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MAY 20, 1999 DEPARTURE FROM NORTH BAY,
ONTARIO, CANADA
I arrived at Toronto
Airport and met my sister Pat there. (She is from Sarnia,
Ontario, Canada). Our DC10 flight left at 8:10pm and the
ride over was very turbulent and rough. Our dinner was
finally served at 11pm because of the rough weather. The
seats we had were in the "bulkhead" and directly in front
of the movie screen. Never take any of the C, D, E, F,
or G seats as your knees hit the wall and the movie screen
flashes in your eyes all the time. We were VERY uncomfortable
and as the plane was full, we could not change seats.
FRIDAY, MAY 21, 1999 LONDON, UK
We arrived in London
at 7:34am. After customs (which is really quick and fast)
we caught the "Flight Link" bus to Coventry. It was really
easy to get. Better way - which was far better than having
anyone pick us up at Heathrow. Bus cost £19 and we
caught it right outside the terminal. The bus was a double
decker and really comfortable. It stopped at Banbury for
a 'comfort stop' and that 'comfort' cost 20P. My friend
Katie's husband, Nuri, picked us up downtown in Coventry.
My sister Pat was ill and my friend Katie phoned the doctor
at 8pm and the Doctor arrived at her home 10pm. The British
National Health system is really efficient. Even though
Pat was ill and couldn't eat, Nuri cooked me some delicious
food. The weather was very cold and we froze. I also met
Katie's daughter Simone (26) who lives with them. 
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SATURDAY, MAY 22/99 COVENTRY, UK
The weather was sunny
but cold. Katie drove us to the chemists for Pat's pills.
Pat is a lot better today. We then drove to Wellesborm
Outdoor Market. Had a great time at this huge market.
There were tons of people about and we had fun looking
at everyone and everything. Katie cooked a wonderful dinner
and Dionne her second daughter came over at night. Very
full and fun day.
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SUNDAY, MAY23/99 COVENTRY, UK
Early in the morning
Pat and I went for a walk just up the road and discovered
this old farm that had cobbled stones in the courtyard
and stables. The owner, Mrs. Edwards, came out and greeted
us and invited Pat and I in. She kindly showed us around
her home and vegetable gardens. The house was built in
the mid-1700's and was very interesting to view. We saw
some canal barges in a canal next to the farm. In the
afternoon, with Katie, we went in her car to Coombe Abbey
and toured all about. Then Katie drove us all around Warwickshire
into some beautiful country villages and lanes. Went to
Easenham and other small villages. Really glad Katie was
familiar with the countryside because if Pat and I were
in a rented car we would never have discovered these lovely
villages. Had Indian Curry for dinner and it was wonderful.
Afterwards we planted Katie's flowers that we had bought
at a garden centre. Pat and I bought her a rose plant
which we also planted. The weather was cold but sunny.
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Canal
Barge in Coventry.
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Monkey Tree in Coventry.
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Thatch in Warwickshire. Thatch is very
expensive and most English people do not live in a 'thatch'.
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Thatch with bird wireframe on roof. Easenhall,
Warwickshire.
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Victorian House in Easenhall, Warwickshire.
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Tudor thatch, Warwickshire.
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Terraced Homes in Coventry. This is the
type of home that most people who live in the Midlands
and North of England reside in.
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MONDAY, MAY 24/99 LEICESTER, UK
Weather - sunny/showers
High 18°C. Nuri drove us to the Regency Hotel in
Leicester at 9 am. The newly created "round-about" in
the city centre is a nightmare. Nuri was concentrating
very hard on finding the road that led us to the hotel
and we just kept going round in circles. Pat was so caught
up in her memories of Leicester that she said, "Round
about here………". Nuri (who was driving) spun towards me
and said, "Roundabout, which roundabout? Where is it?"
Needless to say I wished I could of put a sock in Pat's
memories. We finally found the exit off the roundabout
and arrived at the Regency Hotel. It is a lovely Victorian
hotel. Small but very clean. That day we walked to the
City Centre 1½ miles away and looked at the Clock
Tower, the Market, and the City Hall (they exchanged a
New Liskeard pin for a Leicester one with me). We looked
at all the old buildings. We were really tired from all
the walking so we picked up Fish N' Chips (Pat had traditional
yukky 'mushy peas' on top of her chips!). Hopped on bus
back to Regency Hotel by 4:30 pm. Room very tiny with
only a shower but clean and comfortable.
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Valerie
in front of Regency Hotel, Leicester
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Pat at
Clock Tower, Leicester
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Grand
Hotel, Leicester
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TUESDAY, MAY 25/99 REGENCY HOTEL, LEICESTER,
UK
Woke up at 5 am. Very
hot weather. Had the best British Breaky in the hotel!!!!
Tons of food available - fried bread, fried blood pudding,
sausages, back bacon, potatoe patties, scrambled eggs,
toast and jam, fruit, cereal, yoghurt. Loved it all. Caught
bus outside hotel to Jewry Wall which is the largest Roman
Civil building to survive in Britain. We explored the
Roman excavations there. Adjoining the ruins is St. Nicholas
Church which dates back to Anglo-Saxon times. The Church
retains examples of Saxon work and re-used Roman bricks
can be clearly seen in the walls and the tower. Across
the road were the Castle Gardens and Castle Motte. This
Motte is a high man-made mound built by a Norman lord
around 1070. The walk under and through the Turret Gateway
left one in awe. This gate was a southern gate to the
Castle and was constructed in 1423. Then on to Newarke
Houses Museum. It is a really great social history Museum
with reconstructed old-fashioned Victorian streets complete
with cobbled roads and old storefronts. Behind the Museum
is a peaceful and pretty garden. We saw lots of old buildings
and shopped till we dropped. The local outdoor market
is full of energy, colour, and life. The salesfolk were
all very friendly and made us laugh a lot. Weather was
very hot and sunny. Returned to the Regency Hotel and
sat outside in shorts in the sunshine. Tired out and feet
sore. Great day.
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Roman Jewry Wall, 86 AD, Leicester
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Turret Gateway, Leicester
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Pat in Gardens behind Museum, Leicester
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Valerie on Cobbled Street, Newarke Museum,
Leicester
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City Hall, Leicester
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New Walk
Museum, Leicester
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WEDNESDAY, MAY 26/99 REGENCY HOTEL,
LEICESTER, UK
Weather cloudy, temp
17°C. Caught bus to market and bought souvenirs all
over the Centre. Toured Fish market and bought fresh Crab,
large Scampi Prawns, Mussels, Cockles, and Cream Cakes.
The fishmonger kept our seafood in a refrigerator for
later pickup. We toured the Guildhall, which was built
around 1390 for the newly organised Guilds. This building
was also used as the Town Hall. Next was the Cathedral
of St. Martin's which dates back to 1086 and later became
the Cathedral of Leicester in 1927. Shopped all over again
and cashed travellers cheques. Pat played arcade games
(slot machines) and won £2. Ate cakes on a bench
for lunch. Went through market about 10 times! Walked
down "New Walk" which is lined with trees and very pretty
and took in the New Walk Museum. Lovely art galleries.
Back in room at 4 pm and beat. Fabulous and fun day. I
dearly recommend when visiting England to visit Leicester
as there is so much to see in a historical and social
sense - and it is all within walking distance of the City
Centre and all free.
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Guildhall, Leicester
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Leicester Cathedral
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Shops in Leicester.
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Cream Cakes, Leicester
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Valerie and seafood, Leic.
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THURSDAY, MAY 27/99 AUNT JEANS, THURMASTON
Weather hot and sunny.
Took taxi to Aunt Jeans (£7.90). Wonderful to see
her and she was so happy to see us. Her house and flower
gardens are beautiful. Got some laundry done and hung
out. We sat in our shorts out in the garden in the hot
sun and got sunburnt. Jean cooked a lovely meal and then
our cousin Alan and his lady-friend came over in the evening.
Great day. The
Milkman at my Aunt Jean's.
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FRIDAY, MAY 28/99 AUNT JEANS, THURMASTON
Weather is hot and sunny.
Shorts weather. Caught bus with Pat and Jean to grocery
centre. Bought all food for family gathering. Bought Jean
an Azalea bush for her garden. In the evening our cousin
Jennifer and family picked us up in a mini-bus and took
us to a restaurant/pub called "Hobby Horse" in Syston,
Leicestershire for dinner. Had Fish N' Chips. Great lively
large pub with all people standing, walking, and chatting
about. So different from our quiet restaurants. Food cost
on the average £8 each.  Valerie,
Jennifer, Alf and Michelle in the "Hobby Horse" Pub.
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SATURDAY, MAY 29/99 AUNT JEANS, THURMASTON
HOT, HOT and sunny. Went
with Jean's next door neighbour Rod for doggie walk to
Birstall along the "Watermead Walkway". This Walkway is
in the countryside and meanders along the canal paths
originally used by horses to pull the barges. Saw lots
of wildlife. Back at Jeans made the food for the party.
The sun was out full and very hot so we had a 'Garden
Party". All of our relatives and old friends appeared
and we all had so much to talk over and everyone knew
each other. We all laughed and reminisced. Ate loads of
food. At 5:30 it rained so all came indoors. All left
by 7:30. It was a happy wonderful day.
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Fishing, English style, on the
Canal in "Watermead Walkway", Thurmaston.
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Relatives in Leicester
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Relatives
in Leicester
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Relatives in Leicester
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SUNDAY, MAY 30/99 AUNT JEANS, THURMASTON
Very cold and windy.
Pat and I, in early morning, walked around village of
Thurmaston. We went around the old church of St. Michael's
and read tombstones. It is a very old church and the roof
was being re-slated. We froze and had our heavy coat hoods
on. At 2pm took Jean to Pub in village called "Harrow".
Lovely meal of lamb. Then went back to Jeans and watched
telly. Had BBCue chicken for dinner.  St.
Micheal's Church, Thurmaston.
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MONDAY, MAY 31/99 LONDON, UK
Weather was warmer. At
7am took cab to train station (£8). Train ride to
St. Pancras in London took 1 hr. Nice train ride. No cabs
outside this old Victorian station so had to hail one
on the street. Arrived Paragon Hotel and it is really
busy. Took tube to Tower Hill (£10.80 entrance fee).
A visit to the Tower is such an interesting thing to do
as you get to see the Thames, Tower Bridge, The Crown
Jewels, a Medieval Palace, the White Tower, the Fusiliers'
Museum and many other buildings. We then took the tube
to Knightsbridge and Harrods. Upon entrance to Harrods
you are given a map (just like in museums) - and you really
need it to get around. There is a memorial to Princess
Diana there in the basement and the décor looks
like an Egyptian Hollywood movie set. The food in Harrods
is unbelievable in both variety and price! Very expensive.
(If normal price in supermarket would be £10 then
at Harrods it is £50). Couldn't afford to buy anything
but really wanted a Harrods bag so we bought some 'sweets'.
A visit to the jewellery department is a must see . Ate
dinner in hotel in nice dining room. Really tired out
and beat. Feet sore. Coach tour starts tomorrow.
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Tower Hill and Double-Decker Bus
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Valerie on Tower Bridge
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Throne in Tower
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Harrod's, London
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Harrod's Memorial to Princess Diana
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