Wareham, Dorset - June 2012

Thursday 7th June

Friday 8th June
Went exploring Poole. Here is a photo of me with Baden Powell who is sitting across from Brownsea Island where the first Boy Scout camps took place in August 1907.

We also went to a shop  where they had demonstrations on making pottery as well as lots of pottery to buy.  We had a coffee there.


We went to Compton Acres Gardens in Poole.  Here are some photos.

I had booked into a course at Green Pastures Christian Retreat Centre in Poole on the subject of Praying within a Celtic Context and lead by David Cole of the Community of Aidan and Hilda.  There were about 5 people on the course as well as some others who were just staying at the Centre. 
 
Saturday 9th June 
Ian went  on the Swanage railway down to Swanage.

 and then to Kimmeridge Bay where he collected some fossils.  He also went up onto the Purbeck Hills.

Sunday 10th June
Last day of my course and Ian picked me up after lunch.  He had Sunday lunch at Compton Acres before picking me up.


Monday 11th June 
We went to Lulworth.

Then to Weymouth and Portland Bay where they are going to do the Olympic sailing.  Went up the hill to look down on Chesill Beach.  What a view!

 
Tuesday 12 June

Got up really late. Woke early but was reading and messing around on the Internet. We have 20 hours of wi-fi for 15 pounds through the caravan club. Anyway after doing the washing up from the night before, making packed lunch and getting ready we only left at about 11 o'clock. 

Went a village called Tolpuddle and to the museum on the Tolpuddle Martyrs. 

They were six men, ordinary farm labourers, who in 1834 were arrested, tried and deported  to the brutal penal colonies of Australia for protesting about the low wages and grinding poverty they were forced to endure from their harsh employers. Eventually after a period of 4 years they were granted a pardon and were allowed to return to England. It was on their return that the trade union movement was born.There are still trade union festivals celebrated at Tolpuddle today. The six men eventually emigrated from England with their families to Ontario in Canada.

We then drove to Dorchester.  What a nice town with lovely shops and lots of wonderful buildings. I could probably spend quite a bit of time there. We went to Dorset County museum and had a guided tour by one of the volunteers. Dorchester is very old with lots of history, there are signs of habitation even in the neolithic age! Lots of famous writers and poets from this part of the world including Thomas Hardy. I bought one of his books - the Woodlands which can join the pile of books for me to read.

Wednesday 13th June

Went to Wimborne and to NT property called Kingston Lacy which once we got there we remembered we had been before when we went to visit the Fitzsimmon family in Ringwood. 

Then into Wimborne to the craft centre - everything quite expensive. Walked into the centre of the town - lovely sunny day. Headed to the church but nothing particularly noteable, except that they had a chained library but we could not find it. We eventually ended up at Costa sitting outside in the sun. Had to leave at 5 because our parking ticket was about to expire. 

Such a lovely evening we didn't want to go back to the caravan so drove down to Swanage on the coast. Had a walk along the front then went to the Swan pub for a meal. Then back to the caravan; watched a film, then to bed.

Thursday 14 June


Friday 15th June
Today we packed up the awning and caravan and started to make our way home. Stopped at Winchester services for our packed lunch and a cup of coffee. Ian then took over the driving, although he 'virtually' drives whilst I am driving -the only difference is that he doesn't have his foot actually on the pedals!