Wickham, UK

Our Day trip to the historic village of Wickham, UK, August 14, 2021

As you enter the town of Wickham, you can't help but notice a very old sign on the side of a building on the main street. Certain types are not welcome here!  

I often notice the type/color of brickwork and stonework on buildings as we move around England. This old house is covered with flint stones, very much like the ones found on walls and beaches in Portchester. It's an abundant resource around here, so you'd expect it to be used this way, but it has a distinctive look. 

A local eatery with a funny name. 

And even funnier logo sign. 

This is the historic lodging on the main square. 

And their distinctive sign. Signs and logos around here are quite a work of art.  

 

Of course every little town or village must have a local bakery, this was no exception. 

Local church on the hill. 

Wickham also has a very nice trail system, that was converted from an old railroad bed that goes through the town. It makes for a nice walk. 

-David 

More info on Wickham History:  https://wickhamhistory.org.uk/

Winchester

 We took the train for a day-trip to Winchester. We arrived at the Winchester train terminal around 10:00 AM and in just a few minutes we were in the heart of the historic district on the pedestrian-only streets on our way to the famous cathedral. 

View of High Street, looking East

In typical English fashion, it wasn't supposed to rain, but turned out to be a bit drizzly when we arrived. The moisture didn't last, and the seasons changed as the day went along. 

The very old timber frame buildings always catch my eye. This one had a nice Italian cafe on the ground floor. Just down a narrow alleyway behind this cafe, was a very old pub that made some claim of being one of the oldest, and was said to date back to 1006. It seems there are many very old pubs in UK. Each has some claim to oldest something or other. Who knows if the claims are accurate, but it's fun to see the old places anyway. 

We finally made it to the Cathedral just as the rain was starting to end. We signed up for a guided tour, which we would recommend for anyone. Our guide was so well informed about the history and especially the architecture. He had an engineering background, so his insight on the building techniques and repairs were fascinating (for me)!  Click any image to view full-screen. 

The West (main) entrance to the Winchester Cathedral

Main sanctuary as you enter

Massive stained glass windows of the West entrance

If you look closely, you might notice that the stained glass design seems a bit random. This is because in 1642 all the windows were smashed by Cromwell's forces in a move, not unlike today where the progressive thing to do is to rid the country of statues, monuments and decoration that are a reminder of a past they no longer agreed with. Almost twenty years later, they gathered up all the original broken glass and reinstalled it, in this more politically-correct version. 

The more modest windows at the East end.

Intricate wood carvings

Some of the most fascinating things on display in the Cathedral are the bibles. The prize is the original edition of the Winchester Bible that was produced from 1160 to 1180.  This Latin bible was carefully transcribed from the first Latin translation by Jerome of Stridon that was commissioned in 386 by Pope Damasus I. The scribes were so faithful in their transcription, that they included all the original Prologues (translator's notes) written by Jerome (but are not actually part of The Bible). This four-volume set was printed on 936 pages of calf-skin vellum that measure about 16" by 22" each. The illustrations are some of the most vivid and amazing illustrations, but many were left incomplete.  Sadly no pictures are permitted in that area, but I have included a public domain image from Wikipedia. 

By Unknown Miniaturist, English (active 1160-1175 in Winchester) - Web Gallery of Art:   Image  Info about artwork, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15498256

Another amazing part of the collection is one of the first copies of the King James Bible first printed in 1611. The records show that there were two printed versions of 1611, the first known as the He Bible because it was missing the one letter in Ruth 3:15 and read: "He went into the city." The second printing of 1611 corrected this error and says "She went into the city" and was thus called the She Bible. This document was on display (behind glass) and opened to this page of the Book of Ruth. 

1611 Printing of King James Bible

West Entrance to the Winchester Cathedral

Becky enjoying her Victorian Sponge in the Gardens outside the Cathedral

Sidewalk cafes on Great Minster Street

Another amazing thing you can see if you visit Winchester is King Arthur's Round Table, located in The Great Hall.  

The Great Hall and The Round Table of King Arthur

Closer look at King Arthur's Round Table

The Westgate, one of two remaining fortified gateways to the city from 12th Century

Registrations of Births, Deaths & Marriages building, built over ancient Roman ruins. 

-David 

Travel Update: Passing the Tests - August 2021

The rules to travel have been a moving target. Each time we travel it's a new set of rules and new experiences. The USA has few restrictions on outbound travelers, but does restrict inbound travelers from certain countries like the UK, Europe & Canada (currently prohibited, except for certain diplomatic reasons). However the UK has it's own restrictions on travelers from the US.  These rules were updated in mid-July for holders of British passports so they no longer need to quarantine upon return from the USA, if they have been vaccinated. This may seem odd, since the USA still prohibits UK citizens from coming to the USA on holiday, but it does apply in certain narrow circumstances. 

We carefully reviewed these new rules and didn't see any loop-holes for US citizens going to UK as the new "Freedom Day" rules of July 19th were published. This meant we would still need to do pre-departure tests, arrival tests and more tests while we were in quarantine. We kept waiting for a clarification on the rules for US passports, but as it got closer to our departure date, we had to bite the bullet and order the box-load of tests.  This box of tests included monitored electronic at-home rapid antigen tests, and PCR tests that needed to be express mailed while we were in England. In all for the both of us, these tests kits cost as much as one of our overseas plane tickets and that did not include the Day 5 (early release tests). 

Box of Testing Kits for Travel

To our joy, just two days before departure, we read news that UK had also dropped the requirement for travelers from USA with American Passports to quarantine, if they were fully vaccinated. For us, if it applied, would mean 10 extra days with our family and grandchildren and no isolation upon arrival!  

Some of the tests were still required, but not all of them. So we ended up paying for some of the tests we no longer needed. We did need the pre-departure tests. These were a bit different than the other antigen tests we've used. The sensor strip was electronic, with it's own batteries and power switch that when activated connected to a special app on the phone via Bluetooth. This was to support the need for a monitored test that could be done at home with nearly instant results. All very convenient, in theory.  

Electronic Rapid Antigen Test Sensor

In practice, it was all still pretty bleeding edge and not very well debugged. We had some trouble getting everything connected, but had a live video-chat with the support people to get it all worked out. It eventually operated as described with some very rough user-interface design and the hardest part was the long wait while the timer counted down the required fifteen minutes before the results would be displayed. If it said positive for either of us, we would need to reschedule the trip! 

Now since we went with the testing provider that was partnered with the airline we were using, we expected to have the test data passed directly to the airline through the app or at least through a back-channel between the testing provider and the airline. But no, it's not so sophisticated. Instead the testing app displayed the test results and had a secure connection to allow a download of a PDF form confirming the (negative) test results. The airline's app had no way to upload the required testing results form from the phone. Even the airline's mobile website had no way to upload the required form to our reservation. Instead we had to email this form to ourselves and then use a regular PC to access our reservation and upload from there. 

Of course they recommended that we print-out everything on paper and bring it to the airport with us, just to be sure. The airport experience is so different from what it was just a few months ago. At Seattle airport the security lines were long and slow and it took us 45 minutes to get through. The airport traffic was just like any typical summer travel season with domestic flights going full speed. 

Departure Airport Security Lines

Since the rules for overseas travel were so new, the airport staff were still not fully trained or quite sure of what was needed for going where.  We were told conflicting messages from the baggage check-in staff and the gate staff. The domestic portion of our flight (SEA-ATL) was 100% booked with every seat taken.  

International Terminal at Atlanta Airport

When we got to Atlanta, we had to go to international terminal. The terminal was a busy place with flights going to all sorts of international destinations and most of them fairly full.  I wouldn't say it was operating normally, but it was quite active. Lines were moving slower than normal and our flight was delayed a full hour because they required every passenger to check-in with the departure gate and show hard-copies of all the required documentation needed by their destination. "Show us your papers." was becoming a familiar phrase. Nearly everyone was carrying a folder or binder with all these documents. 

The flight from Atlanta to London was long, but uneventful. At London Heathrow we flew through customs and passport control without delays. At no point in the USA or in UK did anyone ever ask us to present proof of our vaccination - yet this was stated as a necessary requirement to avoid the self-isolation requirements. 

After arrival, we were again required to do a PCR Covid test on Day 2. We completed these tests at home and dropped them in the priority post box. It was a full 97 hours later that we got the results of these tests (negative). Again it as a bit nerve racking to wait so long to find out if we were going to be required to quarantine.  But we passed the tests and have been busy exploring since.  

After 22 hours of travel at London Heathrow Airport

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More info on traveling to UK:  https://www.gov.uk/uk-border-control

Lessons Learned:

1. We had pre-ordered our COVID tests before the new rules went into effect, so we were charged for the pre-departure, Day 2 and Day 8. If you're fully vaxxed in the US or UK, you no longer need the Day 5 or Day 8 tests, so make sure you get just what you need. 

2.  Our flights were cancelled and rebooked three times  by the airline (Virgin & Delta)!  The airlines schedules are quite unstable.  We spent over 7 hours on the phone to handle the rebookings - have patience and be prepared for slow service. 

3. The US airports are at typical summer capacity (very busy). We had to wait 45 minutes to get through security (SEA). 

4. Any domestic (connecting) flight is going to be 100% booked. No empty seats and masks are still required all the time. 

5. Our overseas flight was 80-90% full.  This is so different than it was just last May when we flew with only 10% of the seats occupied or last November when the crew outnumbered the passengers. The First, business and economy+ sections will fill up first. The flight had a high load of business travelers and families with small children. (Again a more typical mix as if it was pre-pandemic, compared to the last 3 times we flew. )

6. On departure, they checked and rechecked all that we had all the required UK paperwork. Everyone had a full binder of everything needed. Be sure to print a boarding pass, they weren't taking the digital boarding pass, because they needed to write notes on the boarding pass with the paperwork inspection. 

7. They NEVER asked nor requested any proof of vaccination.  (You do make a declaration on the UK Locator form, but that's it.) 

8. At LHR the passport control station went fairly fast, considering several full flights arrived at the same time (term 3 @ 9AM). I passed through the electronic checkpoint with no trouble and never had to speak with anyone. Becky's didn't read correctly, so they redirected her to the manned station, but it was no trouble.  Again, there is no check on the UK side for any vaccination records, but I would recommend bringing your CDC form if you have it, just in case. 

9. From LHR gate to curb took less than an hour. 

(Your mileage may vary...)

-David 

 

Bagels and Boredom

 We are now in the final week before traveling back to England and since we have to take a Covid test before we can travel, we decided not to take any chances of getting sick. We have therefore decided to do a self imposed self isolation for the last week. This might sound fun to most people but to David and I, who are type A personalities, and always need a project, this is difficult. Sure we have things to wrap up around the house but not a whole weeks worth of things. What to do when I am bored? Bake!

Years ago I was given the cookbook, "Baking with Julia". The Julia being Julia Child who in my mind is one of the Mozarts of cooking and baking. This cookbook is a bit different than other cookbooks by Julia Child. It is full of recipes from guest chefs that visited her show and was printed in 1996. One of these recipes is bagels by guest chef, Lauren Groveman. I tried this recipe years and years ago, like 20 years ago and had some success. I remembered it being  a recipe that had several steps but was worth the effort. So in my boredom decided to try bagels again.

Step one, reread the recipe and research who is Lauren Groveman. This lead me to a Google search and also to the original episode with Julia Child. I watched in fascination at the amazing hairstyles from the 90's but also at Julia and how even in her later years she commanded the screen. I also decided that I could do bagels, which by now I was craving. It was also mentioned that Lauren was from New York which clinched the deal.

Original Episode on YouTube

The recipe is pretty direct. The only ingredient that gave me pause was, 3 Tablespoons of solid vegetable shortening. This ingredient clearly dates it to the 90's but secret fact about me. I have shortening and occasionally use it but it did seem like a unusual ingredient to use. 

The technique was to make the dough the day before. Allow it to proof once for an hour, punch it down and let it do the final proofing in the fridge overnight. The next morning was the shaping, boiling and baking. This allows us to enjoy the bagel in the morning with breakfast. At least that is the idea but it did take me about 2 1/2 hours to heat the oven, shape, boil, bake and then cool. So unless you are going to start at 6 a.m. then it is a second breakfast food.

After watching the original episode, I decide to put the Kitchenaid aside so I could mix and knead by hand. There is one technique in the recipe that I don't think I will repeat. In the early stages, after softening the yeast in warm water, you add the yeast, salt, 2 more cups of water and shortening in a bowl. I immediately heard Paul Hollywood in my head reminding me that salt kills yeast but I decided to give Lauren the benefit of the doubt and followed the step as printed in the recipe. I am not sure if this is the cause, but I felt the bagels did not rise as they should. The first proof took longer than printed and the final result was a bit flatter than I hoped. I think next time I will follow my gut, and Paul, and not add the salt right in with the yeast.

Shaping the Bagels

Shaping the bagels was fun. No, you do not use a donut cutout on bagels. After dividing the dough into balls, it is then flattened and poked with a finger until it comes out the other side. Then there is this magical twirling motion to get the bagel to open up to a huge hole. I would have thought the hole was too big but after letting it sit and the boiling process it looked like the correct size.

Boiling the Bagels

The baking process also had several steps. First set the oven to 500 degrees, with a pizza stone. When the bagels are placed in the oven the temperature is lowered to 450. After baking for 25 minutes the oven is then turned off and the bagels bake for 5 more minutes. The oven door is then open for 5 minutes, with the bagels still in the oven. Then the bagels are taken out for the cooling. All the while I am smelling bagels baking wondering how they will taste.

Bagels in the Oven

Final result? It was delicious. I will try the salt/yeast technique different next time but it really was not too difficult. The hardest part of making bagels.....the wait.

-Becky

Our new Laundry Room (in USA)

 We just finished our laundry room remodel at the Coupeville house.  Originally we had two laundry rooms for the business, one room had three machines (two dryers and a top-load washer) and some nasty old brown cabinets that look like they had been salvaged from some older home. The second room had one additional washing machine and the sink, with more of those salvaged cabinets.

We tore all that out and since we didn't need the second top-load washer, we put in more cabinets for storage. We replaced the old plastic sink with an extra deep stainless sink. So this room has been transformed into all storage space. 

In the adjoining room, that had the three machines originally, we put new front-load washers/dryers and had more room for extra cabinets too.  We added a new countertop for folding the laundry.  The floors were also replaced and we completely removed all the old brown ceramic tile and replaced it with LVP. 

Here's a wide angle shot showing how the rooms are connected now with continuous flooring instead of the half & half floor we had before. . 

-David 

Is this a good place to park?

We noticed that in England, there seems to be a pretty lax attitude about parking. So here are a few examples we've spotted.

Is this a good place to park?

On the walking path, fenced off from the street, on East Road near Newtown. 

Is this a good place to park?

Double parked on sidewalk under the M27 in Port Solent directly in front of No Parking signs. We regularly saw a parking enforcement officer sleeping in his patrol car, under this bridge, in broad daylight!

Is this a good place to park?

Parked on the grass next to the sidewalk.

Cars parked in odd places are a hazzard to drivers and pedestrians. Parking enforcement is nearly non-existent based on our observations. Be careful out there.

Back in the U.S.A.

Coupeville Wharf in springtime

After six months of living in the U.K., we are back in Washington! This was a bittersweet journey for us to make. It was super hard to leave our sweet grandsons behind and say goodbye to our daughter in-law, knowing that they will have another 6 or 7 weeks before our son returns from his deployment. But, we had reached our 6 month limit and had to leave. We also had to leave our newly refurbished apartment and a way of life we had come to accept. The good news, we hope to be back in August.

This is the second blog about traveling during Covid.  If you read our early blog post about traveling to England, we wrote about how surreal it felt. How it felt like traveling in a Sci-Fi novel, empty airports, closed shops and restaurants. There was a certain thrill of seeing a historical time of our lives up close and personal. It also seemed like people working at the airport were happy to see us. We were travelers and maybe we were a sign that things were going to get better soon. This time traveling, it was so much the same and so much different.

Flight Cancelled! 

Our travel struggles started the night before our departure. David was online trying to check us in but our reservation said we were cancelled. What did this mean? We had been watching our flight to Seattle and it stilled showed that it was flying so how could we be cancelled. I immediately went into panic mode, thank goodness David kept a clear head. First, David tried calling Delta only to be told there was an hour wait time. I next tried to call another Delta number, a number that is reserved for Delta frequent fliers. I was told that there was a wait time of 35 minutes but they would call me back. Somewhere in all this, David reached out on Twitter to the airline for help. 

Twitter for the save! 

After 2 hours, no one had called back and David was still on hold but he was having a conversation with someone from Delta, via Twitter. Long story, Twitter came through and whoever was on the other end got our flight reinstated. It was about another half an hour before I finally got a call back. Thanks but too late. What we think happened, but we are not sure, there was an equipment change, that caused a flight number change that somehow cancelled our reservation. It was now coming on midnight and we had an Uber picking us up early the next morning. We had scheduled an Uber since our normal train and bus method of getting to the airport was not running costing us an extra $100.

Uber ride to the airport

Next cause for concern, nobody gets on an international flight without a negative Covid test. I knew I wasn't sick, I knew that David wasn't sick but we still had to take tests at the airport. The reason I was concerned? I have heard that there are a fair amount of false positives. What if this happens? Do they retest? Do we have to head home again and wait 14 days to travel again? Luckily, our test were negative and that was another extra $95.00 each.

Covid Testing Center at London Heathrow

 We have made it this far, now on to checking in and airport security. This was relatively painless since there were so few people traveling but this time it just felt different. Gone was the excitement of seeing travelers replaced with the constant interrogation of why were we traveling. Maybe this has something to do with leaving the U.K. since it is illegal for their citizens to travel on holiday but it still felt like something out of the Cold War era. Once we told them our story explaining that we were part of support bubble to help our son and his family during his deployment they were all sympathetic but the fact I constantly had to  explain this felt wrong. I had bought a ticket, I had jumped through their hoops to fly and I was going home! Stop asking me! I was already feeling very emotional at leaving so much behind and to constantly have to tell the my story almost brought me to tears.

Empty security scanning area

Sadly, the airport was just about the same as 6 months ago. Most of the seats were blocked from using, stores and restaurants were still closed and everyone who was traveling seemed to be sad and exhausted. There is a sadness to traveling when there are no families on holiday, there is no laughter or excitement. Our airplane only had 47 passengers. During normal times you would be happy and excited if your airplane only had 15% capacity but now it just another reminder at how far we away we are from feeling or acting normal. 

Airport waiting area at London Heathrow

I am sorry if this blog post has a certain sadness to it. I really want to document what we saw and how we felt because I am sure at some point in my life, this will all feel far away and hopefully hard to remember. I am sure that life will resume, families will travel and laughter and excitement will return. One thing this has taught me, never take those mundane, happy moments for granted!

-Becky

More empty corridors at London Heathrow

Waiting for boarding

Empty seats on Boeing 767

Constant mask reminders on flight entertainment screen