Our 2026 England Trip Overview

 

It was 3 years ago when we last visited England for a Shutterchance (SC) meetup with our fellow photobloggers, which means it was definitely about time to see everyone again!

And, of course, once again we stayed with our hostess, Lis, in Winsley, who made sure we were well taken care of during our week's stay, Wednesday-Wednesday, September 9-16.

On Thursday morning, September 10, our first full day after arriving, we met one of the goals of our visit:  a FULL ENGLISH BREAKFAST!

Lis had told us the BEST restaurant to have it was at Merkins in nearby Bradford-on-Avon.

It did not disappoint--not only the breakfast itself but the photographic restaurant!

After our full English breakfast, we took a walk along the river and canal in Bradford-on-Avon.

We had walked there on a previous trip but had fun seeing it again with new eyes,

and, this year, with our new iPhone15 Pro Max cameras.

The next day, Friday, September 11, we drove back to Bradford-on-Avon to eat at The Lock Inn, a quirky restaurant on the canal:  

It's one of those places that goes on and on in different angles and nooks and rooms,

and, yes we sat right next to the railing overlooking the canal.

See what I mean?!

Lis knows I'm a glutton for their English narrowboats!

After lunch Lis drove us to the nearby Farleigh Hungerford castle on a sunny day with lowering skies:  

Lis had taken me there 10 years ago on a rainy day, so I really did see it again with new eyes,

especially since Astrid could see it with me this time.

We don't see such places in America or here in the Netherlands, for that matter!

On Saturday, September 12, Astrid's "Big Brother" Chris (one of our SC photobloggers) took her out for their own excursion while Lis and I took ours, to Malmesbury Abbey: 

But first, we walked from the car park through the woods to the city for lunch.

Notice how important it was for me to eat typical English food!

This is another place we had seen, with Lis and Michael back in 2015, but while a service was being held.

This time we had the place to ourselves to explore--yes, again, with new eyes for me!

Sunday, September 13, was, of course, the usual roast belly of pork at Winsley's Seven Stars pub a short walk from Lis' house, another of our main goals of this trip!

If I'm not mistaken, this was our 4th time there and definitely a MUST of the week.

This time Astrid chose the halibut, but Lis and I were on the same page, with the added Yorkshire Pudding.

That afternoon, back at home, Lis' son, Charlie, visited, with Buster the dog.

Then it was Monday, September 14, when the MAIN GOAL of the visit was our Shutterchance meetup!

[all photos above are Astrid's, except for the top-left from Care's son, Aaron]

It started off with lunch at Chad and Norma's home near Corsham (where we stayed 4 days in 2022).

It was a great start to catching up with everyone while enjoying the hospitality of dear friends.

There were 14 of us total (not all in these images) of which 10 of us are the photobloggers.

After lunch we drove to the nearby Fox Lacock Photography Museum

where we enjoyed the current exhibition by Martin Parr...

followed by the Lacock Abbey just a few steps away.

You can see how much we enjoyed each other in such a photogenic environment!

We were all such great sports with each other,

especially since this will most probably be the last meetup for many of us!

Tuesday, September 15, was our last full day with Lis and the time for our last goal of the trip, Fish & Chips!

Lis knows the best places for such English Traditions, which, in this case,

was at Robbie's Place in Batheaston, with a nice park across the street.

Then it was Wednesday the 16th, when it was time to fly back home (from Bristol to Amsterdam, a one-hour flight)!  Astrid's Big Brother Chris did the honors again, driving the hour back to the airport, just as he had done when picking us up the week earlier...and all the previous years!  

Astrid and I have decided this WAS our last trip to England (many reasons, mostly related to our age, I suppose?), but with memories to have and hold for all the years to come, with thanksgiving to all who hosted us over the years (back to 2007 for me in London, a year after I first joined the Shutterchance blog!).

THANK YOU, Lis & Michael, Bill & Ange, Chad & Norma, Chris & Jackie, Tracy, and Suby & Sinem!

We have been hosted over the years by many wonderful, generous and gracious friends.

And regardless of any further visits to England, we remain friends forever.

Garderen Sand Sculptures 2026: The Roman Empire

 

Every year, driving the 84km/52mi to Garderen, NL, to see their sand-sculpture extravaganza, is a must, even though normally we visit during the Spring.  But better late than never is good enough and THIS is the theme we definitely did not want to miss, seen on August 6.

I asked Astrid what was the first thing she thought of when she heard "The Roman Empire?"  We both immediately said "soldiers."  

So, that's where we start here, followed by probably most of the other things we all think of with this theme:

1.  The SOLDIERS: 

Calm, cool and collected...

as well as at war!

2.  The CHARIOTS:

Even in plastic...

and in wood!

3.  The ROMAN BATHS: 

We loved the huge window alcoves that showcased scenes...

 

that you could reach into and zoom in even further.

4.  The COLOSSEUM:

Not a part of Roman history I'd be proud of!

5.  The FORUM:  

To be honest, The Forum in Rome was my favorite spot to visit the 3 times I was there.

I'm reminded of my Sunday School days, learning that Paul preached there.

6.  The SHIPS:

Mainly for wars, of course....

but remember that Nero was fascinated with the Nile River back in his day

(top photo in the collage below).  It was an economic lifeline for the transport of grain from Egypt.

7.  The ARCHITECTURAL COLUMNS:

My high-school Latin teacher would be so proud of me remembering the 5 main ones:

Tuscan, Doric, Corinthian, Iconic and Composite.

Actually, I DIDN'T remember this time and needed a refresher.

So, those were the main themes I expected to find without even looking.  Two years of Latin did that to me!  But as we walked around the 108 marked displays, many more subjects were "AHA" moments, like:

8.  The SENATE:  

SPQR = Senatus Populusque Romanus,

"The Senate and People of Rome."

9.  The COINS:

The 1st and 2nd triumvirates, with names like Julius Caesar, Mark Anthony, Pompey and Crassus!

10.  The WOMEN:

The good, bad and the ugly...(don't get me started on identifying any of these except Cleopatra

bottom-left above with Caesar)....

trade, slavery, vandalism....

11.  The WARS:

The 1st Punic War against Carthage, just because I liked the details....

And the uprising of Britain's national heroine, Boudica, because of the humor!

12.  The APOSTLE PAUL: 

He wasn't one of the original 12 apostles of Jesus but he's the one who wrote the most letters

contained in the Bible's New Testament.  I was amazed that they had 3 sculptures,

showing his conversion, shipwreck, and imprisonment.

EVERYTHING ELSE you can think of was there.  All the big-time men (like Spartacus, Nero, Caligua, Janus, Claudius, Tiberius, etc.).  Mercury, Romulus & Remus, the Appian Way, the alphabet, the calendar, food, the Crusades, Constantinople, St. Peter's Basilica, Pompeii, Versuvius.....

OH!  And don't forget the MOSAICS!!!

Seriously!  You name it...every important thing you can possibly think of was portrayed there in sand.  It did not disappoint in any way.  In fact, if anything, it was so overwhelming I didn't know how to even start this post until after several days of finally saying "Enough Already!"

And for your viewing pleasure:  

You just had to be there!

Fort Asperen in Acquoy, Netherlands

 

This is a post that's been a long time coming, since first discovering Fort Asperen's café last year and then finally walking through the fort a couple weeks ago, July 11.  Astrid passed it many times while on bike rides, but, after buying cherries last year at the nearby orchard in Rhenoy, 19km/21mi from home, we finally decided to stop!

The café became one of our new favorite to-go-to places, basically on the doorstep of the fort.

We even took daughter Amy there this past April when she visited us from America.

The fort wasn't officially open yet* but we had a chance to sneak in for our first quick peek.

[*During the winter months the protected bats hibernate there and aren't disturbed by visitors.]

It was even my choice for celebrating my 81st birthday in June on the actual day, a Saturday!

(Recall that Astrid's big celebration for me was in Gerberoy, France, a week earlier.)

But this post is not about the café as much as it is about the fort itself, which we finally visited in full on July 11 (yes, after picking up another batch of cherries from the nearby orchard).

First of all, Fort Asperen is an 1846 tower fort, round, with a basement and two floors, plus the roof...and a moat that surrounds it.  You can read much more about it in the link, but "it was designed to accommodate 219 men and 14 pieces of artillery."

This is what you see and where you enter, after you cross the bridge over the moat.

The café is the building on the right.

Because the fort is a tower fort, it's round, and means you can, yes, walk around it.

Whether you start left at the entrance (above), or right (below), you end up back where you started.

This is the ground floor, of course, where you enter, with side rooms off the hall.

I especially liked one of the dining rooms.  It felt so cozy.

From the main/ground floor, we walked downstairs to the basement...

where it was much darker, of course, and...cozier?

It's at least where the very important kitchen is!

And, of course, the very important latrines.

To give a sense of one light source is the center opening of the fort to the roof.

The bottom left image is seen from the basement, and to the right, from the main floor.

The top image is looking down to the basement from the second floor.

The second floor houses the (now) museum and bedrooms:

A young volunteer (early 20s) organizing things gave us all kinds of information.

I loved his enthusiasm for forts like this all over the Netherlands.

All that and...who knew we'd also get to walk around the rooftop of the fort!

It was good to see more up close the dome-shaped center that gives added light to the fort...

and the pipes all around providing added air to the fort, apart from the windows.

And notice how we could look down on our favorite café below!

In fact, we could see it from every level except the basement.

As an extra little "gift" that day, July 11--and talk about timing--THIS:

A nice cherry on top of the cake!

Speaking of cherries, every time we go to Rhenoy for fresh cherries from the orchard, during June and July, we make sure we add eating lunch at Fort Asperen in Acquoy as a must (about 2km away)!

This is when Astrid would say "Blame it on the cherries!"