In Royal Footsteps-southern England and the long way home.

[drron]

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Through the gate it was quite overgrown.
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[drron]

There are fish in the ponds.
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The new wing is under the structure to the left.
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A maze.
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[drron]

And now some of mrsdrron's flowers.
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[drron]

A little rest and we were going to go for another walk but the rain came so we drove down a beautiful back road to a deer reserve.
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This fellow was a little jealous of the attention we were giving the deer.
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We went back the long way.The rain didn't stop.
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[drron]

That night this little fellow strode alongside the pool while we were having pre dinner drinks.
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For dinner mrsdrron started off with the scallops and pork belly whilst I had the beef tartare.
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Mrsdrron followed up with the salmon and I had the lamb rump.
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We didn't need desserts.

 

[drron]

So we do recommend Rhinefield house.But it is time to leave and we are headed to Oatley Hall hotel at Oakley just outside Basingstoke.Not a long drive.
But I always liked this song.

So we just had to visit Winchester on the way.No problems getting to the closest carpark to the Cathedral.Lucky tat a car left as we arrived though.
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[drron]

It is a magnificent cathedral.
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[VPS]

My memories of Winchester 11/11/1982 - Youth Hostel above a water mill. I don't mind the cold but it was effing freezing so adjourned to pub across the road consumed copious amounts of alcohol and went back to hostel and into bed fully clothed. Other memory of the day - Alderman tackled by a spectator and out of the Ashes - the things you remember

 

[drron]

Well in early June 2019 it was very cold and wet so it seems little different from winter.
Mrsdrron loves stained glass windows and Winchester cathedral has a few.
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[drron]

Ceilings and floors.
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But there is no excuse for those that did this.
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An old wall painting found when renovating this small chapel.
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And the underground room which floods every winter except the last one.
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[drron]

Icons sent back from Crimea.
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[drron]

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Then there is the history.Jane Austen and a family that served Queen Elizabeth 1 and King James.
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[drron]

I then took a walk to the former Bishops residence.History all the way.
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[drron]

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The current bishops house.
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Next to the ruins of the old bishop's castle.
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[drron]

Now a stroll up and down the main street.Mostly too expensive but we did find a Laura Ashley store having a sale.This bird obviously doesn't let anything worry him.
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At the bakery I found the second best pastie in England.
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But Starbucks need a geography lesson.
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[drron]

The last of Winchester.
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Statue of King Alfred the Great.
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[drron]

Then on to the nights office.Again missed the last very little sign but eventually got there.Oakley Hall Hotel.Our room.
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And the view.
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[OATEK]

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But Starbucks need a geography lesson.
View attachment 173488.

I guess when you live close to the tropics you notice these sorts of things. They certainly drew the line a long way above Rocky!