Ben and Jane, trip to England 2018, Day 12

Marie was off work for our whole second week in England.  We had a nice lazy week, getting up later than usual and drinking coffee leisurely.  The cats were always around and of course want to be close to Ben!!!!

We went to Bradgate Park as Marie said she doesn't get a chance to go there too often and I am always happy to go there

Marie practicing her pose!!!!

Ben and Marie

Chair at the Visitor Center

Deer

Ruins....

Ben and Jane trip to England 2018, Day 11

We took a trip down to the Cotswolds to see Tom and Georgie on Sunday. It was back to typical English weather, much cooler and rainy that day. Ben loves that kind of weather!!!!  We stopped to have lunch in a lovely little tea room.  Marie and Ben got tea

 Ben and Mar at Bourton on the Water

 One of the bridges

 Craft fair at the Town Center, there are craft fairs everywhere!!!!

 The Old New Inn at Bourton on the Water

Ben and Jane Trip to England 2018, Day 10

Marie and I were bridesmaids for Marie Briers about 50 years ago!!!!  Recently, Marie has been in touch with Marie and so we went to see her in Stamford.  This is Ben and Marie sitting outside a remnant of Stamford Castle, a Normal Castle built around 1075.

Marie is trying to do her best Ben look!!!!

Hospital of William Brown, from 1485

St. John's church 

Ben, Marie and me!!!!  We had a lovely visit with Marie.  She was selling her house and moving down to Devon, so we were very lucky that we got to see her

Ben and Jane trip to England 2018, Day 9

Ben had gone to Oxford on his school trip and he said it was probably his favourite city.  So, I told him we had to go to Cambridge so that he could experience both of the great university towns.  I think that Oxford and Cambridge are so different.  Oxford is crammed into the heart of a large city, whereas Cambridge is more spread out and quieter.  Of course, all of that has changed significantly since I was last there. 
I feel like I've turned into a grumpy old woman with my "things aren't like they used to be" attitude, but I can honestly say that tourism has really taken off all over England and things are definitely not like they were when I was much younger.  Every generation says the same thing, but I could not help but be disappointed when I took Ben to see some things. 
Cambridge has really expanded.  You used to be able to wander into all the college courts and wander around as long as you were not disruptive.  Now you have to pay to go in everywhere and there are guards at all the colleges who can be downright rude. 
Even so, we had a great day just wandering around and taking in the history.  We did not pay to go into any of the grounds, but we really didn't need to

Kings college

We climbed the Tower at St Mary's church so that we could see Kings college

Henry VIII

Kings college from the ground

College door

Just a random beautiful building

Sleepy river Cam, complete with punter!!!!

Kings college from the river

Holy Sepulchre Church, built in 1130

Window detail

Ben and Jane England trip 2018, Day 7

I wanted Ben to see Warwick Castle while we were in England. It was my favourite place to visit for a long time, but I was a little disappointed when we went.  It has turned into a bit of a fun park-with a large family destination tacked onto it.  It was almost like Disneyland with its attractions, food stalls etc.  Honestly, it is good enough with its original structure and all the history associated with it.  I was so disappointed when we got there and was quite shocked at the entrance fee they charge now.  Still, we had driven for over an hour to get there and I really did still want Ben to see it, so I persuaded him that it really would be worth it to go inside.  This is the entrance to the castle

Views from the ramparts

Ben on the rampart

Arrow hole in castle wall

View of Warwick from the castle wall

River Avon

Ben on the wall

Looking down into the entrance

Thistles in the gardens

Window detail

Down by the river Avon

 Eastgate

 Lord Leycester Hospital

Ben and Jane Trip to England 2018, Day 6

Bradgate Park will always be one of my favourite places EVER!!!!  I know a lot of it is because it's close to my home, but in addition I always feel such a sense of peace, release and joy when I am there
The deer seem to be closer than I remember them being when I was younger.  While this is a good thing for people to be able to see them up close, it's not good for the deer themselves.  They are starting to rely on food that people give them and the park had to euthanize one recently because he was emaciated and it turned out he had a bunch of plastic bags impacting his gut.  We saw people feeding them when we were there and the rangers came and moved the deer on

 The ruins were not open when we were there this year.  It was a pity because Ben couldn't see them.  They've been open the past several time I had been, I must have just been lucky

 I love taking pictures where you can get the reflection in the water.  It always seems like it comes out better when you take a picture than when you are looking at it directly. 

 The old trees are the best!!!!

 We had lunch at our favourite cafe.  The food has turned into US-sized portions!!!  I had this massive prawn cocktail panini....

 And Ben had enough bacon on his BLT to feed a whole family!!!!  They couldn't even get it all in the sandwich!!!!

 All Saints' Church in Newtown Linford dates back to the 17th Century

 After we had lunch, we drove up to Old John, a folly that was built in 1784 (or thereabouts!!).  I hadn't been up there since I was about Ben's age!!!!  He may be 17, but he can still relax enough to run around on the hills and enjoy it!!!!

 We spent the day with Teresa.  Ben absolutely loves her.  We have been friends since we were 7 and went through school and the tech college together.  We don't keep in touch much, but when we see each other, it's like we've never been apart.  She really is like a sister to me

 View from Old John-Leicestershire!!!!