Friday, 6 December 2013

St Albans

This morning Mike dropped us in St Albans. Where he stopped there was a stand/machine all lit up that you can park next to to recharge your electric car!
Very cold today. We wished we had put on our thermals – beanies and gloves weren’t quite enough. Big winter storms in Scotland & Ireland but not in the south.
Really liked St Albans – great buildings and spent most of the time in the Cathedral. 2 guides approached us and gave us a good history of the building, one nearly but stopped himself, admitting that most cathedrals had their saints buried there (with the “odd bone” as proof of course) to encourage pilgrims to come from miles to pay homage and offer donations to get them to heaven – nice little earner!!I wanted to ask him if he knew if the earth energy lines intersected at the original alter or if we could get our diving rods out to check for ourselves! On some of the stone pillars we couldn't believe there was Graffiti some dating back to before the 1500ad. As we were leaving a large group of school children started to practise Christmas carols which was Fantastic.
Walked miles to one railway station to get back to Harpenden but realised it was the wrong one so then had to walk along way back to find the right one. Very cold by the time we got there and raining! Couldn’t believe a 5 minute trip on the train cost £3.75 ($7.00) each one way! Met on the platform “Jolly James” the controller who is an ex Butler – very well spoken who makes wonderful announcements (despite the awful conditions and late trains) things like “The train from London is 5 mins late but has passed Radlet and is coming as quick as it possibly can, so I must apologise to you wonderful people who are standing here in the cold just wanting to get home to your cosy houses) you probably have to be there to appreciate it but we think he’s getting a bit of a reputation. So positive and friendly in his role – a real character! Must say people have been friendly – maybe because we are.
Must admit both of us have said we can’t believe we actually lived in England, but we are really enjoying it.
Finally got back into Harpenden and of course had to further out research by calling in The Harpenden Arms for a pint of London Pride on the walk back to Mike & Liz’s. You will all be pleased to know Emma is nearly recovered from her illness.
Something we did hear today was that Luton (Jo was born there) was recently voted 2nd ugliest town in the UK and 1st was Hemel Hempstead (I lived there)!
Had a lovely Skype with Mike & Liz’s middle daughter Hannah who is in Wales at Uni.

I think a few tears tomorrow as a couple of big reunions have been planned.
















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