Hello from Romsey"
Tina McInerney
Wednesday, 15th April and time is running out fast so we are flying around the country now visiting houses and doing walks. We had a lovely literary day today. We drove to the county Dorset to visit 3 houses and go for a walk. The first house was Thomas Hardy's house just outside of Dorchester, then his childhood home the other side of Dorchester and lastly, T. E. Lawrence's house a few miles away. They were all so different. None of them were grand but it is a bit amazing learning about these people, what they did or wrote and their lifestyles. If you know anything about Lawrence (he was Lawrence of Arable) you will understand why his house was the most unusual- with a tin lined room, a cork lined bathroom. Hardy's childhood cottage was a thatched cottage near some woods - a bit like Hansel and Gretel house - it had been extended for a grandmother but still so small for parents and 4 children - very low ceilings and small rooms.
Our walk was very scenic too. It went through woods of rhodendrons, heathland, across fields, over 13 stiles and alongside a river. Of course, we crossed bridges and this sign was on one of them:
I am not sure if they are still transporting people, but the bridge looked pretty intact so the warning must be working.
It was a lovely day. Our only worry was that the properties didn't advertise a cafe at any of the houses - they are all National Trust houses and there is always a cafe/restaurant. But true to form, there was an urn to make tea or coffee and wrapped cake to buy! And at one, they have built a visitor centre so we were able to get a drink. It is something I have noticed that there is some sort of cafe everywhere you go here in the UK.
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