Went along to a couple of the Coalbrookdale museums (Darby Houses and Museum of Iron) then out to Benthall Hall at Broseley and then finally the Tar Tunnel at Coalport. I was fighting sleep for most of the day, and ultimately think I got the most out of the Tar Tunnel, being the geology freak I am, but it was a nice day to be out and about – glorious sunshine!
Tagged with: travel | Add a comment
We spent the afternoon at Blist’s Hill Victorian Town which is one of those recreation-village type things, but this one was way way better than any other I’ve been to. Whereas Old Sydney Town was basically populated with random people in costumes, this one actually has real live craftspeople, and the town makes a sideline living out of making bricks and rooftiles and rocking horses and so on. Many of the things for sale – from hot cross buns, to postcards and little plaster plaques, are made onsite using Victorian methods. The printer not only prints postcards, but also bags for the other shops, money envelopes for the bank and handbills to go in the shop windows. The draper’s sells bonnets which are sewn by the woman running the shop. The whole thing was fascinating and very well done. AND there was egg dancing 
Altogether a tip-top day out.
Tagged with: exploration, learning, walking | Add a comment
around Market Drayton and the Shropshire Canal (which is actually in Staffordshire). Absolutely gorgeous day, and we finished it off with buying gingerbread (a local speciality) from a baker in Market Drayton to have with our afternoon coffee.
Tagged with: exploration, walking | Add a comment
… in the pouring rain, as it turned out. Very beautiful walking up the “dingle” though. Gorgeously peaceful.
Tagged with: travel, walking | Add a comment
Djeli took me over the Severn to The Boat pub for their Irish music night – every Thursday all sorts of people turn up with their instruments and just play folk music. Deeply, deeply awesome. Last night we had 3 fiddles, 2 banjos, 2 mandolins, a guitar, 2 sets of uilleann pipes, 4 assorted accordions, ranging from a tiny squeezebox through to a full piano accordion, a bodhran and even a pair of bones (played like the spoons). We were given a lesson in bone-playing, and Djeli picked it up quite well but obviously I’m too much of a control freak.
Tagged with: events, exploration, learning, listening, music | Add a comment
A very fine house run by the National Trust, near Shrewsbury. As usual, all very well done by the Trust, but it brought to the fore even more than usual the difficulty with “restoring” a house that has seen numerous styles and renovations – which one do you pick to restore to??!
Unfortunately no photos allowed of the inside of the house, so there’s only a couple of the grounds, which I’ll post here once they’ve been through Photoshop…
Tagged with: exploration, travel | Add a comment
Took a while to get underway, but it was a beautiful spring day and we got here in the end. Went for a lovely walk in the evening, then Djeli made us sang choy bow for dinner. Mmmm.
Tagged with: travel | Add a comment
So now I can drive here AND in Europe. That should make the France trip immeasurably easier (if I can remember how to drive) plus it avoids the Australian one expiring on Friday
Tagged with: completion, gtd | Add a comment
OK. This one definitely not fun. But necessary (there seem to have been a few of those lately!) and it made me feel good that I both managed to make the appointment and go to it without having a total meltdown. And the reward? NO CAVITIES! Yay!
Tagged with: health | Add a comment
Chicken roast for lunch, lime and sodas and a very fine time was had by all
Tagged with: friends, relaxing | Add a comment
