Today is officially the last day of our trip to Europe. Can you believe we have passed a full six weeks in Europe??
We visited St. Paul’s, The Tower of London, Tower Bridge, and the Globe Theatre today. I shared the photos in the previous post. They were all cool. However, at this point another cathedral and I will injure myself. Sir Christopher Wren did a great job on the inside, but the outside seems to be lacking some. Perhaps it is years of paint and wear. Perhaps it is war. The interior was amazing.
A couple of thoughts to wrap it up.
Amanda figured out that in the ‘To Let’ signs around Europe, meaning ‘For Rent’, if you put in an ‘i’ it becomes ‘ToiLet’. We wanted to get up and alter one or two of them, but we did not.
Secondly, on my second to last day, I was the target of a pigeon. On the front stairs of St. Martin in the Fields, I sat pondering life when a large drop fell on my right knee. I thought it was some water until I realized it was warm. Looking over, I saw the signs of whiteness indicating a deposit by some bird. It was a laugh, some disappointment, and disgust. Reminded me of the seagulls leaving a deposit in the Roman Baths in Bath.
Alas, I am humming along with John Denver about leaving on a jet plane.
Yesterday was Westminister Abbey, Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, and more. We went to see Wicked at the Victoria Apollo and we both really enjoyed it.
London Eye
Paul Ross with Palace of Westminster and Clock Tower with Big Ben
Amanda Ross and Clock Tower, now Elizabeth Tower
Westminster
Oliver Cromwell and flag showing parliament was in session
Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey north door entrance with rose window
Victoria Memorial at Buckingham
Buckingham Palace
Buckingham front gates
Admiralty Arch
Trafalgar Square
Paul Ross at St Paul’s Cathedral
Classic Double Decker bus
St Paul’s Cathedral
Temple Bar
Royal Courts of Justice
Amanda Ross with one of the lions at Nelson’s Column in Trafalgar Square
Piccadilly Circus – London
Amanda at Apollo Victoria for Wicked
Tower Bridge – London
Tower Bridge
London Tower
Guard at London Tower
Tower Bridge and Paul Ross
College of Arms
Globe Theater
Sunday we went to Hampton Court Palace. It was a very fast tour, but we made it through the entire house.
Jeppesen gave us a good laugh pulling out bangers and beans s/balls
The rest of the time was enjoyed with the Jeppesen Family.
Hampton Court Palace Fountain Court
Hampton Court staircase
Paul Ross ascending the Hampton Court King’s staircase
We have arrived in Weybridge, England. We are staying with a family we knew in Richmond, Virginia; the Jeppesen family. Weybridge is not far from London and this will be our home grounds while we are visiting the London area. We certainly appreciate their hospitality.
Milton Abbas thatched roof homes
Today we have been busy. We spent the morning with the Wise family and saying our farewell. They really spoiled us while we were there. A full English dinner last night. I will tell you what! What a treat!
Yesterday we visited Longleat, which is a living manor house. Quite the treat. It has been there since Elizabethan times. They even have the shirt Charles II was executed in. That was interesting. The Lord of Bath lives there at present.
Longleat
Amanda and Paul Ross at Longleat
Amanda and Paul Ross at Stonehenge
Stonehenge
We made a trip to Poole and Bournemouth, both of which were interesting. We would have spent more time but Amanda left her purse at a McDonald’s which required backtracking some. It was luckily turned in and we breathed a sigh of relief.
Paul and Amanda Ross, Cynthia and Peter Wise
Later in the evening Jennie took Amanda down to Weymouth and Portland while Cynthia and I went through family history. We are definitely cousins through Edward Harris and his wife. We are very likely related through my Willett line, but we were not able to show the connection. She doesn’t have her line far enough back to connect to where I have individuals. But by all accounts, the families definitely link, making us double cousins!
Amanda at Portland Bill Lighthouse
Dorset Coast from Portland Bill
Today was much more of a Jane Austen day. We visited Winchester Cathedral where she is buried. But it has a fascinating history all its own. It was falling down and it required divers to correct the foundations. How is that for interesting? The whole time, I could not help but sing the song.
Winchester Cathedral
Winchester
Winchester Cathedral
Impressive interior of Winchester
Jane Austin’s grave in Winchester Cathedral
Winchester Cathedral crypt
Winchester crypt
Winchester’s medieval tiles
Winchester altar
Winchester Cathedral ceilings
Winchester ceiling
Winchester ceiling
Paul Ross at Winchester Cathedral
Amanda Ross at Winchester Cathedral
We also visited the Jane Austen home in Chawton where she lived for many years.
Jane Austin writing table in Chawton
Jane Austin’s home in Chawton
Jane Austin home
Jane Austin’s Chawton
Thatched roof home in Chawton
We now find ourselves in Weybridge for the next few days. The London Temple is of course closed while we are here. But we are looking at visiting London while we are here.
Tonight we write from the deep countryside of Dorset. We are staying in the little village of Milton Abbas with a cousin’s cousin. We are both related to the Coley and Harris lines in Halesowen, England. Peter and Cynthia Wise have taken us in a day earlier due to the fact we are not going to Merthyr-Tydfil, Wales now. We will be with them two days.
Amanda with Robin Hood statue near Nottingham
Nottingham Castle
A Robin Hood shrubbery at Nottingham Castle
Nottingham Town Center
Nottingham Council House
Yesterday went terribly wrong. We left a little late from Walkden, got stuck in a traffic queue for 1.5 hours in Stockport meaning we had to drop our visit to Chatsworth House. Then we decided we better drop Mattersey and Misson on my Sharp family line to at least make Sudsbury Hall. We then found out the M1 was closed with miles of traffic queue so we had to take side roads to Nottingham. There we saw the Robin Hood sites and made our way to Sudsbury for their manor house. Well, all the side roads were occupied with motorway traffic so we were delayed, we got lost, and in the end missed the last time to get into the home. We got pictures with the house but Amanda was devastated we didn’t get in.
Amanda Ross at Sudbury Hall
Sudbury Hall rear
In defeat, we made our way to Hagley, near Halesowen, near Birmingham last night. We checked into our little hotel and ran into Halesowen where we found the church of St. John the Baptism. Interestingly, as we wandered the cemetery, we found loads of Coley, Willett, and Harris tombstones. Many were modern, but there were a few in which I am sure they are cousins I have in my family history file. That made it worth it. The other deceased I will have to do some research on to trace them back to the family and connect them in. Hopefully I can find another person who has done research on some of the same lines and can help me with my research. We shall see.
St John’s in Halesowen
Today we toured Romsley, Hayley Green, and Bromsgrove near Halesowen, more sites of Coley ancestry. We wandered and took more pictures in St. Kenelm’s church. There were more Coleys and Willetts found there. I was pretty excited. None as old as in the Halesowen church, but you never know.
Tombstone of John Crumpton (1817-1869) my first cousin six times removed
We hopped on the Motorway and went through Worcester, Gloucester, and finally to Bath. There we saw the Royal Crescent, some of the Victoria Gardens, and the Roman Baths. It is a beautiful city. We enjoyed ourselves. From there we wandered to Milton Abbas way out in the countryside. We drove several miles through one car-width lanes to this village.
Bath Royal Crescent
Jane Austin Center
Bath Roman Baths
Looking down to the Roman Baths
Roman floor at Bath
Bath Abbey
Amanda Ross in Bath
We are still figuring out what we will do tomorrow. At any rate, it should be fun.
Today Amanda and I ran away for a quick visit to Manchester. There was not much on the agenda. We stopped in Gee Cross and visited Claire Martinez, mostly unannounced while she was cooking.
Claire Martinez and Paul Ross
We visited the Arndale Shopping Center, Manchester Cathedral, Manchester Town Hall, Old Trafford (Manchester United football grounds), Market Street, and the Trafford Centre (glorified shopping mall). Amanda was able to pick up her British copy of the first Harry Potter book.
Manchester City Hall and Albert Monument
Inside Manchester Cathedral
Old Trafford, home of Manchester United
Trafford Park Mall
Staircase in Trafford Park
Amanda Ross at Waterstones in Trafford Park
This evening, the Gore’s organized a bit of a get together for some of the members of the Eccles (now Swinton) Ward. It was very, very kind of them to do this for us. There were several families who came and it was wonderful to catch up with them. Leslie Walsh, Bob and Joan Wood, Alan and Margaret Griffin, Vincenzo and Dawn Santi, Alex and Gloria Brown with their son Nathan, and the Gores. They all had such wonderful things to say to us, about me, and it was great to catch up with them.
Margaret Griffin, Paul and Amanda Ross, Alan Griffin
Dawn Santi, Paul and Amanda Ross, and Vincenzo Santi
Joan Wood, Paul and Amanda Ross, Rob Wood
Amanda Ross, Leslie Walsh, Paul Ross
Kevin and Jean Gore treated us to a pub dinner this evening. It was really good food. They also treated us to a roast duck dinner last night. Each family has treated us very well, and provided great meals. We certainly appreciate their generosity.
Tomorrow we head to Birmingham, the day after to Milton Abbas. Don’t know when I will be able to get back on.
Just a quick and short update. I uploaded photos from Scotland this morning. I hope you find them interesting. We will see how many more photos it will let me upload for the month.
We are now staying with the Gore family in Walkden. We arrived later than anticipated after a day of visiting in Runcorn. We attended church in the Runcorn Ward at the local community center since their building burned down a while back. It was good to see so many people and that we received such a hearty welcome. We did go visit a number of families while there. A couple of which include the Campbell (and Young), Fleming, McWilliam, Johnson, Byrom and more. A couple of families were not home so we did not visit with them. It was sure good to be back in Runcorn, despite the fact that you have to drive around in circles to get anywhere you want to go. Busways might be spectacular, but at the sacrifice of the drivers!
Wall at Halton Castle
Saturday we made another trip into Liverpool. The only thing really to mention is that we got lost and had lunch with Gheorghe and Claire Simion family. Gheorghe was one of my mission companions. We spent nearly four hours with him and his good wife. It was convenient he lives in Liverpool now as he was originally from Romania. It was a great meeting.
Amanda and Paul Ross with Gheorghe and Claire Simion in Liverpool
We are off to Hyde and Disley today. Here are a few photos of our visit of this somewhat storybook place.
First, Happy Birthday Dad. As always, I am sure you will have all the neighbors celebrating with fireworks. Happy Birthday Jan, I know it was a week ago, but I am still thinking of you. Happy Birthday America. May all of you live long!
Yesterday and today we were off visiting several castles of Northern Wales. They are all built under the direction of Edward I in the late 1200’s. If Amanda wasn’t sick of castles yet, hopefully we have advanced her towards such a state.
Yesterday we visited Conwy and Beaumaris castles. There isn’t really any way for us to describe it rather than show you the photos. Which we will have to upload.
Driving to Conwy
Conwy bridge detail
Amanda approaching Conwy
Conwy yard
Across a tower
Fireplaces looking down into a Conwy tower
Conwy Harbour from Conwy Castle
Layers of Conwy Castle
Conwy from Conwy Castle
Conwy
More layers on Conwy
Archway at Conwy
So many interpretations of these signs
Amanda Ross in the rain on a tower of Conwy Castle
Down the bridge of Conwy Castle
Paul Ross at Conwy Castle
Paul Ross with layers at Conwy Castle, look at the fireplace and holes for floor joists
From Conwy we drove to Beaumaris Castle. We had to cross the Menai Suspension Bridge to get to Anglesey.
Menai Suspension Bridge
Beaumaris bridge crossing the moat
Beaumaris moat
Paul Ross at Beaumaris Castle
Amanda Ross at Beaumaris Castle
Peeking out a window
Walking between walls at Beaumaris
Beaumaris grass
Beaumaris gate
Beaumaris door
Beaumaris Yard
Beaumaris yard from wall with Amanda Ross
Forbidden stairs at Beaumaris Castle
Amanda and Paul Ross at Beaumaris Castle
Menai Strait from Beaumaris Castle
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Beaumaris Wall
Paul Ross reading up about Beaumaris Castle
Beaumaris Moat
Today we drove straight out to Caernarfon Castle and it took about 4 hours to work our way through it. We ran into a lady named Gaby, and found out she was going to take a bus to Harlech after Caernarfon. We invited her to go with us to Harlech.
Murder holes at Caernarfon
Caernarfon Wall
Amanda Ross in Caernarfon hall
Paul Ross going down Caernarfon stairs
Caernarfon towers and Welsh flags
Paul Ross at Caernarfon Castle wall
Location of Charles Investiture in 1969 at Caernarfon as Prince of Wales
Amanda at Caernarfon with Welsh flags flying
Caernarfon towers and waterway
Looking inside one of the Caernarfon towers
Caernarfon and mountains behind
Amanda Ross and interior of Caernarfon Castle
Looking to Irish Sea from Caernarfon
Paul Ross on Caernarfon wall
Paul Ross on Caernarfon tower
Caernarfon walls
We all drove to Harlech when we finished Caernarfon. It was another beautiful castle situated high above an estuary. We spent a couple of hours there and then cut through Northern Wales. She was going to take the train back to Chester so we volunteered to drop her off. She effectively became our gate opener and closer as we drove through pasture after pasture in Wales. It was beautiful!
Harlech Castle on the hill
Paul Ross and Harlech entrance
Harlech looking toward Irish Sea
Amanda and Paul Ross on Harlech wall
Amanda Ross on Harlech wall
Signs say so much more than words
Paul Ross climbing Harlech wall stairs
Harlech wall to Irish Sea
Harlech interior wall and Welsh flag
Harlech interior
Amanda Ross at Harlech
Do not try to ascend these Harlech stairs!
Beautiful Harlech
We finally made it back to a main path near Pentre Gwynfryn and cut back down to a main road. We took a turn at Penrhyndeudraeth and headed inland. We went right through the Welsh Mountains and it was beautiful.
Welsh mountainside
Welsh rock wall and flowers
Welsh rock bridge
Welsh stream
We had lunch at Blaenau Ffestiniog. We haven’t a clue how to say it but I did get a fairly descent donner kebab. We also drove through Mold. We definitely have to mention that one! We dropped off our new friend, Gaby, in Chester and came home.
River Mersey from Frodsham Hill
Liverpool skyline in the distance from Frodsham Hill, you can make out both cathedrals and other landmarks of the Liverpool skyline
Last night we went to visit some more friends who I knew as a missionary. As a credit, they all remembered my name even though we almost 10 years on. One of which was a man we baptized, Adam Dawson. Dawn’s parents, Ray and Joan Holmes, I have written of previously.
Dawn and Adam Dawson, Paul and Amanda Ross at their home in Runcorn
Some of you have already noticed, but I uploaded a whole lot of photos yesterday.
Fountain at Chester Cathedral
About 250 actually were in the batch. It includes the rest of the photos from Germany, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, and France. I did not upload any photos from Scotland or England. They will have to wait for the next chance I get.
We are now staying with the Byrom family in Runcorn, England. Today we went to Chester and walked the walls.
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Paul Ross with Chester wall clock
We went through the cathedral and went down the main shopping streets. It was a beautiful day for what we were doing. We quite enjoyed ourselves. We each had a pasty and a vanilla finger. She liked it but it was too much.
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River Dee from Chester Wall
Chester Cathedral
Chester Cathedral
Amanda Ross at Chester Cathedral
We stopped by Ellesmere Port on the way home at a outlet mall. We picked out a couple of suits and bought them. However, we were not convinced we had the best deal, we took them back. Interestingly, on the way out, we stumbled upon another store. I found better quality suits that were on sale for almost half of the cost for the other two suits. Hands down, Amanda and I both liked the second store over the first. Now I have some new suits, one of the reasons I wanted to come back to Europe.
Homes in Chester, outhouses, plumbing, from Chester Wall
We had dinner this evening, some amazing lasagna. Rose has always made great lasagna. Afterward, Rose, Amanda, and I went to visit an older lady I taught on the mission. She was such a sweet soul and she proved to be the same. We have all aged, but the sociality has not diminished or changed with time. I think Amanda quite enjoyed Jane Young and her quaint little home in the English countryside.
Rose Byrom, Jane Young, Paul and Amanda Ross
Yesterday, we had dinner with Jack and Brenda Millington from Howe Bridge. Jack used to cook us as missionaries some wonderful homemade pot pies. Visiting with him on Sunday, he offered to make me and Amanda one. We agreed and met with them yesterday. The pot pie was as wonderful as ever, boiled cabbage, and homemade trifle. We really had some good laughs. Jack even sent us off with a couple of parting gifts.
Amanda and Paul Ross with Byrom Brothers, John on the right, their family in front
There are so many people that nearly 10 years have changed nothing. We don’t always remember each other’s names, but the feelings are still the same. Memories seem to come back quickly, surprisingly. What will heaven be like?
Sagacity 