Definitely! They are places that are so hard to create in the US, yet so amazing to have. There used to be a pretty good one called the Mayflower in San Rafael, when I was an adult. My Dad discovered it and liked to hang out there; he took me a few times.
The walks, mud and all, would have been wonderful. I prefer winter for walking - more energetic, I think. Lovely images.
Your conversation in the pub sounds interesting. Do you think just because the chap was a Conservative that he would approve of Trump? I wonder. A subject for another day.
I think you did brilliantly to keep the conversation completely apolitical. Me being me, I would have spouted off - thank heaven for dogs.
Ha, your comment makes me laugh. We did not stay apolitical at all; I just didn't describe it as I didn't want the essay to go that way. We did cover many political topics but with a focus on inquiry and listening, rather than responding with rebuttal and counter-arguments. I'm not sure where they stood on Trump as they never said, but I don't think they would have supported Kamala, based on one of the comments. But no matter, I am always thankful that people step up to take on that sort of civic responsibility, since I would never have the stomach for it. And they had lived such interesting lives in the meantime.
And always, you are right, thank heaven for dogs! Can't wait to hear/see more about your new family member!
I just read a book entitled, "The White Ship," by Charles Spencer (Princess Diana's brother, I think). This is an account of William I (The Conqueror) through to Henry II. Of course it mentions King William Rufus (an odious man and ineffectual king) and his (seeming) demise by his own arrow while hunting. And there you are at the "Rufus Stone." I am a little jealous at all the fun pubs you have in the UK, and the conviviality they encourage.
That is serendipity right there Tim! Wow, how funny to be discovering the same person in history at the same time.
Next time you are around these parts, it would be delightful to take you to some of our favourite pubs. They can be quite special places, always with their own personality. I am surprised you don't have something similar in New Zealand...
Love the gorgeous pictures and the recounting of your weekend adventures! I also love reading your ongoing musings about living in different places than where you live now…very fun! We did the same when we visited Portland ME this past fall, which absolutely struck us as wonderfully livable…hey, you never know!
Yes, we are always musing about places to live. But I admit we also love working in our garden and in the house where we live, so we aren't giving up on where we are. Glad you liked the tour...we'll get you and John there one of these days!
I would have been thrilled at seeing the ponies. Almost as exciting as seeing a fox dashing across the trail by our Washington, D.C. apartment building. That knocked my socks off and made me happy for days.
I groaned the "slightly muddy" trails. Had I been there, that would have done me in. I might have stomped off in the other direction given my experience with British weather and my fair weather hiking predilictions.
I had to laugh about your going the opposite direction following the "easy" directions. I'm sure I would have done the same thing. Fabio probably would have turned me around but had I been on my own, sure trouble.
I'm pleased to hear you have these mid-January adventures to give yourselves something to look forward to (not necessarily that one is a year older) after the excitment of the holidays has worn off a bit and there's still a lot of winter ahead. Glad you can pop into a pub to warm up.
It sounds like we need pubs in the US!
Definitely! They are places that are so hard to create in the US, yet so amazing to have. There used to be a pretty good one called the Mayflower in San Rafael, when I was an adult. My Dad discovered it and liked to hang out there; he took me a few times.
What a fabulous weekend. Just my kind, Sabrina.
The walks, mud and all, would have been wonderful. I prefer winter for walking - more energetic, I think. Lovely images.
Your conversation in the pub sounds interesting. Do you think just because the chap was a Conservative that he would approve of Trump? I wonder. A subject for another day.
I think you did brilliantly to keep the conversation completely apolitical. Me being me, I would have spouted off - thank heaven for dogs.
XXXX
Ha, your comment makes me laugh. We did not stay apolitical at all; I just didn't describe it as I didn't want the essay to go that way. We did cover many political topics but with a focus on inquiry and listening, rather than responding with rebuttal and counter-arguments. I'm not sure where they stood on Trump as they never said, but I don't think they would have supported Kamala, based on one of the comments. But no matter, I am always thankful that people step up to take on that sort of civic responsibility, since I would never have the stomach for it. And they had lived such interesting lives in the meantime.
And always, you are right, thank heaven for dogs! Can't wait to hear/see more about your new family member!
You are very diplomatic. I, on the other hand...
I just read a book entitled, "The White Ship," by Charles Spencer (Princess Diana's brother, I think). This is an account of William I (The Conqueror) through to Henry II. Of course it mentions King William Rufus (an odious man and ineffectual king) and his (seeming) demise by his own arrow while hunting. And there you are at the "Rufus Stone." I am a little jealous at all the fun pubs you have in the UK, and the conviviality they encourage.
That is serendipity right there Tim! Wow, how funny to be discovering the same person in history at the same time.
Next time you are around these parts, it would be delightful to take you to some of our favourite pubs. They can be quite special places, always with their own personality. I am surprised you don't have something similar in New Zealand...
Love the gorgeous pictures and the recounting of your weekend adventures! I also love reading your ongoing musings about living in different places than where you live now…very fun! We did the same when we visited Portland ME this past fall, which absolutely struck us as wonderfully livable…hey, you never know!
And of course, love the ponies!!
The ponies were mainly for you Martha! 😉
Yes, we are always musing about places to live. But I admit we also love working in our garden and in the house where we live, so we aren't giving up on where we are. Glad you liked the tour...we'll get you and John there one of these days!
I would have been thrilled at seeing the ponies. Almost as exciting as seeing a fox dashing across the trail by our Washington, D.C. apartment building. That knocked my socks off and made me happy for days.
I groaned the "slightly muddy" trails. Had I been there, that would have done me in. I might have stomped off in the other direction given my experience with British weather and my fair weather hiking predilictions.
I had to laugh about your going the opposite direction following the "easy" directions. I'm sure I would have done the same thing. Fabio probably would have turned me around but had I been on my own, sure trouble.
I'm pleased to hear you have these mid-January adventures to give yourselves something to look forward to (not necessarily that one is a year older) after the excitment of the holidays has worn off a bit and there's still a lot of winter ahead. Glad you can pop into a pub to warm up.