{"id":5137,"date":"2021-02-20T17:04:42","date_gmt":"2021-02-20T17:04:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/?page_id=5137"},"modified":"2021-02-22T15:19:37","modified_gmt":"2021-02-22T15:19:37","slug":"les-vacances-du-deux-personnes-jackie-et-robert-part-one","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/es\/3-2\/travel\/les-vacances-du-deux-personnes-jackie-et-robert-part-one\/","title":{"rendered":"Les Vacances du Deux Personnes, Jackie et Robert &#8211; Part one"},"content":{"rendered":"<!-- Added by Post\/Page Specific Custom Code plugin, thank you for using! -->\n<style>.jackie {\r\n background-color: #ddd;\r\nmargin-left: 26px;\r\npadding-left:10px;\r\n}\r\n.entry-content {\r\nwidth:80% !important;\r\nfloat:left !important;\r\n}\r\n.page-links a {\r\n    border: 1px solid darkslategrey;\r\n    margin: 3px;\r\n    padding: 0px 6px;\r\n    background-color: #e4ca6c;\r\n}<\/style>\n\n<p>These are the journals of \u201cles vacances du deux personnes, Jackie et Robert\u201d on their first voyage together. Their mission: To explore strange new worlds, seek out other civilizations, and to boldly attempt to survive their holiday with their relationship intact. They have been dating each other for almost six months and it is time for the adventures to begin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/jackie-bob-scaled.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/jackie-bob-781x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5144 lazyload\" width=\"391\" height=\"512\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/jackie-bob-781x1024.jpg 781w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/jackie-bob-229x300.jpg 229w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/jackie-bob-768x1007.jpg 768w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/jackie-bob-1172x1536.jpg 1172w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/jackie-bob-scaled.jpg 1563w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 391px) 100vw, 391px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 391px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 391\/512;\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The story opens with Jackie, a young rising professional for a large department store, and Robert a brilliant professional student discussing what each plans to do for their vacation. Jackie is planning a trip to England, to meet her grandparents whom she hasn\u2019t seen for almost 30 years. Robert is thinking of returning to the south of France, to holiday with a French family that he has known for many years. Both are attending a prominent local college, and will within a year receive their advanced degrees in business administration. Using the skills so far attained in their classes they realize that by combining their vacations they can do twice as much for only a little more money. A joint vacation will also test their relationship. Surviving two weeks of daily contact\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">THE VOYAGE BEGINS <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Wednesday, Sept. 2nd 1992<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Well Jackie just topped me for forgetfulness. I had planned on bringing a kit of my magic paraphernalia and forgot it. But Jackie forgot to bring her contact lenses. She is facing two weeks of wearing mousy looking glasses and is not a happy camper. We have just landed in England (Heathrow) and since she also forgot to pack an umbrella it, of course, is raining here. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We left Portland, Oregon about 10:00 AM on Tuesday and arrived here Wednesday morning at 8:05 AM. Neither of us really got any sleep on the flight. Customs and immigration were a breeze here, except I thought Jackie was about to pick a fight with a uniformed security guard. The signs said use \u201cZones 2, 3, or 4\u201d and she was determined to use zone 4. Unfortunately the only zone really opened was zone 2. Personally I have discovered that it never pays to argue with a person wearing uniform. I remember a business colleague of mine arguing with an Indian security officer over a package of batteries. The officer was intent on confiscating the batteries and my friend was arguing that they weren\u2019t even in any device. I stood to the side wondering how the hell I was going to bail him out of jail in case the officer decided to confiscate him as well. My friend finally gave an exasperated sigh and yielded the batteries. What amazed me was that they then let me pass with all of my camera gear, which contained no less than thirteen batteries! That demonstrates the irrationality of security guards which is why I never argue with them. The fact that in many countries they carry firearms also leads me to be  more passive towards their authority. With my luck I would argue with one who had just had his wife walk out on him, was deep in debt, had been reprimanded by his superiors and just to make his day would decide to empty his weapon in me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Anyway, in this case, it being England the guard was not armed, and Jackie gave up without trying to decapitate him. She stalked over to me muttering something about &#8220;&amp;*&amp;@!.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We caught the underground and arrived a Victoria Station, which was near the hotel where we would spend the night. Jackie phoned the hotel but the phones over here operate on the principal that you are buying time. So before she could get complete directions to the hotel, the phone went dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Based on the directions she had obtained we consulted our map and set off. The rain had let up and it was a short half mile walk to the last street mentioned in the directions. We turned in a promising direction and with the usual combination of skill and insight (commonly referred to as blind luck) found the hotel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At the hotel a small surprised awaited. Jackie had sent $72.00 to pay for the room. The hotel sent the check to the bank where the check was converted to British pounds at that day\u2019s rate. For that there was a seven pound service charge (ouch! Why do they call that a \u201cservice\u201d.) The end result was that we were short eleven pounds. We paid and lugged our gear up to the room. [Note: Mom gave me an early birthday present of some cash which I used to buy a new piece of luggage. I bought a Jansport backpack bag which was great! It really made the trip easier. Thanks Mom!]<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While we were discussing the extra charge, a lady came up behind us. She asked me if I was a Wallace, having notice the name on the check-in form. I replied that I was. So was she. Her name was Mary Wallace and she also was an American. Not only that, she also was from Oregon (Corvallis.) I am constantly amazed in my travels at how really small the world has become.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Of course the room was on the top floor of the hotel. It was a simple room consisting of twin beds next to each other with small closets and a shower stall stuck in the corner of the room. It was small, but relatively clean and comfortable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The plan had been to check-in and then to sight see London. I had been skeptical of this plan when it was made. My skepticism was accurate. On reaching the room we decided a short  nap was needed. Considering that my recollections of this period of time are foggy and dim, the nap was probably a good idea. By now it was 10:00 I believe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I awoke around 1:45 and took a shower. Afterwards I woke Jackie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The following is Jackie\u2019s first entry in the journal. Her entries will be distinguished from mine by being indented.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"jackie\">I could have slept right through the afternoon. I was out cold and didn\u2019t even hear Bob\u2019s shower. Considering that the shower is just in a corner of the room and  two feet from the bed I must have been tired. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"jackie\">What a pleasant trip over. I enjoyed the company of an Australian business tycoon on the trip from Portland to San Francisco. He was a wealth of ideas for my plastic lumber project. From writing the business plan to soliciting money from investors, taxes and even running the company, Greg gave me a lot of advice and inspiration. Greg has had many businesses and is currently setting up sports holiday perk programs for corporate executives. He has invited me to visit him in Hawaii and has offered to include me in their next sports camp. I\u2019m then to try to sell it to the company as an executive perk program. I intend to follow up on staying in contact with Greg. He could be a great contact to have in the future. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"jackie\">From San Francisco to London I shared a row with a retired business man that sits on many advisory boards for Berkeley and works extensively with corporate executives from the Gap and Levi\u2019s. He and his wife travel extensively and are spending a few weeks on the Thames. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"jackie\">Talking with Bob, I now realize I need to start collecting business cards and cultivate future business contacts. I\u2019ll start with Greg. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"jackie\">As Bob mentioned, I forgot my contacts. This would not have been so upsetting except that he had just made the comment that I look like a \u201cmousy school teacher\u201d\u201d in my new glasses. I\u2019m crushed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"jackie\">We&#8217;re headed up the Thames to Greenwich. My feet are enjoying the rest &#8211; I\u2019ve already got blisters the size of a 10 pence. We\u2019re off to a late start. I hope we aren\u2019t missing out when we get there (i.e., everything closing early). <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/jackie-journal.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/jackie-journal-1024x802.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5143 lazyload\" width=\"512\" height=\"401\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/jackie-journal-1024x802.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/jackie-journal-300x235.jpg 300w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/jackie-journal-768x602.jpg 768w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/jackie-journal.jpg 1496w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 512px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 512\/401;\" \/><\/a><figcaption>Jackie updating the Journal while waiting for the boat<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>We caught the 4:00 boat up the Thames to Greenwich. We briefly thought of bypassing the trip because it was late. The last boat back from Greenwich is at 5:40 I think. Since the boat ride is 50 minutes that doesn\u2019t give us much time at Greenwich. But at 4:00 on an overcast London afternoon suffering from jet lag there wasn\u2019t any clear alternative. So we bought two round trip tickets. The boat ride is restful and scenic. There is a lot of restoration and new building going on along the waterfront. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/toweroflondon.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/toweroflondon-1024x705.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5141 lazyload\" width=\"512\" height=\"353\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/toweroflondon-1024x705.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/toweroflondon-300x207.jpg 300w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/toweroflondon-768x529.jpg 768w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/toweroflondon-1536x1058.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/toweroflondon.jpg 1765w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 512px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 512\/353;\" \/><\/a><figcaption>The Tower of London from the boat<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<!--nextpage-->\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">GREENWICH<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"jackie\">The pirate exhibit was too expensive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"jackie\">The observatory was closed for remodeling. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"jackie\">We got no service at the pub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"jackie\">But, Bob got a great picture. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/greenwich.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/greenwich-724x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5140 lazyload\" width=\"362\" height=\"512\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/greenwich-724x1024.jpg 724w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/greenwich-212x300.jpg 212w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/greenwich-768x1087.jpg 768w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/greenwich-1086x1536.jpg 1086w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/greenwich.jpg 1150w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 362px) 100vw, 362px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 362px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 362\/512;\" \/><\/a><figcaption>Greenwich time, The standard for the rest of the world! Notice the small sign at the top of the clock face<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Jackie needs to read Mark Twain! Especially his journals of travels. Her narratives lack something. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Greenwich needed more time (no pun intended.)<\/strong> We arrived late in the day and many things were close to closing. With the last boat back at six there wasn\u2019t a lot we could do. We caught the last boat. Jackie bought some outrageously expensive cans of Guinness and trounced me at cribbage. I may have made a mistake teaching her the game. We will have to see, actually I was making a comeback and only lost by eight points. When we get back to Westminster Pier we will look for a restaurant for dinner, preferably an Indian one. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">8:00 PM LONDON (12:00 NOON PORTLAND) <\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>After wandering aimlessly our bladders decided it was time to look for a pub. Bladders are amazing organs. They can suddenly override all other inputs to the brain and scream NOW!!! <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We found a pub not far from the hotel and ducked in to use the W.C. We bought one lager and rested my feet. Then we headed back toward the hotel. A couple of blocks from the hotel, Jackie spotted an Indian Tandoori restaurant. We went in. Jackie asked for non-smoking which they didn\u2019t have. She then asked if we could be seated away from any smokers. The waiter said no one was smoking and pointed repeatedly to the table he wanted us to sit in. Jackie relented and we sat. She wasn\u2019t too pleased however, for while the whole conversation was taking place, the table across the aisle resembled Chicago during the Great Fire. Obviously the service was only so-so but the food was good. Mildly spicy. We had chicken bhuna and curry vegetables.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">THURSDAY MORNING<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Both of us slept pretty well. We woke up at approximately 4 AM and dozed to about 6:00. We are currently sitting in the hotel\u2019s TV lounge watching the news waiting for the second B in the B&amp;B.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Breakfast was scrambled eggs, bacon, fried toast and toast, with orange juice, coffee and tea. On a scale of one to ten it was a five.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The plan for the day is to swing by a bank and get some money. Then head over to the Victoria and Albert museum. Along the way we will try to buy an umbrella and some post cards. The train to Stansted leaves from Liverpool St. Station while we have situated ourselves next to Victoria Station. \u201cThe best laid plans\u2026\u2019 I\u2019d like to see the Design Museum, but we will have to see if we have time. Trains leave about every half hour and Jackie wants to get to Newmarket before five PM.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2:41 &#8211; LIVERPOOL STATION<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Both of our pairs of feet are killing us. We ate breakfast and then walked to the Victoria and Albert museum. It didn\u2019t open till 10:00 so we continued to walk &#8211; past Harrods &#8211; Jackie bought some sundries at Boots &#8211; and up to Kensington Park. In the park we watched some soldiers practicing horse jumping (equestrian training for the more posh of you). <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/horse.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/horse-1024x711.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5139 lazyload\" width=\"512\" height=\"356\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/horse-1024x711.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/horse-300x208.jpg 300w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/horse-768x534.jpg 768w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/horse-1536x1067.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/horse.jpg 1766w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 512px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 512\/356;\" \/><\/a><figcaption>Equestrian training in the park<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Jackie decided she would like to buy something at Harrods so we began to walk back. The morning was very nice &#8211; sunny but with a cool breeze. I checked my camera gear at Harrods cloak room. Harrods doesn\u2019t allow packs in the store. Jackie decided that she didn\u2019t want to shop so we gave the ground floor a quick tour and then headed up to the Victoria and Albert Museum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At the V&amp;A we bought tickets to the \u201cSov ER eign\u201d exhibit. This exhibit covers the life of the queen from the time she was a teenager. Jackie got all teary eyed at the exhibit (\u2019&#8217;m not quite sure about her). The exhibit included Elizabeth\u2019s coronation. It was quite well done. Headsets with infrared sensors picked up narration in each room. Each room had its own different narration. After the exhibit we walked through some other sections of the museum Gewelry, plaster casts, firearms) until my feet gave out. Jackie made some inane comment about my advanced age. Fortunately for her, at my age the hearing goes so I didn\u2019t catch all of the comment. She left me on a bench and went upstairs to look at an exhibit she was interested in. I rested and watched people. When she returned we walked back to the hotel to pick up our luggage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/london-near-harrods-scaled.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/london-near-harrods-1024x724.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5161 lazyload\" width=\"512\" height=\"362\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/london-near-harrods-1024x724.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/london-near-harrods-300x212.jpg 300w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/london-near-harrods-768x543.jpg 768w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/london-near-harrods-1536x1086.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/london-near-harrods-scaled.jpg 2048w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 512px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 512\/362;\" \/><\/a><figcaption>London, near Harrods<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Near the hotel was a small Turkish restaurant that we went into for a late lunch (1:00 PM approximately.) I am amazed at how bad the service is. The food is O.K. We just order some appetizers. Then back to the hotel to our luggage. At the thought of lugging our luggage from the hotel to the underground we decide to treat ourselves to a London Cab.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>London cabs are great. These are those black jobs seen in the movies, although we have seen red ones and ones painted like newspapers. What makes them great is that they are designed for humans. The doors are big and there is a lot of leg room for putting your bags. At least three or four feet of leg room. The back seat is a bench and facing it are two pull down jump seats. It was a nice treat. The cab took us from Westminster to Liverpool Station. Unfortunately we just missed the train for the airport at Stansted by two minutes or so. The next train is at four. We popped into a small upscale coffee bar (similar to Starbucks, but more  European.) We grabbed a couple of coffee lattes and sat. A couple of lattes later, I had updated the journal and it is now 3:00. Jackie just left to find out the arrival time at Stansted and to find a place to purchase post cards to mail home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The feeling in my legs is starting to come back, kinda like being pricked by thousands of little needles. I decided that I\u2019m not wired enough so I just spent 55 pence for a cup of expresso. I can see Jackie at the telephone calling her grandparents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"jackie\">Glad I went to check the time again for the train. It\u2019s leaving at 3:30. Couldn\u2019t find any post cards so I decided to call Granny and Granddad. Granddad answered with a \u201cwe were just talking about you\u2026\u201d I explained where we were and that we still had to rent a car and make the hour drive to Newmarket. They have got a private house rented for us so we\u2019re to call when we get to Newmarket and they will drive in and take us to the place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"jackie\">Granddad sounds like a card. I\u2019m sure looking forward to our visit. Granddad said that \u201cGrandma sounded better than Granny\u2026 Granny sounded old\u2026 They have done such a nice job of refurbishing Liverpool Station. The columns and ironwork at the ceiling has been painted cream and navy with burgundy trim. It looks beautiful for a train station. High tech computerized digitized clocks are \u2014 everywhere and the trains leave right on the dot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"jackie\">I enjoyed the V&amp;A. It\u2019s one of my favorites. When Bob pooped out on me I took the chance to go up to the fourth floor and found the Stafordshire collection. They didn\u2019t have a lot of pieces &#8211; Mom and Dad\u2019s is a lot larger collection, but the V&amp;A have some rare ones that I\u2019ve only seen in the books before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"jackie\">It&#8217;s nice to take a break and put our feet up. The 40 minute ride to Stansted will be relaxing. Bob is beat &#8211; he\u2019s already asleep with his head doing the \u201cbob\u201d from side to side. She should talk\u2026 her feet are up on the seat in front of her and her eyes are closed with her head swaying to the rhythm of the train. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--nextpage-->\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">NEWMARKET <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>My God! we made it to Newmarket. Jackie drove. On an anxiety scale of one to ten with one being a state of meditative relaxation and ten being a state of near comatose panic with fingers digging trenches in the dashboard, I managed to maintain a state of level five. In that state my body was relaxed (or appeared so) but I was mentally prepared to meet my maker. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/newmarket.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/newmarket-1024x694.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5160 lazyload\" width=\"512\" height=\"347\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/newmarket-1024x694.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/newmarket-300x203.jpg 300w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/newmarket-768x521.jpg 768w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/newmarket-1536x1041.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/newmarket.jpg 2000w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 512px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 512\/347;\" \/><\/a><figcaption>Newmarket<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Jackie actually did quite well despite a rough start. She first went to the passengers door instead of the drivers side. Then she couldn\u2019t start the car. She had to get the clerk out to start it. (The steering wheel was locked and had to be jiggled.) Then she kept trying to start the car moving in third instead of first gear. Once we figured that out, she turned out of the lot into the wrong lane. Other than those minor mistakes she did very well. It took a little practice to get used to shifting with the left hand and there is a tendency to drift the car towards the shoulder when driving in the right hand seat. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">FRIDAY<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>We arrived (alive) in Newmarket approximately six PM (Thursday). Pulled over at a public phone (which turned out to be the only one at that end of town) and Jackie called her grand- parents who came to lead us to the B&amp;B. Turned out, by pure chance, that we were only 1\/4 mile down the road from the B&amp;B. The B&amp;B was a charming place. Our room was very comfortable. The landlady thinks we are married. She just asked me if I wanted to wait for \u201cthe wife.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/bb-newmarket.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/bb-newmarket-1024x727.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5159 lazyload\" width=\"512\" height=\"364\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/bb-newmarket-1024x727.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/bb-newmarket-300x213.jpg 300w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/bb-newmarket-768x545.jpg 768w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/bb-newmarket-1536x1091.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/bb-newmarket.jpg 1752w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 512px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 512\/364;\" \/><\/a><figcaption>Bed and Breakfast, Newmarket<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/bb-bedroom.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/bb-bedroom-1024x705.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5158 lazyload\" width=\"512\" height=\"353\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/bb-bedroom-1024x705.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/bb-bedroom-300x207.jpg 300w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/bb-bedroom-768x529.jpg 768w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/bb-bedroom-1536x1058.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/bb-bedroom.jpg 2000w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 512px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 512\/353;\" \/><\/a><figcaption>Bedroom in B&amp;B<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Jackie\u2019s grandparents are great! They waited while we got settled and then drove us to their \u201cbungalow.\u201d We had drinks (whisky and water without ice for me and Gin &amp; Tonic for Jackie.) We then drove to an old country restaurant where Jackie\u2019s Grandfather teased the waitress, who took it very well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A delightful dinner. We agreed to let them pay as long as we could take them to lunch on Friday. After dinner we went back to their house to get Jackie\u2019s handbag, which she had forgot. Her Grandmother served us Victoria Plums and we chatted till 11:30. My yawning seemed to indicate it was time to go so her Grandfather drove us back to the B&amp;B. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What a wonderful breakfast &#8211; toast, cereal, tea\/coffee, eggs, potatoes, grilled tomato and mushrooms and a rasher of bacon and a banger. This will get us right through the morning. Our hostess is a wonderful lady that apparently knows Granddad from the races. The house is right across the street from a bowling green and above that are horse stables. Newmarket is known for the horse racing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/bb-bedroom1.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/bb-bedroom1-1024x693.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5157 lazyload\" width=\"512\" height=\"347\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/bb-bedroom1-1024x693.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/bb-bedroom1-300x203.jpg 300w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/bb-bedroom1-768x520.jpg 768w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/bb-bedroom1-1536x1039.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/bb-bedroom1.jpg 2000w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 512px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 512\/347;\" \/><\/a><figcaption>Bedroom at the B&amp;B<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/lawnbowling1.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/lawnbowling1-1024x689.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5156 lazyload\" width=\"512\" height=\"345\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/lawnbowling1-1024x689.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/lawnbowling1-300x202.jpg 300w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/lawnbowling1-768x517.jpg 768w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/lawnbowling1-1536x1034.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/lawnbowling1-272x182.jpg 272w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/lawnbowling1.jpg 2000w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 512px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 512\/345;\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/lawnbowling2.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/lawnbowling2-1024x710.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5155 lazyload\" width=\"512\" height=\"355\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/lawnbowling2-1024x710.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/lawnbowling2-300x208.jpg 300w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/lawnbowling2-768x532.jpg 768w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/lawnbowling2-1536x1064.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/lawnbowling2.jpg 2000w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 512px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 512\/355;\" \/><\/a><figcaption>Women&#8217;s Lawn Bowling Club<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/theAlpers.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/theAlpers-1024x707.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5154 lazyload\" width=\"512\" height=\"354\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/theAlpers-1024x707.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/theAlpers-300x207.jpg 300w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/theAlpers-768x530.jpg 768w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/theAlpers-1536x1060.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/theAlpers.jpg 2000w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 512px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 512\/354;\" \/><\/a><figcaption>The Alpers<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"jackie\">Bob experienced something new, sleeping with a duvet. We had a sound nights sleep and didn\u2019t wake up until 6:00, better than 4:00 like yesterday. Looking forward to the day ahead. We\u2019re off for a walk in the town and we\u2019re meeting Granddad back here at 11:30. We\u2019re going to be visiting his brother\u2019s vineyard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"jackie\">Although I notice a Jewish book in their home last night I don\u2019t think that Granny and Granddad are devout since they split a ham steak last night. Dinner was very enjoyable. Bob and I both had Stilton Chicken, very similar to Chicken Kiev.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"jackie\">Between Bob and Granddad, waitresses had a heck of a time. Granddad was throwing out bawdy remarks and suggestions and Bob was shooting out his wit. They really enjoyed Bob\u2019s magic tricks &#8211; they were a great audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/alpers1.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/alpers1-717x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5153 lazyload\" width=\"359\" height=\"512\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/alpers1-717x1024.jpg 717w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/alpers1-210x300.jpg 210w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/alpers1-768x1096.jpg 768w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/alpers1-1076x1536.jpg 1076w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/alpers1.jpg 1401w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 359px) 100vw, 359px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 359px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 359\/512;\" \/><\/a><figcaption>The Alpers<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/alpers2.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/alpers2-719x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5152 lazyload\" width=\"360\" height=\"512\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/alpers2-719x1024.jpg 719w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/alpers2-211x300.jpg 211w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/alpers2-768x1094.jpg 768w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/alpers2-1078x1536.jpg 1078w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/alpers2.jpg 1200w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 360px) 100vw, 360px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 360px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 360\/512;\" \/><\/a><figcaption>The Alpers and Jackie<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<!--nextpage-->\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">FRIDAY EVENING.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"jackie\">Today was a special treat. We went down town into Newmarket in order to exchange money, buy postcards and stamps, as well as look for a box. By chance we saw the horses being walked off in a pasture so we went to investigate. The horses and riders were out in \u201cstrings\u201d being exercised. The setting was out of a story. Beautiful lush green pastures with massive brick estate houses in the background and soft billowy clouds in the sky. Hopefully Bob got some equally beautiful pictures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"jackie\">We met a girl from Holland who was visiting with her brother. She spoke great English and Bob was able to help her with her camera! We ran into her again down at the Horse Museum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"jackie\">The Museum was very well done, for a small town. There is obviously a lot of money in this town. We found out later that this is so &#8211; Granddad took us out to see these magnificent homes with elaborate stables. Unfortunately many are empty because the economy is depressed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"jackie\">Although our original plan was to go out to visit Granddad\u2019s brother\u2019s vineyard, they decided against it and chose instead to drive to Cambridge and have pizza for lunch. As I had remembered, the town was beautiful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"jackie\">The old colleges are well maintained and the architecture is spectacular. Granny was getting a bit tired so Bob and I headed out on our own for an hour or so. We found beautiful gardens and the river where they take the punts out. Bob was in photograph heaven and got lots of great shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"jackie\">It was such a beautiful day. The temperature is getting rather low and the wind is a bit nippy, but instead of being cold, its just crisp. While in the gardens I managed to collect some seeds &#8211; they&#8217;ll be a mystery in my garden for next year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s amazing how expensive real estate is here. Houses that I would imagine being about 20 to 40,000 pounds are about triple that. The market seems to be sort of like California. I\u2019d still be renting if I lived here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/KingsCollege.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/KingsCollege-1024x782.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5151 lazyload\" width=\"512\" height=\"391\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/KingsCollege-1024x782.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/KingsCollege-300x229.jpg 300w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/KingsCollege-768x586.jpg 768w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/KingsCollege-1536x1173.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/KingsCollege.jpg 2000w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 512px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 512\/391;\" \/><\/a><figcaption>Kings College<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/marketplace.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/marketplace-1024x705.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5150 lazyload\" width=\"512\" height=\"353\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/marketplace-1024x705.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/marketplace-300x206.jpg 300w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/marketplace-768x528.jpg 768w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/marketplace-1536x1057.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/marketplace.jpg 2000w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 512px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 512\/353;\" \/><\/a><figcaption>Market Place<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/punts.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/punts-1024x699.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5149 lazyload\" width=\"512\" height=\"350\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/punts-1024x699.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/punts-300x205.jpg 300w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/punts-768x524.jpg 768w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/punts-1536x1048.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/punts.jpg 2000w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 512px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 512\/350;\" \/><\/a><figcaption>Cambridge punts<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>A very nice day but I\u2019m a bit pooped. We are getting ready to walk into town to meet the grandparents for a drink and dinner (its 7:20 PM now).) We spent the morning in Newmarket and most of the afternoon in Cambridge. The morning was sunny with a cold autumn wind. We window shopped our way through town and on the far side found horses being taken out or exercise. As Jackie indicates in her notes it was beautiful. I shot some pictures but don\u2019t now if any are worth while. I\u2019m not shooting as much as normal. It\u2019s difficult for me to shoot when I know people are waiting. Jackie is great, she\u2019s patient but it still makes it difficult. I like to sit for hours in one spot waiting for the right light, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/landladyscat.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/landladyscat-1024x698.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5175 lazyload\" width=\"512\" height=\"349\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/landladyscat-1024x698.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/landladyscat-300x204.jpg 300w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/landladyscat-768x523.jpg 768w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/landladyscat-1536x1047.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/landladyscat.jpg 2000w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 512px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 512\/349;\" \/><\/a><figcaption>Landlady&#8217;s cat<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>SATURDAY MORNING<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I&#8217;m a bit hung over this morning. Yesterday was a full day. We met the Alpers for drinks at a pub in Newmarket and I had a pint of Guinness. Then a bottle of Rose with dinner. Then a brandy after dinner. Ouch. Dinner was very nice. I slipped the waiter my credit card so we wouldn\u2019t have to argue about who would pay. Mr. Alper paid for our hotel room in Newmarket so we couldn\u2019t let him pay for dinner tonight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Our landlady is quite something. She was part of the team that divided Germany into zones after World War II. Very intelligent. She worked as a soil analyst. She was a farmer\u2019s daughter. Milked her first cow at four. Grew up six miles from here. The farm still exists. When her parents died the farm was divided into three parts. In 1964 she bought out her sisters and her son now runs the place. The farm produces 5000 tons of washed and processed carrots per month. Her second husband was a brewer since 1928. After retiring they bought two hotels and ran them. She runs a lovely B&amp;B. She also is a cat lover and has a very old cat to keep her company. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/gallops.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/gallops-1024x779.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5174 lazyload\" width=\"512\" height=\"390\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/gallops-1024x779.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/gallops-300x228.jpg 300w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/gallops-768x584.jpg 768w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/gallops-1536x1168.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/gallops.jpg 2000w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 512px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 512\/390;\" \/><\/a><figcaption>Gallops in Newmarket<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Mr. Alper is quite a character. A very nice man. He was in the army during World War II and fought in North Africa. He then worked as a salesman and sales manager for a caravan company. he has traveled all over the world and showed us all of the knick-knacks he has been given in his travels. His wife is very petit. She is slightly hard of hearing which leads to interest- ing conversations. You will either ask or say something that she miss-hears. She responds according to what she thought you said and the conversation is suddenly 90 degrees off in another direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After dinner we drove to a British Legion club for drinks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Newmarket is very nice. It is built around horse racing. All around the town are gallops where horses are run. I hadn\u2019t realized it, but all thoroughbreds can trace their male lineage to one of three male progenitors. I learned that at the horse racing museum yesterday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/gallops1.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/gallops1-1024x728.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5173 lazyload\" width=\"512\" height=\"364\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/gallops1-1024x728.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/gallops1-300x213.jpg 300w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/gallops1-768x546.jpg 768w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/gallops1-1536x1091.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/gallops1.jpg 2000w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 512px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 512\/364;\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/gallops2.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/gallops2-1024x641.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5172 lazyload\" width=\"512\" height=\"321\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/gallops2-1024x641.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/gallops2-300x188.jpg 300w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/gallops2-768x481.jpg 768w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/gallops2-1536x962.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/gallops2.jpg 2000w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 512px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 512\/321;\" \/><\/a><figcaption>Gallops in Newmarket<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<!--nextpage-->\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">NEWBURY <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3:30 SATURDAY AFTERNOON<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>We had a long drive this morning. Jackie has become quite proficient driving here. We took motorways to Newbury and found John\u2019s house. It took 2.5 hours to drive. There was some confusion as to which house was John\u2019s. I walked up to a house and asked the owner, who said he had no idea. Then his wife overheard and said \u201cBarker, oh yes &#8211; they live right there\u201d, pointing to the next door house. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We walked over and rang, but there was no answer. We weren\u2019t certain it was the correct house so we left a note and took a walk though the country side. One of the aspects I really enjoy about Britain are the footpaths that wander through the country. These are nothing more than trails through woods and fields. If you come to someone\u2019s property with a fence around it, there will be a fence-crossing. A fence crossing is simply some wood steps that climb over the fence so you can continue the walk on the other side. Technically there are no trespassing laws in Britain. You are allowed to cross property as long as you do no damage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The footpath we took was quite a bit off the beaten track. It was a bit muddy and over- grown. We walked along a bean field, crossed a wheat field and came to a gate and pasture with cows and a bull. This gate didn\u2019t have a fence crossing so I felt we should continue along the field looking for one that did. We came to one next to a gate and fence, behind which was about fifteen cows gathered. They were very suspicious of us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One kept pushing the others away from me whenever I tried to give them some grass. They started getting skittish so we crossed the fence and moved along.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">11:30 PM<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Well, there\u2019s a lot to catch up on since 3:30 this afternoon. We went back to the house and no one was there. So we walked back down to the village pub. This time it was full of people &#8211; strange people\u2026. One woman sitting was apparently comatose, although she seemed to be smoking. Actually everyone seemed to be smoking. I think even the dog was smoking. It was like walking into an ashtray.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We sat down and discussed what to do. Jackie wanted a beer so I went and stood two feet from the bartender. I must have been invisible although I would have expected him to at least sense the infrared radiation from my body. Eventually another patron called attention to me and the bartender saw me. He recognized me from earlier and I ordered two beers. I told him that we hadn&#8217;t found John. He suggested that someone in the pub must know Barker so I placed the question to the crowd.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Eventually, after much discussion, they decided that John must be the bloke renting the house across from the village school. So it appeared that we had actually found the correct house. Jackie gloated some since she had predicted that was the house based on the fact that a Land Rover was parked there. She used logic, which was beyond me, that John, whom she never met, was the type to drive a Land Rover.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We left another message on the door and decided to explore the area. So off we drove looking for adventure. We took the back roads. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/countryroad.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/countryroad-1024x773.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5171 lazyload\" width=\"512\" height=\"387\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/countryroad-1024x773.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/countryroad-300x227.jpg 300w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/countryroad-768x580.jpg 768w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/countryroad-1536x1160.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/countryroad.jpg 1788w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 512px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 512\/387;\" \/><\/a><figcaption>Country road in England<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>In England the term back road is misleading. It implies a roadway that is wide enough for an automobile. Most here are only marginally wider than a small car, without any lines or shoulders on them. Blind corners are frequent and you pray that there is no pedestrians walking as you enter a corner at 45 mph. Actually, pedestrians aren\u2019t your worry, its the on-coming lorries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While exploring we stumbled onto a castle set back in the country. It was called <a href=\"https:\/\/www.highclerecastle.co.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Highclere Castle<\/a> and was the ancestral home of the gent who discovered <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thegreatcoursesdaily.com\/the-discovery-of-tutankhamuns-tomb\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">King Tutanhkamins tomb<\/a>. We paid to take the tour inside and it was fascinating. The castle is open to the public three months out of the year and the rest of the time is used by the current Earl of Cardigan. What made the inside interesting was the mixture of old and new. In the basement was an exhibit of Egyptian antiquities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/highclerecastle.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/highclerecastle-1024x736.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5170 lazyload\" width=\"512\" height=\"368\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/highclerecastle-1024x736.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/highclerecastle-300x216.jpg 300w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/highclerecastle-768x552.jpg 768w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/highclerecastle-1536x1104.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/highclerecastle.jpg 1749w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 512px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 512\/368;\" \/><\/a><figcaption>Highclere Castle<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>After touring the castle we stopped at the butlers quarters that had been converted into a tea room. We ordered a cream tea and a set tea and then shared them. A cream tea is a biscuit and a scone with clotted cream, the set tea was a small cheese sandwich with tea. Both came with a sweet, fruit cake for the cream tea and chocolate cake for the set tea. Both of us where quite hungry by then, having only eaten Victoria plums since breakfast. After tea we wandered the grounds and gardens. The gardens were spectacular and Jackie was in heaven <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">SUNDAY MORNING 9:50<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>We left Highclere Castle and drove back to the house. Still nobody home at 5:00 PM. We are trying to figure out what to do. Jackie is thinking that we should try to find someplace to spend the night. We are sitting in the car. I have looked at John\u2019s map and discover that he indeed had written the name of the house down. I suggested that we write our postcards and wait till six o\u2019clock. If nobody showed by then we would leave a note and take-off. At six I trotted back down the road to the house to leave a note and found that John had just arrived home. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They had been out running errands and had left a message with their mobile phone number on their answering machine. It would have worked if I had had John\u2019s phone number with me. Oh well. We had fun waiting so it wasn\u2019t a major issue. We all had a laugh about the comedy of errors and sat and talked till 7:30. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We then drove into Newbury for a Chinese take- out and came back for dinner. John bought a couple of bottles of wine and we had a nice diner. After dinner John put a video on of Spinal Tap, a Rob Riener parody of English rock music. We finally crawled into bed about 11:30 or so. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/johnshouse.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/johnshouse-1024x746.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5169 lazyload\" width=\"512\" height=\"373\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/johnshouse-1024x746.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/johnshouse-300x219.jpg 300w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/johnshouse-768x559.jpg 768w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/johnshouse-1536x1119.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/johnshouse.jpg 2000w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 512px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 512\/373;\" \/><\/a><figcaption>John\u2019s house in Echingswell<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It is now 11:00 in the morning. Debbie and John left about 10:30 to look at a house and ve just come back. When they left, Jackie got up and we showered and cleaned up. John is ving to install a new dishwasher. He has to cut off the electrical plug in order to install it, since e cord has to pass through a hole in the kitchen counter top. Jackie is upstairs drying her hair. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">12:30<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>We are trying to leave. They want to take us to Watership Down, the site of the novel with e same name. We tried the Range Rover, but it wouldn\u2019t start. We transferred to John\u2019s car id were just pulling out of the drive when John\u2019s friend Mark pulled up. They had expected ark between 10:00 and 11:00 and had given up on him. We are sitting in the car as John \u2018gotiates with Mark about when he can help Mark work on a car. It&#8217;s raining, the first real rain we have had since arriving in England. John has just gotten back in and Mark has driven off. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/johnanddebbie.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/johnanddebbie-1024x712.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5168 lazyload\" width=\"512\" height=\"356\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/johnanddebbie-1024x712.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/johnanddebbie-300x209.jpg 300w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/johnanddebbie-768x534.jpg 768w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/johnanddebbie-1536x1068.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/johnanddebbie.jpg 2000w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 512px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 512\/356;\" \/><\/a><figcaption>John and Debbie<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4:49<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>We&#8217;re back at the house, after spending the afternoon driving through the countryside. There was some discussion\/concern as it was apparent that John really wanted to help Mark work on a Jaguar. Debbie kept on him to make up his mind and he finally did. We stopped at the Waterrat pub for a brew and then continued on to Hungerford, the site of the school children massacre. At Hungerford we strolled through an antique market and a craft market but it was nothing interesting. I have been fighting a bug for several days (sore throat etc.) and my stomach wasn\u2019t agreeing with the ale I had earlier. Actually my stomach and the ale were having a full fledged argument. We left Hungerford and drove up to Combes Gibbet where they used to hang criminals. It was a blustery day with a fine mist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Echingswell is the name of the village John lives in. It is the site of the novel Watership Down. Nearby is the home of Andrew Webber, the producer of Phantom of the Opera. The countryside around here is very beautiful. Narrow county roads, barely the width of a car, wind here and there. The trees often form canopies overhead. Pedestrians and horses share the lanes, usually with absolutely no place to leap to if a car happens to come hurtling down on them. It is not uncommon to have to put your car into reverse to find a turnout in order to yield to oncoming traffic. Scattered here and there are old brick farm houses and thatched cottages. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/thatched.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/thatched-1024x734.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5167 lazyload\" width=\"512\" height=\"367\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/thatched-1024x734.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/thatched-300x215.jpg 300w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/thatched-768x551.jpg 768w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/thatched-1536x1101.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/thatched.jpg 2000w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 512px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 512\/367;\" \/><\/a><figcaption>Thatched cottage\/restaurant near Echingswell<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>John\u2019s children are due back at six so we won&#8217;t be able to go out for dinner this evening. Instead we stopped at a grocery store in Hungerford and bought pizza. It is now 5:00. Debbie is making scones. Jackie is rubbing my back and washing some clothes, John is making some sandwiches and I am updating this journal. Jackie has given me some pills that she claims are vitamin C, she thinks\u2026 I suspect she is trying to poison me. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">10 MINUTES LATER<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"jackie\">Bob is writhing about on the floor. I think its something he took earlier. He of course, will contend that I poisoned him &#8212; rubbish! Bob and I have been taking turns being grouchy. Fortunately we haven\u2019t been grouchy at the same time. I was getting worried about him earlier, he was being very quiet. Apparently the ale didn\u2019t agree with him. We just had a snack of sandwiches and fresh scones. He seems better now. John\u2019s children just came in &#8211; they\u2019re beautiful kids. Apparently they went to the toy store this weekend. Lauren got a stable with horses and tack (50 pounds) and the twins got a pellet gun that fires plastic pellets (2 pounds). They each have sandy blond hair, ruddy cheeks and bright white smiles. They seem to have great stores of energy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">MONDAY MORNING 7:20<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>We left John\u2019s house about 15 minutes ago and are making good time. We missed the Newbury traffic and are now approaching the M4 to London.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I&#8217;ve come down with a bug of some sort. Aches, slight fever and chill etc. Took some aspirin this morning, and had a cup of tea. Last night no one was hungry so we skipped the pizza. We opened Jackie\u2019s uncle\u2019s wine and sat and talked. The wine wasn\u2019t too bad. I can\u2019t imagine what the French would say about the concept of English wine\u2026 We gave John his gift (the Rolex watch), and he seemed to enjoy it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The weather this morning is quite a contrast to yesterday. The sun is bright and the temperature mild. Yesterday was a cool, wet, blustery kind of day. It reminded me of autumn in Oregon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">9:15<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Traffic is \u201chorrendous\u201d to use the description off the radio. The M4 going towards Heathrow was stop and go and the M25 orbital has also been slow. We were worried about petrol so we pulled off the 25 about 35 miles before the Stansted airport. Filling the tank cost about $34 (ouch.) I\u2019m glad I don\u2019t live here. Back on the M25 and traffic is moving fast now. Jackie is driving well, although she started to get into the car on the passengers side again and then when she did get behind the wheel, she reached with the wrong hand for the seat belt. It does get confusing at times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We made it to the airport by 9:50, got to the ticket counter and discovered that the flight was delayed until 12:00. The plane was here, and there was a chance that it might be cleared for take-off so we couldn\u2019t do anything but wait. That\u2019s the typical thing for traveling. We flew down the motorways, concerned about being late, only to get here and have to sit around and wait. Oh well, we are resting up and having a coffee and snack while we wait. My stomach is feeling a little better now. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"jackie\">Driving has been quite the adventure here in England. Once I\u2019m in the car I\u2019m fine. But every time I get in its readjusting to the left side. Bob has been great. Very positive and supportive, and he is good about reminding me &#8211; left, <strong>left<\/strong>, <strong><em>left<\/em><\/strong>!!!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"jackie\">Drivers are very aggressive, yet patient on the roads here. My average speed on the M roads was about 85 and I was being passed constantly. Drivers were continually \u201cappearing\u201d in back of me if I was in the fast lane, but were not rude if I was unable to get over right away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"jackie\">I had a bit of difficulty with the gears. I was repeatedly trying to start in third, and more than once went from first to fourth. This made it extremely difficult at roundabouts. I\u2019d get midway into the circle and suddenly be looking for a gear, slowing up and finally lurch out of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"jackie\">Overall, the experience was much better than I had feared. Bob was a great help and I\u2019m glad he was there to remind me \u201cleft.\u201d I\u2019m sure he had something at stake there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/les-vacances-du-deux-personnes-jackie-et-robert-part-two\/\"><strong>Continue to part two<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>These are the journals of \u201cles vacances du deux personnes, Jackie et Robert\u201d on their first voyage together. Their mission: To explore strange new worlds, seek out other civilizations, and to boldly attempt to survive their holiday with their relationship intact. They have been dating each other for almost six months and it is time &hellip; <\/p>\n<p class=\"link-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/es\/3-2\/travel\/les-vacances-du-deux-personnes-jackie-et-robert-part-one\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continuar leyendo<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;Les Vacances du Deux Personnes, Jackie et Robert &#8211; Part one&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":3654,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","_eb_attr":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-5137","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"featured_image_src":null,"featured_image_src_square":null,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5137","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5137"}],"version-history":[{"count":21,"href":"https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5137\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5253,"href":"https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5137\/revisions\/5253"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3654"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/robertjwallace.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5137"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}