Gentle Adventures

The last few days have been full of gentle adventures. We went looking for another castle and found out that it was actually a church complete with a cemetery full of ancient headstones with names that sounded famous (at least well known). Beside the church was park with huge trees lining paths and natural open fields where people were walking their dogs.

A small waterway with its banks all lined with bricks and stones curved through the center of the park. And some moms with small boys with bags of bread were feeding the swans and ducks and gulls.

We also passed over a large green metal foot bridge with more park land on the other side. There was even a tea house in the more formal part of the park but we didn't stop for tea.

Yesterday Samantha took me shopping in Kingston and showed me her favorite shops in the lovely mall with escalators running up and down between the numerous floors. The center of the mall had a gigantic cathedral ceiling made out of glass cut in diamonds shapes. It was lovely with the sun shining through but it was amazing with tiny lights when it grew dark before we left.

Sam and I had fun and we had to make two trips to the car so we could unload our bundles so that we could shop some more.

Off the mall we found a cobbled street with throngs of people and live musicians and a little sign that said "Antiques". After lunch at a place called "Little Italy" we found the antique shop with wooden floorboards and lovely old furniture and much to our delight one wooden floor lead to another and still another and then a stairway brought us to another level of little rooms full of treasures from many eras. We lost two hours in that place but we gained a few fun treasures.

Today Greg took me to NonSuch park and we walked a few miles through miles through the roadways and paths. Some parts reminded me of the secret garden story while others were more like the Hampton Court gardens. A mansion is in the middle and Sam says that it can be rented for weddings and such. What a setting that would be for any main event. A few blossoms showed a glimmer of the color that would be in spring or summer.

In the heart of the woodsy area we could see some of the green parakeets that live wild in the Surrey area. We saw some big squirrels and fat pigeons that looked quite pleased to have such a healthy environment to live in.

We are going out for dinner tonight at a place called "Thia Jasmine" (now that I am fully broken in - that is how Sam worded it). So I'm am going to wear my new English skirt, boots and jacket with my pashmina to keep my cosy.

Did I die and go to heaven? Or am I still in England?