Warwick Castle by Ethan

Wednesday 13th April, 2011.

First we woke up, had breakfast and left for Warwick Castle. We drove for an hour then arrived at Warwick castle. Next we hopped out of the car, walked for a bit then we entered the castle.


First we watched a 5 minute movie called ‘Dream of Battle’. It told us about preparing for a real battle which happened a long time ago. It told us to go next to ‘The Kingmaker’. So we did.

In The Kingmaker we walked down under the castle and saw wax figures which were showing us about the preparations for battle. There I got to hold a long bow and a cross bow.
Next we went 5to a show called ‘Flight of the Eagle’. In it we saw a man (called a falconer) who had trained a dad bald eagle, a baby bald eagle, a chestnut vulture and a sea eagle. It was amazing.


Then we went to story time with the dragon slayer. It was in the courtyard of the castle. He told us a story about how Guy of Warwick once slayed a dragon. It wasn’t true though.


Next we went to the Sword in the Stone show. It had an actual sword and a kid pulled it out. He was given a wooden sword instead of the actual sword.

Next we went to the raising of the portcullis. A man told us how to open and close the gate and also that there were little holes called murder holes where people poured boiling sand and urine on their enemies.

Lastly we went to ‘The Mighty Trebuchet’. A trebuchet is a type of catapult. They shot out a fire ball. It was awesome! Then we went out of the castle through the shop. In the shop I bought a quill. Then we went home, had dinner and went to bed.

Flora & Oops ...

… was that a Pheasant?

Driving in England is very different to the USA. There’s the opposite side of the road thing whilst the blinker is still on the left, there’s the unmarked speed limits where the other local traffic varies up to 30 mile an hour from each other (who do you copy the guy doing 60 or the grandma doing 90?), there’s the signage that is much less-than-clear at every junction and then there are the very narrow roads crawling with Pheasants. The Peasants kept to the side walks.

Actually I never did hit one. I managed to mount the gutter with quite a thump one time but that was all. Pheasants, however, are birds with a very small brain and a death wish. That I didn’t clean one up was not due to their desire to live another day. We now know why the hunters used to use beaters to make these stupid birds fly away. It wasn’t to get them to come out into the open it was to give them a sporting chance! They are everywhere in the Cotswolds and they are road kill around every bend in the road … which by the way, makes it very easy to collect their feathers for a nice hat.

Driving in the Cotswolds also explains why the British excel at motor racing. All roads are 1.5 cars wide, all run in both directions, are very windy and all of them are bounded by grass embankments and rock walls. This means that every corner is a blind corner and still this slows nobody down except the Lorries. How we didn’t manage to lose a side mirror or a body panel is only due to God’s kindness.

That said, when I wasn’t gripping the wheel white knuckled it was very pleasant to be driving in the lovely green countryside. Every hill and dale opens a new vista of gentle verdant green beauty. Quaint villages, bubbling streams, sweet meadows and green wonderful green as far as the eye can see. If you can survive the roads it is a lovely place to be.

Michael

Why I Love Karen

Just one of the reasons … and not really a main one; yet there is something terrifically endearing about a woman who can cook for a man who likes to eat.

When we entered this ancient Cotswold’s cottage I was bracing myself for disappointment from the whole family. Sure it was at a place called Great Rissington but all that meant was it was bigger than the other Rissington. Everywhere I looked was another strange room and I bumped my head on beams and ceilings and doorways at every turn. However after 8 weeks in an RV this was luxury. The kids loved the backyard and all the space to move and Karen loved the window seats, the garden, the quaintness of it all and she loved, she loved most of all … the oven?!

I thought this was supposed to be a holiday and there was Karen wanting to cancel all kinds of things so she could stay home and cook. Never one to fight against a good meal I encouraged her love for the Aga and off we went to the shops for supplies. Before you could say “3 course meal” Karen had strapped on the floral apron, unsheathed her whisk and the food began to arrive. We could barely eat fast enough and were any of us complaining? No way!

Slow cooked Beef Korma, Chicken Pie, Risotto, Roast Chicken, Roast Pork, Berry & Clotted Cream Pudding, Apple Turnover, Hot Cross Buns & Aga toast melts with all kinds of pastry treats to eat throughout each day. In the spirit of English country cookery we also went off to Stow-on-the-Wold Growers Market to sample the local wares. Here we purchased pork pies from a lady who I’m sure knew the pigs by name, donuts filled with lemon curd made that morning, potted wood pigeon and potted pheasant along with various garden greens and jams.

Was it good? Very!
Are we fatter? Without doubt!
Do I love my wife’s cooking? What do you think?!

Michael

The Cotswolds

We're still alive, just not blogging at the moment... we will later on. We've deliberately decided to have an easier week this week to recover from the USA and enjoy this lovely house and gorgeous part of the world.

In brief: we're staying at 'Green Cottage' in the village of Great Rissington, in an 18th century stone cottage which has a huge and very pretty garden (complete with an orchard, pond and tame pheasant!)The kitchen has an Aga stove so we are eating very well and I am finding great satisfaction in cooking properly for my family again!

We have visited Blenheim Palace, Warwick Castle and Oxford. On Sunday we went to church with friends from college, Kate & Philip Percival and family to St Ebbe's Oxford - a real highlight for us and our boys.

You'll hear from us again soon!

Karen