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Delta, British Columbia, Canada
I took very early retirement from teaching in '06 and did some traveling in Europe and the UK before settling down to do some private tutoring. As a voracious reader, I have many books waiting in line for me to read. Tell me I shouldn't read something, and I will. I'm a happy, optimistic person and I love to travel and through that believe that life can be a continuous learning experience. I'm looking forward to traveling more some day. I enjoy walking, cycling, water aerobics & and sports like tennis, volleyball, and fastpitch/baseball. I'm just getting into photography as a hobby and I'm enjoying learning all the bits and bobs of my digital camera. My family is everything to me and I'm delighted to be the mother of two girls and the Gramma of a boy and a girl. I may be a Gramma, but I'm at heart just a girl who wants to have fun.

Saturday, January 12, 2013

A is for ANDOVER


Welcome to Round 12 of ABC Wednesday, created by Denise Nesbitt and currently administered by our able-bodied and adorable Roger and his team of admirable assistants!  If you are new to ABCW, please be sure to read our guidelines (top left of the website) and link back to it so that others may enjoy our adventures!

This week, I'd like to introduce you to the town of Andover, which lies in Hampshire, England near well-known locales such as Stonehenge and Salisbury Cathedral. Every time I've travelled to England, I go there to stay with friends John and Marion.  They kindly allow me to get over any jet lag before we travel around the area taking in the sights.  Last summer, they took us to Chartwell, the home of Winston Churchill - I'll be showing you this awesome place in 2 weeks for the letter C.

Andover is also close to the New Forest, which "is a former royal hunting area in the south of England. It was created in 1079 by William I (known as William the Conqueror) as a hunting area, principally of deer.  It is a unique area of historical, ecological and agricultural significance, and retains many of the rural practices conceded by the Crown in historical times to local people. Principal of these is the pasturing of ponies, cattle, pigs and donkeys in the open Forest by local inhabitants known as commoners. The New Forest has also been an important source of timber for the Crown. It is an outstanding recreational area for walking and riding. It is now designated as a National Park."  

Once, we took a drive through the area and actually saw wild horses roaming the countryside and small villages!  It's a beautiful part of England! We stopped for lunch at a typical village pub that has a thatched roof and was called "The Hatchet."  I remember having a traditional lunch of crusty bread and meat paté with Branston pickle! 

The history of Andover goes back a long way to the mid-900's where King Edgar called a meeting of the Saxon parliament at his hunting lodge in the area.  At the time of the Domesday Book in 1086, Andover had a total population of about 500, making it quite a large settlement by the standards of the time.  By the early 19th century, it was a major stopping point on the stagecoach routes to London.  As a matter of fact, John commutes via automobile to London for his job.  

If I could afford to live in England, I'd be airborne right now!  In the meantime, it's awesome to have good friends who always give me a warm welcome every few years.  Enjoy the slideshow and don't forget to turn up your sound.
Click to play this Smilebox slideshow

37 comments:

Roger Owen Green said...

Adorable? You're making me blush!

And nifty new logo Troy did!

I'd like to be airborne to England; I've never been!

Welshcakes Limoncello said...

Happy New Year!

Anonymous said...

keep on taking me a tour of england :)

photowannabe said...

Love your choice of A words Leslie.
Adorable Roger! Absolutely.
Great tour continuing of England. I'm enjoying it.

Carver said...

Great place to feature for A. I visited there a zillion years ago. Would love to go back sometime.

anthonynorth said...

It's a beautiful place.

carol l mckenna said...

Great post for A ~ great blog ^_^

(A Creative Harbor)

ps Am off in Spring to Dover England then a Norway coast cruise back to Dover and then to London ~ any ideas most appreciated ~ Carol ^_^

Reader Wil said...

Oh Leslie! How lovely! I know this area a bit, for we often went to Salisbury. My sister and I went cycling from Dover to Bristol, and on our way we came through Andover and stayed in a youthhostel there. I also stayed in the New Forest years later, with my husband and children.It was great fun!

Gemma Wiseman said...

Another place that I will never see for myself! But when there are gorgeous images like this, I can sit back and enjoy the sights! Gorgeous little video! Love the house, the street scene and Andover by night especially!

Richard Lawry said...

I love history, and Andover seems to have lot's of it.


An Arkies Musings


Nonnie said...

oh, I think I'd love to live there! thanks for the journey!

Hildred said...

Love the cathedral, - and the history of Andover. I feel the same way about England as you do, Leslie, but haven't been fortunate enough to visit it more than a few times, - mostly Squadron Reunions with Charles.

Gerald (SK14) said...

I'be never been to Andover although I've visited Salisbury and Stonehenge. The town centre looked very quiet - must have been Sunday morning.

Anonymous said...

great friends in a great place

Beverley Baird said...

Hi Leslie - it has been a while
Great post on Andover. Learned alot about this place - had never heard of it. Would love to go to England as well.

Meryl said...

Oh I always love your slideshows and posts. This one was absolutely charming. Looking forward to more!

teri said...

Hope you get back to Andover sometime soon.

Unknown said...

So many awesome "a"s.

magiceye said...

Loved the virtual tour f Andover. Pics of the cathedral and Andover in winter were superb and those sandwiches and scones have made me hungry now!!

Rajesh said...

Very informative about the place.

Luna Miranda said...

the Salisbury Cathedral is most impressive. what a beautiful place!

SRQ said...

Andover sounds like a nice place -- and even nicer whene you have friends to visit. I enjoyed your video. The hatchet in the roof is clever...and I wouldn't be able to pass by the Angel Pub without stopping in. It looks so charming and, well, English!

Hazel said...

Seeing wild horses in the countryside! Lucky you. England really is soooo beautiful!

Melanie Kennelly said...

I'm excited to read your upcoming post about Chartwell. I'd jump at the chance to live in England too (though not in the castles... my travels there have convinced me that I'd be much happier as a member of the middle class!).

Gattina said...

I visited Stonehenge last summer, what a beautiful area !
Gattina
ABC Team

Unknown said...

In the South of England, I've only been to Southampton, where my best partner in crime (ahem, studies) and her family now have lived for a number of years.
O yeah, I know about jetlag! I mostly have it for about 5 days (when traveling East! When I go back to the US only one day.

Joy said...

Those scones look lovely. Thanks for the trip to Andover, I've been to the New Forest but not much else. Now I've been, virtually, the Angel all lit up looks very inviting.

Meghan said...

I'm going to England for vacation this summer. I can't wait to see all the English countryside for myself!

Chubskulit Rose said...

Even just a visit in England would very much suit my dreams and wishes.

Catching up with ABC entries.

Aunt
Rose, ABC Wednesday Team

Ann, Chen Jie Xue 陈洁雪 said...

am told England is very expensive. Even Youth Hostels. Great you have friends to stay with.

Tania said...

Great post and place for A! I wish I could go there some day..

Russell said...

Enjoyed your post and slide show very much.

We have an island in the states off the coast of Maryland where ponies run free. I was reminded of that area when I saw the horses near New Castle in your slide show.

"A" is for "Awesome" job with this post!! (If someone already said that it is worth saying Again!!)

Josie Two Shoes said...

What a beautiful place! I'd love to visit there too!

Mai said...

I love the slideshow! What is that hatchet doing on the roof, lol. :D and winter scene is postcard perfect! thanks for visiting my site and welcoming me to abc wednesday. have a great weekend!

Unknown said...

I love your awesome post!
Happy New Year to you too!

Thank you so much for sharing and yes, indeed, Roger is so adorable!!!

hugs
shakira

Powell River Books said...

Even though my roots are in England, I've never been there. Thanks for the great tour. - Margy

PhilipH said...

Superb photography. Loved the Angel Pub and the final shot of the wintry street.
Great stuff.