England and Wales October 2014

After getting a ferry from Dublin Port to Holyhead in Wales, we then got a train to Birmingham.  

Friends Karyn and Pranky picked us up and took us to their place near Ross-on-Wye.  From there a 

trip to Bath, photo 1 - Jonathan outside the Bath Abby, my Great Great Great Great Grandfather was

the Archdeacon here from 1817 to 1820.  Photos 2 and 3 are of the Roman Baths which 

were started around 60-70AD, they are absolutely amazing and worth the wait in the queue to get in.

Photo 1, The Roman Baths, Photo 2, A statue at the Baths with the Abby in the background.  Photo 3 is an underground 

water way in the baths.  Photos 4 and 5 are in Bath town, and of course photo 6 is Jonathan and I at Stone Henge.

While Jonathan was on a 2 week course I had a week with Karyn and Pranky, and Karyn took me exploring.  Photo 1 is an Alley way in Ledbury, off this we visited 'a painted room' - photo 2 which was dated from around 1510 and was only discovered 15 years ago. Next stop was Ledbury Church photos 3 and 4.  Photos 5 and 6 are of St Mary's Church at Kempley, a Norman church with important  and well preserved medieval paintings on the wall, this church was built around 1130.

Photo 1 is the Market Place building in Ledbury also built around 1510, Photo 2 is Karyn 

and the Market Place building in Ross-on-Wye.  Photo 3 - Karyn, Pranky and Barney 

the dog, great hosts and friends that go way back. Photos 4 and 5 are views from their house.

Photos 1-3 are of Elan Valley in Wales were Karyn and I went exploring.  Great country.  I then made my way to my cousin Chris and his family in Hockley, Essex and they put me up for a week. Photo 4, is of Finchingfield in Essex which is a charming wee village and the pub has great lunches. The pond in the village had been used for dunking/drowning people to see if they were witches. Photo 5 is the Guildhall there, not a lot of the building was straight.  Photo 6 my cousin Chris in the Guildhall. 

Street artist in London, the theme seemed to be defying gravity.

I met Jonathan in London after his course was finished, also caught up with Chara a fellow teacher from China.  Visited Covent Garden (photo 1) and Trafalgar Square (photo 3). Jonathan liking a gin sign in photo 2. Photo 4 is looking over to the Horse Guard Parade.We then walked down 'The Mall' beside St James Park, where we saw a number of squirrels.

Photo 1 - 'The Mall', photo 2 - Buckingham Palace, Photo 3 - Big Ben,  Photo 4 - Westminster Abby, Photo 5 - looking 

across the Thames River to London Eye. Photo 6 - a memorial to the brave pilots during the battle of Britain.

Photo 1 - St Paul's Cathedral, Photo 2 is the Tower of London with 888,246 ceramic red poppies which represent the deaths of British or Colonial lives lost during World War 1.  The poppy installation is to commemorate the outbreak of WW1. Photo 3, Tower Bridge.  Photo 4, Jonathan and Geraldine (cousin Chris's wife) Photo 5, Emma (their daughter) me and Chris. We met at Tower of London then went to a pancake restaurant called 'My Old Dutch' and had a great afternoon.