UK visit September 2023

This morning was nice, sunny and forecast was low 70s with sun 👍 As we are staying in area called Sunningwell we drove into village and visited the local parish church - St. Leonard's.  It is a lovely small parish church that is still used but seems shares a vicar with several other small churches in area. Parts of the church date back to the 12th century! Then headed to Cotswolds for the day.  First stop was Burford which was crowded but able to find parking in public lot by river.  Walked shop Next stop was to have been Burton-on-the-Water except was packed and parking lots FULL so drove on.  Went through Lower Slaughter, which appeared to have a big wedding about to take place, and onto Stow-on-the-Wold via some single track roads with lovely views of area.  Again absolutely no place to park and I thought about turning around and driving through town again, in hopes of a spot, until realized queue of cars to get into town probably about half mile long!! So then headed to Chippi

This was view from table at breakfast this morning at Riverside restaurant. Delicious French toast with fresh fruit. Then onto Windsor Castle and join the line for our time slot. Lots of construction so entry a convoluted route through shopping precinct!?! Place was packed and airport type security. Then have to figure out where to get multi-media guides. One thing we had noticed was that places wiped down screen of multimedia equipment but the headphones do not appear to be cleaned at all between customers!?! So this time used my own headphones.  With Covid on the increase in UK I would think wiping down all equipment,  that shared, would be a basic!?!  We did not get to see Queen Mary's Doll house as about a 40 minute wait in queue...so much for timed tickets?? No pictures allowed in castle so only outside pics... Decorated nail box by gift shop.                              St George's Chapel We then did a little last minute shopping before back to house to put feet up for s

Up, pack car, tidy up Bungalow and to the Park and Ride lot! We took shuttle bus into Oxford and attended sung Eucharist at Christ Church Cathedral.   Then shuttle bus back to car and off to The Nag's Head Pub in Abington for Roast lunch, after all it is Sunday! Rain and cooler has finally arrived! Pub sits on island in Thames so on sunny day great spot but a bit soggy today. A dog friendly pub and water and bowls just for them! Drove to Eton/Windsor, in and out of rain, dropped off luggage at new Airbnb and then filled up car gas tank on car and turned in. Dinner time and as just short walk across bridge to Windsor and went  to Pizza Express. Not a bad location and view from table...since across street from Windsor Castle . . . Look carefully as swans on the river...they belong to King Charles! About a month ago was Swan Upping, counting of Swan's, and unfortunately numbers down due to bird flu. View from table as ate dinner! Then back to house to relax as tomorrow is final da

 This is what saw from Conservatory Friday  morning... foggy start to day!  But it soon lifted and sun peaked through. We had picked up Hot Cross Buns, and proper butter, at Aldi's last night so Breakfast was Tea with Toasted and Buttered Hot Cross Buns in the Conservatory.  Then off to Local Farmers Market in Abingdon, just few miles from Bungalow. Small market but some interesting vendors. We bought some pastries for Saturday morning breakfast as sample tasted good :)  Shirley tried some fudge but not impressed. Then off to Oxford. Oxford town centre is now  a pedestrian zone so we used a Park and Ride lot and took shuttle bus into the town. We  walked around visiting shops and colleges of the University.... As a Pedestrian Zone you get entertainers... It was Open Day at colleges so lots of people around.  We saw some of Lincoln, Trinty and Exeter College. Dining Hall and Chapel of Exeter College.. We had booked an Afternoon Tea at Old Parsonage Hotel and as a warm day were able

 Up early to pack and tidy up as left London today. Took coach (bus) to Heathrow,  picked up rental car and headed out of town!  Then came the fun part..does Nancy remember how to drive a stick shift 😳  And to stay to left side of road. Actually not l bad considering has been about 7 years since last drove in UK.  We set Waze to no motorway, not taking on big lorries (trucks) and testing insurance policy just after leaving the Hertz lot!  Lots of construction and road works which slowed us down and made hard to see area and signs.  Also meant hard to find a place to grab a bite of lunch! Got to bungalow and after easy check-in had a nice cuppa in the conservatory. Place is light and airy and looks newly redecorated.  View of garden as drank cuppa! As had missed lunch wanted an early dinner  so found The Fox Inn, a local pub, and I had cottage pie with mixed greens, peas and cabbage, and  Shirley had steak and salad.  Apple and blackberry crumble with custard for dessert.  You can tell