There were the usual early risers and they were out walking round the heath whereas others had a more leisurely rising. Breakfast was from 7.00 am, soon all were tucking into a full English Breakfast and by 9.10 am the coach was on its way back into Central London to the Palace of Westminster where at St Stephen’s Gate we were all searched, frisked and photographed as we entered the Houses of Parliament Once in the Great Hall we were divided into three groups and each group had a superb guide taking us round the Robing Room, the House of Lords, through the Central Lobby and then into the House of Commons via the Division Lobbies and finally back into the Great Hall at Westminster.
After a short walk along Millbank we then found ourselves outside number 7 and then after another quick search we found ourselves inside and a lunch was provided and a much welcome cup of tea. Shaun Woodward left a Cabinet Meeting to present a cheque from the Twirlie Girlies to the Hospice for £5,000.00. Shaun Woodward gave a short speech about the work of Hospices in general and a mention of Helen House in Oxford was given as he and Twirlie 1 had connections with them. Very soon afterwards the party had free time in London and so visited the Jewel Tower, others went to the London Eye, some went shopping in Central London but there was no let up for the Twirlie Girlies. They were whisked away by taxi to 10 Downing Street for a photo shoot. Once again their bags were searched and they were being frisked before entering the street itself. Much to their surprise they were invited into 10 Downing Street and given a tour of the building. What an honour! What an experience! What were they saying about taking every opportunity? Certainly this was not an opportunity to be missed. What a wonderful experience to be taken on a guided tour through Number 10 - thank you for the time and for the excellent tour which was thoroughly enjoyed.
Back to reality this was free time for the Twirlie Girlies. Twirlie 2 went to the Jewel Tower whilst Twirlie 1 went to the London Eye. Tickets were bought and distributed and everyone went for a 35 minute flight. Taxis were taken into Central London, Oxford Street visited and at 6.30 pm the numbers on the coach were checked; all present and correct and off on the last stage of the journey. Tales were told of purchases, theatre visits, wanders round Tate Modern, British Museum to say nothing of cups of tea in Marks and Spencer’s. Once on the motorway the coach sped with all speed and soon the services approached and we all disembarked for a break. Oh dear! Everyone boarded the coach but it was at a funny angle. The driver Gary said there was a flat tyre and John asked everyone to leave the coach but no one believed him. Twirlie 1 told him to stop being flippant but on this occasion he was telling the truth! Even so many of the party went to view the flat tyre. After an hour or so the tyre was replaced and we were on our way again. The St. Helens sign approached then into Chapel Lane and a party of very happy but tired people left the coach and went home. The time 1.30 am on Wednesday 8th October 2008.
…. The tyre on the bus went flat, flat, flat.
Flat, flat, flat.
Flat, flat, flat.
The tyre on the bus went flat, flat, flat.
On the way home!
On the buses
Ella and Helen
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Monday 6th October
Back on the road again and in a bus but a different type of bus and not one that stopped at every bus stop- well not quite, also we were allowed on board some thirty minutes before 9.30 am.
This time, instead of there being two Twirlie Girlies there were some forty nine passengers including the Twirlies and they were all on a comfortable coach to London. At 9.15 promptly the coach left Chapel Lane Eccleston St Helens and made for the M6 south. Our first stop was on the M6 toll road for a short break then on to London. We arrived at the Clarendon Hotel, Blackheath, shortly after 2.30 pm. - what an uneventful ride. After unpacking some guests went for a walk to Greenwich Observatory others round Blackheath Shops and others to a well known hostelry to sample some special tipple. We all met for dinner at 5.30 before taking the coach to Central London. Oh! those road works, diversions and one way streets to say nothing of the endless red lights.
After a tortuous journey we finally arrived at the London Palladium to see the Sound of Music. Everyone enjoyed it but the ladies enjoyed the story whereas the men in the audience marvelled at the mechanics of the scenery which were most impressive. After the show the Twirlie Girlies tried to use their bus passes when they went for a ride on a rickshaw but the cyclist was having none of it; so they had to pay £5.00 for a ride round the block. Everyone thought this was a hoot. Twirlie 1 said that she was no longer going to let opportunities pass her by – as if she had ever done so! After this event everyone piled back onto the coach and we were driven back to the hotel.
This time, instead of there being two Twirlie Girlies there were some forty nine passengers including the Twirlies and they were all on a comfortable coach to London. At 9.15 promptly the coach left Chapel Lane Eccleston St Helens and made for the M6 south. Our first stop was on the M6 toll road for a short break then on to London. We arrived at the Clarendon Hotel, Blackheath, shortly after 2.30 pm. - what an uneventful ride. After unpacking some guests went for a walk to Greenwich Observatory others round Blackheath Shops and others to a well known hostelry to sample some special tipple. We all met for dinner at 5.30 before taking the coach to Central London. Oh! those road works, diversions and one way streets to say nothing of the endless red lights.
After a tortuous journey we finally arrived at the London Palladium to see the Sound of Music. Everyone enjoyed it but the ladies enjoyed the story whereas the men in the audience marvelled at the mechanics of the scenery which were most impressive. After the show the Twirlie Girlies tried to use their bus passes when they went for a ride on a rickshaw but the cyclist was having none of it; so they had to pay £5.00 for a ride round the block. Everyone thought this was a hoot. Twirlie 1 said that she was no longer going to let opportunities pass her by – as if she had ever done so! After this event everyone piled back onto the coach and we were driven back to the hotel.
Sunday 5 October
What a beautiful day – the sun was shining and everything was ideal for a Thanksgiving Service. The Thanksgiving Service was held at 3.00 pm at Our Lady’s Church Hall, Portico. This was attended by some 60 members of the public, including Lady Kirsty Pilkington and The Rev. Derek Mellors led us in worship. We sang the Hymns He Who Would Valiant Be and I Vow To Thee My Country. George Swift played the music and Christopher John Swift, Twirlie 1’s Godson sang – Lord For Tomorrow And Its Needs I Do Not pray. Helen, Twirlie 2, gave a short address about the fifteen day journey and then Ella, Twirlie 1 gave thanks to all the people who had been involved in the venture. It was a very moving Service. Then home to pack for the following day’s visit to London.
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Tuesday, 30th September
Yuck - it is raining - we decided to go for an earlier train rather than the later one so we caught the 10.00am train to Plymouth where we changed, caught a connection there to Birmingham New Street and then on to Runcorn. It rained on and off all the way up England but this did not dampen our spirits. Our journey was over - we sat back and laughed and talked about all the lovely bus journeys we had undertaken over the last two weeks. It had been fantastic to see England and all its lovely little villages which one doesn't encounter when travelling by train or car. How lucky we had been.
On arrival in Crewe the guard announced "this train is terminating here" we all had to get off and wait for the London train to take us on to Runcorn - 45 minutes late in Runcorn but John was there to meet us with Chris. It was raining hard and we had a job to get into the car because of all the water in the gutters. We arrived home at approximately 7.00 pm - the last stage of our journey finally completed. We shuddered to think what our homes would be like on arrival but to our surprise they were clean, spick and span. Thank you to Tony and John.
On arrival in Crewe the guard announced "this train is terminating here" we all had to get off and wait for the London train to take us on to Runcorn - 45 minutes late in Runcorn but John was there to meet us with Chris. It was raining hard and we had a job to get into the car because of all the water in the gutters. We arrived home at approximately 7.00 pm - the last stage of our journey finally completed. We shuddered to think what our homes would be like on arrival but to our surprise they were clean, spick and span. Thank you to Tony and John.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Monday 29th September
We woke at 7.30 this was unheard of, no mid night feasts, no 3.00 am cups of tea and no midnight walks. This was our last day. We had mixed feelings of elation and sadness. Once again another hearty breakfast and then to the open road – well another bus ride this time from Truro to Penzance.
We said our goodbyes to the guest house lady who gave us some agapanthus seeds from her garden as a memoir of stay. We walked through the town to the bus station and waiting for us was the 09.35am bus to Penzance. On our way we passed through Redruth and we saw the sea for the first time since leaving Berwick on Tweed and then on to Cambourne – what a beautiful ride on through the Cornish countryside. The bus was full so had to share a seat with all our luggage.
Penzance came into sight and much to our amazement there were no pirates and we could not understand why. There was an hour or so before the next bus. We wandered up the high street examining the shops but Twirlie One could not remember where the shop was where she bought her tea trolley some forty years ago! As usual there was coffee and scones mid morning and for lunch it was Cornish Pasties - what a surprise!
The last bus of our venture was the last bus that day to Land’s End at 13.05. En route we passed through the Cornish Villages of Mousehole and we followed the coast line passing by the Minnack Theatre and then onto Porthcurno, the home of the telegram, (home of the Victorian Internet) and so to LAND’S END.
This was some ride! A friend of the driver said it was a more exciting than a ride at Alton Towers and in a loud voice exclaimed that his bad back had been put right; much to everyone’s amusement.
The bus arrived at Land’s End car park we were met by some friends of Janice Owen, they were Susan and Robert Kempt. There they were holding a bouquet of flowers for each of us. What a lovely surprise. Take note Twirlie One’s husband! We felt like Queens especially as many people were taking our piccies and chatting to us about our journey.
What a fantastic day the sun was shining, a lovely breeze an idyllic afternoon. Off came the Crocs and a paddle in the sea to relieve our worn out feet! The sea was cool and refreshing, the air was sea fresh, the sound of the waves, the wet sand and then the dry sand – what more could anyone want!! You guessed it! - a Cornish Cream Tea, sitting and chatting with friends enjoying the warmth of the sun. It was good to be alive and thank God for all His goodness.
Once again we had to leave this wonderful place and were taken by car back to Penzance. On the way back we were taken through St Just where Susan and Robert live – what a lovely village but like St Helens it was built on mines. The mining that used to go on was for tin, arsenic and china clay but today it is a tourist attraction. Then off to the hotel, we were dropped of right out side the hotel and said our good byes and thank yous to Susan and Robert for a lovely afternoon.
We unpacked, had a cup of tea put our feet up and relaxed. After an hour or so our tummies began to rumble so we knew it was time for dinner. We dressed for dinner in the same old clothes and found a good eating house which offered local food and wine and when replete the elements were braved as it was lashing down with rain and we got soaked. The weather had returned to normal. After a hot shower it was bed time and we felt that another good job had been done!
We said our goodbyes to the guest house lady who gave us some agapanthus seeds from her garden as a memoir of stay. We walked through the town to the bus station and waiting for us was the 09.35am bus to Penzance. On our way we passed through Redruth and we saw the sea for the first time since leaving Berwick on Tweed and then on to Cambourne – what a beautiful ride on through the Cornish countryside. The bus was full so had to share a seat with all our luggage.
Penzance came into sight and much to our amazement there were no pirates and we could not understand why. There was an hour or so before the next bus. We wandered up the high street examining the shops but Twirlie One could not remember where the shop was where she bought her tea trolley some forty years ago! As usual there was coffee and scones mid morning and for lunch it was Cornish Pasties - what a surprise!
The last bus of our venture was the last bus that day to Land’s End at 13.05. En route we passed through the Cornish Villages of Mousehole and we followed the coast line passing by the Minnack Theatre and then onto Porthcurno, the home of the telegram, (home of the Victorian Internet) and so to LAND’S END.
This was some ride! A friend of the driver said it was a more exciting than a ride at Alton Towers and in a loud voice exclaimed that his bad back had been put right; much to everyone’s amusement.
The bus arrived at Land’s End car park we were met by some friends of Janice Owen, they were Susan and Robert Kempt. There they were holding a bouquet of flowers for each of us. What a lovely surprise. Take note Twirlie One’s husband! We felt like Queens especially as many people were taking our piccies and chatting to us about our journey.
What a fantastic day the sun was shining, a lovely breeze an idyllic afternoon. Off came the Crocs and a paddle in the sea to relieve our worn out feet! The sea was cool and refreshing, the air was sea fresh, the sound of the waves, the wet sand and then the dry sand – what more could anyone want!! You guessed it! - a Cornish Cream Tea, sitting and chatting with friends enjoying the warmth of the sun. It was good to be alive and thank God for all His goodness.
Once again we had to leave this wonderful place and were taken by car back to Penzance. On the way back we were taken through St Just where Susan and Robert live – what a lovely village but like St Helens it was built on mines. The mining that used to go on was for tin, arsenic and china clay but today it is a tourist attraction. Then off to the hotel, we were dropped of right out side the hotel and said our good byes and thank yous to Susan and Robert for a lovely afternoon.
We unpacked, had a cup of tea put our feet up and relaxed. After an hour or so our tummies began to rumble so we knew it was time for dinner. We dressed for dinner in the same old clothes and found a good eating house which offered local food and wine and when replete the elements were braved as it was lashing down with rain and we got soaked. The weather had returned to normal. After a hot shower it was bed time and we felt that another good job had been done!
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Monday 29th September
Extract from text message:
Lands End finally reached at 2.15 Monday 29.9.08
The Twirlie Girlies xx
Lands End finally reached at 2.15 Monday 29.9.08
The Twirlie Girlies xx
Monday, September 29, 2008
Sunday 28th September
Our room had no en suite 5.00 am, so just to be sure – we hurried down the landing to the bathroom not a pretty sight.
How to be embarrassed? Let the hotel owner know you are doing a sponsored bus ride for Willowbrook Hospice and she will go round and collect for you despite the reluctance of the other guests. Gentlemen; Thank you very much your contributions. What a breakfast!
Today is a rest day. The only reason for this is, there are no buses to where we want to go! We are staying in Truro, so we thought we would go the Cathedral for morning service. (We do not know whether it will be ‘FRANC’ here or not – today is Friends, Relatives, Acquaintances, Neighbours and Colleagues; back to church Sunday, you may have heard about it!) What a wonderful service! The old hymns we knew, prayers we were familiar with and the whole service was very dignified. We went up to the middle rail for Communion. Suddenly Twirlie One remembered the muddy, green Crocs and felt terribly out of place, nevertheless we had done our duty to God! After the service, we had coffee and chatted with other members of the congregation and met people from Woolton.
Once outside of the Cathedral, we found a Cornish Food and Wine Festival. It did not take too much encouragement for us to participate in the reverie and we thoroughly enjoyed the samples. To work up an appetite for lunch we thought we would go for a sail to Falmouth but no such luck the pleasure and ferry boats did not operate on Sundays. So we went for a walk in the sunshine - Another lovely day!
Heard about the Victoria Gardens? So off we went to see their delights. We had found the ideal place for lunch. The day was so warm, our tummies so full and the seats so comfortable we drifted off for an hour or so! After snoozing the hunger pangs hit us again so we each had an apple pie flavoured Cornish Ice Cream. Another wander round Truro and then it was time for dinner at the Royal Hotel. When we arrived it was Happy Hour so we had a free glass of wine with dinner. After an eventful day we returned to the guest house for our last night on our quest to reach Land’s End. Will we do it?
How to be embarrassed? Let the hotel owner know you are doing a sponsored bus ride for Willowbrook Hospice and she will go round and collect for you despite the reluctance of the other guests. Gentlemen; Thank you very much your contributions. What a breakfast!
Today is a rest day. The only reason for this is, there are no buses to where we want to go! We are staying in Truro, so we thought we would go the Cathedral for morning service. (We do not know whether it will be ‘FRANC’ here or not – today is Friends, Relatives, Acquaintances, Neighbours and Colleagues; back to church Sunday, you may have heard about it!) What a wonderful service! The old hymns we knew, prayers we were familiar with and the whole service was very dignified. We went up to the middle rail for Communion. Suddenly Twirlie One remembered the muddy, green Crocs and felt terribly out of place, nevertheless we had done our duty to God! After the service, we had coffee and chatted with other members of the congregation and met people from Woolton.
Once outside of the Cathedral, we found a Cornish Food and Wine Festival. It did not take too much encouragement for us to participate in the reverie and we thoroughly enjoyed the samples. To work up an appetite for lunch we thought we would go for a sail to Falmouth but no such luck the pleasure and ferry boats did not operate on Sundays. So we went for a walk in the sunshine - Another lovely day!
Heard about the Victoria Gardens? So off we went to see their delights. We had found the ideal place for lunch. The day was so warm, our tummies so full and the seats so comfortable we drifted off for an hour or so! After snoozing the hunger pangs hit us again so we each had an apple pie flavoured Cornish Ice Cream. Another wander round Truro and then it was time for dinner at the Royal Hotel. When we arrived it was Happy Hour so we had a free glass of wine with dinner. After an eventful day we returned to the guest house for our last night on our quest to reach Land’s End. Will we do it?
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