Winchester, Hampshire
 

I can't offer much commentary on these photos, as they were taken by Dad.
Mum & Dad save loyalty points from a national supermarket (okay, Tesco) and use them for weekends away in the UK, and even their holidays in Spain.

They started having UK breaks before they both retired, because Mum knew too many couples who had nothing in common after retirement, and she wanted them to do more together before they were forced together. If you see what I mean. I think it was a very good idea.

So this is Winchester, weekend just gone. I stayed at home obviously, and lolled around on the sofa, glorying in my sole control of the remote control.

A lickle bit of history - Winchester was once the capital of England. The cathedral dates from the 11th century and is one of the largest in Europe, depending on what measurements you use.

Apparently King Arthur's Round Table is preserved in Winchester Castle. At the very least it's been carbon dated to the 13th century.

Mum loved the street market and independent shops. Sigh. They seem to be a dying breed all over the UK. Ours were bulldozed in the 60s. One of the oldest arcades in Leicester closed while I still lived there. Half the units in the arcades in Great Yarmouth were closed, and those occupied looked seedy. Ditto the only three story Victorian arcade in Cardiff.

Heartbreaking. I have no choice but to shop in supermarkets. But if I did, I would.

Anyway, you want to see Winchester.
I'll start with the mundane. The 'rents hotel and hotel room.
They can only stay at specific hotels (although there is a lot of choice). This hotel had a plumbing issue and had no hot water from Saturday morning until they left on Sunday. Shame - they said the staff were marvellous. Oh - and they got a refund on dad's credit card, despite paying in vouchers :)

King Alfred the Great.
Famous for burning the cakes. Despite being an educated man and great military leader.

Mum by the River Itchen.

On the same river.
(a bit blurry, so shrunked)

And this is an anonymous memorial.
Mum & Dad probably know what it was, but I don't.
To me it looks similiar to an Eleanor Cross, but a quick Google says not.

Winchester street scenes

Winchester Cathedral - exteriors

Winchester Cathedral interiors

Moar

Queen Victoria in Winchester Castle
The Round Table? in the same location.

I feel like I've seen that round table. I think maybe I've been there.

In post #4 they've misspelled toilet.

Great pics, SG! Winchester is really lovely, and the cathedral is magnificent. And big. Look at how the grand piano is dwarfed by the place!

darts anyone?

Given the wall setting, I now know what they meant by all those knights 'hanging around' the round table.

Nice pics, Sundae.

Oh, I will get to England someday!

That has been amended by teenagers since I was a child, believe me!

In the same way that the old "Please Close The Door" signs on trains were scratched to read "Please Use The Loo".
Although that's hardly a subversive message :)

I'm pretty sure we had a fairly recent pic of the round table. Great pictures!

:lol2:

Yebbut, they covered the twenty?!


Also, I think that's a round table, instead of the round table. How would a dozen or so knights gather around that small table?

I cracked myself up! At my own intelligence deficit.


Love the pics Sundae.

Your cathedrals and castles are just gorgeous. We have nothing even close to that here. I know that's an obvious statement, but still. Makes me want to go back and visit again.

Winchester Cathedral
you're bringing me down,
you stood and you watched...

My great-grandmother* lived in Winchester. Beautiful place. Love the cathedral. Way too many years since I visited the town.

That street scene reminds me a little of Hebden Bridge. Similarly eclectic looking.

* Known to all as 'Big Gran' despite the fact she was about 4 foot tall and thin as a bird. Though she looked bigger because of all the dark shawls and broaches and stuff. A tiny woman sitting in her chair, waving a walking stick as she directed the world. Lived to 96 iirc.

She was called Big Gran to differentiate her from 'Little Gran' despite the fact that 'little' Gran was significantly bigger.

Or:

Beautiful pics Sundae! Thanks.

Thanks for posting these pictures. I always love looking at your pix although I don't always reply to acknowledge that. Thought I'd let you know. :p:

Ah, memories. Sniff. Way back when AM radio still had music.

Ok, brits. How come Winchester has three syllables and Worchester only has two?

Because it's Worcester.
It's all in the h.

This was the tongue-twister when I worked at the local burger joint.

... from "worshestershur" to "war-chest-er-sh-eye-rer"

I'd pronounce that 'Wusstershuh'

Here's a couple of odd place names that don't match the spelling:

Oswaldtwistle - pronounced Ozzle twizzle

Slaithwaite - pronounced slawut by the locals

Mytholmroyd - pronounced mythumroyd

Warwick - pronounced worrick

Loughborough - pronounced luffbra

and penistone

lol I forgot about Penistone




[eta pronounced penniston]

Towcester - toaster
Worminghall - Wurn-all (by the locals of course)
Gotham - goat-um

FTFY

Edinburgh - eddin-burra

Hey try to do an edinburra accent and say "burglar alarm".

I onced went divey near Fowey - pronounced Foy.

Round here we have Mackinac - pr.- Mackinore

also.
http://blog.usaseopros.com/wp-conten...n-drooling.jpg

Hmmm Pasty Presto

Hahahhahaha! You're all about the Homer today. The Multi-Homer.

ps I always thought they pronounced Mackinac "Mackinaw." You're not throwing that British (or Brooklyn) 'r' sound on the end, are you?

Moretonhamstead

Hmmmmm. Not heard of that one. At a guess, given the context...

Moramsted?

Or is this a trick...is it pronounced Morton Hampstead?

Around here we have:

Manchaca = man-shack

One of the morning DJs I listen to has been saying for years that he was going to open a gay bar called "The Man Shack on Manchaca."

Written............... pronounced

Wagga Wagga ......Wagga
Murwillumbah ...... Murbah
Port Macquarie ..... Port
Melbourne .......... Melbn


We're simple folks.

when were you down Fowey?... mrs. and I have a cottage just around the corner.. ( and over the moor a few miles ) from there.

I can't remember. It might be Mumsted ...

I've been to worrick. Beautiful little town, even more beautiful castle.

*smiles*

Warwick :P

Bang on with the pronunciation though.

That sounds quite likely

I was copying your post. But it really is a beautiful castle, I think I spent 6 hours there.

Ahhh. Sorry I had forgotten I'd even listed it ;P

no worries....