Sorch is Home!

Subject: RE: Sorch is Home!
From: Leadfingers
Date: 30 May 04 - 06:50 PM

Thanks for the vote of confidence Sorch AND very glad to add to the pleasure of your UK trip.

Subject: RE: Sorch is Home!
From: Sorcha
Date: 30 May 04 - 05:21 PM

PS to the above.....when Terry left Khatt/Micca's place, Khatt said to me...."Sorch, I didn't want to tell you this before you left but nobody else will get in a car with him because he drives like a banshee!" Well, he does, but he does gigs all over England and has never had a crash. He also never scared me once because of his driving or anything else. Wunnerful man.

Subject: RE: Sorch is Home!
From: Sorcha
Date: 30 May 04 - 05:16 PM

Cardiff Session and Caermathen
Crossed the Severn estuary bridge at low tide….interesting. After my experience in the Atlantic, Terry told me NO WAY was he taking me to ever see the Severn bore…..LOL
        Leadfingers and I met sian, west wales at the Conway Pub for a few. Nigel, Splottman and (who else), a couple non Cat friends of Sians. Apparently Gareth was there but we missed him. No idea why. No session. Then we were informed that the session had moved to a different pub so we went there. The Canton? Arrived in time to play a few tunes and exit stage left. Nice session. We drove about an hour out to Caermathen to sleep at Sian's house. Had brekkie and headed back to London by way of:
Castle Coch (Victorian folly)
Now, this is funny. It's a small Medieval Bavarian style castle between Caermathen and Cardiff. Well worth the price of admission. The man had more money than sense. Built the castle with a wonderful banqueting hall, but no guest rooms….wonder where he expected all his banquet guests to sleep. In pavilions on the grounds possibly? Probably a web site for it but I haven't looked yet. Short detour to:
Greater Torrington, Devonshire
        I wanted to stop here because I'm from Torrington, Wyoming. (You all knew that, right) The Mayor was out for the day but I met one of her assistants and the receptionist at the Info Centre. Passed out a pheasant pin for the Mayor and collected all kinds of Greater Torrington pamphlets for our Mayor. This could be where I lost the sack of pins…..I don't know! I just know I lost them. I have pics of there, and will get pics of our Mayor receiving his Greater Torrington stuff. This is known as the Cavalier Town but we didn't have time to do the Tour. I gave them a great idea with my pheasant pins….they want to get little Cavalier pins to sell in the shop area. On the road again to
Windsor Castle
        Again, we didn't really stop. Traffic was horrid, no parking places but Terry did double park so I could take some pics of the outside. Back into London where Leadfingers turned me over to Khatt with the caveat……I am delivering her back to you safe and sound. I wish you joy of her.

I know I have missed things and I had the best intentions of keeping a trip diary but I just got too busy, too drunk and too lazy to do it. If Leadfingers (or others) think of important things I missed feel free to add them)
Next Installment…Hastings for Beltaine. I know this is long, but 6 weeks is a long time. We are only up to the end of week 1. Shall I stop?

Subject: RE: Sorch is Home!
From: Sorcha
Date: 30 May 04 - 04:48 PM

Next Installment:
(I know it's long but the last story is worth it)


West Country:
        (Note—Leadfingers and I did the West Country before Khatt and I went walkabout in Central London)
Stonehenge, Avebury
        Didn't pay to get into Stonehenge but I did see it. Picked up a couple rocks from outside the fence. Why the yobs want to vandalize places like this is beyond me. Avebury is an amazing little place. The stone circle is so big you can't really take it all in. This tiny little village is beautiful and maintains:
St. James Church in Avebury
        Quite a beautiful church….(another bloody church although I hadn't got to that point yet)
Glastonbury and environs
Tor
        This poor pilgrim chickened out and only made it ¾ of the way up the Tor. I am afraid of heights and the wind was blowing like no tomorrow. Yes, it always blows on the Tor, but this was miserable. I already had rocks in my pockets (really!) and the fear of heights kicked in and I was afraid I was going to get blown off. Leadfingers had already had his hat blown off and went galumphing across the side of the hill. I had visions of him going……bump bump bumb down the side….I didn't see any of the weird phenomena associated with the Tor. Wish I had. Met a cute Airedale puppy on our way up. Told her mum she had to pay toll. Weird look….I giggled and said, Pet your dog. I did, dog petted me, petted Terry (well, jumped on us actually. Puppies have NO manners) and we all went on our merry way.
Chalice Well Gardens
        This is THE MOST PEACEFUL BEAUTIFUL PLACE I've ever been. I don't even have words to describe it. So calming and healing. Unfortunately the weather was a tad nasty (misty and cold) the day we were there or we would have stayed longer. Also, we still had to have a go at the Tor. There is a website with a virtual tour….almost as good as being there. You all should go here if you ever have a chance. Site is much much older than Christianity.
Glastonbury Abbey
        I really enjoyed our self guided walking tour here. Again, quiet and peaceful, at least until we were leaving. Just as we were leaving a teen age school tour came in….they ain't got no respect. Glad they weren't yammering while we were there. Saw King Arthur and Guenivere's 'grave sites'. (I know, I know, but I prefer the legend to the reality) Nice herb garden too.
Peter and Angela's Barn
        These are the parents of Leadfingers mate Tony. The house is 'new' (1850-ish) but the barn is 12th century Norman. Wunnerful, wunnerful barn. Thatch and the whole bit. Angela also found a tile exactly like those at the Abbey when digging a hole to plant something in her garden.
St. Andrews Church
1,700 yr old yew tree
        Ancient pagan site…church has a yew tree in front and back with a stone circle surrounding it. Quite a nice little church. No, I was not yet to the 'nother bloody church' stage. I took a pic on film of the hollow heart of the tree. Hope it comes out well. Walking on the bones of thousands of people is a bit strange but Tony assured me they were all friendly.
Up and over the spine…..gorse and heather galore. I wanted to stop here and get some gorse but no place to pull over. I finally did get some later. Weird stuff, gorse. Sort of like sage brush but with prickles. You got it, you can't get rid of it and you can't do a bloody thing with it. At least the deer will eat sagebrush in a pinch.
Lynton—life boat rescue
        What an incredible story of courage and perseverance. Ship foundered at sea. Waves to high to launch lifeboat so the men carried it for 14 hrs? up and over the spine, back into the sea and saved the crew. Wow. Neat village. I would go there again. Did not take the tram to Lynmouth.
Tintagel
        THIS is where you break in out of shape tourists. Oh, the stairs…the wind and the sea spray. I was determined to make it though. See the legendary birthplace of Arthur's conception and birth. If all those blue haired people can do it, so can I! I told Leadfingers that if I fell off just throw down a shovel and a coffin. The sea would do the rest. Of course, the town is a great big Tourist Trap but I expected that. We did not do the Victorian Folly called Arthur's Hall. It was closed and expensive besides. Then on to
Boscastle (Witchcraft museum)
        OK, listen up here. This is the best story of the trip and too good to keep mum about. We arrived in Boscastle and Terry met his mate Graham whom he hadn't seen for about 3 years. They were yakking so I went outside to smoke. Wanted a short walk. You can't get lost in Boscastle. The footpath is on the other side of the bridge from where I was and leads to a crag but I wanted to go down to the harbour. YES, I did see the sign that said---NOT a footpath. Area is awash at high tide. I looked. Tide was a looooong ways out so I started walking down the boat ramp. I was about halfway down to the water, checked tide again….still seems OK. Then my downfall. About 3' in front of me I saw a lovely canon bone from a (probably) cow quite nicely washed by the sea. I wanted it. I walked down and bent over to pick it up…….uh oh. Water around my feet. Grabbed bone and hurried back up cobblestone boat ramp covered with loose rocks from the sea. Water up to my ankles…..turned me foot on a loose stone…stumbled and just then the comber broke at the back of my knees. Knocked me down….so there I am with the North Atlantic tide coming in at high speed thinking…."Oh shit oh shitohshit" (Hey, we Wyomingites don't know about hard and fast tides). I was soaked to the waist but managed to get stood up before I was washed out to sea and really really didn't want to go back to Grahams house. Talk about embarrassed. I took my shoes off outside and staggered up the steps. Leadfingers says to me…….."WOT THE BLOODY FECKING ELL DID YOU FIND TO FALL INTO?"    "THE BLOODY FECKING ATLANTIC…WHAT THE FECK ELSE IS THERE TO FALL INTO?"…….LOL LOL LOL But, I admit I was very lucky. Proof that I am NOT to be let out alone. Saved the bone and the wallet with passport. Thank the gods I didn't have a camera with me.
Next edition…..South Wales. Stay tuned.

Subject: RE: Sorch is Home!
From: Amos
Date: 30 May 04 - 03:52 PM

When I first went to England the pound was 2.80, and later dwindeled to $2.40.

Cheer up!!   and Welcome Home darlin'!!


:>)

A

Subject: RE: Sorch is Home!
From: Sorcha
Date: 30 May 04 - 03:52 PM

London:
Black Lion session
        Wow, what a great time! Seeing as how Micca got me all drunked up the night before and I missed Khatt's great dinner, I took the opportunity to do it again! Loads of people came down, even Bassic from Hull! Great time, you all should go there.

Tower, Tower Bridge
Buck House
Westminister Abbey
Mall, Trafalgar Square, City Gates
St. James Park
        Khatt and I did the walking tour of central London, didn't pay to get into any of these places. I think we walked about 10 miles….at least! Thank goodness we did this AFTER the trip to the West Country or I would have died. Tintagel is a good place to break in a tourist. I've seen this stuff now and can't think of a reason to visit London again, except to see Catters. Khatt's knee held up quite well.
Museum of Childhood—fun fun place! Toys and amusements from the Ages
Museum of Interiors—really nifty place. Rooms from lots of Periods as they
        Have looked when lived in
Sharpe House, Tom Paley!!
        Great session. I didn't have Maggie as I didn't want to carry her all over London on the walking tour, but I got to borrow a fiddle and play a few tunes. Met, chatted and played with Tom Paley. Somewhere there is a pic of me with him. Real film not developed yet.
British Museum, (Egypt, Pre Roman Britain, Greece)
        YOU ALL SHOULD GO HERE!! Plan at least 2 days if you are a serious Museum-er. Perhaps not consecutive days because of Museum Glaze. This place is amazing. Sort of the Smithsonian of England. I got to see the Snettisham Treasure and the Sutton Hoo Hoard, plus loads of stuff from ancient Egypt.
Cutty Sark (after dark) Dave Bryant took me to see this. Can't remember if I tried a pic or not. If I did it's on film. Not digie.
Stay tuned for the Summer Country. I know I have left things off, but I forget……

Subject: RE: Sorch is Home!
From: Sorcha
Date: 30 May 04 - 03:40 PM

jOhn, that would be because they sold a lot of bears or because I was so amusing to watch? LOL!

Very very wonderful to meet you all, but I'm never staying away from home for 6 weeks again. 3 weeks would be just about right.

Stuff I miss about England (other than people and critters):

Toilets that FLUSH!!        
Asian food on the menus
Beautiful country drives and gardens
Real ale and pubs
Places to actually walk to….instead of just walking
Real cheese in great varieties everywhere
Specialty shops, esp. the bakeries
The folk music in so many venues all the time
Pagan stuff and people everywhere
Fantastic clothes (ethnic) to buy
Children being allowed in pubs
Availability of ethnic foods in supermarkets
Sea beaches and neat rocks (I loved the wonderful rocks on the North Sea beach at
        Cromer)



Stuff I missed while in England (other than people and critters):

Showers with water pressure
Being able to drive myself—very glad I didn't plan to try!!
Cheap fags
Electric clothes dryers
Free coffee refills in most places


Stuff I shall NOT miss about England:

Weak showers
London traffic and London in general…..(grin, not the Catters, just the place)
Drying racks and weird washing machines
Price of petrol
Prices in general (the dollar is losing ground rapidly; it was L = $1.50 when I left home
        Now it's L = $1.84)
Roundabouts (those things are just plain weird!)
I know there will be more on each list later

Hmmm…..list #1 is the longest. Perhaps I should move, *BG*
Later I'll post a Marion style narrative. Still working on it. Probably post it in bits. Watch this space.

Subject: RE: Sorch is Home!
From: Willa
Date: 27 May 04 - 11:44 AM

Lovely to meet you, Sorcha. Hope you've taken a look at the pictures of the Yorkshire Gathering - they're great!

Subject: RE: Sorch is Home!
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 27 May 04 - 11:09 AM

The staff at The Adelphi asked when you are going back? :-)

Subject: RE: Sorch is Home!
From: Sorcha
Date: 27 May 04 - 11:06 AM

LOL, Liz, about the rain. For all you Unblelivers I really did take our Wyoming Spring with me. It only rained 2 days during my entire trip and the weather was glorious. Here in Wyoming, they got English Spring...cold, wet and it even tried to snow. My first whole day home, Wednesday, it reverted to normal....dry, warm and sunny. It is pretty weird.

Oh, the 70 MPG....Emma B said hers gets that, but it's a diesel engine.

Subject: RE: Sorch is Home!
From: Leadfingers
Date: 27 May 04 - 09:00 AM

Well at least us Yookers can relax now for a few days . Who's next to come over and disrupt our peaceful lives ? Glad you are home safe and sound Sorch , and it was great fun taking to OUR West .

Subject: RE: Sorch is Home!
From: Rapparee
Date: 27 May 04 - 08:47 AM

Hey, yo're back home agin jist in time ta help with the Spring brandin' an' cuttin'! Iffen ya missed it in Wyomin', I kin git ya on with an outfit here in Idyho. Welcome back home!

Subject: RE: Sorch is Home!
From: Davetnova
Date: 27 May 04 - 07:51 AM

It was a real treat hearing you and banjoray together. Glad you're home safe.

Subject: RE: Sorch is Home!
From: Morticia
Date: 27 May 04 - 07:35 AM

glad to hear you are home safe, Sorch and glad you enjoyed your visit.

Subject: RE: Sorch is Home!
From: Mrs.Duck
Date: 27 May 04 - 07:27 AM

Great to have met you Sorcha. Maybe next time you might stay with us - especially if your mother told you to always leave a place tidier than you found it :0)) We too enjoyed hearing some genuine old time fiddling (I mean the style not you!!! lol) See you in chat later tonight - you get the beer and we'll get the wine.

Subject: RE: Sorch is Home!
From: BanjoRay
Date: 27 May 04 - 07:09 AM

I was great hearing old time fiddling with a Kansas/Wyoming accent -
a real pleasure, Sorcha
Ray

Subject: RE: Sorch is Home!
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 27 May 04 - 04:48 AM

It was great to meet you and hear you play, Sorcha. Any time you fancy sleeping in the caravan again, you'll be welcome.

Subject: RE: Sorch is Home!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 27 May 04 - 03:32 AM

By the sound of it, that memory is indelibly etched upon her soul...... when she dies, you will find 'Hull' engraved upon her heart!

Sorch - I can recommend a good therapist and some self help books if you need them!

LTS

Subject: RE: Sorch is Home!
From: el ted
Date: 27 May 04 - 03:25 AM

I bet you never forget The Adelphi club in Hull!

Subject: RE: Sorch is Home!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 27 May 04 - 02:59 AM

It was wonderful to meet you finally, thank you for taking the time out of your hectic family life to come and see us and 'the old country'!

Enjoy your next few days, soon it will be as if you had never been away!

If it makes you feel better, it started raining yesterday evening and is very dull and overcast still here in London!

Take care dear,

LTS and Limpit

Subject: RE: Sorch is Home!
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 27 May 04 - 02:44 AM

Good to see you back....

and you front...

Robin

Subject: RE: Sorch is Home!
From: Sorcha
Date: 26 May 04 - 07:12 PM

Well, not exactly, catsPHiddle.....I haven't gone cat shopping yet....the mog we have was almost out and whinging about the chewed over bits in her bowl. Cat shopping is on the list when I get finished with house and piccies. LOL!

House not too bad, really. Garden, really really bad. Weeds got ahead of me big time. Also, I am pleased to say that I really did seem to bring the weather with me. It has been cold and rainy here (even tried to snow once) since I left. So sorry I couldn't leave it over there. Deal with it. I need my warmth and sunshine.

Subject: RE: Sorch is Home!
From: Micca
Date: 26 May 04 - 07:01 PM

Hi Sorch, glad you made it home ok, it was a pleasure to meet and be host to you during (some)of your UK visit. It certainly was a frenzied and eventful visit!! some time again (as the Inuit say)

Subject: RE: Sorch is Home!
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 26 May 04 - 04:50 PM

Glad to hear you made it home safe and sound and that you enjoyed you time over here in the UK.

...Shopping for cat food eh??......I take it he said yes to the kitty!!!

Subject: RE: Sorch is Home!
From: Mudlark
Date: 26 May 04 - 04:16 PM

Welcome home, Sorcha...sounds like you had a stellar time. I bet it felt good to be greeted by your corgis...they know how to do it right!

Subject: RE: Sorch is Home!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 26 May 04 - 02:46 PM

Welcome home! I burned your CDs today so I could be sure to send them by the time you got home on the 25th. I think I lost a week somewhere!

Now that you know they can survive without you, when are you coming HERE?

~Susan

Subject: RE: Sorch is Home!
From: jacqui.c
Date: 26 May 04 - 02:37 PM

Pheasants all around and all being looked after

It was nice to meet you Sorcha. Glad you enjoyed yourself.

Subject: RE: Sorch is Home!
From: Sorcha
Date: 26 May 04 - 02:28 PM

Emma, found and bought curry leaves in Norwich. Any and all are always welcome here if you can brave the far west.....long ways from anywhere we are! Come on out!!!

Subject: RE: Sorch is Home!
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 26 May 04 - 02:26 PM

It was good to see you and hear you. I'm sure they are glad to have you back home again.

You do realise you are probably going to have all kinds of weird people from back here turn up on your doorstep sooner or later...

My pheasant is safe and sound too.

Subject: RE: Sorch is Home!
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 26 May 04 - 02:17 PM

I shall treasure my pheasant, and the opportunity of meeting you in Plaistow!

Glad you're home and safe.

Kitty

Subject: RE: Sorch is Home!
From: Amos
Date: 26 May 04 - 02:16 PM

WELCOME HOOOOME BUHAYBEEE!

A

Subject: RE: Sorch is Home!
From: fiddler
Date: 26 May 04 - 02:11 PM

Nice to see you - enjoy home and family for a while now - speak soon

Andy

Subject: RE: Sorch is Home!
From: Emma B
Date: 26 May 04 - 01:44 PM

Happy homecoming Sorcha
Already planning the "next time" hey!
Curry leaves to follow

Subject: RE: Sorch is Home!
From: Blowzabella
Date: 26 May 04 - 01:42 PM

Hope you had a truly wonderful time Sorcha - sorry we didn't get to meet up.

Blowz

Subject: RE: Sorch is Home!
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 26 May 04 - 01:40 PM

Welcome Home Sorch!
See you in the Mudchat some time...
Quack!
Geoff.

Subject: Sorch is Home!
From: Sorcha
Date: 26 May 04 - 01:36 PM

Well, friends, you are all shut of me for a year at least. I want to say THANK YOU ALL VERY VERY MUCH for the things all of you did for me. For food, transport, money, putting up with my foibles, disrupting your lives and schedules....etc etc etc. I apologize for any inconviencies/problems I caused....next time I'll know more and be more able to be on my own.

Everything was sooooo glorious and wonderful that I just don't know where to start. If I name names I know I will leave someone out, so just know that I truly enjoyed myself.Visa Card enjoyed me too. It's good to be home and the dogs, husband and kids all went crazy. There was a crash on the motorway on the way out of Denver (half a double wide mobile home--no one hurt but the 'half' is a total loss) so we were until 1 AM getting here. By then, I'd been up almost 25 hrs and Brian over 26....we crashed and burnt. Kate is making fun of my 'accent'...I'll try to ditch it as soon as possible.

Lots to do still, but I am unpacked and semi sorted. Been to the grocery store (to get cat food!!) and the house isn't bad at all. So far (almost noon here) no jet lag to speak of. I had to have a beer at "5 PM" tho even if it WAS only 10 AM here, LOL! More later...stuff to do.