UK Summer Itinerary

Week  One -  May 27- June 2.

London. Canterbury. Deal. The Victoria and Albert Museum exhibition of Ocean Liners.Train to Salisbury. My cosy cabin. Bell Ringing demonstration. Party time for a cousin's 18th.

Week Two - June 3-9

Evensong in Salisbury Cathedral.  Practise, practise, practise. Bus trip to Bournemouth                         and the Russell-Cotes' House. Working in the Library. David Hall's piano recital in aid of the ailing organ. Bus trip to Bath and the Holburne Museum with Dutch masterpieces from National Trust houses. First rehearsal of the Rossini's Italian Girl in Algiers Overture and the Petit Messe Solonelle. Baroque trio sonatas with friends.

Week Three  - June 10-16   

Evensong in the Cathedral. A very special service in commemoration of the ending of WW1. Excursion to the Isle of Wight by train, bus and super fast ferry. Rehearsal with the Millstream Orchestra. Walks around Salisbury where John Constable painted. Second rehearsal for the Rossini. Lunch with Meryl in a pub in Fordingbridge listening to Nia on the radio, singing and being interviewed for a whole hour! My concert with the Millstream after lunch at St.Mary's, also in Fordingbridge. 

Week Four  - June 17-23 

Morning service at the Cathedral. Fete in the afternoon at the Bishop's residence. Bus trip to Devizes, north of  Salisbury.  Practise, practise, practise. Visit to beautiful Arundells House, a couple of houses beyond my cabin. In watching Downton Abbey on my return to the US, I recognized Arundells as the home of the Dowager Duchess (Maggie Smith)! More aristocrats, the visit of Prince Charles and Camilla to Salisbury. The BIG day - rehearsal in the afternoon and the concert in the Cathedral in the evening. 

Week Five - June 24-30 

Last walk around Salisbury with Louise, packing up and one last Evensong. Meryl and I drive to Wales to visit Cousin Stuart. 2 night visit with Meryl's friends in Cardiff. Train and ferry to Dublin, Ireland. Meet up with family for 4 days. Visit to Guinness Factory. Game of Throne Bus Tour to Northern Ireland. Bus trip to Belfast to the Titanic exhibit.

Week Six - July 1-7

Family to the US. I took a Hop On-Hop Off bus all around Dublin. Flight to Doncaster-Sheffield to my Dad's family. Visit to Chatsworth House. Family get-togethers. School sports day for young cousin. Drive to Beverly, good market town. Drive to York with Clare and Noreen for dinner with Randy and Lynn, my next hosts. Superb York Early Music Festival concert by the Rose Concert (Alison Crum) and Gallicantus. 2+ hours drive to R and L's home. 

Week Seven - July 8-15

6 days of wonderful peace and quiet. Lots of walks. Visit to the Weardale Museum and High House Chapel where John Wesley preached. Bus to explore Hexham. To Durham, twin town to Durham NC, to explore and go to evensong in the Cathedral. Next day to York for more viol playing and a superb concert in York Minster by The Sixteen. Lunch in a traditional pub. Watch Prom #1. Last hike on the burn and the moor, then party time! Visit neighbor's nontraditional home newly built but looks several centuries old. Last drive over the moors to  Penrith. Train to Leominster to visit college friend Janet, who lives in Presteigne on the border of  Wales and England. Watched Prom#3.

Week Eight - July 16 - 21

Beautiful countryside for walking. Shopping at Knighton, a town not far away. Interesting information there on the Offa Dyke. Walked a section of it near Presteigne. Visit Ludlow, medieval castle, lunch in the courtyard. Movie " The Bookshop". Release in the US on Aug. 24th. Train to Reading, home of the Kennet and Avon Canal. Now very upmarket with the Oracle shopping Centre. Commemorative walk to Oscar Wilde along the canal in front of Reading Goal. Continue on to London for Louise's 70th birthday. 

Week 9 - July 22 and 23rd. 
Party time! Great friends, food, wine and weather! Monday 23 - 6am taxi to Heathrow. Reality kicked right in, but what memories!