week 2, Calne & surrounds

Saturday 28th May
We decided to have a quiet day today. It is the start of the bank holiday weekend and the traffic will be horrible.  We have a few activities planned for next week, so the kids and I stayed in and got stuck into some school work to get a bit ahead of things. Aaron headed off to Bristol after breakfast as the BRP's should be available today and there are some cars he wants to look at.

Aaron returned at about 2pm, just as we were finishing lunch, biometrics in hand but no further along in the quest for a car.

Later in the afternoon we decided to burn off some energy and hike up onto the Cherhill Downs to see the white horse

and the Lansdowne Monument,

a rather bizarre and out of place stone obelisk built by someone with too much money to commemorate an ancestor. There is not a lot of information on the obelisk and it is unclear just what Sir William Petty did that required him to be immortalised on this spot.

We were almost like locals as we parked the car in a layby and set off up the hill on the round trip walk.

It was pleasant if a bit windy up on the Downs, though once we got around to the horse side of the hill there was not even a breeze.

An easy enough trek up the hill brought us to the obelisk and the remains of the Oldbury Castle Hill Fort. The kids had a great time climbing up and down the steep banks and ditches of the fort surrounds.

The obelisk is surrounded by a fence due to deterioration in the stone steps and lack of money to repair it to a safe standard, which detracts from the impression it would otherwise have on the landscape.

We walked along the hill ridge to the horse which enjoys a far reaching view across the valley,

before returning whence we had come, spotting a range of small wildlife on our way.

Sunday 29th May
Sunny morning prompted the circumspect wearing of shorts, but the air was still brisk. Today we are going across the Salisbury plain to see Old Sarum, where English Heritage are putting on a event about William the Conqueror.

Rufus was happy to be loaded into the car and we were out the door by about 9.30am. It's about a 46 minute drive and in Salisbury we stop for lunch supplies at the busy Waitrose.

The car park is already filling nicely when we arrive and we park in some nice smelly cow pats.  The wind was bracing on the side of the hill so it was on with jumpers and jackets before we even went in.

Handed over another small fortune to join English Heritage but it should be well worth while for the year.

As with other events we have been to, there is a camp set up near the entrance with tents, fires with huge cooking pots over them and plenty of people and children in period costume.

Old Sarum itself has not a lot to it, having been dismantled so the stones could be used for other buildings when the site was abandoned but there is enough information on the boards to help with the imagination. The double moat itself is impressive, but the best view to get an understanding of the site is clearly from the air so, courtesy of google, here it is.

Ground level from the inside doesn't really give the same effect.

We catch the end of the children's outlaw school which conveniently places the kids first in line for the archery school to follow.  This means we didn't have to wait around in line so were able to move on an explore the site.

  

When we returned from our explorations,

the King was gathering with his knights in the bailey ready to call his assembly to demand obedience from his English barons.

This was a very well done re-enactment, with the performers playing their roles but also narrated enthusiastically and informatively from the sidelines.

  

There was also a demonstration of arming a knight and later in the day a mock battle and firing of the perrier - a miniature, man powered trebuchet, which attempted to fire its weapons over the high walls and into the bailey.

We escaped the chilling winds and made up our ham and cheese baguette, followed by crisps and hobnobs inside the sheltering walls.

We wandered down to the site of the cathedral with its extensive views across the plain, and were back inside in time for the kids to do outlaw school, which again was informative and entertaining.

Remains of the Cathedral

Knights ready for battle

Drove home and discovered that the supermarkets close at 4pm on Sundays (which seems a little odd when they are all advertising that they are open 'til 7 on bank holiday Monday!) so it is a trip to the local Chinese takeaway (Mr Wong's) for takeaway, which turned out to be a good choice and may not be the last Chinese meal with have in Calne.


Bank Holiday Monday, 30th May

Tetbury WoolSack Races

Off today to enjoy one of Britains odd traditions, the wool sack races in Tetbury. The story goes that the races began in the 17th Century with young men showing off to young women. Today the tradition is continued by men and women, who enjoy a beer in the pub and then run up a hill carrying a 27kg of wool on their back.

Started the morning with a walk to the local rec ground with Rufus while the kids did their school stuff at home.  Lots of dog walking going on there and Rufus had a great time running about.  There is a street pool set up that looks worth a go.  Will have to come back the family and a ball.


We took the scenic route to Tetbury via Malmesbury. In the end we ignored the navigator altogether as it was really not clear where she was intent on taking us. Every day is an adventure with that woman!

Parked at the football ground and walked the 5 minutes into town.

The kids races were just underway as we arrived conveniently at the bottom of the track so we watched the enthusiastic youngsters race up the hill in relays.

The main races are not until the afternoon, so we climbed the hill  and wandered around the stalls at the top of town. Lots on offer, from carnival games to pinny's, sausages to biscuits.  Took a look through the church yard and never being able to resist, we bought a fresh baguette which we just tore up and munched as we went.

Further through the market we found a cheese stall, which prompted us to buy a wedge of brie and return to the bread stall for another baguette.  Lunch sorted!

There was a small carnival band Ilu Axe, (rather like our Samba Blistas) entertaining the crowd and then we made our way back to the hill where the races were underway.

 

A couple of records were broken and there were some entertaining characters...

Caught the last couple of races from the start line.

Our journey home was much quicker as we didn't worry about Navi woman and just followed the road signs.

Stopped at Sainsbury's for supplies and then took Rufus and the kids to the rec ground as I spotted a good playground there on my walk this morning, which kept them happy for an hour


Wednesday 1 June

First day of summer - wearing more clothes than we were when we left home less than 2 weeks ago.

It's the day we have our train trip booked to go up to London to collect our Trooping the Colour tickets. We also have the appointment booked to open a bank account, so Aaron draws the short straw and gets to stay home and do that, and continue looking at cars while the kids and I jaunt off to London.

Tickets are booked from Chippenham, the closest station, so we are up early and dropped off by 9am. It is pretty cold, so we shelter in the cafe while we wait, until our train arrives. It is pretty full and someone is sitting in our seat (the coveted table seat) but he happily moves and we settle in to get some maths out of the way while we travel.

Arriving at Paddington I buy and load up a couple of oyster cards, then we are on our way on the tube to Temple heading for Australia House on the strand. Easy to find not far from the station and with it's flag flapping madly in the breeze on top, the man inside has our tickets to hand and we are on our way in just a few minutes.

Outside it is starting to drizzle so it is on with the raincoats as we walk towards Buckingham Palace.

On the way we pass Trafalgar Square and stop to see what is up on the 4th plinth this time.  I'm not sure I like it, but it certainly looks less out of place than the blue rooster of 2014.

Take the obligatory Trafalgar Square photos just to show we've been there then we continue on to Horse Guards

 

Through to Horse Guards and more classic tourist shots, as we fight among the many groups of French school kids.

Seats are all in place for the Trooping, as well the Rifles concert that is on tonight.

Down the Mall to Buck house where we spend some time watching the guards and Holly counts up all the coins she can see on the ground just out of reach inside the fence.

The Royal mail van arrives, which I find more amusing than I probably should.

I wonder what it's like getting mail with your own picture on the stamp.  

the lock on the gate

By now I am hearing "I'm hungry" and we have eaten all the snacks we brought so we wander on and find a pasty shop near Victoria Station which is being well patronised by the local building crew, so we buy a pasty, sausage roll and slice of pizza and munch at the counter.

Back to Paddington 

to catch our train home.