Stratford-on-Avon

Posted on August 25, 2015 by karenlovestodance

I recently visited Stratford-on-Avon and thought it a splendid place for bears and their humans as it is very interesting. I was a bit worried about some of the buildings that seemed wibbly wobbly looking, but Karen said they wouldn’t fall down as they have been there looking a bit crooked for over 300 years. So, once I had determined that the buildings were OK I climbed up onto the windowsill of one for a photograph. I got patted on the head by a lady walking by; something that happens to me quite frequently. I don’t think people realise it squashes my head.We walked to the park where we found people acting on a stage performing a play. It turned out to be one of Mr Shakespeare’s plays called ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’, and Karen seemed quite impressed that people didn’t have to pay to watch it. I watched for a little while, but the actors were talking in a way that bears don’t understand well (perhaps Stratford bears might be able to understand it, but I am from Alresford, a long way from Stratford).We walked along the edge of the canal for a while – here is my Stratford Selfie…I find lock gates quite fascinating so decided to take a closer look at one, though Karen kept reminding me of the consquences should I fall in. She seemed to think I would sink and never be seen again, so I was very cautious.Outings usually involve food of some sort, so after exploring we ended up outside a 40’s themed tea room wondering whether to go in for lunch. We weren’t outside for long as my humans though it looked like a good place. Karen likes sitting outside, even if rain is imminent (which it was) so she asked to be seated in the garden. I was very surprised to find a little grass topped steel shelter out there with sandbags all around it. Apparently it was an old air raid shelter; during the 2nd World War, long before I was made in the 1940’s people used to sit in them when bombs were being dropped which must have been very scary.Raindrops started to fall so the ideal place to sit was in the air raid shelter, where a waitress wearing old fashioned clothes brought us sandwiches to eat.After lunch it was time to go as we were on our way to Royal Leamington Spa. It was a shame to leave the air raid shelter as I rather liked being there.I’d like to go back to Stratford-on-Avon again on a sunny day.

Visit to St Fagans (Museum of Welsh National History)

Posted on August 10, 2015 by karenlovestodance

I have spent the weekend in Wales, some of it in a hotel room while my humans were of partying which was tad mundane, but I also got to spend nearly an afternoon visiting a very interesting museum. It wasn’t a boring ‘things in glass cases’ sort of museum, but a museum of really old buildings, which had been moved from their original sites to the safety of the St Fagans National History Museum. There was quite a lot of walking to do but fortunately I got carried around in the spotty bag (as you probably know my little legs tend to struggle with long walks).

The first cottage we came across was the Abernodwydd Farmhouse and was built in 1678. The humans that lived there shared it with the farm animals in the winter.

I was able to have a look inside too (most of the buildings are open).

Some of the the cottages had open fires roaring away, I stayed out of those as my fur is enough to keep me warm, and it is summer here.

This is Y Garreg Fawr Farmhouse which was built in 1544. It was built to last a very long time as the walls were very very thick and it was much smaller inside than out. I didn’t go in this one as it was too hot in there as a fire was burning in the hearth.

The museum is set amongst woods and farmland so it is good place for wild animals. I had a go at pretending to be a fox….

The Tannery was a thought provoking place. People used to work here with animal skins and used animal wee and poo in the process of making leather. It must have been a really horrible place for humans to work in. It was closed about 70 years ago and moved to the museum about 10 years before I was made.

We came across a fairground, where I tried to win a coconut by throwing a ball at a coconut – the ball did hit the coconut but I think as I am only a small bear I don’t have much force in my throw. Bigger bears might be better at winning coconuts. A shame really as Karen likes coconut and I would like to have won one for her.

Afterwards I had a ride on a horse that just went round and round and round….

I was very interested in The Corn Mill. As you may know, I was made in The Town Mill in Alresford. This mill was a bit odd really as the water was being pumped to it by electricity as there is no stream next to it. I guess that is a problem with moving building to different places to keep them.

I was very taken with a couple of the thatched cottages….

I was able to have a quick potter in the gardens of the Nantwich cottage

The most fascinating place was The Gwalia Stores, I took a photo of Karen outside, as she seemed to be very impressed too.

It was like stepping back to 100 years ago..

Though both my humans aren’t that old and they said they could remember shops selling loose biscuits when they were children…

I liked the basket on the bike, room enough for Growler and all my Alresford bear friends in there too!

St Fagans is a very big place and unfortunately there wasn’t time for us to see everything, though I am happy to say Karen says that we will visit again to see the buildings that we missed.

We did have time though to have a look at a very old pigsty..