Joe and I are leaving on a cruise tomorrow. We got a great deal on a last minute cruise to Norway and Iceland. It is a two week cruise and we will be stopping in five cities in Norway and three in Iceland. We will be two days in Reykjavik (Iceland's capitol). I have heard nothing but raves about the beautiful scenery through the Norwegian Fjords and can't wait! Hopefully real pretty pictures coming on my next blog. I even have a new camera to try out!
Meanwhile we have been keeping busy puttering around England. We went to Bradgate Park (a large park (840 acres) in our area) on a sunny day and enjoyed watching the Brits play. Lots of children and pets. There is a river (looked more like a creek to me) running through the park that was really drawing the folks. There are no outdoor pools here. (At least I haven't seen any or heard of any). The weather is not warm enough and even if it is, the summer temperatures go down into the 50's at night during the summer months so the water would never stay warm. The kids sure loved to play in the water.
It came as no surprise to us that on the grounds of this park stood the ruins of an old manor house. You cannot go very far in this country without running into one, (or a castle). Bradgate House was built in 1520. It was built by the grandson of Sir John Grey of Groby who was married to Elizabeth Woodville in 1464. (After John Grey died Elizabeth married King Edward IV, the first commoner to ever marry an English sovereign.) {In a previous blog I told how Elizabeth's two young sons (after their father the King died) were murdered at The Tower of London and buried under the steps by their uncle, who then became King Richard III}.
Bradgate House was lived in by the Grey family for the next 220 years. It was the birthplace of Lady Jane Grey, later Queen for 9 days before being overthrown by Mary I and executed in 1553. Her father was executed a year later and the house passed to the crown. After many years of different owners the house went into decline. Eventually it did end up going back to the Grey family. In 1928 the Grey's sold the whole estate to a local businessman who gave it in perpetuity to the people of Leicestershire. The ruins remain on the property.
Work wise things have been going well for Joe. He doesn't like to toot his own horn but a lot of the changes he has implemented have resulted in more sales/profits for the company. They actually had a record year last year and are beating that record this year. The employees really like him (I haven't met anyone who doesn't yet) and will hate to see him go when his time is up.
I have been happy to hold down the fort on the home front. I don't like not having a dog but it isn't possible with my upcoming travel. As soon as we get back from the cruise I am flying out to Washington state to visit my sisters and my mom. So no fostering until I'm going to be here for an extended period of time.
Sorry for the extremely short blog, but I have a million things to do!
Kathy
So excited for your trip! Erik's family and the Elefson's come from Telemark county. Not sure you'll get there. Erik's family is from Porsgrunn (notice most of the toilets, say PP on the-for the big Porsgrunn porcelain factory!) and the Elefson's were north of Skien on the lake Tinn. I'm so excited for you to see Norway. I love it so much!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteIt sounds lovely!
ReplyDeleteOutdoor (public) pools (lidos) aren't common here, although there are a few. I think a lot of thes there used to be were a bit Spartan - unheated changing rooms and so on, and were either closed or 'upgraded' to indoor pools. It's a shame. I like outdoor pools :)