5 posts tagged “england”

Tom and I decided that we needed to visit Fountains Abbey in North Yorkshire.  It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it is a short drive from us.  I checked the weather forecast and found that it would be another nice day (6 sunny days in a row is a record around here right now) so we loaded up the car and headed out.  Although we were a little disappointed in the entry cost (Adult £7.90) it was a nice day.  We walked through the abbey complex and down to the lake and water garden.  I brought us a blanket so we could lie in the grass near the lake and relax.  Tom took some photos of Sofia which turned out pretty well except for the dust on the CCD of the camera.  Instead of backtracking, we had to go straight up a hill with the pushchair into the sun for about half a mile and then another half a mile down a partially shaded path which made us both a bit cranky.  Luckily Tom's car is air conditioned (unlike mine) so we could cool off. 

National Trust.  Before we left I went online to check into a National Trust membership.  An annual membership for two adults costs £77 if you purchase at a National Trust property or online directly.  If you pay by direct debit (monthly installments directly from your bank account) they give you a discount of approximately £20 and it is only £57.75 which is only available for your first year of membership.  But, if I purchase a Royal Oak membership in the US, which gives me exactly the same benefits, it only costs £40 for two adults.  They will even ship the membership stuff to you overseas for an add'l cost of £7.50 which still saves you money.  I ordered a membership packet to be sent to Tom's parent's house in NC where we will be visiting in a couple of weeks.  Just a little hint about how to save some money in this country commonly known as RIP OFF BRITAIN.

Some photos:

Fountans Abbey

Photo Shoot

1 comment

Did any other Brits/Scots/Welsh feel the earthquake tonight?  It occurred at 12.56am GMT.

Sofia was sleeping and I was reading emails when the house started shaking.  It felt like something was coming down the street roaring.  It didn't last very long but it scared me.  I have never been in an earthquake before.  It shook the house hard enough that Sofia woke up.

I checked out an earthquake website and the epicentre was about 30 miles south of Hull (which is about 20 miles from me).  It registered a 4.7 and was 6 miles deep.  Tremors could be felt right across the country.

Here is a link to the BBC news story. It doesn't even mention East Yorkshire where I am located.

What did you think you would never ever do... but did? 
Submitted by Murky.  

I have done many things over the past five years that I never thought I would do...

1.  Gliding in Pocklington

2.  Live in England

3.  Live in Germany

4.  Travel all over the world

5.  Fly to Rome from England alone, pick up a rental car alone and drive myself out to Frascati on the outskirts of Rome to meet Tom without getting lost.  That was a major achievement!

What's the most memorable building you've lived in?
Submitted by Shelly.

The most memorable building I have lived in is the one I am in now.  My husband and I have lived here since February 2005.  It is an old Georgian townhouse (built most likely in the very early 1800s) in a small market town in the north of England.  It has three levels, the attic used to be the servants' quarters but has been transformed into a bedroom and bathroom.  The fireplaces are original meaning we can't use most of them. 

The house was completely refurbished just before we moved in but maintains some of those old qualities indoors since it is a listed building and some things couldn't be changed.  The single-paned draughty windows, the badly-placed radiators and the steep attic stairs are examples of the older details.  I love the modern touches, too such as skylights in the attic and the lounge on the back of the house and halogen lighting.

I could go on to say I do have a more memorable place to mention, but that is only because it was a horrible experience.  We lived in a flat in a housing estate about 25 miles east of London when we first moved to England in 2002.  The girls who lived on the ground floor (2 flats) thought it was ok to come home from drinking at 2am and throw a party with 15 of their closest friends, loud music and dancing in the common area just outside our window.  I have never been so happy to move out of a place in my life.

I have been living here in this country now since 2002 (except a few months in Germany).  These things shouldn't still be a mystery to me.  Why is it then almost on a daily basis I find something here in England/UK/Great Britain that I don't understand?  I learned the other day that Crumpets aren't really called crumpets by people around here.  No, they are called Pieclets.  Have I heard this before?  No.  Never.  Does the package say Pieclets?  No.  How am I ever supposed to learn everything?

This is as good a place as any to share all of these things I learn. 

We came over here in 2002 knowing pretty much nothing about England, I hadn't even visited here once before moving here.  I have to say that I have built up quite a bit of knowledge not only about life, culture, and history around here, but also about much of Europe, too.  T and I travel every chance we get. and will continue to do so as long as we are living so far from "home", the US.  I say it like that because this is home to me now and has been for some time.  I don't feel homesick for much of anything in the US anymore except family and friends (and Target).  I have lived in quite a few places in the past 12 years so home will always be where my Mom and Sister live in ND, but England is my adopted home, for now that is!

Another lesson learned today.  I bought a smashing jacket at Barbour this spring.  Very nice longish black jacket.  Paid way too much for it, but I really love it.  Today I found the SAME jacket for half price at the Barbour Factory Outlet.  Last time I do that.  The Factory Outlet in South Shields has an enormous selection of 30, 50 and 70% discounted as well as current full-price items in an industrial estate location.  Today T and I bought me a new jacket, a wool sweater and a shirt.  T got two very nice long-sleeved button-up shirts and a pair of dress trousers.  Excellent value.  I can't wait to go back again.  Never pay retail at Barbour until you check out their factory store!