We started this blog in 2020 as a way of documenting our hope to travel full time when we retired.
The audience in reality has always been us - it's purpose was to serve as a diary of this time. Being able to share with readers who are (vaguely or otherwise) interested is a bonus.
And it's done just that - we have an archive now that we can look back on with real fondness and remember a great couple of years.
And so here we are. All good things must come to an end.
Two years since we headed off initially around Australia, it's now time to move into our new (to us) house and make it our home, get to know our new grandson, catch up with friends and family and a reacquaint ourselves with clothes, furniture and personal stuff we put into storage two years ago.
And get hair cuts Done ✔
We're fortunate that we've had great tenants who funded our travels, but now we're looking forward to moving our stuff out of storage into Balmain, where we're looking forward to catching up with you all as soon as possible.
This full-time wandering blog is done. Smaller trips from now won't be a part of this.
You know when you lob in a town and just like it? That's us here in Ludlow.
The cheapest way for us to get from Glasgow to Ludlow was to fly Glasgow to Heathrow, hire a car and drive 252km back north to Ludlow. #scotrail
To be fair to Scotland, ALL UK trains are ridiculou$
Driving from Heathrow we started noticing the daffodils, and it was the beginning of two weeks of seeing beautiful daffs everywhere.
Anyway, as stated, Ludlow's gorgeous. A medieval town, we did a number of things while here.
We visited Ludlow Castle at the top of the town. Built by the Normans in the 9th century, it's a ruined medieval fortification overlooking the River Teme (we're staying in an area called Temeside). Ludlow was founded around the time of the Norman Conquest and was one of the first stone castles to be built in England.
We walked the town and its old buildings, some of them over 400 years old as the town was fortunate to escape any major historical fires and bombing during WWII.
Of course we visited the cathedral.
This is, without a doubt, the most alive church we've ever visited.
Historically, a church was the centre of the community.
Ludlow cathedral is trying to bring this back.
A handful of years ago, the minister got rid of all the pews and made room for a cafe, created an area for mums to meet with their toddlers, installed toilets inside the church, made a gift shop and initiated a system of volunteers who are rostered on to answer questions of tourists like us.
And unlike many churches in Europe - it's free to enter.
Excellent experience.
(Actually, we saw this trend continue in a number of other churches as well, Hereford for example)
We took the opportunity to visit friends who've moved back to the UK from Sydney.
It was great to catch up with Julie and Garry in their beautiful heritage home in a village further north near Bakewell.
These beautiful (HUGE) St Bernards are penned in a corner of the local pub. Dogs are in every pub, shop, train etc. here, so stands to reason that these enormous St Bernard puppies are being weened in the local.
One afternoon we caught the church bell-ringing practice one afternoon - not difficult as it went from 1230 till 4pm!
Those of you who know us won't be surprised to learn we climbed the church tower and enjoyed the beautiful view over the town and its surrounds.
We went to trivia at the brewery. We were paired up with another couple who were touring. Thank goodness they were there! They were able to answer some of the questions about British money, UK parliamentarians and music from British children's television shows, but alas, we still came last.
We drove to Diddley Squat Farm shop (Clarkson's Farm) and had a drink at his pub, The Farmer's Dog.
We were surprised at how small the farm shop was, and how busy the pub was, both the restaurant and the beer garden.
It's hardly summer, but the carparks at both were overflowing.
We drove to Wrexham on a game day and had a beer or two in The Turf pub beside the ground
Excitement when Wrexham (Wrecsam in Welsh) went ahead 1-0
Other days we spent around town and nearby towns.
Ludlow is quite beautiful, with heaps of buildings four, five, even six hundred years old.
Some of the black and white houses, with timber frames infilled with brick and stone, look so higgledy piggledy with bowed and leaning walls, look like they should be falling down.
There's a stack of canals that crisscross the country. We've met people who live on their narrow boat on the canal network. To keep warm over winter they have wood or coal burning stoves. Some boats available for hire to tour as a holiday... noted :)
This is not a shed - it's a detached house!
Love some of the names of the pubs.
We visited Chester, in England but just near the Welsh border.
We were really taken with this city - designated as such but think large town.
Chester is different to other places in that in the old part of town, there's a sort of mezzanine level above the street level. This rows level is something particular to Chester.
It also has a Roman amphitheater and a town wall that's in such good order that you can walk around the whole old town on it.
We also visited Chester Cathedral, which, like our local Ludlow one, is a multi-use space - the day we visited there was a kids' silent disco!
A great day in an interesting city.
Backyards - reminded us of Billy Elliot
A kids' silent disco was being held in the cathedral
One of the 5 gates in the wall
This mezzanine type level above the street level is peculiar to Chester old town
The site of a Roman amphitheater
We visited the town of Much Wenlock.
Why?
Our Airbnb host suggested it would be a good spot to visit.
An interesting town, but - and trivia note here - this can be considered the birthplace of the modern Olympic movement.
In short: A local doctor established the Wenlock Olympian games (lots of towns had these at the time) to promote moral, physical, and intellectual improvements in the town. He Started the Wenloch games in 1850, and Pierre de Coubertin visited these in 1890 and only 6 years later, the first International Olympic Games were held in Greece.
We called in at Iron Bridge, home of the first cast iron bridge ever constructed (in 1779) and considered by many to be the birthplace of the industrial revolution.
Battlefield is an interesting place; fascinating to walk through the fields where Henry IV defeated the rebel forces of Henry "Hotspur" Percy at The Battle of Shrewsbury in 1403. It was the first time English archers fought each other on home soil and the first recorded use of the longbow.
Do love a bit of trivia!
We enjoyed a boat trip along the River Severn at Shrewsbury
Our final day in Europe saw us leave Ludlow to drive to Heathrow to return the car and check-in to the Holiday Inn at the airport.
On the way we called in at Windsor.
Robyn had been here before, but John hadn't.
The castle was closed for a state visit from someone from Nigeria, but it was good to walk around the castle and down the way to Eton.
More daffodils!
Cool sundial
The trip is REALLY coming to an end...
Last hot chocolate or coffee and cake in a tea room or cafe
Last local beer with cheese and biscuits for afternoon tea
And so after a night at a hotel room in Terminal 2, we're at the airport waiting to board.
I guess only one more entry on arrival from Sydney in this Fluid Postcode blog before the adventure is done!
