Sunday, December 28, 2008
The big tent
This is the house next to us, that was burnt months ago.Is a listed house so has to be restored to its former glory.
Huge scaffolding,cost 12000 pound, so they say!! and cover put up months ago and nothing done since.
Pool Grange Christmas 2008
Not only gardeners but painters. the paint tin said Do not paint below 8 degrees, but it was 4 degrees!!Graeme and Vern !! Girls inside in the warm, cleaning!!
Happy New Year
We are about to leave this wonderful country, we feel very privileged to have been able to live at Pool Grange and work over at Tedsmore Hall estate. The Parkers have now decided to use Pool Grange for holiday accommodation, so no more Kiwis here.
We had a great trip up to Liverpool, the dock area has been modernised and is a great area, which apparently was very industrial and unattractive. The museum and art gallery are in this area. We went to Elton john concert in the arena. What a showman,!! we had great seats and could see everything, his performance, and the stage workers, so swift and clever. We also went to a comedy play, “Night Collar” Christmas Eve in Liverpool for a taxi driver. Was hilarious!!
Church and concerts and the local pub all had carol singing, so we have aired our vocals chords well, and enjoyed being included in this.
Val and Graeme left the UK on Christmas Eve; it was great to share this time with them. ”We survived the flatting” and all have happy memories of our time here.
We drove down to Brixton on the south coast of Devon, for Christmas and had 4 lovely days there. The Berry Head Hotel built 1800 as a military hospital. From 1833 it was occupied by Rev Lyte, who wrote the hymn “Abide with me” Brixham is a fishing port with many historic sailing trawlers which are still used to take tourists sailing. The houses all cream, pink or blue, mostly terrace style all perched on the steep hill sides down to the sea.
The beautiful meals , especially the fish dishes were delicious. We are waddling after the extravagance. Met great people ,all Brits, many had been to the “Land of the long white cloud.”
We have sold the car for 250 pound, bikes for 30 each, both have done us well, with no break downs, only punctures.
Petrol is 89 p a litre, Butter 1.20 for 250grams. Milk 1.20 a litre. Beer 2.80 pint .B&B 60 to80 a night Only thing really cheap was paint , half NZ price here!! interesting to compare with kiwi prices.
So we farewell Wales and the UK, and hope to return, sometime!!!
This is the song Graeme composed for our farewell party. To the tune of Maori Battalion.!
The “local” kiwis leave for home ,so’soon.
The local kiwis are a’bit sad
They have done their best to be so ‘Welsh
Being happy, loyal’forever glad
They will leave you all behind this month
To the home where they belong
To Wales, New Zealand, we drink this toast
Ake Ake kea Mai Aye
We had a great trip up to Liverpool, the dock area has been modernised and is a great area, which apparently was very industrial and unattractive. The museum and art gallery are in this area. We went to Elton john concert in the arena. What a showman,!! we had great seats and could see everything, his performance, and the stage workers, so swift and clever. We also went to a comedy play, “Night Collar” Christmas Eve in Liverpool for a taxi driver. Was hilarious!!
Church and concerts and the local pub all had carol singing, so we have aired our vocals chords well, and enjoyed being included in this.
Val and Graeme left the UK on Christmas Eve; it was great to share this time with them. ”We survived the flatting” and all have happy memories of our time here.
We drove down to Brixton on the south coast of Devon, for Christmas and had 4 lovely days there. The Berry Head Hotel built 1800 as a military hospital. From 1833 it was occupied by Rev Lyte, who wrote the hymn “Abide with me” Brixham is a fishing port with many historic sailing trawlers which are still used to take tourists sailing. The houses all cream, pink or blue, mostly terrace style all perched on the steep hill sides down to the sea.
The beautiful meals , especially the fish dishes were delicious. We are waddling after the extravagance. Met great people ,all Brits, many had been to the “Land of the long white cloud.”
We have sold the car for 250 pound, bikes for 30 each, both have done us well, with no break downs, only punctures.
Petrol is 89 p a litre, Butter 1.20 for 250grams. Milk 1.20 a litre. Beer 2.80 pint .B&B 60 to80 a night Only thing really cheap was paint , half NZ price here!! interesting to compare with kiwi prices.
So we farewell Wales and the UK, and hope to return, sometime!!!
This is the song Graeme composed for our farewell party. To the tune of Maori Battalion.!
The “local” kiwis leave for home ,so’soon.
The local kiwis are a’bit sad
They have done their best to be so ‘Welsh
Being happy, loyal’forever glad
They will leave you all behind this month
To the home where they belong
To Wales, New Zealand, we drink this toast
Ake Ake kea Mai Aye
Friday, December 12, 2008
Alf and Valerie Youell
One of the great priviledges of being in UK, was visiting these wonderful people
Farewell neighbours
our dining room at Pool grange, When the sun shines?? the sun streams in, in the am.
Merry Christmas
Thinking of you all as Christmas approaches. Brrrr!! Its cold here, and today there was a light sprinkling of snow, the canal behind our place has ice on it, and it is weeks since we dried the clothes on the line in the garden. Dawn is breaking when we get to work, and it is dark as we gather up our implements and finish off at 4 30pm. Between 1-4 degrees most days.
Christmas lights are beautiful in all the towns and cities, much better than in NZ!! Of course because of the long nights.
Our drive to work takes half and hour, and we travel through very narrow country lanes, often have to back, to let people pass. Some of the names of the villages we pass are wonderful Arrdleen, Four Crosses, Llanymynech, Badgers Green, Maesbrook, Knockin, and West Felton.
We have visited Manchester, to see a Leonard Cohen concert. Held in a huge arena, 12000 people, he is about 74, and an amazing singer and entertainer. Manchester was very interesting, especially the positive side of the devastation of the war and the IRA bombing. The Christmas markets were in full swing, wall to wall people, and it was freezing temp.
Last week went to Coventry and Uppingham, east of Birmingham to visit friends, the John and Joyce Jowett, and Valerie and Alf Youell, both live in beautiful situations, and know Blenheim well.
The locals farewelled us at a party at the local pub, we had a great night, every body dressed in black, we supplied the supper and some kiwi prizes. The music went on until the wee small hours.
This has been an experience of a life time, sad to be leaving these delightful Welsh folk, but will be great to be back amongst family and friends.
We are off to Beatle country ,Liverpool next week for a couple of days, Elton john concert is on, but not sure if we will be able to get seats.
We leave here on the 1st jan, having Christmas is Devon, then off to Dubai, for cuddles with our wild grandson Leo. Then its home to CHCH and Blenheim.
Christmas lights are beautiful in all the towns and cities, much better than in NZ!! Of course because of the long nights.
Our drive to work takes half and hour, and we travel through very narrow country lanes, often have to back, to let people pass. Some of the names of the villages we pass are wonderful Arrdleen, Four Crosses, Llanymynech, Badgers Green, Maesbrook, Knockin, and West Felton.
We have visited Manchester, to see a Leonard Cohen concert. Held in a huge arena, 12000 people, he is about 74, and an amazing singer and entertainer. Manchester was very interesting, especially the positive side of the devastation of the war and the IRA bombing. The Christmas markets were in full swing, wall to wall people, and it was freezing temp.
Last week went to Coventry and Uppingham, east of Birmingham to visit friends, the John and Joyce Jowett, and Valerie and Alf Youell, both live in beautiful situations, and know Blenheim well.
The locals farewelled us at a party at the local pub, we had a great night, every body dressed in black, we supplied the supper and some kiwi prizes. The music went on until the wee small hours.
This has been an experience of a life time, sad to be leaving these delightful Welsh folk, but will be great to be back amongst family and friends.
We are off to Beatle country ,Liverpool next week for a couple of days, Elton john concert is on, but not sure if we will be able to get seats.
We leave here on the 1st jan, having Christmas is Devon, then off to Dubai, for cuddles with our wild grandson Leo. Then its home to CHCH and Blenheim.
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