Very Berry Time.

A short walk up the hill from the Hotel to our son and daughter in law I come across beautiful berries in many gardens. It's that time of year and once I had noticed the first, they all were coming out to me. 

The berry on the cake was seeing the little superman who was nicely positioned on the wall ready to climb the last metre to them. 

Quintessentially English

We travelled down ever increasing narrow roads until the hedges reached high above us and there was only room for one car. We were wary of farmers making hay while the sun shone (literally) and moving their bales on the roads. One of us would have to reverse a long way. We relied on Google maps and it took us into the depths of the English countryside to the beautiful 14 Century house of some relatives of the Gilks family. A stunning setting, a wonderfully verdant garden full of butterflies and chestnut trees, hydrangeas and holly hocks and a wall of sweet peas. 

The purpose was purely social, connecting with some members of the family we had not seen in many years. A trip down memory lane- no pun intended- for Queen Nancy. The family were very welcoming and looked after us so well.The house was truly a treasure trove of antiques, fine china, and polished silver in handsome dressers, portraits of loved pets, wooden rafters, massive fireplaces, comfortable and cosy living rooms and nooks and crannies.  They showed us round the extensive grounds as well as the adjoining 11th Century Church, with original pews, which backed onto their property. 

A quintessentially English day with reminiscences, memorabilia and cups of tea. 

Charles Darwin was born here.

This is where Charles Darwin and Melissa were born - some centuries apart - and this is where we came to celebrate a wedding and explore the area. Shrewsbury has some similarities with Brisbane. It is also on a river, this one is called the Severn and there are beautiful paths by the river that you can stroll on. The River is just as loopy as the Brisbane river. This one almost encloses the city in a big circle. 

The city was founded by the Saxons and has a lot of old heritage buildings and castles, medieval and Tudor houses.The city was originally called Scrobbesbyrig and it was first mentioned in 901. It has as strange street names as Brisbane. The city has narrow lanes which criss cross the town centre. Gullet Passage and Grope Lane are two of them. 

Hanging baskets and inviting pubs on street corners 

 This is one of the houses which has barely a straight wall anywhere. It dates back to 1628.

 I loved the heavy door which almost looked like a fireplace with a mantelpiece.

 An elegant swan door knocker 

This is the entrance to Shrewsbury Girls School and where Melissa went to school. And the sign on the side is indicative of what they hope to achieve with their pupils. Melissa proves this every day.

Beautiful country side and a vibrant market town - much more the discover over many more visits. 

Big Boys celebrating love

On the sunniest of days in Shropshire looking out over hills Charles and Nancy make their way down the carefully manicured lawn of Mulberry House towards the wedding venue. At the bottom of the field, the pond where the wedding took place and over to the side the marquees where we danced the night away. We are here to celebrate the marriage of Tom and Tristan in the grounds of the Morris family's lovely home in Ryton.

The little island full of wild flowers in bloom which Pete Morris put together over the last few months complete with bridge of love !

Tom and Tristan with their celebrant the inimitable Mickey who did such a great job of marrying these two lovely young men.

 A lovely photo of Tristan and his mum. 

 Hugs all around 

 Granny and our gorgeous Melissa 

 George with his lit up crutches and the very able bodied and dancing Uncle Anthony in the background. 

 Slightly grainy one of the mum and son. 

The speeches, the details, the food, the landscape all done with the incredible love and generosity that characterises the Morris family. A family that we are so proud to belong to. 

Boys like you have never seen them before !

The Future is bright or at least literate. This was the scene opposite me on the Tube today. I took the photo with the kind permission of their carer.

Nimes

Exploring this little corner of France has been an absolute delight and has made me realise how little I know about this country.The lovely countryside, the rich chestnut forests, the delicious food and the artisanal shops. Not to mention the rich and varied history as a short visit to Nimes revealed.The magnificent Roman amphitheatre, built at the end of the first century CE,  where gladiators challenges and games took place, and which is still in use today.   Time for some more French adventures, just as the UK is pulling away ...

Le Pont de Montvert- a quaint french village.

The Knights Hospitaller lived here.

In the 17th century it remained a local centre of French protestants - also known as the Huguenots.

Pont-de-Montvert is a pleasant little village we strolled through, with traditional granite buildings and a central stone bridge over the Tarn River. A tall and once defensive tower now serves as the village clock.

Robert Louis Stevenson passed through Pont de Montvert and this is described in his book "Travels with a Donkey in the Cevennes" one of the first books apparently to present hiking and camping as recreational pastimes. There is now a "Route Stevenson" for hikers which takes them through the higher pastures. 

We picked up our fresh bread from the Boulangerie of the village where the queue extended out the shop and half way down the road. We bought a Pain au Chataigne and many types of local pate and chestnuts from the local shop.

The Mas Camargue

On a splendid sunny day we headed off in a green Landrover along windy mountain roads to the Mas Camargue Trail. An agricultural estate which prospered in the 17th century and which has a lot to show for it.  There was a Unesco Heritage Farmhouse and Mill carefully restored, which now serves as an accommodation centre for walkers. The whole area is criss crossed with paths for bikers, walkers and donkeys. They carry some of the luggage-(carefully restricted in terms of weight) and lead walkers on their route, knowing it like the back of their hooves. We crossed a stone bridge and the first thing we spotted were nettles with the most amazing iridescent bumble bees, the biggest I had ever seen, having an absolute feast on the nettle flowers. We stopped to gaze at Butterflies mating, crickets jumping out of our paths like a wave behind a boat, strange beetles and red spiders - a wealth of insect life before our very feet. 

The Farmhouse and Mill built with granite and roof tiles of local stone. 

 Bumble Bees buzzing around 

Some of the granite rocks and formations along the sentier. 

Through a beech wood where the carpet of copper coloured leaves scrunched underfoot and the light filtered through the canopy. People still harvest blueberries here. 

We walked along the Tarn river, the water directed to channels that were used to run the mills.  Then onto the hillsides of heather which were a pink and orange hue, standing out against the parched yellow grass of the meadows where the animals grazed in these higher pastures, against the swirls of clouds in the blue sky. 

Our last stop this crystal water pool with icy water, cold enough to take your breath away but so very refreshing after the walk. We picnicked on baguettes and cheese and made our way back to the house via a different route in the mountains stopping to take in the panorama that unfolded below us.