Sunday And Such, 7 - 9 September 2014

It was nice waking up in our own bed this morning.  We got ready and walked over to catch the minibus to church.  Only problem, it was not there and it was not even parked in the car park.  We waited around a few minutes and then got in the car and amazingly, Dad drove to the church!  He has a good mind when it comes to directions.  Us and the Murdoch's were the only missionary couples there.  We wondered where everyone else had gone.  We did find out later they had gone to Haywards Heath where Brother Vowels has a calling.  Since he was driving, they went with him and left a half hour early to arrive on time.  We didn't get the memo since we had been out of town.  We had a quiet afternoon and evening.

On Monday, we drove to Tunbridge Wells where we knew there were two fabric stores.  We purchased a sewing machine and found flannel to make receiving blankets for Juliann's baby.  They call flannel brushed cotton over here and the range of selection is quite limited but we did find some.  I am excited to sew and crochet.

On the way home, we stopped in Hartfield at the Hundred Acre Wood.  We took a walk down to the Pooh Bridge and even found his house!

I never thought of Pooh have a house!  But, here it is!  We waited around to see him but he must have been off into the woods as he didn't answer his door.

To play Pooh Sticks, you selected a stick, dropped it in the water on one side of the bridge and go to the other side to see whose stick came out first.  Dad did't play so I just watched my stick come out by itself.

We really were "deep in the Hundred Acre Wood," and enjoyed the many trails and paths.  You weren't quite sure where they would lead, but they were fun to follow.

On Tuesday, we went to Standen House in East Grinstead.  The drive was beautiful going to the house.  The house and gardens were created in the 1890s by James and Margaret Beale and made it into a family home, filling the functions needed for a wealthily Victorian family.  They raised seven children in the home.  When we visited, we saw Satnden House very much as the family would have known it in the 1920s.

The main view of the house is from the back, opening out into the vast garden and lawns.    You can see some of the kitchen garden growing with flowers lining part of it.  They even had a little stand as you exited the property with bags of some of the produce.  We purchased a bag of running beans for a pound.  They were delicious.  The bottom left photo is of the front entrance to the house.

We liked the real billiard table and the hobby horse to the side.  The children used both forms of entertwinement while growing up.  The old fashioned scale was interesting to see.  Dad wanted a pictures of their dining room table as it reminded us of ours.  Another kitchen garden laden with herbs and spices.

A part of the drawing room and study.  The flowers were beautiful.  The older building was on the property when the Beale's purchased it and then added the house onto it.  This building dates back tot he 15th century.

This evening I attended the European Women's Conference, originating in Germany and was broadcast to England.  There were 39 countries attending or viewing the conference.  We gathered in the theater at the Visitors Centre.  Sister Langner, a stake Relief Society president in Germany was conducting, with M. Russel Ballard and his wife there as well as David A Bednar and his wife.  We also heard from Elder Halstrom and his wife.

Elder Bednar spoke of the apostles as warriors of God.  They are as Captain Moroni, steady, sure, seasoned, and willing to serve.  Nine of the twelve are over 80 years old at present.  That is a wealth of wisdom and experience.  They are the ones to listen to, to follow, and take their course of action.  Elder Ballard extended the love of the first presidency and quorum of the twelve to the women of the church, to the women in Europe.  They are loved, are daughters of God, and have a divine purpose.  We can look to the women of the scriptures for examples.  What matters most in life is our testimony and our family.

I was impressed with Sister Jennifer Kearon's talk.  She spoke to the Primary girls and Young Women and began with explaining how to put a fitted sheet on a bed.  She went into detail with the difficulty of putting three corners on and then having to crawl on the bed to the farthest one that is up against the wall to secure the forth corner.  Sometimes it seems impossible to do and she has ripped many sheets trying this method.  It wasn't until she discovered the ease of putting the hardest corner on first, that her sheet buying days were reduced!  The analogy was perfect for these girls to focus on the "hard" corner first and then the rest will follow in all aspects of life.  The Strength of Youth booklet lists five standards that when you do what is hard first, then the rest falls into place.

Elder Ballard was funny when he got up to speak and commented that he didn't know when he came to the meeting he was going to learn how to put a sheet on a bed!

Coventry Cathedral, 6 September 2014

We enjoyed a slow morning and having breakfast in the hotel.  The owner was our waiter and was very attentive to what we wanted.  I had a poached egg and Dad had a traditional English breakfast.  The weather was overcast, misty, and damp.  We located a drug store and Asda (Wal-Mart) to pick up a few things since we weren't sure how much longer we were going to be touring.

We left out of Grantham headed for the Burghley house, another place Sister Curley said would be beautiful to see.  As we got into the little village the traffic became quite snarled with closed lanes and cars and horse trailers here and there.  We saw a sign announcing the Burghley Horse Trials and hoped we would come soon to the entrance to the house.  Well, we did but it was closed and we were in one lane traffic and Dad was not about to turn around!  Dad's philosophy for driving in England is that if you go long enough you will get where you want to go, even if you go the wrong way!

We headed back to Coventry to see the cathedral and then on to London and home. We arrived mid afternoon and began the process of unpacking and getting laundry done.  It was nice to be home and in familiar surroundings and out of the car for awhile.

Coventry Cathedral was built in the 14th century.  A reined shell is all that remains after the Coventry Blitz bombing during World War II on 14 November 1940.  The original spire remains and rises 295 feet into the air making it the highest point in the Coventry skyline.  A modern cathedral was built next to it following the war.

The morning drive took us on this road where we had to stop for trains, one fast one and one slow.  On the motorway we came upon this classic.  The driver and passenger looked like they were having a fun time.  Dad really liked checking it out.

Two views of the inside of the new cathedral are on the bottom.  The remains of the older one still has style.

The tower that is still standing from the old cathedral has 180 steps leading up to the top.  We decided to climb them and away we went.  One picture shows how the buildings and roads are not laid out to any rhyme or reason; just where you can put them.  You can see the gutted out insides of the old cathedral.

The street is one side of the old cathedral.  As Dad and I were walking around and taking pictures, these sisters were walking with their mother and the youngest one asked us why we were taking pictures.  When Dad told her why, she asked:  "Will you take my picture?"  So here we are!  The bottom picture is me at the stair door at the top of the tower.

Sherwood Forest And Lincoln Cathedral, 6 September 2014

We enjoyed lunch at Chatsworth house, still in awe of the beauty of the place and figuring out it had to be where Pride and Prejudice was filmed.  We headed to Lincoln Cathedral where Dad had visited when he was on his mission.  It just so happened we stumbled into Sherwood Forest on our way and stopped in to see Robin!

 It was a very merry place indeed with plenty of statues, and other figures representing Robin Hood and his Merry Men.  Little John is even in the action with a wrestle across the bridge.  I tried out the stocks and noted they are very confining!

Our next stop was the Lincoln Cathedral in Lincoln.  Construction was begun in 1185 and grew to be the tallest building in the world, 1300-1549.  It stands as gothic architecture and has seen many changes over the centuries.

This view is from the front, and then outside the gate facing the cathedral.  

Top photo is the ancient gate of the cathedral. From that gate looking west, you see the ancient city wall with cobblestone street.  It is fascinating to see ancient next to modern.  In fact, there is a nice row of modern flats built inside the cathedral gate.

The building is beautiful inside and we found ourselves wandering from one area to the next taken in with its beauty from architecture, to stained glass, to carved wood of intricate detail, etc.  The bonus was being there when their boys choir rehearsed for a concert later this evening.  They were all dressed in blue robes and ranged in age, we would guess, 8-18?  Their music was beautiful and resonated so lovely in the building.

The bishop of Lincoln, Hugh of Wells, was one of the signatories to the Magna Carta and for hundreds of years the cathedral held one of the four remaining copies of the original.  This copy was loaned to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library for a period of time but is now on display in Lincoln Castle.  There is a replica of it encased here in the cathedral.

Dad spotted the rameumptom.

Dad has a similar picture of him standing in front of the cathedral when he visited it with other missionaries 50 years ago.

The day was coming to a close and we began our search for a place to stay for the night as we headed south.  We stopped at a bed and breakfast but they were filled up do to the Burghley Horse Trials.   We continued on and found a hotel in Grantham.  We hit a bit of luck as they too were filled, but the brand new owners of just 6 hours - that should make one concerned - said there was one room left with two twins and no TV.  They gave it to us for a discounted price of £36.  We were sold and settled in quite well.  They were diligent in seeing we enjoyed our stay by bringing up cold water and even bought new pillows for us!  The room was quite adequate and we both slept well.

Today is Tanner's birthday so we put a call into him to wish him a very happy one.  We had a good visit and he is doing well with growing up, driving, church, family, and school.

The Peak District And A Surprise!! 5 September 2014

We woke up having had a good night's sleep and ready for the day.  We went down to breakfast of which Mick prepared the meal to our liking.  That was very nice.  We had a nice conversation with him and he gave us pointers for going into the Peak District.  The Peak District is England's mountainous region.

Our bathroom and view out the window.

We packed up, got into the car, and started out on our journey, going just as Mick suggested.  At one point in the road, we followed his directions to the right and ended up on top of a hill with a beautiful view of Glossop below.  We then back tracked to the main road and continued our journey to Chatsworth House, situated in the Peak District.  Sister Curley strongly suggested we visit it as it is very lovely.

Top left shows Manchester skyline off in the distance.  We had a very hazy day which made picture taking not the best.  The other photos are of Glossop and hills of heather.

The drive through the Pennine mountain range was fascinating.  These are England's mountains, not very high, but very very beautiful.  They are large rolling mountains, some covered in heather, some in rugged rock faces, and other in green green fields and meadows.  Some places the trees are thick like a forest and other places they are spread out leaving ample room for livestock grazing, picnicking, hiking, and driving about.

I couldn't resist the "Farrar" name in the top photo.  The other photos are of Ladybower Reservoir.  We came across the bridge into the area and then took photos looking back.  You can see the stone fenced fields and placid water.

On into the Peak District we traveled going into Derbyshire.  The tom tom was taking us to Chatsworth House but every now and then we wondered if we were headed in the right direction.

We stopped in a little village at a cottage where the man and woman were in the garden talking to a delivery man.  The man left and we posed our question as to where Chatsworth House was.  The couple appear to be in their 80's or so and he piped right up:  "You going to Chatsworth House are you?  Well, it is expensive!"
She added:  "But it is worth it.  It is very beautiful."

They were very kind and gave us directions.  At the end of the conversation she stated:  "You are from America aren't you."  We replied in the affirmative and he said:  "I remember during the war we got boxes of food from the Americans.  We like you.  In fact, we are going there in October on holiday."  We bade each other good bye and thanked them for their help and were on our way.

We saw a sign for Chatsworth Farm and Shop, so we took the road off to the right.  We were not up it very far when we arrived.  It is a lovely spot looking off into the valley and verdant fields and lawns below.  The flowers were beautiful and bees were buzzing all around.

We asked questions as to where the house was and we were told to go back out to the main road and carry on and the house would be on the left.

We were back on the main road and watching the signs and then saw the one to Chatsworth House off to the left.  Dad took the turn and we were on a road off into the country, it seemed.  We still could not see a house and were watching attentively.  Then, it appeared ahead and to the right.  I looked and couldn't quite believe what I was seeing and thought to myself:  "That looks just like Pemberly, Mr. Darcy's house in Pride And Prejudice!  Is it?"  There was no lake in front of it, but it looked just like Pemberly!

I was in awe as we continued following the road past the house, up the left side, and into the car park.    Then into view appeared a huge water fountain shooting way up into the air to the right of the house.

We did not see the fountain at first due to the trees here and there.

We parked the car, got our things together, and headed for the grounds.  Everything was so neat, orderly, and sharp.  It looked more like a mansion than a house to me!  We purchased tickets at £18 each and began our own walk-through tour of the house.

The first room we entered was the massive entry hall and I was blown away as I saw the black and white checkered floor just like Pemberly!  The furnishings were different, but that floor was unmistakable.

It was amazing to see all that there was to see.  The house is built in a square with a courtyard in the middle, only it is plain.  I guess it is not used for anything.

Top Picture:  I was able to walk out the door and take the photo.
Bottom Picture:  From the opposite side and looking through a partially opened window from the second floor back to the side I took the photo out of from the doorway.

Going up the staircase felt like going on a journey!  At the top it goes to the right and then to the left again before getting to the next floor.

Murals graced the walls and ceilings of many of the large rooms and stately halls.  During the war, one room was used as a hospital ward for the soldiers.  There were many beautiful vessels, chests, and bowls, as well as inlaid tables and counters.

Chatsworth House is home to the Cavendish family since 1549, being the seat of the Duke of Devonshire.  The 12th Duke lives there at present.  The house has changed in size over the centuries and at present has 126 rooms.  We did not tour all of them, obviously; that would have taken a week, I sure!

The dome is at the top of the staircase.

Some standing guests had their own nameplate, and rooms fitted for their needs.

The library was massive with a very extensive collection from floor to ceiling.  As we were passing through, across from this bookcase was an alcove and when I looked in, I began to think:  "It's beginning to look a lot like Pemberley!  Everywhere I look!  From the house upon the lane, the checkered floor is framed, to sculptures, walls and grounds that look the same!"  The veiled Vestal Virgin sculpture was in the Sculpture Gallery in the movie.

A gorgeous dining room!  The sleigh was sitting on the balcony and child size in dimensions.  More bedrooms in all their lavish style and design.  We found your sleigh bed, Jared!

Chandeliers hung in many of the rooms; more color-themed bedrooms, and lovely artwork and sculptures.

A picture of the fountain from an open window.  This is the side of the house you see in the movie with neatly trimmed lush lawns and gardens.   Statues graced the grounds and here is Dad with his beauty.  One hall and adjoining rooms were dedicated to the memory of family members and those in service at Chatsworth House who served in World War I.  This poem was inscribed on one of the walls.

An inlaid table top.  Note the chamber pot in the night table.  The family were hunters with their guns and racks on display.

The sculpture Gallery sealed the deal with this being Pemberley!  When we got to the hotel, Dad went Online and sure enough, Chatsworth House was used to film Pemberley.  It was quite the adventure discovering this as we visited and toured the house.

Returning And Remembering, 4 September 2014

We checked out of the Accommodations Centre, and headed to Dad's old mission stomping grounds of 50 years ago.  With the tom-tom programmed and map in hand, we took off and managed for the most part to get where we wanted to be.

The first stop was the chapel in Burnley.  Dad was excited to return and see how it looked.  He found it is now a swimming club, complete with an indoor pool.  The location and outside was not familiar to him at all!  We parked and went in.  The young man at the counter greeted us and Dad began asking questions and sure enough, this was the church 50 years ago.  It still was not coming to mind for Dad.

Dad was still trying to figure it out, that when we got outside, he called Margaret Gregson.  She has been a member of the Burnley ward since before Dad and he has been in contact with her on remembering some of these things.  She assured him this is the building and yes, it did have a baptismal font in front of the stand just as he remembered.

Our next stop was 2 Faraday St, one of Dad's digs.  He was there from 12 Jun 1964 to 6 Nov 1964 and does remember it as it is now.  The second photo shows the row of flats, with #2 being at the top of the hill.  We entered the gate on the left side of the house and knocked on the door.  The housekeeper answered.  Dad explained while we were there.  She was very pleasant and said the lady of the house was still in bed and would be unable to speak with us.  Dad says the view across the street is now grown over with lots of trees and one cannot see out over the area.

Companion, Elder Hall in our digs, at 2 Faraday.  Note the window in the roof.  We liked to take photos out of it and it provided a natural night light.

I found a small space and barely squeezed in a photo.  You can see what kind of hazy day we had.

From here, we drove over to the new church house in Burnley and Margaret met us there. She gave us a tour of the building and showed where it had been added on to, two different times since its original construction.  They have been in this building for 30 years.

Margaret led the way and we followed her to a carvery where we enjoyed lunch and more visiting.  Dad really enjoyed the time to remember people and places from those many years ago.

Our next stop was Ashton-under-Lyne, where Dad first served when he arrived in England, in December 1963.  He was there until March 1964.  He did remember this chapel as it was under construction when he was there.  Check out the two photos 50 years apart.

 Ashton-under-Lyne, September 2014

Ashton-under-Lyne, January 1964, under construction

The next stop was Manchester.  Dad was at the stake center two or three times when the missionaries came in and boarded buses going to the London temple.

We were getting pretty good with the tom-tom and the map.  I just needed to keep my mouth shut!  It can get scary riding in the left seat and see the cars and hedges and trees fly by just inches away.  One time we were going down a hill and I was trying very hard to not say anything when all of a sudden a parked motorcycle was looming ahead of us.  It seemed as though we were going to hit it smack on and as we got almost on it, I yelled:  "Motorcycle!"  Dad calmly replied:  "I see it," as he drove on past.

Note the Crawley Stake Center is the same design as the Manchester.  They are sister buildings, having being built about the same time.  This is where we go each Sunday.

We went to Hyde and made a stop at 60 Joel Lane, the home of Mrs. Brocklebank, one of Dad's favorite landladies.  He has many fond memories while living there.

He remembers having snowball fights in the street and he and his companion riding their bikes UP and down the hill to the house.  He knocked on the door but there was no answer.

The day was coming to a close so we headed on east, looking for a bed and breakfast for the night.  We arrived at the town of Glossop, the gateway to the Peak District.  After a couple of attempts to figure out where we were going, we came upon a bed and breakfast.  We stopped and inquired but they were full.  She did suggest the Peakdale Lodge and gave directions.  Off we went again, and found it within a reasonable amount of time.  Jill was very helpful and showed us a room which we gladly accepted.  She gave us the key, a few instructions, and when breakfast would be served.  That was all there was to it, no name, credit card, or other such information.

We got our things in and parked in their car park and headed down the street for dinner.  We found a Chinese place and had something to eat.  Back in the room, we had TV.  Haven't had that regular for almost four months now.  We found a show similar to Funniest Home Videos and we zoned out watching it for two hours!  We laughed and smiled and really enjoyed watching family antics that remind us of ours!