Tomorrow we will be off down south. I have rented a house in the Berkshire countryside - not far from the little town of Hungerford. It suffered a terrible tragedy in 1987 when a crazy shooter went on the rampage. Such mass shootings are very rare in Great Britain where it is very difficult to acquire guns. I hope to visit The Tragedy Garden and pay my respects to the sixteen innocent victims of Michael Ryan. Thankfully perhaps - he also killed himself.
But that's not the main reason we will be staying there. In a nearby village there will be a big wedding on Saturday. The bridegroom is going to be one of Sarah's brothers - Sarah being Ian's girlfriend and our grandson's mother. Shirley and I will be looking after little Zachary for much of the weekend.
It's going to be nice staying for five nights in a quiet house in the country far from busy roads and it is a part of England that I hardly know though I once tied a handkerchief to the wire fence at nearby Greenham Common airbase. The handkerchief had belonged to my father and it had an embroidered blue "P" in one corner - P for Philip. With a laundry marker, I had drawn the famous "ban the bomb" symbol on that white linen...☮ before tying the knot.
With all my many health appointments in the last nine months, planning any kind of holiday has been tricky so these five days in Berkshire will be most welcome. As well as looking after young Zach, I hope to get some walking done in what is for me virgin territory.
Shirley will be taking her laptop with her and though I have never used it as a blogging device, I hope to be be able to post from our rental house - "The Forge". We will see. Otherwise, I will be back with you in the middle of next week.
Have a pleasant time in the country, Neil.
ReplyDeleteIt is lovely that you will be there for Sarah's brother's wedding, and that you and Shirley will be looking after little Zachary. Enjoy your peaceful stay at "The Forge" and exploring the new walking territory. It must be a welcome break after all your health appointments. I hope you manage to post from there.
ReplyDeleteI can tell you're looking forward to these five days. Enjoy your time.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your quiet time and new surroundings! Yes, I remember reading about the longstanding women's peace encampment at Greenham Common back in the day.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your change of scene. It's a beautiful part of the country.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds lovely, enjoy it all.
ReplyDeleteI don't understand the murderous rampage and kill yourself thing. If you want to kill yourself, go ahead, but don't take innocent people with you!
ReplyDeleteI didn't know that symbol meant ban the bomb.
It looks like beautiful countyside, will you take Zachary on a walk with you? A short ramble in the sunshine?
A nice break, and if all goes well, you will show us pictures from a walk (or two) in the Berkshire countryside.
ReplyDeleteThe crazy shooting has left a mark on so many people. For them, I guess time will always be divided into before and after.
Enjoy your time in pastures new. Looking forward to what photos you take.
ReplyDeleteAlso any fresh woods.
DeleteWonderful. I hope the weather gods are kind to you.
ReplyDeleteUnless it is urgent, holidays take precedence over medical appointments.
I remembered Ryan's name and the town of Hungerford, but not much else.
I went on a massive CND March in London in the 1980s led by Bruce Kent. Now you never here of it.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the getaway, the family and the grandson!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the getaway, we hope to see and hear about the relaxation.
ReplyDeleteAs others have said, a lovely part of the country. Did not know about the Hungerford Tragedy (wasn’t in the country then) but have just read up on it. We are very lucky such events are rare in this country.
ReplyDeleteHave a great trip.
I hope you all have a wonderful time. Will you be taking Zach on any of your walks?
ReplyDeleteI quickly glanced at a map to see how far Hungerford was from Sheffield and it looked like a long drive, then I took a closer look and it's only as far away as Calgary is from Edmonton. Not a bad drive.
Take lots of photos.
Enjoy your break down there in the civilised south!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy! And this will be a good chance to get to know your grandson better and he, you.
ReplyDeletewell done for organising the trip away amongst the calendar of appointments.... liberating.... enjoy the new vistas..... looking forward to taking a vicarious trip down the footpath with you
ReplyDeleteHave a good time with your grandson.
ReplyDeleteI thought that was the peace sign.
Hope you have nice weather for your hikes!
Have a great time! Take lots of pictures! I have to read about that shooting -- I'm sure I've heard about it before but the details have escaped me. (Probably crowded out by all the subsequent shootings in my own country.)
ReplyDeleteI remember Greenham Common but sadly I don't remember much about Hungerford. Weddings are fun, and looking after the little one will be even more fun. Have a blast.
ReplyDeleteJust read up on Hungerford shootings. Horrible!
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful time, Grandpa!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy old son
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your stay in Berkshire. I hope the rain holds off.
ReplyDeleteThe work 'Berk' is short for Berkshire Hunt, but I'm sure you knew that. Cockney rhyming slang is occasionally quite crude.
ReplyDelete