Back to Europe. Photo Album
JJMoon Diary
Barry and Margaret Wilmshurst
Sun 8 Feb 2009 05:06
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From NZ to Europe
 First stop was
Auckland where we spent a pleasant day touring the harbour and
visiting the maritime museum.
 Back home we
visited old haunts and friends and relatives
in Surrey. These are beautiful Autumn tints on Box
Hill.
.
 Barry leads
the pack along the tow path of the Kennet and Avon canal near Bath on
his birthday celebration weekend.
 Perhaps it was because we had so recently come from New Zealand
where historic buildings date back only as far as 1800s, but we were
awe-struck on a visit to Wells Cathedral which was dedicated in
1239. Not only is one amazed at the construction but it is still
wonderfully busy and alive.
  1. The
amazing scissor arches under the central tower. They were designed in 1338 by
the master mason William Joy to help take the weight of the tower that was
starting to crack due to extra building work in 1313.
2. Vicar's Close, a street of picturesque 14th century houses originally built to house the cathedral clergy. It is claimed to be the oldest complete street of its kind in Europe.  We had a quick
visit to France to see friends and do some administration. There had been
an early snow fall and this is a picture of my house when I went to
visit.
  On our return
to British soil Barry could not be kept away from the Harpenden under 10s
rugby.
It was
fearfully cold and muddy but that's English rugby for
you.
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