Well, as promised here are some photos of the countryside of the New Forrest which is in Hampshire. We were blessed with beautiful weather and all that was missing was Jessica Simpson…………kidding…………..well……………only a bit………………all that was missing was an open top Aston Martin.
Here are Heidi’s photos.
Country lane leading to our hotel
And again
Our neighbors
Cheddar Gorge
Cheddar Gorge
John’s favorite Fish & Chips shop
The village Cheddar
Beautiful countryside, beautiful Heidi
Cheese!
English Tea Room
Sausage and Cheddar cheese baguette for John, tuna melt and cheese jacket potato for Heidi
View from our hotel
View from our hotel
Dinner is served
Heidi’s kitchen
Our garden
So, now you have seen where we live as well so come on over for tea and crumpets.
Well, that’s it for me today. I will write to you all tomorrow and thanks again for a wonderful week………………………look out foir a video of Alan and I tomorrow.
Goodnight
Your Friends
John and Heidi
Look, friends — there are a few things you should remember before you comment. The space below is for you to post your comments about the post I've just written above. If it is something that's unrelated, please use the Ask John tab above. Now, while I may not be able to reply to your comment below, I do sit in my underpants almost every morning and read everything that is here. So feel free to comment on the comments and then if someone wants to comment on the comment to the comment then go ahead as well. Please be courteous unless the poster is French...........then you can say whatever you want.
Oh my John your garden is beautiful! Would you lend me your gardner for just a day or two please?
Beautiful and I recognize the kitchen. We have something similar at my house, but I afraid to say so.
John,
Enjoyed your pictures. Made me want to go back to London again especially after seeing the picture of the English Tea Room. Having tea in the Orangery at Kensington Palace was a favorite stop when my daughter & I were there.
Heidi, as usual you did a great job with your pictures. We really enjoyed them.
Carolyn and Don
Peace!! peace!! Ahh!!
Everyhting looks so peaceful and so different to the ships life. You and Heidi look great. Enjoy your time at home.
So good to see your home…. I like
Video of Alan ?? I bet Alan is handsome, Lets see.
Beautiful, John!!
Tell Heidi thanks for getting those lovely pictures…
Am I mistaken or did Heidi leave the water running in the kitchen???
GregB
What a beautiful place to relax! I am sure you both enjoyed your mini vacation as you both deserve it very much.
Love the pictures!
All we can say is W O W !!!
Great photos!! Thanks!! England is truly beautiful & it’s where all my ancestors are from.
John -
Beautiful pictures. And a beautiful swinger, too.
Jon
Hi John and Heidi,
Your vacation destination looks very pretty. I could stay in a place like that too.
Hope you have a good time at Alan’s.
Our comment on the dining time is if you want to offer both then it’s OK. We prefer the assigned time and table that way we can get to know our wait staff and that is one of the best parts of our cruise. On your test do you have to pick one or the other for the whole cruise or could you change throughout the week? So, our vote is for the traditional dining because it’s more special instead of having to “break in” your wait staff to know your preferences.
Two months and we’ll be in London!
Linda & George
WONDERFUL!!!!!! i Want to be there….
Kim Parker
Wow! Great pictures.
Dear John & Heidi:
Thank you for sharing the beautiful countryside of England. The two of you look so relaxed.
Wow! What beautiful pictures! What time is tea? We’ll be there! I’ll even bring the spotted dick.
You must have had a wonderful time… you both deserve it!
Looking forward to tomorrows blog thingy…. tell Alan and his family hello!
Barb and Carl
John & Heidi, Thanks for sharing the pictures. I hope to get to England some day soon. Waiting for the dollar to gain a little strength…might be awhile
Your garden (what we call a yard here in the USA) is beautiful!! Once again, I want to tell you how much I look forward to your blog each day, thanks!!
John, I waited to see what other bloggers said and I think they must be as confused as I’m. The first picture is that your house. If it is it’s very nice. Pat and I will house sit for you the next time your at sea. Will even do those windows.
BIG ED
John & Heidi,
Glad you had a great time and are back home safe and sound. The pictures are so beautiful!
About the freestyle dining. We have always sailed with Carnival and do like the assigned times BUT we are always welcome to trying something new to see what it is like. I am sure as with anything it will have it’s ups and downs.
Hope you have a restful weekend to finish out you time off, you both deserve it!
Blessings
Cindy & Kevin
Hi John and Heidi,
Beautiful pictures!
That’s what rest and relaxation is all about!!!!
Enjoy your free time together. You both deserve it.
Mike and Michelle
I am so glad that you are 9 hours ahead of those of us who live in California. That means that when I wake up in the morning, hopefully you will have already posted the video of you and Alan! The photos are stunning! The countryside is beautiful—you are so lucky to live in such a nice area–were any of those of your property, or were they all hotel property? I would pick your lunch over Heidi’s only because it looks like there were french fries on your plate–french fries being the only “French” thing that you like! Have fun at the bbq!
Sheryl
Hi John,
I just wanted to drop you a line to let you know that I am still here and still reading. For a long time I have failed out of laziness to comment, but I have not dropped off the face of the earth and I have certainly not stopped enjoying your posts.
From the photos it does look like you live in a very beautiful area. Unfortunately it also does not look like there is anything there except you and Heidi!
I think Heidi would get along very well with my mother, who loves the country and the different animals and all that. Long, long ago when we were on an Alaska cruise we took an excursion to the Yukon. This included a stop at some sort of farm and she surprised (she would argue embarrassed) me with her prowess in communicating with pigs. I have little to do with pigs except as bacon, pork chops, etc….!
Yes, unlike my mother I am a city boy. I think we have something in common there! The country is nice to visit from time to time, so I am glad it is there, but living there I suspect would be bored out of my mind. If I ever have a partner who is fond of the country and wants to live there, that could create a rather contentious situation to say the least. I do not know if you have heard of a very ancient (i.e. from my parents’ generation) American television program called “Green Acres”, but it would be something like that…! (Well except it was the wife who liked the city as I recall, so not *quite* like that, but you know what I mean.)
I hope you had a nice holiday despite the snobs. If nothing else, it sounds like the food was great! I think I would have been happier on that excursion into the Yukon if the food had been better. Unfortunately, it was terrible! I was not thrilled at having gotten up early in the morning in order to take a coach all the way from Skagway into the Yukon, past places with reassuring names like Dead Horse Gulch, in order to talk to pigs and eat a bad lunch when I could have been enjoying some nice Italian food on the Sky Princess. (Those readers who really know their ships will get a clue as to how long ago it was from the name of the ship… I was a kid then! I have not been to Alaska since and as most of the ships are two to three times the size now, and there are more of them, I imagine it will be a bit different when I return.)
But I digress, as none of this has much to do with what I am actually writing about. Here is one thing I have had in mind for a while: Having read your recent posts about visits to a number of ships e.g. Ventura, QM2, Queen Victoria and so on, will you have the chance to visit QE2 sometime before she retires in November? (I apologize if you have already mentioned this and I have forgotten.) It is really something you ought to do as she is so very different from all the other ships out there (and I include QM2 and Queen Victoria in that) and she is a very special ship indeed as I am sure you realize. I would love to be able to show you around myself as I did earlier this year with our mutual friend Steve Read, but at the very least you should visit her before she goes, even if you are to be guided by someone who is not quite as much of a QE2 enthusiast/anorak/raving lunatic as me. I am sure with all your connections at Carnival UK/Cunard a visit could be arranged and it is absolutely, positively not to be missed.
On another note, I have a bit of sad news (and I apologize if someone else brought this up already, as I have kept up with all your posts but not all the comments). This has been long expected, and now it appears to be a done deal: one of the very first Carnival ships, the former Carnivale, is off to the breakers. I do not remember if you ever worked on Carnivale but I am sure you are familiar with or have at least heard of her as I think you were with the company back when she was still in the fleet. This incredibly enduring ship was built all the way back in 1956 as the Empress of Britain for Canadian Pacific and she came to Carnival in 1975 by way of Greek Line who bought her in 1965 and called her Queen Anna Maria. She was the second Carnival ship after Mardi Gras, which joined the fleet in 1972 (another old CP ship, slightly newer, built in 1962 as the Empress of Canada). She left in 1993 to become FiestaMarina for a very short-lived (and ahead of its time, in my opinion) Latin American-themed cruise line Carnival started called FiestaMarina Cruises and then in 1994 she went to Epirotiki Cruises as Olympic, part of a brief joint venture between Carnival and that Greek firm that I believe was run by Pamela Conover, who you know from Seabourn. In 1997 she was to a Greek gentleman called Paris Katsoufis who ran Cunard before Carnival bought it. He named her The Topaz and chartered her to Thomson, a big UK tour operator you may be familiar with. Then from 2003 until now she was chartered to a Japanese organization called Peace Boat (http://www.peaceboat.org), which basically organizes world cruises mainly patronized by Japanese students and pensioners who go around trying to spread peace and goodwill to different countries. By now she was a very expensive ship to run, not least because fuel prices have been so high of late, and of course at 52 she is very old as well, so Peace Boat has found a more modern and economical vessel to charter and with nobody else willing to charter her, she was sold off to the breakers. This is a very important moment in the distant history of Carnival as she was the last of the original Carnival ships (the others being Mardi Gras and Festivale) that was still around. I visited her in 2006 here in New York and if you have a chance you can take a look at the photos here:
http://shiploverny.smugmug.com/gallery/1582266
At the time (and probably still today) there were a lot of vestiges on board of her Carnival identity. Looking at her one can’t help but marvel at how far we have come; 15 years ago this ship was still a part of the Carnival fleet. One wonders how many of today’s Carnival passengers would be willing to sail in a ship like that!
Anyway, I apologize for the excessively long post (concision has never been my strong point) but I thought you might want to know about that as it is really a connection to the past of Carnival that is going away. As of yet the ship is en route to nobody knows where to be scrapped (but it will almost certainly be India, Pakistan or Bangladesh as this is where virtually all old cruise ships are scrapped – that is a story for another time, though). It really represents the end of an era for Carnival.
All the Best,
Doug
Yes, the Cheddar Gorge! It’s a bit off of the usual tourist route. We were there a few years back and drove through it. Unfortunately we weren’t able get pictures as the hoof and mouth epidemic was going on and cars were not allowed to stop in the gorge and certainly we weren’t allowed to get out of the car (not that getting out of a moving car would be particularly wise).
Good morning Mr. Heald & beautiful Heidi. It’s amazing that the pictures of your vacation and your home show the loveliness of the areas. Your area is very beautiful and serene. I can see why Heidi loves living in that area. You both look relaxed. I could get used to a place like yours. I hope you both have a great time with Alan & his wife. Ciao my friends.
Paul F. Pietrangelo
Dear John & Heidi,
All I can say is fantastic country. Wish I could see it in person. You have a beautiful home. Love the kitchen especially. I am an old country girl at heart.
Looking forward to your BBQ video. Take care!
Kathy
We’ve been to Cheddar Gorge! I thought the pictures looked familiar but didn’t remember the name so I checked my old travel log. Yep.
What an amazing trip that was for us: Glastonbury, Bath, Salisbury, Stonehenge and so many other special places. But our favorite site was Nunney Castle. It was a picture book castle ruin. When we told our host at a B&B outside Bath we went there, he said: “Fancy you going to Nunney Castle. No one goes to Nunney Castle.” Well, sorry for them.
But Cheddar Gorge was in a class by itself — a natural wonder amid man-made wonders.
Thanks for bringing it all back.
John:
I thoroughly enjoyed the photos you shared.
I visited Cheddar Gorge on my last trip to England, so recognized many of the places in your photo (ate at one of them, myself!). I have some marvelous photos of the Cheddar Gorge cave (and “Cheddar Man”).
Two bits of trivia regarding the area (that I’m sure you are aware of, but might be news to others) is that the Rev. Toplady was caught in a storm while traveling along the gorge. He sought shelter in a gap in the rocks of the gorge….and was inspired to write the lyrics of a famous hymn…”Rock of Ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in Thee….”
The other bit of trivia is that near the Cheddar gorge in Mendip Hills are the Wookey Hole caves. Among the many visitors to this lovely area was a man by the name of George Lucas. Now millions of people know a “Wookey” thanks to that man and a little film project known as “Star Wars.”
Thanks for the memories!
As for the flexible dining issue. I’m glad that if Carnival is going to give it a go, that they are giving a choice. Larry & I prefer assigned dining, and not because it is what we “know” — we’ve cruised other lines, one of which has had “freestyle” dining for some time. I just wanted to make sure you knew that it was NOT a matter of being comfortable with what one knows, but having experienced both and preferring one over the other. We enjoy getting to know our tablemates for more than just one meal. In “freestyle” dining it was as though the tablemates each evening were, if you’ll pardon the expression, ships that pass in the night.
One last thing….I noticed that the empty swing next to Heidi in the photo is already geared for a little one…..not hinting to any announcement with that photo are you?
Terri
Your pics and home are just beautiful !
My husband, John, still likes spam lol–I never did. He will fry it in butter and then have a spam sammie, yuk
No to the flexible dining for us–we prefer having the same wait staff all week.
Take care.
Your vacation spot looks like just the spot for you two. Uncrowded and quiet, quite the opposite of a ship.
Doug Newman’s report on the Carnivale is sad. I never sailed on her but would have liked to for the history.
Thank you Heidi for the beautiful pictures.
Enjoy your afternoon with Alan and family,
waiting for that video
Papanh
John does anyone no what has happened to the Festivale that was my first cruise and will never forget. Also first vacation on my own , no parents can you imagine what a wonderful experience that was.
Heidi & John
ABSOLUTLEY BEAUTIFUL!
HOME
VACATION
AND
OWNERS
ESPECIALLY THE STRAWBERRY BLONDE IN THE SWING
Thanks for sharing
The Tuckers
Arnold & Elizabeth
Gorgeous photos…thanks for sharing!
The Kilmartins
Lovely photos – so green. I love the little shops.
Carol
Gorgeous pictures! Glad you were able to have some time to relax in the country!
Ruth
John,
Your photos, Heidi’s photos, are FABULOUS!! Thank you!! I’m ready to book the excursion “Tea Time at the Heald’s.” Now just coordinate the TAs and I’m heading out with you!!!
I must say… maybe it’s a blonde thing… maybe it’s just a Lambie thing… but I didn’t understand where your photo of Cheddar George was… yes, I didn’t read it correctly and thought maybe you’d found a man to come sweep me off my feet… George… and were posting a shot of a Cheeseman named George… Then I reread it and laughed at myself! (Oh well… if you do find an available man… please post the photos… I’m sure you have many single women reading your blog thingy!)
WOO HOO!!! Less than eight months till Bogger’sCruise!!!
Regards,
Lambie
Hi John/Heidi:
Awesome set of pictures.
Makes me feel like i’m really there.
Thanks for including!
David
John and Heidi,
Absolutely lovely…the gardens, the home, and the people!
Bob
Cheddar!!
Is the Gorge the place they have the Cheddar race? Watching the footage of that (on the BBC website, I think) is hilarious. Interesting to see it not filled with people plunging down hill in pursuit of a large wheel of cheese.
Cheers.