Bill Stroube

After five weeks it is time to head back to the states. This is our ninth visit and even thought it will be good to get home there are parts of Harlaxton that will say with us until the next time - the cooing of the morning doves, the greenness of the landscape, the manor house, meals at the faculty table, the British people who make our stay so enjoyable. Kathy 

Kathy and I were invited to have high tea with Malcalm and Nita Knapp who live in Grantham. Over the years we have developed a great relationship with the Knapps. Their views, stories, and antidotes of England are informing and delightful. Malcalm is a blue badge guide for Lincolnshire that I call on every year to take the students and guests around Grantham. 

Saturday we ventured out to Ashby and roamed around the ruins of a medieval castle called Ashby de la Zouch Castle inhabited by Lord William Hastings and destroyed during the Civil War. We then went to the city of Leicester (the tenth largest in England) to check out some possible sites for next year’s class to visit. The weather was cool but sunny. Sunday is a going to be a day of rest and preparation for the final week of classes. 

Friday we rented a car and drove west of here to Stratford-upon-Avon to tour Shakespeare’s home town. In addition we toured the Royal Shakespearian Courtyard Theater and attended ”Taming of the Shrew”. The theater is amazing, I don’t think there is a bad seat in the house. The play was a unique interpretation of the Shrew and the actors outstanding. The only draw back is the hour plus drive back to the manor - we’ve gotten too use to letting someone else do the driving! Trains and buses are stress free compared to motoring around on the left side of the road

Kathy arrived at Harlaxton on Wednesday, June 4. The two of us set out on Friday for the Cornwall corner of the Isle. Specifically we headed for St. Ives on the Penwith Peninsula. This is the furthest south and west you can go on the island. We found a nice B&B in Penzance and bussed around the peninsula to St. Michael’s Mount, St. Ives, Land’s End, and Mousehole. The villages were all charming and the landscape beautiful. This part of England has great beaches and the water is so clear and blue!

We just completed two days of traveling.  All 48 people in the 5-week Health Care Academy and the 10-day Health Services Administration class traveled to Lincoln yesterday, and to Eyam and Chatsworth today.  The weather is the coolest that I have even seen it for May in England.  Plus today we had rain.  Tomorrow the HSA classes are off to the Boston hospital.  Tomorrow evening the class is having dinner with several British citizens to discuss their view of health care.  Thursday all 48 of us go to an inpatient hospice and to the Southwell Workhouse.  The weekend for the 10-day class consists of medical museums in London, followed by some entertainment.

Woke up at 7:00 a.m. well rested.  Went to breakfast at 8:30 and then walked the mile to the Harlaxton village church and attended their 9:30 service.  The church building has been in use since the 1100’s.  When the U.S. Declaration of Independence was signed, this building was already over 600 years old.  It is a small church and I talked with several old friends that I have met over the years.  Next Sunday I will take my 10-day class to this church for the morning service.

During lunch Amy Hall and Jerrilee LaMar arrived.  For the afternoon Linda Phillips organized a nature walk of the new trails.  We had a faculty meeting, which was followed by a longer walk in Harlaxton village.  It’s all business now and preparing for tomorrow.

Here is a photo showing the fireplace and ceiling in my room.

The group arrived at Harlaxton around 3 p.m. and had a snack.  I borrowed a bicycle and rode the six mile round trip to Grantham.  I got my cell phone SIM card activated so I am now back in communication with the rest of the world.  My cell phone here in England until June 19 is 07503-282129.  To call me from the USA you would dial 011-44-7503-282129.  I will be emailing this number to all my 10-day class participants before they arrive on May 24.

We had a wonderful meal tonight, which tasted better because we were starved.  Weather is very cool. Hoping to get ten hours sleep tonight, since I have only slept two hours in the last thirty six.

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