Our "home away from home" and new surroundings

This is our wonderful abode in Chorley, England.  We live in a little neighborhood that is quiet yet close to the places we frequent.  We often walk to the Temple, the MTC or our Church building---an 8 minute walk.

We are also close to the bus route so we enjoy riding the bus downtown for shopping and to peruse the books at the library.  Because of our advanced age we were able to obtain a free bus pass.  We could actually take the bus "up and down" and "over and across" the nation if we had the desire, need and/or time.

On a short drive we discovered this windmill in an open field.  It seems that we are often surprised to see "little wonders" so close to a residential area.

There are numerous parks throughout the northwest of England.  Not far from this spot is a large park, golf course and buildings that house a little restaurant, craft area and a golf shop.  

Several  months ago we were invited by the Mission President of the Birmingham Mission to join a new group of missionaries for a tour of the Benbow Farm which has great significance in  early Church history in England.  So Walt and I headed off the evening before the tour to stay at a spot nearby so we'd be on time for the morning tour.  I looked up the info on Benbow Farm on a Church website and then hit google maps for driving directions.  Since we were still unfamiliar with the geography of this particular area we were grateful to have the specific directions.  

The next morning we inquired of several people if they had ever been to this spot.  No one seemed to be familiar with it.  While we were following the directions we stopped a mail deliverer and asked her for help.

"Oh, I've been trying to get in their for a long time.  No one unlocks the gate so I can deliver the mail."  Well, that's certainly strange since all the Church historic sites we know of welcome visitors with open arms.  We called President Ogden and apologized for bothering him but we needed assistance if we were going to meet up with the group on time.  After explaining our dilemma (and hearing him share it with his wife and others) we heard a burst of laughter come from the other end of the connection.  "I don't know exactly where you are but it's no where close to our location."  We were able to give him our postal code (zip code in USA) and he determined we were about 2+ hours off course. 

Well, we drove into a little town and inquired if there was anything of interest to see nearby.  "Yes, there is Princess Diana's family home nearby."  The Spencer Estate was amazing.  We enjoyed the grounds and the home so very much that we've visited twice.  This was the country estate for a long line of Spencers.

Diana is buried here on a little patch of land on a small lake to the right of this photo.  Diana's brother, Charles Spencer, inherited this estate called Althorp.  He restored and refurbished it and has it open to the public for 3 months of the year.

Whenever Walt and I tour we are questioned because of the badges we wear that show Elder Hales or Sister Hales.  It's a great opportunity to share our purpose for being in England.  We are grateful for our Savior and the Gospel that He gave us.  We're happy to share it with all we meet.

Animals, Animals Everywhere!

 We love our "Bovine Buddies".  They are almost as common a sight as the "shaggy sheep" we see gracing the hillsides and open fields throughout England, Scotland and Ireland.  Of course, once the sheep are sheared they look fairly scrawny until their hairy coat starts growing back.

Oh, the people we've meet along our way!

We met this young man one morning after staying the night in the lovely village of Melrose in an area called "The Borders" just south of Scotland, in England.  He was on his way to perform and consented to a quick picture.  The town was celebrating a historic anniversary with live music, dancing, a parade, the crowning of a princess, etc.  Melrose is one of the many villages we'd love to return to before leaving England.

We've enjoyed getting to know a wonderful couple from our ward, Mavis and Clifford Dawson.  They have lively tales to share about their younger years, fighting in WWII, working at one of the many cotton mills and life in a small community.  Their accents alone keep us enthralled!  On this Sunday we met some visitors at Church and invited them to join us for dinner.  It turns out we sort of "knew" Ann and Dixie Leavitt from an association with my former English roommate from BYU, Liz Bulmer.  The Leavitts were serving as the Mission President and Wife in the Leeds, England mission not long after Liz joined the Church.  They became close friends and later when Liz came to America for a roommate reunion Walt and I with Liz stayed in the Leavitts home in Cedar City, Utah.  The extra individual sitting on the left near Ann is Peter Fagg,  Peter has recently been asked to be the Church Historian for England.  He is a brilliant young man who along with his family own a couple of bookstores that specialize in Church materials.  He also sponsors tours of England, often with emphasis on Church history.

After attending a "New Mission Presidents" seminar in Frankfurt, Germany, Walt and I were able to travel about 45 minutes by car to reunite with Gerda Alles.  Gerda lived with my family in LaCanada, California for 9 months when I was a child.  She was a great help to my Mom.  I adored Gerda and was so grateful she was able to stay with us.   What a treat to have a reunion after 50+ years! Here she is in the back garden with her husband and 1 daughter.  Her sons were out of the country otherwise we would have met them.  We enjoyed a good visit and one of her homemade kuchens and tea.