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.
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| Decoration |
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| A Man Climbing the Spire |
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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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| The Walls of Old Sarum |
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| 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.