer bake there due to the hygiene regulations bought in during the 1980's but apparently they have a very large fire place and it took 3 hours to get the kilns heated for the bread).

Drove home along the M5 - lots of intermittent rain and quite slow coming into Bristol.

Saturday in Beer

After a couple unplanned detours we arrived in Seaton, it was wet and we sought solace in a devonshire tea cos our second thermos broke as we got it out of the boot (we had managed to use it once so I guess a record had been made!!). We wandered around a bit - went to the beach with umbrellas. The beach was a very big pebbly pink stone - I read somewhere that it was an upper class beach cos in the 1800's the upper class considered that sand attracted the 'riff raff'. Needless to say the 'riff raff' would have had more fun playing in the sand, sunbathing and swimming in the sea. It was a lovely beach and we walked along took photos of the bathing sheds (a reminder of our time in Melbourne with Leigh and Ken).

Then continued our wander up a hill (we must have walked for miles and certainly felt it by the end of the day). There was a Labyrinth ( a circular path in the lawn which only has one way in and one way out). Apparently you are meant to let go all your worries and concerns going in and relax and feel peaceful coming out (we didn't read that till afterwards). The garden photo is by the labyrinth and I took it cos there were a number of flowers that Mum has in her garden.

In Beer, a little fishing and smuggling village, we found a lovely little B and B to stay in on the main street called the Bank House. It was full of pictures of England etc and a lovely dining room of which there is a photo. There is a creek that runs down by the main road - a trap for those who drink a little bit much on a Saturday night we reckon. In some places there are plants in concrete pots over the creek.

Went for a neat walk back to Seaton over the hills and on the way back met a bunch of harriers out for their Saturday jaunt. Some looked exhausted. One of the photos is on the beach, there are tables, deck chairs and rubber mats. A woman was going along getting the stones off the mats. We laughed about this - but after walking along the beach for a while and reminiscing of our walk along Makara Beach with David we were very grateful to come across a rubber mat to walk on. The beach is suffering from erosion in places and because the cliffs are limestone and soft, there have been a number of large concrete blocks put down to try and stop the cliffs from caving in. Had fish and chips on the beach for dinner - the best place to have them - and they weren't bad at all (except the gulls were always trying to help themselves).

There are lots of little things to remember on our first day like:

• the coastguards house and boat garage are right on top of a hill a long way from the beach (probably they can see the whole coast line better and the smugglers that used to arrive).



• the sailing club which is in the photo above the umbrellas was also away from the beach.



• the umbrellas advertised zespri gold and green kiwifruit which we thought was interesting cos there was no NZ to be mentioned anywhere.



• we listened to the youth orchestra playing while sitting on some church steps just before it got dark - quite nice in the still evening



• Harry fed his first robin



• saw our first caravan park close up (in the background of one of the photos) - they don't seem to have motels here but caravan parks instead which is quite a good way of having a cheap holiday



• they spell bylaws 'byelaws'



• we forgot to take cash and very few people take cards in these little villages - we had to go to a money machine that charges for transactions



• it isn't a good idea to open the sun roof in the car and tilt it when it has been raining!!!.

Riverdance was great - the Hippodrome was decked out in gold and red with decorations etc of the same era as the Opera House and St James in Wellington - except people could sit in the boxes. They will have some fabulous shows there this year so we may be regular attendees. Felt quite priviledged to have central seats downstairs so had a great view of the intricate irish dancing and musicians. Enjoyed good Bristol cuisine for the first time at a pasta house (should I therefore say Italian) and a short walk around the docks. Makes us quite excited about our trip to Ireland with Jill and Graham in August.

Tonight we had a look around Nelson Street before becoming real Bristolians and joining the central library. We had walked down the street before but it was always to somewhere and didn't realise the siginficant of it. The gateway with the black and gold clock is St John's Gate - the only medieval gateway into Bristol left. Besides us, Henry VII and Elizabeth I have walked (or driven) under the gate. We moved up the street - with some but not many historic buildings dominated now by newly constructed buildings after the war. Quite a mish mash really. The Edward Everard building is now home to the Royal Bank of Scotland. The facade apparently is an example of Art Nouveau designed in 1901 for the printing works that was in the building. The Thistle Hotel didn't seem to offer much history - but under the lovely flowering baskets is a box hedge (which my friend Heather has some of). The only difference is that Heather's is real where these were very plastic - beautifully trimmed and presented though. Wandered through to the Corn Exchange - with the clock with two minute hands. They discovered when trains came along that London was 11 minutes in front of Bristol - so if you caught a train it was on London time. Pity poor travellers who had watches with only one minute hand. In the exchange was a picture of what the street looked like a few years ago!!

We had another fire alarm in our building yesterday. We stood outside on the footpath right outside the front door wedged between the stairs and the iron railing which prevented us from falling onto the busy street. It took ages for the fire engines to come even though it wasn't a practice (there are about 5 wards in our building). In the mean time a post office van drove up and parked in front on the fire engines. The driver hopped over the iron railing to open the mail box - discovered there was quite a lot of mail in there so put a pile on the top of the box (we watched it flutter in the breeze) and hopped back over to get a bag. The mail wouldn't have survived in Wellington and if you are missing mail from England that could be a possible reason.

We met Frannie for lunch today. For those of you who don't know Frannie she joined TEC about 18 months ago after leaving her home town Bristol. She is back visiting family and friends and our lunch was more special by the fact that she was the first person who has invited us out to a meal since we have been Bristol.

It is a small world. I got a ring from the agency today. They said that someone had registered from NZ and they know me - and from next week they will be starting work with Harry. We don't know each other well as she worked in MSD and we only met in the occassional meeting, but she did work very closely with my sisters neighbour (about 2 km down the road in Eketehuna).

Accents are continuing to be a conversation opener. So many people ask where we are from and tell us they have friends in NZ - chicken or dairy farming or fruit growing seems to be vocations many of them choose. A man said to me today that he has many friends around the world that he could stay with but he doesn't like holidays - as soon as he gets there he wants to come home cos he misses it so much!! Anyway, today my boss asked me to get copies of a document. She had written 'poor' over some bits and I said did she want that on there. She said yes - and I replied 'six copies was it'. Her answer was 'yes it sucks doesn't it?' So, now I know the English pronounce six differently - and quite differently from the Aussies.

Another story - we still haven't received our tax disk for our car (the registration). Although Harry had paid for it over the internet two weeks ago. He went to the post office yesterday and found that because when he registered on the internet the system had not yet recorded we were the legal owners they did not allow the application (it takes 3 days apparently). The online system did not tell us that it could not register us and took our money. So, yesterday Harry went to the post office to buy a tax disc and request a reimbursement from the Motor Vehicle Authority for our lost money - who says online is quicker!! It is hard to believe that you can buy a car and legally you can't drive it for a number of days afterward.

We still haven't been able to use our visa cards cos the pin number hasn't arrived in the post and they have had to request another cheque book cos mine hasn't arrived! Still at least we have access to money and I'm not entirely sure it is different elsewhere - we just need to do everything at once.

Another story which I am saving to last as I hope many of you may have got bored by now and have switched off!! A couple of nights ago we got to do internet banking for the first time. I checked my accounts and discovered I had not been paid!!! When I rang up the agency yesterday, they told me what bank account number I had given. It was so different to mine I couldn't figure it out. But a little while later a light went on and I realised I had given them Harry's bank details instead of mine - and he had said nothing - absolutely nothing!!! So, a warning for travellers - when tired, and lots on your mind, not a good idea to give out bank details.

A walk around Clifton

Back at work - the day started out looking as though it would rain but by the end of the day it was warm and sunny. On our way to Clifton we went past the Hippodrome and booked tickets to go and see Riverdance - we are going on Wednesday and I feel quite excited cos I have always wanted to see it. We found the library by the Bristol Cathedral and went to join up but found we needed proof of address (not surprising really) - but us kiwis never learn, we had left it at home!!!!

We went for a walk through Clifton (wearing off the cornish pastie that we had for lunch - or some of it anyway). It is quite satisfying when we came across a street and thought 'we've been here before'. We stumbled across a boys school called QEH (Queen Elizabeth Hospital Independent Boys School). Apparently, it was based on an orphanage back in the 1500's when Hospices were 'places of caring' such as orphanages, hospitals etc. I wasn't sure if the shouting that was happening in one the classrooms was evidence of caring or not. Anyway, the building they are now in was built in the early 1800's. We found out this information from the 3 men, who at different times, asked us if we needed help. The last one impressed Harry cos as he drove a way we noticed that there was a decal of the Nurburgring on the back of his car (just like the one we had in NZ). I ate my first wild raspberry (not yet quite ripe should have left it a couple of more days) as we wandered down a lane and we are planning to put a plastic container in our bags from now on. The tabby cat was washing himself and when he saw the camera posed for the photo - he was so like our tabby at home couldn't resist him. The last photo is a footpath that we walked down - the old cobbled path with no steps beside the newer steps - the old one looked as though it would have been difficult to negotiate in bad weather.
Applying for some jobs tonight - so we will see what happens.

While Haz was at Yeovilton

We have had a quiet few days here cos I got hit by a cold. They are the same here as in NZ very unpleasant! Anyway, feeling lots better today. It is Fathers Day in England today (I jokingly said that means Harry can have 2 Father's days a year). As a treat we went to Yeovilton Air Museum. I spent about 2 hours there and Harry about 5.

It was quite fun looking through all the aircraft. You will see a photo of Caramello on one of the flying machines (just he is a bit small really). I went through the aircraft carrier (simulations), video guided tour etc all by myself. I couldn't believe that in this country, with such a population that I had the 40 minute tour all to myself.

I then went for a ride through the countryside to a little place called Ilchester. There wasn't much there, the highlight was some bulls in a paddock surrounded by rose bushes. Spring is a lovely time of year. I drove through country lanes and looked at some churches and then back to the museum to pick up Harry who had taken enough photos by then.

We discovered a place called Midsomer Norten - we assume that the Midsomer Murder tv programme was based here. I always wondered why the previous 'Bergerac' John Nettles didn't know everyone in the town. I pictured it as a small country town but it is actually quite large and not very pretty at all. Harry found lots of dead ends and supermarket carparks before we found some interesting sights and walkways. I found a lovely thatched roof on a hill but Harry maintains it is a 'man made mountain of mining material' - I'll keep you guessing but one of us won. We drove through lots of lovely little town with cute names - Upper Stanton was lovely and we found our first canal bridge.

Our car is going well - I think it is one of the smallest on the road - with Harry standing beside it I realised that it is the colour of Wellington and the Hurricanes - not bad!!

About the museum...lots and lots of aeroplanes...The WW1 exhibition is identical in format to the Peter Jacksons Omaka Heritage Centre in Blenheim. For those of you who have not been there each plane is in a diarama with models and buildings. The WW2 selection included everything the royal navy operated during the second world war. They have an aircraft carrier interactive display which took us through the launch and recovery of aircraft from the Ark Royal circa 1976. The display looks like an aircraft carrier flight deck with Buccaneers, Phantoms and Gannets. There was also the majority of jets that the royal navy have operated. Also on display was the Ferry Delta, the second british built Concorde prototype (not for passengers but a research plane).

Charles and John Wesleys Church

It is work this week and needless to say we haven't much to report. It is day 3 and both Harry and I think that temp admin work is not quite up our alley in the long term anyway.

Our bus trips have taken about 20 minutes longer than scheduled all mornings - needless to say we have been late so far even though we caught an earlier bus today. It is amazing how many regulars (well appear to be regulars) pay by cash every day rather than buying a cheaper weekly or monthly bus ticket. You get a free newspaper on the bus each morning which is handy.

Coming home tonight we decided we didn't need to watch any 'soaps' all we needed to do was catch a 89 every night. Today, a woman got on with a child, pushchair and two long mops sitting in the pushchair rather than the child. It was so humorous watching her trying to negotiate the pushchair around shopping trolleys and another pram. What was even funnier was her partner then got on with only two little shopping bags!! She then proceeded to say 'sorry' every time someone needed to get off the bus (there is only one door on the buses except for the emergency door) and got into long conversations with strangers about shops closing down etc. Harry and I smiled to ourselves all the way home.

This afternoon after work we went to see the Wesley church - the oldest methodist church in the world. We arrived at 4.45 and it closed at 4.00. I stood mournfully looking through the gates (I felt a bit like Oliver Twist asking for more) and an elderly gentleman took pity on me. He is one of the many volunteers there and he let us in. I think he assumed that we were kiwis staying only a short time in Bristol!! We got a guided tour of the church, rooms where the Wesleys slept and wrote sermons etc - I was hoping he was going to play the little organ for us but he didn't. It is so spartan compared to the Anglican cathedrals we have seen. The photos are a statue of Charles and a view from the pulpit. A couple of really interesting things were the chair and the picture. The chair was carved from a hollow elm - quite fascinating. The other one was the picture of Wesley (can't remember if it was John or Charles but it was likely to John) all done in calligraphy. The picture is tiny words that tells of his life, starting with where he was born, the fire in the house that nearly killed him and his missionary work. We took the photos specially for Ken our friend who does calligraphy. The writing was so small, and not in modern english so was very hard to read but brilliant. We then went to the park across the road with one grave stone on in memory of Charles, his wife and 6 of his (I think I should say her) children.

One of the really uncanny things here in the UK is that you can park on either side of the road. During our travels we have come down a narrow lane and on the left hand side cars are parked facing us. We think we have gone down a one way street the wrong way, but then realise we haven't. The roads are so narrow that if we came on a car going another way we wouldn't be able to pass. Great fun driving around!!