Travelodge Milton Keynes (Old Stratford)

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.

... back of the shop. It was just totally amazing watching this doctor in action, he got these needles out, had a quick feel of the top of Johns head and in seconds he's jabbing these needles, seemingly randomly, but obviously not, into Johns head and face - John didn't flinch at all so I assumed he couldn't feel it and later he told me that he couldn't. He then had a couple placed strategically in his arms and his hands and then he just had to lay there for about 35 minutes ...

... I opened my eyes to see him standing in front of me with my fleece that I must have left in the baggage area when I was helping them un zip my bag. I am sure that at least 2 other passengers started choking when they saw me with the security team again but I was past caring and thanked the chap for taking the time to come and find me Another hour and we were finally herded on to the bus to take us to the plane, from my personal experience of travelling ...

... Earl of Leicester, transformed Kenilworth from a medieval fortress into one of the greatest Tudor palaces so he could entertain Queen Elizabeth I in style for 19 days in 1575, costing millions of pounds. The Keep was breeched during the Civil War in the 1600s. The Great Hall where they dined was huge. It was so cold ...

... and we laughed at how silly sheep are and how deep their 'baa’ is.

























We got back hungry and exhausted. All the tearooms were full of people so we bought some delicious ...

... ticket to London on the National Express Coach for 13 pound 50 for both of us. Got it heaps cheaper because booking 3 days in advance ($31). Went for a hot chocolate at Costa’s in a lovely Tudor building. Changed $200 Aus to 79 pounds, bought a vegetable pastie and then went through Shakespeare’s birthplace 9 pounds ($21). Lovely home from the 1500s ...

... br>





We had thought to bring spare shoes with us to change into but hadn’t thought about spare jeans. Nathan had mud up the inside of his legs past his knees and so we made him strip down to his undies to get into the car. My jeans were wet and muddy, at least the bottom 8 ...

... picked us up and we went food shopping for dinner. Had a piece of pork and egg pie. Stephen cooked us duck with orange sauce and veggies. We put the dinner on and walked around to his local "The West End" and sat by the fire and had a drink. After our delicious dinner we watched a DVD – “Nanny McPhee” which was fun.

... 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

... to the natural science museum, where there were innumerable stuffed animals. My favorite was the life-size ostrich. Three nights ago we had a dance with a live jazz band; I was excited that so many people in England like jazz and I enjoyed the dancing. I also tried the most popular restaurant meal in England, chicken tikka masala, and it was quite good. The activity that made the biggest impression on me was the formal college dinner, which is what the Harry Potter ...