Wells

To check off another place from our "Must See Before We Move to Telford" list, we drove down to Wells which is south of Bristol in Somerset (link). But this was only after me having taken the Life in the UK test required for my "indefinite leave to remain" Visa... I still wonder how one leaves to remain... anyway... I passed! So at the end of June I can apply for the Visa, which will hopefully be the last one I'll ever have to apply for.

So, back to Wells. We first got lunch at a pub. Jeff had the prettiest-plated full English breakfast we'd ever seen... perhaps we were just really hungry!
The streets and cathedral in Wells, even the pub left of where Jeff is standing, were the backdrop to the movie Hot Fuzz. Jason would love to go there (perhaps one day, Brae)!
Walking up the street to the Cathedral, there was a market, which of course we had to browse... but not for long, though.

The west front of the Cathedral faces an open green surrounded by houses and buildings. "Built between 1175 and 1490, Wells Cathedral has been described as the most poetic of the English Cathedrals."
I particularly like this picture due to the various houses around the green, the arched gate with room on top (right of the picture), the lighting, but most of all because of the joy we had watching the father play football with his children.
The facade of the Cathedral was very intricate "with niches for more than 500 medieval figure sculptures of which 300 survive.""A unique feature in the crossing are the double pointed inverted arches, known as owl-eyed strainer arches. This unorthodox solution was found by the cathedral mason, William Joy in 1338 to stop the central tower from collapsing when another stage and spire were added to the tower which had been begun in the 13th century.""Wells Cathedral contains one of the most substantial collections of medieval stained glass in England.""The Wells clock, an astronomical clock, is located in the north transept. The surviving mechanism, dated to between 1386 and 1392, was replaced in the 19th century, and was eventually moved to the Science Museum in London, where it continues to operate. It is the second-oldest surviving clock in England." (I've seen the oldest clock in Strasbourg, France!)
We weren't able to stay in the Cathedral or in the town too long because our parking ticket was only valid for 3 hours, but on the way back to the car I spotted quaint, but pretty "almshouses" still in use by needy families today.

Wye Valley Walk

Yesterday was a very nice day - a nice walk with nice scenery with nice people. Our friend Emma, who lives in Cardiff, invited us to join her and some international students from Spain, France and Sweden. We met at Tintern Abbey located just over the Welsh border; in fact, we crossed in and out of England and Wales during the 7.5-mile walk!

Tintern Abbey from above.
A very unusual flower.

We ate lunch in this field on a hill overlooking the Wye Valley.

Emma (in the middle) and her friends walking along the Wye River.
A field of dandelions with remains of a bridge over the Wye River.

Once back at Tintern Abbey a few of us decided to walk through the ruins of the abbey. As it says on the website, "The Cistercian abbey of Tintern is one of the greatest monastic ruins of Wales. It was only the second Cistercian foundation in Britain, and the first in Wales, and was founded on 9 May 1131 by Walter de Clare, lord of Chepstow."


Later in the afternoon, after an ice cream and a cold drink, most of us went to a very nice pub restaurant near the abbey, then called it a day... a very nice one, indeed!

Worcester (like the sauce)

We decided Friday evening after watching a programme that took place in Worcester, that we'd drive up there for lunch and a walk around the cathedral on Saturday. Worcester is only about a 30-minute drive north from Gloucester, but we hadn't visited there yet.

We ate lunch at a small cafe with a very cute name, "Little Ginger Pig". Jeff can't wait to go back to have another portion of the almost roast potato like chips there. (website)

Then we had a walk around the cathedral, which "rises majestically above the River Severn", after lunch. (website)

My artsy shot trying to capture the crucifix in the background through the multitude of arches.

Valentine's Day

Since Jeff is away during the week, I made our Valentine's Day dinner a day early. Just a simple meal of stuffed turkey breast (already prepared), mashed potatoes and roasted Brussels sprouts was all that was required to win my hubby's heart. Well, that and ginger and mascarpone crème brûlée.

Yes, we had a glass of wine with dinner.

This was the first time I got to use the torch we received as a wedding gift.

They didn't look quite this burnt in person.

If you look closely, you can just make out the vanilla in the custard. So special!

Blueberries and Mascarpone

I LOVE sweet and salty food combinations, so it's no wonder that I love fruit and cheese. Grapes with brie, apples with cheddar, pears with Stilton... tonight I expanded this list to include blueberries and mascarpone.

After making the first part of my Valentine's Day dessert, I had some cream and mascarpone leftover... and blueberries in the fridge. So I created this...
Blueberries drizzled with a bit of cream and topped with a dollop of mascapone and a broken rich tea biscuit. So simple and so good.

Ironbridge and Telford

A couple weeks ago Jeff and I got to go up to Telford, our soon-to-be home (or at least nearby), together. Though Jeff worked during the week, my task was to scout out the area and just get a feel for where we might want to live.

We drove part of the way "cross-country" on the way up, taking us to a village called Ironbridge, which is just outside Telford. Ironbridge is not only known for having the first-ever bridge made of iron (go figure), but it is also where the Industrial Revolution started...pretty amazing!

The bridge

At the small museum

On the Sunday we were there, we went to a church in Wem, north of Shrewsbury and met some lovely people, including an American family - Dan and Amber Shockley and their son, Ethan. They invited us to their home for lunch after the service and I went back again on Thursday and went to the coffee morning at the church. We don't know if we'll go to Wem Baptist Church or not, but we'll have to decide that once we move up that direction.

There are so many unknowns, but we trust in the Lord's plan for us.

Thoughts on a New Year

Welcome to the year MMXI! Some people view a new year as a new beginning, a chance to start over or make a change. Others go into a new year with feelings of hopelessness and dread. As Pastor Phil preached last night, there is no reason to feel anxious about starting a new year, "their hearts will be steadfast, trusting in the Lord" (Psalm 112:7). And that promise is what Jeff and I are holding onto this year.

We have much to look forward to: a visit to Ohio in the Spring and being a part of Colleen and Luke's wedding; a trip to Colombia for my brother, Jason, and his fiance's, Angela, wedding in October; AND... drum roll... another move... this time to Telford in Shropshire. We don't know when we'll be leaving Gloucester exactly, but we think we will be moved by June. There are many unknowns, like the date of Colleen and Luke's wedding, when we'll be moving, and whether or not we'll be parents in the next year or so. We're leaving it to the Lord to guide us and trust in His plan for our life together.

We have been very blessed in 2010. Each day is another day to sing His praises. Another point Pastor Phil pointed out last night is that everything that happens, happens for good, even if at the time we don't see how something will work out. "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28).

We don't know if this year will bring us happiness, prosperity, sickness or even death, but what we do know is that if you put your trust in the Lord, all things will work for good.

May the Lord richly bless you and your family in 2o11. Much love, Jeff and Lauren