The Farnham experience

We had a visit from Belinda and Tim today. Belinda is Mirinda’s cousin and Tim is her husband. We went to their wedding back in May, when we were in Australia. They are presently on a world tour and popped in betwixt London and Paris.

They’ve been to New York and Dublin, London and (now) Farnham before heading to Paris tomorrow then Rome. While they had a lovely honeymoon week in Melbourne, this is really their newly wedded trip. It’s been a whirlwind trip of fun and new experiences. None more so than Farnham.

The day was beautiful and bright, something quite unusual this Christmas, so, following a cup of tea, we set off through the park, the traditional beginning of the Gary and Mirinda Farnham Experience.

The first thing we noticed was a huge group of people dressed in onsies, almost jogging across the grass, parallel to the Avenue of Trees. This was undoubtedly due to the sea of mud between the trees of the actual Avenue.

It all appeared rather odd, particularly the chap wearing the dog onsie who growled at children and toddlers in prams. A straggler explained that she was part of a fun run and felt quite stupid running on her own wearing a silly outfit. To be fair, she was no longer actually running.

Meanwhile, we stopped for the obligatory tour group photo in a less than muddy spot between the trees before continuing on to the castle.

Tim, Belinda & Mirinda in the muddy Avenue of Trees

Tim, Belinda & Mirinda in the muddy Avenue of Trees

After a few minutes spent explaining the difference between ‘moat’ and ‘motte’, we strolled down to and around the town, pointing out historical and hysterical facts as we went.

At our lovely church I was reminded that every tour guide can learn something new, when a lady told us that the east window was not only designed and made by Pugin (who I’ve discussed before) but was also dismantled for the Great Exhibition of 1851 before being reinstalled in it’s original position, afterwards.

Pugin's window

Pugin’s window

Quite apart from the art and beauty of the window, you have to marvel at the skills required to move it, transport it to Crystal Palace, display it, then return it, good as new.

The last time we took a group of visitors around Farnham, we had difficulty finding a pub to lunch in so, this time, we booked a table (the last table) at the Nelson Arms.

It was very busy and had run out of half of the desserts, but was still a perfect Sunday lunch. And I was rather pleased that both Belinda and Tim drank real ale (a couple of pints of Timothy Taylor’s Landlord) rather than some tasteless fizzy rubbish.

A leisurely walk back to the house, another cup of tea and it was all too soon time for them to catch the train back to Waterloo in time to join a Jack the Ripper tour.

A lovely day, finished off with the Christmas episode of Midsummer Murders which, as usual, provided plenty of amusing, even if unintentional, fare.

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One Response to The Farnham experience

  1. Started to reading this to dad on Monday when he first started feeling unwell so never finished it. What a great holiday hope all goes well for them.
    love mum x

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