July 14, 2007

• Last Update from Reading
  

  So much to tell, yet, I am on a time limit. James called for
  a taxi to arrive at 11:00, so I’ve got to be wise with my time!  (Thankfully, it’s only 10:25 now.) We catch a train to Bath later today.
  

  English things—
  

  The English have a way of saying, “Yeah” or “Yeah, yeah” to
  show agreement or understanding. However, the facial expression and tone in
  which they say it makes them seem very ticked off. I do not believe anger or
  dismissiveness is their intent, however.
  

  I love to read books which are set in England. The
  characters would sometimes “turn on the taps.” I sort of dismissed this from my
  mind until I got here. Every sink has two taps: hot and cold.  Granted, many of the public restrooms have
  automated, one-tap deals like ours do, but for the most part, they are two
  taps.
  

  

  The shower door only covers the very front of the tub. The water pressure (or the angle of the water stream?) makes having a full shower door or curtain unnecessary.
  

  
  

  

  I did not wind up going to Windsor again, although I really wanted to. I
  hoped to find a postcard selection of the inside of the castle and one of the
  Queen and Prince Philip on their wedding day. I really like that picture.  Instead, I walked to the train station and sat
  down with a ticket person. Before we left, I bought us eight day flexipasses
  for Britrail. It seemed like a good idea at the time, but now it is not. I
  found out that by not using them, turning them in for a refund (minus a 15%
  fee), and buying our tickets here, I’d save about $400.  That’s a lot of money!  So, if you are going to England, just
  buy your train tickets here.  Silly me.
  

  After feeling proud of myself at the train station, I
  wandered into a used bookstore. I bought The Sketchbook of Queen Victoria (with a nice
  bio about her and excerpts from her letters) for £3 and Kim by Kipling for
  £2.50. Someone recently mentioned to me that Kim was Kipling’s best and a good
  book about Imperial Britain. Hence, I felt both were good souvenirs.
  

  I was tired of feeling tired, so I determined to make myself
  stay awake.  I went to the movie theater
  and got two tickets for Harry Potter for the evening. In England, movie
  tickets are sold by the seat, not just general seating.  The first time for decent seats was 9:30, so
  I bought two for that late hour.

  I decided to divest myself of my ridiculously heavy bags
  back at the hotel (I had packed a change of shoes for Windsor, just in case my feet hurt again) and
  meet TGD on campus. But, I took a wrong turn and wound up on the road to
  campus. Serendipitously, road took me past the University
  of Reading’s Museum of Rural Life.  I had wanted to stop in, and here was the
  perfect chance!  They even had free
  lockers where I thankfully dumped my bags.   
  

  A Morris Dancer hobby horse costume from a sustainable resources display at the museum.

  

  
  

  A decoration from a cheese press

  
  

  
  

  An egg decorated with straw and a straw nativity.
  

  
  

  The museum was small, full of elderly folks, and smelled like
  an old barn—quite pleasant. It was filled with all sorts of tractors, farm
  implements from long ago, and things made of wood, straw, and leather. Plus,
  there were “rats” about.  I have been
  impressed with how child-friendly the museums are. There are always activities
  just for the kids (and for people like me who want to watch a 1950s cartoon on
  the evolution of English farming techniques). 
  

  

  TGD and I met, and he chivalrously carried my bags back to
  the hotel. We headed out to our favorite Reading
  restaurant, The Back of Beyond on King’s Street. But, instead of getting the two meals for £6.49
  as we usually did, I got British Beef and Abbot Ale pie with a side of summer
  vegetables and mashed potatoes and Bramley apple pie with warm vanilla custard
  for dessert. MMMMMM!
  

  

  We walked for a while (being more northerly, the sun doesn’t
  go down in the summer until around 9:30) and then went to Harry Potter. The movie
  was fine, but it wasn’t my favorite of them all. This should be no surprise as
  the book was not my favorite either. Harry is just angry the whole book, and he’s
  angry in the movie, too.  I liked Nevill’s
  character (although I’m not sure if I’m spelling his name right.) 
  

  The next day, we were set to go to Winchester. And you know what Winchester means—Jane Austen!
  

  (Now, I have to post this entry, upload the pictures, and
  let TGD have a turn on the computer. Lord willing, I shall not keep you
  Austenites in suspense for too long.)

  Where we ate breakfast each morning.
  

   

     
  

  

  The Lobby–my favorite spot already occupied. Boo.

  

  Goodbye, Reading!

  • 6:01 am
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