English visits & crisis after Church Fête

Still in sight-seeing mode after the holiday, I visited St. Paul's Cathedral when I was in London. Awe-inspiring, marvellous and impressive but, after Sicily, I was taken aback by the cost - £10. Then I chided myself for being mean as of course it must take millions to maintain this amazing building.

This week I took an Australian guest to Winchester and was moved as ever by the ancient cathedral and its historic surroundings. We were lucky enough to be there at the same time as a choir practice and the children sang so beautifully, their voices soaring upwards, that we just stood silent and transfixed.

Above: Cricket at Winchester College, a timeless scene.

Fortunately I never get tired of taking my visitors around Hampshire. My friend was fascinated by Jane Austen's house in Chawton and then on Friday we went to Bramdean House, near Alresford, a lovely, lovely traditional English garden.

After days of expeditions along obscure country lanes without a care in the world, my car broke down in the village after the Church Fete yesterday. The kind RAC man said he had 'never seen nothing so bad' (something crucial snapped near the front, apparently). Oh dear, and I was fond of that faithful car, but at least I could walk home.
Many of the numerous passers-by were very helpful but several men asked me why I had left my car on that dangerous corner and, when I said it wouldn't move, they suggested patronisingly that I had forgotten to take the brake off. Aargh!