Devizes, England - 16th November 2008
By: Steve & Helly
We set off early this morning to walk along the Kennet and Avon canal before Helly started work. It was a cold and frosty morning . . . oh, there's my cue for a song!
Helly took us along a road with sixteen speed bumps - she knows, she counted every one. We then walked a short way and found ourselves half way up Caen Hill, a flight of sixteen locks in very short succession. In fact, over a two mile stretch there are 21 locks.
Caen Hill is famous for it's locks. It takes about four hours in a narrow boat to navigate the flight of sixteen. Luckily there's a pub at the top for refreshments.
We didn't see any narrow boats this morning. Perhaps it was too early, or the more hardened boaters are moored up at the various marinas along the canal.
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Posted Dec 2, 2008, 9:02 pm Last edited Dec 2, 2008, 9:12 pm by Steve & Helly
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Caen Hill, England - 16th November 2008
By: Steve & Helly
The large 'lakes' you can see are there to allow boats to moor up but more importantly they are there to prevent the canal flooding. A group of people are employed to control the water levels along the canal in times of high water. This morning there was just us and a few ducks to be seen.
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Posted Dec 2, 2008, 9:08 pm
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London, England - 21st November 2008
By: Steve & Helly
What a surprise we had! We've once again travelled away from Wiltshire to London! More specifically, we're here to celebrate Helly's Dad's 70th birthday, at the London Eye!
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Posted Dec 4, 2008, 7:09 am Last edited Dec 4, 2008, 7:10 am by Steve & Helly
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London, England - 21st November 2008
By: Steve & Helly
Helly kept tightly hold of us through the crowds of London and before we knew it we were in a 'pod' and on our way!
Eloise held tightly on to me on the way up, but soon relaxed as Steve pointed out the sights.
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Posted Dec 4, 2008, 7:15 am
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London, England - 21st November 2008
By: Steve & Helly
Look, Can you see the Houses of Parliament in the background? We saw The Post Office Tower and St. Paul's Cathedral and the Gerkin Buillding, and that was just going up!
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Posted Dec 4, 2008, 7:19 am
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London, England - 21st November 2008
By: Steve & Helly
Hurrah, we're nearly at the top now. Hasn't time flown. The whole trip takes half an hour and it seems only minutes since we started.
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Posted Dec 8, 2008, 3:13 pm
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London, England - 21st November 2008
By: Steve & Helly
Gosh, it's a long way down. My darling Eloise surprised me as I thought she'd be scared but not at all. She's loving every minute of it.
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Posted Dec 8, 2008, 3:20 pm
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London, England - 21st November 2008
By: Steve & Helly
Wow, what a ride that was!
Now we're back on the ground we can explore some of London.
First stop - Horse Guards.
We were in time to see the changing of the guard. Those poor horses stand still for three hours at a time and the guards are not allowed to show any emotion. Not even when Eloise cheekily stuck her tongue out at one of them! Note the two different guards.
(Oh, Helly says to please excuse the fact that Steve took these photos and it's a bit hit and miss as to whether we're both in shot! He's not a pro!)
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Posted Dec 8, 2008, 3:45 pm Last edited Dec 8, 2008, 4:06 pm by Steve & Helly
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London, England - 21st November 2008
By: Steve & Helly
Next stop, Downing Street.
We couldn't see No. 10 as it's hidden behind these big gates.
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Posted Dec 8, 2008, 4:02 pm
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London, England - 21st November 2008
By: Steve & Helly
Then we paused for a moment at the Senotaph. There were still lots of wreaths from remembrance day there.
(Oh, this is another Steve photo, can you tell?)
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Posted Dec 8, 2008, 4:09 pm
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Marlborough, England - 22nd November 2008
By: Steve & Helly
We drove to Marlborough especially to see the beautiful lights. Helly & Steve were very disappointed that the pictures did not do the lights justice.
However, we snuggled up in the car - it's starting to get cold here - and thought they were beautiful!
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Posted Dec 13, 2008, 8:17 am
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Calne, England - 24th November 2008
By: Steve & Helly
Well,
Helly has discovered that her camera is not good for night time shots and for the actual night selection on the camera she needed a tripod, so she apologies as these are the best of a bad lot!
We had a fantastic time. Each year Calne has a festival of lights. School children and local groups make lanterns and walk through the street to the river before the Christmas lights are turned on.
Steve told us this was the best year, there were so many lanterns, big and small. It was icy cold so Eloise and I snuggled up together to keep warm.
We saw Father Christmas on his sleigh!
When the festival is on the main road, the A4, is closed through Calne which causes chaos. The police were there - the photo didn't come out well - and several buses had not read the 'Road closed' sign and had to turn around, doing 9 point turns to do so. It also means they have approximately 10 miles to drive to get back on their correct route!
We also saw a typical English red fire engine.
We only stayed until the lanterns had gone by as it was so very cold.
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Posted Dec 13, 2008, 8:39 am
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Devizes, England - 27th November 2008
By: Steve & Helly
Back to Devizes this morning. This time Helly let us join her on a training day. Helly was delivering an abuse awareness course with new staff. Although it was a serious subject we did have some fun.
First we helped Helly with the flipchart.
Then Eloise and I wrote messages to each other . . .
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Posted Dec 18, 2008, 4:58 pm
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Devizes, England - 27th November 2008
By: Steve & Helly
Then we were introduced to the group. We helped them to make tea and then some of the group asked if they could take us outside and show us the beautiful church yard next door.
My darling Eloise and I were feeling mischievious so we also climbed into a bush and played hide and seek.
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Posted Dec 18, 2008, 5:02 pm
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