Forgive me, I know these posts have become fewer and fewer recently. Just know that right now is a difficult time for me. I would not be surprised if I have lost half of my readers by now, and for that I am sorry. Hopefully, as this new chapter of my life unfolds I will create another worth while blog that people will enjoy reading.
My last weeked in England was wonderful. Lynne woke up and immediately started preparing a special Easter dinner complete with Turkey and stuffing. There was so much food, it was no wonder we did not finish it all. Ann, Lynne's mother came over, and we broke out the bubbly. Earlier in the day, while the turkey had been slowly cooking in the oven, Lynne, Ann and I went on a two and a half hour walk. It was really a perfect day. Sunny and warm, I shed my coat almost instantly. We walked over to the other town across the road, Ashley, and had a look at their famous church. Afterwards we proceeded to stop in a local pub for a quick drink and have a quick rest before heading home. England was everything I imagined it would be. Lovely, green, and peaceful. Almost the whole time we were on our walk I was thinking I would have been more appropriately dressed in some outfit out of a Jane Austen film. It is no wonder those women were always told to walk for their health. You can really get a work out walking in England. Who knew? I thought, before I walked in the English countryside that it was just a convient way to get women out of the house for a few hours. I mean how much help could walking actually do for your health, I would think. But now I know. Just walking I would get tired after about an hour, and by the time we got back to the house I would always feel well worn out. It was a good thing we had plenty of food to revive my spirit! For Easter we actually sat in the dinning room and ate off of the nice Wedgewood china. Lynne use to work for Wedgewood in the accounting department, and they would give super special discounts to their workers one pieces they considered imperfect. Often it might be a slight flaw in the glaze or a little dribble of paint outside the lines, but had she have not told me this, I would have never known they were imperfect pieces. As a result of this super discount she had a full set down to the salt shakers for herself, and had also bought one for her mother and sister in law (I believe). Of course we finished the evening infront of the TV. All in all I felt wonderful. It is so nice to sit is a warm din on sofas, watching the TV, on a cold night with the comfort of family.
Monday, my last full day in England, we went to the monkey park. It was really an amazing place. It is a preserve for Barbary Macaques. I guess they are a dwindling population of monkeys and the goal of the preserve is to save some of the spieces, get them to mate, and then return as many as they can to the wild. I think they have returned thousands back to their homes so far. It was really amazing because the only walls in the whole place were around the perimeter of the preserve. There were very low fences to keep people on the path, but the monkeys could weave in between the people as they liked. Of course there was a working about every ten feet to make sure no one actually touched the monkeys, but most people did not try to anyway. There were tons of people at the park because Easter monday is still a holiday in England. Still I learned a lot about monkeys. It was one of the coolest zoos I have ever been to. Right up there with Fossil Rim.
After the monkey park we got back in the car and wandered over to the Trentham Gardens shops for some tea and cake. I decided to pick this one up as well since I was feeling like such a mooch. We took a quick stroll around the shops, but I didn't find anything worth buying. On our way out we did stop to get some pies from PieMinister. If you have never had a savory pie, or only ever eatten a Chicken Pot Pie, I highly recommend you seek one out (especially if you are ever in England). I really enjoyed mine. It was called "The Matador" and stuffed with green olives, beef, little onions, peas, and potato. Yummmmmm. Of course we did not eat these until Tuesday night, but I thought I would give you the skinny upfront. Monday night was dinner out at a somewhat local restraunt and pub called "The Swan With Two Necks". Don't you just love the name?? Most everyone got pasta, but since I had been in Italy for three months I decided on the burger. It was a very swanky burger, and I don't know if it was the best of my life, but I do know that it was sure good. I was just happy to be out on the town. It is so much different when you go out to eat with people as opposed to when you go out alone. Sometimes it is nice to have the solitude, but I was glad to have the company.
Tuesday was our last day of sight seeing. Unfortunately, Dave had to go back to work, but Lynne and Jess were still off for another week. We headed over the shrusburry for a quick day trip. This little place was wonderful. We stoped in a really lovely tea shop for even more tea and cake, and I finally bought an english tea pot, two cups and saucers, as well as a tea tin. I am really crossing my fingers and hoping they do not break on the flight home!!! I was glad I had waited because the tea pot I bought I loved and everything I bought was 50% off!! So, I only paid half what I would have at some other store.
Wednesday, I did not have to leave until the afternoon. Lynne and I went to the grocery store so I could buy a few things to take back with me to Italy (Mustard, Peanut butter, etc) and then we were off to the airport. What I really loved was that once we got to the airport Lynne waited with me a whole hour before she left. We just sat in a coffee bar outside the restricted area and let some time pass before I made my way to my gate. Part of the time we were silent, part of the time we chatted about what all we had done. It was a wonderful experience all in all, and I am hoping to get back there as soon as I can. It might not be this year, but I know that Lynne will be my friend for a long time and it was not my last time to see her.
