The Rasmusens in Oxford

Faith and Liz

Bluebells

We went to Harcourt Arboretum and walked with the Joshua and Lucia G., Sarah and James L.  Despite predictions, rain didn’t fall.

Naomi and Esther

Caerleon Ampitheatre

Friday. We drove from Oxford to Blaenevon in the South Wales Valleys, where the Big Pit coal mine is. We revisited Caerleon first, since it was on the way.

Faith Suited Up

…

Gladiators?

The last mine in South Wales closed in 2006. This one closed much earlier, perhaps in the 70’s. Dad, Ben, Amelia, and Lizzie went on the mine tour, going down 300 feet (meters?) in a cage elevator with helmets and headlights on, and carbon monoxide filters for emergency use. The site is staffed by numerous ex-miners, all very friendly and with strong accents. We went through passages that made Dad lean double, but did not make Ben stoop at all. We saw the subterranean stables, for 72 horses. They were used as late as 1970 for hauling.

Ben Suiting Up at Big Pit

On leaving, we went to the car for raisin croissants and to see if the others were there. Then we returned, and found the others at the Gallery, where there was a good movie and simulation of mining.

A View from Tan House Farm

…

A Bedroom

We didn’t have time to go to the steelworks, so we went on to Tan House Farm. There, Mrs. Powell gave Mama and Dad coffee and cake. Dad drove down to Ewys Harold for fish and chips with Ben and Faith, and got cod, haddock, cod roe, a steak and onion pie (for Lizzie mainly), mushy peas, deepfried mushrooms, baked beans, and battered sausage.

Fish and Chips

Saturday. We had a grand breakfast, the mushrooms, jam, stewed dried fruits, and bacon (ham) being the highlights. We then drove all the way to Cardigan Bay for a lunch in Abaerleon (?) on the A482. We ate lunch at the Harbormaster Hotel, Mom, Ben,Lily, and Amelia around one table and Dad, LIzzie, and Faith some distance away. We had crevettes (sea crayfish), crab risotto, mussels, fish, chips, and crisps. Then we went down to the beach, one made up of rounded rocks. It was raining lightly. We found limpets, mussels, and different kinds of snails. Coming back, we stopped for honey-made ice cream.

Cliddau

Our next destination was the ancestral farms near Cribyn. We found Rhydyfr farm, still marked with the Jones name, and Cliddau, next door, where we guess that the Williams’s lived.The hills are low around there, but the land is still mostly used for sheep grazing.

Rhydyfr

…

Rhydyfr Jones Sign

From there, we had intended to go to some Roman and Victorian gold mines, but they closed at 5 and we had run out of time, so we went to Carreg Cennen castle instead. Everyone but Lillie and Mama started walking up the castle hill (Faith being in a baby backpack). Amelia and Lizzie carried food, Amelia in a heavy backpack.It was extremely windy, but not very cold. The castle was most impressive on its rocky crag, with amazing views. After walking around some, we settled in the most sheltered room for a supper of bread, cheese, and crisps.Then we walked into the castle courtyard and saw Mama and Lillie, who had come up after all and had been calling for us for a long time. We couldn’t hear them because of the wind.

Carreg Cennen

…

Carreg Cennen

Mom and Lillie had found the celebrated castle cave, used since the Stone Age. We all went down the long corridor running next to the rock on the side of the castle. At the bottome stairs, where Dad had to pull out his backpack flashlight, Mama and Lillie stopped and the rest went down. First, Ben, Lizzie, and Amelia went down the cave passageway while Dad stayed with Faith in the backpack in the entrance room. Then Lizzie came back to stay with Faith while Dad explored further with the rest. Mom had wanted to leave quickly, since we were going to be past closing time of 6:30, so the explorers had to stop even though the cave passage had not gotten any smaller and was still going down. It seems there are more little caves that we might explore if we go back some day. Everyone walked back to the car. Ben was wearing Dad’s gloves, and we tried to get Faith to keep her hands in her sleeves, even though she did not complain of the cold. We got back to Tan House Farm around 9:15. All the children were asleep, but Amelia and Lizzie managed to get upstairs walking, and Lizie even changed into pajamas.

Carreg Cennen

Dad Carrying Faith

“Which Castle is the Best in Wales?”

Carreg Cennen

…

Carreg Cennen Cave

Sunday. We had another good breakfast, and long talks with the Powells about farming and childrearing.Ben and Lizzie played checkers. Amelia, Elizabeth, Faith, Dad, and the dog Mack went to Dore Abbey. Some tourists from Wales were there too. The grass was wet, and everyone’s feet got wet. We drove to Cheddar Gorge, eating ham and bread in the car on the way. At the Gorge, we parked in the furthest pay lot. We walked a long way, went to the pound store, and Dad, Amelia, Liz, and Ben walked up to the observation tower. On rejoing the others, we had supper at a fish and chips shop. Dad had hake, Mama cod. Dad bought a Somerset cider across the street, and a cheddar that was cave-aged. He left before the others and walked up to get the car. The others got ice cream and donuts. We drove up the Gorge and saw lots of mountain goats. Earlier, Amelia had found a goat jawbone with teeth.

A Camouflaged Goat

Goat Closeup

We drove back through downtown Bristol– the M5, M32, M4 and A34.

Goat Jawbone

At Sidney Sussex College

The Bread Stall at the Market

…

King’s College Chapel

King’s College Chapel–Rupert Brooke

…

A Narwhal at the museum

Vivian’s Family at the Chinese Buffet

On the Train

Nice View from the Train to London

…

Manatee and Amelia

Blue Mirrors in the Natural History Museum

Looking Down

…

Octopus Netsuke in the Victoria and Albert

Plaster Casts in the V and A

Faith on a Folding Chair

Dad, Ben, Lillie, and Amelia went to Salisbury yesterday.  Lillie had a fit in the morning because she didn’t want to go, something that happens more often than anybody likes. Faith was upset too, but because she couldn’t go as she was going to stay home with mom and Lizzie.

We left at 10:20 and arrived at 12:00, stopping once for provisions at a gas station on the A34. Benjamin picked out Sweet Chili crisps, and Lillie some Jammer cookies. We also bought milk and coffee. The children were very quiet on the way down, reading books. Near Salisbury, Lillie told everyone the story of the Three Little Pigs very well indeed. Ben responded with the story of the Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig. It involved playing croquet as well as smashing houses. Then Lillie told the story of Little Red Riding Hood, and Amelia told a story too.

We parked at a downtown garage, though not the closest one (Center) to the Cathedral. Coming out, Lillie was skipping along holding Dad’s hand. She said, “Dad, it’s a good thing you didn’t bring the stroller or I’d want to spend the whole time in the stroller!” We walked till we found a Marks and Spencer and bought Port Salut, assorted buns, German smoked cheese, cherry tomatoes, a Cadbury Turkish Delight bar, and a striped Double Gloucester and soft cheese with chives. We ate it on a bench in the pedestrian street. Amelia thought it was her best lunch ever.

Then we walked on. We looked in several stores, and bought some things in the Woolworth’s. We found a One-Pound Store that was full of delights, but we decided to come back later. Salisbury is full of good old buildings. We passed through a stone gate and approached the cathedral. The cathedral is the most beautiful I’ve seen.

Decoration

A Man Climbing the Spire

…
In the cathedral were lots of volunteer guides. A lady gave Lillie a Find-the-Animals book and showed her where to look for the first one, a flying horse.

A Window

The Chapter House has an original copy of the Magna Carta, and good carvings of stories from the entire Bible.

Lillie was getting very tired, and Benjamin was tired too. They lay down at the end of the cathedral for a while.

The Nave

We forgot to look for the famous 14th century clock.

We had gooseberry cake with elderflower cream for a snack in the cathedral restaurant, and bought an evensong CD for Mama in the shop.

The Cathedral Restaurant

Then we walked back to the pound store. Lillie bought plastic jewelry. Ben bought two toy gun (with a pound coin he had found ). Amelia bought 3 light sticks. Dad bought some toys, a garbage can, and other household items. Then we walked to an antique mall-store that Amelia thought would have good presents for Mama. We didn’t find anything, but it was interesting anyway.

The Model of Old Sarum in Salisbury Cathedral

Next we drove to Old Sarum. Lillie didn’t want to get out, but Dad made her. (She wanted to open her new jewelry.) We went into the castle ruins, Ben with his new gun. The views were splendid. Dad carried Lillie on his shoulders at first.

The Walls of Old Sarum

Ben in Old Sarum with his Dollar Store Purchase

At 5 we had to drive out of the parking lot, so we parked just outside the Celtic ramparts. Ben and Amelia got out with Ben’s parachute man and floated it in the wind over the outer moat. Lillii eventually joined them. Dad looked at maps and cleaned up the car.

At around 5:20 Dad called a halt and we drove North, towards Avebury with its stone circle, Marlborough with its forest, and West Kennett with its long barrow tomb. We saw lots of TANK CROSSING signs but no tanks (Salisbury Plain is there). We looked for a pub for supper, but the first one didn’t open till 6 and the second had no food except Sundays and the third didn’t open till 6:30. The fourth was the Barge Inn, on the Avon Canal, which opened with the canal in 1810 and was rebuilt around 1858– rather new, for a village pub. When Dad went in, a customer was exgtremely friendly to him, telling him that food wasn’t served till 7, introducing him to June, the proprietress, and showing him the back Cropcircle Room with its painted ceiling, clippings, and map showing where all the circles were found.

Dad went back to get the children to show them. They came in and Ben used the bathroom downstairs. Amelia stayed with him while Lillie and Dad went back up to see the animals– 3 elderly dogs, a cat on a couch, and a fishtank. Dad bought a pickled egg and some pork scratchings. When Amelia and Ben came back, they wanted something to drink, so Dad bought apple-raspberry juices, more scratchings, and a pint of excellent Black Sheep Bitter. Time was getting on, so we decided to stay for supper. We got menus and set up next to the fish tank and played cards– rummy, Ace Bay, and Pizza Express remember-and-match.

After supper we drove on. It was too late to stop anywhere else, so we went on home, arrving at 9:10. On the way, Lillie said, “Daddy you can’t fall asleep ALL DAY or we’ll crash.” All 3 kids were asleep, but not very by the time we reached home.