I told you it was cold yesterday! We had 15cm of snow overnight, here is the Motel car park with our hire car (on the right). Quite a few roads closed, but I insisted we get on the move as there was more snow forecast for the end of the week and we needed to be back in London.

Rae was quite hesitant at first, but soon got the hang of it. The leon's traction control and front wheel drive were brilliant. The main road (A31) had been gritted (spread with rock salt) and was not too bad. The original plan had been to head north from Alton to get on to the M4 and approach Heathrow as directly as possible.

With the snow closing a lot of the B roads, plan 'B' was implemented and we followed the A 31 east. The problem was when we got to Farnham, there had been a truck accident and the road was closed from there on. So it was North through Aldershot and Farnborough on the A331 to the M4.

London was brought to a total standstill on Monday, this was the heaviest snow fall in the capital in seventeen years. I had managed to book accommodation in Slough, close to Heathrow so we could drop off the car on Tuesday morning, and then at one of the hotels on the strip at Heathrow so we would not have to get up too early on Friday. Willesden Green (Nat and Laura's) is nearly two hours by train from Heathrow and with the threat of more snow I wanted to be close enough to yell at someone if the flight was delayed. The basic issue is, that despite what you may believe England (especially the south) is not equiped to handle heavy snow fall. On Monday morning there were no buses or trains running in London. Neither the Buses or trains could leave their depots, not to mention the fact that there was no way for drivers to get in too work. In any event we had a very picturesque ending to our travels.

Very cold day today, we slept late and just made it to church in time for the sermon. After a carvery lunch at the 'Windmill Inn' in Four Marks we returned to Chawton to visit 'the house'. An interesting and informative display. A great many artifacts and personal items are on display. It is interesting to learn, how the events in Jane's life have found their way into her books. She wrote of the world in which she lived. There is a copy of a reply to a court official who wished her to write a novel about the house of Hanover. Jane refused, saying in effect she wrote of what she knew, and would be incapably of doing anything worth while in that regard.

St. Nicholas' church Chawton, we went to the 10.30 service this morning. Sat across the aisle from the Austin pew, fortunately Rae did not notice, or I fear she would not have been able to concentrate.

The forcast is for 6 inches of snow tonight, so expect to see more snow pictures as we head back to London tomorrow.

Winchester today, we spent about an hour and a half in the Cathedral. There was a special tourist fair on, so we got in for free. A truly amazing place which perhaps gives a glimpse of what Glastonbury must have been like.

The profusion of tombs and memorials is mind numbing. Of particular interest to me were the chests which had contained the bones of ancient Kings. It's a strange thing to realize, that Alfred (whose statue stands in the man street outside) we are told saved England from the Vikings, yet the bones of a Viking King of England are in the Cathedral along with some of Alfred's decendants.

These small statues on the side of one of the chantry chapels reminded me of the fragments we had seen in Glastonbury. Each one a finely carved work of art. Of course for Rae there is only one tomb of any consequence in Winchester, that of a certain female writer. Now aware of the link Rae declared we were while staying in Four Marks going to visit Jane Austin's old home in Chawton.

But before we get to that, here is a quize for you!




Why is this 'Diver' a hero? Well off you go! I'm not going to tell you.

Well this morning was very interesting. Rae had not even heard of Glastonbury so it came as quite a surprise to her. I found the place quite moving, the sense of history is so real. I think the guide book says it all, "a Christian sanctuary so ancient that only legend can record its origin." just for GM here is a shot of Arthur's burial site. There are actually two markers, one in the old cemetery where the monks found the bodies in 1191, and the site inside the choir of the great church where the remains were reburied in 1278 with Edward I as witness. The Museum is very well laid out and quite informative. The map showing the Abbey's properties in the surrounding area and further afield give a very good idea of what Henry was after. In wealth, the Abbot of Glastonbury (not that he owned anything) would have ranked quite high on the social scale.

Still quite cold this morning, but I'm begining to feel human again. We moved on and after stopping in to Frome to stock up on Gluten Free food for Rae at the Sainsbury's super store we were off to Amesbury and Stonehenge. (I must get around to constructing my little model when I get home.)
We didn't linger too long at stonehenge, it is surprising how cold it can get when the wind gets a good run up at you.

Thursday, an interesting drive down from Oxford to Glastonbury, with a look at Bath on the way. The Roman remains are quite impressive, we even saw an archeologist at work. They are still excavating whenever they can get the chance. Like most places here there is interesting stuff under just about everything. The forcast for the weekend has gone all cold and miserable on us so we may find somewhere to hole up and have a day off on Saturday. Hope to get to Salisbury for Sunday.

Well we got back from Germany in one piece, had a day off then picked up our Avis hire car then off to the West. The weather has not been cooperative at all, cold and damp. Evidence you say well cope this! Yes, that is the Uffington White horse, visible from about twenty meters. The most sensible place to be is somewhere warm and dry.

It took a little while, but we found somewhere.
Had some nice pigeon breast for Lunch. We have been sticking to the side roads most of the time just to soak up the scenery. The distances travelled are really quite short, but then the daylight is also in short supply as well.

Much to Gil's annoyance we didn't spend much time in Oxford. It was too cold and damp to spend much time on foot. Oh, bye the way If anyone hears me complain about roundabouts back home they have my permission to give me a good kicking. We have encountered roundabouts nesting in roundabouts, with traffic lights in them. I'm not sure who is responsible for the Oxford ring road, but the parliamentary forces will never find their way in. Mind you, the Royalists will never find their way out either.

Berlin! Our very nice Hotel was just down the street from Check Point Charlie right in the center of the city. There is still a lot of building going on as old buildings destroyed during the war are rebuilt. There is even a plan to rebuild the old Hohenzolleren palace, the remains of which were destroyed by the Communists in the 50s it is due to be finished in 2015. The statue! Guess who?

Very cold, ice on the ground and patches of snow here and there.