Sunday, July 8, 2012

TWO 'Abbey Pilgrimages'!!

The first of these two Abbey 'pilgrimages' occurred on Saturday, June 30, and we combined it with our sightseeing tour to Windsor - where, incidentally, the Queen WAS in residence that day! After a most enjoyable and interesting tour around St. George's Chapel and Windsor Castle - and timing it just right for a front row spot to watch the changing of the guard - we continued on our way to Reading, by train, then caught the bus from the station to The Abbey School.

As we arrived, at the school, we were serenaded by a duo (the female component, Gillian Froom, having  attended The Abbey, just a few years after me) calling themselves, 'Austentation' - and you can probably guess, from the name, their style of music! It was most appropriate, as Jane Austen attended the original Abbey School - the current Abbey School is celebrating its 125th anniversary, this year. Alex and I arrived in time to meet others  from my schooldays, also there for the reunion, look around some of the old parts of the school, then to enjoy an afternoon (cream) tea outside in the courtyard. That was a first for Alex, but he thoroughly enjoyed it. Fortunately, the sandwiches weren't too dainty in size, so he was able to tuck in with gusto! 'Austentation' continued to serenade us, as we enjoyed all those goodies, in the sunshine. Next on the agenda was a visit to the school archive; there, I was able to show Alex some pictures and papers pertaining to my schooldays - quite an eye-opener for him!

Those of us of a 'certain age', who lived through the era of the Beatles, may well remember their 'Abbey Road' album, on the cover of which the 'Fab Four' are depicted, striding across the zebra crossing close to the world-famous Abbey Road Studios. As an aspiring musician himself, Alex was very keen to do likewise, so our second Abbey 'pilgrimage', on Thursday last week, was to north London, not far from Maida Vale, to fullfill this wish of his.. Alex and I certainly weren't the only ones wanting to do the 'zebra walk', so traffic was constantly having to grind to a halt, for us tourists to take our pictures - rather annoying for motorists, I'm sure, but there were certainly some very happy Beatles' fans!

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