Hampton Court Palace

On our way to visit a friend we stopped by Hampton Court Palace. Hampton Court Palace was a palace of Henry VIII.

It was originally built for Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, a favorite of King Henry VIII in about 1514. When he fell from favor the palace was passed to the King.

At the beginning of the tour we got cloaks so we could look like the time period. We also got an audio tour. We started our tour in the kitchen. Most of the diet there was meat about 75%.  A list from the reign of Elizabeth I reveals the quantity of meat cooked in the royal kitchens in one year: 1,240 oxen, 8,200 sheep, 2,330 deer, 760 calves, 1,870 pigs and a modest 53 wild boar.

We began in the courtyard where the wagons loaded with food would arrive. Then went into where the meat was processed and then moved on to where the food was prepared and baked. They even had a fire in the fireplace.

J is preparing pies which are not dessert pies like we think of but rather meat pies.

There was a boiling pot where the meat would be cooked. Miss K was busy stirring the boiling pot.

I have to say that the kitchen was very interesting.

We walked through the gardens. There was a maze but we didn't do it. We saved that for our next trip.

We met this chap out in the garden.

Miss K wanted to take a photo of us. It is a rather interesting perspective of us.

We then wandered in and went to Henry VIII's apartments. We missed a bit of the tour as we had to give the audio tour back before we went to the garden so we didn't have that for that part of the tour.

We did see the reproduction of Henry VIII's crown. We also went to Chapel but couldn't take photos there. We did see a number of tapestries and other interesting things.

There was so much there that we didn't get to see. We will have to save that for our next visit. We decided that the family membership was the cheaper way to go so we will have to go back later.

It was an educational time.

Beth

St. Paul's

My husband had a meeting across the street from St. Paul's. So while he was in the meeting, the children and I walked around St. Paul's.

St. Paul's was designed by Sir Christopher Wren and was built between 1675 and 1710. Being here we are reminded how young things are in the US.

We normally school year round but knew that would not happen this summer with all the traveling. I did decide that some of this trip counts as school days and field trips.

Just across the street from this old building are new office buildings.

Miss K wanted to take a picture. That is always a challenge as you don't know what she is going to capture but thanks to digital photos I can delete them. We thought she had taken the photo and so I was walking to get the camera. The less time the camera is in her hands the better I feel.

Miss K likes to stand in the doorway and get her photo taken. I am not sure where or how that got started. She will do in a doorway and then go to the next one and ask for her photo again. That wasn't the door but the corner with her cheesy smile.

We walked all around and went into the gift shop. I wanted to buy a few post cards.

We also walked to the Millennium Bridge.  We looked up the river and in a distance could see the Tower Bridge.

That was our walk around while daddy was in a meeting.


Beth

London

We spent the night with some friends. Then this morning we went to church with them and that meant driving through London.

We walked past The Gherkin. It has a more formal name but is commonly known as "The Gherkin".

After the service, we went to a pub for lunch which was Sunday Roast. Then since we had time until the afternoon service we walked to the London Bridge where we could see the Tower Bridge.

On our way we walked past The Monument. This was built after the Great Fire which began near The Monument. The base was designed by Sir Christopher Wren.  It was completed in 1677.  We didn't have time to go to the top but you can pay and walk up 311 steps and get a nice view of the city.

We then continued our walk to London Bridge where we could look and see the Tower Bridge.

Then we walked a bit more and could see Tower of London.

As we turned around, we could see St. Paul's which was also designed by Sir Christopher Wren.

It was fun to be able to walk through parts of London and see a few of the landmarks.

Beth

RAF Museum

Our hostess knew that J likes airplanes and so she decided to take us to an RAF Museum. It is just about 10 minutes or so from where we are staying. The museum is free but you do need to pay for parking.

We went in and went to a hands area which was nice and had some different learning activities from what we have seen at other museums. One of the displays was different materials and how they flex.  There was another display, Heavier doesn't always mean stronger. Here is Miss K jumping on the steel and deciding which one is stronger.

J was experimenting with how the tail motor of a helicopter works. He said it is easy.

We walked around and looked at all the airplanes most of them WWII. There were two hangers with mostly WW II planes.

There was another building with mostly things from the Cold War. Miss K remembered the Cold War from her history timeline. We ate lunch at Checkpoint Charlie Cafe.

It was a fun visit. J asked if we were going back. I doubt that we will have time this trip but maybe again when we move.

Beth

Cannock Chase

We needed something to do the other evening to keep us awake for just a bit more time. It was too early to go to bed but if we stayed home we would do that. That would not help with jet lag so we went to Cannock Chase which is a short drive from where we are staying.

We drove here to see the deer. There are Fallow Deer here which were brought here either by the Romans or the Normans.  This was some hunting grounds for the Norman kings. Only the kings could kill deer which I am sure the common people were not happy with. We went looking for deer.

We walked a bit which I know was not quiet and peaceful.  It was absolutely surprising that we saw some deer. They were in a distance.

No, we didn't see a giraffe. For some reason when I looked at this photo it looked like a giraffe there in the distance.

We had a nice walk and it kept us awake a bit longer so we could get on this time zone.

Miss K needed a bit of help walking. Her brother is very good to her.

Beth

Oxford

My husband had a meeting in Oxford and so we tagged along. We didn't really have much planned and didn't have a lot of time. While he was talking, the kids and I went walking (that almost sounds like it should be a song).

We ate sandwiches at Morton's and then we went walking.

This is the garden at Lincoln College.

Miss K stood at the door and asked me to take her photo.  Then she went to the next door and asked me to take her photo.  I decided two doors was enough even though she wanted to keep getting her photo in front of the door.

We walked past Radcliffe Camera on our quick walk back to the car as our parking time was about up.

We didn't really have much time but we did walk and see a bit.

After my husband's meeting was over, we walked to Pitt Rivers Museum. As we walked in there was a bit of a Natural History museum. Of course, we had to deal with all the millions of years old things but my kids basically just ignore it. There were a number of things there with "please touch" signs. I love museums like that. We were able to touch a whale vertebrate.

There was a case there with different natural artifacts for each letter of the alphabet. You opened the drawer and could feel the item and guess what it was. Some were easy -- nest, quartz, and a few other things.

Then we went to the Pitt Rivers Museum. I don't know what I was expecting but it is not like any museum that I have ever been to. It was cases and cases of various items from all over the world. Things are grouped by item and not necessarily by country. So we saw a case of clay oil lamps from all over.

This was the best collection of nose flutes that I have every seen.

 
It was interesting but a bit overwhelming.

Beth

The Eagle and Child

Continuing our British Children's Author study today focusing on either C.S. Lewis or J.R.R. Tolkien we went to The Eagle and Child. My husband had a meeting in Oxford and so we tagged along. After the meeting, we walked to The Eagle and Child.

It was here in a back room that has since been remodeled that every Tuesday the Inklings would meet to discuss writing and the books they were writing. It was here that in the 1950's C.S. Lewis brought a copy of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe for review.

It was interesting to walk in and see the plaque on the wall telling about the Inklings and also to see some other things there.

We did get a picture of our family outside. I also got a photo of J as he enjoys both C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. I thought it would be a fun photo for him to have.

We had a bit more time and did a few other things there. I will try to post those photos soon.

Beth