I was in a deep sleep dreaming about being in some Eastern European city (although in my dream it resembled Edinburgh) with my Best Man who I haven't seen for ages but, ironically, whose birthday is only four days away. Perhaps a subconscious reminder to send him a card! I was woken by Sara bringing in tea and two presents - an electronic photo frame in which you can insert a memory stick containing digital images and a wonderful little seafood cookbook of recipes from around the British coast. I shall really enjoy trying out some of the recipes - seafood is my favourite food! Sara also cooked breakfast - poached eggs, "eggy bread" and mushrooms. We went to church as usual at 9.30 a.m. It was a Parish Eucharist and Nils preached on stewardship campaign and the importance of giving money to the church. We are now digging into our reserves and need to increase pledged giving to pay the parish share to the Salisbury Diocese. We stayed behind for a short time for coffee before setting off for my treat - a visit to Portsmouth's Historical Dockyard where our tickets would allow us access to HMS Mary Rose, HMS Victory and HMS Warrior as well as the Museum and a Harbour Boat Trip. The weather was warm but slightly overcast when we got there and parked in the designated multi-storey car park. The first thing we did was to have a sausage/cod roe and chips lunch seated on The Hard overlooking HMS Warrior. Fully replenished we entered the Dockyard and decided to visit the Mary Rose Museum first to see some of the 19,000 items brought up with the wreck. These were fascinating and gave a good insight into the life at sea in Tudor times. Whilst in there we were notified of a bomb alert and made to go to the back of the Museum. After about five minutes we were given the all clear - no doubt some student's back pack! From the Museum we walked through the Dockyard to HMS Victory and the Mary Rose itself housed in special building where the timbers are still being kept wet with a waxy liquid. It was not that easy to see the ship because the tropical conditions used to preserve it steam up the glass as we view it from the air-conditioned gallery. Leaving the Mary Rose we then visited HMS Victory and toured the ship from the hold to the quarter deck where Nelson received his fatal wound at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. Leaving Victory we enjoyed a pot of tea (the children ice creams) before investigating the shops where I bought each of the children a book on Nelson/Battle of Trafalgar and treated myself to a facsimile copy of an early Nelson biography and a book of facts about HMS Victory. We ran out of time for the main Museum, HMS Warrior and the Harbour Boat Trip but our tickets entitle us to come back and do those another day - can't wait to get back. Tonight wrote up this blog after scanning some more old family photographs and dealing with some emails. Must be up early in the morning as it is a day in Dorking and I've agreed to pick up Anthony at Grateley Station at 7.30 a.m. How I wish every day were like today - a fantastic day spent with the family! Precious time made better by the fact that both Tom and Mary were fascinated by the history surrounding the place and the exhibits.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Father's Day Treat
I was in a deep sleep dreaming about being in some Eastern European city (although in my dream it resembled Edinburgh) with my Best Man who I haven't seen for ages but, ironically, whose birthday is only four days away. Perhaps a subconscious reminder to send him a card! I was woken by Sara bringing in tea and two presents - an electronic photo frame in which you can insert a memory stick containing digital images and a wonderful little seafood cookbook of recipes from around the British coast. I shall really enjoy trying out some of the recipes - seafood is my favourite food! Sara also cooked breakfast - poached eggs, "eggy bread" and mushrooms. We went to church as usual at 9.30 a.m. It was a Parish Eucharist and Nils preached on stewardship campaign and the importance of giving money to the church. We are now digging into our reserves and need to increase pledged giving to pay the parish share to the Salisbury Diocese. We stayed behind for a short time for coffee before setting off for my treat - a visit to Portsmouth's Historical Dockyard where our tickets would allow us access to HMS Mary Rose, HMS Victory and HMS Warrior as well as the Museum and a Harbour Boat Trip. The weather was warm but slightly overcast when we got there and parked in the designated multi-storey car park. The first thing we did was to have a sausage/cod roe and chips lunch seated on The Hard overlooking HMS Warrior. Fully replenished we entered the Dockyard and decided to visit the Mary Rose Museum first to see some of the 19,000 items brought up with the wreck. These were fascinating and gave a good insight into the life at sea in Tudor times. Whilst in there we were notified of a bomb alert and made to go to the back of the Museum. After about five minutes we were given the all clear - no doubt some student's back pack! From the Museum we walked through the Dockyard to HMS Victory and the Mary Rose itself housed in special building where the timbers are still being kept wet with a waxy liquid. It was not that easy to see the ship because the tropical conditions used to preserve it steam up the glass as we view it from the air-conditioned gallery. Leaving the Mary Rose we then visited HMS Victory and toured the ship from the hold to the quarter deck where Nelson received his fatal wound at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. Leaving Victory we enjoyed a pot of tea (the children ice creams) before investigating the shops where I bought each of the children a book on Nelson/Battle of Trafalgar and treated myself to a facsimile copy of an early Nelson biography and a book of facts about HMS Victory. We ran out of time for the main Museum, HMS Warrior and the Harbour Boat Trip but our tickets entitle us to come back and do those another day - can't wait to get back. Tonight wrote up this blog after scanning some more old family photographs and dealing with some emails. Must be up early in the morning as it is a day in Dorking and I've agreed to pick up Anthony at Grateley Station at 7.30 a.m. How I wish every day were like today - a fantastic day spent with the family! Precious time made better by the fact that both Tom and Mary were fascinated by the history surrounding the place and the exhibits.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment