The UK in August: A Tribute to 900 Year Old Churches and Blown Out Waves

As to be expected but never prepared enough for, so many things have happened in China in my first three days back; it is hard to imagine I was so recently living in the lap of luxury (in so many ways - you'd have to move to china all alone to truly understand). If I even begin with the story of what I refer to as The Visa Debauchery, I'll hardly even get to the part where I slept in a beauty parlor 'massage ' room (oh look, a police officer just passed me with one of the ladies of the night for a quick doughnut break) on the third night (which is as I write this) before I reach my 500 word count maximum; my attention threshold and likely that of most of the people who read this.
In fact, I think I'll keep these stories of The VD to myself for now - the last three days and likely the next few as well have been too much to even put into words - believe me, I looked in the thesaurus.
At least right now the light in the massage room is a comfortable dimness and the rhythmic squeaking sound in the room to my left is so near that of a heartbeat or clock - oh hey, the clock on the wall in here doesn't work - that I am of course focusing on all the wonderful things around me to be grateful for and thinking it is quite hilarious and in this moment finding a perfect opportunity to reflect on (more like gain comfort from) the last three weeks in the UK.

For those of you who don't know, I'll first give you a quick run down: I flew into London from Halifax early August; spent a few days getting the ZZZ's and respite I'd be longing for in Marlow and around Windsor Castle area; a quick jaunt to London; double date with 'mum and dad'; drinking with the boyz from rugby; 900 year old church; history lessons; spent an unforgettable weekend in Cornwall with Frase; 7 or so 900 year old churches and 2 stunning sunsets - Tag team on to Neil who drove me over 1000 miles in order to explore every major surf break in Cornwall: st Ives, Land's end, Penzance, Holleywell bay, etc. Western England, and Wales for a week - TO NO AVAIL; skim boarded instead; hiked and watched sunset along Llangenntih / Rhossili on the Gower Peninsula; spent a day or so around Reading and Winchester; met the fam. - Tag teamed back into the arms of Fraser just West of London; family dinner; packed all our useful earthly possessions and hit the road for a road trip up to Scotland (another +1000 mile journey); slight detour in Londond first (VD issue - visa debauchery - what did you think it stood for!~); explored the Western pieces of Scotland; Glasgow; Loch Lomond; Isle of Mull; popped into Edinburgh (900 year old church!) before heading back to the home base for a last breath of Westernness, rest, relaxation, and gratitude; busted to London at the end of August to catch the last possible plane that would let me into China with a practically expired residency permit and a pretty well expired Canadian passport. Whew!

As with much of the traveling I have done over the last few years, I find myself looking back at my most recent adventure and really noting that it is ALWAYS the people and not the place that makes it memorable (thank you for 'being'!). I have also mentioned in a recent post that sometimes things are too special to put into words, take pictures of, write notes about, or tell anyone else about. For me, anyways, I fear there is no way to explain it properly or that if explained it to you I might lose some of the memory in my breath, or even change it in my mind as I think of it again. So I'm holding a lot back on this one. But I'll share some good pics nonetheless. (though in some weird coincidence, the battery of my camera died both within the first 5 minutes in London and again in Scotland).

As I said, it all started in little ol' Marlow. A beautiful place along the Thames. More than a few drinks and walks along this river were had. Probably of no coincidence, yes, this and a few other churches in town are 900 years old.
From Marlow, a quick and painless few hours of driving (which to people in the UK is like a week long drive to us Canadians) had us out of the hustle bustle and into Cornwall; what I imagine all of England must have been like 100 years ago.
Going, going, gone.

The next three pics are in the top 5 of my whole trip. Frase and I went on a full-day walk along the coast here, and then celebrated our sunburns with just a bit of the local beer.



Coincidentally, we also had a beer across the way here in Padstow (I could live there). Fireworks, a brass band, and can can dancers turned it from a perfect moment to absolutely perfect. While on the topic, how could I forget telling y'all about the beer in England~  Well, it's good... real good... I wanna be friends with it.
Tribute, ah, Tribute (also I loved Pimm's but then found out it is a Posh English drink and if I am going to go all out Scottish I've got to pretend not to like it so don't tell anyone - damn that undeniable expensive taste of mine).

After the tag off at the end of the weekend in Cornwall, where Fraser left running for his life and Neil looked at me only slightly frightened, Neil and I set off to St Ives and Land's End (i could also live here) where we slept in farmer's fields in a self-erecting tent (why didn't I think of that!) for the week of adventure.

 
Neil and I tried our best to find something resembling a swell and waves. Neil's imagination must be better than mine (oh to be young again!), and he got out a few times.
And we did manage to both get out in this. Yep, desperation can do a lot to a girl's standards.

After a few more days of disappointing surf yet gorgeous beaches and good times, we went to The Eden Project. I can't say enough about the importance of places like this. Google it if you're interested. Me 'n Skippy had a good time.

I think we also made the best of the lack of swell when we bought skim boards.
neilskimmin.MPG
Neil was a natural, but you know what they say: those who can't do, teach. Story of my life.

We finally thought maybe it'd be better if we try our luck in another country (the 4th country Neil and I have been to together) and sadly, in this country we also failed to find surfable waves. However, we did find another great sunset along the Gower, during which I was sure to show Neil how older, more refined women like their wine.
In a bottle.

You may be surprised to find out that Wales is not all sheep and cliffs (though there are plenty of both); there's also the odd castle. And a lot of cold wind.

All in all, Neil, I guess we should've been there yesterday; or the week before; or maybe the month before. 

This is surfing in the UK - In August!~!
#$%^. Put a jacket on!

After some time with Neil's family, and just enough time for Fraser to forget the pains of being with me 24-7 ( don't women say that about giving birth~), I was allowed back to Marlow for a family gathering then we started our journey to The Mother Land. Wow, Scotland.
It is tough not to go into detail about the history of this place. I am going to assume it is all quite familiar to you. And by now you know there are a zillion or so 900 year old churches. Hadrian's wall was a pretty exciting little find on route. For more info check out: http://www.aboutscotland.co.uk/hadrian/index.html 

Scotland is by far the most all-encompassing place I've ever been to. It's culture and history coupled with the people, food and natural scenery by far rival any place I've been in my life. It's got it all. And I want more!