VISIT TO BREXIT COUNTRY
On July 14th we set off to visit the UK.
BASTILLE DAY
In the evening of July 13th, the day before Bastille day, towns and villages all over France stage a procession through the town followed by a Fireworks display.
I never feel comfortable with this event as it seems to celebrate a very dark time in French history that I sometimes think they have never recovered from. The Bastille, a French prison for political prisoners, was liberated at the beginning of the French Revolution in the late 1700's and considerable violence ensued resulting in the deaths of many aristocrats. Britain came close to doing the same but fortunately avoided it.
Anyway the processions are held in good humour, led by a band and with many people including very small children carrying candles.
This year, of course, the celebrations were marred by a mass murderer using a truck to kill and wound many people in Nice in the South of France on the Mediterranean.
On Bastille Day we set off to travel by road to the UK. This is a view of the terrain on the way to Roscoff , the ferry port on the North coast of Brittany. The weather looks promising.
Roscoff from across the Harbour.
The ferry boat, ARMORIQUE, unloading before we get on.
The Irish ferry entering the harbour as we leave.
In daytime the crossing takes six hours and we had perfect weather all the way.
The first thing I do is catch up with the financial world! It was actually the only English Language paper remaining!!
Some tough looking bikie types on board with us. Note the badge reads "Sons of Arthritis" "Ibuprofin chapter"!
Sister ship going the other way.
Nothing done to prettify this jetty, the first thing you see on arrival in Plymouth, since last year. Daggy as ever.
Our hotel, Welbeck Manor. It looks like Fawlty Towers and turns out to be very much like it without Basil Fawlty but had a cast of characters of its own.
Long story but Cathy managed to get our room changed to this one for the second and third of our three nights.
This is the view from the window overlooking the golf course. Sort of home from home.
Cathy with Aunty Joan, my mothers sister. She turns 98 in December and is in a lot better shape than she was last year. They are walking through The Barbican, the part of Plymouth from which the Plymouth Brethren left for America and the convict ships left for Australia.
Plaque commemorating the departure from here of the "Mayflower" to Plymouth, New England, USA on 16 Sept 1620.
Commemorating Cornish people who left from here in large numbers bound for South Australia in the 19th century.
Commemorating convict ships "Friendship and Charlotte" under the command of Captain Arthur Phillip which sailed for Australia 13 March 1787.
Commemorating the three voyages of discovery under command of Captain James Cook 1768, 1772 and 1776.
In the background are the steps from which those ships sailed.
Removing an eyesore from Plymouth Hoe. A welcome start to improving the area.
Bride setting out for church from Welbeck Manor.
The entrance to Plymouth harbour from a vantage point to the East.
Photos from around the Hotel.
The Miners Arms where we had lunch.
PORTISHEAD
Next stop is to visit sister Sue.
A retired lifeboat pulling in to the marina outside Sues window. People are buying these old craft and converting them for cruising.
Garth, a former neighbour during our teens and occasional golfing partner.
Sue.
GERRARDS CROSS (near London)
On 20th July Sue drove us to visit our cousin John Hardwick and his wife Chris in their new home.
Out to lunch.
Photos taken around the Grand Union Canal which runs from London to Birmingham.
In John and Chris's back garden.
That's a hedge and a half!
My first thought was "How on earth do they trim that?"
It turns out John has a gantry which he erects alongside the hedge and does it bit by bit. He even has to go into the neighbours garden to do the other side. The neighbours have only just moved in so the hedge has been accepted by them. They have two bedroom windows which would otherwise overlook Johns garden. Fortunately they only need to trim twice a year.
"THE BRISTOL" golf clubhouse.
Playing partner Pat. One of the River Severn bridges to Wales can be seen in the background.
Out to lunch with Sally at The Brass Mill pub in Keynsham, Bristol close to where Sue and I came into this world.
Sues son John and his wife Karen on Sues veranda.
Sue with Anna, John and Karen's daughter, busy on the computer.
The official opening of a new grocery store immediately below Sues flat. The mascot represents the RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institute) which itself has only recently had a new lifeboat station built in Portishead.
MUSSELBURGH FESTIVAL
Next stop Musselburgh, Scotland.
We are there for the festival known as "THE RIDING OF THE MARCHES".
The festival dates back to before 1682 (which is the first one recorded. It was held before that but records were destroyed in a fire).
Every 21 year the borders of the town of Musselburgh are inspected to make sure the aristocracy hasn't encroached. Musselburgh is 15Km east of Edinburgh, Scotland's capital.
This is the third one we have attended and this time Cathy is determined to ride a horse in the parade on Saturday at the end of the week. She has been in training for some time.
PARADE TO CHURCH
The first major event of the week is a march to the church for a service to dedicate the principals of the festival. This year, for the first time, it is an ecumenical service. Representatives from five different church organisations took part.
Ready for the service. Scrub up nicely don't we?!
Musselburgh Town Hall in the background with Parade participants moving to take up their positions.
Principals and Town dignitaries lead the parade.
Followed by former Lads. Third from left is Jacky Powell, Cathy's former folk singing partner.
And Lasses.
Cathy walking with Janie Hall, Honest Lass after Cathy in 1966.
Council dignitories.
One of many colourful horses placed around the town. This being very much a horsey event.
The service.
Cathy with her Honest Lad of 1965, Rob Hardy.
A WALK AROUND MUSSELBURGH
Putting flowers on the Steedman family grave at St Michaels church.
The grave has a view of Arthurs seat, the rock in the background, which is in Edinburgh!
The River Esk.
The Roman Bridge.
Golfing memorabilia at the Brig Tavern overlooking the Roman Bridge.
On top the bridge. Tavern in the background.
Jimmy and Wilma's back garden. Impressive stripes!
THE RACECOURSE
The Musselburgh racecourse has just celebrated its 200th anniversary. It surrounds the Golf course which they claim is THE WORLDS OLDEST GOLF COURSE. The original date is imprecise but is circa 1500.
Between the race course and the sea is LEVENHALL LINKS and nature reserve.
View from the reserve.
A DAY TRIP TO EDINBURGH
Cathy at the foot of Sir Walter Scotts monument.
Highland coo.
Inside FINLAYS butchers at Portobello where we bought some of their famous Haggis for dinner.
A selection of photos at Musselburgh harbour.
GOLFING AT NORTH BERWICK
The golf course is called "The Glen". Why they gave it that name is a mystery as this photo is taken from the first green, a par four from the club house down there! "The Mountain" would be a more appropriate title.
In the background is the town of North Berwick where our Andrew worked in a pub called "The Golfers Rest" and spent time with Ernie Els and friends when Ernie was playing in the British Open at Muirfield.
There are many golf courses here in East Lothian which has become known as"The Golf Coast".
Alastair and Jimmy with Bass Rock in the background, looking East. The Rock is white because it is totally covered with nesting sea birds!
The nineteenth hole, THE OPEN ARMS" where we went for a meal after the game.
TURF CUTTING
This photo got in by accident but it seemed appropriate so left it!
As part of Festival Week there is a turf cutting procession. The Town Champion and his aids with support of the locals ride around the border of the town and at certain stations stop to cut a symbolic turf. The turf cutter tosses the turf over his shoulder and proclaims "It's a' oor ain" (It's all ours)
Exhibits in the Musselburgh museum.
Town Champion.
After a turf cutting.
We didn't get much rain but it had to do it the moment we decided to have a bar-b-que!
THE RIDEOUT
Cathy with Margaret Black (Honest Lass 1975)
With Jeananne Hunter (Honest Lass 1975), who visited us in Australia.
With May White (H Lass 1947)
In background is Norma Turnbull, Wilma's cousin (H Lass 1955)
With Janie Hall (H Lass 1966)
Jackie Powell and Margaret Orr (1967)
With Graham Bennett (1986 + Caroline Grant) and Neil Wilson (1993)
Meet DUKE for the first time and bribe him with a polo mint!
early struggle
and voila!
With L to R Jeanette Aitcheson (1963), George Innes (1961), Sylvia Gifford (1964)
Dave Stillie.
Alerick Bonthron.
Cathy with Caroline Grant (1986)
With May White (1947) and Helen Falkner (1950)
Fame, at last! Made the pages of the EAST LOTHIAN COURIER.
Birds gathering at the mouth of the ESK river.
MUSSELBURGH TO CHALGROVE
What a find! We run into a car boot sale in the borders. I was able to pick up 4 Broons and Our Wully annuals. Much sought after by the family in Australia.
Scotland, England border.
I won't mention the road trip down except to say the school holidays are in full swing!
Cutesy-pie Chalgrove where Cathy's sister Elsie lives!
A happening!!
Elsie's friend, known as Luigi but real name Sean, who was Ian's, Elsie's husband deceased, co-captain paid a visit. While he was there the local vicar, Canon Ian Cohen, came to wish Elsie well on her next venture to stay indefinitely with her daughter Elise and family in Ireland.
Elsie, looking remarkably well.
CHALGROVE TO PLYMOUTH
Plympton High Street.
Love the name. Told you Aussie, ozzie, ozzie was a West Country chant!
We stopped over at Fawlty Towers again and visited Aunty Joan next day.
FERRY TRIP BACK TO FRANCE
August 3rd we are heading back to France aboard The Armorique.
That jetty again!
The demolition of one eyesore complete.
Entrance to the harbour where the ships to America and Australia once sailed.
Once we reached open water there was a howling gale and the kids and Adults alike were having great fun leaning into it.
Famous lighthouse about 20Kms off shore warning of dangerous rocks. This is a modern one, the original stone lighthouse was dismantled and moved to Plymouth Hoe.
Apart from the wind and swell the crossing was fine.
BREXIT
This has been a fascinating journey of investigation.
The result of the referendum to remain or leave the EUROPEAN UNION was:
REMAIN 16,141,242
LEAVE 17,410,742
A difference of 1.3 million in favour of leaving
I told many people we met I was doing a survey to find out why they made the decision they did. That put me in a neutral stance and we got straight answers.
It seems the main reason older people wanted out was that they feared Britain was loosing its identity, that the bureaucracy in Brussels was far too big and expensive and they were making up regulations which were interfering with Britain's Sovereignty. I was told the Brussels government was undemocratic because it was unelected (yet to check that out).
The European court was being used more and more to appeal against and overrule decisions made by British courts.
Then there is the problem of immigration and refugees. Britain is a small country but because of its stability and relative affluence was a big magnet for "economic" refugees which are threatening to overwhelm it. I was told if a so-called refugee arrives with his three wives and many children and claims to be penniless the country felt obliged to supply them with shelter and sustenance.
Interestingly I learnt that although surveys showed that 80% of people under 25 wished to stay, only 25% of them voted and that the over 55's who preferred to leave had the time and used it to go and vote. Unfortunately, unlike Australia, voting is not compulsory and the end result is a lottery.
I got the feeling that emotionally Britains largely wanted to stay (Huge numbers flow back and forth to the continent, we witnessed that on the PLYMOUTH/ROSCOFF ferry) but the current structure just isn't working and needs to be fixed. There is a long way to go before the referendum result can be implemented, a couple of years. Maybe in that time they can sort things out.
One young person I know swore they would never stand up for an old person on the bus again!
Personally, I hope Britain doesn't leave. The country will always be there, of course, regardless of any action taken but the quality of life will have to go down hill. After all what has Britain got to offer the world that is unique and allows it to stand independently of the European Union (with its trading agreements), cheddar cheese, whisky and one or two other things! Hardly enough to feed a population which has just passed the 65 million mark!
RUSSIA
To my Russian BLOG followers from which there were many hits. I hope you have enjoyed our journey up and down the UK as we have?
We enjoyed our visit to St Petersburg a couple of years ago.
