T.A.S. Newsletter
Spring 2004 Volume 2 No. 1 Page 2
ESCAPE TO GIGGLESWICK
By Françoise Welch
We left Totton at approx.9.30 on Mon. 27th of October, all very excited at the idea of spending 4 days away together: Ann, Barbara, Doris, Val, Jan, Gordon, Gary, Mary & Mike, Margaret, Jean, Pat & I, Françoise. We had never spent time together so these 4 days painting were going to be a new experience to all of us! Mike sat in the driver's seat with Gary as a Navigator and off we went!
Francoise Welch
Photo: Francoise Welch
The journey up to Yorkshire was trouble-free, I was very lucky to be sat with Pat (my room mate) on my right and "Dordon" on my left who happened to be the best guide I could have wished to be close to!!
Gordon, having travelled this route many times, could give us details concerning the various counties we were traversing.We drove through ten counties and Gordon could give us details of each county's special features.
We stopped a couple of times for "feeding, watering and preening" and arrived to our destination at about 16.00 p.m. All the way along the road we had been admiring the scenery with its wonderful autumnal hues, and when we reached our destination the quaint Yorkshire village made us feel joyful and serene!
The Inn "Harts Head Hotel" where Barbara and Trevor live had this warm, cosy atmosphere, which was just what we needed after a long journey! We were shown to our comfortable rooms and decided to meet back in the Pub at 19.00 for drinks and dinner.
The food was abundant and succulent, the staff kind, helpful and attentive.
However the highlights of our meals were when Trevor would stand at the head of the table with a cheeky grin on his face and with a light, charming Geordie accent tell us some of his "special" jokes which would cause uncontrollable "giggles" which sometimes would escalate into hysterics when I needed extra explanation!! There was a joke about a "fox hat" for which I needed special "tuition".
Anyway, our first evening was perfect. After the meal we met some of the "locals" and particularly John the "assistant caretaker" of a private school in Giggleswick.
He offered to take us through a guided visit of the school Chapel the next day at 10.00, an offer that we gladly accepted.
Our 'Swiss little Angel'
Photo: Francoise Welch
