Devon and Colchester

Week 07 May to 13 May
Whilst down in Devon, we took the opportunity to meet up with two of Rod’s relatives, Ian and Ruth Whatmough who live in a place called Bolberry. The journey to their place took us down lovely country roads (some of them only wide enough for one vehicle), and with wild flowers growing on the banks.

It was so picturesque, and our Sat-Nav proved invaluable again taking us right to a stone building with thatched roof – Mill Cottage – that looked like something out of an old English painting.

The approach to Mill Cottage

This is the road going around the corner of the house

Parts of the house which Ian and Ruth live in is several centuries old. Some of the exterior stone walls are very thick. It is thought that this house was once a storehouse for a mill that was next door. A little stream meandered beside the house and further along a water wheel still operated. Their grassed area was very colourful with wildflowers growing in it including primroses and several different coloured bluebells.

On one wall mauve blossoms of a wisteria vine draped around the windows. Added to this lovely setting was the wonderful hospitality that they extended to us, making us so welcome.

The Wisteria wall

The following day, they took us to Hope Cove, a holiday area. We spent several hours exploring the area, including a walk along the beach.

With Ruth and Ian at Hope Cove

Overlooking Hope Cove

Over the next 2 days we travelled up to Colchester, to the North East of London, where one of Karen’s grandmothers had come from. We were hoping to see some of the lovely countryside in southern England as we travelled but heavy mist and rain prevented us seeing any of it!

Wonderful scenery

On Saturday we met with up Sharon in Colchester, who in times past had researched some of the family history and had been of tremendous help in locating some of the family members. She has a passion to help people find their missing relatives. She was such a blessing to us and freely gave up her time to escort us around the parts of Colchester where family had grown up.

East Street where some relatives lived

With Sharon outside Colchester Castle

Church Street where Karen's grandmother lived

We continued further north, passing through Thurleigh, where some of the ancestors of Karen’s father had come from.

We have noticed yellow fields all over the place. We are told that they are crops of rape, the seed being grown for oil for industry. Some people are concerned that more and more area is going into this crop. The other thing that we have noted is that we see quite a bit growing as weeds along the grass verges.

Windmills and rape crops!!!

We then travelled onto Birmingham where we spent the night because we wanted to attend a church service the following day in Dudley which is on the outskirts of Birmingham. This church proved to be another of those ones that we have come across where there is such a loving and gracious atmosphere, and people are passionate for Jesus.

At the ARC

We then headed on up to Blackpool, where we were to spend the next four nights. Part of our desire in doing so was to have another drink from  “The Well” a Baptist church we had attended previously for a conference. We joined in with their wonderful evening service, and it was exciting to see a good proportion of young people there too.