London - July 8

Found us researching going up to see Ian and Judy today. It took forever but we finally did figure out a route with Ian's help over the phone. I would never have figured out that we needed to take the train to Stowmarket. So if you know people where you are traveling they certainly make a good resource for information. It took a little over two hours to get there but it was well worth the journey.

The English countryside is really pretty. Get out away from the hustle and bustle of the city and you can see what the "real" people live like in England. There are rolling hills of many different grains and sugar beets, very beautiful. Soon the harvest will begin and all of the farmers will be very busy.

Ian met us at the station when we arrived. We had a wonderful short reunion at the station and then went off to pick up Judy to go to lunch. Went to a little local pub (The Four Horseshoes) and had a wonderful meal and great conversation.

On returning to the house we got the grand tour of their 18th century mansion. They have really done a lot of work to the house and the outbuildings. The building at one time had been a support building for a corn mill. The original post and beams are visible throughout the house. Judy has been masterful with her decorating and it is picture perfect. And of course it has a thatch roof, truly amazing.

We went out for a walk then through the fields that surround their home. Again I was taken by the English countryside. We walked along the edge of wheat, barley, and beet fields and through some sheep pastures. One of the stops along the way was at a barn that had been constructed in three different centuries. The oldest part was constructed in the 15th, another part in the 16th, and the last in the 17th. The original posts and beams are still in use to hold up the roof. The historical group has been trying to get John, the owner, to thatch the roof but since they are not willing to help with the construction costs it probably will not happen.

When we arrived back at the house we had some pimms. Fruit and lemonade drink with a little gin tossed in. It really hit the spot. We parted company with a promise to stay for a few days next time instead of just a few hours. It was a wonderful day.