Baddesley Clinton and a return to Stratford upon Avon

Another brilliant day wandering the countryside. We headed to another National Trust House - "Baddesley Clinton" - a brilliant old house with priest hides, raunchy stories, murder mysteries and a backdrop for a Sherlock Holmes movie, a moat, gorgeous gardens, espalier flowering quince and ducks and squirrels abounding. Very enjoyable - history at its best.

The Moat around the house

Toni in the garden full of Daffodils

Courtyard at Baddesley Clinton

Espaliered Flowering Quince

We finished around 1 and thought we'd head to Stratford upon Avon for lunch. A return call to "Box Brownie" another great coffee and a walk by the river, more Tudor houses, gardens, trendy shops, churches and cafes.

White swans are all along the Stratford and chase you for food if you approach the river

Home via Sainsburys to shop for tea. Picked up petrol for $2.50 a litre ready for more adventures tomorrow.

Sunshine and lollipops

Well we woke to sunshine, oh my what a beautiful day, even the bathroom glows when the sun is out. Not only us, but the locals are out everywhere. Ross reminds me it is the weekend, but people are out with the sun; walking, trekking, biking and running as well as in parks and gardens everywhere. The people next door are sunbathing in the backyard - all because it's hit double figures - it even got up to 18 - mind you the wind is still cutting.

Back to Kennilworth Castle to take the free audio tour - wandering round in a castle 900 years old and gardens planted for Queen Elizabeth 1. Climbing parapets and checking out the rich history of the place. Amazing.

Home to bet on the races, the Dubai Cup is on - pretty much broke even for the day. Backed all the Kate, James, Ruby and Aus referenced horses and surprisingly went ok.

Sunday and another day of sunshine, so after our housework and washing we headed into Coventry and had a wander around in t-shirt and thin cardigan - amazing the difference the sunshine makes - 16 today. Found a great Art and Museum combination called the Herbert - all free entry! Heaps of exhibitions and both art and history and cultural exhibits. Lots on Lady Godiva - a Coventry Native. James would have been impressed with the architecture.

And on to the Transport Museum - because from the 1800's Coventry was a manufacturing centre for cars and bikes for all of the UK and much of Europe (no wonder it was bombed in the war) the displays are many and varied. Jaguar, Fiat, Daimler, Hillman, Standard, Morris Minors, Massey Ferguson, and heaps of bicycles, motorbikes and buses. I thought it would be boring but the ties to the City and the war and the people was quite fascinating.

Ended the day with a coffee and sandwich from Ross favourite Bakery "Gregg's" and you'll never believe - the coffee was ok - James don't read this bit - it was programmed coffee and it was some of the best we've had in the UK - go figure :)

The Bards Backyard

Stratford upon Avon was our trip today and we headed out pretty early for us. It's only 30 minutes from Coventry and we arrived, paid our parking and were on the walking trail by 10. Straight up onto the River Avon, dodging the school excursions, and paused to watch the swans, white in England, and the punt moving through the lock and down to the river.

A wander to the Royal Shakespeare Theatre where they were happy for us to just wander around, take photos and check out some great costumes and photographic exhibitions. Couldn't go into the Auditoriums because they were in final rehearsals but it was really open access and very interesting.

Outside the theatre we saw a great little Airstream Caravan converted to coffee shop but not open for coffee. They always look great, would love to see inside.

Stratford upon Avon was very quaint, Shakespeare's town, touristy but still beautiful. Again gardens, old Tudor style pubs and houses, narrow streets, churches and history everywhere.

Finally found a coffee shop worthy of the name. "Box Brownie" passionate enthusiastic staff, smooth rich coffee - thank goodness, we were really starting to worry that the UK didn't have real coffee.

On to a Victorian historic house "Charlecote Park" 900 years old, lovely gardens, amazing library and house, parklands dotted with deer and sheep. Situated right on the Avon River. It's hard to absorb the history when Australia is such a baby by comparison. England is dotted with these gems.

What a lovely day. Home to the fire and a good cup of tea.

Weekend Wanders

Well the day dawned bright and sunny, minus 3 and warming to a chilly 6 degrees. We layered on the clothes and looked a little like the Michelin Man but at least we were warm and headed out. Rugby was our first stop - home of Rugby Union, a street market, the Rugby Museum, Rugby School (if you have $50,000  a year to spend on fees), Webb Ellis Cup,  the art gallery and roman heritage museum and some quaint villages surrounding - a spectacular day. We are getting better at massive roundabouts, motorways, lights and crossings as well as driving narrow lanes and through tiny villages.

One of the small villages and of course we ran into a girl on a horse - not literally but it was a tight fit

Webb Ellis statue

Got it all thatch, car and tractor

The Rugby School

Sunday we headed to Kennilworth, the  Famous Virgins and Castle Pub, a walk through the streets with gorgeous buildings and gardens, down to the castle to join the English Heritage Trust so we can visit other castles, buildings, churches and houses and back to the car - a round trip of about 4 hours.

Kennilworth Castle and Elizabeth's Garden

A rare glimpse of sunshine over the ruins

Warwick was today's effort and we tracked about the town seeking the elusive "good coffee" - unfortunately we were again defeated, that two more cafes down. We even resorted to chains - strike out for Neros and Costas. Ross is talking a conversion to tea for the duration of the trip but I am still hanging in there. Some lovely ladies frock shops here, although they would break the bank.

Ross found an old phone booth, Tardis anyone?

I am finding a fascination with old churchyards, crooked tombstones and  old grand trees, with flowers peaking through. Beautiful and peaceful.

Checked out the high street and the racecourse - we'll be back for the Castle and the Races another day.

Pheasant for tea - yum!

Baginton, Bubbenhall and Leamington Spa

Decided it was time for a drive through the countryside, headed to Baginton to check out an old pub for our birthday lunch celebrations, an old mill that even has a ghost and a mummified cat. Just beautiful old brick buildings, narrow roads, small villages, daffodils and stone churches, hedged fields, sheep and green green fields.

Old Mill Pub - great celebratory lunch

view out the back of the pub

Bubbenhall has much the same with another great little pub, but it's shut until afternoon so on we go to Leamington Spa - great town, used to be a spa town with regenerative waters, looks a little more affluent with lots of beautiful houses, gardens, shops and people. We spotted some squirrels in the park - amazing little creatures frisking around in the gardens.

Again people were lovely and the visitor centre man even gave me a voucher for a posy at the most gorgeous florist, they do flowers and classes. England has the most beautiful flowers, even the supermarkets have brilliant flowers and flowering plants, orchids, hyacinths, hydrangeas, bulbs of all kinds. Just beautiful.

Headed for coffee to Antonio Carluccios cafe and we are very sad to say - the coffee was ordinary. We are so spoilt in Australia for coffee. The search for a good coffee continues.