Thursday September 19th, 2019 – At Sea
Our last day on board, as is usually the case, is dedicated to packing and sorting through all the pending issues. We attended the “Diamond “ Senior Officer’s Party, had our complementary lunch at the Veranda restaurant and saw the final show, part the Knights and mostly Mike Doyle. Tomorrow we disembark and head home to Wokingham.
Friday September 20th to 25th – In England.
We hired a car and headed to our home which was to be the base of operations. On one day we went to visit Judy, and took the Cliffords as they were going to the theater (Macbeth) at Chichester. Another day we visited Christopher & Janey and enjoyed a delicious lunch which Janey prepared. Another day we drove over to Highgrove to visit Prince Charles’s Garden, which was spectacular. Scruffy in one way but formal in another, but each large area unique and very interesting. All organic and sustainable. A large task for the 12 Gardner’s and 125 staff. Security was very tight, if you don’t book before you go and have the tickets and photo ID, you will not get in. Each group (we were 12) has a guide and all have to keep together as stragglers are picked up by police. No photography in any of the gardens, no binoculars as we were literally a foot or so away from their house on three sides of it. A home with 7 bedrooms and 7 bathrooms and a total of 17 rooms. Not a palace but a place he can relax and be “at home” for the 52 days a year or so that he spends there each year. You arrive when instructed, if early, you are not allowed past the end of the driveway, if late you loose your turn and funds for the day. There is no sign or evidence on the road, only when you get your tickets do you find the trick of how to locate the building and gardens.
The nearby town is charming and we enjoyed a meal at the Snooty Fox pub (established in 1594). We were intrigued by the harp which was the beer pull for Guinness, only given to those large sellers of Guinness.
Wednesday the 25th, we had a cousin’s lunch at home with Peter & Angela, Jane & Abbi, Christopher, The Cliffords and ourselves. A fun time. That evening we took Alex to Dinner in Reading to celebrate his Birthday
Roger & Anne Travels 