Category Archives: life

Pubs Pubs Pubs

The first six days in England we stayed at a pub, The Fox and Goose, there was a beautiful garden spot between the hotel and the pub.  This made life super simple at the beginning and the end of each day.

the garden at the Fox & Goose

the garden at the Fox & Goose

 

 

 

 

 

I already covered day one so let’s get on with day two, three, four, I lost count…

look a PUB

look a PUB

 

 

This one was near the Tower of London

 

The Sherlock Holmes Pub where I had Bangers and Mash!!! and BEER

The Sherlock Holmes Pub where I had Bangers and Mash!!! and BEER

 

The Sherlock Holmes was down an alley.

mmmmmm.....beer we did our best totry one of each

mmmmmm…..beer
we did our best to try one of each

 

 

 

 

 

We spent three days in Salisbury, a very picturesque place with lots of PUBS!!!

The Mill with a lovely river in front/back

The Mill with a lovely river in front/back

The Kings Head Inn, I think we'll head inn for a BEER

The Kings Head Inn, I think we’ll head inn for a BEER

the Lazy Cow, known for it's burgers and BEER!

the Lazy Cow, known for it’s burgers and BEER!

the Ox Row Inn, didn't know oxen could row!!

the Ox Row Inn, didn’t know oxen could row!!

Bill's a Pub with BEER!

Bill’s a Pub with BEER!

the New Inn looks pretty olde

the New Inn looks pretty olde

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Back to the big city of London which is like New York in that is is a collection of boroughs in a mega city.

A Friend at Hand

A Friend at Hand

"Friend at Hand Pub"

“Friend at Hand Pub”

 

Another Pub down an alley

A Friend at Hand indeed!

 

 

 

There was a dog on the sign,

We couldn’t resist.

The mysterious woman in blue is my traveling companion, Wendy.  She’s in charge of finding our way but she became a believer in my  ability to find a pub.

 

 

 

Merry olde England the pubs and pagans tour

DSC_5538

the Fox & Goose Pub/hotel

 

Just returned from Merry Olde England on the pubs and pagans tour.  We stayed at the Fox and Goose in Wembly , London for the first 6 days, we tried to get the most from our London passes,  I’m sure the travel card was worth it.  TRAVEL TIP  the tube has many flights of steps at every stop.  Get at least three maps of your destination(one could be wrong)  Better yet book a ride from the airport and just look for the guy with a sign of your name. Or hump your luggage in a brain dead state and ask every one along the way for a place they’ve never heard of.

the breakfast place

the breakfast place

the guys at the breakfast placeThe coffee shop up the hill

Full of good intel on what to see and when the soccer games were happening nearby.

 

We did the London Bridge Experience and built up a powerful thirst, this pub was under the bridge and a great place to ride out the ten minute storm.  The “Shard” was struck by lightning while we sipped in cozy comfort.

under the London Brodge

under the London Bridge

cozy seats

cozy seats

the bar

the bar

 

 

 

 

 

I went up top to discover that the London Bridge is NOT the Tower Bridge.

London Bridge with Brit

London Bridge with Brit

one view from London Bridge, a PUB!

one view from London Bridge, a PUB!

Tower Bridge from London Bridge somewhat down the Thames

Tower Bridge from London Bridge somewhat down river

 

 

 

 

 

So we had a long list of sights to see and ended up meandering through a market, sipping beverages and nibbling tapas.

 

entering the market

entering the market

 

so many things to see so little time

colorful booth

colorful booth

Stay tuned for day two!!

 

The Hungry Hordes are at the door

The winter of 2013-14 has been relentless.

The deer have annihilated my arborvitae and the HOLLY BUSHES, I mean, who eats those prickly things?  Hungry deer that’s who, come to think of it pine is one of their favorites, ick.  We have electric fencing but you can’t fence in everything.

four does

deer in the back yard

Turkeys have been spotted in the front yard, thanks to Xena who lit up like a christmas tree when she saw them working their way down the edge of the garden.DSC_4680

Blue Jays and Cardinals have been emptying the front porch cat dish.  I do keep five seed feeders full and two suet spots, I guess the birds prefer a meatier diet in the winter. DSC_4985

DSC_4989

 

 

 

DSC_4991

Larry does NOT find this funny!!!!

 

And the horses would love to see some green grass.  They are so stoic.

DSC_4995

SPRING BREAK

It was great good fun  to escape the great white north for a few days for the sunny warmth of Florida.  Eating, reading and relaxing along with staying hydrated were the only order of the day (naps optional).

Clearwater Beach

Clearwater Beach

We used a regional Airline, Allegiant, and flew nonstop from Huntington to Sanford. TRAVEL HINT; It’s almost impossible to lose luggage on a non stop flight.

After a nice visit with family it was off to the beach.  TRAVEL HINT; yes you can burn on a cloudy day under an umbrella on a WHITE sand beach.

DSC_5177

We stayed at a lovely little place a ten minute drive from the beach and I found it on the Tampa/St Pete visitor site. TRAVEL HINT; they had a whole page of nice places with NO website!!! so they weren’t listed on any of the broker pages.

Back in town still not thrilled with the weather but refreshed and ready to ROCK & ROLL!!DSC_5174