The last three days have been a whirlwind of activity that included lots of cleaning and packing! Our last official day of the program was Wednesday,when we spent some time in class sorting out things like author studies and final projects (yes, we do have assignments interspersed with all of those field trips!!), then there was time to say our good byes to Alnwick and all of its many treasures. Wednesday evening found us gathered on the second level of Lilburns for a final dinner. Guests included Philip, Wade, Aaron, Glynn and Sue. It was an evening of excellent food prepared by chef Rod and good conversation with friends.
Bright and early on Thursday, beds were stripped and suitcases crammed with last minute items. Four of our group remained for more UK travel but they were up to see us off. We were gathered at the Barbican Gate by 6:45 am for the trip to Newcastle International Airport. Only a couple of moments of panic: for some unknown reason our coach could not trigger the electronic gate at the airport so we couldn't enter the parking lot for a few minutes and then, at the check in desk, Merton was told that we could only check one bag each and the rest would have to be paid for!! Needless to say, that wasn't acceptable or accurate, but it took a few minutes and a couple of phone calls to clear up. Our flight to Amsterdam and then our to flight to Minneapolis were uneventful. A bit of bumpiness over the UK and then we settled in; not even any crying babies or screaming toddlers this time. We actually arrived about 40 minutes early in Minnapolis. Customs was a breeze--apparently the drug sniffing beagle is not sensitive to chocolate!
The experiences have bonded us as a group--we are forever the 16 of the Summer 2008 British Children's Literature and Photography program. We have hundreds of memories, many of which can be shared, but others which are difficult to put into words and pictures--they just had to be experienced.
Friday, August 1, 2008
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Moody Mists
We woke to a heavy fog and mist mixture this morning. It didn't bode well for our coastal plans, but we forged ahead. As the coach took us towards the North Sea coast, the mist got thicker and thicker. When we stepped out of the coach in the tiny fishing village of Craster, we couldn't see our planned destination of Dunstanburgh Castle, some 1.25 miles ahead--as a matter of fact, we could hardly see 50 feet ahead of us. It was a misty and fog shrouded walk--we didn't actually see the Castle ruins until we opened the gate onto the last bit of walkway leading into the ruins. The mist gave everything a moody quality, and it gave an opportunity to take some photographs that would not have been possible under sunny conditions. We did find that it was a great day for slugs and snails, which I will spare you a picture of.
The next stop was supposed to be a boat trip out to Longstone Island to see the lighthouse that Grace Darling and her family were tending when Grace and her father made their famous rescue of passengers from the shipwrecked Forfarshire in September, 1838. The weather was so bad that we chose not to do the boat trip. It would have been most uncomfortable. No one seemed too upset about spending some time in the tourist village of Seahouses instead.
The last stop of the day was Bamburgh where we toured the Grace Darling Museum (very well done). We also made a stop at the St. Aidan's Church and the graveyard there. Grace Darling is buried there as well as her family. The congregation of St. Aidan's raised money for an elaborate memorial and gravestone for Grace so that the grave site could be spotted from the North Sea. Since many of us have read the historical fiction book Grace by Jill Paton Walsh it was a treat to see the site of many of the actual events. Now, if we had only been able to go out to that lighthouse... oh well, something to look forward to in 2010!
Because this is northern England, by the time we got back to Alnwick around 3:30 pm, the sun was shining bright and it was very pleasant. In honor of the clear evening, Merton and I took a walk in Hulne Park after dinner. We walked to a very large tree a mile or so in. Our daughters always called the "Broccoli Tree" during their stints in Alnwick with us.
Tomorrow is our last day at the Castle and as one of the students said tonight "I'm starting to feel sort of melancholy." It's hard to explain, but Northumberland is such a special place with so much history and beautiful scenery that it makes it difficult to leave.
The next stop was supposed to be a boat trip out to Longstone Island to see the lighthouse that Grace Darling and her family were tending when Grace and her father made their famous rescue of passengers from the shipwrecked Forfarshire in September, 1838. The weather was so bad that we chose not to do the boat trip. It would have been most uncomfortable. No one seemed too upset about spending some time in the tourist village of Seahouses instead.
The last stop of the day was Bamburgh where we toured the Grace Darling Museum (very well done). We also made a stop at the St. Aidan's Church and the graveyard there. Grace Darling is buried there as well as her family. The congregation of St. Aidan's raised money for an elaborate memorial and gravestone for Grace so that the grave site could be spotted from the North Sea. Since many of us have read the historical fiction book Grace by Jill Paton Walsh it was a treat to see the site of many of the actual events. Now, if we had only been able to go out to that lighthouse... oh well, something to look forward to in 2010!
Because this is northern England, by the time we got back to Alnwick around 3:30 pm, the sun was shining bright and it was very pleasant. In honor of the clear evening, Merton and I took a walk in Hulne Park after dinner. We walked to a very large tree a mile or so in. Our daughters always called the "Broccoli Tree" during their stints in Alnwick with us.
Tomorrow is our last day at the Castle and as one of the students said tonight "I'm starting to feel sort of melancholy." It's hard to explain, but Northumberland is such a special place with so much history and beautiful scenery that it makes it difficult to leave.
Monday, July 28, 2008
Wild Cattle Rule!
We had a bit of a rocky start this morning. The person whom we thought was organizing our visit to Chillingham Castle and the Wild Cattle thought the field trip was tomorrow not today, so after a phone call to set that straight, we spent about 20 minutes waiting for him in front of Alnwick Castle when he was actually waiting for us in front of Chillingham Castle. And then there was the packed lunches--absent again, just like the packed breakfasts of last week. In due time we found our lost organizer and the lunches were delivered to us later in the day, so all was well.
The Wild White Cattle of Chillingham were amazing. Richard, the warden who guided us to where the cattle were resting, gave us an excellent account of the history of the wild cattle. They are most likely descended from the auroch, which has been extinct since 1627. The cattle are totally wild; they have never touched by a human, and in fact, if they were to be touched, then would not be taken back into the herd, but killed by it. There are 80 of the cattle in Chillingham Park, and another 20 in a herd in Scotland. They were divided up so that in the event of disease, there would be one herd remaining. The lowest number the herd has even fallen to is 17 in the very difficult winter of 1947. The herd is ruled by the alpha male, or the wild king. He typically is in power for about three years before another male wins the spot. Twelve calves have been born this year so far. The calves are snow white when they are born, the cows are cream colored, and the bulls are a dirty white, battle scarred and covered in mud and dung. All of the cattle have horns from about the age of 8 weeks on; the horns of the cows are lyre shaped and tilted slightly to the back of the head; the horns of the bulls point forward. Some people felt more than a little nervous as we stood about 150 feet from the main herd and seemed more than a little eager to close the pasture gate.
After descending from the pastures, we went to Chillingham Castle. Along with the white cattle, the castle was part of the study of the Eva Ibbotson book The Beasts of Clawstone Castle. The castle garden was quite nice; the inside of the castle, complete with various "dungeons" was eclectic and eccentric to say the least. The general feeling of the students seemed to be that the atmosphere of the Castle was captured completely in the book.
The last part of the trip was a journey into the Northumberland National Forest. We travelled through Wooler to the Harthope Valley, which was beautiful. A small stream wound down from the Cheviot Hills, which are covered in heather just about to break into full bloom. There is a slight tinge of purple over the hills which will increase over the next few weeks. We were all tired so no one ventured too far out on the public footpaths, but it was a great opportunity for a group photo.
To the North Sea coast tomorrow as we bring out field trips to a close. We hope for fine weather, but after three days of sunshine, we know our chances are lessening!
The Wild White Cattle of Chillingham were amazing. Richard, the warden who guided us to where the cattle were resting, gave us an excellent account of the history of the wild cattle. They are most likely descended from the auroch, which has been extinct since 1627. The cattle are totally wild; they have never touched by a human, and in fact, if they were to be touched, then would not be taken back into the herd, but killed by it. There are 80 of the cattle in Chillingham Park, and another 20 in a herd in Scotland. They were divided up so that in the event of disease, there would be one herd remaining. The lowest number the herd has even fallen to is 17 in the very difficult winter of 1947. The herd is ruled by the alpha male, or the wild king. He typically is in power for about three years before another male wins the spot. Twelve calves have been born this year so far. The calves are snow white when they are born, the cows are cream colored, and the bulls are a dirty white, battle scarred and covered in mud and dung. All of the cattle have horns from about the age of 8 weeks on; the horns of the cows are lyre shaped and tilted slightly to the back of the head; the horns of the bulls point forward. Some people felt more than a little nervous as we stood about 150 feet from the main herd and seemed more than a little eager to close the pasture gate.
After descending from the pastures, we went to Chillingham Castle. Along with the white cattle, the castle was part of the study of the Eva Ibbotson book The Beasts of Clawstone Castle. The castle garden was quite nice; the inside of the castle, complete with various "dungeons" was eclectic and eccentric to say the least. The general feeling of the students seemed to be that the atmosphere of the Castle was captured completely in the book.
The last part of the trip was a journey into the Northumberland National Forest. We travelled through Wooler to the Harthope Valley, which was beautiful. A small stream wound down from the Cheviot Hills, which are covered in heather just about to break into full bloom. There is a slight tinge of purple over the hills which will increase over the next few weeks. We were all tired so no one ventured too far out on the public footpaths, but it was a great opportunity for a group photo.
To the North Sea coast tomorrow as we bring out field trips to a close. We hope for fine weather, but after three days of sunshine, we know our chances are lessening!
Friday, July 25, 2008
From the North Sea to a Hill Farm
Today started out misty and cool, with dark low hanging clouds, but as our coach got closer to the North Sea coast, the mist started to burn away and the sun appeared. What a difference 10 miles can make.
First stop was the village of Bamburgh where we explored Bamburgh Castle, walked the sand dunes, and some of us dipped our toes into the chilly North Sea. The outlook towards the North Sea and the Farne Islands was hazy but much better than we had anticipated. The Castle is privately owned, and it has holiday flats that can be rented. The Castle has served as the setting for movies such as a version of Macbeth and also a version of Beckett starring Peter O'Toole and Richard Burton. Look for these titles in the oldies section of the video store!
We were sharing a coach with the undergraduate program today, and we found that they aren't as prompt at following gathering times as we are. After a 20 minute delay in the appointed time, we pulled out of the coach park at Bamburgh and headed north to Holy Island.
Despite being called an island, Holy Island (also known as Lindisfarne Island) is connected to the mainland by a causeway. However, the causeway is completely covered by water during high tide, so there are only certain times each day that are "safe crossing times". For those who choose to ignore these times, there is a large wooden hut on stilts that can be reached by a ladder. If you are caught in the fast moving tides, you get the opportunity to spend some quality time in the hut as you watch your vehicle being submerged, or on a particularly strong tide, being swept away!
No such excitement for us however. Our crossing was uneventful. We had just two hours today to explore the entire island, which is not nearly enough time. Choices to see include the Lindisfarne Priory and Museum, the parish church and graveyard, the Castle, the walled garden, and the rocky shore. And of course, the island does have shops and pubs, plus private homes, holidays lets, and bed and breakfast accomodations. (There are less than 200 actual residents of the island, but in the summer especially there are many tourists during the safe crossing hours.) Merton and I chose to buy a fresh crab sandwich (crab caught by the island fishermen), then eat lunch on the rocks along the North Sea. We then took lots of pictures in the walled garden. By the time we walked back to the village, it was time to board the coach.
Our final stop of the day was Bellshilll Farm in Belford. Owner John Renner gave us an excellent tour of his farmyard and fields. He obviously loves his job as well as the land. He talked about conservation measures that he practices as he manages the crops, his herd of sheep, and his small herd of beef cattle. The views of the Cheviot Hills to the west and the North Sea to the east were spectacular. We walked in warm sunshine, light winds, and the scent of sweet clover, planted to attract and increase the bee population. I think that our group of "mature" students got a lot more from the tour than the undergraduates...or at least we had the most questions. To learn more about Bellshill, check out the website under the links section to the right.
Our time is starting to get short. It's hard to believe that this is the last weekend in Britain for most of us. Some students will stay in Alnwick this weekend, while others will travel to Edinburgh to see the sites of the city landscape. Merton and I plan to go to Newcastle tomorrow to spend the weekend with our friends who live there. No more posts until Monday night when we'll talk about dungeons and wild white cattle!
First stop was the village of Bamburgh where we explored Bamburgh Castle, walked the sand dunes, and some of us dipped our toes into the chilly North Sea. The outlook towards the North Sea and the Farne Islands was hazy but much better than we had anticipated. The Castle is privately owned, and it has holiday flats that can be rented. The Castle has served as the setting for movies such as a version of Macbeth and also a version of Beckett starring Peter O'Toole and Richard Burton. Look for these titles in the oldies section of the video store!
We were sharing a coach with the undergraduate program today, and we found that they aren't as prompt at following gathering times as we are. After a 20 minute delay in the appointed time, we pulled out of the coach park at Bamburgh and headed north to Holy Island.
Despite being called an island, Holy Island (also known as Lindisfarne Island) is connected to the mainland by a causeway. However, the causeway is completely covered by water during high tide, so there are only certain times each day that are "safe crossing times". For those who choose to ignore these times, there is a large wooden hut on stilts that can be reached by a ladder. If you are caught in the fast moving tides, you get the opportunity to spend some quality time in the hut as you watch your vehicle being submerged, or on a particularly strong tide, being swept away!
No such excitement for us however. Our crossing was uneventful. We had just two hours today to explore the entire island, which is not nearly enough time. Choices to see include the Lindisfarne Priory and Museum, the parish church and graveyard, the Castle, the walled garden, and the rocky shore. And of course, the island does have shops and pubs, plus private homes, holidays lets, and bed and breakfast accomodations. (There are less than 200 actual residents of the island, but in the summer especially there are many tourists during the safe crossing hours.) Merton and I chose to buy a fresh crab sandwich (crab caught by the island fishermen), then eat lunch on the rocks along the North Sea. We then took lots of pictures in the walled garden. By the time we walked back to the village, it was time to board the coach.
Our final stop of the day was Bellshilll Farm in Belford. Owner John Renner gave us an excellent tour of his farmyard and fields. He obviously loves his job as well as the land. He talked about conservation measures that he practices as he manages the crops, his herd of sheep, and his small herd of beef cattle. The views of the Cheviot Hills to the west and the North Sea to the east were spectacular. We walked in warm sunshine, light winds, and the scent of sweet clover, planted to attract and increase the bee population. I think that our group of "mature" students got a lot more from the tour than the undergraduates...or at least we had the most questions. To learn more about Bellshill, check out the website under the links section to the right.
Our time is starting to get short. It's hard to believe that this is the last weekend in Britain for most of us. Some students will stay in Alnwick this weekend, while others will travel to Edinburgh to see the sites of the city landscape. Merton and I plan to go to Newcastle tomorrow to spend the weekend with our friends who live there. No more posts until Monday night when we'll talk about dungeons and wild white cattle!
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Author Visit!
This morning found us back in the classroom again after being on the road for a week. It was a big adjustment for all of us but we got the opportunity to get caught up on some of the literature and photography background that we were a bit behind on. Merton even found some student photographic assignments that had been eluding him for some time and was able to give some much needed feedback...no excuse for not having perfect pictures now!
This afternoon we had the honor of hosting Rosalind Kerven, a Northumbrian author and storyteller. She spent the first part of the afternoon presenting folk tales gathered from Northumberland. We especially enjoyed "The Wedding Ghosts", set near Hadrian's Wall, since we had just been in that area yesterday. It was easy to visualize the ghostly images floating over the landscape. The second part of the presentation, Rosalind spoke about her newest book, a historical fiction work set in Viking times, called Grim Gruesome The Cursed Sword. It was enlightening for us to hear how the book evolved over the course of several years. It is the first of seven planned books in the Grim Gruesome series. The next one, The Queen's Poison, is due out in February, 2009. It will be set in Yorvik (ancient Viking York). The third book will be set in the Orkney Islands...and we'll just have to wait to find out the rest of the story. Rosalind very kindly signed books after her presentation. It was a fine afternoon indeed.
Tomorrow, we journey to one of my favorite places in all of the world, Holy Island. It's always my secret hope that we will not make the safe crossing time and have to stay over on the Island!
This afternoon we had the honor of hosting Rosalind Kerven, a Northumbrian author and storyteller. She spent the first part of the afternoon presenting folk tales gathered from Northumberland. We especially enjoyed "The Wedding Ghosts", set near Hadrian's Wall, since we had just been in that area yesterday. It was easy to visualize the ghostly images floating over the landscape. The second part of the presentation, Rosalind spoke about her newest book, a historical fiction work set in Viking times, called Grim Gruesome The Cursed Sword. It was enlightening for us to hear how the book evolved over the course of several years. It is the first of seven planned books in the Grim Gruesome series. The next one, The Queen's Poison, is due out in February, 2009. It will be set in Yorvik (ancient Viking York). The third book will be set in the Orkney Islands...and we'll just have to wait to find out the rest of the story. Rosalind very kindly signed books after her presentation. It was a fine afternoon indeed.
Tomorrow, we journey to one of my favorite places in all of the world, Holy Island. It's always my secret hope that we will not make the safe crossing time and have to stay over on the Island!
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Home Again!!
After three days of travel in the Lake District, we arrived back at the Castle a little before 6:00 pm this evening. Although we had a wonderful time away, the buzz going around the coach as we drove up Narrowgate to the entrance of the Castle was "we're home."
The weather while we were away was very favorable. Sunny, clear and warm on Monday, and then partly cloudy and warm on Tuesday and Wednesday. This has been the wettest and coldest season on record for the Lake District so we won the weather lottery. On Monday, we visited Rydal Mount, where William Wordsworth spent many years of his life with his wife and family. We self toured the house and gardens. The gardens were splendid this year--much better than when we saw them two years ago. After the gardens, some people chose to ride the coach back to the village of Grasmere, and others chose to walk the three mile "Coffin Path" from the fells around Rydal to the village of Grasmere. The Coffin Path it just what it sounds like--in times past it was the route down which coffins (complete with bodies inside) were carried for burial in the village churchyard. There is at least one large rock left on the roadside near the village where the coffin bearers stopped to rest the coffin before continuing on.
Monday evening, we went the Centre for Storytelling to hear a local storyteller, Taffy Thomas. We started the session in the Storyteller's Garden, then moved indoors to the Listening Room, where we heard more stories and saw Taffy's "tale coat". We also enjoyed a cup of tea and a piece of the famous Grasmere gingerbread.
Our accomodations for the trip were the Glenthorne Guest House, which is a lovely and peaceful bed and breakfast run by Quakers. There were no televisions or radios in the rooms, just the sweet sound of sheep, cattle, and the wind blowing lightly. The silence surrounding the house is wonderful--something that we as Americans have way too little of in our lives.
Tuesday was Beatrix Potter Day, with a visit to Hill Top Farm at Near Sawry and the Beatrix Potter Gallery in nearby Hawkshead. There was lots of time for pictures and gift shopping at Hill Top--you'd never guess that the American dollar is so weak against the British pound--the gift shop would like us to visit often. There was also time for an optional walk in the area that several people took advantage of. After the Gallery in Hawkshead, there was time for even more shopping. I hope everyone remembers the weight limit on luggage still is in effect for the trip home--some of those bargains may turn into expensive purchases!!
Today we were fortunate to visit Wray Castle, which is not normally open to visitors. It is the property where Beatrix Potter and her family spent their first summer in the Lake District. We got to see five rooms in the house, plus the gardens which are being restored. From there, we traveled out of the Lake District heading for Hadrian's Wall. Our coach driver was kind enough to take us through Kirkstone Pass (1500 feet above sea level) so we got to some dramatic fell scenery. The pass is closed in the winter and it doesn't take a lot of imagination to understand why! We then traveled along Ulswater, the longest body of water in the Lake District. We arrived at Housesteads, which is the ruins of a Roman fort on Hadrian's Wall, about 3 pm. It was quite a hike up to the ruins, but everyone made it. After spending about an hour there, we made a final stop at Steel Riggs. Steel Riggs is one of the best spots to get an idea of what the Wall might actually have looked like in Roman times. A great spot for photographs.
The weather while we were away was very favorable. Sunny, clear and warm on Monday, and then partly cloudy and warm on Tuesday and Wednesday. This has been the wettest and coldest season on record for the Lake District so we won the weather lottery. On Monday, we visited Rydal Mount, where William Wordsworth spent many years of his life with his wife and family. We self toured the house and gardens. The gardens were splendid this year--much better than when we saw them two years ago. After the gardens, some people chose to ride the coach back to the village of Grasmere, and others chose to walk the three mile "Coffin Path" from the fells around Rydal to the village of Grasmere. The Coffin Path it just what it sounds like--in times past it was the route down which coffins (complete with bodies inside) were carried for burial in the village churchyard. There is at least one large rock left on the roadside near the village where the coffin bearers stopped to rest the coffin before continuing on.
Monday evening, we went the Centre for Storytelling to hear a local storyteller, Taffy Thomas. We started the session in the Storyteller's Garden, then moved indoors to the Listening Room, where we heard more stories and saw Taffy's "tale coat". We also enjoyed a cup of tea and a piece of the famous Grasmere gingerbread.
Our accomodations for the trip were the Glenthorne Guest House, which is a lovely and peaceful bed and breakfast run by Quakers. There were no televisions or radios in the rooms, just the sweet sound of sheep, cattle, and the wind blowing lightly. The silence surrounding the house is wonderful--something that we as Americans have way too little of in our lives.
Tuesday was Beatrix Potter Day, with a visit to Hill Top Farm at Near Sawry and the Beatrix Potter Gallery in nearby Hawkshead. There was lots of time for pictures and gift shopping at Hill Top--you'd never guess that the American dollar is so weak against the British pound--the gift shop would like us to visit often. There was also time for an optional walk in the area that several people took advantage of. After the Gallery in Hawkshead, there was time for even more shopping. I hope everyone remembers the weight limit on luggage still is in effect for the trip home--some of those bargains may turn into expensive purchases!!
Today we were fortunate to visit Wray Castle, which is not normally open to visitors. It is the property where Beatrix Potter and her family spent their first summer in the Lake District. We got to see five rooms in the house, plus the gardens which are being restored. From there, we traveled out of the Lake District heading for Hadrian's Wall. Our coach driver was kind enough to take us through Kirkstone Pass (1500 feet above sea level) so we got to some dramatic fell scenery. The pass is closed in the winter and it doesn't take a lot of imagination to understand why! We then traveled along Ulswater, the longest body of water in the Lake District. We arrived at Housesteads, which is the ruins of a Roman fort on Hadrian's Wall, about 3 pm. It was quite a hike up to the ruins, but everyone made it. After spending about an hour there, we made a final stop at Steel Riggs. Steel Riggs is one of the best spots to get an idea of what the Wall might actually have looked like in Roman times. A great spot for photographs.
Sunday, July 20, 2008
A Day of Rest and Good Food
Today I actually slept beyond 6:00 am for the first time on the trip. We had only two things on the agenda: The Treehouse for lunch and watching the film " Miss Potter" in preparation for the Lake District field trip.
Gaye made reservations for all of those interested in dining at The Treehouse which is a fanciful restaurant in Alnwick Garden. Ten of us signed up, and it was a delicious treat. Appetizers ranging from soup to goat cheese salad to sauteed mushrooms, entrees of roast pork and roast beef, and desserts so beautifully presented that we had to photograph them...cheesecake, meringues, creme brulee and blueberry peach pie. It was a taste treat coupled with good company and conversation.
Tonight we invited everyone to our upper Barbican flat to watch "Miss Potter". We provided the snacks for anyone brave enough to climb the Barbican stairs and most everyone took us up on our offer. I think that the students may have new respect for the climb that Merton and I make every time we leave or return to our flat.
Tomorrow we will be traveling to the Lake District to see in person much of the scenery that we watched on screen tonight. We are all excited to go, but a little afraid that perhaps we did not pack warm enough clothes. Plus the Lake District gets much more rain than Northumberland, and we've already experienced plenty of rain here, so who knows.
This may be the last post until Wednesday night because I don't know what the Internet access will be like once we leave the Castle. Think good thoughts for us as we travel.
Gaye made reservations for all of those interested in dining at The Treehouse which is a fanciful restaurant in Alnwick Garden. Ten of us signed up, and it was a delicious treat. Appetizers ranging from soup to goat cheese salad to sauteed mushrooms, entrees of roast pork and roast beef, and desserts so beautifully presented that we had to photograph them...cheesecake, meringues, creme brulee and blueberry peach pie. It was a taste treat coupled with good company and conversation.
Tonight we invited everyone to our upper Barbican flat to watch "Miss Potter". We provided the snacks for anyone brave enough to climb the Barbican stairs and most everyone took us up on our offer. I think that the students may have new respect for the climb that Merton and I make every time we leave or return to our flat.
Tomorrow we will be traveling to the Lake District to see in person much of the scenery that we watched on screen tonight. We are all excited to go, but a little afraid that perhaps we did not pack warm enough clothes. Plus the Lake District gets much more rain than Northumberland, and we've already experienced plenty of rain here, so who knows.
This may be the last post until Wednesday night because I don't know what the Internet access will be like once we leave the Castle. Think good thoughts for us as we travel.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
A Wet and Wild Crossing
Today several of us got to experience the unpredictability of the North Sea first hand. Renee, Linda, Janet, Joyce, Deb, Merton and I set off this morning for Seahouses, a town on the North Sea where we knew that we could book a trip out to the Farne Islands. The weather was party cloudy with big puffy clouds and some sunshine. (The Farne Islands are outcroppings of rock in the North Sea. They are known for the birds that nest there each year, including puffins, cormorants, gulls, and terns. About 290 species have been recorded on the islands through the years of record keeping.)
The first adventure was the coastal route that the bus took. Very winding and narrow with lots of stops and starts, the ride to Seahouses took an hour and it proved to be a real test of motion sickness for the group, with some members barely passing the test.
Once in Seahouses, we were able to buy a ticket for a 2.5 hour boat trip that was leaving right away. The boat circles several of the Inner Farne islands so passengers can see the seals and birds, then it stops at one of the islands so the passengers can get off and spend an hour close up bird watching. The seals were having a lazy day on the rocks and the sea and the air were filled with birds, especially puffins. When they fly, puffins look like plump little bundles with wings that rotate at a high speed. On land, they look like plush toys. They waddle around, many with their mouths stuffed with small fish for their young, which are just leaving the burrows where they are hatched and stay for about 40 days. The island we were on is called Staples Island, and it was a lot of lichen covered rocks. Adventure number 2 occured when a couple of us fell, but the only damage seems to be a bruised toe and a dented lens sun shade.
Squalls could be seen in the distance all morning but we thought all was well as we boarded the boat for the return to Seahouses. Not so...about half way back, the wind came up and the skies opened with a hard driving rain that felt like needles. The boat was completely open, so we were subject to Mother Nature in all her glory for the rest of the trip. Luckily, all of us were fairly well prepared with warm clothes and rain gear, but as soon as we landed our thoughts turned to hot soup and a fireplace! We found the hot soup at the Bamburgh Castle Hotel, but the fireplace will have to wait for another day. It was certainly an adventure to remember and laugh about.
The first adventure was the coastal route that the bus took. Very winding and narrow with lots of stops and starts, the ride to Seahouses took an hour and it proved to be a real test of motion sickness for the group, with some members barely passing the test.
Once in Seahouses, we were able to buy a ticket for a 2.5 hour boat trip that was leaving right away. The boat circles several of the Inner Farne islands so passengers can see the seals and birds, then it stops at one of the islands so the passengers can get off and spend an hour close up bird watching. The seals were having a lazy day on the rocks and the sea and the air were filled with birds, especially puffins. When they fly, puffins look like plump little bundles with wings that rotate at a high speed. On land, they look like plush toys. They waddle around, many with their mouths stuffed with small fish for their young, which are just leaving the burrows where they are hatched and stay for about 40 days. The island we were on is called Staples Island, and it was a lot of lichen covered rocks. Adventure number 2 occured when a couple of us fell, but the only damage seems to be a bruised toe and a dented lens sun shade.
Squalls could be seen in the distance all morning but we thought all was well as we boarded the boat for the return to Seahouses. Not so...about half way back, the wind came up and the skies opened with a hard driving rain that felt like needles. The boat was completely open, so we were subject to Mother Nature in all her glory for the rest of the trip. Luckily, all of us were fairly well prepared with warm clothes and rain gear, but as soon as we landed our thoughts turned to hot soup and a fireplace! We found the hot soup at the Bamburgh Castle Hotel, but the fireplace will have to wait for another day. It was certainly an adventure to remember and laugh about.
Friday, July 18, 2008
Raindrops, roses and castles
Today our pattern of unsettled weather continued. At 6:15 am there were brief glimpses of the sun but then the clouds rolled back in and light mist followed. During our mid morning tour of Alnwick Garden, the skies opened up briefly, and then a light rain continued for about 2/3's of the tour. Ian August guided the group around the garden for more than two hours as he discussed the garden project, which he has worked on with the Duchess of Northumberland for the past ten years. Phase 3 (the final phase) of the garden has been started, but 20 million pounds is needed so the fundraising continues. The cherry orchard which is part of Phase 3 will be spectacular--more than 350 trees have been planted and spring bulbs will be planted beneath the trees to provide additional visual interest. And even in the rain, the fragrance of the rose garden was very evident. An added bonus was that Ian was gracious enough to sign copies of his book for all who wanted. (See the link at the side to explore everything the Garden has to offer). We have free admission to the Garden for the length of the program--lucky us! I think that many of us are now inspired to see the Garden at every season of the year.
The afternoon found us being given a guided tour of the State Rooms of Alnwick Castle. Jim, head of Guide Services, gave a very engaging look at each of the rooms. He did an excellent job of making the Castle come alive through his anecdotes. The library was one of the high points for all of the teachers and media specialists in our group. Not only did we hear about rare books and first edition books that are in the collection, we got a glimpse of the room as a place where the Percy family gathers for relaxation when they are in residence during the winter months.
It's been quite a week. Some of our group are off to Scotland this weekend, while others will try to take a trip out to the Farne Islands tomorrow for puffin sightings--we'll see if the weather cooperatives. Sunday night we will host a showing of "Miss Potter" in our flat in preparation for our trip to the Lake District next week.
The afternoon found us being given a guided tour of the State Rooms of Alnwick Castle. Jim, head of Guide Services, gave a very engaging look at each of the rooms. He did an excellent job of making the Castle come alive through his anecdotes. The library was one of the high points for all of the teachers and media specialists in our group. Not only did we hear about rare books and first edition books that are in the collection, we got a glimpse of the room as a place where the Percy family gathers for relaxation when they are in residence during the winter months.
It's been quite a week. Some of our group are off to Scotland this weekend, while others will try to take a trip out to the Farne Islands tomorrow for puffin sightings--we'll see if the weather cooperatives. Sunday night we will host a showing of "Miss Potter" in our flat in preparation for our trip to the Lake District next week.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Adventures in Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Off we went on the coach this morning, complete with sack lunch, to visit the Seven Stories Centre for Children's Literature in Newcastle. Because the coach company had a busy day today, the coach returned to Alnwick after dropping us off. After a morning of exploring Seven Stories,buying books (!), and enjoying lunch, we met our friend Glynn who toured us around Newcastle for over 4 hours. Part of the tour involved using the public coach system, which was an adventure all by itself. Getting 17 people on and off public transport presents its own unique set of challenges, but by the last bus (we used 4 in all), everyone was quite good at it.
And the rain held off until we were walking from the bus stop to Glynn's home, where he and his wife Sue had kindly invited us all to dinner. It was a fantastic array of homemade traditional British food enjoyed by all. The "puddings" were especially popular. Even though we have been gone from home only a few days, it seemed as though everyone enjoyed being in a home atmosphere again. All in all, it was a lovely day!
Tomorrow it's off to the Alnwick Gardens and then a tour of the Castle. Hopefully the rain of this evening will be cleared out. See pictures below!
And the rain held off until we were walking from the bus stop to Glynn's home, where he and his wife Sue had kindly invited us all to dinner. It was a fantastic array of homemade traditional British food enjoyed by all. The "puddings" were especially popular. Even though we have been gone from home only a few days, it seemed as though everyone enjoyed being in a home atmosphere again. All in all, it was a lovely day!
Tomorrow it's off to the Alnwick Gardens and then a tour of the Castle. Hopefully the rain of this evening will be cleared out. See pictures below!
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Learn All About Alnwick Day...
Today we got down to work, starting with classroom time.(I should say that almost everyone made it to class at the designated hour. The ghosts and gremlins of the Castle apparently played havoc with one alarm clock during the night!!) We discussed young adult author David Almond. I found out how much fun it is to have a group of avid readers and book lovers as students. When the small groups got together to discuss an Almond book of their choice, it was hard to gain control of the class again. Some of the terms that we came up with as a group to describe his writing were: eerie, spiritual, past/present, and puzzling!
This afternoon, Philip Deakin, local history and archaeology guru, presented on the changes that Alnwick has experienced over the years. He showed us slides of old photos and postcards spiced with his dry British humor. This evening, Christine Mitchell and her son-in law Paul toured the group around Alnwick in their Dreadnaught Bus Company's vintage 1957 double decker bus. It was the perfect complement to Philip's talk because after viewing the slides, we got to see everything for real as it exists today.
An optional excursion was a trip out for afternoon tea after the lecture today. Fourteen of us went to Granny's Tea Room and enjoyed treats, including hot chocolate with the works, chocolate fudge cake, cherry cake and of course tea. And we still managed to squeeze in dinner only 2 hours later.
Now we're all resting up for the trip to Newcastle tomorrow, which will involve adventure with public transportation. More about that tomorrow night. See pictures at the bottom of the post--maybe I'll get them moved into the blog one of these times.
This afternoon, Philip Deakin, local history and archaeology guru, presented on the changes that Alnwick has experienced over the years. He showed us slides of old photos and postcards spiced with his dry British humor. This evening, Christine Mitchell and her son-in law Paul toured the group around Alnwick in their Dreadnaught Bus Company's vintage 1957 double decker bus. It was the perfect complement to Philip's talk because after viewing the slides, we got to see everything for real as it exists today.
An optional excursion was a trip out for afternoon tea after the lecture today. Fourteen of us went to Granny's Tea Room and enjoyed treats, including hot chocolate with the works, chocolate fudge cake, cherry cake and of course tea. And we still managed to squeeze in dinner only 2 hours later.
Now we're all resting up for the trip to Newcastle tomorrow, which will involve adventure with public transportation. More about that tomorrow night. See pictures at the bottom of the post--maybe I'll get them moved into the blog one of these times.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
We Have Arrived!
The adventure officially began yesterday noontime at the Minneapolis/St. Paul airport when the gang gathered. Despite some misgivings about the reliability of air service, all went very well. The flight from Minneapolis to Amsterdam left on time, and arrived early thanks to a tail wind of over 100 mph at times. The short flight from Amsterdam to Newcastle was smooth and quick. The coach was waiting at the Newcastle airport, so we piled on our bodies and lots of luggage. Our coach driver was kind enough to drive us into Alnwick the "back way" so we could see our home for the next 2.5 weeks from the most scenic vantage point. After check in and key assignment, the most difficult task was keeping awake. Merton and I had suggested that 9:00 pm was the first time anyone should consider sleeping, but we suspect there may have been a wee bit of napping going on behind the scenes, despite out best efforts to keep everyone awake. After a photo walk and a short tour of town tonight, I think that it might be an early lights out for everyone!
One nice surprise today was that everyone got an international cell phone phone to use for the program. It should only cost around 8 pence (about 16 cents) to call friends and family in the US.
I've added some pictures that appear at the bottom of the blog--I'm too tired to try to figure out how to integrate them into the actual post. More tomorrow.
One nice surprise today was that everyone got an international cell phone phone to use for the program. It should only cost around 8 pence (about 16 cents) to call friends and family in the US.
I've added some pictures that appear at the bottom of the blog--I'm too tired to try to figure out how to integrate them into the actual post. More tomorrow.
Saturday, July 12, 2008
"From Toad Hall to Pooh Corner"
Just wanted to give you a heads up on one of the exhibits that we will be seeing at the Seven Stories Centre in Newcastle next Thursday. It's called "From Toad Hall to Pooh Corner" and it will explore The Wind the Willows by Kenneth Grahame and Winnie-the-Pooh and The House at Pooh Corner by A.A. Milne. The exhibit just opened today and it will run through the next year, so we will see it in brand spanking new condition. See the link at the right to get a sneak peek.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Eva Ibbotson Continued
There are many places, especially those mentioned in The Beasts of Clawstone Castle, that you will soon be seeing with your own eyes. And we do have a field trip scheduled to see the "Wild White Cattle" which will be a treat. Joyce's comment to the first post about Eva being a person who does not suffer fools lightly is right on. If you click on the name of this posting, you will be taken to a website featuring a 40 minute podcast of an Eva Ibbotson interview. There is also some written narrative that gives a flavor of her personality. Eva is a great storyteller, and I think that J.K. Rowling is in her debt! I am just finishing up Which Witch and I have to force myself to put it down because I need to get my grading done.
Monday, July 7, 2008
Eva Ibbotson
After reading 5 of the assigned books, I can't wait to see places often referenced in the Ibbotson tales. King's Cross Station, castles, and maybe we'll meet a few ghosts! Definitely there is something about British writing, especially for children, that reference the unseen world, fantasy creatures, and the threatened environment. I don't think Judy Blume could write as intricate a tale as our British authors! I am also impressed with the character development in each of these books - children are far more intelligent than some of the greedy, shady, and dysfunctional adults in the stories. If you have not started reading these, enjoy! A few could actually be fun parenting manuals on how NOT to raise a spoiled child. See you in a week! JEN
Thursday, July 3, 2008
J.K.Rowling
Since "Harry Potter" is part of our tour, I thought you might be interested in J. K. Rowlings commencement address at Harvard University this spring. I thought is was very good and gives us a little more insight on this author. The link is http://harvardmagazine.com/go/jkrowling.html
Monday, June 23, 2008
Buying a Train Ticket
I spent way too much time today learning how to purchase a British train ticket online and thought I would pass along what I learned. Perhaps this will save someone else some time and frustration. If you order train tickets ahead of time, they are much cheaper.
Initially I'd wanted to make a roundtrip reservation from Alnwick to Edinburgh for the second weekend we are in England (July 26 and 27). I went through the website above and discovered that, according to the website, Alnmouth is the closest train station to Alnwick. (Mert and Marcia, does that correspond with your experience?)
You can type in: Alnmouth or the three letter code -- ALM.
However, I ran into a couple of glitches and thought I'd pass them along. First of all, even though I typed in the date and day of departure and clicked on their option for that date, by the time I got to the final page and was ready to purchase, the dates had changed. Be careful. I still don't know what happened, but I'd suggest triple-checking everything. I checked it each step of the process, yet somehow the information had changed by the last screen.
Also, when I clicked to purchase, a screen came up that I hadn't seen before. Advance tickets (with very reasonable prices) can only be purchased if you are living in the UK or if you can pick up your ticket from the local ticket kiosk at certain stations in person on the day you expect to travel. It appears that Alnmouth does not have one of these ticket kiosks, so I could not purchase that portion of my ticket ahead of time. However, I was able to purchase the portion from Edinburgh to Alnmouth because they have one of the ticket centers at the Edinburgh (Waverley) station. Once purchased, all you need to claim your ticket is the confirmation number they give you on-line and the credit card you used to make your reservation.
My one-way advanced fare was about 9 pounds. I'm sure the other portion of the ticket -- one-way from Alnmouth to Edinburgh will be quite a bit more! I couldn't find any way to order that at the advanced fare special rate, however. The estimated traveling time on the train between Alnmouth and Edinburgh is an hour.
If anyone else is planning to travel from Alnwick, I hope this information is helpful.
The link to plan and purchase a train ticket is http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/
Initially I'd wanted to make a roundtrip reservation from Alnwick to Edinburgh for the second weekend we are in England (July 26 and 27). I went through the website above and discovered that, according to the website, Alnmouth is the closest train station to Alnwick. (Mert and Marcia, does that correspond with your experience?)
You can type in: Alnmouth or the three letter code -- ALM.
However, I ran into a couple of glitches and thought I'd pass them along. First of all, even though I typed in the date and day of departure and clicked on their option for that date, by the time I got to the final page and was ready to purchase, the dates had changed. Be careful. I still don't know what happened, but I'd suggest triple-checking everything. I checked it each step of the process, yet somehow the information had changed by the last screen.
Also, when I clicked to purchase, a screen came up that I hadn't seen before. Advance tickets (with very reasonable prices) can only be purchased if you are living in the UK or if you can pick up your ticket from the local ticket kiosk at certain stations in person on the day you expect to travel. It appears that Alnmouth does not have one of these ticket kiosks, so I could not purchase that portion of my ticket ahead of time. However, I was able to purchase the portion from Edinburgh to Alnmouth because they have one of the ticket centers at the Edinburgh (Waverley) station. Once purchased, all you need to claim your ticket is the confirmation number they give you on-line and the credit card you used to make your reservation.
My one-way advanced fare was about 9 pounds. I'm sure the other portion of the ticket -- one-way from Alnmouth to Edinburgh will be quite a bit more! I couldn't find any way to order that at the advanced fare special rate, however. The estimated traveling time on the train between Alnmouth and Edinburgh is an hour.
If anyone else is planning to travel from Alnwick, I hope this information is helpful.
The link to plan and purchase a train ticket is http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/
More about Sandals
I went to Hoigaard's to buy Keen's sandals for walking and ended up with Chacos instead. The person there said that the Chaco brand had more support and was the only sandal they had officially recognized by the American Medical Podiatric Association for extensive walking (hiking). Another nice thing is that Chacos are adjustable; I was going to break mine in, but they've been very comfortable since the first time I wore them. If you feel like you might need more support, you could check into Chaco footwear as well as Keen. Both Hoigaard's and Schuler Shoes had both brands, so you can compare what feels best. Other places may have them as well.
http://chacousa.com/ is their website for more information.
http://chacousa.com/ is their website for more information.
Friday, June 20, 2008
Cautionary Tales of Packing
I just checked the temperature in Newcastle and the high today is 61 degrees so pack your jackets. Speaking of packing (and as a late minute packer I hate to say this), but plan carefully. We are allowed two suitcases, but the weight limit per suitcase is 50 pounds and it is being enforced. One of our daughters just returned from a study trip to Mexico, and her suitcase weighed in at 52.5 pounds. Her choice was either to pay a $50.00 overweight charge for the extra 2.5 pounds or to remove items from her suitcase and somehow fit them into her carry on. She said that everyone around her was well acquainted with what her underwear looked like before she finished the repacking!
On a similar note, I was at the St. Cloud airport last week (I spend my free time just hanging out there!) and a person came in who was traveling to Indonesia. The first suitcase was weighed and I heard the clerk say $50, then the second was weighed and she said that will be $100 total. To make a long story short, both suitcases were overweight so it cost the passenger $100 to take them. So if you plan to travel heavy, be prepared to pay the price.
As we have mentioned, there will be laundry facilities at the Castle, so don't try to pack something clean to wear for each day. Dark colors are great--you can wear them a lot longer without needing to launder unless you have a major mishap.
I'm off to e-mail our friends in Newcastle to get an update on what the weather patterns have been. I'll pass along their information to assist in your packing planning.
23 days and counting...
On a similar note, I was at the St. Cloud airport last week (I spend my free time just hanging out there!) and a person came in who was traveling to Indonesia. The first suitcase was weighed and I heard the clerk say $50, then the second was weighed and she said that will be $100 total. To make a long story short, both suitcases were overweight so it cost the passenger $100 to take them. So if you plan to travel heavy, be prepared to pay the price.
As we have mentioned, there will be laundry facilities at the Castle, so don't try to pack something clean to wear for each day. Dark colors are great--you can wear them a lot longer without needing to launder unless you have a major mishap.
I'm off to e-mail our friends in Newcastle to get an update on what the weather patterns have been. I'll pass along their information to assist in your packing planning.
23 days and counting...
Sunday, June 8, 2008
This is my first blog and I'm very excited to try it out. On Friday I finished my last day at work for the summer and can now concentrate on the trip to England. I've very much enjoyed reading the Beatrice Potter stories and learning about her life. She must have been a remarkable woman. I've made many attempts at keeping a journal but never seem to be able to keep it up. Perhaps I'll be inspired after spending time at the Potter house.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
The Adventure Begins...
...today with the start of our official British Children's Literature and Photography blog. Today's temperature in Newcastle Upon Tyne is about 58 degrees with "haze" reported as well as a wind of about 15 mph---sound familiar? Geographically, Newcastle is located approximately 40 miles south of Alnwick, so it will be a bit warmer and more protected from wind.
The news on the economy is that the dollar seems to be fairly stable at $1.98. We did tell you to expect to spend two dollars for every pound so hopefully the only action the $1.98 will see will be downward. We've included the links to the weather and the currency converter so you can keep tabs on things yourself. You will also note that the clock indicates local time in Northumberland --very helpful to start acclimating yourself and anyone else who may want to call you during the trip!!
When you need a mental get away, take a refeshing break to look at the Alnwick Garden link. It's difficult to convey the beauty and wonder of the garden on a one dimensional web page, but this will give you a hint of the treat for the senses that the features of the garden offer. It is a great place to journal!
The news on the economy is that the dollar seems to be fairly stable at $1.98. We did tell you to expect to spend two dollars for every pound so hopefully the only action the $1.98 will see will be downward. We've included the links to the weather and the currency converter so you can keep tabs on things yourself. You will also note that the clock indicates local time in Northumberland --very helpful to start acclimating yourself and anyone else who may want to call you during the trip!!
When you need a mental get away, take a refeshing break to look at the Alnwick Garden link. It's difficult to convey the beauty and wonder of the garden on a one dimensional web page, but this will give you a hint of the treat for the senses that the features of the garden offer. It is a great place to journal!
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