Monday, October 13, 2014

And then the bottom fell out

A visit to the Surrey grandchildren (and their parents) at the weekend. Most scrumptious time with lots of running around, playing and hugs. GrandSon3 smiled at me and didn't cry once - except when he thought he'd been left alone with me.

We enjoyed a walk (run) by the Thames opposite Runnymede with a huge conker haul! GrandSon1 didn't quite share Granny's enthusiasm for collecting though, but he'll grow into it.
Then on Sunday another river stroll but this time opposite Eel Pie Island, a private island in the middle of the Thames, that was famous at one time for the hotel where you could see the Stones or the Who, or later Black Sabbath and Pink Floyd perform. In fact just about anyone who was anyone played there. 
The bridge to Eel Pie Island. It's said Charles Dickens liked to drink on the island and even Henry VIIIth wasn't averse to calling in for some eel pie.
We were more fascinated by the beach park on our side of the river where an enclosed area has been turned into a beach with Viking ships and hidden treasure - replicas of archaeological artefacts that have been found in the area. (And they're attached to the ground so can't be removed in case, like me, you were wondering how they didn't get lost.)

Our journey home was slightly unusual. Early on the journey on the M4 we saw signs warning of traffic delays on the Severn bridge. That turned into 'an incident' and the bridge being closed. As it turned out by the time we got there there was no problem crossing - but we had been stuck in a traffic jam for about half an hour before that.

And then the bottom fell out of the car.

Not entirely, in fact, hardly at all but enough to make it sound as though we were in a wind tunnel. So we got home safely but noisily.

P.S. The incident on the bridge was a protest by anti-ISIS protestors who stopped their cars in the middle lane. While I am as anti-ISIS as anyone I can't see what good it does making a number of drivers angry - and particularly as we didn't know what the hold-up was until we got home and heard it on the 10 o'clock news.


12 comments:

nick said...

I agree, I can't see what an anti-ISIS protest on the Severn Bridge could possibly achieve apart from angry motorists. It's certainly not going to stop a ruthless fanatical army in its tracks any time soon.

Liz Hinds said...

I wouldn't have thought so, Nick. More likely to create a fanatical army of people wanting to get home.

CherryPie said...

It sounds like a fabulous trip apart from the hold up.

Nice photos to go with it :-)

Ole Phat Stu said...

Did you know that when at Runnymede you can visit the USA without having to go through immigration?

There is a small park there - in memory of JFK - which was given to the USA a couple of decades ago; I believe it is part of DC.

Liz Hinds said...

It was lovely, cherrypie.

Yes, we've been there, stu, and walked on US soil.

Furtheron said...

I do find some protests mind boggling. I can see ISIS instantly renouncing their claim on the lands they have seized and giving up the caliphate so that people don't get delayed going to Wales...

The one I liked the best was witnessing the anti-capitalist protesters attacking John Lewis once. Ok it may have the image of the height of middle class England but it is actually about the best functioning worker owned company in the world.

mrsnesbitt said...

What is it about conkers? We haven't managed to give any away to budding conker players - just bags to people who want to keep spiders at bay!

Liz Hinds said...

It's probably because conkers have been banned in schools, mrs n.

I agree, furtheron. Protestors need to think before they act!

Katney said...

Once again I had to resort to the dictionary to find out what conkers are. I thought I knew till I hit the comments, and then I was totally in the dark. I don't think we call them that here.

Rose said...

Seeing your photos makes me want to travel to the UK so badly. Isn't Runnymede where the Magna Carta was signed? I was thinking of all the history here so when you said the Stones once visited the island in the Thames, I was trying to remember what historical event that was referring to:)

I totally agree with the protesters, but stopping traffic in your own country doesn't seem very productive.

Liz Hinds said...

You don't have conkers, katney?! What do you call them then?

Yes, the Magna Carta was signed at Runnymede, Rose. And it's not far from Windsor castle.

Welshcakes Limoncello said...

Oh, dear - it sounded such a wonderful trip until the bottom fell out! What I want to know is, were the protesters singing "Men of Harlech"? Because that would scare 'em!