Off to the Sea

On our way out today we saw a white horse on a hillside. There are a few of these across the country side.








Stately Homes look fine, Wombats of course feel that a good warm burrow is sufficient but its interesting to see how the well off live. This is Castle Howard, a home in Yorkshire.










Peacocks as pets, not a patch on Wombats of course.










The home is notable in that it was used for the production of "Brideshead Re-Visited"









We headed to Scarborough not to the "Scarborough Fair" but to the Scarborough Castle. The keep above was blown apart in an attack.










The castle overlooks the ocean and there were great views from here.






















Up on the opposite hill is the ruin of an abbey. The abbey is still magnificent even in ruin.










Down on the seafront is a typical English seaside with amusement arcades and donkey rides












and the TARDIS (again) the Doctor really does get around doesn't he !












We travelled north from Scarborough to Whitby where we saw the Whitby museum, which contained many interesting things, including some of Captain Cooks manuscripts

more soon....

A visit to Darrowby (Thirsk)

We left Hereford and travelled to Thirsk in north Yorkshire. A pleasant market town... but why did we go there?

As we wandered around the town, I heard an old Yorkshire man comment "Ohh Aye, thats a poorly lookin wombat! he ort to see 't vitinary! 'erriots not bad, go see im!"

Filled with concern I looked around for a "vitinary" and managed to find a practice on Kirkgate, here I am waiting outside Skeldale House.









Unfortunately I could not get in to see the Vitinary as he was tending to a poor dog owned by one Mrs Pomphrey. Apparently the dog suffers from "flop bot" and also suffers from the unfortunate name of "Tricky Woo".










Of course Mr Herriot (or Alf Wight) used to practice here and wrote the wonderful James Herriot stories. The practice has been preserved.










With life like figures and furniture depicting life in the Vetinary practice

























The car used in the television series "All Creatures Great and Small" was also on display










As were the studio sets from the series.









After leaving the surgery we wandered down by the river before dinner and saw this location which may contain a Geocache but used to contain a Mill and the remains of the old mill race can be seen.

More soon!

Castles, Romans and Time Lords?

Sunday morning and off to see some Midlands sights. This is Ludlow Castle. The town of Ludlow is almost exactly preserved as it was at the time the castle was occupied. The castle was interesting and had many places to explore











This is the front entrance to the castle. The Moat was empty and was a "dry moat"










The buildings in Ludlow are very old.










Ludlow castle may be old but this is older. An ancient roman ruin north of Hereford. This wall formed part of a massive Roman bath house.











Much of the foundations, but little else remains of this location.













Monday and time to head to Cardiff, what or WHO will we find here? Ahh a TARDIS! this must mean the Doctor is nearby...... but if the Doctor is around then there may also be .....













EEEK! DALEKS! Daleks and Wombats do not get on. This one waved his sink plunger at me and threatened to E-X-T-E-R-M-I-N-A-T-E me. I beat a hasty retreat and left him for the Doctor to deal with.












Far better to see a castle. This is the central keep of Cardiff Castle. Which is mostly original.











Here is a view from the top of the ramparts.










And despite the castle information describing these holes as "POST" holes. I am convinced that they are evidence of wombat inhabitation. they are very cosy and just the right size!










Travelling back to Hereford, here is a view from the top of the national park. Lots of sheep and grass but no trees up here.











On the way down we came across a canal and a lock. A canal boat was using the lock at the time and we were able to watch and help a bit.











Here is the canal boat now up at the right level and ready to proceed to the canal.

More soon !

Off to the Midlands

Time to leave London. Here is the train timetable at Euston station. We are off to Birmingham to get ourselves some wheels. Yes wombats can drive too.










But for now we can relax and watch the countryside pass by










After arriving at Birmingham, we travelled briefly south to Coventry and stayed one night there. Here is the view from our hotel window.











Saturday morning, and we are off again, we are seeing a few well known places today. This is Heather Road in Binley Woods (near Coventry). What is this you ask ?











It is of course the location of Hyacinths House from "Keeping up Appearances" Very nervous driving past but fortunately Hyacinth did not appear to "sing at us"










The British make some wonderful TV, Us wombats have been watching it for years..... and the locations are real, and usually in tiny little villages. One such village is Turville. The windmill above appeared in the movie "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" The town has also been used for "Midsomer Murders"










And above and below in the same town, the home and church featured in "The Vicar of Dibley"




















After our visit to Turville one more TV related spot to visit. This tree, located next to lake Boldermere near east Clandon, was the site where Catweazle departed the 20th Century at the end of the first series of the show back in the 1970's










Here I am looking at the lake from the tree, at the same spot where Carrot (Catweazle's young 20th Century friend) asked "will you come back one day ?" as Catweazle vanished standing in the water you can see..... they don't make tv like that any more....sadly

more soon....

London Sight Seeing 2

A view from our B&B window in East Putney, quiet and pleasant with great breakfasts










Day two found us in an unusual place, Merton Industrial Estate. As you can see by the sign, the building in the background is used for the production of "The Bill" a police drama series produced by the BBC. I posed nervously here wondering if "Smithy" would come out and ask me to "assist him with enquiries"









But I was safe. The building is closed down at the moment as the series is between productions. All of the signs (except the one you saw me with) are covered up so the locals do not confuse the realistic set with a real police station.










After escaping from Sun Hill, we ventured across the river to the Tower of London pausing to admire the Tower Bridge from the riverside walk.










Inside the tower are 9 ravens, ledgend has it that if the ravens leave, the tower will crumble to dust, here you can see one of the ravens, which is probably wondering if wombat would make a good dinner.










The tower was very interesting (and sad as you heard about the people who were executed here). These guards marched through while we were there.

London Sight Seeing 1

Time to see the sights properly, Here is a map of London Bus routes. Looks confusing! I know ! I will look at the other side - it has underground routes ! Much better, Wombats like being underground. Now what to see ?










Off to the centre of democracy. Maybe Gordon Brown (Prime Minister) is at home at Number 10 (Downing Street).












If he is he certainly will be in no doubt as to the time of day, This is Big Ben (actually Big Ben is the bell inside the tower).










Perhaps the Queen will grant me an audience, I see that she is at home (the flag is flying).










Unfortunately not! Her Majesty prefers corgis to wombats. Hard to understand really.









She does have a lot ot guards though. These are the horse guards, marching past the palace.










Wombats are not birds, but we can get a birds eye view. This is the London Eye, a gigantic wheel from which you can gat a panoramic view of the city









Here I am looking out directly toward Kings Cross railway station, one of the major stations in london with Underground and National Rail services to many parts of the country (including Hogwarts if you can manage to get to Platform Nine and Three Quarters)










Day is almost done, after a quick visit to Harrods Department Store in Knightsbridge, time to head home to our B&B for some R&R. Feet very sore! More soon !