The Kenilworth

With time rapidly dwindling I went down to Banbury way this afternoon to visit my brother et famille before I leave, taking the opportunity to say goobye to two young nephews - one of whom was able to appreciate some of the implications of what I am doing, "But what if you get sick?" he asked. :-)

Back up to Stoke in the late evening. Last day of preparations tomorrow.

On Friday 15th May We stopped at Brownsover, near Rugby,for Tesco shopping. We found BCF friends Alan and Joan Dewhurst on Cascade and caught up with them over a cup of tea. We also met Martin and Jean Hill (BCF) on Gemma. We may see them later in the year as they are doing the Leeds and Liverpool and the Rochdale in the opposite direction to us. After Tesco and lunch and emails, we went through the Newbold tunnel, and turned and ...

... of Pimms (with lots of fruit (especially strawberries) but no mint) and watched the river. These meadows are purportedly the inspiration for Narnia, and across from the Inn we saw a stone lion standing. I wonder if it appeared before or after the books. The walk and the area were just gorgeous. We decided to walk back across the meadow which was nice ...

... live and work. It overlooks the plains where the Civil War was fought and was built after the war in 1750. It had a lovely lounge in which we had a drink and then drove back and did our packing.







We walked around to the local for a drink by the fire and then ordered Thai food.

... rolls from a French patisserie for lunch. We got back to Stratford about 3 pm and read a book for a few hours. We went to the "Dirty Duck", a Black Swan pub for dinner. Had a great day – love walking the public footpaths and plan to do lots more in the future.

... back to the river. We went and did a brass rubbing for 7 pounds 50p ($17) of the Earl of Warwick from 1406. We were so cold when we got home that I had to put my feet on the central heating pipes for ages. Called Lavinia in London and arranged to have dinner Monday night. Went to the local for a drink and then home for Coq au Vin.

... br>








All the way home we looked for a bakery to buy some sausage rolls for lunch but couldn’t find any. We had a late lunch when we got home at 3.45 pm. Tonight for dinner we bought Indian from Tesco’s Supermarket and heated it up. Really no cooking and so nice.

... through the Armoury and Torture Chamber. In the Kingmaker section and Royal Weekend Party they had wax people showing two different eras in the history of the castle. They were both really interesting.






We went down to the Mill and Engine House on the River. The Mill was created 600 years ago to grind grain. In the 1900s ...

... Stow-on-the-Wold and saw the Royalist pub 976AD – oldest pub in England and then to Upper Slaughter and Lower Slaughter – 2 lovely little villages around a stream and then on to Broadway.










Went out to dinner at Margaret’s in the village of Radway. She lives in the old school house next to the church

... Mews. They have a lovely one bedroom upstairs apartment. Nathan and I sleep on a blow-up bed behind the map divider in the lounge. The map divider is great – wallpaper of the map of the world. Makes you want to explore the world. Had a dinner of Roast Chicken and veggies – all premade and just heated up. So yummy! In bed asleep by 8 pm UK time – 12 midnight Dubai time.