A Few Ramblings…
Forty-six year old Christian happily negotiating the world with a wife and three daughters
More planting in the Vegetable Plot – 9th June 2012
The vegetable plot is slowly coming together, despite the inclement weather which we’ve been experiencing so far this summer.
I managed to pop over with Rebekah for a couple of hours (while Holly was at a party), to plant some tomatoes and sunflowers, as well as give the plot something of a tidy up.
Hopefully we’ll soon see more sunshine and fewer weeds!
The tidied-up plot with newly planted tomatoes at the front
Tomatoes
Sunflowers
Side view of the plot
Rhubarb and peas
Runner beans
Day trip to Bath – 6th June 2012
Despite the unseasonal summer weather, we enjoyed an excellent day out in Bath visiting various sites including the Roman Baths and the Abbey.
We managed to be organised enough to leave home by around 9am and were down in Bath, having caught the Park and Ride, by around 11am.
The weather in the morning was generally cloudy but for the most part dry and we decided to visit the Roman Baths.
Bath Abbey with the Roman Baths on the right
The entrance to the Roman Baths
On arrival, the process seems to be generally well organised. Visitors are initially separated into families/individuals and groups. We were told by three members of staff that we wouldn’t be able to take the buggy around the museum section.
Audio guides seem to be popular and are available for both adults and children. The only downside to this is that you end up with groups of people all in the same place at the same time tending to block the way for others.
Looking down at the Baths below
Bath Abbey and the Roman Baths below
Roman water
One of the statues, with Bath Abbey behind
Final view looking down
The Roman Baths are clearly a very popular attraction and were very busy while we were there. There is a lot to see and children are well catered for with an ‘Activity Room’ offering some respite from the relentless press of audio guide devotees. The children enjoyed making Roman ‘crowns’.
Rebekah and Holly with their crowns
We had a look down at water level, before leaving the Baths in search of some sustenance.
Bath Abbey reflected in the water
The family looking out over the water
Looking across the water
A full visit is recommended to take some two hours and we duly managed to escape soon after 1pm.
The singer Meeghan Shillington entertaining the crowds
Filled with an outdoor Greggs, we ventured into Bath Abbey where the girls completed a quiz as part of our tour around.
The nave of Bath Abbey
Holly and Rebekah find a convenient place to complete their quizzes
By the time we left the Abbey, the weather had deteriorated somewhat and we hastened to Ben’s Cookies for a restorative cookie and hot chocolate while we waited for the weather to improve.
Ben’s Cookies
Simply the best cookies in the world
After enjoying the afternoon snack, we walked through persistent rain to see the Royal Crescent.
Old light in The Circus
The Royal Crescent in a downpour
As we began to walk around the Royal Crescent the weather deteriorated further and we were forced to take shelter where we could find it – the girls in a disused telephone kiosk.
Holly and Rebekah taking shelter
With the weather seemingly determined to have the last word, we took advantage of a brief lull and found our way back to the Park and Ride bus.
A slightly damp Holly and Rebekah on board the Park and Ride bus
Emily and Sarah on the bus
On the way home, we made a customary stop at a Little Chef for dinner. The Chippenham restaurant where we ate was one of the smallest that we have encountered and was fairly empty on our arrival.
Little Chef in Chippenham
The Early Starter
Classic pancake
Food and service were excellent and we’d certainly return if we go back to revisit Bath at some point.
It had been a good day, despite the best attempts of the vagaries of the British weather to compound our plans and we look forward to returning to Bath in due course.
A morning at Cliveden – 5th June 2012
We took advantage of the extra Bank Holiday, as well as a break in the rain, for a morning up at Cliveden.
Holly with purple hydrangeas
Walking up towards the house
Emily heading off
Holly and a tree
We made our way down to the main lawn to see the ’60’ which had apparently been marked out on the grass, in honour of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations.
View of the 60 from the back of the house
The family on a quiet morning at Cliveden
Emily
Three girls
Not quite red, white and blue
We made our way down onto the back lawn and walked up to the statue at the end of the back lawn.
Emily investigating the statue
Rebekah taking a shot
Looking back to the house
Holly pretending to be a statue
Given the chilly day, we decided to adjourn to the restaurant for a hot drink.
Shortbread and a coffee
Emily
Holly
Rebekah
Rebekah with a lemon tree
Afterwards, the girls were keen to revisit the maze. Accordingly, we split into two groups and eventually managed to reconvene in the centre.
Three girls in the centre of the maze
Finally, we had a short stroll around the Water Garden, before the inevitable visit to the shop. With so much rain at the moment, it was good to get out in the dry for a while.
Rebekah and Holly looking for fish
Irises
Holly with irises
Maidenhead Carnival – 2nd June 2012
This year, Maidenhead Carnival was moved forward a weekend in order to coincide with the celebrations marking the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.
As in previous years, we were on site by 8.30am and spent most of the day helping out as our church had a stall in Kidwells Park with various children’s craft activities available during the day. The stalls had been moved to the other side of the park, this year, a decision which seemed to improve numbers attending.
We managed to find time to wander around the other stalls and see what else was on offer during the day.
The outside of the ‘Jubilee-decorated’ Parkside marquee
Colouring and other activities in full swing
This year, the main stage had been moved over to the far side of the park. During the day, various ‘acts’ performed for the entertainment of the masses.
Crowds in front of the stage
The main stage in the park
Sarah took Emily on the Lions Club train, which was offering rides for children around the park.
Emily waving
Sarah and Emily
At one point, one of the neighbouring stalls, the Boyn Hill Scouts, saw me with my camera and asked me to take a photo of some of their group. I think they thought I must have been working for a local paper!
Some of the Boyn Hill Scouts and Explorers
Overall, it was a good day in the park. The gamble taken to link the carnival to the Jubilee celebrations seemed to work well, with good numbers in the park all day, despite the various activities on at the same time.
By 5pm we had started to pack up, after a long, successful and enjoyable day at Maidenhead Carnival.
A Few Ramblings... 