Saturday night – timewarp

Woke today with a sore throat and fever.. but happy none the less.. we had the whole day to ourselves and I wasn’t going to let a bug keep me from enjoying it. Diane had planned a three hour walk to some of our favorite Winchester sites .. We took off at 8 and got back around 11:30.. It was a great day for walking.. cool, windy and a occasional sprinkles.. much different than the 90 degree heat we hear we have at home

we were too early for breakfast (8 am ?!?) .. so we scrounged in the hotel for food. I found some marmite (ewwwww). the hotel guy took pity on me and brought me some cheese..

then we took off on our 3 hour walk

fisrt stop was hyde gate .

and the new garden created to show where king Alfred and his family were buried back in the 11th century. theur

bones had been scattered after the dissolution of the catholic church here.. but modern excavations could at least show where they had been

then we passed by the 11th century church of St. John.. It was empty and unlocked.. we loved taking a look inside

soon we were out in the water meadows by the river Itchen

we then climbed St. Giles hill and took a look back at the city

from there we could see St. Catherines hill.. our next destination

as we came of St Giles we ran into the black rat, the black hole and the black boy.. strange names for places to eat

we walked the kitchen over to SSt Catherines

then up the steep climb to St. Catherines.. the cite of an Iron age hill fort.

it had a beautiful view of St Cross.. which is just down from where we lived

diane had put a smarten up here for our friend Catherine yesterday. and it was still here

then it was down to St. Cross

there were cows on the path so we had t go around

we passed a kid and dad practicing cricket.

St Cross is a working monetary with 23 friars. .. impressive place.. They still give pilgrims a piece of bread and salt if asked

sadly oe of the raids had recently died

we took a quick peek then headed back down the kitchen towards canon street

we found a noting pair of swans !

We then took a quick tour round the ruins of Wollsely castle.. this is about 2 blocks from where we lived. It wasn’t actually a castle.. more like luxury papillose for the very wealthy and powerful bishops of Winchester.

we took a quick walk back to see our old house

looked nice and lived in still !

then headed back down the street to the wykham.. here’s our old mailbox

it’s never too early for a good beer. I had to have a half pint of HSB

ann the wife of the former owner graham .. who passed away was there.. it was great catching up with her on who was still on the street (after 30 years _)

the place looked the same.. event the toilets !

check this out.. be careful what you invent 🙂 !

then we took a walk through the cathederal close.. it was beautiful as ever

heres the diver.. William somebody.. that saved the pilings that the cathedral was built on.. he went down in a primitive diving suit and shored up the rotting pilings to keep the cathederal.. which is built on wetlands.. from sinking..

we took a quick peek inside.. but didn’t want to spend 20 bucks.. so we didn’t tour

< hey running out of batteries.. so I’ll stop writing here.. i’ll update the text tomorrow>

OK.. at the airport.. can add some new stuff..

as we left the cathederal, we found an interactive light sculpture.. note to self.. . it’s hard to make something that lights up and is fun in broad daylight.

we took a walk back through the town.. check out this restaurant name.. feel like a salad ?

the street market was still going on in the high street

cool how this city blends new and old

at noon our old friend Phil showed up.. it’s been ages since we saw him. Phil and his wife Sue were like surrogate big brother and sister when we lived here in the 80’s.. we even traded houses with them in the early 90’s for a vacation.

Sadly Sue died about 5 years ago of breast cancer we all miss her.. and were thinking of her yesterday

Phil had invited two other old friends.. Martin ..

and my old runningg buddy Chris.. it was so great to see them both.. It was like no time had passed.. we dropped immediately into the state of our lives, kids, old friends.. it was really wonderful !

the meal was great too.. it had been a silk mill.. then a canteen for military workers.. then derelict.. now it was an awesome fresh foods restaurant with excellent beer and cider !