Always think On Hols is such an Enid Blyton expression don't you? Visions of sandwiches on the beach and lashings of ginger beer come to mind...
I am currently sitting on my bed looking out the window at Tintern Abbey which is just across the road from where I am staying. It is really quite gloriously beautiful and noble and as the night is setting in the lights are switched on and making the walls glow.
My sister and I drove up to Leicestershire on Friday and Judith took me a route I had not used before, away from the A14 and M1, both ghastly roads whose only plus is that it gets you from A to B quickly. The scenic route we took was, in fact, not so much longer and much more pleasant. We took a detour to visit the station of Downham Market which had been featured in the Railway Journey programme on the BBC. I usually avoid this as it is hosted by Michael Portillo an ex-Tory MP who has forged a career as a TV presenter since retiring from politics. Now that he is not telling me what I should or should not do I find him less objectionable and throw into the mix that he is a Wagner fiend (have bumped into him at Covent Garden at various Ring cycles) so have decided that he is now a Good Egg who appreciates the finer things of life.....
This little station is delightful and beautifully looked after. Pure 1950 decor inside and the smallest bar in the world also tucked into a corner. But best of all, look at the waiting room! That is my idea of what a waiting room should be and people come here to have a cup of tea and just to sit - they are not necessarily getting on a train, they just like being there and who can blame them. Jude and I had a cup of tea and a great bacon sarnie and I bought two books (money goes into the honesty box) and had a good rummage and then on with the journey.
My sister and her husband are great golf fans - I will be honest and say that I have never taken a huge interest in the game but the UK Open was on and so I sat down to watch it with them, book to hand in case I got bored. Well, much to my surprise I found it fascinating and being with aficionados who could tell me what a Par, Birdie and Eagle were and explained the finer points and the rules made it even more interesting. Found I spend the entire day glues to the TV and thoroughly enjoying myself. I suppose if youare happy to sit and watch cricket for hours which needs concentration, golf is similar. Ok I now expect comments telling me that they are nothing of the sort.....
My Kindle is with me and I thnk Judith is now a convert as she read the latest Peter James book (reviewed last week by me) on mine and as she and Wes are going to the US for a few eeks in September, is now going to get one.
Will be writing more tomorrow evening as we are going to Hay on Wye tomorrow - wonder what treasures I shall find?