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Hi all,
Hope you had a fantastic Easter?
I was one hundred percent spoilt...thanks Rupert!
As I mentioned in my previous blog, I headed to Taunton, Somerset to stay with cousin Rupert (Dad's cousin) for the long weekend. It was a three or so hour bus ride, but, well worth it. Rupert made sure I got a full country and coast experience and also some family time. I was very well looked after and it felt like a home away from home.
We checked out the local RSPCA, cuddled some very irresistable Blue Healer puppies, had lunch with Ursula and Michael (Rupert's parents), went to a local pub to enjoy some live music by 'The Treefrogs', met up with Wendy and Bob (Rupert's sister and hubby), enjoyed an indian dinner with Ruperts friends, went along to a 'different' but unique easter service at an amazingly old church, checked out the coastal town of Lyme Redges and stopped by some very authentic and cute country pubs.
The thing that intially delighted me was the countryside...my first unveiling of true English countryside...the side of England I most wanted to see. Cute country lanes lined with low box hedges and country houses/cottages were scattered amounst it all. However, I dread to actually be a driver on those roads! They are only wide enough for one car and involve a lot of pulling over, couteousy and patience. Rupert seemed to have it sussed!
Some of the family I met, I vaguely remember meeting during their visits to New Zealand, but, the concept behind who was who and how we were related became a bit mind boggling. I did enjoy meeting everyone and was warmly welcomed.
My highlight was definately on the last afternoon. Rupert, his housemate, Sam, and I headed to the coast...Lyme Redges. It was the first decent amount of sunshine received the whole weekend and it was refreshingly mild. We walked along the wall and then along the beach itself. Such a cute and different beach to that which you'd see in New Zealand. The stone walls, the pebbled beach, the coloured changing sheds lining the path and the built up village/town perched on the edge. It was a very refreshing change from the city air of Birmingham. And what would a beach visit be without an ice cream? We also enjoyed eating hot chips, sitting on the wall and looking out to sea. However, we did get harrassed by nearby sea gulls. We relaxed in a local pub, enoying the last of the sunlight before our interesting trip back to Taunton. We stopped by several authentic country pubs on the way home, stopping at the last one for an amzing dinner including a shared desert at the end. (None of us could decide on the delicious choices, so we picked a dish each and shared...cream brulee, panacotta, sticky fudge pudding...mmmm). What a way to end the weekend. Truely memorable!
Hopefully I will be back there...it has was definately one of my highlights thus far. :)
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