On one of our seven trips to England, we stayed with a very nice couple Ken met through research for his book, 'Dear Mum'. The husband of this couple served as a seaman on the H.M.S. Ramillies during WWII. They lived in a three storey Victorian home with NO central heating.
The kitchen was cosy - this was where they spent the majority of their time. The parlour 'boasted' a miniscule fireplace doing its very best to warm the frigid room. While our hosts puttered about in the cosy kitchen making meal preparations, we 'guests' froze in the parlour and couldn't believe it when the husband called out to us to please let him know if we got too warm!! When it was time to say good night, we climbed many stairs to the third floor and our icy bedroom. We wasted no time in hopping into bed but were delighted to find that our thoughtful hosts had turned on the electric blanket!
Once when we were visiting Wales, we found ourselves in Cardiff, blissfully unaware there was a conference underway in the city. We searched in vain for accommodation and were relieved to finally locate a bed and breakfast. The owner, a blowsy bottled blond trying desperately to look 30, sashayed her high-heeled way ahead of us up a steep flight of stairs, saying she could 'squeeze' us into a little room. The beds were extremely narrow with mattresses like cardboard but we survived to laugh about it all.
We enjoyed many wonderful hikes around the British countryside
and were undaunted by the occasional 'stile' which separated farmers' fields.
Another time in Exeter we found a bed and breakfast and then went out to look for a meal. We located a pub but they did not serve meals. The publican directed us to a 'Wimpy's (McDonalds) type establishment where we purchased a so-called hamburger and chips which we carried back to the pub. While we were seated in front of a cosy fire, another couple arrived in search of a meal - so we shared our bountiful chips with them. When we finally returned to our lodgings and climbed into bed, we discovered a lovely hot stone pig (hot water bottle) nestled under the sheets.
On another visit to England we stayed with our old dears, Nellie and Edna, about whom I have previously written in this blog (see 'Innocents Abroad'). Nellie and Edna were the 'salt of the earth'. These elderly sisters had never married and were extremely innocent. One morning Ken entered the bathroom only to be engulfed in steam from which Edna emerged, swaddled in a dressing gown. 'Oh, Kenneth!' she tittered and fled past him. On another occasion Ken was soaking in the bathtub when Edna suddenly entered the bathroom, a plumber in tow, and asked if Ken would mind if the man took a look at the sink taps?
Just a few of our many fond memories of touring around Britain.
No comments:
Post a Comment