Chasing the relatives in a small, small world

Up and at them, we are heading to Blaenavon in South Wales this morning after a great breakfast and a chat to the young waitress who is heading to Australia later this year. We left our phone number in case she gets stuck or wants to visit Byron. She is a graphic design uni student and we had thoughts of our two at this age.

Blaenavon is a world heritage site within the Brecon Beacons National Park - an old mining town that played a leading role in the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century. Not to mention the child labour, tuberculosis and lung disease, it provided something like 80% of the iron, steel and coal for the developed world. In the early 1900's when prices slumped the Welsh miners immigrated around the world looking for work.

Hence the connection - Ross great grandparents were born here and so we looked them up at the cultural centre but couldn't find much. Didn't help that we had forgotten our piece of paper with all the details on it. It's an old mining heritage town with some excellent museums  and information centres. It still has the stink of coal that all good Novocastrians remember, although Ross had a cold and swears he couldn't smell it. We took a few photos and an email address to contact when we collect a few more family details. It was interesting and we are heading home to start a bit of research on all sides of the family.

Baptist Church in Blaenavon

Headed across the mountain and dropped into Abergavenny - the opposite to Blaenavon - green, farming, beautiful buildings and castles. All because they didn't have coal. A quick walk and then headed off to our BnB for the evening - a sheep farm called The Celyn that Ross picked randomly a few nights before.

On the way to the BnB via the narrowest lane ways - single way - we ran into - not literally thank goodness- 4 cars and 2 horse and riders, fun backing uphill with horses in front and the unknown behind. We decided to pick up our evening meal if we came across a little shop so we didn't have to drive the lanes at night. A big welcome by Colin and some instructions to his local pub for tea as we hadn't found any shops. We set off with trepidation.

Off to the Dragons Head at Llangenny - see below for the cosy, quaint, brilliant little pub we went to for tea, hosted by the lovely Karen and George. While we were having a quiet half pint of cider and larger we chatted to the publican. When we told them we were home exchanging and were from Australia they remembered some Australian home exchangers that had passed through a few years ago, from the east coast, had a daughter in London, lived near the beach, name of Wendy and Dave - only our bloody next door neighbours in Ocean Shores!!!!!!!

So after a great tea - duck and orange for Toni, steak and ale pie for Ross - a chat in the bar and some time spent marveling at the connections and declaring it's such a small small world we headed back to our BnB and a good nights rest.

We woke to mist on the mountains and a full Welsh breakfast including black pudding (not too bad with bacon) we headed back to Abergavenny for another wander through the church, St Mary's Priory to view their spectacular tapestry which was completed in 2000. - it took 6 years but is bright and vibrant and very relevant for today. Through the local markets, the castle and the town where this shop name took Ross fancy.

The rain started to set in and we headed back to our base in Coventry - our last excursion as we head to Ireland on Monday.

World Heritage Excursion

After a few days rest over Easter; the usual cleaning, washing and walking, we decided to head out for our last trek. Ross has the flu but decided he might as well be fluey walking around as sitting at home. When we spoke to the lady next door, Majorie, to let her know we would be away again she said she would be too. She was popping over to Spain for a few days with her daughter and granddaughter. Very easy from here, but it sounds so exotic compared to popping up to Brisbane.

So away we went, south to Amesbury, pretty wet and cold and windy, so into a cafe for a coffee - we will never learn - but it was hot anyway. Then off to Stonehenge - somewhere I have always wanted to go - I thought it was huge  but it's quite small, still impressive but not the stuff from all those stories I had read. The hundreds of tourists didn't help either. But one off the bucket list anyway. Pleased we went.

Headed into Salisbury with it's older cobbled streets, Tudor architecture, huge cathedral and long history. Full of French and German high school students, over to the UK to improve their history knowledge and language skills. Watched some of them milling around outside the Cathedral waiting to view the Magna Carta. It's funny,we tend to keep an eye on students even when they aren't ours, a hangover from playground duty I think. You know kids interacting and bullying looks and sounds the same no matter the language!

Old Sarum was on the way back to our motel so we called in and walked the castle ruins - we have been staying at Travelodges - cheap and cheerful - I just wish that they didn't put the same picture over the bed and the same furniture and layout in every room - gets confusing in the morning.

Wednesday we headed to Bath - England's favourite city - and it is beautiful; history, Georgian architecture, gardens, foodie adventures, fashion, posh shops and hot spas. Unfortunately it's a bit wet and there are the foreign students again.

Stayed at the Bear - a posh pub and walked the couple of miles into the city over the river and canals and into the town. Found another great cafe - yay- second one in 6 weeks - real coffee - Colonna and Smalls. An oasis in the cold, very trendy and great coffee. Home back up the hill and vegetarian pizza for tea.

Oxford or Bust

And away we go again. After our Gloucester sojourn we headed out again into the sunshine - at this rate I will be able to remove the coat and scarf soon, over hills and dales through to Painswick - all narrow roads and stone cottages - through to Stroud - hilly town with not a lot going for it except Fat Toni Pizzas- and through to Cirencester for lunch.

Cirencester is again a bit upmarket and browsing the shops is interesting but we would never buy anything. Its all tailored, tweed and formal. Even the sandwiches are exorbitant - so on principle we share a cheese n tomato sanga in the park. The sun is out and these Brits keep insisting on removing their clothes. Whew! the reflection is blinding. We are down to jeans and t- shirts - until the clouds come over.

Through some back roads to some well known beauty spots - so busy we couldn't find a park in town to admire Barnsley or Bibury - bugger it - we went cross country - through huge fields of rape seed (canola) flowering with a yellow lime neon glow for miles. Ross wanted to run into the fields but I convinced him that a picture would do and we were less likely to get shot.

Heading for Oxford we passed Lechlade on Thames and A National Trust House - Buscot Park - oops did I say passed? Ross convinced me to stop. Have I mentioned our lovely house swap people have left their National Trust passes and we get in for nothing, instead of 10 pound each, each time, quite a saving. We have visited about 10 places so far and they are all different and all interesting. Buscot Park is still inhabited by the family who maintain the grounds and the older house is open to the public. I suppose it is one way to help with the maintenance and upkeep of this huge manor house and grounds.

Lakes with fishermen dotted around the shore, walled gardens, lily ponds and waterfalls, the house was smallish but interesting. I just love walking the gardens. They even had 17 Chinese Warriors all still wrapped from winter. Not sure why. We were just heading up the steps from the warriors when we came a cross a snake sun baking - green we think - but what are the chances in England!

Ross impersonation of a Chinese Pottery Warrior - can hardly tell the difference - only the mo

On to Cumnor to stay at the Bear and the Ragged Staff - a 17th century inn with low beams and lintels that has been renovated and turned into accommodation, dining and still remains the local watering hole. We settled in and had a half pint in the sunshine before dinner and bed. The walls are covered in architectural drawings and sketches. J you would like these! Would definitely stop here again. The staff were great, the food good and they gave us plenty of suggestions for Oxford tomorrow.

Oxford is only 10 minutes from Cumnor - open countryside to busy city in 10. We got a good park and completed a walk around the city - churches, universities, markets, bikes, bikes, did I say bikes, gardens and museums. We even found Jamie Oliver's Restaurant but it was shut. We had a huge cooked breakfast at Cumnor that morning and so didn't bother with lunch - so tired and happy we drove home, did the washing, had tea and an early night.

Off on another adventure

We had such a good time in Wales we thought we might do another trail further south. We headed off with a sense of adventure to Tewkesbury, about an hour south of Coventry, spring has sprung and the lanes and narrow roads are now covered by lime green canopies. We left in blazing sunshine and stopped for a coffee (or what passes for one in the UK) at a lovely town on the river with plenty of Tudor houses, stone cottages and a lovely High Street. We knew we were off to a good start when the people parked next to us returned to their car and gave us their parking ticket with an hour still on it. Yay for the good guys! Things further improved for Ross when we spotted a Gregg's for a coffee and a bacon bap. Yum! And the information lady chatted about the wars and bloody battles that took place here - made Ross' day trying to sort the War of the Roses..

Wandering back to the car we spotted the local church and wandered in - breathtakingly lovely architecturally and atmospherically. A really beautiful experience.They can sure do a church in England and these older Cathedrals are great.

After that we headed towards Cheltenham and of course stopped at the racetrack on the way - Ross had been there 30 years ago with a mate from Menindee. I was reluctant but Mr Positive led the way and we wandered through the building, into the Jockey Club and right to the grandstands before anyone asked what we were doing. Ross baffled them with his story of past forays and they let us look at the track and take some photos just to get rid of him. The lady worked for the Jockey Club and Ross would've chatted all day if I hadn't dragged him away..

Cheltenham is a bit upmarket and we searched out the Montpellier district - very trendy. Wandered down the Promenade for a quick lunch and a coffee. The lady where we had a coffee was quite chatty  about what to see and do and made some recommendations - one was to avoid Gloucester. Just our luck we were booked in there for the night. As we left we spotted a huge modern building - the new British Communications Centre - shorthand for spy central - very impressive.

Spy central - now based in Cheltenham

 So we arrived in Gloucester and went for a walk down to the Docks - lovely area, obviously a lot of work has been done to improve the area with lots of warehouse apartments, walk areas, cafes, a brewery, seating and planting. The town was really nice as well and we popped in for a half pint at the Robert Raikes
Hotel. The woman from Cheltenham was talking through her wassoooo.

The next morning we were up for another walk - down the docks, up the high streets, found another brilliant Cathedral, visited the Beatrix Potter House, through the parks and the markets and left with a very positive view of Gloucester. Don't believe all you hear.