Overseas
This is the house we are staying at--which looks suburban, but is a hundred metres from the beach. It sleeps nine and is extremely well appointed. In Cheltenham we caught up with the Godfrey's from Sydney--including Jason--due to return to Sydney this week. Rob informed
Overseas
Saturday--visited NT property +6000 acres of Kingston Lacey--home of the Bankes family for over 300 years, with some splendid formal gardens. Our great-niece Jamie (2 years) enjoyed it all. In the grounds were a 23 strong scout group from a local district on a 7-day camp.
Overseas
This evening we visited Geoff (now OBE!) and Patsy at Ringwood --schoolfriend from Downer Grammar days. Geoff is now a vegetable--I mean vegetable gardener. Thanks Patsy--for the excellent meal!
Overseas
Thursday 22nd--our (now temporarily extended) family went to Corfe Castle (ruins of--dating from 1100ad) and then a cream tea in the National trust cafe on site. Later we swam off the local beach in 15deg C water--!!
Overseas
At a Saxon village -Wareham--with Saxon walls--we found a Saxon church --over 1000 years old. Later this afternoon we expect a sister-in-law, niece, husband and baby to arrive for a couple of days.
Overseas
Wednesday July 21st-- we went to World heritage site "Lulworth Cove" -famous for it's natural beauty but also the geological strata --147 million years old, plus many old fossils (no wise-cracks about there being two more there, please!). To get there you drive through an
Overseas
We are now in a very well-equipped 4 bedroomed house almost on the beach at Swanage -in the middle of a jazz festival! This is a pic of a Swanage beach--spot any differences with the Greek beach scenes? Hoping to meet up with Rob Godfrey and family on
Overseas
Saturday 17th was another sunny day when we walked to Bantham and on Sunday 18th, (today) we left and travelled to Swanage, Dorset, via distant relatives living in a 14th century house in an ancient village in Devon-Stoke Gabriel, with a garden 'to die for' --not at
Overseas
On Friday July 16th, we went, with friends, to Coleton Fishacre--home of the D'Oyly Carte Opera company and magnificent gardens We have been to Prawle Point today--spectacular coastline and part of the South West Coastal walking trail.
Overseas
We also visited the NT property 'Cothele' just inside Cornwall, where I had the honour of 'knighting' our friend Norman with a medieval battle sword --the attendant had a few OH&S worries about it all! Friend Norman also decide to do the half kilometre
Overseas
This part of Devon has some incredibly narrow lanes--with VERY high hedges--just one car-width with leaves brushing both sides of the car--yet they are TWO WAY ROADS, so meeting another car means one car reversing to a tiny layby--somehow it's always done amicably.
Overseas
Sunday July 11th We attended an open-air church service in our little thatched cottage square on Sunday evening --well supported and given by a naval chaplain on the subject of the sea.