Monday 9 June 2008

England..a summer tour and a Competition / Giveaway...;-)

This week, because ENGLAND are not represented in Euro 2008, I'm promoting our lovely country on my blog ;-)


When I was about 13 years old, I was taken on a grand tour of England. It was during one summer that we escaped, from Devon !
My dad drove us up one side of England and back down the other, with occasional diversions into the middle, taking in the many beautiful historical sites that our country has to offer.
It was a fantastic opportunity ; probably one which I did not really appreciate at the time.

However, I can say that I have set foot in almost every cathedral...(I love Salisbury for its elegant spire and Lincoln for its presence and beautiful sounding organ... although Exeter will always take top spot! )...and every castle in this country. (I absolutely adored Bamburgh, for the setting...and marvel at the spectacular iron age hill fort of Maiden Castle... )

I've stood on many former battlefields (with my imaginary battle axe and mace!)

and I have trapsed along Hadrians Wall...

I have marked the spot in the New Forest, where William Rufus was killed.
You name it, I have been there and I have probably done it...all when I was 13!
When you are 13, just growing out of your Bunty and Judy annuals (remember them?), discovering football and boys (but not necessarily in that order!) you really aren't too bothered about who shot who and where... or where the Magna Carta was signed (I've been there too!).
You see, growing up as a teenager in the 60s was a 'lorra lorra' fun..all those fashion trends to keep up with (mini skirts and hot pants!) and all those Beatles/Stones lyrics to learn.
And then there was the 1966 World Cup and England went wild! I spent ages making a scrapbook because I found that I could draw World Cup Willie, (the mascot that is!) really well!
However, amidst all of that trivia, my parents had this book to guide us through our fabulous summer tour..not any old book but this book.It's still in their bookcase today. And I love books :


Even at 13, I treasured this book! I learnt all about the counties of our country and so much more (because the book also includes Wales and Scotland ). And, needless to say it was the beautiful colour plates that I found so enchanting. So charming. I would get completely lost in those lovely pictures.Poking about the oast houses and orchards of Kent was my favourite pastime.


I know that my love for my country, England, stems from that fantastic summer holiday trip and this wonderful book.
I would so love to do that trip again, one day.
I don't yearn for holidays sitting on foreign beaches; that would bore me silly. That's just not me. But I do yearn for finding out as much as I can about my own country, England.
And I thank my mum and my dad for those fabulous experiences.... and the memories!
Now to the quiz/giveaway!

Which English counties do you think that each of these pics below represent?
There are ten to work out.
Put your answers on the comments page for this post please.
You've got until Sunday evening!
In the event of a draw, I'll get some unsuspecting person who happens to be with me, to draw the winner.

Details of the prize are at the bottom of this post ;-)
Here goes:


1.

2.
3.

4.

5.

6.

7.


8.

9.

10.

Easy ?! ;-)

Ok..the prize?

I have deliberately avoided mentioning that until the end;-)

That's because I very deliberately have not got the prize.... yet!!
Let me explain!

This Friday sees the beginning of the (drum roll please)..EXETER SUMMER FESTIVAL!

On the Cathedral Green this Friday and Saturday is the.... Exeter Festival Craft Fair!

I can hardly contain myself! LOL
I can't decide which day to go .. so.....;-)

Your prize will be a little hand crafted 'something' from this wonderful event.
Good luck!!

26 comments:

  1. Gosh this is difficult - I know #5 for definite - the ecclesiastical building in the centre is where I was married (well in the un-ruined other end of it anyway) will have to have a good think about the other 9

    ReplyDelete
  2. Flippin' Heck Sally!! I love a good quiz and this is a real stinker. Unfortunately something's not working so I can't get the pics to enlarge. Never mind.
    I have always wanted to do 'the grand tour' like that. There are so many fab places in this country that I would love to see, but when there are only a couple of weeks a year to play with it's not so easy. Maybe when I get my camper (in my dreams)we can do weekends away.
    OK back to the quiz...

    ReplyDelete
  3. Yes..I know what's happened but I don't know how to resolve it. The first picture that I posted will go large when you click on it ..but the others will not..it is something to do with moving them..they lose the HTML code ..at least that's what I think.I need to read up about it! Sal;-)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Well I've had a good think about all the others - I have to say that #1, 6, 9 and 10 are educated guesses, especially as I can't enlarge the pictures but go on, I'll be the first to throw my hat in the ring and set the ball rolling:
    1 Gloucestershire
    2 Berkshire
    3 Suffolk
    4 Shropshire
    5 Yorkshire
    6 Lincolnshire
    7 Warwickshire
    8 Nottinghamshire
    9 Middlesex
    10 Derbyshire

    Am I anywhere near right? :o)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Not bad for starters! ;-)Sal

    ReplyDelete
  6. erm, I'll have a guess, here goes...hubby helped as well, is that allowed?
    1)Gloucestershire
    2)Berkshire
    3)Suffolk
    4)Shropshire
    5)Yorkshire (should know this one!)
    6)Lincolnshire
    7)Warwick
    8)Nottinghamshire
    9)Middlesex
    10)Leicester ( I think? )

    Josie x

    ReplyDelete
  7. Ok - not bad for starters - lets change a couple:

    how about:

    6 Co Durham
    10 Rutland

    Does that get me any closer? Please give me a clue how many I have got right

    ReplyDelete
  8. Let's play:
    1.Gloucestershire
    2.Berkshire
    3.Suffolk
    4.Shropshire
    5.Yorkshire
    6.Lincolnshire
    7.Warwickshire
    8.Nottinghamshire
    9.Middlesex
    10.Rutland

    ReplyDelete
  9. Thanks everyone so far.I am not going to give any clues ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  10. Sounds like awonderful adventure you had!

    I don't know about the pictures as I wasn't brought up here so my knowledge is lacking! But they are very nice pictures. :-)

    Jayne

    ReplyDelete
  11. You live in a beautiful country and hope one day to vacation there.

    ReplyDelete
  12. aaargh! This is driving me mental! I have a genetic disorder which means I am addicted to quizzes. My mum is even worse. OK I'm putting some answers so I can try to regain my sanity.
    1. Hampshire
    2. Berkshire
    3. Suffolk
    4. Shropshire
    5. Yorkshire
    6. Lincolnshire
    7. Warwickshire
    8. Nottinghamshire
    9. Middlesex
    10.Rutland
    Now I'm going to have a stiff drink and a lie down.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I will have to concede defeat on this one. I have tried to figure out the various counties from the picture clues but honestly I have been hopeless. I found this really challenging for my inadequately informed brain although I did know the Kent one!

    ReplyDelete
  14. I've had a nice cuppa and now a stiff drink, but I've no idea because they won't enlarge and my eyesight is playing tricks!

    May the best player win - I just wish my folks had been able to take me on a fabulous trip like that in the '50's - didn't have a car unfortunately, and then I came here in 1962. Some day, before I kick the bucket, perhaps I can come back for an extended visit and take that trip to see all of my beautiful country.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Gosh this was difficult. Here goes -
    1. Gloucestershire
    2. Berkshire
    3. Suffolk
    4. Shropshire
    5. Yorkshire
    6. Lincolnshire
    7. Warwickshire
    8. Nottinghamshire
    9. Surrey
    10. Rutland

    Sounds like the most wonderful trip to be taken on. I totally agree with you that although I do like to see other countries, there is nothing so good as discovering our own. There are so many beautiful and interesting places to visit. Although, like you, my parents took us all over, and I continue to do the same myself, I feel I still have so much more to see of our beautiful country.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Ok, I have no idea so Im going to do what I did in school and just copy someone elses!!

    1. Gloucestershire
    2. Berkshire
    3. Suffolk
    4. Shropshire
    5. Lincolnshire
    6. Yorkshire
    7. Berkshire
    8. Nottinghamshire
    9. Surrey
    10. Rutland.

    I sure hope Nonnie has done her revision!!! LOL!

    Nicky x

    ReplyDelete
  17. Too difficult for me! I'm sure I remember that book, I think we also had it on the bookshelf or in the glove compartment of the car. Now if you had asked questions on any of the Beatles lyrics I definitely would have entered the quiz!!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Hello Sal
    I do like a challenge but this one is tricky..
    Ironically.. my parents had this same book and I loved looking at the illustrations.. but I assure you I don't have the book now..
    I am going to put my money on:

    1. Somerset (wessex)
    2.Berkshire
    3.Suffolk
    4.Shropshire
    5.Yorkshire
    6.Lincolnshire
    7.Warwickshire
    8.Wales (south)
    9.Surrey
    10.Norfolk

    Have a lovely time at the summer festival..
    I will be swotting up on the British Isles now as I realise just how little I know of my own country!

    Michelexx

    ReplyDelete
  19. What a great trip to be taken on. Not a great one for quizzes, so will leave it to those who can do it justice - beautiful piccies in the book though.

    ReplyDelete
  20. OK, that was hard, but here are my answers

    1. Gloucestershire
    2. Berkshire
    3. Suffolk
    4. Shropshire
    5. Yorkshire
    6. Lincolnshire
    7. Warwickshire
    8. Nottinghamshire
    9. Middlesex
    10. Rutland

    Hope those are right, that sounds like a fab trip. As kids all our holidays were UK based and we alays did castles and churches and I too have been to most of the cathedrals in this country.

    My sis and I still say it doesn't feel like we've been on holiday unless we've been to a church and a castle.

    I love OhsoVintage's idea of a Beatles quiz - I may steal that ...

    April xx

    ReplyDelete
  21. What an amazing book I MUST have this, its wonderful! And I'm so impressed by your jaunt around the country. I've always wanted to do that myself but never really got around to it in the university holidays like I'd planned. Perhaps I'll be like your dad and whisk my little ones off on a tour of our fascinating country when they're a bit bigger. Thanks for sharing such a fantastic treasure.
    Stephx

    ReplyDelete
  22. Oh dear. I haven't got a hope or a clue! I've never been to a single English county. So I will bow out gracefully and hope the next competition is related to the translation of Maori words, or possibly the All Blacks (so I can ask Mr B). XXX

    ReplyDelete
  23. Computer gave up, I think it knew I had no hope in this...Oh I really should have attened my geography classes...it has really got people thinking:-)

    ReplyDelete
  24. What lovely old-fashioned pictures, I must look for a copy of the Shell Guide if only for these. A grand tour of England would be a marvellous thing to do - and come to think of it there's no real reason why I shouldn't do one. It's often the case that we don't appreciate things like that when we are young, it's only in retrospect that you realise how lucky you were.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Sorry but who said Wales is an English county?
    1 Gloucestershire
    2 Berkshire
    3 Suffolk
    4 Shropshire
    5 Yorkshire
    6 Lincolnshire
    7 Worcestershire
    8 Nottinghamshire
    9 Middlesex
    10 Leicestershire
    They were hard.

    ReplyDelete
  26. I'm far too late to go in for this, but I so loved the illustrations in this book that I immediately went online to Abe Books and ordered myself a copy! What a delightful book and thank you for drawing my attention to it.
    Margaret Powling

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for taking the time to comment! ;-)