Country Drive

 May 27, 2013

Well we decided on both. I fell asleep holding the baby, so we both had a little snooze. Then Angie got up and ran me to the Costa Coffee just down the street. Where I finally got WI-FI to update a few things and have a nice long skype chat with my mom. I realized in all of that, and the drama that was going on at home, that I was glad to have left it. Sorry everyone, but I needed a break, as does everyone.

Anyway, a couple hours later, and I had updated my blog and such, and then I decided to wander the center of Letchworth Garden City. They have a nice independent book store that I could not resist the urge to poke my head into. It also held a little record/CD section and café, which were nice additions to the shelves and shelves of books. You would think that since I work at OLD FIREHOUSE BOOKS in Fort Collins that I would be sick of books and book store….nope. I take on each new little store with great excitement, tempted by the beauty of bound pages, sucked in by the smell of glue and ink, it is really an addiction at this point.

At 6pm Angie had come to pick me up and save me from a walk in the rain and wind. To my wonderful surprise, Kristian had looked up gluten-free chippies for me and been successful in his search. The place was called Cox’s and was very close to the town center. Friday nights are traditional chippy nights for this part of the world, so it was perfect timing! Angie and Kristian and Mae are full vegetarians and don’t cheat like I do with fish and seafood, but they enjoy chippy dinners of bean burgers and spring rolls and chips (French Fries) and mushy peas. So, we ordered a feast of food from the little place, that held a line out the door (always a good sign). I got a massive slab of cod battered in gluten-free batter, a huge plate of chips, and a trial serving of mushy peas.

The fish was amazing! It was fresh, greasy, crunchy and salty. It was perfection in fried fish. I ate the whole slab in no time at all and scarfed down my chips too. In trying mushy peas, which look a little odd, I found a tasty side dish that was an awful lot like split pea soup. I loved this dinner, and may just have to go back before I leave to get another massive slab of deep-fried fish.

On a full belly I went to bed ecstatic that I actually got to have fish and chips in England, food allergies can really limit the amount of fun you have, so having an option like that really makes travelling a treat.

On Saturday I watched Mae and Bonnie for a little while as Angie and Kristian ran a couple of errands. They returned, Angie and I went to the grocery store, then we arrived back home just in time to welcome over some of Angie and Kristian’s friends for the afternoon. Peach and Mark are British, but they lived in Alexandria, Egypt for quite some time because of Mark being able to teach art there. They have three children, one is 18 who I did not meet, but I did meet Neve who is 3 and Eli who is 5. Both of them were very sweet and happy children who along with Mae had all but a full fashion show throughout the day. They all decided to strip and change clothes at least four times through the afternoon. They were a lot of fun to be around, very polite and very darling. There is something about little children with British accents that is amusing me, I cannot explain it. Angie thinks it is because we sort of view the accent as so proper and old-fashioned that hearing it out of the mouth of a 3-year-old is humorous. I think she is right. We had homemade veggie pizza that night, and no I am not being good about the “no dairy” policy of my diet, cheese here is just so damn delicious!

Sunday or yesterday was a very busy and eventful day. The morning started with Angie getting her new refrigerator delivered, which is bigger than the old one and seems to be much nicer. Of course the European standard and size of fridges is still much smaller than the American idea. Which in reality since it uses less electricity and prevents people from buying too much food and then wasting it, I think it is a great design. Also, I am fond of the freezer on the bottom, keeping veggies at eye level so you don’t leave them to rot in the crisper.

Following the fridge we got the crew rounded up and headed to the countryside. Kristian drove us through a gob of small towns and places to show me old houses, churches and about 50 thatched cottages. Of course, I was ecstatic and then we arrived at Kristian’s parent’s house for brunch. Where about 15 people (including children) all gathered to eat, talk and have a great time. I got to see Kristian’s mum and dad again (Maureen and Paul), his sister Abby and three of her four kids, and meet another one of Mae’s cousin’s Freddy. I can’t hardly keep tabs of everyone, and their names but it was fun to see how well Mae gets on with the other children.

We ate a traditional English breakfast with beans, tomatoes, fried eggs, mushrooms and everyone else had either veggie sausage or bacon or the real thing. It was kind of second breakfast, since I had eaten at Angie and Kristian’s, but when on vacation and with friends I suppose it is fair to eat a bit more and more often especially when it was all so delicious.

Breakfast done I had a really nice chat over tea with some “cousin’s through marriage” of Maureen’s who had come up from Bath. I also talked to Auntie Kay who came with them, a very sweet, smart and witty 88 year old woman that reminded me and lead me to miss my grandma back in Colorado. She really enjoyed feeding Bonnie her bottle and snuggling the little thing, maternal instincts never seem to leave a person.

We hit the road again about 2pm, leaving Mae behind with the kids so they could go to the park. Then it was into the countryside again for more old buildings, rolling hills, and fancy old houses. We went to the Bennington Lordship Gardens, which offered great views and beautiful flowers along with a unique Georgian mansion with fascinating additions such as the mock ruins of a Norman castle. The location was close to Stevanage, one of the larger towns in Hertfordshire, the county I have been running around.

Thatched Cottage

We drove by a massive train bridge, a viaduct. And also by the home where the Queen’s Mum grew up in, probably illegally, but it was interesting to see where some royalty once lived. And finally the most fascinating little side trip was a little lane we took into the woods where we were confronted with an entire forest bed just covered in blue bells. Unlike anything I had ever seen the forest floor was just covered in blue. It felt like something from a fairy tale, and was truly surreal in its subtle and gracious beauty. There is a lot to be said about the natural beauty of things. So far that is likely the most amazing thing I have seen here; blue bells, a flower that grows in Colorado, a flower that is rather simple, but one that just blew me away with its location and how many actually grew there, simple beauty. Little things have the ability to awe you while you travel; through new eyes, the little things are so much more than you ever saw them before.

Blue Bell Forest

Oh and did I mention we of course had a pit stop about 3pm for a pint? Angie and I had cyder while Kristian had an IPA. There is something magical about drinking at a proper English pub, maybe I am just being a hokey tourist, but I love it.

About 6pm we made it back to Maureen and Paul’s to pick up Mae, but it also meant we stayed for a little while to talk and have tea. I analyzed and took photos of the garden…oh and let’s talk about THIS property, which is the most unique I have ever been in.

Okay so the property is first of all pretty much hidden by a lot of trees and a fence. Second of all they have a lot of green space for gardens, then they also just happen to have the remnants of an old windmill which is what the property used to be, a flour mill. They also have put in an enclosed and heated pool, along with numerous additions to their very unique house. The original part of the house is about 200 years old, with solid wood beams, and very short 5’10” ceilings in some rooms!

It is a little confusing but I will try and explain this place, which is a real kind of cut and paste project but so beautiful at the same time. Their main entrance now, or main area for company is their new addition of a kitchen/dining/family room. Which is very large and very welcoming, all done up in a modern look but very stylish and welcoming. It is one large open rectangle which is perfect for family gatherings, everyone has a seat and a place to eat. Now right off of the kitchen is an area that leads upstairs to a new guest bedroom and study for Paul. It feels a little like a loft. Then right at the bottom of the tiny stairs is hallway/romantic dining area. Instead of keeping their cold, dark, and spooky cellar they instead ripped out the ceiling and put in a little four person table. It looks fantastic on the old brick cellar and with a few fabric touches that look regal and fancy it is really the perfect romantic dinner nook. From there we reach the older parts of the house where one room is a bright green sitting room with a book nook and next to that is a cozy living room with a fireplace and television. Both of these rooms are very quiet and secluded from the rest of the house. Back to the green sitting room we walk another direction to find the front entrance, or what used to be, which is a nice hallway leading to all directions of the house. If you are coming to that door, a right turn takes you to the massive kitchen, Maureen’s study, the kid’s room, and the old kitchen. A left turn takes us upstairs to where the other bedrooms are. Two guest-like bedrooms and then the massive bedroom of Maureen and Paul’s which is about as big as my studio apartment was in Denver. They even have one closet that is literally a closet with a bathtub in it.

, I am probably forgetting something but this house is AMAZING. They really should give tours or something, rent it out as a B&B, because it is just so different than anywhere else I have visited. The cooler part is they did many renovations themselves and Maureen does all the decorating.

Back home failed attempts at skyping Ryan and an AMAZING pasta dinner later, I was in bed passed out.

Today is Monday! A bank holiday here, and Memorial Day back in Colorado. Today we are going to go see a few more historical things and have a “roast” for dinner. Which will include a vegetarian protein thing which is really good, potatoes and some other goodies. I’m really looking forward to it.

As far as how myself is doing. It hasn’t even been a week and I miss Ryan like crazy! I have been loving doing photography here, and having so much fun getting to learn about my family here. For instance I learned that blindness is a big problem in the Robinson side of the family, and that I should NEVER go bungee jumping, or the like because I might suffer from retinal detachment…very important things to know!

I am suffering some frustrations with finances though at the moment. I had plenty of money to get here and pay for food for my first week or so, but I also thought I would be getting my loans for the summer on the 20^th. Well the person that told me that was WRONG so I won’t get anything until next week. Which I guess I’m really lucky to be staying with family! But I am also sad that I won’t get to travel about in the United Kingdom while I am here, which makes me feel like I am disappointing my friends. I guess everything happens for a reason, and I am extra grateful to Angie and Kristian for taking me to do things. My advice is this, always double check when you will be getting your money, because some advisers can’t be trusted to know what they are talking about. Andrea F., if you are reading this, you know who messed me up too.

Sending everyone my love. xx

**I forgot on our drive through the country that we went by George Orwell's old house and that this area inspired him to write Animal Farm.

George Orwell lived here!