I have put a further entry on my blog at http//:johnedwards-je.blogspot.com and so that will be the last blog of our travels but I will continue to write on my blog

HOME AT LAST

We arrived home last night after an 8 and half hour drive and 2 days on the boat!! (Or is it a ship)

We had a fantastic time.  Neither of us can pick a highlight as it was all brilliant, even the weather.  The Puffins in Northumberland were one of my best moments, but then so was the Crime Writing Festival in Harrogate, and seeing family and friends, and Shakespeare in Stratford and........ See what I mean impossible to pick a favourite.

Anyway back to normal now.  No real ale and on the diet again!!!

Hope to catch up with all our friends in Spain and we look forward to our next trip.

DOUBLE SHAKESPEARE

I booked tickets to see Richard III at The Swan in Stratford in July - I then got the date wrong and we missed it!!!!  We re booked and saw it today and it was amazing!! The theatre is fantastic.  We sat up in the gods but still had a great view.  Richard was played by an Irish actor whose accent took a bit of getting used to, however he was great. 

We had a couple of hours break, money on the car park and a quick dinner and a pint of Estrella!! and then back to the Royal Shakespeare Theatre for Twelfth Night.  This theatre is larger.  Again a fantastic production.  I think we both enjoyed it more - probably because it is a comedy.  I will never forget Malvolio´s entrance with a black rubber posing pouch and his cross gartered yellow stockings!!!

We had a fabulous time as you can probably tell and I would go again anytime.

OUR LAST TWO WEEKS

We are on the last part of our eleven week journey with fourteen days in Woolhope, Herefordshire – a village where my paternal grandfather was born and a place that I have regularly come to over the years with my parents. This area has provided some wonderful memories for me and it is a great place to return to. The countryside has mature trees, thick hedgerows and is alive with wildlife.

We left Walton Thorns Farm having had a good chat with our host Graham about the birds on his farm. The small number of birds in and around the buildings can be attributed to regular visits made by Sparrow Hawk. The trail camera did not capture a thing and we will have another go at Christmas.

Saturday afternoon was spent in The Shed at Kingsholm trying to shout on a transitional Gloucester side that were overpowered in the first half but managed to do much better in the second  but we still lost by five points. The atmosphere created by this home crowd was refreshing and there was none of the chanting and obscene language of the round ball game. It was just a friendly place to be with real ale and Guinness available to drink during the match. Afterwards there was more beer and a curry in Gloucester City Centre with some very good friends. It was so good to sit with many others wearing the cherry and white of their home team.

Yesterday it was a’ Sunday Lunch’ with the same friends in The Crown Inn next to the church in Woolhope. It was all so thoroughly enjoyable. This morning we are catching up with ourselves, enjoying the birdsong outside and waiting for the sun to burn off the mist. Yesterday evening we had a Buzzard perched close by and as the light went Tawny Owls were calling.