By this time, a year ago today, I was on Delta flight 4874 bound for Atlanta. Later that evening, I flew out of Atlanta on Flight 0032 bound for London’s Heathrow Airport and the fulfillment of a fifty-five-year-old dream. The 1960s British TV show, The Avengers, instilled a dream in my heart. And my dear old friend, Samuel Polk, brought that dream to fruition. I dreamed of visiting England with its rich, ancient history, bustling cities, and picturesque villages, treasure-filled museums, soaring Gothic cathedrals, lush green countryside, magnificent palaces, and country manor houses. And to think, it all began with a simple phone call: “Hey! Andy! Wanna go to England?”
It’s hard to believe it’s been a year since we embarked on our little adventure. And what an adventure it was! My first glimpse of English soil was seen from my window seat—endless rows of yellow-red earth devoid of crops. “Sam, did we take a wrong turn?” I asked. “It looks like we’re flying over D’Lo.” Sam rolled his eyes. “Keep your seat, Kalberg. Keep looking.” And looking, I did, for the next twenty-four days!
Looking—From the revolving London Eye and Big Ben to the history-laden Houses of Parliament, then off to London’s West End and The Mousetrap, the longest-running play in theatrical history. From the high-Victorian Gothic style of All Saints’ Margaret Street to the Royal Mews with its gilded Royal coaches, then onward to Buckingham Palace’s crystal chandeliers and marble staircases.
Looking—From the lush lawns and antique rooms of Downton Abbey’s Highclere Castle (Alas, Carson was not there to greet us at the door) to the city of Bath, with its ancient Roman baths, Jane Austin’s house, and the Royal Crescent. From the Elgin Marbles at the British Museum to Westminster Abbey and the play The Woman in Black. From the soaring majesty of St. Paul’s Cathedral to the dark, creepy streets of the East End, home to foggy nights and Jack the Ripper, then onward to Churchill’s War Rooms and The Great Gatsby Musical.
Looking—From the quintessential English hotel, The Chapter House, to Salisbury Cathedral and its soaring steeple, then to Southampton and the ferry to Osborne House. From the oak-lined halls of Oxford University to the massive beauty of Blenheim Palace, Churchill’s birthplace. From York and Castle Howard, of Brideshead Revisited fame, to Durham, with its grey-stone cathedral and its rows of individually carved columns, my favorite.
Looking—from Edinburgh and the Royal Mile to St. Giles Cathedral, the Palace of Holyrood House, and Edinburgh Castle. From the Edinburgh airport to the one in Amsterdam, and then, nine hours later, back in Atlanta, and then home to Gulfport.
Sam did it all! He planned each day, made all our hotel reservations, bought sightseeing tickets where needed, and scheduled our flights to and from England. He could navigate the subways, hail our taxis, and knew where to catch a bus. He knew where to eat, where to walk, and when to stop and rest.
Sam, without you, my dream would never have happened. And for that, I’m eternally grateful. All I had to do was hold onto your coattails for dear life and run along behind you. Sam! A huge Thank You to you!
(Originally posted September 1, 2023)
Sam and I leaving for England on Sept. 1, 2022.A view from the London Eye. Loved this!The Mousetrap. The current Christopher Wren peers out at the old Christopher Wren.Church at All Saints’ Margaret Street. The Victorian marble floors, columns, and walls were breathtaking.Sam and I at the Royal Mews standing by the Royal Coach.Buckingham Palace in all its glory with the Victoria Monument.Moi genuflecting at the Victoria Memorial. The gardens surrounding Buckingham Palace filled with flowers after the Queen’s passing.Sam and I at Highclere Castle. Alas, Carson was not there to receive us at the front door. Moi at Jackdaw’s Castle on the grounds of Highclere Castle. The rainbow over Westminster Abbey the day the Queen passed away. The Woman in Black. Scary! Before the show began, the cast and crew came out on stage and asked for a minute’s silence in honor of Queen Elizabeth, who had passed away that day. Then everyone sang, “God Save The Queen.” Tears filled many an eye, mine included. The Memorial Service at St. Paul’s. Over 5,000 people filled that magnificent cathedral to pay their respects to the Queen. It was also the first time “God Save The King” had been sung in 70 years. It was an experience that I’ll cherish until Father God calls me Home. Christ Church Spitalfields in London’s East End. Jack the Ripper passed by this very church. Creepy seeing something he saw too.Hummmm. Not my favorite. About 35 minutes into the show, I said, “Sam, you ready to go?” We crossed the street and drank champagne at Claridge’s Hotel. The night was not a complete washout. LOL. Moi at Claridge’s Hotel after Sam and I escaped The Great Gatsby Musical misery. (LOL!) My forty-five-pound class of wine was well worth it. Loved The Chapter House Hotel! Built in the 1700s, it was sooo English with its low ceilings, creaking oak flooring, and carved panels, along with its labyrinth of twisting hallways.Sam and I enjoying a tasty English breakfast in the dining room of the Chapter House. Salisbury Cathedral. The steeple is the tallest in England, and one of the tallest in Europe. Look closely at the steeple and you’ll see two men, who look like ants. This should give you some idea of how tall the steeple is. It was a wee bit windy when we visited York Cathedral. The Ferry boat in Southampton that took us to Osborne House on the Isle pf Wight. Looking at the grayish green water, I could not help but think of the Titanic.Osborn House in the background. The famous portrait of Queen Victoria, Prince Albert, and their children, painted by the renowned German artist, Franz Xaver Winterhalter. It hangs in the dining room of the house.
The amazing dining room at Osborne House.
The soaring Entrance Hall at Castle Howard. Moi in the gardens with the Castle and its famous fountain behind me. The Temple of the Winds in the gardens of Castle Howard. A famous scene from “Brideshead Revisited,” with Jeremy Irons and Anthony Andrews, was filmed on these steps. That magnificent rendering of Waugh’s famous novel had a profound effect on me. Profound! The soaring columns of Durham Cathedral. Each of them has a different design, which I did not see in any other church or cathedral that we visited. Look up the history of the famous door knocker of Durham Cathedral. I knocked it more than once, just to make sure… LOL. The entrance to St. Giles Cathedral, one of the many churches where the Queen lay in state. The Palace of Holyroodhouse on a rainy day.The famous Sargent portrait of poor Consuella Vanderbilt in the Red Drawing Room of Blenheim Palace. She stared at me with sad eyes, those eyes and her body and soul auctioned to the highest bidder in a cruel game of one-upmanship by her crafty, meddling mother. “John Singer Sargent painted the 9th Duke of Marlborough and his wife Consuella Vanderbilt with their two sons, the Marquess of Blandford and Lord Ivor Spencer-Churchill. Few portraits could be more steeped in British and American history. Not only are the individuals scions of two of the most notable British and American families, but this also illustrates a fascinating development in the late 19th century: wealthy American heiresses marrying other wealthy American heiresses. The Duke here is rather a non-entity, but Consuelo and her mother, Alva (not pictured), were fascinating individuals.”
Christ Church Oxford Entrance. Many of the buildings and such were closed due to the Queen’s passing. Speaking of passing, I could not help but wonder how many times dear Oscar and Bosie may have passed under the aches.
The dining room at Oxford College. Dear King Henry, looking at us all the time we were there.Sam and I arriving back at Atlanta’s airport. He was home. I still had to fly home to Gulfport. After 24 days, we were both ready to crawl into our own little beds. Thanks, Sam, for everything!
