Visited Thursley Common Wetland, with Judy and her neighbour Trisha.
It was an overcast day with a bit of drizzle, which must have sent the birds into hiding. All we saw were a few ducks. However, it was a nice stroll across the boardwalks and there were some pretty wildflowers growing in the bog. We also some horses being ridden along the trails.
Sun 23 Aug
Judy lent me her car for a few days, so I drove up to visit a friend, Anne, who lives the small village of Arborfield, near Reading. Anne is a bird enthusiast and has birdfeeders of every description in her garden. We watched tits, robins, woodpeckers, jays and even a bullfinch, feeding in the garden. Anne has built a water feature which has water bubbling up through a round, ceramic ball and cascading down into a small pond. The birds were taking turns to sit over the jet of water, letting it squirt up through their feathers. Sooo cute!
Mon 24 Aug
We visited the ancient village of Selborne, once home to the famous naturalist, Gilbert White. After lunch in a small pub there, we drove on to Hinton Ampner house and garden which was the home of the last Lord Sherborne.
Anne at Hinton Ampner House
Tues 25 Aug
Anne took me to some lovely old villages and a large garden centre. It was fortunate that I am unable to take plants back to New Zealand, or the bank balance would have been severely depleted.
There was an aquarium department at the garden centre, with a most amazing collection of exotic fish, both fresh and salt water varieties. The range of colours, patterns and shapes of the fish, was mesmerising. There were some weird little shrimps, crabs, anemones and other strange creatures as well.
Drove back to Judy’s along the M3 where there was a major traffic jam, due to an accident. As usual, Jane’s (SatNav) guidance was much appreciated.
Wed 26 Aug
Some friends of Judy’s came to morning tea, then we went into Woking in the afternoon to do some shopping.
Thurs 27 Aug
Sally and Clive picked me up from Judy’s and took me to their lovely home in Farley Green to spend a few days.
In the evening, we went to a BBQ in the grounds of a big house, owned by some friends from their church group. The wind was a trifle chilly, but I didn’t want anyone to think me a wimp, so tried not to shiver as we enjoyed a very tasty meal.
Fri 28 Aug
I wanted to revisit Guildford, as I have many happy memories of living in the YMCA there in 1997. Sally and I had a great time reminiscing about her first visit here in 1998, when I showed her around Guildford, including the castle ruins, the Alice in Wonderland statues, Millmead lock and some of the intriguing wee lanes. We checked them all out again, then went shopping and lunching.
Sat 29 Aug
We all went to the public swimming pool in Shere where Clive is a volunteer, helping to maintain the pool and the machinery which runs it. Sally and Clive swam, while I explored the quaint little village of Shere.
On the way back to Farley Green, we stopped off at a fete, and then walked the rest of the way through the fields, picking fat, juicy blackberries as we went.
After a late morning tea, Sally made a picnic lunch, and then we drove to somewhere in West Sussex to watch a polo game.
None of us had a clue as to the rules of polo, but it was wonderful to watch the horses thundering up and down the field in pursuit of the ball. We set ourselves up with folding chairs and a picnic rug, in true English style. Unfortunately, Clive spoilt the effect somewhat, by wearing a baseball cap instead of a knotted hanky.
On the way back, we took a long walk through the grounds of Petworth House, which was great fun for Monty, the dog, who threw himself into the lake, despite a sign forbidding dogs from swimming. He obviously needs to attend a reading recovery programme.
That evening, Clive cooked a delicious curry and we had blackberries and ice cream for desert.
Sun 30 Aug
While Sally and Clive were at church, I visited Fenella, an old friend from YMCA days, and then we went to a pub in Albury, on the banks of the River Tillingbourne, for a roast beef and Yorkshire pudding lunch. Next, we stopped off at Clandon House to see the whare nui (Maori meeting house).
By pure chance we arrived just as a volunteer was giving a talk. His name is Alan Gallop and he has written a book on the meeting house. Apart from mispronouncing some of the Maori names, he gave a very good description of its history.
Finally, it was back to Judy’s for a last few days before leaving England.
Mon 31 Aug
Today, Judy and I took a long walk along the towpath, following the River Wey navigation. It is a bank holiday, so there were many people out in narrowboats, negotiating the Newark and Papercourt locks.
Pairs of white swans, some with half-grown cygnets, swam in the gently flowing water. It was a pretty and tranquil scene.
In the afternoon, Judy’s daughters came to enjoy a late afternoon tea of hot scones, made to a recipe given to Judy, by Heather, in New Zealand. They are made with lemonade and are quite delectable.
It was an overcast day with a bit of drizzle, which must have sent the birds into hiding. All we saw were a few ducks. However, it was a nice stroll across the boardwalks and there were some pretty wildflowers growing in the bog. We also some horses being ridden along the trails.Sun 23 Aug
Judy lent me her car for a few days, so I drove up to visit a friend, Anne, who lives the small village of Arborfield, near Reading. Anne is a bird enthusiast and has birdfeeders of every description in her garden. We watched tits, robins, woodpeckers, jays and even a bullfinch, feeding in the garden. Anne has built a water feature which has water bubbling up through a round, ceramic ball and cascading down into a small pond. The birds were taking turns to sit over the jet of water, letting it squirt up through their feathers. Sooo cute!
Mon 24 Aug
We visited the ancient village of Selborne, once home to the famous naturalist, Gilbert White. After lunch in a small pub there, we drove on to Hinton Ampner house and garden which was the home of the last Lord Sherborne.
Anne at Hinton Ampner House Tues 25 Aug
Anne took me to some lovely old villages and a large garden centre. It was fortunate that I am unable to take plants back to New Zealand, or the bank balance would have been severely depleted.
There was an aquarium department at the garden centre, with a most amazing collection of exotic fish, both fresh and salt water varieties. The range of colours, patterns and shapes of the fish, was mesmerising. There were some weird little shrimps, crabs, anemones and other strange creatures as well.
Drove back to Judy’s along the M3 where there was a major traffic jam, due to an accident. As usual, Jane’s (SatNav) guidance was much appreciated.
Wed 26 Aug
Some friends of Judy’s came to morning tea, then we went into Woking in the afternoon to do some shopping.
Thurs 27 Aug
Sally and Clive picked me up from Judy’s and took me to their lovely home in Farley Green to spend a few days.
In the evening, we went to a BBQ in the grounds of a big house, owned by some friends from their church group. The wind was a trifle chilly, but I didn’t want anyone to think me a wimp, so tried not to shiver as we enjoyed a very tasty meal.
Fri 28 Aug
I wanted to revisit Guildford, as I have many happy memories of living in the YMCA there in 1997. Sally and I had a great time reminiscing about her first visit here in 1998, when I showed her around Guildford, including the castle ruins, the Alice in Wonderland statues, Millmead lock and some of the intriguing wee lanes. We checked them all out again, then went shopping and lunching.
Sat 29 Aug
We all went to the public swimming pool in Shere where Clive is a volunteer, helping to maintain the pool and the machinery which runs it. Sally and Clive swam, while I explored the quaint little village of Shere.
On the way back to Farley Green, we stopped off at a fete, and then walked the rest of the way through the fields, picking fat, juicy blackberries as we went.
After a late morning tea, Sally made a picnic lunch, and then we drove to somewhere in West Sussex to watch a polo game.
None of us had a clue as to the rules of polo, but it was wonderful to watch the horses thundering up and down the field in pursuit of the ball. We set ourselves up with folding chairs and a picnic rug, in true English style. Unfortunately, Clive spoilt the effect somewhat, by wearing a baseball cap instead of a knotted hanky.On the way back, we took a long walk through the grounds of Petworth House, which was great fun for Monty, the dog, who threw himself into the lake, despite a sign forbidding dogs from swimming. He obviously needs to attend a reading recovery programme.
That evening, Clive cooked a delicious curry and we had blackberries and ice cream for desert.
Sun 30 Aug
While Sally and Clive were at church, I visited Fenella, an old friend from YMCA days, and then we went to a pub in Albury, on the banks of the River Tillingbourne, for a roast beef and Yorkshire pudding lunch. Next, we stopped off at Clandon House to see the whare nui (Maori meeting house).
By pure chance we arrived just as a volunteer was giving a talk. His name is Alan Gallop and he has written a book on the meeting house. Apart from mispronouncing some of the Maori names, he gave a very good description of its history.Finally, it was back to Judy’s for a last few days before leaving England.
Mon 31 Aug
Today, Judy and I took a long walk along the towpath, following the River Wey navigation. It is a bank holiday, so there were many people out in narrowboats, negotiating the Newark and Papercourt locks.
Pairs of white swans, some with half-grown cygnets, swam in the gently flowing water. It was a pretty and tranquil scene.In the afternoon, Judy’s daughters came to enjoy a late afternoon tea of hot scones, made to a recipe given to Judy, by Heather, in New Zealand. They are made with lemonade and are quite delectable.
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