Month: August 2025

Worcester 23.8.25

24 August 2025 / admin

Teapots Royal Worcester 23.8.25

The main part of today was the trip by train from Staines-upon-Thames to Worcester being hauled by a steam locomotive which I will address on the railways blog but felt that some notes around Worcester itself were appropriate here.

I had visited Worcester earlier in the year on a drizzly grey day in January and did not feel attracted – it felt dismal and lacking. Today in the sunshine was very different and I apologise for my earlier dismay. Our tour terminated at Shrub Hill and we had a pleasant walk, largely along the canal (there is an extension to this along the river) to the Royal Worcestershire works. Now no longer in production the site was producing fine bone china from 1751 until trading ceased in 2009 although production had moved elsewhere earlier than this.

Lea Perrins Royal Worcester 23.8.25

On the site now is a museum showing the history of production and examples of the ranges produced in the 150 years of trading which included this reminder of another local product – Worcestershire sauce!

Worcester Cathedral 23.8.25

A short walk from the former factory is the Cathedral which earlier in the year I had thought grey and dull from the exterior. Internally it is far more impressive and holds the tomb of King John.

King John tomb 23.8.25

King John died at Newark Castle, probably of dysentery in 1216. His will decreed that he be buried at Worcester where he spent Christmases as he felt he had a close connection with priory and the associated saints.

We then wander around the corner to Greyfriars a National Trust property – but to see this a tour needs to be booked and given the uncertainties over our arrangements I had not done this. Across the way we have a cup of coffee and watch the world pass by before returning to the station for the trip home.

Homeward Bound 1.8.25

2 August 2025 / admin

MS Jane Austen 1.8.25

The end of the holiday and time for the next journey so we step away from the MS Jane Austen. Jackie is travelling with others on the normal return journey – a coach and Eurostar then Thameslink and GWR in a straight reverse of the outward journey.

I have my own trip programmed – taking an Interrail excursion at 71 (although technically it is not Interrail as I shall be staying in France). That story continues over on the Railways blog as (of course) I am not travelling with my wife.

Coach home 1.8.25

So I wave her coach farewell before heading off. I suspect Jackie is convinced that I cannot possibly manage three nights travelling on my own without getting lost or into trouble – but at least I have my passport.

This has been a good holiday. A mixture of relaxation and visiting new places. Two locations struck off the long list of places to visit – Monet’s Garden and Versailles plus a chance to see Rouen and Honfleur. Well worthwhile.

Versailles 31.7.25

1 August 2025 / admin

Versailles Statues 31.7.25

When we booked this trip we knew we would have a free day in Paris so by looking at the berthing location it was clear that it was a walk across the road onto the Metro which had a fast direct service to Versailles – it seemed an obvious way of using the day.

About three weeks before departure (so almost four weeks ago) I decided to check the detail using the ratp journey planner. After some “fun” I find out a few things. First up track works disrupting services are NOT loaded into the ratp journey planner until three weeks prior to operation even when they are known about and planned months in advance. Reading the website showed that the relevant line was disrupted in July and August – but the journey planner was showing normal journeys because it was more than 3 weeks before the journey date. Hence if you have issued a press release saying the line is disrupted then you must be able to update the journey planner, indeed why would anyone not do so? Unless you are from Paris obviously. It turns out that the relevant line is completely closed for today, not a single service will run. So working out where we are and the nearest metro station turns the journey into an initial walk, three trains and then something like 20 minutes’ walk at Versailles as we no longer arrive at the nearest station. This does not sound like fun and my plans are over-ruled – we shall go by taxi!

For the Palace we had made an 11:30 booking and, unlike the Pena Palace, Versailles clear the 11am queue and then immediately start letting the 11:30 booking line in with only a short delay – so although the very hot weather has returned we do not spend too long standing in the sun which is welcome.

Royal Chapel Versailles 31.7.25

My Canon appears to have gone on the blink this morning and so all shots were taken with my phone. These days can you tell the difference? A lot of my photos appear to be of the ceilings – simply because of the crowds – which have always been true of the palace I suppose.

Given the heat and the walking when we find we have not booked access to the gardens I am not that bothered – they are obviously extensive but the grounds close to the palace are closed and being reworked and those further afield look like being a long walk – so on the whole being prevented from going further is a good thing.

Hall of Mirrors Versailles 31.7.25

Versailles is impressive – but the crowds are difficult – there are several guided tours ahead of us and it is impossible to take in more than an impression of the grandeur which exists. The Hall of Mirrors remains the standout of course but I wonder how much is lost in the crush. We get a reasonable lunch and then head back out towards where I had spotted taxis earlier and indeed there is a taxi rank very close which is at variance with the guidance found online so we are soon taken back to the boat to enable packing before our final dinner.