Monday, July 30, 2007

Beeston Castle and Slots


We went to Beeston Castle again today- one of our favourite spots for a picnic and to blow the cobwebs away! The rain satyed away which was even better though windy on top of the 500foot plug of rock that looks out over the Cheshire plain. We had a picnic before climbing to the top so Hazel's bag would be lighter. Some friendly wasps decided to join us and seemed to be licking something off the wooden bench we had chosen. Hazel and Archie moved away for fear of stings.

Later we drove over to the Candle Factory and the slot machine arcade which is really a museum of ancient amusements like the Ghostly Graveyard and the Drunkard's Dream and Test Your Strength etc. All good clean fun. Even the What The Butler Saw machines are very tame by today's standards. Archie won a candy stick and a weird nude pig in the crane machine. The chap who runs it was the same one we bumped inot over at Rye when we were visting Roger and Jilly. He was most welcoming again and showed us the DVD he was filming at the time. We bought a copy to watch later.

We had tea in the cafe and Archie found a half dead fly to feed his new pet- a fly eating plant called Audrey 2 that he bought at the Craft Centre yesterday. We went for a walk first at new place called Little Wumbly or something similar. It was an old wood where they used to hunt wild boar in media-evil times. All we saw though wasa rabbit and a moorhen. We heard Oulton Park race course close by and looked through the old gates to see some cars whizzing round and a steward holding up a notic saying "Pit Stop" or something similar. Hazel wants to go a see a race sometime but I don't fancy it much - all those cars going round in circles - sounds incredibly tedious!

On the way home in a narrow winding country lane a car got a bit close and knocked the cars wing mirror off- just the backing bit. Luckily Archie spotted it lyin g in the road as we sped away and we found a place to do a U turn and went back for it. It was cracked slightly but fitted back on O.K. I'm sure you are all very relieved!

10 comments:

Roger Stevens said...

Hi yall

we're in france now. happy birthday hazel!!!! something french arriving soon. We saw the new harry potter film and really enjoyed it. one of the better ones we thought. i just read the last book. it's a very sad ending - there's a huge nuclear explosions and the earth is destroyed except for one wizard and one witch and they fly to the moon on a broomstick and have lots of weird mutant children - actually I think I'm muddling that book up with another one. Jill's reading the harry potter book right now. we're going to have an early night as we had to get up at 5 this morning. lotsoflove

au revoir

treena said...

Hello, ive not been to beeston, but think ill go and have a look now, this is great, you should start a blog of days out in cheshire. im finding this very useful.
happy birthday hazel is it?

Wastedpapiers said...

Hi Roger and Jilly. Bon chunks! Archie is still reading the HP book so I wont spoil it for him and tell him what happens.

Hi treena. Yes, you must go to Beeston. It s a bit of a tortuous wibbly drive round the lanes and mad tractor drivers and madder motor cycle riders doing wheeelies whilst overtaking etc. but worth it. My legs ache from that climb though! Theres a gift shop at the bottom where you can buy chain mail and Norman helmets etc. No kiddin'!

I have enough blogs I think for now though someone should do a Day Trips IN Cheshire I think so we could read it too. We certainly havent been everywhere yet though it may seem like it. We are slowly ticking them off a big list Archie made for the summer hols.

The Candle Factory is a bit further on down some very narrow lanes and quite hard to find but it is sign posted. The candles are quite overpowering! Phew!

Wastedpapiers said...

Oh thanks for the nice CD comp. of artistes with a "B" initial Roger. Who are all these other poeple ~Ihave to send one too? I will make mine today if I have time. Do I have to do "B" again or another letter of the alphabet?

Wastedpapiers said...

Hazel said...
Bonjour Roger et Jilly...we saw the slot machine man that we met in Rye ...he sends his love...
Treena...You must do this day out...picnic at Beeston Castle...very steep and rocky walk up to the castle...wear good boots...amazing view...drive to Candle workshop (very well sign posted there...not so easy on the way back!)..thats where the penny slot machines are and you will LOVE them....today looks a good day to go...

Roger Stevens said...

Bonjour.

We are now in France enjoying the sunshine.

C is for Compilation...

You can do B again - but best try a different letter. Give yourself a challenge. The people you have to send it to are just the little group of my friends who occasionally exchange CDs. I thought it would be good if we all included one another.

We are on the lookout for something interesting for Hazel.

Au revoir...

Jonathan said...

I remember bushwhacking down from Beeston Castle... probably a route that you're not supposed to take.
And pennies in a well that must be a mile deep.
If we ever get over again I'll happily escort Hazel to the auto races...

Wastedpapiers said...

Roger - I have made the comp on "B" again but it was a challenge as I didnt want to use all the poeple you used so my choices are rather obscure for the most part. Have fun in la belle France.

Jonathan - you are most welcome to escort Hazel to the auto races - that lets me off the hook!
We threw pennies down the incredibly deep well again and counted up to 10 before they hit the troll at the bottom - thunk!

Wastedpapiers said...

Hazel said.
for roger and Jilly ....Le soleil briller avec ici .?
avez-vous de la creme solaire?
Jon....you are on...a trip to Oulton PArk to watch the cars whizzing past...I am looking forward to it.
Send my love to Syl..How is she?

Anonymous said...

great story thanks.