21st February 2025
As our route was taking us through my family area of Northamptonshire (mum's Battams side of the family hailed from there),we visited Shutlanger and Stoke Bruerne. Shutlanger is tiny - one pub (the Plough) and a tiny High Street set back from the main road. The equally tiny church is now the village hall- no burials that I could see.
Down the lane, we reached Stoke Bruerne, set along the canal - would have loved to explore that properly if we had more time. The church was locked and only one Battams burial, on the War Memorial - Sergt. A C Battams, 6th Northants Regiment.
On to the Premier Inn near St Albans. Comfy bed, but couldn't eat there (restaurant shut)and the Harvester next door was fully booked. We went 3 miles up the road to the Spotted Dog at Flamstead, and I had Scampi and Chips, and Gabs chose the Game Stew and chips, and we shared a bottle of Pino Grigio (taking half of it back to our room). I spotted a "Beware Toads" sign on the verge as we went to the pub. Gabby didn't believe me, but on the way back there were people in high viz jackets with yellow plastic buckets, helping the little chaps across!
Sunday 23rd February 2025
We had be up early to the airport, but not on plane that early as it took ages to get everyone to their seats - very haphazard planning there. The airport was very busy and Cosmopolitan - we were next to a queue of Very Orthodox Jews with HUGE amounts of luggage.
We had breakfast there, but I was amazed to see chaps and partners downing a full English breakfast washed down with a pint of lager!!
It was a 5 hour flight - I was more than ready to run up and down the plane after just an hour! Gabs had booked a window seat for me - downside of that is view nearly clouds all the way and the person on the aisle seat had to move if we wanted the loo, so I didn't drink much. No real views beneath us until we reached Greece.
The hotel in Amman . . . looked like they hadn't been ready for us as there were no towels, and when Gabby did chase some up, we were given some the size of small hand towels ... The queensize bed (Gabby had booked a double room as no option for twin) had inadequate covers - a long thin duvet that would either cover your feet (but not your top half) or your top half with your feet sticking out the end! We had to use coats on the bed and Gabby wrapped her top half in her big woollen scarf. The walls were paper thin and there was a loud couple with a noisy baby in the next room. Sleep was at a premium. Evening meal had lovely salads, rice and some nice meat stews.
And so it begins.
But what a contrast to your Welsh hills and valleys. If nothing else, holidays make you appreciate home more. Seriously BB, it looks as if you had a wonderful exciting, interesting and bonding time with Gabby. When I flew to Crete it was mountains all the way until we got to the ink blue Aegean and I felt I was coming home. I hadn’t visited Greece since 1992 and have only flown a handful of times in that 32 year gap (cannot bear airports nowadays) and I can hardly believe I am returning next month - without S so this time it really will be a proper holiday for me. Cannot wait to hear more of your holiday adventures, but there is no rush, just good to see you are home safe and sound. Sarah x
ReplyDeleteWell, I thought we had views here, but in Jordan - WOW. Nothing to be able to see 100 + miles I reckon. It was lovely to be together with Gabby for longer than the few hours every couple of weeks she can normally manage, and never a cross word all the time!
DeleteI am sure that you will find the holiday in Greece just as amazing as ever, and you will be able to relax properly. We didn't have much chance to relax - busy going from one site to the next.
Definitely getting the feel of Jordan with those last two photos. Looking forward to more journal entries. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI tried to take all sorts of photos - not just the amazing sights, but day to day life. I have to say, the first time I saw a shepherd with his flock of (Anglo-Nubian) goats or sheep, it looked Biblical.
DeleteMy kind of photos when I travel - life.
DeleteI have lived in Northampton all of my life and had a cousin who married a man from Shutlanger (name Goodridge) - we thought he was very "country" in the way he talked. I have only ever driven through the village but used to love walking along the canal at Stoke Bruerne, visiting the mueum there and having lunch in the Boat Inn. My family research shows that my dad's family originally came from Leicestershire, but looking into mum's side was harder as she was born in Northern Ireland and moved here in 1946. She died when I was little and I had no-one to ask questions of, but I did manage to go back a little way, and although nearly all of her siblings have died, it was nice to at least have an understanding of the family. What has amused me is that although her family were Irish Catholics there are only 3 cousins on that side, whereas my paternal side was English Protestant (but actually followed no religion other than weddings and funerals) and seemed to breed very prolifically and I have 20 first cousins and so many 2nd/3rd/once removed/twice removed ones that I lost count.
ReplyDeleteHello Aileen. Mum's Battams were in Shutlanger for ever - all the women were lace makers in the 18th and 19th C, until the arrival of machine-made lace. Gosh, your talking of 20 cousins reminds me of our tour guide - his father had been one of 15 children, and he was one of 11 and everyone was his "cousin"! Some were acquired on the guiding circuit, and cousin by business, but he still had something like 80 real cousins. I only have 8.
DeleteMum's grandfather must have been a very reliable farm worker, because he was made manager of the farm, but then in the 1870s there was The Great Depression of Agriculture due to imported grain from the American prairies. The family moved to London looking for work, and he became a Bath Chair Proprietor.
Glad to see you home and safe, it looked a wonderful holiday and I am sure there will be plenty more photos. Hotel must have been a bit of a disappointment but I'm sure the sights made up for that.
ReplyDelete